Cinnamon Bun Oatmeal with a twist

I am not a breakfast lover. Don't get me wrong, I "do" breakfast but generally I "do" it hours after I've been awake or very lightly. Oddly enough I've never been a morning eater and most of my family seems that way. It's not a matter of time or even desire to eat or not eat but more so a matter of "my belly just isn't ready for food for at least an hour or more after I've been up".

Today I was hungry and wanted something kind of solid when my "ok I'm ready to eat now" gene kicked in! I decided I had been dying to try my Quaker® Cinnamon Bun Oatmeal (3 pts) but wanted just a little something to go with it. I glanced over and there was the answer... a single, lonely pack of Nabisco® 100 Calorie Pack Lorna Doone's. Then end result was an amazingly filling and ooooooh so delicious pair that will take me well into the lunch hour easily!

My "tip" of the day is: learn how to pair certain items up so you get the most bang for your "points®". Today's breakfast was a perfect example. For 3 points® I could have had a decent breakfast that would have been "good", and probably stuck with me for a couple of hours; however, for 5 points® I ended up having an amazing breakfast that hit every aspect of my taste buds needed.... crunchy, smooth, warm, sweet and most of all it was extra filling! Take the time to give YOURSELF that little extra boost. You deserve to go the extra mile and get an "amazing" meal, as opposed to an "okay" one! Not only will it keep you from straying into the abyss of "I am so deprived" but it will make you feel like you're really doing this right!

So next time you're whipping up a quick dinner, lunch or breakfast... take that 2 seconds more to add an item that brings it "up a notch" to the next level and enjoy!!!!!

Some different items I love to pair together to bring my meal to the next level:

• Something crunchy to something creamy - a perfect example of this is a 1/2 pack of 100 calorie treats to a container of yogurt (go that double extra mile and put it in another bowl instead of eating it out of the container if you can)
  
  
• Extra flavorful spices - sometimes something as simple as sprinkling on an additional spice or flavoring will bring your dish completely to the other side! One of my favorite "spices" or additions is a "sprinkle" I purchased from GFS (Gordon Food Service) made by Trade East® Spices called "Cinnamon Maple Sprinkles". Zero Points® at 5 calories for 1/4 teaspoon, you can add this on top of waffles, into mashed sweet potatoes or on top of a baked sweet potato. I add to sweet potato fries (my favorite being the Alexia® Sweet Potato fries.. the most bang for your points®), along with some sea salt to give my "side dish" a sweet 'n salty flavor. Top off your "diet bread" toast and suddenly something you simply tossed in the toaster now tastes like you cooked it up in the fry pan and created "french toast" instead! And this is just ONE spice I'm working with, can you imagine the possibilities when you look in your cupboard at all those spices?!
  
  
• Learn the art of "drizzle" - I tend to keep a bottle of "light" chocolate syrup, a bottle of sugar free maple syrup, fat free caramel topping and sometimes even strawberry syrup to drizzle on treats. With literally minimal calories for a DRIZZLE (key word) you can change up the flavor quickly & easily! A perfect example... I will take a packaged 2 point® Weight Watchers® Chocolate Chip Brownie, place it on a plate (paper plates are a staple for easy clean up but nicer presentation), and drizzle some syrup across it. Eat it with a fork and you feel like you went crazy with dessert but didn't add any extra points! I'll do the same with an Arnolds® Sandwich Thin, toasted and drizzled with some caramel and an apple. Yummy caramel apple "tart" in seconds!
  

These are just a few ideas! Feel free to add some of your ideas in the comments! A few extra seconds of prep can end up creating an amazing treat without an amazing addition of calories or points®!

AssistU has been the whole reason I've had
the best results following the
Weight Watchers® program...
changing 1 lb or less losses to
an average of 3 lbs most weeks!
Check out this ALL NATURAL HERBAL SUPPLEMENT!
Use DISCOUNT CODE 112BP to get the best price available!
Ask for a free sample!

Check out my Daily Menu Food Log for a quick glance at what I'm eating to get where I'm at, which is a healthier & therefore thinner ME! While I don't always keep it up to date.. I do give you some different ideas of what might help you change up your daily menu!


Don't forget to check out my newest Book Blog, where I give book reviews on recent books I've read. If you're a reader you'll want to check this out!

WE CAN DO THIS, TOGETHER
ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Like this article? Twit it to your followers!



Who Else Helps me get healthy?
These are just a few of the people online that inspire me along with AssistU....

1.
Check out the Fab Fatties - tons of ideas, comic relief & great give-aways!

2. Joe Gigantino - Fitness Trainer
This is the guy that really set me on the path to physical fitness - Sign up for his FREE newsletter!



