Working up a sweat, and some Sticky Lemon Pork

Last night we did another half hour work out from the DVD. I was really looking forward to it, very much 'up for it' and gave it my all. I seem to have found my exercise mojo again. I certainly worked up more of a sweat than I have previously - I even wondered if we'd turned the heating up but it was actually off. I followed it up with the abs section which I hadn't tried before and I managed about two thirds of it with only a little bit of swearing - something to build up on. I had so enjoyed doing my made up upper body workout the day before that I/ve decided to put a bit more effort in on my top half. I feel as though the workouts give my legs a good workout every time but sometimes my arms/shoulders/chest/abs could handle more so there'll be lots more abs section for me!

I had a bit of disappointing news this morning though. Being woken by the youngest at 5:45 meant I had a little longer than normal to get myself ready so I did a cheeky weigh and measure a day early. I have lost no weight and no inches in 6 days. This has been quite a blow because although I've added in the odd bit of good carbs (a carrot and some sweet potato on Saturday, 3 sweet potato wedges on Sunday and a tablespoon of brown rice with dinner on Monday and Tuesday (which does seem to have helped my morning energy dip) and had the one cheat meal I've otherwise been really good. I've only had one rest day and in the other days I've done two 12 minute, two 30 minute and one 45 minute workout. It doesn't really feel fair.

I need to try and keep perspective. I'm in this for the long haul and with over three stone to lose it was never going to happen overnight, but even so to see no shift at all isn't exactly encouraging. Maybe I'll suddenly lose a load before tomorrow. Tonight I did another half hour work out so I've done all I can, though I know the next few days will be hairy. Tomorrow is my son's second birthday so there will be cake. It's his party on Saturday so there will be cake then too. I think I'm going to try to stay on plan apart from two small pieces of cake as my cheats for this week. I know we're only supposed to have one but I'm giving myself permission to doubly celebrate the anniversary of pushing out nearly 9lb of small boy, just this once. I'm working out lots, hopefully that will offset it a bit...

Onto other important things, like food. Anyone fancy some Sticky Lemon Pork? This was dinner tonight and it was particularly lovely.

 

KSFL Sticky Lemon Pork (Also works really well with chicken, for the record)

Serves 2

Ingredients

400g pork, diced
1 tbs olive/coconut oil
Juice of 1/2 lemon
3 garlic cloves, crushed or finely chopped

Throw all the ingredients into a non-stick frying pan over a high heat and stir regularly as it cooks. As the liquid reduces the meat will start to brown. Eventually it will reduce to a thick, sticky coating over the lightly browned meat. Remove the meat from the pan and set aside while you use the same pan to stir fry the vegetables of your choice. Pile on a plate and enjoy!

Feeling good and a Chickpea Tagine

Today has been a good day. I started it with a chat with Rachel about my thighs. Not the most usual of conversations to have at the school gates, but on KSFL I guess anything goes! Since Thursday's workout at the session I've found the aspects of the workouts involving my thighs to be much harder. It's felt as though I've only just done a workout and they're exhausted - even climbing the stairs gives me that lactic acid build up feeling. They are constantly firm and warm, and just haven't seemed to move into that 'day after a workout ache' phase.

I decided to mention it because it's affecting my enjoyment of the workouts and it's just not something I've experienced before. Rachel advised trying a few more carbs and taking another rest day. Well yesterday was a rest day so I was having none of that, but I decided to make it a rest day for my thighs and devised my own 12 minute workout focusing just on the upper body and arms. It was really good fun actually. I've noticed that my upper body suffers less generally than my lower with the KSFL workouts and when I used to weight train a heavy upper body workout was part of my weekly routine. Since starting to get fit again I've kind of missed it, so I enjoyed this and my arms and torso felt nicely worked afterwards.

I've been really aware that today I have felt GOOD. I've felt light, and have found great enjoyment in all kinds of little things. My mother in law rang and asked how I was after the viral thing last week and I replied, instinctively, that I felt great. How often do you really, honestly say that to someone? I've got on well with work today, enjoyed my kids and been able to let little niggles just wash over me. I'll have more days like this please!

