Are You Looking For Soup Recipes?

One of my most fave things about our blog community is how we can share ideas and RECIPES with each other!

Check out this love nugget email that I just received from Ms. Chowder**  

She's a Lap-Bander that has a few fabulous recipes and ideas.  She gave me permission to share these with you.  Check 'em out below:

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Hi there,

I always enjoy your recipes, especially the soup one.  I LOVE soup!!  I have been making the one with a Progresso Light Chicken Dumpling soup can, chicken, milk, goat cheese, etc.  - you know which one I am talking about?  

Well, today I made a version of that and I think I hit gold with this one.  Wanted to share it with you and return the favor.  Here it is:

1 can of Progresso Light Creamy Potato with Bacon and Cheese

2 oz. chopped turkey ham (I use my zyliss hand chopper)

1 scoop Unjury protein powder chicken soup flavor (I dissolve it first in a little water before adding to soup)

2-4 T sliced almonds

Flat leave parsley (optional)

2-4 T Frenches Fried onion (optional)

45 g of Protein and about 14 WW Plus points for the whole thing.  I ate half for lunch and half for dinner.

I also tried another combination:

1 can of Progresso Light New England Clam Chowder

8 oz. Bay Scallops

1 scoop Unjury protein powder chicken soup flavor

Flat leave parsley (optional)

This one also has a ton of protein.  I didn't keep the can, but I guess it to be around 60 g of Protein for the whole thing.

Anyway, I hope you'll have a chance to try these.  They are so quick and easy to make, which is a MUST for me. 

See you on facebook,

Ms. Chowder

Surgery (self pay) April 2011

Lost 75 lbs  - at goal at 163 lbs and maintaining - yeah!!!! 

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Do you have a any recipes that you would like to share? Post your link and recipes below!  I can't wait to read them and give 'em a try.

**Not her real name -- I keep all emails that I receive from you all confidential. 

Did Ya See It?

Did you see my weigh-in numbers on Facebook?

I even included a Friday Flashback photo from my surgery day.

Go check it out here.

Would You Like a Tasty Donut?

Yep.

Me too.

I would like three donuts actually.

To be specific:

One with chocolate glaze.

One with sprinkles.

One with creme filling.

Thank.

You.

Very.

Much.

On Friday at work, I heard the announcement from the break room: "Krispy Kreme donuts you guys!"

My first thought: "Sweet!"

My second thought: "Wait! Look it up first"

Before I could jump up from my chair and run/walk to the breakroom, I went onto Krispy Kreme's website to look up the plain glazed donut that I knew I would eat.

Just to double check real quick.

Just to be super sure of what I was about to do.

Phew! I was relieved to see that a glazed donut is: 190 cals, 2 proteins.

I can do that.

That calorie count is totally in my "Weight Maintenance" lifestyle for a special once-a-week type of treat.

But then I scrolled down to read a few nutrition facts of the other items on the menu at Krispy Kreme.

And I came across this:

Mocha Dream Chiller. A 20 oz drink.

Yum! Right?!?


Guess how many calories and proteins are in this drink?

1050 calories, 5 proteins.


That drink would go.  right.  past.  my.  Lap-Band.  No problemo.

So, I ate that donut on Friday morning.

And I knew EXACTLY what I was getting into.

Weigh-in Day...

My scale is tired.

Or maybe my scale is broken.

Or perhaps it's time for new batteries.

How do I know?

What was today's weigh-in when I stood on the scale?

It was all over the place.

I saw everything from 141.4 lbs to 143.6 lbs.

WTF.

But I consider it a "win" because I'm still below my weight of 145 lbs.

I will put in new batteries in my scale and let ya know.
 

Weigh-in Day!

I've been doing these weekly Friday weigh-ins now for OVER 4 1/2 YEARS.

Go.

Me.

Goal weight: 145 lbs

Today's weight: 142.2 lbs.

Still below goal.

Onwards!

A Confession & Friday Weigh-In

I have a confession.

For me, Facebook updates are easier and faster than blogging.

If I had more time in a day, I could spend lovely amounts of time sharing every little detail about my life with you here on the blog.

I don't have that time right now.

But I can do a quick photo or update on what's going on in my life on Facebook.

So if you're not on Facebook, you're missing out on some awesome-sauce updates from yours truly.

How about a before and "now" photo comparison? Yep, that was posted earlier today on FACEBOOK.

How about a quick report from me at the grocery store on my latest food find? Yep, that was posted yesterday on FACEBOOK.

