Outside the Box Isn't That Bad

Last night, I met up with my friend at the gym, afterwards she came over to my place so we could visit more. I needed to eat, but I did not want to eat out, nor did I want to ruin my diet but, I also wanted to make something that she might like and preferably not just the same ol salad with chicken. I know how much she likes tacos and I had taken out some bison intending to cook it up with some taco seasoning. So, I came up with a "creation" that I tested out on her. I had some rice in the fridge as well, so I topped 1/2 cup of rice with 100g of bison with taco seasoning, then about 1/3 cup of cottage cheese, shredded head lettuce, sliced black olives and salsa. It tasted similar to a taco salad, minus the taco. I quite enjoyed it and so did my friend. In fact, afterwards she commented that she was so full and satisfied, she was having a hard time believing we just had something that was healthy, low fat, good protein and carbs. Which BTW, is also the making of a great post workout meal. Even Wes tried a bite and wasn't disgusted by it. It got me thinking that I think some people get so stuck on "normal" foods that the thought that something is good for you, or "diet" food, should be bland and not overly satisfying. The problem here is if you want to continue to eat well and make a lifestyle change, you have to find alternatives. If all you live off of is plain salad with no dressing and dry chicken breasts, there is no way you will be able to keep that up, which is generally how yo-yo dieting ends up.



My sister does not eat gluten or dairy, some would automatically assume that a piece of toast for breakfast or a sandwich for lunch is out of the question. Or that she would never be able to have ice cream ever again, or pancakes, cookies, cake..... One would end up living off of only fruit, veggies and meat! You just have to think outside the box and experiment. If you want to make a lifestyle change, it has to be one that you can see yourself sticking with, find some alternatives to your favorites. Heck you might even prefer it. Granted, it will likely take more work then going through a drive through, but hey, if it was easy there would be no such thing as obesity.


My 'creation' may not taste exactly like a taco salad, but it is pretty darn close. And you know what? My sister does eat ice cream, pancakes, toast and cake, the only difference is she doesn't go to a store or open a box to have it.


Well, as I mentioned at the beginning of my rant, I went to the gym yesterday....

Workout

Bentover Flyes 10lbs x 12 x 2
Lying BB Protraction 25lbs x 12 x 2
Seated Scap Depressions BW x 12 x 2
Face Pulls 70lbs x 12 x 2

Military Press 45/50/55 lbs x 5 x 3
Chin Ups 1 band x 5 x 3
Seated Cable Row 75 lbs x 8 x 2
Incline DB Press 25lbs x 12 x 2
Lateral Raise 10 x 12 x 2

My Oatmeal Pancakes

The hardest meal for me to eat clean has got to be breakfast. I prefer a savory breakfast, not a sweet one, yet it seems most breakfast recipes are sweet. I also hate eggs and egg whites in particular, or anything that tastes like them. That doesn't really leave very many options. I have come up with an oatmeal pancake recipe that I love. Even though it is sweet, I still like eating this almost daily. Tay even likes them.

In a blender or food processor combine;

• 1/3 cup cottage cheese,
• 1/3 oatmeal and
• 3 egg whites.
• Sweeten to your preference. Whether you use sugar, splenda, agave nector, it doesn't really matter.

Add

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon and
• 1/2 tsp vanilla.

Continue to mix until everything is smooth. Pour out pancakes onto hot griddle, sprayed with Pam. Cook on med-low. Flip when bottom is golden brown. You can eat them with your choice of syrop, regular or SF, fruit preserves etc. I really like to top mine with natural almond and hazelnut butter and SF syrop. Or, natural peanut butter and sugar free jam, then roll them up. Wrap in tinfoil or plastic wrap and you have a portable snack. This is how Tay likes them.

Crockpot Porridge

1/2 cup cracked Wheat
1/2 cup steel cut oats
1/2 cup rye flakes
1/2 cup brown rice
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 dates, chopped
6 cups water, or soy milk, or almond milk, or a combination of those
pinch nutmeg
I also added cinnamon and cloves

Put everything into a crockpot and cook on the lowest setting for the longest time.

I think adding grated apples would be good with this. You can add any sort of nut or dried fruit as well. I put in some chopped almonds and flax seed in mine.

Split Pea with Root Vegetable Soup

Such an easy recipe, I remember it.... I think.

6 tbsp Olive Oil
3 carrots, chopped
2 parsnips, chopped
2 leeks, chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp marjoram
1 1/2 lbs roasted turkey breast, bone in ( I roasted chicken breasts, since I couldn't find turkey breasts), cut into chunks
3 bay leaves
11 cup chicken broth
3 cups split peas

Heat oil in large stock pot. Over low heat, add vegetables and spices, cover partially and cook for 20 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 45 minutes or until desired thickness. I think I cooked mine for and hour and a bit. Lost track of time, so I am not 100% certain.

Happiness is...

This had been a great weekend. Yesterday, after Wes and I dropped Tay off at Grandma's, we went to his gym and worked out together. It was nice. We don't actually work out together as much as we work out in the same vicinity. Either way, we were together. Afterwards, we came home and cleaned the house together, then had a nap. You know you are getting old when a day like this is considered ideal. We went out for dinner, then to a friend's place for a couple drinks, then home to bed. I finally got to sleep in my own bed and wake up on my own accord. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. I am trying two new recipes from my new cookbook; crockpot porridge and split pea and root vegetable soup. They are both cooking and making my kitchen smell fantastic! Back to work tomorrow. I like starting the week well prepared; lunch made, gym bag packed, coffee ready to be brewed and dinner planned out. I hate being rushed in the mornings. I am up at 4:45 am every morning, so that I have enough time to get out the door by 6:30 am. So, the more prepared I am the night before, the smoother my morning goes. I am off to bed early tonight!

Before I go, posting my workout from yesterday.....

Glute activation and hip mobility work

• Full Squat 95/105/115/125/135lbs x 5

(I think this was a personal best for me. I do not recall ever lifting this much before. It was kinda a fluke, I started my first set at 95 lbs, which was 30 lbs higher then the last time I did squats. I was already onto my second set before I realized the weights were much heavier. Either way, the lift went pretty well. My form felt strong, although I didn't get down as low as I should have. Unfortunately, my right knee has been bothering me ever since)

• Split Squat 65lbs x 10 x 3
• Leg Press 170kg x 10 x 3 (Assuming this was kilos, since I usually press 250+lbs, although it was also a different machine then I am used to)
• Standing Cable Crunch 27.5kg x 15 x 3
• Seated Alternating DB Curls 15/17.5/20 x 8

I'm sore today. Very sore.