This Calls for a Celebration!

Have I told you that my friend Kelly is living with me?  She moved in at the end of February, and we're having the most incredible time.  Not only is Kelly a true friend, totally hilarious, and fun to be around, she's also following the WW plan, enjoys cooking, and has a gym membership with me!  We motivate each other each and every day to make healthy choices, and burn those calories!

Kelly also introduced me to the Couch to 5K program.  There are free Podcasts available on iTunes (my favorite being "Podcasts for Running" by Robert Ullrey.  Over nine weeks, you walk/run three times per week.  In the first week, which I just completed, you alternate 60 second running intervals with 90 second fast-paced walking.  This is sandwiched between a 5 minute brisk warm-up and easy cool down.  Week 2 started on Tuesday night, and I'm super excited that I can handle it just fine.  Instead of 60 second running intervals, it's now 90 second runs with 2 minute walking breaks.  It's the same total amount of running as Week 1, but a bit tougher.  Never thought I'd be a runner...

Do you remember my trip to Sri Lanka over the Chinese New Year holiday?  Well, Kelly was with me there as well!  In fact, the trip wouldn't have existed if it weren't for her.  I bought three sapphire gemstones while in Sri Lanka, and this past weekend they came to life - in a beautiful, custom-designed, hand-made 18 carat gold ring setting with 28 small diamonds.  I'd say that's something to celebrate!  Pictures of the ring are coming soon!

But the real celebration arose on Friday night when Kelly sent in her resignation.  That's right, folks, my amazing friend is leaving Singapore.  It's depressing, of course, but it's also incredibly exciting!  She is coming to a crossroads in her life, a point where the current journey ends, and a new adventure begins.  She will be seeking out that new home and that new life that I spoke of just a few days ago (yes, I was feeling sappy).

In the spirit of celebration, Monday night's meal had to be amazing.  Rather, it had to be the most delectable extravagance that we'd ever had touch our sensitive and discerning palates.  And of course, it had to be easy on the points ;)  Obviously, we chose steak.  Get your mouth watering and be ready...it's coming soon!

What a Week!

This has been one hell of a successful week.  Why, you ask?  Well...!

For starters, I went back to training.  Ok, yeah, whatever.  I know you're disappointed in me, upset, think I'm a moron, whatever.  To be honest, I missed training, I missed my trainer, and I can't put the blame entirely on her.  I'm the girl who didn't say "ouch" when my calves were in excruciating pain.  So after a good long discussion, she and I have come up with a great way of moving forward.  So far so good!
And did I mention that I completed an entire spin class on Wednesday...with zero pain?  Rock on sista!

On March 5th I'm squeezing into a beautiful Asian-style ball gown for the annual George Washington Ball.  We are some high-rollers, people.  The theme is "Diamonds and White Tie".  You can bet your butt Brian will be in white tie...not so much diamonds for me.  If you think this is silly and I should wear the diamonds, please feel free to send me some.  I will gladly accept and wear them.
The problem?  I bought said beautiful gown in September, when I weighed 130 pounds.  Whoops!  Yes, the dress zips, and yes, it still looks fabulous.  But I would so very much like to breathe, and I would definitely like to eat!  So I'm on a mission - eating like a super healthy freak this week and next, and Juliana is doing nothing but perfecting my abs, arms, and shoulders for the event.  Plus, we're just too scared to work my legs at this point.  Upper body it is!

My cooking has noticeably improved, and I'm not actually sure why.  This week's accomplishments include Sauteed Shrimp and Zucchini, Dijon Roasted New Potatoes, and the most incredibly savory and melt-in-your-mouth-delicious Asparagus, Bacon, and Cheese Strata.  Dear lord those were some good meals!
Who knows, maybe my cooking's improved so that I can make the world's most amazing meal with my NEW LE CREUSET!!!

Isn't he handsome?!

Aren't they gorgeous?

Oh yeah, that's right...my adorable, caring, funny, intelligent, and incredibly thoughtful boyfriend gave me a new gadget for Valentine's Day!  And of course a bouquet of my favorite flowers too :)


I'm giving myself a massive pat on the back, and I'm crossing my fingers that tomorrow's weigh-in provides brag-worthy results.

