21 Calorie Garlic bread

 

On Sunday I was making this, chicken Panzanella Salad. You are suppose to put wedges of bread in a panzanella salad.  I really didn’t need the carbs that come with giant wedges of bread.  So I had to come up with an idea to swap it out with.  Then I found these in my bread drawer:

And the light bulb came on!  (info on these can be found here)

I took one and opened it up so it split into 2 pieces.  I brushed some EVOO on it and sprinkled garlic powder and basil on it.  Then I put it in the oven under the broiler. it only takes a minute or two to toast up.

Then I cut each 1/2 into 2 rectangles and each rectangle into 8 triangles!  So doing the math quickly I said they were 13 calorie garlic bread (100cal bread / 8) but I forgot to added in the EVOO.  That raises it up to 21 calories.

Per Serving:
21 calories; 3 carbs; 1 Fat; 1 Protein

You can see them here in this photo:

enjoy!

shhh for a few extra calories sprinkle with parm. cheese.

YEAH OVERWEIGHT MAMA!!

Okay okay I know a few posts ago I was talking trash that the BMI charts are total BS. and you know what I still think they are. BUT..

the fact is the BMI data is what drives the stupid ass stats we hear on the news ( well that’s not really true because its not like on the census we had to put our weight its really a best guess estimate by some really smart people at adding but not smart enough to come up with new Non BS charts. okay rant over).

None the less if you heard a stat tonight on the news about obesity its not me!  With todays weigh in I am officially an overweight Mama!

I lost 2.6 this week!!! It puts me at 80.4 pounds lost!

19.4 pounds in 8 weeks

That's over 30% of me gone!!

183.4

Needless to say I am so very happy!  I was hoping to weigh in less then the hubby! but the bastard lost 3 pounds. So I am still 3 pounds away from him darn it.  The day will come the day will come!!!

I would love to write more. I thought so many things today at work but I am so tired.  So I am going to wrap this one up! but here is cute photo of my family at my sons preschool graduation last week.

Have a great one!

Grilled Shrimp Kabobs

 

Looks yummy right?!!  So simple and Easy!

If you use wooden sticks remember to soak them in water first! I made mine in the morning so they could marinated while I was at work.

• Slice 2 medium zucchini into 1/2” slices
• Using Large raw shrimp, peal the shell off just leaving the tail

Then assemble!. My pattern was 1 zucchini, 2 shrimp, 1 zucchini 2 shrimp, 1 zucchini

The marinade was:

• 1/4 cup (my best guess estimate – I don’t measure) of EVOO
• salt and pepper
• the juice of one Lime or lemon
• Garlic powder or crushed garlic
• 1 tsp of Lake George Blend seasoning (found here) or I may try this sometime

Brush the marinade onto the kabobs and let them get happy in the fridge!  Then grill at dinner time!  Start the grill and put on a medium heat.  You will only need to grill them for 2-3 minutes on each side.

I served mine with Wild Brown rice!  It quick and easy – great for summer!

Armed with ……Confidence??

Since Wednesday, we have had contractors at our house putting up the framework on our garage addition.  I was home with the kids on Friday (plus my GF 6 year old).  I really needed to work in the garden and it was so hot and muggy.  I have gone out in public before in a tank top but never thin strapped tanks. 

I figured what the hell its just a bunch of construction guys…So out I went like this (sorry cell phone photo):

God I love my arms! ha ha NOT!

So I have seen some progress in my arms. Some as in little bit.

This was from Jan (post found here)	Friday

ick they are so ugly.  Anyway! As I stated earlier this week I need to go shopping. Thankfully Kohls came thru and sent me a 30% off coupon!!  So I went on Friday night when they have all the big sales! yeah I spent 200bucks but saved 400!  So sweet!

I was in a size 8 in so many things! I love it! NEVER EVER have I been a size 8.  Even when I weight 150 in high school.  So I am loving this but feeling so weird at the same time!  I just don’t know what to do with this body!

I found that most shorts fit my waist but were snug in the thighs .

What do you think?  I don’t know I don’t want to walk down the street while camping and have people talking about like…what the hell is wrong with her wearing those shorts.

So as I gain confidence that I look better and feel better I don’t have the confidence to dress this new body. 

