Day 16

Today I was feeling a little adventurous, I wanted to try something new.  I had a ton of Kale and spinach in the fridge that was going to go bad, so I decided to try making chips out of it.  Preheat oven to 350. I started by breaking down the kale, this means removing it from the stalk and washing it.  Make sure to use a salad spinner to dry it.

Next, tear the kale into bite size pieces.  If you have pieces that are too small, put them aside and save them.  You can use them in salad but I plan to add them to my smoothies!  Place bite size pieces on a baking sheet that you have placed parchment paper upon.  Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.  If you want you can use another oil, sunflower oil might work well.  It is possible to add another spice as well, maybe seasoned salt or chile powder.  Totally up to you!

Do not place kale too close together on baking sheet or they will all stick together.

Looks good to me!  Bake in oven until edges are brown, about 10-12 minutes.

Lookin good!  Place in a bowl and reuse parchment paper, no use killing more trees!

These are ready to eat as soon as they come out.  They are super tasty!  The kale has a pretty bold flavor which isn't for everyone so be aware.  I noticed I also had a half a bag of spinach that expired soon, so I thought I would toss those in as well.  This time I thought I would toss in oil before placing on the sheet.  I had a lot of spinach and a spoonful of oil was more than enough.

Place on baking sheet in a single layer.

Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes until edges are brown.  Remove and place in bowl.  I found that drizzling with oil worked better than tossing before hand, as the latter over saturated the leaves.

These can be stored in a freezer bag on the counter for up to a week.

So I had a side dish, but what did I want for my main course?  I remembered I had beautiful salmon that was going to go bad.  I cut the salmon and squeezed some lemon over the pieces.  I then added some lemon pepper seasoning and a touch of salt.  I made sure to rub in the seasoning and placed on a backing sheet lined with parchment paper.

I cooked the salmon at 450 for about 10 minutes.  They were still pink in the middle, but fish continues to cook when you remove it from the oven so I figured they would get to the right temperature if I took them out after 10 minutes.

Looks good to me!  And it tasted even better.

I also made some coconut chocolate mousse, but I have yet to eat it.  I think I am gonna add in some strawberry and banana pieces when I eat it, how can you go wrong with fresh fruit?

You can't! :-)

Days 11-15

The past few days have been busy as per usual.  I have not done a great job of working out, finding that I value an extra hour of sleep over working out.  I made up for that today by walking all over downtown, and am thinking that tomorrow I will get up to work out.  The only issue is that I have done something to my back, causing a shooting pain all down my left leg that is accompanied by numbness.  Odd. I spoke to a doctor, who told me to be extra careful when working out these next few days.

Aaaaanyway, I weighed myself today and have lost 12 pounds in the past 2 weeks, heck yeah! I think the portion control and cutting out bad foods has had a lot to do with it.  So I am gonna keep trying!  I had a pretty great weekend with close college friends from out of town.  We ate some amazing food, a lot of which is below.  Don't worry, I was good with portion control as well as fat content, except for the small piece of cake I had at dinner.  I have been really good lately so I think I deserved it! Haha

The above food was lovingly and artfully prepared by my friend Jimmy on Friday.  It was delicious!  Black beans, corn, and corn/beef enchiladas.  Save for the sauce (which I didn't get much of) I think that this dish was relatively healthy.  I was also sure to eat a spinach salad and drink water with the meal.

Last night for dinner we went to Acre, a relatively new restaurant in town that serves upscale contemporary fusion cuisine.  It was delicious!!  First I had the lobster lasagna which was fairly healthy, save for the sauce.  I find that sauce is usually the part of the meal with the most calories, so ask for it on the side or get light sauce.

I got a smaller potion of the gnocchi for my main meal, since I had already had an appetizer.  I was also careful not to eat too much bread, it isn't great for you and fills you up too fast.  The gnocchi had a brown sauce, fresh green beans, tomatoes, and chanterelle mushrooms (my fave!). The portion was very filling and so good!

I also had a cocktail, a berry martini.  This was just vodka (100 calories per shot) and a berry puree, which was just pureed fruit! Not too fattening and SO GOOD.  Seriously, go to Acre and get it.  You will not be sorry.

