VEGAN

Soooo. I haven't been writing too much because about 11 days ago I went full blown vegan.

WOWZERS.

Best decision I have ever made in my life.

The gym has become my savior.

I do about 20 mins of HIIT cardio on the treadmill.
Then I go to weight training. Either arm day, leg day, back and shoulders, or abs... 20 days til my FL vacation!!!

My goal is to lose 10 lbs by the trip! This is going to take A LOT of work...here I Go!

Also, quick tip. For those mushroom fans...proven statistic that women who eat at least a cup of cooked mushrooms a day for a protein source can lose up to 10 lbs of belly fat in 8 weeks. BOOM...NO BUTTER OR OIL...get some calorie free I can't believe its not butter spray, pinch of adobo, and garlic powder....solddd

Ahhh...the plateau!

It happens...you get on the scale and watch the lbs fall off quick at first and then...boom. No more dropping of numbers.

THIS DOESNT MEAN YOUR BODY ISNT CHANGING AND GETTING SMALLLLLER.

Too much weight loss at first is usually followed by quick weight gain if you don't stick to a healthy diet and exercise.

For me, this just means I keep up with a good diet and now it is time I start toning errrrythang in the gym.

This is where I get serious. Eating healthy is not going to give you ripped thighs and a 6 pack...but it is a good starting point to get where you want to be.

I have been to the gym three times this week, worked one double so far (I bartend and stay on my feet all day and go up  and down stairs, thats my "gym" time)...and have a big double tonight. I will be in the gym again tomorrow...and starting monday it will be serious gym rat Nikki. Working out is the best therapies and statistics show...dun dun dun...stress can cause belly fat to be stored.,,fuck that noise...I need to be stress free...

Caffeine is also proven to (even though yes. caffeine speeds metabolism) store belly fat...so.....no more coffee..... yikes....watch out world.

YAYYYYYYY!!

January 25th...heaviest I have ever been...168 lbs...

and I am ecstatic to say as of tonight...154 lbs...So excited.

I will post some new recipes tomorrow before I head to work.

Tonight I made vegan almond cinnamon muffins with a coconut almond milk glaze...they taste just like cinnamon buns minus the inevitable guilt! I will post that tomorrow :)

I also wanted to share a super quick lean leg work out I found on Pinterest that really whoops your ass.

You do these exercises quickly in a row from top to bottom, then bottom to top.

20 squats
30 lunges
40 toe touches
50 second wall sit
100 jumping jacks!

Try it and lemme know how your ass feels :)

Support

A table is supported by legs...well, what happens if the legs give out?
Your table is shit out of luck...

Same goes for humans...we are designed to feel good when we are supported emotionally by others, when people believe in us. And when no one supports you, well, ya feel like shit.

I worked 11 hours today, an am exhausted...BUT!

I wanted to make damn sure I wrote a quicky blog letting whoever know that is reading this and struggling with weight loss or healthier eating, or hell, just had a bad frigen day, that I support you.

I may be just some tattooed hippie makeup artist who slangs beer day in and day out who packed on some weight after a couple ups and downs in life...but you can bet your ass I could probably help you more than you know...and I am willing to.

I am here to say don't give up, on anything you are striving for...especially losing weight. Because I sure as hell am not.

Only ONE person will prevent you from being where you want to be, and that is you.

Tomorrow is my next weigh in...and I want to report a radical number...and I am hoping that I can do that  to prove that with hard work and dedication, all is possible. So far since January 25th I am 13 lbs down...I hope to be down at least 15 by the weekend...and I will make sure of it.

So goodnight everyone.
Stay beautiful.
Stay positive.
And stay on track, it is worth it <3

12" Whole Wheat Thin Crust Magic!

A normal, typical 12" cheese pizza runs at least 1600 calories for the entire thing. 1/8 of a pizza being at least 200 calories...

Instead of feeling terrible for eating a slice of guilt, I make my own pizza at home...but in a nice, quick manner.

I eliminate the white dough and buy pre-made 100% whole wheat 12'' thin crust pizza crusts,

Generally these crusts should be 100 calories per 1/6 slice...making the entire crust 600 calories. You don't need all that extra dough to satiate your pizza cravings...nor do you need a pound of cheese!

I also divide the pizza into the typical 8 slices.

Now this recipe is for a white pie, but you can add your own tomato sauce...I never recommend jar sauces...but I am an Italian woman who loves to cook...that is just sacreligious.

You can also add veggies or eliminate veggies depending on your preference...as long as you keep oil out, the cheese portions low, and the fatty meats off, you can add as many veggies as youd like...Olives can be high in fat if too many are consumed so that is the only topping I don't overkill...Weight watcher folks...the pizza with the veggies is 2 pts per slice! And calorie counters with all the veggies I put on mine I ring in at a whopping 140 calories per slice. With way more healthy nutrients than a piece of cheese pizza covered in grease.


I get a large baking sheet, or pizza stone...and preheat my oven to 350 degrees...

Spray the baking sheet with zero calorie cooking spray...lay the pizza crust down.

I spray a few pumps of my I cant believe its not butter over the crust.

I chopped up fresh garlic, about 2 large cloves. Sprinkled that on top. Then I took a tsp of fat free ricotta and placed that dollop around the pizza 8 times (one per slice)...I shook over some reduced fat parmesan cheese...no more than 2 tbsp for the whole crust. I sprinkled about a 1/4 cup of part-skim mozzarella cheese over the crust and then came the veggies!

