Thursday, September 30, 2010

Moderation Nation

Last night was fairly uneventful. Had homemade shredded beef tacos for dinner. We used the leftover meat from the roast I made on Sunday and they were yummy! I did go for a walk but it was a short one. I would post my screenshot but they haven't updated my computer at work yet. I need to load the bodybugg software on the Netbook so I can upload them without using my work computer.


Have you heard of Moderation Nation? I hadn't heard of it until I received an email about it. I went to check it out and boy howdy it is full of helpful and useful information! Here is their mission statement:

The HERSHEY CENTER FOR HEALTH & NUTRITION was established in 2005 to develop and support cutting-edge scientific research for products and technologies to provide consumers with a range of snacking choices. The Center studies the nutritional benefits of cocoa, chocolate, nuts and other nutritious ingredients, and uses this information to guide product development and consumer outreach.

The Center is collaborating with the ADA on consumer and health professional initiatives including MODERATION NATION.

One of the tools that they offer that may be useful to you is to meet with a Registered Dietitian. They will cover the cost up to $250! If your visit exceeds that amount, then you would be responsible for that portion. I met with a Dietitian through my health care provider and it was very helpful to me. Especially with portion sizes!

The other tool that I found very useful is their App from iTunes. They encourage you go to get a minimum of 30 mins of activity per day and have a tool that you can log your activities to keep track of the calories you burn. For example, if you do housework for 10 mins. you can add that into your activity for the day since you are burning calories.

Today is going to be another 10 degrees cooler so AMEN to that! I am so done with all the heat. Not sure what my plans are for tonight. I should try to find an exercise class to attend. I would really like to go swimming but my eczema is acting up so that is a no-go.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

The Weigh it Goes (Hot 100 - Week 1)

The rest of my day did not go much better but alas today is a new day. Amen!! Thanks for all the feedback and support ladies! I have some major decisions to make but I will not allow this to sidetrack me damn it! I am not the same person I used to be though and I am prepared for whatever happens.

Danielle called and asked me to come over and we picked up food from La Paloma for dinner. At 98 degress it was a little too hot to cook.  I had a Crab Tostada.  Since it was still so stifiling hot so I did not do any exercise either.

The scale said 260 this morning which is a 3 lb. loss from last week. Yay!! I am just going to focus on moving forward even though I have seen these numbers again and again. For the challenge, I would like to do a check against my goals so let's see how I did this week.

  1. I will lose 2 lbs. per week.  I lost 3 lbs.
  2. I will wear my bodybugg from 7:00 am until 10:00 pm daily including weekends. I have worn it everyday and posted my screen shots accordingly.
  3. My exercise plan is to exercise a minimum of 30 mins/day for a minimum of 5 days a week. I walked 5 days out of 7 this week for a minimum of 30 minutes.
By the way it is not too late to join the challenge. The close date is Friday, October 1st. I did not make it to the gym this week but I at least will be going to Zumba on Saturday.  Speaking of the gym, I got my monthly newsletter from 24hr Fitness and they have added a new class called Body Pump. It will start on October 9th which is a week from Saturday. It looks like a tough class but an effective one. I definitely want to try it. Looks good huh?

Not sure what the agenda will be tonight. Maybe Tacos at home... It is going to be WAY cooler today. Like 15 degrees cooler which makes me happy. 85 is way better then 100! Hope your week is going well. Until next time...



P.S. I did not upload my screenshot because I have to update the software and I need MIS to help.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Tuesday Topic

We had rotisserie chicken, asparagus and garlic bread for dinner. I just love the rotisserie chickens because they are so versatile. You can use the leftovers for other meals like tacos or throw it in a salad and voila! I get at least 3 meals out of them. My calories were too high as you can see... Plus, I did not get my walk in.  The good news is that there was a deficit at all.

Dave and I had a spiff last night and it was pretty upsetting. I am honestly at a crossroads with our relationship but I don't quite know where to go from here. I love him dearly but I just don't see us being together the rest of our lives. We have been together for almost 5 years which is the longest relationship I have ever been in.  There are some major deal breakers on the table though.  One of the major issues I have is his drinking. He is an Alcoholic and he is not doing anything to stay sober. Last night he had had a cocktail at the bar and some wine prior to the spiff. Well, while I was getting an FF Ice cream bar out of the freezer I found a bottle of whiskey. I took it out of the freezer and put it in one of the cupboards. I understand his addiction but I also know that he has the tools and resources to stay sober and it is HIS choice to continue drinking. I am enabling him by "tolerating" his behavior and allowing him to have booze in the apt.

