step inside, walk this way...

So now I've lost a total of 5 pounds.  New strategy too:  weigh in on Friday morning.  Motivation for staying on track on the tougher weekends!  If I lost, it helps me continue on the right path.  If I didn't lose, it helps me re-evaluate things and stick it out.

Benefit to this plan: my hubby might lose weight too because I'm not fixing him different dinners than mine each night.  Oh there are nights when he won't like what I'm eating and I'll make his normal Meat 'n Potatoes dinner, but he's getting my food about 60% of the time :)

So with the Flat Belly Diet, you get to eat fat!  Yes, FAT!!  Imagine that!  Of course you must only eat the "good" kind.  MonoUnsaturatedFattyAcids ~~ MUFA for short.  These are found in what I think of as decadent foods that I adore.  I am a happy girl to be able to eat:

Olives, Avocados, Oils, Nuts & Chocolate!!!!!!

Because MUFAs are high in fat (good fat) and calories (calories are calories!) I'm allowed 1600 Cals/Day.  And because MUFAs are high in fat and calories, I must never eat the other kinds of fat & empty calories.  That would only add to my total for the day.

Because MUFAs are high in fat and calories, I feel satisfied and full and most of all HAPPY!  I'd much rather trade the high (saturated) fat ground beef for black beans in Tex-Mex for velvety good guacamole!

As with any eating plan - I must plan ahead and make sure the foods are in my house, my meals are mapped out and that I keep a food log.  Not a problem with www.myfitnesspal.com

Today for lunch I'm having a whole can of 98% FF chicken, a cup of peas 'n carrots, 4 oz of pineapple chunks and 2 Tablespoons of chopped pecans (MUFA)  I cook the veggies in the microwave then add the rest to the bowl - YUM-O!!

So I've almost made it thru day one of Flat Belly Diet bootcamp!  All the profiles in the book repeatedly stated that the 4 Day Detox was brutal.  I was wondering if I'd fail and overeat yet again but so far - not so bad.  Maybe because for the most part I was good all last week.  I don't have to go thru the normal withdrawals this time because I never fully went back to my old friends caffeine, fat and sugar.  There was actually quite a bit to eat:

B:

1 c unsweetened corn flakes, 1 C NF milk, 1/2 C no sugar added applesauce, 1/4 C unsalted sunflower seeds

L:

4 oz turkey breast slices, 1 regular string cheese, 1 PINT grape tomatoes,

S:

smoothie made from 1 C each frozen blueberries & NF milk, plus 1 Tbsp ground flaxseeds

D:

4 oz baked Tilapia, 1 C roasted diced red potato (tossed in up to 1 Tbsp olive oil) 1 C fresh green beans steamed

All this plus drinking 2 liters of water infused with cucumber, lemon, fresh ginger and mint leaves throughout the day.

I ended up not eating all the potatoes because it was a lot.  I saved them for later because I know myself and WILL be hungry in a couple of hours.  There were also some green beans left that DH didn't eat (imagine that!!) so it'll be a nice snack without going over my calories ~ oh and the rest of the berry smoothie I didn't finish ~ I saved it for the hunger pangs that will occur later.

I'm going to start reading a book that I hope will capture my attention so that I won't be too food-occupied tonight.  In a couple hours I'll take a long hot shower, do a facial and pedicure then hit the sack early.  I noticed that I get thru dieting much better when I'm well-rested :)

Tomorrow's menu is about the same: low fat plain cereal, fruit and nuts, canned chicken or tuna, steamed carrots, string cheese, roasted chicken breast, brown rice and veggies, a smoothie.  I do it until Friday and then jump into the regular plan that is a whopping 1600 calories!   

Wahooooo!  I finally got the diet book I've been wanting to read!  I was on the library wait list for 4 months ~ but this is perfect timing since I did a detox fast last week that damn near killed me!  I was sooooooooooo hungry and tired and bitchy.  The day it was over - yesterday - I cheated BIGTIME!  Not a proud moment but hey, why lie to myself, right?

So this one too starts with a 4-Day "detox' but it uses REAL food - not a bunch of water and lettuce and up to three apples a day if you're hungry.  Are you kidding me?!  I ate the effin apples first thing in the morning and starved the rest of the miserable day.  And you know what?  I didn't lose even an ounce!  WTF happened to the 5-9 pounds the book promised?  Of course that lack of weight lose lead to the major cheating! *sigh*

No need to leave me a comment that diets don't work or that fasting and detoxing are dangerous and lead to eating disorders (bingeing!!) I KNOW all that!  But I am a sucker for the latest craze, pill, potion, lotion, fad, book, gadget, plan, exercise, product, shake, whatever that comes out promising to fianlly rid me of my unwanted, unsightly body fat, wrinkles, pale skin, frizzy hair, dark circles, short eyelashes, or whatever else I decide is the most unflattering feature I have that week.

Hey, if it weren't for people like me, where would the diet, exercise, beauty industry be?

