Daily morning chat

What a great fake out! (Or, It tastes like real rice!)

I made a super yum dinner tonight. I added 2 diced chicken breasts, already cooked quinoa and frozen peas. 

Quinoa Fried "Rice"

3/4 cup uncooked quinoa

1 1/2 cups water

1 tsp olive oil

3 eggs

1 medium onion, thickly sliced

2 large garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup cooked peas

1 tsp dark sesame oil

3-4 tbs soy sauce

2 tbs vegetable oil for frying

Place the quinoa, water and olive oil in a medium saucepan.  Bring to boil, cover, reduce heat and cook until all the water is absorbed.  If you are using a rice cooker, add the quinoa, water and olive oil and set to COOK (it is done when the rice cooker switches to WARM).

Heat the 2 tbs of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok.  Break eggs into pan and with a spatula, scramble the eggs.  When eggs are almost set, add garlic and onion (and meat if you are adding).  Stir fry until onion is almost translucent.

Add cooked quinoa, sesame oil and soy sauce.  Stir.  At this point taste the quinoa--you may have to add more soy sauce depending on your personal tastes.  Stir in peas, and heat through.

Makes 3 hearty servings or 6 side dish servings.

Eating Clean....

Soooo, for me, meal planning is always the hard part. Every diet I've ever been on (and that's kind of a lot) has required a ton of legwork. I went food shopping Monday night and spent a ton, because I was forced by Mother Nature to go to Shaw's. When the week started, I was excited. I felt like I had so many more good choices than usual. I'm trying to follow Allan's advice that Sarah posted, mainly staying away from fake sugar and carbs.
The thing I miss the most is Diet Coke. I especially missed it while I was in NY and at restaurants a lot. I don't miss sugar at all, which is shocking me.
My favorites so far are chocolate and vanilla almond milk (hardly any calories!) I love smoothies made with the chocolate, a banana and a spoonful of peanut butter. This afternoon I threw in some leftover coffee and ice and skipped the banana. I am also madly in love with steel cut oats (the healthiest oatmeal choice, but time consuming) made with vanilla almond milk. I mixed in a banana and some dried cranberries (not Craisins because they have added sugar) - it tasted like ice cream and I would've licked the bowl if people weren't standing there.
Dinners haven't been too exciting yet, due to lack of time because of my workouts. I microwaved a big spaghetti squash last night and ate half with low sugar spaghetti sauce and parm for dinner - so yummy and filling. I have a bunch of sweet potatoes to use too. I really enjoy not eating meat every day but know I need to bulk up my calories a bit and that's probably how I should do it.
I'm psyched. Especially now that I have a bridesmaid dress to buy soon :)

On the right track!

So I finished the cleanse last Friday ( so it's been 4 days since). In that 4 days a lot has happened! I've begun a healthy eating lifestyle that DOESN"T limit me to foods I hate eating etc... I'm take a few things Allan (Lean and I's kickboxing instructor) emphasized to us and have put them in place. Here they are:

1. Eat all starchy carbs before noon time (this is so your body can burn them rather then turning into fat)
2. Eat healthy fats before bed  to get your body to burn the fat over night (i.e almonds, avacado, etc)
3. Eat every 2 -3 hours
4. Eat a minimal of 1900 calories (that is for me due to my metabolic rate)

So all in all things are going great! I feel like I constantly eat, but that is a good thing because I never find myself truly hungry throughout the day. I have found a variety of things that are natural, healthy and full of protein that I enjoy throughout the day! One thing that has been different (which I give props to Leah on finding this) is the use of Chia seeds! You get the benefits of using them as a source of Omega 3 and they're high in fiber! They can be added to pretty much everything and you don't taste a thing (except maybe their texture, which is like raspberry seeds).

I weighed in this morning because I was dying to know if I had all of sudden put back 5 pounds on, but to my surprise I hadn't! I was down another 3 pounds! My next goal is to track my measurements and see how those go - I need to remember to take them first!!

Okay, you dumdum automotive dieters. Tell us what Allan said about eating healthy and still having energy! How about not starving to death? Because for me, that's key. Today I decided to go for a run, thinking after three months of Torture Camp it would be a piece of cake. Wrong! My foot hurt, my hip hurt, and I hated every inch. When I got home I ate three Oreo truffles. See? I'm doomed. And I need help.

Bananas, eh?

So I woke up not only to it being -26 degrees and dreading the cold, but I was dreading eating bananas all day. I started off with a banana smoothie consisting of one banana and a cup of my almond milk. It was fine, but I knew I wouldn't be able to last all day just on bananas. About snack time I made another one and new that would most likely be the last one for the day!

Lunch time was a complete tease - I had duty so I ate a banana and drank water while watching everyone in the cafeteria eat hearty meals. I made it through and just continued to drink my water to keep my stomach full. For the remainder of the time I just keep eating my bananas and drinking water.

