Recipes for when you haven't had time to go shopping!

There are many times when I open the fridge door and stare hoping something will come what I should make for dinner. here are some recipes I've come up with on a whim for those "in between grocery run" moments!

Zucchini marinera
Cut the zucchini into ribbons long ways
Throw into a skillet with just a hint of olive oil
Cook till zucchini starts to become transparent
Add low carb marinera sauce
Sprinkle some garlic salt on top
Add cheese (I used sharp cheddar as it was what I had at the time)

Enjoy!

Lemon Parmesan broccoli
Take cooked chopped broccoli (the kind that steams in the microwave is what I use) and lightly Splash with lemon juice
Mix well
Generously add Parmesan cheese while mixing so broccoli is covered in it)
Salt to taste.

Enjoy!

Lemon Parmesan chicken
Same as lemon Parmesan broccoli except use cut up grilled chicken breast

Enjoy!

Size 10!

Tips for keeping strong!

I'm still searching for some new recipes, so i decided to make a post with my most asked questions from people following my diet. Thank you all so much for your questions! Feel free to reach out to me anytime- my Dad always said if you are thinking it, chances are someone else is too.

A lot of people ask about sweets. Everyone has those moments where you just need a quick fix of something sweet and you have to control yourself or you'll blow it. It drives me crazy when people say things like you have to "reward" yourself every once in a while... Yes you have to reward your self for doing a great job but NOT WITH FOOD! I take myself out and buy a new outfit or treat myself to a day of pampering. Rewarding yourself with food is like being a marathon runner who takes a month off of practice just because you did well in a race. You can still have "bad foods" but you have to have control: 1. watch the portion size. When most people decide to reward themselves with food they get crazy because if theyre going to cheat on their diet for the day why not go all out. Bad idea. 2. if you do want to induldge in something that is bad, cut back your carbs for the rest of the day. make the number even out.

I started the Atkin's lifestyle 5 months ago, and not a single day have I broke my diet. I don't feel the need to. When you start wanting to break your diet, you need to re-evaluate your motivation.

When I get a sugar craving, I will grab a sugar free jello. Theyre fantastic to keep many flavors on hand because they have -0- carbs and only 10 calories. Go crazy.

When i get a chocolate craving, I reach for an Atkin's bar. Make sure you look to see 1. what stage in the plan its good for 2. how many net carbs it has. The chocolate chip granola bar was the only flavor I really became attached to. Its extremely filling and i break it into pieces as one piece is really all I need to satisfy my craving. Walmart seems to be the only store carrying the this flavor, but there are many other flavors available to try.

There's a difference between eating because you're hungry and eating because youre bored. I've learned to tell the difference when im looking into the fridge and nothing sounds good, yet I want to eat. Boredom. To see if I'm actually hungry, I'll go and put my Listerine white strips on my teeth (the ones that dissolve) and that give me about 45 minutes I can't eat. If I'm still hungry after that I'll find something to eat.


People also ask about loose skin when losing so much weight. Anytime you lose a great amount of weight you'll run into that problem. I've really been trying to focus on toning my body by working out to get rid of the "extra." It's sometimes hard to find ways to motivate yourself to workout or not make excuses for the time it takes. I have a desk job that I'm at a lot so I thought of some great ways to work out at work:

1. I keep 2 "5" pound dumbells at my desk so when I'm on the phone or reading the computer i'll lift one with my free hand. I try to alternate the hand i'm using to work with and the hand i'm lifting with. Simple over the head lifts or out to the side lifts work great.

2. I bought a Gold's gym stationary bike at Wal-mart for $24 and i keep it under my desk and peddle it as I work. its great because its very compact and easy to store. It has a tension adjustment on it so you can increase it throughout the day.

3. If i know I'll be moving around a bunch that day, I'll wear ankle weights under my pants. I'll be able to burn extra calories and no one but me will know

While at the house, I like to have a more intense workout. I get bored easily so I have to find a workout that will keep my attention.

