GAME TIME...Skinny Hot Wings

Phase II | Day 18
Weight Loss: 61.8 lbs

Today I got a hankerin' for some wings.  The sweet taste of that tangy wet sauce countered with the crunch of celery was all I could think about when I woke up this morning.  The problem with wings is not the chicken. Nor is it the celery, which some refer to as a "negative calorie food" (wish chocolate did that).  The challenge really lies in the sauce.  So many sauces are laden with sugars - or worse corn syrup and corn starch - so it's more than just oil or breading that knock these off the list.

We've found a couple of different sauces that work really nicely in either Phase II or Phase III.  For Phase II, this Louisiana hot sauce below is awesome.  We use it on everything from steak to chicken to shrimp to asparagus... basically just about anything.  

So for chicken wings today, I decided to combine a couple of "secret" spices and kick up the volume on these to trick my brain into feeling like I was eating at the corner sports bar.  I started by trimming some lean chicken tenderloins.  These were organic chicken tenderloins from Safeway, which are a little more expensive but after what I've seen in some documentaries lately, the extra couple of bucks are worth it.

I tossed them into a mixing bowl and grabbed some of Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning. 

This seasoning doesn't have any sugar in it and not enough calories to even register so it is perfect for Phase II. Next I tossed the tenderloins in the seasoning and threw it on the grill.

After they grilled I threw them back in another mixing bowl and tossed them again in the Louisiana Hot Sauce. Mmmmmmm, can you smell it yet?

Mmmmmmm!  Delicious and ready for game time (or in my case, the Series Finale of Lost!)

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of ...olives.

Phase II.2 | Day 12
Weight Loss: 56.6 lbs

We are on the second round of the intense part of this diet plan and this time around it is a bit more difficult. Although it feels easier to know what we can and cannot have, and we've taken some liberties with this knowledge, it is important to note that it does seem a bit more difficult to keep my mind from wandering...

The first time we did Phase II, we did not eat out at all.  I prepared my lunch every day and never strayed.  This time around I find myself rarely preparing my lunch but instead grabbing an apple, eyeballing that it is about 5ounces - minus core - and then calculating it from there.

During our first run through Phase II I found most success when I stayed just slightly below the 500 calorie mark so overestimating certain items tends to work well to hit just below that mark.  So far I am losing a good amount this time around so I think this method is working and helping me to remain sane.

I am really looking forward to moving on to Phase III.  What Kelly and I discuss often is the change in our cravings.  We no longer crave that ooie, gooie pizza or fat-laden hamburgers but instead, a bowl of mixed olives, cheese, nuts...these are the things we long for.  That beautiful bowl of olives at Postino is calling my name and just a couple more weeks I will answer.

Watch your toes...pounds are dropping!

Phase II.2 | Day 4
Weight Loss 50.2

I know I've been bad about updating this so I thought I would start with some really good news - the pounds, they are a' droppin' - check out that chart above!!! I hit a huge goal today...50lbs lost!!

Sometimes I don't really believe it myself until I try on a shirt I haven't worn in a year or slip on those jeans that used to take the jaws of life to get out of (not to mention what it took to get into them). It is an amazing feeling to wear clothes that actually fit!

Speaking of clothes, we just dumped a huge load of clothes off at our local donation center.  We went through our closets and tried on just about everything.  It was great to go through and see what fit, what didn't and both those items that we were glad were returning to our wardrobe and those we were saying good bye to.

Now the only problem is finding the time to go buy new clothes...but what a great problem to have.☺

Faithful Foodie Bids Farewell to Forty Extra Pounds!!!

Phase II  |  Day Thirty-seven
Weight Loss: 40.4 lbs

Today is a GREAT day! I have passed the forty pound weight loss goal and we are in the final week of Phase Two.  I will admit I have slacked a bit the past few days on getting creative with recipes; however between being sick and this being the final week I am going to give myself a pass.

Phase III = Hello again Mr. CHEESE and Ms. WINE!!! ☺

Bon appétit!
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No-Brainer Fruit Smoothie

Phase II  |  Day Thirty-three
Weight Loss: 36.8 lbs

It appears I have caught the cold I had a few weeks ago so I am not feeling very well today.  I think we are passing it back and forth at the office.  So to combat it, I have concentrated on getting a bit more fruits and vegetables and lowered my protein slightly to compensate.

To help get some of the extra fruits down I decided to make myself a strawberry smoothie.  I start with 4 oz. of fresh strawberries.  I pulse it quickly and then add two cups of ice cubes.

Then as it is whirling away I add a bit of water to loosen up the ice and strawberries and it really starts to spin!

Next I add drops of liquid Stevia - Chocolate Stevia if you're feeling really sparky.

Viola! The No-Brainer Strawberry Smoothie!  Now if only I could convince myself there was some rum in it! ☺

Spice Up Your Life!

Phase II | Day Thirty-one

Weight Loss: 34.6 lbs

They say variety is the spice of life however because of the ease of preparation I often find myself having the ground turkey tacos for lunch. While making a batch of chicken stock that complies with the HCG Plan, I thought of a nice variation and something to do with all of the left over chicken.

Instead of cubing the chicken or leaving it in full breasts to warm up (which tends to be a little dry), I decided to shred the chicken in the way we did when I was growing up making chicken enchiladas.

Then I took  6 oz. of tomato paste and four tablespoons of chicken stock and mixed it in a skillet.
As it starts to simmer you fold in the chicken
Cover and let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes
Add a few dashes of salt and some tabasco sauce and serve it up in a bowl or as chicken tacos! Talk about the SPICE of life!!!

Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus

Phase II  |  Day Twenty-six
Weight Loss: 31.4 lbs

Although Cocktail Shrimp is one of favorite things in the world, instead of tackling making my own cocktail sauce, I thought I would take shrimp in a new direction.

I weighed out four ounces of shrimp, removed their shells and tossed them with paprika, chili powder and italian seasoning.

Next I took two cloves of minced garlic and browned it in a skillet with four table spoons of our homemade chicken stock.

Toss in the shrimp, mix and then add the juice of half a lemon.

Cover and let the shrimp simmer for five minutes.  If the liquid evaporates too quickly you can add another tablespoon of chicken stock.

Steam some asparagus and you have a restaurant-worthy meal!