Wednesday Weigh-in

Starting weight: 258.8

Last weeks weigh-in: 205.1

This weeks weigh-in: 198.3

     

-6.8

Total loss: 60.5

♥

Our Fertility Journey

I imported my fertility blog over to this account, if you would like to follow to take a peek into our journey. To visit, go here.

Happy news....we are officially proceeding with our 4th treatment!!! I started Provera today to induce a cycle so we could begin.

Stop by and see where we're at! If you share a similar journey, let me know!

Week 3 Challenge Results

Here it is ladies, Week 3 results:

Our top 3 biggest loosers this week are:

1. Nikki - Chasing Skinny.

I finally kicked the binge poundage and entered back into Onederland. I lost 6.8 lbs. for a total of 3.3%! I had a huge 5.3 lb gain last week, if you remember - so my overall % is still low because of that fiasco.

2. Amber - Jewell in the Rough

She had a wonderful week. She lost 5 lbs. for a total of 2.4%. Great job girl!!!

3. Leslie - Band Sweet Band

She kicked tail at the gym all week long and had an awesome 6.6 lbs. loss for a total of 2.1%.

As a group we lost 62.8 lbs, for challenge total of 180.6!

We're all doing so well! Keep up the great work. If you find yourself in a moment of crisis, reach out to the blog world through a post or email. That's what we're all here for!!!

Happy Monday, beauties.

The five-day pouch went perfect and the scales reflect. I am actually continuing on into day six. It's so easy. I love protein; so why not? If your stuck in plateuville or in a lil bit of a lul, try it out.

Just a reminder to send your weights in for the Spring Challenge! I hope everyone had a wonderful 3rd week! Remember...bathing suit weather is upon us :)

~hugs to all.

Days 1 & 2 of the five-day pouch...check!

Liquids are done and if I may brag wee little bit; I did quite well. This morning I had the best.tasting.eggs, ever. Yes, they were scarmbled a la microwave style here at the office, but having not ate in 2 days, they were eggcellent! I also had 2 pieces of turkey bacon. I sat down and ate what I could in 15 minutes, just like a good little girl. I was able to finish about half the egg and both pieces of bacon. For lunch, I brought sweet and spicy tuna. Yummy. Today and tomorrow will be soft proteins. I also picked up some Chobani last night to try. I'm not a yogurt person at all, but Grace and Amanda have a mad love for it, so I wanted to try it out. I brought it for lunch today also. I have to admit, the commericals make it look so.damn.good.

So, I think I kind of jumped the gun last week with the big loss into onederland. I kept getting 199.something. Twice I got 196 - of course, I went with that. So, I think my true, true weight was 199.6, not 196.8, as reported. During the horrrrrrible weekend I had last week, all 5 days of it, I had jumped back up to 205.1. So with that number, and let me say that was mostly sodium weight, as I didn't eat THAT much, I know I really didn't get down to 196. My sweet and always supportive husband tried to maybe suggest that, but seeing I was so excited - he drifted off into being silent about it. The last few days have made the scale move way down and I know I will be back down to pre-sabotage weight by the end of the weekend. Life is good.

So, I have a bit of personal junk I wanna ask your opinion about. I try to keep that out of blog world but I feel your unbiased guidance may help.

Flashback: 2008 I became friends quickly with these 2 girls. One was a roomate of my childhood best friend and the other was the above roomates childhood best friend. We clicked quickly and became as close as sisters. In August 2009 there was something minor happened that was ultimately blown out of proportion, that caused one of the girls and I to drift apart and because she had been life long friends with the other girl, she too drifted away. In June of last year, church brought us back together. But, we aren't the same. They never call, text, FB, email. They always want to "get together" but only make plans amongst each other; the only texts I do get state how much I'm missed, loved and how we need to get together - but yet never get invites. I used to ask them to get together all the time, but after the "yes we need to's" never evolved into anything - I just kind of stopped. My question is, do I just need to move on? My fear is letting go will hurt so bad, yet my husband tells me the emotional hell I'm being put through is ten times worse. I look at it even further and realize that there really isn't anything here to actually let go of, right? I mean, we've done nothing since July of last year. Do I talk to them about it? Or do I just gracefully bow out? I shall say I have lots of beautiful, close friendships; I am truly blessed.  Your thoughts?

Can I please get some cheese with my wine?

Day one, Success!

