I did it. Re-joined Weight Watchers. It is slightly embarrassing when I walk in to the meeting room and the receptionist and the leader recognize me and in my head I'm thinking "Yep....failed again, back again." But I try to think of it not as a past failure, but as a continuing journey. I stepped off the road for a little while, stopped to smell the flowers (or eat the ice cream and french fries etc.), and now I'm back on my bicycle. I know my WW leaders see it the same way. They are always welcoming and really, I should be pleased they recognize me. I like to think I make a positive impact when I go places and give people a reason to remember me. So that's that.

Here is a new recipe I tried out for lunch today. I edited it from Laa Loosh. Here be my Two Pepper Alfredo (for 1).

"What do I need?"
Non-stick cooking spray
2 oz uncooked whole wheat spaghetti
1/4 c. Ragu Light Alfredo Sauce
2 peppers, 1 red and 1 green
Salt, pepper & garlic to taste

"How do I do this?"
1. Preheat the oven to 425*.
2. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray (I used canola oil spray) and place pepper strips on it. (I used about 1/2 of the red pepper and 1/2 of the green pepper, putting the rest aside for a snack later). Allow to cook for about 20 minutes.
3. Turn peppers and add any desired garlic. Return to the oven until peppers begin to blacken (took mine about 10 minutes). Remove from oven and allow to cool. Once cooled, peel off skins if desired.
4. Prepare pasta according to package instructions. Drain and put back in pot.
5. Heat jarred Alfredo sauce in a sauce pan until thoroughly warm (about 7 minutes).
6. Combine all indredients in pasta pot and stir together. Add salt and pepper as desired. Mix well to combine. Serve immediately.

((Yields 1 serving - though obviously easy to double, triple, etc. 8P+))

Long time, no write. Life has gone on, as has my struggle with my own self-image and body weight. In the months since my past blogging, I have tried a couple different things:

• Over the summer, I basically just lived life and without thinking much about my weight. I worked at a camp which served not-always-low-fat-or-healthy meals and was conscious about portions for the most part (YAY for me!) but then any ground I may have gained during the week I probably drank away during the weekends. Whoops!
• Then, starting in late August, I tried these little shakers from a company called "Sensa." Theoretically, one is supposed to "sprinkle" all of one's food at each meal and the little salt/sugar crystals theoretically activate your sense of smell to tell your brain that its full faster than normal. Yeah, I liked the concept but I am too self-conscious to ever "sprinkle" in public so half the time I didn't use the things, and when I did I was just bad about obeying my body's signals. So another plan in the can.
• Most recently I started counting calories and using a couple free websites (Sparkpeople and Shape) but these didn't do it for me either. I did discover, however, that I did find these very motivational and I love them for their articles and fresh, exciting ideas. I am just not a calorie-counter apparently, because this did nothing for me in the way of tracking. I even food journalled! But alas, back to the drawing board.

So here I am. Mid-October a month and a half after my birthday (my original goal deadline). I was discouraged, maybe a bit disappointed, and rather disoriented from having tried things that failed me....but I am still not giving up. I know what has worked for me in the past and it is not out of my reach. Weight Watchers is running a promotional deal right now, as is the YMCA. I can pick back up where I left off and be successful like I have been in the past. And why shouldn't I be? Here is to living another year of my life working to be fit, healthy and happy. Join me as I move forward, trying to reach my new goal of losing 26 lbs by my 26th birthday: August 31, 2013.

Day 25.

Okay, this is a quick post without a picture because I'm on the run today. But imagine any strawberry smoothie in a cutesy little spring-time glass and it looks just like that. :)

So for me, I LOVE a good smoothie post-workout. Its a cool treat and when made right (whatever your opinion of "right" is) its good nourishment for your body. So here's what went into my Strawberry Apple-Aide Smoothie:

"What do I need?"
1/2 c. strawberries, hulled and halved (could be frozen)
1/2 c. non-sweetened applesauce
1 t. lemon juice
1 Fiber One "50 calorie"-sized vanilla yogurt
approx. 1/2 c. crushed ice

"How do I do this?"
Put all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smoothe. Enjoy!!!!
((Weight Watchers PointsPlus Values: 1))

I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out because I've never put lemon juice or apple sauce into a smoothie, but I was very pleasantly surprised. Guess that goes to show even without your normal smoothie ingredients (pineapple, more berries, peaches, etc.), you can still make something delicious and healthy happen. Sweet!

Day 22.

