Biggest Loser Recipes

There are several recipes from the Biggest Loser Cookbook that I can't wait to try

The Southwestern Chicken Pile Up is one of them.

The blueberry pancakes are another recipe I would like to try.

If you really like hamburgers, here is a good recipe.

I am really liking the Biggest Loser Cookbook and the other Devin Alexander cookbook. They both have a section of good looking desserts for way less calories than normal desserts. They are both full of pictures too. The Betty Crocker cookbook doesn't have many, if any, pictures, which I don't like!

Cookbooks

Since I have started counting calories, I am constantly looking for new recipes. I recently bought a few cookbooks. I will let you know how I like them as I start using them. I have done really well counting calories. Rarely do I go over 1200. Since I had the flu, my workouts haven't been consistent lately. I am back on track now, but was unable to go at all last week. Except for last week, I have gone 3-4 times per week though. I have lost 10 1/2 lbs so far and hope to continue in that path.

I have had this Cooking Light cookbook for awhile. I think it has some really good recipes. I have used it several times.

The rest of them I have not used yet because I just got them.
Betty Crocker

Skinny Chef

Biggest Loser Cookbook

and the last one

I wanna go back...

I found these pictures on my computer from a trip several months ago. It makes me want to go back............

It's my spring break and I......

have the flu!!!!!

It's definitely not fun. I finally got my fever to go away so it has been much better since then. I'm hoping for a speedy recovery!

Wonderful Kid Party Ideas

Today at Kelly's Korner, she is doing SUYL kids parties...

I do not have kids so I haven't hosted any kid parties yet. However my dream job would be some type of event planner b/c I love things like that. Now that I have my cricut, I cannot wait to have a party and use it. I was able to use it a little bit for a Christmas party. I also don't have the space to have a blown out party in my little apartment. We are having a surprise party for my grandfather in a few weeks back in Louisiana. I may use that opportunity to put together some decorations.

Anyway, here are a few kid party ideas that I thought were awesome.

Green Eggs and Ham wonderful party planned by Erin at BlueEyedBride....Details here and here and here

Cute ideas for a boy birthday or any football party....details here

Such a cute idea for a boy who loves sports! Details here

How cute is this mini table for a girls party! Details here

Love all the bright colors! details here

a wonderful yellow party on a gorgeous summer day! details here

Gumball party featured on HGTV...Details here

I love monkeys so I was obsessed with this one! Details here

Fat Tuesday

I guess it's time to take down the Mardi Gras wreath and make a new one. Easter? maybe!

Happy Mardi Gras!!

Veggie Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

1 medium onion, diced

1 cup of diced bell pepper

4 garlic cloves

1 cup of lightly chopped celery

1 cup of chopped carrots

1 cup of corn

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 medium russet potato, cubed

1 cup of frozen green beans

2-3 cups of bok choy

3- 4 cups of beef broth

3-4 cups of vegetable juice cocktail (V8 or something similar)

3-4 cups of water

1 1/2 TBSP of salt

1 TBSP of pepper

red pepper

basil

oregano

2 cups of ditalini pasta

Steps:

1. Saute onion, bell pepper, and garlic in a little bit of olive oil. Sprinkle with a little bit of salt and pepper.

2. Add can of diced tomatoes, beef broth, water, V8, all veggies, and spices.

3. Bring to a boil and then let it simmer for 30 minutes.

4. Cook pasta.

5. Add pasta and let simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Edit to add- If I made it again, I would not add the pasta. I would have pasta on the side that people could add if they wanted to. The pasta did not freeze well in the soup is why I would not add it again. Also, the next day- it had soaked up a lot of the liquid.

Vegetable soup is so easy. You can chose whatever vegetables you want to and add them in. You don't have to put all of these vegetables. I just had them so I put them. I almost added broccoli, but decided not to. I hadn't planned on adding the noodles, but decided to at the last minute. Soup is easy like that- add a little of whatever you want.

This recipe makes a lot of soup and is low in calories. It has lots of vitamins and nutrients.

My family from Louisiana

I am linking up to Kelly's SUYL- Family.

Have to start with a picture of my cute nephew Brady! I can't believe he is so big now. This picture is 3 months old. I haven't since him since Christmas. He is even bigger now!

