WW Day 5

Guess what?? Well, you know already how I don't want to shell out the $ to join weight watchers (and because of my hearing sensitivity right now I cannot stand to be in a room full of people) well......a lady I work with has been doing WW since Feb '07 and she gave me a points finder to check my points against the nutritional info on products!

I am so excited. WW info collecting is coming together for me!! Here's to what I am hoping is another good eating day!

Breakfast: Pear 2pts
Cereal 5pts
Snack: Okra and Tomato 0 pt
Lunch: Pregresso Vegetable Barley Soup 0pts
Chocolate Covered Cherry 1pt
Green Tea 0 pt
Snack: Apple 2 pt

Total Points: 10pts

Health Update

Still trying to get past all of this health mess. Went to the dr last Thursday because I am still having the shaking problem. I also think my nervous system is running at full capacity. Anyway, the dr ordered several blood tests and explained several things that she is testing for. I called yesterday and I still don't have the results yet. Hopefully today I will hear from her today. This dr is an internest that my ENT recommended and I really was pleased with her. She spent a little over an hour talking to me before she even did a physical exam. Maybe she can help me get to the bottom of this and my other health issues I have had for a while.

I still am not hearing well out of the left ear and my right ear just still is not the same yet. The doctors tell me it takes quite a while for the hearing to come back in the left ear that had surgery. At least it is not as bad as it was but is very frustrating. As a matter of fact this whole stupid thing is just frustrating.

Sorry if this is pretty boring to the ones reading my blog. Maybe I am doing this more for myself today as an outlet. I just get so sick and tired of dealing with the psoriatic arthritis, iritis, fibromyalgia, and then this ear crap. Atleast the dizziness is gone. I try not to complain to much here about my health issues, but as I said, just needed to get it out in some form.

WW Day 4

Breakfast: Slim Fast Optima shake 3pts
Coffee w/creamer 1pt
Water 0pt
Lunch: Diet Coke 0pt
Fresco Steak Taco 3pts Taco Bell
Skinny Latte 3pts Starbucks
Supper: Okra & Tomato 0pts
Turkey -2small slices 3pts
Salad 0pts
Dressing 3pts
Dessert: Strawberry Cake/Sprite 6pts

Total Points: 22

I had a good eating day as you can see I stayed within my point range. I have used no flex points this week so far but it is only Tuesday. The Skinny Latte from Starbucks was absolutely wonderful! I made the Strawberry Cake with Diet Sprite for dessert and it was soooooo good. Really, you should try it. I have the recipe posted at Laura's Losing It Recipes & More where I have started a new blog to keep WW recipes and other WW info together without my daily ramblings mixed in.

WW Day 3

So far so good. I have quite a bit of work to get done today...yuck. This will be short for now. Oh, I almost forgot....I started a new little sister blog over here. This is where I will be sharing WW recipes and other WW info I find along the way!

Breakfast: 2 slices cinnamon toast, coffee with creamer 5pts
Snack: boiled cabbage 0pts
Lunch: Smart Ones Zita and Marinara Sauce 6pts
Supper: carrots, potato, ham

Total points: 24

WW Day 2

Breakfast:
2 slices cinnamon toast 5pts
1 sm apple 1 pt

Lunch:
1 sm apple 1pt
1 banana 2pt
Chocolate Quaker Rice Cakes 5pts

Total pts: 14

WW 0-3 Point Fruit & Vegetables

Here are some fruits and vegetables that are 0-3 points. I'm sure there are more but here are few that I found:
apples sm 1
large 2 Orange 3" 1
Nectarine 1
peaches 1
pears 1
2 small plums 1
Bananna 2
Apricot 1
1/4 Avacado 2
1 Cup Blueberries 1
Small or Med Papaya 1
1 cup fresh pineapple 1
1 1/2 Cup Strawberries 1

WW Zero Point Vegetables

Here are some 0-Point vegetables I found. I am sure there may be more than this.
asparagus
beets
broccoli
brussel sprouts
cabbage
cauliflower
celery
cucumber
eggplant
endive
green or wax beans
lettuce mixed green salad (dressing has points)
fresh mushrooms
okra
peppers
pickles (unsweetened)
pimentos
fresh pumpkin
radishes
sauerkraut
scallions
spinach sprouts
spaghetti, summer and zuccchini squash
tomatoes
turnips
watercress

Construction!