My day started with spilling my entire Venti Sugar free Vanilla Latte on my desk. It splashed on my pants, got in my shoes and all over the desk and floor. Grrrrr...

Not sure what I am going to do tonight. It is going to be close to 100 degrees today so I will be trying to stay cool.  Dave has a meeting so I will be on my own for dinner. Weigh in is tomorrow so I am hoping for a loss. I did peek at the scale and it is down but I will lock in the official weight tomorrow. Until next time...

Monday, September 27, 2010

Scorching Monday

How was your weekend? Hope you had a good one! I had a nice one. Saturday's visit with my mom went okay. As I imagined it was very surfacey and it turned out fine.  Sunday we had a nice day as well. It was Lisa's (Dave's daughter) birthday so we went to Round Table and had lunch with her.  I had a salad and I did have two of the Parmesan bread sticks.  I made my very first roast in my crock pot! It was a recipe out of the Crock Pot book but I made some adjustments but it came out delicious! It was so tender it just melted in your mouth. There is quite a bit left so we are going to use it for tacos this week and I would like to give some to HG.

The Hot 100 Challenge is keeping me motivated and I am diggin it!!! By the way, it is not too late to enter although you MUST enter by Friday, October 1st at the latest.  It has been a long time since I felt this kind of motivation. As I have mentioned before, I think the fact that I took the time to process the "internal" reasons for my obesity, that I am much more likely to be successful because I never took the time or effort to do that before. I am also glad that I have maintained my weight loss during that time as well.

The weather here is just plain weird. We are going to be in the upper 90s low 100s today which is about 25 degrees warmer then normal. I am uber grateful that I work in an air conditioned office. It is nice to have it be warm in the evening for our walk but I can bundle too LOL!  Here's to having a good week ladies and gents! Until next time...



P.S. I did some "freshening up" around the blog. What do you think?

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Sunday Stuff


Had a good day yesterday. Had a good visit with my mom. As I imagined, the visit was surfacey and pleasant. She did not ask about the bio family and I did not bring it up.

I made Pork Tenderloin for dinner with a salad and baked potato for dinner. Went on a mile walk with Dave around 8 p.m.  I wore my iPod and it definitely upped my pace.  Today I am going to make a roast in the slow cooker for dinner. We are celebrating Dave's daughters birthday today at Round Table so I will have to budget calories accordingly. Hope you are enjoying your weekend. Until next time...

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Post #555

This is Post #555. That is a lot of posts eh? Speaking of, I did a little rearranging and put some links below the header. Tell me what you think, k?  Well almost made the 1,000 cal deficit but Dave brought home some onion rings and I couldn't resist. Walk was short but was glad we went at all. Off to get ready to meet my mom. Wish me luck, LOL! Until next time...

Friday, September 24, 2010

Forward Friday

I was on my own for dinner so I had a Lean Cuisine for dinner. It was the premier night for my fave shows so I DVR'd all of them. I walked a 1.1 miles and went to bed about 11:00 pm. I happened to jump on the scale this morning and it is going down so that was nice to see.

Saturday I am going to meet up with my mom for breakfast. I have not seen her since before Labor Day which is a long time for us - I have talked to her and emailed her daily but I have been working through some mental stuff (some WL some not) and just needed a break from visiting with her.  I imagine we will keep it fairly surfacey but I am hesitant to share any info regarding my biological family so as to not upset her. If she asks I will tell her but I think it is better for everyone if she knows as little as possible.

Speaking of biological family, I mentioned before that I was trying to track down my bio-father. I put together a letter and will be sending it out to 5 Bruce L. Smiths tomorrow.  Hopefully I get a response but if I don't then I think I will just leave it alone. I have survived all this time not knowing so it won't be the end of the world if I don't. At least I know I have tried my best to locate him. I did speak to a woman who was married to a Bruce L. Smith but we are not sure it's the right one and there is no phone number so hence the letters. Guess I just need some closure.

