Weight Loss Help...with The Chunky Monkeys!
Lounge By TexasSugar Updated 28 Oct 2011 , 1:50pm by TexasSugar
I came across this GREAT idea, it might be something that everyone else is familiar with and I'm just now finding out about it! It's the Ziploc steaming bags. I've heard og them but never given them much thought. But I was reading on Inspire about how easy it is to toss some chicken or fish (after mainating it) in a bag with whatever veggies you want and then you just micro it for a few minutes. Sounds great, especially when you have so many different appetites to cater to! Apparently you can toss everything in there and then toss them in the freezer, then you've got some premade meals! I can hardly wait to try them. Ziploc has some yummy sounding recipes on their website. I hope that they're not too expensive. It sounds like it will fit all my criteria for healthy, quick meals. Also don't have to heat up the house with the oven! I'll let you know how it goes when I try them.
How is everyone doing? It's been a pretty good day so far. I got ten miles in on my bike. And I've been cleaning the kids room. Now I'm getting ready to go help the hubby lay some flooring! What a fun Saturday! Oh yeah, then I get to go to the grocery store. I am excited about getting the ziploc bags.
Have a great afternoon!
Melissa
I have some of those bags but have never used them. I forget they are there. Will have to pull them out some time and try them out.
For dinner last night I had chicken stir fry. It was yummy, quick and healthy. I ended up using a bottle marinade I had that was garlic ginger. I cooked some whole wheat spaghetti noodles and used half a serving in place of rice. For the veggies I use red cabbage, bell pepper and green onions.
I cleaned some last night, had class this morning and didn't get home until after 2:30. Just ate stir fry leftovers, now I'm working up the energy to finally tackle the fridge. After that it is meal planning time then make my shopping list then off to walmart. Oh fun!
Going to spend the evening cleaning, what a fun Saturday night!
Tracy you Saturday sounds almost as fun as mine!! I went to the grocery store, had two boxes of the Ziploc bags and then put them up. I started thinking about how many times I buy stuff and then never use it, they were $2.99 for 10 of the medium size and the store had the steamable frozen veggies on sale. It made more sense to just buy the frozen stuff. I ended up spending $130.00 at the store, which souldn't be so bad but my Mom just bought me a ton of groceries - about $135.00 worth!! I did go a little crazy, and didn't have a clear plan in mind. But today did not turn out the way I had planned. I wanted to pull my menu together before I went shopping. Instead I'll plan my menu off my groceries! I'm excited to try the frozen veggies, I got some Asian style so I'll have a stir fry. They also had boneless, skinless chicken on sale. I might have to quit the vegetarian thing for a while to really watch my money and my calories. And just to make cooking easier. The other two veg-heads will go along with me. What can they do? They don't cook or buy groceries!!
I'm having a pretty bad dinner - popcorn and a baked potato! I won't put any butter on the tater, just some salt and maybe a little sourcream. It might not be the best dinner but it will satisfy my craving!
I'm off to enjoy my quiet house (and work on my menu!), everyone else is at the church softball game.
Melissa
I quit using butter and stuff on my potato when I can. Now when I'm at home and want one I will use garlic salt, green onions and greek yogurt. The yogurt adds some creaminess to the dry potato with out adding a ton of calories and the garlic salt and green onions adds some flavor.
The surface areas of the kitchen are clean even behind/ under the microwave. I'm thinking of pulling every thing out of the cabinets and wiping them out but we will have to wait and see with that one. May run out of energy before I get there.
I'm doing my meal plan now. Trying to figure out what I'm hungry for next week. The first few days of the week I'm going for quick and simple since I have class those nights. I'm thinking I'm going to buy some ground turkey meat to make some meatloaf since I have a taste for it. Then the rest of the meat items will be coming out of the freezer.
Heading to the store shortly. Let's see how well I do there.
Enjoy your potato and popcorn. 
Well here we go Melissa. I thought, I looked in the freezer and fridge, I thought, I went shopping, I started prep work, I thought, and finally I wrote down a meal plan.
When I went to Walmart Saturday night I only bought a small watermelon, grapes, lettuce and tomatoes produce wise anyway. In my fridge I had cabbage, broccoli, carrots, green beans, zucchini and yellow squash. I spent some time yesterday cutting them up and bagging them in to grab and go portions that are labeled with the calorie count. I did make a list so I can have a quick look at what is in there and figure out which veggie Im in the mood for.
I made pancakes and breakfast burritos to freeze and pull out this week and next.
I also made some turkey meatloaf, cut up a piece of chicken I baked the night before, and used half of it to make pasta salad, the other half will be used in chicken salad. Plus I boiled some eggs. I ended up spending a good portion of the day in the kitchen, but I know that it will make my life easier, quicker, and healthier during the week. When I cut the veggies up into portions I eat them better than if I have to pull out the cutting board and cut them before I cook.
