Weigh-in: Week 39

This week's loss:  -1.2 pounds 

Total loss to date:  -89.8 pounds

Seriously?  89.8??  I couldn't get that last .2 to hit 90 pounds?!?!  Grrr!!  It better happen next week!!

I'm finding it hard not to get frustrated when I have a small loss week.  I'm just so close to 100 pounds that I am anxious to get there.  I remember when I started this journey and 100 pounds seemed next to impossible and now I am only about 10 pounds away and completely confident that I will get there.

Someone I hadn't seen in a while told me tonight that I looked like I lost a whole person.  While I don't think it's that dramatic it sure it good to hear!  I love being able to buy regular jeans that don't look like "mom jeans."  I feel more confident about my appearance.  Sometimes I miss nachos...and chocolate...and butter...I can't even tell you how much I love butter...but the changes I already feel are totally worth it.  I look forward to feeling even better about myself and more healthy as I continue on.

Fingers crossed that my next post will be me telling you I have hit 90 pounds!!!  XOXO

Recipe: Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken

We ate this twice--once over rice and then had the leftovers on tortillas with a little cheese on top.  Mmmmm!

Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken

Ingredients

• 24 oz (1 1/2 lbs.) chicken breast (I used 2 lbs.)
• 14.4 oz can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies (I used plain diced tomatoes and tossed in a small can of diced mild green chilies
• 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 8 oz frozen corn (I used a bit more)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 14.4 oz can fat free chicken broth
• 3 scallions, chopped (I didn't have any so I didn't t use)
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• salt to taste

Combine all ingredients except chicken in crockpot and stir .  Season chicken with salt and lay on top.

Cook on low for 10 hours or high for 6 hours.  A half hour before serving, remove chicken and shred.  Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in.  (I didn't even remove it, I just shredded it in the crockpot) Serve over rice or tortillas with your favorite toppings.

Santa Fe Chicken

I served it over rice

Recipe: Chicken Francese

Chicken French is my favorite!!  I hated the idea of having to give it up except for special occasions so when I came across this recipe on skinnytaste.com I was excited to try it!  It didn't disappoint and it will become a regular in my house!!

Chicken Francese

Ingredients:

• 4 large chicken breasts, thinly sliced (I just used 1 lb of really thin cut breasts)
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup egg whites, beaten
• juice from 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons, to taste)
• 1/2 lemon sliced thin
• 1/3 cup white wine
• 15 oz. low sodium chicken broth
• cooking spray
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
• 1 tablespoon butter

Season the chicken with the salt & pepper.  Place the flour in a bowl and the egg whites in a separate bowl.

Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat.  When hot, spray with cooking spray to lightly coat the bottom.

Lightly flour chicken, then dip in eggs and add to hot pan.  Saute chicken 2-3 minutes on each side (I am a freak about chicken being well done so I did it longer!).  When cooked, transfer onto a plate.  

Place the chicken broth in the bowl with 1 tablespoon of flour and whisk.  Add to the pan along with the juice of the lemon, white wine, lemon slices, parsley and butter and simmer over medium heat for about 2 minutes so it reduces slightly and thickens.  Return the chicken to the pan with the sauce.  Serve immediately.

Healthy chicken French--sooo good!!

I served with white rice and asparagus.  We spooned a bit of the sauce over our rice.

5 Point Breakfast

I am one who LOVED (I am saying it in past tense!) to go through McDonald's drive thru or Dunkin Donuts and get one of those yummy, greasy breakfast sandwiches to start my day.  Sigh!  I admit I will still occasionally go there....only now I get the Egg White Delight McMuffin (8 points) at McD's or the veggie flatbread (10 points) at Dunkin.

So I've had to get creative at home so that I could still enjoy a yummy breakfast!  Here is what I made today--and for ONLY 5 POINTS!!

Breakfast sandwich at home--5 points!

I must say, it was quite yummy!  It is made from some egg beaters egg whites (0 points for 1/4 cup), 2 slices of chicken bacon (1 point), a slice of fat free cheese (1 point) and a light multigrain English muffin (3 points).  Oh, and a little spray butter on the muffin (0 points).  Happy breakfast!!

I seriously love this chicken bacon!  2 slices for 1 point and it's pre-cooked
 so you only have to heat it in the microwave.  Definitely check it out!

Another version of a healthy breakfast sandwich--bagel thin (4 points),
egg beaters egg whites (0 points) and 1 slice of fat free cheese (1 point).

4 Week Update!!

I've been a real slacker with updating lately!  A couple of you have pointed that out to me so I am here to bring you up to date!!  It's been a roller coaster ride lately....some ups and some downs....but I'm still making progress!  As long as there's more downs than ups it's all good, right?  Well, at least when we're talking about weight loss...  :)

Week 35:   -1.4 pounds this week

                  -85.0 to date

Week 36:  +2.0 pounds this week (Yeah, this was a BAD one!)

                 -83.0 to date

Week 37:  -4.2 pounds this week (Got rid of the 2 gained last week plus two more!)

                 -87.2 to date

Week 38:  -1.4 pounds this week

                 -88.6 to date

Life has just been busy with the boys being back to school, soccer practices, piano lessons and all the other crap!  I'm still at it and still attending meetings each week, I just haven't taken the time to update the blog.  I am feeling pretty good and still determined to do this!!  Thanks to all for your support!  You are the best!! <3