No More Guilt...Fitness Re-Mix

My guilty pleasure.

Here's the plan, the next time I drive by Dick's Drive-In...KEEP DRIVING!!!

Say "Goodbye" to Fries, Dick's Special, and Dick's Deluxe

I've met with many Nutritionists and I've worked out with numerous Fitness Trainers. Now I need to gather all this information and get my fitness and nutrition program on track! My plan is simple, CUT OUT THE CRAP. I will be stocking up on ANTIOXIDANTS like blueberries, sweet potatoes, and broccoli. My Diet, for the next 2 weeks, I will be loosely following Phase I of the South Beach Diet. Cutting out white stuff for the next couple weeks: white bread, white rice, white sugar and, I may as well throw white vanilla ice cream on the list.

OK, but be real. I am still going to eat and cook delicious food!!!

Cauliflower is your friend. OK, this is the one white food that I will not be cutting out. Cauliflower when steamed and mashed, makes great "pretend" mashed potatoes.

Water, lots of water. Snack of choice... almonds. I buy my almonds raw and toast them myself, a few at a time. If I really need an afternoon treat, a decaf cappuccino with Splenda will be my new favorite. If you want to be really good drink Green Tea!

My Exercise Program

I will be following a Fitness Schedule I got from an previous trainer.

Day 1 (today): Arc Trainer for 45 minutes keeping my HR above 135
Day 2: 20 minutes cardio, I do the elliptical and then Resistance Training
Day 3: Elliptical for 35 minutes and Rowing for 10 - 15 minutes
Day 4: 20 minutes cardio and then Resistance Training
Day 5: Yoga or other Meditation ~ every day if possible
Day 6: 45 minutes cardio, anything, just keep moving
Day 7: Rest, Do something FUN!!!

This is the basic idea. I may take a spin or Zumba Class in place of the Cardio. If I take a Boot Camp class, I count it as a Cardio/Resistance day.

FIGHT AGING!!!

OK, one last bit, I take vitamin supplements. Nothing unusual, I just make sure to take a multi-vitamin and a vitamin D. Not always sunny in Seattle, so I could use the extra boost. Also, I take 2 baby aspirins every day.

Cheers! Here's a toast to good health.

FYI ~ Red Wine is good for your heart!!! Ask Dr. Oz.

The Ultimate Roast Chicken

Just when I thought I made the best roast chicken, Julia had to remind me I was was wrong. PBS was running a few of her classic shows. This particular show started with all the chickens, capons, hens, etc. all lined up. This scene has been spoofed by SNL and The Muppets...remember? I was cracking up watching Julia since she was silent a few times, as if she had forgotten her lines, also, talk about cross contamination. Touch raw chicken, touch a knife, touch string, touch scissors, you get what I'm saying. Well, I think we are a little too cautious these days, Julia lived longer than I expect to live!!!

Well, sorry to say, I did not use Julia's method on the rotisserie. I don't have a rotisserie. However, now I was determined to make roast chicken for dinner. Tyler Florence to the rescue! Tyler's Ultimate Roast Chicken. The sides Tyler chose for the chicken were watercress, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Unfortunately, those were the sides for the Ultimate Chicken Pot Pie that I made the other day. Also, I am back on Phase I on the South Beach Diet, so no carbs AGAIN.

Here's the first difference between Tyler Florence's roast chicken and mine. Oranges, Parsley, Oregano, and Thyme. I always stuff chicken with Lemon and Rosemary.

Mix the herbs with butter & rub underneath the skin. I use olive oil, but butter is always good.

Stuff the chicken with orange, half the onion, and half the roasted garlic. Place the chicken, breast side up, in the pan with the remaining onion and garlic. Now, put 6 slices of bacon on top of the chicken. How bad can it be? Julia puts bacon on her chicken too! Into the oven for 25 minutes at 425 degrees.

Take the bacon off the chicken and put the chicken back in the oven for 25 more minutes. I added celery to the pan to cook.

