It has been a while since I did one of these posts!
First I want to thank everyone who has been supporting me through this blog, online and in person on my goal of getting healthy. All of the encouragement has been so inspiring! And I do need the butt kicking to get up going some (most!) days.
The getting active part of my goal is coming to fruition! I have been attending aerobic and circuit training classes that are offered for FREE at the rec centre. They are held three times a week, although with our super sick boys I have only been going once a week. But that is better than nothing! I have been using my exercise bike in the house as well. I would say I am currently doing three hours a week of activity and I would like to double that over the next couple of weeks.
Now I am focusing more on my food. Just last week I signed up for the Biggest Loser Club website. It is from the tv show; I have been watching it online and love it! I discovered that on the site you can get meal plans, recipes and shopping lists done up for an entire week. So I have printed out two weeks worth of shopping lists for our trip to Whitehorse this week. I find I get into a real rut when it comes to cooking. There are about 10 meals that we cook over and over again. And I absolutely hate making lunch; I have no imagination for this meal at all. So now I have someone else telling me what to make and how to make it. Perfect! The meals are adjusted for my weight and goals. Since I do all the cooking in the house Matt will be eating the same thing as me. The meals look really good and have quite the variety. I am excited to get going with this!
To keep myself motivated I have also created a rewards chart for myself! I get something for every 2.5lbs I lose. Mostly small things like gift certificates for books, itunes or movies. But also new earrings (I am an earring addict), a food processor and a new gun! I have a modest goal of losing 1lb a week for the next year. And I am proud to say I am off to a great start!!! I have lost 9.5lbs for the month of January. I lost most of that in the first 15 days. Since then the kids have been so sick and meal planning and exercising have been pretty blah. So I have completed 1/5th of my goal already.
Now I just need someone to tell me how to cook lentils.... it is in next week meal plan but no recipe to go with it! :)
20 comments:
You go Girl! I think it's awesome and I'm behind you 100%. You've actually inspired me to get moving, I have a pass for the university indoor track and have been going 3/week so far. I love it. Go Kara Go!
Great work Kara! I have a couple recipes for lentils... hang on I'll go get them
...
Okay... sorry :) (lol)
Okay... one is Indian style... *yum!*
1 cup dal (lentils)
8 cups water
2 cups squash (recommends summer squash) in 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices
2tbsp sunflower oil or ghee
1 1/4 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp lime or lemon juice
1tsp sea salt
1/2 tbsp fresh ginger root grated/minced (I grate)
1 1/4 cumin seeds
1/2 tsp mustard seeds (use black if you can find it in whitehorse)
fresh coriander (cilantro)
shredded unsweetened coconut
rinse lentils
warm 1tbsp oil in heavy sauce plan
add turmeric and lemon juice, saute for 30 seconds over low heat (careful, easy to burn turmeric)
stir in lentils and saute for another 1 to 2 mins. Add veggies, stir another couple of minutes
add water, salt, ginger
bring to boil on high heat
Cover and reduct heat to medium low. Let soup simmer for 45 minutes or until beans have dissolved. Warm remaining tbsp of oil in a small skillet, add cumin and mustard seeds, heat until the mustard seeds begin to pop. Add to soup, which is now ready to serve. Garnish with fresh chopped coriander and coconut
I love lentils. I always make them as a main course tho. Anyways my peronal favorites are potato lentil soup, lentil chili, and dahl. I have the recipes for all of them if you are interested
Thanks Jill!! And I will take yours too please Alana! :)
Is there a way to do them up just on their own??
And... the other recipe, which I tried for the first time last week and isn't so Indian, which the kids might like better...
This is a Jamie Oliver recipe... super good! I used french cut green lentils for it. I used a dutch oven for it... did the bit on the stove then chucked in oven for remainder.
2oz pancetta or bacon (it's not a lot and adds good flavour, although you could omit)
12oz green lentils (I think I worked this out to be about a cup and a bit)
1tbsp olive oil
3 heaped tbsp chopped rosemary (calls for fresh, but i used dried, it was fine)
1 red onion or 2 shallots, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2 pints chicken stock (i used a tetra pack of stock and a bit)
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil (didn't use this at all)
1/2tbsp red wine vinegar
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 300. Slive bacon crosswise into fat matchsticks. Give the lentils a quick wash. Using a thick-bottomed pan, heat 1tbsp oil and add bacon. Fry until it is slightly coloured then add the rosemary, onion and garlic. Cook for a further 2 minutes then add the lentils and cook for about 1 minute. Add the stock, put the lid on, bring to the boil and transfer to the oven for 1 hour or until tender, stirring occasionally. By this time a lot of the stock will haver gbeen absorbed. Add 2 tbsp of your best extra-virgin olive oil (again, didn't use, didn't notice it wasn't there) the red wine vinegar salt and pepper to taste
**** We used rice wine vinegar instead... there is a brand called Nakano, it's flavoured with roasted garlic, label is mainly purple. If you see it, BUY IT!!!! It's sooo yummy and can go on your salad as a dressing without ANY fat and only 20 calories for a tbsp. SOOOO GOOOD!!!*****
as for doing them on their own... I'd say use the lentil amount and stock from that second recipe and then cook the same way... don't see why it wouldn't work
Yay you!