I can honestly say, I don't think I'll be eating bananas anytime soon! On the bright side I'm getting excited to make the transition to eating and having a healthy all natural life style. I''ve begun planning out different options I can eat for breakfast, lunch and snack. Yes, I'll eat dinner, but that always seems the easiest! I'm going to allow myself carbs (from breads) if I want in the morning for breakfast then not eat any more for the day so that way it can be burned out. 

TOMORROW IS FRIDAY! I can't wait for meat and I can't wait because this will be the last day as I'm shortening it a bit!  I feel as though this cleanse has set me up to begin healthier eating habits, which I'm pumped for!!!

That's all for now!

50 Best Snacks Under 50 Calories

Satisfy your cravings without putting on a pound

Satisfy your sweet tooth
1. 1⁄2 medium apple, baked, topped with 1 Tbsp lowfat yogurt sprinkled with cinnamon (45 calories)
2. 1⁄2 small banana, frozen (45 calories)
3. 4 oz unsweetened applesauce sprinkled with cinnamon (49 calories)
4. 1 miniature box of raisins (45 calories)
5. 2 sugar-free ice pops (30 calories)
6. 1 sugar-free fudge ice pop (35 calories)
7. 12 cherries (48 calories)
8. 1 individual serving sugar-free gelatin with 3 Tbsp light whipped topping (40 calories)
9. 1⁄2 cup strawberries with 21⁄2 Tbsp nonfat yogurt (47 calories)
10. 14 seedless red grapes, frozen (48 calories)
Indulge a salt craving
11. 11⁄2 cups salted air-popped popcorn (46 calories)
12. 1⁄4 cup shelled edamame with sea salt (37 calories)
13. 8 oz miso soup (36 calories)
14. 1 pretzel rod (37 calories)
15. 1⁄4 small bag of Glenny's lightly salted soy crisps (35 calories)
16. 1 medium sliced cucumber mixed with 1⁄4 cup sliced onion, 1⁄2 cup chopped celery, 4 Tbsp vinegar and salt to taste (45 calories)
17. 6 oz eight-vegetable juice (39 calories)
18. 1 kosher dill pickle (10 calories)
Crunch and munch
19. 1⁄2 cup jicama with 4 oz salsa (49.5 calories)
20. 11⁄2 cups sugar snap peas (40 calories)
21. Small celery stalk smeared with 1⁄2 Tbsp natural peanut butter (49 calories)
22. 1⁄2 small apple with 1 tsp soy butter (46 calories)
23. 1 brown rice cake with 1 Tbsp sugar-free jam (44 calories)
Smooth and creamy
24. 1 Laughing Cow Light Garlic & Herb wedge spread on cucumber slices (35 calories)
25. 1 tsp almond butter (34 calories)
26. 1⁄2 cup fat-free Greek yogurt with 1 tsp sugar-free strawberry jam (43 calories)
27. 1 oz avocado (about 1⁄8 of an avocado) squirted with lime (45 calories)
28. 8 grape tomatoes dipped in 1 Tbsp light cream cheese (46 calories)
Cheesy whizzes
29. 6 pieces of endive filled with 1⁄2 oz reduced-fat feta cheese (49 calories)
30. 1 slice fat-free American cheese (30 calories)
31. 1 large tomato, sliced, topped with 1 Tbsp Parmesan, broiled (44 calories)
32. 1 oz fat-free cottage cheese on 1 slice caraway Finn Crisp Crispbread (38 calories)
33. 1 oz fat-free mozzarella dipped in 1 tsp marinara sauce (46 calories)
Power up on protein
34. Turkey rollups: 2 slices white meat turkey rolled in 2 lettuce leaves (46 calories)
35. 1 oz smoked salmon (about 1 slice) on 2 Wheat Thins crackers (Multi-Grain) (48 calories)
36. 1 tofu dog with 1 Tbsp sauerkraut (48 calories)
37. 1⁄2 cup plain fat-free yogurt sprinkled with 1 tsp sunflower seeds (49.6 calories)
38. 1.3 oz water-packed tuna with 1 tsp Dijon mustard (48 calories)
39. 2 large hard-cooked egg whites with 1 cup sliced cucumber (48 calories)
40. 1 slice Wasa Fibre Crispbread with 2 tsp hummus (45 calories)
41. 1 medium water-packed sardine with slice of red onion (35 calories)
Solid standbys
42. 1⁄2 cup melon with 2 Tbsp 1% cottage cheese (47 calories)
43. 1⁄2 small grapefruit (32 calories)
44. 1⁄3 cup blueberries with 1 Tbsp light sour cream (47 calories)
45. 1⁄2 cup carrots with 1 Tbsp light ranch dressing (45 calories)
Thirst quenchers
46. 1⁄2 cup nonfat milk with 1 Tbsp Walden Farms calorie-free chocolate syrup (40 calories)
47. 1 packet of sugar-free hot chocolate made with 1⁄4 cup skim milk and 3⁄4 cup hot water (47 calories)
48. 3⁄4 cup almond milk (45 calories)
49. 3⁄4 cup seltzer with 1⁄4 cup cranberry juice and a lime wedge (33 calories)
50. Homemade iced green tea (with artificial sweetener if desired) (0 calories)

