Menu Plan Monday: March 20-26, 2017

Planning my family's meals ahead of time based on what I have on hand AND what is on sale at Publix and Aldi is a HUGE $$ saving plan for my family! This habit of sharing it keeps me accountable!  (I share it on my coupon blog each week.)


I try to plan my family's meal plan based on what is already in my freezer/pantry/frig, so that very little shopping has to be done to feed my family for the week, except for the fresh items- such as dairy and produce.
We are once again doing Low Carb, so I plan 5-6 dinners that way and we usually eat out once a week (&/OR we have a cheat day at home). We are trying to get our family on a healthier eating track this new year, as well as getting away from more and more processed foods. My kiddo still eats some carbs during the day, but eats what we eat at dinner time.  My Hubby is doing Low Carb, so planning out the entire day has become my "norm" or else he feels like he might starve!!  He wants to see his options on posted on the frig!

By shopping the sales/deals and actually planning our menu, I rarely have to pay full price for anything to put together a menu plan. This saves so much money for my family! Try it, it will work for you too!

Do you have a plan this week?? I'd love for you to share it with me!

Here is our Dinner plan:

• Zaxby's- Fundraiser night
• Chicken Bacon Ranch Layered Salad
• Tuscan Chicken, cous cous, cucumber salad
• Egg roll in a bowl, fried dumplings
• Taco Boats
• Baked chicken, roasted brussel sprouts & side salads
•  Dessert: none this week!  I have to recoup from last week!

Breakfast Options:

• Power Protein Smoothies w/ Strawberries & spinach
• Egg muffins
• Eggs & bacon

Lunch Ideas:

• Leftovers!!!
• Egg wraps filled with ham, tomato & cheese
• Tuna salad (in a romaine leaf OR 1 Wasa Crisp)

Snack options:

• Trail mix, peanuts 
• Cheese cubes & salami
• Ham & pickle roll up
• celery & PB
• Fat Bombs (Low carb/High fat version of chocolate!!)

Do you have a menu plan?  Could you put together some sort of plan for this week OR start making a plan for next week?  Without a plan, your new eating style will fail!
Let me know how it goes!

Today's Thoughts: What is Your B.U.T.?

I came across this statement recently during my quiet time and it was so appropriate for my weight loss journey.  For YOUR weight loss journey.  I had to share it with you.   
"I know what God says, but...."  I can tell you with absolute certainty that everything on the other side of "but" is a waste of time.   
 That was something that stopped me in my tracks!  In several areas in my life.  But, specifically appropriate for this blog.  Anything that comes after the "but", is wasting my precious time!  The time that I keep saying I don't have enough of...
If you are not a spiritual person, alter that first phrase. It's fitting for many aspects of your life!

I know what I need to do to be healthy, but....
I know what I need to do to lose weight, but...
I know what I my doctor said, but....
I know how to make my marriage work, but...
I know how to be happy, but....
I know what.... BUT.....
I know how.... BUT....

How HUGE is the B.U.T. that is standing in your path to #VICTORY2017?
In reality, in real long term goals, how small is the B.U.T. that is in your way?  Is it as big as you thought? 


It is all in how we perceive it!  Set yourself a goal and don't let the B.U.T. get in your way!  We all want to reach #victory2017 right?

Menu Plan Monday: March 13- 19, 2017

Planning my family's meals ahead of time based on what I have on hand AND what is on sale at Publix and Aldi is a HUGE $$ saving plan for my family! This habit of sharing it keeps me accountable!  (I share it on my coupon blog each week.)


I try to plan my family's meal plan based on what is already in my freezer/pantry/frig, so that very little shopping has to be done to feed my family for the week, except for the fresh items- such as dairy and produce.
We are once again doing Low Carb, so I plan 5-6 dinners that way and we usually eat out once a week (&/OR we have a cheat day at home). We are trying to get our family on a healthier eating track this new year, as well as getting away from more and more processed foods. My kiddo still eats some carbs during the day, but eats what we eat at dinner time.  My Hubby is doing Low Carb, so planning out the entire day has become my "norm" or else he feels like he might starve!!  He wants to see his options on posted on the frig!

By shopping the sales/deals and actually planning our menu, I rarely have to pay full price for anything to put together a menu plan. This saves so much money for my family! Try it, it will work for you too!

Do you have a plan this week?? I'd love for you to share it with me!