3.

4. BWJEN - Another WW Buddy & A 'bookworm' too!?



5.

5.

6.Sean Anderson the formerly 500lb man!
Diary of A Winning Loser - Sean is an inspiration to anyone trying to get healthy!


*Note I am not affiliated nor endorsed by Weight Watchers® at all, in any way. I highly recommend their program and cannot say enough GOOD about it, but I also have decided that they were my "stepping stone" to making a change in my lifestyle. Any mention of Weight Watchers®, their program or their term of "points®" does not mean they have approved, seen, or endorsed anything on my blogs.

Also, if at any time Points® are mentioned it is always with the assumption that you will analyze the recipes, foods, ingredients and figure the points out specifically for your consumption of any product, as ingredients may vary by brand, size, etc.

Weight Watcher White Chocolate Peppermint Smoothies

Sometimes there are just some products out there that help you maintain the Weight Watcher® program that are simply created by Weight Watcher's® and only available through them but so worth the trip to the meeting places in order to pick them up. I personally think that Weight Watcher's® Smoothie Mixes are one of these items. Of course, everyone has their favorites or their ones they absolutely cannot stand. There are very few I honestly dislike, but definitely some that I absolutely LOVE.

One of my absolute faves is the plain ol' chocolate smoothie mix. I mix mine with water for a 1 point treat and probably a good 75% of the time I'll add some "goodies" to the smoothie to create an almost "Blizzard® Like" dessert!
Some different items I love to add to a chocolate WW smoothie:

• Peanut Butter for a chocolate peanut butter drink (you can use PB2 in place of actual lower fat peanut butter for less points® )
• 100 calorie packs (generally you can add 1/2 pack adding only 1 extra point®) - some of my faves of these include the Oreo® packs & the Chips Ahoy® packs but the choices are almost endless!
• 1 pt or 2 pt bars - in particular I love to add the Weight Watchers® chocolate chip brownies, all chopped up and just dropped into the mixture....makes for an amazing chocolately treat!
• 1/2 Skinny Cow® ice cream sandwich - actually I will often use the Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches to "dip" my smoothie
  

One of the newer flavors of the Weight Watchers® Smoothies I've found is the White Chocolate Peppermint Smoothie. This is often a wonderful, creamy treat that I whip up with a Skinny Cow® to dip into it. I use the "water" method, preferring the texture of using water and ice (use ice & water to equal 1 cup in the blender) as opposed to using skim milk but many prefer a thicker milk version. I personally think using the milk tends to make it come out almost "slimey" but it's all a matter of preference.

So if you get a chance, I highly recommend picking up some Weight Watcher® Smoothie mixes. Starting with 1 point® per serving, you can get a great big glass of delicious treat... add some of your own favorite "toppings" to make a decadent dessert!

AssistU has been the whole reason I've had
the best results following the
Weight Watchers® program...
changing 1 lb or less losses to
an average of 3 lbs most weeks!
Check out this ALL NATURAL HERBAL SUPPLEMENT!
Use DISCOUNT CODE 112BP to get the best price available!
Ask for a free sample!

Check out my Daily Menu Food Log for a quick glance at what I'm eating to get where I'm at, which is a healthier & therefore thinner ME! While I don't always keep it up to date.. I do give you some different ideas of what might help you change up your daily menu!


Don't forget to check out my newest Book Blog, where I give book reviews on recent books I've read. If you're a reader you'll want to check this out!

WE CAN DO THIS, TOGETHER
ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Like this article? Twit it to your followers!



Who Else Helps me get healthy?
These are just a few of the people online that inspire me along with AssistU....

1.
Check out the Fab Fatties - tons of ideas, comic relief & great give-aways!

2. Joe Gigantino - Fitness Trainer
This is the guy that really set me on the path to physical fitness - Sign up for his FREE newsletter!



3.

4. BWJEN - Another WW Buddy & A 'bookworm' too!?



5.

5.

6.Sean Anderson the formerly 500lb man!
Diary of A Winning Loser - Sean is an inspiration to anyone trying to get healthy!


*Note I am not affiliated nor endorsed by Weight Watchers® at all, in any way. I highly recommend their program and cannot say enough GOOD about it, but I also have decided that they were my "stepping stone" to making a change in my lifestyle. Any mention of Weight Watchers®, their program or their term of "points®" does not mean they have approved, seen, or endorsed anything on my blogs.

