New Buddy from Oregon...Julie

Up early to go for a 40 minute walk! It's not raining, wasn't too cold - mid 40s maybe, bundled up and put on the ipod. I am going to try to walk every morning at 5:45 am Monday to Friday this week - and then walk later in the morning with my friend on the weekend. I'll keep you posted on how it goes...

Who is this stranger posting about walking this morning you ask??? I'ts me Julie...and by the way I love pink too...and the website is so adorable, I can't wait to check out the previous posts. I look forward to getting to know you all through the blog & hopefully my iphone & skype as I become more technically savy!!

For starters I've been on weight watchers on and off for many years now and it worked well for me in the past - but I have a history of yo yoing and regaining...The last time I was "dedicated" to eating right and exercise I lost about 50 lbs and got down to my goal weight. I'm now 30 lbs up again :) Hence the "yo yo" but I think sometimes life and priorities gets us back in the "eat whatever you want, don't exercise mode" which for me means gaining 6-8 lbs a month real fast. My Dad was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer last July and since then - I gained 25 lbs so...he passed away in the middle of December. 

I'm 43, married for 20 years, a returning "student" and mom to 2 daughters 13 and 15 living in Portland, Oregon. I'm taking nursing prerequisites and I love school! I use to "run" (via Couch to 5K)  & exercise regularly and want to get back to that along with eating right via good choices, focus, and weight watchers. My birthday is Apr. 30th - so my goal is to try very hard to lose 5 lbs a month - to get closer to my goal for my birthday.

Time to begin again...so happy you have included me! Thanks so much.

Easy Crockpot Chili

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup diced celery
1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 small can diced green chilies
1/4 cup chopped raw onion
1 can Kidney Beans
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
3 tsp ground Cumin Seed
6 tsp Chili powder

Directions

Brown ground beef and drain.
Add all ingredients to crock pot and stir. Set on HIGH for 2 hours or LOW for 4 hours so the spices have a chance to really stew.
Serve hot with cheese if you would like.

Weight Watchers: 3 Points
Number of Servings: 8
Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user SCRAPPYMOMMY.

HG's Too Ez Mac-n-Cheese

Ingredients:

1 package Green Giant Family Size Cauliflower & Three Cheese Sauce (freezer aisle)

2 cups uncooked Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Blend Rotini Pasta (or another whole-wheat or whole-wheat-blend pasta)

3 wedges The Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss cheese

Optional: salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions: Prepare pasta according to the instructions on the box, and then drain well and set aside. While pasta is cooking, place contents of the cauliflower & sauce package in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave for 12 - 16 minutes, until sauce has melted and cauliflower is hot.

Once the bowl is cool enough to handle, remove it from the microwave and add cooked pasta. Set aside. Unwrap cheese wedges and place in a small microwave-safe dish. Microwave for 30 seconds.

Stir until smooth, and then add to the bowl. Mix thoroughly, ensuring that the Laughing Cow cheese is evenly distributed and the pasta and cauliflower are coated in cheese sauce. If you like, season to taste with salt and pepper. Enjoy!

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

Serving Size: 1 cup Calories: 202 Fat: 4.5g Sodium: 825mg Carbs: 36g Fiber: 5g Sugars: 6g Protein: 8.5g

-Brooke

Yummy Snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles

(printable recipe)

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

1. In a medium bowl beat butter for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Beat until combined. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour.
2. Cover and chill dough for 30-60 minutes
3. Preheat oven to 375. Combine sugar and cinnamon.Shape dough into 1 inch balls and roll in sugar-cinnamon mixture. Bake 9-11 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet.

Makes 36 cookies
WW Points: 1.5 per cookie

*Diet 2009*

Link Love Thursday

I have been insanely spending tooo much time reading blogs...but right now I need all the motivation I can get. So I thought I would share a few links to some fun and motivating stuff.

GottagetShrunk made awesome progress in just a year. You must look at her progress pics on the side bar. She looks amazing!

RecipeGirl is heading up a Ten in 10 Challenge and posted this WW friendly Chocolate Cake. It looks delicious.

Jackfit has lost a lot of pounds and looks great! You hafta read his milestone rewards....too funny.

GetInTheHotSpot isn't about weight it's about life. Great post on 33 Things life's too short for

Get your January Motivational Calendar at thewwchick.

Lastly, I moved my daily journal to a blog here

~Chris
keep on keeping on

Motivation!

Here is something I typed up last year and keep on my fridge. I find it good to have and hope you do too!!

Motivational Things for Weight Loss

1) I deserve this!
2) I can do this and I will do this!
3) If I give up, I'm only letting myself down
4) I can lose the weight!
5) I want to be healthy
6) If I keep up with this, I'll be happier in the long run
7) I will track everything I eat
8) Fast food is NOT the answer
9) If I'm not hungry, I shouldn't be eating
10) I will NOT give up!!

There's my list! :o)

Also I forgot to post my starting weight yesterday!

Starting Weight: 242lbs

-Brooke

Weight Tracker

Hey Robin, Thanks for the Tracker that is so awesome I had to do one also! Sharon AKA Wyfie4eva

First Weigh In

Starting Weight: 202.8

Starting BMI: 36.5

Ten Percent Goal: 20.2

These numbers don't really surprise me. I gained 17 pounds last year....so not good. I did change my goal by a few pounds and may change it a little more when I get closer to goal. No big rush I'll be here for a while =)

~Christine

Day 1 - 185lbs

Well Ladies today is Day 1 of our journey together. I pray it has been smooth for you since it hasn't been for me. Woke up this morning to jump on the scale and it wasn't working. Don't know if it is a dead battery or what... however since I have a Wii Fit in the house I decided to jump on it for my weigh in. The Wii Fit weighs me in at 185lbs.

I did about 30 minutes of Boxing on the Wii Fit and I am Exhausted. Maybe on my days off work I just need to space it out do 15 min here and 15 min there and another 15 min somewhere else. I don't want to lose the desire to work out on it by overdoing it.

I am excited about this journey I am taking with all you Ladies. I look forward to seeing your success more so I think than my own. I love seeing people succeed. Have a Blessed Day!

May GOD give us each the stength to with stand the pressures of Life that cause us to loose the desire and will power to become healthier women. May HE stand by each one of us and help us through this journey we are undertaking together. May HE bless us this week with all our goals for the week not just in our weight loss journey but in all areas of our lives.
In JESUS name I pray AMEN.