Journeying to Lose 200 Pounds... The Triumph of Perseverance

Fourth of July Challenge Final Check In

2009-07-03T05:10:00.001-04:00

Just a reminder to all Fourth of July Challenge Members...

Please be sure to stop by the Fourth of July Challenge blog today for the final check-in!

And... have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend! :)

xo,
C.C.

What Happened to June???

2009-07-01T14:52:00.010-04:00

So... I officially lost only 2.8 pounds in June! What the heck happened??? Hmmm... could it be that I was totally off plan for two weeks? Yeah... I think that has something to do with it. Darn vacation!

Vacation counts for one of the two bad weeks anyway. Actually... I'll blame BOTH bad weeks on vacation... because the other bad week was spent stressing about whether or not I would be able to stay on plan during vacation. Crazy, isn't it? But... I have no regrets... only lessons learned.

I definitely would have done things differently if I had it to do over again, but I'm not going to cry over spilled milk. I'm just moving forward with my Christmas goal of getting below 300 pounds... a weight I haven't seen for at least 10 years.

I have six months to lose 56.4 pounds... and that is definitely do-able! I'm going to do my best to reach my goal. And reaching it will be one of the best Christmas presents EVER!!!

What goals would you like to accomplish by the time Christmas rolls around?

Fourth of July Challenge Update

2009-06-29T14:00:00.002-04:00

The final check-in/weigh-in of the Fourth of July Challenge will be this Friday, July 3rd. Be sure to stop by the Challenge blog and check-in at the final post!

Good luck and have a great rest-of-the-week, everyone!

xo,
C.C.

PS: My company has gone home, and I'll be getting back to regular posting this week. I'll have an update post tomorrow. See you all then! :)

So Far, So Good

2009-06-23T06:59:00.009-04:00

Yay! I'm having an absolutely wonderful time with my company, and I managed to stay totally "on plan" yesterday! Plus... we did a lot of shopping... so I did a lot of walking! Things are going well so far... and I'm confident that I will be able to stay on track the rest of the week.

And... I took a sneak-peak at the scale yesterday morning, and things are definitely moving in the right direction! I'll have my official weigh-in tomorrow morning, and I'm looking forward to what the number will be.

I hope you're all having a fantastic week! Happy Tuesday! :)

Coping with Company

2009-06-20T23:38:00.007-04:00

Yay! A few days ago, I was...

But today, I am...

And... here's why! Two of my favorite people in the world are coming to town to visit me for a few days! They are two of my bosom buddies that I haven't seen since last summer... so I'm really looking forward to this visit!

However... I'm sure that there will be occasions during this visit when food temptations are going to arise. We'll be eating out a few times, I imagine... and you know how it is sometimes more difficult to stay on plan when you're dining in a restaurant with friends as opposed to when you are home alone in a controlled environment eating healthy food that you have prepared yourself.

They'll be eating a few meals in my home as well, and it will be good to have control over what we eat at those meals. I'm thinking that Chicken Enchiladas or Hungarian Goulash or Italian Chicken Vegetable Soup might be good! Yum!

As of right now, I have no intention of mindlessly eating or pigging out when they're here. And I know that when we eat out I can order a grilled chicken salad. And I'm sure we'll get lots of walking in, as I do live in a coastal town and the beach is close by and there are shopping opportunities galore.

That's my survival plan for when they're here... but I am SO open to suggestions from all of you! What's your best advice for coping with company and staying "on plan" when you're with two girls who are in town to party? (We don't drink... so that is one thing that I don't have to worry about, thank God! hehe)

Thanks in advance for your help! :)

Week 18 Weigh In

2009-06-18T12:55:00.004-04:00

Oops! I kind of missed my regular "Wednesday Weigh-In" yesterday. Sorry about that! I was kind of busy and really didn't have time to post anything. So... I'm posting my weigh-in results today.

Unfortunately, I have a small gain to report today. I haven't been doing that great the past few days, but this is just a bump in the road. I'm still persevering, and I'm looking forward to losing more weight. In fact, I have a goal of being under 300 pounds by the end of the year. And I'm going to work hard at achieving that goal!

