Confessions of a Burger-holic

Hi, my name is Beverly and I am a burger-holic. There it's out. I said it, the world knows. But there's not quite the stigmata I was thinking attached to those words because ya know what? Soooo many of us LOVE BURGERS! It can be detrimental to one's waistline for sure but it can also be approached, as with EVERY love of ANY food, with common sense and deep thought to end up making it a positive and very exciting way life!

I love burgers and for that reason I have to be realistic about my "eating habits". I will NEVER give up eating burgers nor do I ever WANT to give it up! What's life worth living for if you cannot enjoy the things in life that make you happy, even if that's food? This is why I've chosen not to DIET but to change my lifestyle, including the food choices I make. I eat chocolate, drink beer, eat burgers, nibble cheese and all kinds of things associated with otherwise making one a big butt girl! But now I do it with a lot of thought and a whole lot of changes too! You CAN enjoy a burger, in sooooo many different styles, quite often in  your life IF you choose to do it right. I choose to do it right and I choose NOT to give up flavor and excitement when it comes to burgers.  Oddly enough I'm often inspired by the same burger places I rarely if ever frequent anymore also! Wendy's (God love them for their ability to make the most amazing, fatty, delicious styles of burgers in the fast food industry) is one of my favorites to copy but I take everything from fast food joints to local pubs and burger joints with amazing creations. The difference between their burgers and mine? Ohhhh so many differences....

1. Mine are definitely less expensive
2. Mine are definitely MUCH lower in fat
3. Mine are definitely MUCH lower in calories
4. Mine are usually created with much finer ingredients (which you'd think would make them more expensive but think about it.. it just makes it so I can use quality ingredients without paying all the overhead.. aka waiter, tips, lovely decor, drunk on the barstool, insurance for said drunk on the barstool, etc.)
5. Mine can be eaten any time I want simply by walking into my kitchen and creating them
6. Mine can be created with ingredients that I know EXACTLY what they contain (organic when needed, low fat or no fat ingredients instead of high fat types, less to even zero chemicals, top grade and low fat organic meats, no surprises)

Here are a few tips I have for creating a delicious burger that's better for you at home:

• Use good ingredients - while this should just be a "given" for most sometimes you don't think about something as simple as replacing their 70/30 ground beef with a 90/10 beef to literally make your burger not only very flavorful but so much less full of fat. Add to that an organic beef and organic or  homemade toppings or ingredients or fat free/lower fat ingredients and you're really going to notice the difference in flavor, calories & fat
  
• Replace "beef" with other things... my favorite is the veggie burger. But here's the key - KNOW HOW TO COOK THESE DIFFERENT "MEATS' OR "MEAT SUPPLEMENTS!!!!!! I cooked "veggie burgers" for years, always saying "they're okay" and never truly believing they were as good as a REAL burger. I'm not one to accept meat substitutes, especially for non meat ones. It's all about texture for me and I'm sorry there are very few non-meat products out there that I personally think taste like meats they're "replacing"..... until I realized how to cook them! See my info below for HOW TO COOK VEGGIE BURGERS. Remember that just because you use a beef replacement it doesn't mean it is going to TASTE like beef. The Boca Bruschetta burger has tons of flavor but don't go into it thinking it's going to taste like beef. That's not always the idea with beef replacements! However the Boca Grilled Veggie Burger, made the right way DOES taste just like beef and I can't tell the difference! My personal desire is if I want a REAL BURGER I will use REAL organic grass fed beef 90/10 or sometimes 85/15 because a little fat is what gives it flavor. If I use a 90/10 I will cook them on the range top using coconut oil (healthy oil) to give it some moisture & always use my Worcestershire sauce to start flavoring it!
  