OK -I did this new template and lost some stuff in the process. Dang it.
If you notice my links to your blogs are missing....Please leave me a comment. I had to work off memory and that is not always reliable at all. Please, please do not be offended....just let me know so I can get you added back on here!

Daily Points Goal

Here is a chart I found for daily point goals based on your weight:
less than 150 pounds 18-23 daily points
150 to 174 pounds 20-25 daily points
175 to 199 pounds 22-27 daily points
200 to 224 pounds 24-29 daily points
As you lose the weight, you adjust your daily point allowance.

OK, so my question is this, I fall in the 20-25 daily point range. Do I just stay in that range or should it be more specific like to the number?

Weight Watchers Starts Today

Today is the official starting day for WW. I had cereal for breakfast and did not even feel guilty about it!!! How nice. I will be back later and post more...

Breakfast:

1/2c 1% milk 1pt

1 1/2 c Honey Bunches of Oats 4pts

Lunch:

Ate out 10pts

Snack:

Apple 1pts

Supper:

Cereal -same as brkfst and toast 7pts

Total points: 24pts

Butt Kickin' ~Change of Plan

Yep, that's right -a change in the butt kickin' ! Yesterday and today I tried to stay on the whole low carb scene and the more I thought about it I realized this (low carb) is NOT something I would want to do long term or become a whole lifetime way of eating.

I mentioned in my previous post that I have been interested in going back to WW for a while now.....and all the other reasons that I wrote. After all of your comments and my disgust today while trying to eat yet another egg, I decided to quit making excuses. So, I have been on the web some since I got home from work today (actually went into the office) and have found some helpful stuff for WW.

I went over to weightwatchers.com and took a little look around. This weekend I am going to surf the web and find ever helpful piece of information I can to help me get started on WW. Shelli mentioned that she does the monthly pass for WW. So, that is on the list to research.

I also had a WHAT THE CRAP moment today. I have several blogging friends that are doing WW -Veronika, Shelli, Erin, Critter, Javachick, and Kathy. What a wealth of WW support I will automatically have! What was I thinking.....I will have my own WW weekly blog meeting so to speak!! Makes sense huh?

Thanks to all of your for sticking around and providing such wonderful support! Be prepared becuase I will probably be sharing with you alot of what you WW gals already know:)

A Butt Kickin'

Sometimes that is what it takes. A BUTT KICKIN' from myself! So, how many days have I been saying and saying I am going to get back on tranck and well honestly, I haven't. As I have said before when I was in a moment of struggling....I REFUSE to gain this weight back. REFUSE...you hear me. Well, that was the problem, everyone was hearing me except myself.

I am feeling better from all that was going on in Dec and have a dr appt this afternoon. Thinking I am feeling good enough now to get back to what I know needs to be done. Losin' It!

A couple of months ago I was thinking of starting Weight Watcher's which I have done in the past and really like it. Several of ya'll are doing WW and I have been reading what you have to say. Thing is, right now I do not want to shell out the money to join -not even the online version. I really want to do this plan and will continue to research more things like if I can get my hands on the point value of the foods without actually joining yet. Sorry, if that sounds bad but like I said I don't want to shell out the money yet with all I had to spend being sick in Dec.

Anyway, here I am starting things out right this morning. I am doing the low carb for now. I will post more details of what I am doing later. Work is calling...

Breakfast:
2 eggs .5 carbs each.
water
Lunch:
2 turkey patters 0 carbs each.
water
2 pieces of gum 1 carb each
Supper:
Chinese Chicken Salad (low carb recipe) ? carbs

Busy Day

What a busy day today has been. I will post more later or tomorrow. Just got done working for the day and I am off to eat some supper that my sweet-wonderful hubby cooked for the family!

The Big Scare

After we got home Friday evening from taking Katelyn to what we thought was going to be a physical therapy appt and Brittany to get her driver learner's permit we straightened up the house and I gave all three dogs a bath.

So, I have mentioned here before that I have a Yorkie named Miss Rosie. She is 9 years old and I have had her for 8 years. I love her. No. Really. I LOVE HER!! She is my dog that had the puppies back in September (we kept one and named her Darla).

