Something exciting!!!

If you haven't noticed there have been a few changes to the blog, the pages were getting a little messy, so I am doing some reconstruction, and with that comes a lot of fun.  I believe that as you de-clutter any part of your life you are making room for new and better to come in.  And believe me it is.

For those of you who have been following regularly and are subscribed to my e-mail list there is something very exciting coming for you soon.  I can't tell you yet, but it is in the works and will hopefully be ready by the end of February!!  I will be giving you little hints through the month, and I just can't hardly wait.  I am sooo thankful to all of you who read my e-mails and make room for me in your in-box, if it is anything like mine it is very crowded and I am so grateful you chose me to be in there too.

In addition to the reward for all of you who regularly allow me in your in-box, there is something else exciting that will be coming soon.  This is the most fun part and I will be giving you hints on this as well.  Oh I have such a hard time keeping fun little secrets like this, but you will have to follow along and wait.

Fun Fact

Did you know that calendula (an essential oil made from marigold flower petals) reduces cramping and menstrual backaches for up to 81% of women.  The aroma of this oil triggers biochemical changes in the brain that block pain signals.  Check shop essential oils to purchase some of this wonderful oil.

Positive Thought for the day

"I, with a deeper instinct, choose a man who compels my strength, who makes enormous demands on me, who does not doubt my courage or my toughness, who does not believe me naive or innocent, who has the courage to treat me like a woman."

-- Anais Nin

Positive Thought for The Day

Never let the fear of striking out get in our way.

~George Herman (Babe Ruth)

Positive Thought for the Day

Hold your head high, stick your chest out.  You can make it.  It gets dark sometimes but morning comes.

~Reverend Jesse Jackson

Positive Thought for the day

"Love is everywhere, and I am loving and lovable.  Loving people fill my life, and I find myself easily expressing love to others."
~Louise Hay

New Years Resolutions Update

How are you doing on your new years resolutions/goals.  We are one month later almost and some of mine are going great, however some I am struggling with just a bit.  It is all about finding that balance.  Here is where I am at with what I committed to.

Husband goal - dedicate one night a week to date night and take turns with taking each other out, the goal is to make sure there are 52 dates this year!!!

Okay so far we have been out pretty close to once a week.  We really do need to put in a little more effort with the planning of these dates.  Money has been a little tight lately so it will be interesting to come up with dates that are both fun and affordable.

Mom Goal -Read to my kids for 20 minutes at least 4 days a week.


House Goal - Declutter my home for 15 minutes every day.


This is one I had not originally included in my goals, but I need it.  I would really like to have a wonderful organized home that is free of junk by the end of the year.  I have been doing this for the past week and it is helping soo much that I needed to add it to my goals.


This one is going okay, between me and Dustin reading to them we are hitting this goal, but I would really like to do it all on my own.  Hopefully next month will be a little better.

Physical Goal - I would like to run a minimum of 260 miles this year. (I know that for those of you who run this isn't a huge amount, but it is big for me!)

This one was going great until my knee started hurting me, but I am putting in the miles, just not running.  I will get there.  So far I have put in 19 miles, I am definitely going to have to step it up if I am going to make my goal.  At this rate I will be short about 30 miles by the end of the year.  For the remainder of the year I need to be averaging 21.91 miles per month.

Mental Goal - My friend Amy did a similar one last year (hers was to read a book a week for the year 52 books in a year wow!!)  I would like to commit to reading 26 adult books (no not naughty books, but not children's books like green eggs and ham).
So far this year I have read
Vampire Academy Signature Edition: A Vampire Academy Novel  I liked it.
Frostbite (Vampire Academy, Book 2)  I liked it more.
Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, Book 3)  I loved it!!
Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, Book 4) I Loved it more
{THE MEN'S HEALTH BIG BOOK OF FOOD & NUTRITION} BY Weber, Joel (Author )The Men's Health Big Book of Food & Nutrition(Paperback)  This one was super interesting and all about the food we eat and how it can help us in our plans for weigh loss and fitness.
Joyful Mother of Children: The Magic and Mayhem of Motherhood  This was great for me to read and realize I am not the only mom out there who has her moments (granted I only have 2 kids and the author of this book had like 14 or something)  But it was a great book that inspired me to not be so down on myself about motherhood, it is hard work.

