Proof I Eat At Home

Spinach and Goat Cheese Omelet
Originally uploaded by HollyGolightly_74

Phase IV (maintenance) | Weight Loss to date: 70.2 lbs since Jan. 17th

Social networks are typically my outlet for all of the eating out we do (after all that's what us Foodies do, right?). In fact, many of them encourage eating out - Foursquare, Foodspotting, etc. So during P3 and P4 my Mayorships at most of our usual haunts are pretty secure since we don't eat at home as much as we do in P2.

Yesterday we decided to brunch at home so I whipped up a delish spinach and goat cheese omelet (two full eggs and 1 oz of egg whites to cut down on fat and cholesterol) and paired it with a mixed greens salad with dried cherries, sliced almonds and more goat cheese. Drizzled with some balsamic vinegar and it rivals even our favorite foodie spots.

Bon appétit!
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Here are the stats:

Spinach & Goat Cheese Chicken

Spinach & Goat Cheese Chicken
Originally uploaded by HollyGolightly_74

Phase III (round three) | Weight Loss to date: 71.4 lbs since Jan. 17th (I'm still stabilizing)

Tonight we thought we'd revisit an old favorite. I took chicken escalopes (found at Fresh and Easy) and pounded them down just a bit more even though they are already pretty thin.

Then I steamed 1.5 oz of spinach, separated it into four sections and placed it evenly on each one. I measured out 1oz of goat cheese for each escalope, seasoning it with garlic powder, onion powder, ground pepper and parsley.

After rolling them and tucking them together with toothpicks I placed them in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

YUM.... perfect for P3!

Bon appétit!
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Yogurt Sundae

Yogurt Sundae
Originally uploaded by HollyGolightly_74

Phase III (round three) | Weight Loss to date: 73.2 lbs since Jan. 17th

This is a delicious treat that is very healthy because it has lots of great protein and is low in fat and sodium.  We use the Fagé Greek yogurt that is 0% fat.  I layered the yogurt with raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries.  Then I chop up some nuts and then drizzle a little bit of honey on top.

So delish!


Here's the recipe breakdown and nutritional facts:

Bon appétit!
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Bacon-Wrapped Dates

Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Originally uploaded by HollyGolightly_74

Phase III (third round) | Weight Loss:  74.8 lbs total lost since Jan. 17th

There's not much that needs to be said about this foodie item. Bacon...good.
Dates...good.
Bleu Cheese....good.

This lick-the-plate-it's-so-good appetizer was enjoyed at Founding Farmers in Washington, D.C. when I should have been maintaining but instead I was indulging. ☺

Trust me it was totally worth it.

Bon appétit!
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Eating Rogue

Phase II (third round) | Weight Loss: 70.2 lbs lost since Jan. 17th

Sometimes preparing all of my meals in P2 can either get boring or impossible. Tonight we are at a dinner theater and faced with either not eating or taking chances. While I'm not usually a fan of buffets (too much unknown activity by strangers around my food) this evening "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at a local dinner theater motivated me to give it a go.

We checked out the menu online ahead of time and found that the protein options were going to be limited but figured we take our chances. They had a mish-mash of options: oriental crispy chicken, salmon with some type of soy-based marinade, beef stew and roasted turkey. For vegetarians (if that was really their intention) there was a sticky sort of cheese ravioli available.

The salads were either iceberg lettuce and bits of shaved carrots or romaine with croutons and Parmesan cheese. I opted for the Romaine and picked around the croutons and cheese.

Since the salmon was drenched in that soy glaze I checked out the turkey and was surprised to find a uniformed carver slicing to request a beautifully roasted turkey breast. Although I suspected that it was brined or roasted with butter and/or oil - it was the least of all evils.

I had the carver lay the turkey on top of the Romaine and then topped it with some pepper and lemon juice to make a nice fresh salad! It was delicious and I felt good about my decision not to stray.

Bon appétit!
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Cherry Tomato and Basil Eggwhite Omelet with Fresh Strawberries

Cherry Tomato and Basil Eggwhite Omelet
Originally uploaded by HollyGolightly_74

Phase II (third round) | Weight Loss: 70.2 lbs lost since Jan. 17th

Quick post to show off my lovely basil and cherry tomato egg white omelet with fresh strawberries I made for myself this morning.

Although it is certainly missing the feta or goat cheese, for P2 it's not half bad! ☺

Bon appétit!
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It's not always about the numbers....but sometimes it is!

Phase II (Round three) | Weight Loss: 67.6 lbs lost since Jan. 17th

Much fuss is made over scales. Cartoonist love to make those crazy sweat drops fly from Cathy as she even thinks about stepping on a scale.

