A Little Competition Never Hurt Anybody :)

A few years ago, Joel joined me on my weight loss journey.  We set up this competitive game, though today neither of us can remember the exact details of the 'game', but each week whoever lost the most 'won' something (money, an item of the winner's choice? We cannot remember!).  This strategy really worked for me.  It helped me drop about 30 lbs (though I did have more to lose).  Eventually though, we fell off the wagon and were simply never able to get back on. 

Once I reached my highest weight ever (263.8 lbs) I told myself I just had to get it together.  You'd think that seeing that number alone would be enough to motivate someone to get their butt moving to lose some poundage, but that was not the case for me.  It took seeing my grandmother pass away to really drive the nail in hard.  I must do this... NOW, not next Monday when I'll promise to 'start over', not next month or next year, but NOW.  So I have been on this journey seriously since November 2010. 

And now, Joel has decided to join me! 

"Listen here buddy, I'm gonna win this!"
Courtesy of here.

This Friday will be our official weigh in day to kick off the new competition between us.  We will mimic the Biggest Loser and will be basing the competition off of percentage of weight lost.  The weekly loser then has to pay $10 per percentage point difference.  So if I lose 4% of my body weight, and Joel loses 2%, then he will have to pay $20 total - $10 for every percentage difference.  After a period of time, that has yet to be determined, the winner will then get to choose an activity they want to do, using the earned money toward that activity, and the loser MUST join them.

I'll be posting our results each week! Stay tuned! :)

Eat What You Love: Breakfast Pizza

This week's breakfast inspiration is brought to you by Marlene Koch's Eat What You Love.

I initially made the exact recipe below, but I wasn't much of a fan of it, so I made my own version.  I cut out the salsa, onion and pepper and added turkey bacon & spinach instead.   SO good, SO easy, and a perfect, freezable and packable-for-work breakfast item!  I calculated mine at 7 Points+. 

Click on image for larger size.

Pushing Through the Pain

Courtesy of here.

I've been dealing with some lower back pain this week.  Over the weekend I did a lot of baking for Easter (5.5 hours worth!) and for some reason, being in Joel's kitchen for that length of time has been killing my back.  I never noticed this in my other kitchens though. 

Anyhow, yesterday at the gym I did W1D1 of C25K.  I'm not pursuing this program regularly, I simply forgot my magazines that I read while on the elliptical/ArcTrainer and had to find another distraction to keep the time ticking by.  About three-quarters through the C25K, my lower back started to spasm again like it did on Saturday.  In typical Hilary fashion, I would have used any excuse to cut the workout short and go home, but I actually really wanted to finish.  As I reached 26 minutes, shooting pains started resonating through my hips and I had to get off the treadmill.  The pain was literally taking my breath away.  Since my daily workout goal is 35 minutes, and I was only at 26, I figured I'd give the recumbent bike a try since I could sit down comfortably with a nice back rest.  In the end, I could only do 8 minutes on the bike and I had to stop.  By the time I left the gym I was limping out to the car.

The back spasms continued all night long, but getting some sleep definitely helped.  I plan to take the day off from the gym and just do hand weights when I get home.  I don't want to chance injury. 

What I am proud of here is my perseverance with the workout.  I'm of the mindset that if I take just a day off from exercise, I fear that I may never go back.  It's only been 4 solid, consistent months of hitting the gym and I don't yet feel comfortable with my discipline.  Still, I was proud that I pushed through the pain, until I couldn't walk, and still got most of what I needed to get done accomplished.  Still, I'm very mindful of the signals my body is giving me, and she wants a break!

How Do You Measure Weight Loss Success?

I had a loss on the scale this week!  I was pleasantly surprised as I did not come back strong after last week's weigh in.

Still, even though I had a numeric loss on the scale, I want to keep focusing on other accomplishments I've had in my health since I started going back to the gym consistently.  Ironically I came across this article last week that put my actions into words perfectly.  The article is titled 10 Signs You are Getting Healthier Even if the Scale Doesn't Move.

