{blackberry smoothie}

{blackberry smoothie}

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

1/2 frozen banana 

1 T vanilla protein powder

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup blackberries

{I used frozen this time, but it's July, 

so it's time to pick some fresh ones!}

military diet - day 3

military diet - day 3

This is always the hardest day. By now, the lack of caffeine has set in, and the amount of food for this day doesn't quite satisfy!

breakfast



5 saltines

1 oz. cheddar cheese

1/2 grapefruit w/stevia  1 small apple

coffee w/stevia + a splash of french vanilla creamer



lunch



2 strips bacon 1 hard boiled egg

1 slice bread

tomato slices

unsweetened iced tea


dinner

(((off the wagon)))

Nathan got home today and asked for turkey clubs! For dinner today, I was supposed to have....

1 cup tuna

1/2 banana

1 cup ice cream

instead I had.......



1/2 of a TURKEY CLUB!!!


1 cup tuna 3 slices turkey + 1 strip bacon

1-1/2 slices bread

1/2 banana  lettuce/tomato

1 cup ice cream mayo

I also had a Tervis full of apple/pineapple/orange juice.



* DAY 3 SODA FREE!!

* 4 bottles of water




I am anxious to weigh in the morning because I feel like I've lost a few lbs.!!!

military diet - day 2

military diet - day 2


For breakfast, I started with this....



made my fave = egg in a basket!

1 egg

1 slice bread

1/2 banana

coffee with stevia + a splash of french vanilla creamer



For lunch.....



5 saltine crackers

1 oz. cheddar cheese 1 cup cottage cheese

2 strips bacon w/fresh tomato slices 1 egg

unsweetened iced tea


Snack.....

1 apple


For dinner.....

2 hot dogs (no bun) + mustard for dipping

1 cup string beans 1 cup broccoli

1/2 cup carrots

1/2 banana




Snack....

1/2 cup vanilla ice cream (I got coconut flavored-yum!! best part of the day!!)


* day #2 NO soda :O) :O) :O)

* water = 4 bottles

* substitutions noted (substitute list HERE)

I feel better and really feel like I'm losing a few lbs. I am not hungry at all on this diet, which makes dieting much better, because normally, I'm starving by now!!! 


on to day 3..................

military diet - day 1

military diet - day 1 continued

Day one has gone very well, I haven't been hungry all day. I actually didn't end up eating lunch until almost 2:30 and only had a glass of unsweetened iced tea at work. Day one soda free...so far no headache. :O)

For lunch: 

1 slice bread (toasted)

1/2 cup tuna ( I used canned albacore and added fresh tomato slices on top, then drizzled with balsamic vinegar and a few pickles on the side)

1 glass unsweetened ice tea

Snack: 

1 small apple

For dinner:

3 oz. lean meat ( I had steak - with onion slices, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce)  + steak sauce (15 calories)

1 cup string beans

1/2 banana 

water

Snack: 

1/2 cup vanilla ice cream (I got my fave Pumpkin Cinnamon flavor!!)




* I drank about 3 bottles of water today, will try to do better with the water tomorrow!

On to day two........

oh no not the D word!!!!

Oh yes! I finally brought it to bare and started a DIET! ugh......wasn't it this time last year when I got so disgusted with gaining weight and eating wayyyyy too much of the wrong types of food? And then there is my soda obsession!! After doing the Military Diet last year, I realized some things about food that I hadn't let myself think about...what it was doing to my body, like the amount of chemicals I consumed from the liters of Diet Coke I drank. I did actually kick my Diet Coke habit for several months, but little by little my soda cravings came back. This time, my drink of choice was Pepsi (full calorie not diet). I love soda! Well, actually, I love cola. I won't touch a 7-up or orange or Dr. Pepper, like them, but rarely ever drink them, I love cola!!! And, while I used to love Diet Coke, I choose regular Pepsi over regular Coke (and Diet Coke over Diet Pepsi...there is a difference..I know, I am very weird)! So, once I picked back up on the soda habit, I chose sugar filled Pepsi. It's ridiculous when I look at the stats......one 12 oz. glass of Pepsi contains 150 calories, 30 mg sodium, 41g of carbs=41 g SUGARS. OMG.....no wonder I'm fat! I prefer 2-liters over cans because I love filling up my Tervis with ice, Pepsi, with a straw and sipping on it all day while I work. But one glass isn't enough, as soon as it's empty, I fill it up again! And then, while I don't really do a lot of night eating, I absolutely love a glass of Pepsi for my snack at night. Doesn't take long to do the math and find out the majority of my calorie intake comes from soda!!!

