bad blogger

So, here it goes again! I don't have time to blog everyday-I'm a busy girl after all!
In any event, weight watchers is going well! I'm down another 14 or so lbs, depending on the day!
Aside from weight watchers, I have been doing some other diet research, and have found a few other tricks that I think are working well.
The first one came from the Skinny Bitch book. While I read about the first chapter and decided those ladies are NUTS, I did get an idea from them. They claim that fruit is the perfect food. While it's loaded with fiber to fill you up, you should be able to digest most fruit in less than an hour. They suggested you eat 4 cups of raw fruit a day. They also suggested that when you eat fruit, don't eat other things with it. Eat it alone, and allow it to go through your system without getting bound up with the other stuff that takes longer to digest. I never was a fruit person before, but it is amazing how sweet fruit tastes when you aren't eating all the other sugar!
The other thing I am trying is to eat 5 small meals a day. Somedays it works, other days it doesn't. I don't beat myself up when it doesn't, I just try and go with the flow-and not stress out about it too much. The biggest loser books say to rank your hunger between 1 and 5. 1 being starving, 5 being miserable stuffed full. Try and stay between 2 and 3. Slightly hungry or content, not too full. Right now, I am at a 5 because I made some awesome food tonight, but like I said before, I'm not beating myself up about it.
I also cut out a lot of the "white stuff". No enriched flour for me! Whole wheat or nothing is my new style. I switched to whole grain pasta over a year ago, and now I like it almost better than regular. I also only eat brown rice, and try to eat whole wheat breads. I also really like the whole wheat tortillas.
So, I will leave you with a few recipes that I have found and really like!

Meatloaf Muffins
2lbs 93%lean ground beef
1 box stove top stuffing
2 eggs
1 c water
1 pkg onion soup mix

Mix all ingredients together, spray muffin pan with non stick cooking spray. Press equal amounts into 12 muffin cups, bake for 30 minutes at 350.
I added some chopped green pepper for some veggies, and of course a couple squirts of ketchup-cause what's meatloaf without ketchup?
Each muffin cup is 4 points (before ketchup). These are SUPER yummy, almost better than my regular meatloaf. Pair with some steamed veggies, and you've got yourself a GREAT meal. I'm planning on taking leftovers tomorrow for a meatloaf sandwich!!!

Green Chili Chicken Lasagna
2 cans rotel
1 can 98% fat free cream of onion soup ( I used cream of celery-couldn't find onion)
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 small can green chilies
6 green onions sliced
chili powder to taste
8 fat free tortillas
1/2 c fresh cilantro
8 oz fat free shredded cheese

Combine first six ingredients in saucepan, heat thoroughly. Tear tortillas into pieces and line a greased 9X11 pan with 1/3 of the tortillas. Top with 1/2 the rotel mixture, and sprinkle with 1/3 of the cilantro and cheese. Repeat layers twice ending with cheese. Bake 30-40 minutes until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes. This recipe make 6 servings, each serving is 5.5 points.
So I of course substituted cream of celery for the cream of onion-next time I think I would do cream of chicken or mushroom. I added chopped green and Anaheim peppers, skipped the chili powder and cilantro. It was good, not as great as the meatloaf-but something kind of spicy to change things up a bit. I think next time I would use fat free Velveeta on top to give it a gooey top rather than a crispy top. I also think it needs more cheese.


Chicken and cheese enchiladas

8 med corn tortillas
8 oz cooked, shredded light meat chicken
6 oz Velveeta light, shredded
1/2 c chopped onion
1 small can chopped green chilies
1 c old el paso enchilada sauce
Saute onions and undrained green chilies until onions are soft and liquid has evaporated ( I added a can of rotel to stretch things a little). Combine shredded chicken, cheese, onions and chilies. Divide into 8 equal portions. Place each portion into tortilla. roll and secure with toothpick. Place in 11X8 casserole dish. Cover with enchilada sauce and bake for 30 minutes and 350. Now obviously I added the can of rotel, plus i didn't add the cheese until I was rolling the tortillas (I also used regular shredded cheese). I used whole wheat tortillas instead of corn and I also used a whole small can of enchilada sauce and sprinkled some remaining cheese on top. This was good! Even better as leftovers!!


Chicken and Rice Bake
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 c rice
1 can fat free cream of chicken soup
1 can fat free chicken broth
In a 9X13 glass dish (sprayed) combine rice (uncooked), soup, broth, and spices. Snuggle chicken breasts in the mixture. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 1 hour.
Makes 4 servings at 6 points a piece. Super good, super easy, super supper!!

There you have it, what I have cooked for the last 4 weeks. Lame, I know-but it takes me FOREVER to eat a whole batch of anything......
My new motivation is this: My friend Jen and I have a little bet going on. Another friend of ours is getting married in April-we are both bridesmaids, and are slightly scared to be seen in our dresses. Her's is watermelon (hot pink) and mine is mermaid (teal!). So to motivate us, whomever loses the highest percentage of body weight has to pay for the motel room we are splitting. I think she is at a distinct disadvantage because I weigh more than her-but I'm keeping that one to myself!

Start weight watchers

Here it goes, I'm going to try it again. I've decided this blog is going to be about me and my weight loss journey (cause there isn't enough of those blogs out there). In any event I'll start from the beginning and get my story written down.....
Like most other people out there, I have struggled with weight since I was a kid. I always felt like the biggest kid around. Of course it didn't help that I was also the tallest girl in my class. I always just felt HUGE. All through high school and college I was the party girl, I could drink almost anyone under the table-which was likely a result of all the excess poundage I was carrying around. I had and have tons of friends, and I am very lucky that most of them don't care that I am as overweight as I am. However, I'm sick of being the fat friend. I know I'm a good friend, I know I am fun to be around, but I also know that I am the fat friend.
Well, about 7 months ago I broke up with the boyfriend and started down and a new and improved path in life. At the time, I did not think it there was anything new or improved about my new boyfriend-less life. Now, I can look back and say-I should have never started seeing him, and I can't believe I spent 3 years of my life that way.
So after giving myself about a month to lay around and feel sorry for myself, I picked myself up by the boot straps and started working out. My gym membership was my Christmas gift to myself. I bought a three month membership thinking that if I actually used it for the three months, I would buy a year. Well, for those first three months, I used the crap out of that membership. I went five to six times a week, once even challenging myself to see how many days in a row I could go (14 baby!). I lost somewhere around 15 pounds-woozer! I didn't change the way I ate, I didn't pay any attention to what I ate, just worked out like a maniac. Then, I hit the dreaded plataue.
About the same time my membership expired, all the while I was interviewing for jobs in other states. I decided then that the weather was starting to turn around, I was starting softball in a few weeks, eeehhh-I'll just work out outside. After two weeks of doing nothing and figuring out that I wasn't going to take any of the jobs I had interviewed for-I went ahead and renewed my membership, this time opting for the year long contract.
Well, that is about the time I stopped going. I'd go once a week (on a really really good week). Don't get me wrong, I was playing softball (not exactly "exercise"), I'd go on walks, even the occasional run. Now, I did start watching the food I was eating. Not sticking to a diet of any kind, but just being aware of what I was consuming. Since then, I've lost about 5 more pounds.
So what is the problem with that? Well, I do really good during the week. I would lose 3-5 lbs between Monday and Friday, then I'd go out drinking and partying all weekend and gain 3-5 lbs back. AGGGGHHHHHH. Easy fix you say, stop with all the drunkeness? Well, you try being a 20 something single girl. Now don't get me wrong, I am in love with being single right now-but that doesn't mean I wouldn't love to find someone special to spend some of my excess time with. Now I know that just because I might be thinking about looking for someone doesn't mean I need to go out drinking all the time. But let me put it to you this way....there ain't no one in my life right now that I would consider dating. How do people my age find new friends? Most of the time alcohol is involved. Now I am not saying I need to go out and get bombed to make new friends. But a few beers are usually involved. And I am ok with that;)
So, I've tried weight watchers in the past, and had some pretty good success (30lbs). So now, I'm trying it again. My goal, is to lose 75 lbs. Unrealistic? Ummm, maybe. So right now, I would be over freaking joyed with 50. That would put me at a weight I haven't been at since like early high school, maybe even middle school.
So, while I am not telling you my current weight (because I am so totally embarrassed by it) I will tell you that I am currently wearing size 18 bottoms, 14/16 or xl top. I don't really have any goals when it comes to clothing size-I just want to be able to look at myself in the mirror and like what I see.
So I'm going to use this blog as a journal about what I have eaten, exercise, weight lost, etc. It should be pretty exciting from here on out (stop sarcasm).

7/6/09
Fiber One Bar-peanut butter
3 tbs hummus
5 melba toast snacks
1 freedom fudge bar
handful of carrots
4 tbsp light ranch dressing
Total intake 12 points
Exercise for 50 minutes-hardcore. Minus 7 points.
Granted, it is only 6 pm, and I haven't eaten supper yet, but I'm allowing myself 27 points everyday. So I must stay under 22 points for dinner. Can do! I'm thinking stir fry....
In any event, stay tuned-I'm hoping to keep posting, and maybe turn this into a public blog someday. Hi Jeri-I'm using this for YOU to hold me accountable!!

Ok, sorry Jeri for being so lazy about posting. I've pretty much decided that this is probably going to be a cooking blog, so here is my favorite recipe of the week (or the ONLY thing I have cooked in the last week). Sorry, no pictures here-but it was really good, and really easy I swear!

Mary's Chicken Stir-Fry
2lbs frozen veggie blend (I used the broccoli stir-fry)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 c prepared rice
3/4 c teriyaki sauce
1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Saute the chicken for 5 minutes in oil (I cooked my chicken till I was SURE it was done, as I am slightly scared of chicken). Add frozen veggies, garlic powder (I used the minced garlic you buy in a jar), salt, and pepper. Saute until tender crisp. Add teriyaki sauce, heat through. Serve over rice.
DELICIOUS. Honestly, it is one of the best things I have ever made, and SUPER easy. I love the water chestnuts in the stir-fry veggies, SUPER crispy and delicious.
I got a sirloin roast on sale at the grocery store this weekend, so I thought tomorrow I would make some fajitas! I have some left over peppers, but I no seasoning (I usually just use the package and a can of beer for marinade). I guess I will improvise!
Also, Wednesday is BUNCO night! Yeah!! So for my appetizer to take I am making the greatest appetizer EVER!
Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos
15 jalapenos
2 packages cream cheese
1 package bacon
Cut peppers in half length wise, scoop out seeds, ribs, and white stuff (if you don't they'll be HOT, HOT, HOT-also don't store the peppers in the fridge, that makes them hot too!). Fill peppers with cream cheese (I'm going to try mixing half real cream cheese and half 1/3 fat cream cheese). Wrap with bacon strip, cut in half. Poke a toothpick through the bacon to hold in place. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until the bacon is done. YUMMO!
I've heard you can mix cheddar cheese, garlic, pepper, etc into the cream cheese -but why mess with perfection?