Snack Time Watermelons

Snack time: 12:30pm (consumed)
Phase 1: Precut Watermelons from Whole Foods (1 cup)
Cost: $4.79 + tax

It was sweet and tasty =) By this point my tummy was already grumbling a bit.

Water intake thus far:
8oz of 70oz

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Best Weight Loss Diets To Burn Fat or Get Fat

Have you tried weight loss diets and quasi-healthy cookbooks to lose weight before? If you have, then youve probably noticed that fat loss diets and "healthy" cookbooks arent always what theyre cooked up to be.


Why is it that losing weight is so hard?
First, many weight loss cookbooks are NOT designed with high "metabolic thermo charge" ingredients. Theyre not using the power that some food has to actually force your body to burn fat. Instead, they may inadvertently use ingredients with low thermogenic effect.

Why is this a problem?
"Metabolic Thermo Charge" is the amount of calories your body burns when breaking down nutrients in your food.

For example, eating high-quality protein in a meal naturally burns off more calories and gets you closer to your target weight. Lean protein and spices have a strong thermogenic effect, so combining these foods together, such as chicken and turmeric, can help you burn more fat faster.
Not bad, eh?

But, theres more.
Second thing to think about is whether or not your recipes have a real structure. If all you have is a bunch of recipes randomly thrown together, thats not going to help you lose weight. Youre at the mercy of whatever you pick and choose, your mood, or cravings-of-the-day. We know where that goes...
You must have a structure to succeed at losing weight.

To address the structure issue, the Metabolic Cookbook people have developed a quick, easy "Metabolic Nutri-Profile" system for their recipes, so that you can see exactly which nutrients youre getting, ensuring that each meal optimizes your metabolic rate.

The Metabolic Nutri-Profile system is a map through the food jungle maze!
Third, have you ever followed a diet precisely, only to find that you hit some kind of plateau and couldnt lose anymore?
What is it? The Metabolic Adaptation Phenomenon. It happens at the point when your body knows what food its getting, and adapts to it. At this point, metabolism slows down and weight loss comes to a screeching halt.

To avoid Metabolic Adaptation Phenomenon, just mix it up! Vary your nutrient intake every so often, surprising your body with variety! New tastes and textures keep your body guessing and make sure that metabolism stays alert. Having a wide range of weight loss recipes to choose from helps fight this phenomenon.

Now you know what to look for, keep an eye out for these three little snipers next time you decide to scout out a diet plan.

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The Best Ever Beet Salad

One of the hazards of living under the same roof with me is you never know just what youre going to come home to. 

There is a good chance of coming home to me napping on the dog and just as fair a chance I will come running at the fella to insist he taste whatever thing it is that Im cooking.  But every once in a while just to remind him that he lives with a crazy person he will come home to me doing something absolutely nutty with food. 

On this particular evening he came home to me yelling from the kitchen “Hey honey come in here and take a picture of this, its awesome.”  He knows enough to enter rooms with a certain amount of trepidation when Im talking to the food so who knows what he thought he was getting into.  Its been a while since I shaved celery so he probably thought he was safe.

“Doesnt this look like a bowl of guts?  And its purple!”  I said with glee in my voice while thrusting at him  this giant bowl of shredded beets that did indeed look rather grotesque and bloody.  The fella took some pictures while keeping a safe distance from my mess, all the while giving me the face reserved for moments when you wonder what youve gotten yourself into and how soon you get get out of them.

The fun of making this meal however doesnt end there, the best thing about these shredded beets is they were about to get even more interesting.  Did you know that when you add tahini, yogurt and lemon juice to beets not only do you get an amazing salad but the beets turn the most unbelievable shade of magenta?  And there are few things I love more than eating purple things so you can only imagine how many times Ive submitting the men in my life to this beet creation since I discovered it.  I mean what is not to love?  It is easy, very tasty and almost painfully good for you.  Thank you once Mark Bittman, master of the exciting salad!

