Rebound

I broke up with Scale....and hooked up with Ben & Jerry.  It was just a rebound thing. Nothing serious. But I know when I'm beat.  I gave "eating junk in moderation" a real try.  I think I did pretty good for the first 2 weeks.  And then...then...I couldn't even tell you.

I feel like a witness to a hit and run accident.  Everything was a blur. It all happened so fast.  There was a lot of screaming...

However, when I walked into BigLots and walked out with a bag of salt & vinegar potato chips and a family pack of Rice Krispy treats, I knew it was time to hit the reset button.  Let's just start over.

Hello Fat Smash Diet: Phase 1..... it's been a while. Good to see you again.

That means I'm having this for breakfast.

Steel Cut Oats with Berries

I made Split Pea Soup, Avgolemono Soup, and Coconut Lime Soup for lunch. And I'm having veggie stir fry for dinner.

Basically the most exciting thing in my lunch box is this....

Kumquats

These little guys look like the love child of an orange and an olive. They look like super tiny oranges.

And you eat the skin and everything. They are super sour yet sweet.  Kinda like a healthy WarHead.


On a happy note, my 50 Pound Reward is HERE!!!

It's so pretty!  I admit that I have a hard time with self control (Big surprise, I know...) and I did wear it already.  Ironically, the clasp kept coming undone....making the watch almost fly off my wrist a few times.  I brought it to a really cool jewelry store up the street and he tightened the clasp (for freeee) and that fixed it.  But I tucked it safely in my jewelry drawer.

Hopefully come June 1st when Scale and I reunite, I will be down to 225 pounds and can slap that sucker on my wrist!!

Weigh-In 235.4 lb

Weight:  235.4 lb
Week Change:  -2 lb
Total Loss:  39.6 lb
Left to Lose:  60.4 lb

This is the third week of the Ready For Summer Challenge and The Fat Smash Diet.  I am more than thrilled with my 2 pound loss this week.  That makes a 16 pound loss in 3 weeks. Crazy!! Now all I have to do is NOT.GIVE.UP. That's the hardest part.

“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” 

--Dale Carnegie

Hubs and I went for another bike ride on Saturday.  We biked for 1.5 hours and covered 10 miles. Yes, that's pretty slow, but I don't care.  I invited a bunch of people to go on the canal path for a walk/bike and then out to dinner after. I was shocked that 16 people showed up!  They all loved my bike :-) I still need to get a basket for her, but here's another photo of her...

I had a yummy salad at the restaurant on the canal.

And then we all decided to walk over about a half mile to this new frozen yogurt place.  It was amazing.  It's all self serve.  You get your bowl and pick out your flavor (or flavors).  The nutrition info is listed on each one!! And there were fat free, sugar free, and lactose free options.  Then there are two stations with every topping you can imagine Including fresh fruit which they chop every hour.

They charge by weight which I loved because I could control my portion size. You can put as little (or as much) as you want in there.  I got fat free cheesecake yogurt (120 cal per cup) and topped it with fresh mango, strawberries, raspberries and toasted wheat germ, flax seed, some graham cracker crumbles and a teeny bit of dark chocolate shavings and raw slivered almonds. So gooood!

We already have plans for another bike ride next Saturday.  And we will probably walk over and get frozen yogurt again :-) 

This week the Ready For Summer Mini Challenge was to visit all the challengers blogs.  I managed to do it! And was really impressed by so many of the posts.  I am constantly encouraged by February Fitness Project.  I love how she tracks her calories and fills us in on where she stands.  Her motivational pictures are great.  And she is so close to goal (well, compared to me) and yet she is dropping pounds.  Just goes to show that it IS possible. She also posts some great recipes.

Also Raeesa Getting Fit pushes me to keep going.  She has some great progress photos that show all this hard work is well worth it!

Seeing other people push through this crazy weight-loss thing reminds us all that we CAN do it. And we will!

These are my Ready For Summer Challenge Goals....with the necessary adjustments...

