Three salads to drool over...

Thursday, February 03, 2011

I've been learning to get creative with my salads lately, as no one wants to eat the same boring thing day after day after day. They are as delicious as they are pretty! Enjoy!


Cheesy Fruit & Almond Turkey Salad
Ingredients: Diced Turkey lunchmeat, black grapes, natural almonds, torn up swiss slices, baby spinach, spring mix baby lettuces.


Golden Apple Chicken salad
Ingredients: 1 Golden Delicious Apple, 3 oz grilled chicken, Zesty Italian dressing, baby spinach, spring mix baby lettuces, swiss & mozzarella shredded cheese blend.


Chicken Bacon Italian salad
Ingredients: 3 oz grilled chicken breast, swiss & mozzarella cheese blend, 3 strips microwaveable bacon, baby spinach, Spring mix baby lettuces, Zesty Italian dressing.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KAROUSELL46 2/4/2011 12:57AM

Beautiful salads. Going grocery shopping tomorrow and will add some of these to my list...Karen Report Inappropriate Comment

RUNSHELBIRUN 2/3/2011 5:51PM

They all look so good! Report Inappropriate Comment

SLASALLE 2/3/2011 5:36PM

Oooooh ... you are so right ... they are VERY PRETTY. I will be making these in the near future. Here's one to share back at you (sorry, no picture, but it is also a very pretty salad) ... Spinach Strawberries, sliced Sliced or slivered almonds Red onion (sliced very thinly) Feta cheese It goes well with any kind of balsalmic vinaigrette, raspberry vinaigrette or poppyseed dressing. Thanks so much for sharing the great salad ideas!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Huh???

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Okay, explain something to me.....

I try to eat 1200-1500 calories a day, and try to maintain 40-70 carbs within that calorie range. I do Zumba 3 nights a week, strength & core class for 2, videos and walk on the weekends. I drink a MINIMUM of 64 oz of water a day.So why is it that my weight & body fat % last night was the absolute same as it was 1 month ago when I last talked to my trainer Corey?

Even Corey's puzzled. He knows I'm walking the walk and not just blowing smoke up his keister. He sees me in the gym all the time...in fact, he's kicked me out twice and told me to go HOME! His only suggestions were to cut calories further (Uh, noo...) or push harder when I work out.

I was obviously upset last night...I mean, why am I doing all this if it's not doing a damn bit of good? Curt had a heckuva time talking me out of giving up.

The end of the the conversation was this: "I've never known you to give up on ANYTHING without a fight, and you're as big of a stubborn a**hole as I am, so you're gonna do it." (For those who don't know, a**hole is a term of endearment in our household. It's a strange relationship, but it works for us.)

So this morning I'm picking up the pieces of my shattered ego (because I thought I was doing sooo well), and getting ready to try again.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KAROUSELL46 1/28/2011 5:50PM

Don't get discouraged. I agree with QSCHOCOLATE about muscles. One of these days you're going to jump on the scale and say holy #### b/c you lost weight. Take your being stubborn and put it into not quiting. You'll get there...Karen Report Inappropriate Comment

QSCHOCOLATE 1/28/2011 9:52AM

Also remember that muscle weighs more than fat. That could be why you are having issues losing weight. I know that when I first started strength training I actually started gaining weight for a while before I started losing. Don't get discouraged. You can do it! Report Inappropriate Comment

CARRENK 1/27/2011 10:09PM

Don't get discouraged. While the simple equation is calories in less than calories out = weight loss, it's not exact. The body is a complex machine. Maybe yours is just getting tuned up for the process. You're doing the right things - the results will come. Report Inappropriate Comment

CARRENK 1/27/2011 10:08PM

Don't get discouraged. While the simple equation is calories in less than calories out = weight loss, it's not exact. The body is a complex machine. Maybe yours is just getting tuned up for the process. You're doing the right things - the results will come. Report Inappropriate Comment

Numbers

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

I started the Biggest Loser competition at my gym last night, and what a KICK-OFF! We even had the season 2 winner of the Biggest Loser there to speak to us! The owner of the gym was great, very highly motivational individual. We were asked to pledge a number of pounds to lose/gain by the end of the competition...I went a little crazy and pledged 40, but only after something that the owner said.

