Indeed - Nanoblur

I receive this product in an Influenster VoxBox. It is such an interesting product. Everywhere I look, this is tagged as a primer, but it's actually a finishing serum. Neat, right? I apply it after my foundation and it smoothes any caking or streaking. I really love it! Can't wait to buy some more of their products.

#Nanoblurred @IndeedLabs @Influenster

60 Pounds Later

Okay. I know. I have not posted in quite some time. Life got the better of me and I put my own motivations on the back burner. Well, that is over now. I'm gonna try my best to post once a week. If you know me IRL, please hold me to this.

Well, as of last week, I have hit 60lbs lost total. It's absolutely shocking to think about. It's been just over a year total. To think that this time last year I weighed more than 300 lbs.... it sometimes brings me to tears. I realized that in the car the other day. Just driving and this though entered my mind. It hit me hard. I can't believe how far I've come.

No makeup. But this dress is amazing!

Lots of people ask me questions about my journey. I am all too happy to share because if anything I do, have done or will do can inspire someone to change their life... well that's a bonus.

One of the questions I get most often is how much further I have to go. Well, I really don't know. I have not decided on a final goal, and I try to not think about it too much. However, I can say, I'm probably about half way to the point in which I'd be willing to set a final goal. If that makes sense!

I was asked today about how different I feel, and what is the most different. Probably the biggest difference for me is how I feel about having my picture taken. I don't freak out about how a picture came out, or what angle the person is taking the photo from. I actually rather enjoy getting my picture taken now, which is a HUGE leap from a year ago. Or even 6 months ago.

I am very public about my weight loss, making public posts on Facebook, writing a blog, ritually texting my parents, etc. It may seem like showboating or setting myself up for failure. However, these things are what keep me the most motivated. I want you all to keep me accountable. I want to share what works for me and what doesn't. And I want you to judge me when you see me eating a cookie (well, more than one!). Also, I want to know what works for you, what motivates you and what causes you to struggle. And I truly feel my public nature with this lifestyle opens the lines of communications and makes it okay for us to talk about it.

Next week I'll talk about how I shop, saving time, money and frustration!

Hitting My 10% Goal

It's really strange. After losing 30 lbs (my 10% goal), I expected to feel different. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm feeling healthier, my clothes are fitting more loosely. It's fantastic. But sometimes I look in the mirror and I don't see it. I guess I half expected my ass to fall off. Well, that didn't happen, in case you were wondering.

However, for the first time I took a photo with a friend and I did see a difference. I guess that's the most I can ask of myself since I see my face in the mirror every day.

Here's to our baby step accomplishments. Let them keep us motivated and looking forward every day!

P.S. We made a heart. Also, we didn't plan this. We're just that cool. 

Tell me about your accomplishments and how they made you feel, in the comments section below!

Recipe - Milanesa Torta with Tomatillo Dressing

So this is a recipe I made up to mimic an amazing sandwich I had at a local Mexican joint. This comes as close as possible while still being healthy. It's a little high on points, due to the bread (I used a wheat hamburger bun). But feel free to eat this without bread. It would still be yummy. With bread it's 14 pts. Without bread, it would be about 9 pts. This sandwhich is super filling. I couldn't even finish my jicama fries.

Milanesa Torta with Tomatillo Dressing

Ingredients:

(Dressing)

1 Tomatillo - quartered

1 Tbsp fresh cilantro

1 Jalapeno, chopped, seeded

1/4 cup mayo, light

Salt/pepper

(Milanesa)

2 Center cut pork chops, 3 oz, trimmed of all fat, pounded to 1/4 inch

Olive oil spray

3 egg whites

1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

1/3 cup wheat breadcrumbs

Dash of Cumin

Salt/Pepper

1/4 Garlic Powder

1 Tomato, sliced thin

1 Jalapeno

1/2 avocado cut into thin wedges

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add veggies and cilantro into the food processor. 

Pulse until chunky. Add mayo, salt and pepper (to taste). Set aside.

Pound and tenderize the pork to 1/4 inch.

 Line a baking sheet with tin foil and spray with olive oil spray. Add egg whites to a bowl and fluff with fork. Add both breadcrumbs, cumin, salt/pepper, and garlic powder. Mix together well. Dip pork chops in egg whites and let excess drip off. Dip pork in breadcrumbs and pat to coat. Place on baking sheet and spray top with olive oil spray. Cook for 20 mins.