Weigh in #3. Down 1 lb!!! That makes a total of 6.2 lbs. lost! Huzzah! You know I'm excited to move another marble from "Pounds to go" to "Pounds lost." (see my first entry from February 29th)

Tonight is the premier of "The Hunger Games" movie and I am SOOOO excited. I can't mention enough how big of an impact this story has on me--personally and physically as well. It makes me want to be a more selfless person and a person who has an opinion and will fight for that opinion. Also, it makes me want to be in better physical shape. Part of this comes from the story, and part from the actors. I found out Josh Hutcherson does triathlons....I think that's a great idea! It is now a lifelong goal of mine to do a triathlon. I can swim, I can ride a bike, and I can run. I will have to train like hell, but it is possible! Some day. Some how. I will. The story makes me want to climb trees and learn how to fight and defend myself. It makes me want to eat healthier and be at peak performance. And hello! I can do that too! So why not just do it?!

So here I am. Another moment of excitement and re-committment. I think everyone needs these. So, until next time, "May the odds be ever in your favor."

Day 20.

I'm doing better. Trying to keep a balance of busy and recreation. Today I cancelled my "busy" (a voice lesson--been too preoccupied to practice and too stressed to sound decent anyway) and took the evening to relax and MAKE SOMETHING. Well, we're three days away from the premier of The Hunger Games so what better to do than make myself a t-shirt. I hate the assembly line shirts that every 14 year old modern-day teenie bopper has so I'll put some time, thought and effort into mine. The story of The Hunger Games is one that I love for so many reasons: the concept of people providing for themselves, and idea of rebellion and independence against an oppressive government, and of course the strong love story. So here's my project: "I Love the Boy With the Bread" t-shirt

"What do I need?"
A t-shirt idea/design written out on a piece of white paper
Plain tank, t-shirt, sweatshirt, etc.
Freezer paper (find with the aluminum foil & plastic wrap in a grocery store)
Fine-point permanent marker
X-acto knife
Scotch Tape
Iron
Fabric paint
Paintbrush
Cardboard or poster board

"How do I do this?"
1. Start by drawing your design on a piece of paper with a pencil. Mistakes are ok because you'll be transferring this to the Freezer Paper.
2. Place your design sheet under a piece of Freezer Paper (the Freezer Paper should be shiny side down). Tape them together lightly so your tracing will be consistent and unmoved. Trace your design onto the Freezer Paper with a permanent marker. Coloring in your letters will be helpful in giving you width to later cut out your stencil.
3. Remove your design sheet (save for later if you plan to use it for multiple tee's). Place your cardboard underneath the Freezer Paper, lightly tape together, and begin to carve out your stencil with the X-acto knife. IMPORTANT: Be sure to keep track of the little pieces that may be inside the letters (Ex: the middle parts of e's or o's or d's etc.). You will need these!
4. Once you have cut your entire stencil, trim down the paper around your design. Place the stencil on your t-shirt and once you have it positioned where you want it, iron onto shirt. I then added the inner pieces and ironed them in last.

5. Place a piece of cardboard in the t-shirt to prevent the fabric paint from bleeding through. Use a semi-stiff brush to apply the paint. It took me about 3-4 coats to feel confident that the white would show up on the dark grey/black. 

6. Carefully peel of stencil while paint is still wet. Allow to dry according to directions on paint bottle. 

7. Show off your fancy-schmancy tee at your local Hunger Games midnight showing or just around town. 

Day 11.

Yeah, weekend was rough. Fish fry & German beer on Friday. Croissant sandwich & ice cream sundae on Saturday. A little restaurant egg salad, chili and macaroni salad this afternoon with my hike. Ouch. But overall, could have been worse. I did pretty well staying away from the fried foods (except for Friday obviously). I left some things on my plate each time, and shared some of my lunch this afternoon. Our hike was beautiful and it was good to spend some quality time together. Another thing I love doing with Fil: cook!