Also, if at any time Points® are mentioned it is always with the assumption that you will analyze the recipes, foods, ingredients and figure the points out specifically for your consumption of any product, as ingredients may vary by brand, size, etc.

Salsa Eggs 'n Cheese

I found the world's absolute BEST salsa! Beelzebub's Salsa is made locally, no preservatives and absolutely delicious. I'm sorry to have to say, it's also sooooooo addictive and really only available locally due to the short shelf life because it's all fresh!

This recipe is one of many, inspired by my new addiction to Beelzebub's Salsa. I had the Salsa Eggs 'n Cheese with 2 Light Muffins for lunch today. Total points® for this yummy lunch, 6, because I added extra cheese!

Salsa Eggs 'n Cheese

1 container egg beaters (equal to 2 eggs) - 60 cal, 0g fat, 0g fiber (1)
1/4 Cup all natural, homemade salsa (0 pts counts as 1 veggie) (0)
1/6 Cup Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese - 55 cal, 4g fat, 0g fiber (1)
1 Tablespoon fat free milk (0 pts for this quantity) (0)
salt & pepper to taste

Simply beat with fork, eggs, milk, salt & pepper
Place in medium heated pan and cook until almost completely firm
Add salsa & cheese, cook until most moisture is gone

*Notes:

• Pay attention to ingredients - if you don't create your own salsa that you know what's in it you may have to add points® for the salsa. As always, with ANY recipe use the nutritional information on the package of your ingredients to determine your points.
  
  
• Using a fat free shredded cheddar will allow you more cheese for the points® but I love the flavors of the Mexican shredded & if I have the points® to spare will use them.

Created as listed above the entire dish of Salsa Eggs 'n Cheese comes out to 2 points®!

Add on a light English Muffin or Weight Watcher® Bagel on the side and you have a complete meal! The amount of egg, along with the salsa makes for a very filling dish! Great for lunch or to start your day off at breakfast!

AssistU has been the whole reason I've had
the best results following the
Weight Watchers® program...
changing 1 lb or less losses to
an average of 3 lbs most weeks!
Check out this ALL NATURAL HERBAL SUPPLEMENT!
Use DISCOUNT CODE 112BP to get the best price available!
Ask for a free sample!

Check out my Daily Menu Food Log for a quick glance at what I'm eating to get where I'm at, which is a healthier & therefore thinner ME! While I don't always keep it up to date.. I do give you some different ideas of what might help you change up your daily menu!


Don't forget to check out my newest Book Blog, where I give book reviews on recent books I've read. If you're a reader you'll want to check this out!

WE CAN DO THIS, TOGETHER
ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Like this article? Twit it to your followers!



Who Else Helps me get healthy?
These are just a few of the people online that inspire me along with AssistU....

1.
Check out the Fab Fatties - tons of ideas, comic relief & great give-aways!

2. Joe Gigantino - Fitness Trainer
This is the guy that really set me on the path to physical fitness - Sign up for his FREE newsletter!



3.

4. BWJEN - Another WW Buddy & A 'bookworm' too!?



5.

5.

6.Sean Anderson the formerly 500lb man!
Diary of A Winning Loser - Sean is an inspiration to anyone trying to get healthy!


*Note I am not affiliated nor endorsed by Weight Watchers® at all, in any way. I highly recommend their program and cannot say enough GOOD about it, but I also have decided that they were my "stepping stone" to making a change in my lifestyle. Any mention of Weight Watchers®, their program or their term of "points®" does not mean they have approved, seen, or endorsed anything on my blogs.

Also, if at any time Points® are mentioned it is always with the assumption that you will analyze the recipes, foods, ingredients and figure the points out specifically for your consumption of any product, as ingredients may vary by brand, size, etc.

New Product Review - Chocolate Cheerios

It's always great to find new, healthy choice products to try and this one came at a great time for me. I'm having major difficulties staying "on track". One of my biggest reasons is simply the fact that I'm not getting to the gym and constantly finding reasons to oblige this nasty habit I've started, of putting it off. Mondays are technically a harder day to get there but there's NO excuse, I could find the time and make the effort and I'm simply going to have to start! I was hoping to blog a little more too, which always inspires me to behave!

I have "maintained" since shortly after the holidays. I had a 2 week period where I put on 6 lbs. from simply not taking the AssistU and not watching what I ate. Once I got back on track those 6 lbs came back off fairly easily but now I've gotten into the habit of making some poor choices again and I simply HAVE to make the effort to choose right! A lot of this is that I'm spending more time with my guy and we tend to do "easy" foods for dinner together because we're at his place. Well, this has to stop and either we're going to start eating right together or I'm going to be eating before we meet up, which I'd hate to do! But the end result is, I'm taking the AssistU - which is making my body metabolize those bad for me foods at least, but I'm not having losses because of the poor choices and if I keep this up I'm going to start gaining! So it's BACK ON THE BUS for me and this new product is a great way to start!