Boredom.

Remember that personal trainer I told you about?  Well, I signed up with her.  And the next time I'm at the gym I'll be un-signing with her.  Last Thursday she had me do 120 calf raises with 30 kilos on the resistance.  I hadn't worked my calves in years.  Woman is a complete idiot.  Hell, I'm a complete idiot!  60 reps in you'd think I would scream and tell her it hurt too much - but I didn't.  Because I want to look like this:

No really though, this is my dream body.

Friday morning I felt a bit of soreness, but I jumped on the plane to Bangkok anyway.  By Saturday I was traipsing around Thailand with my fabulous friends, feeling some hard pain and walking like a silly person, but I dealt with it.  By Sunday morning I was nauseous my calves hurt so bad, and I couldn't put my feet flat on the ground.  No joke, I looked like a raptor...especially when I made my arms super short and did a crazy dinosaur face.
Monday I went to the doctor.  Long story short, I have Rhabdomyolysis, but my kidneys are fine.  Today I did a 1-hour ultrasound Doppler study to rule out deep vein thrombosis, which I don't have.  And did I mention that I'm not allowed to work all week?  I've been sitting on my couch watching old episodes of CSI and NCIS.  BORING.  I haven't been this bored in ages.  Throw in the inability to walk and you've got hell in your own house.  No joke.

Moral of the story?  Check your personal trainer's credentials before you let them severely hurt you.

So after three weeks of nothing but Mexican food in Houston, I gained about 4 pounds.  Not too terrible, considering I hadn't worked out more than once.  But now I've put on another 2 pounds and I'm actually scared of my scale.  I refuse to step on it for at least another week.  No way in hell.  As soon as I can walk again I'll start cooking, and the doc says swimming is my best exercise option for now.  Good thing I live in Asia - the land of hot.  But I'm feeling fat and sassy, and the cheesecake they sell downstairs is calling my name.  I won't do it, but I'll tell you how badly I'm craving it.  BADLY.

How about a new recipe or three?

Not as strong as I thought...

Last week I got a call from my gym - they're offering a few free personal training sessions to existing members.  The last time I tried training at True Fitness, I wasn't impressed.  Peggy, my trainer in Houston, was amazing!  She kicked my butt into shape and really strengthened my core.  So when I said I'd do another trial round of training this week, I was skeptical, to say the least.

Apparently I was wrong!  Juliana, the woman who trained me tonight, really knows her stuff.  And she definitely kicked my ass!  I had no idea just how weak I am.  You'd think that a girl who spins, lifts weights, and is in overall good health wouldn't actually lack muscle.  But I do.  Turns out muscle mass burns more fat, and if I want that toned body, weights need to be more of a part of my weekly routine.

Not gonna lie, I doubt I'll walk like a normal person tomorrow.  It's highly doubtful.  I might have some strange kind of hobble, actually.  If I had a video camera that I could strap to my body in a way that I could video my walking abilities, I would - simply for your entertainment.  Alas, a camera I do not have, and you will be suffering with your own imagination.

So what's the verdict?  I scheduled another training session for Sunday.  If I like it then, she's going to show me the "damage" (what I like to call the ridiculous amount of money they charge people like me to have their asses kicked), and I'll make a decision from there.  If I do decide to start the training, we'll do some before and after pictures of Sarah in a bikini (and of course some progress pics along the way).  Aww, hell - even if I don't sign up we'll do progress pictures.  Screw it.

Not to mention my friend Kelly got me started on Pilates.  It's going to break her heart if I choose training over Pilates...I guess we'll find out next week.  I've got another trial Pilates class on Saturday morning.  If I was rich I'd just do both!

What do you think?  Pilates or Personal Training?

Busy Weeks Call for Shorter Blogs!

I don't have much time tonight...we're leaving tomorrow for a weekend dive trip to Tioman and Aur, Malaysia!  But I need to report my Crunch Attack progress, and throw in some new recipe ideas!