• Load up the toppings! Quit gasping and listen to these words.... a cheeseburger will not kill you, did not put on the extra 30 lbs or more on your thighs and is NOT the culprit for weight gain. Picking different cheeses (fat free feta is AMAZING on top of a burger), lower fat versions of sharp cheddars & swiss cheese amongst many other flavors, center cut, Canadian or turkey bacon instead of higher fat regular bacon & sauces that aren't loaded with fat (Hello Frank's Buffalo Sauce or Simple Hot Sauce) will make a huge difference in your final creation! Cheeseburgers from fast food joints, loaded with fat, added onto a platter of deep fried greasy fries, dripping of grease from the bun.... THAT is what added to your big butt and you cannot lie!  See the TOPPINGS IDEAS below for how to create that amazing mix of flavors!
  
• Eat ONE burger, but load it up with goodies that are going to fill you up. Use HEALTHY sides, yes..  you CAN have "fries" but use things like the oven baked Alexia Fries in place of a deep fried or even oven baked unhealthy version. Pay attention to the sides! If you eat one burger, loaded up with a bunch of goodies, along with a single serving side dish, a healthy veggie or side and then sit for 10 minutes or so and STILL absolutely NEED another burger.... go for it. But I can just about guarantee you that you won't need that 2nd burger. When you go out or drive thru a drive thru window you often order 2 "because they're cheap" or "because they're not filling" or "because you MIGHT be hungry enough to eat them.... like you're NOT going to if it's there?" or on and on and on with excuses. So go ahead and make that 2nd burger at home, but don't put it on your plate. You can always reheat it for lunch (an amazing lunch I may add) the next day if you can't eat it for your dinner!

How to Cook A Veggie Burger - I cooked veggie burgers the wrong way for YEARS! I feared those little critters! While my mind wanted to love them, I'd buy every plausible brand and style out there only to be disappointed and walk away saying "it's not really a burger but it's 'ok'" every time! What was I doing wrong?  I was thinking that because it was made of veggies it didn't need to be cooked for any long period of time. I read the directions, nuked them for a minute or less from frozen state and thought the makers had to know what they were talking about right? WRONG! Here's what I found. In order for the veggie burger to have the texture and flavor of a "real" burger you not only have to cook it super well done on a high heat but you need to add some flavorings while cooking it. My favorite thing to do is place the frozen pattie into a hot pan (you will hear the sizzle), splash it with some Worcestershire sauce & pepper (I omit the salt because of the salt content in the Worcestershire), cook it so it browns up almost on the verge of a "burn" but not quite on one side, then flip it. You may need to turn the heat down a bit at this point so you don't burn your pan. Now I top it with just a splash of steak sauce. While you don't have to cook it for a long period of time you do need to cook it on a high, hot heat and make sure it's browned up extra well. This is what takes the 'rubbery' type of chew out of the veggie burger that normally is always there. It also gives it just a hint of a "real burger" taste that comes from the Worcestershire and steak sauce.

TOPPING IDEAS - toppings make the burger. A plain cheeseburger becomes a bacon and cheddar burger with the change of one topping and the decision to use one particular cheese. Here are some excellent ideas on burger toppings that, when you pick a healthier version, can make your burger not only "over the top" delicious but keep them from being an unhealthy version of the same burger offered at your local burger joints!

Each Of These Burger Toppings can be used on VEGGIE Burgers also! Replacing a 90/10 burger with a veggie burger cuts the points in half from 4 to 2 or even 1 point depending on the type of veggie burger you use. I prefer the Boca Flame Grilled Style which comes in at 2 points.

Buffalo Style Veggie Burger

• Black 'n Bleu Burger - created with a fat free feta, a few drops of fat free or low fat bleu cheese dressing drizzled on top and a slice of Canadian bacon cooked up crisp or 2 pieces of turkey or center cut bacon on top. This burger was inspired by the burger offered at Wendy's (see my piece written on it) and comes out a lot lower in fat, calories and points when you make it with fat free and lower fat ingredients!
  
