Ani Phyo 15 Day Fat Blast Review: Day 12

Day 12

Due to limitations set by the publishing company, I am not able to post the recipes from the book. If you are unable to support Ani in purchasing her book, please utilize your public library!

I had breakfast and my morning snack(around 10a and noon respectively) before I went on a 40 mile bike ride that ended up being 48 miles as I got turned around at one point. I took the afternoon snack with me, saving lunch for later. 

Breakfast

Orange Vanilla Shake
3 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

*I used 1/2 tsp of each wheat grass and spirulina- next time I will only do 3/4 tsp of each as it overpowered the orange. I also added stevia.

I think that if this shake were made without the spirulina or wheatgrass that it would actually be quite good. As it is however, if you include one or both, keep it minimal as either will easily overtake the flavor of the orange. I would also suggest using orange juice instead of water if you can- ei- if you have matcha powder.

Morning Snack

Peach Crumble
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

*As you can see in the picture I didn't read far enough ahead in the recipe, so I just put the crumble on top and mixed it a bit.  I only used one peach- it was a good size. Use your own judgement on how much peach to use.

This is an awesome recipe and a great one to use for company who eat traditionally. If you have a dehydrator it would be even better warmed for a bit and then topped with some raw ice cream! Oh, yum... ice cream....

Lunch that became Dinner

Italian Salad
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

* I used the capers and skipped the nutritional yeast. I also used dried oregano- 1 tsp.

This is an excellent salad. It would be awesome with some chips for scooping! But plain is just as good! I am an olive fiend. I added many more olives after I took the picture and ate a bit. Oh, I tried to get fresh but the Krogers near my house doesn't have an antipasto bar so I used canned. 

Afternoon Snack that became Lunch

Curried Zucchini Cucumber Soup
4 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

*I love garlic almost as much as I love olives so I doubled the amount of garlic, added a pinch of cayenne, and doubled the curry powder- I like curry and it needed a boost. I only used 1/2 tbsp of miso.

When I first tasted this soup, it wasn't that great but after riding my bike for 3 hours it was really good. I don't know if it's because I was hungry, or if it just had time to meld flavors. I think it's the latter. It really wasn't bad!

Dinner- pre- dinner really

Marinated Mushrooms in Lettuce Wraps
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

*I accidently used zucchini in place of the cucumber.

White miso is SO MUCH BETTER than red miso. If I had known how much the difference was going to be- I don't know I would have done some thing dramatic. Let me know what I would have done- I'm too tired to figure it out. Anyhow, I was irked that I had to get the white miso for only this recipe but I did and I am so glad that I did because- now I know.
I had read somewhere previously that the darker the color of the miso the more intense the flavor. Boy were they right. I will be using white miso from now on. 

Try all the recipes that I hated because of the miso-- like the miso soup from yesterday-- with WHITE miso. Let me know how they turn out will ya?! I would love to know!

After I had this, I was still hungry so I made the salad that was supposed to be my lunch and after that I was full. And sleepy.

Overall a good day :) 

Ani Phyo 15 Day Fat Blast Review: Day 11

Day 11

Due to limitations set by the publishing company, I am not able to post the recipes from the book. If you are unable to support Ani in purchasing her book, please utilize your public library!

It's hard to believe that this is the last 5 days, by Tuesday this will be over! I am so thankful for doing this because now I have a better understanding of how to balance meals to keep the weight off- besides not eating processed carbs! LOL!

Breakfast

Green Grapefruit Smoothie
3 of 5-- my personal rating

*I used 1 tbsp each of spirulina and wheatgrass and 2 tbsp cilantro. I also added stevia.

I rated this smoothie a 3 because with the super power powders it is VERY earthy. It's basically like eating grass. Now I know the other day I was singing wheatgrass's praises but it has to fit the flavors of the shake. Now, if the powders were not included or reduced a bit the shake's flavors would be balanced better.  As it is, if you use everything,  the grapefruit and lime are secondary flavors and the cilantro just adds to the earthy flavor. 

Morning Snack

Mint and Basil Tropical Fruit Salad
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

*I used 1/2 tsp maca and instead of fresh basil I used dried. My basil plant is pathetic this year- it didn't overwinter very well.

I was almost finished with this salad before I realized that I forgot to add my banana! I kept it separate so it wouldn't get gross in the container since I made it yesterday. 

Lunch

Shredded Sesame Salad with Orange Ginger Vinaigrette
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

While very good, I think there is a little too much seaweed but perhaps that is because I have too little bowl!! I can't mix without spilling! LOL! The dressing for this is really awesome!

Afternoon Snack

Curried Cilantro Cucumber Soup
4 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

*I didn't see the part where it says to peel the cucumber-- oops!

