Some Life Updates

Hi Everyone!

 

I haven't done an update post in a while.  Probably gonna be long.  Grab a coffee or tea and here we go:

I had my cholesterol checked in October.  It was super high.  I was eating really well so not sure why.  

Took a detour on my weight loss journey in November + December.  Partly because of the holidays and I was a little pissed off about my cholesterol so my mindset was why bother to eat right. 

Day after Xmas my son got Covid.  A few days later I got sick.  A few days after that my hubs got it.  We had mild cases but we were all really sick.  Seemed to take a long time to feel better.  

I had a Cardiologist appointment end of December.  They left a message that it was cancelled and to call and reschedule but I was too sick.  I still haven't called.  I really am not looking forward to going since he will be upset about my cholesterol.

I tried to get back to eating better after I recovered from Covid but that didn't work.  This week I'm trying again.  I cancelled WW (Weight Watchers).  All the WW people I follow have switched to ITrackBites.  I tried it out before I got rid of WW.  They have a free program.  I liked it.  App is set up like WW.  

In order to get the same program I had on WW I had to sign up for a year.  It's way cheaper than WW. I was paying $20/month.  iTrackBites is $30/year.  

App has a few features that I love that WW didn't have.  I can see how many calories I have eaten.  I was shocked to find out that on my good eating days that I'm barely getting 1000 calories.  Also has notifications (not sure if that's what they are called) that show how many points I have left for the day without opening up app.  Doesn't sound like much but these features are super helpful to me.

 I made a Valentine's Day video but I forgot to add at the end that I kicked hubs butt in Haunted Golf.  

We have been looking for some day trips that we haven't done.  Found a few now we need to have spring weather and some free time.  lol

I'm thinking of doing a Weight Loss Journey Wednesday blog post.  I'll take pics of everything I eat to keep me accountable.  Haven't thought it all the way through yet but it probably will happen next week.

This has gotten long so if I think of more stuff I'll put it in another post.

Have a great day!

-Kim 👽
 

WW Donuts

 Hi Everyone!

I'm on WW Blue plan. I'm always looking for low point snacks that are easy to make and yummy.   I've been craving donuts lately.  I tweaked a WW friendly recipe and I really enjoyed them.  You could add an icing but I just dipped them in sugar.  

 

Here is the recipe I used:

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix together in a bowl:

1c Flour

1/2 tsp Salt

1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder

2T Sugar

Mix in another bowl:

1 Egg

1/2c Unsweetened Applesauce (single serve cups are usually 1/2c)

3T Unsweetened Almond Milk

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Gradually add wet ingredients into dry ingredients,

I sprayed my donut pan with Cooking Spray but you might not need to depending on what type of pan you have.

Spoon batter evenly into donut pan.  For me it made 6 donuts and 6 mini donuts. (I only have one of each type of pan and I wanted them done at same time). 

Bake 12-14 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

I poured a bit of sugar on a plate and dipped donuts in it.  Sugar only stuck to the bottom.  Wasn't even 1/8 tsp on each so I didn't count it.  You can count it but it might change points.  You do whatever is best for you. 

We all tried a mini so that's why there's only 3 in pic. 😊

When I put it it WW Recipe Builder I put 8 servings.  I counted 3 minis as 1 regular donut.  I thought that was fair. 😉 I'm on WW Blue.  

1 Donut = 2pts   2 Donuts = 5pts  (Don't you love WW math?  LOL )

To me they tasted like Plain Donuts.  I've seen them called Coffee Donuts.  I thought they were yummy and worth the points.  

If you try them let me know if you liked them.  Did you add icing or maybe powdered sugar?

-Kim 👽

Yes I Can Eat Pizza on WW Blue

Hi Everyone!

I'm so proud of myself.  Hubby wanted take-out pizza.  My fave is peppers, onions and sausage.  It took me a few minutes to decide not to get sausage.  I got onions, peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes.  Yay me!

 

I had to use a few weeklies.  I ate a low point lunch.  I ate 4 slices of a Pizza Hut medium hand tossed pizza with veggies on it for dinner.  It was yummy!  I even blue dotted.  Yay me! 

