<p>Oh, Chintzy. They do the large tractor tires at Mike Boyle’s gym. Lift’ em, flip 'em over. Flip ‘em over again. You are doing all the cool fun stuff! Burpees. Flippin’ tractor tires. Yippee!</p>
<p>Oh, I forgot to mention my reward for Spartacus. Two little lobsters, shucked and sauteed in lemon juice and butter. Yummie!</p>
<p>More food questions, for teriwtt or others. So what are the good fruits? I much prefer fruits to vegetables (probably related to my dislike of cooking) but am probably getting too much sugar. And what about fiber on a higher-protein/lower carb diet? Probably vegetables again . . .</p>
<p>I can’t think of a “bad” fruit. The ony downside is that fruit has a lot of sugar and a lot of calories, so it’s possible to overdo the fruit thing. My wife got on a blender fruit smoothie kick and, honestly, I think she might as well have been munching on candy. There’s nothing wrong with fruit smoothies, but your total calories still have to be right to lose weight. Still, a bowl of fruit is a helluva lot better snack than a cannister of Pringles.</p>
<p>As for veggies, I can’t get enough salad with raw lettuce, raw onion, raw carrot, raw peppers, raw celery, raw broccoli. Just love it. I do dinner salads with fruit sometimes. Granny smith’s apples in a salad with a tart vinaigrette, parmegianno regianno cheese, walnuts, served with some proscuitto ham. I also do a blue cheese salad with strawberries and either a strawberry blender vinaigrette or a balsamic vinagrette. That one is good with walnuts or pecans for a little crunch. These are not “lo-cal” salads, but when a huge salad is your complete dinner, that’s OK.</p>
<p>My favorite easy veggie recipe is sauteed brocolli. Just saute raw broccoli in a non-stick skillet with a pat of butter and/or a table spoon of olive oil. Keep tossing or stirring to keep it moving. A little salt and pepper. Then, after a minute or two, turn the burner to low and put a lid on it to let it steam until it’s as done as you like it. I prefer cruchy. I have it as a side dish or I serve my Asian stir fries over broccoli instead of rice.</p>
<p>It’s hard to beat fresh haddock poached in white wine and buttter with a side of this broccoli. Reasonably lo-cal and delicious.</p>
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<p>As a general rule, fruits that are grown in milder climates are better for you than those grown in tropical climates. Although bananas have some awesome nutrition in them, they are perhaps the worst when it comes to sugar. </p>
<p>As idad suggests above, the only reason most fruit is better than candy is that it does have some nutritional value… some of it pretty darn good.</p>
<p>Looking for suggestions…</p>
<p>Wednesday morning I have to bring ‘food’ to our weekly IDG (interdisciplinary group) meeting, for about 15-18 people (it’s my turn). Some people just stop at Dunkin’ Donuts and pick something up; some go to Einstein and pick up an assortment of bagels/cream cheese, and others have made breakfast casseroles.</p>
<p>I’d like to bring something healthy and I have time to make something tomorrow or tomorrow night, refrigerate it and warm it up in the microwave at the office. Does anyone have any suggestions for a large group, that is somewhat healthy?</p>
<p>Hashimoto’s here as well, for 25 years now. Life goes on. There are worse things.</p>
<p>Since I’ve added “speed” workouts to my weekly routine, I’ve noticed that I need to eat more, and yet have lost another 2 lbs. I am faithfully my doing strength & core exercises, and am getting stronger, so I don’t think I’m losing muscle. Still, I don’t want to lose any more weight. I feel good, have lots of energy, much more than before I started running, but I have to say, I am a little disconcerted by the weight loss.</p>
<p>Amesie: Over the summer, I practically mainlined fruit–berries, peaches, and watermelon especially. I was definitely getting a high percentage of my daily fruits and vegetables from fruit. At my annual physical in late July, my sugar was up over last year–nothing dangerous (yet), but my doctor pointed it out as something to watch. She also urged me to think about the high carb content of fruit and my need to get rid of belly fat. </p>
<p>Since we started our “eating rehab” on September 1, we eat tons of vegetables, probably double what we used to. I cut back on fruit to only berries and occasionally half a peach. I swear that the combination of increased fiber, lower carbs, lower sugar, and greater nutritional benefits has been a big boost to my overall health and weight loss.</p>
<p>If you hate to cook, why not use frozen vegetables (no sauce)? Or try quick-cooking options like fresh spinach or broccoli. I am impatient with salad prep so my H does it, but you can buy pre-chopped ingredients in bags in the produce section (for a price). Like idad, we put lots of different things besides veggies in our salads: nuts, fruit, seeds, fresh parmesan.</p>