My menu plan this week is:
Breakfast:
Breakfast Burrito, yogurt, and fruit 3 times
Two pancakes, two slices of thin bacon, a hard boiled egg, and fruit 2 times
Lunch:
Pasta salad with chicken plus grapes (ate today)
Turkey Meatloaf Sandwich, Grapes and possibly a veggie or salad
Chicken salad with grapes and green onions, either on bread or chips
Tuna salad, either on bread or chips, with fruit
Ham sandwich or tortilla roll up with yogurt and fruit
Semi healthy option from a local Café with my brother
Dinner:
Bacon & Swiss Cheese Grilled Cheese, veggie and fruit
Pasta salad with chicken plus fruit
Turkey Meatloaf with veggie x2
Cabbage soup with turkey meat with salad(?)
Tilapia with veggie x2 plus fruit
Something pre-cooked out of the freezer plus veggie x2
I realized I have a few issues when it comes to meal planning.
How do I know on Saturday/Sunday what I want to eat on Thurs or Friday?
How do I know my week well go as planned?
I tend to have too many ideas or two many things that sound good at once. Of course this is probably the same reason that I end up with foods I never get around to cooking because when I go to the store I buy everything that looks good.
I know that I have to be flexible with it, just like with everything else, so hopefully I keep that in mind and try to stay on track as much as I can. What I dont eat this week will be there next week.
My spending at Walmart Saturday actually wasnt so bad. I did spend a little more than I had originally wanted to, but it was still at least half of what I spent on my last trip there. When I broke it down and figured out how much I bought food wise I actually did really well on that part. I just have to work on curbing some of the other spending.
We are a work in progress though, arent we?
Where are all the Monkeys at this week?? How are ya'll doing?
I'm down to 139.2, so I'm getting closer to where I was before I got off track. Atleast I'm heading back the right direction now.
Awesome Tracy!!!! I knew it wouldn't take you long to get back to where you were. You really are doing great. I had another great week also. Lost another 2 pounds. I'm getting there, slowly but surely. My size 12's are starting to sag a bit now. YAY!!! Unfortunately my size 10 pants have been washed and dried many times and have actually shrunk to like a size 8 so they are still a bit too tight around the waist. Kinda caught in between at the moment. But all is good.
Hope everyone else is having a wonderful week.
Margie, that inbetween can be annoying, but atleast you have pants that are getting to be too big! Keep working and you will get back into those other ones. Congrats on the -2!
Hello everyone!
Tracy - sorry I've been AWOL! This week has been crazy and it doesn't show any signs of letting up! I never did get to write down a meal plan. Yours is awesome! I think I'm going to have to do two, one for me and one for the family. That just overwhelms me. I'm still going to try to do it. I think if I can just get organized and do it, it will help me tremendously. I'm feeling a little bit out of control right now. Too much going on? Too many stressful situations? I'm just so overwhelmed. I need to get something under control.
I'll try to get back later. I hope that everyone has a great day!
Melissa
Melissa, hang in there! Start with something easy that you can get in control that way it will give you the sense you do have something you can control. Then pick another thing, then another thing. Remember baby steps.
I'm doing so so on my meal plan. I've eaten at work with the guys the last three days. 
One I know was very high calorie. The other two were so so. But I know it will take some adjusting and some will power to just say "no I'm eating from my fridge today." I'll get there. And when I do eat out I'll just try hard to make better choices.
I knew I wouldn't be perfect this first week, and it probably will take a few weeks to figure out the best plan for me and sticking to it. But that's okay too. I have been eating more veggies in the evening because they are cut up and ready to go.
And the good news is while I have some things on my grocery list, I probably can skip going this weekend, since I still have plenty of fresh veggies still on hand. Which means saving money right?
HUGS!! Hope things calm down for you soon!
Thanks Tracy! You are doing great! You are so encouraging and such an inspiration. I know I have to just hang on and keep trying. I'll get there, eventually.
I thought I waas going to have a pretty quiet day today. But all of a sudden I haveabout four errands to run! I have to take my daughter-in-law to pay their house payment, go by a friend's house to look at furniture, go to hubby's work to pick up some casing and baseboards, and I want to take the kids to see the van from our Christian radio station that we always listen to. It's going to be at an event close to our house and I think they would get a kick out of seeing it. I might also have some baking to do. There's a possibility that the hubby will be going out on a fishing tournament tomorrow, depends on the weather. If he's going I'm supposed to bake cookies. I have all the stuff to do it, now I have to find the time!