I hardly eat any breakfast, but if I do, it's a piece of toast (or 2) with butter....I love butter (Paula Deen and I could be besties!) :O) My other breakfast choice these days, a glass of milk (2%)  with an instant breakfast mixed in. That's about 375 calories....sugars 30g!!! So, are we seeing my problem! Lunch is usually a sandwich of some type, 2 slices bread, turkey (lately just a fresh sliced tomato - my fave) and mayo! A few chips on the side and soda....not good!!

Then, my next big pitfall - dinner. I love to eat, but I love to cook just as much! So, there is pretty much always a good meal on the table at dinner time. But while it may be tasty, it's not always healthy. I also am not good at keeping my portion sizes or amount of servings to a minimum. I love doing the Blue Apron and Hello Fresh meals, because, (a) the meals are fairly healthy, and (b) the serving sizes are sensible and I only eat the one plate of food.

In my favor, I don't care that much for sweets. I bought a Carmello candy bar on Saturday, there was half a bar left last night (which of course, I had to eat since I was starting a diet this morning!!). But seriously, sweets are not my problem.

So, I'm taking a break for 3 days from the soda, the calories, the sugar, and the fat filled foods and I'm doing the Military Diet again. Last year, I lost 5 lbs. in 3 days, I kicked my soda addiction, and I felt much, much better......and that is my goal again this time!

And today's the day.....I started with breakfast this morning.....

Day 1 - Breakfast



I cup black *coffee - I added 1 packet of stevia + a splash of French vanilla creamer
* (with caffeine) which is important especially for me since I otherwise would have major withdrawal without my soda!!

1/2 grapefruit - with a packet of stevia

1 slice toast - any type bread

2,T. Peanut Butter

smoothie recipes #4

Strawberry Colada Smoothie

 

4 oz. fresh stawberries - puree and set aside

 

1 frozen banana

1 cup frozen pineapple

1 small vanilla yogurt

1 cup coconut milk

Put pineapple mixture in glass.

 

Swirl in stawberry puree with table knife.

 

 

 

Blueberry Cobbler Smoothie

 

 1/2 cup oats
 1 cup milk
1 banana
3/4 cups blueberries
1 T. honey
1 packet of stevia
4-5 ice cubes
Blend oats until ground, then add remaining ingredients.

 

 

 

Mango Vanilla Smoothie

 

1 cup frozen mango

1/4 cup milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 cup vanilla yogurt

 

Mixed Fruit Smoothie


1/2 cup frozen mango
1 frozen banana
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt,
1 packet of stevia
1/2 cup milk (add more if too thick)


Garnish with fresh blueberries.

January Smoothie Challenge + Fitbit Review

{January Smoothie Challenge}

Today wrapped up my smoothie-a-day challenge. We have really enjoyed the Nutribullet so far and I have really loved looking for and trying new smoothie recipes. I was never a huge smoothie fan, but I think that's because I never branched out and never made anything but a basic strawberry-banana smoothie. I ended up making 18 different smoothies and only one of them was a dud (recipe below). I posted them all on Instagram (#smoothieadaychallenge) with recipe links to my Pinterest board.

Here are the last four smoothies I made, including a favorite from today....

Cake Batter Smoothie

 

1 cup almond milk

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

3 T. yellow cake mix (dry)

1 frozen banana

sprinkles (garnish)

 

 

This one was delish!! I plan to do a Red Velvet version on Valentine's Day! <3

 

 

Sunny Tropical Smoothie

 

1 orange

1 banana

1 cup fruit juice ( I used V8 Splash - peach mango)

1 cup frozen mango

1 cup frozen pineapple

1 tsp. chia seeds

 

 

very refreshing!

 

 

Grape & Apple Smoothie

 

1 apple

1 cup frozen grapes

1 T. honey

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 tsp. flax seeds

1/2 cup almond milk

 

 

This one was yucky! :O(

If the brown color doesn't throw you off, the (applesauce-like) texture will. :O(

 

 

 

Simple Strawberry Smoothie

 

2/3 cups frozen stawberries

1/2 banana

1/2 cup strawberry yogurt

1/2 cup almond milk

1/2 tsp. chia seeds

4-5 ice cubes

 

 

 

Yummy!! :O)

 

 

 

{I LOVE my Fitbit!!!}

 

It keeps me moving and makes me aware of how little exercise I am getting when not keeping track. The goal for the day is 10,000 steps - which I have met twice since starting 10 days ago. I average about 7,000 steps a day, which I think is good for a beginner and for someone who is home all day. I started walking with Wanda last week, and this has helped boost my step number per day. I am sure 10,000 steps will be easy to get when I start back to work, but for now, I am very satisfied with how much more mobile I am. I really love the sleep tracker too. It's amazing how that little band can track how well (or not) I sleep. I am anxious to see how many steps I take in Disney (LOTS of walking!!!). I may even challenge Wanda that week! ;O)

 

 



smoothie recipes #3

Here are a few more yummy recipes!

