Showing posts with label Diet. Show all posts

The Other Addiction

Food Addiction - A behavioral addiction that is primarily characterized by the compulsive consumption of palatable (e.g., high fat and high sugar) food items which markedly activate the reward system in humans and other animals despite adverse consequences. [Wikipedia]

We are always hearing about drug addiction or alcohol addiction, etc. Food addiction is rarely talked about yet can be as damaging as a drug or other addiction. Food addiction is a real thing. Unlike drugs, food is something we have to have to survive so it makes it a struggle to stay clear from it. 


Just like drug addiction:
food addiction….

Can cause health issues.
Has strong cravings and urges.
You find yourself lying to others about foods you buy or eat.
You have a choice food that will always lead to binge eating.
You sneak around to eat.
You will often eat alone.
You get grumpy when food wears off.
You eat so you will not feel certain emotions. 
You pay high prices for the satisfaction.
You want out but you keep going back.
When someone says you eat to much, you get defensive. 
Taking it away can cause a fight. 
There comes a time we ask for help and have to attend clinics or therapist.
Once clean from the addiction of food, on bite of your favorite foods will trigger a relapse. 

I think I have a food addiction. For real. I am seeing a dietitian and that first couple weeks of detoxing was hard! I almost caved. My body was even getting weak and my energy level was 1 to zero. My body is now getting used to the restrictions I am on and I finally feel the energy slowly coming back and the cravings are getting less. I have even lost 15 lbs in four weeks. I have a few more weeks left of restrictions and I should be good. 


I have to stay away from bake shops because it would be equivilant to taking an alcoholic to a liquor store. 

Food addiction is a powerful thing. Food can be a drug. let’s remember those that may be suffering. Never pick on someone for being on a diet or for what they have on their plate. You never know there story or the struggles they might be going through. 



Note: Some people wonder what happened after I lost 50lbs on Nutrisystem 7 years ago.
That was a super easy diet that I eventually had to give up due to reactions to the salts and whey proteins. I kept the weight off for 5 years. The past two years I fell off the wagon and began eating unhealthy amounts of bad foods again which led me to gaining all 50 lbs back. 






New Work Out

I don’t know about you but I’m tired of being kept in the house. Of course we can actually go places now but we tried that this past weekend. It was no fun. I have some birthday money and a couple gift cards I wanted to spend. Some places required a mask to enter so we stayed away from those. I only wear my mask in places that I need to go, not places I want to look around for leisure. I could not buy any clothes because the dressing rooms are closed. I have to try on things before I purchase them and I hate having to return stuff. But it is what it is. Needless to say, I came home with a new yoga mat.

Why A yoga mat? Well, I have decided to start a fitness program called Body Boss Fitness. I have lost 50 lbs on the Nutrisystem diet and kept the weight off for 4 years until the past few months of not working. I have managed to gain 15 lbs and been trying to get it back off. I still do Nutrisystem but not faithfully, due to job loss, I do not have the motivation or extra money to put into in right now. So since I’ve lost the weight with diet, I am now ready to lose more weight with exercise. 
You can read my journey with Nutrisystem HERE. It really does work!


Body Boss Fitness is a 12 week program of three 25 minute intense workouts a week. 
It will take me 16 weeks because I will start by doing the 4 week “pre-training’ workouts first.
I hate making my body hurt but they say, “what doesn’t hurt, doesn’t help”.


I also needed a workout step. I was going to use the step in our sunken living room but my husband remembered seeing a workout step in the attic when we moved in this house 17 years ago. I asked him if he would go up there and see, so up to the back corner of the attic he went. He came back down and sure enough, there it was. It also included some extra 2 inch stacks. There were some cracks and it looked like something Jane Fonda would have used back in the 70’s but it will work for my routines. 


I have completed my first week of pre-training and boy am I sore. During the first week I have learned a few things.

1. My mind has not caught up with my body.
2. I can’t get up and down like I used too.
3. And who the heck invented “burpees? Satan?”

I am really devoted to complete this program and hope to lose a few pounds while also toning my abs, legs and butt. Wish me luck because, it does have a warning for anyone over 50 not to do the workouts. 


Pffhh, I’ll show them!!!



Friday Bowl- Bread Bowl with Nutrisystem

Today's Friday bowl has a different twist. I am sharing how I took the Nutrisystem “ChockFul of Veggie Chili” and added it to a hollowed out bread bowl.

I like Chili but I can not eat it without some sort of bread. I grabbed a roll from the grocery store deli and scooped out most of the inside to eliminate calories leaving the shell as a bowl. You can do this with other chilis or soups for a fun delicious meal.

Nutrisystem ChockFul of Veggies Chili 


I lost 50 lbs on Nutrisystem and feel great. I have been able to maintain my weight loss now for four years by using the nutritional knowledge Nutrisystem has taught me. 
You can read my full journey HERE

Start Nutrisystem now and get 50% off using my link below.
Https://www.nutrisystem.com/Lisa50

Expect to lose 1-2 lbs per week

Peanut Butter Smoothie Bowl

I have been on the Nutrisystem diet now for over 4 years. I have successfully lost 50 lbs in the first seven months. I have maintained my weight loss ever since. I still eat Nutrisystem as I like the food and its convenience but I eat a lot more meals of my own.

