I also used the 40% low sodium taco seasoning packet....and only 2/3 of the packet itself, to cut even further back on the sodium. I didn't have any reduced-fat cheese, only the regular stuff. The brand I have is 110 calories for 1/3 of a cup, so I budgeted for half of that 1/3 c., and then used even less than that...just a sprinkle on each taco. Breakstone's reduced fat sour cream is 40 calories for 2 Tbsp, so I used 1 Tbsp on each taco. Ground chicken breast is only 31 calories an ounce...and I used 2 oz. on each taco. The taco shells are 130 calories for 2 of them. Here's some pics:
Since I used less cheese than I planned for, and a little less sour cream, this meal ended up being a little less than 360 calories!!! It was tasty and satisfying...just enough. Thoroughly enjoyed it. :)
Just got back from the gym with Billie. I've been a tad bit frustrated with my workouts the last couple of days. I work hard and feel tired and sore when I get done, and up until the time I go to bed. But when I get up the next morning, no pain. No soreness. Makes me think I'm doing something wrong....not working hard enough. So tonight I raised the weight on all of the machines on the circuit. I've been doing between 30-50 lbs of weight on each machine. Tonight I did between 50-80 lbs. Maybe this will make the difference.
I also found out tonight just what kind of machines our bodies really are. And just how much our limits have to do with mentality, and not physicality. Your body will do what you tell it to do....what you make it do. Don't tell yourself you "can't" do something...until you try. Tonight I raised the weights until I could just barely lift enough to do one rep....then I backed it off 10 lbs. and went at it....doing between 10-15 reps on each machine. Then we did 2 full rounds on the circuit, so that we got a double round of reps on everything. Except the crunches....I did 4 reps on those because my stomach is my biggest problem area.
It's been a great day....great workout, and my calories are sitting pretty at 1334. I do, however, have some serious bloating going on this week due to my cycle. I got on the scale this morning to see what I'm looking at and it's not good, lol. I'm hoping to at least weigh the same as last week when my weigh-in gets here this Friday. Not sure if I'm going to show a loss or not....but I know I'm doing the right thing by being in the gym. If I don't see a loss this week, surely I'll see one the following week. Just gotta' keep doing what I know is right...and tighten up the calorie control on the weekends. Been too loosey goosey the last couple of weekends. Maybe I'll learn one of these days. Sure would be nice to get the rest of this weight off sooner rather than later. :)
Quote For The Day:
"Those who wish to sing, always find a song." -Swedish proverb
You were killing me with all the calorie math! Lol. But those did sound pretty tasty.
ReplyDeleteFor ab exercises, I recommend planks. Those are what I recommend to everyone who says they don't like ab exercises because their stomach is too big. Plank has two basic variations. The main one is where you support your body on your forearms and your toes, with your body parallel to the ground, so it looks like a plank. This doesn't sound like it'd be too hard, but your abs will definitely feel it. I really like side planks, too, to target the obliques. This is where your body is facing one side of the room, once again you're keeping your body straight, however you'll be supported on only one forearm and the side of your foot, 'cause your legs will be stacked on each other.
I hope all of that made sense, or that you've seen these before and know what I'm talking about anyway. So yeah, try doing those because core strength is really important.
First the tacos sound and looked really good. That sure did beat my bowl of oatmeal w/cranberries tonight. Thanks for the recipe and love the chicken over turkey or ground beef.
ReplyDeleteIt you can try a couple of cardio class per week. That should help work the belly off a little faster. Weights will also burn fat and build muscle which is a very good thing. Hang in there and don't give up. It takes time for the body to reshape itself. For me it takes 3 weeks of working out and eating healthy to see the difference in the way my class fit.
Another friendly tip: You might need to add a few more calories to your daily allowance. It sounds crazy but the more you workout the more food the body needs to burn off the fat. Make sure the food is healthy. Every class that I attend the instructor ask us if we ate and they always remind us to eat after class.
Good luck!
The tacos look fab! I hear you on the stomach area. I haven't done a sit up in years, so I am sure it will be slow going for me. Great job on your workout!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see you doing so well, the food, the exercise, the attitude.
ReplyDeleteDon't be disheartened by the monthly cycle you know it will correct it's self.
You are even getting your head around the weekends:0)
I love it
Sheilagh
I don't cook Mexican foods ever..something i never grew up with I suppose that's the reason.
ReplyDeleteI understand your frustration with the scale...I was like this to give you an example.
Sunday 60.9kg
Monday 62 kg
Monday 3 hours later 61.1kg
Water retention when I wake up...I have done this test so many times, I am heavier first thing in the morning...
Hi Tammy. I agree with screwdestiny - that's a lot of maths for one meal! But well done you for taking the time to work it all out. That is why you're going to succeed at this thing.
ReplyDeleteWell done also with pushing yourself on the exercise. You're so right - it's all about pushing yourself that bit further every time. You're doing it my friend! (and then some!)
Hope you have a great Thursday.
Bearfriend xx
Tammy- I wasn't aware fat free cheese had soo much sodium in it, I will have to check that out. Your right two tacos won't kill you but 6 will. Great ideas on recipe changes.
ReplyDeleteI have found tinkering with weights is always helpful as well.
Emmett
Good post. I noticed that since I started running how really mental excercise really is! I cannot believe how many times I did not think I could do something and almost gave up but then pushed through and conquered it. It really is a mental game.
ReplyDeleteLove those tacos!! We usually have the whole grain soft tacos and I use chicken breast in mine instead of hamburger (took a while for my husband to stop complaining about how he doens't like the whole grain ones)
ReplyDeleteAs for weighing myself during that week of the month, I don't do it anymore! My weight is all over the place that week.
Sounds like you are definatly getting your moneys worth out of the gym!! The next time I reach a plateau, I'm joining ours (hopefully months after the holidays)
Yum, yum! Americans seem to have more choice in the grocery aisle. Even though we have Ole Paso products, I haven't seen those exact ones. Another trip across the border....
ReplyDeleteFunny, I had a hankering for chicken tostadas this week, which is basically what you made, only flat, lol!
ReplyDeleteLosing the stomach has been the slowest part of my weight-loss. No matter how many crunches I do (hundreds on the days that I workout), plank holds, you name it...it didn't start to look visibly smaller until recently. My trainer says that the muscles under the fat are in great shape...it's just that the extra flab is covering them. I'm convinced it's more of a diet thing than an exercise thing at this point.
I use chicken or just beans instead of meat, but I love that we can eat tacos and all the foods we love and still stay healthy and lose weight if that's our goal!
ReplyDeleteYUM!! It's been forever since I've had tacos -I might give this a shot :)
ReplyDeleteAnd the bloating god I hate that! Drives me crazy and always hits just when I think I'm doing well then wack the scales go up and my clothes feel tight and it's like WTF - I have to be really careful to stay in control and not just go out and binge or not bother working out.