Its Not Just a Shake Thing

I have joined the Body By Vi 90 Day Challenge! (crowd roaring in wild applause in background) I started two weeks ago and have lost 7 lbs. already. From Monday the 31st to Monday the 6th (yesterday) I lost 1.5 inches from my waist, 1 inch from my hips and chest, 1/2 inch from my thighs. I LOVE how I feel!! I have more energy, I kick butt at my work outs.. oh.. did I mention I'm going to the gym now - at 4am? Yes. I am becoming a fitness freak. Never ever ever thought that would happen. But once I broke through the difficult first couple of weeks, I found that I really enjoy working out and I love how I feel afterward!! My arms are becoming toned and firm, and my waist and back are slimming down. I see the difference in my shoulders and neck, under my chin, my legs.. why stop now?? I dropped a whole dress size.. I'm NOT stopping now!

Back to the Visalus. I feel great. The shakes taste REALLY good and I love coming up with new ones. My favorites are Angel Food Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, (cake, cake, cake) and Dreamsicle. And there's nothing in them that is bad for me. 2 shakes for breakfast and lunch, then a sensible dinner. Easy! I DO snack in between for those of you who think I am suffering between liquid meals. I eat low-fat or fat-free yogurt, reduced-fat cheese, whole grains (crackers, bread, etc) a small bowl of Special K cereal, fruit, raw veggies, nuts, fat-free cottage cheese, etc. There's no reason to suffer when there are plenty of logical options for snacking.

One step beyond joining the Challenge: Mike and I discussed it at length, and we decided to become distributors as well. I was surprised at how easy it is to bring people into the challenge - they want to lose weight and become healthier too! While we do this for extra income, we are doing our best to help those who can't easily afford to start this challenge as well. We feel so strongly about these products and about helping others increase their overall health and wellness that we want as many people as who want and need it to be able to do it! And the Lord is blessing us. In two weeks we have been blessed with 6 clients and several potentials.

If you read this, and you have been invited to a party, please don't feel as though I'm trying to profit from our friendship. I want to share the success I'm finding, build my home business, and strengthen current relationships, not run all my friends off. If you are not interested, I will not take it personally and I won't beat you over the head with a pouch of shake mix, I promise.

I had a mindset for years that had me shaking my head at people who exercised a lot and watched what they ate carefully. I hated infomercials about fitness gadgets, got sick of dieting scams. I wanted a quick fix. Well, I'm here to tell you that there IS NO QUICK FIX. Not even Body By Vi. (Keep reading.) I realized that the reason why I was shaking my head and avoiding those people is because they made me feel guilty for the condition I let my body get into. I had to accept responsibility for myself and my poor choices and lack of motivation to get off my butt and get some exercise and then DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. My blood pressure is high and metabolism is low thanks to my family genes. But it doesn't have to stay that way. I decided to do this challenge, put myself out there, and be an example to others like me who lack motivation and have 1001 excuses like I did as to why they can't diet or excercise.

I stepped down some stairs wrong and broke my ankle and leg in four places and dislocated it four years ago - while pregnant with my now 3-year-old son. They put the dislocation back into place with no anesthesia (pain medication) and without xrays first. I went through seven hours of surgery and had plates, screws and wires installed in my lower left leg. I spent 4 months in a wheelchair. When Mike was not with me I had to crawl on my hands and knees to get to the bathroom because there was an 8 inch step at the bathroom entrance. (Try jumping up a step that high with staples, stitches, broken bones, torn ligaments and tendons, while pregnant, and on one foot). I had no physical therapy because I was uninsured at the time and could not afford it. I did my best on my own, but to this day I tend to limp badly when I first get out of bed. The tears to my ligaments and tendons permanently damaged my foot and ankle and chances are I will never walk right again. Sometimes it takes me a good hour to get my ankle moving and flexible enough to walk without pain and without limping noticeably. I have been clinging to this injury for the last 4 years as the reason why I could not exercise. Fear, mostly, of reinjuring myself or that I might have pain during any rigorous exertion. I also have asthma. Who wants to exercise when within 30 seconds of any type of cardio they can't breathe?

The point in telling my sob story was this: If I can do it, you can do it. Two months ago I decided enough was enough. I started going to the gym with my good friend Sandy who lives in the house right behind me. It was hard. Very hard. I hadn't exercised in years.. even back then I didn't really commit. I knew that if I didn't push through the difficulty that I'd never lose the weight and I'd never be physically strong and fit... and the risk for heart disease (also hereditary) and diabetes would loom over my head. So I chose exercises that won't hurt my old injury. The eliptical whoops my behind but there is no pressure or pain to my joints or to my ankle. I started out only being able to do 5 minutes, and that was a stretch. I am up to 30 minutes now, and next week I go to 35! I also tone with weights. I worked through the asthma issues and carried an inhaler. I used it at first, but I am very proud to say that my lung capacity has increased as has my stamina and I only need it every now and then. Am I proud of myself? YOU BETCHA!!!!! Now I use ViSalus as a tool to help me reach my goals. It isn't a crutch or an easy way out... believe me, having a shake while my kids eat pizza or my very favorite lunch, Kraft mac & cheese, is NOT easy. It is a way to help me lose the weight steadily, learn discipline, and do it in an insanely healthy, wellness-enhancing way.