Here is our Dinner plan:

• Dry Rub Baked Ribs, Broccoli Cheese Gratin, Salads
• Italian sausage, mushrooms, onion & garlic tossed w/ a savory garlic-parmesan olive oil, served over roasted Spag. squash. side salads
• Out- Moe's Southwest Grill (Hubs Bday coupon!)
• Chicken Bacon Ranch Layered Salad
• Tuscan Chicken, cous cous, cucumber salad
• Out- Which Wich lettuce wrapped subs (Hubs Bday Coupon)
• Salisbury Steak w/ mushrooms, creamy mashed cauli, green beans
•  Dessert:  I've made a high fat/low carb Chocolate -Strawberry Salted Tart, for Hubs -day.  It is RICH and you just need a sliver to satisfy a sweet craving AND get some extra needed fat into your daily diet. 

Breakfast Options:

• Power Protein Smoothies w/ Strawberries & spinach
• Egg muffins
• Cheesy Scrambled eggs & ham

Lunch Ideas:

• Leftovers!!!
• Egg wraps filled with ham, tomato & cheese
• Tuna salad (in a romaine leaf OR 1 Wasa Crisp)

Snack options:

• Trail mix, peanuts 
• Cheese cubes & salami
• Ham & pickle roll up
• celery & PB
• Fat Bombs (Low carb/High fat version of chocolate!!)

Do you have a menu plan?  Could you put together some sort of plan for this week OR start making a plan for next week?  Without a plan, your new eating style will fail!
Let me know how it goes!  

Menu Plan Monday: March 6- 12, 2017

Planning my family's meals ahead of time based on what I have on hand AND what is on sale at Publix and Aldi is a HUGE $$ saving plan for my family! This habit of sharing it keeps me accountable!  (I share it on my coupon blog each week.)


I try to plan my family's meal plan based on what is already in my freezer/pantry/frig, so that very little shopping has to be done to feed my family for the week, except for the fresh items- such as dairy and produce.
We are once again doing Low Carb, so I plan 5-6 dinners that way and we usually eat out once a week (&/OR we have a cheat day at home). We are trying to get our family on a healthier eating track this new year, as well as getting away from more and more processed foods. My kiddo still eats some carbs during the day, but eats what we eat at dinner time.  My Hubby is doing Low Carb, so planning out the entire day has become my "norm" or else he feels like he might starve!!  He wants to see his options on posted on the frig!

By shopping the sales/deals and actually planning our menu, I rarely have to pay full price for anything to put together a menu plan. This saves so much money for my family! Try it, it will work for you too!

Do you have a plan this week?? I'd love for you to share it with me!

Here is our Dinner plan:

• Pizza Salad (w/ romaine/spinach, pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, red onion, diced ham, pepperonccini peppers, olives and a viniagrette. (Prior to Low Carb, I would have put oven roasted garlic bread into this.  But, it is so tasty and full of flavor that you don't miss it!)
• Mojo Marinated Oven baked chicken, creamy garlic mashed cauli & side salads
• Baked spaghetti squash tossed w/ Italian sausage, mushrooms, onion & garlic and a savory garlic-parmesan olive oil
• Spinach & Cheese stuffed chicken breast, roasted asparagus
• One-Sheet pan baked Ranch pork chops, roasted cauli, onions & broccoli
• Grilled chili-cilantro lime chicken, sauted summer squash & onions
• Dessert:  I already made a high fat/low carb Chocolate Mocha Mousse.  It is RICH and you just need 1-3 bites to satisfy a sweet craving AND get some extra needed fat into your daily diet.

Breakfast Options:

• Power Protein Smoothies w/ Strawberries & spinach
• Egg muffins
• Scrambled eggs & sausages

Lunch Ideas:

• Leftovers!!!
• Egg wraps filled with ham & cheese
• Tuna salad (in a romaine leaf OR 1 Wasa Crisp)

Snack options:

• Trail mix, peanuts 
• Cheese cubes & salami
• Ham & pickle roll up
• celery & PB
• Fat Bombs (Low carb/High fat version of chocolate!!)

Do you have a menu plan?  Could you put together some sort of plan for this week OR start making a plan for next week?  Without a plan, your new eating style will fail!
Let me know how it goes!  

New Healthy Printable Coupons!

 Here are a few NEW coupons that became available today for printing.  The beginning of a new month always means NEW coupons!  I've selected some of the healthier choices for you.  Once you click on the link, the full selection should open up to you.
If we are on a path to healthier living and eating, this will cost us $$.  We need to save every where that we can!