I wanted to highlight some of the points that I feel apply to me and my journey:

1. You feel like taking on something new. That’s a great sign that you are getting healthier. It shows a heightened energy level and more active mentality. You are obviously ready for new challenges that you weren’t ready for before you became fitter.  - This has definitely been true for me - hence all the 5K's I've signed up for!
   
   
2. You start taking that one extra step. Usually the saying is to “Go the extra mile.” I say “Go the extra step.” A mile is a long way, but if you even find yourself having the energy to take that extra step, congratulate yourself. You are building on something. A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.  - I recently increased my cardio workout an extra 5 minutes/day for a total of 35 minutes, 5 days a week.  I also find myself looking for new ways to incorporate exercise other than the standard gym equipment - like bike riding!
   
   
3. You feel more positive and energetic. That is a natural by product of getting healthier. The body starts working better and when it does, it releases feel good chemicals in the brain, delivers energy to the cells more efficiently, and you feel better day by day. - I find that I'm not always SO focused on my hate for living in this city, my surroundings, and just an overall negativity toward my life.

How do you measure success other than on the scale?

Hungry Girl Cooking: Caramel Pumpkin Pudding Cupcakes

Another Hungry Girl exclusive!  I made these cupcakes a few weeks ago when Joel & I met up with friends for a movie and dinner at their apartment.  If you like caramel and vanilla pudding, then you will love LOVE these cupcakes!  Just the smell of them coming out of the oven is mouth watering.  I had to make them again and so here they are:

Caramel Pumpkin Pudding Cupcakes - 3 Points+

Ingredients
For cupcakes:
    * 2 cups moist-style yellow cake mix (1/2 of an 18.25-ounce box)
    * 1 cup canned pure pumpkin
    * 1/3 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute
    * 2 tablespoons sugar-free maple syrup (I used light pancake syrup)
    * 2 teaspoons cinnamon
    * 2 teaspoons Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated) (I used 2 tsp worth of Sweet 'n Low packets)
    * 1/8 teaspoon salt
   
For topping:
    * 3 cubes (about 1 ounce) chewy caramel (like the kind by Kraft)
    * 2 teaspoons light vanilla soy milk

Yields: Makes 12 servings

Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

Combine all cupcake ingredients in a mixing bowl with 1⁄3 cup of water. Whip with a whisk or fork for 2 minutes until well blended.

Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick spray or line with baking cups. Evenly spoon batter into muffin cups. Place pan in the oven and cook for about 12 minutes (until cupcakes have puffed up but still appear a little gooey on top). Once cupcakes are cool enough to handle, arrange them closely on a plate so that the edges are touching.

Place caramel and soymilk in a tall microwave-safe glass or dish (mixture will bubble and rise when heated).

Microwave at medium power for 1½ minutes. Stir mixture vigorously until smooth and thoroughly blended. (Return to microwave for 30 seconds at medium heat if caramel has not fully melted.) Immediately drizzle caramel sauce over cupcakes.

Melts in your mouth, not in your hand :)

The thing I like about cupcakes is that they are essentially a personal cake just for you.  By thinking of it that way, it helps me not to consume 3, or really, who am I kidding, at least half the batch in one sitting.  I've had total self control over these fine ladies since they were baked on Tuesday and I'm very proud of that!

Staying Busy...

I recently started reading this Daily Devotional for Dieters.  What I like about this devotional is that it's short, sweet and to the point.  I also like the "Today's Thought".  I know that the only way this weight is going to come off once and for all is if I put my full faith in God.  Obviously relying on just myself and my own "know-it-all" mentality has gotten me no where, so really Hilary, let's try something different for a change. 

Today's thought was this: "The busier I keep myself, the thinner I get!"

I don't know about you, but I've definitely found myself eating on more than SEVERAL occasions simply out of boredom!  And I don't mean just grazing the food cabinets here and there.  I mean "Hey, I've got nothing goin' on - let's go out to lunch/dinner!".  (If Joel finds himself reading this particular post, I'm sure you would agree with me!) 

