Yummy

Alex Jamieson, Morgan Spurlock's partner, was not pleased when Spurlock decided to do his 30 day McDonald's diet but finally gave her blessing once Spurlock agreed to turn himself over to her for detoxing post-experiment.

This book was not on my radar until Farty Girl mentioned a veggie burger recipe in it.

I've so enjoyed this book. Even the cover moves me.

I tried the veggie burger recipe first. I don't think that I've found the ultimate veggie burger but I liked it -- especially since it had a level of moistness that two other recipes did not.

I had fun making recipes in this book. I tend to have a knack for finding recipes that require a lot of preparation but I was able to get in and out of the kitchen in no time with these concoctions.












Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili



Loved the Cilantro

Mini Pizzas


Yummy

Can't wait to make falafel and walnut burger patties. I'm so in the zone that I might even try my hand at almond milk.

Peace Source

In one of Farty Girl's recent posts, she talked about a place that provides constant peace. My most peaceful place has been the pool whether it's indoors or out. Must admit, though, outdoors moves me more.

Yesterday, I chose the pool over yoga although I could have stretched myself and done both but I'm trying not to run myself ragged.

I headed out to Hazira's where the pool is at, asked her to put sunscreen on my back, stole a couple of bites of watermelon and stayed in the pool for about two hours.

I got in about 15 minutes of swimming before I got chatted up -- first by a woman who left her daughter in the shallow end while she talked to me and next by a man who was there with his wife and kids. Apparently, the wife and kids had other people to talk to.

I darted underwater whenever one of them got distracted as I tried to get in at least 30 minutes of swimming.

I missed yoga, though, because I'm finding that it's been a place of peace as well.

After swimming, I headed to Hazira's and ate more watermelon. I'm really digging the ritual of swimming then watermelon. Apparently, I like water inside and out.

Wednesday: more sunscreen, swimming and watermelon. ☺


What's been moving you lately?

Resistance Is Futile?

I haven't stepped foot in a brick and mortar bookstore in a long time and I was surprised and not surprised to see this book display right by the door. After all, the diet industry is a kabillion dollar one:

Every year, Americans spend an estimated $42 billion on diet books; $18.5 billion on health club memberships; and $5.2 billion on diet foods and weight loss programs. (Eat This Not, That! For Kids!, 2)

I've been holding onto Eat This, Not That!, countless magazines and doctors Roizen and Oz's book YOU On A Diet which I got from the library. One of phrases that continues to roll around in my head from YOU is:

...fructose tricks your body into staying hungry.(258)

And this passage keeps me thinking about food memory:

When you eat sugar, you light up the motor cortex of your brain, which controls your lips, tongue, and mouth. The hippocampus, which controls memories of food, lights up when people on rigid diets crave certain foods -- overwhelming their willpower and ability to resist. (167)

I must have been absolutely radiant for decades and part of me wants to remember every amount of saturated fat and sugar that I've put in my mouth. Hence, the Kryptonite (partial list) on the sidebar. I want to remember so that I don't forget. Rigid, maybe, but that's how I roll right now but it also keeps me on point. When I'm eating out (usually because of a work function or family/friend celebration), I usually decline decadent stuff because I know there's a lower calorie option that's satisfying and, for me, once Pandora's pantry is open, it's wide open.

I was reading a post over at Farty Girl and found out about the other Gillian -- Gillian McKeith. Her temperament reminds me of The Biggest Loser's Jillian Michaels. One minute Michaels, in particular, will be working my nerves with the it's-not-what-you're-eating-it's-what's-eating-you angle and then she'll come up with a winner:

Jillian to Victoria (Season 9, Episode 13):

I don't want anything from you. What do you want from you?

In the end, McKeith and Michael's hearts are in the right place. If you haven't seen You Are What You Eat, it's worth taking a peak at. I love the food options that she presents.