[Mimi47]

Teags -- I bought a rutabaga (first time ever!). A little afraid of it, but am planning to try some rutabaga fries for tonight - -will let you know how it goes!

[kimo88]

Thanks Teags! Also, for veggies, I sometimes stir fry mine up with ginger, garlic, and soy sauce. That definitely changes the taste. Also, if you haven't, roast your brocolli and cauliflower in the oven (350 for 30ish minutes, until the tops start browning) I usually put garlic powder, salt and pepper on. It completely changes the taste. I fry up zucchini too and have that from time to time. I just bought a rutabaga so I'm going to make sweet fauxtato pie this week. Hmm...what else...rhubarb with the IP pancake syrup is a good way to get vegetables in with a completely different flavour...You can buy the rotini and make rotini salad (I usually use cucumber, tomato, bell peppers with white vinegar, olive oil, and italian seasoning for dressing). Oh, and maple oatmeal zucchini muffins are a great too! Usually one serving will have 1 cup of zucchini, and one serving is 3 muffins so it seems like you're getting a lot of food.

I hope that helps!

[kimo88]

Forgot to add..

I'm sorry to hear about how work is for you right now. I'm sure it's pretty tough to have to lay people off...hopefully things get better soon.

[TeagsC]

Thanks ladies - great ideas! I actually love rutabaga, I need to go buy some. And roasted veggies is my FAV! I might try doing some pureed soups this weekend in my blender. It's not anything fancy so I am wondering if it will still do the trick? I'll let you know!

I do have a pack of rotini that I haven't tried yet, so I will make up a big pasta salad, great idea!

[vzubie]

Hi All!

Just wanted to let you know that I'm still here. Took a break over Christmas and maintained my 4 lb loss from my first week. I'm down a total of 12 lbs since I started in November. Not exactly what I wanted, but hey, I'll take it. Putting my nose to the grindstone now to try to get close to my goal before my 50th birthday at the end of February.

[TeagsC]

Good to see you back, Vzubie!

[etherbunny]

Weighed in today after being 99% OP the whole week (I added 4 tblsp of veggie cheese to a cauliflower gratin that made 4 servings). I found it hard to get all 3 packets in every day, but even if I had to have something at 11pm, I managed. Plus I was diligent about the water intake. I lost the 2.8 wine lbs plus another 4!!!! Officially in the 180's with exactly 20 lbs gone!

Teags, a few veggie possibilities: spinach in the wildberry yogurt drink done up as a smoothie with ice in the blender (weird color but really no flavor change); stir fry as mentioned with a side of cauliflower fried rice; make a dipping sauce with roasted red peppers and silken tofu in the blender, then dip celery, cukes, green beans, broccoli, etc in it (plus the tofu adds protein, so subtract from your daily 8 oz); loved the sweet fauxtato recipe!; roasted fennel (sliced, spray with olive oil pam, add a touch of WF balsamic and roast until softened/turning golden), roast cherry tomatoes sprinkled with italian herbs in the oven until they pop, serve with zucchini noodles (made in the vegetti or other fancy kitchen tool); zucchini or summer squash "lasagna" with tofu as the ricotta; asparagus any way!; and if you have access to a grill even in the winter try "summer veg" skewers with summer squash, zucchini, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and either chicken or steak tips.

I love to cook and try new things. Trying veg different ways keeps me interested in the IP eating plan. Otherwise, I get discouraged with eating only processed packets of food.

[Fluffeifei]

Great job on the loss ether! Hope I can break the 20 lbs mark today at my WI. I started working out again recently so hope I didn't put on any muscle weight.

[Mimi47]

Congrats Ether! And good luck fluffy! Am hoping to hit that 20 lb mark soon as well! (though unlikely at tomorrow's WI). Love seeing all the veggie suggestions, so thanks for asking for those, Teags. Think I might get one of those zucchini noodlers -- Ether, did you just find online, or in a specialty store?

[etherbunny]

Bed bath and beyond carries the vegetti brand. It's very basic but does a great job making 2 different sizes of spiral noodles. Retail was about $14 but I always have a 20% off coupon

[Mimi47]

Thanks, ether! Will head out there today!

[TeagsC]

ETHER!!! Holy crap, what an awesome weigh in!!! YAHOOOO! Good for you, that must feel awesome.

Thank you ladies SO much for the veggie ideas! I love the roasted red peppers and tofu in a blender for dip, what a cool idea.

All good here today, staying OP and trying to decide if I am going to do any sort of exercise this week! LOL! I have been scared about the muscle gain, even though I know that in the long run it will be better for me, even if I don't like what the scale says...

Happy Hump Day!

[vzubie]

Congrats to esther! You are all doing so well with your weight losses, you should all be so proud of yourselves!

Thanks for the welcome back, Teags! It's good to be back and focused. No more excuses for me!

Love the suggestion for the veggies. I'm really getting tired of my usual ones.

[TeagsC]

Fluffy - let us know how it goes today, fingers crossed for ya!

Vzubie - how is back on the wagon so far? Looks like your stats are pretty great!

[vzubie]

So far, so good, Teags. I really need to check out the thread for good dinner ideas - getting pretty tired of chicken. Do you have a favourite recipe?