Hey there…Hope this week is going well for you guys. For me? It’s Passover AND month-end close, so it’s going to be a busy week. I will get through it—I always do.
I finally got back into the weekend walking. Michelle and I went it alone, as Brenda had another commitment. As per usual, we had a great time! The weather cooperated and it was SO nice to walk and not look like a snowman. No hat, no earmuffs, no parka….just a windbreaker and some good company!
I, as I stated MANY MANY times before, am a human being. As a member of the human race, I tend to mess up from time to time (yes—I am SO NOT perfect!!!). I embrace this, recognize this, and am now accepting and officially moving on. This human, from the 2009 holidays and other life stresses, somehow managed to find herself 7 pounds in the red, and need to get these last ones off so that I can start pecking away at the final pounds I still have to lose. I have been desperately trying to get back on track, and I figured that it may help to have a plan. Written down. In black and white.
I read somewhere that the road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places. Maybe I kept parking when I should have been DRIVING!!!! In any case, the plan is below. Maybe if you guys get stuck, a plan will help!!! I just need to get off of this plateau. I think I can…I think I can…I think I can….
My plan:
- Keep going to my meetings (like this was EVER a problem for me!!!)
- I need to get back on track to move forward
- Get better with tracking, and resume daily Fit Day tracking too
- Continue on with the training that I have been doing
- Add more activity??? (I have already slated two additional 5Ks to my books – One at the
- Going along with #4, try to do at least one 5K race per month this year.
- Focus on the positive
- Quit keeping things to myself. For one who never has a problem talking –TO ANYONE…this is an issue for me. I need to vent, or share more.
- Rely on my peeps. As a very good friend told me…when things go well, my audience needs you. When things are not going well? I need my audience. Same goes for meetings!
- Keeping things interesting in the kitchen
Since I was not in the office on Monday, I will attend this week’s meeting on Friday. As I stated in my plan, part of my mission is to start incorporating more activity. As such, I plan to try and do at least one 5K per month. I signed up for two already, and I hope to better my times with each subsequent event.
One of my close friends just told me that she is using me as her inspiration to get her excess weight off. She was recently diagnosed as a Type II Diabetic, and it was a real eye opener for her. This is further inspiration for me to find the elusive mojo that seems to be playing cat and mouse with me these days. Don’t give up on me…I am just in a slight funk, but I will get past it, I promise!
I am going to sign off for now, as it’s almost time for the tri-weekly beating with Dwayne. Last week was so awesome because I actually got to throw a medicine ball at him. I (for some strange reason…) enjoyed this immensely!!! Just the simple act of picking up a ball and heaving it back toward him was amazing. For that 3 or 4 minutes, I forgot about my stresses, and was able to focus. I loved that! Next time you are frustrated? Throw a ball at someone! LOL!!!! (just make sure you ask them first…upon second thought, it may not be nice to surprise attack…)
This week’s closing quote was so fitting for the topic of this newsletter!!!
“This one step - choosing a goal and sticking to it - changes everything.”
--Scott Reed
ATTACHMENTS:
Since the spring holidays are upon us, I enclosed some recipes focusing on some recipes for the season.
- Easter Recipe Roundup provides some meal ideas for you covering entrees, sides and desserts.
- Recipe Roundup – Passover Desserts – Some kosher for Passover dessert ideas for you!
- Matzoh-Free Recipes
- Passover lunch ideas (most don’t involve matzoh and butter!!!)
- 5 Ways from 1 – Marinara Sauce – some inventive ways to use that bottle of sauce gathering dust in your pantry (mine don’t gather dust, mind you---they are never around long enough!!!)
- Fit Facts – A factoid from Dwayne that covers some 100 calorie snack ideas, and the importance of breakfast. I just combined these two documents. They don’t really go together!
GLUTEN FREE CORNER:
Stay tuned
RECIPES
Creamy Applesauce Dream
This recipe was up on the wall in the fitness center downstairs. I wanted to share with you, because it looks like a wonderful dessert and it’s really light. This recipe was originally published in Prevention Healthy Cooking
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Total cooking time: 1 hour
Yield: 8 servings at a POINTS® Value of 1 per serving
Ingredients:
9 or 10 medium cooking apples, peeled, cored, cut into quarters (3 lb)
¼ cup orange juice
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
¼ cup low-fat sugar-free frozen yogurt, if desired (adjust POINTS® for this!)
