Roasted Garden Goodness

An abundant tomato and zucchini harvest resulted in this recipe. Even my non-tomato eating husband found it delicious. I, as the harried cook that night, found it so easy that I intend to make it again and again. We ate it as a side dish and then I used the leftovers to stuff tortillas and to toss with some pasta.

Roasting the tomatoes lends them a sweetness you can get no other way. This recipe is definitely worth turning your oven on in hot, muggy weather! Or put the pan on your grill and roast away. You'll need to watch your grill a little closer than the oven.

Roasted Garden Goodness

I am not including the Points value here as it all depends on what you put in it.

Spray a large pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Layer sliced onions thickly on the bottom of the pan.

Top with cored and quartered tomatoes and/or cherry tomatoes and thickly sliced zucchini, yellow squash, or patty pan squash. Mushrooms would probably be delightful.

Sprinkle with as much fresh garlic as you can handle. And then add more.

Top with a little oregano or either your favorite spice or whatever is most handy. If you have fresh herbs--use them! I used oregano as I intended to top my roast with Feta cheese and this is a classic Greek flavor combination.

Season with salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste.

Roast in a 400 degree oven until vegetables are tender and slightly browned-- oh, about 40 minutes to an hour. The onions should be caramelized and very tender, if they're not, put it back in the oven! Remove from oven and top with your favorite cheese. I used Feta. You don't need a lot of cheese. Be sure to measure cheese as it can easily push this recipe over your intended Points value.

This would be a great topping for fish or chicken. Very versatile, I am positive that this would freeze very well, after cooking, in either Zip bags or Tupperware.

The Five

Sight

The Memory of Running: A Novel by Ron McLarty

I'm currently riding high on several great books. I loved this book. It's central character, Smithy Ide is a very overweight, chain smoking, factory worker, who loses his parents in a terrible car crash. While reeling from this situation, he receives a letter that informs him of his mentally ill sisters death in California. So, he hops on his bike and starts to ride to California. And in the process, he loses more and gains more. A great book. I devoured this book while on vacation and am looking forward to reading more of McLarty's work.

This book hit very close to home for me and the author got it dead on. It's not easy to have a mentally ill member of the family. Harder yet is dealing with your own issues when theirs are almost always much bigger. Well done.

Song Yet Sung by James McBride

I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't know much about the history of slavery in our country. It's something that I've wanted to learn more about and this book did just that. No, it doesn't detail specifics, but reaches straight into the souls of those people involved in such a horrific business. The traders, chasers, owners, and the slaves themselves are profiled in this amazing novel. I felt like I was right inside the minds of the characters and this book truly opened my eyes to the run away slave's experience. I can't imagine what it would have been like to live this way, denied freedom and treated less humanely than most animals of the time. Please read this book and share it. It's story will haunt you.

On a side note, I found it very interesting how the author incorporated the Dreamer's visions of the future. Thought provoking to say the least. Well done James. Like all good books, I held this one to my chest, sighed, and wished that it didn't have to end.


Sound

The Essential Billy Joel (2CD) by Billy Joel

Oh Billy, I hereby apologize for belting out your tunes and not getting the lyrics right, but I can't help myself. You are timeless. And, I must say, that if I can't hear you in concert, I've just got to get my fix somehow. This CD does it nicely for me.


Scent

Canned spaghetti. Can't school start soon? This is one of Young One's favorite treats and although I know as a mom venturing on a new, healthy lifestyle I should not allow such disgusting food articles in the house, this is one of his quick fix lunches. I'm lowering my standards slightly so that he can make his own lunch. Sometimes, I think, we as moms have to do this in order to boost their self confidence and self sufficiency, right? (A total rationalization of unhealthy behavior, I know. Please forgive me.) We have a delightful high fiber pasta tossed with chunky marinara hidden in the fridge behind the coffee creamer and the Greek olives, but somehow this sickly sweet canned concoction is what he craves. Sigh.

Taste

Definitely not the canned spaghetti, not that I would want it, but those cans are single servings, Young One informed me. Actually, I'm munching on cherry tomatoes from the garden which are sweet and delightfully Point free.

Touch

My new birdhouse, thanks mom. Purchased at a craft fair while on vacation, I got to pick the color. It's bright yellow and looks so great stuck in a flower bed near our red chairs and fire pit. A Debbie Downer informed me that painted birdhouses are toxic to the baby birds, so until I investigate further, I'm blocking the hole with a little netting. It's too late in the season for baby birds anyway, right?

Fat Rant of the Day

What if the skinny chicks secretly have some form of parasite that the medical scientists have yet to uncover and their skinniness has nothing to do with their eating or exercise habits, but is instead due to an alien being in their body scarfing up their excess calories?

Hmmm.



