Start Clean 2013: Day 17

Yeah, I'll catch up the other days soon... but today's challenge touched me so much I wanted to write up a post about it!

Eat intuitively.

I loved today's challenge!  When I first started on my weight loss journey I joined Weight Watchers at work.  Though I didn't end up continuing with the program, I learned SO much about myself and my relationship to food in the session I attended.  I vividly remember having to journal (hunger scale) of why we ate, how hungry we were, and how we felt afterwards.  What an EYE OPENER!

Sep 2008 (~250lbs)

After this task 5 years ago, I suddenly "got it".  It made sense...  Eat when you are hungry.  Stop when you are full.  I was no longer eating slow because people told me to, but so I could gauge what my body was telling me.  Now, I start with smaller portions and listen to my body.  It seems so simple now- but man, it wasn't how I was taught to use food.

Now that I've added weights and running into my fitness I get "it".  I need food to fuel my body, not pleasure my taste buds.  I often repeat to my boyfriend... we eat for fuel, not for fun!

Dec 2011 (~175lbs)

I still struggle with social situations (where I'm listening to my friends talking and not my body saying it's full), but am happy to report that I do get IT and normally am successful.  :)

Thanks for the challenge today, I love to look back and see how far I've come in my weight loss/ get healthy journey!!!

Start Clean 2013: Day 7

Try a new veggie day... drum roll please.... KALE!

kale chip first taste

Aaron and I were both under the weather so we decided to have tomato soup, grilled cheese, and kale chips (strange combo- I know!).

We used a couple variations of recipes recommended by folks on the StartClean2013 facebook page- thanks ladies and gents! 

plain- olive oil, salt, & pepper

parm- olive oil, salt, & parm cheese

bbq- olive oil + dry seasoning mix

I think I didn't cook them long enough because they were not as crispy as I imagined they would be... but the flavor was tasty.  Definitely liked the parm and bbq, but the plain weren't too bad either!  We will definitely be baking the second half later this week to have as a tasty snack.  I'm so glad we tried a new veggie today!!!

Start Clean 2013: Day 5 & 6

Meal plan and hit the grocery store...

Dinners:
lasagna
grandma Royer's chicken and rice casserole
crockpot roast
pork chops + pasta
beef steaks + mystery veggie [kale]

Breakfast:
oatmeal
carnation breakfast shakes

Lunch:
leftovers
pb&j

Snacks:
greek yogurt
blueberries
strawberries
apples
pretzels
trail mix (peanuts, raisins, m&m's)

We normally print all recipes and put on the fridge.  Then, whoever gets home from work first gets to pick what's for dinner and starts cooking (we don't plan on specific days of the week for each meal).

Marsh sent out some GREAT coupons this weekend!

Photography Challenge: Overview and Week 1

Read about a photography challenge on a family's photo blog... and decided it would be a good opportunity to get familiar with our new camera (Nikon P510- almost a true DSLR).  We will not be doing any editing unless otherwise mentioned.  I will try to make note of photo details, but no promises.

See challenge details here.

Week 1: Ice

By Aaron

By Erin: P mode with Manual Focus (f/4.18, 1/250sec exposure, iso 320)

 

Quiche (for Mom)

Easy quiche recipe.  We were tired of eating leftover ham from Christmas...

Prepare Crust

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Line baking sheet (with sides) with foil.
3. Cut piece of foil to tent over pie crust.
4. Set pre-made pie crust in liked baking sheet.

Prepare Meat and Veggie Mixture

1. Chop leftover meat and veggies into bite size pieces.  
2. Saute onion and garlic in pan with a little olive oil.  
3. Add spinach (or other pre-cut veggies).
4. Add ham (or other pre-cut meats).
5. Season with salt and pepper to your taste.
6. Cook until correct consistency (spinach) and pretty colors.

Prepare Egg Mixture

1. Beat 3 eggs in a large bowl.
2. Add 1/4 cup mayo, mix until incorporated together.
3. Add 2 cups milk, mix.

Prepare Cheese

1. Grade up about 1 cup of cheese (pick your favorite type- we used colby jack).

Put together

1. Layer into pie crust 1/3 of cheese, 1/2 of meat and veggie mixture, 1/3 of cheese, 1/2 of meat and veggie mixture, 1/3 of cheese.
2. Give the egg mixture a good stir then dump on top.  (You might have extra- do not overfill crust, just discard- or make an omelet.)

Bake

1. Tent foil on top of crust (so cheese and crust don't burn).
2. Bake for 45 minutes.
3. Remove foil bake for an additional 15 minutes or until it doesn't shake in the middle.

 Enjoy! :)

my lovely assistant... aka boyfriend.  :)

Start Clean 2013: Day 4

Workout with a friend... or 20!  Tonight I attended a 60 minute zumba class at my gym.  It's been awhile since I've been to the Friday night class, so it was a great time to socialize and shake my booty!

Start Clean 2013: Day 3

How much water do you drink?

After a strange series of allergic reactions and swollen lips, I've temporarily switched to a glass water bottle.  It's kinda nice and fun, but a little on the heavy side to throw in my bag. Anyhow, I drink 3-4 in a day.  Today (as of 6:30p) I have drank 75.9 oz of water.  :)  Two years ago that would have been 0 oz of water, 36 oz of cherry coke.  Yay for progress!!