Yes, I'm aware that it's been literally MONTHS since I've updated anything here. I know no one is waiting with bated breath for what's been up with me. Mostly the same: trying to keep up with my fitness and nutrition, and the usual perils of every day life!
I was doing *GREAT* on my fitness goals before the New Year, then my work exploded, and for a full month, I had zero room for nutrition or fitness, much less a full night's sleep. No bueno. So I've been spending most of February trying to get back on track. It sucks to have been making progress, and then feeling like you have to start over, but at this point, I can confidently say that I'm well on my way to progress. I have about 13 pounds I'd like to lose as my next "checkpoint" but it's even more important to me that I'm getting my regular exercise and eating well.
I'm revisiting this blog as my accountability! Well, and I'd also like to be able to refer back to the recipes that we like and have them in one place.
I have a fitness accountabilabuddy, Betsy, who is my cheerleader and fitness role model, and she uses her blog (Find it here) as a journal of her successes and struggles, and well, she's awesome and we should all be a bit more like Betsy.
So, here we go. On again with fitness and nutrition, and well, let's get started.
I just completed a 4.5ish mile hike at Leita Thompson park with my work friend Melissa. She's such a great hike buddy! Fitness goal for the week: 4/5 work days to the gym. I really like my Friday after-work gym time, so that means M-Th, I just have to get up 3 out of those 4 days and hit the gym. I'm planning on tomorrow (Monday) morning for sure, so I'll just have to figure out the other two as we go.
Here's what's on tap for meals (I'll update unknown as I go! Lunch is usually leftovers, if there are any. Breakfast is usually Avocado toast, but sometimes varies (or I miss - WHOOPS!):
SUNDAY:
Brunch: Made a grilled sandwich of 1 scrambled egg (salt and pepper, and cooking spray), 1/2 a sliced cucumber, and 1/2 a sliced avocado on grilled whole wheat bread.
Dinner: Broiled Salmon with Lemon, and Steamed Broccoli with olive oil, lemon and garlic
MONDAY:
Breakfast: Avocado Toast (1/2 an avacado on 1 slice of whole wheat toast)
Lunch: Veggie Burger Patty, 1 1/2 cups Romaine, 2 TBSP Cardini's Caesar Dressing, Honeycrisp Apple
Dinner: Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken + Rice
TUESDAY:
Exercise: 55 minutes cardio on treadmill, and stretching (AM)
Breakfast: 1 Scrambled Egg on 1 Flour Tortilla (100 cals)
Lunch: Leftover Pineapple Chicken & Rice
Dinner: Steak with Brussels & Sweet Potatoes
WEDNESDAY:
Breakfast: Skipped :(
Lunch: Leftover Pineapple Chicken & Rice; Envy Apple
Dinner: Pork Chops & Roasted Veggies
THURSDAY:
Breakfast: 1 Egg seasoned with cumin and chili powder, 1/2 avacado, 1/4 c. diced tomato
Lunch: Leftover Pork Chop and Veggies
Dinner: Chicken Fajita Tacos, Pinto Beans
FRIDAY:
Lunch: Out with Jenn
Dinner: Pizza Friday!
Showing posts with label Recipe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recipe. Show all posts
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Monday, September 19, 2016
Crock Pot Monday - Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Chick Pea Curry
My co-worker and friend, Fast Eddie, was telling me last week about his wife's DELICIOUS white chicken chili. I've never made white chicken chili, but until right now, I forgot that it was going to be my crock pot Monday meal this week...
So alas, I will have to save it for NEXT Monday, as I have the pot going today with curry. The autumn hasn't QUITE set in here in Georgia, but after reading a delicious-sounding recipe in a Clean Eating FB group I'm in, I decided Chicken Curry would be our Crock meal this week.
I did a hybrid of two recipes I found online:
http://www.skinnytaste.com/chicken-curry-with-coconut-milk-43-pts/
http://www.5dollardinners.com/31-days-of-slow-cooker-meals-sweet-potato-chicken-curry/
Also, I'm not positive how the servings will work out for this, but I hope to have either 2 servings for leftovers, or leftovers and a freezer meal. I'll update after we've eaten to reflect the servings.
**NOTE on Garam Masala - You can purchase it already mixed, or you can make your own at home! It's a spice blend, and uses spices you most likely already have in your pantry. Recipe here.
**UPDATED! I found the original recipe a bit bland, so I made some adjustments. Also, the recipe easily serves 8. We each had a serving last night, packed two leftovers, and have 4 servings leftover, which I put in the freezer for future yumyums!
Amber's Crock Pot Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Chick Pea Curry
1/2 Large Onion, diced
1 TBSP Minced Garlic
1 Tbsp Cumin
1Tbsp Garam Masala
1/4 Cup Curry (adjust to your liking)
4 Chicken Thighs, Boneless & Skinless (you could also sub breasts. Use about 1.5 #)
1 Can Chick Peas (15.5 oz)
3 Small Tomatoes, diced
3 Medium Sweet Potatoes, diced
2 Cups Unsweetened Coconut Milk
1/2 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
1/2 Tsp Salt
1) In a small skillet sprayed with cooking spray, over Medium Heat, sauté the Onions and Garlic for about 1 minute, until they become fragrant. Add spices, and stir for one more minute. Add 1/2 cup coconut milk, and scrape the bottom of the pan, releasing any cooked-on spices, and cook until heated through. Remove from heat and set aside.
2) Spray the inside of your crock pot with cooking spray (you can skip this if you use those liners).
3) Add diced tomatoes, and sweet potatoes to the bottom of the crock pot. Top with the Onion/Spice Mixture. Add can of Chick Peas, and remaining coconut milk.
4) Add chicken thighs to the mixture, and mix, so they get covered in the sauce/milk and spices.
5) Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours (ours usually goes about 10, just due to how long we are away from the house).
6) About 30 minutes before eating, add the yogurt, and taste, adjusting spices as needed (I found it bland and had to add salt and more curry!)
7) After the full crock time, if you find the sauce too thin, remove the lid, increase to high, and allow it to simmer for 30-60 minutes, or until the sauce is the consistency you're looking for.
8) Serve over Jasmine or white rice, or for a healthier option, brown rice.
I usually shred the chicken in the sauce, but you could also remove the thighs and cut them up and put them back in, if you prefer.
So alas, I will have to save it for NEXT Monday, as I have the pot going today with curry. The autumn hasn't QUITE set in here in Georgia, but after reading a delicious-sounding recipe in a Clean Eating FB group I'm in, I decided Chicken Curry would be our Crock meal this week.
I did a hybrid of two recipes I found online:
http://www.skinnytaste.com/chicken-curry-with-coconut-milk-43-pts/
http://www.5dollardinners.com/31-days-of-slow-cooker-meals-sweet-potato-chicken-curry/
Also, I'm not positive how the servings will work out for this, but I hope to have either 2 servings for leftovers, or leftovers and a freezer meal. I'll update after we've eaten to reflect the servings.
**NOTE on Garam Masala - You can purchase it already mixed, or you can make your own at home! It's a spice blend, and uses spices you most likely already have in your pantry. Recipe here.
**UPDATED! I found the original recipe a bit bland, so I made some adjustments. Also, the recipe easily serves 8. We each had a serving last night, packed two leftovers, and have 4 servings leftover, which I put in the freezer for future yumyums!
Amber's Crock Pot Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Chick Pea Curry
1/2 Large Onion, diced
1 TBSP Minced Garlic
1 Tbsp Cumin
1Tbsp Garam Masala
1/4 Cup Curry (adjust to your liking)
4 Chicken Thighs, Boneless & Skinless (you could also sub breasts. Use about 1.5 #)
1 Can Chick Peas (15.5 oz)
3 Small Tomatoes, diced
3 Medium Sweet Potatoes, diced
2 Cups Unsweetened Coconut Milk
1/2 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
1/2 Tsp Salt
1) In a small skillet sprayed with cooking spray, over Medium Heat, sauté the Onions and Garlic for about 1 minute, until they become fragrant. Add spices, and stir for one more minute. Add 1/2 cup coconut milk, and scrape the bottom of the pan, releasing any cooked-on spices, and cook until heated through. Remove from heat and set aside.
2) Spray the inside of your crock pot with cooking spray (you can skip this if you use those liners).
3) Add diced tomatoes, and sweet potatoes to the bottom of the crock pot. Top with the Onion/Spice Mixture. Add can of Chick Peas, and remaining coconut milk.
