Lite n' Easy Weight Loss Week Thirteen Day One - Guess Who's Back!

Week 13

Day 1 - Wednesday
9/04/2014

Guess who's back? Back again. Lite n' Easy is back.  Say Amen! ;)

Why hello deliciousness

Breakfast: Pikelets with Fig & Berry Compote and Honey Yoghurt

What better way to start back then with this breakfast, it's pretty much cake for breakfast, well that's how I see it. :)  

Can I have this for breakfast every morning?

So good and full of deliciousness.

Oh yeah

How could you not want to wake up to this?

Oh Orange

Morning Snack: Orange

I still love you Orange, it's just you don't compete with Pikelets.

One of the best lunches

Lunch: Beef Nachos with Melted Cheese & Fresh Tomato Salsa

 Addition: 10 ml of Farmer's Union Light Greek Yoghurt

Today I decided not to follow the instructions, because I'm a rebel like that ;)  Usually I heat the chips, put on the cheese and then everything else on top, but then I don't taste the cheese.  What is the point?

Cheese Porn

I heated up the Nacho Beef Mix and half way through added the Tomato Salsa (I hate cold Salsa).  I put this mix in the middle of the plate, topped it with cheese, placed the chips around the sides and heated it all together.  I then put a dollop of Greek Yoghurt on because I'm sneaky like that.  

I'm definitely going to have it this way again, just make sure your chips don't get too close to the mixture or they will go soggy.

I'm not sour

These Grapes were delicious, no sour Grapes here ;)

Oh my! The food today!

Afternoon Snack: Cinnamon Oat Bar

We are reunited once again my friend!  I know it's only been a week but I love these bars! 

The hearty steak

Dinner: 189 Chargrilled Steak & Mushroom Sauce

After having pathetic soupy convenient meals last week, I was ready for my Lite n' Easy dinner!  I went for the most heartiest meals I could think of...Steak!

I love these Steaks! If you've been afraid of trying the Steaks because they are microwaved, don't be, I thought the same thing!

Glasses of water: 6

I think I'm in love...

Additional Items:  Rice Cakes with Peanut Butter, Raisins and Honey

Homemade Coffee (low fat milk, no sugar)

Ever since I have been exercising again I have also found my appetite again.  I was really hungry this afternoon and I couldn't get the thought of the Rice Cakes, Peanut Butter and Raisin combo from yesterday out of my head.  I started thinking how decadent it would be with Honey drizzled over it (you know with the slow pour and a Barry White song in the background) and once I had that thought, there was no going back!

Look at that drizzle

I'm amused that I'm craving healthy sweet things instead of Chocolate or Cake etc etc.  I know that I went over my calorie intake for today and I didn't exercise, but I don't mind.  I was hungry and there have been plenty of times I have had a few hundred calories left over, no guilt here. :)

My Fitness Pal - Food Diary

Exercise: None.

I was really busy today and I could give you more excuses, but I think it's healthy to have a day off every now and then.  I didn't feel pressured or guilty about not exercising.  

It's all about balance.  

I used to find any excuse under the sun not to exercise, I'm too tired, I don't feel right, I don't have time, it might give me a migraine etc etc etc.  But I don't do that anymore.  

I think I was waiting for the perfect time and all the stars to align, but I realised if I waited to exercise on the days I felt perfect, it would never happen.

How do you break free from your excuses?  Comment below and let me know :)

A Long Tempting Day - Weight Loss Week Eleven Day Four - Lite and Easy (Lite n' Easy)

Week 11

Day 4 - Saturday
29/03/2014

Always Delicious

Breakfast: Smokehouse Ham and Egg on a toasted Multigrain Muffin

I was heading out for most of the day so I didn't want to miss breakfast.  I would never miss this breakfast, it's always a favourite.

Mmm Orange

Morning Snack: Orange

Mmmm Burger

Lunch: Beef Burger with Sliced Beetroot, Tomato, Baby Spinach and Tomato Sauce 

on a Round Roll & a Kiwi Fruit

I was out all day, didn't arrive home until 3pm, had only had breakfast and I was starving!  I was out and around a lot of tempting food and it would have been so easy to just buy something, the worst food is always the most convenient, but I resisted.