• Buffalo Style Burgers - again, the fat free feta comes to the rescue as it's melted on top and then drizzled with Franks Hot Sauce. Toast the bun (we know not to use normal buns right? Use the sandwich thin type buns or a light bun) and the toasted bun makes a world of difference in keep the ingredients all piled high!
  
• Veggies Galore - I love grilled onions and I can't explain the "O-Face" I get when I bite into a huge burger piled high with sauteed sweet onions. No oils are needed, just a pan and some heat as you sweat out the onion and then just brown it! If you're a mushroom lover add the shrooms! (I'm not a shroom lover at all but this is a perfect companion if you are!). Don't stop there... add a pile of lettuce and some fat free, low cal condiments (ketchup, mustard, stadium mustard, relishes, fat free mayos, chipotle mayo - light or fat free or fat free/low fat dressings drizzled on top to create a different flavor each time) Pickles can put a zest in between your bun too and the sandwich thin styles give you some crunch without being too thick!I personally love using a relish because I don't like to bite into a big pickle. Be careful with what you choose for dressings, etc. if you're trying to live chemical & preservative free because these can be loaded with tons of chemicals and preservatives.
  
• Spreads & Dressings - using fat free versions is the best way to get the creamy goodness and loads of flavor without the fats. I love to take a fat free mayo and add some ground chipotle powder to it, creating a fat free chipotle mayo! Dressings can turn a plain burger into a "Ranch Burger" or a "Bleu Cheese" burger. Using a fat free bleu cheese dressing gives that bleu cheese flavor and using some fat free feta with it creates the texture of a true bleu cheese topping!
  
• Pittsburgh Style Burgers - anyone who has ever been to Pittsburgh loves the "Burgh Style" sandwiches made famous by Primanti Brothers. They are a totally fat laden, delicious burger piled with slaw and fries. But you can recreate the same taste without the fat & calories!  Simply take some shredded cabbage (or bagged coleslaw mix), sprinkle a bit of sugar over it with some salt & pepper and let it sit in a cup for a few hours if possible but at least 20 minutes or so. Bake up some Alexia Fries, toss a couple of those on your burger with a cup of the slaw and VOILA you have a Primanti style burger without the calories & fat! DELISH too! Of course the toasted bun makes a huge difference. (are you noticing a theme with TOAST the bun?)

Wish me luck on my journey to "eating clean" and  healthy! 
And please feel free to comment and share ideas for trying to live and eat "clean" and losing weight by changing to a healthy lifestyle!
 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't forget to check out my newest Book Blog, where I give book reviews on recent books I've read. If you're a reader you'll want to check this out!

WE CAN DO THIS, TOGETHER
ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Like this article? Tweet it to your followers!





*Note I am not affiliated nor endorsed by Weight Watchers® at all, in any way. I highly recommend their program and cannot say enough GOOD about it, but I also have decided that they were my "stepping stone" to making a change in my lifestyle. Any mention of Weight Watchers®, their program or their term of "points®" does not mean they have approved, seen, or endorsed anything on my blogs.

Also, if at any time Points® are mentioned it is always with the assumption that you will analyze the recipes, foods, ingredients and figure the points out specifically for your consumption of any product, as ingredients may vary by brand, size, etc. and Points® is a registered trademark of the Weight Watchers® company.

Quinoa..Anybody?

So, a friend of mine had commented on how he and his family eat quinoa all the time. They're huge "health food" people & eat organic/clean, probably more so than anyone I could ever find in my world! I thought, I'll give it a try. Of course I bought a package of organic Quinoa and it has now sat in my cupboard for the entire summer. I had good intentions but I've yet to hear ANYONE say they love the stuff!? So what to do?


