Saturday, August 18, 2012

Obsessed


I have to rave about my recent purchase! I was wandering around Sephora seeing what was new and tried on one of the Clinique Almost Lipsticks and fell in love. They are only $15 and are very sheer at first but layered create beautiful hues. I bought "Lovely Honey" which is perfect for brunettes or an evening color for blondes. There really is a shade for everyone so be sure to try one I know you will love it as much as I do!

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Southwestern Quinoa

I made this the other night for dinner. Quinoa is a great replacement for rice at dinner or lunch. Eat with 6-8 of protein for a protein packed meal!

Southwestern Black Bean, Quinoa and Mango Medley 
1 cup = 164 calories

Ingredients:


  • 15-ounce can black beans, no salt added, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup cooked quinoa (according to package directions)
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen corn
  • 1 small red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 cup chopped fresh mango
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely diced
  • juice from 1 medium lemon or lime
  • 1 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp ground turmeric

Directions:

Cook quinoa like rice. 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water. 1/2 cup of dry quinoa makes about 1 cup cooked.
Mix together the beans, quinoa, corn, bell pepper, mango, onion, cilantro, and jalapeño in a mixing bowl.

Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and turmeric in a small bowl.

Drizzle over the mixture and toss. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Golden Jungle


Lose It

Recently I went on a diet called Ideal Protein and lost about 30lbs. Yes it was hard (and expensive) but it was well worth it. I wanted to share some of the rules and tips if you or someone you know wants to start a diet and not spend a lot of money on these expensive diets. I'll make it easy and show you a typical day of food rather than a long list of random food items you don't know how to combine and eat. I'll also post recipes every now and then that I use and actually taste good! So here it is...

Breakfast-protein oatmeal
    1/2 cup rolled oats cooked with water and ground cinnamon
    1 scoop vanilla whey protein
    1/2 cup blueberries

    Coffee or Iced Coffee with Sugar Free Creamer, 1 Truvia

Lunch
    Spinach salad w/ 1/4 cup feta cheese and 6oz chicken
    2 tbsp Light Ranch
    
Snack
    protein bar (Atkins or Thick Thin)

Dinner-NO CARBS!
    6-8oz of protein (chicken, fish, or meat)
    1 cup veggies (no corn or potatoes)
    Salad

I eat around 1,200 calories a day and no carbs after lunch. I DO NOT drink sodas even diet and I drink at least 64oz of water a day. I use Crystal Light a lot when I need something different. You can have carbs at lunch if you want to eat some brown rice or quinoa but only 1/2 cup.  If you workout you can add a whey protein shake after your workout. Keep it around 150 calories. 

Some other snacks I keep handy during the day is sugar free jello and sugar free candy (no chocolate).  I'll post more meal options soon along with a few recipes! Enjoy!