Culinary Expansion

So who knew this round of myfitnesspal and hubby's crazy low carb diet will become a culinary expansion for the family! A dear friend of mine who is also on the crazy low carb diet messaged me to say "I was waiting for you to start to get creative with food" Nice, I like that compliment!

To support hubby's diet and stick to my adherence to the balanced "MyFitnessPals" intake, I have trying to think beyond the stir fry's and the mix vegetable soups!

Here is where the experimentation has resulted in so far

1. Zucchini Boats: Loaded with vegetables and topped with cheese and home made sauce
2. Lettuce Taco Wraps: Instead of beans, a concoction of vegetable stir fly, but having the taco shell as the lettuce: So Lettuce, layered with guacamole, then vegetables, topped with red, green salsa and always topped with more Jalapeno's

3. Modified Vietnamese Pho: And instead of the noodles, using julienned crisp vegetables and then all the fun toppings to mimic a "pho"

4. For Soups: Carrot, tomato, ginger soup. I am telling you dearies, as weird as this sound it was one of the best soups for the winter I have made so far!

5. Beet Salad: Ok this is not the adventurer one, but is my friends tried and tested recipe: Beets tossed with onion, cucumber, ginger, chilli and guacamole as the salad dressing

Here I what I want to experiment with and am perplexed with if it will work

1. Vegetable cutlets/ patty and I am still at loss for a low carb binding agent, I can think of chickpea flour, but since hubby is doing no nuts/ grains this is also out.
2. Vegetable lasagna with Zucchini sheets instead of the pasta sheets! Sounds interesting to me and may work
3. Spinach or Broccoli soup: It really sounds boring to me but I have been told its crazy healthy

What other ideas do you have for this culinary expansion?

On a progress point: Well honestly with weekend travels, milestone parties and general life, every weekend our plan goes out for a toss. But I have been honest enough to track in the tool even if I was 3 times my calorie intake for the day! Giving me a good continuous day streak! Hubby has been also going back every Monday to his healthier food choices and eating all green vegetables as needed.

Can we both improve: Hell yes! Are we both doing okay: Yes! and Is there directional progress: Maybe!

I failed and still won (I Think)

A long time ago I had decided I WILL NEVER DIET again. I have nightmares from my college days and been through that "body hating or shaming phase". I am definitely NOT proud of that. My grown up and more mature mantra for over the last decade has been: NO Diet. NO focus on weight loss but the focus should be on eating healthier, getting fit and overall upping the energy levels. It's made me happier!

As a mother of two young, highly impressionable kids this seems to be working well.  My husband and I "try not to" talk about weight but feeling healthy. We "try not to" talk about being fat/short/stubby etc. But more around feeling confident about yourself and taking care of yourself.

And mind you- WE ARE NOT THE FITTEST/ HEALTHIEST or even close in the vicinity of "Fit Person". But still, I very strongly believe in Being confident of your body the way it is, being aware of your food choices and above all enjoying food since it's a very important part of your gatherings, your family time. For me, it is the way to a happier self.

Having said all that, I have gone way off the path of getting fit or even being fit! All good, but just crazy busy with work, family visiting, kids and wonderful "work life balance" which was thrown out the window. Yes I know, the lamest excuse of them all: Life is busy and being fit was prioritized lower, way lower. But oh well, that's what happened.

Recently, over one of our fun filled dinner's, a girlfriend mentioned her diet plan which has worked for her the effects showed beautifully on her: In Short, No Carb, no Sugar, and just vegetables and fruits with protein's. I was so far away from 'my fit self' I said, I will try this diet breaking my decade old promise to myself.

After recovering from the flu, I went right in and Failed Miserably on Day 3!

It was too hard for me to be on that diet, my carb craving kicked in and my crankiness was insane. I kept thinking of food! And above all I just felt guilty on not practicing what I preach "Focus on healthy eating and not Weight Loss"

So after failing miserably at this, here is where I am: I am glad over that fun dinner, my friend told me about this no Sugar, No Carb  diet. Since two things happened.

One, I realized how far I had digressed from healthy eating and fitness overall.

Two, I am chatting with my friends , exchanging fun recipes and above all BITCHING ABOUT IT. Since Getting Fit' is hard!

My previous journey of "Getting Fit" had been the most successful ever, I was eating everything (Thanks to MyFitnessPal in keeping me honest), I was working out (Thanks to wonderful workout buddy) and most importantly I was giving the kids a run for their money in the family soccer days (Thanks to the kids vs adult games and our competitive selves)

Here is where I am:  My friends and hubby are continuing the original diet plan "no sugar, no carb, no white food etc etc". They continue to support me in my 'modified' version and I continue to support the three of them for their journey!

Isnt that what Getting Fit is all about: Getting the support, encouragement and making a move in the right direction.

Yep....I have slipped!

Nope, I have not forgotten about it...but yes, its ONLY at the back of my mind! I have slipped on the 'Getting Fit Business'.

I have become lazy and lazier these past weeks. May be its the Chicago Summer, the continuous BBQ's, the lazy mornings and even lazier evenings, my stupid knee, I really don't know, but I have become lazy about the 'getting fit'

My model is suppose to be simple.... Log your food, go to the gym/ keep a routine and then enjoy the process with buddies who help and encourage. Its not about loosing weight, its about being fit, energetic and happy!

