What's cookin??

I've never been much of a cook.  Sure, I could heat up a tray of frozen crap, grill the bejeezus out of a piece of steak in my George Foreman, and even rip the top off a packet of Latina Fresh pastsa sauce and throw it in the microwave.

Never did I count calories, or spare a thought for the nutritional content of my meals.  The food pyramid was me balancing chips, chocolate and lollies on  my walk from pantry to couch.  I could go on, but you get the idea!

One of the MANY things that 12wbt has given me is a sense of confidence in the kitchen and a real interest in food and nutrition.  Like...I read nutrition text books as my bedtime wind down, and share my new-found wisdom with the man.  I reckon he could reel off about 20 superfoods :)

Anyway - here's what I whipped up yesterday;

 

Needless to say, I was full as a State School after that - and all within 1200 calories :)  So, so yum, and just quietly, I'm a little proud of my efforts.

A day in the 12wbt life

I was on cloud nine yesterday after reaching the 60's at weigh-in and I must have been glowing, or walking tall or whatever, coz a few people at work asked me about what I've been doing.  It's not like they had just noticed - 27kg doesn't dissappear over night.  But it's not really the type of conversation you have with the scary boss lady!

As I began the whole 1200 in 500 out conversation, I stopped midway as it doesn't do the program justice to talk in such a black and white way.  It's not easy to describe how life-changing this is.  People not on the path or not yet ready to change wouldn't see it the same way.  There's one word I keep coming back to; discipline.  Not in a particularly regimented way.  It's having the discipline, or self-control to make good decisions.  We all know what we should and shoudn't eat (although 12wbt has opened my eyes in this area as well).  We all know that some form of daily exercise has benefits beyond just weight control.  The only difference (in my opinion) between those who do and those who don't succeed is a strong sense of choice.

And let me tell you - once you have mastered this in your personal life, it flows like a torrent through your professional life too.

And as usual, I've gone off on a tangent...

Back to the intention of this post.  Here's an insight into a day's worth of nutrition on 12wbt, or in other words, what I ate yesterday;

Breakfast: Porridge with banana and strawberries with a sprinkle of LSA mix
Snack: 2 dates, 5 strawberries and a pinch of sunflower seeds (with a herbal tea)
Lunch: Chicken & Broccolini Laksa
Snack: Body Science lo carb protein bar (with a herbal tea)
Dinner: Chicken with creamy mustard sauce (plus a while heap of veggies; oven roasted cherry toms, steamed beans and asparagus + 1/2 a cup of sweet potato & ricotta mash.

Sure, it's disciplined eating, but man oh man do I feel good!

Week 1 wrap up

And what a first week it's been!

We've eaten some brilliant low cal meals;

Carrot, basil & ricotta wrap

Choc-berry toast

Steak sanga with caramelised onion - in pita

Steak sanga open style sans onion (for the man)

Alison's Penang Chicken (with a tiny bit of rice)

Sweet potato & roasted capsicum pizza (YUM!)

Also had Nat's Lasange this week but it was soooo yummy I couldn't wait to eat it, therefore, no photo!

Most days I managed a 500 cal burn;

Monday                 45 min Power walk around the lake near work + another 15 minute wander
Tuesday               Semi-rest day.  45 minute walk + 20 min exercise bike
Wednesday           Sh'bam class (addicted!) with a 30 min treadie walk as warm up
Thursday             45 min power walk around lake + outdoor program strength work + 20 min exercise bike
Friday                  Was supposed to be Sh'bam but teacher sick, so we just moved for an hour which was okay + treadie warm up, + an actual Sh'bam class at night with same warm up.
Saturday              60 min power walk around Botanic Gardens
Sunday                   1hr group workout session (tough+++)

Mindset - some serious self-evaluation has had me questioning a LOT of choices I've made in the past.  Probably more on this another time :)

Organisation and me are becoming friends.  Meal plan for week 2 is done, as is the weekly shop.  I tend to puff my chest out when I'm grocery shopping - it all looks so healthy and yum.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd put week 1 down as an 8.  Pretty damn good, but room for improvement.  Come get me week 2.  I'm ready!!!

40 year rewind

I had a light bulb moment this morning over breakfast, which took me back to my younger years...

Most of my really young memories were of being in Nan's kitchen.  I used to marvel at the way she could peel veggies with a knife and not cut herself. There were so many veggies on the plate - always a little potato - that sat alongside a steak or chicken or fish on Fridays.

The recycled coffee jars she had lined up in her pantry full of colourful things that she'd then spoon out into her breakfast bowl, top with fruit and then yoghurt. I remember thinking how disgusting it looked and made a mental note to NEVER eat anything that dry looking - I'd stick to coco pops forever!

And my breakfast this morning...

I now eat the way I watched Nan feed her tribe all those years ago.

I don't ever remember my Nan being "fat".  She didn't get her license until Pa had a stroke 30 years ago. Never needed to.  She walked everywhere. Pushed a shopping cart to and from town (usually with me sitting on top for the walk home) to do the groceries.

She'll turn 87 this October. She lives independently. Still gets out in the garden too.

Nan, you taught me everything I needed to know about how to fuel my body.  I just forgot somewhere along the way.  I hope to make you proud of me little Nan.  Much love always Sylvia Jean xxxxx

A break from serial cereal

It was freeeeezing cold this morning, and my usual muesli, bran, fruit and yoghurt just didn't float my boat.  There wasn't much in the cupboards, but I managed to scrape together a pretty tasty 280 cal taste sensation; bacon, tomato & wilted greens on ricotta toast.

Multigrain bread x 2         162
Coles shortcut bacon x 2      94
tomato                         5
spinach                        7
extra light ricotta 25g       12
                             280