Time for a salad shake-up

During the school year, I stay on "salad boot camp."  I have a dear friend at work that follows along during "boot camp."  Everyday (M-F) we eat a salad, fat free yogurt, and drink our water like good salad soldiers :).  I contemplated a different plan for summer break but really just enjoy my salad at lunch. It is such an easy way to save calories for dinner.   I do go out to eat more often during the break, so boot camp doesn't always last all week.

However, it's time to shake-up my salads. I love to eat salad anytime of the year, but summer provides an opportunity for new ingredients. Once in awhile I do get bored with the plain, everyday vegetable salad. I'm on the lookout for some new spins on my favorite meal for lunch.





Picture is from recipegirl.com

This is my next salad adventure: watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberry, and feta cheese salad!  It is a spin from a local restaurant.  I had this salad a few weeks ago but have been able to decide on the dressing the restaurant had used, so after some searching on-line I am going with a low fat version.
Start with a bed of greens, add the fruit and feta cheese, sprinkle with the crunchy Chinese noodles (optional), and then use a dressing made with white wine vinegar, mint, lime/lemon juice, and EVOO.  The dressing isn't exact from Recipegirl.com but it would be my version of the dressing. 

Anyone else have ideas about the dressing?  Also, any healthy salad recipes would be appreciated too :)

Derailed by the Dairy Queen and Other Fabulous Outings

Hmmm, I know I just posted about summer being easier for weight loss but somehow I forgot about the Dairy Queen.  My son and daughter both play baseball/softball and guess where they want to stop after every game?  You guessed it.  I too have a soft spot for ice cream - specifically DQ ice cream.  Oh no, frozen grocery store ice cream will never do for me. 

So we had THREE trips to DQ this week.  A killer on the scale.  I gained 1.5 pounds (insert sad face) this week.  I allow myself ONE trip to DQ per week and it is usually on Saturday or Sunday so I can work it off throughout the week.  I am a Saturday morning weigher.  Must reset brain concerning DQ: only one trip per week.  "I can order for others but not myself."  I must practice repeating that sentence to myself if I wind up there more than once a week. 

Other fabulous outings included: trying a new Italian restaurant with my family, a girls day out with my sister which included a favorite cafe, and one more restaurant with good friends.  I really do try to  limit myself to one restaurant meal per week.  Really.  Ok, so this week was an epic fail at that goal, but I shall try harder next week to limit those trips.  However, I could have made better food choices at all those meals.  I can't let every trip be a splurge. 

I am planning ahead for a an outing with friends next week.  We are trying a new bistro and I have checked out the menu in advance.  I saw some great, healthy salads but no fat free or low fat dressing, so I will bring my own.  Hope not to embarrass my friends when I whip out the fat free dressing :) 

One disclaimer: the eating out with friends this week did include a three mile walk after the meal.  This is a good step.  Catching up with friends or family usually involves a favorite restaurant, so there is a guilty feeling afterwards.  However, I felt no guilt yesterday since we ended up walking after the meal. I hope to incorporate that into more of my social outings.  Yes, we can eat but then let's go exercise :)

No Longer Looking for Excuses

I worked out a bit too much this weekend and pulled a muscle.  I was trying to convince myself on Monday that it was okay to workout.  I tried playing baseball first with my kids and every time I bent down, my muscle would scream in agony!  I was determined to get in some exercise so I kept pushing myself.  By the end of the day, I was pretty much beat up and applying  icy/hot therapy.  I had to admit that I wasn't in any shape to workout and that pushing myself only made the injury worse.  Today I am feeling much better but still not 100%.  I am going to do some light workouts but not anything too intense.

The title for this post came from my reflection on how my attitude has changed toward exercise.  It was only two years ago that I would have looked for ANY excuse not to workout.  I was  too tired, had a headache, had too much to do and the list goes on...   It didn't take much to deter me from exercising.  I could justify just about any excuse in my head. 

