Recipe: Chili Chipotle Shrimp Tacos w/ Lime Crema.

Chili Chipotle Shrimp Tacos w/ Lime Crema,
Avocado and Shredded Cheese

This one is a super simple Mexican style dinner! It's fast, it's easy and it's full of flavor! (And you can grill it for some extra flavor!)  It is a little spicy, but the lime crema cools it down and makes it delicious!

Ingredients:
(shrimp tacos)
1 lb shrimp
1 tsp of chili powder
1 tsp of chipotle chili powder
1 tbs of canola oil
Pinch of salt and pepper

(lime crema)
1/2 cup sour cream or plain greek yogurt
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 tbs of lime juice
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp of chili powder
1/4 tsp of ground coriander
1/4 tsp of ground cumin

Peel shrimp and add canola oil, chili powders, salt and pepper to a bag. Toss in bag repeatedly until spices are evenly covered on shrimp. Marinate in fridge for 1 hour.

While the shrimp are marinating, chop cilantro finely and set aside. Scoop 1/2 cup sour cream of plain greek yogurt into a bowl. Add cilantro and rest of ingredients and mix well. (I like heavier coriander in mine because it tastes nice with the lime, but you can taste and flavor accordingly.)

Saute shrimp on medium heat with a lightly greased pan. (I use canola spray to just cover the bottom of the pain.) Saute for 5 to 7 minutes, or until shrimp are completely pink all the way through.

Or grill shrimp on skewers for 3 minutes on each side on medium heat, or until pink all the way through.

Put them on the taco shell of your choice, garnish with lime crema and whatever else you'd like and dinner is served!

Check out Vinny Slavin's version! Looks delish on corn and peppers!

And check out Shoe Vixen's version. Love the seasoning on those butter beans! Isn't she fancy!? 

CSN Fitness Equipment Review Coming!

J-Fit 18" Stability Ball from CSN

Once again, the amazing folks at CSN.com have given me the opportunity to review an item from their numerous websites. From office desks to balance balls to dining room furniture, CSN literally has it all. I'll be reviewing the Body Solid Balance Ball for you guys! I'm super excited, this is my first real experience with a balance ball and I'll tell you what I think of it!

10 Things I Love Today.

1. Looking in my backyard and seeing it littered with toys.

2. Watching my son hug and kiss his baby cousin with tenderness and care.

3. Noticing my sneakers have bald tread.

4. Cooking a healthy meal and not feeling guilty.

5. That I have a lot of friends everywhere that care about me.

6. Knowing I'm a good mom, even when my son tells me I'm not.

7. Learning that I can rely on myself to know what's best for me.

8. Realizing that what I'm really, truly, voraciously craving is an apple. Not candy.

9. That there is always another opportunity out there.

10. That no matter what I weigh, what size I wear, how wide my ass is... I love me.

What do you love today?

No Counting, Week 1.

It's been a week with banishment of the calorie counting, and I'm pleased to say it's working! I saw a loss this week on the scale, I'm just about back to where I started before I got sick. Yay!

It's been a very freeing experience, this no counting. I don't feel guilty about my choices. I'm choosing good food, food that I know is healthy. I'm keeping the portions in check, but I'm not stressing over that final number. I had a taco three days ago. Okay, two tacos. Yes, they were flour tortillas, but they were filled with black beans and rice and shrimp. Am I stressing over it? No. I ate it, it was good and I moved on. I kept my water in check and got to moving with the munchkin.

I spent so much time stressing that I wasn't doing it fast enough, hard enough, good enough; I forgot to take myself into account. I'm not a good person with counting stuff. I micromanage myself. Then I stress when the results aren't what I'd predicted. When I'm stressed or disappointed, I eat. I eat bad things and the cycle just keeps going around and around.

I KNOW how to eat healthy. I KNOW how to cook healthy. I KNOW when I'm hungry. I KNOW when I'm full.

So, why did it take so long to just do it? Why did I need my little phone/computer to do it for me? Why didn't I just take responsibility for myself?

I have no idea. I do know, that this, right now, is working for me. Will it work 6 months from now? No idea. Right now though, it's working. THAT makes me happy.

The Leaving Fatville #Fitbloggin Sponsorship Drive...

