Stop Feeling Deprived & Find Something Delicous

When following a strict diet eating can be a constant reminder of what you cannot eat.  When you are feeling deprived it makes any sort of long term diet unattainable.  I learned with a little planning and effort you can make delicious meals to satisfy just about any craving without feeling you are even on a diet.  The difficult part is training yourself to think outside the box.

If I am craving tacos I buy 95% lean ground beef and instead of tortilla shell I use boston lettuce as a shell (the type of lettuce used for lettuce wraps).  I then pile on taco meat, homemade pico de gallo and drizzle on some fat free sour cream.  The boston lettuce gives it a nice crunch for some added texture. 

I already shared my recipe for Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes for a nice hardy side which is a fantastic substitute for the real thing.  There are amazing substitutes for (almost) every food.  Looking for a dessert?  A pretty decent Dukan Friendly Fat Free Low Carb dessert the cheesecake recipe listed below.

LOW CARB FAT FREE CHEESECAKE (4 Individual Servings)

1 Cup Splenda

2 Packages of Fat Free Cream Cheese (softened)

1 T Vanilla Extract

1 Cup of Egg Whites such as Egg Beaters

Blend all ingredients together at low speed and pour into 4 ramekin dishes.  Place in a 325° preheated oven for 35-45 minutes (or until center is almost set).  Remove from oven and refrigerate for 3 hours. 

Another great idea is stolen from my childhood.  Remember the days of making your own popsicles by freezing Kool-Aid?  A more adult version of this easy treat is frozen greek yogurt pops. 

Greek Yogurt Popsicles

You Favorite Flavor(s) of Fat Free Greek Yogurt

Sugar (Optional – flavored to taste)

Pick your favorite flavors of Greek Yogurt add your favorite no calorie sweetener (optional).  You can even laying it so the top half is one flavor and the bottom half another (we are really getting fancy now).  Throw them in those plastic popsicle kits and freeze!  

Recipes like these let you have fun and enjoy your food and not feel as if you are depriving yourself.  You should still be able to have fun and enjoy your food while you are on a diet.

Do you have a favorite recipe?  Please share! 

Dukan Diet Phase 2 & Cauliflower Mashed Potato Recipe

If the phrase “you are what you eat” were true I would look like a loaf of bread, bowl of rice, or giant baked potato (butter and sour cream please!!!!).  Not eating carbs (with the exception of the 2T of oat bran daily) is not the easiest diet.  I find it most difficult on my Protein Only days.  I sit down to dinner with a chuck of meat in front of me, no side of veggies, no potato or rice to accompany the meal.  Do not get me wrong, I do not leave the dinner table hungry, I just feel as if something is missing when I'm eating my meal. 

My favorite side on the Protein Only days, to give me a break from meat, is fat free cottage cheese.  Also to help wash down the meat I have been purchasing a plethora of different types of mustard, one of the permitted condiments due to it having no carbs.  I never realized how many types of mustard existed beyond traditional yellow… Dijon, Spicy Brown, Horseradish, and my favorite-Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce (found at Trader Joe’s).  I’m also a huge fan of Heinz Reduced Sugar Ketchup as well as Frank’s Red Hot Sauce (being of fan of anything and everything spicy).  Condiments are key to lasting on this diet on protein only days. 

I feel I can be on this diet forever (MOST) protein and vegetable days.  These are the days I no longer feel as if I’m even on a diet.  My favorite recipe is Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes.  It looks just like mashed potatoes and taste pretty close.  Even if you are trying to reduce your carb intake this is a must try recipe. 

Cauliflower Mashed Potato Recipe

1 Head of Cauliflower

1 T Fat Free Cream Cheese

1 T Fat Free Sour Cream

½ t Chicken Bouillon

½ minced garlic

Salt

Pepper

¼ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (Optional)

Bring a pot of water to a boil, cut cauliflower into chunks and place in boiling water for 6-8 minutes until tender.  Drain water and dry with clean dish cloth or paper towel.  In medium sized bowl mixed all ingredients with hand blender (immersion blender).  NOTE:  You can also use a food processor.  HOPE YOU ENJOY AS MUCH AS I DO!


When sitting down to dinner this recipe makes me feel as if I am eating a normal meal.  With the "mashed potatoes", side of vegetables, along with a nice portion of lean protein I leave the table feeling happy, full and satisfied.  Now if I can just figure out a way to make another mock side out of protein.... Anyone out there have any suggestions? 

The Dukan Diet

My current attempt to lose weight is with the Dukan Diet.  With a total weight loss of 14 pounds in just under 6 weeks I consider it successful (thus far). The thing I love about the Dukan Diet is you are permitted to eat unlimited amount of foods (within reason).  The most difficult aspect of the diet is the elimination of carbs.  I can have a whole blog dedicated to my love of carbs and carbs related foods.  Back in my high school days my parents nicknamed me Rice Pilaf because that is what I would eat for dinner each and every day. 

                 

To me, the problem with most diets is it has to be a lifestyle.  You cannot stop once you reach your goal weight, otherwise all the weight you lost eventually comes back on.  With the Dukan Diet there are four phases and once you reach phase four, your goal weight, you can eat whatever foods you want (once again, within reason) and still maintain your weight loss, as long as once a week you revisit the diet rules.  This is idea the sealed the deal.  The thought of only needing to diet one day week sounds not only achievable but easy.  During the course of the diet you are never suppose to limit your food intake nor are you suppose to ever count calories.  The most difficult aspect of the whole Dukan Diet process is actually making it to phase four. 

Phase One is the attack phase.  The attack phase only last approximately 5 days.  With the exception of 2 T of oat bran a day (which you will eat everyday for life) you are only eating lean proteins and some dairy such as fat free cream cheese, fat free cottage cheese, and skim milk.  What is great about this phase is most people lose tons of weight initially.  Due to the first phase only lasting a short period of time and the large amount of rapid weight loss people are compelled to keep going into phase two. 

I am currently, in my opinion, in the most difficult phase of the diet, phase two.  Phase two is just like phase one but you are adding in vegetables every other day, along with the 2 T of oat bran daily.  I never thought I’d miss vegetable as much as I do.  On vegetable days I feel as if I can continue this diet forever, it’s the protein only days that are rough.  Phase two continues all the way until you reach your goal weight. 

Phase three, you slowly start bringing carbs and starches back into your diet.  You are also allowed 2 celebration meals a week where you can eat whatever you want without worrying about it being on the allowed list. 

By the time you reach phase four your body is considered stabilized and you can eat all different foods you have been missing.  Once a week you have to go back to the protein only day diet, but beyond that you are suppose to maintain your goal weight. 

Tomorrow…

My struggles and triumphs with the Dukan Diet’s Phase Two