Oh my gosh, you guys.  I can’t believe how long it’s been since the last time I sat down here to blog!  Life. Is. Crazy.

I’m still working on getting to goal weight.  I struggle.  I succeed.  I struggle.  But I focus on how far I’ve come rather than focusing on this last 10-15 lbs.  My body continues to change as I exchange fat for muscle…I’m stronger.  I’m faster.  I’m happier.  So that’s what I focus on!  This picture is something I’ve look at daily for months.  And here’s why:

My life the past few months has been utter chaos.  Starting last December I had a round of surgeries for what turned out to be a benign tumor.  (So many of you sent me well wishes via Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and I am so, so thankful for that!!)

After the first surgery we weren’t sure I would need a second…As luck would have it…I did! Wooo (not.) My second surgery was a little more invasive.  The tumor was removed and the cause was discovered and fixed.

The recovery wasn’t [isn't] ideal.  To back up for a minute, they discovered what caused the tumor, but not what caused the thing that caused the tumor (ya following?) The area where the tumor was removed from is having issues healing properly (yes we’re going on 4+ months here) so I get to do a lot of waiting…see a doctor…not sure of answer…wait…see a doctor…looks better but still not quite right…wait…referred to another doctor…wait. I’ve now had 3 very trained doctors tell me either 1) I’ve never seen something quite like this or 2) I really don’t have an answer for this…Two things you never really want to hear a doctor tell you!!

But, the good news is it is much better than it was…and I’m allowed to run again (oh yeah, I was benched from all activity for SEVERAL weeks.) That was really fun…As someone who relies on running and being active to EAT the foods I LOVE…Yeah, go ahead and do the math on that one!  But, like I said…I am better than I was before and it could have been so much worse, so for that I am hopeful, grateful, and thankful to a wonderful team of doctors who is determined to help me get 100% back to normal!

Adding that to lots of family/close friends dealing with things…Missing people I wish I could see everyday…and at times being generally overwhelmed…Life has been kicking my ass a bit.  But I’m a firm believer in the Universe/God (whatever you prefer here!) not giving you things you can’t handle…So someone thinks I’m one tough, bad ass lady…Which duh, I am.  But I’m confident that things will all workout, because they always do…and I just know [something beautiful is going to happen.]

Shifting a bit:

I’m trying to focus more on “clean eating.”  I went all out for a couple of weeks and saw HUGE results…-8 lbs in 1 week!  It’s not easy though.

[Our society makes it very, very hard.]

When I’m not able to be fully in control of making my food (when traveling or even just eating out with a friend) I can’t guarantee I’m processed foods free.  And better yet, I don’t always want to be! I love cookies and candy and things that taste good (haha!) So I try to keep an 80-20 balance.  80% of the food I eat in a week is safe and “clean” while 20% is the good on the tongue bad on the body stuff we all crave.

I’m normal.  I’m human and I love sweets, damn it!

But I’m also sick of wearing 10-20 lbs so I’m hoping I can get out of the 160′s and look down at the scale at that magic 1-5-0! It will happen, that I do know.

Ok, so now I’ve said this before, but really really really I am going to get back on here regularly.  I will set aside time each week devoted to it! I hope you’re all doing well and haven’t forgotten about me, lol!

These are SO SO good. And EASY! I’m not sure where the recipe came from, but I got it from a friend. 3 oz. is 5 Points Plus. It was served with bulgur salad.

For the Ribs:

1 LB beef ribs (boneless)
1 cup chicken broth (low sodium)
1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium)
2 tbs dijon mustard (I prefer using honey dijon- but it’s all preference here)
3 garlic cloves, minced
salt/pepper to taste

Place ribs on a lined sheet pan and broil on each side for 3-4 minutes just to barely brown them (lock in the moisture) then place in slow cooker.

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, then pour over meat in slow cooker

Cook on low for 6-8 hours (check after 6, if they start to fall apart they are done). Once they are done, trim excess fat.

For the Salad:

Cook bulgur according to package, let cool in fridge.

Mix in halved cherry tomatoes, 1/2c fat free feta balsamic vinegar and lemon juice

Serves 4 at 6PP each

Easy to make and super filling! 5 Points Plus

What you need:

Greek Yogurt (any flavor you like that is 4 Points Plus)

1 Banana

1 tbsp Flax Seed

How to make it:

Layer all three ingredients in glass. Enjoy!

This is a SkinnyTaste recipe and is 4 PointsPlus per serving! Find the original recipe here: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/09/santa-fe-turkey-stuffed-peppers.html

What you need:

For the filling:

1/2 lb 99% lean ground turkey

3/4 cups canned black beans, rinsed and drained

3/4 cups frozen corn

1 hot pickled serrano pepper, chopped (or jalepeño) more to taste

1 large diced tomato

1 cloves garlic, minced

3 tbsp chopped onion

2 tbsp chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish

1 tsp cumin

kosher salt to taste
For the peppers:

3 red bell peppers, cut in half lengthwise

1/3 cup reduced sodium, fat free chicken broth

9 tbsp shredded reduced-fat Sargento Monterey Jack cheese

1 tbsp chopped scallions, for garnish

This is super easy to make and really yummy! It makes 10 servings which is about 1 1/3 Cup for 7 PointsPlus.  I top mine with banana peppers, tomato, scallions if I have them…kind of whatever I have/feel like!

