Happy Biggest Loser day all!! I LOVE reading all your comments on what motivates you to LOSE Weight on this week’s Now Eat This Cookbook Giveaway! I find myself shaking my head and agreeing with each one, but, even more, you all are MOTIVATING ME too! Thanks for sharing your ideas and let’s all keep motivating each other.
I am trying something new this week for my 5 AM wake up calls. I had a long talk with my Weight Watcher leader on Sunday and we both agreed starting my day off with some protein like a hard boiled egg with a piece of fruit when I first get up might help me with not STARVING all day like I was last week.
I honestly was still sleepy but I ate my egg and banana pre-train ride (2 points+)
You all were the REASON I got my bootie on the elliptical for 30 minutes this morning. I wasn’t feeling it, but, I remembered all the things you all listed and how so many fit with my own goals.
I am not a Pro at using the Elliptical but some of you have asked me how I do my workouts on it. I treat the Elliptical just like SPIN CLASS!
* 2 Minute Warm Up, then, I crank it up so that I am hitting all muscle groups (usually around 19 or 20). If I am going to be on that machine, I want it to burn my bootie, thighs, calves, EVERYTHING!
Then, I let my music guide my workout.
* Slow songs are hills ~ I crank up the resistance and push myself to go a little faster during the “chorus” of the song.
* Faster songs ~ I try to hold the beat, then, when the chorus kicks in, I got as fast as I can for the chorus, then, slow down to the beat
* I usually convince myself to spend at least one song pedaling backwards too.
* 2 minutes to cool down, then, stretching ~ my favorite part of EVERY workout.
Post work-out snack ~ Ginger, Pear & Turkey Sausage Patty topped with Sweet Jalapeno sauce (2 points+)
Pineapple!
Last night while making dinner, The Husband made a 3rd Bacon, Walnut and Cheese salad just so I could have one for lunch today (4 points+)
Toasted Lental Bolani with Sweet Jalapeno (3 points+) ~ LOVE!
I had 2 Low-Fat Banana Bread Cookies for Dessert with decaf coffee ~ (4 points+)
I am also bringing back my afternoon snacks IF I am truly hungry on my long days. I really think my WW leader knows her stuff because honestly I was not STARVING all day today and my meals kept me satisfied for 3-4 hours.
Train ride snacks ~ Trader Joe’s Lite String Chees (1 points+) & a nectarine.
We made “Bacon” Cheeseburgers tonight for dinner that turned out FANTASTIC! There were only 2 dishes to wash and start to finish it took less than 30 minutes!
The BEST part about this recipe is you can mix/match your toppings (sometimes I add red onion, pickles, pepperoncini’s, jalapenos, mushrooms or avocado).
While the burgers grilled, I pre-heated the oven and added the fries.
Then, I worked on prepping the toppings.
* Organic Mixed Greens
* 4 Organic Tomato Slices
*4 slices Trader Joe’s Peppered Turkey Bacon (1 slice = 0 points!)
* 8 slices of low-fat sharp cheddar cheese (4 ounces)
THE SECRET IS IN THE SAUCE!
* 3 Tbsp Organic Ketchup
* 1 Tbsp Light Mayo
* 1/2 Tbsp Yellow Mustard
* 1 tsp Tapatio or your favorite hot sauce
For the Burgers…..I bought Trader Joe’s 96% lean hamburger patties. I sprinkled them with garlic salt, black pepper and nonstick spray then grilled them about 10 minutes per side (including melting 2 slices of cheese per burger) in the last minute.
ASSEMBLE!
A little sauce on each side ~ about 1 Tbsp per burger
Mixed Greens
Tomato! I can’t wait for GOOD tomatoes in the summer
BURGER, CHEESE, BACON (1 slice per burger, broken in half)!
“Put the Lid’” on the top! All for only 8 POINTS+!!!
I served our burgers with TWO sides. Alexia Chipotle Fries (5 Points+ for 4 oz)
CRUNCH!
SO GOOD!!! You can taste the BACON, the CHEESE, the spicy secret sauce, the cool crunchy veggies and toasted sesame bun. Oh and having spicy sweet potato fries with sweet peppers to cool your mouth off didn’t hurt either 
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GIVEAWAYS!!
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Q’s
Are you a “fry” person? If so ~ do you prefer REGULAR FRIES OR SWEET POTATO FRIES?
