Revolving Diet

Day 156 ~ 6/24/12

Another FULL Watermelon Day.  I hope I can make it.

After going off completely Saturday (my stomach paid for it) - I am down 3 pounds for the week as of this morning.  My skin is clearer and I am feeling pretty good - all the stuff off the diet helped clean me out.

Have you ever noticed if you do not each bread, pasta , etc for a few days and then have it you get bad cramps and diarrhea?  I've noticed that a few time during these diets that limit white carbs and then when after having them I experience this issue. 

I have a two day cleanse coming up and then I am on vacation for a few days. (Trying to get any last minute bloat down!!)

Have a wonderful Sunday!!

 

Day 155 ~ 6/23/12

Meals are off diet today.  Between graduation party and taking care of my neices, no time for getting in fruit.  I didn't have one peice of fruit.

Nicely catered graduation party, chicken parm, chicken marsala, penne vodka, stuffed shells and salads.

Breakfast:  No lunch, big lunch ahead

Lunch: 1 stuffed shell, cesear salad, 1 piece chicken parm, 1 tablespoon penne vodka

Dinner:  Haagen Daz Chocolate Chip Milkshake

I did pick on a few potato chips with dip and 1 buffalo wing and two handfuls of peanut M & M's

Had a blast with my neices, went to the mall (all girls favorite things) then to movie, Snow White and the Huntsman.....Both story and special effects......REALLY GOOD!!

No snacks at the movies....the milkshake was at the mall and was pretty filling!! 

Hope you had a great Saturday....SUNDAY IS A DAY OF REST...take advantage!!

 

Day 154 ~ 6/22/12

Quick update tonight... not much news on this side...other than it's FRIDAY and it's been a LOOOOONG week!!!

Today's Meals:

Breakfast:  2 banana's

Lunch: the remaining 1/4 watermelon

Dinner:  2 granny smith apples

Being that I donot like berries and not quite sure about dried apricots - I substituted  apples.

I am hungry today.  Hungrier than any day so far on this diet. Later tonight I may have to hit up some more fruit.  I did get another 1/2 hour of walking on treadmill in first thing this morning.

Healthy all around!  We have a graduation party tomorrow (thinking and hoping a BBQ, so I can keep things light!)

Take advantage of this WONDERFUL weather!

ENJOY your FRIDAY!!!! 

 

 

Day 153 ~ 6/21/12

Today has got to be my FAVORITE day so far on this diet. 

WATERMELON  ALL DAY!

This is a 20 pound watermelon, I cut in half, the cubes I brought to work and munched on all day!  I peed like  a racehorse too!!!

For dinner tonight I had 1/2 of the other 1/2.  Not really hungry  - but I know I still have watermelon left if I am!With the heat wave we are having - a mere 98+ degrees today, watermelon is light, fruity, sweet, cooling and a diuretic all at the same time!!

 

Plus there are some pretty refreshing things you can do with watermelon (not so much on this diet...but for future ideas)

Watermelon Mimosa (I know what you are thinking...GENIUS!!)

1 Cup watermelon juice (puree and strained watermelon)

½ Cup light champagne (not brut, more asti)

 Divide juice between 2-3 champagne flutes (or cups, no need to be fancy).

Fill with champagne and ENJOY!!!

Here’s a twist on an Italian favorite, instead of using tomatoes for salsa – substitute watermelon!!

 Watermelon Salsa (A Cool and Spicy Treat)

3 cups seeded and chopped watermelon
1/2 cup green peppers
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon green onion
2 tablespoons jalapeno peppers

Combine ingredients; mix well and cover. Refrigerate 1 hour or more.

Use Tostitos or even try those "Good For You" Chocolate Tortilla Chips!!  I am hungry for this just from typing it!!

Now for the more BIZARRE (if you have had this, please tell me how it is).  I can picture it, but it just seems SO.SO.WRONG.!!!  I actually found this recipe online: http://homecooking.about.com/od/fruitrecipes/r/blfruit86.htm

 Deep Fried Watermelon (Yes, you read that right!!!)