Today I would like to share with you this delicious Smoothie bowl I made using the Nutrisystem Fresh Start probiotic shake mix. I am not a fan of drinking my meals. I have had a canister of this shake mix in the pantry for a while, but when I learned you can make a smoothie a little thicker and add them to a bowl, I was in. 



Peanut Butter Smoothie Bowl
288 calories- 19 grams of protein.

2 scoops of Nutrisystem Shake mix (or any other protein shake mix).
1 Tablespoon Peanut Butter.
1/2 frozen Banana.
1/2 Cup crushed Ice.
1/2 Cup water (or almond milk).

Add to Mixer and blend till smooth.

Top with your favorite toppings. 
I used 1 Tablespoon of grated chocolate and 1 tablespoon of mixed seeds and nuts. 

For the past few weeks, I have been experimenting with new tastes by putting away the muffins and waffles and making more yogurt and smoothie bowls. I am learning to like plain yogurt and adding in more fruits and veggies to my diet. In fact, I plan to start doing a short blog post every Friday to share my bowl creations and other healthy food choices. I’m hoping this will help me stick with clean eating and also help others that are thinking about eating better. I have some really good ones to show you, so stay tuned. 



You can get 50% off any Nutrisystem plan right now by visiting Nutrisystem.com/lisa50.
Coconut bowl set by Cocoboo.

🥥🍓🍋🍌🥝

Cactus Pineapple Smoothie

I really want to start eating healthier by adding more natural plant based foods to my diet. It's really hard, but I have been adding more healthy options to my grocery list. I'm not Vegan or even Vegetarian but I believe they both are healthy habits. I just don't want to commit to any strict diets, but instead, just make some better choices in what I put in and on my body. 

Eating healthy has also led me to try new foods otherwise I would turn my nose up too. One of the newest foods I tried lately is (Nopal) Cactus. I read that there are a lot of health benefits hidden inside this prickly vegetable. I am excited to share with you this "Licuado de Nopal" aka Cactus Pineapple Smoothie. It tasted like nothing else I've ever had. Cactus itself taste like a cross between celery and asparagus, if you can imagine. Mixed in a smoothie it's not so bad after all.


Before handling any cactus, make sure to wear gloves. I learned this the hard way while picking through them at the grocery store. I was picking fine thorns from my hands all the way home while my husband thought it was funny. He suggested I use tongs that were available next time. 


Before eating, cut around the outside to remove the edges then take a knife or cactus scraper and scrape off  all the thorns, then wash thoroughly. I took my gloves off at this point and sacrificed my hands to make sure there were not more prickly things on the paddles. Luckily there were none and it was ready to cut into cubes.   


Cactus Pineapple Smoothie

1 cup- cleaned and cubed Cactus
1 cup- cubed Pineapple (I used frozen)
1 cup- of Orange Juice or Water
1 teaspoon- of Turmeric. (tasteless but optional)

add all to a blender and blend until smooth
Enjoy.



Cactus water (or smoothie) is known to help with weight loss, regulate blood sugar levels and improve digestion. It is also an anti-inflammatory. 

Other health benefits of cactus include:

  • Great for joint inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Natural detox. Good for the gut. 
  • Great for skin.
  • Strengthens immune system.
  • Lowers cholesterol.
  • Help prevent against cancer.
  • Helps control type II diabetes.
  • Relieves menstrual cramps in women.
  • It can also help with inflammation of the urethra and bladder to control bladder infections. 
  • And if you get drunk....It's known to help hangovers.
I found most of this info here. (Source)
The original recipe and more interesting facts can be found here (Source).

How did I like it?
It was pretty good. It was not like drinking a sweet berry smoothie topped with granola and chocolate, but it was good. It had a sweet tart bite too it but yet still refreshing. 

What I think about it?
We ended up making another trip to the Mexican grocery store for more. I have felt good after drinking one of these smoothies and actually had a good night sleep. I think this drink is a good thing and plan to drink one a couple times a week. I hope it helps with the inflammation in my ears associated with my symptoms of Meniere's.  

I have never been afraid to try new things. If it's edible, I’ll eat it. It’s good to experiment with different foods. There is a lot of good foods out there yet to be discovered. You’ll never know unless you try it. 



Potato Crab Cakes- Nutrisystem

It's been a while since I posted a recipe using Nutrisystem foods. If you follow me, you know my success with Nutrisystem. You can also read my journey by clicking the tab at the top of my page or if your reading by smart phone, just click HERE.

I have been on Nutrisystem over four years now. The past two years I have been on the maintenance plan. This is where I eat a lot of foods on my own but still keep Nutrisystem foods at hand. I still have a least one Nutrisystem meal a day. I like it that much. It tastes good. It's convenient and I know I'm eating something that's good for me. Taking what I've learned about healthy eating habits and balancing my diet, I have been able to keep the weight off and I feel great!

