I challenge you to try 5 new foods or habits this week!

[pjlla]

I decided that one reason I am in such a dieting rut is because I haven't tried anything new in a while. So I am challenging myself to try 5 new things this week..... both new foods and new habits.

My first "new" thing will be something I read about in a Biggest Loser book. Mixing peanut butter with sillken tofu to get a peanut buttery spread.... less calories and better for you. I really like peanut butter, but hate how high in calories/points it is. I hope this is tasty. I let you all know how it is!

My second "new thing" should be exercise related, but I can't think right now what it should be... guess I will give it more thought.

My third "new thing" will be to create some sort of new, low cal/low point veggie main dish. I am tired of either being hungry because I didn't spend my points wisely or eating something I don't really enjoy just because it is low points. I like most veggies and I know I can find something new to try.

Guess I will think about the other two.... maybe flip through some low cal cookbooks.

Anyone else want to challenge yourself to try some new things and/or habits this week? It might boost you out of a rut! .......................P

 

[TammyNC]

This is a great idea...will think on it and come back to post what I will be trying.

 

[MelanieC]

Ok - I'm game!!! I'm definately in a rut.

I eat clean, so I do eat a lot of healthy foods and there isn't much I haven't eaten in that area. I'll think on the food front.

I have 4 new workout DVD's - 2 from Biggest Loser and 2 new ones from Jillian Michaels.

#1 - Workout to my NEW DVD's

#2- Challenge myself to completely EAT CLEAN for the entire week - not one non clean item.

#3- Eat something new - TBD (although I did that today - I bought dried Edamame - Someone mentioned it for taking when you travel because they are high in Soy protein-14g protein in one serving).

#4- TBD

#5- TBD

 

[pjlla]

Okay... I made the peanut butter/tofu blend. It is yummy! I can definitely see using this instead of straight pb on toast, crackers, and sandwiches!

Here is the original recipe:

1 C silken tofu (approx 9 oz)

1/3 C peanut butter

4 tsp. honey

2 tsp. lime juice

Blend all ingredients together in a blender or food processor until smooth. Store in refrigerator.

Serving size: 2 TB - 80 calories, 5 g protein, 4 g carbs, 5 g fat, 1 g fiber

WW points per serving - 2

Here is what I used:

I used the tofu and peanut butter (1 lb. of silken tofu and 2/3 C p.butter... double recipe) but instead of honey I used Agave nectar (8 tsp. for the doubl recipe) and I did not use the lime juice. My blender seized up on me when I tried to use it, so I ended up blending this together with a whisk. It took a minute for the p. butter and tofu to get together, but it definitely worked. I might even try adding a splash of vanilla.

It is wetter than straight p. butter, but still spreadable. And I can essentially eat double the amount for the same points as straight p. butter! And I can see blending this into shakes or dipping fruit! HTH someone!

Tomorrow's new thing will be... ankle weights on the treadmill. I just read a study about how important weight training is in addition to just cardio when trying to burn calories. I sort of knew that, because more muscle burns more fat, but the study was interesting. I really hate weight training and hence have done none since last spring (I know, I know... bad girl) but maybe incorprating ankle weights into my walks/runs will help. (I do occasionally use hand weights when walking.) Now to find those weights and dust them off!................................P

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

Thanks for the peanut butter recipe. I am ADDICTED to natural peanut butter and even though it is good for you, I eat WAY TOO MUCH.

I would like to try this recipe, but I am supposed to stay away from soy products. It interferes with my thyroid medication.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I could use instead of the tofu?

 

[pjlla]

Anyone still here with me?

I have stuck with my first change, which was the peanut butter/tofu mix. I haven't had regular p. butter since I made that batch. I really enjoy the blend and 1 TB. of it seems to go a lot further than 1 TB. of regular peanut butter.

Another change was to find a new veggie recipe. Well... it took a few days, but I found a Weight Watcher recipe for "Creamy Sweet Potato Soup" and I made it last Monday while stuck home in the snow. It was DELICIOUS and I had it for lunch AND dinner that day... and lunch again the next day! I still have some left and will probably have some for lunch today. What I like most about the recipe was that I had all of the ingredients on hand and probably would almost always have the stuff on hand... it was real easy, basic, and fairly quick. And nice and warm and creamy on a snowy day! It is 4 points per serving, so it is not a zero point veggie recipe, but it is so good, it is worth it!

Regarding my change in the exercise... the biggest change is that I am actually exercising fairly regularly again! I couldn't find my ankle weights (probably lost in the disaster we call a garage), but I have been using two three-pound hand weights on the treadmill and I think it makes a difference. Plus I've been trying to incorporate two three/five minute full incline cycles in my walk. My neighbor and I walked outside last week and did a big hill and I noticed that I could feel it in my glutes a day or two later, so I figured it must be working something I don't usually work on.

My next personal challenge was to be more dedicated to my food journal and I am proud to say that I have journaled every bite for 17 straight days. It really makes a big difference to me personally.

Well.... despite my ambitious goals of 5 new habits a week, four is all I have succeeded in incorporating and sticking to... but that is better than NONE! Anyone else still with this?...............P

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I try something new every month. I think that's one of the biggest reasons I've lost 30 lbs. in the past couple of years. One month I'll try eggplant, and then at least once a week I have to try eggplant in a different way (I still don't like eggplant ). Or I give up TV for a month (that one was huge, for the first couple of days I sat around like "What do I do?" and I only watch maybe an hour of TV a night, I eventually started doing more activities and now I hardly ever watch TV even though I was only doing it for a month). So once a month I try a new activity, give up something that's bad for me (I gave up adding salt to food one month), or try new foods.

Right now I'm working on no diet soda and drinking at least 3 bottles of water a day (I hate water and I'm trying to only use one packet of sugar free drink mix a day).

I love peanut butter as well. I mix fat free cream cheese with peanut butter (and a little cinnamon). It's actually really good and reminds me almost of those honey walnut cream cheese spreads.

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

Mixing the peanut butter with low fat cream cheese sounds good. Maybe I'll even try mixing it with plain yogurt. I'll have to experiment.

The new habit that I added this week was doing a workout DVD along with doing the elliptical. Usually I'll do one or another. I did both yesterday and it felt good.

I'll have to think about what other "new" things I can do. Thanks for inspiring me!