A friend I was out with decided to have some rather tempting food for lunch from a Bakery, one of which was a Chocolate Hot Cross Bun.  Those are my favourite! I was so tempted and hungry but stayed strong.  I arrived home and had my morning snack, Burger (didn't have the Kiwi fruit), afternoon snack and a carrot.  

I wouldn't normally eat like this all at once, however, I think it's miles better than eating unhealthy food. 

Just these?

Afternoon Snack: Rosemary & Rock Salt Crackers

A Roast is a Roast

Dinner: 25 Roast Lamb

So after a tempting day of food what do the others in the household decide to have for dinner? Roast Chicken with all the trimmings.  Since I didn't have a Lite n' Easy Roast Chicken dinner, I opted for this Roast Lamb.  Even though they had Roast Chicken, they were nice enough to provide me with some oven roasted Corn and I swapped out the crappy Pumpkin in the photo for some roast Pumpkin.

I was pretty proud of myself for staying so strong.

Glasses of water: 

Additional Items:  Homemade Coffee (low fat milk, no sugar)

Coke Zero 600ml

A carrot.

Exercise: None.

While I didn't do a workout today I was out for most of it and did quite a bit of walking.  I thought I would give myself a day off today. 

My Fitness Pal - Food Diary

Because I didn't exercise today, I kept to the 1200 calories.

I hope you enjoyed your weekend :)

A Little Bit Nutty - Weight Loss Week Eleven Day Three - Lite and Easy (Lite n' Easy)

Week 11

Day 3 - Friday
28/03/2014

Such a huge breakfast

Breakfast: Nut Cluster Crunch Cereal with low fat milk, Soy & Linseed Toast with Honey
*Addition: Molenberg Multigrain Toast and 10 grams of Nuttelex Light Margarine

Bulking up the calories (as I knew I would exercise), I decided to add another piece of toast and some Margarine.  I thought this would be too much for breakfast but it went down easy :)  I'm really finding that I'm getting hungrier and enjoying my food more since I've been incorporating some exercise.  No surprise really. 

So much Orange

Morning Snack: Orange
*Addition: Dried Apricots

Steamed veggies for lunch, I think that's a first

Lunch: Smokehouse Ham, Cheese and Tomato on a Round Roll and a Red Apple

*Addition: Heinz Steam Fresh Veggies (Beans, Broccoli and Sugarsnap Peas)

I think I've gone a little bit nutty, guys...steamed veggies for lunch?  It's a healthy way to get in some more calories, I also wanted to keep my sugar and sodium levels down.  As I said, I need to go shopping!

Enjoy these little rolls as always. :)

Mmm Nutty!

Afternoon Snack: Cashews & Cranberries

*Addition: 2 Tablespoons of Chopped Peanuts
Love this little snack to tide me over before dinner, with the chopped Peanuts it was even better, so many nuts. ;) 

Mmm Beefy!

Dinner: 29 Savoury Beef Rissoles

I do really enjoy this, the Gravy, the mash and the peas....well they are there.  The Rissoles are a little strange in consistency, a little spongy, hard to explain it's similar to the 182 Meatloaf, Mash & Gravy, but it's not enough to make me not want to order it. 

If you enjoy the Meatloaf I would say you would enjoy these as they are pretty much a thicker version.  If you don't enjoy the Meatloaf skip ordering this one.

Glasses of water: 8

*Addition: These are items that are not part of the 1200 calorie Lite n' Easy plan.  I have added these to increase my calorie intake from the calories burned off during exercise.  For a more detailed breakdown, please see the My Fitness Pal image at the bottom of this post.

Burn those Calories!

Exercise: Dancing (Melercise)
I forgot to mention yesterday that I also use 400 gram weights for about 10 - 15 minutes during.

I actually thought I burned less calories than yesterday, but I was wrong.  I thought I wasn't pushing myself as much but I guess I was.  My calf muscles were sore from the weight training and all the dancing from the previous days but I didn't let that stop me.

I danced around my living room like no one was watching me, because they weren't and I had fun with it. 

My Fitness Pal - Food Diary

I think I did pretty well balancing everything out today, I still had 199 calories remaining but I did increase my calorie intake today to 1,652 (I gained an extra 651 from dancing) by just adding a few small additions.

