Things I Loved to Eat Today!

Today I marinated some chicken breast in this yummy vinaigrette from Kraft. Vidallia Onion vinaigrette and marinade. I put about 1/2 cup of this in a gallon sized baggie, along with about 1/4 cup onion flakes, 1 tsp Mrs. Dash Tomato Basil Garlic and about 1 tbs. olive oil. Marinated this for about 3 hours then grilled it up on the grill with mesquite briquettes! IT WAS SO YUMMY!



Recently I figured out a fun way to prepare asparagus. I put it on a cookie sheet, spray it with Crisco butter spray, sprinkle some sea salt on it and the secret ingredient, is...CHICKEN BULLION, in powder form! Then I broil it on low for 4 mins and is it delish!!

When the Scale is Stuck.

Every now and again we all face this horrible nightmare during our weight loss journey; you walk into your bathroom with that great feeling that you have done all you can this week and you can't wait to see the rewards for your efforts showing up on the scale. Then, to your horror, the number is the same it was last week...or even worse, IT HAS GONE UP. Your head spins, your face gets hot, you fell a surge of rage rush through your body. You pick up your scale and while screaming, "I KNEW YOU WERE FROM THE DEVIL," you hurl that evil device across the room with all of your force.
Does this sound familiar?? I know I have been there more than a few times. It can be so frustrating to our efforts, and in a lot of cases this little problem can make us want to throw our hands up and quit. This is part of the "diet" trap. We have convinced ourselves that the only way to gauge our success is by seeing the numbers drop on the scale. But, please, take a step back from Satan's measuring tool and consider a few factors.

1. Where are you in your cycle? Could it be possible that you are retaining water? If so, stay calm my sister STAY OFF OF THE SCALE, and give it a few days. If you stay on your plan, you may even end up a few extra pounds down!

2. Are you under a great amount of stress? Stress is a proven way to make your body pack on a few, or hold on to the pounds you are trying to loose.

3. Are you getting enough sleep? Sleep deprivation can cause our bodies to skip the all too important "recovery" phase of our sleep cycle causing us to store extra fat.

4. Are you drinking enough water? If you are not, your body has no way of flushing out the excess. Up your water and see how well that works! Your urine should be virtually colorless, if not, DRINK MORE!

5. Are you eating higher glycemic foods? Some fruits and vegetables really aren't that desirable for weight loss. Check out the Glycemic Index, and try to pick foods with the lowest numbers. During weight loss, those foods will speed up the process!!

6. Where are you in your journey? During the entire first month your weight according to the scale can shift dramatically. Water weight is a finicky thing. Weigh yourself at the same time every day, and weigh less often. I read in a book to weigh on day one, and then not again for a whole month...I couldn't wait that long, but at least only weigh once a week for a while until your body gets into a rhythm.

7. Are you keeping track of inches? Sometimes you may not loose pounds, but you are still loosing inches. Remember THIS post when we discussed the differences in fat and muscle? If you are working out, you may be building muscle and that very muscle may be taking the place of fat. So you may weigh the same or more, but your body is still shrinking.

I challenge you to look for other ways to rate your successes.
1. How do my clothes look and feel?
2. How have my physical capabilities improved?
3. Are others noticing me looking happier?
4. Do I feel happier (other than when I look at the scale)?
5. How has my muscle tone improved?
6. Am I making strides in changing bad habits within my family?
7. Am I setting goals and achieving them outside of weight loss?
8. Am I setting a good example for my friends and family?

These are all things to think about each day. Forget the numbers and focus on the idea of Optimal Health!
There could be so many more factors to a plateau, but just keep in mind...if you are obeying the rules, and making good choices, you WILL be rewarded. Stay positive and do your best!

21 POUNDS!!!

And it feels so good!!

I started exercising this week and I know it has made all of the difference in the world. I had been stuck for a few weeks and with the help of one AMAZING homeopathic physician named Dr. Nuzum, and an INCREDIBLE soft tissue therapist named Dr. Race I have overcome the plateau. I started an herbal suppliment called Colax that the good Dr. gave me, and while some of you may find this to be an overshare, I feel like it is all part of the journey...anyways, let me just say, it is amazing to me how much my body has been holding on to. I read once that the average person carries around 7-15 pounds of excess waste. Waste that is never fully cleansed from the body. In the last few days yes, I have been feeling the churning in my body, but I still feel so much better just being able to cleanse out my system.

If you have been reading this blog for some time, or if you know me personally, you know that I injured my leg while running back in February. It has been a tough and strenuous journey back to having a pain free leg. I am almost there. I was able to complete day one of my couch to 5k training the other day and that was a tear jerking accomplishment for me. To go from never running in my entire life to running a 5k, and then to have it taken away from me was heartbreaking. It feels so good to be back out there running and feeling good again! Thanks Dr. Race!!

Oh yeah...did I mention...21 POUNDS!!!!!

Things I Loved to Eat Today

I have used this dressing before, but sort of forgot about it until I was at the grocery store the other day looking for something new. I grabbed a bottle of Kraft Light Raspberry Vinaigrette. This dressing is amazing with chicken and tonight I made a salad with:

6 oz. cooked chicken
2 baby cucumbers peeled and sliced
2 cups artisan lettuce blend from Costco
3 tbs. dressing

I loved this salad! I have discovered another little gem...the artisan lettuce blend. I was so tired of romaine lettuce and plain ole iceberg wasn't cutting it either. So I tried this last time I went to Costco, and I LOVE IT! These flavors ad a little zing to your regular salad blend!

Does Muscle Really Weigh More Than Fat???

