Perch

Today I had a special treat. I went to a brunch at the most beautiful restaurant perched high among the buildings of downtown, Los Angeles, Perch. I definitely felt like I was on vacation in another country. There is a beautiful inside/outside feel to the restaurant. Music from a live band is playing, and there is an eclectic clientele throughout, and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. I was eyeing the delicious looking hamburgers served at the table next to me. I was so happy with myself that I was able to refrain from ordering one. Tony and I shared a beautiful fruit plate with Greek yogurt, croissants, and pastries, and an order of truffle fries. I mainly ate the fruit, which left Tony very happy to finish the rest. I must admit, in all honesty, I did taste everything. Superb! And worth a little Sunday indulgence. Back to the grind, tomorrow!

Liver

Saturday night is my "cheat" night. I still avoid Mexican food or pizza. But, I do allow myself dinner out with my husband.

He is so good about fending for himself all week, it's a night we both can look forward to. Before we went to the restaurant, I looked at the menu online to see what my best choice would be. I was debating between having an appetizer of ahi tuna as my entree or having calf's liver which I've never ordered in my life.  The closest thing to my eating liver in a restaurant was when I was a child and took a huge scoop of chopped liver off of a Vegas buffet thinking it was chocolate ice cream. (True story) Anyhow, prior to going out, I entered the liver in to my daily log (My Fitness Pal) along with spinach, a green salad, and a gin martini. ( I repeat, Saturday night) I was still under calories for the day, so I thought I was doing well. Here's where I made the mistake: I didn't say "no sauce." At least I didn't eat the mashed potatoes.

From the looks of the photo, I think I should have gone with the Ahi! As my mother would say, "I livered it up today!"

Cabbage slaw

Today I had a short conversation about diets with a friend of mine who is an interior designer. She is thin, fit, and very pretty. She told me something many others have told me before. "Don't think of  it as diet, think of it as a lifestyle change." Unfortunately, I need to consider it a strict diet with immediate results for me to have the willpower to complete each day. I have tried the "lifestyle change" many times. Eventually, I let life get in the way, I get lazy, and I go back to my bad habits. Through the years of dieting, I have made some major changes. Every time I try something new, I learn a little more. I definitely eat differently than I did when I was younger. I haven't had a soda, diet or regular in years. I also don't remember the last time that I had a taste of ice cream! (Root beer floats used to be my favorite as a teen). So, although I have picked up some lifestyle changes, I still need a rigid diet to follow to lose weight. Tonight I came home from work, tired, hungry and unprepared. I looked in the refrigerator and didn't see much. Tony had leftover spaghetti that he could eat, but I didn't even have lettuce to make a salad. Then, my eyes caught a small cabbage in the crisper drawer. The good thing about cabbage is that it lasts longer than other vegetables. I peeled off the out layer and was happy to find an alternative to my usual salad. I shredded it and added sweet onion and avocado. I also defrosted a piece of Jim's fish from last week and broiled it. If I wasn't on a strict diet, I could have made the excuse to give up and order pizza. I am happy to say I persevered!

Grilled Shrimp

I have been so good about eating at home during the week for dinner. I take care of myself; my husband takes care of himself. I may not sound like a good Greek wife, but I am doing what I need to do to get thinner. He will be happy in the long run. Yesterday, on a Thursday night, he asked me to go to dinner with him and a friend because his friend's wife is out of town. I would have been fine to be left at home while he goes out, but for some reason he likes me to accompany him. So, the three of us went to dinner at the Valley Inn and I searched the menu for my best option. I settled on the Shrimp special, because shrimp has very few calories. It was served on a bed of couscous and mango salsa which may have been flavored with lots of  fatty calories because it was quite delicious. Although I seldom drink these days, I also had a glass of red wine.  I know I went off track of my super strict regime. Still, I made better choices that three weeks ago I never would have made. And the topper is I still got up this morning bright and early to exercise! 

Yellow Tail

Wow. I just finished a delightful meal.  From the looks of Patti's Plate, one would think that I am eating yet another boring protein and salad dinner. But you have no idea how good my food is tonight. I took that delicious fresh fish that I received from my neighbor the other day, and broiled it in the oven with sea salt, pepper, lemon and a drop of olive oil. I put it on broil for only 4 minutes and it was transformed into white, flaky, moist fish. I am not one who normally loves fish, but this was really good. There was not a hint of that fishy smell that often permeates the house when cooking fish. Another day of dieting completed! I'm going to bed early. I'm looking forward to waking up feeling thinner.

Tomatillos

I always get great diet food ideas when I go to the hair salon. The stylists are quite fit, and seem to know the tricks of the trade for staying slim. Tonight's recipe is thanks to Todd. He gave me the recipe for a delicious tomatillos sauce that can be kept in the refrigerator, and used to accompany any type of meat. He suggested a lean pork tenderloin to go with it. I made it tonight and have to say that it's out of this world.

1 Serrano chile

1 avocado

5 tomatillos

Lime juice

1 bunch cilantro

Salt and pepper to taste

After cutting and roasting the tomatillos, I put everything in the food processor. Process to desired consistency and it makes a great sauce. I spooned just a little over the pork, and added a salad. It didn't feel like a diet night. My husband was happy because he got to eat it as a dip with chips!

Leo Quinn

I'm not sure which direction I should take tonight. Should I write about the food that was on Patti's plate today? Should I write about the exercise that I have been doing faithfully every morning for the last couple of weeks? Should I write about the weight loss I have actually thankfully experienced since I started writing again? I think I will skip all of that for another day. Today I am going to share with you a really exciting by product of my weight loss blog. I originally started writing as a way to focus on my diet and to help and share with others who are on a weight loss journey too. Not long after I started writing regularly, Google reached out to me and offered to put advertising on my site. It was fun to see my daily entry on the same page as a Weight Watchers ad. (Especially since I have spent so much money on Weight Watchers in my life.) But, what was really fun was what happened today. I have been a reader of financial guru, Leo Quinn, for several years. His latest newsletter mentioned making money by blogging. I wrote to him and told him how excited I was to learn more. And..... I sent him the link to Patti's Plate. The next thing I knew, he posted my link in his newsletter, and my readership multiplied overnight!

Thank you, Leo. I will return the favor by posting a link to you.

http://www.leoquinn.com/    

"We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another."

Luciano De Crescenzo