Shaking Things Up

I've always been told that in order to blog properly you need to have a focus. This blog has been like me: all over the place. I've decided to dedicate this blog completely to recipes and food. 

I've had a tough time finding recipes that fit my pescatarian diet so I decided to create a blog for others like me. In this blog, I plan to write ways to add meat to these meals, because my boyfriend is definitely not a pescatarian. And, I'm sure you're friends aren't all pescatariants either.

For those of  you that don't know what a pescatarian is:  Pescatarian = Vegetarian + Seafood. Not to be confused with the religion, "Presbyterian".

I became a pescatarian in April 2008. The reason I chose to be pescatarian vs. vegetarian is because I grew up on the sea and absolutely love seafood. There is no way that I could give it up or cheese. Plus, my dad is a boat captain. I could NEVER give up free seafood caught by my old man.

I became a pescatarian after reading the book "Skinny Bitch" in college. This book changed my views on food, health and animal rights; which immediately changed my palate.

Even if you're not into the pescatarian diet, I hope you enjoy this blog and find some yummy, new recipes.

My other blog is dedicated to inspiring myself and others. To follow it, please visit: http://marissadeslatte.wordpress.com/

I plan to post at least once a week to both. Enjoy!

Cheater, Cheater EVERYTHING Eater

How do you handle cheat days? The research that I've read suggest having 1 cheat day after 30 days of diet to prevent your body from going into starvation mode from low calories. Basically, eating a low calorie diet causes your body to think it is starving and save everything as fat. After thirty days, it is suggested to allow yourself one cheat day a week.

My first cheat day was on Super Bowl Sunday. It was glorious...on Sunday. I've regretted my decisions all week. It is Wednesday and I finally feel normal/semi-healthy again.

Curious to know how others handle cheat days. Does the guilt go away? After your first cheat day, are the rest not so outrageous? Does it make you more strict during the week? Do you ever skip a cheat day?

Anyway, here is my cheat day summary:

1. Woke up hung over so didn't have a breakfast (whoops!). I started the day at lunch with Sweet Tea and Homemade Shrimp Alfredo:

I love pasta; especially, creamy, bad for you pasta. This is a simple, bad, delicious recipe:

• Boil your pasta of choice. I prefer, thin spaghetti or angel hair noodles.
• While that is boiling, saute onions, tomatoes and shrimp covered in blackening seasoning in a skillet with butter on med-low heat. I start with the onions since they take a little longer. While they're cooking, I chop the other ingredients and cover the shrimp in Old Bay blackening seasoning. Shrimp and tomatoes do not take long at all.
• After the shrimp are cooked and the onions are translucent, I add in equal parts of the cream sauce ingredients: cream cheese and sour cream. DON'T JUDGE. I turn the skillet to low and allow for everything to melt.
• At this time, your noodles should be done. I drain them and add them to the skillet to guarantee everything is mixed well together.

After lunch, we headed to a Super Bowl party. For the party, I made a delicious, FAT, shrimp dip:

This recipe is also super easy and bad, but delicious!:

• I soaked 1lb of shrimp in hot sauce and Old Bay's blackening seasoning. I cooked them in a skillet with butter.
• After the shrimp were cooked, I diced all except for two in really small pieces. These two would later be used as decoration. (See photo above.)
• I mixed the chopped shrimp with 1/2 a thing of cream cheese, 1 cup of shredded, mozzarella cheese, 3/4 cup of Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin' Sauce and 3/4 cups of Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.
• Once it is all mixed, bake it in the oven for 20 minutes.
• Top with chives and two shrimp as decoration. Serve with Frito Scoops.

For the rest of the party, I enjoyed a few adult beverages, some Reece Cups and some bean and cheese burrito bites.  Next Saturday/Sunday, my cheat day will involve a lot less alcohol and bad decisions....hopefully.

