Week Eleven - Day Two - Spiced Almonds

Second visit at Dr. Scott's office this week.  One more week of twice a week visits.  I will also end my Clearvite program next Tuesday.  i had the first beef I have had in two and a half weeks tonight. Dr. Scott had told me I could have beef again when I ended my vegetarian week of Clearvite.  When I told him I was still eating only fish, chicken and turkey, he told me to go home and have some beef and that is exactly what I did.

Today I made some Chili Lime Almonds and shared them with Dr. Scott's office and they loved them.  I told Dr. Scott's wife I would have the recipe on my blog by tonight.  both her and the good Dr. said they liked almonds and these are okay on this phase of my journey.  I did not use the whole amount of honey called for.  I figured honey would be okay since I had maple syrup on the modified water fast.  This is the first time I have had any sugar or sugar type product since this journey began.

  Chili Lime Spiced Almonds

Ingredients:
3 cups almonds
1/4 cup lime juice
2 Tbs chili powder
1 Tbs salt
1/2 tsp cayenne
2 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs honey

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spread almonds on a large baking sheet.  In a small bowl mix together everything but the almonds.  Pour mixture over nuts, and stir evenly to coat.  Make sure the nuts are in a single layer on the baking sheet.  Bake 15-20 minutes.  Cool completely, then store in an air tight container.

This recipe comes from the web site Dinners Dishes and Desserts:  http://dinnersdishesanddesserts.com/chili-lime-spiced-almonds/

I noticed that Jello now has a label on the boxes of Jello that say that Jello contains no Aspartame.  Tonight I came across an interesting article about how dangers of Aspartame:  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/06/aspartame-most-dangerous-substance-added-to-food.aspx

Week Eleven - Day One - Clean Eating

This week I lost 2 lbs. Vick says I did good but I wish I had lost more.  The total loss is about 55 pounds in ten weeks.  All I have to do is lose about 1 3/4 lbs a week for the rest of the year and my loss will be over 100 pounds.  That would be nice.  I will start keeping closer track of my calories tomorrow.  Tomorrow also marks the last day of the vegetarian part of Clearvite.  When I talked with Dr. Scott about the low weight loss this week and I thought I would lose more during the vegetarian week, he said most people lose a small amount or nothing at all during this week.  That made me feel a little better.  Will be trying harder this coming week.

Today was my visit at the Dr.'s office.  Followed the usual routine. my visit lasted about 90 minutes.  The time of day I visit is a nice quite time to be there.  About 4:30, it starts getting crazy and I am glad I leave shortly there after.  Next week ends my twice a week visits.  It is hared to believe I have been on this journey for ten weeks.  Time has flown by.

On the blog Tough Lipstick http://www.toughlipstick.com/, the author of the blog, Anna, lists five steps to eating clean.  She has some great ideas and they follow the things I have been learning from Dr. Scott.  Check it out:  http://www.toughlipstick.com/2013/02/5-steps-to-clean-eating.html

Rest Stop - Quinoa Recipe

Last rest stop for the night.  I am into the last couple of days of my week of being a vegetarian during my Clearvite phase.  It hasn't been as hard as I thought, but I am not sure I will show much of a weight loss this week.  I know that at some point I will hit a plateau and maybe this is it, but that means I have to work extra hard the last week of the phase of my journey.  I also need to be a little more serious about keeping track of my calories and make sure I am walking every day.

As I posted recently, I have started eating Quinoa.  Here is a breakfast idea.  The recipe comes from http://www.turntablekitchen.com/2009/07/quinoa-breakfast-bowl-a-fresh-start/   This is the Turntable Kitchen Recipe collection.

Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

Ingredients:

1 cup milk (I used coconut milk)

1 cup water

1 cup red or yellow quinoa rinsed

1 pint mixed blackberries and blueberries

1/2 tsp ground cinamon (more to taste)

1/3 cup chopped, toasted pecans

honey, to taste (I omitted this)

Directions:

Pour the milk, water and quinoa (stirring to combine) in a medium pot and bring the ingredients to a boil.  Reduce the heat to a low simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until 3/4 of the liquid is absorbed by the grains.  Meanwhile, toast the nuts by spreading them on a cookie sheet and baking at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes.  When the quinoa is done, take the pot off the heat and let it stand, with the cover on for about five minutes.  Take the pecans out of the oven.  Pour in the blackberries, sprinkle with cinnamon and stir in the pecans.  Next, add about 1 tsp honey and stir to mix.  Serve.

As a side note, my sister is following this blog and has told me if she catches me eating oneof the Dunkin Dounut Breakfast Sandwiches I blogged about a couple of days ago, she will ninja kick that sandwich and probably me into the middle of next week.  I guess I may have to eat one into disguise or in secrect.

Rest Stop - Spinach Salad Recipe

This rest stop is several recipes I have used during this journey.  They may have foods I am not allowed to have while on Repairvaite or Clearvite.  In that case I either leave them out or replace them with something I can have.

The first one is for Spinach Quinoa Salad.  It comes from two peas and their pod.  http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/spinach-quinoa-salad-with-roasted-grapes-pears-almonds/

Spinach Quinoa Salad with Roasted Grapes, Pears and Almonds

Ingredients:
2 cups red seedless grapes
2 large Bartlett pears, chopped
1 Tbsp honey
2 cups water
Pinch of sea salt
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
8 cups fresh spinach
1/2 cup chopped almonds

For the Lemon-Honey Dressing
2 Tbsp olive oil
3 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp honey
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Combine grapes and pears in a small bowl.  Drizzle with honey and stir until fruit is well coated.  Place fruit on a large greased baking sheet.  Roast fruit for 15-20 minutes, or until the grapes are slightly shriveled and pears are soft.
2. While fruit is roasting, cook quinoa.  In a large pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil.  Season with a pinch of sea salt.  Stir in quinoa and cook until water is evaporated and quinoa is tender, about 20 minutes.  Pour quinoa into a medium bowl and fluff with a fork.  Let cool to room temperature.
3. To make Lemon-Honey Dressing: combine olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, pepper in a small jar with a tight fitting lid, close, and shake until well combined.
4. In a salad bowl, combine spinach, roasted grapes, pears, quinoa, and chopped almonds.  Drizzle salad dressing over salad and toss until coated.
 I make this without baking the grapes and pears because I can't have the honey



The second recipe comes from the top tv stuff household blog.  It is
a great recipe for a way to start your day.  I don't make it very often because I get get to have a lot of bananas on the Clearvite program and I couldn't have any bananas on the Repairvite program.  I could have this on the Repairvite program if I left out the banana.  But I did not find it until the last couple of days.  The link to the blog is:  http://www.toptvstuffhousehold.com/easy-recipes-for-healthy-breakfasts/

Ingredients:
1 peeled banana
1 cup berries (blueberries, strawberries, etc.)
1 peeled orange
1/4-1/2 avocado (pitted)
2-3 cups of a leafy green (spinach, kale, etc.)
1 Tbsp ground flax seed
4 ounces water

Directions:
Throw all of these ingredients in to your blender, except for the leafy greens.  After the ingredients have been blended, toss in the leafy greens and blend for 20-30 seconds. Pour into a glass and enjoy.

Week Ten - Day One - Week One of Clearvite

Weigh in day today.  Lost 5.1 pounds this week.  I am now under 350 pounds and that is a big milestone.  Visited with Dr. Scott today.  He is happy with the way things are going.  My energy is up and I can even move better.  I picked up a 25 pound bag of sugar the other day and Vick said "just think, you have lost equivalent of two of those".  It seemed very heavy and I am not sure how I carried that much weight around.

Usual routine at the Dr.s office today.  I have two weeks after this of twice a week visits, then it drops to once a week.  I also have one day left on the first week of Clearvite.  I start a week of vegetarian meals on Wednesday.  That should prove to be exciting and interesting because I like my meat.  This week has been a challenge because I haven't been able to have beef.  Beef and pork will be reintroduced after the three week Clearvite program.  I will add a couple of recipes tomorrow because it is very late.

Rest Stop - Fish Recipe

Time to stop again along this journey.  This time it is to post a new recipe.  Since I started the Repairvite phase of this journey and now that I am on the Clearvite phase and can't have beef or pork we am eating a lot more fish.  This recipe and picture come from the Sunkist Produce site.  The link is http://www.sunkist.com/recipes/steelhead-mandarin-in-parchment_1063.aspx  There are several good recipes on this site.

Steelhead Mandarin in Parchment Paper

Ingredients:
1/4 cup green olives, pitted and sliced
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 tsp fresh oregano, chopped
6 green onions with green tops, chopped
2 Sunkist lemons, juiced
3 Sunkist gold nugget mandarin oranges, one zested, all peeled and segmented
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
4 each steelhead fillets, 6 oz
4 pieces parchment paper, 8"x 12" size

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Place 2 baking sheets in oven.

Instructions: (makes 4 servings)

Combine olives, red bell pepper, oregano, mandarin zest and segments, half of the green onions and lemon juice in a small bowl. Set aside.  Lay out parchment paper.  Divide half of the green onion evenly on one half of each of the parchment sheets.  Place a steelhead filet on each bed of green onions, season with salt and pepper.  Top with orange mixture.  Fold sheets of parchment paper over the top of the fish.  Fold edges of the parchment together, making small overlapping folds along the edge to seal tightly.  Place packets on heated baking sheets.  Bake 15 to 18 minutes.  Transfer packets to individual plates. Make a slice in the middle of the packet and tear paper open to reveal the fish.

Note: I have to omit the red bell pepper because I can not have peppers while I am did the Repaivite program and while I am doing the Clearvite program.