So I had a fill yesterday and decided to stay strong and go ahead and see what the five-day pouch test was all about. Yesterday was a great success and I am half way into the 2nd day of full liquids, and I'm doing great.

Day 1

Breakfast: Pure Protein Shake
Lunch: 1 cup Butternut Squash Soup
Snack: 1 cup Chicken broth with herbs
Dinner: Pure Protein Shake

Day 2

Breakfast: Pure Protein Shake
Lunch: 1 cup Southwestern Corn Soup, Pure Protein Shake
Snack: 1 cup Butternut Squash Soup
Dinner : Pure Protein Shake, 1/2 cup Fat Free Refried Beans, reduced w/ water.

I'm sure my new fill has had something to do with little/no hunger pains and the mental drive to make it through. All liquids is never easy, rather it be pre or post band.  My big, big goal is to quit the drinking before/after meals as I had had picked up along the way; I can really tell the negative impact of that no-no.

Kind of quiet around here today, but super busy. That's all I have for now.

If you're participating in the challenge - hope you're having a wonderful week!

Fill 'er up

The good thing about fill days is I get to scoot out of the office early and have a long afternoon. Sometimes weekends seem forever away, and this has been exactly one of those weeks.

My visit went well. I noticed I had major port tenderness this time before the bee sting numbing shot. I've never had port pain before so that was odd. And it didn't help the medical student was given access to do the fill and she couldn't find it and poked around even more; oouchie! 

So, I went in thinking I had 8.2cc from my last fill. However he said I was at 8.6cc last fill and was measuring today at 8.2cc; so he added .6cc for a total of 8.8cc. I've indulged in some chicken broth since I've been home and it's went down slowly. What a welcomed feeling! 

I've made it over half the day on pure liquids so I believe I will go ahead with the five-day pouch test and get back on track and detox from the bad things that have slowed down the loss over the past several weeks. I will also revisit new band behaviors; weighing meat portions, eating slowly and only until content, no drinking 30 minutes before/after meals. Right now I am going to take one day at a time. I know days 1 & 2 of the pouch being all liquids will be the hardest; it makes me cringe just thinking of it. 

Question: I know our daily protein goal is a minimum of 70g. What does your surgeon/nutritionist recommend on daily carb intake?

Just a quick note also, I've kind of been behind this week on commenting - but I have been reading! 

Ready, set, go....

Thank you for your support today during my moment of crisis. What could I do without you?


♥


Today is my 6 month bandiversary; it seems unreal.

I've done fabulous.

I'm very happy with my weight loss.

Tomorrow, I get a fill [I'm very, very happy about that]

So, here I am....standing up, dusting off and moving on.


All you girls that went to the NY Brunch, looked fabulous. Again, jealous! ;)

S.O.S

A huge appetite, bad habits and total disregard for my joyous ONEderland accomplishment last week - this describes the last five days of my life. I've had a really rough time. It started here....and only got worse.

I had a fill scheduled last week, in which I was called to cancel as my surgeon was going to be out of the office. It was fine, I thought at the time. I wasn't going to get one anyway, as I felt I was in my happy zone. By the time the weekend had rolled around, one would think my band had been punctured and all the fill quickly leaked out. I've had no restriction since. I've been able to eat bread, pizza, and *hanging my head in shame, Shoney's Breakfast Bar....even worse, 2 plates full.

What in the world has happened?

How did I got from a state of euphoria for reaching ONEderland and such an intense level of focus to having such an awful, awful weekend. The appetite is one thing; the choices I made are an entire issue within itsself.

I am sitting at what I thought was around 8.2cc in my 10 cc band. How in the hell can I not have perfect restriction? Luckily, I called today and can get in for a fill tomorrow.

Until then, yell at me. slap my hand. scold me.

Please.

I'm embarassed, ashamed. And worst of all, disappointed in myself. For those who I had inspired, I am sorry I let you down so horribly.

Challenge Week 2 Results

Here it is ladies, Week 2 results:

 

Our biggest looser this week was Ronnie at Ronnie's Bandumentary! She lost 7lbs and 3.0% this week!

 

Way to girl!

 

As a group we lost 38.6 lbs, for challenge total of 126.9!

 

Keep up the great work, ladies!

Week 3 - Spring Challenge

[click picture to enlarge]



With success,

......you will always have failure.

