88 to go....it's been a long haul

Well, I have not been posting lately because we adopted a little girl. She is 6 and arrived on our doorstep on December 22. It's been crazy. In Canada, an adoptive parent can take up to 35 weeks off paid with benefits - so I am in my second week of parental leave. It's is really weird to be home now, especially since she is in school everyday. That is really my problem now - what to eat now that I am home and on a reduced income budget (I am getting 93% instead of 100% of my pay). Not that it is a really big difference, but we are trying to be budget conscious. I am trying to get protein in daily, but having trouble thinking of new creative ideas ---eggs are getting boring.. For those who are home - what do you eat when you cooking lunch for 1? 145.8 gone, 88 to go....

You have to try to turn being home into a benefit. I know it's hard. That is how I gained all my weight over the years.. fixing lunches for kids who didn't finish them and then finishing them!! But now, I try to make the best of it. I take time to make something "different". Like take an Eggplant and cut it in half long ways. Cook up some chopped meat, some shredded mozzarella, a little olive oil, some tomato or tomato sauce, some garlic, onions or whatever seasoning you like and cook it up~ It's not high in calories, but it tastes GREAT!! You could make it with a little rice in it as well, but then you have to count that as well. Another thing I like is ricotta cheese, with some equal and cinnamon on it. Slap that on a few melba rounds (I like the sesame seed ones). It tastes like a treat! In other words, spend time preparing.. cleaning up, etc. Make eating have a little less emphasis. It's not easy, but it's SO worth it! Best of luck to you..you're doing great! AND God bless you and your new family!! Rossana 334/222/???

WELL FIRST off....CONGRATULATIONS MOMMY! MY oldest kids were both adopted. ITS a wonderful option for becomeing a parent! ALL the best...!!!!! Would love to hear more about your precious gift feel free to email me. I am a sort of a stay at home mom, i run a family daycare business in my home so im hear. I use the southbeach wraps for lunch and its a meal for two days for me. I bought a big bag of frozen meatballs and i put little red sauce and cheese on them YUM! VERY cheap what i pay for the bag of frozen meatballs. I buy canned chile...... there are so many foods out there. COOK up some chicken thighs...i usually buy a big pack. I make chicken salad that lasts days and days from a few chicken breasts....I eat Lo fat cottage cheese...i eat cheese cut up and buy cheap kinds..... Well congratulations on the pounds gone your doing awesome. GOOD LUCK LISA

You are doing great!!!! I have two adopted sons myself, they were my foster kids and they were 6 and 3 when we got them. I have 4 total now and love being home with them most of the time. I would like a part time job, but I think I am going to go back to school in the fall instead. As for eating, I have a hard time with this too. I eat a lot of cup o soup and peanut butter on toast. Cheese and yogurt with fruit. I have cereal with protein like special k and the quaker weight control oatmeal. I don't like meat, but nuts are good especially almonds, and I like the fruit and cool whip like Lisa does once in awhile too. I am not very creative I guess, but some foods just still don't go down very good. Meat is very hard on my stomach, unfortunately though I can still eat chips and stuff! I do have some once in awhile and I have had bad eating days, but mostly I try not to be bad. Congratulations on motherhood and keep up the good work, I still have 85 lbs to go myself, it is very frustrating to see some of the others in size 8 and 10's sometimes, but we will get there eventually, and I am happy for them, I just wish I were closer to there myself! Wendy

Hun I just wanted to post and say CONGRATS on being parents now.. Hubby and I are thinking about adoption soon as well. That is great that you can take that time off from work and still get the 93% pay though I know it must be hard. I wish you all the best hun ~hugs~ I do not stay home but know it is hard for me on the weekend with my eating schedule so I wish you all the best with your new family. Debra P

the biggest budget helps for us are the fact that i make a home cooked dinner 6 days a week, and i don't shop grocery stores on the weekends. I also take the time to clip coupons. The home cooked meals really help. for us, a family of 5, a dinner "out" at mcdonald's would be at LEAST 20, more like 30$ even at a fast food restaurant. My husband insists on pizza at least once a week so i budget for that, but the rest of the week i cook (or reheat leftovers) i used www.allrecipes.com for recipe ideas and try to come up with at least 1 or 2 "new" recipes a week to keep things interesting. i don't shop on the weekends because you're more likely to find markdowns on meats and vegetables during the week. it's almost always more expensive on the weekend, when many people that work are forced to handle their shopping. you can be surprised if you watch sales and coupons. i have on occasion come away with things that were nearly free. i often use coupons for things that are unusual or not what i would normally buy just to stock up in the cabinets. a box of this or that that was ridiculously inexpensive that can be thrown in with something more familiar. i'm not terribly brand loyal (with the exception of paper plates, toilet paper, fabric softener, and drinks) so coupons can be great. for lunch i usually have a south beach frozen dinner. i can get them about half price because i shop on a military base. before i had that luxury i would have wasa crackers with turkey and melted cheese, soup, etc. or leftovers from the night before. congratulations on the adoption, how exciting! Holly