This week I ran across something intriguing that I hadn't really noticed before, Chocolate Cheerios! I tend to stay away from the cereal aisles anyways, as I don't eat single servings of cereal on average, unless it's oatmeal or some very "healthy", unsweetened cereal that we all cried about when our moms bought it for us as kids! Yes, I'm a kid at heart and would dive into a bowl of Lucky Charms well before I'd hit the Shredded Wheats any day! At least I know my faults!

Cheerios tend to be one of those cereals I generally can control myself with. I was happy to find that even with chocolate as the "bonus" in these babies, I seemed still under control! I will confess that a single serving is NOT easy to stick with but when paired off with a yogurt or some other item like fresh fruit to help you along it's a GREAT treat!

This morning I had a bowl of Chocolate Cheerios with skim milk. Nutritional information for a single serving is as follows:

3/4 Cup Chocolate Cheerios with 1/2 Cup of skim milk
140 calories/1g fat/1g fiber or 3 Points® on the WW Program®

The taste is wonderful! Very chocolaty and filling! Add a sliced banana or a light yogurt and you have a tasty & filling breakfast!

Definitely 2 thumbs up and I'll be making this a regular purchase for the cupboards! I think it's going to be an amazing snack too, dry or in some vanilla yogurt. Even with milk as a treat in the evening, these amazingly chocolaty delights are going to be around in my new "healthier" lifestyle for a long time coming! Good job Cheerios!

AssistU has been the whole reason I've had
the best results following the
Weight Watchers® program...
changing 1 lb or less losses to
an average of 3 lbs most weeks!
Check out this ALL NATURAL HERBAL SUPPLEMENT!
Use DISCOUNT CODE 112BP to get the best price available!
Ask for a free sample!

Check out my Daily Menu Food Log for a quick glance at what I'm eating to get where I'm at, which is a healthier & therefore thinner ME! While I don't always keep it up to date.. I do give you some different ideas of what might help you change up your daily menu!


Don't forget to check out my newest Book Blog, where I give book reviews on recent books I've read. If you're a reader you'll want to check this out!

WE CAN DO THIS, TOGETHER
ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Like this article? Twit it to your followers!



Who Else Helps me get healthy?
These are just a few of the people online that inspire me along with AssistU....

1.
Check out the Fab Fatties - tons of ideas, comic relief & great give-aways!

2. Joe Gigantino - Fitness Trainer
This is the guy that really set me on the path to physical fitness - Sign up for his FREE newsletter!



3.

4. BWJEN - Another WW Buddy & A 'bookworm' too!?



5.

5.

6.Sean Anderson the formerly 500lb man!
Diary of A Winning Loser - Sean is an inspiration to anyone trying to get healthy!


*Note I am not affiliated nor endorsed by Weight Watchers® at all, in any way. I highly recommend their program and cannot say enough GOOD about it, but I also have decided that they were my "stepping stone" to making a change in my lifestyle. Any mention of Weight Watchers®, their program or their term of "points®" does not mean they have approved, seen, or endorsed anything on my blogs.

Also, if at any time Points® are mentioned it is always with the assumption that you will analyze the recipes, foods, ingredients and figure the points out specifically for your consumption of any product, as ingredients may vary by brand, size, etc.

Think "Thin"

All too often I find myself "thinking fat". Let me begin by saying I really don't care if the word "fat" is P.C. or not. If you cannot grasp that "fat" is not only a realistic state of being for most of us in America & most of North America in general, then you're in denial. If you're offended by that word then I'm going to guess it's because you "fit" it. I do. I know I do. BUT I'm trying to NOT fit that word, not just in size & weight but in mind. And I'm succeeding!

Fat and thin are definitely a state of mind, along with a numbers game. The reality is, "thin" people or people who are their correct weight tend to have an entirely different state of mind than "fat" people. As a fat person, I will think almost 24/7 about food. I will attach food to nearly everything in my life, from feelings to actions & events. The easiest thing for anyone "fat" to do is to immediately make the comment "well we ALL revolve around food & everything we do revolves around it! How can I NOT eat constantly?" The answer is actually much easier than you think and once you CONQUER that state of mind, you're going to realize that it's not impossible to enjoy food without LIVING for it! I do see a difference in my own actions when I'm "thinking thin" and those are the weeks that I have a loss, feel my best & feel most alive!