What you need:

1 large uncooked onion(s), minced

1 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced

30 oz canned black beans, rinsed and drained

30 oz canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained

30 oz canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained

30 oz canned diced tomatoes, with chilies

15 oz canned tomato sauce

1 1/4 oz spiced seasoning mix, chili variety

14 oz frozen corn kernels

1 Tbsp fresh lime juice, or to taste

1/2 cup(s) cilantro, fresh, minced

How to make it:

Combine onion, garlic, beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce and seasoning mix in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on high heat for 2 to 3 hours (or low heat for 4 to 6 hours). Add frozen corn during last hour of cooking. Stir in lime juice and cilantro just before serving. Yields about 1 1/3 cups per serving. Find recipe here: http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeid=374391

These are a great breakfast esp. if you’re on the go in the AM (and really who isn’t!?) This will let you say “See ya never McDonalds breakfast!” Everything in these is free except the egg which is 2 points plus on Weight Watchers.  You could also add cheese for additional PP value!

What you need:

This is kind of up to you as far as veggies go…The ones in the photograph have:

Onion

Red pepper

Green pepper

Garlic

Mushrooms

Green onion

Spinach

eggs (1 per muffin)

How to make them:

Chop up veggies and sauté until veggies are soft (about 5 min)

I also season with garlic powder and pepper

Spray muffin tins with cooking spray

line with a few spinach leaves

Spoon veggies into muffin tins (3/4 full)

Crack 1 egg on top of each veggie filled area

Bake on 350 for 20-30 min

So I went shopping this weekend. Didn’t really plan on it, but when your mom says hey want to go shopping and look around? YOU DON’T SAY NO. Rule of life. This shopping trip was different, and here’s why:

I remembered that earlier in the week I realized my size 10 jeans were baggy. Not falling off, but I was showing signs of diaper butt. So, when I saw a pair of size 8s on the sale rack, I had a bit of a panic. It was as if the weight loss Gods and the bargain Gods got together and led me to this pair of jeans, haha! My panic came from “if I go try these on and they don’t fit, how will this make me feel? Will I feel defeated and run for the closest cookies I could find? Will I cry? Will it empower me? So many thoughts racing through my mind.  But I decided to go for it.

What happened next is a moment that will live on in my mind for the rest of my life. I got into the dressing room, locked the door, pep talked myself and put one leg in. Ok, that feels fine let’s go for leg number 2. Ok legs are in and jeans are to my knees.  That feeling I’ve experienced so many times…You know the one, where you try on pants that are too tight and you start sweating a bit and fear you will be stuck in the most uncomfortable straight jacket pants forever, wasn’t there! They went over my thighs with ease to my waist…ZIPPED…and regular breathing ensued! Holy shit, I was a freaking size 8! I haven’t worn single digit pants since ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, people.

I didn’t plan on buying anything this day. But another rule of life…When you try on pants that are a size smaller than you wore last time you went shopping…and they fit…YOU BUY THEM. They’re hanging in my closet now, almost with a bright aura around them putting all of the size 10 pants they are next to, to shame.  Just waiting to be worn. It won’t be tmrw (Mondays are weigh-in days and you must be crazy to think I’ll wear jeans and step on the scale!) But look out world…I’ll be conquering you this week…wearing size 8 pants!

Ok, so I love Philly sandwiches, but they are SO many Weight Watchers Points Plus…So I made my own for 6 PP!

What you need:

Olive Oil spray

2 oz Roast Beef

Half Green Pepper

1/2 Small Onion

1 garlic clove

1 Oz. pepperjack Cabot Cheese-I buy the block and grate it (You could use red. fat Provolone )

1 Sara Lee delight hotdog bun

How to make it:

Preheat oven to 350

Chop up green pepper, onion and garlic

Sautee all three on medium heat in Olive Oil spray

Put hotdog bun in a baking pan

Layer with 2 oz. Roast Beef, peppers, and grated cheese.

Bake for 6-8 min and enjoy! (I dip mine in Au Jus made from 1 Cup and 1 beef bouillon cube)

Ok so, I LOVE egg salad…but eggs and mayo tend to be very high in PointsPlus.  So I created my own version and it satisfies my egg salad craving perfectly!

For the egg salad and 2 pieces of light bread it is 5 Weight Watchers PointsPlus

What you need:

1 egg

1 additional egg white (you will hard boil 2 eggs)

1 tbsp light mayo

mustard to taste

1-2 teaspoons red onion

pepper to taste (could also add a bit of salt, I just try to avoid adding salt to anything)

How to make it:

Hard boil 2 eggs

Let eggs cool completely

Roughly chop egg 1 entire egg (with yolk) and the white only of the 2nd egg (you won’t use the 2nd yolk)

Finely chop onion

Combine all and enjoy! That’s it! Simple and delicious.