My Favorite 'S' THM meals

I know I haven't been on THM long enough to have a whole list of favorites yet, but I thought I'd share a few favorite 'S' meals.  If you're not familiar with Trim Healthy Mama (THM), S stands for Satisfying.  These are meals that are high in fat and low in carbs.  In my opinion, these are easier for me because they're more in line with the way I cooked/ate prior to THM anyway.  There's not much thinking involved as long as you remember to limit your carbs to 10g.

Here are a few favorites:

S Breakfasts:
Eggs (cooked any way) with bacon or THM sausage balls
S muffins with eggs and bacon
Egg scrambles (eggs and veggies of choice)
Egg muffins (recipe found in the THM book)

S Lunches/Suppers:
Taco salad (just don't eat the shell unless you use an on-plan low-carb tortilla)
Beef/cheese quesadilla (sometimes I add 1 tbsp black beans) using an on-plan low-carb tortilla
Spaghetti over Dreamfields pasta (cooked as directed and using 3/4-1 cup cooked pasta) with salad
Grilled meats (chicken sausage, Wild Alaskan Salmon Burger) with salad or grilled veggies
Bunless hamburger with salad
Chicken salad served inside a Joseph's pita with veggies dipped in Ranch dressing
Pizza on a Joseph's Lavash
Deli meat smeared with cream cheese and wrapped up with peppers and cucumbers
Fried eggs over a bed of spinach with sauteed mushrooms and bacon **can be breakfast**
Fried eggs served over 1/2 an avocado with bacon **can be breakfast**
Pizza casserole (from the THM book) with salad
S smoothie (Greek yogurt, almond milk, frozen berries, 1/2 scoop THM protein powder, cream cheese, dash of sweet blend) **can be breakfast or snack/dessert**

S Snacks/Desserts:
000 yogurt with 1/4 cup chopped pecans
Luscious lemon cake with macerated strawberries
10 squares of Lily's chocolates
Sliced strawberries, chopped up Lily's chocolates, splash of heavy cream

S Restaurant Choices***:
Outback -- Alice Springs Chicken with steamed broccoli
Longhorn's -- Parmesan crusted chicken with green beans and broccoli (I usually choose the lighter option and I bring home 2/3 of the chicken to get 2 extra meals at home)
Chili's -- Grilled chicken fajitas (without the tortillas) served over lettuce with sour cream, cheese, and guacamole
Olive Garden -- Chicken alfredo served over steamed broccoli (instead of the pasta)
***We typically eat out 1-2 times a week, sometimes less.  My husband works an hour away from home, and it's easier to just meet at a restaurant if I've been busy carting our boys around to activities.  I also want a break from cooking sometimes.***

I hope this helps some of you THMers out.  I know it can seem overwhelming at first, but hang in there...it does get easier.  I think the key is building up a repertoire of favorites that are easy and delicious.

What are some of your S favorites?  Please share your ideas as well.

Family Updates

I was looking through all my posts as I was taking the time to go back and label them, and I noticed something.  I haven't posted any pictures or updates of our family in a while.  I didn't even post a Christmas recap.  What a bad mom/blogger I am...oops!  It seems as though everything now just goes on Instagram and Facebook, so the blog has been neglected when it comes to family updates.  So, let me give a little update on everyone...

Sherrie -- Hmm...let's see.  I've been busy trying to finish up the school year with the boys.  When I'm not doing that, I've been trying to change my way of eating by following Trim Healthy Mama.  If you're not familiar with it, click on my affiliate link to learn more.  Besides those two things, my time is mostly spent taking care of household chores or carting the boys off to homeschool or extra-curricular events.  I do enjoy keeping up with friends and family via Facebook, Instagram, and blogs.  I also enjoy the time we spend together as a family just hanging out and loving life.

Brian -- Brian is super busy working and providing for the family.  He joined the Penske Corporation in August of last year, and we couldn't be happier.  While we've had some bumps along the way, he's moved into Finance at the dealership he's at now, and he's loving it.  He's doing REALLY well (he was number four in the company last month), and I'm so very proud of him.  Considering he's only been doing Finance since December, I think he's doing GREAT!  When he's not working, he spends his time hanging out with the family, playing games with the boys, working out, and resting in order to re-charge for work.