4) Add chicken thighs to the mixture, and mix, so they get covered in the sauce/milk and spices.
5) Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours (ours usually goes about 10, just due to how long we are away from the house).
6) About 30 minutes before eating, add the yogurt, and taste, adjusting spices as needed (I found it bland and had to add salt and more curry!)
7) After the full crock time, if you find the sauce too thin, remove the lid, increase to high, and allow it to simmer for 30-60 minutes, or until the sauce is the consistency you're looking for.
8) Serve over Jasmine or white rice, or for a healthier option, brown rice.
I usually shred the chicken in the sauce, but you could also remove the thighs and cut them up and put them back in, if you prefer.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Oodles of Zoodles!
So, after talking for MONTHS with my friend Michele about Zoodles, and Vegetti, I caved and purchased one. They had the Vegetti spiralizer at Marshalls for $7.99! Score.
Well, I intended on embarking on a Whole30 this week, after Labor Day ended. Then, when Mike saw I brought home a Vegetti, and was talking about making Zoodles, he went on a rant about how people should just "eat the food we're meant to eat", and how he didn't like it when foods are presented as food that they're not. Translated: he doesn't want to eat a f*ing zoodle. It's not a secret he hates veggies, but simply not eating so much hasn't resulted in any weight loss for me. I'm not a picky eater, and I love veggies, so simply eating more veggies/better food would probably be beneficial to me, but I don't enjoy preparing food that he hates or will bitch about eating.
So, my fix was to make a zoodle salad for at work! and he won't have to eat it! This way, I can eat healthy while at work, and then eat delicious/less healthy at home for dinner. Seems like a good compromise. And that's what marriage is all about (she says after it took her 6 years to figure out).
I made a variation on this recipe, from www.tasteandsee.com: http://tasteandsee.com/chicken-satay-zoodle-salad-recipe/
These are the changes I made:
- Instead of doing tenderloin strips, I had full chicken breasts, so I chopped them into bite size pieces, marinated per the recipe, and sautéed. Also, after it cooled, I tossed the bite-sized chicken bits in with the rest of the salad.
- I did half the dressing recipe, and of that half, I only used half of *it* in the salad. I put the rest in a small container and took it with me for lunch. The salad actually turned kind of "runny" before I got it to work at lunch, so I drained off the watery stuff, and then put about a tablespoon of the additional dressing on top. Mucho bueno.
- I zoodled BOTH the zucchini and the cucumber! One can't have to many noodle-shaped items, after all.
- I also omitted these items: bell pepper, snap peas, jalapeño, green onions, and cilantro. I didn't have all these items, except cilantro, but knowing that I intended on stretching this salad all week, I know the cilantro would have a tendency to wilt, and become off-flavored, so I left it out.
I actually make Mike taste it, and he liked it! Not enough to eat, say, a full portion, but he did eat some, and didn't make gagging noises, so all in all it's a win.
Mostly, I typed this blog so I can make it again.
We both agreed that we should zoodle a sweet potato and make fries. Cuz, yum.
Well, I intended on embarking on a Whole30 this week, after Labor Day ended. Then, when Mike saw I brought home a Vegetti, and was talking about making Zoodles, he went on a rant about how people should just "eat the food we're meant to eat", and how he didn't like it when foods are presented as food that they're not. Translated: he doesn't want to eat a f*ing zoodle. It's not a secret he hates veggies, but simply not eating so much hasn't resulted in any weight loss for me. I'm not a picky eater, and I love veggies, so simply eating more veggies/better food would probably be beneficial to me, but I don't enjoy preparing food that he hates or will bitch about eating.
So, my fix was to make a zoodle salad for at work! and he won't have to eat it! This way, I can eat healthy while at work, and then eat delicious/less healthy at home for dinner. Seems like a good compromise. And that's what marriage is all about (she says after it took her 6 years to figure out).
I made a variation on this recipe, from www.tasteandsee.com: http://tasteandsee.com/chicken-satay-zoodle-salad-recipe/
These are the changes I made:
- Instead of doing tenderloin strips, I had full chicken breasts, so I chopped them into bite size pieces, marinated per the recipe, and sautéed. Also, after it cooled, I tossed the bite-sized chicken bits in with the rest of the salad.
- I did half the dressing recipe, and of that half, I only used half of *it* in the salad. I put the rest in a small container and took it with me for lunch. The salad actually turned kind of "runny" before I got it to work at lunch, so I drained off the watery stuff, and then put about a tablespoon of the additional dressing on top. Mucho bueno.
- I zoodled BOTH the zucchini and the cucumber! One can't have to many noodle-shaped items, after all.
- I also omitted these items: bell pepper, snap peas, jalapeño, green onions, and cilantro. I didn't have all these items, except cilantro, but knowing that I intended on stretching this salad all week, I know the cilantro would have a tendency to wilt, and become off-flavored, so I left it out.
I actually make Mike taste it, and he liked it! Not enough to eat, say, a full portion, but he did eat some, and didn't make gagging noises, so all in all it's a win.
Mostly, I typed this blog so I can make it again.
We both agreed that we should zoodle a sweet potato and make fries. Cuz, yum.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
End of Indulgence - Day 2
End of Indulgence Day 2 - Not bad, though I did indulge in the last piece of birthday cake, and one *TINY* Almond Joy. But now that crap's out of the house, so there are no excuses.
Menu - Day 2:
Breakfast:
Publix Blended Greek Coconut Yogurt
10 Fresh Blackberries
Lunch:
Leftover Stove Top Mac n Cheese
Caesar Salad
Snack:
1 cup Fresh cubed pineapple
Dinner:
Pan Grilled Pork Chops with Grilled Pineapple Salsa
White Rice (1 cup - should've had less. but it's my weakness)
Bad Girl/Slap my hand:
1 slice coconut cake
1 tiny Almond Joy
Here's to day 3!
Also, pool is looking good! I'm already researching healthy pool snacks for poolside this weekend. Stay tuned!
Menu - Day 2:
Breakfast:
Publix Blended Greek Coconut Yogurt
10 Fresh Blackberries
Lunch:
Leftover Stove Top Mac n Cheese
Caesar Salad
Snack:
1 cup Fresh cubed pineapple
Dinner:
Pan Grilled Pork Chops with Grilled Pineapple Salsa
White Rice (1 cup - should've had less. but it's my weakness)
Bad Girl/Slap my hand:
1 slice coconut cake
1 tiny Almond Joy
Here's to day 3!
Also, pool is looking good! I'm already researching healthy pool snacks for poolside this weekend. Stay tuned!
Monday, May 23, 2016
Month-Long Indulgence ENDS NOW! Day 1
I'm *THE BEST* at starting meal plans. Breakfast, Day 1 is always PERFECT. If you've been here awhile, you know I did a month (4 weeks) cleanse and stuck with that, but I've been struggling since. I've not GAINED any, but in particular, the past 3 weeks, what with birthday celebrations and abandonment of (most) adult responsibilities, I feel way off. We ate out every single dinner meal last week.
ENOUGH!
Mike got the pool opened yesterday, and well, that means swimsuits, which means body self-loathing, and well, instead of just bitching about it, I'm going to do something about it. Again.
So, not just to lose weight, but to get more workout time in, and eat well, but also eat ENOUGH. I think my biggest problem is night time snacking but I feel I'd be more likely to avoid night time eating if I ate enough during the day. So I went to the store yesterday, and got lots of fruits/veggies and snackables. Not those processed meat-cheese things, but some healthy crackers, healthy dip, and Kashi bars (my BFF got me HOOKED).
As always, this is my accountabili-place. And this is why I'm here. If it works, we should be able to refer back to it, right?
Today:
Breakfast:
1/2 cup 2% Low Fat Cottage Cheese
1 cup quartered Strawberries
Lunch: (See picture!)
Shrimp Caesar Salad Kit:
1 cup lettuce
1 TBSP shredded Parmesan
2 TBSP croutons
1 1/2 TBSP Cardini's dressing
5 oz boiled shrimp
Snack 1:
3 celery sticks
5 carrot sticks
2 TBSP Marzetti Cucumber Dill Feta Dip
Dinner:
Mojo Grilled Chicken Breasts
Black Beans
Snack 2:
Chocolate &Almond Sea Salt Kashi Bar
Blueberries
Exercise: Derby practice!
This is my Shrimp Caesar Salad Kit! Note: That is way too much lettuce. I used about 1/2. Apparently a sandwich bag of romaine is enough for two. Who knew?!