I am a huge reality tv junkie and im addicted to Real Housewives. I will put my eliptical in front of the tv, turn on one of the seasons, and start working out. The ssecret is to not look at the stats on the elliptical. Focus on the tv show (find a show or a movie that will distract you). By the time the episode is over, I look down and realize I just ran 4-5 miles.

To work out the rest of my body, I need a work out program that will keep me motivated.  The Play Station Move has been a huge part of my home workout. It has a camera so it put you on the screen. I purchased the game "Get Fit With Mel B" (yes, the Mel B aka Scary Spice from the Spice Girls) and i love it! It makes a custom workout for your body based on what you want to focus on for the day. The system can actually see what you are doing when you work out and lets you know how YOU are actually doing and what YOU burned that session, not what you would have burned if you did it perfectly. It keeps track of your progress and you can even chose the scenery for the background of your workout that day! I love that it has that "video game" feel so you feel like youre just playing a game! You even win trophy's throughout the workout based on your performance. Some of the trophy's that I really like they included are "burned off a candy bar!" or "burned off a whole pizza" "burned off a holiday dinner!" It really puts into perspective how much it takes to burn off the bad food decisions.

I hope this helps give you some different ideas and help keep you successful! Again, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have or things you've done that are working well for you!

Bacon and Spinach Quiche

This one turned out to be a great recipe!

Mix together 8 eggs and 1 1/2 cup of Heavy Whipping cream (make sure its the heavy kind because the regular whipping cream isnt carb free). Fry around half a pack of bacon and cut into piece (enough to make 1 cup of cut up bacon.) I used turkey bacon because I like the less greesy taste but regular bacon works just as well. Mix the bacon with the egg/cream mix and add 1 cup of sharp cheddar cheese and 1 cup of cooked chopped spinach. Once you get it all mix up well, pour into a pre-greased pie pan bake at 325 for 50 minutes. When you pull it out of the oven, let it sit for at least 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Another very easy recipe! This one is great to keep in the fridge to have as a snack or take with you to work!

Stuffed Chicken Supreme!

I was playing around with a couple different recipes and came up with this delicious creation that makes you feel like you're having a no-no food! (I love food that fools me into thinking its bad for you when it really isnt!)

Take boneless, skinnless chicken breast (if youre in the mood for white meat) or chicken thigh (if youre in the mood for dark meat) and butterfly cut it open (you dont have to for the thighs)

sprinkle garlic powder and pepper inside

take cream cheese (i found phillidelphea cream cheese to be good for this!)and mix with cut up green onions then spread it over half of the open faced chicken

close chicken and sprinkle again with garlic powder and pepper and then take minced garlic (in the jar) and spread on top (more or less to taste- im a fan so i put a good amount on there)

pop in the oven at 375 degrees for 45 minutes (adjust for oven abilities)

ENJOY!

I had this for dinner last night and took one of the pieces of chicken with me for lunch and it even tastes great heated up the next day!

Fried Zucchini (yes its low carb too!)

Very easy and quick snack or side for your meal!

Take a plate and pour 1 cup of grated paresan cheese in it

In a seperate bowl add 2 eggs and a tablespoon of heavy whipping cream and mix

cut up a couple zucchinis into coin shaped disks

dip each zucchini into the egg mix and then into the parmesan cheese on both sides.

place into a deep fryer or a skillet with oil

fry until golden brown

salt and pepper to taste

Enjoy!!!!

The best pizza youll ever have! (Deep dish Pizza Quiche)

This recipe is so popular among friends that none of it was low carb till I told them! Make sure to cut into small pieces because it will fill you up very quickly! You now have a cure for anytime you get that "i need pizza" craving!

Beat together 4 ounces of whipped cream cheese (I find the weight watchers version works great!) (make sure to soften the cream cheese) and 4 eggs togther until completely blended. Add 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon of italian seasoning.

