Back on Track!!

Today's post is in honor of a friend's birthday. She asked me find a dessert to make, as my present to her. But the problem is I could not find one, I FOUND TWO!!! So I decided to make both (aren't I a great friend?!?!)

They were both good-- but the one was great (personally m

y favorite out of everything I made). It is the Chunky & Nutty Frozen PB Cups. Each serving is 78 calories, 2 grams fat, 2.5 grams sugars, 2 grams protein, and 11.5 grams carbs.

It was a very simple recipe from Hungry Girl 200 Under 200 by Lisa Lillien (copyright 2009--- http://www.amazon.com/Hungry-Girl-Under-Recipes-Calories/dp/0312556179/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248916985&sr=8-1). You take one sugar free, fat free chocolate instant pudding mix and mix 1/4 cup of warm water until smooth and thickened. Then in a different bowl mix 1 tablespoon of Cool Whip with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter and add to pudding mixture. Add in 1/4 cup of nuts (any kind work-- I used sunflower seeds personally). Add the rest of the tub of Cool Whip (8 ounce container) to the pudding mixture. After done mixing put in 12 cup muffin pan with baking cups. Freeze for one hour and eat.

I highly recommend this recipe-- it tastes delicious and is amazing. I used a different size muffin tin so mine are actually 2 for every serving.

The second recipe was good but too simple for me-- PB-nana Poppers. You just mix PB and Cool Whip and put between bananas. Too simple for me-- I like a challenge.

This morning I shocked myself-- I got on the scale and it was back to where it was last Monday-- 231.8 pounds (I thought it would take a few days to get back to that). Now I am starting to get into the high hopes area of 220s- hahaha. I have definitely stepped up my exercising and I think that is some of the reason.

I also did some reflecting and realized that I got through these movements of losing weight and then gaining a few pounds back before dropping drastically and starting it all over again. I think I am currently in the dropping drastically and will after 2 weeks or so gain some back before doing it again. Realizing this might help me not stress so much about the gains (which I know in my brain are normal but still BUG ME!!!).

I wish losing weight were easier-- but I was reading something tonight. You do not gain the weight overnight so why should you expect to lose it overnight. This is definitely something to be aware of-- it has taken me 7 months to lose 40 pounds. UGH-- why can't this be easier.

Here is my closing recommendation for you-- find a friend or a group of friends and create a weight loss group. I could not do this without my group of friends-- Susan, Jess, Laura, Kortni and Amy-- they might not realize they are my group but they are. They offer words of advice and encouragement and are always there (through the gains and loses). It helps, trust me!!

Falling Off The Wagon

I have been putting off writing the latest post for a few days now, as a result there will be two posts in one. As I wrote last week, last Monday I weighed in at 231 pounds. But between Monday morning and the next week on Monday I had let myself go and went back up to 236 pounds. I felt so ashamed (not because of the weight gain-- that is normal, everyone fluctuates). What I was ashamed about what that I knew it was not normal fluctuation. Between the two Mondays I went out to eat 10 times-- that is more than the past three weeks combined. I had soda during about half of those times (which is more soda than I had previously had during the past 2 months). But the real kicker was when I went to the movies and got a soda and candy and was ok with it. The issue with that is-- I never get a soda or candy during movies, I haven't done that in a few years.

I had also started my old routine of giving myself excuses for not doing certain exercises. "That Hip Hop Abs is 40 minutes, I do not have time for that so I will do that 30 minute one" (which is easier).  "I do not have time for the 60 minute yoga workout" but then I decide to watch an hour TV show right after I am done with 30 minute yoga workout. I started back into the process of giving myself excuses.

Yes, I was still eating right when I was at home. I was eating organic and loving it but when you go out to eat, that food is NOT organic (yet it tastes soooooo good). Sunday night (two days ago) I started looking back at the last week and realized I had a choice. I could either continue the way I was last week (which was having a lot of fun, because I do love to eat) or I can gain better control and learn from that week.

Eating out is not bad, but I could have made better choices while doing it. I let myself start to think that I needed to eat out at McDonalds 3 times in one week because I was having a busy schedule. I let myself think I needed the fries off of a friend's plate whenever they were finished because they were just going to be thrown out. In reality, those fries should have been thrown out, I did not need them.

