Knock Out Gnocchi - Weight Loss Week Twelve Day Seven - Weight Loss Eating Plan

Week 12

Day 7 - Tuesday
8/04/2014 
Knock Out Gnocchi

The Week Totals (Including today!)

I wanted to do this first because I know that's why you're all here ;)

Price for the total weeks portions: $72.19
Amount for total groceries you would need to make all of this weeks food: $151.01 
I added up the things I already had, added 2 x 3L of milk as I have coffee everyday and took out some things I didn't use like Mayonnaise and Celery.  

I also added things like a whole bottle of Vanilla Extract for $11, Cinnamon, Baking Powder etc and only used maybe a few teaspoons.  I still have plenty of food left and I could probably make it stretch another week, I would just need dinners.

As I said I'm averaging about 1500 calories per day.  I made sure I had a variety of foods for the blog but if you were doing this for yourself, you could make things stretch more and have sandwiches everyday and the same cereal.

The current price for the 1500 calorie 7 day meal plan is $150.  So I would say it is cheaper to buy it all yourself, considering I still have heaps of food left.  Like Bread, Peanut Butter, Eggs, Cheese, Ham, Tomatoes, Rolled Oats, Grapes, Rice Cakes, Brown Rice Crackers, Cereal, Milk, Mixed Rice Crackers, Nut & Fruit Mix, Baked Beans, Hommus, Yoghurt and more! 

Simple and delicious

Breakfast: Baked Beans on Toast

Homemade Coffee (low fat milk, no sugar)

Ingredients: 1 Slice Molenberg 12 Grains & Seeds Original Bread (Coles)
100 grams Corale Baked Beans (Aldi)
25 grams Westacre Tasty Shredded Cheese (Adli)
10 grams Farmers Union Light Greek Yoghurt (Coles)
*This breakfast cost: $1.33 and would last approximately 4 serves due to the amount of Baked Beans.

Settled for an old favourite this morning, added a little Yoghurt on top for something different.

Heaven on a Rice Cracker

Morning Snack: Peanut Butter & Raisin Rice Cakes

Ingredients: 2 Pure Harvest Rice Cakes (Aldi)
20 grams Kraft Peanut Butter No Added Sugar Or Salt (Woolworths)
20 grams Just Organic Sun Dried Raisins (Aldi)
*This snack cost: $0.33 and would last approximately 10 serves due to the amount of Rice Cakes. 

OMG! I forgot how good Peanut Butter and Raisins were!  I remember having this as a kid but on Celery, I think they were called Caterpillars.  I was out of Banana so decided on Raisins, this combo is awesome!

Pizza Quesadilla? 

Lunch: Toasted Wrap

Ingredients: 2 x Bakers Life Wholegrain Wraps (Aldi)
20 grams El Tora Medium Chunky Salsa Dip (Aldi)
20 grams Westacre Tasty Shredded Cheese (Aldi)
30 grams Baby Spinach Leaves (Aldi)
10 grams Berg Sliced Leg Ham (Adli)
30 grams Cherry Tomatoes (Coles)

*This lunch cost: $1.69 and would last approximately 4 serves due to the amount of wraps.

Trying to think of a different lunch today and to use up the wraps, I came up with this.  I put one wrap on the sandwich press (mine didn't totally fit but it still worked), put on the fillings and toasted it.  I tasted like a Pizza due to the Salsa, Cheese and Ham.  I guess you could almost call it a Quesadilla, whatever it was, it was delicous!

I know I didn't have an afternoon snack today but honestly I was so full from the lunch! 

I'm going to Gnocchi you out!

Dinner: Creamy Tomato Gnochhi (Weight Watchers)

*This meals cost: $4.00 (Coles) Not on special anymore sorry :(

Due to last nights dinner (see here) being so disappointing, I was not expecting much from this dinner.  It was so yummy! The Potato Gnocchi was a good consistency and the Creamy Tomato Sauce was delicious!  I would recommend this!

*Total cost for today's portions: $7.35*These prices are calculated by current costs and specials and calculated per gram or item.Keep in mind that I'm also consuming about 1500 calories on average.

Glasses of water: 6

Sneaky Strength Training

Exercise: Dancing + Strength Training

I realised that I hadn't done any strength training this week so I snuck some in at the end of my routine.