<p>Are any of you ladies on Boniva or that category of drug for bone density? I am having problems (especially in Pilates when you have to point your toes) with toe and calf cramping. I get some in the night, but also, like I said, when I point my toes in PT or Pilates. I think it is a side effect of this stupid drug that I resisted taking for ages. I may ditch it. </p>
<p>Pilates (toe cramps and all) last night and spin class this morning. Spin class was brutal. Very difficult and I hate the instructor’s music. Every time I go I am not sure I will ever go back, but it really is a great workout. HR averaged 142 even with a low heart rate warm up. They might as well take the saddles off the bikes because we hardly sit down.</p>
<p>Terriwitt,
I like Chilaquille casserole. [The</a> Casserole You Have Never Made: Chilaquile Casserole<a href=“There%20are%20lots%20of%20variations%20with%20beans%20and%20meat%20too.”>/url</a> I’ve been known to throw in a little tofu - completely unauthentic, but you can reduce the cheese and fat a bit that way.</p>
<p>Spinach bites of some sort are also good.</p>
<p>This is the easy version: [url=<a href=“http://southernfood.about.com/od/appetizersandsnacks/r/bl81220f.htm]Spinach”>http://southernfood.about.com/od/appetizersandsnacks/r/bl81220f.htm]Spinach</a> Bites - Spinach Appetizer Recipe](<a href=“http://moscowfood.coop/archive/casserole.html]The”>http://moscowfood.coop/archive/casserole.html)</p>
<p>But you can have the improved spanikopita type: [Spanakopita</a> (Greek Spinach Pie) Recipe - Allrecipes.com](<a href=“http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/spanakopita-greek-spinach-pie/Detail.aspx]Spanakopita”>http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/spanakopita-greek-spinach-pie/Detail.aspx)</p>
<p>At this time of year, I think it’s nice to have grapes - cut them up into small clusters.</p>
<p>Salad can be vastly improved by adding stuff. Grape halves, mangos, orange slices and raspberries are my favorite fruits. Almost any nut is good, even better if you saute them in a tiny bit of butter and maple syrup first. I often throw in some leftover cooked vegetables. Olives are yummy. Cut up bits of any sort of cheese or meat if it’s going to be the major part of the meal.</p>
<p>terriwitt…
How about mini crustless quiche? You can make them with spinach, turkey sausage, egg whites, mushrooms. </p>
<p>[Mini</a> Mushroom-&-Sausage Quiches | Eating Well](<a href=“http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/mini_mushroom_sausage_quiches.html]Mini”>Our 15+ Best Quiche Recipes)</p>
<p>[Crustless</a> Quiche Recipes](<a href=“http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/great-recipes.asp?food=crustless+quiche]Crustless”>http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/great-recipes.asp?food=crustless+quiche)</p>
<p>Make ahead of time and can be reheated in microwave.</p>
<p>The problem for a morning meeting like that is that, honestly, people would rather have bagels or muffins or danish. Just look at Starbuck’s food options. I don’t reckon’ that sausage gravy, biscuits, and hashbrowns would be in the “healthy” category?</p>
<p>On salads:</p>
<p>The best single thing you could ever do to eat more salad is to buy a salad spinner. Fill the bowl with cold water, swish around the lettuce. Lift the lettuce out of the water into the mesh strainer. Dump the water, put the strainer in the bowl and spin it. When you are done, just rinse the bowl and strainer with the sink sprayer. Voila. Very quick. Very easy. No more paper towels.</p>
<p>My hesitation with a salad spinner was always that it would be another thing to wash, but it’s only used for rinising greens. You only have to soap it up every few uses.</p>
<p>My other trick is to make my dressing right in the bottom of a large stainless steel mixing bowl. Add the lettuce, goodies, cheese, croutons, or whatever, then use a big kitchen spoon to toss it and distribute the dressing and serve. One bowl to wash for salad and homemade dressing. Heck, if it’s just me, I’ll eat the salad right out of the mxiing bowl. Perfect way for a big ol’ fat guy to enjoy his dinner salad while watching football!</p>
<p>I also try to keep all the “goodies” – onion, baby carrots, a little brocolli, celery, whatever – in one grocery bag in the veggie crisper so I can just grap one bag and have “the stuff” to embellish a salad at hand.</p>
<p>idad, I’m sad to report there was no tractor tire flipping at man camp. It was a regular size tire, hooked to a belt around my waist, which I then got to drag around behind me as I ran the track. Fun! Actually, kind of like when I started running at 200 lbs.</p>
<p>The full workout:
Wall Squat–2 min.