1. Weight Loss:  Lose 15 26.6 pounds and weigh 225 by June 2nd. 
2. NSV:  Fit into the pretty dresses hanging in my closet.
3. Exercise: Be active 4 hours 5 days each week.
4. Nutrition:  Stay within my PointsPlus allowance on the Fat Smash Diet Monday-Friday every day of the week.

Hard to believe that I am 10.6 pounds away from my June 2nd goal of weighing 225 pounds!  There are still 7 weeks left in the challenge so I know that I can accomplish this. I just have to keep on keepin' on!

Spaghetti Squash Soup Recipe

 

Spaghetti Squash Soup (10 Servings, Fat Smash Phase 1)

1 Spaghetti Squash (about 2 lb), cooked and loosened into strands*
1 tbsp Olive Oil
2 8-oz bags of cleaned and cut Mirepoix
4 cups Baby Bella Mushrooms, quartered
2 15-oz cans No Salt Added Diced Tomatoes
8 cups water
2 tbsp No Sodium Bullion
1 tbsp Fresh Thyme, minced
6 oz Baby Spinach (about 8 cups)

In a large pot, cook the Mirepoix in oil until soft, about 5 minutes.  Add the mushrooms and cook 2 minutes.  Add tomatoes and simmer 10 minutes.  Add the water and bullion, simmer 20 minutes.  Stir in the squash and Thyme, simmer 5 minutes.  Remove from heat. Stir in the spinach until wilted. 

Enjoy!!

*To cook Spaghetti Squash, cut in half lengthwise, remove seeds.  Fill that middle section where seeds were with 1/4 cup water.  Put both halves in microwave and cook on high for 15 minutes.  Let sit 10 minutes.  Use a fork to shred and scoop out insides.

Stuffed Poblano Soup Recipe

I love soup. I have been on a major soup-cooking-spree.  I modified this recipe  and came up with Stuffed Poblano Soup which was yummy!

Stuffed Poblano Soup (8 Servings, Fat Smash Phase 2)

4 cups cooked Brown Rice

1 lb extra lean Ground Beef

2 large Onions, diced

1 12-oz bag Fire Roasted Diced Poblanos (or green bell peppers)

2 14-oz cans No Salt Added Diced Tomatoes

1 14-oz can No Salt Added Tomato Sauce

2 cups water

2 tbsp No Sodium Bullion

1 tbsp Italian Seasoning

8 tbsp grated Parmesan

Brown meat in a large pot.  Drain fat.  Add onions and peppers, cook for 5 minutes until soft.  Add the tomatoes, sauce, water, bullion, Italian seasoning and simmer, covered for 30 minutes.  Top each serving with 1/2 cup brown rice and 1 tbsp Parmesan.

Enjoy!! (I immediately divided the big pot of soup into plastic containers and froze them for fast lunches.  Please excuse the *not pretty* picture.)

Weigh-In: 237.4 lb

Weight:  237.4 lb

Week Loss:  -2 lb

Total Loss:  - 37.6 lb


Left to Lose: 62.4 lb


When I stood on the scale this morning I could not believe my eyes.  It was my second week of the Ready For Summer Challenge and the Fat Smash Diet.  After losing 12 pounds Week 1, I was not expecting much of a loss Week 2.  And then I got sick and spent the whole week on the couch.  I am not one of those people that loses weight when I'm sick.  It feels GOOD to eat when I have a sore throat.  Weird.  I did my best to stay on plan.

Instead of eating ice cream to make my throat feel nice, I made Banana Soft Serve.  I had read about it on 100 blogs but never tried it cuz...well...it sounded dumb.  I didn't think it would be good. And I was WRONG.  So good and the same consistency as ice cream!

You just cut up a banana and freeze it.  Put it in a food processor with some vanilla extract and cinnamon.  Run the food processor until it looks just like this!  



It really hit the spot.  Doesn't it look like ice cream??