Spray a glass baking dish with oil and put 2 cups of pizza chese and 1 cup motzerella cheese in (i also added 1/2 a cup of colby cheese and 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese) and pour egg mixture on top.

bake at 375 for 30 minutes (egg should be set).

Spread on 2 cups of pizza sauce and top with 1 cup of motzerella cheese and whatever toppings you want (turkey pepperoni is perfect for this!) bake until bubbly and browning and let stand for 10 minutes before cutting into it (let it set)

This will fill you up quickly and satisfy that pizza craving! My fav recipe I have made so far!!! Let me know what you think!

Amazingly easy Spinach Dip

Sometimes you get a craving for the things all the other people get to eat. Spinach Dip is a fav of mine to order when we go out to eat. Unfortunatly on my quest to becoming thin it isnt something I should have. Luckily for you I found an incredible recipe that I tweaked so well you cant tell the difference!

Chop up half a can of artichoke hearts

Mix with half a package of frozen spinich, 1 cup mayo, 1 cup parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons of garlic, and a cup of motzerella cheese

Bake at 325 for 50-60 minutes.

Ta-da! (Told you it was easy!)

Although chips are a no-no there is always a way around food you cant have. Pork rinds taste good dipped in this! Also- there are some fantastic homemade low carb recipes out on the web that go great with this! (theyre made of cheese!) I'll be trying a bunch of them later on to let you know which ones are the best!

Turkey Pinwheels

Today I got a craving for pinwheels so I searched through many different recipes till I found a couple I liked and mixed them together to come up with this recipe!

Take 5 table spoons of cream cheese (i used weight watcher's whipped cream cheese as it was much healthier) and mix with 2 tablespoons of chopped green onion and 2 table spoons of chopped lettace. (you can used anything from iceberg to spinach)

Take a low carb wrap (I use Mama Lupe's wraps because they only have 3 net carbs!) and lightly spread mixture on it. (You're going to have extra cream cheese mixture left over for another time!)

Add sliced turkey on top (be careful of some deli meats as they have hidden carbs)

Roll up, slice into pin wheels, chill for about 30 minutes

Enjoy!!!!!

0 Carb Tilapia!

This is a very simple recipe!

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Place frozen Tilapia in a glass baking dish

Butter Tilapia

Sprinkle seasoning onto fish (I use McCormicks Lemon Pepper seasoning)

Cook for 20-25 minutes (fish shouldnt be pink in middle and should flake when poked with a fork)

Enjoy!!!!

Atkin's contest

http://atkinssuccessstory.atkins.com/templates/SuperstarLanding.aspx

This is the link to Atkin's new contest. It features people's before and after photos. The winner of each round gets a $5000 shopping spree and the grand prize winner gets an awesome package including an all expense paid trip for a photo shoot in California. I hadn't heard of the contest until Atkins sent me the email about the winner of round one. After seeing her before and after photos I relized I had a chance of winning this contest. My before and after pictures were much more dramatic and I feel I could really reepresent the Atkins name and lifestyle. My big focus is to get into shape and tighten my body up. I have until September to get ready. I'm really focusing on my legs, arms, and stomach. I have got rid of all my clothing I used to own and replaced it with new items I got at the mall. I even tried on 2 piece bathing suits! I never would have dreamed of wearing a 2 piece! One thing that is hard to get used to is not going into the plus size section of stores. My sister is constantly reminding me that when we go shopping to put down the size XL clothing. I'm fitting in Medium/Large now and what an amazing feeling it has become! When I go out to eat, its become easy to know what I should and shouldnt have. People stop me all the time and ask me what my secret is. I love sharing my story. It's the first time I've ever been on a diet that I haven't felt deprived of food! Fitting a work out schedule into my life will be a change for me. It's going to be difficult at first but I think this contest will really keep me going. I can get a LOT of clothes with $5000!!!

