Beef with Roasted Chiles & Golden Peppers - Fabulicious

I am on Week 3, Day 3 of Jorge Cruise's "The Belly Fat Cure - Fast Track". I have been having fun coming up with new recipes to satisfy my taste buds and keep my carb & sugar intake lower. No Problem! For lunch how about a nice serving of Beef with Roasted Chiles & Golden Peppers?

I roasted these Pasilla Chiles on my indoor grill. They were popping and crackling and they smelled so good!

Baby Kiwi's - Awww so cute, so good!

I was at Sprouts market yesterday picking up my usual healthy fare when a display of small containers caught my eye. Little, Baby Kiwi's or "Kiwi Berries" as the package was advertising. 

Awww, it's a boy...It's a girl...It's a Kiwi?

I have never seen these before so naturally I just had to give them a try. My son, Jaymie, is a vegetarian so I thought I would bring these little darlings home for him to try.

Wikipedia Definition: The fruit are referred to as Hardy kiwifruit, kiwi berry, arctic kiwi, baby kiwi, dessert kiwi or cocktail kiwi and are edible, berry or grape-sized fruit similar to kiwifruit in taste and appearance, but are green or purple with smooth skin. Often sweeter than the kiwifruit, hardy kiwifruit can be eaten whole and need not be peeled. Thin-walled, its exterior is smooth and leathery.

Size Comparison

Good things come in small packages - I found the tiny kiwi's to be nice and sweet. I only ate 1 kiwi since I am not eating sugar at the moment. I think these little gems would be perfect in a salad since you don't have to peel them.

FABULICIOUS!

Week 3, Day 1 - Couch 2 5K Program

For some reason I was nervous about the week 3 run this morning. I think some of the discussions we had in my Personal Fitness Trainer class about the body's energy systems put a bit of fear in me.

I decided I would eat a few calories of carbs & proteins (there was some sugar in there) to give me that boost that I would need. I also made sure to complete a good stretch to help me loosen up before the run.

I am still a bit sore from yesterday's "Eccentric" workout in my class. Yes, you read that right...eccentric, not concentric. It was such an odd way to work out but I have to say it really fatigued my muscles. We worked total body and finished with Eccentric Core exercises and finally a much needed stretch.

This is how it went:

Warm up: 5 - 10 minutes Static Stretching:

• Hip Flexors
• Quads
• Calves
• Abductors (inner thighs)

Podcast - Week 3 - Day 1:

• 5 minutes brisk walking
• 90 seconds running
• 90 seconds brisk walking
• 3:00 minutes running
• 3:00 minutes brisk walk
• 90 seconds running
• 90 seconds brisk walking
• 3:00 minutes running
• 3:00 minutes brisk walk
• 5:00 minutes brisk walk

I decided to double the workout again and cut the last, 5 minute cool down walk, to only 3 minutes and then repeated the intervals again:

• 90 seconds running
• 90 seconds brisk walking
• 3:00 minutes running
• 3:00 minutes brisk walking
• 90 seconds running
• 90 seconds brisk walking
• 3:00 minutes running
• 3:00 minutes brisk walking
• 5 minutes brisk walking (cool down)

I was actually amazed that I was able to run for 3 minutes. (Sounds silly right?) I could feel my body falling into the rhythm of the run. I just paced myself, kept my breathing steady and enjoyed the music on my Ipod. I am confident that next week when we run for 5 minutes and then later for 8 minutes that I will be able to do this.

Cool Down: 5 minutes Static Stretching:

• Hip Flexors
• Quads
• Calves
• Abductors (inner thighs)

I feel good today. Mission accomplished!

Some Like It Hot! Jorge's Skinny Muffin Gets Some Flava'

OK, So by now I am sure you have figured out that I tend to obsess over certain things. Food is one of them. I am constantly trying to find new ways to make over great recipes. I love chocolate and on the opposite end, I also love foods that are spicy & sassy!

One of my favorite things to eat is Jalapeno Cheese "Anything". So why not? With a few minor adjustments this simple skinny muffin can be any flavor you want.

FABULICIOUS!

Ooh La La, Spice Up My Life!

This muffin cooked up super light and fluffy! It was also very, very moist! I used almond meal instead of the flax meal and it had a very nice "corn meal" texture which was perfect for this savory muffin. I substituted egg whites for the whole egg.

Jalapeno Cheddar Skinny Muffin:

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 Tbs. Egg Whites or 1 Whole Egg
• 1 tsp. Olive Oil
• 1 tsp. Baking Powder
• 2 Tbs Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1 Tbs Sliced Jalapenos, or more (the nacho slices in a can or jar)
• 1/4 cup of Almond meal (Flax meal can also be used)

DIRECTIONS:

• Add egg whites to mug
• Stir in baking powder with a fork making sure it is fully incorporated
• Add the olive oil
• Stir in 1/4 cup of Almond Meal
• Stir in the Cheddar Cheese
• Fold in the Sliced Jalapenos
• Sprinkle a bit of shredded cheddar on the top
• Microwave for 50 - 55 seconds

CARB & SUGAR INFO: 8g Carbs, 0g Sugar
Almond Meal - 6 carbs, 1 sugar per 1/4 cup serving
Cheddar Cheese - 0 carbs, 0 sugars
Jalapenos - 1 carb, 0.5 sugar
Egg Whites - 0 carbs, 0 sugars
Baking Powder - 1 carb, 0 sugars
Olive Oil - 0 carbs, 0 sugars

Week 2, Day 7 - Jorge Cruise's "The Belly Fat Cure - Fast Track"

Yippee! It has been 2 weeks since I started Jorge Cruise's "The Belly Fat Cure - Fast Track"

I ran again today and finished up week 2 of the Couch to 5k program I am doing. I am feeling very exhausted. I had to take a little rest today, but I am feeling much better now.

