Camping Meals

A big part of our summers is camping. Mike and I cemented the commitment to camping last year when we bought this. So, therefore, I must embrace camping and all the calorie laden traditions that come with it. So what's a girl to do? I didn't want to give up the "fun" aspect of food. The chips and ice cream. The big, yummy, pancake breakfasts and the eventful Suppers. So I made substitutions and was careful. I also did lots of biking and walking. I played kickball with the kids and took my brother's dogs for a walk. Anything to keep me moving.

Anyway, I thought I would let you in on my food journal from this last camping trip and see what I did. (Yes, I do keep a food journal. I could do a post entirely on journaling, it's that important.)

Friday ~
5 Oatmeal Apple Pancakes with ICBINB (I Can't Believe it's Not Butter) & 2 T Light Syrup = 5 pts
1 Egg cooked with Pam - 2 pts

Ham Sandwich (2 oz Ham, 45 Calorie Bread, and 1 slice FF Cheese) = 3 pts
Weight Watchers Pasta Salad = 2 pts

I made this yummy recipe from my Weight Watcher's cookbook this time, I will definitely make it again!

• Pasta Salad with Black Beans and Tomatoes
• 4 oz. uncooked Rotini
• 2 C diced plum tomatoes ( I used halved cherry tomatoes, I liked that much better)
• 1/2 C diced cucumber
• 3 T chopped fresh cilantro
• 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 3/4 C Fat free balsamic vinaigrette ( I used Fat Free Italian, very yummy also)
• 1/4 t Kosher Salt
• 1/4 c (1 oz) crumbled reduced fat feta
• cook pasta and cool, mix remaining ingredients! 6 serving (3/4 C serving)

Baked Chips = 2 pts

Weight Watchers Ice Cream Bar = 2 pts

Hamburger with light bun (1 pt) = 6 pts
More Pasta Salad - 2 pts
More Baked Chips = 2 pts

Fat Free Pudding w/ Fat Free Whip Topping = 2 pts

Saturday ~
5 Oatmeal Apple Pancakes with ICBINB & 2 T Light Syrup = 5 pts
1 Egg cooked with Pam - 2 pts

Ham Sandwich = 3 pts
Weight Watchers Pasta Salad = 2 pts
Baked Chips = 2 pts

Weight Watchers Ice Cream Bar = 2 pts

Petite Steak = 3 pts
1/2 C Party Potaoes (Frozen hasbrowns, 1 pkg Neufchatel, 1 C Chicken Broth, Salt & Pepper to taste) = 3 pts
Salad with light dressing = 1 pt

1/2 C half fat ice cream = 2 pts

Lastly, we made these!
Instead of s'mores I thought I would try a dessert that still needed to be cooked over a campfire, but not SO caloric. So we made Baked Apples. A cored apple with 2t brown sugar and 2t granola. We double wrapped them in tinfoil and put them in the coals.

Now, admittedly, I then went on a big walk and thought they were being tended to. (which they weren't) so when I got back they were mere charred versions of the real thing. But I know this recipe will work. You just can't let them sit in a searing hot fire for an hour...

This Feels Oddly Familiar

I finally did it!

Arguably, for the 1st time since I have been back to Weight Watchers, I have been successful all week. I didn't snarf down all my extra points with in the 1st few days of my week. I didn't give up and stop counting half way through the week. I kept my head about me and planned for carefully.

My reward? Great weight loss, a "lighter" feeling mentally and physically all week, and the priceless personal satisfaction that, indeed, if I just keep with something, I will begin to succeed.

The extra perk to this fabulous week, is that I did it even though we went camping this weekend. Camping has often been my downfall, but with my parent's help, I was able to track very carefully this weekend. Yeah!!! Praise the Lord!!

Weight Loss this week: -2.6 lbs
Total Weight Loss: -30 lbs
Pounds to reach goal: 27 lbs (THIS feels good! Getting ever so closer)

It Isn't Failure Till You Decide to Quit

You thought I had "fallen off the wagon", didn't ya. :) I actually have been keeping on with my weight loss journey! But what can I tell you, I have 4 kids and all the responsibilities that go with it. Plus, I'm already keeping up another blog about my wonderful kids.

Not to say I haven't "fallen off the wagon" many times, but I continue to drag myself back up on that horse time and time again. I heard a quote (I don't even know who from) that said, " It isn't actually failure till you decide to quit." That is my mantra on a lot of days. I haven't failed just as long as I don't give up.

So I continue to go to my meeting each week. I continue to count my points each day. I continue to workout and eat healthy. I mess up a lot. But, hopefully, the cumulative effect will be a good one.

Tonight was my Weight Watchers meeting. I always here a nugget there that I can take with me. This meeting our leader said:
"People walk in here and they start losing weight the 1st weeks! They are all excited and gung ho. But then something happens. Maybe that it's hard to keep tracking their food. Or maybe they just don't want to do it anymore. Whatever the reason they start thinking about quitting, telling themselves that 'I look good enough'...."
I have been having that very thought here lately. I was even trying to elicit a comment out of my husband along those same lines this weekend! So what was her "fix"? We need more goals than just, "looking good and losing weight. " So then I started thinking, what would those goals be for me? Here's my short list:

1.) I want to run faster! Carrying around these extra 30 lbs make's me a slow runner. I want to feel like I'm floating on air again.

2. ) I finally want to be in control of my impulses. Just because I have a craving for chips does not mean I have to eat them. I want to be able to easily dismiss a food that I don't need.

3.) Frugality. There is a lot of money to be saved in food and in clothes if I can just stay one size and not eat all the yummy snacks 1st thing in the week!

What are your goals? Even if you aren't actively trying to lose weight. What keeps you from face diving into the ice cream, or cramming those crackers? Please leave a comment and let me know. I really hope to be inspired by you!

So this is me, now. I wish it were more. But truly I'm happy I haven't completely messed up!

Total Weight Loss: -27.4 lbs (exactly 10 lbs since the last time I posted)
Pounds to reach goal: 29.6 lbs