Getting ready for Chicago

I'm heading to Chicago this weekend with my sisters. We're celebrating my youngest sister's 21st birthday. I can't believe she's 21 already!

I have a feeling that this trip is going to be challenging. First, there is a 7 hour train ride, which starts at roughly 6:30am. I have packed a package of Trader Joe's Seaweed Snack, a package of freeze dried apples, and a Weight Watcher's 3 Point bar in the totebag that I'm taking. I'm also thinking of packing a Thomas' Bagel Thin, and an actual apple. Then as long as I can get my hands on some coffee, I should be fine. I know that there's a dining car, or a snack cart on the train. So that might give me more options.

When we get to Chicago, we're going to have about 3 hours before we can check into our hotel. It will be about noon Chicago time when we arrive, so we're going to go get lunch. My sister sent me a link for a place that we can eat near the train station. They're really known for their breakfast, so chances are I'll be getting eggs of some sort. Their omelet menu is crazy! Broccoli and cheese, salami and cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, ham and cheese, apples and cheese, smoked salmon and onion, vegetarian, mushroom... the list goes on and on.

I've got even more snacks packed in my suitcase for running around Chicago. I know I'm going to need them. I'm also going to pick up fresh fruit whenever possible. My sisters are going to think I'm crazy, but it will keep me from overeating at restaurants.

Friday night we will probably go out for sushi and drinks. I love sushi! I already know where we're going, so I've started looking at their menu online. I love the fact that most of these places have their menus online! We've also kicked around a few ideas for drinks, and I've looked at their menus also. I'm not sure where we'll end up, but at least I'll know my options ahead of time.

Saturday is going to be about shopping. My one sister is meeting up with a friend, so us other 2 will be on our own. That means breakfast, lunch, and dinner out. There are tons of restaurants in the Magnificent Mile area, so I have no clue where we'll end up. I normally like eating at chains, because I can find the Points values in either my dining out guide, or I can look up the nutritional values online. We're going to be in Chicago though, so I want to try places that are unique to Chicago. Which means ordering carefully, guessing at the Points values, and hoping that I get in enough walking to make up the difference. I think we're going out dancing on Saturday also, so that should help.

Sunday we head home. I'm sure we'll have breakfast before we check out. Our train leaves at noon though, so lunch will be interesting. I'll either have to grab something at the train station, or hope for good options on the train. Hopefully I'll have enough snacks for the trip home also. I might be too tired from Saturday night to really care about eating, which might be a good thing. When we get home Sunday night I'll have to go find some dinner, unless I eat dinner on the train also. We'll see what happens there.

This trip is going to be interesting, and challenging. Hopefully I'll get through it without a gain on the scale!

Oatmeal banana pancake

I wish I knew who to attribute this recipe to. I saw it on someone's blog... I think on the Weight Watcher's website, but now I can't find it again. It's really a simple recipe.

1 mashed ripe banana
1 packet instant oatmeal, any flavor
1 egg white

Mix the ingredients in a bowl, and then cook in a pan sprayed with cooking spray. You end up with a huge, very tasty pancake. You could even make it into several small pancakes if you like. Unfortunately, mine fell apart a little when I flipped it, or I would post a picture.

Salad potluck

Every now and then we do a salad potluck at work. Someone brings in lettuce, and everyone else brings in their favorite toppings. The results are always fun and interesting. Sometimes we get a nice variety of vegetables. Other times we get a lot of meats and cheeses.

Today was one of these salad potlucks. We definitely got more vegetables today than we do at other times. There were tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, summer squash, etc. It's certainly a great way to welcome Spring!

An introduction

Two years ago I weighed 262 pounds. That's a whole lot of weight for someone who is only 5' 1". I was unhealthy, and battling Type 2 Diabetes, and Hypertension.

I have lost over 130 pounds, and have gotten off my medications for both conditions. I am much happier and healthier these days.

Going forward, I will discuss the things that I did to lose weight, and what I do now to keep the weight off. I hope you enjoy my blog!