Recipe – Dukan – Dollar Store Dinner

Posted on January 26, 2013 by flamidwyfe

Did you know you can buy food at the Dollar Tree store? I didn’t either and last week I took Sydnie there to spend her allowance and found the frozen food section. I picked up some tilapia and shrimp and salmon steaks. I also got some big bags of frozen vegies. Last night I decided to try the tilapia. This meal was Paleo and Dukan PV. I pan fried in a bit of coconut oil and sprinkled some curry powder and sea salt on them. I cooked on med-high for 3 minutes and flipped them, then added the veggies on top and put on a lid for 4 minutes. This was the result…

Yummy dinner. Cost approx. $2.20!

What did you have for dinner last night? Have you ever eaten food from The Dollar Store?

Ciao!

Still here!

Posted on January 23, 2013 by flamidwyfe

I feel like I never stop! Been super busy the past few weeks, but wanted to quickly check in.

My dear friend Denise’s daughter Aleisha married her honey, Bryce last Saturday and had a gorgeous ceremony and reception. The “aunties” were asked to make appetizers and my assignment was veggie platters. Tiffany came over to help me out and we made 4 huge trays. With the scraps I made this…

Veggie stock. Oh my did it turn out yummy! A bit pinkish because of the red cabbage, but I made a chicken stew in the crockpot yesterday that was to die for… Mmmmm!

Sydnie and I are getting out for a nice long walk a few days a week in the evenings. We live a few blocks from the water, so our route is lovely. This is the way there…

And her reward for not complaining is this…

I am also trying to do the bridge walk/run at least twice a week. That’s nearly 8 kms and with a coffee stop in the middle, it’s also a lovely walk.

Working like crazy, trying to keep my sanity, trying to figure out when we’re doing the triathlon in the fall (Sandra and Cindy can ya email me?) 😀

That’s it for now. I hope y’all are having an awesome week!

Ciao!

Dukan – Consolidation Day 249

Posted on January 15, 2013 by flamidwyfe

Monday was a PP day 😀 I haven’t written those words in a long time! I weighed myself and was up to 154 and said out loud, “whoa, Nelly” and decided to get better control. I think it’s more about reduced activity than anything else. I’m eating clean, gluten-free food.

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs, coffee, 500 mL water
Lunch: 4 slices roast beef, 2 slices provolone, 500 mL water
Dinner: stir fry pork loin with onions and garlic, 500 mL water
35 minute quick walk
Snack: Fat free Greek yogurt
Bed

Woke up this morning down 2 pounds. Happy girl : D

Ciao!

Dukan – Consolidation Day 249

Posted on January 15, 2013 by flamidwyfe

Woke up this morning down 2 pounds. Happy girl : D

Ciao!

Finding Sandi…

Posted on January 12, 2013 by flamidwyfe

It’s been a busy week! I started out with my typical day off and spent all of Monday cleaning house after having grandkids there all weekend! 😀

On Monday (or was that Sunday? Sheesh, I can’t remember!) I managed a walk with a friend over the bridges that I posted about last week…

Walking the bridges! Around the 3 km mark there is a dock that goes out over the water!

Then Tuesday and Wednesday a commute to job 1… the Center Director at an amazing birth house. Upside… I work with some crazy and fun people. Downside… it’s an hour drive each way and for only 3 days a week, which doesn’t pay the bills 😦

It’s been a grey kinda week! Grey dress, grey hose, grey shoes… at least the sun is shining!

Then on Thursday I started a new, every once in a while job, teaching at a college about 20 minutes even further from my home… Not complaining, as it supplements my income!

Then on Thursday afternoon I drove another 35 miles south to do some admin work for a midwife friend of mine who is converting her practice to electronic medical records. I spent the night at her house, so I could get an early start (and not waste time and money on driving!) and had this yummy breakfast…

Chicken sausage, mushrooms and eggs. Mmmm!

Here it is finished…

Breakfast plated. I love adding avocado!

I then set out for a long day of data entry and scanning. Totally worth it. As it could all be done via wifi I sat outside on the deck next to her pool and worked all day! The Vitamin D was welcome! BeBe loved it too…

BeBe loves being a Florida dog!

Janice came home just as I was cooking this for dinner…

Stir fry: Omaha steaks with scallion, garlic, mushroom and asparagus! OH MY!

I have found myself in a bit of a rut and a little down the past few weeks. My plan was to come home, work PT at the birth house and take time to get my health and fitness business up and going. Part of the problem with feeling down is that I COMFORT EAT 😦 I have caught myself reaching for things (mostly dark chocolate or Fritos) when I’m feeling sorry for myself. Two significant things happened yesterday to kick me back on to the right path.