Here is what we came up with for tonight, since it was actually warm enough to grill outside (yay!!!!): Tropical Chicken Kabobs


"What do I need?"
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-2 inch chunks
1/4 c. packed brown sugar
1 T reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 T butter
1 tsp. ginger root
1 oz. rum
1/2 medium pineapple, cut into chunks
1 medium green pepper, cut into chunks
1 medium red pepper, cut into chunks
1 small red onion, cut into chunks
12 wooden or metal skewers

"How do I do this?"
1. Combine brown sugar, butter, ginger and rum in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat until butter is melted and mixture is combined. Reserve a small amount for later. Place remaining sauce into a small bowl or ziploc bag and add chicken. Allow to marinade, covered or sealed, in refrigerator for two hours.
2. Preheat grill to medium high heat.
3. Thread chicken, vegetables and pineapple in alternating pattern on skewers (if using wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water first so they do not burn). Brush the remaining marinade onto the kabobs. Grill over medium-high heat about 15 minutes (7-8 on each side) until chicken is thoroughly cooked.
((Makes 12 kabobs. Weight Watchers PointsPlus values per kabob: 3))

This is my new absolute *favorite* recipe. Very easy and SO good!

Day 8. Weigh in #1.

Results for today's weigh-in: -1.2!!! Yay!!!! I get to move a marble over from "pounds to go" to "pounds LOST"!!! I love collecting my bravo stickers and moving my marbles. Positive reinforcement! Really, its the little things in life. I believe this.

Tomorrow marks the start of the weekend. What's on the schedule? Brother is coming home for spring break so out to dinner with the family Friday night. Boyfriend is coming home for spring break so out to dinner with boyfriend Saturday night. Voice student is lead in her school's musical so out for lunch on Sunday. This is a lot of "out." I don't tend to do well with "out." I have come to accept this. So really, my goals and strategies are:

• Try to leave food on the plate. Serving sizes in the US are way too big, and we think that in order to "get our money's worth" we have to eat everything. False. Its called GET A BOX AND TAKE HALF OF IT HOME.
• Go for water in stead of soda or alcoholic beverages.
• Salad w/ dressing on the side where possible. Stay away from fried foods when possible. 

Hopefully I will find some time to run. Or at least do some crunches and arm work. Sunday Filip and I are going hiking and I am SO excited for this. I wish I lived in a forest so I could just go for leisurely strolls/hikes/jaunts every day. I feel so at home and so empowered when I'm out in nature, like I can accomplish anything no matter how big or how small.

Day 7.

All right, I've been tracking towards my official goal for seven days. A whole week--yay! Weigh in tomorrow shall tell my progress in a completely different way. Regardless of what the scale says, I am proud of my overall focus and positive mindset this week.

On an unrelated note, I have been working on the Couch to 5K program on and off for about two weeks now. However, I have also been busy to the MAX with work, rehearsals, meetings, music, and who knows what else so unfortunately C25K has been on the back burner. I hate this. I hate not having time to run. It is my goal to start running outside once the weather is consistently better. A couple years ago when I did the program, I made it to week 5 or 6 on a tredmill but I know that running outside is an entirely different game. I do, however, have a new running partner. Allow me to introduce....

Frankie!!! He's our little pure white schnauzer. He's just over a year old and has all together too much energy to be in the house all day. So I figure since I'll be starting slow, he can start slow with me. I am really excited to get started with him. I have been trying to get him on long walks as a beginning to his "training" and a nice supplement to mine. I just love doggies and mine are pretty much the best in the world (not that I'm biased or anything). :)

Day 6.

Woke up this morning to news that temperatures could get up into the 60's this upcoming weekend. I am SO excited! Here in northern Illinois we have had a very mild winter, which has been great, but all that is running through my mind is that we're going to get up to 60 and then a week later it will snow again. And probably keep snowing until May. Its entirely possible! But we shall see. I will definitely take advantage of any warm weather I get. I love spring. And summer. And fall. Bring it on!

This hope for warm weather also stirred up some inspiration to try a new recipe. I have to say that I love this part of my nannying job: her naptime = my time in the kitchen. I have about an hour (sometimes a more if I let her "help") to make whatever I want, and I have all of the tools right here waiting for me! Today I walked into the house with the necessary ingredients to make my own Kickin' Roasted Chickpeas.

"What do I need?"
1 15-oz. can chickpeas (also under the label "garbanzo beans")
1 T olive oil
1 T ground cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. chili powder
1 pinch each of Salt, pepper, crushed red pepper

"How do I do this?"
1. Preheat the oven to 400*.
2. Mix the spices in with the olive oil in a medium-sized bowl.
3. Rinse the chickpeas and discard any shells.  Drain. Add chickpeas to the oil/spice mixture and toss to coat.
4. Cover a baking sheet in aluminum foil. Spread the chickpeas in a single layer on the baking sheet. Roast in the preheated oven until browned and crispy, about 45 minutes.
((Yields approx. four 1/4 cup servings. Weight Watchers PointsPlus Values per serving: 4))

These Kickin' Roasted Chickpeas are very crunchy and a really good snack. I will also be trying them as a salad-topper!

