WEIGHT Loss vs FAT Loss

WEIGHT Loss vs FAT Loss

weight loss vs. fat lossWeight Loss vs Fat Loss

Do you often feel like you’re totally on point with your exercise and eating, then step on the scale and lose all hope and encouragement? Yeah…I’m talking to you…you, who may have just thought — 5 minutes before weighing — “dang I look pretty darn good! Then a number on the scale rocked your world, ruined your day, and you suddenly noticed how “fat” you were. This is the difference in weight loss vs fat loss.

Human beings (especially us, ladies!) tend to seek perfection in imperfect objects, so it’s easy to form an unhealthy relationship with the scale.  Whether we befriended our first scale as young girls or later in life, it’s no secret that it’s a love/hate relationship.  We get so caught up in pursuing perfect, linear progress from the little digital god, that we lose sight of the big picture.

For many of us, our journey may even take a nosedive due to a number that we didn’t like popping up on the screen of a scale. (We see the number, decide it’s not worth it, because nothing will “ever” work, and we quit – mentally or physically.)

Well, it’s time to relinquish the power this piece of equipment has harnessed on the “dieting” community (women AND men) for far too long.

By weighing ourselves, we tend to think we can gauge the progress we have made – true, to an extent.  Weight fluctuates on a very regular basis due to a variety of things: hormonal changes (menstrual cycles), a big meal, water retention, sodium intake, etc. Because of this, using a scale isn’t necessarily the truest way to define progress.  So what are some ways you can be sure you are moving in the right direction despite what your scale says?

Clothes Test: Have a favorite pair of pants or a dress that you just love but have to squeeze into? Try it on once a month and notice the difference in the fit! (Caution here: if the jeans are low rise and seem to fit worse, take note of whether it’s just because your bootay simply needs a higher rise for a similar look — see below)

Inches, Not Pounds: If you’re a numbers person and must have a measurement of some sort to track, start measuring inches (waist, chest, etc.).  Oftentimes we gain muscle and lose fat (aka inches) and as a result, the scale says “no” but the measuring tape says “yes!”  Take that lower measure on the tape with as much/more certainty as you would it’s digital (evil) cousin.

Cheri progress pic

Cheri knows that pics measure true progress. Check out her story!

Pictures:  You should be taking pics every 4-6 weeks anyway, and here’s when it matters.  If your fave pants suddenly seem harder to zip, or measurements seem askew, snap a few pics in your fitted yoga pants or workout capris.  Using a collage app, compare side-by-side shots both showing the tighter-clothes-fitting area. If the most recent shot proves that things have shifted (in the awesome way that they tend to with weight lifting), then you’re doing great! Go out and celebrate by buying yourself an amazing new pair of mid-rise jeans in your usual size  — don’t worry, they won’t be “mom jeans” because your higher butt will give them the same low-look.  Or, grab a pair of the exact same jeans in a size up — again, no worries, you’ll still LOOK smaller (rather than like a stuffed sausage – which only makes you look BIGGER).  Fit is everything!

Increased Strength: Are you able to do sets of leg extensions at a weight you never touched before? How about a higher weight for dumbbell bicep curls? Pushups on your toes?  Hello, this is great progress!!

There are obviously tons more NSVs (non-scale victories) that you could use to judge progress, and we highly recommend searching for and recognizing them as diligently as you do “weight” loss.   It’s important to understand why the scale sometimes goes up when in fact we are becoming healthier and losing body fat (progressing!).  Our bodies are composed of fat and muscle.  Chances are you’ve heard the saying that muscle weighs more than fat.  This is in fact not true.  Five pounds of muscle weighs as much as five pounds of fat, but it just takes up less space!  When you’re lifting weights and building muscle, you’ll notice your body becoming tight or “toned.” This is the result of increased muscle mass as part of your body composition.

The more muscle our bodies have, the more calories we burn at rest.  The more muscle mass, the tighter the physique (think lean and toned!). Take it from this 5’2, 140 lb woman who once thought the world would crumble at any weight over 112lbs! A 140 lb strong, weightlifting woman looks much different than a 140 lb woman who doesn’t lift at all! If you were to look at both of these women, throw out scales, and guess their weights, you would have no clue they weighed the same. This is a prime example of why the scale isn’t a be-all and end-all for progress!

Vtaper progress

I thought I’d die last year when I gained 10lbs! Click the pic to read my journal woes.

