HG Chili Cheese Burger - 297 Calories (56 Fat Cal, 6.17g Fat)

Guilt free Chili Cheese Burger, oh yea!

Ingredients
4 Franklin Farms Portabella Veggie Burgers
4 Sara Lee Healthy Heart Wheat Hamburger Buns
1/2 cup Hormel Vegetarian Chili with Beans 99% Fate Free
4 Lettuce Leafs
16 Dill Pickle Slices
4 Slices Purple Onion
4 Tomato Slices
4 Slices American Cheese 2% Milk (lower calories by choosing Fat Free Cheese)

Directions

1.Cook Veggie Burger as described on package (suggestion, spray pan non-stick spray, cook on stove top for 2-3 minutes each side) Melt cheese on top of patty. Meanwhile, heat Hormel Chili (vegetarian w/ Beans) 99% Fat Free as described on package (suggest microwave)

2.Open bun, toast if preferred. Add mustard to each side of bun. Layer lettuce, pickles, tomato, and onion on the bottom half of the bun. Place burger over the veggies on the bun's bottom half.

3.Top the burger with 2 tbls chili. Place bun top over the burger. ENJOY!

This was so quick and easy, and the kids enjoyed it a lot. I have never been big on chili cheese burgers or hotdogs, but this was a nice change of pace and an easy Friday night dinner. Dinner was on the table in less than 10 minutes (what a treat for me).

Consistency Changes things

There has been a lot going on lately and I have been under more stressed than usual. I am excited to say that I found myself throwing myself into my workout instead of running to food. I could literally feel the stress building and building, I couldn't wait to workout or hit the pavement. This evening, I was just slapped in the face with anxiety and stress and I felt like I need to run. I haven't run in years! It was raining out so I popped in my Walk Off the Pounds DVD and put all my energy in walking two miles... it felt great. I wanted to keep going, I felt like I could have gone another hour. It was an amazing feeling. I was so proud of myself when I realized that I was not in the kitchen dealing with my feelings, it wasn't even my first thought (of course it crossed my mind later) but initially, I went to exercise. WOW, me... I choose exercise! Consistency is paying off! I can't kid myself, I need to be careful because I am on edge and if I am not careful, I could wind up in the kitchen. I am going to take a hot shower and hit the sack, hopefully that two mile workout will put me to sleep like a baby!

Hungry Girl Cordon Bleu Chicken 210 Calories (55 Fat Cal, 6.07g Fat)

Deliciously rich Cordon Bleu Chicken filled with cheese and ham.

Ingredients
1 4oz boneless skinless chicken breast (1 breast per serving)
1 laughing cow light Swiss cheese wedge (1 per serving)
5 Slices Oscar Mayer 98% FF Ham (5 slices per serving)
Kosher Salt to Taste
Coarse Black Pepper to taste

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray Baking Dish with non-stick spray set to side.

2.Place 1 4 oz boneless skinless chicken breast on a piece of plastic wrap, pound meat using a meat tenderizer until it is about 1/4-inch thick.

3.Spread the cheese wedge over one side of chicken, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Evenly layer ham slices on top of the cheese. Starting at one edge, roll chicken and secure with toothpick.

4.Place in baking dish, cover with foil. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil, spray top of chicken with non stick spray, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Bake an additional 15 minutes or until chicken is golden/cooked through.

5.Each Chicken Breast is 210 Calories, 55 Fat Cal, 6.07g Fat.

Hungry Girl Eggplant Lasagna 257 Calories (45 Fat Cal, 4.98 Fat Gram)

Delicious and Easy Eggplant Lasagna, who said lasagna had to be so bad for the hips? You can expect to taste the flavors of Italy in the first bite, you will experience a robust flavor explosion!

Ingredients
1 unpeeled eggplant
1 large egg white
1/2 cup Kroger lowfat ricotta cheese
1 tbsp basil
1 tsp garlic
Dash of nutmeg
1 tbsp reduced fat Parmesan
1 cup chopped mushrooms
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
1/3 cup weight watchers mozzarella cheese
2 Sheets of Barilla Lasagna Oven Ready Noodles
1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray large baking sheet with non-stick spray and set to side. Slice Eggplant into 1/4 inch slices (do not peel) Spritz both sides of each eggplant slice with nonstick spray and place on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes, carefully flipping halfway through, until browned and softened.

2.Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine egg white, 1/2 cup lowfat ricotta cheese, 1 tbsp basil, 1/2 tsp chopped garlic, dash of salt, and a dash of nutmeg. Stir well and set aside.

