1st Challenge of the Contest

Got my first Biggest Loser E-mail today (I'll be getting them each week with tips and support) and this first challenge is on! Winner is who has lost the most weight in the first 3 weeks and the prize - a $50 subway gift card!! I'm on it even more now! I love free food and if I have all the control in getting it, then I will get it! I would say that 15 pounds will be a pretty large number for 3 weeks, I'm hoping it's even more!

Sassy Water is all up and ready, except today without any mint (store was sold out of it...how many of you are following this diet?). My other exciting treat is Agave Nectar for my coffee, it's an organic sugar substitute and made my coffee taste the same with less calories and sugars!

Today's food:
Breakfast: 1 cup cornflakes w/ 1 cup 1% milk, 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce, 1 glass of sassy water (I didn't buy more milk, because I had 1% on hand and didn't want to waist it, and I didn't go to a store with a bulk section so could not purchase sunflower seeds.)

Lunch: 4 oz deli turkey, rolled up; 1 low-fat string cheese, 1 pint grape tomatoes, 1 glass of sassy water

Snack: Blueberry Smoothie: blend 1 cup 1% milk, 1 cup frozen blueberries for 1 minute. Stir in 1 TBSP cold, flaxseed oil

Dinner: 1 cup cooked green beans, 4 oz grilled tilapia, 1/2 cup roasted red potatoes drizzled with 1 tsp Olive Oil, 1 glass of Sassy water

Will post tonight calorie counts and burned calories, along with how the day went! Make today count!

4 Day Cleanse Shopping List

Here’s my shopping list for my 4 day cleanse. Some of the items I already have on hand, and others I will have to pick up at specialty stores. My frugal self is keeping it budget friendly too. I found that Grocery Outlet has most of the items on my list (including cremini mushrooms!), so I’ll do some of my shopping there. I have flaxseed oil, but not sure how long it last, so if I have to purchase more there’s a great local Natural Foods Store near me I’ll stop in at to get the rest of my items I haven’t found. As always I’ll work in cash only, use coupons on some items, and keep to my list.

Shopping List:

Produce:
- 2 pints grape tomatoes
- 1 pint fresh green beans
- 1 bag red potatoes
- Large bag bay carrots (10 oz or more)
- Half pint cremini mushrooms
- 1 large yellow squash
- 4 medium cucumbers
- 4 medium lemons

Dairy:
- ½ gallon lactose free skim milk (or plain skim milk)
- 1 package of low fat string cheese

Frozen:
- 10 oz frozen blueberries
- 10 oz frozen peaches
- 10 oz frozen strawberries

Dry Goods:
- 12 oz box unsweetened corn flakes
- 12 oz box Rice Krispies
- 12 ox box cream of Wheat/plain Oatmeal
- 14 oz box instant brown rice
- 24 oz jar of unsweetened applesauce
- 8 oz can pineapple tidbits canned in juice
- 1 cup bulk (or small package) roasted or raw unsalted sunflower seeds
- 8 oz bottle cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil (found at your local natural foods store)
- 8 oz bottle Olive oil
- 15 oz package raisins
- 7 oz container dried plums

Spices:
- 1-2 knuckles fresh ginger root
- 2 bunches fresh mint
can be used on any of your foods to add extra flavor:
- Original or Italian medley Mrs. Dash
- Fresh or dried: basil, bay leaf, cinnamon, curry powder, dill, ginger, lemon or lime juice, marjoram, mint, oregano, paprika, pepper, rosemary, sage, terragon, or thyme
- Aged balsamic vinegar

Meat:
- 2 packages deli turkey
- ¼ pound tilapia filets (frozen or fresh)
- 1/3 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
- ¼ pound turkey breast cutlet
- 3 oz can chunk light tuna in water

Next....watch of foods to avoid after the cleanse!

4 day Cleanse Menu

The flat belly diet is not about doing any crunches or sit-ups; it’s about getting the foods that cause bloating out of our diet and creating a slimmer belly area. This 4 day cleanse helps our body adjust to this transition in our body, and will allow us to move into a 1,200 calorie diet easily afterwards. So, here are my meals for the 1st 4 days of the Biggest Loser contest.

Day 1:
Breakfast: 1 cup cornflakes w/ 1 cup skim milk, 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce, 1/4 cup roasted/unsalted sunflower seeds, 1 glass of sassy water
Lunch: 4 oz deli turkey, rolled up; 1 low-fat string cheese, 1 pint grape tomatoes, 1 glass of sassy water
Snack: Blueberry Smoothie: blend 1 cup skim milk, 1 cup frozen blueberries for 1 minute. Stir in 1 TBSP cold, flaxseed oil
Dinner: 1 cup cooked green beans, 4 oz grilled tilapia, 1/2 cup roasted red potatoes drizzled with 1 tsp Olive Oil, 1 glass of Sassy water

Day 2:
Breakfast: 1 Cup Rice Krispies, 1 cup skim milk, 1/4 cup roasted/unsalted sunflower seeds, 4 oz pineapple tidbits canned in juice, 1 glass of sassy water
Lunch: 3 oz chuck light tuna in water, 1 cup steamed baby carrots, 1 low fat string cheese, 1 glass of sassy water
Snack: Pineapple smoothie (milk, pineapple, ice, and 1 tbsp flaxseed oil)
Dinner: 1 cup fresh cremini mushrooms sautéed with 1 tsp olive oil, 3 oz grilled chicken breast, 1/2 cup cooked brown rice, 1 glass sassy water