I'd Rather Starve Than Eat Bananas At This Point

That's what I woke up thinking.  I'm not hungry at all this morning - I have a super bad cold and didn't sleep much so I don't know if I feel good or not.  First banana shake down - milk and banana in the Bullet - it's actually pretty good.  

Zero Calories?

I was confident with this day being next, knowing I can have all the veggies and fruit I want! I did step on the scale and I was 3 pounds down, which was nice to see after stepping on it yesterday afternoon and seeing it up a pound. Leah reminded me it was because of all the water, which I can see is entirely true! I started off my morning making my fruit smoothie in my classroom! It was delicious and will be definitely something I'll continue to make when I transition over into my healthy eating lifestyle!

I filled my day with eating an entire cantaloupe for snack, a half bag of carrots and a full bag of peas for lunch, and some more peas for dinner! This was pretty easy overall. The biggest challenge would be whether or not I passed out during cardio kickboxing. I didn't but I also didn't give it my all so that way my body wasn't overworked either.

After class Leah and I were talking to our instructor and after he found out what we were doing (which he strongly is AGAINST) he pretty much reminded us that we're taking in no calories. Which I didn't think much of until the drive home.Then my fiance (Pete) reminded me that no matter what weight I lost during this, I'd probably gain it all back once I go back to eating the other types of foods. Which is true but untrue when I switch to my healthy eating style! Anyways, I'm worried about 2 things tomorrow with bananas 1. they have a lot of fiber (you know what that means) and 2. bananas and milk ONLY (AHHHH). Get me through to Friday when I can have meat!!!

Good night!

If it wasn't for the potato, I would have died - day 2

So here I thought this day wouldn't be so bad. Then when I started thinking more about it, I came to the realization that it'd be horrible.  I don't eat many vegetables to begin with soooo...yea I'd pretty much be going on nothing!

I got up and began getting my baked potato ready for breakfast that morning. At first I thought this was insane, but now that I'm actually on day 2 I can't be patient enough to eat this darn thing. My fiancé comes into the kitchen and started dying laughing at me and the thought that I was actually eating a baked potato for breakfast. I'm going to add that I ate every little crumb of it too and was licking the plate after just to make sure I got all the butter and flavoring possible!

Throughout the whole day I snacked on carrots and cucumbers. By the time I got home from school, I was STARVING. I downed a bag of peas and half a bag of cooked spinach!! That did the trick to filling my stomach....well for only a short amount of time. At this point in the day I probably have peed about 100 times and that's very minimal exaggeration. The water went down and clearly was coming out just about the same time, it literally felt like I had a UTI. I'd pee then get down the hall and have to turn around to go back and pee some more!!

Working out was alright. I was scared at the thought I'd pass out, but I took it at a lower intensity then usual and stayed sturdy on both my feet the entire time! I couldn't be more excited for this day to be over and to be able to go to bed!

Day 3....

ALL the vegetables and ALL the fruit (except bananas.)  I was irrationally excited for this day to come.  After the hellish starving day of ALL the vegetables, I was ready for fruit.  I made a super yummy smoothie with spinach, strawberries and coconut water for breakfast, and snacked on other fruit and more smoothies throughout the day.  I had some faint hunger throughout the day but nothing major.  It was much harder to drink all of my water today, and I didn't.  I still felt like I was peeing 9 times a minute.

The black coffee is getting old.  I miss my half and half - but shockingly, that's the only thing I'm missing so far.

I was worried about having enough energy for kickboxing, but I made a fat smoothie right before and I felt pretty good.  I had a magnificent bowl of peas with vinegar and garlic salt for dinner, and I think I'll have another smoothie soon because I'm not full.

Sarah and I met with our kickboxing trainer after class tonight.  We weren't going to tell him about the cleanse because we knew he wouldn't approve, but our friend ratted us out.  He was clearly unimpressed and kept warning us to be careful.  He made us feel like crap.  After he got over that, he offered his advice about what we should be eating to lose weight and keep up enough energy to work out every day.  More on that later, I can't concentrate on cleansing and real eating on the same night.

Tomorrow is bananas and milk.  I'm petrified.  I hate milk.  Bananas are ok.  The Magic Bullet is going to be my best friend.

