Recipe from my book

We tried some of the recipes from our new "Eat this not that" book and one of my favorites so far is the Turkey and Guac burgers. I think they were really yummy. Jesús barbecued the turkey patties and I made the guacamole. We are big fans of guacamole over here. Here is the finished product. All you need is some whole wheat buns, ground turkey, homemade guacamole and Sargento low fat swiss cheese. Good stuff.

New recipe and my new favorite book

A couple of months ago, I snatched this recipe of my moms kitchen counter. My sister told me that it was a very good recipe. It is now my favorite recipe. It's called Chicken and Black Bean tostadas go here for the recipe. I changed it up a bit because I dont like radishes so instead I chopped up 2-3 tomatoes, and I made it tacos instead of tostadas. Doesn't that look tasty??? Good stuff, I promise. Now if you have not heard of it let me introduce you to my new favorite book. Its called "It This, Not That the Supermarket survival guide" I use it now for everything I buy. It tells you the best brands to buy of any product you can think of. I am thinking of buying some of the other books that are in the series. This book also offers some really good recipes we have tried two of them so far and they are very good and cheap! Its amazing how much weight you can loose just by eating healthier. I am also starting to do a little gardening so I think that will be a good way to get some exercising in. Jesus and I have talked about getting a treadmill so we can get exercise in even when we cant leave the house. If you want the recipes from this book without buying it let me know and I'll send you some.

How about a before and after

This is from my heaviest to my lightest

Almost to 50

So I weighed myself yesterday for my monthly check and to report for our family competition. I am down another 3.5 lbs and I am at 173. If I lose 3 more lbs I will have lost 50 lbs in all. I never thought I would see it but it motivates me even more. I have not been exercising but this just shows what a change in diet can do for your weight.

And back by request and at a perfect time I might add since St. Patricks day is just around the corner, my friend Julie requested the recipe for the Spinach Parmesan cakes. You can go here for the recipe. My advice maybe add some more garlic or change it up how you feel would make it more flavorful.
I also have a few new recipes I would like to add. One of my biggest problems lately is snacking. I am pretty cold but that might be because we keep the house at 65. If you're coming over bring a sweater! Well I keep snacking and mostly on junk. Not like hamburgers and fries and soda but the kids granola bars and fruit snacks that are full of sugar and high fructose corn syrup. So I was in desperate need to find some healthy filling snacks.
1. Probably my favorite is a new green herb hummus that we eat with whole wheat pita bread. You can go here for the recipe. I could eat it all day, but I won't because it fills me up.
2. little mini pizzas on whole wheat english muffins. Just put some veggies and homemade pizza sauce and light cheese.
3. For a drink I found this spiced iced tea. You can go here for the recipe. Obviously I didn't use alcohol and first I used mango herbal tea and that was ok then I used peach herbal tea and that was pretty tasty. I didnt use cloves with the peach tea and it was still really good.

I'm sure there is more but for now I cant remember. Exercise is not really going for me but I plan to start getting up early in the morning before everyone is up and either run or do a biggest loser video. I am feeling under the weather for now but as soon as I get my energy back I will have to start making it a habit. Even if I have to try to do it just for one week. Small steps.

I'm not sure how many people actually read this blog but I am grateful for those who do, I picture you at home pushing me forward. If you have any ideas for more snacks or meals please share, I love new ideas.

I have changed my goal

I originally had my goal as 150 lbs but I am thinking that I would like to go for a little more. I am starting a competition with my Dad and brother Ben to hopefully get to our goal weights by the end of this year. The winner gets a weekend with their spouse in San Francisco. I want that. I also want something else but it wont come in the form of a vacation get away or a new wardrobe (although that would be nice), mine and Jesús' 10 year reunions are this year. His is in October and so that is my goal date. I want to look good for mine too but mostly I want him to have a hot wife on his arm. My new goal is to get to 140. I can do it, I've gotten this far. That means I have 36 lbs to go. There is plenty of time I just have to take every minute to remember what I want most. My weakness? Macaroni and cheese. When I ever I make it for the kids I have to taste it to make sure its stirred enough and then again to see if its too hot. Whatever is left after they are done, I finish it off, even when I have already had my lunch. I told my self today that I would not even taste it. I found myself scarfing it down out of habit! I have to stop. I have to. I worked out yesterday, and the kids just went down for a nap so I might go try and get in a workout now. That will make two days in a row. I will picture myself in a beautiful J Crew dress that I want badly and hopefully that will inspire me.

lightest ever

I weighed myself today just to see and I am now at 176. That is the lightest I have weighed in probably 6 years. I had a couple of days when I went running but it has basically been eating better. Hopefully I can speed up this process.

I did it!

I went walk/jogging for 3 miles today!! And I didnt die! It was incredible, it was really hard but at one point I said to myself "I can do this" once I got into my groove I felt like I could have run the whole thing, and then.......the bladder. Having kids has done awful things to my bladder and the muscles that keep me from embarrassing myself. I wish I would have thought of that before I left because I think I could have run the whole thing. In the end I think I ran at least half of it if not a little more. But now it won't be as scary the next time because I know what to expect. Wish me luck!!
P.S. Biggest loser was awesome last week or whenever the finale was, and last night where are they now was pretty good too. It got me motivated.