Sunday we will most likely go to an Oakland A's game. I bought tickets awhile back but we never used them and Sunday is the last day. They are not in the running but it would be fun just to go and watch. If we don't go we will most likely go to the movies so we will just wait and see how we feel. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and thanks for all of your support about the Hot 100 Challenge! Until next time...

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Katie J's Kickoff: Hot 100 Challenge

Had salmon as planned and it was fab. Dave and I went on a walk and it was the furthest we have walked to date. It was 1.3 miles around our neighborhood. I also did 40 crunches when we got home. You can see the spike around 8:00 p.m.

Today is Day One of the Hot 100 Challenge and I have come up with the following goals:
  1. I plan to lose 2 lbs. per week for the next 14 weeks (100 days) and I have programmed my bodybugg to achieve that. My deficit required in the past has been 750 calories and and now it is 1,000 which is steep but an achievable goal. The key is going to be to increase my activity to get that kind of deficit daily. I still plan on consuming 1,400-1,600 cals per day. By the way, I posted this information about goal setting. Check it out if you have a chance. There are some worksheets you can print as well.
  2. I will wear my bodybugg from 7:00 am until 10:00 pm daily including weekends. I have been quite loose about wearing it on the weekends. My most successful times of this journey was when I was consistently wearing the bugg and tracking the deficits. I will upload all my screenshots for accountability including weekends.
  3. My exercise plan is to exercise a minimum of 30 mins/day for a minimum of 5 days a week. I would like to go to the gym at least 1-2 times per week as well. One Group X Class and one day of cardio and weight training. I also want to try one new class by the end of this year. I will update on Daily Mile which also displays on my sidebar.
Tonight I am on my own. I am kitty sitting Gretta kitty and plan on going on a bike ride and doing some Wii.  Feeling pretty pumped and it has been a long time coming. The good news is I have not gained any weight for the last 10 months and the bad news is I haven't lost any but I feel like I have worked on some of the internal reasons for my obesity and identified triggers etc. so I am focused and ready! Hoooraaaahhh! Until next time...

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Woeful Wednesday Weigh-in

I am just going to get it out. I am up 3 lbs and I am not happy. Do I know why it happened? Yes! I have been loosey goosey with my portions and having snacks later at night. Am I going to fix it? YES!!! I am throwing down the proverbial gauntlet and declaring battle on my bulge. I am sick and tired of dancing with the same couple of pounds.

Steve at LogMyLoss is doing a Hot 100 Challenge and I think the timing is perfect. I need to jump start my weight loss again and I think this will be a great way to do so. There are exactly 100 days left in 2010. What are you going to do for the last 100 days of 2010? I will declare my goals in tomorrow's post.


Tonight we are having Salmon (yay!) for dinner with red potatoes and green beans. I plan on going for a walk or bike ride with Dave for sure. I also need to review the Class Schedule at 24 hr. Fitness to pick out some classes to go to. I really would like to try Cardio Kickboxing but I am not sure I am fit enough. Have any of you tried it? Hope you are having a good week! Until next time...


P.S. For those of you who used to follow Hadley at Halving Hadley, she is back!!! I missed you Miss Hadley! So glad you came back!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Buggin Me...

Had a very mellow night. I made chicken tenders for dinner but Dave did not want Fajitas because he had a stomach ache. I made some shells and cheese to go with and a salad. Watched Monday Night Football (Go Niners!) and made it an early night. I actually didn't even make it past 9:00 p.m. I have been requiring a little extra sleep lately. I am listening to my body though and getting rest when I need to to keep my immunities up. There have been a few people sick in the office and I don't want their ick so whatever I can do to avoid it.

I have been getting a little loose with portion sizes and I need to nip that in the bud right away. Pulling out the measuring cups when I cook for sure tonight.  I do fine during the day because I pretty much eat the same things all the time but evenings and weekends are when I flounder. I also think I need to wear my bugg on the weekends. My main reason for not wearing it on the weekends is vanity - I didn't want it to show under my summer tops but now that summer is over :-( I can cover it up easier. I am more accountable when I am wearing it for sure. Until next time...

Monday, September 20, 2010

Monday Madness

Had a pretty good weekend... How about you?  Saturday I did not go to Zumba but my friend Tony came over and we played Wii all afternoon. I am the Swordfighting champion!! LOL! Sunday, Dave and I hung out at home all day. He was just plain hurting from all the football games he refereed and I felt a little under the weather. We did get out for a walk/bike ride. Dave walked and I cruised the neighborhood on my bike. I went about a mile or so. I need to get in as many bike rides as possible before the rainy season.