So I have not been one to subscribe to the idea that my goal is only a number. But today is different. Today I am happy to report that through healthy living I have achieved a sub-goal that I've been carrying around for years. The last time I was at the weight I am today was Sept. 11, 2001. I remember that day for many reasons, one of which is that I was as I heard of the national tragedy I was leaving the gym where I had just weighed myself after (at the time) a routine morning workout.

So here's to the tiny celebration of numbers and all the other goals we aim to achieve!

GAME TIME...Skinny Hot Wings

Phase II | Day 18
Weight Loss: 61.8 lbs

Today I got a hankerin' for some wings.  The sweet taste of that tangy wet sauce countered with the crunch of celery was all I could think about when I woke up this morning.  The problem with wings is not the chicken. Nor is it the celery, which some refer to as a "negative calorie food" (wish chocolate did that).  The challenge really lies in the sauce.  So many sauces are laden with sugars - or worse corn syrup and corn starch - so it's more than just oil or breading that knock these off the list.

We've found a couple of different sauces that work really nicely in either Phase II or Phase III.  For Phase II, this Louisiana hot sauce below is awesome.  We use it on everything from steak to chicken to shrimp to asparagus... basically just about anything.  

So for chicken wings today, I decided to combine a couple of "secret" spices and kick up the volume on these to trick my brain into feeling like I was eating at the corner sports bar.  I started by trimming some lean chicken tenderloins.  These were organic chicken tenderloins from Safeway, which are a little more expensive but after what I've seen in some documentaries lately, the extra couple of bucks are worth it.

I tossed them into a mixing bowl and grabbed some of Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning. 

This seasoning doesn't have any sugar in it and not enough calories to even register so it is perfect for Phase II. Next I tossed the tenderloins in the seasoning and threw it on the grill.

After they grilled I threw them back in another mixing bowl and tossed them again in the Louisiana Hot Sauce. Mmmmmmm, can you smell it yet?

Mmmmmmm!  Delicious and ready for game time (or in my case, the Series Finale of Lost!)

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of ...olives.

Phase II.2 | Day 12
Weight Loss: 56.6 lbs

We are on the second round of the intense part of this diet plan and this time around it is a bit more difficult. Although it feels easier to know what we can and cannot have, and we've taken some liberties with this knowledge, it is important to note that it does seem a bit more difficult to keep my mind from wandering...

The first time we did Phase II, we did not eat out at all.  I prepared my lunch every day and never strayed.  This time around I find myself rarely preparing my lunch but instead grabbing an apple, eyeballing that it is about 5ounces - minus core - and then calculating it from there.

During our first run through Phase II I found most success when I stayed just slightly below the 500 calorie mark so overestimating certain items tends to work well to hit just below that mark.  So far I am losing a good amount this time around so I think this method is working and helping me to remain sane.

I am really looking forward to moving on to Phase III.  What Kelly and I discuss often is the change in our cravings.  We no longer crave that ooie, gooie pizza or fat-laden hamburgers but instead, a bowl of mixed olives, cheese, nuts...these are the things we long for.  That beautiful bowl of olives at Postino is calling my name and just a couple more weeks I will answer.

Watch your toes...pounds are dropping!

Phase II.2 | Day 4
Weight Loss 50.2

I know I've been bad about updating this so I thought I would start with some really good news - the pounds, they are a' droppin' - check out that chart above!!! I hit a huge goal today...50lbs lost!!

Sometimes I don't really believe it myself until I try on a shirt I haven't worn in a year or slip on those jeans that used to take the jaws of life to get out of (not to mention what it took to get into them). It is an amazing feeling to wear clothes that actually fit!

Speaking of clothes, we just dumped a huge load of clothes off at our local donation center.  We went through our closets and tried on just about everything.  It was great to go through and see what fit, what didn't and both those items that we were glad were returning to our wardrobe and those we were saying good bye to.

Now the only problem is finding the time to go buy new clothes...but what a great problem to have.☺

Faithful Foodie Bids Farewell to Forty Extra Pounds!!!

Phase II  |  Day Thirty-seven
Weight Loss: 40.4 lbs

Today is a GREAT day! I have passed the forty pound weight loss goal and we are in the final week of Phase Two.  I will admit I have slacked a bit the past few days on getting creative with recipes; however between being sick and this being the final week I am going to give myself a pass.

Phase III = Hello again Mr. CHEESE and Ms. WINE!!! ☺

Bon appétit!
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No-Brainer Fruit Smoothie

Phase II  |  Day Thirty-three
Weight Loss: 36.8 lbs

It appears I have caught the cold I had a few weeks ago so I am not feeling very well today.  I think we are passing it back and forth at the office.  So to combat it, I have concentrated on getting a bit more fruits and vegetables and lowered my protein slightly to compensate.

To help get some of the extra fruits down I decided to make myself a strawberry smoothie.  I start with 4 oz. of fresh strawberries.  I pulse it quickly and then add two cups of ice cubes.