If you’re gaining muscle, the scale may say you’re gaining “weight.”  But appreciate that it’s good weight!  By recognizing the way your body changes as you exercise, strength train, and eat healthily and mindfully, you’ll slowly be able to break the chains the scale once bound you by!

(SN: If you know that you can’t mentally take seeing the various fluctuations, go on a scale fast!  Do what you need to do to save your sanity, and keep it moving)

How do you judge progress? What are some of the best NSVs you’ve experienced along this journey?

 

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Binge Eating Disorder – Why diets aren’t working (Leslie Schilling Interview)

Binge Eating Disorder – Why diets aren’t working (Leslie Schilling Interview)

Leslie Schilling

I recently heard dietician/nutritionist, Leslie Schilling, speak at the NSCA National Conference.  She instantly wooed me with her Southern drawl, love of food, and “anti-diet” approach (a dietician against diets?! What’s not to love?).  Of course, I commenced to immediate stalking, and cornered her for an interview ;)  ~Kiki 

EM2WL: Your session at the conference “When Diets Don’t Work” focused on Binge Eating Disorder (BED).  Can you explain to our readers what BED is?

Leslie: A diet, whether it is the first or fiftieth, could be the trigger to a life-altering or even life-threatening eating disorder. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, these illnesses can affect people of any race, age, sex, or size. Last year, the most common yet under recognized disorder received an official diagnosis code.  Now those suffering with BED can no longer be overlooked.  BED is associated with the following signs: recurrent binging (once a week for more than 3 months), eating larger than normal amounts of food in a short period of time, and lack of control during the binge episode.  According to the Binge Eating Disorder Association, BED may affect 3.5% of women, 2% of men, and as many as 40% of all those seeking weight loss treatments.

 

EM2WL:  Other than lack of purging/excessive exercise, what separates BED from Bulimia and Anorexia?

Leslie: There is no compensatory behavior like over exercising, restricting or “getting rid” of food (purging in any way).

 

EM2WL:  I wonder if it is possible to have this disorder and not know it.  A lot of people refer to “cheat meals,” justifying overeating on the weekends after “being good” all week.  Does this type of diet mentality have any bearings on developing BED?

Leslie: Yes, it is possible to have BED and not realize it. Dieting over the years, as well as a common culture of “diet-mentality,” may mask an underlying problem. Many of us overeat from time to time, and even eat when we are not hungry. Those with binge eating disorder, however, eat for reasons not always associated with hunger. For example, people suffering from BED may use food to reward themselves, or to escape emotions associated with grief or anxiety, stressful situations, anger, hurtful memories or even past traumas.

My philosophy about “cheat meals” is simple. If what you’re doing requires that you “cheat,” I don’t believe it’s a sustainable or healthy. You could absolutely be eating better than you once did, but perspective matters. I believe in an 80/20 approach which I define as eating whole and low-ingredient foods most of the time and comfortably blending it with pleasurable foods that may or may not have a high nutritional value. Like, I have this thing with cupcakes…

My philosophy about “cheat meals” is simple. If what you’re doing requires that you “cheat,” I don’t believe it’s a sustainable or healthy. 

EM2WL:  Would you consider an overindulgence, say eating an 2 or 3 servings of a favorite dessert, a binge?  How can we distinguish between an overindulgence v a binge?

Leslie: It’s possible I could eat two cupcakes here and there. I likely over-indulged and won’t do that again for a long time. A binge may look like 4, 6, or even a dozen cupcakes but it really depends on the person and the motivation.

Here’s an example—If I eat an extra cupcake because Aunt Betty makes amazing strawberry cupcakes, it may be a simple indulgence. If I’m eating 2, 4, etc.. of Aunt Betty’s cupcakes because my boss said something horrible to me—I’m “using” food and therefore, potentially binging.

 

EM2WL:  The term ’emotional eating’ is used quite a bit with regard to challenges faced when trying to lose weight. Is this just another label for BED?

Leslie: Normal eaters sometimes eat for emotional reasons vs. physiological hunger. However, when you find yourself eating for reasons other than hunger frequently, it’s possible there could be some form of disordered eating going on, like BED.

If someone is over “using” food, it’s possible to teach them the tools to recognize and redirect those behaviors. Once they improve those behaviors, it’s very likely that weight loss becomes a side-effect.

EM2WL:  You mentioned that if the shame-based approach worked, that the problem might not be as widespread. How does the media, trainers, friends, or parents contribute to the shame-based approach to fat loss? And how does that play into BED?

