Stay strong PEEPS, it's Easter Weekend!

The hardest part about dieting are the special events/occasions that we run into throughout the year.  My best advice is to PLAN, PLAN, PLAN ahead and to show some will power.  You can try eating before your family event or bringing your own food.  I DO understand that it's hard to resist your favorite meals.  With that said it is OK to splurge, but don't go overboard!  Remember your serving sizes and eat in moderation.  Eating too much will put a "hitch in your giddy-up" for the week, and no one would want that!!!!  LOL  Ok, so I am from the South and I do say weird phrases on occasion.

For those of you that don't know, here are the portions sizes.  It will also benefit to use the smallest plate you can find and eat the healthier choices first so that you may be full or slowing down by the time you get to the good stuff:

In celebration of the weekend, I wanted to share two funnies that I found.  This one I have never seen before and it absolutely cracks me up:

Funny, right?  OK, maybe not, but that's my sense of humor.  This is one I have seen in previous years and it's my favorite every year:



Lastly, stay strong PEEPS!  I've decided to make Fridays my day of motivation, since the weekends are typically the the hardest days to stick to a diet.  I want to post either photos of what I wish to look like someday or encouraging words, so with that said, here they are:   

Short and to the point!

My major motivator and inspiration (Chalene Johnson), she is just plain gorgeous!

Have a great weekend and Easter!

XOXO

Feeeeesh and why it's healthy!

Omega-whoooooo?  Nutrition is probably one of my favorite things to talk about.  I actually wanted to be a dietitian when I was in college, but the college I was attending couldn't get the program accredited in time for me to graduate.  I did graduate with a Health care degree and minored in nutrition and since I thought I was going to be a dietitian, I took all those lovely biology, anatomy, and chemistry classes plus majority of the nutrition courses.  Does this make me qualified to give advice???  Absolutely not, but I still like to share what I know.

Actually one of my hobbies is reading FAD diet books just to see what they "recommend" to people on how to lose weight.  People, it's simple.... DIET AND EXERCISE.  I'm a firm believer that you should not eliminate any particular food group in your diet.

With that said, let's talk about the greatness of feeeesh!  The hubs and I eat fish about 3 nights a week.  It's the one thing we can agree on to eat together.  I generally love ALL food, but he is extremely picky.  Fish is not only low in calories and fat, but it's really healthy for your diet due to the Omega-3's.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to the diet, because our bodies can't make them.  They are a form of a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA).  One of these day I will go into a lesson about organic biochemistry and explain the types of lipids and how they either rec havoc or help like these guys, but today isn't that day.  :) 

With that said, here are the benefits:

• They are crucial for a healthy heart and reduce the risk of heart disease
• They play a major role in brain function, memory, and development
• Lower blood pressure
• Lower cholesterol by raising HDL's
• Reduce inflammation in the joints which cause rheumatoid arthritis
• Plays minor roles on reducing depression, prostate cancer, colon cancer, asthma, IBD, ADHD, and skin disorders. 

SO WHY THE HECK WOULDN'T YOU CONSUME FOODS WITH OMEGA-3'S??  They are the good guys when it comes to lipids!!  So, if you're like me and forget EVERYTHING it's probably a good reason to consume these little miracle workers!  I also have a slight case of ADHD.  The best example of my ADHD is this guy:

DUG the doggy from UP!!!  I sometimes have **SQUIRREL** syndrome when carrying on a conversation with people.  It drives the hubs and my best friend absolutely nuts, but they know by now that it's just the way I am and I really can't help it.

So, this is something we eat at least 2 times a week in our house:

Overly seasoned Tilapia  (is what I like to call it)



Ingredients:

Tilapia fillets

Rub on the following seasons (use however much to your liking):

Oregano

Mrs. Dash (original)

Salt

Pepper

Garlic powder

Grated Parmesan

Cook the fillets on 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes depending on the size of the fillet.  I usually pull it out once the parmesan is golden brown.  I will pair it with some kind of veggie.  The fillet itself is about 130 calories, so for 2 that really fill you up it's only 260 calories for 4 oz fillets!!!   

Enjoy!!!

-Stephanie

 

     

MILF: A work in progress

HAPPY HUMP DAY!!  To start off the day fabulously, I listened to "My Humps" by the Black Eyed Peas.  For some reason it always gets me hyped up and ready for the day.  Even though I am overweight, I do have some decent looking curves.  I come from that belief that everyone can dress themselves up.  It just takes a little work and dedication.  If you wear the right fit of clothes (not too tight and not overly baggy) for your size, then YOU CAN LOOK GREAT. 

