New ways of thinking

New Year and New Thinking -

I  am seeking out new ways of doing things in 2011. I am hoping to find ways to cut calories and sodium without sacrificing flavor. Here are some tips that I hope will help you:

• Choose dry beans over canned. A cup of dried beans has less than 10 mg sodium while canned beans can pack more than 700 mg. WW advises you to rinse canned beans in a strainer to reduce the sodium.
• Stir fry meat for healthy meal. If your recipe calls for thinly sliced steak -freeze the meat until very firm for 30 minutes. It will make it easier to slice. 
• Instead of potatoes use parsnips and sweet potatoes cut into fry sized pieces. Put parsnips and potatoes on a baking sheet and drizzle with 1 tsp oil and sprinkle with garlic...toss to coat and sprinkle a dash of Chipotle powder on top. Arrange fries in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until lightly brown and crispy.  (from Clean Eating)
• Quick veggie snack. Take 4 veggie or California sushi rolls and drizzle a smidgen of lite soy on top. Eat the veggies out of the middle with your chop sticks. Yummie. Ditch the rice.:)

This week go for something new.  Experiment with veggies. 

Have a Veggie Good Day,

FitandSlim4ever

Post No. 83 - Carbs in check

I read a great article today about carbs. The author recommends eating a mixture of lean protein, fast carbs ( bad kind) and slow carbs (the good kind) to get a balance. He suggests that cutting out carbs is really dangerous because it forces your body to burn muscle. The bottom line - it is important to have a healthy mix of protein, carbs, fiber, dairy and fat. We are done with diets that require you to eat too much of one thing and not enough of the other. Let's focus on eating a healthy balanced diet. The rest will take care of itself.

I have been bad about writing on my blog everyday. What can I say? Well, life happens. I hope you understand. I will continue to blog so stay with me. I need your encouragement and support. We are heading for the big 30 - pounds that is...so stay tuned.

WE ARE GOING TO GET FIT AND SLIM, SO HAVE A VEGGIE GOOD DAY.
FitandSlim4ever.

Lucky to be alive in 2011

Everyday I hear about someone dying or getting sick. In the past year so many people have perished to heart attacks and cancer. We can't control somethings but we can control our weight. It is time to break the diet yo yo cycle. ENOUGH!!!!

In 2011 we will conquer our weight and move on to focus on living a healthy lifestyle.  Today, I am making a broccoli soup. I read several recipes and decided to modify them to lower fat and calories.

Broccoli and Cheese Soup

2 cups fat free milk
1 cup whipping cream
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon flour
1 bag of frozen broccoli florets (thawed out and chopped into pieces)
1 cup Kraft reduced fat Cheddar cheese (you may prefer fat free Velveeta)
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
tiny pinch of ground bay leaf (only the fine powder)
1 teaspoon of season salt
1 dash of white pepper

Mix the first four ingredients until creamy then add the remainder of ingredients and simmer until blended. Approximately 5 minutes on medium heat and 5 minutes on low heat. Garnish with a pinch of finely minced carrots. I suggest a serving be one cup.

Tip: Instead of using a bun for hamburgers try wrapping your patty in lettuce leaves. Fold the large leaves around the patty like a wrapper and enjoy.

Challenge: Let's reduce the calories in our favorite recipes. We have a whole year to get it right.

Have a veggie great day,
FitandSlim4ever

Happy New Year

Hello blog world,

I am back from my on holiday break and ready to blog into a new year. I am back in full swing and looking forward to a great year in 2011. January is always a great time of promise and new beginnings. It is the time of year when we can all feel and believe that anything is possible. I got into my "jeans" in December. You may recall that I challenged myself to fit into a special pair of jeans by Christmas. I did it! Go girl.

Let's recommit ourselves to eating clean and living a healthy lifestyle in 2011. I encourage everyone (myself included) to set some weight loss or management goals. I plan to start with a small goal that is realistic and achievable.

Challenge: Drop 5 pounds in January. We can do it.

Homework for this week:

1. Clean out fridge - the holidays are over so get rid of the sweets, treats and high calorie food.
2) Take a walk today
3) Step out of your comfort zone. Do something new. Take a chance on something or someone
4) Pray and meditate. It will help you stay focused

Happy New You. I hope you have a veggie good day,

Fitandslim4ever

Week 17 - Lost in Cyberspace

I have been lost in cyberspace for the last 7 days. I forgot the password for my blog and had an bear of a time trying to sign in to access the blog. OMG what a nightmare.

All is well. I am BACK.

So, How was Christmas? Did you stay on plan? Christmas was much harder than Thanksgiving. I think it is because Christmas celebrations last for days whereas Thanksgiving is one day.

I have decided to go easy on myself this week. Last night I went to a party for a family member. I ate a little bit of the shrimp fried rice and 2 chicken wings. I had a diet coke and skipped the birthday cake. I brought a tote bag with some magazines and book so that I could keep myself busy while everyone else was CHOWING down. I sent all of the leftovers from Christmas Eve and Christmas home with family members. The only dangerous item in my house is the box of pralines that my neighbor gave me. I hid them on top of the fridge. Out of sight out of mind.

My brother gave me a new pair of NIKE sneakers for Christmas. YEAH! I love them. Thanks big brother.

It is good to be back on the blog and back in touch with you. Have a wonderful week. I will continue to share my weight loss journey with you in the new year.

Tomorrow I will have some recipe ideas for holiday dishes...until then have a Veggie Good Day,

Fitandslim4ever

Week 15

Happy Holidays, It has been hard keeping up with the blog during this busy holiday season. I will have to put a note somewhere to remind myself to do my daily entries.

I am on Week 15. I love WW. I am living proof that it really works. YEAH!!! If you are not a member maybe you should consider joining WW in the new year.

 I plan on starting my annual candy making blitz. I find it to be a very relaxing and fun experience. Do not worry...I will not be tempted to eat the candy. I do not have much of a sweet tooth. I plan to make my regular heavenly hash and a low calorie WW has recipe. Yummielicious. The WW recipe does not include nuts. What? No nuts? I am going to have to splurge and add some nuts to the WW recipe. Ssh - do not tell my WW leader.

Tip: Reduce the calorie and fat content in your favorite recipes by using reduced fat/calorie items. Also, pack your snacks when you go shopping.

Suggestions: Kraft Fat Free Cheddar, Hellman's Fat Free Mayo, Soy Milk and Tofu Cream Cheese

Goal: Stay focused - Stay on Plan

Have a Veggie Good Holiday Season,
FitandSlim4ever

Day 81 - Reaching out

Reach out to old friends. It is so easy to lose track of old friends. Today - pick up the phone and call someone. Make an effort to connect with long lost friends. It is important to stay connected.

I want to give a shout out to my dear friends JR and DH. You are always so supportive of my weight loss efforts. Thank you. To all of my sister friends - I love you. 

A special hug to R-OB for her success on WW. Go- Girl!!!!

Have a Veggie Good Day,

FitandSlim4forever