I tend not to sleep in a lot but I did get 7.5 hours of sleep. Nice!

I made a very nice Belly Good Pizza last night. Ever since I stumbles upon Jorge Cruise's Belly fat Cure, I have been obsessed with finding different ways to eat gluten free / grain free foods. Finding Jorge's Skinny Muffin was like opening a whole new door to eating healthy for me.

I played around with Almond & Flax meal and this is what I came up with:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Cup Almond Meal
• 1 cup Flax Meal
• 1 Large egg
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 Tbs Olive Oil
• Water - small amount as needed. (Dough should be firm and a bit crumbly).
• 1/4 cup Low Sugar Tomato sauce (your favorite brand)
• Granulated Garlic
• Grated Parmesan
• Shredded Cheese (your choice of favorites, mix it up)
• Sliced vegetables: Bell Peppers, Onion, Mushrooms, Jalapenos, Olives, Meats, etc

Belly Good Pizza







DIRECTIONS:

• Press this dough into a lightly oiled cookie sheet
• Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes until slightly golden
• Add your low sugar sauce as needed
• Sprinkle a bit of Granulated Garlic on top of sauce
• Sprinkle a bit of Grated Parmesan
• Add Toppings - Bell Peppers, Mushrooms, Onions, Jalapenos, Onion, Meats (if desired)
• Add Shredded Cheese of your choice
• Bake again at 350 degrees until cheese is golden and bubbly!

Mmm Good! Makes 4 servings,

MEALS:
Meal #1: Jorge Cruise's Skinny Muffin with Blueberries, coffee with sugar free creamer
Snack: No Snack
Meal #2: 2 servings of Belly Good Veggie Pizza
Snack: 4 ozs grilled Top Sirloin Steak
Meal #3:

WATER: 9 glasses

Week 2, Day 3 Couch 2 5k Program

I got a later start this morning...but I did it!

I already knew going into this run that I was going to do 2 rounds of the 6 intervals like I did last time. I decided to run on a more open road with less "death trap" sidewalks like the ones in my neighborhood. I drove a bout 1 mile from my home and parked in the local shopping area near the Westchester Parkway. It is a very expansive route that runs about 2 3/4 miles from where I started to where it ends.



I decided I would warm up, and do all 6 intervals in one direction and then turn around and do 6 more extra intervals and finish with the 5 minute cool down. I must have gotten stronger on the way back because I got back to my car with 4 minutes of the cool down still left to go and just walked it off around the parking lot! I will say I was exhausted and a little concerned about week 3 and the 3 minute intervals that I will have to do!

If you are still looking for Podcasts to run with try Suz's if you like Top 40 music or Hip Hop. She offers both!

Grab your Podcasts Here: (Suz's Podcasts):

http://www.kissmyblackass.org/podcasts/couch-to-5k/

This is how it went/looked:

Warm up: 5 minutes Static Stretching:

• Hip Flexors
• Quads
• Calves
• Abductors (inner thighs)

Podcast - Week 2 - Day 3:

• 5 minutes brisk walking
• 90 seconds running
• 2:00 minutes brisk walking
• 90 seconds running
• 2:00 minutes brisk walk
• 90 seconds running
• 2:00 minutes brisk walking
• 90 seconds running
• 2:00 minutes brisk walk
• 90 seconds running
• 2:00 minutes brisk walking
• 90 seconds running
• 2:00 minutes brisk walk

I turned around on my route and I added:

• 90 seconds running
• 2:00 minutes brisk walking
• 90 seconds running
• 2:00 minutes brisk walk
• 90 seconds running
• 2:00 minutes brisk walking
• 90 seconds running
• 2:00 minutes brisk walk
• 90 seconds running
• 2:00 minutes brisk walking
• 90 seconds running
• 2:00 minutes brisk walk
• 5 minutes brisk walking (cool down)

I still found this very challenging but felt great when it was over.

Cool Down: 5 minutes Static Stretching:

• Hip Flexors
• Quads
• Calves
• Abductors (inner thighs)

I hope my legs won't mind the 3 minute intervals next week!

Week 2, Day 6 - Jorge Cruise's "The Belly Fat Cure - Fast Track"

Today was another great day.  I gave my body a rest because it was a bit achy from all of the running yesterday.  I felt weird not working out, but I am trying to listen to my body more.  I will be running again tomorrow morning as I finish up week 2 of the Couch to 5k program I am doing.

I got a bit more sleep as well, it was nice.

I seem to be losing fat in odd places.  I can see that my arms are smaller and my back is smaller, etc.  I have not been weight training , yet I can see more definition on my shoulders, etc.


MEALS:
Meal #1: Jorge Cruise's Skinny Muffin with Blueberries, coffee with sugar free creamer
Snack:  No Snack
Meal #2: 2 servings of Shrimp Campechana (shrimp, abalone, tomato, cilantro, avocado, hot sauce, lime juice)
Snack: 1 small pkg. of Trader Joe's "Just a handful of cashews", 1 Tbs of shredded cheese
Meal #3: 2 servings of my Belly Good Almond Meal Crust Pizza (almond flour, egg, olive oil, 2 Tbs low sugar sauce, bell peppers, mushrooms, tiny bit of onion, cheese.)., 1 square of Ghiradelli 86% Cacao (1/4 of a serving)

WATER: 9 glasses