Day 1 of this so called "Cleanse"

So we can all thank Pinterest for this one! Not only does it make you want to be crafty and a chef, but it wants you to be the fittest person in the shortest amount of time! (or maybe those are just my pins)

Anyways, so day 1 = alllllllll and only fruit (minus bananas). I spent my day driving to Nashua to bring my car to the dealerships, so I packed some watermelon, cantaloupe and apples. That kept me satisfied for the most part and being away from the house and all the food I couldn't eat helped motivate me to stay on track too. I made sure I kept drinking my water, which therefore made for an interesting trip to Nashua which about doubled in time with the amount of stops I needed to take on the way down and back just to go to the bathroom!

When it came to dinner that was the hard part! I was dying to eat something filling and juicy, but instead I ended up with a smoothie that consisted of raspberries, mango, pineapple, and strawberries. I am a texture sensitive with my food, so blending it all together helped get the fruit in me for this day!

There were certainly times I felt my stomach turning and wanting something to eat, but overall I felt pretty good the entire day. I played volleyball at night and did just fine. Sooooo bring on Day 2!

Cleanse, Day 2

Day 2, All the Vegetables.  That's what the cleanse offers.  Day 2, All the Hunger and Annoyance.  This was not an easy day.  Fruit is exciting, veggies, not so much.  However...we got to eat a baked potato, with a pat of BUTTER, for breakfast!  We were seriously ecstatic, like, for real.  I was also delirious.  I mean, look:

So I microwaved my tater and added the butter, took a bite at 6am and I was actually too full to eat it.  I took it to school with me where I got to explain why I was eating a potato at 6:30am.  That was a good potato.  I ate every last bit and maybe licked the plate.  

It was all downhill from there.  The suggested soup recipe is so boring and plain.  I Bulleted some of it for a V-8 like drink and that was blah too.  I ate my way through a half a bag of baby carrots, some cukes in vinegar (the only condiment that's allowed) and some soup.  I had a headache and was peeing about 9 times a minute because of SO much water intake. 

Before Zumba, I had an entire bag of frozen spinach (with vinegar and garlic salt) so I didn't pass out.  That spinach was damn exciting.  Sarah was equally as excited about her peas and spinach.  Here are our texts:

I didn't pass out at Zumba, in fact, I felt good working out.  On the way home, I stopped at the store to buy a half a butternut squash.  I MADE OUT WITH THAT SQUASH.  It was the best thing I have ever eaten in my entire life.  I added my allotted teaspoon of olive oil and some garlic salt - I ate every last bite, baked potato style.  I showed Sarah the evidence:

I couldn't wait to go to bed.  This day sucked.

The Kaze Dojo vs. Fitcamp Challenge

Some of us workout with Kaze Dojo (did I spell that right?) and some of us with Fitcamp. Apparently, the two trainers aren't fans of each other, so Leah has the bright idea of having a KD vs. FC Challenge. What should we do? Obviously, something the FC peeps will win, like rowing, because you guys don't even have a rowing machine!! Or plate push, because we rock at that.

Also, it occurred to me that if I had a little less middle to pull up, maybe I could actually do those stupid things.

Also, also, I'd rather keep the poison with me than do the weird-o cleanse thing the KD girls are doing. I know, I know: who will be crying when some of us can wear a bikini this summer?

GMC 7-Day Cleanse, Day 1

"I think I'm going to try this 7-day cleanse I saw on Pinterest...."

Sarah said this to me and of course I agreed before I even knew what the aytch she was talking about.  Unfortunately, in Sarah I have met my match in try-any-diet-at-least-twice-ness.  She's a bad influence.  Just kidding.

After researching the cleanse, I learned that it was created by GMC for its employees.  Created by GMC to torture them and make them skinny and their poop clean, I guess?

Day 1...all fruit, all the time.  Lots and lots of water, plus this 0-calorie soup that the cleanse provides the recipe for.  We shopped on Sunday, mostly in the produce aisle, and a little in the meat aisle.  Our carts were hilarious.  We happened to have Day 1 off from school, which helped.  I mixed up a watermelon/frozen berry/water smoothie to start my day.  Black coffee, nothing else allowed.  Lots of water.  I left for what I thought was the morning and ended up being gone all day - with no snacks - not a good move.  By 4:00 I was beyond ravenous.

I borrowed a Magic Bullet - OMG - that thing is my new boyfriend - not in a gross way.  Mixed up another smoothie while gobbling up as many grapes as I could fit into my mouth.  Left for aqua zumba feeling a little light headed.  Came home and started to eat a giant grapefruit and found that I was too full to finish it.  Weird.  Later in the night I was craving sweetness and I Magiced some frozen pineapple and mango to make sorbet.  Yum.