Man cannot live on bread alone...or can he?

So I've been doing some reevaluating of my personal goals and the things I spend my time on. One of my conclusions is that I can't be a everyday blogger. Nor can I blog three times a week. So instead, I'll be a once a week blogger.

Nature's Pride

This is a long time coming but...

A few of weeks ago I was Fed-exed a package containing two loaves of bread from Nature's Pride for me to review.

Nature's Pride presents New "12 Grain" and "100% Whole Wheat." Both varieties are 100% natural with no high fructose corn syrup.

I have since devoured both loaves of bread, using them for a variety of different recipes.

Above pictures both varieties side by side. I really enjoyed both. The 12 grain was very light and absolutely wonderful with butter or strawberry jam. I really enjoyed the subtle hint of the different flavors of the grains and sunflower seeds.

I personally preferred the whole wheat for sandwiches. I used the bread to make a new chicken salad sandwich as well as several paninis. mmmmm. The whole wheat was not dry and hard to swallow like many whole wheat breads.

I highly recommend Nature's Pride breads. I rarely buy bread, however, the next time I do I'll be looking for Nature's Pride.

Weigh-in Update

This past Wednesday I weighed in at 169.6. The week before I weighed in at 169.2. I'm not worried about this, as I have been feeling really bloated. Though I am bummed that I can't seem to stick to a weight loss plan.

Health Update

Since August of 2008, I have been struggling with this awful and annoying pain in my side. It hurts so badly! I have had doctors call it everything from stress, IBS (embarrassing!), gall stones, and acid reflux (wth!?).

Anyway, for the last week I have cut out: deep fried foods, red meat, dark poultry, shortening, artificial sweeteners, coffee (including decaf), dairy, citrusy or acidic foods, and solid chocolate.

Sometimes it seems like it's helping, but other times it still just hurts. Grrr. I'm going to the doctor this Friday. I hope to get referred to a specialist.

Question: Since I've cut out foods with citric acid, it's really hard to find a sauce to replace my beloved ketchup, bbq sauce and salsa! Do you have any ideas for a sauce that would be easy on the gut and that is dairy free?

Hope you all have a great week!

Shawnee

P.S. No I do not believe man can live on bread alone, but instead can be sustained through the word of God. :)

Today's like sweet Honey Sunshine

Marla, The Flylady, would tell me that I let my inner-perfectionist take over. It’s true, I have. Every single time I thought about the three reviews that I needed to type up for my blog, I would mentally block it out. I didn’t even want to log on last week to weigh in. I felt like if I did, I had to write all three reviews. So I procrastinated.

I hate procrastination. And I’m the queen of it.

Any how, I had to psych myself up to allow myself to do one review at a time. So here it is, my first review…

Kashi’s new Honey Sunshine Cereal!

I became a member of Kashi’s Taste Tester Panel, and my first “assignment” was to dig into a whole box of Honey Sunshine and take it to trial.

My verdict: DELICIOUS!

I love Kashi cereal anyway, but this variety is childhood-comfort-food good. It still has the 7 whole grains in each serving, like Kashi is famous for, but it doesn’t taste ”healthy.” It’s comforting, subtly sweet, and lays that I’M-CRAVING-SUGARY-STARCHES monster to rest.

You’ll love it, your husbands will love it and your kid’s will love it.

Let’s just say when I was finally able to find the cereal at my local grocery store and use my “free box” coupon, it only lasted in my cupboard a week.

Wednesday Weigh-In

Last weigh in: 169.8

Current weigh in:

So I’m down a little over a half a pound. I did weigh in last week, but the scale didn’t budge. Like I said, I was just too profectionisty to log on. I’m so weird.

I most likely won’t get to my 10 pounds lost by Nov. 1. But if I can at least keep going down .5 a week, it’ll be progress. I am really excited to see that I have maintained 169 for three weeks though. I haven’t went back up to the 170s, which means I am actually losing weight.

Josh and I have been getting up in the mornings and walking. I’m proud of us for that. I haven’t been keeping track of calorie consumption. I really just hate doing it. But I need to build myself a bridge and: GET OVER IT!

House News

Josh and I found a house, made an offer and they excepted it. We’re psyched! We are just praying that the inspection will be ok and that nothing funky will happen with our loan. Wish us luck!

Question: What is your favorite cereal?

