Skinny In Italy!

[cruises r us]

Here's one I'm trying tonight. I found it on MyFitnessPal.

 

Skinny Artichoke and Spinach Penne Casserole

 

Cooked Penne Pasta, 4 cups

Baby Spinach, 6 cups

Olive Oil 10 ml (2tsp=10ml)

Marinara Sauce, 2 cups

Canned Artichoke Hearts, 1 1/2 cup

1% Cottage Cheese 1 cup

Part Skim Mozzarella (Shredded), 1 cup (30gm)

Ricotta Cheese - Light, 15 tbsp (75g)

Eggs White, 1 large

½ tsp salt

Oregano

Pepper

Red Pepper Flakes

Shredded Parmesan Cheese, 28 g (1/4 cup)

 

Total Calories: 2092

Calories Per Serving: 349

 

Tear spinach into small pieces. In skillet, add oil and spinach. Cook until wilted.

In large bowl, combine cooked penne, marinara, spinach and artichokes. Toss to combine.

In another bowl, combine cheese, egg white, oregano, pepper, red pepper

flakes and salt.

In 9x13” baking dish, add half of penne mixture; top with half of cheese mixture. Repeat layers.

Cheese mixture goes on last. Sprinkle with parmesan.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30 min.

[summer_girl]

Back from my 4 day Vegas weekend...ate what I wanted, drank what I wanted (free drinks while gaming in the casino), and walked ALOT! Getting back on track and hope to be able to force myself on the scale this Friday!!

 

It's very cold (39 degrees for a high) and very windy so I am not going out to walk. Maybe some jumping jacks and such in the basement...

 

My goal for March is to lose 5 to 7 pounds!

[SLCruisers]

Those recipes sound delish! We just finished our casserole after having for four nights. Thank goodness my guys like it! Definitely made for easy week of cooking while I was taking midterms. One more short paper then I start spring break!

[summer_girl]

Got on the scale this morning...down a pound. Not great but I will take it since I ate bad and drank more than normal in Vegas!!

 

9 pounds lost so far...

[CupKayke]

+ 2 pounds.

 

I'm just thankful it wasn't more than that. This week I had Wendy's, Fish n' Chips, Pizza Hut, Jelly Beans, a piece of coconut cream pie, and I drank a Dr. Pepper. I have felt terrible all week ~ I was getting sick on Tuesday evening (my husband and I are fighting terrible head/ear/chest colds) and I started cheating ~ I have picked-up quick dinners or snacked on sugar ~ which just made me feel worse, quite frankly. I called this my cheat week from hell... and it was. :mad:

 

I am back on the wagon again today - grapefruit & yogurt for breakfast and hoping to get outside this weekend and walk in the warm sun ~ mid 60s predicted here. I still feel like dog poo but eating healthy and getting outside will help me beat this crudola, I'm sure. I haven't been sick ALL winter and my body waits until March??!! Geez. :confused::(

[Let'sGo!]

Good morning all! Turns out I didn't fall off the face of the Earth afterall!

 

I've changed my weekly weigh ins to Thursday, so I should at least be able to check in here. I'm still doing the MFP thing and talk regularly with many of you.

 

Welcome to all the new folks! Just because I haven't been real regular on here, doesn't mean others aren't :rolleyes:... so be sure and check in for motivation, venting, whatever you need.

 

So I started meeting with a nutritionist a week ago Monday (2/25). My weight was out of control - I mean really. I had some lab tests done, and did a Resting Metabolism Rate (RMR) test. Turns out, I need 2,100 calories a day just to breath! What I really found out was I was eating too few calories for weight loss. So I upped my plan about 200 calories and now I'm dropping. Go figure.

 

I'm also having success by eating smaller, I mean REALLY smaller meals in the evening. I try to make lunch my largest meal of the day. Since that initial meeting with her Monday, (10 days) I lost 6.5 pounds.

 

Now my struggle is to just get those workouts in! I'm pretty sporadic with them, and I need to get on some routine. I read somewhere that if you do something for six weeks, then it becomes a habit. I'm just trying to do something for two weeks in a row!!

