I'm going to do it.

How many times can you revive a dead blog? Well, I guess it's for sure twice because I'm about to do it again.
I took a really long time off from this blog and it seems that as soon as I stopped writing I stopped tracking, I stopped working out, I stopped trying. Connection? I think so!
You know it's bad when I didn't even have to update the weight tracker that I have at the top of my blog because my weight is exactly the same as it was when I last tracked in June of last year. I gained about 11 pounds, but in the last month and a half I've taken it back off.
I've got less than 40 pounds left to lose and I know I can do it!!!

So, here we go - back to tracking, back to writing, back to trying. I take that back. No trying. I heard someone say "when you try you're giving yourself permission to fail." Well, I don't want to fail anymore. I'm tired of failing. I hate failure. It's time to change the cycle.
My husband would be proud to hear me quote Yoda here "Do, or do not. There is no try."

I'm not going to try, but I am going to do it!

Alright, alright, alright!

It's not like I need to announce it, but I am anyways. So, I've been gone for a month now. I know, you couldn't tell, right?! Riiiight ;-) Anyways.. the reason I was gone is well, I had a bad week (cheating, sneaking and not exercising will do that to you) And I didn't want to fess up to it. On top of that I was feeling a little discouraged from that and well, the lack of comments, I suppose.

You see, sometimes I feel like I need people to read and comment on my blog for it to make a difference. When it got to a point where people weren't commenting anymore I thought maybe it was useless. I like to use my blog as an outlet. A way to keep myself on track, motivated and "someone" to check in with on my journey. Last night I had the realization that I'd rather write my blog for me to get things out and even if there is someone out there reading that maybe the one thing I said helped them, then that's great! 

I know I don't need to write for you, you or heck, even you, but I like to. I like writing for me, but I also like writing for you! I like the tapping of the keyboard, the words appearing on the screen. Sometimes I even wish I had a reason to type letters because I just like the way it feels. So, I'm back again. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it's like the twelve-millionth time I've said that, but it's permanent this time. Just know, if you're reading, I'm glad you're interested. And if not, that's cool too. I like my blog in all of it's little glory and that's OK with me.

Flashbacks

Another week, another weigh-in. I followed my points 100% and I even got 4 workouts in last week. All of my hard work is paying off - I lost 2.5 pounds!! I've now lost 17.5 pounds since my return! I weighed in at 195.3 this morning. This is a number I haven't seen since right after Graycen was born (3.5 years ago) I actually think this is what I weighed at my 6 week post-partum check. I can't believe how well I am doing and how good it's making me feel. I'm finding it to be so much easier to get up off of the floor, bed, etc.. My knees aren't cracking and popping as much as they had been, my clothes are getting too big. I really could go on and on, but I won't. I feel good!
I totally meant it when I said I was doing it this time!! Yay me!

I'm in love with lemon

I don't know if you love lemon, but I sure do. I have been on the hunt for a WW friendly recipe for lemon bars and was STOKED when I saw there was one in the Hungry Girl book. Well, I made the recipe and let me tell you - it was GROSS. I'm not even going to bother posting the recipe, but just know if you come across it, it's not good and don't even try it.

Ma found a recipe for me on About.com in the Low Fat Cooking area and I wasn't hesitant to try it at all. I'm so glad I made it because these lemon bars rock!

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutesIngredients:

For the Base:

•1 cup all-purpose flour

•1/4 cup sugar

•1/2 cup quick oats

•3 tbsp butter

For theTopping:

•1 egg

•1 egg white

•1 cup sugar

•3 tbs flour

•1/4 tsp baking powder

•Pinch of salt

•Juice and zest of 1 large lemon (I used the zest of a lemon, and then about 5tb of juice from the bottle)

•Confectioner's sugar, sifted, for sprinkling

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Combine flour, oats and sugar in a medium bowl. Using a pastry blender, add butter and blend until the mixture is crumbly.

Press crumbs into the bottom of the baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes until edges are golden.

Meanwhile, whisk egg and egg white. Add sugar and beat until creamy. Add flour, baking powder, salt and lemon; whisk until smooth.

Pour lemon mixture over pre-baked base. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until center is set.

Cool in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 16 squares.

Per Serving: Calories 133, Total Fat 2.8g, Fiber 0.1g

Point value:: 3

It's weigh in time again!

I know, I know... I skipped last week's weigh-in. I don't know if it was a lack of ambition with wanting to write (this weather has been crappy) or if it was the fact that my weight just was not budging and I was staying within a 1.5 pound slump which resulted in me only losing 0.2lbs at last week's weigh-in. I was damn near ready to just give up since I wasn't moving the scale like I knew I should have been. I was sticking with my points 100%, working out and not even eating my extra points for the week.

I thought about it a little bit and decided I was going to take myself down 2 points (which is what you do when your weight changes) even though it wasn't time yet. Well, sure enough, cutting out 2 points was the trick. I lost 2.6 pounds over the last week. I have now lost 15 pounds since re-starting Weight Watchers and I am just thrilled about it. My weight is 197.8 and that is lower than it was when I stopped WW last time. Yay me! I officially have less than 50 pounds to lose now and that makes it seem way more attainable than ever before! I'm definitely a wanna-be prior fat girl. ;-)

I quit

I hate to admit it, but I have given up on the C25K program. You see, back in jr high I hurt my knee playing basketball. When I was running I started having really bad pains in my knee and the pain would only be dulled with ibuprofen. So, I am no longer running, but just working out instead. I am upset that I couldn't do it and I even tried to find excuses as to why I COULDN'T stop, but common sense kicked in and it made me realize I was doing the right thing by stopping. I am excited to see everyone else continue on and I will still cheer you all on. I'll totally walk a 5k any day (a 3 mile walk is a cake walk for me - I could walk for ages.. ) Thanks for the support you did give me. I appreciate it!

Product Review:: Ronzoni Smart Taste Thin Spaghetti

Recently I discovered Ronzoni's Smart Taste Thin Spaghetti and was VERY pleased. I had been buying whole wheat spaghetti and was satisfied, but decided to try this since I had a coupon for $1.00 off and that made it only $0.58 - what a deal! Turns out, nutritionally, this pasta is a lot better for you than the whole wheat pasta I had been buying. It has the calcium equal to an 8oz glass of milk! I think this is a great pasta for kids to be eating as well.

It's very filling, has a nice texture to eat and the flavor is good as well. I will continue to buy it!

Points value:: 3 (for 1 cup)