First of all, thank you everyone for your lovely comments of support yesterday on my onederland post. It's been a fabulous journey; the best of my life. I started blogging, like most, to simply hold accountable my day to day actions and decisions so I could look back and reference from time to time. And here I am with so many wonderful followers, with developing friendships, with a reading list of your journey's that I look forward to starting my day off with. I love it here. ♥

But, with success, there are always moments of failure. We all know this all to well. Yesterday, what started as a treat turned into a fail, of epic proportion. My kryptonite: Girl Scout Cookies [Thin Mints]. I talked about this a few weeks ago. And again, I failed. I was on my way home and a girlfriend called saying my cookies had arrived. Crap! I had totally forgotten I ordered these. And even worse, five, yes f-i-v-e boxes. What the hell was I thinking? I thought back and sure enough, I ordered during my fill-hell in Janaury. Stupid girl! I didn't want to cancel and hurt her little girls feelings so I went to pick them up. I wasn't going to have any!

All the way down the road, I kept looking in the box...3 Samoas, 2 Thin Mints. Nope, not going to have them. I already had a mental list going of who I was going to gift them too. I ran to the bank, stopped at the grocery store and it was on my way home at the last red light out of town, I was checking nutrition labels and decided Thin Mints were healthier and I would have one serving. So I open the box, open the plastic, and before I know it - two cookies were devoured.....in seconds. I still had 2 to go. Score!

As you probably know thin mints come in two individually wrapped columns of cookies, 16 cookies per column. An hour and a half later, I had ate an.entire.column. 16 cookies. 3 servings too many. 640 calories. 32 fat. What had I just done? I had even pushed through the tummy ache that this had caused to finish the remaining few cookies.

Disgusted.

J's sister knocked at the door and with them, I sent home the remainder of the cookies; the rest of my box, 1 new box of Thin mints and 2 boxes of Samoas...I let sweet hubby keep one box.

I was emotionally sick the rest of the afternoon. How could a treat turn into sabotage? How could I reach such a huge milestone, 12-hours earlier, and then binge on stupid cookies?

This morning when I woke, the guilt had pretty subsided and I had been left with the feeling of a new day. A new chance. We all fall weak. We all fail at times. One decision, one bad decision, doesn't define my journey.

As much as I love the success I had to hold myself accountable for this fail, and post.

Happy St. Patty's Day, my friends.

♥

ONEderwoman is in 'da house!

Starting Weight: 258.8

Last weeks weigh-in: 200.4

This weeks weigh-in: 196.5

     

-3.9

Total loss: 62.3

♥

Good-bye 200's, forever.

I write this post as my eyes are filled with tears and my heart, happiness. I can't believe I'm here. I made it. I'm out of the 200's forever. What a feeling!

Today marks several little victories:

1. Onderland

2. 60 pounds lost

3. .6 away from being out of the "Obese" BMI range.

I've not seen the 100's since the late 90's and it was only then for a brief time. I've been obese all my adult life and this, this is surreal. I never, ever thought I would see this side again. Even with the band, my poor self esteem always talked me down; always talked me out of the possibilites.

Last night I went to Zumba. It's of course in the main studio where mirrors surround you. For the first time, I didn't feel like the big girl in the class. For the first time, I didn't wanna run out and leave because the sight of myself in the mirror was nauseating. For the first time, I looked at myself and saw the much smaller version. I might've looked like a dork with my poor dance/aerobic skills - but being happy with myself, I didn't care.

Having done diet, after diet, after diet - my entire adult life, I really didn't know how the band was going to change that. Sure, I would eat smaller portions but I would still have to diet, right? Not at all. Over the last 5 months, I've learnt what the whole "Lifestyle Change" thing really is. All the many changes I've made personally just amaze me. I just never, ever thought I'd be someone healthy and live for a healthy lifestyle. The band brought me so much more than smaller portions; it changed my life, as a whole.

With 25 to go until I reach my goal, I've got this. I know the scale won't be as speedy as the first 62 pounds and that is fine. I've got happiness. And I've not had happiness in so, so long. And that my friends, is the biggest victory.
  

Challenge Week 1 Results

Here it is ladies, Week 1 results:

Our biggest looser this week was Stephanie at Electric Band Lady! She lost 8lbs and 3.7% this week! Way to girl!

As a group we lost 88.3 lbs! Fantastic week!

