Basement to gym. Beginning stages.

My 20 year old, Beth, has flown the nest. What I have been working on lately is turning the basement(Her old room) into a playroom/gym/family room. It is going to take a lot of work doing it, but I am determined. I am hoping that doing so, will light a fire under my ass to work out. Here are some before and during pictures.

The dark dreary purple my 20 year old painted the basement.(Before picture)

Some hideous graffiti my 18 yr old son drew and a chalkboard my daughter spray painted on the wall.

More graffiti, compliments of my 18 year old son. The darker color on the right side of the left wall, is the color the room will be.

This room, used to be my “Teen Cave” when I was 19. The most graffiti I did, was the following picture:

This graffiti I did 22 years ago, is less than an inch across and hidden on a rafter.

I am realizing that teenagers today are so much less respectful, than back when I was a teen. I wouldn’t have even THOUGHT about drawing on the walls..My dad would have kicked my ass!

Anyway, got 2.5 of the 4 walls done. I also have to move some stuff Beth left behind and clean the floor.

Here is the first picture I will put up, upon completion of the room.

This is my brother, Roger, who passed away November 29, 2013. He is my inspiration for working out and getting healthy. I made this picture with a quote from his facebook page.

I’d like some feedback on maybe some good motivational quotes to print out and put on the walls. Please reply in comments with some good ones you have come across. Thank you. 🙂

Dessert First..

So this is what I’ve eaten so far today.

Mocha Frappe

One South Beach Peanut Butter Cookie

I am sure these pictures are getting repetitious and boring. But hey. They are what’s going into my body. Be glad I am not posting what comes out. 😉

Moderation is key…

My meals today have been a bit discombobulated. What I called my late lunch, ended up being my dinner. Regardless, I had a major sweet craving this evening. I decided to try Black Bean Brownies from the South Beach Diet Super Quick Cookbook.

This is the serving size of the Black Bean Brownies. I only ate one.

The brownies were hideous. I am talking my 8 year old said to me, “These things are horrible, what are you trying to do, poison us??” My 5 year old didn’t mind them. I had one of the three I was allowed to have. They were moist, but the consistency was different. They were not chocolately enough and were hardly sweet at all.

I am going to leave them on the stove, in hopes my 18 year old son will decide to come home and scarf them down, not realizing how horrible they are. Or…if he comes home after partying with his friends, perhaps he will have the munchies and will think these are off the chain. Who knows. It’s debatable.

So..I was still left with a sweet craving. And I made these instead:

Serving size is about 2 cookies

Peanut butter cookies.(The recipe is under the link, recipes.) I think the serving size is two and I did start off with these two cookies…however I ate two more on top of it. Guess the sweet craving was too much for me to handle. 🙂 The good side of it was I drank a glass of water with it, because my mouth was dry after eating all those cookies.;)

Tomorrows a new day. Perhaps I can start eating earlier or switch it up and have a Mocha Frappe in place of my coffee, as I mentioned earlier. Anyway that is all for tonight. Good Night everyone. The Sims 3 is calling me now.

❤

Mocha Frappes Recipe

This is my snack for today. Here is the recipe compliments of “South Beach Diet Super Quick Cookbook”.

1 cup ice cubes

3/4 cup very strong coffee chilled.(I used espresso)

3/4 cup fat free or 1% milk (I used 1 part fat free half and half and 1 part 1% milk)

2 TBSPs granular sugar substitute

1 TBSP sugar free chocolate syrup

2 TBSPs- no sugar added lite whipped topping(I didn’t have any to use.)

Blend everything, except whipped cream, on high in blender. Pour into 2 tall glasses and add whipped cream. Serve immediately.

Per serving: 69 calories, 0.5 g fat, 0.5 g saturated fat, 4 g protein, 24 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber, 63 mg sodium.

Mocha Frappes made in my nifty 2 serving blender I got at Walmart for $14.99 🙂

Dinner and Dessert…

 

Turkey, Spinach, and Salad with homemade low fat ranch dressing.

 

Cannoli Pudding.

 

South Beach Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe (Phase 1)

I  *sooooo* will be making these babies as soon as I buy a bag of Splenda!

South Beach Peanut Butter Cookies. Compliments of food.com

Ingredients:Serves: 12Yield:12 cookies

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup Splenda granular (sugar substitute)
1 egg

Directions:

1)Preheat oven to 350 degres. Mix the three ingredients thoroughly. Drop by spoonfuls on a cookie sheet. Dip a fork in Splenda and press gently on top of cookie.

2 )Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from pan carefully after cooling slightly. Enjoy!Link to recipe: http://www.food.com/recipe/south-beach-peanut-butter-cookies-185297

Almost Chocolate Mousse

Was craving a dessert so concocted this tonight. Not too bad.

 

1/2 cup plain low fat yogurt

2 TBSP natural crunchy peanut butter

1 TBSP unsweetened cocoa

3 single serve packets of splenda.

Mix all together. Has consistency of mousse.