Weekends are all about brunching for me, and since I'll probably indulge in something egg-based around noon, today's breakfast was egg-free and sweet.

Puffed Millet with Strained Greek Yoghurt and Blueberries .... and a cup of Green Tea.

Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: 1/2 cup puffed millet, 1/2 cup 1% milk, 1/2 cup frozen organic blueberries, 1 tub 2% Fage, 5 chopped raw cashews. Sprinkle with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.

I had actually planned on adding 1 tsp chia seeds to the mix, but totally forgot. So I ate the 5 cashews as an alternative fat substitute. A small amount of good fat is so important in every meal. It fills me up and satiates me. 

My fiance, his name is Dave, by the way, and I decided to walk to brunch today to get a bit of exercise in. It took us 2 hours of fast walking to get there! By 11am I was starving. Thankfully I had a healthy snack stashed in my bag, (I've learnt from past experiences). 

Half an Organic Pear and a String Cheese Stick.

We did brunch at Hundred Acres in SoHo today. I love this place! It was so cozy and bustling, and it began snowing outside as we languished over our herbal teas.


Mine was a mix of camomile, ginger, peppermint and a bunch of flowers.

I had one bite of Dave's appetizer: Grapefruit with Candied Pistachios, Honey and Mint. (It was a little to sweet for my liking, although it was definitely a taste sensation).

I also had a tiny bite of the inside (minus the bread) of his Grilled Cheese Sandwich with White Cheddar, Pears, Pecans and Honey Mustard. Yummmmm. I am such a cheese head. 

My main was Roast Chicken with Fennel and Orange Salad.

The serve of chicken was pretty generous, so I ate a portion the size of the palm of my hand and left the rest. The salad didn't provide enough carbs for a balanced meal, and I probably should have asked for the dressing on the side, but it seemed to be quite light as it was. A bit of olive oil is good for me anyway.

We walked out of the restaurant and headed to a brand new healthfood store nearby. I grabbed a bag of Gluten Free Pretzels and stuck to one serving of 24 twists.

We then walked halfway home again. So much for a day off exercise. We burnt nearly 1000 calories today without stepping foot in a gym. It was pretty much just transportation. Doing it beside a mate as you rabbit on about nothing makes the time fly. I can feel it in my mangled feet and aching glutes now though!

By 4pm I was hungry again. And The PMS Rat was on a rampage. Every month he has me craving chocolate and dealing with a hugely increased appetite. My challenge during the next 12 weeks is to cram in as much healthy low-calorie food as I can to fill up, whilst allowing him small healthier-version treats.

I whipped up this scrumptious Choc Carob Raspberry Pudding to get me through till dinner, and coupled it with a piece of Chocolate Fudge. Both recipes are below:

Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Choc Carob Raspberry Pudding - 1 tub 2% Fage, 2 tsp chia seeds, 1 Tbs peach butter (pureed peaches sweetened with grape juice concentrate), 1 Tbs carob powder, 2 tsp dutch cocoa, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice. Mix and freeze for 30 mins. Top with frozen raspberries warmed in the microwave for 30 seconds.

Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Chocolate Fudge - (adapted from a recipe by Certified Nutrition Specialist Mike Geary) - Melt 3 oz extra dark unsweetened chocolate in a double saucepan. Add 1 cup coconut milk and 4 Tbs all natural peanut butter. In a blender chop 1/4 cup raw pecans + 1/2 cup raw almonds + 3 Tbs chia seeds + 4 Tbs oatbran. Stir into chocolate mixture along with 3 Tbs peach butter. Spread mixture into a wax-paper lined baking tray and toss in the fridge until set, (3-4 hours). Cover with foil to prevent drying out. Cut into 32 rectangles (4 x 8 rows). 100 calories of superfood chocolatey goodness in each fudge bite. How good is that?!

My PMS-Rat appetite is insane today. I had another String Cheese to fill up on protein and fat. I'm making sure I drink lots and lots of water too. Uuugghhh, I just want this week to be over. (I think Dave is wishing for that even more than more .... the poor guy has to put up with my crazy mood swings and indecision).

Ravenous. I couldn't wait for dinner, so I snacked on a handful of Organic Baby Carrots....

.... and a few Organic Mushrooms.

