Made to Crave: A Verse That Calls Me to Action

Hello!!! I've been so busy lately I haven't written anything in over a year!!!! Between grad school and wedding planning my blog (among other things I enjoy) have fallen by the wayside.  As you know, losing weight and being healthy has been something I have constantly had to work on and struggle with.  Through Proverbs 31 Ministries I found an online bible study for women having this same issue called Made to Crave!!!  This week is our week of #ACTION!  Today we're doing a photo hop where we share a verse that calls us to action and gives us encouragement.  One that I CONSTANTLY turn to is Philippians 4:6-7

This verse has given me so much hope and encouragement over the years, and I hope it will do the same for you.  Ready. Set. #ACTION

Wordless Wednesday- Fitness

Stuffed Peppers

One of my favorite dishes growing up was my mom's stuffed peppers. For me the best part is the stuffing- dirty rice! I LOVE dirty rice. Seriously. I'm gonna marry it. Anyway, This recipe is pretty simple and REALLY yummy. And it's only about 6 points+ for one stuffed pepper.
Serves 4; Some rice will be left over (YUM!)
Here's What You'll Need
For the Dirty Rice:
1 Lb ground turkey
1 onion, chopped
1 or 2 stalks celery, chopped
1 small bell pepper chopped (save 4 peppers to stuff)
1 cup of rice, cooked separately
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup chopped parsley (optional)
For the Peppers:
4 small- medium green peppers
1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a large skillet, brown meat and onion in oil. Add chopped celery and bell pepper and cook until tender- about 15 minutes. Add cooked rice, salt, and pepper. After adding rice, check to be sure there's enough liquid to keep it from burning. If necessary, add a tiny bit of water- maybe a tablespoon or 2. Stir well until everything is blended. Cover and cook over low heat 15-20 minutes. Add parsley and stir again. Let sit, covered, for a few minutes before serving.

For the peppers, cut and empty each pepper. To make them stand easier, slice the bottom very slightly to make it flat. While the dirty rice is cooking boil the peppers until tender. Spoon dirty rice into bell peppers. Stand them in a baking dish and add bread crumbs on top. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes- until the bread crumbs are brown.
ENJOY!
I hope you like this as much as I do. They really are delicious!! And no worries if you forget to boil the peppers, it doesn't change the taste at all- They're just a little harder to cut. I forgot the first time lol. Let me know what you think!!

Almost 20 pounds gone!!

ZUMBA!

Okay, I FINALLY tried Zumba. My absolutely wonderful mother got me the Zumba Exhilarate DVD set! I tried it for the first time today and I LOVE it!!!!!

I never look forward to working out- it's always annoying and sometimes painful, and even though I feel better after I hate doing all that "work." THANKFULLY, Zumba is so much fun!!! It's a workout (that's for sure) but the dancing and the music make you forget you're exercising (besides the sweat and the difficulty breathing lol)!

I am not the most coordinated or agile person in the world. And, somehow, I lost the rhythm I used to have in high school (or maybe it was all in my head). But, Zumba is super easy! I don't get ALL the steps quite right, but it doesn't matter if you're having fun with it! It's great cardio and it works EVERYTHING! What I really love is that I can do these DVDs in the privacy of my living room so I don't look like an idiot LOL. I get really self-conscious when I go to workout classes, and this is the first time I've tried Zumba. I usually tire really quickly when I workout, but, surprisingly, this didn't happen with Zumba! In fact, after an hour of learning the moves and 30 minutes of full-out working out I still wanted to keep going! Unfortunately, I can't just stop my life LOL.

I look forward to continuing using this and getting better at the moves! This makes me actually want to work out! I can't wait to try some of the harder stuff! If you hate working out like me I definitely think you should try it. I don't know how you could NOT love it!!

Here's the link to get the DVDs -> http://www.zumba.com/shop/category/dvd_s/

Also, there's Zumba for Wii, which is a less expensive option. I haven't tried it but I bet it's just as fun! ->
http://www.zumba.com/en-US/shop/category/video_game/214/

Chicken Caesar Salad

This past week I got to see my best friend in New Orleans for the first time in over a month, and she was gracious enough to make me dinner. This isn't my recipe but it's super easy and delicious, and I will definitely make it soon! She gave me permission to post it, so here it is!!

It's 8 Weight Watcher Points+, and it is really filling!
What You'll Need for One Serving
3 oz piece of chicken breast (1-2 chicken tenders)
Cajun seasoning (Tony's is what I use)
Garlic powder
Romaine Lettuce
~2 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese
a few grape tomatoes
a few texas toast Caesar croutons (1 serving)
2 Tbsp Light Caesar Dressing

Lay chicken on a plate and season both sides with cajun seasoning and garlic powder. On a George Foreman grill- grill chicken for about 5 minutes, or until fully cooked. Toss together lettuce, cheese, croutons, and tomatoes. Add chicken and dressing and ENJOY!!
I love this dish, and I'm not a huge salad fan. It's really good, and it's quick and easy- which is great for someone like me with a very busy schedule!
I hope you like it!

