TalulaZoeApple

You Don't Have to Work It Off If You Never Put It In

The cool thing about diet and exercise is that you have absolute control over both actions. If I lay in bed an extra 30 minutes instead of knocking out my workout early, I made that decision. If I want to forgo cooking and grab a Wendy's value meal, *cue Bobby Brown* it's my prerogative. If it is to be, it is up to me.

The average person burn 100 calories in 15 minutes of brisk walking. An original crispy creme donut has 200 calories. Your daily 30-minute walk takes care of half of your breakfast (because you know you ate more than one lol).

Know the calories on what you eat. If you don't want it on your thighs, then don't put it in your mouth.

Show your age and laugh with me at this clip.

  

Failing to Plan is Truly Planning to Fail

*Rolling with the homies*  This song has been stuck in my head all weekend. Like Cher from Clueless  this weekend, "I was just totally clueless."  I was so busy and got nothing really accomplished. I started out right and just kinda fizzled.

I wanted to cook a crock pot of chicken tortilla soup for the week. This started as a formidable plan. I finally figured out why my cooking is so hit or miss. I can never quite seem to follow the recipe.I went to the grocery store and got fresh cilantro and all the fixins EXCEPT chicken and chicken broth. lol

No worries guys. I had some left over chicken cooked a week before and Ramen noodle mix. You can see where this is heading, right? The grossest worstest soup ever ever! So, now I have no food planned for the week throwing a wrench into my diet planning.

I also did not make it to the cleaners, did not wash clothes or clean my house. I did not even juice a darn thing!!! I was truly busy but somehow these necessary tasks did not make the cut.

After lamenting about it, a friend says, "Maybe you need a schedule." Yes. I will just write it down. Failing to plan is truly planning to fail. Next time, I will peruse the ingredients list prior to shopping and actually write them down. I mean, I forgot the chicken! lol

*In my Cher voice* Like, duh!

 

Insanity, Hunger, and a Mad Hat

I thought I was buying a Gatorade-type drink today. About half-way through it, I realized it was a disguised energy drink. As a result, I was so totally wired. After work, I ran on the track and I did Insanity Day 1 all of the way through. My legs hurt as I am typing. I drank a smoothie for dinner and currently  I am fighting the urge to eat the refrigerator.

Consequently, this post may wander around a bit.

I went to Derby Day at this race track last Saturday. *job-event, no gambler disclaimer*. The hats, the dresses, dapper-dons and the HATS! I felt the urge to be glamorous. Due to a last-minute wardrobe change, I was wearing jeans. I forgot to paint my toes and try as I may, they kept peeking out from under my jeans.

#glamourfail

Girl: I love to see black women all dressed up.

Me: Me, too. I need to lose weight. I used to be fly.

Girl: I understand. Me, too girl.

Me: One day I was walking down the street and nearly caused an accident. I miss those days.

Yes. Those are the kinds of things I wish for. To be so fine men lose sight of the road. Vanity is a great motivation.

So, is health.

Someone called today to tell me that their mom had slipped into a diabetic coma. Then she got laid off.  Her mom is better *thank God* but she is still laid off.

*inside voice* why are you so vain, Felicia?

Never say or write anything while you are upset. You will regret it. Even if you the issue is real and you think you are justified. It will come out all wrong and make things worse.

Lesson learned.

Quick. Think of two things no matter how small that went great today. Do you feel better? You should be grateful. It could be worse.

That last paragraph shouldn't be italicized but I am tired of looking back.

Alas, I did not eat the refrigerator. I wrote a blog post instead.

Tell me what you think.

 

 

 

My 30 in 30 Starts Out Negative 1 - Exercising

So, today is the first real day of exercising for 1 hour per day. My friend TB inspired me so I enlisted a few others to join me. Today, I find myself sick and in bed all day. No workout for me. Now I am an hour in the hole.

I am thinking I can walk my 2, 15-minute breaks for two days to make it up. The real challenge is going to be getting in an hour workout now that my beloved Danceaton class has moved to a more expensive, less locations having fitness center.

Why, why, why!!!!??????

I guess I will have to give the other classes a shot. I have been seriously contemplating yoga. I would most def have to purchase a mat though. The mats at the gym are G.R.I.M.Y.

I could do 30 minutes on the treadmill and 30 minutes on weights but the weights are grimy, too. It is so difficult trying to enjoy group fitness while slightly germophobic.

What is a girl to do?

I have also started cooking in bulk and freezing my food for lunch later on in the week. The pathway to success is paved in preparation!

OAN: The scale keeps declining. I think I have the right momentum.

Anyone else want to join the challenge? P.S. You can take the Holdisays off!

I'm Melting, Melting! Oh What A World!

It is day 18 0f my 30 in 30 days of no eating out. Man am I feeling. . .SUPER. Someone told me today that I am MELTING! I put on a pair of pants that would not come past my thighs a few weeks earlier. Yes, people, I am melting.

As the old me - the tired, overweight, unsatisfied me- melts away, a newer, bolder me emerges. God is amazing in how he orchestrates things. This entire journey started with The Daniel Fast. The results were so stark - I lost weight, looked better, could sleep without burning acid reflux. Others around me were beginning healthy journeys, as well, providing support and accountability.

 

 

It all felt great and then a compliment, visible results. What can be more motivational?

I have added jogging to my workout routine which now consists of Danceaton classes 2-3 times per week. Felt so great today, I did both.

Will you join me? How can we keep each other inspired and motivated? I am eager to hear your thoughts.

30 in 30 - No Eating Out: Day 4

I got a real challenge yesterday to my 30 in 30 - working off site. Thankfully, a coworker had gone the day before and had given me the scoop on the amenities - fridge, microwave, breakroom.