ENOUGH!
Mike got the pool opened yesterday, and well, that means swimsuits, which means body self-loathing, and well, instead of just bitching about it, I'm going to do something about it. Again.
So, not just to lose weight, but to get more workout time in, and eat well, but also eat ENOUGH. I think my biggest problem is night time snacking but I feel I'd be more likely to avoid night time eating if I ate enough during the day. So I went to the store yesterday, and got lots of fruits/veggies and snackables. Not those processed meat-cheese things, but some healthy crackers, healthy dip, and Kashi bars (my BFF got me HOOKED).
As always, this is my accountabili-place. And this is why I'm here. If it works, we should be able to refer back to it, right?
Today:
Breakfast:
1/2 cup 2% Low Fat Cottage Cheese
1 cup quartered Strawberries
Lunch: (See picture!)
Shrimp Caesar Salad Kit:
1 cup lettuce
1 TBSP shredded Parmesan
2 TBSP croutons
1 1/2 TBSP Cardini's dressing
5 oz boiled shrimp
Snack 1:
3 celery sticks
5 carrot sticks
2 TBSP Marzetti Cucumber Dill Feta Dip
Dinner:
Mojo Grilled Chicken Breasts
Black Beans
Snack 2:
Chocolate &Almond Sea Salt Kashi Bar
Blueberries
Exercise: Derby practice!
This is my Shrimp Caesar Salad Kit! Note: That is way too much lettuce. I used about 1/2. Apparently a sandwich bag of romaine is enough for two. Who knew?!
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Back to reality.
I took a work from home day yesterday, as my sinuses were acting up, and I wasn't feeling 100%. I prefer not to share potential germs with my coworkers. I feel like that is a common courtesy. However, thank GOODNESS I was at home as (TMI coming) I spent the entire day in the bathroom! Was it the cheese? The pear I ate before bed? The ONE beer I had after our derby bouts Sunday? No idea, but the discomfort has passed, and I'm on day two of back to normal eating. It's DEVINE. We had REAL white rice with our stirfry last night, that contained SOY SAUCE. So far, I feel great!
We had THIS last night for dinner, no SUBSTITUTIONS! Served over Jasmine Rice
Kung Pao Chicken
Though I did omit peanuts. I'm kinda skeeved by them due to learning they contain mold. Gross. No one needs to eat mold. I also have the Kung Pao for lunch today. With another pear! So we'll see if that is the culprit.
Tonight is this: Grilled Chicken with Chorizo Confetti
I have more of that chicken chorizo I got from Sprouts, so I'll be using that.
Happy Tuesday! We're calling it Bon Jovi Wednesday, as Friday is a VACATION DAY!! WOOT WOOT! Mike got our Deadpool tickets for Thursday night, and I'm counting down the hours.
I've also started relearning math for my upcoming GRE test. I used to ACE this crap, and a lot of it is escaping me. I did do math problems last night for 3 hours before bed, though, and that was super fun. I've always loved math, assuming I can figure out how to do it.
Ooh! Also, shout out to the Cobb County Libraries, in particular the East Marietta Branch. It's not the closest one to my house, but I like it's tiny quaintness, and the modern design of the building. Though, the parking lot full of dead Christmas Trees scares and confuses me. Oh well. They're keeping me from spending money on Amazon on books about math and the GRE. No one should spend money on those.
We had THIS last night for dinner, no SUBSTITUTIONS! Served over Jasmine Rice
Kung Pao Chicken
Though I did omit peanuts. I'm kinda skeeved by them due to learning they contain mold. Gross. No one needs to eat mold. I also have the Kung Pao for lunch today. With another pear! So we'll see if that is the culprit.
Tonight is this: Grilled Chicken with Chorizo Confetti
I have more of that chicken chorizo I got from Sprouts, so I'll be using that.
Happy Tuesday! We're calling it Bon Jovi Wednesday, as Friday is a VACATION DAY!! WOOT WOOT! Mike got our Deadpool tickets for Thursday night, and I'm counting down the hours.
I've also started relearning math for my upcoming GRE test. I used to ACE this crap, and a lot of it is escaping me. I did do math problems last night for 3 hours before bed, though, and that was super fun. I've always loved math, assuming I can figure out how to do it.
Ooh! Also, shout out to the Cobb County Libraries, in particular the East Marietta Branch. It's not the closest one to my house, but I like it's tiny quaintness, and the modern design of the building. Though, the parking lot full of dead Christmas Trees scares and confuses me. Oh well. They're keeping me from spending money on Amazon on books about math and the GRE. No one should spend money on those.
Monday, February 8, 2016
Days 27/28 - I QUIT!
So, I didn't make it 30 days. It became too much for both myself and my husband. I got to Saturday night and didn't want to THINK about making anything restrictive, and where I abandoned the Candida Cleanse, I'll call it a success. 4 weeks is a long time to do anything, and not drinking in that time was also a challenge (not because I'm an addict, but because I love to have drinks!)
At the very least, I've succeeded in the following ways:
1) I ended my CoffeeMate creamer addiction. I know that stuff is filled with garbage, and even though the flavor is my FAVORITE, I will limit its inclusion in my diet for road trips, or special occasions (guests). I drink my coffee black again, which I know my body is thanking me for, even if coffee isn't the best for me. At least I've cut out consuming the chemicals.
2) I lost 10 lbs. My goal wasn't necessarily to lose weight, but it was an added bonus. I actually haven't weighed since last week, so it might be more, but that is a long-term goal, not a short term one, and if I can cut back on my portion size, and add exercise, then I feel like it will fall off. I'd rather be happy than skinny anyway.
3) I cut out dairy for 4 weeks. That is huge for me, and I could for sure feel the difference. What I miss the most is CHEESE. I've never handled milk that well, and other things like ice cream have also caused me problem, but I've never been able to figure out why cheese doesn't bother me. I had parmesan last night with NO problems. So I googled it. Duh. This is what I found. So, apparently I can eat SOME cheese and not feel the issues in my tumtum that I feel if drinking milk. I'll probably continue to sub coconut milk when a recipe calls for milk. It seems to have been an adequate substitute. And those around me with noses will thank me. In case you didn't read the article, basically, harder/aged cheeses are safer than softer and processed cheese. Don't eat Velveeta. No one needs those chemicals. I'll stick to cheddar, especially sharp, parmesan, and swiss, and then also fresh mozzarella (yay caprese!), cream cheese (hooray for my homemade pimento cheese!), and ricotta, you know, for lasagna. I think I can manage the lactose discomfort by being aware of what I put in my mouth. I should be more aware of this anyway. It looks like I should also be okay with sour cream, so that's also good news. Ummm, okay mac and cheese will be in my future - Homemade of course.
I will continue the journey of good eating, and I think once we're back from our Valentine's trip next weekend, I will continue some sort of paleo/whole30 situation during the week, and then a moderated free for all on weekends. What can I say? Food makes us happy. We've not been too happy about our foods lately.
Where I did go off the plan, I've been trying to keep it moderated. This is what I did as a "reintroduction", and how we are easing back into it. I'll continue to share our recipes, just because this has been a good way to journal my eating, which they say is good for having moderation. It give accountability, which frankly, I need.
Day 27 Menus:
Brunch: Leftover Quinoa, 1/2 an avocado
Dinner: Rotisserie chicken (lemon pepper), baked sweet potato
Day 28 Menus:
Brunch: Cobb Salad, no blue cheese, no dressing
Dinner: Parmesan Polenta and Spicy Sausage Sauce
I used the Trader Joe's Chicken Sausage I got last week. Delicious.
Thanks for following my journey! Please share any successes you have yourself!
At the very least, I've succeeded in the following ways:
1) I ended my CoffeeMate creamer addiction. I know that stuff is filled with garbage, and even though the flavor is my FAVORITE, I will limit its inclusion in my diet for road trips, or special occasions (guests). I drink my coffee black again, which I know my body is thanking me for, even if coffee isn't the best for me. At least I've cut out consuming the chemicals.
2) I lost 10 lbs. My goal wasn't necessarily to lose weight, but it was an added bonus. I actually haven't weighed since last week, so it might be more, but that is a long-term goal, not a short term one, and if I can cut back on my portion size, and add exercise, then I feel like it will fall off. I'd rather be happy than skinny anyway.
