Week 3 Challenge

fitmom_pam1976

Hi Guys! Before I get into the Week 3 Challenge, I wanted to take the time to thank all of you that have been thinking of me and posting comments regarding my move. Just a brief update, I am still waiting for the closing date :ohwell: and very busy getting all the furniture sold and out of the house. Basically my house is practically empty and we are waiting! It is so depressing!!! Again, thanks to you guys for sending me positive vibes!!! You guys are doing so great!!! I also wanted to get a video in this week..... BUT did not find time!!! I promise that the next challnge will be better!!!

OK..... so now off to the Week 3 Challenge:

Physical Challenge: Get OUT of your COMFORT zone!!! i know that this has been done oh so many times before...... but it is good to revisit this concept and try something new. Well, to be honest, it does not necessarlily need to be something NEW.... it just needs to be something that you need to FORCE yourself to do. And I promise you that after you do it, YOU will feel SOOOOOO accomplished!!! It is important to mix things up....physically and mentally!!! I am thinking of going for a jog at least 3 times this week!!! Definately OUT of my COMFORT zone!! I am a total GYM BUM!!! So getting outside is not normal for me!!!

Nutritional Challenge: Drink ONE FULL glass of water before EACH MEAL!!! :drinker: Many of you may already do this. It is a Bob Harper Skinny Rule. I used to do this in the past and it really helps!!!! So make sure you get the water in as soon as you wake up before breakfast, then before lunch and before dinner. Also try it before your snacks!

Also, if you guys have any healthy breakfast ideas.... please post recipes below!!! This is kind of a personal request, but I hope it will help someone else also. I have been struggling with breakfast ideas! Thanks!!!:flowerforyou:

I will everyone a Great Week 3!!!!!

Pam

IowaJen1979

I love it! I have been trying to branch out again with my workouts. I added Spinning once a week and for this week's challenge I'm going to try yoga. My YMCA used to charge for these classes but starting this week they are free for members. There is an introductory class on Sunday I'm going to attend and will hopefully incorporate one yoga class a week into my regular routine. I'm excited to stretch and strengthen, especially since I started working out so much more this year!

I am definitely a slacker on water. If nothing else, the Back on Track Challenge has helped me fix that!

Breakfast is my FAVORITE MEAL OF THE DAY!!! I have a few recipes I'll post later. One of them was tested by Mimi and I know she liked it. :-)

neon7girl

I need to add yoga or flexibility..i keep meaning to, but......yea, it gets pushed aside. Will work on the water before meals. I drink it all day long so that is easy to forget. Have a good week!

tleonhardt

Thanks, Pam! I am impressed that you are going strong with such a full plate with moving, etc.! Swimming and yoga are both outside my comfort zone, so I will commit to swim laps at least once this week and do at least 1 yoga video tape session. One of my favorite breakfasts is an egg white omelette:drinker: :drinker: :drinker: with 6 Tb. egg white, a little spinach or basil, and just a tsp. of grated romano or parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of black pepper. Yum!

IowaJen1979

Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes (from http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/02/heart-shaped-chocolate-chip-banana.html)

Heart-Shaped Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 6 • Serving Size: 2 pancakes • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 5 pts*
Calories: 179.6 • Fat: 5.2 g • Protein: 5.9 g • Carb: 28.4 g • Fiber: 2.5 g • Sugar: 10 g
Sodium: 572.1 mg

Ingredients:

1 cup unbleached white or white whole wheat flour (I did a blend of both)
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 large banana, ripe, mashed well
1 cup 1% milk (or almond milk)
3 large egg whites
2 tsp oil
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
cooking spray

Directions:

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. Combine milk, egg white, oil, vanilla and mashed bananas in another medium sized bowl and mix until smooth.

Combine wet ingredients with the dry and mix well with a wooden spoon until there are no more dry spots. Don't over-mix.

Heat a large skillet on medium-low heat. If you are using a heart shaped pancake mold, you will want to spray it lightly with cooking spray so the batter doesn't stick to it.

Lightly spray a skillet with cooking spray, place the mold on the hot skillet and pour 1/4 cup of pancake batter. Add 1 teaspoon of chocolate chips in each pancake. When the pancake starts to bubble and the edges begin to set, flip the pancakes. Repeat with the remainder of the batter.

Makes about 3 cups of batter which yields 12 pancakes.

A few notes:
I measure out 1/4 cup batter per pancake and usually only end up with 10 pancakes. Also, you can freeze these and pop them in a toaster oven to reheat. I usually make a batch, freeze them, and eat them for breakfast throughout the week. One of my all time favorite recipes!