I bathed all of them and after I blow dried Rosie I noticed something in her mouth. She has had really bad breath for a while now and I have been buying all the special "get rid of the bad breath" treats, etc. Kenny and I had just been discussing that we think I should buy the dog toothpaste and little brush that goes on your finger to brush her teeth. I'm telling you her breath has been bad. So bad that sometimes we actually thought maybe it was her BUTT!!

So, there I am looking at this grey thing in the front of her mouth. This grey thing was actually keeping her from closing her mouth all the way. So, I pull her lips up and notice the grey thing has caused at least two of her teeth to move so that they are sticking straight out and very loose.

At this point, I get a little freaked. I hurry to show Kenny and instantly the first thing I thought of was my parents boxer Dooley who had to be put down last year due to cancer. He had tumors in his mouth and his breath smelled really bad.

OK, so now I get in the light -look a little closer and this grey thing must be the size of a flippin' penny. Now, you have to understand, Rosie only weighs 5lbs and has a little mouth which made this thing look huge. Or maybe it was because this grey thing was in my baby's mouth.

Crying. That's what I am doing at this point. Apologizing to Rosie like crazy for not looking in her mouth when it continued to smell like her butt. Crying. Crying more. And more.

I get on the internet and everything I find about tumors in the mouth says if it is grey it is malignant. WHAT THE CRAP??? If Rosie had cancer I would be more than devastated. I'm telling you I LOVE HER and I was so worried.

Sad the rest of the night and crying. So sad. I really thought she probably had cancer. Finally went to bed and could not sleep. I would wake up and worry to death about Rosie and what we would find out at the vet in the morning.

Off we go. Yep, we. Me, Rosie, and Kenny. Now Kenny normally never goes to the vet with me, but he was up and ready to go with me and Rosie. How sweet was that.

Get to the vet. Vet looks in Rosie's mouth. Pushes on the grey thing a couple of times and then pulls it right out of her mouth!! PULLS IT RIGHT OUT OF HER FREAKIN' MOUTH!!!

Kenny and I ask, "What is that"?
Vet says, "Oh, this girl has been chewing on some crap and it was all stuck together in her gums".
Me, "Oh thank God! Oh Miss Rosie, it is going to be ok. It's just crap". I am hugging and kissing on Rosie as the vet asst is holding onto her. They must have thought I was crazy.

Vet then says her teeth are in really bad shape, teeth are infected, and her teeth need a really good cleaning. Gave her an antibiotic shot, sent us home with antibiotics 2 x a day. And we have to go back to get the teeth pulled and cleaned. They also have a teeth vaccine they are going to give her to help her teeth not get worse. Never heard of it, put it is really inexpensive and what could it hurt?

So, there you have it. The big scare turned out to be a wad of crap! And all I can say is:

Thank you God for letting my baby Miss Rosie not have cancer or anything bad. For that I am truly thankful....Amen, Laura

A Few Updates

Katelyn went to the physical therapist Fri afternoon for her set appt. I dropped her, Kenny, and Hunter off and I took Brittany to get her driver learner's permit. Kenny calls me as soon as I get to the driver's license office and says the insurance co ha not approved the therapy yet and they could not do anything until they get the approval. OK, I more than understand needing the ins approval, but did it take us walking in the door for them to figure this out? Couldn't someone have called us and said hey, we don't have ins approval yet so don't drive 30 mins over here for nothing. No. That would have been hard. That would have been asking to much. That could not have possibly been good cust svc now could it.
So, the physical therapist told Kenny she is sending a message back to the orthopedic dr that sent us to her stating that she does not believe physical therapy will help Katelyn and asking the orthopedic to refer us to a sports orthopedic. I will call my ins on Mon and see if we have to have the referral from the dr or will the referral from the physical therapist work.
Insurance.....uggggggg.

Meanwhile, Brittany and I managed to have all of the multiple papers we needed to get her driver learner's permit. Let's see those papers included: birth cert, ss card, verfication of education from the school, verification of attendance from the school, paperwork from parent taught driver's education showing what we have completed so far, and sense she does not have a school id I had to have another form of id which was a life ins policy (original copies) that was issued alteast 2 years ago. shew. Do you think that is enough papers to get a freakin' permit? Now, we got there a little before 4pm on Fri and there was a very long line. After getting all of the paperwork verified and paying our $5 Brittany had to take a 30 question test. She PASSED and she was very excited. Now she must hold her learners permit for 6 months and then we go back to get her license.