 Watermelon is dipped into a light batter, fried, and topped with powdered sugar for a unique dessert or snack. Like most fried foods, this is best served immediately while crisp.

Prep Time: 15 minutes 

Cook Time: 45 minutes 

Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 1 (6 to 8 pounds) seedless watermelon
• 3 cups vegetable or canola oil for deep-frying
• 1/2 cup cornstarch (corn flour)
• 2 egg whites, beaten
• 2 teaspoons water
• 3/4 cup flour
• Powdered confectioners' sugar for garnish

Preparation:

Cut watermelon in half lengthwise. Cut each half again lengthwise into 2. You should have 4 long triangular-shaped pieces. Remove the rinds, cut into 1-inch thick slices, then cut the flesh into about 1-inch triangles. (It is not a science, so do not worry if you have odd shapes.)

Heat oil in a deep-fryer or wok to 350 F.

Whisk cornstarch with egg whites and water until combined.

Dredge watermelon chunks in the flour, then coat with the cornstarch batter. Deep-fry in batches, leaving room in between pieces to properly brown, until watermelon chunks are golden.

Remove from oil and drain well. Sprinkle deep-fried watermelon with a dusting of powdered confectioners' sugar to serve.

Yield: 12 servings

I prefer my watermelon "Straight-Up", although the Watermelon Mimosa's are going to be on my "TO-DO" list!  It sounds so much better than a regular Orange Juice Mimosa!!

I am back to working out, I got in a 1/2 hour on treadclimber this morning, I can not even think about getting back on INSANITY for at least the rest of this week.

I hope you kept cool today, if you are working out - DRINK WATER and REPLENISH your fluids.  You do not want to get leg cramps (VERY PAINFUL).

Have an AWESOME night!!!

 

 

Day 152 ~ 6/20/12

Today is the first day of SUMMER!!  It's also Vanilla Milkshake Day!!

The 92 degrees at 11:20am this morning was a sweltering reminder of that fact!!!

Time for Flip-Flops, Sandals and Bare feet!!  It's a great time to take advantage of taking care of your feet.

  One of the most common foot ailments are Cracked Heels and if not taken care of can lead to long time more serious issues - my grandma used to say…. “Take care of your feet and your feet will take care of you”

The most common causes that lead to cracked heels:

• Naturally dry skin or thick dry skin (callus) around the heel that is more likely to crack is often due to excessive feet activity.

• Prolonged standing at work or home. Hard floors may also cause cracks in the feet.

• Being overweight may increase the pressure on the normal fat pad under the heel, causing it to expand sideways and if the skin lacks flexibility the pressure on the feet lead to cracked heels.

• Back-open sandals or shoes allow the fat under the heel to expand sideways and increases the possibility of cracks on the heels.

• Disease and Disorders-Athlete’s foot, Psoriasis, Eczema, Thyroid disease, Diabetes and some other skin conditions may also cause cracked heels.

• Continuous exposure to water- Water, especially running water, can rob the skin of its natural oils and this can leave the skin dry and rough. Standing for prolonged periods in a damp area such as a bathroom can cause dry and cracked heels.

Here is a list of some other reasons that may lead to cracked heels:

• Age - Thick dry scaly skin lose elasticity with age and thus cracks have higher incidence with age.

• Ill fitting shoes, standing for a long time or change in walking posture.

• Unhygienic circumstances or conditions

• Unhealthy, dry scaly skin due to climate or diseases

• Deficiency of vitamins, minerals and zinc

NATURAL things you can do to get rid of cracked heels:

• Apply any shortening or hydrogenated vegetable oil after washing the feet clean on dry and cracked areas of the feet. After applying a thick coat of shortening on the feet, wear a pair of thick socks. Leaving this application overnight can surely provide positive results in few days.