Anyway, here's how the numbers stack up this week:

Last Week: 356.4 lbs.
This Week: 360.4 lbs.
Pounds Gained: 4
Total Lost Since 02-09-09: 40.4 lbs.

The good news is... I still have 40 pounds off. And... I am NOT going to allow this 4 lb. gain to snowball into an even bigger gain. The buck stops here. It's onward and downward from here on out!

I hope you're all having a great week! Remember... there WILL be bumps in the road from time to time... but we CAN overcome these obstacles and continue to make progress and reach our goals! We WILL succeed if we do not give up!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho... HO HUM

2009-06-12T18:27:00.005-04:00

Today I am Grumpy. Yesterday I was Grumpy. I just feel grumpy, grumpy, grumpy.

I'm just having one of those "blah" days today. I'm pretty sure hormones are to blame, if you know what I mean. And I hate feeling like this. I feel mopey, grumpy, sleepy, sad, lonely, homesick, down-in-the-dumps, etc., etc., etc.

I was supposed to do a "Kiss the Cook" post today... but I don't feel like it. I don't feel like doing much of anything.

I kind of fell off the wagon last night due to a craving for pizza. That's the bad news. The good news is... I'm totally "on plan" today. I just hope I soon turn into Happy! I wouldn't complain too much if I were Snow White, either. hehe

Which of the Seven Dwarfs do YOU feel like today? Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, or Sneezy?

Wednesday Weigh In - Week 17

2009-06-10T11:06:00.004-04:00

Yippee! The scale showed a nice loss today! Here's how the numbers stack up:

Last Week: 359.2 lbs.
This Week: 356.4 lbs.
Pounds Lost: 2.8
Total Lost Since 02-09-09: 44.4 lbs.

44.4 lbs. in 17 weeks! That's a lot of "4's!" And that's also an average loss of 2.61 lbs. per week. Not bad! Not bad at all!

If I continue this trend until the Fourth of July, I may just reach my Fourth of July Challenge goal of losing 50 pounds. That would be SO fantastic! The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays... so if I meet my Challenge goal, that would give me even more to celebrate! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Have a great week, everyone! And as always... just take it one day at a time and do the best that you can each day! :)

Let THEM Eat Cake!

2009-06-07T14:45:00.008-04:00

I've never admitted this to anyone... but I've had a love affair with cake pretty much all of my life.

I've always loved cake! I've loved eating it... baking it... decorating it... and even looking at pictures of it! I can't even count how many times in the past I have sat down at my computer and done a Google image search of cakes and cupcakes! One of my favorite shows is... yep, you guessed it... "Ace of Cakes!"

I.Just.Can't.Get.Enough.CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least that's how I USED to feel about cake. But I think I'm over it now. I think I officially broke up with cake. I think I finally kicked cake to the curb. I think I'm ready to move on. And here's why...

Remember last week when I was babysitting? Well... the kiddos wanted to help me make a cake so we could have a fake surprise birthday party for my hubby when he got home from work the one day. So I obliged. I figured it would be no big deal. Making the cake, frosting it, and decorating it would kill some time... and the kids would have fun in the process.

So... we made the cake. And I figured out how many calories it was, and added it to my Fitday food journal. The calories fit into my daily allotment, so it was no big deal. I figured that a nice, little piece of cake would be a great treat... especially since I was going to serve it with a side of honeydew melon. Plus... I haven't had cake in at least 4 months... so I "deserved it," right?

Well... to make a long story even longer... (just kidding... hehe) I DID NOT EAT THE CAKE!!! I did not even TASTE the cake! I absolutely, positively, without-a-doubt, contrary-to-my-lifelong-behavior... DID NOT WANT TO EAT THE CAKE! This is monumental, people! Monumental, I say! hehe

I deleted the cake from my food journal. And deep inside... I wondered what was wrong with me. I had the calories left. I could have eaten the cake. Why didn't I want it??? Why was I shunning something that had been my "friend" for so long and had always brought me so much comfort and pleasure in the past???

It was weird. I FELT weird. But I just could not shake the feeling of NOT wanting the cake!

If you've always been an emotional eater like me... you totally get this post. You realize how easy it is to live life and have food become much more important to you than simply providing sustenance to your physical body. You realize the deep hold that eating and food can have on your emotional well-being. And you realize that in order to change... you have to change your mindset.

