Shake your money-maker

[ChristineCQ]

You can count me OUT of boot camp, Amber! I will hold your towel and provide you with fresh water, though.

Here's something I made last night. I don't like my modifications, but I'll give you the real recipe first and then tell you what I did to it:

1 C shredded zucchini (shred and then squeeze all of the water out of it)
1 egg
1/4 c spicy panko
1/4 c cheese of choice (parm for us)
salt, pepper, spices of choice (I used garlic powder and cayenne)

Shred zucchini. Lightly beat egg. Combine all ingredients and press into mini-muffin tin sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake at 400 for 15-18 minutes.

So I made one batch with the spicy panko for DH, and the other batch with ground flax for me. The spicy panko ones were delicious! The flax, not so much. They didn't firm up/crisp up like the others. Either way, the panko has about 20g carb for 1/4 cup, so split among 12 little cups, that's not bad. I ate them with sour cream, and that was my dinner. Next time I might try making them with coconut flour or something, but I don't think they'll get the same crispy effect. They were like little bite-sized hashbrowns!

Rainy Sunday here today. Bacon is cooking, coffee is brewing. I had hoped to take DS to the pumpkin patch for some pumpkins and decorations, but that's not going to happen. Maybe on Monday we can go, if it's nice. Today we'll be cleaning and grocery shopping. DH and DS will be thrilled!

[Bejewelme]

Try them with crushed pork rinds one thing they crisp up due to all the fat, I hate them by themselves but use them exclusively for a bread crumb sub. They make meatloaf delicious, from all the fat keeping it moist!

[Doggygirl]

Congrats on those size 12 jackets!!!!!

And thanks for recipes as always!

DG

[scalestepper]

Christine, the recipe sounds good! Here's to a good Sunday!

[ChristineCQ]

Ah, pork rinds! Good reminder; thanks, Amber!

Here are two things I made today. The first is called "endurance crackers" and I think I found the recipe on Pinterest, but I quickly jotted it down and don't have the original source:

1/2 C each of pumpkin, sunflower (shelled), sesame, and chia seeds
1 cup water
1-2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
1-2 T onion, finely minced
Salt, spices as desired

Mix the seeds together. Add garlic and onion to water (note: The recipe called for 1 cup, but I'd use less. Maybe 1/2 to 3/4), then add water to seeds. Add spices (for me: Salt, garlic powder, cayenne). Mix, then spread on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet (make it no thicker than 1/4 inch). Bake on one side for 30 minutes at 325, then flip to the other side and bake another 30 (note: Here's how I handled the flipping. I got another sheet of parchment paper and put it on top of the giant cracker, then put another cookie sheet on that. I flipped it over, then slid the new parchment with the cracker back onto the hot cookie sheet). I ended up baking it for longer than 30 minutes on that side because I think there was too much water and it wasn't as crispy as I would want. Break it up after it cools, and you have these bird seed things that are not bad at all and seem to be really nutritionally sound. My estimates say 4 g carbs per cracker and 3 g fiber.

I also made some skillet mexican chicken thing:

Chop 3 chicken breasts; brown them in the skillet. Throw in the spices you like (chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt for me), and cook through. Add a can of tomatoes (mine were with chipotle: Delicious). Stir it up, pour in a little hwc, stir it up, top with cheese, and turn down to simmer for a few minutes. Serve with green chiles and sour cream if so desired.

DS actually enjoyed it!

[Bejewelme]

You always have new and great ideas, one thing lacking is crackers, OMG I love crunch! I will try those I made the flax ones one time and they were nasty!!!!

Tonight I am making honey sesame crusted ahi tuna I spent a fortune on good tuna so I am hoping I can sear it but not cook it through!

Space invaders in my hidden workout room and they wanted to be chatty OMG I am not chatty at 5:30 in the morning standing there looking like crap!!!

Holy coldness here!!!!

