Thanks for the recipe Surfinmom!

And..thanks for your words of encouragement Emme & DediKayted!

Yeah...I'm probably psyching myself out. Your right...why should the last 10 be any different. I think I read so much about how people fight with the last few pounds around here...it's starting to freak me out! But I've got on the "boxing gloves" just in case! I've upped my workout to 5 days/week (4 running, 1 recumbent bike). Just to keep my body guessing...I've also upped my calories from 1400-1500 to 1500-1600. So far, so good. I actually LOST .2lbs during my TOM week!

I'm down to only 5 more days worth of food left in the freezer...time to get cooking soon. So far I decided on the following (will add more later):

1. oatmeal bars (tweaked recipe)
2. jamaican curried chicken (lean breast meat only)
3. carribbean black eyed peas (LOVED, LOVED LOVEEEE this recipe)
4. Spicy Garlic Shrimp
5. Something with Cannelli beans (tangy, yet sweet, not sure of recipe yet)
6. Another chicken dish
7. Another fish dish..haha...
8. Pumpkin Raisin Muffins, of course!

Breakfast - Pumpkin Raisin Muffin, 2 Jimmy Dean Turkey Sausage links - 219 cals.
Snack - 1/2 Atkins Protein Bar - 120 cals.
Snack - Pumpkin Raisin Muffin - 139 casl.
Lunch - Jamaican Curried Chicken Thighs over spicy Carribbean black eyed peas and Plantain, asparagus & red pepper - 447 cals.
Snack - Activia Light Yogart - 70 cals.
Dinner - Indian Chicken Makhani over Cous Cous, Brocolli - 353 cals.
Snack - 15g unsalted cashews, few raisins - 100 cals.
Snack - small Navel Orange - 45 cals.
Snack - 3 slices Digiorno 3 meat Pizza - 525 cals.

Total Calories: 2,018 cals.

EXERCISE:

Running - 4.4 Miles HARD run...felt like I was going to colapse after 3 miles...pushed hard...but couldn't make it to 5.

Will run 5+ miles today.

**EDIT** Didn't make 5m today...plan is to run both Sat & Sun. 5m each day. Weather is shaping up around my parts..so will try to get out doors and run..wooT!

***EDIT*** Unexpected CHEAT MEAL today...PIZZZZZA!!!

Breakfast - Pumpkin Raisin Muffin, 2 Jimmy Dean turkey sausage - 219 cals.
Snack - Pumpkin Raisin Muffin - 139 cals.
Lunch - Homemade Chili over brown rice, steamed spinach - 406 cals.
Snack - Atkins Protein Bar - 240 cals.
Snack - 1/2 oz unsalted cashews - 80 cals.
Dinner - Thai Stir fry chicken over brown rice, green beans - 380 cals.
Snack - few raisins, small Navel Orange - 65 cals.

Total Calories: 1,529 cals.

EXERCISE:

Running - 5.2 Miles Much STRONGER than yesterday....seems high carbs the day before my "long run" increases my stamina...WOOT!

Bike riding - 25-30 mins. Went cycling around the neighborhood (steep hills galore) with my daughter...very windy, but sunny and overall a lovely day!

Definitely RUNNING today 5+ miles...no ifs, ands, or buts about it!

MMMM Pizza!!!! I want pizza!! LOL!!! Its sooo windy out, I hope you are able to run outside. I swear..the wind almost took my breath away when I was coming home from the gym.

Get it in!!!

Breakfast - Pumpkin Raisin Muffin, 2 Jimmy Dean Turkey Sausage - 219 cals.
Snack - Pumpkin Raisin Muffiin - 139 cals.
Lunch - Shepherd's Pie, peas and carrots - 354 cals.
Snack - Atkins Protein Bar - 240 cals.
Snack - 15g unsalted cashews - 80 cals.
Dinner - Indian Chicken Makhani over Cous Cous, Brocolli - 353 cals.
Snack - Activia Light Yogart - 70 cals.
Snack - small Navel Orange - 45 cals.

Total Calories: 1,500 cals.

EXERCISE:

***UPDATE***DIDN'T GO RUNNING TODAY Got caught up on a telephone call for hours with an old friend I haven't spoken to since we were 12 yrs old!!! Tomorrow's a new day.

WILL run 5+ miles today! This run will make my goal of 4 days running this week. Must change running schedule. Not good to run this long everyday. Next week, moving running schedule to Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun. Tues-10 min. ab video & recumbent bike, Thurs-pushups, pullups, and tricep/bicep work.

I can feel that body is starting to FIGHT me so I know each pound lost from here on in will be challenging. I'm NOT going to STARVE myself (I love to eat too much), so my only alternative is to VAMP up my exercise schedule and see if this keeps the fat melting off. Stay tuned...

Official Weigh In Day: 163.8lbs

Breakfast - Oatmeal with raisins, brown sugar, splenda & cinnamon - 300 cals.
Snack - Spinach salad w/grilled chicken, cranberry, feta, walnuts - 300 cals.
Lunch - Jamaican Curry Chicken thighs, cous cous, steamed spinach - 400 cals.
Snack - 1/2 Atkins Protein Bar - 120 cals.
Dinner - Indian Chicken Makhani over Bulgar Wheat, Green Bean Almondine - 353 cals.
Snack - small Navel Orange, 4 cashews - 80 cals.

Total Calories: 1,553 cals.

EXERCISE:

Running - 5.3 Miles!!!!

Will run today by hook/crook 5+ miles! Checked my "weekly" weigh in and I'm actually down 1.2 lbs from last week (although I'm up from my mid-week low weight .6 lbs.) May have to give my CHEAT MEAL a rest for a couple of weeks to see if that effects the scale. Keeping an eye on the scale this week.

