Gaining to Lose

***Warning! I'm really getting up on my "roost" this morning.***

This morning in my post-run-sweaty-get-up, I was in the kitchen packing Todd's lunch and fixing his breakfast while watching the Today Show. First off, it's kind of nice to have Brian Williams co-hosting with Ann the morning... but then, once I started to tune out the chit-chat, I heard an interesting story. They were talking about a lady named Steffany Sears (202 lbs) and her struggle to qualify for bariatric weight-loss surgery and that ultimately she ended up binge eating to GAIN weight to "qualify" through her insurance company for the surgery!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! 

I literally screamed. THIS IS JUST ABSURD!

Not that she got the surgery.... entirely. I know several individuals who've had this procedure done. Some were very successful, others... not so much.  You guys know by now, I'm not a hater of "fat people". I'm just a dedicated lover for a HEALTHY person. So, I have MANY issues with this story.

1.) Steffany had already LOST weight on her own. She had been trying. Working. Struggling to lose the weight on her own. Then - she just gave-up and gave in to her insurance company's stupid "rules" (All of which can be broken mind you! I negotiated with insurance companies in a past life, you just have to be overly diligent.).

I'm not even really sure if this process couldn't be considered insurance fraud if you think about it... hmm...

2.) Insurance companies need to change. Why aren't they offering programs and opportunities to reward their policy holders for HARD WORK and proper diet management!? Come on - THOUSANDS of people do it on their own every year.... Why aren't these insurance companies on the side of the policy holder?! (ugh - don't even mutter the fact that it's all about $$. I'll probably come hit you or something. ha!)
3.) I'm even more frustrated with Steffany that she didn't fight for herself more. She is her own best advocate and she let an insurance company dictate what she does with and for her body.

I'm so tired of lazy.

I'm tired of lazy people who don't want to get up, get out and get moving for their own good. I'm tired of hearing stories like this where it's "easier" to gain weight to have SURGERY! I'm tired of lazy doctors who won't help navigate their patients to resources that can help. I'm tired of lazy insurance companies who will do nothing to help the insured. I'm tired of our society being so lazy, so unmotivated and unwilling to change policies for health and health care. (no - I'm not talking "Obama-care")

Why are we so lazy!?

Why would anyone want to sit around and whine about their weight and do NOTHING to change it. Don't tell me it's because fruits and veggies and other "healthy foods" are so "expensive". That's crap. Yes, they can cost more than what you're used to spending on processed foods and simple sugar and carb loaded "goodies"... but you're certainly going to save a whole lot of money (and tax payer dollars) from decreased hospital visits and medical/pharmaceutical expenses.

I don't know about you - but I'd rather spend a little more each week at the grocery store, eat well and LIVE well instead of struggling for months and spending weeks in the hospital.

*** I will slowly descend from my roost now.... ***

This is apparently Steffany's Before & After shots. I stole this from her story online.

I'm proud of Steffany for her overall weight-loss... and I hope she keeps it off. I hope she doesn't resort to bad habits and laziness again and ruin all the hard work she and her medical team have done. I hope she has a wonderful support system to sustain her efforts. I hope she is exercising and eating well to keep what she's got working for her. I hope she isn't suffering psychologically with her new self (like MANY bari-patients do). I hope she LOVES herself. 

Most importantly, I hope my readers are inspired to work hard on themselves. Don't give in to lazy. Don't go the "easy way". Don't give-up.

You have much to gain as you lose.


Keep up the good work friends.
Love - a.

Spicy Quinoa-Stuffed Peppers

Okay - The recipe everyone has been waiting for. No, I didn't create it... I modified it, yes, but what cook doesn't?

We looooove peppers! I always have them in our refrigerator for quick salad prep, hummus dippin', sandwich toppings and every now and then, TO STUFF! :)

Word of advice: GO FOR COLOR when picking out peppers. Green one's aren't bad, and they're cheaper... but "if your eyes like what it sees, it's probably BETTER for them" (your eyes).

Peppers are amazing super foods ... I truly believe it is a very underrated and under appreciated veg. These things are LOADED with the quintessential: Vitamin A. True fact - only 1/4th of a pepper contains 40% of your recommended daily allowance (RDA)!  Most people (unless you're pregnant or nursing, the exception to most dietary rules) need about 1500μg of this mega-vitamin a day.

Vitamin A is most known for it's role in our vision and more recently for it's "anti-aging" abilities as an anti-oxidant and it's conversion to retinol.  Vitamin A is absolutely necessary for our vision. As the primary "food source" for our retina's vitamin A consumption can directly impact our night vision as well as our color vision. 