But, I have not been logging on MyFitness Pal at all now. I broke my 74 day streak a few weeks ago,  and now haven't picked up the baton again!
For the gym, in summary, I injured my knee (I think at a stupid but super fun bowling game) and since then doctors orders are no squats, no pivot motions, no pounding of the knee... aka, no gym routine that I had down and was consistent!

Due to my knee injury, I am in the self pity mode and hence not even moving a muscle for any basic workout routine. I think I am being kinder to my knee. I sound like my grand mum, "kinder to my knee", but trust me being in constant dull pain in knee is no fun. And the pain goes from dull to shooting stabs in a matter of seconds. Read: Self Pity :-)

And it shows.... I am dragging my feet by end of day, I cant keep up with the kids soccer games and above all, I am feeling crankier!

Every Monday, I think.... next week I will start.

Please tell me I am not alone...... please leave some motivational messages :-/

Aaah! So, here I am picking up again. But this time..... not the baby steps that I love, I am actually leaping and jumping, since hey, now I know what to do.

So
Step 1: Join the gym THIS WEEK and actually go
Note to self.... if you pay up the monthly fees, its the best motivation
Step 2: Re-start logging on the weight THIS WEEK and actually not exceed the calories
Note to self....it takes only 10 minutes a day to enter in the food consumed
Step 3: Kick my buddies really well, I cant believe they are not helping me in stopping the slide!
Note to them.... be prepared for the kicking!

See it's their fault! ;-)

You thought I forgot???

Nope, I have not forgotten about the whole business of buddying up, logging food and being a little more active than I was before. The long, painful but satisfying journey for 'Getting Fit' 

So I am still 'at it' albeit slower with hiccups and not 'glamorous results' but hey the slow and steady wins the race.

And the winner gets a pat on the back :-)

Working Out

Last few weeks, with a travelling spouse, the 'workout' took a back seat. Yes, I could have done the exercises at home, but I decided sleeping in will be better (It was!!!)

But now that life is back to normal with equal number of adults to kids, I am back at the gym. The first day back in the class after 3.5 weeks was crazy bad and though I was not really sore, I definitely was 'tired' sooner. But the rhythm is settling back in which is a good thing. However, my old old knee injury is acting up and until the doctor gives me a clean bill of health, I plan to just enjoy the "Ride" class, which is 45 minutes of riding a bike mixed in with limited strength and cardio. Love it!

My Fitness Pal

Yippie, 50 days streak aka logging in almost every morsel of food in the app to see how much I am eating. I have been logging but have been over the calorie intake almost every single day. I have been unbalanced, ideally it should be in the ratio of 50:30:20 for Carb: Protein: Fat. I have been 'Way Off' and I blame all the delicious goodness of Indian sweets and snacks around the house.

BUT I am logging religiously, sometimes at a high level sometimes faking the data based on memory for the day.  I know I know, hopefully will get back in the groove soon enough.

Buddying up

With summer setting in and our eagerness to be out and about, my buddies and I are 'at it'. Even a simple message of 'Good Job' or 'Let’s go to the gym tomorrow' or 'Why haven’t you logged in' are good encouragements.

Of course, my new buddy aka my husband is waking up at the ungodly hour of 5:30 and coming with me to the gym. And having this new buddy is all the more 'fun'

So there you have it, the details...

Summary: 

There has been no weight loss, but NO GAIN as well. There have been NO clothes being suddenly too big for me (I wish!), but the best result for me: I am able to sustain extended soccer games with my kids in the park and really make a run after the Frisbee in the evenings, so I am truly loving that!

For me getting fit is less about 'the vanity' of it but more about the 'energy levels' of it. And though the compliments help, the true fun is listening to my daughters chat in the morning: 'Mummy just came back from her yoga and she is stinking eeeew'

I chase them every now and then to slather them with a 'sweaty hug'.

Perfect way to start the morning.

Before the trip, an update on 'Getting Fit'

Spring Break is here! Yay, well let me restate, spring break for my 9 and 4 year old is here, yay and instead of maniacally looking for child care and classes, we are using the time wisely and heading to the beach.

So before start our beach bumming and lazing around on the soft sand under a gentle sea breeze and the sun making us relaxed, here is an update on the wonderful buddying up and Getting Fitter business.

My buddies are ‘at it’ along with me; we are sharingdelicious yet healthier variations of recipes, tracking our meals in My Fitness pal and above all are nudging each other to push a little harder in the gym. And the support helps, it really does!

We are just nudging and not nagging and my husband, Sumit will be quick to remind me that I am on the 'edge between nudging and nagging' so back off! :-)

Trust me when I say this: NOT A SINGLE POUND LOST- in 65 days of continuous logging in my meals painstakingly in Fitness Pal and 45 days of waking up at idiotic 5:30 am on weekdays for my gym class, NOT A SINGLE POUND LOST!

BUT, and this But is important: I am feeling so much healthier, I can hold a plank for 41 seconds instead of three seconds, I can do 14 continuous push-ups instead of zero and above all, I can carry 2-2 gallons of milk on my 4th floor walkup unit without crashing on the couch right after!

