Couch to 5K

Ok, here it goes! My attempt at the Couch to 5K program started this morning. I had heard about this program the first time I was on Weight Watchers before I had Sutton. I had absolutely no interest in running! I thought to myself, you go people who want to do this. Well, fast forward 3 years later and here I am attempting it myself. I did the first workout this morning and so far so good! Who knew those treadmills at the gym had a speed interval setting on them that you can set for the program? (Thanks, Traci!) There are even podcasts and applications you can download to your I-pod, touch or I-phone. It can't get much easier for lazy people like myself!

We'll see how I feel tomorrow. :) I figured if I wrote about it, you all could help keep me accountable. I will keep you updated on my progress! If you are interested in checking out the program, you can find it at www.c25k.com. Happy running!

Meal Planning

In an attempt to clean out my pantry and freezer, as well as try some new recipes, I am going to try more meal planning this month. It is so much easier and stress free to cook dinner when you have a plan. It also makes counting points on Weight Watchers much easier as well. One of my favorite places to get recipes is the Weight Watcher Recipe Review message board. You would be surprised at all of the great recipes I've gotten from there that definitely don't taste like diet food! They are all family friendly yummy things. I have become somewhat of a casserole queen. They wonderful way to satisfy the whole family. With Sutton starting to eat what we eat this is very important. I refuse to be a short order cook and have her only eat "kid food". I will keep you posted on how that goes. :)

So far on the list this week:

   Beef and Potato Nacho Casserole
   Bubble Up Chicken
   Crazy Crust or Deep Dish Pizza
   Corn Dog Casserole

I will post the recipes as I try them. They are all new, so stay tuned!

A Breakthrough!

I've been struggling with staying focused on my weight loss journey for about the last 6 months. I was doing great and then something just shut off in my head. I have been self sabotaging myself. I got close to my lifetime weight and starting slacking.

Well, this morning I have great news to report! I was down 2.9 pounds from last week for a total of 28.7 since January 2. It really shouldn't take this long to lose that much, but considering I have been out of focus for the last 6 months, it's not so bad. I know the program works because this is the second time I have done it. The first time I lost 35 pounds. Right when I got to my goal weight I found out I was pregnant with Sutton. Talk about a double blessing! Of course the minute we confirmed I was pregnant the eating fest began. I threw everything I had learned out the window. Oh well, it was a fun 9 months and we have a healthy happy bundle of joy who turns 1 next week! So, now I am faced with not only Thanksgiving next week but also Sutton's 1st birthday party. Talk about some food land mines to negotiate. Yikes! I'm glad I had a great week this week because it will motivate me to stay on track. I will try to remember to report next week how it all went.

The moral of my story is don't beat yourself up for some missteps in your weight loss journey. Keep at it. You can do it. If I can, anyone can. I LOVE FOOD and am not ashamed to admit it! :)

Don't forget I am still participating in Cans for Comments through tomorrow at midnight! For each new comment and/or follower I will donate 1 item to Hunger Stoppers! Also, check out Helen's blog www.threetimesthegiggles.blogspot.com and Maeghan's blog www.greenacresinthecity.blogspot.com. They are also participating so leave them some comments, too! As a "team" we can really make a difference!

Buffalo Chicken Baseballs

Here's another great WW friendly recipe that I have been meaning to post. We tried it last week and it was yummy! If you don't like hot sauce, the original recipe leaves it out. Enjoy! :)

BUFFALO CHICKEN BASEBALLS

Serves 4 –

2 cups cooked chicken

3 oz. light cream cheese

2 Tbls. Frank's Red Hot sauce

2 Tbls. Chopped onion

1 stalk celery, diced

2 Tbls. Light margarine – (Or you can used 2 tsps. olive oil instead)

salt and pepper to taste

1 container Light Crescent Rolls

Bread Crumbs

Mix together until smooth the cream cheese, butter, onion, celery, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Add 2 cups cooked chicken and mix. Separate the crescent rolls into four rectangles, pressing the seams together. Put about ½ cup of the mixture in the center of each of the rectangles and fold the corners to the top to seal. Sprinkle breadcrumbs on top and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Chocolate Eclair Dessert

Chocolate-Éclair Icebox Dessert

22 1/2 sheets (about 1 [14-ounce] box) low-fat honey graham crackers, divided
Cooking spray
3 cups fat-free milk
2 (3.4-ounce) packages fat-free vanilla instant pudding mix
1 (8-ounce) tub fat-free cream cheese
1 (8-ounce) tub frozen reduced-calorie whipped topping, thawed
1/4 cup fat-free milk
2 tablespoons stick margarine or butter, softened
2 tablespoons honey
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar


Arrange 7 1/2 graham cracker sheets in the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Combine 3 cups milk, pudding mix, and cream cheese in a large bowl, and beat at low speed of a mixer 1 minute or until thick. Fold in whipped topping. Spread half of the pudding mixture over graham crackers, and top with 7 1/2 graham cracker sheets. Repeat the procedure with the remaining half of pudding mixture and 7 1/2 graham cracker sheets.

