We're having FUN in the kitchen

So, we've been on Weight Watchers for 13 days.  And in those 13 days, the meals that have come out of our kitchen are COMPLETELY different from anything we've made before.  We're eating things we'd refused to even TRY before, and liking all of it (okay, Bryan and Luke didn't like the eggplant parmasan very much).

In ten years of marriage, we'd never once made fish.  We've had it three times in the last week.

In ten years of marriage, we'd never once made shrimp.  We've had it five or six times in the last two weeks.

Shrimp with zucchini, peppers, onion and tomatoes

And we've had multiple dishes with our shrimp and tilapia and loved them all.

In ten years of marriage, we'd never once made stuffed peppers.  We've had them twice.

Ground beef and beans!  Reminded us of chili without the crackers.

In all my life, I've only once had an omelet.  And, I'd certainly never made one.  Veggies for breakfast?  No thanks.  But now?  I'm throwing every veggie at my disposal into my eggs!

I don't know how to fold an omelet, so it's basically scrambled eggs (one egg, one egg white) with veggies.

Between the ages of 18 and 22, I considered myself a vegetarian.  But, what I recently discovered is that I was actually more of a carbivore, as loads of pasta, crackers, bread, chips, cheese, dips and butter - with the occasional raw fruit or veggie - really can't be considered a vegetarian diet, can it?  Aside from steaming some veggies, I'd never actually COOKED with veggies till now!

We keep asking, "Why didn't we eat like this sooner?!?!"

In the first week, Bryan dropped 6 pounds and I dropped 4.  I also lost 1 1/2" inches in my waist, and measurements of my thighs and arms were smaller too.  AMAZING.

Since I can eat all the fruits and veggies I want, I really don't feel hungry.  And I quickly adjusted to the smaller portion sizes.  Now just two fajitas fills me up, when previously it would have been three, plus chips and salsa, plus guacamole or cheese dip, plus a soda, and perhaps a little ice cream in an hour.

During that first week, I felt better than I had in my entire life.  I was so much slimmer looking and physically comfortable.  Always.  Morning, noon, night.  For the first time in years!

Before starting this, I thought all those rolls were gross fat, but I honestly think I was B-L-O-A-T-E-D.  I felt miserable constantly.

And then I started eating better and felt FANTASTIC.

Then....  The day after our first weigh-in, I started my period.  Let me tell you, I have felt huge, miserable, cramped, uncomfortable, and discouraged for the last five days.  I cannot believe how miserable menstruation makes me feel.  At times I've wondered if I've already plateaued (really, after one week?), but I feel so miserable and I'm still eating well and exercising.  It has got to be my cycle.

The bright side?  I NOTICE the discomfort now.  Before, I felt like this ALL the time.  I was so puffed up every moment of every day that I didn't even notice PMS.

All of the cheese and crackers in the world are not worth feeling like this 365 days a year.  Thank you, Weight Watchers.