Wow, how easy it is to quit.  Well, I had some physical/medical complications.  My ankles and legs swell really bad and I went to the doctor which referred me to a vascular specialist which told me to stay off my feet.  Needless to say I was sad and happy at the same time for that.  Sad because I had just finished my first month of P90X and happy because I was tired of doing it already.  Now I have a hysterectomy coming up on Jan. 13th 2010.  My new plan is going on weight watchers while I cant work out.  From what I read typically people lose anywhere from 10-15 pounds just by having a hysterectomy so I was hoping I could keep that off with weight watchers while I cant do anything but sit on my butt for a while.  By the time I am able to work out again maybe it will be easier being anywhere from 15 pounds or more lighter.  I want to do weight watchers correctly, meaning its not just a diet its a way of life.  I signed up for this emealz thing.  Emealz makes menus every week supposedly based on whats on sale at the grocery stores that week but there are different plans to pick from.  I picked the any store points program.  They tell you it isnt weight watchers but it really is I guess they legally just cant say that, I mean what other points system is there?  I signed up about 6 weeks ago and have been getting the menus every week.  I am a picky eater so more than half the week menu I will not eat.  I have been saving them up as I refused to diet/weight watchers until after the new years since there seemed no logic in trying to do this on the holidays so I took the ones I liked from each emealz week and made a list for the week of things to eat.  It tells you how many points these things are and everything its great!  It is actually designed to save you money on your grocery bill and highly recommended by Dave Ramsey whom I think is getting over commercialized now but thats for another post.  It helps me so much to know how many points my dinner would be and not have to eat chicken and green beans every night.  I get to make some of the most awesome stuff and its only 6 points or less usually which is great.  I laid out my entire day, 5 point breakfast, 2 point snack, 4 point lunch, 2 point snack, and then 8 point dinner still leaves me 2 extra points not to mention my flex 35 per week.  I usually eat the south beach diet bars for breakfast or the weight watcher muffins both are 3 points each.  They are both very good too.  I also like to have one of those mini mountain dew or cokes in the morning to get up with a quickness and those are 2 points.  Then for a snack I like either water or milos tea sweetended with splenda both are 0 points, then I like one of those 100 calorie pack things.  For lunch I like green beans and potatos along with a 2 point mini drink.  Green beans are 0 points, the potatos I use  out of the can are 2 points and my mini is 2 points for a total of 4 points.  For snack, I like the same thing as morning snack.  For dinner it varies.  I chose to add the snacks into weight watchers as something I took from south beach diet about eating small meals several times a day to build up your metabolism.

I have done much better on eating healthy, I cannot say I did perfect by any means but it is sooooo much better than usual. After completing 1 week of P90X, I have lost only 2 pounds BUT lost an inch on my belly, waist, butt and 3 inches of course on my chest :(. My arms and thighs are the same. I am stoked! One inch is great!

Peppermint Brownies
You will need:
1 package fudge brownie mix
4 tbsp. instant dry, powdered skim milk
1 1/2 cups skim milk
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 egg whites
1 tsp. peppermine extract
nonstick vegetable oil cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat bottom of 13″X9″ baking pan with nonstick vegetable oil cooking spray.

In a small bowl, combine skim milk powder with skim milk and stir until dissolved.

In a large bowl, combine skim milk powder with skim milk and stir until dissolved.

In a large bowl, combine the brownie mix, applesauce, egg whites, peppermint extract, and skim milk mixture. Spread evenly in prepared pan.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes and do not overbake. When brownies are cool cut into 15 even pieces.

Top each brownie with 1/4 cup vanilla ice cream, 1 tbsp fat free chocolate sauce, and 1 peppermint candy. Serve immediately.

15 servings
Serving size 1 brownie
Calories 150
Fat 6g
Saturated fat 3g
Carbs 23g
Fiber 2g
Protein 4g

Chilled berry soup
You will need:
3 cups orange juice
3 cups nonfat plain yogurt (or buttermilk)
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp. agave nectar
2-3 cups of mixed berries. (blueberries, strawberries and blackberries preferably)

Whisk together the orange juice and the yogurt. Add the lemon juice and Agave Nectar. Cover and chill until serving time.

