Cindy's Turkey Enchiladas! (Spanish Rice and Flour Tortillas too!)

All I can say is WOW! This recipe turned out WONDERFUL! The only recipe that isn't my own is the four tortilla recipe. Its a little early for supper, but I went ahead and made everything so I just have to pop it in the oven. Had a little taste though, I wouldn't post it without tasting it! lol

Flour Tortillas

4 c. flour

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking powder

2 Tbs. lard

1 1/2 c. luke warm water

Mix all dry ingredients together with a whisk. Mix in lard with hands until it resembles cornmeal. Slowly add water. Lightly flour flat surface and rolling pin. Divide dough into 24 balls...let sit for at least 10 minutes. Roll each one out until quite thin and round. Heat Skillet on med-high heat. Flip every ten seconds until golden bubbles on both sides. Unless using all at once, you want to put them into a large Ziploc bag while still warm so they stay moist. You can freeze, or store them at room temp for about a week. Per Serving: 86 calories, 138 sodium, 16 carbs, 2.2 protein, and 1.3 fat.

Cindy's Turkey Enchiladas

1 lb. ground beef or turkey, extra lean

1-2 pkg. enchilada sauce ( depending on how saucy you like it)

1/2 c onion and pepper mix

8 oz. shredded taco blend cheese

1 can low sodium re fried beans

8-12 flour tortillas

Brown ground beef with onion and pepper mix, drain. add 1/2 cup sauce to mixture. Add enough sauce to bottom of baking dish to cover it. Fill each tortilla with about 1/4 c beef mixture, roll, and put into dish. Finish by covering with the rest of the sauce and cheese (you can add cheese to beef mixture if you would like) Bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes until bubbly.

Per Serving: 352 calories, 19 carbs, 16 fat, 15 protein, and 404 sodium

Cindy's Spanish Rice

2 c instant brown rice

2 c chicken broth

1 can diced tomatoes, no salt added

chili powder (you can add any spice depending on your liking)

In a medium sauce pan, bring broth, chili powder, and tomatoes to a boil. Add rice and cook, COVERED, over medium heat for 5 minutes. Take off heat and let sit, covered, for 5 more minutes. ENJOY! Per serving: 185 calories, 39 carbs, 1 fat, 5 protein, 285 sodium

All of these separate are not that bad, but put them all together for one meal and it is a lot more calories, carbs, and sodium that I eat on a daily basis. So if you are trying to lose weight, I would use this meal as your "cheat day". And it is worth it!

True Confessions

I feel I must be honest about my day yesterday. My cravings were so bad yesterday and I gave in. I prayed, I cried, and I tried not to, but I failed. I ate 2 breakfast burritos....then french toast. For lunch I ate one of those personal pizzas, and after all of that dairy and all of those carbs I felt soooo tired and sooo sick. I had no energy to cook, so to top off the day, We ordered chinese. I cant BELIEVE I did that to myself!

Well I DID sleep, of course from all of that food, but I kept waking up all night with HORRIBLE gas and bathroom issues. And this morning they are not over. Every bone in my body said, "you dont feel good, stay in bed", but I didnt! I couldnt! I did this to myself, and if I let myself rest and stay in bed, it will just keep happening again and again. I got up at 430 am and did my normal workouts, and then when I got home from the gym, I put my stuff inside and went OUTSIDE and worked in the yard. My stomach is HUGE, and I feel like poop, but I am SO glad I didnt stay in bed. If I choose to do that to myself, then I will have to live with the consequences! Usually it takes a few days for this to be over and my stomach to go back down, but I think that if I just keep moving and doing what I am suppose to, it will not take as long. So far, started the day off with 1/2 c cereal, no milk, and an apple.

Fitness Challenge - 1

Tomorrow (Monday) I start my first fitness challenge. I am VERY excited about this. Here is the challenge. For every person who "liked" my post on FB, I will walk a block for them. Not only will I walk for them, but I will pray for ONLY them the WHOLE block!

I have 41 people signed up for the challenge, which equals 14 miles. I usually walk 5 to 6 miles a week so this WILL be a challenge! I am breaking it into 5 days, 8 blocks a day, walking two extra blocks on one day. I broke this into 5 days instead of 6 or 7 because Sundays are hard already on me physically, and if I end up not able to workout one day this week because of pain or being sick, I can make it up on Saturday! On top of this I will be doing my normal 6 day workout at the gym.

Also, at the end of this week is my weigh and measure day. Hopefully hitting -50 pounds this month! AND as long as I can make it to the gym every day, I will have my 100th workout!

