The goal is to look at those somethings about you (physical or internal) that you you loathe, don't like, hate and learn to say something nice to yourself.  Say "thank you" for your crooked smile or big, strong, legs.  Work them.  All those "imperfections" make you who you are.  Learn to be at ease with yourself and others will be more at ease with you as well.  

Advice from Mom

My mom has told me multiple times that the single most valuable thing you can give a person is forgiveness and redemption.  

I think my generation lives too much in dreamland.  Products of the Disney Chanel, having princesses for role models is misleading to a young girl.  We are taught that we are strong, beautiful and smart, females and will naturally be the envy of evil step sisters and a wicked stepmother.  Men vying for our love and adoration became everyday occurrences for the select few of purple blood, but only Prince Charming can really appreciate our worth.  Since once in a lifetime only comes once in a lifetime a princess must be ready to ride off into the sunset at any moment.  


261 days ago a prince charming took control of the saddle and off he rode with his beloved princess to his kingdom.  


What they don't tell you in the movies is that it is far too easy for a princess to get swept off her feet when she is looking for love and Mr. Right in every corner.  


Perhaps the princess should have read the sequel.  Then she might know what really happens in "Happily Ever After." 

Cold Peanut-Noodle Salad Recipe

I found this recipe for Cold Peanut-Noodle Salad by searching for recipes with the ingredient cilantro. I had some leftover from Scallop Ceviche (which I highly recommend) and I could simply not let such flavor go to waste.  The concept sounded delicious and the picture was enticing.  Peanuts?  Yes please.  However, read the ingredients...there is no peanut butter in this dish.  What could possibly be better than peanut butter?  Exactly.  


I made a few changes at the recommendation of the BF.  Instead of buying all the veggies (Chinese cabbage, cucumbers, scallions) he bought a broccoli / cabbage slaw mix from Trader Joe's.  The rationale of this decision being why do all the work, when someone else can do it for you? Everything else about the recipe I followed.


Verdict?  The BF loved it and is taking it for work tomorrow.  He did, however, suggest more salt and possibly peanut butter be added next time.  I couldn't agree more with that suggestion, but overall I was not blown away.  This is so easy to make that if I could find a good "dressing" for the noodles then this could be an fast, quick dinner recipe.  Plus you get lots of fiber from the whole wheat noodles and veggies.  


P.S. The croutons are still amazing.  Why did I ever think to diet when there is so much good food in this world?  


My next mission is to master a copycat to Houston's AMAZING veggie burger.  

I Quit!

I simply cannot starve anymore so I quit. I lasted through day 3 of
breakfast and ate extra veggies for lunch. But come on...1 apple, 5
saltines, and 1 oz of reduced fat cheddar was not going to hold me
over. Hell, I'm on my feet for at least 70% of my workday.
As long as the clothes fit I'm not stepping on a scale.

Day 2

(Most) Everything I ate...

1 organic brown egg - 70 calories / 4.5 g fat / 1 g carbs / 6 g protein

1.5 pieces of Trader Joe's Low Calorie Light Wheat Bread - 60 calories / 16.5 g carbs / 7.5 g fiber / 4.5 g protein

1/2 of a small banana - 45 calories / 0.2 g fat / 11.5 g carbs / 1.3 g fiber / 0.6 g protein

1/4 cup raw broccoli - 7.5 calories / 0.1 g fat / 1.5 g carbs / 0.6 g fiber / 0.6 g protein

1 cup fat free cottage cheese - 160 calories / 12 g carbs / 26 g protein

5 Multi-grain Saltine Crackers - 60 calories / 1.5 g fat / 10 g carbs / 1 g protein

2 Oscar Mayer Light Beef Franks - 180 calories / 14 g fat / 4 g carbs / 10 g protein

1/2 cup raw baby carrots - 35 calories / 8 g carbs / 3 g fiber

1.5 cups steamed broccoli florets - 36 calories / 0.8 g fat / 4.7 g carbs / 4.5 g fiber / 6 g protein

2 tsp yellow mustard - 6 calories / 0.6 g carbs / 0.4 g fiber / 0.4 g protein

1 tsp spicy mustard - 5 calories

1/2 of a small banana - 45 calories / 0.2 g fat / 11.5 g carbs / 1.3 g fiber / 0.6 g protein

1/2 cup Breyer's "1/2 the fat" vanilla ice cream - 110 calories / 3.5 g fat / 16 carbs / 3 g protein

2 cups raw baby carrots - 140 calories / 24 g carbs / 12 g fiber

Total: 959.5 calories / 10 g fat / 121.3 g carbs / 30.6 g fiber / 58.7 g protein

(*Higher due to unlisted nutritional value for my snacks)

Breakfast

One word: BLAND!

