Another wasted Weigh in Wednesday....

The scale remained the same this morning.  I don't want anyone to think that it is the fault of the eating plan which I am (supposed to be) on.  When I was true to the eating plan the scale went down faithfully.  I have been untrue to the plan so the scale is stagnant.  I am pretty happy that I haven't gained any weight.

I did pretty good Monday and was doing okay yesterday until dinner when I had pasta (which is fine for Phase1) with smoked salmon which isn't...but still would've been okay for Phase 3...if not for the butter and heavy cream....I did use brown rice pasta though so that should count for something.  Then I decided to have a glass of wine with dinner which led into 2 more glasses during the evening.

Today I did great for breakfast, my morning snack and lunch.I prepared dinner and put it in the crockpot. Then I went to work the Food Pantry. I went in, set up appointments and did the shopping. Then I got hungry and wasn't prepared.  Phase 2 is difficult for me snack wise.  The other Phases you can grab fruit or veggies or nuts and have them in your car or purse for when snack time hits.  Phase 2 requires a snack of meat.  It is hard to carry around meat in your purse or car.  The book recommends jerky....can I just say I HATE jerky.  All of this whining to try to justify that stop at McDonalds and a Big Mac Attack.  Even this delicious, Phase 2 soup that we had for dinner isn't going to make up for a Big Mac....sigh.....

And now I got an email that says I have to report to a courtroom tomorrow for jury duty.  I almost got away scott free and now on the second to last day I have to report.  I'm not taking meat in my purse for a snack so there goes Phase 2 again.....but I will take fruit and nuts so that at least I don't break down and have McDonalds!!

This soup recipe that I am sharing is adapted from The Fast Metabolism Cookbook and is supposed to be a stew but I didn't have  any arrowroot so hence instead of gravy I have broth.  It also called for stew  meat but when I went into the freezer I came across some beef shanks and so used those instead.  The beef shanks, while lean, still contain more fat than trimmed stew meat so keep that in mind if you are trying to be true blue.

Crockpot Beef Vegetable Soup

inspired by The Fast Metabolism Cookbook

2 c. napa cabbage, shredded

1/2 c. onion, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

1 c. green beans, cut into thirds

1 sprig thyme

salt and pepper to taste

1 (32 oz) box beef broth

2 beef shanks or 2 lbs. beef stew meat

Place the cabbage, onion, celery, green beans and thyme into the crock of a slow cooker. Season the beef with salt and pepper and sear in a large skillet over med high heat until browned.  Place on top of the vegetables in the crock.  Pour 1 c. of the broth into the skillet and bring to a boil, stirring to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the skillet.  Pour this and the remaining broth from the box over the ingredients in the crock and cook on low for 7-8 hrs.  Remove the thyme stem and the shanks, if using.  Discard the stem and cut the shanks into bite size pieces, discarding any fat, gristle and bones. Return the meat to the crock and stir to combine.  Print Recipe

Turkey Loaf

Last night, for dinner, we enjoyed a Turkey Meatloaf made with a recipe taken from The Fast Metabolism Diet Cookbook.  You would think that Phase 2 would be the easiest phase.  Meat and veggies, how hard is that?  But you are very limited on any other igredients.  No healthy fats and no grains.  Your fruits are very limited and many of our favorite veggies are not included on the list.  So I find myself turning to the cookbook most often during Phase 2 so I am not eating grilled meat with a side of veggies every Wednesday and Thursday.

This meatloaf was pretty tasty and I would enjoy it even more during the other phases when I could enjoy it with a Sweet Potato on the side.  I love having Sweet Potatoes with my Meatloaf.  It is an easy meal to throw together and leaves plenty of leftovers for lunch during the week as it can be eaten in every phase of the Fast Metabolism Diet.

Turkey Loaf

slightly adapted from The Fast Metabolism Cookbook

2 lbs. ground turkey

1/2 small onion, finely diced

1 stalk celery, finely diced

2 egg whites

2 T. coconut aminos

1 clove garlic, minced

salt and pepper to taste

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and combine using clean hands.  Press into an 8x8 baking pan. Bake in a preheated 375* oven for an hour.  Print Recipe

Wednesday Weigh in....

I started back up on this plan on Monday.  Yesterday I cheated when having company for dinner and indulged in a Mango Madness Margarita and an Orange Shortbread Cookie.  I will be sharing both of those recipes over at A Day in the Life on the Farm later this week.  Let me just suffice it to say....they were both worth the cheat.

Speaking of my other blog....today I am sharing the Phase 1 friendly Buckwheat Pancakes that I told you about yesterday.  They make you feel like you are cheating when you're not!!  Can't ask for more than that from an eating plan.

Suffice it to say, I was not expecting much when I stepped on the scale today.  Imagine my delight when it had gone down another pound.  Woohooo....171.  21 more pounds to goal weight and I am confident that this eating plan will get me there.

This morning started Phase 2.  Lots of lean meats and vegetables.  I have found that my idea of meals has changed during this eating plan.  Breakfast= Break Fast.  Just eat....eat within a 1/2 hour of awakening.  Eat something other than sugary cereal or pastry washed down with coffee.  Drink a large glass of water while preparing your breakfast that might consist, as mine did today, of non traditional foods.  I enjoyed smoked salmon and cucumbers this morning.  It was not only my breakfast but I am making Salmon Topped Cucumber Slices to serve as an appetizer tonight when I have guests over for dinner.

Yep, that's right...guests for dinner 2 nights in a row in the middle of the week while trying to maintain a diet.  That, my friends, is why I very rarely refer to this as a diet because I need it to be an eating plan that I can live with each and every day and it does.  My life does not stop because I decide to take care of myself.  In fact, the more I take care of myself, the better I feel and the more I want to entertain.  

I am finding that this is not about will power at all.  It is about disciplining yourself to eat.  Eat early, eat frequently, eat healthily and then if you have done all of that for most of the day or for several days and you want to indulge then do so joyfully and without guilt of any kind.

This is what Haylie Pomroy teaches in her book and it is what I am proclaiming on this blog.  Have an absolutely Wonderful Wednesday everyone!