People often ask me if I ever get tired of eating Nutrisystem foods. I say "not really". Why? because Nutrisystem is always adding new meals to their menu and they have a large variety of different foods. Also, I like to play around with some of the foods and make my own recipe.

Today I want to share with you this delicious recipe using Nutrisystem's loaded potato.

*Makes 4 patties (photo shows 3 because one was tested first).
**counts as one meal plus one power fuel.


Potato Crab Cakes
1- Nutrisystem loaded potato (cooked as directed).

1/4 cup- mix of finely chopped onions and peppers.

1- Snack pack imitation crab meat (about 1/2 cup) finely chopped .



-Saute' the onions and peppers until soft and add all ingredients together.
-Mix well then form into 4 small patties.

-Cook in a non stick pan or use cooking spray ( I use both because I have trust issues in the kitchen).
 cook until browned on both sides.


I experimented and made a dipping sauce (since I did not have any tarter sauce) and it turned out perfect. My husband even gave it two thumbs up.


1- Tablespoon of mayonnaise.
1/2 -Tablespoon horseradish.

Sprinkle of dill weed.


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I lost 50 lbs on Nutrisystem in just 8 months. 
Start your weight loss journey today. "If I can do it, you can do it".

Click HERE for 40% off your first order.
Expect to lose 1-2 lbs per week.  



What is Your Why?

We all make goals for ourselves. For me it was to lose 30 pounds. I went above that goal and lost 50. I did this with *Nutrisystem. I'm not going into my whole speech about how great this diet works or how good it makes me feel. You can simply find that information on one of the page tabs at the top of my blog.

I'm posting today about one of the struggle most dieters go through. I am guilty too. 

I have not fallen off the diet, but those pieces of moms cakes have started getting bigger on my plate.
My hula hoop routines have turned into arm workouts using the recliner handle.
My three mile walks have turned into half miles walks around the grocery store.
You get it? Need I say more? Ok ill say it......I put on an extra eight pounds that I do not want.
My pants have started getting snug, my energy level is low and I am feeling that low self esteem creeping up on me.

It's hard. I work alone in a tiny office eight hours a day. I do not get a lot of motivation to do anything for myself. I simply do not have extra money to join a gym or hire a fitness trainer. It's easy to get depressed, to envy others and just loose all hope of ever bettering myself.

I have to ask myself "what is my why?' I had a reason for dieting in the first place. There was a “why” I made that choice. For me, it was to be able to wear those cute outfits again, to get my energy back and to have a healthier lifestyle. I put a lot of work into getting there so why would I want to just let it go?




So, I refuse to let cake and recliners win. I'm grabbing the bull by the horns and plan to push myself harder to get that extra eight lbs off. I love that I have Nutrisystem foods stocked up and my Nutrisystem friends are always there to motivate me. 

Dieting is a life style change. I compare it to a drinkaholic. You simply can not give into what destroys you. You have to stay away from the temptations (that's why I have not had a Krispy Kreme doughnut since Jan 2015). You have to always fight to stay on track. We have to push ourselves to be better and not fall back into bad habits. Only we can make this decision. 

So if your trying to reach a goal and feel like giving up, put your hat back on on remember why you started in the first place. 


*Expect to lose 1-2 lbs on Nutrisystem

Nutrisystem- Potato Salad

Here is another easy and fun recipe for those who enjoy Nutrisystem.
Nutrisystem has over 100 different food choices but they do not have potato salad!

So I made my own and it did not add to the calories or take away any nutrition. It simply just adds another flavor to the Nutrisystem Loaded Potato found on the menu HERE


My mom makes the best potato salad. Hers is always glowing a bright yellow will specks of red and green. Its just a little chunky but mostly the consistency of mash potatoes and always booming with flavor. 

Though I could never beat it, I made this potato salad with my mom's in mind. 


HERE IS HOW I DID IT:
  • Prepare the Nutrisystem Loaded Potato as directed.
  • Add a spoon of each: Green Peppers, Onion, Celery and Pimentos. 
  • Mustard to taste
  • Sprinkle in some salt and pepper.
  • Mix well and place in the refrigerator until cool. 
While the Nutrisystem Loaded Potato is a meal in itself, you can also add this tasty potato salad as a side next to an added protein such as chicken or fish. 
This is another way to get in your veggies.

*I lost 50 lbs on Nutrisystem and continue eating the foods while maintaining my weight loss. It worked for me. It can work for you too.


*Read my success story here
*Click here for $30.00 off your first order .
*Expect to lose 1-2 lbs. per week with Nutrisystem.
(Results may vary with different individuals).

I am not being paid or asked by Nutrisystem to write this blog post. 

Opinions, recipe and results are all my own. 

Smores Dip with Nutrisystem

This is another post for all those on the Nutrisystem diet.

I’ve been on the Nutrisystem diet for over 3 years now. I no longer order monthly meals. I have lost the pounds I wanted. I am currently on the maintenance plan in which I just order from the A la carte menu and eat a lot of meals on my own which I admit, is dangerous for me sometimes because things like this happen.....