Not sure what the agenda is for tonight aside from Monday Night Football. I was thinking about making chicken fajitas but we shall see. I've never made them before so it would be fun and hopefully good.  Speaking of cooking, I recently got a copy of this cookbook at Target. I have been looking at all of the recipies and have marked the ones that sound good to me. I would like to try Turkey Tacos first and then pot roast and also clam chowder. I will be sure to share the recipies if they work out. Until next time...


Sunday, September 19, 2010

Saturday, September 18, 2010

S.M.A.R.T Skills

I took a class through my health care provider and they gave us these materials to help with goal setting. I wanted to share them with you as well. There are some worksheets you can print out at the end of the post.

S.M.A.R.T Skills

Using the SMART skills is the difference between people who make health changes and stick with them and people who try, but don’t succeed. The five things you need to do:

Set a clear achievable goal
Be sure that your health goal is specific and is something you can measure. For example, “I will walk 30 minutes, 3 days a week” is a clear, specific and measurable goal. Start small – choose a goal that you can accomplish, and then build upon your success.

Monitor your progress
Keep track of what you do. You can use a simple calendar to monitor your health behavior changes over time. Put an “x” on each that you meet your goal. Look for patterns and make adjustments if you are not accomplishing what you planned. You can use this form to chart the number of minutes (in 5-minute increments) that you exercise each day. Watch your progress and feel proud!

Arrange your world for success
Create reminders for exercise all around you. Your car, office, refrigerator door, and bathroom mirror can help you be successful. Put your gym bag in your car so that you have everything you need for a workout. Post a picture of a walker or a runner above your desk to remind you about what you are working toward. Put your monitoring form in a place you see every day – your refrigerator door or bathroom mirror.

Recruit a support team
Enlist the help of others. Let those who want to see you succeed know what you’re trying to achieve. Consider your family, friends and work colleagues as your potential support team. Ask them to support your efforts in meeting your activity goals and to join you in celebrating your success. They will be happy to let you know you are a doing a great job!

Treat yourselfReward yourself each time you do the health behavior you have targeted. Treat yourself after every walk, every gym session, or every time you meet your activity goals. Select a “treat” that is important to you, readily available and not costly. A hot shower with special soap, 10 minutes of alone time or a chat with your exercise pattern are some good examples of treats. Treats are important in the beginning when you are starting a new health behavior – you can phase them out over time.

Here are some supporting documents for setting your goals. One is a Monitoring Form and the other is a Treat Yourself Checklist  Hope you find this information as helpful as I have. Have a good weekend ladies and gentlemen. Until next time...

Friday, September 17, 2010

Last Weekend of Summer


This is the last "offical" weekend of summer. The Autumnal Equinox is on Wednesday next week (22nd) We traditionally think of the end of summer as Labor Day but it truly is not over yet. This has been a very unusual summer climate wise here in California. I am not complaining but it has been at least 20 degrees below normal and that is a considerable amount. In fact they are predicting rain this weekend. It has been very mild and I actually have liked it. I much prefer upper 70s to upper 90s. It will be interesting to see what fall/winter bring us weather wise.

I don't have any big plans for the weekend. Zumba tomorrow a.m. and I would like to do some painting on the bowls. I have never painted one with a rim so I was trying to figure out how I am going to handle it and I decided to bring the green up to where the bowl dips. That way when you look at it you will be able to see the skin and the inside from the top. I will take pictures of the various stages. Sunday Dave does not have any games so we have the day to hang. I am really wanting to go to the coast so maybe we can do that. We shall see. Until next time...

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Awards-A-Plenty!

So in the chaos called my life, I have not been able to acknowledge all of the awards that I have received recently. First of all I must say that I am really and truly humbled. For a so called Weight Loss blog, I haven't been doing much on the Weight Loss front for months! I don't think I would have survived the last few months without your support!













I received the Sugar Doll Award from Erika at Fat Like Me.













