Cheezy Lentil Smashburgers
1 day ago
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Worst blogger ever...
Can't win em all. I'm ON FIRE in everything else in life right now. Blogging...not so much.
I've been living mostly on green smoothies and salads for the last 10 days, and WOW, I feel amazing. I have never had so much energy!! I feel antsy like I absolutely MUST exercise. I signed up for the 30-day green smoothie challenge from Young and Raw on Facebook. To be clear, they do not advertise the smoothies as meal replacements - I am taking that upon myself. What wonderful meal replacements they have been for me! I make 2-3 in the morning before I leave for work/school so I have plenty for the whole day (plus a salad with fresh or cooked veggies and beans). The key to success is chopping as many veggies in advance as possible. I have chopped kale (I bought a big bag already chopped), cucumbers, celery, cilantro, parsley, and baby spinach, as well as chopped bananas that I froze, ready to go. I have orange juice because some of the recipes call for juiced oranges and I am too lazy. I have frozen blueberries and pineapple. So the only things I have to prep when I make the smoothies are fresh fruit, like apples, pears, avocado, lemons, limes, etc.
I lost 7 lbs in the "lose big" challenge at work. I am still going strong. I added exercise back this week after laying low for a week after a foot tattoo. I'm basically unstoppable. ;)
Even school and work are positive lately. I have been freakishly on top of the world, and it feels way better than the drudgery I am used to, so I'm rolling around in it and being super obnoxious. haha
I've been living mostly on green smoothies and salads for the last 10 days, and WOW, I feel amazing. I have never had so much energy!! I feel antsy like I absolutely MUST exercise. I signed up for the 30-day green smoothie challenge from Young and Raw on Facebook. To be clear, they do not advertise the smoothies as meal replacements - I am taking that upon myself. What wonderful meal replacements they have been for me! I make 2-3 in the morning before I leave for work/school so I have plenty for the whole day (plus a salad with fresh or cooked veggies and beans). The key to success is chopping as many veggies in advance as possible. I have chopped kale (I bought a big bag already chopped), cucumbers, celery, cilantro, parsley, and baby spinach, as well as chopped bananas that I froze, ready to go. I have orange juice because some of the recipes call for juiced oranges and I am too lazy. I have frozen blueberries and pineapple. So the only things I have to prep when I make the smoothies are fresh fruit, like apples, pears, avocado, lemons, limes, etc.
I lost 7 lbs in the "lose big" challenge at work. I am still going strong. I added exercise back this week after laying low for a week after a foot tattoo. I'm basically unstoppable. ;)
Even school and work are positive lately. I have been freakishly on top of the world, and it feels way better than the drudgery I am used to, so I'm rolling around in it and being super obnoxious. haha
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Lose Big Challenge
After the holidays, I was at my typical heavier weight, the upward end of that range of 15 lbs or so I find naturally occurs in my current lifestyle. Not 2 weeks later, I had already swung back down 10 lbs, just naturally, by not eating all that rich food. So, when the College of Education at my university announced it was hosting a Biggest Loser style competition "Lose Big", and my friend and I started a team, I decided to let that holiday weight back in advance of the weigh in. I continued to exercise, but I have been eating very poorly. Unfortunately, I developed a new fast food love: Braums! Whoa. Talk about an underrated burger.
But I digress.
I weighed in yesterday and finally got started. Green smoothie for breakfast, peanuts for a snack, veggie soup for lunch, kale salad for dinner. It was a great day. Today, I have that leftover kale salad for lunch, and I'm making a greek salad with shrimp for my valentine tonight. You gotta try this Greek dressing recipe. The best part about it is it doesn't need to be refrigerated. It tastes amazing. I'm going to get some pita and hummus to go along with the salad of shrimp, feta, greens, tomato, olives, cucumbers, and whatever else would be good that I'm forgetting. T isn't a big onion fan, so I'll pass even though this salad is begging for some thin slices of pretty red onion. Not necessarily a low calorie meal coming tonight, but a reasonable holiday splurge. :)
Happy valentine's day!
