The Necessary P Words

The P words:

Patience

Persistence

Plan

Party (I threw party in there for fun, because I really do believe that when I’m feeling successful, it’s like there’s a party going on in my head.)

The D words:

Discouragement

Depression

Doubt

Drudgery (Because when I’m discouraged, depressed and filled with self doubt, everything is drudgery, and not even a brownie will make it better—okay, maybe a little better—but just for a short  moment. If the one brownie turns into a brownie feast—I will not feel better. Not even a little bit.)

What is the difference between a P word and a D word? One letter. The letter P is spelled pee and the letter D is spelled dee. (See below, from Ask.com) P is formed with your lips and D is formed with your tongue (go ahead, try it.) They are practically the same word—and they’re both letters. Small differences make all the difference. Like the difference between the healthy choice and the not so healthy choice. One small unhealthy choice won’t kill you, but multiply the choices by hundreds and thousands and they just might.

So the next time you are faced with a food decision, keep in mind the P words necessary for losing pounds and remember, everyone wants to party. No one wants to be a drudge.

Protein, Carb and Fat Rule

I was introduced to the protein, carb and fat rule. I like how it’s working so far. The goal is to eat every three hours, keeping hunger at bay by following this simple rule. At every mini-meal eat:

A carb the size of your fist

A protein the size of your palm

A fat the size of your thumb

It’s just that simple and yet not. Technically, a vegetable is a carb, but not all carb-vegetables are created equal. Be wise.

This rule translates really well into most of my favorite meals.

 A sandwich

Bread= carb

Chicken breast= protein

Mayo or avocado= fat

Yogurt parfait

Yogurt=protein and fat

Granola=carb

Chili

Beans and tomatoes=carb

Ground turkey=protein

Dollop of sour cream= fat

Breakfast Burrito

Eggs= protein

Tortilla and salsa= carb

Cheese= fat

I’m very excited about how easily that simple formula can be applied to everyday meal choices. Except for brownies. It doesn’t work for brownies…or pies. But that’s okay. I have a weekly two dessert allotment. Because brownies can’t be ignored.

Here’s my new favorite food, stuffed peppers.

Peppers cut in half

Half a pound of ground beef, browned, rinsed and drained (rinse to wash away fat)

Add to meat:

1 can of corn

1 can of black beans

Half cup of cooked brown rice

1 can of stewed tomatoes

Half cup of medium salsa

Simmer meat mixture for about 20 minutes

Fill peppers and top with:

Sprinkled parmesan and cheddar cheese

Bake until the cheese is golden.

Serve with avocado and sour cream.