Butternut Squash Soup

You may think I am crazy for starting a serious fat cut program right before the holidays, or maybe I am a genius! (I am) Working hard for results encourages me to stay convicted when amazing treats and snacks appear constantly on my doorstep. I seek out delicious, healthy fall recipes and this one is a winner! Butternut squash is incredibly nutritious, low in fat,  loaded with potassium for bone health, vitamin b6 for nervous and immune system health, and folate to guard against brain and spinal cord related birth defects (my wife is pregnant). Carotenoids which help protect against heart disease, deter breast cancer, and support healthy lung development in infants and fetuses. One cup of butternut squash has half a days recommended intake of Vitamin C. So how do you eat the stuff? Here is an easy, awesome recipe.

6 T. Chopped Onion
4 T. Butter
1 Butternut Squash
4 C. Chicken/Vegetable Stock (dealers choice)
1/2 t. Marjoram
1/4 t. Fresh Black Pepper
1/8 t. Cayenne
2 8 oz package cream cheese (softened)

Cut the butternut squash in half and remove seeds and guts place face down on cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 1 hr. or until soft. Heat up butter in your soup pot and saute the onion until translucent. Add Stock, marjoram, squash, marjoram, pepper, and cayenne. Bring to boil then cook on med high for 20 min.

Move to blender with cream cheese and blend on high until smooth. Return to pot and warm (do not boil).  Enjoy!

I'm not sure if the kids liked it or not.

Fastest Blood Giver In Town

Yesterday marked the third day in this 15 lb weight loss adventure. As a service I give blood as often as possible. I filled a pint in 4 min 20 sec, the lady told me it was the fastest time of the day. BAM! Also blood pressure is 122/88 and heart rate 53 bpm which is that of an athlete, I am feeling better than a bald red neck in a mullet wig shop! Here is how yesterday panned out.

Workout: NONE recovery day (recovery is extremely important, Never skip this day)

Diet

Breakfast: Build meal replacement, Elevated drink, Transform supplement

Morning Snack: Apple with 2 T peanut butter

Lunch: Chef salad w/ranch Crisp Juan burrito (taco time, I never said I was perfect) transform supplement

Afternoon snack: String cheese 2 clementines, Elevated drink.

Dinner: Butternut squash soup (recipe in next post), bread w/butter, transform supplement

Results: A picture says a thousand words, that makes .8 lbs loss since yesterday 2.6 lbs burned in 3 days

Day 2 (I'm not clever enough for a cool post name today)

One thing is certain, I do have abs, because I can feel them with every movement I make this morning, either that or an alien type creature will be bursting forth from my gut later today. Sneezing feels like the powers of gray skull are uniting against me and thusting into my insides like a Ryu style fire ball.  Energy levels have stayed consistant throughout the day and hunger was curbed. I still have no desire for energy drinks. At night around 9:30 hunger ensued, however my resolve overcame my weakness. One who truely wants to overcome their body and transform it, knows breaking bad habits is paramount. I had been eating late at night in bed, usually junk, so my whiny little sissy body is begging for the jump. In a short time my body will adjust. My mind feels sharper, my body feels strong  and I am happy.

And The Results

• Workout:

Abs: 50 minutes 8 excersizes 3 one minute sets. I wanted to cease existing by the end

• Diet

Breakfast: Build meal replacement drink and a transform supplement. Elevated drink 2 chocolate cookies (I got weak)

Morning snack: Gala apple with adams all natural peanut butter (2 tbsp)

Lunch: Nally chili, 1 tbsp greek yogurt and 1 serving don julio tortilla chips (I was in a hurry don't judge me) tansform supplement

Afternoon snack: 2 cheese heads string cheese elevated drink

Dinner: Chicken breast and farm rice 

Eating small meals every 2-3 hours keeps your metabolism up and helps you lose weight, skipping meals will cause your body to retain fat.

• Result: I am down another 1.4 lbs! that makes 1.8 lbs in only 2 days. I am  stoked, only 13.2 lbs to go!

Day 1 Dropping The Last 15

Yesterday marks the begining of a 30 day fat burning program. I felt awesome throughout the day, had plenty of energy, played with the kids, ran errands and accomplished all the tasks that make my day off such a pleasure! "Day off" should is a loose term with two kids under three and a wife seven months pregnant. Food cravings were really minimal, during feedings I had to force myself to finish my meal. The need to food to rebuild after a heavy workout is paramount for maximum results. The desire for soda and energy drinks is completely gone (I used to drink 1-2 e-drinks a day)

The day in a snap shot, and the results:

• Work Out 

Biceps and Triceps, just over a 1 hour workout

• Diet

Breakfast: Build high protein meal replacment, 1 C. Oatmeal w/ 1tbsp honey 1tbsp organic maple syrup and 1 C. blueberries. Elevate peach mango drink. 1 Transform supplement.

