I have a confession: I'm bored. With the foods I've been eating.
Or, I was, but I'm not anymore. Like most people who are trying to lose weight, I'd gotten into a rut of eating the same foods most days of the week because I knew they were "safe" and worked well with my points budget.
So, I did something about it.
Here's how I went about it: I picked up the Sunday paper and started clipping coupons. I think coupons are useful for two things: they save you money and they entice you to try new things. So, today I thought I'd share some of my new favorite things:
Skippy Natural Peanut Butter (Creamy) - some people avoid PB like the plague because they see the high fat content on it, but as long as it isn't hydrogenated, it's fine! Natural PB isn't hydrogenated, and Skippy's doesn't need to be stirred all the time. It costs the same as regular PB too. I got the huge economy jar with was regularly 4.88 at Wal-Mart, but I had a $1.00 off coupon so it came to 3.88 and it will probably last me 3 months (5 PP+ per serving)
Musselman's Apple Butter - Again, got the big economy jar, it was $2.88 regularly (what's with Wal-Mart ending things in 88?), but I had a .50 off coupon, so 2.38. I'm not sure how long a jar will last, I think my mom is addicted to it (1 PP+ per serving).
Thomas' 100% Whole Wheat Bagel Thins - I know I'm about a year behind, but I'd been leery of these since hearing about them. I love bagels, so the fact that someone was messing with them bothered me. Silly me, they are delish! Usually $2.50 for 8, with .25 coupon, 2.25 total. I'll be getting them again (3 PP+ per serving).
Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers (many varieties) - The first few times I did Weight Watchers, I ate a lot of SmartOnes and Lean Cuisines and Healthy Choice meals. And I got bored, so I generally don't encourage frozen meals, and I only eat them when I'm in a hurry. I had four $1.00 off coupons for these, so I bought four (anywhere from 2.50 to 3.88 each) to keep on hand. Happily surprised with them, the steaming method of cooking keeps the veggies from getting rubbery and they don't have as much sodium or preservatives as other frozen meals. (5 - 8 PP+ per serving).
Reddi Wip Fat Free Whipped Cream - I drink the crap out of some diet hot chocolate, but it's just not the same without whipped cream on top. I'd been using Fat Free Cool Whip for years, but then found out its made out of oil (ew) instead of milk. Found a .75 off two can coupon for this stuff and tried it. The fact that it came out of a can scared me at first until I read the ingredients and realized I recognized (and could pronounce) all of them. Cost, 1.53 per can (O PP+ per serving).
Special K Sour Cream and Onion Cracker Chips - I saved my best discovery for last. These are A - MAZE - ING. Kellogs made them with the idea that they would be a good substitution for potato chips and they succeeded. But they also made them healthier because there is fiber in them! Yes, fiber in a snack that is a salty and savory and crunchy. $1.00 off coupon, usually $2.88 = 1.88 (and there is another $1.00 coupon on the box for next time!). (3 PP+ per serving)
I bought other items also, and used many more coupons; these are just the ones I found notable. My bill before coupons would have been over $62.00 but after coupons it was just under $48.00 and I put the $14.00 I saved into my move to NYC savings account :D
Anyways, now for the real reason y'all came here today. This week I lost 1.6 pounds, bringing my total weight loss to 81.8 pounds and I'm 4.6 pounds to my goal weight. Also, this morning I entered the 140s for the first time since high school. See y'all next week!
Or, I was, but I'm not anymore. Like most people who are trying to lose weight, I'd gotten into a rut of eating the same foods most days of the week because I knew they were "safe" and worked well with my points budget.
So, I did something about it.
Here's how I went about it: I picked up the Sunday paper and started clipping coupons. I think coupons are useful for two things: they save you money and they entice you to try new things. So, today I thought I'd share some of my new favorite things:
Skippy Natural Peanut Butter (Creamy) - some people avoid PB like the plague because they see the high fat content on it, but as long as it isn't hydrogenated, it's fine! Natural PB isn't hydrogenated, and Skippy's doesn't need to be stirred all the time. It costs the same as regular PB too. I got the huge economy jar with was regularly 4.88 at Wal-Mart, but I had a $1.00 off coupon so it came to 3.88 and it will probably last me 3 months (5 PP+ per serving)
Musselman's Apple Butter - Again, got the big economy jar, it was $2.88 regularly (what's with Wal-Mart ending things in 88?), but I had a .50 off coupon, so 2.38. I'm not sure how long a jar will last, I think my mom is addicted to it (1 PP+ per serving).
Thomas' 100% Whole Wheat Bagel Thins - I know I'm about a year behind, but I'd been leery of these since hearing about them. I love bagels, so the fact that someone was messing with them bothered me. Silly me, they are delish! Usually $2.50 for 8, with .25 coupon, 2.25 total. I'll be getting them again (3 PP+ per serving).
Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers (many varieties) - The first few times I did Weight Watchers, I ate a lot of SmartOnes and Lean Cuisines and Healthy Choice meals. And I got bored, so I generally don't encourage frozen meals, and I only eat them when I'm in a hurry. I had four $1.00 off coupons for these, so I bought four (anywhere from 2.50 to 3.88 each) to keep on hand. Happily surprised with them, the steaming method of cooking keeps the veggies from getting rubbery and they don't have as much sodium or preservatives as other frozen meals. (5 - 8 PP+ per serving).
Reddi Wip Fat Free Whipped Cream - I drink the crap out of some diet hot chocolate, but it's just not the same without whipped cream on top. I'd been using Fat Free Cool Whip for years, but then found out its made out of oil (ew) instead of milk. Found a .75 off two can coupon for this stuff and tried it. The fact that it came out of a can scared me at first until I read the ingredients and realized I recognized (and could pronounce) all of them. Cost, 1.53 per can (O PP+ per serving).
Special K Sour Cream and Onion Cracker Chips - I saved my best discovery for last. These are A - MAZE - ING. Kellogs made them with the idea that they would be a good substitution for potato chips and they succeeded. But they also made them healthier because there is fiber in them! Yes, fiber in a snack that is a salty and savory and crunchy. $1.00 off coupon, usually $2.88 = 1.88 (and there is another $1.00 coupon on the box for next time!). (3 PP+ per serving)
I bought other items also, and used many more coupons; these are just the ones I found notable. My bill before coupons would have been over $62.00 but after coupons it was just under $48.00 and I put the $14.00 I saved into my move to NYC savings account :D
Anyways, now for the real reason y'all came here today. This week I lost 1.6 pounds, bringing my total weight loss to 81.8 pounds and I'm 4.6 pounds to my goal weight. Also, this morning I entered the 140s for the first time since high school. See y'all next week!
I, too, get in food ruts. That's been part of the reason I'm hesitant to go back to Weight Watchers (even though it worked wonders for me). I may give it a go again though.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your progress!