breakfast Archives - Page 8 of 36 - My Healthy, Happier Life

Maybe it’s just me, but even though I’m busting it during every workout, some of the lean and mean in me is feeling a little soft these days. My clothes still fit and the scale still reads the same number so I’m not that concerned. But today during my personal training session with Lauren I asked her for her number one tip she shares with clients who are interested in improving not only their physique but also their nutrition.

Her number one tip was, “fight fat with fat.”

I had to take a double take as this didn’t make sense until I realized that she wasn’t talking about the delicious butter laden Christmas cookies or fudge. Instead, she meant that in order to fat long term and “lean out” one must satiate their hunger with healthy fats, monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat.

There are many benefits of healthy fats:

Good fats help lower cholesterol.
Good fats help protect internal organs.
Good fats help transport and retain nutrients.
Good fats are a source of energy.

I took her advice and did my best to amp up today’s meals with healthy fats. I realized that my breakfast often excludes fat as does my afternoon snack, hence the reason that I’m normally craving another meal just an hour or so later.

Today’s updated meals:

This morning’s bowl of cereal featured 2% milk because the office was out of skim. A little bit of fat helped this bowl of Fiber One stick to my bones.

This morning’s snack was an unpictured Clementine along with a pack of delicious lightly salted almonds. I ordered a box of these from Amazon for a steal and am loving them as a office desk staple.

My normal spinach and beet salad was updated with walnuts in place of the normal blue cheese. Walnuts provide a healthier form of fat than cheese and also left me more satiated. I added Craisins as well which added a sweet punch, per Lauren’s suggestion.

Tonight’s sushi deliver dinner was upgraded with avocado. I tend to steer away from avocado due to it’s high fat content but it is very satiating. I enjoyed a brown rice tuna avocado roll along with a salmon brown rice roll. Paired with a side of Felicity it was the perfect easy Thursday night dinner!

Question: Do you have a fear of fat or have you learned to embrace healthy fats? What is your favorite “healthy fat?”

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Last week, I did a post about moderation during the holidays. I shared wonderful tips including keeping up with your regular workouts, drinking lots of water, and shared tips from other readers and Twitter friends.

Then, I enjoyed an amazing weekend and forgot about that whole moderation thing. In fact, by the end of our 2nd Annual Diamond Holiday Party everything looked kind of hazy and blurry.

I had a wonderful time with our amazing friends on Saturday night and even acted as bartender for the first time! I have now learned that a bartender is supposed to serve, not serve themselves! As I look back on the evening I remember toasting one too many times during the night. You know what, it’s okay, I had a great time!

Our food spread, ranging from spicy crab dip to stuffed peppadew peppers, was also easy to enjoy too much!

These meatballs, a recipe found in the new Meatball Shop cookbook, was the clear winner! Much to our delight however, there was no one dish that wasn’t enjoyed. Last year we had a few dishes that were only a quarter to half eaten. This year, the only thing left was some ham, rolls, and a few cupcakes!

The pictures from the night truly highlight our friends’ amazing taste in tacky holiday attire and the festive mood! Here’s a glimpse into the evening:

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It was such a fun evening but I definitely did not move off the couch yesterday. I slept until 1pm when I finally crawled out of bed for a glass of water and the couch. Bo and I spent the rest of the afternoon napping, reading, watching TV, and cleaning the apartment. I fell asleep on the couch around 8:30, finally moving into the bedroom at 10pm. This morning I quickly turned off my alarm at 5:30, knowing that my body needed more sleep.

This isn’t exactly the best way to stick with my moderation plan or keep off the holiday weight. Hopefully, you all have done as I said and not as I did this weekend. But, if you enjoyed one too many holiday drinks this weekend, I can now provide a few tips for getting back on track after one day, which is far easier than after a week of treats and imbibing.

Start your day with warm lemon water, a delicious and warm beverage that will help flush unwanted toxins and aid digestion.
Eat a healthy breakfast rich in fiber and nutrients but calorie rich enough to not leave you starving.
Pack plenty of healthy snacks to enjoy throughout the day in case you get hungry or have a craving. This will keep you from giving into the cookie jar or the holiday dessert plate.
Take your vitamins!
Try writing down your food for a few days. During the craziest time of the year, this can help you stay on track by helping you realize what you’re eating.

Also, if you’re going to host your second party in 48 hours, make sure that you provide at least a few healthy options for your guests to enjoy to balance out the baked goods and wine.

I hope you all are having a wonderful week, filled with holiday cheer and moderation!

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Last night I spent hours smiling, laughing, sipping, and eating with some amazing friends! I initially thought that hosting a holiday party next weekend and the Miami work travel would make things too hectic for a birthday party but I’m thankful that Bo convinced me otherwise!

We me the group at the Hurricane Club at 9pm for a dinner of tropical shared plates and fun rum punch drinks!

The first to arrive, we had just enough time to grab a fun drink at the bar. Bo started with a Manhattan and I went with my standby, vodka soda with a splash of cranberry. The fun and slightly kitschy decor immediately put us in a party mood!

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For anyone who has yet to enjoy drinks or a meal at the Hurricane Club, the atmosphere is not the only amazing part. The owners really have mastered all three aspects of a restaurant experience: atmosphere, food, and drinks.

These pictures, while devoid of people, give you an idea of the decor and interior. The restaurant was packed last night, but at 5:30 this evening when I showed up to pick up my camera which had been left behind, it was completely empty.

Upon being seated, our party was ready to dive into the food and drinks!

We started with two Brazilian punch bowls and the Pupu appetizer platter.

The highlights of the platter were the tuna tartare cones, coconut shrimp, and the PB& Guava Jwith prosciutto and Thai basil.

After enjoying some sweet drinks and appetizers, we ordered a number of main dishes to share:

Honey-glazed baby back ribs
Bangkok chicken stir-fry
Filet mignon w/shiitake mushrooms
spice-crusted shrimp with coconut cream
scallops a la planch
Shanghai lobster noodles
steamed baby bok choy

The food was even more amazing than I remembered, especially the lobster noodles and the scallops!

No birthday celebration is complete without dessert, so our table shared two different desserts, the chocolate kill devil’s food cake and a peanut butter sandwich. The devil’s food cake was like an uptown, grown up version of a Little Debbie Swiss Roll.

After dinner the majority of the group ended up at Cibar where we enjoyed our version of bottle service, compliments of our fine gentleman escorts!

Needless to say, after a fun evening with lots of bubbly, I’ve spent the day in bed, on the couch, and in the kitchen baking. I didn’t shower until 5pm and have only left the apartment once all day. The lazy recovery day felt wonderful, complete with homemade pancakes, miniature red velvet cupcakes, and healthy Chinese dinner to complete the day!