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Mrs. Meatball, Hollywood Age and Occupation: 30, Actor/Writer/Office Maven Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Actor/Writer Engagement Date: October 7, 2007 Wedding Date: May, 2009 Blogging Since: September 16, 2008 Venue: Private Garden/The Bungalow Club About Me: I love melty cheese and diet coke almost as much as I love my man. I'm from Chicago, he's from NYC, and we both miss public transit and great pizza. We have an adorable muppet dog called Paco. I'm part hippie with a healthy dash of hip hop superstar, have excessive empathy for animals, and have not one, but two bionic eyes (long story). We're broke and it ain't no joke. It can't stop us from planning the bold and whimsical wedding of our dreams, but we've had to get pretty creative to make it work, yo!
About Mrs. Meatball

Flab to Fab: Week 6

February 11th, 2009 @ 1:53 pm by Mrs. Meatball

I know, I know. You’re all, “What the eff? Where’s weeks 4 and 5? Wha’ happen?”*

Well, I will tell ya. Not a lot of exercise, that’s what. But not without cause, my lovelies.

First, I was out of town for MaPo’s wedding. In week 3, I mentioned hoping to exercise a bit over the vaca, but no dice, mostly because I was running around like crazy in Maid-of-Honor mode. I did, however, get a few really long walks and one crazy night of dancing in, which made me feel less like of a lump. But, the breakthrough was: I managed to control myself with the foods! I ate what I wanted, stopped when I felt full (rather than when my plate, and maybe a 2nd, were clean), and I was gentle with myself about it! Holla.

Second, I got the aforementioned black death at the end of the trip, which disabled me for all of last week, and whoa, I hope you all are taking your vitamins and eating your veggies, because that’s one nasty-ass bug going around. The good news is that being sick is a natural appetite suppressant, so I think I might have lost any gained weight from the trip. :) Gotta love nature, eh?

So, today I’m back on the horse with a game plan.

Last night I made a gigantor batch of the best chili ever created and promptly packaged up the leftovers in single serving containers to take to work for lunch. Tonight I’m working out with Tiger, and I’m actually looking forward to it. Not a minute too soon, either, because Saturday I have my first dress fitting! Eeep!

Speaking of vitamins, are you taking any? I am a huge baby about large pills, and usually find vitamins to smell and taste so offensive that I’ll avoid them at any cost. Honestly, until this year the only vitamins I’d take were Flintstone Chewables or Emergen-C. But after my pregnant friends all raved about the hair-shining, nail-strengthening qualities of prenatal vitamins, I did some research and am happy to report that the Rite-Aid generic brand pills are small and taste/odor-free, and uber-cheap!

I also invested in some Fisol coated Fish Oil supplements. They’re a really nice size, and the coating eliminates any fishy “repeats” throughout the day. As a vegetarian, I still struggle with the notion if I over-think it, but it also means that I need to take these more than your average bear. The benefits are incredibly far-reaching: from improving skin and hair quality to improving heart health and helping my dry eyes be more comfy. Multi-tasking, yo!

I’ve heard that it’s best to take your vitties at night, because your body can absorb them best while at rest, so I keep them on my nightstand to remind me to take them - but I recommend doing it right as you lay down for bed, because they have the potential to wake you up a bit if you take them too early.

So, take your vitamins, and then make this chili. I’m really proud… I think it might be one of my best dishes yet, and it is so so inexpensive! Shout out to my friend Ashley for providing the base recipe off which I riffed to create this goodness.

Weak-in-the-knees Chili

  • 1 lb lean beef, chicken, or veggie crumbles
  • 1 can black beans, undrained
  • 1 can Rotel, or diced tomatoes (preferably Mexican style)
  • 1 smallish sweet onion, diced
  • 1 green pepper, diced
  • 1 packet chili seasoning mix
  • (optional) Worcestershire sauce
  • (optional) Chili powder
  • (optional) 1/2 can chili beans, drained
  • 2 tsp olive oil

Warm 1 tsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onions and green pepper until onion is translucent and green peppers wilt a bit. Push these around the sides of the pan, add the other tsp of olive oil to the middle, and add meat/substitute. Brown and mix everything together. Season meat mixture with chili seasoning packet (I used half), a few healthy slugs of Worcestershire sauce, and some chili powder if you like heat. Empty beans and tomatoes into the pan, stir, cover and simmer as long as you want. Enjoy!

I really recommend playing around with different vegetables in this one. It would be great with carrots, eggplant, or whatever you like. We served it over oven-roasted sweet potatoes (45-60 minutes at 400 degrees), which is unexpectedly divine. You can top it with tortilla chips, sour cream, guac…. anything you like! It’s great for a dinner party too, because it’s so simple to make but really impresses your guests.

*Name the movie. “I got a weal wed wagon!”

Tags: diet, fitness, health, los-angeles |
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26 Responses to “Flab to Fab: Week 6”

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1.
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Bee
Miss Perfume (message)  2,254 posts, Buzzing bee

Over roasted sweet potatoes?! FANTASTIC!

 
2.
purpleHaze79
Member
purpleHaze79 (message)  874 posts, Busy bee

oooh! Thanks for the recipe!