But I digress.
I weighed in yesterday and finally got started. Green smoothie for breakfast, peanuts for a snack, veggie soup for lunch, kale salad for dinner. It was a great day. Today, I have that leftover kale salad for lunch, and I'm making a greek salad with shrimp for my valentine tonight. You gotta try this Greek dressing recipe. The best part about it is it doesn't need to be refrigerated. It tastes amazing. I'm going to get some pita and hummus to go along with the salad of shrimp, feta, greens, tomato, olives, cucumbers, and whatever else would be good that I'm forgetting. T isn't a big onion fan, so I'll pass even though this salad is begging for some thin slices of pretty red onion. Not necessarily a low calorie meal coming tonight, but a reasonable holiday splurge. :)
Happy valentine's day!
Monday, January 28, 2013
The truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth
Sooooo...there's this 8-week Biggest Loser competition starting at work. I am on a team of 3. It doesn't begin for another 2 weeks, so I have been a BAD GIRL. I will be posting more when the competition begins.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
School started...
Sorry I'm so busy! I'm eating about 80-90% vegan right now, but I didn't take the time to buy groceries before the week started last week, so I ate a lot of convenience foods. Not too much overly processed stuff, but salad bars, veggie wraps, etc. Two things stood out.
This hummus veggie wrap at the Boar's Head deli on campus. $3.50. I don't know if the tortilla is truly vegan, but this is one of the tastiest options I have had on campus. Others include a couple of questionable salad bars and veggie sushi rolls. I had them put all veggies on there...tomato, lettuce, onion, olives, cucumber, bell peppers, pickles, jalapenos, banana peppers, plus the hummus. It was awesome! That night, a professor had ordered herself a pizza, and it smelled sooooo good. I heard her order spicy sausage over the phone, and I drooled. So, this was also a big win for not succumbing to an unhealthy dinner. (Although, I did eat a cupcake from someone's birthday that day...)
Last night, I made the soup in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4wVQV1xFd4
My version had a roasted acorn squash, about 10 roasted roma tomatoes, 2 sweet potatoes, 5-6 carrots, 3-4 celery stalks (just leftover in the fridge), 1 onion, 3 shallots, some garlic, 2 green peppers, 1 box veggie stock, a little water, salt and pepper. I simmered all this until the carrots finally got tender, then I added half a bag of "super greens", which was a mix of spinach, swiss chard, red chard, and bok choy, along with a can of coconut milk. I seasoned it with a couple teaspoons of garam masala, then let my roommate do the immersion blender honors. This required great restraint on my part, because I dreamed so long of making soups with an immersion blender, and I have only done it once since August, before last night.
Guys, this soup was KILLER. I was floored by the amazing flavor. I say this all the time, because I love soup so much, but this might have been the best soup I have ever made.
My roommate loved it, too. Good thing, because there are 12 cups of leftovers in the fridge.
This hummus veggie wrap at the Boar's Head deli on campus. $3.50. I don't know if the tortilla is truly vegan, but this is one of the tastiest options I have had on campus. Others include a couple of questionable salad bars and veggie sushi rolls. I had them put all veggies on there...tomato, lettuce, onion, olives, cucumber, bell peppers, pickles, jalapenos, banana peppers, plus the hummus. It was awesome! That night, a professor had ordered herself a pizza, and it smelled sooooo good. I heard her order spicy sausage over the phone, and I drooled. So, this was also a big win for not succumbing to an unhealthy dinner. (Although, I did eat a cupcake from someone's birthday that day...)
Last night, I made the soup in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4wVQV1xFd4
My version had a roasted acorn squash, about 10 roasted roma tomatoes, 2 sweet potatoes, 5-6 carrots, 3-4 celery stalks (just leftover in the fridge), 1 onion, 3 shallots, some garlic, 2 green peppers, 1 box veggie stock, a little water, salt and pepper. I simmered all this until the carrots finally got tender, then I added half a bag of "super greens", which was a mix of spinach, swiss chard, red chard, and bok choy, along with a can of coconut milk. I seasoned it with a couple teaspoons of garam masala, then let my roommate do the immersion blender honors. This required great restraint on my part, because I dreamed so long of making soups with an immersion blender, and I have only done it once since August, before last night.
