My Soldier is Home!!!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

So, I've been a baseball fan since... well, as long as I could walk and talk.  As far back as I can remember, my brother has been teaching me everything I ever needed to know about the sport.  As a family... we've gone to hundreds of baseball games together!  In the last 10 years though, my weight had always hindered my ability to really fully be comfortable at the games.  I was always a little too big for the seats, was out of breath walking from the car.... those kinds of things.

Last night... everything was different.  My brother, Dad, Emily and I went to a AAA Tacoma Rainiers baseball game in Tacoma.  Here's what was amazingly different!

1. I had gotten some free jerseys from the Rainiers early in the season, they didn't fit.  But last night, MY JERSEY FIT!  A standard XL!  I was SO EXCITED and I even got compliments on it at the game!!! 
2. The walk from the car to our seats... didn't even break a sweat or huff and puff for air.  Didn't even think twice about it actually because it was so easy.  :) 
3. I almost cried when I realized this one... My ass fit in the stadium seat! With room to spare on each side! OH MY GOD!  I don't know if I can EVER remember that happening! Usually, cause we're all big people, we're smushed in those seats like sardines!  NOT THIS TIME!!! Yay!  
4. No ass sweat.  I know it's gross.  But when you're as over weight as I was... sitting for a long time in one spot, you can get sweaty, especially my ass and back.  None of that this time.  It rocked! 
5. My favorite baseball hoodie... it's almost too big.  I wore it anyways.  hehe
6. Eating peanuts = a good thing at the ball park!  I can munch on these little bad boys, get lots of protein and the good fats and feel like I'm still enjoying the best part of watching a game.  And to go along with this... I ate a couple bites of ONE piece of pizza.  Not pizza, hot dogs, garlic friends, pretzel and everything else I  usually eat.  I was able to control myself... enjoy what I did have and be okay with it! Not saying I'm never going to eat garlic fries again... cause you know, as soon as I get to The Safe...  I'll be eating at least ONE fry! hahah (It's all about moderation, baby!)
7. And overall... the whole experience was just so much more fun! It was easier to move around, I had more energy and I was just happier!  

Here's a pic from the game!  I'm only posting it cause you can't see my new hair and body.  hehe Can't spoil it for my hubby!!! 

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 256lbs
Total weight loss: 69lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 58lbs

Shrinking Betsy!

Desi came over today for another round of measurement taking!  And HOLY SHIT.... I CAN NOT BELIEVE the number of inches I've lost!!! Here's the breakdown...

What's that say..... yup, you read it right.  TWENTY TWO (22) INCHES lost in seven weeks!  No wonder everyone tells me I look so good!  There's so much less of me!!!!

A few people have asked me for pictures... but I wont' be posting any until my husband gets home.  I want what I look like to be a huge surprise!! But between Shrinking Betsy and going blonde... I don't know if he'll recognize me!!!

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 258lbs
Total weight loss: 67lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 56lbs

Protein French Vanilla Creamer

Last Christmas my husband bought me a Keurig 1-cup Coffee Maker.  Since the surgery, I've been reluctant to start using it again because 1) I'm not supposed to have a lot of caffeine and 2) creamers typically have no protein in them.... so coffee really doesn't add any nutritional value to my diet.  It's already hard enough as it is to get in enough food and protein during the day, that I had to find a way to make a creamer that had some nutritional value to it!!! So, this is what I've come up with!  I like A LOT of creamer in my coffee... so depending on how much you use... this could be adjusted!

Protein French Vanilla Creamer
1/4 cup Non-Fat French Vanilla Creamer
1/4 cup Non-Fat Milk
1 tablespoon Vanilla Protein Powder
1 large cup of coffee with ROOM

In a measuring cup that pours, combine the creamer, milk and powder.  With a fork, stir until all the protein powder has been broken up and dissolved.

Add creamer mixture to cup of coffee.  With the fork, stir again.  A few clumps of protein powder may still be visible, but those will dissolve in the hot coffee if you keep stirring!

Enjoy!

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 260lbs
Total weight loss: 65lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 54lbs

10 Kick Ass Perks of Weight Loss

1. My clothes actually FIT.  
2. Cleaning out my closet means getting rid of clothes that are TOO BIG instead of too small! 
3. In the car, my belly isn't an inch from the steering wheel... it's SIX inches! 
4. The seatbelt actually has more than 2 inches of slack on it!! I can lean over to pick something up without having to take off my seatbelt too! 
5. Towels wrap around my body, completely! 
6. I don't need the detachable shower-head for those hard to reach places anymore.
7. I fit into the booths at restaurants. 
8. I don't have to buy the biggest size in the store anymore! 
9. My boobs stick out further than my belly!!! 
10. Everyday my self esteem comes back a little more! 

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 262lbs
Total weight loss: 63lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 52lbs

60 Pounds!

I reached 60 pounds lost today!  My husband comes home very soon and I can't wait to shed even MORE before I see him! Here's a picture from Monday.... I can't believe I look like this!!!

