Errands Saturday

One quick trip to the local fruit stand for apples (3 different kind), spaghetti squash, green and red peppers, zucchinis, gold potatoes, red onions and tomatoes for some healthy fresh food.

Exercise today:
Elliptical - 13 minutes, cross ramp 10, resistance 7-10, 155 calories
10 minutes weight training
Treadmill - 16 minutes, incline 5.0, 3.2 mph - 145 calories

Friday...free lunch and sweets.

Every Friday at work, the company buys us lunch. It's a nice gesture that is quite mandatory. Refusing to order and/or participate would not be, let's say, politically correct. The only downside in it is that it's not really healthy. Today we ordered from the newly opened local Potbelly. It's a good and decent sandwich shop but really I had too many times downtown to really be excited about it. They do have new salads that I kinda wanted to try but I changed my mind after seeing how many calories are in the chicken salad salad (yes, that's 2 salads..lol). So I have a turkey sandwich on wheat, no mayo, no oil. It was good but then......

We had a freshly baked peach-blackberry pie from Michigan and OMG it was delicious! The crust was so flaky that I can still taste the butter and sugar...lol And it's the same situation as during lunch, no one can say no since we're all meeting in the lunch room together, at the same time, with coffee, tea and water.

So to recap today so far I had:

Breakfast: The Great American Bagel chocolate chips bagel
Lunch: Potbelly turkey sandwich on wheat with baked chips and a huge pickle
Snack: Peach and Blackberry pie
Dinner: will be homemade vegetable pizza with whole wheat crust.

I'm SO going to work out tonight while the kids are swimming....LOL

It's working!

Three and a half weeks into this new healthy plan and I'm so proud to report that we are all doing very well. It's very exciting and it tells me that I'm doing something good for my family and that, most importantly, they are accepting the changes very well.

DH - lost 11 lbs - 3.72%
Me - lost 6 lbs - 2.76%
DD (16yo) - lost 2 lbs - 1.47%
DS (11yo) - lost 4 lbs - 2.77%
DS (8yo) - lost 4 lbs - 3.50%
DD (5yo) - lost 2 lbs - 3.22%

This weekend we have planned:
Friday - 1 hour swimming for the kids while DH and I work out
Saturday - 1-1/2 hour swimming for the kids while DH and I work out
Sunday - Boys 1 hour boot camp then 1 hour aqua-exercise, DD-5yo 1 hour swimming, DD-16yo 1 hour work out then 1 hour swimming, DH and I 1 hour workout and 1 hour Pilates.

It's getting such an habit to cook and eat healthier. Last night we didn't work out and I actually missed it. Even if it's only 30 minutes here and there, it feels good.

I also take a multi-vitamin each morning, Nutri-Silk vitamins twice a day for my hair and Calcium caramel chew each night.

Thursday:
Breakfast: Nature Valley Oat and Honey bar and vanilla Active yogurt
Lunch: leftover butternut squash couscous and Dole mandarin fruit cup
Snack: Sliced apple and Active cheese stick
Dinner: Barilla Plus penne with Swiss Cheese, 1 slice whole grain white Sara Lee bread with Smart Balance butter and Breyers Light French Silk Ice Cream

Wednesday - Hump Day

Breakfast: Nature Valley Peanut Bar and Peach Active yogurt
Lunch: Veggie burger with Swiss cheese on white whole grain Sara Lee hamburger bun with Sun Chips 100 calorie pack and a Dole mandarin fruit cup.
Snack: Sliced apple with Active cheese stick
Dinner: see recipe....

Butternut-Squash Couscous:

1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups couscous 2 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup canned diced tomatoes with their juice (from one 15-ounce can)
1 butternut squash (about 2 pounds), peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and cut into 3/4-inch dice
1/4 cup raisins
3 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
2 cups drained and rinsed canned chickpeas (one 19-ounce can)
3/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup sliced almonds


FOR ALMONDS: In a small frying pan toast the almonds over moderately low heat, stirring frequently, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Or, toast them in a 350 F oven for 5 to 10 minutes.
FOR SQUASH: In a Dutch oven, heat the oil over moderately low heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cayenne, nutmeg, and cinnamon and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute longer. Stir in the tomatoes, squash, raisins, broth, and 1 teaspoon of the salt and bring to a simmer. Stir in the chickpeas and cook, covered, for 10 minutes. Uncover and simmer until the squash is tender, about 10 minutes more. Stir in the parsley.
FOR COUSCOUS: Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring the water and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil. Stir in the couscous. Cover, remove from the heat, and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Serve the stew over the couscous and top with the toasted almonds.

I loved it! For DH and the 3 kiddies, I made some rice instead of the couscous - they almost ate it. I guess they're not used to the sweetness of the squash with the cinnamon.

