Two yesterday thoughts

So after making those muffins yesterday I came to two conclusions. 

1- I like it better as a loaf of bread (I made it a small bread pan)

2- The heated blueberry tasted SO GOOD after licking the spatula that I HAD to have a waffle this morning with it on top!!! I added raspberries to it too. It was delicious! I almost thought I was cheating! 

I really recommend Kodiak power cake mix (make sure it's the protein packed, you might as well get that protein in while eating a waffle! I also make it with an egg white and milk to get even more). 

MIA

Been so busy with THREE birthdays in February that I've been slacking on posting anything. But I'm back! So I have several food ideas that I've actually taken pictures of during the past month (I guess I haven't been totally MIA!). 

So here are some Breakfast ideas: 

-two hardboiled eggs mixed with 1/2 avocado 

You could eat it on toast, but I ate it right out of the bowl with a fork (and then licked the bowl!) 

-toast with tomato slices and 3 or 4 pieces of bacon (like an open face BLT without the lettuce, but add the lettuce if you'd like). This is one of my favs, I love bread...I love tomatoes...I love bacon...

 

-Fried egg with sautéed peppers, onion, diced ham, and avocado. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. 

- sautéed turkey sausage and peppers & onion (I used sausage patties cut into bite size pieces).

-Kodiak Power Cakes (awesome amount of protein especially when you add an egg (whole or whites) and milk). Top with Peanut butter and banana slices. Waffles or pancakes...SUPER YUMMY! 

-Use the above mix and make muffins: 

For blueberry muffins: 

2 cups Kodiak mix

1/4 cup softened butter

1/2 cup agave

2 egg whites

3/4 cup milk

1 cup berries (heat on stove with some of the agave until fluids start to flow) 

Bake 350• for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown 

Mix all ingredients but berries with hand mixer

Heat blueberries on med/low heat 

Fold in blueberries to mixture

    Put into muffin tin (I used little ones) and top with a blueberry! 

Bake for 12-14 minutes, longer if using full size muffins, 15-20 minutes. 

I had extra and made a loaf

          Next time I'll do lunches :) 

Scale obsessed...

Today I told hubby the scale has to be put away and I can only get it out on Monday mornings.  I am obsessed. And then I get upset because I gained .4 or lost only .1...I don't see this awesome change and I am easily bugged. So the scale is not allowed out. It is grounded!  

I need to be better at taking pictures of things I eat. Like the yummy egg breakfast this morning, but no picture. I'll make it again tomorrow and post it. 

But I did make these today and took a picture: 

I really wanted something sweet (and not healthy at all!) so trying to be healthy I found these on Pinterest and then changed them up a bit. Recipe:

1/3 Cup Honey

1 Cup Peanut Butter 

2 Cups Old Fashion Oats 

1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips (preferably dark, if trying to be healthy...I however used mini milk choc cuz that's what I had) 

On Stovetop heat honey and PB together till mixed and smooth. Add oats and mix. I put mixture in another bowl, let cool for a few minutes and then hand mixed choc chips in.  Spread into a sprayed 8x8 dish and cut into 16 servings.  The choc chip melted some when I pressed them into dish. Yes, I licked some off! 

16 servings, each: 190 calories, 11 g fat, 19 g net carb, 2.5 g fiber, 5.2g protein 

I ate two for lunch! Rich and heavy. I am full. What I found: a bit dry, but totally willing to eat them. This may be really odd of me to say, but I might just like them better without the choc chips! I found another recipe that is similar that you put into balls. Might try those next time. 

I have been doing some strength training this week (ok, so that's only two days) and today I hurt! Yea, it's working! Here is what I have done: 

-25 weighted squats (5 lb Dumbbell in each hand), military press weights when standing tall

-25 calf raises 

-2 x 15 reps tricep dip on chair 

-2 x 15 knee push-ups (someday I'll switch to guy ones)

-1 minute plank

-2 x 1 minute earthquake (I had no idea what this was, you tube it!)

-2 x 50 crunches

-2 x 25 scissor legs 

This is in addition to my normal workout (Treadmill, Jillian DVD, ZUMBA). Feeling it today, so it's a good start! 

Well there is my midweek status...

Goals

So I had this great idea to start being "good" this week. It flopped when I got the flu and amazing people (a friend, a VT, and my husband) fed me yummy comfort food. Oh well...Next week. So here's my plan/thoughts: To be healthier I need to do several things:

1-  Watch my diet by lowering my carb intake. I have been slowly working towards this, Carbs are my friend, a BFF actually. What I have found is that I don't really want to eat a "low carb" diet, I believe God put grains, fruit, and veggies on the earth to be eaten (and for good reason, they are good for us). But I do think that taking out the bad carbs (most of the time! I am all about exceptions) like my favorite chocolate chip cookies could benefit me greatly. Changing the way I eat will be a work in progress. I am use to counting calories yet still eating whatever I want (as long as it fits within so many calories per day) and not really focusing on making sure what I put in is healthy. This will be the biggest change and the hardest. I hope it will also help my family to eat better too.

2-  Keep up my LOVE (really and seriously) for Cardio. I am addicted to Zumba. But I REALLY NEED TO ADD in some strength training. I don't belong to a gym so this is slightly difficult. I don't have a weight room and I think the biggest weights I have are 8 pounds! Of course to solve this, I go search Pinterest...next week I will be trying a few at home workouts and will post my findings. While doing strength training I need to ignore the scale and constantly remind myself that muscle weight is good weight!!! My brain sees the scale go up and says "more cardio less food"...no way, no more.

3- DRINK MORE WATER, I am pretty good at getting in 8 glasses when I plan on doing it (I have alarms set on my phone that say "water break") but come weekends I slack.  I would actually like to drink more than 64 oz a day. To lose weight I have heard you should drink 1/2 of your weight in ounces, well needless to say I don't weigh 128lbs....add several more, lol! So goal; add more glasses per day when possible.

4-  And that darn Dr. Pepper has to go for good (Soda free for 19 days and yes I still want one! Does that go away?) It's just bad for you, all of it...diet too. Sorry, I wish it wasn't so!

Well there it is, written down! That means I am obligated, accountable, and now must do what I say. RIGHT? Right! I designed this weekly reminder sheet. I haven't figured out how to post it as a printable (working on that) but I can easily email it. Its design is a bit crazy all over the place, but I wanted it to be that way. That is my life...a bit crazy all over. Watch for more from me or my sis (hint hint!) to see what is working and not working!

 ~Lori