BREAKFAST
After dealing with a monstrous appetite yesterday, I decided to plan filling meals today based on previous lower calorie days. One of The Golden Rules states that I should vary my calorie intake daily to keep my metabolism firing. I hit my 1700 max yesterday, so I'm aiming for 1200 today just to shake things up.
I'm exercising less today too. I have the utmost respect for the intelligence of my body at a cellular level. It knows that if it burns over 1000 calories exercising, it's going to need a hefty dose of energy in. Hence the hunger pangs. Today's plan is to lower everything, both energy in and energy out.
Breakfast was my Veggie Egg White Chia Frittata, half a Grapefruit and an Organic Green Tea. Hopefully this will keep me going until lunchtime.
I'm exercising less today too. I have the utmost respect for the intelligence of my body at a cellular level. It knows that if it burns over 1000 calories exercising, it's going to need a hefty dose of energy in. Hence the hunger pangs. Today's plan is to lower everything, both energy in and energy out.
Breakfast was my Veggie Egg White Chia Frittata, half a Grapefruit and an Organic Green Tea. Hopefully this will keep me going until lunchtime.
It's the day after Valentine's Day and I can't wait to head to Michael's for some crafty sale items for our wedding. I'm thinking glittery hearts and sequins. Dave's and I have been bonding over DIY tasks these past few months. We get so excited about sharing original ideas to make our wedding unique without blowing the budget. WIth only 11 weeks before the wedding, things are heating up.
I'm guessing my boss had V-day leftovers as he bought in a huuuuuge bowl of Hershey Kisses today and plonked them right on my desk. There are at least 2000 of the nasty things in this bowl, and the rank smell of cheap chocolate is wafting up my nostrils. Yerrrrk. I'm not even the slightest bit tempted. I know that Hershey taste. It's dirty and inferior and the smell is making my stomach turn. Gotta get rid of these things.
I'm guessing my boss had V-day leftovers as he bought in a huuuuuge bowl of Hershey Kisses today and plonked them right on my desk. There are at least 2000 of the nasty things in this bowl, and the rank smell of cheap chocolate is wafting up my nostrils. Yerrrrk. I'm not even the slightest bit tempted. I know that Hershey taste. It's dirty and inferior and the smell is making my stomach turn. Gotta get rid of these things.
LUNCH
Creamy Whipped Carob with Fruit and Nuts. I added a spoonful of psyllium husks to the cottage cheese mix for filling fibre.
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Mix together 3/4 cup whipped 1% cottage cheese, 1 tsp carob powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and 1 tsp psyllium husks. Top with 1/8 cantaloupe, 1/4 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup raspberries, 6 chopped pecans and a wedge of fresh lime.
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Mix together 3/4 cup whipped 1% cottage cheese, 1 tsp carob powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and 1 tsp psyllium husks. Top with 1/8 cantaloupe, 1/4 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup raspberries, 6 chopped pecans and a wedge of fresh lime.
.... And a bowl of Chunky Homestyle Greens 'n Beans Soup.
AFTERNOON SNACK
Half a 2% Fage .... (have I told you how much I luuuuurve this creamy, delicous treat?) ....
.... and half a Pink Lady Apple .... (oh, so sweet and tangy) ....
.... and half a tablespoon of Organic Almond Butter, (100% almonds with no added atrificial goop!)
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Mix 1/2 Tbs almond butter into 1/2 tub of strained Greek yoghurt to make a creamy, fabulous dip. Thinly slice 1/2 an apple apple and dip the slices before cramming them in your cake hole!
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Mix 1/2 Tbs almond butter into 1/2 tub of strained Greek yoghurt to make a creamy, fabulous dip. Thinly slice 1/2 an apple apple and dip the slices before cramming them in your cake hole!
Oh, and my first Herbal Tea for the day.
My fibre-filling meal plan has worked today. I haven't been hungry all day, until now, 4pm, (which is to be expected as i just did a massive gym workout).
I'm also understanding the phenomenal impact that sleep has on my hunger levels. Yesterday, I was wrenched out of a deep slumber by my alarm clock. It was far too early! I forced a green tea down my gullet for a caffeine boost and droopy-eyed, made it through a Tracy Anderson Method mat workout. Truth be told, I was dragging my ass a little all day.
So rather than the over-exercising being the culprit, perhaps the finger should point squarely at my lack of sleep. Leptin, the appetite supressing hormone, rises during sleep. If we don't get anough sleep, leptin plummets during the day and hunger shoots through the roof.
This morning I slept in until my body awoke itself. I got a solid 8 hours of zzzzz's and I haven't been tempted to snack at all today.
There are so many factors involved in hunger. It's difficult to pin-point the issue. I'm also acutely aware that my current PMS increases my appetite too. So the perfect balance of 8 hours sleep each night, daily exercise, (but not too much), low calorie intake and no PMS makes losing weight a breeze. In this crazy-busy day and age, how do we ever fulfill all these requirements on a daill basis? No wonder Hollywood celebrities stay so thin. They have the time to fit it all in!
My fibre-filling meal plan has worked today. I haven't been hungry all day, until now, 4pm, (which is to be expected as i just did a massive gym workout).
