The More I Learn, The Less I Know . . .

I have said this statement more than any other in my life.
And, can I just say, that sometimes TOO MUCH INFORMATION does more damage than good.
There are so many "eating lifestyles" around now, how can a person tell what they should or should not be eating?
This is a topic I've revisited again, and again.
And I've come to a realization.
Since my surgery, I cannot look at food as a non-surgery person looks at food anymore.
I should have had this figured out a year ago, but I didn't.
You see, a year ago, I was still in the mindset that, after healing, I could go back to eating whatever I wanted, only in smaller amounts.
This is a lie that I was telling myself.
Actually, this is a lie that MY ADDICTION was telling me.

Yes. I am an addict.
I am a FOOD ADDICT.
I have talked about this before - several times, I'm sure. But it doesn't sting any less for me to say that out loud.
I am a FOOD ADDICT.
Yep, I had to say it again.

So, here's what I'm learning:

Eating for sleevers is NOT the same as "dieting".
We can no longer be on diets, actually.
We have to eat a certain amount of certain things daily for us to even be able to FUNCTION.
One thing I learned that is NOT a fad diet thing is that the human body requires a certain amount of protein, water, vitamins, and minerals a day in order to function. Without these primary building blocks, our bodies shut down. We become listless, have less energy, and become sick.
Some of what we need:
Protein: 60 g
Water:  64 oz
Calcium: 1000-1200 mg
Iron: 8-18 mg.

There's more, but these are the ones that I found to be the most important to a sleever specifically.
So, what does this mean?
This means we have to eat differently than everyone else on the planet.
Remember when the doctor told you "protein first"?
Yeah. He wasn't joking.
Where are the BEST sources of protein?
Well, here's something else I've learned of the last few days:

The leaner the protein source, the higher the protein count.
REALLY?!
Yes. Really.

For example:

1 whole egg contains 6 g of protein.
1 egg white ALSO contains 6 g of protein.
I can eat a whole egg.
I can also eat TWO egg whites.
So, if I chose the egg whites over the egg, that's 12 g protein vs. 6!!

Here's another example:

1 oz of chicken breast contains 9 g of protein
1 oz of thigh meat contains a mere 4 g!
So, I can eat 3 oz of meat (usually) in a setting, so if I chose the breast over the thigh, I can get in about 27 g of protein - almost HALF of what I need!!

But what about fiber? Vitamins? Minerals??

All-natural gurus won't like this much, but:

SUPPLEMENTS ARE A WLS PATIENT'S BEST FRIEND!

Take your vitamins - DAILY.
If you need it, add a fiber supplement to your diet.
Yes, these vitamins and minerals are VERY IMPORTANT so PLEASE don't pooh-pooh them off!!

SO, now that this blog post has gone on for MUCH longer than I anticipated . . .
I think it's safe to say that I have learned a LOT over the past year.
And I have figured out that it's time that I start over - again.

Remember, kids:

Protein, water, vitamins.
Repeat.
God bless you all,

Made to Crave: The Urge . . .

*Please note that I am in no way affiliated with Lysa TurKeurst or Proverbs 31 Ministries. This is my own work using Lysa's book Made to Crave as reference. Thank you - Jennifer.*   

There's a question that many of us Christians are asked frequently. "How do you grow close to God?"

How would you answer that question?

I'm sure there are a myriad of answers: pray, read scripture, go to church . . . Those are almost a given.
But at the same time, you can go through the motions all you like, and never get close to God.
That's because, as Lysa says, "God can't be reduced to a checklist".
Quite frankly, you cannot get close to God unless you want to.
The one part of the equation that many of us forget to tell is that you have to have a desire to grow close to God: You have to have the urge.
It's exactly the same when it comes to a healthful journey.
If you don't have the urge to change, then change won't come. Period.

Recently my Made to Crave group has been dwindling.
As of right now we are down to less than five women, and possibly even less than that.
This has been discouraging for me.
We've been told more than once, "My heart just isn't in this" or some equivalent.
And that's kind of the point of this post.
These women will not be successful right now because their hearts aren't in it. They don't have the desire. They don't have the urge.
I can't say that I blame them: This is a hard road paved with ugly stones of the past that we have to face and trip over one by one.
I haven't always had the urge myself.
But what's discouraging is that I am led to believe that perhaps these women have been at this for all the wrong reasons.
Perhaps they've just been in this for weight loss alone.
Perhaps they've no intention of making any sacrifices.
Perhaps they're just fearful for some reason or another.
Whatever their reason, I pray that they come back. I pray for them to find their urge.

