Spaghetti Squash

I've heard of spaghetti squash, but I've never really played with it until now!  This week and next I'll be posting a few new recipes using this lovely fruit (yes, it's a fruit!).

The easiest way to prepare a spaghetti squash is to microwave it for about 6 minutes to soften it up a bit.  Then, cut it in half, scoop out the seeds and place each half cut side down in a baking dish filled with about an inch of water.  Bake at 375 until it's nice and tender.  Remove from oven and allow it to cool.


Once you can handle it without burning yourself, use a fork to scrape away the insides.  You'll see that the flesh comes out like strands of spaghetti, thus the name.  Make sure to strain your squash, it's very watery and will dilute anything you may add to it.  I cooked up 2 this weekend since the baking of it is the most time-consuming part.  


You could use this as a straight swap for spaghetti and top with your favorite low-fat tomato sauce.  It's a different texture, but very enjoyable!  On Wednesday, I'll be posting a delicious recipe for a vegetarian-chili to serve on top of spaghetti squash, it's delicious!

Weekly Weigh In

Current Weight:  190.4 lbs

Weekly Loss: -4 lbs      Total Loss:  -31.6 lbs

I was so relieved.  I had another good week of eating well and exercising.  I also refrained from drinking anything alcoholic and cut out coffee for the week just incase!  I'm going to enjoy these things again, but just limit them more closely, even if I have the extra points.

I might actually meet my goal of getting into the 180's by February!  We shall see next week!

We'll also see how much I've earned for myself!  

Thanks all for your words of encouragement!!!

Weekly Weigh In

Current Weight: 194.8 lbs

Weekly Gain: +3 lbs        Total Loss: -27.2 lbs

There really isn't a word for the emotion this stirred in me.

I started crying right after I weighed in and just couldn't stop!

I had to sit in a back hallway during my meeting because I just couldn't calm down.  

I know there will be weeks when I go up.  It's happened to me before.

It just really sucks when the week was so good!  I went to the gym every day, I tracked all of my food and ate well all week.  The other night I gave in to an oatmeal craving.

WHO CRAVES OATMEAL?!?!?!?!

I had a whopping 6 Points+ of reduced sugar apple and cinnamon oatmeal.  

That's what I binge on nowadays kiddos. 

Forget ice cream.  Oatmeal.  It's my comfort food.

I'm really pissed that I gained 3 frikkin pounds this week.

I wouldn't care if it happened on a week where I skipped working out and ate garbage.

I'm not pissed off at myself or the program, I'm just pissed off at the scale I suppose!

So, I'm taking a deep breath (or 20), and I'm going to keep doing what I need to do.

I heard this song for the first time tonight while driving home, and the chorus really connected with me.  I'm shaking it out...

Football Food

GO GIANTS!!!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself!

It's that time of year where many of us spend weekends in front of a television watching the post-season football games and end up grazing upon many high-calorie foods, including dips.

I came across this buffalo chicken dip recipe from Hungry Girl and it's delicious!  

Buffalo Chicken Dip

A 1/4 cup serving has only 2 Points+, and I served it with celery and carrots for some 0 Point+ dippers (although pita chips taste delicious with this as well).  If you are a fan of buffalo wings and dip, you should definitely check this out.  It was very quick and easy to prepare, I'm making more today just because it's that good!

Do you have any go-to healthy football foods?  Share in the comments below!

Weekly Weigh In

Current Weight: 191.8 lbs

Weekly Loss: -2.8 lbs           Total Loss: -30.2 lbs

WOOHOO!!!!

I'm telling you, this is my year.  I just have a feeling.  

By the end of the month I want to be out of the 190's for good this time!

So far, my "part-time job" has earned me $34 this month.  Not too shabby!

Gym Pet Peeve of the Week

Before I even start, let me just say that I LOVE my gym and everyone who works there.  Honestly, it's a great place to be.  


That being said, I have an issue with one of the fitness instructors of a class I take every week.  The class is great, always leaving me feeling accomplished afterwards (and sore the next day).  The instructor is nice and really pays attention to the participants to make sure everyone is doing the right thing.


