Travel with Christy K

People think when they are "dieting" that they can't have good things like donuts.  You can....just in moderation.  I can't have a donut.  Not without wanting a dozen chocolate ones.  But I hear there are people out there that can have only one donut.  And good for them. 

We have come up with some restaurants that we call our safe zones.  We can actually go to these places and not feel the need to eat things that we shouldn't. 


One of our restaurants that we feel safe at oddly enough is The Cheesecake Factory.  We've been successful even with the bread.  This is from this past weekend.  We told the waiter we did not want bread, but he still brought it to the table.  We didn't touch it.  The true test would have been if there was a piece of cheesecake there lol. 


Their Skinnylicious menu is awesome!  This is the chicken pasta.  It's penna pasta with a light marinara sauce with chicken and a drizzle of pesto sauce.  It's a really big serving! I only ate half of it.  They also have a lemon chicken pasta that is really great as well.  Travis has had multiple items off the menu (I'm a creature of habit, but hope to venture out some more) and has enjoyed everyone he's had. 

A few other restaurants that we call our safe place is Whataburger, Longhorn Steakhouse, & Chick-fil-a.  I know what you're thinking....Whataburger?  And yes.  I love their chicken fajitas.  They are so good!  It's a grilled chicken breast sliced up with grilled onions, red bell peppers, and pablano peppers.  It's only 6 points and so filling!  At Longhorn I love to get the 6 oz sirloin with the shrimp (8 points).  It comes with rice but I don't eat the rice.  I get a side of asparagus (2 points) and mashed potatoes.  The potatoes are 10 points.  I divide them when I receive them.  It's such a great meal!  I do have to eat a lower point breakfast or lunch in order to have it. 

What are your "safe" restaurants?  What are your favorite melas at the safe restaurants?

You know what day it is?  It's Weigh In Monday!


*This is a disclosure for any man reading this.  If you aren't sure you want to read what's next stop reading :)*


On today's weigh in I lost .8.  It's not what I was hoping for but I'm ok with it.  I stayed on point this week and I only used about 4 of my extra points but I started my period Sunday so I know that has a TON to do with it.  It never fails, when I start, I either don't lose at all or gain.  So I'm happy with the .8.  The  downfall though is I leave  for Disneyland Thursday morning and full disclosure.....I'm not counting points while I'm there.  I am going to watch what I eat and how much of it but if I want a Mickey shaped ice cream bar....I'm having a Mickey shaped ice cream bar.

But don't you just hate that.  When you know you've stuck to plan and did everything right but the scale doesn't show it?  I do.  But I don't let it get me down.  It's only one week.  I probably lost inches instead of pounds.  And I'm ok with that too.  I know I did what I was supposed to and it'll show at some point.....probably not on next weeks weigh in but the week after lol.

But maybe all the walking at Disneyland will counter act with what I eat....lol.  Happy Monday!

Hey hey!  Welcome to my From My Table To Yours Sunday!  I made a Skinny Meatloaf from Skinny Points tonight.  I have never been a meatloaf person.  When I was young I would always have something different from my family.  And by different I mean my Mom would bake a chicken breast for me.  It wasn't like I was a brat and got a huge special made meal.  This meatloaf was so good!!

Here's the starting line up!

                 

Hey ya'll!  It's weigh in Monday and I am so glad to say that.....I lost 5.2 lbs this week!!!


Ok....so let me start off by saying that the 5 lb loss does NOT happen every week.  I know some people will say "Oh, well, she had the sleeve surgery so that's why she lost the 5 lb" or "Why can't I lose 5 lbs a week like Christy".   Let me tell you, this only happens about every couple of weeks (ok more than a couple but you get the idea) and we are all different on how much we lose at a time.  Normally I lose about 2-3 lbs a week.  Last week I gained 2 lbs.  It wasn't from me not working my program it's just my body being mean to me and making me work harder.  And it worked.  I was a pretty good Weight Watcher girl this past week.  I had obstacles like Valentine's Day (I opted NOT to go to my favorite pizza place Jersey Girl Pizza for a heart shaped pizza ;), life, and Ranston's birthday dinner at Chili's.  Yes, Chili's does have a guiltless menu but let's be honest.....it does not look that appealing.  Especially when other people are ordering better looking items.   I had a side Cesar salad and a cup of the chicken enchilada soup.  It was a really delicious meal!   I did also have a few chips from the chip bowl but I counted those chips towards my extra points.  That's the thing.  You can still have any kind of food (unless it's the 66 point skillet chocolate chip cookie and then you better find like 8 people to share it with ;), it's about making better choices of the food you're eating to fit in your point range.


