Making Meals

I am actually enjoying getting the hubs back on plan and how it helps me plan the meals and stay on plan myself.  We already know what our parameters are so it's not about tempting ourselves into eating certain foods.  I love that!

Today we did a Costco run and loaded up on lots of great lean meats and healthy veggies.  Our fridge and freezer is stocked and I have several meals I can plan.  I love that I only need to worry about the one meal.

The other day I made a huge batch of our Medifast muffins (that I actually do in a brownie pan) and have them all ready for the hubs.  And I pre-made my puddings (chocolate w/ sf PB syrup and banana w/ sf coconut syrup).  Not that the food need sf syrups, I just have gotten to where I love to explore new flavors. 

Then I made or chocolate peanut butter balls out of the Medifast hot cocoa and using pb2.  Then I freeze them and we pull them out and defrost when we want to eat them.  YUM.  I have that recipe posted in the "Medifast Recipe" tab above.  I love getting all prepared!

Two days ago, I made these egg, cheese and veggie frittatas.  Can you believe one whole pie pan of his is one complete "Lean and Green"?  So yummy, especially with salsa, and so filling.  I made them with 1.5 cups eggbeaters,  small sprinkle of low-fat cheese (1-2 ounces), 1/2 cup zucchini, 1/2 cup mushrooms, garlic powder, s/p -- mix altogether and pour into dish and bake for about 17 minutes at 350.  Eat with salsa.  (Beware, you may not be able to finish it!)

Last night I made Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kabobs from this recipe and it was SOO delish!  I've made this before and was excited to make it again.  I like to use my yogurt based bolthouse ranch dressing because it's so creamy and low in calories and fat.  That rosemary ranch sauce in this recipe is SO good.  I only had zucchini and one bell pepper on hand so those were the veggies I used.  I usually skewer the meats and veggies on different sticks because the meat often takes longer to cook.

     Before baking (we have no grill right now)                      After baking

Today I am happy with myself.  You see, we don't watch TV but we do have Netflix and so I've started watching the "Lost" series.  When I take a break or eat a meal, I'll sit in next to my bed and watch it on our Google TV.  Sometimes I'll sit for 2 episodes - long after my meal is done!  I've been tellling myself that this is not acceptable, so I procured this free used treadmill today and had Brent move the chair next to my bed and  put that treadmill there!  Now, if I want to sit and watch my little TV series, then I've got be walking on that treadmill.  If I want to watch 2 episodes, that's fine, as long as I'm walking on that treadmill!  Yes, it takes up more room and isn't the most decorative, but hey, it gets me moving!  I feel so genius!

So now its Brent who has a chair on his side.  Maybe I should find him a good used Gazelle somewhere and surprise him!!  (tee hee)

And now I leave you with a couple pics of our newest in-house super heroes!  These are our little doxies, Zoey and Chloe, and they really add so much fun and spark to our home! 

Chloe is a little more hesitant about being a hero if you can tell on her face, though.  :)

Have a fabulous, on plan, positive, lots of water drinking weekend!!  XOXO ~Margene

PS - Life is GOOOOOOD!

Week 18 ~ Time for Some NEW...

Weigh In this morning revealed a 2 pound loss for EACH of us for last week. That brings my total loss in 18 weeks to 64 pounds, and my mans total loss in 18 weeks is 70 pounds!! Together we have lost 134 pounds - the equivalent of one of our teenagers (actually, more than one of our teens).

It is time for some NEW UNDIES. I’ve been pulling up my big underwear clear up to my bra line and it still slips down. Seriously... it’s been ridiculous! So today, I finally broke down and went and bought a few pairs just so I can be more comfortable. I wanted to wait until I lost more but ya know, when you need it - you need it. I found that I now fit into undies that are 4 sizes smaller! Cool. Wow, and how good it feels to wear underclothes that fit, I tell ya!

On my travels today, I thought I’d stop by a clothes store again, you know - for fun! I saw a cute dress first off and tried on size 22 = too loose; then size 18 = a tad too snug; so size 20 was just right. I remember the dress I wore on the way to my wedding was a size 20. Let’s see, that was 21 years ago. BOOYA!

I’ve been wearing my size 28 skirt to church and using safety pins to keep it from falling off me. I found a cute jean skit on the clearance rack and tried it on... it fit. What size was it? Size 18!! I haven’t worn a size 18 since BEFORE I had my kids. This is all so awesome. But why do I still FEEL like I’m so huge? Because, I still am huge, really... just not AS huge. Drat! I really want to be TINY Tiny tiny! All in time, I suppose...

Some L&G’s I made this week: Chicken Tender kabobs (so I didn’t have to cut them as small) that I just broiled in my oven. Yum (Rosemary Ranch)

Spaghetti Squash with teriyaki glazed chicken. This sounded better and faster than trying to fry up some ground turkey to imitate a spaghetti dish. Spaghetti squash reminds me of sweet potatoes! Yum.

Smokehouse Maple broiled salmon and sautéed mushrooms. Very delish! I am a big lover of salmon.

Last night, the mister and I went to the gym again. This time we did some weight lifting and worked on our arms and chest muscles. I have such huge lose fat upper arms... how do I get rid of those? Then we went on the elliptical. That machine nearly licked me and I had to push my way through just to get 10 minutes in. At least that is double my last time but it just kills my legs. I guess I really need to build up my strength and endurance. Then we walked on the treadmill for a mile or so. I walk on about 3.2 speed; then, towards the end, I pushed it to 4.5 and tried a little run/jog. I could only do it for seconds.... less than a minute. It wasted me! I see people weighing more than me who are running 1/2 marathons and I wonder why can’t I run? I feel impatient with myself and I’m thinking it’s going to be long and grueling to get myself in shape not to mention to become a runner. It would be a huge MIRACLE if I ever was able to run a 1/2 marathon. I’d also love to bike, and we even bought one for me at a yard sale. I need to be in better shape and lose way more weight. I tell ya, the mountain before me still seems undaunting!! But I am still determined!

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!!