Spiritual Goal - Commit to regular scripture study (I am going to set my goal of 1 hr a week)  Okay so I have really sucked at this, I haven't so much as cracked my scriptures except for the lesson I taught 2 weeks ago...  I am hoping to have 52 hours logged by the end of the year, and thus far I am at 0.  I am definately going to need to step it up here.

Nutritional Goal - track my food intake so I don't overeat.  I would really love to say that I am going to give up sugar for the year, or eat more veggies (but I am being realistic)  I bet if i track my food intake I end up eating much less sugar and more veggies just because I will be aware.  I have done pretty good at this one.  I have been doing the game on diet as you all know, and keeping pretty good track of what i am eating, however I plan to start putting it all in and being even better on my spark people page.

Fun Goal - I would like to make sure I am creating something new each month of the year so by the end of the year I should have finished at least 12 creative projects...  Ummmm I have not so much as even thought of creating anything this month.  I have a couple days left, I may be making me some pajama pants or something similarly easy.

Work Goal - I would really like to write a book, so my goal is to finish a chapter a week.  I think that my goals for work have changed, what I really want is to have a functioning website and not just a blog.  So that is my new work goal.  I have been doing some research and finding out what is the best hosting site for this.  So my new work goal is to have a wonderful high traffic website by the end of the year.

How are you doing with your goals/resolutions?  I would really love to hear what others are doing and how they are coming along.  If you aren't making your goals what is your plan to get back on track?

Positive Thougth for the Day

Wishes are more powerful than worries.

Game on Diet Week 2 Results

Here are the results, it is getting closer... TM2 1709.7, TM3 1700.00, TM1 1655.07, TM4 1612.53, and TM5 1604.53. Keep up the good, work, and we shall see what next week brings :) It really is sooo close a few bad days for one team would total change the outcome.

I am finding a lot of the same things in each of my meals, I need to get creative and come up with some new meals.  Would love any suggestions anyone has.  I am pretty much eating chicken wraps, green smoothies, cottage cheese with fruit and almonds, and the occasional steak and baked potato.

I am down 2 more lbs, which is a great feeling and still finding ways to get in my workouts even with a bad knee.  I have been doing lots of speed walking and some yoga mixed with some strength training and some, aerobics. 

My body is loving all the water, I can tell a difference in my skin.

The sleep has never been a problem for me, I am pretty consistent with my 8 hours every night. 

I honestly was hoping to change my diet and eat better by doing this challenge and it has helped a ton.  In addition to that I have pretty much quit the soda, it doesn't even appeal to me.  Again if you have some suggestions or recipes, I would love to hear them so I can quit eating the same things over and over :)

 

Positive Thought for The Day

We must leave our mark on life while we have it in our power; it should close up, when we leave it without a trace.

~Isak Dinesen

Positive Thought for the Day

Victory is not won in miles but in inches.  Win a little now, hold your ground, and later win a little more
~Louis L'Amour

Positive Thought for the Day

"I would rather die a meaningful death than to live a meaningless life."

- Corazon Aquino

Positive Thought for the Day

Every day, or at the very least once or twice a week, take a few minutes and focus on seeing yourself in joy. Feel yourself in joy. Imagine only joy ahead in your life and see yourself basking in it. As you do this the Universe will move all people, circumstances, and events to bring you that joy. You can't be in joy if you have money worries, or health worries, or relationship problems with friends or family. So deposit some joy in the bank of the Universe as often as you can. There isn't an investment that is more worthwhile.
~Rhonda Byrne

Game On diet Recipe

The Game On! Diet: Kick Your Friend's Butt While Shrinking Your Own Recipe.  This sounds good. I need to use my spices more often.

