etarre Member

Annie's Naturals lite gingerly viniagrette. The honey mustard and mango by this brand are also very good.

I also make sandwiches on my grill...turkey pastrami with a little bit of BBQ sauce and Cabot 75% fat free cheddar is a nice one. Pickles optional. =) Also, grilled portobello mushroom caps are great-- marinate overnight in balsamic vineagar and a little bit of olive oil with fresh herbs-- rosemary is great-- and then…

My big problem foods are all gooey chocolatey desserts, so I've been trying to cut back on sweets and sugary things. I've noticed that when I do eat them, I can only eat a very small portion these days. I do think our bodies adjust... For what it's worth, I gave up eating hamburgers years ago, and now ground beef tastes…

Be sure to take a big bottle of water to spin class! And, as others have said, give it a couple of chances. The first few times you do it, it will feel really hard! Also, classes differ a lot by instructor, so shop around for a class that you really like if there's some flexibility in your schedule.

When you get discouraged, don't forget to remind yourself how far you've come-- losing 15 pounds and keeping it off is a great achievement! Make sure you keep that in mind and try to focus on the positive. You've been successful in the past, so this is just a very temporary pause as you keep losing.

I like Bacardi and Diet Coke. Not sure of the calories, though...

My friend's husband didn't realize that "spinning class" at the gym was actually cycling. He picture her in a room with a bunch of other people, all standing there literally spinning in circles.

Protein tends to keep me fullest longest, so I have been doing either cottage cheese or egg whites, microwaved and topped with salsa and a bit of fat-free sour cream.

I've read that not getting enough sleep can cause your body to release stress hormones that make you hungry (like ghrelin). I can't vouch for the accuracy of that, but I do think I am hungrier on days when I have to wake up early, so I tend to believe it. On days when I know I'll have a long day, I try to eat more protein…

Good for you for going-- I'm glad you got some great results as a reward! I know how hard it is to take time away from the things that are stressing you out, but it's so important to stay healthy and working out really, really helps with stress. Plus, I think taking a break now and then gives you a little perspective to…

I usually work out in the evening, right after work. So I time a snack about an hour before I leave work and try to make it protein-heavy. Beef jerky is one of my favorites but lately it's been cold and rainy and dreary, so I've been having a cup of hot chocolate, which I hope (?) is pretty similar to chocolate milk in…

Hi everyone-- I've been lazy about posting because I just got back from a wedding-planning trip and am totally buried at work! But the trip went well, and we got a lot done... But now that I'm back, I will make an effort to participate more. =) Brides on a Mission: week 14 (Please copy and paste this into your profile) 1.…

Plank and side plank are personal favorites. As you get stronger, you can increase the time that you hold the position and there are lots of variations. If you want a short ab workout, the Jackie Warner Workout video (the 1st one, not the circuit one) has a good 20-minute section that's just abs, but it's really, really…

I've heard quinoa is a good source of protein, and it's a good rice substitute or base for salads. Also, I love this lentil recipe, and it's really easy: Baked honey lentils This is a delicious, different way to enjoy lentils, and tastes great on its own or served over rice, quinoa or couscous. The aromatic mix of flavours…

One of the non-intimidating things about the gym is that no one goes there to look good...everyone is sweaty and tired. Just remember that... I love spin, but it is HARD so just wanted to add that another good class option might be mat pilates. Most of class, you're lying down and focusing on yourself and the basic moves…

Congrats on being a new mom and welcome to MFP. Good luck with losing that baby weight...it's hard when you're the only one in the family watching calories, but hey, that's what htis board is for...we're all doing it!

Hi--- don't be too hard on yourself! If you've been avoiding fast food since early January, you're doing a great job. Focus on not letting one slip-up turn into a return to bad habits, and you will be fine. FYI, I was reading one of those articles the other day about "the best of the worst" at fast food places, and the…

Hi fellow Brooklynite! I'm not a mom, but I am also working toward looking good this summer for my wedding in June. I'm hoping for some spring-like weather to motivate all of us New Yorkers to be more active and stay on track.

Garden of Eatin' has some nice baked tortilla chips in blue corn and yellow corn. I think they have flax seeds in 'em too for extra omega-3s. That's what I get when I need a chip fix, but there are certainly other brands of baked tortilla chip out there. I think some people also make their own by toasting tortillas in the…

I had a friend who had a lot of heel pain, and her doctor said that it was planar fasciitis....might be worth checking out to see if the symptoms sound familiar: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004438/

It probably depends on your base level of fitness. How often do you normally work out and what do you do? Most treadmills have a 'quick start' function or a manual setting, so you don't have to jump straight into a pre-programmed workout if you don't want to...

If you used greek yogurt or lowfat mayo instead of the full-fat stuff, this might work: http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/02/foil-packet-tilapia-crockpot-recipe.html If you don't have a crockpot, you can always bake the packets instead.

I like to use it in soup-- you can add it to canned soup to add protein and flavor. I like it in healthy request cream of mushroom. Or you can make your own seafood chowder-- boil chicken or fish broth, add in some frozen mixed seafood (Trader Joe's/Whole Foods have this), add the crab and some corn and a few spices, and…

Hi-- I love this recipe and lentils are nice and filling. It helps to stir a few times as these are baking. Baked honey lentils This is a delicious, different way to enjoy lentils, and tastes great on its own or served over rice, quinoa or couscous. The aromatic mix of flavours makes it a satisfying meal that the whole…

Heart rate seems to vary a lot by individual-- I take really high-intensity spin classes, and rarely get my heart rate about 170 and my normal heart rate range on the elliptical is 130-144ish. How do your elliptical workouts compare to your spin class workouts? The so-called 'fat burning intensity' on the elliptical should…

I really want to try this with ground turkey or chicken: http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/02/chicken-lettuce-wraps-crockpot-recipe.html

One of my favorite workday lunches is a really simple fake creamed spinach. All you need is a microwave... Fill a bowl/cup with baby spinach leaves. Dump in a packet of dried instant cream of chicken soup (cup a soup works nicely), a little water, and microwave for a minute or two. Season with some garlic powder and pepper…

I go to a crowded gym, and the trainers are always standing around in the really high-traffic areas chatting aimlessly. You have an office-- use it! Also, the ab cradle is right under one of the TVs and some guys will just sit there and watch TV. C'mon, it's not a chair! Go home and watch TV if that's all you're going to…

Do you have a crock pot? If so, take a look around here: http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2005/12/pork.html I looooove the peanut butter pork recipe, but haven't tried with pork chops-- the recipe calls for tenderloin. If you don't have a crock pot, you can usually just use a dutch oven for these, too.

Hi everyone...Happy (late) Valentine's Day! Brides on a Mission: week 7 (Please copy and paste this into your profile) 1. Weight loss/inches lost this week: 1 pound as of Saturday. Still not sure about inches...didn't get around to measuring this weekend. 2. Highlight of the past week: (not weight, just something exciting…