Shrimp Cocktail: 225 Calories, 8g Fat

Delicious treat that takes you to the streets of Mexico. Full of flavor and the perfect hint of cilantro, enjoy this treat as an appetizer or a main course.

Ingredients
2 1/2 cup Thawed frozen precooked shrimp
1 1/2 cup Heinz Ketchup
6 Medium Tomatoes (dice)
1/2 Red Onion (thinly dice)
1/2 White Onion (thinly dice)
5 Fresh Jalapeno Peppers (de-seed and dice)
1/2 cup Cilantro Leaves (dice)
1 Lime (juice only)
2 tbsp hot sauce (like Tabasco)
1 tsp garlic powder or 1 pressed garlic clove
2 avocados

Directions
1.Thaw frozen prepared salad shrimp, once thawed, place 2 1/2 cups of shrimp to the side (the remaining shrimp will not be used in this recipe).

2.Dice 5 Medium Tomatoes and place in large bowl. Thinly dice 1/2 of red onion, place in bow. Thinly dice white onion, place in bowl. De seed 5 Jalapeno Peppers, dice thinly, place in bowl. Chop 1/2 cup cilantro leaves, place in bowl. Squeeze the juice of one lime into mixture. Add Shrimp, 1 1/2 cup Heinz tomatoe ketchup, 2 tbsp hot sauce (like Tabasco), 1 tsp garlic powder or press one garlic glove, add a few dashes of sea salt and mix well.

3.This treat can be enjoyed immediately or to enjoy robust flavor, place mixture in fridge for 3 hours. Before serving remove seed and dice 2 avocados, place in shrimp cocktail, stir and ENJOY!

This recipe is great with tortilla chips or saltine crackers. If you like yours a little more soupy, add 1/2 cup clamato juice (tomato/clam juice or 1/2 cup spicy V8)

Servings: 8
Calories: 225
Fat Cal: 76
Fat: 8.45g
Carb: 25.32g
Fiber: 6.00g
Protein:16.15g
Weight Watcher: Approx 4 PTS

*Calories can be reduced significantly without using Avocados. If the recipe is prepared without Avocados the calorie content would change to: CAL: 144, FAT CAL: 10, Tot Fat 1g, Carb 21g, Fiber 2.6g, Protein 15.15g

All Choked Up

In so many ways! The first one is a little off subject but I want to share. Have you ever seen anything so gross, you just have to ask someone else to look at it? You know, when you smell something spoiled and your compelled to ask someone else to come and smell it, knowing it almost made you pass out? Okay... well this is just like that, so those weak stomachs... STOP NOW! For those of you who against your better judgement, smell it or take a look... keep reading!

Okay, I've been having this issue: my shower does not drain. I had my house built 3 years ago, and well, it never seemed to drain very well. Over the last few years, it has gotten worse and I have tried it all... plunging and plunging like a mad woman! I even bought this special plunger that was just for tubs but to no avail, nothing, it didn't work. I have to admit, after plunging for an hour here and there, it would drain a little better but before you know it, 45 minutes for the tub to drain. I have tried time after time to take the drain cover off but I couldn't. Who ever heard of a drain cover that doesn't come off? So, when the water chokes up, I grab for the special plunger. The other day, it was even worse. It took 4 hours, yes... you read that right, 4 freaking hours for my tub drain! Enough is enough. I decided, something had to be done. I was dead set on getting that drain cover off, after several straining hours (slight exaggeration) I finally saw it, underneath the drain cover there was a screw! OMG, that is it? Countless hours spent testing the lefty losey righty tighty technique and all I needed was a phillips head screw driver? Off to the tool box I go; and before you know it... it's off, 3 years of fighting with this and all I needed was a screw driver?!?!? All you can do is laugh. So, the drain cover is off and OH MY GOSH! What I see, is unbelievable, I don't see anything but hairball, is that from my head? The builders must have showered in tub before I moved in and I must say, they must have been some hairy people, there is no way that all came from my head. I tried to pull the hairball out but oh no, it was not moving... back to the tools and after about 25 minutes, it was out... oh yea... here it is



You know, we always take a second look... so here it is! Yes, those were the tools I used, hey, woman are creative, whatever it takes to get the job done!



Well, the drain works better than ever! Its like a dream, it almost sounds like there is a person in my pipes with a water vac, sucking the water down the drain. I took a nice bubble bath afterwords and my water was literally drained completely by the time I stepped out, threw on my robe and opened the bathroom door... unbelievable!

