My favorite simple Coffee Protein Shake

For those who missed it... Here it is again..

4 ounces of decaf coffee

4 ounces of skim milk or water

2 sugar substitute packets

1-2 scoops of vanilla protein powder (lots of people say chocolate is delish too)

5 ice cubes (more if you like a thicker consistency) 

Blend and drink!

Broccoli Cheese Soup (weight watchers or liquid diet)

June 21, 2013 "I don't mind soup from a can.."

June 27, 2013 "I'll tolerate can soup but, prefer the real deal.."

July 5, 2013 "I am so tired of soup but, it's worth it!"

Most of us prefer the real deal. Homemade and authentic.

Here is the recipe my husband came up with for our liquid version of Broccoli Cheese Soup.







Here is what you need:
44 ounces ounce chicken broth (3 cans of it will work too) <If you make the broth I posted you will use most it!>
2-3 bunches of broccoli or 2 pounds frozen
1 (10 1/2 ounce) can tomatoes & green chilies (USE mild!!) Blending will make it very spicey!
10 ounces Velveeta 2% cheese product (I know my friends who are not from the south think this is awful but, this is good - promise)

Directions:

Mix chicken broth (Click here for our homemade broth),  broccoli and tomatoes and chilies together.

Simmer for 25 minutes or until veggies are tender.

Cube Velveeta and put into soup pot.

Simmer just until cheese is melted.

Blend (I don't have a stick blender yet) so, when you put it in the blender only be careful- I put too much and had a mess!

Beware the tomatoes and chilies can get spicy with the blender!This recipe freezes and refrigerated well.

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 8
• Amount Per Serving 1 cup
• Calories: 132.5

• Total Fat: 4.9 g
• Cholesterol: 17.5 mg
• Sodium: 1,384.7 mg
• Total Carbs: 14.3 g
• Dietary Fiber: 2.9 g
• Protein: 10.9 g

Inspiration came from Chloe on Food.com 

The Nesting...

So, I have been cleaning out closets, sorting through clothes and getting rid of junk. While I like to pretend this is me... I have never been on a roll like this.... My friends say I am nesting. Tonight, I finished with our closet and bathroom. It was awful- I have been moving baskets of lotions/makeup/hair stuff from one house to another for 10 years. Threw a whole bunch of stuff out. I am proud of myself. I am wondering is this a new part of my personality coming out??? Haha. 

Day 11. Not as easy as Day 1 but, it went pretty well. I am thankful! I also realized my husband has been so good at not eating in front of me. I went out and bought some of his favorite foods for next week while I am away. I finally made some crystal light and that was deli-sh. 

Tomorrow, we have an appointment for Maddie. Then I am going to get a pedicure with my free friend Sarah.. If I am going to be wearing hideous gowns - I should have pretty toes. 

I saw two articles in the USA Today. One was about Obamacare requires most insurers to tackle obesity. Americans have got to wake up. We need to start being more responsible for our bodies. I know lots of people are angry about Obamacare but, what it will do for specials needs kids (my family espeically) is life changing.  I know people don't want to hear about how the insurance we have doesn't believe in treating Autism. It comes from out our pockets or we have a secondary insurance called Tefra. Yes, our family is depending on medicaid for Maddie and Lauren.

I saw another article that was discussing how hard it is for Americans to keep weight off. It's a viscous circle!  It's not easy. I know- been on this journey of being overweight for 21 years. My life is about to change for the good. I hope I can share with others what I am learning. 

So thankful that I get to have this surgery. 

THREE DAYS LEFT!  And Happy Birthday, America!  

Crock pot Chicken Stock / Broth Recipe!

As you know - I am preparing for weight loss surgery and I am on a two week liquid diet. My hubby, John, is on weight watchers and so we are learning to find meals we both can enjoy. Here is a crucial ingredient to lots of soups!

Chicken Stock/Broth. I was told broth traditionally doesn't include salt but it does include meat.. ANYWAYS.. It's is so easy to make! Homemade is so much better and yet we settle for the can!!!  NO MORE! We even make ours in a crock pot!

John found this recipe at Everyday Maven and we tweak it.. I am making several batches to have in the freezer- and it's so tasty it's no surprise they are the base to several more recipes I plan to post this week/weekend! 

• One 3½ to 5 lb chicken (with meat, bones & skin), cut up

• 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• water to cover plus about 1″

• 8 to 10″ lemongrass, sliced in half (I use the freeze dried)

• 3 to 4 shallots, cut in half lengthwise (skin on)

• 1 head garlic, cut in half across the middle (skin on)

• 3 to 4″ ginger root, peeled and sliced lengthwise

• 1 bunch scallions, white and darks separated, whites cut lengthwise (greens reserved for soup)

2 to 3 tablespoons Kosher Salt

• 
  
  
  Of course you can also add carrots, celery, green onions and more! Put in the crock pot on low and walk away for 8-10 hours!  
• 
  
• After the stock is done cooking turn off the heat and, we pick out the big stuff and used a strainer to remove all herbs/bones/etc. (We actually used the cooked chicken for something else.)
• 
  
• Either refrigerate or freeze the stock for future use. I plan to freeze some in both 1 and 2-cup portions, and I also plan to freeze stock in ice cube trays just in case I just “need a little” for making sauce or rice. 