IowaJen1979

Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Hash Brown Cups (from http://www.emilybites.com/2011/10/sausage-egg-cheese-hash-brown-cups.html)

Sausage, Egg & Cheese Hash Brown Cups
Source: Emily Bites Original

Ingredients:
20 oz shredded hash brown potatoes (I used Simply Potatoes brand which comes in a 20 oz refrigerated bag. If you use frozen potatoes, just make sure you let them thoroughly thaw first)
2 T extra virgin olive oil
1 ½ t salt (plus a little more to taste for the eggs)
Black pepper, to taste
4 chicken breakfast sausage links (I used Wegmans Fully Cooked Breakfast with Sage Chicken Sausage)
6 large eggs
4 egg whites
6 T shredded 2% cheddar cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400. Coat a 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray
2. In a large bowl, combine the hash browns, olive oil, salt and pepper and mix thoroughly. Scoop the hash browns evenly into each of the muffin tins and then press the hash browns down into the cups and up the sides to form a well. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until edges are browned.
3. Cut the sausages up into small bite sized pieces. Mist a skillet with cooking spray and brown the sausage pieces over medium-high heat.
4. In another large bowl, combine the eggs and egg whites and whisk together until thoroughly beaten. Add a bit of salt & pepper to taste.
5. Evenly sprinkle the shredded cheese and browned sausage pieces into each hash brown cup and then spoon the egg mixture into each hash brown cup as well. Place the cups back into the oven and bake for another 15 minutes or until the eggs are set. To remove from tins, run a large spoon or butter knife along the edges of each muffins cup.

Yields 12 breakfast cups. Weight Watchers Points Plus: 3 per cup (P+ calculated using the recipe builder on weightwatchers.com)
Nutrition Information per serving from myfitnesspal.com: 123 calories, 10 g carbs, 3 g fat, 7 g protein, 1 g fiber

LOVE these!!! I use frozen hash browns, completely thawed, and I squeeze out the extra water. I also use pre cooked Jimmy Dean turkey sausage links to eliminate the step of cooking the sausage. One of these plus some fruit and milk is the perfect breakfast!

IowaJen1979

Another favorite breakfast:

One Eggo waffle (low fat)
1/2 sliced banana
1 Tablespoon peanut butter

With a side of skim milk = heaven

Leeann1979

Not sure how much exercise out of my comfort zone I'll be able to do this weekend. I'm in a tennis tournament and am in 3 events so I'll be very busy with that. But next week starting Monday i will try!

6mimi

I loved Jen's Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes! Yummy Once I made a double batch and reheated them throughout the week and they were great.

I'm sorry I haven't been able to post on our challenge board much. I will explain more next week... some health issues going on and waiting to get the written report back. That being said, I might have to limit my exercise this week to walking. I will make sure to get that water in before meals and snacks.

6mimi

I have tried other overnight oats and didn't like them because they were made with Greek yogurt. This one I like a lot and you can really change out the fruits to whatever you have on hand and/or skip the chia seeds.

Skinny Overnight Oats in a Jar
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 1 • Serving Size: 1 jar • Old Points: 5 pts • Points+: 6 pts
Calories: 243 • Fat: 10.6 g • Carbs: 35.4 g • Fiber: 8.5 g • Protein: 6 g • Sugar: 12 g
Sodium: 94.7 mg


Ingredients:
1/4 cup quick oats
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (or skim, soy)
1/4 medium banana, sliced (freeze the rest for smoothies!)
1/2 tbsp chia seeds
1/2 cup blueberries
4-5 drops NuNaturals liquid vanilla stevia (or your favorite sweetener)
pinch cinnamon

for the topping:
1 tbsp chopped pecans (or any nut)

Directions:

Place all the ingredient in a jar, shake, cover and refrigerate overnight. Add your favorite crunchy toppings such as nuts, granola, etc and enjoy the next day!

carrielynn62

I will get my water in befor meals and snacks, and will try to eat as clean as I can. I am only able to walk this week doctors orders. I have a doctor appointment next thursday to find out what is going on with my heart velves. This may be why I have been so tired and why i'm having chest pain. I will do my best . I will also keep you all posted when I know whats going on.

IowaJen1979

So sorry to hear about the health issues with some team members! Keep us posted and take care of yourselves!

Pam - hang tight with the move. I HATE HATE HATE it when my life is packed up in boxes and everything is in limbo. I can't imagine how much harder it is with kids! Good luck!

A couple of more breakfast ideas (I told you I love breakfast!):

I always eat these with a side of fruit and a glass of skim milk. I don't really like juice and the milk gives me some extra protein.

A few ideas:
Toast one piece of low calorie bread, top it with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese and 2 cooked slices of center cut bacon (lower in fat than regular bacon and tastier than turkey bacon) = YUM!

