Featherweight

by Marisa

Thank you guys for helping me not feel so badly about my head!  LOL!  Now we really need to put our odd-shaped heads together and come up with a cool headband that will stay!

So, today was the start of weight training!  After pouring over Tosca’s recommendations in The Eat Clean Diet Workout, I finally put together my first workout.  I headed to the basement, readied my weight bench and dumbells and got to it.  I warmed up with 15 minutes on my 100 yr. old stepper, then started the lift…

Body Part	Exercise	Weight/Reps/Sets
Legs	Squats	30#/ 12 / 2
Chest	Flat Bench Press	20#/ 12/ 2
Back	Single Arm Rows	10#/ 12/ 2
Biceps	Standing Dumbell Curls	10#/12 /2
Triceps	Standing Tri Extensions	15#/ 12/ 2
Shoulders	Lateral Raises	8# / 12/ 2
Abs	Crunches	0#/ 20/ 2

 

Try not to hysterically laugh at that wussie amount of weight, Lori, Miz and Janetha!  Well okay, you can laugh.  I sure was while doing it!  I can’t believe what a weakling I am!  Hey, but we all gotta start somewhere, right?

Anyway, it was fun!  I am committing to doing weight training 3 days a week.  I’ll take my measurements and check them in a month or so.  Should be cool to see if I see flab shrinkage

After pumping feathers iron, I fixed up a protein packed breakfast – egg white omelet with light mozzarella and a side of pan-fried Canadian bacon (4 PP)…

Lunch was a delicious mix of random eats from the fridge.  A scant cup of Creamy Asparagus Soup, Cheese Stuffed Roasted Peppers, carrots, Roasted Red Pepper Hummus and a Thomas’ Pretzel Bagel…

A 10 PP tasting lunch!

I must confess, I picked up more of the pretzel bagels today while running errands.  They are just too good, but only 3 PP so very easy to fit into the plan.  For those that asked, I have seen them at both Walmart and Target.

After having those delicious Cheese Stuffed Roasted Peppers that my Mom made, I knew it wouldn’t be long before I made them.  Mom originally saw the recipe on The Cooking Channel, but tweaked it a little.  I did the same based on what I had on hand.  This was the perfect recipe to use up the roasted peppers I made last Sunday! 

Cheese Stuffed Roasted Peppers

• 4 whole roasted red peppers
• 1 egg
• 1 cup reduced-fat feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/4 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 tsp. dried thyme

Mix cheeses, egg and thyme in a small bowl. Set aside.
Cut each pepper in half lengthwise. Stuff each half with about 2 tablespoon of the cheese mixture.
Place stuffed peppers in a shallow baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and set.

Serves 4.  Each serving (2 stuffed pepper halves) is 3 PointsPlus.

These are so good!  You can also used jarred roasted peppers if you don’t want to roast your own, just make sure you drain and dry them well before stuffing with the cheese mixture.  Also, I think so many cheeses would work well in this recipe, so use whatever you have and try them!

Afternoon snack – the standard Green Monster (1 PP)…

I was in the mood for a big taco salad for dinner, but didn’t quite have all the right ingredients.  I threw together a makeshift one (10 pp)…

• 3 oz.  taco seasoned 96% lean ground beef
• 1/4 cup black beans
• 1 oz. cheddar cheese
• carrots
• romaine
• 1 tbsp. guacamole

Works for me!

Have a great day, everyone!

What is your favorite vegetable?  I really most of them, but I’d have to pick carrots as my favorite!

21 comments

1 Alissa { 03.31.11 at 7:24 am }

Great job on the strength training- that’s something I REALLY need to incorporate into my workouts!

2 Lori { 03.31.11 at 8:05 am }

Marisa – I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you committed to lifting! Yay! Don’t ever feel bad about the weights you do. We all are very different in what our bodies can do (and where we are in a program). On that note, 8# for lateral raises to start is quite awesome.

That pepper recipe – I must try it. It has all my must haves: few ingredients, yummy ingredients, and easy!

My favorite veggie is broccoli – forever and ever, amen!

3 Helen { 03.31.11 at 8:29 am }

Asparagus hands down!

4 Reen { 03.31.11 at 8:39 am }

Good for you! I admire your determination. I would like to do some upper body strength stuff, tone my flabby arms. Right now, I’m going to focus on “the half” and maybe I’ll be ready.