If you dont enjoy being purple as much as I do borrow a child or a food processor attachment that will do the dirty work of beet shredding for you.  But believe me when I say this salad is worth the mess.  And it goes particularly well with some chicken thighs or bone in chicken pieces dredged in zatar seasoning and put in the oven until cooked through.  A dash of salt and pepper on the chicken and you have a richly flavored bit of chicken that took no effort.  This is my new favorite meal, I never imagined falling in love with beets like this.

What kind of wine possibly pairs with this crazy meal?  Um, who cares I was in the mood for Torrontes the Norto being a delicious but subtle tangy tropical fruit bomb with just enough bit to make it interesting but such well balanced fruit its a little to easy to drink.  And at about $10 it is a great value.  Ill save the pricey but amazing Michel Torinos Don David also known as the best Torrontes for a special occasion and gladly stick to the Norto for a weekday dinner.

These three things came together better than I could have hoped and made for a small Middle Eastern tinged food vacation.  Just what I could use in the middle of a winter that seems like it will never end. 

So dont give up on beets until you give a try to this salad or Lindsays orzo dish up over on Forkful of News.  They are both so tasty you will forget you are eating vegetables.  And while youre over there check out my article about Argan oil, a crazy little known oil that just might change the way you cook.  Its worth clicking on especially if youre having a bad day, if only to look at the pictures of tree climbing goats.

Best Ever Beet Salad

3 large beets, peeled

1/2 cup yogurt

1/2 cup tahini

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon zatar seasoning

Grate the beets by hand or with a food processor and then place in a large mixing bowl.

Whisk together the yogurt and tahini in a separate small bowl.  When well combined add lemon juice and zatar seasoning and stir well.  Toss the yogurt mixture into the grated beets.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper is desired.

From Mark Bittmans 101 Salads article in the New York Times.

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6 Steps To Lose Belly Fat By Getting Eating Tips

Diet, after exercise, is the next major trick to lose belly fat. It is important to review what you eat, how much you eat and how you eat it. The reason is because the right nutrition fulfills the bodys energy requirements without adding any new fatty deposits. Here are 6 major tips to lose belly fat by cleaning out your diet and reforming your diet patterns.

 1. Maintain a Food Journal:
A food journal helps you adopt a disciplined approach to eating. It gives you what you eat and drink at a glance thereby allowing you to review it periodically. This food journal need not be very detailed. It should however list everything you eat and drink during the course of the day. It will also help you count calories effectively.

2. Read Ingredient Labels:
I always recommend eating fresh and home-cooked meals. However, there are a few food items that you might need to purchase readymade. In such cases, it is best to read the nutrient and ingredient labels printed on the packet or container. It will give you the exact amount of protein, fiber, carbohydrates, fats, sugar and sodium included in the food items and thus helps you make healthy food choices. When trying to lose belly fat, you should aim for the highest amount of proteins.

3. Opt for home-cooked meals:
Majority of the food on your platter should consist of fresh fruits and vegetables. Instead of visiting the section with the frozen and packaged foods, make a trip to the section that has the fresh produce on exhibit. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain nutrients and vitamins in their unprocessed forms.
Try to rearrange your schedule so that you get time to prepare your meals. This way you know what goes into your foods and you have a better control on your calorie intake. If you must buy canned foods, opt for the frozen foods.

4. Measure your food portions:
Eating the right portion sizes help trim belly fat by making sure you do not overeat. The first way to do so is by using a smaller plate for your meal. Besides this, you can use measuring cups, spoons and countertop food scales to measure solid and fluid food items.

5. Oils, condiments and seasoning:
Often people eat salads to trim their waistline. However, it doesnt help much. The reason is because even though the fruits and vegetables tossed into the salad are nutritious and low-calorie, the condiments, seasonings and dressings are what add additional calories. For your sandwiches and burgers, you can mustard or low-fat mayonnaise. Try to reduce the amount of sauce you eat as the sauce varieties available in the market and high in sodium and sugar. Olive oil, canola oil and sunflower oil are healthy varieties as far as their fat content is concerned.

