The fourth of July challenge :)

so i went to a 4th of july party yesterday. i talked to myself on my way there: "don't go crazy, woman. count your calories!" i'm proud to say i succeeded! even with cheetos included i didn't exceed 1800 calories for the day, a good "maintenance calorie count" for me. i must confess though that as i was eating the cheetos, i though i would not stop until the bag was empty....what stopped me was looking at the calories and saying: "is this worth not fitting in my jeans?" the answer was "yes". do you want to go shop for new jeans?" "NO" so i'd say look at the calories and think about shopping for bigger clothes. that will help you stop from emptying a bag of cheetos.

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA AREVALO SAYS (foodconsultannt@yahoo.com)

1. Nutrition FYI

For Type AB blood, foods that encourage weight loss are seafood, green vegetables, kelp, pineapple and dairy.

“Our spirit is perfect.”

Dr. Ted Morter

HEALTHY RECIPES

Breakfast Boost:

1/2 cup tahini

1/2 cup plain goat yogurt

1/2 cup rolled oats

2 TBSP honey

4 small ice cubes

Papaya Pomegranate Salad

1 cup peeled and shredded carrots

1 papaya, peeled and sliced

3/4 c pomegranate seeds

1/2 c bean sprouts

3/4 c seasoned rice vinegar

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 Tbsp honey

1 Tbsp seasame oil

1/4 c macadamia nuts

Toss dressing with dry ingredients. Top with nuts.

The Glamour Of Doing Stand-Up Comedy In Shady Bars

The Glamour Of Doing Stand-Up Comedy In Shady Bars

Invincible or Invisible: Dating A Famous Character Actor

Invincible or Invisible: Dating A Famous Character Actor

Releasing the obsession.

weight loss/gain and obsession are twin sisters. when i gain lbs, i'm obsessed with taking them off. when i lose lbs i'm obsessed with adding them on. when will i stop torturing myself? i hope soon because it's not helping me enjoy eating a nice meal at a restaurant. don't get me wrong, i'm all for making great choices but where do i draw the line? i wanna live in a good food place and not be paranoid with the scale and the measuring tape! so my goal today is to stop the insanity and start the fun of enjoying life with its weight ups and downs. FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA AREVALO SAYS: (foodconsultant@yahoo.com) Nutrition FYI For Type Bs, avoid corn, buckwheat, lentils, peanuts and sesame seeds to avoid weight gain. “See that person or situation as a gift of opportunity for growth.” Kute Blackson HEALTHY FOOD RECIPES Sweet Yams 3 steamed yams 2 steamed potatoes ½ tsp nutmeg ½ TBSP coconut oil or coconut butter dash sea salt Mashed yams and potatoes, mix in spices and oil and enjoy! Cereal: Fiber Liquid Stabilizer ½- 1 ⅔cup: TT: Optional: 365 High Fiber Organic Cereal and/or Eziekel Original Cereal (sprinkle with cinnamon) Nutmylk… . or Coconut water …. or water (sweeten with stevia or crystals) Top with small handful of nuts for a quick breakfast meal

From the mountains to the desert....

after my trip to gorgeous, fresh air carmel, i flew to vegas. from the mountains to the desert. that's how i feel my food adventure has been since i started. in the beginning, it was like climbing mount everest with jenny craig leading the way. and then, i decided to go on my own....that's when the desert began! i'm on my own in the middle of the desert with no leader looking for an oasis that i may never find: CAKE. i miss cake, real cake with icing, really sugary icing...AAAHHH!!! every time i got the craving to be bad in vegas, i thought about how LONG it took me to lose 17 pounds. if i craved cake, i would eat the lil' cute sugar free cakes, mousses, lemon pies at the buffet and just take one bite. and thank God it worked cause i actually lost weight. i had free time and energy to work out like in the good old pro athlete days.

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA AREVALO SAYS (foodconsultant@yahoo.com)

Nutrition FYI:

Type A blood people flourish on vegetarian diets.

Thought of the day:

“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.”

- Kenneth Blanchard

Embracing Fresh, Organic, wholefoods…..

