A little disappointed but continuing to go on my journey. This weekend, I haven't been the best at my eating at all!
Today I made homemade chili, cornbread muffins. Then my hubby made us roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce ... well to say the least I feel like a pig after eating all day!
I hope everyone is doing good; I plan on making tomorrow, the next day and the rest of the week a better week of eating. I did get my menu planned out for the week. I just have to stick to my plan. :)

Football Season Anyone?

I was reading something online today and I came across these little recipes for all those who make a lot of food during football season for the parties! Enjoy!

Score Big With Healthy Game-Time Foods

By Dorian Wagner
It's football season, everyone. Time for tailgating, cheering, beer -- and the death of your diet, right? Wrong!

While we can't find you a healthy substitute for your beer (although studies have shown there are some benefits to drinking), we can help you create a diet-conscious tailgate menu. And don't worry… We know it's football and "the guys" won't eat tofu and carrot sticks. Just trust us on this one -- they won't even know they're eating healthy!

Kick it off right…

Fired-up BBQ Bean Dip
1 can (15 ounces) red or black beans, drained and rinsed
1/3 cup barbeque sauce
1 tbsp. hot sauce
2 tsp. apple cider vinegar

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Serve with raw vegetable sticks or baked chips. Serves 6.

Fan-Favorite Nuts
1 tbsp. margarine or light butter
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
2 cans mixed nuts
Optional: 2 tsp. garlic powder

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In large pan, combine margarine, Worcestershire sauce and optional garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 3 minutes (until butter is melted). Remove from heat and stir in mixed nuts.

Spread thoroughly coated nuts on a baking sheet and bake for 13 minutes, or until nuts are lightly toasted. Cool and keep in a tightly-sealed container until you get to the parking lot!

It's half-time, help yourself…

Mascot Meatball Kabobs
1 1/3 lb. ground turkey
½ egg substitute
1 cup breadcrumbs
½ cup chopped onions
Vegetable oil
2 zucchini, sliced
2 yellow squash, sliced
1 package cherry tomatoes
1 jar pearl onions
Barbeque sauce

Directions: In large bowl, combine first four ingredients. Form mixture into 2-inch balls. Heat oil in large skillet and brown meatballs. On moistened bamboo skewers (to prevent burning), load on meatballs, zucchini, squash, tomatoes and onions. Wrap in foil and keep in a cooler on your way to the parking lot.

Once there, grill over medium heat about 6 minutes, turning halfway through. Brush on barbeque, then grill 8 minutes more, or until vegetables are tender and meatballs are heated through.

Make it to the goal line…

First Down Potato & Chicken Salad
5 medium red potatoes
3 tbsp. white wine vinegar
3 tbsp. water
2 tsp. spicy mustard
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
8 ounces precooked chicken strips
1/3 cup chopped celery

Directions: Place potatoes in medium saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Cook 5-6 minutes and set aside to cool. In separate container, mix vinegar, water, mustard, salt and pepper. Add in chicken, onion and potato slices. Serves 4.

Touchdown Teriyaki Steak
2/3 cup soy sauce
¼ cup rice wine
¼ cup rice vinegar
¼ cup sugar
1 tbsp. ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
2/3 cup light beer
2 ½ pounds flank steak

Directions: Marinade -- Combine soy sauce, rice wine, vinegar, sugar, ginger, garlic and beer in saucepan over high heat. Cook until mixture reduces to half. Allow to cool, seal steak and marinade in large Ziploc bag. Leave overnight, or simply let bagged steaks marinate in a cooler while you drive to the game.

At the parking lot -- Fire up your grill and cook steaks for about 4 to 8 minutes per side, or until they reach your desired doneness. Dig in! Serves 6.

I did it again guys! I made it to the gym again during lunch hour. I almost wonder if I give a little more at the gym during this time cause I know that I am cracking it all out in one hour. :)


Drinking my protein drink now ..... hopefully I can quit shaking then too!

Btw .... I have had the willpower to stay away from the devil candy today so far!!!!!!

