Restaurant Tip: Chili's

Today I had lunch at Chili's with my mom and Evan.  Since I am always looking for healthy options at restaurants I thought I would share...

Chili's Spicy Pasilla Chile Chicken

This was what I had for lunch:  Spicy Pasilla Chile Chicken.  410 calories and 10 Smartpoints.

Menu description:  Grilled chicken breast topped with a smoky pasilla-honey chile sauce and house-made corn & black bean salsa. Served with warm quinoa & wheatberry blend and steamed broccoli.

The chicken was great.  The quinoa & wheatberry blend was ok....not as good as rice but a decent and healthy substitute.  I love when restaurants give nutrition information.  :)

I also had a cup of Southwest Chicken soup that was delicious and just 3 Smartpoints.

Delicious lunch for just 13 Smartpoints.  :)

Weigh-In: Week 14

The picture about says it all!!

This week's loss:  -3.6
Total Loss to Date: -49.8

Almost there!!  My goal is to be at 50 pounds lost by my birthday (April 30).  I have one more weigh in before then so I should definitely be able to make it.  Only need .2 of a pound!!  So close!!  Gotta make sure I have a good week so I don't miss this goal!

This week at our Weight Watchers meeting someone shared a quote that I thought was worth sharing...

I'm trying to look at it this way because I NEVER want to find this weight again!  I'm trying not to think of this as a diet....that implies that there is an end date to it....this has to be forever.  It's still difficult to wrap my head around that but I am working on it...  I hope that by the time I reach my goal weight I have been doing this for so long that it is a habit....and that I feel so good that I never want to go back to the way I was.   What's the quote?  Nothing tastes as good as thin (or healthy) feels!

Are you a Food Addict?

I came across a website for food addicts today (www.foodaddicts.org).  There was a list of 20 questions to ask yourself to determine if you might be a food addict.  It was sad to realize how many of them I can answer yes to.  I guess when you think of it as an addiction it helps you realize why this is so hard to overcome and why so many struggle with it.  Like an alcoholic, I will be a recovering food addict for the rest of my life...  :(

Are you a Food Addict?

1. Have you ever wanted to stop eating and found you just couldn't? 
2. Do you think about food or your weight constantly? 
3. Do you find yourself attempting one diet or food plan after another, with no lasting success? 
4. Do you binge and then "get rid of the binge" through vomiting, exercise, laxatives, or other forms of purging? 
5. Do you eat differently in private than you do in front of other people? 
6. Has a doctor or family member ever approached you with concern about your eating habits or weight? 
7. Do you eat large quantities of food at one time (binge)? 
8. Is your weight problem due to your "nibbling" all day long? 
9. Do you eat to escape from your feelings? 
10. Do you eat when you're not hungry? 
11. Have you ever discarded food, only to retrieve and eat it later? 
12. Do you eat in secret? 
13. Do you fast or severely restrict your food intake? 
14. Have you ever stolen other people's food? 
15. Have you ever hidden food to make sure you have "enough"?
16. Do you feel driven to exercise excessively to control your weight? 
17. Do you obsessively calculate the calories you've burned against the calories you've eaten? 
18. Do you frequently feel guilty or ashamed about what you've eaten? 
19. Are you waiting for your life to begin "when you lose the weight"?
20. Do you feel hopeless about your relationship with food?

Recipe: Pineapple Angel Food Cake (7 SP)

Tonight we had my in-laws over for dinner so I thought I should have a dessert of some kind.  I have seen this recipe a few times online so tonight we gave it a try.  It was really yummy!!!  Everyone loved it--even 3 teenage boys!  And this is the easiest recipe you will ever make!

Pineapple Angel Food Cake

1 box Angel Food Cake Mix (I used one from Aldi's)
1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple in juice

All you do is mix the cake mix and the can of pineapple (do NOT drain it!).  I put it in an bundt pan (un-greased) and bake it according to the package instructions.  I baked mine for about 50 minutes at 350 degrees.  When it was done I let it cool in the pan upside down (put it on a bottle to hang upside down).  When it was cool I ran a knife around the outside of the pan to loosen it and then it came out.

We just ate it plain but it would be good with ice cream or whipped topping.  Definitely doesn't need anything though.  Mmmmmm!!