SMORES DIP


For the record, It is made with Nutrisystem’s NutriChocolates found on the snack menu. 
It’s delicious milk chocolate wafers and it’s OKAY!!!! They are perfectly portioned and protein packed to keep you losing the weight. 

I just had to put a twist to it. Because that’s WHAT I DO! Ha. I play around with my foods to make more varieties. Besides, since Nutrisystem meals are ready to heat or eat, I actually miss experimenting and cooking in the kitchen. 


If you are not on Nutrisystem, you can do the same thing with a Hershey bar but don't go crying if you gain a few pounds.

“It doesn’t get any SMORE easier than this”

First add the chocolates to a small dish such as a ramekin or soup mug. 
I just so happened to have this adorable little corning-ware dish from the thrift store.


Add marshmallows. I was able to find a little single pack of marshmallows. 
It was just the right amount to keep me from over doing it. 
Because I WILL over do it at times. 


Place in toaster oven until marshmallows are toasty. 
The chocolates will be melted by this time too. 
You can try it in the microwave but I would not suggest it 
because it will NOT make the marshmallows brown and toasty and may only make a mess. 


Carefully remove from oven and dip your favorite graham crackers. 
Its ok, you can eat it all! Just take it easy on the crackers. 
Two sleeves is a serving suggestion. 
You do not have to share which I ended up doing. 
My husband gave it two thumbs up. 

This dessert counts as:
1 snack (Nutrichocolates)
1 smart carb (crackers)
1 extra (marshmallows) 

Be sure to visit the tabs at the top of my page to see other food ideas using Nutrisystem and read about my Nutrisystem journey and how it has worked for me. 


Ezekiel Bread

Have you ever heard of Ezekiel bread? I haven’t ever heard of it until my daughter came in this past weekend carrying in a loaf for us to try. She found it at Trader Joes ( I think or some kind of health food store). It suppose to be low carb (no flour) and full of health benefits.

Its called “Ezekiel” bread because the recipe can actually be found in the Bible. 

 “Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread.
Ezekiel 4:9

We have already finished the whole loaf off by making several sandwiches for our lunches and I used it one morning for toast. The texture felt dry and stale to the touch but it tasted absolutely delicious. It was great knowing I was eating bread without carbs. 


I am not a health food geek or organic food eater but if I can find food that was made like back in the Bible day, it’s got to be healthy. Wouldn’t you think? 
I kept calling it “Jesus” bread all weekend while my daughter kept correcting me.  

For those that know me, you know that I'm thinking now about making some of my own. 

Has anyone else ever heard of this bread?


Dandelion Tea

Yes. “Dandelion Tea.

I will no longer call these little bright yellow yard flowers “weeds”.
My yard is full of them. The neighbors yards are not. They keep weed killer on their lawns but little do they know, they are killing something that is beneficial to your health. 

Did you know you can eat every part of a Dandelion? I always heard about the green leafy part being edible but I always thought the yellow flower was poison. As a kid, I can remember other weeds we put in our mouth. Most were by dare, but we did it and we lived. 
We sucked the juice from Honeysuckle, chewed on sour grass, ate wild blackberries and attempted to smoke rabbit tobacco. 
But Dandelions? Umm never. 

After seeing several recipes online using dandelions, I did a little investigating (aka Googling). I found out that these little sunshine flowers were good for you and have lots of health benefits.
  • Detoxifies the body
  • Has fat metabolizing enzymes and natural diuretic to eliminate water weight- both aid in weight loss.
  • Rich in Fiber and antioxidants.
  • High in vitamin K, A, calcium, zinc, iron and magnesium.
  • Cleanses the Liver
  • Minimizes stress
  • Boost immune system
  • Balances blood sugars
  • Reduces inflammation....

And the list goes on. I will have some links at the end of my page where you can read a little about them. It will surprise you. 

I am from the South and we like our tea sweet and cold but I just had to try some Dandelion Tea. 

So, out to the yard I went carrying a little bowl, hoping my neighbors were not watching, and began picking dandelions. I felt like I was six again. There were no threat of pesticides or weed killers ‘obvliously”. Ha.
The bees would beat me to a few so I made sure to leave them plenty to work with. 
There are many recipes for Dandelion flowers, and I plan to make Dandelion bread soon, but for now here is how I made Dandelion tea. 

Dandelion Tea:
(1 cup Dandelion petals for every 2 cups water.)

1. Wash and pat dry. 
2. Pinch off the yellow petals removing the green best you can as the green can be bitter. (A little green wont hurt)


3. Place the petals in a pot of water and bring to a starting boil.
4. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. It will begin to have a yellow tint.


5. Using cheese cloth, drain the petals from the tea. 
6. Pour into your favorite mug , add a teaspoon of honey or other flavor of your choice and Enjoy.


The tea alone was rich in flavor. It had sort of a honey taste even before adding the extra honey. It was actually good. I would make this tea again before going out and buying some overpriced weak tea from the store.
"Well, it was all good until the next morning when I saw some cats messing around in the yard". 

Warning: Dandelions are closely related to other plants such as Daisies, Marigolds, Sunflowers, etc which some people are allergic to. If you have allergies to such flowers, do not attempt to eat Dandelion without consulting a doctor first. 