 And I exercised when I felt up to it.  I have lost 14 pounds in the last two weeks!  I have a callus on my shoulder from all this patting myself on the back.  But I can't help it. I am so proud of me.

And also so tired. Losing weight is exhausting.  These last two weeks have been difficult because I have been working on getting a stockpile in my freezer of Fat Smash friendly foods.  After this week I should be good to go.  I have some tasty recipes coming your way.  This weekend I made  Stuffed Pepper Soup, Green Chicken Chili, and Spaghetti Squash Soup.  I froze all of it.  For dinners I am making Butternut Leek Soup and Hot and Sour Soup.  I also grilled up a bunch of chicken breast for quick meals.  I have really been digging on soup lately.  And I find that I lose a lot more when I eat soup.

I have also been throwing together stir fries.  My grocery store sells the stir fry veggies all cut up and in a big bag. So convenient and FAST.


The Ready For Summer Week 2 Mini Challenge was to spice up our workout and do something we haven't done before.  I was feeling better Saturday and went for a long bike ride.  There is a bike path on the canal and one section of it has all these shops and restaurants.  Hubs and I met another couple there and biked for 2.5 hours!!! Wow!! I love this couple.  They are a lot of fun.  The wife is about my size and it's nice to have friends who are eating healthy and trying to lose weight AND very close to the same fitness level and we are.  I couldn't believe how good I did.  I used to make Hubs stop every 15 minutes so I could rest and get a drink and BREATHE.  I didn't need to stop ONCE.  I was so nervous to go for the bike ride with other people because I was going to be embarrassed to stop and rest.  I had nothing to worry about.

I don't know if it's all due to my new physical prowess or the fact that I have a cruiser now.

And it's sooo much more comfortable.  It sits me up straight so I'm not all bent over.  And the seat is HUGE.  My butt did not hurt at all that whole time.  I do have post-traumatic butt pain though.  It hurts now!

I also think my stamina was improved by having a Camelbak Pack....ya know...one of those backpacks that is full of water with the straw that comes up next you your mouth so you can drink without having to stop your bike.  And it holds 70 ounces!! I shoved a ton of ice cubes in there too.  I felt a little silly on my blue cruiser while donning the Camelbak.  But a girl's gotta do......

After we had ridden for EVER we locked up our bikes and had lunch at a Greek restaurant on the canal.  I got a salad with grilled chicken and Skordalia dip.  Again, friends were there so no pictures of the food.  We already have plans for another bike ride Saturday. 

I just love eating healthy and being active!!! 

Lime Soup Recipe

I almost clicked right past this recipe because it sounded so weird. I had never heard of Lime Soup before.  I thought I would give it a try. So glad I did. Came out GREAT!!

Lime Soup (5 Servings, Fat Smash Phase 2)

1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 Onion, diced
1 Poblano, diced
1 tsp each: Cumin, Allspice, Cinnamon
3 Plum Tomatoes, diced
6 cup Water
2 tbsp No-Sodium Bullion
3 Limes, one sliced thin, the others juiced
1 cup fresh Cilantro, diced
3 cup Chicken, cooked and diced
1 Avocado, diced small

Cook the onion and poblano in the oil for 3 minutes until tender.  Add the spices and stir.  Add the tomatoes, water, bullion, lime slices.  Bring to a simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the lime juice, cilantro, and chicken.  Top each serving with avocado.

Enjoy!!

Weigh-In: 239.4

Weight: 239.4 lb

Week Loss:  -12 lb

Total Loss: 35.6 lb

Left to Lose: 66.4 lb

My first week of the Ready For Summer Challenge and the Fat Smash Diet was a total success! I lost 12 pounds!! I don't care if it was water and salt and air....or any other *not-actual-fat* substances. I am super happy!

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the first phase of the Fat Smash Diet.  Even though it was the Detox phase, it wasn't bad at all. I didn't feel hungry or deprived.

After breakfast of an egg with zucchini, onion, and fresh parsley...


