back into cooking mode!

Hi everyone!!! I've been M.I.A again lately, just due to being busy with work and tired once I get home from the gym...so in this blog i'll have not one but TWO new recipes I have tried out from my Weight Watchers Cookbook!

The first one is a breakfast dish, although I fixed it for dinner (I, for one, am partial for breakfast for dinner!)...Whole Grain French Toast was super easy, and most importantly super tasty! here is the recipe for my version of WW French Toast:

* 1 cup 2% milk
* 3/4 cu fat-free egg substitute (I used the All White brand, its ZERO WW points!)
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* pinch of salt
* 8 slices whole grain bread (I used Whole Grains Health Nut) 

1. Whisk together milk, egg sub, vanilla, cinnamon and salt in a shallow bowl, while generously spraying skillet with non stick spray and setting on medium heat.
2. Dip bread, one slice at a time into milk mixture, turning to coat on each side. Cook until well browned, about 4-5 min per side, spraying griddle if needed between batches.

2 slices = 1 serving which is 8 points! serve this with some Jennie-O turkey sausage (about 2oz per patty) and you have a 10 point meal!! This recipe is set for a serving of 4.

 You can use a variety of different types of breads and add nutmeg and/or pumpkin pie spice to change up point values/flavor for your needs...but this is a definite fave now!!

The next dish I have made recently happens to be my new favorite, and if you love Thai/Indian food you'll likely love this...its Spicy Chicken Curry with Rice and it has a creamy sauce that you wouldn't think would be low cal...but it is!

* 2 garlic cloves, peeled
* 1/2 teaspoon of salt
* 1 tablespoon of canola oil 
* 1 onion (WW calls for 2 red onions, I used 1 Vidalia and that was plenty)
* 2 teaspoons of minced peeled fresh ginger (a new cooking experience for me!)
* 1 tablespoon curry powder
* 7 ozs of cooked skinless, boneless chicken breats
* 1 cup reduced sodium chicken broth/stock
* 1/3 cup plain low fat yogurt (I used vanilla greek yogurt, and the vanilla flavor actually balanced out the spiciness some!)
 * fresh cilantro leaves
* 2 cups hot cooked brown rice

1. With side of large knife, mash garlic with salt on cutting board until it forms a paste (another first for me)
2. Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat, add onions and cook, stirring until softened (about 5 min). Add garlic paste, ginger and curry powder; cook, stirring, until fragrent and transfer to bowl.
3. Add remaining 1 teaspoon of oil to skillet. Add chicken and cook, turning until lightly browned (about 4 min per side). Add broth and onion mixture; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer while covered until chicken is cooked through. Transfer chicken to platter and keep warm.
4. Bring pan liquid to a boil over high heat; boil until reduced by half (about 8 min). Remove skillet from heat and whisk in yogurt until blended. Spoon sauce over chicken and sprinkle with cilantro, all over rice.

My recipe serves about 3 people, and the WW points for this is only 6 (and this is including the rice split evenly 3 ways)

This is definitely my new favorite thing that I have made from the cookbook, its very flavorful, without being super spicy...highly recommend trying this one out!

I hope you guys enjoy these dishes if you try them out, now that I am at the maintenance stage of WW, I get 32 points to use through the day, which is nice. I usually try to stay below 32 but its nice now to have a little leeway! I am currently holding steady around 130lb which I am extremely happy with, never thought I would see that number again...I can tell I have built up more muscle as well, my split mile pace time has improved 2 minutes since I first started WW, I went from around a 10:45-11:30 min mile to a 9:10-10:30 mile...hopefully I can keep that up and kick my Cooper River Bridge Run time from 2012 out of the water!

catching up and maintaining goals...

Howdy folks, long time no blog, I know! We were on the go every weekend in April due to bachelor/bachelorette parties, weddings and brief visits to see family...so needless to say I haven't had the greatest opportunity to keep you guys up to date on my weight loss journey...