Above is the Strength Training I use.

My Fitness Pal - Food Diary

Did you enjoy taking this non Lite n' Easy journey with me this week?  Have any suggestions?  Have you ever forgotten to order and how did you cope?  

It's been fun sharing my ideas and recipes with you all, but the calculating, calorie counting and weighing everything I put in my mouth... you know what I mean! ;) It all got to me by the end of the week, so happy to be back on Lite n' Easy next week.  

As always, there will still be more recipes to come.

All the best, Mel.

Hot Pot Not So Hot - Weight Loss Week Twelve Day Six - Weight Loss Eating Plan

Week 12

Day 6 - Monday
7/04/2014 
Hot Pot Not So Hot

Deliciousness in a bowl

Breakfast: Wildberry Bites with Fruit & Nut Mix

Homemade Coffee (low fat milk, no sugar)

Ingredients: 50 grams Weet-Bix Wildberry Bites (Woolworths)
30 grams Wholefoods Oh So Natural Nut & Fruit Mix (Aldi)
60 ml Paul's Smarter White Milk (Woolworths)
*This breakfast cost: $0.84 and would last approximately 10 serves due to the amount of cereal.

Mmmm Nutty and Fruity

This cereal mix was so good yesterday I decided to have it for breakfast this morning.  Seriously yummy!

Aren't they Grape

Morning Snack: Grapes (30 grams)

*This amount of Grapes cost: $0.05 and would last approximately 33 serves.

Oldie but a goodie

Lunch: Baked Bean & Cheese Toastie

Ingredients: 2 slices Molenberg 12 Grain & Seeds Original (Coles)
100 grams Baked Beans (Aldi)
25 grams Westacre Tasty Shredded Cheese (Aldi)
1 Pink Lady Apple (Aldi)
*This lunch cost: $1.83 and would last approximately 4 serves due to the amount of Baked Beans.

Simple, quick and delicious.  I can't remember the last time I had a baked bean toastie.

Mmm Banana

Afternoon Snack: Banana Smoothie

Ingredients: 2 Cavendish Bananas (Aldi)
100 ml Paul's Smarter White Milk (Woolworths)
10 grams Kraft Peanut Butter No Added Sugar Or Salt (Woolworths)
*This smoothie cost: $0.76 and would last approximately 10 serves due to the amount of milk.

I wanted to use up the last of the Bananas as they were getting a bit brown.  I really don't think there was enough Peanut Butter to add any flavour, I'd leave it out next time.  The Berry Banana Shake (recipe here) is so much better than this, I will have to make it again! 

Not So Hot

Dinner: Beef Hot Pot (Weight Watchers)

*This meal cost: $4.00 (Coles)
Thank you to those that told me about the special price, you know who you are :)

This meal was absolutely horrid! It looked disgusting, it's pretty bad when I can't make a dish look appealing.  It tastes just as bad as it looks, maybe even worse. 
It was bland, salty, goopy and the meat was fatty, stay away!

*Total cost for today's portions: $7.48
*These prices are calculated by current costs and specials and calculated per gram or item.
Keep in mind that I'm also consuming about 1500 calories on average.

Glasses of water: 7

A smaller workout is better than none

Exercise: Dancing (About my routine here)

I had to cut it short today as my foot was sore, sometimes it happens when I stand, walk or dance on them too much.  My heel was hot, sore and I could barely walk on it, I soaked it in an ice bath and it seemed to help.  Does this happen to anyone else?

My Fitness Pal - My Food Diary

A Healthy Way To Wrap - Weight Loss Week Twelve Day Five - Weight Loss Eating Plan

Week 12

Day 5 - Sunday
6/04/2014

A Healthy Way To Wrap

So I may have put too much on...

Breakfast: Healthy Breakfast Wrap

Ingredients: 1 x Bakers Life Wholegrain Wrap (Aldi)

10 grams Berg Sliced Leg Ham (Adli)

30 grams Cherry Tomatoes (Coles)

1 x Extra Large Egg (Coles)

30 grams Baby Spinach (Aldi)

*This breakfast cost: $1.45 and would last approximately 4 serves due to the amount of Spinach.