I'm still here

I haven't forgot about my blog. I just was again feeling sorry for myself. I went into a little bit of a depression this past weekend and I am so not looking forward to weighing in tomorrow. *blech*

On the upside, I have three reviews to give my readers! I've actually been putting them off 'cause my life just seems so hectic right now. And I don't really think it is all that hectic. I just feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders...this is my inner drama queen/perfectionist.

I think I just need to simplify my life, but I don't know how. Oh I know how, I need to hire a cleaning lady, a cook, a personal assistant, a nutritionist, and a fitness coach. :) If I had the money, I would probably do that.

Anyway, I'm going to go. I hope to post my reviews tomorrow.

--Shawnee

Slowly making progress

Calories In/Out

For yesterday…

Calories in: Well I charted 1550 exactly. I did really well too until after dinner. I had a slice of bread with some jam on it.

Calories out: 0 Grrrrr. I was telling my husband that I feel like a bad person. I realized that is the exact thinking that makes me self sabotage. I had planned to exercise that evening after work, but we had to go in to our real estate agent’s office to sign some papers. Then we had to go to Wal-Mart. We didn’t get home until 9:30 p.m. by then I was just too exhausted. I feel like these are lame excuses, but that’s what happened.

Click here to see what I ate.

Wednesday Weigh In

Last weigh: 170.8

Current: 169.6

I’m slowly making progress. Even if I don’t make it to 10 pounds, I’d be really happy with 5.

Calories in/out

I was some what on track yesterday. Well, except I didn’t burn as many calories as I had thought. I’ll do Tae Bo tonight and make up for it.

Calories in: 1555

Calories out: 177

Click here to see what I ate.

--Shawnee

P.S. I have Wii Fit on the calories burned, I actually didn't get around to doing that.

P.P.S. Thank you to everyone for all of the inspiration and encouragement!

and the scales fell from my eyes...

I had a semi revelation this weekend. After a couple of days of moping and feeling sorry for myself, I began to question why I treat myself the way I do? Why do long to lose weight in order to be healthy, and yet sabotage myself with overeating and laziness?

As I questioned myself, I wondered, “Am I worth it?” Do I really believe my life deserves to be a happy and healthy one? The answer is, YES! Many times I let the voice of worldly perfection creep in and tell me that I’ll never be as skinny as the anorexic super models, and then I get discouraged, give up and force feed myself an abundance of junk. Like I really want to be that skinny anyway, pshaw!

I just want to be healthy, happy, energetic, and to feel youthful. I am, by the way, only 25. I do deserve the premier player’s club treatment.

Calories in/Calories out

I didn't keep very good track of what I ate on Friday and Saturday. I am pretty sure I ate around 2000 calories though. :( I also didn't exercise again on Friday. See the self sabotage! It's disgusting.

However, click here to see what I ate yesterday (Sunday)l went over, but at least I kept track.

Calories in: 1725 (Though I think I ate a few more things that I couldn't remember)

Calories out: 632

I did 90 minutes of working out: A 40 minute walk with Maddie; 30 minutes of Free Step with weights on the Wii Fit; and 20 minutes of Tae Bo. I did 90 minutes to make up for no exercise on Thursday and Friday. Sunday was supposed to be my day of rest. :)

Some pictures of what I ate yesterday:

1/2 cup organic vanilla yogurt, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/2 cup pineapple chunks and a smooshed up Crunchy Nature Valley Bar. This makes a very good meal.

Corn tortillas baked in the oven. A mixture of romaine lettuce, tomatoes, black beans, chicken, salsa, light ranch, and bbq sauce.

Below is a banana with a couple spoonfuls of yogurt, 1 tbsp peanut butter and 10 chocolate chips melted with the PB. Pretty good desert. :)

Meal Plan Monday:

Monday: Spaghetti

Tuesday: Chicken & Black bean enchiladas

Wednesday: Dinner at ma's house

Thursday: ?? I'll be at a convention for work

Friday: Paninis

Saturday: Subway? (I decided I have to leave room for Subway. I'm going to eat it anyway :P)

Sunday: I haven't made it this far yet

Also, see everything I have planned for today: Click Here.

I'm right on track so far. I just need to make it past dinner. :) Oh and I did exercise this morning, a 1/2 hour walk with Maddie.

I hope you all have a fabulous Monday!

--Shawnee

Calories in/out for Thursday

Calories in/out for Thursday:

Calories in: 1597

Calories out: 0

I know. I know. I was pouting and feeling sorry for myself yesterday. I'll make up for it on Sunday (my day of rest).

CLick here to see what I ate.