The first week of the New Year is now behind us. How did you do?
I was doing great in the beginning of the week then towards the end I got…how do you say it…lazy! Well that laziness put a damper on my weight loss goal of losing ½ pound to 1 pound this week. I actually gained a pound! It just proves the importance of keeping my food journal. When I was paying close attention and tracked all my foods I definitely thought twice about what I was eating. The days I slacked where the ones I consumed a little too much. I don’t need to tell you those little extra calories add up quickly.
Enough with the doom and gloom let’s move forward, shall we?
On a quick side note, I must say having this blog really keeps me motivated. I love that I hold myself accountable to all of you each week. Really keeps me on my toes 
To keep myself focused I am going to post my 2012 weight loss goal every week.
My Weight Loss Goal for 2012
- Lose the last 20lbs by June 1st.
Weight Loss Action Plan
- Exercise on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. My goal is to wake up at 5:00am to do this but if that becomes too much then I will exercise after work.
- Strictly stick to my food journal (My Fitness Pal). Obviously, I have become too comfortable and need to be more disciplined. I will be plugging in the information for my menu plan the night before so I know what to expect in calories for the day.
- Do not eat after 7:00pm.
Like I said last week, I will post my weight loss progress as well as setbacks. I will do this to hold myself accountable but also to motivate you as you work towards your goals. Please share, if you wish, your goals and progress in comments.
Menu Plan {January 9th – 15th}
Recipes, nutritional, and freezer cooking information is provided by clicking on the links below. If there is not a link then that means I have not posted it yet but will as soon as I can.
Breakfast
Mushroom, spinach, bacon, and cheese breakfast burrito (recipe coming)
Midmorning snack
Homemade granola bars (recipe coming)
Lunch
Bean and cheese burritos (I made homemade refried beans this weekend and will be posting that recipe soon)
8 ounce Vanilla Chobani Greek with 1/3 cup frozen berries
Caesar salad (romaine lettuce, 3 servings of croutons, 2 ounces smoked turkey, and yogurt Caesar dressing)
Leftovers
Dinner
Balsamic vegetable pizza (recipe coming)
Chicken enchiladas (recipe coming)
Tacos of course
Cheeseburger hot pockets (recipe coming)
Chicken quesadillas (I use this chicken freezer meal starter)
Rigatoni and meatballs
Dinner at my parents
Night time snack
Homemade microwave popcorn (recipe coming)
Make Ahead Meal Instructions
These instructions are provided to give you an idea on the different ways I prepared my meals ahead of time. If you have specific “how to freezer cook” questions about a certain dish please check the recipe first. If you don’t find your answer there then ask in the comment section, on Facebook, or email me.
- I still have a few breakfast sandwiches in the freezer that I made last week.
- Breakfast burritos were made today and put into the freezer.
- Granola bars were made one night last week after I got home from work.
- Taco meat, seasoned beef for cheeseburger hot pockets, and meatballs were made on Saturday and put into the freezer.
- Bean and cheese burritos, balsamic vegetables, chicken enchiladas, shredded chicken (for quesadillas) were made today and put into the freezer.
I spent some time this weekend testing out different recipes and freezer cooking techniques. If all works out I look forward to sharing them with you.
What’s on your menu this week? Did you get a chance to prepare anything ahead of time?
This menu plan is bring shared at Menu Plan Monday hosted by the Organizing Junkie.
I found your site last week and the menu planning is what brought me here. I can’twait to get started on that. I love the freezer meal ideas and have learned so much! This week is my firt attempt at menu planning.. I picked my recipes by what I had in the house and what ingreds. could be used multi times.
Monday 1/9 Pot Roast ,Skinny Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes with Chives ,Steamed broccoli
Tuesday Sour Cream Pork Chop ( paula deen),White rice,Salad w/ homemade Ranch Dressing
Wednesday BBQ pot roast ( Simmer meat in BBQ sauce) Sandwiches ,Low fat baked onion rings w/ ranch dressing
Thursday Asian Glazed Chicken Thighs (all recipes) ,White rice Steamed broccoli
Friday Crock Pot Bolognese Sauce, Pasta Salad w/ Ranch
Saturday Left overs
My make ahead will be the Ranch dressing. I don’t know what else I can make ahead with these recipes. Any tips?? I also am counting calories and use the Lose it app…so most of these are low cal recipes. Some are new and some are old. Wish me luck!
Some of the upcoming recipes look great, I’m new to your blog and happy to have found it!
I am happy you have found me
keep in touch.
I would love your recipe for homemade granola bars!
I am going to post once I fiddle a little more with it. It not quite blog worthy yet
Hi
I found your blog last week and LOVE It. Time saving and losing weight! I’m all in. I look forwarding to reading more in the future. I did the PB& J in the freezer for school lunches this week. I also did the breakfast sandwiches! Do you use the crock pot much?
Hi Linda! That is fantastic! I bet mornings were much easier in your house this week. I do use the crockpot but mostly for meal starters like shredded chicken, pork, beef, and beans. I also have used it was sauces. I am not a big dinner in the crockpot person unless I am just warming up a meal already prepared in the freezer.
Thanks for the freezer chicken idea
here is what we are eating this week:
http://healthynbalanced.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/weekly-menu-plan-19-115/
You inspire me
Thanks for all the great tips & recipes.
I joined Jazzercise today…need to get this body moving. We have SIX weddings to attend this year, and I’m in one of them, so that’s my motivation for shedding some pounds.
Here’s our menu from last week ~
http://thelittlethingsjournal.blogspot.com/2012/01/menu-plan-monday-in-reverse-january-9.html
Thanks for the kind word Katie! You are very welcome. Have fun at Jazzercise! Keep me posted on your progress.
have you ever tryed cauliflower pizza crust? its amazing and low carb, delish delish…i also use turnips instead of potatoes, alot lower in calories and carbs than potatoes and mashed and fryed up with ground turkey, delish easy meal, they even cook faster for mashed potatoes…i also grate up cauliflower and fry with coconut oil and throw in precooked shrimp, very low carb low cal recipe and also chicken curry and put over cauliflower that has been grated up and use for your rice, your family will never know the difference….