Biscuit fueling + 1 egg (1/3 of lean) + a few cherry tomatoes and pieces of lettuce + 1 wedge laughing cow (1 condiment) = YUM
I know I have gone on and on about how I prefer not to "hack" the Fuelings, and I still choose not to add stuff to them - I eat my five Fuelings plus my full Lean and Green every day.
HOWEVER, I was tired of seeing the Girl Scout cookies peanut butter patties on my counter, so this was my alternative. You mix a Brownie Fueling with 3T-4T of water, pour it into a silicone candy mold, top it with 2T of PB2 (prepared as directed)
It made eight heart shaped "candies" in this Wilton silicone mold.
They aren't really easy to eat when they're frozen, but once they soften enough to eat them, they're sticky and messy and it just seems like more work than it's worth for the benefit.
HOWEVER, the taste is worth it, if you're wanting that chocolatey-peanut buttery mix of flavors!
This isn't something I'll do often at all, but it was fun to try it and see that it does work.
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| OPTAVIA Smashed Potato Fueling Hack |
If you work out strenuously, or work long hours, you might have questions about how Optavia can and will fit into your life. Here are some guidelines. Find them on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/myjourneytoahealthyme/posts/pfbid0uiqbhkgUdG7F2qnSs4MSgxWfWN7gguaBS2qcaL5vLrRvLujB8mG2NUAH6qh8dnSl
Fuelings come ready to eat, and as a powdered mix that you prepare before eating. Keep this process simple!
Read the details here on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/myjourneytoahealthyme/posts/pfbid02m5afh3fPmscTkHCY7Z9nNb437iUC9JT8KBCSYUV4oCBUTbwKsRv15b1REqEP7vYAl
I love cooking and baking. I especially love the tradition I have with my children to bake holiday cookies - peanut butter blossoms, cut-out sugar cookies with frosting, snickerdoodles, oatmeal chocolate chip, and sometimes even more. We bake everything dairy-free, and often gluten-free also, and it is something we all enjoy.
I'm not going to lie, it was REALLY difficult this year to not taste-test the batter (especially the oatmeal chocolate chip batter) or the cookies (the peanut butter blossoms are my favorite!) but I asked myself one simple question and it helped me refocus: "What do I want more - that cookie, that I already know how it tastes (and honestly, it's probably not as good as I'm imagining it to be), OR to keep feeling amazing and not destroy my stomach by eating foods it isn't used to?" The answer was simple at that point. Maybe some day it won't be simple, but this year, it was easy to choose ME over the cookies. It was easy to put myself first, and break that habit, and remind myself it was things like those cookies that got me to where I was in the first place. There is a time and place for choosing to indulge in a sweet treat, but I am not at that time nor that place right now, and I made a very conscious and intentional choice to NOT taste-test the sweets this year.
But what about dinner?
I know there are tons of ways to create Optavia-compliant holiday meals and side dishes. Several are listed here. Much like Thanksgiving, I just don't have the same sentimental attachment to holiday foods that a lot of people seem to have. I don't need the meat and cheesy side dishes. As a kid, I would only eat mashed potatoes (no gravy) and pumpkin pie and cookies.
I know a lot of people make the conscious choice to go off-plan for the holidays, to splurge a little bit, or take small tastes of foods that they would normally not eat while following Optavia. All of that is fine, especially when it is an intentional decision.
So what did I eat?
I had my five Fuelings - I added a dash of nutmeg to a creamy vanilla shake and it was delicious! - and I ate seafood and spaghetti squash, with salad, for my Lean and Green. It was yummy, it was filling, and it kept me in Fat-Burn!
I know I have gone on and on about how I prefer not to "hack" the Fuelings, and I still choose not to add stuff to them - I eat my five Fuelings plus my full Lean and Green every day.
HOWEVER, I saw this hack come up over and over and had to try it. You mix a shake with 1/4 cup of water, pour it into a silicone candy mold, and freeze it.
