Friday, July 18, 2014

On a Roll

So why share another food post???   I say, why not?
Too soon? Oh well.

I've become a health nut of sorts (at least I'd like to think so).  I feel like I am doing a pretty good job at staying under the 1200 calories my Jenny Craig consultant advised me. Nevertheless, I must confess that I did not work out yesterday.  :(  That's a whole 2 days with out any activity.  I have been a little less motivated than the norm.   I, however; plan to change that today! There is absolutely no excuse for my laziness.  I need to ingrain that in my mind.   I MUST work-out today! No excuses.

Here's my Food Journal for 7/17/2014

BREAKFAST






LUNCH
Lean Cuisine- Roasted Turkey Breast.   It was reminiscent of Thanksgiving. :)   Oh, and those yellow spud looking things on the the right of my LC are not potatoes.  They are cinnamon apples!!  I was deceived. Ehh, they were still good.  I'm sure it's happened to some of you before.











DINNER
I've been on a Turkey Sandwich roll.  This time I added some crumbled Queso Fresco & avocado. That blob of red on my plate is none other than Sriracha.  Need I say more?









It's all about making the right choices, no need to starve yourself.


Thursday, July 17, 2014

Back To Basics

It  has been a while since I shared a food post with you guys.   I have been customizing my own meals due to my temporary break-up with Jenny Craig.  Not to fear, I will soon be back on JC but my budget hasn't allowed it.   I can't wait.  In the interim I will continue eating as healthy as possible.   I haven't weighed myself since my last JC weigh-in (before I went on vacation).  I promise to give you guys an update early next week.  I will also post a progress picture next week so you can see the changes in my body, or lack thereof.

My Food Journal for 7/16/2014


BREAKFAST
Oatmeal has become a breakfast staple for me.  Prior to starting this health journey, I NEVER ate breakfast.   This is a big step for me.  (120 calories)








LUNCH
I opted for a Lean Cuisine meal.  The Grilled Chicken Pasta Primavera (220 calories), it was actually pretty tasty.  This particular Lean Cuisine meal is from their spa collection.  I did notice that the veggies looked to be fresher than other LCs I've tried in the past.  I accompanied my meal with a big bowl of spring mix.









SNACK  
Light & Fit Peach Yogurt (80 calories).









DINNER
Yesterday was a breakfast for dinner kinda night.  I went for two poached eggs (although it looks like only one egg -one of those suckers popped before I could take a picture), a piece of wheat toast and some avocado.  It was delicious.  Fun fact about me:  I love poached eggs!!  (300 calories)









ACTIVITY

I am so upset at myself for not working-out.  :(  

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

What The Hell

I tried Bikram Yoga for the very first time yesterday.  I'm going to be completely raw and honest, so here it goes....

I rushed to the Yoga Studio after work.  As I drove there, I couldn't quite place my emotions.  I was nervous, scared and excited.   I was nervous because I had mentally prepared myself to be one of the only chubby bunnies in the class.   Well, I was kinda right.  I walked in about 3 minutes late, which is a big no-no in Yoga.  The instructor was a friendly and flamboyant guy in his mid 30s.  He had a sort of energy that exuded from within.   He was clothed in yoga micro-mini shorts, which initially made me a bit uncomfortable, only to realize that it was me who was overdressed.  I wore shorts to class, nobody told me that there was an unwritten dress code that marked bathing suits as acceptable.  Now I know.

So let's get to the good part.  The Class.  It was 90 minutes of sheer torture...yes, torture.  The heat was excruciating.  If hell is a place, then I know how it feels.  The first 20 minutes of the class were bearable.  At times I caught myself proudly half-assing the yoga poses, "I can do this", I thought to myself.  Somewhere around the 40-60 minute mark, I decided I was dying.  I really thought I was going to start hyperventilating. Just imagine, 48 people in a 105 degree room.  My oxygen supply was on low, I was surely convinced.   Just when I thought I couldn't go on, the instructor tells us to lay down: dead body pose.  The name seemed all too appropriate, a sort of premonition.  My body was slowly dying, giving out.....  He then stated, "the hard part is over, relax".   I couldn't believe I had survived 60 minutes in this cave of human humidity....I was dripping wet, or dripping sweat I should say.  It was ridiculous.  I actually formed a circle of sweat around me which my towel had absorbed into a damp mess.  The class ended around the 93 minute mark, not that I was counting but hey, didn't they say it was a 90 minute class!!  On my drive home I tried to convince myself that the class was not at all that great.  It was kind of like a sauna with yoga.  I was too busy trying to overcome heat exhaustion to notice any strain in my limbs.