6. Drink plenty of water:
Dehydration is a major cause of belly fat. This is because lack of water decelerates the metabolic rate. It also causes unnecessary bloating creating a bulgy appearance. You should always carry a bottle of water with you. It might be hard to down 8-10 glasses of water in a day if you are not particularly fond of it. You can start with less and add an additional glass every day.

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How to Start Juicing to Lose Weight

There are three (3) basic things that you need to know about starting juicing to lose weight. These are specifically about the type of juicer that you can use, considering your special needs and researching recipes or ingredients that are appropriate for you.

Know the kinds of juicers
First and foremost, you have to know what kinds of equipment you can use for juicing. These kinds have their respective benefits and setbacks. In general, there are three (3) kinds of juicers that you can choose from.
 These are specifically the following:
1. Citrus Juicer
This kind of juicer has a reamer that squeezes the fruits. Its main advantage is its easy-clean feature, which is ideal for busy people. However, it can only extract a very limited amount of juice compared with the other two types of juicers.

2. Juice Extractor
Unlike Citrus Juicers, Juice Extractor has blades, which crush fruits into very small pieces. Also, it is a better alternative to Citrus Juicer because it can extract more amount of juice. You can also use it if you are planning to juice harder types of vegetables like carrots, beets and the like. However, the Juice Extractor is a little bit messy to clean up after using.

3. Blender
This is a popular home appliance that purees fruits and vegetables and convert them into juice or fibre forms. According to research, the main benefit of this, aside from producing finer texture of juice, is that its juice has lower impact to the glycemic index.
Aside from these three (3) kinds of juicers, there are also two (2) classifications of juicers, which are either centrifugal juice extractors or cold press juicers.

There are particular cases when one class is more appropriate to use, most especially when you are juicing to lose weight.
1. Centrifugal Juice Extractor
This was the most common juicer before, which uses a fast spinning blade in order to separate the juice from the fruits flesh. However, one disadvantage of this, according to the experts, is when it destroys enzymes in fruits or vegetables because of the heat that the machine produces. This heat oxidizes some nutrients as well, which makes the product "less" nutritious. The good thing about this, however, is that it is cheaper.

2. Cold Press or Masticating Juicer
On the other hand, cold press juicer, which is also known as masticating juicer, crushes and presses the fruit or vegetable in order to yield high amount of juice. The good thing here is that it does not produce heat; hence, giving maximum nutritional benefits.
This is appropriate to use, most especially when you are cleansing or juicing to lose weight.
Moreover, there are also other kinds of juicers. Some of these include single gear, upright, twin-gear (or triturating), as well as wheatgrass juicers.

Know your needs
Aside from knowing the appropriate kind of juicer that you are going to buy and use, it is vital to know your needs as well.
There are some people who have diabetes. In this regard, they should be cautious when juicing a particular kind of fruit, most especially those with high glycemic index. You need to appreciate that not all natural are universally good for the body. Hence, you need to plan ahead and research which kinds of fruits or vegetables would benefit you.

Since you are juicing to lose weight, there are also specific kinds of fruits and vegetables that will provide you maximum benefits while giving you good source of energy. Among the fruits that you can try to juice are apple, pineapple or even banana. On the other hand, you can juice almost any kind of vegetable you want.

You just need to keep in mind that their taste must complement each other.
Research appropriate recipes
As stated above, there are specific kinds of fruits that would be more appropriate for you, depending on your needs and purpose. If you are non-diabetic and will be juicing to lose weight, the following are just some recipes that you might want to try:
1. Apple + Pineapple + Cucumber + Lime Juice
2. Pineapple + Celery + Cucumber + Spinach Juice
3. Pineapple + Apple + Parsley + Kale + Broccoli Juice
4. Apples + Pineapple + Banana Juice
5. Carrots + Apple Juice

Are you wondering why these recipes are recommended when juicing to lose weight? Well, it is because these are rich in fibre, which is good for digestion. They are not just weight loss agents, but detoxifiers as well.
They remove toxins from your system, which makes you healthier aside from sexier.

