Kiss the Cook Friday

I'm so excited! Today I am sharing a recipe that Gina so graciously granted permission for me to post on my blog! It's a recipe that I found on her wonderful blog, Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes. I made it this past Wednesday... and I absolutely LOVE IT! And I loved it SO much that I could NOT keep this recipe to myself! As soon as I tasted it... I KNEW that I had to share it with all of you!

All of the recipes on her blog look SO tasty and nutritious! And she provides the calories per serving and WW points values, too. (Thanks, Gina!)

The recipe I'm sharing today, as posted on Gina's blog, is Southwestern Black Bean Salad. (I'm posting it here, but if you'd like to see a fantastic photo of this recipe, be sure to check out the link!)

"This colorful, high fiber, high protein salad makes a great side dish, appetizer served with chips, or lunch served with fresh tortillas. This salad is low in saturated fat and loaded with antioxidants. A perfect summer side dish for grilled meat, fish or chicken.

Southwestern Black Bean Salad
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 12 • Size: 1/2 cup • Prep Time: 10 minutes • Calories: 106 • Points: 2.5 ww points

• 1 15.5 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 9 oz frozen corn, thawed
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 small hass avocado, diced
• 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
• 1 scallion, chopped
• 1 lime, juice of
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp cilantro
• salt and fresh pepper

Combine beans, corn, tomato, onion, scallion, cilantro, salt and pepper. Mix with lime juice and olive oil. Marinate in the refrigerator 30 minutes. Add avocado before serving. "

Mmmm! This is the perfect snack when served with whole-grain tortilla chips and a low-fat string cheese. That's how I've been eating it the past few days. I just can't get enough of this stuff! It would be great to serve at a party or picnic. I HIGHLY recommend that you try this. Your taste buds will thank you!

And be sure to check out Gina's blog for even more tasty and nutritious recipes! (Thanks again, Gina!)

(PS: I didn't have scallions or fresh cilantro on hand... so I used a shallot and 2 t. dried cilantro instead. And... it was fabulous! Also... if you will be the only one in your household eating this, consider only making half of the recipe at a time. I think that's what I'll do next time I make it.)

10 Minute Exercise Challenge

You know what? I turn into a total couch potato every night after supper. I do my regular workouts during the day, but in the evenings... I turn into a total slug. And here's why...

In the evening... my husband is finally home from work. He's tired... and likes to spend the night chilling in front of the TV. (Typical man, eh? hehe) And... I like to be with him all night because he is so freaking adorable. So... what do I do? I sit on my butt and vegetate right alongside him. Yeah... it's good for my marriage... but not so good for my waistline!

So... I have decided to challenge myself to get in at least 10 minutes of physical activity after supper every night. And for me... it's going to be 10 minutes on the stationary bike. If I can manage to bike 10 minutes each night... it will add up to over an hour of exercise each week... which will add up to over 4 hours of exercise each month!

Wow! Four extra hours of exercise each month... simply by adding 10 minutes of exercise to my routine each night! I am SO going to do this!

And what about you? Could YOU somehow work in 10 minutes of extra exercise each day or night? I bet you could! In fact... consider this an official challenge! Let me know if you're up to the challenge... and let me know what your plan is! I bet just making this one little change is going to benefit us SO much!

And one more thing... my ultimate strategy is to get my husband to NOT be so much of a TV-watching, remote-control-wielding couch potato! As soon as I reach 299 and feel more comfortable exercising in the outside world... I am going to challenge him to start biking outdoors with me every night. I know he'll do it... because he has wanted to do that in the past but I always refused because I did not want to ride a bike in public because of my weight.

But... I am SO excited now! I feel like the whole world is suddenly opening up to me! And... it's going to start with this extra 10 minutes each day!

Who's going to join me? :)

Wednesday Weigh In - Week 24

Woo hoo! I am SO excited! I am FINALLY out of the 350's!!! I am FINALLY closer to 300 pounds than I am to 400 pounds! Yippee!!!

