Busy work week, finally getting back into: things and finally getting back to what I love - creating recipes and cooking

Where I work, the product is delivered, more small changes needed. So still working a little later but at least no weekend work - Yay! And we have beautiful weather this week too! What more can you ask for.

With the snow and ice gone, I finally got back to training. It sure felt like it was long time ago so it was great to get back- sadistic as it may sound. I am finally loving it! OK, the run, I don't love it but I enjoy it because I am with my crazy friends and in a group environment. Have I ran by myself - oh yes, and it is very boring! And I finally got to getting some classes in at Arrichion Hot Yoga.. I miss my 2nd family!

So last week's blog article was about diets and diet programs and what is good and what is not so good. I am not saying don't join a diet program but to think about what else you can do to help you. I realize with all the diet programs and diet I was on, I gained the weight back because I did not make what I ate, what I do should be a lifestyle change, a behaviorr modification. That the diet programs/diet don't teach you. This is truly the hardest to do and that is when you talk to people who have been through it, your trainer, or a nutritionist. I was a very bad eater. I used to eat junk food and sweets of all kinds: twinkles, oreo cookies, etc and lot of soda. I mean I would eat M&M's with a bottle of Coke. So one must take baby steps to change all that. So today, I just keep in mind what my trainer tells me: EAT CLEAN. I also say no CRAP-
no Carbonated drinks, no Refined sugars, no Artificial sweeteners,artificial anything, no Processed foods. If you splurge, eat organic, eat with no hydrogenated oils, no high fructose corn syrup.

This  weekend I got to do some cooking. I love challenges especially if it is cooking with fish. May people don't eat fish because they don't know how to cook it therefore they would say it does not taste good. Some would rather eat a bland piece of chicken or meat and say that is cooking. Anyone can boil a piece of meat or stick it in the microwave but to create with it - that is what I love- My recipes never seen to be the same - even if it is same dish - the taste is different. I was ask to to write things down. So I thought about it, why not! If what I make my trainer eats it, it is trainer approved and if she likes the taste, even better, because she is picky what she eats. And also some of these recipes are paleo so my paleo minded and Crossfit friends- if they like - then I am happy if I can create and satisfy the taste buds of the Athletic community

This week's menu - 3 different kinds of fish and brown rice and green beans

Snapper with Tomato Puree -I took a can of tomatoes, puree it, add ginger, garlic, onions, pepper, paprika, cinnamon, lime and lemon juices, some hot pepper jelly - Brushed that on top of the Snapper and bake it for 10 mins at 450 - It is slightly undercook when you take it out but as it remains in the pan, it will cook more. Trust me!

Flounder with spicy yogurt sauce - I used coconut yogurt since i cannot have dairy, lemon, lime juices, cayenne pepper, sesame seeds, a little fig jelly,white pepper, - I marinated the fish and place on parchment paper, wrap it , and bake for 15 mins at 450.

Salmon with dill mustard sauce - I mix vegan mayonnaise, chopped fresh dill, parsley, shallots, minced garlic, lemon and lime juices, pepper, dijon mustard, white wine. I brush some of the mixture on top of the fish and bake at 450 for 10 mins. Then I add more sauce.

Green Beans with ginger and feta - I got some of the skinny green beans, I essentially steam them at high temperature adding chicken broth with the sliced ginger. Once it is done, I like it crunchy, you sprinkle some feta cheese to give it a tangy brothy taste.

Brown rice is brown rice - I think most of us know how to cook that.

Here are the pics I took!

Enjoy!

So the long hours and weekend work is done but not really! No food recipes to offer. I thought I write about something else.- Diet and diet programs

Lots of long hours and weekend work but Product went out. Now of course, like anything new, there will be some hiccups and quick changes! All part of the industry.

So I don't have anything to report about recipes since I did not make anything. First off, the last batch, I  made, it was intended for my trainer to taste. Well, it never made it to her since we had that snowstorm starting Wed when our workplace let us out at 12:30pm. A total mess! It was not bad until everyone else was out trying to get home the same time. The temperature dropped, the ice started to park and ice over. Lots of cars sliding and skidding all over. What usually takes me 30 mins to get home took about 2 hrs. So needless to say, I did not train for that whole week nor I did any form of workout since I was snowbounded  and that causes cabin fever and I would usually overeat. My workplace was closed one day and delayed another - but some of us had work to do, so pop up the laptop and here we go.

Even the running program had to cancel running for Thurs and Sat - So I did the next best thing to a workout, I went out and help with shoveling the driveway so we can park the cars. A real total body workout!

