Amanda's Menu Planning Spectacular!

[lulu201]

Oh my gosh, you're a Menu Planning Machine! I'm lucky if I know what's for dinner each night. . .btw, what AM I having tonight???

Keep up your great work, Amanda. You're inspiring me to think about all this
menu-business. Maybe I'll do some planning while I'm on the treadie today.

Have a good weekend.

Go, Eagles, go!

Erin

 

[septbride2002]

Last night I gave myself the night off and went out and enjoyed the good company of friends. We went to this great mexican resturant where I split Chili Con Queso and Fresh Spinach Quesadillas. Then we had fried icecream. Wasn't low carb but it was a special treat. This morning I woke up and headed straight to Curves to workout. Back to basics! Water, low carb, exercise!

Plan for today:
B: Protein Shake and 3 glasses of water
L: Yummy Crab Cakes!
D: Going to the Chinese Resturant with our neighbors. I need to consult my diet book to see what are good choices to make.

~Amanda

 

[sharoncity]

You are doing so very well Amanda!!! All that planning and going to Curves is really paying off! I also learned some valuable lessons about planning my weekends that I hope is going to have good results when I WI tomorrow morning! Keep up the good work girlfriend!!

Make sure you drink plenty of H2O to combat that restaurant food. It sure is yummy, but all the salt makes for an unhappy scale!

I hope you are having a nice relaxing weekend!

TTFN- Sharon

 

[sarahsmom73]

Way to give yourself a treat! I think we need to do that every once and a while! I ahd chineese veggies and beef last night... it was really yummy! Have fun tonight!

 

[septbride2002]

Hi Everyone! I went and did my Grocery shopping today so I have plenty of low carb goodies in the house. Today I made Dill and Pickle Sandwich rolls - they were yummy. I'll have to post the recipe later. But it was nice to have something different. I've been doing lots of journaling about menu planning and what to buy - I'll have to post some thoughts later. Today we have been low carb all day! I went out of the gui8ldelines yesterday but I am determined to not get sidetracted today. I want to earn that 5 lbs clippie before the end of the month.

B: Coffee (finally got a new coffee maker)
L: 4 Dill and Pickle Rolls - 2 carbs for all 4
S: Drinking lots of water
D: Chili Cheese Hot Dogs - no buns
S: Sugar free jello

DH and I are painting our bedroom today so I am up and moving. Drinking lots and lots of water.

~Amanda
166.8/164.4/140

 

[toystoryduo]

Amanda,

You are doing such a great job! I love how focused you are on your meals and exercise! I hope some of your focus rubs off on me!

Keep up the good work and have a great week ahead!

 

[septbride2002]

Good Morning Wish Buddies! What a weekend! We did so much this weekend and it is really paying off. My bedroom is starting to look worthy of a and will soon be a much needed sanctuary. I will try to take pictures and then I will try to post them - I haven't figured out the whole picture thing yet .

Well I am happy to report that I got right back on track yesterday. I got sloppy on Friday and Saturday but yesterday - I was back! Today should be an easy day - no thinking because my menu is already planned.

B: 3 slices of Bacon and Coffee!
L: Tuna Salad OR if I go to lunch with my friend it will be Crazy Bowls and Wraps - I'll make mine a salad.
D: Dunked Pork Kabobs. - My peppers are Marinating in Italian Dressing as we speak!
S: Sugar Free Jello and Whip Cream (Jello is already made.)
Exercise: Curves after work
Water:
Vitamins - just took them.

Some recipies that I still need to post:
Anything Goes Basic Quiche

Dill Deli Rolls

With menu planning - I am really enjoying it, a lot more then I thought I would. It really helps in adding variety to my meals so that I am not getting bored. All last week not once did DH say, "Chicken/Meat/Pork again?" Plus I always plan a couple of meals with his carby favorites and I just make a low carb alternative.

