Journey doesn't have to end!!!

Good morning Everyone!!!! I am writing because I have been struggling with this part of things. I have the drive, the vision seeing the changes. The part of keeping the motivation going is my tough time because I get started then somewhere along the day, week I lose the tracking. Then I have some that say we'll workout, but then they don't call ahead to tell me. I get a phone call when they are there or after they've come back. When I talk to them they say about going together to workout; I tell them they tell me after... Why???  We all have the same goal to get healthy. I think it is because of my OI, this happens.

Supper Tonight!

Crockpot Pineapple Chicken

I just wanted to share with y'all a recipe I am doing tonight for supper.  I can tell you it smells super yummy!!! I can't wait to get into it.  The points plus value for this is 5 PP.  If this tastes as good as it smells it will be worth it all.  (steps out to get the rice going)

Here is the recipe for those of you who would like to try it.

crockpot pineapple chicken

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 3 to 9 hours (in the crockpot)

This simplistic recipe for crockpot pineapple chicken is perfect for a busy weeknight where you're running the kids around to sport's practices and games. Come home to dinner cooked and ready to eat.

Ingredients:

6 whole chicken breast halves, without skin
1 dash pepper
paprika to taste
1 (20-ounce) can pineapple tidbits in juice
2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1 large clove garlic, minced

Directions:

1. Arrange chicken in bottom of crockpot. Sprinkle with pepper and paprika. In a small bowl, combine drained pineapple tidbits, mustard, soy sauce and garlic. Pour over chicken. Cover and cook on LOW 7-9 hours or HIGH 3-4 hours.

2. Remove chicken from crockpot and serve immediately. For serving: serve alongside potatoes, or shred the chicken and serve it over rice. Drizzle juices over.

Tips:

*I prefer to use chicken thighs for this dish- 8 bone-in chicken thighs- pull off the skin before placing in the crockpot.
*If preparing this recipe as GLUTEN FREE, be sure to use GF soy sauce.

Nutrition Facts-Amount Per Serving
Calories 195, Calories From Fat (8%) 16.5, Total Fat 1.77g, Sat Fat 0.41g, Cholesterol 68.44mg, Sodium 340.32mg, Potassium 435.70mg, Carbohydrates 16g, Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugar 13.76g, Net Carbs 15g, Protein 28.22g

WW POINTS per serving (chicken divided into 4 servings):
Points Plus Program: 5 Old Points Program: 4

Mother's Day Lunch with Hubby and Son :)!!

Hubby and son wanted to take me to Red Robin Restaurant.  I was anxious because before I didn't really pay too much attention to what I ate.  I say this to say that I thought I was being careful but after researching I wasn't as careful as I could have been.  Now that I have been in program and have been able to calculate the points of the various foods on the menu my choices are much different.

I chose to have the Lettuce Wrap Your Burger menu choice.  This was 14 points.  I know I could have lowered it by removing the cheese, but how much would it have lowered.  There was a lot of beef there for the burger.  I did however ask them to remove the onions.  I know you're saying, but they're zero points!! Yes, they are, but I am allergic to them so I avoid them.  The server was so kind and was cautious about the onion being near me.  She warned me about the onion on hubby's plate ~ she brought son's and hubby's dishes out together then went back for mine.

Oh then the fun came when we were ordering; son spoke up to the server and said "Today is Daddy's Birthday"  She said and Mother's Day.  Son said, "and Mother's Day we celebrate my Mama today too, but it's Daddy's birthday too"....was too cute.  Hehe, then toward the end of the meal son gave the server the ok .... then she brought the troops around to clap and sing "Happy Birthday" to Daddy...lol.  I loved it he was embarrassed, but mind you the two of them got me in January... son's birthday is soon to come.  We had a good time at the restaurant then when we came home we invited my Mother and Step-Dad Steve "Grandpa Steve" down for some special cake.  Here's a picture of the cake.  I can tell you it was delicious!!!! This was so simple to make; comments were "this is diet? this is so good!  this is delicious, Mama"

Something New!

Good morning Everyone!!! Hope everyone is having a good morning.  I am woke earlier than my alarm.  I thought twice about going back to sleep until it went off, but then decided to stay up :).  I went to weigh in yesterday I had a good one!!! I was shocked actually to how much I had lost! I was feeling good so I was hoping for a good number and got it!!  I am getting closer to my goal now.

I have been keeping up with my walking regime that I started with myself.  I thought when I started walking I don't know how I can do this for a long distance.  I was challenged with a 5k last year.  I never thought I'd complete it ... I did!  Those of you who have been following have read about my 5k.  I am now doing 5k plus daily.  I love it!! I am also training for a half marathon.

Now for the reason of this post.  I have something new to share with you.  I have been staying away from peanut butter not for a reason of an allergy, but for the sheer points amount.  I mean 5pts to 6pts with the two brands I have here at home; this is for two tablespoons.  I keep saying, but I can have this, this, this, and this for 5 points or just two tablespoons of peanut butter!  I say this is a no brainer do the other food for the 5 points.  I was talking with someone in Weight Watchers and they mentioned about a powdered peanut butter 1 point for 2 tablespoons.  I said what!!!! Seriously!!! I did find the peanut butter they mentioned.  I decided to try it and write a review.  Here is the peanut butter.

