Day 2

I went to sleep last night very hungry. In the past I would have cereal and/or toast in hopes that this would crave my hunger. Last night I just ignored it and it went away. There's something to be said about eating based on a split second reaction/thought. I just can't do that any more. I woke up this morning after a rather painful night of sleep and felt pretty good. I can remember being up at 1am and thinking that I would never be able to make it through my workout this morning. A half hour work out is completed and I feel great. I had a manageable breakfast and didn't over do it. I didn't even have coffee yet. Starbucks here I come. I like the new me. Welcome!!!  

Day 1

So I went to the doctor today. I've been putting this off for quite some time now. I guess I always think that my doctor visit will be worse than it really is. I leave there thinking that I really like my doctor and that she's very understanding and supportive. Like most things, I guess I just get scared of the unknown and anticipate the worse. I know that I need to loose a lot of weight. I'm tipping the scale at 288 lbs. now. There's two of me in my own body now. I guess I could make some Jekle and Hyde joke now, but it seems to be too obvious. 

The reason I started writing this blog is to keep track of my progress. I want to lose 5% of my body weight. That will put me at 273. I can do this. I know I can. I will use the following as my motivation:

If you've started out in pursuit of your goal and you've really tried with 
your heart and soul, but somehow things got out of control - START OVER. 

When you've tried your best to do what you should and you thought this time 
that you surely would, but once again you didn't do good - START OVER. 

When you've worked so hard to follow a WW's way and you fought to win a 
victory each day, but one more time you went astray - START OVER. 

When the road to success seemed much too long and each temptation was oh so 
strong and once again you gave in to wrong - START OVER. 

When you've told your friends what you planned to do and trusted them to 
help you through and soon discovered it's up to you - START OVER. 

When you know you must be physically fit but your hope seems gone and you're 
stuck in a pit. That's not the time for you to quit - START OVER. 

When the week seems long and successes few and at weigh in time you're 
feeling blue, remember tomorrow is just for you - START OVER. 

To start again means a victory's been won and staring over AGAIN means a 
race well run and starting over AGAIN proves it can be done, so don't just 
sit there - START OVER!!

I found this on the Weight Watchers boards for Guys on a Diet. I hope to see a lot of progress over the next several weeks. I have the time so why not just do it. There's nothing more to do than do it. 

Curry Cashew Seitan Salad

Curry Cashew Seitan Salad

Seitan
3 cups vital wheat gluten
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
Pinch of salt
Pepper to taste
2 cups vegetable stock
1 tablespoon vegan worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil

Vegetables
½ red bell pepper
½ green bell pepper
3 stalks celery
2 carrots
3 green onions

1 cup vegan mayonnaise
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 tablespoon turmeric
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Pre-heat oven at 350
To make the seitan, place all dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix until everything is incorporated. Add wet ingredients and mix until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed. If you need to add some more liquid to mix all of the dry ingredients, just add a little water. Place on cooking sheet and bake for 70 minutes in oven.

Cut up all vegetables into bit sized pieces and set aside. Mix up vegan mayonnaise with spices until well incorporated. Set aside.

After 70 minutes, take seitan out and let cool. Cut up into small bit sized pieces. Mix seitan with vegetables and mayonnaise. Add cashews and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve cold or room temperature.

Vegetable Orzo Sald

Vegetable Orzo Salad

1 bundle asparagus
2 crowns broccoli
½ red bell pepper
½ green bell pepper
8 cherry tomatoes halved
8 oz. package frozen sugar snap peas
2 cups uncooked orzo
4 cups vegetable stock
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cups water
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 package Simply Organic Garlic Vinaigrette
2/3 cup olive oil

Cut up all the vegetables except for the sugar snap peas into bit size pieces. Place all vegetables into boiling water to blanch for approximately 3 minutes. Remove and place immediately into cold ice water. Place all vegetables in a salad spinner to remove excess water. Set aside.

Bring the vegetable stock to boil. Add 2 cups orzo and cook until tender, approximately 10 minutes. Set aside and let cooked orzo cool.

In a large serving bowl, add Simply Organic Garlic Vinaigrette packet, water, rice wine vinegar, olive oil, and whisk until thoroughly mixed.

Place all vegetables into large serving bowl with the vinaigrette. Mix thoroughly. Add orzo and mix again.

Let salad come to room temperature. Serve cold or room temperature.