So delicious!

The Ultimate Roast Chicken

adapted from Tyler Florence

Ingredients:

1 (5 1/2 pound) free-range chicken

1/2 bunch each fresh oregano, thyme, and parsley
1/4 pound unsalted butter, softened

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 orange

I whole roasted bulb of garlic, halved

1 medium white onion, halved, plus 1 onion

6 strips smoked bacon

Suggested Sides: steamed cauliflower and roasted celery

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Rinse the chicken with cool water, inside and out. Pat it dry with paper towels. Divide the herbs, keeping 1/2 of them whole. Finely chop the other half. In a small bowl,
mash the softened butter with the chopped herbs, until combined. Rub the herbed butter under the skin, as well as all over the outside of the chicken. Season the bird all
over with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with the orange, garlic, 1 onion, and the remaining herbs. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine to help hold its shape. Place
the chicken, breast-side up, in a roasting pan. Put the remaining onion into the pan, which will help color and flavor the sauce. Lay the strips of bacon across the breast of
the chicken and roast for 25 minutes.

Remove the bacon and baste the chicken with the drippings and cook for another 25 minutes to brown the skin. The chicken is done when an instant-read thermometer
reads 165 degrees F when inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (the legs of the chicken should wiggle easily from the sockets too.) Remove the chicken to a platter
and let stand for 10 minutes, so the juices settle back into the meat before carving.

Meanwhile, remove the softened onion from the roasting pan. You can make gravy at this point with the drippings, but I put my steamed cauliflower in the roasting pan with the other vegetables and put the vegetables back in the oven for 10 minutes while the chicken rests. Before serving, toss all the vegetables and serve with chicken.

To serve, carve the chicken tableside and squeeze the oranges from the cavity over the meat.

Back to School AND Chocolate Chip Cookies

Today was the 3rd day of the new school year and some thing was wrong. What, no Room Mom Meeting? No meeting with the teachers. Hmmm... I didn't even make a PB&J this morning. I must be the mother of a high school Senior.

Something else was missing. Ah, I know...get yourself organized and bake cookies!

What can I say, it's a tradition. School starts and I bake chocolate chip cookies. The difference this year is I am no longer on the PTSA, Chair of the Auction or making treats for teachers or anything.

Not exactly a low-calorie, low-carb, fat-free, sugar-free diet option, but everything in moderation. Well, I had 1 cookie and it was pretty good!

Nothing special with this cookie, it's your basic Nestle's Toll House Cookie, recipe on the bag.

Original NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

1 cup chopped nuts

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.
COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. (I use unbleached parchment on the cookie sheet.)
BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

Tuesday - Rest Day...no workout

I planned for a workout today, but I my legs were super sore when I woke up. The weather this morning did not inspire me to move much, cloudy followed by drizzle.

I took a Costco trip today with my friend. I haven't been to Costco in over a year. Hard to justify purchasing too much at Costco for my family of 3. I go to the Farmer's Market for all our produce and we don't have a huge need for bagels, cereal, muffins, etc. by the 3 dozen, so all I bought was meats, salmon, almonds and eggs. I do love Costco, but this time I did not need paper products, cleaning products, drinks, or snacks.

Well, I made Costco ribs for my husband & son for dinner, sauteed some zucchini, and steamed corn. I didn't eat any of the dinner. I was still full from the nuts I ate earlier.

(B) 2 egg omelet/ 1 slice Swiss/ tea/ water
(S)
(L) chop salad/ hummus/ babaganouj/ water
(S) nuts/ iced tea/ dark chocolate
(D)

I am not going to post my food log anymore. Tomorrow I am moving to Phase II on the South Beach Diet and start enjoying my life. I have kept away from most junk food, breads, fruits, candy, and cocktails. I love to cook and eat out. Moderation, moderation, moderation!

