Recipe-Tuscan Vegetable Soup

Here's the recipe, as promised:

1 cup water
1 1/4 cups eggplant, peeled and cubed
1 14.5 oz. can no salt added whole tomatoes, undrained and chopped
1/2 a 4-oz can of sliced mushrooms, drained
1 garlic clove, minced
3/4 cup zucchini, coarsely chopped
1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Combine the first 9 ingredients in a large saucepan, stirring well.  Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer 25 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  To serve, ladle soup into a bowl and sprinkle with cheese.  Makes 4 free servings.

**I used tomatoes with salt, used more salt, garlic, and pepper than the recipe suggests, and it came out great.  This is one of those recipes that you can play around with until you find what works for you.

Happy cooking (and eating)!!

I worked out at last!

Yesterday, I went to a strength training class with Renee, the secretary of our department (I am an English teacher).  Everyone warned me in advance that the class is extremely difficult, and that I'd have a hard time moving today!  I am actually not sore in the way I expected; I can feel that I worked out my muscles, but what really hurts are my elbows!  Weird.  After an hour of squats, lunges, curls, sit-ups, push-ups, and presses, my muscles felt gelatinous.  By the end of class, when we worked on abs/core, I was pretty much beached and flopping around on the mat.  I practically slid down the stairs afterwards!  I am still a bit weak and wobbly in the legs, but it is for a good reason.  I guess I'll have to go regularly so that I can improve!  I just hate the fact that I don't get home until almost 7, which doesn't give me a whole lot of time between getting home and going to bed.  Last night, I was so wiped out that I went to bed at 9:30.

What I *really* need, though, is cardio.  Renee goes to a cardio class on Wednesdays that she says is great, but I tutor a student in French after school on Wednesdays, and I am not sure if her schedule is flexible enough to switch days.  I guess I just need the discipline to use the recumbent bike at home.  When I do that, though, it is hard to really push myself and get my heart rate up.

When I entered the activity in the log on this site, I couldn't help noticing that "sexual activity, general, moderate effort" and "Sexual activity, active, vigorous effort" are listed.  This amuses me.

Oh--I don't have the recipe for the Tuscan Vegetable soup with me, but I'll try to post it when I get home.

Strict, strict, strict.

That's the word of the day...because in order to lose weight this week, I am going to have to work it.  I usually either maintain, or even gain a bit, this week of the month, preceding TOM.  I am hoping that by being a good, good little girl, that I can break that trend.  I really want to be able to say that I have lost 100 lbs.!

Towards that end, one of my goals this week is to use the food log on this site to record everything--and i mean EVERYTHING--that goes into my mouth.  On Jenny Craig, I usually just follow the plan and assume that the calorie count will be what it ought to be.  However, a few calories here and there, for creamer in my coffee, or fat-free sour cream on my enchiladas, all add up!  So far, so good...being this meticulous helps me feel in control.  I know I won't always have the time and patience to do this, but it is a beneficial exercise nonetheless.

Some of you have requested the recipe for the Tuscan Vegetable Soup; I'll post it in my next entry!

Thinking skinny thoughts...

A good weigh-in!

I am a happy camper...I weighed in at 217.1 at Jenny Craig today!  I am finally under 220, which is what I weighed as a sophomore in high school.  To celebrate, I went grocery shopping and made some Tuscan Vegetable Soup, which is a free food for JC.  It was actually really good, with tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, and spices.  Even the vegan husband approves!  It is really filling, too...I'll definitely be making it again!

2 pounds more, and I'll have lost 100 lbs!!

Playing around!

I have been playing around with this web site--what a cool way to keep track of my progress, and meet other folks trying to lose weight too! 

This week has been good food-wise, with the exception of one night when I ate way too much vegetarian chinese food.  Oh well, at least it wasn't pizza or something.  I still haven't exercised though.  I am planning to attend a strength training class with a co-worker on Tuesday.  I was supposed to go last Tuesday, but I bailed.  This week, though, I really really should go, at the risk of being embarrassed by my red-and-sweatiness.  Why do I dislike perspiring so much?!

Weigh in is Monday...I hope I break 220!

The story so far...

I began my weight loss in November, 2004, at 315 lbs.  I signed up for Jenny Craig's 20 pounds for $20 promotion, and boy, am I glad that I did!  Almost 2 years later and 95 lbs. lighter, I sometimes feel like a walking Jenny Craig commercial--I can't rave enough about the program, and what it has done for me!  I have done a lot of bouncing up and down, especially around holidays and vacations, but so far, I have always been able to get back on track.

My biggest challenge has been, and continues to be, exercise.  I have yet to successfully maintain a fitness regime...but I am still working on it.  I'll try to post my progress here!