Lose 8 Challenge Loses Luster

My September Pig Model!

Happy September!!!  I got to change my calendar today and we are approaching my favorite time of year.  I love the tastes and the smells of fall.  The trees are beautiful in New England.  And my favorite holiday is right around the corner, Halloween! =)

Anyway, back to business.

Day 12 of the Lose 8 and I have made an important decision.  I will no longer be falling the Lose 8 diet plan.  It doesn’t exactly fit me or my lifestyle. This blog is all about finding the healthy things that are right for me.

This plan did have good points and bad points.

Pros
• The breakfasts are really tasty.  I love having Mexican style food for breakfast.  I love waffles and fresh fruit.

• All the meals were super fast and convenient.  You can make everything in 5 to 10 minutes which is great for people who are really short on time.

• I really loved the snacks.  The popcorn, pistachio, chocolate chip mix is awesome.  I will probably use that again.  The sandwich thin with the cream cheese & tomato is also delicious.  The vanilla greek yogurt, pepetitas & prunes mixture is also quite tasty.  All these snacks keep you satiated for a few hours, which is really important when eating healthy.

• I love love love the strength training workout!  I would recommend this to anyone who wants to tone up.  You can really feel your obliques getting stronger with this side plank move.  I really notice a difference after completing this workout only 6 times!

• I love that you don’t need a gym to do all but 1 of the cardio sessions.  This is a no excuse workout.  It can be for any fitness level and it can be done anywhere and it burns around 250 calories.

• You get a treat every night!  How awesome is that?  You get to eat ice cream, chips or almond joys every single night if you desire! This can really help you stick to a diet.  It makes you feel like you aren’t depriving yourself of anything.

• It can be affordable if you pick 1 or 2 breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks & desserts.

Cons
• This diet has way too much dairy for my tastes.  There are meal combinations that could allow you up to 1 cup of cheese a day!  No thank you!  Not good for my acne or for my cholesterol, which tends to run a little high in my family.

• I am a foodie.  I love to create food things, whether it is dinner, dessert or a nice Sunday breakfast.  Cooking and baking bring me joy.  I know some people are strapped for time, but I am not one of those people, sadly!  Give me a challenge of cooking a meal.  I’m down!

• The processed food hurts my feelings.  I know that they were trying to be nice and produce a diet that people will really stick to, but come on Self!  Check out the ingredients to the Chips Ahoy Cookies!

Ingredients: UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, COCOA BUTTER, DEXTROSE, SOY LECITHIN), SUGAR, SOYBEAN OIL AND/OR PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED OIL, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR AMMONIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, WHEY (FROM MILK), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CARAMEL COLOR. CONTAINS: WHEAT, SOY, MILK.

Yes, that says partially hydrogenated oils!  Do they even care about their readers at all?!?

• If you tell me that I can eat ice cream everyday, I will.  Some people might enjoy this concept, but I don’t.  I would rather have a dessert made from fruits like apple crisp.

• The cardio workouts are not my favorite.  Don’t get me wrong there are things that I do like, but they are not for me.  I actually like going to the gym.  I enjoy listening to music or watching television while kicking but on the treadmill.

• I miss my favorite foods! I cannot live my life without nutbutters, bananas, sweet potato chips, Indian food, fresh spring rolls, sweet potato chili, lentils and flat bread. =)

• Boredom!  You can’t keep me locked into something.  I like to experience and make all kinds of fun foods!

Bottom line – I would recommend the Lose 8 to someone short on time who likes eating treats everyday.  I can see it being easy to stick to.  There are enough calories to keep you full for the day.  The food is tasty and it works!  I lost 3 pounds in 12 days.

Up next – The Rachel free-style plan.  Hope you join me.  I will be posting more recipes and cooking more exciting meals using upcoming Fall ingredients!!!!

Supper Smoothie

This evening was tight.  I had to make crack pie, go to spin class, do a work project and do my Lose 8 strength moves.  I needed a dinner that was fast and easy so I went for the Supper Smoothie.

The smoothie is 1/2 cup frozen strawberries, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/2 nonfat yogurt, 1 cup skim (I used soy), half banana, 1 cup spinach, a  dash of cinnamon & 1/2 teaspoon maple.  Blend it all up and you are ready for dinner.

I used my handy dandy magic bullet to make my smoothie.  This thing is awesome!  It is small, powerful and doubles up as a cup!  The fewer dishes the better.