Crunchy Tossed Salad

We are preparing the recipe below for dinner tonight along with burgers cooked on the grill. I wanted to share this recipe even though it may not be quite the "healthiest" recipe, but I promise you it is delicious!

1/2 c canola oil
1/4 c sugar
2 Tbsp vinegar
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

1 large head iceburg lettuce, sliced
6 bacon stips, cooked and crumbled
1/3 c sliced almonds, toasted
1/4 c sesame seeds, toasted
4 green onions, sliced
3/4 c chow mein noodles

In a jar with tight fitting lid combine oil, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper. Shake well. Chill for 2 hours. Just before serving, combine the lettuce, bacon, almonds, sesame seeds and onion in a large bowl. Add dressing and toss. Top with chow mein noodles. 12 servings
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My variations of this recipe:
I usually don't use the sesame seeds.
I like to double the entire dressing recipe because we like alot of dressing on our salad.
If I am serving the salad with a meat for dinner then I do not add the bacon.
This salad is great served with a baked potato or twice baked potato.
I don't always toast the almonds.
Sometimes we add tomato.
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Healthier version of this recipe:
So, I am wondering how it would taste using olive oil instead of canola oil.
Also, could you use Splenda instead of sugar?
If these two changes tasted good this could be healthier version!

Need A Little Help From A Friend...

We went to Katelyn's tournament softball team meeting last night. I am going to make a blog for the team. So, I thought I would try to find a nice softball template. I would also like to have tabs for things like Meet the Team, Team Roster, Team Record, and so on, Looking around the internet I have not really found anything I like. So, I thought I would ask for a little help from my blogger friends. If you know someone I can contact that makes these templates please let me know. I really appreicate the help!

I am off to shower and get ready to go into the office today. Have an auditor coming in -yeah fun! Going to lunch with some friends, which I have not been able to do in quite a while. Not sure how long I am going to stay at the office, but I will leave in time for Kateln's physical therapy today at 3:45pm.

Hope you all have a good day and thank God it's Friday:)

Eat Healthy

Let's take a look at eating healthy. Here are just a few tips we all already know. But maybe, just maybe you are like me and need reminding from time to time...

*Never skip meals. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard, "I only had a piece of toast and a salad today and I just can't lose any weight". Your body needs fuel to burn fat and we all need the energy provided!

*Prepare your own lunch and take it to work with you. Cook extra portions when cooking your supper the night before. Plan what you will take for lunch before you go grocery shopping to ensure you pick those things up. Store healthy snacks at your desk.

*If you do eat out for lunch...watch your portion size. Many times you have more on your plate than you really need. Research the restaurants that are close by and check out what you can have from the menue that are within the boundaries you have set for yourself. This is so easy now with the internet and being able to look at nutritional facts.

Finally...

Katelyn (my daughter for those who do not know) has been on a waiting list to go to physical therapy for her knee since November. Today was her first appointment, finally. My husband went with Katelyn to therapy and I took Brittany to the social security office to get another card ordered. Brittany and I then went over to the Dept of Motor Vehicle to see if we have everything together for Brittany's driver learners permit. We just need one more thing from the school and she will be good to go! I will take her back on Fri when we take Katelyn to her next therapy appt.

Katelyn will be going to physical therapy three times a week for six weeks. After the therapist evaluated Katelyn's knee today she said she does not think the therapy will do anything for Katelyn and if she does not see an improvement in 3 weeks then she will refer us to a sports orthopedic (we have already seen an orthopedic who sent us to the physical therapist). We'll see how it goes, oh and the therapist is also ordering her a good knee brace -which we asked the orthopedic about and who said he could not get us anything better than we already had. Whatever, sometimes dr's can be frustrating.

Happy Wednesday!

Hope all of you are having a good day! Had to run to Wal-Mart last night and attempt to get a few groceries since we are down to the bare bones around here. Picked up some stuff, but I have to make a list and then go back this weekend. You know -plan some meals and actually buy what is on my list!