My first workout after all that was Warrior circuit class at Arrichion hot Yoga in Durham. They have 3 studios now. There is a little of everything for everyone. There is static yoga and flow yoga, and circuit classes and if you are brave enough you can try Sparta which is moving heavier weights.  That sure felt good. I know I would have to sit at the couch again to log in for work, but I was refreshed with the workout.

So my original reason for creating this blog was to help some of my friends with their weight loss and motivate and encourage them. It is not that I know everything but I just knew I can help them some ways. So my friend Anna, said I should write about things I do , what happens when I have my ups and downs, or have cheat days, how do I deal with that.  Also, one of the running girls asked me about losing weight as well. Like I said , I do not claim to be an expert but I am willing to share what I know, what I do just like my running information. So if it helps you, that is a great thing. If it does not, it will make me dig deeper and find an answer.

I have been on every diet program, diet supplements, diet gadgets, that is known to people. I won't name them because that is not important. What is important is what I am about to tell you. The problem with these programs they will tell you you need to lose weight and they tell you to eat so many calories and they might tell you to eat their products. At the end, you do lose weight and then you say you are all done. Why then in 6 months time, you gain it all back and then some?

Well, because they never talk you that it has to be a lifetime change, a behavoir modification in how to you see food. They don't tell you food that is good for you and what is not. Just count calories so you go and eat something that is 100 calories but it is fat free, sugar free- so you feel real accomplished but what you are eating is just chemicals. Why not just eat an apple that is 100 calories? Or some diet programs would say you got this many points to use - say 300 , so they saved up their points to have an ice cream sundae. You are missing the point. You are in denial.  So say, you are successful with losing weight- you have learn nothing to eat the right foods, and right amount, and what to do next to keep it in check. You say "oh I lost weight, I'm done!" Sorry this is a lifetime commitment. Some people are blessed with not gaining a single pound. Well, that is them, certainly not me.

I had a food addiction, food was my demon. It took me a very, very long time to finally come to terms with it. It is an everyday struggle for me. So, I tell my friends to not to beat yourself if you do messed up, just recognize it and start again. Tomorrow is another day! I have finally learn to eat right - from my trainer. EATING CLEAN - to me it means no CRAP - Carbonated drinks, Refined sugars, Artificial Sweetners, Artificial anything and Processed foods. I stick by eating my MACROS -which are your Carbohydrates, Protein and Fat - Yes, carbs are good for you - especially the complex carbs, they help with replacing glycogen levels if you are running long distances or training hard. Protein helps rebuild muscles and fats good fats are good for you like avocado, coconut oils. Other carbs are fruits and vegetables.

This did not happen for me over night, it takes time. I am fortunate or unfortunate depending how one see it that because I have asthma, I have to eliminate dairy and gluten to reduce inflammation. so that skips a lot of foods for me.

As an example of what I eat:

Breakfast: eggs either hard boiled poached, or omelet with veggies or whatever and gluten free oatmeal , or gluten free museli or homemade gluten free toast and berries or guinoa

Lunch: It can be a salad with tons of stuff in it, like meat, veggies, avocado, nuts, or i would have brown rice with meat and veggies or quinoa pasta

I don't have a set meal plan, just what I cook and bring to lunch. I do that because I know what ingredients is in there.

So I always keep what my trainer says EATING CLEAN and if it is stored brought - if it contains more than 7 ingredients or something you cannot pronounced, put it back.

That is it for this article, just about diets

Next week, I will write about motivation or something to help you stick to your diet plan or exercise program

Happy reading!

Sue

Another week of working little later and Sat - however must keep my goals in check! Cooking different theme

Another busy week and another Sat of working. I have a feeling next Sat we will have to work again since product has to go LIVE! It does change what I have planned but that is OK, life is full of changes and we have to go with the flow. Some classes I just could not make - I sure miss yoga and circuit and Sparta at Arrichion Hot Yoga!

This week I went to see the cataract surgeon. I saw more of the technicians than the doctor. All these tests, all these machines and after 2.5 hrs, the doctor said I don't have any eye disease which is a good thing. He has to get some data prior to determine what implants I need and when to have surgery. Of course, I am a bit worried and concerned but eventually it is a necessary evil.

With all that, I did get to go to CrossFit - the next few weeks, we will be concentrating on doing with proper form and technique the squat clean with jerk. I am glad because I suck at it - because of technique so hope to be trying to make progress on this. Also I wrote down on the goal board, toes to bar and still working on unassisted pull up. Last month that did not happen. Just keep at it! Don't give up!