To go along side my smoothie I had a piece of whole wheat toast with 1 tablespoon almond butter.  I am still craving my nut butter!

I didn’t have dessert this evening.  I had a bite of crack pie when I was cutting it up and I could taste the calories!  Holy toledo!  I know when this stuff is called crack pie.  It is like a butterscotch pie.  Amazing.  As soon as I cut it up, I had to package it up for work tomorrow to prevent me from doing some serious damage.

Has anyone every had this stuff before?  Go the the momofuku milk bar website and check out their stuff.  It is crazy.  This girl has an awesome baking imagination!

Gourmet Oatcakes & Treadmill Climbs

Welcome to day 10 of the Lose 8 challenge. I had a little extra time this morning, so I decided to mke the 15 minute oatcake. I had to ad a little Rachel love to it though.

Oatcake a la Rachel
I love this recipe. It is so easy and it kind of taste like french toast. First, place 1/2 cup one minute oats in a food processor and grind into flour. Mix oat flour with 4 egg whites, 1 dash sea salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder. Fold in 1/3 cup blueberries. Cook like you would a regular pancake. In a bowl mix 1/4 cup greek yogurt with a little vanilla extract & I used a drop of stevia (optional). Drizzle with 1 teaspoon maple syrup.

And as promised I will tell you my favorite treadmill workout.
3.5 incline at 3.5 speed 5 minutes
2.0 incline at 5.0 speed 2 minutes
5.0 incline at 3.7 speed 5 minutes
2.0 incline at 5.2 speed 2 minutes
5.0 incline at 3.7 speed 5 minutes
2.0 incline at 5.5 speed 2 minutes
7.0 incline at 3.7 speed 5 minutes
2.0 incline at 5.7 speed 2 minutes
10. Incline at 3.5 speed 5 minutes
2.0 Incline at 6.0 speed 2 minutes
7.0 Incline at 3.7 speed 4 minutes
2.0 Incline at 5.7 speed 1 minute
5.0 Incline at 3.7 speed 4 minutes
2.0 Incline at 5.5 speed 1 minute
This was courtesy of the January issue of Self magazine.

Let me tell you, on paper this workout looks super easy. Man, you really work up a sweat doing this and burn around 430 calories. =)

Maple Apricot Fruit & Nut Energy Balls

I love these!  They are sweet like a treat, but filled with all kinds of yummy nutrients.  They are similar to a Lara Bar, but a ball.

Maple Apricot Fruit & Nut Energy Balls

In a food processor combine 1 cup raw cashews with 1 cup pitted dates, 1/2 cup raw almonds, 1/2 heaping cup dried apricots, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon maple extract, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 tablespoon agave, 1 tablespoon sea salt & a dash of cinnamon.  Blend until it will not blend anymore.  Take a tablespoon or a little cookie scoop & form little balls from the dough.  Once all your balls are made place in container & keep refrigerated for up to a week.

*Tip – Buy your nuts at Trader Joe’s!  They are so cheap.  When you go there just buy 10 bags and you will have them on hand when you need them.

For lunch this afternoon I had the Minestrone Soup off the Lose 8 menu.  Self’s recipe had chicken & spinach in the bowl.  However, I had to ad a Rachel touch!

Tofu Broccoli Minestrone Soup

Behold the Broccoli Minestrone Soup!

Combine 1 can minestrone soup (I used Wolfgang Puck) with 1/4 block of drained & chopped organic tofu.  Add 1 cup broccoli & serve with 1/2 whole wheat english muffin & 1 teaspoon of butter.

This mean was delicious.  I would have given up that teaspoon of butter for the other half of the english muffin though!  I’m a carb girl!

Okay – I definitely had to add some Rachel magic to my afternoon snack.  I attempted to make the honeyed grapefruit yogurt.

Have you every had grapefruit?  My god, that is disgusting.  I tried to get it down, but it wasn’t happening.  Now, I don’t dislike too many foods with a bloody passion.  Dill & grapefruit are the only 2 things on the list.  How do people eat that!!!!  Yuck

Honeyed Grapefruit Yogurt became…

Honeyed Nectarine Spiced Yogurt

Honeyed Nectarine Spiced Yogurt
Cut up 1 nectarine and add to 6 oz. plain, nonfat greek yogurt. Add drop of vanilla extract, dash of cinnamon & 2 teaspoons honey. Eat & smile!