Whether you choose to join me on the 90 Day Challenge or not, do SOMETHING to better your health. Remember, just because you are small or slim does not mean your body is healthy. If you need to lose a good amount of weight, set short term goals and celebrate smaller victories, that way the big goal doesn't seem so far away!

To my loyal readers: A shake for breakfast and lunch means I still cook for dinner.. yay for more recipes! :D

I Haven't Given Up!

I haven't posted in a good while, I know. But I haven't given up! I have to learn how to balance all of the things I'm doing and the projects I've got my hands in, because I tend to spend a lot of time on one thing, and neglect the others.

I started couponing, and that has taken a lot of my free time lately. I have started saving at LEAST 50% of my grocery bill every time I go shopping. Sometimes more. This past weekend I went to Publix and rounded up $90 worth in my buggy, and spent out of pocket $25. Making the list and getting organized is time consuming! I'm also working on my garden still, and that takes even more time. Then we got a pool.. lol so you see, I'm trying to learn balance!

My weight is holding, even though I'm probably not losing like I would if I were really concentrating on only that. The garden work - which you think wouldn't think of as being all that strenuous - is taking a lot of work. My body is sore after shoveling up grass roots then raking them out.. it took several days to get all the grass out and I still have some root hairs popping up. Then we made the rows. Yesterday I walked three miles with a friend AFTER the garden work.. I fell asleep quickly last night around 11pm and didn't wake up until 8am! I'm still in a 16, which is great. I think by the end of this week I will be ready to weigh and see where I am.

I am also considering trying the Visalus weight loss system. An old acquaintance has started doing it and posts his progress (some of you might remember John Knox) and he is losing fast using Visalus. He is a distributor too and is recruiting people left and right. I know people can get their product free by bringing three people to the challenge with them.. that's what I'm talking about. I'm not a salesperson, as my track record proves.. I have a hard time for some reason selling to my friends. Something like this might be different. I am just ready to get the weight off, while learning to eat right. I won't be using Visalus forever.. once the weight is gone you have to learn to eat properly on your own. If I decide to go this route, I will post my progress. I hear only good things about it, including better overall health. I hear people are reporting coming off blood pressure medications, cholesterol medications, etc. (with a doctor's supervision!!).

Well, I hear a baby fussing from her crib, and so my day begins. I will post more soon. :)

Italian Chicken with Peppers

I wouldn't count on there being any leftovers... there wasn't a scrap left tonight!You won't need a knife to cut the chicken when it finishes. It is so tender and juicy, and the flavors are wonderful together. The only extra (jar/canned food) was the spaghetti sauce. I usually try to make my own, but this sauce had everything I needed, and for convenience sake I threw it in.

6 boneless skinless breast halves (Winn Dixie has started selling packaged chicken breasts that are sliced down to a more portionable size! Yay!)
1 jar (26 oz) garden style spaghetti sauce (I used Prego Chunky Garden - Tomato, Onion & Garlic)
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1/2 each, small green, sweet yellow, and red peppers diced or julienned (or 1/2 cup Winn Dixie's diced pepper trio in the produce section - time saver!)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Cooked whole wheat spiral pasta
Shaved Parmesan cheese, optional

Place chicken breasts into the slow cooker. Layer the onion over the chicken. In a large bowl, combine the spaghetti sauce, peppers, cheese, garlic, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Pour over chicken.

Cook on low for 4-5 hours. When nearly finished, cook pasta according to package directions. Serve chicken and sauce over pasta. Top with shaved Parmesan.

Emotional... What? Who Are You Calling Emotional?

Certainly you don't mean me! Couldn't possibly be...

Oh, of course it's me. It's my lot in life. I wear my heart out on my sleeve, and I am far too sensitive for most males, and even some females, to tolerate. Now add to the existing over-sensitivity a pile of girl hormones. See where I'm going with this? Okay wait, there's more. Add prenancy or post-partum insanity to that mess! A woman deserves a good two-year free pass when it comes to post-partum adjusting, wouldn't you say, girls?

There you have it. A trainwreck. I think we could all relate to that term at one point in our lives or another. Personality, stresses, hormones... all contributors to our emotional existence. And sometimes there's just no emotional outlet, so what do we do? Eat them!

Does anyone else find it difficult to maintain a healthy regimen when your stress level is through the roof? If you find yourself lonely, or grief-stricken, or stressed out over a difficult situation do you find yourself consoling with your favorite comfort food?

Risking the shaking heads and the tsk-tsk's, I'll say that I do. This week has been tough for me emotionally. Mike's time away is starting to take its toll on me, other stresses in my life are magnified by it, my social contact with friends and family is terribly limited, and it's turning to a minute-to-minute battle to stay out of the kitchen. I can overcome it, but I'll tell you, I've experienced few things in life that take as much self-control and discipline as making good food choices does when everything in me is willing me to eat what I crave.

Whew. Okay, now that I've said it, I think I can stare it in the face and push forward! I think when my garden area is finally tilled, I'll have a place to put my focus besides working in the kitchen. I can't wait for that. Looks like it could be tomorrow or Thursday. I need the diversion!!

Anyone else struggling?

Shredded Beef Sandwiches

Watch out - if you are hanging around the house while this cooks in your crockpot, carry a napkin to wipe your mouth because you will be drooling while you beg for it to hurry and finish cooking. It makes plenty, so be prepared for leftovers!