Then I was given the Happy 101 by Maranda at A Glimpse of My Journey through Life and from Michelle at The Ramblings of a Wannabe MILF













Then Miss Jennifer at More of You, Less of Me gave me the Versatile Blogger Award













To top it off Deb at Deb Will be FREE gave me the Cherry on Top Award! Thank You ladies from the bottom of my heart! It really means a lot that you take the time to read my blog and to think that I am worthy of a blog award. The rules for the awards are usually to write 10 things you may not know about me. Well, I can't come up with 40 things LOL so I did 10:

1. I am French, Irish, Italian and Indian. (Pssst... I didn't know either!)
2. My dream job would be to be an event planner.
3. I have not moved out of a 15 mile radius of where I was born.
4. I already have music chosen for my funeral
5. I have never gone to the movies by myself but it is on my "list"
6. I am double jointed in both hands.
7. I am addicted to Post-it Notes. I like them in all sizes, shapes and colors
8. I want to zip-line or bungee jump when I get to goal.
9. At one time in my life, I had a hidden piercing
10. I have a good singing voice.

As for passing on the awards, I will have to take the cheap way out. Feel free to grab one if you are so inclined because I think you ALL deserve an award for putting up with me the last few months! Until next time...


Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Back in the 50s...

We had a nice time at La Paloma. I did break down and have one Mango Margarita. I ate some chips and salsa but kept it to a minimum.  I really had a hankering for a couple of Corona's but I resisted them. I had the Crab Tostada and it was fab as usual. I am one of those people who gets the same thing at a particular restaurant. When I find something I like I stick to it. Some of my "faves" have gone by the wayside when I realized how many calories were in them. Thank goodness they have nutrition information so we can make better choices when eating out.

I got on the scale this morning and it said 258 which is down 2 lbs. from last week! Yay!  My lowest on this journey was 253 so I am 5 lbs. away from my lowest which is encouraging. It seems like I stayed the same forever but it goes to show you that you have to stick with it (for life!) because it will eventually start moving again.











Tonight, I am hoping to go to Zumba again. The nice ladies I met on Saturday encouraged me to come on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. too. They were sporting belly dancing skirts so I think I will have to bring mine! That way I can jingle jangle when I wiggle my hips. Dave will make dinner so I can grab a bite before I go. I don't want a repeat of Saturday with the low blood sugar. Until next time...

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

From Whence I came

Sandra Turner and Bruce L. Smith (circa 1966)

Sandra Turner (circa 1980)

While these are not great pictures, it gives you an idea of what my biological parents looked like. I believe, Sandy is pregnant with me in the 1st picture.  I definitely picked up on some of their physical traits. I have my father's smile and my mother's eyes, skin coloring and height. It is so bizarre for me to type that I can't even explain it!

I have been doing a little research trying to find Bruce L. Smith. It is such a common name AND California is a big state. I never really gave him much thought because I knew they were not really together when she got pregnant so I figured he just moved on and that was that. None of my other siblings have seen him in years either. They all remember him fondly though saying he was a positive influence when he was around. He took them fishing and camping and such. He would be about 68 years old now if he is still alive. Given the lifestyle him and my bio mother lived (separately) it would not surprise me if he was dead. I guess it would be good to know but I am not going to obsess about it.

Speaking of biological family, I need to glean the medical information from the documents the social worker sent me. For my entire life, when providing medical background, I would just say "Adopted" and leave it at that. Well, now since I do have some medical history, I can update my file. The only red flag that I see is that my grandmother had Uterine Cancer and all the women in the family have had menstrual issues, including me.  

Last night was uneventful. I had some Sweet and Sour Chicken with Broccoli for dinner (PF Chang's) and Wii'd for a 1/2 hour or so. It had some pineapple in it but I thought I would be okay with it but it upset my belly.  Tonight I will be going to La Paloma for dinner with Danielle. I always have the same thing when I go there and it is the Crab Tostada. It is de-lish!!! I just need to avoid the crack chips and salsa and Mango margies. Until next time... 

Katie J

Monday, September 13, 2010

Weekend Wrap-up

I posted this on Saturday and I think it is a summary of what I have been feeling: The time you've spent tending to family matters recently has probably been satisfying and maybe even fun, but it's definitely taken it out of you, too. Even when things go relatively well, there's an emotional component you just don't get with friends or at work that can be a bit exhausting. It's probably left you even more sensitive than usual, with your emotional nerve endings a little frayed. Take some time for personal renewal, doing whatever recharges you best.