Zucchini Frittata

Take an 8 inch skillet that is OVENPROOF and saute at medium heat 1/2 cup chopped onion and 1 cup schredded zucchini in 1 teaspoon of cooking oil for 2-3 minutes

Pour 3 beaten eggs on top and sprinkle with salt

Cook until almost set 6-7 minutes

Sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded 1 cup of Swiss Cheese

Pop in oven at 350 degrees for 4-5 minutes (cheese should be melted)

ENJOY!!!!!

Zucchini Ribbons with Lemon and Parmesan

Cut 2 zucchini's length wise paper thin (I used a potato peeler and it worksed awesome) Once you hit the seeds it'll be hard to cut so just stop there (save it for a delicious snack later on!)

Add 3 tablespoons of grated parmesan

Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Add 1 teaspoon lemon zest

Add 1 1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Season with salt and pepper to taste :)

You can use your zucchini ribbons for lots of other recipes too! It's fake pasta!

Chicken Parmesan

I was so excited to try this recipe out! It was a complete success!!!! I could only get a couple bites in before I admitted defeat to being full.

This is a very easy recipe:

Take chicken breast (i used chicken tenderloins in this photo) and dip it in egg.
Coat in parmesan cheese
Saute it in oil in a frying pan until golden brown
Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper
Drizzle Marinera on top (it has a lot less carbs than spagehtti sauce.)
Add motzerella cheese on top and place in microwave to melt cheese (45 seconds should do it)
Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.

ENJOY!

Grilled Chicken Caesar Wraps

Very easy to make and a great way to fight those fast food cravings!

Many places offer "wraps" to eat, but the wrap part of it is LOADED with carbs! I decided to make my own alternative to the fast food chain version.

Grill chicken tenderloin. (I use my George Forman Grill)

Take a head of iceberg lettuce and peel a piece off completely

Place chicken in center of lettuce

Add dressing on top of chicken (I used Caesar, but you can make this just about any type of dressing you want)

Sprinkle Cheese on top

Wrap lettuce around.

(you may have to use a tooth pick to keep it all together)

ENJOY!

Italian Meatballs

This is one of my favorite recipes! I love these because they are great cold, hot, or on the go!

1 pound of ground beef
1 pound of bulk mild italian sausage
2 teaspoons minced onion
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup parmesan cheese (the stuff in the can works great!)
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Mix it all together with your finger (ya its messy and weird feeling!) mis it till everything is mixed together and the meat doesn't feel slimy from the eggs. Shape into golf ball size on a baking sheet with sides (they may roll!) bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes until the meatballs are done all the way through. Rinse them in a colander so you can get the egg and cheese that leaked out off.

Enjoy!

makes about 20-30 meatballs and you can even freeze them!!!

couple of quick food ideas!

This first concauction is my version of Chicken cordon bleu! I simply sliced open a grilled chicken breast into a pocket and threw it on the George Forman Grill and cook it through. Then, I take it off and stuff it with deli ham and queso cheese. Pop it into the oven at 350 degrees and watch for it to be all melted and you're good to go! Warning: you'll only be able to eat a couple bites because its very filling.

One of the hardest things for me was giving up breaded chicken. I love cashew chicken, boneless wings, nuggets, etc. I took porkrinds and crushed them. Then, I took some raw chicken breasts and cut them into nugget size. I rolled them around in the crushed pork rinds. Finally, I just dropped them in the the fryer and waited till they were golden. Bazinga! You have awesome tasting breaded chicken!!!

What everyone has been asking for!

On March 17th , 2011 I started the beginning of what would be getting back my life. I weighed 272 pounds. I was embarrassed stepping on the scale at the doctors office that day. I had yo-yo dieted off and on for the past couple years and nothing would ever stick. The doctor told me I had to go on the low carb diet. I heard stories about how many people would lose a ton of weight and then gain it right back. I decided to take the doctors advice and to do some research myself. I learned how the Atkins diet had changed since then. They have revamped the program to help you lose it in a healthy way and to maintain a healthy lifestyle after hitting your goal. Finally, a diet that would work. I knew that this would be hard in the beginning. My favorite thing to eat is Chinese food. Specifically- Cashew Chicken. I was determined to get back the body I was meant to have. It was getting harder and more expensive to buy clothing for work. I work in an office setting where I needed to have business casual attire and the selection that a 22 Year old would be interested in was getting slimmer as I continued to get bigger. (ironic huh?) So, I started my journey. I was a size 24. I bounced between a 2X-3X depending on the clothing brand.