I found this soup to be quite hot. I think if I were to make it again I would reduce the cayenne a bit and add in mango. I ate this in the car while running errands before work-- forgot to take a picture sorry! It was curry colored!

Dinner

Celery Almond Pate
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

*I used dill and paprika. I also used half of the miso recommended, but it needed a little salt.

Since I made this yesterday it had a chance to allow the flavors to blend a bit more than if I had eaten it directly. IT WAS AWESOME! I am sorry this post is getting published so late- but I had to work last night and I got home a few minutes ago. 

Ani Phyo 15 Day Fat Blast Review: Day 10

Day 10

Due to limitations set by the publishing company, I am not able to post the recipes from the book. If you are unable to support Ani in purchasing her book, please utilize your public library! 


Wow, I can hardly believe that it is day ten. Perhaps that is because I got 2 hours of sleep before being called in for a work emergency. Drove an hour to get there, emergency lasted two hours. Went to the store and came home. Forgot the celery :(

I find it amazing how some people get up at 5 or 6 in the morning, work out, run errands, etc., before going to work. It was really interesting to see all the different walks of life this morning. I admit, I have a hard time getting up before 7a and most nights I stay up till about 12 or 1a, which is not conducive to getting up at 7. You Rock Morning People!!

Breakfast(2:45 A)

Pear Lime Ginger Shake
4 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

*I used 2 limes as they were smaller and skipped the green tea due to the early hour. (Hopefully I can take a little nap since I'm not "hopped" up on caffeine!")

Due to the early hour and my need to leave as quickly as possible, I did not take a picture. Truthfully, it looked like yesterday's morning shake-- light yellow. I also couldn't taste the lime that much. I could taste the pear, but the pineapple is what came through the most.

Morning Snack

Watermelon Grapefruit Salad
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

I found this salad to be different but good. A twist on plain watermelon the grapefruit, mint and scallions go extremely well with each other. I couldn't really taste the jalapeno. My watermelon wasn't super sweet but I think the sweeter the melon the better this will taste! I ate it while I was making all of my meals for tomorrow. Hours spent in the kitchen... I am really looking forward to not spending so much time in the kitchen as I will be able to make food in bulk after this is over :)

Chiffonade: stack leaves one on top of the other and then roll. Thinly slice roll.

Lunch 

Zucchini Hummus
4 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

*I ran out of cashews making the dressing the other day. They are a similar composition so I used about 1/2 C of the dressing instead of cashew nuts. This caused it to be a bit more runny.

Overall this dish is good, very filling. I would try to make it again as mine turned out more runny than it's supposed to be. I do miss the tahini flavor that is normally in hummus.

Afternoon Snack

Coconut Miso Soup
2 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

I was tempted to give this recipe a 1 star rating but because I didn't have to hold my nose and I didn't mind the wakame I am giving it a 2.
To me this tasted (and looked) very much like beef broth. I am really looking forward to dinner!

Dinner

Mixed Vegetable Seaweed with Sesame Dipping Sauce
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

Julienne: to cut into matchsticks.

I made this and took it with me as I had to work last night. Without the sauce it was rather bland but was really good with the sauce. Because waited to eat it, the nori were wet. I think it would be better eaten right after making so that the nori wouldn't have over powered the veggies.


I found myself really craving chocolate this evening- I didn't give in!

Ani Phyo 15 Day Fat Blast Review: Day 9

Day 9

Due to limitations set by the publishing company, I am not able to post the recipes from the book. If you are unable to support Ani in purchasing her book, please utilize your public library!

Today was a busy day. I have a tendency to try to accomplish too much in one day and that is what ended up happening. I got everything done but at the cost of my temper. By the end of the day I was weary, grouchy, and not wanting to spend any more time in the kitchen.

Breakfast

Pineapple Cilantro Shake
4 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

*I just brewed the tea normally an d I added stevia.

I found this shake to be very light and crisp. When making in the future I will add a half cup more pineapple to fill out the flavor a bit more and reduce the cilantro a bit. This time I added wheatgrass and maca powder as I went for a 32 mile round trip bike ride to the library and back.

Lunch

Cabbage Salad with Cucumber Miso Dressing
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

* For the dressing I only used 1 tbsp of miso.

This salad is great! I think that the miso level was just right (1 tbsp instead of 2). It has a very asian feel to it from the miso and toasted sesame oil mix. I finished this in the car while going to visit a dear friend and running errands.

Morning Snack Turned Evening Snack

Cucumber Guacamole
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

* I added a bit more garlic and kept my cucumber separate to use as chips.

This is a great snack dish but not hugely filling.

