Thinspiration

We all need motivation and inspiration when it comes to achieving the goals we set for ourselves. This is especially important when it comes to weight loss. The day to day struggles like giving into temptations or a slight weight gain can be very discouraging and easily knock us off track. Thus is why it is so important to not lose sight of our long term goals and keep strong motivators and inspirations close by. Whether it’s a good friend or family member that’s holding you accountable, an inspiring picture, or motivation to fit into your skinny jeans, we all need something to help us keep our eyes on the prize. And the more detailed the better! My personal goal is to wear a 2 piece swimsuit by next summer (for the first time in my life!). So to keep myself focused, I’ve already picked out the exact suit and keep a picture close by to keep me motivated. I’ve also found that pictures, specific detailed goals (like “I don’t want to have a muffin top anymore”), and reminders/affirmations help me to stay motivated and excited about reaching my goals on a day to day basis.

Here are a few things that inspire & motivate me!

Rebecca from Biggest Loser Season 8

“I have the power to change my life”

My Weight Watchers inspiration, JHud.
She is fabulous.

I want to go shopping for newer/smaller clothes!

"I am Beautiful"

So what inspires & motivates you?

Thin Crust Veggie Pizza

Speaking of Power foods, here is a little gem that makes a perfectly filling meal and satisfies the pizza craving. The veggies fill you up twice as fast as opposed to filling up on doughy empty calories. Enjoy!

 Thin Crust Veggie Pizza

 
* 6 PP per serving (6 Servings)


1 Vidalia Onion

1 Green Bell Pepper

1 ½ Cup Sliced Mushrooms

1 cup(s) canned artichoke hearts, without oil

1 Large Tomato

½ Cup of Tomato Paste

½ Cup Part-Skim Ricotta Cheese

1/4 cup(s) (shredded) part-skim mozzarella cheese

1 Package of Pillsbury thin crust pizza dough

Fresh Garlic

Italian Seasoning

Basil

Oregano

Preheat oven to 400. Prepare your sauce by adding a little water to the tomato paste and seasoning with garlic, basil, Italian seasoning mix and any other herbs/spices you like. Spread the dough out over a baking sheet and pre-bake for 5 minutes. Then add sauce and ricotta cheese and layer your veggies. Bake for 10 minutes and add the shredded cheese after you take out of the oven. Let rest for several minutes and dig in!

Powerful Foods

Throughout the past couple of months I have learned the importance of filling up on the right kinds of foods. Weight Watchers refers to them “power foods” and I strongly believe that’s exactly what they are, POWER. By eating more fruits, vegetables and protein, your body is still able to fill up while fueling up on the right stuff. So instead of diving into the starchy, sugary, and salty meals, I’ve started putting a healthy spin on things like pasta or pizza LOADED down with veggies for dinner, or piling on the lean proteins and mixed veggies on top of a small bed of rice. The whole point is to fill up on the healthy stuff while still getting to eat the not-so-healthy stuff. I was truly amazed that it actually works, especially with my kind of appetite. And I’ve found that a little extra time in the kitchen has definitely paid off, I’m another 2lbs down this week!

Can you tell which meals have the most POWER?



VS.



VS.

VS.

Power Up!

WW Asparagus Risotto

Keeping with my comfort food theme… I found this recipe on the Weight Watchers site and decided to give it a try last night. It is absolutely DELICIOUS and makes a great side item or small meal for lunch. You can also add in chicken or shrimp to make it a more complete meal for dinner.

Asparagus Risotto


*5 PP per serving

½ tsp table salt

1 lb. asparagus (cut into short bite-size pieces)

Cooking spray

1 Tbsp unsalted butter

3 small shallots

I cup Arborio rice uncooked (regular rice works too)

1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

4 cups of canned chicken broth

1/3 cup parmesan cheese (grated)

Salt & Pepper

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Fill a large bowl with ice water. Add asparagus to pot; blanch for 2 minutes. Immediately remove asparagus from pot and place them into ice water (to stop them from cooking and help retain their bright green color); set aside.

Coat a medium pot with cooking spray and set over medium heat; melt butter. Add shallots; cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add rice and toss to coat; cook for 2 minutes. Add lemon juice; cook, until all lemon juice has been absorbed, stirring continuously so rice does not stick to sides of pot, about 1 minute.

Meanwhile, bring broth to a simmer; keep warm.

Add 1/2 cup of hot broth to pot at a time; stir until absorbed. Repeat with remaining broth, making sure each addition of broth is absorbed before adding more. This process takes about 20 minutes.

When rice turns creamy and just done (should be slightly chewy and not mushy), remove pot from heat; add cheese and stir well. Stir in asparagus; season with salt and pepper. Yields 1 scant cup per serving.

