Well, I am a bit sad this week because I had to put my mom back on a plane to Orlando
I had a maintain week this week, even though the inches are still coming off. I was working out of my house on Monday due to the MLK holiday, so I actually haven’t attended this week’s meeting yet. I think I am going to hit a Friday meeting. No workout that day, so it should fit into the schedule.
OMG----I have to relay this story. You know it. The dream where you are walking naked through your high school hallways? I had the equivalent happen to me here at work today. Wednesday is my day for the 10am workout. We were in the middle of a Smith machine set when the fire alarms went off in the building. We had to evacuate and go to the parking lot until the ‘all clear’ was given. I haven’t really faced my coworkers in my workout garb, but guess what? I did today. Mortified. The only word that could describe it. I was sort of sweaty, had on my yoga pants, a baggy tank top and my hair was being held off of my face by a lame barrette. Geeezzzz….. Nice way to start the day, RIGHT?????
Eventually the all clear was given, and we went back into the building, and finished the workout. I later found out that the cause of the ruckus was a burnt bag of popcorn. I can see the corporate email now, mandating a ban on all microwave popcorn. Oh well…at least we got the opportunity to stand outside in weather that wasn’t freezing. See? Always looking toward the positive.
In other news this week, I hit another personal milestone. I think I mentioned in another newsletter that there are a few of us that are sharing clothes as we are losing weight. My friend, and partner in the kitchen on occasion, Sonya, lent me literally a trunkful of clothes that she undergrew on her weight loss journey. In that pile of beautiful clothes was a pair of black lined trousers in a size 12. I was unable to get these closed at the time she gave the clothes. This past week? I was able to button AND zip them. I wouldn’t say that I could last a full day in them yet, but very soon. This means that I have essentially gone from a women’s size 22 down to just about a 12. Ten sizes? Can it be????? I had to literally pick myself up off the floor after that one. All this progress just serves to keep the motivation high.
Dwayne changed my workouts yet again. This Monday was a killer. He had me on the treadmill and had me walk for 0.05 mile and then jog the rest of the lap. I walked for another lap until the heart rate came back down. He alternated this with bicep curls and shoulder presses for the first set. The second set we alternated the jog/walk with hammer curls and front and side raises. This went on for 30 minutes. I hurt after this one. The next day my legs were a bit sore as well. It’s all okay though. We are trying to incorporate more cardio into the weekly sessions in hopes that we can get the scale moving again.
I wanted to provide this really interesting commentary on bananas this week. Coach Dwayne sent this to me earlier this week. I found it very interesting and wanted to share with my favorite peeps!
A closing quote before the article:
"In order to get from what was to what will be, you must go through what is."
-Anonymous
A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:
Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.
Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work? Studies at theInstitute of Psychology in Austria
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. InThailand
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover fr om the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.
Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work? Studies at the
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover fr om the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, the reby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in The New En gland Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'
RECIPES
Cheesy Chili-Mac
A hearty meal in a bowl. It's full of great stuff like lean beef, pinto beans and chili peppers. Turn leftovers into burritos!
POINTS® Value: 5
Servings: 8
Preparation Time: 16 min
Cooking Time: 28 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients:
1 spray(s) cooking spray
2/3 pound(s) raw extra lean ground beef
2 medium onion(s), chopped
29 oz canned stewed tomatoes, Mexican-style (undrained)
2 1/2 cup(s) canned tomato juice
4 oz canned green chili peppers, diced, drained
2 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 cup(s) uncooked macaroni, elbow-size
31 oz canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup(s) low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions:
Coat a large skillet with cooking spray; set over medium-high heat. Cook beef and
onion until meat is browned, stirring and breaking up meat with a spoon as it cooks,
about 10 minutes; drain off fat.
Stir in undrained tomatoes and their juice, tomato juice, chili peppers and chili
powder; bring mixture to a boil.
Stir in macaroni and beans; return to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until
macaroni is tender, about 15 minutes. Spoon chili into bowls and sprinkle with
cheese. Yields about 1 cup chili and 1 tablespoon cheese per serving.
Sun Dried Tomato Pesto
Toss this delicious pesto with your favorite pasta. Or spread it on sandwiches, thin it out with broth for
salad dressing or spoon it over chicken or shrimp.
POINTS® Value: 6
Servings: 6
Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 40 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients:
1 cup(s) sun-dried tomatoes, without oil
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup(s) grated Parmesan cheese, or Pecorino Romano
2 medium garlic clove(s)
1 1/2 cup(s) basil, fresh, tightly packed
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, optional
12 oz uncooked whole-wheat pasta, such a linguini
1 1/2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese, or Pecorino Romano (for sprinkling on
pasta)
Instructions:
Place tomatoes in a heat-proof bowl; cover with boiling water. Let sit until softened,
about 20 to 30 minutes. Drain tomatoes but reserve tomato liquid.
Place tomatoes, 1 cup of tomato liquid, oil, cheese, garlic, basil, salt and red pepper
flakes in a food processor; process until smooth. Add more tomato liquid, if desired,
and adjust seasonings.
Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta
cooking water; drain pasta. In a serving bowl, toss pasta with pesto and about 3/4 to
1 cup reserved cooking water, depending on desired consistency. Yields about 1
cup pasta, 1/3 cup sauce and 3/4 teaspoon cheese per serving.
Notes:
If using Parmesan cheese, we suggest Parmigiano-Reggiano for the best flavor.
The pesto sauce on its own is 2 POINTS values per 1/3 cup.
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