Day 1

Kris Stephens

Ashley Woodson

Dwight and Pam Lindholm

Sheryl Toscano

Penny Diehl

Manda Keane

Lexi Hicks

Cheryl Moyer Flowers

Day 2

Sherrie Beaumont

Sarah Matthews Reynolds

Katie Rowe

Lynn Mikula Bailey

Ronda Caracci

Heidi Strong Mitzelfeldt

Pamela Pulliam Pousson

Crystal Blackman

Day 3

Jessica Luce

Katie Powell (2 blocks! Praying one block for her, one block for her husband and armed forces)

Stephanie Moss Perrette

Becka Losingitwithrebeccalapband

Nancie Renee West

Kymberleigh Hawes Chavez

Kimberly Holmes Bush

Day 4

Paula Riesberg

Jenelle Stokes

Christa Peterson

Lisa-Ann Hicks

Angel Anna

Janice Vaughn

Andrea Towles Dautrich

Ashley Davis-Britner

Juanita Idel

Day 5

Ken Cunningham

Erin Evans Akey

Slimming Kathy

Pastor Farren Mathena

Donna Potts Weir

Jennifer Dionne

Addlie Dionne

Tina Fitbound

Hannah Purcell

New Rules!

Made a list of newly refined rules for myself. Most of these I already do, some are new, the others I have stepped it up a bit. Last night I looked in the mirror and for the first time saw my belly button without lifting up my stomach. I don't remember the last time that happened! The first month or so I didn't see or feel anything happening, but it seems like every week I see some new development with my body....so exciting!!!

Patience is a Virtue!

I am REALLY having trouble being patient right now. I want the weight off and I want it off now! The thing I have to remember is that it took me 28 years to get this way and it is not going to happen over night. I am soooo tired of food! Not eating isn't going to help, it will make things worse. Sometimes I exercise TOO MUCH and then the next day I am too worn out to do it again. I have to get a handle on this.

I want a treadmill so bad, but a bariatric one costs thousands of dollars. I have to lose 61 more pounds before I can get a normal one, which I found a really nice one for about $400. My goal is to have it by Christmas. I am working very hard towards this goal. Once I have the treadmill I can walk no matter what the weather is like, and eventually RUN! The thought of me running is crazy! The last time I actually "ran" was, oh I don't know, maybe in middle school? Whenever they quit making us take P.E... ROFL I cant wait though, just need some patience right now

If you are a newly acquired friend, I would LOVE for you to follow my blog!

Confidence

There was one point were it would take all of my strength just to leave the house some days. I was so worried about what people thought of me and it controlling my life. When I joined Curves, the only way for me to go every day was to walk, which is about 2 or 3 blocks away. There are some days when I get nervous and wonder who is staring at me, but today, I noticed something. I was walking through the middle of town on main st on a busy Saturday morning at 10am with the weather being nice. There were TONS of people out, lots of traffic, and even people walking past me, and guess what, I DIDN'T CARE! I really think walking to the gym as given me a confidence that I didn't have before. Some other things that have attributed to it is of course weight loss, and also zumba...it takes a lot of courage for someone my size to do zumba moves in front of stick thin women. But everyone is so nice there...no one judges you, they are just happy you are trying to get healthy. I still don't like to eat in front of a lot of people, but that will change as I go down in size...:)

Thank you!

Just hit 1,000 on the "My Supporters" counter. Obviously it is repeat visitors, but 1,000 hits in the first 3 months for a weight loss blog is awesome! Thank you for all of your comments and support in my journey to a healthier life. Please continue to support me and PRAY for me AND my husband as he is trying as well. Keep being awesome!

Pizza, YES! PIZZA!

Anyone can tell you that pizza is not the healthiest of choices, especially if you are ordering it. I make a healthy version that I have posted on here before, but still filled with carbs.

In the past when we (being David and I) would order pizza, we would end up spending $30-$40! That usually consisted of 2 large stuffed crust fully loaded, a double order of bread sticks, and either a dessert or a side of wings. Then we would top all of that with some ice cream afterwards! Whew! I am getting nauseated just THINKING about it!

Well tonight we decided on pizza. When I went to order it, I look at the total and it said the normal amount, around $30. Then I thought about those extra pounds I WOULDNT be losing, and how swollen my stomach would get, and that I would be sick for 2 days. I just couldnt do it. I ended up ordering a medium ONE topping pizza, light sauce, and 2 salads! Total was $16!!! We went to the church to clean and ate before. We were both full, AND satisfied. AND, NO ICE CREAM!

