I wrote this blog a while back but apparantly never posted it.. but my opinion on all these products still rings true!
food finds:
ak-mak crackers- i find these at trader joe's, but i'm sure you could find them elsewhere. i've seen them on amazon. they are SO delicious with laughing cow garlic & herb wedges. you can have 5 large crackers and a laughing cow wedge for 3 points!
smoked salmon- it's tastes decadent and amazing.. but it's still very good for you. has those fishy-heart-healthy oils and is filling as well. give me some ak-maks, a tbsp of reduced fat cream cheese and a small package of smoked salmon.. i'm in heaven!!!
cafe twists- cinnamon sugar twists from tj's. i have them with my coffee.. i think each twist runs about 1 point each, but they're very fulfilling. i have on more than one instance been able to eat just one!
freeze dried fruit- there's a few brands out there.. but i get brother's all natural packs from costco. if you're craving something crunchy... these will do it for you! the fuji apple ones are amazing, but the pack comes with strawberry/banana and asian pear too! each pack is 1 pt each.
carrots- i know these seem bleh.. normal.. but if you get some really good bunches from the farmer's market.. they're sweet and flavorful all by themselves.. no ranch dressing needed! i am known to have carrot and celery slices packed in a water-filled tupperware in the fridge at all times. the water keeps the veggies fresh and crisp for up to 2 weeks!
greek yogurt (vanilla)- protein-packed yogurt you say?! oh yeah! greek yogurt is the creamiest, most filling delicious treat. not too sweet.. but just sweet enough. throw in a couple spoonfulls of cereal, granola or berries.. and you're good to go. when i'm at home, i'll make myself little greek yogurt parfaits with all of the above. YUM!
high fiber tortilla with turkey and cream cheese- my fav. high fiber tortilla is from tj's (can you see a trend?) and i can't quite remember the brand.. but any with 1 pt each will do... spread on a tbsp of strawberry reduced-fat cream cheese (yes, strawberry) and 2 slices of turkey. add some tomato slices and a sprig of lettuce and roll, deli style. i like to cut it into pinwheels when i'm feeling fancy.. and you've got a filling, delicious snack that will run you about 2.5 points!
i will have an updated list of more recent finds soon. =)
working towards a better me... 1 pound at a time.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
my ww saviors... part 1
i've done some food posts here and there.. but with the plethora of things that have been getting me through the past couple weeks, i decided i would share.
first of all - money. let's face it, losing weight costs money. even if you're doing it on your own, healthy food tends to cost more. unfortunately, that's the way it is.
1. FREEZER!!! the freezer is your best friend. i buy things in bulk (vitatops, low-pt bread, 94/6 ground beef, pork tenderloin, chicken breasts, etc) portion them out and freeze them. herbs freeze well too. lay the leaves out on a tray and freeze until firm, then throw them in a bag. perfect!
also, produce. when things are about to turn, i'll make soup, or a lasagna, then freeze! (for the lasagna, or any other 'baking dish' items, line your dish with saran wrap prior to assembling the food, then freeze. once frozen, remove it from the dish and place in a zip-top bag. it's perfectly sized for your baking dish, and you're not missing your dish while it's locked away in the freezer.. waiting to be baked.
fruit freezes well too. i bought a pallet of strawberries last summer.. sliced and froze them, and i'm still using them for smoothies! bananas and berries freeze really well too!
2. FARMER'S MARKET! i can't tell you what a life saver my weekly farmer's market has been for me. often i'll go with only $10 and see how far i can stretch it. also, if you go towards the end, they slash they're prices and are more prone to agree to any bargaining. a little money goes a long way, and you're supporting your local farmers!
3. SHOP THE ADS!! lately, with the economic downturn and all, the grocery stores are really combating for customers.. they have 'weekend specials' and coupons in their ads. i clip the coupons for items i need and only buy those items at those stores. if the ad doesn't have anything good that week, i vow not to go into that store and make-do with what i've got at home.. (i'm the WORST with impulse-buying).
4. TRADER JOE'S!! speaking of impulse buying.. mine has reduced DRASTICALLY since i started limiting my shopping to TJ's. if you've got one close by - utilize it! i don't think my bill has ever been over $100, and that is for many weeks of groceries. we get pretty much everything here but produce (it really bugs me that so much of their produce comes from mexico and costa rica.. it's california people! we've got great farms here! plus they package it in plastic. wtf?! let's be more eco-friendly! end rant.)