I will:

take off make-up and cleanse my face every night

volunteer in my community

exercise 2 times a week

get up without hitting the snooze

eat only healthy, unprocessed foods

drink at least 50 oz of water a day

take care of clutter as it happens

call friends and family on a regular basis

wear lingerie

send netflix movies back after I watch them

update my blog weekly

download fun ringtones on my cell phone

print photos instead of just keeping them in the computer

read a book each month

not believe gossip

floss my teeth every day

drink champagne regularly - not just on special days

donate to causes that impact my area

get a massage, manicure & pedicure once a month

hire out the deep cleaning and heavy yard chores

wax more often

take piano lessons

save money in a Holiday Fund

take at least 2 vacations

schedule and stick to "date night" with hubby

(the above resolutions are not in any particular order - especially not by importance)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I'm not actually a vegetarian.  I eat meat and for the most part I like it - when it's lean and cooked right and not a lot on the dish.

I LOVE vegetables and eat a lot of them every day.  One thing that I've found is that when I'm on a weight loss crusade, if I cut out meat and adopt an-almost vegetarian diet, I lose weight faster and feel better.

My question today is:

Do you know of any recipes that I can convert to please the meatatarian in my house?  Something that I can make half with meat and half with veggies - so to not have to make 2 meals each night.

I want to make two versions of the same recipe so to speak....

This is great!  Even those who don't care for pumpkin pie like this!

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

1 large can UN-seasoned pumpkin

1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk

3 eggs

1 cup white sugar

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, divided

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix

1 cup chopped pecans OR walnuts OR combo of both

1 cup butter, melted (2 sticks)

2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed OR fresh whipped cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9x13 inch baking pan. put foil in pan with sides overlapping a bit.  Lightly grease foil.  Combine the pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Mix well and spread into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the yellow cake mix over the top of the pumpkin mixture and pat down. Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the top of the cake mix then drizzle the melted margarine all over the top. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 1 hour but no longer than 1 hour and 20 minutes.  Cool completely and then invert onto a rectangle platter large enough to contain the cake.  Peel off the foil and cut into squares. Top cooled cake with whipped topping when ready to serve.

Try this one after turkey day - it's a great way to hide the leftovers in something delicious! 

Turkey Cranberry Wreath

2 pkg. refrigerated crescent rolls
1/2 C. mayonnaise
2 T. honey Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. coarsely ground pepper
2 C. cooked turkey, chopped
1/2 C. celery, sliced
3 T. fresh parsley, snipped
1/2 C. dried cranberries
4 oz. Swiss cheese, shredded (1cup)
1/4 C. walnuts, chopped (optional)
1 egg, separated

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Unroll crescent dough; separate into 16 triangles. With wide ends of triangles toward the center. arrange 8 triangles in a circle on Large Round Stone. Corners of wide ends will touch and points will extend 1 inch beyond of baking stone. Arrange remaining 8 triangles in center. matching ends. Seal seams using pizza roller. (Points will overlap in center; do not seal.)

Measure mayonnaise, mustard and black pepper into a bowl. Grate cheese into a bowl. Mix filling. Scoop filling over seams of dough, forming a circle.

Coarsely chop walnuts; sprinkle over filling. Beginning in center, lift one dough triangle across mixture. Continue alternating with outer triangle, slightly overlapping to form wreath. Tuck last end under first.

Separate egg over bowl. Beat egg white lightly; brush over dough. Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.  Yields 10 servings.

Per serving: 363 calories; 17 g protein; 24g fat; 20g carbohydrates; 521 mg sodium

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day.  And while you walk, smile.  It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.  Talk to God about what is going on in your life.  Buy a lock if you have to.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to _______today.  I am thankful for________'
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water.   Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control.  Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Don't take yourself so seriously.  No one else does.
12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others.  You have no idea what their journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words:  'In five years, will this matter?'
17. Forgive everyone for everything.
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.  Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!
22. Envy is a waste of time.  You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: ‘I am thankful for __________.Today I accomplished _________.’
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.  
25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings.  You'll be smiling before you know it.

Why is it that at the end of the weekend I am exhausted while my husband is fully rested/

Oh, I know!  He sleeps and golfs and naps and relaxes while I, on the other hand, do dishes and laundry, clean house, go grocery shopping and make all the meals.  The same as any other day - why should the weekend be a break for me?

I couldn't sleep last night.  More accurately I could not fall asleep till really, really late.  Was it the acai berry energy drink I had too late in the evening? The snoring taking place next to me?  Or just my own random thoughts about things I shouldn't be thinking about swimming around my head and making me half crazy?

I finally fell into a fitful sleep after I took to the couch and crammed ear plugs into my ears - yes the snoring is that bad that I can still hear it in the living room!  I forced my mind to stop wandering to other parts of the world and to focus on the here and now. 

It was about 3 am before I returned to the snore-fest. I'd ride the couch the entire night but my kingsize waterbed is so comfy that it's hard for the couch to compete.

*sigh*

I am tired today and restless and a bit down since it's POURING down rain and I'd much rather be at home watching the movie that came in the mail yesterday.  A mug of hot (spiked) spiced cider and a bowl of popcorn, my fleece blanket. 

It feels like time to hibernate but there's so much to be done.  Work is so busy, my business is so busy, my chores at home are demanding.  Add to all that my desire to work out every day and it's a real wonder why I even have trouble falling asleep.  I should be exhausted by the time my head hits the pillow.

Oh yeah, there's that pesky problem I have of my mind wandering to other parts of the world..