I was describing my KSFL journey to our visiting friends at the weekend and both myself and my partner admitted that it took almost two weeks before we felt we'd settled into it and were really feeling the benefit. We'd both found that hard after being told that once the withdrawals were over by day 4(ish) we'd start to feel fantastic, and then we hadn't. I suppose that KSFL is such a huge shift from our previous lifestyle that it took a while to get established and to feel 'normal'. I spent so much time cooking and planning meals it felt that that was all I did. There was no time for relaxing because I was either exercising, preparing food, planning food or shopping for it. It wasn't easy, but if there's anyone reading this who is going through that right now I can promise you that it does get better. I've even gone against the advice and haven't planned a menu for this week. I just know I've got a range of meat and fish in the freezer and tons of good veg that I can make all kinds of yummy clean meals with, I just need to decide a day ahead what we're going to have so I can let whatever I need to defrost. It's finaly become normal. I don't have to think so hard about it any more.

And I am happy. I feel good. Even my thighs feel a bit better this evening. This stuff is working and I can honestly say that I have no doubts about my decision to take this journey any more. I just want more!

That includes more clean food, which is where tonight's recipe deviats ever so slightly. I was naughty with tonight's recipe and threw in something that isn't quite on plan. There are 8 dried apricots in it, just because I couldn't imagine a tagine without the sweetness of the apricots to compliment that smokiness from the cinnamon. It turned out VERY sweet to my more sensitive palate so they could actually be omitted. I just didn't today.

This is a vegetarian clean meal, done in the slow cooker. I used to eat a lot of veggie meals but they'd often involve dairy so they've been off the menu of late. I do like taking meat breaks every now and again and this is one of our family favourites. If you're in a less veggie mood you can throw some diced lamb in and that does tast lovely, but because of the chickpeas it might be a bit much, at least in the detox stage. We served it with brown rice, but a pile of greens would do just as well. With the chickpeas, sweet potato and brown rice this is quite a carb-heavy meal by KSFL standards, so just be aware of that before diving in.

KSFL Chickpea Tagine

Serves 2 generously (Or 2 normal portions plus some for lunch the next day)

Ingredients

1 tin chickpeas
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed or finely chopped
8 dried apricots, chopped into small pieces (or less, or none)
Half an aubergine, chopped
1 courgette, chopped
6 mushrooms, chopped
Half a butternut squash, chopped
Half a sweet potato, peeled and chopped
Handful of mange tout, chopped
freshly ground black pepper
3/4 tsp cinnamon

Thros all the ingredients into your slow cooker pot. Give them a good stir and cook for approx 6 hours on high, stirring ocassionally if you happen to be passing (not essential). Serve with brown rice or green veg, or both if you're super-hungry.

Meatballs, fake spaghetti and a delayed hangover

Today has been a good day diet-wise. We went to a 5 year olds birthday party at a soft play venue but we were well prepared with our prawn salad packed lunches and coped admirably whilst surrounded by people drinking coffee and eating chips and crisps. Dinner was a very lovely meatball meal that I'll share the recipe for shortly.

Tonight though, we both feel as though we've been hit by steam trains and are completely exhausted. My other half has been prowling around the kitchen craving something sweet and snacky (and finally settled for a banana - yey) and I'm feeling all grumpy again. So I'm guessing we're either just not up to wrangling three small children (we acquired an extra for the day) or we're experiencing our food hangover from yesterday. We shall see what happens next week when we indulge again, but for now, it's clean eating all the way again. Let's see what tomorrow has in store for us.

Dinner was a big success. Lovely italian style meatballs in a tomato and spinach sauce with fake spaghetti. I've no idea how I've managed to still feel grumpy after eating this. It certainly doesn't deserve it.

KSFL Meatballs with Fake Spaghetti

Serves 2
 
Ingredients

For the meatballs:

2 tbs olive or coconut oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed or finely chopped
500g beef mince
1 tsp dried oregano
freshly ground pepper
1 egg, beaten

For the tomato and spinach sauce:

1 tin tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, crushed or finely chopped
4 mushrooms, finely chopped
two large handfulls fresh spinach, chopped
salt and pepper

For the fake spaghetti

1 courgette, half a butternut squash and two sticks of celery, cut into thin strands

Lightly fry the onion and garlic for the meatballs in 1 tbs of the oil until soft, let it cool slightly then put it in a mixing bowl with the minced beef, oregano, pepper and egg. Mix it up well with your hand and form into small balls. You'll probably get about 20. Pop them in the frying pan with the remaining oil over a high heat and turn them frequntly until they are browned all over and cooked through. Lay them in an oven-proof dish.