This morning was most definitely a morning where I could've easily played hookie from work and slept the day away. The house was cooled comfortably, my furbaby was snuggled up so close, it was overcast and rainy. But, I peeled myself up and made my way in. I was supposed to be at the beach this week. Our oldest niece Rachel is on Spring Break and she had asked if we could go. We had every intention to go but due to my husband's blackout season at work (no vacations or PTO March 1 - June 4) we can't go. In fact, we won't be able to go until June 4th, which we take yearly for his birthday trip. Next month we celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary and it's kind of a bummer we can't take a trip. But we've decided to proceed with our 4th fertility treatment next month. I hope being down 60 lbs will have reversed that stubborn 'ol PCOS and we will conceive. God has a plan and I trust fully in him. [If your listening this morning big guy, I'd love to have a December baby, Amen!]

Last night I had another huge NSV at the gym. Last week on the elliptical, I did 3.2 miles in 40:20. Last night I cut over 10 minutes off and did 3.1 [which is a 5k] in 29:29. I tore that bad boy up! I felt fabulous! Tonight, I'm feeling up for a little back to back action with BodyPump and Zumba; it's been since Christmas that I hit both up in one night. I'm gonna try to recruit the niece to come with me. My only gym buddy is training for a half-marathon and isn't doing classes right now. It really makes a difference to me having someone to workout with, especially the classes.

Speaking of the gym, if you have a smart phone such as a Blackberry, iPhone or Droid - have you checked out the Pandora app? It is the GREATEST! Download the app, create an account (online is easier) and in the search box type "Black Eyed Peas". From there, it builds your radio station with all upbeat songs, awesome for working out! You can of course like or dislike each so it can better build your station. I love it and it's different everyday, which to me is awesome because I get bored with the same songs on my iPod.

Check it out!

15 on the 15th!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you dearly to all those who have donated to support my fundraising efforts for the National MS Society - MS Walk. I walk in honor of my mother but to support all those who have MS. I will be running my first 5k on April 16th instead of walking this year; I am so excited!

My goal for today, March 15th is to get 15 people to donate $15. If you would like to help this great cause, simply, click here to make a donation.

To visit my personal page and get more information on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and what your donation will go to, you can go here.

Many, many, many thanks to you!

A Challenge Teaser....

We are up to 85.1 pounds lost so far, for week 1.....


How flippin' exciting is that?!

You. girls. rock!

Weights are still coming in - I can't wait to post the official results for week 1.

Mexican, por favor?

Happy Monday, friends.

Please note I am working on Week 1 Challenge submissions and will post once all are received. I hope everyone had a successful first week.

Saturday night I had planned on cooking wheat pasta marinara with turkey meatballs for Sunday dinner. But when leaving church, I was craving mexican, badly. Normally, I can shake my cravings easily and move about my day. But not yesterday.

And so after easily convincing my husband twisting my husband's arm - we drove to our favorite cantina.

I enjoyed chips & salsa, chicken tacos al carbon (healthiest mexican dish) and beans, shredded cheese and a few fries off my nephews plate (we were babysitting). I'm sure my daily calories were bypassed.

But, I enjoyed every.last.bite.

Today is a new day and I will stick firmly to my regiment.

It was just nice to induldge in an old favorite.

A day of awesome.

1. I started off my day by breaking all kinds of personal workout records; 5 miles on the elliptical. [I've never went to the gym on a Saturday, ever - so that in itself was a major big to do.]

2. I got to go home and spend the day with my parents, brother and my 5 nieces and nephews. I also got to visit with one of my mamaws.

3. The weather was sunny, warm and breezy.

4. I fit into and bought a size 14 jeans at Old Navy. I have not been in a 14 since the late 90's, and that was only for a really.brief. time.

Today was a great day! 

Spring Challenge - Week 2 Weigh-in Instructions

Hope everyone had a great week. To report your weight for this week, simply click HERE.

(no picture needed)


Good luck!

Your support, my friends, is requested.

Each year the National MS Society holds their annual Walk MS event in Knoxville to support awareness, research and fundraising for those with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In 1996, my Junior year in high school, my mother was diagnosed with this horrible illness. In honor/support of her, and all others with MS, I will be participating again this year to support this wonderful cause.

Yesterday, I talked about signing up for my first 5k. Although this is a walk event, there are runners. And although this will be an untimed course, this will be my first running event. I'm going to go for it, thanks to all the encouragement I got from you all yesterday.  It would not only mean so much on a personal level to actually complete a 5k, but my mom would be so honored; she's so proud of my progress.

