Sunday, July 31, 2011
Books
I LOVE to read. My favorite types of books are mysteries and suspense. One of my favorite authors is Sue Ann Jaffarian. She has three series out now. She has been a friend of mine on Facebook for sometime, but recently contacted me after I had posted some weight loss journey pictures. She wanted to send me an autographed book which is a real treasure!!
Pictures
The first picture of Eddie and I was taken in July of 2010 at Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. The second picture was taken July 27th 2011 in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. We go to Lava each summer. A quaint little town with small shops to visit, an olympic size swimming pool and natural hot springs. We rent a house, so that we can cook our own meals. It's very peaceful and relaxing.=)
Product watch
Lay's Baked Chips, Wasa multi grain crispbread and Quaker rice snacks. These are all good as a side to sandwiches or salads. I have to be careful with the rice snacks because they are very good. Count out your portion and put the bag away! I just bought some of the bigger rice cakes in chocolate flavor. I have not tried them, but my daughter likes them topped with reduced fat peanut butter. 
Product watch
Baked Tostitos scoop chips and Chachies mango peach salsa. This makes for a good snack. You can also top your chips and salsa with some fat free sour cream. This salsa is the best I have found and is also very good on tacos and fajitas. I have found it at Walmart over in the refrigerated section next to the deli counter. I have also found it at Fresh Market ( formally Albertson's ) next to the cheese. Costco also sells it.
Pasta with hamburger
Here is another "made up" recipe...I do this quite often. I take regular recipes and add and subtract a few things to make them healthy.
1 lb. extra lean hamb.
1/2 of a yellow onion, chopped
2 T. minced garlic
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1 tsp. dried rosemary leaves
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 box of cooked whole wheat penne pasta
1 jar of ragu lite tomato basil, sugar free spaghetti sauce
1 1/2 cups fat free cottage cheese
1 cup reduced fat grated cheese ( I used the weight watchers reduced fat mexican style grated cheese )
reduced fat parmesan cheese
Coat the bottom of a skillet with olive oil. I have found that when browning the extra lean hamb., it tends to stick to the pan if you don't use a little bit of olive oil. Add minced garlic and onion, cooking until onions have softened. Add hamb. and cook until browned. Add spices, stirring well to coat beef. Stir in spaghetti sauce and cottage cheese. Add cooked pasta and mix well. Pour into baking dish. Top with grated cheese and a little bit of reduced fat parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 for 20-30 min. until bubbly and hot. I served this with steamed veggies and whole wheat rolls.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Shrimp Pasta
I kinda made this recipe up. It was very easy and tasted really good, so I wanted to share it with you. I coated the bottom of a skillet with olive oil and then added minced garlic ( I'd say about 2 Tablespoons) and chopped yellow onions. I then added in large shrimp ( tails removed) and sprinkled with salt, pepper and a little bit of lemon pepper. After it was heated through, I added cooked whole wheat linguine noodles. I then mixed about a half jar of Ragu Light/ sugar free tomato and basil spaghetti sauce with about a cup of fat free sour cream. I added this into the pasta and mixed well, cooking until heated through. I served it topped with sliced black olives and grape tomatoes. I also topped it with just a sprinkle of reduced fat parmesan cheese. I served it with steamed veggies and a whole wheat roll. This pasta would also be good with grilled chicken or salmon.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Exercise
When I began my weight loss journey, I had not exercised in many years. I was so out of shape that I dreaded going downstairs because I knew I'd have to walk back up them. It was a chore that left me out of breath. I started very slow, walking 15 min., four days a week, on the treadmill. I eventually worked up to 3 miles a day, six days a week. I became quite bored with the treadmill and the gym. I had also hit a weight plateau. I decided to look into other means of exercise. I found Leslie Sansone on exercise TV. I immediately felt like I was getting a better workout and I loved her positive energy. Her workouts are multi-muscle workouts. She has several dvd's out. Some include hand weights, bands, cables, etc. I alternate between four and five mile workouts, averaging 27 miles a week. I can't say that I love exercise and I don't think I ever will, but it has become an important part of my day and I love the results. She has a fan page on Facebook where we all comment on our workouts for the day and support each other. I was contacted by her walk at home team after posting some pictures on her fan page and was asked to share my story on her website. What an honor that has been! Remember those stairs that I dreaded walking back up? I run up them now...:-)
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Product watch
5 lb. bag of skinless, boneless chicken breasts. Tilapia...I buy the big bags at Walmart. Each filet is individually vacuum packed so you can just take out what you need. Product watch
The best bread...Grandma Emilie's brand old fashioned multi-grain. Earthgrains 100% whole wheat thin buns. Great for sandwiches or burgers.
