Spring Vegetable Soup

 The last 5 days I have focused on conscious eating and self care.
I've cut back on calories and consumed many high fiber vegetable dishes and soups.

 I have to admit that the first 3 days I was edgy and irritable

but then I started to feel less bloat, more energetic, and more comfortable.

It actually hasn't been that difficult; it just took lots of planning.

Basically, I've been doing about 1200 healthy calories a day.
I've planned my menus, made sure I had everything I need in the house, and planned a realistic exercise regime.

For me planning is the key:

• Planning helps me make good choices.
• Without a plan, I end up eating whatever looks good or available at the moment.
• My plan helps me be a conscious eater not a spontaneous eater.
• A plan also helps me eat a more balanced and satisfying meal.
• I plan for protein, veggies, fiber, raw food etc.
• I plan a low calorie snack.. so after lunch I know I will be having a mozzarella stick or a Greek Yogurt. Both are full of protein and satisfying .
• The protein helps stabilize my blood sugar and keep me energized.

The hardest part has been making the time I need for me. 

I don't like being on a diet and exercising takes planning and takes work. But I've decided that I want to feel happy with my body again, I want to go to the closet and know that my clothes fit, and I want to feel that I am eating healthfully.

This has been my basic menu for the past 5 days; I hope to get more adventurous, but right now I'm keeping it simple and do-able.

Breakfast has been fresh vegetable juice ( romaine lettuce, celery, beets, carrots, kale, parsley, cucumber and radishes) made in my juicer. I;ve timed it- Juicing takes me 6 minutes from taking the veggies out of the refrigerator ( I keep them organized in a bin , so I just pull out the bin) , wash them, juice them, and clean the juicer! 6 minutes is worth it to have the benefit of all those fabulous health giving raw enzymes flood through my body and nourish it with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants!

Snack: Fruit ( apple, orange, or grapefruit)

Lunch: Fresh raw Salad, 1 cup  cooked vegetable, protein (1/2 cup chick peas, or  1/2 cup black beans, or 4 ounces tofu, or 2 eggs etc)

Snack: Weight Watchers brand cheese stick ( tastes great and low calorie)  or no fat plain Greek Yogurt ( 100 calories) ( could add fresh fruit)

Dinner: Homemade low calorie soup;  Salad, protein, cooked vegetable

This simple soup provides fiber, nutrients, and flavor without the carbs and calories.

Love My Artichoke Soup
This soup has a great flavor for a low calorie , low fat vegetable broth.  It is made from frozen artichokes, red cabbage, spinach and tofu offering lots of fiber and taste.

Soup Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 large onion, peeled and sliced in half moons
1/2 bag frozen artichokes
2 carrots, diced
3 cloves garlic, diced
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
2 cups red cabbage, chopped
1/2 bag frozen spinach or 3 cups fresh
2 cups vegetable broth + enough water to cover vegetables
Himalayan Salt and Cracked Pepper to taste


Directions:

Saute 1 large onion in cooking oil spray in a Dutch oven.
When the onion turns translucent, add garlic, 1/2 bag frozen artichoke hearts, 2 cups of red cabbage, 2 carrots, parsley, and 1/2 bag frozen spinach or fresh spinach
Saute everything for about 10 minutes. Then add enough water to fully cover the vegetables ( but not too much), Cook down until all the veggies become soft. The flavors come from the vegetables, but add salt and pepper to taste.


Exercise: 45 minutes on the Treadmill or 1 hour walk outside, or yoga class + 20 minutes cardio on the treadmill.
I've been lucky. I've found friends to exercise with. For me, the companionship makes a difference and keeps me going. When I don't have a friend , I make sure I have my MP3 player and listen to an inspirational CD  or some upbeat Latino music.
Last night I took a yoga class at my gym,  and I slept like a baby.

Tip of the Day: I end each day with a plan for the next day.
After dinner, I plan for the next day.
I check to see that I have what I need for breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
I plan my meals for the day and I follow them.
I plan a time when I can go to the gym or get out for a long walk.
I relax and meditate for even 5 minutes at the end of the day.
Do you have a weight loss story? Would you like to be a guest blogger.




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