Weight loss is simple

... but it isn't easy! I was listening to a podcast today (by the way, anyone with a smaryphone - stitcher.com podcast app AWESOME!) called logical weight loss and I was struck by the profound-ness of that statement. Weight loss is simple, eat less, move more (for most of the population) but if it was easy there would be no weight loss bloggers, or industries devoted to losing weight or a new fad diet every day-week-month-year. I know what I need to do to lose weight and get fit. Don't eat junk, don't eat more than I need, don't procrastinate. Do move more, do workout, do eat clean and healthy. And yet... last night, when I wanted to go to bed, I was tired and falling asleep, and instead of going to bed like I needed to I stayed up another 3 hours munching on half a bag of potato chips. I binged half the night and couldn't sem to get full. I sabotaged myself - and I knew I was doing it.

I need to concentrate on me, on doing the things I need to do to be healthy and be a help to my family, and I need to figure out why I do things to sabotage myself.

Weight loss is simple, but it isn't easy.

Best Food

So you may have been seeing or hearing in the news lately about which are the best and worst foods for you - I know I see it everywhere! One of the best foods out there (and the thing that is really keeping me from going vegan) is yogurt! Especially plain Greek style yogurt. It has filling protein, healthy probiotics, good for you calcium, and makes a truly fantastic substitute for sour cream in many dishes.

Coming soon to a blog near you - a review of Chobani Greek yogurt and a giveaway! Details will be coming in the next few days, so be on the lookout!

Finding friends in the digital world

One of the things I like best about blogging, and chatting and social media websites is the ability to meet up with people with similar goals or challenges. People like Emily  or so very many of the women on the Tosca Reno boards. People on the Blog To Lose site or my major support site of the last 5 years, Sparkpeople. My weight fluctuates up and down, I struggle with food, life, motivation, and in person support, but my virtual friends remain satisfyingly constant. I don't think I would have made it this far, signed up for a half marathon or gone vegetarian with out all the support I find online.

So thank you to all my friends I have never met in person. I value you all so much!

Dude, I so rock :)

Okay so I steamed rice in my crockpot and then made coconut rice with broccoli and left over baked falafels. I am so totally impressed with myself and this dish!

Okay, recipe for any interested (this is sort of a guesstimate as I just threw stuff in the pot)

1.5 cup steamed rice
2 cups frozen broccoli
1/2 C coconut milk
1/2 small onion
3 cloves garlic
dash of terryaki sauce
dash honey (maybe a tsp)
asian chili sauce, or 1tsp cayenne pepper
falafels, cooked chicken, steak or whatever protein strikes your fancy
Cooking spray, coconut oil, or sesame oil

In a medium sauce pan or large skillet
Using a small amount of oil or cooking spray cook onions and garlic until soft.
Add broccoli, cook until mostly thawed
add everything else

cook until heated through

Makes 2 servings, if you don't eat it all in one sitting


So I am now training for a trail half marathon in PA on October 15th. The girls on the Tosca Reno boards convinced me to do it. My plan is to run/walk MWSa, Zumba SuTR, and rest on Friday. I am really excited about this!

Half Marathon

Happy Father's Day!

So I got a tweet from PETA the other night about joining the PETA Pack and signing up to train for a half marathon in October. I signed up. I need to fund raise for the event (if you support the end of animal abuse or just have an animal you love, please donate even the smallest donation goes a long way!) I've never competed in any kind of race and I can't even run a mile without stopping, but I think this is a good cause and I felt like this would be a great way to focus on myself by helping others. And by training for this I can sign up for longer races in the future. I can work on my health, learn to trail run, shape my booty and save animals all at the same time!

My first 5K will be in Geneva in August!

Seitan - why can't I find it!

So I wanted to post today about making seitan (vegetarian "wheat meat") but every recipe that sounds like I could do it one handed requires vital wheat gluten. Boo hiss. So instead I am going to talk about hummus.

Mmm, hummus...

So of course years of dieting and reading nearly everything ever written about how to diet and what to eat and yada, yada, yada, and nearly every "diet" has recommended using hummus instead of mayonaise as a sandwhich spread. I am a big lover of ethnic foods, but I have not really embraced Mediterranean or Middle Eastern cuisine. That is obviously a huge mistake on my part. If you have not tried hummus yet, go buy or make some right now - I'll wait. Okay do you have some? No? That's okay, I will tell you how I make mine and you can make some later, trust me, you will want too.

This is adapted from Alton Brown's Turbo Hummus - reason enough to try it, because I have not made a dish of his yet that was not pure heaven.

You will need:
2C or 1 15oz can of Chickpeas, drained
2 cloves garlic or (this is what I do) 1/2-1T Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herbs
1-2T Peanut Butter - I generally use 1
lemon juice - I have a big bottle that I just sort of splash in, probably a T or 2, but you can adjust this to taste
1/2t salt - kosher or sea salt tastes best

combine all ingredients in food processor or blender and pulse until it reaches desired consistency

I love this. Every time I make it it lasts a day and I am literally licking it out of the bowl. Especially good with cucumbers, grape or cherry tomatoes, and sugar snap peas. It is wonderful spread on sandwiches or scooped up with pita chips. My favorite about this, I feel totally comfortable going over the traditional 2T serving size because it is so low in fat and high in good for you fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals.

I am going to make some right now while I wait for the boys to wake up for dinner.

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 4
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 194.5

• Total Fat: 5.4 g
• Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
• Sodium: 650.6 mg
• Total Carbs: 29.9 g
• Dietary Fiber: 5.8 g
• Protein: 7.8 g

Veggie-girl

Vegetarian-vegan. The idea has seriously scared me in the past. My best friend in high school went veg almost 20 years ago - I flirted briefly for about a week to be cool but never made the switch.

Until now! 3 weeks so far meat free. I am having trouble giving up cheese though. The creamy melty-ness of cheese is hard to resist - and hard to replace. And almost nothing compares to the comfort-food factor of cheese. But there is almost nothing that triggers a desire to overeat in me more than cheese does. So I am making a switch and cutting it completely out of my life.

In my new quest to live an animal-product free life ( at least for me I am not forcing anyone to make the switch with me) I am researching and discovering a variety of ethnic dishes and figuring out how to make them at home. Yesterday was hummus (OMG! on the yummy scale) today is falafel (baked), fresh pitas, and my own creation of a veggie filled Thai inspired satay stew. Tomatoes, zucchini, onions, mango chunks, peanut butter, garlic, a dash of brown sugar, and a tasty hit of Sirrachi. Mmm, yummy!

So I am going to spend the summer making tasty vegan and vegetarian treats from around the world and inside my head and post the results here. I will also get back to updating my fitness progress and programs. Happy eating and exercising to us all!