Roni’s Weight Watchen Page(s) - Take 2 (the rebuild)

Sometimes it’s all in the preparation and presentation.

Today I thought I’d be a bit more creative then just slapping some toppings on a light tortilla and jamming it in my mouth. Yes, I mean jamming and yes, I do that ALL the time. When I do, I noticed my hunger goes away but I’m left completely unsatisfied and normally wanting something else. Today I took a 10-minute break, spent some time on preparation and presentation, sat down at the table and enjoyed my light snack.

Guess what! This time I was satisfied. I think by just taking a break and making eating fun, we feel fulfilled and less likely to immediately want something more. So next time you want a snack, check out your pantry and see how you can get creative with your healthy items on hand. You have healthy items on hand, right? ;~)

• 1 light (low carb) tortilla (I used Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Low Carb)
• 1 The Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedge
• 5-6 slices of turkey pepperoni (light ham or turkey would be fabulous too!)
• Handful of spinach leaves
• Honey mustard for dipping

Spread the cheese on the tortilla. Layer the pepperoni and spinach leaves on the cheese. Roll up tightly and evening space tooth picks about ½ inch apart. I use the toothpick and a guide for cutting and then the little rolls stay together. When you slice, be careful not to squish too much so you can retain the nice roundness of the roll.

Nutritional information will be different based on the tortilla and light meat you use. I’m estimating mine at about 150 calories.

Labels: SnackIdeas, Tips

That’s about the only way I can describe yesterday.

First, I woke up toddler and husband free. How fabulous is that? I know that sounds mean but all the other moms out that will understand. It’s just nice to wake up and NOT change a diaper ever once in awhile. I decided to order room service for breakfast. I mean, why not? I think the day called for a bit of pampering. So I had a relaxing morning eating breakfast myself and watching the news.

After breakfast, I was picked up by a car service. The driver was super nice and we chatted on our way to pick up Rich, the Creative Director of Women’s World Magazine. We gabbed our way into New York City and surprisingly hit no traffic!

When we arrived at the studio, I met the photographer, his crew and the wardrobe designer, Cynthia LaMaide. Everyone was great! We had breakfast and I tried on some clothes while everyone arrived.

For the next hour, I had my makeup and hair done by Shannon and Sophie, two of the nicest people ever. We had a blast chatting (well I did, I just hope I didn’t bore them to death) and they made me feel really comfortable before the shoot.

Then it was shoot time. Honestly, it was just as I imagined it. I felt cheesy and awkward but had fun with it. Every now and then they would fix my hair and makeup and we shot a couple of rolls of film. I don’t think I did extremely good or bad but I sure did have fun!

Overall the shoot only took a few hours and I could have done it all day. Of course, right? At one point Rich asked me if I still thought being a model was easy. My response, “it’s sure easier then teaching a bunch of college kids Web Programming!” I mean, I’m getting pampered and complimented all morning. Who could really ask for anything more?!

So that’s it. That’s the story. It was a blast! I have no idea when or even if they will use my photo but the experience was once in a lifetime and I’m thankful for the opportunity!

I did indulge a bit and I couldn’t leave without a slice of New York Pizza and a dessert with dinner. Tomorrow I’ll be back to regular (old, boring, non glamorous) posts. ;~)

Update: Here are all the Polaroids from the camera checks.

Labels: journal

I’m still in a slight state of shock. I’ll be signing off for a few day as I’m treating this NY trip as a mini vacation for myself. I’m going alone, brining a book, my ipod and soaking up every minute of “me” time. I’m thinking I will even work out at the hotel fitness center! There is something I’ve NEVER done before. Actually, whenever I saw a fitness room at a hotel I thought to myself “who the heck is working out on vacation?!?!” I mean you’re on VACATION, right? Well now I get it and I am actually looking forward to it. Strange, I know.

I’ll be back Saturday will a full report. Wish me luck!

