High, high, high | Pad patter 3.1

[IntenseMagic]

I gave up on trying to get protein through food only. That's partially because I can't do fish.

I make myself a smoothie with a protein shake as the base, add fruits, spinach, non-fat Greek yogurt (only no sugar option at my store!), and depending on the fruit I throw in some peanut butter. I can usually get a decent hit of protein, around 60g, from this mashup. Then, chicken, cheese, nuts, etc later makes up the difference to bring me close to my protein goal of 90g.

Beans don't add a ton of protein, but I've started mixing white beans in with pasta dishes. It ups the protein, and the white beans are not noticeable.

Do you like eggs? Homemade egg salad sandwiches are yummy. And pretty easy if you wanted to prep ahead on them. Same with tuna salad sandwiches.

I have started a protein powder in the morning to up my protein and it really does help!!

I do like eggs and eat them boiled every day for breakfast. Why did I not think about making some egg salad, duh, I love it! I could even have it in a lettuce wrap instead of the bread. That's what I'm doing with the tuna salad I do really like beans, so I have been incorporating more of those! Thanks, Courtney!!

 

[IntenseMagic]

I thought of something else during my years of experience with cholesterol...

Try being a lover of scrambled eggs and hard boiled eggs during the time period when you were told not to eat them because they weren't good for you and supposedly raised your cholesterol! Thankfully, that has been debunked and I can eat my eggs without feeling guilty. They also have protein, another plus.

I do love eggs of all kinds. I do hard boiled for breakfast every morning. I also found a neat recipe today for egg white cups with spinach, tomatoes, and feta cheese that I'm going to try

 

[IntenseMagic]

If you can do a bit of prep, you can make salad in a jar recipes. Store them in the fridge for the week. There are all kinds of variations. Make low carb muffins and loaves. Freeze them in portions. Easy things to fill you up are nuts, plain Greek yogurt or coconut yogurt you can sweeten yourself with stevia, monk fruit, honey, just don’t use white sugar, can add low carb granola, low sugar jam or fruit. Smoothies with protein powder, fruit, almond milk and I add collagen and mct oil but those are optional.

I am so bad at meal prep, but I am trying to do better! I did buy some almonds and Greek yogurt for snacks. I also bought a protein powder and it's really helping up that number every day. I need to get good at making smoothies!
Thanks, Rae!!

 

[IntenseMagic]

Not that I’m doing it now but my plan once I’m working is meal prep on Sunday’s a couple of salads, possibly a soup depending on the weather and an easy breakfast option as well as some snacks. I know if I’m not prepared I’ll waste $$$ and make bad choices.

This is why I've been so bad all this time. I need to get better at prepping!!

 

[IntenseMagic]

I learned this the hard way myself. What you eat in the day or so before these blood tests really matters. I have a friend who does meal prep every sunday and she really has gotten herself healthy. She shops at TraderJoe's each Saturday with a plan and preps on Sunday. She is willing to eat the same lunch all week but it's mostly brown rice, a protein and a veggie and/or salad. We have both found that the serious cutting back or out of most 'whites' - bread, rice and ...gasp..sugar really affect the cholesterol as well as the potential diabetes. It isn't the eggs it's the plain white bread that can get you.

btw, as a teacher I bet you get a lot of exercise up and down stairs and hallways. I notice that the days I volunteer at an elem school. We are all getting older, we may be rounder than we were but don't insult yourself with old, fat and ready to die. You just might have some habit tweaking to do.

This is what I need to do better...plan and prep. I just wing it tooo much! I'm working really hard on cutting out the "whites" and doing ok so far. I really do love me some rice and pasta, though hahaha, giving up sugar really isn't as difficult for me. I am trying to walk a lot more. A friend and I are walking every morning for 15 or 20 minutes before the bell rings, upstairs and down. We are having fun with it because the program work is using lets us create challenges and compete for steps. My habits are getting a little better every day Thank you, Maureen!!

 

[bestcee]

I need to get good at making smoothies!

I'll admit - I sucked at making smoothies. Then I bought a Vitamix. And it makes it so easy to make smoothies, that I do it much more often. Not saying you need an expensive blender, but if yours is old, it could be the equipment that makes it harder for you, even just mentally.

 

[Scrapping with Liz]

About 7 years ago my hubby had crazy high cholesterol. It runs in his family as well as heart issues. I refused to go on medication and got it under control with a little exercise and diet. He actually ended up losing about 50 pounds.

I sometimes eat oatmeal for breakfast. Have you ever tried overnight oats?
I get the xtreme wellness wraps and make sandwiches out of them.
I also use them to make bean burritos or quesadillas.
Eggs are a big go-to for me too.

 

[gonewiththewind]

One of my favorite lunches is tuna salad on disks of cucumber, but if you're wanting to get away from tuna . . . I love to get spinach salad greens, grilled chicken (frozen that I re-heat), and then add sliced strawberries and parmesan cheese. I use a poppyseed dressing that's low sugar. It's filling and feels decadent!

 

[bcgal00]

If you want a yummy smoothie recipe try this one....

3 tbsp cocoa, 2 tbsp peanut butter (I use peanut butter powder), 1-2 tsp sweetener, splash vanilla, 2 tbsp cream and about 1-1.5 c of almond milk. Blend it up. Yum!

 

[IntenseMagic]

I'll admit - I sucked at making smoothies. Then I bought a Vitamix. And it makes it so easy to make smoothies, that I do it much more often. Not saying you need an expensive blender, but if yours is old, it could be the equipment that makes it harder for you, even just mentally.

My problem is more not wanting to drag the blender out all the time. I have such limited counter space it drives me nuts. Maybe I need to find something smaller.

 

[IntenseMagic]

About 7 years ago my hubby had crazy high cholesterol. It runs in his family as well as heart issues. I refused to go on medication and got it under control with a little exercise and diet. He actually ended up losing about 50 pounds.

I sometimes eat oatmeal for breakfast. Have you ever tried overnight oats?
I get the xtreme wellness wraps and make sandwiches out of them.
I also use them to make bean burritos or quesadillas.
Eggs are a big go-to for me too.

Oooh thanks for the heads up on the wraps! I will definitely check those out. I have not tried overnight oats. I have had oatmeal a few days with some fruit in it.

 

[IntenseMagic]

One of my favorite lunches is tuna salad on disks of cucumber, but if you're wanting to get away from tuna . . . I love to get spinach salad greens, grilled chicken (frozen that I re-heat), and then add sliced strawberries and parmesan cheese. I use a poppyseed dressing that's low sugar. It's filling and feels decadent!

It's just a good thing I like tuna haha. I just bought some cucumbers, so I'm going to try that . I need to work on making things ahead and having them ready like the chicken. That sound super good with the strawberries and parmesan! Thanks, Cheryl!!!

 

[IntenseMagic]

If you want a yummy smoothie recipe try this one....

3 tbsp cocoa, 2 tbsp peanut butter (I use peanut butter powder), 1-2 tsp sweetener, splash vanilla, 2 tbsp cream and about 1-1.5 c of almond milk. Blend it up. Yum!

Ooooh thanks so much for this!! I'm going to try it really soon!!