Banana Nutella Eggrolls

Woah, guys. WOAH.

I was messing around on pinterest and saw something similar and decided to make due with what I had on hand.

**WARNING: THIS IS NOT HEALTHY. In fact, it's probably incredibly terrible as far as a snack goes. But for a simple dessert it isn't AS bad as other things (aka that cheesecake I had last night).

Banana Nutella Eggrolls

Servings: 8 (1 eggroll)

INGREDIENTS:
8 Nasoya Eggroll Wrappers
8 Tbsp Nutella
1 small banana, cut into slices
1 tbsp butter, melted
Cinnamon Sugar, for dusting
small bowl of water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
3. In the center of each eggroll wrapper spread 1 tbsp nutella. Then place slices of banana (approx 3 slices per eggroll). Roll up as you normall would an eggroll or burrito, folding in ends, and use your finger to seal the seam with water. Place seam side down on cookie sheet.
4. Once all eggrolls are on cookie sheet, brush or spray butter onto each one and then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. 
5. Bake 10 minutes or until desired crispness/browning. 

Best served WARM.

NUTRITION:

Calories: 208

Fat: 9 

Protein: 3

Sugar: 15

Sodium: 168

Fiber: 2

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup
Serves 8

This recipe is amazing! And it rings in at a tender 111 calories PER BOWL so you can enjoy without the guilt that ordering a box of tacos would normally bring. Also note the high protein and low fat and sodium content, too!

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb boneless skinless chicken, cubed
32 ounces Progresso reduced sodium chicken broth
28 oz petite diced tomatoes, undrained
1 medium onion, chopped
2 Tbsp cumin
1 Tbsp chili powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 cup fresh cilantro

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine all ingredients except cilantro in crockpot/slow cooker. Mix well. 
2. Cook on low 8 hours.
3. Stir in cilantro and serve immediately.

NUTRITION:

per serving

Calories: 111

Carbs: 11

Fat: 2

Protein: 14

Sugar: 3

Sodium: 41

100 Days of Determination

After a particularly stressful couple of weeks I am feeling defeated and almost out of steam. Almost.

 Between my dental woes, problems at home, getting my period and the fact that my weight had jumped up and wasn't moving at all I felt like giving up. But I still pushed through my workouts and still watched what I ate.

 After doing some research I found that antibiotics DO cause some weight gain. And I took my last dose yesterday. Did my workout routine as usual this morning despite the fact that my bed was oh so warm and it's snowing outside. Jumped on the scale before my shower and low and behold I am back down to where I was before the meds. Figures. And by Friday I should be done with my period. So I may just reach a mini goal by the 25th (to be in the 130's officially) after all. Huzzah!

 The problems at home? Well. It's complicated and I won't get into it. But it's been quite stressful and it's been hard to focus on anything else. Hoping that things will begin to get better soon. *fingers crossed*

 Thing is, I usually give up by now. If something goes awry I simply say 'screw it' and go eat a cheeseburger. Like last night I went to Dunkin Donuts to get myself an iced coffee as a 'treat' and when the lady over the speaker said "will that be all today?" I hesitated and nearly said "And I'll have a glazed donut, too." But I didn't. I hesitated and then said "yes, that will do it." I said to my daughter "wow, that was close... I almost ordered a donut!" She said "yeah I heard you pause... proud of you, mom."

But this time I'm NOT giving up. I'm not going to let my emotions rule my actions. I'm thinking before I DO things (which is very unlike me). I mean... I got notified that I have logged on to MyFitnessPal for 100 days. That's 100 days of better eating and moving more. And I've been rewarded with a 19 lb loss. It might not be much to some but it means a whole lot to me. Instead of watching that number increase and do nothing about it, I vowed to make a change and I did it. And I'm gonna continue to do it. Regardless of what horrible day I am having or how cold it is outside.... no excuses! I will finish this and I will come out feeling better than I ever have!

Here's to 100 more days! I honestly cannot wait to see where I am when that 365th day comes up. 