Tuscan Chicken and White Bean Stew

I woke up to a chilly morning so I thought, "Good day for Cassoulet". Cassoulet, not South Beach Diet friendly. I spent part of the morning researching different chicken and white bean recipes and came up with a pretty good Cassoulet-ish recipe. Basically boneless, skinless, chicken, garlic, sauteed tomato, rosemary, bay leaf, white beans, chicken stock, oven for an hour...yum.

Always start with housemade chicken stock.

Tuscan Chicken and White Bean Stew

1 T olive oil
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
2 Garlic Cloves, crushed
1 cup tomato, roughly chopped
1 small sprig rosemary
1 bay leaf
16 oz. chicken broth
1 cup water
2 15 oz cans cannellini beans, drained
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 T chopped parsley

Heat large sauté pan on medium-high. Add oil, when oil is hot, add chicken. Brown chicken on both sides add tomato and garlic to the pan. Sauté until the garlic is soft. Add chicken broth and beans, bring to boil. Cover and lower heat, simmer for 1 hour. Check the stew every 15 minutes and add ½ cup water at a time as the stew thickens. Turn off the stew and mash the beans slightly.

Stir in Parmesan and parsley. Serve with crusty bread and a mixed green salad.


(B) 1 boiled egg, coffee, water
(S) blueberries
(L) broth, beef, veggies, water
(S) grapes, nuts
(D) Cassoulet-ish Stew, water

Workout: Housework.

Typical Monday. I should have tried to get to the gym, but never made it.

Saturday - Would you like an hors d'oeuvre?

What to do at a function when you are a surrounded by non-SB foods? I heard it many times, eat a little before you go out, avoid the buffet, stick to the veggies and fruit. OK..."Would you like to try an hors d'oeuvre?" You can say "no" a million times, but eventually you might just say "Yes". Today my yes was the Filo wrapped asparagus with asiago. Good news, that was the only and I am OK!

(B) turkey/Ham/Swiss sandwich with half the bread, decaf nonfat mocha
(S) blueberries
(L) 2 beef brochettes, 1/2 apple, 1 asparagus filo, water
(S) nuts, wine
(D) Veggie taco salad w/black beans, water

Workout: None. Worked the PARTY!

Thursday...Royal Pains

New favorite show - Royal Pains, however, I don't know how many seasons it can last. Catering and event this weekend, so busy, busy getting everything ready.

(B) 1/2 chicken breast, water
(S) sugar-free hard candy, water
(L) 2 oysters, mozzarella stick, water
(S) cashews, water
(D) beef brochette, Caesar salad, red wine, water, sugar-free hard candy

Workout: 20 minutes step mill

Yikes, I should eat more veggies. I am still shying away from carbs. I know I can have them, but I REALLY want to lose weight. John & I went to Ruth Chris for dinner. The Beef Brochette appetizer and Caesar salad worked well for me. I didn't touch John's Prime Rib slider or FRITES.

Surprisingly, I didn't really want the frites, or the famous Ruth Chris bread pudding. Hmmm, change is good!

Wednesday, Wednesday

I must admit, I am still paranoid of Phase II. I did not eat any fruit or "carb" stuff today. Sadly, I avoided healthy carbs and scrounged around and ate poorly. At least I made it to the gym.

Workout:
30 minutes Eliptical and 15 minutes Row

(B) fried egg/ "leftover" beef tostada/ water
(S) cashews/ sugarfree hard candy
(L) "leftover" beef taco without taco shell/ water
(S) sugarfree popcicle
(D) steak/ cauliflower/ water/ sugarfree creamcicle

Sticking with Phase II

I'll be honest, I wanted to stick with Phase I a little longer so I could lose weight faster. I read The South Beach Diet over and over and decided I should follow the advise...stick to Phase I for two weeks and switch to Phase II until all your weight is lost.