Yes, my standards of fitness are very basic, I call them 'achievable goals' or 'baby steps' or even 'let me get to this goal and then move a small step up'.

Trust me, for as long as I remember, I have felt 'unhappy about my shape or my arms or my flab or my F-A-T or just hating myself after I chow down that cake' and for right now, just doing something about it is making me feel happy.

The other day my 9 year old was talking about fitness and Sumit asked her, who is fit according to her and why: She very casually said: You and mummy, since you do yoga every day or go to the gym and are happy.

Of course we were gushing and explaining her about the three pillars of being Fit according to us: Good food, good work out but above all Mental Peace. With the most emphasis on the last one ‘mental peace’

BUT, my 9 year old's comments made me very happy; she does not look at me as ‘as I view myself’. She looks at me being F-I-T and being happy and that itself is the best body image lesson I could ever give her without even trying to.

Now, all heavy conversation aside....... be safe and be happy and I will be back from my beach vacation all relaxed and sun-tanned and craving more fun in the sun!

Getting Fit, some good and some even better

By now you know, I am not the 'fittest person' and I am far faaaar from being the size I want to be, but, well I am doing something about it.

Last year was much better health wise for me and definitely spirits wise as well. This year, I want to continue the trend in the right direction. And I have a buddy system in place now with a lot of follow through and just checking in with each other to ensure we are 'doing something about it'

So what's going on in the 'Getting Fit' business?

1. My fitness pal: I have been logging religiously on this for 36 days now and I want to continue until spring break and then enjoy the beaches to come back to more of the same.

2. Balanced meal: I have been eating everything (which is what I love about this tool), and I have increased protein in our vegetarian meals, more tofu (this tofu steak has become a staple in our house), more quinoa and definitely more lentils (which I really don’t like and hubby loves) and continuing our regular vegetable infused dishes

3. Working out: So this has been a big game changer, I have signed up for a neighborhood gym and 3-4 days a week, I have been waking up at god awful 5:30 am to go for a 45 minute class. I have been crashing every single night at 9:30 pm. Some days I have even gone for a 5 am class, which for me is crazy good.

4. Weighing in: I have been weighing myself once a week, there has been no weight change, it has not gone up or down. My trainer says: Muscle formation. I will go with that story, makes me feel better, but weighing in day makes me feel like ‘examination day’ and so far, no pass and no fail. I am focusing on the no fail element! It gives me hope that I can Pass someday

5. Buddying Up: This has been the real motivator. I take a morning class; Sumit heads out for an evening class. We encourage each other and discuss the crazy workout our instructors think we can do. The kids have a hearty laugh when we enact the trainers! I message my partners in crime, it’s just nice to be able to say: ‘I am so sore, I can’t walk!’ or 'Why haven’t you logged in today'

I was debating whether I should post this or not especially considering it’s only been a month and my before and after pictures look exactly the same!

But wisdom says, if you do something good, brag, if you do something bad, complain!

So here it is

Yay, I have been going strong for a month    : the good

My gosh, waking up at 5:30 am really sucks: the bad

I can do this……. and sustain it                    : the best

Buddy System

Ever since we were kids, the concept of 'buddy system' existed. Going to the loo in a restaurant, take a buddy. Getting punished in class for being naughty, a buddy gets out with you. In college, the partying night, have a buddy. And then in life as you progress, the buddy system continues.

And it’s a good system to have. There is someone who is accompanying you, has your back and above all: is there.

Why should the "Getting Fit" journey be any different?

For me, Getting Fit is not about losing weight (though it would be an added plus and it is a good indicator), it’s about being active, doing things without being out of breath and above all, being able to enjoy the food without feeling like a glutton. Considering that I am self proclaimed vegetarian foodie and over 50% of my posts are recipes, the last part is really important for me, enjoying the food

Among-st all-the-things-I-have-tried, MyFitness Pal has worked out for me.

Have I lost oodles and oodles of weight, hell no. But do I feel better, stronger and above all more in control of my body. Hell Yes. But I know I have a long way to go still!

For me, its about small steps, so in order to progress and continue this journey, I am doing a buddy system for different elements of the 'Getting Fit' business...

So now I have a buddy, a friend who I nudge and she nudges to continue tracking, just logging what we eat. Every single day. Simple.

So now I have a buddy, my hubby who is competing with me to get to a particular number by year end.

So now I have a buddy, a friend who is my 'workout partner' and we encourage each other to go for another 10 minutes through the class.

So buddy up,  keep logging, keep moving and keep enjoying the process. 

Above All continue to Get Fit. 

Travel & Stay Fit: Yes you can!

There are two things that I am passionate about, travelling and food!

If you have been following my blog, know me or even just met me, i could go on and out about these two things. In addition, over the last year, I have been following through with 'My Fitness Pal' Trust me, this is the longest I have stuck to the Getting Fit business and actually seen some positive results

Like my husband says, before we finish a trip, Garima is already thinking of the next one! Sadly work comes in way of 'my travelling adventures'. I am happy to say, the kids have travelling bug and definitely are showing signs of budding foodies.

One of the things that happens with this is: 'Getting Fit' always goes out the window when on a trip.