I had a fabulous weigh-in this morning... and I could not be more thrilled! Here's how the numbers stack up:

Last Week: 354.8 lbs.
This Week: 349.8 lbs.
Pounds Lost: 5
Total Lost Since 02-09-09: 51.0 lbs.

Yay!!! I have officially lost 51 pounds since Feb. 9th! The first 50 is GONE... and I only have 149 more pounds to go to reach goal! I am 1/4 of the way there! And I feel SO optimistic about continuing this journey and reaching goal! I really feel like there is hope for me... and I feel like I DO have the power to lose all of this weight! And what a great feeling that is!

299 is just around the corner. I know it is! And I will be working my butt off to get rid of this next 50 pounds. Maybe I'll be at 299 by the end of the year. Who knows? It really doesn't matter. All that matters is that I WILL reach 299 within the next few months. And I will be out of the 300's FOREVER!!!

And until then... you know what I'm going to be doing. I'm going to be taking it one day at a time and doing the best that I can each day! :)

xo,
C.C.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

Who is the fairest one of all??? Definitely not me!

In fact... every time I pass a mirror... I cringe. I absolutely hate looking at the reflection of my body in the mirror! Sometimes I go for days and days not focusing on the reflection from the neck down. I just don't want to face this large mass of pudge every day of my life!

It's bad enough knowing it's there. Do I really need to see it, too? I think not. Because when I see it... I do NOT like what I see! And I inevitably end up feeling depressed and discouraged.

Sure... I've lost almost 50 pounds since February. But to be perfectly honest... I really don't see that big of a difference when I look in the mirror. Don't get me wrong... I do see a small difference... and for that I am thankful. But when you're hoping to see a big difference... it can be somewhat disheartening when you don't.

The other day... contrary to habit... I took a good, long look at myself in the mirror. I twisted and turned, and glared at my reflection from every angle. I felt happy that I've lost weight recently. But I could not deny the fact that I still have a very, very long way to go... not when the evidence was so plainly staring me back in the face.

All I know is... I can't quit now. I can never quit this journey. This is one journey that I have got to finish... no matter how long it takes. And as I stood in front of the mirror... the only thought that kept running through my mind was... "You have GOT to keep going, girl. You have GOT to keep going!"

So... that's what I'm going to do. And one day I am going to stand in front of that mirror and actually LIKE what I see.

And what I am going to see is a reflection of a woman who just did not quit!

Kiss the Cook Friday

Wow! It's been a long time since I posted a recipe for "Kiss the Cook Friday!" In fact... the last recipe I posted was Hungarian Goulash on June 5th! I had hoped to post a new recipe EVERY Friday... but... well... that's just not going to happen. Sorry! hehe

Today I'm sharing a healthier version of an old favorite. I didn't say this recipe was healthy. I said it was health-i-ER. So if you're avoiding sugar, God bless you... you are my hero... but this recipe is not for you.

The key to my success so far has been moderation, not deprivation. I don't make treats often, but when I do... I enjoy one small serving and count the calories. It's been working so far... and if that approach works for you, too... you will certainly want to try today's recipe.

Are you curious yet? No need to fret! The wait is over. Today I am sharing a recipe for Low-Fat Mini-Cheesecakes! (These are a favorite of my husband... so I really don't have to worry about eating more than one anyway. hehe)

So... without further ado... here is my version of Low-Fat Mini-Cheesecakes:



Low-Fat Mini-Cheesecakes

(This recipe makes 6, but can easily be doubled.)

Ingredients:

1 (8 oz.) Neufchatel Cheese (room temperature)
1/4 cup white sugar
½ t. vanilla
1 egg
1 lemon for the following:
*1 ½ t. lemon juice
*1 t. grated lemon peel

(You can substitute lemon juice from a bottle if you don’t have a fresh lemon, or 1/4 t. lemon extract would work, too. Fat Free Cream Cheese would probably work well, too... but I've never tried that.)

6 Vanilla Wafer cookies for crusts (optional)

You will also need a cupcake pan and 6 cupcake liners. Foil liners are nice, but paper will work, too.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Place Neufchatel Cheese in medium sized mixing bowl and allow it to come to room temperature. Whisk lightly, and then whisk in the sugar, egg, vanilla, lemon juice, and grated lemon peel. Mixture should be smooth and creamy.

