Zoodles

This is my first purchase of 2015:

I will use this "spiralizer" to make zucchini noodles, aka "zoodles." By smothering zoodles in delicious marinara sauce, I hope to further my New Year's resolution to eat more vegetables. Hopefully, this newfangled gadget does not go the way of my dusty, long-abandoned NutriBullet. 

This Shit Is Disgusting

I see this and I fear the end of days - dreadful acts by humans which poison themselves and the good Earth. Please make it stop.

This is a recipe for disaster! It's shit like this that leads to an uninhabitable environment, extinction and zombie apocalypse. Haven't we learned anything??

Return to Walking Dead - Season 5

After a strong start to the season, this show returns to disappointing after multiple sluggish episodes culminating in an inane ending to tonight's "Crossed." It really annoys me when Walking Dead forces their characters to do things that completely undermine them- for example, Sasha's ineptitude tonight. I won't even elaborate because it's so uninspiring in its stupidity.

I wish the writers would make more intelligent choices instead of thoughtless ones that don't even drive the pace of the plot forward and therefore are usually worthless. 

Now, I turn my attention to a cake pop. 

Mmmmm. That's better. 

Happy July 4!

I made it to the gym for exercise session 39. 

Then I liberated myself with:

CAKE CAKE CAKE CAKE CAKE (tres leche perfectly captioned thanks to my bro)

My family made Independence Day panna cotta, inspired by a recent episode of MasterChef:

In keeping with the theme, my sister's pedicure:

The last pic is a holiday special for my BFF who is grossed out by feet but cherishes freedom!

Foiled by Double Chocolate Bread Pudding but not by High Fructose Corn Syrup

While I fit in exercise session number 35 yesterday, I also fell victim to this decadent dessert, prepared by my lovely sister, and served with a side of cookie dough ice cream.

Close-up to appreciate the beauteous texture:

The recipe calls for 1.5 cups of chocolate syrup, with Hershey's as the recommended brand. However, the first ingredient in Hershey's Chocolate Syrup is High Fructose Corn Syrup, followed by more Corn Syrup. Yuck. 

I googled "healthy alternative to chocolate syrup" and found this simple recipe for making your own chocolate syrup on this blog "Art of Natural Living." Not only was this version super simple to make, requiring only a few ingredients, it actually tasted better than Hershey's syrup!

Homemade Chocolate Syrup

Ingredients

• 1 c water
• 1 1/2 c sugar
• 1 c cocoa
• 1 t vanilla

Directions
 
1.  Mix sugar and cocoa.
2.  Add water and bring to a boil,  pressing out any lumps with the back of a spoon.  Boil for a couple minutes.  Add vanilla.
3.  Cool and store in refrigerator.

Thanks to Art of Natural Living for this far superior alternative to store brand chocolate syrup. 

Replacing high fructose corn syrup, even in a double chocolatey dessert, made me feel better about indulging.

Sugar by the NYC Health Department

I reached exercise session 30 this weekend, of which I'm proud especially because I'm finally starting to see some improvement compared to 8 weeks ago when I started:

 
Unfortunately, I messed up really badly with my sugar addiction.

It began this lazy Sunday afternoon with this:

If only when I saw this:

I would realize it is actually this:

This is illustrated by this great ad by the NYC Health Department:

Green Tea Evolution & Fat To Burn

Green tea supposedly enhances fat burning but I'm not sure it can combat all this (Caramel Apple Pie & Banana Caramel Cheesecake Xangos):

I gave it a go anyhow! I thought this packaging was really cute:

Here's my BFF with the pretty purple manicure modeling tea prep:

Thanks B!

Viva la Moules Pot!

Mussels may be considered a pretty healthy meal option. However, I'm fairly confident that dousing them in a creamy lobster sauce will frustrate weight loss but definitely not the taste buds. Thumbs Up for the Moules Pot Homard Style!

These tasty critters were served with crispy fries and a mayo-y delicious sauce.

The final nail in workout #20 earlier this afternoon was dessert. This photo and the undoing of my fitness goals are the only evidence that remains of their existence.

Warm Brownie Sundae & Vanilla Creme Brûlée:

Yummy yum in my expanding tummy. The evening was especially delightful because of the company, my lovely cousin.

I'm definitely going to need to exercise tomorrow (and many other tomorrows) to pay for my crimes. 

TCBY, My Lust

I have surprised myself by sticking with the exercise, completing session 19 in this sixth week (still just cardio/treadmill - need to eventually fit in some muscle strengthening). 

The nutrition part is even more challenging. My current obsession is:

I don't kid myself that this indulgence is a healthy alternative. Unfortunately, this knowledge isn't power enough to quit. 

As my frozen base, I've recently swapped out Golden Vanilla

for the protein-infused Greek Yogurt, which is less sweet.

Then, unfortunately for my waistline, I go nuts with the toppings galore!

My concoction usually consists of:

Toasted Coconut

Extra extra crunch

A smattering of Heath Bar which I'm trying and failing to omit

Mixed Nuts - I left these out last time, cause they're pretty fatty

A dollop of Hot Fudge

I'll have to update this blog to show you the finished product, which I once again devoured before documenting!

UPDATE:

My Downfall

Despite completing 16 exercise sessions by the end of this fifth week since my fitness reboot, TCBY Golden Vanilla Frozen Yogurt, chock full of ridiculous toppings (such as heath, toasted coconut, mixed nuts, extra extra crunchies and hot fudge), is proving to be my downfall. I succumbed to this diabetes-provoking concoction twice this week.