Great tip for those who hate scrubbing out their crockpots as much as I do: Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners. They run about $2.59 for four at Winn Dixie (so they'll be less than that at Wally) and worth EVERY PENNY! Cook, lift, toss!

1 boneless beef chuck roast 3-4 lb(the extra expense is worth the taste, and the fact that it will make so much!)
1 med onion, thinly sliced
1 cup ketchup (Heinz is my ketchup of choice)
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbs brown sugar
2 Tbs cider vinegar
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp Liquid Smoke

Cut roast in half, place in 5 qt (my 3 qt did the job)slow cooker. Top with onion. Combine the next eight ingredients; pour over roast. Cover and cook on low 8-9 hours, or until the meat is tender. (Definitely DON'T over-cook!)

Remove roast and cool slightly. Shred meat with two forks. Skim fat from cooking liquid. Return meat to slow cooker and heat through. Using a slotted spoon, place 1/3 cup meat mixture on each roll.

This was a great meal for me nutritionally. No sugary or high-fructose sauces - just a little in the ketchup, and the meat was nice and lean. I removed a minimal amount of fat from the meat after cooking. And it tastes SO GOOD. I was sad when the last sandwich was gone, but we did have it for three days!

With this I recommend Merita Lite-Wheat rolls - they have less sugar and more fiber & protein than other choices I had. I served it with coleslaw mix from the produce section and used a light slaw dressing on it.

Shame, Shame.. You Know My Name.

I am bashfully writing this post because I have not written in what.. three weeks??? Terrible! I haven't been working as hard as I should at keeping the changes intact, but I'm still making good choices in addition to some of the bad ones! This week I am resolved to get back at it with 100% effort. I haven't gained any weight, so I am still at a 14 lb loss.

I was not prepared for the onslaught of cravings that accompany a particular female cycle... I really didn't recognize it at first, all I knew was that if I didn't have some chocolate IMMEDIATELY there would be mayhem at the Winslows. That lasted an entire week and I fought a losing battle with my cravings. It was so overwhelming that even reading and re-reading my previous post about skirting cravings didn't help! So I'm following my own advice - dusting myself off and getting back on that horse. The crazy thing about the whole cycle thing - FALSE ALARM. Good grief.

To make matters worse, a girl I am friends with at church who had missed a few months came back last week. Girl had lost about 60lb and left me in the dust.. talk about a guilt trip! I asked her what her secret was, and she said with a heinous smile, "Diet and exercise!" Ugh. Of course! However, she did invite me to work out with her, and I may take her up on that when my schedule permits!

So tell me, what have you all been doing to stay on track? Have you lost a little time? Are you going to keep at it? Let me know!

I do have some great recipes to share so watch for them!

Zucchini Pasta

Don't groan! This was a really tasty and quick dish! It made plenty so you might have leftovers.

8 oz uncooked linguine (I use whole wheat pasta as a healthier substitute)
3 cups coarsely shredded zucchini (about 2 medium)
4 tsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced (I keep a jar of minced, ready-to-use garlic in the fridge - 1-2 tsp will suffice)
1/4 cup fat-free plain yogurt (Chobani has EIGHTEEN grams of protein per 6 oz!)
3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper


1. Cook linquine according to package directions. Meanwhile, Shred zucchini, then in a colander, squeeze excess moisture from it. Pat dry.

2. Warm a large non-stick skillet at medium-high. When hot, pour in olive oil and spread. Add zucchini and saute for 2 minutes. Add garlic. Cook zucchini 1-2 minutes longer until tender. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the yogurt, cheese, salt & pepper.

3. Drain linguine. Add to zucchini mixture and toss to coat.

Serve with 100-calorie garlic pita rounds and chopped, fresh fruit!

Serves 4-6. 3/4 cup = 220 calories! 10 grams of protein, or more if you use Chobani!

Effort: 85%

I think I'm at about an 85% effort level. I'm still going strong even though I had Buffalo wings... and Buffalo chicken dip.. and cookies.. and some chips & dip... while watching the Steelers get spanked by Green Bay. I left a little room for the extra calories and fat, but I can guarantee not enough! I did weigh last week, but it was again in the evening and doesn't reflect my mid-morning weight, which is when I usually weigh. I was up to 12 lbs. I haven't weighed in about a week and a half. I will wait for Sunday. Oh I forgot.. I made mac & cheese today with real Land O' Lakes margarine (because there is no better brand in my opinion.) Oh yes, I did eat some. I redeemed myself at dinner though! (see recipe next post!)

I haven't been exercising like I need to because I hate doing it alone. Mike's been getting called in at all hours of the day and even the night, so I've been pretty lonely in general but really feeling it on this lifestyle change.

For the most part, I know what I can eat without thinking too hard, and what I need to stay away from (Kraft mac & cheese for instance) so meal planning isn't such a monumental task and grocery shopping is enjoyable. We still take a while reading labels when we want to try new things, comparing brands, etc., but Mike does it with me and we enjoy the time together and making joint decisions about what we buy.

