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!

Hello Again!

Okay so I realize that the last time I posted was December 29, 2011. I was two months pregnant and felt like I was going to DIE pretty much all day every day. Well now my baby is 3 months old and I think it is about time I get back to this whole blogging thing...
I tend to do things a little differently. Most people get pregnant and gain weight. I get pregnant and lose 25 pounds from barfing my brains out. I had several people tell me that I looked better pregnant than I did when I didn't have a little human growing inside of me. Way to boost the ego. I took it as a compliment because what pregnant girl doesn't want to be told she looks good but then I thought sheesh I must have looked like real crap before.
However, I pretty much did look like crap. I started my pregnancy nice and big and fat at a whopping 220 big ones. I lost 25 lbs then managed to put back on  20 before I had the baby and then two weeks postpartum I weighed in at 194. I was feeling pretty darn good. I do have to say though I was missing having a rock hard tummy-pretty much the only time I will have one in my life (until the next pregnancy)! I was feeling so good in fact that I ate. I ate everything in sight. I no longer had my stomach shoved up against my spleen and therefore I COULD eat everything in sight and I did just that. O and boy did it taste good and man was it nice to not feel nauseated.
So here we are only three months after giving birth and I've already managed to pack back on 15 lbs! My body loves fat, it loves fat like a fat kid loves ice cream. So whats a girl to do? My grandma offered to sign me up for weight watchers. Thanks grandma! I've done weight watchers in the past and I really like it. Here's to hoping it works well this time ;)
I promise to blog more often. Well I hope-but you 
never quiet know since I have a three month old that likes to wake up and eat 4 times a night! I am one exhausted mamma! The one bonus to weight watchers while your nursing is that you get 14 extra points! Its awesome! I have my first weigh in on Friday-i'll let you know how it goes :)

You can always tell how fat I am based on how big my face is. Top left is me pre-pregnancy at 220. Top right is me in the hospital ready to give birth at 215 (see I do look best when pregnant!) Bottom left is me at my 6 weeks postpartum visit at 194 and bottom right was a couple of Sundays ago at 209. Hope the after picture looks better than all of these ;)

confessions of a pregnant food obsessed girl...

Okay so I realize it has been a VERY long time since I have written a post.

 For the few of you who don't know by now I am pregnant.

And I am lucky enough to be one of those special people who have "morning sickness" ALL DAY LONG!!!

This is a family trait and although in my family it is a good sign of a good pregnancy I just really wish I could be one of those girls who has one of those pregnancies that just breezes by without any of the nausea or throwing up.

This brings about a whole new side to the food obsessed girl that I am.

I now eat whatever sounds good at that very moment knowing that an hour or two later its just going to make its way back up.

I also gauge meals on what will be easily regurgitated.

For example, the other night Rubio's was sounding especially delicious.

So I ate it.

If you have never eaten at Rubios before let me just tell you that their tortilla chips are very yummy but they are very very hard.

I think you can gather why I am talking about chips and regurgitating.

Lets just say it was painful.

But yet I ate them again the other day just because they sounded good.

When I met with my doctor last week he was telling me how I should really be trying to eat an organic diet and all that jazz...

I was just thinking-ya right buddy-I would just like to keep one meal down.

Needless to say this food obsessed girl is not too worried about dieting right now.

Needless to say this food obsessed girl is beyond excited to become a mom.

And needless to say my posts will be a little different for the coming months.

Feel free to keep reading or if you have a weak stomach feel free to come back and visit in 7 months or so...

I learned a very important lesson tonight...

It was a long day. I was tired. I didn't feel like making dinner.

Being that Justin has never made anything more than grilled cheese or a bowl of cereal we thought

it would be okay to go out tonight. 

Just this once.

Well believe me it was not okay.

In fact it was a very very bad idea.

We went to a Mexican place in town.

As soon as we got home the toilet was calling my name. 

Maybe a bit gross I know but learn from my mistake.

If you have been eating healthy and your body is all nice and clean 

DO NOT-I REPEAT DO NOT

put crap into your belly.

It may taste good going in but it doesn't feel too good coming out...

One Workout

This is so so true. As hard as it is to get to the gym once I go I feel AMAZING!! 

I know this sounds sad but again I am actually surprised we have been doing so well.

I guess the old adage holds true that the only way to be successful is to do it for you and only you.

This time I truly am doing it for me-most importantly my health.

Well and it doesn't hurt to lose a few pounds before I start my student teaching.

8th graders can be brutal... 

One Week Down...

The first week has now come to a close.

I am happy to report that 

I lost 3.8 lbs 

and 

Justin lost 9.3 lbs

What the heck?!?!

I don't get it. Why is it fair that men lose weight sooo much faster than women!

O well its okay I guess.

I'll take my 3.8 because it is something and at this point i'll take anything ;)

Here's to next week...

Lights out

I guess this is sort of how I feel except instead of alligators I have the threat of diabetes. 

But hey that's fine by me cause it seems to be working.

I don't think I have ever had this much motivation.

Day 4 has now come to a close and I am still going strong... surprisingly!

However we did get to indulge just a little bit tonight because our friends had us up to dinner.

Not to worry we headed to the gym straight afterwards 

and stayed until they shut the lights off...

Day 2 & 3

I am happy to report that yesterday and today have been very successful.

And its sad to admit but I am actually a teeny bit surprised. 

I guess the diabetes scare did it.

