Rebecca's Lunchbox: Who needs Chipotle?! when you have Trader Joe's

So..... for the longest time I avoided Chipotle, mainly because I knew the NI for Baja Fresh and figured that Chipotle was right on up there with Baja and sure it is...

however, sometime this past summer I had a huge hankering and it was the nearest Mexican place and guess what?! it's not THAT bad for you Point wise!

at that time, I already roughly knew the Points of the major components and since I had a hankering for something carbilicous, I ordered the burrito bol.. doesn't it look delish?!

although this meal is decent Point wise, and oh so delicious, I am watching my sodium and unfortunately restaurant food isn't the best for keeping the sodium down, sssssoooooo I came up with my own faux Chipotle Burrito Bol! Not only is it equally delicious as Chipotle's (it may actually be more delicious!) it's healthier, anddddddddddd it only takes 6 minutes to make!

Ready, Set, Go!

The Ingredients:

Step 1: Microwave rice for 90 seconds and dump into bowl. One package is 2 servings, perfect for you and your man.

Step 2: Add beans, corn and tomatos (yes, straight from the can but rinsed so that some of the extra sodium is removed)

oh, this is how I usually eat mine

sometimes I add chicken (Nate always adds chicken)

and voila.... Chipotle within 6 minutes!!

Had Nate not been starving, I would have sauteed up some veggies but this evening, it was all about fast. Now... who doesn't have 5 minutes to make a meal?! because seriously... I wait longer in line at a drive thru than it took me to put together this meal!

PS....come back tomorrow because I have a feeling there may be a giveaway....

51

surprise surprise. the scale was fabulous to me today.

I stress myself out about Monday weigh-ins for 2 reasons:

1. It's my official WW weigh-in and yes, I want to be able to input a lower number so that my graph looks oh so lovely and continually moving in a downward pattern.
2. I want to be able to post a lower number.

and when I can't do 2. I feel like a little kid who was accused of not doing his homework and therefore he failed the test! I want to show each and every single one of you that I did indeed do my homework and that the scale should have budged! i know i know... silly but thats how i feel.

It's been 51 days today since I've made it to the 170's and geeze oh peets...

LET ME PLEASE JUST BREAK INTO THE 160'S!!!!

Ok, so that sounds dramatic and it was sorta and I'm completely over the high I felt about reaching 169. Now I just can't wait to cruise through that and hit my highest virgin fat territory ( aka HVFT) 158 - 162.

and now taking a completely different turn.... food.

i don't eat 100% organically but I do consider myself to eat 'real, unprocessed' foods but I wonder, where is the distinction.

for example... I consider a jar of tomato sauce (bought from the grocery store) that has no artificial ingredients to be 'real, unprocessed'. do you?

another example, my Kraft Greek dressing, not 'real' food! I can't even pronounce half of the ingredients on the label.

I rarely eat chips, I'm not a bar person although I do eat granola daily (mostly KashiGoLean Crunch!, which is this considered processed?), I will admit I have creamer daily (probably the most processed thing I ever eat!), and I could go on and on but I'll refrain!

What do you consider real food? Is there another term for peeps like me?! Am I completely off base by saying I eat unprocessed foods?

Week 12 Weigh - In

Short and sweet because I'm not in the greatest mood.

This is not was I was excited about on Friday, and still baffled about the the number today.

Loss of 0.5 lbs!

i know a loss is a loss, but this was not the number I've seen all weekend!!

That's ok though, I was very happy with the results and am continuing with eating at least 1500 cals.

I just need to remind myself:

1. This is not a competition.
2. This is not a race.

Have a good one peeps.

it's official... I am getting old!

I need these bad boys for when I am on the computer too long and my eyesight gets fuzzy.

Have a great weekend ya'll!

I'm totally looking forward to Monday's weigh-in!!!

Rebecca's Lunchbox: Trader Joe's Cranberry Apple Butter

over the weekend, as I was perusing the aisles of Trader Joe's in an attempt to up my Points, I came across this beauty.

Next to it was also a Pumpkin Butter, I found out yesterday that these are seasonal items so...run! and grab yourself, one or both!

as I put this into my cart, I wasn't really sure what I was going to do with it but I had to have it!

with no one major meal planned yesterday, I knew I had to step up my snacks. I typically get hungry around 9:30/10 but I suppress that with a coffee, so yesterday instead of ignoring my hunger I made myself a Thomas 100 calorie English muffin with 3 servings of the Cran Apple Butter, for a surprising 2 Points!, and felt satisfied till nearly noon!