Baked Chicken Fries

Ok, time to switch it up a bit. Along with tilapia, chicken is a big part of my diet. I eat chicken all the time, so I get bored when it's always the same. I remember getting chicken fries in the cafeteria in grade school and they were sooooo good! But, trying to lose weight does not exactly permit for frequent indulgence in fried foods (too bad, huh?). Thankfully, I found a recipe for BAKED chicken fries that are just as delicious!! They're still not the healthiest thing in the world but they are MUCH better than the real fried stuff.

They're 8 Weight Watchers PointsPlus for 4 ounces of chicken.
Here's what you'll need
Chicken breast cut into long thin strips (I use tenderloins and just cut them up)
EVOO
chicken/poultry seasoning
1-2 eggs depending on the amount of chicken (I've used egg beaters which still work fine, but fresh eggs work much better)
Breadcrumbs

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a medium sized bowl add in sliced chicken strips. Mix in EVOO, seasonings, salt and pepper- mix well. Break eggs in a small bowl and beat well. Spread breadcrumbs on a plate. Dip strips in egg then coat generously in breadcrumbs. Place on foil-covered baking sheet (I use nonstick reynolds wrap). Bake 15-20 minutes or until fully cooked and brown.
ENJOY!
I usually eat these by themselves, but they're also good with some simple mac and cheese (unfortunately not so great for us dieters) or some buttery broccoli (I used green giant broccoli steam packets).

Thanks for visiting! I'd love to hear how you liked it!!

Almost 18 pounds gone! I should be more than halfway to my goal by May!!!

More Tilapia!

As a broke college student, I am on a very tight budget. Some weeks are easier than others- none of them are terribly hard, though (thanks to my WONDERFUL mother!) However, this week I was on a bit of a tighter budget than usual to make sure I could afford my drive to New Orleans and my valentine's things for Will. So, since I had a lot of frozen tilapia left in my freezer I decided to make it again for dinner to avoid spending money unnecessarily on groceries.

I'm a southern girl, and that means I love fried food. Unfortunately, fried food doesn't exactly like me back. The baked tilapia I made last week was delicious! But, I needed to switch it up a bit. Although this is not a Weight Watchers recipe, it is a healthy one that is diet friendly! I got the recipe from the SparkRecipes App on my iPhone (from Sparkpeople.com). It's delicious and only 5 points for a big filet! This Delicious Dish Tuesday (as brought to you by Full Time Mama) is Crunchy Oven "Fried" Tilapia!

Makes 4 servings
What you'll need:
4 four ounce tilapia filets (1lb)
3 egg whites (I used egg beaters this time. It worked fine, but regular eggs work better in my opinion)
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp cajun seasoning (Tony's is by FAR my favorite)
1 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
Fat Free Butter Spray

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In one bowl, whip egg whites until somewhat frothy. In another bowl, combine breadcrumbs, cheese, and seasonings. Dip each filet first in the egg whites and then coat evenly with crumbs. Spray a cookie sheet with butter spray (or use reynold's non-stick foil), then spritz the top of the fish as well. Bake 8-10 minutes on 400 until fish flakes easily with fork.
Than, Viola! Crispy like the fried stuff without all of the fat and calories!

I served this with a simple side of pasta- with just a little bit of butter, olive oil, seasoning and sprinkles of breadcrumbs- and it was delicious! I will definitely be making this regularly!

Weight is falling off slowly but surely! Thanks for all the support!
Let me know how you like it! ;)

Ready to See a Change

Like many others my new years resolution is to get in shape again and be a healthy weight. I'm doing this not only to look better but also feel better- physically, mentally, and emotionally.

As I have said, I've been using the Weight Watchers PointsPlus program. It is fantastic! I knew I would do well with it because it worked for me before, and the best part is I can still pretty much eat whatever I want... in moderation, of course.

I know that the only way to lose weight and keep it off is to do it in a healthy way at a slow pace. But this pace is too slow for my liking. I know I'm not the only one who is dreading spring break (less than 3 months away!). Although I'm excited for the beach and time with friends, the thought of getting into a bathing suit makes me want to both cry and vomit simultaneously.

This semester- especially til March- is really busy and hectic and I can seldom find time or energy to work out. I don't even have time to watch TV- and anyone who knows me can tell you that that is especially odd. If I can't make TV time you can bet your bottom dollar that workout time is even slimmer. However, I need to see some change. As nice as it is having my friends tell me that I'm looking thinner- I don't see it at all, and the scale only sees it a little bit at a time. I've got to get some heavy-duty workouts in soon if I want to avoid getting sick at the thought of a bathing suit. So, I'm hoping to at least get 3-4 high-powered workouts in a week (motivation appreciated). After I come home from Atlanta in a couple of weeks I'll have the big Zumba workout (thanks Mom!!) so that will at least be something. Until then I'll have to find something else- and fast. This fat won't burn itself off.