Leslie: Many of us who work in the field of disordered eating say “if shame worked, no one would have a weight issue.” Making someone feel bad about themselves is NEVER productive. Our “war” on obesity has become a war against people, real people, like you and me, with real life problems. I like to think you catch more flies with honey. Being caring and non-judgmental opens the door to sustainable change. Here’s one of my favorite quotes.

Nobody really gets anywhere “shouldn’t’” on themselves. When we feel the pressure to change things like our bodies, our diets or exercise routine, it’s important that trainers, dietitians, parents, health professionals, etc… use an approach that moves someone towards making healthy decisions for themselves. I rarely support someone’s goal of “weight loss.” I discuss what’s going on with their food, lack of food, over “use” of food, and help them set goals that promote lasting healthy behaviors. If someone is over “using” food, it’s possible to teach them the tools to recognize and redirect those behaviors. Once they improve those behaviors, it’s very likely that weight loss becomes a side-effect.

 

EM2WL:  If someone suspects they might have BED is there anything they can do on their own to treat the disorder?

Leslie: It’s unlikely, yet not impossible. It’s about the food and NOT about the food at the same time. A successful team usually includes an experienced mental health professional along with an experienced dietitian (one who works with BED/emotional eating).

If you’re wondering if you may need a little help, you can absolutely start by helping yourself. Keeping a food journal (no calories, numbers, etc) to record when you eat, what you eat and how you’re feeling (am I hungry, angry, lonely, tired?). An individual non-judgmental investigation of how you’re using food can provide tremendous insight.

 

EM2WL:  As a dietitian, what do you feel the biggest flaw is in the “eat less, workout more” philosophy?

Leslie: If it were as simple as eat less, work out more, I think most every person on the planet would have mastered the food and weight thing by now. We often assume it’s all about energy in and energy out. It’s not really when you think about all the other factors that influence our body weight & eating—emotions, endocrine issues, body types, dieting history, fitness levels, and so on…

I love giving this example. Say you have a 50 calorie snack and a 150 calorie snack. If you’re simply eating based on a quantity (calorie) approach, it’s very possible you’ll pick the fat-free, sugar-free chemical soufflé. If you eat based on a quality approach, you’re more likely to pick the higher energy choice—almonds—ingredient: almonds.

Leslie Schilling - Supper Solution

EM2WL:  You have a new dinner menu service launching soon, deets please!! What awesomeness should we expect from Your Supper Solution?

Leslie: I’m incredibly excited about this launch! Earlier this year I’d enrolled in a business development course because I needed direction for my next steps as an entrepreneur. As you know, I’m a registered dietitian/nutritionist but I was stuck. This desire to do something that could positively impact people on a larger scale was really eating at me. I didn’t know if I needed to focus on expanding my private practice, speaking engagements, write a book, or what. The lack of clarity was incredibly frustrating.

As I was doing my homework (which I loved because I’m a total geek), it came to me. I rock planning a menu like nobody’s business and I realized that planning has been a major part of what I’ve been helping people with for the last 10 years.

Many people can cook, follow a recipe and shop but most HATE the planning. So, I’ve created Your Supper Solution—an online monthly membership service that delivers weekly dinner menus. It’s a balanced, back-to-basics, real food approach to getting supper solved! Menus roll out August 1st! Here’s a quick video about it.

EM2WL:  Sweet!  You know I’m already on the pre-launch list, lol.  Where else can our readers read/see/hear more from you?

Instagram: http://instagram.com/leslieschilling

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NutritionLeslie

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NutritionLeslie

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/leslieschilling/

Meal Planning Website: www.yoursuppersolution.com

Memphis-based Private Practice Website: www.schillingnutrition.com

 

 

 

Leslie Schilling

Leslie Schilling

Leslie is a master’s level, registered, and licensed dietitian/nutritionist who specializes in wellness, disordered eating, sports nutrition, and the prevention of chronic dieting. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees from Appalachian State University in NC. Leslie owns Schilling Nutrition Therapy, LLC, a Memphis-based nutrition counseling practice, and is the creator of Your Supper Solution.

She is a member of Sport, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition (SCAN), Behavioral Health Nutrition (BHN), Nutrition Entrepreneurs (NE) Practice Groups of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), the Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee (EDCT), and The National Speakers Association (NSA).

