Current Favorites

I lost another pound this week and it feels so good to be back in the groove and past the plateau.

I thought I would share some of my current favorites with you.  I'm constantly looking for new foods to try because I really can not stand monotony.  I love variety, and not having it will kill my willpower quickly.

Mrs. Weaver's Pimento Cheese Spread - 2 points for 2 tablespoons
I have always loved pimento cheese spread, but was afraid that the points value
would be too high.  I was pleasantly surprised that this
was something I could fit into my diet.

Sara Lee 45 Calorie Wheat Bread with Honey - 2 points for 2 slices
For "diet" bread this one is pretty good.  I have grilled this using I Can't
Believe It's Not Butter spray and it does well.

Sensible Portions Garden Veggie Chips - 3 points for 38 chips
These are perfect to go along with a sandwich or just for a snack.  I love
that you get such a large portion for so few points.

Yoplait Greek 100 Whips - 2 point
I have tried Greek yogurt in the past and I did not like it.
I'm not sure why I decided to try this one, but I'm glad I did.
It is so light and fluffy and tastes great!  It also has 9 grams of protein.
My favorite flavors are the Blueberry and Tropical.

Zero Point Ice Cream - You can find the recipe on my cooking
blog at: http://whatscookingwithmandigirl.blogspot.com/2015/03/zero-point-ice-cream.html
This can be made in a variety of flavors and it's just so good!  I've tried it with a mix of
fruits, blueberries and peaches.  So far my favorite has been the peach.

Nature Valley Salted Caramel Nut Protein Bar - 5 points
This is the perfect balance of sweet and salty, which I love.  I love that it has a
lot of protein.  The best part is that it tastes like I'm eating a candy bar.

What is your favorite healthy, go-to snack?  I would love for you to share in the comments!

Plateau

Sorry I've been MIA for a couple of weeks.  I have really been struggling with the plateau that I had been on for four weeks straight.

It went a little something like this:
Week One: no loss
Week Two: 1 1/2 pound gain
Week Three: 1 pound gain
Week Four: no loss

I was so frustrated because I really was doing everything right.  I was following the plan.  I was counting all my points.  I wasn't using all my flex points and I had even started exercising a little bit. I was completely frustrated and mystified by the whole situation.  Prior to those four weeks, I had been losing at a steady pace.

It was during the fourth week of my plateau that I broke down and cried for about 30 minutes after my weigh-in.  I was seriously at the point of throwing in the towel.  I mean, what was the point of being so good and eating all the vegetables and fruit and denying myself the things I really wanted if it wasn't going to change anything?

I really don't know how I found the gumption to keep going, but I did.  I have amazing support from my husband, my mother and my best friend.  They were all encouraging me to hang in there.

During a Skype session with my best friend, Karen, something she said clicked for me. She reminded me that I have been through a lot of medical/physical changes since the beginning of the year.  My medications have been changed several times and I have had new ones added.  She reminded me that my thyroid was all out of whack and that I needed to allow all these things to settle down and fall into place.

My next weigh-in was approaching and I was dreading it.  I was so afraid to step on those scales and see no progress.  I wasn't sure I could handle the disappointment.

Friday morning came and I said a little prayer before I stepped on the scale (which I always do).  I closed my eyes and stepped up.  I waited just a couple of seconds before I opened my eyes, and looked down.

I'm happy to report, I had a 1 1/2 pound loss.  I was so shocked, I had to get off and get back on just to be sure.

I wasn't seeing my progress until I put these pics side by side.

I'm so glad I didn't throw in the towel.  I'm so glad that I had my support team in place and that they kept me going even when I'm sure they were probably tired of hearing me whine; especially my husband.

I'm learning so much through this journey.  It's not easy, but then, I never thought it would be.