It's been more than a minute since my last post, but I wanted to share that as of today, October 25, 2012, I have lost 100 pounds! This is such a milestone for me and something I couldn't have imagined would have happened a little over a year ago.
It has been hard work and sacrifice, but so worth it!!
No carbs, no sugar, no butter, no oil.... Sounds like no fun. To be honest, sometimes it wasn't. However, I continued on my path and now only have another 20 or so to lose before I will be where I need to be for my height, etc...
We are traveling back to TN for Thanksgiving and I am excited to see family and friends. Some I haven't seen in 2 years.
Of course this is a recipe blog, so I need to share our new fall favorite. We have had two variations within the past week and love them both!
Spaghetti Squash Primavera and Spaghetti Squash Spinach "Alfredo"
-The basic preparation is you take a spaghetti squash, clean out the seeds, spray lightly with cooking spray, season with pepper and whatever seasonings you prefer (we have done an Italian blend and just pepper and dried basil). Place on a baking sheet at 400 degrees for 40-50 minutes.
-Once fork tender you loosen the "strands" of spaghetti and mix with steamed veggies (we did zuchinni, yellow squash, and fennel) and very low sugar marinara or homemade marinara. Place in a baking dish and place back in the oven for another 10 minutes so all flavors can combine.
My husband adores pasta and he loved this dish. The texture is more al dente' than pasta but still very good!
The spinach "Alfredo" variation is the same method as above but uses what I like to call the "lazy wife" approach. I took frozen boxed creamed spinach that is very low in calories, sugar, and fat cooked per the instructions and mixed together with the spaghetti squash. It also turned out really good.
Though there is minimal sugar, fat, and carbs it has not effected my losses and has made up for the pasta craving I was having!
On to the next 20-25 pounds!!
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Weeks 15-18 Re-Cap!
I am waaaayyyyy behind on posts! Lots has been going on since my last post. The scale and tape measure are still showing losses, so I am a happy girl.
I was just 3lbs shy of my 60lb goal when I went home last week. I was a little disappointed, but losing the amount of weight I did was still reason to celebrate enough! The trip was good. I loved seeing family and friends and being able to cheat just a little while home. However, I am right back on track so I can keep up with reaching my next goal by the end of the year (100 lbs! eek!).
This is day 129 on the diet. I have lost 79 inches and 60lbs.
People are really starting to take notice now. I had two physicians tell me they could really tell I had lost a substantial amount of weight. One even called me skinny!
I think once I hit my main goal, I will see it and feel it. I do have to admit that putting on my costume for the party last weekend was the first time I realized I am smaller than I was when I started this transformation in July.
The positive reinforcement and buying smaller and smaller sizes is awesome motivation. In order to be at my ideal weight, once I lose the next 40lbs, I will have another 22lbs to lose. Depending on how I look and feel will determine if I push through to the next goal. I still have a ways to go until though!
I was just 3lbs shy of my 60lb goal when I went home last week. I was a little disappointed, but losing the amount of weight I did was still reason to celebrate enough! The trip was good. I loved seeing family and friends and being able to cheat just a little while home. However, I am right back on track so I can keep up with reaching my next goal by the end of the year (100 lbs! eek!).
This is day 129 on the diet. I have lost 79 inches and 60lbs.
People are really starting to take notice now. I had two physicians tell me they could really tell I had lost a substantial amount of weight. One even called me skinny!
I think once I hit my main goal, I will see it and feel it. I do have to admit that putting on my costume for the party last weekend was the first time I realized I am smaller than I was when I started this transformation in July.
The positive reinforcement and buying smaller and smaller sizes is awesome motivation. In order to be at my ideal weight, once I lose the next 40lbs, I will have another 22lbs to lose. Depending on how I look and feel will determine if I push through to the next goal. I still have a ways to go until though!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Goal!
Well, at least I have reached my first large goal! Today I surpassed my 50lb goal and have lost a total 0f 51lbs!!!