You may not have heard, but I need a little help getting to #fitbloggin this year. Though a series of unfortunate events, I'm left without the funds to get there and well, a place to sleep. It would be so awkward to crash on the hotel lobby couch. I mean, I snore... so I can't imagine the staff would be too thrilled with me. After some gnashing of teeth and some brainstorming, a plan came together.

Yesterday marked the very first day of this sponsorship drive, with mucho thanks to Charlie from Operation Shrink Charlie's Big Butt, and her awesome video skills. She made me this:

See? That's why she's awesome. I posted it, she posted it. Other people posted. It tweeted, it retweeted. Sponsorships piled in. (See the sidebar for some linky love in action! You too can get linky love! $5! It's a steal!) I'm keeping the sponsorship drive going until April 1st to give myself enough time to raise the funds.

It wasn't just linky love that piled in. It was level 3s and even a level 4. I'm pretty sure I'm somebody's personal bitch for that level 4, but I'll take it! It wasn't just that people were contributing, it was the beginning of something huge for me. It was the beginning of feeling loved and accepted by this immense fitness blogging community.

I started this blog a little under a year ago. I had no idea what I was doing, I just wanted a place to bitch and moan. I got no comments for months. I was talking to an empty room, and I was okay with that. I started to talk to people on twitter and slowly, people started to talk back. I made friends. I had laughs. I struggled and they held my hand. I cried and they handed me the tissues. I celebrated and they cheered with me. But even with all that, I still felt on the outside.

I wasn't a success story.

I wasn't an expert.

I wasn't even remotely skinny.

I had no expertise.

I had no angle.

I was just me. That's all I ever claimed to me. But I never quite knew where I fit in. Until yesterday. You all told me I fit in right here. And I can't thank you enough for showing me that.

Please note: those that have bought a blog post sponsorship, they will be going up next week!

10 things I couldn't do 60 lbs. ago.

1. Sit in and get out of a booth without fear.

2. Walk to the park from my house. And back.

3. Not worry that the seatbelt in my car won't fit around me and my winter jacket.

4. Sit on a chair or stand on a step stool without fear of breaking it.

5. Balance, standing up to put on my shoes.

6. Bend over to tie my shoes.

7. Tell perfect strangers that I used to weigh 300 lbs.

8. Breathe after going up a flight of steps, or a hill.

9. Cross my legs.

10. Be proud of myself.

Coach's Oats: This isn't your grandma's oatmeal.

Coach's Oats with Blueberries,
Whipped Cream Cheese and Turbinado Sugar.

Let me tell you about the awesomeness that is Coach's Oats. I was lucky enough to snag some samples for the LF Household to try recently. I have heard many, many good things about Coach's Oats, but I have to admit, I was skeptical. Isn't oatmeal, uh, oatmeal?

I was wrong, dear readers. I was wrong. NOT all oatmeals are created equal. I was once a fan of the packets of processed goo that passed for oatmeal in the not too distant past. I liked the flavors and they were fast and easy. And chock full of yuck ingredients. I didn't feel like blowing half the day's carbs on one silly packet of oatmeal.

I moved onto plain ol' quick oats and started doing my own add-ins for flavor. Kind of boring as far as taste goes, the add-ins were necessary just so it could taste like something, anything. It was serviceable and would do in a pinch, but it didn't rock my socks.

Then, came the Coach's Oats. I will admit, when I first saw the instructions, I was a little daunted. I'm a very face-paced person in the morning. I have ZERO time to be messing around with food, and I'm usually stepping over the toddler to get anything as far as breakfast before I leave the house. I'm not going to lie, the first time I made these, I failed all over the place. I followed the microwave instructions, but even at 70% power that was recommended, it went everywhere. (If you have a major hot/high voltage microwave, I suggest moving on down to at least 50% power. Those oats expand!) I decided to wait until a morning when I'm not racing out the door to give them another shot.

Saturday morning came along, and finally, I had the perfect opportunity to make some Coach's Oats. Rather than repeat my mistake with the microwave, I got out a little saucepan and some skim milk. (I love using milk with oatmeal because it makes it so creamy and smooth.) I followed the instructions *very carefully* and viola! I got the best bowl of oatmeal I've ever had.

Coach's Oats is made with 100% whole grain oatmeal. You'll be surprised when you see it. It looks like whole grain. It has an unbelievably smooth taste with just a hint of nuttiness. There is no blandsville to be had here. I added some whipped cream cheese, fresh blueberries and a slight sprinkling of turbinado sugar to mine. It was sweet, healthy, delicious and filling. I honestly did not need a mid-morning snack, I was full all the way up until lunch. It was an incredibly satisfying meal!