Something else I would like to throw in here, since we're talking about urges . . .
This weekend I had the biggest urge for chocolate chip cookies.
These are quickly becoming my weakness, because every time I have an urge for them, I bake them.
Then I eat half the batch single handedly, which is what happened yesterday.
Not only did I give in to my own weakness and my own temptation, but I dragged my best friend down with me.
I confess, those cookies tasted REALLY good.
But looking back on it now, the guilt I felt after eating them, and the guilt I felt after my best friend partook (I felt like Eve in the garden, let me tell you!) was SO not worth it!
But this morning, God got me up (by way of my Great Pyrenees).
It was a reminder to do all the things that I promised I would do every morning, and have yet to: read my devotional, pray, write . . . And God led my heart to this today.

Now, I have a project for you guys this week.
I want you all to make a list of the things that you have urges for.
Food, money, sex, television, cars . . . whatever. Then scrutinize it.
Then, rip it up, burn it, crumple it and throw it away, whatever you have to do to get rid of it.
Then make a new list:

Things I Have An Urge For
1. GOD

Because God made us to have urges.
He made us to crave: God, not food.
God bless you all,

Tracking Update

One of the things that I vowed to do this time was track everything. Not necessarily to stick to a certain calorie count, but more to keep track of what I'm eating, what I'm not eating and make decisions and changes based on that.

Last week, my sweet best friend bought me a journal to use as a food tracker.

The first few days, I was a rock star. Then I petered out. Then I stopped.
So, I haven't been great as of today.
But that's okay, because today is a new day, so I can start from scratch and keep it moving.

My goal is to hit 270 by February 10 (my birthday).
As of this Friday (January 20) I was at 278.
I have three weeks to lose 8 lbs in order to reach my goal.

Now, let me be perfectly clear.
This is not a HAVE TO.
The scales do not define me.
My world will not cease to turn if I don't make this goal.
This is just something that I have set for myself in order to keep me motivated and on track. It may not be in God's plan  for me to be 270 that quickly. I may hit 272 or 274, and that's okay too. But I'm going to work to hit that goal so that I can at least say that I worked hard for it.

In about three weeks I will be 36 years old.
Weather I make goal or not, I will still weigh less on my birthday than I have for the last five years.
And that's something to celebrate.

God bless you all!

Weight Update, And a Question Answered

I was getting frustrated and discouraged because I had gained so much weight over the holidays. But as of this morning, I am back down below 280. 278 to be exact. I was so excited to see that number this morning - that was just the motivation I needed to stay on track.

I've had a lot of people ask me what plan I'm on, am I using any pills or surgery?

The answer is quite simple, really: diet and exercise.

No secret plans, no secret pills, no going under the knife. Just diet and exercise, plain and simple.

A typical day for me looks like this:

Breakfast: Breakfast flatbread made with one egg, one cup spinach, two slices canadian bacon, 1 foldable flatbread, 1 slice reduced-fat cheese
Post-workout snack: banana
Lunch: Spinach salad with light vinagarette, craisans, almonds, and sliced grilled chicken
PM Snack: Carrots and Almonds
Dinner: roasted chicken, roasted vegetables, roasted potatoes
Bedtime Snack: Almonds and Light Beer
Exercise: 45 Minute Pilates workout

Now, there's not a whole lot of carbs in there, but it's not low-carb. There's not a whole lot of sugar, but it's low-sugar. The point is, eat lots of the good stuff (veggies, fruit, meat) and eat the not-so-good things in moderation. And the workout isn't killer either.

I keep a food journal so that I know what I've eaten, and so that I can look back if I have a gain and say "oh, THAT'S why" and figure out what I need to change. It's all about finding what works and sticking with it.

Gimmicks, fads, pills . . . Don't work. Or, at best, they're a temporary solution to a permanent issue. It HAS to be - and I can't stress this enough - a complete lifestyle change.

That's the only thing that will work.

God bless you all!

So, that's it. That's what I'm doing.

