Weight Loss Wednesday

MamaNotes

I realize that my blog typically focuses on “bargains” and that this post is not bargain related, but one of my goals for 2010 is to get in shape! I’m also always striving to find some sort of balance in my life, and I figure that there are others out there who are in the same boat that I’m in! So, I plan on having a weekly “Weight Loss Wednesday” post. I figure it will help me to be accountable. If one of your goals for 2010 is also to get in shape and you’re blogging about it, feel free to link up below!

My post today is inspired by the “Body After Baby” challenge that Mama Notes has started.

Here are my initial goals: (I’d like to set much higher goals, but I also want to be realistic and I don’t want to get discouraged early on)

*Exercise a minimum of four times per week
*Lose 10 pounds by 2/14/10

Here’s my plan:

*Commit myself to Weight Watchers ~ My weight has always been a struggle for me and Weight Watchers is the only program that has really “worked” for me. About 10 years ago, I became a lifetime member and I managed to keep the weight off….until I had my first baby. After two babies, I’m read to get back on track. My first goal is to just TRACK consistently so I actually know what I’m eating and by tracking, I also know that I’ll be less likely to “cheat.”

(On a side note, if you’re wondering, I have a monthly pass so I can use the online tools, but I can also attend meetings. I love being able to use the online trackers and being able to put in my recipes and calculate the points values, but I also do best when I have the accountability of actually attending a meeting).

If you’d like to try Weight Watchers, they are waiving the registration fee right now (that IS bargain related!)

*Drink more water – I never drink enough water! I plan on taking a huge water bottle with me to work and filling it up a couple of times each day. I know that is one of the keys to weight loss (for me at least).

*Create an exercise plan for each week – Exercise tends to be the thing that gets pushed aside when other things come up, but I’m an “emotional” eater and I know that when I exercise, it helps me deal with those other issues. I also know if I make a plan, I’m more likely to stick to it! Eventually, I would like to do a 5K so in an effort to prepare for that, I am using the “Couch Potato to 5K” plan as part of my work-out.

I started this plan on January 1st and so far it’s working out well. A few things that have been helped me to stay on track? Crystal Light and carrots (carrots are a zero point food on Weight Watchers, so when I have a craving, I pick up a few carrots instead and Crystal Light helps me get all of that water in)

Do you have a goal to lose weight this year? How’s it going so far? If you’ve blogged about it, feel free to share your link below!

Kroger deals for the week of 1/6


Here are the Kroger deals for the week:

*Boneless Chicken Breast or Tenderloins – $5.99 (3 lb frozen bag)

*Campbell’s Soup – 10/$10 – .60/each after coupons (when you buy 2!
.30/4 Campbell’s Condensed “Great for Cooking” soups – 11-8 SS (should triple)
.40/2 Campbell’s Condensed soups – 1-3-10 SS

*Freschetta Pizza – $3.99 – $2.99 after coupons!
$1/1 printable coupon here (you must register, you can print 2 per computer!)

*Hot Pockets/Lean Pockets – $1.78/each – $1.45/each after coupons (when you buy 3!)
$1/3 Lean Pockets & Hot Pockets – 10-25 SS
$1/3 Hot Pockets or Lean Pockets printable here (this is a manufacturer’s coupon found on pg. 5)
.55/1 Hot/Lean Pockets loadable – Cellfire.com

*Kroger Drinking Water – 2/$5 (this is a great “stock up” price!)

*Large navel oranges – 5/$1

*Lay’s Baked Snacks or Sun Chips – $2.75 – $2.20 after coupons!
.55/1 Baked Lays – 1-3 SS

*Lean Cuisine Entrees – $1.78/each – $1.45/each after coupons (when you buy 3!)
$1/3 printable coupon here (this is a manufacturer’s coupon, it is on pg. 6)

*Libby’s Vegetables – 2/$1 – FREE after coupon!
.50/2 printable here (should double!)

*Nature’s Bounty Vitamins – Buy One, get One Free
If you join the Nature’s Bounty website here, then go to “Redeem My Rewards Now” and there should be an option for a $2 printable coupon. This is a “bricks” coupon, so you can print two by clicking on the back button on your browser. There are also $1 printable coupons here. Remember, you can use two coupons on BOGO free items!

*Progresso Light, Low Sodium, or High Fiber Soup – 4/$5
.25/1 Progresso High Fiber Soup – 11-15 GM insert (should triple)
.50/2 Progresso soups, any – 12-6 SS (should double)
.50/2 Progresso soups loadable on cellfire.com
.50/2 Progresso soups loadable on shortcuts.com (one expires 1-27 if you loaded it previously, newest expires 2-27)

SCENARIO:
Buy 4 Progresso soups (at least 2 High Fiber)

Use 2 $.25/2 High Fiber soup coupons – will deduct $1.50 Use .50/2 Progresso soups coupon (any) – will deduct $1 – .50/2 Progresso soups loadable (Cellfire.com) – .50/2 Progresso soups loadable (shortcuts.com)

Total OOP = $1.50 ($.38/can!)

*Quaker Instant Oatmeal – $1.88/each

*Ritz crackers or Nabisco 100 calorie packs – 2/$5
Use the $2/2 printable here and get them 2/$3!