I set out on a mission to find some recipes. It's not as easy as it sounds. I've found some but nothing I'd honestly like to try. For example, just today there was a recipe shared in my local newspaper for QUINOA TABBOULEH. I have not clue what the words mean (Ok, I could look them up but I'm just saying.. it sounded so 'artsy, ecclectic, nuance, worldly' that I think they threw the word in with Quinoa only to entice you to think you were eating something so worldly & different).  It has a lot of ingredients that (yes, I know as someone who's attempting clean eating I should jump at veggies and such, especially raw.. but I don't think I'll ever acquire the taste) I think most of them just turned me off instantly. I'm more a creamy, cheesy, obviously bad for you type of food gal. (Gee I wonder how I got so fat? LOL).  It's the first recipe listed below but click on the link there's a ton of other GLUTEN FREE recipes listed here!



Below I've listed some recipes I've found. None that I've tried. But I am getting ideas of what I want to do with my Quinoa. Now if I just muster up the courage!!!!

QUINOA TABBOULEH
11⁄2 cups quinoa
21⁄4 cups water
1⁄4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1⁄2 cup chopped parsley
1⁄2 cup chopped scallions
4-inch piece of cucumber, diced
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Garnish: lemon slices, black olives, tomatoes

1. Rinse quinoa thoroughly and drain. Bring quinoa and water to boil in saucepan. Reduce heat and let simmer until all water has evaporated, approximately 20 minutes. Allow to cool.
2. In bowl, add quinoa, lemon juice, oil, parsley scallions, cucumber and grape tomatoes. Mix well and season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with lemon slices, black olives and tomatoes, if desired. Makes 6-8 servings.
— adapted from “The Complete Vegetarian Cuisine,” by Rose Elliot

Nutritional Info: Per serving: 162 calories, 5.9 grams fat, 2.9 grams fiber, 5 grams protein, 23 grams carbohydrate, 45 milligrams sodium, 0 cholesterol. Values are approximate.

http://www.quinoa-recipes.com/ has a curried Quinoa Recipe (below) that I may try. I have to buy some spices first though, so that's why I haven't tried this one!

Curried Quinoa

1 Cup Quinoa
1½ Tbsp. Vegetable Oil
½ Onion Diced (about 4 or 5 oz.)
1 Tsp. Grated Fresh Ginger Root
½ Fresh Green Chile
  (Finely Chopped)
1 Heaping Tsp. Turmeric
1 Heaping Tsp. Coriander
¼ Tsp. Ground Cinnamon
1¾ Cups Water
½ Cup Fresh or Frozen Peas
Salt to Taste

1. Rinse quinoa with cold water. Use a fine mesh filter or coffee filter. If you're a klutz like me use the fine mesh filter or a lot of quinoa is going to wind up in the sink!
   Quinoa is coated with a natural substance called saponin that protects the grain by repelling insects and birds. Rinsing the quinoa is important to avoid a raw or bitter taste. You can tell if there is saponin by the production of a soapy looking "suds" when the seeds are swished in water. Good news! If you are using Ancient Harvest Quinoa you can skip this step. It's already rinsed!
2.  Place oil and diced onions in a heavy saucepan. Saute the onions on medium high heat for 4-5 minutes.
3. Add the ginger root, chile, and quinoa. Cook for one minute stirring constantly.
4. A fine, white spiral appears around the grain as it cooks.
5. Stir in the turmeric, coriander, cinnamon, and salt. Cook for one minute stirring constantly.
6. Add the water and bring it to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.
7. Stir in peas. Cover and cook for four or five minutes or until peas are tender and all the water has been absorbed.
8. Fluff with a fork before serving.

