TLS Week 2: PROTEIN!

I never thought I would be so excited just to eat some protein!

Detox week recap
Detox was hard. Period. BUT I lost an average of a pound a day and am down 7.5 pounds in the first week! FINALLY past the annoying plateau! Planning meals ahead of time was a crucial part of my success since ALL you can eat is vegetables and fruit. V8 was a lifesaver. If you ever want to cleanse your body through a detox make a meal plan and cook double at dinner so you can have leftovers for lunches. My detox stuffed mushrooms lasted me 3 days and they were delicious! I felt a little tired the first couple of days but it felt so good to watch the pounds melt away without working out. I forgot to mention you are not allowed to work out during detox so this girl was not running! I also felt starving constantly. It is really important to have snacks on hand because you will not stay full for long eating only veggies. After my body got more used to having only fruit and veggies I felt more energized and so motivated to reach my final goal.

Now....on to PROTEIN!!!

Asian Sesame Tilapia

TLS Detox Week 1: Stuffed Mushrooms

Have you ever heard of Transitions Lifestyle System? I hadn't until this past fall when two of my sisters and my cousin all joined this breakthrough weight loss program. My cousin lost 31 lbs in the 12 week program that cuts out carbs and sugars, and has since lost an additional 25 lbs. That is 56 pounds!! She went from a size 12 to a size 2 and has now decided to become a coach for the program along with one of my sisters who also lost 30 lbs.

Who can say no to a "family discount" on weight loss coaching that is going to do nothing but better my health? NOT ME :) I signed up for the 12 week program that consists of weekly group meetings for support (with the coaches), 4 week weigh ins, online support, and a "starter kit" with vitamins, supplements and a journal. I am going to document my progress over the next 12 weeks on this blog which will also include recipe ideas!

The TLS weight loss system focuses on the glycemic index, which is a system for measuring how quickly different foods allow the sugar they contain to spread into the blood. I'll get into more detail of that once I learn it at the weekly classes.

To start off this journey we must put our bodies through detox. It may sound scary and an impossible feat, but it really has not been that bad so far. For 7 days you are to cleanse your system by eating only fruits and vegetables, so that means no fats, carbs, artificial sugars...you get the idea. And it is best to not eat fruit in the morning because of the natural sugars they contain. It can be quite tricky figuring out what to have for breakfast! I have found a good combo that is working for me: 1 can low sodium V8 juice with a handful of grape tomatoes and a handful of chopped cucumbers. Warm lemon water first thing in the morning is a great way to start off the day! Spices are your best friend during detox to keep your food from being bland/boring, which could lead to cheating if you don't feel satisfied. A few people in the group have mentioned feeling weak or shaky from the lack of protein, so it is ok to add a 3oz portion to dinner, but only if you think you might die. And I'm pretty sure no one is going to drop dead from eating all natural foods.

Oh and I should mention.....NO ALCOHOL FOR 30 DAYS. Yikes. I do like my wine - *sad face*

Next week we will be receiving our "starter kits" and will be able to introduce protein back into our diets.

Now for a detox recipe!

Detox Stuffed Mushrooms

Runner's Knee & a Book Review

My training schedule was put to a halt the past couple of weeks because I developed a pain in my left knee while running. After doing some research, my self diagnosis is runner's knee! I attributed this to my mileage increases since I have started training for my first half marathon. I went from running 3 miles one week to 6 the next followed by 7! Although I am EXTREMELY proud of myself for finally being able to overcome the 4 mile hump, I think I might have overdone it....just a bit.

Anytime I have questions about running my go-to site is Runner's World. There really is an answer for everything and I also love the magazine. They have a great book for first time runners:

Buy it here!

Garlicky Turkey Stuffed Peppers

I have been MIA due to a recent family tragedy, but am ready to get back into training/cooking/blogging mode!

Before I start to tell you about these delectable garlicky stuffed peppers, I want to mention the Guilford family and ask all my readers to please keep them in your prayers. They suddenly lost their beautiful 7 month old baby boy, Callan, on March 7th. Jesus gained an angel on that day, but the family has a long road ahead of recovery and I pray they will find peace and understanding in the Lord.

Since I have been spending a lot of time with family I haven't needed to cook much, and oh how I have missed it! We have been having such beautiful weather the past week, which is unusual for Boston this time of year, (I am talking 80 degrees in March people!) so I have had my fair share of burgers and wings on the grill trying to make myself believe it is summer time already......but today we are back to 40 degree days. Sad face.

Anyways, on to the stuffed peppers!

Please excuse the poor image.

My shopping for a new camera was put on hold!