I was craving something sweet after my meal, so I ordered the chocolate desert.  It was small but packed with flavor and deliciousness.  It was my bad thing this week, and it was totally worth it!

This brings us to today.  I went walking downtown with a friend and got a great deal of exercise without even realizing!  We then went down to walk along the river, ending up climbing all the way down to touch the water.  We skipped rocks for awhile and I took this amazing photo:

There is no reason that you cannot enjoy your exercise!

It's been a touch couple of weeks with school and work stress, not to mention being careful to eat well at all times.  I cannot tell you how many times I have been stressed and wanting a big ole piece of chocolate cake.  Good thing I don't have it in the house! I know that if I buy a pint of ice cream to eat over a few weeks I will sit there and eat the whole thing.  So, no bad things for me!

Here's hoping for another 12 pounds, and many more!

Days 6-10

Sorry I have been so bad about posting, my life took a turn towards crazy once student teaching started.   I adore my job, and it has been great at keeping me occupied.  The keeping busy has been really great because it stops me from being bored and eating.  I hardly have time to sit, let alone think about eating.  There have been days, however, where I have come home and wanted to eat a huge piece of chocolate cake.  Have I done it?  No, but that's probably because I do not have any in the house.  I have learned that if I keep bad food in the house, then I will most likely eat it.  Although I am getting better, I do not have much will power. That is why teaching is great.  It isn't as if I can snack while I am teaching, especially since I do not allow my students to eat in class.

When I started my student teaching I noticed that there were inspirational saying posted throughout the school.  This one is especially applicable to me because I am trying so hard to eat well and exercise.  Thanks Michael Jordan!

I have been exercising, but took a couple of days off for my body to rest.  Of course I then went dancing downtown and am now so sore it hurts to go up the stairs.  Anyone know anything that could help with sore muscles?  I tried adding powdered ginger (recommended by a friend) but it tasted terrible.

I have been really good about drinking my shakes in the morning, I find that they are extremely filling plus they taste great!!  

Doesn't that look pretty?  I love all of the colors.  A nutritionist friend of mine told me that when a plate of food has a lot of colors it also has a lot of vitamins. Below are some health benefits I get from the fruits that I use:

Blueberries

According to the FDA, one serving of blueberries contains as many antioxidants as five servings of apples, carrots, broccoli, or squash. Their studies rate blueberries number one in antioxidant activity compared with 40 other fruits and vegetables

Spinach

Spinach contains at least 13 different flavonoid compounds and is a significant source of most primary ingredients in your daily multivitamin, including vitamins K, A, C, B12, B2, B6, calcium, potassium, manganese, folate, iron, and magnesium. It is also a valuable source of dietary fiber, protein, phosphorous, copper, zinc, and vitamin E. Additionally, it contains omega-3 fatty acids, niacin, and selenium.

Mangoes

A comfort food. Mangos really can make you feel better! Beyond being delicious and rich in vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants, mangos contain an enzyme with stomach soothing properties similar to papain found in papayas. These comforting enzymes act as a digestive aid and can be held partially responsible for that feeling of contentment we experience during and after our daily mango ritual. Yes, it is quite natural to crave those mangoes!

Strawberries

Not only do they taste great, The health benefits of strawberry include eye care, proper brain function, and relief from high blood pressure, arthritis, gout and heart diseases.

Blackberries

In the 'best antioxidants' league table, blackberries are right up there. In fact they are probably in the top ten. Blackberries are jam-packed with polyphenols and anthocyanins...what do they do? Well they can help to prevent cancer and heart disease. Blackberries are also rich in manganese and vitamin C. It is important to have adequate Vitamin C as a lack of it can weaken our immune system, which in turn can make you stressed and run down. Other good sources of manganese and vitamin C are strawberries and raspberries. 

