Weekly Menu Plan

Good morning everyone. I HEART Sundays!

This weeks menu is a cluster of meals made up by whats in the fridge, cupboards and freezer. We are ONLY going to go buy milk and hot dog buns at the store today because we leave for Mexico in 6 days!!!!

Here's part of what is going to be on our plates:

Monday

• Breakfast: Cottage cheese (going to expire ASAP) and orange
• Lunch:  Buffalo Chicken Soup (recipe coming tomorrow!) and kiwi
• Snack: Celery with ranch
• Dinner: Cheeseburgers with fries (hubby) and broccoli (me)

Tuesday

• Breakfast: yogurt, hard boiled egg, and peach
• Lunch:  Buffalo Chicken Soup and kiwi
• Snack: Cherry tomatoes
• Dinner: Walking tacos for hubby and taco salad for me

Wednesday

• Breakfast: yogurt, hard boiled egg, and peach
• Lunch:  Buffalo Chicken Soup and kiwi
• Snack: Celery with laughing cow cheese wedge (new chipotle flavor!)
• Dinner: Buffalo chicken sandwiches with fries (hubby) and broccoli (me)

Thursday

• Breakfast: FiberPlus dark chocolate and almond fiber bar, string cheese, & peach
• Lunch:  Buffalo Chicken Soup (recipe coming tomorrow!) and kiwi
• Snack: Celery with laughing cow cheese wedge
• Dinner: Biggest Loser dinner @ Lindsey's---French dips!

Friday

• Breakfast: Breakfast Casserole
• Lunch:  Chili
• Snack: Layered taco dip, pickle wraps
• Dinner: Olive Garden

You're probably thinking WTF are you thinking for FRIDAY? At work, every Friday we rotate two people who bring in breakfast. I usually try to not partake (donuts, breakfast pizza, etc) but this week is another healthy living person who makes healthier dishes so I'm eating. We are also having a team food day for the superbowl (who doesn't like a good tailgating themed food day) so I'm going to have bits of a lot of stuff but am going to fill up on the healthier options ( so far chili is the best :) to choose from ). AND then we are celebrating my mother in law's and sister in law's birthday that was bypassed in December.

They are OBSESSED with the Olive Garden but the good news I always get the minestrone soup (100 calories per bowl) instead of the salad (350 calories) and the venetian apricot chicken(380 calories) instead of the ravioli di portabella (670 calories). The ravioli really isn't bad compared to the Chicken parmigana (1090 calories) that my husband will order then hoover down in like 4 minutes flat but since I'm not eating 100% during the day I HAVE to follow this plan. I will then hit the gym after dinner since the regular time of 4:30 won't work :(

Hint: if you know that you are going to be going out to dinner, look at the restaurant's website to see if they have a nutrition guide and if not, at least a menu to get a game plan so you don't get woo-ed or frazzled by all the delicious yet calorie laden items. It really works!

Off to CONQUER the to do list today:

• GYM
• Grocery store: milk and hot dogs, maybe a red box flick
• Figure out new way to organize shoes in closet
• Devise new way to file papers and then FILE them
• Clean off desk in office and sweep/mop it

Having a chicken salad for lunch and then turkey loaf with mashed potatoes tonight. EXCITED!!
Had a great family breakfast today. Pancakes and sausage. High calorie meal of the day but the hubby loves them. Gotta please him every now and again ;)

Hopefully I can wake these boys from their food coma to go shopping!

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??