7lbs! WAAAAahhooooooooo!

WAAAAaaHOOOOoooo!  Down 7lbs this week!  Doing it the old fashion way.  This seems to work better for me.  Eat right, work out hard.  I'm so freakin' pumped!  The most I've ever lost during this journey was 2lbs.  This week 7lbs!  That's Biggest Loser poundage!  WAAAAaaaaHOOOOoooooo!  244 to 237!  YES!  Lots more to go on my journey.  This is a small step, but a positive step in the right direction.

We got a Wii for Christmas.   I'm telling you I am a Wii believer now.  I can't get enough!  Its turn my boring workouts into FUN.  One big hurdle I always had was boredom.  The same routine over and over.  Walking and running everyday.  The Wii has added variety into my daily workouts.  I love it.  If you can afford it, it is a well worth it investment.  I can't wait to try more Wii activities.  Wii Fit and EA's Active are next on my list.  I've read great stuff on these.  Some research on Wii Sports boxing, you burn about 600 calories for an hour of good butt kicking fun!  I love it!

http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/2008/08/15/wii_sports_vs_real_sports_which_burns_more_calories.php

This weeks goals:

Lost 2-3lbs

Exercise 5-7 days

1700 -1900 calories (Doesn't seem like a lot, but I've managed to fit open face turkey sandwiches in my daily intake.  Who would have known)

4-7 servings of veggies and/or fruit daily

8 glasses of water <------means several trips to the bathroom.

I went back to logging everything on http://www.livestrong.com/.  Its quick and easy.  If you issues writing everything down.  I would suggest trying this site.  This week I've eaten between 1700 - 1900 calories and burned 600 daily.  Its been great!

From the Kitchen of Couch Potato Man - Banana & Peanut Butter French Toast

Man on man.  I know this is not good for you.  I saw it last night on the Food Network.  I thought I give it a try.  Probably will be the last and only time I have it for awhile.  So freakin' good!

Ingredients:

Bread

Banana

Peanut Butter

Eggs

Milk

Cinnamon

Vanilla

Orange Juice

Rum

I thought I had plain o' rum, but it was Malibu rum.  Tasted just fine too me.  I used  freshly squeezed oranges instead of regular orange juice.

Directions:

Mix the eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla, orange juice and rum together.  Cut the bananas lenght wise and about the size of the bread.  Spread the peanut butter on each slice of bread and add the bananas.  Basically making a peanut butter and banana sandwich.  Dip each side of the sandwich in egg batter. 

COOK and ENJOY!

I cut it in half topped one half with butter and powder sugar, the other half with butter, powder sugar and syrup.  YIKES so sweet and good!  Like I said, probably never again for me, maybe when I'm 50lbs lighter!

New Year New Goals

Whoops!  I was doing so well.  Thanksgiving Day, bowl games, Christmas, more bowl games, New Years Eve, New Years Day bowl games, the aftermath is 9 extra pounds.  YIKES!  Chips and dip, beers, pizza, more beers, chicken wings, lots more beers!  Double YIKES!  9 extra pounds!  It so hard to take it off, but so easy to put it back on.  Not to worry though.  I have talked to a few of my friends on the healthy life style change and THEY all had set backs this last 4 weeks.  Some more than me and some less, but we all had set backs.   Its a new month and a new year. So back on track today. No not Monday, the changes start today

I'm not a big resolution person.  Why set goals that seem unrealistic?  Why set goals that should be part of your everyday life?  Seems like we set up ourselves to fail.  No one likes to fail and no one wants to fail.  But what the hell.  I have to set my goals for my healthy change, we'll see how I do on my others.  I'll set small monthly goals.  These seem more realistic. 

1.  Health - I currently weight 244.  My goal is to be 234 - 240 by end of month.  That is 1-2lbs a week.  Nice realistic goal.  I'll be eating  1700 - 1800 calories a day.  Exercising 3-5 days a week.  Again nice realistic goals.  I'll eat 4-7 servings of veggies and/or fruit a day.  <-----more of a challenge, have you tried eating this much?  Its not so easy, try it!

