cauliflower mash (dairy free)

This is a basically 0 point side, and it tastes great. My hubby liked it and he hates cauliflower.

Ingredients

1 bag frozen cauliflower 1/2 chopped onion 1 crushed garlic clove 1/4 cup chicken broth (reduced sodium) 2 tbsp coconut milk-1 seasonings to taste (I added paprika, pepper, and cayenne)

Directions

place frozen cauliflower, onion, garlic, broth, and spices in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 7 minutes or until hot. spoon into blender or food processor and blend until smooth, adding coconut milk as you blend.
Drain excess liquid and serve.

Serving Size: Makes 4 portions

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Week Six

My plan of attack -


I plan to work on getting in my floorwork. I have been doing daily situps and pushups, etc... since I started this. This week, however, I fell flat with it. i need to pick it up again. I haven't decided if I'm going to do interval training yet. I need to research how much variety is needed in a weekly routine to keep losing at an optimal rate. 


First measurements   (Jan 30, 2012)        -- Last week --   new measurements

Measure upper arm -              15.5        -     15.5           -15.5

Measure bust-                          48.5          -     47              -47

Measure under bust -              44            -    41                - 41

Measure waist -                        42            -     40             - 40

Measure love handles -            52.5        -    50.5            - 49.5

Measure hips -                          52            -     50.5         - 50

Measure thigh -                        31           -     30.5          - 30

Measure Waist to Hip Ratio - 80          -    80                -80

Most pushups (no stopping)  - 9         -    12                  - 12

Most crunches (no stopping) - 30     -      37                - 37

Inches lost this week - 2
Total inches lost - 12.5


  How I ate -

Daily points - I'm allowed 40, but that's nuts, so I say 34 (but I'm flexible so I'm aiming for between 34-39.)

• Monday -

protein powder - 3
chex, popcorn, and popchips - 6
Healthy Choice Margarita Chicken - 8
turkey - 2.5
bread - 2
Smart Ones Pasta with Ricotta and Spinach - 3.5

----
points used so far - 25
Exercise - zumba 55 - walk 45 -

water -

• Tuesday

pp - 3
turkey sandwich - 5 points
mu shu pork - 10
egg foo young - 3 points
Chocolate square - 4 points
popcorn - 4
Fortune cookie - 3
Smart Ones Strawberry cheesecake - 5
----points used so far - 37

Exercise - zumba 55 mins - sit ups push ups
water -

• Wednesday -

pp - 3
breakfast sandwich - 5
1oz ground beef - 1.5
.5 oz cheese - .1.5
2 tortillas - 2
ketchup - 0 points
turkey wrap - 6.5 points
1 slice bread - 2 points
1 tsp peanut butter - 1
1 chocolate square - 3 points
chex & milk - 1.5
SO strawberry shortcake - 5
----points used so far -33 points

Exercise - Zumba 50 & 35 walk 45 mins

water -

• Thursday

breakast sand 5
sand thin -- 3
2 tsp sauce - 1
.5 oz cheddar -1
SO Peanut butter dessert -4
wonton soup - 2.5
yakisoba - 7
1/2 banana muffin -3
1/4 cup raisins - 0
1 tbsp peanuts - 2
bread - 2
peanut butter - 1
jelly - 0
----points used so far - 31.5
Exercise -zumba 55 dance  20 mins walk 35 mins
water -

• Friday -

chocolate - 1
breakfast sand - 5
chex&milk - 1
biscuits with cheese- 18
2 tbsp peanuts 1.5
1.5 sausages - 6 points
3/4 hoagie roll - 4 points
----
points used so far - 36.5

Exercise - zumba - 55
water -

• Saturday -

Lean Cuisine Chicken Enchilada Suiza - 7
1/3 burrito - 8
7 chips - 4
1/2 strawberry crepe - 4
2 tbsp whipped cream - 0
Healthy Choice Steak and Potatoes - 8
SO cookie - 4
----
points used so far - 35
Exercise -zumba 15 walk 1 hr

 water -

• Sunday -

chicken tender - 4

2 chicken soft tacos - 8
1 bean burrito -8
38 veggie straws - 3

Turkey - 2.5
1/2 lean cuisine potato and broccoli - 2.5

SO cookie -4
Popcorn - 3
----
points used so far - 35

Exercise - zumba 80

water -

Chicken and Veggie Fritatta 3.5 points

 This makes a great light lunch or snack. You can use any veggies you like for this recipe, but I like artichoke stir fry. For a few extra points you can add 1/4 cup of cheese (just before you put it in the oven) and a medium avocado cut in slices (before you serve), but this isn't a super filling meal, so don't add too much. For fun, you might even try adding a laughing cow light cheese wedge (1 point), cut into chunks and sprinkled over the top before you put it in the oven.
Be sure to use an oven safe skillet.