Jesse's Game On! CHicken Lettuce Cups
makes 4-5 servings, depending on your palm size

2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp minced fresh ginger
2 tbsp vegetable stock
3-4 tbsp soy sauce
1 1/2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp honey
1 package gorund white meat chicken
1/3 cup chopped scallions
1 1/2 yellow bell peppers, chopped
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 or 3 drops sesame oil
1/4 tsp red chili flakes (optional)
One head of Bibb or romaine lettuce
Garniches:  sesame seeds, crushed cashews, chopped cilantros, chopped scallion


Saute the garlic and ginger in vegetable stock over medium heat until soft, add more stock if pan gets too dry.  In a small bowl, whisk the soy sauce, vinegar, and honey and set aside.

Add the chicken to the garlic and ginger and raise the cooking temperature to medium/high.  Break the ground chicken into small crumbles with a spoon as it cooks.  When the chicken changes color from pink to white add the soy mixture, scallions, and yellow peppers.

Cook the chicken mixture for approximately 5 more minutes.  After 5 minutes, turn off the heat and add the cilantro, sesame oil, and optional chili flakes

While the mixture cools, wash and separate the lettuce leaves.  Choose leaves that can accomidate 1/3 cup of the chicken mixture.

One Game On! Meal includes 2 lettuce cups, each filled with 1/3 cup of the the chicken mixture.  Garnish with a tsp of sesame seads or 2 tsp of crushed cashews, chopped cilantro, and chopped scallion.

Serve with chopped veggie salad or roasted green veggies.  Add a fist size portion of carbohydrate, such as roasted white or sweet potatoe mixed in on the side.

Store extra prepped letuce leaves in a plastic bag, wrapped in a moistened paper towel.

Positive Thought for the day

"Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got."
~Janis Joplin

Positive Thought for the day

I only give out that which I wish to receive in return.  My love and acceptance of others is mirrored to me in every moment.
~Louise Hay

Game On Diet Recipe

The Game On! Diet: Kick Your Friend's Butt While Shrinking Your Own Recipe

Billy's Spicy Tuna Salad
1 serving

1 can tuna (6 ounces packed in water)
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 onion chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 tbsp dijon mustard or spicy mustard
1 tsp lemon juice
1 pinch dill (essential!)
1/4 cup beans your choice, canned
1 tsp olive oil

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Serve on a bed of chopped lettuce of your choice.

Week 2 Thursday

This week my knee started hurting me a bit, not sure if it is from running or soo many lunges and sqwats...  However I have made a few adjustments in my workouts.  Tuesday I took my day off from exercise, Wednesday I did Prevention Fitness: Better Belly Yoga, then on Thursday I did The Biggest Loser Workout: Power Sculpt  Both were a great workout, but I enjoyed the power sculpt much more than the yoga, but it was nice to have a little variety.  Water hasn't been much of a problem lately.  With the exception of Monday, I have been done with my 3 liters by about 2 or 3 each day and end up having more as I am still thirsty.  Thursday my meals included

1 - Green smoothie
2 - Egg and egg white with spinach and onion. and a glass of milk.  This was actually really good.
3 - Toast with almond butter (that I made with my blender) and a bowl of cottage cheese.
4 - cottage cheese, yogurt and an apple
5 - Wrap - chicken with black beans, and some spinach (look at me veggies at 3 meals today.)

Great day, aside from my knee I am feeling great.  Even finding my energy levels increasing as well.  Not sure if I told you all my goal of this healthy challenge, first off I needed to increase my energy levels, but I really would like to get back down to 120-125lbs, these are numbers I have not seen since high school, we shall see if it is attainable.  I know that I wont reach it during the duration of the game, but I will be close.  I want a bikini body by summer and I know if I keep doing all the things that I know I am supposed to I will be there.

Positive Thought for the day

A man can make what he wants of himself if he truly believes that he must be ready for hard work and many heartbreaks along the way.
~Thurgood Marshall

Game on Diet Update

Okay so with work and kids and the diet I have kind of spaced out updating you all on what has been going on.  Here are the results from last week.


