Weekly Update

I found a really nice website, FamilyShare.com that covers a lot of subjects. I found this article interesting and even tried "The Green Goblin." It was delicious and will now be one of our choice smoothies.

I put on 1/2 a pound this week. Why am I not upset? Do you remember the post last Friday? I commented on the usual weight gain at 'that time of the month'. Well, I usually put on five, sometimes as much as ten pounds. The doctor used to give me water pills to help on the heavier months. Anyway, I pretty much maintained my weight since last weeks weigh-in. You'll see that later.

I've taken pictures of the garden and when my husband downloads the camera, I'll put them up. I still haven't added any vegetables, but what's there is doing great. The seeds I planted from the neighbors were too old and they didn't germinate. I've planted some seeds from various vegetables we've eaten and will move them over to the garden if they grow.

I've been really busy emptying our storage unit, so I haven't had much time to blog. As the title says, this is an update of the past week.

Our slow cooking adventures:

We loved the Butternut Squash Soup so much, I'm planning on making it again this week. The Orange Chicken didn't turn out so well. Will have to try it again when I'm not so pressed for time. We also made Hearty Calico Bean Dip. A recipe from Crock-Pot, the original and #1 brand slow cooker.

3/4 pound ground beef (we used turkey)
1/2 pound sliced bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled (left this one out)
1 can (16 ounces) baked beens
1 can (15 ounces) Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained (used dried beans)
1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained (used dried black beans)
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup packed brown sugar (was a bit too sweet)
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon cinder vinegar
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
Tortilla chips

1. Brown ground beef in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring to break up meat. Drain fat. Spoon meat into 4-quart Crock-Pot slow cooker. 
2. Add bacon, beans, onion, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar and mustard to slow cooker; mix well.
3. Cover; cook on Low 4 hours or on high 2 hours. Serve with Tortilla chips. (makes 12 servings)

It's a bit too sweet. I cut the sugar to 1/4 cup and will see if that's any better.

We loved this. As a matter of fact, we're having this again tonight. There was even enough left for several lunches.

We also cooked whole chicken in the slow cooker. We placed it in the cooker and rubbed fresh garlic and rosemary and left it to cook. After dinner we recooked the carcass, after removing all the meat, in it's juices along with leftover vegetable parts we'd been saving. (these come from peeling potatoes, cutting off the tips, etc. The stuff you usually throw away.) We let that cook on low overnight and then removed all the bones and vegetable rubbish. We added the leftover chicken meat from the previous days meal and dumplings. This was the best chicken and dumplings we've had in a long time.

Still haven't really added exercise to my regiment. I really need to and hope that will happen once our storage unit is empty.

Weigh-in--Beginning weight 188 pounds; this week 174.6. A total of 13.4 pounds since 12/26/2012 (approximately four weeks). I look forward to next week getting back on schedule.

Benefits moment:

Blueberries--Blueberries contain a wide range of micronutrients, including manganese, vitamin C, and vitamin K. These power fruits are also high in fiber, and renowned for teir anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting chemicals.

Look for dark-blue blueberries--don't worry too much about scent. They should feel heavy in your hand, and have very few to no greenish or purplish berries in the package.
(copied from the Nutribullet pocket nutritionist)

Happy healthy eating, losing weight and becoming healthier.

Wow! Didn't expect that

I planned to write this yesterday, but life got in the way. I thought I might get some pictures of the garden today, but it's dark now. Thought I might bike, but that didn't happen either. So, why the title? I'll get to that.

I saw a commercial selling pills to pop when hunger attacks your diet. Reminded me of what I had read about why many diets fail. Diets that say you can eat only this or that or restrict your calories tend to fail when hunger strikes. These are diets tend to be too restrictive. Hunger comes because you aren't meeting your needs. Most often you're not eating the foods that your body needs to maintain function. One must also have an attitude of wanting to change. The problem is many diets don't really give you a variety. Most of us, including me, eat the wrong stuff. I'm learning to eat the right stuff and finding just as many delicious choices. I read that one should concentrate on changing their food choices from unhealthy foods to healthy foods rather than watching the scale, but the scale does indicate the value of your changes.

I am watching the scale to see the choices I'm making are helping me lose weight. I'm also monitoring how I feel so I know the choices are healthy and beneficial. (feeling healthy and energetic is more important and should naturally lead to weight loss) My goal is to get down to about 125 lbs. I'm also planning to choose foods that will help against my genetics. Namely, heart disease (including heart attacks), diabetes, cancer and thyroid. I expect the food to help lower the chances of these affecting me. Weight-loss is an important part of many of the above.