One thing that has really been my saving grace has been SALAD! I hated cooking because I would work very hard on the main dish and then I would have to make 2 different side dishes. Veggies for me and Noodles/Potatoes for DH. With a salad (and I cheat and buy it in the bag) I am able to serve that for both of us. Plus DH is actually eating something HEALTHY! Not to mention it is super early. If you are going to eat Salad be sure to not buy Iceberg lettuice. Yes it is cheap but it also has pratically no nutritional value to it!

I usually prepare my salads as such:
Bag of Spinach and Arugula Salad Mix:
Per Fit Day:
- 1 cup of fresh Spinach has 40% of the Vitamin A one needs in a day. 14% Vitamin C and 5% Iron
- 1 cup of Arugula has 9% Vitamin A, 5% Vitamin C, and 5% Folate.
Cheese
Green Peppers or Red Peppers
Salad Dressing.
Super Easy!

~Amanda

 

[DoeWDW]

Amanda, you are such an inspiration to me!! You are on a healthy living MISSION! There is no stopping you, girlfriend! You and that scale will be best buddies soon! I'm going to hang out with you and let your determination and zest for planning rub off on me.

I'm off to print out some low-carb recipes and plan some menus & a grocery list!

If you need help with the picture posting thing, send me a PM & I'll try to help.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

P.S. Just read your extra post to my journal. You were NOT overstepping any boundaries, sweetie. Now that I think about it, one night a week wouldn't be too much to ask of DH or DS. Thanks for the idea!

 

[lulu201]

Yum! Your menus sound great, and so does your zest for healthy living! Your pep and encouragement has helped me today, too! It's almost made me want to cook!

Have a good day,
Erin

 

[MelanieC]

Hi Amanda,

I love reading your journal. You always have such good ideas and even though we are on two different plans, I love finding low carb recipes that work for WW's. I think it's good to throw in a few low carb dishes once in a while into my mix. Mostly I look for healthy all natural type recipes with recipes as close to nature as I can get. Your quiche recipe looks great. It might be high in points though. I'm going to look into that and see. I LOVE quiche!

 

[septbride2002]

I really do love my new schedule - I have some great habits forming and sometimes I'm not even thinking about the fact that I use to hate to exercise. After work I go workout, come home and start dinner. I usually still have dinner on the table by 6:15 or 6:30 depending on how complicated it is. I'll have to post the recipe for the Kabobs I made tonight - they were delicious!

Now I'm waiting to enjoy my snack of sugar free jello and whip cream! YUMMY!

~Amanda

 

[geetey]

Amanda, you sound like you are having a blast with life! That's awesome!! How about some details about your decorating project? We still need to paint our bedroom - I think I have found a new comforter, but I am positive. I guess I am still waiting for something tp 'grab' me. Oh - I would also love the name of any good Mexican restaurants. We definitely miss the authentic Mexican restaurants of TN!

You are doing so well! You are so organized! I am so proud of you for getting back on the wagon so quickly after the marathon. You Go, Amanda!

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

Hi Amanda,
I am going to try to post in 1-2 journals a night. It's so hard for me to keep up with everyone and so many new people!
You are doing great with your recommittment to healthy eating and exercising. I too have been encouraged with my recent weight loss after being stuck on a plateau for a long time. I think I needed to try something different to shake things up. Now I'm trying to get back into my free weights.
My goal jeans are still in the closet....maybe some "skinny" morning, I will try squeezing into them...maybe.
I'm feeling a little guilty about my sports teams. I honestly could care less if the Red Sox ever win another game ever. This championship made up for a lifetime of disappointment for me. BTW, I was in labor with my DS on the night the ball went through Bill Buckner's legs. He loves to tell people about that. As a matter of fact, it was quite a moment to see my big bad 18 yr. old son get teary-eyed when we finally won the World Series. And you should see the Red Sox pennants and flags all over the graves in the cemeteries around here. So I'm glad we won and that's all I need!
I do love the Pats though. I just admire their team spirit and work ethic. As a matter of fact, one of the defensive players lives in the subdivision behind ours..my DS sees him around sometimes. I'm looking foward to a great SuperBowl with the Eagles...I am so glad for them too!
Hope you have a wonderful week!