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt can have twice as much protein as regular yogurt. The extra protein will help you feel full and leave you feeling satisfied. Salt is a big red flag, and many consumers are looking for lower in salt items. According to the USDA, Greek yogurt has less sodium by up to 50 percent. Plus, it still has a full-bodied taste without the high sodium content. If you are watching your carbohydrate intake or have a sensitivity to carbohydrates like diabetes, then Greek yogurt is your ticket. Regular yogurts have 15 to 17 grams of carbohydrates per cup, where Greek yogurt averages around 9 grams. Because Greek yogurt contains less carbohydrates than regular yogurt, it has less lactose, the sugar in dairy products that can sometimes upset people's stomachs. This is especially helpful for people who have lactose intolerance.

All in all things are goin great!!

Day 5 - I discover my new favorite thing

Today I had a great day.  Work was good, breakfast and lunch delicious, but that isn't what topped it off, today I discovered something that I cannot believe I have survived 27 years without.  What was it you ask?  It was....Coconut Chocolate Mousse!  Amazing!  Not only is it low in fat, it is HIGH in flavor!  

Ok, here's what you do.  Get a can of organic coconut milk, NOT the lite kind.  Put it in the fridge overnight.  Get it out, open it, and scoop out all the solid white stuff.  Set that to the side.

Pour the remaining liquid into a tupperware to save for later.  It's great to make sauces, dressing, or to add to a smoothie.

Grab the bowl of solid white coconut milk from before and put it into a mixing bowl.  Add cocoa and sweetener (I used Splenda) to taste.  Whip until light and fluffy.

The result is a rich, thick, chocolate mousse that will make you wonder HOW you lived this long without trying it!!  Admittedly I had to add 4 packets of Splenda, so maybe I might try some other kind of sweetener next time.

Although it was great alone, I decided to add strawberries to mine (because they make EVERYTHING better!).

Result?  One of the best things ever.  Eveeeeeeer.  It could be because I haven't had real mousse in years, but I approve of this coconut chocolate mousse!

Side-note: I did not exercise today, I have been told I should take one day off a week to let my body rest.

Side-note 2: If you are not used to rich foods, or coconut, do not eat too much at one time.  A friend told me she ate a lot and then became ill.  Ease into it people.

Day 4

Today was a great day.  I woke up early to get ready for my first day of student teaching, so early in fact that I laid in bed for half an hour.  I finally got up, got dressed, made my shake (vanilla greek yogurt, frozen mango, fresh blueberries, frozen mixed berries, and a splash of diet V8 Splash), and headed out.  I spent the morning on my feet and had a version of my spinach salad with chicken and lemon dressing for lunch.

I spent the rest of the day upright, which was good for my posture but not so good for the soles of my feet. I left work and swung by Starbucks for some tea (I am addicted!) and really really REALLY wanted to get a brownie.  I was, however, able to cure my chocolate craving with a cake pop.  I did some math and I could totally eat that today with the amount of fat I planned to consume.  FAB!  Now instead of eating a whole piece of cake when I have a crazy chocolate craving, I can have one bite of something chocolatey.  Everything in moderation I suppose.  I was worried that dieting meant no bad stuff, meaning sweets were a thing of the past.  The trick, however, is to just have one or two bites, instead of one or two pieces.

When I finally got home I was exhausted, but knew that I had to suck it up and workout.  Since it was dark I decided to do some Just Dance with my fab roomie instead of going for a run (plus it's cold and I am a total wuss).  I just finished my workout and am exhausted, so I think I am gonna lay low and get some work done.

For dinner I am going to have a spinach salad with pesto, grilled chicken, and fresh lemon juice.  Recipe for pesto is below:

*NOTE: This is high in fat, so a little goes a looooong way

Abby's Pesto Recipe

4 cups packed basil leaves
5 cloves garlic
½ cup butter
2 cups parmesan cheese
olive oil
a handful of pine nuts

Put first four ingredients into bowl of food processor in order given: mash as many basil leaves in as you can, just as long as you leave a few inches of space at the top of the bowl, then add garlic , slice up the butter on top, and dump the cheese on top of that. Pulse and gradually add olive oil until mixture is the consistency of thick paste. (Taste at this point and see if it needs more of anything.) Add nuts and continue to blend. Once done, spoon into jars and keep in fridge until ready to enjoy. Yields about two cups.

Enjoy!

