Choose Your Hard

Weight loss is a mind game with yourself you know. A small recap of my weight loss. About 4 years ago I realized that I had let myself go. I drowned my sorrows and fears in food. I did nothing extraordinary for myself. At my highest I was hitting 280 lbs. and couldn't fit in any of my clothes. Instead of buying bigger clothes I decided enough is enough. Loosing weight you have to decide mentally and physical you are ready to take care of you. I found that just taking a diet pill doesn't work long term. Just dieting you will hit a plateau and not loose much. Just exercising you can still gain weight if you don't watch your food intake. How do I know? I lost my weight last summer all the way down to 190 to be able to attend the Boy Scout Jamboree which had weight limitations. I took a dieting break for the Thanksgiving holidays but maintained my exercises. I gained my weight back all the way to 225. I started my diet back in March by changing what I buy at the store. I am only allowing myself to purchase dairy, meat, fruit, vegetables and nuts. Today I am proud to say that I am now under 200 lbs. I am publicly putting this out there to challenge myself and others. My challenge has always been to get to 175 lbs. I plan on getting to that goal by the end of summer. You can bank on it!!!!!!!!!!! If you need some tips and recipes give me a holler

Pork Roast

Pork Roast

This meal is super duper easy to prepare.  Take a pork roast around 5 to 7 pound range.  The one in the picture is an extra large double one from Sam's.  This makes a great crock pot, pressure cooker and if your home bake it in the oven type of meal.  Simply rub the entire contents of the Happy House special rub (available at  http://happyhousebunkie.blogspot.com/2017/01/pulled-pork-spice-rub.html )  onto a 5 to 7 pound pork roast.  Wrap the roast tightly in saran wrap and marinate overnight.  This meal does not require browning.  If you cook your roast in the oven bake at 250 for 8 hours.  If you are cooking in the crock pot, cook on low for 8 hours.  If you have a pressure cooker follow the directions for the cooking time for your unit.  This meal consists of 2 separate uses in one.  When we first cook this dish, we eat as a roast with some healthy sides.  This is only 210 calories for 4oz of meat.  Then we take the leftovers with the juices and shred into pulled pork.  Add your favorite BBQ sauce to it and serve over a bun.  In my case a tablespoon of Sweet Baby Ray's and a Great Value hamburger bun weighs in at 365 calories.  Sorry you don't get anything else to eat with the sandwich.  But, you could do celery or something like that.  It is so delicious.  A crucial part of everyone's diet is will power.  Second is portion control with good choices.  Third is physical exercise.

It's how southern women diet!
Happy Eating
Angell

Johnsonville Sausage Brats and Grits 365 Calories

Johnsonville Sausage Brats and Grits 365 Calories

This is another meal that you can have anytime.   Cook your Johnsonville brats sausage in a good nonstick skillet, browning on all sides. When it is browned add a little bit of water and cover for about 10 minutes to fully cook.  When you think it is ready take the lid off and cook the water out, will make like a gravy coating on the sausage.  While your doing all this, cook yourself some homemade grits with butter.  The sausage is 260 calories, 1/2 cup of grits is 55 calories and one tablespoon of butter is 50 calories.  Total for this complete meal is 365 calories.  A crucial part of everyone's diet is will power.  Second is portion control with good choices.  Third is physical exercise.

It's how southern women diet!
Happy Eating
Angell

White Beans and Sausage Soup 380 Calories

White Beans and Sausage Soup 380 Calories

This meal is super duper easy and serves 6 people.  Soak 1 pound of white beans for 8 to 12 hours.  Brown 1 large onion and one pound of smoked sausage in a large stock pot or your pressure cooker.  Then add 8 cups of water and the beans to the pot.  Cook on the stove top for 2 Hrs or in the pressure cooker for 25 minutes.  If I were you, I would invest in the pressure cooker.  See, you can put your beans to soak before you leave home for work.  When you get home, you can spend about 10 minutes prepping and 25 minutes to cook this meal.  If you eat with rice, don't serve yourself more than 1/4 cup and a little less beans.  I stay away form starches and do not eat my beans with rice.  Just remember to keep  your calories right around 400.  A crucial part of everyone's diet is will power.  Second is portion control with good choices.  Third is physical exercise.

It's how southern women diet!
Happy Eating
Angell

Open Faced Egg Smoke Sausage 380 Calories

 Open Faced Egg Smoke Sausage 380 Calories

This meal can be eaten at anytime.  It's quick and easy at only 380 calories.  To make it use half of a white bolillo roll 85 calories, 1 large egg 70 calories and 3 oz of Cajun smoked sausage 225 calories.    Brown sausage and then scramble an egg to your desired consistency.  Place on top of your bread and Valois you got a good quick fulfilling meal.  A crucial part of everyone's diet is will power.  Second is portion control with good choices.  Third is physical exercise.

It's how southern women diet!
Happy Eating
Angell

It Didn't Happen in a Day

It Didn't Happen in a Day

For years I didn't worry about my weight. Slowly through time I gained. My all time high was almost 280 pounds. Since 2013 I have been working on my weight. I took sodas out of my diet, fast foods were history, except on payday's with the family and snacks were a thing of the past. I began working out at the gym.  Slowly the weight came off. I had lost to 215 pounds.  The photo's below were my before and after shots I had done at that time.  But it was pure torture. I had some financial issues, quit the gym and took a break.  I gained back to 225 pounds.  In late 2015 my work offered a discount at the gym through my insurance and I began exercising again.  Then around August of 2016 I changed one thing. The weight began to melt away and I wasn't depriving myself of anything. I eat whatever it is I am hungry for.  How did I do it?  Well it didn't truly become reality till I started doing portion control with calorie counting (see my very first blog for more details). Eating 3 meals at 400 calories each and 2 100 calorie snacks. Today I am proud to say I weigh 193 pounds! I have 8 pounds to my personal goal!  Then I will get evaluated by a nurse to see where I should be. Updates to come in the future. A crucial part of everyone's dieting is willpower. Second is portion control with good choices. Third is physical exercise. 

It's how southern women diet!

Happy Earing! 

Angell

Louisiana Gumbo 391 Calories

Louisiana Gumbo 391 Calories

Here in Louisiana chicken and sausage gumbo is a staple item.  Especially in the winter time.  But in my house it's an all year dish.  We make a roux with flour and butter (equal parts), a couple of diced up onions, one pound of Cajun sausage, 6 chicken thighs and little bit of browning and seasoning sauce to make the juice brown with 10 cups of water.  Season to taste.  This recipe should make 10 full bowl servings (1 3/4 cups) at 391 calories.  If you do rice don't have more than 1/4 cup.  A have a little less gumbo in your bowl.  Keep your calories right around 400.  A crucial part of everyone's diet is will power.  Second is portion control with good choices.  Third is physical exercise.

It's how southern women diet!
Happy Eating
Angell