Oh yum, this is heaven!  I used a bit of Greek yogurt sweetened with my favorite coconut-flavored 100% liquid stevia, added some chopped fresh mango, and topped with a few cashews.

Of course, if I could get my hands on some macadamia nuts, that is definitely what I would have used instead.

A bit of shaved coconut garnish would be fantastic as well to dress up the dish and up the coconut flavor.

For me, getting in the required 20 minutes of exercise every day was daunting.  I was already going to my gym 2-3 times a week, but having to exercise daily was much more difficult.



The main reason for this is that I live in the Frigid North, where, for most of the year, going for a 20 minute walk is tantamount to Shackleton's epic journey to Antarctica. 

Thankfully, I am able to have a gym membership, but even with that, it can be hard to get there.  (I am a stay-at-home mom of four kids, and packing up four kids with hats and boots and coats in the dead of Winter is . . . well, just click on the link above for explanation.) 

So, what to do?

Here are a couple of options if walking/running isn't going to work for you or if you want to change up your routine:

1. Youtube videos.  Seriously.  You can find anything on Youtube.  Pilates, Zumba, Crossfit, you name it.  Best yet, most of those types of workouts (Pilates especially) require no special equipment.  (Special disclaimer: I am by no means fit or in any physical condition to give specialized exercise advice. As with anything exercise related, be smart, and don't do anything stupid.)
2. Pinterest.  Again, just do a search, and you'll find tons of great exercise routines that require little or no equipment.  Depending on your familiarity with the exercise lingo, you might have to do a websearch to figure out what a "burpee" is (my hand is raised and waving), but most exercise directions (ex. "1 minute of jumping jacks") is pretty self-explanatory.
3. Tabata or HIIT.  This is "High Intensity Interval Training", and can really torch a lot of calories, especially over a 20 minute period.  Be sure to include plenty of stretching and cool-down time with this though.  As the name says, it can be intense.
4. Workout magazines or e-magazines.  I don't personally subscribe to any special magazines like "Shape" or "Fitness", but my gym does, and I have to admit, I tend to work out harder after perusing a magazine with pictures of amazingly fit people doing things I can only dream about.  Plus, these magazines usually have lots of great exercise routines or stretching exercises included in each issue, along with good recipes.

What do you do for your daily exercise routine?

I recently purchased via Amazon Kindle Bob Harper's Skinny Meals book, and there are so many great recipes in there that work perfectly with the Game On Diet.  I'd highly recommend it!

Eggs Benedict is one of my favorite breakfasts, and this spin on the classic high-fat recipe tastes delicious, and is only 300 calories!



If you like deviled eggs you'll love this recipe, because it tastes a lot like it.  Personally I'd add some Sriracha hot sauce to it, but I like my eggs with a bit of a kick to them.

 (Click on the image to enlarge/print)

 

This is a quick meal you can either make ahead or throw together in less than 3 minutes (I have timed it - it really is that simple.)

Throw some cooked quinoa into a bowl with a sprinkling of mozzarella cheese, a handful of spinach leaves, and about an 1/8 cup of canned fire roasted tomatoes.  Sprinkle on some freshly ground black pepper and some Italian seasoning.  (Now, if you're making these ahead of time, make several bowls and cover them and put them in the fridge.  It will last for at least a week - - - unless you eat it before then.)

Right before you are ready to eat it, pop it into the microwave for a minute to heat the quinoa, soften the spinach and melt the cheese.  (There's no meat in this dish so you get to have lots of yummy gooey cheesiness.)  Take it out of the microwave and add (if you wish) another handful of fresh spinach and a slice or two of avocado. 

Tip: If you're making these to store in the fridge, make the "bowl" and put it in a plastic container, and then on top put a small Ziploc bag of spinach or put it inside the container if there's room so you can have it ready to add after the container has been heated.  Then the whole meal is ready to grab and go.

Mmmmmmm, this tastes SO good and is very satisfying!

(I would highly recommend cooking up a vat of quinoa or brown rice at the beginning of the week and storing it in the fridge for quick use.  Both quinoa and brown rice can be quickly rehydrated/softened in the microwave if you sprinkle on some water first.)

Click on the image below to print.