Yes - I love my eyes and I want them to stay healthy forever, but for vanity's sake I also want to look young and amazing forever too. Okay, well... forever is a touch unrealistic, but let's hope? :) I chow down on my veggies to keep my hair and SKIN looking amazing. Yup.... seriously. I'd probably make a facial mask out of pureed peppers if someone said it worked! HA! Vitamin A (and other anti-oxidants) help to keep your skin cells reproducing in tip-top shape! Also a little tid-bit I learned in my research, retinol helps reduce the size of sebaceous glands (your sweat glands-ew!) and eventually the production of sebum (the oil and dirt combo that clogs your pores and causes black heads and nasty pimples!).

Hmmmm.... maybe I'm on to something with the pepper mask?

Until then, let's just keep eating them. Give this recipe a try this weekend. It's awesome. My modifications and Calorie/Fat/Protein/Fiber count is at the end.

Spicy Stuffed Peppers

Serves 4 as a main, 8 as a side

In a large saucepan, over medium-high, heat:

• 2 tbsp canola oil

Add to hot oil and cook until soft (about 5 minutes):

• 1  onion, finely chopped
• 1 large stalk celery, finely chopped

When the onion and celery are soft, add:

• 2 tbsp chili powder (or 1 tbsp chili and 1 1/2 tsp chipotle powder)
  
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tbsp fresh garlic, minced

Saute for 1 minute. Then add:

• 1 10-oz package of cooked spinach, thawed and squeezed to remove moisture
• 1 28-oz tin diced tomatoes, drained

Cook for 5 minutes to remove a bit of the excess moisture. Stir in:

• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1/2 cup grated carrots
• 1 1/2 cups water

Cover and leave on medium-high heat until the ingredients come to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the quinoa is done, about 20 minutes.

Stir in:

• 1 cup grated cheese (a spicy jalapeno Jack or TexMex mix is good)
• generous grind of freshly ground pepper
• salt to taste

Preheat the oven to 375F. While the oven heats, wash:

• 4 large sweet peppers (any colour)

Cut them in half lengthwise. Remove the ribs and seeds. Fill each half with the hot quinoa mixture. Place stuffed peppers in a baking dish or roasting pan. Cover with foil and bake for 25 to 35 minutes* or until the peppers are beginning to get tender. You want them cooked but not falling apart.

Sprinkle each half pepper with:

• 1 tbsp grated cheese (1/2 cup)

Bake uncovered for another 5 minutes or until the cheese melts and begins to bubble. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes before serving.

Doesn't it just make your mouth water reading it?! AHH! It's so good. 

Modifications: 
- I didn't stir in the cheese (to keep the calories and fat down) but I did sprinkle some on top as directed. I didn't have chili powder - so I used a little red pepper. Next time I'll use more or make sure I've got some chili powder... I like a kick and I didn't quite have one the way I like.
- I also didn't have celery. I think the crunch would be awesome and I'll have it next time, but was still great w/o it.
- I also used fresh spinach vs. the frozen. I would say I used about 4-5 cups? I love spinach so I wasn't stingy.... just add some and when it wilts if you want more, add more. You can't have too much, right?! :)

Nutrition information from my calculations and using EVERYTHING this recipe calls for:
PER PEPPER w/o cheese: 458 Calories/11g Fat/ 20g Protein / 16.3g fiber <--- THAT'S an awesome dinner solution if you ask me!! And between all the fiber from the quinoa, carrots, spinach and peppers, you won't leave the table hungry.

With the cheese: 591 Calories/ 20g+ Fat/ 31.7g Protein/ 16.3g fiber.... Of course this differs based on what cheese you use and if you use EXACTLY what's called for. This calculation is based off of Kraft's 2% Mexican Cheese mix.

IMPACT

Last week I asked at "Your Numbers". Did anyone actually find these out or does anyone KNOW their numbers?! Here are the numbers again:

Know Your 5:

• Blood Pressure
• Waist Size
• Weight
• Cholesterol
• Blood Sugar 

When you get some time, take about 10 minutes to watch Dr. Oz's video's on these 5 Life Saving Numbers:
Know Your 5: Lifesaving Tests, Pt. 1
Know Your 5: Lifesaving Tests, Pt. 2
 


 Dr. Oz is one of a few people in the "Public eye" of whom I see really trying to make changes in our society. He is on the front lines some could say of the Life Saving Business, often literally. I LOVE his passion for helping people make CHANGES in their lives that impact them in ways they never thought possible. Dr. Oz cares about the holistic health of a person and never fails to get that point across. No, I don't watch every episode of his TV Show and no, I don't read everyone of his books.... but he really is inspirational. As someone who shares the same passion of helping others help themselves, it's nice to see someone (Dr. Oz for example) share the resources and skills they have actually make an IMPACT.


 *warning - i'm getting on my "roost"*

I often feel so many of my friends, family members, patients and many members of our society don't take the time find or make an IMPACT. We're all way too busy making excuses; for ourselves, our parents, our kids, our job... and my least favorite - our time.