We have all heard the adage - if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. This is very true concerning following an eating plan . So, I got up early and ate a quick breakfast wrap at home. Lunch/snacks consisted of a turkey with 100 cal wrap, avocado spread, grapes, 2 bananas, snap peas with a little kosher salt n vinegar.

Throughout the day, when I got hungry. I could snack on healthy stuff.

Good start so far. Tomorrow? Free lunch. Yeah me !

30 in 30 - No Eating Out

I have been inspired by my girl T.B. She did a 30 in 30 that included working out 1 hr per day for 30 days. I know that is not gonna happen for me with my current schedule; however, I came up with a variation of the challenge - no eating out at fast food, restaurants, takeouts for 30 days. This means going to the grocery store, cooking my own meals, and bringing my lunch to work every single day for 30 days.

So, what is the point?

The point is to take small steps toward my long term goals of physical and financial health. What does 30 in 30 have to do with finances? Here is the best part. All of the money that you would have spent on lunches and lattes, you get to place in  a jar. Then you decide at day 31 what you would like to do with it. It is all yours now that you have rescued it from Chic Fil A and McDonalds.

Today I had a soy crumbles taco on flat bread with an avocado for lunch. Not sure of the calorie count but I am certain it is much better than the 915 Calorie burrito bowl I had the other day from Chipotle. That's 8.64 in my jar!

Commitments are always better when there are others invested in the goal as well. Nothing like support and accountability to help propel you forward.

So, who is with me?

This Girl Is Steady Cooking Yo. . . Greens and Cornbread

After the heralded success of my cornbread recipe, (heralded by me of course, lol) I have successfully mastered its southern complement - greens. I used a mustard and turnip greens mix to be exact.

After completing the Daniel Fast, transitioning back to "normal" eating has been difficult. The old way just does not agree with my stomach anymore. Plus, I am down like 20 lbs. Who would want to go back to normal? The key is cooking my own meals.

Healthy or no, it is difficult to swallow food that does not taste good. I am learning to cook while also learning to eat "clean". Eating clean is eating as close to nature as possible. Preservatives and chemicals that I cannot pronounce will not enter my temple.

One thing that I am learning is that cooking is a collaborative effort. I asked several people about how they prepare greens. A friend offered the suggestion ti use some canola oil to replace the animal fats lacking in a healthier version of greens. It was quite the ingenious word because it gave the greens the consistency that I am used to having at holiday dinners.

My cornbread turned out good as well. This is my recipe below:

• 1 lb bag of pre-washed mustard and 1lb bag of pre-washed turnip greens.
• 1 smoked turkey leg
• 4 green onions or scallions
• 2 cups Vegetable stock
• 1 tablespoon of kosher salt
• 1 16 oz bottled water

I piled the scallions, turkey, vegetable stock, and oil in the slow cooker and piled the greens on top. I cooked for 4 hours on high stirring and adding salt the last ½ hour.

 I added 1 additional hour to the setting after adding the salt because I like my greens a little on the softer side. They were a tiny bit firm at 4 hours.

 The salt is a generous helping but the vegetable stock that I used was low sodium.

 

 

 

 Thoughts?

This Girl Be Cooking Yo. . . Cornbread!

In my effort to increase my culinary skills, I have taken on some staple recipes. This week's item is cornbread, and not that sweet corn cake known as Jiffy Mix either. I got this recipe from the queen herself - Paula Deen.

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus butter for baking dish (I substituted an equal amount of olive oil for the butter.)
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk (I substituted lowfat buttermilk.)

Mix dry indredients in one bowl. Mix eggs and buttermilk in one bowl. Fold egg mixture into dry mixture. Oil 8 inch pan. Pour mixture in pan. Cook for 20 minutes at 425 degrees (preheat oven) or until golden brown. Test center with knife or toothpick. If it comes out clean, it is done.

I also cut this recipe in half. I used this website to make it easier seeing that the measurements are not metric.

I LOVE this recipe. It is easy, simple and tastes so yummy. It is not too sweet either. The bread came out moist and soft. My mother can really cook. . .everything but cornbread! lol I am going to make mine for her when I visit home. Envy me, Mom, envy me! lol

Check out my pics:

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

Batter in Pan

20 minutes in oven at 425 degrees

Have a slice?

 

I made some vegan black eyed peas yesterday. I am taking them and this cornbread to work for lunch tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

The Daniel Fast - Results Update

Tomorrow will be 21 days of the Daniel Fast. In the interest of full disclosure, I was strictly began for 7 days (my previous record). I fell off into Chic Fil E on Day 8 and got back on the wagon day 9.

While on the fast, I initially felt totally energetic. After 7 days, I was noticeably lethargic. I did this fast with a co-worker who reported feeling similar. In retrospect, I think we were not eating enough protein.

I have found that with preparation this diet is feasible. There are a lot of great dishes that can be prepared vegan. God bless the avocado. Whenever I felt as if I was not getting enough to eat, I would add an avocado and felt satisfied.

I have also learned that health is about choices. We all get hungry but how we choose to satisfy that hunger is a choice. Granted, depending on where you live, your options may be limited. There is always the option to start a garden. Even one on your balcony.

The initial cravings for sugar and salty snacks dissipates after a few days. When you are not consuming overly salted and sweetened foods, your taste buds become more keen. A Fuji Apple and scoop of peanut butter is the best midday snack.

You are also forced to read labels and search out options that are not chemically laden. I found these 100 calorie whole grain wraps that have a good flavor and no sugar added. This item is a keeper. I think now I will try to have 2 vegan meals a day and a lean protein at night. I feel too good about my results to go back to my old way of eating.

To date, I am down 10lbs.