Run–5 min.
Plank Pushups–2 min.
Run w/ tire–3 min.
Kettleball (20 lbs) Squats–2 min.
Jump Rope–5 min. (nearly killed me!)
Lunge walk w/ 15 lb weighted bar overhead–2 min.
Push Press w/ 12 lb. dumbbells–2 min.
Punch Heavy Bag–5 min.
Repeat </p>
<p>You would have loved it.</p>
<p>I Dad -</p>
<p>You are about ready for your own television show. You could just call it “the big ol’ fat guy” and do your workouts, show people how to spin salad, bring a guest on each week to discuss some aspect of health and fitness. Gosh, we would all be willing to appear.</p>
<p>chintzy:</p>
<p>That sounds brutal. Are you actually supposed to be able to sustain all those exercises for the full time listed? Or is it five minutes, exercise as long as you can, rest, and then resume exercising for the allotted time? Five minutes of jump rope is staggeringly hard as would be two minutes of lunge walking or five minutes of punching a heavy bag. I sure couldn’t do those times. Even Spartacus only calls for 60 seconds of each exercise.</p>
<p>Speaking of advanced exercises, one of my goals (along with Bulgarian Split Squats) is the box jump. Stand on the floor, jump up, and land with both feet at the same time on the top of a step or box. You build up in height: 12 inches, 18 inches, even 24 inches. I started with a 9.5 inch step and it’s a lot harder than it looks to get a big 'ol fat guy up that far. The instinct is to step up with one foot, which is a lot easier. Gotta some work to do on my vertical leap!</p>
<p>I couldn’t jump rope for 5 continuous minutes. Stopped and started and tripped a lot. On the heavy bag he let me mix in kicks and elbows and forearms and whatever it took to go 5 minutes. When it was all over, he said I complained the least of anyone else who’s done it.</p>
<p>I’ve done box jumps. They are evil. Not sure how high I got–2 or 3 of those platic steps they have in the gym. If you let me be a guest on your talk show I’ll make my barley risotto…</p>
<p>chintzy…Goodness! You are amazing! I would be dead!</p>
<p>Can anyone recommend a low sugar pasta/tomato sauce? </p>
<p>idad…a book and a tv show! You will be the next media fitness mogul/star! ;)</p>
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</p>
<p>I just whip up my own. Tablespoon of olive oil. A little diced onion, a little garlic, some canned Italian plum tomatoes (or fresh) diced, a little salt. a little pepper, a little basil. Just sear it all really quickly in skillet (it’s not a long cooked sauce). Spoon it over the pasta and grate fresh parmeggiano cheese. Takes about 10 minutes, start to finish.</p>
<p>For a variation, sear some quartered mushrooms over high heat in a skillet and add to the sauce.</p>
<p>chintzy:</p>
<p>OK. I’ve got a new box jump practice: box jump up the stairs, step by step! It was warm here today, so I did a little 5k hilly walk as a breather after Spartacus yesterday (still sore). The lady in the iPod said I walked my fastest mile ever and my fastest 5k. I was mostly just happy that I didn’t slip on the wet leaves and sprain my ankle again! An ol’ fat guy is happy with the small victories!</p>
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<p>I never “like” going to spin, but it’s such a great workout that when I’m done, I’m pleased. I have an instructor who has the class do a series of jumps–up for 5 counts and then down for 5 counts and that really gets my heart rate up to 94% of max. The jumping intervals and intervals where we speed up seem to get my heart rate up faster and higher than when she has us increase resistance.</p>
<p>NM–I make my own marinara sauce. Best recipe that I’ve found is Mario Batali’s from Simple Italian Food. Here’s a web link to that recipe. No sugar–he uses carrots to sweeten the sauce.</p>
<p>[Mario</a> Unclogged: Marinara Sauce | Serious Eats : Recipes](<a href=“http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2007/10/mario-batali-recipe-for-marinara-sauce.html]Mario”>The Best Italian-American Tomato Sauce Recipe)</p>