Weighing In with Wynonna ~ week two

Here we are at the end of week two of the 7MSN 12-week get-in-shape-by-spring fitness challenge. Just when I said I would never use the weather as an excuse not to go for my daily walk, in comes the storm of the century. So I missed a couple of walks, but I think I made up for it by doing "extreme chores."  Heck, just getting dressed to go outside was a calorie-burner. I've been able to stick with the 30-day shred DVD, too, which surprises me. I thought I'd be totally bored and over it by now. What I really like about it is that it's a 20-minute workout, albeit a very intense 20 minutes. I can do anything for 20 minutes. And I'm amazed at how much stronger and fit I'm getting with each day's workout.

Anyway, last week, we talked about the exercise component of getting in shape; today, we'll focus on the other part of equation – eating.

Sorry, Wynonna, seconds are not part of your daily calorie allotment.

I'm not crazy about counting calories, but I know if I limit myself to around 1,200 calories per day and get more exercise than I usually do, I will lose weight. I'm a weirdo who can eat the same things every day and be perfectly content. So when I started this challenge, I came up with a 1,200-calorie daily menu of satisfying foods that I like and would normally eat anyway. It makes grocery shopping easy, I'm not starving, and it's been a piece of cake to stick to...minus the piece of cake.

Breakfast:
2 packets of sugar-free maple and cinnamon flavored oatmeal = 200 calories
2 giant cups coffee with a little half and half and a teaspoon of sugar = 56 calories

Lunch:
Progresso Light Santa Fe Style Chicken soup = 160 calories
Saltine crackers = 72 calories
Dried apricots or craisins = 70

Dinner:
Caprese Frittata with sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil = 338 calories
Here's the link to the original recipe - I've modified it to use 3 eggs instead of 2,  and 1/3 cup of shredded part-skim mozzarella instead of the fresh, whole milk kind
Roasted fresh vegetables (green beans, sweet potato, brocolli, cauliflower, zucchini, yellow squash or some combination thereof) = 200 calories

Bedtime snack: Yoplait Lite Yogurt = 100 calories

Total = 1,196 calories


This is dinner – a plate full of very tasty food:

I could eat this every day even if I weren't trying to lose weight. It tastes great, it's filling, and there's a whole lot of food there.

My latest guilt-free snack discovery is this "dessert gum." I've tried the Key Lime and Mint Chocolate Chip flavors, and they're spectacular.

So that's what I'm eating these days. What about you? Got a favorite recipe or meal that works for you when you're trying to eat healthy? A guilt-free snack perhaps? Do tell.