So why the title? The first week I lost 7 lbs. A lot of which I'm sure was water due to the fact I put on a lot during the week before. The second week I lost almost 4 lbs. (recommended weight loss seems to be anywhere from 1/2 lb per week to 3 lbs with the average being about 2lbs) The third week I lost 2 lbs. Since I didn't write this yesterday here are my stats:  188 lbs 12/26/2012, 174.1 1/18/2013. So total weight loss to date--14 lbs an average of about 5 lbs per week. I was surprised what the scale read this morning because three days this week my weight stayed the same and the last couple were extremely close. I didn't expect to drop a little over 1 lb since yesterday's reading.

So this weeks recommendation is to watch your attitude so that you don't blame yourself for what's not happening, unless it really is. Most of the time it's because the diet you chose is too restrictive. You need to find a weight loss program that moves you from bad foods (you know, the ones that make you feel bad even while you're trying to convince yourself you feel good) to good foods (the ones that really make you feel good and healthy). And no worries if now and then you choose a food empty of nutrition or health values. You're entitled. Just remember to keep the right attitude.

Benefits moment:

Blackberries-This magic purple berry is packed with antioxidants and contains fiber, folate, and vitamins C and K. Blackberry seeds are also rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, which can be released through the Nutribullet's extraction blades.

Look for blackberries that are slightly heavy and firm to the touch. Avoid wrinkled, shriveled, or dried-out berries. There should be little to no evidence of juice at the bottom of the container.
(copied from the Nutribullet pocket nutritionist)

Plateau

I seem to be on a plateau with my weight. I need to add exercise to my weight loss program, but haven't found the time. I need to decide it's importance and make it. I wake up in the morning and make a blast. I then read scriptures and prepare for my Sunday School lesson. Then I work on my writing stopping, now and then, to ship items I've sold online.

Good news for my husband, Thom. He says he's almost lost a full size to fit into his former pants. That's great and I'm excited for him. I don't seem to have lost a size, but my weight loss, as of today, is about 12 pounds.

The garden is ready for more planting. Need the time and money to add more. I spent last Saturday hiking in the Everglades--six miles--and didn't manage to get pictures of the garden. I was also unable to go to the Farmer's Market and pick up my fruits and vegetables. I've been watching for those that sell on the streets, but they don't seem to be out this week. I'll try to get some pictures this weekend and hit the local market early. I plan to move our books and stuff out of our unit, so I hope to remember to take the pictures before the day is gone.

Benefits moment:

Bananas--Bananas are easy to digest and contain potassium, fiber, manganese, and vitamin C, making them an excellent food for children and those recovering from illness. They assist with sleep and enhance immune function, and also assist with the absorption and preservation of calcium in the body.

Choose bananas that are free of bruises.Bananas are best eaten when they begin to show a few tiny dark spots. Ripe bananas can be stored at room temperature for 3-4 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks (the skin will brown, but the fruit inside will be fine). To freeze bananas, remove the skin and place in a sealed plastic bag.
(copied from the Nutribullet pocket nutritionist)

One thing I'm always looking for is easy, already prepared foods. That leads to poor choices in eating. I've been using my crock pot more since receiving the Nutribullet. I made butternut squash soup. It was really good and, since no one else in the family like it, I had several meals that only required me to reheat in the microwave. The second meal I made was called Calico Bean Dip. We ate it as a meal and it lasted through several quick meals. Tomorrow I'll be cooking Orange Chicken. Our local grocery store had whole chicken's on sale, today was the last day, so I purchased one and plan on cooking it in the crock pot as well.

I know, it's not what you want to read that I'm eating. This is me. I'm not ready to totally give up meats, but I have cut the portion sizes and am purchasing less. Maybe one day I'll be eating even less, but I'm not ready at this time.

Happy healthy eating, losing weight and becoming healthier.

I Feel Free

and exhilarated. I'm done with the toxin blast and am able to experiment as I test different mixtures of fruits, greens, nuts and seeds. Made blasts with apples, pears, bananas, mango, spinach, romaine lettuce and ginger. Not all at once, made several different blasts. Decided the romaine lettuce belongs in salad for now. Will need to find something that's able to overpower it's slight bitter taste. The mango's are from our tree and I was so happy to put them in. Yummy.

We purchased red leaf  and romaine lettuce, walnuts, red grapes in addition to replenishing our depleted fruits and vegetables. The whole family is still excited about our new choices and are slowly moving from refined foods to raw foods.