(B) 1 hard boiled egg, 1 mozzarella stick, water
(S) jelled ricotta
(L) green papaya salad, green curry w/tofu, brown rice, water
(S) cashews, gouda, water
(D) avocado taco salad with shredded beef, water

Workout: 1 hour = 513 calories
cardio: 20 minutes Eliptical/ Gluteal 2
resistance: sit-up on bosu, squats, bendover row, russian twist, military press w/kettlebells
cardio: 10 minutes row, 10 minutes treadmill

Hello Phase II

Tah Dah!!! Total loss in Phase I = 8 pounds


















As the South Beach Diet promises, the weight loss in Phase I should be between 8 - 13 pounds. I was hoping for the 13, but I can't complain about my loss. I haven't made any real changes in my eating in the past few months. My routine has been try to get to the gym at least 4-5 times per week and burn between 400 to 600 calories, helped to take off the 1st 4 pounds.

Total weight loss since January 20009 = 11 pounds

I'll take it!!!

I had hopes of getting to the gym today, but considering it's nearly 2 pm and I have no immediate plans to get out of my jammies, hmmm. This will be a rest day, I guess.

(B) egg, 1/2 cup steel cut oats, 1/4 c blueberries, 1/2 c nonfat milk, and water
(S) mozzarella stick, sugarfree hard candy, and water
(L) gouda, chicken salad, cucumber, tomato, coffee with splenda
(S) sugarfree candy, water, plum
(D) grilled chicken breast, cole slaw, grilled red pepper

"Friday" DAY 13 - Pot Roast

Drizzly day in the Northwest. Great day for the gym!

Workout: 58 minutes and 495 calories burned
Cardio: 20 minutes Arc Trainer
Resistance Training: 3x - 30 seconds each
Military Press with kettle bell (8#)/ sit-up on Bosu/ dead lift with row (25#)
Cardio: 5 minutes Row and 20 minutes cycle

Again, I know there is a second half of my resistance training that I am ignoring. I will add that in when I complete Phase I in the South Beach Diet.

My son is flying to Arizona tomorrow to both visit my cousin, his favorite relative, and visit University of Arizona. I asked him what he wanted for his pre-trip dinner and he couldn't decide. I had already planned on making Pot Roast. My son doesn't like anything with a wine taste or tomato, so I have to make my Pot Roast with beef broth as the cooking liquid. In addition, my son isn't a big fan of carrots, so I will only add onion, garlic, and celery. The Pot Roast will be served with rice.

(B) 1 egg/ tomato/ ham/ iced decaf coffee
(S) sugar-free hard candy/ water
(L) poached salmon/ broccoli/ cucumbers & tomato salad
(S) peanuts/ water
(D) sliced beef/ celery/ water

One more day and I can have bread and wine again. Well, maybe just a little bit.

DAY 12 - Craving Mexican Food

So I've been craving Mexican food for weeks. Not South Beach Diet friendly. After a morning of running errands, no workout, blah, blah, blah, my husband suggested to go to a Mexican restaurant in Seattle, Barrio. We finally got going to lunch at 1:30 pm.

Chips & salsa doesn't come to the table "free", which was good, since I am not eating carbs. Of course, the menu looked GREAT! When I get into Phase II, I am going back for more. OK, I ordered the Chopped salad and Pozole. I asked if they could keep the corn out of the salad. A little hard to keep the hominy out of the Pozole, so I just waited for the food to come. John ordered guacamole which came with tortilla chips and a Modelo Negro (beer). I used the chips as a tool to get the guacamole from the bowl to my mouth...delicious. No beer for me, just water.

John & Tyler got tacos with chorizo and flank steak served with rice and drunken beans. My salad was good, chunks of avocado and toasted pumpkin seeds. The pozole, if I wasn't on the South Beach Diet, would have been awesome. I couldn't get around the hominy, a couple might have accidentally gone down my throat. Dessert, dessert, DESSERT. I ordered french press decaf coffee. John & Tyler shared "Churros and Xocolati Chocolate". John said the churros were the best he's ever had. Hmmm. I dipped my finger in the chocolate, delicious. I am definitely going to go back to Barrio, however, I need to check my Phase II food list to see what I can get.