So, as of today I have lost approx 23-25 pounds, I say approx because I have gotten to that plateau point where I fluctuate between a couple of pounds here and there...BUT I am at the ideal range I want to be, so that is all that matters. The biggest hurdle the past couple of months has been staying on track while going to weddings where delicious food and adult beverages were definitely had. 

The best way I came about this was changing my 'cheat' day to Saturdays instead of Fridays, where all the activity points I aquired through the week could be used...and I still ate and drank within reason...thankfully a lot of wedding food is smaller portioned so it was easy to keep things portion controlled! (Even though I did have one big cheat, some delicious mac and cheese from The Pit in Raleigh for one friends wedding). 

I should have more to report than just this, but due to being so busy, I really haven't gotten the chance to try out as many new and healthy recipes or any new workout routines. Jordan just started Weight Watchers Monday, so I am excited to help him work through the program and work on trying some new Weight Watchers Cookbook meals with him now that our schedule has relaxed some. 

Oh, and now that I have hit my goal, I suppose its time for a 'before and after' shot, so that is how I will end things for the evening :)

 September 2012                                                   May 2013

Pizza! Pizza!

Tonight for dinner, we made our healthy pizza for dinner...and it looked so tasty coming out of the oven I took a picture and decided to post yet another recipe for you guys to try!! (I know, 2 in a row...that's a lot from me hahaha)





What you'll need for Chicken Jalapeno Pizza:

- 1 can of Pillsbury Artisan Whole Grain Pizza dough

- half a can of Hunts tomato sauce

- Oregano and Italian seasons to your taste (in sauce)

- 1 chicken breast - grilled and cut

- jalapenos - to your preference 

- mushrooms - to your preference

- 1/4 to 1/2 cup of 2% fat shredded mozzarella cheese

* you can add whatever veggies you like to your pizza, I just add jalapenos and mushrooms for kick and flavor, and I like them...you can put onions, red peppers, etc...as long as its a veggie its a go!

pre-heat your oven to 400 and bake to the instructions on the can (takes about 8-10min)

For you Weight Watcher peeps, this runs about 8 pts for 2 slices, and its pretty filling esp if you put a lot of chicken on it. 

Hope you enjoy this one, its as tasty as some take out pizzas, and a lot better for you!

Comfort Food can be Healthy...and Tasty!

So my interwebz friends, this blog will be dedicated to recipes (I know finally...). This recipe I found in my trusty Weight Watchers Cookbook, its called Stuffed Cheddar Burgers...and before you ask the question 'but Kim, aren't burgers generally full of fat and calories?'

Burgers are only as bad for you as the way you make them and the ingredients you use!! 

This recipe is a 2 fer, its super easy to make and its healthy :) All you need is the following:

1 lb of lean ground Bison (or 93% lean ground beef...I used beef)

1 small Vidalia onion - finely chopped

1/2 cup of reduced shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/8 teaspoon of black pepper

1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce

4 English Muffins (I used whole grain Thomas' English Muffins)

and any healthy toppings you wish to use, lettuce, mustard, mustard, tomatoes, etc.

finely chop onion and mix into the meat, along with the salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce and divide into four evenly separated patties. Make a small indention into each burger in the middle and place shredded cheese, then pinch the meat close to seal in the cheese and cook on medium high on the stove until done to your preference...and that is it!

If you are doing Weight Watchers, this recipe comes in at around 8 points per burger, and quiet filling ..I know the picture isn't the greatest, but it does taste better than it may look!

I will be posting some more recipes in the near future...as well as the usual in ways in tips, info and thoughts! Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend!

20 lb Milestone!!!

I normally don't like to brag about things, just not in my personality, but to me, this is a pretty big accomplishment, especially given the time I have been doing Weight Watchers, which will be 3 months at the end of the week...