The first time I did this (earlier this week) I made it with the Dark Chocolate Covered Cherry shake and it was OK. It wasn't great, but that isn't my favorite flavor shake anyway. It made four heart shaped "candies" in this Wilton silicone mold.
They aren't really easy to eat when they're frozen, but once they soften enough to eat them, they're sticky and messy and it just seems like more work than it's worth for the benefit.
Then I decided to try it again, but this time with a Creamy Chocolate Shake and a Silky Peanut Butter Shake, and do each mold half and half - and the taste is amazing! It's still a mess to eat, but it is definitely the chocolate/peanut butter flavor combination I enjoy.
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| Creamy Chocolate Shake + Silky Peanut Butter Shake |
This isn't something I'll do often at all, but it was fun to try it and see that it does work.
I also did this with a Brownie Fueling and PB2 - you can see that here: http://www.myjourneytoahealthyme.com/2021/02/optavia-fueling-hack-peanut-butter.html
When you're following the Optavia 5&1 Program, here is info on what you can eat: https://www.facebook.com/myjourneytoahealthyme/posts/pfbid035Yw4STFavJ9u8kAyMjrJB3psaHVuxexpxGpJmq9JZvzhtMdUm68Ki59GXG6vMxpcl
One of the great things about Optavia is that you don't need anything special to prepare the Fuelings, besides a microwave and the blender bottle that comes in your kit. HOWEVER, we all know that there are some tools or appliances that can make your Fuelings a little more exciting, a little more fun, and a little more tasty!
Here are some of my must-have appliances and tools for preparing my Fuelings. Please know these links are to Amazon, and I definitely encourage you to shop around to find the best price! https://amzn.to/46kPlqm
I also created a handy dandy Amazon list of my favorite items. YES - you can find them in local stores, sometimes at better prices (sometimes not). You can add them to your own cart from this list for quick and easy purchasing though!
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| Some of my must-have appliances and tools for OPTAVIA Fuelings |
Dash Mini Waffle Maker is awesome at preparing Fuelings. I love to do the brownie, smashed potatoes, biscuit, and oatmeal in the Waffle Maker. It comes in different colors, and some of them even make the waffles into shapes (pineapple! snowflake! heart!)
Note: Here are the guidelines I follow when preparing my Fuelings in the Dash. Some are the same as the package, some are slightly different amounts of water. Nothing is quite so disappointing as scraping a failed Fueling out of the waffle maker and still eating it because you're determined not to waste a Fueling :)
Dash Mini Griddle is amazing for the Chocolate Chip Cookies! It gets them perfectly crisp on the outside, and soft and gooey on the inside - the exact way I like cookies. I also use it when I need extra protein, to cook an egg - it's super quick and easy, and much faster than using my normal cast iron on my stove top.
If you don't already have a personal blender, I highly suggest getting one. I like the Ninja brand, this is the model I have in the current version. I like the individual cups the best, and they make your Optavia shakes super yummy if you blend them with ice and water (or cold brew coffee if you're feeling adventurous). There are tons of options for personal blenders, so be sure to choose something that is powerful enough to blend ice. Because my home blender is too big for travel, I also have a small Hamilton Beach personal blender that I keep in its box for when I'm out of town overnight or for the weekend. It is small enough to easily pack, and although it isn't as powerful, it does the job.
My next suggestion is a frother. There are SO MANY CHOICES, but this is the handheld frother I bought and it has worked well. I don't use it often, but sometimes if I don't want to blend my shake, or use the shaker bottle, this does an excellent job of mixing it up with the water and it's super yummy - it seems like it makes it creamier, if that's possible. I also use it to mix up the Hot Chocolate Fueling with a little bit of cold water, before pouring the hot water into the mug - it seems to make it even creamier and more delicious!
I also suggest a mini whisk if you don't already have one. Mine is Pampered Chef, but you can find them anywhere. I often use a fork to mix up my fuelings, but the whisk is handy to have around.
I couldn't resist picking up a little cast iron skillet either - I love it for baking the brownie or chocolate chip cookie, if I'm not using the Dash. It turns out so yummy! Follow the directions for baking on the Fueling packet, or shorten the baking time a little bit if you want it slightly gooey.
