Monday, August 30, 2010

The running dog


Pic of running dog after a big run.  Been to the beach, had a bath and blow-wave, then took her pigs ear and went to have a snooze on the bed...

When I first started Round 1 of the 12WBT, I never thought I would actually enjoy exercising.  I lived in fear of burpees and jogging, but now I actually enjoy them.  I've discovered that secret adrenalin rush that fit people boast about and the rest of us think is just a figment of their food-deprived imaginations.  It's actually real and makes you feel amazing for the whole day.  So, I've become addicted to running - and as a result my trusty four-legged training buddy is way over-trained and now insists on vigorous daily workouts and running in addition to her normal dog-walks, games and accompanying me to the office.

But it seems that my body can't keep up with my enthusiasm - or my dog - and I've injured myself so that I can't really run at the moment. Or walk actually...  Strained muscles it seems.  And a super tight ITB that is pulling my knee out of alignment.  And I was getting so that I could do about 8kms at a time.  :( So now I'm stressed.  The running program and the diet I've been following were working really well for me and I don't want to just get fat again because I can't exercise properly.

I've got a fancy gym membership at a super-groovy gym down by the beach.  I've had the membership for years and it's cost me a fortune, but I hardly ever go there because of the love-hate relationship we have.  I love that's it's funky and new and well resourced - with great views - but that means that it's liberally populated with skinny young beautiful people who also appreciate the grooviness of the place.  I went to spinning last week and I was 20 years and at least as many kilos more than anyone else in the place. Sigh.  But I did manage to keep up.  Well, for most of the class anyway.

Back to the physio to get these muscles back in peak running condition...

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Yummy Gluten and Dairy Free Lunch Option - (320cal per serve)

The big thing for me is being prepared.  I need to have my food cupboards and fridge properly stocked and a whole lot of yummy, healthy options for lunch and dinner ready to go, so that when I'm suddenly starving, I can easily make a good choice.

Did I mention I love to cook?  And I'm quite a good cook too.  Today I'm preparing a few things for the weeks ahead.  If you're not worried about the gluten and dairy, you can use cow's milk cheese in this too.

Here's a recipe for what I've made so far today.  It makes 12 serves and freezes well - which suits me fine as I can serve a whole family AND freeze individual portions for my lunch at work.  Enjoy!

Chicken and vegetable frittata
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 leek
1 packet (500g) frozen peas
I bunch asparagus
12 large eggs
400 g sheep's milk fetta or sheep's milk ricotta (or even Greek goat's milk yoghurt)
100g Manchego (hard sheep's milk cheese like parmesan)
1 cup fresh basil leaves
400g chicken (I use a whole roast chicken with the skin and bones removed)

Line large baking dish with baking paper.
heat oil in fry pan and cook chopped leek until soft.  Add the peas and chopped asparagus and cook for another few minutes.  Season as required.
Whisk eggs, add fetta (or ricotta, or yoghurt) and combine. 
Stir through basil, cooked vegetables and chopped chicken.
Pour into lined baking dish and grate the Manchego over the top.
Bake in medium oven for 30 mins or until cooked through.  It rises a bit and appears golden brown on the top when ready.

Friday, August 27, 2010

A new beginning in sight

Over the past year, I've lost more than 20kgs - 13 of them as a result of 12WBT Round 1.  I'm so proud of myself.  I'm feeling fit and healthy and have cleaned out all my old 'fat clothes' for good.  Sadly, I've been so overweight for so long, that I don't have any thin clothes, so I really don't have anything to wear!  I'm loving the new me, but I still have another 20kgs to go and have been hesitant to get carried away buying a new wardrobe when the job is only half done.  I've proven to myself that I CAN lose weight and I CAN keep it off.  Now it's time to finish the job and achieve my goal. So I'm back for Round 3 and ready to kick some major goals and say goodbye to those last 20kgs before Christmas 2010.  I'm not waiting for kickoff - I'm already into it!

So what did I learn in Round 1?  Hmmm.  Well, I learned it's not easy to lose weight and transform your body and your life.  If you do what you've always done, you get what you've always got  - no change.  For me, weight doesn't just fall off when I stop eating junk and walk around the block once a week.  I am gluten and lactose intolerant and allergic to a myriad of other stuff so am always careful with what I eat.  What I have found out is that I need to record (www.calorieking.com.au) everything that I put in my mouth, or I suffer from some wierd form of  'Calorie Amnesia' where I think that if I don't acknowledge that extra handful or two of nuts that I scoffed while making a cup of healthy green tea, I don't have to count them in my daily calorie total and am then genuinely surprised when I don't lose any weight!  I mean it's not like I'm eating lollies and chips - they're just nuts, right?  And nuts are good for you...  Same goes for gluten and dairy free dip with plain rice crackers.  Surely that pious combination can do no harm.  Wrong.  The deal is, if I follow Mish's strict 1200 calorie rule and record every mouthful - weight lost.  If not, no weight lost.  That bit is easy.

Exercise.  I need to do something every day.  That's every day, not every day that I can be bothered.  I have a trusty training partner who makes sure I get out every single day.  I think I'd struggle with the exercise even more without her.  She has four legs and a tail and boy does she love to run!  I call that interval training.  We run for as long and as fast as I can, then I beg for a few seconds respite and we keep doing it until she finally relents and lets me go home.  I must admit I actually enjoy it now.  I love the achievement of being able to run or jog for a sustained period of time, and I love how energised I feel for the rest of the day after a vigorous workout!

It's actually sounding quite easy.  Stick to a defined number of calories and exercise every day.  Surely it's not that hard after all.  And it's not.  I now know exactly what works and can measure it.  If I follow these rules I lose weight.  If not, I don't.  The choice is mine.  And I choose me.  I choose to say goodbye to another 20kgs before Christmas 2010.  One day at a time...

Imagine wearing a bikini for the customary family dip in the pool on Christmas day this year!  I'm going to hold on to that thought and go online looking for a bikini to lust after...