3) I cut out dairy for 4 weeks. That is huge for me, and I could for sure feel the difference. What I miss the most is CHEESE. I've never handled milk that well, and other things like ice cream have also caused me problem, but I've never been able to figure out why cheese doesn't bother me. I had parmesan last night with NO problems. So I googled it. Duh. This is what I found. So, apparently I can eat SOME cheese and not feel the issues in my tumtum that I feel if drinking milk. I'll probably continue to sub coconut milk when a recipe calls for milk. It seems to have been an adequate substitute. And those around me with noses will thank me. In case you didn't read the article, basically, harder/aged cheeses are safer than softer and processed cheese. Don't eat Velveeta. No one needs those chemicals. I'll stick to cheddar, especially sharp, parmesan, and swiss, and then also fresh mozzarella (yay caprese!), cream cheese (hooray for my homemade pimento cheese!), and ricotta, you know, for lasagna. I think I can manage the lactose discomfort by being aware of what I put in my mouth. I should be more aware of this anyway. It looks like I should also be okay with sour cream, so that's also good news. Ummm, okay mac and cheese will be in my future - Homemade of course.
I will continue the journey of good eating, and I think once we're back from our Valentine's trip next weekend, I will continue some sort of paleo/whole30 situation during the week, and then a moderated free for all on weekends. What can I say? Food makes us happy. We've not been too happy about our foods lately.
Where I did go off the plan, I've been trying to keep it moderated. This is what I did as a "reintroduction", and how we are easing back into it. I'll continue to share our recipes, just because this has been a good way to journal my eating, which they say is good for having moderation. It give accountability, which frankly, I need.
Day 27 Menus:
Brunch: Leftover Quinoa, 1/2 an avocado
Dinner: Rotisserie chicken (lemon pepper), baked sweet potato
Day 28 Menus:
Brunch: Cobb Salad, no blue cheese, no dressing
Dinner: Parmesan Polenta and Spicy Sausage Sauce
I used the Trader Joe's Chicken Sausage I got last week. Delicious.
Thanks for following my journey! Please share any successes you have yourself!
Friday, February 5, 2016
Day 26 - TGIF
I'm officially burned out on this diet. It could be that it's Friday, and that it's been 26 days (Holy Shnikes!), and that I've not eaten ONE single meal out. That means for 26 days, every single thing I've eaten I've prepared. No wonder I'm burned out!
It's also been 32 days since I've had any adult beverages. I know it'll be pre-30 days, but we have a double header bout Sunday, and you can bet your bottom dollar I will have some beers after to celebrate. Then, next week, only a 4-day work week, Deadpool movie Thursday night, then to Blue Ridge on Friday for a 3-day weekend. VD Dinner at one of our favorite restaurants on this planet, Harvest on Main. The last time we ate there was our anniversary last summer, when I had the duck. SOOO FREAKING GOOD. They typically keep up on their menu based on what's locally available, but I'll tell you right now: if they have the duck, I will be getting it. Alas, that is 9 long days away, and there are more immediate concerns at hand.
I have NO clue what we're doing for dinner tonight. I will spend a portion of today figuring that out. The steaks from Sprouts last Friday were SO good, I'm considering those again. But who knows. The internet will help.
Here's what's on tap (so far) today. I'll update as I figure stuff out:
Day 26 Menus:
Breakfast: Chicken Chorizo with 2 Scrambled eggs
Lunch: Leftover Chicken Fajita Bowl
Dinner: WHO FUCKING KNOWS?!
It's also been 32 days since I've had any adult beverages. I know it'll be pre-30 days, but we have a double header bout Sunday, and you can bet your bottom dollar I will have some beers after to celebrate. Then, next week, only a 4-day work week, Deadpool movie Thursday night, then to Blue Ridge on Friday for a 3-day weekend. VD Dinner at one of our favorite restaurants on this planet, Harvest on Main. The last time we ate there was our anniversary last summer, when I had the duck. SOOO FREAKING GOOD. They typically keep up on their menu based on what's locally available, but I'll tell you right now: if they have the duck, I will be getting it. Alas, that is 9 long days away, and there are more immediate concerns at hand.
I have NO clue what we're doing for dinner tonight. I will spend a portion of today figuring that out. The steaks from Sprouts last Friday were SO good, I'm considering those again. But who knows. The internet will help.
Here's what's on tap (so far) today. I'll update as I figure stuff out:
Day 26 Menus:
Breakfast: Chicken Chorizo with 2 Scrambled eggs
Lunch: Leftover Chicken Fajita Bowl
Dinner: WHO FUCKING KNOWS?!
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Day 24 / 25 - Holy crap
My life just exploded right in my face, so sorry I'm late with yesterday and today's post!
I've decided to apply to a graduate program. It's an all online program, and assuming I pass the GRE and get my letters of recommendation, I will start this summer, and should graduate in 2018. WOOT!
So exciting, but a bit stressful. BUT, it's allowed me to focus less on the lack of the delicious foods I'm missing.
Yesterday was a bit unorthodox as far as eating. I got that delicious chicken chorizo from Sprouts last week and instead of just using roasted chicken in the stuffed spaghetti squash, I used the chorizo. It turned out AWESOME.
Also, I picked up Chicken Italian Sausage from Trader Joe's last week and have that for lunch today. Jury is out.
Paleo Chicken Fajita Bowl:
Mexi Cauli-Rice (based loosely on this recipe)
Sautéed Sliced chicken, onions, bell pepper, and sliced zucchini with Chili Powder, Cumin, Garlic Powder and Onion Powder.
Day 24 - Menus
Breakfast: 2 Scrambled Eggs, Diced tomato, cumin and chili powder
Lunch: Leftover Paleo Chicken Curry
Dinner: Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
- Subbed chicken chorizo for the cooked chicken
Day 25 - Menus:
Breakfast: 2 Scrambled Eggs, leftover Chorizo Mix from dinner
Lunch: 1 Chicken Italian Sausage, 1/2 green pepper, 1/2 onion, sautéed
Dinner: Chicken Fajita Bowls
We're supposed to have Chicken Korma with Cauliflower rice, but I'm really not feeling it tonight, and I have practice. OR I'll just make chicken fajitas, and make mexi cauli rice. But we just had curry two nights ago, so I think I'm skipping the Korma tonight. Will update :)
I've decided to apply to a graduate program. It's an all online program, and assuming I pass the GRE and get my letters of recommendation, I will start this summer, and should graduate in 2018. WOOT!
So exciting, but a bit stressful. BUT, it's allowed me to focus less on the lack of the delicious foods I'm missing.
Yesterday was a bit unorthodox as far as eating. I got that delicious chicken chorizo from Sprouts last week and instead of just using roasted chicken in the stuffed spaghetti squash, I used the chorizo. It turned out AWESOME.
Also, I picked up Chicken Italian Sausage from Trader Joe's last week and have that for lunch today. Jury is out.
Paleo Chicken Fajita Bowl:
Mexi Cauli-Rice (based loosely on this recipe)
Sautéed Sliced chicken, onions, bell pepper, and sliced zucchini with Chili Powder, Cumin, Garlic Powder and Onion Powder.
Day 24 - Menus
Breakfast: 2 Scrambled Eggs, Diced tomato, cumin and chili powder
Lunch: Leftover Paleo Chicken Curry
Dinner: Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
- Subbed chicken chorizo for the cooked chicken
Day 25 - Menus:
Breakfast: 2 Scrambled Eggs, leftover Chorizo Mix from dinner
Lunch: 1 Chicken Italian Sausage, 1/2 green pepper, 1/2 onion, sautéed
Dinner: Chicken Fajita Bowls
We're supposed to have Chicken Korma with Cauliflower rice, but I'm really not feeling it tonight, and I have practice. OR I'll just make chicken fajitas, and make mexi cauli rice. But we just had curry two nights ago, so I think I'm skipping the Korma tonight. Will update :)
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Day 23 - I have a confession...
I've been eating the leftover homemade cheese. I put it on my eggs both yesterday and this morning. The taste is actually growing on me! I wish I had some warm sourdough bread to smear it on. That would be perfect.
Last night's dinner was GREAT. The new recipe I used for Cauli Mash was SO much better than the last one I tried. And the crock pot chicken was SO good. The gravy was magical. I'm so looking forward to the leftovers today for lunch.
Not feeling wordy today, so I'll get right into it:
Day 23 Menu:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with tomato, cumin, chili powder, shredded Vegan Cheese
Lunch: Leftover Slow Cooker Roast Chicken and Gravy, Cauli Mash
Dinner: Paleo Chicken Curry
Last night's dinner was GREAT. The new recipe I used for Cauli Mash was SO much better than the last one I tried. And the crock pot chicken was SO good. The gravy was magical. I'm so looking forward to the leftovers today for lunch.