I totally love these capri.  They are levi and so comfy!!!

Where the hell did my boobs go?  lol

well I have to get to bed, my mother is moving tomorrow.  To a 2nd floor apt….So totally a workout! But I need to get a good run in tomorrow too.  Have a great night everyone!

Taking a double take!!

On Sunday we had a Fathers Day BBQ.  I made a tossed salad and watermelon for it.  They had sausage patties, Hot dogs, hamburgers, and Johnsonville's then the normal mayo filled salads a such.  oh and Salt potatoes my favorite but soaked in butter.

As we were getting ready to eat I figure I would have a burger, my tossed salad and some corn.  I noticed that packaging for the meats by the grill.  Boy did I do a double take.  I figured the burger would be best choice, I was shocked to pick up the package and read that one burger is 380 calories!! WHAT.  The Johnsonville was 240 and the sausage was 170.  I know the hot dog was less but what is really in a hot dog?

Who knew the sausage would be a better choice?  Who knew I would have been off by 110 calories had I not read the package.

My second double take of the day was when I added up all that I ate – one sitting 800 calories.  Yeah so much for self control! Darn those 4 salt potatoes and my Nana’s famous mac salad. 

Today was WI day.  I was down another 1.6!! I am so excited to be at 78.2 pounds lost!  I missed being a Overweight BMI by .2!  I should of pee more!!

Today was also measurement day at bootcamp! I had great numbers.

	4 weeks ago	Today	Change
Arms	13.75	13	-.75
Waist	39	34	-5
Hips	44.25	42	-2.25
Thigh	24	23	-1

Did you take a double take of those numbers?  I did! My trainer actually did the waist 2 times!!!  I knew it was going to be good because Sunday a pair of my new shorts were already too big on me.  I am hope to go shopping this weekend…I can not wait to try that next size down!

you want to lose how much more?…

As soon as you tell some about your weigh loss the conversation sounds something like this:

• Them: wow you look great! How much have you lost?
• Me: Thanks about 75 pounds
• Them: that’s great! How did you do it?
• Me: eating right and working out.  Its great  I love bootcamp!
• Them: How long did it take you to get to your weight off?
• Me: I will let you know when I am done!
• Them: you are still trying to lose more?
• Me: Yes
• Them: how much more do you want to lose?
• Me…hmm umm well ummmm hmmm ???

If I go according to the stupid BMI charts I need to be 154ish to have a normal healthy weight.  But I don’t know how realistic the BMI charts are.  Girls at bootcamp don’t weigh what they should because of the muscle weight they have.

I really would like to be 154ish since that close to the weight of my GF who looks amazing.  The thing is we workout differently.  I don’t know what my body is capable of. 

At some point I need to stop worrying about the scale and use NSV as my deciding factor.  Like I want to be a size 8. I want to run a mile in under 9 minutes.  Of course then I will want to be a size 6 and run a 8 minute mile! ha ha.  I love to change my mind!

So tell me how did you pick your target weight?

Weigh In Day!!

Ladies I rocked the scale today.  I came in at 187.6 for a 3.4 pounds lost- oh and TOM started yesterday!!

I don’t know how it happened last week I was having little binges at night.  Not that I was blowing my calories but I was over 1500 once, mostly in the 1400.  But I was active all week and drank my water! 

I will take it! I have lost 15.2 pounds in 6 weeks that amazing results. 

This puts me at

• 76.2 pounds lost
• 1.8 pounds from a BMI of just overweight
• 3.8 pounds from weighing in less than hubby!

I feel so good.  I am pushing myself harder in my workouts.  tonight I even did the Black KB on the G-squat to press. I wanted to die at the end but I did it. I am just driven right now and I don’t want to lose this drive!

This afternoon I realized a few things about when I started my journey:

• I just wanted to get below 180 and now that is 7.6 pounds away
• I hoped to hit 100 pounds lost that is just 23.8 Pounds away
• I dreamed to get to a normal BMI weight that is 32.8 pounds away.

For the first time the end kind of feels like its near.  Its as if I am on the last mile of my race but I know I have never run this course before.  Each turn can be a surprise and I never know when I will have an uphill battle.  These next 7.6 could be my hardest, the next 23.8 could take a year, the 32.8 may never come.