I am human, this process is like a roller coaster (I think it is an overused cliche but it fits). There are ups and downs, it is part of the process so that in the end you learn from all of your mistakes along the way. This past week I learned, I need to find a better balance between letting go and having too much control.

I also learned it was time for me to step up the exercise routine-- I am doing the 40 minute Hip Hop Abs and 60 minutes yoga routine (no excuses unless it is honestly a time constraint when I have to leave the house). I am pushing myself to do 45 minutes on the treadmill (usually equals about 2 miles) if I feel up to it. While also doing the 30 minutes 30 day Shred.

Since Sunday night I have had better control and actually started to realize what the feeling of being hungry is which is amazing-- I had forgotten what it felt like. It is a great feeling and a great realization that my body can tell me when to eat instead of eating because of being bored or because it is that time of day. I now eat because I am hungry (and it is that time of day).

I feel better since renewing my goal of creating a new me (and shaping my body to look like Ryan Reynolds- haha). I am back on my way to 231 pounds, where I was (I am at 233 pounds currently).

I also created a very interesting supper last night-- something I had never had but is a variation of something I learned to eat only a few months ago. It is a Quinoa- Stuffed Pepper. If you are like my mother or myself you are probably asking what Quinoa is-- it is like a mix between a nut and a whole grain. It is actually quite delicious. I cooked the quinoa in the microwave and then mixed in spinach leaves and then stuffed it in the pepper. I cooked it in the oven for about minutes and put cheese on top and finally salsa (helped to add in some onions and peppers that way).

It was quite delicious-- also very stuffing. I was only able to eat half of it before I got full and put the rest in the refrigerator. I did have a turkey and cheese sandwich with it because I thought it did not appear to be enough for a meal.

I highly recommend this meal for everyone-- but there is one problem. I had to order the quinoa online-- I could not find it at any store around here (maybe I was not looking hard enough). So if anyone needs it all you have to do is ask and I would be more than happy to give you a cup to play around with.

Here is my ending advice for you-- ADD SALSA-- it is something I read and it has really stuck with me. By adding salsa to a meal, salad or anything you are getting a serving of onions, peppers and tomatoes which are essential vegetables. I have started using it instead of salad dressing and it is spicing up the meals. Granted get an organic type that is made with real vegetables and not processed stuff (it truly does taste better).

Discovering Organic Isle at Giant (along with a DELICIOUS RECIPE)

As many people knew today I was going to an organic food store in Hanover today. It was a very nice small store. It had what I was looking for and I got a few items. But I was not getting a lot because I was going to Giant and I knew they had quite a few things I saw at the store (and Giant tends to be cheaper).

A little bit of back story-- I am further along in the book of "Master Your Metabolism" and I am going to quite a few sites and learning as much as I can. So I felt more prepared going to Giant Organic Food Isles this time.

Walking down the isles felt like I was going down them for the first time-- my eyes were opened and because I recently cleaned out my cupboards and threw out a lot of things the book said were really bad for me I did spend quite a bit of money (but it is like when you get back from a really long vacation-- you have to spend money to replenish the house).

I got canned goods by Eden products because their cans do not contain BPA-- almost EVERY other canned good does. BPA is linked to a lot of hormonal issues and future problems later in life.

Jillian also recommends only a few kinds of processed foods (others you calls evil because they contain different kinds of chemicals to enhance the flavor). Giant had EVERY SINGLE of those brands-- I actually did not need to go to the organic food store because everything I just bought was at Giant when I looked closer.

Do not get me started on Giant's organic vegetables, meat and diary products-- it is amazing. The only problem I had was buying the seafood products Jillian recommend. I am not a seafood person and NEVER bought seafood before so while I was looking at everything I was very confused and getting worked up so I decided not to bother this time. (But if anyone wants to help me out next time just let me know- hahaha).