Ok, now for the review.  I know you all have been waiting patiently :)!  I finally had the chance to try it.  I love the taste~seriously! It tastes just like the peanut butter with the full 5 -6 points, but it's only 1!!!! Wooo! Hoo!!! I am so excited!!   I haven't had peanut butter in a long, long, long time....ok to be honest since before my son was born he's now 7 going on 8.  I say that because I couldn't get past that 5 -6 points for just 2 tablespoons.  I figured that I could have so much more food with that 5 or 6 points.  You learn that on program that you choose what is worth the value of the points and what is not.  I thank you so much for stopping by.  See you soon.

Shadows On The Sand Book Review

I was intrigued by the title of this book which lead me to read it. I was curious and do like a good mystery. I must say this book in the beginning was a difficult read. I found it hard to stick with the book; I wanted to put it down several times, but did not. I was to be reviewing this with honest opinion and which I am. I found the first few chapters hard to get through. I know the author had to set up the book, but that seemed a bit long. When it changed and the story began to unfold then I found that I could not put my ipad down. I was in it reading and family thought I was searching for something so they didn't bother me. When they finally asked what I was searching for and I told them I was reading a mystery and I am trying to piece this together. My husband then had to figure it out and read the story as well. I found the book then difficult to put down as did my husband. I am writing this review for Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group as I received a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you for stopping... Leah

Sugar: The Bitter Truth

I wanted to share this video with all of my viewers. I have watched this from beginning to end. I must first of all thank the anesthesiologist that I spoke with this morning from one of our local hospitals. He was very informative with information and suggested I watch this. I have an online class that I'm doing and this was one of our videos to watch. Hmmm....do you see any relation there??? I do ... When I get something like this from someone then I get it yet again from another resource I take it very seriously...why because I feel that it is something that I need to take information away from and incorporate in my life. I also being a Christian when God allows something like this in my life from something I have read or something that someone says and it is the same I take it seriously, praying about it ...then incorporating in my life. This isn't the first time this has happened this week. I was doing my daily walking; stepping up my activity levels to increase my activity points....a gentleman approached me telling me he had noticed that I have been walking there for a while now. I said yes I have been now. He then told me things he noticed about my walking and how he has seen improvement. While you may not always see differences on the scale do take notice of your body. Do you feel different?? Are your clothes fitting differently?? Are your shoes fitting differently??? Is your endurance level increasing or decreasing??? These are all important things to take notice of. When he said how he had seen improvement it took me back abit... I even asked him what did you see? He told me all that he had seen then he closed with the Lord blessing me for taking care of His creation ~ after all God did design me. I was thankful for what he expressed to me. I close with this take what others tell you and be thankful for what they tell you there are lessons to be learned things to see.

I hope that you will watch this and please comment below what you were able to take away from it. I mentioned earlier I had done my daily walk. I walked more miles today in a shorter time. I got over 3 miles in this morning and earned some great activity points of which I will not return as food. I have been writing my meal plan for this upcoming week. I will be looking even closer to my food choices. I hope you will too. Thank you so much for watching this and taking time out of your day for it. Thanks for stopping by!
Grace & Peace,

Weigh In

I went to Weight Watchers yesterday.  I wanted to see how I did.  I knew I was on target for my points during the week as well as stepping up my activity level.  I also had a non scale victory.  My non scale victory was a size difference. A dear friend of mine got me a coat for Christmas ~ What a blessing for wonderful friends.  She asked me my coat size and I thought about it...... what size am I??? I honestly didn't know.  I had a coat which I had to throw away as it was one too large on me and second of all would have been no good to anyone else.  I say this because it had a tear down the entire front on the right side of the coat.  Repairing it wouldn't have been good as the fabric of this coat was so thin and frayed at the tear.  I had been wearing a denim coat (my Dad's 8/22/09) with my sweat jacket under it.  Hey, had to improvise....hehe. A girl does what a girl has to do.  I have been fortunate as this winter has been quite mild.  I am only
out a few minutes in the am then later in the pm...if I have errands again I'm not out in the elements that long so what I've been wearing has been sufficient.

As I mentioned I went to weigh in.  I was feeling quite confident when I went in.  I was thinking maybe a possible 1 to 2 pound loss.  Quite to my surprise I found that I had lost 4.8lbs!!!!! I was sooo happy!!! Now mind you I have been setting little goals along the way. I have been doing this because I have found it very helpful in my journey to a new lifestyle.  I say that because some say they're on a diet or just losing weight.  I say new lifestyle because this is NOT a temporary fix for me.  This is a way of life for me.   I want this to be the way I eat and take care of myself.  I don't want to stop when I get to goal.  I want to maintain and teach my family along the way these healthy ways of eating and taking care of their bodies.

I will continue to have updates now as this has been a request of some viewers of mine.  I want to have a healthier new year.  I also want to resolute to reach goal this year.  I don't think it is impossible and also I want to go for another 5K as well.  So be sure to stop back for updates.  I will update even if I do not have a loss.  I'm hoping to have another loss next week, but we will see how this plays out as I have a birthday this weekend.

Thanks for stopping,