We had a mate over for dinner tonight. Dave cooked up a huge wok-full of Beef Bolognaise with Extra Veggies and Adzuki Beans. He usually cooks with Organic Grass-Fed 85% Lean Beef, but tonight was a last-minute arrangement and he didn't have time to get to Fairway or WholeFoods. He ended up using Prime Angus Sirloin that looked pretty lean to me, even if it didn't say so on the label.

I ended up having 2 bowls of the stuff, it was so good! I felt guilty all night for going back for seconds, (diet rule #1), but my obviously my body needed extra fuel. It was so veggie-heavy though, I'm rationalizing that I really just ate 2 smallish salads with a bit of meat sauce as dressing.

Afterwards I had 2 x Coconut Water Icypops for dessert.

Mexican Bean FIesta with Avocado and Fried Eggs (plus a Green Tea).

Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: dry fry 1/4 cup cooked adzuki beans with 1 cup of vegetables including: 1 clove garlic, fresh jalapeno, red bell pepper, zucchini, tomato, and spanish onion. Serve with 1 egg + 3 egg whites dry fried and 1/4 avocado on the side.

A word on whole eggs: they have been getting an undeserved bad wrap for far too long. The yolk is where all the nutrition in an egg is found. it's where all the vitamins and minerals and fat reside. By tossing the yolk, you're throwing out the best bit! When I want to reduce my calories and need a hefty dose of protein, I'll often use pure whites in my meals. But throwing in even one whole egg with multiple whites increases the goodness factor and the taste in amazing ways.

I'm slowly getting used to the taste of Licorice Spice Tea. But it's still not a joy.

Tazo's Passion Tea is far better for filling up the belly before lunchtime.

There's something truly decadent about eating breakfast for lunch, or even dinner. Today I had a creamy bowl of Banana Pecan Oatmeal with a 2 oz serving of Applegate Farms Roasted Turkey Breast on the side for that extra protein boost.

Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: 1/4 cup dry old-fashioned oats stirred over low heat with 1 cup water and 3/4 cup 1% milk. Add cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg to taste. Sprinkle with course-chopped organic raw pecans.

Delicious!

Only problem is, I want more.

Oh. My. God. I am in HEAVEN! Organic 75% Dark Chocolate flavored heaven. Woo-hoo!

2 squares = 93 calories, 10g fat, 6g carbs, 3 grams sugar, 1 gram protein.

I jumped straight on the phone, called my hubby-to-be and gushed thankyous for buying me this absolutely delicious-healthy chocolate treat.

Last night he broke off two squares for me, wrapped them in Saran Wrap and added them to my lunch bag. He then crashed sideways on the couch, turned on the football and proceeded to munch through the rest of the block. (At 6'7" he can get away with these innocent pleasures. If I did the same, replacing football with bad reality tv, I'd see the shape of the block appear on my butt overnight!)

After eating my lunch today, I think I got a bit of a sugar rush from the banana. I salivate over bananas. Since giving up sugar they taste so deliciously sweet and indulgent to my tastebuds. I only added half a banana to my oatmeal lunch, but it was enough to set my heart soaring and my imagination dreaming of scoring more. At the time I decided to sit on it, let the fiber in the oats expand in my tummy and avoid rushing to the kitchen for more food. Well, this worked for about an hour, but then I was starting to get hungry again. (Damn you sugary banana-half!) I couldn't imagine making it to the gym on a rumbling belly, so I grabbed a half-cup of Green Tea, (energy cheat), 3 slices of protein-filled Roasted Turkey and then my lovely, scrumptious, tempting Organic Dark Chocolate. Ooooohhhhhhh, did I mention I am in HEAVEN? I finished eating the solidified nectar of the Gods 30 minutes ago, and still my body is tingling with Phenylethylalanine (PEA). I am in LOVE in every way possible.

Anyway, I'm off to the gym now. That treat replaced my complacency with pure motivation.

3 slices of Applegate Farms Roasted Turkey Breast.

Turkey's protein balances my chocolatey treats.

Green Tea is my friend. Half a cup got me to the gym on this motivation-lacking day. But hey, it's Friday and I've got a restful weekend ahead of me.

Too often I get comfortable with one form of exercise and slide into it without a second thought. Lately, for the last 12 months actually, it's been the elliptical trainer every time. I picked it as I get a full-body workout with the moving arm pieces, and it seems to be the highest calorie-burning machine of all the cardio contraptions. I vary my intensity, incline and forward/backward motion over the workout, but I have to admit my muslces have adapted. I stopped seeing results long ago. It's all too easy now.