20 lbs in 3 months...I thought it was going to take a lot longer than that, but I have been pleasantly surprised...by myself and my motivation to stick with it (well that part I am not surprised by, I am someone that never gives up at anything)...but I am proud of myself that I hardly cheated, I stuck to my guns when sticking to eating healthy food (although I did allow myself a few weekends when we would go up to Raleigh...I mean come on, its pretty darn hard to resist a Bojangles Cajun Filet Biscuit!!!!!) 

Having a good support system has also been key, Jordan has been very supportive and helpful, especially when it came to getting my occasional lazy butt out the door those nights after work I didn't want to go to the gym...and my healthy eating has rubbed off on him (cutting out soda and eating out as much) ...I have come to learn a big part of weight loss is a good support system, find someone whether it be your significant other, a parent, a friend, hell even your dog you talk too, someone that can help you keep check with yourself, and you the same with them...it makes it that much easier...and even more fun!!!

so here are a few other tips that's helped me get down from 156 to 136...

- portion control, portion control, portion control
       * you may think that whole wheat, whole grain spaghetti is good for you, but if you eat a heaping bowl full, your just going into carb overload, which all those extra carbs will just turn into flabby flab flab. 

- its ok to have a beer or two (ok maybe 3) or a soda if it only happens once every few weeks
       *  if you're like me, you like sweets, beer or wine (mmmmmwhitewine), mac and cheese is my absolute fave...so its ok to have this all in moderation. A 4 oz pour of wine is fine, and in fact the suggested serving (dont let those bigger glasses full you...but I know its soooo good)...as long as you keep yourself in check the rest of the week, exercise and only eat the bad stuff in moderation, you'll be ok

- lean protein = lean body
     * this one wasn't very hard to me to get used to, I already had a protein rich diet with a variety of meats from chicken, lean beef and deer (venison) beef is really the only one you have to watch out for since it does have more fat than other types of meat...I also learned to love canned salmon. Jordan and I came whipped up a pretty good Salmon Burger recipe that I will share at some point. 

- learning to love your blender...its not just for looking pretty on your counter
     * this is one that I am just getting into, and thanks to Pinterest I have found some good protein shake recipes on there to try. I buy a jug of Whey Protein (I have vanilla now, but any flavor works) and mix it with Almond milk (loooooooove almond milk, rather have it than milk, and my allergies thank me too), some greek yogurt, almond butter (another new found love) and other yummy flavors to taste...but remember do all of these within moderation..I usually just put the suggested serving of each and blend with some ice, makes for a good breakfast, and leaves me pretty satisfied through lunch. 

- getting the tush to the gym (well more than I was)
     * I was going to the gym frequently before hand, doing upper and lower body weights and some sort of cardio. I noticed before eating better that I as much as I would work out, I wasn't losing anything really, but I wasn't gaining weight. I've learned that exercise is really just a supplement to helping maintain a healthy weight and eating better...losing weight and being healthier is primarily all diet, about 80%, exercise makes up for about the other 20% give or take.

I hope these tips have been helpful, I hope soon to get some recipes up soon for you guys to try!

Til next time friends!!!

Weight Loss or Bust...Out of My Jeans

You'll probably notice that some of my previous posts are from a few years back (back when I started this blog for different reasons) but I figured there was no reason to start a brand new blog from scratch, but rather 'revamp' this blog up for something I have become quite passionate about since the new year, which is eating better and working out more (well more than I was.)

First off, one could say prior to Dec 29, 2012 I wasn't what you would consider big, or even overweight, thankfully I am kind of tall (5'6'' for those wondering), and I have always been active, even while in college.
In high school I weighed about 136-137 lbs in my later years, I played softball and basketball and lifted weights just about year round...and also ate food that I probably shouldn't have. But, when you are 14-18 years old, you can still eat just about anything if you are working out and running a lot like I was, so never was an issue. Once in college, I never really gained the 'Freshman 15' like most do, in fact I lost weight (thanks mono, and later a ton of stress due to various situations going on in my life). It wasn't until 2005-2006 until I started to gain weight...which was also after I turned 21. Granted, I did not drink a ton, but considering I hardly drank at all before, it was more than I was used too. I also wasn't stressed to the point where I couldn't eat, so I was eating more. I went from weighing around 125 the summer of 2005 to be around 150 lbs at the end of my senior year of college, which was December of 2006. I could tell in pictures, esp in my face I had gained weight. So after I moved back home after graduation, I cut out sodas and ate generally better than I was and got back down into the 140's, which wasn't awful.

