Week 26, Tuesday, Diet with Dianna

DOWN 2 POUNDS! Gone is the plateau! I am so glad...I had a revelation about the plateau, though. It is God's way of keeping my skin from sagging. It allowed my skin to shrink down to the loss of fat! (Even if it isn't the real reason, it makes since.)

Getting ready for a holiday is sometimes crazy with schedules. I slept until 8:30 a.m. just because I didn't end the yesterday until 3 a.m.  I laid in bed for another thirty minutes and got up. I got dressed and immediately started dipping my cake balls in the chocolate coatings for gifts to friends and family for Thanksgiving treats. It takes about an hour and a half to dip 80 cake balls, and then wrap them individually. My daughter and I get had a great time.  My son passed through the room when we first began. He said that we were talking sweet and kind and having a great time. An hour later, he came through and said it sounded like an episode from the Jerry Springer show...NOT FUNNY! We sometimes disagree on things but we never get that crazy! We didn't stay mad for long and had a great time...really!

We had dinner out with some friends and then back home to rest for the evening. Tomorrow is volunteer day in the church offices and then to do some final grocery shopping before the big Thanksgiving day festivities.


Exercise:
Walked 1.5 mi and 20 minutes of kettlebells.

Today's Menu:

One eggs, two slices of Turkey bacon, and coffee.

No lunch, just snacked on a few corn chips and salsa.

Schlotzsky's sandwich and Jalapeno chips, diet Dr. Pepper.

Week 26, HALF A YEAR, Diet with Dianna

Sunday...gone...I missed it.
Monday...gone...and I missed it, too, but I'm posting anyway. 2:55 a.m. EEEE!

Both days were very busy.
Today, Monday. Book edits, Cakeballs...made 72 cakeballs and they are ready for dipping in coatings, tomorrow. House chores completed. Errands completed...busy day.

The weather was wet and cold...I did not get out in it to walk, neither did I have time, really. Tomorrow, I will will twice.

Menu:

Malt-O-Meal, 1/2 cup, egg, and turkey bacon, coffee.

Beef Brisket, beans, and a few onion rings.

Whole wheat crackers and cheese.

No exercise...blah...but tomorrow, I plan to do much better.

GO ME!

Saturday, Week 25, Diet with Dianna

Whoo-hoo, it was a great day! I was up by 5:30 a.m., dressed and out the door by 6:30 a.m. because I was off to decorate tables for a Volunteer summit at our church this morning. My Sweet hubby sacrificed sleeping late to help me carry bags up to the room. The other volunteer didn't show that supposed to help me, so my sweetie pie became my hero and helped me decorate the tables, too!

I took him to breakfast, afterwards and we both ate omelets and fruit. It was super scrumptious and the company was perfect. We dashed home so we could follow our daughter to drop off her car for an oil change and drove her to work. When I got home I cleaned up a few messes and sat on the couch and played on the tablet until it was time to go pick up my daughters car.

Apparently, during the time the car was waiting to get serviced, the local birds had a poop party all over her car, so I drove it home and gave it a good washing, trying to use a little water as possible since we are under water conservation measures. I still managed to get the bird stuff off and most of the dirt, too. I went inside and freshened up, warmed up some leftovers for lunch and then rested in my chair until it was time to leave for worship service.

We arrived early to church, only to find everyone standing in the parking lot because the fire alarms had gone off and the building was evacuated. The praise and worship team were still holding their cordless mics...funny. Finally, everyone was allowed back into the building by the fire Department and security team. We made our way to our seats only to have to evacuate, again. The fire alarms went off a second time...the fire department had to come back, so we stood in the parking lot, again waiting for the okay to return.  We returned only to replay the fire drill again...the fire alarm sensor panel apparently broke and they could not turn off the alarms...BROKEN!  The strobe lights continued to flash and the canned voice continued to remind us to exit quickly and orderly...we did...we went home and watched it over the internet...too much drama.

Well, we had an excellently, long day. I'm ready for sleep. 5:30 a.m. was just too early for me.

Exercise:
Walked 1 mile...had to rush home to go to the restroom so I cut my walk short.

Revelation Knowledge:
Life is not a box of chocolates! Instead it is a jar or jalapenos. What you do today can burn you in the butt tomorrow.

Today's Menu

Spinach/mushroom/onion & tomato Omelet. 1/2 cup of fruit. Coffee

Lasagna (1/2 cup), 1/4 cup of Broccoli/cheese/rice casserole

Orville Redenbacher light Kettle corn (snack size) and diet coke Zero)

Week 25, FRIDAY!!!! Diet with Dianna

Friday! Thank God it's Friday! Thank you God FOR Friday!  I started the day by hitting the snooze button and sleeping 15 minutes too long.  I needed to be up, dressed, and out the door by 6:40 a.m. Our dogs had to be at the groomers by 7 a.m.  I stayed up too late and then the morning came too early.

Kim, Dianna, Carrie

After dropping off the dogs, we went to eat breakfast with my Dad for his birthday! It is rare, but both of my sisters were there, at the same time. We all ate a delicious breakfast and laughed!  Most of the people ate lots of breaded foods: pancakes, waffles, biscuits, and french toast. I ate a vegetable omelet (It was HUGE, but I ate less than half), a few bites of hashbrowns and some coffee with cream. No meat at all.  It was good. I felt really happy that I resisted all the temptations and thought about every bite and how good it tasted. I felt full and stopped...but my plate and the leftovers were sitting there, testing me and my resistance. I didn't indulge and finally the waitress removed my plate. Whew! That test was passed.

