Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Check In 4/29

Up one to 117, still doing well maintaining. Yay me!

Here's my Week 15 Training Schedule

Countdown: 15 WeeksYour Training Schedule for This Week:
Monday-Rest
Tuesday-3 miles, Easy walking
Wednesday-15 minutes, Easy cross-training
Thursday-5 miles, Moderate walking
Friday-30 minutes, Easy cross-training
Saturday-6 miles, Easy walking
Sunday-5 miles, Easy walking

I've signed up for area training walks for Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's is after an Outfitter's Clinic at a New Balance store in GR. They're giving us walkers 25% off, I may buy a pair of walking shoes. I have one spot that my running shoes rub on and they say your gait is very different between running and walking. We'll see.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

A Couple Mexican Recipes

The weekend snuck up on me some how and I didn't have any recipes to try. What!?!?!

So here's a couple of our favorite healthified Mexican dishes.

Walking Tacos
1lb lean ground beef(chicken, turkey or venison)
packet of taco seasoning
salsa
fat free sourcream
shredded lettuce
Baked Doritos
fat free or low fat mexican blend shredded cheese

Brown the beef and add taco seasoning. To build the taco (real walking ones would be made in chip bags, but we just use plates at home) put 16 Baked Doritos on plate, ground beef, salsa, lettuce, sourcream and cheese. Build it how you like it really.

This is Ayla's favorite dinner, she requests it often.

Breakfast Burritos
Eggbeaters or 1/2 eggs and 1/2 egg whites. ( I used 8 eggs, 4 whole, 4 whites)
turkey sausage
salsa
fat free tortillas
low fat(fat free) mexican blend shredded cheese
small can of diced green chiles

Brown sausage in one pan. Whisk together the eggs and diced green chiles (I only used 1/2 can so they weren't over powering, if you like spicy throw in the whole can), scramble cook them in another pan. When eggs and sausage are cooked you can build your burrito. Great easy breakfast that can be eaten on the go.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

4/22 Check-In

I'm still lazy. grrrrrr Only during the week though. I get in my long walks on the weekend for training. *sigh*


I maintained this week at 116.

Countdown: 16 WeeksYour Training Schedule for This Week:
Monday-Rest
Tuesday-3 miles Easy walking
Wednesday-Rest
Thursday-4 miles Moderate walking
Friday-30 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday-5 miles Easy walking
Sunday-3 miles Easy walking

This is sort of the schedule I followed last week. I did 5.5 miles on Friday and 3 on Saturday, because it was going to rain on Sunday. Have to map out a different 5+ mile walk, the one I did Friday has a not very safe spot in it. Won't be doing that walk again.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Quinoa?

I finally bought some quinoa to buy, it's kind of expensive... so we'll see how it goes.

Apple Quinoa Breakfast Pudding

1/3 cup quinoa
2/3 cup water
1 tsp cinnamon or apple pie spice
1 packet Equal
1/2 Granny Smith Apple, chopped into small pieces

Rinse the quinoa well in cold water. Place in a saucepan with the water, sweetner and applie pie spice. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer while you prepare apple. Add the chopped apple and continue to simmer until all liquid is absorbed.

Eh, it's ok. But I probably won't make it again. It cooked too quick or something, the quinoa and apples are still hard.

Crockpot Quinoa Casserole

--1 1/2 cups quinoa
--3 cups broth (chicken or vegetable; I used chicken)
--1 T olive oil
--1/2 t salt
--1/2 t cinnamon
--1/4 sliced or chopped almonds
--1/3 cup dried unsweetened cranberries
--handful of baby spinach
--1 cup baby tomatoes, halved or quartered depending on size
--1/2 block feta cheese, crumbled

The Directions.You are supposed to rinse quinoa. Rinse it in a fine mesh strainer until the water runs clear.Dump it into the crockpot. I used my 6qt Smart Pot for this dish.
Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and mix it around. Add chicken or vegetable broth, the salt, and cinnamon. Stir in almonds and cranberries.Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or on high for 2-4. The quinoa is done when you can fluff it with a fork and it is tender. The liquid should be pretty well absorbed, similar to how you know rice is done.

mmmmmm I have this portioned out for lunches. The above recipe is from the crockpot lady. I didn't have tomatoes, spinach or cheese. I added chopped broccoli instead and it's good.

We're having bacon burgers for supper and to go with them...

Roasted Zucchini Fries

Olive oil cooking spray
4 small zucchini, trimmed and cut into fries
1/4 tsp sea salt
ground pepper to taste
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, finely grated

Preheat oven to 450. Line baking sheet with foil and coat with cooking spray. In a large bowl combine zucchini, salt, pepper and oil. Toss to coat. Arrange zucchini on baking sheet roast for 18-20 minutes, tossing once halfway through cooking. Transfer to plate and sprink Parmigian-Reggiano and serve.