So in the name of the Golden Rules, I challenged myself at the gym today. I'm breaking away from my elliptical addiction and trying some new machines. I got on a strange rollerblading-like thing and nearly died after 5 minutes. It worked so many muscles I didn't know existed. Rather than giving up, however, I alternated it with the elliptical every 5 minutes for half an hour. After that I did 15 minutes of arm weights, (as my dodgy knees have been giving me a bit of pain since doing leg weights this week. It's all about listening to my body you see). Weights are new for me too.

After all these challenges I came away feeling like I'd actually worked out mindfully for the first time in a year. My body is awakening from it's second nature exercise slumber. It's hard work, but somebody's gotta do it!

I invented a new snack today: Chia Pudding.

I just discovered that Chia seeds are the newest superfood with unbeleivable weight loss and health benefits that get me really excited! They contain more Omega-3 than salmon, more calcium than whole milk and they're bursting with antioxidants. Chia seeds balance blood sugar levels, and when soaked they expand to 10 times their size, reducing cravings and making you feel full for longer. I add chia seeds to my scrambled eggs, sprinkle them over salads, and stir them through oatmeal. Best of all, their gelatinous texture forms a fabulous superfood pudding.

Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Mix 1/2 tub 2% Fage, 1/2 ruby red grapefruit, 1 tsp chia seeds. Allow a few hours for chia seeds to soak up moisture and expand. Whammo! Instant pudding. 

I've burned over 850 calories today already, (and my energy is seriously lagging) so I treated myself to an extra protein boost: 2 Frigo Cheese Heads String Cheese Sticks.

Of all the string cheeses around, (I've tried them all), Frigo is the yummiest, creamiest and most easily stringable string cheese. There are others with more protein and less fat, but they tend to lose flexibility and taste a little more dry. I don't mind eating harder cheese in block form, but the whole point of string cheese is the fun of shredding it into threadlike stretchy floss. Frigo does it best and the taste is spot on.

Since the gym this afternoon, my energy was slumping. I felt like I had overexercised and just needed a break. Sitting at my desk was a struggle, so I decided to up my calorie intake despite not feeling hungry.

I had a whole grapefruit, which felt great and gave me the energy to get home to bed. I'm gonna ease off the training this weekend to give my body a rest.

..... And I grabbed a handful of almonds too.

Dinner tonight was the last of my fat-free Pumpkin Leek Soup ....

.... And a Brown Rice Cake piled high with Cottage Cheese, Pickled Herrings, Tomato and Avocado.

Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Spread a brown rice cake with 1/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese. Layer with 1/2 cup pickled herrings, (be sure to find a brand without sugar), and top with a slice of tomato, 1/8 avocado and fresh cracked pepper.

Dessert: 1 Coconut Water Icypop.

Organic French Scramble with Green Tea.

Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Dry fry 1 garlic clove, fresh chopped ginger, purple onion, 1/4 avocado, mushrooms, zuchini, red bell pepper, mustard greens, 1/2 Tbs olive tapenade, 1/2 fresh jalapeno, chipotle chili flakes, and cayenne pepper. When cooked, add 4 egg whites + 1 whole egg. Stir continuously until done. 

A word on supplements: 

Every morning after breakfast I take 4 highly concentrated ultra purified Omega 3 Fish Oil capsules. The key is to find a pharmaceutical grade brand. (Most store bought products are produced from the dregs of the sea and jam packed with mercury). You get what you pay for, so spend big.

A daily dose of fish oil, over and above recommended amounts, provides so many health benefits I honestly wouldn't know where to begin. Apart from noticeably enhancing my brain function, I take Omega 3 to regulate my hormones and promote weight loss.

Once a week I take 45mg GLA in the form of Evening Primrose Oil. It helps with sugar cravings as I'm extremely sugar sensitive.

Sugar is all or nothing with me. Give me a taste of the white stuff and I become a rabid sugar maniac, stuffing my cake-hole with everything sweet under the sun. I don't stop until my stomach is crying out in pain and my mood plummets into a dark hollow.

GLA also helps with PMS. (And I get the monster bad!) It reducing bloating and helps to control the mood swings. I up my intake to 2 capsules a week when The Rat rears his ugly head. 

Cinnamon Baked Apples Stuffed with Coconut Quinoa, Butternut Squash and Pecans. Served on a bed of creamy Greek Yoghurt.