Trust me, we can ALL find the time to do what it is we WANT to do, Right? We can all watch our favorite TV Shows, eat at our favorite restaurants, drive nice cars (with nice monthly payments), drink all the wine/beer/liquor we want .... and then when it comes to doing something GOOD for ourselves, WE CAN'T!?!?!?

I'm really sick and tired of hearing a gym membership costs too much - $30? 1.)Dinner last night cost that much. Stay home and fix something good for yourself with your family a few nights a week and you've saved your gym money. 2.) Don't worry about a gym - turn on Exercise OnDemand from your cable company and pick a workout; buy a used DVD online (I find them for like $6 after shipping), or heaven forbid - get outside and WALK! 

Please don't tell me vegetables and fruit take too long to prepare and that's why you don't eat them - Seriously? Wash. Dry. Peel (maybe). Eat. What's so hard about that? Okay... put it in a bowl with a few others too! :) If you want to get real fancy, steam them...

You're too tired? - well.... I'm going to go out on a limb and blame Lazy. When you just sit around at work and then come home and sit some more... of course you're tired. Your brain doesn't have any oxygen!! GET UP AND GET MOVING!!! Exercise has been proven over and over and over again to help fight fatigue and promote mental health. Here's an article from WebMD.com about this too!

I could go on, but I'll tread lightly this morning. :) You're welcome.


So, I'm no Dr. Oz... heck, I'm not even a Registered Nurse (yet!). But I want to make an IMPACT! I want each of you to make one too. Maybe it's in impact in your spiritual health. Maybe it's in your bikini this Summer. Who knows, maybe it's the impact of your incredible biceps.

Get motivated to have others ask YOU how! That's making an IMPACT. Like a ripple effect.


Learn your risks by being informed. "Knowing Your Numbers" is important for making the changes that make an IMPACT on your well-being and ultimately your livelihood.


*slowly stepping off my "roost" for now* 

Here's to a wonderful day! LOVES!
- a.

Your idea of "Healthy"

Americans Falsely Believe Their Diet Is Healthy

A friend of mine posted this article on her FB wall yesterday. I was immediately smitten. But LOOK at what it says!!! I'm shocked... yet, not that surprised.... sadly...

- Nine in 10 Americans say their diet is healthy but only a quarter limit the amount of fat or sugar they eat, and two-thirds don't eat enough fruit and vegetables

- Few Americans count calories or weigh themselves, but when they were asked to self-report their weight, four in 10 were off-track. - A third said they were at a healthy weight when they actually had a body mass index (BMI) of an overweight or obese person

- One in three adults is obese

- Losing weight is the second most popular new year's resolution after quitting smoking

- When asked why they didn't eat more vegetables, the most common reason given by the poll respondents was

1. that they thought they consumed enough already
2. they are hard to store or spoil too quickly
3. someone in their household didn't like vegetables
4. vegetables take too long to prepare or are too difficult to prepare
5. fresh vegetables are too expensive
6. don't like vegetables

I'm still kind of FREAKING OUT! What happened to those mothers who used to make you "eat your vegetables!"?!?! WHY AREN'T THESE MOTHER'S AND FATHER'S EATING THEIR VEGETABLES?!!? ugh!

This weekend I would like to encourage everyone to do a little bit of HOMEWORK:
1.) START TRACKING YOUR FOOD - watch what you're eating (write it down, count it, make post-it-notes, use a calorie tracker app on your phone, whatever) and your calories. Get a method going and stick with it... we need a good weeks worth of info/numbers, but two weeks is better.

2.) KNOW YOUR 5 - For any hardcore Dr. Oz fan, you'll know what I'm talking about. This weekend, find out the following numbers [or at least 3 out of 5]:

• Blood Pressure
• Waist Line
• Weight
• Fasting Blood Sugar (everyone probably knows a diabetic who checks their sugars - don't eat or drink after 10PM and before you eat/drink in the morning, go visit your friend/family member and check your blood sugar)
• Cholesterol - Okay, I know if you don't know this number you can't get it over night w/o a MD appointment. So, if you haven't had your cholesterol taken in the last 12 months MAKE AN APPOINTMENT! If you have had it checked, how was it? How are is your HDL (good stuff), LDL (low-down dirty stuff) and your Triglycerides?

Now, next week we will channel Dr. Oz and help make sense of these numbers and I'm going to start  talking a little more about food labels, fat, sugar, etc.

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL weekend. Get outside, regardless the weather, and enjoy yourself. Take the kids. Take the dog. Take a friend. Take your mother-in-law. Take your spouse... or just go alone. Get some sunshine on your skin (yes, even in the snow the sun can still shine). 

Rest up. Recharge. Relax. Your WHOLE you probably needs it. :) 

I love you guys! Keep working on you and loving every fabulous inch of yourself!  xx