These are the things that go through my mind while I'm working out. Today, not such a great workout. I tried a Denise Austin workout that I've had collecting dust for a few years. It's title, I'm ashamed to admit, is Bounce Back after Baby and judging from the clothing and hair, was probably made in the 1990s. Why would I dig out such an antiquated tape (yes, it is a tape, and yes, along with my DVD player in my laundry room I have a rusty old VCR that I use for such occasions)? Being that my Baby will turn eleven in the fall, it seems more than laughable that I still had this workout tape. Funnier still is the fact that I, in a fit of boredom and revolt against the Leslie Sansone DVDs that I've been using, decided to pop this one in and give it a whirl.

I knew I was doomed at the start when Denise started to speak. I had forgotten what a nitwit she was. The workout itself was relatively challenging (mostly because she didn't cue steps ahead of time), although I kept thinking that it wasn't too late to Walk Away the Pounds with Leslie, but it wasn't long enough. Her annoying monologue as she thrusted and knee lifted was enough to push me to that angry state of mind that only comes when one is working out. So, I guess in her own way, Denise was motivating to me.

Anyway, my mind started to wander and I started to think about skinny chicks and how, for most of them, it really isn't this hard. I have many skinny friends and they're quick to offer some advice, but most of them readily admit that they've always been able to eat what they want. This inequality isn't worth spending much time on, really. I mean, why beat yourself up for something that you can't change? As my doctor once said, "You might just be someone who can only eat 900 calories a day. That's the bottom line, so figure out how to do that or workout so you can eat more."

In the workout haze I find myself in after about 10 minutes, I like to think about things. And sometimes, like today, my mind starts to wander as to why I got fat and why some stay slim. Today, Denise's sing song voice lulled (or forced, depending on how you look at it) me into thinking about alien tapeworms that might somehow have found themselves into a particularly smug skinny chick who's diet consists of french fries, sour cream, and chocolate chips directly from the bag. Although this skinny chick never really commented on my weight, and I do thank her for that, she often spouted such medical misinformation that it made me snort my coffee across the room. That's a story for another day, one that, I'm sure many medical professionals could share a few chuckles over.

So, twenty minutes later, feeling like a bit of a fool that I didn't pull this tape out and start another workout, I was finished with Denise's aerobic section. Not my usual 47 (not 45, it's 47) minutes of aerobic walking that I'm used to, but I had had enough. Apparently, the workout continued on to some toning exercises, but I couldn't stomach her voice anymore. I cooled down, stretched out, and threw a guilty glance at my exercise band that I use for toning and headed upstairs to meet my day head on.



Vacation aftermath update. I gained a pound. Not great, but I'll take it. Knowing this I should have worked out longer, but this new life is less about the guilt and more about forgiveness. So, I logged it and am moving on. Baby steps.

"So, what are you going to do about it?"

So, what are you going to do about it?

I think this question can offer the solution to just about any problem, issue, or concern. (Insert big "DUH!" here) Ultimately, I think all of us Fat Chicks finally figure out that we are the solution to our weight issues. It is the answer and as difficult as it is to ask this question and then answer it truthfully and realistically, you have to in order to move forward.

While it may seem a simplistic approach to weight loss, this question is at the core of what got me started. It's my mantra that starts almost every day. When I just can't seem to summon the energy to pull out of bed, get the workout clothes on, and get moving, I ask myself this question. Being overweight is hard. Losing weight is hard. It's all hard. And it's all on me.

I got this question from my mother's doctor. Not even mine! When my mom told me how her doctor had asked her this question, it was a changing moment in my life. Funny how that happens, isn't it? I literally heard harps, saw the light bulb ping above my head and from that point forward, I was taking healthy steps.

While I don't like to admit it, I know I was constantly making excuses about my unhealthy life. I wasn't that fat. I was eating healthy, it had to be genetics. I can eat as much as he can. I can't work out, I don't have the time. The list is endless and none of them hold up to the question, "So, what are you going to do about it?"

No one else, nothing else made me fat, but me. And no one, but me, will get me fit again. It's very simple, but oh so hard.

Something Salty

Wandering our farmer's market, I chatted with a young man who had a beautiful table of fresh produce. I purchased some beautiful turnips and beets for roasting and a gorgeous bunch of greens for munching. And then, I noticed some small, white, shelled beans that I just could not identify. So, I asked him. "Soybeans, for tofu," he responded. Maybe it's time for me to confess that I'm not a huge fan of tofu. Well, I think it's just that, besides Hot and Sour Soup, I haven't really had much well prepared tofu. Maybe I'll try making my own someday, but that's a challenge for another day. I almost walked away at that point and then it dawned on me. I love those little roasted soybeans that you can get at the health food store and since I've roasted chickpeas before, I could probably do the same thing with these fresh soybeans.

So, I bought them, and quickly found out how to roast them on the Internet and decided to follow this spicy version. They're crunchy and salty and slightly spicy. Just the perfect Point friendly snack for those salty cravings. I hope you enjoy.

(I've always wondered, what would happen if you got caught in the salty/sweet cycle? It could be never ending if you think about it.)

Spicy Roasted Soybeans

1/4 cup equals 3 Points. While this seems a little steep, a small servings of these goes a very long way. You can add these to your own snack or trail mix or use to top a salad for some crouton free crunch.