Gotta love leftovers.

I also had a stick of Part-Skim Mozzarella String Cheese.

My boss dumped it on my desk and I couldn't say no, even though the apples and yoghurt alone were enough for a perfectly balanced lunch.

Oooooh I love mozzarella. One of my absolute favorite fat-filled-but-healthy treats is an ooey-gooey ball of buffalo mozzarella sandwiched between thick slices of beefsteak tomato and torn fresh basil leaves. The Italian Caprese salad. Boy, do those Italians know good food! Everything focuses on simplicity. Simple, unique, intense natural flavors. I've been to Italy 3 times in my life and I would go back 20 more just for the food.

The usual ....

Organic Boiled Egg, Baby Carrots and Roma Tomato.

For a bit of added flavor, I dip into a squirt of Yellow Mustard, (zero calories and the immense benefits of tumeric, the wonder spice).

I went to the gym at 2pm and wasn't hungry from my afternoon snack until 4:30pm. But half an hour later I felt hunger pangs again. Tomorrow I might try upping the fiber content of my snack. But today I reached into my desk drawer for ....

.... A handful of Raw Almonds.

These tied me over for the subway journey home in the frigid night air. 

The usual again ....

A Balanced Organic Medley and a bowl of homemade Pumpkin leek Soup. 

Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: 1/2 cup cottage cheese sprinkled with cayenne pepper, 1/4 cup Blue Hill Bay dill pickled herrings, 1 small sweet potato, 1/4 avocado, mustard greens, and a slice of tomato for color.

Dessert: Coconut Water Icy-Pop

I started feeling a bit bloated, stressed and ratty last night. And we all know what that means, don't we? Ohhhhh dear. So my fabulous fiance proved exactly why I'm marrying him tonight by rocking up with a bar of artisan Organic 75% chocolate! 

You see, I am a total Chocoholic. And just like my apple elitism, I am a stark raving chocolate snob. I only eat the most gourmet, dark blocks with a cocoa content no less than 75%. The darker the better. I almost had a mouth orgasm once over a block of Michel Cluizel 99% Dark. So good! But wave a block of Hershey's under my nose and I'll turn it skyward in disgust. I won't waste my time or calories on bland, cheap 'n nasty concoctions of high fructose corn syrup and fat. My chocolate fetish revolves around quality. Super high quality with prices to match. (By the way, an added benefit of expensive chocolate is the small portion sizes).

If we're going for taste alone, forgetting the health benefits of low-sugar dark blocks, categorically the best ever chocolate in the world would have to be split evenly between two chocolate boutiques: In Melbourne, Australia you have Koko Black and in New York, USA it's gotta be Vosges. I can't be trusted in either store. They use natural sugar, (White Death), and I am a helpless mess in the face of this enemy. But the quality of their truffles and bars is so immensely satisfying that it's perfect in moderation. Unfortunately I can't stop at one. The taste sensation arrests my psyche and I need a chocolate exorcism to clear my soul. Vosges have free tastings in their Chocolate Salon on the Upper East Side. Whenever I'm in the neighborhood it draws me like a magnet. I have had to physically restrain myself from entering the store, as once I cross that threshold it's all over!

On your average day I can usually control myself around chocolate, but like most girls, there's one week every month where I want to grab a huge Boston Chocolate Mudcake and bury my head inside. It's an uncontrollable craving for the 'falling in love' feeling produced by chocolate's inherent love chemical: phenylethylalanine (PEA). The lust fights willpower and wins everytime. 

I have learnt to adapt with homemade sugar-free chocolate fudge, (the recipe will come up on my menu sooner or later, I'm sure). My wonderful man has learnt well too, which is why he rocked home with a 'heathy', expensive block of the dark stuff tonight. But I passed today. I asked him to hide it for a few more days until I'm begging for mercy.

Pink Grapefruit Yoghurt Parfait.

First things first: the old morning boost cup of Organic Green Tea.

My legs are aching from the weights machines I did on Monday. But it's a good hurt, and it scored me a massage with my man. I'm looking forward to trying weights again today. Can't wait to feel improvements in my muscular strength.

I had grilled an Organic Grass-Fed Sirloin Burger for my hubby-to-be's lunch a couple of days ago. Unfortunately (for his insides) he's been subsisting on leftover Superbowl KFC since Sunday. I thought I'd better eat the damn thing before it went to burger heaven.

