6 Things Sunday

1.  I hope everyone had a happy holiday!
2.  I did pretty good with my eating this week.  I did have some of my mom's famous caramel rolls that I only get once a year and a few glasses of wine.  I didn't veer too off course, but I did allow myself to enjoy some things that only come once a year.  Was I as good as I have been? NO!  Was I completely out of control?  No. I just need to be honest with all of you and myself that I enjoyed my holiday without stuffing myself to the gills or depriving myself.  I was somewhere in the middle.  Usually I am bloated and want to puke I am so full, so I thought I did well.
3.  I got a Wii Fit and Just Dance for Christmas!!  So excited to start using them soon!
4.  I'm going to Disney World!!! My future in-laws are taking all of us to Disney World in March.  I have been there before, but not since I was 8, so I am excited to go again!!
5.  I just went to Target and Pier 1 and got $300 worth of stuff for about $100.  Success.
6.  I am so, so, so excited to get completely back on track, into a groove, don't have parties to go to, cookies to bake, dinners to eat, drinks to sip... you get it.  I love the holiday's but I have had my fill and now I am ready to make the rest of 2010 and the New Year a huge weight loss, healthy living, feel amazing about my body year :)

Must-Have Monday-Sandwiches

Monday, Monday. I am kind of excited to see you because you are kind of like Thursday to me this week.  It is time for another edition of MHM and this week I have decided to tell you all a little bit about my sandwich obsession.  I just love sandwiches.  All kinds from cold to toasty warm and everything in between.  My favorite sandwich in the world comes from a deli in my hometown called Bo-Diddley's and it is a turkey sandwich on a delicious 12 grain sub-type bread and I honestly am lucky that it is no where near me know or I would be starting this weight loss journey at least 100 pounds heavier than I am today.  So, today's MHM is focused on the delicious and often underrated sandwich.  My favorite "healthy" sandwich items.  I am also adding some pictures because I feel like I don't do it enough and it is something I am going to work on.





Pepperidge Farm Deli-Flats I love this bread.  I really do.  I usually like bread when it is thicker and has more substance to it (which means more carbs) but this bread makes me not even miss the higher calorie kind.  They have several kinds all around 100 calories and containing fiber and all of the good stuff you want in a bread.  If I am having a traditional sandwich this is my go-to bread.  It never disappoints me.  I also use it to make peanut butter toast on the weekend.

Kraft Philadelphia 1/3 Less Fat Garden Veggie Cream Cheese I use 1 tablespoon of this on my sandwich and it makes a world of a difference.  It is a way to jazz up a sandwich without adding a ton of guilty toppings like mayo or full fat cream cheese.  It adds a nice flavor without being over the top.

Columbus Reduced Sodium Turkey Breast I buy this turkey at Trader Joe's and I really like it.  It is really good for being lower in sodium and it is not slimy or a weird color.  I am VERY picky about my lunch meat and I really enjoy this product.  I need to sample some of their other food items, but this is the only reduced sodium option that TJ's sells.

Minnesota's Bushel Boy Tomato  Buying local items when I cam is really important to me.  I know that many of you don't live in or near Minnesota, so this item is probably no use to you, but I think everyone can appreciate buying local ingredients.  I lived in Italy for 6 months and ate some of the best tomatoes that the world has to offer, so I must say I am kind of a tomato snob.  These tomatoes are just as good as any of the ones that I ate there.  Support local farmers and eat local produce when you can.  It is likely more fresh and less expensive than other available produce. 

Red onion- I add onions to pretty much anything and everything.  Much like garlic, I think it adds a lot. 

Cucumbers- So good, so fresh, so crunchy.  I can eat them plain or on something.  I love cucumbers. 

Banana Peppers- Last, but CERTAINLY not least.  My new favorite sandwich topping is banana 

peppers. I can't get enough!!  I rinse them at home before I eat them to get some of the sodium off that is i

in the juice in the jar.