2 Weeks of Dieting

And I feel great! I feel clean, healthy and am exceling at Bikram yoga. I legitimately nailed balancing stick. I'm not talking, got there and held it. Like did it and did it great! My eagle is looking beautiful and I can finally wrap my toes around my calf. My standing head to knee, standing bow pulling and toe standing poses have come a long way too! And my bottom finally hits the floor on Fixed Firm Pose.

Okay, now that I'm done geeking out yoga, I'll share some results. Week one I lost 5lbs, week two I lost an additional 3lbs! That is 8lbs total that I do not ever want to see again. I'm very happy with my results and think the answer is simple: small, low-calorie meals (not excluding an entire food group) and exercise are all that it takes. I have been doing 90mins of Bikram Yoga for 3x a week. I just signed up for a 60 day challenge and am pushing myself to attend class 4x a week. I like yoga, because it's spiritual, you are able to think/reflect, you are doing the same poses so you can truly see yourself grow and you gain confidence. They encourage doing the class without a shirt on so that you can see your third eye (aka your belly button). I'm proud to say that I'm confident enough with my body to put myself in unflattering positions wearing only a sports bra and shorts/pants.

More than exercise, you have to watch what you eat! I've continued the no carbs or dairy for dinner trend, but do enjoy my bread/tortillas and cheese for breakfast or lunch. To make it as clean as possible, I buy them fresh from the bakery.

Here are some samples of things I ate over the past 2 weeks:

Egg White, Bell Pepper, Cheese and Avocado Breakfast Taco

 

Strawberries make a great AM snack! (Between breakfast and lunch!)

 

Boiled Shrimp (in crab boil) with Olive Oil sauteed Squash and Zucchini with a side Salad make a great dinner!

 

Hummus and Celery make a great PM snack! I also enjoy Almond Butter on my Celery. (Between Lunch and Dinner)

 

Pan Seared Salmon with a Side of Fish Sauce Brussels Sprouts make a yummy lunch!

 

Fully loaded Grilled Shrimp and Bell Pepper Salad made a delicious Lunch!

 

 

I hope these yummy photos inspire you to eat a little healthier! You don't have to starve or eat flavorless food. You just have to be smart and meal plan. It's all about give and take.I will admit that I have drank a bit while dieting, but made sure I stayed under my daily allowance of calories. I'm limiting myself to 1,200 calories a day. If I work out that day, I can eat a little more. If I know I have an event that night and I'll want to drink a class or two of wine then I just do yoga that morning. It's all about balance.

 

I've also read that having too little calories will put yourself in starvation mode and store everything as fat. After a month you're supposed to have a cheat day once a week. I started this diet on 1/2, so  my first cheat day will be Super Bowl Sunday. I cannot wait! I plan to not count calories, drink lots of adult beverages, eat tons of chips and dips and maybe even have pizza or pasta for dinner too! Shrimp Alfredo is my favorite bad food! What is your favorite cheat meal?



 

 

 

Under 500 Calorie Meal

Here's what I'm enjoying for dinner tonight at work (going out so having an early dinner):

 

 

This delicious meal is incredibly healthy and super easy to make! Follow these step-by-step directions for a 20 minute meal that is diet approved:

 

1. Thaw Shrimp if Frozen or Peel/Devein if Fresh (Roughly 30 Shrimp)
2. Chop 1x Onion
3. Saute Onion in Olive Oil on Med-High
4. Chop 1x Squash and 1x Zucchini
5. Once the Onions Start to Get Translucent, Reduce Heat to Low 
6. Add Zucchini and Squash--Cook for Roughly 10 Minutes on Low
7. Add Shrimp, Stir Continuously for 5 More Minutes or till Shrimp Turn Orange (as pictured)
8. Top with Pepper and the Juice of 1x Lemon

 

This entire meal cost less than $10 and serves 4-6 depending on portion control. You can easily make this meal go further for cheap by doubling the veggies. It is great as a main dish or easily paired with other healthy sides. Enjoy!