Courtesy of here.

This same idea rings true for me at work.  I don't often have a lot going on from day to day, and as a result, I find myself eating when I'm not really hungry.  It has not been an uncommon practice for me to have eaten nearly all of my PointsPlus values before I even leave work for the day!  Which then probably begs the question, "how is that even possible?"  I tend to bring probably WAY more snacks than what I really need to get me through the work day.  But that's another issue for another time :).

On the, sadly, more rare occasion that I do have a busy work day, I find that I can go almost until lunchtime before I've ever even taken a bite of food!  I wake up at 5 AM people - that's a LONG time without eating!  And this has happened to me before, not as often as the situation described above, but it has happened several times.  It's an amazing feeling to discover that "Hey - it's now 12 PM and I haven't eaten a single thing all day."  And, what has happened in the past, and not always but it has been known to happen, is that I will go hog wild and think that I can start shoveling food in my face to make up for the lack of eating in the morning.  Even if I'm not starving to begin with.  Even IF I was starving by noon, but ate a sensible lunch and felt satisfied - hey, I still have all those PointsPlus from the morning that I haven't yet consumed - I need to make up for it!  Nevermind the fact that I could actually listen to my body and ask myself "Are you actually still hungry? Do you need more fuel?"  This is why it's good for me to eat breakfast everyday, I'd venture to say, even if I'm NOT hungry.  That way foolishness doesn't take place later!

This is an inside joke, but still fitting.  Courtesy of here.

The bottom line is this - I don't like feeling 'hungry'... I don't like that uncomfortable, stomach rumbling feeling.  I panic at the mere thought of it.  Why?  Because I'm afraid what might happen if I'm struck with those hunger pains and I have no 'good' snack options around. Then I just might decide to say "screw it" and find the nearest fast food joint. 

Also, this very "thought" was what inspired me to sign up for so many 5K's.  It has given me something to focus on both leading up to the event and the day of the event.  It keeps me busy and it keeps me focused on the Goal. Otherwise, I'd be sitting in my bedroom on the weekends, most likely eating, wasting energy, and wrestling with the thoughts of: how much I hate living in this town, how much I wish that nursing school could be over and I could start working as an RN, how much I wish I could lose this weight, and how much I just want to find the perfect place to live, with the perfect house and yard and husband (aka Joel), etc etc etc.  You know, the American Dream.   

I hate long posts and I just exceeded my limit!  Share your thoughts with me...

Hungry Girl Cooking: Blueberry Apple Pancake Shake-Up

To continue on with my cookbook challenge, this week's breakfast is another one taken from Hungry Girl's first cookbook.

Blueberry Apple Pancake Shake-Up - 6 PointsPlus

Ingredients:

• 1/3 c regular oats
• 2 T dry pancake mix (I used Fiber One pancake mix)
• 1/3 c peeled & finely chopped apple
• 1/4 c blueberries
• 1/4 c egg substitute
• 1 T fat free cottage cheese (this is too sour for me, so I used 1%)
• 1/4 t vanilla extract
• 1 T Splenda (I initially used 11 packets of Sweet 'n Low to equal 1 Tbsp - more on this later!)

Directions:
Place all ingredients except for the blueberries and apples in a medium bowl. Add 3 T of water and stir until thoroughly mixed.

Gently fold in apples and blueberries.

Over medium heat, in a large pan sprayed with nonstick spray, evenly pour batter to form 3 pancakes. Once pancakes begin to look solid (after about 3 minutes), gently flip.

Cook for 3 additional minutes, or until both sides are lightly browned and insides are cooked through. now plate your pancakes and enjoy.

