Hearty and Fiber-Full Whole Wheat Bread Recipe

So, since so many have been asking for my bread recipe, here it is:

Whole Wheat (Heavy) Bread

Ingredients:

7.5 cups of whole wheat flour

2.5 cups of water

4 tea spoons of dry yeast

2 tea spoons of salt

4 tea spoons of sugar

And then whatever you want to add to your bread. We use:

-Oatmeal

-Flaxseed

-Sunflower seeds

-Fennel seeds

Pretty much just add these ingredients slowly until it’s evenly mixed in the dough. Use your best judgment.

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 340 degrees.

Use a large bowl that you can use to mix all the ingredients in as you go along.

In this bowl, mix a half cup of water with the yeast, salt and sugar. Set this on top of the oven as it heats up. Let it sit for about ten minutes to help activate the yeast.

Then, add the flour and about one and half cups of water. Mix the dough together with your hands and knead it slowly. Add he last cup of water as you go. The goal is to get a soft dough that is well mixed. (You may need to add a little extra water as you go. Just add it slowly so as not to have a runny dough.)

Finally, add your mix-ins (oatmeal, flaxseed, seeds, etc). Once it is well mixed and kneaded, set it on the warm stove, cover with a cloth, and let the dough rise for about 40 minutes.

Knead the dough again and then form into a loaf shape. Place the loaf in a well greased tall (2” or more high) baking dish or large loaf pan if you have one. We use a large lasagna baking dish. Score the top of the loaf to prevent / limit cracking.

Bake for an hour and 20 minutes.

Weight and the Real World

So, I really debated on whether or not to post this week. It's been a rough week and I know that the week to come will not be any better. This past Friday, one of my co-workers and dear friend, Beth Dudley, tragically died. She went to bed Thursday night and just didn't wake up the next morning...she was only 40 years old. Needless, its been a very rough week and dealing with her passing is not easy for me or any of her friends and co-workers.

Hence the title of this week's posting, "Weight and the Real World." As with many other people, sadness drives some of us to eat more carelessly. I have not been eating well at all since Friday and this week's weigh-in shows that fact. After stepping on the scale this morning, I felt so guilty. Beth was a blog follower and fellow "If I Were A Fit Chick" facebook fan. I know that she would tell me that things happen and next week is a new week (and she'd be right), but it still makes me think about what I've done. Beth was a great inspiration. She was a weight-loss success. Over the past six years, she had managed to lost 40 some pounds and keep it off. She continued to keep track of everything she ate, tally the calories, and balance her healthy eating with nights out and "splurge-worthy" foods. She was my office cheerleader and always encouraged me to continue with my journey.

So, that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to recognize that this week and last week are going to be tough; that I'm not going to make the best decisions, but the long-term goal is still in sight and I will pick it back up and power through. Thank you Beth. Thank you for all your words of kindness and encouragement. While this weight-loss / healthy lifestyle journey is about me and will continue to be driven by me...you will always be in my thoughts and continue to be my cheerleader. This year is for me and you.

Starting weight: 215.2

Previous week weight: 216.6

End of week four: 220.6