Our Quest to change our lives began in Feb. 2010 and we lost 224 lbs. We slowly gained a lot of that weight back and we're now on another journey for weight loss and better health using Bright Line Eating. This is the story of our continuing Journey. .
(For the fullest effect, begin at the beginning in Feb. 2010 using our Blog Archive on sidebar)
Showing posts with label L and G. Show all posts
Showing posts with label L and G. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

HEART ATTACK Scare!!

My 55 year old brother had a major heart attack last week! Thankfully, he was in the hospital just coming out of back surgery - which is what truly saved his life. They were able to wheel him right back in and put some stints in. He had 100% blockage on one, 80% blockage on another and 30% on a third. He is home and doing well and counting his incredible blessings! He's got 9 kids who are all holding on to him a little tighter now.

You know, my mother died at age 56 from heart disease, and her mother died at 56 from heart disease. I am 41 right now. Boy, is it ever time for me to WAKE UP!! It's in my genes to have my arteries build up with plaque. Even though my brother had been exercising and eating healthy for the last year (and even lost 30 lbs) he still had that heart attack. The doctor told him that because he's made those changes probably saved his life. That is isn't uncommon for people to have heart problems and NOT EVEN REALIZE how bad it is until the have a major heart attack or until it's too late. This is more evidence that making this change THIS YEAR - RIGHT NOW, is absolutely necessary!! I am SO glad I am making this change.

WEEK 8 - I'm down 3 more pounds for 35 pounds lost! My man is down 5 pounds for 42 pounds lost!

Here is a L&G I threw together. This is rotissary chicken (SO good) on top of sateed yellow squash and mushrooms. I know, that sounds like an unlikely pair but I was in a hurry and it was yummy!
This was an L&G for my man... using those boca-type crumbles mixed in with his salad and his hot salsa. He prefers the ground turkey/beef mixture to the boca crumbles but it wasn't bad.

So this is how I prep our puddings every week or two. I mostly make chocolate with a few drops of the Capella hazel nut flavoring, and banana with either no drops or added banana flavoring drops. This time I actually added some chocolate brownie drops to the banana to see if I like it. I love to eat pudding as my breakfast and I love having them already made. My husband can grab one to put in his lunch box and these little containers with lids are inexpensive and easy to clean and store.
Last night I made muffins again! (I did a double batch as the picture shows) I will post the recipe I use on the side. My hubby LOVES these. He is a bread lover and this gets him his bread fix.
Two of these muffins equals one meal and so I put two in a baggie, fresh out if the oven and then freeze them. My hubby grabs one in the morning and nukes it for like 40 seconds and then eats them on his drive to work.
Here is the newest L&G I've tried. Imitation crab meet!! I got it at Costco and had this crab salad with my favorite light Ranch dressing (Bolton). I loved it. I loved having the crunchier veggies in there too like radishes and celery along with the cucumbers, lettuce and peppers.
And this meal is my Honey's standard favorite. Yes, he does have 4 of the Morning Star sausage patties (instead of the 3) but he craves that protein and feels that his body needs it and he still loses weight even having 4 of them so more power to him! He doesn't even have dressing on his salad anymore. He just enjoys eating the veggies fresh.


I've discovered another HELPFUL HINT for myself. I chew more gum! It really helps inbetween meals to have something yummy to chew on. I am always trying new sugar free gum now where I used to only buy the peppermint or spearmint for fresh breath. Those who know me well, know I love "Trident White - Cool Colada". I call it my HAPPY GUM because you just can't chew it and not feel happy. Some others I am liking right now are: New Trident Layers (both flavors of them), Extra Fruit Sensations Strawberry Banana and Berry Pearadise, and the Orbit Mist Watermelon Spring. I'm sure there are many others that are tasty to chew. And even today in the doctors office, I read an article in a magazine that said that people who chew gum inbetween meals are more likely to eat less calories throughout the day. :)

Saturday, March 13, 2010

~ Feeling ALIVE after WEEK 5 ~

We have reached the end of our 5th week and here are the results:
Me - 4 pounds lighter; total loss now = 25 lbs
Hubby - 6 pounds lighter; total loss now = 28 lbs

This is so encouraging to us!!! When I pass the 30 pounds loss mark, it will physically manifest more weight than I've lost on all my other diet changes! So that will be another milestone for me. My hubby is feeling so much better. He said he would like to write his own feelings for me to post on here... so I will when he writes them down for me.

Because I am so big to begin with, I often still feel so huge and homely - BUT - at the same time I also talk to my husband and plan like I am already a thinner person - because that is where I am headed.

Here are a couple Lean and Greens from this last week:

First, I made SHRIMP for the first time on this plan!! This is the pre-cooked frozen shrimp from Costo. I just defrosted it and then steamed up some asparagus (my second time making this vegetable). I cooked the shrimp over the stove with some of my favorite sauce I use for salmon: Jakes's Orange Mango barbeque glaze. Then I also drizzled some over the asparagus as well. So delicious! I am anxious to try other ways in making shrimp too, because I loved being able to have 7 ounces of it!
Doesn't that look so good?
I also made this chicken salad. This is chicken is also from costco, "Sweet carmelized onion chicken burgers" that I posted below in a previous entry. I just warmed up the chicken burger on the stove and then cut it up into smaller chunks and put them on a bed of lettuce, cucumber and tomoto. I used this "Bolthouse" ranch dressing which has less fat/calories due to being made from yogurt. SO good! (my coach told me about the Bolthouse dressings).
This was the best salad I tasted yet
Here it is with about 2 T. of dressing added.
I still have other L&G ideas I want to try... I'm cautious because that is my favorite meal of the day and I want to make sure it's one I'm going to love!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Hitting a MILESTONE

We hit a MILESTONE for our WEEK 4.
I lost 3 pounds for a total of 21 pounds lost!
My hubby lost 5 pounds for a total of 22 pounds lost!

We both have reached the milestone of losing 20 pounds!! This is where I usually stop losing or end up slowly fizzling out of my lifestyle change, or cheating and rationalizing that I'm not... BUT NOT THIS TIME - I'm just getting started baby!

Today was awesome because my husband was able to wear a jacket that didn't fit him before. He's been wearing this fleece vest for a warmth the last two winters because he outgrew all his coats and jackets. He also commented to me that it's much easier to tie his shoes. He used to have to hold his breath and lunge for it with gusto even get to his laces. Makes me realize how much we can take for granted. I wore a skirt today and it did seem a little loser around the waist. Hmmm... I could get used to this. I feel much better than I have but I am anxious to feel more thinner and to see some more noticeable differences in my appearance.
("Patience..." I tell myself).

I LOVE that I have a coach who has a sincere interest in my success. This is the BEST program for me.

Here is one of my lean and greens this week. It's the pre-cooked beef strips from Costco with... (act surprised now) sauteed peppers and mushrooms! So yummy. No, those are NOT real olives, just part of the plates decorations.
Tonight we tried a totally new L&G. I browned a pound of lean ground turkey and added some taco seasoning (watching the carbs), and 1/2 cup of canned tomatoes and let it simmer. Then I portioned out about 4 ounces (instead of 6) and then I put it on a couple lettuce leafs like so.
Then I added 2 ounces of low fat CHEESE!!
(cheese counts as the rest of my protein)
Then I topped it with some tomatoes and peppers and VOILA!!
My hubby ate it with a fork but I rolled them up like tacos. They were SOOO good. I think we'll have this again tomorrow.

My message for this week is:
BE STRONG and think of the END RESULT!!