Getting in Shape in 2012: Eating Right + P90X

D and I are going to Sandals Grande Riviera in Ocho Rios, Jamaica in t-minus 120 days (but who's really counting).  This will be our first major vacation together so we are beyond stoked.

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I've already bought my first bathing suit for our trip:

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Can they also throw in her body please?!

D and I have made the commitment to get (in his case, back) into shape!  Up until about a year ago, he was still active.  He played soccer in high school and then for years after that, he played with friends in a few recreational leagues.  He was always in the best of shape until a knee injury about 2 1/2 years ago and our move to the south side of Indianapolis put a damper on that.

Me, on the other hand, I gave up active sports when I got into high school and instead played varsity golf.  I did minimal activity and managed not to balloon up until about the age of 26 when I started my notice my flailing metabolism.  So over the past couple years, I've done my best watching what I ate and for the most part, when I was really dedicated, I was able to keep my weight down.  At my heaviest, I weighed about 136lbs.   I put myself on a strict eating regiment and over about a year and a half, lost almost 20 lbs, which was just in time for my best friend's wedding last Fall.  But after that, when the cold weather started coming in, I resorted to the comfort food and the convenience of fast food (what idiot decided to put a McDonald's in my place of employment?).  I was lucky and only managed to put on about 8lbs, considering the junk that I was consuming.  It was in January that I really started to notice how "squishy" I appeared.  Most people would say to me, "you're pretty tiny, why do you need to lose weight?" and while yes, I'll agree that I'm petite, I'm also lacking tone or definition.

In February, I started to get back into my strict diet.  I call it a strict diet because I am absolutely anal about recording my food.  I still eat delicious food, I just focus on healthy choices and portion control.  I used to use Spark People but the MyFitnessPal app for iPhone is just so awesome and easy to use.

For a couple months, I was in a bit of a cooking lull but I've bounced back.  I really enjoy cooking because it's fun and relaxing but also because I love knowing exactly what I'm eating.

Here's a preview of what I've been whipping up lately.  My plan is to post all the recipes on Friday (the 13th dun dun dunnnn!)

Green Monster Smoothie

Baked Orange Salmon with Citrus Salad 

Tofu Stir Fry

Curried Carrot and Ginger Soup

Chicken Enchilada Soup

Turkey Chili Blanc

Mixed Greens Salad with Grapefruit, Artichoke Hearts, Cranberries and Toasted Pine Nuts

A couple years ago, I got sucked into the continuous replay of the P90X infomercials and on an impulse, I went ahead and purchased the program.  You can't help but be amazed at the testimonials from the people who have done it.  But when I got it, I did it 2 times, decided it was too hard, and packed it away.  What a ween-wad!

Flash forward to now, with the support and combined participation, D and I have decided to give it another try.  We're in a much more conducive place in our lives.  We have the desire, the time, and the space to do it.  We're starting our 4th week today!!  I really enjoy the Plyometrics and the Yoga X.  I've never really been able to do pull ups, ever, so instead I do a modified version using a chair.  Hopefully, by the end of the first round of P90X, I'm able to do a few without.

ME WEEK 1 (not fun to post):

NOT ME (but what I'd ultimately like to get to):

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I am already seeing results (I'll post a new body picture once we complete Week 4) which really are the best motivation.  I'm not so focused on the scale because the number isn't going down as fast as I'd like but I'm seeing definition in my arms, legs and stomach.  Not only that, I am over that initial 2 weeks where every muscle in your body aches and it seems nearly impossible to do simple things like pull a shirt over your head or walk up a flight of stairs, I'm excited to workout and constantly looking for new inspirations.  I even squeeze in exercises while D is at work or at my work by taking the stairs (all 9 stories up to my unit).  I have begun doing them 2-3 times a shift.  I've also begun easing myself into running which I despise with every morsel of my being.  It doesn't help that I haven't quit smoking yet which is a MAJOR goal of 2012 (I know, feel free to smack me).

Here are some websites and tools that have been insanely helpful:
Pinterest.com - A great way to find endless amounts of health and fitness blogs
Tone It Up - I love the girls of Tone It Up but not really able to invest $ into their program, yet.  They send out emails with very helpful tips and tricks.  They also are working with Self.com which is just as useful.
Self.com - Great articles and reads on fitness and health.  Also, great healthy recipes.
SkinnyTaste.com - Delicious recipes with nutritional info
EatingWell.com  - Another site chock full of healthy options
MyFitnessPal - I had the app on my iPhone for forever but never used it until a couple weeks ago.  Now, it's my go-to app to log and track everything that I eat which is key (I think) to the weight loss aspect of my body transformation.  I love that you can scan the bar code of the foods you eat and it will automatically pull up the nutritional information.