Number of Servings: 1

Since Splenda upsets my stomach, I use the cuter pink packets :).  However, I'm not sure that 1 Tbsp of Splenda granules would equal 1 Tbsp worth of Splenda packets.  Do you know?  I did, in fact, use that method for the Sweet 'n Low packets, and it took me 11 packets to make 1 Tbsp.  Folks, don't try this at home!  It was WAY too sweet and had too much of a fake sugar taste.  Fortunately I realized this after the first batch and so I cut the packets down to 9, which was still not enough elimination.  Next time I'll try just 6 packets and see how that fairs.  Other than that mishap, the pancakes were delicious and very filling.  I poured just a little bit of light pancake syrup over top because they are still dry like a regular pancake. 

Drawing Inspiration From Places Other Than the Scale

With the death of my grandmother last November, it became very apparent to me that life is so short, and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle is absolutely essential to a long AND happy life. 

My grandmother suffered from many illnesses, including diabetes, Parkinson's, and ultimately cancer.  She was on countless medications.  Aside from all of the illnesses she dealt with, obesity was probably the single disease that she could have controlled on her own that may have helped eliminate some of her other medical issues, but we will never know.  I can remember as a child and into my adult years always having the 'weight' conversation with my grandma.  I think I had a special connection with her because of it.  I'm the youngest of her only three granddaughters, and the only one who has dealt with being overweight.  She, too, seemed to struggled with it for most of her life.  There was a period of time where she joined TOPS - Take Off Pounds Sensibly.  Grandma seemed rather successful with this, though I currently do not have the photos to share of her moments of triumph, receiving awards and trophies for reaching her weight loss goals.  Still, like so many of us do, life and food got the best of her, and she put that weight back on.  

After spending the last few days of her life by her side in the hospital, I knew that I had to stop going down the self-sabotaging road I was headed.  While there are days when I think otherwise, I'm still a young woman at a fresh 27 years of age, and I still have time to change my life for the better. 

Courtesy of here.

After my final visit with Grandma, I made the drive back from Pittsburgh with a heavy heart, but knowing that it was finally time to change my life.  That week, I signed up for a membership at the local gym.  I am proud to say that I have been going to that gym every single week for at least 4 days/week since I signed up.   And while my progress isn't showing on the scale, it's important to count successes elsewhere.

Though despite all I shared above, that's not to say that I still do not have days like these: 

Courtesy of here.

Still, we must keep on keepin' on... because as they say:  

"When it is darkest, you can see the stars....."

Friend Making Mondays: The Grocery Store

I just recently started following All the Weigh, a weight loss blog written by a woman from NYC. I love her stories and I also love her idea regarding "Friend Making Mondays".  You simply answer the questions below and go back to her blog and post a link to your answers.... read a few of the participants blogs and comment on theirs and then hopefully you've made a few friends!  Here's my first shot at it, and it's about our habits when going to the grocery store:

1. Do you make a list when you go grocery shopping? Do you stick to it?  I agree with Kenlie on this one!  I do make lists but I hardly ever stick to them.  I always buy what's on my list, sure, but then I buy more!  I especially make lists when I'm making a recipe.

2. Do you buy more groceries when you're hungry?   I cannot recall going grocery shopping while hungry, so I would say no to this.

3. Coupons. Use 'em?  Do I use coupons?! Heck yes!  Joel calls me the "Coupon Queen".  I have 3 coupon organizers, divided into food and non-food coupons.. and categorized within each one!

4. Have you ever complained to the manager of your grocery store?  I have not, but have thought about it on MORE than one occasion!

5. Do you like to buy groceries at huge chain stores like Wal-Mart and Target? Or do you shop exclusively at food stores?  I prefer Wal-Mart/Target for grocery shopping.  The food prices there are almost always cheaper.  Though because I live in a place where my Wal-Mart is not a SuperCenter, I get what I can at Wal-Mart/Target and hit up Giant/Bloom/Safeway for the remainder. Our Target recently got a makeover and now carries some produce though - score! 

6. How much time do you spend reading labels in the grocery store?  I do not spend a lot of time reading labels because I do buy a lot of the same things over and over.  The only time I read labels are when I don't know the PointsPlus value of something because I've never had it before.

