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Weight Loss is Like Riding a Surfboard: Balance is the Key!

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

Another excerpt I wrote today: I was inspired by a conversation I had yesterday about learning to surf- it’s all about improving and maintaining balance! So is weight loss and adopting a healthier lifestyle!

Being overweight or obese, and overeating are signs that something is out of balance in your life! In my case, a lot of things were unbalanced for a lot of years! My life became focused on food to the exclusion of practically everything else. As I replaced excessive amounts of food with self-love, better, healthier relationships, exercise, prayer, meditation, and activities I enjoyed, my life became more balanced, and my need to overeat to compensate for a lack of anything else vanished. Today, I have so much more in my life than food. My life is so fulfilling that I don’t need to stuff myself to feel fulfilled! I still enjoy great food and great restaurants, and I enjoy so much more! I am living a happier, healthier, richer, more balanced life, the best it has ever been!

Posted in Fitness | Tagged staying positive | Comments Off

Fred’s Mediterranean Salad

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Fred Bollaci

Serves four people.

To make this salad into a more substantial meal, top it with three or four large grilled shrimp per person, or four ounces of grilled chicken, turkey, or salmon. Sliced hard-boiled eggs and diced crispy bacon or pancetta adds a whole new level of flavor. Mix, match, and have fun!

2 cups mixed greens (mesclun, spring mix, frisee, etc.)
1 cups arugula,
1 cup baby spinach
1 head radicchio, torn or chopped
2 cups green beans, blanched (quickly boil them until fork tender), place into an ice bath, remove and dry.
1 cup hearts of palm
1 cup cherry tomatoes
¼ cup toasted almonds
4 ounces crumbled feta
1 red onion, rough chopped
1 cup mandarin orange segments (fresh or canned)
½ cup chickpeas
½ cup imported Italian olives, with pits
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 cucumber, diced
1 ripe Haas avocado, cut into cubes

Combine all ingredients in a large salad bowl. Toss with dressing of your choice. Either chop all ingredients before combining in your salad bowl, or chop them with a hand-held chopper right in the bowl.

Nutrition Facts (by serving) without dressing
Calories 352
Calories from fat 50%
Fat (grams) 21
Saturated fat (grams) 6
Cholesterol (milligrams) 25
Carbohydrates (grams) 35
Protein (grams) 13
Sodium (milligrams) 724

Note: dress with one tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (119 calories) and 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (14 calories) totals 135 for dressing, for a total of 487 calories per serving with dressing.

Posted in Soups|Salads | Tagged arugula, avocado, hearts of palm, mixed greens | Comments Off

Cream of Artichoke Hearts and Lemon Soup

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Fred Bollaci

2 cups marinated baby artichoke hearts, with marinating juices (Vigo, etc)
1 cup minced celery
1 cup minced carrots
1/2 yellow onion, minced
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 quart chicken stock
1 cup heavy cream (or half and half for weight loss purposes)
juice of 1 lemon, pinch lemon zest
salt and pepper to taste
pinch of fresh tarragon

Heat a large stock pot over medium heat, sweat the onion until translucent with salt and pepper, add celery and carrots, cook several minutes until tender, add the chicken stock along with the lemon juice and zest and and simmer for 20 minutes.

Remove from heat, allow to cool slightly. Add the artichoke hearts, place in a blender or food processor and puree. Add the cream and continue to pulse. Adjust seasonings (salt and pepper to taste) and add the pinch of fresh tarragon. Serve heated, room temperature, or chilled, as desired.

Posted in Soups|Salads | Tagged artichoke hearts, soup, vegetarian | Comments Off

Fred Bollaci Featured on Huffington Post Healthy Eating

Posted on January 12, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

Did you spot Fred Bollaci on Huffington Post? Read how Fred Conquered Emotional Eating and Lost 150 Pounds

Posted in News and Interviews | Tagged extreme weight loss, healthy eating, lose 100 pounds | Comments Off

San Fratello Salad

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

(Serves 4)
2 cups arugula
1 head radicchio, core and chop
2 cups red leaf lettuce
1 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 red onion
1 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
2 avocados (remove pit and dice)
crumbled blue cheese or gorgonzola

Combine ingredients and toss with dressing.

San Fratello Dressing
Juice of two lemons
zest of 1 lemon
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste

Combine ingredients in a jar and shake to emulsify, pour over salad, toss, and serve.