New Recipe, Monthly Assessment for February, New Helpful Chart

Thanks, friends! I absolutely love decorating and HATE paying retail. (unless it's Ikea because, come on, that shiz is cheap). Love it! So how was your Tuesday? Mine was like a Monday all over again. Grrr. It snowed so the drive in took foreva (pattern, no?), then I just worked... had to work through lunch, hit the grocery store, raced home and REALLY felt like cooking (even though I had some meals ready!).

I was dying to try a new recipe - one I found when I stumbled upon Gina’s Weight Watchers Recipes - her Pasta Fagioli Recipe. I tweaked it a bit (removed carrots; added mozzarella; upped the noodles; made it 4 rather than 5 servings) but it’s very much her recipe and AMAZING! I apologize in advance for carb counters – my version is a bit high! Here’s the recipe for FOUR servings:

1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, small to medium size
½ tbsp minced garlic
1 celery stalk, diced
1 15 oz can cannellini beans
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 large bay leaf
1 tbsp basil, dried
1 tbsp parsley, dried
1 tsp oregano, dried
4 cups fat free chicken broth (or 2 cans)
2 cups water
Sea salt and pepper to taste
8 oz. small pasta (I used mini fusili)
8 tsp grated parmesan cheese
40 grams fresh mozzarella, grated

spoonful!

In a deep pot, saute onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat. Blend can of beans with one cup water in electric blender until smooth. Add blended beans to pan then add the tomato sauce, celery, chicken broth, basil, bay leaf, parsley, oregano, sea salt and pepper. Add 1 cup water and bring to slow boil. Let simmer for 20 minutes stirring occasionally. Add pasta and cook uncovered until pasta is al dente, according to pasta directions. Ladle soup into bowls, remove bay leaf, and top each serving with 2 tsp grated parmesan and 10 grams fat free mozzarella. Nutritional Information: 418 calories, 70 carbs, 9 fat grams and 20 protein grams.

You guys! It was so creamy and fabulous like MELT in my mouth. I can’t wait to make this again and make more of it. Me and Austin are officially obsessed with this new recipe. Thanks, Gina!

After cooking the pasta and getting some Buffalo Chicken Chili from Biz going in the crockpot, I did a few things around the house, got ready for tomorrow and settled in to The Ugly Truth - such a cute little movie! I also did my Monthly Assessment for February 2010. Here goes!!!

By the Numbers

Pounds Lost: 3 (123 to 120)
Highest Weight: 122.5
Lowest Weight: 119 (only 1 day)
Pounds left to Lose: 5 (shooting for 115)
Posts: 19
Days Worked out: 18
Miles of cardio: 82
Miles of running: 16
Days of C25K: 9

Interesting Charts

Click on charts to make them larger!



So 9 over-the-limit calorie days and a few high fat days - much better on carbs and still good on protein. I can honestly say I was much more cognizant about calories in vs. calories out, but still let a lot go which is cool. It’s like “balance” which I’m a huge fan of. I do think next month I’ll try to teeter more on the watch end and less on the stuffing-my-face-over-drinking end. hehe

