Weekend Recipes

Preparing myself for the weekend with some healthy "bad girl" recipes. Enjoy!!

This is a slightly sweeter take on a classic vodka
tonic, yet it clocks in at about 150 calories.

The Big Apple 

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons apple vodka (or regular vodka plus a splash of apple liqueur)  
• 3 tablespoons club soda  
• Splash of lemonade

 Preparation

In a cocktail shaker, combine apple vodka, club soda, and lemonade; shake well and serve over ice. Cheers!
(http://www.myrecipes.com/)

 Fruity Sangria

• 1 cup dry, red wine 
• 3 cup cold, low-cal cranberry juice cocktail 
• 2 cups chopped strawberries 
• 2 medium apples, chopped 
• 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon, or to taste

Stir together all ingredients in a large pitcher; allow to stand for 30 minutes. Place ice in glasses and serve. Yields about ¾ cup per serving.

(from Weight Watchers, 2pt on the PointsPlus program)

Blueberry Squares

• 1 pkg Angel-Food cake mix 
• 1 pkg (22oz) light blueberry filling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine 1 pkg angel-food cake mix with 22 oz light blueberry filling (do not add any other ingredients). Pour batter into an ungreased 9x13 inch baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool and cut into 24 pieces. I pc per serving.  (from Weight Watchers, only 2pts PointsPlus plan)

 Light Nachos

Ingredients

•  1/2 cup shredded chicken breast  

• 1 ounce baked yellow corn tortilla chips  
• 1/4 cup low-fat refried beans or black beans 
• Chopped tomatoes and scallions, to taste 
• 5 tablespoons reduced-fat shredded Mexican cheese mixture

Preparation

Place chips on a cookie sheet; top with ingredients, then bake for 5 minutes at 400°.

Nearly 25 fewer fat grams and 373 fewer calories than traditional nachos, thanks to baked tortilla chips, low-fat beans, and reduced-fat cheese. Bueno!!
(http://www.myrecipes.com/)

Magic Pills and Blueprints

"Compare yourself against yourself, and no one else. You're not working with their body, you're working on yours, whilst it's good to have an idea of how you want to look, don't go competing with the fitness instructor at your gym. Compete against the person in the mirror because that's what important." --forum post from Bodybuilding.com

"Really, if there was an easy solution, Oprah would have bought it," ~Kara Curits

I have a really bad habit of comparing myself to other people and then beating myself up. For years I have had this problem and it's not something that is fixed overnight and with regard to my weightloss journey it's really annoying.

It's no secret that I've been a little frustrated this past month because I feel like my weightloss has stagnated--even though my general fitness has improved and I haven't gained any weight. I've tweaked some things with my eating and this week have been on a white-out diet (not 100% successful but still an improvement). I've started taking P90X Peak Health Formula supplements to keep my energy up and combat that run-down feeling I was getting mid week. Anyone looking at my efforts would scratch their head and wonder why I'm not seeing results.

This morning I read about a local trainer who lost 170 pounds in 7 months all on her own--no surgery, no magic pills.  Daily I read about other coaches and Beachbody customers who drop 60-100 pounds in a matter of months. I read about other people who have had bariatric surgery and dropped 100 pounds in their first year. I cannot help but ask myself, "what's wrong with me? why isn't my story like thiers?" It has taken me what seems like forever to lose 89 pound--that's with surgery and busting my butt. My doctor wants to give me an adjustment (that means add more fluid to my band) but I keep saying no because I want to go the rest of this journey on my own. There is something I have to prove to myself.

The question that's been mulling around my head lately is "Is it worth all this effort?" I know the answer to that question. I know deep down that I'm not doing this for the superficial benefits. I know that I am stronger, faster, healthier than I've ever been. I know that the time and effort I put into my health is worth it. As much as I know all of this, it is still frustrating. And yet every morning I whisper a prayer and get up for my 5am workout. Four days a week I pack my bag for my lunchtime workout. Every Thursday I meet with my fit club. I will not give up nor give in because I've come too far.

On August 1st Beachbody is starting a new challenge and as much as I love cash and prizes, my goal is to lose 1.5 lbs a week until the end of the year. I want to end 2011 weighing under 200 lbs because I have not been under that mark since I was 12 years old. Embarking on the challenge also means that I have to stop just doing it my way and follow the full program. I am ready to go to the next level and I'm willing to do what it takes to get there--which does not include that elusive magic pill.

 

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