Dinner this evening got better with every bite.  At first I thought it was kind of lackluster, but it definitely grew on me.  I decided to make the nutty quinoa with tofu.

Have you ever had quinoa before?  It is a delicious grain that contains protein & fiber.  The red quinoa even has antioxidants.  It is similar to rice, but is round with a nutty flavor.  It kind of pops in your mouth.  It is also supposed to help with people who have migraines.  Quinoa can be expensive, so look for it at Trader Joes or Ocean State Job Lot.  Also, look for pre-washed quinoa!  You don’t want to worry about rinsing it.

Nutty Quinoa & Tofu
In a pan saute 1/4 cup onion, 1/4 cup red pepper in 1/2 teaspoon olive oil for 5 minutes.  Add 1 cup water, 1/3 cup quinoa, 1 tablespoon all natural peanut butter, 1 teaspoon soy sauce and 1 teaspoon garlic.  Bring to a boil, cover & simmer for 10 minutes.  In a separate pan saute 2 cups kale or spinach with 1/4 block tofu in cooking spray. Sprinkle with sea slat.  Add tofu mixture to quinoa mixture.  Plate & drizzle with 1/2 teaspoon sesame seed oil & 1 teaspoon soy sauce.

It looks like my quinoa is haunted! It's just steam. =)

After dinner I was craving something sweet and the moose tracks ice cream was haunting me.  I gave into temptation & had a heaping 1/2 cup of moose tracks ice cream.  It was really heaping!  I have since decided that it is best not to keep ice cream in my house.  The ice cream and the cookies found their final resting place at the bottom of my trash barrel!

 

Stay tuned! Tomorrow I will share with you my favorite treadmill workout that I did after I ate this heaping cup of ice cream!

I’m Free!

I am so excited that it is sunny out and I can finally leave my home.  I am just glad that I had power throughout the storm and no trees fell into my apartment.

This morning I had an Egg & Cheese Sammy from the Lose 8 menu.

Egg & Cheese Sammy

Egg & Cheese Sammy

In a microwave-safe bowl coated with cooking spray, whisk 1 egg, 1 tablespoon water and freshly ground black pepper; cover; microwave 1 minute. Serve on 1 whole-wheat English muffin topped with 1 slice Swiss cheese and 1 teaspoon ketchup. Serve with 10 grapes.

351 calories, 15 g fat (7 g saturated), 39 g carbs, 6 g fiber, 20 g protein

*I had tomatoes instead of ketchup because ketchup + eggs = gross face!  I also had provolone instead of swiss because that’s what I had on hand.

Okay, this diet is seriously lacking bananas & nut butter & I am having some serious withdrawals.  I think I am going to look for some recipes within the calorie limit that have those ingredients.  If not, I fear my boyfriend will find me hiding in a closet with a jar of almond butter.

What are your favorite foods that need to be incorporated into your healthy diet? For me – Nanas & Almond Butter.

When Life Hands You a Tropical Storm, Make Blueberry Muffins

This morning I woke up to high winds, heavy rains, a barking dog and a loud bathroom ceiling fan.  The only thing that could possibly uplift my mood would be baking a batch of blueberry muffins. =)

I usually make the blueberry muffins from the Master Your Metabolism Cookbook, but today I decided to go with Gweneth Paltrow’s recipe.

These are muffins are great and almost vegan (honey)!  Feel free to lick the bowl with no worry of salmonella poisening.

Yumyum Storm Muffins

Ingredients

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine 1 cup spelt flour, 1 cup white white flour, 2 teaspoons aluminum free baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt & 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.

In a separate bowl combine 1/2 cup vegetable oil (or olive oil) with 1/2 cup unsweetened soymilk, 1/2 cup light agave, 1/4 cup honey and 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well.

Fold in 1 heaping cup of blueberries.  I like frozen wild blueberries.  Spray cupcake tins with cooking spray and fill each spot with 1/4 cup blueberry batter.  Bake in oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

Enjoy for about 220 calories and muffin!

The Butterfly & The Burrito

How’s everybody’s hurricane prep work going?  Is anyone else getting cabin fever?  No signs of a storm over here yet and I am already itching to get out of my house!

For lunch this afternoon I had to use up the rest of my burrito products.  However, I felt the 7 Layer Burrito had exhausted its welcome.  So, I thought outside the box and burrito magically morphed into the Zesty Bean Quesedilla Con Fiesta Salad!  This is a refreshed version of the original Self recipe.  It still has 400 calories, but slightly more exciting!