Product watch
Rhodes warm n serve whole wheat rolls and Rhodes multi-grain rolls. Very good served with sugar free jam.
Product watch
I try to not use a lot of cheese, but the weight watchers reduced fat mexican brand is pretty good if you'd like to add a little bit to chicken fajitas, casseroles or tacos. Flat out...these are like tortillas and are good for sandwiches, tacos or fajitas. I found them in the deli at Walmart. Borden fat free sharp cheddar cheese. Pretty good for a fat free cheese.Product watch
Special K crackers and cracker chips. These are good as a side to your salad or sandwiches. It's easy to eat too many though, so take out your serving and put the box away! Product watch
Rabbit's pickled garlic...available in five flavors. These are so good on salads, sandwiches or in steamed veggies. I order these from a woman in Montana. If anyone would like her website address, please let me know. Cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup/ 98% fat free. I make gravy with these. Sliced olives for sandwiches and salads. Canned chicken breast for sandwiches. Good on salads as well.Product watch
Vlasic stackers are good on sandwiches, elite pickles are great on salads or on the side with a sandwich. Banana pepper rings are really good on salads and sandwiches.Product watch
I'm not a fan of peanut butter, but I do buy the Jif Natural low sodium and the Great Value Reduced Fat peanut butter for family members, Reduced fat parmesan grated topping, sugar free jams.
Product watch
Brown rice, Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut Oats. I buy the steel cut oats at Fresh Market ( formally Albertsons) or a health food store. Unsalted sunflower nuts for salads.Product watch
Hawaiian Punch sugar free drink singles for your bottled water. Arizona brand sugar free green tea. Clear American brand flavored sparkling water, found at Walmart.
Product watch
Non-stick olive oil cooking spray, McCormick brand salad supreme seasoning, balsamic vinegar for salads, lemon pepper for seasoning chicken before grilling or sprinkling on steamed veggies. Lawry's season salt for veggies or meats as well.Product watch
Whole, peeled garlic cloves. Found in the produce dept. at Walmart next to the bagged salad. Honey mustard...great on sandwiches and brushed on grilled chicken. Lite miracle whip for sandwiches, minced squeeze garlic, found in the produce section at Walmart.
Product watch
Naturally Yours brand fat free sour cream, "I can't believe it's not butter" spray, plain nonfat yogurt, fat free cottage cheese.
Product watch
Egg whites are a great source of protein. They are good scrambled or used in a veggie omelette. Silk Pure Almond/ unsweetened. My husband likes this on his steel cut oats. Nestle sugar free coffee creamer/ french vanilla flavor. My favorite! Love it in my coffee and on my steel cut oats.
Good Morning!!
I have been so overwhelmed with all the response I have received on my pictures that I posted on Facebook. I'd like to thank all of my friends, old and new, and my family members for all of their kind words and compliments on my weight loss. I thought that starting a blog would better help answer questions, share ideas, recipes, etc.
I think I'll begin by answering the question I get most: "How did you do it?"
