BEEF WITH GINGER, MUSHROOMS & KALE

 

• Nutrition Facts 

 

• Serving :
• 1

INGREDIENTS

• 7 oz beef flank steak , thinly sliced
• 1 Large Portobello mushroom
• 1 cup kale, chopped
• 1/4 cup green onion, thinly sliced
• 3 Tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp ginger
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 tsp grape seed oil
• sea salt & pepper, to taste
• • 
    

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375°F

On a baking pan, place Portobello mushroom and put in oven for approximately 15 minutes; set aside. 

In a hot non-stick pan with grape seed oil, add flank steak; let sear. When the steak is half way cooked, add garlic and ginger; let cook. 

Now, add kale and onions; let cook. 

Once everything is well cooked, pour in soy sauce; let simmer for a couple of minutes. 

Lastly, place steak mix on top of the Portobello mushroom. 

Ready to serve! 

KEEPING THE WEIGHT OFF

I have followed many different weight loss diets throughout the last couple of years. Most of them worked like a charm! But, I always ended up gaining the weight back someway or another… 

Losing the weight was easy. There was a plan, I followed it and I got results – The End! Right? Not… Unfortunately I was wrong. It was so not over. None of the diets that I followed were a vaccine against weight gain and I should have never assumed that I could go back to how things use to be. I know now that the hardest part is really afterwards. It’s hard work to maintain a goal weight! But it is totally worth it! 

 If you are a former carby like me, then you know how easy it is to fall back into old habits. We are all human and it is completely normal to indulge every now and them. I like to give myself one cheat day a week. This seems to work for me but it does not mean that this is right for every one. It is important to make your own “maintenance plan”. Here are few tips that I like to recommend:

• Start by making small, achievable goals
• Find out what gets you motivated and stick with it
• Don’t think about what you are giving up – Remember you get to pick a cheat day where you can eat all the chocolate chip cookies you want! 
• Learn to love your new habits – Consistency is key!
• Look for an exercise that you enjoy doing and do it! 
• Make planned meal deviations – plan ahead for indulgences when you can 
• Be proud of yourself and all you have accomplished – You worked hard, you deserve it!
• Keep setting yourself objectives – Maybe you want to go gluten free for a week or run a 5k marathon?

Now, live your life! Be happy and don’t stress or obsess over it. You got this!

WHAT DO YOU DO TO KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF? DO YOU HAVE A MAINTENANCE PLAN? 

lowfatlowcarb.com

ROLLER COASTER EMOTIONS OF WEIGHT LOSS

For the last couple of weeks now, I have been following a weight loss protocol. A very restricted one at that! Although, it is working out beautifully for me, my emotions have been going through quite the roller coaster ride… If you have ever followed a weight loss protocol yourself, you know exactly what I mean! 

Losing weight is a struggle and anyone who tells you otherwise well, they are either lying or have extraordinary self-control. And good for them if they do! Unfortunately, we are not all so confident and ready to give up our favorite things in life. Let me tell you, I have had my share of ups and downs. Some days, I am so committed and love every minute of my journey but there are other days where I just want to quit and have slice of deep-dish pizza with some double chocolate chip cookies on the side! … The good news is: I am getting better at ignoring the temptations. I find that with time, they are slowly drifting away allowing me get closer and closer to my goal weight. 15 lbs down, 15 lbs to go! Never had I thought this journey of mine would be such a lengthy process and that it would require so much willpower. It’s all in the head though… I find myself craving things that I have never even really liked in the past… Weird! Right?  But I guess, like many other things, we want what we can’t have. 

In the end, I am so proud of my results and that I am finally achieving a goal that has been long over due. Just like many of you! 

Recently, I came across this article by Jenny Sugar from PopSugar Fitness’ Healthy Living section where she quite accurately describes the many emotions that most women go through while losing weight. I would like to share these thoughts with you as I myself have experienced some of these exact thoughts! Take a look: 

• Stepped on the scale: Diet starts today! No more excuses!
• But… I want to eat everything in sight! 
• Nope, not that plain salad
• The brownie. The. Entire. Pan!
• Sometimes, I do…
• But, then I feel sad about it: Why did I eat so much food!?!
• But, tomorrow, I get a fresh start
• I curse my 6am alarm clock. 
• But then, I remember how awesome it feels to break a good sweat
• Even though I secretly despise those “fit” girls at the gym
• Their determination is so inspirational though!
• I know that one day, I will look like that! 
• But boy! Do I ever hate squats …
• My new butt looks great though!
• Too bad for my butt that I love eating & drinking just as much
• Stress makes me want to eat! Fun fact: Stressed is desserts spelled backwards
• Being happy also makes me want to eat
• Being bored too…
• What can I say? I love carbs!
• And Ice cream
• And anything deep fried served on a stick or smothered in chocolate or cheese
•  Yep, always in the mood for food 
• But, I stand firm and think about how hot I will look in my bikini this summer
• Or, how jealous my ex will be!
• Or, how healthy I will be for my kids!
• Yep, losing weight isn’t easy…
• But, feeling good in my new body makes it all so worthwhile 
• So, I make spinach smoothies for breakfast
• Run instead of going to happy hour after work
• And, do some reps while watching Games Of Thrones
• It’s all about baby steps, But I’ve got my eye on the prize! 

SO, AM I JUST CRAZY OR HAVE YOU AS WELL GONE THROUGH SIMILAR EMOTIONS? BE HONEST! 

From: lowfatlowcarb.com

Spring Rolls

Ingredients: 

1 packet of Ideal Protein plain crepe
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp soy sauce
1 egg white (optional)
1/3 cup water

Filling
1 tbsp margarine
1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 orange bell pepper, finely chopped
2 inches English cucumber finely chopped
3 shiitake mushrooms, finely chopped
lemon juice to taste
soy sauce to taste
salt, pepper and steak spices.

Directions: 

Rolls: in a medium bowl mix water, olive oil, soy sauce and egg white. Add plain crepe packet and whisk well. Cook crepe in a skillet.

Pepper filling: in a skillet cook bell peppers and mushrooms in margarine. Add cucumbers, soy sauce and lemon juice. Season with salt, pepper and spices. Place filling in crepe and roll up. Bake in oven on Broil until crispy, about 5 minutes.

http://www.ideallyyou.org/recipes/spring-rolls

Hard

Chocolate Coconut Bars

Chocolate Coconut Bars

 

I have to say that I was a little skeptical about these new Chocolate coconut bars but have been very surprised by not only their delicious taste but the soft chewy texture of the bar. If you love coconut you will love these!    

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