Wednesday, April 30, 2014

I ATE ICE CREAM! Well, Not Really.

I am in love.  If you have never tried this and you are super skeptical, good.  I challenge you to try it ONCE.

Faux Banana Ice Cream

TRY IT.

I always have spare ripe bananas around - I have kids.  Sometimes they love the bananas, and sometimes they let them sit and refuse to eat them.  Sometimes, I just buy too much for my unpredictable clan.  Also, I often use just half a banana in oatmeal or cereal and I don't want the additional calories of the other half of a banana when I don't really WANT it.  SO - I started a freezer bad for bananas.  I use my over ripe bananas sometimes for my banana carrot walnut whole wheat ginger muffins, but when I don't feel like baking or have time for baking or already have muffins frozen, I take my bananas and break them in half or quarters and throw them in a freezer bag in the freezer.  If I use just half of a banana - pop into the bag.

Eventually, I end up with a nice collection of frozen bananas in a bag.



THIS IS SO EASY - take those frozen bananas and toss them in a food processor or blender.  Use a dribble of milk or some plain yogurt to get them moving in there.  BE PATIENT - they will take a while to blenderize.  Keep opening, stirring/moving them until they get smooth.  If you add too much milk you will get a more soft serve ice cream, but it will still be DELICIOUS!


Now, taste.  It is amazing, no?  CREAMY and sweet - and so cold and tasty.  It is JUST like ice cream!  Now, if it isn't quite sweet enough for you, add a little honey or sugar or splenda.  Whatever you like.  Or try adding some chocolate protein powder or chopped walnuts or cinnamon...whatever floats your boat!

This is a super tasty indulgent HEALTHY treat that you can enjoy alone, or with your family.  GUILT FREE!

Week 8 - I ate and ate... 8(

Sad to once again report that I lost not ONE pound this week, but it hardly surprises me considering I didn't really try.  I mean, I got a grilled chicken chili lime wrap at McDonalds instead of a quarter pounder, but that's not exactly healthy eating.

The GOOD news is, I woke up this morning FINALLY feeling reinvigorated and excited about my health journey.  For some reason, my motivation had been flagging, but after this mornings weigh in at 186 I realized...I MISS feeling good.  I miss my healthy foods!  I miss trying new, wholesome recipes.  Why am I being lazy?  I like being lazy LESS - so, it isn't a REWARD.  It is a punishment.

So, this morning I had a bowl of healthy cereal for breakfast, and for lunch I had a super big delicious salad and I have chicken breasts defrosting in the fridge.  I am about to go look for a new recipe to try tonight!

LETS DO THIS!!!

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Wait...its Wednesday?!?

Well, the gluttony now must end.  The holiday is in the past and the leftovers are running out.
I stepped on the scale today quite pleased that by some Easter miracle, I am still 185 lbs.
Oh, happy hamday.
So, now with a renewed sense of purpose and fruit salad-less fridge the attack on my unhealthy eating habits recommences!!!

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Happy Easter Healthies!

Sorry I am a day late!  Partly because I have nothing positive to report from the scale - I gained a pound.  But also partly because I have been insanely busy. 

My son recently changed schools and his new school just had a performance night and is currently on spring break.  So, the corndogs and hot pockets have been flying.

I have still been eating healthier than I would have before starting this journey, but I am guessing that the sodium and stress are showing on the scale.

After Easter, things should calm back down so I can recommit!

I have also been directing a lot of energy to my Maple Marmalade Boutique business, which can sometimes cause me to skip meals or have to eat something on the fly.

Happy Easter everyone!!!  See you on the other side!!!

PS that picture is of an amazing Indina dish using ground turkey and an eggplant dish!  I will post the recipes after the break!

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Better Than a #!!!

THESE are size 12 jeans that I bought and never could wear.  I put them in the donate bag about 6 months ago.

I saw them out in the garage when I was spring cleaning.  And...lookit me now!

I had to take pics everywhere.  They are almost baggy!!!

Better than a # on the scale!!!

A day in the Life

So, maybe some of you are wondering what I might eat in a typical day.  I have posted lots of tips and recipes, but no real meal plans.

I took some pictures of my food over the last few days to show you what a typical day might look like.  Remember, in life there are probably just as many atypical days as typical ones!  But this gives you an idea of how and what I eat.

Breakfast:  

My breakfast is pretty well set.   I usually take one real egg and scramble it with egg substitute salt and pepper.  It makes enough for about 3 servings, so I use a Tupperware for the rest in the fridge.  I then eat it on a warmed whole wheat low carb tortilla PILED with fresh deli salsa.  Alternately if I am in a rush I may have a whole wheat double fiber English muffin with cream cheese and chia seeds.  On a weekend I may use my egg poacher to poach egg substitute, add a THIN slice of deli cheese and some turkey bacon or turkey sausage on a whole wheat double fiber english muffin that has been toasted for a breakfast sandwich.  If I am ever still hungry I add a piece of fruit or a low calor Greek yogurt.

I always have a coffee in some form.  I recently switched to using Agave in the Raw sweetener in it.


