Quick update

I continued TFD for June and July and lost 7 more pounds! I am still working out 1-3 times per week doing Zumba. I notice the more I workout the more I lose even if I cheat on the plan. So I try to get those workouts in as much as possible. 

TFD made some changes to their program so I've been taking a break from them. The changes were basically instead of having new options for meals everyday they give you new options once a week. The variety was one of the things I really loved about that plan and I tried to stick it out but ultimately I didn't like the new plan. I know they probably had to do it to save money so I don't hold it against them :-) I still have some days left so I will be starting back up next month. I'm not sure if I'm going to continue once my days run out though. It's not like I could do it forever anyway so that may be the kick in the pants that I needed. 

Also while I'm taking a break I'm doing The Daniel Fast. If you haven't heard of it it's a biblical based fast and there's a lot of info on the web about it. While it is spiritual an added benefit is losing weight. I've lost 7 lbs and I'm on day 18. It's pretty hard for me to do this but it's an easy sacrifice considering what God did :-) Anyway since this is a weight loss entry I figured I'd mention it because total I've lost 24 lbs so far. 

I'll keep updating until I reach my goal of 50. Originally I wanted to reach this goal by August for my 35th bday but that didn't happen obviously! But I look and feel so much better then I did when I started. My clothes fit better and I can now fit all of my pre pregnancy clothes!  It's taking a lot longer then I expected but it doesn't even bother me because I keep moving forward and 20 lbs makes a big difference! Now I plan to lose the rest of the weight by the end of this year. 

TFD Update

I am still going strong on TFD, I have had some setbacks and successes and I'm still on the road to weight loss. I'm happy to report I have hit the 10 lb mark!! I'm so excited about that. I've never stuck to a plan this long before and it is really paying off. 

My major setback was not being strict with my diet after a few weeks on the increased calorie plan. I had some wiggle room before but once I increased my calories I needed to be perfect in order to lose weight instead of maintain my current weight. I realized I needed to decrease the calories after a few weeks because my stomach was shrinking, yay!! I was all of a sudden feeling stuffed after my meals, and even with that feeling I just couldn't believe I could actually go back to the lower calories because of my starvation feelings in the beginning. But I guess what I read was true, you do adjust to the calories. I finally bit the bullet and reduced the calories and I haven't been hungry at all. I still have my sweet cravings but I'm never starving. Super happy about that! 

I've been on the lower cal plan almost 2 weeks now and it's already kicking me back into gear. I also started working out. I do an aerobics class 3 times per week, I'm going to keep that up for June and add strength workouts in July. I'm taking it slow and giving myself time to adjust to each change so that I don't burn myself out and quit like I've done so many times in the past. When I first started the classes about a month ago I was so tired for the entire next day. But I've finally gotten to the point where I can workout and not feel exhausted for the next 24 hours, thank God! Oh and I was also super hungry after the classes too which has finally leveled out. I gave in to many cravings those days so that hindered my weight loss as well. But with each setback I didn't give up. I didn't give myself the option to pig out and start over either. I just kept moving forward. 

So anyway, on the some new foods I've tried and some updates on a few old ones. I'm still loving the food. It's nice to try something new once and a while but still have my favorites I can look forward to eating each day. 

Salmon Burger on Whole Wheat Bun with Yellow Tomato, Lettuce, & Dill Aioli. Really good, moist salmon burger and delicious aioli. Adding this to my regular rotation. 

Breakfast Pizza with Scrambled Egg, Turkey Sausage and Cheddar Cheese on Whole Wheat Pita. This was a fun breakfast. I think they use fat free cheese because I promise you it doesn't taste like anything. I added some jelly and it was a good breakfast thanks to the delicious sausage. 

Hoisin Glazed Turkey and Quinoa Meatloafwith Mexican Quinoa and Water Chestnut and Brussels Sprout Puree. I think I love anything sweet, with that being said, the meatloaf was great. I didn't love the brussels sprout puree but the quinoa was cool.

Chicken and Waffles with Honey Hot Sauce. Well I had to report on this because they changed the sauce this time and it was really good, I think they took my advice and used red hot instead of tabasco. I almost threw it out but I could smell the red hot in it (so sad, lol) so I tried it and while I still used regular syrup on my waffles I loved it as a dipping sauce for the chicken, yummy!!! 

