Fat-burning breakfast shake recipe for weight loss: Kick butt (and belly fat) with superfoods smoothie

Ya wanna go a few rounds with belly fat and win? I did and lost 100 pounds. Here's my kick-butt--and belly fat--breakfast shake recipe for weight loss. All our superfood super friends join in this smoothie to smooth out cellulite and chop off pounds. And best of all, this weight loss shake tastes delish at only 250 calories! Whip up one of these babies and eat your way to thin with vegan, ketogenic fiber, MUFAs and protein on the go!

Superfoods Smoothie recipe

layer in your smoothie shake maker cup--

kale, spinach or red leaf lettuce
1 scoop plant-based Orgain or other pea protein and greens protein powder
one half seeded, peeled grapefruit
one half cup blueberries fresh or frozen
half Tbsp chia seeds
Tbsp pumpkin seeds
Tbsp milled flaxseed
Tbsp maca powder or cocoa nibs
one envelope Emergen'C
water to top
optional non-Vegan Greek yogurt

Blend, garnish with crudites and enjoy! Reminiscent of an Azacca or Chinook hops IPA, the grapefruit gives it a heaven-on-earth piney flavor which hopheads like myself covet. But don't be scared off, non-beer folks. It's just a hint and only noticeable if you have a hop-forward palate. Slainte!

Maintenance dieting and coping with the dreaded weight loss plateau

(<--was me then---> is me now on the left) After losing 100 pounds, I hit the dreaded diet plateau. I knew it was coming but still wasn't prepared for the frustration. I couldn't seem to get those last 15 pounds off for love nor money. And you know what, I'm still struggling with it 3 years later. BUT (and this is a big but, not big butt, lol, but I digress...sorry, I'm done butting now). Anyhoo, here's what I've found.

I am discouraged about not being able to get the rest of the fat off. But not so frustrated that I want to keep up that ruthless diet I was following. And I discovered that for me, that wasn't even healthy weight loss logic. Here's why.

I'm the classic Type A overachiever. Not that I achieve that much (at least in my own eyes). And that too is part of the problem. I derail my own vision by my harsh self-criticism. I'm never satisfied with my progress. Which is kind of depressing and stressful AND which causes me to retain fat (both anxiety and depression put the body in survival mode which includes storing fat.)

So I'm learning to put things in perspective. I am still losing fat and toning, even after 4 years and several times totally ditching diet. I've gained a small amount back (which is normal) and taken some back off. My clothes fit differently and I can wear smalls and size 4 pants. Best of all, those new healthier, leaner food choices have become habit.

Reading a post in SparkPeople was encouraging, too. It talked about what I've always thought, that we're too number-focused and scale-focused. Maybe even too BMI focused too. According to my BMI, I'm still slightly overweight. But if I wear small clothes. I have dropped 15 dress sizes, have far less fat, fewer bulges, and my clothes fit well. That's what I need to focus on, not those micromanaged 20 pounds.

Probably, the person I have to convince about this is me. Thanks for listening. I hope it helped. Like Red Green says, we're all in this together. Do you have any thoughts on weight loss? Share them in the comments or contact me. <3

Mama June voted best beach body in weight loss, Honey Boo Boo gets obesity award

Ex TLC star Mama June Shannon made it on a "best and worst beach bodies" list. And guess what Fox News awarded her? The once-460-lb mom of "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" got voted best beach body. How is it possible that the obese, frumpy reality TV star made the line up with the likes of Kate Upton? The secrets are weight loss and plastic surgery. But as mom flaunts a Kim Kardashian-worthy body, daughter HBB Alana Thompson celebrates her 12th birthday in morbid obesity.   Mama June voted best beach body in weight loss, Honey Boo Boo gets obesity award

'My 600-lb Life' Steven Assanti gives weight loss tips, diet recipes on Facebook

Say what you will about Steven Assanti of "My 600-lb Life," the boy does have chutzpah. The 850-lb painkiller addict was the scourge of TLC's Reality TV show. But since getting ejected from the show for weight loss failure and a rotten attitude, Assanti seems to be getting it together. He claims on Facebook to have gotten clean from his opioid drug addiction and is sharing diet recipes with his fans. Assanti even hints at a return to TLC. Will this new Steven last or is the bully of the bariatric surgery ward just biding his time?    'My 600-lb Life' Steven Assanti gives weight loss tips, diet recipes on Facebook

Top 10 bestest ever food swaps for weight loss!

So I've lost over 100 pounds in the past few years. <-- This is now and --> was then. And one of my best success tools is food swaps. I analyzed what I was eating and found better alternatives with lower fat, better fats (MUFAs), no or low and healthier sugars, more productive carbs, etc. Here's the best ever food swaps for weight loss.

Drink water instead of everything else. Drop the pop (okay, soda, southerners, lol), fruit juice, sweet tea, booze and coffee (appetite stimulants), milk, soy milk, etc. The one thing that might be just as good as water is green tea.

Trade red meat for chicken breast, fish, nuts and seeds (seeds being the best as they have protein plus fiber).

