I guess I am the other other sister!

 

   Hello everyone, my name is Cassie. A little about me, I have been married since April 2010 to a wonderful man named Noe. We have two beautiful little girls, Winry who is 2 and Keely who is almost 6 months old. I work at Walmart and am planning on starting school in February.

     I have always been down on myself for my weight. I got made fun of all through school and it was incredibly hard and has made me fear for my daughters when they go to school. My senior year was the hardest. I was working 2 jobs, one at McDonald s  one at a Mexican restaurant called El Sol. As a result i was always snacking so i gained a lot of weight. So of course i got made fun of more for that. So i decided to do something about it.

       Starting after my senior year i became bulimic  I thought this was the best way to deal with my problem. I started dropping weight and was happy about it, so i kept doing it. at the beginning i started out at over 200 pounds. At the lightest weight i hit 145 pounds. I thought i looked good and was happy about where i was. 

         Little did I know what it was really doing to my body. My husband who was my boyfriend at the time caught on to what i was doing, and convinced me that this was not right. I am thankful everyday for that. While i was skinny my body was starving. my teeth are now horrible and because of the year and a half that i did this i gained back so much more weight.

         I finally got a kick in the butt to do things the right way this time. I am currently on weight watchers and am trying to work out for at least a half hour a day four days a week. I keep telling myself that results take a while. Especially for me, I am trying my best not to get discouraged  I feel better with the amount of water that i am drinking and I am loving working out again. I know that this time around I will keep it off for good. I want to be able to keep up with my family and feel good about myself. I want to be a positive role model that my girls can look up too.

Emmily keeps bugging me to post something but its been a rough week. I was finally able to step on the scale and see what my weight was after four weeks of being inactive and it was really set back for me it told me I had gained 12 pounds in those four weeks. so I was really bummed. All the weight that i lost last year back. I really hadn't changed my eating habits but when I took exercise and moving out of my life this is what happens. I am able to walk now on the treadmill and it has never felt so good. I thing I was going to say was if you are having a hard time losing weight  and your re doing everything you can you need to get check out I found my thoird is out of whack it took three years for me to be able to start to lose  the weight.

A little motivation and another sister joining the group!

This inspirational quote is another one of my favorites! I often used to and sometimes even now remind myself that this is a continuous journey and to stop making excuses and NEVER give up! Now on to other news, sorry for the lack of posts as of late but with the new semester starting I have been slightly distracted but I am back on track now! Another item of business another one of my sister's will be joining us on this wonderful blog as she begins her weight loss journey! We are all so proud of her and we cant wait to see what she accomplishes!! YAY Cassie welcome to the blog! We love you!

Emmily*

It's a Lifestyle Change not a DIET!

When I first started my weight loss journey I told myself I was not going to DIET because generally people who DIET fail. Losing weight the healthy way requires a lifestyle change, a change in attitude a change in your relationship with food. I see many people succeed on The Biggest Loser however this is a CRAZY program that is not realistic at all and if you check in with most of the competitors they gain weight back and go back to unhealthy eating styles once they stop the program. The diets they set up are not realistic, CARBS are NOT your enemy you need them for energy, just watch your portion size. White potatoes are not bad for you just eat a smaller potato than you usually do.I eat quite a few vegetables and fruit during the week and alot more whole grains and little to no fried food. These small steps have worked wonders for me. I also cut out all soda a year ago and have never felt better! I eat more natural sugars and feel amazing however once in a while if I want an Oreo I have one, it has been proven that if you deprive yourself you will fail. Also these DIETS that say you do not have to exercise are lying, you need to exercise even if its only for 30 minutes a day you are doing your body a world of good. You do not have to go to the gym to exercise there are lots of things you can do at home!!It is all about smaller portions and allowing yourself to give in every now and then and working out as much as you are able. I also plan on keeping this up for my life not just until the weight is gone that is why I say Lifestyle change something you will do for the rest of your life! I just wanted to write a few things down today and hope that maybe someone will be encouraged by this. You do not have to follow a crazy diet to succeed you can do it!!