Team 2 score 821.60 Amy,Sheena, and Joy
Team 3 score 813.47 Annette, Sheri, and Kerry
Team 1 score 800.27 Dustin, Leslie, and Gentry
Team 5 score 783.87 Mandi, Becca, and Natalie
Team 4 score 773.60 Katie, Alana, and Brooke

This is such a close competition, at this point anyone could take this.  It is within 50 points, so best of luck to everyone on week 2.  Everyone lost weight, and has even began noticing that they have more energy and are more on top of their game.  It is amazing how much difference just adding in a few healthy habits can do for you.  Weightloss ranged from 2-8lbs, which is pretty common on the first week, I am guessing that next week we will see people in the 2-4lb loss range, as that is a pretty healthy weight range to be in.  Experts say 2lbs a week is healthy.  So here's hoping for 2lbs this week.  So far I am down almost 1lb this week.

Some of the things I have been eating.

Green smoothie - this is by far one of my favorite things as I can get in a veggie with my breakfast, it tastes yummy and it is easy.  I have a few variations but mostly it is strawberries, 1/2 banana, spinach, almonds and some water. 

Eggs have become something that I eat daily.  It seems that no matter what each day includes an egg.  Cottage cheese, string cheese and yogurt seem to be a daily food for me as well.  Meat seems to be a little harder to prepare so I think that is why I am sticking with the cottage cheese and string cheese more often.  However, chicken on the george forman grill has been fairly common as well.  Yesterday I had some whole wheat pasta with some spicy tomato basil sauce and chicken sprinkled with walnuts.  This was one of my favorite meals.

Wraps have also been a common one for me.  A whole wheat tortilla filled with steak or chicken and then stuffed with spinach or asparagus.  Sometimes I add in some black beans and always a little avocado or a some walnuts sprinkled in.

Honestly I am a pretty picky eater and very addicted to sugar and white flour.  I really thought I would struggle with this.  In addition to my addiction I don't like veggies, fruit is great but veggies are harder for me.  However I am finding that as I eat them I am growing to like them more and more.  I know that everyone out there wants a quick easy fix, that is why trendy diets such as the atkins and HCG diets are soo popular, the get quick dramatic results.  Now I am not saying these diets are easy by any means, but the huge results lure people in.  But if you take it back to the basics (eat healthy and in correct portions and regularly, get your rest, drink your water, commit do some exercise daily) you will get slow and steady results.  If you remember the tale of the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady wins the race.  Set yourself up for a new healthy life not a quick fix that will be gone as quick as it comes.

Game On Diet Recipe

Richard's Popey Salad
Makes 4 servings

12 ounce bag of spinach
3 cans of tuna (6 oz each and packed in water, not oil)
1 can bean medley
14 crushed almonds or 2 tablespoons roasted flaxseeds
crushed red pepper or hot sauce to taste, if desired

Mix all ingredients in a big-ass bowl.  Divide the salad into 4 containers.  You've got 4 good, hearty spinach salad meals in no time flat.

Positive Thought for the day

If it's just one person and you, there's a chance for kindness.
~Mary Ellen Edmunds

Game On Diet Recipes

The Game On! Diet: Kick Your Friend's Butt While Shrinking Your Own Recipe.  Okay this is one that I might pass on as I really don't love greek yogurt, but I thought I would post it for those who do.
Az's Super-Smooth Smoothie
(1serving)

1 cup either fat-free or soy milk
1 banana peeled and frozen or any other fruit (frozen strawberries are awesome too!)
6 almonds or 1 tsp flaxseed oil
1/2 C fat-free greek yogurt
1 pinch cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in your blender and puree until smooth.  Try it!  It's a whole meal and its delicious!

Positive Thought for the day

Heroes are made in the hour of defeat.  Successis, therfore, well described as a series of glorious defeats.
~Mohandas K. Gandhi

Game on diet recipes

This recipe sounds divine and it might help me curb that sweet tooth I am battling.  This recipe also comes from The Game On! Diet: Kick Your Friend's Butt While Shrinking Your Own.  I am intending on making these sometime this week.

