It’s barely 9am and the bacon slabs are cooking in the kitchen for the family. But does this mean I gotta eat them with my own breakfast?

Hell naw! The bacon slabs are going on my Reverse Food Journal. But what the heck is THAT?

I hereby authorize you to get a little greedy today. It’s Thanksgiving, after all. But using my Reserve Food Journal system will help you give yourself some credit (a little pat on the back, if you will) for NOT stuffing your stomachs to overfilled capacity. Log the foods you say “no” to and DON’T eat.

Try it today. Those bacon slabs are the first thing on my Reserve Food Journal list. I’d rather save my holiday calorie-fest for sweet potato pie slices.

Hey guys. Some of you remember when I bought my Ninja Kitchen System, you asked for my opinion on it. Here’s my video demonstration of the Ninja’s cool features (you’ll even see how I whip up my daily Shakeology). Ninja is having a holiday sale right now. Earlier in the year I paid $159.95 + the cost of shipping for my Ninja, but right now it’s on sale for $103.85 with FREE shipping.

Here’s my demonstration video…

I am NOT a Ninja affiliate and I do not gain monetarily by telling you about this deal. I just envy you right now, because you have the chance to snag it for waaay cheaper than I did. This is the only link where I see the sale price. If you go straight to the main web page, you might NOT see the discounted price, so use the sale link. I don’t know how long the sale price is good for, so don’t wait if you’re thinking about getting it for yourself or as a holiday gift. Enjoy!  

I interrupt my regularly posted Taste Tests to bring you a brand new dish called “Get Into My Food Trap!”  No foods of pure nastiness shall be discussed right now – only the good ‘n tasty stuff that I’ve been chewing on behind closed doors. And now it’s time you knew about it:

Silver Palate Grain Berry Flakes: If you’re thinking bran cereal is only for the geriatric community with their grandma underpants, dentures and walking canes, go on and think again. There’s no actual berries in this bowl of bran, but the flavor makes up for any type of dehydrated fruit you thought would be included. The flakes are delicate, yet pack a crazy punch of crunch with lovely taste. Grain Berry Bran Flakes have so much swag, you’ll race to snag that last bit of milk for another bowl before your hungry family has a chance to wake up and scrape the crust outta there eyes. They snooze, they loose. They can eat a frozen waffle puck. Or a boiled egg or something.

Calories: 120 for 3/4 cup, Sodium: 180mg, Carbs: 24g, Fiber: 5g, Sugars: 5g, Protein: 6g

Green Giant Broccoli & Cheese Sauce Steamers: I had to read the back of the bag 3 times, because I couldn’t believe the directions were that simple. But, yep, it’s really easy. Just pop the entire bag into the microwave (no stabbing of the bag for venting is required). I cooked the package for 6 minutes, tore it open and ate the whole thing (damn right, I did). I don’t care that the package contains 3 servings. At 45 calories per serving, my stomachs can afford to accommodate all that greediness goodness. There were plenty of broccoli trees (not just a bunch of end-butt pieces like in other frozen broccoli packages). And I’m so glad the cheesiness was not over the top – just the right amount with no excessive globs of cheesy to calorically challenge the booty, thighs and cankles. Check out Green Giant product page for a breakdown of all the Steamers varieties. I’ll be eating more tomorrow.

Calories: 45 per 1/2 cup, Sodium: 200mg, Carbs: 7g, Fiber: 2g, Sugars: 3g, Protein: 6g

Veggie Patch Broccoli Bites with Cheese: Anytime a bacon-toting, carnivorous manly-man (my husband) asks you to throw some more broccoli bites into the oven, you know you’re onto something delicious. It looks like a chicken nugget, but a wee bit larger. Although the cheesiness is an afterthought (you can barely tell it’s in there) these hearty Bites taste great anyway. The breading looks extremely fresh, especially considering you don’t pick these up in the frozen aisle – go snag them out of produce. Husband wanted more. So did I. You can even get fancy and take the Bites to work for microwaving. If you are a fancy person, please give yourself 5,000 bonus points right this very second.