But I know my work ethic, I know my drive, I know my desire and motivation.  I know how I FEEL!  I know I am in the drivers seat and I have the gas to the floor!  Only I can push myself..My results depend on me. I don’t have a magic pill or a surgery that will make me lose weight. I have just me.  I will get there…..WATCH ME!!!

Tilapia Tacos and some food reviews

 

Sorry this photo was taken by my cell phone quickly because I was so hungry I wanted to dig right in!

This is a great meal!  You only need:

• Taco Shells**
• 1 tilapia fillet per taco
• Romaine lettuce
• Grilled veggies of choice (I used left over asparagus and zucchini)
• Tabouli Salad or (Salsa)
• Southwest Seasoning or Old Goat Lake George Spices

Simply start by seasoning your fish with the seasoning, while your grill heats up.  It’s a thin fish so its best to grill it in a grill pan or George Foramen type grill.  Follow the instructions for heating the taco shell (I put mine in the microwave).

The fish will only take a minute or two on each side.  Then I break up the fish into the taco shell and layer in the lettuce, veggies and top with tabouli.

This has such a light summer taste. its great you have to try it!!

It comes in at about 205 calories, 16g carbs, 7g Fat and 23g Protein

**The taco shells: you could use any thing here! Wraps, soft taco shells. whatever!  I follow a 90-10 rule with my food 90% of the time I eat great 10% I eat to satisfy the fat kristen! lol.  I have been using the El Paso stand n Stuff taco shells.  They taste great and they don’t have too much crap like some other options I saw at the store.  Plus it makes hubby happy!!

Speaking of 90-10 here are some Food reviews I would like to share with you:

Being and Upstate NY I love Buffalo Style anything!  So I had to try these.  They came in at 130 calories per link.  The ingredients were great, nothing I couldn’t pronounce.  They had good taste with a bit of a bite to them.  I liked them they could satisfy a craving for Buffalo sandwich or wings. you can find more info on them here

Then I found these.  They are only 70 calories per link.  I don’t think they had as strong of flavor but I did like them. They also had less fat at 2.5g vs 6g for the one’s above.  This too had good ingredients which can be found here.

I will purchase both again. I think the Thin n trim is a great for dinner or lunch – and to be added to a dish.  If I really wanted a sausage and peppers sandwich I would use the al fresco.

I rec’d several questions about the make your own pizza night.

I used these pizza crusts/shells for our pizza night.  Information can be found here.  It has enriched flour and whole wheat flour – remember that 90-10 rule!!

You get 2 shells per package. but the serving size is jacked up.  One service is 2oz. but one shell is 4.5oz.  so you have to do a bit of math to figure out how much you are eating!  Stupid they should do it per shell or per 1/2 shell not 44% of one.

Well off to bed! enjoy the food!

Its the Great Push (up), Kristen!!!

Most people who know me, know i hate my arms.  Always have but hopefully someday I will say I have accepted them.  My goal for the month is to work on my arm strength and hopefully the side effect will be appearance. 

My trainer gave me some pointer on building strength at home.  Basically i do real push ups really slow going down and then i drop to my knees - get into the pillar position and start over.  I have a problem where i drop my hips while doing this.  The best way to overcome this to build my core strenght.

On Monday (I think -crazy week not sure what today is) Karen at waisting time posted about a plank challenge on fitblog.  So i have decided to do it.

Bootcamp last night gave me the jump start:  2 rounds:  Plank, Side Plank (left), Side Plank (right)  45 second hold on each.  Killer

So by the time July rolls around i hope to have great results to speak of!!

The Lawn Mower story

This is a great story that I am going to tell in order it happened!  its totally not weight loss related but its goofy so enjoy!

After returning from camping last Monday, we realized that the lawn needed to be mowed…..again!  Well everything that could of gone wrong did on Monday.  I told David I would mow the law on Tuesday when I was off.

He looked at me like I was nuts, not believing that I really was going to do it.  He simply told me..the mower needs gas.

I took the gas tank to the gas station and filled it up.  Damn thing spilled in the back of my car.  After getting some of my things done I started mowing a little before 3pm.  This day was crazy hot in the 90’s with humidity.  But I figured it was a great way to tan!  So I put on a strapless top and my bathing suit bottom and headed for the shed!