It is interesting how time and hard work have changed my attitude.  I now workout too much sometimes and have to accept that my body needs to rest.  Really never thought that sentence would  come out of my mouth!   I didn't start out full force with walking but just a mile here and there.  That lead to two miles 3-4 times a week and then 4 miles 5-6 times a week.  I then started to add yoga, step aerobics, bike riding, and light weights.  It took a lot of time and hard work to get to my new and improved attitude :)

Summer Eating

One of my favorite things about summer is all of the delicious fruits and vegetables.  It is so easy to eat healthy during this time of year.  I know that it isn't officially the summer season but as a teacher it is summer to me! 

I made a big batch of cucumbers and vidalia onions for an anytime snack or to use a side dish for dinners.  Last night my son had a baseball game that lasted until 10:30 p.m. He wanted to stop at a convenience store to get a snack.  I was really hungry too and tempted to get something for myself.  I had smelled the buttery popcorn from the concession stand for just too long not to have a craving for a snack.  However, after I looked through the aisles of junk food, I realized that my cucumber salad was better than any of the  food at this store.  Instead I bought a flavored, zero calorie water to keep me satisfied until I could get home and enjoy my healthy snack. 

I also made a strawberry pie for Memorial day that isn't too bad on calories.  I then decided to chop up some of the strawberries to pour over an angel food cake for a lighter dessert.  Of course these treats have to be eaten in moderation.  Just a small slice of pie or angel food cake with strawberries once or twice throughout the week. 

My next summer dish is a southwestern salad that I found on skinnytaste.com.  I can't wait to try it out! 

Time for a Ride

This is my birthday present! I am so excited to have a bike again after 15 years.  I was so nervous getting back on a bike. When I was young, I rode my bike all the time.  Then in college I would go on long distance rides, but I soon got out of the habit of working out and riding. My son said he could teach me to ride a bike :)  I  replied that I knew how to ride but I was rusty. 

I started off small by just riding around the yard and then just down to our property line.  Each day I was building up my confidence to take off!  By the third day, I was ready to go the distance.  It was only a couple of miles, but those miles took away my doubts.  I could still ride a bike! 

I think we all get "rusty" when it comes to  healthy eating and working out from time to time.  However, we must get back on the bike and find our focus/goal.  Sometimes we just need a reminder or possibly a push from a friend or family member.  Here's me giving you a cyber push to get back to whatever workout you enjoy :)

I Don't Have to Make a Happy Plate

When our daughter was little, she never wanted to eat.  We would encourage her to make the plate "happy."  That would mean eating as much as she could off of the plate.  She is still slightly underweight for her age, but she is eating balanced meals.

I however have never been challenged when it comes to making a "happy" plate.  I loved eating as a child and still do today. Meals have always been festive and full of food at my home as a child and adult.  In fact, I would sometimes make a second or unfortunately third happy plate. 

Nowadays, I don't force myself to make a "happy" plate.  In fact I often make the decision to leave something on my plate.  It took some time and serious self-talk to realize I didn't have to clean my plate to make it or me happy.  Sometimes I still struggle with leaving something I really love to eat on my plate.  It just seems  wrong to leave something so delicious uneaten on my plate.  But...I have been doing just that and it really saves calories.  Don't get me wrong, I do still make a "happy" plate from time to time but not all the time.

The Importance of being a Good Role Model

Even though my children are young, they have definitely noticed my 80+ lb weight loss.  They often hear people mention the dramatic difference in my physical appearance.  My son said that even the waitress at our local cafe noticed my weight loss. 

My son and I have started a routine of him joining me on my Saturday and Sunday morning walks.  I walk around four miles, and he rides his bike next to me. He has put a pack on his bike to hold our waters for a brief break and it makes him feel so important.  He talks so much now about the importance of exercising/working out. 

My daughter now mentions my healthy food choices.  She will say that sweets are a "sometimes" food that I don't eat often nor should she.  We make a giant salad on Sunday night that we eat with our meals throughout the week.

In reflection, I see how important my exercising and healthy food choices are to my kids.  I want to be a good role model for them as they grow up.  I want them to know how to make good food choices and know that exercise is so important.