Guys, this soup was KILLER. I was floored by the amazing flavor. I say this all the time, because I love soup so much, but this might have been the best soup I have ever made.
My roommate loved it, too. Good thing, because there are 12 cups of leftovers in the fridge.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Detox Derailer
I went to the doctor today with bad cold symptoms and a fever that just won't quit. She didn't think I had the flu, so I guess that's good. She said it was some kind of upper respiratory infection and prescribed an antibiotic, but said it may or may not help. The whole time I waited for her, I was reading a poster about how antibiotics are overprescribed for URI's, which are normally viral and won't be helped by antibiotics. When she came back with the prescription, I said, "Would YOU take this? You said it may or may not help...do you think I should just wait it out?" She said since I'd had a fever so long, she'd probably take it if it were her.
So, I got the prescription and am hoping to be well very soon. I have no energy to cook. Thomas made me a nice vegan meal tonight, though. :) Spaghetti with veggie pasta sauce, and a salad with dijon vinaigrette. It was awesome.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Detox Day 1
I'll start with the good news. The first day of the detox was full of AMAZING food. Don't forget you have to sign up here to get the recipes. Jennifer Moore was generous to offer the program for free, just go sign up!
Breakfast was Cinnamon Apple Oats.
Lunch was Kale Salad with Chickpeas...the best kale salad I've ever had, and probably one of the best salads period.
Dinner was Latin Grains, Beans, and Greens.
Tonight, I'm drinking lots of herbal tea with lemon and watching The Biggest Loser. I have a scale from Tony Little, and in the box was a list of weight loss tips. Much to my surprise, there was one on there I hadn't heard before. Limit condiments on your food, especially when eating out. Not because of all the fat and calories in sauces and dips. But because, without condiments, you will quickly notice the quality of the food. How true is that?! Watching the restaurant and fast food commercials during this show, I notice that everything is about some special sauce or seasoning. Don't get me wrong, I like sauce AND seasoning! But most of the crap at restaurants would be completely unappetizing without the condiments they put on them. Makes me not tempted by restaurant commercials.
Breakfast was Cinnamon Apple Oats.
Lunch was Kale Salad with Chickpeas...the best kale salad I've ever had, and probably one of the best salads period.
Dinner was Latin Grains, Beans, and Greens.
The food has been incredible. The downside of Day 1 is that I'm having bad caffeine withdrawals. I'm finding little spurts of energy throughout the day, but overall, feeling pretty foggy. I haven't had to take anything for a headache though. I wonder if tomorrow will be the day it hits me.
I took an hour nap at about 2pm and woke up with that cold feeling in my chest and throat. I've had cold symptoms on and off for about a month, but now a cold, dry cough. I could be sick or it could be a detox symptom. Who knows. I am sure that keeping up with the detox is the right move, though. Good, healthy food will hopefully get me right fast. And keeping it up will hopefully KEEP me well.
Tonight, I'm drinking lots of herbal tea with lemon and watching The Biggest Loser. I have a scale from Tony Little, and in the box was a list of weight loss tips. Much to my surprise, there was one on there I hadn't heard before. Limit condiments on your food, especially when eating out. Not because of all the fat and calories in sauces and dips. But because, without condiments, you will quickly notice the quality of the food. How true is that?! Watching the restaurant and fast food commercials during this show, I notice that everything is about some special sauce or seasoning. Don't get me wrong, I like sauce AND seasoning! But most of the crap at restaurants would be completely unappetizing without the condiments they put on them. Makes me not tempted by restaurant commercials.
Day 2 tomorrow! Heaven help everyone at work dealing with me without caffeine.
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