I want to eat all the local delicacies and my 'calorie meter' tells me I am way over my recommended amount. Of course after a trip, when I stand on the 'Scale of disaster' the truth is revealed. Yes, ignore the jeans fitting tightly, the t shirts being a little snug etc... I ignore it on a trip, until I get home and stand on my 'Scale of Disaster'

Story of my life!

But with this 'Getting Fit' business, I am trying to figure out and learn ways of Staying Fit, Enjoying local cuisines and continue Travelling and exploring.

Here is my simple and doable three point guide , I am hoping to add more 'points' as I travel more and eat more

1. Portion Control:
Eat everything you want, but do manage to have a little portion control. These 'buffets' are very appetizing, I get it, trust me.
May be take more variety and less portions. This way you can thoroughly enjoy the buffet and still not be 'way over the recommended calories'. Start with a salad, always!

2. Water &  Snacks:
Hydrate, any trip you take, be it beautiful Quebec, The friendly Vegas or the serene mountains of Leh, hydrate up. This way, you are snacking lesser during the excursions.
And if you are snack-er like me, carry healthy nuts, cereal bars, apple, banana or a simple sandwich loaded with vegetables.

3. Don't fall in the trap of 'Cheat Day':
Trust me, its hard. Read point 1, manage the portions so you can eat everything you really want. And at the same time skip the extra slice of chocolate cake since its your 'Cheat Day'. Its a slippery slope. I know since 'My Fitness Pal' graph is all over the place since I use this 'Its my Cheat Day' excuse a bit often.

Got You, didn't I: You were expecting me to blabber about use the gym, use the hotel facilities... haha!
In that case, you don't know me. On my vacations, I am lazier than my normal self.
You never know, sometimes just relaxing does wonders to your system! The stress eating goes away and you are eating when you are hungry and not when you are worried

 Enjoy these shows if you are in Vegas, take these beautiful excursions if you are in Vegas, the Sin City, book a hotel and enjoy the spa, the gym can wait, but truly relax!

Check out this amazing Website for Vegas, and I cant wait to book my next trip and explore all their amazing deals, and the only exercise I plan to do, is really thoroughly enjoy the city and follow  simple and doable three point guide: P-S-E (Portion- Snacking-Enjoy)!


But I do believe in really trying to stay fit and not gain the 'travel pounds'. If I come back at the same weight that i left before the trip, I am happy.

Falling off the 'Getting Fit' wagon

I am still kind of doing the 'My Fitness Pal', I am conscious about it, but am not being very strict about it. And it shows, The pounds that were melting away like ice cream in a scorching sun has become more like the stagnant water puddle!

The silver line, the pounds that fell off are almost still off! I have gained 2-3 pounds back. But knowing me, if I don't get serious about it, they will all climb back in slowly but steadily. And there goes my 6 months of effort. 

I am getting back to, 'Oh its just one spoon of Bhujia, oh it’s just one cookie' However, I know firsthand how harmful it truly is. I want to be able to get back to me: 'It’s one cookie, that I will quarter up and consume throughout the day instead of all at once!' This way, I still eat it, manage the cravings, but don't cave in.

That's what this 'Getting Fit' business is all about: Eat healthy, manage portions, enjoy life but make healthier choices!

So this post, is more like a reminder/ kick in the hind side, whatever you want to call it, but I do need to get back 'serious' about it.

Changes now are going to be a little more drastic, especially since I have done this before.

So yes, my husband is fore warned that I may be crankier....

Change 1: Be within the calorie recommendation for at least 4 days in a week

Change 2: Walk, Walk, Walk: So far I have been managing the intake and nothing else. So now with the weather warming

up, I could do the simplest thing: Walking

Change 3: Snacking, there is no point denying it, i love snacking. At home, I will hover near the snack cabinet and pop a few things here and there. So, I have gotten things like Skinny Pop, Multigrain crackers and my favorite Rice Puffs!

Here in my latest love: ' Masala Skinny Pop' Here is the simple recipe

1. Heat olive oil, add Jeera/ Rai, 1 tsp Haldi

2. Add skinny pop popcorn, add Mirchi + Salt to taste!!

And ta-da a healthier and more delicious version of the plain old pop-corn!

I am truly enjoying how my dresses fall and my 'older shirts' fit me finally. I know I am away from my dream weight and it will stay in my dreams if I don’t do anything about it.

So one more kick in the back side to 'get serious about the 'Getting Fit' wagon. Again!

Healthier version of Bottle Gourd/ Lauki Kofta

Bottle  gourd/ Lauki is something that took me a really long time to develop the taste for. Growing up, I definitely didn’t like it much. Sumit on the other hand devours it. Therefore, I cook it often, and the kids now like it and have developed a taste for it. Of course, it helps, since they think it’s 'Cucumber Sabzi'

Sadly, we don’t get bottle gourd/ lauki closer to where we live, so recently, Sumit went to the Indian Store and got me my 'Lauki' I was so excited, I said: Fine, let’s make the Kofta.

