Bye Bye Baby Weight!

I very recently lost the last of the baby weight I put on during my pregnancy with Annelie. No easy feat, I assure you! I love to eat, and used every minute of my pregnancy as an excuse to grow larger than a pumpkin.

42 lbs. That's what I gained in only five short months. Can you say stretch marks?

But the weight is gone and I am so happy! I only have a few pounds more to lose before I am at my goal weight (I still need to finish losing the rest of my Gracie weight from two years ago!). Curious to know my weight loss secrets? Well, here you go:

Soup. Lots and lots of soup. I make a batch of low sodium, low fat soup every few days. Whenever I am hungry for a snack, I grab a bowl of soup. I'll include my Mix and Match soup recipe below for those interested!

Tea (with a little sugar or honey, and a splash of milk--yum) that I drink with a small cookie, pastry or scone when I am craving a sweet treat. The tea helps fill me up so I don't go overboard on cookies or pastries.

Walking. I walk everywhere. It helps that I don't drive, so if I want to go anywhere in the day, I have to load the girls in their double stroller and walk there. But on the days that I don't have anyplace to go, I load the girls up and walk to the nearest middle school, which has a track and a field so Gracie can run around (unfortunately there are no parks near me).

Here is my recipe for Mix and Match soup. I like to mix things up, so my taste buds don't get bored.

Marisa’s Mix and Match Soup

Use as many or as little as you like from each group to create a soup perfect for your personal taste!

Start With the Veggies: Fresh or Frozen

(add whatever you like. Here are a few I like to add)

Chopped Cabbage
Carrots
Green Beans
Celery (add only a few stalks or the broth tastes funny)
Broccoli
Yellow Onions
Minced Garlic (lots of it!!!)
Bagged frozens are perfect when you want to work quickly. I like Green Beans and California or Normandy Mix (Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower)

Broth: No, I don’t make my own. Who has the time???

Chicken
Beef
Vegetable

Look for boxed broths, they are the easiest and most economical. I prefer Organic, low sodium and low fat. I buy about 2 or 3 boxes per batch of soup, but buy as many as you need for whatever size pot you want to make.

Add Ins:

Grilled Chicken, cut up
Ground Beef
Italian Sausage
Noodles (whole wheat is best for you, and more firm. Watch out with noodles, as they tend to get mushy. You might want to keep these separate from the broth and just add them to your bowl)
Rice

Broth Enhancements:

Fresh Herbs chopped (my favorite is Cilantro)
3 Tbs Tomato Paste
Parmesan Cheese (low in calories and fat, so go crazy)

To Make:

Begin by grilling the onions, celery, and garlic in 1-2 tbs. olive oil. Add the broth, bring to a boil. Then add the veggies and meat. Last, add cooked noodles or rice, and the broth enhancements. Let simmer awhile—about 5-10 minutes or until it is hot enough for you.

The best thing about this soup is it tastes better the next day, so make sure you cook up a large pot of it!!