Being that I quit fast food and diet DP cold turkey I have been experiencing some withdraws. 

For instance yesterday I was having a lot of anxiety-I think my body is detoxing from the fast food.

Not to mention the ripping migraines from the lack of caffeine.

Combine that with bratty 7th graders at the Jr. High and I thought I was pretty much going to die.

Today however was much better-except

Today is when the cravings started to kick in.

Today was a day I said no.

I'm sure there will be many more days like that to face.

Justin and I also went to the gym tonight and last night. 

Go us!

Here's to making it through tomorrow!

One day at a time...

Day 1 Success

So after being totally and utterly terrified on Friday I feel like I finally have the motivation I need!!

The diet didn't really start until today...

I mean what was two more days of eating crap going to do to me ;)

We went shopping on Saturday.

I made a menu plan and started prepping for the week.

If its not instantly ready I will find something else so preparation is key.

Probably hence my fast food addiction. It's FAST!!

Today was a success!

Mind you I did spend 3 hours at church today and then took about a 3 hour nap...

but still for the hours I was awake and around food I exhibited self control!

Go me!

Now on to tomorrow where we incorporate exercise...

black line?

On Saturday Justin noticed I had a black line along the base of my neck. We both thought it was from the apron I had been wearing as part of my "Flo" from the progressive commercial costume and forgot all about it. 

This morning as I was getting ready for school I looked in the mirror at the back of my hair, as everyone should do, (have you ever seen an old lady with a flat spot or bald spot in the back of her hair-that's why you should always look) anyhoo I noticed that the line was still there...

After scrubbing it for a good minute with a washcloth and having no success at removing it I started to freak out a little bit.

So like any normal person with a mysterious black line on their neck would do I went straight to Web MD.

I found this...

And being that I am overweight and diabetes runs in my family I can to the conclusion that I must be diabetic.

After class I went to Urgent Care-they did a blood test-I am not YET diabetic.

Talk about the needed motivation.

I HAVE to do something to change.

Seriously... 

Why...

Why is this what always happens to me?

I decide in my head that I am going to do it. I am finally going to eat better! 

And then...

 5 minutes later I will smell McDonald's,

or a piece if cake,

or some french fries.

And then that resolution to be better flies right out the darn window while I am sitting in the drive thru!

It's been a while...

I know its been a while. I just haven't really had much to write about.

This past weekend was my brother-in-laws wedding. 

For months before hand I kept telling myself that I needed to lose weight.

And did it happen? No.

So the wedding came and I am still looking like a giant marshmallow puff and believe 

me the pictures reflect this very thing.

You would think by looking at the pictures and seeing that I can no longer "hide" my fat especially the fat on my face I would be motivated enough to start doing something about it.

Well when we went grocery shopping the other night I got some "healthy" items fully intending on eating them. Its now two days later and after a McDonald's breakfast and lunch, an Italian buffet, and about 6 slices of pizza for dinner tonight you can tell its not going so well.

Can someone give me the motivation and willpower I so desperately need??

There is no reason that I should be like this. 

I eat when I'm happy

I eat when I'm sad

I eat when I'm anxious

I eat when I'm bored

I just pretty much eat all day long

and it never seems to stop...

I read all of these wonderful stories about people who have done it-people who have lost the weight.

I want so badly to be one of those people.

Someday maybe.

So...

So after my last post and observing really just how bad I look I decided enough was enough for like the bazillionth time this year. We shall see how long this lasts.

Day 1 is complete of the South Beach Diet.

Day 1 is also complete of Zumba Wii Fitness.

My sweet husband surprised me with it a few days ago after I had been eyeing it.

Speaking of looking bad you should see me Zumba ;)

Now let me tell you that I am sick and congested at this very moment so completing a 20 minute Zumba workout was very difficult BUT I did it AND I will have you know that it ranked me as a Zumba Pro.

I'll work my way up to the hour workout when I can breath again. 

Furthermore I WANT BREAD!!!

For those of you who don't know about the South Beach Diet phase 1 lasts 2 weeks and carbs and fruit are banned!

It is supposed to rid you of your cravings to help you proceed with the rest of the diet wherein you add back in "good carbs" and fruit.

My doctor recommended it to me because she said I have too much of that dreaded belly fat.

Really lady?!? You think? I had no idea!! HAHA

So here is wishing me luck on day 2...

a year in review...

 

Okay so as horrifying as it is for me to share this with you I must because this blog is about laying it all out there.

We have just recently hit our year mark on our time here in Idaho.

I was looking through pictures over the last year and I noticed a trend...

Progressively over the last year I have gotten fatter and fatter. I'll let the above pictures do the talking. 

I mean seriously check out the difference in those two faces.

Gross!

The first picture was 30 lbs ago.

That's right I've gained back all of the 30 lbs lost at the beginning of 2010 and if its possible I think I look worse now than I did then.

Not to mention the fact that NONE of my clothes fit.

Which is a big bummer because I have a whole closet full of cute clothes that are just sitting their crying because they don't get to be shown to the world- and believe me they wouldn't be happy if they were shown to the world on this body right now because they wouldn't look so good with all the rolls!

So after looking back at this past year and seeing the physical proof of my self neglect and gluttonous eating I decided it was time to go to the gym...

So I went tonight for an hour-that was of course after I had a large helping of homemade macaroni and cheese. Don't worry I had some asparagus too. One step at a time!