And it seems like over the past 4 months... my mindset HAS been changing. Because normally... I would have eaten 3/4 of that cake by myself. I am NOT kidding. I would have eaten a piece as soon as it was baked, frosted, and decorated. I would have eaten a piece after supper for dessert. I would have eaten a piece as a snack before going to bed. I would have eaten a piece for breakfast the next day. I would have eaten a piece after lunch, etc., etc., etc. The kids would have been lucky to have had one piece to split between the two of them. Hubby probably wouldn't have gotten any at all.

But not this time. My attitude was... Let THEM eat cake!

I guess my days of being a cake wh*re are officially over. And even though this feels totally foreign to me... I'm embracing this feeling. I'm embracing the changes that I'm making as I continue to take it one day at a time and do the best that I can each day! :)

Get Fit After 40 Summer Challenge

2009-06-06T17:17:00.006-04:00

As most of you know, I turned 40 last month. (Eeek!) And my "Fourth of July Challenge" will be ending on, well... July 4th. hehe So... I was really excited when I discovered that Ang, who has already lost a whopping 97.2 lbs., was hosting a "Get Fit After 40 Summer Challenge." To read more about it, click HERE.

The deadline to join has been extended to Monday, June 8th at midnight... so there's still time to join. ("Midnight"... doesn't that sound mysterious? hehe) And... oh yeah... you don't have to be 40+ to join. ;)

So... go check it out! And let's all drop some weight together this summer! :)

Kiss the Cook Friday

2009-06-05T13:36:00.008-04:00

Hi, everyone! How many of you own a Crock Pot? Today is your lucky day if you do... because I'm going to share one of my favorite Crock Pot recipes with you.

I made this dish for supper last night... and it was absolutely delicious! This is a quick and easy recipe... and the aroma that will engulf your kitchen while it is cooking is reason enough to make it! hehe

Hungarian Goulash

1.5 lbs. lean sirloin steak, cut into bite sized pieces
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 T. flour
1/2 t. salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 t. dried thyme
1 1/2 t. paprika
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes (Italian flavored Great Value/Walmart brand are great for this dish!)
1 cup fat free sour cream

Spray your Crock Pot with cooking spray. Toss all ingredients EXCEPT SOUR CREAM into Crock Pot, and stir well. Cover, and cook on "high" for approximately 6 hours or on "low" for approximately 9 hours. Right before serving, stir in sour cream.

Serve over whole wheat noodles.

Servings: 4 large

Nutritional Information via Calorie Count (not including noodles)
Calories per serving: 423
Total Fat: 11.8 g
Sat. Fat: 4.7 g
Cholesterol: 157 mg
Sodium: 456 mg
Total Carbs: 20.1 g
Fiber: 2.2 g
Sugars: 8.6 g
Protein: 56.5 g
Vit. A: 34%
Calcium: 13%
Vit. C: 28%
Iron: 37%

Faker, Faker, You are a Quaker!

2009-06-05T12:54:00.008-04:00

I really hate to address this issue in a post... but recently I've been dealing with an itsy-bitsy little problem in regard to comments on this blog. And I'm not the only one. Diana and Lorrie have addressed this issue as well in recent weeks.

Quite often, comments are left here by bogus bloggers who just want to leave a comment with a link to a promotional site, or they leave a comment with a link to a fake blog that then has a link to a promotional site. My advice to anyone who does that is simply this: Don't waste your time. Your comment will be immediately deleted. And if one of your comments HAS been recently deleted, that's why.

And... have you ever read the little paragraph above the comment box on the comment page? Here's what it says:

"Thanks for stopping by! Your thoughts and input are important to me!

Anonymous comments are welcome. However... MEAN-SPIRITED anonymous comments and comments with links to promotional websites or fake blogs will NOT be published. They will quickly be deleted, and even more quickly forgotten.

My Blog = My Rules ;)"

That being said, I just want to let the rest of you real, honest, wonderful blogging buddies know that I totally appreciate you and the support and encouragement that you so faithfully give to me! Your comments have cheered me up, cheered me on, and helped me in so many ways that I cannot even begin to express my gratitude. You guys are the best... and I look forward to our continued blogging relationship as we all work toward our goal of being healthy and fit!