When I got home this evening I made the Guacamole but wasn't filled enough so I proceeded to make dinner only to find that for every recipe in the dinner column remaining, I was missing at least one ingredient! I did find that I could make the Tomato Bisque but I was so fed up and tired and all I wanted was something to eat, that I made a tried and true shake that I new wasn't going to turn out to be some mediocre meal that I would have to eat. 

Dinner

Blue Moon 2.0 Shake-- modified
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating
Original created by Penni Shelton

1 C blueberries, frozen or fresh
1 banana
3/4 C orange juice
3/4 C almond milk
1 tbsp flax meal
1 tsp minced fresh ginger
1/4 tsp cinnamon
stevia to taste
4 ice cubes

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.


I am going to the store in the morning :)

Ani Phyo 15 Day Fat Blast Review: Day 8

Day 8

Due to limitations set by the publishing company, I am not able to post the recipes from the book.
If you are unable to support Ani in purchasing her book, please utilize your public library!

Hurrah!! I've made it halfway and I have lost 3 more pounds!! I am now down to 129!
(I started at 135)

So I made the mistake of staying up way too late last night (3a) after I took a three hour nap yesterday afternoon because I was so sleepy. It took me a bit to get going but I just have to rave over how awesome wheatgrass is.

It. Is. ahMAZING!!

This is the first time I have had it in a smoothie and I before trying wheatgrass I thought spirulina was good but wheatgrass blows it out of the water it grew in. After drinking this smoothie I felt so energized and awake, I felt like I could take on anything with a smile!
Wheatgrass = best food friend 

Breakfast

Vanilla Blueberry Smoothie
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

*I added 1 tbsp each of wheatgrass and spirulina powder and used the hemp and flaxmeal for the protein.

This smoothie tastes very healthy. Thank goodness for stevia! The powders and flaxmeal I used give it a powdery texture, not gritty, just powdery. But I'll take it for all the health benefits of the spirulina, wheatgrass, and hemp! In the future I think I would add a banana, to give it a little more body and counteract powderiness as you can't really taste the blueberries, why not!

Morning Snack

Red, White, and Blue Salad
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

* I used 1/2 tsp maca powder and I didn't use cacao nibs or bee pollen. 

I was preparing to do this diet I needed to stay conservative in my spending, so I eliminated getting the cacao nibs and bee pollen as they are only used in a couple recipes. The salad was great without them and I bet it is even better with them.

Evening Snack

Kreamy Cucumber Soup
4 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

*  I used spinach instead of romaine, used 1.5 tsp of miso, I did add the whole 1/8 tsp of chipotle, and I added 1 tbsp of capers. 

After I blended this soup and tasted it, I found it to be missing that last thing that would really make it. I tried the capers and those helped but it still is only a four star soup in my opinion.

So I bet your wondering, "What happened to lunch?" Yeah, me too. It worked out that since I got up late (10am) after staying up late and then going to the gym(12pm) that by the time I got home I had my morning snack (3pm) and then proceded to try to make lunch but not able to as it requires that the cashews soak about 6 hours. LOL! So, I made the evening snack of Kreamy Cucumber Soup instead (5pm) and I had the Kreamy Chipotle Salad for dinner. "What about the dinner on the menu?" you ask, well, that is going to be used for my lunch meal on day 15. (Day 15 I get to pick whatever I want to eat from everything I have already made- or neglected to make!) 

Lunch (or in this case dinner)

Kreamy Chipotle Salad
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

*I used 1 1/2 tsp of miso

This salad is great! I really like the dressing. It's a little hot but not overwhelming. A good balance.

For a small post dinner snack I made a half portion of Blue Moon 2.0 with spirulina- Yum!

Ani Phyo 15 Day Fat Blast Review: Day 7

Day 7

Due to limitations set by the publishing company, I am not able to post the recipes from the book. If you are unable to support Ani in purchasing her book, please utilize your public library!

Today is my last day on Phase 2, tomorrow will begin Phase 3 and be the half way point on the plan. Phase 3 which incorporates more thermogenic ingredients many of which I have already been using. I have lost a good bit of weight so far and am pleased by the results. I plan on going to the gym tomorrow, so I will weigh myself and see just how much I have lost. (I don't own a scale as I find it to be too pressuring. My clothes not fitting is all the pressure I need!)

I get to sleep in tomorrow, I am so excited! Sleep, oh how I have missed thee!
It was such a beautiful day today, I wish I hadn't been so sleepy or I would have rode my bike to the library. Hmm... maybe I should do that tomorrow instead of they gym! Haha, I guess we'll see what tomorrow brings :)

Breakfast

Matcha Shake
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating


*I used both the spirulina and the maca powder. I added stevia. Without stevia this recipe would be at two stars.