One of the best ways I've found recently to add some veggies to a meal - ready-to-eat diced peppers and pico de gallo (tomatoes, onion & cilantro) from Winn Dixie. I made steak & cheese roll ups not long ago, and threw a few tablespoons of peppers into the skillet after the steaks were done and sauteed them for a minute or two, then tossed them into the roll ups. Tasty! Even my picky 11 year old ate them and asked for more. Mike makes omelets with them, and I use them in tacos and other things. Yum!

Looking forward to this weeks weigh in, and hopefully getting my lonely butt outside to walk this week!

How are you doing??

Pumpkin Pancakes

These delicious pancakes make a bunch so if you need less, this can be halved easily. I subbed one cup of wheat flour for white, subbed unsweetened applesauce for oil, and sugar for Splenda. They were great!

Pumpkin Pancakes

1 1/2 cups white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
6 tsp (2 Tbs) baking powder
2 Tbs Splenda sugar substitute
4 Tbs unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs (or 1/3 to 1/2 cup egg substitute)
1 /2 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 1/2 cups Milk, plus

Sift together dry ingredients. Blend eggs if using. Add applesauce and pumpkin. Blend well. Stir in milk.

Add wet ingredients to dry. If needed (and it probably will be) add more milk until your batter is to the desired consistency. More milk for thinner pancakes, less milk for thicker ones. Do not overmix - the key to making light, fluffy pancakes is to blend the wet and dry lightly, leaving a few smallish lumps.


Warm your griddle or skillet to 325 or medium, on the hotter side. Wait until your pan is hot, then add non-stick cooking spray. Waiting until the pan is hot keeps the spray from burning off before you are ready to cook.

Use 1/4 or 1/3 cup measures to pour batter onto ready griddle. Turn pancakes when edges are dry and a spatula slides easily beneath them. Don't fret if they aren't perfect - I have at least one casualty every time I make pancakes, and I've made them from scratch dozens of times!

Yield about 20 5-inch pancakes. Get this - 55 Calories apiece!!! Top with fat-free butter, sugar-free or lite syrup! You can also omit the pumpkin and top with fresh fruit, or like my kids, peanut butter and chocolate chips. Just remember to add the extra calories. :) Enjoy!

Busy, Busy...

This week has been crazy busy, and here it is already Wednesday and I still haven't weighed! I'm going to wait until Sunday, then hopefully I will resume the weekly weigh-ins. I did start an exercise 'routine' of sorts, making sure I walk/jog a couple of times a week, and doing some strengthening exercises as well. My abs are killing me. I can't cough without being reminded of the leg rises.

Lay on the floor flat on your back (use a very small pillow or folded up sweater under the lumbar spine for support if your back hurts). Place your hands palms down on the floor at your sides. Slowly raise your legs/feet about 4 inches off of the floor and hold for a ten-count... if you can make it. Repeat 2-3 times as you are able. Gradually increase the counts by increments of 5 (10, 15, 20) over time, and increase repetitions.

You can also raise your legs so your torso and your legs make a 90 degree angle. Then slightly bend your knees, and bring your legs down to about a 45 degee angle. Hold for the same counts/reps. Ouch!!

Let me know how bad you're hurting!!!

Posting the recipe for the pumpkin pancakes soon!

I'm Pretty Sure the Honeymoon's Over

The first few weeks were not easy, but compared to the next few to come they will seem like a cakewalk (no pun intended). It's exciting to start something new, especially when such wonderful changes lie ahead. But it's easy to lose focus when we get to the point where the weight comes off so slowly that we wonder why we are even bothering. This is where the rubber meets the road. Continuing on this journey is not for the faint-hearted or the halfway-doers. It's all or nothing. Are you with me?

The initial 2-3 weeks is when you can count on losing the greatest number of pounds in the shortest time, mostly excess water. But don't let the quick loss fool you or give you false hope. If we are doing it right we should see a loss of about 2-3 lbs per week. Measure yourself, too; the evidence may be in loss of inches if you aren't seeing it on the scale.

The third or fourth week is when the real work begins.... and when you will need to kick it up a notch and really commit to exercising. Now don't act surprised, and don't think you can get by on your diet changes alone. Loose skin hanging off of floppy muscles just doesn't make for an attractive sight. That's why today I walked/jogged my two miles (trust me there was more walkin' than joggin'), did (tried to do) push-ups, crunches and a few other repetitive exercises. Believe me when I tell you I'm out of shape. Let me know what exercises you're doing!

I forgot to weigh yesterday and didn't have time today. Tomorrow I'll post an update and a recipe for awesome pumpkin pancakes that have less than 60 calories apiece!

If you are following and working on making some long-term changes, post your progress! I'd love to read your comments and suggestions, too! Thanks for the great feedback!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

My Favorite Spaghetti

I created this scrumptious 'sketty tonight after craving it all day. If you made the Hummus Crostini a few weeks ago, then you may have a jar of bruschetta and a jar of fried peppers and onions still lurking in your fridge. If not, then Mancini Fried Peppers and Onions, and Classico Extra Garlic Bruschetta is what I used. I hope you love it!

3/4 to 1 lb 93/7 ground beef
1 box of whole wheat thin spaghetti
2 cans (15 oz) plain tomato sauce
1 can (15 oz) petite diced tomatoes (because I don't like big slimy tomatoes in my sauce)
1/3 cup diced fried onions and peppers
2/3 cup bruschetta
1/2 cup reduced-fat Mozzarella cheese

Brown ground beef in skillet until no longer pink. Season with garlic powder, salt, pepper while cooking. Set aside.