Here's a Quinoa Vegetable Pilaf From The Savvy Vegetarian

Ingredients:

• 1 c quinoa
• 1 celery stalk, trimmed & chopped in small dice
• 1/2 sweet red pepper, chopped in small dice
• 1/2 c. cooked chickpeas
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 - 3 garlic cloves OR 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp peeled & minced fresh ginger OR 1/2 tsp dried ginger
• 1/2 tsp brown mustard seeds
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 tsp gr. coriander
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp thyme leaf
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 3/4 cup water or soup stock
• Optional: 2 cups chopped spinach or chard OR 1/4 c. minced parsley or cilantro OR 1/2 cup frozen peas
• Fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Soak quinoa 15 minutes, rinse twice, leave to drain
2. Heat olive oil on medium low in a 3 - 4 qt saucepan or sauté pan
3. Peel & mince garlic & ginger, sauté with mustard seeds for 5 minutes
4. Chop celery and red pepper, add to pan and sauté another five minutes
5. Mix in the bay leaf, turmeric, coriander &; cumin
6. Turn the heat to medium high. Add the quinoa and stir until it's dry and starting to pop
7. Add 1 3/4 c. hot water or stock, and salt. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer 15 minutes
8. Stir in the optional greens, peas, parsley or cilantro, and fresh ground pepper
9. Cover and cook 5 more minutes, then serve

Seriously, if you eat the stuff & have a recipe that's flavorful and delish... please send it to me. Post it here or post a link to it for me to view. I'd love to find a way to eat the stuff! I have no clue why I'm so frightened, other than the numerous people who have commented on Twitter who've said things like "Yuck!" or "I've yet to taste quinoa that has any flavor at all!" and so many other negative comments that now I'm running scared! I did find, surprisingly, that quinoa is NOT a grain. Quinoa is a plant protein, hence why so many vegans love it because it's chuck full of protein and a vegetable! I swear, by my next post I'm going to have a recipe that I've either created or tried & I will share! Of course YOU could share yours so I could try it?! Let me know if you're a quinoa fan and how  you prepare it!

Wish me luck on my journey to "eating clean" and  healthy! 
And please feel free to comment and share ideas for trying to live and eat "clean"!
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NEED TO GET FIT BUT DON'T WANT THE GYM MEMBERSHIP?

THINK ABOUT A TRAMPOLINE!

Check out The Trampolines King Website for tons of FREE information & guidance in purchasing this wonderful piece of equipment that is affordable and helps burn TONS of calories (not to mention tons 'o fun)!

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AssistU has been the whole reason I've had
the best results following the
Weight Watchers® program...
changing 1 lb or less losses to
an average of 3 lbs most weeks!
Check out this ALL NATURAL HERBAL SUPPLEMENT!
Mention Beverly's Blog "One Day At A Time"  when you order 
to get the best price available!

Don't forget to check out my newest Book Blog, where I give book reviews on recent books I've read. If you're a reader you'll want to check this out!

WE CAN DO THIS, TOGETHER
ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Like this article? Twit it to your followers!



Who Else Helps me get healthy?
These are just a few of the people online that inspire me along with AssistU....

1.
Check out the Fab Fatties - tons of ideas, comic relief & great give-aways!

2. Joe Gigantino - Fitness Trainer
This is the guy that really set me on the path to physical fitness - Sign up for his FREE newsletter!



3.

4. BWJEN - Another WW Buddy & A 'bookworm' too!?



5.

5.

6.Sean Anderson the formerly 500lb man!
Diary of A Winning Loser - Sean is an inspiration to anyone trying to get healthy!


*Note I am not affiliated nor endorsed by Weight Watchers® at all, in any way. I highly recommend their program and cannot say enough GOOD about it, but I also have decided that they were my "stepping stone" to making a change in my lifestyle. Any mention of Weight Watchers®, their program or their term of "points®" does not mean they have approved, seen, or endorsed anything on my blogs.

Also, if at any time Points® are mentioned it is always with the assumption that you will analyze the recipes, foods, ingredients and figure the points out specifically for your consumption of any product, as ingredients may vary by brand, size, etc. and Points® is a registered trademark of the Weight Watchers® company.

Purple Potatoes Galore

My "sweetie" had commented nearly a year ago that he was dying to try something he once read or heard about called "Blue Potatoes" or sometimes also referred to as "Purple Potatoes".  He said that they claimed these strange colored potatoes made "the absolute best, most phenomenal mashed potatoes, ever!" So of course it became a mission for him to find these great little spuds. But it wasn't exactly easy!

