"I Don't Know What To Eat"

Hello! Wishing everyone is doing great at eating healthy and losing weight (if that is what you are looking for). Lately I have been talking with many of my Preferred Customers and new business partners. I have noticed, and this is not new, the same issue over and over, specially when they are looking to manage their weight and keep saying to me"I don't know what to eat", "I am so tired of salads", "I feel like a bunny rabbit", "I am ready for a nice hot meal" and so on... What is happening here? You already know that I do not like to use the word "Diet". Haven't you noticed that once you are on a "Diet", suddenly you want to eat everything that is forbidden? Instead, I rather use "Lifestyle change", this way it will be something permanent and it will be beneficial, not only to you, but for you whole family as well.

I have to admit, I have never been a breakfast eater. We all know that breakfast is the most important meal. After you have been resting, regenerating and getting ready for your day at school, work or at the beach, you wake up and should have a healthy breakfast. For many years I have been "drinking" my breakfast. This way I know I am providing much better nutrition than just a plain cup of black coffee and maybe a toast. I like to start my day with a healthy smoothie, I use 11 oz of liquid, sometimes water, or juice, or milk. Who knows the combinations are unlimmited. This is my favorite combination, since I can add any fruits I want and always taste delicious! I add 1 scoop French Vanilla Protein Shake (gluten free). Then add some frozen fruits, some ice and blend. Perfect! Breakfast to go in a cup.

I like to put my bananas in the freezer with the peel and when I am ready just peel with a knife and add to my smoothie. Bananas with blueberries and strawberries, mmmm! this is my favorite. Just use your imagination, add Papaya and Mango, Pineapple and Strawberries, so many combinations. This is a low glycemic smoothie and it is also a perfect snack! I just use half the portions and at times. Share with us your favorite combination here. Add your comment! Don't forget that this can be an awesome snack alternative for your kids as well.

Allow me to share this vegetable soup I prepared last Sunday. A very good friend of mine was visiting and she likes Italian Sausage, well, I used about 3 Tablespoons of it (you do not need to add this). I just used it to add some flavor. For the Vegetable Soup I used:
1 Eggplant --------- 1 Zuchinni Squash --------- 3 Carrots --------- 1 Chayote Squash --------about 4 pieces off a Bok Choy -------- about 2 cups of Snow Peas ------- I even added 1 Artichoke! and some tomato sauce.

To season it I added: 1 crushed Garlic Clove, 1 heaping Tablespoon of a condiment I prepare (Sofrito) with peppers, onions, garlic, sweet condiment peppers, cilantro and recao. Then some Sea Salt and Black Pepper to taste, not much, you don't want it to be too salty. In this case, I had to be careful on account of the 3 Tablespoons of Italian Sausage that was added.

It was delicious! You can eat it without feeling guilty, at the same time it is very satisfying. Try adding some chicken instead of the sausage. What do you think? This is healthy and the glycemic index is not high. At this time, I am not even going to talk about healthier snacks.... will be coming soon.

Share you favorite recipes with us, and please, come back to let us know how did you like this soup. Don't forget to take a good quality supplement, I use the Essentials and drink plenty of water.

Thank you for stopping by and see you soon!

To your continued Health,
Maritza
maritza.usana.com

Do You Weight Yourself Every Day?

This is a recipe for frustration. Haven't you noticed how sometimes even though you don't lose weight, you DO lose inches! Suddenly your pants are not as tight as they used to be. This is why instead of "checking my weight" I "check my pants" : ) This has helped me inmmensly, I keep a pair of pants that are "too tight to wear"; you know, the ones you put on and then can't sit. Those! I try them on once a week to check my progress. Or a pair of pants that are a little too tight and need to lose only a little bit more. The first time I decided to do this for real... After trying one diet after another, losing and then gaining back plus a few extra. Wow! How sometimes we mess up our metabolism. Once I found this system, it has been an eye opener. Even though I have always eaten very healthy, to lose the pounds I would not eat this or that and that guilty feeling every time I ate something "wrong".

Well, to get back to the point, The first time I finally decided to go ahead and change my lifestyle, the pants I took out of my closet would not go any further than my knees. I have to tell you, those pants are GONE now, because they were too BIG on me! My goal is to drop one more size and then is maintain.

Remember, it is completely up to you; you will decide how fast or slow you want to make the changes, as long as they are "permanent". You will begin to live a happier, healthier life. I live my life... and I do NOT Diet.

Share your thoughts and progress with me. What are your goals? Have you experienced "Yo-Yo" dieting before? When you are on a "Diet" and go out, eat something out of your "Diet menu", what do you do after? Just forget about everything and keep eating?

Don't forget to drink plenty of water and to take a high quality supplement. I take the essentials. which are a good antioxidant, minerals, omega on a daily basis, plus a few more every so often : )

Until the next one my friends!
Maritza