What do you use to keep motivation or what have you tried that has delivered results?

I feel like I'm getting into the best shape of my adult life and couldn't be happier.  Jamaica here we come!

What I'm Cooking: Asian (Cooking) Invasion

It's no big surprise that I'm Korean!  Let's take a quick ride in my time machine....

  

Hipster circa 1984

I look like a baby doll

How presh!

Striking a pose with my little brother (He's not so little anymore)

I'm thinking this is when I was in 6th or 7th grade

Here are some fun facts: 

• 1) I was adopted. I was born in Seoul, S Korea and lived with a foster family until I was 3 months old. 
• 2) I don't speak the language, at all. I actually have 2 Caucasian cousins who have lived and taught English in Korea that speak the language fluently.  Also, I love (sense the sarcasm) when creepy, old Korean-war vets come up to me and try to say something to me in Korean. (Met with a blank stare)  It's often followed by "When I was over there...blah blah, I loved the food...blah blah, I loved the women..." (OK, time for me to go!)
• 3) In college, I briefly lived with another Korean girl who tried her best to help me learn the food. language and culture.  Hey Sandy! (if you happen to read this)  It was her who first introduced me to Korean barbecue (and Koreans' love for Karaoke).  

Thanks to this eye-opening introduction into Korean cuisine, I have had a major love affair ever since.  The flavors are so indigenous and unique and so far-removed from Chinese or Japanese cooking with the use of sweet sesame oil and the sour pickling of anything they can get their hands on.  

In my free time, I've been collecting recipes that I lie to tell myself I'll get around to trying. One.of.these.days.    

So I decided to try my hand at one of the more well-known Korean dishes: KALBI (Korean marinated short ribs).  I found a great recipe from Food Network.  

Kalbi Flank Steak - original recipe can be found here

2lbs flank steak

1 cup brown sugar

For the marinade:

1 small onion, peeled and finely grated

1 small Asian pear, peeled and finely grated

4 tablespoons minced garlic

1 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup rice wine

2 tablespoons sesame oil

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Garnish:

2 green onions, thinly sliced (optional)

To start, I generously massaged the flank steak with the brown sugar and set aside in a large bowl.  

To make the marinade, I decided to make my life a whole lot easier.  I took my onion, pear and garlic and tossed them together into my food processor.  All the fine chopping and dicing is done in a matter of seconds.  

In a medium sized bowl, I whisked the soy sauce, water, rice wine, sesame oil and black pepper in a medium sized bowl.  Then I combined the minced veggies.  I poured the marinade over the flank steak (still in the large bowl), covered it with saran wrap and stuck it in the fridge.  To make the most of the marinade and to really tenderize the steak, I let it marinate for 24 hours.

D was in charge of grilling it up.  I recommend searing it for 3.5-4 mins on each side to get a perfect medium rare.  Once it's done, let it sit and rest for 5 minutes.  

(I know the meat doesn't look like a true medium rare.  The pictures are from our first attempt.  We corrected ourselves when we made this meal again 2 days later.)  

I poured the remaining marinade back into a plastic container to use again at a later time.  This stuff is not something you let go to waste. 

Prior to finishing the Kalbi Flank Steak, I looked for some more recipes of side dishes that I thought would really compliment the beef.  Thanks to my love of other creative, magnificent bIoggers and websites, I discovered interesting recipes for Steamed Egg Cup Soup and Egg Fried Rice.  

I found the Steamed Egg Cup soup on the blog Escapades in Cookery.  This is based on a Japanese recipe called chawan mushi (steamed tea cup).  This was a risky recipe because I had to improvise the preparation based on the recipe I found and the equipment I had to work with (I don't own fancy tea cups).  

Chawan Mushi (Steamed Egg) - original recipe can be found here  

4 eggs

1 cup chicken stock

1/2 tsp rice wine

1/2 tsp soy sauce

pinch of salt

2 shiitake mushrooms, sliced into strips

1 green onion, chopped

I like to start all recipes by getting the veggies chopped so I sliced the shiitake mushrooms and chopped the green onions and set them aside.  

Then I whisked the eggs, chicken stock, rice wine, soy sauce and salt in a medium sized bowl.  

 The author of the original recipe had a wok with a steaming rack which I don't.  Instead, I used my rice/vegetable steamer and just prepared it in the steamer bowl.  I combined all of the ingredients and placed them in the steamer.  I just had to watch and continuously monitor how the soup was doing.  This took about 8-10 mins in all.  Once I poured the soup into 2 separate bowls, I topped it off with fresh, ground black pepper.