In a sauce pan, combine both cans of tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, peppers and onions, and bruschetta. Salt to taste. Add ground beef. Heat to very hot on medium heat, just until there are bubbles. Reduce heat and simmer.

While sauce simmers, boil spaghetti according to package directions. Drain.

Serve sauce over spaghetti, and sprinkle each serving with 1 Tbs cheese.


Approximately 380 calories for about 1 cup. Serves 5-6.

I Went Back For Seconds!

I broke one of my own rules. I went back to the stove and put more food on my plate. I made spaghetti tonight which I think I make fairly well. My family likes it, anyway. This time I decided to try using a few things I had leftover from a previous recipe, and I was very surprised and VERY pleased with the results!! I will never go back to the old way now. I'm going to post the recipe when I finish this post.

Back to rule-breaking. It wasn't that bad, and I won't beat myself up over it. I still ate substantially less than I used to eat, and since I made my own sauce, there are no sugars in it. Whole wheat noodles made it a healthy choice. Last excuse: I had several hundred calories left in my daily allowance! I do not and will not do this all the time, but I tell ya I am fighting the urge to eat another plate of it! :O

If you do fall off the proverbial wagon, don't throw your hands up and revert right back to your previous lifestyle. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, give yourself a firm pep talk, and then move your rear end and get right back on that wagon. Making a mistake doesn't mean you have the green light to give up! Remember, just like anything we learn to do well - we'll mess up and do it wrong and feel very frustrated before we achieve success. Looking back, we'll laugh at our mistakes, and then hopefully pass on to others good advice.

Flavorful Flounder

Fishy-tasting fish is, in my most humble opinion, just gross. I can't even chew it enough to swallow it. Learning to prepare a good tasting fish entree has been the thorn in my flesh in my cooking endeavors. But! I have found the answer I have been looking for. Sometimes, the more expensive the fish, the better the texture and the flavor. I LOVE the French-Style Baked Mahi (used to have salmon too but they stopped serving it) at Harry's Seafood. It's $17 a plate for dinner. Mahi runs about $9.00 in the grocery store for 3-4 small fillets. I picked up flounder on Sunday at Publix for 7.99 for three large fillets. I wasn't sure what to expect, but

I found a recipe from Taste of Home similar to the Harry's dish I like, and it turned out great!! I subbed in lower-fat ingredients, and I will sub the melted butter with reduced fat margarine, because it really wasn't necessary and made the basting more difficult after it began to harden - not to mention that it will cut LOADS of calories and fat from this dish.

1 1/2 to 2 lbs flounder fillets
2 Tbs lemon juice
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
3 Tbs reduced-fat mayo
2-3 Tbs melted reduced fat margarine OR 2-3 Tbs low-fat milk
3 Tbs chopped green onion
1/4 tsp salt

Start grill process, allowing the heat to decrease before grilling.

Coat a large piece of heavy duty foil with cooking spray. Place fillets on foil, and brush with the lemon juice. Crimp the foil around the fillets forming edges.

Place flat on ready grill. Grill fillets covered over medium-hot heat for 4 minutes.

Combine mayo, parmesan, margarine or milk, onions and salt. Brush over fillets. Grill an additional 3-5 minutes longer, or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Instead of grilling, you can broil this fish, following the same directions for bake time and basting.

Approximately 240 calories per serving, with a massive 20 grams of protein! Serve with roasted or grilled veggies or a salad and whole grain brown rice to round out the meal.

Just a Few Thoughts

There are a lot of thoughts tossing around inside my head these days. Yesterday I wrote about cravings and said that the decision to change your (my) lifestyle was not about self-deprivation but about self-discipline, and that depriving ourselves will lead to disaster. I want to talk about that a little more.

I am learning to find a balance that I never achieved before in past diet attempts. I heard a fitness guru rant on and on about finding balance, saying that once I did, I would experience this "click" and everything would magically start to make sense, which alluded the assumption that changing one's habits is or can be easy. I rolled my eyes, shook my head, and thought nasty thoughts... and then I willed her to drive to the nearest Baskin Robbins to gorge herself. There was no way I was going to find any of this easy at any point.

But this is what I've learned. I can train myself to think positively. I can get into a routine where exercise is a normal part of my day, just like getting out of bed and showering. I can plan ahead, mapping out a week at a time, buying the things I know I will need, NOT buying the things I DON'T need, and sticking to the plan.

This morning it dawned on me that I no longer have to think really hard about what I can have for breakfast, how many calories it will contain, how I will fit in all the whole grains I need, or worry about being hungry after I've finished. That goes for lunch, dinner, and snacks as well. Then it hit me: when I wasn't paying attention, it CLICKED! I didn't hear a click, I wasn't conscious of it, but it happened, as surely as I was standing at the kitchen counter pouring reduced-sugar oatmeal into a bowl, it happened. Imagine my amusement. I made peace with the fitness guru at that moment and was repentant of my evil thoughts.

