Paleo Burger and Cookies! - Weight Loss Journey Week 56 - Day 3

Week: 56
Day 3 - Friday
20/02/2015

Have a little too much time for breakfast? Try this! ;)

Breakfast: Green Smoothie Bowl
(Spinach, Coconut Water, Banana & Pear
Topped with Almonds, Chia Seeds, Goji Berries and Coconut)

I woke feeling nauseous this morning so I didn't really feel like a big breakfast.  Keeping it light I decided to make a quick green smoothie and serve it in a bowl for something different.  It's prettier than your average smoothie. :) 

No burgers on Paleo? No way! 

Lunch: Sweet Potato Beef Burger

(Recipe HERE)

I thought I'd try something a little different for lunch and create a Paleo beef burger!  I have had sweet potato hash browns for breakfast (post here), but I thought I'd see if I could make them into a burger.  Success!  Okay, so you can't eat it with your hands as it's a little too soft and messy for that, but it's delicious! 

There is no flour in this or additives so it is pretty healthy too.  Because it's sweet potato it is lovely and filling.  I have tried it before with a chicken patty (recipe soon) and that was lovely too.

Burgers and Cookies in the one day!

Afternoon Snack: Banana Date & Walnut Microwave Cookies

(Recipe HERE)

I decided to reward myself for exercising today and create a quick treat.  I love creating new recipes and thinking of how to use ingredients in different ways.  I figure if I'm going to have something like this, it's best to have it about 30 minutes after exercise as a post workout treat.  I enjoyed these as they were a nice soft consistency, not dry like other microwave cookies I've made. 

You can't see my dinner for the trees!

Dinner: Savoury Mince layered with Pumpkin Mash
(Recipe HERE)

I had leftover savoury mince that I had left over from lunch, so I decided to use it for tonight's dinner.  It's not a very pretty or exciting dinner, but it was still tasty. 

Glasses of water: 8

Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor

Exercise: Dancing

Due to the bad weather here I was pretty limited exercise wise.  I decided to just dance around at home.  This was the LAST thing I felt like doing today.  I had just recovered from a migraine and was wiped out, but I felt like crap anyway so #*$% it!  Why not?

  I can at least try it and see how I go and this was the result.  I didn't feel great after, but I felt better because I had done it for myself and surely it would be helping me.  It's really hard to exercise when you're not well the majority of the time, but I'm going to do my best.  I may not be able to climb mountains but at least I can climb off the couch! ;)

I hope you're all staying safe, love Mel xxoxx

Paleo Sweet Potato Beef Burger

It's not your typical burger as you need to eat it with a knife and fork, rather than your hands, but it is delicious!

Ingredients

Sweet Potato "Bun"

1 Large Sweet Potato
Salt & Pepper

Method 

Heat a fry pan on a medium heat with some olive oil.  Peel and grate the sweet potato and mix though some salt and pepper.  Form into balls and flatten in the pan (however big you would like your "buns" to be).  Heat on each side for 3-4 minutes.  If they fall apart, heat a little longer until the sweet potato is soft and form the patty again.

Ingredients

Savoury Mince "Burger"

Recipe HERE

For this, I just used the savoury mince recipe I use all the time.  I spread it out over the sweet potato with a little avocado cream, topped it with salad and another sweet potato "bun".  I have used chicken patties as well or just had the fried sweet potato with eggs for breakfast as per the photos below.  

Paleo Sweet Potato Chicken Burger

Paleo Sweet Potato Hash Browns

Paleo Banana Date & Walnut Microwave Cookies

So quick and satisfying

Ingredients

1 Ripe Banana, mashed

5 Pitted Dates, chopped

2 Tablespoons of Shredded Coconut

1 Tablespoon of Coconut Oil 

1/4 Cup of Almond Flour

Handful of Walnuts, chopped

(Honey can be added for additional sweetness, but I don't think it needs it with the Banana and Coconut). 

Method 

Mash the Banana in a bowl, add in the remaining ingredients and mix. Divide the mixture into four and roll into balls.  Get a microwave safe plate and put one of the cookie balls on the plate and flatten (I put all four in at the same time and they stuck together and cook unevenly).  Bake in the microwave for 60-120 seconds, depending on your microwave.  I have a 1000 watt microwave and it took about 120 seconds on one side and then 60 seconds on the other.  

