Had an excellent first week…

At least weight loss wise I did.  I love the first week back on program because I usually do really, really well.

I weighed in this morning at:

198.6

I am very pleased!  That’s a loss of 4.8 pounds.  I had forgotten to post my first weigh-in last week which was 203.4

I now have 11.6 pounds to lose to get back to where I was when I stopped WW last August.

I am drinking my water, eating 3 meals and 2 snacks and I am not snacking or eating dinner after 7pm (except for last night when I didn’t get home until 8pm).

Now I have to start getting the exercise in.  I hate exercise, truth be told.  I know I feel amazing when I do it, it’s just that I lack the motivation to start.  I am going to get the eating habits take hold for another week, then I am going to start with some kind of exercise.  I know that Amy wants to do the Couch to 5k.  I would love to be able to run a 5K in the fall, so I am thinking that this is something we can do together.

I think the hardest is trying to find ways to get the exercise in.  I work full time outside the home, and I am running children around every night of the week.   I am going to start by taking my runners to work and walk at lunch with a co-worker who wants to start exercising too.

That’s all for now!  Have a great week.

What’s for Dinner?

This is a question I hear every day at this time, usually from every single one of the 6 kids.   Truth be told, it drives me crazy, and I usually answer “FOOD!”

I think the hardest thing I find about trying to lose weight and feed a big family at the same time,  is to find meals that are:

1. Low-fat/healthy
2. Kid Friendly
3. Frugal

We usually end up with 2 out of the 3 most days.   When we find something that incorporates all 3, we jump for joy!  LOL.  One such meal is Salsa Couscous Chicken.  We got the recipe from our friend Vicki.  It incorporates all 3 of our requirements, and it’s fricken awesome!

SALSA COUSCOUS CHICKEN ~ courtesy Canadian Gingers

 

INGREDIENTS
6 cups hot cooked couscous or rice
2 tablespoons oil
1/4 cup coarsely chopped almonds
6 garlic cloves, minced
12 chicken thighs, skin removed
3 cups salsa
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup dried currants or raisins
3 tablespoons honey
1 1/2  teaspoon cumin
1 tsp teaspoon cinnamon

 

DIRECTIONS

 1. Cook couscous as directed on package.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add almonds; cook 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from skillet; set aside.

3. Add garlic and chicken to skillet; cook 4 to 5 minutes until chicken is browned, turning once.

4. In small bowl, combine salsa and all remaining ingredients; mix well. Add to chicken. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook 20 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink, stirring occasionally.

5. Stir in almonds. Serve over couscous.

We usually do not have the almonds with it but have in the past.  I plugged the ingredients into Spark People’s Recipe Calculator and here’s the breakdown (based on 1/2 cup couscous, 1 chicken thigh, and sauce – no almonds in this calculation)

• Calories: 247.0
• Total Fat: 5.4 g
• Cholesterol: 57.3 mg
• Sodium: 346.0 mg
• Total Carbs: 32.3 g
• Dietary Fiber: 2.9 g
• Protein: 17.7 g

We usually add a veggie or have a salad with it to round it out.  The kids love it, the grown-ups love it.  It’s not terribly expensive either, especially if you buy the thighs with the skin on and take it off yourself.  And it’s low fat and good for you.

Have any tried and true recipes that fit all 3 of our criteria?  Do share!!

Restarting this blog and my journey…

I was doing soooo well with Weight Watchers.  I was down to 187 pounds in July 2011.  Then our money situation tightened and I stopped going to WW. 

I have officially gained back 16 pounds of the 24 I had lost.

I am back above 200 again.

I feel terrible.

So it’s time.  Time to start moving.  Time to start eating better. Time to get healthy and be more accountable.

I joined Spark People.  It’s a free website where you can track calories, track your fitness, connect with people.  If you anyone reading this is a member, my user name on SP is questforskinny and I would love to hear from you.

Also, if you know of any really great weight loss blogs, could you post the link the comments?  I need all the inspiration I can get!!

In order to be accountable here, I will be posting my weekly weigh-in (which will be Wednesdays), healthy eating recipes, my exercise progress…basically keeping myself accountable!

Hope you’ll all keep coming back and cheering me on.  If you’re on a weight loss journey too, please let me know and I will add you to my ‘Skinny’ Blogroll!!