But keeping 'MyFitness Pal' in mind, I didn’t want to fry the kofta, so here is my modified version... still very delicious, much quicker and above all healthier

For Kofta:

1. Grate 1 medium Lauki

2. Finely chopped onion: 1/4 cup

3. 1/4 tsp finely chopped ginger

4. Spices: Salt, Chili, 1 Pinch: Ajwain, Poppy Seeds, Saunf

5. Chick Pea Flour: 3-4 tsp

6.  Oil for cooking

To make kofta:

1. Squeeze the lauki to remove excess water, save the water.

2. Add all the remaining ingredients except oil, The batter should be thick so the shape stays, make: 10 round balls

3. In an 'appa' pan/ a cake pop pan/ on simple skillet: Heat one tsp of oil, Add the round balls. Cover and let them cook

4. In about 2-3 minutes, turn sides to cook on the other side

5. In about 2-3 minutes: the crisp Lauki kofta are ready!

Note: If you make on skillet, the kofta will be like 'Patty' and not round, which is fine; it still tastes delicious.

For Gravy

1. 3/4 cup finely chopped onion

2. 1 cup Tomato: chopped

3. 1 clove garlic

4. Green Chili: Per taste

5. Carrots chopped: 1/2 cup

6. Spices: 1 tsp Jeera, Salt, 1/4 tsp Haldi, 1/4 tsp Red Chilli Powder, 1 tsp Jeera powder

To make Gravy:

1. In a skillet, warm oil

2. Add all spices except salt,

3. Add Onion, Garlic and Ginger; Sautee for 2-3 minutes

4. When onion is translucent, add the tomato and carrots and reduce the flame and let it cook for 8-10 minutes

5. When tomato is all cooked (in a mushy pulp); remove from flame and let it cook down

6. I personally prefer a smooth gravy' so I put the gravy in the food processor and blend it in well

Note: Carrots are options, I like adding vegetables to my gravy to enhance flavors and more nutrition

Assembling:

In the serving dish, add the gravy, then the kofta, then sprinkle fresh chopped cilantro and enjoy!!!

This goes really well with 'Paratha/ Roti or even Rice'

The journey of 'Myfitness pal' continues

I had promised that i will report back in a week, so here Iam

Progress: I have documented every morsel of food in my mouth in the app. Yes. I have been +10% of calorie intake, which is well ok I guess. My percentage distribution of food sucked. My FitnessPal recommends 50% carb, 30% Fat, 20% Protein. I have been blowing that for sure, it has been more like 50% carb and 50% fat. So though the calorie intake is farely ok, the kind of food I have been consuming is not that great.

What this means, in plain English is: Since protein is not up to the mark, I get hungry more often and I snack more (read unhealthy snacking) and as you know I can't stay hungry since my crankiness is directly proportional to my hunger, I snack more.

So aim for week 2: Well the obvious, continue tracking progress and then this week, may be increase the protein intake and 'try reducing' the unhealthy fat intake.

Plain and simple. Nothing fancy, nothing out of the world. Increase protein so I stay fuller longer.

Weight Wise: I am at the weight I was before my India trip implying, the weight I gained in India is off. So Yay for small achievements!

What's worked for me this week: Home lunches! I know Sumit laughs now when I say that I will carry food from home! He has been nagging me for years now. But definitely brown bagging lunches has helped. Most importantly for portion control. I still take the Kachori and the Mithai for snacking, but even then knowing the exact intake helps.

I keep coming back to why this model of tracking food in an app works for me: I can eat everything I want. I am foodie and for me to 'diet'is the biggest form of punishment!

So last night at my friends place, I happily ate the pizza and the kidney beans and the Bread Rolls. Knowing that I was still at decent 'balance of food intake'. And I think that's the key for a sustainable model: 'Eat everything, make the right balance and this way you can enjoy food and shed some pounds'

I am hoping to re-start yoga (Re-start after 2 years!!!!) next week, so if anything else, I will strengthen myself. Since I have learned, Yoga does zero for weight loss and wonders for calmness!

Uff, Getting Fit is loosing its drive..

I don’t feel like continuing with the My Fitness Paljourney. It's been fairly easy with amazing results and I have been fitter and healthier and it’s easy to continue on.

I know, but I don't feel like it.

I had almost a month long break with my amazing December trip to India. I met family, i ate there, a lot, I mean when in India, I get to eat all my favorite foods with no effort on my end and its beyond delicious. Win Win.

And so maybe I am getting lazy.

The effect of following through the My Fitness Pal for 2.5 months was fabulous. I fit into all my wedding clothes, I felt on the top of the world receiving all the compliments but above all. I felt like I have accomplished something.

I know these are very same reasons why I should be continuing. But for some reason I am just getting lazy. I have re-started using the app since my return, following through my regular pattern of increasing the protein,portion control etc. and above all noting it down in the app. In the 4 days since I have been back, I have blown through my allocated calories not by a lot, but still blown through them. And I am not feeling guilty about it, that's what is scaring me. But I am not as driven as I was last quarter 2016.

Hmm, I think the best way to do this is my small steps.

Step 1: Use the app and follow through for one full week.

Step 2: Come back, report and follow through end of January

Step 3: Let's just get through Step 1 and 2 first.

Phew, So back to square one

Finally a good sign

Put on the dancing shoes... or may be the dancing dress.