....I had lunch with Hubby.

Sushi (yes...TECHNICALLY this is meat, but it was the closest choice available.)


A little bit of a cucumber dill salad with greek yogurt dressing.

We went out to dinner with some friends. I got a salad topped with grilled eggplant.  I didn't get a picture of the food. Kinda embarrassed to take a picture of lettuce in front of people...but here is a pic of us! 

The most shocking part of all is that I didn't miss my Free Day(s).  I usually take off Saturday (and sometimes Sunday too).  I started doing this because without those days I would never have gotten through the week. I am a food addict and a binger.  I thought not having a Free Day was going to be my undoing.

The opposite was true.  I felt empowered. I could say Goodbye to unhealthy food and not just store it up for the weekend. Instead of setting my mind on what I would eat on Saturday I pushed thoughts of unhealthy food out of my head.  The result was that I wasn't thinking about food 24/7.  And THAT really felt FREE.

I'm not saying that I'm never going to have anything unhealthy again.  The Fat Smash Diet actually starts working that in in a few weeks.  I have an issue with food.  And I need to deal with it in steps. The Free Day served its purpose. Now it's time to start eating right and training myself how to enjoy all foods.  And do so with control and not in a feeding frenzy based on emotion.

I am starting Phase 2 today.  This adds meat and cheese and basically increases the calories.  Along with this, exercise increases.  Instead of 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week, now I will do 35 minutes.  Phase 2 lasts 3 weeks.

Week 2 is notoriously the WORST WEEK.  It's hard because the novelty of a new diet fades, the cravings kick into high gear, and worst of all, the scale barely moves. Week 2 stinks. It's usually when I give up.  I need to BRING it this week!!

I did a LOT of prep yesterday.  I was barefoot in the kitchen for hours.  I made Cherry Vanilla Steel Cut Oats.  (I just put some vanilla extract in the water when making the oats, added some Truvia and then topped with frozen unsweetened cherries.)















I have a lot of recipes coming your way!! Stay tuned.

Gospel According to El

The word *Gospel* literally means *Good News* and even though what I have to say isn't nearly as exciting as what Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John had to report, it is still, nonetheless, Good News.

This news is that I am doing rEalLy GOOD!!! I am currently four days into the 9 day Phase 1: Detox of the Fat Smash Diet. I am shocked by how good I feel. Phase 1 approved foods are fruits, veggies, beans, legumes, 2 cups brown rice, and 2 LF yogurt.  No meat. No cheese. No bread. No pasta.  No Free Day!!!!

I thought by now I would be giving up, or wanting to give up, or having friends beg me to give up.  I thought I would be cranky and miserable. But I'm not. I feel good. 

One of the biggest keys to success is that I have to eat at certain times. The rule is to never go more than 3 hours without eating.  And this isn't a *the-fork-goes-on-this-side-of the plate* fake rule.  It is serious business. I have to eat often and on time.  If I don't I am angry and shaky and searching for quick pre-packaged contraband.  I have been eating RIGHT on schedule with great results.

My fruits and veggies have been tasty. 

Watermelon (mmmmmm watermelon...)

And corn on the cob (yes, I know it's technically a *grain*, but it's Fat Smash approved)

Weird thing about me is that I have *mad-corn-cob-eating-skills*...see how nice and neat that turns out! One row at a time, baby.

I've been eating all kinds of raw veggies with humus....like green beans.



I cooked some dry chickpeas in my pressure cooker and roasted some of them at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.  I sprinkled them with Mrs Dash and cumin. They were just as good as chips. I promise.  Crunchy and spicy.



I also made one of my favorite recipes. 

Pesto Bulgar Lettuce Wraps  (4 Servings, Fat Smash Phase 1)

1 1/3 C Water
1 T No-Sodium Chicken Bullion   
1 C Dry Bulgar
1 14-oz can Pinto Beans, rinsed and drained
1/3 C Basil Pesto
1 Poblano, chopped
Head of Boston Lettuce

Bring the water and bullion to boil.  Add the bulgar.  Reduce heat, cover, cook 10 minutes.  Stir in the beans, pesto, and poblano.  Serve wrapped up in the lettuce leaves.