I'm also understanding the phenomenal impact that sleep has on my hunger levels. Yesterday, I was wrenched out of a deep slumber by my alarm clock. It was far too early! I forced a green tea down my gullet for a caffeine boost and droopy-eyed, made it through a Tracy Anderson Method mat workout. Truth be told, I was dragging my ass a little all day.
So rather than the over-exercising being the culprit, perhaps the finger should point squarely at my lack of sleep. Leptin, the appetite supressing hormone, rises during sleep. If we don't get anough sleep, leptin plummets during the day and hunger shoots through the roof.
This morning I slept in until my body awoke itself. I got a solid 8 hours of zzzzz's and I haven't been tempted to snack at all today.
There are so many factors involved in hunger. It's difficult to pin-point the issue. I'm also acutely aware that my current PMS increases my appetite too. So the perfect balance of 8 hours sleep each night, daily exercise, (but not too much), low calorie intake and no PMS makes losing weight a breeze. In this crazy-busy day and age, how do we ever fulfill all these requirements on a daill basis? No wonder Hollywood celebrities stay so thin. They have the time to fit it all in!
At 5:30pm I started feeling a little peckish. There's nothing worse than being a grumbling, hungry b*tch all the way home from work. It makes the journey a living hell. I circumnavigated the potential near-future low blood sugar levels with a handful of Raw Almonds, (about 14).
DINNER
Tonight I'm attempting to make Eggplant Moussaka from one of my favorite blogs by Amy Green at simplysugarandglutenfree.com
(Click on the photo for a link to her recipe).
(Click on the photo for a link to her recipe).
The Eggplant Moussaka took so long to cook, I didn't end up eating until well after 9pm. Meanwhile, I invented a high-protein twist to the usual hummus that tied me over until my moussaka popped steaming hot out of the oven.
Protein Hummus with Crudites.
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Mix equal parts store-bought natural hummus with 1% whipped cottage cheese. (Note: for 1 serve I used 3 Tbs of each). Sprinkle with cayenne pepper and Hungarian paprika. Serve with veggies to dip.
Protein Hummus with Crudites.
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Mix equal parts store-bought natural hummus with 1% whipped cottage cheese. (Note: for 1 serve I used 3 Tbs of each). Sprinkle with cayenne pepper and Hungarian paprika. Serve with veggies to dip.
I ended up making a variation on Amy Green's Eggplant Moussaka. Mine certainly didn't end up looking as picturesque as hers. When I added up all the carbs, protein and fat it turned out to need a 1/4 cup protein and 1/4 of an avocado on the side of a very small slice just to balance the macronutrients. It was a delicious change for dinner and since I got 16 serves out of the recipe, you'll be seeing this one pop up again over the next week. I wonder if it will freeze well?
Below is my version of Amy's gluten-free recipe. I only had 1 eggplant in the fridge. Next time I'd use 3 eggplants for more flavor, and I wouldn't bother pre-broiling them. I'd just chop and add them to the bean mix.
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Slice 1 large eggplant. Coat in salt and sit in colander in sink for 30 mins to draw out bitter juices. Rinse, pat dry and broil until browned. Saute 1 chopped onion in a frypan with 2 cloves garlic and 1 cup mushrooms. Add 1 x 15.5 oz can garbanzo beans, 1x 15.5 oz can red kidney beans, 1 x 28 oz can organic crushed tomatoes with basil, 1 zucchini, 1/2 red bell pepper, 1 habanero chili, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp oregano, 2 Tbs fresh chopped basil. Grease a baking dish. Layer eggplant and alternate with vegetable and bean mix. Whisk 2 eggs + 4 egg whites with 2 small tubs 2% Fage and 4 tsp chia seeds. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour over baking dish. Pull apart 4 string cheese sticks into strings and layer in a criss-cross fashion over top. Bake at 350 F for 50-60 minutes.
Below is my version of Amy's gluten-free recipe. I only had 1 eggplant in the fridge. Next time I'd use 3 eggplants for more flavor, and I wouldn't bother pre-broiling them. I'd just chop and add them to the bean mix.
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Slice 1 large eggplant. Coat in salt and sit in colander in sink for 30 mins to draw out bitter juices. Rinse, pat dry and broil until browned. Saute 1 chopped onion in a frypan with 2 cloves garlic and 1 cup mushrooms. Add 1 x 15.5 oz can garbanzo beans, 1x 15.5 oz can red kidney beans, 1 x 28 oz can organic crushed tomatoes with basil, 1 zucchini, 1/2 red bell pepper, 1 habanero chili, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp oregano, 2 Tbs fresh chopped basil. Grease a baking dish. Layer eggplant and alternate with vegetable and bean mix. Whisk 2 eggs + 4 egg whites with 2 small tubs 2% Fage and 4 tsp chia seeds. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour over baking dish. Pull apart 4 string cheese sticks into strings and layer in a criss-cross fashion over top. Bake at 350 F for 50-60 minutes.
I had 2 x Coconut Water Icypops for dessert.
STATS
TOTAL CALORIES: 1471
CALORIE DEFICIT: 717
EXERCISE: Brisk Walk 90 mins + Elliptical 30 mins + Rollerblading Machine 10 mins
CALORIE DEFICIT: 717
EXERCISE: Brisk Walk 90 mins + Elliptical 30 mins + Rollerblading Machine 10 mins