Rest Stop - Start of Clearvite Phase

Today, I started the Clearvite phase of my journey.  This is going to be an interesting part of the journey.  This week I can't have beef or pork and I have been eating a lot of steak lately and now I can't have any.  I am glad I had ham with the family last week and a couple of burger patties Sunday.  I am using a new supplement and it doesn't taste to bad.  I take it once a day for the next three days, then twice a day for three days, then three times a day for a week and I then go back down the dose ladder finishing with once a day for the last four days.  I am also taking a mega dose of vitamin D and a mega dose of Omega 3.  I am also using a cream to help my Cortisol levels.  This is going to be an interesting three weeks.  I can add a banana, and beans to my diet also.  I hope to lose 20-25 lbs during this phase of the journey.

I did walk today and got Vick to do a mile at the mall tonight.  I will be getting her there a lot because I will her and me.  Vick is worried about her weight and is eating a little like I am.  We will see how she does and if I can teach her what I am learning.

Week Eight - Day Two - Smoothie recipe

Had my second visit with Dr. Scott this week.  While I was in the office I talked with a lady that is at the end of her six months.  She is not real happy, she has only lost 12 pounds.  She said, Dr. Scott said she would lose 25-30 during her journey.  She swears she followed the Dr.'s directions.  I know it is harder for women to lose weight than men but I have a hard time believing that following Dr. Scott's directions you would only lose 12 lbs.  I have been on this journey for actually 51/2 weeks and I am down almost 50 lbs and the lady I spoke with is a fairly large lady.  that being said I will continue doing what I am doing and see where this journey takes me.

I am still unable to start the Clearvite portion of this journey because the Dr. does not have the stuff I need.  They say They will have what I need by the time I go back next Tuesday.  If that is true, I will start Clearvite Wednesday morning and the phase will last about three weeks.  Until then I am eating like I was while I was on Repairvite.  I am averaging about 800-1100 calories a day.

I came across a recipe for a great smoothie.  It comes from the food blog 'Gimme Some Oven'   http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/easy-berry-smoothie/    It is called Easy Berry Smoothie.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Frozen Mixed Berries

1 Cup Coconut Water

1 Tbsp Chia Seeds (optional)

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth.  Serve immediately.

I may add some spinach into mine next time.  As I can not have the seeds yet I leave them out.

Week Eight - Day One - End of Repairvite and Water Fast

The Dr. was back in the office today.  Had a good talk with him about the progress I am making.  I have lost 45 pounds in 50 days.  Not bad.  I know I have a long way to go.  I would like to lose about another 100-125 pounds.  The Dr. says he doesn't see why I shouldn't be down a total of about 100 pounds by the end of the year.  That excites me, to think I could be down 100 pounds by the end of the year.  Could actually be under the 300 pound mark.  I just realized, I lost 9 lbs this last week,  A big part of that was that fact that Thur, Fri, Sat was my modified water diet.  I only need to lose about a pound and three quarters each week from now through the end of the year to make 100 lbs for this year.  I believe it is very do able when I break it down that way.  I know that my success is because I am following the program Dr. Scott has laid out for me to the letter.  I will admit it has also taken a great deal of will power to accomplish these things.

I have completed 30 days of Repairvite and three days of the modified water fast.  I was going to start my Clearvite today but Dr. Scott is out of the things I need but should have them by the time I go back on Thursday.  I will be on Clearvite for 21 days and then I will be begin reintroducing foods back into my diet.  For what Dr. Scott said, the first thing will be eggs and gluten and dairy will be at the very last.  I told Dr. Scott I need to be back on dairy and gluten by August because I have dinner of homemade Ravioli planned and I don't want to give it up.  He just laughed and that worries me.  My visit to his office lasted about two and a half hours today.  It is a good thing I don't plan anything until at least three hours or so after my scheduled time at his office.

I need to take a minute, to post somethings I have been thinking as of late.  When I first went to listen to Dr. Scott's presentation, I went to keep my wife happy.  I figured it would all be a smoke and mirrors presentation.  I have tried all kinds of diets and programs for weight loss and I figured this would be no different, but now as I start my eighth week with Dr. Scott I feel totally different.  I know that Dr. Scott is in business to make money but I also know that he has a genuine concern for the people he is working with.  Thank you Dr. Scott for all you have done for me.

Rest Stop - Fruit Salad with Cinnamon

Just wanted to take a minute and jot down a couple of things today.  It is my third day on the Modified Water Cleanse and things have gone fairly well.  I figured out that this phase is about 200 calories a day, and that is only because of the maple syrup.  I am supposed to drink a gallon of the modified water a day.  Usually I don't have a problem drinking a gallon of water a day and the first day on this phase was no problem.  Yesterday was a different story.  I could only get 3/4 of a gallon down.  That was all I wanted.  Today, Vick is after me to drink my gallon.  We will see.  Tomorrow I get to eat again and also add nuts and brown rice to my diet.  We will having dinner with friends to morrow and I am making fish taco and fruit salad with cinnamon.  I have had the salad before but tomorrow I will actually add the nuts.  The recipe comes from the web site: paleoplan.com.  http://www.paleoplan.com/

Fruit Salad with Cinnamon

Ingredients:
1 orange, peeled and diced
1 apple, diced
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped (optional)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
Place  fruit in bowls.  Sprinkle with nuts and cinnamon.
This is for two people.