Diet ~ Exercise ~ Diet ~ Exercise !!!

[Marilyn]

Diana, thank you for the recipe. I made it tonight and it was a HIT!!! Like many of you, I also work full time with a 40 minute commute, so here's how it worked. We had chicken breasts in the freezer so got them out this morning and my oldest daughter made sure they thawed safely. At lunch picked up the other ingredients. Instead of rice I cooked whole wheat angel hair pasta. So we had your dish, the pasta and a salad. Hubby really liked it. I put it in the oven before leaving for the gym. When I got home, just had to toss on the stuffing and let it finish while I cooked the pasta (had boiled the water while getting ready for the gym, so just had to reheat to boiling) and made the salad. (BTW, I'm giving this detail to help others with ideas, not to show how together I am. We usually eat cereal for supper, eat out or just fend for yourself from whatever is available in the frig or pantry.)

It cooked a little longer than your recipe said, but it turned out fine. I cooked it in a Pampered Chef stoneware rectangular baking dish which helps hold in the moisture.

By the way, Mexican food lovers, go for the Chicken Chalupas or a fish dish when you are in a Mexican restaurant. Many of the restaurants around here offer Chicken & Spinach with grilled veggies, Mexican rice & guacamole. I eat the chicken, veggies and gaucamole and just a little bit of the rice. It's not super low cal, but much better than enchiladas, refried beans and rice. If you order something with refried beans on the plate, they will often substitute charro beans which are much lower in fat. You still get Mexican flavor without as many of the calories. There is a reason that San Antonio, TX is one of the fattest cities in the nation. It was #1 a couple of years ago.

BTW, I'm not a nutritionist by any means, just fairly well read on the subject. My genetic background is soooo bad. No diabetes (except one uncle), but lots of heart disease, cancer, strokes & alzheimers in the family tree, so I really try to keep up with what is heathy. I was around 12 when my father had his first heart attack, so Mother cooked the same food for all of us, and we were on what was considered heart healthy at the time.

I really want a cardio workup done to find out how I'm doing, but when I mentioned it to my doctor, he laughed at me and ask if I was afraid of a heart attack. I said yes, and he patted my shoulder. I know I don't look like someone who is headed for one, but neither did my father. The doctors were very surprized when he had his. I probably should change doctors.

[Lissa]

Yes, that chicken dish was REALLY good, I liked it!! I'm keeping a copy of it for when I've finally got a kitchen!!

btw, Mum, docs are supposed to do what their patients want, if you wanna get your heart checked up on then he has no grounds to not do it. I don't like it when docs look at you and tell you you don't need to get something checked out, do they have xray vision or something?

[highlans]

[

Highlans - freeze that choclate and allow yourself maybe one piece per week. I have heard that the darker the chocolate the healthier it is sorta speak.
I too had to be rid of many "snacks" in the house prior to starting this diet. My downfall is salty snacks, ugh. Once they are outta the house I am fine. It's when they are sitting in the pantry calling out for me is when I become overwhelmed and cheat.

Tried that one will even eat it frozen it justs lasts longer ,it has to be out of the house, my poor hubby has been having it in his lunch box this week.
Will all be gone by tonight, I think everone on here wanting to slim is going to help.

[highlans]

[
My avitar is Paula Dean. I don't look like that.

Marilyn
All this time I have pictured you as your avitar please put the real you on

[Marilyn]

Originally Posted by highlans

[
My avitar is Paula Dean. I don't look like that.

Marilyn
All this time I have pictured you as your avitar please put the real you on

Okay, I'll try to find a decent pic.

[highlans]

Thankyou

[DianaB]

Originally Posted by Marilyn

Diana, you had it going there until you said "served with rice". Rice especially white rice is a No No for people trying to lose weight. It turns to pure sugar in your blood stream.

I'd suggest eating this dish as it is, or with a whole grain pasta.

To make recipes low fat/lower cal, the key is to use low fat/lower cal ingredients like this recipe does. Also eliminate as much as possible any white flour (can use some white whole wheat), white rice, minimize the fruits.

The white refined carbohydrates become sugar very quickly in your blood stream. Complex carbs from whole grains are much better. Fruits and carrots are high in sugars so should be minimized. Drinking a large glass of orange juice is like eating several oranges. Think about it. That's a lot of sugar.

I've been dieting off and on since having children. I'm about 11 lbs overweight right now and working to get that off. I'm 52 and workout at least 4 to 5 times a week. Indoor cycling (spinning) is the best workout that I've found. More calories burned and cardio exercise for the time invested than treadmill or elypticals. When I can't spin, I do elypticals.

I meant to say that I serve it with BROWN rice. Sorry that I left that out. Actually it doesn't need the rice to go with it. That was just a suggestion for a dish to go with it. Thanks for pointing that out, Marilyn.