I started eating the normal thing people usually grab for when on the Atkins Diet: steak, chicken, fish, pork, and shrimp. That was pretty easy because I enjoy those types of food. The hardest thing in the past for me was free food. I grew up in a family where free food was good food. I had to find a way to convince myself to not take free food. To get my mind out of the free food mentality, I convinced myself that the free food the person was offering had something in it that I HATED! (for me it was green beans) If I say, "That food has green beans in it. No thank you." My mind would think of the horrible taste green beans had and I wouldn't want the food. It was a little weird at first because people would always give me a weird look when I said it, but saying it out loud really made my brain not want the food. The food I was eating was boring, but I wasn't hungry and that was my biggest concern.

My next appointment was on April 14th. Almost a month later. I stepped on the scale. I was blown away! I lost 20 pounds! It was such an incredible feeling! The doctor was so proud of my progress! People hadn't really noticed the difference in my weight loss yet, but I could really tell the difference in the way I felt. I had a lot more energy and I finally felt like I was making progress.

The food was getting more boring to me just eating a lot of the same thing. I went on the Atkins website (Atkins.com) and got a "free starter kit" they were advertising online. I received it a couple days later in the mail. It came with 3 protein bars, a carb counter, instructions, coupons, and recipes. This blog is ALL about honesty- 2 of the protein bars were disgusting to me. However, I really liked the chocolate chip granola bar. I could only eat bits of it at a time because it was so filling. One of the bad things about low carb is you cant have fruit, cake, ice cream, etc so I was really missing out on sweets. This really helped those chocolate cravings we all have on a rough day. I also then found out I could have sugar free jello. I also learned that its better to have a green with each meal. I then started making broccoli, salads, cauliflower, asparagus, etc with each meal. Cheese and Butter are allowed on the diet, so it was nice to be able to add them to mix up the taste.

May 12th I went to my next appointment and I learned I lost ANOTHER 20 pounds! I was now down 40 pounds! I was at the point where a lot of my clothes didn't fit. I was either looking like a hobo wearing baggy clothing, wearing some of my old clothes I had still kept that I used to wear, or clothes I bought in denial that wouldn't fit before that I was too embarrassed to take back to the store. People were finally noticing my weight loss! Its amazing how some people are afraid to compliment someone on their weight loss because they don't want to offend them. To me, someone telling me how good I was looking on my weight loss or ask me how I was doing it was the greatest compliment and really kept me going. If it wasn't for the people that constantly complimented my progress, I don't know if I would have lost as much as I have now!

Food wise, I was looking online for low carb recipes all over the net. I wanted to make sure I didn't get burnt out on the food I was eating. The best thing to me was finding a way to make the food I used to eat but in a healthier, low carb form. I also didn't want to be able to taste the difference. Most recipes are hit or miss. You just have to be patient and once you find a good one, share it with the world. (i.e. like starting a blog lol)

June 16th I had my most recent appointment. I was down 16 more pounds!  So much weight lost and not a single item of clothing I used to be able to wear fit! I was at a point that people would double take when looking at me because I didn't look like the same person.

As of today, July 2, I am at 192 and a size 12. I'm going to really start focusing on working out to really tone my body. I have lost so much weight pretty much everything has to be toned up.

I have had a lot of people feel inspired by my story and have started their journey. It makes me feel so good inside to know that I can help someone else gain their life back. Everyone is always asking for tips, recipes, and general help while on their journey, so I decided to start this blog to be a helpful area for anyone wanting help to achieve their goal! If you ever have any questions or need some tips let me know!

I want to leave you with this thought my Memaw told me: There is no food that tastes as good as skinny feels!