Caramelized Onion and Pancetta Stuffed Lavosh with Mango Chutney. I was really looking forward to this meal but it was super duper salty this time for some reason. Someone must've messed up because no one could like anything that salty. I've had it again since this time and it was back to normal. I was so disappointed this day though :-(

Asian Style Brocco-Slaw with Shredded Turkey. This was good snack, I liked having the noodles in it, it really made it feel like a mini-meal. 

Cherry and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies. Not a fan, I didn't taste any peanut butter and the consistency wasn't pleasant either. I'll pass on these next time. 

Pumpkin Apple Quinoa Oatmeal. I didn't even warm these oatmeal balls up because the look just threw me off, I tasted it and I didn't like it, I'm also not a fan of pumpkin just to be fair. 

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake with Maraschino Cherries and Pecans. I loved how it came in a muffin shape this time, it tasted better too. Hopefully this is the new way I'll be receiving this dessert. 

Cajun Rubbed Grilled Skirt Steak with Southwestern Corn Saute and Sun-Dried Tomato Couscous. I don't remember how I felt about this meal but heres a pic in case anyone is interested. 

Asian Flank Steak on Whole Wheat Roll with Szechuan Style Slaw and Peanut Sauce. I will use my famous line for this one. I didn't expect to like this but it was really good! I'm not a steak person so I just got this to try it, well I stick by my other famous line, peanut sauce makes everything better! The slaw was really good too, it was spicy and the sauce was sweet so it was a nice contrast. The bread was thick, nice and soft just how I like it. 

Walnut Crusted Chicken Apricot Rouladewith Pesto Butternut Squash Puree and Sauteed Cabbage with Tart Cherries and Apples. This was a really good meal. I've had the chicken before and while I still think it needs more filling it was still good. But what surprised me was the butternut squash, adding that pesto made it sooo good. From now on whenever something has pesto I will be trying it. 

First Month Recap - The Fresh Diet

Well the 31 day diet has come to an end and it went by faster then I expected. My weight is still the same as it was a few days ago which means I've lost 7 lbs on the plan. (Once I remove my braids I will update this post to let you know if they made a difference or not). Most recommendations for safe and long term weight loss in 1-2 pounds a week so I'm doing great in that department. I have been wanting to lose weight since my son was born and thanks to TFD it's finally happening.

I am so thrilled with the plan that I am doing another month! I have noticed a change in my energy and my overall health since starting. I no longer have to take a nap just to make it through the day. My skin has stopped breaking out. And I feel better about myself knowing that I am working towards my goal. 

I would have liked to lose at least 10 lbs during my 31 days so I must admit that bummed me out a little. I increased my calorie intake and didn't start working out so I think that hindered my weight loss. I did want to take most of this month to just focus on eating because it was such a huge change and challenge for me. And taking small steps is better for me than doing everything at once. I guess its pros and cons to my decisions. The end result is 7 lbs closer to my goal so I am not complaining. 

I won't continue to blog daily (since only my mom is reading anyway, lol) but I will update weekly in case anyone finds this blog and is wondering about TFD. This blog has also been a big help to me, one reason is because I forget what meals I liked sometimes, lol. 

The Fresh Diet - Day 31 (Last Day of plan)

Sweet Potato Ginger Pancakes with Fresh Tangerine and Chicken Apple Sausage. This is a breakfast I look forward to and love!

Chicken Quesadilla with Pepper-Jack Cheese & Mango Salsa. I've had this snack before and really enjoy it. 

Hard Boiled Egg Salad with Shredded Carrots, Wax Beans, Grape Tomato, Boston Lettuce and Radicchio Mix with Thousand Island Dressing. The last time I had this salad it didn't fill me up but this time I was more then satisfied. I also love thousand island dressing and most places don't even carry it anymore. I'm happy I gave it another shot. 

Greek Style Meatballs with Feta Cheese, Mint, Parsley and Roasted Bell Pepperwith Whole Wheat Potato Gnocchi Arrabiata and Grilled Asparagus. I love these meatballs and this gnocchi! I always look forward to this meal!

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake. Finishing on a high note, my favorite cheesecake! Look at all those yummy chocolate chips on the bottom, I could eat this everyday. 

The Fresh Diet - Day 30

Caramelized Onion & Parmesan Cheese Omelet with Turkey Bacon & Seven Grain Toast. I don't have a pic this time but I've had this before and it was really really good, its on my favorites list. 