Big Fella Phil's Banana Chocolate Protein Bars
(makes 8 servings)

Olive oil cooking spray
1 Cup oatmeal
5 scoops (1 ounce each) chocolate protein powder
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder
2 egg whites
1/4 cup fat free cottage cheese
2 bananas, mashed
4 tbsp agave nectar
1/2 tsp udo's oil
Dash of vanilla extract
1/4 cup raw, crushed almonds

Preheat oven to 325 and spray a 9 x 12 inch casserole dish with the cooking spray.

In a medium bowl combine the oatmeal, chocolate protein powder, and milk powder.  In a separate mixing bowl beat the egg whites, then add the cottage cheese, bananas, water, agave netar, oil, and vanilla extract until blended.  Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix to combine.  Pour the mixture into the pan, sprinkle the almonds on top, and bake for 30 minutes or until edges are browned.  To serve, cut into 2 x 3 inch bars.

If anyone makes this befor I do, I need to know how yummy it is.

Fun Fact

Did you know that in a 20 year study it shows that kids who were raised in homes with a lot of books attend school 2 1/2 years longer than those with few books in their home.  This improves not only their knowledge, but also helps them secure a better financial future.  My very favorite place to get books is Amazon.com, in case you didn't already know.

Game on Diet Day 8

New week, new day.  I had a fantastic first week lost just over 7lbs which for me is a big deal.  I actually lost 5.1% of my weight.  I know that my second week won't be quite so big, but it is a motivating start.  I am still waiting on two players to get their score sheets in so we don't have the results yet, hopefully by tomorrow morning.  Still going strong with Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred, almost ready for level 3.  My day today was a little off, I forgot about my water until much later in the day so I had a guzzle session this afternoon...  guzzling 3 liters of water makes for lots of potty breaks.  I did have my first day of weakness, I am dissapointed in myself, but I had a snack... I didn't even think about it I was sitting with my kids and wanting some sugar and so I had some of their treat without even thinking. 

1 - Green Smoothie
2 - Cottage cheese, apple, and yogurt
3 - porkchop spinach all in a nice wrap with a few black beans and some avacado
4 - boiled egg, and grapefruit
5 - boiled egg and apple because the first boiled egg tasted really good to me.

Hopefully I can get myself together tomorrow.

Positive Thought for the day

When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.

~John Ruskin

Game On Diet Recipes

This one I have made and I would have taken pictures, but it really doesn't look all the appatizing... infact when my hubby looked at it he asked me if I was really going to eat that.  But it is sooo yummy!!!

Peter's Perfect Oatmeal Puddin' Breakfast
(makes 1 serving)

1/2 cup oats (not instant)
3 egg whites
1/2 cup fruit (blueberries, strawberries, peaches, whatever you have, fresh or frozen) sheena personally recommends frozen berry mix
1 tsp flaxseed oil (sheena has been using walnuts over the top instead of flax oil)
a couple drops stevia or 1 tsp maple syrup

cook the oatmeal.  While it is still ont he heat and almost ready for serving, stir in the eggt whites.  Continue cooking for a minute or so more to make sure the egg whites cook through.  Turn off the heat and add the fruit, flaxseed oil and stevia or maple syrup.  Hearty, tasty breakfast goodness.

This recipe is from the book The Game On! Diet: Kick Your Friend's Butt While Shrinking Your Own 

Positive Thought for The Day

There isn't a person anwhere who isn't capable of doing more than he thinks he can.
~Henry Ford

Game on Diet Day 6 & 7

Let me catch you up on my weekend.  Saturday I woke up feeling sooo great about my success so far that I almost didn't want to take my day off.  Almost.  I started my day with a workout with Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred as I took friday for my day off from working out.  Then had a grapefruit with some string cheese and a few almonds. Then I planned on going to Chili's for lunch so I could get my chips & salsa craving under control.  We got there and I ordered some chips & salsa and a cup of potato soup.  I loved the chips and salsa and was sooo full after I finished the soup.  Then I didn't eat much until that night I went to dinner and a movie with my friend Terra, we went to Olive Garden and I did good, nice big salad with dressing on the side, only 2 breadsticks opposed to my typical 4+ and then when my meal came I only ate half.  I was pretty proud of myself and I didn't feel like I indulged too much but my day off cost me 2lbs.  I was amazed that just one day of naughtiness could cause that.  I also didn't get my water that day, I drank probably 1 1/2 liters... if that.   I woke up sunday not feelining my very best, not sure if it was the day of naughtiness or just a bug, but I was not feeling my best at all.  I did however get in all my meals and my exercise.  I did my Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred and felt a little better, but still not my best.  Here were my meals for sunday

