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Monday, February 28, 2011

A Silly Life Changing Moment

I have always wanted my husband to be able to literally sweep me off my feet and carry me around.  I know,  very silly but isn’t that what we see in all of the romantic movies? I am not ready to possibly hurt my dear husbands back by trying that one yet but I did I have my first ever piggy back ride.  You have to remember I was a very overweight child and I have no recollection of ever having a piggy back ride.  I probably did, maybe but maybe not.

I don’t like feeling out of control.  I trust my husband 100% but to lift up my second foot and have him carry me was difficult to do.  I kept telling him that I was too heavy and that I’d hurt him.  Well, we did it twice yesterday, the first time I was a little overwhelmed by the newness of the experience and just thrilled to be carried around. I think I was a little shocked to actually have someone carry me.  My facial expressions tell it all. WOW!  The second time was more fun and a lot easier to let myself go.  Thanks sweetheart for fulfilling one of my life long dreams. Someday I’ll have the confidence to try the “over the threshold carry”.

Some blurry but wonderful pictures from my PIGGY BACK RIDE.

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Friday, February 25, 2011

New Recipe Tab

I just cut and pasted all of my recipes onto a separate page so that if you are interested in my recipes they are easier to find. Just click on the tab at the top of the page and you'll find them there.

100 Reasons to Lose 100 Pounds

I found this list on someones blog - and could relate to most of them - a great reminder of what I did - and some of the reasons why! I guess I need 100 more to add to the list since 100 pounds is actually 200 pounds for me!!!

I have added emphasis to the ones that I personally appreciate the most. 

100 reasons to lose 100 pounds


1. To feel good about ourselves.
2. To love mirrors.
3. So we won’t think people are laughing or talking about us.
4. To buy clothes in a normal store and actually get clothes with some style to them that fit correctly.
5. To have more energy!
6. To be able to tie your shoes/paint toenails without straining yourself.
7. To be able to sit on a floor and get up gracefully.
8. To wear a bathing suit that you actually like and feel good in.
9. To cross your legs or sit Indian style.
10. To fit into an airline/theater/bus/whatever seat without spilling over and without having to see “that look” from the person who has to sit beside you.
11. So our ankles won’t swell.
12. To fit into a booth at any restaurant.
13. To not need an extension to a seat belt on an airplane and to have the tray table not balance on our bellies.
14. To not worry about being decapitated in our cars with our seat belts on if we should be in an accident.
15. To not turn beet red after moderate exertion.
16. To be able to pick something up off the floor easily.
17. Panty Hose that fit!
18. To go to an amusement park and ride the rides.
19. To be able to sit in any chair without worry of breakage.
20. To not have to apologize when caught in a narrow aisle and have someone need to get by.
21. To go dancing, sky diving, bungee jumping….
22. To be able to go horseback riding or ride a bike.
23. To not worry about rashes and sweating.
24. To not have to listen to “caring” people ask why you don’t diet or worse still… “gee youhave such a pretty face”.
25. To not worry about spilling food, sauces or gravy down the front of your blouse/dress/shirt when eating.
26. To not have to think up some excuse for not doing something because you know your weight will impede you.
27. To not have your belly hit the steering wheel and to be able to fit comfortably in the driver’s seat.
28. To have a bra fit comfortably and to be able to buy underwear at Victoria’s Secret rather than at “Tubby the Underwear Guy”.
29. To not have to worry about the weight limit of step stools, ladders, motorcycle, exercise equipment, etc.
30. To not get stuck in a turn style.
31. To not wake up feeling achy in the back..or to have ache free legs and feet.
32. So the bathroom scale won’t creak and groan when you step on it.
33. To be able to leave the tablecloth on the table at a restaurant instead of dragging it with you when you get up.
34. So you won’t look the other way when you see yourself in a monitor where they have security cameras.
35. To never be embarrassed about your size.
36. To not count tying shoes as daily exercise.
37. To not have to wait for the handicap stall when there are plenty of other stalls available.
38. To not be more out of shape than seniors.
39. To not break toilet seat when leaning to one side.
40. To be able to put on wedding rings again.
41. To try to make a double chin and fail!
42. Buy clothing bargains to fit the next year … and they do!
43. Not to have to worry about plastic zippers or having your pants bust open.
44. Normal waistbands rather than elastic!
45. To wear knee socks correctly instead of worn like slouches!
46. To look good in a tee shirt!
47. To try on slacks or jeans and have the pant leg actually fit over leg!
48. To be able to get close to sink and not come away with a wet belly!
49. To get out of a stuffed chair GRACEFULLY and not look down to see if the chair has come up with you!
50. To not worry if the hairdresser’s smock will fit!
51. To not be self-conscious about eating in front of others!
52. To not be afraid to ask which hairstyle suits your face.
53. To not have people checking you out after looking in your grocery cart.
54. To not feel (and look) like a sausage in stirrup pants.
55. To have your friends NOT be embarrassed to be seen with you.
56. To get promotions/hired or close that sale.
57. Pants that stay up because your waist is smaller than your butt!
58. No more boobs! (this is for the guys!)
59. Wearing shorts or tank tops without fear of arrest or grossing out others!
60. To not have the fear of being rejected.
61. To successfully flirt!
62. To not worry about how to get in and out of the back seat in a two door car!
63. One size fits all and it fits you!
64. To have a lap.
65. To not have the car you are ride in slant in your direction.
66. To be able to use toilet paper as it was meant to be used and not to have to invent ways to “get the job done”.
67. To not have to watch TV news reports on fat people in hopes that you haven’t been caught on camera!
68. To be able to get between cars in a parking lot without wiping the dust off with your belly and your butt.
69. No more heat rashes and chafing in the upper thighs.
70. So that the cloth in the thigh area doesn’t wear away long before the rest of the slacks do!
71. To meet a friend online and not be horrified to have to send a picture of yourself.
72. To not take fat references and fat jokes personally.
73. To know you can go anywhere because wherever you sit you CAN be comfortable and look at ease.
74. To shop at the mall and not have your back ache from lugging your huge butt and stomach around!
75. To be able to stand still, carrying nothing and still look poised.
76. To be able to cross your arms across your chest without them resting on your stomach!
77. To have your feet get smaller.
78. Using your mouth to taste and chew food rather than as just a route to get the food from your lips to your stomach.
79. Blood pressure returns to normal.
80. To avoid other health complications from being overweight.
81. To be able to borrow a co-worker’s jacket for an important meeting.
82. To meet someone for the first time and their eyes don’t pop out of their head with amazement…because they never knew you’re fat!
83. To see your reflection in a mirror or store window without turning away!
84. To wear a watch with a regular length watch band.
85. To look in the mirror when getting your hair cut without thinking you have the biggest face in the world.
86. To not mind getting your picture taken.
87. To not avoid going to the doctor because you have to get “weighed” in.
88. To wake up each morning feeling energized and ready to go.
89. To not even worry about squeezing into small spaces.
90. To not have to enter an elevator and check the weight limit.
91. To look in your closet and have problems deciding which stylish outfit to work since you have so many that look good and fit well.
92. To not have to lie perfectly still in bed at night for fear of breaking the bed!
93. To buy tie shoes instead of slip ons!
94. To be able to walk any distance without looking for a bench to sit on.
95. To look forward to shopping and just trying on clothes!
96. To be able to drive by any fast food place without salivating!
97. To be able to shop at the same store for food instead of having to remember where you shopped last night for the junk food so you can avoid that store for a few days!
98. To not feel lower than low when an innocent child remarks about your size!
99. To not constantly be thinking of where your next morsel of food is coming from.
100. And the 100th reason to lose 100 pounds…..
I’M WORTH IT!