Day 3

Today started off slow, but picked up when I worked out on the Wii Just Dance with my lovely roomie!  She and I had waaaay too much fun.  I think that dancing is a great workout because you have fun and don't even realize that you are exercising.  That is, until the next morning when you can't get out of bed.

I was in the mood for fish today and I got some really great looking salmon at the Kay Roger yesterday.  I made my lemon pepper salmon and set it to the side to cool, as I wanted to use it in a salad.  Then I put spinach, quinoa (my new favorite thing!), feta, the salmon, a hard boiled egg, and my lemon dressing (recipe below) all in a bowl.  The result is below:

It was really tasty and filling to boot!  I ate over 2 hours ago and am still full.  Success!  A nutritionist friend of mine suggested that I not count calories as that will result in weight gain if I ever choose to stop. I have, therefore, decided to watch what I eat and avoid the no-no foods.

Abby's Lemon Dressing:

DISCLAIMER: A little of this dressing goes a loooong way

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon mustard (make your own or use store bought.  I use Organic Kroger brand)
1 teaspoon minced garlic (you can buy this predone in a jar, but it is much cheaper to do it yourself)
1 teaspoon white sugar (I use Truvia)
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

*Feel free to use the lemon juice from the grated lemon in the dressing as well for a little extra kick. You can also save the juice and use it in a marinade or to squeeze over fish.

Directions:

In a glass jar, combine olive oil, vinegar, mustard, garlic, sugar, and lemon rind; shake well. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

* If you are worried about the fat in the olive oil then you can reduce the amount.  But then you should also reduce the vinegar.  Make sure you substitute another liquid like lemon juice.

Day 2

Day 2 got off to a good start.  I woke up energized and refreshed.  I threw on my running clothes and stepped outside to find it was COLD.  Like, for real freezing.  So I decided to use my Wii to workout, which totally kicked my butt.  Afterwards I made myself a smoothie.  I added vanilla greek yogurt, V8 Splash Light, frozen mangoes, and frozen mixed berries.

 It was actually kinda hard to get it to blend.  I think next time I will add fresh fruit too.

 The result!  Very tasty, and filling too!  Plus it's a pretty color :-)

 After I had my breakfast I decided I needed to make a list of grocery store items. I wanted to try making a salad with quinoa as I heard it is really good for you.  I made my list and got all my groceries!





Now, who wants to learn how to make quinoa?  You do.  All you do is put it in a sifter,

Run it under cold water,

 add it to boiling water, and cover.

It was super good! Now, what protein do I want in my salad?  Chicken of course!  I marinated it in teriyaki sauce and put it on the Foreman for 7 minutes.

Perfect!

I added almost everything to this bad boy.  Spinach, mushroom, tomato, egg, feta, craisins, radish, quinoa, and chicken.  I am calling it "Kitchen Sink Salad." And it was gooooood.

All mixed up!

If I could eat like this every day I would have no problem dieting!

Day 1

I am sore.  Too sore.  Why you ask?  Because I went too hard too fast.  I woke up this morning excited to go running.  I threw on my clothes, said hey to my roommate, and was on the run.  I started out running full speed but quickly found that it was quite difficult to do and that it hurt my shine a LOT.  Not wanting to lose my excitement, I decided to alternate.  I would run to a cross street, and then walk briskly to the next. I did this for about a mile when I decided to turn around.  I was getting a weird beating in my heart, and my chest hurt a lot.  On the trip back I found that my legs were beginning to ache.  When I got home I walked around for a bit cleaning, and then decided I needed something to eat.  I wasn't particularly hungry but I thought it would be good for me to eat something.

When I got to my kitchen I remembered I had frozen fruit.  SO I piled in mangos, berries, greek yogurt, and a bit of V8 SPlash.  I used the blender and then poured it in a glass.  It was so good!  It was filling and tasty, meaning I wasn't hungry again for 4 hours.

I spent the rest of the day cleaning (burning calories for sure!), and then went to a friends for dinner.  All in all I would say that I had a great day.

I am, however, still sore from the run.

What I learned today:

1. Always stretch before and after exercise.  Always

2. A smoothie is a great alternative to a full breakfast.  So good!

3. If I stay busy then I do not have a desire to eat when bored because I am never bored!