1 - Green Smoothie and string cheese
2 - Oatmeal with fruit and egg whites
3 - Grapefruit with an egg and some whole wheat toast
4 - Steak wrap with spinach and walnuts
5 - Cottage cheese with yogurt and almonds

I think I am starting to see a trend here.  I need to change up my meals so I am not eating the exact same things each day.  I am going to set a goal that at least one of my daily meals is something new.

Positive Thought for the day

Showing up is 78 percent of life.
~Mary Ellen Edmunds

Fun Fact

Most of us who struggle with extra pounds tend to view hunger as a condition that needs to be cured—and fast, says Judith S. Beck, PhD, author of the new Beck Diet Solution. "If you fear hunger, you might routinely overeat to avoid it," she says. Thin people tolerate it because they know hunger pangs always come and go, buying them some time.

Copy Them: Pick a busy day to purposely delay lunch by an hour or two. Or try skipping an afternoon snack one day. You'll see that you can still function just fine. Then next time you feel those grumbles, you'll hold off before making a beeline for the fridge.


Prevention
Megan McMorris

Game on Day 5

For Friday I took my day off of exercise as I had the day off work, and my abs were killing me.  My workouts will Jillian are definitely working!!!  Today was sooo easy, and I am not really craving much sugar anymore.  My hardest thing today was that I really wanted some chips and salsa, been craving them like crazy, but no white flour and no sugar kind of make chips and salsa a hard thing... My idea is to make some crispy tortillas from mywhole wheat tortillas and some olive oil, then bake them in the oven and get some tomatoes, onions and peppers and chop them up... this might be one of my snacks on sunday.  I am taking Saturday as my day off as I am going to the movie.  Here is how my day 5 meals went

1- green smoothie with a string cheese instead of protein powder
2- apple cottage cheese and yogurt
3- chicken bean corn spinach wrap in whole wheat tortilla
4- oatmeal with eggwhites and fruit this was sooo  yummo
5- yogurt string cheese and a few almonds.

I actually almost forgot my last meal... we were watching a movie and I remember I still had one more meal to eat... lukily I still had 30 min left before my 4 hour mark. phew.

I am sooo happy with the way the diet is going this time around.  I really am enjoying the food, and I am starting to feel better, and the weight is coming off nicely, and I can even notice a subtle change in my body.  My muscles are toning and I can tell my clothes are a bit looser.  Wow all that in 1 week.  Can't wait for the next 3 weeks of this!!!  I am loving it soo much it may be something I stick with even after the game is over.  If you are not playing with us and want to start your own game get the book, it is a great read.  The Game On! Diet: Kick Your Friend's Butt While Shrinking Your Own, and if you are playing and don't have the book already, you should check it out, you will love it. 

Positive Thought for the day

I am one with the power and wisdom of the universe.  I claim this power, and it is easy for me to stand up for myself.
~Louise Hay

Game on Diet Recipes

Here are a couple more recipes, again I haven't tried them, so if you do let me know if they are any good, and if I get any of them tried I will do the same.  These recipes come from the book The Game On! Diet: Kick Your Friend's Butt While Shrinking Your Own

Bill's Spicy stuffed pepper to go (1 serving)

1 bell pepper (prefferably yellow, red, or orange)
1 tsp dijon mustard or garlic aioli
2 slices turkey breast
1 tsp olive oil or four olives
1 c low fat milk

Pop out stem and shake out the seeds of the pepper.  Spread the DIjon mustard or garlic aioli on the slices of turkey.  Roll the turkey slices and stuff them into the pepper.  Drizzle the olive oil or stuff the olives into the pepper for your healthy fat.  Drink your glass of milk then scarf the rest on the run.  Crisp, refreshing, filling, delicious, fast food.


