Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Today I am linking up with Andrea over at http://www.momfessionals.com/ to post a "fall-ish" recipe. I love this recipe because it totally reminds me of football season and Football Sunday. And you know I love me some Football. 

 

I ran into this recipe over at Skinny Taste a few years ago and it has quickly become one of my favorite recipes! Every time I make it it gets rave reviews. If you love Jalapeno Poppers, this recipe will not dissapoint.

 

And guess what? It's low fat! Now, don't be intimidated by the "stuffed" part (it usually intimidates me when I see that word and I automatically assume it's super difficult.)

 

I snagged this pic from my Instagram account "Melybeeg17" to the left is the yummy filling and the right the finished product all cheesy and gooey. Yum!

Here's the recipe!

Ingredients: 
2 slices center cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
3 jalapeños, chopped (remove seeds for milder)
3 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
4 oz reduced fat shredded cheddar jack (Sargento)
2 tbsp chopped scallions
8 thin sliced skinless chicken breast cutlets, 3 oz each
1/2 cup Italian seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs
1 1/2 juicy limes, juice of
1 tbsp olive oil
salt and fresh pepper
olive oil non-stick spray


Wash and dry chicken cutlets, season with salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 450°. Lightly spray a baking dish with non-stick spray.

Combine cream cheese, cheddar, scallions, jalapeño and bacon crumbles in a medium bowl.

Lay chicken cutlets on a working surface and spread 2 tbsp of cream cheese mixture on each cutlet. Loosely roll each one, secure the ends with toothpicks to prevent the cheese from oozing out.

Place breadcrumbs in a bowl; in a second bowl combine olive oil, lime juice, salt and pepper.

Dip chicken in lime-oil mixture, then in breadcrumbs and place seam side down on a baking dish. Repeat with the remaining chicken. When finished, lightly spray the top of the chicken with oil spray.

Bake 22-25 minutes, serve immediately.

I hope you like this recipe as much as I do!

My Teammate

Decided I would post on my humble little blog. I had tried not to post until I lost more weight. Unfortunately, not only have I not lost weight, but I have gained some! I am terrified of stepping on the scale and I need to get back to basics and eating a high protein, fiber packed, water hydrated diet.

 

But not all is bad. I wed the love of my life on May 16, 2014. since then I have enjoying newlywed bliss while still adjusting to the natural changes that come with marriage. I have learned so much about myself since marrying that I didn't know. My wonderful husband has been there through it all and I am so incredibly blessed to have somebody as patient and loving as him by my side.

 

Since I married, there have been tears. Tears of happiness and tears of missing my family, especially my Momma. I never realized how much my Mom babied me growing up until I married and realized I miss her so much. My mom struggles being a single mom and raising my little sister and it makes me sad not to be with her everyday to feel like I can make her feel better if she's ever sad. Nevertheless, my mom is a strong woman and she still does well for herself.

 

Now.. the wedding. My wedding day was a day I will never forget. I committed myself to my Tony for better or for worse and not a single day goes by that I am not filled with confirmation that I made the best choice for me and for us to marry him. Sometimes at night when he falls asleep and he's so peaceful I can't help but smile and kiss his cheek because my heart is so big and I love him so much. We wed in a simple ceremony at City Hall. I fought back tears as I had to say my vows to him after hearing him say he would be with me for better or for worse until death due us part. I get chills just thinking!

 

Here a couple pics (his ring was too tight by the actual wedding day so he took it off right after the ceremony)...

We held a small reception in my Mom's backyard. There was chicken mole, rice and tortillas. We're true Mexicans! His Aunt made the mole and his mom made the rice :) We held our reception the Saturday after the wedding. A lot of family and friends were there and we got the most awesome gifts. We were married on a Friday and had the ceremony Saturday. Friday night, our wedding night, we went to stay at a cute little inn on the coast. We binged watched "Locked Up" and ate Round Table Pizza. We truly are huge nerds.

 

My stud muffin works a crazy 4 AM to 12 noon shift. So when I get home from work he's there waiting for me. Our evenings consist of dinner, going on hikes or the gym and watching Netflix. Currently we are (well 75% me and 25% him) obsessed with "Orange is the New Black." He wasn't able to get me addicted to "The Walking Dead" Every weekend since we got married has been crazy busy too!

 

Love this man. We are both in the process of trying to lose a few pounds because we totally packed on a few pounds in the few months leading to our wedding.

 

Thanks for stopping by! Until Next Time,

~Mely

New Chapters

Along with all the physical transformations that come with the sleeve, what I have enjoyed the most has been the personal and emotional changes I have also experienced. I started a new job, began a relationship with a somebody who completes me and got to know myself so much better. I have a very defined sense of who I am, what my flaws are, what my strengths are, what I need and want in life and who and what my priorities are.

