Yum yum time March 27th, 2014

It's another day of getting healthy in Fort Worth, Texas. Today is the day that I take off from my weight loss program, doing cardio and weight training. I usually let myself eat junk food on this day. I'm not talking about candy and potato chips. More like food from restaurants and stuff that would normally not order.

Breakfast

1 Egg Fu Yung

4 Tbsp of brown gravy

Snack

Egg Roll

Small side salad with no dressing

Lunch

Serving of Teriyaki Chicken

Serving of streamed white rice

Serving of orange chicken

Snack

Egg Roll

Small side salad with no dressing

Dinner

Serving of sesame chicken

Serving of steamed white rice

Serving of orange chicken

Healthy Banana Sushi for the whole family

Are you looking for healthy snacks for yourself and the kids? I personally love sushi. I had to share when I saw this recipe in FamilyFun for Banana Sushi. The recipe is made with sugar free peanut butter. The great thing is that almost any kind of nut butter can be used for this healthy recipes. Many use sunflower seed, cashew nut, and soy butter for this family snack idea.

Start with a large banana and trip it so that it will lay flat on it's side. So one side will have a flat side and the rest will be rounded. Cut into thick 2 inch chunks. Use a butter knife to apply a coating of nut butter or soy butter. I personally like using almond butter. Then coat the banana with a healthy topping.

Some people use Chia seeds, unsweetened shredded coconut, crushed pretzels, and chopped walnuts. I've also used sliced almonds and mini miniature chocolate chips.


What are Chia seeds?
Chia is grown commercially for its seed, a food that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. I have spoken with people who use Chia seeds in their eating plans. They say that the seed puffs up and allows them to feel fuller while they are eating. I love the fact that a person can obtain Omega 3 fatty acids from a plant base.

Speedy Chili Con Carne for a healthy lifestyle

Every family is rushed for time. It seems that each year families add more and more to their plate. Healthy meals tend to be the one item that gets pushed off a families dinner plate due to time schedules. Speedy Chili Con Carne is a staple in my house. I like to make a large batch of it and then freeze it.

In a large pot, brow 2 pounds of lean ground chicken or turkey over medium high heat. Chop 3 garlic cloves, a white onion, and a green pepper, then add them to the pot and cook until ingredients are softened.

Stir in 2 teaspoons of chili powder, a 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes, 2 cups of chicken stock, a can of kidney beans and a can of pinto beans.

Cook the chili on medium high heat for thirty minutes. Most people like to top their chili with things like shredded cheese, white onion, and sour cream. Try to keep your toppings healthy too. I like to top my chili with things like:

extra cooked kidney beans
cooked corn nib lets
diced green onions
diced tomatoes
pico de gallo
Fresh Salsa
Sliced Avocado
 

A fruity friendly dessert for your healthy and diet.

An important thing about having a healthy lifestyle is finding options. I personally always have a craving for chocolate. I have tried to give up chocolate during each diet phase. I figure it this way, as long as I don't spurge constantly on chocolate then it can be eaten in moderation.

You will want to dice up one banana per serving and freeze it for a couple hours before making this desert.

Almond chocolate drink
In a blender add one serving of frozen banana, a serving of almond milk, and a serving of mini chocolate chips. Blend until smooth.

Of course you can add several variations to this drink by using things like:
Coconut milk
Caramel chips
Vanilla milk
Mint chocolate chips
White chocolate chips
 

Weight Loss Program March 10th, 2014

Today was another struggle with food. Not that I wanted to eat everything on my weight loss program. Just not knowing what to eat for the day. Not knowing what is healthy and what is junk. I did do a good job staying away from the processed foods though.