For anyone doing Weight Watchers, this is 7 Smart Points for 1/12 of the cake.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake....after we ate half of it!!  Delicious!

Weigh-In: Week 13

This week's loss:  -4.6 
Total Loss to Date: -46.2

In just 3.8 pounds I will hit 50 pounds!!  I just know I can do this by my goal now!!  WooHoo!!!  (I hope I didn't just jinx myself!!)

Last night we went out with friends and definitely went over my points.  I had to use some of my Weekly Points, something I don't typically do.  I made the best choices I could--I had chicken french and rice--and it was delicious!  Had a couple drinks too... :)  Ok, had my fun for the week....back to the straight and narrow...

Healthy Party Snacks!

Last night I was having a "Wine Glass Painting Party" at my house.  Usually when I have a party I make all sorts of dips and chips, cheese and crackers, all sorts of bad (but delicious!) snacks.  I was worried about it because I didn't want to be tempted by all of the badness!  To my surprise I did mostly healthy snacks and didn't feel like I was missing the junk!

I did a fresh fruit tray, a veggie tray (with both regular and fat free dips), organic corn chips & fresh salsa.....and then a few bad cookies/brownies so that those who aren't watching what they eat don't revolt and never come back to my house again!

It was great....I could snack all night and consume barely any points!  The fruit and veggies were all ZERO points, the salsa was also point-free, and the corn chips weren't too bad either.  I stayed away from the cookies and brownies and apparently most of the others did too as they are still sitting here on my kitchen counter!  I am hoping my kids eat them up QUICKLY as they are calling my name...

And I couldn't go through the night without my wine.  I had 1 glass (5 points) but then the other couple I just put a little bit of wine in them (maybe like 1 point worth) and then added some diet 7 UP so that I had a big glass of wine with barely any points!  No, it wasn't quite the same but I still enjoyed drinking wine with my friends and not getting fatter!!

The party was fun too!  We painted pottery wine glasses--a fun night with some of my favorite girls!    I think there was like 15 of us.  Wish we had gotten a group pic before some had left.  :(  Here's a few pics...

Katie and I with our glasses....can't wait to see them fired!

My glass--it says "Cheers Bitches".
Everyone did 2 glasses but I was too busy
socializing and drinking wine to get 2 done!  LOL
It'll look different fired and that grey stuff won't be all over it.  :)

Part of the group....about 5 or 6 people had already
left when we thought to do a group pic!

Weigh-In: Week 12

Twelve weeks into my new life!!  That's like 3 whole months!!  Go me!!! :)

This week's loss:  -4.4 
Total Loss to Date: -41.6

Pretty excited that I have lost over 40 pounds in 3 months!  I am hoping I can still make that goal of losing 50 pounds by my birthday.  That means I need to lose 8.4 pounds in about 3 weeks.  Better get my butt moving!!  I think now is definitely the time to add exercise into the mix.  Not sure exactly what I am going to do but I will report in soon!

I also got some new bling this week for my charm ring!   If you attended at least 4 out of 5 meetings between March 6th and April 9th you earned the "Find the Adventure" charm.  The goal of this (from Weight Watchers site) was to get more inspiration to continue “the journey of losing weight and living happy, healthier lives,” and during the same time frame all members will be encouraged to explore five different mood-boosting “adventures” in the areas of fitness, travel, social, food and soul. 

Not sure how much "adventure" I found but I'm all about the bling! :)

Find your Adventure Charm (far right)

Recipe: Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls (3 SP)

Another new recipe tonight!    The only thing in this that really has points is the ground beef!

Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls

2 lbs lean ground beef (I used 96% lean beef)
1 large onion (chopped)
2 cloves minced garlic
1 small cabbage (chopped)
2 cans diced tomatoes (14.5 oz cans)
1/2 cup water
16 oz. tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

1. In large skillet or pot brown the ground beef with onions.
2. Add the garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute.
3. Add cabbage, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt and pepper.
4. Stir and bring to a boil.
5. Cover and simmer until cabbage is tender (about 30 minutes).

Serves 6-8

Recipe: Zucchini Tots (3 SP)

Tried another new recipe tonight.  Good way to get kids to eat their veggies!  And only 3 SP for 5 tots.

