My negative thought for the day. ;)

So, if I'm being honest, I don't like weekly weigh-ins. They remind me how bad I'm doing. Maybe one of these Fridays my poor numbers will be the catalyst for a successful subsequent week. Sigh.

A cherry smoothie to keep!

After trying several "pretty good" cherry smoothies, I finally found one that is REALLY good. I used frozen cherries and a frozen banana for a thicker, more ice cream like smoothie. YUM.

The Banana Berry Cherry Smoothie

This one is going into my meal rotation for sure!

Self sabotage

So, I can start a diet great and be all gung ho, but eventually, I fall into a category that I call self sabotage. It typically starts with a bad weight, or a disappointing loss. Then, although I tell myself that I'm still all for it, a part of me begins to fall apart. I'll start eating things that are not healthy, in much larger quantities than I should, and then be mad and grumpy with everyone because I hate what I'm doing to myself. And while I know it's wrong, and can say I'm going to quit it, it's like this huge rut and the sides are so high that I can't seem to get out. so, I found myself in that place last weekend. It's frustrating and angering, because I don't know how to keep myself from going to that place. On Sunday, after two days of feeling like this and hating myself (I can't ever decide if I want to scream or break down and cry), I found myself sitting in church only casually listening to the speakers. My daughter was playing on my phone and I'll admit that I was paying more attention to her... She was scrolling through my pictures and all of a sudden, came across the picture of the scale from when we first started our venture. I realized that I didn't want to go back to that place. I'm not that far from it, but just don't want to go back. And all of a sudden, I realized that I have the power. Monday morning, I began a new step to my workouts, to change up my routine, and I'm hoping that it will help me focus. I don't expect to lose this week, since I have to pay for my "costly weekend". But I am better than I give myself credit for and I just have to remind myself of that daily.

Avacado bean salad

Here is one of our favorite recipes!  It is good with tortilla chips, but we've been using it lately as a taco salad topping and it is great.  You can also eat it just as is and it's yummy!  It does make a lot so if only one or two of you are eating it then I suggest you half the recipe (or make a batch without the avacadoes and only add them in as you eat your portion). I also don't put in as much seasoning as the recipe directs.  I usually just make up the dressing and put in 1/2 or 3/4 of it.  It gets a little soupy otherwise.  You can substitute Italian dressing from a bottle if you want.

AVACADO BEAN SALAD

1 Can black beans (rinsed & drained)

1 can black-eyed peas (rinsed & drained)

1 can sweet corn (rinsed & drained)

3 or more tomatoes chopped

2-4 avacadoes chopped

1 small bunch fresh cilantro chopped, if desired

Good Seasons dry Italian mix (2 packets); sold by the salad dressing bottles.

Mix all produce ingredients together.  Prepare one Italian mix according to directions on the back.  Add partial or full second package for seasoning.  Pour over the chopped ingredients.  Serve as salad or with chips.  Can serve sour cream & salsa on the side.

Week 4 weigh-in results

Well, this wasn't everyone's best week so far...we only lost 6 pounds as a group, which brings our total weight loss up to 64.7 lbs since we started.

But no matter what your weight loss experience was like this week, do NOT get down on yourself! Sometimes seeing a small weight loss or even a weight gain one week is enough to get you moving again the next week. Refocus, go back to your plan if you got away from it, try something different if what you are doing isn't getting results, but don't give up!!

I had a slightly higher weight loss than normal, which gave me the top spot this week for the first time (yay!), and I've moved into first overall. Who's coming for me next week?? ;)

Just remember, we still have 7 weeks to go! We're not even half way through. Our overall percentages are so close, it is anyone's game.

This week  --

1. Jenn        -1.93%
2. Jenny       -1.67%
3. Aaron      -0.52%
4. Andy       -0.29%
5. Tiffany     -0.15%
6. Mary       -0.11%
7. Alicia        0.0%
8. Melyssa    0.0% (out of town)
9. Ann         +1.08%


Overall --

1. Jenn         -6.02%
2. Andy        -5.33%
3. Tiffany      -4.83%
4. Jenny        -4.80%
5. Aaron       -4.23%
6. Mary        -3.48%
7. Ann          -3.28%
8. Melyssa    -3.15%
9. Alicia          0.0%

So if you had a bad week, dust yourself off and get ready for the next 7 days! They can be as good as you want them to be! Good luck! 

"Pretty in Pink" Smoothie -- Yes, please!!

(Photo credit: Angela Liddon)

I LOVE smoothies (I've only started making them regularly the last few months since I started my weight loss journey), and I have been trying lots of different kinds lately. I recently got a bunch of cherries from a neighbor's cherry tree (I didn't steal them, I swear!), and I tried a few different cherry smoothies (haven't quite found a keeper yet, though). Summer is the best time!! I love all the fresh yummy fruits available.

Anyway, this smoothie combined 3 of my favorite fruits and ones that people are likely to have around during the summer (no cherries in this one, actually -- unless you put it on the glass like the picture shows...). This was super easy, refreshing, and tasty. I got it from the Oh She Glows blog, which has yummy, healthy (vegan) recipes.


Pretty in Pink


Ingredients:
3 cups watermelon, seeded and chopped into large chunks
1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
1 large peeled, frozen banana
Directions:
Add all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth.
Yield: 3 cups


Anyway, here is the link to the actual recipe with commentary --  Pretty in Pink -- There's another smoothie recipe on that same page that I'm going to try this week. It has basil in it! I can't help but be curious how that one tastes. I'll let you know how it turns out.


Enjoy!

Help!

Happy Fourth of July everyone! I'm on vacation right now and I was doing perrrrfectly with my diet & exercise, but the longer I'm away from home, the harder it's getting to stay focused. I've made some poor food choices yesterday & today. This is bad!!! I need a kick in the pants from all of you! Remind me why I'm here! Sigh. Thanks.