After indulging at Blissdom, including all the Little Debbie 100 calorie treats they so generously provided,  I figured out it was time to get back on the Weight Watchers wagon. It’s not a difficult transition, and I am a firm believer in eating what you want, just in smaller portions. So while I DID eat the oh-so-yummy chicken recipe I posted last week, I ate a small portion and had a big salad and veggies on the side. I actually LOVE fresh veggies, but I detest prepping them…oh, and paying for them – $1 for ONE bell pepper? No thanks. I would however pay through the nose for a tomato that actually tastes like, say…a TOMATO???

That brings me to my next update – I need a GARDENING mentor. Someone who can tell me what , when, how and why…I want to grow veggies that taste how they are supposed to taste. I have a 10×15 area that is about 75% sunny, and it needs a lot of work. I would like to try tomatos, peppers (sweet and hot), cucumbers, squash, onions and garlic. Maybe even some fruit… Am I being realistic or getting in over my head?

Oh! Speaking of fruit – I found the BEST thing for anyone wanting to eat better. Wal-mart carries a store line of flash frozen unsweetened fruit – I know, frozen fruit had been around forever, but this not a big mass of frozen fruit and syrup – so you can pour out a little bowl of fruit to snack on as-is (YUM!), put some in your oatmeal, or have a little fruit salad with lunch. The BEST part? A CUP of these fruits – peach slices, raspberries, or blueberries are only 50 calories! That’s ONE point!! (ps – did you know 1 pt roughly translates into 50 calories?)

Ok, yeah, I get a little excited about fruit.

Last but not least, I was to be one of a few women interviewed for an upcoming article in Hallmark Magazine about Aprons – and unfortunately Hallmark has published it’s last issue. While I am REALLY bummed that the article won’t be coming out, I am REALLY bummed that we have lost another great magazine and more jobs were lost.

This weeks weigh-in: – 1 lb!!

Total weight loss: 11 lbs

(yeah, I gained a bit back over the last couple of weeks, but I am trying to get back on track)

If I am going to keep losing weight, I am going to have to ditch my soda habit. I did ok for awhile, especially when we had lemons on our tree and I could just add fresh lemon to my water. I make fresh iced tea, and I forget about it. It seems that juices are just as bad (sugar-wise) as soda, and I have never been much of a milk drinker (unless it has ice in it, and I am eating a brownie, which, let’s face it, negates any good that comes from drinking the milk to begin with).

I figure if I do it a little at a time, just like I have been doing with food and exercise, it will make it easier to change. I am so far from where I started, and the good part is, if I go back on my good habits, I feel BLAH. So this month, my good habit is to drink more water (whoopee!! )

Another thing I am excited to try is these funny little sprinkles you put on your food.  It’s called Sensa,  and while I can’t describe exactly how it works, I can give you an idea. Sensa uses all natural ingredients to fool your sense of smell and taste (and then your brain) into feeling full. You can check out the exact details at the Sensa website, and while I have only been trying it for a few days, I definitely notice a difference in the amount of food it takes to make me feel full. They are sending me a 6 month trial, so for better or for worse, I will let you know how it works!

Any of my chickys out there trying to lose weight, or have any tips for those of us that are??

This last weekend we took the boys to Disneyland for Mickey’s Trick or Treat (trip report and TONS of pictures to come). There was tons of candy (literally – at least 25 treat stations scattered throughout the park), and since there were only so many tickets sold for this event, not every food venue was open. Which meant my old stand-bys of fresh fruit and veggies weren’t available. So I let myself have one peanut butter cup, and pretended the rest didn’t exist. We were at the park the next day as well, so I was able to make up for the previous night’s excess. There are plenty of stands offering fresh cut pineapple, strawberries, carrots, bananas, apples and oranges – always great choices. You can also find great salads big enough for two at a few different restaurants. So despite being around temptation for 2 days, I still managed to lose 2 pounds last week, bringing my total to 12 altogether – after I gained back 4 from being sick and drinking enough hot cider and hot chocolate to float a boat in, I am pretty happy with my progress so far. I am ready to start exercising again this week since I don’t cough and pee myself to death anytime I exert myself now…

I would love to read any tips you have for exercising and how to schedule it into an already busy schedule, and how you make it less of a chore. I will share mine next week!