Now you know how to make my favorite sandwich made at home.

What I order at Subway

6 inch 9 grain Turkey sub.  Lots of lettuce, spinach, cucumbers, green pepper, banana peppers and a shake of parmesan cheese.  No sauces, just the good stuff listed above. 

Must-Have Monday-Newbie's

Today, I met a friend for happy hour at the restaurant Crave in the new trendy area of the twin cities known as the West End.  I had not seen this friend in a year and a half, which is always a good bad feeling for me. On one hand I am ecstatic to catch up with my friend that I haven't seen in a long time and on the other hand I am always nervous about what they think I look like (in comparison to the last time they saw me, as in I hope I am not bigger than I was before).

I am also nervous to tell people that I am eating healthy and not drinking.  This is not because I am afraid that I won't have willpower, but it is because I don't want to make other people feel bad for their drink and food choices because I am choosing to live a certain way.  So far it has NOT been an issue.  I am actually not sure what I am afraid of.  Is there a chance that someone would actually say, "You're eating HEALTHY!?! What a crock of sh**!"  No, people wouldn't say that even if they think that.  I have also found an interesting behavior pattern emerging.  My friends who are thin, healthy and active are totally understandable and supportive of my decisions, while it seems that some people who are heavy or who enjoy a poor diet are always saying things like, "you can't eat like a rabbit forever, you will fall of the wagon some day!"  I know, i know this is NOT rocket science.  Of course people who are overweight want people to eat like them because they want to continue to tell themselves that it is okay for them to eat that way.  As I was thinking about this in the car today all I could think was..... WOW!  This used to be me not that long ago.  I used to love when someone would say let's just veg out and eat snacks and lay around all day and order take out.  I used to be the person who I have now just figured out.  I have just foiled my past behaviors.  This was a mini break through of sorts for me.  I know that this journey is more than just changing my willpower and outlook on life.  It is more that just determination and hard work.  It is a large part about changing my behavior and how I look at food.  Losing weight is not just about what you put into your body, but also what you take out of it.  The bad thoughts, the negative images, the poor behaviors.  I am not where I want to be in a year, but I am better off than I was a year ago or yesterday for that matter.

Alright.... after that moment of personal growth I would like to start my first ever Must-Have Monday post.  I am going to post three things that I can't live without every week.  This is a time to give thanks and to spread the love. This week's focus is on new items that I have discovered.

1. Boca Crumbles- Honestly, I just discovered how amazing this product is and I am already trying to dream up things that I can cook with it.  I made a healthier take on Mexican pizza using this as the meat and it was FABULOUS!  I will post the recipe tomorrow.  It is NOT healthy as in as good for you as a salad, but it is a much healthier way to get a Mexican fix.

2. Trader Joe's Chicken Sausage.  They have many different flavors and they are all really good.  One sausage is about 100 calories and between 4.5 and  grams of fat.  This is obviously not as healthy as regular chicken breasts or other lean meats, but it is a nice change of scenery and good to have every once in awhile. They sell similar chicken sausages at many other grocery stores if you don't have a TJ's by you.

3. Pears- It doesn't mater which variety.  Pears are rocking my world as of late.  I am loving them and eating one a day it seems like.  They must be in season because they are relatively cheap right now and super delicious.

Versatile Blogger Award!

A big thanks to Vicky from Getting Fit for giving me the versatile blogger award!  It is nice to get an award to brighten your day and remember what you are working towards.

When you are given this award you are supposed to list 7 things about yourself and then pass on the award to 10 fellow bloggers. Apparently some people do not enjoy getting awards, so sorry if I give one to you and you don't like them.

1) I've never been to Iowa and it borders the state I live in.

2) I ended my relationship with soda 4 weeks ago and have never felt better.

3) I am allergic to fish and coconut.

4) I lived in Italy for 6 months and loved every second of it.

