Ten in 10 – Week 1 Update

One week down, nine to go!

Week In Review…

After the first week of the Ten in 2010 Challenge, I am feeling pretty good.  Overall, I feel like I did well this week. First, let’s talk about my goals…

• Healthy Relationship with Food – This is the area I struggled with the most this week (which is exactly what I expected).  I didn’t do terribly, but I think I could have done better.  That’s what next week is for!
  • What worked… I cooked some pretty healthy meals for my hubby and I this week.  We both enjoyed eating a few vegetarian meals and adding lots of whole grains.
  • What I’m working on… The area that I still struggle with is limiting portion sizes and not overindulging in carbohydrates (specifically sweets). Next week my plan is to incorporate some healthy snacks into my day so that I’m not tempted to raid the pantry in the afternoon!
• Regular Workouts – I feel good about my workouts this week…  I stuck to the schedule that I planned and didn’t skip any workouts!
  • What worked… I go for a walk every morning with the doggy, and then my hubby and I try to walk the dog together over lunch (we both work from home, which makes that possible).  I also have been using Your Shape for the Wii, which has helped me to get in both cardio and strength training workouts!
  • What I’m working on… I’m working on increasing the intensity of my workouts. My goal this week is to do one 45 minute workout (usually, I do 30 minute workouts).
• Positive Outlook – Surprisingly, I think I did OK with this.  I was expecting this to be a big struggle for me, but I have managed not to beat myself up for my food slip-ups this week.
  • What worked… Spending lots of time with my hubby helped to distract me from my weight.  Instead, I just focused on enjoying our time together – going out to eat (and eating well, I might add), running errands, and playing Wii!
  • What I’m working on… I have a habit of getting on the scale every day. My long-term goal is to only get on the scale once a week, so I’m going to try to cut back this week.

Inspiration From the Archives…

Looking for a few healthy ideas for week two of the challenge? Look no further!

Here are a few of my favorite healthy recipes…

• Last week I made these Spicy Black Beans…  They are loaded with protein and fiber, and they taste great too! Oh, and did I mention they are vegetarian?
• If you’re trying to bump up the protein in your diet, consider making some fish!  Tilapia is relatively easy to find and fairly inexpensive (especially if you find flash-frozen tilapia).  Even if you’re pressed for time, you can pull together this Simple Tilapia with Zucchini and Tomato Saute.
• If you love to bake, consider making some Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls.  They won’t blow your diet, and kneading the bread by hand will burn a few extra calories!

Gadget Giveaway…

One gadget that I think can be really helpful when you are focused on making healthy recipes is a kitchen scale. It’s a great tool to help you get a good sense of reasonable portion sizes.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not suggesting that you weigh every thing and record every ounce and calorie that goes into your mouth.  That’s just crazy (and frankly, a lot of work!).  It can be helpful, though, to measure out ingredients like cheese or meat when you are following a recipe. If you’re like me, you’ll be surprised to see what one ounce of cheese actually looks like.  Turns out I was being heavy handed with the cheese for a while!

I was provided with the EatSmart Precision Pro (in a pretty candy apple red color that matches my kitchen!) to review. The scale allows you to measure in ounces, pounds, grams, or kilograms, giving you the flexibility to follow any recipe, regardless of what measurements are used. It’s pretty simple to use and work into your kitchen routine.

I already have the Oxo Good Grips Food Scale with Pull-Out Display, which I use regularly.  In comparison, I thought the EatSmart Precision Pro didn’t seem quite as durable.  The Oxo scale is stainless, which just seems a bit sturdier than the plastic EatSmart scale.  I also like how the Oxo scale measures pounds/ounces (for example 1 pound 8 oz) instead of having to choose between pounds or ounces on the EatSmart scale (1.5 pounds or 24 ounces).  There is a pretty significant difference in price, though, so I think that the EatSmart scale is a good option and definitely worth the price!

Don’t just take my word for it, though…

EatSmart has been kind enough to provide a second scale for me to give away to you!  To be eligible for the giveaway, you must live in the US. To be entered in the giveaway, leave a comment on this post telling me how you would use the EatSmart scale to make healthy dishes.  I will announce the winner in next week’s Ten in 10 post, so all entries must be in by Friday, January 15th at 5:00pm EST!

Good luck!

My Kitchen Addiction Product Review Policy and Disclosure- I received this product at no cost from the manufacturer (or a representative PR firm) for the purpose of testing and reviewing the product. Unless specified otherwise, I do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. I only review products that I have personally tested and used in my kitchen/home, and all opinions expressed are my own.