Into the same frying pan, throw the garlic, mushrooms, and spinach and fry for a few minutes till lightly coked then add the tin of tomatoes and stir. Once it's warmed through and well mixed, pour the sauce over the meatballs and place in the oven at 180c for 15-20 minutes.

Whilst it's cooking, place the fake spaghetti vegetables into a pan of warm water and boil for 10 minutes or so until the vegetables are soft. Drain and lay on plates, then pile the meatballs and sauce on top. We served ours with some green beans but you could use any side veg you fancied, or none at all. Enjoy!

Having now tried this I can tell you that the butternut squash doesn't make a particularly good fake spaghetti, though it is tasty. The courgette and celery stay more string-like and pull off the texture much better. When I do this again (which I will - it's lovely) I'll use more of those and omit the butternut - or maybe just roast it as a side dish. You of course can do as you wish!

The Big Binge

I ate chocolate cake, with hot choc fudge sauce, and it was marvellous.

We had friends visiting last night so we made the most of the opportunity to have our cheat meal in company. Our main meal was actually on plan - slow cooked lamb cutlets with tomatoes, onion, celery, squash and carrots (a week 3 addition), served with sweet and normal potato wedges (I only had a few sweet ones) and cabbage. However, it was accompanied by some lovely red wine of which I drank a glass and a half and was followed up by the heavenly chocolate cake above.

I thoroughly enjoyed every mouthful, even if I did only manage about 2/3 of my portion before my belly just said 'No more!'. I waited for some horrible reaction to take place and nothing really dramatic did. I did get a bit bloated but not to the point where I was uncomfortable and having lost several inches there was space in my jeans for it. As I lay in bed I realised I was getting quite windy and I'm still a bit bloated and windy this morning, but again, not enough to feel unwell from. I feel fine after the wine, but then I stopped drinking after dinner and had drunk a good pint of water before I went to bed. I do feel slightly dehydrated this morning but have no headache, just a bit of a dry mouth. I was expecting a 'food hangover' today, though I wasn't sure what it might feel like, but I actually feel fine. I'm pleasantly surprised.

Having done detoxes and experimented with my diet before I already knew that I was likely to react to the return of wheat, and I did. In the past I seem not to have too much of an issue with dairy and the fact that I finished off the jug of chocolate sauce with a spoon and felt no real ill effects seems to back that up. I will have to wait and see if I experience worse cravings now I've had a big sugar hit or if anything else changes but so far so good. I really enjoyed my cheat meal and I'm looking forward to the next one (which I already know will be my son's second birthday party next weekend), but I'm also happy to be back on plan and looking forward to my prawn salad at lunch today too.

Citrus beef kebabs anyone?

Today has most definitely been a good day. I had a good night's sleep (both children slept through), woke feeling slightly stiff, but in a good way from last night's workout, and then we took photos. Last week I was a little disappointed in the photos as there was only a very slight noticeable difference between them, but this week, wowee! I'm a changed woman! OK, I'm still blobby, still clinically obese in fact, but my stomach sticks out much less and one of the creases in my back has almost completely disappeared. If there can be that much of a change in two weeks I can't wait to see what four weeks will do! It was a serious pick-me-up.

And I had a good day. My mood was good, I felt relaxed, and happy, and energised and all those things I was told I'd feel on KSFL but that just took a bit longer to come into effect. Even a grumpy toddler couldn't phase me today. Long may it last!

I rounded off my good day with a meal I'd been looking forward to since I decided to try it. And it was a very appropriate ending, being totally and utterly delicious. These kebabs are juicy and lemony and just devine. They are definitely worth trying yourself.