Caleb -- Wow, Caleb is 11 and is now taller than me.  He's taking archery lessons, and when he's not doing his school work, he spends time watching You Tube and reading on Wiki.  He also enjoys swimming, playing soccer, hanging out with his friends, and going to Youth Group at our church.

Micah -- Micah is 7, but he thinks he's 17.  We finally convinced him to give up his "lovies" and stop sucking his thumb.  He's also growing out of his naps.  I will occasionally find him asleep and thumb in mouth, but I quickly remind him he's over that.  LOL!  He's into all sorts of video games, swimming, and just being a normal boy.  He also likes following in his big brother's footsteps and doing whatever he's doing.  

Little Man -- Our precious dog is nearly 17.  We've had him for almost 15 years, and he is still going strong.  Just when we think we've nearly lost him, he comes back rejuvenated and better than ever.  We were on the verge of putting him down a while back, but he miraculously recovered right when Brian took him to the vet.  :)  He's a strong little dog I tell ya...Brian jokes that he'll outlive all of us.  He may be onto something.

I know those who are on Facebook and Instagram have seen these pictures, but I thought I'd do a random iPhone photo drop since it's been a while.  This will be a small glimpse into the past few months (I won't go back to Christmas...that's just silly).  

Trim Healthy Mama Week 6 in Review

Wow, 6 weeks of eating the Trim Healthy Mama (THM) way...I didn't know if I'd keep up with it when I first started.  But -- I'm glad I have.  I'll admit, there are days when I think about eating off plan and just saying "whatever," but I really try not to do that.  Have I cheated?  Yes, I have.  But -- have I done anything I regretted while eating off plan?  No, not really because I haven't gorged on any off plan foods.  I may have snuck a French fry or two, or I may have eaten a slice of bread at a restaurant...but it's nothing compared to the way I ate prior to starting THM.  Plus, with THM, there's a saying..."you can always start again in three hours."  So, if you ever find yourself eating off plan, just remind yourself of that.  That's what make this so do-able...it's something you really can maintain for life and not feel deprived or cheated.

So, what did I eat during week 6...

Week 6 Meals

Day One

Breakfast -- 1 blueberry muffin; 2 fried eggs; 3 pieces of bacon (S)

Lunch -- 2 sourdough wasa crackers smeared with cream cheese and Polaner spread; 000 yogurt with 1/2 a mango (E)

Snack -- 000 peach yogurt with 1/4 cup pecans (S)

Supper -- grilled chicken sausage; grilled zucchini and squash (S)

Snack/Dessert -- strawberries, chopped up Lily's chocolate, splash of heavy cream (S)

Day Two

Breakfast -- 1 blueberry muffin; 4 sausage balls; 1 fried egg (S)

Lunch -- leftover grilled chicken sausage; salad (S)

Snack -- 000 yogurt w/seedless orange (E)

Supper -- Chili's chicken fajitas served over lettuce with sour cream, cheese, and guacamole (S)

Snack/Dessert -- same as Day One (S)

Day Three

Breakfast -- same as Day Two (S)

Lunch -- 1 can Progresso Light Chicken Noodle soup; 1 sourdough wasa cracker; 000 yogurt with an apple (E)

Snack -- 000 yogurt with 1/4 cup pecans (S)

Supper -- grilled salmon burger smeared with mayo; salad (S)

Day Four

Breakfast -- same as Day Two (S)

Lunch -- 2 sourdough wasa crackers; 1 laughing cow cheese wedge; 3 pieces turkey; cucumber; 1/4 cup 000 yogurt with an apple (E)

Snack -- Lily's chocolate with coffee (S)

Supper -- 2 fried eggs over spinach with mushrooms and bacon (S)

Day Five 

Breakfast -- 3 THM pancakes smeared with cream cheese and Polaner spread; 1/4 cup 000 yogurt w/an apple (E)

Lunch -- 1 can Progresso Light Beef Pot Roast soup; 1 sourdough wasa cracker; apple (E)

Snack -- 2 banana muffins w/coffee (E)

Supper -- Pizza casserole with salad (S)

Day Six

Breakfast -- 3 THM pancakes smeared with cream cheese and Polaner spread; apple (E)

Lunch -- leftover pizza casserole with salad (S)

Snack -- lemon cupcake with coffee (S)

