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

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

Southern Biscuit and White Gravy 410 calories

Southern Biscuit and White Gravy 410 calories

Southern biscuits and white gravy is a must in my family.  These delicious biscuits do not come in a can.  Here in the south many people know how to make these delicious southern biscuits from scratch, or you can purchase them in the freezer section.   One brand I purchase is called Mary B's Biscuits.   One of these biscuits is 190 calories.  If you make the southern living recipe of white gravy,  1/2 cup is 220 calories.  Now you can vary this recipe anyway you like it.  You can eat half the biscuit and gravy, try a different biscuit with lower calories or you can serve yourself less than 1/2 cup of white gravy.  But, if you make it the way you see it in the photo, it would be 410 calories.  That is one biscuit split in half with 1/2 cup serving of white gravy.  You would not get anything to drink with it except a zero calorie serving of water.  lol  Yes when you eat each meal the calories should be right at 400 calories or less so you only get water to dink with this.  A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power.  Second is portion control with good choices.  Third is physical exercise.

It's how southern women diet!

Happy Eating

Angell

Cranberry Super Seed Granola Nut Oatmeal 408 Calories

Cranberry Super Seed Granola Nut Oatmeal 408 Calories

I know people get tired of eating the same ole breakfast.  This is one that we made up and is quite tasty.  I will put my detailed list so if you have any changes to the recipe you can calculate it easily.  This recipe makes 3 servings.  Cook 1 1/2 cups of dry oatmeal 450 calories with 1/2 cup milk 60 calories, 1/2 cup sugar 360 calories, 1/2 cup crumbled up cranberry super seed granola clusters 165 calories, 1 oz (about 1/3 cup) diced up walnuts 190 calories and 2 cups of water.  Cook to your desired thickness.  Each serving weighs in at 408 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

Taco Soup 285 Calories

Taco Soup 285 Calories

No time, no problem, I got you covered with this super quick and easy meal.  There are several ways to cook this one.  One way is cook on the stove in a large stock pot for 45 minutes.  The other is to cook in a pressure cooker for 15 minute's.  To make this dish brown 1 pound of ground meat with one large diced up onion.  Empty one can of whole kernel corn, one can of pinto beans, one can of ranch style beans, one can of red beans, one can of black beans, two cans of diced tomatoes, one can of rotel tomato, one packet of ranch dressing mix and one packet of taco seasoning to your pot.  Makes 10 servings.  That's all and talk about easy.  This dish weighs in at an amazing 285 calories.  You can eat really low in calories by eating it plain, or you can embellish your bowl with sour cream, cheese or some chips.  Just remember to keep your meal at around 400 calories.  A crucial part of everyone's dieting is will power.  Second is portion control with good choices.  Third is physical exercise.

It's how southern women diet!
Happy Eating
Angell

Loose Hamburger Steak Sandwich 410 Calories

Loose Hamburger Steak Sandwich 410 Calories

Here is a quick meal.  Saute onions and bell peppers in a good non stick skillet to your desired tenderness.  Set aside when completed.  In the same skillet brown and cook your ground meat.  Sprinkle a little powdered brown gravy mix to thicken and season up with some Cajun seasoning.  I served myself 3 ounces of meat on this fancy white bolillo roll from Walmart.  Sprinkled with some sauteed veggies and one slice of low calorie cheese.  You can save yourself some calories if you omit the cheese.  The cheese I  used has 40 calories.  The bread is 210 calories. This meal weighs in at 410  calories.

A crucial part of everyone's diet is willpower.  Second is portion control with good choices.  Third is physical exercise.

It's how southern women diet!
Happy Eating
Angell