February Calories In, Calories Out, Weight

February 1, 2010: 1,785 calories; 6.75 miles (including C25K); burned estimate: 370 calories; net: 1,415; 123
February 2, 2010: 1,751 calories; 5 miles + triceps + shoulers; burned estimate: 275 calories; net: 1,476; 122
February 3, 2010: 1,714 calories; No Exercise; 122.5
February 4, 2010: 1,517 calories; 3.25 miles (including C25K); calories burned: 202; net: 1,315; 121
February 5, 2010: 2,141 calories; 2 miles; calories burned: 88; net: 2,053; 121
February 6, 2010: 2,214 calories; 4 miles + legs; calories burned: 341; net: 1,873; N/A
February 7, 2010: 1,625 calories; No exercise; N/A
February 8, 2010: 1,722 calories; 5 miles including C25K + back + biceps; burned 308 calories; net: 1,414; 121.5
February 9, 2010: 1,983 calories; No Exercise; 122.5
February 10, 2010:1630 calories; 6.5 miles including C25K; burned 340 calories; net: 1,290; 122
February 11, 2010: 1,781 calories; No Exercise; 122
February 12, 2010: 1,973 calories; 4 miles cardio; burned 180 calories; net: 1,793; 121.5
February 13, 2010: 2,136 calories; No Exercise; 121.5
February 14, 2010: 1,653 calories; 5 miles cardio; burned 219 calories; net: 1,434; 121
February 15, 2010: 1,723 calories; 4 miles cardio; burned 177 calories; net: 1,555; 123
February 16, 2010: 2,190 calories; 4 miles cardio; burned 178 calories; net: 2,012; 122.5
February 17, 2010: 1,803 calories; 6.5 miles cardio (C25k); burned 328 calories; net: 1,475; 122
February 18, 2010: 1,671 calories; upper body ST + abs; burned 83 calories; net: 1,588; 122
February 19, 2010: 2,035 calories; 7 miles (including C25k); burned 369 calories; net: 1,666; 121.5
February 20, 2010: 2,034 calories; no exercise; 121
February 21, 2010: 1,754 calories; no exercise; 121
February 22, 2010: 1,820 calories; no exercise; 122
February 23, 2010: 1,717 calories; 7 miles (including C25k); burned 346 calories; net: 1,371 ; 121.5
February 24, 2010: 1,621 calories; No Exercise; 120.5
February 25, 2010: 1,845 calories; 5 miles cardio (including C25k); burned 290 calories; net: 1,555; 120
February 26, 2010: 1,843 calories; 4 miles cardio + legs; burned 259 calories; net: 1,584; 119
February 27, 2010: 2,232 calories; 3 miles cardio (burned 152 calories); net: 2,080; 119.5
February 28, 2010: 1,689 calories; No exercise; 120

Here's a new chart!

This new tool (that you guys told me about!) helped me out so much! Orange is BMR, green is what I burn through workouts and blue is where I eat. So here you can really see the high days.\

A Look Back: February Goals

1. Walk/Run 85 miles. (almost done – 3 miles short!!)
2. Get to Week 6 on Couch to 5K Program. (got through week 5 – will try to get to week 7 in March!)
3. Make meal plans and plug in information to SparkPeople before eating! (did well on this; need to stay on it!)
4. Lock down a budget for 2010 and really focus on saving $/spending less. (haven't started this)
5. Finish up the hall closet project - including painting! (will push to March)
6. Finish up dining room art project. DONE
7. Find ways to hang shelves in half bath. (will push to March)
8. Call Lowes - see when Samsung range will be in. DONE; think we may end up not waiting on the Samsung range so I’ll try to buy and install all in another brand in March.
9. Find someone to cut down trees. DONE; having someone come out this month.
10. Have guest book canvas put on wooden backers and hung. DONE

A Look Ahead: March Goals

1. Walk/Run 85 miles.
2. Get to Week 7 on Couch to 5K Program.
3. Make meal plans and plug in information to SparkPeople before eating!
4. Lock down a budget for 2010 and really focus on saving $/spending less.
5. Finish up the hall closet project - including painting!
6. Find ways to hang shelves in half bath.
7. Get updated quotes on stainless; have all appliances ordered and installed.
8. Have trees cut down.
9. Get quotes on lighting (outdoor and indoor).
10. Get quotes on painting ceiling downstairs.

This month I really feel like I focused on fitness, on eating when I’m hungry other than when I was bored, tired, insert emotion here. And I lost a few ellbees – and I could tell! I felt a little better in my clothes and like I had more energy overall (despite feeling a bit sicky all month). I want to continue focusing on eating better, not eating so much ‘junk’ and working on my C25K. This month I also hope to make many more new recipes – woo! And lastly, as you can see above, I’m ready to tackle my house projects! We don’t have many left and I’m ready to have it done! Woo-hoo!

So... yesterday I didn't get around to working out. At all. But that's okay - i'm all over it and hope to do 7 miles including C25K, Week 6, Day 1 today!

How was your February? Anything you plan to do differently this month?