Ummm, I am pretty sure I’ve NEVER met a fry I didn’t inhale and honestly I LOVE all fries ~ regular, sweet potato, waffle, curly, spicy, salty…..all of the above
Night all!
So protein in my go to breakfast. I cannot get through teaching two classes back to back without protein. It used to be oatmeal (made on the stove, not microwave) and an egg. I would cook the oatmeal until it was almost done, then crack an egg in it at the last minute. The oatmeal is so hot it cooks it immediately. It is a great combo of complexed carbs and protein, with the fat from the egg for satiety. That would get me through 4 hours. I have an intolerance as I get older to gluten, I think and the oats were messing me up. So I only have them 1 x per week.
So I changed to an egg w/ a lite sausage patty (6+pts) and coffee. Even a slice of toast messes with my blood sugar and makes me hungry 2 hours later. So I strictly eat protein only for breakfast.
The only thing I do not like about the new WW program is the adherence to fat free or low fat foods. I believe we need the real fat in foods for satiety/colon health/supple skin. So I eat my proteins, including bacon. Protein keeps me full and satisfied, therefor I eat less throughout the day. The higher points for full fat foods balances out with my need not to snack because I’m starving by eating low fat/fat free foods. Make sense?
Another good thing for me is 7 almonds for 1 pt+. I eat them before I go workout after I’ve taught my classes for the morning. Healthy fat and good protein. Curbs my appetite until the workout is over and I can get a full meal.
Protein is the friend to anyone on WW that is “starving” all the time. Combo it up with your carbs/fruits in particular. Carbs/fruits are sugar and will process through your body quickly and you’ll be hungry. The fat in the proteins will slow down the absorption of the sugars, keeping you fuller longer. Nuts, string cheese, greek yogurt, all go to foods with your fruit snacks. 🙂
Nice menu today, Danica. Keep at it!
Protein in the morning makes me eat less throughout the day, that’s for sure.
I hate to say this… but your burger has my mouth watering! AND I don’t even eat meat!
Great post colleen, and I SO agree! Cereal or toast for breakfast has me starving by the time I get to work, but when I eat an egg white omelet, or Hungry Girl eggbeater mug, it keeps me satisfied foi several more hours! Danika, I ordered the bolani’s…can’t wait to get them! Now I want those turkey burger’s so they’re on my menu too 😉 And to answer your question: I love ALL fries, that’s my problem; sweet potato fries at Duffy’s, and we have an English Pub that makes the BEST regular fries!
There is so much win in this post! The sausage patty, the burger, the Alexia fries….all I can think is nom nom nom!
Love that sauce you made for the burgers! SO yummy!
Don’t like sweet potatoes so it’s regular fries for me. I love, love, love Trader Joes 96% fat free ground beef! It’s makes the BEST tasting burgers and I think we’ll have them tonight. Thanks for the idea!
I admire how well you stick to WW, I myself have not been following for several weeks and not working out and I don’t know how to reel myself back in. I am so discouraged and disappointed in myself. I start every day over again and fail all over again..any tips?
Like you, Danica, I’ve discovered the power of protein in the morning. I go to the gym daily at 3:30 am and I am famished when I get to work at 5:30. I eat 2 egg whites first and then 30 min later, have 2-3 slices of TJ Turkey Bacon and a can of FRS low cal orange drink (25 cal). I follow this with fruit at about 8:30 and Oatmeal at 9:30 and I graze my way into lunch! Colleen, great post, thanks.
Those burgers look AMAZING! What kind of buns do you use and what is the P+ on them? Also, how many P+ are the burgers?
I can’t wait to try them!!
Thanks!
I ? Fries, they are my weakness. Doesn’t matter if they are from fast food restaurants (McDonalds has great fries) or sweet potatoes baked in my oven (drool)…Dipped in ketchup, or topped with chili and cheese. YUMMY! It’s one food I could never give up. I only have them once or twice a month.
Also…how do you cook your turkey bacon? It always looks so perfectly crispy!
I pretty much always have to have protein in the morning… any time I choose not to, I am starving all day and that’s just no fun. I have protein in the form of eggs w. a tablespoon of cheese (or nutrtional yeast) or a tablespoon of nut butter on ww toast that also has 5g’s of protein w. naner ‘chips’.
I love all fries. Put a huge basket infront of me and watch it dissapear ;P lol, not really… but I’d love to. I’ve def never met a fry I didn’t like. Sweet pot, Mcy d’s fries, homemade ‘fries’ in the oven, carrot fries, zuch fries, waffles fries, curly fries… I love them all.