Ok so...weight is down this morning to 163.0 lbs. Hoping to get out of the 160's soon...I'm starting to hate it here!

Breakfast - Pumpkin Raisin Muffin (topped w/pumpkin seeds), 2 Jimmy Dean Sausage Links - 229 cals.
Snack - 1/2 Atkins Protein Bar - 120 cals.
Lunch - Lean Cuisine 4 Cheese Lasagna, spinach w/5 cal dressing - 360 cals.
Snack - Pumpkin Raisin Muffin (w/pumpkin seeds) - 149 cals.
Dinner - Indian Chicken Makhani over Bulgar Wheat, Green Bean Almondine - 353 cals.
Snack - 3 oz baked whole chicken (skinless breast meat) - 150 cals.
Snack - small Navel Orange - 45 cals.
Snack - unsalted cashews & few pumpkin seeds - 100 cals.

Total Calories: 1,506 cals.

EXERCISE:

Tired...no excercise today

Thinking about using Recumbent bike and doing ab video today....will report back later....will do something, need to push the scales...must FIGHT this remaining few pounds of FAT!!!

***EDIT***Just tried Lean Cuisine for the first time (late lunch), Ugggggghhhhh...GROSSSSSSSSS!!!!! Sorry, but I guess once you get used to "quality" foods, you just can't do the grocery store frozen entree stuff! I bought this a while ago, just to try...and boy...it was really discusting! I also hae Healthy Choice beef tips and Amy's burrito wrap to try. Hope it's nothing like this....it was shockingly GROSS!

Great goals!

No need for you to be eating Lean Cuisines when you make DELICIOUS ones yourself !!!! You could probably teach Lean Cuisine a thing or 2!

I've liked a couple of the Amy's meals and the Kashi Mayan Harvest Bake is great! But only when I'm in the need for speed... Otherwise, homemade wins out every time! (Says the girl who's had frozen meals delivered to her house every week for the last 6 months! Oh, the irony... )

Breakfast - Pumpkin Raisin Muffin, 2 Jimmy Dean Turkey Sausage links - 229 cals.
Snack - Pumpkin Raisin Muffin - 149 cals.
Lunch - Jamaican Curry Chicken thighs, cous cous, Green Beans - 400 cals.
Snack - 1/2 Atkins Protein Bar - 120 cals.
Snack - 15g unsalted cashews - 80 cals.
Snack - Activia Light Yogart - 70 cals.
Dinner - Sesame Chicken over Rice sticks, brocolli - 360 cals.
Snack - Pumpkin Raisin Muffin - 149 cals.
Snack - small Navel Orange - 45 cals.

Total Calories: 1,602 cals.

EXERCISE:

Running - Uggghhh...bad day today...totally mentally DRAINED...no running today. Tomorrow definitely...DEFINITELY!!!

Will run 5+ miles today. Thanks Nicole! Dedikayted & Jen I donno WHAT I was thinking to try that Lean Cuisine! I really miss the delishous pasta dishes I used to get from BistroMD, so I thought Lean Cuisine could fill the bill! I've tried the "fresh" store pasta raviolis and it was much lacking flavor and CHEESE..haha! BistroMD used to have these Lasagna Wraps and Cheese Tortillini that was oooohhhh sooooo gooooood!

You are both right....it's HOME COOKED all the way for me. Thanks for the "backup" suggestions. My local walmart used to carry kashi frozen meals, but then they suddenly stopped! I'll have to look for it.

I (sadly) currently only have 1 pre-cooked meal left in the freezer! I MUST do major cooking today or will starve!!!

The results are IN!!!!

..............................12/16/2009.....................2/16/2011
Total Cholesterol..........304.......................... ............234
HDL (good).................. 89.........................................74
LDL (bad)...................195....................... ................144
Triglycerides................101.................. ......................80
VLDL............................20................ ........................16

LDL/HDL Ratio............................................. ..............1.9
Total Chol/HDL Ratio............................................. .....3.2
**Coronary Risk Factor - Less than average risk***!!!!

Awesome lab results! It's good to be healthy, isn't it?!

YAAAAAAAY!!! What great news!! Nice work!!

Breakfast - Pumpkin Raisin Muffin, 2 Turkey Sausage links - 229 cals.
Snack - Pumpkin Raisin Muffin - 149 cals.
Lunch - Spicy Garlic Shrimp over brown rice, brocolli - 278 cals.
Snack - 16 oz unsalted cashews - 85 cals.
Snack - Activia Light Yogart - 70 cals.
Dinner - Sesame Chicken over Rice sticks, brocolli - 360 cals.
Snack - Spinach salad (small) with chicken breast, feta, cranberry, walnut, 1 tbsp light ranch, 1 tbsp raspberry vinegrette - 270 cals.
Snack - small Navel Orange - 45 cals.

Total Calories: 1,486 cals.

EXERCISE:

Running - 5.3 Miles!!! FEELING GREAT!!! The 2-day rest did me well!

Thanks Emme & Jenn!!! I've been out of wack for the past couple of days...maybe my run today will help...lots of stress is probably why. I did cook yesteday, but just 2 entries. I made sesame chicken (4 svgs) and spicy garlic shrimp with red pepper (4 svgs). I had extra brown rice left over, so I made 2 svgs of that topped with chicken breast from whole chicken I made earlier this week and some veggies..simple, but effective..haha!.

The end result: I am good for 4 1/2 days worth of meals. That will buy me enough time to go shopping and get my "cooking mojo" back!