I'm learning that I can change my mindset and eat that tasteless 100-calorie whole grain English muffin, but top it with something flavorful. I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I love those English muffins, because I DON'T. I have just learned to navigate around the unpleasantness. It helps not to focus on how much I dislike them; I change my focus to improving the taste or on something else entirely. This whole venture is not about making myself eat awful food. It isn't about no longer enjoying mealtimes. It isn't even about making all these changes and leaping tall buildings in a single bound. It is about accepting the fact that my body is not healthy in its current state and understanding that if I don't make some changes right now, I am in for one heck of a miserable middle-aged life. It is about gradually making changes, and not expecting to be successful overnight. It has to be a one-day-at-a-time experience, and setting realistic, smaller goals along the path to the main goal. This way we can see progress and celebrate more frequent victories, which will motivate us to keep on going. My small goal is to lose 11 pounds per month until August. I might reach that goal every month, I might not. But those months I do will push me forward to getting through the next month!

One last thing, which truly should have been first, is the spiritual aspect of this entire process. God gave us our bodies, in fact the Bible even says that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit(I Corinthians 6:19). It is our responsibility to maintain them and keep them healthy with what He has provided. We can also ask of the Lord strength and wisdom to lift us up when we feel weak or overwhelmed. I believe that He cares about our well-being and wants us to bring our struggles before Him so that He can help us succeed. Ultimately we can give Him the victory!

Keeping Cravings In Check

They are the reason why many people struggle with the choice to change their lifestyle. They make us miserable. They make us feel deprived. They are all that is evil in the frightening world of will-power. I'm talking about cravings. It seems as soon as we decide to make some changes, before we even finish the thought or plan our first menu, the cravings dig their claws in. Before I ever skip my first urge to fill a bowl with ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate sauce and toffee bits, the cravings are hanging over me, menacingly, waiting for me to say "no" so they can pummel me from the inside. It is truly one of the most difficult things to contend with on this side of the mountain.

But it does get easier. As soon as we train our brains and bellies to make good choices as a reflex instead of bad ones, the cravings will lessen. In the meantime, I have found a few things that work for me. Remember: choosing to live a healthy lifestyle is not about self-deprivation but about self-discipline.

1. Chew sugar-free fruit flavored or mint gum. I chew gum because it helps to distract my tastebuds for a while so I can concentrate on other things.

2. Grab a piece of fruit. I can hear the lament: "Fruit??" Yes, I said fruit. Something I never thought I'd hear myself say. If you are not already a fan of a variety of fruits, DO NOT go out and spend $40 on produce because I'll tell you right now, it will go to waste and you will be out the forty bucks. Instead, stock up on fruit you know you like, and try one new variety at a time. Also, the sugar in the fruit will help ease that craving.

3. Fix a plate of veggies. Instead of indulging with a handful of Oreos (and another one later on.. and another one after that...) make a conscious decision to put something better in your body. Envision a battle between your wellness and bad decisions. Work on the side of wellness, and to better yourself - eat some flippin' broccoli florets and carrot sticks [lightly]dipped in reduced-fat ranch. As Nike says, JUST DO IT.

4. Find sugar-free candy. They are NOT calorie free, so beware how many you eat. I eat sugar-free Reeses to help stave off cravings. They came in handy especially during my first week. I had one when I needed something sweet, two when my cravings were pretty bad.

5. Have a cup of coffee. For some reason coffee works as an appetite supressant for many people. It works for me. I fix a cup with 1-2 tablespoons of fat-free creamer. Coffee House Inspirations by International Delight has at least two that I know of. Sometimes a little Splenda added gives just the right amount of sweetness.

6. Get up and do something. Go around the block for a walk. Meet a friend and go walk at the park. Go walk around the mall (fantasize about the great clothes you'll be able to wear and the cute things you'll fit into from Victoria's Secret!) Start playing tennis again. Get on the Wii. Drag your bike out of the garage. Turn on some up-tempo music and dance. Getting your heart pumping will help distract you!

7. Have a Thomas Lite 100-calorie whole grain English muffin. I like to spread a little peanut butter on mine, or a little fat-free cream cheese!

8. If you absolutely must have something bad, fill up on good stuff first, like a great big salad or a healthy dinner. Then allow yourself a small portion of whatever it is you're craving. Completely depriving yourself will set you up for disaster.

I hope this helps someone who is struggling with cravings. Don't give up!

Apple Pecan Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing

I used to have a hard time with salad. Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, ham... yuck. Then I had a salad at a restaurant that defied all of the salad rules. Applebees Oriental Chicken Salad. It was like a party in my mouth. When I figure out how to re-create that dressing in a healthier way, I'll post it. For now, try this! This is my very favorite salad. I use Ken's Steakhouse Lite Honey Mustard dressing.

2 cups salad mix (I prefer a mix of romaine and iceberg with cabbage and carrots)
1/2 cup diced apple (Grannies or Pink Ladies give great flavor to this salad!)
2 Tbs Craisins
2 Tbs Pecans (or walnuts)
1 Tbs Chow Mein noodles
2 Tbs minced red onion

Add 2 Tbs salad dressing (or to taste but add in the extra calories).

Toss to coat.

This will serve 2 as a side salad or 1 as a meal. < 250 calories!

Add 1/4 cup diced cooked chicken for extra protein!

