A Low Cal Recipe: Pho, With A Twist!

I have to share this beautiful soup with you.  It's low calorie and oh, so delicious.  If you like pho, you'll enjoy this soup.  The great thing about it is you can adjust any ingredient amount to your personal taste, and it will still be tasty.  There are no noodles, but I did add bok choy, which gives it some great texture.

Ingredients

• 64 oz Soup, Beef Broth, Bouillon, Consomme
• 1 oz chopped Onions, Green 
• 1/2 tsp Puree Garlic
• 1 tbsp Puree Ginger
• 3 oz Fish Cake
• 2 tsp Salt
• 1 tbsp Premium Fish Sauce
• 2 cups sliced Bok Choy (raw) 
• 4 oz Beef Brisket (for Pho)
• 2 quartered  Limes
• leaves Basil, Fresh
• sprigs Cilantro, Fresh
•  Hoisin Sauce
•  Hot Chili Sauce

Directions

bring the chopped green onions and beef broth to a boil
add garlic puree, ginger puree, fish sauce, sliced fish cake, and salt
add bok choy and cook for 30 seconds
add brisket and boil until no longer pink
serve and garnish with lime, basil, cilantro, hoisin sauce, and hot chili sauce

Progress

This morning I ran two miles without having to stop and give my knee a break.  I'm really excited to be able to get back to running 4-6 miles at a time no problem.  It'll be a while longer, but I think the stretching and conditioning will get me back in action by the summer.  I miss my running group and the motivation and companionship it gives me.  I loved those rainy mornings at Marymoor Park where we'd run and give each other a hard time to egg each other on, and then head to Starbucks after the run for an americano.  I'll be back soon, team!

Small Steps and Trying New Things

I'm finding that when I get busy I let my fitness plan suffer.  To me, this is an indicator that I am approaching it wrong.  Sure, I want to work toward an ultimate goal and keep the big picture in mind, but when my schedule is full, as it has been lately, it helps me more to focus on smaller tasks to keep on track that way.

Abby and I discussed, and it seems that the secrets to our success in dropping extra poundage two years ago were in focusing on specific changes:

• drink more water
• eat more fiber
• cut out beer
• spend more time walking

Anyone can do these things, and there is no room for excuses.

It's time to go back to those simpler times and reteach ourselves good habits and make those priorities.  It seems easy when it's not a complete overhaul.  Today's goal:  drink a hell of a lot of water.  It's an easy thing to forget, so taking a day to be conscious of it might just help kick-start that habit again.

Another thing I'm bringing into my life is an hour of gentle yoga.  I've never been really into yoga, but it's worth a shot, right?  My mom gave me some yoga dvds she was bored with, and I'm enjoying them quite well.

The one I've been focusing on lately, Yoga for the Young at Heart, is actually perfect for what I'm looking for: serious stretching.  I may have mentioned that my right knee has been sensitive recently.  I've talked to a physical therapist and gone to see a massage therapist, and the general consensus has been that I need to be stretching more, and stretching right.  In this dvd, SWW doesn't have you do any crazy poses - it's all really simple and low key, but very targeted.  Here's to hoping this works!

Jump Start with a Detox

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I decided to buy some supplements to help me get back into the groove.  I feel gross from everything I've put in my body over the last week, so I went online and bought Jillian's detox and cleanse system.  It's a no-fasting detox program, which I feel is more realistic than those programs that don't let you eat and then suggest a beverage of maple syrup, lemon water, and paprika.  I'm not quite sure if this is legit, but even if it is a placebo it'll help me get my own results, right?  It's set to arrive next week.  I'm excited and a little nervous.

Have any of you ever done a detox?  What about supplements?  This is totally new to me, so I'd love to hear your wisdom and/or opinions on such boosts.

Regrets and Regressions

The past week has been one long over-indulgence and disregard for what I know is good for me.  in addition to enjoying the culinary side of life in excess, I ignored my promise to my body to stop eating wheat products.  When I stepped on the scale a few days ago I confirmed what I already knew: much of my hard work was undone.  I was even chided by my wii fit, not that I didn't deserve it.  You can see how puffy I am in the picture; most of it is due to wheat consumption.  I regret my absence of will-power and lack of determination to stay on track, and the way my body felt as a result, but we're here to admit our mistakes and move on to focus on positive progress, so let's look ahead.

Sunday evening I paid for what I've done with a long walk in my neighborhood, and then vowed to do better the next day.  I did.  I got some brisk, low-impact exercise in at lunch, skipped snacks and sweets, drank no empty calories, and had a lovely (gluten-free, thankfully) sushi dinner.  I feel a whole lot better today.

Yesterday:

Total Calories: 1627

Net Calories: 1424 (45 under)

H2O Intake: 40 oz

Total Exercise: 45 min

Cardio: 0 min

Recipe For Your Waistline

Last night we had a friend over for dinner, so I made my current standard for quick, easy, nutritious, and tasty:  Beef with Broccoli.  I had a fatty-fatso weekend with my poor eating choices, so this is the first step toward getting back on the horse.

Ingredients

Asian Beef Marinade:

• 1/4 cup Dark Sweet Soy Sauce
• 1 tsp Fish Sauce
• 1 tbsp Ginger Paste
• 1 tsp Concentrated Garlic Paste
• 1 tbsp Sugar

Main Dish:

• 1/4 cup Vegetable Oil, Canola
• 4 cup Broccoli, Chopped
• 1 lb Beef Sirlion, marinaded

Directions

Asian Beef Marinade: whisk all ingredients together, use to marinate meat.

Main Dish: Cut beef into bite sized pieces and let sit in marinade while you attend to other things. Make sure the meat has been fully coated with marinade.

Heat half the oil in a large wok or pan while you chop broccoli to your taste. Add 2 cups broccoli to heated oil and cook for 2 min or until cooked but still firm. Set aside in serving platter and repeat with the second half of the oil and remaining 2 cups of broccoli.

After the broccoli has been set aside, add beef to the pan, along with marinade. Cover with a lid and cook until browned, but not tough. Maybe 3-5 min.

Pour beef and sauce over broccoli and serve.

Brown rice would be an appropriate accompaniment, but I don't really feel it's necessary to tell you the truth... unless you love brown rice and can't get enough of it.

And of course, I had to map out the nutrition info for you:

Get a load of all that glorious protein!  If you want to cut down the fat, it would be easy to just use less oil without compromising the tastiness of the dish, but don't you dare overcook that broccoli!

March Monthly Check-In

I've finally got my March stats for you, complete with a picture.  I'm not throwing down huge numbers, nor do I really look different at all from last month, but I feel like a million bucks for getting back under 160.  It's not much under, but I'll take it.

I've got some big things coming up in the next six months, so I'm happy that I'm still making progress.  In addition to summer weddings I'll be attending and a pool in my complex that went tragically under-used last year, I've got a gaggle of former classmates to impress.  Nothing like a 10 year high school reunion to motivate me into getting into gear.  Looking good is part of it, but more importantly, I'm going to have something interesting to talk about. 

I've decided to enroll in a wine education program at one of our local CCs.  I'm tired of telling people that the only thing I've been up to is sewing and cooking.  There's a lot to be said for both of those, but it doesn't really take a conversation anywhere.  Believe me, I know.

Today's motivational gym song:
War - JJ Grey & Mofro  (shall I play it on repeat?)