Not feeling wordy today, so I'll get right into it:
Day 23 Menu:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with tomato, cumin, chili powder, shredded Vegan Cheese
Lunch: Leftover Slow Cooker Roast Chicken and Gravy, Cauli Mash
Dinner: Paleo Chicken Curry
Monday, February 1, 2016
Day 22 - End in Sight!
I deserve a f'ing medal for resisting the 20 pizzas that were delivered to my work event last night. They smelled SO good. And there were brownies. I resisted ALL, and stopped by Kroger on the way home because I was starving. We needed coffee at home anyway, but I wandered the hippie section looking for anything I could eat. I didn't find a thing. It was probably for the best, as we had leftover pizza at home. It saved me money, and got rid of a leftover. So my biggest fail was that I ate it a 1 in the morning. No one should eat that late, but I was STARVING. I was even still hungry after I went to lay in the bed, but resisted going through the kitchen looking for more snacks.
My pinched nerve/spinal stenosis is back. It's not full force - I still have all feeling in my fingers, and I'm not having the arm pain I did last time, but I'm torn about what to do. The Doctor said last time I saw him, if it didn't go away, to just schedule another injection. I continued with Physical Therapy, and all the pain went away. That was the week after Thanksgiving, and now the neck pain is back. I've been doing the stretches I learned in PT, hoping it'll go away, but each day, it's gotten a little bit worse (since Friday). Hopefully it'll go away as quickly as it arrived. In the meantime, I'll think about whether I go back to PT, schedule an injection, or make an appointment with the Doc for an appointment.
Enough musings for today.
Despite working from home, I'm putting food in the crockpot for dinner tonight. I still have derby practice tonight, and it's always nice not to have to cook and then go to practice. I'm trying this Roast Chicken and Gravy recipe, with Cauliflower Mash. Well, now that I think of it, I will have to cook the cauli. Oh well. At least I'm working at home today.
Here's what's to eat:
Day 22 Menus:
Breakfast: Pizza Eggs
Lunch: Sliced Cucumber,
Dinner: Roast Chicken and Gravy, Cauliflower Mash
My pinched nerve/spinal stenosis is back. It's not full force - I still have all feeling in my fingers, and I'm not having the arm pain I did last time, but I'm torn about what to do. The Doctor said last time I saw him, if it didn't go away, to just schedule another injection. I continued with Physical Therapy, and all the pain went away. That was the week after Thanksgiving, and now the neck pain is back. I've been doing the stretches I learned in PT, hoping it'll go away, but each day, it's gotten a little bit worse (since Friday). Hopefully it'll go away as quickly as it arrived. In the meantime, I'll think about whether I go back to PT, schedule an injection, or make an appointment with the Doc for an appointment.
Enough musings for today.
Despite working from home, I'm putting food in the crockpot for dinner tonight. I still have derby practice tonight, and it's always nice not to have to cook and then go to practice. I'm trying this Roast Chicken and Gravy recipe, with Cauliflower Mash. Well, now that I think of it, I will have to cook the cauli. Oh well. At least I'm working at home today.
Here's what's to eat:
Day 22 Menus:
Breakfast: Pizza Eggs
Lunch: Sliced Cucumber,
Dinner: Roast Chicken and Gravy, Cauliflower Mash
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Day 21 - My favorite invention, EVER
So, last night's pizza and cheese experiment was so-so. My desire for pizza was satiated enough that I will not cave tonight when I'm working, and everyone around me is eating Domino's. But I'm also content knowing that there are only 9 days left in this Cleanse, and I can have REAL pizza again soon.
The crust ended up too dry for my liking, but I'm guessing that gluten keeps bread items moist and chewy (in a good way). The flavor was good, though. The cheese? I think I'm too much of a cheese lover to be eating this fake cheese. I could taste the coconut. And the lemon. It didn't taste very mozzarella-y. All in all, I'm happy to have taken the chance and tried it, but I think I prefer no-cheese to what we ate last night. I'll likely end up tossing what's left in the trash.
Coconut butter, however, is DELIGHTful, and i'm going to be researching other ways to use it. Really, I just want to keep myself from consuming the whole jar with a spoon.
What made up for the lackluster pizza night was this morning's brunch invention: Pizza Eggs. I heated the leftover onions, green peppers, and sausage in a skillet, coated with olive oil. Once heated through, added two scrambled eggs, cooked them in, and put in a bowl, topped with leftover pizza sauce. SO GOOD. Would've been awesome to have added mozzarella and/or parmesan, but that's okay. They were great.
Coconut butter, however, is DELIGHTful, and i'm going to be researching other ways to use it. Really, I just want to keep myself from consuming the whole jar with a spoon.
What made up for the lackluster pizza night was this morning's brunch invention: Pizza Eggs. I heated the leftover onions, green peppers, and sausage in a skillet, coated with olive oil. Once heated through, added two scrambled eggs, cooked them in, and put in a bowl, topped with leftover pizza sauce. SO GOOD. Would've been awesome to have added mozzarella and/or parmesan, but that's okay. They were great.
We also had a birthday in the house yesterday! Rhuby turned 2, so Pupcakes were made and consumed by all furkids in the house.
I don't know what I'll end up eating later. I went to the store so I have lots of options, but I have to do a work thing tonight, so I'll end up eating before I go. I'll update with where I end up.
Day 21: Menu
Brunch: Pizza Eggs
Lunch: Steamed Brussel Sprouts with Salt and Pepper, Sliced Cucumber
Dinner: Leftover "Pizza"
Resisted Pizza at work!!!
Day 20 - Pizza, Try Again!
I intended on coming home from work last night and making cheese, and then pizza. I went out at lunch and was able to get coconut butter, and nutritional yeast, and then I found some chicken Spicy Italian Sausage links at Trader Joe's, but I was on a manhunt for some Turkey Pepperoni. I went to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's at lunch, then on the way home I stopped at Fresh Market, and Sprouts. Despite all being listed as carrying it, none of the places I stopped carried any Turkey Pepperoni. I see now that Applegates Farms' website merely lists the stores that carry any of their products, and not this product in particular.
I did end up at Sprout last, where I found two beautiful New York Strip Steaks, and some bulk ground Chicken Italian Sausage. I decided that would work in lieu of pepperoni, and that our Supreme Pizza would be fine without the pepperoni.
They also had some chicken chorizo in bulk, which I cannot wait to try. I don't have any eggs currently though, so boo there.
I'm excited to try the Mozzarella cheese recipe I found, on the pizza. I've never made cheese. Mike is skeptical but I read reviews that seemed favorable. Mike will be the true test. Only 10 days left but if we can find some new favorites we like, that would be rad, too.
Breakfast/Lunch: Leftover Tortillas, heated and slathered with Almond Butter
Dinner: Paleo Pizza Margherita, Dairy Free Mozzarella
Toppings: Chicken Italian Sausage, Onions, Green Peppers, Black Olives
I did end up at Sprout last, where I found two beautiful New York Strip Steaks, and some bulk ground Chicken Italian Sausage. I decided that would work in lieu of pepperoni, and that our Supreme Pizza would be fine without the pepperoni.
They also had some chicken chorizo in bulk, which I cannot wait to try. I don't have any eggs currently though, so boo there.
I'm excited to try the Mozzarella cheese recipe I found, on the pizza. I've never made cheese. Mike is skeptical but I read reviews that seemed favorable. Mike will be the true test. Only 10 days left but if we can find some new favorites we like, that would be rad, too.