Your ‘bacon’ burger is making me hungry ! Esp the ‘special sauce’ … I love hot sauce in EVERYTHING.
Hi Andrea,
I totally understand where you are coming from because I have been there too. I think the most important thing you could do is to step back and ask yourself what is causing you to derail each day. Is it a certain time of day? An event? Not having a plan for the day? Do you let yourself get too hungry or maybe you don’t healthy, quick go to options on hand? Are you tired of eating the same foods day in and day out?
Once you identify what is causing you to give in each day, focus on the little things. Focus on one meal at a time – have a healthy breakfast, then, make it to lunch and have a healthy lunch. I know when I am really struggling it helps me to plan….not just meal plan, but, my day.
Do a little research for some recipes you want to try out ~ new foods and/or recipes always get me excited and out of a boring rut. After you plan out a few meals, stock up on healthy snacks and treats that you can have as quick grab and go options.
As hard as it may be to do – get rid of all the junk that is tempting you right now. Throw it in the trash (better in the trash than on your @$$) or give it away. Replace it with the healthy things you bought. Afterall, you can’t be tempted by what ISNT there.
Then, I start with 2 more things. Plan out your entire meals for the day to see where you stand. You might be surprised and have points+ left and you might find areas where you can see you need to cut back or make a better choice. This is a good point of reference to see if you are meeting your good health guidelines and filling up on power foods.
Sometimes, it’s the little things that allow us to baby step back to the place we want to be. Maybe challenge yourself to get in all your water one day, all your dairy the next, then your 5 a day fruit and veggies. All those little things do add up…..
When all else fails, fake it til you make it! I know that sounds cheesy but I know if I am feeling frumpy about everything for a few days or weeks, I “fake it”….eventually being good to yourself brings results and snaps you out of the funk.
Reach out for support from others too – sometimes visiting message boards or talking with friends or family really helps get you through it all.
I hope that helps a bit. Good luck and keep me posted on how it goes!
Danica
Hi Catherine,
I use my local grocery store sesame buns that are 3 points+ each. For me, I’d rather have a real deal bun any day over the 100 calorie things for the same points+ values.
The burgers are 4 ounces pre-cooked and probably 3 ounces cooked. I counted them as 4 points+ (1 points+ per ounce).
Thanks,
Danica
Hi Catherine,
I cook my turkey bacon in the microwave – it is the only way I’ve found to get it crispy. I place the strips in a single layer on two paper towels then top with another paper towel. I microwave it 1 minute per slice – give/take. Some microwaves cook faster than others so you might want to watch it. You can actually tell because the “popping” stops.
Danica
mmm i love mixing mustard, ketchup and mayo for a sauce!
Danica,
thanks for your reply and the great advice. The sad part is I actually stop at the local convenience store for a bag of Doritos or a doughnut or candy bar, I don’t even keep it in the house!! I even sometimes pack my lunch and then go to a fast food place at lunch. I have alot of stress in my life right now and alot of crazy stuff going on and I really think Im turning to food for “comfort” but its a terrible coping mechanism that is leaving me not fitting in my clothes and feeling like I have failed. I have to figure out a way to put an end to it because I was on track for so long and doing so great and to let it go down the tubes would be a terrible shame.
I can’t pick a favorite fry! I like both and home made oven fries are the best!
Holy cow! I have got to make that sauce the next time I make burgers! and that tomato is looking pretty great to me! I know what you mean about tomatoes though, i will be glad when its summer and they are tasty again too. Too bland right now!
Some days a good burger and fries makes life seem more bearable….and there is no shame in that at all.
FYI…i never exercised…not one day…I figured I wouldn’t exercise when I lost all my weight…because I really dread exercising. Even though my development has a wonderful gym and indoor pool…I never did it. Still lost my 100 pounds in one year and have kept it off for two years. Yup, you got it…still don’t exercise.
I love both regular and sweet potato fries, and I love Weight Watchers for teaching me a way to eat them when I want and still lose weight.
Hi Danica,
I’m pretty sure that I might be able to get these buns at your “local” store, since it sounds like you live/work close to where I do. Do you mind sharing which store? I’ve never found a bun that looks that good, for only 3PP!
Thanks!
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
I bought them at Raley’s (Bel air works too). They are the Sesame Buns with their label – the regular sized ones, not the big burger size.
Good luck!
Danica