New start

Planning to be fit really does take effort. I've been just limping along here for awhile, but I think I'll just get a new start. Keep it simple.

Birthday cake

I made an ice cream cake for Christy yesterday. Today for her birthday it was quite yummy and I had two pieces. Oops! Maybe I can take comfort in the fact that it was light ice cream? Oh well, I sent her home with the rest and I won't be trying to sneak more over the next few days!

Three weeks

This is the end of the 3rd week since I started this blog. I have lost four and a half pounds so far. I feel better and I'm starting to get myself organized so that I have a daily menu. Dinner time is not such a hastle now. I started out last week by writing out a main dish for each day for dinner; not a new recipe,but something that my family has eaten. There are a few meals that we will have the same thing more than once a month, because we like them more often, but in general I was able to come up with at least 30 different main courses. That took me a few hours to do. I was only going to do a week but once I got started it wasn't so hard. As for breakfest and lunch I alternate between three to four different meals. I also have a snack at mid-morning and mid-afternoon. I try to keep on hand 2-3 different kinds of fruits, and a variety of fresh vegetables and greens. I've also gotten back to regular exercise which is usually a 2-3 mile walk followed by stretching. I'm starting to incorporate some exercise programs on TV as well. This morning I did yoga to a program I recorded from BYU TV. It was good but I could only do about 10 minutes. I'll have to build up to the full 30 minutes.
My appetite is more under control, but I still have to watch it. I love homebaked food, so this week when I made homemade pizza, I couldn't resist having 4 pieces. But with whole wheat crust its not so ditrimental. I also made an ice cream birthday cake for my son, and that was hard to resist as well. Actually I didn't resist it. I had a piece for his birthday, then a bit more for two days. But right now food isn't calling to me every minute like before. Yea!

Yummy, Fast and GOOD for you!

This is my favorite in a flash recipe and it's very good for you! My trainer shared it with me. I usually add sliced grilled chicken in and mix it to make it a meal. Whenever I can't think of something to make, I make this because I always have the ingredients on hand, it's SO fast and my family LOVES it! Happy Healthy Cooking!

10-Minute Lemon Basil Pasta
8 oz. linguine, whole wheat
2 T. Melted butter substitute
1 T. Lemon Juice
1 1/2 t. Dried Basil Leaves (I use Italian Seasoning, it's cheaper!)
3/4 t. Garlic Salt
1/4 t. Black Pepper
1/4 C. grated Parmesan Cheese (I don't put this on anymore, hubby is alergic to cheese and it really cuts on calories.)
Cook pasta according to package directions, without salt. Drain and return to pan. In a small bowl, combine all other ingredients, EXCEPT cheese. Toss with cooked pasta. Then sprinkle cheese over pasta and serve immediately. Can add cooked chicken. Serve with a salad or steamed veggies. Serves 4.

Christy's Banana Pancakes

Well I just had to try the banana pancakes. They were yummy! But I should caution here, don't make them in the bullet! The recipe is too large and as I was opening the bullet after mixing (this is before I got the bananas in) the mix just squirted out onto the counter up to the window. I have very fast acting baking powder (Rumford) I was able to recover most of what had pooled around the container though, and added the bananas. I should have made them in the big blender. The recipe made about nine 6 inch pancakes. They were so yummy I didn't stop till I had eaten 4 pancakes. Two pancakes with a bit of butter on top and two with peanut butter. Actually they were good by themselves. The lesson here is to make them only when you know there will be someone to help you eat them, because it is hard to stop at one or two! I wondered about cutting the recipe in half and just using one egg. I might try that next time. Thanks for sharing Christy!

Whats on the menu?

What to eat? This is what I'm always thinking. Well, kind of. It's more of a see-food diet. I see it. I eat it. This is what gets me in trouble, and then makes me frustrated. From past experience I’ve found when I plan ahead, it helps me stay more on track. It would be so nice if I only had one meal to plan each day. But that would also lead me to binging and then feeling disgusted with my self.
Actually it's not hard to concentrate on a whole days worth of what to eat if I plan it out ahead of time and write it down. It just gets annoying when I start thinking "oh that's fattening", "that's full of carbs", "that won't last long in my stomach", or a few other thoughts. I do know about nutrition. If you put the right things in your body, it will respond.
Over the years I have invested in a number of Health and weight loss books such as the” The South Beach Diet”, “The Swartzbein Principle,” “Crack the Fat-Loss Code”, and the regular cookbooks like ”Better Homes and Gardens” cookbook, etc. I can count at least 20 cookbooks in my cupboard. I’ve made at a few recipes from every cookbook, and other recipes off the internet. But now my thought is where is that recipe? I think I’m getting the cogs to move. For now I think I’ll concentrate on the meals that my family has liked and spend a few minutes to plan out a day or two days worth of meals. To be continued…..

Healthy Drinks for any mood...

Ever just want something to kill the hunger or give you that comfort feeling?
These are my favorite drinks brought to my memory recently by making myself track meals again! Most of these require a blender, my favorite being the bullet for making my own serving size of the drink. If you want to make more just double or triple in another blender. I’ve only included ingredients because they’re really simple… blend or stir! Enjoy!

Fruit Shake
(Very filling and yummy!)
4 frozen Strawberries (or other fruit)
1 ¼ c. milk
2 T. sugar free pudding

Wassail
(great hot drink – I love this for an alternate to Hot Chocolate when I’m cold)
2 c. Hot Water
1 pkt. Orange Sunrise Crystal Light
1-2 t. cinnamon

Strawberry Daiquiri
4-5 Frozen Strawberries
1 ½ c. Water
1-2 T. Lime Juice (depends on how sour you like it)
1-2 T. Splenda or other sweetner

Banana Shake
(no sugar or substitute needed!)
1 overripe frozen banana (in quarters)
1 ½ c. milk