Day 3:
Breakfast: 1 cup cornflakes w/ 1 cup skim milk, 1/4 cup roasted/unsalted sunflower seeds, 2 tbsp raisins, 1 glass of sassy water
Lunch: 4 oz deli turkey, rolled up; 1 low-fat string cheese, 1 pint grape tomatoes, 1 glass of sassy water
Snack: Peach Smoothie (frozen peaches; milk, & flaxseed oil)
Dinner: 1 cup cooked green beans, 3 oz grilled turkey breast cutlet, 1/2 cup roasted red potatoes drizzled with 1 tsp Olive Oil, 1 glass of Sassy water

Day 4:
Breakfast: 1 packet of instant cream of wheat (or use plain oatmeal); 1 cup skim milk, 1/4 cup roasted or unsalted sunflower seeds, 2 dried plums, 1 glass of sassy water
Lunch: 4 oz deli turkey, rolled up; 1 low-fat string cheese, 1 pint grape tomatoes, 1 glass of sassy water
Snack: Strawberry Smoothie (Frozen strawberries, milk, & 1 tsp flaxseed oil)
Dinner: 1 cup yellow squash sautéed w/ 1 tsp olive oil, 3 oz grilled chicken breast, 1/2 cup cooked brown rice, 1 cup glass sassy water

Recipe for Sassy Water:
2 liters water (about 8 ½ cups)
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger root
1 medium cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
1 medium lemon, thinly sliced
12 mint leaves

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher, chill in the refrigerator, and let flavors blend overnight.

Shopping list to be posted next....

4 Day Cleanse...

Today is the first day of my 4 day cleanse I am choosing to do to decrease any bloating and water retention. The “Flat Belly Diet!” is a program that is about helping to change our eating habits that cause our bodies to bloat up with extra gas and water retention. The four day jumpstart cleanse included 2 liters of “Sassy Water” and a diet plan for to follow. After the cleanse the plan leads you into a 4 week eating plan comprised of 3 400-calorie meals a day of your choice (from their own menu plan) and a 400-calorie snack of your choice; a daily core confidence reflection; and an optional exercise program.

Now, since talking with the trainer about doing a cleanse I felt like this jumpstart program would be great for me, but the entire program itself comprises of several things I am not comfortable with; the main thing being restriction of certain foods from my life. My lifestyle change is not about having the perfect body or the ideal weight for my body – it’s about leading a life that is healthy and filled with activity and happiness. I choose to include “unhealthy” snacks for my child, but in moderation and do so in the way that she knows they are a treat and special. I do not want to be a role model for healthy unless it includes how we control ourselves and eat in moderation when it comes to foods that may not be the best option. So, in the end I will take what I can from this plan, and learn about my body in a new way. I will not restrict myself (except during this cleanse) in order to win a contest or to loose weight.

The cleanse is a great way for my body to really get a shock to it, that allows my metabolism to have to readjust and learn to what I am doing with my body. I will follow pretty strictly the plan for the next 4 days, and am prepared for the crabby moods and the fatigue that will come on with the loss of coffee and higher carbohydrate foods. I’ve chosen to increase the protein options though since I am in such an active lifestyle right now. Here is the 4 day eating plan…

Day 1:
Breakfast: 1 cup Cornflakes; 1 cup milk; 1/2 cup applesauce; 1/2 cup roasted sunflower seeds
Lunch: 4 oz turkey rolled up; light string cheese; 1 pint fresh grape tomatoes
Snack: Blueberry Smoothie: 1 Cup Skim milk and 1 Cup frozen unsweetened blueberries in blender and blend for 1 minute. Transfer to glass, and stir in 1 Tbsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil.
Dinner: 1 cup cook green beans; 4 oz grilled tilapia; 1/2 cup roasted red potatoes w/ 1 tsp olive oil

Day 2:
Breakfast: 1 cup rice krispies; 1 cup milk; 1/4 cup sunflower seeds; 4 oz pineapple tidbits canned in juice
Lunch: 3 oz chuck light tuna in water; 1 cup steamed baby carrots; 1 light string cheese
Snack: Pineapple Smoothie: Place 1 Cup skim milk, 4 oz canned pineapple tidbits in juice in blender, add a handful of ice, and whip for 1 minute. Transfer to glass, and stir in 1 Tbsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil.
Dinner: 1 cup fresh crimini mushrooms sauteed w/ 1 tsp olive oil; 3 oz grilled chicken breast; 1/2 cup steamed brown rice

Day 3:
Breakfast: 1 cup Cornflakes; 1 cup milk; 1/2 cup applesauce; 1/2 cup roasted sunflower seeds
Lunch: 4 oz turkey rolled up; light string cheese; 1 pint fresh grape tomatoes
Snack: Peach Smoothie: Place 1 cup skim milk and 1 cup frozen peaches in blender and blend for 1 minute. Transfer to glass, and stir in 2 Tbsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil.
Dinner: 1 cup cook green beans; 4 oz tilapia; 1/2 cup roasted red potatoes w/ 1 tsp olive oil

Day 4:
Breakfast: 1 pack cream of wheat; 1 cup milk; 1/4 sunflower seed; 2 dried plums
Lunch: 3 oz chunk light tuna in water; 1 cup steamed baby carrots; 1 light string cheese
Snack: Strawberry Smoothie: Combine 1 cup skim milk and 1 cup frozen strawberries in blender and blend for 1 minute. Transfer to glass, and stir in 2 Tbsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil.
Dinner: 1 cup squash w/ 1 tsp olive oil; 3 oz grilled chicken breast; 1/2 cup brown rice


“Sassy Water” –
2 Liters of water (about 8 ½ cups)
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1 medium cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
1 medium lemon, thinly sliced
12 small spearmint leaves

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and let flavors blend overnight. Drink the entire pitcher by the end of the day.