 

Anyways, enough for me now. Good luck getting through the landmine weekend! (At least it always is for me).

 

Ann

[cruises r us]

No change for me this week. Stayed the same at 144.

 

Kay - you'll get back on track. Don't worry.

 

Ann - that's great news. Nice loss. I found by upping my calories, I also lost weight faster. You need to keep the metabolism going!

 

Where is everyone else?

 

Charlene

[worldtrekker]

I am looking forward to trying those recipes posted - thanks all.

 

Summergirl - one pound down on vacation is a win!

 

Ann - that is great! The RMR will likely change as you lose and little tweaks here and there can make a difference. I have a hard time doing any one activity for 6 weeks, so I mix it up all the time, but now am at the point I have to do something active or I feel really crummy - with back pain and sore knees. Keep going!!

 

Charlene - it gets tough so close to goal. I am down 0.4 lb - only 4.5 lbs left to goal. I find I can do a cheat meal once a week, but anything else outside a pretty stable plan and I don't lose at all.

 

Kay - learning what our bodies don't like is all part of the process. I bet you will feel better soon :D

 

As you all head into Spring, we descend into Fall here. :( Summer was lovely and perfect and now the days grow shorter and my motivation to work out in the morning is at constant war with my desire to snuggle in the covers for just a bit longer.

 

Have a good week!

[agottula]

Hi Everyone!!!

 

I had a busy morning and had to take my husband in for a follow up after his Lasik yesterday, and I forgot to weigh in. Ill try and remember to tomorrow.

 

Kay - hang in there and hopefully you will beat that bug. I turn to food too and always feel worse, its so silly we do that. Yesterday I had taco bell and pizza in one day, not so good... 2 pounds up is not too bad considering and its probably up from the excess sodium from eating out.

 

Ann - that is awesome, it just goes to show that it isn't as easy as it seems it should be.

 

Charlene - no change is fine when you are so close

 

Alyssa - Good luck as fall approaches, I love fall, its my favorite. But I totally understand the cold weather lack of motivation.

 

Summergirl - awesome job after a vegas trip!!

 

Hope everyone else enjoys the weather getting nicer!!

[agottula]

Weighed in this morning, down .6 pounds. I'm so close to the 150's. Time to ramp it up I think.

[cruises r us]

Good going Ashley!

 

Today is 2 months with no diet pop/soda.

I don't even miss it anymore. Feels so good to get rid of that stuff.

 

Has anyone else gotten rid of a particular food? What was it?

 

Charlene

[summer_girl]

Good going Ashley!

 

Today is 2 months with no diet pop/soda.

I don't even miss it anymore. Feels so good to get rid of that stuff.

 

Has anyone else gotten rid of a particular food? What was it?

 

Charlene

 

I also cut out diet soda...and have tried to really limit my cocktails.

 

I am just really trying to limit carbs...chips, excess bread and pasta...things that I love!!

 

My problem is I am not exercising...I don't want to...but I really need to!:(

[worldtrekker]

Great Ashley!

 

Charlene - I go in phases with the diet soda. Sometimes I have it a lot, sometimes not at all. Right now, I am using it like a "treat" - maybe a single can of coke zero on a Friday with a squeeze of lemon. It helps that soda/pop is expensive here (2.50 or more per can at the store or $18 for a 16 cube.)

 

I have not cut out anything per se as nothing is off limits, but to lose or maintain, for the most part I stick to a repetitive diet. On the other hand, I have added a lot of fruits and veggies that were lacking previously - like spinach, melon, eggplant, tomatoes, so that has helped:)

 

Summer Girl - I wish I could go for a walk with you! I have a group of ladies I work out with (doing hill climbs) 2 or 3 mornings a week. It helps to have someone to meet as I am less inclined to leave my comfy bed in dark :D

 

- Alyssa

[kasi1979]

Well, our birthday cruise at the end of February kind of sabotaged my attempt to loose.

