Well tomorrow is the 2nd weigh in. I hope everyone does well. It's not like anyother program I've been on. It's not a 100 meter dash- its a marathon. Really a marathon for life. Following an exercise pattern for 10 days along with a diet is easy. This is the long haul. Good luck to all.

    This was a good week. Nearing the 30 lb loss area. This is a new area for  me last time was over almost 30 years ago. It also was a great 2 weeks for exercise. I was able to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Working towards 3 miles of walking in about and hour. So far I have made the 3 mile mark but not in 60 minutes. The goal is still there.

    Tomorrow is dinner at Aladdin's. Hope to see some of the other Lighten up people. Last week the dinner was on a special day. St. Patrick's Day was corned beef, lots of boiled cabbage and carrots. I know I went overboard for the day but the next day I got religion back. Hope all are looking forward to the weigh-in on Saturday. See you then.

     I will share a receipe that was a modification of a Weight watchers recipe for succotash that my wife makes. This will make 4 servings with the following breakdown per serving-

Calories -256 Total Fat - 5 grams Sat Fat -1 Cholesterol-0 Sodium 527 mg Carbs- 42g Fiber-12 g Protein-13g

Calcium-40 mg

4 Tsp Olive oil

1 red bell pepper seeded and diced

1 green bell pepper seeded and diced

1/2 zucchini diced

1/2 onion diced

2 garlic cloves finely chopped

2 roma tomatoes diced

1 cup cooked lima beans

1 15.5 oz can black beans drained and rinsed

1 cup thawed frozen corn kernels

1 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp sea salt

2 Tbsp parsley

1/2 Tsp freshley ground pepper

1/4 tsp dried marjoram

 

1. In medium skillet, heat the oil. Saute the bell peppers,zucchini, onion and garlic until wilted -about 8 min. Add the tomatoes and saute 2 min.

2.Stir in the lima beans, corn,black beans,parsley,paprika,salt,pepper and marjoram. Reduce the heat and simmer,covered,until the flvors are blended- about 10 min.

 

    This makes a great side dish or  a meatless meal.

    

 

 

    My wife and I have enjoyed 2 meals at Aladdin's in Mentor. The food is excellent and the service the same. Talking with other members of this years Lighten Up is one of the best parts of the meal. Sharing info on successes and menus and difficulties with any kind of diet program. The aftermath of the program is how successful we will be in keeping what we lost off for good. As I wrote to Laura K in my request to get into the  program- I want to make this my last diet-- I want the weight to stay off. Others that I have talked to on the  program have the same problems with keeeping it off. They as I have been on alll the diet and lost the weight only to put all or most of the weight back. The VitaBot program if you continue to plan with it can lead me in a life style change. But as the catch phrase says: If it is to be then it is up to ME.

Got on the scale and lost only 1 pound for the week. I had added a little more peanuts as a snack. I didn't give up hope. I ate a late breakfast on Sat and had dinner. No snacks. No lunch. Sunday morning the loss went to 2 pounds for the week. Monday back on the program.