Labels: journal

So I’m going a little “P” crazy. I love coming up with titles for my posts! ;~)

First, “a Picture”, as requested I updated my Progress Photos page. I can NOT believe it’s been a year since posting a pic. That means I’ve been at goal over a year and this fact is still a unbelievable to me!

Second, “a Product”, William from EatSmartProducts.com was nice enough to send me the EatSmart Nutrition Scale. I’ve been using a plain old digital scale for years and really can’t live without it. Now, I may be hooked on the EatSmart Nutrition Scale. It allows you to put in a code for the food you are weighing and it tells you the nutritional info for that food. For example, this morning I knew I ate 100 calories of grapes this morning! So maybe I’m a geek but I find that REALLY COOL! For fresh produce and meats, this is a huge time saver for me. The scale even has a code for cooked whole grain pasta! No more measuring when dry and cooking mine separately! I’m so psyched. My only problem with the scale is the small buttons and the slow response time. It takes a few seconds for the display to update when you add more weight. For me though, it’s not a deal breaker. If you are interested in purchasing the scale, use the code WWATCHEN to receive 10% off.

Lastly, “a Pose”, ok ok OK, the big news. I guess I can share. I don’t know why I was hesitant in the first place. I may, hear me, MAY, be on the cover of Womens World magazine. I’m going for what they call a “Cover Try”. Their Creative Director saw my site and want’s to see how I look on camera. I think the story is on whole grain and high fiber pasta. I’m going to NY on Friday for the photo shoot. Wait, what? Did I just say that? It sounds so weird typing it aloud. So yeah that’s my big news. I’m trying NOT to get too excited, it’s only a try after all. We’ll see.

Ok, I’m off to bed. L-O-N-G day tomorrow.

Labels: journal

Give me some whole grain pasta, a ton of veggies and I’m happy. The husband didn’t like it UNTIL he added parmesan cheese. Then he said it was "good". Go figure!

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Small sweet onion dices
• 5 gloves of garlic diced
• 2-3 stalks of celery diced small
• 5-6 baby carrots diced small
• 2 cups of vegetable or chicken stock (separated)
• 6 plum tomatoes diced
• 2 small heads of broccoli cut and cleaned
• 2 tbsp oat flour (or other thickener)
• 12 oz frozen cooked shrimp (defrosted and tails removed)
• 8 oz whole-grain angel hair pasta cooked according to package

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, sprinkle with Salt and Pepper and let sweet for a bit. Add the celery and carrots. Stir. The onion should start to get a little brown and the pan will start to stick a bit, that’s OK. Cook for about 3-5 minutes.

Pour about half of the broth and deglaze the plan. Add the tomatoes and broccoli. Stir and cover for about 3 minutes allowing the flavors to mix and the broccoli to cook.

Whisk the remaining broth and oat flour. Pour over cooked veggies in the skillet and turn up the heat allowing the broth to thicken. Add the shrimp. Stir and scoop over the Angel Hair pasta.

Update: OK I calculated the nutritional info using sparkPeople. 4 large Servings 375 calories, 6 g of fat and 10 g of fiber.

Labels: DinnerIdeas

You’ve had it, right? That ‘you just want something’ feeling. You’re a bit hungry but not starving and nothing sounds good. AAAAACK! I hate that!

Labels: journal

Wonderful because I got SO much done. Much needed cleaning, laundry, shopping, working out, I did it ALL! I even went out and saw a movie with the husband.

I splurged a bit on Saturday. It was one of those insatiable days. Nothing seemed to satisfy me. After eating pretty much all day, I split some appetizers while out and indulged in a Frozen Mudslide AND Strawberry Daiquiri.

Overall, though, it was a great weekend and this week may prove to be even better! Come Friday I may have some big news, I’m just not ready to post about it yet.

Labels: journal

Last night I went out and split some hummus with a friend. I forgot how good it was! So I came home and made my own. It doesn’t have all the “official” ingredients of hummus but it came out perfect! The texture, the hint of sesame flavor and the bite of garlic. Even the husband liked it! I was shocked! He’s just not a hummus type of guy.