As a participant, I am asking for your support in my fund raising efforts. It's faster and easier than ever to support this cause that's so important to me. Simply click the picture at the bottom to donate!

Please know any amount, great or small, helps to make a difference in the lives of people with MS. I appreciate your support so very, very much and look forward to letting you know how I do.

Yesterday was that of a day at the gym. I suppose due to my recent love for the elliptical, my quads were being kind of stubborn. I did 3 minutes, stopped. Went and switched head phones with the hubs came back and did 3 more minutes, stopped. Gah! I was a bit frustrated at my poor endurance. I hit the treadmill for a mile and I guess that warmed me up a bit because I went back to the elliptical and got in 2.75 miles; so total 3.75 for the night. I was very happy with that considering it was one of those I would've rather been somewhere else kind of workouts.

I have a friend who almost 2 years ago started her weight loss journey and through healthy eating and exercise, has lost 50 lbs. Since, she has ran several 5ks and an 8k and is currently training for the Knoxville Half Marathon. She amazes me. I also have found so much inspiration from you sweet bands sisters (Manda, Beth Ann, Sarah G, to name a few), that I think I have talked myself into signing up for a 5k after the local marathon is over. Thank you girls! [I wished you lived closer so we could do it together!] You really don't know how much of an inspiration you are too me.

Happy note: My hubs has been with me to the gym twice now. That makes me so happy. I've tried for months to get him to come with me and am thankful he has finally stopped talking himself out of it. The way it works for me is if I get in the routine, I can't live without it; I feel fabulous. But when I begin to miss, it's so hard to make myself go. Fingers crossed he'll continue. He makes a pretty snazzy workout buddy!

Speaking of snazzy, I found some new shades for spring; the bigger the better! And even better - the sunshine is finally hanging around.

I welcome spring! ✿

Score!

Remember yesterday, I wanted to buy a pair of fitted Nike running Capri's?

Reason being, all my workout pants are total loosey goosey's and if I wanted to make it through cardio w/o having my pants fall to my ankles, I had to hold on tight.

So, I stopped by Ross's [which is one of my.favorite.stores] and found these; Adidas running capri's for only $16 bucks.

NSV:  Size L   

Wednesday Weigh-in

Starting weight: 258.8

Last weeks weigh-in: 204.3

This weeks weigh-in: 200.4

     

-3.9

Total loss: 58.4

♥

ONDerland...here I come!!

Today I feel like....

bullets. My mind is everywhere.

• It's only Tuesday and this week has been so, so crazy at the office. The Director of Accounting had to take an emergency leave last Tuesdsay, and hasn't yet returned. I've been training via phone/email to do her job - in addition to mine. Love being busy but just a wee bit stressed. Is it the weekend yet?
• My hair is still fallin out and I.am.so.over.it. My surgeon's office says that hair loss isn't common with band patients; thoughts? I know I've asked before but now I'm stressing something else could be wrong.
• My husbands blackout season began March 1; we can't vacation until June. Note: Our 10th Wedding Anniversary is April 7.
• I think I am officially brave enough to purchase a pair Nike running capri's. I've never owned anything so fitted; I'm excited.
• I know 11 people who are expecting babies. I can't wait until it's my turn!
• Yard sale season is upon us; anyone else as stoked about that as I am?
• Speaking of, I need to have one myself.
• So, my personal record on the eliptical on Saturday was - 2.5 miles, 325 calores, 30 min.
• This was yesterdays: 3.21 miles, 413 calories, 40.20 min.

• I plan on going further today.
• I'm craving mexican food.
• I should get back to work.

Scale Picture - EMAIL TO:

If you haven't yet submitted your scale picture for week 1 - please do so this morning.

My email is: girlbanded@gmail.com


If you submitted your weight and don't hear from me, your good to go! :)

If you were blocked from my blog.....

It's because I accidently changed my blog settings last night. But, thanks for all my email notices to make me aware. All should be returned to normal settings.

Happy Monday!

Spring Challenge - Week 1 Weigh-in

Pardon my "ghettoes".

Week 1: 204.3

My goals this week:

1. Hit the gym, hardcore, Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
2. Hit my daily water goals.
3. I'd love, love to see ONEderland by week 2 weigh-in. My ONEderland goal is 3/15.

A huge new personal record....