Toast 1 mini wheat bagel, top with any flavor of light Laughing Cow cheese and 1 cooked Jennie-O turkey sausage patty

Toast 1 english muffin and top it with cheese and eggs or a breakfast meat

AZRunnerGirlinErie

Great challenge! Never really thought about drinking water before a meal so I will start with that.

These are my Quick & Easy Breaksfast To Go meals (since I'm never really hungry in the morning or don't have time these work great)

Waffles with Peanut Butter:
2 Frozen Flaxseed Waffles or Kashi Blueberry Waffles (2)
2 Tbs Peanut Butter
Just heat in the toaster and spread the peanut butter on and you're good to go.

Breakfast Smoothie:
1 c. Vanilla Soy Milk
1 Banana
1 c. Frozen Fruit - no sugar added - all natural (I use Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, etc.)
1 Tbs. Honey
1 tsp. Ground Flax seed
1 scoop Chocolate Protein Powder
Put in blender/Ninja/Vitamix/hand blender and blend til smooth and creamy. (I use frozen fruit because it doesn't go bad and it keeps the smoothie thicker and colder)

Pam - Good luck with the move! I know that it is a very stressful time and living without your everyday comforts is not fun. Just remember that this too will end and sooner than later you will be in a new house with new adventures just around the corner

momofrugrats

This challenge is great! I recently sigh up for an rope exercise class that begins on Thursday and that is soooo out of my comfort zone. I don't care for exercise classes because I feel awkward and uncoordinated but I will try. I signed up for 12 weeks so we will see. Drink water before each meal is a good challenge also.

fitmom_pam1976

Thanks, Pam! I am impressed that you are going strong with such a full plate with moving, etc.! Swimming and yoga are both outside my comfort zone, so I will commit to swim laps at least once this week and do at least 1 yoga video tape session. One of my favorite breakfasts is an egg white omelette:drinker: :drinker: :drinker: with 6 Tb. egg white, a little spinach or basil, and just a tsp. of grated romano or parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of black pepper. Yum!

Thank you!!! And that omelette sounds amazing! Will def try it out!!

fitmom_pam1976

Another favorite breakfast:

One Eggo waffle (low fat)
1/2 sliced banana
1 Tablespoon peanut butter

With a side of skim milk = heaven

OMG Jen!!! Thank you sooooo much!!! I am loving all the breakfast ideas and recipes!!! I am so bad with breakfast! I am sure this will help!!! Keep up the great work and let me know how that Yoga class goes!! I would like to try one of those also!!

fitmom_pam1976

I have tried other overnight oats and didn't like them because they were made with Greek yogurt. This one I like a lot and you can really change out the fruits to whatever you have on hand and/or skip the chia seeds.

Skinny Overnight Oats in a Jar
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 1 • Serving Size: 1 jar • Old Points: 5 pts • Points+: 6 pts
Calories: 243 • Fat: 10.6 g • Carbs: 35.4 g • Fiber: 8.5 g • Protein: 6 g • Sugar: 12 g
Sodium: 94.7 mg


Ingredients:
1/4 cup quick oats
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (or skim, soy)
1/4 medium banana, sliced (freeze the rest for smoothies!)
1/2 tbsp chia seeds
1/2 cup blueberries
4-5 drops NuNaturals liquid vanilla stevia (or your favorite sweetener)
pinch cinnamon

for the topping:
1 tbsp chopped pecans (or any nut)

Directions:

Place all the ingredient in a jar, shake, cover and refrigerate overnight. Add your favorite crunchy toppings such as nuts, granola, etc and enjoy the next day!

Thanks for sharing this recipes Mary!!! i will def try this! I am praying that you feel better soon! Keep me posted

fitmom_pam1976

I will get my water in befor meals and snacks, and will try to eat as clean as I can. I am only able to walk this week doctors orders. I have a doctor appointment next thursday to find out what is going on with my heart velves. This may be why I have been so tired and why i'm having chest pain. I will do my best . I will also keep you all posted when I know whats going on.

Carrie I am praying for you and hope you feel better soon!!! Please keep me posted!

fitmom_pam1976

Great challenge! Never really thought about drinking water before a meal so I will start with that.

These are my Quick & Easy Breaksfast To Go meals (since I'm never really hungry in the morning or don't have time these work great)

Waffles with Peanut Butter:
2 Frozen Flaxseed Waffles or Kashi Blueberry Waffles (2)
2 Tbs Peanut Butter
Just heat in the toaster and spread the peanut butter on and you're good to go.