4 servings - 3.5 points

3 egg whites - 3 points
2 eggs - 4 points
2 chicken breast tenderloins (cut in chunks) - 4 points
1 bag frozen veggies (thawed, drained, and patted dry with a paper towel) - 0 points
1 cup 1% milk - 3 points
Seasonings to your taste.

Turn on your broiler.
Cook tenderloins in a pan until they are cooked through and browned. Add veggies and let cook while you crack eggs and whites into bowl. Add milk and seasonings. I like to use red pepper, lemon pepper, or Italian seasonings, but you can use whatever flavors you like best. Pour egg mix over the top of the veggies and chicken. Use a rubber spatula to gently push cooked egg from the bottom of the pan as it firms. When most of the wetness has firmed into solid egg (kind of like an omelet) toss the whole pan in the oven.

Broil for 3-4 minutes until the top is browned. Cut in quarters and serve.

Week Two

Daily points - I'm allowed 41 (reduced to 40 on Tuesday), but that's nuts, so I say 36 (now 35)

• Monday -

Went to the mall, so we ate Chinese for lunch

Protein shake - 3 points
30 fish crackers - 3 points
3 oz broccoli beef - 2 points
3 oz orange chicken - 6 points
1/2 eggroll - 1 point
3 oz teriyaki chicken - 4 points
1/4 th chocolate chip cookie - 1 point
coffee - 0 points
1/oz 2% milk - 0 points
1 pump mocha - 1 point
2 chicken tacos - 11 points
Market Pantry Chocolate Peanut Butter Nutritional Bars - 5 points
Smart Ones turtle - 5 points

----
points used so far - 42 points
Exercise - 30 min walk - 35 situps 12 pushups
water - 32 oz

• Tuesday

Yay, I don't get as many points anymore! lol That makes me happy because that means I'm almost at my first goal! Son woke early, sick, so I ate a bar. Plus, still on the time of the month, so it's my chocolate. Made a dumb mistake which put me over. I kept snacking on these onion crisp things because I'm craving sweet and salty, and I forgot to mark a number of times I ate them ugh. So I'm adding the points for yesterday (putting me over my points :( for the day)
2.5 protein bar - 13 points
1 protein shake - 3 points
Lean Cuisine Chicken Club sandwich -  9 points
5 chicken nuggets - 6 points
Sweet and savory stir fry - 4 points
Onion strings - 7 point
1 slice wheat bread - 2 points
1/4 tsp peanut butter - 1 point
1/4 tsp jelly - 0 points

----
points used so far - 45 points

Exercise - dance 40 minutes 15 pushups 50 situps

water - 64 oz

• Wednesday -

I've forgotten to drink my shake early two days in a row now. I've got to work on drinking it right away so I won't snack on the kids breakfast and other things when I'm making it.
1/4 cup chex-1 point
1/4 cup 1% milk - 1 point
1 protein shake - 3 points
onion strings - 7 points
1/4 pack ramen  - 3 points
35 cheez-its duo - 5 points
LC Chicken club sandwich - 9 points
Smart ones chocolate chip cookie dough - 4 points
trail mix - 8 points (stupid period!)
----
points used so far - 42 points (within my daily and exercise, but still. Argh, stupid period.)
Exercise - dance 5 songs - crunch cardio dance - 40 squats 40 waist twists

water - 40

• Thursday -

I have to be more careful when calculating my points. I find myself adding points for the previous day. I'll be more careful in the future, because I'm screwing this weeks losses up by not paying enough attention between my sick kids and my time of the month. I've also got to take my points calculator when I go shopping. ugh.
protein shake - 3 points
35 cheezits - 5 points
1 wasa cracker - 1 point
2 oz turkey - 1 point
1 thin slice cheddar cheese -  3 points
Lean Cuisine Chicken Carbonara - 7 points
Sugar free pudding cup - 2 points
Reuben casserole - 8 points
3/4 slice wheat bread - 1 point
1 tbsp peanut butter - 2 points
1/4 tsp grape jelly - 0 points
Smart ones Chocolate chip -  4 points
----
points used so far - 37 points

Exercise - zumba cadio party 20 mins (trial video) dance 22 minutes - 17 pushups - 70 situps - 8 reverse situps/lifts - 70 leg lifts per leg- 25 inner thigh lifts per leg

water - 64 oz

• Friday -

protein shake - 3 points
5 Chicken nuggets - 6 points
2 wasa cracker - 2 point
4 oz turkey - 2 point
2 wedge laughing cow light herb - 2 point
1 smear mustard - 0 points
1 fruit strip - 0 points
1/2 cup yogurt - 2 points
2 strawberries - 0 points
1 tbsp flax seed - 1 points
Lean Cuisine Chicken with basil cream sauce - 6 points
1 1/2 chicken black bean tacos - 8 points
SO Peanut butter cup sundae - 4 points