Week 2: Weighing In

I was nervous stepping on the scale today, since I ate badly on Monday when we had friends over and decided to potluck Mexican style. One of the cheese dips had me drooling over the crock pot and hovering. I was tempted to stand guard over it so the guys didn't finish it all. I also made homemade cookies. Homemade cookies means homemade cookie dough. I could hardly contain myself. I did have the equivalent of 3 cookies (small ones!) out of the dough... and two later on after they were done. They were just so freekin' good! Salmonella? Psht. Cookie dough could have been the Old Testament's manna. I know it's mine!

So all of that aside, I lost FOUR pounds this week!!! Awesome. I'm glad I allow myself some flexibility.. I'd be ruined if I had to refuse everything I love! Looking forward to this week and Sunday's weigh in!

Hearty Italian Tortellini Soup

A cinch to put together, and it fills the house with a wonderful aroma! It's packed with protein and lots of flavor. I found a tortellini soup recipe and I changed a few things and added some things to suit my taste. The sausage is optional. Add fresh spinach for even more nutrition! Surprisingly, the tortellini is lower in calories than I thought, with protein!

1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbs olive oil
1/2 lb reduced-fat pork sausage
4 cups chicken broth (beef works well also)
1 small (1 serving size) v8 or 6 oz tomato juice
1 Tbs red wine vinegar
1 can petite diced tomatoes, regular or italian, undrained
2 tsp hot pepper sauce (Franks Red Hot or Crystal)
1 can white cannellini (white) beans or red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1 tsp seasoned salt
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 13-oz bag of frozen cheese tortellini

Brown sausage in a medium skillet until no longer pink. Drain if needed, set aside.

Heat the large pot you will use over med-high heat for 2-3 minutes. Coat the bottom of the pot with the olive oil, and saute onions and garlic together until onion is crisp-tender. Add sausage, cook for 2-3 more minutes.

Add chicken broth, diced tomatoes, red wine vinegar, tomato juice, hot pepper sauce, beans, and spices. Blend well. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add tortellini. Do not break up pieces that might be frozen together. They will separate in the pot when they thaw. Simmer tortellini approximately 5 minutes.

Serves 8-10.

With meat: Approximately 440 calories for 1 cup. Without: approximately 300 calories for 1 cup.

End of Week Two

Today is the end of my second week. I haven't exercised this week because I'm having trouble breathing with this chest cold I have and I'm hating myself for it. I've eaten pretty well and haven't gorged myself on Little Debbies or the kids' sugary cereal (which by the way won't be bought anymore)so I feel pretty good about my food intake. The wonderful thing I discovered is that I don't have to deprive myself of everything tasty and fluffy and sweet. I give myself a bite (a nibble not a chomp) of the things I crave. And I only do it after I've eaten a meal and I am satisfied; that way I don't overindulge and end up frustrated and drowning in self-loathing. I use coffee as a deterrent, too. If I'm having a pretty big craving I make enough coffee for a mug or two, then put a few tablespoons of one of my fat-free flavored creamers (Coffee House Inspirations - a life saver) and voila! My cravings are gone after a few sips.

I was really wanting to make a nice, hot soup tonight without having to go to the store. It turned out great! Look for the recipe!

Black Bean Taco Pizza

This is quick and easy with a very thin crust, and my kids love it as much as I do. The great thing about the crust recipe is that it can be used for any kind of pizza toppings you'd like to use.

This makes one pizza, so increase ingredients accordingly for multiples.

Crust:

1 Tbs yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 tsp salt
2 Tbs canola + 2 tsp
1 1/4 cup flour (try subbing 1/2 cup of the white flour with wheat flour for an even healthier choice.)

Toppings:

4-5 Tbs taco sauce
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1/3 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup frozen corn
1 can chopped green chiles, drained
2 green onions, chopped
1 cup reduced-fat shredded cheese (colby-jack is great)

Optional:

1/3 cup left over taco-seasoned chicken breast or 93/7 ground beef to add protein.
Reduced-fat or fat-free sour cream

Preheat oven to 425.

Mix yeast with water until dissolved. Let set for a few minutes.

Add salt and oil, mixing well. Add flour, mixing well.

Roll out dough into a circle, size/thickness as desired.

Bake dough 5 minutes. Remove from oven and rub with remaining 2 tsp canola oil. Add toppings as desired.

Bake 10-15 more minutes, until very hot and cheese is melted.

Serve with the reduced-fat or fat-free sour cream if desired.

Approximately 300 calories for 1/3 pizza. Add calories for sour cream.

No Exercise for the Sick

I caught something this week that started in my chest of all things, then spread upward. Exercise - none. I tried to pick up laundry and straighten my room and I felt like I had run a marathon. I hate being sick like this. Then again, it provides the perfect excuse as to why I did nothing all evening but lay in bed and watch my "British stuff", as my daughter puts it, on Netflix. Oh well. There's next week!

Check out the new recipe!

Stir Fried Steak & Veggies

I picked this up from Taste of Home's Healthy Cooking magazine. (I highly recommend Taste of Home, Simple and Delicious, and Healthy Cooking magazines by Reiman Publications.) My kids tore it up.

1 1/2 cups uncooked instant brown rice (2 pouches)
1 Tbs cornstarch
1 Tbs brown sugar (I ran out and subbed 1 Tbs white sugar with 3 drops of unsulphured molasses)
3/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup cold water
1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 lb boneless beef sirloin steak, cut into 1/2 in strips
2 Tbs canola oil
1 pkg frozen stir fry vegetable blend, thawed

1. Cook rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, brown sugar and seasonings. Stir in water and soy sauce until smooth. Set aside.

