Awesome Soup

In my attempt to get "back on the wagon" I was watching Hungry Girl the other day. She shared a soup recipe that was so easy I had to try it. I've made it twice and it is really yummy. So I'll share it with you. (You can find her recipe on her website here)

1 1/2 lbs. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breasts, halved
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1 small onion, finely diced
2 carrots, chopped
2 cups dry coleslaw mix
Two 14.5-oz. cans (about 3 1/2 cups) fat-free chicken broth (or one carton)
One 15-oz. can cannellini (white kidney) beans, drained and rinsed
One 14.5-oz. can stewed tomatoes (not drained)
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 tsp. fresh thyme
1 bay leaf

Okay, you seriously just dump all this stuff in a crock pot and cook it on high from 4 to 6 hours. She has a fancy crock-pot that works in 4 hours, mine, on the other hand, took 6. Once it's done you take the chicken breasts out, shred them and put them back in the pot. Remove the bay leaf or be sure you don't put it into someone's bowl.

I didn't have stewed tomatoes the last time I made the recipe so I used canned tomatos seasoned with basil and oregano (Italian kind) and it was still good. I couldn't tell a difference. Each serving is around one cup and is 3 points. I would say for me I'd eat two cups but still 6 points for a main meal is great.

My whole family enjoyed this, too! Served with a crunchy baguette (not for me) and a little Parmesan (again not for me) sprinkled on top and it's a great meal for a cold day! Enjoy!

I'm Back.

This blogging thing didn't turn out as I had thought it would.  Neither has the weight loss.

I was doing pretty good for a while and was up to 16 pounds lost; however, since then some things got in the way.

First, my youngest daughter (the last one still at home) began her marching band schedule.  This meant she was not getting home at night until 7 or 7:30, combined with the fact that now she was the only child living at home and adjusting to that, I made the decision to stop going to my Weight Watchers meetings.  Though, for her it was a good choice, for me and my weight loss..not-so-much.  I am totally to blame, though, because I could have gone to a meeting during the day, any day, any time (because they are everywhere!) but I chose not to.  Simple as that.

But, now I am back.  I gained approximately six of those pounds back over the past six months.  (btw..my mom reached her goal during that time *sigh* but yay for her).

I am more motivated, though still not more disciplined in my tracking points, but I know I will make it this time.

As the title of this little journal of mine has to do with clothes, I'll share some of my favorites with you.  (found on polyvore via pinterest..my new time wasters).

Red and grey by kristen-344 featuring rubber shoes

Pink & Pearls by alttra featuring diesel jeans

Mish-mash by becca-lynn-div featuring heart rings

Yeah, I'm a jeans girl.

Weigh-In

Well last night was the dreaded weigh in.  I lost another three pounds.  A total of 8 pounds.  Not bad for two weeks.

I've had a pretty easy time so far.  I'm learning to make better choices in my food quality and quantity.  For instance, tonight I want chick-fil-a. I've planned my day around my dinner.  I had one of my 2 point smoothies for breakfast, a 7 point lean quisine for lunch and fruit for a snack this afternoon.  So, I can get my diet lemonade, grilled sandwich and yes...a small waffle fries.  It will all fit in my points for the day.  AND since I ran this morning I can have a piece of chocolate for desert at bedtime if I want to.

If this sounds kindof obsessive, it is sometimes.  Honestly, though, it's really not  most of the time.  I just want chick fil a for dinner which surprisingly is REALLY high in points so I need to plan.

I plan on loosing at least 50 pounds so this is what I have to do.

The beginning.

I hate shopping.  I really do.  Not because I don't like shops, not because I don't like crowds, not because it's too expensive.  Truth be told.  I can't fit into anything.  I hate finding a shirt that I love and trying it on only to see it wont fit.  Wow!   and I picked up a large?  Deflating, defeating, disgusting.  That is what I feel when I shop.  But I am going to change all that. 

This will be a chronology of my losing weight.  You see, I've joined Weight Watchers.  I've finally done it.  Admitted I'm overweight.  I've known I'm overweight and have let myself go, I just thought if I didn't admit it, then no one else would see. 

I've tried on my own but, after getting to the dreaded 200 mark (yes, I did just admit what I weighed), well, I realized I just didn't know how or have the tools.  So, I joined with my mom. 

My mom has done weight watchers for as long as I can remember.  She has lost weight on it so I know it works. 

I've begun this blog for two reasons.  First, and foremost, so I'll have a place to talk about the stuff that I experience so I don't bug my family with constantly talking about food and "points".  Second, so I might, after a time, have a little accountability.  I don't want to ever be this big again.

I've been on weight watchers for one and a half weeks.  I had my first weigh-in last Tuesday and I lost 4.8 lbs.  I was really surprised.  I didn't feel hungry and just stopped eating all the stuff I used to eat.  Well, I pretty much ate the same stuff but I only ate about one half to one third of what I used to eat.

Wow!  I used to cram it in my gob!  and there were so many little things ....like the creamer I used to liberally add to my coffee.  I've cut that back and haven't even noticed.  I went out to eat several times during that first week and just chose menu items more carefully.

I have to admit though, this second week is a little harder than the first.  I've found myself hungrier and having more cravings.  Of course it didn't help that this was the week I had my period.  That is never a good time to try to eat an apple instead of a donut.  But I stuck to it.  I did go over my "points" yesterday but I haven't tapped into my extra points nor my activity points since I started so I figured 2 points over wasn't too bad.

So, there you go.  That's the start.  I'm hoping to share more with you about my experiences and how things are going.  I hope that maybe you'll be inspired or I can answer your questions or you can get a little courage. 

It's not that bad and afterall, we girls always are looking for cuter clothes.