Love Eggs for breakfast so I thought I'd do a breakfast wrap. I wanted to use up some of the baby Spinach, so I thought it was a good way to incorporate it.  30 grams is a lot for a wrap so you may not want to load as much on and my wrap did fall apart, it was still good though :)  

You could even toast the wraps if you have a sandwich press.

Wrap it up and wrap you lips abound it ;)

Morning Snack: Cavendish Banana (Aldi)

 *This Banana cost: $0.25

Tasting Plate

Lunch: Healthy Tasting Plate

 20 grams Coles Simply Less Hommus Dip (Coles)

20 grams Coles Simply Less Roast Pumpkin and Harissa Hommus Dip (Coles)

20 grams El Tora Medium Chunky Salsa Dip (Aldi)

1 x Carrot (Coles)

1 x Bakers Life Wholegrain Wrap (Aldi)

65 grams Green Seedless Grapes (Aldi) 

*This lunch cost: $1.31 and would last approximately 8 serves due to the wraps. 

Hommus anyone?

I wasn't sure if this was going to be filling enough but it was.  I made the Tortilla Wrap chips the same way as yesterday's post (here) but cut them into strips.  You could bulk it up with more veggies, fruit or crackers.

Bowl of deliciousness

Afternoon Snack: Loaded Cereal Bowl

 50 grams Weet-Bix Wild Berry Bites (Woolworths)

1 x Cavendish Banana (Aldi)

30 grams Wholefoods Oh So Natural Nut & Fruit Mix (Aldi)

70 ml Paul's Smarter White Milk (Woolworths)

*This snack cost: $1.10 and would last approximately 10 serves due to the amount of cereal.

I wasn't expecting to burn so many calories exercising today so afterwards I was staaaaaarving!   I know it may seem strange to some to have cereal in the afternoon but it was a quick snack that is easy to prepare.  I didn't realise that this combination of the Cereal, Banana and Nuts would be so delicious! It was so good! This would make a great breakfast too.

Finally something decent

Dinner: Vegetable Cannelloni (Lean Cuisine)

 *This meal cost: $6.29

You should know my feelings on Lean Cuisine meals by now, if you don't they aren't positive, but I really enjoyed this one.  I'm pretty sure I've had it before, but it just has so much more substance than the other meals I've had.  I would have this again and recommend it.

*Total cost for today's portions: $10.40
*These prices are calculated by current costs and specials and calculated per gram or item.
Keep in mind that I'm also consuming about 1500 calories on average.

Glasses of water: 8

I wasn't even going to exercise today!

Exercise: Dancing and Cleaning

I danced around for about an hour today and then continued dancing around while cleaning and this (above photo) was the result.  I was shocked when I saw just how much I had burned off!  Can I just say, funnest way to exercise and clean ever. ;)

My Fitness Pal - Food Diary

Got a favourite snack, food, obsession or exercise? I'd love to hear from you, comment below :)

I Can Has Pizza? - Weight Loss Week Twelve Day Three - Weight Loss Eating Plan

Week 12

Day 3 - Friday
4/03/2014 
I Can Has Pizza?

I forgot to order Lite n' Easy this week so I'm doing it for myself this week. 
You can see my Grocery Haul here.
With the help of My Fitness Pal here.

Healthy, quick and tasty. 

Breakfast: Layered Breakfast

Homemade Coffee (low fat milk, no sugar)

Ingredients: 50 grams of  Farmers Union Low Fat Greek Yoghurt (Coles)

30 grams of Coles Smart Buy Rolled Oats (Coles)

50 grams of Sweet Haven Mixed Berries (Aldi)

30 grams of Wholefoods Oh So Natural Nut & Fruit Mix (Aldi)

*This meal cost: $1.64 and would last approximately breakfasts because due to the amount of Berries.

I thought I'd mix things up a bit and do a Layered Breakfast and the best thing is that you can put whatever you like in there (within reason hee hee).

Berry Nice!

I can't have too much Yoghurt as it doesn't agree with my tummy but this amount was perfect for me.  I really enjoyed this as something a little different.  This is really quick and easy to prepare, you can even take it with you on the go, or make it up at work.

Got any Grapes? ;)

Morning Snack: Grapes (1/2 Cup)

 *This amount of Grapes cost: $0.18 and would last approximately 10 servings. 

Soo good and healthy!

