Super Sunday Extravaganza!

How can you go wrong with a blog title like that?

So here I go with a whole lotta random!!!!!!!!

First a shout out to the WW girls who just plain old rock! Your comments and support, the fantabulous tidbits of advice, and the great topics of conversation you bring up on the boards have been priceless in keeping me real, keeping me sane, keeping me laughing and keeping me thinking during this journey... thank you, thank you, thank you. And thank you for reading my blog!

Yesterday I stumbled across a new blog, Gettin' Shrunk, which really got me thinking again about this whole process of weight loss and just where I could be if I made it a priority again in my life. Don't get me wrong, the time with HBB was a total horkfest but if I'm honest with myself, and that's what I need to do more often, I started slipping a few months before he got here. Not crazy slipping, but just enough to minimize my shrinkage. Heck, I get 50AP's a week and I can't manage more than a pound of weight loss per week -- there's got to be something up with that! And that something is called Fat Grl's loosey goosey method of counting points. As always, I'm not totally paying attention. Is it realistic for me to lose more than 5 pounds a month? Maybe not. My body seems to be comfortable losing at this speed. So, I'm going to stick with being happy at my 5 pounds a month. But I'm going to reexamine my daily points intake, the foods I'm eating (sigh, veggies and fruit have gone a bit by the way side in favor of gas...). I can do this -- it just has to be my priority again.

Which brings me to my new lifestyle change. I'm gardening! Okay, I've always gardened (with mixed success). Now it just makes sense to put some actual effort into it. And I have this massive backyard!


I grew up on a farm (the family commune in Vermont, more specifically...) and I've always loved having fresh veggies from the garden. So why not do it in an urban setting? For the last couple of years I've grown tomatoes in pots and herbs but this year I'm ready to expand a bit. Due to a massive financial crisis in my world (sigh, what's new?), it might have to start small and get bigger later on. But I'm all about herbs and tomatoes this summer. Too bad you can't grow fresh mozzarella!

This weekend I also spent a lot of time looking at how to reduce my debt (blah!) and more efficient ways to be green, self-sustaining (who knew you could raise chickens in downtown Denver!) and methodical with my meal preparation. I may have been living under a rock but I just heard/read about this book called Once A Month Cooking. The premise is simple -- once a month, you cook up a storm and freeze what you've made for future eating convenience. In this time of money woes, what a great way to save money and time. How come I've never heard of this before??? I guess I've sort've been doing something like it -- just not planning it out ahead of time. It makes a lot of sense when you think about it. You always have a main dish in your freezer and just have to add salad and other sides. Easiness! This site also has heaps of information on how to do it as well as recipes that work well. So financially this is good and healthwise this is good. What's better than coming home for dinner and it's already made? Less chance of ordering out for pizza!!!

Now I just need a new freezer for all these pre-made meals and fresh veggies...

In other news, I have a new addiction!

Muffins. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, muffins! Yup, muffins!

Last weekend I made these super yummy banana bran muffins (yeah, I know ewwwwww bananas and bran! but they were hella good!) and I'm addicted. This weekend I'm making Whole Wheat Pumpkin Cranberry muffins. Super yum. Oooh and I just had a thought -- I'm going to chuck in some Benefiber when I bake this batch. Hey why not! Nothing wrong with fiber...... So why am I so addicted? Well for starters muffins are yummy and these banana bran muffins are super delish and don't taste healthy at all. Second, they make a fantastic afternoon snacks before the gym. Or at least I think so. I've been having a muffin and sugar free applesauce about an hour and a half before I go to the gym.


Yummy 3pt Banana Bran Muffins
(adapted from an Eat me, delicious recipe)

2 cups bran cereal (bran flakes work just fine, as does Kellogs All Bran)
1 1/4 cups skim milk
1/3 cup raisins ( I used golden)
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp baking powder (might want to use 2 tsp instead...)
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp ground flax seed
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 banana, mashed ( I had two small bananas so I used those...)
1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans ( I used pecans and not quite 1/3cup)
1/2 cup coconut (sweetened)

1- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray, or line with cupcake papers.

2- In a large mixing bowl, combine bran cereal, milk and raisins. Let stand for about 2 minutes to soften the cereal.

3- Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and ground flax seed in a small bowl. Set aside.

4- Into the softened bran mix stir the egg and oil. Beat well. Stir in the banana and walnuts. Add the flour mixture, stirring only until combined. Divide the batter evenly into 12 muffin cups.

5 - Bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 12 nice sized muffins.


Check out Ochef for some great tips about how to cut fat and when you should keep it when you are baking.

And that is about it for my Sunday randomness. I have a date with the dishes in my kitchen...and the laundry....and the floors.....

Love ya,
FGS