• 1 can of Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained and rinsed
• 1-3 cloves of Garlic (depending on taste- I used 2 and boy can you taste it!)
• 1 tsp Sesame Oil
• ¼ cup of vegetable broth or fat free chicken broth

Put all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. You make have to help it with a stir now and then.

Serve with whole-wheat pita and veggie slices! Great for a party!

I’m estimating it at about 4 servings. I’ve hit it twice, a friend had some too, and I still have a ton leftover for tomorrow. Each serving is about 150 calories, 2 g of fat and 5 g of fiber.

Labels: SnackIdeas

Every once in awhile I crave a salad and when I do I love to experiment. I whipped this up with what I had on hand and I have to admit, I was quite surprised. Normally I don't like “creamy dressings” but I was in the mood for something different.

The idea here is really the dressing, have fun experimenting!

The Dressing

• 2 tbsp nonfat plain yogurt
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp honey
• About ½ tsp garlic powder
• About ½ tsp Italian seasoning
• Salt & Pepper

Whisk all ingredients together and let sit while you prepare the salad.

The Salad

• About 2 cups baby spinach leaves
• 1 tomato diced
• 2-3 oz cooked chicken breast (I used leftover Balsamic Dijon Chicken from the night before)
• 1-2 teaspoon real bacon bits
• About ¼ oz fancy shredded Mexican cheese blend

Pile everything on a plate and top with dressing!

I’m calculating about 250 calories, 8 g of fat and 3 g of fiber for the whole salad with all the dressing.

Labels: DinnerIdeas, SaladIdeas

Don’t brag about being in the zone and then go to work unprepared when it’s someone birthday.

To make it worse the husband brought home Cinnabons!!! From the devil, the d-e-v-i-l I SAY! 730 calories, 24 g of fat!

I may sell my soul and have a half. Not sure yet.

Labels: notes

I know, strange title right? Let me explain.

A co-worker sent out a link today about a dying mans “Last Lecture”. It is an amazing video about living life, accomplishing your dreams and being creative. In the video, Randy Pausch says many powerful things but one in particular stuck out for me.

The brick walls are there to show us how bad we want something. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it bad enough.

For him the brick walls were rejections letters from Disney when he applied for a job. For us they may be a plateau in our weight loss journey or a week we just aren’t motivated enough. Next time I feel like giving up on anything I will definitely imagine a brick wall. It’s a powerful image and I really responded to it.

Now for the “Fat Girls”, Pasta Queen posted one of the most amazing blog posts I’ve ever read on the topic of weight loss. She looked hard at herself and concluded she was “was a lazy fat person who ate too much”. Take it from me, that’s a hard thing to admit and her readers are sure responding. To date she has had 51 comments on the topic.

My final link tonight is on the same topic of fat girls, I mean "skinny girl". I came across this video on you tube that is just, ummm, well, amazing? I guess that’s the word to use. Let’s just say I wish we had the ability to Photoshop ourselves for real. I mean seriously, I don’t know what to say. I’m speechless. Me, speechless so you know it’s, ummm, amazing, just amazing. Warning: It is a bit graphic, so if you are easily offended don’t click.

So I was just in a sharing mood tonight. I hope you don’t mind. As for my food journal, I had another killer day! I worked out, stayed on plan and I just feel in the zone. I haven’t had any real uncontrollable cravings and I made sure I was prepared all week. I think I may just be too busy to get off track. I don’t have the time to mess up, if that makes any sense. Anyway, I decided to indulge in a bit of chocolate and cash in on some of those activity points I’m not really tracking. If you don’t know, I tend to do my own version of “less strict” Weight Watchers since I became a lifetime member. Basically, I just use their point concept to keep me in check nowadays.