The only person I know that eats "dry" bread is my momma.  I do not recommend it unless you have no choice.  (Now I'm starting to wish I got the butter spray.)  I made an over medium egg, with cooking spray of course, because let's face it, dry bread needs some ooey-gooey, oh so cholesterol laden egg yolk.  If I didn't have that option I would have used a ripe banana and smashed it up and covered it on the toast.  

ADDED Snack*

I cheated.  Sue me.  I had 1/4 cup raw broccoli and 10 of my homemade deliciously, awesome croutons.  I couldn't help it.  Also I had a few sips (but only sips) of the BF's strawberry milkshake.  Hello, that's my favorite!  And, I had carrots and mustard before bed, but I included those in the calorie count.  

Lunch

If you don't like cottage cheese you are going to hate this plan!  I mean hate it.  With Passion.  At least I'm truly full, but perhaps that was due to the snack of 1/4 cup raw broccoli and 4 homemade croutons I had before it.  

Dinner...

was awesome.  I ate wieners and mustard.  Plus broccoli is great steamed with a dash of Mrs.  Dash.  However, after looking at the amount of calories I took in I'm pretty sure I could have dressed the broccoli up in cheese sauce.  Oh well, live and learn.  

Tomorrow looks more calorie restricted then today (see I needed the snacks). This should be fun (insert sarcasm).  

Good tip from Better Homes And Garden

Hungry? Eat an apple. If you're not hungry enough to eat an apple,
then you're not really hungry

Being on a diet is nothing, but will power

Homemade Crouton recipe

If you want to know the nutritional value of this, I have no idear.  All I know is I make awesome croutons.  One of the many good ways to use up old bread.  


Recipe:
- 1/4-1/2 cup olive oil, more if you have a lot of bread
- Any stale bread from baguettes to sandwich bread to English Muffins.  (FYI: stale means old, not moldy.  Through the moldy stuff out!)
- Seasoning to your preference. Some ideas:
     • salt
     • pepper
     • garlic
     • Mrs. Dash
     • Italian seasoning
     • oregano
     • parsley
- Parmesan cheese 


Note: For this batch I used salt, pepper, seasoned salt, oregano


1. Preheat oven to 300
2. Mix olive oil and desired spices in large bowl (Note: bowl should be large enough to hold all pieces of bread with room to mix them)
3. Cut up the bread into bite size pieces 

4. Through all the bread in the oil and mix until the bread has absorbed the oil mixture (Note: many websites tell you to spread the oil on the bread, which may be beneficial if you are trying to shave off calories, but good croutons need to be somewhat saturated in oil.)

5. Spread bread pieces on a baking sheet

6. Bake for 20 minutes and then flip croutons
7. Bake 20 minutes longer and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese for 5 more minutes of cook time (Total: 45 minutes, but more or less depending on width of bread)
8. Let cool and enjoy!


These croutons are good for 2 weeks as long as you keep them in a ziploc bag or other airtight container.  

Tip on eating with a group

I definitely don't recommend going to get food and or drinks with people who consume more than they are willing to pay for.  If this doesn't bother you, then right on.  I find this behavior annoying and unless you HAVE to go to an event I recommend one of the following:

• Don't go
• Get your own bill (I could care less if people get upset about this, but I really don't like paying more than I ate / drank)
• Take the time to figure out exactly what you ordered and don't forget to leave a tip.  If the people you are with can't figure this out, then do it for them. (Most of the time they can, but they just don't want to)
• My personal favorite: Go out with people who are cool, fun, and aren't stingy on the cash

Day 1 - Calories consumed and recap

• 3 pieces of Trader Joe's Low Calorie Light Wheat Bread: 120 calories / 33 g carbs / 15 g fiber / 9 g protein
• 2 tablespoons Trader Joe's Valencia Peanut Butter with Roasted Flaxseeds: 200 calories / 16 g fat / 5 g carbs / 3 g fiber / 9 g protein
• 1/2 Grapefruit: 53 calories / 0.2 g fat / 13.4 g carbs / 1.8 g fiber / 1 g protein
• 1/2 cup Chunk White Albacore (1 small can): 120 calories / 2 g fat / 24 g protein
• 1 cup canned beets (salt free): 80 calories / 16 g carbs / 2 g fiber / 2 g protein
• 1 cup green beans: 44 calories / 0.4 g fat / 9.9 g carbs / 4 g fiber / 2.4 g protein
• 3 ounces chicken breast: 140 calories / 3.1 g fat / 26.4 g protein
• 1 apple: 77 calories / 0.3 g fat / 20.6 g carbs / 3.6 g fiber / 0.4 g protein
• 1 cup ice cream (I mixed a "1/2 the fat" vanilla and full fat cookies and cream): 376.2 calories / 17.2 g fat / 47.8 g carbs / 8.5 g protein
• 2 cup (approx as I did not measure out my food) Orville Redenbacher's Tender White popcorn: 80 calories / 6 g fat / 8 g carbs / <2 g fiber / <2 g protein