We don't exactly live in a large city where "different" and adventurous fruits and veggies can be easy to find. If it's not pretty "main stream" it can be quite difficult to find here in Erie, PA.  Lucky for us we have a WONDERFUL grocery store called Wegmans, that is so customer service oriented that it's rare they will tell you "sorry we don't carry that and can't get it for you" unless it's pretty obscure or nearly impossible to buy it and re-sell enough to at least pay for what they purchased. Seriously, it is THE ONLY place we shop for our groceries and for many reasons... customer service being first and foremost. (No, I don't work for them, nor does anyone in my family.... so honestly just because I mention them ALL the time doesn't mean I get a paycheck... but I'll take one if they'd like to! LOL) Here's a link directly to the product itself at the Wegman's site that gives all the nutritional information also! Note that your local grocer may not have the item but ask!!!! That's how we got the store we visit regularly to start ordering them and then by word of mouth and just putting them out there, they've become an intriguingly new addition to a lot of tables in the Erie area!

So I began investigating the "Blue Potato" aka "Purple Potato" and contacted the produce manager at Wegman's (on West 23rd) who quickly did his own investigating and came back with an email that said basically... "Sure, we can get them and should have them in store within 2 weeks!".   And so the love affair began.

They aren't exactly the "prettiest" potato you will ever see. The taste is what I would call somewhat "earthy" and if there is such a thing a little more "hearty" potato flavor. They are definitely odd looking, both on the inside and out. I expected that only the skin would be purple/blue but nay, nay... the inside is just as purple and quite interesting looking. The first batch Wegman's had ordered for us seemed to be very small, almost the size of a "new red potato".  I wasn't too sure about mashing these as my first thought was "to mash them you generally peel and boil" and these little babies weren't exactly large enough to truly peel but then after thinking about it I realized DUH, when you make mashed new reds you generally wash the potato, boil it and mash, pulling the skins out a bit while mashing while leaving a few in the finished dish. So I decided to do just that. I do need to add that you have to be careful to NOT overcook these beauties because they tend to get super mushy if you do. They don't hold their shape well and are what are considered a "medium starch" content, compared to other potato varieties. The second batch we bought were much larger (I kind of liked the bigger version because you could bake them better) and close to the size of a small, average white russet potato.

We also baked them and they were quite delicious this way also. So after doing the "basics" with these little beauties I decided to find a few other recipes. Here are a few I've found, but haven't tried yet. We tend to buy them in small quantities as they are around $1.69 I believe per pound (which can add up quick with potatoes). We generally end up with between 3 and 4 pounds each purchase and if we're making mashed it takes about 1/2 of that or a little more, leaving 2 or 4 for baking.  Since we've tried our 2 favorite and typical ways to enjoy these spuds, it's now time to try a few other recipes.

• Fork Crushed Purple Potatoes - a simple, yet interesting combination of purple potatoes, shallots, lemon, olive oil, parsley and sea salt.
  
• Herby Purple Potatoes - while the pictures on this site don't really make me want to run out and make them, the ingredients sound delicious enough to definitely give them a try!
  
• Purple Spanish Tortilla - this is more of a frittata to me but WOW does it look amazingly good. THIS is my NEXT recipe to try for sure! Can't wait! (See the picture to the right of this one!)
  
• Marinated Purple Potatoes - this is more of a "potato salad" style recipe but looks very delicious. My guy won't go for the "heat" but I'm thinking I can tone it down and bit and I think in place of ricotta cheese I may do a fat free feta.
  

Why purple potatoes, you may ask? Well, I wondered the same thing. Our original reason for purchasing them was simply based upon the words "best mashed potatoes you will ever eat".  I'm not sure I'd go with that completely, but they are definitely the most interesting mashed potato you will ever try. If the color alone doesn't start a great conversation nothing will. But what are the real reasons for these strange creatures to dress your table, other than great color & a conversation piece? 