Stay tuned for my progress- and I'll let you know what workouts work best for me! Please give any suggestions!!! They're very much appreciated!

Weight Watchers Baked Tilapia

This is so easy and delicious! And best of all it's only 3 Weight Watchers PointsPlus for 2 filets (or whatever equals 1/4 of a pound)!! So here it is:
Makes 2 Servings
You'll Need: 1/2 pound tilapia filets; 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice; 1/4 teaspoon yellow mustard; 1 Tablespoon light mayo; 1/4 teaspoon sugar; 1/8 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; 1/8 teaspoon onion powder; 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder; dash of cayenne; paprika

Preheat oven at 500 degrees
1. Place filets in sprayed baking dish, and coat filets with non-stick spray.
2. Combine remaining ingredients (EXCEPT paprika) and spread over filets.
3. Marinate 30 minutes
4. Sprinkle filets with paprika and bake 10-15 minutes or until flaky

Also, I had to add a good bit of salt. Even though the salt does not affect the points value of the meal, the WW recipes never include enough (if any). So, just salt to taste.

It's really good and nice and easy- especially if, like me, you're just cooking for one person.
Let me know how you like it!

ENJOY!
P.S. weight watchers works! I'm down 15 pounds since I started my weight loss journey. Still plenty to go but I'm taking it a week at a time.

Delicious Dish Tuesday Recipe Link-up from Mama Chocolate

30 Day Shred

Well, people were not lying- Jillian Michaels is intense...

I tried the 30 Day Shred for the first time and after 2 minutes I almost got sick and passed out. This is definitely not for a beginner like me. It's not like the workouts are necessarily complicated but I cannot do it right now with the shape I am in.

I think once I get in a little better shape it will probably be great. So, what I'm gonna do is just work out with my treadmill and a few other exercises here and there along with my physical therapy and hopefully in about a month or so I can do it again with a little more ease...

Wish me luck! Goodness knows I need it

Best Chicken Salad EVER

Hello, fellow bloggers!

Sorry I have been gone way too long. I feel like I haven't posted in forever. School has been so crazy that I don't have time to write anything. **Sorry for using an old post!!**

This recipe is easy, simple, and DELICIOUS! Definitely a favorite of mine, especially when I have left over rotisserie chicken.

Ingredients:
2 cups diced chicken
1/3-1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp sour cream
1 cup grapes, sliced
1 green onion- sliced thin
1 rib celery- sliced thin
1.4 tsp salt
dash pepper
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp honey (I use a tablespoon, tho)

Combine all ingredients except honey until mixed well, adding mayo if needed. Mix in honey to taste.


I think the honey makes it so good so I use a lot more honey than the original recipe calls for. I love this chicken salad tho.. If you try it let me know what you think! :)

Off to a Great Start!

4 pounds gone and I haven't even started the "30 day Shred" workout yet!

Unfortunately, I couldn't start the 30 day shred yet because I'll be going out of town for a little while. BUT I am DEFINITELY starting it when I get home. In the mean time I will be putting my treadmill to use and trying some other workout DVDs to get my exercise in.

Needless to say, I am super excited! This diet plan or whatever you want to call it is definitely working. I only eat lean meats/ fish and I try to eat AT LEAST one nice-sized portion of fruit and/or vegetables with every meal. I try not to snack and I don't eat late. Usually, I make sure not to eat after 8pm. However, I do let myself have one day to eat the foods that I miss. If I didn't I know this diet would fail and I would sabotage everything by giving up and eating too much while exercising too little.

I decided to track my weight using a ticker I made on www.tickerfactory.com
I'm going to post this ticker tracking my weight loss with all of my weight-loss related posts. I am so excited to watch it get closer and closer to my goal weight! Hopefully I can reach my goal of 135 pounds by the end of the year... So here goes nothing! Wish me luck! Thankfully, I am off to an amazing start! :)

Here Goes Nothing (or, hopefully, about 50 pounds)

Like many others I have a really hard time losing weight and staying committed and motivated.  I love good food- and living in southern Louisiana- it isn't hard to come by.  I also have a boyfriend with world's fastest metabolism and he loves food, too.  So, I don't think it's fair that I have to go without and he doesn't... But, that's life and life is not fair.

Since I have such a hard time staying committed I figured that blogging about my weight-loss experience and writing out a commitment for everyone to see might keep me focused.

SO HERE IT IS! From now on I am going to eat much better- at least one large portion of a fruit or vegetable with each meal if not more (and real vegetables- i promise i won't try to use french fries or fried pickles or something crazy as an excuse).  Also, I am going to start exercising more.  My boyfriend bought me a treadmill for Christmas and I need to use it!  However, I will allow myself one day (and only one) to eat my favorite foods (in moderation, of course).  I can't cut them out all together- that's stupid and unrealistic.  And, starting today I am going to do Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred (if I don't die LOL).  I need to do this- for my health, my self-esteem... for everything.

Hopefully this will keep me committed. Thankfully, I have a great support system to help me through it. Wish me luck!! We'll see how it goes from here...