Grilled Canadian Bacon Over Baby Arugula with Fresh Honeydew & Toasted Pine Nuts. I've also had this one before, its a good refreshing snack, this time they forgot my pine nuts though which I was looking forward to. Not a big deal though. 

Roasted Turkey and Green Bean Wrap with Honey Dijon. Another favorite of mine. The sweetness of those cranberries, the crunch of the green beans and then the honey dijon keeps me looking forward to this lunch. 

Grilled Chicken Breast with Raspberry Chipotle Saucewith Spinach Couscous and Oregano Broccoli Mash. This was ok, I would order it again because nothing was wrong with it. I wouldn't order the broccoli mash though, I think I prefer my broccoli whole, it was too mushy for me.

Raspberry Cheesecake. This was better this time then the last time I had it. I actually loved it this time so I'm happy I ordered it again. 

Week 4 recap

I have completed four weeks on TFD and I am feeling so good about myself! I weighed myself today and *gasp* I hadn't lost any weight. I was really shocked because I felt like I had lost at least 1-2 pounds. I think the problem is that I got a new hairstyle (box braids) and they weigh A LOT! Unfortunately I can't figure out if they truly make a difference until I take them out which won't be for at least a month. So until then I'm stuck wondering. I did eat junk food once this week for dinner but I can't imagine that would've made a huge difference. Especially considering I was sick for a few days and gave a lot of my food to my mom.

I am really excited to report that this is the first week I've been able to fit into my wedding ring and band (that's what makes me suspicious about the lack of weight loss on the scale). My weight had not allowed me to wear them together for some time now. It felt so good to wear them and not feel like my circulation was being cut off, lol. 

I haven't started working out yet because I got sick so that will be my goal for next week once I'm back to 100%. I won't push myself too hard because I still have a 1 year old to run after and he doesn't understand sick days, lol. 

I have a few days left until my 31 days are up and I will do a final weigh in at that point. 

I am still loving all the food and I'm so happy I made the decision to start and stick to it.  

The Fresh Diet - Day 29

Tart Lemon Basil and Raspberry Corn Cakes with Pomegranate Syrup and Chicken Apple Sausage. Good as always. 

Zahtar Spiced Nuts. This was something new for me, I don't know what Zahtar spices are but what I tasted was a slightly sweet glaze on the nuts that I liked. I also liked that there were a mixture of nuts like walnut and macadamia.  

White Albacore Tuna Salad Sandwich in a Whole Wheat Pita with Lettuce and Tomato. I don't have a pic of this one because I didn't eat it. I wanted to skip a meal anyway since I ate at the game last night and once I saw this one it worked out. The tuna was really watery in the container and just turned me off. My mom said I could've just mixed it and it would've been fine. Maybe it's me being sick but it just wasn't appetizing to me so I passed on it. 

Thai Coconut Curry Chicken with Bamboo Shoots and Broccoli Bitswith Southwestern Corn Saute and Red Bell Pepper Orzo. I've had this once before and it was really good, TFD is making me a lover of orzo which I'd never had before I started this plan. The corn is always good and this chicken is very flavorful.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, I will never pass up these when they are offered. So sweet and moist and chewy. Wish I had some right now to eat after looking at this picture!

The Fresh Diet - Day 28

Polenta Breakfast Pudding with Apple Compote. You already know by now that I love polenta. So it should come as no surprise that I loved this dish. I've never had a sweet version on polenta before but I can't wait to have it again. The grapes on top and the sauce on the bottom really added to the flavor of the dish. The yogurt went great with it. 

Mini Veggie Egg Rolls with Peanut Sauce. These were good and perfect with the sauce. Tasted just like regular egg rolls you'd get a any Chinese restaurant. 

Whole Wheat Pizza Topped with Tri-Color Bell Pepper, Mozzarella Cheese & Marinara Sauce. My son ate this with me, it was really good just like the last pizza I had. So far the only one I didn't like was the one with the sun dried tomatoes on it. The others have been wonderful, they are at the top of my list when they are offered. 