I have always loved it when people say that to me...yeah, I am this weight because muscle weighs more than fat...right??? NO! Remember that old riddle what weighs more, a ton of bricks or a ton of feathers? THEY BOTH WEIGH A TON! Something that is true however is the fact that fat takes up more room in our bodies than muscle. Here is a perfect example. 5 months ago before I got pregnant I weighed 156 pounds. Being pregnant for four months and having a miscarriage caused me to gain 21 pounds. I have since lose 19 of those pounds and am only 2 pounds away from my lowest weight 5 months ago...however....my clothes DO NOT fit the same. I chalked it up to the pregnancy weight shifting in my body and my hips changing until the other day when my husband said something that flipped a light on in my head. I was complaining about my pants not fitting when my husband said,"honey, when you were 156 pounds 5 months ago, you were working out like crazy and jogging every day, you had a lot more muscle." OHHHH YEEEAAAAHHH, I kind of forgot! Of course my clothes don't fit the same.

So take a look at these pictures. The top one is 5 pounds of fat vs 5 pounds of muscle and the bottom one is an image of what a person would look like if they weighed the same amount but one has more muscle.

So what does this all mean? It means that I need to stop fixating on the numbers I see on the scale and start worrying more about the way my body looks and feels. I am going to do more weight training and see where the road leads me!!

Can Gum Change Your LIfe??

I SAY YES!! I bought this on a whim the other day because my favorite flavor of anything is mint chocolate chip. I put it in my purse and forgot about it until this morning. Can I just say...this gum has changed my life!! Call me crazy but to feel like I am eating dessert without actually eating dessert is a major plus! Trust me, buy some, and you will see!!!

Something old...something NEW

Usually every couple of days I like to try new things, and usually you see it as my,"Things I love to eat" posts. Well, life has been so so so busy this last couple of weeks with my hubby starting at BSU, Z man starting preschool, me changing my schedule at work, and so on and so on. With all of this going on, I have not made time to try anything new. Tonight since Mitch was working late, I took my favorite chicken and some asparagus over to a friends house and cooked it there and had dinner with her and her sister.

It is a rare occasion when I try a new vegetable and I don't gag. My friend and her sister were eating fresh red peppers, and I got a bit gaggy just thinking about it...but then...I bucked up and tried one...and was pleasantly surprised. I think with a bit of tweaking, I may be able to find a way to enjoy fresh red peppers in my diet. I will be racking my brain trying to come up with the perfect companion sauce or dressing to make them delectable.

So, the point of this is to encourage you to try something new....today!! You never know, you may love it!!

Making Changes for the WHOLE Family

It's funny, as I have begun to make changes in my habits, and in the way I see food, I have had an awakening about my family's nutrition. My husband...heaven bless him...will NEVER, EVER, EVER be fat. He is 28 and can still wear the clothes he wore as a sophomore in high school. He throws a party every time the scale gets kind of close to 140 pounds. He has always been able to eat whatever he wants and not gain a pound. Now, our dear son seems to have inherited those very same skinny genes, and has never been chubby, nor will he ever be. In the past, I have always used this as a justification to let them eat whatever they wanted. Now, however, I see that it is very possible to be thin, and at the same time be very unhealthy. I also see, that it will be up to me to teach our family about health and nutrition. I want my children to have a different relationship with food than I did. I have tried to keep the junk food in our house to a bare minimum. When people visit us they joke about the lack of any, "good" food in our pantry...but that isn't enough. I have challenged myself to start making changes in our home. To start offering healthier choices, and to begin to teach my son better habits. So if you are a parent, or even if you plan on being one someday, make the choice now to ensure your children have a healthier future. Educate yourself on what goes into the foods we buy, I promise, you will think twice about feeding it to your children. I have started small, making easy changes where I can. One major change is that I am cleansing this house of all things made with high fructose corn syrup. It will be hard, but one by one, I am replacing things in my house. I am also trying to offer veggies to my son more often, and I have stopped buying juice all together. I am not saying that all bad food must leave your life forever, but the idea is to make better choices when and where you can!

Don't Forget About The.....

Click HERE for the details!

My Favorite Tricks and Tips!

So now that I am a coach, some of my clients will be reading this blog. I am going to use this as a source for me to share my favorite tips tricks and recipes. Don't worry, for those of you not using TSFL, I promise, the blog will remain relevant for you too! I just wanted to share a list of some of the ideas that have been shared with me that have helped me along the way!

Soups:

When using any of the soups I find that the flavor is best if I make them the night before and let them sit in the fridge. If I am eating soup, I use my optional snack to add the medifast crackers to my soups. I love the garden vegetable.

Chicken Noodle:

I add some chicken bullion, some parsley flakes, a dash of sea salt, and I microwave it with a bay leaf which I remove the next morning.

Chicken and Rice and Cream of Chicken:

I combine these two flavors and use it for two meals. I add the same things to this that I add to the chicken noodle.

Cream of Tomato:

I add chicken bullion, Mrs. Dash tomato basil garlic seasoning, a dash of garlic salt and make sure this one has overnight to sit.

Chili:

I have not used the chili, but I have heard it is great over some salad...kind of like a taco salad. Also, I heard adding some Tabasco sauce helps.

Shakes:

The best tip I have for shakes is to find a place locally that sells coffee and Italian soda flavoring syrups. You can have up to 4 tbls of the sugar free variety each day. The hot cocoa is amazing as a chocolate shake. I actually like it better than the dutch chocolate. I also prefer the shakes with about 6 pieces of ice blended up in it. I bought straws from the store to drink my shakes with. It sounds cheesy, but using a straw makes you slow down a bit and I don't feel like my meal is gone in 2 seconds!