I trained with my trainer 3 times this week if you count the beginning of the week as Sunday. Sunday was an interesting training, she called it overlap training, so you get a lot more training. It was leg day for all 3 of us. Then I went on the dreaded stair master for 20 mins doing intervals- I don't know how the hell I go at one speed, jack it up and how to get back down without falling on my face or ass. After that, I went back up and we did more legs. Boy I was tired and everything hurt the next day.

I love going every Thurs evening and Sat morning to meet up with a bunch of runners training for their 5K. It was a great way for me to get back into running slowly. I had suffered a stressed fracture and then bone spur which stopped me from training for my race. I am getting a chance to be a mentor and I love seeing the improvements and progress people are making. This weekend running Umstead is no easy task - those hills can literally scare you but they did great!

So Sunday is my kitchen therapy. This is one day a week, I go find my sanity and hyperfocus what I love the most - the creation of foods recipes that noone has thought of - maybe they did -don't know. At first, I cook just to create, but I have a new challenge. It is to cook with no fat, no sugar, no salt - to help my trainer. Going to competition means you will be eating pretty bland and boring food. If I able to create dishes that she can eat during her training. Perhaps I can come up with a recipes for all athletes. This is a pipe dream of mine.

So this week, the theme is not as heavy sauce, spicy, more of the natural elements. The menu contains:

Roasted whole head of cauliflower - I took a whole cauliflower, took the green leaves off. Ingredients use:
yogurt( I used unsweetend coconut yogurt), lime and lime zest, cayeene pepper, cumin, curry powder, black pepper. I mixed all of the ingredients and smear it on the whole cauliflower. I place the cauliflower on parchment paper and baked at 400 for about 30-40 mins. Then you just slice it. I tasted it, it is pretty spicy, since I decided to use cayenne pepper instead of chlil powder.

Broiled Carribbean Red Snapper and flounder - I took the left over yogurt mix and added some organic fruit preserves, cinnamon, squeeze lemon juice and then I broil it for 15 mins. Not as interesting as fish with the lemon, garlic tahini sauce or the cashew sauce but less calories.

Baked sweet potatoes - This is easy, wrap each potato with aluminum foil and then slice it up and sprinkle some cinnamon.

The first picture is the Cauliflower - not and brown 

 This is for my trainer to try. I like her opinion on what is made so I can be better. And plus if she eats it, it is trainer approved. I try very hard to eat clean

2014 Year of the Horse, hoping for a more healthy year and to attain goals set - more recipes!

Usually on the eve of Chinese New Year which was 1/30/2014, the Chinese would have a family gathering and there would be 10 dishes - each one symbolic of something good. For instance, fish is 'yu' is Chinese which means abundance, and chicken symbolizes the start of the new year.

Usually I would cook a big meal but this year I did not - was too busy at work to take time off. I was a little bummed out with that but work is work. Otherwsie I would have taken pictures of my dishes. However not all is lost, I got a chance to cook again actually the middle of the week because my kitchen therapy was much needed.

One of my goals was to keep on with my training, so I did get to train with my trainer and also got more classes at Crossfit. Unfortunately, I did not make it to yoga class.

Last night's cooking, I cooked 3 items:

Baked Stuffed flounder - Used 2 pieces of flounder fillets per person. The stuffing I used was part of the stuffing I used for the portabello mushbrooms. I added a little bit of gluten free bread (homemade), crabmeat, rosemary, garlic, sesame seeds. I placed the stuffing in between the fillets. Laid them on parchment paper in a skillet. Bake at 450 for 10-15 mins.

Stuffing for flounder and portabello mushrooms - riped avocado, scallions, garlic, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, lime and lemon juice, onion powder, feta cheese, nutritional yeast, dijon mustard, black pepper, chopped stems from the mushrooms. Mashed all that. For the stuffing for the flounder, I added crabmeat, gluten free bread and some other spices.

Stuffed Portabello Mushrooms - Fill each mushroom with the stuffing and place on baking sheet. Bake at 400 until the mushrooms are tender

Black Rice and Mixed Grain - Instead of just cooking black rice, I added a mixed grain blend which consist of brown rice, short grain brown rice, beans. I cooked that in the rice cooker. This combination gives it a different texture - more like sushi rice.

Here is the finished product all ready for my trainer to try. You can't see the rice, but you can see the flounder and the mushroom.

Also, the stuffing is totally paleo just in case my Crossfit Family wants to try it. I think if I did not add the gluten free bread to the fish stuffing, it would have been fine. I needed a binding agent.

Enjoy!