Boneless Pork Chop with Zahtar Spice Rub and Demi Glacewith Spaghetti Squash Fritters and Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Fennel and Fresh Lemon Zest. I went to a basketball game tonight so I didn't eat this meal, I will eat it tomorrow instead. At the game I had one slice of pizza, half a huge chocolate chip cookie and water. I am really proud of myself because normally I would've went crazy. This was a work thing for my husband so we were in a suite that had catered food and dessert. There were chicken fingers, sliders, pretzels, ice cream and brownies just laid out on the counter. Then the dessert cart came around and we were able to pick anything off of there that we wanted, that's where my weakness for chocolate chip cookies took over. But I stopped at a half because it just wasn't that good therefore just not worth the calories. I'm still a little surprised that I did so well. But knowing I get a sweet fix daily and I love the food on this plan it really helps me with my cravings. 

(Update: This meal was good, the pork cop was flavored nicely, the sauce didn't have much flavor compared to other sauces I receive on the plan. Although I am still sick so my tastebuds are off at the moment. The brussels sprouts were good once again. The fritters were new and I liked them, they gave me a bread/carb fix although they are a veggie). 

Key Lime Cheesecake. I also ate this the next day and it was the first disappointing cheesecake I've had on the plan. And no I'm not blaming my tastebuds on this one. It tasted like a block of cream cheese in a pan. No key lime taste whatsoever. And I am a huge key lime pie fan so I was really excited for this one. Even if it tasted like a plain cheesecake it would've been better. I think someone made a mistake when cooking this one, I will order again because it had to be an accident. 

The Fresh Diet - Day 27

Bacon & Cheddar Breakfast Cornbread Muffin with Pineapple. Still feeling sick today. I've been taking allergy and cold medicine because I'm still not sure what's going on. I didn't let it stop me from enjoying this muffin though. It was delicious, the bacon was more like bacon bits and I didnt taste the cheddar, I'd definitely order this again. The pineapples were sweet and fresh also. 

Asian Style Brocco-Slaw with Shredded Turkey. I've had this before. But since I didn't have much of an appetite I gave it to my mom. She loved it! 

Crispy Chicken Salad with Corn, Carrots, Tomato and Romaine Lettuce with Ranch Dressing. This salad was good. I warmed the chicken and cut it into smaller pieces before adding to the salad. I didn't think there would be enough ranch but I really stretched and it was just enough. I surprised myself by actually liking a salad and I would definitely order this one again. 

Lean Turkey Meatballs with Thai Ginger Chili Sauce with Wild Rice & Cranberry Pilaf and Fall Vegetable Saute. I also shared this dinner with my mom. Another winner for her. I liked it as well. The pilaf I've had before and always enjoy. The sauce was a new one for me and it was really good. Had a sweet and spicy taste that went well with the meatballs and the veggies. 

Strawberry Balsamic Trifle. Surprise I shared this with mom too. I just felt like if I'm not hungry why waste the calories if I have someone here that I can share the love with! I wasn't a fan of this, it was too light and fluffy. I prefer cheesecake, cookies or even a muffin. Something more substantial. However my mom really liked it. She liked the flavor the balsamic sauce added and the sponge cake part of the dessert the best. 

The Fresh Diet - Day 26

Souffleed Apple Pancake. Usually when I pick my meals there is a picture next to them. But sometimes there's no pic available which was the case when I picked this pancake. It definitely isn't what I pictured in my mind and I'm still not sure what to make of it. It tasted like undercooked batter with apples in it and it was really really thick and not much flavor. Sorry this one will get a thumbs down for me. I almost want to order it again because I just can't believe it was supposed to be like this. I warmed it up way longer then the suggested 30 seconds as well but nothing seemed to help. 

Fish Sticks with Ranch Sauce. These were more like fish nuggets then fish sticks but the taste was the same. I used tartar sauce instead of the ranch. I did give the ranch a shot but it was a terrible combo just as I thought it would be. Ranch goes with a lot of things but fish sticks is NOT one of them. Once I switched sauces I really enjoyed this snack. 

Thai Turkey Burger on Whole Wheat Ciabatta with Sauteed Bok-Choy & Peanut Sauce. This is a repeat that I really enjoy. 

Baked Chicken Florentine with Spinach & Parmesan Cheese with Roasted Kale and Steamed Broccoli. I got sick half way through the day. Not sure if it's allergies or a cold but I felt terrible. And the one upside to being sick is... loss of appetite, lol! I gave half of this meal to my mom and forced myself to eat the other half because I knew my body needed the nutrients. This meal was just okay for me. I think I went too hard with the greens. I mean kale, broccoli and stuffed with spinach? Not sure what I was thinking. The chicken finally had enough stuffing for me, unfortunately it was mostly spinach and not a lot of seasoning. The sides also didn't seem to have much seasoning. I don't like bland food and since I was under the weather I will also add my mom thought it was bland as well. 

