My 1st attempt at Meal Planning for friends AND YOU!

Welcome to my first email as a "meal planner" - I hope this is helpful for you all!

Now, as a pre-cursor, I use most of my points for dinner. I like to have a good meal to look forward to. My breakfast is usually a smoothie or some fruit- nothing over 2-3 SP. My lunch is usually around 7-10 SP - so this helps me have a bigger dinner. I can even have a small piece of chocolate as a treat :-)

Here's my plan for the week - menu with recipe links (I always do my grocery list ahead of time- most I can buy at Aldi - except for Ginger:

MONDAY:
Massive Turkey Meatball- I'll use some Aldi sauce instead of her recommended sauce- serve over Cremette 150 thin spaghetti - also a salad and maybe a small slice of Italian bread (depends on points I have left - it adds 3 SP)- Total SP Dinner: 13 SP without bread http://www.skinnytaste.com/giant-turkey-meatball-parmesan/

TUESDAY: Honey Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks (or breasts) - serve with 1/2 cup brown Rice and Roasted Asparagus - Total SP Dinner: 12 http://www.skinnytaste.com/honey-teriyaki-drumsticks-skillet-or-instant-pot/

WEDNESDAY: Crunchy Parmesan Chicken- (Changes to the recipe- 2/3 cup crumbs, 1/2 cup Parmesan, 2 eggs, 3 T. Oil) - Served with Salad and Carrot Sticks, Apples Total SP Dinner:  12 SP
http://www.rachaelraymag.com/Recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-search/dinner-recipes/Crunchy-Parmesan-Chicken

THURSDAY: Greek Chicken Sandwich on Naan Bread with Tzatziki sauce (I can share some Wildtree if you want to make this) No Link - this will be my own recipe :-) Will serve with carrots sticks or fruit - Didn't figure out SP yet. OR I may make pizza for the boys since I have a class- If so, I'd make a sandwich and fruit to take with me.

FRIDAY: Turkey Stuffed Tenderloin http://www.skinnytaste.com/butternut-stuffed-turkey-tenderloin/ - served with Brussels sprouts (on sale at Aldi) - recipe for brussel sprouts - https://weightwatchers.com/us/recipe/roasted-brussels-sprouts-maple-balsamic-drizzle-1/5626a624a6d5b39610700d5e Total SP Dinner: 7 SP   

SATURDAY:
Thai Chicken Peanut noodles- I'll modify slightly for the boys- I'll also steam or roast some broccoli (carrots sticks for the boys)- no sriracha for me Total SP Dinner: 15 SP (it's a huge serving- so I may just half it? OR it's Saturday and I'll just back off lunch)   http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/thai-chicken-peanut-noodles?trkid=soc-skinnyms-rdp

Feel free to call or ask me if you have ?'s- here are 2 more meals I have in my pocket in case I don't want to make one of the above.

Alternatives:

Bangin Good Shrimp over angel hair pasta (150 calorie cremette) with broccoli Total SP Dinner: 8 SP http://www.skinnytaste.com/bangin-good-shrimp/

Chicken Tacos - No recipe, just chicken breasts (3 oz), seasoned and sauteed- then sliced and served with El Rey corn tortillas (3 tortillas) and refried beans (1/2 cup), carrot sticks - Total SP Dinner: 11 SP (Cheese and Sour Cream are 2 SP)

I'd love ideas or stuff you'd like to see- let me know. 

A holiday weekend and a GAIN?

Ugh. That about sums up how I'm feeling this morning.

Last week was a success. At least until Sunday....then yesterday. I was on point with my food choices EVERY. SINGLE. DAY until Sat- I indulged in 2 s'mores, but I still stayed on track. Then a HUGE church cool out on Sunday before fireworks. I certainly indulged more than I should, but I had earned almost 70 EXTRA points on top of my weekly. I didn't eat that much, did I?

I skipped my work out yesterday, had biscuits and gravy for breakfast (fat free milk made, but STILL), relaxed and watched a movie with my kids, air popped popcorn with butter and then an AMAZING blue cheese burger on a pretzel bun. I didn't bother to track Sun or Monday. I think that's what hurt.