I'll take a picture next time before (and also, by then, after) it hits my gut.

I Saw ... (after I Ate)

Boy George performing a Lorde song at the Billboard Music Awards. 

Following which Miranda Lambert & Carrie Underwood sang "Something Bad About To Happen" but their outfits, hair and makeup had already happened, as well as the creepy holographic Michael Jackson performance of a song he didn't consider worthwhile to release in his own lifetime. 

p.s. Exercise sessions 10&11 happened earlier this weekend (but not 12 this Sunday). Good thing, cause what I ate included:

BBQ Chicken Nachos

Bandeja Paisa (Colombian Platter)

grilled skirt steak, pork chicharron, white arepa,

rice & beans, fried egg, maduros, avocado, cabbage salad

Pernil (slow roasted pulled pork, marinated in Colombian beer, orange garlic mojo)

Fried seafood appetizer

Fish Tacos

Missing dessert pictures of the churros, tres leche cake, molten chocolate cake and banana caramel bread pudding, all served by the lovely Joanna at the Yelper favorite Bogota Latin Bistro.

Kristen Merlin Exits The Voice

Tonight, the seemingly inevitable finally came to pass and Kristen Merlin was disappointingly eliminated from The Voice. She had a great run despite The Voice's best efforts to do her dirty. I hope to see her make it even bigger in the future.

@KristenMerlin You're the only reason I kept watching. Goodbye #NBCTheVoice
— What The Eff? (@effwalkingdead) May 14, 2014

Both Jake Worthington and Christina Grimmie survived eliminations to join Josh Kaufman in the final three. Shows what I know.

Here's an interesting article discussing whether The Voice's Instant Save gimmick hurt Kristen Merlin's chances of making it to the Top 3.

I did not exercise today because I felt under the weather (not that I need any excuses not to exercise). 

I enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared by my lovely Mummy. Baked salmon steak, mashed plantains and beans, plain yogurt and spicy Indian pickle... all up in my face. YUM.

Exercise Day 7

and Gym Day 4 - done! 

Watching Cinnaholic on Shark Tank. I want some... NOW!!!! 

I love this show. TGIF!

Exercise Day 6 & PlaySCOOP Limit Stud

I was about to drive past the gym straight home but against the odds, I actually logged 35 minutes on the treadmill at the gym (making day 3 at the gym - 47 to go for gym reimbursement).

Then, I had a (lentils, onion, garlic, red pepper, tomato and spinach) soup prepared by my Mummy - it was delicious! I need to learn how to make this:



Afterwards, because there weren't any No-Limit Holdem PlaySCOOP tournaments available tonight, I partook in PlaySCOOP Event #12 Limit Stud for the Low buy-in of 20K, joining 45 minutes late. I have never played Stud poker before and so I figured this would be an interesting experience, and also why I did not buy-in to the 2 Million High game, and also why I pitifully blinded my way out to a loss.

American Idol is down to the Top 4, having them perform 3 songs each in one show (and multiple Lady Gag-a songs) - which is totally stupid. As Dani Voz from The Voice before her, Jessica Meuse performed the kiss of death in a televised singing competition: a weaker than Pink version of a Pink song. I'm forecasting Jessica's almost certain elimination. 

Jena Irene's final song of the night, also playing piano, was a "spell-binding"* version of Elvis's "Can't Help Falling In Love." I didn't watch the entire show tonight but this performance was definitely worth catching. I expect it to go viral. 
*(adjective used by judge Keith Urban, baby)
 

PlaySCOOP Event 6

PokerStars play money tournament + rebuys + turbo + add-on = donkfest! Also known as the perfect equation for the complete opposite of a premiere tournament.

Fail for good poker. Genius for Pokerstars play money sales.

In the 5K Low buy-in game of Event 6, I placed 61/696 for a prize of 43,900. This was all thanks to luck, which ran out when I moved 8-6 short-stacked and desperate into pocket Aces. My prize was chump change compared to the cost of the 500K buy-in and two-time double-re-buy into the High Game of Event 6 for a grand total of 2.5M. Even though the structure of the tournament was worthless against such a high-buy in, I fell victim to my temptation to place in this one also. So far, I have placed in 4 of 6 PlaySCOOP tournaments I have played.

@PokerStars Why no tweets about PlaySCOOP? Also rebuy+play money+turbo effing sucks you evil geniuses. http://t.co/aY3ljE9Vbr
— What The Eff? (@effwalkingdead) May 6, 2014

In other non-news, Adam Levine looks terrible as a blonde. 

Speaking of blondies, in lieu of exercising, I consumed multiple servings of this "sweet cream ice cream with blonde brownies & a salted caramel core."

Exercise Day 4 plus Good Eating

The proof (and on a Saturday no less):
 

The stats are not much to brag about but I'll take it! That's day 2 in the gym - 48 more to go for membership fee reimbursement. 

In an attempt not to sabotage my efforts again, I decided to make a healthy chili for dinner. Cooking is rare for me but I was unusually motivated.

Here's how it came together:

99% Lean Ground Turkey Meat:


Chili spice kit (but I did not add the red pepper powder because I'm tame like that):











All natural no sugar added tomato sauce:

Accessories included mushrooms, seeded red pepper (but I think I was supposed to use green), low-fat cheese to sprinkle on top and fat-free sour cream.

The finished product (after I ate some):

My Momma made lunch the next day and it makes for a pretty picture so I'll add that also - wild sockeye salmon and veggies (after I ate some):

For dessert:
I shouldn't have (especially at 200 calories and 12 grams (7 saturated) a pop) but I also nibbled on this: