Hungry Girl!

When I was doing my diet craze of 2008 {I lost about 15 lbs} and got back to my college weight but didn't keep it off :( I was working out 2x per day, 4 days a week and keeping a food diary. I did want to lose weight and feel better but it was also about proving to myself that I could do it.  I was super strict for about 6 months and then I fell off the wagon.  When you do something so extreme, it's really hard to keep it up for the long run.  So, needless to say, I don't keep a food diary anymore or work out twice a day. It's just too much.

Now, my strategy is to work out 3x a week. If we can get a bonus walk in on the weekend, even better! But, instead of exercising like crazy, I have been trying to eat better. Enter: Hungry Girl. I found her on an blog sometime in 2008. She advocates making little changes instead of big drastic ones and I think I agree.   She basically makes over other unhealthy recipes, makes a few {sometimes a lot} of tweaks and makes them healthier. I like! One trick I learned is instead of using oil and eggs in a cake mix, use some pure pumpkin. Even works for brownies ! Genius, right? 

Hungry Girl {Lisa Lillen} and I!

I bought her first cook book and even got to meet her when she came to Kirkland a few years back. You can sign up for her daily emails {they have good recipes, but sometimes clog your inbox}. Yay, Hungry Girl! You rock! Here is a recipe for a Hungry Girl red velvet shake.