Friend Makin’ Mondays

I know it’s Tuesday and no one wants to re-live a Monday, but I’m trying this out after reading a couple of good blogs that participate: http://alltheweigh.com/ and http://www.lowfatpie.com/blog/

How you play: Please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

In the Kitchen


1. How often do you cook at home?
I’m a big fan of cooking a bunch of food on Sundays so I don’t have to do it during the week. Plus, then I’m prepared – no excuses to eat out!

2. Do you eat more fresh produce, frozen or canned produce?
Definitely fresh in the summer when the farmer’s markets are open. But, I’m in St. Paul, so that doesn’t last long. I go frozen most of the winter because it’s cheaper, tastes better and lasts longer than what we get here in the winter fresh-wise.

3. What are a few unusual staples that can always be found in your kitchen?
I’m not that adventurous, but I try. Right now, maybe quinoa and edamame? I get more adventurous with different types of mushrooms and seeds (ie: chia, flax).

4. Look in your fridge, then tell us about the healthiest thing in there.
Kale!

5. Now share the most unhealthy thing in it.
Cheese or coffee creamer

6. Do you eat leftovers?
Yes!

7. Do you use coupons at the supermarket?
Yes! Also have the Target RedCard for 5% off everything!

8. How often do you try new recipes?
I try to at least a couple of times per month. Just posted a new one in my blog last week that was SO GOOD.

9. Do you make grocery lists?
Always always always. Otherwise, I stray and it’s not good…

10. If you could buy one food item that would magically be calorie-free, which item would you choose? I’m just going to be honest here…it would have to be VODKA!

New fab WW recipe!

I made this last night and it was really good!  I added mushrooms as well - yummy!  Eating leftovers as I type...ENJOY!

Philly Cheese Sloppy Joes


Ingredients:

1 lbs 95% lean ground beef, raw
1 large (softball-sized) white onion, diced
1 medium or large green bell pepper, diced
3 T steak sauce
1 cup fat free beef broth
Salt & black pepper to taste
5 light wheat sandwich rolls
5 slices 2% Provolone cheese
(I added mushrooms as well.)

Directions:


1. Bring a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the ground beef. Brown beef, breaking it up as it cooks. Once cooked, add the peppers and onions (and mushrooms) and continue to cook for a few more minutes until vegetables are softened. Mix in the steak sauce, beef broth, salt and pepper and bring to a bubble. Allow the mixture to bubble for about 5 minutes.

2. Make sure you have an oven rack in the top third of your oven and pre-heat the oven to broil. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Open the sandwich rolls and lay both sides cut side up. Using your fingers, press the middle-inside of the bottom half of the roll to make a little more room for the meat mixture. Scoop about ¾ cup of the meat mixture onto the pressed bottom half of each roll. Top the meat mixture with a slice of the cheese. The top half of the rolls will be bare and cut side up.

3. Place the baking sheet onto the oven rack in the top 1/3 of the oven and broil for about 1 minute (check at 30 seconds and again at 50 to prevent burning – broiling happens fast!) Cover the loaded bottom half of each roll with its toasted top half counterpart and serve!


Yields 5 (3/4 cup meat mixture + 1 roll & 1 slice cheese) servings. WW P+: 8 per serving (P+ calculated using the recipe builder on weightwatchers.com)

Nutrition Information per serving from myfitnesspal.com: 334 calories, 33 g carbs, 9 g fat, 31 g protein, 6 g fiber

Sharing a blog I can really relate to! Well said, Jamie!

Sweaty Hugs: Choosing to push through...: I think there is something to be said about those who choose to challenge their selves daily.  Yes, daily. Not just once a week, not ...

Passed the test!

For a long time, I've wanted to get certified as a personal trainer.  I've been studying diligently and I am happy to announce that I passed my exam this morning!  I'm officially a Certified Personal Trainer!

Are you better now than you were at age 20?

This morning I heard a recent quote from actress Cameron Diaz saying that she thought she was in better physical shape now than she was at 20-years-old. I realized that I think the same thing about myself.

At 20, I never ate breakfast. At lunch, I had whatever the college cafeteria served. Or, sometimes my roommate and I would simply grab an order of breadsticks from the Student Center restaurant. For dinner, we would split a box of Rice-A-Roni. I’m sure you can guess what my exercise routine consisted of: 12-ounce curls at Mel’s Midtowner Bar!

At 37 (and holding!), I eat breakfast every day within an hour of waking up. After that, it’s four or five small meals, which I try to keep clean most of the time. I exercise almost every day and I can lift a lot more than 12 ounces! Most importantly, I drink water constantly.

Sometimes, we focus on the things we don’t like about ourselves and the accomplishments are overshadowed by negativity. (OK, most of the time!) I do it all the time to myself. I focus on the fact that I want to lose 10 more pounds or that I ate pizza on Saturday night when I could've made a better choice. But, I forget how much I’ve improved my healthy habits over time. These accomplishments cannot be forgotten! This is your motivation to help you move forward and improve yourself even further. Unlike material items, the human body is the one thing that improves the more you use it.

We think of aging as a deterioration process. But, after reading this bio on Tosca Reno, I realized I’m actually younger now than she was when she started her journey. It’s never too late to start. It’s never too late to start again. It’s always too early to quit. Next week, I'll turn 38 - Bring it on! Hell, I think I’m ready for 40!

Good tool for goal setting and motivation

If you are setting goals and trying to stay motivated, you may want to try this.  I just sent myself one :)

Small Wins = Big Victories

Last week I told you about how I avoided "free" french fries.  This week I went out to dinner with friends again.  I've become very good at planning and prepping for day-to-day meals.  But, when I get off of my routine, this is when my mind gets weaker.  I begin reading a menu or give myself permission to eat off plan just this once because I deserve it!

Since I'm focusing on clean eating, it was really difficult for me to find anything on the menu that was completely clean.  So, I decided to ask the server if I could make my own meal instead - and it was a success!  I ordered a grilled chicken breast with a side of grilled asparagus.  It was inexpensive, delicious and healthy.

When everyone around you is eating off the menu, it can be difficult to do something different - either due to pressure or lack of wanting to think outside the box.  This is a mental game - just keep you goals in mind, focus on the fun with your friends and remember that food is fuel.  You will be successful!