Almost Forgot!

I almost forgot to move my weight loss ticker! (in the upper left corner of my blog) I have been doing a 50,000 step challenge with a group on FB the last few weeks and since then I have continued to go down in weight AND inches!  Every day is a challenge for me and I am really feeling motivated.  Some days it seems like I will NEVER get my steps in and then other days it happens without even trying!  I am so thankful with the support I have found in 2 different groups.  My 50,000 step challenge group, and my bariatric support group.  Some of the best support I have ever got and coming from people who were once complete strangers.  And of course I cant forget my family and friends who are continuously there for me!!!!! LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken (Better than Take-Out!!!!)

I LOOOOOOOVE me some Chinese food! Most recipes are a bit difficult though with a million ingredients so I don't bother to make them.  I DO make an egg roll that is baked, not fried, but we will save that for another day! :)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound boneless chicken, (cubed and/or sliced)
• 1 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• flour or corn starch to thicken sauce

DIRECTIONS

• Cube raw chicken, set aside.  Mix all ingredients, EXCEPT flour or corn starch, to make sauce.  Add chicken and marinade for an hour in refrigerator.  

*I put it all in my crock pot and let it chill to save washing dishes.  If you do it that way, make sure you let the pot sit out for ONE HOUR after marinading and before turning it on.  Your crock pot can crack if you heat it when it is that cold.*

• Pour entire mixture into the crock pot. Cook on high for 2 hours WITHOUT lifting the lid.  Stir the chicken and if the sauce is not thick enough to your liking, add a little flour or corn starch until it is.  Serve over rice.

ENJOY!!!!

Caprese Lasagna Roll Ups

This recipe turned out so yummy, even my husband who hates ricotta cheese, loved it!  The picture above is not my own, but it was much prettier than mine.  The pictures below ARE mine though.

• 8 lasagna noodles, uncooked
• 14 oz freshly shredded, low-moisture part skim Mozzarella cheese, divided
• 3/4 cup Ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg white
• 1/3 cup freshly, finely shredded Parmesan cheese (about 1 1/4 oz)
• freshly ground black pepper
• 3 - 4 medium Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced (about 1/6 inch thick slices)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for garnish
• 1 cup marinara sauce, recipe follows
Simple Marinara Sauce
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion
• 2 cloves garlic finely minced
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta according to directions listed on package to al dente. Drain pasta (DO NOT rinse with water) and align lasagna noodles in a single layer on a large sheet of parchment or wax paper.

• For filling, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together ricotta cheese and egg white until well blended. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Mix in 12 oz. of the Mozzarella cheese and season with black pepper to taste (I wouldn't recommend seasoning with salt just because the cheeses already have plenty of salt).

• Place 1/4 cup of the cheese mixture over each lasagna noodle and spread into an even layer, going from one end of the lasagna to the other. Align 4 thin tomato slices over cheese mixture then sprinkle fresh basil over top. Snugly roll lasagna noodles to opposite end. Spread about 1/4 cup pasta sauce in the bottom of an 11 x 7 inch baking dish. Align lasagna roll ups, seam side down in dish. Top each roll up with about 2 Tbsp of the pasta sauce (covering edges of pasta so they don't dry out while baking). Sprinkle top with remaining 2 oz. shredded Mozzarella. Bake in preheated oven 30 minutes. Remove from oven, plate pasta and garnish with plenty of basil ribbons. Serve warm.

(This picture is before the sauce and cheese is put on)

Simple Marinara Sauce

• Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add onions to hot oil and saute about 3 minutes until soft, adding garlic during last minute of sauteing. Pour in crushed tomatoes and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring mixture just to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and allow sauce to cook for about 25 - 30 minutes (which will allow some of the water in crushed tomatoes to evaporate) while you prepare pasta and lasagna filling (you can freeze or refrigerate left over sauce in a small airtight container for later use, adding fresh basil if desired).

ENJOY!!!!!

Been Too Long!

Trying to keep up with my blog seems impossible at times. LOL So lets play catch up!

I have decided to go ahead with the gastric bypass.  My health is going down faster than I can lose the weight I need to lose so I believe this is the best option for me.  I believe I can use this as a tool to lose the weight and keep it off!  I have to do a 3 month program before I can have the surgery.  I have done my first group session and have 2 more to go, plus a few dr. appointments.  I will be reviewed by the September review board and we are looking at an early October surgery.  That isn't very far away! Right now I am just trying to continue in weight loss, shop for things like protein shakes and bars, and prepare as much as possible.

Support for this kind of thing can be a hard thing to find.  My husband is very supportive but I know he is scared to lose me.  But if I don't do this, he will lose me anyway, just slower.  My immediate family is also for it.  They know the importance of it.  My friends are pretty much divided.  Some are being a great support, and then others just want to talk about the negative side of things.  Some is out of concern, but I think others is out of jealousy.  I would have to say though, I have a lot more people supporting me than others do.  I could not imagine going through this without the support of people, especially my husband, he is everything to me. :)

I have had a few people ask me where I get my motivation from because they just cant seem to find any.  First off, I DO struggle with motivation, A LOT! Right now I am struggling with motivation to go to the gym.  I am getting my steps in and doing cardio everyday, but no gym lately.  The best thing I can say is to try and try again until you find the thing that motivates you the best.  Get a good team of support that will encourage you on good AND bad days.  I am part of a group on FB that has encouraged and motivate me to keep stepping and keep moving and this past week I logged in 25 miles, AND losing weight even though I haven't gone to the gym!  Support is a big part of any success.  Not everyone can find it from their family and friends, but I just want to put it out there that I will be a support for ANYONE trying to get healthy and lose weight, even if we don't know each other, we will get to know each other. :)

I have also started working again!  I started at Lane Bryant in February.  I REALLY like my job.  Physically, it is hard for me at times, especially in the beginning.  Some nights I come home and just cry from the pain. Things are getting better though, and they will get even better the more weight I lose!

David is also doing well with his weight.  He has lost almost 50 pounds!  At first it was just from not drinking soda, but he is now exercising every day!

Well, I think that is it as far as playing catch up! I know I have said this before, but I will try to post more often. lol