Oh my abs!! Ow! The workout last night included the same ab exercises we did the night before plus 100 oblique crunches with 10 lb weights. So basically my abs are now feeling all of this work that they’ve been doing and they aren’t happy. But I am happy. I’m enjoying the work with weights.
The slogging on the treadmill? Eh. I didn’t do it yesterday because my legs were gone before I even got to the gym. I ended up at the zoo for about two hours yesterday walking around looking at all the animals with my brother. It was nice exercise but considering the leg workout the day before my legs never stood a chance.
So the exercise bit is going well. That is settled. But what about the other equation in the less/better food + exercise = weight loss equation?
That part is going well too. At least I think it is.
I’ve been cooking dinner for myself and my mom every night since I’ve been back. I’ve only been snacking before workouts so I don’t pass out while lifting weights. And I’ve been keeping sugar to a minimum (not cutting it out completely). I don’t count calories so I can’t tell you how much I’ve been eating, but I’m hoping it’s enough to start up some weight loss action.
But even if it doesn’t, I’ve learned something huge – I LIKE COOKING. I do. I never thought I would, but I really enjoy finding healthy recipes and making dishes that taste good. I like trying to make new things even if they don’t turn out perfectly. And I LOVE making something that tastes delicious and other people enjoy it.
(If you don’t want food pics, please go away now…. because I’m posting some.)
Lately I’ve tried my hand at making several different things.
I made Chicken and Asparagus Pasta, with mushrooms, asparagus, chicken, and fettucine. It was my first time cooking pasta so it wasn’t perfect, but it still turned out well. And I ate my first mushroom! I still don’t like them, but I’m trying to learn to eat them. I want to be able to cook anything from any recipe and not worry about picking it apart for myself. Mushrooms are good and shouldn’t be avoided. I’ve done this with other foods before and now I’m doing it with mushrooms.
![Best Salad Ever [365/365]](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4374796334_ca2a1c71b8_m.jpg)
I made the Cranberry, Walnut and Chicken Salad for my mom because it is freaking delicious. As soon as I made it for her she instantly loved it and wanted me to make it again the next day. Much like what happened with Kepa. This salad is a WINNER. Check out the recipe for it and try it out at least once because it is delicious.
The next thing I tried to make was Turkey and Spinach Enchiladas which is a recipe I found from eatbetteramerica.com. I had my doubt about these before I made them, but decided to try it out. THEY WERE DELICIOUS. Probably my favorite thing I’ve made this whole week, both for taste and just the fun of making it. They were healthy and used good ingredients yet still tasted good. Perfect food I say!
The next thing I tried to make was Spicy Mexican Skillet Chicken, another recipe from eatbetteramerica.com. If you can’t tell, I like mexican flavors and quite a few things I’ve tried and will try are Mexican dishes made healthy. Yum, yum, yum. This turned out great too, even though I know next time I need to cook it all a tad bit longer. Even making mistakes is fun because I know what to improve for next time.
Last night I made Salmon, Spinach, and Wedges! It was a Kepa inspired meal. I guess missing him makes me want to cook the same food he does. That and it’s delicious! I love the wedges and that was really why I wanted to make this meal. They turned out crispy and perfect on my first try! I was pretty proud of that fact. The salmon was cooked well too and the only problem with this meal was the spinach because I had to use garlic powder instead of garlic. Fresh ingredients are always better.
I’ve still got a lot to learn about cooking and about making well balanced meals (I know a few nights could have used more green on the plates I served.) But I’m enjoying the process and I know my mom appreciates it too. I won’t be posting about food much here anymore now that I’ve got a food blog for that kind of thing. If you are interested, please check it out. And if you have any great healthy recipes I might like cooking please share them! I need more!
Do you enjoy cooking? What is your favorite thing to make?
Related posts:
{ 34 comments }
My mom’s a whiz in the kitchen but I can’t cook.. I just can’t. I know I should try but they almost always just end up being horrible. So glad for you and your newly-rekindled love for cooking!
Those salads look great!
.-= Seth´s last blog ..2/20 & a New Layout!! =-.
The enchilada looks REALLY good. Definitely gonna have to try that soon.
.-= Jeremy Logsdon´s last blog ..And then there were seven… and a giveaway… and other stuff… =-.
That salad looks so yummy. I’m adding that to my arsenal. I love cooking most foods, and have found I’m quite good with Asian options, Sweet and Sour Chicken or Szechuan Pork are my husbands favorites. I get nearly all my recipes from Cooking Light. If you haven’t checked out their recipes, I would definitely recommend getting on their Web site and looking around.
Mmmmm. Your foodie pics make me drool !!! & Great job on the exercise. Go mary!
.-= amanda´s last blog ..I started a food blog! =-.
I’m excited you like to cook! The turkey and spinach enchiladas look super tasty. I’ve been trying to post food pics on my blog too…my goal is to put up two recipes a week. I sometimes have to remind myself that I actually like cooking, haha.
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..I Don’t Run =-.
I have to tell everyone, Mary has done a great job with her cooking, I guess I always knew when she started she would, but she had to have a reason to start. Anyone want to guess that reason!!?? I am so enjoying everything she fixes, it is like having my own personal chef. I have had many years of cooking and it is so great to be on the receiving side for a while.
Love it and you!
Mom
Glad you’ve been enjoying it mom!
The food/recipes you posted look delicious. And good for you sticking with the workouts and the healthy eating. Spreading the inspiration! Thank you for that. Keep up the great work.
When I lived at home, I never cooked because the kitchen was my mother’s domain. She would have loved me to cook but I always avoided it. Now I love it.
I’m definitely going to try that salad and possibly the enchiladas.
Have fun with it!