Breakfast/Lunch: Leftover Tortillas, heated and slathered with Almond Butter
Dinner: Paleo Pizza Margherita, Dairy Free Mozzarella
Toppings: Chicken Italian Sausage, Onions, Green Peppers, Black Olives
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Week 3 - Menus
Sunday:
Dinner: Leftovers
Monday:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes and Green Onions
Lunch: Leftover Spaghetti Squash with Paleo Meat Sauce
Dinner: Coconut Curried Chicken Soup in the Slow Cooker
Tuesday:
Breakfast: 2 Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes and Green Onions
Lunch: Leftover Coconut Curried Chicken Soup in the Slow Cooker
Dinner: One Pot Chicken Drumsticks, Quinoa
Wednesday:
Breakfast: 2 Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes, Cumin, Chili Powder
Lunch: Leftover Paleo Beef Kebabs, Quinoa with Caramelized Red Onions
Dinner: Chicken Divan
Thursday:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with tomatoes
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Beef tacos using Grain Free Coconut Flour Tortillas, Mexi Quinoa
Friday:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with Tomatoes, Green Pepper, Cumin, Chili Powder
Lunch: Leftover Taco meat, lettuce, sliced cucumber, 1/2 avocado, 2 TBSP Salsa
Dinner: New York Strip Steak, grilled onions, roasted brussel sprouts
Saturday:
Breakfast: Eggs, scrambled
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Paleo Pizza Margherita, Dairy Free Mozzarella
Toppings: Chicken Italian Sausage, Onions, Green Peppers, Black Olives
Sunday:
Breakfast: Leftovers
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Leftovers
Monday:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes and Green Onions
Lunch: Leftover Spaghetti Squash with Paleo Meat Sauce
Dinner: Coconut Curried Chicken Soup in the Slow Cooker
Tuesday:
Breakfast: 2 Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes and Green Onions
Lunch: Leftover Coconut Curried Chicken Soup in the Slow Cooker
Dinner: One Pot Chicken Drumsticks, Quinoa
Wednesday:
Breakfast: 2 Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes, Cumin, Chili Powder
Lunch: Leftover Paleo Beef Kebabs, Quinoa with Caramelized Red Onions
Dinner: Chicken Divan
Thursday:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with tomatoes
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Beef tacos using Grain Free Coconut Flour Tortillas, Mexi Quinoa
Friday:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with Tomatoes, Green Pepper, Cumin, Chili Powder
Lunch: Leftover Taco meat, lettuce, sliced cucumber, 1/2 avocado, 2 TBSP Salsa
Dinner: New York Strip Steak, grilled onions, roasted brussel sprouts
Saturday:
Breakfast: Eggs, scrambled
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Paleo Pizza Margherita, Dairy Free Mozzarella
Toppings: Chicken Italian Sausage, Onions, Green Peppers, Black Olives
Sunday:
Breakfast: Leftovers
Lunch: Leftovers
Week 3 - Groceries
Sunday Dinner - Sunday Lunch
(We had leftovers for Sunday Dinner!)
Staples:
Almond Flour: 2 cups
Arrowroot Flour: 1/2 cup,
Baking Powder: 2 1/2 tsp
Basil: 2 tsp
Chili Powder: 2 tsp,
Coconut Flour: 1/2 cup
Coconut Oil: 1 cup, 1 TBSP, 2 tsp,
Cumin, ground: 2 tsp,
Curry Powder: 1 TBSP
Garlic, Minced: 1/4 cup
Garlic Powder: 4 tsp
Ginger: 1 TBSP
Marjoram: 1 tsp
Onion Powder: 3 tsp
Oregano: 3 tsp
Paprika, Smoked: 2 tsp
Pepper, Black: 1 1/2 tsp
Poultry Seasoning: 1 TBSP,
Salt: 3 1/4 tsp
Misc. Grocery
Almond Butter: 2 TBSP,
Almonds, Sliced: 1/4 cup
Chicken Broth: 6 cups
Coconut Butter: 1 Cup,
Coconut Milk: 4 1/4 cups
Curry, Yellow: 1 TBSP
Eggs: 14
Egg Whites: 1 1/2 cup
Lemon Juice: 2 TBSP,
Nutritional Yeast: 3 TBSP,
Quinoa: 1 cup, 1 cup
Salsa: 1/4 cup
Stevia, powder: dash,
Tomatoes, Crushed: 14 oz
Tomato Paste: 6 oz.,
Vitamin C Crystals (optional): 1/2 tsp
Produce:
Broccoli Florets: 4 cups
Brussel Sprouts: 8 oz
Lime: 2 1/2
Onion, Red: 1
Onion, Yellow: 2 1/2
Pepper, Green: 2
Spinach, Baby: 8 oz
Tomatoes: 5
Zucchini: 3
Meat:
Beef, Lean Ground: 1 pound
Chicken Breasts, Boneless/Skinless: 3
Chicken Drumsticks: 1 pound,
Chicken Thighs, Boneless/Skinless: 1 1/2 pounds,
Chicken, Ground Italian Sausage: 1 pound
New York Strip Steaks: 2
(We had leftovers for Sunday Dinner!)
Staples:
Almond Flour: 2 cups
Arrowroot Flour: 1/2 cup,
Baking Powder: 2 1/2 tsp
Basil: 2 tsp
Chili Powder: 2 tsp,
Coconut Flour: 1/2 cup
Coconut Oil: 1 cup, 1 TBSP, 2 tsp,
Cumin, ground: 2 tsp,
Curry Powder: 1 TBSP
Garlic, Minced: 1/4 cup
Garlic Powder: 4 tsp
Ginger: 1 TBSP
Marjoram: 1 tsp
Onion Powder: 3 tsp
Oregano: 3 tsp
Paprika, Smoked: 2 tsp
Pepper, Black: 1 1/2 tsp
Poultry Seasoning: 1 TBSP,
Salt: 3 1/4 tsp
Misc. Grocery
Almond Butter: 2 TBSP,
Almonds, Sliced: 1/4 cup
Chicken Broth: 6 cups
Coconut Butter: 1 Cup,
Coconut Milk: 4 1/4 cups
Curry, Yellow: 1 TBSP
Eggs: 14
Egg Whites: 1 1/2 cup
Lemon Juice: 2 TBSP,
Nutritional Yeast: 3 TBSP,
Quinoa: 1 cup, 1 cup
Salsa: 1/4 cup
Stevia, powder: dash,
Tomatoes, Crushed: 14 oz
Tomato Paste: 6 oz.,
Vitamin C Crystals (optional): 1/2 tsp
Produce:
Broccoli Florets: 4 cups
Brussel Sprouts: 8 oz
Lime: 2 1/2
Onion, Red: 1
Onion, Yellow: 2 1/2
Pepper, Green: 2
Spinach, Baby: 8 oz
Tomatoes: 5
Zucchini: 3
Meat:
Beef, Lean Ground: 1 pound
Chicken Breasts, Boneless/Skinless: 3
Chicken Drumsticks: 1 pound,
Chicken Thighs, Boneless/Skinless: 1 1/2 pounds,
Chicken, Ground Italian Sausage: 1 pound
New York Strip Steaks: 2
Friday, January 29, 2016
Day 19 - Officially 10 pounds down!
Yup yup! I'm not doing it for weight-loss, but I'll take the fact that I'm down 10 lbs, with the SLIGHTEST of effort. I guess the effort has been a little more than slight, given all the ingredients to avoid, but I don't feel like I've been starving, I actually feel like I'm eating more. It'd be nice to lose 10 more in the next 11 days, but I'd be satisfied with 5. A pound a day seems a little extreme, but 1/2 a pound a day seems normal.
My no Zyrtec experiment failed. By 3p yesterday, my right hand had broken out in hives, and by the time I went to bed, (warning - TMI to follow), I was itching ALL over. Like, in my pants, itchy. So, I'm guessing I'm not yet clear of Candida, and if this continues AFTER the cleanse, I'm going to talk to my Gyn to order a true test, and see if she could give me an RX for Diflucan or the like. I'd prefer to go the natural route, but if it takes a prescription to get me baseline, I'm down for that.
I also think I'm going to cut out cow's dairy, as much as possible, and to replace it with goat's. And even then, probably only on special occasions (weekends), and that's assuming I get the candida under control. We might even eat paleo during the week, as I'd still like to lose about 20 lbs. We shall see.
Hubs ended up making dinner last night, after I had to do some snuggly sewing. The tortillas tasted like delicious coconut pancakes, so I'm not sure I'd call them a win. In most of the other coconut-flour applications, the coconut flour didn't come through as much, so I'm actually wondering if he accidentally used the fine flaked coconut instead of the flour, but he's no dummy, so I'm sure he followed the recipe as it was listed. They'd be delicious covered in syrup, but I'm not sure that they serve well in place of a corn or flour tortilla. Nonetheless, taco meat is delicious.
What I'm MOST excited for is PIZZA TONIGHT!!! I mean, I should probably say, "pizza", as this is paleo/gluten free, and of course, no cheese (though I'm on a hunt for some vegan cheese that's candida-safe, so if I find that, then winner, winner, pizza dinner!). I think I'm going to go for a 'supreme' pizza flavor, assuming I can find some turkey pepperoni and Italian sausage. As always I'll keep you posted. I'm still on the hunt for something delicious tomorrow night for dinner, but may just end up getting steaks. Who doesn't love a steak?