My final recommendation is to get a good insulated container. I love my insulated Klean Kanteen Food Canister. I will often prepare soups or pastas (as directed on the package) when I'm making a different fueling, transfer it to the insulated container, and let it sit on the counter until my next fueling time. It really softens up the pastas and noodles. I've also made the soup by adding the Fueling packet to the insulated container, pouring boiling water over it, and then closing the lid and letting it sit for 2-3 hours.
What other appliances or tools are you using for your Fuelings? Let me know in the comments!
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| Optavia Oatmeal Fueling made in the Dash Mini Waffle Maker |
WEEK 1 and I'm finished with Day 7 on Optavia! I can't wait to weigh in tomorrow and take my measurements. I can't believe how stupidly easy this program is to follow. Even with traveling all day, I was able to stay on the program. I am not 100% sure about my dinner tonight but I followed the dining out guide and I think it was okay. That guide is super helpful.
Today's fuelings were: chocolate cherry ganache bar, chocolate mint Cookie Crisp bar, honey mustard and onion sticks, creamy double peanut butter bar, and pudding. I had a #16 sub at Jersey Mikes with no cheese and no bread. It made me feel a little bloated (it's meat and I don't usually eat meat) but it was the best I could do while we were driving back from the mountains.
I am really proud of myself for this week. I stuck to the program completely, with the possible exception of my lean and green today. I drank all my water. I made it through the feeling gross part of the first week and now I feel amazing. I'm really excited for this program and how easy it is.
My fuelings today were: cranberry honey nut granola bar, chocolate shake, chicken noodle soup, honey chili cranberry nut bar, and the brownie. My lean and green that I packed for the road was salad with salmon and tomatoes, and the Walden Farms dressing. Somehow I even hit all the water for the day, even though I had to use a port a potty at one of the parks we stopped at on the way to the hotel. I brought my Ultima powder with me too and that was good. I feel like I prepared myself well for today and tomorrow and I'm excited to see the fall colors tomorrow! The weather should be amazing.
Day 5 is finally here and I feel SO MUCH BETTER today. My stomach isn't bothering me, although I'm still a little gassy. My headache is GONE, whew! I slept great last night again. And I really like all the fuelings I've tried so far. I was down 9 pounds this morning when I weighed myself - whaaaatttt???!!?? 9 pounds! That's so amazing!
Today's fuelings were: chocolate shake, honey mustard and onion sticks, brownie, cheddar herb biscuit (I cooked this in the Dash waffle maker too - so delicious!), and a double peanut butter bar. My lean and green was salmon with lettuce and cherry tomatoes, and Walden Farms French dressing. I am still hitting my water goal every day too, go me!
Optavia Day 4 - October 15, 2020
I feel like crap today. My head hurts, I'm gassy, I have diarrhea, I just all around feel gross. I'm sticking to plan though because this is what I was told would happen this week, just before fat burn kicks in. They said EVERYONE goes through this and then it's like a lightbulb goes off and everything is so much better. I still am sleeping okay.
Today's fuelings: chocolate shake, cinnamon crunchy o's, s'mores bar, oatmeal, and a double peanut butter bar. I had three Ultima electrolyte things today and it made a HUGE difference with my headache. My lean and green was shrimp, avocado, spaghetti squash, and tomatoes with some on-plan dressing. I like Walden Farms French dressing the best.
Day 3 - today I was super hungry and had a headache. I made sure to drink the Ultima electrolyte powder and that helped. My coach said I could have up to three a day. I guess this is the transition to being in Fat Burn like they talk about - the crummy feeling before the amazing feeling. I stuck to the program though. My fuelings today were: cinnamon crunchy o's, smoky bbq crunchers, spinach pesto Mac and cheese, honey chili cranberry bar, and a chocolate mint Cookie Crisp bar. My lean and green was lettuce, with shrimp, avocado, and on-plan dressing.
I've been sleeping better at night, which is awesome. Like sleeping soundly and waking up feeling refreshed.
