Monday, October 18, 2010

Fiery Chicken Chili

Okay, this was AWESOME...but not so fiery.  We served it with crushed up tortilla chips, avocado, sour cream and cheese.  By the date, you can tell how behind I am on trying recipes I have flagged in magazines.  ahem.
Regardless, I loved it and will make it again.

Fiery Chicken Chili
November 2007- Rachel Ray Magazine




















  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 onions, chopped

  • 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

  • 4 teaspoons dried oregano

  • 2-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

  • 1-1/2 teaspoons salt

  • 1 teaspoon paprika

  • 1 large chipotle chile in adobo sauce, finely chopped, sauce reserved

  • 3 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, thinly sliced

  • Two 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes with their juice

  • Three 15.5-ounce cans pinto beans, rinsed

  • Chopped avocados, cilantro leaves, grated cheddar cheese, chopped scallions and sour cream, for serving


  • Directions:
    In a large, heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt and paprika and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and the spices are fragrant, about 7 minutes. Stir in the chipotle and 1 tablespoon adobo sauce. Add the chicken and cook, stirring, until the meat begins to turn opaque, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and beans and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Uncover, increase the heat and simmer the chili briskly, stirring often, until thickened, 25 to 30 minutes.

    Thursday, October 7, 2010

    Your to-do list for weight loss success...

    According to Dr. Connie Stapleton:
    1. Make consistently healthy food choices (protein, veg, then fruit/if it is white don't bite)
    2. Maintain portion control
    3. Exercise
    4. Water all day (except during meals 30/30 rule)
    5. Plan your meals
    6. Food diary
    7. Exercise Diary
    8. Sleep
    9. Support system
    10. Personal counseling
    So let's get honest...how many of these am I doing?
    1. Good Choices-Adequate 
      • I have a bit or two of bread occasionally but I am not getting in enough protein. 
      • ACTION: up my protein
    2. Portions-Good  
      •  I am very aware of when I need to stop eating.  However, I am not measuring my portions. 
      • ACTION: measure my food for a couple of days to make sure I am still seeing my food portions properly.
    3. Exercise-Poor
      • I have been using activity as exercise.  They are not the same thing
      • ACTION: Create an exercise routine for the week
    4. Water-Unknown
      • Honestly, I have no idea.  I haven't been keeping track of my water
      • ACTION: track my water for a few days to see where I am
    5. Planning-Good
      • I usually know what I have in the house that will be a good choice for me.  However, I have not been planning dinners
      • ACTION: start planning dinners for the family
    6. Food Diary- Poor
      • I haven't been keeping track for months
      • ACTION- I have already started tracking again.
    7. Exercise Diary- Poor
      • I can't track what I am not doing
      • ACTION: DO IT!
    8. Sleep-Okay
      • I haven't been using my CPAP since I sleep worse with it on.  Is this okay?  I am not sure.
      • ACTION- start going to bed earlier and try the CPAP for a couple of days.
    9. Support- Good
      • Word to my bariatrictv peeps and my family 
      • ACTION- stay honest with my support system
    10. Counseling- Good
      • I have been seeing my counselor for about a month now
      • ACTION- keep it up!
    I have some work to do.  But I can do it :)

    Wednesday, October 6, 2010

    From WLS LIfestyles Magazine....

    Ten Secrets of Highly Successful Weight Losers


    By: Dr. Russ L'HommeDieu, DPT
     
    ....What I have learned is that ALL successful losers actually re-invent themselves. No matter where they start. No matter how bad off they are. When they become successful losers, they all seem to have these 10 common traits.




    They Have a Compelling Vision & Solid Purpose

    They Maintain An Honest Awareness of Their Thoughts, Actions and Surroundings

    They Don’t Take it Too Lightly or Themselves Too Seriously

    They Eat Well and Often

    They Move Well and Often

    They Are Accountable

    They Construct Support Positive Systems and Accept Help

    They Explore Life Outside Their Comfort Zone and Embrace the Change

    They Under Promise and Over Deliver

    They Believe in Who They Are & What They Can Do

    Wednesday, September 22, 2010

    Status Update

    Here is the latest progress pic...I was all duded up for a PEO initiation/meeting.  I am down 68 lbs in this picture...

    Sites I *heart* right now...

    Top of my list is always BariatricTV....

    http://bariatrictv.com/
    I found the video podcasts earlier this year and the wealth of knowledge of this group is unrivaled...and they are damn funny.  Monday night is when we have our online support meeting- it is great. 

    Sites for recipes:
    http://www.chefdave.org/
    http://bariatricfoodie.blogspot.com/
    http://healthyindulgences.blogspot.com/
    http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/recipes.html
    http://eatingwelllivingthin.wordpress.com/
    http://www.snack-girl.com/
    http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/

    Other sites:
    http://www.nawls.com/
    http://wlsfa.org/
    http://www.bariatricbadgirlsclub.com/
    http://pamtremble.blogspot.com/
    http://theincredibleshrinkingfattie.wordpress.com/
    http://formerfatdudes.com/

    Tuesday, September 7, 2010

    Progress- month three

    Start: May 10th-























    Current: September 6th- 62 lbs down.

    Thursday, August 19, 2010

    What are you?

    Currently, I have lost a guinea pig, a small bale of hay, and a Chihuahua.

    1 pound = a Guinea Pig

    1.5 pounds = a dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts

    2 pounds = a rack of baby back ribs

    3 pounds = an average human brain

    4 pounds = an ostrich egg

    5 pounds = a Chihuahua

    6 pounds = a human’s skin

    7.5 pounds = an average newborn

    8 pounds = a human head

    10 pounds= chemical additives an American consumes each year

    11 pounds = an average housecat

    12 pounds = a Bald Eagle

    15 pounds = 10 dozen large eggs

    16 pounds = a sperm whale’s brain

    20 pounds = an automobile tire

    23 pounds = amount of pizza an average American eats in a year

    24 pounds = a 3-gallon tub of super premium ice cream

    25 pounds = an average 2 year old

    30 pounds = amount of cheese an average American eats in a year

    33 pounds = a cinder block

    36 pounds = a mid-size microwave

    40 pounds = a 5-gallon bottle of water or an average human leg

    44 pounds = an elephant’s heart

    50 pounds = a small bale of hay

    55 pounds = a 5000 BTU air conditioner

    60 pounds = an elephant’s penis (yep, weights more than his heart!)

    66 pounds = fats and oils an average American eats in a year

    70 pounds = an Irish Setter77 pounds = a gold brick

    80 pounds = the World’s Largest Ball of Tape

    90 pounds = a newborn calf

    100 pounds = a 2 month old horse

    111 pounds = red meat an average American eats in a year

    117 pounds = an average fashion model (and she’s 5’11”)

    118 pounds = the complete Encyclopedia Britannica

    120 pounds = amount of trash you throw away in a month

    130 pounds = a newborn giraffe

    138 pounds = potatoes an average American eats in a year

    140 pounds = refined sugar an average American eats in a year

    144 pounds = an average adult woman (and she’s 5’4”)

    150 pounds = the complete Oxford English Dictionary

    187 pounds = an average adult man

    200 pounds = 2 Bloodhounds

    235 pounds = Arnold Schwarzenegger

    300 pounds = an average football lineman

    400 pounds = a Welsh pony