7. Do you push your own grocery cart to the car and return it? Yes I do and I ALWAYS return it.  I intentionally park my car very far from the store so people don't ignorantly hit it with their car doors and so a cart-return is never close by.  However, I return it because it's a way to add more steps into your day and also, most importantly, it's the right thing to do!

8. What is the one food item you always buy at the grocery store that you must have in the kitchen? Milk

9. Do you enjoy grocery shopping? I do when I'm back home in the Motherland and can go to the far less crowded grocery stores there.  I also enjoy it back home because I can typically go to one place and will be able to find everything I need (my hometown Walmart SC) instead of having to run to 3, seriously 3!, grocery stores until I can get everything I need.

10. How often do you shop for groceries? I try to limit it to once a week but sometimes it ends up being more..

16th Annual Run/Walk for Hospice of St Mary's

Saturday I participated in the 5K for Hospice of St Mary's County.  The forecast for the day was rain and thunderstorms, and fortunately both held off for the duration it took me to finish the race.

This race went a lot better than last week's 5K.  For starters, this took place all on paved streets.  I was able to jog for roughly half of the race as a result (off and on).  This was so well organized and fun and I'll definitely do it again next year.

I'll have the weekend off for 5Ks this upcoming weekend, so I'm thinking about going back to the Indian Head Rail Trail and riding a little further this time. 

My next 5K is on Sunday, May 1 and it will be for the March of Dimes! If you'd like to donate please click on the link below - I'm soooo excited to participate in this 5K, as it will be the first one I've ever raised money for.

Bloooower

This was the first week I had tracked ALL week and every single thing I ate in a very looooonnggg time. I was so proud of myself for doing it after so many failed attempts. I participated in a 5K on Saturday and I was active all week long - making it to the gym everyday, adding on an extra 5 minutes to my cardio routine and even incorporating weight lifting into it all. Let's just say the scale did not reveal my hard work! I gained over 3 lbs! After all that, ALL THAT, and I had a gain?! This is not at all what I expected. I know you have weeks where you know you derailed big time and a gain is inevitable, but this week was not one of those weeks for me.

I've heard and read many, many times that I should be focusing on the other achievements I had this week, such as tracking and fitness, but I am doing both of those things to achieve weight loss after all.  And when the scale does not show a loss, it's hard to see the light in those other things!

I wish I could say I came back with a vengence for the upcoming week, but no. Even though I don't want to have this mentality, I couldn't help but think all weekend "why bother, the hardwork doesn't pay off anyhow!" and the eating pattern sure did reflect that attitude.

Saturday I did another 5K (more on that later) and then Sunday I took an 8 mile bike ride with Joel's mom.

The bike ride was great! I have not been on my bike in almost 5 years.

Other than the issues I had with the seat not staying in position, it felt great to get out and do something other than my normal walk/jog. The trail was AWESOME - both scenic and flat - and I will definitely be going to that place again!

cute weather vane, nice bathrooms!

they did a great job with this trail

Rich Generosity

Even after all this time,
The Sun never says to the Earth,
"You owe me."
Look what happens with
A love like that.
It lights the whole sky. 

~Hafiz of Persia 

A few amazing things happened over the last 24 hours.  I met both, not one, but BOTH of my goals for the March of Dimes and Cystic Fiborsis walks!  I am so pleased and thrilled with the generosity of my friends and family.  I know that for many people in this day and age, the need to make ends meet is a daily struggle.  But God wants us to be generous beings no matter what our situation.  In fact, in today's daily message from Joel Osteen it said:

“By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence”  (2 Peter 1:3 NLT)

What do you think?

I'm so happy I got the 5K bug because raising money for causes like these makes a person feel really good. It is my hope that people continue giving even though I've reached both of my goals. 

While I doubt that those who gave are reading this message right now, I still want to thank you for donating your hard earned dollars to two important foundations.  The people who are affected by Cystic Fibrosis and Premature Births are more grateful that I can adequately express here.

