Sunday, May 5, 2013

My Southwest Quesadillas

My blog is still here?!?!

I am actually a little surprised I remembered the right password on the first try!

I know I've really dropped the ball on this whole blogging thing... and all both of my readers are probably gone now but I'm still attempting a come back. Maybe since I'm posting an awesome Quesadilla recipe I will be forgiven my long absence.

Just a quick update on where I've been and then on to the food.
The last 4 months of my life have been consumed by college.
I DO NOT remember it being this demanding.
It is a serious pain in my butt.
I'm such a masochist that I signed up for 2 summer classes.
Seriously, I need a mental evaluation.

On the weight loss front things have been okay.
Alright, alright they have been pretty slow lately.
I did however finish my very first 5K. In March.
How did I not blog about that? College.
Hopefully I will get a post about it up soon!

Anyway here's the food!

My version of a Southwest Quesadilla
Each one only had 552 calories and I used full fat cheese... which was amazeballz.
Mine had taco meat but you could easily omit that. 
Sour cream not included in calorie count

Below are most of the ingredients, not pictured are the tortillas and beef.  

You will need to drain and rinse the beans and corn.
First I browned my meat and drained it really well. I used 80/20 because I had it in the freezer but feel free to use lean ground beef or ground turkey. These would also be wonderful with fajita beef or chicken!


After draining the beef I added some taco spices. I make my own taco seasoning which is mostly cumin.
For this I mixed:
3 teaspoons cumin
1.5 teaspoons garlic pepper (found at Sam's)
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

Obviously I taste as I go and add more of each depending on the flavor I'm looking for. Once you add the spices let them toast for about 30 seconds to develop the flavors a bit more.

Next I sauteed my mushrooms in 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Once they release their juices and look like this you are good to go!
Transfer the mushrooms back to their bowl and saute the garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil for 30 seconds.

Be aware garlic burns very easily so watch the clock!
Next you will add the spinach and cook it until it has wilted.

Before...

And after. This is also a great way to prepare spinach as a side.
Before assembling the quesadillas you will need to mix 1 cup of the corn, 1 cup of the beans, and 2 cups of the meat together.

Also separate the spinach and mushrooms into 4 equal servings.

Dividing it into fourths makes it easier once the cooking process has started.
 
After moving everything close to the stove, heat a large cast iron pan or griddle over medium high heat.
Spray with a good amount of cooking spray and coat each side of a 10 inch tortilla.
Let the first side brown keeping a close eye on it.
After flipping it spread 1/2 cup of the cheese mixture over the whole tortilla.
Then sprinkle 1/4 cup of the meat mixture, 1/4 of the mushrooms and 1/4 of the spinach over one half of the tortilla.

Almost there!
Once the cheese has had time to melt fold the tortilla over to make a half moon shape.

Yum!
There is no need to flip since you let the cheese melt while it was laying flat. Which means you don't loose your filling.
Continue this process until you have 4 finished Quesadillas. 

Move to a plate and slice into fourths!

Enjoy with sour cream, jalapenos, rice, beans, guacamole etc.... Or a big margarita!!!

Southwest Quesadillas

Ingredients:
1lb lean ground beef
taco seasoning (see above for my recipe)
2 ounces pepper jack cheese, shredded
4 ounces monterey jack cheese, shredded
2 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
3 cups fresh spinach
4 cloves garlic minced (I use a grater to mince it)
8 ounces mushrooms
4 10 inch tortillas
1 cup corn
1 cup black beans
2 tablespoons olive oil
cooking spray

Remember I used full fat cheese, if you are looking for a place to cut calories start there. Also there was enough of the meat mixture leftover to make 4 more quesadillas with just meat and cheese which tasted great. If you don't want to make 8 total, half the amount of meat you use or double the spinach and mushrooms to make 8 of the original recipe.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Taking the First Step

Why should you take the first step?

Because you are worth it.

People ask me all the time what my breaking point was. I don't really know. Kinda dumb since my blog is about my Ah Ha moment. All I can tell you is that there were so many moments I couldn't count or remember them all. And I don't want to. While I do think it's necessary to remember never to be that person again, I hate thinking about how awful I looked and felt.

How do you take the first step. I don't have a clue. But you do.

Everyone is different therefore everyone's journey is going to be different.

One of the awesome parts of losing weight is getting there.
Finding yourself again along the way. 
I didn't even know how lost I was.

People your self image can make you or break you. I honestly wish your jean size didn't matter but it does.
It matters to your husband, your kids, your boss or future boss, your in-laws, the people crossing the street, and it matters to YOU. 

Which is why it matters to everyone else. If people are meeting, seeing, and knowing someone who isn't comfortable in their own skin they aren't really getting to know you. They are getting a watered down version of you. Maybe someone who was once outgoing and funny that now is quiet and reserved (that never happened to me by the way) but that's certainly not to say my weight didn't effect me emotionally. I fought everyday to get out of bed and get things done. I had quit living and I didn't even realize it.

If you are struggling with your weight and you know it is keeping you from living the life you want to live don't wait to fix it. It is so incredibly worth it.

I ran 2.25 miles yesterday in 25 minutes.
I no longer have a BMI that is categorized as obese.
I have the energy to play soccer with my baby.
I can keep up with college students (and out run their asses).
I WANT to live again.

