Hello to all of my accountability partners. This has been such an interesting week.
I’m sorry that Weight Watchers Wednesday had to come on Thursday this week. Todd’s new firm hosted an open house last night and I was busy all day yesterday preparing for that and then was there most of the night last night. So I apologize! Here’s the update from last week.
It was the beginning of football season, Labor Day weekend, and the beginning of my journey to lose 20 pounds. I bet you know how this all shook out. Football season and Labor Day weekend obviously trumped the journey to lose 20 pounds.
I did well at the beginning of the week. I was eating Lean Cuisines for lunch and depending on what our evening plans were, I was either cooking, eating Special K, or carefully selecting something off of a menu for supper. I think the hardest part about this process is keeping your husband satisfied. If we don’t have plans for dinner– a cooked meal or a trip to a restaurant planned– he’s going to eat cereal. That’s fine once or twice a week and I could probably do it every night of the week. But I just feel bad for him.
I cheated and had a Moo Moo Mr. Cow (kids meal) from Moe’s on Saturday night. I ate sushi on Friday night. But then I discovered my new favorite cookbook.
It’s Cooking Light Fresh Food Fast: 5 ingredient, 15 minute recipes.
Seriously, it took me 12 minutes to cook the meals I made last week. So convenient and it still goes along with my plan to drop 20 pounds.
I’m going to share one of the meals I prepared last week and we both loved it:
Balsamic Chicken with Roasted Tomatoes
1 pint grape tomatoes
1 tablespoon honey
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cooking spray
Balsamic vinaigrette salad spritzer (such as Wish-Bone)
1.Preheat oven to 450.
2. Combine first 3 ingredients in a small bowl; place tomato mixture on foil-lined jelly-roll pan. Bake at 450 for 12 minutes or until tomato skins burst and begin to wrinkle, stirring once. Transfer tomatoes to a bowl, scraping juices into the bowl. Stir 1/4 teaspoon salt into tomato mixture.
3. Place each chicken breast half between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap; pound to 1/4-inch thickness using a meat mallet or small heavy skillet. Sprinkle chicken evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper.
4. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken; cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side. P lace chicken on individual plates; coat each breast half with 2 to 3 sprays of balsamic spritzer. Spoon tomatoes evenly over chicken.
Yield: 4 servings
Points: 5
Mushroom and Zucchini Orzo
1 cup uncooked orzo
Cooking spray
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup diced zucchini
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black peper
1. Cook orzo according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain and keep warm.
2. While orzo cooks, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add mushrooms and zucchini; saute 6 minutes or until tender and browned.
3. Combine orzo, mushroom mixture, and remaining ingredients in a large bowl, tossing gently.
Yield: 4 servings
Points: 4
So 9 total points is a little on the high side for a meal, but this meal covers all of the food group bases and it’s really filling. I highly recommend it!
And I’m sure everyone wants a report for this week on weight lost. I lost 2 pounds this week despite the cheating, football season kick off, and Labor Day weekend! Yay for 2 pounds.
How did you do?
Yippy for you! 2 pounds is awesome! Last night was my first weigh in so no up date on the pounds lost. Have a wonderful week. P.S. I have been using your title Weight Watchers Wednesday on my blog. I hope you don’t mind…if so just let me know. I will totaly understand. I have been linking it back to you blog.
I am going at lunch to buy that cookbook!
Way to go! 🙂 2 lbs is still great, especially when you don’t need to lose a bunch of weight! I always had 2 lb weeks when I was WW-ing earlier in the year. 🙂 Takes a little longer to reach the ultimate goal, but that’s okay. 🙂 And I’m going to have to grab a copy of that cookbook, I will need it soon enough! Simplicity is GREAT!:)
Thanks for sharing. I am always looking for new healthy recipes! (Because I generally stick to my favorite fatty ones if I don’t have options!) Congrats on your 2lbs lost!
Thank you for sharing these recipes! You couldn’t have done so at a better time 🙂 I just decided to start getting healthier, and this will really help!
I’m down only a few ounces but back to a good exercise schedule this week.
I have a good husband-pleasing 5 pt. macaroni and cheese recipe on my blog today. It was yummy.
That’s wonderful Erin! Great job! I sucked it up last week so hopefully this one is better 🙂 You’ll be my motivation!
Good for you! Only 18 more pounds to go!! 🙂
I love anything with balsamic ving. I am going to try this tonight!
Sounds delicious! Congrats on only having 18 to go…
Yay for losing 2 lbs!! That’s awesome! I’m totally with you on trying to keep the hubby satisfied when I’m trying to watch what I eat. I could eat grilled chicken and veggies or a lean cuisine every night, but he is such a meat and potatoes kind of guy and he eats a TON!! So I struggle to meet both of our needs. Usually I just end up making another side item for him like potatoes ot pasta.
that recipe sounds delicous! I agree, when you are watching what you eat, its hard to keep your husband happy. My hubs can always tell if I made something that we usually eat in a healthier way!