Supper -- low carb tortilla quesadilla filled with taco meat, 1 tbsp black beans, and cheese topped with lettuce and 1 tbsp light sour cream (S)

Day Seven

Breakfast -- 3 THM pancakes (E)

Lunch -- Olive Garden's chicken alfredo served over steamed broccoli w/small salad (S)

Snack -- 000 peach yogurt w/1 tbsp chopped pecans (FP)

Supper -- 9 tbsp liquid egg whites (equivalent of 3 egg whites), mushrooms, onions, spinach, and 1 laughing cow white cheddar wedge scrambled and stuffed inside a Joseph's pita (FP)
Snack/Dessert -- luscious lemon cake (I just used egg whites) with macerated strawberries (FP)

Number of Each Meal Type

S -- 19

E -- 9

FP -- 2

Now, for the results on the scale...

Week 1 loss:  5.2 lbs

Week 2 loss:  1.6 lbs

Week 3 loss:  0.4 lbs

Week 4 loss:  1.6 lbs

Week 5 loss:  1.6 lbs

Week 6 loss:  1 lb

Total weight loss so far:  11.4 lbs

I've mentioned over and over about how it really isn't just about the scale.  I'll be the first to tell you that I DO love seeing the number on the scale go down.  But -- it's more about how you feel.  I've lost more inches, I know, but I won't report on that until the end of week 8.  So, just because you don't like the number on the scale, don't feel like it's time to throw in the towel and give up.  Keep at it and know that you're doing more than just losing pounds.  You are working at a healthier YOU, and that's what really matters.  

As always, if you want to learn more about Trim Healthy Mama, I'd love it if you clicked through my affiliate link.  It doesn't affect you at all, but it does give me a small kickback for sharing THM with you.  Feel free to comment with any questions, ask for recipes, or anything else.  I love to hear how other THMers are doing.  

Trim Healthy Mama Week 5 in Review

It's hard to believe that I've been following the Trim Healthy Mama (THM) way of eating for 5 weeks.  I know I keep saying this, but it really isn't that much work or very hard.  I know it took me a while to come around and follow the lead of many of my friends who had already started their THM journey because it seemed so overwhelming.  But -- I think that once you grasp the main concept of separating your fuels each meal and eliminating sugar, then it's easier to implement.  I know that I have really benefited from seeing other people's posts of their meals in the Facebook groups.  While it can be overwhelming and sometimes discouraging sometimes, it helps to "see" what others are eating.  It also gives me ideas.  I hope that's what my weekly posts are doing for some of you...offering support, encouragement, visuals, and ideas on how to implement this way of eating.

Here's what I ate during the 5th week...

Week Five Meals
Day One
Breakfast -- 2 egg muffins; 4 sausage balls; 1 blueberry muffin (S)
Lunch -- cheesecake smoothie (S)
Snack -- skipped due to being out and about
Supper -- salmon burger smeared with mayo; salad (S)

Day Two
Breakfast -- 3 THM pancakes (I always top mine with cream cheese and Polaner spread...staying within 5g fat); seedless orange; 1/4 cup fat free Greek yogurt (E)
Lunch -- smoothie; apple (E)
Snack -- pepperoni chips; cheese crisps (S)
Supper -- Longhorn's strawberry and chicken salad (Crossover)

Day Three
Breakfast -- 3 THM pancakes; 2 pieces 96% fat free Canadian bacon (E)
Lunch -- 1/2 Joseph's lavash pizza (S)
Snack -- 000 coconut creme yogurt with a seedless orange (E)
Supper -- meatloaf with salad (S)

Day Four
Breakfast -- 3 THM pancakes; seedless orange with fat free Greek yogurt (E)
Lunch -- 1/2 Joseph's lavash pizza (S)
Snack -- 000 coconut creme yogurt with a seedless orange (E)
Supper -- 2 fried eggs over 1/2 an avocado; bacon (S)

Day Five
Breakfast -- 3 THM pancakes (E)
Lunch -- 2 fried eggs over 1/2 an avocado; bacon (S)
Snack -- 000 banana creme yogurt; sliced strawberries; 1 tbsp chopped pecans (FP)
Supper -- bunless cheeseburger with salad (S)
Snack/Dessert -- sliced strawberries; chopped up squares of Lily's salted almond milk bar; splash of heavy cream (S)