What are your plans for the weekend? :)

Crackers And Cheese Yes Please - Weight Loss Week Eleven Day Two - Lite and Easy (Lite n' Easy)

Week 11

Day 2 - Thursday
27/03/2014

Mmm ugly tomatoes

Breakfast: Bacon, Egg and Roasted Tomato with Multigrain Toast

*Addition: Molenberg 12 Grain & Seed Toast

 *Addition: Homemade Coffee (low fat milk, no sugar) 

I turned my nose up for ages at the Roasted Tomatoes because they don't look that appealing, but they are so yummy.  The Roasted Tomato together with the Egg and Bacon pairs together really well, yet another delicious breakfast.

How many Doctors do you think I keep away with all these Apples? 

Morning Snack: Two Fruits Fruit Cup
*Addition: Red Apple

The Apple was lovely and fresh again.

Meat blob?

Lunch: Greek Meatballs with Salad and Cucumber Raita in a Wrap and an Orange

*Addition: Macadamia & Tropical Fruit Mix

I don't know what happened to my Meatballs but when I opened them they had all joined together to create some kind of meaty blob, ha ha yeah that's enticing isn't it.  Once I heated them up and combined all the ingredients together it wasn't so bad, I liked the Cucumber Raita with it.  That's probably because it covered up the taste of the meat though, it's not my favourite.

There was ONE Macadamia in my Macadamia & Tropical Fruit Mix, more like "Tropical Fruit & Almond Mix, Featuring A Macadamia" ha ha.  I had this left over snack from one of my lunches when I ate out.  I need to go grocery shopping!

Yum!

Afternoon Snack: Lavosh Crackers and Cheese

 *Addition: Fruit Salad Fruit Cup

Crackers and Cheese? Yes please!  This has always been one of my favourite snacks, I used to eat a much bigger portion though and more than likely with some wine. ;)

Veggies?

Dinner: 01 Spaghetti Bolognaise

I have been entering my food for the day in My Fitness Pal (here) and I was originally going to have the 68 Fettucine Provincale  but my sodium levels were already high for the day and the Fettucine had more salt than the Bolognaise, what?  I thought that was strange, but it is true.

I do enjoy this Bolognaise but I wish it was a little more than just pasta, meat and cheese. I wish there was some Capsicum or other vegetables in there, just to mix things up.

Glasses of water: 8

*Addition: These are items that are not part of the 1200 calorie Lite n' Easy plan.  I have added these to increase my calorie intake from the calories burned off during exercise.  For a more detailed breakdown, please see the My Fitness Pal image at the bottom of this post.

Shake that butt

Exercise: Dancing (Melercise)

I love dancing and I always have, the workout dvds are okay but I don't really find them fun.  I little while ago I compiled some of my favourite dance music (anything that would make my shake my butt) into about an hour long session.  I started with a slower song, gradually increasing pace, I include 400 gram weights for about 10-15 minutes and then slowly bringing the pace back down again.  At the end I have a slower song where I stretch out my muscles, shoulders and do a calf stretch.  I called this "Melercise" because that's the kind of loser I am! Ha ha 

I really enjoyed it.  I think that is the key, if you can find an exercise that you enjoy, you are far more likely to stick to it.  I did get tired near the start but I kept pushing and then towards the middle something magical happened (don't worry I wasn't high or imagining things from lack of oxygen, water or food).  I had this huge burst of energy from no where, I was so happy and I found it so easy to push through.

An adrenaline rush had never happened to me before, I have heard of it but thought it was a myth, just something that trainers tell people to make them work harder ha ha, but it's true.  How do you know until you push yourself? Now I sound like a trainer! Ha ha 

My Food Diary for the day

You can see I was under for my calorie intake today (I know that the Multigrain Toast says (1), but I put two servings in).  I try to eat them back as much as I can but it's so much food.  I am certainly hungrier and enjoying my meals more after exercising.  My sodium was a little high today so I didn't want to add more.

How are you doing? I'd love to hear from you :)  

Comment below, send me a message on Facebook or shoot me an email, whichever you prefer.

Teriyaki Not So Yaki - Weight Loss Week Ten Day Four - Lite and Easy (Lite n' Easy)

Week 10
Day 4 - Saturday
22/03/2014

Yumness in a cup

Breakfast: Strawberry Yoghurt Crunch

I avoided getting this the first time around because of the Apricot Yoghurt Crumble on the Summer menu.  The Apricot one is pre-mixed so the muesli is soggy and I didn't like it.  I then saw a fellow Lite n' Easy member on Instagram have this and said it was delicious so I decided to give it a try, thank you. :)

I think they found a new way to do a Yoghurt and Muesli combo and it's delicious.  So good!  