- Author Of List Unknown

Thursday, February 24, 2011

I Need to Get Back On Track

I have given myself a million excuses for not eating right the last month and it has to STOP!  I hate seeing the numbers on the scale right now.  I have not stopped exercising.  I started back at walking the day after surgery and still do it 5 days a week.  Exercise isn't the problem it is FOOD! I can do this again but I remember how physically and psychologically painful it was the first time I started eating right that I just keep putting it off.  Well I am not putting it off any longer. The big event I was in charge of is over so that stress is gone and my body is about 75% since the surgery so it's time to just do what I know I should be doing.  With that said it's time to work-out them make my green smoothie.

I have two partially eaten cakes left over from the Blue and Gold hanging out in my kitchen.  Any neighbors want to come eat a few pieces so that temptation leaves quickly? :-)

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Latter-day Saints try to become ‘Biggest Loser’ | Universe.byu.edu

Latter-day Saints try to become ‘Biggest Loser’ | Universe.byu.edu

I workout every Tuesday night to "The Biggest Loser". I didn't watch the show when I was losing my first 15o pounds or so but got hooked last season and it is a great motivator for me to keep going. I loved reading about the LDS participants in this article. It must be so difficult to be away from your families and just engulfed in exercise all day long but what great changes they are making in their lives. I volunteered to teach Relief Society (woman's church meeting) in 2 weeks on basically healthy living and the Word of Wisdom. I have been doing some wonderful research and will be sharing soon some of my great finds.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

I’m Struggling

I am having a hard time with this recovery thing.  I want to exercise so badly!!! I have walked, tried running and worked out on the elliptical.  I even enjoyed the gorgeous warm weather yesterday with a bike ride but whenever I exert myself I end up sore the next day in my stomach which means it was too much. Right!?  So the next day I stress over hurting myself and eat too much because I’m worrying about what I might have done to my insides by working out.  I have done this now for 2 weeks.  I just can’t NOT do any exercise.  I start out with a nice walk (which is okay without discomfort) then I think I can jog a little and then how about just run one mile.  The surgeon told me it’s okay to to run or any other cardio as long as it doesn’t strain my stomach.  The problem is everything pretty much in some way uses those muscles. So even though the surgeon says it’s okay I feel it the next day. So am I causing damage to my body or is the soreness from not exercising regularly? What do you think?