My favorite vegetable? Swiss Chard!

Your Taco Salad looks great too.

5 marisa { 03.31.11 at 9:06 am }

great job and love the pics with the recipes…you are looking good marisa…

6 jen (jeninRL) { 03.31.11 at 9:17 am }

OMG!

Marisa, I used weights yesterday! Kettlebells. I did 4 exercises 15# KBs, 15 reps, 2 sets – upper body – I am going to alternate my days with KB swings and KB upper body. I am committed too!!

bwahahaha!!

I can’t wait to see you – only a few weeks!!

much love & big hugs!

7 Kathleen { 03.31.11 at 9:33 am }

Cauliflower! I love pureeing it to make mock mashed potatoes!

8 Shelley B { 03.31.11 at 10:23 am }

I think you’ve got a great lifting program – never apologize for your weights – you have to do what works for you, without hurting yourself. In fact, my 10 lb dumb bells are too heavy for my shoulder lifts and I’ve been thinking about buying some 8 lb ones!

Asparagus. No, broccoli. Wait – cauliflower. Argh! I can’t choose, but I guess that’s better than not having any favorite vegetable, right?

9 Grace { 03.31.11 at 10:40 am }

The pictures look BEAUTIFUL AND DELICIOUS

This definitely proves that healthy doesn’t have to mean bland, dry food!

I love all vegetables actually but my favorite would have to be butternut squash!

I need to start incorporating more lifting into my routine.

10 Aimee { 03.31.11 at 11:08 am }

Your lunch is so colorful. Looks delicious.

I wish that I knew more about weight lifting. I’ve had a couple of sessions in the past with a physical trainer. I try to do at least two days a week of strength training and I feel great after. I think your plan sounds great. I may give it a try myself. Good luck!

11 Kelly Happy Texan { 03.31.11 at 11:25 am }

My favorite vegetable is potato chips! LOL

Those are not featherweights. 8# for lateral raises is quite good. Those are tough! YAY for weight lifting!!!!!

12 Nicole, RD { 03.31.11 at 11:38 am }

Favorite vegetable? Hm. Right now I would say eggplant, but that’s not usually the case. Probably potatoes Or onion.

I think it’s great you’re committed to 3 days/week of weights. I hate weights with a PASSION and I need to start back.

13 Roz { 03.31.11 at 12:59 pm }

I cracked up at your term “pumping feathers!” You are hilarious. Yay you for taking on the lifting challenge. You’ll be GREAT!

14 Jenn@slim-shoppin { 03.31.11 at 1:54 pm }

That’s so fun you got to run with your dad!!!

And thanks for the info about the pretzel bagels!! I haven’t seen those yet.

My favorite veggie – green beans!

15 Shawna { 03.31.11 at 2:41 pm }

Girl, I think you are doing great with the weights… the most I can manage is 5 pounders for arms/shoulder stuff. Good for you!

16 Ruby W. { 03.31.11 at 3:29 pm }

Huge veggie fan right here. I love cauliflower the most. I lightly steam it and eat it straight up or add it in my dishes to bulk it up.

Spinach, string beans, carrots are pretty high up there too. Sweet potatoes only when they are in season because they taste so much better. I refuse to settle with an inferior sweet potatoe. I’m weird like that.

17 ColleenJ { 03.31.11 at 4:17 pm }

Fav. veggies are the fresh ones out of my garden!

18 Biz { 04.01.11 at 11:12 am }

I need to kick up my strength training – I may steal your routine!

I cannot wait for the prices of veggies to go down by me – last week zucchini was $2.99 a pound! Luckily I found some on my $1 rack.

Have a great weekend Marisa!

19 Sara @ Baking and Wine { 04.01.11 at 4:48 pm }

I bet those peppers would be awesome stuffed with cottage cheese! It is a great “healthier” cheese option. I love using it on lasagna with a little bit of mozzarella mixed in. Yum!

I can’t even begin to pick my favorite vegetables. I will say I DON’T like asparagus and chard. That’s about it. Ha.

20 janetha @ meals & moves { 04.04.11 at 1:51 pm }

Nothing to laugh at! For sure gotta start somewhere Taco salad=favorite!

21 Just Teasin’ — Loser For Life { 04.12.11 at 7:02 am }

[...] made more Cheese Stuffed Roasted Peppers over the weekend and thought they would be great as a grilled cheese [...]