Line the cupcake pan with the liners. Place a Vanilla Wafer cookie in the bottom of each liner if desired. Spoon Neufchatel Cheese mixture evenly into your liners. Place cupcake pan on the center rack of the preheated oven, and bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for about 15 minutes before removing cheesecakes, and then allow the cheesecakes to cool to room temperature. Place in covered container and chill and store in refrigerator.


Servings per recipe: 6
Serving Size: 1 mini-cheesecake
Calories per mini-cheesecake, no Vanilla Wafer Crust: 138
Calories per mini-cheesecake WITH Vanilla Wafer Crust: 154

(PS: I also like to puree raspberries and drizzle the sauce over my dessert plate before placing the mini-cheesecake on the plate. It looks pretty... and it's yummy, too!)

The Woman of His Dreams

My husband had a nice little dream the other night. He dreamed that I was skinny. (See... I TOLD you it was a dream! hehe)

And, of course... I asked him what this thin, dreamy me looked like. He got an impish smile on his face and said, "You looked goooooooooooood." And then he proceeded to tell me that in the dream he picked me up and couldn't take his eyes off me.

He also told me that I lost all the weight overnight. Ha! If only it were that easy! hehe

But seriously... I SO want to be the woman in his dream! I SO want to be thin one day! I SO want him to be able to pick me up and not receive a hernia in the process! I SO want him to tell me that I look "gooooooooooooooooood!"

The woman of his dream is the woman of my dreams, too. Almost every day I daydream about what life is going to be like when I'm finally at a "normal" weight. And that dream helps to keep me going day after day. Because I know that this is one dream that can and WILL come true... as long as I continue to persevere.

Wednesday Weigh In - Week 23

Good Lord! When am I going to get out of the 350's???

I'm feeling a bit frustrated today. I don't have a loss to report... and I just feel like screaming.

Here's how the numbers stack up:

Last Week: 352.0 lbs.
This Week: 354.8 lbs.
Pounds Gained: 2.8
Total Lost Since 02-09-09: 46.0 lbs.

Yes... I'm thrilled that I've lost 46.0 lbs. since Feb. 2nd... but I've been in the 350's since May 27th! I feel like the summer is slipping away from me... and I've got nothing to show for it. After all... don't people typically lose MORE weight during the summer than they do the rest of the year? What the heck is wrong with me?

I feel like I'm doing everything right... at least 99% of the time. I've been sticking to 1,800 calories a day, and I've been exercising several times a week. I was sure that I would break through the 350's at today's weigh-in.

I did eat some salty restaurant food Monday and Tuesday nights. And I did go over my calories on Monday. So I'm sure that's the reason for my gain... and it's my own fault. But still! I just want to be out of the 350's ASAP! It is NOT fun weighing this freaking much and I am SO tired of being this freaking fat!!!

Just keepin' it real...

xo,
C.C.

Blog Problem Update

Hi, everyone! I hope you're all having a fabulous week so far!

And... I just want to thank everyone who has commented on my last post about the blog problem I've been experiencing. I got rid of some third-party widgets, so if that has cleared up the problem for all of you... could you please let me know?

Oh... and the problem actually DID occur with Mozilla Firefox... so it wasn't just happening with IE. It happened to me a few times when I was moderating and posting comments... and it annoyed the heck out of me. So... I just want to let all of you know that I am SO sorry that this is happening and that you may have had to deal with it... and I am doing everything possible to solve this problem ASAP!

By the way... my blog looks TERRIBLE when viewed with IE! So... I apologize for that, too! lol

Anyway... thanks again for all your help and input so far! And if the changes I made did the trick and got rid of the annoying pop-up... please let me know.

xo,
C.C.

PS: I'll be posting my weigh-in sometime Wednesday... so keep your fingers crossed for me! :)

Blog Problem

A few blog buddies have let me know that they've had problems viewing my blog with IE. Has anyone else had this problems recently?

There seems to be no problem when viewing with Mozilla Firefox, which is what I use, so I heartily suggest that if you don't use Mozilla Firefox... you may want to make the switch.