.-= Gemfit´s last blog ..Attacking the Sugar Monster =-.
I will definitely be trying that chicken and asaparagus pasta very soon. Thanks!
I got so excited about the chicken and asparagus that I forgot to answer your question! I’m a simple guy. I just throw a bunch of vegetables I like in with some chicken and call it a stir fry. Mmmmm.
Looks like you’re doing terrific with cooking!
I love it, & for the same reasons you listed. Knowing what is in the dish, knowing I made it & then basking in the adoration…it doesn’t get much better. ;)
If you like the eatbetter website then you might like http://www.eatingwell.com/ , too.
EatingWell also has a few cookbooks & a magazine (I think?). I’m getting their Farmer’s Market cookbook from the library soon & I’m hoping it is a winner.
Best wishes,
Lynn
Ooooh, thanks Lynn! I’m always looking for new healthy recipe sites! You rock!
YES cooking is so much FUN. Everything looks great Mary, especially the Enchiladas.
.-= Pink Panda´s last blog ..The Tale of Poofoomy =-.
I love cooking! Actually baking is my favorite, but I try not to bake too often or I eat everything!
.-= Lauren @ Eater not a runner´s last blog ..Penguins, Lemurs and Kangaroos…oh my! =-.
Baking is my favorite too. I’ve loved baking for a long time, but it’s not something I can do often because I can’t eat everything I make!
Girl I knew you would kill it in the gym!!!! :)
And those pics are making me hungry. Yum!
.-= Anonymous Fat Girl´s last blog ..Don’t become an animal carcass in the Sahara Desert (or a weight loss blog casualty) =-.
Those pictures look like a chef cooked them :) Can you share what the secret is to the potato wedges?? Pretty please!
.-= suzanne´s last blog ..Question day once again!! =-.
Hehe. I’m no chef!
Secret? Hehe. The real secret is experimenting. But I will ask Kepa if I can post his recipe and then post it on the food blog. ;)
Mexican food is my favorite too! Thankfully there are A LOT of healthy meals that you can make with a mexican flavor (hello salsa!)
I know! I’m finding a ton of great healthy Mexican recipes. It’s a wonderful thing. ;) I <3 salsa!
man, you are hitting the cooking and the gym hard! awesome.
Cooking is fun and saves you money too :) Tonight we had Smoky BBQ Pork Enchiladas with fresh Tomato Salsa http://www.waistingduxie.com/2009/10/recipe-of-the-week-101009.html yummy
I envy the fact that you enjoy cooking! I really hate it, especially cooking healthy meals. But the meals you cooked looked really good. Good luck with the weight loss, it looks like you are doing the right things to accomplish your goals.
.-= Terra´s last blog ..Day 6 (Medifast) =-.
Those Turkey and Spinach Enchiladas look awesome! And yeah, cooking is fun especially when you can use your creativity. I still don’t care for the washing of dishes part but eh it’s a small price to pay for good eating :)
You’ll quickly find how much food blogging can be.
The Turkey and Spinach Enchiladas look delicious. I love to cook, and I would definitely make those. I often cook without recipes. However, I probably need to start using them to make healthier dishes.
.-= Derek´s last blog ..Wrong Way Weigh Day =-.
I feel like I’ve been neglecting your blog =/
I’m so proud of both your cooking and your exercise! Seriously, I can not freaking wait to eat your food!!! It looks so delicious! And remember how you were the one saying my running was making you feel bad? Now you’re making me feel bad! Haha. In a good way!
You’re doing it, Mary! I know sometimes it gets hard, there are bumps and pitfalls. I know sometimes you can start to wonder if you can really do it. But you are doing it. And I hope you remember that in the hard times.
But we both know I could take my own advice too :)
I just want you to know that this journey is something you ARE doing and ARE succeeding at.
I love you.
I must hook up with you and kepa when he’s here.
Ill travel :)
but I wont cook.
unless you count grillin and steaming as cooking.
then cook I shall.
.-= Miz´s last blog ..Being Present. =-.
We could come to Texas…. We are driving from LA to Memphis… diversions are FUN!
That’s awesome that you have realized you love cooking! For me, learning to cook and realizing, OMG, I can make something that tastes great and is super healthy! was a huge part of losing weight. It’s such a wonderful skill to have! :)
It just goes to show you that healthy eating doesn’t have to be a chore!
.-= AndrewENZ´s last blog ..One Hundred Push-ups in a Row =-.
That’s awesome that you’re loving cooking! I love love love cooking and have read a lot of cookbooks, which I found helpful when I started trying to cook healthily.
Try reading a basic cookbook like the Joy of Cooking (or at least having it on hand), it really helps when you’re trying to figure out how to cook a certain meat or vegetable and what flavours go well together.
I am not a mushroom fan except for the meaty ones. Ive tried and tried but cant really like them. I enjoy baking. I like how you mix the things together and stick it in the oven and it makes something yummy and often very different looking. I don’t really like cooking. Its so boring, all that chopping and stirring forever, how you have to stand over the food. I get bored. I wander away. Things burn. Not just food, but spoons and things like that lol. My roommate told me that im not allowed to cook while he’s away on his trips anymore unless I can promise to stay in the kitchen cuz im gonna burn the apartment down. I said I don’t know if I can promise that… so I may be a bit hungry on those trips of his lol. If I can remember to focus on what im doing, im not a bad cook though. Your cooking looks awesome as you know ive been commenting on your food blog. I don’t think id have time to make recipie type dinners each nite because im starving and its late by the time I get home, we do a sort of non cooking cooking that’s fast and designed to eat as soon as possible (but not unhealthy or anything).
.-= merri´s last blog ..San Diego Trip: Days 0 and 1: Getting our Bearings =-.
{ 2 trackbacks }