[ChristineCQ]

I love tuna!!! Let me know how it turns out. As for the crackers, you can also use pepitas instead of pumpkin seeds. DH would prefer it that way, but it doesn't matter to me. I'll eat the shells!!

I also made the cream cheese clouds with SF white chocolate pudding mix. Whose idea was that??? GENIUS! They are delicious, so thank you! I ate one for breakfast after the gym this morning.

Sorry to hear about the space invaders this morning, Amber. Fortunately for me, I was completely alone, which was a very good thing because it's now week five and I've moved up in weight. I know there was some grunting involved (30 lb dumbbells! Those suckers are heavy).

OFF from work today, which is a nice little break. DS has a playdate later this afternoon, then my friend and I will go out for a walk (chilly here!! I think it was around 40 when I left this morning for the gym!). I need to ask her about my achilles (she's a nurse and health/wellness person) because it's still really bothering me.

Food today? No idea. Coffee and a cream cheese cloud so far. Probably some crackers with butter later, and maybe leftover Mexican chicken from last night. I was planning to make cheesy vegetable soup tonight, but we'll see.

[scalestepper]

Your recipes sound good! I need to make some crackers. Have a good day!!!

[Maximoon]

Hi Christine!!

Hope you had a good day off. I had the day off too. Boy, was it nice.

How was the eating today? I had a crapola day yesterday but am back on track today. I am going to have to try those cream cheese cloud things with the SF pudding. Sounds so yummy and perfect for a treat.

Enjoy your night!

Hugs, Jenna

[ChristineCQ]

Morning! Jenna, let me know how you like the clouds, and Scale, please report back on the crackers! I took some of the crackers over to my friend and she loved them, so I'm going to make her more tonight (and give her the recipe, of course). I made a second batch yesterday with less water, and that was the key (I think I used 1/2 cup). I'm also going to spice up this next batch a bit more.

Food yesterday was pretty good, but I definitely ate more crackers than I should have!

B: Coffee, hwc
S: Crackers with butter
L: Crackers with butter
S: Coffee, hwc
D: 1/4 of a chef salad

The good news about those crackers is that I took DS to Panera yesterday for lunch and had only coffee because I just wasn't hungry. Normally, I'd eat a salad just for the sake of it, but I didn't want to spend the 16g carbs on it! I was pretty full most of the day, too, so I barely ate my salad.

Short workweek this week! Looking forward to Friday already!

[Bejewelme]

Christine thank goodness it is not as cold this morning! Man that was brutal yesterday! I had to turn the heat on!

Glad you like those clouds I will have to try them! I have to have a bite of our frozen wedding cake tonight, it doesnt look good so that is a good thing! But I figure we need luck! LOL

30 pound DB are heavy!!!!!

I am wondering if you have plantar fasciitis in your heel? That is so painful I suffered with that for years, then I got pregnant and it went away! Maybe you need to get knocked up, LOL

[ChristineCQ]

Bite your tongue, Amber!!! I am turning 40 in a few months which -- in my book -- is way better than being pregnant!!!

I hope it's not PF! I'm treating it like tendonitis right now; modified planks, I'll ice it tonight, and I need to get some ibuprofen today. I hope that helps!

[Blonde with a Rose]

Chop 3 chicken breasts; brown them in the skillet. Throw in the spices you like (chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt for me), and cook through. Add a can of tomatoes (mine were with chipotle: Delicious). Stir it up, pour in a little hwc, stir it up, top with cheese, and turn down to simmer for a few minutes. Serve with green chiles and sour cream if so desired.

Oh yum!!! I can't wait to try this one!!

[Maximoon]

Hi Christine!

Hope you are feeling better! Yes, I agree that I can't wait until it's TGIF.

I thought of you today when I posted in my journal. Since you have been so clever with your recipes, I share one for a pasta sauce in my blog. You have inspired me.

Have a great night,

Hugs, Jenna

PS I just turned 39 last month---let's hear it for the almost 40s!!!