Instructions:
1. In a large saucepot, combine the apples, orange juice, vanilla and cinnamon. Cover and simmer about 30 minutes or until apples are tender, stirring occasionally.
2. Mash apples using potato ricer or masher until smooth. Top each serving with a heaping teaspoon of frozen yogurt.
Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Calories 90 (Calories from Fat 0); Total Fat 0g (Saturated Fat 0g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 0mg; Total Carbohydrate 20g (Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugars 16g); Protein 0g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 0%; Vitamin C 8%; Calcium 0%; Iron 0% Exchanges: 1 1/2 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable Carbohydrate Choices: 1
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Tuna Rice-Paper Wraps
This one was also given to me by Coach Dwayne in the fitness center. This is a different take on a tuna sandwich, and was published in Prevention Healthy Cooking. This dish is an Asian-flavored tuna mix tucked into rice paper wrappers. It takes roll-ups to a whole new level of fun!
Prep Time:10 min
Start to Finish:10 min
Yield: 4 servings at a POINTS® Value of 3 per serving
Ingredients:
1 can (12 oz) water-packed light tuna, drained
2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chopped green onion
1 tablespoon chopped celery
1 tablespoon finely shredded carrot
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro or Thai basil
½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Hot-pepper sauce, if desired
4 six-inch rice-paper wrappers
Cilantro or Thai basil leaves, if desired
Instructions:
1. In medium bowl, combine tuna, mayonnaise, scallion, celery, carrot, cilantro or basil, oil, salt, pepper, and a few drops of hot-pepper sauce. Stir to mix well.
2. Prepare rice-paper wrappers according to package directions. Lay papers on a moistened tray or work surface. Spoon one-fourth of tuna mixture on one side of each wrapper. Roll into packets, folding sides in first and rolling from bottom into a tube. Garnish with cilantro or basil leaves and serve immediately.
Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Calories 150 (Calories from Fat 35); Total Fat 3 1/2g (Saturated Fat 1/2g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 25mg; Sodium 380mg; Total Carbohydrate 10g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 0g); Protein 19g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 8%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 0%; Iron 6% Exchanges: 1/2 Starch; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 2 1/2 Very Lean Meat; 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 1/2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Grilled Pizza with Pesto, Tomatoes & Feta
This recipe calls for 4 servings, coming in a 9 POINTS® for an entire individual pizza, which in the grand scheme of pizzas, isn’t a bad thing. You can halve this by turning this into an appetizer and increasing the serving size to 8 and having ½ of the pie. This is a nice easy way to get your pizza fix. Keep the kitchen cool by baking pizza on the backyard grill. For convenience, this recipe uses prepared pizza dough, found in most supermarkets, and pesto from a jar. You can always do your own!!!
Prep time: 30 minutes
Total time 30 minutes
Yield: 4 individual pizzas at a POINTS® Value of 9 per pizza
Ingredients:
1 pound prepared pizza dough, preferably whole-wheat
1/2 cup prepared pesto
4 ripe plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
1/4 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves, torn
Instructions:
1. Heat grill to medium-high.
2. Meanwhile, place dough on a lightly floured surface. Divide into 4 pieces. Roll each piece into an 8-inch round crust, about 1/4 inch thick. Place crusts on a floured baking sheet. Carry crusts and toppings out to the grill.
3. Lay crusts on grill (they won’t stay perfectly round). Cover grill and cook until crusts are lightly puffed and undersides are lightly browned, about 3 minutes.
4. Using tongs, flip crusts. Immediately spread pesto over crusts. Top with tomatoes. Sprinkle with feta and pepper. Cover grill and cook until the undersides are lightly browned, about 3 minutes more. Sprinkle with basil and serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Per serving: 430 calories; 18 g fat (7 g sat, 9 g mono); 27 mg cholesterol; 49 g carbohydrates; 17 g protein; 4 g fiber; 749 mg sodium; 262 mg potassium.
3 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 3 starch, 1/2 vegetable, 1/2 fat