How about my latest sweaty workout update? Yep, that was posted on Facebook too.

How about an update on what I ate at an Italian restaurant recently? Yep, that was posted on Facebook too.

Head on over to the Facebook page and "LIKE" the page. And, VOILA! Magic! Lap Band Gal updates will show up in your newsfeed.  You won't be sorry.  All the cool kids are doing it.  You don't want to be left out now, do you?

Now let's talk about today's weigh-in.

Goal Weight: 145 lbs

Today's Weight: 142.6 lbs

Still below goal!

 I will see you over on Facebook!

Weigh-in Day

Did you know that I've been doing these weekly Friday weigh-ins for 4 years and 4 months now?

That's a total of 240 weekly weigh-ins. 

Each and every Friday since early August 2009.

I've now been at or my below my goal weight of 145 lbs for over 3 years.

That's a total of 168 weeks at my goal weight.

And let me tell ya, that's a WHOLE LOTTA work.

Every day it's WORK.

But all that WORK is worth it.

Today's weigh-in?

142.0 lbs

Still below goal.

Onwards!

The Secret Power of the Pink Tutu

I gave my Mom this bright pink tutu on Christmas Eve.  All wrapped up in a big Christmas box with a fancy bow:

And included with that tutu, were registration tickets to the most aweseome-sauce 5k color run for that upcoming February.

We would walk that 5k together in just a few months:

So what has happened since Mom received that pink tutu Christmas gift?

Actually, it wasn't good.

Mom was concerned.

Really worried.

Her hip, knees, shoulders, and feet hurt.

Uh Oh. 

She was worried whether she would be able to walk a that entire 5k.

Mom then got serious.

She joined a gym and made friends with the treadmill.

She started walking on that treadmill.

She walked 5 times a week on that treadmill.

3 miles each morning.

At 5am. 

Before work.

I guess you could say that bright pink tutu lit a fire inside her.

She was determined to wear that pink tutu and walk an entire 5k.

As the months passed, something wonderful happened:

She noticed that her hip didn't hurt anymore.

Her feet, shoulders, and knees...the aches and pains were GONE.

Mom was ready for the 5k walk.

And this past Saturday, we walked that walk together.

Gettin' ready for the 5k.  No dye...yet.

Rockin' that tutu!

Color bomb!

At the FINISH LINE!

Flashback Friday & Weigh-in

Tomorrow my Mom and I will be doing something super duper fun together.

It will be exciting.

It will be a milestone.

And there just may or may not be glitter thrown in the air.

But one thing is for sure: WE WILL GLOW.

Stay tuned for a full detailed blog post of the BIG EVENT that will go down bright and early tomorrow morning.

In honor of tomorrow's mother-daughter bonding extravaganza, here's a Flashback Friday for you:

Mom and I.

Or is it Mom and me?

Let's not forget the all-important digits for today's weigh-in:

• Goal weight: 145 lbs
• Today's weight: 142.4 lbs

Still below my goal weight!

Will you be back here tomorrow for the big reveal?

What? More Sparklies?

Did I tell you that I now want a white polka dot pony named Sparkle Pancake? 

But wait.

That's a story for another day.

Instead, I will tell you all about what I did for my three year goaliversary.  

Finally, right?

My three year goaliversary (three years of maintaining my weight below 145 lbs) was back on December 17, 2013.

But sometimes it takes this girl awhile to get her act together and make a decision.

If you look up indecisive in the dictionary, you may see a photo of yours truly.

I don't like to use the word "indecisive"

I prefer the words "planner" and "methodical."

All.  In.  Good. Time.

Anywhoozle, as you know, I like to celebrate my weight maintenance milestones with jewelry.

Remember the ring story that I told you about for my one year goaliversary?

 

Well, back in December, the parental units gave me these sparklies!  Natural Zircons.

2.3 Ct each

These are NOT Cubic Zirconia.

Don't be fooled.

These beauties are made by Mother Nature.

This past week, I finally got around to making them into solitaire white gold earrings at the local jeweler.

And TA DA!  

 

I chose to wear them for my lunch-hour workout today. 

One must sparkle at every opportunity, whether covered in sweat or not.

This IS my not-so-happy sweaty workout face. 

You're welcome.

And just like the rule that I have for my ring: I must be 145 lbs or less to wear my new goaliversary earrings. 

Talk about ACCOUNTABILITY to my health goals.

There is no turning back now.