• Make ¾ of your plate vegetables, whether they’re raw, steamed, roasted, grilled, sautéed, shredded, fermented, marinated, etc. Use as many or as little variety of veggies, but keep adding them to meals to help you fill up with fiber. You eat with your eyes first, so when you see a plate with an over abundance of volume (from vegetables), your already see you’re not being deprived of food.
• Focus on quality of the food. Does it have white flour, preservatives, artificial colors, margarine, corn syrup, white sugar, pesticides? It is heavily processed by machinery? Would you find that food product in nature? If you’re eating a quality meal, take your time to chew and indulge in the complex flavors. Eat until you’re full. There’s no reason to feel guilty if you’re eating lots of organic vegetables! The more you fill your body with nutrient-dense foods, the more stable you’ll feel. And the less snacking you’ll need.
• Fill up with healthy, unprocessed fats. Fats have the highest satiety rate, which means it will help stabilize your blood sugar levels and hunger. At meals and/or snacks, use fats to complement your meals. Use avocados, extra virgin olive oil (unfiltered), coconut butter, coconut oil, olives, raw pecans, walnuts, chia seeds, flax seeds, almonds, and pumpkin seeds.

· Have a good stock in the refrigerator and pantry. Have a variety of vegetables in the refrigerator. You may want them prepared, washed or chopped so they’re easier to prepare if you want. If you have a favorite vegetable, buy more of it. You know you like it, so you’re going to finish it anyway. Make an extra day or two worth of rice, quinoa, whole wheat pasta, salad, chicken, beans, lentils, boiled eggs, so you don’t have to grab a sweet. (If you do have a sweet tooth, try a peeled raw yam with coconut butter. Yum!)

· Bring your snacks and meals when on the go. If you know you’re going to leave early the next morning, the night before you should prepare your lunch and snacks. Then in the morning you place a bag or cooler. Surround yourself with foods you want to eat. The main way is to bring your own food. And purified water! Take 3-4 bottles for the day.

· Don’t buy food you’ll feel guilty of bringing home. You have the control of what you can bring in your house. Once you’re at home you have no choice, but to eat the good stuff J You may feel less guilty of buying a high priced ready-prepared salad, than a less expensive dessert, because you know you are doing your body good!

· Location, location, location. When traveling ask and look for vegetarian restaurants, Trader Joes, farmer’s markets, and Whole Foods Markets. In the beginning, it’s important to surround yourself with the foods you want to eat. On the road, buy food at the supermarkets. Nowadays, many contain an organic produce section. Buy avocados, sprouts, raw nuts, organic salad mixes, olive oil, organic dried fruit, coconut water, etc.

HEALTHY SNACK:

Homemade Coconut/Almonds Balls:

Mix into Balls….

Stabilizer/binder	Binder/Flavor	Flavor/stabilizer	Sweetener
3 TBSP:	1 TBSP:	TT:	1 tsp:
Almond butter	+ Coconut butter	+ Cinnamon	+ Coconut Crystals

Fiber

Shredded Coconut

And roll in......Refrigerate for 1 hr J

Out of town and out of trouble!

i spent the weekend in carmel at a gorgeous place in hidden valley. managing my food was challenging because i had to eat at restaurants. also, exercising was not easy since there was no gym in sight or on campus. so this is how i managed this trip: i took some little tuna salad with cracker kits for lunch, 90 calorie snacks (quaker, i highly recommend them, they're good!) and some fullbars. these are bars that have only 60 calories and when you eat them and drink 1 glass of water, they make you feel full. the only meal i had to worry about was dinner. my trick at the restaurant was to stay away from the bread and butter unless i needed a serving of starch (1 slice of bread) and butter (1 teaspoon). another good choice was not ordering wine or dessert. so i maintained my weight this weekend and that makes me feel like i can be in control of what i eat!

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA AREVALO SAYS: (foodconsultant@yahoo.com)

FOOD AND THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

Nutrition FYI

People of Type O blood do better limiting wheat gluten, which may interfere with insulin efficiency and may slow metabolic rate.

“Giving recognition and genuine praise to others benefits you in magical ways.”

-unknown

Curry Coconut Rice Soup

1 ½ Jasmine White Rice, cooked

1 Thai coconut meat

3 Kale leaves

¼ Onion, finely diced

2 med. Carrots, chopped

2 TSBP chopped cilantro

1 tsp Curry

2-3 tsp Soy sauce

While warming up rice and veggies in pot, blend coconut meat until creamy. Once soup is warm, mix into soup the blended coconut meat, curry, soy sauce and cilantro.