So, that's all folks. You can do it! 

Original Recipe Inspiration came from Everyday Maven

Order me a Cheeseburger with chips and salsa please!

So.. I have had a cheeseburger on my mind lately. I can tell you the last time I went to Five Guys and experienced their burger. (a Friday in May) I am not even a burger fan but, I want one. After researching-- I decided that I would meet John at Chili's for dinner before therapy.  I was not going to blog about it because no one would know I was there. But, was I wrong. One of my staff members was there. I had a couple bites of John's grill chicken... Then the immense guilt came over me. I stopped (and we had planned me eating some chicken all along at dinner). It's how cheating occurs. It feels wrong at first then it gets easier. I want every food decision to be thought out.  One day. One step. 

I think my body is ready for surgery. I am losing a little more than a pound a day. I've lost 17 pounds thus far- I am having to space out my meals and liquid intake.. Today my insurance called and asked if I was ready for surgery. She asked a series of questions.. Are you depressed? suicidal? your routine different? I laughed I said you mean am I surviving without food? She laughed. We are going to be okay. 

We also know that my family has a history of malignant hypothermia. I have spent some time today researching since the medical records I have were from 1986!! If you ever go alone and visit Granny Duckett she will tell you about Johnnie. Johnnie was born a few years after dad. Johnnie went to have his tonsils out in 1961 and had a allergic reaction to the anesthetic and he died. Not sure how but, we later learned that my grandparents were carriers of MH. (very rare for both parents to carry it- I think that was God's way of not letting them blame each other). So, after some further testing it was discovered that our family is MH susceptible. The information I learned about today was really cool but, I want to share the info with my family first.  As I am always reminded Genetic Testing is rapidly changing!  MH while it is rare- as long as the hospital is aware then the proper medication  can be available if you have a reaction. 

So day 10. If I am being honest and I am... I am ready for day 14. A new chance at life. And if you get a chance eat a burger for me. ;)

Never ever have I.

Been in the hospital overnight for myself.
Had surgery.
Lost 16 pounds in 12 days.

So on day 9 of the liquid diet adventure I am asking you for advice.

I will be in the hospital for a couple nights what do I need to bring?

How I finally kicked my caffeine habit. (If I can do it- so can YOU!)

Caffeine Addictions. I am no expert. This is not medical advice. This is how me the girl who was addicted became not addicted.

Most of us have one. Some it means a cup of coffee every day. Some it means a soda at lunch. Some it means just drinking a glass of tea.  Caffeine is a diuretic, so the more you drink it, the more you're draining your body of those important nutrients… I decided to for real give up caffeine in January. I allowed myself to have caffeine free sodas. I highly doubted I would even notice a difference.

What a joke! My addiction was at an all-time HIGH. I was taking in an embarrassing amount of it every day.  When I met with my doctor and got the prognosis of “sleep apnea” – I told him I was about to “quit” caffeine. He gave me some pointers to help with headaches.. What I didn’t know is that it would affect my general mood. I became I very hard person to be around. If your addiction includes more than 80 ounces a day- I think doing it cold turkey (and working and having a family is almost impossible). Looking back my PCP and therapist says I should have used medication to help me! This is sad- but, true.  

So, this will be tailored for you individually:

I will show you how I did it. If you get headaches and you treat them and they still persist- Ask your doctor-it doesn't have to be miserable on everyone. Also, do you know a caffeine headache from lack of sleep headache or sinus or allergy headache????

Last time I normally have caffeine? 7pm

Favorite caffeinated beverage?  Diet Dr. Pepper. (I could only have 3 of my favorite caffeinated beverage a day)

For 2 days no caffeine after 6 pm.

Then days 3 and 4 no caffeine after 5pm. (this screws with your dinner)

Then days 5 and 6 no caffeine after 3pm. (this wasn’t hard for me)

<If you do not have headaches yet then proceed forward.>  

Then days 7 and 8 no caffeine after 1 pm. (this was the killer for me)

Then days 8, 9, 10 no caffeine after 12p.  (Monitor your caffeine intake for 3 days in the morning)

<If you do not have headaches proceed forward>

Day 11-15 Cut in half your intake from days 8-9-10. Let’s say you have 2 cups of coffee and 2 diet cokes. (Then you will have 1 cup of coffee and 1 diet coke).

These days you will notice your sleep being affected-tired earlier and feeling worn out.  If you struggling or wanting it – require yourself to drink 12 ounces of water before each intake of caffeine.

If Headaches have gone away then allow yourself to have only 1 caffeinated beverage before lunch.  But, some people can’t handle the temptation. You know yourself and the addiction. Be smart. Don’t make your loved ones suffer.

Honestly, the 1:00 hour- I couldn’t give it up. We decided that for surgery I would switch to tea and continue on with my addiction..

Folks, I am on week 6 of no caffeine at 1:00. It was hard and challenging but, this worked for me. Lots of folks prefer to quit cold turkey and not wean off. Not me!! Hope this helps. Good Luck on being healthier!