Combine 1/4 cup milk, softened margarine, honey, and unsweetened chocolate in a medium bowl, and beat well with a mixer. Gradually add powdered sugar to milk mixture, and beat well. Spread chocolate glaze over graham crackers. Cover dessert and tent with foil; chill 4 hours.

Yield: 18 servings

CALORIES 234 FAT 5.8g FIBER 0.8g

Cooking Light, JANUARY 1998

Chips Ahoy Dessert

One of my WW friends, Linda, wanted some point friendly dessert recipes today for the upcoming holidays, so I thought I would post some here for her! :) Enjoy!

Chips Ahoy Dessert

1/2 cup fat free milk
18 reduced fat Chips Ahoy Cookies
2 cups fat free milk
1 8 oz. fat free Cool Whip
1 small box chocolate fat free, sugar free pudding mix

Pour 1/2 cup of the milk in a shallow bowl. Dip cookies in the milk very briefly and line 8 X 8 dish with them. Take 1/2 the Cool Whip and spread over cookies. Mix the chocolate pudding with 2 cups milk. Layer over top of Cool Whip. Dip next 9 cookies in the milk and lay on top of pudding. Top with remaining Cool Whip. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
Makes 9 servings

Cheesy Chicken Cups

These are really good and I'm guessing they are pretty kiddo friendly, too! :)

CHEESY CHICKEN CUPS

Servings | 10 (2 pts. each)
1 cup diced chicken breast ( I shredded mine)
1 7.5oz Pillsbury buttermilk biscuits
1 can of healthy request cream of chicken soup
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 cup 2% cheddar cheese
non fat cooking spray
Instructions

Preheat oven 400.

Spray muffin tins with cooking spray. Press each biscuit into the bottom and up sides of muffin cups. Combine other ingredients except cheese, spoon mixture into biscuits sprinkle cheese on the top of each one. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Sausage & Hash Brown Casserole

I am happy to report that dinner was back to normal tonight. Last minute creation that came out great! :) Someday I will remember to take pictures of my food. Until then, just use your imagination.

Sausage & Hash Brown Casserole

30 oz. pkg. frozen hash browns

1 can reduced fat cream of potato soup

1 can reduced fat cream of chicken soup

3 tbls. skim milk

14 oz. smoked turkey sausage

1 cup frozen peas

1/2 c. reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese

paprika

black pepper

Preheat oven to 375. Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Mix first 6 ingredients together in pan. Sprinkle with paprika and pepper to taste. Bake for 30 minutes. Top with cheese bake for 15 more minutes or until cheese is melted.

The cream of soups are all pretty interchangeable. Use whatever types you like.

6 servings = 7 pts. each

8 servings = 5 pts. each

Sweet & Sour Sutton

I'm sure many of you are wondering why I would name my blog "Sweet and Sour Sutton". Well, I asked my very witty husband to help me think of a name. He asked what I was going to write about. I replied by saying I would write about cooking, becoming a first time mom at 39, my journey on Weight Watchers, our 15 year old dog, Rusty, and various other things. My first thought was "Renee's Ramblings". He didn't think that was creative enough, so I told him to help me think of something better. I also came up with BabyLove, Food is Love, Babyfoodlove none of which made the grade. I almost went with his suggestion of Chicken Broth and Dirty Diapers, but for some reason that just didn't sound too appetizing. Gees, I wonder why?! So, anyway...the Sweet & Sour part is an ode to food and Sutton is our beautiful daughter's name and quite possibly might cover her moods some days!
A little about me...I grew up in Iowa in a small town called Belle Plaine. It is a nice town which actually has a few "famous" claims to fame. A senior pro golfer, Lonnie Nielsen and the winner of The Biggest Loser 2, Matt Hoover, are both from Belle Plaine. I however, am not famous. I graduated from Iowa State University in 1991 with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and an emphasis in Marketing. What have I done with that degree, you ask? I spent many years in retail management at Susie's Casuals, Dillard's and Northern Reflections. From there, I went on to a career in outside sales selling yellow page advertising and advertising in marketing brochures for home builders. The latter allowed me to travel all over the country. I am grateful I got to do that before having Sutton. Now I am a stay at home mom and I wouldn't have it any other way! :)
Stay tuned for the daily happenings at Casa Claycamp. Goodness knows what I will have to say everyday, but I hope I can entertain you!