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 265lbs
Total weight loss: 60lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 49lbs

Penne with Chicken and Roasted Veggies

I went to a family BBQ yesterday and needed a healthy, delicious option to eat! So, I brought this salad, served cold!  It was a big hit... even with the kids!!! 

JavaCupcake's Penne with Chicken and Roasted Veggies

Inspired by this Pappardelle's recipe.

1 boneless skinless chicken breast
½  lb Penne pasta

1 sweet onion, chopped into bite-sized pieces
2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped plus 1tbsp for garnish
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1 head of garlic, each clove peeled
Olive Oil
Sea Salt
Ground black pepper
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. In a 13 x 9 inch baking dish, add chopped oregano, tomatoes, onion, and garlic cloves. Drizzle olive oil over all, grind salt and pepper to taste on top and toss well to coat. Bake at 450 for 30 minutes or until tender.

3. Cut chicken into strips, toss with olive oil, salt and pepper.  Heat a pan to medium-high and cook chicken until centers are free of pink.

4. Cook pasta in pot of rapidly boiling salted water until al dente (about 8 minutes). Drain.

5. In a large serving bowl add pasta, chicken and roasted veggies. Toss lightly to combine. Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese and freshly chopped oregano.

6. Serve immediately warm as a meal or refrigerate and serve as a cold side salad. 

NOTE:  Substitutions can be made for any of these ingredients!  The pasta, veggies, spices... use what you've got in your house for a delicious dinner or side dish!  You could even omit the chicken for a vegan meal!

Too Good For You to be True Fruit Muffins!

I wanted to bake this morning... so, I came up with a non-fat, sugar-free, whole wheat, high protein, fruit filled muffin recipe!  So healthy for you... you might have to eat two!! Enjoy!

Note:  These are pretty tart because of the raspberries.  If you don't like tart, omit the raspberries!

JavaCupcake's Too Good For You to be True Fruit Muffins
makes 16 muffins

1 cup flour

¾ whole wheat flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp salt
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
¼ cup sugar free applesauce
¾ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
3 large eggs
2 cups fresh blueberries or unthawed frozen blueberries

1 cup fresh raspberries

1. Preheat oven to 375º.  Line muffin pan with paper liners.  Spray lightly the inside of the liners with non-fat cooking spray. 
2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, spices, protein powder and salt in a large bowl.
3. Make a well in the flour mixture and break the eggs into the well and pour the applesauce and orange juice over the top. Using a whisk, mix the wet ingredients together until combined, gradually mixing in the dry. Switch to a spatula and scrape the sides of the bowl.  Fold in the fruit and mix until just combined.
4. Using an ice cream scoop, pour the batter into the muffin cups and fill to the top of the cups.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean. Rotate pan after 15 minutes to ensure even baking. Do not over-bake or the muffins will be dry.
6. Remove pan from oven and let cool on a rack for 5-10 minutes then remove muffins to a rack to cool completely. 

Small Victory!

I went shopping today for a cute summer shirt that actually fit me to wear to a bbq this afternoon.  I hopped over to Fashion Bug, a store where I used to wear 3x and at my highest 4x shirts.  Well today... I tried on some cute 2x shirts thinking they'd fit.  Boy was I WRONG! They were TOO BIG!  I had to goto the smallest size they had in the store... a 1x!  I almost had a moment in the dressing room when I tried it on... HOLY COW!  I went from a 4x to a 1x in 7 weeks!  I couldn't believe my eyes! I turned to the side to look at myself in the mirror and WOAH, my boobs stick out further than my stomach does.  WHAT??!?! HOLY COW!!! I'm actually seeing a dramatic change in my body and it's AWESOME!!!!!!!!

PS... I had another moment in the car after I left the store.  I really wanted to call my Mom and tell her all about it, giggle, laugh, cry and be happy together.  I miss her the most in times like these... when all I want to do is call her.

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 268lbs
Total weight loss: 57lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 46lbs

Keepin' up... focus... staying on track

I've only lost 1lb since Friday.... 6 days and 1 lb.  I know I shouldn't be obsessed with the scale, but I really am disappointed in just 1lb.  And then, I feel guilty about all the things I should be doing that I haven't been.  I've fallen off the wagon, so to speak.

I was doing so good for about 3 weeks.... exercising all the time, eating right... and then, I don't know what happened, but it all just stopped.  I haven't been on a walk in 2 weeks, I haven't been eating the "best" things and now... the scale is showing me what happens when I don't stay on track.

Sometimes I feel so much pressure to succeed at this.  Pressure I put on myself, pressure from my Mom in Heaven, from my doctor, my family.  I feel like if I let my family, friends down... that yet again, I'll be a failure at something.  And sometimes, that's so overwhelming that I just stop doing everything. 

I need to keep up the good work.  But really, how do I do that?  Will it take another 50lbs before I feel motivated all the time?  Will it take my husband coming home?  I don't know.  It's just so frustrating.  I wish it was easier.  

I'm not looking for everyone to answer these questions for me.... I guess I just needed to say it out loud so that maybe I'll hold myself accountable and get my butt in gear.  

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 273lbs
Total weight loss: 52lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 41lbs