Lunch: Wholemeal Muffin Pizzas

Ingredients: 1 x Tip Top Wholemeal English Muffin (Woolworths)
15 grams of Leggos Pizza Sauce (with Garlic, Onion & Herbs) (Coles)
50 grams (approx 3-4) Cherry Tomatoes (Coles)
20 grams of Berg Sliced Leg Ham (Aldi)
15 grams of Westacre Grated Tasty Cheddar Cheese (Aldi) 
*This meal costs: $1.87 and would last approximately 6 servings as there are 6 Muffins.

If you were trying to save money on groceries and be healthy, you could have sandwiches/wraps everyday but how exciting is that?  

Cherry Tomatoes Mmm

I've been trying to think of how to have healthy food different ways, with the current groceries I have.  I came up with this quick and delicious treat and I'm so glad I did.

I just toasted the Muffin, spread on the Pizza Sauce, the Ham, Cherry Tomatoes and Cheese.  I nuked it for about 1 minute until the cheese had melted.  This was really tasty!

You can choose your own toppings, it would be a great lunch or snack for kids and adults and was only about 240 calories!

Little bursts of goodness

1 x California Mandarin (Aldi)
*This Mandarin cost: $0.29.

Crunchy!

Afternoon Snack: 30 grams of Mixed Rice Crackers (Adli)
*This serve cost: $0.25 and would last approximately 6 serves.

I picked these up because they are a no-brainer snack, but they weren't that tasty.  I have had nicer mixes, they were just a bit plain.  Don't think I will get these again unless I mix them with other things. 

Get in ma belly!

Banana Bites 

Ingredients: 1 Cavendish Banana (Aldi)
20 grams of Kraft Peanut Butter No Added Sugar or Salt (Woolworths)
*These bites cost: $0.40 and makes about 7 bites

There is no point in hiding it, I love Banana and Peanut Butter, so why not combine them?  These are a great little sweet and tasty snack and super quick, again this would be a great one for the little ones too.  I know I've been a bit Banana and Peanut Butter heavy,  but I really need to use up my Bananas and it's a great combo.

Don't bother with it! 

Dinner: Tortellini with Beef & Parmesan in a Creamy Sundried Tomato Sauce 

(Lean Cuisine)

*This meal cost: $6.69

So, so tired of these meals! They are all the same with a few tweaks here and there.  This is even the same Sauce as the Chicken and Sundried Tomato Pasta, how original.  I can't wait for my Lite n' Easy meals next week, don't worry, I have already ordered. ;)

The Pasta looked so dry when it came out and there were only like 10 pieces in there and again a soup-like-sauce.  Snoozefest!

*Total cost for today's portions: $11.32
*These prices are calculated by current costs and specials and calculated per gram or item.
Keep in mind that I'm also consuming about 1500 calories on average due to exercise.

Glasses of water: 8

Keep it going! 

Exercise: Dancing (About my routine here)

A certain someone told me that my butt was firmer tonight ;)  If that's not an incentive to keep dancing, I don't know what is! ha ha ha

My Fitness Pal - My Food Diary

With that I'm going to leave you there, me and my firmer butt say farewell! :)

Tim Tams By The Zumbo Man - Weight Loss Week Eleven Day One - Lite and Easy (Lite n' Easy)

Week 11
Day 1 - Wednesday
26/03/2014

Layered Breakfast in a Jar

Breakfast: Almond Toasted Muesli  and Passionfruit Yoghurt

 I added 100 grams of Blueberries, 100 grams of Raspberries (frozen and defrosted) and 50 grams of Farmers Union Light Greek Style Yoghurt.

You will see me adding more food and snacks during the day as I'm back to exercising and eating back my calories.  I knew I was going to work out today so I added some extra yoghurt and fruit.  I layered the Passionfruit Yoghurt, then some Raspberries and Blueberries, then some more Passionfruit Yoghurt, more berries and then topped it with light Greek Yoghurt and the Muesli. 

It was a really yummy breakfast but I don't think I will have this amount of Yoghurt again.  Yoghurt and my tummy don't really mix well and it makes me a little queasy, so this was way too much Yoghurt for me. 

Finally a good Apple

Morning Snack: Red Apple

Have they (Lite n' Easy) been listening to me or did I just get lucky?  This Apple was delish!  Sweet, crunchy and fresh.  The Apples I have been getting lately were powdery, not this one.