I made sure to get up and get RIGHT back on track this morning. After 15 min of my T-25 I went to check my fit bit and I had forgotten to put it on my sports bra! Darn! So I missed approx. 2300 steps, so it's like it didn't happen. However, it did and I need to remember that :-)

Anyhoo, let's get to the UGH part, I got on the scale and expected to see a bit of a down. BUT-----I was UP 1.4 lbs! SERIOUSLY? UP? I get that I indulged a bit, but did that REALLY not only UNDO my work but ADD 1.4 friggin LBS!

So, that's where I am today. I'm frustrated, I want to eat and just say forget it, but I can't. I know the work I did last week, I KNOW this will pay off. So I'm hoping when you hear from me next week, I can tell you I lost that 1.4 plus some. But if I don't, I'm not going to quit because I can't. My goal is to get back to GOAL- that's now 20 lbs. This  is GOING to happen.

So many changes

This is the start of week 3 in my new life. What's my new life? It's an exciting, scary, amazing, frustrating time.

My husband started a business in January- he left his job (steady paycheck) and embarked into a journey doing something he loves. Contracting- more specifically painting, drywall, texturing, finishing- a little bit of everything. He loves it and even better he's REALLY good at it.

Fast forward 6 months and he's so busy we haven't invoiced anyone in 3 months, we're behind on collection, he needs to hire someone. So we take a LONG look at Daycare versus my job- stress levels, what should we do. We pray on it- HARD. I asked Him for guidance every night. Something in my gut told me it was time to focus on our family.

So that's what I'm doing. I'm staying home with my boys. I'm working as a partner/owner with my husband. We're building a successful company. I'm focusing on my health, including eating better. Cleaner and less "crap". That's why I'm also re-launching my Wildtree business. (www.mywildtree.com/michelledable)

The last 2 weeks have been insane. I've felt every emotion in the book. I've been happy, sad, frustrated, annoyed, exhausted, you name it! BUT, I don't miss the 9-5 - AT ALL! I don't miss the expectation of checking into an office at 8 am and feeling guilty when I am home making dinner before 5pm.

So today I begin again - I begin AGAIN- look back at this blog- I've started over so many times. I sit here weighing 168.6 lbs- that's 20 lbs more than when I hit goal. It's time to get this off.

I have 9.5 weeks left of summer with these boys. I want to do 1 special things every day. That means I have to take care of me. Stop eating the breakfast I make for them, drink my smoothie. WORK OUT- 6 days per week. Enjoy this time.

I started my day at 5 am with Day 1- Cardio of T25 and the Crazy 8's routine of Cize. Here's my workout selfie - I'm feeling good!

And to keep myself accountable- I PROMISE to write at LEAST 1 time per week.

How a comment can change your outlook

I don't have much time, but I wanted to share something that happened to me this morning. 

Ok- let's take a quick step back. The scale wasn't my friend on Saturday. In fact, when I got on and saw a .2 lb loss, I was downright SALTY! I know I put in the work. I KNOW I stayed within points. It was frustrating. 

Well, there was a part of me on Saturday that was tempted to just give in, but I didn't. I ended up being sick on Sunday, Monday and most of Tuesday this week. With being sick, it left my husband in control of my meals. I ate crackers, turkey, cheese, soup, and on Sunday night.....DOMINOS! Eek. 

I tracked it all and I feel like I'm coming out on the other side of this sickness with an overall satisfaction of staying on track. My pants are feeling looser and I am feeling better.

This morning, my co-worker (and fellow WW'er) came up to me and said- "You did it - didn't you?" I asked "What?" She replied "You hit the 10 lbs lost, right? I can see it in your face." It was an AWESOME comment and I needed it, because NO, I have not hit my 10 lb mark, I am only at 4.5 lbs, but it made my DAY!

It reminded me that even when the number on the scale isn't cooperating, there's still progress being made!