The Revolving Diet

Day 33 ~ 2/24/12

WOW-o-WOW.....is all I can say about the Cauliflower Pizza!!  First let me say, TRY IT!!  If you are not a fan of cauliflower, you really could not taste the cauliflower at all. I thought it would have added a little bitter taste, but not at all.

No Food Proccessor for me, I went Old School!  Shred more than a cup as once it cooks in microwave you get about 1/2 of what you started with

LOVE the Non-Stick aluminum foil, no greasy pan and easy clean-up!  I did use the olive oil - it really does not brush on, I dabbed it with a brush to get a light even coating on crust

My Pizza Dough...before heated to a golden perfection...

A beautiful crispy work of cauliflower pizza dough art

Looks like the REAL THING!

 Today's Meals:

7:20am: Vanilla Protein drink (made with Jay Robb egg white protein & 1/2 container plain yogurt, a little cinnamon)

9am: Sweet Red Pepper Hummus with cucumber slices

11am: 1 cup 2% cottage cheese with red pepper slices

12:45pm: Egg Salad over raw spinach with sliced tomatoes, cucumbers and baby carrots 

7 pm: Cauliflower Pizza with sliced tomatoes

9:00pm: I will be eating the leftover cauliflower pizza

Even though it's a NO Grain Diet, recipes like this are still high in fat.  Cheese is allowed on this diet but from a calories stand point going easy on it will only help not hurt you.  So this could not be an every day occurance, but it was good.  Even hubby had a piece and liked it (and he didn't taste the cauliflower).

This past week had a few beautiful days and next week is looking the same - I did get two 1/2 hour lunchtime walks in (not sure if I had noted it) so I am looking forward to doing it again next week.  Kickboxing class does not re-start for about a month (next sign up) so I will be either doing my afternoon walks and/or using my own equipment at home (just have to find it under the clothes).

I hope your week was a success!  Keep in mind, no matter how big or small a weight loss -or- extra minutes you add to your work out program - YOU ARE DOING IT and YOU WILL SUCCEED!!!

KEEP POSITIVE, KEEP FOCUSED AND KEEP IT HEALTHY!!

Morning Motivation...

Day 32 ~ 2/23/12

My cravings for bread has not dissipated over these last three days into today.  I had noticed the same thing last week but was thinking the additional stress was causing my cravings.

My caving into have them is being held back by the fact that I am full.  Eating every couple of hours these last few days really makes a difference!

Today I moved into the next Phase “Stabilize”,  I am back to (3) meals and (3) snacks – eliminating one snack/meal.  Going with a “BIG” Chef Salad made by a local deli by where I work, helped keep me very full this afternoon , I didn’t even notice I missed a snack.

Veggies are natures filler!!

 

7:20am: 1 cup Plain yogurt with walnuts, dash cinnamon and a pinch sweet & low

9am: Sweet Red Pepper Hummus with cucumber slices

11am: 1 cup 2% cottage cheese with red pepper slices

12:45pm: Chef Salad with 1 tablespoon Russian Dressing (low cal)

6 pm: Turkey breast tenderloin roasted in lemon & garlic with carrots, onions and zucchini

8:00pm: Vanilla Protein drink (made with Jay Robb egg white protein)

 

I am looking forward to tomorrow – I have a recipe for Pizza using cauliflower for the crust, I want to try and it works out well with MEATLESS Friday!  I included recipe here just in case you are game to try it too!!

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked, rice cauliflower
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp crushed garlic
1/2 tsp garlic salt
olive oil (optional)

pizza sauce, shredded cheese and your choice of toppings*

Directions:

To "Rice" the Cauliflower:
Take 1 large head of fresh cauliflower, remove stems and leaves, and chop the florets into chunks. Add to food processor and pulse until it looks like grain. Do not over-do pulse or you will puree it. (If you don't have a food processor, you can grate the whole head with a cheese grater). Place the riced cauliflower into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 8 minutes. There is no need to add water, as the natural moisture in the cauliflower is enough to cook itself.

