TEN YEARS OUT!!! LIFE IS AWESOME!!! YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!!

All my life I dieted....lost a little weight....went off the diet...and gained the weight back plus more!!!!

10 years ago I promised myself I would not fail again!!!

Instead of going on a "diet" I went on a "Lifestyle" change. Altering the way I ate, exercised and even thought about food!! It didn't happen over night....food was my best friend and I truly loved it!!!

But after days, weeks, months and even years I learned I could enjoy food...and even learned how to enjoy healthier foods!!!

It has been a real roller-coaster of a ride to get to 10 years out and I don't weigh 400 lbs. Yippee!!! In the beginning I would think....and pray...."Please God, don't let me gain the weight back"! I really wasn't sure I could do it...I never could before....why would I think I could do it this time???? That was part of the problem before.....I didn't believe in myself....it took a long time....BUT I DO BELIEVE NOW!!!! I CAN DO ANYTHING I SET MY MIND TOO!!!! (And so can you!)

The road this far out is not easy...I can eat so much more than I could in the beginning, but I AM NOW IN CONTROL!!!
I know what to do to maintain my weight!

I still do not eat bread, rice, pasta, potatoes or sugar.....but I don't even think about it any more!!!

Find what works for you! And do it for a lifetime....and BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!!!!!

Sending you much love and success!

Ginger

Fish Chowder

Cooked Salmon (your choices)
Cooked Mahi Mahi
Cooked Swordfish
Cooked Grouper
Pearl Onion (frozen)
Cauliflower cut in small pieces (frozen) this is in place of potatoes
4 – 5 cups Fat Free Milk
1 ½ cups Mashed Butternut Squash (you can buy this frozen if you like)
3 tablespoons of crushed fresh garlic (I like garlic)


In a pot put a small amount of olive oil and your crushed fresh garlic. Sautees for a few minutes and add your pearl onions, cauliflower and sauté. Then add about 4 – 5 cups of fat free milk, heat until warm. Add your fish, I cut it into small pieces and made sure there were no bones. ( I used a variety of left over fish that I had cooked in my rotisserie the night before). Cook until hot; make sure it does not stick to the bottom of the pot.


Add mashed butternut squash, this will thicken the chowder. Cook on low until thick and hot.


Pete was skeptical about this recipe, he loves clam chowder and in his words….”I don’t like diet food” I don’t call it diet….I call it healthy and also Very, Very Yummy!!!


Enjoy!!

Ginger

Copycat Recipe: Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

Love the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte? Here is a copycat recipe you can make yourself:

3 tablespoons canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons sugar free DaVinci Gourmet vanilla-flavored syrup
(found at Walmart)
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 cup skim milk
3 ounces espresso (1-2 shots)

Directions:

In a small saucepan, stir pumpkin puree into milk.
Add sugar free vanilla syrup and pumpkin pie spice.
Heat gently, continuing to stirring occasionally just until steaming and foam appears.

Pour pumpkin flavored milk into a tall mug and pour espresso over.
Top with whip cream and a dash of pumpkin pie spice.
Add a bit of vanilla flavored coffee cream to sweeten to taste with splenda.


OR


Godiva Pumpkin Spice Coffee

6 ounces freshly brewed Godiva Pumpkin Spice Coffee
2 tablespoons sugar free DaVinci Gourmet vanilla-flavored syrup(found at Walmart)
3 – 4 ounces warm skim milk
Milk foam or whipped cream (optional)
2 tablespoons sugar free DaVinci Gourmet vanilla-flavored syrup
(optional)

Directions

1. Brew Godiva Pumpkin Spice Coffee.
2. While coffee is brewing, heat skim milk on stovetop or in microwave.
Do not overheat. If desired, use a whisk to foam the milk.
3. Pour brewed coffee into serving cups. Add vanilla-flavored syrup
and stir until dissolved.
4. Add warm milk and foam or whipped cream (optional).
5. Drizzle with vanilla-flavored syrup(optional).


Godiva Coffee is sold at Publix...check these flavors out!

Pumpkin Spice...Peppermint Mocha...French Vanilla...Hazelnut Crème...Chocolate Truffle...Caramel...Breakfast Blend

Enjoy!!