Leslie has served as an adjunct instructor in the Graduate Nutrition Program at the University of Memphis. She has also been invited to provide her humorous, down-to-Earth nutrition programs and presentations to groups and professionals across the nation. In addition, she writes for local media, professional, and consumer publications. Whether it is through appearing on a television show, speaking to a crowd, or writing, Leslie inspires those she encounters to get back-to-the-basics with food and make self-care a priority through planning.

No-nonsense Fat Loss

No-nonsense Fat Loss

NeuroticIf you listen to the media, fat loss can sound pretty complicated.  High carb, low carb, nutrient timing, intermittent fasting, carb cycling, ketogenic diets, carb backloading, juicing, green smoothies, magical supplements…

It can be challenging to keep a level head and avoid all the latest trends, wondering if a tweak (or two) might be a way to break out of a plateau or to get better results.  There are definitely times to include a tweak, but generally speaking, its best that you save these for times that you really need them.

So how do you know if its time to include a tweak?

At EM2WL, we encourage you to take a very no-nonsense, simplified approach to fat loss with minimal rules.  Instead of spinning your wheels to figure out which diet is best — take a moment to strip away the “nonsense” from various diet plans that are often just minute variations on the basics.  There are a few best practices that we believe to be critical to your success.  It’s best to make sure that these elements are firmly in place before tweaking anything.

Think about building a successful fat loss program like building a house.  When building a house, you wouldn’t want to try putting up walls before the basic foundation has been laid.  Without a firm foundation to build upon, everything else is pretty useless.

What makes up the foundation of a successful fat loss program?  We believe there are four key components that are critical to have well established before incorporating any other “tweaks.”  We recommend looking over your current fat loss plan and evaluating whether you have a good handle on the following four elements before making any additional changes.  How do you measure up?

1. Sufficient calorie intake

20140626-184149-67309423.jpgIf you’ve been following EM2WL for some time, you know that we firmly believe that eating enough is a key component of a successful fat loss plan.  The standard “eat less, exercise more” model of weight loss can lead to more muscle than fat loss, lowering your metabolic rate over the long term. Without eating enough calories, you run the risk of causing metabolic damage which does more harm than good. If you’ve been dieting for a very long time and are not seeing the results that you desire, it is very likely that you would benefit from doing a metabolic reset.  If you are still struggling to get in an appropriate number of calories daily, it is highly recommended that you become consistent there before incorporating any additional changes. If you’re curious about how many calories is considered sufficient, check out our calorie calculator.

2. Protein

Not only do most women typically not take in enough calories, but tend to be lacking in the protein department as well.  This macronutrient can be one of your biggest weapons in winning the fat loss game!  Generally, we recommend taking in about 0.8 to 1.0 grams of protein per pound of body weight.  A number of studies have shown numerous benefits to high-protein diets.  Since protein takes longer for the body to break down and digest, it promotes a feeling of fullness, making it easier for you to stick to your plan.  Protein also is essential in sustaining your lean mass, helping you to recover from workouts, and maintaining healthy skin, nails and organs.  Protein also has been reported to improve brain function, lower blood pressure and improve sleep quantity.ID-100151671

It can be very challenging to get in all that protein!  Give yourself time to get acclimated to a higher protein diet by setting reasonable goals and increasing them weekly.  For instance, if your goal is to eat 150 grams of protein, but you’re currently averaging around 75 grams daily, you might start by trying to get in just 100 grams daily and increase slowly.  Divide your protein among your meals, and it will likely seem a bit more manageable.  Focus on making sure to hit your protein target daily, and then allocate the remaining calories to carbohydrates and fats.

3. Fiber

Most Americans only average about 15 grams of fiber daily, while most people should be taking in anywhere from 20 to 30 grams of fiber daily.  Foods high in fiber are more filling and generally take longer to eat than foods low in fiber.  They are a great way to “stretch out” your meals, thereby eating a high volume of food without adding many calories.  In addition, including fiber in your diet will slow the digestion of carbohydrates and absorption of sugars, keeping blood sugar stable.  High fiber foods also promote digestive health and prevent problems like constipation, hemorrhoids, IBS, and other digestive complaints.  High fiber diets also promote heart health by moving fats and bile salts out of the body, lowering cholesterol in the process.

Tip:  Yummy snacks like Quest Bars can provide 20g of protein, and 17g of fiber per serving.  They can be helpful to reach your goals in a pinch, or if you’re newer to tracking these macros, but be sure to try getting as much protein and fiber from whole food sources as possible.