Exercise:
Elliptical - 10 minutes, cross ramp 10, resistance 10 - 120 calories
Weight training - 15 minutes on various machines (abs, shoulders, back)
Treadmill - 7 minutes while waiting for DH, incline 5.5, 2.8 mph - 50 calories

Tuesday

Breakfast: Nature Valley Peanut Bar and Active vanilla yogurt
Lunch: 2 mini whole wheat bagels with light butter and cantaloupe
Snack: Mott's apple sauce, Active cheese stick and pretzels
Dinner: Veggie burger with Swiss cheese on a white whole wheat Sara Lee hamburger bun with baked fresh cut Yukon potato french fries drizzled with olive oil.

Exercise:
Elliptical - 10 minutes, cross ramp 10, resistance 8 - 120 calories
Treadmill - 5 minutes Fit Test - 50 calories (got a 25 below/average score!)
StairMaster - 3 minutes, level 2 - 20 calories

One more school open house - 2 down and one more to go!
I'm feeling pretty good even if the scale isn't really moving at all. I'm not sure why, I'm drinking water and green tea, eating right and exercising. Maybe it's time to pack the scale up...LOL

Monday Blues....

I'm not sure I know ONE person who's actually excited over Monday, well expect when you DON'T have to go to work...lol

Breakfast: Nature Valley Peanut Bar and vanilla Active yogurt
Lunch: 4 shrimp and tofu spring rolls and a Dole mandarin fruit cup
Snack: Co-worker birthday cake (fudge chocolate!)
Dinner: 2 whole wheat tortillas with shredded chicken, rice, black beans, cilantro, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce.

Exercise:
10 minutes Elliptical - cross ramp 10, resistance 7 - 120 calories
10 minutes floor and abs exercises
I really had to push myself last night, I was tired, had an headache and didn't feel like going at all. But went anyway, late, but did something!

Today I noticed that my pants are fitting better - definitely the goals of working out. Now I wish the scale would start moving down again....lol

Sunday Fitness

Treadmill - 35 minutes, 5.0 incline, 3.2 mph - 296 calories
Weight - 15 minutes
Stairmaster - 7 minutes - 50 calories

I need some new gym shoes, mine to too tight and giving sores.

Spring Rolls.....

I wish I was talking about the weather but I'm either 6 months early or 6 months late.... Still being on my Asian kick, I took on spring rolls and I'm trying to master the art and the flavor.

Rice paper
Cucumber, seeded, julienned
Carrots, julienned
Extra firm tofu, julienned
Cilantro, chopped
Scrambled eggs, chopped
Green Onions, sliced
Thin Rice Noodles, cooked

Deep the rice paper in warm water for 30 second until very soft. Gently place on paper towel. On lower side, place the noodles, top with tofu, carrots, cucumber, sprinkle with cilantro, onions and eggs - do not overfill or rice paper will rip. Tightly roll lower sides on top, fold both side in and roll top side over. Place on plate and refrigerate until served.

Peanut Sauce:
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp fish sauce
water to obtain desired consistency.

Warm sauce to blend flavor. Serve cool/cold with chopped peanuts and green onions on top.

I made this Saturday night and enjoyed them so much that I made more for lunch today. This time, I substituted fresh shrimps for the eggs and I'll deep in hoisin sauce.

I need a new job.

I've been at this one for 5 months and I'm too bored. I feel like routine has taken over and that there isn't a way out of here.

I need to find something else. Desperately.

Weekend breakfast

Homemade pancakes:

2 cups of whole wheat flour
1/4 cup of Splenda
1/2 cup egg beater
1/3 cup of canola oil
2 cups of vanilla soy milk
2 tbsp of lemon juice
pinch of salt
1-1/2 tsp of baking powder

Slightly beat and cook on non-stick griddle.

I had mine with sliced bananas, sliced almonds, coconut flakes and sugar-free chocolate syrup.

Friday Family Night

Pizza Dough (for 2 - 16" pizzas)
3 cups whole wheat flour
1-1/4 cup warm water
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
pinch of salt
1 1/2 pack of yeast

Put all the ingredients in the bread machine, select "dough" cycle and within 1:20 hrs, I have delicious dough. I put it on a floured surface and punch it down while I cut veggies and such, then cut it in half and roll it on the pizza pans coated with corn meal and pre-bake then at 450 degrees for 6-7 minutes.

Toppings:
Pizza one - 1 small can of tomato paste diluted with some water and flavored with oregano, cooked turkey sausage (breakfast patties work very well) or turkey peperoni, low moisture part skim mozzarella cheese.
Pizza two - 1 small can of tomato paste diluted with some water and flavored with oregano, sliced red onion, sliced green pepper, sliced red pepper, sliced black olives, cut fresh baby spinach, low moisture part skim mozzarella cheese.

I bake them for another 15 minutes or so, until the cheese starts to get brown. Delicious and healthy.

Movies, pizza, our family - nothing more is needed!

Fitness

Thursday:
30 minutes on treadmill - 3.0 mph, 5.0 incline - 275 calories burned.
DH did 30 minutes on treadmill too - 3.0 mph, 2.0 incline - about 200 calories burned. He did a little weight too!

