Fitness Fridays Health Club #1 - Grand Opening!

[Rachel]

Yes, I LOVE mushrooms. Great meal suggestions, Sara, thanks a lot, and RB, I like the idea of substituting cauliflower for rice. One thing I've tried and couldn't quite get into is the brown rice, but I intend to give it another chance too.

Another meal I enjoy, I call Plate-O-Vegetables, which is steamed cauliflower, brocolli, carrots, and potatoes with a bit of Smart Balance on the potatoes.

Christa, you are prompting me to do my exercises today. Drat the luck. I was going to have another holiday from them!

[christa]

Rachel: Glad I could help. Just go easy on the potatoes . . . they're loaded with carbs.


Actually that brings up a good subject, STARCHY Veggies. You don't want to completely limit them, just be careful about your portion sizes. Starchy veggies include corn, peas, potatoes, sweet potatoes (yams), and squash. These all have a high carb content.

Any veggie that is on the non-starch list is low in calories & high in fiber & loaded with vitamines & minerals, so you can eat as much as you'd like!!! (like spinach, broccoli, carrots, onions, celery, cucumbers) You'll be full quicker and won't be putting the bad stuff into your body!

[carole]

Lots of nice helpful recipes, well on my third day on programme still going strong.

[buckner]

Actually that brings up a good subject, STARCHY Veggies. You don't want to completely limit them, just be careful about your portion sizes. Starchy veggies include corn, peas, potatoes, sweet potatoes (yams), and squash. These all have a high carb content.

Speaking of potatoes - if you're wanting a potato with your meal, have a sweet potato! They're better for you than regular potatoes (vitamins and nutrients) AND they also have a low calorie and carb count. I love me some sweet potatoes!

[buckner]

Sara: Thanks for the recipe idea! I will try a "variation" of that . . . I don't have all the ingredients on hand and there's no way I'm going to try to get to the store right now! LOL . . . I'm guessing traffic is pretty bad right now! Gotta make dinner though . . . hubby is hungry! LOL

I usually never follow the recipe, unless I'm baking. I won't go out and buy certain veggies just because the recipe says so - unless it's some kind of specific cuisine that calls for garlic that I don't have, or celery, or something. The best "veggie" recipes are just starters, really.. they're there to get you thinking, and you can basically substitute anything you have for any of the ingredients!

[Kfamr]

Some of my favorite repices that have been requested:

Veggie Meals/Snacks:

Veggie Quesodillas -
Whole Wheat tortillas
Cheese
Cabbage
Carrots
And any other veggie you like.


Shred/dice the veggies - sautee if you prefer cooked veggies.
Lay tortilla in pan - sprinkle cheese and veggies on top and add another tortilla.

Toast it in the pan, apply pressure with a spatuala to make it "stick" together. Toast until crispy and cheese melts.



For fish, I LOVE making cooking it in foil on the grill.

Different combos I've made and LOVED:

Black Olives
Green Olives
Garlic
Olive Oil
Red Peppers


Green Peppers
Onions
Lemon Juice

Just lay the fish in the foil - I usually put a rew hot red pepper slices on the foil first. Cut all of the "toppings" and put them on top. Add the olive oil or lemon juice. Fold up and put it on the grill.


Salads?

One of my favorites...

Tomatoes, Onions, and cucumbers in italian dressing. Cut them to whatever size you prefer and add the dressing. Green peppers are also a nice flavor in this mix.


I haven't really cared to tell anyone but I've been working on losing weight. I eat a lot heathier than I used to. I can't remember the last I've dranken soda - and usually it's only once in a while. I've cut back on my sweet tea drinking (so much sugar!) It's rare I drink anything but water anymore.

It is a "routine" for me to lay in bed and have a small snack and watch T.V. before I fall asleep. It's weird falling asleep without doing so but recently I have or else I've eaten something like cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, apples, mandarine oranges.

Those are the type of snacks I like most but they aren't always available and I can't afford them sometimes. (Dang dogs eat better than I do. )

So many places offer cold-cut sandwhiches and a choice of healthier sides instead of fries. I try going for the other sides.


One problem I'm working on right now is DIPPING things. Not fruits/veggies because I like those plain. But I like to dip chicken, and potato type thing, etc in RANCH dressing. I've cut down so I'm proud of that but there was a point where I was using 3-4 packets of dipping sauce in one sitting. Now I only always myself to use one.


These are silly steps but certainly in the right direction!

