Confessions of a Produce Waster

I am so excited about the euphoria surrounding my new smoothie maker, however I am also fearful because I have a bad habit of buying all kinds of fruit and trying to "make it last" and then in my efforts to get the most snacks and days out of my newly purchased food...it rots in the drawer of the fridge.

I have a simple solution for my love...aka my new smoothie maker....

FROZEN FRUIT

ok now i'm getting smoothie obsessed

Apricot Pineapple Smoothie Recipe

1/4 cup crushed pineapple
1 fresh apricot, diced
6 strawberries
1/2 banana
1 1/2 cup water
1 tbsp. skim milk powder
1 heaping tbsp. high- quality protein powder (optional)
1 tsp. flax seed oil (optional)
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Banana-Strawberry Fruit Smoothie Recipe

1 banana, frozen
6 strawberries, frozen
1 1/4 cup water
1 tbsp. skim milk powder
1 heaping tbsp. high- quality protein powder (optional)
1 tsp. flax oil (optional)
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Tropical Fruit Shake

1/2 mango
2 tbsp. frozen pina coloda mix (or 1/8 tsp. natural coconut extract)
1/2 banana, frozen
4 strawberries, frozen
6 ice cubes
1 1/4 cup water
1 heaping tbsp. high- quality protein powder (optional)
1 tsp. flax oil (optional)
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In a blender, process all the ingredients until thoroughly mixed and serve.

Banana-Berry Fruit Smoothie

1/2 pear, cored
1/4 cup frozen blueberries or frozen mixed berries
1/2 banana, frozen
1 1/4 cup water
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. skim milk powder
1 heaping tbsp. high-quality protein powder (optional)
1 tsp. flax oil (optional)
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Banana-Orange-Strawberry Fruit Shake

1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 banana, frozen
6 strawberries, frozen
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp. skim milk powder
1 heaping tbsp. high- quality protein powder (optional)
1 tsp. flax oil (optional)
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Smoothies Smoothies Smoothies

I got alot of these recipes out of book called The Abs Diet I think many of them sound good, just remember that most are MEAL REPLACEMENTS...not snacks which is what I am finding hard to remember sometimes. And each of these recipes makes 2 servings.

Ultimate Power Smoothie
1 Cup 1% Milk
2Tbsp love fat vanilla yogurt
3/4 C. instant oatmeal nuked in warm water
2tsp peanut butter
2tsp chocolate whey protein powder
6 ice cubes

220cals/12g protein/29 carbs/4gfat/1.5sat fat/118mg sodium/3g fiber

Strawberry Fields
1/2 Cup low fat vanilla yogurt
1 Cup 1% Milk
2tsp peanut butter
1 Cup frozen strawberries
2tsp whey protein powder
6 ice cubes

186cals/11g protein/26g carbs/5g fat/2g sat fat/151mg sodium/3g fiber

Cereal Smoothie
1/2 Cup All Bran Extra Fiber Cereal
1 Cup 1% Milk
1/2 Cup Frozen Blueberries
1 Tbsp Honey
2tsp whey protein powder
6 ice cubes

145cals/8g protein/32 carbs/2g fat/2g sat fat/155 mg sodium/9g fiber

Banana Split
1 banana
1/2 C low fat vanilla yogurt
1/8 C Frozen OJ Concentrate
1/2 C 1% Milk
2tsp whey protein
6 ice cubes

171cals/8g protein/33g carbs/2g fat/94 mg sodium/2g fiber

Halle Berries
3/4 C instant oatmeal nuked in microwave
3/4 C 1% Milk
3/4 C. Mixed frozen blueberries/strawberries/raspberries
2tsp whey protein
3 ice cubes

144 cals/7g protein/27 carbs/1g fat/109 mg sodium/4g fiber

Summer Smoothie
2/3 C Frozen Strawberries
1 banana
1/2 Cup honeydew melon
4 oz low fat vanilla yogurt
3/4 C 1% milk
2tsp whey protein
3 ice cubes

199 cals/9g protein/39g carbs/2g fat/117mg sodium/4g fiber

Belly Busting Berry
1 scoop low fat vanilla ice cream
1/4 of each: blueberries, strawberries, raspberries
1/2 C 1% milk
1Tbsp vanilla whey protein powder
3 ice cubes

251 cals/15g protein/38g carbs/4g fat/116mg sodium/4g fiber

Some of my new favorite things

Well I think it is time for me to blog about some of the things that I really appreciate in my ongoing struggle with losing weight.

1. Fitness Magazine- Article about always having a plan B for working out. It is genius, and a really necessary way for the to think about fitness and my life. I might not do it when I schedule it...but I WILL DO IT!!
2. fitday.com-this is a really great tool to compare my food, activity, and gauge my calorie intake. I like it because I do all the things that I need to do, then sign out and go on with my day. plus its free!!!
3. Serena Williams Spontaneous Speed Workout Mix-This is a great play list that I like to listen to when I am walking, running, or on my elliptical. It is nice that you can listen to it doing any of this stuff. And I have never had an playlist that I bought on itunes and liked every single song on it.
4. www.mapmyrun.com This is neat and easier than going out and measuring your routes with your car, and I don't know how it does what it does but it is fun and again FREE.
   

