January 2018 – Mary's Kitchen

January 28, 2018January 28, 2018

DANETTE MAY’S 30 DAY CHALLENGE – DAY 21 (BEHOLD – A GLIMMER OF HOPE)

As I have said many times, the older you get the more and more difficult it is to shift excess weight that just seems to want to cling to our bodies with every bite you take. I have always been of the belief “You are what you eat” and this clean eating lifestyle is proof of just that.

Keeping your metabolism on point is an important part of weight loss. Starving oneself simply does not cut it in the weight loss journey, as everything you lose by starving, simply comes back two fold.

What I have learned is the importance of eating regularly keeps the metabolism in check, but in saying that, eating and snacking on the correct foods is all important. Don’t expect to chow down on your favourite fast food restaurant meal and see promising results. The only result you will see is the scale increasing.

There is nothing boring about clean eating and for those of you who enjoy tinkering in the kitchen, you will find some of the recipes not only challenging but very delicious. One of my all time favourites to make is Salsa. It is such a versatile dish and can be added as a side dish to a number of things. I love to grill chicken and serve with a side of salsa and asparagus. Scrambled eggs scream for a dollop of salsa. Here in the video that follows I show you how to make your own homemade salsa.

The other thing you need to keep happy during the challenge is your sweet tooth. By using fat burning ingredients like almond flour, coconut flour, coconut sugar, oats, honey, almond or coconut milk, coconut oil and fresh eggs, you can come up with a number of deliciously sweet items that will satisfy any sweet tooth. In last weeks blog I listed the recipe for Fat Burning Blueberry Muffins, here follows two super easy recipes for Peanut Butter Bites and 4 Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies

PEANUT BUTTER BITES (No Cooking required)

3 cups oatmeal, 1/4 cup honey, 1 cup natural peanut butter (no Palm Oil please) or Almond Butter, 1/3 cup water. If you would like, you can add one serving of Chocolate Protein Powder but this is optional.

Mix all above ingredients well. Roll into bite size balls. I like to roll mine in cacoa and shredded organic coconut. Makes about 20 balls. Store in an airtight container and serve with a cup of dandelion or green tea.

5 INGREDIENT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES (Cooking Required)

2 mashed banana, 2 cups of porridge oats, 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup cacoa nibs. Mix altogether and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Enjoy.

Exercise, meditation and no alcohol have also played important roles on this healthy journey. I have enjoyed daily walks with the dogs and clocking up numerous kilometres every week. My golf has greatly improved as I am playing at every opportunity and walking in nature helps one absorb the beauty around them. Water intake recommended is 3.7 litres daily and although this is not always achievable it’s important you strive towards this goal. 9 more days ahead of me.

TODAY’S BLOOD PRESSURE WEIGHT

128/87 PULSE 70 (resting) RELEASED 11-1/4LBS

WALKED 81.68km 13.5 litres WATER INTAKE

Looking forward to the next 9 days.

If you are enjoying my blogs and following me on this clean eating challenge, please subscribe after reading this blog my entering your email address in the subscribe area. You will them receive notification when I have posted.

Thank you for stopping by.

Mary Joan Calder

January 21, 2018January 21, 2018

DANETTE MAY’S 30 DAY CHALLENGE – DAY 14 – HAVE I FALLEN OFF THE WAGON YET??

The answer to that, is a big fat NO! Two weeks now clocked up on the 30 day challenge, 14 days of clean eating and how do I feel? Fantastic. The release in weight is not as much as I would like, but the older you get, it does get more difficult. I am pleased however, with the results so far.

My skin is shiny and more vibrant, hair is gleaming and my jeans fit with no muffin top! Speaking of muffins, I would like to share the Fat-Burning Blueberry Muffin recipe with you. This recipe is a great breakfast treat or enjoy with a cup of dandelion tea which I have become to love the taste of.

Fat Burning Blueberry Muffins (Muffins that won’t give you the muffin top)

Preheat oven to 350F 180C or Gas Mark 4 Makes 12

3 eggs, 1 cup almond butter, 1 cup group almonds, 1/2 cup honey, 3/4 cup blueberries, 1/3 cup melted coconut oil, 1/3 cup shredded organic unsweetened coconut, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1/4 tsp. sea salt and cinnamon (optional)

Whisk eggs in a large bowl until colour of butter, add ground almonds, blend, add all the remaining ingredients and mix well.

Use muffin liners inside your muffin tin – fill 12 cases top with some more shredded coconut and/or chai seeds. Then bake for 15/20 minutes.

Cool then enjoy with a cup of dandelion or green tea.

During Day 8 through to 11, if you have been weighing yourself regularly, you will be sorely disappointed. During this period my weight did not alter much on the scales, that is why it is important to discard them. At this stage discouragement does set in and that large glass of wine seems to be looming in my vision. Don’t go getting negative. This plan works but don’t fall astray at this point. Good things are about to happen. My advice at this point is, STAY POSITIVE, and let any negative feelings dissipate.

My clothes started to feel more comfortable, any bloating I had was alleviated, I have more energy and accomplish much more throughout the day.