(B) fried egg/ leftover steak/ sugar-free lemonade
(S) mozzarella stick/ turkey/ jelled ricotta
(L) chopped salad/ pozole/ water/ decaf coffee
(S) mozzarella stick/ sugar-free candy
(D) 4 meatballs/ water

DAY 11 - Sugar-Free Food

I am on WEEK 2/ Phase I and I really want a new dessert. Sugar-free popcicles and jello are fine, but I feel like I am getting a pre-school snack. I found this on Kalyn's Kitchen blog.

Jelled Ricotta Pudding
(Makes 4 servings, recipe shared by Janet Davis and tested by Kalyn.)
1 pkg sugar-free Jello, any flavor that appeals to you
(this recipe is for 4-serving size package, double it for larger box of Jello.)
1 cup boiling water
2/3 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup cold water
Put ricotta cheese into bowl and stir with fork or wisk until it's slightly softened. Have four glass dishes (slightly over 1/2 cup each) ready on counter to pour the hot Jello mixture into. Put powdered Jello from package into large glass measuring cup, pour in boiling water and wisk for 1-2 minutes, until all Jello is dissolved in the water. Stir in ricotta, then cold water and mix together. Pour into glass bowls and place in refrigerator to set. I waited about 2 hours until the mixture was partly firm, then covered it with cling wrap.
Serve cold, from individual dishes.

Here's how my day went...

(B) 2 fried eggs/ half tomato/ water

(S) iced decaf coffee

(L) OK, I had luch at Monsoon today. No problem sticking on the South Beach plan!

albacore poke with cucumber & tobiko/ Chinese mustard greens with shiitake & ginger/ 5 spice & pork spare ribs - OK, a little fatty, but I haven't cheated since day 1.

(S) sugar-free hard candy/ water/ sugar-free fudgcicle/ mozzarella stick

(D) chicken/ spinach/ mushrooms/ cucumbers & tomato/ water

I only did half of my resistance training. Still not motivated. Well, at least I went to the gym.

Cardio : 20 minutes Arc Trainer

Resistance 2x: crunches/ squats/ military presses with kettle bells

More Cardio: 10 minutes rowing/ 10 minutes treadmill

DAY 10 - Plum Kuchen

(B) peanuts/ mozzarella stick/ decaf coffee
(S) V-8
(L) half avocado/ 2 T tuna/ green beans/ grape tomatoes/ lemon vinaigrette/ water
(S) sugar-free creamcicle/ water
(D) grilled lamb/ sauteed spinach & mushrooms/ cukes & tomatoes/ water

8:30 am - Gym Day: 45 mins Arc Trainer/ 434 calories burned It took me a while to get into the groove today. Regis & Kelly started 15 minutes after I got on the Arc Trainer...it helped.

OK, big experimental cooking today. We have a million plums from my parent's tree, so I have spent the last few days figuring out what I should do with the plums. I have frozen some plums and given some away. I still can't have fruit, since I am still on Phase I - South Beach Diet, so John & Tyler got to try everything and give their constructive criticism.

I made mini plum muffins with wheat germ. Still working on the muffin recipe. I also made Plum Kuchen. Thumbs Up!!! I got a recipe from Recipezaar. I've made another version before, but lost the recipe. Here's the original recipe. I used real vanilla bean in the custard, instead of vanilla extract.

Plum Kuchen Recipe #133277

1¼ hours 15 min prep
SERVES 8
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup butter
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 egg
2 cups pitted and sliced plums
Custard
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix flour, 1 tablespoon sugar and baking powder together.
Cut in butter until mixture looks like coarse crumbs; add 2 tablespoons heavy cream and 1 egg.
Press in bottom of 9-inch square pan or pie pan and arrange plums on top.
Bake for 25-30 minutes.
While this is baking, in a bowl combine heavy cream, sugar, egg and vanilla, using a whisk to beat together well.
Pour mixture over plums and bake an additional 20-30 minutes, until custard is set.
Serve warm or cool.
Store in refrigerator.