One… I spoke with Jamie, my amazing logo designer, about getting my web site for the business going. She is so encouraging and gave me an assignment to get the text going. So do know that I am committed to getting the site up by FEBRUARY 1st (I say this more for me than anyone else, lol)

Two… I got a message on Facebook in my “other” folder, while on the phone with Jamie! I opened it and found these words (I’ve not posted the whole message)…

I just wanted to let you know what an inspiration your Dukan journey has been for me. I started Dukan on August 20th of this year and so far have banished 50lbs. I have about 35 more to go. Not sure how I came across your blog, but I have finally got caught up to date with your journey. Soooo many times I have turned to read a few days of your blog when I was battling cravings etc and the words spoke right to me!

Towards the end of the message the letter writer encourages me to write more posts, and I need to, and thank you for encouraging me to do that! This weekend I am going to write out a blog post schedule and STICK TO IT! Ironically, she and I started Dukan on the exact same day (a year apart) with the exact same weight to lose! How cool is that!?!!

I need to find myself. I need to take the time to immerse myself in solitude and write and write and write my business goals out, again, once more, so that it becomes clear again. I need to keep writing out my vision boards and focus on making them a reality. And I need to respect who I am, what I’ve achieved and continue to feed my body GOOD.CLEAN.FOOD! Because I look and feel better than ever!

How do you make sure that you turn your visions into reality? How do you keep yourself on track?

Ciao!

Busy first week of the New Year!

Posted on January 7, 2013 by flamidwyfe

Wow, it was a busy first week of the New Year! Started out by spending New Years Day at the Orange Bowl with my niece, Charity…

My friend Ed had 2 tickets that he could not use and graciously gave them to me… THANK YOU, ED!!! Charity and I had a blast!

Then had a few crazy, and I mean CRAZY days at work and then my mom came to visit. Thank God for her sanity and the balance she brought to me this week. Her advise to simmer down and let go was truly needed!

Sydnie and I have started Couch to 5K at the beginning, so she can work up to some decent runs. She’s doing great on the Paleo diet with me at home and has stopped complaining about me starving her, for the most part 😀

And I took two 4.5 mile walks with a friend who is fun to chat and walk with. Both of us wanting to get in and stay in shape. I’ve made it a goal to do this walk, across the big bridge in Stuart and back, 3 times a week, minimum… I’ve done it twice this week. Here’s the bridge:

It’s a mile across, each way, with a nice elevation and the views are wonderful.

I’ve also been attending church regularly. Rick Evans is the leader of the church and is married to my dear friend from school, Natalie. He isn’t preachy, they don’t pass a collection plate, he’s an amazing storyteller and I love it. I’ve been taking the grandkids and they enjoy it, as well. Natalie is an accomplished photographer and took pictures a few weeks ago. The church meets at a community center on the beach… The joys of living in south Florida!

That’s Sydnie, Sofia and Sadie with me.

I had grandkids with me all weekend, off and on… Faelynn, Sydnie and Sadie spent Friday night and Faelynn and Sydnie (who lives with me) on Saturday night… At some point the all curled up in my bed 🙂

So that’s the weekly wrap up… Week One of 2013 is in the books!

How did y’all spend New Years Day??

Happy 2013!

Posted on December 31, 2012 by flamidwyfe

Wow… what a CRAZY, CRAZY, CRAZY year! 42 Take offs and Landings… 91,000 air miles logged. From huge airplanes (Boeing A380) to a small 9 seater. China, Hong Kong, U.S., Japan and the Bahamas.

I completed the Dukan diet in May, having lost 111 pounds! And for the most part have kept it off. I bounce up a few pounds, readjust and it comes back off.

I went from not being able to run for 45 seconds to running 5K and completed one. I am now training for a triathlon next August with bloggy friends Cindy, Sandra and Anna and can’t wait!!!

I’ve also done yoga and a program called D.I.R.T. regularly… D.I.R.T. kicks my ass!

Last year I brought New Years in with my dear friend Lucy in Hong Kong…

New Years Eve in Hong Kong Dec 31, 2011. With Lucy Rowney.

Crazy how much has happened in the past 12 months! Crazy how blessed and fortunate I am to have the people in my life that I do. Crazy how lucky I am to have an amazing job with two crazy women that I adore and love working with!!

December 2012
Lorie, Me and Miri

The next adventure? Planning a conference for birth workers in Ecuador for July this year and planning my own little trip into Peru to visit Machu Picchu afterwards. It’s going to be an amazing trip!

