Link Sharing!

It is good blog behavior to acknowledge other blogs, isn't it? Especially if you are resposting links and ideas they posted right? Good, I'm glad we agree.

Once I started this weight loss journey, one blog led me to another. I love reading Bitch Cakes. She is so detailed in sharing what she eats, how she exercises and her journey. But one thing I really have to thank her for is introducing me to Almond Cheese. She tells all about it here. We have soy cheese in my house because Thing 2 is lactose intolerant, and sometimes I'll put some in with scrambled eggs, but I must say the Almond Cheese is better. More like real cheese. I've only tried mozzarella, but looking forward to more. I found mine at EarthFare. But in addition to the almond cheese recommendation, she just details so much of how she works at losing weight and keeping healthy, and I really appreciate that!

I also like reading Swimming it Off by "midlife swimmer". I too am in the mid-life range, and I am inspired by how much exercise she does. It makes me realize I can do more.

I am in awe of Tyler at 344 Pounds for his success and for recently posting a weight gain. He's honest and I can relate to his lapses!

Lynn of Lynn's Weigh is also inspiring. I can relate to her.

Although Susan at The Great Balancing Act is much younger than I am, I love reading what she's eating and have learned a few things about protein powder!

I read other blogs and will likely reference them soon. I think it's good to acknowledge that we're all in this together and give credit to those who inspire, don't you?

Foods that keep me going

This was a crazy busy week, hubby out of town, work deadlines looming. Couldn't get to gym. Luckily hubby doesn't travel often, so next week, I am there. I started this list a while ago. It helps remind me what good options I have to eat.

This is a partial list of things I eat on this weight loss journey. Most of these things are things I ate before I started this journey, but then I also ate additional junk too!

Egg beaters - usually with some Pam spray, leftover veggies, and a slice of soy cheese.

Herbal tea/unsweetened ice tea - In the cold months I have different flavored herbal teas throughout the day. During the warm months I always have a homemade pitcher of unsweetened iced tea available.

Oatmeal - old fashioned oats with a spoonful of peanut butter and a splash of almond or soy milk. Just saw this Custard Oats Primer at Finding Radiance that I'm going to try!

Oatmeal smoothie - This is how I eat my summer oatmeal. 1/2 cup oatmeal, cup of soy milk or other milk, cinammon, maybe half a banana. Very thick and filling. Yum!

Fiber one - filling! Usually I have this midmorning if I've had the egg beaters, I'll have some fiber one later in the morning, but never after oatmeal.

Nonfat greek yogurt - Yum! Sometimes plain, sometimes with a chopped up apple or other fruit. Could spring come and expand my fresh fruit options, please?

Avocados - I love avocados! Love them when they are ripe and I'll take 1/2 an avocado and mix with a little lowfat may and spread on toast. Sometimes add a slice of turkey.

Salad - I'm trying to get out of the lettuce tomato spray dressing rut. I think today I may have some chopped turkey on my salad at lunchtime.

Bag o'cabbage - I spray a pot with some canola oil spray, put in 1/2 a bag shredded cabbage, add a wee bit of salt, and then turn up the heat. Stir for a few minutes, then lower the heat and cover the pot for about 5 minutes. Sometimes I'll have this as a side or add a chopped up veggie burger or veggie crumbles (aka fake meat) to it. Back in the day, I would have the cabbage with a veggie burger and pasta for a power meal.

Soup - I love soup! Try to keep some tasty low sodium options in the pantry. My husband made some leek potato soup that I'm going to eat soon. Yum.

Popcorn - When I am very hungry and just feel like stuffing my face, I will eat a whole bag of popcorn. It's a safe vice, makes me feel like I've eaten a lot. I try to make it myself via the Alton Brown method: Put 1/4 kernels in a brown paper bag. You can put oil in, I don't. Fold over the top of the bag a few times. Alton says to use a staple, I don't. Microwave for a few minutes, listen carefully for when it slows. I sprinkle with a teaspoon of olive oil and spray a little Canola oil spray on and then salt, garlic powder, parmesan cheese, whatever you like. Yum! Healthier than the packaged microwave popcorns.

Kale chips and roasted chickpeas - Love these! You may not, I think it is an acquired taste. See the recipes here at FatFree Vegan Kitchen here.

Veggies - Luckily I love all kinds of vegetables. Dinner for me is usually what I serve me family, chicken, fish, lean turkey and a big salad or lots of vegetables. I usually try not to do carbs at dinner unless we're having a pasta dish. Some recent departures for me: Roasted eggplant with garlic and brussel sprouts (shredded in the food processor and sauteed for a few minutes with garlic and canola oil).

Why can't I?

Yesterday the kids were having turkey sandwiches on some yummy rolls. I really wanted one because we got some new yummy mustard with peppers. I thought that would taste so good with turkey, but I really didn't want the big roll or any bread. So I was about to write off having the turkey when it suddenly dawned on me that I could have the turkey with the mustard without the bread! Doh! Wouldn't a skinny person do this? Just pick the best part of a dish and leave the parts they don't want or need.

I dub thee pepper mustard turkey rollups and I give thee five stars!