New Soup #love

I went to Panera for lunch with my coworkers, and I ordered something I've never had from there before: Black Bean Soup.

OMG. This stuff is DELICIOUS! I highly recommend it. The Bowl size has 260 calories and 13g of protien. And it's a vegetarian option.

I've already googled knock off recipes online, because this WILL be made in my house this weekend. I have everything on hand for it, and well, I can't wait to try and see if it turns out good!

I think that this could very easily be made in the crock pot, as it seems like a soup that would  get better the longer it cooks. I'll share the recipe once I've tested it and made it work.

Since getting Donny, I can't believe how much I love love love soup now. Soup used to be winter thing. Potato soup, vegetable soup, occasionally a pot of French Onion soup. Now, I'm all about trying new soups, making new recipes, and putting that 40 year old Crockpot to work at least one day a week with a hearty healthy homemade meal.

I finally found 'the' slow cooker that I think I want. I've been stalking it online. I went to order it last night from Walmart.com, and it was SOLD OUT! Seriously?

So, now it's back to the researching process. If it was meant to be for me to order that particular model, then it would have been available. Since it wasn't, that is a subtle hint that maybe I need to keep looking.

That's okay--I'm finding out very quickly that the crockpot that I have now, even as old as it is, is a pretty good size for a pot of soup that will feed me for well over a week.

Baby, it's COLD outside!

I am so suprised that I am still rocking the same restriction that I got from my last fill in November.

Yesterday, I started the day with protien coffee. Lunch was 1/4 cup homemade greek yogurt chicken salad and some of the new Cheezit Grooves (18 crackers = 130 calories--and I didn't even eat 18 of them!). Then I waited kind of late for dinner--so I had a cup of coffee in the afternoon (probably around 50 cals with the SF creamer), and a Krispy Kreme Homer Simpson donut from the RoFo on the way to PA. Dinner was an Almond Snicker (LOVE!) and 6 Chickfila nuggets. I was still able to stay under my daily calories and only hit 1269! And even though I didn't have dedicated walking, I did go shopping and walked around Walmart, the Goodwill, and CVS. I know that some of my choices weren't the best--but I was on the road and did the best I could given the choices!

My thighs have gotten progressively more sore since Monday night--but I plan on rocking the elliptical again tonight while the ELB is at a gig.

We woke up to snow this morning--about an inch of that dry powder that is a cinch to clean off your car but which makes roads kind of slick and gross.

But anyways, I got some good stuff at the 'Will, yo! I went with the intent to find a new purse to replace my last bag I got from there. I have gotten SO many compliments on my last bag (a black/white plaid) that I thought I could find something equally as cute to move into. I scored a Tigananello blue suede shoulder bag for $4. That's right--FOUR DOLLARS. It's gorgeous, it looks brand new, and it doesn't have any funky marks or stains or anything. It's beautiful! I also scored a couple of books and two 1984 Olympic collectible figures for the ELB. He loves Olympics stuff. $18 for all of that. I love the goodwill.

Happy Hump Day!

Gettin' Physical

Last night, I made a choice to pull out the elliptical and work out instead of watching 30 minutes of TV. It's so easy to go home at night, throw on my comfy clothes, and then join the couch for some me time. This is why I do my walking in the mornings before work. I'm up, I'm dressed, I'm motivated in the mornings. But the weather hasn't been cooperating lately. It's been snowy. It's been rainy. It's been TOO FRIGGIN COLD to go out for extended lengths of time.

I'm glad I exercised. I only did 20 minutes on the elliptical, but man, I feel better about things today. I have a slight soreness in my thighs, which is just a reminder of my good choice to exercise instead of sitting on my (less)fat(but still fat) ass.

Tonight, I'm going with the ELB to one of his gig's in PA, so no walk today (because the temps are back to the frigid range), but tomorrow, I'll do the elliptical again while the ELB is working another gig.

I can't afford to join a gym, but I already own the elliptical. I can surely afford the TIME to work out, just not the money.

I want to see a number in the 340's when I go in for my next appointment on 2/19. Here's to setting (and accomplishing) a goal!

Happy Tuesday! 

Monday...blah-day

Woke up this morning and felt pretty good. It was the first night in a while that I haven't woken up and had to sleep with a cough drop to quell the coughs. But, about 45 minutes after I got up, I was hit with a wall of nausea. I think it's ear pressure issues. I feel somewhat better, but hate that feeling of wanting to throw up. Blech.

I've been kicking around the idea of writing a very personal and emotional post. I've been working through some feelings about a topic that has really hit me hard lately, and I kind of want to air it out on this forum. But then I'm like,why waste my time, or yours, with something that probably won't make alot of sense to anyone except to me. I'm still thinking about it. But I've written down alot of my thoughts and have started to organize them...but there is alot of thoughts, and it would be a massive post. I'll debate and refine and see what I come up with.

Nothing much else right now. My noodle-less lasana was good--but I think that I should have cooked and used spaghetti squash to give it more substance and to keep the layers more separate. I'll keep that in mind for the next time.

Happy Monday, I guess.

I was worried

Yesterday I felt like I ate a ton. I don't think I did but it felt like it. In my head I was thinking crap there goes my restriction. Well that was silly because I'm tight today. I still feel like I've eaten a ton but that's just the restriction talking. I was right yesterday also but just didn't make the connection.

Another few weeks before I go for weighin. Hope it's going down! I'm going to be disappointed is it's not.

There (might) be a storm a brewin'!

It's winter. It's FREAKING FRIGID out.

So, the ELB and I have been staying in. Cooking at home. Eating better food, and for less money. I don't know if its making a difference in my weight loss, but it can't hurt, right? I usually allow myself one day a week to have lunch out--and I didn't even do that this week! Saving money and calories!

Today was grocery day. I went before work (and still got to the office by 7:40!). The ELB got an assortment of frozen pizzas, chicken nuggets, potatos, and I bought things to make him homemade lemon poundcake this weekend. I got stuff to make noodleless lasagna, and turkey meatballs. Luckily, I have a good supply of soup/chili fixin's already stocked.

I am so looking forward to lasagna. I haven't made it in a while, but it's so delicious, even without noodles. I might even sneak some kale in there! Or I might get an eggplant!

Anyways, happy Friday. Stay warm! and Eat well! :)

Potato chip chicken

I made this for dinner tonight. So delicious! And you can use any flavor chip you want. I used a bag of Golden Flake hot that we got in SC on vacation.

Super easy!
4 chicken breasts
1 egg, beaten
Crushed potato chips

Dip chicken in egg, then dredge in potato chips. Bake on a sprayed baking sheet at 425 for 25 minutes or until juices run clear.

I served plain mashed potatoes on the side.