And lastly, I found the easiest Egg Fried Rice recipe from All Recipes.  I didn't want anything overly complicated because at this point, the marinade aroma from the flank steak was invading my nostrils and I was starving!!

• Egg Fried Rice - original recipe can be found here
• 
  
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 cup uncooked instant rice
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup green beans
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

In a medium sized sauce pan, I combined the first 3 ingredients and brought them to a boil.  I added the instant rice, stirred and then removed from heat and set it aside.

In a large, deep skillet (I NEED a real wok), I heated  the vegetable oil to medium heat and sauteed the onions and green beans for a couple minutes.  Then I poured in the lightly beaten egg to fry up and scramble (approximately 2 mins).  I introduced the rice into the skillet and let the whole combo mix and heat up together.  Lastly, I added freshly ground black pepper.

And finally!!...we were ready to chow down!!

I think my night's dessert was seeing D's face of complete enjoyment and satisfaction.  This was a team effort and we totally hit it out of the park.  


To my fellow bloggers, does your significant other get annoyed by you not letting them dig in until you've been able to capture a few glamour shots of the food? 


Luckily for us in the Indianapolis Area, if you're ever not in the mood to cook, there are quite a few Korean places around town.  I definitely recommend you try them out. Click on links for more information.

• Cafe Korea 
• Naked Tchopstix
• MaMa's
• Bando (no website) (317) 897-8277

Blogger Meet-up, Date Night & What I'm Eating : Seasons 52

The seasons are changing.  I love it.  The leaves. The smells of wood-burning fires.  The stylish wardrobe with layers, jeans, sweaters, boots.  But my favorite is the change in menus of many restaurants in the area; especially those who focus their menus greatly into what is ripe and in season.  One of those restaurants that prides themselves on wisely seeking fresh, regionally sourced meat, poultry, seafood and produce is Seasons 52 (at Keystone at the Crossing).  The head and sous chefs boldly experiment with flavors and ingredients while also focusing on healthy portions that create "seasonally-inspired" dishes with 475 calories or less. 

A couple weeks ago, I had the honor and privilege of getting to try Seasons 52's new Fall menu before they launched it to the public.  Talk about royal treatment.  Myself and 4 other local bloggers were treated to an amazing 12-course "tasting" along with carefully paired wines (picked out by our wonderful server, Jason).  This experience was so entertaining.  Not only did I enjoy the conversations with new acquaintances but the education we received from the head chef, Bill, was equally intriguing. 

Here were some of my favorites:

Grade A/Level 1 Seared Ahi Tuna

Organic Arugala Salad with portobello mushrooms, shaved Parmesan cheese and tossed in a truffle dressing.  (Who doesn't love the earthy flavors of truffles?)

NOT PICTURED: one of my absolute favorites was the Maple Leaf Farms Sesame Duck Chop Salad tossed with apples, butternut squash, dried cranberries and the surprise flavor of mint!  Yum!

Squash Trio: I was hoping there would be squash featured.  I was having a hankering so Autumn squash!

Brussels sprouts?  Seriously? Yes, they were great!  No offense, Mom, but yours have never tasted like these. 

(LEFT to RIGHT) Grilled Quail over broccoli; mashed sweet potatoes (not doused in butter or brown sugar, yet sweet and scrumptious); Cajun-style blackened Mahi 

We barely had enough room in our stomachs but we all found a spot for this amazing Mini Indulgence: layered Pumpkin Pie and gingersnap crust topped with sweet crème fraiche :)

Myself and the lovely ladies

Please check out these other amazing blogs:

• citynomnoms.wordpress.com
• basilmomma.com
• citynomnom.wordpress.com & entertaining-life-daily.blogspot.com
• foodplusfizz.blogspot.com

When I got home that night, I shared some of my leftovers with D.  A week later, when I was pushing for a DATE NIGHT, D suggested we go to Seasons 52; he wanted to check it out for himself. 

We went on a Saturday night with a reservation for 8:15, and when we arrived, it was a full house.  We actually elected to sit in a booth in the bar area rather than the large main dining room.  This turned out to be a great move because it was much quieter and made for easier conversation.  We also got to enjoy the live pianist who softly performed right in the bar (side by side with the bartenders).  Such a unique and classy touch.  I took more notice of the ambiance and decor.  Dark, intimate lighting.  Rich, deep wood paneling.  Natural stone. Open, airy kitchen.