I have had my first goal set since I started and I'm 2 pounds from hitting it.  Since I started Weight Watchers I've lost 61 lbs. I'm so glad to be back on track :)

What goals are you hitting?  Have you started a weight loss journey also?  If so, how much have you lost?  I want to give you the praise you deserve!

Hey ya'll!  I've decided that every Sunday I'm going to feature a recipe that I've made during the week that is on Weight Watchers (well ok for the most part WW, don't shoot me if I decide to do one non WW :).  I find so many great recipes on Pintrest.  If you haven't looked at my Pintrest board Recipes I tried and liked click on this link to check it out.  I made a separate board for the ones I tried and did really like.  It makes it so much easier than having to go back through all the recipes I have pinned and find what I'm looking for.


Today's recipe is Chicken Parmesan Casserole.   It is so good!  I found the recipe on Emily Bites page.  I know you're shocked right?  I love her recipes.  They are for real people that's for sure.  I know weight loss can happen while still eating great food.  Back in the day you were limited as to what all you could eat.  Now the eating world is our oyster.  Carpe Diem....So seize the carp :)

You can find the full recipe here.




Once the chicken is in the pan I add the minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and basil.  Tonight I had forgotten to buy basil but I keep some dried basil in the pantry so it works just as good.







Next is pouring the 2 cups of marinara over the chicken and adding the crouton crust with the parmesan cheese on top.  I weigh out the croutons because it calls for 3.5 oz and rather than try to convert it to cups I just weigh it.  After that I put them into a zip lock and use my trusty marinara sauce jar to crush them :)  Next I spread them on top and add the parmesan cheese that I've weighed out as well.  In the recipe it calls for you to put part of the parmesan and part of the mozzarella on but I've learned that it is way cheesier and better if you wait and put it on 10 minutes before it's done.


When the casserole is 10 minutes from being done, take it out of the oven, sprinkle the cheese on top, and put it back into the oven.

I know.....it should be Sunday morning but it's Saturday so I had to change it a bit :)

I am so excited.  I am writing this from my new laptop!  A couple of years ago my lap top took a tumble and the screen cracked.  So I had to hook it up to monitors to make it work.  I could've gotten the screen fixed but honestly it was an old computer so I just wasn't sure if I wanted to get a new one or fix it.  When I moved into the house with Travis that's when it started going downhill.  Before I knew it, it was not working at all.  Luckily I did get the important stuff off of it.

This is the first weekend we haven't had to be anywhere or have any commitment.  So far we have not done anything other than eat breakfast and drink some coffee.  I do plan on trying a new casserole tomorrow so be on the look out for that.  It's a bubble up french toast casserole that I picked up from one of my favorite blogs.  I'll give you all the info tomorrow :)

This post is going to be short and sweet.  I really just wanted to write a blog on my new computer lol.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the new recipe!  Hopefully I'm not building it up in my head but I really do think it's going to be a great recipe!

I love to cook. I especially love to cook on Sundays. I’m not in a rush or anything and most of the time it’s a chance for me to try new recipes or something that takes longer than I have on a week night.

Today though I made one of our favorite casseroles. I love this recipe because it is so delicious and we have about 3 servings left for left overs.   That’s a bonus for lunches this week.  I found this recipe on Emily Bites website. I LOVE her recipes. They are so delicious and Weight Watcher friendly.   Here’s how I make it. It’s the same recipe except I only use half of the tomato sauce and I add seasoning to the ground turkey as I’m browning it.


Here’s the starting line up. I usually use Jeannie-O ground turkey but they were out. This was just as good.  My sister in law had the Fiesta Taco Seasoning and I didn’t know they had it! So of course I had to go and buy it because...well....it makes life easier.

After I put the turkey in the pan to start browning I added the taco seasoning to it. I also put garlic salt and black pepper.

While the meat is browning I weigh my pan. Ok, so I’m going to side track for a second. I’ll be honest. I did not know how to find the serving size of something before Travis and I started this.  If it was 6 servings I would just divide it 6 times and hope for the best.  My husband showed me how and it’s so easy! And gives me more of an ease knowing that I legitimately have the right portion.  So what you do is weigh the pan before you have anything in it. Then when it’s done you weigh it again (you’ll see that picture later in the blog). You take that number and subtract the number from when it was empty. Divide that by how many servings you want and BOOM! You’ve got your serving amount.  So that means boys and girls that you have to weigh your servings :)


When the turkey is finished you’ll add a can of black beans (rinsed) , a can of enchilada sauce(I went with red but I’m sure you could use green if you choose to), and 4 ounces of the tomato sauce.  You’ll then take 7 1/2 biscuits and cut them into pieces.

For Christmas Travis got me a food saver and it’s been great! For a while when I make these bubble up casseroles I was wasting so many biscuits. So now I use the food saver to save the biscuits for another casserole.