Lunch: 2 brawurst boiled in apple juice, pan fried in coconut oil with mustard 1 transform supplement

Snack: 2 pieces of a kit kat, one gala apple 2 tbsp peanut butter, a second elevated juice drink.

Dinner: Chicken breast pan fried in olive oil, coated in parmesan/greek yogurt served with rice a roni, Two slices natually leavened whole wheat bread with honey butter 1 transform supplement.

And now the moment may actually care about drum roll Clark Griswold style

• Weigh in

191.8 a loss of .4 lbs. Considering my diet and excersize did not really change I am happy with the results. I just added the Transform, elevate and build on a consistant schedule. 15 lbs just hiding away abs, that according to anatomy I have never seen them, I am going on faith. I hope for this thing which has never been seen but is real. 14.6 lbs to go or a washboard, whichever comes first really.

Losing The Last 15 LBS.

I have been stuck at my current weight for sometime now, it is super frustrating. I dropped 30 lbs in 7 months and then leveled out. It is not so much the weight loss I am worried about, I have a fairly muscular physique so I know I will weigh more than a skinny person. It's this fat around my love handles and stomach that does not allow my abs to show. It's super vain, but I have always wanted a stomach that my wife could scrub our laundry on or play in a hillbillly band with a jug blower and a nose harpist. I have had the goal to earn a six pack for years and have been working hard. Upon researching, I found I am fighting millions of years of human adaptation. Our bodies have been built to hold onto around 10-15 lbs of fat in case our food sources became scarce. (In the distant past McDonalds and grocery stores were closed in the winter, making food slightly harder to come by.) My highly evolved body refuses to listen to my brain and let go of this extra weight. Recently I discovered a really cool company that has a 30 day weight loss plan. All the ingredients are all natural with nothing added, nothing artificial. I started the 30 day program today and will track all results here. I promise, good, bad or indifferent I will let you decide the efficacy of the program. I am stoked to try it out. I already eat healthy, workout 4 to 5 times per week and am fairly active. Hopefully this will be the catalyst that destroys this last bit of fat, like Luke Skywalker shooting into a hole about the size of a wamp rat to destroy the death star.

Weight this morning post workout, post shower pre breakfast
192.2. I hope to buy a body composition meter shortly. (goal weight 175-179 however if I look cut I don't care as much about the weight.)

I am using one meal replacement/protein powder (build) post work out in the morning. Two Elevate: one in the morning one afternoon, it gives me energy without a spike nor crash. It's caffeine free. 3 Transform (appetite suppressant, metabolic enhancer and thermogenic fat burner). One with each meal. I posted pics of ingredients Here's to high hopes!

Perception is Everything.

The best lesson in perspective I have ever received was from my 3 year old daughter. As frequent Costco shoppers, if we don't get ice cream, the highlight of the trip for my daughter is getting our receipt checked. Usually a pleasant face woman at the door draws her a smiley face and she lights up with excitement. On a particular day she handed the lady our receipt, who marked a quick line and on we went. I wondered in my mind what she would say and prepared for her disappointment. Her eyes lit up, a huge smiled penetrated her lips and she exclaimed, "Look dad a Snake!" Perception is what creates the world we choose to live in.

Why Me?

When your kids have you at your wits end think of  mourning parents of a deceased child or a woman longing to be a mother but never will. When you think your house is too small or poorly decorated think about the families living in shacks, projects or outdoors. When you feel too fat, skinny, ugly, have bad hair or not enough make up think about those who wonder where their next meal will come from. When you stare in a closet and have nothing to wear think about those who are happy to have one set of clothes to protect them from the elements. When you hate your job feel for the father who is searching to find work and can't seem to hold anything down. When you wonder why me, think about it this way. Why do I get to live in such a free country, why do I have every opportunity I could possibly ask for looking me in the face and pass it up, why am I wealthier than 99% of the world's population. Why won't I die of starvation this week, month or year. Why do guerilla soldiers not storm my house violate my women and turn my children into slaves and hate mongers. You are reading this, it means you have it pretty damn good, so stop complaining about all the things you wish you were or had and start r being grateful for the life you have been given. Then use it to improve the lives of others.