Let's focus on the Grapes...

Lunch: Asian Chicken Salad with Crispy Noodles and Sesame Soy Dressing

Seasonal Fruit (Grapes)

After confessing my love for the Warm Chicken & Cous Cous Moroccan Salad with Yoghurt Dressing (blog post here), I had high hopes for this salad.  I have to say I was a little disappointed.  

For starters I don't like cold Chicken and I didn't like the Soy Dressing, it was a little too tangy for me.  I liked the crunch element being there and the Crispy Noodles were okay, but I would have preferred some Croutons or something else. 

The Grapes, oh my, the Grapes.  I have not had luck with Grapes lately and I have been provided with sour Grapes (read post here), but today they were lovely!  So sweet and fresh, love them!

Oh yeah!

Afternoon Snack: Double Chocolate Cake

Low Fat Banana & Raisin Muffin (Recipe here)

Can we just take a moment to appreciate this cake...oh my stars!  I had my suspicions about a Double Chocolate Cake that was low fat and low calories but I shouldn't have been at all.  It's delicious and most certainly does not taste low fat.  I love when I heat it up in the microwave that the Chocolate Chips go all oozey and melty...*drool*.

So yummy :)

Needing to add some more calories to my day, I decided on this homemade Banana & Raisin Muffin.  I love these and have a batch of them in my freezer waiting as a little healthy snack.  The recipe is here.

Chicken Dinner is a Winner

Dinner: 18 Roast Chicken

 I had a great workout this afternoon (details below) and I was so ready for dinner.  This was so good!  I really love this one and order it on a regular basis.  I have a competition with myself to see just how much Chicken, Potato, Gravy and Stuffing I can fit in one bite. ;)

Glasses of water: 9

Raspberry and White Chocolate <3

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

Adriano Zumbo Tim Tam - Salted Caramel
Adriano Zumbo Tim Tam - Raspberry and White Chocolate

I put in a good workout today and I haven't had a treat the whole time since I started my weight loss journey and this blog, so I decided to treat myself tonight.  I love Adriano Zumbo and his Zumbarons, so I was so excited to find that he had teamed with Tim Tam to create these.  They have been sitting in my cupboard for weeks, first time that has happened, ever!

I decided on the Salted Caramel and Raspberry and White Chocolate Tim Tams (educating myself on the calories first).  I didn't really think much of the Salted Caramel, it just tasted like a Caramel Tim Tam with some salt thrown in but the Raspberry and White Chocolate, I think I'm in love.  ;)  I don't usually like White Chocolate that much but this was divine.  I couldn't have eaten any more though as they were so sweet!

I'm so sorry to do this to you as I know you're probably trying to lose weight too, but they are currently on special at Woolworths for $1.50, now I feel like a drug dealer.  I really think it is important to treat yourself every now and then and I try to have a treat snack or meal and not a whole day, if I can help it.  But I did show restraint as usually I would have eaten half a pack, the big pack, without even thinking twice. 

Exercise: Beginner Strength Training with 3 kg weights.
Workout DVD - 3 Mile Walk with Leslie Sansone with 400 gram weights.

Last time I did this I did ten of each but did the lunges all the way down and my thighs hurt for two days.  I didn't want to write myself off and not be able to exercise the next day so I only did half lunges.  I plan to do this two times a week and gradually build the number from 10 to 15 reps and then increase the weights. 

 This isn't the exact one that I do but all of her workouts are pretty similar.  I did sweat, I did get tired, I was uncomfortable and I wanted to give up about twenty times.  I know that this might not seem much to people but I'm 137 kilograms and just starting out.

Burn Butt, Burn!

This is how much I burned off doing the weight training and the 3 mile walk.  I know that because I am bigger I will burn off more calories so I'm enjoying it while it lasts.  I'm finding it a little difficult to increase the food but I'm getting there gradually.

My Fitness Pal - My Food & Exercise for the day

I've started entering all my food, exercise and water in to My Fitness Pal (here), so that I can see how many calories I'm consuming and how many I need to eat back once I've burned them off.  It's so helpful! (Feel free to add me). 

You can see that my sugars were a bit high today thanks to the Zumbo Tim Tams but I'm not planning on doing this everyday!