Insomnia

I've been having so much trouble sleeping lately and I really don't know why. I get tired, go to bed, and just lie there wide awake. It really sucks, especially when my little guy likes to get up at the crack of dawn, whether Mommy is ready or not!

So, here I am on my computer at midnight. Hopefully I can fall asleep soon!

Maybe it'll all be worth it because I'm here to make another commitment. I think I've finally gotten my motivation back and I'm ready to continue changing my life. I'm so close to my goal; how can I stop now? I'm still so proud of myself that despite having trouble staying on plan for the past 8 weeks, I still managed to lose weight overall. To me, that's a great sign that I really am going to be able to maintain my weight in the future.

But I'm ready to step it up another notch. Time to shift my focus a little more to exercise. Starting tomorrow (well, today), I'm going to do the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Slimdown program. It gets great reviews, and because you're shifting to different workouts each day, your body doesn't get used to what you're doing. I bought the DVDs I needed a while ago but they've just been sitting here, so it's time to dust them off!

Here's the order of the workouts I'll be doing:

May 30 - 30 DAY SHRED: LEVEL 1
May 31 - 30 DAY SHRED: LEVEL 1
June 1 - NO MORE TROUBLE ZONES
June 2 - 30 DAY SHRED: LEVEL 1
June 3 - BANISH FAT, BOOST METABOLISM
June 4 - QUICK TROUBLE ZONES
June 5 - OFF!
June 6 - 30 DAY SHRED: LEVEL 1
June 7 - 30 DAY SHRED: LEVEL 2
June 8 - QUICK TROUBLE ZONES
June 9 - 30 DAY SHRED: LEVEL 2
June 10 - BANISH FAST, BOOST METABOLISM
June 11 - NO MORE TROUBLE ZONES
June 12 - OFF!
June 13 - 30 DAY SHRED: LEVEL 1 & QUICK TROUBLE ZONES
June 14 - 30 DAY SHRED: LEVEL 2
June 15 - NO MORE TROUBLE ZONES
June 16 - 30 DAY SHRED: LEVEL 1 & 2
June 17 - NO MORE TROUBLE ZONES
June 18 - BANISH FAT, BOOST METABOLISM
June 19 - OFF!
June 20 - 30 DAY SHRED: LEVEL 2 & 1
June 21 - QUICK TROUBLE ZONES
June 22 - BANISH FAT, BOOST METABOLISM
June 23 - QUICK TROUBLE ZONES & 30 DAY SHRED: LEVEL 2
June 24 - OFF!
June 25 - NO MORE TROUBLE ZONES & 30 DAY SHRED LEVEL 1
June 26 - BANISH FAT, BOOST METABOLISM & QUICK TROUBLE ZONES
June 27 - 30 DAY SHRED: LEVEL 2 AND THEN LEVEL 1
June 28 - NO MORE TROUBLE ZONES


I even wrote the correct DVD in my day planner so that I can't postpone or skip a day; I'm ready to go!

Now I just need to come up with a great reward to myself for when I complete this program. Any good ideas? I think I deserve something good if I manage to finish this! Although I think the satisfaction of completing it is going to feel pretty damn good :)

Spring Into Summer Weight Loss Challenge:Week 1

So how did your week go? I was delighted to see that I had a nice loss this week. It looks like my body was really ready to get back to losing weight! I just stayed on track and tried to get as much exercise as possible (although I'm looking forward to stepping it up next week when my husband's back in town so I'll have a little more time).

1st weigh in May 29: - 2.6 lbs (1.56%)
2nd weigh in June 5:
3rd weigh in June 12:
4th weigh in June 19:
5th weigh in June 26:
6th weigh in July 3:
7th weigh in July 10:
Final weigh in July 17:

If you just found us today, feel free to join in! How did you do this week, on the scale or with your other goals?

Sorry!

I haven't been around much this week. I went to visit my family in another city for a few days since my husband's out of town, and I don't get too much time to cook while I'm there! Then I've just been tired lately so I haven't felt much like writing.

I will tell you that I am looking forward to weighing in this week for our Spring Into Summer Challenge! You can still join us- the first weigh in is Sunday May 29!

I have a great snack idea to share with you- enjoy!


BBQ Chicken Snack Pizzas:



2 large portabello mushrooms, stems removed
1 tbsp reduced calorie BBQ sauce
1/2 oz shredded mozzerella
1 1/2 oz chopped cooked chicken
your favourite veggies (I like tomatoes and onions)

Top the mushrooms with the sauce, chicken, veggies, and cheese, and bake in the oven until they are melted and browning on top. Yum!

These are a great afternoon snack. They count as 1 Powerfuel, 1 vegetable, and 1 extra. Delicious and filling! You can also premake these and just reheat them in the microwave if you want a nice treat on a work day :)

Voda Swim Push Up Swimwear Winner!