Then as it is whirling away I add a bit of water to loosen up the ice and strawberries and it really starts to spin!

Next I add drops of liquid Stevia - Chocolate Stevia if you're feeling really sparky.

Viola! The No-Brainer Strawberry Smoothie!  Now if only I could convince myself there was some rum in it! ☺

Spice Up Your Life!

Phase II | Day Thirty-one

Weight Loss: 34.6 lbs

They say variety is the spice of life however because of the ease of preparation I often find myself having the ground turkey tacos for lunch. While making a batch of chicken stock that complies with the HCG Plan, I thought of a nice variation and something to do with all of the left over chicken.

Instead of cubing the chicken or leaving it in full breasts to warm up (which tends to be a little dry), I decided to shred the chicken in the way we did when I was growing up making chicken enchiladas.

Then I took  6 oz. of tomato paste and four tablespoons of chicken stock and mixed it in a skillet.
As it starts to simmer you fold in the chicken
Cover and let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes
Add a few dashes of salt and some tabasco sauce and serve it up in a bowl or as chicken tacos! Talk about the SPICE of life!!!

Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus

Phase II  |  Day Twenty-six
Weight Loss: 31.4 lbs

Although Cocktail Shrimp is one of favorite things in the world, instead of tackling making my own cocktail sauce, I thought I would take shrimp in a new direction.

I weighed out four ounces of shrimp, removed their shells and tossed them with paprika, chili powder and italian seasoning.

Next I took two cloves of minced garlic and browned it in a skillet with four table spoons of our homemade chicken stock.

Toss in the shrimp, mix and then add the juice of half a lemon.

Cover and let the shrimp simmer for five minutes.  If the liquid evaporates too quickly you can add another tablespoon of chicken stock.

Steam some asparagus and you have a restaurant-worthy meal!

Fancy Chicken and Asparagus

Phase II  |  Day Twenty-four

Weight Loss: 30 lbs

So my beloved is on a business trip this week and instead of getting gloomy and possibly cheating I have decided to experiment a bit.

I figured I would start out by pounding out a little work-related stress.  I pulled out an individually packaged chicken breasts.  Then I took my trusty meat tenderizer and pounded it nice and flat.

Next I trimmed and rinsed 3 ounces of asparagus.

I lined up the chicken breast and asparagus and tossed some of my favorite spices: garlic powder, onion powder, celery salt, and lemon pepper - don't forget to FLIP and season the other side!

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.  Roll the chicken around the asparagus and stick a toothpick through the edges of the chicken; making sure you run the toothpick through the asparagus.

Pour two ounces of your homemade chicken stock into the bottom of the baking pan and add the juice from one half of a lemon.

Place the pan into the oven and bake for about 25 minutes.  About halfway through baking you can temporarily take it out of the oven and use the silicone baster to keep it nice and moist. The trick is to just tip the baking pan, squeeze and then baste!

Pair it with some delicious mandarin oranges and all the delicious citrus flavors really pop!

Waist-Slimming Turkey Burger Sliders

Phase II | Day Twenty-two

Weight Loss: 28.8 lbs

Today is a GREAT day! It is almost time to buy a new belt - I am on the last hole! The progress I am making is so exciting!

For tonight's dinner I decided to make Turkey Sliders. I weighed 5 ounces of 99% lean ground turkey meat per person  and set that aside. Then I took two garlic flavored Melba Toasts (per person) and crushed them into crumbs.

Next step, I added the crumbs to some spices - onion powder, cracked black pepper, sea salt and celery salt.

Then I added ¼ teaspoon of egg whites.

I separated the turkey meat into four small patties and tossed them on the grill. To keep them nice and moist, I use this silicone baster filled with chicken stock (home made).

Serve it up on a bed of Romaine Lettuce with a dollop of mustard and a side of lovely strawberries and it is a healthy alternative to the usual high fat meal. 

I have never been so excited to buy a new belt!!! 

Skinny Salsa

Phase II | Day Twenty-one

Weight Lost = 28.2 lbs

Today's challenge is to make "skinny salsa". In many store bought salsas there is hidden sugar and preservatives. While this probably won't last as long, it is going to be much better for us in the long run.

To begin, I skipped weighing the tomatoes (figuring I would weigh it out at each serving) and just grabbed five beautiful, plump Roma tomatoes.

I sliced the tops and bottoms off and cut then into quarters.  To make it a little chunkier I recommend de-seeding the tomatoes. It helps to take a lot of the liquid out.

Then I tossed them into the food processor adding a garlic clove, sea salt, onion powder, chives and good ol' cracked black pepper.

Then I added the final key ingredient - Hatch, New Mexico Green Chili to taste.  Sometimes this is powerful so add slowly!

Viola!  Skinny Salsa!

Add it to an egg white omelet and it adds a nice kick to brunch. Delish!