Purple potatoes were "created" so to speak in 2006, according to NYMag.Com, in Colorado. They were a natural cross breed, created for the main reason of making a high antioxidant potato. They wanted an almost "Super Spud" so to speak that was blessed with the normal great vitamins and health benefits of the potato along with super high antioxidant levels. They were brought mainstream by chef Alex Paffenroth of The Greenmarket and seemed to kind of take hold with a lot of different chefs after that.

Wish me luck on my journey to "eating clean" and  healthy! 
And please feel free to comment and share ideas for trying to live and eat "clean"!
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NEED TO GET FIT BUT DON'T WANT THE GYM MEMBERSHIP?

THINK ABOUT A TRAMPOLINE!

Check out The Trampolines King Website for tons of FREE information & guidance in purchasing this wonderful piece of equipment that is affordable and helps burn TONS of calories (not to mention tons 'o fun)!

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AssistU has been the whole reason I've had
the best results following the
Weight Watchers® program...
changing 1 lb or less losses to
an average of 3 lbs most weeks!
Check out this ALL NATURAL HERBAL SUPPLEMENT!
Mention Beverly's Blog "One Day At A Time"  when you order 
to get the best price available!

Don't forget to check out my newest Book Blog, where I give book reviews on recent books I've read. If you're a reader you'll want to check this out!

WE CAN DO THIS, TOGETHER
ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Like this article? Twit it to your followers!



Who Else Helps me get healthy?
These are just a few of the people online that inspire me along with AssistU....

1.
Check out the Fab Fatties - tons of ideas, comic relief & great give-aways!

2. Joe Gigantino - Fitness Trainer
This is the guy that really set me on the path to physical fitness - Sign up for his FREE newsletter!



3.

4. BWJEN - Another WW Buddy & A 'bookworm' too!?



5.

5.

6.Sean Anderson the formerly 500lb man!
Diary of A Winning Loser - Sean is an inspiration to anyone trying to get healthy!


*Note I am not affiliated nor endorsed by Weight Watchers® at all, in any way. I highly recommend their program and cannot say enough GOOD about it, but I also have decided that they were my "stepping stone" to making a change in my lifestyle. Any mention of Weight Watchers®, their program or their term of "points®" does not mean they have approved, seen, or endorsed anything on my blogs.

Also, if at any time Points® are mentioned it is always with the assumption that you will analyze the recipes, foods, ingredients and figure the points out specifically for your consumption of any product, as ingredients may vary by brand, size, etc. and Points® is a registered trademark of the Weight Watchers® company.

Realizing the Changes

This weekend served as a HUGE reminder to me that I truly have changed my LIFE and not just been "dieting". I hate that word. LOL

My absolute BFF from college came for an extended long weekend... she came up on Friday with her daughter & picked me up to take me off to Pittsburgh! I love that town! We spent the day at the Andy Warhol Museum. What an amazing place & amazing man. I can't get over how much he's impacted our world! If you get a chance, see it!

What I did end up doing was not paying such close attention to what I ate. We started out Friday with a "must have" if you visit Pittsburgh... a Primanti Bros. sandwich! Yeah, loaded with fries & slaw on a big slice of Italian bread. While I'm sure it's far from "low" in points/calories/fat it's not truly the worse thing on earth I could ever eat, but it was the start of kind of ignoring my normal choices. We hit the Primanti Bros. on the Strip, a first for me! Of course it was amazing!

Saturday we started out well, and I pretty much ended up having a pretty "normal" day for me. I loved it because I finally got to show my friend that I truly have changed and for the better. I have begun a whole new healthy lifestyle. I was so proud because not only did I show that I know what I'm doing (well along with still learning lol), but it also seemed to inspire her, which is something I hope to do with every person I touch in this world. It's not about weight, it's about health. I could care less if someone I love weighs 800 pounds or 80, if they're healthy and eating healthy... keeping them in my life for longer. It's only obvious that "healthy" also ends up with being a "healthy" weight too... but that's a "side effect" if you ask me.