I have to give credit to my husband, Eddie ( Ed to most people), for getting me started. He and I both have struggled with weight our entire lives. He was watching Bill Maher one night and saw Dr. David Kessler on the show. Dr. Kessler is the author of, "The End Of Overeating". Eddie bought the book and read it. He then decided to make some changes in the foods he was eating. I saw the changes in him and thought maybe I should try it too. I kept talking myself out of it...for several days...before I finally mentioned to him that I thought I should make some changes as well. I had always been healthy, well, as healthy as one can be who is 100 plus lbs. overweight, but my blood pressure had started to creep up and I knew I was at risk for diabetes, heart disease and other health related issues. Our diet ( although I hate to use that word because I don't feel like we are on a "diet". ) consists of whole grains, lots of veggies, fruit, very lean chicken and fish, very little red meat and only lean when we do eat it, very low sugar, very low fat, water, and moderate exercise. Portion control is very important. I have to admit that I don't count calories. My son had a nutrition class last year and my husband kept track of his calories for one day and then used the online tracker that my son had as part of his nutrition class. My husband's intake was around 1800 calories. He and I eat basically the same thing, so I've never bothered to count them. I have hit weight plateaus a couple of times and when I did, I would try to just cut down on servings a little bit and increase my exercise. I've also been asked if I ever cheat. To be perfectly honest, the answer is NO! I am a food addict and I feel like I can't cheat or I will go right back to my old habits. You don't tell a recovering alcoholic they can have one drink a month or a recovering drug addict that they can do drugs one day a month. I feel like I'm in that same category.
I tend to be a creature of habit, so my daily food choices are pretty typical. The photo at the left is what I eat every morning. A bowl of steel cut oats topped with honey, a few walnuts and some fruit. I also add a little bit of sugar free french vanilla coffee creamer. For lunch, I usually have a salad. My salads are not just any salad...they tend to get out of hand...lol! Half the battle is to feel full so you are least likely to eat something you shouldn't. My salads keep me very full. I use a couple different kinds of bagged salad mix, bagged chopped cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, sliced black olives, pickles, banana peppers, sugar snap peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocado, salad shrimp, unsalted or raw sunflower seeds, black pepper, balsamic vinegar, and
salad supreme seasoning. Instead of dressing, I use fat free cottage cheese. I use my veggie steamer almost every night. I bought it at Walmart for around $25.00. I steam anything from broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, squash, green beans, baby carrots, mushrooms...just about anything! I also love whole garlic cloves. I buy these at Walmart in the produce section next to the bagged salad. They are already peeled and bottled. Very convenient! Recently we took a trip to Montana to visit my father in-law. We went to the farmer's market and sampled some wonderful pickled garlic cloves. I bought a jar of the smoked flavor and have since ordered more from the woman who makes them. If anyone is interested, contact me and I will give you her information. They are $7.00 a jar, so a bit pricey, but so good in your veggies, salads or sandwiches. I also use my rice cooker a lot. I buy the Great Value brand brown rice. I put 2 cups of rice in the cooker and fill to about a 1/4 inch below the max line. It cooks for 50 min. I'm going to add a section on here called "product watch" with pictures of the products I use most. I usually don't have a morning snack, but if I do, it's usually a banana or a small bag of sugar snap peas. In the afternoon I usually have steamed veggies for a snack or I will save 1/4 of my salad and have that. Every night for our snack, we have a cup of fat free, plain yogurt. We add splenda and fruit. My husband also adds a few peanuts. For dinner tonight, we are going to grill chicken breasts. I buy the big 5 lbs. bag of skinless, boneless chicken breasts from Walmart. They run just over $10.00. For something different with your chicken breasts, brush with honey mustard when they are done and then add sauteed mushrooms and onions over the top. Serve with steamed veggies, topped with "I can't believe it's not butter" spray and Lawry's seasoning, brown rice and a whole wheat roll topped with sugar free jam. The portion size of your chicken should not be any bigger than the palm of your hand. I usually double up on my veggies so I'm sure to feel full.
I hope I haven't overwhelmed all of you with this posting...ha ha! I just got to typing and rambled on and on. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I hope I touched on a couple of questions.
Have a wonderful Sunday!! =)
I think I'll begin by answering the question I get most: "How did you do it?"
