"The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook." -- Julia Child

After surviving the GRE on Saturday morning and tackling Morgantown, WV on a game day, I thought I deserved a few days to relax before heading back into my manic life.  

I've been obsessed with Tara Stiles yoga.  I'm also starting to get into Women's Health Magazine's new yoga contributor, Kathryn Budig.

I typically hate yoga but ever since starting a daily practice I feel like a million bucks.  People even make me mad at times but it's not as bad because I figure I'll just do yoga later.  

I've been planning a Saturday afternoon for my parents.  Mick has a birthday on Friday and the dynamic duo celebrate their 30th anniversary on Monday.

Rachel is still refusing to get on Facebook so please don't even ask.  

"The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for 30 years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found."-- Calvin Trillin

I've also discovered WH's new blog from Renee Loux about eco-living.


Happy Organic Month!

 Don't worry, you'll escape to Friday!

Crazy Stupid Diet

Kris Carr's take on cancer is inspiring.  Her diet?  Let down.


Raw food is bogus.  What's the other one I hate?  Gluten-free diets for people that--don't have Celiac disease.


I've been reading the Crazy Sexy Diet.  Let's just say my fellow RDs are not fans of raw food diets.  This is not a knock on vegetarianism or vegan lifestyles which I endorse with my own overly caffeinated lifestyle


The American Dietetic Association reviewed the book and they were nice.  


I am mean.


Here are some of my grievances with the program:

• Raw foods and enzymes are merda.  Your stomach and digestive system is fully capable of digesting food unless you have diverticular disease, colitis, or any other inflammatory bowel disease.
• You need more than 40 g of protein a day.  Protein can come from vegetable sources such as 'beans and rice', soy (which I hate but that's another rant), textured vegetable protein, and other places.
• I am pro-hormone free dairy--this book is completely vegan. Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH) is used in the dairy industry to increase milk production, however, it's claimed 'safe' in the U.S., Europe and Canada have banned it.
• There is a chapter on enemas and 'detoxing'.  If you eat enough fiber 25 g per day (if you build up to 35 g of fiber your body will block 100 Calories from being absorbed--no more than 35 g please).   Pooping is detoxifying despite what people may try to sell you.  

Just Because You Put A Pretty Shirt Over Your Muffin Top Does Not Make It A Cupcake

 PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE IS BACK...
so are stink bugs.


Anyway, after surviving a hurricane, tropical storm, earthquake, and trying to figure out where the Steelers were last weekend, I can say I'm glad to finally be enjoying cooler weather here in the Free State.


After Katie and Charlie's wedding last weekend, Steve and I went to our old alma mater--Kent State to rehash at Starbucks.


That Starbucks opened in the frigid winter of 2004 and has provided me with caffeinated solace ever since.

Speaking of the resurrection  of all things pumpkin, Candy bought me a bar of soap (she didn't mention if I smell or not.

I am seriously happy right now.

This week's obsession is brought to you by Simply Organic Fajita seasoning.

I fixed a marinade by dumping a packet into a bowl and added 1/4 cup water and 1 TBS olive oil.

From there marinated peppers were born and my "can't see the steak" salad came about.

Just add guacamole, tomatoes, and white beans.

Prepare marinade as described above.  Take 1 lb. London Broil and add 2 TBS of marinade in a ziplock bag, slice peppers and pour remaining marinade over peppers

refrigerate both overnight.

Sear off steak to desired done-ness and rest on a cutting board.  Add peppers and liquid to pan to deglaze.  Cook peppers until tender-crisp.  In a large bowl, place steak strips, chopped tomatoes (1 cup), almonds (1/4 cup), and 2 oz of guacamole (a 100 Calorie pack will do), toss to coat.  Once peppers have cooled slightly, add to salad and serve immediately. 

Follow Your Passions Even if it's not Your Job.

Tara Stiles:


'via Blog this'


Inspiration.  In this economy, it's not OK to whine about your job.  Because. You. Have. One.


"If your job isn't in the same field as your passion, keep following your passions when you have time (outside of work) and see where it leads you. Maybe it's not meant for your passion to provide your income, but that doesn't mean you have to squash it. It is possible for your work and life to form a healthy balance that compliments you."--Tara Stiles


I love stress.  I love having a GRE to take in 8 days, multiple projects, workouts, and clients.  I thrive on being burnt out.  It makes me feel purposeful.  Happy?  No.  So I add more and more 'sides to my entree' until I realize I'm more content with the tapas of life.

How To Lose Weight 101

A simple concept.  Weight loss.  Take in less than you need.  Scale moves down. Drink lots of beer and eat pizza at 2 AM, scale moves up.  Some people are blessed by a higher power or deity and can do the aforementioned activity and they are a size 0.  These people are @#$%^& and can go to @#$.


