I love to eat and I'm rarely on a diet. Gee, it's to the point where I go to the gym to support my eating habit. I want to be able to eat a burger when I feel like it and not worry about how my body looks or if a pair of jeans are going to fit. Food brings great pleasure to my life. I've had wonderful moments with it because of the experience it provides. I realized this when I was in France and reminded of it every time I travel.
Since my last blog, I've been a very busy bee. But I rewarded myself for all the hard work I applied and that reward is...traveling! I've been to Hong Kong, Prague, NYC, New Orleans and Salt Lake City before a life changing decision.
The sights of different cities are amazing, but when you allow yourself to try some of the dishes/food known to be part of the city, it completes the experience. When you examine the flavors/ingredients then consume the edible delights, emotions evolve which leads to an understanding of the city's history, the people, the energy and the culture.
I eat when I travel. Actually, I eat more when I travel. But the funny thing is that I lose weight when I do. From all my travels and my experience in France, I noticed why I lose weight and I want to share the information with you. I hope this lil bit of information will change you from
working out 2hrs a day everyday; eating steamed chicken breasts and broccoli TO enjoying life!!
Continue working out, but not to the extreme because you had 3 french fries. Do it because it helps to boost your metabolism and keep you healthy. As far as the diet.......ditch the bland food and go for FRESH food!! I learned from my travels that people in Europe and Asia cook almost everyday and rarely eat processed food. They buy their food almost every other day and cook. If they decide to eat out, well they are getting fresh food too because there is no frozen food nuked and presented on a fancy plate. It's bought fresh and made fresh!!
I not saying give up all the bad food. You can have it once in awhile if you balance it with something healthy and fresh. For instance, if I have cheeseburger with french fries for lunch, then I will have a healthy dinner like a big salad with fresh spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, dried cranberries, feta cheese and a seared salmon with a homemade lemon-dijon vinaigrette.
Try to eat more fresh food and see the difference. We need to stop being lazy Americans by taking short cuts (loading up on frozen, canned and dried food products). Just take a few more minutes to make a fresh and complete meal. Making fresh food is easy and it takes about the same time as making the processed food....trust me. And to prove my point, here's a recipe for an easy homemade soup.
EASY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
- 1 Whole Rotisserie Chicken from the store (cold or hot)
- 4 Carrots (diced or sliced)
- 1 Onion (diced)
- 4 Celery Stalks (diced or sliced)
- 1/2 tsp. Thyme
- 1/2 tsp. Oregano
- 1 tsp. Parsley
- 2 Bay Leaves
- Noodles
- Salt and Pepper
Place the chicken in a large pot with water (water level should be where the water covers the chicken). Cook on med-hi heat for 15 to 20mins to make the stock. Cut the veggies while the stock is being made. Once the stock is made, remove the chicken and place in a colander over a bowl to capture the drippings of stock/liquid. Let the chicken cool before removing the meat off the bone. In the meantime, add the diced veggies, herbs and S&P for taste. Let it simmer for 15mins. While the stock and veggies simmer, pull the meat off the bone and cut into bite-size pieces if the chicken is cool to handle. Add the chicken and S&P (if needed). cook for 10mins longer. Server the soup over noodles (cook the noodles as instructed and set aside....do not add into the soup because the noodles will soak up the broth, only add when it's time to serve).
I hope this recipe will motivate you to try to cook more, eat fresh food and enjoy life!! Worrying about what you ate and how it will affect your body and weight is not what food is about. So throw out the resolution you made about dieting and make this a lifestyle change. If so, you will not quit after 3 to 6 months, you will continue this lifstyle for a long time!!
Happy New Year Everybody!! Loads of love to ya!