One of the great things about the Game On Diet is that it's much easier to figure out an appropriate meal (as opposed to counting calories).  However, if you're like me and a bit OCD with amounts (I'm also notoriously bad at estimating), here's a way to find out what an appropriate portion size is for you.  (Also know as "stealing from Archimedes "Eureka!" moment.)



* Fist of Carbs:
You will need a glass measuring bowl for this.  (I colored my water blue so that it would be more clearly visible in the photo - no, I am not sticking my hand in Koolaid.)  Fill it about half way full, and note the measurement.

 

 Make a fist and stick it up to the wrist into the water.

 

Note how high the water rises. Subtract this (risen) amount from the previous amount.  In my case, it's 1 cup.  That means then that I can have up to 1 cup of carbs with every meal.

* Palm of Protein:
Again start with your glass measuring bowl.  This time, however, only put your fingers into the water (including the thumb, obviously).

Note how far the water has risen.  In my case, it's gone up 1/4 cup (from the original 2 cups).  Subtract that amount from the amount that you got for your Fist of Carbs.  (A "palm" is basically a fist minus fingers).  So, for me, I can have up to 3/4 cup of protein with each meal.

Of course, you can use the same technique for measuring your thumb, but I figured that was a bit unnecessary, unless you happen to be blessed cursed with abnormally large thumbs.

I read about this little treat in the Game On Diet book under the recipes section, and I decided to modify it a little because I only had mini-bell peppers in my fridge and I also wanted to keep the calorie count under 200.

Aldi (love!) sells bags of mini sweet peppers, but I think you can pick these up at most grocery stores.  Smoosh or dice up one olive into smallish pieces.

Cut one cheese stick into thirds, and

  wrap a small piece of deli meat around the cheese stick.

Put a few pieces of cut up olive into the pepper, stuff the cheese/meat next, and then top with a bit more olive and some nice Italian seasoning herbs like oregano or parsley.  I would totally add some raw garlic but I'd just run out.

That's it!

 

Throw a few into a sandwich bag and keep it in the fridge for a day or two and enjoy a quick low-calorie meal when you need it!

 

What kinds of things would you put in your sweet peppers?

 

(Click on the picture below to print it).

 I find that, at least for me, I am more likely to have success sticking with my meal plan if I have food that tastes good and looks good.  I feel as though I'm being given a treat, instead of feeling deprived.

For instance, color is so important with food presentation.  I read an article once that showed a massive pile of foods we American's eat every day, and it pointed out that the overwhelming majority of our food is tan.  French fries - tan; hamburgers - tan, most sandwiches - tan, soda - brown/tan. 

Anyway, I thought it was something to think about . . .

This post for Assembly Line Sandwiches doesn't really feature anything new or revolutionary.  I just thought I'd share my basic go-to sandwich.  I usually make three or four of them and then store them in the fridge so I have several delicious and convenient ready-to-go meals in a pinch.  After all, if you're making one, why not make a few more?  It doesn't really take that much extra time.

My Mum turned me on to this type of bread that's made from Great Harvest Bread Company.  (Insert heavenly rays and a choir of angels singing).  I have issues with gluten sensitivity, but because this bread is 100% whole wheat and is - get this - ground fresh the day you buy it, I have no difficulties inhaling consuming this delicious bread.

I'm Dutch, so cheese is genetically important to me.  However, it can be a lethal in the calories department, so I usually go with a nice quality Muenster or Gouda but limit the portion size (after all, the whole philosophy of the Game On Diet is portion size and moderation).

Sprinkle on a bit of black pepper for some nice zest and crunch.  (By the way, if you don't have a pepper grinder, you don't know what you're missing with freshly ground pepper.  It's soooooo good and completely explains why wars were fought over it.)

At this point I looked at my sandwich and realized it needed some color, thus the addition of bell pepper, which adds such a lovely sweetness to the sandwich to balance out the nutty bitterness from the sprouts.

Because of the portion sizes needed for my own personal diet, I don't top my sandwiches with more bread.  It can be a tad messy to eat, but I don't really miss it because the bread is so yummy and hefty anyway.  More bread would hide the flavors of the sandwich innards.

 

 (Click on the image below if you want to print it out for future use).