My youngest daughter is what one would consider "tiny". She's the furthest thing from "fat" that anyone could possibly be and I'm certain that much of that is simple genetics. She was fortunate enough not to have inherited my "large" genes, while I've maintained on my own in that category quite well! But the one thing I started noticing was that we were always commenting "Lord girl, you can out eat a 500 pound man!" and that wasn't exactly "wrong". She was constantly eating; while I, on the other hand, rarely ate. She was perfect in size while I was seriously obese. What's wrong with that picture? As a "fat" person I've heard every single other fat person I know comment those same words. "I just don't get it, I DON'T eat! HOW can I be so fat!?" And that is the BEST excuse to continue your path of an unhealthy lifestyle you could ever find! It's SO logical! But SO wrong!

The reality of it all is that fat people really don't eat! Well, not "often". Instead we starve our bodies, creating a "Catch 22" of putting our body into starvation mode, holding onto every ounce of fat & calorie that enters it! Then we wait until we're famished, ready to eat the first thing that doesn't run from our grip and we down it quick, fast & without even tasting it. THAT, my friends is a true statement for any fat person no matter how hard or much you want to deny it. We continue to fool ourselves into thinking we don't eat much... we just have these horrible bodies that won't cooperate with us & continue to "make us fat". It's time to realize otherwise!

If you watch "thin" people around you, you will notice that they eat often. They listen to their bodies when their bodies say "I'm hungry". End result? They don't overeat, they eat just enough to feel satisfied & they keep their metabolisms moving. They "think thin". They go to social functions but NOT to see what's on the buffet. They DO stop by the buffet and grab something IF they're hungry and yes they DO have moments of just pigging out because they're having horrible cravings, etc. but they don't have them often because their body feels satiated more often than not.

So, I've decided it's time to "THINK THIN". How do I do this?

1. FOOD is not the enemy! You need food to live. Your body needs food to run. When you deny it food, you deny it energy & it retaliates on you. You need to eat, it's a matter of WHAT you eat & eating every 3-4 hours.
   
   
2. Listen to your body! If you have a bit of hunger, take care of it. Generally, once you get in the habit of having something to eat every 3-4 hours your body is going to tell you "I'd like a little snack" in between "meals".
   
   
3. Make GOOD food choices. Have "snacks" of high fiber & low fat handy. Keep them in your gym bag, your car, your purse, on your night stand, wherever you find yourself "in need".
   
   
4. Get rid of "junk" foods but replace them with "good" foods that are similar. For example if you crave sweets & find comfort in them, do you honestly think you're going to stop eating them and NEVER touch another sweet again in your life? NO! Replace something "sweet" with a 100-200 calorie low fat, high fiber bar (Kelloggs bars, Fiber One bars, Oatmeal Squares, Kashi bars - are some of my favorites!) They will kill any desire your sweet tooth has in most cases!
   
   
5. Watch "portions". Eat a "portion" and wait, let your body work the food & tell your mind that you're satisfied.
   
   
6. Don't overeat constantly! You don't have to feel "full" all the time. That's really, if you think about it, NOT a good feeling to walk around with! Feeling "satisfied", however, is a great feeling and one that helps you keep your portions under control.
   
   
7. Attend & hold "social functions" without focusing on food. Put the time and effort into the social aspect of the event. Sure, you can have snacks or even dinners planned but make sure the snacks & dinners are healthy choices (not crazy, unrealistic healthy but healthy in the sense of flavorful, smaller portioned, high fiber when possible & low fat).
   
   If you're attending a function focus on the guests attending with you, the event itself & keep your hands busy with holding a glass of water or other low cal drink while enjoying conversation. Offer your services to the host/hostess, perhaps you'll make sure everyone's glasses are kept full or the gift table is kept neat & tidy, etc. Focusing on the event will help you put less focus on the food. But don't DENY yourself the fun of the food either. With proper timing you can enjoy a small piece of cake at that birthday party but avoid the chips & dip before hand. If you deny yourself every time you have a social function you'll start to consider social functions as the "bad guy" to healthy eating. You can't allow that! Learn how to socialize AND have foods around,without feeling out of control. It takes time, and you will have times that you simply can't do it, but that's okay... you're not perfect!
   
   
8. Don't forget to get active! You don't have to have a gym membership, although I find that's the best way for me to make sure I get some activity in because I'm limited as to what I can do. I can walk for a mile in the pool where the weight is off my crumbling spine but to walk in the mall for hours I'd nearly die! So you have to find what your "activity" level is & create options where you are inspired to "move" instead of just sit! At parties & gatherings, give up your seat for the better portion of the event just to walk around and socialize! The constant moving not only gets you involved with conversation & fun but keeps you from standing at the food table the entire time! Park your car at the end of the row instead of the beginning, closest to the store. Walk that extra few feet each time and at the end of a year it adds up to miles you've put on to "take it off"! Find the incentive to get out and walk, even in cold weather! You would be surprised how beautiful a fresh snowfall is at night when the world seems to be huddled inside. The quiet beauty is not only peaceful and de-stressing, but can inspire you to bundle up an extra layer and get out there in it!
   

AssistU has been the whole reason I've had
the best results following the
Weight Watchers® program...
changing 1 lb or less losses to
an average of 3 lbs most weeks!
Check out this ALL NATURAL HERBAL SUPPLEMENT!
Use DISCOUNT CODE 112BP to get the best price available!
Ask for a free sample!

Check out my Daily Menu Food Log for a quick glance at what I'm eating to get where I'm at, which is a healthier & therefore thinner ME! While I don't always keep it up to date.. I do give you some different ideas of what might help you change up your daily menu!


Don't forget to check out my newest Book Blog, where I give book reviews on recent books I've read. If you're a reader you'll want to check this out!

WE CAN DO THIS, TOGETHER
ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Like this article? Twit it to your followers!



Who Else Helps me get healthy?
These are just a few of the people online that inspire me along with AssistU....

1.
Check out the Fab Fatties - tons of ideas, comic relief & great give-aways!

2. Joe Gigantino - Fitness Trainer
This is the guy that really set me on the path to physical fitness - Sign up for his FREE newsletter!



3.

4. BWJEN - Another WW Buddy & A 'bookworm' too!?



5.

5.

6.Sean Anderson the formerly 500lb man!
Diary of A Winning Loser - Sean is an inspiration to anyone trying to get healthy!


*Note I am not affiliated nor endorsed by Weight Watchers® at all, in any way. I highly recommend their program and cannot say enough GOOD about it, but I also have decided that they were my "stepping stone" to making a change in my lifestyle. Any mention of Weight Watchers®, their program or their term of "points®" does not mean they have approved, seen, or endorsed anything on my blogs.

Also, if at any time Points® are mentioned it is always with the assumption that you will analyze the recipes, foods, ingredients and figure the points out specifically for your consumption of any product, as ingredients may vary by brand, size, etc.

Today's Budget Friendly Product - By Busy Baker

I hear all too often "I can't afford to eat healthy" and, to be honest, I used to think the same. But believe me when I say, not only can you afford to eat healthy... you CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO!

You have one body. The longer you abuse it with unhealthy eating, inactivity and poor life choices the more apt you are to have less time to utilize that body fully & happily. I am NOT a preacher of "the ways" when it comes to healthy living. I am, however, an example of how you can become a healthy person and not go broke doing it.

I live on a limited, fixed, income. Disabled from the side affects of cancer & "curing" it, I am faced with chronic pain & a deteriorating spine. I have every reason in the world to sit back and tell the world "It's okay that I'm fat... I have a reason... I CAN'T exercise, I CAN'T afford healthy foods, I CAN'T, I CAN'T, I CAN'T!" But the truth is... I CAN and I WILL and I AM! At 80+ pounds lighter in under a year's time, I am living proof that you are the only thing limiting your abilities! Finances, age, body type, and any other excuse you can come up with are just that... and excuse! Let's change those to REASONS to make changes & do it together!

You cannot imagine my surprise & happiness when I took the "infamous" National Health Test shown on TV during the long infomercial type ad for voting for health care reform. The test asks some very simple questions that I guarantee a year ago I would have come in at a grade of D- if I were lucky! Sunday, I took the test and came in at a high B+ (88)! How? Easy, I made the decision not to "lose weight" but to "change my lifestyle". I eat junk food, I dine out, I misbehave when I eat. The only difference between NOW and THEN is that when I do misbehave or eat foods that aren't exactly what one would think of as "diet" foods, I do so knowingly, sparingly and often "legally" by replacing many of my comfort foods with healthier versions. A perfect example of this is cheese. I am a cheese freak and I almost always refuse to change my habits over to completely fat free versions of cheese. I'm sorry, that's just not cheese to me.. it's more like plastic! Instead I lower my intake, I choose 2% & Low Fat versions. Add to that fact that I no longer pair it up with high fat, low fiber cracker & bread choices but, instead, use high fiber, baked crackers & breads that come in low in fat, high in fiber & lower in calories! I also am realistic with my expectations. I know that big holidays are not going to come without some over indulging & perhaps even with some weight gain but I also know that this means extra times at the gym, jumping back on the "band wagon" of healthy living & eating again as soon as the holidays are over and having setbacks when I do so. I also know I'm never going to not touch a piece of candy or cookies or french fries the rest of my life. It's not realistic! So I have to know when & how to say enough or no & utilize that ability. When I "fail", I simply move on and know that the next time I cannot fail or will avoid the situation unless I make a comprehensive decision to allow myself the indulgence.

Today's "FIND" for the day are crackers made by Busy Baker. These Baked Wheat Crackers come in at 130 Calories, 4.5g of fat ( a little high but still ok if you stick to a single portion), and 1g of Fiber (a little low but, again, if you stick to one serving you're doing good). Those numbers, on the Weight Watchers® Point Scale, come in at about 3 points®. What's impressive is the serving size of 16 crackers! That's enough cracker to accompany a 1oz. portion of 2% cheese and leave you some extra crunchy treats to continue snacking on after your cheese is gone. Giving you the feeling of a little "extra" snacking when, in reality, you're staying right with portion control & enjoying a tasty treat.

Now comes the greatest part.... where you think "I can't afford to eat healthy" and I tell you why you can. These crackers were purchased from Dollar Tree for $1 a box! Yes, 7 ounces of this delicious treat comes in at a whopping dollar! Now, I don't know about you but I can definitely afford a snack item that comes in at a fairly large portion for 3 points and serves me 6 snack times for only ONE dollar!

The key to affording healthy eating techniques is to make sure you take the time to read the labels, look for dollar stores and discount stores such as Big Lots or Ollies, to purchase foods. Don't fall into the trap of looking at just the calories... compare portion sizes, fiber, fat & calories all together! In this case a portion of 16 crackers definitely fills one up fairly well. In some cases 3 points would be considered a little "high", but for me it seems to be acceptable when I can have such a large portion. Better yet, cut the portion in half at 8 crackers and use only 1.5 points! Still a great snack, half the points/calories & fat and now you're getting 12 portions for a dollar!

So don't forget to hit up the discount stores, dollar stores & inexpensive places for discounted items that are healthy & delicious!

AssistU has been the whole reason I've had
the best results following the
Weight Watchers® program...
changing 1 lb or less losses to
an average of 3 lbs most weeks!
Check out this ALL NATURAL HERBAL SUPPLEMENT!
Use DISCOUNT CODE 112BP to get the best price available!
Ask for a free sample!

Check out my Daily Menu Food Log for a quick glance at what I'm eating to get where I'm at, which is a healthier & therefore thinner ME! While I don't always keep it up to date.. I do give you some different ideas of what might help you change up your daily menu!


Don't forget to check out my newest Book Blog, where I give book reviews on recent books I've read. If you're a reader you'll want to check this out!

WE CAN DO THIS, TOGETHER
ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Like this article? Twit it to your followers!



Who Else Helps me get healthy?
These are just a few of the people online that inspire me along with AssistU....

1.
Check out the Fab Fatties - tons of ideas, comic relief & great give-aways!

2. Joe Gigantino - Fitness Trainer
This is the guy that really set me on the path to physical fitness - Sign up for his FREE newsletter!



3.

4. BWJEN - Another WW Buddy & A 'bookworm' too!?



5.

5.

6.Sean Anderson the formerly 500lb man!
Diary of A Winning Loser - Sean is an inspiration to anyone trying to get healthy!


*Note I am not affiliated nor endorsed by Weight Watchers® at all, in any way. I highly recommend their program and cannot say enough GOOD about it, but I also have decided that they were my "stepping stone" to making a change in my lifestyle. Any mention of Weight Watchers®, their program or their term of "points®" does not mean they have approved, seen, or endorsed anything on my blogs.

Also, if at any time Points® are mentioned it is always with the assumption that you will analyze the recipes, foods, ingredients and figure the points out specifically for your consumption of any product, as ingredients may vary by brand, size, etc.

Maple Cinnamon Sausage and Waffle Sandwich (6)

Sundays, or weekends in general for me, tend to be days when I splurge a little more on breakfasts. I wake a little later, tend to have a little extra time to spend & am always more relaxed & at ease because I'm generally waking with my fiance (we live apart, so weekends are a treat) and not rushed to get him out the door to work like when we do spend weekdays together!