Can you believe that 1 serving is 0 Points! I couldn't believe it! and besides that, look at the ingredient list!! Saturdays, I typically have toast with Smucker's jelly, and alone 1 serving of the Smucker's is 1 Point! I can get 3 (very generous) servings for the same amount! oh, and the amount of sugar is double in the Smuckers!

Other items I may plan on adding this butter too:

1. Oatmeal
2. a sandwich as the spread/dressing
3. perhaps in a baked chicken recipe

Besides the Spice Pumpkin Latte...any other fall items I must try?! Anyone try the pumpkin butter?! Or what else do you use this nut butter on?!

this is WAR!

since Sunday, when i knew the scale was not going to give me a number I wanted on Monday, I went on an all out offensive to get this sh!t under control.

i know, i know, 1.5 lb loss is great! and it is, but after 2 weeks of nothing, nada, zilch!? I want MORE!!!

so, I followed the advice of Jack, looked over my various spreadsheets (yup... I have a few to track what I eat) and noticed a few things that I rectified ASAP!

one major thing that I am going to focus on is Points.

i think i freaked out upon my return from Jersey and became a crazy protector of my Points.

translation = I was eating abnormally low levels for the amount of working out I am doing.

My base Points is 23 which calorie wise translates to (roughly) 1150 calories and I typically burn 500 calories a session, so.....

1150
- 500
_______
650
+ 200
_______
850 calories a day

Now, this isn't every day but I would say this is a good 4 to 5 times a week!! I know, crazy... so as of this week, I am eating no less than 30 Points a day (approximately 1500 cals.) ... hopefully this will shake up my metabolism and get the numbers to drop, drop, drop...

Week 11 Weigh-In

So... my general lack luster mood the beginning of last week....it's probably a low I haven't hit on this journey yet. I wouldn't even call it a low..... it's..... hard to explain..

I think a lot about maintenance. Although I have a rough idea of what I want my weight to be (145ish) I wonder if it's something I can sustain, or if I will have to fight tooth and nail to be there.

I began to worry this week that perhaps where I am now, is a weight my body wants to be at. I can't imagine this being my happy weight, but then I think back to when I weighed 158-162, and I think I was content then but even then I was trying to get to a lower number.

I fear this time will be like all the rest.

I fear I will never be happy with my weight.

I fear that when I do reach my goal weight, I will gain it back.

I fear I will be a statistic.

I also know I won't be...why?! because I made it through these last three weeks.

Today, showed a 1.5 lb loss!!!

I can't thank all of you enough for your support this past week. I was down, I was lonely and you guys came through for me. I'm still not 100% myself but I'll get there.

I need to remind myself, hourly if not even minutely....this is not a race!

Happy Monday Ya'll!

Happy Friday!

and that is exactly how I feel today... happy!!!

I'm sure a huge part of it is that it's Friday and I can't wait for the weekend...next weekend is pretty packed and all I want to do this weekend is enjoy it but I dunno if that will happen.

I may or may not have gone to a different BR and hounded a sales lady until I found a pair of 12's that fit. fit deliciously..... pictures to come of course. surprisingly though, it didn't make my day. I mean, it felt great... especially since I needed a pair for work. I gave my too big pair away but after sorta having let the whole issue drop, i was just meh about it.

I did feel super about my evening last night though! since I spent my lunch at the mall, and I had gotten to work late, I unfortunately did not have the time to make it to the gym before my weekly Thursday night dinner date with my mutta.

HOWEVER after dinner.... I went to the gym!

I haven't been to the gym this late (8:30ish) in forever!! I actually hate going to the gym that late but yesterday, there was no other option. It was penciled into my calender and Friday night workouts are so hard for me to get too that I didn't even think of not going!

Dare I say that the Jillian Michaels workout is easy!? Seriously... I am not hurting nearly as badly as I have the past 2 times I did the workout! My heart rate is barely hitting the 170's while doing jumping jacks and jumping rope. Shoot...my heart rate used to be in the 180's!