The squash soup is for later today. Smells great. Can't wait to try it. Will use the Nutribullet to puree it.

Okay, I know I was supposed to do this yesterday, but I was missing some information and so I drafted this post until I could find it.

Weigh in-- Beginning weight 188 this week 177.5. Weight loss slower than the first week, but more in line to what is recommended.

Benefits moment:

Avocadoes--Rich in vitamins and minerals, avacados are often considered a perfect food. Each avocado contains a surprising 4 grams of protein; that's more than any other fruit! Plus avocados contain the highest concentrations of monounsaturated fats among all fruits, compounds that are essential to healthy brain development.

Choose firm but tender avocados with no soft spots. Ripe avocados will have a consistent, slightly soft exterior. Avoid avocados with blemishes, broken skin, or dents.
(copied from the Nutribullet pocket nutritionist)

Happy learning to eat for a healthier life.

Recipes and boosts

Finally sat down and made up a meal plan. We've been blasting for almost two weeks with the toxin blast. Time to start our 6 week program, our way.

Tomorrow I'll be crock potting a Butternut Squash Soup

2 pounds butternut squash, rinsed, peeled, seeded and chopped into 1-inch cubes
1 firm crisp apple, pealed, seeded and chopped
1 yellow onion, chopped
5 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon curry powder, sweet or hot
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Salt and black pepper to tast
1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries

1. Place squash, apple and onion in 4-quart crock-pot slow cooker
2. mix together stock, curry powder and cloves in small bowl. Pour mixture into crock-pot slow cooker. Cover; cook on low 5 - 5 1/2 hours or on high 4 hours or until vegetables are tender.
3. Process in blender in 2 or 3 batches to desired consistency. Add salt and pepper. Garnish with cranberries, if desired. 

makes 6-8 servings
Recipe from Crock-Pot slow cooker recipe booklet

We have most of the above from our organic shares. If you're local check out Healthy Habits Organic Produce for their upcoming share.

We also are moving up in the world of choices as our bodies have been adjusting to the blast. We'll be adding lettuce and kale to the spinach choice. For boosts we'll add sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, walnuts, and almonds. Many of which we already have in stock.

We'll maintain the 2 handful rule for the greens, nuts are added at 1/8-1/4 cup and seeds at 1 tablespoon. Our fruit choices are going up too. We'll continue keeping apples, bananas and pears in stock. We also have oranges in stock. We'll eat what fruits come from our backyard. Right now we're getting papaya and avacado.

Our garden is thriving. Beans are well underway as are the cherry tomatoes and onions. The spinach is doing great and the garlic chives look great. Can't wait to use them. Time for more pictures. Hopefully my husband can get them Saturday.

Benefits (I'll cover one food item each time I post):

Apples-Believed to fight several types of cancer, antioxidant-rich apples may very well be key to "keeping the doctor away." They are also helpful in fighting heart disease, weight gain, and high cholesterol. The fiber contained in apples is vital in preventing cholesterol reabsorption.

Always look for apples without any softness or bruises. Green apples that have taken on a yellow hue are likely to be past their prime.
(copied from the Nutribullet pocket nutritionist)

Happy gardening and healthy eating

One Week Review

As you may remember, I received a Nutribullet for Christmas. Today marks one week of two juicings a day since Christmas. This has been a fun learning experience. Here's the only way I know to show my progress:

First Weigh-in   One Week Weigh-in
188 lbs                       181.1
F-37.2%                    37.2  (I think the F is for fat. Lost the information booklet and can't find the information on the net)
W-45%                      44.9  (Assuming W is for water--as above)
B-5.1%                       5.1   (Again, assuming B is for bone)
M-32.6%                   32.6  (M for muscle)
Cal-2883                   2885  (number of calories needed to maintain weight) Definitely don't want to maintain this weight, so I guess I need to eat less calories and exercise more.

In my previous post I planted an edible garden. Yesterday I added another bed and planted two types of spinach. My next bed will be lettuce. I covered the beds with dried banana leaves to stop our cat who decided it was his litter box. When the beans and peppers (not yet planted) grow in the block openings, I'm sure they'll act as a fence.

Our wonderful neighbors, The Edgar's, gave us some seeds and a couple of hanging pots. I've planted the strawberries, cherry and regular tomatoes and sweet basil. We'll keep you updated with pictures as the garden grows. They also gave me a bicycle. So glad. Mine was stolen off my porch. This one stays on the back porch. So exercising with a bike is now possible.

Here's to continued weight loss and healthier living through a better diet.