Made To Crave: "Made for More"

*Please note that I am in no way affiliated with Lysa TurKeurst or Proverbs 31 Ministries. This is my own work using Lysa's book Made to Crave as reference. Thank you - Jennifer.*  

Lately, my Made to Crave study group has been on hiatus. My sweet, amazing mother-in-law, Linda, and my father-in-law, Ray, are on a SANMA mission trip to India. We are so proud of them and are praying every day for their safe return. But until then, MtC is slightly on hold. I didn't realize how much I really needed this group before this, honestly. 

Lately I've been back and forth. I'll have a fantastic day, I'll have a horrible day. I'll have a day that starts off rocking, and ends up stinking. I suppose that's normal for everyone, really. It won't always be sunshine and roses, but then it won't always been wind and rain either.  But sometimes, especially lately, it's discouraging. I'll "give in" then think: "well, I messed THAT up" then proceed to eat the remainder of anything tasty in the house.   I forget one very important little detail. This - this brownie, pop tart, cookie, chip, whatever. THIS is not my purpose in life. God didn't create me for this. He didn't create me to be a poor miserable fat slob sitting on my recliner crying into my lucky charms as I watch The Biggest Loser for the millionth time. No, He didn't. He created me to be an amazing, strong woman for Christ. He created me for His pleasure, for His glory.

As Lysa says in Chapter 4, I am made for more.

I am made to be a wife, mother, friend, daughter, cousin, sister, writer, minister, Child of God.  And in order to be that - the full potential of what God wants from me - I have to learn to ask. I have to learn to ask day to day, hour to hour, moment to moment. In order to reach my full potential, I have to stop focusing on the food, and start focusing on the Lord. 

I am Jennifer, and I am made for more. 

We are all made for more.

We are made to crave God, not food.

God bless you all,

Made to Crave: Having a Journey Partner . . .

*Please note that I am in no way affiliated with Lysa TurKeurst or Proverbs 31 Ministries. This is my own work using Lysa's book Made to Crave as reference. Thank you - Jennifer.* 

Do YOU F*R*O*G?

fully rely on God

I have tried to make it a point to stay away from certain words . . .
Ahem . . . Diet
I call it a journey instead.
I like to think of this process as kind of a road trip, if you will.
I am on the road to better health and an improved closeness with God.
And, lets face it, road trips are so much better with two.


My "Journey Partner" for the past year has been my best friend - 

We have shared our strengths, weaknesses, struggles and successes.

Laura has been such a value to me through this whole thing, because she can completely empathize with what I'm going through and she has a great ability to be able to push me through when no one else can.

Could I do this without her?

Probably, but I wouldn't want to. 

Alone, I get discouraged and break out the funyun's.

Together, we get discouraged and pray for each other then have a grilled chicken salad.

Alone, I step on the scale and get upset when I gain or don't lose anything.

Together, we remind each other that the purpose of this journey is not about weight, but about God.

Alone, I spend too much on snacks and treats "for the kids".

Together, we help each other avoid that aisle and focus on healthy snacks the entire family can enjoy.

I have another journey partner - my husband. 

He is also there to encourage and guide me when I need it.

And a group of wonderful women at my church: our Made to Crave Girls Bible Study Group.

They are amazing women that I don't know what I would do without.

But beyond Laura, and my husband, and my bible study group . . .

Beyond all that there is one Journey Partner that I have to have, 

One that I have to 100%, fully rely on.

God.

Because, really, this journey is not about me, or weight loss, or my friends or family. This journey is about Him and my relationship with Him. This journey is about me re-focusing all my desire and cravings onto God, not food.

Because we are Made to Crave God, not food.

This week I will be starting a food journal. I won't necessarily be writing down calories or anything like that, but I think that it will be a great tool for me to see what I'm eating and not eating. I would love to hear your personal experiences with food journals! Feel free to comment below and tell me what you think about them!

God bless you all!

You Mean I Have to Plan??

*Please note that I am in no way affiliated with Lysa TurKeurst or Proverbs 31 Ministries. This is my own work using Lysa's book Made to Crave as reference. Thank you - Jennifer.*


One of the reasons I feel Weight Watchers didn't work 100% for me is because of all the planning involved. Every hour of every day you are thinking about food - what I ate, what I didn't eat, what I need to eat, what I'm going to eat today, tomorrow, next week . . . Every . . . Single . . . Moment.