5) I was the 6th grade spelling bee champion.

6) I am going to go grad school next fall.

7) I am really excited to conquer this journey during the holiday months.

I'm passing this award on to:

Shanilie at Losing Over Half of Me
Whitney at Slimming Down for the Gown
Alissa at A Journey to Thin
Kelly at Life in the Fat Lane
Kenz at All the Weigh
Lyn at Escape from Obesity
Kati at The Great Balancing Act of a 24 Year Old
Stacy at Stacy's Weight Loss Blog
Tim at Fat. Boy. Thin
Jessica at See How She Runs

A few other comments/notes about today...

1. A very long battle that has been going on in my family is finally over and I feel sadness and peace at the same time.  I am so beyond happy to move on, but moving on means letting go completely and although I feel ready for that it still makes me slightly emotional and sad.

2.  Yesterday was my nieces birthday and I went to her house to wish her happy birthday and there was spaghetti and a princess cake and there was slight temptation, but I remained strong.  I passed on everything, ate some fruit and veggies and went home to eat my healthy meal.  We also had a Halloween Nacho-bar potluck at work today.  Last year I made AMAZING queso with more cheese than can be imagined.  I was asked to make it again this year and I was a little bit nervous.  In the past I have made"exceptions" to eat poorly on holidays, birthdays and special events, so it would not have been out of the ordinary for me to choose to do this.  I am really, really trying hard at this losing weight battle and I didn't want to compromise my results this early in the game.  Last night I made my own healthy mexican pizza that I ate during the potluck and it was great.  Sure, I can honestly say that I didn't miss the other food at all.

3. Final thing for the day is... I have been wanting to try the Forever 21 Plus size line Faith 21 for quite some time now, but when I googled it one day I found all of these negative comments about the sizing.  I looked at their website and found the size guidelines and noticed that a 3x was a 17-18 and thought eeek, there is no way that will fit me.  I have been looking online at their clothes for weeks and finally today I went to the mall to look at the selection.  The closest mall to me is Mall of America, so their selection is HUGE, which I know is not the case in every mall.  I found dozens of things that I loved.  A lot of it I looked at and thought there is no way that will fit me.  Not now, maybe later?  I found two skirts and a sequined tank top that I had to have.  I figured I would take them home and have a reward when I reached one of my smaller goals and was able to fit into them.  I got home and thought I would try them on quick just to see how much they didn't fit, so that I knew how long it would be before I could wear the items comfortably.  Well..... ALL 3 ITEMS FIT!!!! Super cute, trendy clothes for a reasonable price in smaller sizes than I am used to and they fit?  Amazing.  I might return the items and get a 2x just so that I have something to fight for and look forward to wearing around the holidays.

Things I have learned this weekend

1. When going out to lunch with friends one must ask the server about 10 questions about how a dish is prepared before ordering.  Case in point I ordered a bruschetta chicken salad this weekend and the ingredients were: romaine lettuce, spinach, rotisserie chicken, diced tomatoes with a light balsamic glaze and bread.  I asked for the dressing on the side, no bread and wanted to make sure the tomatoes were not drizzled with butter or salt.  The dish came out and it was COVERED in parmesan cheese.  The bread was there, but I gave it to my friends immediately.  It took me about 10 minutes to get the majority of the parmesan cheese off of the dish before I could start eating it. It was very good, but I have learned my lesson that I need to ask more questions about the food that I am ordering.

2. I need to have a better plan in tact for weekends when I have a jam packed schedule.  I am trying to eat every 3 hours or so to keep my metabolism going.  This is generally breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner and occasionally a snack after dinner if I have worked out.  Well this weekend I had a lot going on and I didn't enough snacks with me, so I found myself very hungry and slightly crabby.  I didn't make poor choices, but I need to work on being more prepared and having my snacks on hand at all times.