I got home, fixed myself a turkey, tomato, onion, spinach, avocado sandwich (340 calories).   I was beat.  I also felt strange, almost emotional.

I lay in bed peacefully and something came over me, a wave of sadness, joy, anger... I couldn't tell.  I shed a few tears and dozed off into sleep.  Why?  I still don't know.

I awoke refreshed and triumphant.  I did it!! I conquered a 90 minute hot yoga class!  I will be back to that hell hole, that doubles as studio tomorrow.  I think I liked it.  I'm still trying to figure it out.  :)


FOOD
I always overestimate the calories I consume, just to stay on the safe side
I'm pretty sure I did not consume 195 calories worth of dressing but better safe than sorry.




If you've ever tried hot yoga I would LOVE to hear about your experience.


Saturday, July 12, 2014

Hot Tamale!

As is always customary on Friday nights, I had wine.  Why?  Because I can't possibly see myself sticking to my weight loss journey with out my, oh so, wonderful Pinot Noir.

Let them be drink and be merry, they said... and, so I did.

I am proud to announce that I worked out and ate fairly healthy.  I did however, eat tamales....Oh My God...if you've never tried them you are missing out!  My family is Mexican American and we have tamales only once a year during the Christmas season.  And so, when I was given the choice to eat some in the middle of July, I could not turn them down.  Sue me.   I thoroughly enjoyed each bite and savored every morsel.  So delicious.  But again, I worked out.  I guess it balances out...or at least, that's what I keep telling myself. ha!

Here's the nitty-gritty:

(Yes, there's a RED, -8)

FOOD





ACTIVITY














Friday, July 11, 2014

My Week Without Jenny Craig

Hello bloggie world!

As you probably know by now, I have been on my own since I got back from vacation.   I will have to wait until next week until I can purchase my Jenny Craig meals.  In the meantime, I've worked hard at staying on track.  Since my last post, I have cooked my own meals and tracked my calories on MyFitnessPal.  For those of you that have been living under a rock, MyFitnessPal is an app that allows you to track your calories & exercise.  

I had a tough day yesterday.  For some reason I was feeling down on my luck.  I almost felt like throwing in the towel but I somehow managed to persevere.  All day I kept dreading the idea of exercising.  I imagined myself on my stationary miserable...angry...defeated.  Of course, as any wife would, I vented to my husband about my temporary feelings of self-loathing and misery.  Instead of allowing me to dwell in my negative emotions he motivated me to push through.  He offered to go for a run with me....did I mention how much I love this man???  He's my rock and I am blessed beyond belief.  :)

So we went for a jog and I felt amazing after I was done.  I couldn't have done it with out him (thank you honey, I know you're reading).  

Oh, btw...another handy-dandy app that I recommend you guys download is the Pacer App, where you can track your daily steps; yes, a pedometer.  It automatically assigns you a goal of 10,000 steps, which some say translates into 5 miles.  Not to shabby.  It is unfortunate that my field of work requires little to no movement.   This app has helped me push myself to walk more.  For example, after I left work, I had only paced a total of 1900 steps all day!!  Yeahh, I know! Wth?!

After my jog I was at 10,171, which is equivalent to 1:29 minutes of activity and last but not least, 278 calories burned!   Here's a screenshot:






While I'm on my on, I intend to stay under the 1,200 calories my JC consultant recommended.  I know there's more to it, including exchanges, etc... but this seems like a safe approach for now.

