So, the scale is taunting me...

I went into this weight loss journey telling myself that I'd only check my weight once a week. In the past, the scale has discouraged me and I didn't want that to happen again. That said, I'm a human being and an obsessive one, at that. So, i've hopped on the scale twice this week. Once my weight went up a lb. Once my weight didn't change at all. So, to calculate, that means that even with working out almost every day, increasing my step count, and watching my calorie intake...I've gained a mother fucking pound. Marinate on that.

I refuse to let it set me off course, but let me tell you, it's certainly not making me feel like anything I'm doing is helpful. What do I have to do? Starve myself while working out 3 hours a day? That will never happen. Even if I could, it wouldn't be sustainable. I don't want to lose 50 lbs and find it again 6 months later.

So, it is with annoyed heart that I share with you my experiences and tips today. First of all, I forced myself to work out this weekend even though I really did not want to, and I'm pretty proud of that. I'm the master of talking myself out of doing anything I don't want to do. I did eat a California Sandwich last night that probably had 1 billion calories in it. BUT, in my defense, I had ample opportunity to also eat a piece of cake, donut, or other wonderful baked good and declined. I'm calling that a half win. ;) I'm also the queen of talking myself into eating things I shouldn't eat. For the most part, I've been a good little girl.

As I've said before, sweets are my weakness. Especially chocolate. Especially ice cream. Well, I've got an ice cream maker, so I've been scouring the internet for 'healthy' ice cream recipes. This is also cost saving since I have two toddler boys who scream 'ICE CREAM! ICE CREAM!" at me like I'm their put-upon slave, on this earth only to feed them frozen delicacies. I have decided to make my summer ice creams with coconut milk instead of cream and/or eggs.

1) this cuts SOME fat (not really that much. Don't be deceived) but also gives us all some healthy fats.
2) It's easier on the digestion.
3) I don't like to risk the creaminess of my ice cream so I can't go skim/low fat milk route.
*This is important* do NOT go cheap on the coconut milk. My first attempt at ice cream was with a cheap brand and it was not creamy enough at all. No amount of shaking mixed that mess up!

I have also started using Agave Nectar, though one could easily substitute any sweetener/honey/syrup of their choosing. Before you ask, I'm not turning into a hipster douche who buys over priced trendy cooking products. I stumbled across Agave Nectar in a recipe and I liked it. It left little aftertaste and it mixes with the coconut milk easier than granulated sugar.

All of that said, this is the recipe I used for some amazing Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream:

2 cans of Coconut Milk (you MUST use the good stuff)
2 HEAPING spoons of Peanut Butter (honestly, use as much as you please)
3-4 tablespoons of Cocoa Powder
1/3 cup of Agave Nectar or Maple Syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions: Mix it all up in a blender until fully blended. Pour into your ice cream maker per your maker's instructions.

*you can also put this directly in the freezer if you don't have an ice cream maker, but I've never tried this.

It is good. No, it doesn't taste exactly like full fat, eggy, rich ice cream. Yes, it tastes close enough and it better for you. This will satisfy my craving, at least for now. And the kids love it. Plus, I'm sort of enjoying trying out my creativity in the kitchen. That said, when I'm exhausted and one of the kids has decided to pester me in the kitchen the entire time I'm trying to cook, i'd just as soon eat a pizza and call it a day. But I'm fighting those urges. 

That's all for today folks. Here's hoping the scale gets it's shit together soon. :P