BREAKFAST
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.
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.
MORNING TEA
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.
LUNCH
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.
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.
AFTERNOON SNACK
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.
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.
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!
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 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
STATS
TOTAL CALORIES: 1562
CALORIE DEFICIT: 681
EXERCISE: Tracy Anderson Method Mat Workout 60 mins + Walking briskly for 45 mins + Elliptical Trainer 15 mins + Rollerblading Machine 15 mins + Weights 15 mins
CALORIE DEFICIT: 681
EXERCISE: Tracy Anderson Method Mat Workout 60 mins + Walking briskly for 45 mins + Elliptical Trainer 15 mins + Rollerblading Machine 15 mins + Weights 15 mins