Alright, ‘nuff said, I’m off to enjoy my chocolate! :~)

Labels: journal

12 hour, busy day. Tired. Sleepy. Did good. ;~)

Labels: journal

I thought I would take some time to write about my newfound hobby, working out.

I can’t stress enough how much I loathed working out in the past. I mean it, really, I hated it. Nothing gave me less pleasure them exercise. Nothing. Of course, I went through all the cycles of motivation and set unrealistic goals for myself in the past. I remember saying I would get up an hour early every morning and jog. I would do it once and then decide I had enough. I would get all gung ho, join a gym, waste the money and never go. I bought exercise equipment that became permanent fixtures and drying racks for my clothes.

Fast forward to today…

Tonight I went to the gym, brought my book, set the bike for 25 minutes, and when time ran out I actually kept going. After 30 minutes on the bike, I hit the nautilus machines and worked out my lower body. Then the wall, that large confidence-building monstrosity was calling my name. I attempt the inclined side, fell flat on my face, and then got back up to climb the easy side for practice (mark my words I WILL climb that incline and make it to the top to ring that stupid bell, it’s a personal goal). I left with my head held up high, my arms shaking and a sense of accomplishment.

So how did this happen? How does a self-proclaimed exercise hater become a gym rat?

The answer might surprise you.

S-L-O-W-L-Y

Seriously, it’s a journey, just like dieting. You can’t expect to lose weight overnight. You can’t expect to change all of you eating habits overnight. And you can’t expect to change your views of exercise overnight. It’s just not possible. It takes small consistent changes that you can live with and incorporate into your life easily.

I started by making a commitment to shut off the TV on weekends and get outside. That soon turned to taking after dinner walks. I made my stay active “rules” like taking the stairs, parking far away and dancing with the toddler. Soon my dance sessions increased and my walks became more frequent. Then I started doing some organized exercise routines before bed using small hand weights. Finally, I joined the “Y” and now I’m at a point that can’t live without it. The gym is my escape, my time. Two years ago if you have told me that my free time would be spent at a gym I would have said you were crazy. I started my weight loss journey (this successful one, at least) June 2005, that is over 2 years ago and I just started going to the gym 6 weeks ago.

All right, I didn’t plan on such a long post tonight. I was inspired by my awesome work out tonight and I wanted to reflect. I still can’t believe I love the gym! I just can’t believe it!

Labels: journal

One day on plan, that’s all it takes.

Labels: notes

This is a repost from the crash, originally posted around May 20, 2007.

Fiber Gourmet contacted me and asked if I would try their product and write a review. Well I just finished my Tomatoes Shrimp and Zucchini over Fettuccini using their light pasta and it was delish! The pasta had a great texture and cooked up nicely.

I’m a whole grain girl but for those who don’t like the whole grain stuff (or have husband that are resistant like me) this is a great alternative. It has a WHOPPING 18g of fiber a serving and only adds up to 2 points! I can come up with a dozen ways to use this in light low point meals.

Has anyone else tried it?

Labels: journal

This is a repost of a recipe I lost in the “big crash”.

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Small sweet onion chopped
• 4-5 cloves of garlic chopped
• Salt & pepper
• Small zucchini chopped
• Can of diced tomatoes not drained
• Dried or fresh parsley and basil
• ½ pound cooked frozen shrimp (cleaned and tails removed)
• 10 oz Fettuccini cooked according to package (I used Fiber Gourmet Light Pasta)

In a large skillet sauté the onion and garlic in the olive oil, sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper. Continue cooking until onion turns transparent and garlic begins to brown on the edges. Add the zucchini, stir and let the flavors mix for a minute or two. Add the can of diced tomatoes; be careful it will steam up a bit. Sprinkle with parley and basil. Bring to a boil then turn down to a simmer.

Since the shrimp are already cooked add them last just to get warmed up (if you have raw shrimp add them with the zucchini to cook)

Your nutritional will depend on the pasta you use (whole grain, light etc) Using 2 ounces of pasta per serving this make 5 servings.