Aussi Jo's Surf 'n'Turf Salad (1 serving)

1/2 head of romaine lettuce (the greener end)
1 green onion, chopped
1 tomatoe (nice and red for full flavor)
3 or 4 peperoncini
Cucumber slices to taste
1 stalk celery chopped
1 small carrot, chopped
1/4 can unsweetened corn
3 artichoke hearts (we suggest you use the canned version)
1/2 a palm size portion of chicken
1/2 a palm sized portion of tuna

Dressing (1 serving)
Whisk the following ingredients in a small mixing bowl.  Be sure to mix the garlic and balsamic vinegar together first so the vinegar has time to work its magic on the garlic.
1 garlic clove (crushed)
1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
dash of soy sauce
1 tsp flaxseed oil or olive oil
salt and pepper to taste.

There is a couple more ideas for you... I will keep posting more recipes as I can.

Game On Day 4

Wow this is getting sooo much easier... I didn't eve use my 100 calories all day.  I was even a little thirsty before bed so I was going on 4 liters of water.  My body is loving this.  I started my day off with the Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred again which I am loving.  I ate my meals, wasn't really all the hungry in between and by adding a b complex supplement to my daily regimine I found I didn't get quite so tired in the afternoon.  The caffeine headache has left and I am down 6lbs in 4 days.  I know that my second week won't have quite such quick results, it seems that the first week of any diet seems to be the most weight loss.  I am anticipating a 2lb per week loss after this initial week.  My meals on day 4 consisted of

1- oatmeal with cinnamon and walnuts and a string cheese
2 - green smoothie (part of a banana, some strawberries, a ton of spinach, some protein powder and flax seed) and a little water
3 - fried egg, whole wheat toast and a couple slices of clementine
4 - Cottage cheese with yogurt and some apple
5 - grilled steak with  black beans and spinach in a whole wheat tortilla (SOOO YUMM)

I am loving this!!

Positive Thought for the day

No contest: Love is much much stronger than hate, and light will always dispel darkness.
~Mary Ellen Edmunds

Game On Diet Recipes

Ok so as we are doing this game on diet, we have certain food restrictions that make it a little more difficult to find things to prepare.  In the book The Game On Diet there are several recipes, and I thought I would share a few to help you out.  Weather you are playing this with us, or just want some healthy recipes to try I hope you enjoy them.

Krista's Quick and Easy Breakfast
makes 1 serving

Olive oil cooking spray
A few big handfuls of spinach
1 finely chopped onion
2 egg whites
1 or 2 tsp crumbled low fat feta cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1 slice whole grain toast
1 tsp olive oil

Lightly spray a nonstick pan with olive oil cooking spray.  Over medium heat, saute the spinach and onion until the spinach is wilted down and the onion is cooked through.  Add the egg whites to the pan.  When the egg whites are cooked through, crumble in the low-fat feta cheese, and add the salt and pepper to taste. Serve with one slice whole grain toast drizzled with the olive oil and lightly salted. Yum!

I haven't tried this one, but I might in the morning.  It sounds easy and delish.  I never thought of adding the onion to give it more flavor, but that definitely would.  Plus first thing you get some of those veggies in that are required.  If anyone tries this recipe please post a comment and let us all know how delish it is :)

Day 3

Game on diet day three went great. I started my day as usual with my workout with jillian, level 2 today, feeling the burn.  Then I ate my first meal and began drowning myself with water.  Actually the water is not my hardest part, aside from getting at least 7 hours of sleep getting the water is the next easiest.  Honestly for me the food is the hardest and the no snacking. I obviously have a bad sugar addiction, but we are getting past it.  Here are my meals for the day

1 - Grapefruit and string cheese with some almonds
2 - cottage cheese mixed with some fat free yogurt and fruit and a couple almonds
3 - Salad w/walnuts a tiny bit of dressing steamed broccoli and some grilled porkchop (this was really filling)
4 - Meal off at cafe sabor (couldn't eat as much as usual) and I had me a lemonade instead of soda I am hoping I can keep up the no soda thing.
5 - cottage cheese mixed with some yogurt and a couple of almonds

I am down a couple of pounds already and starting to get my energy levels back.  I can't believe this after just a few days I have lost.  Hope the rest of my team is having as much luck as me.