So...Week 1 of Crunch Attack went well.  I'm not as crunchalicious as I thought I would be, but that will change in time.  Somehow managed to misplace my measuring thingie, so I'll report next week about my waist n' hips n' thighs :)

Weds:
50 crunches (30 center, 10 right side, 10 left side)
10 leg lifts
6 sun salutations (this was meant to be an arm workout)

Fri:
30 crunches (10x10x10)
10 tap n' rolls (these are tough and even tougher to explain...)

Sun:
50 crunches (30x10x10)
Mon:
2 center planks (30 sec. each); 2 side planks (30 sec. each side)
15 center crunches
30 cycle kicks (also tough to explain)

Week 1 Lessons Learned:
Any sort of ab workout or push-up attempt after spin class is ROUGH

So this week I'm not upping the anty - just continuing the effort.  Go me ;)

 ______________________________

I've been slacking on the new recipes and cooking lately, so this week I decided to try something new!

BBQ Chicken with Sauteed Veggies - 4 Points

From Cooking Light

 I got this BBQ Chicken recipe from CookingLight.com (a great website with tons of fabulous recipes!).  Here I served it with sauteed veggies, but it would go quite well with potatoes, cole slaw, or a salad.  I included a side of baked beans (1/2 cup = 2 Points) for some added protein and yummy flavor!

For the veggies:
Heat a skillet over medium heat; spray with olive oil spray.  Add your favorite chopped veggies, sprinkle with Kosher salt, and cook until desired doneness.
This week I chose onion, zucchini, and carrots.  Dee-lish!

Fun Ideas and a New Challenge!

I've spent the past couple months pondering a new direction for Smuggling Budgies, now that the Smugglette has been unleashed into the wild.  Each week I'll dig into a new food topic, something fun and exciting (like roasted chicken!) and throw quick meal ideas out into the open.  Sound like a plan?

So, as mentioned above, this week's item:  Roasted Chicken
I absolutely friggin' love these things.  How could you not love them???  Unless of course you are cursed with that strange affliction that my friends Heath and Brittany suffer from - they can't eat anything on the bone.  That means no bone-in chicken, no bone-in steak, no wings!  Seriously, it's devastating.  But even for them these meal ideas are possibilities.  If you suffer from "I can't eat bone-in foods" syndrome, simply ask a friend or loved one to remove the chicken from the bone prior to your entering the kitchen or dining room.  You will not know it was ever actually attached to an animal.  And perfecto!

If you live in the US, my personal favorite roasted chickens are Tyson brand, which can be purchased at your local supermarket (and comes in varieties!).  If you reside in Singapore, swing by your neighborhood Cold Storage and grab either a honey or black pepper chicken from the deli.
So what do you do next?  Well, let's see...

How about a big salad of your favorite veggies, some roasted chicken, and your salad dressing of choice?  Here is my personal favorite:

Yummy Salad with Roasted Chicken Breast - 7.5 Points

This is a large salad with 3 servings of veggies.  It is incredibly filling and tasty!  Great for salad-lovers :) 

• 2 cups romaine lettuce, torn or sliced
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 1/4 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/4 cucumber, halved and sliced
• shredded carrots
• Pepperidge Farm Seasoned Croutons, 12 pieces
• 1 roasted chicken breast, skin removed and chopped
• 2 Tbsp Homemade Hidden Valley Ranch

Combine all ingredients on large plate.  Mix well with dressing, or dip individual bites, and enjoy!

What to do with the rest of your roasted chicken???
You could make a Roasted Chicken and Bow Tie Pasta Salad, which happens to be delicious, and will feed you for days.  Recipe = 6 Points per serving; yields 6 servings (remember to remove the skin).
Heat up a chicken breast or thigh, and serve along side veggies of your choice and steamed rice or cauliflower puree.
Slice the chicken into thin pieces and make a delicious sandwich!

All of these meals and ideas are super-quick and super-tasty (falling into the new 15-Minute Meals category) - perfect for staying on track when you're busy.

-------------------------------------------------------

So what's this challenge I keep referring to???
A fellow blogger has recently started a Crunch Attack challenge with her readers.  So...I'm following suit!  Click here to explore the challenge in more detail and join in on the fun!  Basically, I will do crunches (or ab workouts) and/or pushups at least 3 days each week, and then I will increase my repetitions as the weeks progress.
I will keep a log of my exercises and report back each week - and I'll even throw in some body measurements!  Week 1 started Tuesday...I will set some goals for myself next Tuesday after I've determined just what I can do!  I would love it if y'all did this challenge with me - the more support we've got, the easier this life change can be!

