Crock pot Freezer Meals

I looked through Pinterest to find some recipes that I thought looked good, easy, and that I already had a bunch of ingredients for and this is what I came up with. I'll keep you updated on how they actually turn out.

Teriyaki Chicken
3 chicken breasts
1 c. soy sauce
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 onion chopped
Directions: Thaw and place in your slow cooker on low for 6-8 hrs or high for 3-4 hrs. Serve over rice.

"Pulled" BBQ Chicken
3 chicken breasts
1 1/2 c. of your favorite BBQ sauce
Directions: Thaw and place in your slow cooker with 1/4 c. water for 3-4 hrs on high. Shred chicken and mix back in with sauce. Serve on crusty rolls.

Potato Soup
1-30 oz bag frozen hash browns
3-14 oz cans chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 c. onion, chopped
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 pkg. cream cheese (don't put this in the freezer bag-it will go in later)
Directions: Thaw and place in your slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours. Add cream cheese 1 hour before serving. Serve with cheese, sour cream, green onion, bacon, etc.

Cilantro Lime Chicken (makes 2 bags)
6 chicken breasts
3 tbsp olive oil
2 limes, juiced
2 c. cilantro
1 large bag frozen corn                                         *Divide everything evenly between the two bags
4 minced garlic cloves
1 finely chopped red onion
2 cans black beans
2 tsp cumin
salt & pepper
Directions: Thaw and cook on low 8 hrs or high 4 hrs. Serve with chips, rice, or tortillas. Sour cream and cheese.

Newlywed Beef tips
1 lb beef stew meat
10.5 oz french onion soup
small package frozen broccoli (don't put in the freezer bag)
Directions: Thaw and place in your crock pot. Add 2 cups water and cook on low for 6-7 hrs. Mix in the broccoli 30 minutes before it is done. Serve over noodles or rice.

Just try

I'm not going to sugar coat it. Quitting soda sucks and it is really hard. I'm on the 11th day and this is the first day I haven't had to pop a couple of Excedrin. I legitimately thought about having a diet coke today. We were on our way to lunch and I was having an internal struggle as to whether or not I should order one. I didn't. I had water. Then we went to in-n-out to dinner. One of my favorite things in the whole world is a cheeseburger paired with a nice, big, icy cold diet coke. But I had water. And you know what I don't feel that bad about it anymore. I can't guarantee I'm not going to crave one tomorrow but for today I feel okay.  I read this quote last night and it gave me enough strength and enough faith that if I keep trying to do something that is difficult for me eventually it will become a habit. I know President Uchtdorf wasn't probably referring to overcoming a diet soda addiction but to me last night that's what this quote was all about and it made me feel better. 

8 days and going strong

This blog is about confessions so I am going to make one now...I don't give up soda when I said I would. I stopped drinking it for a couple of days and then thought about the fact that we were going on our annual spring break camping trip a few weeks later and with everyone else drinking soda around me I wouldn't have enough will power to say no. So I started drinking soda again and I drank a lot of it. In fact, while we were camping I think I had one water bottle- the rest, diet Dr Pepper! And boy was it good! But I had promised myself and my husband that I would stop drinking it as soon as we got home. He seems to be worried about my health-yadda yadda. As soon as we got home I was done. I have been 8 days "sober" and I am still experiencing a headache everyday and the cravings couldn't be worse. I guess that shows just how addicted I was and am to it. But my resolve is stronger than my cravings and I am determined to stick with it. I really haven't started eating any better because I figure I can only tackle one monumentous  task at a time but give me a little while and ill tackle that too! Here's to my new elixir of life- WATER!

Wish Me Luck

I bet you can take a guess as to why I haven't on here in a while. I haven't been doing to great on the whole diet thing. I attempt every once in a while to start something new. I joined weight watchers again and then quit. I joined Gold's Gym-I've done Zumba a number of times but I really need to go more often. The honest to goodness truth is that I am just not that motivated I suppose. I look at my sweet baby and I think about how I need to change to make sure that he is healthier than me but when it comes down to it I just can't seem to resist that McDonald's calling my name. Speaking of McDonald's I came across this picture the other day. It kind of put things in perspective for me.

I eat this stuff all of the time! Its hard to imagine what it is doing to my insides. I also recently found out what aspartame really is. The stuff that is in my beloved diet soda. Aspartame is literally the fecal matter of genetically engineered E coli bacteria - they feed it toxic waste and then the bacteria defecate aspartame. Lovely, right?

Well, the other morning I was browsing Netflix like I often do when I am up at the crack of dawn with Jack and I came across a documentary called "Hungry For  Change." I thought it looked interesting so I watched it. Everything in it made sense. I then watched m"Food Matters" and "Sick, Tired, and Nearly Dead. I was all excited and I decided I was going to put some of the principles in action. 2 weeks later and I'm still enjoying my big cheeseburger and chicken stars from Carl's Jr. 

But Friday night I went to a seminar type thing from the Green Smoothie Girl. I learned a lot. In fact I even won a bottle for my green smoothies. My mother in law bought her "12 steps to Whole Foods" and I have been reading through it. I have discovered that the only way I am going to be able to change is to get all of the toxic chemicals out of my body so that I don't crave all of the crap anymore. The reason I can't say no to my large 2 cheeseburger meal is because sheer willpower is simply not enough when those chemicals make those foods like drugs to my brain. 

The first step is to quit drinking soda and start having a green smoothie every day. Tomorrow begins my road to recovery I guess. Now don't get me wrong-I have had massive anxiety all day just thinking about not having my beloved diet Dr. Pepper everyday. In fact, I have one getting nice and cold in the freezer right now. One last one before I bid adieu. 

Now wish me luck. This sure ain't going to be easy! 

Motivators

So I had my second weigh in. I lost a pound. I look at it as great success. I didn't gain a pound. That is one step closer to my goal. In case you were wondering I would like to get down to 150 pounds. That's a ways to go but I have faith I can do it. My greatest motivation these days is my handsome little man, Jack. A mom and her two sixteen year old twin daughters joined weight watchers the same day I did. Looking at them made me realize that I have to change so that I can give Jack and my future children a better chance at good health. My other motivation-Justin accidently put on my pants today and anyone who knows my husband knows that he is not a small guy :/

terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

The point of this blog is to share with you my ups and my downs. Today would be one of those downs. I kind of went on an eating spree. You know one of those days where you just eat everything you want. I started out the day okay. I had some egg whites and an apple for breakfast...then unfortunately I had a brownie. That was followed by Souplantation for lunch (which is a buffet so you get the idea). I then moved onto some chocolate, a butterscotch sucker from See's candy, and then finally Carl's Jr. for dinner. I would definitely say that was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day! I feel really guilty. I hate doing this but I guess it is just a part of being a food obsessed girl. It is a daily process-a very internal struggle and today food won out! Here's to a better tomorrow. Even though it is Halloween I think I'll be able to  hang in there. I really don't have a huge sweet tooth. My teeth seem to crave the fatty, greasy options...

Success

I have some good news, great news even! I had my first weigh in today at weight watchers and I am down 6.6 lbs! Wahoo! Now I realize that most of that was probably my body getting rid of most of the salty, fatty fast food as well as water weight but hey I'll take what I can get. I feel good about it and when you feel good about something it gives you the motivation to keep on truckin'! Here's to this next week and for more weight loss!