2.  Family -  Bring back movie night.  We used to have movie night every week.  Its fun, its entertaining.  Where has it gone?   I think its on the back of the milk cartons.  Movie night every week.

3.  Home - Get the house in order.  Clean and keep it clean.  This one will be tough on me.  I hate cleaning.  Its got to be done.  Do the dishes.  Mop the floors.  Clean the bathrooms.  Clean.  Did I tell you I hate cleaning.

4.  Work - Work harder.   Hard work leads to good things.  If I start to get bored, find something to do.  No more Facebook at work, no more Solitaire.  Break the habit.  Work hard and you will suceed.  This is a terrible habit I have gotten into.  I normally work very hard.  Break the habit first and I should be back on track.

5.  Financial  - Save more!  The economy is not changing.  It still stinks and sucks out there.  So save more!

6.  Personal -  Draw and paint.  I love art.  I've have gotten away from it over the years.  I'm going to start creating more!  I will make the time.  It might mean less online poker.  Less TV sports.  I will take the time to create more.  My creativity has gone to cooking, now I will allocate some for art.

So there it is.  My January goals. 

Happy New Year.

From the Kitchen of Couch Potato Man - Black Bean Tacos

Experience the thrills of TACO THURSDAY!!!  One of Jennie's favorites.  I make it almost every Thursday for her.  She loves it, well she says she loves it.  Its spicy, but the corn and onions help cool it down.  The tacos I made this week had avacado relish.  Very very good.

Ingredients:

1 can black beans

1 can corn

Poblano or Pasilla Pepper

Red Onion

Garlic

Serano Pepper (Optional)

Olive Oil

Salt

Black Pepper

Chili Powder

Onion Powder

Garlic Powder

Cumin

Cayenne (Optional)

Corn Tortillas

How its made:

Brush the poblano/pasilla peper with olive oil.  I grill it on my grill over medium/low heat.  Grill the pepper until its starts to blister.  Once its done place it in a ziplock back to steam.  In a pan with more oil, cook the onions until they are about to carmelize, then add the garlic.  Burnt garlic is nasty, so try not to add to early.  Add the drained black beans and corn.  Add chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cayenne, salt and pepper.  Stir well, clumped up chili powder is really nasty too!  Cook on low.  The juices should start to thicken a little.  Add the poblano/pasilla pepper.  Stir again and then serve.  We use corn tortillas, but you can use whatever you want.  Jennie has made burritoes with the filling.

Some helpful tips that work great for me.

1.  When the pepper is in the bag, rub the bag with your hands.  This helps remove the skin better.

2.  Don't want greasy corn tortillas, I brush mine with oil and grill on the grill over medium heat.  Puts nice grill marks with a little crunch on them and they are damn good.  No complaints from the kids too!

3.  When I make avacado relish I add serano peppers to the filling instead of cayenne.  Careful!  Sometimes serano pepper are very very hot!

Enjoy!  I know we do!

Vacation Mode Day 1

Opps!  I reached Defcon 5!  All on Christmas Eve.  My first day of actual vacation.  THE FIRST FREAKIN' DAY!  I had high hopes that I would keep myself busy enough to make it pass the weekend.  TERRIBLE!  I did good in the morning.  I kept myself pretty busy.  I did the dishes, cleaned the kitchen a little to get ready for TACO THURSDAY.  Even tried to watch a little TV.  I cannot believe that there is nothing on during the day.  NOTHING!  What happened to all the game shows?  Is Springer not on anymore?  And seriously......no college football game?  I could have sworn the Weedwacker Bucket of Chicken Bowl was on.

First....I tried to make my kids pay rent.  They came into a little money, so they need to pay rent.  Who cares that they have been living rent free for years.  Who cares that they are only 11, 9 and 7.   Well Parker is 12 today.  Happy Birthday Parker!  They have money, they pay rent.  Well you know that didn't go well.  Running to mommy to tell on me.  Can you believe my kids actually tell on me???  MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY!

Second......I don't even remember how it lead to this.  So it must have been really stupid and dumb.  Maybe some idiotic rolled up in there too.  I got Jennie to drop the F-bomb.  Yes she actually dropped the F-bomb with a conversation with me.  She never cusses.  Never ever.  I may have even received the stank combo evil eye.  But I was too scared to look at her.