On my own and torturing myself! :O

i'm on my own, no jenny craig for a while. no telling me what crappy overpriced frozen meals to eat. no support from my consultant (they only do consultations if you buy their food, how lovely is that!?). nothing. just me and my munchies. so far, i've been following the plan, counting calories and exercising. it took me 6 moths to lose 17 pounds and i don't want them to creep up on me just because i succumb to a little temptation here, a little temptation there. i still make good choices. like when i think i'm eating too much peanut butter, i plan to cut the portions in half the next day. so far, so good. keeping it real, keeping the lbs off!

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA AREVALO SAYS: (foodconsultant@yahoo.com)

Nutrition FYI

Top anti-radiaiton foods: Raw goat cheddar cheese, green string beans, snow peas, raw cauliflower and raw asparagus
“Friends divide your sorrows and multiply your happiness."
Blaine Athorn

HEALTHY DESSERTS:

Vanilla Coconut Pudding

4 Thai coconut meat

2-3 TBSP coconut crystals

1 TBSP coconut oil

2 tsp cinnamon

vanilla powder TT

dash sea salt

Blend and enjoy with cereal or granola.

SNACK IDEAS:

Sandwiches:

Holder	Stabilizer	Flavor	Fillers
1-2:	1-3 TBSP:	TT:	LOTS:
Sprouted bread	+Coconut oil	+Curry powder	+Romaine Lettuce
Sprouted tortilla	+Coconut butter	+Nama Shoyu	+Spinach/Arugula
Lavash	+Olive oil	+Kelp flakes	+Cabbage/Purslane
Leaf’s onion bread	+Avocado	+Lemon Juice	+Zucchini/Chard
Leaf’s mango bread	+Almond butter	+Cinnamon, Nutmeg	+Kale/sprouts
	+Leaf’s cream cheese	+Allspice	+Bok Choy/Fresh Mint

Off Jenny Craig and on my own :P

i'm off jenny craig cause it's getting to be too expensive. so i'm on my own, planning my menu everyday. i was scared at first but after a few days, i realized i can do this! i haven't lost or gained which is a good thing. i have been challenged with temptations, like going to a jazz gig at the hollywood bar & grill. i had a long day with tutoring and auditions and i was starved! i thought about cheating for a minute and a half but the little angel on my right shoulder defeated the big devil on my left one. i chose an ahi tuna steak salad with the dressing on the side. i only put like 2 teaspoons of dressing and i dipped my fork in it a few times. that's one great way that a bodybuilder lady taught me: instead of puring the dressing on your salad, dip your fork before you grab some greens. guess what? it works and you can taste the dressing really well. that way you save yourself about 200 calories!!

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA AREVALO SAYS (foodconsultant@yahoo.com)

Horseradish: “Dissolves mucus. Helpful for colds, sinusitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis and asthma. Stimulates appetite and the flow of bile.”

Source: Sandra Cabot M

• 
  “You are not your feelings.”
  

-Ron Ball

DELICIOUS HEALTHY SPREADS

Easy Ideas!!

Use these as spreads to make. . . .

• tacos,
• burritos,
• wraps,
• sandwiches,
• and sushi. . . . . With sprouted tortilla, whole wheat tortillas, lavash, sprouted bread, collard greens, chard leaves, romaine leaves, kale leaves, nori sheets.

Use these as dips for vegetable

• snacking
• Or to complement your meal. . . . Some veggies to have for dipping can range from steamed green beans, broccoli, carrots, celery, sugar snap peas, red bell peppers, raw turnips, jicama, radishes and thin zucchini slices.

Basil Spread:

1 1/2 cups fresh basil

½ cup zucchini

1 cup raw walnuts or almonds

3 cloves garlic

3/4 teaspoon salt

TT black pepper………… blend!

Sticking to it on the set!

i had 3 tapings this week, with catered GOOD, FATTY food....tough 3 shoots! my plan this week is to stick to my jenny craig program to the T, no matter what the temptations may be! (i rhymed it by accident...)

i'm on the first morning shoot, @ the catering table in front of one of my fave food group: bagel with cream cheese. i'm asking myself the oldest question in the world: is it worth getting thicker thighs for? you know the answer is "hell yes!". that's what the lil she devil on my left side yelled. the lil angel on my right was quick to rebuff her: "do you remember 15 pounds ago when you didn't fit in your fat pants?" the pictures of me struggling to zip up my fat pants stops me dead on my tracks. i see some big, red strawberries next to the bagel....what to do?....strawberries are so good....but the bagel, yum, with cream cheese!...fat pants-skinny pants.....my right hand makes a move...towards the strawberries! TA DA! the lil angel on the right won this battle. now off to the next set.....where the battle starts again. thank God the lil angel won one more time. the battle of the food angels continues...stay tuned for more challenges!

