Cook Yourself Thin

Today Shaun gave a weight loss update and many of the commentators also talked about their attempts at weight loss.  It's interesting that these days many of us have weight to loose.  I suspect that all our modern day conveniences and sedentary lifestyles are big culprits. 

I too have worked on loosing weight.  In the last year and a bit I have managed to loose and mostly keep off 35 pounds.  I follow the weight watchers approach and basically just track what I eat.  I can eat whatever I like but if I make crappy choices, then I can't each much at all.  One secret is really limiting how much you eat out and eat as much home cooked fresh food as you can.  Of course this takes more time and effort, but I think the benefits are worth it.

We all like looking better and fitting into smaller jeans, however for me the big driver is health.  As I get older I want to ensure I keep my blood sugar, cholesterol and other factors under control.  I don't want to take a pill for anything that can be controlled naturally. 

So back to food.  This has been something I have focused on, especially since I love it so : )  For me I love my sweets and won't have any success if I eliminate them completely.  So I have found some good recipes for goodies that reduce the sugars, cut fats and overall calories.   I also try and make sure my fiber is high and the carbs low.  In this endeavor I have found a few good sites with yummy recipes you can try.

Gina's Skinny Recipes has some great recipes and loads of great pictures.  I love to see a picture of something I am going to make.  There is a banana oatmeal cookie on this site that I recommend.  Just a bit of butter and lots of oatmeal.  I like to add sunflower seeds, raisins, dried cranberries, whatever you like to fibre it up.  Here is the cookie recipe. 

She also posts the nutrition information and the WW points (old and new). 



There is also a TV show called Cook Yourself Thin.  I have started trying a few of their recipes.  One that tasted really good is Healthy Potato skins.  They are really yummy and the sweet potatos have half the glycemic index of a white potato, so they break down into sugars much slower which is good.  You also get a healthy dose of spinach in this one so all good.  I have started using Turkey bacon as well as an alternative.  It isn't quite real bacon, but a good alternative.

I also have the Eat, Shrink and be Merry cookbook.  This is also a TV show and has some recipes that are yummy.  These sisters work to take a regular recipe and re-vamp it to cut carbs, fat and salt.  They also try and increase good fats and fibre.  The Starvin Guy Chicken pot pie was a good one.  There is no crust but instead a sweet potato biscuit on top...its pretty yummy.

The other thing I often do is check out nutritional information on food choices if I am going to a restaurant.  They don't all have them but if you are going to BP, Montana's, Earls, etc. they do.  You would be surprised at how evil some seemingly innocent dishes are.  Now I am not saying to never treat yourself, but this is about being good more often than being bad.  Often the better choice is good as well. 

So those are a few sites you can check out for some cooking inspiration, especially if you are looking to dial back the bad a bit : )