Calories: 160 for 4-pieces, Sodium: 400mg, Carbs: 18g, Fiber: 2g, Sugars, 2g, Protein: 6g

So there ya have it. My latest finds that deserve to get in my food trap over and over again. Try one or try ‘em all. You won’t be disappointed.

This fabulous woman shall remain anonymous, but let’s just call her “Hannah”. Hannah is a longtime Yum Yucky reader (thanks, gurrrl!), and on Tuesday, November 15, 2011, she underwent tummy tuck surgery.

In the past, I thought tummy tucks were only for lazy people looking for a shortcut to slim, but when my own stomachs began to shrink down, I soon realized that tummy tucks are not always about cutting away the fatty parts – it’s about taking care of the problem of loose skin due to weight loss and/or pregnancy. I can relate to Hannah and her decision to undergo tummy tuck surgery for these very reasons. I might even do this myself one day.

Hannah’s Stats

• Age: 53
• Weight: 138 pounds
• Height: 5’6″
• Birthed child-spawns?: Yes

From Hannah: “This is how I justify my decision to have the surgery:  Between April and December 2010 I lost 30 pounds through calorie reduction and exercise. I’ve been maintaining since then. My skin is ruined and saggy, and my belly button is awful. In today’s clothes it is hard to hide that. My stomach skin is going to be stretched from my navel to just above my pubic area. Knowing that bothers me. I’m nervous that the outcome won’t be what I’m looking for (less girth). I’m very nervous about losing and then regaining my fitness progress.”

Hannah’s Pre- and Post-Op Surgery Info

• Pre-op tests: EKG and CBC (Complete Blood Panel)
• Outpatient Surgery Date: 11/15/11
• Cost of surgery: $7,900 (she paid in cash, not financed)
• Post surgery medications: Percocet, Valium, antibiotics and anti-nausea patch.

Hannah’s post-surgery picks in the kitchen:

• Proteins (like Greek yogurt, chicken)
• Fruit
• Lara bars
• Lean Cuisine
• Shakeology

From Hannah: These foods are “all are easy to consume and fix. I usually eat a lot of veggies each day and I’ll have them around, but I think they might take a bunch of energy to consume. I also plan to use Shakeology during my recovery. Many surgery patients complain of constipation after such an event due to pain meds and lack of food and water. I hope Shakeology will help me heal and offset the aforementioned possibility.”

Her pre- and post-surgery concerns: “My main problems with having surgery are: Maybe the money is better used for donations to worthy charities. Maybe I’m vain and I should just be happy with what I’ve been given in life. Maybe when I fix one thing, another will “need fixing”. Maybe 4-6 weeks of reduced ability to exercise will undo all the progress I’ve made and I’ll never regain my current habits.”

What do you think of Hannah’s concerns? Despise Hannah’s reservations to surgery, I’m glad she went through with it and I can’t thank her enough for her courage and generosity in sharing her pictures and story with us. Hannah will be checking back in periodically with more pictures and commentary to keep us posted on her ongoing progress and results.

Would you consider tummy tuck surgery for yourself?

Well, howdie-dooo! I’m so excited about this, guys. Go on and snag a FREE download of my eBook, Yum Yucky’s Guide to Homeopathic Remedies and Natural Cures for Colds, Sinus and Allergy Woes.

I know that title is a mouthful, but this is a really important subject. The weather is getting cold and germs are on the hunt. We’ve gotta stay healthy so we can continue to be bad asses and plug away at our goals with minimal downtime from sickness.

My family has been using homeopathy and natural alternatives for several years now, and it WORKS!

This is what I share in the eBook:

• What is Homeopathy?
• How it’s helped my entire family and why it can help you, too.
• Why it’s more effective than traditional western medicine.
• Details on the specific products my family uses.

For those of you who are wondering about the Sugar Beast eBook release, yes, that’s still on the way. But the Guide to Homeopathic Remedies and Natural Cures is here for you right now, just in time for the icky season of colds, coughs and other germy infestations. I hope you enjoy it!

Click HERE to download the free eBook.