Breakfast
Oatmeal with brown sugar, cream, and almonds
Coffee with cream and sweetener

Snack
String Cheese
1/2 cup of melon

Lunch
Sliced apple
3 ounces of cheese
Serving of crackers

Snack
Bag of popcorn

Dinner
Two grilled pork chops
1/2 cup of whole wheat pasta
1/2 cup of black eyed peas
Sugar free Jello

Workout
Mile walk/ 30 minute mile
Bicep curls
Military Press
Tricep extensions
Wall push ups

Weight Loss Journey March 9th, 2014

As for my weight loss and cardio, I put in a mile today. It was a great day to be out in Fort Worth, Texas. That's if you like the snow though. I'm not quite ready to add upper and lower body strengthening yet. I do need to get it done though. I don't want to have thunder thighs and bat wings for arms forever.

What did I eat for the day?

Breakfast
Cup of starbucks coffee with cream and sweetener
Oatmeal with brown sugar and almonds

Lunch
Bagel with cream cheese, spinach, sliced tomatoes, and sliced turkey

Dinner
4 Spring Rolls 
Instead of using tofu, I decided to use the left over turkey from lunch. It's a recipe that I found on sparkpeople. You can find this healthy recipe here.

I still don't think that I'm eating enough calories. I still tend to feel hungry at night but I'm really fighting the urge to snack at night. I don't want to eat something and then go to sleep. I have a friend that suggested that I add two protean snacks into my weight loss diet.

Hitting the streets March 8th, 2014

At 525, there is not much I can do. So for my Weight Loss Work Out, I decided to hit the streets with my walking shoes. If you are my size and just starting out. I'd like to give you some tips.

Be sure that you stretch
We don't want to tear or twist anything in the foot. A weight loss journey should be a healthy journey in all aspects. It's time to take care of yourself and not beat yourself up. Be sure to flex your feet, stretch your tendons, and warm up those knees.

Have Support
Make sure that you have a good pair of walking shoes. Do your best to only use them for your work outs.

Take it slow
Don't run a marathon on the first day. If you can just walk down the block then walk down the block and back. If you can do half a mile then start with half a mile.

Today I started with a mile walk. That was a half mile up my street and then a half mile back. I eventually would like to attend a 3 day fight cancer walk. I think the goal is to raise $3000 per person.

Weight Loss Meal Plan For March 8th, 2014

This is my weight loss meal plan for today. I have to admit that I have no idea what I'm doing at this moment. So I'm just trying to eat what I think is healthy. I'm trying to make better choices on what I put in my body.

Breakfast
A glass of milk
6 strawberries
2 graham crackers

Lunch
Salad consisting of lettuce, black beans, pico de gallo, sour cream, small amount of shredded cheese.

Dinner
Grilled pork chop
Half a bake potato
Pat of butter
Serving of corn

Snack
Popcorn

I was feeling hungry at the end of the day. So I thought that Popcorn would be the best option since it's a snack that fills me up. I know that corn was probably not the best option. I should have chosen something that had more nutrition in it. Old habits die hard. It was the only vegetable that I could get my significant other to eat. I no longer have a significant other but it's still an old habit to make corn as the side dish.

The starting point of weight loss

It's my 42nd Birthday. No I'm not out at a party like I wish I could be. I'm sitting here thinking about weight loss goals and diet planning. I currently tip the scales at scales at 525 pounds. OMG how could I get this big.

I made a horrible mistake of confusing attention for love. In 2013, I connected with a man that was a feeder. This is a person that gets enjoyment out of watching someone eat. This is a person that enjoys larger women. This is a person who wants his woman to gain weight.

While our times together were enjoyable, I was blind to the fact that my health was getting worse and worse. I was allowing the life that I 
wanted for myself to slip out of my hands. A home body I am not. 
I want to be out experiencing life.

Today starts my weight loss and training program. I know that not every day is going to perfect. I am far from perfect. I know that I'm going to have some horrible days as I work towards taking this weight off.

One of the struggles of this diet is actually eating food. I tend to eat one major meal and then snack the rest of the day. Of course the snacks are not the healthiest things in the world. There are days when I'll eat one meal and then not eat for the rest of the day. I'm just not very good at planning meals.

I don't want to focus on numbers. I know that numbers are important. Yes, I want to be a smaller dress size and I want to be a smaller pants size.

The ability to experience life is so much more important to me.