11 weeks ladies.... 11 weeks and my aerobic level has changed so much. I've advanced so much and I couldn't be happier and it's ok. I'm ok. I'm fabulous actually.

What's your NSV for today?

Plateau Schmateau

I've had a really stressful, emotional week.

All self induced of course by the UNMOVING scale so I thought... well, my clothes are getting too big and Banana Republic is having a 40% off sale, I can prove that things beside the scale are changing! So, I mosied on over there because I was sure, absolutely sure I would be a solid 12. eh, nah. i wasn't. I'm currently in between dress pant sizes. and dresses, forget about it! still a solid 14. frick! so I left, crying. I cant remember the last time I cried at a store. I've been working hard to not let the dress number bother me but last night it was all too much.

I still went to the gym, although I mixed up locations and instead of being able to attend the 6 o'clock spin, I just hopped on the StairMaster and did 45 minutes of that instead.

came home, still feeling sorry for myself and watched the TBL, where all of a sudden I felt silly. REALLY?! I'm upset because the scale isn't moving and I can't fit into size 12 pants, yet. What would I do if my entire family died in a car crash or if I had had a junky mother and ended up living in foster care?!

Seriously... my problems, are trivial in the grand scheme of things.

and today, I feel better. I did a quick search through the WW boards regarding plateaus etc. and although I wasn't really satisfied with the majority of conversations however I did find this comment about (and I'm rephrasing it) how a plateau is a time where you decide that those changes you have made are worth sticking with or if what you have been doing (to lose weight) was all a fad, and that those who make it through this are those who will keep the weight off and have an easier time maintaining.

The reality is, I haven't been off course or binging or any of that (I know I can't believe it either), and I just have to get through this time.

I switched up my workout again this week. I had been doing resistance training and on Tuesday I replaced it with Jillian Michael's "Winning by Losing". My third time on her fitness routine, and it is tough! Holy moly... I've been sore since Saturday. Strike! always gets me and now with Jillian, I'm just not letting up. I've been sleeping so deep this past week that hopefully something is moving!

and....whatcha think?!



I'm still in shock! I had wanted to go darker for the fall but damn... my NATURAL color!? Nate didn't even know this was as close to my natural color as I've ever gotten!

oh well... it least it's not permanent. It is supposed to get lighter. Iza did feel bad and offered to add highlights next week if I wanted them...we'll see...

Have a good one peeps, tomorrow is Friday!

Rebecca's Lunchbox - Protein Powders

Disclaimer: This is not a paid review! In an effort to prevent others from frivolously spending their money, I figured I'd review some of the items I recently tried.

I've been using Protein Powder for what seems like ages, and although I have kept true to my Designer Whey, primarily because of the great taste but also because my man found this on clearance at Meijer and I swear it has taken me a year to get through. Yup, this is a 2.1 lb container!!! I swear I felt like such a meat head with this on top of my refrigerator..

Alas, I did run out last week and decided that now was the perfect time to try out something new, so off I went to Whole Foods to scour their aisles and home I came with Jay Robb's Whey Protein Isolate and Garden of Life, Perfect Meal.

Now, your probably wondering, what I use my powder for? Primarily two reasons: my green monsters, I drink these pretty much daily during the week, and chocolate milk for a post workout recovery snack. I've tried adding powder to oatmeal and other goods but, I just can't stomach protein powder in that form and for the Points I use, I'd rather have a hardboiled egg!


So, Jay Robb, I decided to try his stuff because I saw some other bloggers try him out and figured, hell, why not!? And if I recall correctly, Whole Foods didn't really have the largest selection of protein powder packets. But I digress...

Nutritional Info for 1 packet (33 gr):
Calories: 120
Fat: 0 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 0 g
Protein: 24 g

I added the whole packet (at $2.29) into my 1 c. spinach, 8 oz. milk, 1 tbsp flax meal, and a 'naner. Consistency was as I expected, fluid. Taste, my banana definately was the shining star but overall the smoothie was sweeter than normal. Satiety: needed my snack around 10.

Verdict: Eh...it was ok. If I had to choose between this and Designer Whey, I'd choose Designer Whey. If I had to choose between Garden of Life and Jay, I'd choose Garden of Life. Really... don't bother!

I specifically chose this one of the key statements on the package is "Effective and Healthy Weight Management". What can I say!? Anything to help me on this journey! That and well, the box was fairly empty so that must be a good sign, right?