Enjoy!

A New Direction

So in order to keep my poor little blog alive, I’ve decided to switch gears and take things in a new direction. My last attempt with “adventures in chucktown” was okay, but the truth is I don’t have that many adventures specifically related to chucktown. Something that I DO have a lot of adventures with, is the battle of the bulge. So yes, this will be another one of “those” weight loss blogs but I’m hoping that it can just maybe be the slightest bit helpful to anyone going through the same trials and tribulations of losing weight. It will mostly revolve around the Weight Watchers Points Plus plan but will also have fun tips, recipes, victories and new ideas!


So without further ado, (I’m already anxious/excited to get started) a little background story to bring things up to date…



Ever since I was a kid, I've always been bigger than all of my peers, had to shop at the "big girl" stores, and dreaded swimsuit season. I feel as though i have basically run the gauntlet when it comes to dieting, from crash diets to pills, shakes, bars, no carbs, etc. I've just about tried them all with little to no success. Until I started Weight Watchers (ahhhh shining golden beams of light), I had never realized that it IS possible to eat and live like a real person while still losing weight. It has opened my eyes so much more to the importance of balance and simply making better choices about what I put in my body. And I am now at the point where I only have the last 20lbs to go before reaching my ultimate goal weight (which i have never met in my adult life)! Good news right? Well, not exactly. Those last several pounds can be the most difficult to lose, especially when you have a post 25 year old metabolism (yea, no one ever warned me about that one, thanks a lot mother nature.) But I am bound and determined to do it this time and I am confident that Weight Watchers is going to get me there!



So here goes (for the millionth time), stay tuned for all things weight loss and the journey to a smaller me!

I'm Still Here...

Don’t worry, I haven’t abandoned the blog again… I’ve just had a very busy (for lack of a better term) schedule this summer. Everything from puppy getting bit by a snake, my mom’s birthday celebration, off and on studying for my state property manager license exam, doggie seizure meds, to joining weight watchers. Needless to say, it’s been a little crazy. So in true Katee fashion, I have put together a random mini recap to get things up to speed and back on track. Here goes!


The Pups


I must say, we have become all too familiar with the Vet’s office these past two months. The first incident was Halsey getting bit by a snake in the backyard which led us to our first experience at the Emergency animal clinic. Thankfully we got him there in time for there to be no major complications, just a very expensive bill and a crazy hair cut for the little guy (which is still growing back). Then our latest experience with Jackson (my child) which turned out to be a potential case of canine epilepsy. I swear these boys are determined to give us gray hair and empty wallets, but I suppose they are worth it.

Backyard Overhaul


One of our biggest accomplishments this summer was cleaning up the backyard. It was quite a feat, but we did it with the help of Scott’s mom and good friend, Chris (who came down for a golf tourney). Between the 4 of us, we were able to tackle 2 years worth of piled leaves, construct a compost pile, start a little veggie garden, and plant some beautiful flowers under the Oak tree. It’s like a whole new backyard!



Before




After



Compost



mini garden



Flowers!

Happy Bday to My Mommy


Last month I had the privilege of hosting my mom’s birthday party here in Charleston. I even got to surprise her with one of her oldest and dearest friends that was able to join us for the bday dinner. It was a short visit but we enjoyed every minute together.

The Test


After months of procrastination, I finally applied with the SC Real Estate Commission to take my State Exam! I have been approved and am now waiting to find out/decide when im going to take THE TEST… dun dun dun.

Weight Watchers




After my first month of going to the gym, I made a big decision to also invest in my diet by joining Weight Watchers. I must say that after 1 full month and 9lbs down, it’s been totally worth the money. It allows me to still eat like a normal person yet lose weight on a consistent and HEALTHY basis. It has completely opened my eyes to how simple it is to make better choices and made me so much more aware of what I put in my body. I seriously recommend the program to anyone wanting to lose more than just a few pounds, it is truly life changing and it works!



WW Friendly Pizza!



Reading back though this, it doesn’t seem like that much going on. But it sure has felt like it! It does remind me that I have a lot to be thankful for. The pups seem to be back to normal, my health (and self esteem) is improving, and I’m embracing the new “hats” of gardener, student, special needs dog mom, health nut, and hostess. Overall, it has been a very good summer and I can’t wait to see what the tail end has in store for us!

Visual Update

Don’t worry, I haven’t abandoned the blog (again). I’ve just been a little busy lately. So with getting back on track, I’ve put together a little update using pictures instead of longwinded boring stories. Be forewarned, it’s extremely random… but then again, so is my life.

  

Memorial day weekend consisted of friends, rum, grilling, and fun. I even got to go sailing for the first time. I chose this picture in particular because it makes me look productive and like I actually did something to contribute.