Lose the white foods--rice, pasta, potatoes, bread--and eat whole grain starches with fiber. Light oat bread with 35 calories a slice or oatmeal with flax and chia are ideal!

Take a whole food vitamin like Alive to get fruits and veggie quota, A, B, C and D, etc.

Take spirulina or blue green algae. I don't know what makes this superfood so super but I do know that it regulates everything from mood to bowels (ick, I know, but regularity of poops is critical to weight loss).

Drop all dairy except Greek yogurt.

Use pea or plant protein powder instead of whey or soy.

Nix corn and soy and add flaxseed.

Cut refined sugar to nil. Try blue agave, Sugar 2.0 and unsweetened fruit.

Drop processed food for fresh, restaurant for homemade and trade carbs in for protein and fiber.

Did I say 10 tips? Well, I lied. Here's an 11th free:

Skip skipping breakfast and make a power shake every day. Recipe to follow later.

Love you all! Be well!

Steven Assanti claims shocking 'My 600-lb Life' return, weight loss, drug rehab

Steven Assanti claims he's coming back to the bariatric surgery show "My 600-lb Life" for season 6. He confused folks with his return to reality TV show after trash-talking TLC. What's more, he says he's kicked drugs and can't understand why people still call him an addict. Dr Younan Nowzaradan vetoed Assanti's gastric bypass surgery after the 34-year-old made such a nightmare of himself. The once 850-lb man has lied and made contradictory statements about weight loss and Dr. Now. He's so disliked that there is an anti-Assanti Facebook group. Is Steven a maligned martyr or the "big, fat liar" so many have pegged him?    Steven Assanti claims shocking 'My 600-lb Life' return, weight loss, drug rehab

Fat-blasting fill-you-up vegan minestrone tomato soup recipe

I don't know about you, but I like to eat. Which is great except that I'm trying to lose weight and maintain weight loss.  And I have to agree with Kelly Osborne who says that she hates "diet food." That's because what we think of as diet food either tastes terrible, doesn't fill you up or both. My workaround is to create yummy, low calorie, diet versions of regular recipes. I demand a lot of my food--it must be satisfying, tasty, healthy, low sodium, low sugar, lowfat, fiber and carb balanced, high protein and ketogenic. I also require foods to be economical and use up leftovers if possible. Here's my tweaked version of

Fat-blasting Minestrone Tomato Soup

1 pound fresh peeled tomatoes, preferably tomatoes on the vine or beefsteak
1 diced yellow and/or orange pepper
1 small sliced zucchini
1 cup frozen edamame, hulled and/or 1 can fava beans
1 bunch sliced scallions or chopped vidala onion
2 ribs celery, sliced
Better-Than-Bouillon Chicken stock (or other MSG-free broth)
Spike salt-free seasoning (or Mrs. Dash or Costco Kirkland's brand)
water
non-stick pan spray

Optional:
mashed avocado
flaxseed
TVP (textured vegetable protein)
30-calorie almond or flax milk

Slice onions and celery and saute in coated pan. Season with salt-free seasoning. Add frozen edamame, peppers, zucchini, peeled diced tomatoes and broth and water. Add canned fava beans (optional). For thicker soup or stew and to increase fiber and protein, add milled flaxseed, TVP or avocado. For creamier soup, add almond or flax milk.

Stay tuned to this blog for more food swap recipes

'My 600-lb Life' diet grill recipes: Ketogenic weight loss, fat-burn food swaps

Did you know you can lose hundreds of pounds with basic food swaps? The people of TLC "My 600-lb Life" have proved that weight loss simply requires calorie cutting and portion control. But simple isn't always easy and holidays and summer vacation are the hardest times. Here are are sinfully delicious, lowfat, low calorie picnic recipes, summer BBQ and grill alternatives based on Dr. Nowzaradan's bariatric surgery diet.  'My 600-lb Life' diet grill recipes: Ketogenic weight loss, fat-burn food swaps

'My 600-lb Life' weight-loss: diet dessert recipes burn fat, cut sugar cravings

If you don't believe that obesity and related Type 2 diabetes are life-threatening diseases, ask the bariatric surgery patients on reality TV's "My 600-lb Life." But if you've attempted weight-loss, you know how easy it is to put on and how difficult it is to take off. Cravings and deprivation mode is at its worst on holidays, at parties, and summer picnics. Here are diet dessert recipes inspired by Dr. Younan Nowzaradan's patients.   'My 600-lb Life' weight-loss: diet dessert recipes burn fat, cut sugar cravings

'My 600-lb Life' weight-loss debate: no sugar, no carb gluten-free diet no good?

 Think weight-loss and what's the first diet tip that comes to mind? Trending among celebrities is the gluten-free diet which cuts carbs and sugar. The TLC reality TV show "#My 600-lb Life" pushes such a sugar-free, carb-free diet after bariatric surgery. But carb lovers, don't pass up the pasta just yet. Health experts are saying that no carb, no sugar diets are no good for shedding obesity. Here's the tasty truth behind their surprising advice. 'My 600-lb Life' weight-loss debate: no sugar, no carb gluten-free diet no good?