(As you can tell I basically have gone 100% organic or am at least on the way. If you go through my cupboards and refrigerator you will probably notice I have about 75% organic items and hopefully by school I am up to 100%. I highly recommend it-- I have been watching what goes in me since about Sunday and been limiting the chemicals that go in and personally I do feel different-- I have more energy.)

Now onto the new recipe:

Monday I weighed myself and I was down to 231 pounds which meant I officially lost 40 pounds since January. It was a great feeling but of course it did not last long. Monday lunch was at McDonalds (with a friend who needed a friend) and then Monday dinner was at Isaacs followed by going out to a pool party with lots of desserts. So needless to say by Tuesday morning I was up 3 pounds to 234 pounds- haha. But IT WAS SOOOO WORTH IT!! You need to live a little and that is what I did. Today I was back down to 232.8 and hopefully by Friday I am back on track with losing but if I am not no big deal. I will eventually get there but going out with great friends makes it all worth it.

You might be wondering what this has to do with the new recipe-- well I took a new dessert to the pool party and it was a hit. I made Funky Monkey Squares that were delicious. The cookbook describes it as part cookie, part brownie and part cake. Did I mention it has CHOCOLATE in it and it is under 100 calories per serving. I did do a little creative cooking by substituting pineapple for banana (since I did not have any bananas) and substituting applesauce for butter (because I didn't have any butter). But it did not affect the taste because it was so light and fluffy (even the next day when I had the only piece that was left over from the night before.

The picture is up above and if anyone wants more information about the recipe please let me know-- this might just be my favorite recipe yet (even better than the meatloaf which was pretty darn amazing).

Well it is almost time bed and this is getting rather long. So I will leave you with this tip-- do not eat anything after 9pm at night. Every book I am reading on weight loss gives this advice-- your body needs the break from food and to prepare for bed.

Oh Eggplant-- how you screwed me!!!

I do not know where to begin with this past week. I kept trying to make different dishes but realized each time I did not have the right ingredients or the right cookware. So I didn't make an actual meal until last night (and then another one today).

But before I get to the meals I wanted to let everyone know I am down to 232.2 pounds-- as of this morning. I am hoping by Monday (when I see quite a few of my fellow teachers) I can be down to 231 pounds. That would mean I officially reached the mile-marker of 40 pounds lost since January 1, 2009--- WOOT WOOT WOOT WOOT!!!

This week I also discovered something very interesting-- a book. I believe this book will help me in my quest for a newer and healthier me. Or as my dad puts it-- I am becoming an anorexic health freak (which I wear as a badge of honor personally). The book is called "Master Your Metabolism" by Jillian Michaels. The premise of the book is trying to get your hormones under control so you get your metabolism back to normal. I am realizing through reading it about all of the chemicals around us that make their way into our bodies and make our bodies go out of whack. The chemicals in our food, our cleaning supplies, our air fresheners and our laundry detergent are actually destroying our endocrine system.

So I have made it my goal to go 'green' with my food, cleaning supplies, and even using less plastic in my apartment. These will not eliminate chemicals but they will cut them back.

As a result I have discovered the organic isles in Giant--- they are amazing. I absolutely love organic foods now and I HIGHLY recommend at least trying them. Yes they are more expensive but aren't you and your family worth it. I mean honestly-- you want to pay less and get more chemicals in your body or do you want to pay more and get less chemicals. Personally I am willing to pay the price for my health and long life.

BUT I know many of you want me to get down to the food!!! Last night my mom and I were looking at my pound of lean hamburger and were trying to figure out what to do. So I got out my new cookbook (a different one than the other two recipes came from) and I found a meatloaf recipe. Anyone that knows me very well knows that meatloaf is a big weakness of mine.

So my mom and I checked the cupboards and refrigerator and realized we had every single ingredient but two-- clove garlic and Worcestershire sauce. We both decided we did not need the garlic but we did have Barbecue sauce instead of the Worcestershire sauce.

The meatloaf had oats instead of breadcrumbs and also involved adding fresh spinach leaves. I must say the final outcome is probably the best meatloaf I have ever had. And it only had 224 calories, 29 grams of protein, 14 grams of carbohydrates, ONLY 5 grams of fat, 91 mg cholesterol, 2 grams fiber and 552 mg of sodium. (Picture included-- WOOT WOOT!!!)