Strawberry shake and White Chocolate syrup
Hot cocoa with just about anything!
Orange cream with vanilla syrup...orange dreamsicle!
Vanilla shake with brown sugar and cinnamon syrup with a dash of ground cinnamon
Banana Cream shake with a dash of cinnamon and Caramel syrup

Oatmeal:

I have only tried the peach oatmeal because it came in my free week package. I did not even try it at all the first month. Recently, I thought a hot bowl of oatmeal sounded good so I tried it. Not the best, but not bad. If you add some cinnamon to it and a small packet of Splenda it is ok. I had the best results with it when I used a bit more water than called for and cooked it for a bit less time than called for.

Soft Serve:

I blend the soft serve with the right amount of water, but with way more ice. I add more ice to make it thicker, then I add 1-2 tbls of sugar free flavoring to makeup for the extra ice. I love the soft serve and am trying new combinations every day!

Coffee soft serve with hazelnut syrup
peanut butter soft serve with raspberry syrup
Coffee soft serve with Caramel syrup
peanut butter soft serve with Caramel
peanut butter with toasted marshmallow syrup
Chocolate mint soft serve with extra chocolate or extra mint syrup
Chocolate mint with Caramel

You get the idea

Fruit Drinks:

The fruit drinks are so yummy when blended up with ice and diet sprite or 7up or Fresca. They blend up to a slushy consistency!

Pudding:

I am trying this tip today, so I will report back later! But my coach told me to freeze the pudding and eat it more like ice cream. This gave me an idea! I am going to freeze the vanilla pudding and put it in a diet root beer and see if I can't make a root beer float!

Brownies:

I happen to love the brownies the way they are, but to enhance the flavor, I sometimes substitute one tbls of the water with a tbls of flavoring syrup. I also under cook my brownie by about 10 seconds so it has a more fudgy consistency.

Okay folks, these are a few of my tips for now. Be on the look out for when I find out more fun info! Enjoy and as always, if you have any questions at all...please feel free to email me at snubthechub@hotmail.com!

Things I Loved to Eat Today

We spent the most amazing day at Eagle Island today. This morning when I was packing our food I had this genius idea to marinate some chicken so we could bbq it at the park. I was a bit nervous about the outing being my first time "out" while on medifast. I was nervous I would feel triggered to eat so I made sure to pack lots of water, diet coke and I made a fabulous dinner ahead. Can I just say, this was hands down the best chicken I have ever had in my LIFE...and here is what I did:

1 pound raw defrosted chicken tenders
I used tenders because for a picnic setting they cook faster and because they are smaller, you get more char around the corners to enjoy!!

Marinade

In a large gallon sized baggie combine the following
1/3 cup Kraft Sun dried Tomato Vinaigrette
1/4 lemon juice
3 tbl. olive oil
1/4 cup dried onion
1/4 sun dried tomatoes
1 1/2 tbls Mrs. Dash Tomato basil garlic seasoning
1 tbls. garlic salt

Marinate 4-6 hours

We used Mesquite coals on the grill and grilled the chicken until slightly charred on each side. I then grilled some asparagus that had been coated in Crisco butter spray, sea salt and garlic salt. This was seriously the most decadent chicken ever!

If you are reading this blog and not yet a follower, BECOME ONE! I did a giveaway back when I first started, and I think it is time to do another!! Here are a few ways to be entered for the giveaway!

For New Followers

1. Become a follower
2. leave a comment on this post
3. ad me on facebook (April Peterson Johnson) and leave me a comment on my wall

For Existing followers

1. leave a comment on this post
2. leave a comment on my wall on facebook

So are you asking yourself, "What's in it for me?" Well let me tell you! The winner gets a copy of Dr. Anderson's new book "Habits of Health". This book has changed my life and even if Take Shape For Life isn't for you, this book is amazing to read. So, enter and enter in every way you can. The winner will be decided on October 14th...my birthday! Good Luck!

To Be Whole

This seems like a reachable goal...right??? This is, you know the foundation of most life changing programs; to become whole in mind body and spirit. I know people attain this "wholeness" in their lives, I am sure it exists, but in my life there has always been one missing link keeping me from the trifecta of balance. If I am in shape, I am obsessing over myself therefore inhibating me from becoming truly spiritual. If I am overweight, I get depressed, so my mind becomes a hot mess. And right now in my life I feel like all three are kind of a mess. I have tried very hard to overcome the loss of our baby and to move on and to get my body in shape thinking it would make the other parts of my life fall into place. Then, just as I get on a roll with my weight loss, my body failed me and my knee gave out again, then I feel depressed because my efforts seem defeated. Yesterday I had a bit of a meltdown following the third migraine I have had this week. I felt so sick and tired of being sick and tired. I am making HUGE sacrifices to change my health and my body and truly living the healthiest life I have lived in a long time, so why should the rest of it be so hard?

So this morning as I was driving home from an early morning appointment at the salon...I thought to myself, "April, it may take you your entire life to have it all". This journey is why we are here, to achieve balance. To learn how to be the masters of our lives. If I had it all figured out by 27, what would I have to learn the rest of my life?? Sometimes it seems overwhelming, but I am sure that I will constantly be working on the balance of life. This is all part of our imperfect mortal minds and bodies. Our health can't always be perfect, even if we are making perfect efforts. Our minds can't always be sound because life gives us trials meant to challenge our resolve. Our spirituality can't always be in tip top shape because we are mortal and that is part of the test.

So, here I sit, feeling less defeated and more hopeful. Today is a new day, and even if it ends up being just as crappy as yesterday, there is always tomorrow!

