Time to blog!!!!  So this week I lost another 4.4 lb.  19.2 lb. total!  I reached my first goal, which was to fit into my XL lab coat with it buttoning all the way down!  My next goal is to be able to sit with it buttoned and get my gloves out of my pocket! It's not far behind! Everyone at work keeps telling me I need to get new scrubs because mine are falling off me now.  It feels good!

A lot of people have been asking about my spaghetti squash casserole recipe so without further ado...

http://www.sandyskitchenadventures.com/2011/04/mock-savory-kugel.html

Mock Savory Kugel (Spaghetti Squash)

Slightly adapted from Diabetic Living Online

Ingredients:

3 cups Spaghetti Squash, cooked (6 Greens)

1/2 cup Egg Beaters (1/4 Lean)

3/4 cup or 3 oz 2% Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese, divided (3/4 Lean)

1/4 tsp Garlic Powder (1 Condiment)

1/4 tsp Onion Powder (1/2 Condiment)

1/8 tsp Salt (1/2 Condiment)

Dash of Pepper

Directions:

Cook spaghetti squash by microwave or by oven. Here is a spaghetti squash tutorial if you never made spaghetti squash before using the microwave. You can also bake it by slicing the squash in half lengthwise; remove seeds and strings. Place both halves, cut side down, in a shallow baking pan and bake about 30 minutes until tender at 350 degrees. Cool slightly. Use a fork to scrape all the flesh out of the spaghetti squash. Place squash flesh in a large bowl. Measure 3 cups or 465 grams of spaghetti squash and place in a medium bowl. Reserve the rest for another use.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a casserole dish with non stick cooking spray. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl, except 1/4 cup or 1 oz of cheese. Stir until mixed thoroughly. Pour contents into prepared casserole dish. Bake for 25 minutes. Add remaining cheese to the top of casserole. Bake for an additional 10 minutes. Let set for 15 minutes. Serve warm. Don't forget to add 1/2 of a lean to complete your lean and green meal such as 3.5 oz of fish or shrimp, 3 oz of chicken or 2.5 oz of beef or pork!

 

2 Servings with 1/2 Lean, all your Greens, and 1 Condiment per serving

*Note: If you do not want to add cheese, then you will need to add 7/8 of a lean to your lean and green meal. Examples are 6.12 oz of fish or shrimp, 5.25 oz of chicken, or 4.37 oz of beef or pork.

 

Last night Roy and I went to Red Lobster for dinner.  I was faced with a bit of a predicament because what was on the dining out guide list was no longer on the menu.  So, I made an educated decision and got the shrimp scampi, broccoli and a side salad.  My coach was very proud of me!  But in all truth I almost ordered the coconut shrimp and cheated  on my diet.  I'm proud of me too! 

I took my two week pictures, not to big of a difference in appearance, but definitely a difference in the way I feel!  

TONIGHT'S LEAN AND GREEN!

I made some savory spicy chicken.  I cooked the chicken in the frying pan with 1 T. Canola oil, seasoned with seasoning salt and garlic powder and green chilies!  Very yummy!  With a side of leftover spaghetti squash casserole.  

Okay.... today I have been Starving... like ravenously hungry.  It's the only time i have felt that way in the three weeks I've been doing TSFL.  The only difference I have been able to find to my routine is that I started my woman cycle today.  (TMI?)  LOL!  Other then the hunger feeling today I'm feeling awesome!  My coach told me today that we are going to be getting popcorn as one of the optional snacks to purchase from TSFL.  I'm so excited about this because that's my go to snack!

TONIGHT'S LEAN AND GREEN

(recipe in picture is doubled)

Tonight I concurred my first spaghetti squash and made chicken lo mein.  The recipe is as follows! 

6 oz. chicken = 1 lean

1 T. canola oil = 1 healthy fat

1/2 c. broccoli = 1 green

1 c. spaghetti squash = 2 greens

1 clove garlic, diced = 1 condiment

2 tsp. light soy sauce = 2 condiments

Heat pan with oil on medium heat.  When hot add garlic and sate until golden brown.  Add chicken and cook through.  Add broccoli and allow to cook to tender, but still crisp. Add soy sauce and combing.  add spaghetti squash and combing.  Heat through and serve!  YUM! 

