The Big BLOB Weight Loss Blog

Over the years studies have consistently shown that changing to a diet of soy protein can significantly reduce your cholesterol by as much as 20 to 30 percent.

Now, in this country (vs Japan or China) it is highly unlikely that many of us would radically change our diets. However a study done by Dr. Anderson and published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that replacing some animal protein with soy protein could still result in a significant reduction in total cholesterols levels of up to 9.3 percent.

How can you lower your cholesterol by using soy protein? The easiest and fastest way is by subsitiuting some of your animal protein for soy protein.

Start with soy milk instead of milk. Make sure you don’t purchase the soy drinks with added sugar! There are also low-fat varieties of soy milk. Since soy milk tastes different from regular milk it may take you a couple of trys to find a brand you like and to get used to the taste.

I use soy milk in smoothies and when mixing my protein powder drinks.

Soy burgers, breakfast sausages and hot dogs are another good soy choice. Add soy crumbles (soy burgers) to your pasta sauces instead of ground beef … no one will be able to tell the difference!

Soy nuts are great. Get your children started on using them as a healthy snack … you too!

There are varieties of soy cheeses and even soy yoghurt … and if you have a nearby health food store, look for soy-nut butter.

I’m very aware that many people THINK they don’t like tofu. But that’s probably because they haven’t really given it a chance. Tofu is relatively tastless … it absorbs the flavour of the surrounding sauce. You can get tofu in a variety of textures from soft to very firm.

I have several cheesecake recipes that use tofu exclusively or in combination with regular cream cheeze. I’ve served this to guests without them ever knowing they were eating healthy tofu!! If you don’t tell anyone, they don’t have anything to go eweeeeu about!!

Given the impact that soy protein can have on your overall cholesterol levels, you owe it to yourself to start incorporating it into your regular eating plans.

Melanie

This Can\’t Be Tofu!: 75 Recipes to Cook Something You Never Thought You Would–and Love Every Bite

The Art of Tofu (Deluxe Edition)

In my part of the country (Vancouver Canada) the red pepper season is in full swing. Though you can get red peppers all year round, right now they are almost the same price as the green ones. Note … I’m talking about the mild large red peppers, not the molten lava small red peppers.

I make a very simple but hugely popular appetizer with roasted red peppers. This makes the perfect hostess gift when I am invited to a BBQ.

Roasted Red Pepper Appetizer

On an outdoor grill, over a gas stove top, or under the broiler, heat mild red peppers until they are charded and black all over.

Put them into a plastic bag or into a glass or plastic bowl with a lid. Let them sweat and cool down.

Once they have cooled so that you don’t burn your fingers, remove the charred skin.

Cut into very very thin slices or dice … keeping some of the juice.

Crush and chop fresh garlic cloves. I like garlic and normally use one clove for each of the red peppers. Mix garlic in with the peppers. NOTE: granulated garlic or any of the garlic powders don’t work.

Then pour in a good quality olive oil. I usually use a light olive oil, vs the greener virgin varieties. Cover the red pepper and garlic mixture. Let this sit for at least 2 hours.

Salt lightly just before serving.

You can then refrigerate it for up to a week. Let it come to room temperature before serving.

I serve this on crackers, or on lightly toasted baguette slices. I also use this on thin crust pizzas and as an add on for bruchettas, and even hamburgers.

Yummmmm. This is hugely addictive and your hosts will invite you just because you bring this with you!!

Melanie

PS. I know the concoction above can be preserved … but it never sticks around long enough for that.

I am passionate about cook books! I get them from the book store, from the library and as gifts from friends. I LOVE the cooking network.

So … I decided to try this bargain Cook Book Club. Here’s the deal … you get 4 cookbooks free by agreeing to purchase 2 more books in the next year. IF you order your first cookbook right away (which I did) you only pay $9.95 for it. Then you have a whole year to get your other book.

So … for $10.00 + shipping I got myself FIVE cookbooks. I order a couple of Rachael Ray’s books plus the Food Network Favorites book, Cooking for the Hip and Barefoot contessa at Home.