Things I Loved to Eat Today

Garlic and Lime Pork Chop

4 pork chops about 1 inch thick
4 tbls fresh lime juice
2 tsp olive oil
garlic to taste
2 packets Splenda

Marinate the chops for 1-6 hours depending on how strong you want the flavor.
Place on hot grill and grill 4-5 mins per side

1 serving of pork is 5 oz cooked

This is seriously the best pork chop I have ever had! I served mine with some asparagus that was sprayed with Crisco butter spray and then topped with sea salt and garlic. This dinner was AMAZING!

Mrs. Dash

Just a tip for you all. Mrs. Dash seasonings are amazing. They have really expanded their flavors and I have been using them like crazy. I just thought I would put that out there!!

The Fresh 15

It has been 3 weeks since I started Medifast and I am down ***15*** pounds! I am so excited and I am feeling so so good! I am only 6 pounds away from my smallest weight...so from that point on, any weight I loose will be weight that has been on my body for the last 10 or so years. I have not been in the 140's since my early years of high school! This adventure is so amazing and I can't wait to celebrate the next 15!!

Things I loved to eat today

If you read this blog, you know a few things about me by now...one thing you may not know about me, is that I HATE most vegetables. Sure, I love the easy ones like carrots, sugar snap peas, corn...all of the stuff that is not allowed during phase one of Medifast. So, the hardest part of my day is the "lean and green" meal I make myself. I have pretty much eaten cucumbers, lettuce, asparagus and radishes every stinking day! I have tried...REALLY tried to love other veggies, but I get SERIOUSLY gaggy if I eat certain things. Well, to mix things up, cut up my chicken and put it in my salad. This did a few things; A) it spiced up the regular ole bowl of "yard work"! B) I felt like I needed less dressing because of the moisture from the chicken. C) made me feel like I was eating something new even though it was the same stuff I eat all the time only in a different form!

I did however do something really yummy with the chicken first! I seasoned it with Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb, the sprinkled a bit of Garlic Salt over that, sprayed the chicken with Butter Crisco cooking spray, slapped it into a frying pan and cooked it. I like to cook my chicken at a really hot temp right at first so it gets crispy on the outside, then I turn the temp way down and let it cook slower maintaining the juiciness! I topped off my salad with my fave sun dried tomato dressing and then proceeded to thoroughly enjoy it!!

It's Official...I'm a Coach!

I know it may seem quick to be jumping into a health coach position, but I feel like I have a lot to share and I am so excited to be able to help those I know and love achieve their goals. This company is so amazing and I just can't wait to really help make a difference! So, if you are interested, visit my website HERE!

Sticking to the Schedule

While doing Medifast for the last 2.5 weeks, I have discovered something pretty interesting...on the days I eat precisely on schedule, I loose weight every day...and if I don't stick to the exact schedule, I either gain a few oz. or I stay the same. I was reading a few days ago in the Habits of Health book by Dr. Anderson, and he describes why it is our bodies NEED to be fed every 2.5 to 3 hours. It is a way to condition our metabolism to stay high. By fueling our body every 2.5-3 hours we are keeping our blood sugar levels normal, thus keeping our insulin pump from over producing, therefore, keeping our metabolism in a state of fat burn. It is so amazing to read something, test it, and prove it right in your own body. I also noticed that when I wait too long to eat breakfast, and I let myself get really hungry before I have a shake in the morning, I spend the rest of the day chasing the hunger. On Sunday, I waited too long after I woke up to have my shake, and I spent the whole day being hungry. But on Monday, I had my shake within 30 mins of waking up, as suggested by Dr. Anderson, and I had no hunger the rest of the day, and lost 1lb. It takes some preparation, and a close relationship with a clock or timer, but I have determined to stick to as strict of an eating schedule as I can. Give it a try and see what you think!
I think that making sure to have snacks in between meals is on of the hardest parts of this idea. Sure, I can prepare a meal when I am supposed to during the normal eating times, but it can be a bit difficult to stop what you are doing to grab a snack. This is why I have loved this program, there is very little thinking at this stage. But for those of you not on medifast, or for those of you just looking for some snack ideas, here are some suggestions for your snacks in between meals. Each snack should be about 100-110 calories

• 1 cup puffed rice & 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1 cup puffed wheat & 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1/2 English muffin & 1/2 tsp butter
• 1 slice toast & 1 tsp jelly
• 1 rice cake & 1 T. peanut butter
• 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
• 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
• 1 cup skim milk
• 1 large apple
• 1 pear
• 1 small banana
• 1 cup chicken rice soup
• 1 cup beef barley soup
• 1 oz. mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup minestrone soup
• 1 cup turkey vegetable soup
• 1 cup chicken noodle soup
• 1 cup peas & carrots
• 1/2 cup prune juice
• 4 oz. shrimp
• 2 oz turkey
• 1/2 cup sherbet
• 1 cup apple juice
• 10 walnut halves
• 15 almonds
• 4 brazil nuts
• 30 pistachios
• 1 tsp. peanut butter
• 1 frozen fruit bar
• 1/2 cup fat-free frozen yogurt

-2 cups raspberries
-28 grapes
-1 cup blueberries
-1 cup mango chunks
-½ medium cantaloupe
-15 strawberries dipped in 1⁄4 cup Cool Whip Lite
-45 steamed edamame (green soybeans)
-2 tablespoons each of mashed avocado and chopped tomatoes stuffed in 1⁄2 mini pita
-½ red bell pepper dipped in 3 tablespoons hummus

