What's the DEAL Yo!!

As most of you know there is nothing more that can get my excitement level through the roof than a good bargain!

I thrive to never pay retail on ANYTHING!!! From food, to clothes, to restaurants, I spend a lot of time scouring the web and newspapers with my coupons to see what kind of deals I can get!

 

I just thought that I would post my most favorite websites that I use to get the goods, with some more useful info on each one!
 

Website	When	How
http://www.groupon.com/r/uu6101657	Weekdays	Online Next Day
https://livingsocial.com/redeem_invite/16530425-thedar?ref=lnk	Weekdays	Online Next Day
http://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/Des-Moines/deals	Random	Online Next day
www.dealpulp.com	Daily	Online Next Day
http://www.restaurant.com	Refill @ start of month	Online Immediately
http://www.heyitshalfoff.com/des_moines/	Random	Mail
http://www.halfoffdeals.com/browse/West%20Des%20Moines/Iowa/	Random	Mail
http://whotv.realdeals-tv.com/	Wednesdays @ 9am	Mail
http://desmoinesonadime.com/intro.php	Thursdays @ 10am	Mail
http://www.kggo.com/goout.asp?u=http://cbdia.incentrev.com/	Friday @ 9am	Mail
http://onmedia.halfoffdeals.com/	1st of the Month @8am	Mail

There are more and more popping up all the time, from affiliations with radio stations and TV stations to just new websites. I really enjoy how the newer ones (groupon and living social) have been able to get both small local joints (Fong's Pizza) and big retailers (Amazon.com) to give some great deals!

This works for me as it saves me money from my budget monthly and allows me to go out to eat cheaper. I LOVE DINING OUT!!! Someday I will do it again....

It also works great during the holidays, for birthday/anniversary gifts, hostess gifts, etc. You look awesome but they don't know you didn't pay much!

Signing off....

9 days until Mexico in case you forgot!!!! SUCKAS!!!

That means 9 days to lose 5-ish lbs so I can get a pedicure.

WISH ME LUCK!!!

Monday Weigh In!

Down 13lbs for far to date! CAN I GET A WHAT WHAT?

That is 3 more down since last Monday, up 1 from the lowest weigh in throughout the weekly (weighing in daily=NUTZ!), and 36 down from start of 2010.

I'm happy with it. A loss is a loss but I was hoping for a bit more. I like to see 5lbs a week but let's be serious here: I'm not on the biggest loser!

I did work out each day for an hour but neglected to incorporate anything besides cardio. I feel like I get the most bang for my buck here time wise for calories burnt. I know I know, strength training is pertinent, I'll work it in. I saw a sign on a gym in Urbandale (near Walgreens and Kum & Go on Douglas & 76th-ish) that was promoting $10 personal training so I may look into that. Who knows? I just don't know what I'm doing in that department.

This week could have been a lower loss but also could have skipped the naked hot wings I ate yesterday during the football game. They were SO GOOD! Worth every calorie! Skipped the butter filled hot sauce so that was a good sign...

Some non-scale victories this week included:

• Smaller pair of jeans fit and I didn't have to lay on the bed with my breath held to get them to zip. Biggest muffin top I've ever had but damn it they zipped!
• Size large t-shirt fit too! Tight all over but still went on!
• Made a new chicken verde soup that is practically calorie free (not really) but so tasty!!! WILL BE MAKING AGAIN so will post pics and recipe...LOVED IT!!
• Shaved almost 2 minutes from the time that it takes on the elliptical to do 5 miles (started at just over 60 and now just around 58!)
• Took a half batch of leftover cookies to work and gave them away instead of eating them all myself!

What some non-scale victories make you giddy all over?
PS: Little less than 12 days until the Superbowl (IE: day we leave for Mexico) and I have 7lbs to go to hit the goal of 20 lbs lost. I need a pedicure so am dying working hard at the gym this week and in the kitchen to get it!!

Stay tuned….trying to find pics to post for before and afters. Anyone have some from NYE 2009/10?

What are you doing this week to make sure you are still working towards your

END RESULT??

Weekly Menu Plan

HI ALL!

So this is what I've got for the weekly menus!

I've switched it up a bit this week so we can use what we have in the fridge/freezer before we leave for the sunny beaches of Cancun! While I will miss the lunch salads I will enjoy a new variety of lunches!
BE JEALOUS!

Monday

• Breakfast: Yogurt, hard boiled egg, and Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal
• Lunch: Chopped veggie salad with Trader Joe's raspberry vinaigrette
• Pre-Workout Snack: Babybel Light Cheese Wheel
• Dinner: Chicken taco salad

Tuesday

• Breakfast: Yogurt, hard boiled egg, and orange
• Lunch: Chicken verde soup with naan bread and sugar free jello
• Pre-Workout Snack: Babybel Light Cheese Wheel
• Dinner: Asian chicken paninis with cottage cheese (fries for hubby)

Wednesday

• Breakfast: Yogurt, hard boiled egg, and orange
• Lunch: Pork loin with cheesy potatoes & Brussels sprouts (leftover from Friday night dinner)
• Pre-Workout Snack: Babybel Light Cheese Wheel
• Dinner: Chicken, onion & Swiss patties  (from Sam's club) with steamed veggies

Thursday

• Breakfast: Yogurt, hard boiled egg, and orange
• Lunch: Pork loin with cheesy potatoes & Brussels sprouts
• Pre-Workout Snack: Babybel Light Cheese Wheel
• Dinner: Biggest Loser Night @ Tina's--NO IDEA!

Friday

• Breakfast: Yogurt, hard boiled egg, and orange
• Lunch: Chicken, Swiss & onion pattie w/ steamed veggies
• Pre-Workout Snack: Babybel Light Cheese Wheel
• Dinner: Dinner @ my sister's with friends--Shrimp pasta with salad and garlic bread

Saturday

• Lunch: Friend over & we'll have orange/soy cod filets with brown rice/veggies

Sunday

• Dinner: Jennie O Turkey loaf with mashed potatoes and gravy (leftovers for lunch the next week!)

The weekends are really hard for me to plan: things come up and I don't want to live my life around my meals and workout plan. I still will eat healthy and get the workouts in but I just don't want to be so rigid on those days!


Do you menu plan? Do you stick to it? Do you have new things or same old standbys?

***Stay tuned for tomorrow's WEIGH IN!!!***