My weight is up this week. I'm a little discouraged. I did start my period this week. So I'm hoping that that's a big part of it. I think I've done pretty good, but I have got to start keeping a journal again. That's the only way I'm going to know how I'm really doing. I only have 22 miles to go in my 1000 mile challenge. Once I hit that I'm going to change my exercise routine. Right now all I'm doing is riding my bike. I have started working with the weights a little bit. I want to get back into a better routine with those. I even stopped using my kettlebell! Once the weather got so hot I lost alot of my motivation!
Ok, I better go find something to do. Maybe breakfast for the kids! Have a great morning!
Melissa
Melissa, don't forget along with your period (nasty little thing that it is) stress can also affect our bodies. So don't worry about being up this week. Remember it is just one week in our life long journey!
I've been waiting on my period all week. I started the week off with signs it was coming but it is taking its sweet little time to get here. UGH! I have a class tomorrow from 10-12 then a demo from 1-3. I'm currently guessing I'll start sometime between now and then. That way I can feel like crap when I have to go in there and try to be all happy and friendly.
So it's a new week Monkeys, how are things going?
I'm doing my best to sit quietly at my desk and trying not look as bad as a feel or let my moods spill over onto everyone else. Im having a it sucks to be a girl day, well rather a few days now really, and have a some more of them to deal with. UGH! Aunt Flo is a B*tch!!!
I cleaned the fridge out yesterday. I did well this last week. All I threw away was some watermelon (knew I should have sent half of it to my mom's), two boiled eggs and one bowl of pasta salad. So that is a plus for me.
I didn't stay as on track as I needed to with the meal plan. I did well on breakfast and most of my evening meals. I'm back to trying to break the getting lunch with the guys habit. I'll get there though.
Went to Walmart last night and while I didn't have to buy a lot of food items I still spent more than I would have liked too. I had to buy dog food, tampons, mydol, aleve, paper towels... You know the stuff that really adds up but you have to buy! Sigh.
So this week's meal plan is as follows:
Breakfast:
Pancakes, boiled egg, bacon and yogurt, plus fruit
Breakfast burrito with yogurt and fruit
Toasted cinnamon bread, with yogurt and fruit
Lunch:
Tuna salad, with Ritz pretzel crackers and grapes (Today)
Grilled chicken sandwich with fruit and or cucumber salad
Shredded chicken taco w/coleslaw w/vinaigrette dressing
Chicken salad sandwich with fruit
BLT
Turkey Burger with fruit from local Cafe
Dinner:
Chicken sandwich with veggie and/or fruit or Grilled chicken with veggie eggrolls
Chicken stir fry (left over from lunch yesterday)
Cabbage soup with ground turkey
Tilapia with veggies and fruit
Something from the freezer with veggies
Something pasta, just haven't decided what yet.
Snacks:
Cheese stick
Boiled egg
Fruit (Strawberry, apple or orange)
Ritz Munchers (pretzel cracker)
It seems like I'm in chicken mood this week, or maybe it is just me trying to find uses for the chicken breasts I bought yesterday. It was a package of three breasts and I split them all in half (which is closer to a serving portion.) Four of the halves went in to a little oil, vinegar and rotisserie chicken seasoning. Im going to pull out the George Forman Grill tonight and grill them. The other two halves Im thinking may get seasoned with garlic and dill. I will either pan fry them or grill them too. I know at least two of the pieces will go in the freezer for another time.
One week I will have to challenge myself to eat my meat portions completely out of the freezer, especially since a have enough of one portion of this and one portion of that hanging out in there.
Anyone else out there today?
Hey everyone. Yep, I'm around Tracy. Only for today though. Going out of town tomorrow for a week. Unfortunately that means eating challenges ahead. I did my weigh in this morning because I knew I wouldn't ba able to Wednesday. I'm happy to announce that I'm in the 140's now.... YAY!!! I lost another 2 lbs last week. I hate that I've got to head out for a week because I know it's gonna be such a challenge to stay on track. As long as I'm able to eat at home, I do just fine. It's not that I intentionally splurge when I'm out but it's just so difficult to know how many calories your consuming when you eat at restaurants. But I'll do the best I can and hopefully lose a bit more next week or at least maintain what I am now.......
Tracy, your menu sounds great. I'm gonna have to copy some of your meals when I get back.....
Have a great week everyone........
Good luck Margie, and congrats! How do the 140's feel? Pretty great huh?
Hi again. Okay....so no weight loss to report this week. Pretty stressful at work, and lots of family events leading to eating at odd hours....but no weight gain either...so in a way that maybe is progress.
This week looks to be better.
One of my struggles, along with the dilemma of deciding on Saturday what I want to eat towards the end of the next week is that I have a DH who loves to go grocery shopping and loves to cook. This has been a stumbling block for me in the past. I might need to tell him that, at least for now, he either needs to follow along with what I am doing, or we need to prepare separate meals.....we'll see how that turns out.