Lunch:

Lunch is pretty standardized as well, unless we have healthy dinner left overs.  I either make a sandwich wrap with lunch meat and veggies on a whole wheat low carb tortilla or a tuna salad wrap or a salad.  I make my tuna salad with a smaller amount of real mayo, as I cant stand the light version.  I add onion, celery, pepperoncinnis, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper, and whatever else I have....bell peppers, jalapeno...whatever sounds good.   I lay down a piece of romaine lettuce and put some of the mix on top and add cherry tomatoes or carrot shreds etc.  If I am having salad I incorporate a protein like hard boiled egg or lunch meat or cottage cheese or walnuts and use a vinegar based dressing.


Dinner:

For dinner I usually aim for a lean protein like chicken or fish paired with a TON of veggies and sometimes a grain like quinoa.  I like to have what I think of as one freebie food.  That is a food with little to no calories like steamed or sauteed asparagas, spinach, zucchini or broccoli that I can eat in unlimited quantities.  This way I KNOW ahead of time that I WILL be able to get full, so it keeps me from over eating the other elements.   I can keep a reasonable portion size for my meat and grains, knowing that I will not have tp leave the table still hungry.   If I am having an extra lean protein like boneless skinless chicken breasts it gives me more leway to have a grain or starch or add some cheese to the veggies etc.  If I am having a more calorie dense main dish like beef or pork, I keep the side dishes lighter like two kinds of steamed veggies. I just TRY to keep it balanced.  I often cut up some fruit to accompany it for the kids and eat a small portion myself.



Snacks:

I almost always have a snack or two during the day and one is usually fruit or yogurt.  The other one is usually in the evening when I want a "desert".  I may have a "healthy" cereal like Kashi or a toasted whole wheat english muffinwith peanutbutter and honey or banana.  I may have a Jello 100 calorie tapioca.  Generally it includes some type of whole grain and proteine if I can manage it because that is what I happen to crave.  

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Week Seven - Kind of a Lemon

I have been lazy.  I have been fudging more and more on my good eating.  I have still been eating WAY more veggies and more fruit and less bad fats, so that is all good.   But I have let the little indulgences add up. 

Did you know there are hazelnut mocha K cups for the Keuring?  At 80 calories each...sigh

So, when I weighed in this week, my weight is the same.  No losses to report.

Maybe my body just needed a rest.  Maybe it was my inattention to the details of what I was stuffing in my face. Either way, lesson learned.

Time to re find my motivation!  Tomorrow I paint, Friday I bust my buns at the gym!!!

Monday, April 7, 2014

Pasta Zero - Yup, a Zero.

Ugh.   So, I spotted this in my local grocery store and was instantly excited.  Low carb diet friendly fresh pasta?!? Yes ma'am!

I ran around the produce department loading my cart with fresh veggies and tofu for a noodley stir fry.

I made the stir fry and par boiled the pasta zero as per the instructions.  I drained them and then...I made my first mistake.   I tried the pasta naked and sauceless.  I was curious.

The flavor wasn't bad.  It didnt have much flavor at all, and I was ok with that.  I was using tofu after all, so I was ok with the idea of a blank slate.

The texture.  They are almost pasta like.  Except more jellyfish like.  Or soft, thick ear cartilage like. Nom nom am I right?

I could NOT get past the texture.  It is chewier in a strange crisp fibrous way.

Oddly, the pickiers eaters  in my house didn't mind it at all.  They ate it and didnt even notice it wasn't normal pasta.  That being said I definitely think it works better in a stir fry with crisp veggies to hide behind than it would with just pasta sauce.

So, it is a no go for me.  Back to trying to develop a healthy vegetable infused pasta recipe with my kitchenaid as soon as I order my pasta attachment!

Fun Family Outing - The Zoo!

Need a fun way to get some walking in?  Take your kiddos to the zoo!  They will have fun and you will be teaching them to get out and be active.  As an added bonus you will be burning calories like crazy chasing them around!!!

Tip:  Pack a lunch or snacks as Zoo food is typically over priced, over processed and full of temptation!

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Week Six- Taking a Risk!

Here we are, over the month and a half mark!

I am sorry I am late in posting this blog as generally I post in the mornings on wednesday, but after a long few days of rain today we finally had BEAUTIFUL SUN SHINEY WEATHER HERE! 

Which meant that I had to go DO furniture deliveries, had people coming to pick UP furniture AND ...went and bought some bikes for the family!

So I spent almost the whole day in the car, but for a good cause.  I am envisioning being able to ride my bike to work once a week and outings with the little ones for bike trail picnics at the park. 

Hopefully they will be as fun as I remember them being growing up!  Although, so far I have managed to ride mine all of 2.5 feet and have a giant bruise and my chain fell off the gears.  Not the best start.  But, I will persevere!

Speaking of not the best, weekly weigh in time.

Weight:  184.  

So far I have lost 11 lbs in 6 weeks.   Almost 2 lbs/wk average!  Right on track. (Over 23 lbs lighter than when I got pregnant with my daughter!)

Down ONE pound this week.  Which isn't slam bam amazing, but also doesn't exactly suck either.  I am patient.  As long as the number is going in the right direction I am not going to complain.  I have been getting so many compliments and my rings and clothing are really starting to have that "these aren't my clothers/rings, they are the wrong size" feel and I am loving that.

I am also feeling better over all, even though it has been a rough few weeks dealing with issues with my son's school and family stress etc.

So, wish me happy trails and I will try to post some more goodies tomorrow!  I will be out sweatin my buns off, literally, painting!