Friday, January 3, 2014

New Soup Recipe & 2 New Obsessions of Mine

I have posted my healthy broccoli and cheese soup before but last night I made a new version of it. I wanted to add some meat to it and boy I think I have a new favorite.
 
What you will need
2 cans of low sodium chicken broth
1 package of turkey sausage ( chopped)
8oz of reduced fat Velveeta
1 full bag of frozen broccoli
2 heaping spoonfuls of fat free cottage cheese (pictured later)
 
 
This soup is so easy it's crazy. Really all you do is put all ingredients in large pot and let cook on medium for about an hour. (covered)

 
After the Velveeta cheese is melted and it is looking like soup, go ahead and stir in your fat free cottage cheese.

 
Let cook for another 30 mins. (still on medium, I like my broccoli very soft, so cook it until your broccoli is how you like it)
 
After it was finished I poured the entire bowl into a large Tupperware so that I would have lunch for the next few days! ( I am actually eating it now while I am posting)

 
I also wanted to share 2 new things that I am basically obsessed with.
 
1st up...
Blue Diamond Almonds
Bold Wasabi and Soy Sauce
These things are just plain amazing. They are perfect for my morning or afternoon snack but I don't keep the entire container at my desk. Every night I count out 1 serving and put them in a baggy so I don't sit and eat the whole container in one sitting. They are so good I could easily do it.
 


Next is Ice water. Now that I have given up all soda I find that these help with my cravings. My favorite flavor and actually the only flavor I get is Black Raspberry. You have to try these! 
 
 

 
Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend. I look forward to the Clemson game tonight and hopefully going to see The Hobbit tomorrow! See ya Monday Bloggers!!xx
 
NEW WORKOUTS STARTING MONDAY!!
 
Day 4, Operation I'm getting marrrried!
Breakfast: 2 eggs mixed with salsa and fat free cottage cheese
Snack:25 almonds
Lunch: new broccoli, turkey sausage and cheese soup
Snack: broccoli with low fat yogurt french onion dip
Dinner: thai night with the Fiancee. I  get stir fried chicken with cabbage and broccoli VERY SPICY no rice.
That night we watched football with some friends so I had so trail mix and frozen yogurt to snack on.
 
( I just noticed I am eating broccoli a lotttt today, I love it)

Day 5 no soda
162 days till final goal and getting hitched







 

Thursday, January 2, 2014

My Life Changing Year & My Year to Come

January 30th of last year I decided it was time to change. I wanted to start living a healthier, happier life and I did just that!


Many things happened this year that made this the best year of my life. I'll start with the most exciting thing.


I GOT ENGAGED! The big day is June 14th of this year and we couldn't be more excited.


The rest of the things that happened in my life this year are the things that have completely changed my life. I decided that I was going to change my entire lifestyle and stick with it. I had to dig down deep to really learn that weight loss and healthy living is not just a quick fix. I had to teach myself that to be the healthy person I wanted to be I not only had to eat better but also exercise. I started with small but big changes and I stuck with them. Healthy living has truly become a passion of mine and I can't believe how different I feel and think now that I have changed. This year I have become the happiest I can be. I have learned to love myself from the inside out. I believe in myself and know that with hard work I can accomplish anything. It might have taken 27 years to get where I am now but I thank God that I made it.
Here are some things that have changed my life.

 I began working out weekly and I made a goal to run my first 5k. I have never been a runner and never thought I would enjoy it. With every workout I learned to love it and loved how much better I felt. It is the best way to start my day.

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The next thing is really my passion. I have always enjoyed cooking but my recipes have never been very healthy. This year I have learned to enjoy the foods I love by just substituting ingredients to make healthier versions.

My favorite thing to make is soups. They are great for my weekly lunches and nothing beats a nice big bowl of soup, especially in the winter.


Now if you know me you know I love pizza but I had to find a healthier way to make it. The cauliflower crust pizza changed my life. IT IS AMAZING!! Every time I crave pizza I just make me a good ole cauliflower pizza and it hits the spot.

Another thing that I loved but had to give up to become a healthier person is french fries and hot dogs. I then introduced myself to sweet potato fries and turkey dogs. They are great for all those summer cookouts.


I also learned all the different ways you can cook a sweet potato. I love stuffed sweet potatoes.


Now to the sweets. I have always had a sweet tooth. As a little girl at Christmas I was more interested in all the candy then my presents. But lets face it sugar can lead to many health issues if you have too much of it. So I said goodbye to all the candy and started trying out healthy dessert recipes. My favorite thing I ever made were my pumpkin muffins. I couldn't believe how tasty and healthy they were.


I also was introduced to flaxseed. You can substitute this stuff for so many things. I put it in smoothies, used it for crust on casseroles and my favorite thing I used it for was mozzarella sticks and onion rings. So tasty!


With learning how to change some things with all my recipes I made before my lifestyle change I have managed to lose about 30 pounds this year. For the first time in my life I am so proud that I stuck with something that really has changed everything about me. I learned that happiness doesn't come from being skinny but eating healthy and getting exercise does create happiness.

Now that it is a new year I can't wait to see what my future holds. I have a new list of goals and I know that I can reach them. So here are the major goals that I will reach in 2014!!
  1. Give up all soda for the entire year
  2. Run my first half marathon
  3. Go to the gym at least 3 times a week
  4. Continue to make healthy recipes
  5. Smile everyday!
So cheers to life because if you love yourself it is pretty grand! HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!


Day 3, Operation I'm getting marrrried!
Lunch; grilled chicken salad
Dinner: crab meat

Day 4, Operation I'm getting marrrried!
Breakfast: Egg and spinach omlet with a little bit of cheese on top
Snack:2 tbsp of pb
Lunch: grilled chicken salad
Snack: frozeen yogurt
Dinner: crab meat and low cal taco soup. Tried a few of my new almonds

Day 4 no soda
163 days till final goal and getting hitched