Day 5.

Perhaps I should have called this blog "Fully Fit by 25." Now that I'm on a roll and feeling really good about being on plan again, I'm starting to see how loose other aspects of my life are. The two biggest examples: the (lack of) organization in my room at home and my lack of financial fitness. Realistically, it is probably easier to clean my room than to lose weight or to get out of debt.....so why not do that? In my opinion, nothing is more motivating than spring weather after a winter of darkness so this week I will take advantage of that. This week I vow to:

- Track everything. Since I have way overblown my weekly points, I will stick to my daily points allowance every day.
- Finally take my HUGE bag of old clothes to the Goodwill drop-off. It is taking up unnecessary space, and I'm sure that after cleaning, I will probably come up with another big bag of old stuff.
- Invest at least an hour looking into David Ramsey's Total Money Makeover program.

And as a reminder of the upcoming weather to look forward to, I will post a picture from my beloved summer camp. This photo was taken by our wonderful camp photographer, Will Murray, so I cannot take the credit for it. I am an absolute believer in the beauty and sacredness of nature, and nothing inspires me more than the concept of something so much bigger than I am. I can't wait for the leaves to bud and the grass to grow green again. Yes, this is what I shall be ready for. Love it.

"Wilderness is not a luxury, but a necessity of the human spirit." -- William Abby

Day 4.


A recipe today! Today I have time and energy so what better to do than cook dinner! A little about me and my situation: I live with my parents. Its bittersweet--I love them to bits and appreciate them letting me spend my time in limbo between undergrad and grad work in our home--but at the end of the day, it is somewhat of a battle within my weight loss journey (and sometimes my sanity). They fill the fridge and the cupboards with full fat meats and cheeses and cookies and breads....I try to squeeze my organic, low-fat yogurts and cooking ingredients into the spaces. They cook dinner, I usually cook or find my own dinner. This is also why most of my recipes are adapted for one serving, or something that is easily freezable to come back to later. This whole situation is tough, but sometimes in your weight loss journey, you have to do what's best for YOU even if it means buying your own supply of groceries when the fridge is already full, or saying "no" to the dinner that is cooked for you and step up and make your own. 


So here's my dinner for today: Crisp Dijon Pork Tenderloins


"What do I need?"
6 oz. pork tenderloins, trimmed to thin medallions
2 T dijon mustard
1/3 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1 T freshly chopped thyme
1 T Olive Oil
Salt and pepper to taste


"How do I do this?"
1. Start by preheating the oven to 450*.
2. Coat pork medallions in Dijon mustard. Combine Panko, thyme, salt, and pepper on a plate or in a large bowl. Dip pork into crumb mixture and encrust completely.
3. Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Swirl to coat (I also used a spray of cooking spray). Add pork and saute 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Turn pork and place on a baking sheet or pan. Bake at 450* for 8-10 minutes. Let stand three minutes before serving.
((Serves 2. Weight Watchers PointsPlus values per serving: 6)) 

Also shown: 1 serving of Green Giant Garden Vegetable Medley and 1 slice of Sprouted Bakehouse 7 grain (no sodium added) bread. Total P+'s for meal: 9

Day 3.

One thing I have to say is that Dr. Oz is an excellent salesman. I don't think I have been to one Weight Watchers meeting in the past 2 months where his name has not been brought up. Yes, I will say that I signed up way back in September or whenever it was for his "Transformation Nation" and I think its a great idea and a really solid program. (I do note, also, that it was a partnership with Weight Watchers but as I see more and more "success stories" on his program, not many of them say they followed the WW program) I don't ever get the chance to watch his show during the day but I do search through his website every so often and it really is a wealth of information. He talks about losing weight like its selling a car. "Its so easy," "It can be so affordable," etc. etc. etc. and by golly, this man makes me want to succeed! I don't know why--I can't exactly see his degrees hanging on the wall, and since we all know "Dr. Phil" isn't really a doctor, I admit to being a little skeptical. But at the end of the day, if he can motivate me to get off my butt and do something to change my lifestyle for the better and the healthier, then I'm all for it.