My mind seems to be so scattered since I have been feeling better and back to work. I cannot seem to really think of anything to post about that will interest any of you. Then again, who knows if I have every posted anything interesting to any other than myself!! LOL

WHAT THE CRAP???? I just ate some potato salad and 2 rolls. What the crap am I thinking?? I have got to get back on track. What is my problem??? WHAT THE CRAP?

I will post more later on today.....

Today...

As you can see below the LSU Tigers won last night and we were a happy family! We had a good time visiting with our friends so that was nice.

Not much is going on around here except work today. I just finished a cup of coffee and need to get started on my water. I have not been to the grocery store in so long. We are going to attempt to do that this afternoon. I am going to make a list of some low carb foods and slowly move back into the low carb eating. I am feeling better and better each day and just don't want to throw my body into the shock of 15-20 carbs a day just yet. I had bought the South Beach Diet book several years ago and I came across it the other night. I am not going to "do" the South Beach Diet, but it has some good recipes in there and low carb eating options.

Hope each of you are doing well with your eating and are getting more comfy in your jeans! Have a good day!

LSU TIGERS ~2007 NATIONAL CHAMPS

2007 National Champs

Sweet Victory

LSU 38 - OSU 24

GOOOOOO TIIIIIIIIIIIGERS!!

It's tonight folks....

and this post is for my hubbie and kids!

BCS Championship Game Ohio State (11-1) vs. LSU (11-2)

My family are big LSU Tiger Fans. It really all started with my husband being a fan since before I met him. Naturally our kids are now LSU Tiger Fans. As for me? I kinda do that my husband likes 'em, my kids like 'em and so there you go. I am a fan.

We will be going over to my husband's best friends house tonight to eat supper, watch the game, and snack during the game (I am going to have to watch the snaking of course!). The game starts at 7pm central time (I think) and hey Erin I was rooting for those Patriots -so wish us some luck here:)

I have watched more football on tv this year than I ever have. Always being the wife that griped and said I don't want to watch football all freakin night! This season my husband has actually gotten to watch some games from beginning to end and with me in the same room watching. Think this may come a little bit from my son Hunter playing football for the first year this year. In the past I never needed to know football when my girls were in cheerleading, band and color guard!

Gotta get back to work again...

GOOOOOOO TIGERS!

Weekend Gone -Work Day Here Again

Well, once again the weekend has come and gone. Last week I did not eat very sensible. I am working on that this week. I am not counting carbs, calories, etc. But I am going to start back on the path of paying attention to what is going in my mouth. I hope to go low fat/low calorie next week -and then go from there as to when I think my body is ready to go back to the low carb. I will also start back drinking my water -which I have not done at all since I became sick.

Today I have GOT to get alot of work done. So, I am off to tend to those duties for now. I hope all of you are doing well and I plan to catch up on reading blogs soon!

I appreicate all of the kind words while I have been dealing with this sickness! It means alot!!!

A New Year

Happy New Year to all of you! With all that has been going on I have not put alot of thought into things for 2008. I do have a very important one that I am thinking alot about and hopefully will post on it soon.

I went to the ENT this morning for a follow up appointment from the ear surgery. He said the ears look good and that over the next month my hearing in the left ear should increase. This is due to scabbing on the ear drum and takes a while for the scabbing/healing to do its thing. Talked with him about other things that are going on:
Shaking in legs
Shaking if I even begin to get upset about something
Shaking when I become tired
Still have a hard time trying to write
Hard to keep my balance
I mainly wanted to make sure it is not Bell's Palsy related and he said no -he has no answer for these symptoms. He said to give it a little time and if I am still having problems to let him know and let him refer me to someone. We'll see. Don't get me wrong, I am feeling better just these things are of concern.

Food. Well, I have to admit to each of you, I continued low carb for about 2 weeks into being sick and then I through in the towel for while I was sick. Up until yesterday, I still have not been eating like I should. So, I am starting to work on turning this around today. I am not going to go completely back to low carb yet -as I feel I am not ready with the things I listed above still happening. So, for the time being I want to hold steady and not gain. I am happy to say I have managed to do that. I will see how I am feeling week to week and then will decide when I am ready for the low carb again. I will definately go back to it because I was having great success and really liked it!