Labels: DinnerIdeas

It seems I have taken another small detour on my journey. I traveled “home” this weekend for my sister-in-laws bridal shower. Isn’t it funny how home will always be where your parents house is, even if you’ve relocated a state or two away? Anyway, I digress not really wanting to face my weekend overindulgences.

Observation 1

Traveling is tough. I feel the need to munch in long car rides, especially when I’m driving alone with the toddler. I’m bored, I’m tired and I’m stressed, so I eat. What a surprise. On my way up I bought a large bag of popcorn for the 3-hour ride. I figured it was better then chips, pretzels or even worse, fast food French fries! The bag was gone by the time I got there, most of it eaten during an hour-long traffic jam.

Observation 2

I always go home with good intentions to stay on plan. I don’t know what is it about being there that makes me go bonkers. Really, bonkers is the only way to describe it. This time I think my downfall was letting myself get too hungry before the shower. I new there would be a ton of JUNK there and I was right. So instead of having a sensible meal before hand I starved myself. BAD DESCISON. I ended up being around bad food with the “bottomless pit” feeling. I don’t think I need to say more but I will end with two words… cheesecake and truffles!

Observation 3

After the shower fiasco, I threw the weekend away. I just decided, I already messed up so I might as well splurge while I’m there. Why oh why does this mindset still take us over? At least I have it contained to weekends. I’m already ready to get back to “normal”.

Ahhh back to normal. Whatever that means!? My week is going to be challenging. I’m not prepared. I didn’t have time to grocery shop so I’m surviving off pantry items this week. To make it worse I’m out of all but one of my frozen leftovers for lunch. So to help prepare for the week I defrosted some “They don’t know what’s in there” Pizza Sauce, used the last of my whole wheat pasta, a can of peas, some beans and leftover ground turkey to make some kind of chili-ish healthy filling lunches for the week. If you haven’t noticed I’m not the biggest fan of traditional cold sandwich style lunches, especially for 12 hour work days.

I hope you all had better on plan weekends then I. The weekend was a blast! I just wish I ate a little better.

Labels: journal

Even a busier weekend planned. I didn’t make it to the gym tonight and I’m disappointed. I’m going out of town for a shower so I won’t be able to go until Sunday, if I make it home in time. Man that sucks and Oh-my-word, I AM now a gym rat. When did that Happen?!?

So just a menu again tonight. I have a backlog of post ideas and no time to write them! The worst thing, my schedule won’t be loosening up until after next weekend!

Labels: journal

On my home from work, I was wracking my brain on what to make for dinner. It would be just the toddler and I so that always gives me a little more freedom to experiment (no picky husband). I knew I had some veggies and a can of reduced fat crescent rolls. Putting the two together, I was shocked how good it came out! Seriously, I don’t want to pat myself on the back but, d-e-lic-ious!

• 1 medium zucchini diced small
• ½ small sweet onion diced small
• 1 bell pepper diced small (I used ½ green ½ red)
• 1 cup baby spinach chopped
• 1 plum tomato dices small
• 4 cloves of garlic minced through a garlic press
• Salt & pepper
• 1 tsp dried basil leaves
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 container of reduced fat crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Mix all ingredients, except crescent rolls, in a medium bowl.

Unroll crescent rolls on a small cookie sheet. Press to seal perforations and to cover the bottom of the pan.

Now, I topped the raw crescent with the veggie mixture and baked for about 25 minutes. It came out delish but some of the crescent didn’t cook fully being topped with so much. stuff. I liked it that way. If you want a more crispy crust, you may want to bake the crescent for a few minutes before topping and the return to the oven. Just a thought.

I’m calculating the nutritional information to be about 255 calories, 11 g of fat, and 2 g of fiber per serving for 4 servings. Note: I ate 2! I told you I really liked this one!

Labels: DinnerIdeas

A boring title for a boring post. I’m tired but I couldn't go to bed without posting my menu! Hope you had a great day!