"Its a cinch by the inch, but its hard by the yard."

Translation: You can set the big goal, but its easy to feel overwhelmed by that, so break it down into smaller goals. 40 lbs is a big number, but 3.3 lbs a week isn't. I can do that. I've done that before. Not nearly as scary.

I know I'll have to work my butt off either way (figuratively and literally), but I know its worth it to get to a MUCH healthier weight.

Something else he said made me think big too, "Its the Little Ones who can rule this competition, because it's based on percentage, not pounds." A 40 lbs loss is roughly 23% of my current body weight. Wow...Can I really do that? HELL YA!!!

BRING IT ON!!!! HOOOYA!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KAROUSELL46 1/26/2011 2:18PM

HOOYA! LOL You are full of dedication and enthusiasim! Breaking the lbs into weekly amounts sounds so much more doable. YOU ROCK!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Celebrate your good health and life!

Monday, January 24, 2011

I came home from work on Friday with a massive migraine...I probably shouldn't have driven home it was so bad. A few hours after I arrived home, our neighbor Benji came over, very upset. His wife Lindy had collapsed the night before...she didn't make it. These two where as in love that day as they were the day they met. Curt's pretty shook now too...Lindy was a sweet lady who would come out and watch him throw his whips in the yard. She was also his age...54. She had a systemic infection that collapsed her lungs. She was struggling so hard to breathe that she went into cardiac arrest. She died Friday morning.

We never know how much time we have, but we can do our best to make sure it's quality time by making sure we are healthy enough to do what we want to accomplish. Yeah, I can complain about migraines and IBS flare-ups making my life icky today, but at least I have my life. I got to wake up today. I have a man who woke up next to me and told me how much he loves me. I have a dog who adores me. I have my HEALTH, and its getting better by the day, whether I feel good or not.

So...what will you do with your good health and life today?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KAROUSELL46 1/24/2011 4:45PM

Oh my. That's so sad. My heart goes out to him. There is always someone worse off than me and I shouldn't complain. Prayers to him...Karen Report Inappropriate Comment

HEATHER809 1/24/2011 4:40PM

It is always good to be reminded to keep things in perspective -unfortunately sometimes it takes a misfortunate event to remind us. I am currently being treated for cancer but I am grateful that it was caught early enough that it can be treated. Good health should never be taken for granted. Report Inappropriate Comment

Landscaping the temple

Thursday, January 20, 2011

"Your Body is a Temple"

Is this a desperate plea for people to worship me? Not really. Last I checked, I didn't have a God complex. Although, I did have an epiphany for this blog topic last night...but that's beside the point.

You see, people won't want to be associated with a run-down raggedy temple, they want to go to the nice looking, well kept one. I know, I know, don't judge a book by it's cover...but you know what? If it doesn't have an interesting title, I'm not going to be inclined to read it. Taking care of yourself physically gets people more interested to find out what you have inside! A beautiful landscape is a preview of the beautiful God or Goddess you have waiting inside you, waiting for people to get to know and love as much as you love yourself.

Speaking of which, Taking care of your outsides is another way to show people that you care about and love yourself, therefore capable of caring for and loving them too. It's hard to be confident when you're not proud of yourself.

You don't need plastic surgery to accomplish this. Take pride in who you are! Maybe a manicure...or a new haircut! Low on funds? Have a clothing exchange with some friends, or a "girl's spa night" at your house and have all your friends bring their stuff and work on each other!

However you decide to take care of you...do it with pride, and don't forget the upkeep!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KAROUSELL46 1/24/2011 4:12PM

Great blog! I'm not a fan of my landscape. Keep pulling out the weeds and thorns but sometimes it's hard to keep up with it. I do have a tendency to take care of others and then when I do spend time on myself I realize I do deserve it. My landscape is a work in progress. I'll keep cultivating and watering and then I'll be a rose. Report Inappropriate Comment

CARRENK 1/21/2011 5:33PM

This is pretty profound. I think lots of us (especially women!) end up taking care of ourselves last. I really struggle with that - sometimes I think I don't actually know how to take care of myself. Thanks for this post! Report Inappropriate Comment