When you’re ready to serve, place about 1/2 cup of berries in each bowl. Ladle the soup on top.
6 servings
Serving size 1 cup
Calories 100
Fat 0g
Saturated fat 0g
Carbs 23g
Fiber 1g
Protein 5g

Lime Cumin Lamb Chop
You will need:
1 tsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. lime juice
2 tsp. cumin
4 lamb loin chops, visible fat trimmed
nonstick vegetable oil cooking spray

Spray grill rack or broiler rack with nonstick vegetable oil cooking spray.
Preheat grill or broiler to medium-high heat.
Blend olive oil, lime juice, and cumin. Brush each side of each lamb chop with marinade.
Place lamb cops on grill or broiler rack. Grill or broil 3 to 4 inches from heat 5 to 6 minutes on each side.
4 servings
Serving size 1 lamb chop
Calories 120
Fat 6g
Saturated fat 2g
Carbs 1g
Fiber 0g
Protein 14g

Well, tonight was the start of my second week of P90X, and it was core synergenics, second time I have done it. I dont remember it being that hard the first time, maybe its because I am sore. Anyway, I did the best I could and that wasnt too much today. I am extremely tired!

Vegan French Onion Dip
You will need:
1 medium onion, cut into 1/2 inch thichk slices
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1 (12oz) container vegan sour cream (such as tofuitti) or low-fat sour cream
1/2 tsp. low sodium soy sauce
1/2 tsp. dried thyme

Prehead oven to 450 degrees.
Toss together oil, onion, vinegar, sea salt, and pepper on a nonstick baking sheet.
Bake about 18 minutes or until onions are browned.
Transfer mixture to a medium sized bowl and cool.
Coarsely chop remaining onion slices and return to bowl; stir in sour cream, soy sauce, and thyme.
Season with remaining sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Transfer to serving bowl.
12 servings
Serving size 3 tbsp.
Calories 60
Fat 4g
Saturated Fat 0g
Carbs 1g
Fiber 1g
Protein 1g

Enjoy with baked whole-grain tortilla chips, baked potato chips, whole-grain crackers, and/or fresh veggies.

Banana Berry Smoothie
You will need:
1 scoop of ice
4 fl oz of water (or nonfat milk)
4 strawberries
1 banana
1 tsp. honey

Cut strawberries and bananas.

Blend ice, water (or nonfat milk), strawberries, banana, and honey in blender and serve immediately.
1 serving
Calories 220
Fat 1g
Saturated Fat 1g
Carbs 44g
Fiber 6g
Protein 20g

Summer Smoothie
You will need:
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup fresh pineapple, peeled and cored
1/4 cup ripe papaya, peeled, deseeded, and chopped
1/4 cup mango, peeled and cubed
honey
1/2 cup ice

Place juice, fruit, and honey in a blender. Blend on high for 30 seconds.

Add ice and blend until smooth.
1 serving
Calories 130
Fat 0g
Saturated Fat 0g
Carbs 31g
Fiber 2g
Protein 2g

Well, I get up after 5 hours sleep, go to work, then go to court for my work, then go to jail for my work, then go back to work. When I get off work I go to my other job cleaning this building once a week on Wednesdays. It is good money but a pain in the butt. I clean then drive to the local drug store because my son is coughing. I buy childrens mucinex like always and then drive 45 until I get home and notice that it says I need to find out if I can give it to him first because of the prozac he is on. I call the pharmacist and she says I cannot and tells me to get him some childrens claritin so here I am back to square one. UGGGG! Ok its now time to cook, then clean and get my son in the bath and bed. Then I get to work out for an hour and then take a shower and by that time is over it will be like 11pm and it will be time to colapse!!!!!
Not a good day for me!