To be more specific... the following is an excerpt from an email I received from a good friend in regard to the problem:

"When I go to your blog today, I get one of two errors:

1. it says Operation aborted. IE cannot open the site.

or

2. it sends me directly to a site that says "meet a stranger, free" and wants me to click a button. I didn't click it. Its called imeetzu. This is a known blogger issue here: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=362041739504e5b9&hl=en "

Any suggestions as to how I can fix this??? Thanks in advance!

And... sorry for any inconvenience this has caused any of you!

My Husband Really Turned Me On...

To spinach, that is! (Get your mind out of the gutter! Yes, I'm talking to YOU! hehe)

Seriously... prior to my marriage a few years ago... the closest I came to eating spinach was watching Popeye cartoons on TV as a child. I thought that spinach was some gloppy green goo that only came in a can. I figured that because it was portrayed as being so good for Popeye... it probably tasted like poo.

Boy was I wrong! Thanks to my hubby... spinach became a staple of our diet early on in our marriage. And I currently eat it almost every day!

I eat it fresh in salads and wraps. I eat it cooked in soups and stews. I eat it sauteed as a side dish with garlic and olive oil. It's a fantastic addition to a yummy omelette. Honestly... I just cannot get enough spinach in my diet! And I can't believe that I lived so many years of my life having never tasted it!

And, as you know... Popeye was right! Spinach really is good for you!

It's "low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Niacin and Zinc, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Vitamin K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Copper and Manganese."

What are some healthy foods that someone else turned you on to that YOU now can't live without?

Week 22 Weigh-In

Yay! I'm happy to report another loss this week! Here's how the numbers stack up:

Last Week: 352.8 lbs.
This Week: 352.0 lbs.
Pounds Lost: 0.8
Total Lost Since 02-09-09: 48.8 lbs.

I "only" lost 0.8 lbs. this week... but I'm feeling on top of the world... because I'm not focusing on ONE week's weight loss. I'm standing back and looking at things in perspective. And I know that it's all of these little... and sometimes not-so-little... losses each week that are adding up to major weight loss for me.

So far... in 22 weeks... I've lost 48.8 pounds! And THAT is something to be very happy about! I'm only 1.2 lbs. away from having 50 pounds off! I'm only 2.1 lbs. away from being under 350 pounds! And at that point I'll be closer to 300 pounds than I am to 400 pounds! I'm only 1.2 lbs. away from having lost 25% of my goal of losing 200 pounds! Soon... I'll only have 150 pounds to lose... not 200 pounds to lose!

I feel like I'm on a roll... and I have no intention of stopping. This is IT for me. This is THE time that I am going to lose all of this excess weight once and for all! Nothing is going to stop me now!

And... thank you so much for all of your encouragement! I could NOT be doing this without all of you! You guys are the best!

Have a great week, everyone!

xo,
C.C.

Coming Out of the Closet

Today I'm cleaning out my closet and saying bye-bye to all of the old, ugly black and navy blue men's t-shirts that have overtaken the biggest part of my wardrobe for the past several years. And... let me tell you... it is a fantastic and freeing feeling!!! Tossing these disgusting t-shirts into the trash bag is the most fun I've had in weeks! hehe

And right here and right now I vow that I will NEVER again buy or fit into a men's 4X t-shirt!!!

From now on... it's going to be pretty, feminine, colorful clothing for me! And I'm happy to say that a few girly blouses that I purchased last summer... but was never able to wear because they were too small... do fit me now! Woo hoo!

You know... I really can't believe how good getting rid of these old t-shirts feels! So let me suggest that if YOU have anything old and ugly in your closet that YOU have been hiding in... let today be the day that you throw it into the trash! Because I think you'll be getting rid of more than the ratty clothing. You'll be getting rid of the negative thoughts that went along WITH the clothing.

At least that seems to be what's happening with me. Today I'm wearing a nice blouse instead of an ugly men's t-shirt. And I totally feel like a new woman. Actually... I feel like a WOMAN. Period.