Today's meal on the other hand was not as much of a success. In fact it was down right horrible. As part of the book I have decided to do the 14 day meal plan they have-- which I will be starting next Sunday after I return from NYC on Saturday. But I am off topic- hahaha. My mom and I decided to try one of the meals (or I talked her into it- hehe).

The meal was Halibut skewers with eggplant, peppers, and onions. I do not like fish but wanted to try it anyways and I had never had eggplant either. We went to the store and got wild caught fish, organic vegetables and at home tried to create the skewers, which was pretty easy.

Let me just say the eggplant was enough to make me vomit-- almost did. It was horrible. I liked the Halibut and ate it (and I do not eat fish) because I was that hungry. I honestly will never eat another piece of eggplant EVER!!!! But if you like Halibut make the skewers WITHOUT eggplant and it will be a great healthy meal. I guarantee it!!

Well I am out for the week-- Remember take a little time to have a snack each afternoon (just make it healthy)!!!!

Better Than Going Out to Breakfast!!!

I woke up yesterday morning and decided I really wanted to make a new breakfast even though I cooked a meal the day before. I opened the cookbook and realized I had all of the ingredients to make a few of the things so then I had to make a choice.

I decided upon Pina Colada Parfait Surprise and boy was it a great choice. It has fat-free vanilla yogurt, pineapple tidbits, banana, Fiber One bran cereal and coconut extract. I did a little bit of sugar because I had unsweetened vanilla yogurt which was not good.

In the picture you can see the different layers of goodness (sorry it is on its side have not figured out how to flip the pictures on here yet.

The combination of all of it together was absolutely amazing!! I highly recommend this breakfast meal and it only had 175 calories, .5 grams fat, 129 mg sodium, 42 grams carbs, 5 grams fiber, 28 grams of sugars and 8 grams of protein. It was a great way to kick start your metabolism for the day.

Remember if you want more information on the recipe comment on here, facebook me or email me at dingdong04@hotmail.com

This helped to start a great day for me-- before breakfast I weighed myself and was to an all time low-- 233 pounds. Even though I knew after the day I would be a up a little the next day it was not as bad as I expected (234.6 pounds-- not that bad).

It was a great day too because I started to get back into my routine of exercising-- treadmill, 30 day Shred and a Biggest Loser Yoga workout-- which makes me feel so great. I highly recommend either of those tapes-- they help to make your body feel good and I can move in ways I never could before.

Sorry this post is a day late-- I am currently feeling under the weather but hope to get in a new recipe tomorrow (my special ingredient came by mail today- hehehe)!!!

Enjoy this-- and remember to live life the way you want and eat what you want (just eat a little bit less than before)!!!

Death by Chocolate

Today I made my first healthy recipe for the blog-- Death By Chocolate Cone Cakes!! They were amazing with so much chocolate in it. It is a great dessert for any occasion. As you can see from the picture it takes chocolate cake batter and you put it inside an ice cream cone. You then bake the cone and add a chocolate pudding icing on top afterwards.

The mind blowing part of the entire thing is it was about 100 calories for each cone, 3 grams of fat, 150 mg sodium, 16 grams of carbs, .5 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein. It is delicious and not harmful to the diet.

I would totally post the recipe on here but because of copy-right infringements I have decided against it. Instead if you ask for the recipe I will totally email you with more information. I apologize if yesterday's blog seemed deceptive but the more I thought of it the more I did not want to get in trouble because I am not creating recipes here.

As you can tell the day ended great with that dish but it did not begin that way either. I woke up and did not have any motivation to exercise. I guess I should tell you I had not exercised since Tuesday morning because during that exercise session I pulled a muscle in my thigh. So I did not exercise that evening or all day yesterday. So waking up today and trying to will myself to do something was so not in the cards.

But I got on my scale and was down to 235 pounds (a new all time low). That motivated me to want to keep up with the exercising and I got on my new treadmill and used it. It kicked my butt. It has setting I can use for weight loss and I was on it for 30 minutes at different speeds and inclines and afterwards I was exhausted.

