Asparagas Quesadillas for Dinner

Okay, I need more veggies for dinner. So here goes the asparagas Quesadilla. It has some strange ingredients, but is very very tasty.

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 lg. red onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 lb. asparagus spears, cut into two inch pieces, lightly steamed in microwave
12 grape tomatoes, halved

6 flour tortillas (I used spinach ones)
1/2 cup light cheddar cheese (you could also use Monteray Jack)
1 cup store bought salsa
1 small dolup of sour cream (if you want, we had corn on the cob instead from Trader Joes-Yummy)

1.

To make the asparagus filling: In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until softened. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, and pepper. Stir for 1 minute.

2.

Add the asparagus and tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes, or until the flavors are blended. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.

3.

To assemble the quesadillas: Divide the asparagus filling among the tortillas, positioning it on one half of each. Sprinkle with the cheese. Fold the tortillas in half.

4.

Clean the skillet and coat it with cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat. Add 2 tortillas and cook for 2 minutes per side, or until golden. Press with a spatula to flatten slightly. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.

5.

To serve, cut each quesadilla in half and top with the salsa, tomatoes, sour cream and garnish with cilantro.

244 calories each quesadilla

Also, had two special K protein waters with dinner 60 calories

So here goes the totals for today:

1597 calories, 198 carbs, 58 grams of fat, 95 grams of protein (yeah)
Whoops went over my calorie allotment for the day, but worked out like a maniac so, I should be okay. PS Went for another 1 hour dog stroll tonight. Add that to the calorie burn.

Just a little tuna sandwich

Tuesday is Tuna day!

Ok, it is really because I am trying to get my protein up. Anyway here are the ingredients, nothing special:

1 can of bumble bee tuna packed in water
1 small chunk of purple onion chopped
1 tsp. of light mayo
1 tsp. of fage 0%
1 wheat english muffin, toasted

258 Kcals

Had the rest of my smoothie for a beverage. Snack of the day is 1/2 an Amazing grass chocolate bar 110 kcals. I figured I was due some extra calories since lunch was so light and the workout was kickin!

Smoothie for breakfast today

TODAY IS SMOOTHIE DAY!

The ingredients:

1/2 cup vanilla, no sugar added soy milk
8 oz of Fage (greek yogurt) 0% (love this stuff)
1 tbsp. flaxseed
.25 frozen banana
1/2 c. mango (frozen)
1 scoop Lean 53 protein supplement
1/4 cup of crushed ice
1/2 cup of water

Directions: Put all into the blender and grind up till smooth. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon.
So Good!
Total calories for both glasses: 400; Makes one large glass (before workout) and one smaller glass for post workout.

I am going to need these calories. Already did 20 minute Yoga session from www.yogadownload.com, Hot Power fusion. This is a great website, as the 20 minute sessons are free. I purchased a year membership and download them all. Great for traveling, as they are on my ipod. Plus, when you run alot, you get tight hamstrings and other ailments (especially at my age). The yoga keeps me flexible and without injury.

As you can see, my cat, Meep, helped me with breakfast.

Heading to the gym to run for 20 minutes at a 10 minute mile pace around the track at Bally's - 26 times around. Then to Linda's crazy Hi Lo 75 minute class with some weights and lots of jumping. I figure I burn a lot of calories here because I am always hungry after her class. At the end, we do 15 minutes of stretch. So delightful.

Dinner is yummy! Easy Pizza

This meal is the best for a Monday night. My energy level is always low on Monday nights. I am not sure why. Anyway, this pizza is easy to put together, especially since the crust is pre-made. I buy Boboli thin crust for this pizza and always keep one in the kitchen cabinet for easy, fast dinners. All ingredients are for the entire pizza. I cut it into 8 slices and ate only two at dinner (punishment for the glass of wine!)

I cut up 1 cup of sun dried tomatoes
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 cups of portabello mushrooms
1/4 cup sliced red pepper

and put into a small sauce pan and lightly fry them until browned. I scatter the veggies onto the prepared crust, add some Trader Joe's Mozzarella goat cheese (approx. .75 cup - the picture shows one cup, but I did not use it all) and some toasted pine nuts. Bake in the oven at 425 degrees for 7-8 minutes or until the cheese starts to melt. Upon removing the pizza from the oven, I cut into 8 pieces.