I was too excited to wait for the end of the week to post this!!!! I have 9lbs left before I head to Memphis in 16 days!
I was too excited to wait for the end of the week to post this!!!! I have 9lbs left before I head to Memphis in 16 days!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Week 13 and 14 Re-Cap!
Last week was crazy busy! I didn't have time for much of anything. So this week is a combined post for the past two weeks.
In week 13 I lost 3lbs and 3 inches. This week I lost 2lbs and 5.25 inches. Thus far I have lost 49lbs and 70.5 inches!!!
I am 11lbs away from my October 26th goal. Today is day 101 on the diet. We were asked at church this weekend to take part in a 40 day weight loss challenge. This is to help raise money for the World Health ministry for a village in Guatemala. November 19th we will all report our losses. For each pound lost a dollar will be donated to help feed the children in the village. So, I am motivated to keep it going!
I did a 5k for the American Cancer Society today. It was fun spending time with others trying to make a difference for breast cancer patients! I know that even 6 months ago I wouldn't have had the stamina for it. Today it was, dare I say it....easy. I felt like I could have kept going!!
Hopefully I will see continued losses! I am loving the results. I finally broke down and bought some new jeans 2 sizes smaller than the current size I had. I have lost between 5-6 sizes already!!!
17 more days until I arrive in Memphis!!! I cannot wait!
In week 13 I lost 3lbs and 3 inches. This week I lost 2lbs and 5.25 inches. Thus far I have lost 49lbs and 70.5 inches!!!
I am 11lbs away from my October 26th goal. Today is day 101 on the diet. We were asked at church this weekend to take part in a 40 day weight loss challenge. This is to help raise money for the World Health ministry for a village in Guatemala. November 19th we will all report our losses. For each pound lost a dollar will be donated to help feed the children in the village. So, I am motivated to keep it going!
I did a 5k for the American Cancer Society today. It was fun spending time with others trying to make a difference for breast cancer patients! I know that even 6 months ago I wouldn't have had the stamina for it. Today it was, dare I say it....easy. I felt like I could have kept going!!
Hopefully I will see continued losses! I am loving the results. I finally broke down and bought some new jeans 2 sizes smaller than the current size I had. I have lost between 5-6 sizes already!!!
17 more days until I arrive in Memphis!!! I cannot wait!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Slow Cooker Lasagna (Non-HCG recipe)
Thank Betty Crocker for this one! Though hubby hasn't had any yet, it smells wonderful! It's still bubbling away in my crock pot....
1lb Italian Sausage
1 28oz can of tomato puree + 1 can water
1 28oz can of crushed of chopped tomato +1 can water
1-2 tsp grated garlic
1-2 TBSP Italian Seasoning
1-2 TBSP Balsamic Vinegar
1 medium onion chopped
1 large container small curd fat free cottage cheese
1 large or 2 16oz containers part skim ricotta cheese
1 container grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1 package flat lasagna noodles
In a large skillet or stock put sweat the chopped onion with 1 tbsp olive oil. When onions are translucent, add the Italian sausage (taken out of casing). Brown until cooked through then drain the fat from the sausage. Add the tomato puree, crushed tomato, and 2 cans water. Add the seasonings and balsamic. Simmer sauce while preparing other ingredients.
In a bowl mix the ricotta, cottage cheese, and Parmesan.
In the slow cooker begin by adding the sauce to the bottom of the pot. Then add a layer of noodles (do not cook them first). Next add a layer of the cheese mixture. Follow this by a layer of sauce and repeat. Cook for 4 hours. Add the mozzarella in the last 5 minutes of cooking to the top. Not all of the two cups needs to be used unless you like it really, really cheesy!!!!