For a food addict, that doesn't work very well.

And yet . . .
You still have to have a plan, right?

Think about it.
When we're battling the enemy in our lives, we have a plan, right?
(the correct answer here is PRAYER)
So why should our battles against our temptations be any less significant or important?

It's important to have a plan of attack.
Even something as simple as: "I won't eat __________"

What I'm learning is that I have to have a plan - a BIG plan.
I don't count calories.
I don't measure portions.
None of that.

My plan is simple:
Eat what God made and eat it in smaller portions.
Exercise daily.
There are four food groups: Protein, Dairy, Plants, Grains
That's it.
Notice what's not on there?
sweetsfatscokesicecreamcakepizzafriedchickenbrowniesthingsicannotevenbegintopronounce

God made food for our bodies for one purpose only - to fuel us so that we can better serve Him.

I have had many, many complex plans in the past.
None of them worked.
Why?
Because they focused on the one thing that was taking me away from God - food.
My new plan focuses on God, not food.
Because I am a Jesus girl and I am made to crave God, not food!

God Bless you all!

My Sacrifice

*Please note that I am in no way affiliated with Lysa TurKeurst or Proverbs 31 Ministries. This is my own work using Lysa's book Made to Crave as reference. Thank you - Jennifer.*

Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. 

1 Corinthians 10:23

When it comes to this journey there's one thing I've noticed about myself. 

I don't make any sacrifices when it comes to my eating.

This is a problem, especially for someone trying to renew a spiritual relationship with God.

The fact is, weather we like it or not, we have to make some sort of sacrifice in order to be truly close to the Lord. Weather it be drugs, alcohol, money, or sex - no one questions the sacrifice of these things in their daily lives. But people do question the sacrifice of food.

John tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:23 that "everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial". 

Everything is permissible. 

But NOT everything is beneficial.

Yes, there has to be sacrifices made. 

I have made a list of things that I will and won't do when it comes to this journey. It's interesting, now that I look at it, how many things I haven't been willing to sacrifice - not only in food, but in behavior. For example, I was not willing to sacrifice my little "safe" indulgences (100 calorie packs, to be specific). Sure, one is okay, once in a while. But three or four daily? See where I'm going with this?

Christ made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. Before he did this, he told his followers that they would also have to make sacrifices to follow him. For some that was money (Zacchaeus). For others, sex (Mary Magdalene). For others, power (John). What is that sacrifice for you? For me, it's the unhealthy foods that have ruled my life for the past 35 years.

Here is my revised list:

I Will . . .

 . . . Pay attention to what I eat, and rely on foods that are beneficial to my body for fuel.

 . . . Take and eat smaller portions of anything unhealthy and eat larger portions of foods that are healthy.

 . . . Not indulge myself on a regular basis (weekly) - only in small amounts on special occasions.

 . . . only weigh myself once every 10 days (I was an every-day weigh person).

 . . . Fully rely on God and make daily sacrifices in His honor.

God bless you all,

Made To Crave - Finding Your "Want To"

*Please note that I am in no way affiliated with Lysa TurKeurst or Proverbs 31 Ministries. This is my own work using Lysa's book Made to Crave as reference. Thank you - Jennifer.*


I have a bad case of the "I don't wannas".
I don't wanna clean.
I don't wanna get up out of my nice warm bed.
I don't wanna eat carrots and salad when it's cold outside.
I don't wanna get off my butt and exercise.

I just don't wanna.

That is one of the most challenging parts of changing your eating lifestyle, isn't it?
Let's face it, no matter who I point fingers at, or what failed diet plan I blame, the fact remains:
There's a reason I'm unhealthy, and it's all about me.

I start, I stop. I start, I stop. I start . . . I stop.

I have done:
Atkins, South Beach, the Blood Type Diet, Lean Bodies, Weight Watchers, the Eden Diet, Weight Watchers again, Spark People, fasting, starvation, calorie counting, sugar counting, fat counting . . . The works.
The problem is not that these do not work.
The problem is that I don't have enough will or desire to stick with them.
This is something that I know I have addressed more than a few times on this blog.
Let's face it, this is something that affects me daily.