Sources:

Recipes:


I’ve linked to these great parties


Nutrisystem-Maintaining

If you know me or have been following my blog, then you know my how excited I am about loosing 50 lbs. on Nutrisystem. I used to talk about it all the time. You can even find my whole journey HERE.  I still share some of my tips on social media and my success story can be found on the Nutrisystem page. You may have even seen my picture flash up on the TV behind Marie as she speaks. If you blinked, you missed it. I love sharing my weight loss success story with everyone. It’s been a fun journey and a life changing experience.

It’s been a little over three years and people keep asking me if I still eat Nutrisystem. The answer is “YES” I still eat Nutrisystem food. I love it that much! Its so convenient and takes the guess work out of eating right. It’s like having my own little chef. 

So, here is where I stand on my weight loss journey 3 years later.

For the past year or so, I have been on the Nutrisystem Maintenance Plan. With this plan, I eat most foods on my own using the nutritional information I learned from being on this diet. “I always felt weird calling it a “diet” since it was so easy and delicious!”. 
I pay a low annual price for this plan. This keeps me a member of Nutrisystem and allows me access to counselors and special savings. I order foods from the A la Carte menu as I need them with a percentage off and free shipping. I will order an average of two or three weeks worth of foods and make it last a month while I eat most of my own foods. 

I have found that I have put on a few pounds but am keeping it in control. I like the size I am now. I’m still in a size 4 or small, continue to have energy and my health is overall great! Nutrisystem always has my back. I love knowing how to control my weight and I know what foods and snacks work for me and which ones work against me. 

One of my favorite flex breakfasts is Avocado toast and a side of fruit. 

Here are a few tips I would like to share for those that are at the point to maintaining the weight you lost with Nutrisystem. I am not going to tell you what to eat, you already know that. I want to give you some advice on some issues that I have fought against and where you need to be careful.

FLEX MEALS- Meals on your own can easily be turned into “cheat meals”. You may say to yourself “Ill eat anything I want and eat Nutrisystem food all day tomorrow”. 
THINK- This can easily become a habit and you will gradually gain without realizing it. You need to be in control of your eating. So, watch what you put on your plate. 
SOLUTION: Eat a small healthy serving. Eat slow and take small bites. Try taking laying your silverware down between bites. 
Make sure you eat 4 servings of vegetables, drink lots of water and get enough calories with the help of healthy power fuels and smart carbs between meals. 
Do not eat in front of the TV. It can lead to binge eating. 

PORTION CONTROL- Do not come home from work in the afternoons and open your refrigerator or pantry up and decide at that moment to eat your own meal. 
THINK- You will start grabbing everything you see. You will nibble while preparing your dinner because lets face it, you are hungry.
SOLUTION- Plan your meals. Make them ahead of time and use portion control containers.

EATING OUT- Eating out can be wonderful yet intimidating to a dieter. Over eating comes easy, because lets face it, eating out tastes so good! 
THINK- A regular plate at a restaurant averages two meals. Even a salad can put you over your limit. 
SOLUTION- Limit eating out to no more than twice a week. Avoid drive thrus where you are forced to eat in the car. 
Order a meal off the “A La Carte” or “Lite” menu. 
If you get a full dinner plate, ask the waiter to bring you a box at the beginning of your meal and put half away to take home. Use it to spice up a Nutrisystem meal later. 

ALCOHOL DRINKING- We all know that drinking alcohol is not a healthy choice but if your out with friends and want to enjoy a drink, avoid starchy beers and high calorie drink mixes. 
THINK- Drinking can also cause you to munch on the wrong foods. 
SOLUTION- Settle for one 4oz glass of wine. Some wines are as low as 75 calories per glass. 

SNACKS- Oh here is my weakness! I love sweets! Fortunately, while being on Nutrisystem, I do not have the cravings like I used too and its easier to say no to cakes.......Never mind, it’s not! I love cake. Put a piece in front of me and I’ll eat it! This is were I have failed while on the Maintenance plan. 
THINK- A piece of cake can have the same calories as full meal!
SOLUTION- Eat the cake. JUST EAT THE CAKE!!!!!!!
Or be strong and take a sliver. Maybe scrape off the frosting first. You can always keep a Nutrisystem snack close by and eat that instead. They have wonderful brownies, woopie pies and chocolate cake that will satisfy you just as well!

I blog for fun and all opinions and ideas are my own. Everyone is different and what may work for some may not work for others. If you have questions about Nutrisystem or your food intake, Nutrisystem counselors are always there for help 1-800-5585-548

Pumpkin Pie Protein Shake

This post is for my Nutrisystem friends or those who want to know a healthy way to make a delicious protein filled Pumpkin Pie flavored shake. I suppose any protein or shake mix will work but my favorite Nutrisystem.


Let's face it, we all like a cool refreshing shake any time of the year. Right? Well the weather here in the Carolina's is still on the warm side. We have not pulled out the sweaters and boots yet. Sometimes we skip Fall and jump right into Winter. It's crazy like that here.