3.Spray skillet with nonstick spray, bring to medium-high heat on the stove. Add 1 cup chopped mushrooms, stir occasionally, cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Stir mushrooms into ricotta mixture and set aside.

4.Add 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning to crushed tomatoes, and salt and black pepper to taste. Set aside.

5.Spray a large loaf pan (about 9" X 5") with nonstick spray. Pour 1/4 cup tomatoes evenly into the bottom of the pan. Top with 1 lasagna sheet. Spread half of the ricotta-mushroom mixture on top, followed by another 1/4 cup tomatoes. Top with eggplant slices to cover entire layer. Repeat layering with 1/4 cup tomatoes, 1 lasagna sheet, remaining ricotta-mushroom mixture, remaining 1/4 cup tomatoes, and remaining eggplant slices. (You will only use 2 lasagna sheets, use Barilla No Cook Noodles)

6.Evenly top with mozzarella and grated topping.

7.Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until cheese starts to brown. Makes 3 Servings. Serve and enjoy!

With only 257 Calories, 45 Fat Calories and 4.98g of Fat...this is a hit at the dinner table and to the hips! This is a delicious and savory dish, enjoy with a spinach salad and your favorite fat free or low fat salad dressing.

Apple Cinnamon Crescent Wraps 166 Cal (54 Fat Cal, 6g Fat)

Warm and delicious apple cinnamon crescent rolls

Ingredients
Pillsbury Reduced Fat Crescent Rolls
I Can't Believe Its Not Butter Spray
2 Medium Granny Smith Apples
1 Large Orange
1/3 cup Splenda
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
Dreyers Slow Churned No Sugar Added Vanilla Ice Cream

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 375 Degrees. Spray a square baking dish (2.5 QT) with fat free non-stick butter spray.

2.Peel and core granny smith apples. Cut apple in four parts and cut eat part into four pieces (16 slices from each apple).

3.Unroll Pillsbury Reduced Fat Crescent Rolls and separate into 8 triangles.

4.Spray both sides of crescent roll with fat free non-stick butter spray, Place 4 slices of apple at the end of crescent and roll up. Place in baking dish. Spray the top of each wrap with 5 squirts of I Can't Believe it's Not Butter Spray.

5.Squeeze the juice of orange into a bowl, should measure about 1/2 cup of juice, if not add water. Pour orange juice into baking pan, DO NOT pout over the top of wraps.

6.Mix 1/3 Cup Aspriva (Kroger brand of Splenda) or Splenda and 1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon. Sprinkle mixture over each wrap.

7.Place baking dish in over, bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 8 Servings. Place one wrap in bowl and top with 1/4 cup Dreyer's Slow Churned Rich & Creamy No Sugar Added Vanilla Ice Cream.

With Ice Cream: 166 Cal, 54 Fat Cal, 6g Fat.
Without Ice Cream: 121 Calories, 41 Fat Cal, 4.53g Fat

The kids went coo-coo over this, well okay... so did I! It was so easy to make, the boys did all the fixins and then we all got to enjoy it together. They had so much fun making these and felt good about helping in the kitchen.

It is so exciting to see them in the kitchen, checking out labels and being aware. We are certainly having fun in our kitchen trying new things. I hope you enjoy! This is truly the next best thing to a piece of warm apple pie and a scoop of ice cream! Not only is it delicious... it's pretty guilt free and would go well for dinner parties!

Delicious Crunchy Taquito's 230 Calories (21 Fat Calories only 2.29g of Fat)

Quick and Easy chicken taquitos, healthy food with a great crunch

Ingredients
Can of Rotel
1 Package of ground chicken breast (approx 2 cups)
1/2 cup fat free cheddar cheese
14 White Corn Tortilla's

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 375 Degrees. Spray baking sheet with fat free non-stick spray and set to the side.

2.Spray skillet with fat free non-stick spray, put in ground chicken and add can of rotel. Brown chicken completely, let cook until all liquid evaporated. Remove from heat, add 1/2 cup fat free cheddar cheese, mix well.

3.Wet two paper towels and ring out excess water. Place 14 Corn Tortilla's in between the paper towels, microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute. Remove from microwave and keep tortilla's covered.

4.Take one tortilla and spray both sides with fat free non-stick spray, fill tortilla with chicken mixture and roll up tortilla, insert toothpicks to hold together, place on baking sheet. Repeat until all tortillas are filled and rolled.

5.Place baking sheet in oven, bake 15-20 minutes.

