Zucchini "Spaghetti"

I am so excited about my new kitchen gadget. I learned about it when watching a video on my favorite YouTube Channel - Lean Secrets.If you have never seen her videos, I highly suggest subscribing to her channel.  Here is the video that inspired me.

In my efforts to reduce the amount of processed foods I consume, I was totally excited to try this out. And when I logged onto Amazon and saw that I had some rewards points to spend, I immediately ordered this spiral vegetable slicer:

Here is my zucchini on the slicer.

I crank the handle and the magic begins! Out comes the spirals.

I chose to put the "noodles" in a Ziplock Zip n Steam bag and microwave for 2 minutes. This is not necessary, though.

Rather than making meatballs, I browned a pound of chicken Italian sausage to make meat sauce. Just top with meat sauce, and voila! Dinner is ready

 This was absolutely delicious! I didn't miss the spaghetti at all!.

The slicer comes with two other blades to make other types of slices. But even if I only ever use it to make zucchini noodles, it is a worthwhile investment for me.

Hawaii

Ahhh...vacation. It seems you don't realize how much you need it until you make time for it. I The past couple months I have been having medical test after test to determine to cause of health "issues" I am experiencing. So far, results have come back normal, which is a good thing. Still, I have been somewhat consumed with trying  figure out the cause of the problem. There are more test coming up, but right now my focus is Hawaii!!

Yes, I am writing from beautiful Hawaii. This is my first time here, and though my body does not seem to want to adjust to the time change, I am having a great time. The only thing I have to "worry" about here is relaxing, sightseeing, and spending time with my family. I don't even have to think about eating or gaining weight since I always lose weight on vacation. There's something about being relaxed that makes eating a more conscious activity for me.

Now that I have taken time to put my life on pause, it reaffirms the need to do so more often. Even if it is only for small periods of time. So often, I use my days off to work on advancing myself professionally, or to take care of other business. But I also need to value rest.

I encourage all of you to take time-make time-for yourself. No, you don't need to go to Hawaii. You don't even need to leave your house. Arrange time to do something you enjoy, and do it regularly. Rest!

Book Review - Hope Springs

 Hope Springs by Kim Cash Tate

My thoughts:

I'm Back!

Thanks to those who expressed concern during my absence. I have been having some health challenges, and kind of put blogging on the back burner. I am glad to be back and ready to continue pursuing my goals. I've read some good books, so stay on the lookout for book reviews.

Formerly Food Addicted #9 - Grocery Haul

A new health food store recently opened in my town, so I decided to stop by. It was a little dangerous because I did not make a list before I went. But, I had fun.

Here is a list of what I bought, kind of moving from left to right, back to front...kind of:

1. coconut oil
2. dried apple rings
3. avocado
4. Gorgonzola cheese crumbles
5. Amazing Grass green superfood powder (I don't really like vegetables, so hopefully I can get a good dose of nutrients from this while I try to retrain my palate)
6. romaine salad mix
7. red bell pepper
8. grape tomatoes
9. strawberries
10. French fries ( I'm having a hard time letting my fry habit go, so I figure I can at least go with organic ones and bake them instead of going to the Wendy's drive thru)
11. Clemmy's sugar free ice cream - I was excited to finally try this ice cream that I have been hearing about. Natural ingredients
12. frozen raspberries
13. chicken wings
14. Kind Nut Delight bar
15. Metromint orangemint water - no sweeteners or artificial flavors
16. Poland springs sparkling water - raspberry lime - no sweeteners or artificial flavors
17. uncured center cut bacon
18. whole chicken - this was free! 

Have you tried any of these items?

Formerly Food Addicted #8 -Knowing Who I Am

It feels so good when you go several days in a row with no binges. I am making mostly healthy food choices, and enjoying it. My weight is back to moving in the right direction (check out my Weigh in Wednesday page each week).