It's all about accountability....so here's yesterday's menu:









In addition, my snack between lunch and dinner was a whole mango  (the screenshot didn't grab the snack section).


P.S. (I'm running out of JC food, I'm down to 2 rising crust pizzas, sad day)






Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Just Like That....Back To Reality

Hello Everyone!!

I am back from paradise! I had an amazing time on vacation!  I'll share some pictures soon!


But Oh, God....


I am sooo afraid to step on the scale.  I was super pumped about packing my Jenny food....but as you can guess, that plan went down the drain.  I keep telling myself that it's okaaaay! Or is it? LOL  My husband tells me that all is well and that I don't look, nor feel heavier ;)   Bless his heart.  Honestly, I think he's right (wishful thinking).  Although, I did indulge while on vacation, I found myself controlling my portions and foregoing high-caloric drinks.   Ya know the kind with mini umbrellas, that you can picture yourself having on the beach?  Yeah, I skipped out on those. :)  Instead, I opted for less sugary drinks and wine.  Well, guess what, the last night of my trip I decided to have my one and only Pina Colada....and that was that!

At this point, I don't know... I'm scared, better yet, terrified to face the REALITY of the scale.  Even worse, my vacation left me depleted of funds....and now, I'm left without Jenny Craig food for an entire week!!!!! EEEK!!!  I want to cry! waahh!  I have a few meals left, therefore, I completely intend to make the best out of this week.  For example today, I started my morning with a Yogurt and an Anytime Bar.   For lunch, I had JC's Sweet & Sour Rice, and yes, I know it's a dinner item, but at 210 calories, I decided it was fine.

The good news is that I walked ALOT and by ALOT I mean ALOT, while I was on vacation.  The latter, is my silver lining. :)

I am actually looking forward to getting back to the rhythm of things...as soon as I get home from work I will climb on my bike!

In the past, I would have looked at this vacation as a burden towards my weight loss journey.  Quite frankly, I would have probably stopped working out and eating healthy all together.   Not this time!!! I can't expect to get the results I want if I keep letting life's hiccups and bumps in the road stop me.

I will also post a progress (or lack-thereof) picture to keep you guys in the loop.  Knowing that you guys are following my journey, helps motivate me!  So, I thank you!!

For example, my lovely reader Cynthia sent me a comment a little while ago.  She is the reason you are reading these words right now.   Thank you Cynthia for your kind words.  I will not fail you guys!!  But sometimes, I need a kick in the arse.








Friday, June 27, 2014

I'm Going On Vacation To Paradise!!! Wish me luck!

Hello There!

I know I have been M.I.A for a bit and I am so very sorry!

I am going on Vacation and have been busy packing, cleaning and getting things ready for our trip.   I'm happy to report that I have been eating healthy and working out in hopes of losing a few more pounds before my trip. So far, I have lost a total of  10lbs since starting Jenny Craig!! Wooohoo!!! YAAAY!

To be honest, I am a little terrified of taking this Vacation.  I am going to Puerto Rico which is paradise, as far as I'm concerned.  I am well aware that I have to make smart decisions, which is why I've packed some JC meals & snacks.  I know that I will probably not lose any weight these next 10 days; however, if I can keep these 10 lbs off I would be more than satisfied! I will be back on July 8th...and will post an update then.  



Thank you so much to those who read my blog!
We are on this journey together!  Let's keep ourselves motivated and accountable!


Cheers!

My Twenties Made Me Fat

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Is Anybody Out there????

Should I keep posting?  Is anyone interested in these kind of posts?


If so, I would love to know... I don't have any comments from anyone.  

I will gladly keep posting my progress if there's interest.


Thanks....

Friday, June 20, 2014

Peaks and Valleys....Days 10 & 11

Shit! These days have been tough.  I'm not sure why but these last two days have tested my character.   I somehow managed to endure.   As you probably know, I've started switching out some of the Jenny Craig food items.  I feel it necessary to learn how and what to substitute.   I am well aware that I will not be able to continue Jenny Craig forever.   Living in one the most expensive cities in the US doesn't help either.  My husband and I have been saving for a house and I feel it absolutely necessary to watch my spending.   With that said, I will move on to what I've been eating these last couple days.

