Toasted bagel is topped with an herbed cottage cheese, heirloom tomatoes, and Parmesan for a perfectly light breakfast or mid-morning snack.
You guys.
I’ve lost 10 pounds. I’m two pounds shy of what I weighed on my wedding day 11 years ago. Holla!
There’s no magic pill. There’s no quick fix. << Sorry. Just burn more calories than you take in. This, of course, takes a lot of work and dedication. A LOT. And you have to want it. Really want it.
I’m a small person by nature, but small people gain weight, too. And we feel lousy, too. And this job of mine? I love it so. But it’s not conducive to staying fit.
After my blogger retreat in May, a grocery chain asking me to do some on camera work, and not fitting into my spring capris, I reached my limit.
Paul got a Fitbit last Christmas, and he lost 35 pounds by April. I was super jazzed for him. And it was just the inspiration I needed. So, I got a FitBit, too.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the FitBit, it’s simply a tracking device. You still have to be active, and lay off the Fritos. Boo :/ I know. But reaching your daily goals is SO satisfying!
Here’s what I’ve been doing. DAILY. >> I run 4 1/2 miles each morning, followed by 2-3, 30 minute walks throughout the rest of the day. Usually before or after I eat.
I’m averaging about 20,000 steps / 10 miles per day.
And then I feel like this.
But I also feel like this.
My original goal was 15k, then I quickly upped it to 18k. But there are several days during the week, I’m well over 22k.
Then there are days I don’t even reach my goal. And that’s OK. I just get back after it the next day.
I only wish the exercising was the hard part. Seriously. The eating. GAH! Dammit. God, I love food.
For the first time in my life, at 45, I’ve been tracking my calories. UGH. But, you know what, it matters. It’s crazy the awareness I have now, how many calories are in certain things. Like my favorite >> white rice. *cries* But I’m never ever giving that up. Just have to eat less of it.
NOTE: I do not deprive myself of anything! If I want a brownie, I’m going to eat that brownie. BUT, eating that brownie means I have to cut back somewhere else. Or exercise more. I usually opt for the latter. So, whenever I want to eat my pantry, I just go for a walk instead.
I hated the idea of monitoring my calories, but since I got a FitBit, I’m sort of addicted to it.
I was pretty good this summer, thanks to some of my favorite lower-cal breakfasts, snacks, and dinners.
This is one of my mid-morning loves. Hardest part is only eating one! #storyofmylife.
Open-Faced Heirloom Tomato Sandwich
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup reduced fat cottage cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 small heirloom tomatoes , sliced
- 2 plain or “everything” bagel thins , split
- 1/4 cup red onion , sliced thin
- 1 scallion , finely diced
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- Black pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the cottage cheese, herbs, and garlic powder.
- Toast bagels; spread cottage cheese mixture over each half. Layer with tomato and onion. Sprinkle scallions and Parmesan on top and a few grinds of black pepper.
Notes
Nutrition
Other Notes
Would love to win!
Looks yummy. Hubby would enjoy this :)
Thank you so very much for your giveaway! We would love to have a pair of the Fitbits, to help keep us healthy!
I would like to get our family to eat better and exercise more. I am hoping this will be a good start to more healthy living.
Ain’t it the best?
FitBit, MFP, MMF, all part of my 60 lb. loss arsenal. (It used to be 70 but the holidays and my mom’s passing have messed with it. But I’m back on track and I have added weight training to my mix. I ran 15km on Sunday. I’ll be at the half for Beat The Blerch!
Jen lifts weights. I’ve never been able to get into it. Too sloooooow. But good for you! You’re going to leave us in the dust come Blerch day!
I doubt that! :D
10 pounds!! *HIGH FIVE*
“I only wish the exercising was the hard part. Seriously. The eating. GAH! Dammit. God, I love food.” SO MUCH ALL OF THIS. Always the food…
I still count calories, as I think you know. It has helped a lot – not only when I was losing weight, but realizing how much room I had to play with sometimes when I was half marathon and marathon training. Which was nice. ;)
And rice (all rice and grains really): I used to make well over a cup (dry) for us for two lunches, two dinners. It took a couple of gradual “steps down” but for a few years now, it’s 1 cup (6 oz/168 grams) per recipe. And since we cut down gradually, we didn’t notice so much. Now that amount seems really normal! And when I get Indian food with my sister and they serve me the plate, I am like, what is this MOUNTAIN OF RICE. :)
My sister got back to her healthy weight 2 years ago by doing the same thing…and she’s maintained it by continuing to log all her calories. I got overly confident once I met my goal, and stopped counting. Gained 2 pounds back just like that! So back I went tracking, lost the weight again, and now I will continue to watch it. Sigh. Also? MOUNTAIN OF RICE. Lol. That struck me in the same way we always joke about how much spinach there is…until it cooks. WHERE’D IT ALL GOOOO?