But here's the thing, my "want to" has, in the past, been tied to the wrong things.
A better body. Looking good. Fitting into a certain size . . .
See where I'm going with this? Vanity. My want to has been tied to my vanity for my entire life.
So what has to change? What do I need to do to change that for me?
I have to realize that it can no longer be about things like size or looks.

The point of this rant?
I am a food addict, plain and simple. My lack of will comes from the same place that a crack addict's or smoker's might come from. This is where there has to be a focus shift.

All of these diet and eating plans didn't work for me because they forced me to think consistantly about the one thing that was taking me away from my God. Food. Food was my golden calf, my idol, my false God. When I was depressed, I turned to brownies, chips, ice cream . . . Did the same thing when I was happy.
I was not turning to God.
Daily my focus was around food: what I was going to eat, what I was eating, what I was going to eat later. I made meal plans, counted points/calories/carbs/etc., scoured cook books and recipe web sites. I spent hours staring at Paula Deen and Rachael Ray on the television. Then I'd look at the scale and wonder why I'd gained a pound that week.

The entire focus of Made To Crave is that God should be the center of our lives, not food. When we search for that will, that desire, that "want to", we need to be searching for that in the Father. Like the song says: "we are weak, but HE is strong".

Jesus told the rich man to give everything away. He told his followers to rebuke their selfishness and  "take up your cross and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). In other words, give up the thing that means more to you than Jesus. For some, that sacrifice is money. For some, drugs or alcohol. But for even more of us, that is food.

Not that we have to stop eating entirely, mind you. That's not the point. The point is that we should re-think how we view food in our lives. Are we replacing God with food? Are we eating when we should be praying? Are we focusing on our meals for the day or on God's grace?

It's certainly something to think about.

Next Week: My Sacrifice

Made To Crave - God, Not Food

It's been a while since I've sat here at the keyboard pouring my heart out for the world to see. For a while there, blogging just got to where it wasn't fun anymore. It became tedious. I became more concerned about followers and readers than about the real reason I started this journey to begin with: ME. So this and my other blog, The SuperMom Blues will both change slightly over the course of the next few months. Thank you for reading, and enjoy.


I longingly stare at the plate of chocolate chip cookies before me. Ooey, gooey goodness. Homemade. From scratch. Still warm from the oven. Calling to me. Beckoning me. Tempting me. I shove the plate away from me, stand up, and grab a banana from the fruit bowl instead. Chocolate chip cookie it ain't, that's for sure. But there's a part of me that is more fulfilled for choosing that banana. The cookies (yes, "-ies": ya' really think I'd only eat one??) would have satisfied for the period of time it would have taken to put them into my mouth, chew them up, and swallow them. Then, the guilt would set in. Almost immediately. "What have I done? I just compromised all that work I did yesterday! I am such a failure."

That's the one phrase that reverbs through my head consistantly through this journey: I am a failure.
But I am NOT a failure.
I am a woman of God. Fearfully and wonderfully made in His image.
Any setback will not define me for the next thirty years. It's what I do AFTER the setback that does.
Do I sit in wallow in my own self pity, depressed because I gave into a moment of weakness? Or do I forget it and move on?

This is the point of the book Made to Crave by Lysa TurKeurst. Well, one of the points, anyway. Lysa points out in her book that we don't have to be imprisoned by our cravings, chained by the choices that face us every day. God made us to crave: HIM. The entire focus is that we shift our cravings from ones for cookies and chips and fried chicken (my weaknesses) to ones for Him using prayer and scripture. And the best part is, in reality, it has less to do with weight loss and food, and everything to do with your spiritual relationship with the Father.

I still crave cookies. I struggle daily. Some days I win, some days the food does. But the bottom line is that with each setback comes opportunity to learn and to grow both emotionally and spiritually.

Beginning this week, I will start a series based on the Made to Crave book. This blog will become my personal journal, for the world to see. I will share my joys, my frustrations, my prayers. I look forward to sharing this journey with you all.

God's blessings,

Reaching Goals, Setting New Ones.

I am pleased to announce that I have finally reached my 5% goal this weekend.
276.6
I don't know the last time I saw that weight, but it sure did feel good to see.

With the reaching of that goal, another one immediately takes its place:
10% or 263.3.