I had a bunch of errands to run today and ended up drinking two of these before I came home and had lunch  around 4pm. 

Morning Snack

Pecan Candy Apple 
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

*Due to tart apples I added a little agave.

I ended up having this for desert after my icky soup instead of mid-morning. I would have had it in the morning but I ran out of vanilla- of coarse! :) I used apples from my family's orchard so they were a bit tart. To counteract said tartness agave was employed. Overall this dish is very satisfying! So satisfying that I ate it before I remembered that I needed to take a picture! Sorry!

Lunch

Corn and Basil Mesclun Salad
5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating


This salad was delicious! Fresh and bright. I used the Apple Cider Vinaigrette dressing.

Rocket Fuel #4

Thermogenic foods: Fat burning foods- Hurray! These foods actually increase the number of calories you use with no extra effort required on your part.
"Eat the right foods, and they will actually speed up your metabolism."

Catechins are a flavanol, specifically of the group called EGCG (epigallocatchin gallate). Foods containing catechins help burn abdominal fat.

Thermogenic Foods:

Black Pepper

Caffine*

Calcium rich foods: blackstrap molasses, collard, mustard, and turnip greens, sesame seeds,   and spinach

Cayenne

Grapefruit

Ginger

Green Tea**

Ice Water

Lean protein: buckwheat groats, brown rice protein powder, and seeds

Turmeric

Vitamin D rich mushrooms, including shiitake mushrooms

*"Researchers found that a higher calcium and vitamin D intake at the morning meal significantly increased diet-induced thermogenesis over hte span of the next two meals, as well.

**Apples, blackberries,strawberries, nuts, avocados, plums, onions nad rasberries all have EGCGs, too, but in very small amounts. It's unknown whether the trace amounts of catechins in these foods have a true thermogenic effect, but as I said earlier, it can't hurt to eat these great foods for their other health benefits alone." (pg. 44 of Ani's Fat Blast.)

Afternoon Snack

Smooth Operator
2 of 5 stars-- my personal rating


*I used 1 tsp of garlic and 1 tsp of miso.

Designed after V8 juice, I was hoping that it would be similar in color and flavor. Sadly this shake was rather bland except for the ginger which helped.

Dinner

Souper Supper
3 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

*I actually used both tbsp of miso- it seemed like a lot but I went with it. I also used the 1/2 jalapeno pepper and a pinch of black pepper.

Is it just me, or are most of the Fat Blast soups lousy? I have had some really good raw soups before- one of which she made- her Corn chowder is excellent-- but only one of these hit the par to where I would ever want to make them again! That is the  Coconut Tomato Soup. To each their own I guess!

This soup uses too much miso in my opinion and greatly reminds me of the Bok Choy soup. If the miso was reduced, and the cucumber and dill increased I think it would be rather good. Maybe nix the miso all together and just put in a couple tsps of apple cider vinegar. If anyone dares to try this please let me know how it comes out. I don't know that I dare because then I would have to rant about myself! LOL! :)

Ani Phyo 15 Day Fat Blast Review: Day 6

Day 6

Due to limitations set by the publishing company, I am not able to post the recipes from the book. If you are unable to support Ani in purchasing her book, please utilize your public library!

Today is a Sunday and I generally end up running around a bit trying to get more accomplished before my husband and I leave for church than there is time for, and today was no exception. The good news was that the salad that I made for lunch before leaving-- the Asian Cabbage Salad, is very efficient and quick! Not to mention delicious!

Breakfast

Chocolate Banana Mylk Shake

5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

Sorry the picture is a bit dark! I forgot to take it after I had already consumed half of it- I was hungry!

Morning Snack

Pineapple Coconut Salad

5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

This was again a bit surprising as I wouldn't have thought to pair ginger with pineapple and coconut but the result was excellent! I will definitely be making this again!

Lunch

Asian Cabbage Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette

5 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

This salad is delicious! And very filling! I couldn't finish all of it because it is so big! The one serving makes enough for two people, is simple to make, and oops! I just saw that I forgot to add the nutritional yeast! That's what I get for making things in a hurry! Well, I will be sure to add it to what is left!

Afternoon Snack

Mango Mint Shake

4 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

* I added a little stevia and agave to this and 2 ice cubes.

I was a little disappointed in how this turned out. If I were to make it again I would add an additional 1/2 C of mango to punch up the flavor.

Dinner

Red Pepper Soup

3 of 5 stars-- my personal rating

*I used a little less of the chipotle powder and reduced the miso to 2 tsp.

I was a bit disappointed with this soup- I had hoped that it would be smooth and sweet. It probably would be more so if it had only called for a pinch of the chipotle powder. As it is, it is quite hot and while edible, I would not make it again.