Portions

I have stayed up wayyyy past my bedtime the last few nights reading, "Dr. A's Habits of Health"...I just can't seem to put it down! It is so interesting to me, and yet at the same time, I seem to be learning things I already knew in my heart. Things that the "diet" society would tell you to ignore. Things our bodies and our spirits know to be true. One thing that I love is that this book is all about balance in our lives, and not just balance in our diet. For the first time, I am not being told to work out til I puke, and cut out everything from my diet except fish and lettuce. I am being taught how to make better choices, and how to enjoy a balance in my diet of all the food groups. It is no little secret that the current food pyramid is bogus. Since it's introduction in the 80's we as a country have only gotten fatter...so what do we do?? We blame it on all carbs, and all fats instead of looking at the real problem...portions. So in the book Dr. Anderson tells us when preparing a meal to take a 9 inch plate and divide it like so:

50% of the plate should be fruits and veggies...preferably veggies, especially if you are trying to loose weight

25% should be lean protein such as fish or chicken, and to use other meats sparingly

25% should be your starches, once you have reached your goal weight, avoid starches during weight loss. Whole wheat pastas and other whole grains are most favorable

I was elated when I read that at some point in my life I could eat some of my favorite starches again...in moderation!

So take this little chart and remember it when you make up your plate next time...you will be amazed at how far off our society is when it comes to a balanced diet and the proper portion sizes!

Things I loved to eat Today!

When I am in weight loss mode, the one thing I do miss is comfort foods like PB&J, grilled cheese, chocolate chip cookies...you know the normal sinful foods we give up to get the pounds off...but...tonight, I had a stroke of genius!! I was blending up my favorite Medifast meal...peanut butter soft serve ice cream, when it hit me...add some raspberry flavoring syrup, and this may just taste like a PB&J!! Well, I tried it, and EUREKA! It really did remind me of one of my faves! Plus it gives me one more variety of desert to enjoy while on this journey!!

Things I loved to eat today!

Tonight I think I ate the best salmon dish I have ever tasted in my entire life!! My dear husband grilled me up 1 1/2 salmon patties over mesquite briquettes with a marinade of Kraft sun dried tomato vinaigrette. THIS WAS AMAZING! I served it with a side of grilled asparagus and enjoyed it out on our deck on this beautiful evening followed by a vigorous trampoline jump with my adorable son...this was an amazing night! And while on a diet, I enjoyed amazing food!!

My New Found Love!

If any of you are like me...sometimes getting the right amount of water each day can seem like a chore. I have always struggled with the "getting enough to drink" battle. So I have tried a few tricks to make this battle a bit easier to win.

1. Buy cute re-usable cups with straws that are easy to re-fill and keep one with me at all times stocked with ice cold water
2. Buy lemons and limes and slice them in my water
3. MY NEW FOUND LOVE....sliced cucumbers. They add a really fresh summery flavor to the water. I even mixed a lime and cucumbers today...it was pretty good!!
4. If I drink ANY soda, I have a rule for myself that I have to pound a giant glass of water before and after the soda!
5. Last but not least...stay close to a bathroom...you are going to need it!!!

Things I loved to eat Today!!

Medifast has a vast array of yummy shake flavors. A friend gave me a packet of the banana cream to try. I didn't order any of the fruit flavors because sometimes in diet food, fake fruit flavors can get sketchy...however...this was so yummy!! Here is what I did!

1 packet medifast banana cream shake mix
1 cup water
1cup ice
1 TBL sugar free caramel flavoring syrup
1/2 tsp cinnamon

This shake tasted just like banana bread! It was delish!

From my couch to a 5k!!

About this time a year ago I challenged myself to begin running. It took me 5 months to get to get up to running a 5k distance and then...I injured my knee...actually, I injured my entire left leg. My soft tissue therapist told me I had one of the worst I.T. band injuries he had ever seen. The depressing thing is, I never had any reason for an injury, one night I went out for a run and BAM, my knee gave out, and I was benched. This was so hard for me and so depressing. I had worked so hard and had accomplished things in my fitness I NEVER thought possible and in one day it was all taken away. Well, this sent me into a spin and I have never been as dedicated to working out since then. BUT now, my knee is better, I know how to keep it healthy, and I have decided to start anew! I want to be able to run in the St. Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration at the end of September! This is a 5k fun run/walk/stroller/wheel party! I have always wanted to do it and I think this year is a perfect time! So to help me I have enlisted the help of my iPod and a fun little app called C25K. This is a running coach right on my ipod! Tonight is the kick off and I am so excited! Wish me Luck!!!

Something New and Fun!

Yesterday while I was loading my car after a trip to Target I heard someone calling my name. I turned around and it was an old friend from my home town! It was soooo good to see her and chat and it just so happens her daughter is an amazing coach for TSFL. So naturally our conversation turned to food, and tips and tricks, and since she has been doing the program longer than me, she had some great advice. Lucky for me I was right next to Costco, because one of her golden nuggets of wisdom pertained to the Kirkland brand of salmon burgers. I happen to be slightly picky when it comes to salmon and was praying these were good....so tonight for my lean and green, I fried one of these up with some Mrs. Dash garlic herb seasoning, and ate it with some baby cucumbers from Costco(which happen to be my FAVORITE!!) and the remaining fritters I had from last nights meal! It was DEEEEEEELISSSHHH! I loved these, and they are so quick to make!! Try them out and let me know if you have any other preparation suggestions!

Things I loved to Eat Today!!

I started out my day with a shake...sounds awesome right??? WELL IT WAS! And I will tell you why! I took a little trip to Cash and Carry on Wednesday and purchased 5 bottles of Sugar Free flavoring syrups! One in particular helped make my breakfast shake amazing...Pumpkin Pie! So I blended up my shake, added 1 TBL of the syrup and then tossed in some pumpkin pie spice blend from my spice cupboard, added some ice and cha ching...one of the tastiest shakes I have ever had! This recipe could work with any vanilla based protein shake you choose!

