Wake up and Eat…This.

Last night’s gathering was great, as always.  While the split-pea soup ended up cooking too long and getting a little too thick, it was still eaten by all.  After picking lots of lettuce from the garden, we ended up with a nice big VERY FRESH salad and since I wasn’t making any other dishes, I made 2 Shepherd’s pies, and that was a good decision!  Michele was with us, in between gigs saving animals and Pete brought a new face, Lillian.  We sang happy birthday to both boys with candles in the cupcakes from Whole Foods.  I am realllllllllllly lucky to live a mile from Whole Foods, but after talking with Nicole I., yesterday, I resolved to get my butt into Tunies Market in Parkland, a little more often.  But not this week because Sunday we have the Parkland Farmer’s Market and having missed the last one, it’s been a month and we are ready to hit it.

I have been meaning to mention that I saw 2 of our very own Biggest Losers last weekend and they both look great!  Carol and Jeff have both managed to keep off their big weight losses through the holiday season and it certainly showed.  Great job by both of you and EVERYONE who has made it at least somewhat successfully through the holiday season.  Barbara Jean, I am thinking about you and hoping to hear an update from you, or from Rita.  We are all in this together!!

Speaking of Biggest Loser, today’s paper reports that Jillian’s gig with the Doctors is over and inquisitive minds want to know if she may return to BL.   Her agent’s response:  “Never say never.”  Oh, don’t tease us like that!

As I close and get ready to eat breakfast,  I want to share a weight loss/management tip that many of us have heard before, but one that my family definitely agrees, works.  It’s actually two-fold.  Definitely eat a good breakfast every morning because breakfast is the fuel that starts the fire that burns our calories and definitely include a good amount of protein!  There is no question that protein at breakfast helps keep us feeling full through the morning.  Combine this with a healthy fat (think avocado, nuts, peanut butter, low fat cheese)  This way, when it’s time for a light mid-morning snack, we aren’t looking for a full-blown brunch.  Mitch has revisited eggs a few mornings a week and I am pretty committed to my veggie burger on grainy bread with peanut butter.  While I think protein in general is a bit over-rated and anything we eat too much of we will store as fat, a good dose at breakfast starts the day off on the right track.

I am off to feed Bigred, and ME!  Protein at breakfast…it does a body good.  Got yours?