Last month while eating at a local park in town my boyfriend and I talked about life and the future. Next thing I knew he admitted that he had thought long and hard about us and he proposed. I am now getting married next month on May 16th to the love of my life! I couldn't be more excited, it feels like a dream come true! We didn't want a fancy big wedding and we truly just want to be with one another so our engagement is only 2 months! Marriage license already been issued, wedding bands bought, engagement ring on my finger, parents happy, dress bought, save the dates sent and invitations printed in less than two months.

Life gets so much better after the sleeve, you learn so much about yourself, know your worth and you have a phenomonal sense of what makes you happy and fulfilled.

Can't wait to be a married woman!

24

I just turned 24 two days ago on February 17th and I truly feel like I get better with age! My sleeve has helped me start enjoying life and savoring things and experiences I didn't before.

I have maintained a slow but steady weight loss of about 5 pounds per month. I know that most people expect bariatric patients to lose like crazy but it's just not that way when you are a year out. I have learned that I will always be a curvy girl but I will be healthy! I can run on a treadmill now and do stairmaster and lift weights and feel strong!

I also eat what I want in moderation. I still indulge in things like good bread, chocolate, croissants (Gasp!), steak, full fat dairy and cheese but I am mindful of keeping my intake of the following foods high: lean protein, water, fruits, veggies and other sources of protein and fiber such as oatmeal, eggs, cheese, and whole grain sandwich thins! One of the things I have learned on my dieting/surgery journey is that it's important to still eat whole foods that you love and make you feel satisfied and not nasty. For that reason I stay away from processed foods, fast food (although I am a sucker for Taco Bell, always will be) and soda.

My birthday celebration was wonderful. I am so lucky to have the amazing people in my life that I do. I have an incredibly supportive family that is there for me at all times. I have a strong (emotionally as well as physically) boyfriend that loves me the way I am even when I am being a complete weirdo and saying random things as well as being a little overly enthusiastic and easily amused. I love him because he is so different than me and really balances me out yet at the same time is so much like me and shares my same values and ideals. I also have an incredible set of friends who I know I will be friends with for years and years to come.

The Sunday before my birthday I had a nice little celebration with friends and family at my house... I didn't get as many pics as I wanted of that but here am I with the boyfriend (Can you tell I was having a good time, it was fun!)

Then the actual Monday of my birthday we went to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. WOW! That place is so amazing! Here are some pics of that...

 

 

 

I've, also taken up juicing... Did you know Beets are such an all around beneficial super food?!

I have been trying to work out at least 4 times a week and do high intensity cardio and running. Here I am post-bike workout at the gym.

Now if I could just get stay away from my Kryptonite food I could finish losing those last 30!

Until next time,

Mely

Yosemite

I have no further weight loss to report. I would be lying if I said I don't know why I haven't lost more weight. I stopped drinking my protein shakes and kept up my carb intake which is not good. I am not eating enough protein and I don't exercise enough. I find I lack motivation to keep going and my body really liked this weight because this is the LONGEST I have stalled for. I plan on attending the bariatric support groups again and touching base with my surgeon's office to get back on track. It's all about back to the basics! I have 30 more pounds I want to lose before I am "done" I think I can make it happen slowly. I focus on the positive things and I have to remind myself why I had this surgery in the first place.

In other news, life is so awesome. I recently went to Yosemite and it was the most amazing place ever. I will share some pics below ;) My new job is treating me good and I have the most awesome man in my life that makes me happy every single day. Somebody I have known for all my life because his mom is really good friends with my mom. I saw him in July after not seeing him for about 15 years or so (since we were kids!) and it all made sense and clicked. It's so nice being with somebody that loves you for exactly who you are and doesn't ever try to change you. He balances me out and makes me feel at ease and safe.

We went to Yosemite late August. We were only there for 3 days and 2 nights (not long enough!) The second day we were there we made this brutal up mountain hike to the top of Vernal Falls. Sadly, Yosemite falls was dried out! Bummer! Even though the hike was brutal, I know that I probably wouldn't have made it had I been at my heaviest weight.
 

Here is a pic of the hike up... How beautiful is this? That's a rainbow!

 

 

Here is a picture of me at the top of Vernal Falls.

 

 Here is another one of our way up!

 

I saved the best for last, here is my boyfriend and I in front of "El Capitan"! We make a good looking couple don't we? This is my favorite picture and memory of Yosemite.

 

Until next time,

Melissa

Stuck at 80

I haven't weighed myself in over two weeks. I guess this post is about life and how something as major as your sleeve can be put on the back burner because of several other things. 

I haven't weighed myself because I am scared to see what I am afraid of. I worked really hard to get down to 80 pounds lost and I am scared to see that I am at the same weight and haven't lost anymore. I know I am at the same weight because my clothes fit the same. I also have not been very strict on myself as far as what I eat.. I know I need to stay away from simple carbs but I somehow always find myself indulging in bread! This needs to stop.