These are ok. They never really firmed up for me though. I think my zucchini was too old. Be sure to use fresh zucchini for this.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

4/15 Check-In and Vanity Goal

Weighed in this morning at 116, down 1. So still maintaining. Yay! Considering I wasn't totally good this past week. Onion rings at Red Robin... mmmmmmmmm But again, WW really is all about portion control. I can have things like the best onion rings in the world at Red Robin, just don't over eat on them. Eat a few, normally around 3, savor them... and my life is good.

My vanity goal? And it is totally vain, I want to get the belly pooch down so it doesn't hang over my bikini bottoms. Course that would mean I buy a new bikini. I tried some on with Ayla last weekend, but was upset about the belly pooch so didn't buy any. All of my old suits are too big, so I will need a new one when we open the pool. I was also wondering last night, if any of my summer clothes will fit. *sigh* I may have to go shopping again. I hate shopping.

The 3Day is becoming my life. Well sort of. It really is a bigger commitment than I initially thought. But I'm enjoying it so far. Saturday I'm going to a Getting Started Meeting in GR. I've been doing long walks on the weekend, and think about fundraising constantly. I have friends here looking for venues for me to have the quilt raffle.... and just helping brainstorm. I'm currently 40% of the way on fundraising. I would love to be all done fundraising by July, so July I can just concentrate on the training portion. I want to finish the walk! I want to be able to walk all 60 miles!!!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Quilt raffle coming soon.



For a sneak peek at the hanging quilt and to read my Mom's thoughts on the quilt visit me at http://www.the3day.org/goto/Breezy929 .

Sunday, April 12, 2009

More Eggscellent Recipes

Happy Easter!!!!


These are more tips than actual recipes.

For healthier hard boiled eggs, throw out the yolk and fill with hummus.

For healthier egg salad, only use half of the yolks, use hummus instead of mayo, or wedges of Laughing Cow, or do half mayo/half fat free yogurt(greek yogurt will be thicker).

or

Eggbeaters Egg Salad
PAM® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 cup Egg Beaters® Original (1 cup = 8 oz)
1/3 cup fat free mayonnaise
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions
1 teaspoon Gulden's® Spicy Brown Mustard
Lettuce leaves and tomato slices, optional

Spray small microwavable dish with cooking spray. Add Egg Beaters. Microwave on HIGH 1 minute; stir with fork. Microwave on HIGH an additional 45 seconds, or just until center is set. Place cooked Egg Beaters in medium bowl; toss with fork until broken into bite-size pieces. Let stand 15 minutes, or until cool. Add mayonnaise, celery, onions and mustard; mix well. Serve on lettuce leaves with tomato slices, if desired.

Makes 3 1/2 cup servings NI: Cal-61 Fat-1g Fiber-1g

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

4/17 Check In

One more week!!!!! Of tax season that is. This week has been rough. This week is always the worst.

I maintained at 117. I'm slipping on my dinner planning though. I need to get back to that. It's bad to get home after work and not sure what to make for dinner. Luckily, the house is stocked with healthy choices.... but drive through would be soooooo much easier.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Eggscellent Recipes

Our hens have been laying machines lately. All of a sudden we had 3 dozen eggs in our fridge and I needed to use them up.

Basic Frittata Recipe

3 whole eggs
6 egg whites
chopped veggies

Combine all and fill muffin pan 3/4 way and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

This is just a very basic recipe. Fill these with your favorite veggies or low fat sausage or ham. You can also add in fat free/low fat cheese. Great for breakfasts on the go. Just microwave to reheat and run out the door.

Chinese Fried Bulgur

1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup bulgur
2 tsp oil
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 cup frozen green peas
1/2 carrot, finely diced
1 tsp low sodium soy sauce

Put bulgur in pot and pour boiling water over it. Stir, cover the pot and let sit for 30 minutes.

Put 1 teaspoon oil in a nonstick fry pan. Pour in egg and let it cook as an omelet. Remove from pan and cut the egg into slivers and set aside.

Add remaining oil to the pan. Saute the onion and carrots. When onion begins to turn golden, add the green peas. Cook until the peas are soft.

Add the bulgur and mix well. Add the soy sauce and mix well. Add the egg, mix and reheat.

OK, I don't like peas. So I'll be using leftover diced veggies from my frittatas. Red, orange and yellow peppers with onion, zuccinini and asparagus.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Check-in April Fools!!!!

The joke is on me, I'm up another pound. 117 I'm slowly creeping back up. I need to stop making excuses and get back into my exercise routine.

I got an email today from a local woman that is going to lead some training walks for the 3Day. Most of the walks will start right here in town! I need to put those on my calendar and get my legs moving.