So... anything need to come out of YOUR closet and go into the trash? Let me know... because I'm nosy like that. hehe

Week 21 Weigh-In/5 Month Anniversary

Yippee! I am SO happy that I have a fabulous weight loss to report to you this week! And today is my 5-month anniversary since getting back on track on February 9th, so that makes this weigh-in even more special and fantastic!

Five months ago... I hit an all-time high of 400.8 pounds. It was also an all-time LOW emotionally. I will never forget that day as long as I live. I was totally devastated... and totally disappointed and appalled that I had let myself reach and eclipse the 400 lb. mark. I felt absolutely hopeless and helpless. I had allowed emotional eating to control my life... and it was destroying my body... and my life. I had been in a deep, dark funk for months... and I felt like I was slowly sinking into a dark abyss that I would never be able to climb out of.

But... it was exactly the wake-up call that I needed. So... looking back... I am thankful in a way that it happened... because it motivated me to finally get serious about weight loss. It forced me to deal with the issues that were causing me to overeat. And if I hadn't dealt with those issues... I never would have begun to lose weight.

So... no matter what you weigh today... please know that there IS hope for you! No matter how bad it seems right now... no matter how discouraged you feel... you DO have the power to change! You are NOT trapped in an obese body and doomed to stay at your current weight for the rest of your life! There IS a way out! Just believe in yourself... start to make healthier choices... and always focus on the positive! Take it one day at a time and do the best that you can each day! Every healthy decision that you make is going to add up... and the results will amaze you!

And don't compare yourself to anyone else. You are a unique individual. You have your own set of reasons why you are overweight. You have your own issues to deal with. Your body will respond differently to different plans, calorie levels, and workout routines than anybody else's body will respond. Find what works for YOU... and then do it!

And always remember that you are not alone! I'm here fighting the fight right beside you, counting calories, exercising, dealing with issues, and overcoming obstacles every day as I continue this "journey to lose 200 pounds!"

Don't give up... keep persevering... and believe that the happiest, healthiest, best days of our lives are ahead! Because they are! :)

And now... here are how the numbers stack up at this 21st week of being "back on track," in spite of having been "off-plan" for about 3 of those weeks. (See... one doesn't need to be perfect... one just needs to be persistent!)

Last Week: 356.4 lbs.
This Week: 352.8 lbs.
Pounds Lost: 3.6
Total Lost Since 02-09-09: 48 lbs.

That's 48 lbs. in 5 months, at an average of 2.28 pounds per week! Not too shabby... if I do say so myself!

Sure... it would be great to lose 4 or 5 pounds a week... but for me "slow and steady wins the race" seems to be the way to go. And I'm fine with that. In 5 months I'm already nearly 25% of the way to my goal of losing 200 pounds... and if it takes me 2 years to accomplish that feat... so be it. The important thing to focus on is that I WILL accomplish it!

And I just want to thank all of you wonderful blog buddies who have been so faithful with your encouragement, support, and inspiration. I could not do this without you! You have added so much to my journey by being here for me... by not giving up on me... and your support is absolutely priceless! Thank you SO much!



I hope you are all having a fabulous week. I love you all... and I know that good things are ahead for all of us!

xo,
C.C.

Quick HYC Check-In

So... how are all you fellow HYC Challenge members doing? I hope you're doing great! (And if you're not a HYC Challenge member... I hope YOU are doing great, too! hehe)

Here's a quick rundown of where I stand at the moment...

1. I feel like a fresh wave of determination and focus has hit me since my company left... and I'm hoping to ride this baby for a long, long time!

2. June seemed like it was a bust... having been "off plan" for about 2 weeks and losing "only" 2.8 lbs. all month. But that's my own fault. I slacked off and didn't give weight loss my best efforts. And I AM thankful that I had a loss and not a gain. However... I'm looking forward to having an absolutely fantastic July! No more settling for mediocrity!

