Week 3: Cheat Days are Okay
I’ll admit it – last week I got a little bit off track. I only used my pressure cooker and air fryer once each, I’m pretty sure I ate pizza twice, and there’s a good chance that any weight I lost has come back.
But these things happen, and I try not to beat myself up about it too much. But I’m using it as motivation to be better this week. I am also adding in exercise this week (finally) so hopefully that helps keep me motivated to eat better.
The highlight from last week was when my daughter helped me make black bean burgers. She is my little assistant, so of course she needed some cooking gear. Here she is in her chef hat, apron and oven mitt smashing some beans. It brings me back to when I was a kid. I used to watch cooking shows with my dad and always wanted to help him out in the kitchen. I remember how he told me to curl my fingers in when chopping veggies so I wouldn’t cut my fingers, how to smash garlic with the side of the knife, and various other tricks of the trade. Family dinners were a regular thing in my house, and the times I helped prepare it were extra special to me. I hope that my daughter and I keep this up and that one day she can look back these memories we are making and cherish them forever as I will.
I am pretty happy with how the black bean burgers turned out in the air fryer. And what a simple, inexpensive meal. We have tested a similar recipe at the GoWISE office that I’m sure will be available to watch on YouTube in the next couple of weeks. Here is my variation:
- 1 can of black beans, drained
- 1 egg
- ½ cup of panko bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons feta cheese
- Dash of salt, paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, and parsley flakes
Simply smash all the ingredients together – I found that using my hands worked best. Form into 3 patties. I was able to fit all three patties into the 2.75 qt Retro Air Fryer. I cooked them for 8 minutes at 400 degrees, then flipped them and cooked for an additional 5 minutes at 400 degrees.
Add whatever toppings you desire – I went with sriracha mayo, cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce. I didn’t have any buns, so I decided to eat it on an English muffin which worked just fine.
Now onto week 4 – hopefully it’s a healthier one!
Updates on my weight goals (I want to lose around 5 pounds this month)
Week 1 average weight: 128
Week 2 average weight: 127
Week 3 average weight: 126.75
Well, I lost a quarter of a pound despite the pizza – I guess I should take that as a win 😊.