If you need a good spaghetti squash tutorial you can find one here! http://www.sandyskitchenadventures.com/2011/02/italian-turkey-sausage-with-spaghetti.html

I feel really motivated today!  I started the work out portion on my journey.  I started with some functional flexibility and didn't over due it my first day.  I also made a delicious tacos!  This time I used iceberg lettuce as my taco shell!

TODAY'S LEAN AND GREEN

It was very very good!  I got the idea from http://dashingdish.com/recipe/turkey-lettuce-wrap-tacos/

but I used the TSFL taco recipe which is as follows....

TACO SALAD

5 oz. ground turkey (lean)

2 t. taco seasoning

1 T. water

2 c. lettuce

1/2 c. tomatoes (diced)

1 T.  salsa

Brown turkey meat in a pan, add water and taco seasoning.  I also don't like tomatoes, so I always sub substitute those with something else... I added black olives and homemade ranch dressing to this! 

This counts for 1 serving lean, 3 condiments, 1 serving healthy fat and 3 greens. 

I have been lacking a bit with posting on my blog, sorry about that.  The last few days have been easy but hard.  I've been having a lot of cravings for junk.  One of my favorite treats is popcorn.  Buttery, salty delicious popcorn.   I've been wanting that like crazy.  So much infarct that I've been super  moody.  

LEAN AND GREEN FOR 7/11

I have developed quite the love for cauliflower!  So yummy!  I love food in general, so having to censor myself on what I eat has been so hard. Tonight I made baked chicken and cauliflower.  My husband, being the naughty man that he is, brought home free 7/11 slushies today.  Banana, my favorite flavor. I was proud of myself, tho I did take a sip, i took it over to the sink and flushed it down the drain.  

LEAN AND GREEN FOR 7/12

Saturday was our running day.  We normally do this kind of thing on Friday, but we have been sick in our house this week, so Saturday our cupboards were empty and we needed to go replenish.  For lunch we stopped at Wendy's and I double and triple checked  the dining our guide and ordered a wonderful spicy chicken ceaser salad.  Apparently I ordered the wrong thing because my coach, not so nicely in my opinion, stated that i needed to get the grilled chicken.  I don't know why this upset me so much.  I'm doing really well with this change, but I've been steaming about it for two days now.  I'm even thinking about changing coaches.  juvinial and stupid, I know.  I would rather change coaches and go with someone I feel really cares about me and my success with this then sticking around and giving up all together because I don't appreciate the way she communicates with me.  I originally went with someone I didn't know because I wanted to feel uncensored, but I'm feeling nothing but censored... So I don't know what I'll do yet.  

TONIGHT'T LEAN AND GREEN

http://www.sandyskitchenadventures.com/2013/06/grilled-buffalo-shrimp-and-ranch.html

Tonight I made the buffalo shrimp, again, I don't have a grill so I cooked it on the stove.  I really like all the recipes on Sandy's Kitchen website, she has a lot of awesome dishes, however I wasn't crazy about this one.  It had a good kick to it, but tasted really salty.  Roy wasn't a fan either, however we will keep the firecracker shrimp recipe.  We both loved that one!  

Since day 4 everything has been going smooth!  I haven't felt hungry and drinking all the water is getting easier even though I'm still running to the bathroom like mad.

TONIGHT'S LEAN AND GREEN

Fire Cracker Shrimp. 

Ingredients:

11.2 ounces raw, peeled shrimp - should yield 7 oz cooked (1 Lean)

2 tbsp Walden Farms Apricot Preserves (2 Condiments)

1 tsp lite soy sauce (1/2 Condiment)

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (1/2 Condiment)

1 tsp canola oil (1 Healthy Fat)

Place apricot preserves in a small bowl and microwave for 20 to 30 seconds until partially melted.  

Add soy sauce, red pepper flakes and oil to the melted apricot preserves; stirring until combined.

Thread shrimp on a metal or soaked wooden skewer.

Brush sauce on both sides of shrimp. (I let the shrimp marinate in the sauce for about an hour in the fridge before grilling).