One thing I just found on his website today is a video segment about "The Best Teas for Weight Loss". Now, I am a singer so I am very fond of tea. The baristas at my local Teavana store just about know my credit card number by heart. So today I went there and bought this:

Strawberry Slender Pu-erh tea. It is quite tasty. Not my favorite, but I add a little bit of stevia and I really enjoy this tea. In the show segment linked above, Dr. Oz's guest recommends drinking this tea in the morning to shrink fat cells. Oooooh, fancy-schmancy! Who knows how much truth this holds but it is tasty, probably more healthy than coffee (which I have cut out of my daily life), and this blend has the pu-erh AND strawberry. The barista at Teavana told me that in order to really see the health benefits of this or any tea, it is recommended that we drink 2-3 cups every day for a month. I'm okay with that. Any little bit helps. So, that's my update for today. Cheers!

Day 2.


Its Friday! Oh no wait, let me amend that: Its FINALLY Friday!!! This week wasn't bad, it was just horribly slow and long. I nanny from 7:30-4:30 each day, and then most nights I either teach private music lessons or have rehearsals or lessons of my own so in the midst of all this, it is so difficult to find time to work out, be with friends, or just catch some alone time. 

So now that its Friday, I am faced with this dilemma: go out for dinner with my parents or stay in and cook. Isn't it amazing, what the voices can say?


Angel voice: Yes, stay in. You just set new goals for yourself and I'm so proud of you! Keep it up!
Devil voice: Yeah, goals-schmoals. The plan has flexibility so even if you go out, you can reset your points tomorrow.
Angel: Today is what counts! You've worked so hard and have been working out--stick with it, you'll feel better and be even more motivated!
Devil: But it will taste soooooo good! You deserve a reward for your hard work. I big, juicy burger and fries. Dooooo itttttt!!!!!
Angel: NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!


Okay, maybe I'm the only one. But I do know that I'm not the only one who has moments of weakness and gives in. Give in is what I did. I am not proud of that, and as tempting as it is to lie about it, I know I will get nowhere. So I will count the AP's I got on my walk this afternoon and I will count my meal and I will greet tomorrow with open arms and lots of water. In the meantime, I will leave off with a quote meme that I remind myself of every day.

I found this pic here.

Day 1.

They say that the hardest step is the first one. In my case I definitely disagree. Starting a blog is easy. Planning for my first day OP is easy. I feel excited and focused--easy peasy! As a result, I'll take advantage of this! Allow me to kick things off with a recipe inspired by a favorite spring/summer food of mine: Fruit Pizza. You know what I'm talking about...those huge sugar cookies covered in sweetened cream cheese frosting and topped with fruit? *mouth watering* Well I lightened the recipe and minimized the serving size (no more worrying about eating the entire pizza myself, which I could easily do) so now we have a perfect mid-morning snack. I shall call them: Fruit Cracker "Pizzas."


"What do I need?"
2 sheets of Honey Graham Crackers (I used New Morning Organic brand)
1 T Weight Watchers whipped cream cheese spread
1/8 tsp Stevia in the raw (more or less to taste)
1/2 c. sliced, fresh strawberries, blueberries, grapes (you can choose any combination you like)

"How do I do this?"
1. Mix Stevia and cream cheese spread in a small bowl.
2. Thinly spread the sweetened cream cheese onto the two graham cracker sheets. This is your "pizza sauce."
3. Arrange fruit toppings atop the cream cheese.
4. Savor & enjoy!
((Serves 1. Weight Watchers PointsPlus values: 3))

Easy-peasy and delicious! Fruit Cracker "Pizzas"

Starting tomorrow, I am beginning my “25 by 25” campaign. This means I will be striving to lose (at least) 25 pounds by my 25th birthday. My birthday is August 31st so as of tomorrow, I have one hundred eighty-one days, or 26 weeks, to lose this weight. I am calling my starting weight “222” because that is the highest weight I have recorded. Technically my last weigh in (three days ago at a Weight Watchers meeting) I was at 218 so this gives me a “four pound advantage,” in the words of the TV show "The Biggest Loser." 

So far, I have already started this mini-campaign for visual motivation: 

I am hoping that this goal of mine will lead to a productive blog, a 5K and the dropping of at least one pants size. Losing 25 pounds from where I am now will not be an “all time low” for me or anything like that, but it will being me into ONEderland and it will hopefully spark something in me to keep going. I have been back in Weight Watchers since September and I haven’t lost more than these 4 pounds. That is ridiculous. Furthermore, it is no fault of the Weight Watchers program. The fault is my own. Now I have this new job that can really help me keep track of my food and provide me with a little bit of money to put towards healthy foods...I have to take advantage! I have to sieze this! I have so much to live for! So much ahead of me! The time is now. 25 by 25. Here we go.