I need to watch what I eat and you probably do too.


So how goes it?


Step One:  Figure out how many Calories you need with out a calculator.
                 The Mayo Clinic has a Calorie Calculator here.  
Step Two:  Record what you eat during the day and add up the Calories.
                  http://www.calorieking.com/ is my go to site for crunching numbers.
Step Three: Compare the two and figure out where you want to make your Calorie needs at.


If you consume 2400 Calories, but only need 1400  Calories, just start slow by subtracting 250 to 500 Calories per day to avoid the dreaded weight loss plateau.


Yes, you can lose weight without exercise.  To tone up or drop weight faster, you'll need to workout 4-5 days per week for 30-45 minutes or whatever you can get in.  


Easiest ways to cut Calories?


No pop, soda, or juice.  Increase water and watch the numbers fall.


Questions?  E-mail me.

There are only two places in the world where time takes precedence over the job to be done: school and prison.--William Glasser

Back to school and the GRE is within sight for me.  As I am ready to mitigate anxiety for this test, I refuse to act ostentatiously  by assuming I'm going to bust out some obscenely high score.


Here is my run down of foods to make you smarter (well it's from last year's post):

• Spinach
• oatmeal
• fish
• berries
• walnut
• yogurt 
• eggs  

From WebMD: Brain Foods For Concentration

Don't forget a solid 7-8 hours of sleep.

I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond. -Mae West

I got a yoga e-mail from my gym (I take a Tuesday night class for my own mental stability...and physical instability).  It's free and included in my gym membership so being a Clark Howard devotee, I like free.  If you're also an iPod nut such as I, Tara Stiles has a great podcast that takes you through a few poses in <5 minutes that I'm considering doing at work (with a door closed) on my lunch break...this is assuming I am being a good dietitian and take a lunch break and quit dining 'al desko'.


I'm pro-yoga, anti-raw food diet.  The Crazy Sexy Diet is beautifully illustrated but anyone who endorses juices/fasts AND has a chapter on enemas...


I never thought Everyone Poops was sexy either.




Why do yoga?
by: John Tunney 
The short answer is that yoga makes you feel better. Practicing the postures, breathing exercises and meditation makes you healthier in body, mind and spirit. Yoga lets you tune in, chill out, shape up -- all at the same time.
For many people, that's enough of an answer. But there's more if you're interested.
For starters, yoga is good for what ails you. Specifically, research shows that yoga helps manage or control anxiety, arthritis, asthma, back pain, blood pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, headaches, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, stress and other conditions and diseases. What's more, yoga:

• Improves muscle tone, flexibility, strength and stamina
• Reduces stress and tension
• Boosts self esteem
• Improves concentration and creativity
• Lowers fat
• Improves circulation
• Stimulates the immune system
• Creates sense of well being and calm.

And that's just the surface stuff. In fact, most of the benefits mentioned above are secondary to yoga's original purpose.

Rose: What's the name of that hemorrhoid cream again? Charlie: Fire in the Hole.--Two and a Half Men

I hate finding a witty title for blog posts most of the time so channeling prime time TV comedy seems to work best.  


This past weekend's adventures included almost simultaneously combusting at the Pitt home opener where they were lucky to get past the University of Buffalo.  It was 95 degrees and by 9 PM it was a frigid 80 degrees.  Don't get me started on humidity.


Today's blog post is dedicated to the Strip District in Pittsburgh (there are no actual strippers in the daytime) and the sweet potato.

Sweet Potatoes Two Ways: 

Roasted Sweet Potato with Pesto and Fig Balsamic Reduction:

• Reduce any balsamic vinegar to nectar or honey consistency in a pot over medium heat for ~20 minutes for a cup
• 2 sweet potatoes roasted at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, wrapped in foil (poke 'em so they don't explode)
• 1 TBS per potato of goat cheese (I used Trader Joe's)
• 1 TBS pesto/sweet potato (I'll post my recipe later this week)
• 1 TBS salami cubed per sweet potato (or a strip of bacon)

280 Calories, 8 g protein, 6 g fiber

Pan Seared Sweet Potato with Goat Cheese, Pesto, and Slivered Almonds

• Cut sweet potato on an angle and place on one side in a pan over medium heat for 3 minutes until caramelized. 
• Top with 1 TBS almonds, 1 TBS pesto, and 1 TBS of goat cheese

230 Calories, 4 g protein, 4 g fiber

Alan: She looks up to me. She thinks I’m special. She thinks I’m smart.Charlie: She thinks gazpacho is Pinocchio’s father.

What's your favorite TV show? 

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'via Blog this'

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'via Blog this'

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