Hey! I have never commeneted but have been reading your blog for awhile and love it! I did weight watchers right after my 2 year old was born and then got off the band wagon. Well I am back on and I lost 3 lbs last week. i think what has helped me is my hubby and I started working out togther at night after B goes to sleep. I am only wanting to lose 10 pounds but I really need to tone! Oh, and I love that cookbook! We got it as a wedding or shower gift.
Yay for 2 more lbs down!! Those recipes sound delicious and I’m going to have to get that cookbook!
YAY for 2 pounds!!!! I always worry about Brian & Ellie getting hungry or bored with meals but lucky for me they love soups and frozen dinner. LOL!!! I had a “bad” long weekend also but I’m trying my hardest to recover. Yesterday I weighed and I stayed the same so I’m not too upset. A loss would have been better though. 😀 XOXO
Yay Erin! The recipe sounds delicious as well- any good healthy breakfast options?
I am seriously going to have to try that cookbook and that recipe!! Both sound great for one person 🙂
i always thought sushi was considered healthy? (minus the fried stuff)
I found your blog a while back… and since reading your post about wanting to lose the pregnancy weight I decided to jump on the weight loss train with you. I just had baby #2 July 17th, and still have some weight to lose. I am not on the weight watchers program, but I am blogging every Wednesday with progress. I had a pretty bad week last week as well, but still managed to lose 2 lbs. 🙂 I have about 9 more to go…! Good luck, and know that there are many people working on this weight loss goal with you! And congrats on the 2 lbs… even if cheating was involved! 😉
Both of those recipes sound so delicious – thanks for sharing! And I am all for something healthy to cook that doesn’t take up too much of my precious time in the evening with the hubs & daughter. I had our little girl, Eden, in Nov. 2007, and although I lost almost all of the weight within a few months without work, I still have about 5 pounds that won’t budge (and add into that the fact that I complete hate working out)…anyway, you have inspired me to get those last 5 off, so thank you! Congrats on your 2 pounds!
Now I know what we’re having for dinner. sounds great.
And yahoo for 2 pounds. That’s one tenth of your goal. Woo hoo.
I’m new to the WWW boat – my first post will be next Wednesday. However, I actually started by myself about 3 weeks ago and to date have lost 11 pounds, so I’m super excited about that! I’ve been working really hard!
Congrats on the 2 pounds! That is an awesome start!
Thanks for posting that recipe – I’m always looking for new ideas! Can’t wait to keep up with your progress each week!
Oh that sounds so good! I think I did good considering my weekend, luckily some sweet person who knows I am a try-to-be health nut brought pizza over and had one that all fresh veggies. Keep up the good work…and the wonderful sounding recipes.
dang mama, 2 lbs lost with the cheating?!? im impressed! id gain about 4. and now i seriously want that cookbook. good job!
I am on day 3 of WW and so far so good. I have been eating the weight smart bannana bread oatmeal in the AM (3 pts) and it totally tides me over until lunch! also i made the 0 point soup to take some pressure off! keep up the recipes. The WW cookbook is good too and have some quick ones in there.
I have this cook book and my husband loves it as well!
I just finished cleaning up my dinner dishes after enjoying this chicken recipe! We had pork chops in the freezer so we substituted them for the chicken and it came out fantastic! I love the roasted tomatoes and anything with honey and balsamic always tastes delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe its going to be used quite often in my kitchen 🙂
share more recipes please! i’m excited to try this one!
2 pounds is awesome. Congratulations!
Congratulations!! I gained 1.6. Boo!! But, hopefully, this week will be better!
2 pounds is awesome!! Off to a great start…keep up the good work!
Two pounds – that’s fantastic! I’m so encouraged by your Weight Watchers journey and am using it to remind myself that these pregnancy lbs will come off… Hope this week goes well for you too!
2 pounds is awesome. Congrats! Keep up the good work!
So coincidental because I bought that cookboo a few weeks ago and have made a few things from it too. I LOVE it!
Those recipes look delicious! Gives me something new to try! Ok.. to give the hubs to try. =) Worthless I am! Great job on the weight loss hon!! Keep it up!!
Good for you! 2 lbs is a healthy amount to lose in a week, don’t ya think?
By the way, for those of us not as familiar with the WW point system, how many points does the average person get to use per day?
If you’re intersested, I posted a great low-point recipe for chili on my blog – only 2.5 points per 1 cup serving. It’s easy to make and can sit in a crockpot all day to simmer while you take care of sweet Hudson.
I will be cooking this for Adam 🙂 he would love it! I however, am WAY too picky to touch this 🙂 Oh me, i have serious picky issues!!
Way to go! Two pounds is a great achievement for one week. My son is seven months old and I have 1.5 pounds to go (almost there!). I thought it would just fall right off, but it took a few months. You’re doing a great job–keep it up!!
Cute blog! I came across it in the endless links from other blogs. I’m interested in doing Weight Watchers Wednesdays on my blog, but wanted to check and make sure anyone can do it! Trying to get back on the wagon and love this idea.