If I could, I would somersault today. As vain as it may sound... I fit almost perfectly in my favorite pair of jeans today. Yippie Yeah!

No holding breath to button it up, no wearing larger t shirts to cover the bulge, no keeping it lowest in my stack of jeans!

Yay!!

I have been quiet diligent in my 'MyFitness Pal' journeythat’s about 8 weeks old now. I have been tracking it, weighing in and definitely working to follow through. I have not started 'working out' or made drastic adjustments to lifestyle yet. But the one thing I have been doing quiet diligently is 'portion control' and more protein and less carbs. 

If you read my first post or actually any post regarding this whole business: You know I love my carbs, The roti's, the bread's, the pasta's.They are my staple meal.

This tool classifies your meals in' 50% Carb, 30% Fat, 20% Protein. In all honesty, I am generally over in carb and less in protein. In the 'Fat' content depends on the day :-).

The toughest part of using the 'MyFitness Pal' is reducing the carb intake.

Regardless today is the day to celebrate, I am almost fitting in my favorite part of jeans. I will take that.

The really nice part of this tool (and the key reason I have been able to follow through this) is that it does not say: don’t do this, don’t do that. I can eat everything and still lose some of the weight and above all fit into my jeans!

I love my food and I love the fact that I can eat everything, enjoy the flavors and just manage controlling the portions. It so far has been sustainable. Of course I go over my 'recommended calorie' intake generally on weekends. There have been days where I have consumed twice the number of recommended calories (We just had Diwali season, I mean come on!!!).

But the good thing is weekdays it’s fairly easy to follow through. Brown bagging lunches, skipping on sugar in coffee, no eggs in desserts have all helped me a little bit.

The biggest help has been Sumit and his sweet compliments :-) It is quite a motivator I tell you.

So over all- Yippie Yeah

Do you know how I celebrated my fit in the jeans: Over a bowl of Sriracha Flavored Potato Chips!!!

First Goal: Continue using the tool till October Trip: Done

Second Goal: Increase protein and use the tool till December Trip: Almost There!

Third Goal: Re-start the tool after December trip and get to my target weight by end of first

quarter 2016: Hmm, Will report in 2016.

But I love the compliments and the confidence I have that I can get to my third goal as well.

Holiday Season and this whole My Fitness thing really SUCK!!!

 Yeah, the title sort of says everything!

It's lovely Fall Weather here and there are pumpkins and bright orange all around you see. There is Apple Cider smells on the streets and Delicious treats at every table you see. There are pot lunches and deliciousness all over.

And its only October, the best is yet to come, we have Thanksgiving & XMAS just around the corner.

AND I complain.

Simple Reason: I want to stick to my next target: Follow MyFitness Pal through my big vacation in December.

And this means all this deliciousness around me makes me cranky. I see the warm hot cider and I calculate calories mentally. I see this candy which I can steal from the kids and mentally I check the fat content. In pot lunches, I see all this food and mentally dream of the butter that was put in these delicious smells.

URGH!

This Sucks. Of course I eat, but in moderation (That's the whole point behind the My Fitness Pal).

Instead of the full chocolate, I manage surviving on 1/2 of the size. It satisfies the tongue but not the greed.

And Yes, of course I could eat it and not write it down, but hey I am doing this for myself so if I cheat, it really does not help.

I know its good for me to do this and I have made some progress. But I can complain and am complaining and will complain. I better fit into my target dress by December!!!

And yes, Happy Haloween

Foodie turning into Select Foodie

With the whole: 'My Fitness Pal' eating habits are now changing a bit(Finally!). I must commend myself for achieving my last week'sgoal: 'To meet the prescribed calorie intake at least twice a week'

I am happy to report, that I met it 5 days and was even under for one day (only 45 calories under: But hey, every bit of it counts, or I hope it counts)

I continue to have my one cheat day, its generally on the weekend!! I tell myself, it makes me sustain the ' My Fitness Pal'

My friend who nudged me on for this app still nudges me on says: 'It's about making better choices'.

Since I 'document' every morsel of food in my tummy, I better be smart about it. Case in point: At a Birthday party, I skipped on the chips and salsa and chose another vegetable sandwich. No Empty Calories is what I told myself!

The Mini Milano Dark Chocolate cookies are helping me keep me chocolate craving in check. Yay! I am trying to practice moderation. I say 'trying' since it’s really hard to stop at one Mini Milano.  The menu and the content of the dinner plate are changing ever so slightly! Hence the term 'Select Foodie'. It should be Foodie in moderation but then it sound boring!

This slight change has made a slight change in weight going in the right direction! Slight but hey, every victory counts!

I have a new person joining in my attempt to use this app and improve eating habits. Sumit, he joined the bandwagon and it's been fun to have someone to complain with and to. Someone who gets it.

Honestly, however: having him join in, is good and bad. He has a tendency of really truly following through (Yeah Yeah, I know that is so awesome).

So the Bad: 

1. On Day 3, he stopped by picked up Tofu & edamame and made his own dinner so that the protein content is high! Me on the other hand was eating Kale Paratha with vegetables due to my 'carb overload' issues.