Day Six
Breakfast -- 3 slices Canadian bacon; 000 coconut creme yogurt with 1/2 a mango (E)
Lunch -- 2 fried eggs over 1/2 an avocado; bacon (S)
Snack -- 000 banana creme yogurt; sliced strawberries; 1 tbsp chopped pecans (FP)
Supper -- Longhorn's strawberry and chicken salad (Crossover)

Day Seven
Breakfast -- 2 pieces Canadian bacon; 000 vanilla yogurt with strawberries (FP)
Lunch -- 2 fried eggs over 1/2 an avocado; bacon (S) -- notice I had this multiple times...LOVE it, and it has become a quick new favorite!
Snack -- 2 blueberry muffins; coffee (S)
Supper -- Salmon burger smeared with mayo; salad (S)
Snack/Dessert -- 000 banana creme yogurt, sliced strawberries, and 1 tbsp chopped pecans (FP)

I thought I'd add something new this week (and moving forward)...how many of each meal type I'm eating in a week.  People always ask how you're supposed to break it up, and it really is personal choice.  It is worth noting though that Crossovers are not conducive to weight loss, and I didn't eat my first one until after my first month.  I also don't eat S Helpers because they aren't for weight loss either.
E --  8
S --  15
FP --  4
Crossover -- 2

Now for the results on the scale...
Week 1 loss:  5.2 lbs
Week 2 loss:  1.6 lbs
Week 3 loss:  0.4 lbs
Week 4 loss:  1.6 lbs
Week 5 loss:  1.6 lbs (1.6 seems to be the sweet spot for my body) 
TOTAL weight loss so far:  10.4 lbs 

And I know that I sound like a broken record when I say it's not all about the results on the scale.  While I'll be honest and admit that I like seeing that number go down each week, I'm more interested in how I look and feel.  I mentioned last week that I had lost at least 5.5 inches...and I know that number is increasing weekly.  So, if you don't see progress on the scale, don't get discouraged...take measurements and watch the inches fall off.  Please don't hesitate to ask for encouragement...that's what THM is all about...encouraging one another along the way.  As always, if you're interested in learning more, feel free to click through my affiliate link.  It won't affect your purchase, but it will offer me a small kickback for sharing THM with all of you.

Thanks and happy THMing.

Trim Healthy Mama Week Four in Review

So, I've been eating the Trim Healthy Mama (THM) way for four weeks now.  Each week, it really does get easier and natural.  Now, maybe what makes it easier for me is that I'm okay not having tons of variety...you will notice that I'll eat the same thing for breakfast or lunch for several days in a row...this doesn't bother me.  It makes life easier because I already know what type of meal it is, and usually, the ingredients are prepped and ready to go.

Here's what I ate during week four...

Week Four Meals

Day One
Breakfast -- 2 apple pie muffins; 000 yogurt with a seedless orange (E)
Lunch -- chicken salad in a Joseph's pita; veggies with Ranch (S)
Snack -- 000 yogurt with 1 tbsp chopped pecans (FP)
Supper -- beef and cheese quesadilla; sauteed green beans (S)

Day Two
Breakfast -- 2 apple pie muffins; 000 yogurt with a seedless orange (E)
Lunch -- 3 slices chicken deli meat roll-ups with cream cheese and veggies; 000 yogurt with THM defatted peanut flour and an apple (E)
Snack -- 000 yogurt with 1 tbsp pecans (FP)
Supper -- Outback Steakhouse's Alice Springs Chicken (minus the honey mustard sauce) and steamed broccoli (S)
Dessert -- Lily's chocolate (S)

Day Three **
Breakfast -- same as Day Two (E)
Lunch -- same as Day One (S)
Snack -- same as Day One (FP)
Supper -- 2 fried eggs; 3 pieces bacon; coffee (S)
**We spent most of today at a water park with some homeschool friends, so I was spent from being out in the sun all day.**

Day Four
Breakfast -- 2 apple pie muffins; cottage cheese with a seedless orange (E)
Lunch -- chicken salad in a pita; veggies with Ranch (S)
Snack -- blueberry muffin with coffee (S)
Supper -- Copycat Alice Springs Chicken with a salad (S)