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The Best Six Years

Today Dan and I are celebrating one of the greatest blessings that has ever entered into our lives. You probably wont have too much trouble guessing what that is... of course... our sweet as sugar Remi Bear! Oh how I love love love that doodle!

Celebrating Remingtons 6th Birthday is very special, but also a little shocking. I have found myself spending moments recently just soaking in what an incredible dog he has become and how blessed Dan and myself are to call him our own. But also this birthday with him makes me realize that half of his life is gone and at best we probably only have six more years left to enjoy him. That is a hard pill to swallow and honestly hurts my heart... but lets not think about that.

Instead, lets celebrate what a wonderful life Remington has lived so far and also the wonderful life he has left to live. He has not only changed Dan and I lives and given us so much joy, but every week during his therapy dog visits he brings joy to those who meet him. He has being a big brother to look forward to, as well as teaching this new baby what dogs are all about. I just cant wait to see what legacy he leaves because he is just that special :)

I wish more than anything that Remington could understand how proud we are of him and the amount of love we hold in our hearts for him. And even though things may change a little along the way as the years go by, what will never change is how much he means to us.

Happy Birthday Big Boy! 

We love you to the moon and back a million times over!

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Week 1

#52weeksofRoarke

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Best Foods For Weight Loss 10 Best Foods for Weight Loss

What is your favorite food? You may have to say goodbye to it for a little while, but maybe on your weight loss journey, you will find other foods that quickly become your favorite.

  The best foods for weight loss are types of foods that will help you to curb cravings, speed up metabolism, ease digestion, and increase energy.

When considering the best foods for weight loss, you should also consider cutting out foods that would inhibit fat cell growth. Be moderate when eating foods with sugar, fat, and processed foods. Beverages are easily overlooked when dieting.
Water is the best drink for shedding pounds. Fresh fruit and vegetable juices and smoothies are great choices to avoid sugar filled drinks. Soda pop and energy drinks are excellent foods for fat cells.

10 Best Foods For Weight Loss

1 .Sprouts. Sprouted beans, vegetables, and seeds, are packed full of nutrients and protein. Sprouts are a quick source of energy. They are digested easily and quickly without using much energy.

2. Cinnamon. The spice cinnamon is helpful in regulating blood sugar. Cinnamon also aids in suppressing the appetite.

3. Grapefruit. Grapefruit has the ability to reduce the appetite and induces lipolysis, which is the process of fat burning.

4. Ginger. Ginger stimulates weight loss through fat burning also. Ginger is calming to the stomach.

5. Peppermint. The use of peppermint can enhance the feeling of fullness. Peppermint is energizing and reduces cravings.

6. Lemon. Lemon is a strong cleanser and it also detoxifies. Lemon supports lipolysis and aids in suppressing the appetite.

7. Nuts. Get your squirrel on and eat plenty of unsalted nuts. Nuts are an excellent source of protein. Protein keeps you feeling full longer.

8. Chia seeds. Eating chia seeds in yogurt or oatmeal is a great way to add protein and omegas to your diet. Chia seeds sustain hydration in your body and are full of protein and all three omegas.

9. Greens. Dark green leafy vegetables and and all green vegetables are excellent sources of minerals and vitamins. They will aid in supplying your blood with the nutrients it needs for energy and metabolism.

10. Fruit. Fresh fruit is cleansing to the body systems and gives you energy. Fruit is an excellent snack to stave off cravings and help you feel full and satisfied.

The best foods for weight loss can be most effective when consumed with daily exercise. Exercise burns fat cells and releases feel good hormones. More energy and weight loss will be the result of exercising and eating right.

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