Now... who's ready for a good recipe? The weekly "Kiss the Cook" post is coming up next...

Thanks, Vicki!

2009-06-05T12:45:00.005-04:00

I recently received this award from Vicki at "Reading by the Beach," and I just want to thank Vicki for thinking of me! I really appreciate it, and I think she is a Superstar Blogger, too! In fact, Vicki has another blog that you should also check out... "Beach Bum."

Hmmm... I think Vicki likes the beach. What do you think? lol

Thanks again, Vicki! :)

Beaches, Bikinis, Babysitting, and Being Busy

2009-06-04T10:25:00.006-04:00

Boy, am I busy today! I've been cleaning the house from top to bottom and doing laundry... trying to get the house back in order following my recent adventure in babysitting. My tiny house guests, a 5 year-old boy and a 6 year-old girl who have been here since Sunday afternoon, have finally gone home.

I must say... I love children. But having two small children as unexpected house guests for a few days when you're really not used to having kids around is definitely a bit stressful and tiring. I take that back. It's A LOT stressful and tiring. hehe

I'm just happy that I was able to stay on plan and not turn to food to relieve the stress while they were here! That is a MAJOR NSV for me. So many times in the past when I babysat I ended up totally falling off the wagon because I got stressed out and started to eat everything in sight. But this time... I actually had less of an appetite if anything. And it felt weird. It didn't feel "normal" for me to be feeling that way. It didn't feel "normal" to NOT binge when I was feeling stressed out. It didn't feel like "me."

But at the same time... it felt good. No... it felt GREAT! And I realized that I really AM changing. I'm changing my way of thinking... and I'm changing my way of living. It's like for the first time it felt like this really IS a lifestyle change and not a diet. Know what I mean?

And I realized that there really is nobody on the face of this earth who has the perfect body. Sure, I've always known this. But it became more apparent to me Sunday afternoon when we took the kids to the beach.

I was feeling kind of blue because there I was... just standing on the edge of the surf... a fat chick weighing 359.2 lbs. and feeling totally self-conscious and inhibited... wearing capris and a button-down blouse while everyone around me was wearing bathing suits and frolicking in the ocean. I thought... "Here I am... another summer where I'm too fat to wear a bathing suit and play in the ocean... another summer where I have to stand on the sidelines and watch hubby and the kids having a great time... and all I can do is watch."

I felt like the fattest person on the beach... and honestly, I think I WAS the fattest person on the beach. But the more I observed people... the more I noticed that MOST of the people on that beach were chunky. There was not one perfect body in the crowd. (With the exception of a few really hot-looking guys in their 20's. hehe) But seriously... most of the people on the beach looked like they could lose a few pounds... and there were even a few people who looked like they could lose QUITE a few pounds.

Now, I don't have a problem with people of all shapes and sizes feeling confident enough to wear bathing suits in public. I think it's GREAT when people have enough confidence to do that... and I wish I were one of them! But this is one chica who is not going to wear a bathing suit until I'm under 200 pounds... and I'm sure most of you would thank me for that. lol

But what I observed led me to this conclusion. Most of the people on the beach were NOT wearing flattering bathing suits! It's like they pulled the first bathing suit off the rack that they could find... and just bought it... giving no thought to the cut, the fit, etc. Big mistake, people! Big mistake! hehe Almost everyone could have looked so much better if they had been wearing a better fitting bathing suit!

Seriously... if you're going to wear a bathing suit... buy the BEST bathing suit that you can find. Buy the one that makes you look the best that you can look! Don't buy a bikini just because you want to wear a bikini. If you look better in a one-piece... buy a one-piece. If you look better with a bathing suit that has a little skirt... buy one of those. Do not do yourself an injustice by buying the wrong type of bathing suit!

Just my opinion... and hopefully I'll be able to take my own advice and actually buy and wear a bathing suit at the end of this journey. I sure hope so. I don't want to stand on the sidelines and watch life pass me by anymore. I want to BE one of those brave souls frolicking in the ocean... laughing and having fun... imperfections and all. :)

(I hope that picture doesn't scar anyone too much. lol I'll leave you with one more to hopefully negate the need for therapy. hehe)

Wednesday Weigh In - Week 16

2009-06-03T12:47:00.004-04:00

Still babysitting...