5. ZIPLOC BAGS!!! i'm sure you've heard it before.. but it bears repeating. buy things in big bags, and create your own 100-calorie packs. some things.. i know.. this doesn't work on (hostess anyone? yumm..) but it's great for crackers, chips, cookies, cereal (safeway's eating right cocoa puffs and fruit loops are my favs) and the list goes on and on. i've limited my snacks to these bags, because even if i fill them so much they're bursting at the seams, the portion is reasonable. ever notice how you fill something just because it's big enough?! me too... that's why i use small pyrex dishes for my lunches at work as well...
6. SKIP THE GYM!! no, i do not mean don't work out.. but really, who needs a gym membership when there are so many free (or much more low-cost) options out there?! walking, obviously... on the weekends bf and i will walk the dog to the local coffee shop. it's fun, and we get a treat at the end! if you have any kind of cable box, you probably have on demand content. there are, like, a gazillion work-out shows to try.. and the variety keeps things interesting. try the internet too! i tried out the 30-day shred by finding it streaming online prior to investing any money (the whopping $10). instead of dumbbells, use cans! i started with 16oz, and i'm working up to 32oz in the shred.. who needs the fancy stuff? and, i'm still sore! you can also try a workout video swap.. we've all got 'em, those videos you bought and never use (windsor pilates, anyone? haha). check with friends or co-workers to see what they've got, and switch!
the list of free/cheap workout activities goes on and on!
i almost forgot! take that bed bath and beyond 20% coupon that i KNOW is sitting at your house and invest in some debbie myer's green bags... yes, the infomercials may be dorky, but those things WORK!! my produce lasts for weeks.. literally. i have broccoli in the fridge from like 3 weeks ago!!! no joke!
NOW GO.. SAVE MONEY! =)
part 2 coming shortly...
first of all - money. let's face it, losing weight costs money. even if you're doing it on your own, healthy food tends to cost more. unfortunately, that's the way it is.
1. FREEZER!!! the freezer is your best friend. i buy things in bulk (vitatops, low-pt bread, 94/6 ground beef, pork tenderloin, chicken breasts, etc) portion them out and freeze them. herbs freeze well too. lay the leaves out on a tray and freeze until firm, then throw them in a bag. perfect!
also, produce. when things are about to turn, i'll make soup, or a lasagna, then freeze! (for the lasagna, or any other 'baking dish' items, line your dish with saran wrap prior to assembling the food, then freeze. once frozen, remove it from the dish and place in a zip-top bag. it's perfectly sized for your baking dish, and you're not missing your dish while it's locked away in the freezer.. waiting to be baked.
fruit freezes well too. i bought a pallet of strawberries last summer.. sliced and froze them, and i'm still using them for smoothies! bananas and berries freeze really well too!
2. FARMER'S MARKET! i can't tell you what a life saver my weekly farmer's market has been for me. often i'll go with only $10 and see how far i can stretch it. also, if you go towards the end, they slash they're prices and are more prone to agree to any bargaining. a little money goes a long way, and you're supporting your local farmers!
3. SHOP THE ADS!! lately, with the economic downturn and all, the grocery stores are really combating for customers.. they have 'weekend specials' and coupons in their ads. i clip the coupons for items i need and only buy those items at those stores. if the ad doesn't have anything good that week, i vow not to go into that store and make-do with what i've got at home.. (i'm the WORST with impulse-buying).
4. TRADER JOE'S!! speaking of impulse buying.. mine has reduced DRASTICALLY since i started limiting my shopping to TJ's. if you've got one close by - utilize it! i don't think my bill has ever been over $100, and that is for many weeks of groceries. we get pretty much everything here but produce (it really bugs me that so much of their produce comes from mexico and costa rica.. it's california people! we've got great farms here! plus they package it in plastic. wtf?! let's be more eco-friendly! end rant.)
5. ZIPLOC BAGS!!! i'm sure you've heard it before.. but it bears repeating. buy things in big bags, and create your own 100-calorie packs. some things.. i know.. this doesn't work on (hostess anyone? yumm..) but it's great for crackers, chips, cookies, cereal (safeway's eating right cocoa puffs and fruit loops are my favs) and the list goes on and on. i've limited my snacks to these bags, because even if i fill them so much they're bursting at the seams, the portion is reasonable. ever notice how you fill something just because it's big enough?! me too... that's why i use small pyrex dishes for my lunches at work as well...