Day 10 Jenny Craig Challenge

BREAKFAST
My Jenny Craig consultant understands that I'm on a budget, so she advised me to substitute some of the breakfast items for things such as oatmeal and store bought cereal.  So on Day 10, I had Quaker instant oatmeal, at only 150 calories this seemed like a good option.  No complaints here.




LUNCH
Hello Turkey Burger addiction!!!





DINNER
Meatloaf with barbeque sauce.....ehhh....it was fine.   I grilled a portebello mushroom and was so excited to eat it, only to realize it was bad.  So I threw it out.   FYI:  The Meatloaf is on the right side of the plate.







ACTIVITY
40 minutes on the Stationary Bike....no picture of workout screen this time.  My husband tripped over the plug and disconnected it.  :(  Sad day.   This work-out was particularly agonizing....it was a tough day overall.


__________________________________________________________________________

Day 11 Jenny Craig Challenge

I woke up around 9:00 am and stayed in bed watching the World Cup (Italy vs. Costa Rica).  I somehow managed to pull myself out of bed around 10ish and headed straight for my exercise bike.  Thirty-six minutes and 11.0 miles later, I finished my work-out.  This is getting tougher than I thought.  I got this!!!  At least, that's what I keep telling myself.


BREAKFAST
French Toast and Iced Coffee!!!  You guys already know how much I love Jenny Craig's French Toast. 




On another note, I didn't work today because someone in the office needed to take Sunday off.  I volunteered to cover said coworkers shift, out of the goodness of my heart...so saintly, sure, yeah...   I don't ever work Sundays but hey, there's a first time for everything.  Soooo, since I had the day off I decided it would be nice to go to matinee showing of The Fault In Our Stars with my cousin (she's on summer break from college).  It was such a great movie! Go watch it!!!   Just make sure to pack some tissues.   I'm happy to report that I did not fall off the wagon.  I snuck in my Jenny Craig White Cheddar Popcorn and ended up buying a Diet Coke at the concession stand.   Success!


LUNCH
Cheesy Mashed Potatoes & Fried Chicken.  I love this meal, it never disappoints.  Oh and btw, Sriracha hot sauce has become my new best friend....just thought you should know.  It's amazing how much flavor it adds to any dish.





DINNER
I'll let you know.....





ACTIVITY







Also,  I thought this would be a good day to share my progress picture.  I took this Day 7  of my challenge (keep in mind that I am now on day 11).  Feel free to check out my first post Day 1 for a picture of my Pre-Jenny Craig challenge body.  Let me know your thoughts.... do you guys see a difference?   I will continue posting progress pics every week or so....stay tuned.






Thursday, June 19, 2014

Working Around My Jenny Craig Food Schedule--Day 9


BREAKFAST/LUNCH

I often travel for work... and by travel, I mean drive to different cities in Southern California...nothing too far. Yesterday however; was an exception.  I drove from Downtown Los Angeles (which is where my office is located) to Oxnard, CA.  Oxnard is a small city in Ventura County, approximately 2 hours away.  I knew that not having a fridge and/or microwave handy was going to be an issue.   I made sure to plan ahead and decided to indulge in healthy alternatives.  I started my morning with my usual cup of coffee.   Around 9:30 am I ate a Yoplait Light Yogurt, boston cream pie flavor, if you must know. :)   I also packed a small container of grapes and my handy-dandy White Cheddar Popcorn to ensure I was covered for the day. The yogurt and coffee held me up for most of my day, but on my way home, which was around 1:00 pm my hunger reared its ugly head.  So instead of stopping at a fast food joint, which would have been the norm, I munched away on grapes and White Cheddar Popcorn.   I arrived home around 3:30 pm, worked out for about 40 minutes and decided on breakfast for lunch--so Sunshine Sandwich it was!