Do you?

Friday, January 11, 2013

Training In Progress

Training (aka Killing Myself Slowly) In Progress

Okay, so maybe I'm being a little dramatic. I am enjoying the training process as much as possible (which isn't much) but I am extremely proud of myself.

I have officially registered for my very first 5K WHOOP WHOOP. Which is the reason I have put so much effort into training this time. I never imagined the way this would make me feel. I don't think anything so far in my weight-loss journey has made me feel so empowered.

Running in the Rain, see I'm devoted!

Recently I have changed things up a bit and I am seeing the pounds melt away. Shaking things up always helps! Instead of counting every calorie and stressing about staying under my "goal" for the day, I have been focusing on eating super clean. I am still drinking two shakes a day, one at breakfast, one at lunch along with a small healthy meal. Then the Hubbs and I are juicing for dinner :) Oh what fun that is!!!

Carrot, bell pepper, apple, celery, radish, cilantro, kale/spinach, tomato, turmeric, and ginger!!! This has been my favorite so far!
Mmm Mmm Good (I feel like if I keep saying this sooner or later I will believe it). On the upside I have T.O.N.S. of energy. I feel so good it makes choking the juice down worth it...

We have also been doing a Fab Abs challenge (Lane is having so much fun with this...heavy sarcasm). I have a shit-ton of core strength left over from my days as a base in cheer-leading. I can hold a minute plank after not working out at all for a year without blinking. (<-- Was that a run on sentence??? I suck at grammar) Oh well hopefully y'all get the point. I have abs of steel hidden under 20 or so pounds of fat, I freakin' rock...(modest much?) The Hubbs, not really. He has Z.E.R.O core strength and endurance. Love him to death but the man could barely hold a 5 second plank when we started. 11 days in and he is going strong at 30 seconds! So proud of him ♥ It has been so much fun to watch him get better at trusting himself and pushing harder. He has no idea how much easier he has made this whole process on me by participating. I know he hates every minute of it but that's the kind of love we have! I am so blessed to have him. 

This is the Fab Abs Challenge we have been doing. Try it out!!!
Okay that was enough gushy shit to last a lifetime, right? But seriously I love that man like I used to love cake! 

Next week I am going back to college... GULP. I am enrolled in a whopping 15 hours. Holy crap shoot me in the face why don't cha. The good thing about my increasingly crowded schedule (meant to be pronounced like the British do, now say it again the right way) is that I will have access to a gym again. I have many torture workout sessions planed in my near future. Plus I will have an hour to kill each day in between my last class and picking up my nieces from school. God has a sense of humor :) 

Hoping for a bikini bod by the end of 2013... Now it's time to work for it! Who's with me?!?! Let's make 2013 our BIATCH! 

Ready, Set, Go!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Great Things for 2013

Looking Back

Left was taken in 2010, Right was taken just a few weeks ago. Those pants are a size 24 that is a 5 size loss.
I am so proud of myself. I know I may sound conceited but I really just don't care. I have taken huge steps toward living the life I am meant to live this past year. It has been a long time in coming but I wouldn't change a thing. 2012 taught me some great lessons and I am so excited to put them to use in 2013!

My niece RaeLeigh and I at her first concert!
I uploaded this picture to facebook and I realized something important. I no longer feel the need to hide behind other people when I am in pictures now. I cannot begin to express how wonderful it feels to be happy enough in my own skin, to be photographed, without feeling like sticking a fork in my eye.

I stepped on the scale December 14th and saw this...

That says 188.4 or 188.9 I can't really see it and I don't remember!!! EEEKKK!
Why is this such a big damn deal you ask.
Well because that was the moment I had officially lost 50 pounds.
It also marked the halfway point in my journey. I sat down butt naked and cried like a baby.
You have to understand, I have NEVER before believed I could do this.
I never let myself dream of looking they way I truly want.
Until June of 2012 I didn't believe I would EVER be slim.
I have NEVER been sexy or skinny or worn a bikini BUT I WILL.
I promise I will.

230 pounds - 190 pounds
These are the latest progression pictures I have.
When I started I weighed 240 pounds, I didn't take my first set of pictures until 230 pounds, but I really believe that first 15 pounds or so was water anyway. So I feel like these represent 50 pounds of weight lost.
These pictures are why I keep going.
They are why I choked down green juice last night.
They are why I keep moving one foot in front of the other when I want to stop running so badly.
They are why I believe I can lose 50 more pounds.
They are also why I believe you can too.

Looking  Forward

I am so happy to announce my dear husband has decided to join me in leading a healthier lifestyle. He has been drinking shakes, juicing, and somewhat counting calories. I am so proud of him and I'm so happy I have a new guinea pig!!!

Us in Progreso, Mexico in January 2011

I am going back to college next week and I am so excited! I am however a little nervous about how I am going to handle teaching nights and going to school two days a week. Looks like A LOT of meal planning in my future!!!
Miss Ridlee and Mama on Thanksgiving

2013 is going to be the year I make my dreams come true. 

I will run a 5K by June and a 10K by December.
I will lose 50 more pounds.
I will wear a bikini in public (even if it's in December!!!)
I will go skiing for the first time ever.
I will make myself proud.
I will.