I knew I was going to go for a seafood dish so I ordered a glass of vino, a South African Sauvignon Blanc, while D enjoyed a Sam Adams seasonal ale.  I loved the elegant table side wine pour (even just wine by the glass). We also went ahead and immediately ordered the Steak and Cremini Mushroom Flatbread - grilled, shaved steak, cremini mushrooms, gorgonzola cheese, sauteed onions and fresh basil. 


Absolutely amazing!

After a bit of back-and-forth, I decided to go with the Cedar-Planked Grilled Salmon which was accompanied with roasted red potatoes and grilled asparagus and carrots. 

It was an excellent choice.  The salmon was cooked perfectly, moist and seasoned just with a bit of salt and pepper and I loved the fresh veggies that came with it.  I also ordered the Squash Trio that I had enjoyed so much previously.

D went for the Grilled Lamb T-bone Chops; no surprise there!  3 medallions of perfectly grilled lamb served with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes and veggies.  D quickly devoured his meal; a sure sign that he thoroughly enjoyed it.  His only complaint was the amount of meat he received.  He thought it was a little sparse considering the higher prices than other restaurants in the area.  I tried to reassure him that the price goes into the quality and the careful sourcing. 

When the Mini Indulgence dessert tray came by I knew I had to try one.  Heck, for $2.50 each, I'd be surprised if there was ever a table that completely passed it up.  D swore he was stuffed but I forced a bite on him.  He's doesn't have the biggest sweet tooth.  I went with the Mocha Macciato. 

Light and fluffy. Sweet without being overindulgent. The perfect sweet cap for an amazing night out with D.

<3

Seasons 52
8650 Keystone Crossing
Indianapolis, IN 46240
(317) 846-5252
www.seasons52.com

What I'm Eating: Slowly Exploring the South Side...Fireside Brewhouse & Yokohama Japanese Cuisine and Sushi House

I've lived on the south side of Indianapolis for almost 3 months.  I haven't checked out the local eateries as much as I'd like to but when I have, it's been nothing but pleasant surprises!...

FIRESIDE BREWHOUSE

Across the I-65 overpass from our house you'll find a plethora of retail shopping and restaurants.  It is a vast improvement from where we lived downtown.  D and I found a wonderful bar and grill right down the road from us.  Fireside Brewhouse, as described on their website is "a family-owned and operated restaurant designed to offer guests a superior Southside dining adventure."  I really liked the open, clean atmosphere.  There is a decent-sized bar area and 2 dining areas.  The staff is nice and friendly without being intrusive.  On our first visit we tried a dynamite appetizer, Fireside M-80s.  Lightly breaded and fried jumbo shrimp then tossed drenched in a sweet and spicy Thai-inspired sauce then garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.  They're placed on a bed of slaw that is equally integral to the whole dish.  

We also ordered a thin crust pizza to share between the two of us.  Upon recommendation, we chose the Luca Brazzi pizza which is topped with Italian sausage, onions and peppers.  We were both pretty disappointed with the pizza.  The crust was not memorable, the tomato sauce tasted store-bought, generic, uninspired and one bite and the whole top layer of cheese and toppings came off.

The proximity makes Fireside Brewhouse a go-to place on D and I's list.  I look forward to exploring their signature entrees and burgers which sound enticing.   I returned this past weekend to watch the unfortunate smack down of the Colts and ordered the M-80s again.  I was actually quite surprised that it wasn't more packed during the game. 

Fireside Brewhouse

997 East County Line Road
Greenwood, IN 46143

(317) 859-9505

YOKOHAMA JAPANESE CUISINE AND SUSHI HOUSE

The Bride and I were craving sushi a few weeks ago.  She had a consultation with the makeup lady in Greenwood so we Googled sushi restaurants in the area.  Yokohama is near the heart of downtown Greenwood in a house remodeled into a restaurant.  The exterior leaves little to be desired but boy, we weren't disappointed.  In fact, I had some of the best sushi in Indiana.  The interior is quaint yet comforting.  We settled into a booth and were greeted by a friendly woman who took our order as well as made our sushi rolls.  Their menu is quite extensive with entrees, bento boxes and a large selection of sushi rolls.  The rolls were a bit pricier than other places by a dollar or two.  To start, the Bride ordered a small salad and I went with edamame.  We decided to order two rolls and split them.  We went with the Crazy Crunchy Goben.  Tempura shrimp, crab meat, cream cheese and topped with bonito (fish flakes).  Fresh, crunchy, yummy.

The second one was the most imaginative, innovative, delicious roll I've ever had.  It is something that I crave and salivate over just at the thought.  I can't find the name but it is on Yokohama's House Signature Maki menu.  It is made with shrimp tempura, mango, cream cheese and wrapped with soy paper.   It is topped with a very generous amount of avocado.  Finally, a dollop of coconut cream tops it all.  They call it a dessert roll but I could eat this for breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert. 