DINNER
So for dinner, I had a Turkey Burger.  Yes, I know it's a lunch item but the day started off weird to begin with, so what the heck!  Here's a picture of my dinner:








ACTIVITY











P.S.  I ended my night with a glass of Mirassou Pinot Noir.  After a hectic day, it was just what I needed.








Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Week 2 on Jenny Craig--Day 8

You probably already know that my weigh-in was yesterday, if not please refer to my last post Weigh-In.   I lost a total of 5.4 lbs.  The weight loss was just the motivation I needed to continue my journey with Jenny Craig.   Now that I know that my body is responding to the program I am even more excited to keep going. Last night, my consultant and I talked about different ways to offset the cost of the program.  So this week, I will be incorporating store-bought breakfast items to my diet.  My consultant advised me to alternate between Jenny Craig Breakfasts, Oatmeal and Cereal (healthy cereal, of course...for example, Special K).  I decided to start Week 2 with a Jenny Craig Breakfast.  I am planning to have Special K for breakfast tomorrow.

BREAKFAST
The Breakfast Scramble was delicious!  I added some Sriracha to that baby and it was heavenly! A must try!!!





SNACK/VITAMIN
This week I switched it up and decided on the Oatmeal Raisin Anytime Bars instead.  It's safe to say that my palate appreciates this flavor over the Vanilla Chocolate Crisp.  Too bad they are only here for a limited time. :(    Both flavors look the same but the taste is no where near similar.  The Oatmeal bars are softer and less dense, whereas the Vanilla bars are doughy and chewy.







LUNCH
Oh my God.  I accidentally brought a Jenny Craig dinner item instead of lunch.  Thank heavens for my awesome consultant, she made sure to tell me that I was welcome to switch between dinner and lunches on occasion, as long as I kept my caloric intake under 1200.  Although, my lunch entree was accidental, it ended up working out.  I had the Homestyle Chicken Casserole with a side of baby spinach.  It was a creamy mix of penne pasta, bits of ham, broccoli, carrots and strips of chicken.  Pretty awesome if you ask me. Due to my unprecedented lunch hiccup, I will be having a lunch item for dinner.  The turkey burger is already on my mind. 




DINNER
Turkey Burger-and as usual it was amazing!



I would love to hear your results thus far!!!  What are your were you Week 1 weigh-in results?


My Twenties Made Me Fat



Monday, June 16, 2014

End of Week One- Day 7--WEIGH IN!!!!!!!!

Today is day 7 of my +Jenny Craig challenge.   As promised.  I will post a new picture and results of my weigh-in.   All in all, I feel good about my first week back on JC.   As you read in my posts, I didn't follow JC to the tee, because, let's get real.... life is going to happen.   The decision to give Jenny Craig another go came with the decision to change my lifestyle.  This is not a temporary weight loss challenge for me.  I want to be healthier, happier and who are we kidding, slimmer.  I am slowly re-learning how to eat and re-evaluating what I choose to put in my body.   I will keep you posted on my progress.



BREAKFAST
No breakfast today so I had to settle for an Anytime Bar with Coffee.  Boo :(




LUNCH
Zesty Tortellini Soup and a green salad for lunch.







After work I rushed to my local Jenny Craig center....the moment of truth:


WEIGH-IN---WEEK 1 RESULTS

ORIGINAL WEIGHT: 189.8 lbs- June 9th, 2014

CURRENT WEIGHT: 184.5 lbs- June 16th, 2014

TOTAL LOSS: 5.4 lbs!!!!



DINNER
We went to Olive Garden to celebrate Father's Day- my dad works Sundays.  I did my research and found out that the lightest meal was the Baked Tilapia and Shrimp at 360 calories (thank you Jenny Craig Dining Out Guide), I ordered a dry green salad with no cheese and opted for the light dressing.  I barely dashed the dressing unto my salad and added lots of pepper...and since I didn't have breakfast or my snack, I had calories to spare.  Oh and btw, did I mention that I worked out!!??!  Yes!!!!  After I got home from my JC consultation, I squeezed in a brief 30 minute work-out!  I think I'm starting to get the hang of this!