Then for dinner, I tried a new recipe, Zucchini Fritters. I was nervous because I had no idea what to expect but they were so yummy!

1 cup grated zucchini
2 whole eggs
4 egg whites
1 tbl onion finely chopped
onion powder to taste
garlic powder to taste
black pepper to taste

fry these up in a frying pan 1/4 cup at a time. They have a runny consistency so keep an eye on them. These turned out more like a pancake so I put them on a cookie sheet and put them in the oven for a few minutes to crisp them up. This recipe made 7 fritters and I ate 3 dipped in a tiny bit of low calorie sun dried tomato dressing and served them along side the leftover pork chop I had in the fridge! They were delish, and I could totally see eating them for breakfast with cinnamon and nutmeg in them instead of onion and garlic!

I am back!

By now most of you who read this blog know that we were pregnant and that unfortunately we lost the pregnancy about 3 weeks ago. I have been through the gambit of emotions this last three weeks, but as a family we have been comforted and we know that we are being prayed for, and watched over. We have given ourselves a three month break before we start trying to get pregnant again. I felt like I needed the time to clear my head, get our lives back, get my husband into school, and for me, get some weight off!

So that is why I am back again so soon! This time, because of our shorter time line, I have chosen to do Medifast through Take Shape For Life. I am on day five and can I just say...A-FREAKING-MAZING! I feel so good, the food is good, and drum roll paaaleeeeaase, I HAVE LOST 9 LBS IN 5 DAYS!!!!! Now, I know that this won't be the case for the duration, but it is one heck of a jump start! I had put on about 20 pounds since April...one, I was pregnant for four months, and two, I have spent the last three weeks eating my sorrow. I had given myself the green light to eat whatever I wanted and however much of it I wanted...and it showed...on the scales. So here I am once again, blogging my feelings, tracking my success, and hopefully, helping someone else along.

HERE is a link to the Take Shape For Life site...if this sounds interesting to you...let me know! I was one of this plans BIGGEST skeptics, and I have been proven wrong, VERY wrong. It took the first few days for me to become a believer, but the first time I stepped on the scale and saw a 4 lb loss...I WAS SOLD! There is an amazing book that the company just released called "Dr. A's Habits of Health,". I have been reading this book as I go along with the program. It is one of the most amazing health books I have ever read...and I have read a ton of them! Even if you don't think this plan is for you, if you read this book, you will be convinced! Well, I am glad to be back! I won't have as many recipes or product suggestions for this first little while because I am eating one cooked meal a day, but I will try to share my tips and tricks, and mostly journal. If you have any questions about the program...feel free to email me at majohnson10@hotmail.com!!

Farewell...For Now!

Well for those of you who don't know...we are expecting another baby!! I am due around the end of December. We are so excited and can't wait to meet the newest member of our little family! Luckily, I have felt pretty good so far, I don't really get sick like other people do, but I surely don't feel my best all the time!

After much debate, I have chosen not to blog about weight during my pregnancy...as I am sure you have noticed by now! See, I am not one of those women who enjoys what pregnancy does to my body. I get a lot of flack when I say this, but hear me out...I do not get cute when I am pregnant. My belly does not round out, I carry wide and I really just look fat. I have struggled with what I see in the mirror my whole life, and the idea of getting bigger is very very hard for me.

It has been a lot harder for me this time around because I thought since I had lost so much weight that I would maybe look cuter, but I am showing the same...two big rolls, one on top, one on bottom. It is very difficult to see that in the mirror after working so hard for so long. The week before I got pregnant I felt like I was on top of the world. I was the thinnest I had been since we got married, I fit into my "goal" clothes, I had a new found confidence, I felt amazing. When I found out I was pregnant, a switch went off in my head and all of the insecurities I had about my pregnant body from my last pregnancy came flooding back. It has been very emotional to say the least. I feel like I have lost all of that hard earned reward, and I have lost the control I had worked so hard to gain.

This week, I had a bit of a meltdown...okay, so it was more that a bit of a meltdown. I locked myself in the bathroom and cried...hard. The positive thing that came of it was that I have decided to buck up and try harder to maintain my health and my fitness and not let my demons rule me. I CAN DO THIS! I am reading this amazing book called, "Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat?". It has helped me so much to recognize my issues and feel more at ease about them!

So with all of that being said, this is a farewell...for now! Be looking for me to return some time early next year. I am signing up for a 10k next summer so I will be blogging all about my journey to get there! Thank you all for your comments and support and I encourage you to keep up your good work and I still love to hear all about your victories! You inspire me!

Healthy Beauty Pledge

I was talking to my trainer today about my challenges with weight loss. It occurred to me that my challenge is not really food, or exercise...I can be, and have been a Nazi about those things...my challenge is my brain, my emotions, my psyche. Sure, I can eat well, I do it all the time. Yes, I can exercise, I get up at 5:40 some days to do so. I have will power, I have a lot of will power over my BODY. Not the case with my head. I cut myself down, I get on mental trips, I stumble over myself. One of my biggest pitfalls is comparing myself to others, and getting down about my shortcomings. I also punish myself for things that are out of my control...things I have no way of changing.

So after our conversation, I sit down to eat, and open up this parenting magazine that has been sitting on my table for days. One of the articles was about celebrity moms, and how we are lied to about how easy it is for them to look good after having babies. At the end of the article was THIS pledge. I thought the timing of me reading this could not have been more perfect! I copied and pasted it here for you to read, but if you follow the link you can sign the pledge and pass it on! I am going to print this and put it on my bathroom mirror!