I´m nearly back to my pre-cruise weight, but far from what I want to reach by early may.

It´s time to get back to the gym, however snow the last few days prevented any evening acitivities.

 

However, the Med was wonderful, it´s for sure something to look forward to.

[summer_girl]

Well, our birthday cruise at the end of February kind of sabotaged my attempt to loose.

I´m nearly back to my pre-cruise weight, but far from what I want to reach by early may.

It´s time to get back to the gym, however snow the last few days prevented any evening acitivities.

 

However, the Med was wonderful, it´s for sure something to look forward to.

 

Glad you had a good trip!

I get overwhelmed when I look at the big picture of losing weight or even getting in shape.

I have 66 days til I cruise...So that is over 9 weeks...

I can do this...

 

We all can do this...

[pajammatam]

Good going Ashley!

 

Today is 2 months with no diet pop/soda.

I don't even miss it anymore. Feels so good to get rid of that stuff.

 

Has anyone else gotten rid of a particular food? What was it?

 

Charlene

 

half n half /splenda and yogurt were my triggers....got rid of those couple months ago and the pounds, belly fat went with it

[cruises r us]

half n half /splenda and yogurt were my triggers....got rid of those couple months ago and the pounds, belly fat went with it

 

Yes - those are good ones! Sometimes foods don't sound like they would be so bad - but they can be. I guess any food you overdo is bad.

[CupKayke]

Just want to check-in.... I've had a terrible time fighting this huge head cold/sinus thing this week. It took me until the very end of winter to get a cold... and it was terrible. Monday & Tuesday were soooooo bad. I felt a million times better last night. This morning, I am back to feeling 99% and am going to start restricting "bad" foods again and exercising.... it's supposed to be 73 here tomorrow!!!!

 

Let the Spring exercise begin!!

[agottula]

Just want to check-in.... I've had a terrible time fighting this huge head cold/sinus thing this week. It took me until the very end of winter to get a cold... and it was terrible. Monday & Tuesday were soooooo bad. I felt a million times better last night. This morning, I am back to feeling 99% and am going to start restricting "bad" foods again and exercising.... it's supposed to be 73 here tomorrow!!!!

 

Let the Spring exercise begin!!

 

Glad to hear the cold is passing and you are going to have nice weather. Time to walk, walk, walk!

[CupKayke]

Time to walk, walk, walk!

 

Agree Agree Agree!! We have less than 45 days until we leave now!! :eek: I've got to get in better shape just to be able to make it through the long, wonderful days!! :D

[CupKayke]

How is everyone doing with the weights today??

 

No weigh-in for me today.

 

I did update My Fitness Pal to show my current weight & weight loss as of this morning - I'm only down a total of 12 pounds now. :o No more excuses. I'm even going to open-up my food diaries I think! :o

 

I will weigh-in next Friday - HAPPILY!!

 

*43 days until vacation*

[agottula]

I didn't weigh in this morning either, but will probably do so tomorrow.

 

I have a 7 mile run (well run/walk) tomorrow. My last few have kind of sucked, but I'm taking a rest day today and hopefully I will be fresh and ready tomorrow.

 

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!!

[CupKayke]

I have a 7 mile run (well run/walk) tomorrow. quote]

 

:eek::eek: SEVEN MILES!! :eek::eek: GOOD FOR YOU!!

 

I am going to be happy to post 2 or 3 this weekend!

[cruises r us]

Wow - completely forgot to weigh in today. It's been a busy week.

I'll do it tomorrow.

Good luck with the run/walk Ashley.

[worldtrekker]

Good luck on the run Ashley!

 

Hope you are all enjoying the Spring weather and warming temperatures.

 

No change for me this week, but pretty happy with where I am - especially with the exercise. I added some extra runs with my son - we have been doing the couch to 5K program with a goal of running a 5K next month for his 9th birthday :D

 

I am wondering if it is worth pushing for those last 4.5 lbs.

 

Kay, I cannot believe it is only 45 days for you. I drooled a little thinking of Italy...;)