AC4me Week 8

Week 8

The staff of the Activity Center wants each and every one of you to reach your respective goal during the AC4Me Timeframe.  The following list of reasons to keep working toward your goal is intended to motivate, not intimidate.  We are attempting to find the perfect motivating statement to get you going and keep you going:

  • Because sweat is sexy
  • Because you want to live longer
  • Because you want to get better at your game (Tennis, Golf, Biking, Running, etc.)
  • Because you want to have your sweetie checking You Out
  • Because you’re more likely to eat better when you exercise
  • Because you want to shave time off your running pace
  • Because you want to breathe easier
  • Because you want to see the scale drop
  • Because exercise improves your sex life
  • Because you are worth it
  • Because being fit makes everything in life better
  • Because you promised yourself that you would
  • Because you deserve a better life
  • Because it’ll help you drink more water
  • Because you want to do real push-ups
  • Because it reduces your health care costs
  • Because you’ll miss fewer days doing what you love to do
  • Because you want to create a new and better future for yourself
  • Because it’ll help you like what you see in the mirror
  • Because it makes clothing shopping more fun
  • Because you want to look and feel incredible
  • Because exercising can be fun (it really is!)
  • Because it’ll give your skin a glow
  • Because it’s a good way to spend time with your friends
  • Because you want to get rid of the middle-age spread
  • Because it reduces your blood pressure
  • Because you don’t want to let yourself go
  • Because you don’t want to squeeze into an airplane or rollercoaster seat
  • Because it strengthens your spirit
  • Because it’s a cheap way to entertain yourself
  • Because you’ll be able to reward yourself
  • Because you need a reason to wear those new workout clothes
  • Because you’re tired of being tired
  • Because not working out is not going to get you very far
  • Because it’s a great way to spend time outside
  • Because you made a commitment to yourself (or someone you love)
  • Because you’re tired of starting over
  • Because there will always be another wedding, vacation or reunion
  • Because you’re not a quitter
  • Because it improves your cholesterol
  • Because it boosts your metabolism
  • Because it prevents age-related muscle loss
  • Because if you can do this, you can do anything
  • Because a fit body is a healthy body
  • Because it beats sitting on the couch
  • Because everyone has at least 10 minutes to spare
  • Because you want to be stronger than your excuses
  • Because not working out isn’t working out for you
  • Because the only workout you ever regret is the one you skip

Which reason resonates with you?  Do you have any reason to work out that didn’t make the list from last week or this week?  Share your motivating secret with us and we will get it in print.  It may just motivate another member of the AC4 Me Group.

Here is another recipe for you to try, we hope you like it.  This recipe, along with the Make Ahead Minestrone Soup from last week, is from Low Fat and Luscious Italian Cooking.

 

 

Chicken Manicotti

With Red Pepper Cream Sauce

Reduced-fat cream cheese and skim milk combine to make a creamy sauce with a fraction of the fat of traditional cream sauces.

12 manicotti or 18 conchiglioni (jumbo shells)

1 8-ounce package reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel), cut up

¾ cup skim milk

½ of a 7-ounce jar roasted red sweet peppers (about ½ cup), drained and chopped, or one 4-ounce jar diced pimiento, drained

3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

2 cups diced, cooked chicken (you can use 9-ounce package frozen diced chicken, thawed)

10-ounce package frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and drained

2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

  • Cook pasta according to package directions.  Rinse with cold water; drain well.
  • Meanwhile, for sauce, in a heavy small saucepan stir cream cheese and ¼ cup of the milk over medium-low heat until smooth.  Stir in remaining milk.  Stir in sweet peppers or pimiento and Parmesan cheese; heat through.
  • For filling, in a large bowl stir together ¾ cup of the sauce (set remaining sauce aside), the chicken, broccoli, onion, and black pepper.  Using a small spoon, stuff each manicotti with about ¼ cup of the filling or each conchiglioni with 2 to 3 tablespoons filling.  Place in a 3-quart rectangular baking dish.  Bake, covered, in a 350 oven for 30 minutes or until heated through.
  • To serve, cook and stir remaining sauce over low heat until heated through.  Place 2 manicotti or 3 shells on each serving plate.  Spoon sauce over shells.  Makes 6 servings.

Cooked Chicken Choices

When a recipe calls for cooked chicken, you can purchase a package of frozen diced cooked chicken, or purchase a deli-roasted chicken.  A cooked chicken will yield 1 ½ to 2 cups boneless chopped meat.  If you have more time, you can poach chicken breasts.  For 2 cups cubed cooked chicken, in a large skillet place 12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breasts and 1 ½ cups water.  Bring to boiling; reduce heat.  Cover and simmer for 12 to 14 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink.  Drain well.  Cut up the chicken.

Nutrition Facts per serving:

Total Fat 14 g; saturated fat 7 g; calories 318; cholesterol 76 mg; sodium 291 mg; carbohydrate 24 g; fiber 1 g; protein 23 g

Post a Comment

*
* (will not be published)