3. The next milestone I want to cross is to get under 350 pounds. That will be HUGE for me! The last time I weighed less than 350 was on 11/01/07 when I checked in at 342 lbs. The lowest recorded weight since starting this blog on 08/16/07 was when I weighed in at 240.7 lbs. on 10/04/07. So... I'm REALLY looking forward to getting under 350 lbs... and, most importantly... STAYING under 350 pounds! And I'm hoping to meet that goal this month. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

4. Instead of doing my usual Wednesday Weigh-In this week, I'm going to weigh-in on Thursday, July 9th. That will mark exactly 5 months since getting back on track on Feb. 9th, and I want to see how much weight I've lost in that exact time period.

So... have a great week, everyone! Stay focused... stay strong... and determine in your heart that nothing is going to stop you from reaching your goals! And... you know what? Nothing will! :)

xo,
C.C.

Fat-Friendly Restaurants

I hate to admit it... but every time my husband asks me to go out for dinner... or even breakfast on a Saturday... I cringe. I absolutely cringe, I tell you! And a big wave of fear starts to well up deep inside me and totally engulfs my very being.

Strange reaction... because most women would jump up and down and shout for joy and be absolutely ecstatic if their husband asked them out... at least most women who are NOT morbidly obese.

But me... I get scared to death that I will not be able to fit in the chairs or booths at most restaurants. I have a little too much "junk in the trunk" to fit into most chairs with arms. And my bulging belly is certainly not booth-friendly. So... I only agree to go to certain restaurants... restaurants that I'm sure are "fat-friendly" because of their armless chairs.

Believe me... having limited restaurants to go to is NOT fun. And I figure that once I lose about 60 more pounds... fitting in chairs or booths will not be so much of an issue for me. Being able to go to ANY restaurant in town is one of the things that I am most looking forward to as I lose weight. And when I no longer have to worry about fitting in chairs or booths... it is going to be one of the happiest days of my life!

That being said... what are your favorite "fat-friendly" restaurants? Which restaurants that you frequent have armless chairs? Which restaurants could I go to right now? In particular... what kind of seating does "Macalister's Deli" have? I'd love to go there sometime... but... well... you know.

Thanks in advance for your recommendations!!! :)

A Happy Holiday

Yesterday we celebrated Independence Day here in America, and I must say that hubby and I and a few family members had an absolutely fantastic day! It was a beautiful day, we had a great time, and I made it through the day totally "on plan!" Now that's the way to spend a holiday!

We started out by going to a Fourth of July parade, and that was followed by a nice, healthy dinner at a nice steak house restaurant. And we ended the day by viewing a great fireworks display... one of my favorite things in the world! (Yes... I am like a kid when it comes to fireworks. hehe)

For dinner I had a salad with lite dressing, a teeny-tiny sliver of fresh bread, a combo meal of grilled chicken breast/6 grilled shrimp, 1/2 baked sweet potato with about 1 teaspoon each of butter and brown sugar, and unsweetened iced tea. Yum! I definitely had the healthiest meal of anyone sitting at that table.

The Fourth of July is my favorite holiday... and in my opinion... it just doesn't get any better than that!

Now... it's your turn! How was your Fourth of July? I hope it was everything you wanted it to be and more! :)

Fourth of July Challenge Final Check In

Just a reminder to all Fourth of July Challenge Members...

Please be sure to stop by the Fourth of July Challenge blog today for the final check-in!

And... have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend! :)

xo,
C.C.

What Happened to June???

So... I officially lost only 2.8 pounds in June! What the heck happened??? Hmmm... could it be that I was totally off plan for two weeks? Yeah... I think that has something to do with it. Darn vacation!

Vacation counts for one of the two bad weeks anyway. Actually... I'll blame BOTH bad weeks on vacation... because the other bad week was spent stressing about whether or not I would be able to stay on plan during vacation. Crazy, isn't it? But... I have no regrets... only lessons learned.

I definitely would have done things differently if I had it to do over again, but I'm not going to cry over spilled milk. I'm just moving forward with my Christmas goal of getting below 300 pounds... a weight I haven't seen for at least 10 years.

I have six months to lose 56.4 pounds... and that is definitely do-able! I'm going to do my best to reach my goal. And reaching it will be one of the best Christmas presents EVER!!!

What goals would you like to accomplish by the time Christmas rolls around?