Fitness Challenge

So at work it is "Wellness Week" and we are having a fitness challenge at our school. I've been working out - walking and yoga if you can call that working out (ok, once on the bike) 3-4 times per week. Lost 5 lbs total. good. But I could be doing a lot better. Why can I not motivate myself more?!?! Anywho, here are the categories we are scored on -- one point for each:

•No snacks after 8 pm
•30 minutes of cardio
•Weight lifting
•Ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner
•Drank 64 oz of water
•8 hours of sleep
•Did some type of stress reliever(ex – yoga, reading)
•Ate something from each of the 5 food groups
•No TV while eating dinner

So far I've done 3 meals, I've read, ate something from all food groups, and no tv during dinner. I am off to do my walking in a few minutes and had a few yogurt covered raisins before so no more snacking. I'm almost at my 64 ounces for the day. Heck, I've almost done my walking going to the bathroom since I've been drinking so much. haha. Anywho, I won't lift weights and we'll see about 8 hours of sleep. Gonna try.

Why don't you join me? Do this fitness challenge for a week. Check back in with a point total - I'll keep up with mine!

Menu for the week

Well, this week is really going to be casual for dinner!

Monday - pork roast
**Threw it in the crock pot this morning and we were good to go.

Tuesday - out
**Taking the Katwoman to McD's to play with 2 friends after dance. Since she earned the 10 stickers for being a good sleeper ya know. Gotta do it!)

Wednesday - out. Taking the hubs out for dinner. Fondue. Yummy!

Thursday - BBQ pork sammies

Friday - who knows?! Whatever Daddio decides. I'm going scrapbooking so I'll get whatever Archiver's feeds me. Last time it was stromboli and salad.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope it is a sweet one for all.

I've been so crazy busy I haven't updated in a while. Hopefully I'll have time soon!

AhhhhH!

Winters in Wisconsin can be brutal. Last winter we had over 100 inches of snow (2nd most all time). A few weeks ago school was cancelled for 2 days due to extreme cold (was -20 actual temperature when we woke up).

But tomorrow....ah, tomorrow. It is supposed to be almost 60. 60 in February in Wisconsin would be unheard of. Warmest temp on record for tomorrow is 53. In 1857 or something like that.

I know it will only last a day ~ but what a glorious day it will be! :-)

If you pray.....

I have recently started reading a blog, and the family really could use our prayers for their little girl Abby, who is fighting a very aggressive form of leukemia. Please pray for Abby and her family.




And, while we are in a praying please include Shawndra Turner and her family in your prayers as well as she continues her battle against cancer.

One day I'll have to list the blogs that I read (too many), Many of them happen to be written by people who are courageously fighting disease or have lost a family member and they all could use our prayers. So, as Nike would say, JUST DO IT.

BCD! (Buffalo Chicken Dip)

BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP - can't have a Superbowl Party - or any other kind of party for that matter - without it.

2 boxes cream cheese
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
10 oz canned chicken
5 oz Frank's Red Hot
1/2 cup ranch dressing

Mix it all together, place it in a casserole dish, and bake for 30 minutes at 350.

I usually stir it 1/2 way through. We serve with tortilla chips or crackers. Whatever you like.

Yummy Yummy in my Tummy!

Our dinner tonight was delish! Love this!! You have to try it! Really!! :-)
I found in an old Taste of Home magazine and I'm very glad I tried it. Oh, and for the record, I would love this even after it has been shredded before adding all the other "stuff".

Mile High Shredded Beef

Ingredients:
1 boneless beef chuck roast (3 pounds)
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) beef broth
1 medium onion, chopped
1 celery rib, chopped
3/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
3 drops hot pepper sauce
12 to 15 Hoagie Buns (recipe also in Recipe Finder)
Directions:
Place the roast in a Dutch oven; add broth, onion and celery. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 2-1/2 to 3 hours or until the meat is tender.
Remove roast and cool slightly; shred meat with two forks. Strain vegetables and set aside. Skim fat from cooking liquid and reserve 1-1/2 cups. Return the meat, vegetables and reserved cooking liquid to the pan.
Stir in the ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, bay leaf, garlic powder, paprika and hot pepper sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Serve beef on buns. Yield: 12-15 servings.

Good Eats

So it's been a busy weekend and will be another very busy week at work with IEPs and meetings, so I've planned my menu for the week and done most of my shopping. I need to get back in the habit of doing tihs more often b/c it saves SO much time. I've already cooked the chicken and the beef and they are in the freezer waiting for me.

Sunday: out to eat (YAY)
Monday: Chicken Tortilla Soup (recipe already posted on the blog)
Tuesday: Mile High Shredded Beef Sammies (recipe to come)
Wednesday: Shrimp Stir-Fry (or something with shrimp)
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Tilapia
Saturday: not sure yet :-)

I'm also going to be hitting Dinner By Design in a couple of weeks so I'll have some really yummy stuff (I hope - it sure sounds yummy anyway). And the best thing is, all the prep will be done so all I will have to do is stick the food in the oven.

I have a pretty funny (or sad, depending how you look at it) story to share regarding a certain 4 year old but it will have to wait since I am in the middle of an IEP (and I can't keep my eyes open).

Goals for the week: Smaller portions for meals, limit snacking, exercise at least 5 of next 7 days. ((I'm starting a yoga class once a week so we'll see how that goes - never done yoga before...))

Don't you hate it when.....

You don't get enough sleep? I mean ......Isn't it supposed to take a lot longer for morning to come? I swear I just went to bed a few minutes ago!!!! Things are crazy at work and of course I'm staying up too late at night.

The result of this will be something like:



I can't wait for Saturday and sleep, sweet sleep (with no early wake-up call!)

Let's try something different

Didn't have a lot of time this afternoon and knew tonight was not going to work since I had to take the Katwoman to dance class, so I did a quick 20 minutes on the bike. 4 miles. A pathetic level 2 (out of 16 levels) but hey - I'm out of shape and I'm doing it, right?! Go me!

Tomorrow I might do some weights.......maybe. But I will do something!