**OOH! Found this recipe to try, to make "cheese" for the pizza. I'll keep you posted!
**Updated! I had to go on such a scavenger hunt looking for turkey pepperoni, that I didn't get home early enough to make the things for Pizza. We wouldn't have eaten dinner until 1130p. We had steaks and brussel sprouts, instead, and will make pizza and cheese tomorrow.
Here's the game plan for today:
Day 19 Menu:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs, with diced tomato and green pepper, cumin and chili powder
Lunch: Leftover Taco Meat Salad, with cucumber, avocado, and 2 TBSP (no-vinegar) salsa
Dinner: New York Strip Steak, grilled onions, roasted brussel sprouts
My no Zyrtec experiment failed. By 3p yesterday, my right hand had broken out in hives, and by the time I went to bed, (warning - TMI to follow), I was itching ALL over. Like, in my pants, itchy. So, I'm guessing I'm not yet clear of Candida, and if this continues AFTER the cleanse, I'm going to talk to my Gyn to order a true test, and see if she could give me an RX for Diflucan or the like. I'd prefer to go the natural route, but if it takes a prescription to get me baseline, I'm down for that.
I also think I'm going to cut out cow's dairy, as much as possible, and to replace it with goat's. And even then, probably only on special occasions (weekends), and that's assuming I get the candida under control. We might even eat paleo during the week, as I'd still like to lose about 20 lbs. We shall see.
Hubs ended up making dinner last night, after I had to do some snuggly sewing. The tortillas tasted like delicious coconut pancakes, so I'm not sure I'd call them a win. In most of the other coconut-flour applications, the coconut flour didn't come through as much, so I'm actually wondering if he accidentally used the fine flaked coconut instead of the flour, but he's no dummy, so I'm sure he followed the recipe as it was listed. They'd be delicious covered in syrup, but I'm not sure that they serve well in place of a corn or flour tortilla. Nonetheless, taco meat is delicious.
What I'm MOST excited for is PIZZA TONIGHT!!! I mean, I should probably say, "pizza", as this is paleo/gluten free, and of course, no cheese (though I'm on a hunt for some vegan cheese that's candida-safe, so if I find that, then winner, winner, pizza dinner!). I think I'm going to go for a 'supreme' pizza flavor, assuming I can find some turkey pepperoni and Italian sausage. As always I'll keep you posted. I'm still on the hunt for something delicious tomorrow night for dinner, but may just end up getting steaks. Who doesn't love a steak?
**OOH! Found this recipe to try, to make "cheese" for the pizza. I'll keep you posted!
**Updated! I had to go on such a scavenger hunt looking for turkey pepperoni, that I didn't get home early enough to make the things for Pizza. We wouldn't have eaten dinner until 1130p. We had steaks and brussel sprouts, instead, and will make pizza and cheese tomorrow.
Here's the game plan for today:
Day 19 Menu:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs, with diced tomato and green pepper, cumin and chili powder
Lunch: Leftover Taco Meat Salad, with cucumber, avocado, and 2 TBSP (no-vinegar) salsa
Dinner: New York Strip Steak, grilled onions, roasted brussel sprouts
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Day 18 - Not a lot to say...
My day was off to a shit start, so I'm not feeling very wordy today.
Last night's dinner was okay - I bet the real version is delicious. The one with the mushrooms, cream soup, cheese, mayo, sour cream and bread crumbs. Maybe I'll make it once this cleanse is over.
I DIDN'T take my Zyrtec last night. Slept through the night. Didn't itch at all. I'm having some slight itchy hands today, but NOTHING like usual, and I think it's mostly due to dryness, because of it being winter and the heat being on. I'm going to apply lotion all day and see how I'm doing by tonight.
Note: I'm a bit upset today, and I tend to lose my appetite in this state, so I don't really have as much to eat as I usually do. If you're following my plan, feel free to add more, as I'm sure you're not having the shit-ass day I am.
Oh also, we do Taco Thursday at our house. Really, on Thursday night's we always have some kind of Mexican. I'm not following a recipe for the taco meat, as I don't use one, but I am posting the Paleo tortillas I'll be making. I hope they're good and not gaggy. I also just tried to scour the internet for a suitable "sour cream" type substance, but there doesn't appear to be one that's Candida-safe. SIGH. I guess I will just have to chill.
Here's today's game plan:
Breakfast: 1/2 avocado
Lunch: Leftover One Pot Chicken Drumsticks, Quinoa
Dinner: TACOS!!! Grain-Free Coconut Flour Tortillas
Last night's dinner was okay - I bet the real version is delicious. The one with the mushrooms, cream soup, cheese, mayo, sour cream and bread crumbs. Maybe I'll make it once this cleanse is over.
I DIDN'T take my Zyrtec last night. Slept through the night. Didn't itch at all. I'm having some slight itchy hands today, but NOTHING like usual, and I think it's mostly due to dryness, because of it being winter and the heat being on. I'm going to apply lotion all day and see how I'm doing by tonight.
Note: I'm a bit upset today, and I tend to lose my appetite in this state, so I don't really have as much to eat as I usually do. If you're following my plan, feel free to add more, as I'm sure you're not having the shit-ass day I am.
Oh also, we do Taco Thursday at our house. Really, on Thursday night's we always have some kind of Mexican. I'm not following a recipe for the taco meat, as I don't use one, but I am posting the Paleo tortillas I'll be making. I hope they're good and not gaggy. I also just tried to scour the internet for a suitable "sour cream" type substance, but there doesn't appear to be one that's Candida-safe. SIGH. I guess I will just have to chill.
Here's today's game plan:
Breakfast: 1/2 avocado
Lunch: Leftover One Pot Chicken Drumsticks, Quinoa
Dinner: TACOS!!! Grain-Free Coconut Flour Tortillas
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Day 17 - I take it back!
I added about 1/8 tsp of cumin and 1/4 tsp. chili powder to my eggs and tomatoes this morning, and it made them like a delicious Mexican treat! I'm not sick of them, yet. And Mike said this morning, "enjoy your fancy breakfast". "Fancy". As if. It's eggs and a chopped up tomato. I'm glad tomatoes are allowed on this diet - they're my favorite. Always have been.
In TMI, I did wake up SO gassy today! I have no idea why. We all know I've not had dairy in over 2 weeks, and that's usually the culprit. I'm not bloated feeling, like I would be when I had dairy in the past, so that's a good thing.
Last night's dinner was good, but a bit boring, in my opinion. Hubs didn't say it was salty, so that's a win, but overall, I was unenthused.
Looks pretty though, right?
I made the quinoa with that fancy broth I found at TJ's, but it still didn't have a lot of flavor. This truly tasted diet-y. I opted to bring leftovers from Saturday for lunch today instead, just to get them out of the fridge.
Not a lot happening other than that! Just work, as usual. I did get a boost in dog sweater orders which is AWESOME. I'm saving up to get the Jamberry Trushine kit. I've done a real number on my nails in the past 6 months or so, and I think the Trushines will help get them healthy again. I LOVE my Jamberries, but due to the damage I've done to my nails, I've had trouble getting great applications lately.
Here's the game plan for today:
Day 16 Menus:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with chopped tomato, cumin and chili powder
Lunch: Leftover Paleo Beef Kebabs, Quinoa with Caramelized Red Onions
Dinner: Chicken Divan (Dive In)
Omit mushrooms, add spinach
Happy Wednesday!
In TMI, I did wake up SO gassy today! I have no idea why. We all know I've not had dairy in over 2 weeks, and that's usually the culprit. I'm not bloated feeling, like I would be when I had dairy in the past, so that's a good thing.
Last night's dinner was good, but a bit boring, in my opinion. Hubs didn't say it was salty, so that's a win, but overall, I was unenthused.
Looks pretty though, right?
I made the quinoa with that fancy broth I found at TJ's, but it still didn't have a lot of flavor. This truly tasted diet-y. I opted to bring leftovers from Saturday for lunch today instead, just to get them out of the fridge.
Not a lot happening other than that! Just work, as usual. I did get a boost in dog sweater orders which is AWESOME. I'm saving up to get the Jamberry Trushine kit. I've done a real number on my nails in the past 6 months or so, and I think the Trushines will help get them healthy again. I LOVE my Jamberries, but due to the damage I've done to my nails, I've had trouble getting great applications lately.
