Adventures in Drool:  A personal journey of weight loss

I just finished reading Al Roker’s new book, “Never Goin’ Back; Winning the Weight-loss Battle for Good.”

It’s a great book that I would recommend to anyone who has been struggling with weight loss or even someone who has won the weight loss battle and just needs some inspiration or new recipes going forward.

Roker writes with a brash, loud style – typical of what we see every morning when he delivers his weather reports. His humor, often self-effacing, seems warm and personal throughout the book.

Roker made a promise to his father to lose weight so would be there for his family and children. He eventually decided to go the route of gastric bypass. The book travels through his many ups and downs before Roker makes the ultimate decision that he will be healthy and not go back to Fat Albert as he was known in high school.

That decision is life altering. It really means you are committing to this healthy life forever.

I can relate. Since high school, there has never been a day when I didn’t think about my weight at least once. Every other month or two, I was thinking about going on a diet, or I was on a diet, or I was falling off the wagon of another diet that didn’t work.

I would lose 20 pounds, then gain it back. It was like an old friend; sometimes you lost touch, but sure enough it was back and things were just as they were before.

Roker had similar experiences, and it really draws you into his story because it is so personal. Weight-loss journeys are often very personal, because as I have said before, you never win the battle until you are fully committed.

Everyone makes mistakes now and then. Everyone goes overboard here and there. But, these shortfalls can be corrected, as long as you are committed to a lifelong health plan. Losing weight doesn't happen overnight. And, it doesn't stay off unless you are really committed.

Here's to trying to stay on the right path. Books like Roker's help reinforce those good qualities and reassure us that there is a bright future for us all on this weight-loss journey.

Roker's book also has a lot of great recipes! Here is what I am making this week.

Fresh Vegetable Omelet Muffins

You Will Need:

6 whole eggs

salt and pepper to taste

coconut oil (I will likely use nonstick spray instead)

1-2 cups of desired vegetables (I plan to try red and green peppers with cilantro and maybe tomatoes)

1/4 cup salsa

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Season beaten eggs with salt and pepper. (I will also add dried oregano.)

3. Lightly coat a 6-cup muffin pan with coconut oil (spreading with a paper towel).

4. Divide vegetables among the 6 muffin cups.

5. Fill each cup with egg mixture.

6. Bake for 20-25 minutes until set.

Breakfast is served! I am going to try to make these ahead of time and then just heat them up in the morning.

Here's one more to try for dinner this week.

Bean and Vegetable Pasta (2 servings)

You Will Need:

8 oz. canned white beans

1 onion, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

1 TB dried basil

1 TB extra-virgin olive oil

8 oz. canned tomatoes

1/4 cup bean liquid (from can)

1 tsp. salt

pepper to taste

1/4 pound elbow macaroni (Roker uses rice macaroni)

Directions:

1. Drain beans, reserving liquid.

2. Saute onions, carrots, oregano and basil in olive oil.

3. Add tomatoes, bean liquid, sea salt and pepper.

4. Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes, until veggies are tender.

5. Add the drained beans and simmer for another 10 minutes.

6. Meanwhile, cook and drain macaroni.

7. Toss cooked pasta with more olive oil and then mix with the bean sauce and serve.

Enjoy!