One large head should produce approximately 3 cups of riced cauliflower. The remainder can be used to make additional pizza crusts immediately, or can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.

To Make the Pizza Crust:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Add oregano, crushed garlic and garlic salt, stir. Transfer to the cookie sheet, and using your hands, pat out into a 9" round. Optional: Brush olive oil over top of mixture to help with browning.

Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven. To the crust, add sauce, toppings and cheese. Place under a broiler at high heat just until cheese is melted (approximately 3-4 minutes).

Enjoy!

*Note that toppings need to be precooked since you are only broiling for a few minutes.

I got the recipe here: http://www.eat-drink-smile.com/2011/04/cauliflower-crust-pizza.html

 Gotta run, we ran out of carrots, onions, hummus, etc....

Have a SPECTACULAR night!!!

KEEP POSITIVE, KEEP FOCUSED, KEEP HEALTHY!!

Morning Motivation...

 

 

 

 

Day 31 ~ 2/22/12

Today is Ash Wednesday and even though I am Catholic - when I see the first person of the day with ashes on their forehead, I want to tell them they have dirt there (happens.every.year)...that being said....today is a NO MEAT DAY....and a lot of eggs, cheese and salad...

I am going to be gassy!!

Running out after work to do Dad's taxes - so a quick drive through McDonalds was the fastest thing to eat on my way over there...I just picked off the bun and breading - what was left was a mushy picked apart piece of fish, I do not recomment doing this.  I would have been better off just getting a package of California Rolls (I thought of this in mid-pick through the filet of fish) - don't the best ideas come at the worst times??!!

Phase One, Day Three

7am: 3 Scrambled eggs with fat free feta cheese

9am: Sweet Red Pepper Hummus with cucumber slices

11am: 1 cup Plain yogurt with walnuts, dash cinnamon and a pinch sweet & low

1pm: Lettuce wraps with egg salad (made with a teaspoon of may - yes I can have mayo!!)

3pm: Baby carrots and califlower with garlic hummus

5:10pm: Quick "on-the-go" meal - 2 Mcdonald's Fish of Fish (no bun and picked off breading)

To have once I get home:

8:00pm: 2 Hard Boiled eggs, 1 skim mozzarella cheese stick

Easter is SIX WEEKS away.  Lent starts Ash Wednesday and in my family we do not eat meat on Ash Wednesday or any Friday through all of Lent. In addition, something is usually given up during this period.  Giving something up is completely up to the person, but it is usually something you really enjoy - not something you know you could give up and not miss.

SIX WEEKS is the length of many popular diets  -or- at the very least the inital phase of many diets.  If you were to look at the opportunity here - you can use EASTER as a GOAL DATE.

SIX weeks from now:

"I will be able to walk __________minutes"

"I will get into my size ________ jeans"

"I will use the SIX WEEKS to ________________"

Right around the corner frome EASTER is SPRING...so you can take this as a jump start to moving more and focusing on your next goal.

Whatever you do......KEEP POSITIVE, KEEP FOCUSED!!

WE ARE ALL DOING THIS TOGETHER

Healthy is better than SKINNY!!!!!!!!!!

 

Morning Motivation...

Day 30 ~ 2/21/2012

In my attempt to keep on the straight and narrow (read...make no baked goods)...I got crafty.

 Last night I conned my hubby into making our own laundry soap.  I had read an article about the Duggars...you know the family with like a million kids and counting and with all those kids, you know they have laundry by the truckload! They make this concoction that works out to be a penny a washload.  A penny!!!!!  Laundy soap is expensive even if you do have coupon!

All you need is (6) things: Borax $2.99, Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda $2.99, Nels-Naptha Soap Bar $1.79, 5 gallon bucket with lid $5.78 and 10 empty gallon milk containers.  Prices are what I paid for these items....this link has awesome Step-by-Step Instructions (we referred to it a bunch of times)

http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2011/02/make-it-homemade-liquid-laundry-soap-1/

This is my bucket of soap :

I will not have to buy laundry soap for months!!