6. SKIP THE GYM!! no, i do not mean don't work out.. but really, who needs a gym membership when there are so many free (or much more low-cost) options out there?! walking, obviously... on the weekends bf and i will walk the dog to the local coffee shop. it's fun, and we get a treat at the end! if you have any kind of cable box, you probably have on demand content. there are, like, a gazillion work-out shows to try.. and the variety keeps things interesting. try the internet too! i tried out the 30-day shred by finding it streaming online prior to investing any money (the whopping $10). instead of dumbbells, use cans! i started with 16oz, and i'm working up to 32oz in the shred.. who needs the fancy stuff? and, i'm still sore! you can also try a workout video swap.. we've all got 'em, those videos you bought and never use (windsor pilates, anyone? haha). check with friends or co-workers to see what they've got, and switch!
the list of free/cheap workout activities goes on and on!
i almost forgot! take that bed bath and beyond 20% coupon that i KNOW is sitting at your house and invest in some debbie myer's green bags... yes, the infomercials may be dorky, but those things WORK!! my produce lasts for weeks.. literally. i have broccoli in the fridge from like 3 weeks ago!!! no joke!
NOW GO.. SAVE MONEY! =)
part 2 coming shortly...
Sunday, March 22, 2009
another slow week...
as far as weight loss in concerned. down 0.2. that's okay though.. i've sworn that this is my FINAL go at WW, so i try not to let the small losses (or gains) get me down like they have in the past.
still tracking pretty well, so i'm proud of myself in that sense. i also joined the "walk across america" challenge on the WW msg boards, which has really encouraged me to get moving in the past couple days. i walked and did the shred on friday, and walked/ran yesterday, so my AP count is looking okay for this week! kris has been working out to p90 at home as well, which is encouraging (even though i don't think he needs to lose ANY weight!).
my goal this week is to be more productive with my down time. although it's been gloomy and it's tough to get motivated, i don't want spring to come full steam and open my drapes to find an ugly apartment!!! i need to do some major spring cleaning.. purging of junk i don't need!! and, there's always the gazillion crafts i'd like to do. i did some freezer paper stenciling on onesies for a girl at work who's expecting.. i'll have to post pictures, they turned out great!!!
there's always something more productive to do than eat.
still tracking pretty well, so i'm proud of myself in that sense. i also joined the "walk across america" challenge on the WW msg boards, which has really encouraged me to get moving in the past couple days. i walked and did the shred on friday, and walked/ran yesterday, so my AP count is looking okay for this week! kris has been working out to p90 at home as well, which is encouraging (even though i don't think he needs to lose ANY weight!).
my goal this week is to be more productive with my down time. although it's been gloomy and it's tough to get motivated, i don't want spring to come full steam and open my drapes to find an ugly apartment!!! i need to do some major spring cleaning.. purging of junk i don't need!! and, there's always the gazillion crafts i'd like to do. i did some freezer paper stenciling on onesies for a girl at work who's expecting.. i'll have to post pictures, they turned out great!!!
there's always something more productive to do than eat.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
work, work, work...
it's just day 2 of what will inevitably prove to be a very long week. i'm basically working sunday to sunday, with thursday off. i'll let you know if i survive.
on the bright side, i have no class next week so i can relax.. (not that my whopping 2 classes are all that difficult). at WI on last friday, i lost 1lb. for some reason, i wasn't that excited. i mean, it's great! i'm happy that i lost.. but i don't know.. i just didn't get that feeling of accomplishment. maybe i was hoping for something more?
i'll just have to keep chugging along... i think it's just that i really want to get my to my 10% and 20lbs.. like... NOW! i need to be more active too.. i haven't really done anything lately.. except a shred here and there. nothing consistent. i need to!
on the bright side, i found some fabulous snacks at trader joe's! oh, how i love that place! they're called cafe twists, and they're 30 calories each. i LOVE them.. 90 calories (2 points) for 3 of them, and they're completely satisfying for a sweet craving. ohh how i wish i had one right now. i don't bring them to work because i'll eat them all just since they're there.. without thinking about it. i also went to the farmer's market and picked up more fruit and veggies. there was a stand there - 'the hummus guy', and he was sampling all his hummus. i'm not a huge fan, being that i don't like beans, but the roasted garlic one was SUPER yummy, so i got a container of it. i had some earlier today, and i brought it with me to work with some carrots and celery.
i have to stay OP this week considering i had like a gazillion cups of guinness on saturday at the st. patty's day parade. twas fun.. although kris and i pooped out kind of early. i guess we're just getting old.
on the bright side, i have no class next week so i can relax.. (not that my whopping 2 classes are all that difficult). at WI on last friday, i lost 1lb. for some reason, i wasn't that excited. i mean, it's great! i'm happy that i lost.. but i don't know.. i just didn't get that feeling of accomplishment. maybe i was hoping for something more?
i'll just have to keep chugging along... i think it's just that i really want to get my to my 10% and 20lbs.. like... NOW! i need to be more active too.. i haven't really done anything lately.. except a shred here and there. nothing consistent. i need to!
