My Cohen meals.

I don't cook. I mean, I really don't cook. I love food..any kind, Western or Asian, just love them. And love them more when I don't have to cook them. But recently, since going on the Cohen meal plans, I have to watch the portions and to keep it accurate, I find it easier to prepare them meals at home. Of course have fumbled many a times with the portions, but it's much easier to check than guessing the portions when eating out.

Have tried experimenting with food and it has been disastrous. But am getting a little bit better and been borrowing recipes from here and there and everywhere.

Had a craving for siew mai but since not allowed to mix proteins and not allowed to use the wanton skin, what I did was just mix minced seafood meat (i.e. fish and crabmeat), finely chopped mushrooms and added salt and pepper. Used some of the mix with portobello mushroom and grilled that. For the rest, I shaped them into round balls and steamed those. Not too bad compared to the bland steam things I have been having. That's my version of siew mai for now :o)

And for a meal today, I used a recipe from the website and made a modified version of 'spaghetti' bolognaise. I can't use pasta of any kind so used enoki mushrooms instead and it was a nice substitute. Using minced beef, tomatoes and different spices, I made the sauce and poured it over the enoki mushrooms. Am pleased with how it turned out and made more to freeze for other nites :o)

Still have a long way to go but it's a start and am trying out different recipes. Am forced to learn to cook simple dishes. Forget about cooking fancy stuff like rendang or sambal sotong for now. Me just need to make dishes that has some taste for the next nine months :o)

Tracking my weight loss ....

Am tracking my weight loss which started on 15 January 2007. A week has just passed and the first week would be the most amount I would lose and it gets harder now. Am still nowhere close to cooking enjoyable meals for myself so have to put aside more time to google some neat recipes cuz am really bored with steamed everything :o)

First week down, many more weeks to go!!!

Update: my weight tracker has 'died on me'. It was such a cute thing but guess free cute things don't last for long *grins* Anyways, weight loss was 4.5kg for the first week.

17 days into 2007 ....

Was wonder what my first post for 2007 should be on. Should it be how I spent new year's eve. Or should it be a reflection of my life for 2006. Or should it be personal goals that I am setting for myself for the new year. Then got caught up at work. And now down with a nasty cough that the doctor said is bronchitis.

So am not going to do any more planning and am just gonna start with some updates so far for me for 2007.

1. Back to Basics
Have picked up Belly Dancing again. YAY!!! Thankfully Az is willing to take a few us and help us restart our rather rusty engines. First lesson was good cuz the muscles have been MIA for a looong time so it was a good wake up call for them. Unfortunately, missed the second class cuz of the cough. But will be there for the next one girls!!!

2. Slawek's in town
Not just for a visit but he's here longer and will be looking for a job. Yay!! So it's a big step in terms of our relationship and for the last few weeks it has been settling him down. We're looking for a longer term accomodation for him and also a job. Some people we have met have been helpful and recommended who he can try writing to. Really appreciate it.

Slawek's really good at what he does. He's a systems analyst. He works hard and believes in quality work rather than rushing a job just for the sake of sending it out quickly and worry about the problems later. Nope, that's not his way of working. And he's actually one of those people who KNOWS what he's doing at work. So if you're an employer looking or knows people who are hiring...you know what to do ya :o)

3. Healthy Life
Last year, it was quite a wake up call for me cuz I has gout attacks so frequently that it wasn't funny. My blood pressure was also high. And I am only 34 and that is way to young to be getting all these! So this year, I am on a programme that is meant to help me improve on my lifestyle and eating plan. I am allowed to eat certain types of food and portions are also specified. Only started this plan this week so no major change. But have seen several people going on this programme and they have come out alot healthier and several kilograms lighter.

What does it mean. It means that I have to prepare my meals at home. It's quite a chore cuz I have to plan ahead and think about my plans for the next few days and how will I manage my meals. I don't cook so this is another thing that is hard. I have to learn how to cook healthy and use fresh ingredients and spices. Am not allowed sauces so have discovered cut chillies as a great thing to use to add some kick to my food.

Can I eat out? Yes but it gets easier once I can estimate my portion. I cannot possibly carry my mini digital weighing machine can I *grins* And I just have to choose my food carefully. Have weddings and dinner plans coming up but I will worry about that later. Am doing this programme with friends so it helps in terms of motivation. My parents are amused (especially watching me eat my greens which I have avoided whenever possibe) but supportive. I have people at work who are success stories for this programme so they are also giving me support. And other colleagues have been supportive so this is a good time for me to do this programme. And if you're thinking...ahhh another diet. It's not a diet. It's something I need to do to get my health back. It just something that needs to be done. I am on this plan for 9 months. After that, I'll go on a refeeding programme to help me eat other food. But I have a feeling after eating healthy for 9 months, I might just continue and maybe treat myself to something not allowed one in a while AFTER I reach my 9 month goal.

But I do miss all the 'good' food. Walking pass MacDonald's, KFC and the durian stall was really tough last nite but I did. And I guess it will be like that for some time. But let's hope it will pass. To quote the programme consultant...HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT THIS? :o) Just got to keep reminding myself how badly do I want my health back.

Here's to a new start to 2007!!