Grill, uncovered, over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side.

1 Serving with 1 Lean (7 oz of cooked shrimp), 3 Condiments, and 1 Healthy Fat (need 1 more Healthy Fat)

I don't own a grill right now, so I pan cooked it.  Roy and I both LOVED it!  and you should defiantly try this recipe out! The greens were sauteed zucchini.  

Day  8:  I've already had a lot of people asking me about "this program" you are on!  It's been really fun telling them about it!   I think quite a few people will join in once they see the success that comes with it!  I don't think my weight loss is noticeable to others yet, but I'm seeing it in myself already. In my face, the way my scrubs and lab coat are fitting me!  It's all very exciting. I learned the hard way tonight that my food needs to be made fresh.  I originally thought that I would make Sunday night my food prep night for the week.  However, I ate a salad tonight that had set in my fridge for a week and the chicken tasted old and my spinach leaves were soggy and not crisp :(  I'll just have to prepare the night before or the day of depending on when I have the time to do it.

TONIGHT'S LEAN AND GREEN

Baked chicken seasoned with salt and pepper, 1 cup spinach and 1/2 cup green pepper with the homemade ranch dressing! Would have been delightful if it were fresh.  ;)

TOMORROWS LEAN AND GREEN

My coach Chantel sent me a recipe today for Faux Potato Salad made with Cauliflower.  I made it tonight and I couldn't resist taking a little bite!  Lets just say I'm excited for my lean and green tomorrow!  I may have it for breakfast! LOL!  The link ishttp://www.sandyskitchenadventures.com/2013/08/faux-potato-salad.html?m=1 The recipe is....

Faux Potato Salad

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup cauliflower, cooked (3 Greens)

2 cooked hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped (2/3 Lean)

1/2 cup 2% Greek plain yogurt (1/3 Lean)

2 tsp Dijon mustard (2 Condiments)

1/8 tsp salt (.5 Condiments)

dash of pepper

2 pickle spears, chopped (1 Snack)

Directions:

Chop cooked cauliflower into small florets. Place in a medium sized bowl.

Add eggs and pickles.

In another small bowl, combine yogurt, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper.

Add to the cauliflower mixture and toss to coat.

Refrigerate until serving.

The entire dish is:

1 Lean, 3 Greens, 3 Condiments and 1 Snack

Or you could divide the salad into 3 equal portions and get:

1/3 Lean (need 2/3 Lean), 1 Green (need 2 Greens), 1 Condiment and 1/3 Snack

Recipe for homemade salad dressing

1 pkg. Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
1 cup. Butter milk
1 Cup fat free plain Greek yogurt!

YUM YUM YUM!

Day six and seven have been smooth! The TSFL food is tasting better to me and where at the beginning I found it hard to fit in 5 extra meals a day I am now finding myself being hungry and ready to eat every 2 to 3 hours!  

Day 6:  LEAN AND GREEN

I really enjoyed the turkey taco salad and Roy is always down for tacos so I made that again!  It just has so many awesome flavors and my family can eat tacos and I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. 

Day 7: TODAY'S LEAN AND GREEN

I found these low carb chicken enhancers in the cheese isle at the store.  they are Kraft Fresh Takes. They are mostly shake and bake ideas to add flavor to your chicken or pork.  etc.  Full of flavor!  So tonight was Chicken Parmesan with three servings of broccoli!  We both loved it! 

 

Today was really hard.   I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the 4th of July, it's one of my favorite holidays! Growing up the 4th of July always meant family reunion at my Papaw's river camp and slow cooked BBQ on the pit.  Papaw's special recipe of course.  There was BBQ'd Boston butt, chicken, ribs..... OH, those ribs! and that's not mentioning all the side dishes!  The 4th of July was meant for  lots and lots of food and family!  

On top of missing my family, and my Papaw Paul, I wasn't able to gorge myself with delicious BBQ this fourth of July.  My first thought as I woke up this morning was "this is going to be hard."  but gratefully my very first e-mail of the morning was from my awesome coach Chantel!  It was an e-mail saying Happy Independence day and about declaring my independence from obesity and poor health.  SO, as I got into the shower this morning I used something called the Secret.  (If you have never heard of the secret you should look into it.)  I imagined myself one year from now 100 lbs. less then I weigh right now.  I imagined my body, my clothes, my smile and I made the choice to declare my independence! That wasn't the end of my struggle today though.  Thankfully my wonderful husband was able to talk me out of and take me out of a situation that involved ham fried rice and egg rolls... lol.  