I recently started reading Brain Over Binge. I haven't finished it yet, but I had sort of an epiphany while reading. The book reminded me that the binge behavior that beckons me is not really who I am. It is a struggle I have, but it is not representative of the real me. On a regular day, my inner desire is not to eat horrible foods in astronomical quantities. Even in the midst of a binge, it feels like there is a war going on - the part of me that doesn't want to binge is very much present, but has given up. So, in light if these thoughts, and the thoughts shared in the book, I was reminded that I do not have to give in to the binge. It is not who I really am, so I don't have to do it.

I thought it would be helpful to define who I really am and want to be as it relates to eating, so that I can refer to it when the monster appears:

I am striving towards optimal health

I have a healthy relationship with food

I enjoy eating a variety of nutrient rich foods

I continue to educate myself about nutrition

I eat minimal amounts of sugar and processed foods

When tempted to binge eat, I can be victorious through Christ because "....the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4b

Rather than entertain what the binge monster would have me taste, I would rather "Taste and see that the Lord is good..." Psalm 34:8a

Even in those moments when the compulsion seems unbearable

And I feel I can only get relief by giving in

I am reminded that I WILL NOT BE MASTERED BY ANYTHING

" All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything" I Corinthians 6:12

I am free

Formerly Food Addicted #7 - Arrrrggggghhhhh!

Arrrggghhhh! Well it is Weigh in Wednesday and I am so frustrated. I’m not at all surprised by the scale, but still frustrated. That’s the thing about binge eating. You can have an awesome week with no binging, and the weight starts to fall off. But, if it is followed by a binge week, your progress is erased in an instant. That is what happened in the past week.

Below you will find a food log from a few days - have I ever told you how much I despise food logs? But they provide useful information. I had a couple good days, followed by several binge days. I define good days as days that I stayed away from refined sugar and flour. The "good" days are by no means perfect. I also did the painful work of writing down what was eaten during binges - at least most of it.

Day 1 

Breakfast - chicken andouille sausage; protein shake (protein powder mixed with water)

Lunch - "steakhouse buffalo burger" (whole foods); broccoli with mixed peppers

Dinner - 6 meatballs in marinara sauce

Day 2

Breakfast - Chicken andouille sausage, 2 eggs with feta cheese crumbles cooked in coconut oil

Lunch - Meatballs in marinara; broccoli with peppers; large fries

Dinner - 3 slices of bacon and 3 strawberries - not hungry, but didn't want to go to gym on empty stomach

Post work out snack - 2 slices bacon

Day 3 (got up at 1a.m. to drive to 2 1/2 hours to be with my mom who became ill; I consider this a day of stress eating and overeating,  but it wasn't a full blown binge.)

4 miniature 3 musteers

4 cream filled cookies

Sausage egg and cheese muffin from burger king

Krispy Kreme apple pie (individual size)

Box of Nerds candy  (Large 6 oz box)

Turkey and cheese sandwich

2 cheese coneys (6 in each) and chili cheese fries

3 more cream filled cookies

Pineapples

Day 4

Breakfast - 3 slices bacon

Snack- 1/2 chicken  breast

Lunch - 4 large strawberries ; walnuts & almonds (100 calorie pack)

Dinner - Calamari salad

Day 5 (Binge day)

Breakfast - 4 slices of bacon

Lunch- 10 nuggets and fries from McDonald's, snickers ice cream bar

Binge: large cold stone ice cream with cookie dough, individual apple pie, box of jolly rancher chews, two small pizzas from Donatos, bag of chips, 4 ocean spray cranberry juices,  fries

Day 6 (Binge Day)

Didn’t record breakfast or lunch Day ended with a binge

2 large donuts; 8 donut holes, 2 cookies, frozen breakfast sandwich, piada sandwich,  3 orders of loaded fries from White castle

Day 7 (Binge Day)

Breakfast/lunch - 6 Jimmy Dean breakfast croissant sandwiches, 2 bananas

Dinner/Binge: 2 orders loaded fries, 2 sliders, oreo ice cream sandwich, "texas smoked sausage" sandwich, cheese roll up (Taco Bell)

It is what it is…I am where I am. It’s a little daunting to think how long it will take to undo this damage, so I am just going to take it one day at a time. Every Wednesday, feel free to check out my Weigh In Wednesday tab. Hopefully I will have some better news to report next week.