ACTIVITY






WEEK 1 in the books!!!









Sunday, June 15, 2014

Weekends are the Devil--Day 5 & 6

I was dreading the weekend because I knew that it would be harder to stay on track.  Yesterday, my husband's family had a Father Day's BBQ.  I knew that eating the right thing was going to be a challenge, and so I did what any responsible JC dieter would do.  I starved myself!  Joking.  As usual, I slept in and arose around 10am.  Saturday Mornings are the best!  As soon as I got up I headed straight for my stationary bike and got to business, 45 minutes later I had completed my work-out  For breakfast/lunch, I decided to sautée some spinach, tomatoes, onion and fresh garlic.  I literally had a mountain of spinach for breakfast.   It was surprisingly tasty and satisfying.

Jenny Craig Day 5

BREAKFAST/LUNCH




DINNER

We got to my husband's family gathering around 4:30pm.   To my demise, the spread looked amazing! I headed straight for the fruit platter and loaded up on watermelon and grapes.   I skipped the chips and dip.  Success!  But then the real challenge came......picking out my food.   Here's the result of my impaired judgment:  1 grilled rib, a hefty serving of chimol (salvadoran salad made with tomatoes, onion, cucumber, cilantro and lime juice=volumetrics), a minuscule serving of rice, about 1/4 of a cup's worth.   I was full!  It's all about making the right choices.   I also took my +Jenny Craig White Cheddar Popcorn.   I didn' feel deprived.   Oh, and I enjoyed several glasses of wine *blushing*.   All in all, I think I did well.  Jenny Craig is definitely shifting the way I look at food and that's a good thing.     I totally forgot to take a picture of my meal.


ACTIVITY





Jenny Craig Day 6

BREAKFAST
Today is a new day and I'm back on track.  I had the Florentine Breakfast Pizzas, which btw were delicious!




LUNCH
The Chicken Sandwich was pretty good.   I decided to steam some cabbage, mushrooms and carrots.  I also helped myself to a side of pickles and cherry tomatoes. Oh, and a bit of salsa!  Please excuse the unaesthetic plate.  I was so hungry and as you can see, I ended up creating a mountain on my plate.  I enjoyed the Chicken Sandwich but IMO, the Turkey Burger is much more delicious.  





DINNER
Now, dinner was just amazing! I added red peppers and onions to my Rising Crust Pizza.  I really enjoyed this meal.  I had a side of spinach with my pizza.  It felt like I was cheating...it was so yummy! One of my fave +Jenny Craig meals thus far.






ACTIVITY
No exercise for this girl on Day 6.  :(   



Friday, June 13, 2014

It's Friday the 13th....but I'm feeling lucky!--Day 5

Happy Friday all! It's been 5 days since I started this journey with +Jenny Craig   As you know, I started this blog with the intention of keeping myself accountable and in the process, I hope to inspire some of you to start and/or continue your weight loss journey.  I decide to sign up for Jenny Craig because I know it works; however, on the downside, JC tends to be pricey.   I am well aware that cannot afford to stay on JC for too long but this is giving me the push to start my journey towards health.  As my body evolves, so will this blog. Once I feel ready, I will start posting Jenniesque type meals that we can all use.  Again, I thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  I hope that we can help motivate each other on our journey to health and weight loss.   Feel free to comment, as I would love to interact with whomever reads my mindless blabber. :)  I am humbled and thankful to those who are in the least bit interested.

Jenny Craig Day 5

BREAKFAST
I was rushing out of the house this morning.   I opened my fridge and grabbed the French Toast. You'll come to find that I am not a morning person.  I often rush out of the house and sometimes leave my mind there in the process....it quickly returns after I have my coffee.  Anyhow, because I was in a rush I ended up forgetting my JC syrup.  What a disappointment!  So since I was going to skip out on the syrup, I decided that after 4 days of only black coffee I would add a mini hazelnut creamer (30 cals).   I threw some ice in my cup and opted for iced coffee this morning.  I live in California and the weather called for something cold. Oh, and btw the French Toast was pretty yummy! Even with out the syrup.  It has a nice mild sweet cinnamon flavor that complemented my Hazelnut Iced Coffee well.





