Oh how times have changed...

So ever since my mother passed away I have began a transformation of myself that I never thought possible. I have since lost 41 pounds, but even more shocking is that I have begun to cook... and I enjoy it. Now, my mother was a beyond awesome cook and I am sure she would be shocked, but pleased to know I am in the kitchen making yummy things. Where my mom used butter and sugar, I use sugar free items, turkey, and veggies to make low cal scrumptious food. My favorite so far is Chocolate Raspberry Flan. I got the recipe off of Kraft's website(see recipe below). Garnish with cool whip and some yummy raspberries, plus a nice cup of hot cocoa.  I hope you enjoy and remember this is a no guilt dessert!
-Ali

what you need

1-1/2

cups boiling water

1

pkg. (0.3 oz.) JELL-O Raspberry Flavor Sugar Free Gelatin

1/2

square BAKER'S Bittersweet Chocolate

1/2

cup JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows

3/4

cup thawed COOL WHIP Sugar Free Whipped Topping

1/4

cup fresh raspberries

make it

ADD boiling water to gelatin mix. Stir 2 min. or until completely dissolved; set aside. Place chocolate, marshmallows and COOL WHIP in medium microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1 min. or until marshmallows are completely melted and mixture is well blended when stirred. Gradually add gelatin, beating with whisk after each addition until well blended.

POUR into 4 dessert dishes. Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm.

TOP with berries just before serving.

kraft kitchens tips

SPECIAL EXTRA

Melt additional BAKER'S Bittersweet Chocolate; drizzle over chilled flan. Or, dust the raspberries with powdered sugar before using to garnish flan.

HOW TO PREPARE USING FROZEN COOL WHIP SUGAR FREE WHIPPED TOPPING

If the COOL WHIP is not thawed, you can still make this dessert without waiting. Just remove the frozen COOL WHIP from the tub and cut it in half using a sharp knife and a cutting board. Cut one of the halves into quarters. Use one of the quarters in the recipe and return the rest of the COOL WHIP to the refrigerator for another use. Increase microwave time to 2 min.

Updated Progress Pics

Hope everyone had a great holiday! I know that this time of year is when people make fitness/health resolutions. As lame-o as this may sound, don't call them resolutions, call them goals and you may find you are more likely to succeed. Also, do not set yourself up for failure. You will not be perfect, you will have days you eat like crap, and there will be days you should work out and don't find the time/energy, blah blah (insert excuse). I have been there, will still have those days, we all do. This has been a long journey, with many bumps in the road, but I know that I am healthier than I have ever been. If you have any questions, need motivation, just send me a message and I will be happy to help in any way I can. Last soap box message, please use myfitnesspal.com. This website is an awesome resource. Good luck!
Progress Pics 02/2011-12/31/2011(40 pounds down, about 49 pounds to go)

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It's been a while, but I am back :)

Hi everyone! Although I haven't blogged in a while I have stuck to my, weight loss and healthier me, journey. I've lost 40 pounds! I still have 49 pounds to go, but I know I can do it. Here's hoping that my lovely gift of the Polar FT7 heart rate monitor will assist me in this. I can't believe I am as excited about a fitness device! This contraption should really help me understand how many cals I truly burn and not just what the machine/MFP tells me I burned. Oh and one final change, we are also trying out a new gym, LA Fitness. So far it is kicking Urban's butt with the exception of the drive (UA-5 Minutes vs LA- 15 minutes). I'll let you know what we chose :)
Peace!
-Ali

Progress!!! With Pics :)

Hi everyone! It has been a while since I've blogged, but here I am :) I have continued on my journey even though I have not blogged, be rest assured! Recently I got a little unmotivated, but once I looked at other's success stories I was easily re-motivated. Being healthy is not easy and that is something I have to remember. Also, as cliche as the saying "Rome wasn't built in a day" is, it truthfully applies to my weight loss journey. I know that I didn't gain the weight in a day and it certainly wont come off in a day. I also know I need to pay more attention to what I eat, so I have been eating more vegetarian meals which surprisingly hasn't been hard.  What have you tried lately to become healthier?

Ali

Pics below are from the beginning of this journey to today. I have revised my goal to 165 pounds, so I have around 57 to go.

Friday weigh-in+August Pics

So... I am only down 1lbs from last week, but a pound is a pound! Total weight lost is 21.4 pounds and 53.6 pounds to go.I have my levels on livestrong.com as wanting to lose two pounds a week, but that is something I have not been able to do. Hopefully with personal training I'll be able to do that, if not this weight loss endeavor will take for forever! However, I do my best to look at not only the overall picture, but the current picture. I have small goals in addition to my larger goal of 75 pounds. One of my first goals is to get into a size 16 in clothes, without muffin top. Yuck... Another goal I have is to have less arm baggage. What are your long term and short term goals?
Ali
02/11

06/2011

08/2011

Not a good side shot because of the shirt. Normal picture clothes were in the wash.

Day 2: The Aftermath

Good grief. Is it okay to be so sore in your armpit area it's hard to drive? I have no clue, but you might not want to follow me closely... Apparently doing standing push ups is the way to go if you want to feel the burn and then feel it some more. Oh well back it tomorrow, with a prayer that arms aren't the main focus, or it could be a long time before I can move again.
-Ali
PS- So excited to have new followers, Stephanie and Eric!! Woohoo :)

Personal Training=You know I'm dedicated!

Thanks to Eric Fiegl and Mission 5 Fitness I got my first training session :) I know Eric, but was still scared for the toughness of the workout. Let me just say I do NOT know what I was doing for the last 5 months, but I am not sure it was working out, haha. I am ubber sore! It's a good sore mind you. I am super pumped and excited!

I've been stuck at 20 lbs lost so I am hopeful this will help. Based on my session today I don't see how it couldn't help my weight loss and health. I've posted some pics(well I hope they come through,also please please pretend like there is no mess behind me) below of the beginning of my journey til early June. I will take pics Friday and post more.
-Ali