Happy New Year!

Sorry folks, I haven't been very faithful to my readers with my updates.  I wanted to catch you up on the latest events and accomplishments for the holidays. 

Thanksgiving and surgery started things off a little sluggish with a minor set back.  But, the first week of December the new Points Plus program rolled out and I've gotten back into gear! 

I was really concerned last week about my weigh in....and much to my suprise the week after Christmas....I was down 1 lb.  Now for those of you who dont struggle much with your weight you may not realize just how big of a deal that is ....let me tell you ....IT'S A BIG DEAL!   I was very happy with it and I am glad to report that as of last Wednesday I am down a total of 17 lbs and my current weight is 284.4.

If you are on a mission to lose weight on your own remember this....it really isn't about losing the next pound as much as it is about changing your life. You have to change your habits....build healthy habits that you look foward to ...the way you used to your unhealthy habits. I want to take this post to share with you some of the minor changes that I've made to help me on this journey. It really is all about one change at a time. Here are my top 5:

1. A biggie for me is Sour Cream...I love Mexican food which for me always means a dollop of sour cream ...but I've started using Plain Greek yogurt...same great flavor less than 1/2 the fat and unless you really go overboard you can add this as a topping on your salad for zero (0) Points Plus value.

2. Another bad habit for me was sodas...I was drinking diet sodas which have 0 calories and 0 points ...but we really need to eliminate or at best reduce our caffine intake when trying to take off the pounds. Your body needs water! So drink it! It is suggested that you take your weight and divide by 2 and that's how many ounces of water you should consume per day. I have been very successful in eliminating the caffine and sodas from my daily rituals all together. Now, every once in a while I think I want a soda but the carbanation is to much to tolerate.

3. Ground beef...no more...lean ground turkey instead. When you use the turkey in your family favorites like pasta sauce or with taco seasoning on your taco salads the only thing you will miss is the grease...LOL seriously ...all of the same great taste...and way less than 1/2 the fat!

4. The big killer...FAST FOOD...honestly I wasn't to picky about from where I just wanted quick, easy, drive thru, full of fat meal that I could get without exiting my car before I came home. My solution has been simple...planning. I still make the occassional run to Subway when I need a meal in a pinch quick but I am much more intentional on where I go and what I choose...but, more important than that...with just a little planning it is possible to work full time and still provide a healthly meal for your family. I have invested in a couple of awesome cookbooks...rediscovered my crockpot ...and again...plan...plan ...plan. When you plan your week out before it starts you can avoid lots of pitfalls.

5. Snacks....JUST DO IT! I think one of my biggest mistakes was that I didn't snack. You need to eat less and more frequently so that you stay satisfied. I've started snacking and it is my life line to not feeling deprived. Whether its a fiber bar, a nice piece of fruit, or a trip to Yogurt Story...snacking will change the way you look at your next meal and how much you consume.

Well, I don't know if these changes will help you but maybe they'll at least get you thinking about what you're doing and what changes might help you on your journey! Remember what my Granfather used to say "Everything in Moderation"....

It's true you can have it all once you learn how to control your portions.

Have a great week!

Blessings to each of you and HAPPY NEW YEAR! It's going to be an awesome year and I'm hoping that you'll be seeing less of me in the near future :0)