OH MY GOD- amazing DIY mint protein frappuccino!!

Ok so I got the idea from Pinterest (I mean, who isnt inspired from Pinterest!?) and it was for a skinny caramel frap. I'm a mint lover myself so I tweaked it a bit :) Here is what I did:

1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/2 bottle of Starbucks Mint Mocha Frappuccino (can be purchased at local grocery store)
   **OR**
4-5 ounces of home brewed coffee, can be chilled or warm
6 skim milk cubes (fill ice tray with skim milk and freeze)
Splash of coffee creamer (fat free is best) or half and half
2 Sugar Free peppermint patties

Add all ingredients to blender and blend!! FABULOUS and WAY LESS calories than the store bought stuff!!

Nutritional values:

5oz of Starbucks Mint Mocha:
      100 calories
      15 calories from fat
      16g Sugar
      3g protein

York Sugar Free Peppermint Patties (2):
      40 calories each
      2.6g fat each
      0g sugar each
      7g Sugar alcohol each
      <1g protein each (total of 1g per 3patties)

6 cubes skim milk ice (about 1 cup of milk)
     90 calories
     12g sugar
     9g protein

1 scoop vanilla protein powder:
    140 calories
    20 calories from fat
    1g sugar
    26g protein

Total (will vary based on what you use)
   Calories 410
   Calories from fat 40.2
   Sugar 29g
   Protein 38g (76% of daily value)

**If you use home brewed coffee, your calories will be MUCH lower, as will your sugar (since you wont add any prior to blending). Also, the protein powder added A LOT of the calories. This recipe can be tweaked to your liking.

Sugar substitutes

SO, after much discussion about which one is best (aspartame, splenda, stevia, etc) I found this VERY helpful article that breaks down each one!

Ever notice some things have "sugar alcohol" instead of actual sugar? Never knew what it was until now. Its not even really sugar!! Thats awesome! read about it here

Vegetarian..... I think....

Ok, so I had this *wonderful* idea. Do a cleanse. Cool. Well, before I start the new diet (which I have yet to decide on btw...need some help here!) I decided to kick if off doing 1 week of NO MEAT. If you know me, you know this sounds impossible. My diet now consists of mostly meat, and sugar. Healthy right? Yeah, and I wonder how I ended up where I am now....So, for breakfast I had a Snack Wells chocolate protein bar (yummo!) for lunch I had a caesar salad with low fat vinaigrette caesar dressing. Snack I had black beans and yellow rice with cilantro sour cream. Dinner I had gooey fries (fries with blanco cheese, yes, healthy lol) and a tangerine. Im not starving though, and I actually feel great! ALSO- I wore a pedometer to work tonight, I walked 5.49 miles at work!!!! it was something like 11,555 steps. WHOA. Oh and weight update for the day, I weighed 194.6 this morning :) And I leave you with this....

Zumba toning

Tonight I attended my very first Zumba class! It was a low-impact class for beginners and Im glad I did this one first because I AM SO UNCOORDINATED! LOL Lord I cannot shake my hips to save my life. It was fun tho, I'm sure I'll take another class....after practicing shaking my ass in the mirror haha. Once I find my measuring tape I'll post measurements. It has magically disappeared on me. :(

Day 1

Its the last day of 2011....thank GOD. Probably the worst year EVER, with some exceptions. So I suppose I will give you some insight as to who I am. I am a 25 year old wife & mother of 3. My oldest, Ava, just turned 5, middle child, Scarlett, is 3 and youngest, Charlie, will be 1 in 12 days. I LOVE being a mother but damn it has taken a toll on my body. I have never been 'thin' and have always been a thick girl, but a much slimmer one haha. My goal here is to get back to my pre baby weight of 145lbs. I've been married for 4 years to my wonderful husband Eddie who is a chef (and a damn good one!) and we currently live in Montgomery, AL with my in -laws (who are freaking awesome too!). I work for a small chain restaurant, with hopes to go back to school for nursing in the spring.