Spread the biscuits on the bottom. After you do that pour the meat mixture on top.



Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.  Then take out and add your cheese and put it back in the oven for 10 minutes.



And if you could have smelt this when I opened the oven....I was so ready for it to be out it smelt so good.  Once it's done, weigh it again.


This is a great recipe and man approved.  The serving size is a really good sized portion so you are definitely not left hungry.   For the full recipe click on the link in the beginning of this blog :)  Leave your comments below if you try this or any other recipes of Emily Bite's .  I hope my pictures get better but it is what it is :)

Sometimes it is easy to take things for granted.  And some people don't know they are taking it for granted.  Or may not feel like it's not that big of a deal.  But those of us who at one time couldn't do the simplest things, it is.

I was talking to a friend from my direct sales days about her sleeve surgery.  I had not realized she had the surgery performed until yesterday.  She doesn't post a ton or it just doesn't show up in my feed but a post did yesterday.  I messaged her to find out and she had in fact had it.  Prior to the surgery she was so scared of the surgery.  Not what it would be like afterwards just the surgery itself.  She wanted to take the leap so bad but the uneasy feeling she had about the surgery and the fact that insurance wasn't covering it for her played a huge part.  God opened some doors and basically told her to do it. 

She said that she has learned to not take anything for granted.  She's making the best out of everyday and opportunity that God gives her.  I told her I could totally relate. 

The first time I could crawl on the floor under my desk to get something I was ecstatic.  I remember it too.  I had dropped something under my desk when I worked in Andrews and had moved my chair and was about to get down on the floor and my Nana replied "Wait for Drake to get here.  He can get it".  That's when it hit me.  I CAN do this.  And because I have the ability to do so I will do it.  So I got down on the floor, got what I needed, and had a huge smile of accomplishment on my face when I got back up.  I still have a smile on my face when I have to crawl on the floor. 



A couple of weeks ago before I started blogging again I came across this picture.  It really struck something in me.  When I start to complain about having to do something I just remember that there was a time I couldn't and that I am so proud and happy that I can today. 

....Stand up eight--Japanese proverb


Since my last blog I didn't do any of what I said I wanted to do.  I have had all these things I wanted to write about and get back into blogging but life happens and I just got to busy or didn't feel like sitting in front of the computer.

At least it hasn't been that long since I submitted a blog, but lets be honest.....there was no meat to it.

I'm going to admit on here something I have a hard time admitting.  I had gained half of my weight back from my sleeve surgery.  It was so hard for me to admit.  And still hard for me to think about honestly.  By the grace of God I did not gain it all back.  I would not have been able to live with myself.  Life happens, happiness happens and you think "Well I'm ok.  I'm not eating all of my meal so I'm still ok" when in reality, ya I wasn't eating all of my plate but what I am putting on that plate hurts just as bad.

In August Travis and I went to San Francisco.  We had both said when we get back we are cleaning our eating up and we are getting back to us.  And that's what we did.  He started counting calories and I started Weight Watchers online.

Let me tell you.....the beginning was hard on us.  It was hard because we were both getting into the groove of our eating plans and trying to work together on what meals went with both of ours and lets be honest, trusting that if the other person was portioning out the portion that he/she was giving the right amount was REALLY hard.

I am so proud to say that we are into a great  groove.  We even traveled all football season and stuck to our eating plans.  We have fast food restaurants that we feel safe in to order (who would've though Whataburger of all places would be one of those places lol) and we stuck to those.  We measure and weigh everything.  I even have a mini food scale I keep in my purse for restaurants if I'm not feeling like I trust the amount they are putting on my plate. 

Since August 27th, 2018 I have lost 58 lbs (42 to go on the regain) and Travis has lost at least 80 (it may be a little more lol).  We are working our programs and taking it one day at a time.  I've been watching the TV show Mom a lot lately and I can relate to it on so many levels from a daughter of an alcoholic perspective but last night I watched an episode where Jill (played by Jamie Pressly) had gained some weight and had gone to a weight loss spa to lose it.  When she get's out she had a mentor there that came to visit her.  She was trying to teach Jill moderation.  You know....only have half a cookie instead of a whole one sort of thing.  Well some of us just can not even attempt the half a cookie.  We will end up eating the whole cookie and then some.  And that is what happened to Jill.  She also decided to try alcohol in moderation and that didn't work either.  We just have that personality.  I know I can't make a desert to go with a meal and only have a little bit of it.  By the end of the night I will have eaten the whole thing because sweets are my biggest weakness.  Since we started this I have not made any sweets and if someone has brought sweets to my house I have either sent it back with them after  dinner or I have thrown it in the trash.

I will never be the weight I was on October 3rd, 2012 and may have some slips but I will always get back up and fight......