You have to live in the USA to take advantage of this offer … I live in Vancouver and have mailing address in Blaine … less than an hour away! I wish there were more of these clubs for Canadians! IF you are in the US get your bargains at the Good Cook Book Club.

Melanie

Rachael Ray\’s 30-Minute Get Real Meals: Eat Healthy Without Going to Extremes

Barefoot Contessa at Home: Everyday Recipes You\’ll Make Over and Over Again

Here are several hypnosis programs I highly recommend:

This program allows you to develop your own self-hypnosis CD’s. This is highly recommended because you can focus on your own challenges and issues by developing programs for each separate issue: eg. chocolate addition, the salt-sugar cycle addiction, bingeing, the motivation to stick to an exercise program, motivation to stick to your eating plan and more. You can develop an unlimited number of programs! Subliminal Studio Click Here

Since I sit working at my computer for hours a day, I really like this program. It works by flashing subliminal text messages on your computer while you work or surf the Internet. You can be programming yourself for success while playing card games or working on your novel! There are dozens of pre-written programs focusing on a variety of issues, such as weight loss, exercise, self-confidence etc. AND you can add in any of your own messages, thus really personalizing the program. Subliminal Power Click Here

This website has dozens of downloadable audio files focusing on dozens of weight loss issues as well as a grab bag of other health and success related challenges.
Hypnosis Downloads click here

The Thin Book : Hypnotherapy Trance Scripts for Weight Management (Book and Cassette)

This is an excellent book for those wanting to use self-hypnosis to lose weight.

Each chapter focuses on a separate weight loss issue which may have prevented you from achieving successful weight loss in the past.

The author provices some useful tools and suggestions for behavior changes and provide comprehensive hypnotic trance scripts.

If you are a “do it yourselfer” you should get this book. It is filled with hypnotherapy scripts you can use as is, or modify for yourself. All you need is a way to record either tapes, or cd’s or sound files.

Melanie

One area in which Hypnosis can be very successful is in helping you create new habits. While the broad based hypnosis programs are useful because they help you aim in the right direction and then keep on track … I think that the more specific you can get … the better.

Your subconscious mind will respond to instructions to eat healthier and eat less … but because those instruction are somewhat vague, it may take time to see the results.

If you want faster results, the best thing you can do is identify some of your major problem areas and work SPECIFICALLY on them.

For example … a hypnosis program specifically directed to exercising daily … or one that focuses on your addiction to chocolate or sugar will make big differences in your habits and therefore in your overall eating.

Here are a few hypnosis programs that work on very specific issues. Once you get to the site (which I highly recommend) you will find even more choices.

Chocolate Addiction

Motivation to Exercise

Feel Attractive Now It doesn’t matter if you are 100 or more pounds overweight. By feeling attractive, you will like yourself better and will not indulge in “poor me” or “I need love” emotional eating.

TV Junk Food If you sit in front of the TV and eat non-stop then this program is a must.

Eating Because of Bordom Some people have a low bordom tolerance … instead of finding something engaging to do they eat to fill the time … not because they are hungry.

Fast Food Junkie Some people eat Fast Food because … well, because it is fast. The bonus is that it is often tasty because it is filled with fat and sugar and salt. This program will help you get control of the Fast Food demons.

YES … you can use more than one hypnosis program at a time.

Melanie

It’s American Thanksgiving. To those of us who struggle with our weight, this is the beginning of a month+ of anxiety and worry about our weight.

WILL we be able to RESIST all the good food, sweet things, chocolate and other temptations?

Over the next few weeks I will be sharing some tips for handling the stress of the season.

AND, I invite YOU to share your tips and ideas and great recipes!

If you LOVE Fruitcake … do check out the Fruitcake blog at
http://snipurl.com/fruitcakeblog

If you want to struggle less and just find yourself eating like thin people do … check out the Thin From Within Program. It is FABULOUS!! CLICK HERE

Have a fabulous Thanksgiving week filled with family, friends and loads of great food!

Melanie