There is another goal that I'm going to be embarking upon this week.
As I was reading my lesson in Made To Crave this week (more on that in tomorrow's post!) I realized something pivotal.
In all the things that I have sacrificed to "get healthy" there's one thing that I have yet to let go of.
Diet sodas.
Now for some people, this isn't a big deal.
For me, however, it is.
I have overcome addiction after addiction in my life: alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes . . .
So this is just one more addiction to let go of.
If I can let this one go, then I know that I can do anything through CHRIST who strengthens me (Phillipians 4:13).
It also reminds me that I need to rely on God for this journey more, not just myself.
I can count, track, walk, run, jump, and scream all I like. But it means nothing without God right there with me.
And I can't do it without him.
Think about your goals. Can YOU reach them without God's help?

Old Demons Die Hard

I have been overweight my entire life.
At least it seems that way.
In school, I was the fat kid.
I was also the weird kid, so I didn't have many friends.
It was a lonely existence.
Don't get me wrong, I did have SOME friends, and the ones I had were great.
But you know a teenagers mind.
The "popular" crowd would often not give me the time of day.
If they did, it was to laugh, point, call names, tease . . .
Not all of them,
But a lot of them.
The ones that didn't just ignored me.
They pretended I didn't exist.

I revisited that old pain, long forgotten last night at my daughter's cheer practice.
All the other mothers were huddled together in one area.
I was alone on the bleachers.
I've tried to approach them before,
But was kind of ignored - blown off.
I'm just not one of them.

You see, they're all thin, beautiful, and are well-off financially.
And I'm, well, NOT.
I once again felt like the fat weird outcast that no one wanted to talk to.

I know I am better than that.
I know I should be nicer to myself.
I know that I am a child of God and perfect in how He created me.
But sometimes those old demons you thought you'd exorcised years ago come back to haunt you.
And you wonder if you will ever feel like a "normal" person again.

Tasty Tuesday - Vegetable Soup with Brown Rice

This is light yet surprisingly hearty! Even better the next day!

Vegetable Soup with Brown Rice
3 pp/Serving at 6 Servings

1 T extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped fine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 carrot, chopped into bite-size pieces
1 rib celery, chopped into bite-size pieces
1 yellow squash, chopped into bite-size pieces
1 cup baby spinach, washed and roughly chopped
1 can green beans, drained
1 can great northern beans, drained
1 can fire-roasted tomatoes with juice
2 cans chicken broth
1/2 c instant brown rice

In a stock pot heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery and saute until tender. Add garlic and squash and combine well. Add beans, tomatoes and broth. Bring to a boil. Add spinach and rice and stir well. Return to boil. Reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until rice is tender. Remove from heat and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes before eating.

Weight Watchers: On Plan - Not ALL Points Are Created Equal!

Something that bothers me is when people say "I've been eating my points, why aren't I losing weight??"
My first question is always "have you been tracking 100% everything you put in your mouth 100% all the time?"
If their answer is yes, my next question is "well, have you been eating fruits, veggies, and lean protein?"
Usually, the answer is something like: "Well, no, but that doesn't matter as long as I stay within my points, right?"

WRONG!!
wrongwrongwrongwrongwrong

Let's get one thing straight:
The beauty of the Points Plus program is the freedom it allows. Sure, you can have a slice of chocolate cake or a piece of fried chicken.
ONCE IN A WHILE.
Let's face it.
You eat it every day, I don't care HOW many points you count, you're NOT going to lose.
WHY?

Well, it's the same concept as the old saying that "Not all calories are created equal".
For example:

A slice of 100% whole wheat bread is 2 points plus per slice.
So is three Hershey's Kisses.
Let's say you go on a binge and eat 14 slices of whole wheat bread.
Now, let's say you go on a binge and eat 42 Hershey's Kisses.
Besides the fact that you're probably going to get sick eating all that chocolate, let's look at something besides just the points plus values:

Whole wheat bread has fiber, iron, riboflavin, B12, beta keratin, and a slew of other wonderful, marvelous vitamins and minerals. Not to mention it's low in fat.

Hershey's Kisses, on the other hand, do NOT have these wonderful minerals, nor do they contain fiber, and they are most certainly NOT low fat.

Now I'm not telling you to run off and eat a loaf of whole wheat bread.
Nor am I telling you not to ever eat Hershey's Kisses (that would be blaspheme!)
But I am saying that, even when we're counting points, we still have to be mindful of what we're eating.