I PROMISE TO:

• Acknowledge that there is no such thing as the "perfect" body—or the "perfect" mommy.
• Never define my self-worth according to the number on the scale or the size of my clothes.
• Make decisions that are right for me. They don't have to be right for everyone else.
• Take care of myself and take time for myself, even if some days I can only manage one-minute increments.
• Work on developing a relationship with food that is about health, nourishment and enjoyment, not deprivation, indulging and punishment.
• Stop all body-bashing talk with my friends, my colleagues, my partner, my family, and myself.
• Ask for help when I need it. I'll make a phone call, write an email or send a text—whatever it takes to reach out for support.
• Separate the re-touched, made-up beauty fantasies in the media from what matters most to me in reality.
• Give up the mission to get my "pre-baby body" back and start focusing my energy on moving forward in my new life.
• Remember that, one person at a time, healthy beauty is a revolution—for ourselves and for our children.

Protein Pancakes!

My sister in law shared this recipe on her blog and I thought I would pass it along! Can't wait to try it!

1/4 cup egg whites (I used the whites of 2 eggs)
1/4 cup fat free cottage cheese
1/4 cup old fashioned oats
1 tsp. vanilla

Blend in blender or food processor and pour onto a WELL-greased pan/griddle on medium heat. This makes about 3-4 pancakes. Add any toppings you would normally. OR, if you want a healthier version: use cut up fruit (bananas,strawberries,blueberries), cocoa powder, butter spray (instead of the real stuff ...boooo!), Agave nectar or honey.

The total nutritional value:
135 calories
15 grams protein
1.5 grams of fat
2 grams of fiber

i am in Love

I know this may not seem like a proper post for a weight loss blog...hear me out. I for one feel that when you find tricks to help you look thinner, you feel thinner. If that means you found the right outfit to shave off ten pounds visually, or you secretly wear spanx under your clothes to look thinner, or in my case you get a tan...that is what makes me feel thinner.

I got my very very pale skin from my grandma...who never spent a day in the sun, in fact she carried an umbrella with her if she was going to be in the sun for too long, and she she still got skin cancer. So as a responsible adult, I have given up tanning, something I used to LOVE. For a while I was getting spray tans, but seriously, I just don't have the time.

One of my friends introduced me to Sally Hansen's airbrush legs. I use it on my arms and my legs, and a bit on my chest. This stuff is seriously amazing. Once it dries it is water resistant, and it doesn't transfer from your arms to your friends white shirt! I even sat in a hot tub with this stuff on and it didn't budge! I bought it at Walgreens next to the other Sally Hansen products. Give it a try, it is super easy to use, and I love the results!
ENJOY!

Turkey Burgers With Sweet Red Onion Relish

Just made these tonight for my family...plus one guest and they were a huge hit!! I love ground turkey, I use it in just about every meet dish that I used to use beef for. I have struggled to find an amazing turkey burger recipe. I think after tonight, my search may be over! I served this with broiled asparagus and fresh pineapple. Delish!!

1 tbls. e.v.o.o
2 1/2 c finely chopped red onion
3 tbls. balsamic vinegar divided
1 tsp fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp dried
1/4 chili sauce
2 tbls grape jelly
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
lettuce
buns ( I used sandwich thins )

1. Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, saute 10 mins or until lightly browned stirring occasionally. Add 2 tbls. of the vinegar, and the thyme; saute for 30 seconds, or until liquid evaporates. Remove from heat, keep warm

2. Combine remaining tbls of vinegar, turkey and next four ingredients in a bowl; stir until blended. Divide mixture into 6 equal portions, shaping into 1/2 inch thick patties.

3. Prepare grill. Place patties on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 5 mins on each side or until done with no pink.

4. Place on bun and ad 3 tbls. of relish and lettuce.

TIP ALERT:

Since I used lower calorie buns instead of hamburger buns, I put one thin slice of Swiss cheese on mine, and 1 tsp of fat free mayo. I also put pickles on it!

Love This Site!

Check out THIS link. I get weekly emails from this site with amazing recipes! You will love it!

Temporary Vacation From the Band Wagon

Well, I may not have gone too far, just to SLC, but let me say, I had a REAL vacation... a vacation from stress, from kids, from laundry, from worrying about keeping anyone else happy, and mostly, I took a vacation from eating sensibly. One good thing that comes from eating like a race horse all weekend, is that you swear you don't want sweets for the rest of your life. My sister and I helped ourselves to all of the amazing food our hotel and surrounding restaurants had to offer! And, after taking 4 days off from will power, I could not wait to come home and have a salad! So, back on the wagon...and look for a killer recipe soon!!

Breakfast of Freaking Champions

Once again, the most amazing things I eat are usually suggestions of my Weight Watchers Queen Sister...this one took me a while to try for some reason. This is not an actual picture, because I housed it before I could get a picture, so this is the closest thing I could find on the internet!! You will love this...I PROMISE! And for only 4 points!!

1 Double Fiber English Muffin (Oroweat)
1/2 banana
1/2 tbls. Nutella

Toast, spread, slice, ENJOY!

I paired this with a cup of honey nut cherrios and some soy milk....mmmmm! If you have never tried Nutella before, it is in the same isle as the peanut butter. This recipe would be amazing with strawberries, on on crepes instead of the muffin, the possibilities are endless.

It's not me...it's you

Well, it has been two solid weeks since we parted, and I have to say, I am happier...less bloated...more hydrated and just all around feeling better! I knew this would be hard, and I have been so tired, but it just was never going to work out between us. Try to understand, if I see you and I must look the other way, it is just too painful sometimes. And don't take it personal when you see me and Fresca hanging out, she is only helping me transition I promise. Good bye my love, you will be missed!

Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler!

Well, I promised a killer recipe, and I believe I have delivered...I can't take too much credit for this one though, it came from the WW website. Either way, it is amazing! And summer is a great time to utilize this odd little plant known as rhubarb. I hope you enjoy this one!

	16 oz unsweetened frozen strawberries, thawed for 15 minutes
	14 oz frozen rhubarb, or fresh, cut into 1-inch pieces, thawed for 15 minutes if frozen
	1/3 cup(s) sugar
	1 Tbsp cornstarch
	1 1/3 cup(s) all-purpose flour
	3 Tbsp sugar, divided
	3/4 tsp baking powder
	1/4 tsp baking soda
	4 Tbsp reduced-calorie margarine, cut into small pieces
	1/2 cup(s) fat-free sour cream
	1/4 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
	1 large egg(s), lightly beaten

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375º F. Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.
  
  
• In a large bowl, combine strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and cornstarch. Mix well and spoon mixture into bottom of prepared pan.
  
  
• To prepare dough, in a large bowl or food processor, combine flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, baking powder and baking soda. Add margarine and mix with your fingers or process in the food processor until mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs.
  
  
• Add sour cream and milk and mix until dough comes together.
  
  
• Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead 5 times, until blended.
  
  
• Divide dough into 16 equal pieces and roll each piece into a small ball. Place balls on top of strawberry-rhubarb mixture and gently press down to flatten. Brush the surface of dough with egg and sprinkle remaining sugar over top.
  
  
• Bake until filling is bubbly and top is golden brown, 45 minutes. Cool 15 minutes before serving. Yields about 1/2 cup fruit mixture and 2 biscuits per serving.

TIP ALERT:

For some reason mine took almost a full hour and 15 mins to cook all the way through, so even at 45 mins, check the cobbler part, it will looked browned because of the sugar on top, but the insides were all gooey. Other than that, this is a pretty easy and yummy recipe!

I Have Been Slacking

We have all been so sick at my house...which for me means a couple of things. 1) I am not in the mood to blog. 2) I am not in the mood to cook, let alone try anything new and exciting. 3) I have not gone to the grocery store to buy anything new and exciting. 4) I am not loosing weight, because all I want are carbs. So there you have it, I am slacking, and sick, and tired, and I will be back after the weekend! I promise. I will come back with some amazing tip, or recipe, or new product or something! Wish me luck!

Taking a Day off, and Being Ok With it!!

Well, yesterday was mothers day, and in honor of being a mother, I did what any mother would do...I ate, and ate...and well, ate! Ok, maybe not thaaaat much, but I did have plenty of treats, and you know what??? For the first time in a long time, I did not feel guilty about it!! Today, I am back on track, watching what I eat, getting plenty of water, and despite the rain, and planning for a short jog later today. That is the joy of changing your lifestyle, not just your diet. I can see the big picture, and in the grand scheme of things, one day every now and again, is NOT the end of the world! So, to a new week, here we go...oh, except for moms night out tomorrow night, that one won't count...but after that, back on to the new week!

Pear Breakfast Tart

This is my own little creation and I must say, it was AMAZING! I love love love pears, and this is a fabulous little breakfast that truly celebrates this suculant little fruit! And amazingly, this will only cost you three points. I added two slices of Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon for a grand total of 4.5 points!!

1 Bagel thin
1/2 of a pear thinly sliced
1 Laughing Cow Lite Swiss wedge
1/2 tsp Splenda Blend Brown sugar
Dash of cinamon

Spread the cheese wedge on the bagel
Arrange pear slices around bagel overlapping each other
Sprinkle brown sugar blend and cinnamon over top of pears
Place in a preheated over set at 350
Bake for 10-15 mins depending on how soft you want your pears

ENJOY!

If You Have a Daughter...or if You are a Daughter...Listen UP!

I am reading this book called "My Mother My Mirror Recognizing and Making the Most of Inherited Self Images". I saw it on Amazon last week and felt compelled to order it. I am only to page 30 but I have already cried and have already felt inspired. So, if you have a daughter, or are a daughter, you may want to check THIS book out. I promise, you will be amazed!

Can we Talk!?!?

I was standing at the checkout line the other day for like 20 mins...it was a busy night being Cinco De Mayo and all. I had been feeling pretty good about myself all day, feeling happy, feeling fit, feeling hopeful...until, I looked over at the magazine rack, and I kid you not, EVERY magazine had a weight loss title of some sort. Try this, eat that, cut out this food, only eat that food...look good in your bikini FAST, look good naked FAST, life after plastic surgery, did she have too much plastic surgery...I MEAN SERIOUSLY???? And really, very few of the celebs on the covers of the magazines looked A) healthy and B) natural. Please don't preach to me about loosing weight by shoving an overly airbrushed picture in my face. I will NEVER look like that no matter what I do, because I don't have some one touching up my flaws as I walk around.

How are we as women ever supposed to overcome self image issues if all we see, hear, and read tells us we aren't doing enough?? It occurred to me that we are a society SO obsessed with the "perfect" body, that we have trained ourselves to hate anything else. I have flipped through many a magazine while thinking to myself, oh how I wish, and then being mad at myself for not having enough self control to look like the models and celebs I see.

I wish I had an answer to this, I wish I could say that I had come up with a solution for this world wide epidemic...I don't. All I can say is as women, we can stop this from affecting us anymore. I can choose to be inspired by REAL women, women whose images are not controlled by a highly paid PR person. So, who inspires you? I want to know. Share inspiring stories, if you want, I will post them for all to read...let's evolve past the superficial and get really, truly inspired!!