It's a bit trial and error, but remember that your cookie will keep cooking after it comes out of the microwave.  What you are looking for is a slight change in colour and for them to form a bit of a crust on top.  Less time will be a softer cookie, longer with be a firmer more dry cookie.  I let them cool for about 5 minutes before eating. Enjoy! :)

It's All About That Prep - Weight Loss Journey Week 56 - Day 2

Week: 56
Day 2 - Thursday
19/02/2015

It's All About That Prep

Zucchini "Fritters" *fail*...shhhh don't tell anyone! ;)

Breakfast: Zucchini Fritters with Salsa & Avocado Crema

I think you get to the point with Paleo where you get sick of having eggs for breakfast! It's good in a way because it keeps me thinking of creative ways to have a healthy breakfast without dairy, grains and processed foods.

I tried this recipe here because the almond flour was optional.  I prefer not to use flours and sweeteners where I can.  It flopped.  They didn't stay together for me.  Perhaps I didn't remove enough of the excess water. It was still tasty, but I also think that 1 tsp of salt was way too much, they tasted too salty to me.  First time making this though, so I will play around with it a bit.

I topped it with diced tomato mixed with a little tomato paste and garlic.  I also made an Avocado Crema recipe here.  Maybe I got the ratios wrong, but it tasted a bit heavy on the coconut milk to me, I was wanting more avocado to come through. 

It was still delicious, I will just have to play around with things a little. 

Too Sick To Eat - Weight Loss Journey Week 56 - Day 1

Week: 56
Day 1 - Wednesday
18/02/2015
Too Sick To Eat

Rooibos Tea Shake

Breakfast: Rooibos Tea Shake
(Brewed Rooibos Tea, 1 Banana, 1 tsp Honey, handful of Roasted Almonds & Almond Milk)

I've really been trying to cut down on coffee and eventually phase it out all together.  I don't think that it's necessary, it's more of a habit in the morning.  I've always been sensitive to caffeine, but in the last few months, I've noticed that sometimes my teeth chatter uncontrollably after coffee and I have a heart condition, so I don't think I should push it any further.  I've been having Rooibos or caffeine free Chai lately instead. 

Weigh In Wednesday! - Week 55 Weightloss Journey

Week: 55

Weight lost in 4 weeks: 1.7 kg (3.75 pounds)

Starting Weight: 148.8 kg (328 pounds)

Current weight: 110 kg (242.50 pounds)

Total weightloss: 38.8 kg (85.54 pounds)

Where have I been?

I'm not sure if I have mentioned this previously but I have just started seeing a Physiotherapist that specialises in migraines. A few weeks in she asked me if I had jaw problems and it was actually one of the first symptoms I had. 

In the last month after jaw stretches, massage and dry needling I have been in constant pain.  I've been living on pain killers three times a day.  I'm still in pain while writing this, even though I've had pain killers.  I'm sure you can imagine that it is not easy to write a blog in constant pain.  

I'm sure that there is a connection between my jaw and migraines and this pain is only for now.  If it means that I can get rid of daily debilitating migraines, I'm happy to be in constant pain for a while. 

I also underwent an Electrophysiology study (heart study, read more about it here) where they attempted to burn out the extra pathway due to the Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome I have (read about it here).  Unfortunately it wasn't successful and I may need to have the procedure again.  I will need to speak to my cardiologist in a month to see if this is required.  I recovered from the procedure quickly and even though there are risks involved, as far as procedures go, this one isn't too invasive. 

I feel like I'm finally getting some answers in regards to my health and what is really going on. After 2 years, 3 neurologists, 1 neurosurgeon, 2 cardiologists, 1 nutritionist, 1 physiotherapist and 2 great GPs, I think I'm getting closer to a solution! 

I have been told by many that my weight isn't causing my issues because after losing this much weight I would have seen some improvements.  This doesn't mean that I am going to stop losing weight or eating healthy.  This is what I have control over, health wise and it's been the best thing that I have ever done for myself. 

Goals for next week

I have lost weight in the last month but I know that I could have lost more.  I haven't been eating as healthy as I could or should.  Next week I'm going straight back to Paleo and eating healthy.  Keep me in line everyone! ;)