Well today I'm going to share with you this delicious Pumpkin Pie Shake using Nutrisystem's turbo vanilla shake mix. It’s packed with protein and fiber plus 22 vitamins and minerals. But wait, It doesn't have that healthy vitamin taste. This shake is so creamy and flavorful, you will think it came straight from your favorite sweet shop. 


Lets get started.

1. Mix your *Nutrisystem vanilla protein shake as directed. 
2. Add in 1 cup of pumpkin puree and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon. 
That's it! Now how easy was that?

Oh and did you know, you can actually add all the ingredients into a Mason jar and it will fit right onto your blender? Just screw the blade onto the mouth of the jar. It's ready to go without the mess. 

I’m not a fan of pumpkin spice but this recipe taste like sweet pumpkin pie which is ok with me. I had no idea I would really like it but I did! As you see, I added a tad of whip cream on top. I mean, whats pumpkin pie without the whip topping?  


But hey, If you like pumpkin spice, then just add the spices.

Enjoy.

I am not being paid or compensated by Nutrisystem for this post. The opinions are my own. I simply have had lots of success with Nutrisystem and love sharing my ideas and results. 
*You can  purchase Nutrisystem’s protein shake mix and other nutritious foods by visiting Nutrisystem.com 

Are You Weight Ready For Fall?

We lost our weight so we could finally enjoy a fun summer of feeling great about ourselves. We flaunted the flat tummy at the beach, and enjoyed thoses shorts and tank top at cookouts.

Summer brought gardens full of fresh veggies and meals were light. We traded ice cream for smoothies and protien bars after a workout. Water was a necessity and we drank it alot due to the heat.

It wasn't easy. We struggled with the scales as we saw our weight shift up and down a couple pounds, but we we managed to keep our weight in that safe range.

But beware. Fall is coming. Are you weight ready? Do you have room to gain a few pounds without gaining to much? Fall will bring cool temperatures and out come the sweat shirts and baggy clothes.

The body we worked so hard for will soon go hidden behind large sweaters and jackets. We could easily lose focus on the body we worked so hard to acheive.



Holidays, ballgames and staying inside more will bring on munchies. It's ok, those big baggy warm clothes will still fit next week and probably all Winter long. Soon spring will come around again and the next thing you know those cute little clothes no longer fit over those cute little muffin tops. 



Strive to keep up healthy eating habits as the temeratures drop and physical activities slow down. Dont stop exercising. When it's too cold to be outside, come up with indoor activities besides lifting a spoon. Enjoy the comfort of food but control the baking. While snacking, stay in the kitchen instead of taking it to the bed or couch. Limit eating in front of the tv, this leads to over eating. Remember portion contol is important.

Opt for the tight jeans when you shop and the spandex leggings when you workout. Dont hide the body you worked so hard to get or you might forget where you put it.

Protein Orange Pops

Here I go playing with my food again.

If you know me, then you know I lost 50lbs on Nutrisystem. Also if you know me, your probably tired of hearing about it. I'm just still tickled to pieces that I found a diet that worked for me. 

Its been 2 years and 6 months since I joined Nutrisystem. I am currently on the maintenance plan and have been able to hold on to my weight loss for over a year now. I eat a lot of my own foods but still have a Nutrisystem meal or snack regularly. 

I like to play around and experiment with the foods. You can find some of my other ideas here.

Yesterday was the first day of summer. What better way to cool off than to have some popsicles? Right?
I was drinking a Nutrisystem Turbo shake after my afternoon walk. This time I added an orange. It was so good. I think this is my new favorite. That's when the idea hit me.
"Why not put those cheap-o, throw away, no good popsicle molds I had stashed away, and make some creamsicles?".

BAM! 

 

Delicious! And since one serving makes several popsicles, you can just eat them all without guilt. Yea, go ahead, eat all of them you wish and it still only counts as a Power fuel + smart carb (with the orange). 

  • Prepare the shake as directed.
  • Add a peeled orange.
  • Mix in blender until smoothly blended.
  • Sip a little, yum. Add to molds. Now lick the jar.
  • Add a little orange zest before freezing for an extra flavor boost.
These popsicles taste smooth and creamy. 

If you want the real deal. Try Nutrisystem's frozen orange creamsicle found at Nutrisystem.com. They are the best! 
Oh and while your there, check out the success stories page and see my success story along with many others! 

Enjoy! 

Nutrisystem - I DID IT!

Yes I did it!  I lost 50 lbs. and went from a size 12 to a size 4!

I'm excited and I'm proof that Nutrisystem really works. It was not that hard and actually fun.
This is the only diet that's ever worked for me.


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After the first couple weeks, I never "struggled with hunger". I went strictly by the program except for Saturday nights (had to have my Mexican food) and a few family dinners along the way. My weight would go up or down a pound or two every day, but by the end of the week, I was always down something. Sometimes it was an ounce, sometimes a pound or more.

It took dedication and determination. I didn't do any excessive exercise nor did I take ANY diet pills.

I made use of my fitBit and made sure to get in at least 3 miles and/or 9 thousand steps in each day. I kept track of my food intake with MyfitnessPal. I had a lot of online support from my FitBit friends, Nutrisystem support groups and MyfitnessPal friends. We talk about food suggestions, do exercise challenges, praise each other, and share success stories.