What are your plans for 2013?

I hope all of you have a blessed, amazing, healthy and prosperous 2013!

Ciao!
Sandi 🙂

Dukan – Consolidation Day 222 – Recipe

Posted on December 19, 2012 by flamidwyfe

Wow!!! 222 days since I met my goal weight… time sure flies. I’m nearly half way through the 500 days of Consolidation (it is 5 days for every pound you lost to your goal weight, which for me was 155, so 100 pounds lost… that said, I actually lost an additional 11 pounds for a total of 111 pounds, but I’m not counting those in my Consolidation #)… clear as mud?

Since Thanksgiving I had gained 3.5 pounds. This brought me dangerously close to 150 pounds… On Friday I was 149.8. So I took action. I decided to do 4 Pure Protein days in a row this week. I started on Monday.

Breakfast:
2 boiled eggs and 2 slices of sharp NY cheddar (yum!!!)
Lunch:
4 slices of deli roast beef and 4 slices of deli sliced turkey with 2 slices of muenster cheese
Dinner:
Pork Chop baked in the oven with onions

Tuesday…
Breakfast: 2 egg omelet with cheddar and 3 slices of bacon (yes, i technically know this is not Dukan friendly, but it is low carb!) 😀
Lunch: OMG Crockpot Tuesday… recipe below
Dinner: Stuck at the birth center assisting a birth…. 7 olives and 6 squares of feta cheese… low carb, but NOT the dinner I was hoping for 😦
Snack: FF Greek Yogurt w/Splenda

Should have taken a picture BEFORE it was nearly devoured!

Dukan Spicy Chicken
Serves: 8 (I feed the crew here at the Palms Birth House lunch on Tuesdays)
Ingredients:
1 TBS coconut oil
4 pounds chicken thighs (boneless/skinless) You could use breasts, but thighs are WAY CHEAPER!!!
2 large onions, chopped (I like big chunks)
4 garlic cloves (crushed and chopped)
Grated zest of a lime
Juice of same lime
6 TBS apple cider vinegar
3 TBS water
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp crushed chilli flakes
2 TBS splenda
Dash of salt
I also added a TBS of my son-in-laws homemade Awesome Sauce (think home grown habenaros!)

Turn your crockpot to HIGH.
Heat a skillet on medium with coconut oil. Brown the chicken in the skillet, 3 minutes each side. Add to crockpot.
Sauté the onions for 2 minutes and then add the garlic and sauté two more minutes. Add to the crockpot.
In a small bowl mix the rest of the ingredients. Add to the crockpot.
Cook on high for 3 hours.
Eat and enjoy!

This lunch was FANTASTIC! The entire birth house smelled so yummy! It was very much a winter dinner. Let me know if you try it!

Ciao!

Work Christmas Party

Posted on December 15, 2012 by flamidwyfe

I’ve been in a bit of a funk the past few days. I had a lovely 5.5 days in Abaco, Bahamas and came back to Florida on Wednesday. Thursday morning had me weighing 149.8… Too damn close to 150 for my liking! So I’m going to do 3 PP Dukan days Monday-Wednesday and my regular PP Day on Thursday and should be back on track.

Last night was my company’s annual Christmas party. I had a blast!

The bosses, Lorie and Miri know how to throw a party! We started the evening by getting our hair “blowed out”. Angie calls this the southern sweet potato look.

Here’s Angie singing. She’s got the voice of an angel…

That’s me, Lorie and Miri.

And me and Dr. Barry…

Zach and I …

Had a fabulous time!

On a sad note, my heart hurts for all of those affected by the shootings in Connecticut yesterday. Unfathomable 😦

Recipe – Low Carb – Crock Pot Dinner

Posted on November 29, 2012 by flamidwyfe

I’m enjoying my new job and love cooking big lunches for everyone. This is today’s lunch…

Crock Pot Pork
Served 8

3 pork chops with some fat, cubed
2 Tbs Coconut oil
1 large onion, chunked
2 large sweet potatoes, chunked
1 bunch broccoli, cut into pieces
1/2 bunch cauliflower, cut into pieces
2 pkts Sazón
1 can gluten free vegetable stock

In large skillet heat 2 Tbs coconut oil. Toss in pork to brown. While pork is browning turn crock pot on high (if cooking for 2 hours) on low if all day. Place the onion and sweet potato in crock pot. Sprinkle on Sazón and pour in veg stock.
When pork is browned on both sides toss that in crockpot. Stir. Top up with hot water to cover meat. Place lid and walk away.
About 30 minutes before serving toss in the broccoli and cauliflower.
Enjoy!