Good night, and go buy some chicken!

The Sick Diet?

I realize it's been ages since my last post, and I'm truly sorry about that.  Last weekend (like 10 days ago) I got sick.  Mega sick.  I don't come down with things often, but when I do it's like hell freezes over and all life stops.  Not to mention I get incredibly needy and I groan about everything.  I'm just lucky that my mother has to love me no matter what - otherwise she would have given me away ages ago!
I'm not sure why Brian stuck around and took such amazing care of me for those 4 days, but he did, and I'm grateful!

So...needless to say, I didn't exactly count points, track anything, cook anything, or feel like blogging.  Then from playing catch-up at work, still feeling a bit weak, attempting to get back into the gym, and also attempting to eat healthy, the last thing I wanted to do at home was turn on my lappy.  Not happening.

When I weighed in last Tuesday morning, not at all surprised to see a low number on the scale (tends to happen when one hasn't eaten in three days), it stared back at me with a beautiful 131.5!  Thank you to Brian for reminding me that it was "the sick diet".  Well, I don't love the sick diet, because that number simply means that I feel like poop, I'm dehydrated, my body needs nutrients, and if I poke around I'll feel soft and squishy.  Yes.  Soft and squishy, people.  That's what your stomach and arms and quads and butt feel like if you poke them after missing the gym for a week or two...yick!

So what was my goal for last week?  Maintain that 131.5 while regaining my strength, eating healthy, and making my way back into the gym!  And you know what?  I did it.

 

You've Got Some Smooth Moves!

So far so good this weekend!  Yesterday I got to leave work early, and I took that as an opportunity to veg out on my couch!
After a good hour of Heath Ledger in A Knight's Tale I decided to hit the gym and actually make something of my Friday evening.  I absolutely love my walk to the gym...it gives me a chance to clear my head, pump myself up, and enjoy the extreme humidity surrounding me on a daily basis.  No but seriously, I get to walk along the Singapore River, which is actually quite beautiful when I'm not listening to jackhammers, and it's a nice experience.

First of all, the girls at the front desk now officially know me.  I walk up, they greet me, they know my name, they know the classes I take, they think I'm sweet.  This makes me feel happy.
Second, I now rock at the elliptical machine.  Freaking sweet!  I upped the level, I went faster, I worked harder.  It was AWESOME!
After dropping too much money in the bookstore (and snagging Avatar on BluRay), I decided to trudge home in the rain.  I shouldn't say this as though it was a bad thing.  Sometimes I like the rain, and living here one can't exactly be shocked when it's pouring on you.

After drying off a bit (a lot), I decided that my stomach deserved a break, and that I should treat it to something new and exciting.  Senegalese Peanut Stew with Spinach and Sweet Potatoes.  It's a recipe from WW online, and I am shocked at it's deliciousness!  I will post the recipe tomorrow, so be on the lookout!

This morning I tried out another new recipe that I adore!  I will be making this on a very regular basis!  Good smoothies are sometimes hard to find, and this one takes the cake!

Strawberry Mango Smoothie
From Weight Watchers Online
Servings: 2
Points per serving: 3

• 8 oz unsweetened frozen strawberries
• 4 oz low fat vanilla yogurt
• 1/2 cup mango fruit juice
• 1 Tbsp honey

Place everything in a blender or food processor and blend on high until you get it where you want it!  SO EFFING GOOD!

I just got home from a walk in the Botanic Gardens with my friend Meg (it was so great and we got so sweaty!), and tonight I get to splurge at Curry Gardenn (yes, it has two "n"s) with Brian.  Butter Chicken and Paratha here I come!
Till next time...enjoy that smoothie!

Yum Yum Yum Yum!