 

[septbride2002]

Thanks Geetey and Aurora for stopping by!

Geetey the best Mexican Resturant here in St. Louis is Hacienda's. There is one over by the Galleria and it is delicious! Otherwise Casa De Gallardo is okay and any El Maquey is also pretty good.

My bedroom - well the set we purchased is dark cheery wood and very contemporary. It curves instead of being boxy. The handles are a nickle silver and square. The bed we purchased from Ikea is a rod iron bed that is actually very swirly. So it really stands out next to the clean lines of the wood furniture. The ceiling fan we purchased is also dark wood and the blades are curved to look like flower petals. The lighting I choose is Japanese Shades that you can get at Target, and we also have som Chinese prints and a Chinese Scroll that I purchased at the pavillion in Epcot during our December trip. The color on the walls is a dark blue kind of like this guy --> and the bedding is different shades of blue, green, and purple. I really will try to take pictures tonight but I will warn you the bedding is not on yet due to not having our new mattress yet.

Back to food! I had another successful night last night. My DH commented that he can really see where I am firming up - I love that. I have noticed a big difference in my shoulders and arms. I have to keep adjusting my bra straps. My weight is not down to the 155 I was before but all of my clothes are still fitting. This says to me that I have lost some inches (hopefully). I will know at the end of the wek when I have them measure me again. I want to be officially measured at the end of every month.

Ya know - every morning I do a little something just for me. I bought some great coconut flavored shampoo and conditioner. The brand is Suave so it only cost like $.89 per bottle and it really livens me up in the morning. Makes me think of tropical islands and then I enjoy a cup of coffee just the way I like it. Coffee, Half n Half, and Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup. It just sets me off in the right frame of mind for a positive day.

Plan for today:
B: Coffee, 1 egg, 2 pieces of Canadian Bacon, 1 slice of cheese - 7 carbs
L: Leftover Pork Sausage and Peppers - 3 to 6 carbs
S: If needed - I might chop up some celery for later. - 2 carbs for dip
D: Grilled Chicken Ceasar Salad - 2 carbs
S: Sugar Free Jello and Whip Cream - 2 carbs for Whip Cream.
Exercise - Curves right after work.
Water -
Vitamins - gonna take em right now.

~Amanda
166.8/164.4/140

 

[sharoncity]

Amanda, you sound so in your post today! That is wonderful. You are doing a really good job. The planning of your menus combined with the Curves workouts seem to be netting you some good results!! WTG! I am sure your measurement numbers are going to be very good to you on Friday!!

Keep up the good work Amanda. All this planning and organization is an excellent habit to get into!

TTFN- Sharon

 

[toystoryduo]

Good morning Amanda!

You are doing a great job! You sound so focused and happy! is just radiating from your posts! Keep up the good work, Amanda!

 

[DoeWDW]

I was feeling blah this morning but I have this silly grin on my face after reading your journal! I'm so happy for you, Amanda! You've got your game on, that's for sure!

Keep it up!! Another few days and you'll have some new measurements and scale reading to help keep you motivated! I just KNOW you're going to be happy with the results!

Water! Food! Exercise! It's workin'!!

 

[Auntmeme]

Wow you sound great - love the flavored shampoo! where do you get the sf syrup? I love my coffee too - enjoying decaf hazelnut right now. I'm sure the scale will show a big loss this week - keep it up

 

[Strings]

Hi Amanda,

You sound very cheerful today. I hope the mood continued all day long. You are doing great, and I am sure that the inches are falling off. I love my flavored sf syrups. I just got white chocolate , vanilla, and creme de menthe from davinci. I am making a white chocolate mint cheesecake tonight.

Your bedroom sounds beautiful. I'd love to see pictures. Actually, my bedroom sounds similar, but the walls are red.

Have a great evening,
Beth

 

[wilderness01]

Amanda,

You are so focused. I am so glad for you. That really is half the battle isn't it?

I hope your day was a great one. Take care.