I used about half of a cup of artichoke hearts
One cup of fresh spinach leaves
Half a cup of fresh chopped basil
8 black olives sliced thin
I love mushrooms so I used about 3/4 of a cup
My mom doesn't love onion but I would normally add some red onion or even a few jalapeno slices for some heat.

I then sprinkled another 1/4 cup of the mozzarella, gave a good sprinkle of garlic powder and oregano and popped that bad boy in the oven...I cannot stress to you how amazing this pizza was. If you were to order a white pie like this with all the ingredients from most pizza places you are looking at at least 300+ calories per slice!

Have fun with this...get to know fresher and healthier ingredients...and pile em on up! A little cheese can go a long, long way...don't drown your pizza in cheese and grease, it just isn't worth it.

SIDE NOTE: I am a dipper. I am notorious for dipping my pizza crust in ranch...if you too, have a dip addiction here are some awesome alternatives to ranch dressing dips (which yall know fat free ranch is frigen foul, so you are totally using full calorie dressing I bet)..

You can pick up the ranch dressing mix packets in the dressing isle and instead of using fattening sour cream get fat free or atleast light sour cream as an alternative...2 tbsp of that is about 70 calories as opposed to 140 calories for ranch...OR...try using the ranch mixes with nonfat plain greek yogurt...it is a beautiful thing and tastes even better for about 30 calories for 2 tbsp...OR my fave, especially with a veggie pizza, TZAZIKI SAUCE! A greek yogurt made with garlic and cucumber and dill...phenomenal and only 35 calories for 2 tbsp...that is bad ass if you ask me.

I also top my pizza with a little srirachaaa sauce for heat which will also help you feel full quicker.

Enjoyyy

Chick Pea Bites!

I like to snack, on healthy things. Which is typically hard. If you pick on grapes everyday, you are going to get sick of grapes. If you pick on low fat popcorn everyday...you are gonna eventually get sick of popcorn.

I like to try and "beat the system" as you will hear me frequently say...The system of thinking all super healthy food tastes like crap, and that all delicious food is out of reach for our weight loss progression.

NOT TRUE!

I make two different batches...

With one I take a whole can of garbanzo beans (chick peas)...I drain and rinse them in a colander and pat em a little with a paper towel..You want them damp, not soaked.

I spray a baking sheet with zero calorie spray. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

I spread the chick peas on the pan and sprinkle with cayenne pepper, adobo, and garlic powder. At this point this is your recipe, so you can add tons of onion powder and make onion bites, do all garlic and make garlic bites, throw on some parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, and garlic and make italian bites. Whatever you wanna taste on those bites, go for it! Besides the parm cheese, all seasonings for the most part are calorie free. The options are endless.

Hell, you could even marinate the chick peas overnight with some vinegar and a little salt and make salt and vinegar ones!

Bake for 20-30 mins. Check after 20 and if they are crispy enough with out burning, take em out...if not, leave em in a little longer.

Boom. Are they the equivant to cheesecake bites, doritos, or a nice 300 calorie crescent? No...but they are good for you. Healthy fat, protein, and aren't full of sugar or preservatives.

My favorites however, are made just how you prepped the ones above. Drain, rinse, pat. But in this batch I toss them with a few packets of splenda and cinnamon powder. I toss em with my hands and I taste em to see how sweet they are and if I need more splenda. You can also add nutmeg and even a tsp of vanilla extract and toss for more flavor. Baked 20-30 mins. Amazing. Zero calories again for splenda, cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg...It is a beautiful thing...

YOU WILL NOT LOVE THESE IF YOU DONT LOVE CHICKPEAS...but if you do...you will be addicted.

There are 350 calories in each can, so I suggest portioning into 3rds or 4ths. But the choice is up to you! Enjoy

Baked asparagus fries!

I first saw a recipe for this on Pinterest...the best site ever...but it called to roll the asparagus in flour, then egg wash, the panko break crumbs...No way jose...

All you need is liquid egg whites, asparagus, and bread crumbs...you can choose to use panko over bread crumbs but bread crumbs are slightly less calories and carbs...slightly

Preheat your oven to 385 degrees.

Grab a baking sheet. Spray that sucker down with a light coat calorie-free cooking spray.

Get your asparagus ready...I took two handfuls of asparagus, cut the ends off and depending how long each stalk is cut them in half or in thirds...you decide the lenth you want...I like the length of typical fries. I take a large tupperware container and put 1/2 a cup of liquid egg whites in. I sprinkle garlic powder and cracked black pepper in the whites. I add the cut asparagus, lid the container and do the hustle...shake shake shake. You want the asp. coated with the whites just enough to be damp...

On a large plate put about 3/4 a cup of bread crumbs...You do NOT want to coat the asp with a ton of crumbs. I place a few stalks on top of the bread crumbs at one time, then with my handle sprinkle some crumbs on the top...then I transfer to the baking sheet...lay them next to each other but make sure they aren't touching or they will bake together. Repeat until all your asparagus is on the baking sheet and separated...now you can relax...Pop em in the oven and leave those bad boys cooking for about 20 mins. If they are realllly skinny stalks...check in 15...after 15-20, touch one, if it isnt really crispy then check every 5-7 mins until you can literally pick one of the fries up like a regular crispy fry.

Take them out and let them sit for just a few mins. Voila!

Now. A few sauce ideas.
Fat free horseradish sauce:
8 oz of fat free sour cream, add horseradish until it is hot enough for your liking (taste)...add chopped scallions and chive for a nice kick

Fat free sriracha sauce:
8 oz of nonfat greek yogurt, add sriracha til it is hot enough for your liking

enjoyyy