week 13 - and more kabobs!

Week 13 - I'm down 3 pounds for a total of 52 pounds gone.

I hit the 50 pound loss mark! WOO HOO! My man stayed the same this week so he is steady at 55 pounds gone. (He's had a very stressful week at work - and he says he's NOT discouraged about not losing any this week, he says it doesn't phase him and that he knew this would happen at times.)

In fact, My man had a "Father & Son" campout this last weekend, and as he was heading down to the beach, he actually heard from our younger son "Wait up, Dad." Those were sweet words since it has usually been the other way around.

Another fun thing with my youngest for me was the other day he was giving me a hug before school and he suddenly pulled away and said, "Mom, you are getting skinnier! I usually feel your tummy way more out to here!" I love those little affirmations when we don't always see it ourselves, ya know?

I made a TON of muffins this week and have tried different variation of the basic recipe (*See muffin recipe on side panel). I make them 1 meal per muffin now so they are bigger and fluffier.

Here is what I've tried:

1. Maple & Brown sugar Oatmeal + Chocolate pudding + Sugar free chocolate chip cookie doe Syrup. (yum)

2. Apple & Cinnamon Oatmeal + Vanilla pudding + Sugar free Caramel syrup.

3 Apple & Cinnamon Oatmeal + Chocolate pudding + Sugar free Peanut Butter syrup. (My hubby's FAVORITE - he loves peanut butter)

I'm not a huge fan of the regular Boca or Morningstar farms burgers, BUT I found one I really LOVED. This is the Morningstar Pizza style/flavor burger. It is a bit more calories and carbs than the regular, but not compared to the Boca speciality burgers which are WAY more.

My man had two of these burgers with his salad and I had two with these vegetables stir fried in the left over sauce from my pork kabobs (see recipe in previous post). This was SO delish! I couldn't find the Morningstar Pizza burgers (I also like their mushroom lovers) at Win-co or Fred Meyer but I did find them at Trader Joes.

And now for a NEW and FANTASTIC recipe I tried:

Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kabobs (found on line & had great reviews)

1/2 cup olive oil [I actually use only 1/2 of this and used the other 1/2 rice vinegar]

1/2 cup ranch (I used Bolthouse which is way lower fat & cal)

3 T. Worcestershire sauce

1 T. Minced fresh Rosemary

2 t. Salt

1 t. lemon juice

1 t. white vinegar

1/4 t. ground black pepper (or to taste)

1 T. white sugar (optional) - [I used a couple spenda packets]

5 skinless, boneless Chicken breat halves - cut into 1" cubes

In a medium bowl, stir together the olive oil, ranch dressing, worcestershire sauce, rosemary, salt, lemon juice, white vinegar, pepper, and sugar/spenda. Let stand for 5 minutes. Place chicken in the bowl and stir to coat with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes [I marinated the chicken for a whole day]

Pre-heat grill for med-high heat. Thread chicken onto skewers and discard marinade. (If they are wooden skewers than soak them in water for 5-10 minutes beforehand) Lightly oil the grill grate and grill skewers for about 4-5 minutes per side (so about 10 minutes total).

Here they are all grilled and they were SO tender and juice and tasty. I like these even better than the pork kabobs I did (and I loved those). I didn't even baste them while cooking, but I did baste the veggie kabobs (I made extra marinade and kept it separate to baste and use as a dip)

I tried grilling these on a George Foreman grill, but I think I cooked them too long because although they were tasty, they weren't as tender. The next night, we did them on our outside grill and I did them 4-5 minutes then turned them, than another 4-5 minutes and they were SO YUMMY and TENDER. (okay, I get excited about food, especially my lean and greens)

Week 10 - Started First Workout!

I lost 2 pounds last week and my guy lost 3. Week 10 brings me to a total of 42 pounds lighter, and my guy to a total of 48 pounds lighter. :) I STILL say that it's hardly noticeable with me. I saw some pics of myself this weekend and I look exactly the same (to me). That just goes to show how easily I gained the weight without looking drastically different. I am SO anxious to really BE thinner!!

Here is my FAVORITE medifast lunch!! Chicken Noodle Soup with crackers. I never tire of this, it's so yummy!

My honey LOVES my muffins with the Walden Farms jelly (sugar free/fat free/ calorie free).

This week I made stuffed peppers!!!

We really enjoyed them. I even made them again for my whole family!

I browned my 1 pound of ground lean turkey and 1 pound ground lean beef and drained it. Then I added one pack of ground up medifast crackers, 1 cup egg beaters, 2 T. Italian seasonings, and approx. 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. This meat mixture makes a bunch - as you can tell, I always double recipes so I can have it later too.

I filled the peppers and put a little water in the bottom of the pan just to cover it. Bake at 350 for about 18 minutes or until pepper is tender. I sprinkled a little cheese on top the last 2 min. of baking.

It was delicious. I didn't need any salsa or added flavoring for mine.

My man enjoyed his with his hot salsa.

We also ate out at Applebees again. This time I had the weight watchers steak and grilled shrimp. I asked for no oils or butters when baking... but I wonder if they did because it tasted SO good! I want to be able to make shrimp skewers as yummy as these!

This week we also WORKED OUT for the first time since we started this lifestyle change. Now, the last time I went on the treadmill like 6 months ago, I could only get up to 30 minutes. And the most I've gotten up to is like 40 minutes. So for not going in months, I was astounded with myself...

I walked for over 53 minutes and over 2 and a half miles!!! Some of it I even had on an incline! Wow!! I guess being 40 pounds less has helped me be able to walk longer and handle more on the treadmill. I wasn't even overly tired or TOO sore the next day (just a little sore). I am SO excited about that!

Here I am feeling happy about my walking.

I am having some much appreciated success. But it isn't without many struggles. I have struggled this weekend with a heartbreak from my past. I am amazed at how powerful this trial has been over me. It brings me SO much sorrow and I fight the feelings and thoughts with all my energy and many prayers. I realize that things may not be how they seem to me and I am trying to TRUST IN THE LORD that one day I will have understanding and peace about this trial and that it will all turn out for the best in the end. Waiting until then has been a struggle, yet I know my Savior is aware of my trials and the longings of my heart and I will Trust in Him. I am truly blessed, too, and thankful for the strength the Lord gives me and for my wonderful family!!

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. :)