2. He has lost the same number of pounds as me now (I took three weeks to get here and him only 1 week) URGH!!!

3. He manages to go for a run/ a tennis game here and there and me, well I am still lazy about that! URGH!!

And the Good:

1. It’s amazing to have him make Tofu for me before dinner so I can 'snack right'

2. He will happily take my bowl of 'snack' away and pass me edamame!

3. Our dinner conversations are now more like: 'I better eat more tofu and get my protein up instead of pass me another bowl of namkeen'

4. Plus I think it’s really cool to discuss 'Protein-ifying everything' with someone else other than google.

So yeah, the good outweighs the bad!

When I started this, I wanted to follow this through until my vacation in October. With the vacation almost here, I am so happy thinking I did it. I am hoping I can continue at least 'logging the food' for the duration of the trip!

Next Step: Follow through till my big vacation in December.

Remember: It is one step at a time!!

Story of brown bagged lunches

Home cooked homes will always be healthier, less expensive and more convenient. I know that. I have known that all along my career. But I dislike packing food from home and bringing it to work. Trust me, laziness is not a reason. I am used to packing lunches for the family.
For myself, I like to eat out mainly because someone else has cooked and delivered it. I just go, pick it up and enjoy! The other reason is, I like to step away from my desk and get a break or process work stress or just not think of work for a bit.

But in my attempt to use 'myFitness Pal' to its full extent, packing home cooked meals is more calorie efficient for sure. And the stepping away from my desk has become a post lunch brisk walk around the block to refresh and de-stress.

So I am trying to pack my lunch from home, at least 2-3 times a week now as against none before.

My brown bagged lunch recently was: Tofu-Vegetable noodles (From the night before) and Soup. I made more than enough to ensure lunch is packed for both the adults of the house.

Recipe:

Ingredients:
Wide rice noodles: 1 pack

Vegetables:
1. Onion: 1/4th cup slices
2. Carrots: 2 cups: Julienne
3. Green Beans: 1 cup: Finely chopped
4. Cabbage: 1 cup: Finely slices
5. Kale: 1 cup: Finely chopped
6. Tomato: 1 cup quartered
7. Bean Sprouts: 2 cups
8. Tofu: Firm, sliced: 2 cups
9: Pepper: 1/4 cup: Thinly sliced

Spices:
1. Salt per taste
2. Red Chili Powder: per taste
3. Soy Sauce: 2 tsp
4. Vinegar: 1 tsp
5. Soy Sesame Sauce: 3 tsp (I used Iron Chef pre made sauce)

Garnish
1. Wedge of lemon
2: Shallots: 1/4 cup sliced
3. Crushed Peanuts: 1/4 cup

Process
1. Boil the noodles al dente as per package instructions and let it cool
2. In a wok, heat 2-3 tsp of olive oil.
3. When hot, add the onions, once translucent, add all vegetables except Kale & Bean Sprouts
4. Cover the wok on medium heat for about 4-5 minutes, once the vegetables are tender; add all the spices, kale and tofu
5. Cover the wok on medium heat for about 2-3 minutes, add bean sprouts and adjust seasoning.
6. Add the cooked noodles and toss. The wok makes it easier to mix the noodles with the vegetables.
7. When ready to eat, complete the garnishing and enjoy.

I added SriRacha sauce to increase the spice level and skipped on crushed peanuts.

Here is a picture of my 'Lunch' at work

The good thing about this recipe is, its very basic. I basically took all vegetables at home and chopped/ sliced them. Secondly, from start to finish it is about 30-45 minutes and is a hit with the kids and adults alike. I have the soy sesame sauce at home so its easy for me, honestly any of the pre-made sauces work, you can also make a tomato gravy for this. I just cut corners. On a lazy Sunday, we enjoyed watching our Hindi Movie: 'Chak De' with the kids and pigged out on the noodles.

The bean sprouts added at the end make it a bit crunchy which I like!

Cook & Enjoy

Finding people to share our journey

1 week into My Fitness Pal, I am excited. No, I have not miraculously lost any weight or feel even a tiny bit curvier. It is Business as Usual.

 

But I am excited. I get the general idea of my calories intake for the day. I say 'general idea' since I don’t spend the time to find the 'exact food' I eat. It helps me think about, oh I have this big dinner tonight, maybe I should have a lighter lunch. What I truly appreciate in the app is my graph of nutrients and breakdown by meals.

For the first time, I see how Carb heavy my meals really are.

I always knew I eat a lot of carbs, but when I see that over 60% of my day intake is carbs, I go like Wow. Of course, my roadblock is: my intake of carbohydrates is directly proportional to energy level. Yes, I am aware scientifically it does not make sense, but hey, you can't change a life time of eating habits in one week.

The other cool thing is the validation that dinner is my heaviest meal of the day. I know it should be 'King's breakfast and pauper's dinner'. But honestly, with our lifestyle, it really does not happen. This is the meal I can truly sit down and enjoy with the kids and Sumit!

But here is the shocker, I am calorie counting! I was such a stuck up and always said, 'Yeah not sustainable'. That's why they say, “Never say Never". I think I am still a stuck up and continue to say 'It's not sustainable but I am sticking to at least trying'

My daily calorie intake is still 'way' higher than what is prescribed for me. The good thing is that I have not cheated on the app yet. If I eat it, I log it. If I drink it, I log it. So it's good and bad. I am hoping to make some tweaks in my meals to come closer to my recommended calorie intake.