And the winner is...

Victoria - Ozarks Crescent Mural said...

I subscribe to your blog via Feedblitz. That's how I'm able to keep up on it and why I had posted on your FB wall since I hadn't received any updates in awhile and found out you were in Vegas.

May 19, 2011 12:36 AM

Congratulations, Victoria! You have won a Voda Swim bathing suit of your choice! Please email me with your information so that you can claim your prize!

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Spring Into Summer Weight Loss Challenge

I weighed in today and found that I am basically where I was right before I got sick. So yes, that means I've wasted some time, but all I have to do now is get right back into things and the next thing I know, I'll be ready for new jeans again :)

What better way to kick things off then by starting a new weightloss challenge? My friend and I are starting today and going for 8 weeks. Come join us! You can post your starting weight (but you don't have to) or just announce your intention to participate and share your losses with us each week. Set a goal for yourself and a reward you will give yourself for achieving it!

Please feel free to share your other healthy goals with us, too. Mine is to increase my exercise to a minimum of 30 minutes a day, 5x a week.



1st weigh in May 29:
2nd weigh in June 5:
3rd weigh in June 12:
4th weigh in June 19:
5th weigh in June 26:
6th weigh in July 3:
7th weigh in July 10:
Final weigh in July 17:


No more excuses- let's do this together!

Crazy Fries!

We went to the mall yesterday to do some grocery shopping and stopped at the food court for a drink. I have to admit, the fries from New York Fries smelled SO good. But I did remember that they wouldn't taste as good as I remembered, so I decided to come home and recreate my craving.

The original (small) NYF Veggie Works has 600 calories, 29g of fat, and 79g of carbs- yuck! It's just not worth it for something that would make me feel lousy. But the idea of fries, cheese sauce, sour cream, tomatoes, and green onions sounded so good... so here's my version!


New York Fries Veggie Works:



1 serving Cajun Fries (minus the chili powder and paprika)
1 serving cheese sauce
1 tbsp FF sour cream
diced tomatoes and onions to garnish

This is SO good and definitely kicked my craving! It's gooey and cheesy, and serve it on the side with a hamburger for dinner and you'll swear you're going to gain 5lbs (but without that nasty bloated feeling after you eat!). Count this as 2 veggie servings (or 1 carb), 1 dairy serving, 1 fat serving, and 2 free foods.

Disclosure: This post was written by me and was not edited by anyone. The opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own and have not been influenced in any way. Nutrisystem Canada is providing their food and program to me free of charge for my weekly updates. I was not compensated for writing this post.

Review and Giveaway: Voda Swim Push Up Swimwear

I was so excited when I opened up the mail and saw that my Voda Swim padded swimsuit had arrived! I hadn't worn a bathing suit for years because I was so self conscious about the way I looked in one.

I love how flattering Voda Swim's styles are. They do offer some racy styles like Brazilian bikinis, but they also offer some stylish one pieces as well as tankinis, like the one I chose in Midnight Envy.

The thing I really love about Voda Swim push up swimwear is the Envy push up design, which will give you a nice boost in the cleavage department of 1-2 cup sizes. And for those of us who have lost a lot of weight, sometimes we lose in in places we'd like to keep it! The Voda Swim top gives me great support and a nice silhouette. The best part is, unlike other padded swimwear, the Voda Swim top will keep its shape when wet so that you still look great when you're swimming.

OK, now please be kind and remember that I still have some weight to lose... but at least now I'm not afraid to go out in public wearing a swimsuit!



I would definitely recommend Voda Swim to anyone looking for a quality swimsuit that is going to make them look and feel great, regardless of what size they wear. I can't wait until I reach my goal weight so I can try one of their string bikinis!

Want to try a Voda Swim swimsuit of your own? Voda Swim is giving one away here on Stomach Rumblings! And if you don't win, you can still get a great deal on swimwear by using the code Rumblings to save 10% off your purchase.

Mandatory Entry: Comment here and tell us which Voda Swim swimsuit you would choose if you win the contest! (please leave a valid email so I can contact you if you win)

Additional Entries (please leave one comment per entry):

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Giveaway ends May 24 at 10pm EST- good luck! And a big THANK YOU to Voda Swim for letting me do this review and giveaway!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Quick Twists

I've learned that not everything tastes good to me at first, but sometimes it only takes a simple addition to make one of those "iffy" Nutrisystem entrees taste a lot better. As I've said in the past, I generally don't care for Nutrisystem's Asian entree selections because I can make better entrees flexing, but this little tweak will bring the Orange Chicken back on my menu occasionally.


