Nutrisystem- Slowing Down

Just finished my 16th week on Nutrisystem. I feel great! Its been a fun journey and I've lost several pounds and inches now.

The weight is now coming off slowly. Its only about a pound a week. I guess that is better than a pound gained but I wish to loose more. I'm just 15lbs away from reaching my goal. Hopefully the pounds will start dropping faster soon. They suggest I make sure to get all my foods in for the day. Other than NS foods, I'm suppose to have recommended snacks in between. I'm suppose to eat something every 3 hours, 6 times a day and 4 servings of veggies. Seems like a lot of food huh? Well not really because the snacks are things like a tablespoon of almonds, a slice of bread, cheese, or yogurt, etc. Small healthy things.

Nutrisystem- Ravioli

I'm still loving the foods and its gotten a lot easier to say no to other foods I shouldn't be eating.
I went on a beach trip the other weekend and was able to turn down the good smelling foods that were tempted everywhere we went. I did however, eat a dozen oysters one night and Mexican food the next . I also snacked on pop corn, carrots and almonds while laying on the beach all day. I over ate on those snacks but Its was all good. It didn't cause me to gain any weight. I didn't loose any either but no gain was a blessing.

Despite all the rain we have had these past couple weeks I have been able to get in my walks. One day we walked in the rain. Its was rather nice.

           

 

Here I am after that long wet walk, showing off my Dancing With The Stars, "Raise The Barre" tank that Nutrisystem sent me. What a surprise it was for me.

Its been a slow journey lately with my weight loss but I have thought about it and I plan to keep going on this diet. Its so easy to follow. With the discounts I have been collecting, It's gotten to a reasonable cost for me. I still have a few more pounds to shed to be ready for my August Vacation. I hope the pounds start dropping more and more.

Beginning weight- 168 lbs.
Weight after 16 weeks- 142 lbs.
That's 26 lbs. lost!

Frozen Yogurt Sandwich

Do you like Ice cream sandwiches but your diet says no?
Well then how about a yogurt sandwich instead?

Since being on Nutrisystem I have learned to make healthier choices in what I eat.

These little frozen goodies are healthy, delicious and less than 100 calories each. They are easy to make and fit right into your diet without any guilt. If your not on a diet, then you can just eat all you want and not regret it.

Frozen Yogurt Sandwich

8- Low fat graham cracker sheets (note: each cracker sheet has 4 triangles).
1- Low fat, 80 calorie yogurt (flavor of your choice).
1/3 cup- Sugar free cool whip ( taste better than fat free and you will never know its sugar free)

Mix the yogurt and cool whip together.
Lay 4 crackers sheets in a single layer in a shallow dish.
Pour mixture over crackers.
Top with 4 cracker sheets..
Freeze for at least 4 hours
Cut into squares (each cracker makes 2 squares when cut in half)
Enjoy

Only 92 Calories per square.

Go ahead and experiment with different flavors. I think lemon would be good.
You can add nuts or spinach. Yes spinach. Just like you would a smoothie. It may turn a pretty green but you will not taste it in there. Really.

PS: After freezing overnight, they got really hard so you may want to cut and separate after about 4 hours. Wrap each individual sandwich in foil and place back into the freezer to enjoy anytime.

Ive shared this at:
full-plate-thursday at mizhelenscountrycottage
thursday-favorite-things at katherinescorner
link-and-share-wednesday at oombawkadesigncrochet
weekend-bloggy-reading-link-up at serenitynowblog
dare-to-share at pamspartyandpracticaltips

Nutrisystem- The Reveal

I finally found a "fat" picture so I could show off my reveal. Like most of us, we get rid of the "bad" pictures. I found a photo that I could not get rid of because it was from my Daughters college graduation and it was a good one of her. I made a copy to crop so I can use it for my reveal photo.

This is me after loosing 21 lbs.

I survived Easter weekend with all the fun foods and family dinners. I controlled myself and eat light. I did however, Eat a cookie, a piece of cheese cake and a peep. I did not gain a pound but instead, I actually lost some more ounces.

I step on the scales every morning. I know, they say not to do that but do. It will move up or down a couple ounces each day but mostly down. This gives me the motivation either way, to continue.

I actually cleaned out my closet last weekend and give away my size 12s. My 10's are loose and I can wear an 8. woohoo! I feel good about that. I do struggle with feeling bad when I'm around others that think they are overweight. I shouldn't. Even though I do not think they need to diet, they can if they choose too. Nobody can take the weight off except the person wanting too. I also know how a size 8 or 10 can feel big if you spent most of your life under 100 lbs. which I did. I remember an 8 being a large! Now I'm happy to just be back in an 8. So, everyone is different.

I have lost a couple more pounds this past week and hope to loose 15 more. I plan to continue with the Nutrisystem Diet through May. I have not decided to keep on or postpone my shipments for a couple months. It sort of scares me to think of eating my own things again. But I may try it a month or more to see if I can keep the weight down myself.

I'm still loving the foods I get from Nutrisystem and the program is fun to keep up with.  I could never think of this many foods to eat each day. It never gets boring.

Baked Garbanzo Beans

Are you looking for a healthy veggie to snack on?
Try baking  can of Garbanzo beans. AKA chick peas.

