Olive-rosenmary bread

3/4 cup almond paste at room temperature
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon agave nectar (or agave syrup)
1/4 cup blanched almond flour
1/4 cup arrowroot powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted and finely chopped
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary ( I use dried actually, like it better)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 7 by 3 inch loaf pan with grapeseed oil and dust with almond flour.
In a large bowl, mix the almond butter and olive oil with a handheld mixer (or fork) until smooth, then blend in the eggs and agave nectar.
In a medium bowl, combine the almond flour, arrowroot powder, salt and baking soda.
Blend the almond flour mixture into the wet ingredients until thoroughly combined, then fold in the olives and rosemary.
Pour the batter into the loaf pan.
Bake for 45 to 55 min. on the bottom rack of the oven, until a knife inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
Let the bread cool in the pan for 1 hour, then serve.

I also put slices of the olives on the top + extra dried rosemary to make it look nicer!
It tastes great, you can eat it like this as a snack or as a sandwich with topping (hummus, cream cheese, omelette etc.)

Results summer challenge

I didn't really take before pictures, stupid.
Posting one from the side, and then the after pictures. Back still needs a lot of work, I've now noticed. The rest as well of course. Will take pictures again at the end of August and hoping for better results - from all sides!The black shirt is from before, the red from today.

Well here goes, see if this works (I'm a photographer, but this is a very amateurish happening)

End of Summer Challenge - Measurements

After 30 days I'm happy to see some results.

I've only been ED compliant (with some small blips and 1 day of major blips).

2 workouts a day, I still don't get why that changed during the challenge to having to do 3. Anyway, made my choice to stick with 2.

I managed 2 fasting days, the second one was unplanned and I've realized that it's easier to do than I thought, but not eating a lot the day before doesn't work that well. The day after the second fast I was very hungry and ate a lot more than I should have. And not all ED compliant.

My measurements:

weight before: 146.7 

weight after   : 142.3

lost 4.4 lbs

Hips before and after: 41" - 39.5" lost 1 1/2"

Waist                       : 33" - 31.5" lost 1 1/2"

Breasts                    : 37" - 36"    lost 1" 

Arms                       : 11.5" - 11.5"

Legs 4" above knee : 17.5" - 17.1/4" lost 1/4"

Legs 8" above knee : 20.3/4" - 20"    lost 3/4"  

Pleased with this result, but still some pounds and inches away from my goal.

I will take a few days off, only walking, which is convenient for the next 3 days as I have to get to my receptionist job - walking - and some extra walks if it will stop raining!

Food will be ED compliant of course, will go back to 80-20%. I love my morning coffee, and will have a few more meals with rice or couscous or bulger.

Need to take pics, but don't have a proper mirror, tried with the mobile phone, but will have to do this later with my camera and tripod. Hopefully tomorrow.

I enjoyed this summer challenge, the FB option certainly worked, although it was tough for the people not on FB, the forum emptied out and it was a bit lonely over there. So I kept commenting there as well.

And finally, as Dax keeps saying: AND NOW WE DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN!