trotting along
January is almost half over... 2009 so far has been going pretty well. I decided to approach my two New Years resolutions the same way I did my fast food hiatus from a couple years ago, wherein the action itself is the resolution, regardless of the results that are attained via that action. So far it's been going pretty well, and I'm starting to settle into a groove.
My first resolution, which I actually started the day after christmas, is to get 20 mins of exercise 5-6 days a week, health and legs permitting. Rationale: an article I read on the gene that causes obesity, and how keeping up almost-daily exercise essentially negates the negative aspects of having that gene, which they studied by comparing the general couch potato populous to the Amish community; that and the realizaiton that I don't have kids, pets, school, a band, or even plants--If I can't take 20 minutes a day for myself to do this I have serious time management problems.
So it's been about three weeks, and while I haven't lost a lick o weight (as much as results aren't supposed to be the reward, one can't help but hope) I'm already noticing my body getting stronger... my heart rate stays lower than it did when I first started up, and returns to a "fat burn" rate much quicker when I switch from rapid to moderate paces. I'm also up two rungs with the weights from where I was when I started, which is surprisingly quick, but I think I was low balling my strength in the beginning to get back into the swing.
My other official resolution was to start cooking at least twice a week. I signed up for a free recipezaar profile, and used their recipe sifter to find quick recipes for the beginner cook. I've made five meals so far, with varying results:
But cest la vie, i stress about that enough in the office.
Now to focus on the daily show. John Stewart makes my loins quiver.
My first resolution, which I actually started the day after christmas, is to get 20 mins of exercise 5-6 days a week, health and legs permitting. Rationale: an article I read on the gene that causes obesity, and how keeping up almost-daily exercise essentially negates the negative aspects of having that gene, which they studied by comparing the general couch potato populous to the Amish community; that and the realizaiton that I don't have kids, pets, school, a band, or even plants--If I can't take 20 minutes a day for myself to do this I have serious time management problems.
So it's been about three weeks, and while I haven't lost a lick o weight (as much as results aren't supposed to be the reward, one can't help but hope) I'm already noticing my body getting stronger... my heart rate stays lower than it did when I first started up, and returns to a "fat burn" rate much quicker when I switch from rapid to moderate paces. I'm also up two rungs with the weights from where I was when I started, which is surprisingly quick, but I think I was low balling my strength in the beginning to get back into the swing.
My other official resolution was to start cooking at least twice a week. I signed up for a free recipezaar profile, and used their recipe sifter to find quick recipes for the beginner cook. I've made five meals so far, with varying results:
- Lentil and brown rice casserole (flavored w. garlic, onion, italian spices and cheese) -- turned out a little soupy b/c I used the frozen, microwaveable rice instead of uncooked rice. It was ok, and supposed to be vegan friendly, but the best thing about it was the cheese.
- Quick Chicken Casserole was a disaster, mainly because I missed one word describing the chicken I was supposed to add: 1.5 lbs diced cooked chicken. We tried to salvage it by cooking it longer at a lower heat, but by the time it even started getting cooked, the stuffing on the top was turning black. I need to try it again but am scurrred.
- The Bhudda's Happy Belly Curried Lentils were pretty yummy, though the veggie mix could've been a little more varied. Tim wasn't around, but Marcia liked them quite a bit, so definitely something I'll make again, to get Tim's opinion on.
- Last night I made Mediterranean Lentils, which had an interesting mix of lemon and mint flavors, which I really liked paired with Trader Joe's Garlic Naan, but Tim didn't like at all. I realized that while he does have a pretty adventurous palate, he has a very different sense of what home cooked food "should" taste like than I do -- mostly the American comfort food. Not anything bad, just different perspectives.
- So to make up for the fact that every time I've cooked something since I started my resolution Tim has gone hungry, tonight I made some Pasta in Garlic sauce. The initial recipe was pretty basic, so I added mushrooms, spinach, and almonds to the sautee, then added italian seasoning and a splash of lemon as another user had suggested. Finally, something Tim liked and ate heartily!
But cest la vie, i stress about that enough in the office.
Now to focus on the daily show. John Stewart makes my loins quiver.