There it is, folks. I tried, I liked it, I plan on buying more. For more info, or to buy some head on over to coachsoats.com. Tell 'em Leaving Fatville sent ya!

P.S.: I'll be toying around with some savory oats for dinner, too. I'll post the results of my experiments soon!

Dear Calorie Counting,

We've had some good times, we really have. Remember when we first got together two years ago? You helped me so much. I had no idea what a serving size was! What a giggle we had over that! Those first six months were a whirlwind of new information, and crazy adventures with food. It was great, it really was.

Later we moved on to more sophisticated things. Tracking protein and carbohydrates. That was so informative! I love how I felt after eating the right balance. It was amazing! And those numbers, baby, I was proud of those numbers. We were so strong together. A force to be reckoned with, even. I thought we'd be together forever, learning and growing.

Lately, it's not been so great. I know this is a rough patch, and we've had them before. We always seems to get back on track. This time feels different. There's so much guilt. I see how you look at me when I have fried chicken. And the bread. Really. You're threatened by bread? That's just silly. I thought I could overlook your insecurities, I really did. Not all calories are the same. I'm realizing that now, and I need the freedom to explore that. I just refuse to believe a ho-ho and an avocado are the same in numbers for me. I just can't think that. I want to believe we can work this out. I really do. I know how much you were there for me in the beginning.

But, I need my space. It's not you, it's me. I need to not feel guilty for just a little while. You helped me learn how to eat well. How to eat foods that are good for me. I'll never forget how good you made me feel. You made me feel like I could conquer the world. You've taught me so much, it's time to take that knowledge and let me grow. I have to take care of myself now. I have to make those decisions on my own.

I'll never forget you and what we shared. I couldn't have come this far without you.

Signed,
Leaving Fatville

My Valentine to me.

In light of my pity party, I think it's time to turn things around. Two wonderful ladies, Britt at Less Britt More Life and Colleen at The Fit Bee had the wonderful idea of writing a love valentine to ourselves.

So, without further ado, the reverse pity party. The Valentine to myself.

I love my eyes, the color of coffee with milk, with long dark lashes. They see so much happiness through these glasses. I love the way they crinkle when I smile. (Crow's feet be damned.) I love that every emotion I have can be seen in my eyes. They really are the window to my soul.

I love my hands, small though they may be, they are strong. They helped me become my career, they hold on tight to the ones they love. They've changed diapers, held little fingers and feet, and they've rubbed the back of a little boy and comforted him. They fit nicely in my husband's hands, though rough and usually covered in grease or paint. I love that they are small, and steady. I love that they can show so much comfort and love to the ones I care about most.

I love my hair. Wild, crazy woman of borneo hair. Never the same curl twice, but a color that no bottle can match. Even the shocking grey streaks that now run through it like wildfire, I love them too. I love how fast it grows, and that with a simple barrette or pony tail, I can look like a different person. I love that it looks just like my father's hair. I love seeing that legacy every day in the mirror.

While I don't quite love my body yet, I love that it's come so far. I love how strong it is. How much weight it can hold, lift and stretch. I love that I'm becoming the woman that's in my mind's eye. I love that I am making my own way in this journey, missteps and all. I love that I am succeeding, even when I don't feel like it. I love that my body is changing. Changing for the better, becoming healthy. Becoming happy.

I love me. All the mes. All the different incarnations of me that brought me to today and now. I love who I am and who I'll be.

I love me.

Being honest.

If I'm being honest with myself (and you, dear readers), I need to admit I'm struggling this week. It's been tough emotionally, physically and financially. I had some great highs, and I've had some pretty spectacular lows. I've let it drive me down into the no exercise, bad food choice slump again.

It's a vicious circle. I have two good weeks of awesome exercise, extra energy and great food choices. Then, one little thing pops up. One complication. One illness. Something. Just that like, I'm off the good food wagon and I'm piling fried chicken on my plate like it's going out of style. It's not just one day either. I can't seem to stop it. It's a good three or four before I can pull myself out. By that point, I'm stepping on the scale for the sheer gluttony of making myself see how badly I'm treating myself.

This week? 5 pounds back on me, just like that. I know some of it is salt, and some of it is well, girlie things but it is still 5 pounds. Seeing that number, it took the wind right out of my sails.

