Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Under The Weather In Southeast Asia

I hope someone out there can tell me if the common cold burns calories. I just can't kick this thing and it seems that almost a week in it is as bad as it has been. It would be a nice upside to know it has helped me lose weight. Oh well. I would like to have exercised more up to now but it always seems to be one thing or another. I guess it gives me lots of room for improvement.

Pho, Delicious Pho

I got an itch recently for Pho, the hot broth based soup with rice noodles from Vietnam. I wanted to make it so I could control the sodium so over the past two days that is exactly what I have done. I aggregated a couple of recipes over the weekend and made up the broth Sunday night. Last night I enjoyed the fruits of my labors and let me tell you, it was a success. The flavors were all there, and combined with a salad and some lean sirloin, which cooked in the hot soup, I had a delicious meal at a reasonable calorie expenditure.

Those of you who know me well know I love cooking. I considered it as a career in high school and I still take pride in my culinary skills and knowledge. One of the best things about this journey has been getting into the kitchen on a regular basis. I will be the first to admit that setting up my mis en place, both in the kitchen and in my life, is a challenge for me frequently leaving me behind the eight ball and unprepared, but instead of letting that deter me as I would have before I am relishing the challenge. I don't just want to get thinner. I want to get healthy and to me that includes taking control of my life: diet, organization, and happiness inclusive.

Results

I was talking to my dad last night and discussing what I see changing as a result of my weight loss. I mentioned that my face looks thinner, which for me is always the first place to thin out, but this time I noticed another indicator. I was on the train on my iphone and I had to do a double take. My thumbs all of a sudden looked a lot thinner to me. This cracked my dad up, and I find it strange that I noticed. I am not particularly vain about my hands, but it is nice to see results and my thumbs are telling the tale right now, and that's a thumbs up any day.

Well, I can't keep you guys any more after that groaner. Thanks for reading.

4 comments:

  1. You can have a loss of appetite due to a cold which could add to weight loss?

    (this is sara, btw)

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  2. Hmmm, perhaps Ethan's thumbs would thin out if he took a page from your book...

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  3. It does suck that when you're trying to make major changes like that, your body lags behind your mind. There is a decent chance that the prolonged sickness is tied to the withdrawal you're going through from the sodas and sugars, and fats that you're no longer partaking in. Stay strong, and when you come out the other side, you'll be better for it.

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  4. If it's a head cold, Neti Pot. That's all I have to say.

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