Might try this tonight.

Steak au Poivre Serves: 4 Details: This is our South Beach Diet version of a favorite recipe. Ingredients: 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed black or mixed peppercorns 4 beef tenderloin steaks (4 ounces each), trimmed of all visible fat Olive oil cooking spray 1/4 onion, chopped 2/3 cup green bell pepper strips 2/3 cup red bell pepper strips 2/3 cup yellow bell pepper strips 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon beef-flavored bouillon granules 1/2 teaspoon ground paprika 1/3 cup water 1/3 cup fat-free evaporated milk

Enlarge Image Nutritional Information: 204 calories 7 g total fat (3 g sat) 59 mg cholesterol 8 g carbohydrate 21 g protein 1 g fiber 72 mg sodium

Directions: In a small bowl, combine the crushed garlic and 1 teaspoon of the peppercorns. Press a small amount of the mixture onto each side of the steaks. Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with olive oil cooking spray over medium heat. Arrange the steaks in the skillet so that they do not overlap. Cook the steaks, turning frequently, for about 10 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted in the center of a steak registers 160°F for medium. Remove the steaks to a serving platter and keep warm. Clean the skillet, coat with cooking spray, and place over medium heat. Add the onion, bell peppers, and minced garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Spoon the mixture over the steaks. In a small bowl, combine the bouillon granules, paprika, water, milk, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon peppercorns. Pour into the skillet and cook, stirring often, over medium heat until the mixture is reduced to 1/2 cup. Spoon the sauce over each steak and serve immediately.

Daily Tip from southbeach

Diet Tip

The Secret to Satisfying Your Appetite (Hint: It's Not What You Think)

Lean protein is a core part of your meal plan on the South Beach Diet, and there's a good reason for that: Lean protein satisfies your hunger and keeps your blood sugar levels steady. Plus, lean protein allows you to maintain muscle mass while losing weight, which keeps your metabolism running at full speed. Cutting back on protein during weight loss, on the other hand, contributes to a loss of muscle mass and a slower metabolism.

When it comes to protein, the best choices include lean cuts of beef (such as eye of round), ground beef (sirloin, lean, and extra lean), tenderloin, top loin, and top round, as well as skinless turkey and chicken breast, pork loin and pork tenderloin, fish and shellfish, and tofu and soy-based meat alternatives. Protein sources that are high in saturated fat should be avoided. These include brisket, liver, rib steaks (like prime rib), chicken and turkey pieces with the skin (as well as dark meat), duck, and goose.

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While I rarely eat them, RIBS are my absolute favorite dish ever. How terrible I know.

Wii Fit

After putting in approximately an hour in on the wii fit this morning I can honestly say I am impressed. I really thought it was going to be mostly funny stuff but even the games definitely a work out, not to mention that I am too competitive for my own good and if I noticed Scott had a higher score than I did on something I did it over and over until I beat his (Lol).

It really brings notice to posture, not surprising though. You get a little screen (sometimes) to focus on where you should be balanced, also balancing where you should be gives bonuses in some of the games of speed and what not.

What I thought was the most interesting so far from what I have done our our Wii Fit is the second hula hoop game[you should be able to unlock it fairly quick] is rather difficult. We get used to doing things one way all the time with our body. If I was going to grab a hula hoop I would rotate left. The first objective for your 3 minute work out is to roatate right (while catching hoops as well). When you catch a hoop you kind of have to keep it going while leaning to catch it. I had a hard time doing it on the right side. My left side score was about 100 rotations higher.

Anyway, after you have finished the two minute and half hula hoop sessions. It tallys up your total and it shows all the rotations your hips made (keep in mind you are basically standing on a giant sensor that can also tell your weight :X lol). My left rotations were neat and little. My right rotations were odd shapes and often varying.

Cardio is interesting. Basically you run in place with the wii mote in your pocket/hand (you do not stand on the fit board for this). I think it mostly gauges your arm swing to measure a trot/speed for you. You have to pace it though. I was not actually sure what I was doing, but I beat Scotts score.

The next thing I did was Tight rope walking. Oh man, my first time I fell off the rope. Thank goodness it was fake Haha. So, anyway, it was definitely about balance -- so for someone like me who sometimes just randomly falls over for no good reason it was pretty difficult. As I said, my first time I lost balance and fell. My second time, my score actually counted and I beat Scotts score (see a trend? lol).

I can definitely feel my abdomen burn right now. I would say if you have a wii and you want to do work outs that are fun and competive (challenge your SO or self). It is definitely worth the 89$ if you can find it.

I would suggest checking your local gamestop, that is where we found ours. Every Walmart, Target and Best Buy we have gone to is always sold out.

Set yourself some realistic goals. I set mine for 3lbs in 2 weeks...I am not sure how realisitc that actually is considering water can make your weight fluxuate that much in a day. But I am going for it anyway.

-cheers and goodluck

Here we go!

The regimen of choice this time is South Beach.

Scott and I are going to be starting with the allowed foods this week (actually, more like when the deli ham is gone).

I am working on my super fun shopping list.

Phase 1 Guidelines

Breakfast

Protein: Quantity is not limited. See choices
Vegetables: Minimum 1/2 cup. See choices
Fruit: None
Starch: None
Milk: None
Fat: 1 tsp mayonnaise or oil (optional) See choices

Lunch

Protein: Quantity is not limited. See choices
Vegetables: Minimum 2 cups. See choices
Fruit: None
Starch: None
Milk: None
Fat: 1 Tbsp mayonnaise or oil. See choices

Dinner

Protein: Quantity is not limited. See choices
Vegetables: Minimum 2 cups. See choices
Fruit: None
Starch: None
Milk: None
Fat: 1 Tbsp mayonnaise or oil. See choices

Snack

Snacks are required. Choose from the Protein or Vegetable list, or eat nuts from the Fats list.


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I enjoy many of the foods listed for phase 1. What is difficult to me is eating veggies at EVERY meal. So, if you have any suggestions on how to incorporate this, especially for a picky veggie eater AT breakfast -- please make a suggestion, I certainly would appreciate it!

Wii Fit

We purchased our Wii Fit today, finally...after having quite difficulty finding it in stock. I am super excited to start playing it and working on Yoga. Let the good times begin!

Cheat

Junk food is still junk food, even if it says low-carb.

Cutting Back on "Bad" Carbs

Article from Allrecipes.com with excellent suggestions/alternatives for eating more healthy.

Chinese food is probably one of the biggest hurdles when it comes to dieting for my husband and I. When you order, the meal is generally quite massive and could easily be shared or split into several meals. If you are not used to limiting your food intake, it can feel overwhelming to try limiting something so delicious. For this reason, when we do have Chinese food we seldom eat at a buffet style place but rather a place that serves dishes or we order to take home/delivery.

2. At Chinese restaurants, ask for brown rice, and limit how much you eat to one cup. In fact, some Chinese restaurants have started offering to swap a vegetable for the rice in their combo dinners, knowing that many people are on low-carb diets. At home, always cook brown rice instead of white. Brown rice hasn't been processed and still has its high-fiber nutrients.