Many of these ideas were brough to me by the CrankyFitness blog (www.crankyfitness.com), but some I tripped on to and figured out for myself. Well enjoy... I know I am.

Kickboxing rocks

So my new mantra is kickboxing. I started on Monday morning and it is soooo awesome!! I burned 650 cals the first day and 680 this morning. It isn't for the faint of heart and I sweat more than I ever have doing anything in my whole life. My only problem is that I have to use someone elses gloves right now till mine get in....and they stink, like the kind of stink that could make you vomit with enough exposure.

I am feeling revitalized by my choice to start an organized class. It took all the guess work out of working out out of my hands. Honestly, that is just exactly what needed to happen. I had the best intentions in the world about making myself workout at home etc....but the bottem line is that I wasn't and if I was I dogged it through most of it.

I met a friend at this class and she said something and provided me with something that a workout video can't do....she said "Hey Steph...See you Friday?" and I said "For Sure". So if nothing else does, that will get me out of bed Friday morning. I am back on the winning side and I can't wait till Friday and to see what body is going to do with this new workout to tackle.

Stephanie + Stress = Problems With Healthy Habits

With all the transition in my life right now I feel like I am falling into some of my same old nasty habits. Working out has become a chore instead of a reward, and eating healthy is the only thing that I think is keeping me from gaining weight. I am very frustrated with myself but I am getting things turned around. In the last week and a half I have accepted a job position for next school year that I am completely unqualified for right now, enrolled in graduate school, signed up for summer school, filled out 2 FAFSA forms, and been shopping for a laptop computer. Oh yeah and looking at buying a different car for John and I to have for work and school.

Me and stress haven't ever gotten along very well so I am just going to get through this dry spell and have all my issues worked out before I start school next month, and need to have my workout schedule in action.

More to follow later.

I'm no April Fool

Well I weighed myself this morning, at 183.8. It just blows my mind but I know its a REAL loss and that I deserve it because I have been working so hard for it. I've been eating amazingly well the last couple weeks, and my 'normal' routine on the elliptical is now 60 minutes. Last night I actually did 71 minutes!! To be honest, getting through a full hour is murder, but I know in my heart that I'm able to do it, and that keeps me going until the end.

I am just feeling SO good. This morning I counted my workout minutes for March. I had blogged back at the beginning of the month that I wanted to make it to 1,200 fitness minutes. Well guess what?! I exceeded that by MORE than 400 minutes! It's true! I worked out for a total of 1,643 minutes last month!! That's TWENTY SEVEN hours!!! Thinking about that blows my mind. I truly don't feel like I was a slave to my workout or anything, I just made it happen, and it's paying off. Pretty darn happy about that.

Tonight we are going to a fabulous Mexican place with John's family, and I won't have time to workout. My plan is to take my lunch time walk as usual, eat a banana before dinner so I don't have the urge to binge on chips and salsa, and whatever I order I will ask for them to bring me half of it in a to-go box. Then I will send that half with John for his lunch tomorrow. Sounds like a plan to me!!

Today I'm wearing an Express button down top. As seen below!

John's mom bought me 2 of these tops for my birthday (one purple and one white) 2 years ago, because I had just started my new job as a teller and needed some nice clothes. Well unfortunately they were a little tight so I rarely wore them. I probably wore each of them 2 times in the past 2 years?? Anyway, I put on the purple one this morning and it's fitting like a glove. It feels/looks great! And John commented about how saggy my pants are, in the butt. He said that I'd have to make a big haul to the D.I. soon, to get rid of my bigger clothes. However being the frugal woman that I am, I plan to keep all my 'fat girl' clothes so that I can wear them when I get pregnant. Just to save money, ya know?

Anyway, that was just a lot of rambling, but I'm feeling really great about all of this. I mentioned to Stephanie the other night that in this journey of weight loss, I have finally come to accept the fact that there WILL be times when we fall off the wagon. It's just a fact that it's going to happen at some point or another. The only thing that really matters is that we get back up one more time than we fall. I don't think that statement could be any more true!!

I'll end on a very happy note, that I found the most AMAZING and simple chicken recipe, and have officially discovered my new favorite thing to top rice. Keep in mind that I've never been a huge fan of balsamic vinegar, but this stuff is amazing, and as easy as can be!

Honey Balsamic Chicken

Ingredients:

1 1/2 tsp of dried thyme

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 tsp olive oil

1lb chicken breast

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp honey

Combine first 3 ingredients; sprinkle over both sides of chicken.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.

Add chicken; cook 7 to 8 minutes on each side or until chicken is done.

Transfer chicken to a platter; keep warm.

Reduce heat to medium-low; add vinegar and honey to pan. Simmer 1 minute or until glaze thickens; stir constantly.

Pour glaze over chicken.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 chicken breast half). Number of Servings: 4

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user LAUR986.

Nutritional Info
Fat: 2.6g
Carbohydrates: 10.1g
Calories:173.3
Protein: 26.3g

Like I said, I'm not usually a fan of balsamic vinegar, but the contrast between the sweet of the honey, and the sour of the vinegar is just delicious! The glaze was great over the chicken, but I thought it was even better over the brown rice we had with it! This is going to become a staple in our house, anytime we need something to top a little brown rice. Not to mention the glaze literally takes ONE MINUTE to prepare, and it's still sooo yummy!