 
3.
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Member
hedgehog (message)  35 posts, Newbee

A Mighty Wind! I love, love, love Christopher Guest.
Thanks for the recipe… I think I might have to try that one out.

 
4.
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Bee
Miss Peep Toe (message)  1,804 posts, Buzzing bee

This post makes me hungry. I have to ask- are the vitamins working for ya? I just started taking them- my thin limp hair needs help!!

 
5.
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Miss Bruschetta (message)  5,565 posts, Bee Keeper

“I can’t do my work!” Love Christopher Guest and company!

 
6.
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Bee
Miss Meatball (message)  624 posts, Busy bee

@Peep Toe: Honestly, I’ve only been taking them for a week and a half, so I don’t know. They say it takes 21 days for any new medicine/vitamin to make a difference, so give it 3 weeks. I’ll try to remember to update on this after a bit. Good question!

 
7.
thriftsiren
Member
thriftsiren (message)  176 posts, Blushing bee

There are these great omega-3 (with DHA, the good stuff thats in fish oil!) vitamins that are 100% vegetarian! They’re for kids so they’re fruit flavored gummies, which makes them even easier to take! I’ve been taking them for months and it’s really helped my complexion. Amazon sells them, but they’re half this price at the Target I shop at.

http://www.amazon.com/Critters-Omega-3-Booster-Promotes-Function/dp/B00126B014

 
8.
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Miss Meatball (message)  624 posts, Busy bee

@Thriftsiren: I’ve never heard of those!…. I’ll have to check them out - thanks!

 
9.
LzzNYC
Member
LzzNYC (message)  882 posts, Busy bee

Man… I just ate.. but this sounds so much better I’m hungry again!

 
10.
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Guest
Allie.C

haha I always use that quote from a mighty wind!!

 
11.
Miss Bear Cub
Bee
Miss Bear Cub (message)  1,566 posts, Bumble bee

haha I always use that quote from a mighty wind!! ;)

 
12.
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Houligan (message)  29 posts, Newbee

Miss Meatball, there are a few vegan options out there for vitamins (eg, http://www.devanutrition.com/vegan_DHA.html). And congrats on finding a prenatal vitamin that doesn’t seem to contain gelatin!

 
13.
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Bee
Miss Duckling (message)  1,415 posts, Bumble bee

I have the had the black death all week as well. It must have traveled down from LA :)! But I am hoping that at the very least it will help my weight loss cause since I can’t exercise without hacking up a lung.

I’m going to try this chili recipe…I love chili!

 
14.
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Member
West Coast Bride (message)  708 posts, Busy bee

Might I suggest that if you are going to full-out mexify your chilli you may want to top it with some finely shaved cabbage, torn up cilantro and the tiniest dollop of low fat sour cream….it’s like the world’s heartiest taco with the totilla shells!

My new habit has been to make a new batch of soup every Sunday and H2B and I eat it for lunch all week. Good as a snack or a meal, which is great because he uses it to stave off hunger while I’m at my post-work gym routine, and I use it for lunch midday. Helps keep the incidental lunch time spending waaaaay down too!
Glad you’re feeling better, Meattie!

 
15.
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West Coast Bride (message)  708 posts, Busy bee

oops, that was WITHOUT the tortilla shells. I is so smartz

 
16.
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Miss Meatball (message)  624 posts, Busy bee

@west coast bride: I LOVE shredded cabbage! We use it in EVERYTHING. Look out for that in next weeks post :) Thanks, great tip!

 
17.
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Member
doublemint921 (message)  499 posts, Helper bee

Yummy! I can’t wait to try this chili! Glad your back and feeling better!

 
18.
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Bee
Miss Glitter (message)  986 posts, Busy bee

Weak in the Knees Chili?! Meaty, I heart you.

 
19.
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Mrs. Onion (message)  711 posts, Busy bee

Sounds yummy, and good for you for jumping back on the wagon. I had a really bad gym week last week…only went 3 times, but am back on this week — Mon, Tues, Wed…with plans to go Thurs., Friday too (off to ski for the weekend).

Anyway, I have to say I L-O-V-E Christopher Guest and all of his movies. I get bonus points b/c I actually saw the entire cast of a Might Wind give a live concert at Town Hall in NYC. It was aaaawesome.

 
20.
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Miss Kitten (message)  868 posts, Busy bee

Thanks for sharing the recipe! I’m going to try it with some lean ground turkey meat. Yum!

 
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Mrs. Meatball
Mrs. Meatball

Mrs. Meatball, Hollywood Age and Occupation: 30, Actor/Writer/Office Maven Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Actor/Writer Engagement Date: October 7, 2007 Wedding Date: May, 2009 Blogging Since: September 16, 2008 Venue: Private Garden/The Bungalow Club About Me: I love melty cheese and diet coke almost as much as I love my man. I'm from Chicago, he's from NYC, and we both miss public transit and great pizza. We have an adorable muppet dog called Paco. I'm part hippie with a healthy dash of hip hop superstar, have excessive empathy for animals, and have not one, but two bionic eyes (long story). We're broke and it ain't no joke. It can't stop us from planning the bold and whimsical wedding of our dreams, but we've had to get pretty creative to make it work, yo!

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