Day 2 and I was 100% on top of it! Yeah! Crazy that I'm eating so much more than I normally do, and so frequently. I guess I had all the knowledge on how to be healthy before, I just sucked at implementing it. This program is so easy and straightforward, it is ridiculously simple to follow.
I am breaking the habits already. I was so used to taking care of everyone around me, that I forgot to take care of myself. I forgot to eat. I forgot to eat healthy foods especially, because the bad foods were easier. This program takes all the thinking out of it, and gives me easy and healthy foods to eat all day long.
Today my fuelings were: maple brown sugar oatmeal, campfire s'mores bar, chocolate chip pancake (that I cooked in the Dash waffle maker - OMG delicious!), chocolate cherry ganache bar, and chocolate pudding (super yum!). For my lean and green, I had salmon with broccoli and cauliflower rice. And I nailed the water goal for today!
Today is DAY 1 of my journey to health! I am so excited. I have alarms set on my phone for 8 am, 10:30 am, 1 pm, 3:30 pm, 6 pm, and 8:30 pm to remind me to eat - five of those are fueling times, and one is a lean and green time.
I decided to keep it easy and I'm literally just following the plan. I see some people go out and try to split their lean and green into two meals and eat half at lunch and half at dinner, or try to "hack" their fuelings, but I'm not messing with all that. I'm eating a fueling by itself five times a day, and one full lean and green once a day.
I don't really like meat, and meat doesn't really like me, so I'll probably have to eat a lot of seafood.
The journal from the Optavia Guide is super helpful in keeping me on track so far. I started my day with a cranberry honey nut bar and then had a creamy chocolate shake mid-morning. I tried the rustic tomato herb penne at 1pm and then a creamy peanut butter crisp bar late afternoon, with my lean and green at 6pm with lettuce, tuna, avocado, and on-plan dressing. Before bed, I had a chocolate mint Cookie Crisp bar, and that was my five fuelings plus a lean and green for today.
My coach checked in with me and I told her I feel like I've been eating all day long, but otherwise everything is good! I'm used to drinking a lot of water, so hitting 100oz wasn't a problem for me.
She told me to dream big - average loss is 10lbs per month but she lost faster than that the first few months.
Overall, it was a good day 1!
Today is Day 0 - the day before I start OPTAVIA. I received my box a few days ago and I'm excited to get started. I had my kickoff call today for new clients and it was really inspirational to get my mind in the right place. I also worked through some of the Lifebook, writing down answers and trying to figure out my WHY.
Some of what I wrote down...
I am a mom, almost 40 years old. I mastered my digestive issues and now I need to tackle the weight. I want something easy to follow that doesn't take a lot of time to prep and shop. My weight goes up and down by 10-15 lbs regularly. My sleep and energy are mostly okay, I try to exercise a few days per week - walking or kickboxing - but I don't always do that. I tend to skip meals and then overeat with large portion sizes. I don't snack much, and I drink plenty of water. My mental health is okay but I'm tired of the way I feel inside my body. I don't have a lot of extra money, I am working on paying off debt, although I also try to make time for fun especially for my kids but also myself with my friends.
I WANT TO BE HEALTHY. I want to set a good example for my kids, I want to fit into my clothes again. I want to feel better about myself.
In the future, I want to travel - Alaska, Scotland, and Ireland are on my list.
My financial goals need focus.
I AM GOING TO PUT 100% OF MYSELF INTO THIS PROGRAM. I NEED IT FOR MYSELF.
I am ready to make a change.
I am the heaviest I have ever been.
I want to make a change.
I am PSYCHED for this program.
I am CONFIDENT in myself. I know I can be successful if I commit and don't sabotage myself.
I want to make better choices. I want to lose weight. I want to feel better and fit in my clothes.
Things I am going to do to start to install the Habits of Healthy Eating and Hydration:
1. Set a timer for fuelings
2. Drink 120 oz of water each day
3. Plan a lean and green meal each day
Things I can stop doing to help me eat healthier and hydrate better right now:
1. not planning meals
2. not tracking water
3. snacking on kids food