[Gina]

Girls another helpful hint. I went for my yearly phycial yesterday the dr. told me to eat oatmeal which is very healthy and fulling. I brought the weight control packets from Quacker Oats.He said do not put the water in the microwave, boil it , microwaving it loses all the nutrients... Somehow oatmeal is like lead in my stomach he laughed and said its ok, you wont eat too much that day lol .Eat healthy fruits for lunch and a handful of cashews when you get cravings. Like someone mentioned modify your portion intake. Want to pass this along, I am very determine and happy that we can start this thread and pass along what works for us. I am off to the gym today , for the older women like myself its all about staying healthy. SO GIRLS LETS BEGIN THE NEW YEAR RIGHT!!!

Btw Rebecca I do go out for luncheons with my job, this is how I gained the few pds. as you get older it doesn't come off so easy. At your age if you begin to eat healthy that pattern will stay with you forever...

[rivermom]

Gina ~ I had to stop by the store today and I picked up some of that Weight Watcher's Oatmeal. It really looks wonderful!! Thank you for the tip!!

It's really been mind boggleing "preparing new dishes to eat at dinner" and such. Actually it's kinda been fun, a challenge if you will...

Last night I roasted vegi's in the oven for the first time. OMG they were delicious!!

I had sliced portabella mushrooms, yellow squash, zuchinni, and a few grape red tomatoes. I sprinkled salt/pepper then sprinkled with olive oil and tossed together. Laid them flat on a cookie sheet covered w/ aluminum foil (easy clean up) and at 450 degree's roasted for appx 30 min's. (stirring occasionaly) I served this with salmon and a salad. YUMMY!

I've watched on food shows that if you are going to add fats to your diet, add healhty one's like olive oil, avocado, some almonds, etc.

I am really pumped up about getting healthier and making new life changes for this year. Glad to experience it with you all too who are doing the same.

[Gina]

I started the gym today and I am gung ho about going, they have so many excersize programs and cardio equip. I am going to try to go often, its right by my house so I don't have to travel far..

Sheryl I grilled some veggies tonight, I put it in a pan that grills over the stove, I sprayed some pam, and a little olive oil, sautee them with garlic. Once cooked I put in bowl and put a little balsamic vinegar, a drop more of olive oil, salt and pepper they are so good I ate half of it.

Ladies I don't know if you have a Costcos by you, but I am cooking Tilapia Loins, they are so good meatier than filet. They come in the frozen section about 12 pieces invidualy wrapped for about 16.00. I make them as following..

I spray pam on bottom of pan, then I place the fish into pan and
season with lemon pepper, salt, cut up sm. pieces of garlic, some butter light of course, a sprinkle of bread crumbs and I add chicken broth to dish. Cook according to package about 35 min. This is soooooooooooo delicious, I am making this as I write.

Ladies we are all so motivated this is great!!

[Marilyn]

Originally Posted by Gina

He said do not put the water in the microwave, boil it , microwaving it loses all the nutrients...

Gina, I did not know this. I eat oatmeal sometimes in the morning because it's supposed to reduce the bad cholesterol. Had no idea that adding the water and then microwaving was bad. Will definitely change this practice!!

Originally Posted by DianaB

I meant to say that I serve it with BROWN rice. Sorry that I left that out. Actually it doesn't need the rice to go with it. That was just a suggestion for a dish to go with it. Thanks for pointing that out, Marilyn.

Diana, I did not mean to be too critical of your rice. I've just read so much about white rice being bad. I don't like brown rice, so the whole wheat pasta works best for us. This recipe is awesome!! I shared it with a friend at work today and she is very anxious to try it. It's easy, very good, and low fat. What more could you ask?!

Sheryl, this is a great thread!! Thank you for starting it!!!

[highlans]

Originally Posted by Marilyn

Okay, I'll try to find a decent pic.

Marilyn why did you hide behind Paula Dean you are far prettier and much younger looking

[rivermom]

Ok ladies who have been watching their weight and exercise routine, it's been about a week. How did you all do?

I am a little discouraged...The 4 I lost, I've gained back 3 of them. I have not exercised in a week but promised myself I would tomorrow.

Been eating pretty healthy so that's a plus at least!

Hope you all had a better week at this than I did.

[Gina]

Here is my progress report.. I lost 2 lbs this week, am eating healthy and excersing at the gym. I missed today due to work but will get there tomorrow, I am aiming for 5 days , one hr. sessions.

Hang in there Sheryl, tomorrow is another day we all slip up, its normal.

Hi, I'm new but I thought I'd join this thread. I've started a diet called 'Lipotrim', not sure if you have it over there as I am in the UK.

Basically its 3 meals a day, either a shake, a flapjack or chicken soup - (these are all in packets from the pharmacy) and its for people who want to lose weight quick. You cant have anything else besides water, black tea or black coffee, not even chewing gum.

I am currently on the 3rd day of my 2nd week and I have lost 13lb so far.

Your not allowed exercise in the first week of your diet to allow your body to get used to it but now I have started back at the gym and going at least 3 times a week - did a swim on Friday night and aqua aerobics today, break dancing classes on a Monday aswell as doing an agility class with my Yorkie on Fridays and a training class with him on Tuesdays so I am running about enough.

Anyway, just thought I'd let you know what I'm doing....