Saturday a.m. I went to Zumba! Can you believe it??? It was a great class but I only lasted 1/2 way through it. I had not had anything to eat and was getting dizzy from low blood sugar so I opted out. It is a kick butt class and I met some nice ladies who go on Wednesday night at 6:30 as well so they told me to come then. Sidenote: I was definitely the biggest lady in the class.


After I got some nourishment, I called Danielle and we went to Clay Planet. I picked up some materials to paint! This is an example of what I got. I plan on making them as gifts for my new siblings and Uncle. It has been a LONG time since I painted but it is something that really makes me happy and relaxed so I was glad to finally go and get supplies.

Sunday was a relaxing day for the most part. We went out to breakfast and to Target.  I needed to get two lamps for the living room and some sheets. Later, we walked to the grocery store but that was about it for exercise on Sunday. I made BBQ chicken, rice and broccoli. 

I'm a little miffed at my friend. She invited my mom to her house and did not invite me or tell me about it until after the fact. Her heart was in the right place but it just hurt my feelings they way it was presented to me. In a way, I am glad it came up because it allowed me to release some of the emotions I have had bottled up. I have had a few people in my day-to-day life that said I have handled all this bio family stuff remarkably well which I think I have done okay but Sunday I let it all out. I feel so much better now! Whew! I don't do well when I repress my feelings. The good news is I am learning not to stuff my face with food to feel better. Until next time...

Sunday, September 12, 2010

The Ocean


In the sun, possibility
In the breeze, purity
In the sand, eternity
In the tides, a symphony

~ Author Unknown ~

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Thintervention

I DVR'd the debut episode of Thintervention and watched it when I got home from work. Here is the synopsis from Bravo's website.

In Thintervention, Warner of the Bravo series Work Out will do what she does best – kick butt and inspire drastic lifestyle changes for her overweight clients who are struggling to lose weight and get healthy for good. Warner will push them to their limit at her gym and inspire them with intense workouts at amazing locations. Not sent to a weight loss camp or facility, instead Warner works with them in their real lives surrounded by the everyday distractions and stresses of family and work, making the chances for long-term success greater. Progress will be checked through group therapy and daily weigh-ins. Warner will do whatever it takes to keep her clients on track - even if it means surprise ambushes at their homes, work or when out socializing.

In typical Warner boot camp style, she will accept nothing less than full commitment to change and will confront those that do not show her they are sincere with their fitness goals.

Jackie is tough but she is a bulldog like Jillian Michael's. I like the fact that it is in her client's own environments vs. them being in a "controlled" environment like Biggest Loser I also like the fact that they do the therapy sessions. I feel strongly that you have to come to terms with what is causing you to overeat whether you have 15 or 150 lbs. to lose. I am looking forward to more episodes and see how they progress.

Hope you have a great day! Until next time...



P.S. This was my horoscope today ;-)

The time you've spent tending to family matters recently has probably been satisfying and maybe even fun, but it's definitely taken it out of you, too. Even when things go relatively well, there's an emotional component you just don't get with friends or at work that can be a bit exhausting. It's probably left you even more sensitive than usual, with your emotional nerve endings a little frayed. Take some time for personal renewal, doing whatever recharges you best.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Friday Fun Stuff

The enchiladas were dynamite! I will definitely be making them again. Here is the recipe in case you wanted to try it:

Ingredients
1 can Campbell's® Cream of Chicken Soup
1 container (8 ounces) sour cream
1 cup Pace® Picante Sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (about 4 ounces)
6 flour tortillas (6-inch), warmed
1 medium tomato, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 green onion, sliced (about 2 tablespoons)


Preparation
Stir the soup, sour cream, picante sauce and chili powder in a medium bowl. Stir 1 cup picante sauce mixture, chicken and cheese in a large bowl. Spread about 1/4 cup chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up and place seam-side down in a 3-quart shallow baking dish. Pour the remaining picante sauce mixture over the filled tortillas. Cover the baking dish. Bake at 350°F. for 40 minutes or until the enchiladas are hot and bubbling. Top with the tomato and onion.

You can find this recipie and more on Campbell's Kitchen There is recipie naviagtor to help you determine what to make by calorie content, fat content , etc. It is a pretty spiffy tool!