I have to give credit to my husband, Eddie ( Ed to most people), for getting me started. He and I both have struggled with weight our entire lives. He was watching Bill Maher one night and saw Dr. David Kessler on the show. Dr. Kessler is the author of, "The End Of Overeating". Eddie bought the book and read it. He then decided to make some changes in the foods he was eating. I saw the changes in him and thought maybe I should try it too. I kept talking myself out of it...for several days...before I finally mentioned to him that I thought I should make some changes as well. I had always been healthy, well, as healthy as one can be who is 100 plus lbs. overweight, but my blood pressure had started to creep up and I knew I was at risk for diabetes, heart disease and other health related issues. Our diet ( although I hate to use that word because I don't feel like we are on a "diet". ) consists of whole grains, lots of veggies, fruit, very lean chicken and fish, very little red meat and only lean when we do eat it, very low sugar, very low fat, water, and moderate exercise. Portion control is very important. I have to admit that I don't count calories. My son had a nutrition class last year and my husband kept track of his calories for one day and then used the online tracker that my son had as part of his nutrition class. My husband's intake was around 1800 calories. He and I eat basically the same thing, so I've never bothered to count them. I have hit weight plateaus a couple of times and when I did, I would try to just cut down on servings a little bit and increase my exercise. I've also been asked if I ever cheat. To be perfectly honest, the answer is NO! I am a food addict and I feel like I can't cheat or I will go right back to my old habits. You don't tell a recovering alcoholic they can have one drink a month or a recovering drug addict that they can do drugs one day a month. I feel like I'm in that same category.
I tend to be a creature of habit, so my daily food choices are pretty typical. The photo at the left is what I eat every morning. A bowl of steel cut oats topped with honey, a few walnuts and some fruit. I also add a little bit of sugar free french vanilla coffee creamer. For lunch, I usually have a salad. My salads are not just any salad...they tend to get out of hand...lol! Half the battle is to feel full so you are least likely to eat something you shouldn't. My salads keep me very full. I use a couple different kinds of bagged salad mix, bagged chopped cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, sliced black olives, pickles, banana peppers, sugar snap peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocado, salad shrimp, unsalted or raw sunflower seeds, black pepper, balsamic vinegar, and
salad supreme seasoning. Instead of dressing, I use fat free cottage cheese. I use my veggie steamer almost every night. I bought it at Walmart for around $25.00. I steam anything from broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, squash, green beans, baby carrots, mushrooms...just about anything! I also love whole garlic cloves. I buy these at Walmart in the produce section next to the bagged salad. They are already peeled and bottled. Very convenient! Recently we took a trip to Montana to visit my father in-law. We went to the farmer's market and sampled some wonderful pickled garlic cloves. I bought a jar of the smoked flavor and have since ordered more from the woman who makes them. If anyone is interested, contact me and I will give you her information. They are $7.00 a jar, so a bit pricey, but so good in your veggies, salads or sandwiches. I also use my rice cooker a lot. I buy the Great Value brand brown rice. I put 2 cups of rice in the cooker and fill to about a 1/4 inch below the max line. It cooks for 50 min. I'm going to add a section on here called "product watch" with pictures of the products I use most. I usually don't have a morning snack, but if I do, it's usually a banana or a small bag of sugar snap peas. In the afternoon I usually have steamed veggies for a snack or I will save 1/4 of my salad and have that. Every night for our snack, we have a cup of fat free, plain yogurt. We add splenda and fruit. My husband also adds a few peanuts. For dinner tonight, we are going to grill chicken breasts. I buy the big 5 lbs. bag of skinless, boneless chicken breasts from Walmart. They run just over $10.00. For something different with your chicken breasts, brush with honey mustard when they are done and then add sauteed mushrooms and onions over the top. Serve with steamed veggies, topped with "I can't believe it's not butter" spray and Lawry's seasoning, brown rice and a whole wheat roll topped with sugar free jam. The portion size of your chicken should not be any bigger than the palm of your hand. I usually double up on my veggies so I'm sure to feel full.I hope I haven't overwhelmed all of you with this posting...ha ha! I just got to typing and rambled on and on. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I hope I touched on a couple of questions.
Have a wonderful Sunday!! =)
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