Still no time to blog...

Still tired... hehe

And... still the same weight!

Yep... I've no weight loss to report this week... but that's OK. I know that I stayed on plan and my body is just doing its own thing this week.

Here's how the numbers stack up today:

Last Week: 359.2 lbs.
This Week: 359.2 lbs.
Pounds Lost: 0
Total Lost Since 02-09-09: 41.6 lbs.

Hopefully I'll have a loss to report next week. Have a great day, everyone! :)

Quick Check-In

2009-06-02T12:37:00.004-04:00

I've been babysitting the past few days/nights...

Staying on track with my eating...

Feeling very tired... lol

Not much time for blogging...

Not much time for exercising...

Thinking that running after kids IS exercising... lol

Looking forward to my weigh-in tomorrow...

Looking forward to NOT babysitting... lol

Hoping to catch up with all of you real soon...

Gaining more respect by the second for stay-at-home-moms...

Wishing I could take a nappie.... hehe

And... wishing you all a Happy Tuesday! :)

xo,
C.C.

Kiss the Cook Friday

2009-05-29T10:28:00.009-04:00

I don't know about you... but every now and then I get a craving for chocolate. And since I've decided that moderation is the key... and not deprivation... I do allow myself the occasional treat. Even so, I do my best to make sure that the treat is as healthy as can be... and I count the calories.

So... the other day I was in the mood for a chocolate treat. And I decided to experiment and make some "Black Bean Brownies." I think the recipe has been around for awhile, but I compared several and tweaked it to come up with a recipe that would work for me. And... I was pleasantly surprised! If I hadn't tasted them myself... I would have NEVER believed that you could make brownies with black beans and NOT taste the beans. But... believe it. You CANNOT taste the beans in these brownies! Hurrah!

These brownies are chocolatey, yummy, and a lot healthier than regular homemade brownies or bakery brownies. They're great served with a strawberry smoothie. In fact, that has become one of my favorite snacks!

So... if you're looking for a chocolately, healthy, homemade snack... definitely give these brownies a try. You won't be disappointed!

Black Bean Brownies ala C.C.

15.5 oz. can black beans (rinsed and drained)
3 large eggs
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 pinch salt
1/4 t. baking powder
1 T. vanilla extract
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 T. brewed coffee
1/4 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Place all of the ingredients EXCEPT the chocolate chips and walnuts into a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into a greased 8" x 8" square baking pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips and walnuts evenly over batter. Place in 350 degree F. oven, and bake for 30 minutes.

This recipe makes 16 servings.
One serving = One brownie
These also freeze well.

Nutritional Information via Calorie Count:
180 calories per serving/brownie
Total Fat: 5.4 g
Sat. Fat: 1.0 g
Cholesterol: 40 mg
Sodium: 26 mg
Total Carbohydrates: 26 g
Fiber: 4.8 g
Sugars: 8.5 g
Protein: 7.9 g
Vit. A: 1%
Vit. C: 0%
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 11%

Wednesday Weigh In - Week 15

2009-05-27T09:34:00.007-04:00

Oh my goodness! I am SO happy right now! I have another loss to report... and I feel like I'm on top of the world!

After months... and years... of struggling with my weight... I feel like I have finally got my groove on and I'm learning how to LIVE instead of just trying to lose weight!

My "plan" is something I'm doing to lose weight... but it's more than that. It's a "plan" that I WANT to follow for the rest of my life. I just WANT to eat healthier and make better choices on a day-to-day basis. It's like all along I was searching for some rocket-science method or means to lose weight... and I was overlooking the simple, everyday things that I could do to improve my life and health just by making better choices each day.

And these better choices which I am making are adding up. They're adding up to weight loss, more energy, and an improved attitude and outlook on life. For the first time EVER... I'm actually ENJOYING the journey to "lose 200 pounds and gain a healthier and happier me!"