Roast jalapeno over open flame for a few minutes, turning frequently with heat resistant tongs, until all sides are equally blistered. Cut into thin slices. Leave or remove seeds according to taste. (Removing seeds will lessen the heat)

Assemble sandwich, Pork, dressing, tomato, jalapenos, avocado, bun. Grill the sandwich either in a pan, or a panini press (even a George Foreman would work). 

Recipe - Jicama Fries

So this is going to be an easy one. But don't let it fool you. This is a zero point snack/side dish that is sure to please!

Jicama Fries

Ingredients:

1 Jicama, peeled and cut into steak fry shapes

1 lime

1/2 tsp chili powder (more to taste)

Salt/pepper to taste

Put all the jicama fries into a bowl. Add juice of the whole lime. Add salt and pepper to taste. Dust with chili powder. Mix well. 

Recipe - Everything a Fish Taco Should Be.. and More

So, I was challenged to make a lite fish taco recipe. Challenge accepted. There are a few out there, don't get me wrong. But most of them don't capture the real crunch creamy nature of a real authentic street taco. So I set out to make a fish taco that you wouldn't even imagine to be lite. I think we have a winner. Coming in at 4 pts per taco (plus whatever your tortilla total is), this is an extremely healthy, delicious meal. This recipe makes about 8 fish tacos.

Fish Tacos with Apple Cabbage Slaw and Jicama Dressing

Ingredients:

(Fish Ingredients)

3 egg whites

1/2 cup regular breadcrumbs

1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

1/4 tsp cayenne

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp dried mustard

salt/pepper to taste

4 Tilapia Fillets, cut into quarters and patted dry

Olive oil spray (canola will work if this is on hand)

(Slaw with Dressing Ingredients)

1/2 onion, cut into large pieces

1 passila pepper (or a pablo or a jalepeno), cut into pieces

1/4 jicama, cut into pieces

1/4 bunch of cilantro

1 Tbsp garlic, minced

1 tsp olive oil

1 lime

1/4 head of cabbage, shredded

1/2 apple, shredded

1 Tbsp light (or fat free) mayo

1 Tbsp mustard

Preheat oven to 450. Cover cookie sheet with tin foil (tip: crumple tin foil and then smooth out again. The ridges keep food from sticking). Spray tin foil with cooking spray. Add egg whites to a bowl and mix with a fork. Add bread crumbs, panko, cayenne, garlic powder, dried mustard, salt and pepper to a bowl and mix with your hands.

 Dip pieces of fish in the eggs, drip off excess and pat down into breadcrumb mixture, until coated. Place pieces on cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. 

While fish is cooking, prepare the slaw. Put onion and pepper into the food processor, pulse until very chunky. 

Add Jicama, process until broken down. 

Add cilantro, process until incorporated. Add garlic, pulse a few times. Add oil and juice of one lime, pulse a few more times until all ingredients are fully incorporated. Mix in a large bowl with cabbage, apple, mayo and mustard, with a spoon. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Remove fish from the oven when done.

Warm tortillas either in an ungreased pan (about 15 seconds on each side) or into the microwave for a few seconds. Assemble taco by putting two pieces of fish and about a quarter cup of slaw in each tortilla shell. 

First Night in the Gym Since the Jurassic Period

Big step. Huge step. Scary step. If you know me, you know, I'm the laziest ever. It wasn't just bad diet that got me where I am today. So getting to the gym was the last thing I wanted to do. Ever. But I decided I needed to start somewhere. Luckily we have a free gym on campus at work. With the enthusiasm of some of my team members, I got there finally. I wasn't able to do much. Partly for being so out of shape. And partly necessary I need to quit smoking. My lungs were angry. But I did about 20 minutes worth of stuff (mostly bike and some weights).

I know this part is tough for many of us. And 20 minutes (or 5, or 10 even) can be so discouraging for those of us who want to get there yesterday. But stepping foot in that room was the accomplishment today. I well get better at this and that 20 minutes will multiply. Just get there. Walk in and out the first time if you have to. Just get there. That's the first step.