Why does this have to be so hard? Why do I make this so hard on myself? Why can't I just get into a routine and stick to it, no matter what? I keep beating myself over the head with these questions.

I'm not a success story. (Yet.) I don't have all the answers. I barely have advice. I just keep starting, and trying to stick with it. I keep falling off. I keep letting myself get derailed over stupid, inconsequential things. I lose my momentum and it's getting harder and harder to pick myself up and get back on track.

I don't have a solution to all this. I don't have any clue how to keep this silly cycle from repeating. All I have is the knowledge that I will get back on track. I just don't know for how long.

Introducing.... The Great Clothing Exchange!

Good morning everyone! I'd like to announce a new venture for Leaving Fatville... it's called the Great Clothing Exchange. After going down several sizes through my weight loss journey, I kept finding myself having to buy the basics over and over again. It was time consuming, frustrating and most of all, expensive.  A few kind bloggers on Twitter heard my frustration and kindly sent me some of their old size clothes. It was then that an idea was born. What if there were a way to get clothes in your new smaller size from other folks that didn't need them anymore?

It was then that The Great Clothing Exchange was born. With much help from the amazing Ryan at No More Bacon, the idea took ground and actually became real.


So, without further ado, I introduce.... THE GREAT CLOTHING EXCHANGE! (And be sure to follow us on Twitter! @GCXchange

The hostess with the most(est)!

Hello again my lovelies! I have some exciting news for you! You are looking at the host for Tuesday night's #Fitblog chat! That's right, I'm running the show for a night and you are all welcome to join me! #Fitblog was a huge inspiration to me when I started blogging and joining the weight loss community online. I found wonderful friends, a huge support network and the encouragement to keep going with this journey. #Fitblog has been instrumental in keeping me going and it continues to do so for many many people.

Here's the rundown on the chat. It takes place over Twitter and anyone is welcome. In fact, I encourage you all to drop in and say hi! Here's the info straight from the fitblog chat website! It has everything you need to know to join the chat on Tuesday night.

On Tuesday (February 8), at the regular 9 p.m. ET time, @leavingfatville of http://www.leavingfatville.com/ hosts.

Tuesday

TOPIC: Is a Number Just a Number?

Q1: Do you track your weight/calories on a regular basis?

Q2: Do you find yourself tracking "everything" or just the good stuff?

Q3: Do you find tracking weight/calories good or bad for you?

Q4: What is the hardest thing about tracking numbers for you?

***************************

So, what do you think readers? Do you have a tracking story you'd like to share? 

Walk, don't run.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/missylizzylucy/

I must have heard from a billion people when I started this weight loss gig that I should try to run. It's the best aerobic exercise there is! You'll lose the weight in no time. You'll get addicted to the "runner's high" and you won't want to stop. And this doozy: ANYONE can run.

Well, that may be true, but not everyone SHOULD run. I am one of those that SHOULD NOT. I know this. I am comfortable with this. But almost every hardcore runner I meet says I should try it. I could be rude and list the very many reasons I don't; I always demurely say, it's just not for me. (Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't.)

I've been taught technique, I've bought all the expensive shoes and gear (running bras in my size require a second mortgage), I've tried and tried and tried. But I can't bring myself to like running. I can't even get myself to a level of mild distaste. I flat out hate running and no amount of anything is going to change that for me.

Even when I was skinny, I hated to run. I'd duck out of it in gymnastics warm up and pretend to work out a kink. (I can't believe how many times I got away with that.) In gym class, cross country run time always seemed to coincide with cramps. (I can't believe how many times I got away with that one, too.) I'd deliberately pick sports that didn't involve sprinting across a field or jogging on a track. This was when I was a whopping 100 lbs! Now that I'm more than twice that, you can damn sure bet running isn't my game.

I really did try to like it. I did it in boot camp for 5 months, and I sucked it up. I sprinted, I jogged, I did laps. I hated every single second of it. It was painful, it was jarring, and it just felt wrong all over. I never found my rhythm. I never got the runner's high. What I got was a twisted ankle, shin splits, a cramped tongue (really!) and hip pain. Awesome.

Running is just not for me. I love that so many people love it, I really do. I have mad respect for those that can run 3ks, 5ks, half and full marathons. I think they are muscle machines! I even envy them a little. I could walk 'em, but running is not an option for me.

And I'm okay with that. I really am.