I had one hell of a weekend, to say the least.  Aside from the extreme party at the US Embassy on Friday night, hosted by the Marines, with numerous canned Bud Lights (so gross now that I drink Sapporo and Asahi constantly) and a double whammy of Jager Bombs, the weekend could be described as intense.  Saturday night we attended a friend's Fondue Party, only after I hosted pre-drinks and an assortment of dips (including a hummus recipe which I proudly perfected) at my place.  Needless to say I was feeling like a fatty times seven when I woke up on Sunday morning!

I then proceeded to make Egg McSarah's...English muffin, topped with scrambled eggs, a slice of SmartBeat American (if you happen to be lactose intollerant), and one MorningStar Farms "sausage" pattie.  A whopping 7 points and worth every single bite!  Brian got real bacon, but I'm not complaining.

We spent the rest of the afternoon walking and sweating out the previous night's food and drink intake at the Japanese and Chinese Gardens.  I had never been, and it was fabulous!
Me and Brian at the top of the pagoda in the Chinese Gardens

That night I tried out Zucchini Casserole, which was a huge hit!  Brian doesn't usually comment on my food without me prying for his opinion.  That night, mid-bite, he looked over and said, "This stuff is friggin' good, baby!"

We also chowed down on some Cuban Beef Picadillo and a failed attempt at Italian and Greek style tomatoes.  Once I've got those where I want 'em I'll post the recipe for your enjoyment!

This is me slaving in the kitchen (still sweaty from the gardens) to make the picadillo.

And this is the finished product! 

All said and done I managed to maintain 135.5 - despite the weekend extravagance.  And of course this week I have the appetite of a horse and Cold Storage has Reduced Fat Wheat Thins.  Dear God, those are totally my weakness.  Well, that and anything delicious.  I also splurged on the Snack Packs, but went ahead with the Fat Free Chocolate just to be safe.  Ahh hell, I got the Triple Layer Chocolate Caramel ones too.

Keep your fingers crossed for next Tuesday morning's weigh-in.  Only 14 days until Phuket and I'm starting to freak out...mega time!

Sweaty is the New Sexy?

Work has been super stressful for the past couple weeks (like it's turning me into a psycho).  This could definitely be a bad thing, considering Sarah = Stress Eater (maybe now Stress Eating Psycho, but whatever).  But do you know what is so wonderful about my life these days?  I take that stress, and I spin it into something positive.  I use it as motivation to eat healthier, work out harder, and even relax!  If there is anything I can offer from these past weeks at work, and I have spent a hell of a lot of time at work, it's this:  don't let the stress get you down.  Use the stress to motivate, to inspire!

I weighed in on Tuesday morning....dun dun dunnnnnnn

135.5!

Dude, seriously?!  Yes, seriously!  I'm so happy and so proud of myself!  Two pounds down this week, and I even went to Morton's Steakhouse!  I'm sorry, but rib eyes are like the best tasting, fattiest piece of cow on the planet.  Bragging rights?  I think so!

I finally made it to the gym tonight for the first time since body tone last Thursday.  Let's just say spin was ROUGH.  There's no better way to describe it.  I was struggling, panting, dripping with sweat. But now I feel amazing.

So now I want you to imagine what I looked like immediately after class.  Really picture it - drenched, hair all over the place (not to mention stuck to my forehead), purplish reddish splotchy face.  Yeah, so attractive.

The greatest and best compliment I have ever received was tonight, and no one said a single thing to me.

I got checked out at the gym.  Not once, not twice, but three times, by three different men - looking like that!  Shocking.

I realize that this is the braggiest bragging post you have ever read, but if my week could spin around like that, it should help everyone out there alter their perception during times of stress.

Take that stress, and flip it around to something good!  Work it out!

Last but not least, I demand that every single one of you buy two things on your next trip to the grocery store - cake mix and angel food cake mix.  No I'm not joking.

I found this "recipe" on Gina's quick snack ideas page, tried it for the first time tonight, and I'm in HEAVEN!

1 box Angel Food cake mix

1 box any other flavor cake mix

Mix it all together, store it in an air-tight container.  When you want a sweet snack, scoop 1/4 cup into a coffee mug, add 2 Tbsp water, stir it up, and microwave on high for 1 minute.

WHOA!  So freaking good!