So yes you can eat take-out pizza on WW Blue.  It just takes some planning.  And it was totally worth all the points to me.  I don't get pizza every week so I don't feel bad about it.

Have a great day!

-Kim 👽 

Overnight Refrigerator Oats - WW Blue Plan

Hi Everyone!

Have you heard of refrigerator oats or overnight oats?  When I 1st heard of them I was like ewww....cold oats.  I love oatmeal and I kept hearing about them so I caved and made some.  They were surprisingly yummy.  I've been making them now for a few years.  

They are versatile.  You can use any flavors that you like.  I like that I can meal prep a weeks worth all at once and they only take a few minutes.  Sometimes I eat them as a meal, sometimes a snack.

The version I've been making lately are only 4 points on WW Blue.  Points will depend on which plan you are on and what you put in them.  I put each ingredient in the app separately.  I usually make a few flavors so this works best for me.

 

My basic recipe for one container is: 

1/4c rolled oats 2pts

1T chia seeds 2pts

1/8 pkg of sugar free pudding or jello mix 0pts

1/2c unsweetened almond milk 0pts 

1c frozen fruit 0pts

Mix all but fruit together in small container then I put frozen fruit on top.  Put lid on container and keep in fridge overnight.  When I'm ready to eat I mix everything together.

 

Sometimes I use protein powder instead of chia seeds.  I change pudding/jello flavors and fruits.  I add plain nonfat greek yogurt or powdered peanut butter.   You can make these your own.  Be as fancy as you want.  I try to keep mine super simple.  If it was too complicated I know I wouldn't bother making them.  You can find tons of recipes online.

Now I've been hearing about savory oats.  Not sure if I'd like them.  Growing up I always had sweet oats so I'm not sure about these.  One day maybe I'll try them.  Have you ever tried savory oats? 

Have a great day!  -Kim 👽 

What I Eat in a Day on WW Blue

 Good Morning Everyone!

Thought I'd post a What I Eat in a Day on WW Blue.  For me I get 23 Daily Points and 28 Weeklies.  Weeklies can be used at anytime or not at all (that's never happened  lol).  You can roll over up to 4 daily points if you don't use them into your weeklies.  They also give you a Blue Dot in the app if you stay within your points.

Breakfast (no pic)

Lunch 

Dinner

Snacks

 

Snacks = 8 points

End of the day I Blue Dotted and rolled over a point.  And I got almost 15,000 steps + 6+ miles on FitBit.  Yay me!!!   

Are you on a weight loss journey?  Let me know in comments.

Have a great day!  -Kim

My Weight Loss Journey

 Hi Everyone!  

Thought I'd share some of my everyday life.  I'm on WW Blue Plan (formerly Weight Watchers).  I've been on it since Thanksgiving 2019.  In almost a year I've only lost 15 pounds.  I think I'm the problem not the WW plan.  lol  

 

I've been exercising at least 5 days a week.  I bought a Fitbit.  I was walking at least 5 miles a day which is about 10,000 steps.  Staying within my points.  No weight loss.  So my cardiologist suggested a Gazelle.  It's an eliptical-glider.  You might have seen the ads with Tony Little.   We bought  one and I love it.  It isn't stressful on my feet and knees like walking was.  Still no losses.

We like to eat down by the Bay and the easiest place to get food is McDonalds.  Since Covid, they aren't serving anything healthy.  No salads.  No grilled chicken.  Sometimes we eat there a few times a week.  

So now I'm upping my game.  Only McDonalds once a week, sometimes not at all.  We've been going to WaWa (convenience store) and getting sandwiches to eat by the water.  I upped my steps to 12,000.  Put some weights on the Gazelle for resistance.  Bought a digital scale.  Ours was a dial one that was ancient.  New scale weighed me at about +5 pounds so that is my new starting weight.

So that's where I am.  I feel better since I got the Gazelle.  I went down a pant + shirt size but I've got a long way to go.  

I'm gonna post occasional What I Eat in a Day on WW Blue posts.  Let me know if you like them.  

Have a great day!  -Kim