----
points used so far - 36

Exercise - Cardio dance blast 44 minutes - palates stomach exercises  9 minutes - Just dance 30 mins - 18 push ups - 30 situps - 70 leg lifts/side - 50 inner thigh lifts/side
water - 74 oz

• Saturday -

protein shake - 3 points
1/3 peanut butter protein bar - 2 points
10 Elki Water Crackers - 4 points
Laughing Cow Sun dried tomato and basil - 1 point
1 chicken nugget - 1 point
2 slices Nuttygrain bread - 4 points
2 oz turkey - 1 point
mustard - 0 points
30 goldfish crackers- 2 points
2 small coffees - 0 points
1 oz 2% milk -  0 points
2 pump mocha - 2 point
1/2 black bean casserole - 6 points
1 piece cheese - 2 points
Corn Chex - 0 points
1/2 slice bread - 1 point
peanut butter - 0 points
grape jelly - 0 points
Berry crumble - 5 points
whipped cream - 1 point
----
points used so far - 35 points

Exercise - DOTI - 15 min express for 20 mins (backed up the dvd for one more routine)- 20 minutes just dance - 20 Pushups - 30 Chest Press with Band - 30 Biceps Curls with Band - 30 Bent Over Rows with Band - 30 Low Mount Reverse Flys with Band - 30 Low Mount Seated Rows with Band - 30 Triceps Rows with Band
 water -36 oz

• Sunday -

I let myself have more points today because I worked out so hard. Have to keep that metabolism running.
protein shake - 3 points
1/3 peanut butter protein bar - 2 point
10 peanut butter pretzels - 4 points (That's right, the PB Pretzels struck again!)
30 Goldfish crackers - 2 points
taco bell chicken burrito fresco style - 9 points
1/4 bean burrito - 2.5 points
2 chicken nuggets - 2 points
1 wasa cracker - 1 point
1 smear stone ground mustard - 0 points
Laughing Cow - 1 point
2 oz Turkey - 1 point
Cup O' Lasagna - 8 points
SO Turtle - 4 points
----
points used so far - 39.5 points
Exercise - crunch cardio dance 44 min - interval training (treadmill) 50 minutes - 90 situps, 30 reverse situps, 2 sets modified plank and 19 pushups - gym work - lateral pull downs, triceps curls, and sitting rows.
water - 72 oz


This week I discovered a number of things. I snack on the kids food when I'm hungry. I got a number of snacks for myself at the store, in the hopes of stopping this habit. I've started challenging myself to at least one really tough exercise day per month. I'll be posting my results here on the page called latest workout challenge.
Hopefully all my hard work will pay off this month, and my cravings won't tank my progress. Wish me luck.

Reuben Casserole - 6 Points Plus

I love reuben sandwiches, but with all that fattening cheese and sauce, plus butter, they aren't worth the points. So I came up with a low points version of the recipe. This is a really simple and quick dinner.

serves 4 - 6 points plus per serving

Ingredients
6 slices of corned beef (cut into strips) - 6 points plus
1 jar of sauerkraut (drained) - 0 points
4 slices rye (cut into chunks) -- though I use sourdough - 8 points (might be more. check your brand)
2 tbsp thousand island - 3 points
1 tsp mustard - 0 points
1 tsp relish - 0 points
1/2 cup swiss cheese (though any white cheese works, and some are lower in points) 6 points


Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Mix mustard, relish, and thousand island in casserole dish. Add corn beef strips and mix thoroughly, so corned beef is mostly coated and covers the bottom of the dish. Spread jar of sauerkraut over the top, then top with bread cubes and finally the cheese. 

Cook for 15 minutes until bread is brown and cheese is melted.

Cheese Bread Soup - 7 Points

This is one of my favorite fast and light meals. The picture shows both the tear and the cookie cutter method of inserting the bread.

7 points per serving


1-2 servings
Ingredients
2         cans Progresso Pot Roast light soup           8 points
1         slice Market Pantry sour dough bread         3 points
1/4      cup Market Pantry 5 cheese Italian blend     3 points

Turn on your broiler.
Use ramekin (almost like a cookie cutter) to punch out a perfect size in the bread. or you could rip the bread into chunks and separate into two piles. Place bread on cookie sheet and broil until it's barely brown, but watch out, it will burn quickly so check it often. While it's broiling, pour soup into Ramekins and microwave for 1 minute or so to warm. Place the ramekins on the baking sheet and put the bread on top, toasted side down. Then cover each with cheese and broil until the cheese is melted. This will only take a minute or two, so be ready.

The tray will be hot, so you may want to use a table protector for hot foods while you eat.
The picture shows both the cookie cutter method and the tearing method.