Whats next for me? I'm going to continue another month with Nutrisystem and making a new goals, I plan to postpone my food shipments while I try to eat right on my own. If I see the weight starts coming back on, I will just have another month shipped to me. This is a little scary for me to venture out to eating my own meals. For seven months, between my husband and Nutrisystem, It felt like I had my own personal chef  preparing my meals for me while I work.

I plan to keep on walking three to five miles a day and continue eating more healthy snacks between my meals such as veggies, fruits and nuts. I'm staying away from sweets, white breads and potatoes.

People say Nutrisystem is to expensive.
Have you ever added up what you spend in a month on groceries?  How much of those groceries go to waste? Just think about it.
There are ways to save on Nutrisystem. After all the discounts, I ended up spending an average of around $150 per month. Here's are ways I did it.
  • You can get a discount just for having health Insurance. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield and got an extra 30.00 off each month on my orders.
  • Costco.com sales 100.00 Nutrisystem gift cards for 59.00 at certain times. I would order some each month to add to my order. That saved me 80.00.
  • Ask someone (like me) that's using Nutrisystem for a "Buddy Bucks. That's another 30.00 off.
  • Last but not least, you can chat with a counselor , they may have a special promotions.
The website is easy to use and adding your discounts to your order is simple.
You can cancel anytime but the only catch is if you cancel after the first month, they will charge you a fee, but after two months, you can just cancel without any question or fee.
I would still suggest to anyone wanting to try Nutrisystem, to purchase the one week box from Walmart first before you make a commitment.

Hints on loosing weight :
  • Never eat "TO LESS". Eat a little something every 2 hours.
  • If you do exercise, Make sure you eat a little something extra with protein.
  • Drink lots of water.
  • Fiber contributes to weight loss.
  • Don't worry about trying to stay away from carbs. You need some carbs to fuel your body. Really!
  • Eat lots of vegetables especially green ones .

Wish me luck as I continue on my journey maintaining my weight especially through the holidays.

My Beginning weight- 168 lbs.
My Weight now- 118.8 lbs.

You can read about my whole journey from day one,  HERE.


Nutrisystem-Weekends on My Own

Well I just competed my 6th month on Nutrisystem. That's officially one half year.

I have changed my program to "weekends on my own". That means they send me 20 days worth of food instead of 28. I'm trying to learn to make healthy choices on my own so I can eventually let go of Nutrisystem. Ill admit, I'm scared. I'm afraid of what I may eat. When the foods are right there ready to eat as Nutrisystem is, Its easy to discipline myself. But put me out there where the fried pickles yell my name, and hot dogs are smelling up the air, It makes me nervous. I know I sound silly but its the truth. I do not have much will power but I do not want to get overweight again , so I can do this. By the way. I make the best fried pickles and you can find my recipe HERE.

WARNING: These are dangerous!!!! Stay away if your dieting

The weight is coming off very slow. I only lost a little over 3lbs. during the month of June. I guess that's better than a gain. Ill take every oz. I can get. I think I actually hit a plateau this month. I went 2 weeks with no weight loss then on the third week I lost a few ounces. Then all of a sudden on the 4th week I lost 3 lbs. I just did the same calorie intake and same exercise and finally started loosing again. Those last few lbs. are the hardest and slowest to get rid of.

You can view my whole week by week journey here.

No matter how much or less I loose I have to say that I feel better now. I love going shopping and about everything I grab to try on fits! New York Company has became my favorite store lately as I can fit into all of their size 6s. woohoo!

Some of the changes I have noticed in the six months I've been on this diet are:
  • My heartburn and acid reflux have disappeared.
  • More energy.
  • Better self esteem.
  • Sleep better.
  • Breathe better.
  • I crave healthier foods.
  • looser skin (not a fan).
  • I'm learning to appreciate water.
  • I can curl up in a chair with room left over.
  • I do not sweat has much.
  • I can easily turn down unhealthy foods.
  • I can shop in the Junior department.
  • Just all over feel better inside and out.
I absolutely do not have anything to complain about with the Nutrisystem diet.
Whenever I have a question or concern, customer service is always so nice and helpful. I have also made friends with other Nutrisystem users through the website and MyFitnessPal. There is a NS group on there where we all discuss the diet and help each other along. No one talks about politics or world news, Just about the diet and each other. We play goal games and never speak negative about each other. It helps.

MyFitnessPal is a great app to have. You can log all your foods with all the nutritional information you need. If you have a fitbit (as I do) you can sync it with MyFitnessPal. They both are great things to use.

My goal for July is to loose 5 more lbs.. that will put me at my goal weight. I do not mind going under my goal weight for I will be going on vacation in August and would like to enjoy some ice cream without guilt. Maybe even grab me some of those fried pickles.

Nutrisystem- Food Ideas

Well this is my fifth month on Nutrisystem and I have continued to loose weight. It has slowed down almost to a halt but I'm still loosing a couple ounces a week and that's better than gaining. I think I'm reaching a plateau. I'm was told that I need to eat more or exercise less. I could be working off more than I'm taking in which makes your body slow down on weight loss, thinking your starving yourself. Isn't it weird how our bodies will do that? I also am aware that I need to drink more water.