Almost a year later, I FINALLY finished my Mom’s belt!





I decided to get creative one night and ended up making an entire bacon themed dinner. It’s a definite winner with the dudes, fyi. The chicken is stuffed with spinach, chopped bacon, and cheese. The asparagus was sautéed in the same pan as the bacon and some of the extra “juices” from the pan were added to the potatoes. Not the most heart-healthy meal, but will surely appease any craving for baconish comfort food.



I was fortunate enough to be able to go back to KY for my cousin's wedding the weekend after Memorial Day. The fact that I was actually able to get some great pictures of my family is a MAJOR accomplishment. We’ve never been big on family photos so needless to say these pics are rare and make me very very happy.



My Dad (left) and Uncle Charlie





After getting back to Charleston, I decided to do something totally wild and crazy… I joined a gym.  I have to admit that I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy working out! And since I do not have any pictures in me in my workout gitup, I have posted a lovely picture of my weight loss inspiration, the actress Sara Rue.  
You go girl.

My sweet baby boy’s 3^rd birthday!



And speaking of the pups, little Halsey is almost 13 weeks old! He is tipping the scales at just about 20lbs and continues to keep growing like a little weed. I swear there are days when I think he is literally growing bigger by the minute.  He’s also about 95% potty trained and responding well to his name, simple commands, and his new crate. Our next step is getting him use to more BATHS. 2 dogs + sandy backyard = messy house and a clogged vacuum cleaner.





Back to food, I recently discovered a fabulous little restaurant on King St. in downtown Charleston. It’s called Sermet’s and is located right in the middle of the shopping action. The menu is diverse, affordable, healthy, and delicious. Next time you are in the area, I would recommend you plan your lunch break from shopping at this little establishment.



Finally back up to speed, I must share one of my all time favorite pictures of my 2 best friends from home, Tiffany (the bride-to-be in the hot shoes) and Anna (with the crazy face). This picture was taken back in November of 2009 which was sadly the last time that the 3 of us had a true girl’s night out together. However, this Friday that will quickly change. All of the girls will be coming to town for Tiff’s bachelorette party and I couldn’t be more excited. So in honor of Tiff’s big weekend, I thought I would share a little laugh and hope that this weekend brings just as many fond memories, hilarious stories, and incriminating pictures.

Sticking To The Plan

I've recently found some great motivational tips for weight loss on the  Everyday Health website. Their articles are very realistic and relateable to everyday temptations and challenges. I figured they would be worth sharing, whether you're looking to drop weight or just make healthier choices during bikini season.

5 Tips for Sticking to Your Diet at a Social Event

1. Never Arrive Hungry

*always have a light and healthy snack before hand to help keep you from over-eating

2. Be Polite, but Firm, when Turning Down Food

*Don't be afraid to say NO

3. Avoid Temptation

*Don't set yourself up for failure with something too good to resist

4. Invite a Healthy Diet Date

*It's always easier when you have someone to hold you accountable

5. Manage your Overall Calendar

*One slip-up won't hurt your whole week of being good

To read the full article, click here

Good Luck & Enjoy!

Dieting Sucks

Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels

-Drew Carey (and Kate Moss)

Oh, the woes of dieting… I’ve certainly had my fair share. It’s basically been the story of my life ever since I was old enough to feed myself. So needless to say, losing weight (or attempting to) has always been a huge part of my life. Throughout the years I’ve tried everything from Weight Watchers to Atkins, Slim-Fast to South Beach, personal trainers and food journals, as well as diet pills, supplements and crash diets. I’ve pretty much tried it all, and had success with some. I’ve actually maintained (for the most part) my 40lb weight loss from a few years ago, but still have never been able to reach my goal weight. And to make matters worse, I’ve noticed in the past several months that the weight just doesn’t come off as easily or as quickly as it used to… thank you post 25th bday metabolism, I hate you.


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2011

 At any rate, I know that the true key to losing weight is not the actual “dieting” itself, but in maintaining a balanced lifestyle of healthy eating habits and exercise (groan). The only down side is that it requires a lot of patience and sometimes takes a while before you see any progress. But regardless, it’s still the best and healthiest way to achieve long term results. So with that said, I’m giving myself a fresh start and dusting off my tennis shoes. Setting the alarm clock an hour earlier and giving up the junk food. I’m focusing on that GOAL WEIGHT and sticking to the plan this time. And I’m hoping that with posting this particular post, it will give me a little extra accountability, even if it’s from just one person. So PLEASE comment, give recommendations, ask questions, as well as scold and/or encourage me. It’s a personal journey and transformation that also benefits from the inspiration and motivation of others.

Losing weight changes your life,

but you must change your life in order to lose weight.