The Broke-Ass Bride: Bad-ass Wedding Inspiration on a Broke-Ass Budget

Flab to Fab: 18 Days Out

*ahem* Could I have everyone’s attention please? I have an announcement to make.

(the crowd hushes as Dana hops aboard a milk crate and picks up a megaphone made out of, well, cardboard)

I’ve lost 17 lbs since JANUARY, yo!!!!!! I made that Flab my bitch. I took it to school, then I took it home and then I punished it! ‘Memba my goal to lose 2 sizes in 5 months? CHECK. In fact, I’m fitting into clothes that I haven’t worn since senior year of undergrad and have gotten below my “plateau weight” – you know that number on the scale you can never seem to drop below? Well I’s just did!

I’m in shock. I guess I shouldn’t be, after 5 months of Tiger and Jillian whooping my ass, inventing my healthy-stealthy meals, and having you wonderful readers to hold me accountable. But, still, I look in the mirror and I can’t believe the difference. I look younger. Much younger. I feel much younger. More comfortable. Stronger. More “me” than I’ve felt in years. While I know he loves me at any size, Hunter looks at me now and I can see myself reflected differently there and I love the way that feels. I feel (gasp) SEXY!

I didn’t weigh myself at all this whole time, so stepping on the scale the other day was such an enormous payoff. I’m the kind of girl who is always losing and gaining 5lbs, so I needed a more significant result to feel motivated, and this was it.

So I’ve got 2ish weeks to pull out the stops and get myself just a little more sculpted, a little more straight, a little more confident. I’m more focused than ever. Especially because we just found out we’ll be having a beachy honeymoon (more on that later) and I’m determined to wear a bikini for the first time!

But the true point is, if I can do this, so can you! I am such a self-saboteur that I truly thought I’d let myself down in the end, but here I am. So, bear down, grit your teeth and go for it! You’s can do it, I believe in you!

My best last-month tips:

• no carbs after 6pm, unless its fruit.
• no refined carbs, ever.
• eat small meals, often.
• fiber, fiber, fiber. Oh, and fiber.
• no meals after 9pm. If I’ve missed dinner, I sleep hungry.
• cook. you’re in control that way.

The recipe I want to share with y’all today might sound a bit scary, but its SO good, and so inexpensive. Trust.

Effing delicious and easy eggs:

• 1/2 package shredded cabbage (or shred 1/4 head yourself)
• a few splashes of red wine vinegar
• a few splashes low-sodium soysauce
• 2Tbs dijon mustard
• 1/3 container egg whites (about 8 whites)
• optional:
• 1/3 package broccoli slaw
• 8 mushrooms, quartered

Heat spray oil in a large non-stick skillet. Sautee cabbage (and any other vegetables you’re adding) for a few minutes until it begins to wilt. Add enough red wine vinegar and soysauce to lightly coat, and cook off any extra moisture. Mix in dijon mustard until evenly coated, then pour in eggs. Turn the heat down so it slowly sets. Its better if you don’t scramble it…. just let it sort of set up and flip as much as possible to keep it flat and more like a frittata. Cook until eggs are set and lightly golden. Cut into quarters and enjoy!

Cabbage is ohsogood for you – full of vitamin C like you wouldn’t believe. Its great in or on just about anything. You can, as usual, sub out whatever your favorite veggies are, but I think the mustard-vinegar flavor goes really well with the cabbage.

Don’t worry, all the flavors blend into a deliciously complex goodness and no one tasting it would say “oh! Vinegar and mustard!” They’ll just say “hoooooly martha stewart, what’s in this delight you’ve served me?!?!” I’m just saying, we ate this two nights in a row and its a flavor party in the mouth.

How’s your Flab to Fab journey? Anyone have a milestone to celebrate?