on the bright side, i found some fabulous snacks at trader joe's! oh, how i love that place! they're called cafe twists, and they're 30 calories each. i LOVE them.. 90 calories (2 points) for 3 of them, and they're completely satisfying for a sweet craving. ohh how i wish i had one right now. i don't bring them to work because i'll eat them all just since they're there.. without thinking about it. i also went to the farmer's market and picked up more fruit and veggies. there was a stand there - 'the hummus guy', and he was sampling all his hummus. i'm not a huge fan, being that i don't like beans, but the roasted garlic one was SUPER yummy, so i got a container of it. i had some earlier today, and i brought it with me to work with some carrots and celery.
i have to stay OP this week considering i had like a gazillion cups of guinness on saturday at the st. patty's day parade. twas fun.. although kris and i pooped out kind of early. i guess we're just getting old.
Monday, March 9, 2009
back on track!
i'm so proud of myself.. i have continued to track, even over the weekend when i managed to eat 2 red velvet cupcakes..
on the bright side, i found the perfect red velvet recipe!! (after one that i thought sucked.. my family said it was good- but i think they were just being nice..) that's one reason why i like baking cookies over cakes/cupcakes. i don't like my cookies, so i'm not tempted to eat them! the cake, however.. is another story. it IS fun to branch out to other baked goods..
i finally created a weight tracker for myself which i've found to be a big motivation. i've been bouncing back and forth so much since i started.. but for some reason don't realize it until i see it all mapped out for me. i would really like to feel good in a bikini this summer, but it's gonna take a ton of hard work. for example, i'm completely out of my points allowance for the week... which means i really need to work to get some AP's in.. here's hoping!
however, i have had this crazy headache all weekend where i've felt light-headed and dizzy. kris got all worried and insists that i see the doctor, so i'll go this afternoon. here's to an on point week!
btw, i added a bunch of cookies to my 'cookies 2' folder in picasa. my favorites are both my nephew's birthdays (speed racer, and cupcakes) and the turkey placecards from thanksgiving. so cute.. if i do say so myself! =) http://picasaweb.google.com/jennyfurjones
on the bright side, i found the perfect red velvet recipe!! (after one that i thought sucked.. my family said it was good- but i think they were just being nice..) that's one reason why i like baking cookies over cakes/cupcakes. i don't like my cookies, so i'm not tempted to eat them! the cake, however.. is another story. it IS fun to branch out to other baked goods..
i finally created a weight tracker for myself which i've found to be a big motivation. i've been bouncing back and forth so much since i started.. but for some reason don't realize it until i see it all mapped out for me. i would really like to feel good in a bikini this summer, but it's gonna take a ton of hard work. for example, i'm completely out of my points allowance for the week... which means i really need to work to get some AP's in.. here's hoping!
however, i have had this crazy headache all weekend where i've felt light-headed and dizzy. kris got all worried and insists that i see the doctor, so i'll go this afternoon. here's to an on point week!
btw, i added a bunch of cookies to my 'cookies 2' folder in picasa. my favorites are both my nephew's birthdays (speed racer, and cupcakes) and the turkey placecards from thanksgiving. so cute.. if i do say so myself! =) http://picasaweb.google.com/jennyfurjones
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
progress..
well i've done okay so far this week.. i've been writing down everything, even the naughty stuff. kris and i went to tgif and we had.. *gasp* the sesame chicken strip appetizer. but it was totally worth it.
since i used so many points on sunday i've discovered new filling yummy snacks:
light string cheese and turkey. sooooooooo good for 2 points!
tuna and avocado. yes, sounds weird.. but the avocado has this buttery texture that cuts the dryness of the tuna. i ate that for lunch at work twice. delicioso!
lightfull smoothies - the best way to spend 1 point, in my opinion (other than vitatops). i love the cafe latte... and it prevents me from eating right before i go to sleep in the morning
and i've tracked EVERYTHING this week. i'm so proud. we'll see what my weight is on friday, considering i haven't weighed myself in like a month. we shall see.
since i used so many points on sunday i've discovered new filling yummy snacks:
light string cheese and turkey. sooooooooo good for 2 points!
tuna and avocado. yes, sounds weird.. but the avocado has this buttery texture that cuts the dryness of the tuna. i ate that for lunch at work twice. delicioso!
lightfull smoothies - the best way to spend 1 point, in my opinion (other than vitatops). i love the cafe latte... and it prevents me from eating right before i go to sleep in the morning
and i've tracked EVERYTHING this week. i'm so proud. we'll see what my weight is on friday, considering i haven't weighed myself in like a month. we shall see.
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