It is so exciting to see the progress we are both making. It is a HUGE issue for us to tell each other no when we are both craving the same thing, which is ALL THE TIME! We are finally starting to overcome these problems and I am not just excited for me, but to see my husband trying to get himself in shape. He has been getting up at 5am, early before work, and going on a mile walk with me. Then he goes to work and I go to the gym. Praise God that He is showing us mercy through this. If you have ever had a weight problem, whether big or small, you KNOW how difficult it is to not only lose weight, but eat right, exercise, portion control, etc. Please keep us in your prayers....:)

Cindy's French Fried Chicken (with roasted garlic mashed potatoes)

Now, in order to enjoy this recipe, you will have to like french fried onions. I WISH I could say I created this recipe, it was delish! I got it from French's, hence the fried onions...lol. The recipe calls for BONELESS chicken, which would probably make it better, but I used bone in thighs because that is what I had.

2 cups (4 oz.) FRENCH'S® Original or Cheddar French Fried Onions

2 tbsp. all-purpose flour

4 (5 oz.) boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 egg, beaten

Directions:

Place French Fried Onions and flour into plastic bag. Lightly crush with hands or with rolling pin. Transfer to pie plate or waxed paper.

Dip chicken into egg; then coat with onion crumbs, pressing firmly to adhere. Place chicken on baking sheet.

Bake at 400°F for 20 min. or until no longer pink in center (I had to put it in for another 20 minutes, but it was bone in).

It also says that for a tangier taste, you can sub 1/4 c. mustard for the egg. I will try that next time I make this.

Calories 360, Carbs 13, Protein 32, Sodium 225...I was quite impressed with the sodium in this, thought it would be a lot more. Hope you enjoy!

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Cindy's Triple B

If you are wondering what triple B stands for it is "beef, bacon, and Benedict"! I like to try new recipes as often as finances allow me to, and SOMETIMES I actually come up with my own recipes, which I love the most! This is one of them, and one of the best ones I should say. It was sooooo good! Not hard to make at all, only a couple of steps and FOUR ingredients!

1 round beef steak

1-2 slices of turkey bacon

1 egg

2 Tbs. hollandaise sauce

Preheat oven to 400. Season steak to your liking (you can add any kind you like, just make sure it will match the sauce) Wrap bacon around the edge of the steak and hold in place with a WET toothpick. Place in small baking dish and bake for ABOUT 30 minutes, or until it is cooked to your liking. I checked mine at 30 minutes and it was too pink for me so I put it in for 15 more minutes. If it starts to brown too much, you can place a piece of aluminum over it.

While that is baking, cook some brown rice to go with it. Do not make anything else until the meat is done...the egg will get rubbery and the sauce lumpy if they are not fresh. As soon as the meat IS done, set it aside and make the sauce and egg. For ultimate taste, you will want to do both at the same time. For a creamier sauce, use 1/2 c water and 1/2 c milk instead of 1 c water. For the least fat, fry the egg using an olive oil cooking spray. Cook to your liking.

Take out toothpick. Place egg on top of steak and drizzle with sauce. Serve with rice and veggies and enjoy! Calories 242, sodium 458, protein 28, and only 1 carb!!!!!

If you try this recipe, please give me feedback on how it was!

3 month pictures!

I took my 3 month picture today. To the left is me at my highest weight of 505, and to the right is me today at 461. What a difference I see! And it was pointed out to me that my smile in the new picture is SO much bigger than the other one...:) The skirt I am holding up I received in the mail today and it was so big on me I couldn't even keep it up! Yesterday I tried on 4 or 5 shirts that I have not been able to wear in over a year and EVERY SINGLE ONE FIT! The blue striped shirt is one of them.

I am so excited at the things the Lord is allowing me to do for myself, and I MUST give Him the glory in this, I would not have been able to this by myself.

I am wanting to take pictures every 3 months to show progress. I can see the tone in my arms, and more of an hour glass shape instead of a ROUND shape.

Weigh In - Month 3

Today was a great day! I got weighed and measured and when I got on the scale, I was just PRAYING for a couple of pounds to come off since last month I didnt lose at all, just stayed the same. (I did lose inches last month though) I actually had to get off the scale and get back on because I didnt believe it...I lost 16 pounds!!!!!! I thought I was going to get a ticket I was driving so fast to the gym...I couldnt WAIT to get measured....and I lost 1.75 inches! So far, total loss is 44 pounds and 16 inches!!!! I am 11 pounds from my first weight loss goal, second goal on my list...so close I can taste it!

New Quiz!!!!

Check out my new quiz! Getting weighed and measured on Wednesday...was suppose to be this week but health issues kept me from the gym for a couple of days...want to get a few workouts in for an accurate measure! Will post then...cant wait to see what using the smart machines have done...praying for better results than last month!