All right, enough of that. Now down to business... no stomach advisories here! As many of you know, I wasn't able to work out because of medical issues, I have been eating healthy but I haven't been tracking what I was eating. I was so worried. This morning, I went to the gym and oh my gosh, I have lost 3 pounds! Yes, 3 whole pounds. Obviously, working out takes it to the next level but the fact I didn't gain and I actually lost. I must admit, I was so worried that I had gained and I didn't, WOO-HOO! So... with the 3 pounds that takes me to a loss of 48 pounds!!! Yes 48 LBS, I can't believe I am only 2 pounds away from losing 50 pounds! I nearly cried, thus, I was all choked up! I am just so excited and pleased with myself. I feel so proud. This of course, helped kick that strange wacky feeling out the window (I have been feeling out of whack because of not exercising and tracking). After I came home from the gym, I rode my bike for 2.5 miles and when my son came home from school, we took the dogs to the park and walked 2 miles. I just felt on top of the world. Now, I have to admit, I was really sore tonight, I am pretty sure it was from the gardening I did yesterday (two hours with about 45 minutes of hard core shoveling) or the 8 mile hike on Sunday. I am pretty sure it was the shoveling, my shoulders, back and abs are killing me! Gardening is no joke! I wish I had a green thumb, I'd like to plant a garden but first I must tackle the stickers in my yard, UGH! Just thinking of it, what a head ache!

Anyhow... here are a few pics from our hike on Sunday:







Not to be redundant, but did I mention that I am only TWO itty bitty pounds away from losing 50 Pounds? Oh, I think I did! And if your wondering, YES, I am still All Choked Up, I am almost 50 pounds lighter!!!! YIPPEE!

Magical Disappearing Act

Where do I begin? It seems as though it has been ages since I have blogged or SPARKED. I feel off balance, like I am missing something. The good news is that I haven't fallen off the deep end or even off the wagon, life has been crazy lately. So to clear the air, I am still working towards my goals but I definitely need to re-center myself.

As many of you know, my journey began in January with a desire to overcome obesity. I didn't know how I would do it, I just knew I wanted to do something to become healthier and I was going to blog all about it. As I began, I hadn't committed to anything other than blogging and as the days and weeks went on, I realized that the changes I was making in my life were lifestyle changes, no quick fixes, just good old fashioned healthy eating and exercise, I took off and soar. I have learned so many things about myself that I would have never imagined possible. If anyone in their right mind would have told me that in 3 months time that I could tackle a 10 mile hike or a 5 mile bike ride, I would have laughed in their face but today, I know it is possible. One of the biggest turning points for me was realizing that my journey to overcome obesity is all about me, putting myself first, taking control of my health and embracing change and the unknown. I jumped in feet first and didn't look back (thanks to support of my blog supporters and my SPARK friends, love you guys!)

Everything has been going great but slowly, I found myself getting further from SPARK and my blog. It started last month, between going out of town, Spring Break, my nephew being stabbed, emergency oral surgeries (which, I haven't mentioned it, but I will be having two more surgeries over then next two weeks, UGH!) well, Life, it happens and well, you have to deal with it.

With everything going on, I haven't been online, I haven't tracked my food and I haven't been able to workout due to Dr's orders and well, sutures in my mouth. On Sunday, I was finally able to get out and enjoy a great 8 mile hike with my girlfriend (thanks Rai, loved it) and that really helped!!! It felt so good to get out and do something not to mention, it relieved some major stress :) I am so ready to hit the gym again and get back on track with my exercise. The bad news, is it will be awhile, I have a few more surgeries and I know, I will have to take things very slowly.

The good news is that I realize, putting my health first also means, following the Dr's orders and well, taking care of my dental issues is part of putting my health first. So things will slow down for a while but overall, I still am making good choices, I am eating healthy and I recognize, this is not the end, my healthy lifestyle continues, I am just driving through a school zone right now.... taking things slow.

I spent sometime reflecting and I recognized that I was spending so much of my time tracking calories, exercising, SPARKING; and blogging that honestly, stopping for a few days was almost like vacation but now it has been almost two weeks which could easily turn to 3 and even 4 or 5. I can't let that happen. I honestly realize that I feel completely off balance: my energy levels are different, my state of mind, my stress levels... its just out of wack. In this, I realize, I really am making a lifestyle change because I do feel off. That is saying something, my body wants physical activity... I am really in the middle of making a lifestyle change.

I am going in on Wednesday for another surgery and then next week I will have my final surgery (I HOPE, cross your fingers) so I know I will continue to be limited on what I can do over the next 2 or 3 weeks. What I do commit to doing is going back to the basics, counting calories, tracking EVERYTHING, and getting in atleast 10 minutes of activity a day which for now, it will probably be just walking but as I tell others, every little step counts!

I shared this with my girlfriend this weekend and she said something, "Shit happens but at the end of the day, you still have goals that you are working towards, so what are you going to do?"

So, its the end of the day and my health is still my priority. This is not a gimmick, this is my life and my health, I am in this for the long run no matter what obstacles may come my way. 2010 is my year and I am rock'n it!