Day Five
Breakfast -- 2 egg muffins; 4 sausage balls; 1 blueberry muffin (S)
Lunch -- Longhorn's parmesan crusted chicken; steamed green beans; steamed broccoli (S)
Snack -- Lily's chocolate with coffee (S)
Supper -- same as lunch (S)

Day Six
Breakfast -- same as Day Five (S)
Lunch -- chicken salad in a pita; veggies with Ranch (S)
Snack -- fat free Greek yogurt with a splash of vanilla extract and sweet blend; seedless orange (E)
Supper -- leftover Parmesan Chicken from Longhorn's with a salad (S)
Dessert/Snack -- luscious lemon cake with macerated strawberries, chopped up Lily's chocolate bar, and whip cream (S)

Day Seven
Breakfast -- same as Day Five (S)
Lunch -- 2 sourdough wasa crackers smeared with cream cheese mixed with defatted peanut flour and Polaner's Raspberry spread; fat free Greek yogurt mixed with sweet blend and a seedless orange (E)
Snack -- 000 yogurt with 1 tbsp chopped pecans (FP)
Supper -- same as Day Four (S)

Now, onto the scale results...I've been on plan for four weeks, and here's how it's gone in the weight loss department...

Week 1 loss:  5.2 lbs

Week 2 loss:  1.6 lbs

Week 3 loss:  0.4 lbs

Week 4 loss:  1.6 lbs

TOTAL weight loss so far:  8.8 lbs

Since it's been almost a month, I thought I'd give a report on how many inches I've lost.  This isn't totally accurate because we didn't take measurements until AFTER my first week of weight loss.  So, with that in mind, I've lost at least 5.5 inches.  I think people measure different body parts, so this is just based off what I chose to measure...I'm sure there's a more accurate way to report on this, but oh well.  LOL!

Like I've mentioned before, it's not just about the loss on the scale or the inches...it's about how you feel while making this lifestyle change.  I do feel better, and I've noticed other results as well.  If you feel led to give THM a try, I'd love it if you clicked through my affiliate link...it doesn't affect you or your purchase at all, but it does give me a little kickback for sharing my thoughts and enthusiasm regarding the plan.  

Copycat Alice Springs Chicken (Trim Healthy Mama version)

We went to Outback earlier this week, and I was able to enjoy the Alice Springs Chicken, but I had to ask them to leave off the honey mustard because that's not on plan with Trim Healthy Mama (THM).  I began perusing Pinterest this afternoon looking for a version that would be THM approved, and I found a few.  But -- I decided to tweak it just a bit.  Here's my version...

Alice Springs Chicken (THM version) -- S

***this is modified for one chicken breast, but you can easily add more of everything to make us much as you need***

boneless, skinless chicken breast (I like to slice mine thin so it cooks faster or just buy the thin-sliced cutlets)

salt/pepper

onion powder

garlic powder

cumin

sliced cheese (flavor of choice, but I used Colby Jack)

bacon

mushrooms

mayonnaise

Dijon mustard

sweet blend or other THM approved sweetener of choice

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Heat up a bit of coconut oil and butter in a skillet.  Sprinkle the chicken with the spices on both sides, and then brown both sides (you don't want it to cook through).  Remove the chicken from the skillet and place it an oven-safe dish.  Saute the mushrooms in the same skillet.  While the mushrooms are sauteeing, mix up the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and sweet blend to your liking (I don't have exact measurements because it's really a personal preference...I used more mayo than anything).  Spread the mayo mixture on top of the kitchen (reserving any leftovers for dipping once it's all cooked).  Put sauteed mushrooms on top of the mayo mixture.  Add the bacon and cover with a slice of cheese (I used half a slice).

Bake the chicken for about 15 minutes or until cooked through (time will depend on how long it browned in the skillet).

I served mine up with a big salad, but it would be good with non-starchy vegetables as well.  

I'll be enjoying this a few more times over the next few days because I cooked up two more pieces of chicken and extra mushrooms.  They're in the fridge, and I can pull them out, add the cheese and bacon and bake it until done.  I like prepping ahead and making life easier.

Enjoy!