I don't usually do heavy meats at 6am, but it slid down surprisingly well with a slice of pear and a spoonful of Raspberry Carob Oatmeal.

I'm up early to do the Tracy Anderson Method Mat again. Stretching first thing in the morning enlivens my body and sets me up for a strong day ahead. I must admit, I am tired. I must start going to sleep earlier than 11pm. I need my 8 hours.

I had some Licorice Spice tea about a hour before lunch. This stuff is actually not on my favorites list at all. It has a strong sarsparilla taste that I can't stand. But it's naturally sweet and probably has a few health benefits. Once this packet is gone, I am done for good.

I usually make double dinner so I've got a serving for lunch at work the next day. It saves me thinking and preparing an entirely separate meal.

Today's lunch is a repeat of last night's dinner. Organic Spinach and Feta Chicken Sausages with Balsamic Chili Cottage Cheese and Stirfried Veggies.

Tazo's Passion Tea is much better than Stash's Licorice Spice.

Thanks to work committments, I went to the gym an hour earlier than usual today (1pm) and I am struggling to make it to 4pm for my snack. I get so hungry after working out.

Herbal tea is my stave-off-hunger trick.

I lasted till 3:30pm before I had eat. I grabbed a handful of Raw Almonds. 14 to be exact ...

Half an apple ....

... and 4 slices of Applegate Turkey Bologna.

I am so passionate about Applegate Farms products I may as well be a spokesperson for the company. All their meats and frozen products are of such high quality you can't go wrong. Especially with regards to the Organic selections.

This turkey bologna, for instance, has only a few natural ingredients. Turkey, water, sea salt, spices, garlic powder and paprika. So natural and so healthy. Even better, so easy to grab as a last minute protein source.

By 4:30pm my energy was lagging and I was extremely hungry. I'm attributing my hunger to a lack of sleep and resulting leptin issues. But I just had to eat some more. I figure this fits in with the Golden Rule to vary my calorie intake anyway. I'm not the kind of girl who can starve herself for the greater good (being thin). If I'm hungry, I must eat!

So I had half a Pink Grapefruit ....

.... and balanced it with 2 Mozarella String Cheese Sticks. I love these things! 

I ate a handful of fresh Organic Mushrooms while preparing dinner, and then ....

Baked Apple Stuffed with Coconut Quinoa, Pecans and Butternut Squash. Served on a bed of creamy strained Greek Yoghurt.

I ate the leftover stuffing too!

Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Core an apple and scoop out seeds with a spoon. (Don't cut right through base). Stuff with butternut squash ginger-cinnamon mash, coconut quinoa (or oatmeal) and pecans. Place in baking tray filled halfway with boiling water. Bake at 375F for 30-45 mins. Serve with a high protein tub of 2% Fage yoghurt. Sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon.

A glass of Milk (half 1% and half 2%)

Gluten‐Free Coconut Blueberry Pancakes with Greek Yoghurt and Green Tea.

I woke at 6am this morning to squeeze in a Tracy Anderson Method mat workout. I always make sure I have a snack before working out to keep my energy up, but instead of adding extra food to my day, I panfried some healthy pancakes first thing, ate 1/4 of the meal with my green tea, exercised for 1 hour then ate the rest before starting my day.

Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Mix 3 egg whites, 2 Tbs coconut flour, 2 Tbs reduced fat unsweetend shredded coconut, 1/2 cup frozen organic blueberries (+ 1/4 cup for topping), 1/4 cup unsweetened Almond Breeze, cinnamon, nutmeg. Fry. Serve with 1/2 mini-tub of 2% Fage and top with blueberries and 1 Tbs slivered almonds.

Rules are there to be broken ... even Golden Rules. Today I listened to my body and had a morning snack at 10:30am. After burning off more calories during exercise than I had ingested by this time, it was little wonder I was absolutely starving.

I keep a container of Raw Almonds in my drawer at work, for unplanned moments like these. 14 almonds is 100 calories so I stick with that amount, (otherwise it's too easy to keep dipping in for more).

Chili Ginger Chicken Cashew Stirfry ...

Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Stirfry 3 oz hormone-free chicken, 10 cashews, 2 cups vegetables, 1 fresh jalapeno, 1/2 Tbs olive tapenade, cayenne pepper, wheat-free tamari sauce and Chinese rice vinegar. Add a squeeze of fresh lime and a side of cottage cheese mixed with balsamic vinegar, cayenne and chipotle peppers.