Creamy Corn Chowder

Creamy Corn Chowder-

No one will ever guess this creamy, rich soup is low in fat and calories! This deceptively rich soup is inexpensive, quick, easy and filling.\

6-8 oz  of bacon                                                 2 Tbsp butter
1/4c flour                                                           1 c water
3c 1% milk                                                        3 chicken bouillon cubes or 2 tsp chicken base
2-3 red potatoes (also works with russets)        3/4c minced onion
2-3 cloves garlic                                                1 (14oz) can corn
few dashes of hot sauce                                      salt and pepper to taste

1. Cook bacon until crispy (set aside)
2. Melt butter in a soup pot. When melted add flour to make a roux and whisk until it comes together in a ball. Add water and whisk until bombined and there are no lumps. Add milk and chicken bouillion or base and bring to a simmer. Add potatoes, garlic and onion and simmer (dont boil). stir frequently for 20 mins or until potatoes are tender.
3. crumble bacon and add to soup along with the corn. Heat through. Add a few drops of hot sauce and salt and pepper to taste.
4. Ladle ito bowls and sprinkle with cheese and extra bacon if desired.

This recipe is from "our best bits" cookbook. I love this soup when i made it the first time it was a little to thick it says to only use 2 1/2c of milk so i just added a 1/2c and now it is perfect. Its so yummy my 11 month old loves it. I just put a little on a plate for her she loves the potates and corn!

Ashley*

Morning everyone I just wanted to tell you about a new machine I tried at the gym today its called the Arc trainer. I have to say I am liking it better than the elliptical. It was awesome! Hope everyone is doing well. I am sure it is hard to fit a workout in or you just dont want to do it (like me yesterday) but it feels so good once you get there and get it done.

Chicken and Peppers!!

This recipe is so amazingly easy and delicious!! It is super colorful, tasty,and easy to assemble a win win in my book! I made this for dinner last night and had leftovers for lunch today. It is a huge hit in my house and I hope it will be in yours!(I need to remember to take pictures! sorry)

Hawaiian Chicken and Peppers
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 orange bell peppers
2 red bell pepers
2 green bell peppers
2 yellow bell peppers
1 jalapeno* optional (or more if you like it spicy ;-) )
1 bottle of Lawrys Hawaiian marinade

Salt and pepper your chicken and place in a baking pan of some kind. pour over 1/4 to 1/2 of the bottle of marinade depending on what your prefer. Marinate for 20 - 30 minutes. While the chicken in marinating slice your peppers and place on top of your chicken and toss in the marinade, you can add a little more as needed if using jalapenos slice them up and throw them in the pan and mix them in. Place in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Could be more or less time depending on your oven. Just watch for your chicken juices to run clear.

I serve this with a salad and fruit of some kind it would also be excellent with rice! I hope you ENJOY!!

Emmily*

Great motivation!

Here is another motivational quote as it were, when I was first starting out on my journey I constantly felt like I couldn't do it, I couldn't walk any further or do anymore sit ups but I found this quote one day and kept it as my wallpaper on my IPOD and it got me through! I hope it will for you too! Do you have any motivational quotes that you keep around you? Let us know!

Energy Bites!!

I found a great recipe on Pinterest for an amazing tasty and yes healthy snack! These little bites are great both pre and post workout! I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

Recipe found on Pinterest

No-Bake Energy Bites 

(makes 18-20 bites)

1 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)

1/3 cup honey

1 cup coconut flakes

1/2 cup ground flaxseed

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything above in a medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated.  Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy!  Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Emmily*

3 days...

After working out for 3 days this week I feel great. I have just been going to the communtiy center gym and working out on the elliptical for 30mins and some crunches. Let me tell you when I got on the elliptical for 5mins I was dieing and already sweating I felt so out of shape. But I kept going and felt really good when the 30min where done. It helped to get out and leave Emma with her dad  so that I could focus on working out instead of where Emma was. I am so excited after I am done everyday it makes me feel better and happy with myself that I did it. I do have a dvd that is similar to the one Emmily has and it kicks my butt makes me sore for days. The biggest loser  30 day jump start its crazy how sore you get from it. One of my favorite dvds is platies on the ball. Mine is very scratched so I haven't been doing it but I just love platies and they are only in 10 mins segments so not time consumming but worth our 10mins for sure. (Now I just need to find a new dvd to replace my scratched one). One of the other things that is hard for me is that my husband likes to sit at the table and talk after dinner which is nice. The not so nice part is that food is still on the table and I just nibble as we talk. Last night I relized what I was doing and told my husband I had to clear the food so that I wouldnt be tempted. Let us know what you guys are doing and what workouts and foods you like as well.

