I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. When I get focused on something, THAT’S the only thing I seem to be able to focus on! I put all of my energy and time into it, and everything else moves to the bottom of the list, in no order. All equally at the bottom. If I’m focused on a new workout schedule, laundry and other household chores seem to move to the bottom of the list. If my focus is strictly meal planning for the week, then I’m awesome at that, and sucky at everything else for that week. Once I am able to move “workouts” and “meal planning” into some sort of schedule, then I am able to get back on track, but in the beginning, when I make the change, adjusting seems to make me forever. These are silly examples, I know, but my inability to focus on more than one thing at a time, seems a little silly too! But when I get a PROJECT, well….absolutely nothing else is going to get done when it really needs to get done. It’s just the way it is. My current project, redecorating a bedroom, has completely consumed all of my time the last couple of weeks. But honestly, I’ve had so much fun doing it, and I am so pleased with the way it all turned out, I’m ready for another project already! I’m thinking the laundry room???
I do have one chair to finish painting today, then tomorrow I will share pictures of the new Guest Room! Tess is coming home this weekend to attend the wedding of a college friend, so I’m happy to have it completed so she can enjoy it!
Saturday Morning……
I headed to my dad’s house to finalize our Parade preparation. I was ready to go!
About 15 minutes after I arrived at his house, they cancelled the parade we have been preparing for. I was pretty bummed, but I hated the thought of riding in the parade in the rain and possibly ruining all of the hard work we had done, so now it looks like we are completely prepared for the Parade next year!!!
Since I skipped a couple of days of blogging, I won’t bore you with every single thing that I ate, but I will give you a couple of highlights and favorites! One, super healthy. One, not so much! Both, really really good!
Sunday Morning……
Mike and I enjoyed a great Fall Sunday morning yesterday by sleeping in a bit. I loved the chill in the house. I’m so ready Fall, I can hardly stand it! I was fairly certain that Mike would enjoy the Dunkin’ Donuts Pumpkin Spice Coffee as much as I do, so I made a pot and filled the house with smells of complete Fall Deliciousness!!
Last Fall, I found this recipe for Apples in a Bag, that I couldn’t seem to get enough of! My favorite way to eat it (although just out of the bowl is wonderful!) is over a nice warm bowl of oatmeal! Click HERE for the recipe! The original recipe calls for cornstarch, but I leave that out and it doesn’t seem to make a difference to me, and it’s one less step! I do DICE the apples though, instead of just slicing them. So I guess I added a step, huh? We cuddled up on the couch with our cozy Fall Breakfast, and of course the dogs, and the movie that we didn’t make it through on Saturday night, and had the best morning!
Ingredients for One Serving of Apple Pie Oatmeal
1/2 C. Quick Cooking Oats
1 packet sweetener
3/4 C. Boiling Water
Directions
Mix Oatmeal, sweetener and boiling water. Let sit for 2 minutes to thicken. Top with Apples in a Bag!
One Big Bowl of Fall for 4 PPV!
“Four Week Chicken Challenge”!
I am one Chicken Blog Post behind! I cooked an awesome chicken recipe this weekend, I just didn’t have time to write about it, you know, with the PROJECT and all!
Now, this was not the healthiest recipe, and it was not the easiest recipe, but it was a delicious, and I would totally make it again. I only ate a half of a portion, and that was plenty. It was very rich, and I am certain that I could make this again and play with the recipe to make a lighter version.
Mike and I had our very first date on September 27, 1996. I know that everyone might not remember or celebrate the anniversary date of their first date, but it was also my girlfriends 30th birthday party, and I took Mike as my date, so it’s easy for us to remember. 🙂
This year we decided to celebrate by staying in. Saturday, I made us a nice dinner at home, and we actually ate dinner at the table. We usually eat at the bar, and sometimes on the couch! We enjoyed a nice dinner at the table with music in the background instead of listening to “Fast and Loud” or “Pawn Stars”. Ahhhhhhhh……..it was really nice.
Trisha Yearwood’s Chicken Picatta
Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil
2 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1 pound thinly sliced or pounded boneless skinless chicken breasts
6 tablespoons butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup chicken broth
One 3 1/2-ounce jar capers, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon or more fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
If you are not completely freaked out after reading 6 Tablespoons of butter, you can click HERE for the entire recipe!
I ate half of a serving (15 PPV), over Angel hair pasta with green beans on the side! It was time consuming, but really really good and we enjoyed our evening!
My Weight……My Mental State about it all…….
Friday morning, I stepped on the scale at home, and it remains at 157. I know that my body has become comfortable at that number. I have now weighed that for EIGHT weeks! I am honestly struggling to find the motivation to get these last 7 pounds off. I know that I can do it, and I know that I will look better, but I just feel so darn good right now, it is honestly difficult to take the steps to do what I need to do to get the last few pounds off. I am still counting points and writing down what I put in my mouth, and I have been remaining within my points range for the week, but my body seems to be fighting me, again. Eight weeks ago, when I was having a hard time breaking through the 160 number, I drastically increased my protein on the advise of my trainer, and it worked! I was ecstatic! But honestly, I was bored with protein and veggies for two straight weeks. I feel a lot of pride in the fact that I have lost the weight that I have lost by simply learning how to eat smarter. I really enjoy my food, and I have learned how to enjoy so many of the foods that I really enjoy by making changes in my food preparation and learning to be satisfied with smaller portions. That being said, I do realize that getting these last 7 pounds off is going to be the most difficult part of my weight loss journey, and I am going to have to eat a bit differently than I will eat when I reach my goal weight and I am at maintenance. I really want these last seven pounds off, and I’m ready to get it off. I know, I have said this before. My birthday is about 8 weeks away, and since I did NOT make my goal of August 31st, I’d really like to be at goal weight by November 22nd. Then, I will never have to face another birthday or New Years, saying that I am going to lose weight This Year!
My motivation has to simply be my personal success. Yes, I would still VERY MUCH like to be a WW Leader, and I plan to do all that I can to make that happen, but my motivation has to be about my success in reaching my final goal of 150 pounds. So, today, I recommit to increasing my protein and working out harder. I get bored really easily in my diet, so not eating a lot of variety is definitely a challenge. In order to stay committed, I have to keep my eye on the finish line. So, I’m focused. Forgive me if I seem completely out of everything else and distracted for the next 8 weeks!
“Coach”, sorry for the distractions. If I do something creative with my laundry room, I will NOT make that my priority! “I” am my “priority” for the next 8 weeks!
“love the life you live, live the life you love”
