Staying on track...

has been very difficult!  I have plenty of scapegoats, Thanksgiving, Christmas, holiday baking, pregnancy cravings, BUT what it comes down to is my own will power, or lack there of.  It's honesty time, I have gained 9 lbs already.  I should only gain 20 total over my pregnancy, and most of that should come in the second half.... so 9 in 16 weeks, is not good.

At my appointment today my Doctor told me to be a little stricter on my diet, that I should only be up about 5 pounds at the most right now, so 9 is a little high.  That was all I needed to hear.  I went straight to the grocery store, and set my self up to succeed.  I bought fruits and veggies, brown rice, beans, whole wheat noodles, chicken, eggs, Kashi peanut butter bars, triscuts, raisins, cottage cheese, string cheese.... I think that's about it.  All stuff that is healthy and easy.  No more excuses!!  For Breakfast I had an Apple and 2 slices of cheese, and an Americano with cream.  I had some whole grain crackers for a snack, and a Kashi bar, and for lunch I'll have a salad - spring mix, tomato, mushrooms, turkey, and dressing.  I have Ham and bean soup cooking in the crock pot for dinner.... here is the recipe (this fills my 6 quart crock pot, adjust accordingly):

Ham and Bean Soup

4 Cups Ham, cooked and diced
7 cups white beans
16 oz baby carrots, diced
4 potatoes (medium), diced
2 tbl diced garlic
2 tbl minced onion
4 cups Broth (see below)

Add everything to the crock pot and cook on low 6-8 hours (or until potatoes and carrots are done to your liking)

To make the broth simmer a ham bone (with some meat still on it) in a large pot with 4 cups natural organic chicken stock and 3-4 cups water (enough to cover the bone).  I also added a little garlic and onion, and fresh ground pepper.  This made more broth than I needed for this recipe, freeze the extra!

According to my "Lose It" app, this comes out ot about 195 calories per cup.

We are down one kid for the next couple of days, so I will probably freeze half of this since it's an awful lot for only three people!

I had some left over potatoes after cutting up what I needed for the soup, so I have them baking in the oven.  I am going to use them to make "loaded" potato skins for New Years Eve.  I scoop out some of the potato, and fill them with shredded chicken, salsa and cheese, then bake them.  They are sooo much healthier than your normal Loaded Potato skin, but still very yummy, the kids love them!

Tomorrow night I am making Turkey Chilaquiles.  I saw the recipe in Red Book, and I have tons of left over turkey from Christmas dinner (also where all the ham came from for the soup!).  So I will be sure to post the recipe for that once I make it!