My mom was here to witness it.

In the dark shed I sat on the mow reading the directions.  I like a good little student first read thru all the directions before taking action. In the 3 years we have had the mow I have never been allowed to mow or even drive it.  Tyler probably knows how!

I got the mower started and out of the shed without breaking anything!  I turned on the PTO/Blades and away I went! See below (warning scary photo below)

Grass clippings were coming out and it wasn’t too bad after I got use to it!  I had a little less then 1/2 the lawn done when I went to back up to get a spot I missed.  And then the mower turned off – Obviously I was out of gas because I hadn’t added it before starting to mow.

As I carried the gas down to the mower David called because Mom had texted the above photo to him.  I had to search for where to even add the gas but rest assured it only took me a moment to figure it out.  That’s when I noticed the tank still had gas? hmm well to be sure I added more gas!  Ugh  I spilled gas everywhere. wtf.

David was in shock that I was mowing!  I double checked where the throttle should be when he asked “How low is the blades?”

Me:What? 

David: you didn’t lower the blades to the yellow arrow??? 

Me Um no its not listed on the directions – WTF???

David: thanks for trying to help but you didn’t mow a thing.

Me: Seriously Double WTF

What was John Deere thinking leaving that off the directions- obviously they know their customers are males and they don’t read!! so it must of saved them some costs on printing!

So I started over –determined to mow!  Thank god I was doing the backyard so nobody would notice lol!

Every time I tried to back up the damn thing would stall it was annoying so I just stopped going backwards and did a little u turn when needed.  My u turns became donuts!  As I finished the last 500 sq feet my mom tells me that David called to say: if I need to backup there is a button on the dashboard I have to press.  GRRRRRRR Seriously. 

So I only mowed the back lawn – parts twice! BUT I did get a great tan!

Weigh in

Today was weigh in day after 2 weeks and I was down 3 pounds! That puts me at 191! 

When I am at work I have so many things I want to write about but then I get home and my mind goes blank.  So here are some cool facts:

• 3 pounds lost this weigh in
• 72.8 pounds since I started on January 1, 2010
• I have lost 27.60% of my starting weight
• I have lost 15.8 pounds in 9 weeks
• 82.8 pounds from my highest non-pregnancy weight
• My current BMI is 30.82
• 11.75 decrease in BMI since my 1 Jan 2010 of 42.57
• I am 5.2 pounds from having an “overweight” BMI
• I ran 5.25 miles in under 55minutes on Sunday
• Saturday I went to a party and people didn’t know who I was!
• I really love hockey and this game is annoying me….

I am sorry its not a more exciting post! I would like to hit 185.8 (the weight I need to be considered overweight) by the 4th of July.  Basically I need to lose 1.7 pounds the next 3 weeks each.

The problem is I am getting TOM and Today I just want to eat –CRAP. Its not that I am just having larger portions or extra healthy snacks, we are talking about sniffing out candy dishes at work.  One Reese peanut butter cup, one Reese pieces fun pack and a spoonful of peanut butter on a oreo.  I need to go to bed and forget about this and start fresh tomorrow.

What kind of cravings do you have when you are getting TOM (I am pretty sure I only have female readers!)?  How do you get over them without giving in?  Normally I would have a cup of coffee (Flavored) and that helps me but it was really summer-like today and hot coffee was not appealing.  Maybe I need to starting making iced coffee!!!

Good night

Asian Chicken Slaw

This is the photo that inspired my Asian Chicken Slaw

The recipe can be found here!  I was a bit annoyed that I couldn’t find the nutrition facts.  Most of your calories are going to come from the serving of peanut butter, the 1/2cup of oil and the optional cashews.

I did a quick search and found this giving you a 2 cup serving  for 290calories…it uses a lot less oil, no peanut butter and no nuts.

So here is my version that I made for a graduation party but I have not figured the calories.