I have been trying to find work shoes for friggin weeks now and I finally found a pair. Part of my issue is that I have wide feet (WW) and high arches. The other issue is that my employer requires closed toes and heels so no mules, sling backs, peep toes or sandals. It poses quite a dilemma let me tell you. I seem to have good luck with Easy Spirit but the closest store is at least 45 miles from home so it is not easy to get to. Well, I found these on their web page and they arrived yesterday. They are like slippers they are so comfortable. Since I know they fit, I have decided to buy another pair as back up. That way I won’t have to go through this laborious process again anytime soon.

I don't have any real plans for the weekend. I will be kitty sitting until Tuesday but I just need to go by twice a day so no biggie. Maybe I will get my arse to the gym. I am sick of saying it and not going. Pfffftttt!!! I just need to make it happen. Why oh why am I so resistant to going!?!?! I definitely want to get on my bike. I need to take advantage of the nice weather before it gets crappy again. Hope you all have a great weekend! Until next time...




P.S. I have recently received some blog awards and wanted to acknowledge them but will formally post them soon. Thanks to all of you ladies who thought of me.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Thursday Things



Had a good day yesterday although I could have gone without the big bowl of cereal I had for dessert. I suppose it is good I had a deficit at all. We tried something new for dinner which was Tri-Color Four Cheese Ravioli by Bertolli. It was really yummy! It was better then some pastas I have been served in a restaurant. It is 600 cals per serving which is on the high side but it was nice to have something different. We had a Lite Caesar salad to go with.



Did the Wii for about a 1/2 hour. I love the way that new games open up in Wii Resort. It keeps you from getting bored. I am hooked on Table Tennis and Basketball!

Tonight I am making Chicken Enchiladas. I have never made them before but I have a recipe so it should be just fine. It is 352 calories per serving. We will have salad with it as well. Hoping to take it easy much like last night. I am still absorbing all the stuff from last weekend so I am just trying to keep things low key while I process it. Until next time...


Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Waylay Weigh Day

Woohoo it is Wednesday already! It's amazing what a good night's sleep will do. I went to bed at 9:30 pm and woke up at 7:00 am this morning. Last night was uneventful. I did not play Wii and we had tuna salad sandwiches for dinner. I got on the scale this morning at I am at 260. This is a 3 lb. loss for the week but this is not the lowest I have been thus far. It will be great to be in a new decade again. I have my bugg on and I am ready to go for it!

Today I am meeting up with my mom, aunt and cousin at Carrow's. Melinda lives in Japan and is an English teacher. She only gets back to the states like once or twice a year so we always get together when she comes into town. I never have issues with eating at Carrow's because I always order the same thing (omelet) and it is 460 cals for the meal so I can budget accordingly. Hopefully my weekend activities don't come up in conversation.

My niece, Candace has the most beautiful green eyes. They are really big and bright! I asked her what mascara she uses and it is Christian Dior Diorshow Extase. I usually wear Loreal and I am happy with their products but I am totally sold on this mascara. It retails for $24 (uh yikes!) but it is worth the price. I usually wear Brown or Black/Brown but at this time they only sell it in black but it still looks great. No clumps, flakes or goobies. I totally recommend it!


Will be walking tonight with Dave and doing some Wii for sure. Going to have the spinach raviolis and salad for dinner. Hope you have a great day! Until next time...


Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Trippy Weekend

Hope you all had a good 3 day weekend. It was a very trippy weekend for me! I will remember this weekend for the rest of my life for sure. My niece, Candace and I went to Eureka as planned. We left Saturday late morning and got there in the early evening. We did stop on the way at In & Out Burger. It was yummy! It was only the 3rd fast food hamburger I have had in a year and 9 months so I really enjoyed it. Eating was spotty throughout the weekend and I did not take my pills or insulin (Bad Katie!) Saturday night we went to Home Buffet and I managed okay but I walked out of there feeling fuller then full and I realized how much I hate that overstuffed feeling. I did get on the scale this morning and I am down 3 lbs. from last Wednesday but I am not sure it will stick so I will weigh "officially" in on Wednesday. Here are some pictures I took:


Tess, Katie J and Mike (birth order)



Stream where bio mothers ashes were distributed


Bench near stream where ashes were

Trees over the stream

We did not get home until 12:30 a.m. and I was finally able to crash about 1:30 a.m. so I am hella tired today. I don't have anything planned for this evening fortunately. I am going to make some ravioli and salad for dinner and play some Wii and make it a very early night. Until next time...