Why didn’t any of y’all tell me it was a stupid idea to start a health and fitness program right before the holidays??
I initially lost 6 pounds the first 8 weeks. I would lose two, gain one back, lose two, gain three back, etc… Finally, I was at a solid six pounds down. Then, Christmas came, along with my godmother and her peanut butter fudge and coconut M&Ms. At that point, my husband decided that BBQ chips and queso dip were an excellent combination and proceeded to buy a bag and a jar every night for about a week. So, it’s their fault, not mine that I gained all my pounds back! Add to that a marathon of Battlestar Galactica and How I Met Your Mother and boom, diet ruined and fitness avoided.
It’s completely my fault, but I’m back on track. I was very sick last week, and when I went to the doctor I was diagnosed with a condition that is partially caused by weight gain. So many things go screwy with your body when you are overweight – hormonal imbalance, diabetes, heart problems, aches and pains, endometriosis, infertility, mood disorders… the list goes on and on. The doctor visit was my wake-up call. If I want to quit getting sick, it’s time to lose the pounds.
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I’m currently reading a book called Push, by Chalene Johnson. Chalene is a fitness guru who has produced over a hundred workout DVDs. She is also a motivational speaker. So far, the book has been very good and motivational. I definitely recommend it to anyone looking to lose weight, get fit, and organize their life.
One thing she discusses is that as we get older, our metabolism slows. By the time we are over 50, we barely burn any calories anymore. The process begins to slow at age 20, so my metabolism has been slowing down for nearly a decade! The key to jump-starting it again is weight training. Muscle burns fat. Chalene says that some of her middle-aged clients are able to improve their metabolism by 70% just by weight training three times a week.
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While my diet has been far from perfect, I have managed to get to the gym. Today, I passed my personal best and ran/jogged/walked 2 miles on the elliptical machine at I was pretty proud of myself. In the six days since visiting the doctor, I have re-lost 2 pounds. Unhealthy food isn’t quite as appetizing when you know it’s making you very sick. Tomorrow I start weight training.
I did find a delicious, high-protein recipe I’ve made a few times that I would like to share with you. It’s very filling and has all kinds of health benefits.
Indian Lentils
Ingredients:
Lentils
Tomato sauce
Bouillon (Knorr’s)
Tikka Masala or red curry spice or paste
Salt
Option Ingredients:
Shredded chicken
Onions
Directions
Boil 1 ¼ cups lentils with 1 ¾ cups water for 20 minutes.
Add half a cube of beef or chicken bouillon
Add 1/2 cup tomato sauce
Add between 1 and 3 teaspoons tikka masala or red curry spice or paste
Salt to taste
This recipe is extremely versatile. You can boil chicken, shred it and add it to the mix, or add onions. You can add more water and sauce and serve it over brown rice. The amount of spice depends on personal taste. You can also add a spoonful of plain yogurt to cut the heat. It’s good hot, or cold over a salad with a little bit of light Italian dressing.
In a half cup of lentils, there are 115 calories, .5 grams of fat, 8 grams fiber and 9 grams of protein. And, they’re delicious.
To all of you who resolved to lose weight and get healthy this year, good luck. It’s difficult and can be discouraging, but you can absolutely do it.
I have 20 days to lose 13 pounds. I don’t know if I can do it, but I’m gonna try!