TONIGHT'S LEAN AND GREEN

Tonight's dinner was one cup romaine lettuce and one cup spinach with 1/2 cup cucumber.  Topped with 5oz. cooked ground turkey breast. (99% lean).  Served with homemade salad dressing and 5 green olives and 1tbl. salsa!  Yum Yum! 

Day 4:  NO HEADACHE TODAY!!!!!  It's the first day since I've started that my head hasn't been killing me.  Sugar detox is hard stuff....  I have been feeling more hungry today.  My boss brought in bagels for everyone, that was super difficult.  I avoided the break room all day because it smelt like carbs, butter and happiness.... I can't help feeling like I'm missing out today.  

TODAY'S LEAN AND GREEN

Roy and I really enjoy going out to eat, We have decided that me being on a life style change wouldn't keep us from date night and courting each other as husband and wife.  We went to Applebees and I got their shrimp and spinach half salad with no dressing.  It was really good, but again I felt like I was missing out as I watched him eat his fish and chips.  It will get better as my body continues to adjust.  I have to keep reminding myself that I can have whatever I want, that I'm making a choice to eat healthy things.  

Day 3:  I keep hearing the first three days are the hardest.  THIS one day three was the worst by far.  I still wasn't feeling hungry, but my headache was so intense I would classify it as a migraine.  It hurt so bad my teeth hurt and my stomach was rolling, I almost threw up on three different occasions.  If every day on this diet was like day three I would give up on being healthy. LOL! 

The hot chocolate is one of my favorite meals.  A tip for it tho, don't make it per instructions on packet. I did the first time and it was lumpy and weird, this time I heated my water first and then mixed in the packet at it was much better! 

TONIGHT'S LEAN AND GREEN

This picture looks a lot like dog food to me, but it was actually really tasty.  It was Ground turkey meat cooked with green peppers, and zucchini and yellow squash. I used ketchup as my optional condiment. 

  

Day 2:  Lean and Green meal for today is 6 oz. baked chicken flavored with salt and pepper.  On a bed of 1 cup Spinach and 1 cup romaine lettuce with 1/2 cup green peppers.I also added 1 tbl. spicy buffalo low carb dressing.  YUM YUM YUM! Maybe it was the red plate but I couldn't eat it fast enough.

Day two has been a little harder... I'm not feeling hungry but I developed a headache around 8 p.m. last night and it's still going strong today.  I'm not sure if it's a sinus headache or a detox headache.  I'm positive my body is saying "what are you doing to me?" I woke up around 2 a,m. last night very hungry.  It took me a little while to fall back asleep, but I fell asleep excited to continue on this path! I discovered today that drinking the water was a little harder, I'm going to need to get some sugar free flavoring to help with that :)  I also LOVED the peanut butter crunch bar.  I think the crunch bars are by far my favorite of the meal replacements so far.  I'll have to make sure I have plenty of them on hand!

 My before pictures!  Starting out this journey at 260 pounds and easily the biggest I have ever been.  I love my body, I always have, but it's time to take control of my health!

Day one is going great! I haven't felt hungry at all. The worst part of the day is running to the bathroom every 15 minutes from all the water I'm drinking.  I'm not a big fan of the Medifast pizza bites, though they are edible. I got a really bad headache around 8:00 p.m. I don't think it's from the program, just a tension headache.  Tonight's lean and green was 6 oz of stove cooked chicken with salt and pepper to taste on a bed of 1 cup yellow squash and 1/2 cup zucchini squash sated in 1 tsp. of trans fat free margarine.  I LOVE SQUASH, I will probably cook with it a lot since it's one of very few  vegetables that Roy will also eat. Very Yummy! I read in Dr. A's book that eating in a well lit room and with blue plates will help curb appetite!  Good thing I have a lot of blue plates :)