4.  Heavy Resistance Training

Heavy resistance training should be a key component of any fitness program whose goal is fat loss.  Heavy resistance training has a number of metabolic benefits that will pay off in the fat loss department.  Unlike cardio, the metabolic benefits of this type of training last for 24-48 hours after completing your workout as your body must work harder to rebuild its oxygen stores.  This effect, commonly referred to as the afterburn effect or EPOC (post-exercise oxygen consumption) has a number of metabolic and athletic benefits that will improve your body composition as well as your gym performance! If you don’t know where to start, there are a numbbecca squat2er of strength training programs to get you started on your journey to a leaner, stronger, healthier you!

If your current fitness program does not currently involve heavy resistance training at least 2-3 times a week, it is highly recommended that you start here before adding in cardio or other forms of exercise to accomplish your goals.  You will be amazed at the way your body transforms when you consistently hit the weights!

DISCLAIMER: We know that many of our followers love running and other forms of cardio and we firmly believe that you should regularly engage in a form of exercise that you truly enjoy! However, there may be times to evaluate whether your preferred form of activity supports your goals.

The Take Away Message

If you feel that you have a good handle on these four elements, there is absolutely nothing wrong with making a small change or two to see how your body responds.  We emphasize that it is usually best to change one thing at a time and give your body a chance to respond before changing another variable, however.  As you make adaptations to your plan, you will want to make sure you are listening to your body!  Pay attention to how you look and feel, how you are performing in the gym and your energy level any time you make a change.  Often times, just a very small change can lead to some great results, but if you change too many things at once you will never know what that missing part of the puzzle was!

 

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Strong, Fit, Healthy and Beautiful: Putting ED in his place

Strong, Fit, Healthy and Beautiful: Putting ED in his place

Perpetual diets often land us on a completely different path than expected.  Many of us find ourselves on the frontline of Eating Disorder recovery, or fighting off the ED thoughts that a lifetime of dieting encourages.  April shares a reflection of her mental journey with ED, an amazing encouragement for those still in the struggle.

beforeIt’s been about two years since I met Kiki and Lucia and the EM2WL society. Two years since I started really listening to the advice given to me. Two years since I started fighting the false need to restrict and purge, two years since I threw out the 100-calorie meals and traded them in for what my body really needed, two years since I put down the baby weights and picked up a barbell.
It hasn’t been easy.

The summer of 2012 is when it all began, and I remember it so well. With the encouragement of EM2WL, I’d started to eat a bit more, quite a bit more, and lifting just prior to our summer vacation in Canada. I was still working out like a maniac, getting up at 5am for cardio and then following it up with weights after work. The idea of going to a foreign country without any specific workout schedule was debilitating. The weeks leading up to vacation, I had mini panic attacks that only slowed to a mild fear once my friend secured me a 3-day pass to the Y for our visit.

Also during those weeks, I started to bloat. The extra calories I was consuming (and needed) were throwing my poor body out of whack. My metabolism was such a mess from years of underfeeding it that my body had no choice but to bloat up. My children’s size 12 jean leggings were starting to get too tight, but I shoved myself into them during that vacation. I still fit into my double zero shorts, but barely, and I could see the bloat. I didn’t help matters by drinking a lot of wine that week and staying up late after everyone went to bed to binge on “healthy” snacks I’d brought with us. They were calories I needed, but I ate most of my calories all at once late at night along with a glass of wine. I was so tempted to purge, but I couldn’t since it wasn’t our house, and it was a small house. I would have been heard. I’d never felt so fat.

Once we got home, we had a few weeks before our next vacation – a long weekend on Chincoteague Island. I spent the time detoxing and getting back into my workouts, and I started to feel a bit better. My body was still bloated, and I bought children’s size 14 jean leggings, but for the most part, I still thought I could fit into my double zeros forever. I was determined to do so. Somehow, despite the recent bloating, the four days on the Island were the last days I ever felt “skinny.”

Then we came home, and I started the New Rules of Lifting for Women. Now I REALLY gained weight. I still ate more and lifted heavy, and I was forced to face facts: I would have to buy new clothes.

Over the next year or so, I pretty much hated myself. I’d spend nights binging and sometimes purging. I stuffed my body into clothes that were too tight, praying for my weight to drop. I played with the idea of restricting again, and occasionally, I gave in. Sometimes I changed my mind about lifting and went back to cardio, but nothing changed. Throughout it all, Kiki and Lucia and a handful of others stuck around. They listened to my complaints and encouraged me to keep pushing forward. They filled my head with more and more knowledge about how to eat and what was happening to my body and why lifting is so important.