Breakfast Smoothie:
1 c. Vanilla Soy Milk
1 Banana
1 c. Frozen Fruit - no sugar added - all natural (I use Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, etc.)
1 Tbs. Honey
1 tsp. Ground Flax seed
1 scoop Chocolate Protein Powder
Put in blender/Ninja/Vitamix/hand blender and blend til smooth and creamy. (I use frozen fruit because it doesn't go bad and it keeps the smoothie thicker and colder)

Pam - Good luck with the move! I know that it is a very stressful time and living without your everyday comforts is not fun. Just remember that this too will end and sooner than later you will be in a new house with new adventures just around the corner

Thanks for the support and these super YUMMY breakfast ideas!!!

fitmom_pam1976

This challenge is great! I recently sigh up for an rope exercise class that begins on Thursday and that is soooo out of my comfort zone. I don't care for exercise classes because I feel awkward and uncoordinated but I will try. I signed up for 12 weeks so we will see. Drink water before each meal is a good challenge also.

Rope Exercise??? That sounds so cool!!! Let me know how you like it!!

fitmom_pam1976

Saturday 9/7:

OK..... so I went way out of my comfort zone today!!! :drinker:

I was scheduled to have a Boot Camp training today..... BUT my trainer overslept. So I had 2 choices (1) Go home and go back to sleep or (2) Go for a jog BY MYSELF!!! I chose number 2!!! I already mentioned before that I am NOT am outdoorsy type of person, so this was not an easy decision. BUT it felt great after I got my jog in!!! Thank you guys for pushing me to better myself everyday!! Hey, I am thinking that I will go for a jog tomorrow morning also!!! And I NEVER exercise on Sundays!!!

Also, I had my water before breakfast. Could not try out any of your yummy recipes yet because I have to go to the grocery store today

6mimi

Great job pushing yourself Pam!!! Do you know how many other people would have just went back to bed. Not you Mrs.!! Off you went on an outdoor jog!

I just posted an update on my heath. I am celebrating good news today!! :bigsmile: I have so much to give thanks for. Being that I have good news, I can up my workouts. I still don't know what is causing the left arm weakness and pain so I will be careful there, but I can definitely do better than I have been doing!! I ordered a new dvd from Blogilates and that should be coming in the mail any day now. I will either do that or try a early morning or weekend spin class that I haven't done before.

I'm also going to do better on my eating. I really have done poorly on that during this last week. There was so much on my mind with all of this health testing going on. No excuses... I will do better. Thanks for all the cheers and support pals!

tleonhardt

Keeping you in prayer for a good doctor report this week.

IowaJen1979

Way to stay motivated, Pam! I'm not sure if I would have done my workout if my trainer slept in. :-) I started running in June and while I don't necessarily love it while I'm doing it, I love how it makes me feel and I noticed changes in the shape of my body after I started.

I went to an introductory yoga class at the Y yesterday, definitely outside of my comfort zone. I liked the class and am planning on going to a regular class on Saturday. I think it will be hard at first but after a few weeks I'm hoping to feel like it's part of my regular routine.

Maalea

I don't know if it counts, but it was definitely out of my comfort zone: Today I made a nuisance of myself to get some customer service. Generally I am very conflict-averse and don't assert myself if I am told something is not possible, but today I was persistent, and it paid off! :happy:

Water before the meals: If I remember in time, it is no problem, but most times I just forget! :embarassed: At home I placed a big empty glass on my table so that I would remember, but at work this is not possible...

momofrugrats

I am doing well with this week exercising and food choices. I forget to drink water before every meal but I am drinking at least 8 glasses a day. Keep going ladies...

carrielynn62

I have been drinking water befor most meals and my food choices are alright, but i'm still limited on my exercise. I hope to get some answers on thursday.Today I made homemade applesauce with apple pie spice, It hit the spot for apple pie.:bigsmile:

6mimi

I haven't tried this yet, but I will because it looks really tasty!

Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Smoothie
Servings: 2 • Size: 1-3/4 cup • Old Points: 4 pts • Weight Watcher Points+: 5 pt
Calories: 180• Fat: 2 g • Carb: 38 g • Fiber: 4 g • Protein: 3 g • Sugar: 8 g
Sodium: 52.5 mg • Cholest: 0 mg

Ingredients:

1/2 cup raw quick oats*
2 cups water
1/2 cup Almond Breeze vanilla unsweetened almond milk
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 ripe medium banana
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp raw sugar
1/2 cup ice


Cook oats and water in a small pot for about a minute or two, stirring often until it becomes thick and bubbly. Remove from heat and let it cool a few minutes.In a blender add almond milk, blueberries, banana, cooled oats, vanillas, sugar and ice. Blend on high until very smooth. Pour in a glass over ice. Enjoy!!

Makes 3 1/2 cups.

*Use gf oats to make this gluten-free.

neon7girl

forgetting my water..bad week emotionally.. i did finally get my yoga in today and wondered why i don't do it more often..it felt good!

Forgot to weigh in this am...it looked heavier when i did get on after breakfast and a jug of coffee. i signed up for FitOrbit as I am not able to get my mindset back in this thing.