This is a picture of the picture in my recipe book....I had waited 3 hours and 2 minutes to eat and couldn't wait for my camera to turn on. I had to EAT.

I am feeling super fun and pretty and full of energy.  Which makes me want to look cute.  So I went tanning.  And the girl at the counter made me feel like a loser for not having tanning bed lotion.  But not a big enough loser to actually drop $35 bucks on the stuff she was selling.  So I went to a local beauty supply store and snagged some there for $10.  Still a lot....but this one promised to make me sexy and give me energy...so it was really a bargain.


I also got this crazy thing....I can't believe I am even admitting to it.  But here's the thing.  I wax my own brows, cut my own hair, I might as well give myself pedicures.  And the only reason I drop $30 on a pedicure is cuz the lady uses one of these....


Gross I know but I get wicked calluses on my heels.  And this works miracles. Haven't tried it yet. But I am really hoping it works!!! Don't worry...I solemnly swear NOT to post a single picture of how it works or anything ghastly like that.

In the meantime, I'm just enjoying this *Natalie-Wood-I-Feel-Pretty* feeling.

Fat Smash Phase 1: Tomato Basil Soup

Even though I am really excited about starting the Fat Smash Diet, I am also terrified. It's hard. It is going to be such a challenge to stick to it.  But the pay off is soooo worth it.  I'm in Phase 1: Detox.  It only lasts 9 days.  I can do anything for 9 days.  Right?

I made Steel Cut Oats topped with Frozen Berries for breakfast.

And this morning I did 30 minutes on the elliptical.  (Sorry for the blurry photo....I'm ON the machine taking this picture.)

For lunch I had Tomato Basil Soup.  So delicious.

Tomato Basil Soup (Fat Smash Phase 1: Detox)

2 large sweet onions, sliced
1 tbsp canola oil
3 zucchini, sliced
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 28-oz can crushed tomatoes
1 bunch of fresh basil, torn into pieces
grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Cook the onions in the oil until soft.


Add the zucchini and Italian seasoning and cook 10 more minutes.


Add the tomatoes and fill the can with water and add that as well.


Simmer, uncovered 25 minutes. Remove from heat, add the fresh basil.


Stir in the basil.


Top each bowl with Parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!!! 

RFS Challenge START

Weight: 251.6 lb

I am done done done with this up and down crap.  I have been on one diet or another for the last 6 months and I weigh exactly what I did when I started. When I got on the scale this weekend and saw that DESPITE staying within my points and exercising like crazy I had GAINED 3 pounds, I just stood on the scale and cried. Cried my eyes out.

Then I promptly open my cupboards and shoved FiberOne bars in my mouth.


After lunch with my hubby I did feel better....not sure exactly why.


I need to get focused and this challenge is starting at JUST the RIGHT time!!!


In the past I have mentioned the Great Weight Loss of 2007.  I lost 50 pounds in about 6 months. I did it by sticking to the Fat Smash Diet.  I didn't want to do it again because, well, it's hard. And restrictive.  And WeightWatchers is much easier. 

But it's what I need right now.  The first phase is 9 days.  It's the Detox phase.  Even though there is no counting of any kind, it's mostly just fruits and veggies.  I found some great recipes and went grocery shopping. I was really proud that my cart was practically FULL by the time I was done with the PRODUCE section.

That's all just fruits and vegetables! 

I am serious this time. I mean business. I have the eye of the Tiger.


I am FOCUSED. I plan on being 225 pounds by the end of this challenge on June 2nd.  Please no comments about how that's not possible. If it's not then at least let me try and fail.  In 10 weeks I want to lose 26.6 pounds.  That's about 2.7 pounds down each week. Crazy. I can do it though. I know I can.  Cheer me on!!!