Calories?!

(Nor Cal Mommy)

Ok, I'm serious about losing this baby weight finally! So I got a gym membership, workout clothes and shoes, and made my orientation appointment with the personal trainer. I get to the orientation all pumped and ready to learn how to maximize my time at the gym. Only to find out we are going to sit and talk about how unfit I am now and what I am NOT doing that I should be...and it wasn't all about working out! So he asks me my goals and where I am at now. I tell him I think I'm about X lbs (increasing what I actually think so that when I step on the scale it won't seem so bad) and that I would like to lose 10 lbs in the next 3 months. Reasonable. He chuckles a little and says, "That won't be hard!" Ha! What does he know? He LIVES at the gym and eats and breathes nutrition. Ok now it's the time of truth...the dreaded scale. I take of my shoes, my sweatshirt, my iPod, and anything removable and step on. The scale is tilting further and further...what?! I am actually a half a pound MORE than what I had said I thought I was? Remember, I told him a little more so it wouldn't seem as bad. Now I'm depressed. We go back and do the fat pinch test (ouch! but whatever I'm over it), take measurements, etc, etc.

He says, "It's simple math. If you want to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you take in." He informs me that for my body type and goals I need to only eat about 1,000 calories a day! What?! I don't know, I have never calorie counted before, but that seems like I'd starve!

I text Montana Mommy. She is shocked too, but we decide to do calorie counting during my upcoming visit. First we want to see what we eat on a normal day, then try to stay within a certain calorie limit. Have you ever counted calories? It is HARD! Not everything comes with a handy dandy nutrition label and a measuring cup to portion out that measly 1/4 cup of cereal! You literally have to count and measure everything...this is going to be a long road ahead! If anyone has any tips or ideas, I'm all ears!

Mom! What’s for Dinner?

Montana Mommy

‘Sweet, Sticky, Spicy Chicken’ has become one of my “Go-to dinners” for our family.

This recipe was suggested to me by Nor Cal Mommy-she found it at www.allrecipes.com.
With a couple of minor changes to the recipe found on the website, I now make it often- and it’s not too spicy for the kids!

•1 tablespoon brown sugar
•2 tablespoons honey
•1/4 cup soy sauce
•2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger root (I use powdered)
•2 teaspoons chopped garlic
•2 tablespoons hot sauce
•salt and pepper to taste
•4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1/2 inch strips
•1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Directions

1.Mix together brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, ginger, garlic and hot sauce in a small bowl.
2.Lightly salt and pepper the chicken strips.
3.Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken strips and brown on both sides, about 1 minute per side. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Simmer uncovered until the sauce thickens, 8 to 10 minutes.

Montana Mommy’s changes
1.Dredge the chicken in flour first (many others suggested this too).
2.Double the sauce ingredients.
3.Only use 1 tablespoon hot sauce!
4.Add steamed broccoli to the chicken before serving.
5.Top it with cashews too!

Serve over rice and enjoy!