[skyesmom2002]

Hi Christine,

Your going to force me to cook, aren't you? I want to try those crackers. Can I get away with not adding the onions?. I'm not a fan of them. I like them for seasoning but not actually eating them . Thanks for allthe great food ideas.
Have a great day tomorrow

[ChristineCQ]

I need to check out your recipe, Jenna! Tanya, you can definitely omit the onions. I'd use maybe some onion salt instead, but you might have to try making them once w/o the onion and then decide how you might like to alter them with different seasonings.

Gym and food were good yesterday. Moving up in weight felt pretty good, but I do enjoy the Monday and Tuesday workouts. Thursday and Friday? Not so much.

B: Coffee, hwc
S: Crackers
L: Cream cheese clouds
S: Iced coffee
D: None

I have some busy days ahead; if I can just get through to next Monday, I'll be very happy!

[Doggygirl]

OMG! Here I am on the "You're Making Me HUNGRY" thread!! I'll be back later to copy recipes. I wish DH wasn't dairy intolerant. I'm almost ******ing over the thought of some creamy cheesy goodness! (chicken recipe a few posts up).

Those clouds with SF pudding sound good too. I'll be digging around later for those instructions as well. At least I will have those all to myself with DH!

I'm at school in the library trying to study. When the sam hill did libraries get so LOUD???? I'm ready to go around with some duct tape to shut everyone up. Well, I think I'll go for my walk now and find some other place on campus that is quieter. Maybe the cafeteria would be quieter than the library is today LOL!

DG

[DesertGurl]

I'm just gonna come here for my food ideas! I just ate breakfast but darnit if my stomach didn't rumble for some of that chicken or those clouds.

DG, I can certainly relate to the loudness of the library! I'm a student too and find that I can barely even study on campus anymore. Ironically, the cafeteria/student union IS quieter than the library here. Hope you found some peace so you could study without wanting to strangle anyone with your duct tape!

[ChristineCQ]

Our library is loud, too! We have lots of active learning space on the top floor; the lower floors are like a morgue, though.

A cream cheese cloud here and there will probably do you some good, Danielle. I know they do me a lot of good!

Dealing with a terrible headache today for some reason. Not typical of me, so I don't know what's going on. Stress? Maybe. Not enough carbs? That would be weird, but who knows. Hope everyone is having a good day!

[scalestepper]

Hope your heel gets better, lol about the pg cure.

[Doggygirl]

Christine - is hydration an issue? I sometimes get headachy when I forget to drink enough water.

Hey girls. All I can say is that if pg is cure, I hope I never get the sickness. That is all.

(Not only am I 54, but DH was "fixed" years ago so a pg cure would be all kinds of trouble! )

DG

[ChristineCQ]

I was thinking hydration too, so I chugged water today (having not had nearly enough yesterday). Could it be that my dehydration from yesterday affected me today? Maybe, but either way, water and motrin did the trick!

[Bejewelme]

You are still a baby not 40 yet, I was just 44 gosh that is just sounds so bad and looks worse in print, LOL Glad the headache is better, I always say OMG I will take anything over getting pregnant again, LOL

[ChristineCQ]

Why do I bother with the scale? I am seriously not getting on that thing anymore. I swear I am smaller; I can feel it in my waist and in my clothing. My biceps are becoming more defined. And yet I am UP five lbs? Whatever. I'm done with it. I think I'm going to weigh myself 1x/year, on my birthday or something!

Crazy busy few days coming up. No problems to manage with regard to food, just lots to do. I seriously cannot wait until November, when things will slow down a bit. Food yesterday:

B: Coffee, hwc
S: Crackers
L: Mexican chicken leftovers
S: Iced coffee, hwc
D: Crackers with butter, a few green beans/peppers (raw), cream cheese clouds

Online food tracker says that both calories are carbs are in check. I just don't know what else to do at this point to drop this weight. Well, I don't know what to do that won't compromise my daily quality of life (i.e. dropping dairy and coffee).