Because of the relaxed atmosphere of weekend mornings I also tend to LOVE my breakfasts. Normally, for me, breakfast is a "must" and not something I look forward to. I just simply don't enjoy eating in the morning. For some reason my stomach isn't up as early as I am usually. I will often, during the week or when I'm pushed to get moving right away, use a simple Naked Juice (5-6 points) as a great way to start my mornings, giving me the benefits of getting some calories & my 5-A-Day fruits & veggies in all in one simple easy drink. For this reason alone, I am crazy about Naked Juices. They also tend to fill me up quite well until mid-morning (snack time) or even into lunch on those days when I can't find the time to grab a quick snack.

Today I made my own little creation using 3 of my favorite ingredients: turkey sausage patties (already cooked & simply microwaved/heated up to eat), Kelloggs Low Fat/Multi-Grain Frozen Waffles, & Cinnamon Maple Sprinkles (purchased at GFS - Gordon Food Services). Usually I make breakfast sandwiches on Arnolds Sandwich Thins for me and my sweetie but today he skipped out early to get some laundry done and get back here a little earlier to watch the Playoff Games with me, so I "loned" it with breakfast. Truth be told I snuck back under the covers after he left & played on the net for a bit, watched some TV and tried to get warm. I took the change in routine as a chance to try something "different" for myself for breakfast. By the time I got out of bed it was truly more like "brunch" time so I was torn what to even make but I was famished & knew it had to be something to fill me.

Born was Maple Cinnamon Sausage & Waffle Sandwich!

Maple Cinnamon Sausage &

Waffle Breakfast Sandwich

(Value 6)

SERVES 1

• 2 Kellogs Low Fat/Multi-Grain Frozen Waffles (3)
• 1 slice 2% Sharp Cheddar Cheese (1)
  
• 2 turkey sausage patties (2) (Jimmy Dean tends to be my fave but turkey breakfast sausage seems to be harder and harder to find locally so I will often grab whatever brand's available)
• Sprinkle of Cinnamon Maple Sprinkles from GFS (0)
• Few Sprays of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray (0) (or in a pinch you can use light margarine but remember to add the points/calories on according to your usage)
  

1. Toast the frozen waffles to your desired crispness - I prefer to toast them a little extra toasted for firmness
   
2. While waffles are toasting, microwave your fully cooked sausage patties. I wrap mine in paper towels to catch any extra grease. It doesn't change the points, per say, but it does make it slightly less greasy!
   
3. When waffles pop up from toaster, spray with ICBINB Spray (o points) or lightly butter with a light margarine (points depend upon nutritional information of each margarine). Sprinkle each waffle with Cinnamon Maple Sprinkles.
4. Place sausage on top of 1 waffle & cover with remaining waffle.
   
5. *Note: You can omit the piece of 2% Cheddar Cheese on top of sausage for 1 less point. I personally love & am quite satisfied without the extra cheese on top making my sandwich worth 5 Points instead (depending upon ingredients used).
   

AssistU has been the whole reason I've had
the best results following the
Weight Watchers® program...
changing 1 lb or less losses to
an average of 3 lbs most weeks!
Check out this ALL NATURAL HERBAL SUPPLEMENT!
Use DISCOUNT CODE 112BP to get the best price available!
Ask for a free sample!

Check out my Daily Menu Food Log for a quick glance at what I'm eating to get where I'm at, which is a healthier & therefore thinner ME! While I don't always keep it up to date.. I do give you some different ideas of what might help you change up your daily menu!


Don't forget to check out my newest Book Blog, where I give book reviews on recent books I've read. If you're a reader you'll want to check this out!

WE CAN DO THIS, TOGETHER
ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Like this article? Twit it to your followers!



Who Else Helps me get healthy?
These are just a few of the people online that inspire me along with AssistU....

1.
Check out the Fab Fatties - tons of ideas, comic relief & great give-aways!

2. Joe Gigantino - Fitness Trainer
This is the guy that really set me on the path to physical fitness - Sign up for his FREE newsletter!



3.

4. BWJEN - Another WW Buddy & A 'bookworm' too!?



5.

5.

6.Sean Anderson the formerly 500lb man!
Diary of A Winning Loser - Sean is an inspiration to anyone trying to get healthy!


*Note I am not affiliated nor endorsed by Weight Watchers® at all, in any way. I highly recommend their program and cannot say enough GOOD about it, but I also have decided that they were my "stepping stone" to making a change in my lifestyle. Any mention of Weight Watchers®, their program or their term of "points®" does not mean they have approved, seen, or endorsed anything on my blogs.

Also, if at any time Points® are mentioned it is always with the assumption that you will analyze the recipes, foods, ingredients and figure the points out specifically for your consumption of any product, as ingredients may vary by brand, size, etc.