The biggest news is probably the best news. I begin a medically managed (non-surgical) weight loss program on April 8th. April 8th is the first class… but the real deal starts when I wake up on the 9th. It’s too late for me to recount the details. Just know, I’m doing it, I’ll do my best to document it, and I’m excited to succeed.

My doc is already slashing my insulin by 50% on the evening of the 8th to account for my drop in carbs and calories. I’ll probably be totally off of it within a few weeks from then.

My end goal weight is 135… right now, I am 248. So over 100 lbs to go. Yep that’s right. But estimated weight loss for me in roughly 22 weeks is 40-60 lbs. That means I could be over half way before my 30th birthday in September. That is AWESOME!

So here’s to more working my arse off…. God bless.

Anna

]]> http://annalytical.com/2009/01/16/seriously-guys-go-green/feed/ 0 advancedbourland http://annalytical.com/2009/01/07/hey-taco-bell-think-outside-the-bag/ http://annalytical.com/2009/01/07/hey-taco-bell-think-outside-the-bag/#comments Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:54:00 +0000 Annalytical http://bourlandbuzz.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/hey-taco-bell-think-outside-the-bag/ ]]> I brought my lunch to work, but need a fork to eat it. Today, I forgot my fork. My office has gone green and doesn’t have forks on hand as they get wasted in a major way. No big deal, Taco Bell sounded good; I’ll cheat and have some good ol’ drive thru food.

I order, I pay at the first of two windows.

At the first window I get asked if I want hot sauce, sure thing! Then I get a plastic bag with 2 napkins, a bunch of hot sauce, and my receipt.

At the second window is where I get my food, also in a plastic bag. I ordered two crunchy tacos and a chicken quesadilla. Three food items, all wrapped separately. The quesadilla is wrapped in paper and plastic because you need to have the handy quesadilla viewing window… right? I also have my separate plastic bag (aka hot sauce and napkin holder) to keep everything safe.

Call me revolutionary, but I started wondering if Taco Bell would want to cut costs and perhaps go a little green. If they do, they have some room for improvement here.

Dear Taco Bell, here are three ways you can think outside the bag:

- Unless I do not have sufficient limbs, I can hold the hot sauce while I advance to the next window. I don’t need a separate plastic bag to hold my napkins and hot sauce. It seems you don’t want window #2 guy to deal with my hot sauce needs, but perhaps you can have another team member who is dealing with the bag that my food will be in to add my napkins and said number of hot sauces. I know you can work this out for everyone’s benefit. $$ Less bags used saves you money. $$

- Please ask each car how many hot sauce packets they need; I only needed one or two, not eight. $$ Less sauce packets used saves you money. $$

- Your quesadillas are very pretty indeed. I just finished mine while writing this post. I did not need to admire it through a plastic viewing window; just wrap it in paper and I will still like it. $$ Less plastic used saves you money (I hope!). $$

The less plastic you waste, the happier I’ll be. Live a little greener Taco Bell. Thanks!

Anyway, had lunch with Kristi today at Hibachi – SO yummy! Had a nice time getting out and about on a sunny day. On the way home I blasted my music and rolled the windows down (and still had the A/C on – c’mon I AM prego) It was a nice jaunt for sure.

Now I am all carb-ed up (mmm fried rice, I *never* have that … mmmmmmm did I say that already?) and gonna take a nap, haha. I am just like a cat – I want to sit in the sun and sleep. We have our recliner in a corner where there are 2 windows and the sun shines through the blinds. I am going to saunter over there and relax.

First I am going to call my work and tell them when I’ll be coming back now that I know my C-Section date. Then I’ll take a nap

Thank goodness, we were eating out too much. There’s only so many things you can really make in a toaster oven or on the stove-top really. We’ve had plenty of spaghetti and plenty of bagel sandwiches, etc.

Off to have a snack before I forget (that would not be good, eh?) and then maybe a nap. I am tired.

Ingredients:

1 Costco cooked rotisserie chicken (you won’t need all the chicken… use what’s left for sandwiches or something the next day) … You can use an Albertson’s chicken or whatever… it’s just easier that it’s already cooked, and the Costco ones taste better.
1 Jalapeno (if desired… just for flavor)
Baby carrots (or regular big carrots… you’re gonna slice em up, but the baby ones cook faster)
1 bunch (bushel?) haha of Celery
1 can diced tomatoes
1 easy pour box Swanson chicken broth
Salt / Pepper
Tortilla Chips
Kraft or Sargento (or whatever brand) shredded Mexican 4-cheese mix

Directions:

Slice the veggies (celery, carrots)

Pour the broth and can of diced tomatoes into a large sauce pan, add the veggies, salt and pepper and start cooking it (on medium high)

If desired, cut the top of the Jalapeno off and get the seeds out and then slice the Jalapeno in half long ways and add it to the pan. You don’t want small pieces because you’ll use a spoon to get it out later (unless you love it super spicy)

Take the Costco chicken and take off some yummy chicken with a fork and sort of shred or break it up into “soupy” sized pieces. Once you have enough chicken together, add it to the pan.

Stir and let it cook until it’s done (veggies are softened). Remove the Jalapeno when you’re ready… I left it in for about 10/15 min because I wanted a bit of flavor but no significant spice.

Spoon / Ladle into bowls, add some cheese on top, then chips covering the top, then more cheese. If you can’t have cheese (cuz of tummy problems) then a word to the wise – Cheese aged over 2 years gets rid of the lactose that will bother your tummy, so get something like the Tilamook aged sharp cheddar that says it’s over 2 years and shred it at the beginning so it’s ready. I used that to make baked Mac n Cheese for my extremely lactose intolerant friend and she was all good.

Phew, ok the directions took more time to write and read than it does to actually do it, so I promise, it really is quick. The soup won’t take more than about 30 min total to cook…less if you have a better stove than me (which pretty much anyone does, haha).

Have fun, and tell me if you try it. I am making some this weekend again… yummmy!!