Zucchini Tots

**Recipe originally from Skinnytaste.com

Ingredients:

     Non-stick cooking spray

     1 packed cup shredded zucchini (squeeze as much water out as you can)

     1 large egg

     1/4 medium onion, minced

     1/4 cup shredded reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese

     1/3 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

     1/4 tsp salt

     1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Spray baking sheet with non-stick spray.
2. Grate the zucchini until you have 1 cup packed and squeeze water out.
3. Combine zucchini with remaining ingredients.
4. Put on baking sheet after making into egg shapes of about 1 tablespoon each.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping half way through.

108 calories

3 Smart Points

4.3 grams fat

6.8 grams protein

11.5 grams carbs

1.8 grams fiber

2 grams sugar

Zucchini Tots before baking

Zucchini Tots after baking

Recipe: Healthy Pizza (4 SP)

My family has been missing having pizza for dinner occasionally so I was excited to find a way to have it and keep within my daily points.  When I was at Trader Joe's this week I found some pre-made whole wheat pizza dough and thought I'd give it a try.  I also bought a regular pizza dough to make a separate one for the kids.

For our pizza I used:

Pre-made Trader Giotto's whole wheat pizza dough

Prego pizza sauce (1/2 jar)

Hormel turkey pepperoni (34 slices)

1 3/4 cups fat free mozzarella cheese

canned sliced mushrooms

I made the mistake of putting the cheese on top and I would rearrange ingredients the next time so the pepperoni was on top but it was DELICIOUS!!

I put all of the ingredients and amounts into the Weight Watchers recipe calculator and if you cut the pizza into 8 slices they are just 4 Smart Points each!!  Wow!!  I had 2 slices and a salad with fat free dressing and my whole dinner was just 9 points.  And it was soooo good!  It totally satisfied my pizza craving and I was able to enjoy pizza with my family.  My hubby and I ate the "healthy" pizza and I made a different one with regular crust and full-fat pepperoni and cheese!  The kids liked their pizza too.

Whole wheat pizza dough from Trader Joe's 

Whole wheat pizza before baking

Fresh from the oven

Sooooo delicious!!  I recommend you try it!

Vacation Pics!! :)

I know this blog is about my weight loss journey but I can't resist sharing a few pics from my vacation!  We had an amazing time in Las Vegas & Hollywood...I just wish it hadn't gone by so quickly!  Click on any of the pics to view them larger.  :)

Evan and Connor at the Hollywood Walk of Fame--very cool!

Sunny California!!  At the Santa Monica Pier....beautiful!

The boys & Keith at Santa Monica Beach

Beverly Hills--gonna consider this a "before" pic even if I'm already down almost 40 lbs.  Yuck!

Boys at the Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam

My boys & I at Sigfried and Roy's Secret Garden

Keith, Evan and Connor...and a lion!

Such a beautiful animal!

So happy to spend some time with my favorite mammal--dolphins!
My wish is that when I finally lose the weight I will go to Florida and swim with the dolphins.
Not putting on a wetsuit with this body!! :)

Loved these lions...

My loves by our hotel pool  <3

In Old Las Vegas/Freemont Street

Keith & I at our favorite Vegas Restaurant, Binion's Steakhouse

Evan & Connor in front of the Mirage

My boys had these for dinner one night at Guy Fieri's restaurant--
macaroni & cheese burgers (with bacon!). 

Ever watched the show Pawn Stars?  We stopped by to check it out!
None of the show's stars were in that day but it was still cool to see the store.

Red Rock Canyon--incredible place!

Keith and I at Red Rock Canyon

Evan, Connor & Keith at Red Rock Canyon

Family pic at Red Rock Canyon--yes, I do hide behind my kids in pics!

Connor at Red Rock Canyon

My boys at Red Rock Canyon

Connor at Red Rock Canyon

The Grand Canyon

If you haven't been to the Grand Canyon....you need to get there!  It is simply amazing....even if my kids see it as "a hole in the ground."  I have been there before but it is just so incredible that I could go there a thousand times and never get bored.  As a result I take like 1,000 pictures whenever I visit there.  I have picked out a few of my favorites to share with you!  :)  The best part?  All of the walking....and no restaurants there!!  (Well, except for a snack bar but that wasn't tempting at all!)

Click on the pics to view them larger...if you want.  ;)