I walked with my dogs this week 107,188 steps which equates to 81.89 kilometres. An improvement on last weeks by about 10KM.

I’m moving into the third week in a very positive frame of mind. There is only one thing I have found difficult and I know others do to, is drinking 3.7 litres of water everyday. You have to plan your day around that one for the obvious reasons.

Other than that, I’m on track and welcome the forthcoming week.

TODAY’S BLOOD PRESSURE WEIGHT

137/82 PULSE 76 (resting) RELEASED 9-1/4LBS.

Looking forward to the next 7 days.

Thank you for stopping by.

Mary Joan Calder

January 14, 2018January 14, 2018

DANETTE MAY’S 30 DAY CHALLENGE – YES, I HAVE REACHED DAY 7

Je suis arrive – DAY 7 of the Danette May clean eating challenge !!

What can I say, except the second time around has been much easier for me. I have reached Day 7 with no real dramas. The 3 day detox I embraced and welcomed this time. After abusing my body during the festive season with copious amounts of alcoholic refreshments, it was time to stop the train and change stations. So instead of running of into the woods like a frightened rabbit I opened my mind and said, bring it on. I’m pleased to report that I did not suffer headaches, or nausea, or food pangs this time, and all in all, a pretty easy 3 days of it.

During this 7 Day period I included in my detox and clean eating plan, my daily mediations and pleasant stretching pilates. A workout does not have to be strenuous to be effective. I’m pleased to report during this week I have also covered over 90,000 steps which equates to 70km. Thats a lot of ground to cover in one week on foot. Having 3 dogs does assist this figure as I do take them for long morning walks most mornings.

It was wonderful to taste a little food on Day 2 when Quinoa (pronounced KeenWah) was introduced with Kale. The Apple Cider Vinegar and Cumin drizzle made it very tasty. I admit to adding some fresh red chilli, mango and organic shredded coconut to the dish, if nothing else, to make it look it bit more attractive to eat – it was delicious.

I’ve become a bit of a dab hand at making smoothies – Fired Up Metabolism, Wake Me Up & Shrink Me Down, Detox Pina Colada, Green Goddess, to name but a few, each having a different purpose. The only one I didn’t care for too much, but drank it anyway with my eyes tightly clenched while holding my breath, was the Fired Up Metabolism smoothie. Oh my, give me liver and onions before I would like to taste this again. Perhaps it was the cacoa, but I just had to force this one down kicking and screaming.

Moving into Day 4 is always exciting because the menus open up into a new food world you perhaps didn’t know existed. Hummus Beet Wraps, Turkey Bacon & Bok Choy Salad, Egg Omelettes, Oatmeal (or Porridge as we call it here in Scotland), Lemon infused Salmon, Ginger Chicken and more smoothies of course, all of which were delicious and awakened your palate.

I loved starting each morning and ending the evening with a cup of warm lemon water (one freshly squeezed lemon into a cup of warm water) and add 1 tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar (try Braggs which has “The Mother”). ACV with Mother is unrefined ACV that contains beneficial bacteria and acetic acid, making it good for digestion and has a number of other benefits. I also now enjoy a cup of Dandelion Tea, which contains vitamins A, C and D, and significant amounts of zinc, iron, magnesium and potassium. It helps alleviate bloating, diabetes and liver dysfunction.

TODAY’S BLOOD PRESSURE WEIGHT

135/89 PULSE 63 (resting) RELEASED 8 LBS.

Looking forward to the next 7 days.

Thank you for stopping by.

Mary Joan Calder

January 7, 2018January 7, 2018

30 DAYS AND ANOTHER NEW CHALLENGE with DANETTE MAY

A start to a new year always brings out the best possible intentions to lose weight, to get rid of stress, to workout in the gym more, learn something new, get rid of negativity, cleanse yourself from jaundiced friendships, and generally rejuvenate one’s body, soul and mind.

I found a program that not only worked for me in the past, but I have decided to kick off 2018 with the same program this year. Danette May, founder of the 30 Day Challenge Program, is not only a promoter of healthy clean eating, a fitness guru, author and mother created the 30 Day Challenge to help people not only shed excess weight but to find their inner self again.

This is my second time around on this program and I’m excited and pumped to share with you my 30 day challenge. For one month, starting January 8,2018, I will detox my body from built up toxins due to eating inflammatory foods high in sugar content and drinking copious amounts alcohol. I will exercise each day, add in a long walk with my beloved Hungarian Vizslas, meditate, and eat clean organic foods and consume handfuls of chia, hemp and flax seeds in my smoothie drinks.

The end result will be rewarding, of that I have no doubt. I will continue to post most days to encourage others who are also on the same journey. If you fall, do not worry, there will be someone to pick you up and dust you off.

If you are struggling with weight issues, low confidence self esteem, generally need a pick-me-up, I can recommend to you to follow one of Danette May’s 30 Day Challenge.

If you want to learn more click on http://mbsy.co/l7ChV (you may need to copy and paste as my techno skills are somewhat limited)

If you have enjoyed my Blog – please subscribe by filling in your email address and you will then receive all future blogs.

Thank you,

Mary Joan Calder