Here's the game plan for today:
Day 16 Menus:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with chopped tomato, cumin and chili powder
Lunch: Leftover Paleo Beef Kebabs, Quinoa with Caramelized Red Onions
Dinner: Chicken Divan (Dive In)
Omit mushrooms, add spinach
Happy Wednesday!
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Day 16 - I may be sick of eggs soon...
I have a tendency to find something I really, really like, and then eat it every single day, until I can't lay eyes or have it cross my lips again for an extended time. That may happen soon with tomato eggs. Or it may not. I wasn't a fan of eggs until college (the same time I decided I liked raw onions). Recently, as in the past sixteen days, I cannot get enough of them. Are eggs still bad for your cholesterol? It seems that that piece is offset by the fact that eggs contain lots of good stuff for you, especially protein, and Vitamins B12 and D (for which I take a weekly supplement). We'll see what the doc says later this year. I did throw a bit of a high cholesterol last year, but my doctor said it could be due to my birth control pill (TMI), which can cause elevated cholesterol. I'm NOT going on cholesterol pills at 37. No sir, thank you very much. But, I've also not had any dairy products in 16 days, so I would think that would work in my favor as well.
I'm actually wondering if I can keep the dairy out of my diet as a semi-permanent thing. I think I have a touch of lactose intolerance, so not having any dairy at all has really helped how I feel. I think that's what it is. I'll miss cheese most. But I'm sure there are replacement cheeses, right? Is it even worth it? I will have to splurge every now and then on grilled cheese sandwiches, my homemade pimento cheese, cheese grits, parmesan rice (I've always had stomach issues, and parm rice is one of my easy go-tos), and quesadillas.
Ooh and pizza. Oh how I miss thee, pizza. Maybe that's my challenge for the rest of the week - Come up with a "pizza" type dinner for Friday night.
Challenge accepted.
Last night's soup was ... okay. Mike liked it, but once again thought it tasted too salty (despite my not adding ANY salt). I had to add more curry powder, as always. I must like curry more than most people. I also added more lime. I'm wondering if the fish sauce I used was coming through? Usually it tastes good though. Maybe it will be better for leftovers today. You know how some foods are better the next day? Like lasagna. And chili. We will see.
The Sriracha turned out good, but I think the soup could have used a bit more. I'm also not sure why we added almond butter, and would likely omit that if I made it again.
And, holy buckets, I need a nap. So sleeeeeepy today. I've had two nights in a row of going to sleep after midnight, and that just doesn't work for me! I've had a boost in my Snuggly business, so tonight will be go home and cook dinner, sew snugglies for the mail tomorrow, bed by 9. The last part might be wishful thinking, but I'm crossing my fingers.
**Update: I wanted to share this. I have a raging headache right now. I looked up Candida and ibuprofen, and found this hilarious study article, filled with words that sound like some sort of instruction manual. However, the last sentence confirmed that ibuprofen is okay to take, and can even be beneficial in fighting Candida. Great news!
Here's the dealio for today:
Day 16 - Menus:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with tomato and green onion
Lunch: Leftover Coconut Curried Chicken Soup in the Slow Cooker, Celery, 1/2 avocado
Dinner: One Pot Chicken Drumsticks, Quinoa
I'm actually wondering if I can keep the dairy out of my diet as a semi-permanent thing. I think I have a touch of lactose intolerance, so not having any dairy at all has really helped how I feel. I think that's what it is. I'll miss cheese most. But I'm sure there are replacement cheeses, right? Is it even worth it? I will have to splurge every now and then on grilled cheese sandwiches, my homemade pimento cheese, cheese grits, parmesan rice (I've always had stomach issues, and parm rice is one of my easy go-tos), and quesadillas.
Ooh and pizza. Oh how I miss thee, pizza. Maybe that's my challenge for the rest of the week - Come up with a "pizza" type dinner for Friday night.
Challenge accepted.
Last night's soup was ... okay. Mike liked it, but once again thought it tasted too salty (despite my not adding ANY salt). I had to add more curry powder, as always. I must like curry more than most people. I also added more lime. I'm wondering if the fish sauce I used was coming through? Usually it tastes good though. Maybe it will be better for leftovers today. You know how some foods are better the next day? Like lasagna. And chili. We will see.
The Sriracha turned out good, but I think the soup could have used a bit more. I'm also not sure why we added almond butter, and would likely omit that if I made it again.
And, holy buckets, I need a nap. So sleeeeeepy today. I've had two nights in a row of going to sleep after midnight, and that just doesn't work for me! I've had a boost in my Snuggly business, so tonight will be go home and cook dinner, sew snugglies for the mail tomorrow, bed by 9. The last part might be wishful thinking, but I'm crossing my fingers.
**Update: I wanted to share this. I have a raging headache right now. I looked up Candida and ibuprofen, and found this hilarious study article, filled with words that sound like some sort of instruction manual. However, the last sentence confirmed that ibuprofen is okay to take, and can even be beneficial in fighting Candida. Great news!
Here's the dealio for today:
Day 16 - Menus:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with tomato and green onion
Lunch: Leftover Coconut Curried Chicken Soup in the Slow Cooker, Celery, 1/2 avocado
Dinner: One Pot Chicken Drumsticks, Quinoa
Monday, January 25, 2016
Day 15 - Officially Halfway Through!
I really can't believe we've made it this far. And by we, I mean me. Hubs cheats, so it's not as hard for him. I have to say I was able to overcome two giant obstacles last night. First, I was at a bar all night for a burlesque benefit for a friend of mine (Rhuby's Aunt Jen, who has two of Rhu's brothers, Moby and Bunny). I spent the evening at the raffle/silent action booth with a lovely lady named Marnie, and we had a great time selling tickets. It was REALLY hard for me not to have a drink. Note: Not because I'm any sort of alcoholic, I just really like to imbibe like the rest, and it was really hard to see everyone having a great time drinking and hanging out, but I stuck to water. I *almost* got a vodka soda, but I reminded myself that that first drink Valentine's weekend in the mountains with Mike will taste SO much better when I've given myself the full 30-day cleanse. INCLUDING booze. Go me.
The second challenge was NOT stopping at Taco Bell (or Wendy's) on my way home. I ate dinner really early, around 515p, before I left for the event, and driving home at 1130p, I was STARVING. I persevered, and ate more leftover grilled veggies/quinoa/steak once I got home. No Tacos for me! Both decisions were equally difficult, but I feel good about where I ended up.
I'm 1/2# up from Friday, but given that I made cookies, and that I ate so late last night, I think it's okay. It's a marathon, not a sprint (right?).
Also, I have derby practice tonight, which is going to be a real struggle because I'm SO tired today after staying up past my bedtime. Yawn.
OH! Also! I made Paleo Sriracha sauce yesterday! I haven't tasted it yet (honestly I'm scared), but I will be using it in tonight's Curried Chicken soup, so I'll give you the results tomorrow. Hubs tasted it and said it was good. I'm not usually a fan of really spicy stuff, but Sriracha and Wasabi are two exceptions. I hope mine holds up.
Day 15 - Today's Menu:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with tomato and green onion
Lunch: Leftover Spaghetti Squash with Paleo Meat Sauce
Dinner: Coconut Curried Chicken Soup in the Slow Cooker
Omit Carrots, replace Red Bell Pepper with Green
The second challenge was NOT stopping at Taco Bell (or Wendy's) on my way home. I ate dinner really early, around 515p, before I left for the event, and driving home at 1130p, I was STARVING. I persevered, and ate more leftover grilled veggies/quinoa/steak once I got home. No Tacos for me! Both decisions were equally difficult, but I feel good about where I ended up.
I'm 1/2# up from Friday, but given that I made cookies, and that I ate so late last night, I think it's okay. It's a marathon, not a sprint (right?).
Also, I have derby practice tonight, which is going to be a real struggle because I'm SO tired today after staying up past my bedtime. Yawn.
OH! Also! I made Paleo Sriracha sauce yesterday! I haven't tasted it yet (honestly I'm scared), but I will be using it in tonight's Curried Chicken soup, so I'll give you the results tomorrow. Hubs tasted it and said it was good. I'm not usually a fan of really spicy stuff, but Sriracha and Wasabi are two exceptions. I hope mine holds up.
Day 15 - Today's Menu:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with tomato and green onion
Lunch: Leftover Spaghetti Squash with Paleo Meat Sauce
Dinner: Coconut Curried Chicken Soup in the Slow Cooker
Omit Carrots, replace Red Bell Pepper with Green
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