... and a mug full of fat-free Homemade Pumpkin Leek Soup.

Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Fry cayenne pepper, 1 Tbs chopped fresh ginger, a clove of garlic and 1 tsp curry powder in 1/2 tsp olive oil. Add 6 cups low sodium organic chicken stock, 2 leeks, 3/4 butternut squash, 1 green bell pepper, 1 fresh jalapeno, 2 zucchini. Boil until soft. Blend and serve.

Sheep's Milk Yoghurt, half a Pink Grapefruit ....

... and a warm, fruity cup of Tazo Passion Tea.

I was busy at work and didn't have a chance to eat my afternoon snack until 4:30pm. This left a perfect amount of time for me to work up an appetite for dinner without dying of starvation on the way home.

Organic Spinach and Feta Chicken Sausages with Balsamic Chili Cottage Cheese, Stirfried Vegetables and Fresh Lime.

A cup of fat-free Homemade Pumpkin Leek Soup ....

.... and 2 x Coconut Water Icy-pops. Yum!

A cold glass of 1% Milk and 3 Pecans.

Mmmmm, breakfast. My absolute favorite meal of the day. It's the reason I get up in the morning. I've been known to try sleeping in on a weekend, only to be forced out of bed my the rumble in my belly. Although this morning I felt surprisingly not hungry. I never skip breakfast, no matter what. It's an important metabolism-firing meal and I want to start the day right.

Breakfast today was the leftover half a Rock Lobster and Asparagus Omelette from yesterday's brunch. Even half this thing feels huge. It should fill me up until lunchtime. I coupled it with 1/4 cup of (lite) Coconut Quinoa, half a Pink Grapefruit, some Blueberries for an antioxidant boost, and my usual Green Tea. Bring on the day!

The sun was shining this morning, so I decided to walk the 30 minutes to the train that takes me right to my office. (My other option is only 3 mins walk from my apartment, with 10 mins at the other end). Once I got going, I couldn't stop. I ended up power walking all the way to work. 1 hour of exercise down. Thanks to the cold winter air, I didn't work up much of a sweat. 

Lunch at work always focuses on being versatile and easily transportable while kicking goals in the balanced and delicious domains. I whipped up a pot of fat free Pumpkin Leek Soup yesterday. It should last me all week. I grabbed a mug full today, grilled a lean Organic Grass‐Fed Burger (4 oz portion controlled), wrapped it inside a crunchy, blossoming Mustard Green Leaf and topped off my meal with an apple. But not just any apple. A Pink Lady! 

I luuuurve Pink Ladies. In fact, I'm a bit of an apple snob. I only eat Pink Ladies, Macintosh, Galas and Jonathans. Those four are permanent members of the crunchy‐sweet apple club. Oh, and if I'm in a green mood, I'll sometimes go a Granny Smith. (You can keep your Golden Delicious and your Honeycrisps, thanks. Great names, but the taste is all wrong).

One of my golden rules for Eating True Before 'I Do' dictates one afternoon snack. I've been in the naughty habit of eating multiple snacks between meals, (probably my biggest scale-raiser. Healthy or not, too many calories = too much food), so it's a struggle getting my body used to the habit of less food. I find if I eat my afternoon snack too early, I get really grumpy by the time I've made it home for dinner. My saving grace? Herbal tea. I had one cup of Licorice Tea to stave off those hunger pangs ....

Then half an hour later I had another cup of herbal tea: Tazo Passion.

I'm making myself wait until 4pm to eat my snack. I figure this will keep me going for the 2.5 hours before I get home from work. Today I ate 4 slices of Applegate Farms Turkey Bologna....

I threw in 2 almonds for a bit of good natural fat....

And topped off my balanced snack with 8 fresh Strawberries. 

Yum! Ooooh I love fruit. Since giving sugar the boot, fruit tastes to me like the most luscious dessert in the world. The vibrant natural colors of organic fruit always suck me in much more solidly than the sickly contrast of a dirty old cupcake. After developing a gluten intolerance it's much easier for me to bypass baked goods without any regrets. I have far too many memories of painful stomach aches that overwhelm any temptation with cakes and cookies. Still, there are always gluten-free versions available of all those treats, especially in the culinary melting pot that is New York City. 