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA AREVALO SAYS: (foodconsultant@yahoo.com)

#6: Honeydew melon: “Excellent diuretic properties. Useful for kidney and bladder problems. Reduces rheumatic and skin conditions.”

Source: Sandra Cabot MD

“Replacement. Memorize quotes that thrill your soul and lift your heart."

Ron Ball

TIPS ON EMBRACING WHOLE FOODS:

1. -Bring your snacks and meals when on the go. If you know you’re going to leave early the next morning, the night before you should prepare your lunch and snacks. Then in the morning you place a bag or cooler. Surround yourself with foods you want to eat. The main way is to bring your own food. And purified water! Take 3-4 bottles for the day.

2. -Don’t buy food you’ll feel guilty of bringing home. You have the control of what you can bring in your house. Once you’re at home you have no choice, but to eat the good stuff J You may feel less guilty of buying a high priced ready-prepared salad, than a less expensive dessert, because you know you are doing your body good!

3. -Location, location, location. When traveling ask and look for vegetarian restaurants, Trader Joes, farmer’s markets, and Whole Foods Markets. In the beginning, it’s important to surround yourself with the foods you want to eat. On the road, buy food at the supermarkets. Nowadays, many contain an organic produce section. Buy avocados, sprouts, raw nuts, organic salad mixes, olive oil, organic dried fruit, coconut water, etc.

Cheating will catch up with you!

ok, i cheated twice in 2 weeks. innocent flirting with steak dinners and chicken salads. and what's the result? i gained 2 freaking pounds! it's hard not to be mad at myself! it's not fair! even though i made "healthy choices", my body decided to grab unto that food and store it for later. why? because i've been feeding it 1200 calories a day for the last few months and it needs sooo much more than that. unfortunately, to lose weight we have to eat much less than we need to. being hypoglycemic doesn't help my hunger. i have to eat every 2 hours or else my blood sugar starts dropping and i get mild, moderate and sometimes severe attacks. it's hard to balance a diet with both diabetes and hypoglycemic. the weight loss is slower for us folks with sugar issues. i hate to say it but if you wanna feel healthy and lose weight: no pain, no gain. ain't that a bitch? that's my book title right there.

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA AREVALO SAYS: (foodconsultant@yahoo.com)

#5: Guava: “Helpful for digestive problems and diarrhea. Improves circulation and reduces catarrh and asthma.”Source: Sandra Cabot MD

“Read about individuals who inspire you to overcome fear and reach for your goals."
Ron Ball

MORE FOOD RECIPES!

Carrot-Lime Soup

2 med. Carrots

1 Celery stalk

½ TBSP Soy sauce

2 TBSP Lime juice, fresh

1 tsp grated ginger

1 TBSP Olive oil, extra virgin

Garnish with cilantro

Blend (without olive oil), lightly mix olive oil and top with herbs.

Steak dinner and Hank!

so my man took me out to a steak dinner date @ lawry's. i ate a 10 oz steak, 2 slices of bread with butter and yorkshire pie. i managed to somehow maintain my weight this week in spite of my overeating (and loving every minute of it!). i'm still 15 pounds lighter than i was in november 2010. after 5 months of jenny craig, i wanted to pig out and taste non jc food. the reason for my successful weight maintenance? i worked out 3 times that week (aerobic exercise) and skipped dinner on sunday, just ate veggies and fruits. i also didn't have wine or dessert on my dinner date and i think that made a huge difference. so every once in a while treat yourself, make sure that week you increase exercise and maybe eat less calories the day after you "sinned".

FOOD & THOUGHT OF THE DAY BY FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA AREVALO (foodconsultant@yahoo.com)

Grapefruit: “Helpful in catarrh, gallstones, obesity, slugglish liver function, digestive problems and respiratory and skin problems.”

Source: Sandra Cabot MD

“Association. Only associate with people who help you to be a hero.