Nutritional Info for 1 packet (47 grams)
Calories: 180
Fat: 1 g
Fiber: 5 g
Sugars: 3 g.
Protein: 19 g

For one packet, the calories were more than I typically use, so I turned it one packet into 2 servings (helped with the cost justification as well, I think 1 packet was $2.29).

The first time I tried it, I added it to my 1 c. of spinach or more, 8 oz. milk, 1 tbsp. flax meal and one small banana. Uhm yeah... I finally understood why some peeps call the green monster, 'sludge'. My smoothie was so thick, I could barely get my straw to swirl around in it! The taste was ok, perhaps a tad overwhelming for the banana (I love my smoothies because I feel like I'm drinking banana milk, a German specialty!) and I felt like it really intensified the taste of spinach which is typically tasteless!

First off, I didn't finish my monster, because a) it was so thick I just couldnt get through it and b) I was full. I mean really fully. It kept me satisfied till lunch! Approximately 4 hours after I had consumed it. But.....

I was still put off by it. I waited a few more days to try it again!

Second try: Much better! I did change a few things up, I added an extra oz. and a quarter of milk (yeah... this was unintentional but it helped!), less spinach and a frozen 'naner. It was much more liquid, the way I prefer them, and the taste of spinach was gone and I could still taste my 'naner!
Once again, I was full till lunch!

Verdict: I'm considering switching my Designer Whey to this, mainly because I like that I'm actually full until I eat lunch! Whereas with the Whey, I need a snack usually around 10, an hour and a half before lunch. This could also be because this is the only powder that actually has Fiber (a must for peeps on WW)!




However, I did notice that Designer Whey now has a weight control option that has fiber in it. As does The Biggest Loser version, at half the calories. hhhhmmmmmmm..... things to ponder.

I must buy some powder today.... any suggestions from any of you out there? Any favorites? Flops!?

Leave your feedback! or I just may go broke trying new stuff! =)

Week 10 Weigh-In

I'm at a stage in my journey that I've never been at before, and it's strange. Not scary, but different.

You see, in the past, whenever I was ramping up to lose weight, I would surround myself with anything diet related. Books, magazines, blogs etc. and I would depend on those to get me through the days. and now, not so much. I want it. I want it bad and I get through the days better than I ever have.

You see, the past two weeks have been eye opening. I've had so many NSV's that regardless of what the scale says, I know I am moving in the right direction.

Lola had a great post last week about about weight-loss, and for once, I feel like nothing can distract me. My first and only priority right now is to get me to my goal weight and all the distractions I used to partake in and enjoy, just aren't all that anymore.

I guess my priorities have changed. Healthy eating has become a way of life. After my weekend in Jersey, I couldn't wait to have a salad for lunch again! I couldnt wait to go back to my green monsters, and my afternoon snacks of greek yogurt with peanut butter and Kashi Go Lean.
My workout schedule is written in stone, and a dinner out isn't going to change that.

For once, no excuse is good enough to prevent me from getting to my goal.

and yet, I lost nothing this week!

I am sad. I busted my ass once I got back but for now I will have to console myself with the fact that perhaps next week, my hard work will show off because this is the time to prove to myself and to you that

1. I am not letting the scale derale all the progress I have made.
2. I am not letting the scale dictate what I do!
3. There is no rush. Sure, it sucks being at the same weight for 3 weeks now but screw it. The only other option is to start gaining weight again and that is NOT an option.

I think it's completely normal and understandable to be feeling what I am and I know its fleeting. If anything, I'm even more determined to have an even better week than last week!

Day 3 - NYC

well, the day actually started out in Liberty Square Park, New Jersey.

Peeps...you MUST stop there and have brunch or dinner there because you get the best panoramic view of Manhattan.....see.......


Once your seated they bring out this lovely pastry basket. I had half of each.


yumm-o. The first year we were here, we had ordered the calamari and they were so delish we had to order them again!


The chili lime sauce was out of this world!! It tasted so fresh and organic, none of those fake hydrogenated oil bottled sauces!

The menu has maybe 15 brunch items and at least 5 of them looked delish. I ended up deciding on the crab cake Benedict.



SSSSsssssoooooo delish but I shared half of it with my dad, who had the Lox Scramble, my 2nd choice.