Note: This recipes makes seven servings, each serving includes two taquito's
Two Taquito's = 230 Calories, 21 Fat Calories (2.29g fat)

Optional: Garnish with fat free sour cream and salsa

Suggested Side: Garden Salad with Salsa or your favorite lowfat/fat free dressing.


The kids loved it! I allowed them to have 4 each, they are young, full of energy and burn calories galore. If you are a fan of Mexican food, this is a must try! It was delicious and had that crunch that my mouth has really been missing!

Week 4 results - Woot-Woot!

OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH!!! Folks, week 4 results are in and I would literally do a back flip right now if I was physically capable!

01-01-2010
WEIGHT: 330 LB.
BUST: 55.00"
WAIST: 58.50"
ABDOMEN: 64.00"
HIPS: 65.00"
THIGHS: 34.00"
ARMS: 17.00"
BMI: 56.58

02-01-2010
WEIGHT: 312 LB.
BUST: 52.50" (-1.50")
WAIST: 52.80" (-6.00")
ABDOMEN: 62.00" (-2.00")
HIPS: 61.50" (-3.50")
THIGHS: 33.25" (-1.50")
ARMS: 18.25" (+2.50")
BMI: 53.95 (-2.64)

TOTAL RESULTS:
WEIGHT LOST: 18 POUNDS
INCHES LOST: 13 INCHES
BMI LOST: 2.64

Woo-Hoo, I am so hyped! I couldn't wipe the smile off my face if I tried! One month later and look at my results, I could just scream. Imagine in a one year or a year and half, what that could look like, how I could transform my health! I am so excited for the month of February and to see what I can accomplish.

What I learned in January:
1) Only you can Put yourself first, make time for you!
2) Water, water, water- stay hydrated (also curbs appetite)
3) Journal (blogging for me)
4) Food Diary: Count your calories, be aware of what you eat, write when you eat it!
5) Pre-plan meals
6) FORGIVE YOURSELF!!! BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!! LOVE YOURSELF!!!
7) One meal at a time, One day at a time


Goals for February:
1) Walk 40 miles
2) Lose 10 pounds
3) Have fun in the kitchen cooking healthy: new recipes; healthy desserts
4) Work out at Curves atleast 16 times (last month was 14)

WOO-HOO, I CAN DO THIS! I AM DOING THIS!

MUCH LOVE TO ALL MY SUPPORTERS AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED ME STAY ACCOUNTABLE, WITHOUT YOU, I DONT THINK I WOULD HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT I HAVE SO FAR. YOUR SUPPORT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME, I LOVE YOUR COMMENTS, FEEDBACK AND INPUT. THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THIS JOURNEY WITH ME!!! HUGS!

Skechers Shape-ups

We've all seen the commercials or heard the buzz about Sketchers Shape-ups. There is a lot of hype out there about them:

Improves Posture
Improves Blood Circulation
Strengthens the Back
Tightens Abdominal Muscles
Firms Buttock Muscles
Reduces Cellulite and Tones Thighs
Firms Calf Muscles

That is a lot to promise in one pair of shoes. Considering they cost $100, it is more than a pair of Jordan's can offer or a pair of Nike Shocks. I took the plunge and I bought a pear. They are big and bulky, not the cutest but there was a decent variety in color, I picked a pair that I thought looked fairly decent, silver and hot pink... pretty cute colors for tennis shoes... excuse me, fitness footwear!

When I bought them, I couldn't wait to get them on... I was ready to tone and burn the fat away with my shoes. They came with a DVD (are you serious) and an instructional booklet. Who needs instructional booklets for shoes, come on... someone just wants me to feel good about spending $100, right?

No, you need to read the manual. I think the shoes have great potential but I couldn't understand why I was in so much pain... Well first there is an art to walking in these babies... heel toe, heel toe. Another thing, you should only wear it for 30-45 minutes a day for a week or so, to allow your body to adjust. I wish that I would have read that before I went on my 2 mile walk today... oh man, momma was hurting... but in a good way. I could feel a burn in my calf and behind my legs below my bottom. Interesting, hmmm? I thought so myself.

Needless to day, tomorrow I am going to find the time to watch the video to make sure I really am walking correctly. I get measured on Wednesday at the gym... it will be my month one measurement results... I wonder what month two will look like with my continued dedication to eating healthy, working out and wearing the much talked about Shape-ups? I will keep you guys posted.

One thing is for sure, you will get some attention with these on your feet. I have had atleast 6 people approach me about the shoe in the last 48 hours (which 36 were spent indoors).

I've heard nothing but good things and so far, they have two thumbs up from me :)