I want to sweat and drip again! 

My weight is still up 10 pounds and my tummy is flabby again.  It is crazy how 2 weeks without 500 crunches and 100 pushups a night can cause your stomach to fall apart so quickly.  I know I need to relax and just recover but the scale goes up, up, up!  AGGGGHHHH! 

I read 2 articles from October’s General Conference on Agency this morning and how we of course have the ability to choose for ourselves and with every choice there is a consequence for good or bad.  I just feel like I am making more wrong choices with my health lately.  One day I’ll eat real well then the next my self control is out the window.  I just can’t wait for my strong healthy body to return but the next month is going to be tough taking it easy.  Boy I am stubborn!  I pray that I’ll have the strength and determination once my body is healed to get fully back into my old routine. There must be a lesson my Heavenly Father is trying to teach me in all of this.  I need to learn it quickly so I can move on.  Oh to be whole again!!! (Thanks for being my listening ear.  The tears are now starting to flow, I didn’t realize how emotional this recovery was going to be.  It has made me realize how much I need to rely on my Savior for strength and comfort.)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Spanish Rice and Banana Pudding

 

Spanish Rice Casserole Recipe Created by Becky Jones

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4 cups brown rice
8 cups water

Cook in separate pot for 30 minutes before adding following ingredients.

24oz tomato sauce
15oz can diced tomatoes
15oz can black beans drained
1/4 cup onion flakes
1 red pepper diced
6 mushrooms sliced
1 pound extra lean ground turkey
2 tbsp taco seasoning
1 tsp chili powder

While rice is cooking sauté together in separate pan the turkey, onions, mushrooms and peppers.  When they are well browned add the seasonings and the wet ingredients.  When the rice has 15 minutes left to cook add to the rice and simmer for 15 minutes. Turn off heat and sprinkle with cheese. Let sit for 10 minutes uncovered. Serve and enjoy. This serves easily 12 adults.

The kids loved this meal and ate several helpings!  It is super nutritious for you too!!!

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 390 g (A large helping!)
 
Amount Per Serving
Calories
321
Calories from Fat
22
% Daily Value*
Total Fat
2.5g
4%
Saturated Fat
0.5g
3%
Cholesterol
15mg
5%
Sodium
490mg
20%
Total Carbohydrates
57.4g
19%
Dietary Fiber
4.5g
18%
Sugars
3.6g
Protein
16.3g
 

Vitamin A 14% Vitamin C 32%
Calcium 4% Iron 13%

 

Easy Banana Pudding Dessert

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2 pkg  J-ello Vanilla Sugar-free, Fat-free Pudding Cook-and-Serve

4 cups Fat-free milk

2 medium bananas sliced

4 graham crackers (made into crumbs)

Follow package directions to pudding.  Once it has completed cooking pour 1/2 cup servings into bowls.  Top with 1 tbsp graham cracker crumbs and several slices of banana and enjoy.  We ate ours while still warm and it was delicious! Makes 8 servings. 100 calories per serving!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Whole Wheat Sugar Cookies

I did a recipe at Christmas but this is better tasting and with an amazing frosting you can hardly tell the difference.

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1/2 cup room temp butter

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups applesauce

3 eggs

2 tsp almond extract

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

7 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp salt

 

Mix sugar and butter very well until light in color.  Add eggs and applesauce. Mix well then add dry ingredients slowly.  This dough will be thick and a little tacky.  Divide into manageable balls and roll out to desired thickness.  I keep mine thick at about 1/4 inch or a little more.  The cookies will be nice and soft if you don’t roll them too thin.  They will raise in the oven some.  Cut into shapes and bake at 350 degrees till they slightly change color.  Since they are whole wheat you won’t see much change.  I made 4 inch hearts and baked them for 10 minutes.  Enjoy!!! This recipe makes 26 HUGE cookies!

For one huge 4 inch cookie it is 200 calories but compared to the original recipe you save 120 calories per cookie.

