Menu Plan 3/26/2012 - 3/31/2012

Happy Monday!
I hope you all had a great weekend.  Ours was pretty good.  Kiddo B and I went to go see the Hunger Games on Friday afternoon.  Loved it, though it doesn't live up to the book...it never does.  I have to say the worst part of going to see a teenage movie is all the teenagers in the movie theatre, lol!  There was some smart-ass kid that screamed "Bless you!" everytime someone sneezed, coughed, or made really any kind of noise.  Then, the hormonal tween (not my hormonal tween) sitting next to me started sobbing HYSTERICALLY during the movie...I mean, like loud.  Then she used her pig-tails to dry her eyes...oh yeah, good times. 
THEN, on Saturday we surprised kiddo C with an iPod.  Her and Daddy drove the convertible (our date car) to Best Buy to "look at things" and was told she could pick an iPod.  Unfortunately, apparently the $10 off sale Best Buy was having on iPods meant there was NONE.  So, we went to Target and got her a pink Nano.  When we got home, we realized that basically Apple downgraded the Nano's in hopes you would have to upgrade to the iPod touch.  GRR!  You can't watch videos with the new Nano and none of the games we have are compatible.  So, basically, it was a Shuffle that cost $70 more.  Sunday, we went back to Target and exchanged it for a Shuffle.
Anyway, that was our weekend.  This week, I have a big-ol-list going to prepare for our move in ONE month! 
Onto the menu plan for the week:

MONDAY

Italian Sausage and Roasted Pepper Spaghetti (made with Trader Joe's High Fiber Pasta), Caesar Salad

TUESDAY

Roasted Red Potato and Green Bean Soup, Buttered Sprouted Toast

WEDNESDAY

Baked Tilapia with Orange Cashew Rice, Salad De Maison

THURSDAY

Strawberry Chicken Salad, Buttered Sprouted Toast

FRIDAY

BBQ Country Pork Ribs, Crash Hot Potatoes, Mini Corn on the Cob

Have a great week!

Menu Plan 3/12/2012-3/16/2012

My scale is going wonky.
It seems to add weight every time it gets stepped on.  So, whoever weighs-in first in the morning gets the lowest read, whoever weighs-in last gets a not-so-accurate read.  This morning I was first, and it showed a drop of 3.2 pounds.  I am not sure if I should believe it though.  We are getting a new scale today.  We will get a new baseline weight tomorrow morning.  I mean, I want to do this right.  The thought of setting up a new baseline scares the crap out of me as to the mind game that could do.  UGH!  If I step on the new scale and the weight is higher...BOOOO!!!  I know Rosalie went through the same situation, but still...I will see tomorrow I guess!
Last week I did a really good job at not eating legal carby stuff at dinner-time.  We had some AMAZING salads that I am SO excited to have again.  I am not sure if I told you, but we are eating this way as an entire family.  The kiddos have been total troopers adjusting to it, and the hubby is kicking ass on his weight loss too!  This week though, I am adding in a few days of the legal carbs for dinner.  I find that if I can nip a craving in the butt before it gets too bad, it is a lot easier to stay in control and we are all happy campers.  The girls have been begging me for some kind of spaghetti dish.  I found some AWESOME High Fiber Pasta at Trader Joe's that is lower in carbs and higher in fiber than whole wheat pasta. 
So, here is my MENU PLAN for this week:

MONDAY

Spasagna (made with the Trader Joe's High Fiber Pasta), Caesar Salad

TUESDAY

Hot Chicken Salad, Salad De Maison

WEDNESDAY

Ranch House Crockpot Pork Chops, Mashed Cauliflower, Wedge Salad

THURSDAY

Biltmore Pecan Chicken, Green Beans, Wild Rice Pilaf

FRIDAY

Bacon Cheeseburger Salad, Baked Potato Wedges

What's on your menu for the week?

Menu Plan 3/5/2012 - 3/9/2012

Keeping this short and sweet today...you know, since it is already almost 9:00 pm.  UGH!  I am not sure where my day went.
Anywho, here is our eats for the week :

MONDAY

Taco Night

TUESDAY

Melt in Your Mouth Parmesan Chicken, Garlicky Almond Green Beans, Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

WEDNESDAY

Grilled Steak, Sauteed Mushrooms and Onions, Salad De Maison

THURSDAY

Asian Pork Tenderloin, Roasted Sesame Broccoli, Shanghi Cucumbers

FRIDAY

Easy Peasy Chicken Legs, Cheesy Cauliflower, Ranch Wedge Salad

Menu Plan 2/27/2012 - 3/2/2012

I was DREADING my weigh-in this morning.  Totally DREADING.  This past week, the doctor put me on a round of Prednisone to try to clear out my ears...totally didn't work.  Anyway, this particularly crappy steroid is often referred to "Pregg-nisone" because it makes you feel pregnant.  Emotions completely out of control, cravings up the yang, water retention, and STARVING.  Yup, that was my fun week.  My poor kiddos and hubby.  I was a wack-job.  And sick.  And a wack-job. 
So, between feeling like I was eating way too much, not drinking enough and yet retaining water, and not really doing much on the "down-side" if you know what I mean, I was sure I would be up this week. 
But guess what?  NOPE!  I have released another 4.4 pounds this week!  YAYYYY!!!!
Now onto the Menu Plan for the week. 