*Ashley

Great motivation

I found this quote a year ago on Pinterest and It is the TRUTH!! It helped me get through the hard times when you feel like you are failing just remember it takes time! KEEP GOING!! Have a great day!

*Emmily*

Great at home workout DVD!

Hey everyone it's Emmily, when I started my exercise plan a year ago I went to the gym at Idaho State University because as a student there I get a membership there through paying my fees so in my head its "free" even though its not free.... anyway not the point, when I first went to the gym I was so embarrassed by my size and I found it difficult to even ride the stationary bikes comfortably, so I went to Wal*Mart and looked into at home DVD's I found one that was low impact and was in three stages it is called Extreme Makeover Weight loss edition with Chris Powell. I LOVE this DVD!!! I cant say enough good things about it. It works you out in stages and builds up your endurance slowly which is super important! I started with doing the Level 1 workout for a week and then I tried level 2 so I would do level one and level 2 for 2 weeks things were getting easier so I kept doing both level one and 2 for a couple of months ( you will work up an amazing sweat doing these!) and then I incorporated at least one walk a day for at least 30 minutes. My hubby started doing this DVD with me and I was having an easier time than him doing it! I then kicked over to doing level 3 I did just level 3 for a month and then added level 2 and still walking at least once a day! This DVD helped me to lose my first 45 pounds and I still do it on days I cant make it to the gym. It can be found at Wal*Mart for under $10 its a great deal!! If you are looking for a great at home DVD this is a great one! I know a lot of people have a hard time making it to the gym due to having little kidlets or working late so at home DVD's are a great option! Do you all have a favorite workout DVD? Let me know I am always looking for a new and fun workout!

*this is not a paid advertisement all opinions are my own!*

Hi everyone hope you re having a great day!!!! I am so excited as I got my stitches out of my foot yesterday and I can start walking. After three weeks of not walking this is a very happy day. I asked the Dr. about running lol he told me not yet but we are getting there.  One thing I wanted to share was when I started looking at my portion size was I went out and looked for smaller plates and bowls. Tricked my brain into thinking I was getting more. Most plates and bowls are way to big and the correct portion size looks so small on them. York peppermint patties have also become my very best friend and I buy the little ones,I get three of them for the same point value as one large one ,but once again I think I am getting more three vs. one.

*Cynthia*

Yummy Eggrolls (contains no eggs)

 This is one of my families favorite meals. I have heard that you could bake them instead of fry them so we tried them baked tonight. They where good but we still prefer the fried ones over the baked ones. If you use a brown paper bag with paper towels and place them on top of the bag it soaks up a lot of the grease. These eggrolls are yummy and easy to make.

- package eggroll wraps (by the tofu & veggies)
- bag of cole slaw mix
- 2-3 chicken breast (depending on the size)
-9 Tbsp sugar
-3 Tbsp oil
- cooking sherry
-cornstarch

1. Cut the chicken into cubes mix a little cooking sherry and a spoonful of cornstarch together. Cook chicken and set aside.
2. Boil cole slaw mix and drain really well.Mix together chicken, cole slaw, sugar & oil.
3. Put a spoonful in each wrap, roll the wrap and seal with a flour/ water mix.
4. Fry til golden brown or Bake @ 400* for 20 mins turn over half way through

We eat them with rice and dip in soy sauce.

*Ashley*

Limeade or orange jello

1 small pkg jello I like lime or orange
1 small can of limeade or orange juice
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup boiling water
1 pkg dream whip and yes it has to be dream whip not cool whip
1/2 cup milk i use 1/4 c skim and 1/4 c 2%


Boil water,  mix the jello with the sugar then add boiling water. Stir until all in dissolved then add frozen juice mix till melted. Put it in the fridge til soft set about 2 hours. Beat dream whip wit milk until peaks form them mix in with jello and put back into fridge til all the way set. 1/2 cup is the serving size enjoy!

