And so it begins....

I figured out how to program a universal remote for my ancient television. My old remote went tits up and I couldn't get my TV to the channel it needed to be on to play a VCR tape. (I know what you're thinking.....no DVD player???? Nope.)
Anyway, I got it to work so today I finally got to do a workout. It felt pretty good too. so hopefully, this will be just the thing I need to get me going again.
I have a pot of potato ham soup calling my name.

Sunday Soup!

As promised (like anybody reads this blog), here is the recipe of the week. I'm into soups right now so that will be my focus until the weather gets warmer.

This recipe is super easy and fast. And of course WW point friendly.

Ham and Potato Soup

3 cans 98% fat free chicken broth
1 32 ounce bag Ore Ida hash brown potatoes O'Brien (I think they have changed the name to hash browns with onions and peppers now...must be some PC thing...who knows)
chopped onion (to taste)
chopped celery (to taste)
8 ounces cooked cubed ham (Look for the lower fat variety)
1 pkg. Pioneer fat free Country Gravy mix (If you can't find this, use McCormicks)
1/2 cup water

Empty chicken broth into large stock pot. Add frozen hash browns, onion, and celery. Bring to a rapid simmer and cook for 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Add cubed ham and simmer for 5 minutes.
Combine gravy mix with water and stir into potato mixture. The soup will thicken quickly so don't walk away.
Optional: You may add cheese at this point but remember to add points.

Points per 1 cup serving: 2

Enjoy!

Yeah baby! That's what I'm talkin' about!

My weigh in went soooooo much better than I had anticipated. I lost 3.6 lbs.!!!! Yay!!! I guess maybe there's something to journaling what you eat. Who knew?

Not sure what this week will bring. I went out to eat last night with some froends and we went to my favorite Mexican restaurant, Pepe & Chela's. OMG! Their food is the BOMB!!! I had a chciken taco salad and wayyyyyy too much chips and salsa! I'll regret it come weigh in day. I'll throw in an extra workout this week. ;P

I hit the clearance aisle at Michael's last night and today. I got a bunch of BG stuff for pennies!!!! I couldn't believe it. I really had to contain myself though. I haven't done a layout in months so there is absolutely NO justification for buying anything new.

All in all, I'm glad this week is over with. I've been pretty stressed out with some personal stuff and have a hard time focusing on anything. I'm just trying to get through one day at a time right now and hope that things get better.

New soup recipe coming tomorrow!

Soup of the Week!

I think I'm going to post a new soup recipe here each week. I don't know why. I just am. here's the first one. It's one of my favorites and of course, it's a WW recipe.

Hamburger Vegetable Soup (crock pot)

1 lb lean ground beef

1 medium onion

2 garlic cloves

4 c V-8 juice

1 can 14 1/2 oz) stewed tomatoes

2 c shredded cabbage

2 c frozen corn

2 c frozen green beans

2 T Worcestershire Sauce

1 t dried basil

1/2 t salt

1/2 t pepper

Cook beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until meat is browned.

In a slow cooker, combine the remaining ingredients. Stir in beef mixture.

Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours.

WW points: 3 points per cup

Optional-Add: No Yolks egg noodles; count points.

I have been asked for this recipe time after time by non WW people. One of my friends called it "The Bomb" soup! It also freezes extremely well. So when I make it, I divide it into containers and pop them in the freezer for easy lunches for work.

Next week's recipe: Ham and Potato Soup

I really don't like to journal....

No, not on my scrapbook pages. But journaling what I eat. They (whoever 'they' are) say that it is very important to write down everything you eat in your journal. I HATE doing this! It is so...oh I don't know the word I'm looking for here.....confining. I don't want to go through the rest of my life writing down everything I put in my mouth. I just don't.

But...and there's always a 'but'.....
This week I am journaling. Did I mention that I hate to journal? I am on day 3 and I have written down everything that I have eaten. I gained 4.6 lbs back since December 18th. Not good. At all. My jeans felt snugger this week when I get dressed in the morning. I don't like that feeling. At all.

So, I am journaling. I don't like to journal. Maybe I should make a journal that is pretty. One that doesn't look so official. Hell, I don't know....

I'll let ya know how it goes. It better be good.

I found some blog candy!

And I have to share it with you!

http://threecloversdesigns.blogspot.com/

This chick does some really pretty cards too! And since I have recently become obsessed with cardmaking, I'm all over her blog! I just wish I was as creative as she is!

So go check out her blog and find out what you have to do to be eligible to win some of the AWESOME blog candy she is giving away. But hurry!!!! You have until Jan. 20th to sign up!

Could someone just slap me please?

I am so damn mad at myself and I don't know how to change it. Well ok...I DO know but I just don't have the willpower to do it.
I can not seem to get my act together on this WW thing. I totally over did the whole Christmas/make merry/celebrate the new year thing. Now that that is all over with, I can't get back into the eating right and exercising mode.
I feel myself losing all control here. I do NOT want to gain all that weight back. Crap it took me a year to lose 60 lbs!!!! And I'm not done!
So now I have to pick myself up, dust myself off and start over again. How the hell do I do that?

Ok, this isn't going like I had planned...

I was all set to put the holidays behind me and forgive myself for indulging in all of the yummy food. Then I was going to right back to working out and following my eating plan. Hmph!!!

Well, I caught a cold and have felt like crap all week. I didn't go to my WW meeting yesterday (bad girl) because all I could think of was coming home, putting on my jammies and going to bed. I ended up taking some medicine, putting some Vicks on my feet, and hitting the sack at 7:30 pm. I felt a little better this morning but I don't have the energy to do a workout of any kind. On top of that, I have to put in 8 hours of overtime tomorrow!

So...Plan B.
I sort of got back on my eating plan yesterday but didn't write anything down like I should. Today, I got out my food journal and am going to write down everything that goes into my mouth. Hopefully, this will help me get back into a routine. I've done really good today so far. I have 10 points left to use for dinner and a snack later.

Another thing I REALLY need to work on is drinking more water. I have been slacking big time on that. I did better today but I still need to drink more.

Other than that, I'm working on some birthday cards for upcoming birthdays. I have one almost done but had to buy some ink cartridges for my printer before I can finish it.

My Christmas boxes arrived from Michigan yesterday. I was too whipped to even open them though. I really want to play with my new Cuttlebug that Adam and Cassie got me. I'm not even sure what all it does yet.

So that's it from my little corner of the world.

Out with the old....in with the new...

I don't know about you but I'm sure glad 2008 came to an end. I have high hopes that 2009 will be much better.
Last year was tough for so many members of my family as well as my friends. I myself, struggled with my weight and finances. My personal life didn't improve at all. My job was stressful. Generally, I was just not happy with my life.
So what can I do to make this year better? Good question. I don't really have any etched in stone plans. I do know that I want to exercise more regularly. I want to get back on track on my weight loss. I want to work on my house and do a little painting and redecorating. I want to get back into scrapping. I want to spend more time with my friend, Robin.
Hmmm....so maybe I do have a plan.