Eventually, I bought clothes that fit and started to feel marginally better. Gradually, I learned what kinds of workouts my body could handle without destroying my mental state. I finally stopped killing myself with 2 workouts/day and limited most of my cardio to HIIT (albeit LONG HIIT) and hid my scale away which made a HUGE difference in the way I felt about my body.

Enjoying familyI can’t pinpoint the exact date or even the exact month, but at some point during 2013, my metabolism evened out. The bloating disappeared. I was still heavier and larger than I’d been during most of my late 20s, but I started to have “sleek” days. I started to enjoy lifting and to rejoice over the NSVs.

I can confidently say that 2014 has been the best year of my life in all the ways that matter. I’m learning about lifting phases and how to plan my workout rotations to keep my body guessing. I no longer stress my body with long HIIT or steady state sessions which means more time with my family. I FINALLY allow my body 2 days of rest each week, and to my surprise, that small change filled me with such relief! It was as though I was finally giving myself permission to sit back and enjoy those weekends without the stress of choosing a workout and trying to burn calories. Most days, I feel great!

I still stress sometimes over calories numbers – calories burned during workouts and calories consumed. I still have my “yuck” days, and I am still TERRIFIED to take a full rest week during vacation this year!

But I’ve learned so much over these past two years and come so far, it’s hard to believe I’m the same person. I no longer look at the pictures of myself when I was 90 pounds and yearn to be that small anymore. I’ve thrown out all of my double zeros and don’t even care what the number on the tags are when I go shopping for new clothes. I have everything from small to large, from 4 to 9, and I just don’t care anymore so long as it fits well and looks good. I’m more confident than I’ve ever been. I’m talking my entire life. I still have the parts of me I’d like to make better, but for the most part, I’ve given up the comparison to other women and the self-name-calling. I’ve given up looking at myself every day and walking away “knowing” I am fat. Because I’m not. Because I’m strong and fit and healthy and beautiful. I don’t feel that every day, but I almost never hate myself.

I could never have gotten here without all of you. Never. Thank you all so much for your love and support, for encouraging me through this journey rather than giving up on me. Here’s to the journey, no matter how tough. The end is nowhere in sight, but possibilities are endless.

Happier and healthier!

Strong and fit!

 

Smoky Chicken Bacon Skewers

Smoky Chicken Bacon Skewers

In our family, summertime (or really any time for that matter!) is grilling time. The other night, we made these awesome chicken bacon skewers and they are UNBELIEVABLY good for being such a simple recipe.

Smoky Chicken Bacon Skewers

Serves 6
Prep time 4 hours
Cook time 25 minutes
Total time 4 hours, 25 minutes
Meal type Main Dish
Misc Child Friendly, Pre-preparable
Occasion Barbecue
Make these chicken kabobs for your next barbecue. Guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser!

Ingredients

  • 3lb Boneless, skinless chicken tenders (or chicken breast cut into chicken-tenders type strips)
  • 1lb Bacon
  • 1/2 cup Barbecue sauce
  • 1/2 cup Asian-style vinaigrette (I use Bolthouse Farms)
  • 1 tablespoon Garlic (crushed)
  • 1 tablespoon Smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tablespoon Chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Black pepper

Directions

In a large bowl whisk together barbecue sauce, vinaigrette, garlic, paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Pour into 9 x 13 pan. Set aside.
Thread chicken tenders onto skewers. Wrap bacon around chicken and secure ends.
Place skewers in pan and cover with marinade. Allow the bacon-wrapped chicken to marinate for about 4-6 hours.
Grill the skewers on low heat for about 20 minutes. Then move to high heat and finish grilling to crisp the bacon, about 5 minutes.

Note

We like to serve these with grilled veggies (sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, and zucchini). Such a simple and delicious meal!

Makes 12 skewers.   Nutrition facts per skewer: 202 calories, 3 g carbohydrates, 10 g fat, 26 g protein

 

 

Becca is a busy wife and homeschooling mother to five children ages 5 to 13. About three years ago, she embarked on a journey to health and fitness that resulted in the loss of approximately 100 pounds. Today, she is a competitive powerlifter and strongwoman who loves ice cream and deadlifts.  As an ISSA certified personal trainer, she is passionate about helping women to get started on a lifestyle of strength and fitness.

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