Dinner: Chili Ginger Chicken Cashew Stirfry. 

It was bursting with fresh veggies and soaked in wheat‐free Tamari Sauce and Chinese Rice Vinegar. I also threw in a spoonful of Olive Tapenade for some flavor intensity. 

Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Stirfry 3 oz chicken breast with 3 cups vegetables, 1 clove garlic and 1 tsp chopped ginger root. Add water, tamari sauce, Chinese rice vinegar and 1/2 Tbs olive tapenade.

For dessert I snuck in 2 x Coconut Water Icy‐pops. Hey, at a mere 20 calories a pop, why stop at one?

Pre-bedtime Snack: Pink Grapefruit Parfait.

So easy to make, so pretty and so scrumptious.

Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Scoop out half a mini tub of high-protein Plain Fage 2% Strained Greek Yoghurt. (It's so thick and creamy). Peel and chop half a Pink Grapefruit and sprinkle with 1/2 Tbs of Slivered Almonds.

A word on 2% Fage. I am totally obsessed! My fridge is currently bursting with 10 tubs as it's my go-to protein source when I'm craving something lighter than meat or eggs. The full-fat Fage is a bit too fat-heavy, and the 0% Fat Fage is still thick and creamy, but lacks a little on the mouthfeel. 2% Fage is the perfect balance and has not a whiff of the bitterness you often find in plain yoghurts. (Trust me, I've tried 'em all).

Breakfast today was Gingerbread Coconut Puffed Millet with Blueberries and 2% milk. Yummo! I love puffed millet. It's gluten-free and super low in carbs so you can have a whole cup full for only 60 calories and 11g carbs. I mixed in some cinnamon, ginger and a sprinkling of nutmeg, then added 3 tablespoons of unsweetened reduced-fat shredded coconut. (I absolutely love coconut in all it's forms. If I was trapped on a desert island for a year and given the option of only one food to live on, coconut would be it).

For some added protein on the side I had 3 Scrambled Egg Whites with cayenne pepper. (Gotta love a bit of spice). Oh, and a cup of steaming Green Tea to get me going in the morning. It's a staple of mine.

For lunch today my hubby-to-be splashed out on brunch at Norma's in Le Park Meridien. Oh. My. God. This place is known as the 'best brunch in NYC' for a reason. Phenomenal. Pricey, but worth every bite as the ingredients are all so fresh and the portions huge.

I ordered a Rock Lobster and Asparagus Omelette (sans cream) with fruit salad on the side instead of gluten-filled toast. Look at the size of this thing!

Oh, and a shot of blueberry/banana smoothie on the side.

This was my plate when I was done. I took half the omelette home, (it'll appear in this blog again over the next few days), and I left all the potatoes. Potatoes spike my blood sugar like a spoonful of sugar, then I crash big time soon after. Who needs those extra carbs anyway?

We walked down to Stumptown at the Ace Hotel for NYC's best coffee. I was still full from brunch, so I had 2 sips of my fiance's full-fat latte before be destroyed it with sugar. Mmmm, heaven in a coffee cup.

I usually go decaf anyway as coffee gets me jittery and keeps me awake all night.

My afternoon snack was a Passionfruit Parfait.

Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: small tub of Plain Old Chatham Sheep's Milk Yoghurt, a scoop of frozen 100% Passionfruit Pulp and a sprinkling of cinnamon.

Delicious. A perfectly balance mini-meal. So filling and so healthy.

Dinner was a bowl of low-fat Homemade Chicken and Beet Soup, a fresh Organic Salad with lime juice and balsamic vinegar as a fat-free dressing. I chopped a Mozzarella String Cheese Stick and added it to my salad for added protein and fat, then scattered some chia seeds for extra goodness on top. 

I always need a sweet treat after dinner. Dessert tonight was that crazy looking thing behind my bowl. I freeze pure Coconut Water into icy-pops. (I warned you about my coconut fetish). My favorite brand to use is 'Taste Nirvana with Pulp'. It's so naturally sweet you'd be excused if you thought they'd doused it with sugar.  

A glass of 1% milk before bed to keep my metabolism speeding along while I sleep.

Here I am: weight = 135 lbs, height = 3'4"
I dread uploading my 'before' picture, but the truth must be faced so we can compare the results after 12 weeks. 

For the sake of full disclosure, here is my (almost) full-body shot.