Who knew that the new low number on the scale could motivate me to eat well all day and to exercise. I am still not back up to my three times a day because I did not want to aggravate the pulled muscle so I only did two today-- the treadmill in the morning and then the 30 Day Shred in the evening (which still kicks my butts and it has been over a month of doing it- haha).

Well I am out for today-- I am going to post another suggestion tomorrow morning for breakfast (mainly because I am dying to try it). So I hope you check back in tomorrow for another recipe.

Remember if you want to know more about today's meal please contact me through the comment section, facebook or email (dingdong04@hotmail.com).

Hope you made GREAT food choices for today!!!

New Year's Resolution (a little late)

In order to understand why I started this blog one must understand some of the journey of the past year and understand how I got the point I am now.

This whole journey started back in January whenever the school I work at was creating a Biggest Loser type contest. I decided to join after some of my friends at school thought it would be fun. At the time I did not think I had a problem, I just had a few extra pounds.

The first weigh in came around and I got on the scale and was shocked out of my mind. I looked down and saw 272 pounds. I never thought I was that overweight. That was the moment my New Year's Resolution started-- I wanted to lose 90 pounds. I was realistic in not achieving that this year but over the course of 2-3 years.

Over the course of a few weeks I started losing the weight. It started out very easy-- I lost 20 pounds within a month. I was feeling better than I had in a long time, I had more energy than before. I lost the weight with only changing my diet and eating less and limiting myself to about 1 soda a day. The next month I lost about 10 pounds by starting to add in exercising after school through Hip Hop Abs. 

But things did not stay that easy for much longer. The stress of school started to kick in towards the end of the year and I seemed to hit a plateau. I was no longer losing but actually started going up a few pounds. I did not know what was wrong. By the end of May I had gone down to 241 pounds. But by the end school ended I was back up to 246 pounds.

I was frustrated and wanted to throw the scale out the window. I hated it, I hated exercising, I hated food. I was blaming everything and anyone. I wanted to give in and throw in the towel and give up.

But my attitude started to turn around the last day of school for teachers. I was sitting with other teachers on the deck of a restaurant and realized that is what life was about. Life is hard, it is meant to be hard otherwise we would be in heaven already. The pain and suffering, the trials and tribulations are part of life. They help us to realize we are alive.

Since that afternoon I have tried to have a new attitude. I have realized that the number on the scale is just that, a number. I have lost about 10 pounds since ending school but the number fluctuates so much that any given day I could have lost or gained. What is more important than that number is that I feel better than I have and I look good- haha. I feel like a million bucks. So I really do not need the scale to change (even though I would really like it to change).

Life is hard. Life is full of pain. And at time life sucks. But the great part is that you feel something-- you can make it through it, you can survive. So in the end -- life is fun, life is a journey to help discover who you are.

This summer so far has been a truly eye opening time-- I have realized so many things about myself since I do not spend so much time eating. I have rediscovered movies and the fun I have with them. I have discovered that my friends are great people and I that I really stopped having a life over the past two years. I think a big part of it was I was embarrassed with myself.

I have discovered that going out with people is so much better than going out by yourself. I am figuring out I really am a people person and enjoy being around people.

I am now exercising 2-3 times a day and eating better than I ever have. I have even created a new goal since the beginning of the year. I want to look like Ryan Reynolds by the time I am 30 years old. Goals do not need to be realistic-- they need to be something to work towards.

One of my good friends told me I should consider writing a blog and be inspiration to other people. But I do not consider myself inspirational. I am writing this blog to help other people realize, there are others out there going through difficulties.

BUT the main reason I am doing this is that weekly I am going to post a blog on a healthy dish I made and share with others so they can see that there are GREAT foods out there that taste amazing and are actually healthy. I do not cook much but this will make me cook at least ONE meal a week to share with whoever decides to read it.

I will also post little things I learned about myself, life, exercising, etc. I hope you decide to come with me on this journey I have embarked on. A journey of discovering oneself and what makes them tick. A journey of figuring out that food does not have to control you but that you control it. But most importantly a journey of learning to love yourself because until you do that you will never find happiness and we all deserve happiness!!