[Bejewelme]

Christine yesterday I was up 5 pounds today down 4 WTH? You are sort of where I am at, I am trying to lose weight but I can tell in my clothes that I am firming up and people noticed my shoulders and stuff so I am going to focus on the exercise and whatever the damn number is it is, you know we are doing the right thing for ourselves! Giving up coffee and cream is not an option for me that is for sure!!!!At least you are under 200 I just want to be under that and then I can forget the darn scale it just makes me in a bad mood!!!

[Doggygirl]

Originally Posted by Bejewelme

You are still a baby not 40 yet, I was just 44 gosh that is just sounds so bad and looks worse in print, LOL Glad the headache is better, I always say OMG I will take anything over getting pregnant again, LOL

You are BOTH babes in the woods!

I really think with you ladies lifting heavy that the tape measure is going to be a much better friend than the scale. I really regret lapsing from my modest resistance training regime because I've really gotten fluffy. When I ogle the women at the gym who lift, it truly doesn't even cross my mind how much they must weigh or what size clothes they must wear. When you are firm and strong, pounds and tags just don't even matter. So you ladies keep after it and thank you for inspiring me to get my a$$ back at it!

DG

[Doggygirl]

Not that I'm stalking the women at the gym or anything.

[Blonde with a Rose]

I'm not an expert, not even close...but you've upped your weights and you are building muscle. Damaged (growing) muscles retain a lot of water. I would image that is the weight gain you're experiencing and it will probably whoosh soon.

Thanks for all of the great recipes! YUM!

[DesertGurl]

Hang in there Sweetie!! I don't think you're up 5 pounds of *real* weight. That's impossible!! Just keep doing what you're doing and go by your clothes and how you look. You are doing lots to help yourself, I say the scale is just being jealous and trying to derail you. Run that sucker over!

[ChristineCQ]

Originally Posted by Bejewelme

Christine yesterday I was up 5 pounds today down 4 WTH? You are sort of where I am at, I am trying to lose weight but I can tell in my clothes that I am firming up and people noticed my shoulders and stuff so I am going to focus on the exercise and whatever the damn number is it is, you know we are doing the right thing for ourselves! Giving up coffee and cream is not an option for me that is for sure!!!!At least you are under 200 I just want to be under that and then I can forget the darn scale it just makes me in a bad mood!!!

You're right. I am definitely going to forget the scale, drink my coffee, and focus on the exercise.

Originally Posted by Doggygirl

Not that I'm stalking the women at the gym or anything.

Well, either way, you're right about the tape measure. At the end of the day, who cares what I weigh, as long as I feel and look good?

Originally Posted by Blonde with a Rose

I'm not an expert, not even close...but you've upped your weights and you are building muscle. Damaged (growing) muscles retain a lot of water. I would image that is the weight gain you're experiencing and it will probably whoosh soon.

Thanks for all of the great recipes! YUM!

Glad you're enjoying the recipes! I bet you're right about the water retention. My muscles are definitely sore!

Originally Posted by DesertGurl

Hang in there Sweetie!! I don't think you're up 5 pounds of *real* weight. That's impossible!! Just keep doing what you're doing and go by your clothes and how you look. You are doing lots to help yourself, I say the scale is just being jealous and trying to derail you. Run that sucker over!

I totally should. Maybe I'll drop it out the bathroom window and see how it likes that!

Fourteen-hour day behind me.....sheesh. I'm tired. Another long one today, and then SATURDAY. Thankfully! I did hit the gym yesterday and will do so again today even though I totally don't feel like it.

Food yesterday:

B: Coffee, hwc
S: Crackers
L: Salad, egg salad, a little roast beef and provolone (cafeteria)
S: Coffee, hwc
D: 3 crackers with butter after I got home late

I passed up apple tarts, pumpkin cheesecake, gingersnaps, and WINE at an event last night. I'm calling victory on that.

FRIDAY! Finally. Have a good day!