FR Diet, Exercise, and Fitness Thread

[retrokitten]

NO VERBAL ATTACKS! NO NAME CALLING! NO BASHING! THE OVERWEIGHT! NO NASTY PICTURES! NO OFFENSIVE KEYWORDS! They will only be deleted anyway. This will be a thread about getting healthy and no attacks will be tolerated.

Todays theme is HEALTHY RECIPES! Please share your favorite! Here are a few I found...

Spinach, Grapefruit and Almond Salad

This recipe serves: 6

Preparation time : 15 minutes
Cooking time : 10 minutes

Ingredients

For the vinaigrette:
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon finely chopped shallots
1/3 cup olive oil
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper

For the salad:

1/2 cup slivered almonds
4 cups spinach, cleaned and torn into bite-size pieces
1 grapefruit, peeled and sectioned

Cooking Instructions
For the vinaigrette:
1. Place all the ingredients in a container with a tight-fitting lid. Shake well.
2. Add the salt and pepper to taste.

For the salad:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and roast in the oven until lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
3. Place the spinach in a bowl and toss with the vinaigrette.
4. Transfer the dressed spinach leaves to a serving plate. Arrange the grapefruit sections on top and sprinkle with the almonds.
To roast whole, slivered, chopped or sliced almonds: Spread in an ungreased baking pan. Place in a 350°F oven and bake 10 minutes or until golden brown and fragrant; stir once or twice to ensure even browning. Note that almonds will continue to roast slightly after removing from oven.

Veggie City Dip

This recipe makes: 8 servings

Preparation time : 30 minutes
Cooking time : 25 minutes

Ingredients
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/3 cup finely chopped onions
1/3 cup finely chopped green or red bell peppers
1/3 cup finely chopped zucchini
1/3 cup finely chopped celery
1/3 cup peeled and finely chopped eggplant
1/3 cup chopped tomatoes
1 teaspoon chopped, fresh basil (dried is fine)
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1/3 teaspoon sugar

Cooking Instructions
1. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and peppers. Cook for 2 minutes.
2. Add the zucchini, celery and eggplant. Cook 2 minutes more.
3. Add the tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper. Simmer about 20 minutes, uncovered. Let cool.
4. Add the vinegar and sugar. Adjust the salt and pepper to taste.
5. Serve cold as a dip with pita bread, crackers or tortilla chips.

Atkins Broiled Orange-Chili Chicken Breasts

Servings: 4

Prep time: 0:10:00
Bake/Cook time: 0:15:00
Calories: 402
Fat: 22 grams
Protein: 47 grams
Carbohydrates: 1 grams
Fiber: 0 grams
Net Carbs: 1 grams

1/4 cup orange juice
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon granular sugar substitute
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
4 boneless chicken breast halves, with skin (about 2 pounds)
salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a large resealable plastic bag, mix orange juice, garlic, oil, chili powder, sugar substitute, orange rind and cayenne pepper. Add chicken breasts; toss to coat. Refrigerate 6 to 8 hours, or overnight Heat broiler. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Position broiler rack 6 inches from heat source and broil chicken 12 to 15 minutes, turning halfway through cooking time, just until cooked through.

Atkins Mascarpone Parfait

Servings: 4
Prep time: 0:15:00
Bake/Cook time: 0:00:00
Calories: 458
Fat: 48 grams
Protein: 5 grams
Carbohydrates: 3 grams
Fiber: 0 grams
Net Carbs: 3 grams

1 cup heavy cream
1 (8-ounce) container mascarpone, slightly softened
1 tablespoon granular sugar substitute
4 small mint sprigs and strips of lemon peel, for garnish

In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat heavy cream on medium-high to soft peaks. Reduce speed to medium; add mascarpone and sugar substitute, beating just until smooth, 15 to 30 seconds. Divide and spoon the cream mixture into four parfait cups. Garnish with mint sprigs and lemon peel, if desired.

Weight Watchers Recipes

Atkins Recipes

South Beach Recipes

Body For Life Recipes

General Low Carb recipes

Food Fit.com's guide to summer vegetables

[retrokitten]

You are dead on about consistency. Most of us CAN start a vigorous exercise regime, but WILL we stick with it? Probably not. The best is something you can stick with for life. You can have the best plan in the world, but if you don't do it it isn't worth squat.