I realize that I haven't given a full body picture, and even though it terrifies me to do so, here are two photos from this morning: 

Next time I will remember to clean off my vanity in my bathroom!  I've never been a fan of the mirror pictures, but at least you get the point. 

I am really looking forward to Monday, because I believe I will have some great results to post from this weeks workout routines and dieting...  How do I know???  Well,,,,  let's just say that I took a peek on my scale today, plus I FEEL thinner.  I hope everyone else out there is having a great week as well with their fitness.  Cheers to my future MILFness!!  :)       

It's a FANTASTIC kind of day!

Today I woke up feeling great.  I'm not sure if it's the fact that my basketball team won last night for the 8th championship in history-GO UK WILDCATS- or the fact that I have worked out 3 days in a row and my little positive endorphins are running around all happy today.

It's actually a big surprise to me that I woke up feeling so good.  My 6 month old unfortunately still sleeps with me, and yes, spare me on the comments about how bad this is, BUT I love her beside me at night.  My husband typically falls asleep in his computer chair at night, so if she isn't beside me in that queen size paradise it would be really lonely.  We didn't have the best of nights though with sleep.  She woke up and tossed and turned all night, and of course I'm awake the entire time making sure she was OK.  I believe she is going through another growth spurt, because that child can eat all day long!  So, I'm running on little sleep today, and if this momma gets less than 8 hours, then I'm usually a grumpy ass, BUT NOT TODAY!

So, last night Brynn and I strolled for 2.3 miles and I did great with my dieting.  Today I woke up and I was going to go for a stroll again, but Brynn was being very needy when she woke up.  After taking care of her and feeding her, I had 30 mins left until I had to get ready for work.  I decided to pop in the Turbo Fire for the first time and do the 30 min. workout.

Let me just say that I used to do the Turbo Jam work outs and I have always loved them.  Turbo Fire is Turbo Jam on crack.  It's sooooo fast paced.  I did enjoy every minute of it, but I found myself looking stupid through most of the transitions.  LUCKILY, it was just Brynn and I in the house, otherwise I would have been embarrassed by looking so goofy this morning.  I get over it though knowing how great I am going to look again some day.  Speaking of which, I wanted to share a photo from when I lost 60 lbs my senior year of HS.  I wish I had a before photo, but I am afraid those are hidden and tucked away somewhere at my parents house since I lived with them at that time.

This was taken like a week before I got pregnant with Brynn and I was about the same weight then as I am now, maybe 5 lbs less if anything:

Of course this is when I was 19 years old, so I feel like I wear my hair/make up slightly better, but I can't get over how much thinner my face is. 

I showed this to my husband and he said that it didn't even look like me.  I'm not sure how I should take that, but I he has no issues with the way I look now.  Actually, with as thin as he is (he has a 6 pack and doesn't do a THING!), I am surprised that he never says anything about it.  He always just tells me how pretty/sweet I am, and so I know that that is TRUE love.  It's something that I never had in any of my previous relationships.

One of the main reasons I feel like I gained so much weight on top of having Grave's Disease was that I was so unhappy in my first marriage.  I felt very alone and trapped into something that I felt like I can't get out of.  I also took on a lot of emotional abuse with it.  So, I want to make sure that I say this to ANYONE that reads this..... MAKE A CHANGE if you are that unhappy!!  I don't care what society says about getting a divorce.  SOMETIMES, it is the right decision for your happiness and health!  When I divorced my ex husband, I weighed in at a whopping 264 lbs and I wish I had pictures to show, but I avoided the cameras at all cost.  Today I am 214 and I am feeling great! 

I know 214 lbs isn't something to be excited about, but it is the thinnest I have been in 6 years and I'm looking forward to being 130lbs again someday soon!  Have a great day everybody!

Skinny Gal..... Somewhere. 

Update

So, I know I have taken some time off from blogging, but I recommitted myself as of yesterday to my diet/exercise.  I took about 3 weeks off from dieting.  Sometimes I just get in that mode where I don't want to be as strict with it and it helps me recommit for the full term weight loss that I have planned.  I have been working on things though, just not weight loss.  For example, I finally stopped breastfeeding.  It was an emotional and physical challenge, and as all mommies know, there's no point to even look at the scale through this process.  

While I was breastfeeding, I wasn't exercising much and doing the weight watchers program.  I have had some great results for the 6 weeks I was committed in the 2 month period, but I feel like I can do better now that I am no longer attached full time to my daughter.  I'm changing my diet to the 1500 calories.  For some reason mentally, Weight Watchers isn't going to do it for me knowing that I will only get 32 points a day, that's a big change from my 40 points I was using while breastfeeding.  I know it all works out to be the same, but I've always had success with the 1200-1500 calorie diets.  I'm also adding walking and Turbo Fire to my exercise routine.  I'm hoping for better result the next 6 weeks as I transition into these changes.          

In the first 6 weeks, here's what I was able to accomplish:

Speaking of goals, here are mine as of today:

·         Lose my first 10 lbs.  – COMPLETED!

·         Get under pre-baby weight- COMPLETED! 

·         Weigh in under 200 lbs

·         Lose 50 lbs

·         Weigh in at 150lbs

·         Reach the BMI for my height and weight

·         Run a 5K

·         Run a half marathon

Before/After results:

Jan. 23, 2012
Waist: 51"
Calves: 18.5"
Neck: 14"
Thigh: 29"
Arms: 14.5"
Chest: 46" (Breastfeeding)
Hips: 50"
Weight: 234.6 lbs

April 2, 2012
Waist: 46"
Calves: 17"
Neck: 13"
Thigh: 25 1/2"
Arm: 13"
Chest: 43"
Hips: 49"
Weight: 214.6 lbs
                           
TOTAL: 17.5" and 20lbs!

On that note, here is the most recent picture of my daughter and I taken on Saturday.  We were representing our college BB team- GO UK WILDCATS!!!  For whatever reason It's not letting me rotate the picture, but ya get the hint.  :)   

Cheesy Chicken Tortilla Soup (slow cooker)

Cheesy Chicken Tortilla Soup (slow cooker)

This cheesy chicken goodness is only 5 WW pts per serving for the soup itself and 3 additional points for the toppers.  The total bowl for two servings of soup is 13 WW pts with toppers and very filling!

1 cup per serving!! 

 

Soup:

5 oz. chicken breast

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp pepper

2 1/2 tbls of taco seasoning

1 can of chicken broth

1 can of 98% cream of chicken soup

6 oz. of 1/3 fat velveeta cheese

1 not drained can of diced tomatoes

1 drained can of low sodium black beans

1 drained can of whole kernel yellow corn

1 drained can of chilies

1/4 a small yellow onion (diced)

1/4 a green pepper (diced)

1 tsp minced garlic

Toppers:

7 baked tortilla chips crumbled

1/4 cup of kraft 2% milk Mexican cheese

Directions:

-Put all ingredients in your slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours.

-Stir every couple hours to stir the melted cheese around.

-Once the 6 hours are up, take two forks and shred the chicken. 

-Serve with toppers.

1 cup per serving, 140 Calories, 5g fat, 19g carbs, 18g protein, 3.75g fiber.

Beef and Broccoli-5 WW pts

This is by far my favorite Weight Watcher's meal-Beef and Broccoli with rice.  It's really full of flavor and you can pair it with white or brown rice.  One serving is a 1 1/4 cup of beef and broccoli, which is 5 WW pts and I usually do a cup of cooked white rice which is another 5 WW pts.  Usually the entire meal is 10 pts and it's extremely filling.  This is straight from the WW website. 

Beef and Broccoli

2 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch, divided     

1/4 tsp table salt   

3/4 pound(s) uncooked lean trimmed sirloin beef, thinly sliced against the grain

2 tsp canola oil   

1 cup(s) reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided   

5 cup(s) uncooked broccoli, florets (about a 12 oz bag)   

1 Tbsp ginger root, fresh, minced   

2 tsp minced garlic   

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, or to taste   

1/4 cup(s) low-sodium soy sauce   

1/2 cup(s) water   

On a plate, combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch and salt; add beef and toss to coat.

Heat oil in a large nonstick wok or large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and stir-fry until lightly browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes; transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon.

Add 1/2 cup broth to same pan; stir to loosen any bits on food on bottom of pan. Add broccoli; cover and cook, tossing occasionally and sprinkling with a tablespoon water if needed, until broccoli is almost crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Uncover pan and add ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes; stir-fry until fragrant, about 1 minute.

In a cup, stir together soy sauce, remaining 1/2 cup broth, remaining 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch and water until blended; stir into pan. Reduce heat to medium-low and bring to a simmer; simmer until slightly thickened, about 1 minute.

Return beef and accumulated juices to pan; toss to coat. Serve. Yields about 1 1/4 cups per serving.