Ron Ball

SNACK IDEAS

Homemade Trail Mix: done

In a plastic Ziploc bag MIX:

Complex Carbs	Stabilizer	Sweetener
½ -1 cup:	7-10:	Few:
365 High Fiber Organic Cereal and/or Eziekel Original Cereal…. sprinkle w/ cinnamon J	Any mixture of: RAW almonds, walnuts, cashews or pecans	Any mixture of: Goji berries, Inca berries, dried cranberries

Focusing on the past and the future!

let me explain....i'm focusing on the "past" so i can to enjoy the 15 pounds i lost since i started in november. i know, it's not as fast as i'd want it either but instead of thinking that way, i have to focus on how much i lost. i'm 15 pounds lighter and i feel sooo much better! so i have 15 to go...that's the other focus, the "future", the goal. focus on the prize: in a few months i'll be 30 pounds lighter.

there's lots of temptations along the way. like yesterday, i succumbed to cheese and frozen yogurt. why? cause it was there. i was at a storysalon event reading my pieces and they had wine and cheese...i mean, good cheese. then hank went next door and bought a huge cup of frozen yogurt @ froyolife...and i had no choice but to steal some...ok, a lot. so today, i'll work out a little harder and hope those extra calories get burned instead of settling on my thighs, like they usually do.

live and learn, right?. my relationship with food will always be dysfunctional, all i can do is forgive myself, move on and focus on my good choices.

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA AREVALO SAYS...(foodconsultant@yahoo.com)

Grapes: “Provides a quick boost of energy. Helps in anemia and blood disorders. Improves the complexion.”

Source: Sandra Cabot MD

“Resistance. Don’t surrender to your fears. Be a fighter."

Ron Ball

HEALTHY RECIPES

Olive Tapenade

½ cup black olives

½ cup green olives

1 clove garlic

1 tsp lemon juice

2 TBSP olive oil

Blackpepper TT

Put in blender and chop into small chucks.

Chocolate Dream

1 whole Coconut Water

1 whole coconut meat

½ TBSP Raw cacao powder

handful of romaine lettuce/spinach

cinnamon TT

dash sea salt

Blend and enjoy!

Can you live on 1200 calories a day??!!

no, you can't! i've been cheating so much last week, i should be arrested. i'm lusting after brownies, pasta and cheesecake. i feel like i'm losing my willpower! i think it's been 3 1/2 months and only 14 lbs, so i'm feeling like i'm losing too slowly. i wanna throw it all away and eat the way i WANT to. but then i think of the consequences and it's not worth it. people think i eat a lot but i raised my calories to 1500 last week and i gained .7lbs. that's so unfair!! i have to come to terms that that's my reality and i have to work WITH it not against it.

• “Acceptance. Don’t waste your life trying to change the impossible.”

-Ron Ball

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA AREVALO SAYS (foodconsultant@yahoo.com)

Ginger Root: “Reduces congestion and mucus production. Inhibits the formation of blood clots and lowers LDL cholesterol.”

Source: Sandra Cabot MD

HEALTHY RECIPE OF THE DAY:

Wheat-free Noodles

Mung Bean Noodles

Broccoli, steamed

Red Bell Pepper, finely diced

Carrots, grated

1 TBSP Nama Shoyu, soy sauce

1/2 TBSP Olive oil

Optional: Top with cilantro, ginger, cabbage.

Mix and enjoy!

I succumbed to temptation. So sue me.

ok, i committed jenny craig crime! i succumbed to temptation....in other words: i cheated!! you know what? it happens for the same reasons people cheat in a committed relationship. i got tired of eating the same foods week after week, same taste, same routine....*yawn*. the moral of this unfortunate event is: boredom can lead to cheating. so when it comes to food, this is what we all need to do: start having more fun with what we can eat to avoid eating what we shouldn't eat. this also applies to relationships: spice it up and keep it fun.

who knew food and sex were so connected?

FOOD CONSULTANT NADIA AREVALO SAYS: (foodcoonsultant@yahoo.com)

#1: Garlic Cloves: “Fights infections and reduces LDL cholesterol. Is a good liver and bile cleanser.”

Source: Sandra Cabot MD

“Your feelings are not a reflection of your reality."

Ron Ball

MORE FOOD RECIPES:

Raw Corn Chowder Soup:

2 ½ cups coconut water

2 cups sweet raw corn (from cob)

1 small carrot

1 celery stalk

1 clove garlic

1/3 yellow onion

2 tsp thyme

½ TBSP olive oil

Sea Salt TT

Blend veggies, then spices and enjoy!