Eat Less, Move More update

Last week was good. I managed to avoid Coke (my not-so-secret addiction) as well as added sugar in my coffee or other beverages. I also got in two walks, which was good.

This week I will continue the goals of getting in 2 days of at least 15 minutes of exercise, as well as avoiding adding sugar in my beverages, but I'm also adding new goals

• Eat a "real" breakfast each morning - no more stopping at Safeway for a bagel or McD's for a sausage egg McMuffin, hold the sausage.
• Begin to do the speed and agility training the girls are doing during practice. Do this at least 2x a week.

As far as the real breakfast - bagels in themselves aren't bad. What is bad is that I have no will power at 7 in the morning and end up getting far more than just a bagel for breakfast. I walk in for breakfast and walk out with Oreos, candy, and other junk that I just don't need. By planning ahead I help avoid all the temptations tht stopping at the grocery brings. And exercising with the girls just makes sense. Someone has to supervise the conditioning station, and none of us like doing it. I might as well volunteer and use the time to get some exercise in. It's good for me, makes me a good role model to the girls, and answers the question of "when will I ever find time to exercise?!"

Meal Plan, 2/3-2/9

Sunday - Double stuffed chicken, salad, baked potato and rolls
Monday - Pizza
Tuesday - Seafood Diavolo (from Costco), salad, fruit cocktail
Wednesday - Korma chicken with saffron rice
Thursday - Some chicken thing I can't pronounce from Costco
Friday - Arroz Con Pollo, salad
Saturday - Turkey Meatloaf, green beans

Recipe: Double Stuffed Chicken

Ricky and I enjoy this recipe. It's usually a company dish as it can be a little bit time intensive and is rich and high in calories. However, it's very good and worth the time and calories for a treat now and again. We are having it for dinner tonight; originally Ricky's sister and her husband were going to join us, but Joe had a meeting that ran late so it will be just the two of us. Instead, they'll come over tomorrow night with pizza!

Double Stuffed Chicken
8 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 8oz pkg cream cheese, cut into 8 1 oz pieces
8 1 oz pieces of cheddar cheese (8 oz total)
1 cup milk
1.5 cups italian seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
1 tbs garlic, minced
3/4 cup butter
2 tbs lemon juice
1/2 tsp garlic salt, or to taste
1/2 tsp paprika

Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C). Lightly coat 9x13 pan with non stick spray or oil.

Butterfly each chicken breast so that it opens like a book. Place one slice each of cheddar and cream cheese between the "pages" of the chicken. Close.

Pour milk in shallow bowl. In a separate bowl, combine breadcrumbs and Romano cheese. Dip each breast in the milk, then in the breadcrumb mixture, patting lightly to be sure it sticks. Be sure each breast is firmly coated. Place chicken breasts side by side in baking dish in a single layer, being sure cut edge is sealed.

Melt butter in saucepan. Add lemon juice and garlic; stir to blend. Drizzle evenly over chicken. Season breasts with garlic salt and paprika, if using (I never do).

Bake for 30 minutes, or until no longer pink in center and juices run clear.

Eat Less, Move More

In an effort to jumpstart our weight loss, my friends and I came up with the above phrase. Quite ingenious, isn't it? I know, not that original, but really losing weight is as simple as that. If only the act of following through were so simple.

So I'm babystepping. I feel too overwhelmed right now to jump right in and do it all, so I'll start with dipping a toe into the weight loss pool and go from there.

This week my eating goal is to not drink my calories, so no cokes, sugar syrups or sugar in my coffee, and no hot chocolate. My exercise goal is to get in at least two 15 minute exercise sessions before 6 pm Saturday.

Each week I'll add a new eating goal and up my exercise goal, in an attempt to get myself back on track with a healthy lifestyle.

Pride cometh before the fall...

So I won't say that I'm proud. Even though I am.

For the past 2 days - that's right, two whole days, it must be a streak! - I've come home from practice and made dinner. On top of that, Ricky and I managed to sit down at the table together to eat!

We so rarely eat at the table it's disgusting. I so rarely cook a "real" meal that it's ridiculous. I fixed side dishes and everything!

We're shooting for 3 nights in a row with spaghetti tonight. Wish me luck!

Meal Plan, 1/20-26

Sunday - Chili dogs
Monday - Asian Chicken from Dream Dinners
Tuesday - Gnocchi
Wednesday - Buttermilk Chicken from Dream Dinners
Thursday - Chipotle soup
Friday - wedding reception, I'm making shrimp puffs
Saturday - Seafood Diavolo (Costco)

Oh Meatloaf, where ARE you?!

My meatloaf recipe has run away. I know it calls for 1.5 pounds of meat, 3-4 slices of bread, some evaporated milk (5 oz??), ketchup (1/4c, I think), worcestershire sauce, and a packet of onion soup mix. But I need that darn recipe to double check amounts and what not.

Anyone?

Spicy Lasagna

Your lesson for the day: Read labels carefully!

Before I went to the store yesterday to get last minute ingredients for my lasagna, I double checked to be sure Mozzarella was all I needed. Yup, I have everything else, in the right quantities.

Then I got down to making the lasagna, and when I pulled out a can of diced tomatoes, it said "with diced green chilies." Oops, wrong can. So I got another one...and another one...and sadly, every can of diced tomatoes in my cupboard was "with diced green chilies" rather than "with oregano and basil." At this point, the lasagna was all but done, so I forged ahead anyway.

It didn't taste too bad, but I've made better, and boy was it spicy!

So learn from my mistake - read the label closely!