SNACK/VITAMIN





LUNCH
Well, my lunch sucked.  I did not care for the Creamy Chicken & Corn Chowder very much.  Don't get me wrong, I am all for cream base soups, especially corn chowder but this JC meal, reminded me of canned tuna for some odd reason...and you should know, I ABSOLUTELY HATE TUNA!   But hey, who knows? Some of you might like it.  Unfortunately, this soup is not for me.  I somehow managed to finish it, maybe because my stomach growled at me, every time I took the soup away.  Thank God I brought some broccoli, carrots and spinach (I alternated between small sips of soup and large bites of vegetables).  I will stick to the Zesty Tortellini from now on!







Thursday, June 12, 2014

You're telling me, I can have Pancakes for breakfast?!?!?! --Day 4

I'm on Day 4 of my Jenny Craig Challenge journey and I'm already feeling slimmer.  It might be my mind playing tricks on me but I could swear I see a difference!  I will resist the temptation to weigh myself because my JC consultant said to wait until weigh-in day.   Ahhh...the torture!

BREAKFAST
Pancakes!!! Need I say more?  I spiced up my pancakes by adding some fresh strawberries and blueberries. The veggie sausage was pleasantly and surprisingly tasty.  I will definitely be ordering the Blueberry Pancakes and Veggie Sausage again!



SNACK/VITAMIN
I find that having the Anytime Bar between breakfast and lunch helps keep my hunger under control.



LUNCH
Pizza Party in my mouth! This was not the best or worst pizza I've ever had but hey, it was pizza.  
As usual, I paired my lunch with a green salad.  A little red wine vinegar and pepper on lettuce goes a long way.  




DINNER
Oh-Em-Gee!!!  The Macaroni and Cheese was delicious!   To complete the meal I steamed some broccoli and carrots and sprinkled garlic and seasoning salt.  I also had a hefty side of baby spinach.  YUM!





SNACK
Kettle Corn was just what I needed to end my night.   One of my favorite snacks so far! Will definitely buy again and again.






ACTIVITY
I was soooooo lazy yesterday but I somehow managed to push myself to get on my stationary bike.  This was the outcome:








P.S.  The hardest part about my Jenny Craig challenge has been giving up my wine indulgence.  I love a glass of red wine a few times a week.  I know that wine is allowed but I'm pushing myself to abstain.  Less alcohol means less sugar= more weight loss.








Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Well Whadaya know? Black Coffee...it ain't so bad after all--Day 3

I'm getting used to drinking coffee..black.  That's surprising, considering I love me some hazelnut creamer in the mornin'.   I find myself drinking a minimum of 2 cups of coffee a day...yes, I am addicted.  I need it to function.  You can take my junk food, but DEAR LORD, don't take my coffee!!

Jenny Craig Day 3

BREAKFAST
I had the Ranchero Breakfast Skillet for breakfast.  It was a small bowl of egg, bell pepper, cheesy, potato goodness!  How I wished I would have saved some salsa from last night's batch of Salad Salsa.  If you don't know what I am talking about, see my last post.  Funny story, not one, not two but three of my coworkers asked what I was having because, "it smelled sooooo good".   I had a nectarine and you guessed it, BLACK COFFEE to complete the meal.




SNACK/VITAMIN
Anytime Bar



LUNCH
Woah, I really, really enjoyed this meal!! The Turkey Burger is soooo good! As you can see, I even took a couple bites before taking the picture.  I added mustard, lettuce and tomato (unlimited foods).  I also had a side salad and baby carrots.  The portions are small but I've found that I've slowed down the pace while I eat.  Somehow, it helps me enjoy and savor the different flavors of my meal.  