I could eat bagels like this all day… definitely a recipe I want to make!
Okay, you walk WAY more steps than I do!! WAY. I am so impressed. Apparently writing your thesis is not conducive to walking a lot! GO YOU!
I couldn’t enter the Fitbit contest it wouldn’t let me enter anything.
Would love to win!
thank you I have wanted a fit bit since last Christmas
Glad to know the FitBit is working! Have just started counting calories and it’s a BIG eye opener. Cutting out my sweets has been the hardest; even though fruit is sweet, it’s not the same. Love ‘mater sammiches too. :D
I’m so glad the FitBit is working for you! Exercise and movement makes such a huge difference, doesn’t it?
Very impressive weight loss for you, accomplished by all the exercising and calorie awareness.
Just remember to stay hydrated.
Welcome to the real world of counting calories. Yes, it is an eye opener and makes you think twice about what you want to put in your mouth. Try it with fat, sugar, chemicals, etc. content for more
awareness.
I’ve often put cottage cheese on toast with a little jelly for sweetness. Your post gives me another option with more nutrition. Very good!
I forgot to say, I love that Everything Hurts and I’m Dying t-shirt!
Amy, so happy you only have 2 lbs. left to go! I would love to say that. Someday, perhaps. Just this morning, I made banana nut muffins. So good. But that was breakfast and lunch. I’ll feel guilty tomorrow since today is a holiday and doesn’t count. I love the Heirloom Tomato Sandwich recipe. Next trip to the market, I’ll get the goodies to make this.
Great giveaway! My friends all have some type of fitness tracker. Can’t afford one till I get a job, but it’s on my list. I definitely need an incentive to get out and move.
I have the Fitbit flex, love it but would love to upgrade to the HR wireless! I use it to maintain my weight loss, 30 lbs in 3 years. It keeps me motivated & accountable! Last year my goal was 5 miles a day and this year 6 miles. I am a big walker & biker!
Good work on your accomplishments!
Sweet! Thank you!
Way to go, Amy! My coworker just lost 137lbs – she’s got three to go and actually ate a donut on Friday. We watched her in amazement. She’s been SO healthy for the last year and finally said screw it, I am going to enjoy this. Friends and coworkers swear by Fitbit – I would love the incentive to get me moving during the day.
The sandwich looks delish, BTW.
137 pounds. Daaaamn. That takes true commitment and is really incredible. I can’t live without my white foods, so I always opt for more exercise. Ha. I bet she feels like a million bucks!
Fitbit has been soooo good for me and my husband, too! Though sometimes it results in us running around the house trying to beat each other instead of going to bed :) This sandwich looks so awesome!!
LOL! Omg, Sues…there have been many days where we’re so close to meeting our step goal, but it’s 9:30 at night. So we just run in place or up and down the stairs for a few minutes. Too funny. Gotta have all green!
10 pounds? Go Amy! My Fitbit keeps me motivated, too… I love the challenges you can do with your friends to keep me getting my pathetic, sedentary rear off of the chair!
Totally, Rebecca. I love our weekend warrior and workweek hustle groups. Total motivation when I see everyone’s numbers climbing above mine!
Have heard about these, but never took the plunge to purchase. I’m going to be 60 my next birthday and for the last two years I have been eating more healthy and swimming 5 days a week, so feeling pretty good,but sometimes you just need a little motivation. Would love to try it.
Good for you, Dolores! I swim several days a week, too. The one drawback about the FitBit is it isn’t waterproof. You can input your swimming exercise, but it doesn’t count toward “steps” of course. But nonetheless, it’s still a great way to track your activity. And swimming is the best on the joints, as you know!
Reason #5123 why I’ll never go Paleo: Rice and pie crust. Ok, that was two reasons, but they are both very important to me. Keep up the good work. It gets worse after 50. (Cries even harder). Maybe if we let our hair get really big, people won’t notice that our butts got bigger, too. Nah. Won’t work. Time for a walkie. And hey–if you would get your beagle, you could walk her (or him) and that would be more fun. Just a small suggestion. ;)
No big surprise that I agree with all your reasoning 110%. And the hair? LOL. You might be onto something.
Amy!!! congrats girl!!! 10 lbs!!!! WOW!!!! I love this post!!!! I feel the same way when it comes to exercise and although, I don’t track calories, I do watch what I eat. I love that “Yeah!” photo :) it’s the best!!! and this heirloom tomato sandwich!!! It would be hard to eat just one!