• Apply the pulp of a ripe banana on the dry or cracked area of the heel. Leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse it clean. This is a simple dry cracked heels home remedy and it can be used on a daily basis to prevent and treat dry and cracked heels. You can also add half an avocado or the flesh of half a coconut to a blender along with the banana to form a thick and creamy paste. Avocados and coconuts are rich in several essential oils and fat soluble vitamins. This paste will help to provide your skin with the vitamins and oils it requires to stay soft and well moisturized. This paste can be used to treat as well as prevent dry cracked heels.

• Soak the feet in lemon juice for about 10minutes. Follow this therapy on a weekly basis until one finds a change. Lemon juice is a very mild natural acid and helps to dissolve dead and dry skin son that it can be easily removed. It is best to soak your feet in a lemon juice solution and then lightly scrub it with a loofa or soft foot brush to gently exfoliate the top layers of dead skin that cause dry cracked heels.

• A daily regime of cleaning and moisturizing is a good cure for dry or cracked heels. At the end of the day soak the feet in warm soapy water for about 15 minutes. Rinse feet and pat dry. Make a healing mixture comprising of: one teaspoon Vaseline and the juice of one lemon. Rub this mixture onto the cracked heels and other required areas of the feet till it is thoroughly absorbed. This can be done daily until visible results are obtained. It is best to apply this mixture to your feet right before you go to bed. You can then pull on a pair of thick woolen socks to protect your linen from getting stained. Furthermore, the woolen socks will help to trap your body heat and this will increase the effectiveness of the mixture as more of it will be absorbed by your skin. You can exfoliate your skin before and after you use this mixture. The oils in this mixture will help to soften dry and cracked heels and this will allow you to easily slough off the dead skin the next morning.

• A regular application of a mixture of glycerin and rosewater is known to soothe and cure cracked heels.

• Another result oriented solution is to melt paraffin wax and mix it well with little mustard oil. Apply on the dry or cracked area of the heels. Rinse it off in the morning. A continuous application for 10 to15 days can achieve desirable results.

• To get rid of the dry skin on your heels, you should exfoliate your feet on a regular basis. Avoid harsh cosmetic exfoliating scrubs and instead you can make your own gentle and natural scrub with honey, apple cider vinegar, and rice flour. You will fist have to grind a handful of rice until your get a fine but coarse flour. After that, add a few spoons of raw honey to the mixture along with enough apple cider vinegar to obtain a thick paste. If the cracks are very deep, you can add a spoon of olive oil or sweet almond oil to the paste. Soak your feet for 20 minutes and then gently massage them with this paste. The vinegar in this cracked heel treatment will help to dissolve the thickened layers of dead skin while the rice flour will gently abrade the top layer of dead skin. Honey and olive oil act as natural moisturizers and will help to keep the skin on your feet soft and moisturized and this will prevent further cracking.

• Many cracked heel repair creams that are avoidable in the market today contain chemicals that can aggravate your skin and increase discomfort. You can make your own moisturizing cracked heel cream by mixing together a spoon of olive oil along with a few drops of lemon oil or lavender oil. Pour this blend of oils into a small bottle and add an equal amount of water to it. Shake the contents thoroughly so that the water and oil form a thick milky solution. Use this homemade remedy for dry cracked heels as and when it is needed. Make sure that you shake the solution before you use it.

The above information obtained from: http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/remedy/Cracked-Heels.html

A final note on your feet - if you are diabetic you especially want to take care of your legs and feet. 

Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause diabetes problems. This high blood glucose ( blood sugar),  can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys.

These two problems can work together to cause a foot problem.

Nerve damage. One problem is damage to nerves in your legs and feet. With damaged nerves, you might not feel pain, heat, or cold in your legs and feet. A sore or cut on your foot may get worse because you do not know it is there. This lack of feeling is caused by nerve damage, also called diabetic neuropathy. Nerve damage can lead to a sore or an infection.

Poor blood flow. The second problem happens when not enough blood flows to your legs and feet. Poor blood flow makes it hard for a sore or infection to heal. This problem is called  perioheral vascular disease, also called PVD. Smoking when you have diabetes makes blood flow problems much worse.