DINNER
Last night I decided to finally try the Cookout Chicken and Beans.  I also whipped up a fast and easy side of Garlic Squash with Mushrooms to complement the meal.  It's a great way to volumize without having to sacrifice taste.  Find the recipe below:

Garlic Squash with Mushrooms
1 Squash
3 Mushrooms
fresh garlic
garlic salt
seasoning salt
pepper

Spritz a hot pan with cooking spray and drop all the ingredients in and cover for 5 minutes (medium heat). After 5 minutes have passed add a dash of water and re-cover.  The water will help the veggies steam cook thoroughly due to the evaporation effect. That was easy!

SNACK
I ended my night with a bag of White Cheddar Popcorn!  I personally like Pirate's booty popcorn but this will do.  It satisfied my salt craving.




ACTIVITY




DAY 3 Done!










Tuesday, June 10, 2014

I Need Coffee-Day 2

Last night my hubs and I decided to go for a run at the park.  That run quickly turned to a walk, but hey, who cares, at least I did something.   Anywho, We walked for close to an hour, doesn't seem like much right but It's safe to say that it did a number on me. Guess what? I overslept for work and showed up 30 minutes after my scheduled time.  My legs feel sore! Boy am I out of shape!  BUT I WILL NOT GIVE UP! In other news, today I got the much anticipated news that my entire family has been waiting for.  My brother and sis-in-law became parents for the second time this morning at 8:35am.  My nephew came in at 7lbs, 1oz- 19.5 inches.  I CANNOT wait to meet him.  My niece is 3 years old and last night she went to bed as an only child and today she awoke a big sister.  She's going to make an amazing sister!  Forgive me for my shameless bragging...I couldn't help myself.  So getting back to Jenny Craig....


Jenny Craig Menu-Day 2

BREAKFAST
Today I opted for one of Jenny's lighter breakfast options, the Mixed Berry Bar.   It resembles a rice crispy mixed with dry berries, it has been dipped and drizzled in yogurt icing.  It's a pretty tasty tiny square of deliciousness.  I added a few strawberries and blueberries to complete the meal. Oh, and 2 cups of black coffee of course!




SNACK/VITAMIN
Another Anytime Bar....it tastes better today for some reason.  Maybe it's an acquired taste.




Mini Rant: About an hour after I ate my Anytime Bar, I started to feel hunger pangs.   It's safe to say that although delicious, the Mixed Berry Bar is not going to cut it for breakfast.  Boo! I was kind of excited about the Mixed Berry Bar, especially since it's one of the cheaper items on the breakfast menu...only $1.99   
Note to self: Don't buy any more Mixed Berry Bars!



LUNCH
I really enjoyed my lunch today.  I ate the Cheesy Mashed Potatoes and Fried Chicken.   The portion is very tiny and a bit disappointing at first sight.  I am glad I packed a nice green salad and a side of carrot sticks for lunch.   I made sure to drink a cup of water before digging in.   I have to say, the meal was pretty tasty and almost tasted like a non-diet meal.  Good job Jenny Craig.  This one is definitely a winner:




Soon after I got home from work I decided to jump on my stationary bike.  Again, I am nowhere near fit, so any physical activity is a plus in my book.  I keep comparing myself to a candle...slowly melting away....very slowly.




SNACK
After my work out I was super hungry, so I decided to grab a bag of Jenny Craig's Bruschetta Veggie Chips. I knew that the veggie chips alone wouldn't hold me until dinner, so I whipped up a quick salsa.  In my hungry desperation I forgot to take a picture of the finished product...forgive me, I was literally starving.

Mexican Salsa Recipe
1 roma tomato
1/4 of an onion ( I LOVE ONION)
1 handful of cilantro
1/2 serrano pepper
juice of 1/2 a lime
Salt to taste

Chop all the ingredients in cubes and mix 'em together....and you have yourself an amazing chucky salsa that doubles as a salad.





After I ate my chips and salsa I felt FULL....so I decided to wait a bit before eating my dinner.  I was watching mind-less reality shows (don't judge me), while I waited for my food to go down.  Well, guess what?  I fell asleep!! No dinner for me last night.   

DINNER
Sorry Jenny Craig...dinner never happened... I fell asleep earlier than anticipated.