Here's how to do them:

KSFL Citrus Beef Kebabs

Serves 2

3 tbs Balsamic vinegar
rind of 1/2 lemon
2 tbs lemon juice
3 cloves garlic, crsuhed or finely chopped
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tbs olive oil
2 steaks - whatever cut you prefer
1 green pepper, cut into chunks
1 onion, cut into chunks
1 small courgette, sliced thickly
6 smallish mushrooms
12 cherry tomatoes

6 kebab skewers (metal or bamboo)

Mix the balsamic vinegar, lemon rind and juice, garlic and cumin in a small mixing bowl. Cut the steaks into chunks and mariade in the vinegar/lemon mixture for as long as possible (mine had 4 hours). Just before cooking, slide the meat onto the skewers alternating with the vegetables. You don't have to use these vegetables, just use whatever you have in that would suit. Drizzle the remaining marinade over the kebabs and grill on high, turning once, until cooked (approx 8-10 minutes for mine). Serve with the greens of your choice and sweet potato wedges (if you're beyond week 2).

The halfway point

Today was results day again, and in camp Food Junkie that meant more than a little trepidation before getting on the scales and whipping out the tape measure. I have to admit I was a little disappointed when I weighed myself this morning. I have lost just 1 lb this week. I know I've had a few days off the exercise and I have had the odd small snack of nuts, but even so after losing 7 lb last week I was expecting something at least a little more. I have a fair amount to lose after all.

I know, I know, they say that inches are what matters, so I swallowed my disappointed and got on with the measuring. Those results are better. I have lost another 4.5". That brings my two week totals to 8 lb and 10" and four of those inches are from my waist. I need to remind myself that all of this has happened in just 14 days because when you remember that it's pretty impressive really, isn't it?

Class was fun and I managed the full workout so I'm now officially classing myself as better and fully capable of keeping up with my exercise sessions. So that will be another half hour workout from the DVD tomorrow evening and Rachel's 45 minute bootcamp on Saturday morning. Bring it on! Even with a few days off my improved fitness was noticeable tonight. I managed to do full burpees almost every time (I just had to ease off halfway through the last burpee set) so my personal challenge for next week is to do all of them. There's a small perverse part of me that is actually starting to enjoy them - and I never, ever thought I'd say that!

I'm afraid there are no recipes today as I need to shower and get to bed, and also because today we've eaten meals that I've already shown here before. I have a treat in store for tomorrow though, so be sure to check back then.

I hope everyone else has had a good second week. Bring on week three (and that cheat meal...).

Recovering with a good old chicken curry

Viruses suck don't they? As far as viruses go this isn't that bad, I'm just exhausted and achey but as I was on Mum duty today there as no chance to rest up properly, although I did chill out on a sofa with a peppermint tea whilst my toddler ran riot in a soft play centre this morning. Still, I'm off to bed as soon as I've updated and I'll lick this thing before long. I want to be doing those workouts dammit! Tomorrow is weighing, measuring and KSFL class day, and there's no way I'm missing that.

But in the mean time, back to food! Dinner tonight was a chicken curry made from the breasts from the chicken we roasted yesterday and had the drumsticks and thighs with salad for lunch. I made it up on the spot and it worked out really well. I served it with cauliflower rice which I'd heard rumours about but only tried today. It's great! Just grate half a cauliflower head, mix with a beaten egg and stir fry for a few minutes. It's just the accompaniment a curry like this needs, is a lovely teture and very tasty.

Fancy a go? Feel free to vary the recipe by swapping in a different combination of veg, or a different meat. You also don't need to use pre-cooked chicken, you could add raw chopped chicken breasts in at the initial frying stage instead. It's up to you, but here's what I used.

KSFL Chicken Curry

Serves 2

Ingredients

2 tbs olive/coconut oil
1 onion
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1.5 cm root ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp mild chilli powder (feel free to use medium or strong if you like more kick)
1 green pepper, chopped
1 courgette, chopped
handful mange tout, halved
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 tin chopped tomatoes
large handful fresh spinach, chopped
2 cooked chicken breasts, chopped

Fry the onion in the oil and add the garlic, ginger and spices. Once the  onion has started to soften add the fresh vegetables, apart from the spinach. Once they are lightly cooked, add the tin of tomatoes, frozen peas, spinach and chicken breasts and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve with the wonderful cauliflower rice (or brown rice if you're having a carb day) and devour!