You will see in the picture, the pizza is divided in half. That is because my husband despises peppers of any sort, so I divided the pizza to delineate the pepper side. This makes 4 servings. My dinner, including the wine (that I said I would only have on weekends) is 577 Kcals.

Add to this 3 pink lemonades throughout the day from Special K Protein water (5 grams of protein per serving. Got to get that protein up if I want to lose weight. Yummy!


Total caloric intake for the day:
1,441,
protein is 61,
fat 52 and
carbs 185,
all within my guidelines for losing.

Total calories burned: 300 (which I think is low for the day for me, but that is what Spark People has for Yoga & the slow walk. I did power yoga though, a little more intense, but I love it! Also, we walked our dogs at a slow pace of 24 minute mile (including all the dog stops) and we walked for 56 minutes. Good for digestion.

Eggs and Protein

Ok, I needed a good lunch that will travel well since I have to go to my office today. So, I made this lunch with one hard boiled egg, one toasted wheat english muffin, 1 package laughing cow cheese and a small bit of I can't believe it's not butter. with some salt and pepper. Total Kcals=311 which is good since the "only" exercise scheduled for today is 60 minutes of Power Yoga (not a high caloric burn today). Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and I can walk my dogs two miles tonight. Also, I plan on a late afternoon snack of 1/2 of a Larabar peanut butter cookie, 105 kcal.
Total lunch calories: 311 + 105 + 60 = 466

Also, Here is my dinner list until Thursday (We are traveling on Friday through the weekend):

Amazing grass breakfast

Ok, today's breakfast is my high powered Amazing grass supplement green drink. Ok, it looks gross. But, it is chocolate and tastes great. I add 1/2 cup of nonfat milk, one green packet 30 kcals, 1 lg handful (1 cup?) of spinach, one medium banana, 1.75 cup of strawberries and 1/2 cup of blueberries. Also add 1/2 cup of water and .75 cup of crushed ice. Put it in the blender and voila! Green drink. Great morning refreshment and includes 5 servings of fruits and vegetables. Total kcals = 364. The good news this morning is that my weight is down to 134.4 lbs. Why I was up so far yesterday is beyond me. Had a good morning yoga session. Power Yoga #5. My green drink was fabulous and I am already starting on my 8 glasses of water.

My new blog!

Hi There! Welcome to my healthy living blog. I am creating this blog to keep up with my healthy living and get to my goal weight which is 125lbs. I have a long way to go, since I don't exactly lose weight too quickly. A little bit about me: 47 years old, current weight is 138 lbs. I am training for running in my first 10 mile race. In the picture below, I just finished my 5th road race this year. I ran in the Estero race for the cure in Estero, Florida in March. My next race was a 5k in Rhode Island (part of the Cox Road Races), then onward to my very first 10k at Colt State Park. Last weekend, I ran in the Will Speck 5k race in Cranston, RI and this weekend, I ran in the Scott Gorham 5k right here in my home town of Rumford, RI. So far, my very best time for a 5k is 28:05. I did that in May, 2009. I will be documenting all of my foods eaten, so it should keep me honest. :)I plan on starting that phase tomorrow. This is just my introductory blog. I am getting to be a blogging junkie. My favorite blog is katheats.com. She is great and so healthy. Fabulous cook too. So, here is my new goals for July:

1. Keep my calorie count to under 1400 kcals per day. (This is going to be tough for me).
2. Exercise 1 hour minimum every day. (This will be easy because I love to exercise).
3. Do more yoga! I currently do yoga 2x per week for 60 minutes. I love the website www.yogadownload.com. I do yoga right from my home.
4. Try to run 10 miles per week. I will need to increase this because I have the 10 mile race coming up.
5. Walk short walks with the hubby and dogs each night. Probably a 2 mile stroll is a better description.
6. Keep track of all foods eaten.
7. Get 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.
8. Limit wine intake to weekends only, 1 glass per time.

So, that is my goals. I hope to be at the 125lb. mark by 9/30/09. I need to get thinner before an upcoming wedding and before I return to my home in Florida for the winter season. I probably should not have left there this year, since here in Rhode Island there is no such thing as summer this year. Good for running, but I miss my vitamin D.

Lynda