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Oh OK, sorry. I am a bit overly sensitive sometime.

[conservativebabe]

Max, I knew what you meant. We are a bunch of nasty characters!!! LOL!

[najida]

You may not be eating enough, seriously.

Keep a log of what you're eating for a few days and use some of the sites listed to add up your intake each day.

It does several things. You may be eating more than you think you are. Plus, the calories in some things may be higher than you thought. And it may help you focus on what things you need to eat more of.

Lastly, check out the meds you're on. Some make losing weight harder.

[Spiff]

Define eating right and we'll compare.

[pissant]

Eat whatever you want, just be sure to exercise...

[dittomom]

WOW! FReepers losing weight!!! Please add me to your ping list. I have been minimizing my FReeping for quite awhile and part of the reason was because my weight was creeping up (and up) and I needed to get away from this blasted computer and MOVE. In January I decided to truly get serious about getting healthier, so I have been using my treadmill more and computer less. Also eating smaller meals more frequently is helping. Last week, my first 10 pounds were officially evicted and I am NEVER letting them come back!

[retrokitten]

I'm alternating between sad and angry about this.

I really can empathize with you more then you know. It sounds like you are hitting a plateau. They suck and are demoralizing.

Please don't give up. I think conservativebabe said it, the weight will come off eventually.

[Steve_Seattle]

Semi-Healthy Mexican Pizza

1 medium wheat tortilla (look for a whole grain and lard-free brand - some are actually quite good)

1/2 cup (per pizza) reduced fat shredded Mexican cheese mix or reduced fat mozzarella

Prepared, pre-cooked Southwest chicken pieces, cut up. About 1/3 cup per pizza.

Topping (mix in bowl):

1 large red bell pepper, julienned.

1 Anaheim (mild) or Jalapeno (hot) pepper, chopped, according to one's preference.

1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro.

Juice from one (or two) fresh lime(s).

1-1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh garlic, or a couple of shakes garlic powder.

1/4 teaspoon black pepper.

Salt, to taste. (optional)

Cook tortilla, cheese, and chicken at 450 degrees for 5-7 minutes, until crisp and slightly brown. Remove from oven and spoon on topping. Serves 2-3.

[Xenalyte]

For breakfast, low-fat yogurt. For lunch, a "salad" that's really a small baggie of grape tomatoes and slices of red bell pepper, cucumber, and zucchini. For dinner, the same salad, or possibly a burger (no bun) or chicken breast or can of tuna.

[retrokitten]

Oh that sounds yummy!!!

[peacebaby]

excellent exercise.

[Maximus of Texas]

Not sure what posts you are reading but from what you just said, I don't think it matters. You've put a label on me that only you can remove.

FYI, you've posted plenty of pics of beautiful women from the middle east. Does that put you in the same category as me?

[Xenalyte]

The problem is that I hit the plateau right away. From the day I started trying to lose weight (late January) to today, not one ounce has come off.

[Maximus of Texas]

Thank you, CB.

[Steve_Seattle]

I don't know what your exercise regimen is, if any, but its possible to do too much. 25 minutes aerobic 3-4 times a week, and 25 minutes resistance/weight exercise 3-4 times a week is optimal for most people.

[retrokitten]

Congrats on your 10 pounds!!

You're added to the ping list!

[normy]

Someone earlier commented on picking bike riding as a new sport to try and it worked in getting the weight off. Thats what you have to do. Get out and find something to do.

The workout I have been doing is actually 10 different workouts, a different one each day for 10 days, by day 30 its amazing the strength and wind and recovery I have. If I don't want to work out I tell myself "man, are you so weak you cant set 20 minutes aside to do this thing?" and it gets done.

I think people get motivated, go on a diet, start a workout, see results and try to live off those results instead of keeping with it. I think if you can exercise the eating will take care of itself.

I remember when my wife quit working and stayed with the kids she trimmed up tremendously. All that running around chasing kids and going to the park, the zoo whatever. Now that she is back to work she's added some back because you sit all day at a desk and snack. Just the activity really makes a difference.

[Xenalyte]

A mile and a half to two miles on the exercise bike, four or five times a week. Usually takes me 20 to 30 minutes.

[najida]

Most of them are pictures of women as large as size a 16...that is reason #12356 why I like the ME so much these days.

As far as the label goes, I really don't care. I lost patience a while back.