I have been sorting out through some things and I also just got a new job. Life changes and uncertainty always add stress and give me major anxiety. I am the type of person that likes to feel like everything in my life is perfectly planned out and executed according to said plan. I have all these goals for myself, my one year goal, my five year goal and my ten year goal. Sometimes I need to take a step back and realize that I am still 23 years old and I am allowed to deviate from plan and make a few mistakes here and there. 

There's also that nervousness that comes with a new job and that's a good thing. I am incredibly grateful that I was given an opportunity to advance my career elsewhere and do what it is I love and went to school for. I just always put so much pressure on myself to be perfect and be the best (at least professionally I am). A couple weeks ago I got a call about an accounting position that had opened at a nonprofit organization that I had already been involved with when I was going to school to get my degree in accounting. The Vice President of Finance wanted to meet me and discuss the position. I went in resume and portfolio in tow to meet with her and discuss the position on a Friday, 2 days later on Monday I was offered the position. Of course I said yes and I found myself rearranging things to reflect my new life change. It's still surreal and I can hardly believe it's happening. Yesterday was my last day at the financial institution where I was working at, it was so bittersweet. Even though I only worked there for a year and 3 months I changed so much both personally and professionally working there and I learned a lot about myself. I cried as I gave my manager a hug before I left. I also cried like an idiot looking at my cubicle there all empty. It is strange how much a job can have such a huge influence on your life.

On another note, I have to admit I feel guilty. I feel guilty because I like the size I am now. Sure I need to lose at least another 30 pounds. It's ingrained in our minds as women that only being a size 6 or smaller is beautiful but I like being a size 14 and I like being imperfect. I look healthy and I feel good. Sure I don't have a flat stomach or perfectly toned arms and legs but I am me and I know that I have many qualities that some size 2 women don't. This is who I am, smart, funny, driven, nice, sometimes feisty, very impatient and stubborn. But the people in my life know this and accept me like this. 

Anyways, I hope I can get back on a normal schedule and exercise more so next time I can report more weight loss.

~Mely

It's been a while..

Hola blog readers!

I know it's been a while since I posted. Life has been crazy and I have to keep reminding myself of my ultimate goal and finding ways to stay motivated. I am down 72 pounds total. (3 pounds away from 75 and soo soo close but I am stalled right now :(

I have been losing weight at the speed of molasses lately. I am not sure if this is normal or if I need to be way more strict on myself because I have become more lax lately.  

Firstly, I don't work out consistently. There really shouldn't be excuses for that but it is what it is. I should be going to the gym at least 3 times a week and some weeks I do go 3 or 4 times but other weeks I slack and only go once or twice! 

Then there is also the fact that I haven't been drinking my protein shakes on a regular basis. Gosh this is so hard for me! I get it, I am horrible. I have gotten caught up in the sheer bliss of being in full on normal life mode that I forget that I still have important needs and those needs are 1. enough protein intake, 2. enough water, 3. exercise. Although I am happy to report I have taken up walks on my breaks and lunches with my good pal Crystal. It helps to be held accountable and I am happy she is around. I have a size down of pants I am just itching to get into and I am so close.

Something else to report... I have been avoiding the scale. Why? Because I became obsessed with the number on the scale instead of focusing on how I feel and how good I look. It gets draining when you allow a scale to control your emotions. e.g you aren't losing enough, you only lost 2 pounds in 2 weeks, you haven't lost at all. It's all way too much to handle! I am happy with the body I have now and how I look and that is what is important. I have 50 more to lose and as expected those last 50 are going to be the HARDEST! I have only managed to lose about 10 pounds a month for the last month and a half and I feel like it really will take me a feel year to lose everything I need to lose.

One more thing for any of you that may be reading this and find you are absolutely miserable with heartburn ALL the time. Get that Prilosec!! My quality of life has dramatically increased ever since I take Prilosec everyday. I can't go without it. I can still eat the foods I love like tomatoes, onions and coffee and I have zero heartburn. I love my Prilosec and I don't understand why I wan't put on it sooner! 

I have noticed I can eat more food now and I think this is normal. I can eat about a cup of food at a time. Some foods I can eat a lot more of and I guess that scares me. When it comes to leafy greens, I can eat way more than say chicken or fish. I guess that is okay. If you are reading this and are also a sleever can you comment and let me know if you have noticed that you can eat a little bit more a couple months out of the surgery?

Anyways, below is a more recent before and after comparison. On the left is me 4 days before my surgery and the right is me this past week. Not too shabby huh? I love being curvy and healthy as opposed to just being big. This is the first time I have been this small since middle school.. it feels amazeballs (yes amazeballs ;)