Ingredients

• 1 (16-ounce) bag coleslaw mix
• 1 pound cooked chicken, shredded
• 2 cups broccoli florets, I did mine raw
• 1/2 red, orange and yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 bunch thinly sliced scallions
• 1/2 cup chopped cashews and sliced almonds

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup of Rice  vinegar

• 2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon sugar – I used splenda
• 3 cloves garlic, pressed
• 1/2 cup canola oil or EVOO (you can use less)
• 1 tsp of celery salt
• black pepper

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, toss together the coleslaw mix, chicken, broccoli, peppers, nuts and scallions.

2. In a medium bowl, wisk the soy sauce, vinegar, peanut butter, sugar, minced garlic, and seasoning until well blended. Slowly whisk in the canola oil and sesame oil. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.

3. Toss the salad with the dressing.

70 pounds of justification

Do you ever feel like you need to justify your weight loss?  Or that your loss is discredited in some way?
So for starters there are several people I know joining bootcamp next phase.  That’s great for them but my conversations with them is making me uncomfortable.  I think they figure since I did it that anyone can do it.  They expect to lose 70 pounds and have their cake too…..Literally!

I don’t think they understand that I have given up a lot of foods, that I workout more then just bootcamp that I have changed my entire life. 
They are going to do the workouts BUT…..

• They can not do certain exercise – okay steve can handle that
• They don’t want to work like they see the people on the biggest loser.  okay we don’t workout for 8 hours with a trainer yelling in our face but our workouts are no joke.  And seriously your results depend on your actions – how hard you push yourself.
• They are not giving up any foods okay they COULD do moderation if their willpower is strong
• they are not going to count calories
• They are still going to drink beer /wine regularly
• They don’t like veggies, fruits, fish, cottage cheese

So what is going to happen when they don’t get the results? 
When the conversation gets to this point, I don’t know what to say.  I start to feel attacked. 

• Them: “I can not workout ask much as you, you are ridiculous”
• My best response: '”I am just really focused right now”
• Them: I don’t eat a lot of protein I really love carbs and whole wheat pasta doesn’t count
• My best response: Nutrition is a given take – I have my vice (choc) but I do my best to make the right choice 90% of the time

THEN there are people in my life that have had gastric.  They tell people about all the workouts they are doing and how they eat and what success they have had.  but then the leave off that they had the surgery.  WTF I don’t get it.  They had surgery to lose weight so they are going to lose weight weather or not they are in the gym.  So what I don’t get is why are they having the surgery if they can now eat right and workout?  they should of just gotten of their ass and done it before.  am I missing something? 
Seriously if you have any insight please tell me.  I have worked hard for these 70 pounds.  I shouldn’t have to justify it.

It’s like riding a bike……

Sorry its been so long for an update! I am not off the wagon honest! I was camping!  One thing I noticed that old habits can come back fast.

As a tradition we stopped at the best restaurant in the world on the way up but instead of ordering the traditional hot roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes and extra gravy I had a grilled chicken sandwich with cottage cheese.  Okay this weekend will not be a problem:

Then came the m&M cookies, smores, pulled pork, amazing summer salads, ice cream, pistachios and I don’t know what else.  Saturday I hit over 2K in calories, sunday I think I was at 1700.  I was just plain bad with larger then normal portions and a sneak treat here and there

But like riding a bike it was easy to get on track.  Once home upped my water, stopped eating anything processed again and just gained control of myself.  Boy at tuesdays bootcamp did I sweat that shit out of me!  ugh.

While camping I was active with going for walks, and both Saturday and Sunday morning I ran 4.79miles in about 52minutes.  Tuesday when we got home I ran 2 miles then worked in the garden for 90 minutes and then that night went to bootcamp for a hell of a workout!

This was the recap of my 4.79 run:

As you can see in the photo above I did get a bike ride in too!  I have not rode my bike in close to maybe 6 or 7 years???  the tire always looked flat when my big ass was on the bike.  and really that seat didn’t feel good no matter how much fat I had.  But with all the camping we have planned this summer and my new active lifestyle I asked for a baby carrier for xmas.

She has that excited but nervous look on her face!!  I know she was thinking..mommy you really should go for a ride without me first!

But we took the bull by the horns and off we went on a family ride!

it took some getting use to.. if she moved around it would throw the balance off. but in the end she didn’t want to get off the bike!

We are totally going for more!!!

No weigh this week, I am off from work till tomorrow but I am going to weight till next Monday to get back on track!