Trim Healthy Mama Week Three in Review

Well, it's been three weeks since I started Trim Healthy Mama (THM).  It seems to get easier as the weeks go by.  The only real issue is trying to find tasty desserts and muffins.  While I'm not the best baker in town, I do like to try my hand at it.  It's just been tough trying to find recipes that the family will enjoy.  Caleb, who is my willing guinea pig, will eat just about anything.  He's been funny about trying the new recipes...saying that some taste better than my old versions.  I, myself, find that shocking and hard to believe, because the old version was so darn yummy.  But -- I just keep telling him that the longer I do this, the better I'll get at tweaking and finding just the right recipes for us.

Here's what I ate during the past week.

Week Three Meals
Day One
Breakfast -- 3 THM pancakes smeared with 1/3 fat cream cheese and Polaner spread; strawberries (E)
Lunch -- 2 sourdough wasa crackers smeared with Laughing Cow cheese with veggies and Canadian bacon; Oikos 000 yogurt w/a seedless orange (E)
Snack -- smoothie (FP)
Supper -- spaghetti over Dreamfields pasta with a salad (S)Dessert/Snack -- strawberries, splash of heavy cream, and 10 squares of Lily's milk chocolate broken up into pieces (S)

Day Two
Breakfast -- 3 THM pancakes smeared with 1/3 fat cream cheese and Polaner spread; strawberries (E)
Lunch -- leftover spaghetti meat sauce over brown rice; strawberries (E)
Snack -- 2% milk fat cottage cheese with a seedless orange (E)
Supper -- grilled salmon burger smeared with mayo with a salad (S)
Dessert/Snack -- same as day one

Day Three
Breakfast -- 2 scrambled eggs with cheese; bacon; strawberries (S)
Lunch -- leftover spaghetti meat sauce over brown rice (E)
Snack -- Oikos 000 yogurt with 1/4 cup chopped pecans (S)
Supper -- chicken fajitas from Chili's (without the tortillas) served over a bed of lettuce with sour cream, cheese, and guacomole (S)

Day Four
Breakfast -- 2 scrambled eggs with cheese; bacon; strawberries (S)
Lunch -- chicken salad in a Joseph's pita; veggies w/Ranch; strawberries (S)
Snack -- Oikos 000 yogurt with 1/4 cup chopped pecans (S)
Supper -- Citrus Herb Salmon; steamed cauliflower; sauteed green beans (S)

Day Five
Breakfast -- 2 blueberry muffins; 3 pieces bacon (S)
Lunch -- chicken salad in a Joseph's pita, veggies w/Ranch (S)
Snack -- Oikos 000 yogurt with 1 tbsp chopped pecans (FP)
Supper -- taco salad (rinsed/drained ground beef; black beans; brown rice; reduced fat cheddar cheese; light sour cream) (E)
Dessert/Snack -- peanut butter whip (S)

Day Six
Breakfast -- scrambled egg w/cheese; bacon; blueberry muffin; 1/2 cup Fairlife 2% milk (S)
Lunch -- 2 sourdough wasa crackers smeared with Laughing Cow cheese, cucumbers, and chicken lunch meat; sliced apple (E)
Snack -- fudgy brownie; homemade whipped cream; 3/4 cup Fairlife 2% milk (S)
Supper -- bunless cheeseburger smeared with mayo with a salad (S)
Dessert/Snack -- fudgy brownie with homemade whipped cream (S)

Day Seven
Breakfast -- 2 blueberry muffins; bacon (S)
Lunch -- 2 sourdough wasa crackers smeared with Laughing Cow cheese, cucumber, and Canadian bacon; Oikos 000 yogurt w/seedless orange (E)
Snack -- Oikos 000 yogurt with 1 tbsp chopped pecans (FP)
Supper -- beef and cheese quesadilla (using leftover taco meat on a mission carb balance whole wheat tortilla) with leftover green beans (S)

Now, for the results from the scale...
Week 1 loss:  5.2 lbs
Week 2 loss:  1.6 lbs
Week 3 loss:  0.4 lbs (I'm not sure how accurate this is b/c the scale was being finicky)
TOTAL weight loss so far:  7.2

Like I mentioned last week, it's not just about the scale.  I am still noticing that inches are going away, but I won't measure until the 15th of this month.  As always, if you're interested in learning more about THM or want to order any of the products, I'd appreciate if you clicked through my affiliate link.  It won't affect your purchase, but it does offer me a small kickback for sharing more about THM.  Feel free to ask any questions in the comments.  I'd love to help you start this journey if you're interested.