So this next month I'm going to change up a few things. I'm going to drink more water, moderate my exercise, and I'm also going to switch up my meals and eat dinner for lunch and lunch for dinner. I've read on the Nutrisystem site that often that will work to get you out of a plateau because it tricks your body into thinking your doing something different. We'll see.

I never know each month if I want to continue with this diet but then I always end up telling myself "one more month". Next month my order will be designed for "weekends on my own" I'm wanting to venture out and learn to eat healthy my way.

Everyone asks me what the foods look like and how they tastes. I still like how they tastes and I'm making them look better. I have taken a few more pictures of my some of my meals to share with you.

Nutrisystem Pizza with an added cup of spinach
Nutrisystem Chocolate cake with added sugar free Cool Whip
Nutrisystem Tuna Salad with added cup of lettuce on wheat round and 1/2 cup of  V8

Nutrisytem Mashed potatoes with added crab meat, onions and Old Bay seasoning then fried in olive oil into patties.
Nutrisystem Water Bottle with added water, cucumber and mint
Nutrisystem Rice Pilaf added into a steamed bell pepper and topped with no fat cheese.

This month I will be attending my Nephews wedding and will be tempted to eat more than I've been eating but in moderation, I think I will be fine. I have survived a couple cookouts and several birthdays, so I can handle this. And yes, I will have cake.

Beginning weight- 168 lbs.
Today I weigh-138.2
I've gone from a size 12 to a size 8.

Nutrisystem- Slowing Down

Just finished my 16th week on Nutrisystem. I feel great! Its been a fun journey and I've lost several pounds and inches now.

The weight is now coming off slowly. Its only about a pound a week. I guess that is better than a pound gained but I wish to loose more. I'm just 15lbs away from reaching my goal. Hopefully the pounds will start dropping faster soon. They suggest I make sure to get all my foods in for the day. Other than NS foods, I'm suppose to have recommended snacks in between. I'm suppose to eat something every 3 hours, 6 times a day and 4 servings of veggies. Seems like a lot of food huh? Well not really because the snacks are things like a tablespoon of almonds, a slice of bread, cheese, or yogurt, etc. Small healthy things.

Nutrisystem- Ravioli
I'm still loving the foods and its gotten a lot easier to say no to other foods I shouldn't be eating.
I went on a beach trip the other weekend and was able to turn down the good smelling foods that were tempted everywhere we went. I did however, eat a dozen oysters one night and Mexican food the next . I also snacked on pop corn, carrots and almonds while laying on the beach all day. I over ate on those snacks but Its was all good. It didn't cause me to gain any weight. I didn't loose any either but no gain was a blessing.


Despite all the rain we have had these past couple weeks I have been able to get in my walks. One day we walked in the rain. Its was rather nice.

           

 

Here I am after that long wet walk, showing off my Dancing With The Stars, "Raise The Barre" tank that Nutrisystem sent me. What a surprise it was for me.

Its been a slow journey lately with my weight loss but I have thought about it and I plan to keep going on this diet. Its so easy to follow. With the discounts I have been collecting, It's gotten to a reasonable cost for me. I still have a few more pounds to shed to be ready for my August Vacation. I hope the pounds start dropping more and more.

Beginning weight- 168 lbs.
Weight after 16 weeks- 142 lbs.
That's 26 lbs. lost!


Nutrisystem- The Reveal

I finally found a "fat" picture so I could show off my reveal. Like most of us, we get rid of the "bad" pictures. I found a photo that I could not get rid of because it was from my Daughters college graduation and it was a good one of her. I made a copy to crop so I can use it for my reveal photo.

This is me after loosing 21 lbs.



I survived Easter weekend with all the fun foods and family dinners. I controlled myself and eat light. I did however, Eat a cookie, a piece of cheese cake and a peep. I did not gain a pound but instead, I actually lost some more ounces.

I step on the scales every morning. I know, they say not to do that but do. It will move up or down a couple ounces each day but mostly down. This gives me the motivation either way, to continue.

I actually cleaned out my closet last weekend and give away my size 12s. My 10's are loose and I can wear an 8. woohoo! I feel good about that. I do struggle with feeling bad when I'm around others that think they are overweight. I shouldn't. Even though I do not think they need to diet, they can if they choose too. Nobody can take the weight off except the person wanting too. I also know how a size 8 or 10 can feel big if you spent most of your life under 100 lbs. which I did. I remember an 8 being a large! Now I'm happy to just be back in an 8. So, everyone is different.

I have lost a couple more pounds this past week and hope to loose 15 more. I plan to continue with the Nutrisystem Diet through May. I have not decided to keep on or postpone my shipments for a couple months. It sort of scares me to think of eating my own things again. But I may try it a month or more to see if I can keep the weight down myself.

I'm still loving the foods I get from Nutrisystem and the program is fun to keep up with.  I could never think of this many foods to eat each day. It never gets boring.