New Year. New Scale.

Regina started WoW today and I said, "WoW!!!!" today when I looked down at the dreaded scale. I shouldn't have really been that shocked, but I was. Luckily I had started Day 1 yesterday of Phase 1 and was already on the bandwagon, so to speak. So although I was disgusted and shocked I wasn't too depressed, since I had already had the gumption to follow through with my NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION. At any rate, I'd like a new scale. I think mine is broken.

Phase One of SB is tough. ALL sugar is cut out for the first phase [2 wks]. It's funny because the first time I was on this diet life-style change it wasn't too difficult - I don't know why really. But if I had to guess it was because I had read his book and was really pumped up.

The hardest part for me is cutting out alcohol. My habit is to have wine or beer while I cook [we have some awesome dinners! ::wink wink::]... and not only when I cook, but the making-dinner-drink is really part of my routine. So that's hard. Let me define "habit"... ;)

Another difficult part of the first phase is finding snacks to eat. I must admit that the first few days I AM HUNGRY! I need to have food stocked so that I don't starve myself in order to stick to it and also to have a nice variety of snacky items to satisfy that hunger.

I found these snacks while searching yesterday before heading to the grocery store.

So I bought some red and gold peppers
sugar snap peas
tomatoes and grape tomatoes
turkey pepperoni

I know, it's not too exciting, but at least I've got food to snack on during the day.

As an aside - the Kroger brand yogurt - that's pictured on that snack link - is disgusting! The other brand is pretty yummy though.

Paul is OOT until Friday - which is nice when I'm on phase one to be quite honest [sorry Honey, it just is ;)] - so for dinner I had a piece of leftover chicken. I was going to have a salad too when I had an instant thought to check online for a different kind of phase one dressing [I love EVOO and Balsamic vin, but this can get old] and I found a great Southwest Chicken Salad with Chipotle Ranch Dressing* - so I made the chipolte dressing, chopped up the ckn and voila! It was really good. And here is how you can make it...

Her way:
Chipotle Ranch Dressing

(Makes 2 1/2 cups. Recipe created by Kalyn. This will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks.)

2 cups Ranch Dressing(I use a packet where you add buttermilk and mayonnaise)
1/2 cup salsa (I used Pace Picante Sauce Mild)
1/2 tsp. ground Chipotle Chile Poweder (I used Penzeys. If you don't have Chipotle Chile powder, could substitute regular chile powder and a small amount of hot sauce.)

Put salsa in food processor and puree about one minute with steel blade. (Could use a blender or immersion blender.) Add Ranch Dressing and ground Chipotle and process 30 seconds more, or until well combined.

My way:

16 oz. container of low-fat sour cream
1 packet of Hidden Valley mix for dip
1/2 cup of salsa
1/2 tsp reg. chile powder
sm splash of Texas Pete hot sauce

Put it all in a bowl and stir, baby!

It was really good and a nice change. Now I'm about to make dessert! Ricotta Mocha stuff.
I know, you're drooling. Sorry, I won't tempt you like that again with all my food choices ;)

An Allrecipes and South Beach marriage - No Way!

Happy dieting, Loser!
* link to recipe