3. Having support is extremely helpful to lose weight.  I feel like I am standing on the rooftops telling everyone what I am doing and what my plan is so that the people around me understand how important this is to me and so that they can hold me accountable.  Ultimately, I am accountable to myself as this is my journey, but it is nice to let people know so that I don't find myself thinking it is okay to have a cheat day every weekend.

4. I need to re-train myself to cook.  I grew up eating comfort foods. We ate a diet of meat, potatoes and a vegetable, which wasn't totally un-healthy, but it could have been a lot more healthy.  I love to cook and I need to get some new recipes in my collection so that I feel like I have options and am not just eating the same thing over and over again.

5. I need to keep my purse closed at all times.  I lost my digital camera for about a half a day, but it has been found and I am beyond thankful.  I guess Ron was right when he told me about 50 times that I need to start closing my purse, so I don't lose things.

6. I attended an EXCELLENT weight loss seminar and I learned for every 6 grams of carbohydrates you consume it is the equal of 1 tsp of sugar as far as your body is concerned.  YIKES!  So at the beginning of this journey I bought some frozen meals that we all know about and think isn't too bad for us, and while it isn't worse than getting fast food it is still not the best option.  Two of the three that I chose had 71 grams of carbohydrates in them.  That is a lot of sugar!  I will be donating those to someone at work.  I also learned that eating whole foods is better than boxed, processed crap (okay, I already knew that, but I learned just how bad it is for us and I am trying to do everything I can to buy all natural, organic and whole foods when I can.

7.  I learned that I am not alone in this journey.  Almost everyone who I spoke this weekend about my weight loss journey told me something that they have been working on as well or things that are difficult for them.  This is everyone from my very thin friends to people who also attended the seminar.  It is nice to know that other people are struggling with their weight and body images as well and that I am not alone.

8.  I learned the importance of being more positive and less negative towards myself.  I consider myself a pretty positive person and I think that I come off that way to my family and friends.  I am not so kind to myself and need to work on my relationship with myself a little more during this journey.  As one of the speakers this weekend said, I am so sick of people saying, "I hate my body.  I hate everything about it.  Why is it that you HATE your body?  Does it not function for you?  Does it not let you live another day?  Does it not let you enjoy your senses and breath in and out?  Don't hate your body.  Just have certain things that you want to work on."  So, I am going to try and be my biggest cheerleader.  I am the only one who can control my weight loss journey and it won't help to beat myself up the entire way.

It is costly to eat healthy, but even more costly not to

It is Sunday evening and I just got back from the Science Museum of Minnesota to see the Dead Sea Scrolls while they are in town.  It was pretty cool to see them, but the exhibit was super busy because it is in the last week of showing.  We made a picnic lunch to enjoy on the banks of the Mississippi River before we went into the museum, which was fun, healthy and cheap!

After the museum we stopped at Cub Foods, our favorite local grocery store to get some produce and other items to eat during the week.  I took a picture of the loot, which is below, but I have to say that I am amazed at how expensive eating healthy is.  I am not saying it isn't worth it, because it totally is, but it is not surprising why so many people choose to eat poorly because it is a lot less expensive.  I used to grocery shop every two weeks or so and spend like $150-$200 each time.  Now I grocery shop about twice a week and I spend about $40-$60 each time.  I like going more often so that I can get fresh produce. 

  Driscoll's Raspberries, Eat Smart sugar snap peas, Bananas, Minute brown rice, Fresh Express 50/50 mix, Red onion, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, All natural Popchips, Flatout light original flatbread, asparagus, peppers, Athenos reduced fat Feta cheese. (This is not a paid endorsement for any of these products, I just really enjoy all of these delicious items and will be showcasing recipes that I make using these products on my blog.  Check out the websites above to get other great recipe ideas, product information and nutrition facts). 

WEIGH IN UPDATE

I am now officially down 19 pounds and could not be more happy!  My plan is to make this week another good one!  I hope everyone continues on their journey and makes healthy decisions this week!