So again this morning my bed was too comfy to get out of so I didn't make it to the gym but I grabbed my gym back and my clothes and I will go again today at lunchtime. I am determined to find the time to do it whether it be before work, during lunchtime, after work ..... Plus I honestly believe if I workout then I eat better, I do better.

I have been thinking in my head that I know that I can do this ... I just have to do it!

One of my struggles is: sugars ... CANDY! I love candy! I am like a candy-olichic on crack :) I could eat it night and day, day and night ....... AKA why I am overweight today. I come into work and there is a BIG tub of licorice from Costco sitting there. I am thinking in my head "back away from the candy ..... back away from the licorice." Now, I know I can't deny myself of all kinds of sweets and treats but that is my problem. EVERYDAY in my head I think I need to have a sweet treat throughout the day and I know that I don't ..... So I have been chewing on Extra "Bubble Gum" flavored gum. :) yummy! I think that gum is going to be my hero, the only thing that can keep me away from the candy .....


This is my morning ..... I will post later how my day is!

I did it everyone. I have been eating healthier today, I got to the gym at lunch, had a good workout. I am starting over ... I think I am gonna do it this time!!!!

Which will Burn More Fat: Toning or Cardio?

Do you ever just go into the gym and think to yourself? What should I do today? Cardio or Toning? What is going to make me have better results? Well here is a friendly little reminder article for us all ....

Which will Burn More Fat: Toning or Cardio?

FREE DAILY FITNESS TIP

By Carly Young, Special to LifeScript

Monday, September 24, 2007

If you’re trying to lose weight, should you spend all your time on the treadmill or pumping extra iron? To look fabulous and toned, you need to do both. After all, you can run on the treadmill for hours, but you’ll never build sexy muscles unless you lift weights. Alternately, you can crunch yourself into oblivion, but you won’t be able to see your abs if they’re buried under a layer of excess fat. Surprisingly, building muscle can actually help increase your metabolism. A pound of muscle burns more calories than a pound of fat, even if you’re just sitting still. Also, strengthening your muscles will help you perform better when you’re exercising, which means you’ll be able to work out harder and blast more fat. And if you work on your muscles and stick with your cardio program, you’ll begin to see sexy definition as you lose more weight. Cardio activities, like running, swimming and biking melt fat from all over your body, which will make the underlying muscles visible. Weight-lifting exercises, such as squats and push ups, are perfect for toning problem areas. You can have separate workouts for cardio and toning, but if you want to save time, perform a routine that provides both cardio and strength-training benefits, like a super circuit. Even though it sounds like you have to do double the work to get the body you want, there’s no way your fat can survive the two-pronged attack of cardio and weight training!

Its been too long ....

Yes it has been too long since I have blogged, that I really have done anything that I have promised myself that I was going to do.

Yesterday as I was putting away my clothes in my closet, I got depressed. I asked myself, why am I not doing this this? Why am I not working out like I should? Why am I not putting my health in front of my own selfish desires?? Because honestly ... being too lazy to go to the gym, or eating candy out of stress all comes back to selfishness. I need to do this NOT only for myself but also for my family ...

So with that said, I went to bed early, thinking that I could get up in the morning, go and workout. What did I do? I didn't workout but I did do something different. I went ahead and I got my gym bag ready, I will workout at lunch. I made myself a healthy lunch. I WILL do this.

The key is that I have to go with the flow. NOT EVERYTHING WILL FALL INTO PLACE but I will just have to go around the obstacles that come my way and I will make progress. I know that I can do it ...... I just have to find out what I need to overcome, and overcome it. :)

Today is a new day, a new week, and a start of a new challenge for me. I am also participating in a challenge to help me keep on track, keep the motivation in me ..... give me tips, tricks to work with everyday.

14 weeks until January 1, 2008 .... what does this mean for you?

For me? Honestly, if I work hard EVERY day by eating healthy, working out, being honest with myself .. I should be able to lose 14#'s ... what would be nice is if I could lose 28#'s ... but I want to be honest with myself here today ..... if I can lose 14#'s before the new year, I will be on a good road. A healthy one!

So what do you have to lose? What can you do in 14 weeks?