How this Fast Diet Lifestyle works: Eat these meals tomorrow, for a calorie total of less than 600. On another day this week, eat the meals from a different post, another day of eating 600 calories or less. Eat sensibly the other days of the week. That’s it: a simple way to lose weight and be healthier. Welcome to MY XM GLOBAL who is now Following.

Jacob/James was born to the fisherman Zebedee, so he and his brother John became fishermen too. One day, while mending their nets, Jesus walked by. He called the young men to join him in becoming ‘fishers of men,’ thus James became one of the first apostles. Although he was there from the start, it took a while for James to understand Jesus and his message. James once suggested raining hell-fire onto a town that had been inhospitable. Um, no. James’ mother asked Jesus to seat her two sons on the right and left of his throne, in the mistaken notion that he would hold court in an earthly location, like Caesar in Rome. Nope, wrong again. Yet James was present at many of the great events that are told in the New Testament: keeping vigil in Gethsemane and witnessing the transfiguration. We know that James was beheaded by Herod Agrippa the 1st in Jerusalem, thus his subsequent connection to Spain is tenuous. The most prevalent legend is that he preached in Spain until he returned to the Levant, and that his body was miraculously transported to Galicia for burial after beheading. In the 800s, a hermit heard music and saw lights at night. Referring to the light in the darkness, he named it the ‘campus stellae’ — Field of the Star. It became the pilgrimage city of Compostela when the local bishop found James’ grave and built a shrine around it, the Cathedral of Santiago [Saint James] de Compostela. Since the 9th century, pilgrims from all over Europe hiked across the continent, following el Camino de Santiago: Saint James’ Way. Yearly, almost 350,000 trekkers and pilgrims make the hike, with a scallop/cockle shell badge on their clothing. The scallop shell has become the iconographic symbol of Saint James.

A piquant salsa at breakfast and a dinner of scallops — of course — recall Spain, final resting place of Saint James, and the symbol of the saint.

Salsa Chicken Bake: 281 calories 6 g fat 2.4 g fiber 20 g protein 29 g carbs [25 g Complex] 298 mg Calcium  NB: The food values given above are for the egg bake and fruit only, not the optional beverages.  PB GF  Salsa for breakfast? Porque no?

1 two-oz egg 1 Tbsp low-fat cottage cheese 2 Tbsp tomato salsa, drained if too liquid dash of salsa verde or green chilis    ½ oz chicken breast meat [from a roast, perhaps], minced chopped or crumbled oregano [Mexican if you have it] 2 oz strawberries  Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or mocha cafe au lait [65 calories] or lemon in hot water   Optional: 5-6 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie [88 calories]

Stir the cheese, salsas, and chicken together in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk the egg and seasonings. Spritz a ramekin with oil or non-stick spray. Pour in the egg mixture and bake in the toaster oven at 350 degrees F. for 12-15 minutes, depending on how you like your eggs. Brew your warm beverage; shake and pour the smoothie, portion those delicious strawberries, and start to your day in a zesty way.

Scallops with Sun-dried Tomatoes: 285 calories 11 g fat 5 g fiber 28 g protein 29 g carbs 66 mg Calcium   PB GF  Jasper White offers this recipe in his book Cooking From New England. It is simplicity itself to prepare and a delight to eat.  HINT: this recipe serves 2 [two] diners.

½ c/¾ oz sun-dried tomatoes	Slice each tomato into 4 strips. Put in a small bowl and cover with hot water. Set aside to soak.
½# scallops	Trim off any white tissue. Blot scallops on paper toweling to dry them. If using sea scallops, cut in half along the equator. Sprinkle with salt + pepper.
1½ oz red lentil pasta	Cook as package directs. Drain, saving some pasta water.
1 Tbsp olive oil 1 Tbsp garlic, chopped	Heat a saute pan until hot, then add oil. Immediately add scallops in one layer and garlic. Count 30 secs and turn scallops.
1 Tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp butter 1/4 c pasta water	Count 30 seconds, and add drained tomatoes, butter, and pasta water while stirring.  If using sugar snap peas, add them now.
1.5 Tbsp parsley +/or basil, chopped	Count 30 seconds and add the cooked pasta. Heat through and add herbs. Ready to serve.