Today's Meals:

Breakfast: 1/2 Pineapple

Lunch: 1/2 papaya chunks (thanks to my local Farmers Market)

Dinner: Off Beverly Hills diet - Graduation Party - Having a salad at Longhorns restaurant (I already checked out the menu and I am trying to keep the calories low!

Have an AWESOME night....try and keep COOL!!!! 

Day 151 ~ 6/19/12

Down 1/2 pound  today!  I woke up with a very small, very painful (haven't had one in years) canker sore right inside my right cheek closer to my gums (ouch!) .  A small price to pay for a little weight loss!

Today was a Mango and Papaya day. Unfortunately, my local Stop & Shop only had Mangoes. Substitutions were in order, tomorrow I have to hit the Farmers Market!!

Breakfast:  Mango, started with one, ended up eating three (good thing you can buy in a case of 12!)

Lunch: 1/2 pineapple

Dinner: 1 Mango, 2 apples

Good day overall, the thought of "sh*tting like a goose" comes to mind, since all I have had is fruit...it's going to be an interesting week.  But with the heat wave we are in the process of getting the lighter the meals the better! I think this is why it's so much easier to stick to a diet in the summer due to the fact it's just too darn hot to even want to cook or eat!!

Summer months turn my thoughts to bbq'ing, watermelon and italian ice from the italian ice man that comes by my mother in laws house on a regular basis.  It's a running joke that I am the one to go get everyone an italian ice because I am blessed/cursed with big boobs.  They think he gives me larger portions.  I really do not thing that is the case...he doesn't seem like that type of person.

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...I stopped by my local DD (Dunkin Dounuts) to see my friends and get a bottle of water (I was good)...and when I walked in, I gave my friends a "hello" and a big smile and a customer that was sitting remarked I was in a good mood - I replied nicely and said I was seeing friends and that always puts me in a good mood.  Thinking that's that - as I was leaving I went to grab a napkin and this guy pops up by me and says, "I think you are very attractive", I said thank you and left. 

Now, if this guy looked like Johnny Rzeznik from the Goo Goo Dolls or Alcide from True Blood, it would have been a V.E.R.Y. good day....but I get hit on by some guy that looks like he just got back from a NASCAR race weekend and hadn't showered all weekend (trucker hat and all).  But hey - beggars can't be choosers...and if my sister-in-laws had anything to to say about this - they would just nod their heads and say "Like we always say, You are a Freak Magnet".

Sometimes you just have to take a compliment and be happy that someone noticed you and had the courage to be kind enough to say something!  It's so much better to be nice and treat others nicely then to respond negatively and ruin a persons day.

I hope your day was full of GOOD THINGS ONLY!!

Have a FANTASTIC NIGHT!!!!!

 

Day 150 ~ 6/18/12

I am back!!  I still have a lingering cough and runny nose (do you believe it??)  I haven't had a cold in three years and here I get a summer cold and it lasts over a week.

I lost out on a week of exercise and diet (unless cough drops, soup and saltines count??!)  This makes me not too happy of a camper since I have a mini-getaway/vacation coming up in less than two weeks.  I was really hoping for some major movement on the scale before then...BUT it's a new week and seeing that I am eating basically fruit all week - maybe I can make up and lose a few before vacation!!

Breakfast:  Pineapple (1/2)

Lunch: Pineapple (1/2)

Dinner : 2 Banana's

Did you know that the pineapple provides and excellent source of Vitamin C and is a great marinade and meat tenderizer?? 

From not eating any fruit last week to today's overload of pineapple I think I have a canker sore starting in my mouth, not sure but it feels like it - will see what tomorrow brings.  All this fruit has me feeling pretty good, at least the extra Vitamin C will help knock out the balance of whatever cold/allergy/mysterious ailment is lingering in my body.

I hope your Monday og off to a great start and you are feeling only positive influences in your life!!

Have a WONDERFUL night!! 

KEEP POSITIVE and ONLY POSITIVE THINGS WILL COME YOUR WAY!!