2. In a large non-stick skillet or wok, warm the pan 2-3 minutes, then add ONE Tbs canola oil. Add beef immediately. Cook on medium heat until no longer pink. Remove meat and keep warm. Add 2nd Tbs of canola oil. Add vegetables to skillet and stir-fry until crisp tender.

3. Stir cornstarch mixture and add to the skillet. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add beef; heat through. Serve over rice.

300 calories per serving! 19g protein! Serves 4.

Last Week's Success

I weighed in on Sunday after a week of struggling with cravings, headaches (dimished by the 3rd day), finding the will to exercise, judging every calorie I ingested, and praying that I would lose at least 3 lbs. I lost SIX!!!!!! That's just over half of my goal for the month of January. I want to lose a total of 70 lbs. by August.

I was so proud of myself. I know it won't be like this every week, but it's a great start. The small, healthy snacks helped tremendously. I managed to choke down a banana (I don't like bananas) and found it to be tolerable. Maybe even preferable at some point.

One of my favorite snacks: 5 Reduced-Fat Club Crackers, and 2 Tbs Hummus. New dinner recipe to follow!

I'm Not a Fan of Asparagus: Green Chile Chicken (over Asparagus)

But this recipe is delicious.

I got this from Publix Apron's Demo last week. I tweaked some ingredients to make it a healthier meal. It seems complicated but it's really not, and it goes together quickly! Try this!

Green Chile Chicken over Asparagus

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 Tbs Canola oil
1 Tbs Creole seasoning
2 Tbs + 3/4 cup water
1 (1.25 oz) packet of broccoli cheese soup mix
1/4 cup diced green chiles
1 lb fresh asparugus spears
4 oz classic hummus
4 100-calorie garlic pita bread rounds (frozen food)
4 oz fat free cream cheese, softened to room temp
3/4 cup fat free, plain yogurt
1/2 cup tomato basil bruschetta topping (Classico brand is great)
1/2 cup Mancini fried onions and peppers, diced

Trim asparagus, removing tough root end.

Preheat large saute pan on medium-high, 2-3 minutes. Coat both sides of chicken with Creole seasoning. Place oil in preheated pan, then add chicken. Cook 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden.

Reduce heat to medium low. Arrange trimmed asparagus over chicken. Add 2 Tbs water and cover; cook 4-5 minutes or until chicken is 165○F and asparagus is tender. Transfer asparagus to serving plates, top with chicken.

Whisk together 3/4 cup water, yogurt, and dry soup mix in small saucepan; bring just to a boil on medium heat. Reduce to low and stir in green chiles; simmer 2-3 minutes or until thickened. Spoon sauce over chicken and serve.

Hummus Crostini

Preheat oven to 450○F. Cut cream cheese into cubes.

Combine bruschetta and diced peppers and onions. Bake bread 5 minutes or until toasted. Blend cream cheese and hummus together until smooth. Spread hummus mixture evenly over toasted bread; top with bruschetta mixture. Bake 3-4 more minutes or until hot.

Less than 540 calories for the entire meal!!

A Few Words of Introduction

I don't know about you, but I have gotten tired of the same old boring healthy food. I love to cook and bake, and I enjoy trying new things, but with it comes the butter, the sugar, and numerous calories and fat grams. I spent the entire holiday season this past year in the kitchen.. the lamp table that is now my rear end will attest to that.

I hated the thought of "dieting" or even "lifestyle changing", and I was not looking forward to planning meals. There don't seem to be enough choices, and I am not a fan of bland food. I love foods with lots of flavor and richness, so losing weight is going to be quite a task, when thinking of all the work I will have to put into making these permanent changes to my diet. I can't put anything into my mouth these days without scouring the labels for the number of calories, protein grams, fiber, sugar, and fat. Making the choice to eat a healthy snack for 100 calories or less and getting the nutrients I need versus eating a "100-calorie pack" of something with absolutely no nutritional value... it's not that easy. See? Work!

With this blog I hope to accomplish two things:

First - find some great healthy recipes and snack ideas, prepare them, try them (which includes serving them to my family) and then share them with you. I have a large family, six members to be exact, with a wide variety of tastes, preferences, and tolerances. Healthy eating has not been favored around our home as of late, and my last weigh-in on the big grocery store scale said it is time to make some changes.

Second - I hope to be an encouragement to anyone who is overweight and needs to lose weight for health reasons. Yeah, it would be great to look hot in a bikini (or speedo), but realistically, most of us would probably be grateful to be able to fit into jeans in the teens or single digits. I hope to appeal to those who are motivated by the prospect of not having to take high blood pressure medication, being able to jog a mile and not feel like they will die after 30 seconds, and of improving their overall quality of life.

My mission: To help others (and myself) look forward to mealtimes while trying to lose weight. My goal is to blog several times a week, posting recipes for healthy meals and snacks, tweaking recipes that maybe weren't healthy to start with, and being creative with the food I prepare. I will be tracking my own progress at the same time.

And just so you know, anything I post is directed at ME as well as my readers!

Feel free to let me know you've checked out my blog. Follow! :)