Now for my Break-all-the rules Butter Cream Frosting

1/2 cup room temp butter

3 pounds powdered sugar

2 tsp almond extract

1 tsp coconut extract

6-8 tbsp milk (I didn't measure the milk so add one tbsp at a time till desired thickness)

Mix well and enjoy!!!

If you do a nice thick frosting like I did in the pictures the calories added will be 200.  Why not do a very light frosting or share a huge cookie with friends or half today and half tomorrow?

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Today’s Recipes

Chicken Fajitas
3lbs frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 large red pepper sliced
1/2 large onion
1 tbsp taco seasoning
1 tsp cumin
Place all in a large cock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. After 6 hours remove chicken and slice or shed then return to pot to reheat.  Serve with flour tortillas and whatever toppings you enjoy.  We will have tomatoes, olives, lettuce, cheese, salsa and sour cream. This will make plenty of chicken for a few meals so place leftovers in freezer bags and place in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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Nutrition Facts

For 24 servings. You can probably serve even more but this is a guess.

Serving Size 65 g
 
Amount Per Serving
Calories
111
Calories from Fat
38
% Daily Value*
Total Fat
4.2g
7%
Saturated Fat
1.2g
6%
Cholesterol
50mg
17%
Sodium
49mg
2%
Total Carbohydrates
0.6g
0%
Protein
16.5g

 

Vitamin A 4% Vitamin C 11%
Calcium 1% Iron 4%

 

Apple Crisp in the Crock Pot

8 sliced apples

1/4 cup raisins
1 cup regular oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 tbsp cold butter
2 tsp cinnamon
12 packets of Truvia (you could use 1/2 cup brown sugar instead)
004006Place sliced apples and raisins in regular sized crockpot and in a separate bowl cut cold butter into remaining ingredients. Sprinkle oat mixture over apples and raisins. Cook on high for 3- 4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. You may serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.  We will have ours with just a little milk tonight.
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Nutrition Facts for 8 servings.

Serving Size 163 g
 
Amount Per Serving
Calories
167
Calories from Fat
22
% Daily Value*
Total Fat
2.4g
4%
Saturated Fat
1.1g
5%
Trans Fat
0.0g
Cholesterol
4mg
1%
Sodium
13mg
1%
Total Carbohydrates
36.0g
12%
Dietary Fiber
5.0g
20%
Sugars
17.2g
Protein
2.7g

 

Vitamin A 2% Vitamin C 11%
Calcium 2% Iron 6%

Monday, February 7, 2011

What’s For Dinner?

With my recovery I am able to get around pretty well during the morning but come 4 or 5 pm I’m needing to lay down and nap.  Previously these were my big cleaning and cooking hours of the day just before my wonderful husband gets home from work.  What to do for dinner.  We still have to eat even if I have to rest.  The trusty crock pot! I’ve done plenty in the crock pot in the past but mostly chicken with potatoes/carrots/onions or chili, soup, roast. The basic stuff!  So tonight I’m trying a pasta casserole and hoping it works out.  I’ll post pictures of the final product if I remember later but I wanted to get this posted before my body crashes.
Crock pot Pasta Casserole recipe created by Becky Jones
A couple adjustments have been made from my original recipe.
1 pound pasta uncooked
1 pound browned extra lean ground turkey
1/2 large onion browned with meat
4 stalks of celery sliced
2 -8 oz cans tomato sauce
2 -15 oz cans diced tomatoes
1 –15 oz can fat free chicken stock
1 1/2  cups water
2 tsp Italian seasoning (to your taste)
1/2 tsp garlic powder (to your taste)
3 tbsp brown sugar (to your taste)
salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in a large crock pot and cook on high for 3  hours. Each crock pot cooks a little differently so check after 2 hours.  Serve with some Parmesan cheese on top. Serves 8.
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Now I’m off to nap.  Let’s hope it cooks properly! Smile
The finished product. A couple of the kids didn’t like the celery in it so you may want to omit the celery.
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Nutrition Facts

8 large servings

Serving Size 298 g
 
Amount Per Serving
Calories
271
Calories from Fat
24
% Daily Value*
Total Fat
2.6g
4%
Saturated Fat
0.6g
3%
Cholesterol
65mg
22%
Sodium
389mg
16%
Total Carbohydrates
41.2g
14%
Dietary Fiber
1.9g
8%
Sugars
8.0g
Protein
21.1g

 

Vitamin A 15% Vitamin C 21%
Calcium 3% Iron 15%

Nutrition Grade B+

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Valentine’s Dinner and Dance 2011

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We had a great time and I danced some slow songs with my sweetheart.  I am married to the BEST man in the world!!!!  I love you with everything that I am! I also danced a song with my teenager.  He has been taking Ballroom Dance classes after school twice a week and he led me like a pro.  He is becoming a wonderful dancer!                                                                                                 087