• $0.50 off 1 Annie's™ Organic Yogurt
• $1.00 off 1 LARABAR multipack or Bites
• $1.00 off 1 Yoplait Yogurt
• $1.00 off ONE PACKAGE of Immaculate Baking product
• $1.00 off one DOLE Frozen Products
• $2.00 off any 3 Nestle Pure Life
• $1.00 off any 2 Nestle Pure Life
• $1.00 off one Newman's Own
• $1.00 off one Splenda Product
• $2.00 off one Boost

Finding Me: When are We Talking About?

Previously I covered the How aspect of this journey and the Why aspect.  Today it is the When.  WHEN exactly are we talking about:  Are we starting eventually?  Next month maybe? 

I am currently doing this.  I already started my Low Carb/ High Fat lifestyle (once again) on January 2nd.  It's not a Keto diet. (If you know what that is...) But, a Low Carb plan with higher fat.  This is not a diet to me now, it is a lifestyle.  My husband has joined me in eating this way, so it is much easier to maintain.  If you have a spouse or a close friend or a FB friend who you can use as support, your efforts will be easier for you too!  

Another WHEN is when do I want to lose the weight... What time frame am I looking at? I lost 8 pounds during the month of January!  I'd really LOVE to lose 8-10 pounds each month, so that I could be ready for maintenance come holiday season.  That means some serious effort on my part!  But, I find that for the most part if I can focus on the goal ahead of me and stick to my plan, this style of eating works for me!  So, we'll see how motivated I am during this year!  How consistent I can be to stick with my eating plan....  How badly do I want this #victory2017 ??

If you are going to be successful, you will also need to decide on your own parameters.  Your HOW, WHY and WHEN.  HOW are you going to accomplish your weight loss?  What eating plan are you going to follow?  WHY are YOU doing this?  What motivates you to start, to continue on the day to day and to actually finish?  WHEN are you going to start?  And other goals that you may have and set them down on paper.  Maybe even make yourself an inspiration board, like we did in our Support Group as the first Challenge for this year.  I find that when I don't look at my Inspiration board often enough, I begin to lose site of my goals. (I'll talk about the inspiration board more next week, I think!)

We can not be successful if we lose sight of our personal goals! Can we?  How do you keep yourself motivated?

Update:
I wrote this as an immediate third part of the series.  But, was waiting to edit and release it in a timely fashion.  Because of life and all of it's quirks and upheavals, I have been in complete chaos during February.  I didn't lose the 8 that I was hoping for, but I did lose.

Menu Plan Monday: Feb. 27- March 5, 2017

Planning my family's meals ahead of time based on what I have on hand AND what is on sale at Publix and Aldi is a HUGE $$ saving plan for my family! This habit of sharing it keeps me accountable!  (I share it on my coupon blog each week.)


I try to plan my family's meal plan based on what is already in my freezer/pantry/frig, so that very little shopping has to be done to feed my family for the week, except for the fresh items- such as dairy and produce.
We are once again doing Low Carb, so I plan 5-6 dinners that way and we usually eat out once a week (&/OR we have a cheat day at home). We are trying to get our family on a healthier eating track this new year, as well as getting away from more and more processed foods. My kiddo still eats some carbs during the day, but eats what we eat at dinner time.  My Hubby is doing Low Carb, so planning out the entire day has become my "norm" or else he feels like he might starve!!  He wants to see his options on posted on the frig!

By shopping the sales/deals and actually planning our menu, I rarely have to pay full price for anything to put together a menu plan. This saves so much money for my family! Try it, it will work for you too!

Do you have a plan this week?? I'd love for you to share it with me!

Here is our Dinner plan:

• Egg Roll in a Bowl 
• Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala, Riced Cauli
• Fat Head Deep Dish Pizza, salads
• Turkey Veggie Soup, Salads
• Goat Cheese & Spinach Stuffed Mini Meatloaves, Creamed Summer Squash 
• Weekend away:  taking snacks & lunch with us, eating dinner out.
  cheese sticks, nuts, trail mix, beef jerky, hard boiled eggs, Summer sausage & cheese, etc...

Breakfast Options:

• Power Protein Smoothies w/ Peanut Butter & spinach
• Eggs & bacon
• Scrambled eggs & sausages
• Cheese omelette W/ Avocado

Lunch Ideas:

• Leftovers!!!
• Egg wraps filled with turkey, avocado & cheese
• Pizza Salad
• Thai Cucumber salad w/ peanut dressing

Snack options:

• Trail mix, peanuts 
• Cheese cubes & salami
• Ham & pickle roll up
• celery & PB
• Fat Bombs (Low carb/High fat version of chocolate!!)

Do you have a menu plan?  Could you put together some sort of plan for this week OR start making a plan for next week?  Without a plan, your new eating style will fail!
Let me know how it goes!