Spend your points on the "good stuff" first: lean proteins, whole grains, low fat dairy, healthy oils (since most veggies and all fruits are free!). When you have points left over, THEN add in the "extras" that make the Points Plus program so wonderful.

And remember, not all points are created equal.
Some will help you burn fat, while others will help you keep it on.

Here's to being losers in 2011!

Weight Loss Surgery

For the last few years, I've been a bit skeptical of weight loss surgeries like lap-band and gastric bypass. I've even spoken out about them making claims that they cure the symptom, but not the disease. But yesterday, as I lay in the doctor's office wearing EKG sensors all over my body I realized something very, very frightening.

I am a walking death trap.

My current weight is 282 lbs. Since joining Weight Watchers in February, I have managed to lose a whopping 10 lbs. In six months, quite frankly, I should have lost more than that.

So, the doctor and I discussed the possibility of surgery.
He didn't push, he just asked if it was something I'd considered.
And I hadn't - until yesterday.
So for the next six months, I will be returning to my doctor for an official medical weigh in.
If, in six months, continuing Weight Watchers, I have not lost at least 20 lbs (that's my number), then I plan on starting the process towards surgery.

I will most likely go with the Lap-Band procedure. It's what my mother has had, and I know many people that have had it done, so I will have a wealth of real-life scenarios. I, of course, have many trepidations. I know a lot of problems that people have had with it as well. One woman I know, for example, will throw up about 50% of the time when she eats. Another can't eat certain things like bread or rice. And another can't eat meat.

Lap-band users have complained about band slippage, acid reflux, and vomiting.

Right now, I am thinking though, that all of these things might be worth having it done.

Tasty Tuesday: Crock Pot Night!

This is what I'm having for dinner! Just put it in the crock pot and it already smells AMAZING!!

Asian Style Pork Ribs with Cabbage and Onions


2 lbs boneless pork ribs, trimmed of all visible fat (about 8 ribs)
1/2 small head cabbage, shredded
1 large onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 C low sodium soy sauce
1/3 C rice wine vinegar
1 14.5 oz can chicken stock
1/4 tsp Chinese 5 spice seasoning


Prepare 5 qt crock pot by spraying well with cooking spray. Layer cabbage and onions on the bottom of the crock pot. Combine garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, stock, and 5 spice. Pour 1/2 over cabbage and onions. Dip ribs in remaining mixture and place on top of cabbage and onions. Pour remaining sauce over top. Cook on low 5-6 hours or high 4-5 hours. Serve with brown rice.

The leftovers (if there are any, LOL) will be ground and used in pot stickers later on!

Tasty Tuesday: Cook Once, Eat Thrice!

I love bulk cooking.
It's easy and a HUGE time-saver.
And lets not forget the money that can be saved!

This week we're talking about a staple of the Weight Watchers Diet: The Chicken Breast.
Most stores now have huge two or three pound packages of breasts for super cheap. Sometimes you can find them on special for less than a dollar a pound. When this happens, I stock up! Most of the time, I separate them into one and two breast portions, but this time around, I was out of baggies and food saver bags. So I had to freeze the whole thing. Thus, I had to cook the whole thing.


The first meal I made with them is a simple crock-pot recipe that I got off the Weight Watchers message boards. The second is a simple chicken and chili enchilada.. Finally, there's a great chicken pot pie that will blow you away!

Meal 1:
Crock Pot Chicken (served with cous cous and green beans on Monday)
Servings: 9-10

1 market special package of chicken breasts (9-10 breasts/pkg.)
2 low-sodium/low-fat cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup (I used both!)
1 C chicken broth
1 packet low-sodium onion soup mix
1 T Herbes De Provance or your favorite herb mixture

Combine soups, broth, soup mix, and herbs in a large crock pot (5 qt). Add chicken and toss to coat entirely. Cook on low 6-8 hours or until chicken is tender and shreds easily.

See?? Easy, right!