Total: 1290.2 calories* / 45.2 g fat / 153.7 g carbs / 31.4 g fiber / 84.7 g protein


So as you can see this is not a starvation diet.  To loose weight one must have a caloric deficit. 1200 calories a day is the minimum recommended calories on a weight loss plan.  Those who are larger or are more physically active may very well need a base of calories that is higher than 1200.  In terms of fiber, I consumed the recommend amount of 30 g per day simply by food consumption.  I'm not sure I've done that in a long time.  The only thing I question is the amount of daily fat consumed.  The American Heart Association recommends no more than 30% of your calories consumed by fat calories.  I've read on multiple websites that it is anywhere from 30 g fat total to 60 g total.  If anyone knows the answer to this question let me know.  If there is a next time I would try to make sure all my fats are the fat-free or low-fat versions.  


Without the popcorn and extra scoop of ice cream I would have consumed 1200 calories.  Despite cheating, I'm very happy with how day 1 went.  


*My calories, and perhaps fats, carbs, fiber, and protein, were most likely higher because I consumed sugar free lemonade in large quantities, which has trace calories per serving.  Also all the above is approximates.  

Din Din

So I apologize in advance for not taking a picture of dinner.  All I could think about was how in todo el mundo am I going to be able to tolerate eating beets?  Perhaps this diet requires you to eat something foul tasting so you loose all desire to consume anything?  Now that would be an idear.


So how did I eat 1 whole cup of beets?  Let's face it, without salt they are not edible.  And they stain things so be careful with them.  The beets were alright with white vinegar, but the salt adds to them quite significantly.  I also tried them with Mrs. Dash, which was a bad idea.  The last thing I tried was salted beets with balsamic vinegar.  Perhaps it is just because I'm a vinegar whore, but those were edible.  I'm not going to go out of my way in the future to eat beets, but if you try a diet like this, balsamic and salt is what I recommend.  And you probably don't want to eat them from the can, but desperate times call for desperate measures.  


So beets, 1 cup of green beans with scant salt, and a Gorge Foremaned (it's a word for the grilling generation) chicken breast complete with salt, pepper, and Mrs. Dash and I'm feeling content.  I still have an apple and 1 cup of ice cream ordered for the day, but at this point I'm full.  Those two will be a nice snack later.  


I didn't know how to eyeball 3 ounces of chicken, but this website was quite helpful.  In fact, it tells you how to eyeball a number of foods.


What I like so far about this diet is I do feel content after meals.  I think a part of it is to teach one appropriate portions.  I see a few people who claim that you loose weight on this diet because you are starved of calories, so I'll approximate how much I ate for the total day in an entry to come.  


Update: I mixed 3/4 cup Breyer's "1/2 the fat" Vanilla and approximately 1/3 c regular fat Cookies and Cream.  I was initially full after this, but I think the sweetness of the Cookies and Cream triggered my hunger.  When the BF made popcorn I shared some, which was not part of the diet.  Perhaps I should have only consumed Vanilla ice cream then a cup of tea to curb the cravings?  

Runch time

After my bike ride I chugged a large glass of sugar-free lemonade.  I remembered that you can drink sugar-free and diet drinks.  Then for lunch I had the following:

1 slice bread (remember mine is the low cal so I have a little extra), 1/2 cup albacore tuna in water, and a cup of Oolong tea.  

First off I was shocked that a can of tuna is 1/2 cup.  That is protein to the extreme and definitely contributes to feeling contently full.  Since tuna is quite bland on its own I added a dash of pepper and Mrs. Dash salt-free seasoning blend in Lemon Pepper.  

The extra pepper and Mrs. Dash made the tuna tolerable.  I still prefer mayo with my tuna, but sometimes you have to just say, "I have willpower!"  This was actually my first time trying Mrs. Dash.  I see people at work use it and it's not bad considering it is salt-free.  The reason I chose the Lemon Pepper flavor is because it is suggested seasoning for fish, eggs, vegetables, shellfish, turkey, and tuna. The diet requires you to eat a ton of veggies (I'm already gagging at the thought of beat), eggs, tuna, etc., so I think this seasoning will come in handy.  The alternative was a butter spray, but I have a feeling I'm not allowed to use that for flavoring.  

Another large glass of sugar-free lemonade followed by the Oolong and that is lunch.  The verdict?  I feel content and am satisfied.  