And I'm not going to stop. This is IT. THIS is how I'm going to live the rest of my life. I feel like all of my goals and dreams are now within my reach... and I'm not turning back. I'm going to get closer and closer every day... and this weight problem is going to be a thing of the past. I feel like a weight is being lifted... both literally and figuratively. I feel like I'm finally setting myself free from all of the physical and emotional turmoil that has been part of my life for far too many years as a result of my obesity. I don't even know how to explain it. I simply feel... FREE.

And... I'm happy to share that I'm free of 3.2 more pounds this week! Here's how the numbers stack up:

Last Week: 362.4 lbs.
This Week: 359.2 lbs.
Pounds Lost: 3.2
Total Lost Since 02-09-09: 41.6 lbs.

I am officially in the 350's now! And I can't believe it! Just a few short weeks ago I was over 400 lbs... and here I am... 41.6 lbs. lighter... and on the verge of being closer to 300 lbs. than I am to 400 lbs.! I can't even imagine what I'm going to feel like when the scale says 299 or less. I haven't been under 300 pounds in 10 years! I just know it's going to be one of the happiest days of my life!

All kinds of happy thoughts are floating around in my head right now. Oh... the things I'll be able to do... the places I'll be able to go... the clothes I'll be able to wear! I am SO freaking excited and happy right now!

And I hope the excitement is contagious! Because if I can do this... anyone can do this! I honestly thought I was a hopeless case 15 weeks ago. But I knew that I had to do something. I knew that I had to try one more time. I knew that I couldn't give up. And I didn't. And you don't need to give up, either! You are NOT a hopeless case. You DO have the power to take control of your life and become the healthy and fit person that you want to be!

So... hang in there! And... as always... just take it one day at a time and do the best that you can each day. I'll be right here with you every step of the way. :)

But... for right now... I'm just going to do the happy dance!

To Bean-O or Not to Bean-O, That is the Question

2009-05-25T11:00:00.011-04:00

Ever hear the phrase "curse like a sailor?" Well... if sailors burp like they allegedly curse... I'd be giving them a run for their money! lol

Honestly... ever since I started to eat healthier... I've been having this embarrassing little problem of having to "burp like a sailor" almost every night before I go to bed! It doesn't happen after breakfast. It doesn't happen after lunch. It only happens at the end of the day. And sometimes I end up going to bed 30 minutes later than I'd like just because I can't stop burping!

It's annoying at best... and exhausting at worst!

Am I the only one that has this problem? Or are any of you man/woman/sailor enough to admit that you do, too? hehe And if you DO have this problem... do products like Bean-O or Gas-X help at all? I am seriously considering trying them out... because nothing else seems to be helping.

Perhaps this is TMI... but, alas... I'm just "keepin' it real." hehe

If any of you have any advice or recommendations... I would greatly appreciate it! So would my husband. hehe

Thanks in advance! :)

Kiss the Cook Friday

2009-05-22T10:03:00.007-04:00

Today I'm going to share with you a recipe for one of my all-time-favorite soups... Italian Chicken Vegetable Soup! It is hearty, healthy, and easy to make. What more could you ask for? Oh yeah... it's also absolutely DELICIOUS!

This soup is mighty tasty if you want to eat it the same day that you make it. But... I HIGHLY recommend making this soup the day BEFORE you want to eat it. The flavors blend together and are enhanced SO much more by doing this. Trust me... it is well worth the wait! Just allow the soup to cool, place in the fridge overnight, and reheat the next day. (I made this soup yesterday, and we're having it for dinner tonight. I can't wait!)

Italian Chicken Vegetable Soup

1 T. olive oil
24 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
5 medium carrots, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
3 medium zucchini, cut into bite-sized pieces (cucumber-sized zucchinis... leave the skin on)
1 T. canned minced garlic (optional)
1/2 t. ground black pepper
2 (14.5 oz) cans chicken broth
2 (14.5 oz.) cans Italian-style diced tomatoes with garlic, basil, and oregano (I use "Great Value" tomatoes from Walmart. These tomatoes are so yummy you can eat them straight from the can! If you don't use Italian-style tomatoes, you'll have to add your own basil, garlic, and oregano.)

