SWEET PEPPER NACHOS: Use baby sweet peppers as a chip base for nachos. Fun idea... just leave out the cheese (of find an IP friendly substitution like veggie cheese).

INGREDIENTS
1 pound grass fed beef
2 cloves garlic, pressed 1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp white pepper
1 tsp ground cumin

About 10 to 12 small sweet baby bell peppers, halved
hot sauce, banana peppers, and Parmesan cheese (optional, Not IP Phase 1 approved. Ask your coach about other possible substitutions like veggie cheese if you require it)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Heat ground beef, garlic, and other spices in a pan over medium high heat. Cook until meat is no longer pink and then let simmer for a few minutes.

2. Cut baby peppers in half length-wise and cut out the middle (clearly by the picture I wasn't too worried about leaving some of the seeds in there). Lay out on a baking stone, or whatever you have, and spoon the cooked meat into the centers.

3. Top with banana peppers and grated cheese if desired.

4. Broil for about ten minutes then eat!

WOLFGANG PUCK'S GRILLED ROSEMARY GARLIC SHRIMP KEBABS: Summer is in full swing, so fire up your BBQ. In my opinion, Summer is one of the best times to diet, since you want to drink a lot of water and its so easy to grill up your meats and veggies for a wide variety of delicious, quick meals. Here is a great one for entertaining.

INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon zest, grated
2 or 3 fresh basil leaves, cut into fine julienne strips
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 lemons, cut into 8 wedges, seeds removed
8 sturdy fresh rosemary sprigs, each 6 to 8 inches long
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS
1. In a large nonreactive bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, lemon zest, basil, and garlic.

2. Add the shrimp, stir to coat them evenly, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and no more than 3 hours.

3. Preheat an outdoor grill, an indoor double-sided grill or the broiler. Strip the leaves from each rosemary sprig, leaving just a tuft at one end. With the knife or gardening sheers, trim the opposite end of each branch to a point. Soak in water for 15 minutes.

4. With the tip of a small, sharp knife, carefully remove any visible seeds from the lemon wedges. Set the wedges aside.


5. Remove the shrimp from the marinade and skewer them on the rosemary sprigs, passing the point of each branch through both the head and tail end of each shrimp and alternating the shrimp with lemon wedges on the skewers.

6. When the grill or broiler is ready, season the shrimp on both sides with salt and pepper to taste. Place the skewers on the grill rack directly over the fire, or under the broiler, and cook until they turn bright pink all over, 1 to 2 minutes per side, turning the skewers once with long-handled tongs.

Serve immediately, encouraging guests to slide the shrimp and lemon wedges carefully off their skewers and squeeze the warm lemon wedges over the shrimp.

*Courtesy of Wolfgang Puck's "Wolfgang Puck Makes it Easy."

ASPARAGUS: Hints for perfect grilling! Spear with bamboo. All you need is a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, a spray of olive oil, and some freshly ground salt and pepper.

Study shows that as states spend more money on health care, obesity rates actually increase.


http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/261564.php

Study Shows Governmental Anti-Obesity Initiatives Are Not Working

www.medicalnewstoday.com

Americans are gaining weight at an alarming rate, with obesity increasing from 12 percent of the nation's population in 1990 to 23 percent by 2005, according to the 

"My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment." - Oprah Winfrey

 For the body, simple and complex carbohydrates are its checking account, while fat is its savings account. Money can be withdrawn from a checking account or a savings account, but it is not spent in the same way. To lose weight we must learn to live off our savings account.

Eight sneaky sources of sugars to keep an eye on while on maintenance.

http://www.youbeauty.com/health/columns/beauty-equals-health/healthy-foods-with-high-sugar

"Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success". - Dale Carnegie

JAMAICAN JERK SEASONING: Want to fire up your BBQ with some spicy meat? This unusual island favourite will burn your taste buds with delicious heat.

INGREDIENTS:
2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
1 tablespoon garlic powder
4 teaspoons crushed dry thyme leaves
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 package (coffee serving size) Truvia or other sweetener
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
(I add 1 teaspoon crushed cardamom, but not required)

Squeeze of lime and some fresh cilantro if desired.

DIRECTIONS:
In a small bowl, stir together the dried onion, thyme, allspice, ground black pepper, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and salt.

Coat meat (Chicken, Pork or Jumbo Shrimp/ Prawns) lightly with olive oil (I use a spray bottle to use less oil than just pouring it on), then rub seasoning onto meat.

Grill on BBQ or cook in over or pan as desired. I squeeze a fresh lime over the meat and serve with grilled veggies (Zucchini, Eggplant, Paprika) Very spicy, sweet, and flavorful.

SPROUT HASH BROWNS: Try this snack when you need a little boost to get through the morning or a snack at night.

Ingredients:
Sprouts (I use two different kinds. About 1 cup)
2 beaten egg whites
Spices (I use either Asian Spices or Italian Spices)
Sea Salt & Ground Black Pepper
Optional: Tabasco to taste.

Directions:
1. Beat 2 egg whites until they hold a firm shape.
2. Add in herbs, sprouts & spices
3. Mix.
4. Scoop onto a med-hot pan sprayed with non-stick spray or a little olive oil.
Spread the batter out to make a patty in the shape you want.
5. When fully cooked on one side, flip. (If not cooked through, it may fall apart. Still tasty, but not so visually pleasing)

Note that these do not taste like Potato Hash Browns, but are delicious and filling.

Continuing with our weekly recipes, this week we have ANOTHER Phase 1 recipe that uses your 8 ounces of meat + your 2 cups of veggies. So don't be afraid to share this recipe with your friends as it is great for everybody.

Just know that this recipe you can choose to make spicy or not. So those who don't like spicy foods can still enjoy this.

*** LIKE SHARE AND COMMENT ***
Let us know if you liked it or not, and any other additions you might've done to expand the flavors.

 Maintenance Tip - Incorporate dietary fiber into your diet by eating green vegetables, crudités, fruit, whole-wheat bread and grains every day. They increase regularity, as well as, modify carbohydrate absorption by slowing it down.

Study shows that caloric information on fast food items may not have much impact on eating behavior.

http://healthland.time.com/2013/04/24/are-you-willing-to-walk-for-that-burger/

How Much Exercise Will It Take to Work Off a Burger? Menus May Soon Tell You | TIME.com

healthland.time.com

More restaurants display calorie counts on their menus, but what if they also informed you what it would take to burn off those calories? It's one thing to know how many calories are packed into a meal you're about to eat, and quite another to fully appreciate what your body does with them.

"Any fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success or failure. The way you think about a fact may defeat you before you ever do anything about it. You are overcome by the fact because you think you are". - Norman Vincent Peale

Get ready to include a new favorite in your staple Ideal Protein foods as we welcome back an old favorite: Sour Cream and Onion Soy Puffs! Take a bite and be delighted by the blast of sour cream and onion seasoning, combined to our puff texture you know and love. This product is only available in Canada.

It's essential that weight loss coaches maintain a relationship of trust with dieters. Dieters can very frequently give into despair, and that's when the coach must intervene in order to re-motivate them.

Study shows losing weight may help relieve heartburn issues.



http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=676553

Losing Weight May Ease Chronic Heartburn

consumer.healthday.com

MONDAY, May 20 (HealthDay News) -- Obese and overweight men and women who suffer from heartburn 

"Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak". - Thomas Carlyle