When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses. ~Joyce Brothers

Family life is a bit like a runny peach pie - not perfect but who's complaining? ~Robert Brault

To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there. ~Barbara Bush

My parents in Montana....

I happened to have some pictures of my cousins on my dad's side........ youngest to oldest

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu

Here are the girls youngest to oldest (L to R) Mallory, Amanda, Katie, me, Jennifer, and Tara

Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts.

Here is my family......

Our family is a circle of strength and love…
With every birth and every union the circle grows…
Every joy shared adds more love…
Every crisis faced together
makes the circle grow stronger.

Week 1 of counting calories

Range:

Breakfast: 200-300 calories

Lunch: 300-400 calories

Dinner: 500--600 calories

Snack/Dessert: 100-200

Add in: Couch to 5K workout 3-4 times per week

Here is where my inspiration came from.

Sunday: 934 calories

Breakfast: Strawberry/Banana Smoothie

Lunch: Weight Watchers Pepperoni Mini Pizzas and cantaloupe

Dinner: Baked Potato with some low fat toppings, broccoli, small spinach salad with almonds and a few other things on top

Monday: Food was 1005 then added a workout and net was 876

Breakfast: Oat Cluster Cheerios Crunch with cantaloupe

Lunch: Shrimp and Angel Hair Pasta Lean Cuisine

Snack: Light String Cheese

Dinner: Red snapper, rice, veggies

Tuesday: Food was 1220 calories then added a workout and net was 1095

Breakfast: Oat Cluster Cheerios, Horizon organic fat free milk and cantaloupe

Lunch: Pepperoni Pizza Minis and cantaloupe

Snack: 1/2 cup of Dreyers Frozen Yogurt

Dinner: Salmon, peas and corn in a basil sauce (Green Giant tray for one)

*****On Tuesday, I ate almost 300 calories for breakfast rather than my usual 200. Since I had not been meeting the 1200 calorie a day limit, I decided the best place to add calories was breakfast. On Sunday and Monday when I finished out my entry on myfitnesspal app on the iPhone, it told me that my body was in starvation mode and that I needed to eat more. I felt like I was eating PLENTY, but I guess not! On Tuesday, I was fine and no longer in "starvation mode".

Wednesday: 1209 calories

Breakfast: Banana Chocolate Smoothie (wasn't a huge fan of this)

Lunch: Chicken Pesto Classico by Healthy Choice (Cafe Steamer)- not my favorite Steamer, but I usually like them

Dinner: chicken salad (romaine lettuce, spinach, almonds, turkey bacon bits, fat free cheddar cheese, chicken, Ken's honey mustard lite salad dressing

Snack: cantaloupe

Dessert: Dreyers yogurt

I hadn't planned on dessert, but my iPhone was telling me I was in starvation mode so I ate 1/4 cup of the frozen yogurt to make it over 1200 calories!

Thursday: 1203 calories

Breakfast: Oat Cluster Cheerios, Horizon organic fat free milk, 4 strawberries, Yoplait Light Blueberry Patch Yogurt----I was hungry! Only 267 calories though!

Lunch: Smart Ones Chicken Enchiladas Suiza and grapes

Dinner: 2 chicken tacos with whole grain tortilla shells, low fat mexican cheese, lettuce and a tiny piece of avocado on each taco

Friday: 1185 calories

Breakfast: Kroger Honey Crisp Medley Cereal with Horizon fat free milk

Lunch: Homemade tortilla soup (2 cups)

Dinner: grilled shrimp tacos

Saturday: 1317 food calories, -259 exercise net: 1058 calories

Breakfast: Oat Cluster Cheerios

Lunch: Grilled Chicken Salad

Dinner: 2 lbs of boiled crawfish (350 calories per pound)

I am trying very hard to make sure I make it to 1200 calories, but surprisingly it is very hard. Since veggies make up a lot of my dinner, it's hard to raise the calorie amount that much. When I need more calories for dinner, I might drink milk with dinner instead of water. I have also tried to get my breakfast calorie count closer to 300 b/c I know how important it is to eat breakfast if I want to lose weight. Eating breakfast also will start your metabolism going for the day.