This last week was better in terms of eating and exercise. I didn’t use the elliptical for five days – as planned – but I managed four (Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri) at 25 minutes each. The last two days I was able to go straight through without any pauses! This is a big deal for me and I am proud – even though I skipped Thursday, due to being tired.
Someone told me that when you do something for 3 weeks, it becomes a habit – and I love the fact that I now have an exercise habit. That’s something I have never achieved, before I started on this shape-shifting quest. Now I just want to figure out where I can go to swim without paying through the nose for it – and without battling crowds! My husband will show me the new exercises (resistance – with bands) this weekend – as my shoulder has been hurting all week. (I think I injured it when we moved some furniture a while ago.)
For the most part, I stuck to the planned menu and when I cheated, it was with healthier choices – such as vegetable chips. I discovered that it’s still cheating (to a degree) as they still have a high salt content, even if the fat and carbs are lower. I made the Tamari Kale Chips – kinda okay – but my husband took one taste and turned his nose up. The flavor was fine and I didn’t mind the texture of the crispy sections of kale – but the tough “veins” made them chewy. I think that next time – I will cook them at a lower heat for longer and not just remove the stems, but take the thick veins of the leaves out as well.
On Monday night I came home ill (possibly heat stroke) – after standing at the bus stop in the heat. I went straight to bed and my husband went out to get burgers so I didn’t have to cook. The only thing relatively healthier were the onion rings in batter – rather than chips. I felt bad but got back on the horse the next day.
I’m finding that I tend to shy away from fruits (apart from bananas in my yoghurt) – as I worry about the sugar content – but what I discovered is that I’m more likely to reach for chocolate or ice cream, so it’s back to fruit next week (in moderation!) I love all the berries, cherries, peaches, apricots and pineapple – not so fond of apples, kiwi and grapes – however I do incorporate them in my cooking. Apparently grapes are high in sugar anyway, so it’s not much of a loss.
I made the Shrimp and Lemongrass soup – but (as usual) it didn’t turn out exactly like the picture in the original recipe – but it was delicious!
The Chicken and Mushroom Casserole was lovely!
(See previous posts for recipes)
Click to go to The Lotus Blooms in the Mud WordPress site for details about Meditation in Nashville
(Also – “Reflections on life, dharma and art with Lisa Ernst”)
I will be starting meditation on Monday at the Nashville Library – and will endeavor to incorporate meditation into my schedule. Looking forward to it!
One of the vegetarian recipes I will be cooking next week is from “The Hare Krishna Book of Vegetarian Cooking” by Adiraja Dasa. I have been using this cookbook since my early twenties – after having eaten many times at Gopal’s in Melbourne. They have the best Vegetarian Lasagna in history!
The recipe is for Dal Tarkari – which is a Dal and Vegetable Soup:
Another recipe for the week will be Morroccan Chicken Casserole from “The PWMU Centenary Cookbook”. Many Australians have this book as a mainstay in their kitchens. It’s my go-to book for all the basics – with a “just the facts ma’am” kind of philosophy. (PWMU stands for the “Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union” of Victoria, Australia.)
Here’s my menu plan for w/e 7/31/15:
I’m hoping to behave myself when eating dinner at my friend’s next saturday night – but I fear the temptation will be too great! There will be drinking too – so I’ll have my usual red wine (loving Francis Ford Coppola’s Diamond Collection Pinot Noir!)
Also – there is a luncheon at work that will involve BBQ and all the trimmings – so – crossing my fingers that I’ll restrain myself!
Until next week!
Shapeshifting 