27 pounds down! (Day 79)

God is good! Back on track and the scale is showing it! 27 pounds gone for good ... yahoo! I just got through with my two miles today. Took yesterday off 'cause I had done four miles the day before. Not all at one time ... my goodness, no! Two miles before work and two miles after work. I've done that a couple times this week. And you know, the two miles before work is always easier than the two miles after. I'm definitely a morning person.

I thought it was time for some more pictures so here's a nice little recipe I whipped up: Sweet Potato and Apple Salad (recipe below). It is so yummy and good for you too with wonderful antioxidants from sweet potatoes, nice crunchy celery and apples (an apple a day, you know ... it's true!) and, for added sweetness, some currants (rich in many phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, essential fatty acids and minerals) tossed with a sweet, slightly tart dressing.

Another "sweet" thing about these potatoes is that they are a great source of vitamins A (in the form of beta carotene) and C. Since these nutrients are also anti-inflammatory, they can be helpful in reducing the severity of inflammatory conditions such as asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and even eczema. The latter is a condition I suffer with much, especially during the fall/winter.

Sweet Potato and Apple Salad

Ingredients:
10 oz. sweet potatoes (cooked and cooled)
8 oz. apple
1 celery stalk
2 Tbsp. currants (can substitute raisins)

3 Tbsp. fat free mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. lemon juice (fresh is best)
8 drops liquid stevia (or sweetener of choice to taste)

Directions:
Mix together the mayonnaise, lemon juice and sweetener and set aside. Cut the cooked and cooled sweet potatoes into cubes. Dice the apple and celery. Toss all together with the currants and the dressing and enjoy! Makes 4 servings.

Nutritional info:
122 calories; .3 gram fat; 29 gram carbs; 4 gram fiber; 2 gram protein; 124 mg. sodium