[christa]

Kay: Excellent receipe ideas! Sounds yummy! And sounds like you're really doing great, getting healthy & sticking with it. I know what you mean about cutting back on the "sauces"!!! I was a honey mustard addict, LOL . . . I think I've just about got rid of ALL of it though. I don't think there is a jar in this house . . . unless there is one in the cupboard . . . and I'm pretty sure there isn't. I am finally to the point where I can eat it either plain or with something like fat free sour cream.

Sara: You're right - sweet potatoes are a better choice than regular potatoes. I sub them in my veggie soup - that's about the only time we eat them. But you'll be surprised to know that they are actually higher in calories than a regular potato. Not by much though . . . the benefits come in the form of FIBER. The sweet potato has almost double the fiber and more beta-carotene. Just remember that most of the fiber comes from the skin, so try to eat as much of it as you can . . . that's the best part!!!

[buckner]

Sara: You're right - sweet potatoes are a better choice than regular potatoes. I sub them in my veggie soup - that's about the only time we eat them. But you'll be surprised to know that they are actually higher in calories than a regular potato. Not by much though . . . the benefits come in the form of FIBER. The sweet potato has almost double the fiber and more beta-carotene. Just remember that most of the fiber comes from the skin, so try to eat as much of it as you can . . . that's the best part!!!

Acckk, I meant fiber, not calories. And are you KIDDING me?!?! The skin IS the best part. Of either a sweet potato or a regular baking potato, I'll skip the insides and go for the skin, if need be to choose. :P

[christa]

Acckk, I meant fiber, not calories. And are you KIDDING me?!?! The skin IS the best part. Of either a sweet potato or a regular baking potato, I'll skip the insides and go for the skin, if need be to choose. :P

That's great . . . I just know that most people dig out the insides & scrap the skin for all it's worth & leave it on the plate, never considering that they're leaving behind the most nutritious part of the potato.

The only time I won't really eat much of the skin is if I'm eating out . . . I'm really picky about some things . . . I just like to know that my sweet potato has been scrubbed thoroughly before I eat the skin, LOL . . . but like I said before, I rarely even eat them. Good choice when you're craving something starchy though!

[christa]

As I said before, GO EASY ON THE STARCHY VEGGIES! But as long as we're talking about Sweet Potatoes, here are some of my fav recipes . . . besides just a regular baked sweet potato.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Garlic

Ingredients:
2 medium sweet potatoes, washed and scrubbed
1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large cloves garlic, sliced thin (or you can use garlic powder if you're in a hurry)
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 475-degrees.

Slice sweet potatoes into very thin rounds.

On baking sheet toss with garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Roast in preheated oven on middle rack, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes or until crisp.


Rosemary-Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:
2 pounds sweet potatoes, cut into chunks
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
3 cloves garlic, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary, or 1/2-tablespoon dried
2 tablespooons chopped parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
In casserole dish, combine sweet potatoes, garlic, rosemary and olive oil. Toss to coat.

Bake at 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes, turning occasionally.

Just before serving, sprinkle with pine nuts, parsley, salt and pepper.

Just limit your portions with any starchy veggies that you consume and you should be fine.

[finn's mom]

This thread is really awesome. I'm doing great today, hahaha, but, it's not even noon, yet. Going to work out, though, so, I know I'll feel great when I do that!

[christa]

This thread is really awesome. I'm doing great today, hahaha, but, it's not even noon, yet. Going to work out, though, so, I know I'll feel great when I do that!

So glad you're enjoying it . . . let us know how the workout goes!

[My Peanuts]

Hey guys, I could really use some motivation to get my butt to the gym after work today. I'm really tired from our 4th of July party yesterday and all I can think about is popping a movie in the DVD player and vegging out. I really need to go since I was unable to go yesterday.

[christa]

Whenever I'm not wanting to go to the gym, I tell myself . . . I'll go and just stay for 20 minutes . . . then I usually end up getting in the best workout EVER!!! That 20 minutes will turn into an hour and 20 minutes! Not sure how that works, LOL.

[My Peanuts]

Whenever I'm not wanting to go to the gym, I tell myself . . . I'll go and just stay for 20 minutes . . . then I usually end up getting in the best workout EVER!!! That 20 minutes will turn into an hour and 20 minutes! Not sure how that works, LOL.

Thanks Christa. That does help. At least it gets me there and even if it's only 40 minutes, it's better than skipping!