Spray your favorite soup pot with cooking spray. Place on medium heat, and add olive oil to pot. After pot has pre-heated, add chicken, sprinkle with pepper, and stir fry for 10 minutes. Add veggies and garlic and stir-fry 5 more minutes. Add chicken broth and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.

Serve with whole wheat dinner rolls... and you've got yourself one fantastic meal! :)

Nutritional Information via Calorie Count
5 Servings
Calories per Serving: 394
Sat. Fat: 3.5 g
Cholesterol: 121 mg
Sodium: 703 mg
Carbohydrates: 19.6 g
Fiber: 5.4 g
Sugars: 10.7 g
Protein: 46.5 g
Vitamin A: 237%
Calcium: 9%
Vitamin C: 78%
Iron: 18%

Wednesday Weigh In - Week 14

2009-05-20T12:48:00.007-04:00

Yay! I'm happy to report another loss this week!

Here's how the numbers stack up:

Last Week: 364.8 lbs.
This Week: 362.4 lbs.
Pounds Lost: 2.4
Total Lost Since 02-09-09: 38.4 lbs.

Wow! I'll soon have 40 pounds off! I am SO happy about that! But what I am REALLY looking forward to is getting below 350. It's been SO long since I've been closer to 300 lbs. than 400 lbs. So when I finally hit 349... I am going to be ecstatic! And... I only have 13.4 more pounds to go! Yippee!

And now... I'm off to leave an update at the Fourth of July Challenge. If you're a member... be sure to stop by and update this week. And if you're not a member... stop by to join. There's no cut-off date! :)

Have a great week everyone! As always... just take it one day at a time and do the best that you can each day. The results will be sure to please! :)

Strawberry Love

2009-05-17T14:03:00.006-04:00

Hubby brought home a few quarts of homegrown strawberries yesterday. I left them on the counter overnight... and this morning I awoke to a house bursting with the wonderful aroma of strawberries!

Mmmm... it smells absolutely divine! Plus... strawberries (or strawBABIES, as we like to call them) are my most favorite fruit EVER! They are just so colorful, and pretty, and fragrant, and mmmm-mmmm-yummy (not to mention nutritious and low in calories) ... that I feel like I am in strawbaby heaven today!

That's the good news. The bad news is... there are WAY too many strawberries to consume before they spoil!

I love popping them in my mouth as is, or adding them to cereal, yogurt, etc.

But... what else can I do with them besides freeze them? Do any of you have any good strawberry recipes that you'd like to share?

Thanks in advance! :)

Kiss the Cook Friday

2009-05-15T14:59:00.012-04:00

Happy "Kiss the Cook Friday," everyone!

Today I'm going to share a recipe for something that I have had tremendous cravings for recently. I've eaten them several times in the past two weeks... and I just can't get enough of them! I'm currently out of some of the necessary ingredients... or I would be making them as a side dish for supper tonight!

What am I talking about, you ask? I'm talking about Spicey Baked Zucchini Fries, of course! Yum!

Spicey Baked Zucchini Fries

3 medium zucchini squash (the cucumber-sized ones)
2 eggs
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs (Italian seasoned work well. Or if you want to be extra healthy, make your own dried bread crumbs with whole wheat bread.)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 t. Italian seasoning
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/4 t. black pepper
1/4 t. salt (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large cookie sheet with aluminum foil, and lightly spray it with cooking spray.

Wash the zucchini, and slice the ends off. Do not peel off the skin. Slice the zucchini in long strips to resemble fries. Whip the eggs, and pour into a gallon-size Ziploc bag or a large bowl. Toss the zucchini fries in the egg mixture to coat.

In separate gallon-size Ziploc bag, or large bowl, mix together the remaining dry ingredients. Toss the zucchini fries into this crumb mixture, and toss to coat.

Place the zucchini fries on the baking sheet and lightly spray the tops with the cooking spray. Bake for 15 minutes, and then turn the oven to broil and allow the tops to brown. This doesn't take long, so be careful and watch those fries! And then... they're ready to eat. Yum!

Serve with your favorite marinara sauce or low-fat Ranch dressing.

Servings: 2
Serving Size: 1/2 of recipe (These are large servings.)