© 2009 Recipezaar. All Rights Reserved. http://www.recipezaar.com

DAY 9 - VERY Mellow Monday

(B) fried DUCK egg/ sauteed spinach/ ham/ water
(S) Mocha Ricotta Creme
(L) lean hamburger patty with cheese/ water/ pickles
(S) SUGAR-FREE creamcicle/ water
(D) roast chicken/ grean beans/ fennel salad/ water/ sugar-free popsicle

I found my workout spreadsheet from last year that I will follow it for the next few weeks. I am taking a rest day today.

Not much to report. Tired today. Tomorrow, tomorrow.

Jelled Ricotta Pudding

I am on WEEK 2/ Phase I and I really want a new dessert. Sugar-free popcicles and jello are fine, but I feel like I am getting a pre-school snack. I found this on Kalyn's Kitchen blog.



Jelled Ricotta Pudding

(Makes 4 servings, recipe shared by Janet Davis and tested by Kalyn.)

1 pkg sugar-free Jello, any flavor that appeals to you

(this recipe is for 4-serving size package, double it for larger box of Jello.)

1 cup boiling water

2/3 cup ricotta cheese

1/2 cup cold water
Put ricotta cheese into bowl and stir with fork or wisk until it's slightly softened. Have four glass dishes (slightly over 1/2 cup each) ready on counter to pour the hot Jello mixture into.
Put powdered Jello from package into large glass measuring cup, pour in boiling water and wisk for 1-2 minutes, until all Jello is dissolved in the water. Stir in ricotta, then cold water and mix together. Pour into glass bowls and place in refrigerator to set. I waited about 2 hours until the mixture was partly firm, then covered it with cling wrap.

Serve cold, from individual dishes.

DAY 8 - Plum Harvest

No bike ride. Unfortunately, I let my son take my car last night, he spent the night at his friend's house, AND our bikes are in the back. Darn! Just kidding really. It's overcast outside and we decided to sleep in and watch random Sunday tv, with the exception of "Bollywood Hero" on IFC on Demand.

(B) 2 egg scramble with spinach and feta/ decaf coffee with skim milk, splenda & cinnamon

Almost noon and we'll eventually head over to my parents' house to help harvest plums. The tree is in desperate need of pruning, many of the plums are impossible to pick because they are too far up there. I laugh to myself each year when I watch my very short, Filipino short, family try to get that one perfect plum, which is far beyond reach. In most cases, after shaking the branches, the "perfect" plum will come down AND fall to the ground, only to be watched with sadness...however, someone will brush off the dirt, it's fine.

(L) greek salad/ cauliflower/ turkey lettuce wrap
(S) peanuts

I can't have fruit until next week Phase II. I will freeze what whatever plums are left, from my share of the harvest, that John & Tyler don't eat. Apparently, my uncle has made a plum pie for all of us to eat. I will have to be very clever with my reason for not eating the pie today. I have been on SO MANY diets, if I say I am on a diet, EVERYONE will either say, "Oh, it's just a small piece", or "You don't need to diet, just don't eat too much rice". Typical of my family. Love 'em, but I'll just have to say I have a stomach problem or something.

later in the day...
Went to the gym: 37 minutes on the treadmill=297 calories
I read the bit in The South Beach Diet about exercise; 20 minutes of walking a day. Hmm. Well, that would be going backwards for me, so I am going to get my regular workout back on track.

(D) skinless chicken/ ham/ shrimp/ tomatoes/ cukes/ water

Turned out to be a sunny and warm day. I made it through dinner at my parents' house without plum pie, rice, or wine. We picked a bunch of plums, which I will be either freezing, or giving away to friends. My parents also had heirloom tomatoes and figs from their friends and tomatoes from their garden which I picked for myself. I picked a couple green tomatoes which I plan to make Fried Green tomatoes with...for John & Tyler.

