I like olive oil, but not olives. Would that recipe take ok without olives?
I think the olives would provide a lot of the dish flavor but I’m sure you could make it without - or maybe sub in another veggie…your main flavor without the olives will come from the sun dried tomatoes and artichokes - you’ll be missing the brine and saltiness of the olives.
It would have less umami flavor - I think I’d stick in something fairly strong tasting I did like instead. Anchovies would be a possibility, or capers. Or maybe both. (I’m not a big anchovy fan but a little bit can really perk up a dish.)
Not an anchovy fan either 
I don’t like olives, anchovies, or capers, either.
It is too hot to cook, so I use the frozen vegetable mixtures that go in the microwave. Pre cooked chicken, salmon, egg and tuna salads, open face grilled cheese. Lots of mangoes as they are dropping from trees.
Bought pre-seasoned lamb from Trader Joes and cooked it on the George Foreman last night. Also made a salad, fruit salad and cauliflower. Had some garbanzo bean thing I picked up from TJ but it was too spicy for me. DH liked it, though.
I made that chicken dish, but with swordfish instead of chicken since there were two beautiful wild caught steaks at the market. [Isn’t all swordfish wild caught?] Cooked it for 20 minutes at 350 (with the convection going) and it was perfect. I added a large clove of garlic because I don’t think any self-respecting recipe calling itself “Mediterranean” should have no garlic. I don’t know what “Sweet red pepper spread” is so I chopped up some jarred roasted peppers, and a stuck in a few leaves of basil since I’ve got tons in my garden. I probably put in extra olives. 
Anyway it was very tasty!
Anybody here?? I want to get back on track. Have had too many meals out and temptations at home. Am still exercising, though it’s so hot, even in the gym, I am not staying as long. How is everyone doing?
Summer CSA too many vegetables losing a pound a week. Unfortunately last week I slipped in the middle of the night and landed flat on my back. I’m not sure what I did - no bruise, but it still hurts - so it’s hard to exercise. Squats are painful. I probably should talk to a doctor, but no time!
During my 19 years in DPPOS (diabetes research study), I have tried all sorts of incentives to get myself walking including walking buddies, pedometers, Fitbits but I, sooner, rather than later, lose interest. I have been playing Pokemon Go for about 2 weeks and hope I can keep going until the walking becomes a habit. During the two weeks I have played, I have forced myself to get moving earlier to beat the heat and humidity. Since last Friday, according to MapMyWalk, I have gone over 20 miles. I have walked up to 3.5 miles in the morning before 9 am and then another mile after dinner. My H at first was making fun of the game but now he agrees that it is working for me. I know that I am getting a better workout with my personal trainer but it is a nice supplement.
I want to get back on track, too.
Started walking 3 miles in the morning the last four days, before the brutal heat. Not Pokemon go player, with walking buddies. Thinking about another whole 30,too.
I’m still working out with a personal trainer twice a week, but have slipped a little in getting to the gym for cardio in between. I’ve still been good with my diet, although I’ve expanded it beyond the restrictive Whole 30 diet I started in January – adding some sugar, honey, rice. The good news is that I haven’t gained back any of the 15 pounds I lost at the beginning of the year and have actually lost a couple more pounds. I finally decided that it’s “safe” to go ahead and get some of my work clothes altered to fit me instead of just wearing a few of the smaller items I had over and over again. I think I finally found what works for me!
I’m actually eating a lot more food than I used to; I guess it’s just the right food so my metabolism doesn’t slow down and I don’t gain weight from carbs.
Hi everyone. I don’t like being a slave to logging in what I eat. I need to push myself to do it- but it is annoying.
^^ I’m not disciplined enough to log my food. That’s why Whole 30 (and a more expanded, modified version) works for me. I know what I can eat and what I can’t, and I can basically eat as much as I want of the food I can eat.
Do you have a link to the expanded version?
There really isn’t a specific thing. It’s just that after 30 days you can start slowly eating some food that was restricted and to see how it makes you feel. I added back in a little bit of food or salad dressings with sweeteners (sugar and honey). I’ve also added rice and oats again, but am staying away from other grains. I’m also staying away from dairy, although now and then when I order a salad out they seem to put cheese in it, so I’m eating a little. I’m continuing to avoid legumes. And I have a glass of wine or margarita now and then as well. 
@blackeyedsusan, may I suggest to you that carbs will not cause you to gain weight. Excessive calories will cause you to gain weight with regard to which eating excessive carbs is just one way of doing that. If your excessive calories come from protein or fat, you will gain weight although protein has a thermogenic property to it so it takes bit more protein to net out at excessive calories. If your excessive calories come from carbs, insulin will facilitate the storage of the carbs as fat. But at the end of the day, its the excessive calories that cause weight gain, not how those calories are allocated among the 3 macronutrients. Eat more than your daily energy expenditure and you will gain weight. Eat less and you will lose weight. Carbs are the primary energy source for our bodies and physical activity, whether it be muscle glycogen or blood sugar levels that provide carbs to our cells. Our brain and central nervous system alone need 130 gms of carbs/day to function properly, before activity levels are even factored in. (Obviously, there are certain medical conditions that alter the way someone’s body digests, processes and metabolizes food, but I am talking about medically healthy individuals who do not have these conditions.) And yes, I am aware of the various “studies” that support a carb/insulin theory of weight gain and therefore are used to promote low carb diets. I’m also aware of the myriad of studies that have debunked that theory, including studies that were done by the same organizations initially relied upon by “pop nutrition” authors selling books to promote their low carb diet theories. Don’t take my word for it, talk to your trainer who if following the most current literature and studies will tell you the same thing. Having said all that, look for the right carbs, Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, unprocessed, nutrient dense including fiber, low glycemic load and where appropriate based on level of physical activity, low glycemic index (load and index are different). Not all carbs are created equal. Just a suggestion for whatever you think its worth.
Holding steady and still incorporating many of the habits that worked so well for me a few years back. Unfortunately our new lifestyle includes new temptations, like cocktails and ice cream. DS just explained how to hatch eggs in Pokemon Go so I’ll try using that as a walking incentive. Once I recover from smooshing my little toe against a metal chair leg, that is. Not the first time it’s happened and at least doesn’t seem to be broken! But it will curtail me a bit during SIL’s visit in a couple of days.
Thanks for bumping, jym; it’s always nice to get back to the good old Dummies thread! (Not that we’re old because after all, the sky’s the limit!)
OK guys, I’m bookmarking this thread and am committed to working on my fitness now that my move is done (we are still finishing our kitchen so that is a pain).
Eating out almost every meal for the last 2 months has been horrible for my weight. 
OK tomorrow is another day. Starting back with you, @SouthFloridaMom9 .
DH bought me sautéed eggplant from the Chinese restaurant. But it was too spicy for me. So I ate… Ice cream. Oops.