Happy Sunday all! I had pondered all week waiting until the full two weeks was up to see my progress or checking in half way to see my stats. This morning, I decided I didn’t want to wait to see how Simple Start is working for me.
I honestly was not expecting much this week since I knew I was coming off a pretty big loss last week from being sick. However, I am pretty excited to report that I get to keep my loss and I am down 2.2 lbs. from all the great Simple Start eats this past week.
This is definite motivation as today officially kicks off my Birthday Week festivities! My challenge will be balancing it all out this week while keeping myself in check.
This morning before heading to the meeting, I made up Healthy Egg Rolls for The Husband and I before heading out the door.
There is something so tasty about crispy tortillas topped with sriracha, a little low-fat cheese and a “fried” egg. (SS/SF + 1 WPA) or 5 points+.
I grabbed a grande non-fat latte to sip as we walked around the Sacramento Antique Fair to get our steps in. (SS/SF) – 3 points+
We stopped at Pluto’s on our way back into town to build salads.
In the 100% SS/SF mix (4 points+)
- Farmer’s Greens
- Shredded Carrots
- Cucumbers
- Pepperoncini’s
- Grapes
- Edamame
- a couple of croutons (0 points+)
- 3 oz. roasted turkey breast
- Balsamic on the side
I am totally the girl who will order a veggie side to go with her salad ~ these were some of the best brussels sprouts I’ve ever had even though they do not look like it. (SS/SF) – 0 points+)
We were finally able to meet up with our friends tonight to celebrate Christmas, New Year’s and the kickoff of birthday week (we missed out being in Australia, then, being sick) at Johnny Carinos.
I really pondered if I wanted to have any of the hot focaccia bread when they brought it to the table.
The thing that always sells me is the roasted garlic olive oil with balsamic. After much debate, I decided it was worth it to savor 1/4 of a roll and get in my healthy oils 
SS/SF + 2 WPA, 4 points+
One of my favorite appetizers they have is the stuffed mushrooms. I realize they totally look nasty, but, I promise they are so good. Big mushroom caps topped with fresh garlicky spinach, fresh tomatoes and a lemon basil sauce. It doesn’t hurt that each one is 2 points+ each.
I decided to fill up on the good stuff by starting with a simple side salad with fat free Italian on the side. I skipped the croutons because honestly they were not worth it after trying one. (SS/SF) – 0 points+
I was a little bummed when they told me they ran out of their whole wheat pasta when I ordered my dinner. I pondered switching to just soup, but, in the end, I decided I really just wanted pasta.
Angel Hair with artichokes, fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, capers, olives and shrimp
I ended up eating all the shrimp and veggies and about 1/3 of the pasta. (SS/SF + 2 WPA) – 7 points+
Here are my stats today:
- Simple Start Day 8: 7 WPA used, 42 WPA remaining
- 25 Daily Points+ 0 WPA used, 49 WPA remaining
- Here is my FitBit Flex Dashboard!
And more importantly…HERE IS WHAT IS ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:
- Grilled steak, kale chips or roasted potatoes, caprese salad
- Fresh Tomato, Basil Flat Out Pizza, salad
- Asian Chicken Lettuce Cups, baby broccoli
- Taco Salad or Healthy Nachos!
- Grilled Pork Chops, garlicky green beans, simple salad
- Friday & Saturday include birthday celebrations so we will be dining out and may end up saving some of these for next week
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
What is on your menu this week? Are you trying any new recipes or foods?
Night all!
I can not wait to start SS! I’m going to start here in the next couple of weeks, we just have to finish up whats on our current menu. I got a Hungry Girl cookbook for Christmas so I made two week menu from that. So far, I’ve loved it!
OK, you have soooo convinced me to try simply filling! I actually did something this week-end I have never done: both Sat & Sun I made 2 veg sides to go with our dinners, and no carbs…Sat we grilled delicious T-bones, and yesterday I used my indoor grill pan for pork tenderloins…I’m searching for different, interesting, (and easy) veggie recipes since I now get a share from Endlessly Organic at work every 2 weeks…it has been totally awesome…and guess what’s in this weeks share? KALE!! So I can try those chips on your menu!!! I just need to sit down and plan out 2 weeks…it’s coming 🙂
are the recipes you been posting are they from the simple start program?
thank you Mary
Hi Mary,
I’ve been posting a combination of recipes from the book and then, recipes that would apply using the build your own featuer with Simple Start foods. This go round I decided to use both methods as I like the flexibility.
Thanks,
Danica
Curious about the crispy tortilla with egg/low fat cheese. If I read the points correctly it was a simple start +l, for the cheese ? How do you count the tortilla an what kind of tortilla did you use. Thanks
Hi Karen,
I use the Mission Extra Thin Yellow Corn tortillas that are 1 points+ each (even when you have up to 4 tortillas). I “tweak” simple start/simply filling to use low-fat cheese versus fat free cheese as I am not a fan of the chemicals/ingredients in the fat free cheese. I can keep low-fat cheeses in check as far as portions and am more likely to grab that as a snack versus a fat free cheese.
Thanks,
Danica
thanks for the info. Thanks also for the hint about whole wheat pasta. I live in the Bay Area and pass through Sacramento often on the way to our other house in the sierra foothills, so I will keep that restaurant in mind as always looking for places to be healthy.
PS. what store did you buy the thin mission tortillas My safeway doesn’t have them.
Thank you.
HI Karen,
I have been able to find the Mission Extra Thin Yellow Tortillas at Target and Raley’s/Bel Air/Nobb Hill stores.
Danica
Thanks, I’ll try target. Raley’s/BelAir/Nobb Hill not in my area. Only safeway and Luckys.
oh, tried the kale chips yesterday – my husband even liked them but boy did my house smell. 🙂
maybe you have already answered this, but . . . I know you have to have the 2 teaspoons of healthy oil on simply filling, but what if you go over the 2 – since it is on the power foods list do you have to count it? any input would be great.
Hi Nicole,
You are supposed to count any oil in excess of the 2 tsp towards your indulgence WPA.
Danica
How is that pasta dinner with even 1/3 eaten pasta only 2-7 points? What about all the oil and shredded cheese on top but even the white pasta is 5 points for two ounces.
Hi Anna,
If you goto the ww online tracker and look up this item, the total dish with shrimp is 18 points+. I divided the total by 3 and counted 1 extra for good measure as the total points+ eaten.
The 2 WPA I counted on Simple Start were for the cheese and olives. I counted the pasta and oils as simple start even though it was not whole wheat it has the same caloric value. You should/could technically count 3 WPA for the pasta.
Thanks,
Danica