Peach Cheesecake. Now this my mom loved. I gave her half and she was so surprised at how good it was. I liked it as well. 

The Fresh Diet - Day 25

Asparagus & Cheddar Cheese Quiche with Chicken Apple Sausage, Fresh Pineapple & Whole Wheat Toast. Yum yum and filling too. Wasn't sure I'd like the asparagus (running theme on this blog) but it was great. I added butter and jelly to my toast and I can't wait to have this again. 

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. Love their cookies. When they're offered along with cheesecake I just have to make it a double dessert day. These was so good, soft and chewy. 

Chicken Caesar Salad with Grape Tomato, Romaine Lettuce & Whole Wheat Croutons with Caesar Dressing. This will come as a surprise but I loved this salad! I gave the tomatoes to my mom before I took a pic but it was about 8 of them. The croutons had gotten soggy from the lettuce (oh I put them in that container the night before hoping they would toughen back up) so I just sprinkled Panko crumbs on top instead. I need my crunch. There wasn't a ton of dressing but it was just enough to not irritate me, lol. The dressing was great and tangy, just how I like it. Added a lot of flavor. And this was really filling as well with all of the chicken. I cut it into smaller pieces and warned it up. 

Chia and Peppercorn Crusted Salmon with Minted Balsamic Glazewith Whole Wheat Fusilli Pasta and Roasted Fennel with Parmesan and Cracked Pepper. Yesterday I said I sometimes eat a third of my meal early because I get hungry. Here is a pic of that. I just take a little of everything to take the edge off. I know if I eat the entire thing that early I'll be starving long before bedtime so this is my solution and it works great for me. 

Apple Cinnamon Cheesecake. I'll let you guess my review of this cheesecake. 

The Fresh Diet - Day 24

I'm happy to say I'm no longer starving on this diet. I still get hungry sometimes but nothing overwhelming. I sometimes eat a third of my dinner early (around 5p) and then the rest at my normal time (7p). It hasn't been as hard as I thought eating my last meal so early. I hadn't planned on doing that but I get hungry so early and I like to have my dessert right after my dinner instead of waiting a few hours. So it just worked out that way and although my son stays up ridiculously late for a one year old (like past midnight) I still manage to not get too hungry before bed. Although sometimes I do sneak some club crackers or some of his Gerber cookies if it gets too hard. I think the calorie increase was a good decision for me since I am still losing weight. Once I lose 20-25 lbs I may go back down to 1200-1400, however if I start working out a lot it may just make sense to stay where I'm at. The scale will let me know I'm sure! Ok on to my day. 

Fresh Fruit Salad with Pineapple, Strawberries, Orange, Blueberries, Watermelon, Cashews & Blueberry Cottage Cheese & Cashews. So there were no strawberries or watermelon but there was honeydew melon which I don't like. I'm still not a fan of fruit for breakfast (I'll get there) so I had this for lunch and vice versa. I just like to wake up to something really good! My son discovered fresh blueberries with this meal and he loved them. He ate all of mine! I gave my mom the melon and threw out the cottage cheese. I gave it a shot but the texture just turns me off. I will try it again though. I ate a few club crackers today so I figure they canceled each other out, lol. The fruit was fresh and good and the cashews helped me feel full. 

Chicken Sate with Thai Peanut Sauce. I think I had this before right? Anyway it was good and I still love the peanut sauce. I poured it over the little but of lettuce and ate it like a salad. 

Philly Cheese Steak Wrap with Caramelized Onion & Mozzarella Cheese. This was really really good. I read great reviews of this meal on some other blogs so I decided to give it a try. I'll be getting this a lot more now. 

Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin Roulade with Dried Cherries and Apricot with Crispy Roasted Corn and Flax Seed Polenta Cakes and Steamed Broccolini. Can you wrap everything in prosciutto please? And can I have this meal once a week at least? It was so good! I love having fruit in my savory meals because I love sweets. And I love polenta, the cakes were great, didn't taste any different then regular polenta. Just a little thicker. And of course the sauce was good. 

Strawberry Banana Cheesecake. Didn't take a pic before I devoured this cheesecake. It was delicious.