Berry-Ricotta Waffle
I tried another recipe this morning that I got from the kitchen of Denise Austin. I don't know how well you may or may not know Denise, but she is a pretty amazing woman! I first fell in love with her back in 2003-2004 range. I was on the hunt for a way to incorporate more exercise into my life (one of my many yo-yo moments). I found a DVD at Walmart called "Fat Blasting Yoga" by her. I had never heard about her then and thought that it may be fun. I had always wanted to learn more about yoga. From the beginning, I fell in love with Denise! She totally cracks me up with her enthusiasm and her little "pep talks". She just appears to be such a bubbly peppy person. Now that I'm looking back, I think I was drawn to her because she was happy and I wanted to be like her. I was not happy at all then. I was miserable. I absolutely hated my life. For that hour a day, she brought a little bit of happiness into my life and I am grateful for that.
The challenge, for that DVD, was to do the workout for 21 days. Even though this brought some pleasure into my life, I could never complete the straight 21 day challenge. Why was that? Why could I not do it? It brought me joy. Maybe deep down, I didn't believe that I deserved it. I did like to make myself suffer a lot back then. There was a time when I felt that I couldn't do anything right and I would "punish" myself by not eating. Those were some of my darkest days. I had lost so much weight. My eyes were sunken in. My sister-in-law told me once that she was worried about me and thought I was anorexic. Of course I denied it. How could I be that? But in all actuality, when I look back and think about it. I probably was even if it was for just that short period of time in my life. I had an unhealthy relationship with food and my body. I realize now that I have suffered from body dysmorphia for most of my life.
I say all of that to tell you this. I stumbled across Denise again about a month ago. I finished the weight loss phase of this program back in June and started the transitional phase. In this phase I started incorporating Habits of Motion, as Dr. A likes to call it, into my daily routine. I started walking at least 1.5 miles per day. It was low impact and a lot more than what I was doing before the program. I remember a time when I ran everyday and went to the gym. I had gotten overly obsessed back then (this was around my anorexic period). I started adding more movement into my daily routine using the information about NEAT & EAT that Dr. A taught me.
I did this for a few weeks and was feeling good! I was maintaining my goal weight and getting more active. I was doing this by myself! What a liberating feeling it is to know that I can make good choices for my wellness without always following a strict plan. Dr. A had taught me the tools that I needed to do this. Now, I wanted more exercise that would help to tone up my body. So I went searching for something. Driving 30 minutes to a gym everyday or 3 times a week isn't really appealing to me. That's what you have when you live in a rural area. Plus, gyms always kind creeped me out LOL! It's in my head, I know, but I always feel like people are watching me and I don't like it.
Denise popped into my head. I wondered what she was up to now and if she was still doing workout videos. So, I googled her and I learned so much about her that I had never known! 30+ years of experience. Her track record is very extensive as an expert in exercise physiology. I was really impressed about she had served two terms on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports during the Bush administration, and how she helped to launch the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food pyramid guidance system. She's been a very busy lady all of these years! She even has her own website deniseaustin.com.
When I saw her face, it made me smile. I went to her website and knew this is what I needed. I signed up for one of her programs that gives you daily exercise videos to follow her along in and she gives you a daily meal plan. You get a free trial period. So, I thought, "Why not?". One of the first things that I looked at were her recipes. I was very pleased to see that they all followed along with everything that I had learned. Now, that I know about her involvement with the food pyramid, it's like "duh, of course it does"! In recent years, the food pyramid has shifted to what we know as the My Plate". Dr. A was doing the My Plate system before there was a My Plate system.
The only thing I see with hers and Dr. A's plan is that Dr. A has you to incorporate 6 small meals a day. In Denise's food plan for me, there are only 4. Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, and Dinner. I'm still incorporating Dr. A's nutrition plan. I know what my TEE should be. I know how many calories I should be consuming at each of my 6 fuelings. I am on target with my macros. I don't want to lose any more weight. I want to continue to maintain while toing my body. I want my blood sugars to stay constant throughout the day so that those unnecessary cravings don't rear their ugly heads. I'm not saying that they don't still happen, but it's much easier to control them.
Other than the timing of the meals, the meals are so on target! I usually incorporate the breakfast and lunch options into my daily routine. Sometimes, I'll use the dinner recipes if I can transition them into following along with the Optavia lean and green guidelines since Gray is still in phase 1.
Remember how I said earlier that I couldn't even complete a simple 21 day challenge? I would usually give it 2 weeks and then quit. I can proudly say that I have been doing this new 10 week challenge for a consecutive 3 weeks now! 21 days! I have done it!! I will be beginning week 4 tomorrow of this challenge and I couldn't be more proud of myself. I am doing it! I CAN do it!
I couldn't have done any of this without Optavia. God knew what I needed. This program works on the total person. You detox your body, you learn what nutrition looks like, you learn of to fuel your body, you learn healthy habits and install them into your psyche, you learn what habits you currently have that need to be changed, you examine yourself giving you those "ah ha" moments to understand yourself more, and you learn what it means to live a happy, healthy, and well life.
If I tried this 10 week challenge with Denise without of having gone through my transformation with Optavia, I really don't think that I would have been as successful as I am right now. I would have quit like I always would have done. It would have been another one of those "yo-yo" diets that I tried and failed at. But not now! I am reaping the benefits and I am doing so great :) I am proud of myself. Gosh, it sure does feel so good to be able to say that and really mean it!
I am excited to see where I will be in another 7 weeks. I can already tell a difference in how my Habits of Motion have done for my body. 3 months in since I met my weight loss goal and I am thriving! I have maintained my weight. I am winning!
Does any of this resonate with you and your heart? If so, I'd love to help guide you in your own life changing transformation. This is a lifestyle change. It truly is. I may not have believed it when I first started this journey but I whole heartedly believe it now! We are all a work in progress. Why not un-stall that progress and give it a push forward?
Here's the long awaited recipe that I mentioned back up top! I didn't expect to lead you through all of that but it was were my heart went :)
Berry-Ricotta Waffle
Whole grain waffle topped with creamy ricotta cheese, fresh mixed berries and a sprinkle of delicious chopped walnuts.
Servings size: 1
Prep Time: 10
Calories: 250
Ingredient List
1 whole-grain waffle (use gluten-free waffle if following a gluten-free diet; I recommend Van's 8 Whole Grains waffles)
1/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/2 cup mixed berries (fresh or frozen, thawed), warmed if preferred
1 Tbsp. chopped walnuts (or any preferred nut/seed)
Prep and Cook
1. Toast the waffle, if frozen. 2. Spread the ricotta on the waffle. Top with the berries and walnuts.
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