Friday, May 10, 2013

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 betterbut 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.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

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.