I was really full so we headed off to the mall and did a some brisk walking around the entire interior perimeter. IT was just too cold and breezy to walk outdoors this morning. Even in the mall, it was a bit chilly but as we walked we warmed right up. It felt good to exercise and walk off some of the calories from breakfast.

We picked up the dogs from the groomers and went home. I promptly whipped up some whole wheat bread dough, let it rise, kneaded it and made some dinner clover rolls; which are now rising in the warmed oven. Those will be served with our dinner tonight. I plan on preparing, baked tilapia, asparagus, and warmed leftover broccoli rice casserole. Good choices; good food!

Tomorrow I have another early morning. I will be setting up for a volunteer summit breakfast and have to be there by 7:30 a.m.  I plan on sleeping late Sunday (we go to worship services on Saturday evening)!

Revelation Knowledge:
Dieting alone is boring! Dieting with friends is encouraging. Not dieting at all? Well that could mean one of three things; either you've never been overweight, or you've reached your goal, or you've given up! I prefer to reach my reach my goal---not have a weight problem---and never give up! Go-go Dianna!

Today's Menu:

Vegetable Omelet, hashbrowns and coffee with cream.

Lunch: Whole wheat crackers with a slice of cheese.

Dinner: Tilapia, broccoli rice casserole, asparagus, and a homemade whole wheat roll!

Dessert: Sugar-free peanut butter cup.

Week 25, Thursday, Diet with Dianna

Yesterday was a blur...I didn't get to bed until 2 a.m. so I skipped blogging. Tonight is better, but still late, 12:45 a.m.  Eeek. I am supposed to be up by 5:30 a.m. to leave by 6:45 to drop off the dogs for grooming. That is the only time they had available. Ridiculous.

Today was a very good day. Not too busy, but very steady. Not a whole lot to report, but I did cook dinner for the family.  We had lasagna (for the boys) and broccoli/cheese rice (for the girls). Weird combination but both were so very, very DEE-lish-ous!

Revelation Knowledge:

Start practicing your "no thank-you" because Thanksgiving is next week. This is the time when the aunts, sister and mothers dig out their sugary, fattening, and calorie laden recipes.  When the casserole dish is passed and all the gravies and starchy foods are supposed to be piled on...I am practicing now to be polite and smile. I will not be tempted to indulge...not even a taste. I don't want to hurt any feelings, but I will not sabotage all my weight loss success just to blow it on one day! IT's not worth it.

SO, we (the whole family) have decided to forgo the traditional thanksgiving feast and eat food prepared by someone else! Something that I can control and not overdo. I won't have to cook for days, clean for hours, and eat leftovers for weeks!!!! What is it you ask? Well, we are having roasted chicken and two sides, with a small piece of cornbread. (Boston Market Style). No dessert, until later. I will make a yummy pie for the non-dieter folks and a sugar free pie for the weight conscious, smart, thin, skinny, healthy people! I know it will be fun!!! We are planning to spend Thanksgiving Day at the Gaylord Texan, touring the ice sculptures, and then FOOTBALL watching at one of the Sports restaurants inside the GT.  Fun, fun, fun!!!! Ready for Thursday!

Today's Menu:

One egg, Turkey bacon - 2 slices, 1/2 cup old fashioned oats w/blueberries

Sliced roast beef and a few onion rings.

Lasagna - very small serving and 1/2 cup of broccoli rice casserole (homemade and better than Black-Eyed Pea's version! Really!!!!!

Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole

2 cups of Brown Rice - cooked, stored and cooled for a day in the refrigerator. NO SEASONINGS added.

1 can of cream of chicken soup - Campbell's Healthy Request

1 Tablespoon butter

skim milk - fill empty soup can 1 and a 1/2 times.

1 cup of Velveeta Blanco

1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon Adobo Seasoning by Goya

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 large frozen bag of Broccoli Florets 

Preheat oven to 375F degrees.

Pour the frozen broccoli into a microwave safe dish and cover and cook, unseasoned for 3 minutes on high. Stir and cook an additional 2 minutes (approximately 2 cups worth)

IN a larger microwave bowl, Combine the Velveeta cheese (do not add the mozzarella cheese), seasonings, soup, butter, and milk into a microwave bowl. Heat on med/high for 7 minutes or until all the cheese is melted and combined. Stir frequently.

Spread the rice out evenly, (prepared ahead of time and cooled) into a casserole dish.

Spread the cooked broccoli over the rice and lightly stir it together. Mainly to distribute it evenly.

Season the top of the rice/broccoli.

Pour the soup/cheese mix over the broccoli and rice. Lift with a spoon or fork to allow the liquid to seep down into the rice.

Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese.

Place the casserole dish onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet because if it bubble over...you don't have a stinky, burnt mess to clean up in the oven.

Bake for 30 - 40 minutes or until bubbly in the center and the mozzarella cheese has browned slightly!

Eat it hot and store leftovers in a covered dish in the refrigerator for 2 - 3 days. Reheat individual portions. If you reheat the entire dish...the rule of thumb is: cook once, refrigerate, reheat once, discard...never reheat twice!

MIX IT UP!: This recipe is like a black dress...add accessories, or a blouse and jacket and you have a new outfit....well, This basic recipe can be three different meals with using the above basic recipe and substituting or adding in a few simple different ingredients:

1.  Add in a deboned  and pulled apart, roasted chicken (fully cooked and purchased from your local grocer) to this recipe for an OVER THE TOP all in one meal!  

2. Try subbing mixed vegetable medley instead of the broccoli and it is sooooooooo DEE-lish-ous!!!

3. Instead of topping with mozzarella cheese, crush up Ritz crackers and spread over the top! Oh! Someone slap your Granny! This is so good!