Wednesday:
Nothing - We took one of our cats to the emergency vet for bleeding. She's fine!

Asian Flare

The best way to add vegetables to each meal and still be a hit with the kids - well at least half of them, is to cook what they like - Asian food. I'll say Asian because we receive a lot of influence in cooking from DH's Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean customers. So we take several recipes and make our own.

Cashew Chicken:
2 cups short grain organic brown rice
5 cups of water
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1-1/2 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed or sliced
6 oz fried tofu, diced
1/2 red pepper, diced
1/2 green pepper, diced
1/2 red onion, diced
3 gloves fresh garlic, diced
1/2 bag of baby portabella mushrooms, chopped
1/2 bag of mange-tout
1 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp fish sauce


Bring brown rice in water to a boil. Reduce heat and cook on low until tender (about 45 minutes). I'll recommend to put the rice in before prepping the vegetables.

Heat the olive oil in a wok. Add and stir fry the chicken until cooked on all sides (5 minutes). Remove the chicken. Add all the vegetables and tofu and stir fry until slightly tender (5 minutes). Remove the vegetables mixture. Add the cashews and stir fry until roasted (2 minutes). Add the chicken and the vegetables and add hoisin sauce, soy sauce, water, vinegar and fish sauce until warmed (couple of minutes). Serve on top of brown rice.

Sweet

I had a SMALL piece of raspberry cake. I enjoyed it and that was that!

Breakfast was a Fiber One cereal bar and a strawberry Active yogurt. Lunch was a tofu sandwich on 100% wheat bread with mustard and a Dole Mandarin fruit cup (plus that small slice of cake!) and snack was an apple with an Active cheese stick.

I have 32 oz of green tea and 52 oz of water.

I'm good and satisfied right now. Not sure what's for dinner and not sure I will have time to go to the gym. I want to though. I really do - well that's scary!..LOL

Exercise

Tuesday:
30 minutes on tradmill, 4.0 incline, 3.0 mph

Monday:
2 x 6 minutes on the elleptical, resistance 4, incline 10
0.07 mile running
0.28 mile fast walking
15 minutes various weight machines

Sunday:
0.28 mile fast walking (1st day while DH played around...LOL)

Healthier Spaghetti with Double Dose of Veggies

I absolutely love being creative in the kitchen. How to make a staple of the American cuisine as healthy and good for you that it is delicious in taste?

For 2 adults, 1 teenager, 1 pre-teenager and 2 children:

3/4 lbs whole wheat organic spaghetti
1 lb ground turkey
1 jar of 100% natural Preggo combo chunky style
2 TSP of extra virgin olive oil
1/2 green pepper, diced
1/2 red pepper, diced
1/2 red onion, diced
3 gloves of fresh garlic, chopped
1/2 bag of baby spinach, chopped
1/2 bag of baby portabella mushrooms, chopped
reduced-fat parmesan cheese
low-moisture, part skim mozzarella cheese

Stir fry all the vegetables in the olive oil until tender. Keep warm.
Cook and drain the ground turkey then add the spaghetti sauce. Keep warm.
Boil and drain the spaghetti in unsalted water.

Serve the spaghetti, spoon the tomato/turkey sauce over it and cover with the extra vegetables. Sprinkle lightly with cheese. VOILA! Nutritious and delicious.

We did have some thin-sliced french bread, rubbed with fresh garlic and spray with PAM toasted in the oven. Crispy, delicious and without the excess fat.

Georgous End of Summer Day

It's about 90 degrees outside today and even though I would love having some cold cantaloupe and some juicy nectarines, the summer fruits are at the end of their runs. I have found a wonderful farm stand about 8 minutes from home, right in the country where they have some delicious fruits and vegetables. Right now I'm stocked on green and red peppers, small and medium golden and gala apples, cabbage sprouts and even a butternut and an acorns squah already. Yes fall is definitely right around the corner. At least calendar-wise.

Today I have a Fiber One Cereal bar and a vanilla Active yogurt for breakfast. Lunch was leftover tilapia filets with lemom-pepper seasonings, some couscous with a touch of salt and olive oil and a mandarin fruit cup in light syrup. I skipped on my usual snack because I had a late lunch.

I think tonight might be some whole wheat spaghetti, 100% natural preggo chuncky vegetable sauce and some ground turkey - sprinkled with reduced-fat parmesan cheese. I have some leftover french baguette in the freezer so I might treat the kids to some homeade garlic toasts.

I'm not sure if DH will feel like going to the gym tonight but we'll try - I feel so much better, even if it's only 30 minutes on the treadmill like last night (4.0 incline, 3.0 mph). Going back to the gym actually feels really good right now!

Welcome!

Welcome to our family!

Yes we have FOUR kids that we're trying to make healthy. For the past 2 weeks, we have been watching that we eat, exercise and life a much healthier lifestyle that we used to.

This blog will be filled with recipes, ideas, exercise routines and lots of funny stories.

Enjoy!