Banana Bread Smoothie

 

 

 1 banana (frozen)
1/2 cup almond milk
1/4 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup oats (uncooked)
dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, & salt
splash of maple syrap

(garnish w/nutmeg)

- tasted just like banana bread...YUM!

 

{healthy} Tropical Smoothie

1/2 cup frozen pineapple
1/cup frozen mango
1/2 frozen banana
1/3 cup almond milk
1 T. orange juice
1 tsp. flax seeds
1 T. almonds

- delish!!

Raspberry-Almond-Chia Smoothie

 

2/3 cups frozen raspberries
2/3 cup almond milk
1 T. honey
1/4 cup almonds
2 tsp. chia seeds
2/3 cup vanilla yogurt

- very tasty!!
 

 

Lemon Meringue Smoothie

 

1/2 cup vanilla (or lemon) yogurt
2 T. fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 cup milk (any) - I used almond milk
1/4 tsp. lemon extract
1 packet stevia
1 cup ice

- very refreshing! :O)

 

smoothie recipes #2

My new favorite smoothie....

 

Chunky Monkey

5-6 ice cubes

1 ripe banana

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

1/2 cup milk (any)

2 T. peanut butter

2 tsp. cocoa powder

1-2 packets stevia

1 T. almonds

 

this one was delish too....

Orange Creamsicle

1 frozen banana

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup orange juice

3/4 cup vanilla yogurt

1 orange (peeled)

 

 green smoothies aren't my favorite, but this one was pretty good....

Pineapple-Kale-Banana Smoothie

1 cup water

1 cup kale

1 cup frozen pineapple

1/2 frozen banana

1/4 lime (peeled)

1 T. chia seeds

smoothie recipes #1

We are loving the new Nutribullet! I stocked up on smoothie ingredients and found some new recipes on Pinterest....here are a few we tried this week:

Blueberry Mango Smoothie

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 banana (frozen)

1/2 cup fresh mango

1/4 of a lemon (peeled)

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

1/2 cup water

drizzle of honey

 

 

Green Smoothie

 

1 cup spinach

1/2 cup fresh pineapple

1/2 tangerine

1/2 frozen banana

1/2 cup coconut milk

1 tsp. chia seeds

(I froze the rest of the pineapple, I think this smoothie would have been even better/colder with frozen pineapple in it).

 

 

 

Aloha Pineapple Smoothie

 

 1/2 cup strawberries

1/2 cup frozen pineapple

1/2 banana

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

1 cup ice

 

(this one was a little thicker because all the fruits were frozen +ice added)

DELISH!!!

 

 

Prep Ahead: I have lots of smoothie recipes that call for kale. I saw this idea for freezing kale so it won't ruin before using it all. Blend in Nutribullet (may need to add a little water), then pour into muffin cups and freeze. Once frozen, pop out and put in zipoc bags.

Great idea!

 

source: Pinterest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

looking back at 2015: August

-August-

 

Favorite post from August...

 

Summer Visit

(Allie's first trip to TI)

 

 

 

Visiting Chincoteague

 

 

 

[day 1]

 

 

 

 

[day 2]

 

 

 

 

 

and.....

 

Mom and Dad got out of their lease 2 months early and came HOME with me!!!!

 

 

[day 3]

 

 

did the Military Diet

(((((which I really need to do again!!)))))

 

 

Homecoming

 

 

 

 

 



5 on friday: life lately

1) it's beginning to look a lot like fall....

two of my favorite things!



2) Nathan

Nathan finished up AB school last month and is finishing up tankerman training this tour and has his permanent spot. So proud of him! :O)

from AB school-Life Boat Training :O)

3) DIET COKE

I am almost 2 weeks Diet Coke free!!! :O) I am so happy I kicked this habit.....I was soooooo addicted! I have replaced it with (a) more water (b) coffee w/stevia & pumpkin spice creamer, and (c) my new drink of choice....

4) my fall chalkboard

5) TV

In a few weeks, all the new fall shows will start. Just from the commercials, I am considering tuning in to Code Black and Life in Pieces (hoping it will be similar to Parenthood? except it will be a comedy). Not sure if I'll like either of them, but will give them a try. Also, a new season of Amazing Race begins. :O)

I am not a big tv fan at all. I watch Big Brother, Trip Flip, Fixer Upper, Gilmore Girls and Parenthood reruns, and not much else. I love watching football and am excited that a new season has started!! :O)