I actually enjoyed his dish more than mine!

and a few more shots from the back...This is the view from the back of Liberty Square Park.

This is the lower patio.

This is another part of the lower patio.

and a picture of me and my thin(ner) man!

After brunch, we took the water taxi over to the WTC. Our sightseeing tour included: Times Square, the Empire State Building, Magnolia Bakery and if we had time the Peanut Butter and Co. store.

On our way to the subway (oh yes, we took the subway thanks to a handy dandy subway map app via the iPhone. another reason why I love thee!!!) we stumbled onto the Irish Hunger Memorial.

It looked so out of place in between the middle of these tall buildings but it was so beautiful! As you walk through the hallway you come to this gorgeous little gate.



so you weave your way onto the top, and there is nothing but grass and shrubs. Stunning, just absolutely stunning!

After that, we found the subway and headed towards Times Square. Just a few photos...




We didn't stay long, just a quick looksie before we headed towards the Empire State Building.


Lemme just state, I don't know what I was thinking, but I was surprised at the line to get in, especially since it cost $26 dollars to go the 86th (or was it 82nd? i can't remember) observatory deck. The line was a tad hellish too. First, there was a line to get through security. Then there was another line to get up to the ticket counter. Then another line to get to the elevators. At one point though, we took the steps up because we didnt want to wait anymore. I think the total experience took us about 1.5 maybe. Well worth it although we maybe only spent a half hour on the deck.

After that we hoofed 20 some blocks to Greenwich for the Magnolia Bakery. Since most of the buildings looked the same and we were using our maps app, I wondered aloud how we would know what building the bakery was, Nate replied jokingly "The one with the line around it!" And what did we see as we came up to the cross streets?! A line around a building. Who knew!? I guess I thought I'd be the only one interested in visiting this place!


My men were troopers for putting up with me! I think we waited about 20 minutes in line. It was a shame because once in there, everything went really really fast. Oh well.

The cupcakes....




Verdict: I was a tad disappointed!I expected them to be like a little slice of heaven and well, they weren't bad but I prefer my cupcakes to be light, airy and fluffy. These were definitely more dense. oh well, now I can at least say I've tried them! Next on the list: Sprinkles! cupcakes.

After our Magnolia Bakery visit, we hiked it back to the 14th street subway so that we can make it back to the WTC where our water taxi was waiting for us at 7:15.

Mind you, all day, we knew we had to be back at the water taxi station at the latest by 7:30 because the last taxi left at 7:45. Flashback 2 years ago, where none of us had paid attention as to when the last taxi left and we ended up having to take the Pathway train over to Jersey City, we then hopped on a trolley car and still had to walk about a mile back to our car. All while dark and very poorly lit! It was an adventure to say the least, but one we didn't want to have to repeat!

Us, exhausted!


and that, was our fun filled weekend in New Jersey! We were all so exhausted that on Monday, we just hung at my dad's apartment, playing Wii and Scrabble! My feet and my back needed it, for sure! We had such a great time though and definitely used every second available to us.

As glad as I am that we have no other major event for the rest of the year, it's sorta sad at the same time because this summer was truly remember able. Now it's time to buckle down and get this weight off!

Rebecca's Lunchbox - Faux Chicken Cordon Bleu

so sorry for the delay!! we got home much later than anticipated yesterday and I just didn't get around to finishing it until now!

oh my gosh...how much I love this dish! and when I saw a recipe for this on the Weight Watchers message boards (submitted by JillFiredUp), I HAD to try it!!

Ingredients you need:

Then you pound the chicken to 1/4th inch thick


Add a wedge of laughing cow and some ham on top of that



Then tie up the chicken with some toothpicks and sprinkle with shake n bake. I should add, I didn't actually add the shake n bake because I still had some open bread crumbs!


Throw into a baking dish and bake at 400 for about 30 minutes and voila.... fauz chicken cordon bleu!


Verdict: Well, it tasted good. Hands down I would make it again and will, since I have an entire wheel of laughing cow cheese left over, but it is no chicken cordon bleu. However, I am determined to find a tasty solution so watch out.. I have a few other recipes up my sleeve!

Any other recipe ideas for Laughing Cow cheese? I would love to hear some suggestions!!!

Come back tomorrow, I should have my NYC trip recap up!