My issue?  The instructor does not go with the music.  Now, I know I'm a music teacher, but I can't be the only one who has this need to move with the beat of the music, especially in a class where you are moving together.  I think part of the problem is that the music isn't loud enough.  You can hear it fine, but it's not as loud as other classes.  The instructor will be counting the moves totally off of the beat, and every once in a while they will notice it's not matching up, have the class freeze, and try to get back on the beat.   Try listening to a song and NOT clapping on the beat (or opposite of the beat).  I double-dog-dare you!


I have to force myself to try and tune out the music and just rely on the verbal cues and watch what is going on.  It's so hard!  There are times where the music only has 8 beats but somehow the instructor adds in a 9th!  I don't even know how that happens!


Has anyone else had this sort of trouble with a fitness class?

Part-Time Employment

I have a new part-time job.  It's called taking care of myself.  It requires planning out my food, cooking meals in advance, and exercising every day (I'm allowed one day off from this part a week, but I make more if I don't take it off!).


Since this is a job, after all, I need to get paid.  I make $2 every time I go to the gym, and $5 each pound I lose.  Who knows, maybe I'll save up enough to treat myself to something special, like a spa-day, or some new clothes.  


Let's see if I can make this job work for me...

Weekly Weigh In

Current Weight: 194.6 lbs

Total Loss: 27.4 lbs

Alright, it's a new year, and now I know where I'm starting.  I didn't gain or lose since last week, so I'm glad I survived the food and drinks around New Years.  

So far, 2012 is going well.  I'm overwhelmingly optimistic about this year.

I'm eating well, exercising every day, and keeping my goals in mind.

When it comes down to it, I'm done wasting my own time.  When I look back at the last 6 months where I haven't really lost, I don't remember the food I ate that I really shouldn't have, or the days where I skipped the gym.  

I feel like it is lost time that I just wasted.

I'm not wasting any time now.  Not one single day.

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination"- Tommy Lasorda

I'm determined.

Let's Get Physical

If you've been going to the gym for a while and have been sticking to the same routine, I suggest shaking things up a bit!  Not only is it better for your body, but it will keep you from getting bored and dreading doing the same thing for the millionth time!

I'm a creature of habit.  I would go to work, and then go to the gym after.  40 minutes on the elliptical while watching something on Netflix, then at least 20 minutes of weight machines, mainly arms and abs.  BORING!!!!!!

I've made it a goal to try more of the classes offered at my gym, and I'm so glad I did!  There's a great class called Basic Training that is an all over barbell workout.  It works your whole body in 45 minutes and it's a lot of fun!  I'm doing that on Tuesday nights and Sunday mornings.  Wednesday nights there's a Punch-Kick Weight Camp that's a dumbell workout with kickboxing intervals.  This also gets my whole body working while adding in the cardio element.  It's awesome!  I also plan on going back to that great yoga class on Monday nights and Saturday mornings.

So, just in classes, that's 5 days of different workouts.  On the other days and before yoga, I'm either going to rest or go to my elliptical followed by some kettle bell exercises instead of the machines(never used a kettle bell?  You should check them out!).  

I hope that this will kickstart my body into losing weight again.  If you've been shy about trying classes at your gym, give one a chance.  I think you'll find that it's worth the risk of walking in for that first time!

Happy New Year!

Alright, it's day 3 of 2012, and I've kept to my goals!  So far, so good.  I made it through the Giants game on Sunday and only drank one beer.  And lots of water.  And a delicious turkey burger!


I often forget what I used to do in the past that was successful, but I have to say that keeping this blog has allowed me to go back and look at the past.  If something was good, I posted it here.  Yesterday I needed a breakfast to go, but wanted something more than a fig bar.  So, I came back here, searched for my breakfast tags, and rediscovered a delicious pumpkin smoothie I made last year.  I had everything in my pantry to whip it up, and it was so good!  I even had it again today.


One of my strategies to help me along has always been to cook up multiple meals on Sunday to have for lunches and dinners throughout the week.  This week, I made Split Pea Soup (6 servings, 4 Points+ each) and Meatball and Spaghetti Soup (6 servings, 5 Points+ each) from Skinnytaste.com.  They are both so delicious and perfect for this time of year when it's chilly outside.  I'm slowly cooking my way through that website, and so far most of her recipes are really good.  I highly recommend checking it out.


Here's to 2012!