Nutritional Information via Calorie Count (sauce or dressing NOT included)

Calories Per Serving: 287
Sat. Fat: 5.2 g
Total Carbohydrates: 31.3 g
Fiber: 4.6 g
Sodium: 916 g
Protein: 18.3 g
Vitamin A: 15%
Calcium: 38%
Vitamin C: 84%
Iron: 16%

Strange Things Are Happening

2009-05-14T10:57:00.019-04:00

A strange thought occurred to me yesterday. I've been noticing lately that instead of just WANTING to eat at various times throughout the day... I've been NEEDING to eat. That is a major breakthrough... and is clear evidence that I am changing my lifestyle and my way of thinking and eating.

I used to WANT to eat pretty much all the time. I would snack for the sake of snacking... for the sake of how it made me feel emotionally... not because my body needed food for energy. Eating had become a habit... a drug... something I did to fill up my time or numb my emotions. I thought about food ALL THE TIME. It was the first thing on my mind when I got up in the morning... and the last thing on my mind when I went to bed at night. Food had become EVERYTHING to me. (The only thing that I thought about as much as I thought about food was losing weight. Go figure.)

But things are changing. I am changing. I don't think about food all the time now. I feel like it is becoming less important to me emotionally... like my life does not revolve around food anymore. I feel like the hold that food once had on me is lessening every day.

And every day... there are times when I physically feel that I NEED to eat. My energy wanes... I feel hungry... and I recognize that these are signals from my body telling me that I NEED to eat. My body is talking to me. My body is telling me that it requires more fuel to function. It's a good feeling... one I've rarely had in recent years... simply because I was always eating something!

And you know what? I like this feeling. It's more than a feeling of hunger and knowing that my body needs food. It's a feeling of control that I haven't experienced in a long time. It's a feeling that I can live with. It's a feeling that I WANT to live with!

And when I do eat... I eat smaller portions than I used to. I count my calories daily. I don't stuff myself. I listen to my body telling me that it can function on much smaller quantities of food than what I used to consume.

Yep... strange things are definitely happening around here! My body is talking. And... for the first time... I am listening!

Wednesday Weigh In - Week 13

2009-05-13T14:16:00.011-04:00

Woo hoo! I'm happy and excited... thrilled and delighted... to announce a 3 lb. loss this week!

I'm sure some of that was water weight... but who cares? Yippee!!!

Here's how the numbers stack up:

Last Week: 367.8 lbs.
This Week: 364.8 lbs.
Pounds Lost: 3
Total Lost Since 02-09-09: 36.0 lbs.

Wow! I just realized I've lost almost 40 pounds since the beginning of February! And that makes me feel fantastic! Lugging around all that excess weight was not easy... and I felt horrible in my clothes. Simple tasks were becoming difficult... and I was starting to feel like crap both physically and emotionally.

Now... a mere 13 weeks later... I'm starting to feel like a new woman. Everyday tasks are becoming easier... such as stepping out of the bath tub and walking up stairs. I feel lighter and it's easier to move and do housework. My clothes... though not yet loose... are definitely starting to fit better... and I feel better in them, if you know what I mean. I'm definitely feeling more energetic and healthy.

And emotionally... I've noticed that I have a much more positive attitude and I've only rarely felt anxious or down-in-the-dumps these past few weeks. I've even wondered if it's possible for certain foods or chemicals in foods to cause anxiety or depression. Have any of you ever wondered that? All I know is that when I eat healthier foods... I feel better emotionally as well as physically. I've never studied the relationship between food and emotional health... but I think it's definitely something I need to Google! Any thoughts on the subject?

All I know is... whatever I'm doing seems to be working. And I've resolved that "slow and steady wins the race." So I'm going to continue to take it one day at a time and do the best that I can every day. And the weight will come off. I might not see a 3 lb. loss each week, and most likely... I won't. But that's OK. Every single pound adds up.

If any of you are feeling discouraged... and like the weight won't come off or is coming off more slowly than you would like... take heart! Don't give up! You CAN succeed and reach your goal as long as you persevere! And I'll be right here with you every step of the way. :)

And now... I'm off to check in at the Fourth of July Challenge. And... this week I've earned the "35 lbs. Gone" button! Yippee!

Have a great week, everyone! Hang in there! You CAN do this! :)