"Unstuffed" Peppers Casserole

"Unstuffed" Peppers Casserole

Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb Shady Brook Ground Turkey (93/7)
3 cups diced peppers (yellow, red, green)
1 medium diced yellow onion
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp sea salt
15oz Tomato Sauce
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups cooked brown rice

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In large skillet brown turkey, drain and set aside.
3. In same pan saute peppers and onions until semi soft.
4. Add garlic and salt.
5. Stir in Tomato sauce and rice.
6. Add turkey and combine well.
7. Transfer to casserole dish sprayed with Olive Oil.
8. Sprinkle cheese over top.
9. Bake for approx 15 minutes or until cheese is melted to your desired consistency.

NUTRITION:

Calories: 268

Carbs: 22

Fat: 10

Protein: 24

Sugar: 6

Sodium: 970

"The" Dress

THIS IS MY GOAL.

This photo was taken in August 2010. I purchased this dress to wear at my 30th birthday. 

I weighed approximately 136 here. I still felt incredibly fat. But I was going through a bit of a mid life crisis at the time.... I won't get into it.

Anyway. This is my goal. This is what I want to look like again. My actual goal is to be 130 by Spring. I don't see that being a problem. My absolute goal? To be 125 by June 2013. That means I have 6 months to lose 17 lbs. I can do that. I have faith in me. I've stuck by this healthier living style since October and I don't see me giving up. Not when I've already lost 17 lbs since then. 

I tried on this dress pre-diet and my hips simply laughed at me. This dress couldn't be worn as anything except a legwarmer. 

I tried on this dress this morning, after my shower, and it almost fit. I was able to zip it most of the way up the back. I cannot even begin to tell you how amazing that makes me feel. 

Growing up as a fat kid I just kept piling on the pounds. After several failed weight loss attempts (Phen-phen, SlimFast, Weight Watchers, SlimQuick, etc) and an eventual bariatric surgery I became convinced that there was no "easy" way for me to lose weight. That I just couldn't do it on my own. I honestly wish that I had known it would be as easy as counting calories and moving more. Now I know that this journey is mine to take alone. With a little determination and perhaps some slight obsessiveness I can get back to a healthy me.

Will I ever look as youthful in this picture? Hell no. I was just turning 30. I was having the time of my life. Friends, parties, no-fucks-given, long bleach blonde hair....

But. I believe I can resemble that person again. I can look like her.... but a few years older. No problem. 

I GOT THIS.

Spinach & Tomato Frittata Muffins

Spinach & Tomato Frittata Muffins

INGREDIENTS:
7 eggs
3 Tbsp skim milk
1/2 cup shredded cheese (I used Mexican Four Cheese)
1 Tomato, diced
1 cup fresh spinach leaves, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat Oven to 350.
2. Grease a 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
3. Whisk eggs and milk together until blended.
4. Add 1/2 of cheese, tomatoes and spinach. Mix to combine.
5. Pour into muffin cups evenly.
6. Top with remaining cheese.
7. Bake 20 minutes. They will be puffed up and will deflate once taken out of the oven to rest.
8. Remove with small rubber spatula onto plate. 

NUTRITION:

(Per Muffin)

Calories: 63

Fat: 4 

Carbs: 1

Protein: 5

Sugar: 0

Sodium: 75

96 Calorie Chocolate Chip Cookies...say whaaaa?!

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes: 34 cookies (at least that's what I got out of this batch)

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups oats
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
6 Tbsp "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Light"
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup hershey's milk chocolate chips






Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Combine flour, oats, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
3. Beat together butter and brown sugar until creamy. 
4. Add egg, then vanilla and beat until combined.
5. Slowly add in flour mixture.
6. Add chocolate chips and stir.
7. Drop by rounded spoonful onto ungreased baking sheet (preferably with parchment paper).
8. Bake 8-10 minutes.
9. Cool on wire racks.

Nutrition:

Calories: 96

Carbs: 17

Fat: 3

Protein: 1

Sugar: 11

Iron: 3