MONDAY

Grilled Steak, Potato Skins, Salad

TUESDAY

Crockpot Chile Verde (Mexican Pork Stew), some kind of veggies

WEDNESDAY

Cajun Shrimp Scampi, Veggie Heavy Dirty Brown Rice

THURSDAY

Easy Peasy Chicken Legs, Cheesy Cauliflower, Spinach Salad

FRIDAY

Make Your Own Pizza Night, Italian Chopped Salad

Menu Plan 2/20/2012 - 2/24/2012

Oiy!  I was down all last week with ear, eye, and sinus infections...thank you kiddos for the mass-germies you bring home.  A week later and my ears are still plugged.  It is making me bonkers!  I have been on antibiotics, steroids, Zyrtec, and Sudafed for a week and they are still freaking plugged...UGH!
Enough about that...even with the clogged ears, I am so blissed-out right now.  I just did my 4 week weigh-in and measurements.  This week, I released 3.2 pounds bringing my 4 week total to 13.8 pounds and are you ready for this....29 inches!!!  (((happy dance)))
Whew, got a little dizzy there for a second with all the happy dancing.  Let's just move to the menu for the week shall we?

MONDAY

Chicken Tortilla Soup, Southwest Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing

TUESDAY

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs, Pasta Pomodoro Sauce, High Fiber Pasta

WEDNESDAY

Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kabobs with Grilled Veggies

THURSDAY

Broiled Parmesan Tilapia, Roasted Asparagus, Spinach Salad

FRIDAY

Make your own pizza, Italian Chopped Salad

Hope you all have a FABULOUS week...sending lots of (((hugs))) and sugar-free kisses your way!  

Menu Plan 2/13/2012 - 2/17/2012

So, after 3 full weeks, I have released a total of 10.6 pounds, 1.6 of them being last week.  I know it is not the staggering amount some people experience, but I will take it!  Why?  Here's why:

1. The slower you lose it, the easier it will be to maintain
2. When you lose a bunch of weight quickly, your skin cannot keep up to shrink down with it.
3. When you lose it slower, I think it puts you into a better frame of mind.  Your expectations aren't so high that when you don't see that big number in a week, you think it stops working, which can discourage you from working it.
4. I am eating REAL, PURE food.  Plain and simple, I am eating cleaner and healthier than I have in a long time.  I am not eating artificial junk for the sake of saving some calories. 
5. Tortoise and the Hare baby!  Slow and steady wins the race...I will take the Tortoise anyday!  Now, I am not saying those who have lost huge numbers are going to fail, not maintain, or not finish;  I am simply saying this is why it works for me.

Onto my menu for the week:

MONDAY

Eastern Carolina BBQ, Veggie Heavy Pasta Salad

TUESDAY

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs, TJ 3 Cheese Pasta Pomodoro Sauce,  1/2 serving Pasta, Grain-Free Garlic Bread, Ceasar Salad

WEDNESDAY

Almond Crusted Chicken with Lemon Cream Sauce, Steamed Broccoli

THURSDAY

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan, Roasted Cauliflower, Spinach Salad

FRIDAY

Make your own pizza

Menu Plan 2/6/12 - 2/10/12

This week, I am down 2.2 pounds.  While I am happy about that, I was slightly disappointed it wasn't more.  BUT, one benefit to tracking your meals, snacks, fiber intake, and daily water is that you can go back and see what happened.  Even though I was under on my sugars and carbs everyday (yes, and each meal), I was also woefully under on fiber and water.  That combined with this weekend being filled with salty crap food...movie theatre popcorn, Red Robin Burger (lettuce wrapped but still INSANELY high in sodium, fat, and calories), hot wings, and potato skins...I should be happy I didn't gain weight.
BUT, it is the start of another week, so that means another meal plan.  Here is what is on our dinner agenda for the week:

MONDAY

Chicken Broccoli Ranch Foil Packets, Salad

TUESDAY

Grilled Steak, Garlic Grilled Shrimp Skewers, Roasted Asparagus, Salad

WEDNESDAY

Roasted Boursin Chicken, Garlic Mashed Cauliflower, Spinach Salad

(we were still a house under siege with the plague last week, we didn't get this one made)

THURSDAY

Bacon Cheeseburger Salad, Deviled Eggs

Menu Plan 1/29 - 2/3

I am a meal planner.  I started it several years ago and am continually surprised at how much money, time, and sanity it saves.  We are a family of 6, so saving in all those areas is really important to me.  I always share my menu plan over on Siggy Spice, so I thought I would over here too!  I find sharing and reading other meal plans always helps in the brainstorming process.  I will be taking pictures and posting these recipes soon assuming they are "blogworthy" ;)

Sunday
     Bacon Cheeseburger Salad
     The hubs and kiddos will have their burger on whole wheat buns with potato wedges on the side

Monday
     Pepperoni Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Caesar Salad, Parmesan Pasta
    (only a small amount of pasta for me of course)

Tuesday 
     Japanese Steakhouse Chicken and Veggies with White Sauce, Brown Rice
     (again, only a small amount of rice for me)

Wednesday 
     Seasoned Tilapia with Dill Sauce, Garlic Almond Green Beans, Salad
     The hubs and kiddos will also have Rice Pilaf

Thursday
     Roasted Boursin Chicken, Steamed Broccoli and Cauliflower
     Mashed Potatoes for the rest of the family

Friday
     Left-overs or out for dinner

Do any of you Menu Plan?  What is on your plate for the upcoming week?