The elliptical is evil. I had attempted several times, prior to October, to be successful and it kicked my arse everytime. So bad, I could never make it more than 5 minutes. See, evil.

Hubby and I hit the gym earlier for what I set out to be a run on the treadmill and a workout written by my PT. I also had a goal to do 5 minutes on the demon machine, since I hadn't attempted since October.

So after a quick run (15 min) I stopped, grabbed my water and towel and moved one row up to the elliptical. Sigh, I thought, I can do anything for 5 minutes. 

So I go...

And I went...

And I kept on going...

For 30 minutes and 2.5 miles.

& I could've went further but we were on a schedule and had to be other places.

Oh-my-goodness.

How amazing I felt. How accomplished.

I did it!!!

I've never, ever been able to do more than 5 minutes without tears of misery and a body that was in so much pain. Pushing past the soreness, was never an option. I just couldn't. 

I can't believe how far my fitness levels have came since surgery, almost 5 months ago.

I just wanted to share and hopefully inspire.

Never give up...set goals, you will achieve them! 

Spring Challenge - Instructions for tomorrows weigh-in. (Week 1)

Challenge time is upon us and I am so, so excited!

We have a total of 38 participants. There are several who have paid but haven't yet responded to the email pertaining to their payment; I will add you back to the participant list when you let me know your name/blog name. Please check your e-mail if you're not on the official list below. If I don't hear from you by tomorrow, I will issue a refund of $5.

Challenge Reminders

1. Tomorrow, you will email a picture of you on the scale. Include your name and blog name/address.


2. Beginning next week, you will simply fill out this form each Sunday.

3. The final week (April 17) you will send me a scale picture for final weigh-in.

4. There will be a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner. The dollar total for each place will be official once I get a response from the outstanding participants and their payments.

Again, if you paid and are not on this list - check your e-mail! Your name and blog name wasn't included in payment and I can't identify your blog. My e-mail is girlbanded@gmail.com.

Nikki at Chasing Skinny. 
Kristen at I'm with the band. 
Heather at Heather's Banded Journey. 
Camille at Livin Large in CC. 
Liz at Tales from the Band. 
Lyla at Big Fat Professor. 
Bonnie at Banded and Proud of it. 
Angie at This Banded Mommy's Journey. 
Read at My Trek Downward. 
Sam at Banded for Me.
Stef at A road to a thin me. 
Leslie at Band Sweet Band.
Ronnie at Ronnie's Bandumentary. 
Amanda at Stressed spelled backwards is desserts. 
Stephanie at Electric LadyBand. 
Kiki at Livin' Large No More. 
Jess at Big Girl in a Big World....my journey as a bandster.
Angie at I am in Repair...Angie's Banding Blog. 
Stacey at Time to Get Real.
Breanne at Lady Lapband.
Sandi at This one time at 'band' camp.
SUchipmunk at Life, Weightloss with Realize, and the pursuit of squirrels.
Shannon at A Fat Wife's Journey to Fabulous.
Kellie at Something About Kellie.
Grace at Grace's Fat Chance. 
Amber at Jewell in the Rough. 
Angela at A Better Me. 
MLM at Banded to Loose. 
Sutherngyrl00 at Banded for Life. 
Angela at Repair and Renovation.
Jody at One day I will wear stripes.
Jen at It's all about me.
Jamie at Jamie's Story.
Tori at Tori's Tatte Tales.
The Curvy Cat at Fed up with being overfed. 
Dawnya at Evolution of a Black Butterfly.
Amanda at Life of a [hopeful] looser.
Ginger at Gidget's Gadget.

Ready, set, go! Best of luck to you! ♥

The craving was totally worth it!

It's Friday.

& I am so very happy about that!

Since yesterday afternoon, I have been craving a new Thai Chicken salad at Panera that this lovely lady posted about. I've had a really bad craving. Like I woke up twice thinking about it, craving.

So, because my husband is wonderful, we had a lovely lunch date earlier so I could try this salad.

I've got two words:

Holy Yum!♥

I love Panera, period. But this salad shot up to the top of my fav list.

What's great is the entire salad has less fat, calories and carbs than any salad I have found, other than Panera's Strawberry Fields salad, eating out. Half the salad is less than 200 calories! Even if you attempt the whole salad, your calories for a meal are still under 400. And to make it even more awesome, this includes the dressing!

Click to enlarge:

So words of advice from yours truly, go out and try one this weekend!