(S) sugar-free popcicle

One bit of sad news. My best friends' dad, who is also a close family friend, passed away tonight. I will be sending my thoughts and prayers to her and her family.

DAY 7 - Oysters on the half shell

Another Saturday, when you're unemployed, everyday is Saturday.

(B) mozzarella cheese stick/ 6 oz. V-8/ iced water
(S) 2 fried eggs/ ham/ 3 grape tomatoes/ coffee w/nonfat milk & splenda/ water
(L) meatballs with tomato sauce/ fennel salad/ sparkling water
(S) mozzarella stick/ sparkling water
(D) 12 raw oysters with ponzu/ caesar salad/ sparkling water

So far so good. I lost more weight today. Total loss 7 lbs.

John & I went to the Farmer's Market today. Hard to look at all the beautiful fruit and know I can't have any for one more week. We bought a pint of blueberries and 1 pt of raspberries. I plan to make blueberry pancakes for John & Tyler tomorrow.

I am considering staying on Phase 1 for an extra week. So far I haven't suffered too much. Maybe it helps that I don't have to go to work every day. In the past, I would REALLY NEED TO PLAN my meals. I use to work at an athletic club and probably only lost 3 lbs. in the 2 years I was there. I did however learn a lot about fitness.

Making plans to either go on a 30 mile bike ride or maybe just go to the gym tomorrow.

I am ending the day with a sugar-free fudgcicle.

DAY 6 - Eating FRENCH on the South Beach Diet

(B) 2 fried eggs/ water
(S) decaf coffee with half&half and splenda/ mozzarella cheese stick
(L) BluC Sushi: 3 pieces hamachi/3 pieces salmon/ 2 bites seaweed salad/ water

Went to see "Julie & Julia". Had to stop at the Candy Factory to get sugar-free candy. OK selection, got Swedish Fish. Wierd to go to a movie and not have butter popcorn, pop, and raisinettes. The movie was not bad. I felt the crowd was mainly 55 and older, much older. Feeling inspired by Julia's cooking, I made a French inspired dinner.

My stomach has been gurgling...was it the sashimi or the candy? While my husband made himself a cocktail, a Journalist to be exact, he also made a club soda and lime for me. One more week no wine.

(D) Dijon Chicken with herbes de Provence, wrapped in puff pastry. I didn't eat the puff pastry.
Roasted Organic Grape Tomatoes and Broccoli & Cauliflower sauteed with lardons. I realize lardons are not on the South Beach list, I just didn't want to make plain steamed vegetables.

Day 5: Making Lunches

Well, at 10:30 pm last night, I was hungry and had a mozzarella cheese stick and water. Thinking I have ruined the diet... I weighed myself this morning and have lost AGAIN.

Another Challenge: Making Lunches for OTHERS

My husband works out before work, so since I am currently unemployed, I don't mind getting up to make lunches for him. I had packed leftovers from last night's Salmon & Asparagus Dinner, but I still had a Breakfast to pack. Egg Salad Sandwich. I had just seen an episode of Everyday Food and they made an egg salad sandwich made simply with mayonnaise, dill relish, and OLD BAY. Delicious. I didn't make one for myself, especially since I can't have have bread right now.

(B) hard boiled egg/ mozzarella stick
(S) handful of unsalted peanuts
(L) turkey lettuce wraps/ sugar-free jello
(S) ham/ gouda/ sugar-free lemonade
(D) Beef-Veal Kofta Kababs/ Greek Salad/ Hummus/ sugar-free fudgcicle

This morning, I started reading The Julie/Julia Project blog while watching The Four Feathers. I would like to cook every Julia recipe, however, I am going to cook all The South Beach Diet recipes instead.