Dear Body,

I'm so sorry for the way I've treated you these past two weeks. It's unfair to ignore your needs for convenience, then still expect you to give me maximum output.

I ignored the signs of allergy strain via ear infection that you sent me, choosing instead to use the drops just long enough for the pain and swelling to go away. An oath is pledged now that I will restart the drops this very morning, and finish the full course.

I've dumped toxic sludge into you by way of pre-processed, non-existent nutritional value, loaded with simple carbohydrates "quick meals" that have you feeling sticky and like you're moving through molasses. Then, to add insult to injury, I've ignored your need for agua for way too much coffee, with spurts of pink lemonade thrown in. Starting this morning I'll get you back on the right track. An abundance of hydration is the first order of the day, so it's back to one cup of morning coffee. I'm cleaning out the Refrigerator of Doom before breakfast, so that my excuse of not being able to find anything healthy to cook is no longer valid. Keep your eyes open for fresh fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens today...I hope you enjoy!

As for the exercise that you crave and enjoy (though the brain doesn't enjoy it a bit I know that you, Body, do!) I have chosen, instead, to breeze past the treadmill and heavy bag. Turn a blind eye to my Tai Chi, Yoga, and Pilates. Then I tackle labor intensive jobs that leave you sore, scratched, aching, cramping, and exhausted. These chores have to be done, and I apologize for that, but from today on they will only be done AFTER you have been properly exercised. I will also not be so stubborn about taking the time to tend to your aches and pains. I realize that we both loathe medicinal intervention so I will make sure to use my herbal teas and holistic remedies to soothe you back to a feeling of calmness.

I do love you, Body. It's you and me until the end, and I should treat you with the respect that you deserve. I'm but a weak soul, however, so please know that these slip-ups are a result of such and have nothing to do with us being enemies in any way. Perhaps from now on I can do a better job of showing you just how important you are to me.

With Highest Regards,    

The Soul Which You House

xoxoxoxoxo

Week 11 Weigh-In

Wow, what a week! I'm so excited, because I lost 2.2 pounds this week.

This is a big deal, since Saturday was our eleventh wedding anniversary. I took the day off dieting, and we went to Red Lobster and A-T-E. I was miserable I ate so much. I needed it, though. It has made me appreciate the healthy way my new way of eating makes me feel.

I've now lost over 10% of my body weight, and am just under a third of the way to my final goal! *does the happy dance all OVER the place*

I'll end this by sharing a new recipe I came up with a little while back. I made it again this past week and was reminded of how good it was, so I figured I'd put it out there for whoever is interested.

Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Pine Nut & Garlic Spinach

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup of feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 of a red bell pepper, diced
1/2 of a small red onion, diced
10 Kalamata olives, chopped
16 oz. package of frozen spinach
1/4 cup pine nuts
4 cloves of garlic, minced
Salt & pepper to taste

1. Preheat your indoor grill (an outdoor grill cooks too slowly, taking away the flavors).
2. Using a meat tenderizer, pound out the chicken to 1/4" thick.
3. Combine the feta cheese, diced red bell pepper and red onion, and Kalamata olives in a bowl.
4. Divide evenly between the chicken breasts, being careful not to overstuff.
5. Fold the chicken up so that the stuffing will stay inside when cooked.
6. Cook the chicken on the indoor grill until cooked through.
7. Combine the frozen spinach, pine nuts, and garlic in a microwave-safe bowl.
8. Cover and microwave according to the package directions.
9. When done, divide the spinach evenly between four plates.
10. Place a stuffed chicken breast on top of the spinach on each plate.

This is an incredibly easy dinner to make that even my picky 9-YO loves! From beginning to end it only takes me about 45 minutes to prepare and cook. Let me know what you think, and more importantly, ENJOY!!

If it ain't broke . . .

you know the rest. So do I. Which is why I wonder why on earth I tried to "fix-it" last week. I've known from the first few weeks of this diet that there was a certain breakfast that helped me out. For some reason I lost more weight on the weeks that I didn't vary my breakfast than I did when I tried to have something else.

My secret? Egg whites. Three of them - every morning. With either a bowl of hot cereal, like oatmeal or Cream of Wheat; or, a slice of low sodium turkey bacon and some fresh fruit. As long as I could consume my egg whites everything went along smoothly.

Last week, though, I strayed. My hubby was on vacation, and it was easier (read: faster) to just grab a granola bar, or a slice of whole wheat toast with some peanut butter on it. Doesn't sound bad, does it? WRONG! Not only did I plateau and not lose any weight last week, but I was constantly hungry! I realized yesterday morning that the only real dietary changes that I had made were the omission of my 3 egg whites, so I got back on them yesterday for breakfast.

The results? I got on the Wii Fit this morning - as I do every morning - and had dropped 1.2 pounds since yesterday! Hmmm, I don't think I'll be turning away from my egg whites again anytime soon - apparently they do this body good.

Now, to generalize this for all my Fittie friends - find what works for you. Play around a bit and you'll see that there is one food in your diet that helps you more than the others. The human body has an amazing capacity to know what it needs. It can't tell you, however. It's up to you to figure it out - so get busy! Figure out what your diet is lacking that is causing your body to crave and then add it in to your daily regime. You'll be stunned by the results!

Oh, as I said before, I'm now posting my food journal exculsively on Fitting It In, so if you want to have a peek feel free!

And Now For Something Completely Different!

Bonus points for anyone who got a giggle from that title :D

I'm a little bored of posting my food journal here every day. I mean, it's kind of redundant, as I also post it daily on Fitting It In. By the way, if you're on a health journey like me and aren't on Fitting It In, yet get on the ball! It's a wonderful place filled with motivation and nudges.

So, I was making lunch today and was reheating some of last night's leftover turkey tacos to nosh on. As I was sprinkling liberal amounts of cilantro on top of them I found myself wondering just what, if anything, cilantro could do for a body. Just what were the health benefits of this tasty herb? A little internet searching unearthed a mountain of information, and let me tell you, this little herb packs a punch!

According to healthdiaries.com, cilantro has been shown to do the following:

1. Protect against the Salmonella bacteria
2. Reportedly works as a natural chelation treatment (this is heavy metal detox - I had to look it up, as well!)
3. Aids in digestion and helps settle the stomach and prevent flatulence
4. Is an anti-inflammatory that may alleviate symptoms of arthritis
5. Protects against urinary tract infections
6. Prevents nausea
7. Relieves intestinal gas
8. Lowers blood sugar
9. Lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) and raises good cholesteraol (HDL)
10. A good source of dietary fiber
11. A good source of iron
12. A good source of magnesium
13. Rich in phytonutrients and flavonoids

I mean, WOW! Who knew it was such a hard little worker? Needless to say, I'm going to be sprinkling as often as I want now - how about you?