*Texas grapefruit – $2.99 (for a 10 lb bag)

*Thomas English Muffins – Buy One, Get One free

*Tony’s pizza – 2/$4

*Tyson boxed chicken -2 /$5 – $1.95/box after coupons!
.55/1 Tyson frozen breaded chicken (box) – 10-11 SS

*Yoplait Yogurt – 10/$5 – $.37/each after coupons (when you buy 6!)
.40/6 Yoplait yogurt cups (should double) – 1-3 GM insert

CRAZY MEAL DEAL: Buy any combination of 3 Kellogg’s items (includes Nutri-Grain bars, Special K bars, or Kellogg’s Special K cereals) 3/$7, get free Kroger milk, Kroger white bread, Kroger large eggs, and Tennesse Pride sausage gravy

Use the $5/4 Kellogg’s cereals printable on Target.com (this is a manufacturer’s coupon with a Target logo) and get all of this for $4.33! That’s what you’d spend for just the milk, bread, and eggs anyway!

PROCTER & GAMBLE PROMOTION ~ SPEND $25 on participating products, get $5 off INSTANTLY! pictured in ad ~ Tide laundry detergent or powder – $11, Charmin bath tissue – $10, Bounty paper towels – $7, Dawn dish detergent – $2
**Check your 12-27 PG insert for coupons to match up with this deal!

Instant Win Wednesday: Fuddruckers, Honey Nut Cheerios, Kraft

Here are some instant win games for the day! Good luck!

Fuddruckers (valid through 1/31/10) ~ Play the Patty Launcher game here for an opportunity to win free burgers for a year!

General Mills Honey Nut Cheerios Sweet Rewards (valid through 3/9/10) ~ Click here to enter to win $5 instantly. Use this code to play: K30FR-H4F3H-7720

Kraft Foods Game Day Greats (valid through 2/8/10) ~ Play the instant win game here daily for a chance to win one of the following prizes:

Instant Win Prizes:
First Prize: (5 winners) 52″ 1080p 60 Hz LCD HDTV (ARV $2,300).
Second Prize: (20 winners) Cookware set (ARV $119.99).
Third Prize: (50 winners) $100 check.
Fourth Prize: (1,000 winners) Gameday Greats football jersey (ARV $25)
Fifth Prize: (20 winners) Touchdown serving platter (ARV $24.99)

Use this UPC to play: 4400001947

More Walgreens deals!

When I created my post on Sunday, I mentioned that there were so many Walgreens deals this week that I was feeling a bit overwhelmed. Well, now there are even more….

To see the rest of the deals for the week, check out my post here.

Nabisco Chips Ahoy cookies (6 0z packages) are on sale for $.99. Buy 2 and get a $2 RR (it’s like getting them for free after RR!)

(Thanks Hip2Save!)

Ester-C is Buy One, Get one Free this week. It is priced at $10.99. There are $5/1 coupons in the 1-3 RP2 insert this week.

Here’s a scenario:

Buy 2 Ester-C – $10.99

Use 2 $5/1 coupons

Spend $.49 after coupons!

(Thanks Frugal Living NW!)

Select Glade products are on sale 2/$5. There is also a RR promotion where you get a $3 RR when you buy 2 Glade Fragrance Collection candles (which are included in the 2/$5 sale). The following $3/2 Glade Fragrance Collection coupons are available:

$3/2 Glade Fragrance Collection – 11-22 SS $3/2 Glade Fragrance Collection – December and January All You Magazine
Here’s a scenario:
Buy 2 Glade Fragrance Collection candles (2 oz) – 2/$5

Use $3/2 Glade Fragrance Collection coupon

Spend $2 OOP, get a $3 RR

*Note: This promotion is valid through 1/24, so if your store is out of the candles that are on sale, make sure you ask for a rain check!

(Thanks Save at Home Mommy!)

There are several coupons available which make Glucerna products super cheap!

Here are the coupons:
$2/1 Glucerna printable (Walgreens store coupon) here
$1.50/1 Glucerna shakes and $1.50 Glucern cereal or bars coupon in the Walgreens Diabetes & You coupon booklets
$2.50/2 Glucerna products – 1-3 SS insert
$3/3 Glucerna products (this is a Target coupon with a manufacturer’s logo) printable here (click on Healthcare and then it is on pg. 2)

Here’s a scenario:
Buy 2 Glucerna cereals – $4.99/each

Use the $2/1 Walgreens printable coupon (will deduct $4)
Use the $1.50/1 Diabetes & You coupon (will deduct $3)
Use the $2.50/2 manufacturer’s coupon

Total OOP = .48 for two boxes

(Thanks Hip2Save!)

This post is part of Becentsable’s Grocery Gathering.

Get the Entertainment book for $14!

I’m reposting this from Saturday because I think it’s such a great deal and today is the last day you can take advantage of this offer! I realized on Saturday that I think I threw out our Entertainment Book for this year thinking it was last year’s, so I went ahead and ordered another one. For this price, it’s worth it!

I’m a HUGE fan of the Entertainment Book. If you’re not familiar with it, it is city specific and full of great coupons for restaurants and other activities in your city! The restaurant section typically includes a number of buy one, get one free coupons which is great for “date night” and gives my husband and I an opportunity to try out new places without busting our budget.

Right now, you can buy the Entertainment Book online for $20 and you get free shipping! If you shop through Ebates, you can an additional $6 cash back, which makes the book only $14 after your cash back! (if you are signing up for Ebates for the first time and use this link here, you will get an additional $5 cash back, which makes the book just $9!)

I usually buy the book each year through a school fundraiser, so I already have my copy and I can promise you that it more than pays for itself (and probably within the first month)! You can put in your zip code here to see what discounts are available in your area.