1/4 cup with 2 Tbsp water = 2 pts

1/3 cup with 3 Tbsp water = 3 pts

This time I used lemon cake mix - light, fluffy, slightly tart but totally delicious.  I desperately want to try strawberry.  Please send me strawberry cake mix!  Singapore doesn't have any!!!  Gah!

Over and out. 

A New Home for My Food

Body Tone tonight was awesome!  There were maybe only half of us in there, which is odd, but I am SO glad I made it there!  Traffic from work was killer today, because some idiot decided that closing the right turn lane onto the only highway connected to the island where I work at rush hour was a good idea.  Idiots.  So anyway, I made it there in time, missed about 30 seconds of warm-up, and got right into it.  Whew!  And the best part - I had to stop mid-workout and add more weights.  Martin, the instructor, looked at me, smiled, and said, "That's right, good girl!"  It's incredible how amazing I feel right now - to have worked so hard, and put in the effort not only to lose the weight but to gain the muscle!

On another note, those of you who read my other blog (it's private, if you want in shoot me an email) fully comprehend my refrigerator situation.  It's ridiculous.  After my first fridge crapped out, I thought my cheap ass bastard of a landlord would suck it up and put a normal-sized refrigerator in my three bedroom apartment.  Negatory.
Just to give you a better idea...this is my current fridge (don't worry all you married kids - you're on the side; engaged gets the front):

This is me standing next to my current fridge (yes, that is a check from the universe - read The Secret and you'll get it):

And this is how much food fits into my current fridge:

Yeah...NO.  So I went ahead and dropped the S$342 for that additional fridge at Best.  I'll have it on Sunday, and on Sunday my condiments, beers, and other seldom-used items will have a new humble abode.  Thank God for that!
PS I'm really psyched about this.  You may think it's lame to be jumping up and down about a fridge, but seriously people...mine is INFINITESSIMAL!

Since I didn't get home until after 7:30, it had to be a quick-meal evening.  I dug into my old Weight Watcher's cookbook for an idea, and wham!  Perfect!  Check it...

Grilled Chicken with Raspberries and Greens
From Everyone Loves Chicken

Points = 4 per serving
Serving Size = 1 piece chicken with about 2 cups salad
Yield = 4 Servings

• 4 (4-5 ounce) thin-sliced chicken breast cutlets
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/4 + 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
• 2 Tbsp raspberry vinegar
• 2 Tbsp finely chopped shallots
• 1 Tbsp all-fruit raspberry preserves
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 (4-ounce) package mixed salad greens
• 1/2 cup fresh raspberries

1. Sprinkle the chicken evenly with the thyme, the 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp of the pepper.  Spray a nonstick ridged grill pan (I used a small grill similar to a George Foreman) with nonstick spray and set over high heat.  Add the chicken and cook until browned on the outside and cooked through, about 3 minutes on each side.
2. Meanwhile, combine the vinegar, shallots, preserves, oil, and the remaining 1/8 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper in a large bowl.  Add the greens and toss to coat with the dressing.
3. Arrange a chicken breast on each of 4 serving plates; surround each with one-quarter of the salad and garnish with the raspberries.

YUM!  I halved the recipe, but I accidentally used the full Tbsp of preserves...and it tastes great!

Slow Down! You're Losing Too Fast!

Wow!  I don't even know where to begin with all that has happened this past week...it's been hella busy!  For starters (and since I know all of you are desperately awaiting my results from last week's weigh-in), I lost one pound last week, putting me at 139!  Go me  :)

I made one of my most favorite meals on Thursday night!  Amy's California Veggie Burger and some crinkle-cut French fries.  All said and done, the whole meal is a whopping SEVEN Points!  That's it!  Freaking love it.

So then on Saturday morning, I had a totally different kind of activity.  If you've never heard of Dragon Boating, you should definitely check this out.  My company has an annual Dragon Boat competition for employees and their families, so Brian and I decided to participate.  After a rough 2-hour training session last Saturday, we were semi-prepared for the race.  Holy shit.  I don't even know what else to say.  Holy shit!  Paddling is fun, but it's WORK (especially when it's raining on you for 4 straight hours).  An actual race will last anywhere between one and two minutes...our best time was 1 minute 36 seconds, and that was super tough!  We made it to the semis, so I paddled in three heats.  I'm considering joining the American team for practice on occasional Saturday afternoons (maybe?  I think I'm too busy...should I really drop another load of crap on my already mammoth pile of activities?!  ...maybe?) .  What a workout.
Brian took the pictures on his new fancy camera, so as soon as I get em you'll see em!