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Meal #2:
Cheesy Chicken Chili Enchiladas (I served with vegetarian refried beans and fajita-sauted peppers and onions)

2 chicken breasts, shredded
1 low-sodium/low-fat cream of mushroom soup
1 can chopped green chilis, drained and rinsed
1 C shredded low-fat cheddar cheese, divided in half.
1 small can red or green enchilada sauce
8 fajita size whole wheat tortillas

In a large bowl, combine chicken, soup, chilis, and 1/2 the cheese. Mix well to combine.
Place tortillas on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a moist (NOT wet!) paper towel. Microwave on high 30 seconds to 1 minute or until heated through.
Cover the botton of a rectangular glass baking pan with 1/2 the enchilada sauce.
Place 1/8 the filling into a tortilla and roll gently.
Place seam side down into the pan. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
Top with remaining sauce and cheese.
Bake at 400 for 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and slightly browned.
Allow to rest for at least ten minutes to allow for the filling to set.

This is made even easier if it's made in advance! It's also slightly tastier, as the flavors will have had time to meld!
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Meal #3:
Chicken Pot Pie

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 egg white
3 chicken breasts, shredded
2 can cream of chicken soup
1 c chopped onion
1/2 c chopped celery
1/2 c chopped carrots
1/2 c frozen peas
1 T Herbes de Provance, or your favorite herb blend

In a large bowl combine chicken, soup, herbs and vegetables. Turn out into a 9X9 glass baking pan sprayed with cooking spray. Top with puff pastry. Beat the egg white slightly, then brush onto the puff pastry. Bake at 425 for 25-30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly and puff pastry is puffed and browned.

There you have it! Three meals from one package of chicken. The best part about all of these is that they can be assembled beforehand and stored in the fridge or freezer until you're ready to bake them. Be sure to adjust times accordingly though. PS: if you do this with the pot pie, be sure to add the puff pastry later, when you're ready to bake!


Enjoy!

Here's To Being Losers in 2011!

Getting Back On Track

I am finally motivated and going strong. Yesterday I tracked everything - EVERYTHING - and stayed within points range.

Today I'm planning well - I know I'm going to be having fried chicken, broccoli rice casserole, and pea salad for dinner followed by cherry cheese pie. Granted, everything will be within portion size, but still. That's a lot of points. So I'm planning. I had a small bowl of cereal for breakfast, a yogurt for snack, and I'm going to have a sandwich and some carrots and celery for lunch. And if I go over my points, that's okay too because I do have all my weeklies right now.

That's the key.Plan and track.
I think I'm finding the groove.

Another plus, I maintained this week!
I am a happy girl.

Can't Get My Act Together

One of the things my wonderful WW meetings leader, Christy, tells us is "find what motivates you!"
But for some reason, I can't find that motivation this week.
I think about seeing my kids grow up, graduate high school.
I think about being hot by the time I'm 40.
I think about being able to shop at the "normal" size clothing stores.
And yet, I still pick up that chip and put it in my mouth.

But motivation can't always come from those things. Motivation is something that has to come within. No matter how hard you try to convince yourself otherwise, it just will not come from without. You have to push yourself - no one can do it for you.

For example, I had several choices today - chips, celery, carrots, apples, WW ice cream, cherries, and grapes.
I chose chips.
I chose ice cream.
I chose chips again.
Why?
Because they were there.
No one made me eat them.
No one handed them to me.
It was all me.

I am learning something about myself here -
I am not like some other WW's people I know.
Some of them can have things in the house, and measure, and only eat the portion size, etc. I am not one of those people.
There are just some things that I am going to have to accept that I can't have them in the house.
For me, it's more than just counting points.
It's more than just getting in my good health guidelines.
It's a fight for my life.
It's a fight against an addiction that I have struggled with since childhood.
I have to stand up against this addiction and say NO MORE.
It's time I get control and find that motivation in me.

Here's to being losers in 2011!

Tasty Tuesday - Veggie Pasta with Sausage

Today's Tasty Tuesday recipe is one of my absolute favorites.
This will feed three people at about 7 pp/serving

2 Lean Turkey Italian Sausage link, removed from casing
1 zucchini squash, sliced into crescent shapes
1 sm onion, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 C sliced mushrooms
11/2 C cooked rigatoni pasta, cooked
2 C marinara sauce
1 Tbs. olive oil

Heat the oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add sausage and cook, breaking up with back of spoon, until no longer pink. Remove from heat and set aside. Add peppers and onions and cook until just tender. Add mushrooms, squashes, and garlic. Cook until browned and slightly caramelized. Return sausage to pan, add sauce and rigatoni, and mix well to combine. *If desired, add some Parmesan cheese to the top, but remember to add the points to it!*