Zesty Bean Quesedilla Con Fiesta Salad

Zesty Bean Quesedilla Con Fiesta Salad

Spread 1 whole wheat tortilla with 1 tablespoon reduced fat cream cheese, 2 tablespoons vegetarian refried beans, 2 tablespoons black beans and 1/4 cup reduced fat cheddar cheese. Fold in half and cook each side in a frying pan until the cheese is melted. Serve with 1/2 cup lettuce, 1/4 cup tomatoes, 1/4 cucumbers, 2 tablespoons salsa & 2 tablespoons non fat greek yogurt. Yummy!!!

After lunch I met my mother at the mall for a cup of coffee at Panera.  Gotta love your mama!

I managed to drag myself to the gym to complete my final bootcamp workout for this week.  It was a 20 minute climb on the treadmill going at a 3.6 mile pace.  It was tough!  I was going slow, but when the incline was at 12 I was as exhausted as if I was sprinting!

By the time I got home from the gym it was already dinner time.  I decided Saturday is a good night for Mediterranean Pita Pizza and White Bean Salad!  I love this meal!  It is fast, delicious and inexpensive.  I also love that it is pizza!!!  I live right near a Domino’s & a Papa Gino’s Pizza.  They haunt me every single time the delivery trucks drive by.  I’m glad I can satisfy my craving for pizza without undoing my hard work.

Spread 1 6 inch whole wheat pita with 1/3 cup marinara & top with 1/4 cup low fat mozzarella.  Bake in oven at 450 until it reaches desired crispiness!  Top 2 cups lettuce with 1/3 cup white beans, 1/4 cup tomatoes, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar & 1 teaspoon olive oil.

And after diner…

Just because it is on the list!  Maybe I will try something else on the dessert menu tomorrow.  it is just so hard when I have ice cream!!!!

Oh something seems to be missing….  My snack!

I have decided to have my snack last this evening while I watch my Saturday night movie with my puppy.  I am going to airpop 2 tablespoons popcorn and mix with 2 tablespoons pistachios & 1 tablespoon dark chocolate chips!

That puts my daily total at 1599 calories!

What’s your favorite recipe from the Self Challenge so far?

 

My No Excuse Workout

Welcome to day six of my Self Lose 8 Challenge.

I would just like to start off by sending best wishes to the people in the North Carolina area who will be getting hit with hurricane Irene.  I wish them all to stay safe.

The storm is headed up to my area and is expected to hit Massachusetts on Sunday.  I hope everyone in the New England area  is getting prepared and taking this seriously.  There is a possibility that nothing happens.  However, isn’t it best to be prepared in the event of an emergency.  Also, if there is an elderly person in your apartment building or next door, maybe you can check on them and make sure they have everything they need.  Do your good deed for the day!

Back to business…  This morning I did the shortest, sweetest workout ever.  This seriously is a no excuse workout.  You don’t need any equipment, much time or much space.  All you need is 19 minutes and a beverage to rehydrate.  Oh, and a timer!

Here it is

30 seconds of high knees – I happen to hate high knees, but I did my best!

30 seconds box jumps – Clockwise. Picture 4 one foot imaginary boxes in the shape of a square. Jump into each box in a clockwise motion.

30 seconds butt kicks – Stand in place like you are jogging, but try to kick your own butt.

30 seconds box jumps – Counter clockwise

1 minute Burpees – Stand and reach your arms up.  Squat down to the ground and jump back into plank position. Jump back up to squat position and come to stand.  To make it more difficult add a push up in plank position and jump up to stand.

1 minute Wall Taps – Pick a spot on the wall about a foot above your reach. Jump up and try to tap that spot.

1 minute Mountain Climbers – Ug, this is my other least favorite exercise in the whole wide world, but it is only a minute.  Anybody can do anything for a minute. Get in plank position bring right foot towards chest and jump to switch feet.  Quickly.

Rest 2 minutes! Yay

Repeat this circuit 2 more times.  Just to be clear – You are doing this circuit 3 times total, which brings you to 19 minutes.  You can do it.  Just do the best you can.  In 19 minutes you can burn about 230 calories (depending on your weight).

After my morning burn I decided to use up the rest of my pineapples and make a pineapple parfait.  I only had half a cup of pineapple so I added some blueberries from the farmer’s market! Yum!

Pineapple Parfait Con Blueberries!

Is anyone getting hit with Irene?  How are you preparing for the storm?