Sunday, February 19, 2012

Shiratake Heaven!

I LOVE shiratake noodles!  If you haven't discovered them yet, you simply must soon!  I find them at Jimbo's, Whole Foods or Sprouts. So you can probably find them in your local "health" food store.  They are in the refrigerated section.  They are a ridiculously low in calorie noodle substitute.  So if you are "jonesing" for a big bowl of guilt free noodles, do what I did last night, shiratake noodles, low sodium marinara sauce, lots of chopped fresh tomatoes and grated parmesan on top.  Now a single bag of shiratake noodles only has 40 calories....that's right JUST FORTY!  I had 2 bags, a cup of chopped fresh tomatoes, a cup of marinara (the kind with 50 calories per cup, just read the label before buying) and grated parmesan cheese.  This whole big satisfying bowl of yumminess barely had 200 calories, very low fat and low sodium too.  I supplemented it with 3 turkey meatballs from Trader Joes (50 calories each).  It was a Saturday night feast!

Now, a few details about shiratake noodles.....they are made from soy and come packaged in water.  When you drain them, the water smells funky.  Don't let that deter you.  I drain them in a sieve and rinse them in lots of fresh water, before gently simmering them in boiling water.  They are already cooked but need to be heated through.  So, take a walk on the wild side and try shiratake noodles.  I think you will love them too!

And BTW, dropped a full pound this week - yay!

Desire to enjoy a bowl of noodles.  Dedication to finding options that fit me.  Discipline to have "the real thing" only for special occassions.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Am I Insane?

Definition of insanity - doing the same thing and expecting different results....   Another week and no weight loss.  After much soul searching, my conclusion is that I am just not being disciplined enough with my food.  My workouts are awesome, disciplined and consistent.  So I am going back to my ground zero and I am not straying (except Valentine's Day dinner), at least until we go to Italy!

My "ground zero" is a pretty disciplined place.  It will be lean proteins, veges, one fruit a day and one portion of whole grains (think 1/2 cup of quinoa, oats, brown rice or a slice of ezekiel bread) per day.  My goal will be at least one pound a week. 

Why does the word "discipline" get a bad rep?  People who succeed in life are typically disciplined about what they want to accomplish.  Concert musicians, famous sports figures, accomplished authors, amazing chefs, successful business people, competitive atheletes, etc all exhibit discipline.  Discipline is a good thing. Wikipidea says that discipline is the ability to motivate oneself in the face of a negative state; and qualities associated with self-discipline include willpower, hard work, and persistence.

So, I have to discipline myself to eat clean and stay motivated and continue to do so "in the face of a negative state", which for me is food temptation. 

Please help me out and send me mental pixie dust to stay strong in my resolve.  Thanks!

Desire to shed negative food choices. Dedication to not being insane.  Discipline to embrace positive motivation.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Super Bowl or Super Calories?

Beware of the evil Superbowl menu items that can send a healthy journey into a tailspin!  Instead of going to a party at someone else's house, we are hosting at our house.  I am making a butternut squash hummus with raw veges for dipping, slow roasted lean baby back ribs and cabbage salad with jicama, black bean, corn, carrot and shaved parmesan with lemon and olive oil.  Dessert will be fresh fruit salad.

Today, I almost caved in and bought freshly baked baguette and chips.  I resisted the temptation.  The menu is healthy and yummy.  If people go home and eat something else, then so be it.

I know I sound a little "on the edge", but I am a woman on a mission.  I have managed to drop 2 of the pounds that I picked up over the holidays so I am going in the direction I need to!

My new favorite exercises are with the TRX bands.  Who knew that there were so many things you could do with just your body weight and these suspended bands.  They are really fun!  If you get a chance, give them a try!

Desire to watch the Superbowl commercials without gaining weight.  Dedication to making more of my own food to control the nutrition.  Discipline to keep the freshly baked baguettes out of my grocery cart!