The only thing is that I don't understand is why this was a Saturday breakfast, I think it should be during the week as a quick breakfast before work.

Old faithful

Morning Snack: Orange

Oh how I used to hate the Orange, but I'm still not feeling it for the Apples. 

Teriyaki was Veriyami :)

Lunch: Chicken Teriyaki & a Red Apple

This was so yummy!  The sauce was lovely and sweet, the rice was good and there was so much Chicken.  I'd definitely order this again. 

Passionfruit Yoghurt

Afternoon Snack: Passionfruit Yoghurt

I think that they may have changed this Yoghurt and to be honest, I thought the old version was nicer.  

This is still good though.   The sauce seemed to almost curdle the Yoghurt though.

The ever filling stack

Dinner: 57 Tortilla Stack

Others around me decided to have a Lamb Roast for dinner and oh my it smelled delicious.  But I was determined not to be tempted by the fatty Lamb Roast.  I decided to have the Tortilla Stack in an effort to make certain I was full and not be tempted.

The only issue was that I got full half way through and knew I had to eat it all. :(  Stupid evil scented Lamb Roast with it's fragrant deliciousness!

Glasses of water: 7

Additional Items: 2 x Homemade Coffee (low fat milk, no sugar)

Exercise: None

I was feeling pretty lousy all day and after dinner I got the migraine from hell.  I was so dizzy, nauseous and in tears from the pain of the sharp throbbing pain.  It hung around so much longer than normal.

I'm not sure if it's a cold, infection, just the Chiari Malformation or what.  Regardless, if I don't feel better I'm going to the doctor next week to get to the bottom of it.

You have no idea how much I want to exercise, which is something that I have never felt before. 

Crappy Snack Day - Weight Loss Week Ten Day Three - Lite and Easy (Lite n' Easy)

Week 10
Day 3 - Friday
21/03/2014

Pizza?

Breakfast: Fresh Omelette (Two Eggs, Ham & Tomato Mix and Cheese)

It's tricky doing an omelette as they are hard to flip over without breaking etc...plus I really just couldn't be @$$ed this morning.  So I decided to cook the egg in the microwave safe bowl with two tablespoons of water (one per egg) and heat the mix up separately and just throw it on top.  It's egg, ham, tomato and cheese so it was yum :)

Meh

Morning Snack: Fruit Salad Fruit Cup

*Sigh* SO over these!  I just want real fruit, especially since I have fruit in syrup for lunch as well. MEH!  Does anyone like these? 

Burrito!

Lunch: Beef Burrito and Salad Wrap & Vanilla Pears with Orange Syrup

The Burrito is always good, mince, beans and salad, can't go wrong really.  My only complaint is that it's too small.  Get rid of the fruit and gimme more Burrito! ;) 

I liked the Pears more than I thought I would but they still were pretty average.  They are better than the Apricots in Raspberry syrup blerk!

:(

Afternoon Snack: Ricotta Spinach Cake

Crappy day all round with the snacks/sides so far so why change it?  Let's keep it going with the Ricotta and Spinach Cake.  I think it's highly inappropriate to call this a "cake", this ain't no cake!  

I once believed that there wasn't a cake out there that I have met and not liked, I've since been proved wrong! 

Ha ha, I am being dramatic here, it's okay but there are far better things to put in your mouth....wait that sounded wrong, you know what I mean! ;)

Indian, again...

Dinner: 83 Chicken Tikka Masala

I don't know why I've been feeling like so many Indian dinners lately.  I think I'll give them a rest for a bit.  This one is always yummy and I don't think I've ever ordered it and not enjoyed it.  I only wish the sultanas weren't there but it's not enough to stop me ordering it and I'm just too lazy to pick them out. 

Glasses of water: 7

Additional Items: Homemade Coffee (low fat milk, no sugar)

Exercise: None

I have had dizzy spells and been exhausted.  It could be my Chiari/migraine thingy but I'm thinking 1200 calories could potentially be too low.  I have already put in my order for next week so I think I may just make up the extra 300 calories with additional snacks and see how I go.