So, anyways, Saturday we started the day with some chocolate peanut butter oatmeal. That breakfast always sticks to your ribs. I can't recall what else we at that day but it was mostly all good for us foods, new things I've found that I wanted to share with Terri & her daughter. BTW they liked the "Better 'n Peanut Butter" in the oatmeal! I'm personally in love with it myself! We had some Bruschetta Boca Burgers (N.I. 70 cal/1.5g fat/3.5g fiber) (I am NOT a Boca burger fan... detest anything that pretends to be a "meat" but in this case it is amazing in flavor & when put on an Arnold's Sandwich Thin with some fat free Ranch...ooooh my!).

For dinner, the Bruschetta Burgers with fresh corn on the cob, some chopped up cauliflower & cucumbers with fat free ranch dip - topped off with a handful of light Lays chips. Oddly enough it was a total vegetarian meal, not on purpose, and unbelievably awesome! It also was very much a typical meal for me & a great way to share some new products I've found to help make my "healthy lifestyle" a success!

We even went to the gym and I shared my "work out" ideas with her, showing her that the workout does NOT have to be a terrible, hard, thing. In 90+ temps it was a welcome to hit that pool & walk together, not to mention we got to chit chat while we "worked out". What more could you ask for?

But alas, Sunday we misbehaved a bit. After starting the day with my Naked (always a plus) and of course introducing my friend & her daughter to the glories of sweet, sweet Naked earlier in the weekend (Friday actually LOL). We did end up getting Krispy Kreme donuts, which was NOT a good move. Needless to say, I not only misbehaved in eating more than I should (1 is more than I ever should) but add to that a midnight run "South of the Border" aka to Taco Bell! Do you know how long it's been since I've eaten food that greasy & disgusting? LOL My stomach does!

By Sunday night, after our great time at the fireworks my stomach made sure I knew that I had made the wrong choices. Sick to my stomach and eventually with issues better left unmentioned here in blog world I knew that my body was really angry at what I had done. I had resorted, for about a 24 hour period, back to the way I used to eat every day of my life and it wasn't impressed.

Monday, we chilled a bit before they left but let me tell you my stomach did not chill at all. Okay, so I'm a little slow but it hit me finally... I had made these changes in my life long before that day but realized that I honestly had MADE them without realizing it. At that point I just sat back, sore belly and all, and went "WOW, I'm so proud of you!" because it showed me my changes were NOT a "DIET"..... they were a lifestyle change and I wasn't happy with "going back" to the old lifestyle!


Check out my Daily Menu Food Log for a quick glance at what I'm eating to get where I'm at, which is a healthier & therefore thinner ME!


Don't forget to check out my newest Book Blog, where I give book reviews on recent books I've read. If you're a reader you'll want to check this out!

WE CAN DO THIS, TOGETHER
ONE DAY AT A TIME!

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Who Else Helps me get healthy?
These are just a few of the people online that inspire me....

1.
Check out the Fab Fatties Challenge #3 while you are there!

2. Joe Gigantino - Fitness Trainer
This is the guy that really set me on the path to physical fitness



3.

4. BWJEN



5.

5.

6.Sean Anderson the formerly 500lb man!
Diary of A Winning Loser


*Note I am not affiliated nor endorsed by Weight Watchers® at all, in any way. I highly recommend their program and cannot say enough GOOD about it, but I also have decided that they were my "stepping stone" to making a change in my lifestyle. Any mention of Weight Watchers®, their program or their term of "points®" does not mean they have approved, seen, or endorsed anything on my blogs.

Also, if at any time Points® are mentioned it is always with the assumption that you will analyze the recipes, foods, ingredients and figure the points out specifically for your consumption of any product, as ingredients may vary by brand, size, etc.