Tomato Basil Bisque!

My new favorite. A cup of tomato bisque, and half a pita with tuna salad. I could eat this every day. So could Greg. The kids, not so much.

I sent out a few resumes today, as I'm looking for something new. Something part-time would be great, (then I could still cook). Although Greg has agreed to cook if I come home later than him.

Calories today - 1150

Three weeks - 19 pounds down - 253.8 lbs

I know my last post was days ago. I caught a nasty virus (my own damn fault) and after I finally rid of it, I did a clean sweep of my whole system, which has taken a few days.

BUT - I've lost 19 pounds! And Greg has lost a total of 7 pounds! I am so proud of him!

Other than that, nothing much has changed. I have worked Fiber One bars @ 140 calories each into my daily diet... for obvious reasons. I'm still in the 1200-1300 calories a day range. And walking the dog and doing laundry is still the only exercise I get, although I do have good intentions to change that!

Greg is out of town this week, so I won't be cooking as much, I'll be eating more frozen entrees. I really like the Lean Cuisine Panini and the Healthy Choice Steamers.

I miss Greg. He's been more than supportive. He called me this morning and told me he picked me up a "Healthy Cooking" cookbook in the airport. He's so dreamy.

Happy Monday!

Pan Roasted Salmon with Olives, Lemon and Spinach Orzo

Pan Roasted Salmon with Olives, Lemon, and Spinach Orzo

Prep: 8 minutes - Cook: 18 minutes

1  cup uncooked orzo (rice shaped pasta)

2  teaspoons olive oil

4  (6-ounce) skinless salmon fillets

1/2  teaspoon salt, divided

1/2  teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

2  cups vertically sliced red onion (about 1 medium onion)

1/4  cup sliced pimiento-stuffed olives

2  (6-ounce) packages baby spinach

1/2  cup dry white wine

2  tablespoons grated lemon rind

1  tablespoon chopped fresh dill

6  lemon wedges

Fresh dill springs for garnish (optional)

1. Cook orzo according to package directions, omitting salt and fat.

2. While orzo cooks, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle fish evenly with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Add fish to pan; cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Remove fish from pan; keep warm.

3.  Add onion to pan; sauté 4 minutes or until tender. Add olives, i package spinach, next 3 ingredients, and remaining salt and pepper, stirring until spinach wilts. Add remaining spinach. Cook, sirring constantly, 3 minutes or until spinach wilts. Stir in orzo. Divide orzo mixture evenly among 6 serving plates. Break fish into large chunks and place evenly over orzo. Serve with lemon wedges. Garnish with dill sprigs, if desired. Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 cup orzo mixture, 3.5 ounces salmon and 1 lemon wedge).

Per serving: CAL 367 (28% from fat); FAT 11.4g (sat 2.4g); PRO 30.2g; CRAB 34.3g; FIB 4.4g; CHOL 58mg; IRON 3.3mg; SOD 433mg; CALC 71mg.

This one Greg and I loved. It was definitely lemony-spinachy though. The kids, didn't love it so much.  :/

Today's calories - 1100

Exercise? Do I have to?

Exercise? Seriously?

Okay, I may be laziest person I know. Have I mentioned that yet? I'm out of breath putting my shoes on.

My greatest motivation to get out of my chair?  My dog, Sally.

Sally is a big dog. She's a Shepard/Doberman(?) mix and weighs about 70 pounds. Not the biggest dog, but she can pull me up a hill if I pass out. We don't have a fenced in yard, so I have to leash her. In the past I have been know to walk the yard and let her do her business. Now, with pooper-plastic-baggies in hand, we walk our circle. I have no idea how large the circle is. A 1/4 mile to a 1/2 mile. It's not far, but it's the farthest from my desk I've been in awhile. Sally is my best walking buddy. She has those big puppy eyes you can't refuse.

Can't find a walking buddy? Visit your Humane Society. There are plenty of friends there that can't wait to get you off your butt and walking, running, playing ball.  ;)

Now if I can just find a way to tone-up in front of the TV.

I am hopeful though. While I don't exercise like I should now, I am feeling more energetic, and I can see a day coming when I'll want to burn this energy. But it's not going to waste. I'm cleaning out the closets.  ;)

Today's Calories - 1200

I lost 15 pounds in two weeks! - 257.9 lbs

Yay me!

Not really. This is coming off too fast, although I do see a decrease between weigh-ins. I'm not in a hurry. I'd be thrilled with a pound or two a week. Slow progress is the way to go, and the way I want to go.

I had dinner with Wendy at Ruby Tuesday, which is pretty healthy. I can see eating here more often. My dinner was worth 460 calories.

Total Calories today - 1050

Calorie Break down (and) Apple Pork Stir-Fry

My sister asks what I eat daily and to break it down. Here is an example, and what I ate today:

Calories

105 - 3 slices of turkey bacon (breakfast)

70 - 1 11.5 oz can oz V-8 Vegetable Juice (breakfast)

120 - 1/2 cup oatmeal (early afternoon snack)

300 - 2 Chicken Fresco Tacos from Taco Bell (mid afternoon lunch)

370 - Apple Pork-Stir Fry (dinner)

120 - Mini Cheesecake - no topping (after dinner)

Total: 1085 Calories. (Add another 50 calories for swiping peanut butter from the jar.) Total: 1135

I'm not breaking it down and posting every day. It pretty much stays the same with the exception of dinner, and maybe another snack of oatmeal in the later evening.

Apple Pork Stir-Fry

1/2 teaspoon cornstarch

1/2 cup apple cider or unsweetened apple juice

2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

2 boneless pork loin chops (4 ounces each), cut into strips

2 teaspoons canola oil

1/2 cup sliced celery

1/3 cup sliced fresh carrots

1/3 cup sliced onion

1/3 cup julienned sweet red pepper

1/3 cup sliced water chestnuts

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1 cup apple pie filling

1-1/2 cups hot cooked rice

In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, cider and soy sauce until smooth; set aside. In a large skillet or wok, stir-fry pork in oil for 5-7 minutes or until no longer pink.

Add the celery, carrots, onion, red pepper, water chestnuts and ginger; stir-fry until vegetables are tender. Add pie filling.

Stir cornstarch mixture and stir into pork mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with rice. Yield: 3 servings.

Nutrition Facts: 1 cup pork mixture with 1/2 cup rice equals 370 calories, 8 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 36 mg cholesterol, 494 mg sodium, 56 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 18 g protein.

This recipe was a little sweet for me. But if you love apples, applesauce, and that kind of sweetness, then you'll love it. My boys did.

Dessert!

I needed something sweet. I was going to explode. And then I found this recipe. The boys loved these. I loved these.

Mini Cheesecakes:

12  low-fat vanilla wafers
3  oz. cream cheese - room temperature
12  oz. fat-free cream cheese, room temperature
1/2  cup sugar
1/2  teaspoon vanilla
2  eggs

1. Preheat over to 350º. Line muffin pans with 12 foil cupcake papers/ Place a vanilla wafer in the bottom of each cupcake paper.

2.  In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and fat-free cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and vanilla and mix well. Add eggs and beat until smooth.

3.  Pour cheesecake mixture into muffin tins. Bake for 20 minutes or until centers are almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.

4. Decorate cheesecake tops with cherry pie filling. (I used a low-sugar topping.)

CAL 120; Total Fat 4g; SAT FAT 2g; CHOL 40mg; SOD 211mg; CARB 14g; PRO 6g