If You Love Me...

So this is something that has been bothering me lately. Being a writer, I thought I would share it the only way I could think of. By writing it.

So, If you love me, don't offer me cakes and cookies. Don't put candy before me. Don't tell me a little won't hurt. 

If you love me, don't tempt me with things you know I shouldn't eat. Don't tease me for having things I can't have. Don't make me feel bad for trying to make the right choices for me. 

If you love me, support my choice to change my life. Encourage my good choices. Remind me of my goals when you see me off my path. Be there for me. 

If you love me, shower me with hugs and kisses. Reward me with things I can hold and cherish, not eat and regret. 

As much as I try to be strong, food is a drug to me. Sugar is killing me body and soul. It brings about deep depression, it makes me feel sick.... but my brain still wants it. I know I shouldn't, but I can't always say no. 

So, if you love me, say no for me. If you love me, help me say no for myself. If you love me, simply love me.

Spicy Turkey Burgers

Spicy Turkey Burgers

Ingredients

1 pound ground turkey

2 Tbsp. diced Jalapeno from the jar

2 small cans mushrooms

I pack Lipton Onion Soup mix

8 sliced pepper jack cheese slices

Salt, pepper, and garlic to taste.

Directions

Mix ground turkey, jalapeno, soup mix, and seasonings in a bowl. For best results, squish with your hands. Divide into 4 equal parts and form into patties. 

In a pan, sauté the mushrooms for a bit to get warm and bring out flavor. Remove mushrooms and put in patties. Brown on each side, making sure to cook the meat thoroughly so not left uncooked in the middle.

Top with one slice of cheese, then add mushrooms, and top with second slice of cheese. Cover with a lid for a few minutes to melt cheese.

Serve with or without bun. I prefer without, and use condiments as you like. I’m a ketchup girl. 

Makes 4 servings

342 Calories

4 carbs

38 protein

Regain Reality

Regain Reality

So many of us get on the weight loss train and ride it hard and fast. Even those who don’t get weight loss surgery work hard to lose weight. However, after a few months or even a year, holding on to those healthy habits becomes extremely difficult. Sometimes we get tired of seeing others eating the foods we once loved but know are not good for us. Other times we get frustrated having to put so much effort into what we eat. It is our brains that bring about the regain that often happens after losing weight. 

You hear it all the time. “You are going to gain it back and more.” It is part of what discourages us from trying to get healthy in the first place. However, if you are serious about wanting to make a difference in your life, it isn’t your body you need to change, it is your mind. There are always going to be people bringing you down. It is important for you to understand this, and put in place a barrier for the negativity. It is also helpful to understand the warning signs that regain is on the way. Trust me, I know from experience 

Regain can come about quickly and suddenly. It usually starts with this simple word ­— moderation. Yes, everything needs to be done in moderation, however, that word can quickly become the excuse that leads to your downfall. I find that the holiday season is when this word becomes your worst nightmare. The problem is, when you say, “Oh, I will just have a little bit,” your brain then tells you that it wants a little more. This is especially difficult when those delectable treats are staring you in the face, like at parties.

So, what can we do to avoid letting things get out of control? Well the easiest thing to do is make healthy eating a habit. Don’t look at it like a diet. Look at it as a way of life. Teach yourself to cook amazingly tasty things from scratch with healthy ingredients. When you go to these parties, bring a dish to share with your friends that is both yummy and health friendly. Start your own book of recipes and scour the internet for new things to try. 

Making sure that you plan ahead and keeping your mind strong can be the most important factor to your continued health. Remember how hard you worked to get healthy and lose weight. Keep in mind the sacrifices you have already made. Is it worth it to throw it all away just to indulge in something that doesn’t really do anything for you? No, not really. Find new indulgences that bring you happiness. Leave food to what it is meant for — nutrition.

Cabbage and Smoked Sausage Soup

Cabbage and Smoked Sausage Soup

1 onion, chopped

1 pound smoked sausage, sliced

3 cups water

1 head cabbage, cored and coarsely chopped (I prefer purple)

3 carrots, sliced

3 stalks celery, sliced

2 cups fresh spring greens (spinach, swiss chard, kale) 

1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes

2 cubes chicken bouillon

salt, pepper, and garlic to taste

2 packets of Sazon Goya Coriander & Annatto Seasoning

Directions

In a large pot put sliced sausage and onions to brown. 

Once browned, add in the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil then reduce down and simmer until carrots are soft.

(Note, sometimes I wait to add the greens until closer to time to serve, as they don’t take long to cook, and I don’t want them to wilt.)

I eat as is, sometimes my family adds in some wild rice with the mix or has bread on the side, but I try to stay away from the carbs. 

Makes 10 Servings

Calories 195

Carbs 15

Protein 8

For those who don't know what Sazon is, here is a picture of what it looks like. You can usually find it in the international foods section of most grocery stores. It is a Spanish seasoning.