See that? 110%!

"You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." 2 Corinthians 9:11

Corkscrew Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo

To continue on with cooking my way through all of my cookbooks, the next meal I made came from Marlene Koch's Eat What You Love.  I first learned about Marelene through my beloved QVC.  This was a very easy dish and my first attempt at making homemade alfredo sauce... not too shabby!

Courtesy.

Corkscrew Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo - 7 PointsPlus
Makes 6 servings    Serving Size = 1 1/2 cups

• 8 ounces (3 cups dry) bowtie pasta (I used Barilla Plus Farfalle)
• 5 cups broccoli florets
• 1 cup low-fat milk (I used skim)
• 1-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 cup light cream cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper, or more to taste
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups shredded cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast

Preparation
1.  Cook the pasta according to the package directions while preparing the sauce, and set aside.
2.  Place the broccoli in a large microwave safe dish. Add 3 tablespoons of water, cover, and microwave for 4 minutes, or until crisp tender.
3.  In a medium saucepan, whisk the milk and cornstarch until smooth. Whisk in the broth and place over low heat. Add the cream cheese, garlic powder, and pepper. Bring to a low simmer and cook until the sauce thickens, about 4 minutes. Whisk in the Parmesan and cook for 1 to 2 more minutes, or until sauce is smooth.
4.  Toss the cooked pasta, broccoli, and chicken together in a large serving dish. Pour the sauce on top, and toss gently to combine.

The results:
This dish was quite tasty right after I made it.  It did require some salt to give it more flavor but all in all not bad.  When I make this dish again, I would recommend doing the following... First, because I failed to read the recipe ahead of time, I just went ahead and cooked the broccoli according to the directions.  I would suggest cooking the broccoli how you like it cooked - I would choose steamed (in a steamer basket on the stove) or roasted next time.  Also, for the chicken, I simply cooked 3 chicken breasts in the skillet on the stove with only salt/pepper as seasoning.  Again, I would add some spices to the chicken next time to give it more flavor.

I brought this in my lunch today for work and it definitely needed salt for more flavor.  Also, since I know I'll be eating this a few more times this week, I would add additional parm to it for some added taste.  I think there must be a recurring theme here: more flavor, more flavor, more flavor.  Don't get me wrong - I thought this was a very filling and tasty dish, and I will definitely make it again no doubt.  Still, next time I will make the modifications identifed above and I think it would be a true hit!

Do you have a healthy recipe for chicken/broc/alfredo??  

1st Annual Peter Mahon Memorial Trail Run/Walk 5K

Yesterday I completed the Peter Mahon Memorial 5K that was held at La Plata High School in La Plata, MD. 

I didn't realize until I received the t-shirt that it was considered a "trail' run/walk.  I had never done one of these before but I figured it would be a scenic walk at least. 

And I got a number! I don't recall receiving a number in the first 5K I did MANY years ago.. but I was excited anyhow..

It had been a rainy week and so the majority of the walk was EXTREMELY muddy and wet! We got started on the high school track field and once we made it off the nice paved track, it was a sloppy mess!  My poor white shoes were brown by the end. 

I turned around to take this shot... hard to tell how muddy it actually was

I didn't want to stop too much to take pics because I wanted to see how quickly I could finish (by my watch I did it in 49 minutes, but I am waiting to hear the official results).  I did jog for about the first 5 minutes or so of the race.  About halfway through I jogged again for about a minute.  Then to finish off strong I ran the remaining distance of a high school track field - 1 lap around that.  Honestly, I had on my Reebok EasyTones and my calves were on FIRE so much so that it made it too difficult to run.  I think a lot of this had to do with the fact that because we weren't walking on nice, smooth ground, my legs were working overtime to stabilize myself (those shoes don't have a nice, even bottom), and then add in the special toning shoes and my muscles were burning.. but it was a good burn!

I felt good after the race and I'm looking forward to doing more over the next several months.  My next 5K is this upcoming Saturday, April 16.  It's the Run for Hospice of St Mary's County.