I didn't really get to experiment with new recipes this week...I'm so busy with my workout routine, and aside from Gina's Shepherd's Pie on Tuesday (which was slightly bland but still good, and fed me all week), I basically did no cooking.  I literally had a dinner on Saturday night consisting of two cookies and a bowl of cereal.  Awesome.

I was totally excited for this morning's weigh-in.  I just feel skinny.  Have you ever just felt skinny?!  It's an amazing feeling.  So...(drum roll please)...I lost 2.5 pounds this week.  HELL YES!  (Now visualize Sarah doing the "I rock at life" dance)  I do have to give some props to Weight Watchers for this one, and to myself (clearly), because I managed to track everything I ate, every single day this week.  I'm slightly proud of myself!

As you can see, Sunday was my mega-splurge day - and I loved every minute of it!  I cannot get enough Japanese Yakitori, I swear it!  Too bad it's 5 Points per stick!  Gah!
Unfortunately, Weight Watchers yelled at me this morning when I entered my weight online.  I lost too much too fast, which is true (especially since I don't have much to lose).  So this coming week I'm shooting for a pound, maybe 1.5 (we'll just see what happens!).

And just to throw this out there, as a little bit of brag time (ok a little more brag time)...this is the skinniest I have ever been.  Ever.  It's a truly amazing feeling and I am so happy that I've finally reached this point!  For anyone out there who is struggling or has struggled with weight loss - you can do this!
I have no idea what I'll weigh or what size I'll wear when I reach my goal, because I've never been there before!  But I think I know how I will feel when I reach it.  And when I get there, I'll let y'all know :)

Pump That Iron!

I'm going to start off with a little bragging today :)  My wonderful and amazing friend Lauren weighed in last night...she lost 5.6 pounds this week!  FIVE POINT SIX POUNDS!  Congratulations, Lauren!  Keep up the good work - you are motivation for sure!

Every Thursday night I have Body Tone - it's a weight lifting class similar to Body Pump, and I love it!  It's been a couple weeks since I've been, so I'm sure I'll be sore as hell by Saturday, but whatevs.  Martin (the instructor) worked our chest pretty hard last night.  I don't think I've ever done so many push ups!  I love that I can feel myself getting stronger each week, though.  Every time I go to class, I can do more of everything!  More squats, more abs, more lunges, more triceps...MORE MORE MORE!
Anyway, my (fantastic) boyfriend Brian was at my apartment waiting for me when I got home :)  He had done my dishes and thrown my sheets in the wash and everything!  I had a new crock pot recipe cooking away, and then I threw together Jamaican Carrots, which were super tasty!  I've recently discovered a new love of carrots, and I'm so happy that I tried this recipe.

As a side note:  The Jamaican Carrots recipe link shows 2 Points per serving.  When I plugged the recipe into WW online, it came out to 1 Point per serving!  So...count it as 1 Point, rather than 2.

The crock pot recipe was from Weight Watchers...a totally new set of flavors for me, and pretty friggin tasty!  I couldn't even finish my entire serving...and I'm totally pumped to eat my leftovers for lunch today :)

Cuban-Style Pork and Sweet Potato Slow Cooker Stew
Points = 6 per serving
Yield = 4 servings; 1.5 cups per serving (including some cooking liquid)
Prep Time = 15 min; Cook Time = 7 hours

• 1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 pound lean pork loin, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 14.5 oz canned diced tomatoes with green chilis
• 1 medium garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 medium scallions, chopped (green parts only)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1.5 Tbsp fresh lime juice
• 2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

1.  Place potatoes, pork,  tomatoes, garlic, orange juice, scallions, salt, cumin, and pepper in a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker; cover and cook on LOW setting for 7 hours.
2.  Stir in lime juice and cilantro; cover slow cooker and cook for 5 minutes more.

Happy cooking and enjoy!