1lb Italian Sausage
1 28oz can of tomato puree + 1 can water
1 28oz can of crushed of chopped tomato +1 can water
1-2 tsp grated garlic
1-2 TBSP Italian Seasoning
1-2 TBSP Balsamic Vinegar
1 medium onion chopped
1 large container small curd fat free cottage cheese
1 large or 2 16oz containers part skim ricotta cheese
1 container grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1 package flat lasagna noodles
In a large skillet or stock put sweat the chopped onion with 1 tbsp olive oil. When onions are translucent, add the Italian sausage (taken out of casing). Brown until cooked through then drain the fat from the sausage. Add the tomato puree, crushed tomato, and 2 cans water. Add the seasonings and balsamic. Simmer sauce while preparing other ingredients.
In a bowl mix the ricotta, cottage cheese, and Parmesan.
In the slow cooker begin by adding the sauce to the bottom of the pot. Then add a layer of noodles (do not cook them first). Next add a layer of the cheese mixture. Follow this by a layer of sauce and repeat. Cook for 4 hours. Add the mozzarella in the last 5 minutes of cooking to the top. Not all of the two cups needs to be used unless you like it really, really cheesy!!!!
Butternut Squash Mash
Though I love sweet potatoes. Sadly, these are not a HCG friendly food. Butternut squash is a low glycemic food approved for the modified OWL diet.
I have been playing around with the texture of this food and found it to be a good substitute for a potato.
Our local Walmart Neighborhood store carries fresh, steam in a bag, cubed butternut squash. Otherwise, have fun chopping and peeling and cubing it yourself :)
1 bag of the cubed steam in bag butternut squash
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon splenda
4-8 sprays of non-calorie spray butter (I Cannot Believe It's Not Butter or equivalent)
Microwave the squash for 3 to 4 minutes. Add squash to skillet and mix in cinnamon, splenda, and spray butter. Cook with 1/4 cup water to further soften. Mash with a potato masher or add directly to food processor and blend until smooth. Soooo good!
I have been playing around with the texture of this food and found it to be a good substitute for a potato.
Our local Walmart Neighborhood store carries fresh, steam in a bag, cubed butternut squash. Otherwise, have fun chopping and peeling and cubing it yourself :)
1 bag of the cubed steam in bag butternut squash
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon splenda
4-8 sprays of non-calorie spray butter (I Cannot Believe It's Not Butter or equivalent)
Microwave the squash for 3 to 4 minutes. Add squash to skillet and mix in cinnamon, splenda, and spray butter. Cook with 1/4 cup water to further soften. Mash with a potato masher or add directly to food processor and blend until smooth. Soooo good!
Week 12 Re-Cap! Also end of round #2!
I have successfully completed two 43 day rounds on the HCG diet. Today is day #87. Thus far have lost 44lbs and 61.25inches. I made up for the stall last week and then some! I lost 4.5inches this week alone. Exciting stuff to still see the scale move and the measuring tape get smaller.
The count down to Memphis is on as tomorrow is the 30 day mark! I am really looking forward to seeing family and friends. I still another 16lbs to go. I am participating in a breast cancer 5k in October and looking forward to breaking in my Vibram Sprint barefoot shoes that I got for a steal on Amazon for only 44 dollars and some change with shipping! They will be here Tuesday!
Other than that, the next big deal is confirming my measurements for my custom costume I have already ordered. I have another 2 inches to lose to be in the size I want. So I am hoping to see those last 2 inches leave this week in preparation for the final "weigh-in" prior to ordering!
Here goes nothing.....
The count down to Memphis is on as tomorrow is the 30 day mark! I am really looking forward to seeing family and friends. I still another 16lbs to go. I am participating in a breast cancer 5k in October and looking forward to breaking in my Vibram Sprint barefoot shoes that I got for a steal on Amazon for only 44 dollars and some change with shipping! They will be here Tuesday!
Other than that, the next big deal is confirming my measurements for my custom costume I have already ordered. I have another 2 inches to lose to be in the size I want. So I am hoping to see those last 2 inches leave this week in preparation for the final "weigh-in" prior to ordering!
Here goes nothing.....