Oatmeal: Classic

I am not doing Weight Watchers for now. I decided to try to just incorporate healthier foods and cut back on portions. In lieu of this, today will be an ode to oatmeal. There's so much you can do with it, and it's so very healthy.

Growing up, all I knew of oatmeal was the classic recipe.

Minute oats, cooked

Sugar or brown sugar if you're feeling frisky

Little bit of milk

Butter

This is still one of my favorites, but I've discovered many more. Classic oats are now my oat of choice.

Oatmeal with Raisins

Classic oats, cooked

Raw sugar or local honey (to improve allergy symptoms!)

Little bit of milk

Raisins

Chopped pecans or walnuts

Cinnamon to taste (which regulates blood sugar levels and can improve memory - pass the cinnamon rolls!)

Oatmeal with Apples (my personal favorite, thanks to my past roomie, Hannah) Yum!

Classic oats, cooked

Raw sugar or local honey

Chopped apples

Chopped pecans or walnuts

Cinnamon to taste

And if you're really hungry... Add peanut butter!

Day 4

So Weight Watchers is going well so far. My roommate, Emily, has now joined the effort as well. This week, I've been craving junk food like it's nobody's business. And I feel like I've been hungry a lot. But I think I've just gotten used to eating when I get bored which is a terrible habit to get into! Needless to say, I'm definitely going to clear out my extra weekly points!

Recent Indulges:
1. This morning during defensive driving at Denny's: Bacon! 4 strips for 5 points. So worth it.
2. Last night: Steak, bread (with butter), and garlic mashed potatoes at Outback (split with Emily) followed by double dark chocolate ice cream with graham crackers (kiddie size) at Marble Slab... all for a grand total of 21.5 points. That must be some kind of record. I'll revel in that meal for weeks.
3. The first night: 3 oreos and nerds. 6.5 points total.

So it's been a tough first week, but I haven't avoided inserting any foods in the point tracker which is good, and I haven't had a radical change in diet. I have cut back more than I would normally, which I think is improvement and makes me think I'm more likely to stick to it. The main thing I've been doing is incorporating new, healthier foods into my diet which will help me stay fuller like...
1. 2 egg omelet with mixed cheese, fresh spinach, onion, bell peppers, and broccoli - 5 points total
2. Roasted red pepper hummus (great with carrots - 0 points!) - only 1 point for 2 tbsp.
3. Grits (yummy with sugar or honey and butter, or salt and pepper - and rather filling!) -3 points per cooked cup

Today, I have 4.5 points left (ha) and 7 left from the weekly points. And I have 3 activity points just sitting there, waiting to be used. Not sure how that works quite yet?

Weight Watchers First Day Eve

Meagan and I decided to do Weight Watchers together to work off some extra baggage. Today was her day 1, but I opted for tomorrow since by the time we talked at 3 o'clock, I had already scarfed down a huge bowl of chili and didn't feel like inputting that point value. So instead, I'm putting off my start day til tomorrow!
I'm hoping that eating better and exercising is going to give me some energy because lately, I feel like I've been running on empty. When I've regularly exercised before, I am so much more inclined to be active in general.
I went grocery shopping today to pick up a few things to get started. I'm running out of money so I'm keeping things simple for the rest of the month...
Grocery list -
dried cranberries
spinach
carrots
hummus - roasted red pepper
turkey
whole wheat bread
total cereal
blueberries
grapefruit
onion
bell pepper
Once my funds increase... I am planning on making this recipe from Better Homes and Gardens. It's for a spiced chicken that you can cook, freeze, then thaw to add to whatever you're eating that night. Pasta, salad, sandwiches, etc... I'm hoping this will help me to use chicken more. I tend to be a ground beef person myself. But anyway, Meagan you should check out the recipe! Sure does make things easy.
Well I'm going to head back to our 4 1/2 hour long marathon of Pride and Prejudice. Priceless. For dinner, I might've had a few too many slices of french bread pizza, however, it was accompanied by a salad if that makes things better (only to be followed by oreos). But what the heck, it's my last hurrah!
I think this could be really fun. I'm excited about the new Momentum plan on Weight Watchers, which involves eating more filling foods. And I'm looking forward to keeping up with Meagan on the phone and through blogging!