Courtesy.

Slow Food Fast: Italian Sausage, Peppers and Onion Hoagies

Yesterday I posted about my goal of cooking my way through ALL of my cookbooks.  I thought better about posting these recipes under my "Pritty" blog because part of my reason for cooking is to eat healthier, and that's what this blog is about. 

Anyway, on to the recipe!  Tonight Joel & I made a dish from my newest cookbook, Bob Warden's Slow Food Fast.  This book goes with my new pressure cooker I received on my birthday!  Tonight we made Italian Sausage, Peppers, and Onion Hoagies.  They were SOOOOO good!  The sausage was incredibly juicy and I'd venture to say that these are better than the ones we used to make over the camp fire when we'd go camping when I was a kid. 

Ingredients:
-2 Tbsp olive oil
-2 lbs sweet or mild Italian sausage (I used turkey Italian sausage)
-2 teaspoons minced garlic
-2 white onions, peeled, cut in half and sliced in 1/2 inch wide strips
-1 c. green bell pepper, cored and sliced in 1/2 inch wide strips
-1 c. red bell pepper, cored and sliced in 1/2 inch wide strips
-1/2 c. dry white wine (didn't have this so I used chicken broth)
-1 c. water
-1 tsp Italian seasoning
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/2 tsp ground black pepper
-6 Hoagie Rolls
-Provolone Cheese

Directions:
1. Add the oil to the pressure cooker and heat on high or "brown" with the lid off.

2. Add sausages and saute until well browned on two sides.

3. Add the garlic and about 1/4 of the onions and saute together for another minute.

4. Add the remaining ingredients, securely lock on the pressure cooker's lid, set the cooker to high and cook for 10 minutes.

5. Perform a quick release to release the cooker's pressure.  Safely remove lid and serve with a slotted spoon into Hoagie rolls.  Top with provolone cheese.

I don't eat onions & peppers :) but it was SOO delicious!

Another 5K!

I am making HUGE strides in raising money for two walks that I am participating in: The March of Dimes March for Babies & GreatStrides - Cystic Fibrosis.  That's right folks, I will be walking in the March of Dimes on Sunday, May 1.... yet another 5K I have signed up for!  Go me! 

Please consider donating to either (or both!) of my walks by clicking on the buttons on the left of the screen!  A HUGE thank you in advance!

Setting Goals for 2011

I've done two 5K's in my life.  I enrolled in both of them as a walker but I ended up running them.  It was an amazing feeling completing both of them.  I decided to get back into doing some 5K's this year and so I signed up for 3 of them today!  The details are below:

• St Mary's Run/Walk for Hospice: Saturday, April 16, 2011

• Cystic Fibrosis - Great Strides: Saturday, May 21, 2011
  I'm raising money for this one!  Please help me meet my goal of $150 by clicking on the link above & contributing!  I'm already at 40%!

• Weight Watchers Walk-It Challenge: Sunday, May 22, 2011

I plan to get a few more lined up for June/July/August.. I'm so excited to be participating in these 5K's and I know it will help me continue to work toward my weight loss and exercise goals.

Stay tuned for more updates :)

Not So Bad Afterall

This past week I spent 4 days at my sister's house in PA to help her out with the recent birth of my new nephew, Rexon.  For weeks I have been trying hard to have a 'good' week on Weight Watchers.  Each week brings new eating obstacles that make it rather difficult for me to remain on plan.  I was determined to make good choices while I spent these 4 days at my sister's house.  I took some breakfast items with me, as well as some snacks.  I was armed with a few dinner ideas and kept that momentum going.  I figured I probably would not get any exercise in and I was a little panicky about it.  While I didn't feel like I ate well while I was there (I never counted a single point!), I did end up losing weight - 1.4 pounds to be exact.  Not too shabby for a week without exercise while being on the road.. but it was all worth it to spend some time with the new little guy..

Courtesy: Here.