Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Going Public

I've decided to go public with something I usually keep private... My weight loss journey. I've always convinced myself that if I don't point it out no one will notice that I'm overweight. Who do I think I'm kidding?! So, there it is... Whew, what a relief to get my secret out there for the world to see.
In all seriousness, this is a battle I've been fighting nearly all my life with little success and lots of frustration.  I have all the tools I need.   I know what I am supposed to do. I just don't do it. I am hoping this will be an outlet for me to share my thoughts and hopefully gain your support. I will admit that I am incredibly nervous about sharing myself through this blog. It's embarrassing in some ways but empowering in others. So, I ask that you check in on me regularly and share some encouragement if you feel inclined!
To kick off this new side to my (previously neglected) blog I will share a recipe from my experiment today, but first a little back story. This summer I discovered a book called "The Metabolism Miracle". The name didn't do much to grab my attention but the content did. I won't go into details (unless you want them) but it seemed like a perfect fit. In its simplest form it's a version of a low carb diet and has worked wonderfully for me when I've been committed. One thing I love I that I can eat peanut butter. This, of course, does not allow me to eat the delicacy that is (sugar-filled) Peter Pan. It does allow for "all natural".  Let me just say, it's not the same.... So today I took it upon myself to make some peanut butter of my own!  Seriously folks, this stuff is pretty darn good!  I did some research to find a recipe and ingredients that would work for me and can't complain about the end result.
Ok, so I just spent 30 min trying to add a pic from my iPad with no luck so... Just imagine it. It looks like peanut butter in a glass jar!
Here's how I made it...
Roast 2 cups of peanuts on a baking sheet at 350 for 6-8 min. Shake the pan every couple of minutes so they don't burn. Let the peanuts cool. Toss the cooled peanuts and 1 1/2 tsp of coconut oil into the food processor. Let it rip for 2 or 3 minutes and then scrape the sides and bottom with a spatula.  I added a bit of Splenda and a tiny bit of salt to taste and then pulverized it til it was super smooth.  Store in an air tight container for up to a month in the refrigerator.
Let mBe know if anyone tries it out or if you have questions and I'll offer any advice I can.
Now for a super important question... Jif or Peter Pan?