Seeing as how harvesting season in coming up fast and my tomato plants are bursting with fruit (they are still green.. but there are just a TON of ‘em out there!) – I’ve been searching for good recipes to use my tomatoes in.. but still keeping in my diet plan, of course. I give you:

Grilled Shrimp with feta and tomatoes

Vinaigrette:
2 T red-wine vinegar
2 t dijon mustard
finely grated lemon zest
salt (or salt sub) and pepper to taste
3 T extra virgin olive oil

3 lb large shrimp (cleaned)
finely grated lemon zest AND juice (from 1 large lemon)
1/4 c olive oil
2 t dried oregano
salt pepper
1 head Radicchio (2 if small)-outer leaves discarded inner leaves separated rinsed and dried.
2 pounds ripe plum tomatoes…cut into 8 pieces each
8 oz fresh feta cheese cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/2 c whole mint leaves

prep vinaigrette:
whisk vinegar, mustard, salt pepper. while whisking constantly drizzle in the oil until thickened. set aside (makes 1/3 c)

toss shrimp, zest, juice, olive oil, oregano salt pepper in large bowl. Let rest for 15 minutes, toss once.

Prep grill
Thread onto metal skewers. grill over high heat no more than 2 minutes a side.
Place in large bowl
Trim the tough white bottom of the raddichios leaves, then add to the shrimp along with the tomatoes, cheese and mint. Toss with the vinaigrette and serve in large decorative bowl

Info:
cals: 270
carbs:8gm
protein:33gm
fat:11gm

Thought I’d would join in the Thursday Thirteen fun this week.

This week’s Thirteen covers the various different diet programs out on the market today. Have any of you tried any of these? How successful (or not?) were you?

1. ChangeOneDiet.comWith ChangeOne, you don’t have to give up the foods you love. You don’t have to learn to like tofu. You don’t have to eat dry, tasteless snacks. And you don’t have to toss out everything in your fridge or pantry. You just have to change one eating habit at a time, starting with breakfast. Then it’s on to lunch, snacks, dinner, and beyond as you watch the weight melt away. Simple. Smart. Sensible. We’ll guide you through it, step by step.
2. NutriSystem – the new weight loss program that’s based on the Glycemic Index and is also rich in good carbohydrates, while still low in fat. It’s the carb answer you’ve been looking for!
3. Weight Watchers – For over 40 years, Weight Watchers has helped millions of people around the world to lose weight! Find out about our history and philosophy.
4. Herbalife – The ShapeWorks™ Program is an exciting new way to lose weight and feel great. Based on cutting-edge weight-loss science, the ShapeWorks™ Program can help you get the results you want.
5. Body For Life – Eat a combination of lean protein and healthy carbohydrates every few hours throughout the day to speed up fat loss and maintain stable energy levels. For best results, eat six times a day.
6. Jenny Craig – Jenny Craig’s programs are tailored to meet your individual needs.
7. The Zone at Home – America’s most convenient food delivery service, bringing a results-oriented, unique and convenient eating experience directly to your doorstep. Whether you are interested in weight loss or improved health, Zone Diet At Home™ is the most convenient and tasty way to achieve your goals.
8. South Beach Diet – Start losing weight, eating delicious foods, and feeling great about your South Beach body
9. Sonoma Diet – From a lush California valley comes the latest and most flavorful version of the health-promoting Mediterranean diet.
10. Detox Diet – This is a sample two week detox diet plan that supports detox by increasing elimination from the body, cleansing the colon, enhancing circulation to clear toxic substances, eliminating foods from the diet that require detoxification or are allergenic, and providing nutrients to support and protect the liver which is the main organ involved in detox.
11. Atkins – The new look of nutrition
12. E-Diets.com – eDiets.com offers a variety of plans for weight management, healthy living, fitness, recipes and support.
13. Other? Have a diet plan that worked for you but isn’t listed here? Please share in the comments!

For me? The first time I lost the most weight ever, 75lbs! I used the Herbalife program. It fit my busy lifestyle, at the time – but not something I can continue for life.

The second time I used Body for Life and lost 25lbs – - this is the plan for me. IT’s a full and entire lifestyle change and has forever changed the way I look at myself, my food and my fitness.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

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Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss is a book I picked up recently and am in the process of reading this week. Of course anything that says ’simple plan for weight loss’ usually gets my guard up – - but this book deals with metabolism, something of which I have – - but a very very slow one, so I’m interested in learning all I can about how to deal with it.

A Review from Publisher’s Weekly:

Physician Hyman (Ultra-Prevention: The 6 Week Plan That Will Make You Healthy for Life) delivers plenty of scientifically grounded information about weight loss myths, effective individualized strategies centered around the theme of stoking metabolism and a detailed six-week plan—complete with menus and recipes—that “will help you lose 11 to 21 pounds” in those first six weeks. The data and prescription the author provides are far from simple, and results, if attained, are not automatic. But dogged readers will come away from the book with a thorough understanding of dieting principles, such as the timing of meals, portion size, glycemic load, phytonutrient index, the weight loss benefits of relaxation and the optimized functioning of the thyroid. There are straightforward principles buried in the text, such as “eat fruits and vegetables” and “move your body,” plus tips for eating out (e.g., “don’t be afraid to ask for substitutions in a dish,” “request a ‘crudités platter’… instead of the breadbasket” and “order a light drink”); adhering to these tips alone should prove beneficial. The opportunity for readers to remember and apply any of the more involved information is a possible positive side effect.