Trying to Be Good!

Hello blog world!  Summer is winding down (boohoo) and I am trying to get back to counting my points.  I have been better.  I have lost 51 pounds now so that is something.  At least the scale is moving!!!  I have a goal in mind, and I have to admit that the old CDC way of measuring you is still stuck in my head.  I have 4 more pounds to go until the CDC does not consider me overweight.  I know that the system they use is not that great, but it is still something I would like to do!  I am excited to get back to school because we should get back to exercising.  The teachers get together after school and do aerobics.  I am just not really good at exercising by myself.  I need to quit the gym because I just don't like driving all the way across town to exercise!  Pathetic isn't it!!!  Oh well!  I will get back to it!  I hate that I have not cooked this summer.  We have been BUSY!  Thankfully, the past week or so things have calmed down and we have cooked more.  Today's recipe is sooooo good!  I take some short cuts to save some time, but you can do the whole thing yourself if you want!

Baked Pork Chimichangas

3 cups of cooked chopped pork (I save time by going to a bbq restaurant and buying a pound of chopped smoked pork)
1/2 can of no fat refried beans ( I use refried black beans)
1/3 can of chicken broth
1/2 can of green chili enchilada sauce
1 1/2 cup of salsa
1 package of taco seasoning
shredded 2% mexican cheese blend
tortillas (soft taco size reduced fat)
1 egg white
2 tsp of water

Mix the first 6 ingredients in a skillet and bring to a simmer.  Fill each tortilla with two spoonfuls of pork mixture and top with a golf ball size amount of shredded cheese.  Fold sides of tortillas up and then fold the other sides over.  Place seam side down in a casserole dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.  After all chimichangas are in place whisk egg and water together and brush the top of each chimi.  Baked at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until heated all the way through.  I serve this with rice and chips/salsa.  If I remember correctly, these are around 6 points each.  Hope you enjoy!

Help! I'm Stuck!

Or at least that is how I feel these days.   I have lost 50 pounds!  I am so excited!!!!  But, I have 7 more to go to reach my goal.  I have been stuck at 50 for several weeks now.  Granted, one of those weeks we were on vacation, so I do cut myself some slack.  But I have been trying to be good these last two weeks.  I have not, however, been diligent about counting points.  I guess that is where I have messed up.  We are traveling to San Antonio this next week for a large youth conference.  So, I am just going to wait until we get back and then try to hit it hard until school starts.  If I have not reached my goal by August 8, then where ever I am at pound-wise is where I am going to be content.  I mean why not be content.  According to what size I am, I am half the size I used to be!!!  That is some good news.  I have not fit into this size in what seems like forever.  I weigh more than I did in high school, but I am wearing the same size I was in high school.  (I assume things have sifted with age????  lol)  Anyhoo, I am plugging along.  I am doing a no carb day today.  Please don't go all crazy on me.  I know the body needs carbs.  I just do it for one day to just confuse the body.  I don't claim to be a nutritionist, but I have done quite a bit of research.  I have learned that not all calories are created equal.  Some foods may be the same number of calories, but your body has to work differently for different foods.  Proteins make your body work harder than simple carbs.  So eggs versus white bread?  The eggs will make your body work harder than the white bread.  Now you can get complex carbs in whole grains etc...  Those also make your body work hard.  So it has really been interesting learning about what you eat and how your body handles it.  My entire family (except me so far) has type 2 diabetes.  So we are all educated about carbs.  I really try to limit my intake of those all of the time.  But sometimes you just gotta have a roll!!!!  And that is ok!  I am including a recipe today that may seem a little out of place.  I had a friend ask about a soup recipe that I do so I thought I would post it.  Even when it is hot outside, sometimes soup is just so comforting.  This soup reminds me of the Chicken Enchilada Soup at Chili's.  One cup of this soup is 7 points!

Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup

2 cans of fat free cream of chicken soup
1 can (10 oz) of Old El Paso enchilada sauce (I use mild)
2 cups milk
1 cup shredded 2% mexican cheese (you can use 2% chedder)
1 package of cooked southwestern flavored grilled chicken strips cut up
1 package of taco seasoning  (I don't add whole package...I add a little more than half)
3/4 cup crushed tortilla chips

1.  In a 3 quart sauce pan mix all ingredients except tortilla chips

2.  Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until thoroughly heated and cheese is melted.  Top individual servings with tortilla chips (you can also add a sprinkle of shredded cheese as well.

This soup is really good on a cool, crisp fall day.  But it is good anytime as well.  Hope everyone is having a super summer.  I can't believe that today is July 1!!!!  Slow down summer!!!!