*Cynthia*

I'm the Mom

I guess I am the last one in this group. I am Cynthia the mom. I started this journey about 20 months ago a friend and co-worker and I decided we had had enough and we started to go to weight watcher together. Having someone who went with me every week was great. My husband also joined us for awhile. When i started out I was about 60lbs over weight. For me the point system that weight watchers use was the best thing,that and the weekly weight ins.  I learned that my portions were way off and that i need to think about what I was putting in my mouth and whether it was worth eating and using up my points that I had for that day.  The other big thing for me was I started MOVING I started with walking for 20 min a day. Then worked up to a little bit of running mixed in with the walking. then more running and it felt so good. There were time and there still are times that I come home from work and I just want to sit and watch tv.I have tried many different types of exercise but for me running is the one for me. last year I set a gaol to run 1000 miles. On DEC 19,2012 I finished that gaol with 1001 miles for the year. Then went and had foot surgery. Now I feel like a slug I went from running 25 miles a week to stuck on my butt for four weeks. Now my journey cont.... as I battle to keep off the 50lbs that I have lost so far and then get back in to shape when I can start walking again.

The other sister

I am Ashley, the other sister and daughter. I was invited to share my thoughts and experiences in order to help me stay motivated. My husband, 10 month old daughter and I live in Flordia for the time being.  I have been fighting the weight for what seems like forever. I like to blame my genes to make me feel better. I do really well for awhile - exercising and eating smaller portions - but then things come up and I lose motivation (its a vicious cycle ladies).  After months of not being motivated and claiming I never had time with my new daughter around I am ready to make some time to get in shape again.  Thanks Emm and mom. LETS DO THIS!

Yummy Recipe #1 Pizza Chicken

Pizza is pretty much one of my favorite foods ever! I was reading online on one of my favorite healthy food websites Hungry Girl and came upon a recipe for Pizza chicken where instead of using dough for the crust of this pizza you use a boneless skinless chicken breast. I made this one for the hubby and my younger sister and it is a hit!! they love it!! We have this recipe at least once a week in our house. Now I am not saying that carbs are bad by using no bread in this recipe its just that this is amazing and tasty and you wont even miss the bread! I could talk about carbs all day (I love them) I will save that for a later post! Now without further ado lets make some pizza chicken!

Pizza Chicken (adapted from Hungry Girl)
4 Boneless Skinless chicken breasts (pound them out a little to make them flatter)
lemon herb seasoning and Montreal chicken seasoning (for seasoning your chicken or whatever you prefer)
Pizza sauce or any type of red sauce you prefer (I like Muir Glen Organic Pizza sauce)
Mozzarella cheese shredded
Whatever topppings you like on your pizza we like Turkey Pepperoni, ham, green peppers, mushrooms and pineapple

Season your chicken and either grill or bake until cooked through I use my trusty George Foreman. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, place cooked chicken on a cookie sheet and put pizza sauce on top of your chicken breast then top with your favorite toppings and finally top with cheese. Bake in your oven for around 10 minutes or until toppings are warm and cheese is melted. Enjoy!!!

I usually serve this with a salad and veggie and fruit! I use turkey pepperoni because it is much healthier for you and it doesnt taste any different! love it give it a chance i think you might like it! You can also adjust the amount of chicken you need for your size of family as needed.

My Story and Welcome!!

Hi I am Emmily and I super excited to be starting this blog! I am a wifey to the most amazing and supportive man ever! I am currently going to school at Idaho State University and  I have struggled with my weight for the last 6 years. In January of 2012 I finally decided to do something about it, I am hoping to share some amazing recipes, photos, exercise tips and motivation for whoever decides to read this blog! I am not a trainer by any means I am going to be sharing what has worked for me and my mom and sister are going to be posting what works for them. One thing I have learned over my journey through the last year is just because a diet works for one person it does not mean it will work for another person you have to try lots of different things to find what works for you but one basic rule is true for most everyone STOP making excuses and get up and MOVING!!! Even if it's just walking up flights of stairs instead of taking the elevator or parking further away from the doors of a store any extra movement will make you body HAPPY!!! I can't promise you will lose a ton of weight following these ideas but I can promise that you will feel better! (can you tell I am excited!!) I never thought I would progress as far as I have but now that I have I am NEVER going back to my lifestyle before. My way of losing the weight isn't just a Diet (naughty 4 letter word) it is a lifestyle change! Iwould like my mom and sister to post now and I need to figure out how to post pictures.... so have patience as we figure all of this out! Thank you for stopping by!