Day 1 - Most important meal of the day

I woke up around 9am-ish and then had a cup of black coffee.  Black coffee in my book has none of my beloved half-n-haf and just a tiny amount of Splenda.  If you have good coffee, I recommend Trader Joe's Colombia Supremo, then this is doable.  Also a good coffee pot is essential.  If you are using an old, crappy one, you should ask yourself why?A good coffee pot does coffee right and saves you a good deal of money in the end.   


Since I went shopping to pick up all my necessary items I didn't eat until 10:40am.  Normally I eat 2 hours or more after waking, but I read that you are supposed to eat within an hour of rising.  Que sera.  


On to breakfast.  Ta-dah!

1/2 a grapefruit and 1 slice of bread with 2 TABLESPOONS PEANUT BUTTER

Seriously that looks good.  

I happen to love grapefruit so I had no problem eating the white grapefruit plain (I even drink all the leftover juice).  My tip for cutting the sections of the grapefruit is to cut the membrane between the actually fruit and peel with a small, sharp knife.  Make sure to cut nice and deep.  Then cut each small membrane that lines the grapefruit segments.  When you are done, success.  The slices can be scooped out one by one.  

In terms of why you see 1.5 slices of bread, I chose to do this because the bread in my house is the Trader Joe's whole wheat low cal bread, which is 40 calories per slice.  Bread is normally 90 calories per slice or much higher.  Hey, I'm just trying to follow what the diet says to eat ;) .  And frankly, 2 tablespoons of PB is a lot!  This is like crunchy, peanut butter heaven!  If you haven't tried Trader Joe's Valencia Peanut Butter with Roasted Flaxseeds then you are missing out on life.  My mom suggested it to me and it has been my favorite ever since.  

Lastly I finished off my meal with black coffee (remember black means just a little Splenda) with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top (see health benefits below* or via this link).  This time drinking it I wish I had half-n-half, but over all I feel full and content.  This breakfast is a winner.  

*Health benefits of cinnamon include the following: 

• Cassia cinnamon is used for: colds; the uncontrolled farts; diarrhea; painful menstrual periods; and improving energy, vitality, circulation.  
• Ayurveda cinnamon is used as a remedy for diabetes, indigestion, colds, and helping aid the digestion of fruit and dairy products.  
• Cinnamon in general has been shown in medical studies to reduce fasting blood glucose and triglycerides while improving LDL cholestrol (that's the one you want high) when test subjects consumed 0.25 - 1 teaspoons daily. Also, other medical studies have suggested some link with cinnamon and antifungal properties.  

My own side note: Pregnant women should definitely consider taking cinnamon since yeast infections are part of pregnancy.  Also, those women who are at risk for GDM should consider this to potentially help prevent this condition or at least manage it.  

It's been awhile...time for a DIET!

I'm going to chronicle something that is slightly embarrassing to me, but if I put it out in the open I cannot back out of it or "cheat" if you will.  I have steadily gained some pounds since stopping a medication I was prescribed, which had the lovely side effect of helping decrease my naturally ravenous appetite.  In the end I lost weight and felt very comfortable with myself.  I think I needed a little aid to get back there, or start the process of getting back there.  I don't want to do it the unhealthy way or medical or OTC option to get me back to comfortable.  I'm just going to eat well.  I'm doing it the right way: diet and exercise.  


So what am I talking about?  The Kaiser Permanente diet plan.  Yes, Kaiser.  I was given this diet years ago (probably close to a decade) and I remember doing it, but never having the will power to complete it.  Thankfully, things have changed and I have a will power of steel, well perhaps aluminum.  I do, however, have a very supportive partner and parents so I think I can succeed at something for 3 days.  


So hear it is, the diet (the website I found it on also has user feedback, which I find helpful):

Day 1

• Breakfast: 1/2 grapefruit, 2 tbs. peanut butter, 1 slice toast
• Lunch: 1/2 cup tuna, 1 slice toast, a coffee/tea
• Dinner: 3 ozs. meat, 1 cup green beans, 1 cup beets, 1 small apple, 1 cup vanilla ice cream

Day 2

• Breakfast: 1/2 banana, 1 egg, 1 slice toast
• Lunch: 1 cup cottage cheese, 5 saltine crackers
• Dinner: 2 hot dogs, 1 cup broccoli, 1/2 cup carrots, 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream

Day 3

• Breakfast: 1 hard boiled egg, 1 slice toast
• Lunch: 1 oz. cheddar cheese, 5 saltine crackers, 1 small apple
• Dinner: 1 cup tuna, 1 cup beets, 1 cup cauliflower, 1/2 cantaloupe, 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream

Apparently with this diet you are supposed to loose 10 lbs in 3 days.  I'm not trying to go that extreme.  I've gained 6 lbs from the weight I've been for at least 6 months.  I haven't been eating well, which is a contributor.  I just want to drop a lb or 2 and I would be content. 


Off to buy groceries and then try this out.  Wish me luck!