183(-31.5lbs)

I finally hit my 30 pound weight loss milestone this week, thanks in no part to myself. I have had a really difficult couple weeks emotionally. Usually, this is when I turn to food for comfort, but I have found that I just do not get the same cravings. I did have some pizza last weekend, and it was wonderful. I got chicken and veggie pizza from this wonderful place out in Katy when I was dog-sitting at my Mom's, called Mazzei's. It was actually not salty at all and I asked them to use as little cheese as possible, so I did not feel as guilty, or as yucky, after eating it twice on Sunday. I have, however, been drinking entirely too much wine. I try to limit my intake to one glass every other day, and on days that I have training at the gym, it is pretty easy, but with my depressed mood the last 2 weeks, I have having 2-3 glasses every night. I know this is completely dumb because alcohol is a depressant, and it just leaves me feeling worse off the next day, so no wine tonight! I am going to go running outside and enjoy this nice weather while it lasts. I am also running/walking a 5k this Saturday, so I want to gauge how far I can run in one clip. My goal is to run at least the first mile.

I am back to my regular diet and though I am very bored with it, I am continuing to try new things.

Yesterday I baked some chicken that I had marinated with just about every dried herb I own. I topped it with some baby bella mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, and a little bit of crumbled up Melba toast, which is one of my allowed starch products. I was a bit disappointed because it really seemed to lack flavor, so I will probably put some of my honey Dijon dressing on it next time I eat it. I was more successful with some ground veal that I got last week. You have to be careful with ground meats, because the variance in fat from one cut of meat to the next is crazy. Many people buy ground turkey and think that it is better for them, but unless you are getting ground turkey BREAST, you are wrong.

Here are the nutritional values for Jennie O turkey(4 oz portions):
Ground turkey BREAST:120 calories, 1.5g fat, 26g protein
Ground turkey:220 calories, 17g fat, 20g protein
93% Lean Ground BEEF: 170 calories, 8g fat, 23g protein

So basically, ground turkey meat(which includes dark meat) is worse for you than some ground BEEF! The same goes for ground chicken, so watch your labels when you shop.

Anyway, back to the veal; I am pretty sure that it was not super high in fat, but there was not any nutritional info and it did not specify if it was lean or "extra lean". I would not purchase this product again, but this time, I decided to make a meatloaf. I put in mushrooms, onions, a package of the QWLC mushroom soup dry mix for seasoning, a little water and some Melba toast. It was really good! It tasted like it had a little more fat in it than the ground turkey breast I usually cook with, but it was very flavorful. I do not even like meatloaf, but the texture was dense and the mushroom soup added a lot of flavor without adding too much salt. I will be making this again, but I really want to find ground veal that has more info on the package. The research I did online puts the nutritional facts close to the 93%lean ground beef.

I also read on a Weight Watchers email that cooking with salt causes meats to loose their natural juices and dries them out. Yet another reason to not cook with salt. On my plan, I am only allowed 1/2 tsp of Morton's light salt each day and I am not allowed to cook with it. I use it to sprinkle on my veggies and main dish, and it is more than enough to season my food for the entire day.

I am finally fitting into my pink and black goal dress that I posted a picture of at the start of this journey, and will be wearing it to a friend's wedding this weekend. I feel soooooo good in it and do not even have to wear any Spanx or anything! Amazing! I also ordered the red dressed pictured. It has not shipped yet, but I am very excited to try something strapless. My breast have been too big to really wear anything strapless, but they are not anymore and I have enjoyed being comfortable in a strapless bra again. Oh the things I will be able to buy now!!!

Well, off to get changed so I can go running - hoping I do not pass out!