Soak three cups of whole, dry soybeans using either the standard or quick soaking method (below). Spread them evenly over a cookie sheet sprayed with nonstick spray. Spray tops of beans lightly with nonstick spray. Sprinkle generously with salt, garlic and chili powder (or your favorite combination of spices). Bake in a 300° F oven, shaking the pan every 15 minutes for about one hour or until soybeans are lightly browned and crisp. I thought it took more than 90 minutes. Cool in pan and store in a covered container or zip bag.

Soaking:
Soaking dry soybeans shortens the cooking time and improves the flavor, texture and appearance of beans. It's an absolute requirement before roasting.

Standard Soaking: In a large pot, add 6 cups of water for each pound of dry beans. Let the soybeans stand at room temperature for about six to eight hours, or overnight. It is unnecessary to refrigerate the beans during this process. Drain, rinse and roast beans.

Quick Soaking: Add 6 to 8 cups of hot water for each pound of dry beans. Heat the water to boiling and cook the soybeans for five minutes. Cover the pot and let the beans stand for one hour. Drain, rinse and cook the beans.

A Word on Water

It's a never ending debate in the weight loss world. Water, do you drink it or not?

So, thousands of dollars have been spent researching whether or not it's necessary to drink the equivalent of your body weight daily in water to lose weight. Well, not really your entire body, but, you know those 6-8 glasses per day that have always been "required."

Recently, a study made the rounds on the Internet that said, nope, it's not necessary to drink all this water. Just drink when you're thirsty and be done with it.

Personally, I think they could have saved their money. I mean, really, is it such a bad thing to drink water? Not really. It's cheap, it has no calories, and it does indeed quench your thirst. It also fills you up. And since your body is made up of it, probably a good idea to replenish it every once in a while.

I think we fat chicks need to remember a few things about these studies. Ask yourself, as I do every time one of these studies comes out, who funded the study and how many subjects did it study? I mean, in this instance it could be a study funded by the International Society for the Preservation of Gatorade. It could be funded by the Association of Dehydrated Spinsters. Often times, these studies are released without naming who paid for the study. And often times, these "studies" are paid for by a company looking to provide scientific proof that their product or service is better than a competitors. Or better yet, that the competitor's product or service isn't needed. As well, they may have only studied ten people. Even one hundred people isn't really a good pool to draw a conclusion from.

So, has this study convinced me that I shouldn't drink water? Nope, not in the least. In a few weeks or months, another one will come out once again lauding the value of water. And the cycle will begin again.

To me, there really is nothing that quenches my thirst like water. In the middle of my workouts, I can't imagine wanting anything else. I think overdoing it with caffeine loaded beverages or highly sweetened drinks is a big no-no. Proof in point? Ask anyone with a serious soda addiction what happens when they quit drinking them. They immediately lose weight. As a RN, I know that physiologically, the body processes calories from food differently from calories brought into the body in the form of liquid.

Once again, we come down to moderation. Enjoy other beverages IN MODERATION. For the rest of your liquid consumption, just reach for water. It can't hurt you, so why not?

Vacation...the Aftermath

So, maybe taking a trip to a town that has a little shop called World's Best Donuts wasn't such a bright idea for someone on Weight Watchers! Maybe even less brilliant, was renting a condo with a view of said establishment. The beauty of Weight Watchers is that you can enjoy a donut or two provided you have the Points for it, right?

And I did, but I also enjoyed a little Kettle Corn, some frozen custard, a smidgen of fudge and a giant Gyro big enough to feed most of Athens. But, I still think I'm doing okay. I was active, we walked a lot and hiked a few miles that were somehow uphill both going in the trail and out (I kid). There was one part of the hike that involved over 200 steep steps that I thought I was doing fairly well on until a woman in her 80s passed me on the way. And she was running. And not out of breath. And carrying a 50 pound bag of cement (I kid, again).

I did not weigh in last Friday. I was nowhere near my official scale and didn't intend to completely mess with my head by weighing on a different scale. I don't intend to ever travel without enjoying the food that comes with the destination and I did that this trip, but not without trying to balance what I put in with what I burned up.

If you've been around WW long enough you've had "it's a lifestyle change" crammed down your throat. That phrase is really the only zero Points food, you know. I don't believe that you have to make food your enemy as some people seem to think. Suffering, deprivation, hunger, don't have to happen on this program. You just have to plan your day or your week and it all works out. It really is that simple.

This balance is something that's taken me a long time to figure out. I don't to look back on my life wishing I would have enjoyed a local treat, but I also don't want to weigh more than my car. So, looking at a trip as both food and experiences is a good fit for me. I love to travel and I don't intend to do anything but do more of it. So, figuring out how to do it and remain relatively on plan has been a great victory for me.

Now, this journey certainly isn't over for me. I'm a long way from my goal weight, but I'm feeling better and stronger every day about what I'm doing for my body. And that deserves a celebration. As well, celebrating the fact that I took another trip without reverting to old behaviors is something that I am extremely proud of.