Aim for next week is first to continue using the app and next to meet the prescribed calorie intake at least twice a week. I am doing this 'One Step at a time'

So I am finding people to share my journey. As usual the first line of support is with Sumit. I think deep down he knows, I will give up soon, but while I am doing this he is cheering me on. His nudge, do it till our next vacation which is only a month away! Second line of support is my friend who got me introduced to this app: 'My Fitness Pal'. I continue to bitch to her about how hard this is. She encourages me none the less. And then of course to keep me honest, log it here and in the app.

Now for the complaint: 'It's so hard, just counting every morsel of food that goes in your head. It sucks!'

And the Update: 'I am still going to try’

Getting Fit.................round 2354346593764

See there is a pattern here, I start this 'Getting Fit' business' follow through for a bit and then let it slide. And then another phase comes and then I start something new. I wonder if it’s a follow through problem or just that I get bored problem.

Whatever the problem may be, the weight is definitely not sliding off on its own. The tiny silver line, its not increasing, but I am over my target weight at the rate of 10 pounds each kid.

See what I did there; blame the kids of extra baggage and not myself!

Getting back to the point, I have tried only salads for dinner 4X a week, Fit Bit, Meal planning, 3X a week work outs, walking, climbing stairs, slight modifications to lifestyle etc. And case in point, I just lose track of it, be it a vacation, a busy phase or just life in general.

So in spirit of yet another attempt at "Getting Fit' is using 'My Fitness Pal'. Trust me anyone with a smart phone has this app and people who have tried it swear by it. A dear friend on a lazy Friday afternoon chat session swore by it and said she is only 5 pounds over her pre baby weight. That was motivation enough and of course her nudging me on and saying: Don't do anything just log your food. That's it. Simple enough.

She knows how much I hate dieting since for me it’s not sustainable. I get super cranky! Her punch line was, just do what you do and start noting it down, since the calories of everything you consume are right in front of you, it makes you question the choices.  And so I did, 4 days of using it has made me realize I am eating an average of 600 calories over my target for the day. Hmm.

Its only day 4 and as of yet I have not made any changes to my diet. Small things like: taking the pita on falafel sandwich adds 200 calories, so I skipped the pita. I skipped sugar on my daily coffee mainly so the differential of my target calorie intake and my actual consumption is not that much. One step at a time.

This comes to the next point, is 'One step at a time' the right thing to do? I am young and at a place that I should be definitely more active and fitter than what I am. Do I need the 'Big Bang' approach since the pattern of 'One step at a time' is not really working for me? I wonder.

While I wonder, I start using 'My fitness Pal'

Quick Food Fix: Mixed Lentil Pancakes

It's always about how quickly can you get from start of putting the meal together to serving to the family. On any given day, I have about 20 minutes, 25 minutes if I am really lucky. With four hungry tummies growling, it better be quick, nutritious and delicious.

My mom's teaching is ingrained in me, 'Everything in life can wait, except food. Must be good, healthy and delicious. 'Oh mom, why o why!

I am a big advocate of cooking fresh for the kids et al. The more I expose the kids to different flavors, cuisines and concoctions, hopefully, easier they will have in life as Vegetarian Foodies like me.

Another addition to my Quick Fix Recipe

Name: Mixed Lentil Pancakes.

Note to self: Be more creative with the names

 Time to prepare: 10 minutes

Time to cook: 10 minutes

Yields: 6-8 medium size pancakes

Ingredients:

Onion: 1/2 cup finely chopped

Ginger: 1 tsp finely chopped

Garlic: 1 tsp finely chopped

Chili: Per taste, finely chopped

Millet Flour: 1 1/2 Cup

Gram Flour (Besan): 1/2 Cup

Boiled lentils/Quinoa: 2 cups

Water: Approx 1 cup

 In this recipe: I had used the pre-boiled 'Quinoa, Toor Daal, Moong Daal' from the night before. But feel free to choose your own concoction; any left over lentils will be perfect addition.

Spices:

Fennel Seeds: 1 tsp

Ajwain/ Carram Seeds: 1 tsp

Jeera: 1/2 tsp

Salt: Per taste

Mirchi: 1 Tsp

Lemon Juice: 1 Tsp

Instructions:

1. Mix all of the above ingredients with a little water to make the batter. It should not be runny, nor should it be too thick.

2. On a heated pan, spread out as you would do pancakes. I used non-stick, so no oil was needed.

3. On Medium flame, cover the pan and let it cook for 2-3 minutes.

4. Flip the pancakes, cover and cook for 2-3 minutes

5. Serve with Chaat Masala, Green Chutney/ ketchup

The cooking takes slightly longer, since you have lentils and millet flour both of which have longer cook times, so if you take a larger pan, you can make more at the same time like I did, see picture below.

 

Now, if you have been following my blog (Yay!), you know I love making Chilla's/ Indian Pancakes a lot for our breakfasts/ quick snacks. This one qualifies as a meal in itself. The lentils are heavier and hence you do tend to get filled up quicker.

 

So Bon A petit! Enjoy yourself.