I've never had lentils just on their own. I like them, but I'm not a bean person in general, so I tend to use them as part of something else. If you have them just on their own, I'd recommend a dash of cumin and a squeeze of lime juice on them to make them really yummy. Halia loves cumin! :)
I have a fabulous lentil salad recipe that I once brought to a potluck. One of the guys commented that normally men wouldn't something like that but that THIS lentil salad was really good. How's that for an enthusiastic compliment? LOL
You can use dried lentils, but canned ones are easier; there's a bit of chopping but no cooking to speak of, so this is a super-duper easy recipe.
Apple, red onion and lentil salad
1 can of lentils, drained
1/4 red onion, diced
1/2 red pepper, diced
1 Granny Smith apple, diced
dressing:
1 t ground cumin
1 t garlic powder
1 T olive oil
1 T balsamic vinegar
salt, pepper, red pepper flakes to taste
In a medium sized bowl, gently toss together salad ingredients. Mix dressing and add over top salad. Gently toss and refrigerate for 2 hours to let flavours meld. Serve and eat.
I got this recipe from a food blog and the photo is there, as well: http://everybodylikessandwiches.blogspot.com/2007/10/35-days-in-europe-and-all-i-got-is-bowl.html
I have no friggin idea how to cook lentils, but I wanted to say YAY YOU!! That's such a great start :)
You are so lucky to have those classes given for free, wow! I joined a gym in Dec and try to get myself there 2x a week but it doesn't always happen.
I have a lot of weight to lose and started doing Weight Watchers online back in June and am now down 47 lbs. Still about 2x that left to go (oh lord it seems endless when I say that) but it's a good start.
Maybe we can be weight loss buddies! :)
Keep up the good work!
Good to hear things are going well!! When I use lentils, I buy the canned ready to go stuff. Otherwise you have to soak the lentils to make them soft enough to use!!
Breigh- email me! It is on my profile info. I would love a partner in crime!
Good for you Kara! You inspire me. I'll have to check out that website. I find keeping the meals exciting and appetizing the hardest part of dieting. Keep us posted on the progress!
Sorry about the burger post, I hope you didn't go off track. Xtra lean meat and those skinny buns could help solve that craving without doing much damage.
hey kara! i thought i would add the easiest every lentil recipe i know...it has coconut milk in it, which is high in fat, however, i think fats are good for you in moderation!
this recipe is just off the top of my head, and i never measure but it always works.
red lentils
can of coconut milk
curry
cumin
brown rice
rinse lentils, put in pot with can of coconut milk and spices. cook until tender. serve over rice.
:D courtney xoxo
Excellent job on the weight loss so far. I have an excellent recipe for lentils and chicken - one of our favourites. I will post it on my own blog so look for it there.
http://meanderingthoughtsfromthenorth.blogspot.com
The french green lentils from Riverside grocery are the best - go for those ones if you can.
Also try the following website for great support, recipes, calorie and weight tracker etc, etc. It can be overwhelming at first, but just take what you want from it:
www.sparkpeople.com I used it a couple years ago when I lost 40 lbs.
Good luck.
Oh yeah, I should have mentioned - if you are looking for some good recipes try the following:
Eat Clean Diet Cook Book
Clean Eating Magazine
Basically eating reduced fat and sugar and unprocessed foods will help you tremendously.
I always look for the most food I can scarf down for the least amount of calories. LOL
Great job!
We eat lentils all the time, but usually I cook them with something else. I throw them into soups, casseroles, and rice. They're really good. I also make a mashy thing (it doesn't have a name) by cooking red lentils with chicken broth, tomatoes, carrots, onions and celery. We put it over rice and it's pretty tasty.
Thanks everyone for the great info, support and recipes!!
GO KARA!! I am very proud of you! Unfortunatley I really have no idea how to cook lentils. My only suggestion is soup. Or just through a can of them into whatever you are making. Excpet for hummus, you can't go wrong with that!
Ingredients
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans (otherwise known as chickpeas), drained, liquid reserved
2 ounces fresh jalapeno pepper, sliced (optional)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 cloves garlic, minced
Directions
In a blender or food processor, combine garbanzo beans, jalapeno, cumin, lemon juice, garlic and 1 tablespoon of the reserved bean liquid. Blend until smooth.
Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving Calories: 3 | Total Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg
Nutritional Information
Easy Hummus
Servings Per Recipe: 16
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 3
Total Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: < 1mg
Total Carbs: 0.6g
Dietary Fiber: 0.1g
Protein: 0.1g
Good job Kara!! That's awesome!! Keep up the good work!!
I have no idea how to cook lentils, I just buy them in the can once in a while. AJ likes to eat them like that, so I usually get them when they are on sale!!
Freya
I bow my head in admiration! As lentil-recipes you seem to have enough of them to last you a life-time. They would last me that long...
Woooooooooop! You are a rock star!
I have some lentil recipes too but these ones all look AMAZING! I'll send you an email once I dig them out...
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