I moved to Oklahoma for a meteorology job January 2009, and had maintained my weight fairly well. Once I got out there, I was on my own when it came to cooking and all, so generally I just fixed what I knew, mac and cheese, green beans and chicken/beef/deer...or something similar, plus biscuits, because a boy I was trying to impress with my cooking skills liked biscuits (and he still likes them to this day ;) ) but I digress...I gradually gained some weight while I lived out there, I drank a bit more, we always went to a bar for a beer or two after softball practice on Sundays, and I learned to love wine even more.

To make a long story short, by the time I moved back to South Carolina (October 2011) I was around 145-150lbs, I ran and went to the gym regularly and continued to do so once I moved back. I noticed my jeans were getting tighter on me around last summer, and I didn't look as flattering in my bathing suits either. I was beginning to get frustrated as I was running a lot (had ran a 10k last spring and kept up with running and weight lifting) and I was eating better and not drinking as much except on weekends and only have 1-3 drinks at most...but I wasn't loosing weight, in fact by last fall I was up to 156 lbs (thankfully I am one of those girls that isn't afraid to tell you her weight) I decided to be proactive finally at the new year, I saw a commercial for Weight Watchers where you could join for free and try it for 3 months. I decided to try that for my New Years Resolution. It cost about $50 or so dollars for 3 months which I thought was reasonable, and on top of already going to the gym figured it may be what I needed...

and boy was it, I lost 4 lbs the first week and have averaged about 1.5-2lbs a week since...which means in almost 3 months I've lost close to 20 lbs, at 137 lbs right now...which I haven't been since college...and actually that 137 lbs wasn't the in shape 137lbs it is right now. I've learned through this process that it wasn't the food that I was eating was bad, it was my portion size was, I was eating way more than I should have (which is what most peoples problems are) so now I know that everything in moderation really is key, and with WW you are able to still eat real food.

With this blog I hope to share with you recipes I've come up with during my journey to healthy living, struggles I've came across, interesting articles and whatever random things may go on in my life. I hope to whoever reads this, its of some sort of help or inspiration to you...and I hope to share some tasty treats as well...because lets face it, growing up in the south, its hard not to enjoy tasty things every once in awhile :)

til next time healthy friends :)

Staring Down the Barrel...

So, as some of you know, there was a major tornado outbreak in Oklahoma last week, May 24th, 2011...and I was staring down the barrel of a tornado for the first time. Well not really the first time, I've been chasing before, and even had one develop over my head when I was leaving work last year...but this was the first time the actual place where I live was under the gun to actually get hit dead on by a major tornado.

I had to work all day during the outbreak, which didnt start until around 2PM central...I had a bad feeling all day and once those storms started firing, I just wanted to go home and see what was going on tv.  By 4:30 storms started to develop down near Chickasha, which is usually not the greatest for Norman since most storms track NE from there, and I was really getting ancy and didnt want to be at work...they finally gave us the option at 4:45 if we wanted to leave we could, so I left, went home and changed and turned on the tv and this is what I saw heading for here...

as you can see the hook and debris ball were heading straight for southeast Norman, which is where I work and live...needless to say I have never, ever been scared by a storm, but I was this time and decided to go back to work for shelter in case it came since those buildings and the National Weather Center are much studier...for the first time ever I walked out of my apartment thinking I may not see it the same way when I came back. I got to work and the first siren went off for the first storm that passed north of Norman, then about 30 in later the second siren went off and luckily the tornado roped out (dissipated) less than 5 miles before it got to NWC/work/my apartment...we lucked out and had all our angels looking over us that day, the Norman bubble struck again, but this time, in a very good way