Its Saturday, I'm still married.   I have slept in my own bed.  So its all good I think.  Knock on wood.  Saturday is a long day.  Is divorce court open on Saturday?  I hope not.

Happy New Year!

BTW:  Black Bean Vegetarian Taco Recipe post coming.  Now you can experience some of the thrills of TACO THURSDAY!

Vacation Mode!

Good morning!

Day 1 of my vacation and I'm up at 5:30 AM.  Thats right I said AM.  Oh well.....maybe by day 11 I will be sleeping in.  I don't know about you guys, but I get bored really, really fast when I'm on vacation.  My goal is to try and stay busy and productive. 

If I'm busy, I'm thinking.....

1.  I won't drive my wife so crazy, that she will make me go back to work and/or worse make me sleep on the couch.

2. My wife won't get so annoyed with me that I'm signing divorce papers on Saturday.

3. My kids will not be so frustrated that they will actually team up and work together and throw me out in the cold ass snow while I'm sleeping.

4. Too much Vietamese Death Touch on my kids that they go and tell on me which leads to 1 and 2.

I am committed to making my vacation actual vacation!   Couple things I'm looking forward to. 

1. Not getting my ass kicked when I play Parker in his racing games.  

2. Playing Star Wars with Jayton. 

3. Coloring and drawing with Khilee.  Lots of hugs and kisses too!

4. Spending some quality time with Jennie. Lots of hugs and kisses too!

Whats with all these list?  When did I become a list guy?  Oh well.....

Last night I watched Four Christmases and All About Steve.  I can't remember the last time I sat and actually watched a movie or two with Jennie.  It was very refreshing.  Four Christmases we both liked.  Its pretty funny.   All About Steve, Jennie liked it, me not so much. 

Expect more blog updates.   I'm hoping to update everyday.  Hopefully its way better than this update.

Merry Christmas!!!

BTW, how come no one says Merry Christmas anymore?  Its all Happy Holidays.  Have we become a PC, shadow tag, air hugging nation?  

The Good and Bad of Turkey Day!

Let me start by saying I love Thanksgiving.  Love everything about it.  It may be my favorite or a least top five.  Is Superbowl Weekend a holiday?  It should be one, it sure does feel like one.  So don't get me wrong.  I love everything about it.  If you love good food, Thanksgiving is pefect for you.  You like the Lions?  Probably the ONLY time you will see them on TV all year.  I love watching the beloved Cowboys on Thanksgiving every year.  Seeing old friends and family.  Family, friends, food and football!  How can that all be bad right?                                                                                                                             So I know what your thinking.  What is so bad, so evil, so awful about Thanksgiving?  Thanksgiving is a healthy lifestyle change killer!  I guarantee its on the FBI's most wanted list.  It has to be!  Thanksgiving destroys men and womens healthy lifestyle changes across the country.  Its pure evil I tell you!  After my 4 day weekend on feasting on Turkey Day food and leftovers, I gained 5lbs!  I feel like one of those balloons in the Thanksgiving Day parade.  Big, bloated, ovesized balloon waddling through the streets.  I'm the big ass Stay-Puft Marshmallow man in Ghostbusters.  Wrecking havoc on all the pumpkin pies, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, turkey and gravy in my way!

All is not lost though.  I knew there would be some aftermath.   I had prepared myself mentally to deal with this.  I must be totally honest (used car salesman speak), I didn't think it would be 5lbs.  I thought maybe 1, 2 at the most.  But what the hell! I enjoyed good eats for a few days!  Got back on track on the following Monday.   Starting working out again.  Not overeating.  Calorie watching.  By the end of the week I was down 2lbs.  In the past, the weight gain would have destroyed me mentally.  I would have gone over the deep end and ate everything in sight.  This journey has really changed me.  I've learned how to deal with these set backs.  You can't see me, but I'm patting myself on the back and giving myself a hug.

Before Thanksgiving:  234

After Thanksgiving: 239

Currently: 237

My goal world is to be 231 - 234 by the end of the month.  Thats 1-2lbs a week.  A very realistic goal.

Be positive and stay positive.