Orange Chicken Breast with Vegetables & Rice (Dinner):



Orange Ginger Chicken Stir Fry:

1 pkg Nutrisystem Orange Chicken Breast with Vegetables & Rice
3 servings of your favourite Asian stir fry veggies (I like broccoli, water chestnuts, mushrooms, snow peas, carrots, and onions)
1-2 tsp Gourmet Garden Ginger paste
1 tsp dark soy sauce

Spray a frying pan with PAM spray and cook vegetables until they are tender. Mix in the Orange Chicken, ginger paste, and soy sauce. Stir well and allow flavours to blend and the meal to heat through. Enjoy!

This recipe is so simple but it gives the Orange Chicken some great texture and crunch, and the orange/ginger combination is great together. I like using the Gourmet Garden ginger paste as it blends evenly into the meal without creating "pockets" of ginger flavour. You can find it in the refrigerated section at your grocery store. Otherwise, you can also use fresh ginger slices.

With all the veggies, this makes an enormous bowl of food and I really enjoy it when I want Asian but I'm feeling too lazy to cook my own.

Disclosure: This post was written by me and was not edited by anyone. The opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own and have not been influenced in any way. Nutrisystem Canada is providing their food and program to me free of charge for my weekly updates. I was not compensated for writing this post.

I'm Home!

I had a great trip! I had some misgivings about going at first since I really want to get moving again on my weight loss and I know that travel always sets me back, but then I realized, hey- I've still got my life to live! And it's not what happens on any particular day that matters- it's my overall approach to my health. And while I was in Vegas, although I did enjoy a few treats and some alcohol, I didn't go crazy and I still stuck to portion control. It was also nice not to be stuffed all the time; we didn't go to any buffets.

It was really nice to get away and just be myself for a while. I missed my son but I know he enjoyed staying with Grandma and he was happy to see us when we picked him up today.

Now that I'm home, I'm back on program and looking forward to re-earning my 100lb bear! I'll post a weigh-in as usual on Sunday and I have some great recipes to share with you this week, so don't forget to check back or sign up to receive my posts via email. I also have a great giveaway that is coming this week as well and you won't want to miss it!

Away We Go...

And now for something completely different! My husband decided to surprise me with an impromptu vacation. He has business this week and I'm coming along! My mother is going to watch our son so we will have ten days to ourselves. I am very excited and looking forward to it.

I don't think internet access will be free there so I will likely be unable to post while I'm away. We return home on May 15 and I'll get right back to blogging!

In the meantime, here are the last few reviews of the items on the Select program. If you have the opportunity to order the frozen items I definitely recommend it! If you are not sure you will enjoy them, you can always choose to order a 10 day package a la carte rather than changing your program right away (I bet you will after you try these!).


Garden Vegetable Omelet (Frozen Breakfast):



I must confess that I am still baffled how a veggie omelet can have more calories than the ham & cheese one. I thought this was okay but nothing special. Since the omelets are so low calorie, you can actually use them as your dairy/protein serving at breakfast if you wish. I really liked having this with a side of the Homestyle Pancakes or the Golden French Toast.


Ham and Cheese Omelet (Frozen Breakfast):



I thought this was really yummy. I wish the ham pieces were a little bigger but they were very flavourful with some black pepper on top and I liked the cheese. This entree is only 90 calories so, like the veggie omelet, I used it as a dairy/protein serving. I still wonder why it has similar stats to the Maple Sausage Patty which tells you to add a carb, but the omelets don't. It really doesn't make sense to me since they are so low calorie and low carb. But if you're looking for a yummy and protein packed low calorie entree, look no further.


Toasted Ham & Cheese (Frozen Lunch):



This really looks like a (larger) Toaster Strudel. Two came in my meal package, and while there are no instructions for microwave preparation on this one, I decided to nuke the first one because I was hungry and in a hurry. The bread was understandably soft in that case, but the sandwich was still yummy and gooey. Again, the ham pieces are really, really small though. I'm not sure why we couldn't just get thin slices of ham so it felt more like a sandwich and less like a processed item. The second time, I cooked it in my toaster and it came out nice and crispy. I enjoyed this lunch.


Salisbury Steak with Macaroni and Cheese (Frozen Dinner):



Coincidentally, the first frozen meal I tasted is the last to be reviewed! I didn't even notice that. This entree is really yummy. The Salisbury steak is juicy and comes with lots of sauce to put over veggies (green beans go really well with it!) and the macaroni is rich and creamy. I added some hot sauce and pepper to mine since I like it to have a little more of a bite. I was really impressed with this entree and definitely recommend you give it a try!

Disclosure: This post was written by me and was not edited by anyone. The opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own and have not been influenced in any way. Nutrisystem Canada is providing their food and program to me free of charge for my weekly updates. I was not compensated for writing this post.