Between my little bit of crafty last night, I extended it into today by making a decent heathly snack with chickpeas (pic's and recipe below) 

Phase One, Day Two

7am: Coconut milk smoothie (1/2 container plain yogurt, 1 cup coconut milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 sweet & low)

9am: Sweet Red Pepper Hummus with cucumber slices

11am: 1 cup Plain yogurt, chopped almonds, walnuts and sunflower seeds

1pm: Lettuce wraps with ham, pickles, mustard

3pm: 2 Hard Boiled eggs, 1 skim mozzarella cheese stick

5:30pm: Small steak with  tomato, cucumber, red onion salad

7:30pm: Oven roasted chickpea's, lemon zinger tea

I never made this recipe before but have had them at a friends house. The chickpeas actually cripsen up and are sort of like a popcorn replacement (not really, just kinda go with me on this) but they are a good healthy snack - plus a veggie/legume!!

Sweet and Salty Roasted Chickpea Recipe 

• 1 can (14 oz) chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
•  1 teaspoon cinnamon or your spice(s) of choice (I made 2 batches - one with cinnamon, in pic & 1 with  1 teaspoon powdered ranch dip mix - skip the brown sugar if you do the ranch dip)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Place chickpeas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
2. Bake at 450 F for 30 minutes. (You didn't miss anything here.  You don't oil or season them until after they are done.  In fact, for an extra healthy treat, try them when they get out of the oven before even adding the oil.  They are enjoyable all on their own.)
3. Transfer chickpeas to a bowl and mix thoroughly with the rest of the ingredients.
4. Enjoy hot, or bring to room temperature.
5. I do not find them good the next day...my suggestion, eat while hot/warm.

KEEP POSITIVE, KEEP FOCUSED!!

Have a SUPER night!!

 

 

 

 

Morning Motivation...

Day 29 ~ 2/20/12

A do-over, I never thought that would happen....but after my 3 pound gain and sad weekend - I guess I am not surprised.  Sticking to No Grains was difficult.  The wake and funeral were in New York, getting on the road right after work Friday night without dinner for the hour plus drive, two hours in funeral parlor then hour plus drive home...we were starving - carbs in the form of several slices of toast was dinner.  Saturday morning started off in a carb haze also - hot chocolate and a bagel on drive to funeral and then burger for lunch and ravioli for dinner.  Sunday, I was sick.  Not like a flu sick, more like the carbs I hadn't had for a few days and then consummed attacked my insides...it was not pleasant!!

Today's Meals: 

7:05am:  Jay Robb Vanilla Whey Protein Shake 

9am: Plain yogurt with cinnamon and chopped almonds

11:30am: Garlic hummus with cucmber slices

1:20pm: 1 cup Progresso Vegetable soup

3:50pm: Lettuce leaves rolled tuna, chopped onion and a little mustard

 6:15pm: Roasted Chicken breast, steamed cauliflower, broccoli and carrots

8:00pm: 2 HB eggs

10pm: Lemon Zinger tea

I do need to exercise.  I have been saying it for awhile now and have gotten sproatic, VERY SPORATIC exercise in - but my hips and legs have been hurting. Hubby thinks from lack of exercise. I had planned on starting tonight - but too tired.  I spent my day off running errands and making dinner for my sister and her family tonight.

This week we will have a few days in the high 50's and even low 60's - I have already put an extra pair of sneakers by the door to bring to work - at least I can try and get in a half hour walk at lunch.  As you know I did not pick up kickboxing again due to my sister being sick and my not knowing when/where I would be needed - but I am going to look into signing up again.  I need an outlet and I definately need the disipline of the exercise.  I have been hovering around the same weight still - gaining and losing the same 5 pounds - not sure when the new session starts, but even if it's a month away, I am getting on my treadclimber or something as I feel like a slug!!

Hoping your Monday was quiet and Terrific!!

Have a GREAT NIGHT!!!

 

Morning Motivation...