For some reason every time I hear the word Garbanzo I think of the Muppet character Gonzo. I just do.

Garbanzo beans are loaded with fiber and satisfies hunger. You can find more about one of the most healthiest foods here.

If you don't like the taste of these peas, then don't give up on them just yet. Once you bake some and turn them into crispy snacks, you may just change your mind. The pea taste disappears and has more of a nutty flavor.

You will need:

• 2 cans of Garbanzo beans.
• olive oil
• seasoning.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

1. Rinse the peas with cool water really good to get rid of the starchy stuff.
2. Drain really well and pat dry. Make sure you get them as dry as you can. I poured mine on to paper towels and patted them dry over and over.
3. You will see skins come off the peas. This is ok. Pick out what you can but don't worry about the rest. There is no way to get them all and they will not hurt a thing. They are just not pretty.
4. Pour onto a foil lined cookie sheet.
5. Place in oven for 15 minutes.
6. Remove from oven and spray or drizzle with olive oil.
7. Add seasoning. I did two flavors. I did half in cinnamon sugar and the other was salt and pepper.
8. Place back in oven in oven for additional 15 minutes.
9. Turn off oven and leave the oven door open to help them get crispy as they cool. But its not necessary. 

Go ahead and eat them all because they don't keep well and will turn soft within a day or two.

ENJOY.

 

 

Iv'e shared this at:
mix-it-up-monday-blog-party at flourmewithlove
be-inspired at elizabethandcovintage
 

 



Happy Easter

Hope everyone is having a happy Easter.

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. First, its symbolize how Christ sacrificed for us all. Its meant to be a new beginning. Its the beginning of spring. The flowers and dogwoods are blooming. The birds are singing and rushing around to get their nest built. I just love it.

Our church had a Good Friday service. Then Easter egg hunt was on Saturday and Easter morning we went to sunrise service and breakfast then attended church service a few hours later. We are now on our way to have lunch with family.

My daughter came home to spend the weekend. She will never outgrow the Easter tradition of dying eggs and baking some Easter goodies and yes, she still gets an Easter basket full of goodies. Did I mention, shes 23 years old? Yep still our baby.

We dyed eggs

 

 

and tried to make some bunny tails. AKA "Lemon Coconut Bliss". .You can find the recipe here. I couldnt get the recipe to work for me but the mess of mush it made was tasty.

This year, my husband was the Easter bunny.  He wanted to do her Easter basket this time. I sat back and let him. He has been staying on her to keep her car clean since shes moved out. Shes said she doesn't have things to do it with... 

She does now. This year, her basket was a car wash bucket instead of a pocket book. It was filled with sponges, soaps, shiners and sprayers instead of beauty products, clothes and games. The look on her face when she got it was priceless. Sort of confused and surprised. Ok, mom had to add some candy, cookies and makeup to the mix but it was still wash bucket.

I think my Husband did a good job. I believe Ill let him do her next birthday and Christmas

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE.

If I Could Have It My Way

A lot of people have what they call a bucket list. Its a list of things they wish to accomplish before they die. I refuse to do one of these because, one, It would be a rather short list, and two, Id have to much anxiety to get it done fearing I wouldn't fulfill it all before I actually did die. So, I just take life one day at a time and take what it gives me.

I do think often though. I have dreams. I do not think any of my wishes are out of reach. Its just the time and money it would take to get there.

If could have it my way:

• I would no longer work in this smelly office filled with vulgar talk, smoke smog and non-appreciation.
• Id leave it today if I could have it my way.
• I would be working in a more professional office or health care facility of some sort preferably using my phlebotomy training. 
• That job would be located in the place I want to live, the coast.
• It could even be just a part time job to get me by. I don't care to be rich, just comfortable. Id rather find resourceful ways to get by instead of relying on all the luxury of the world.
• I would live in a small house where I can smell, hear and see the ocean from my windows. 
• My windows would always be open If I could have it my way.
• A place where I feel safe to be alone. Where I can have leisure and relaxation.
• I would visit South Port, take bike tours in Beaufort, and see the light houses at the Outer Banks.
• Me and my husband would find a new church together.
• I would have one cat. I wish to have a blue Scottish fold. again, only one.
• I would have all new friends and the true friends here would visit me a couple times a year.
• I would marry my Husband again. We'd have a small ceremony on the beach and a lieu following with lots of people and new friends.
• I have it all planned out, If could have it my way.
• I would not want to be further than a few hours drive from my Mom and Dad.
• and my Daughter would live and work close by.
• I would take up surf fishing.
• I would take a ride on a sail boat, maybe even learn to sail one and have my own.
• I would stay healthy and live to be 100 years old and still leave the world before my loved ones.
• If only I could have it my way.

We will be taking our first beach trip of the year soon. My husband and I will continuously talk about "one of these days". We have a lot of the same dreams. I just feel they are closer than he does. I'm just more spontaneous and optimistic. If it takes a few more years to get started with our wishes, then so be it. Ill take what life throws at me. I am blessed with a wonderful husband and daughter and just knowing how in love we are and enjoy every minute together, makes me happy today.