Game on Diet

So we ended up with 5 teams of 3, so 15 people committed to getting healthy and hopefully shedding some lbs along the way.  I will be excited to post how we are all doing after 1 week.  Day 2 for me seemed a little easier but I really felt like I wanted some sugar... so for one of my meals I had part of a yogurt (key lime flavor) some cottage cheese, and part of an apple all mixed together, it was sooo good, and curbed my sweet tooth for the day.  I may have to have that every day as I am finding I really want a treat.  I can't decide how long I am going to wait to take my day off, but it is something that keeps me motivated.  I got on the scale this morning so after 2 days of being healthy and cutting all the crap and getting in a good workout each day I have lost a couple pounds, this is VERY motivating for me to keep going.  I find the afternoon is my hardest time of day... I seem to have a little energy drop and get really sleepy hopefully my body gets used to this soon.  Day 2 my meals went as follows.   (as you can see I am not cooking a whole lot, which is nice)

1 - grapefruit and a boiled egg
2 - oatmeal with a string cheese
3 - grilled chicken with asparagus
4 - yogurt, fruit and cottage cheese
5 - spaghetti (whole wheat) with marinara sauce a salad and some grilled chicken with some walnuts sprikled on the pasta.

And a whole ton of water with every meal.  I usually have my 3 liters drank by about 3pm which is nice to have done so I am not up all night at the potty :)

For my workout I did the 30 day shred with Jillian, and then in the afternoon when I get my energy slump I tried going fr a run to see if I could boost my energy (it didn't), but it felt good to get in a run anyway.  Can't wait to see what 1 week of this does for me.  I know I am going to feel better.

Positive Thought for the day

"We can never bring anything to us unless we are grateful for what we have. In fact, if somebody was completely and utterly grateful for everything, they would never have to ask for anything, because it would be given to them before they even asked.

That is the power of Gratitude."

 

Rhonda Byrne

Game on Diet Day 1

Here is how my first day of the diet went woke up had a boiled egg this gives me my protein and my fat, and an apple with a ton of water.  I then proceed to my workout did the 30 Day Shred with Jillian, which is a fantastic little workout.  It has 3 levels each one progressively harder, in each level you do 3 circuits of her workout.  You start with 3 min strength training, then 2 min of cardio and 1 min of abs.  It is an intense workout but is only 20 min, and I am soo sore the next day.  Then after my workout with Jillian I did some additional ab workouts.  I continued to drown myself in the 3 liters of water I am supposed to drink.  I went 3 hours between my first and second meals,  I then had an orange and a string cheese with a couple almonds.   I continued drowning in the water, and for lunch had a pork loin chop (at least part of one since it had to be the size of my palm), some spinach leaves with some cucumbers and I used part of my 100 free calories towards some dressing.  Then continuing in my drowning I finished my water about 3pm (which worked out perfectly for me not being up all night peeing.)  I seemed to spend a lot of my day drowning and peeing.  I went 4 hours between my last 2 meals, they were a fried egg and toast for the first, and a big salad with dressing some cucumbers and a boiled egg.  I found about 2 I got hungry for a treat, and spent most of the day with a headache from lack of caffeine.  I am sooo glad that I accomplished day 1 with all my points.  I made sure to keep in contact with my team and an opposing team, I stuck to my healthy habits I ate all my meals with no snacking, got in my workout, got alll my water and got my 7 hrs of sleep!!  Hurray for a perfect day.

Positive Thought for the Day

You do what you can for as long as you can, and when you finally can’t you do the next best thing.  You back up but you don’t give up.

~Charles “Chuck” Yeager