Back at it...here is to a good week!
Julie - yep, you're right. Sometimes the fact that we haven't gained any more weight is an accomplishment in itself. I can relate to your situation with your hubby. Sometimes mine can be my worst enemy when it comes to eating. He also likes to cook and he isn't being as careful about watching calories. I feel like I am constantly reminding him that I am trying to lose weight. I sometimes feel guilty because he's always suggesting we eat things that I know I shouldn't and I'm always telling him that I can't eat those things or go to those restaurants, etc. Sometimes I feel guilty, other times I get upset with him because I feel that he's not supporting me in my efforts. It can be a tough situation sometimes. But bottom line is that we have to be strong and continue to do what we know we need to do to become more healthy. We are worth it.
I hope you have a great week!!
Hello all...I "joined" a week ago and I'm on my way back to those size 2 jeans I was wearing in October 2009. It's funny just how much weight one can gain in such a short amount of time. Heck, even at Christmas I was still shimming into them. I don't know where it all went wrong but since I've been decorating cakes for about 10 months (baking for over 32 years) I imagine the ICING/cakescraps have alot to do with it....LOL...
Anyway, I've been watching everything that goes past my lips and made several changes in the products that are in my fridge and cupboard. Hopefully I will be buying scales this week because I don't even know what I weigh but I'm guessing at least 150?. My goal is 115.
mamawrobin - sounds like you are off to a great start. Oh yeah, I too can gain weight soooooo quickly. It's amazing!!! My weight also escalated when I started decorating cakes. I've really had to cut back on my baking. Once I feel that I've really got food under control, I'll get back into it again. Those little "taste tests" really add up. 
Sounds like you are in the right mind frame to accomplish your goals. I think that's half the battle. We're gonna do this.... OH YEAH 
Thanks Margie for the "pep talk" this morning. I REALLY needed it. 
'mornin girls. I had posted a couple of times last year and kinda drifted off.
I had a good settlement for my divorce and chose "jenny" over lipo and I am so regretting it!
Since my last back surgery I have packed on 30 (40 before jenny) lbs!
That is not so much the problem...the erector set they left in place completely straightened out my waist and hip curves.
It is ok when I can find pants that sit below my waist, but those are quickly fading from style. So I try on an 18 to fit my waist and the butt and leg areas are so baggy and hang funny.
I did some PT last year and felt great, but insurance refused to let me go any longer than 5 months. The hubs bought me a recumbent bike and that helps some.
Ok...enough whining! I am back on WW and watching my portions and drinking tons of water.
I want to get back down to a size 14 and figure that will be about 20 lbs. So. Here I am, take me or leave me!
Will check back in the AM unless a food crisis overcomes me at bed time (one of my triggers..snacking while I read in bed!)
I forgot to ask. Have you guys tried the vitamuffins? 100 cals, low fat, lots of fiber, 1 WW point per nice size serving? If you have and like them, I have a recipe that tastes pretty darn close. Will post if anyone interested.
Julie and Margie, speaking from a non married girl here, so take my advice as such... Sit down and talk to those hubbies of yours, even if you have done so in the past. Because while we are losing weight for ourselves they get the benefits of it too, especially in the long run when your are healthier and can do more things because of the weight lose. And when we feel better about our selves it rubs off on others.
Maybe you can arrange an anything goes meal once a week or every two weeks or one a month, what ever works best, where they can cook what ever they want, as long as they work with you the rest of the time. And on the days where they do want to cook badly and you are trying to eat better, well you can have a very small portion of it an eat something else with it.
While we deal with the effects of losing weight, so do those around us. Talk to them about why you are losing weight and how they really feel about it. It could be that they are worried that skinny you will get more attention from other men or they love you just they way you are.
Margie, don't feel guilty for wanting to lose weight and getting healthy and having to change some habits like going out to eat. Why not find other fun things you can do together that don't involve fattening foods. And maybe even include a little exercise. 
Julie, not gaining in my book is just as good as losing. It means you are making postive adjustments. Work on those then you can work on adding things in that help even more.
Mamawrobin, it is amazing how fast we can gain or gain back weight. And unfortunetly it takes more work to take it off and lose it than to gain. But the pro side is that when you know how to lose weight you can make those adjustments needed when we get a little relaxed and the weight creeps back on.
Great job on the changes you have already done. They will start to add up before you know it. If you don't have a scale you can always do your measurements. That is another way to chart weight loss.
I'm up to 141.4 again this week. Part of that may have been my salty cravings yesterday and Aunt Flo's wonderful visit. Either way, I'm okay with it. I'm back to writing down everything I eat, even though I'm still working on the what I am eating part, and those stupid late night snacking sessions.
Thanks, TS! I should have logged on 20 min ago, BEFORE I ate 3 pudding cups!
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