A friendly gentleman approached our table towards the end of our meal to ask how our experience went and how we had come across Yokohama.  I assume he was the owner.  I enjoyed how he discussed the menu and made sure we were satisfied.  I cannot wait to bring D along.

Yokohama Japanese Cuisine and Sushi House
67 North Madison Ave.
Greenwood, IN 46142
(317) 859-1888

FYI ---> Both Fireside Brewhouse and Yokohama Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Bar are participating in Savor the Southside which goes until September 18th.

What I'm Eating: The Quest for the Perfect Thai Red Curry

I have always had a special place in my heart for Thai cuisine.  I love combinations of spicy and sweet joined with fresh vegetables and an array of unique spices.  The flavors are so unique, bold and sometimes clear your sinuses completely. 

When *Fefe and I were in Cincinnati on business and dined at the Teak House Thai Restaurant, my palate experienced the most mind-blowing amazing Red Curry I've ever had in my life. 

That's saying a lot because I've enjoyed red curry and other various Thai entrees in so many different cities: Atlanta, Tampa, Chicago to name a few.  But theirs left such an impression that I'm salivating just writing about it now.  The sauce held the most perfect consistency (not too soupy) and the combination of the heat of the Thai chilies and sweet of the coconut melded together was so copacetic.  So since then, I have been on a quest to find a red curry dish in Indianapolis that can compete with Teak House.

Thai Taste

For years, Thai Taste at the corner of 82nd and Allisonville had been my go-to spot to grab Thai food, mostly because of proximity to where I lived but also because I liked the cozy, quaint family-owned atmosphere it presented.  The Bride and I have gone there together too many times to count and usually during weekday lunch because of the specials which include a soup, salad, entree and spring roll, all for about $7.  I moved away from the Castleton area over 2 years ago and found myself going there less and less.  However, the other day The Bride and I had to discuss upcoming bachelorette party and wedding plans so I suggested we venture back to our old stomping grounds.  I already knew I wanted the Gaeng Daeng which is a Thai red curry made with chicken, coconut milk, Thai basil leaves, julienned red peppers, bamboo shoots, green beans and a whole lot of chilies.

You have to appreciate the little heart-shaped sticky white rice that they serve with all of their entrees.  It makes me blush every time.  I am never disappointed by their food however, it still did not fill the void left by Teak House.  Their red curry is indeed packed with flavor but the sauce was so liquidity that even the white rice couldn't soak it all up.  The color of the sauce also suggested that there wasn't enough red curry paste. 

I was pretty stuffed after 1 serving.  I usually save enough room for a scoop of their amazing coffee cake with a scoop of mocha ice cream but I chose to refrain.  Instead, I boxed up my leftovers (which I accidentally spoiled by leaving them in my car...not the best air freshener).   

The Bride went with entree that had a little less kick.  It was made with chicken, dried red chilies, water chestnuts and scallions in a mild, sweet chili sauce.  I, of course, had to steal a bite.  Pretty good but doesn't hold up to my need for super spicy!

I will continue to go to Thai Taste if I'm ever on the North side and have a hankering for inexpensive, yummy Thai cuisine.  Their hospitality is always so friendly, especially the frail older man who refilled our waters several times, always with a smile.

THAI TASTE
5353 E 82nd St
Indianapolis, IN 46250
(317) 578-9722

Thai Spice

After a pretty exhausting weekend (the joint bachelor/bachelorette party was on Saturday) I realized that I haven't gone grocery shopping for myself in weeks so our cupboard is getting very bare.  I still haven't figured out which restaurants deliver in my area so I decided to order some food for pick up from a Thai restaurant that I had passed, while driving, several times.  A friend of mine had actually recommended it to me recently so when I was debating who to call, Thai Spice came to mind.  I was starving when I made the call.  I was calling during their lunch service so I went with the Red Curry (#10) and the Padd Seuw (#3), both which came with rice, vegetarian lemongrass soup and a spring roll.  By the time I threw my hair up in a ponytail holder and brushed my teeth, it was time for me to go pick it up.  I walked in and noticed the elegant decor and plentiful seating.  I would love to take D back there for a more romantic night out.  I paid the bill and anxiously headed back to my house.  Once I got everything out of the boxes and bags, my nostrils and taste buds immediately lit up!

Starting from the top of my plate and going clockwise you have the lemongrass soup which was very light and simple.  It was a very seasoned broth with the slightest bit of onion, tomato, mushroom and cilantro floating about.  Nothing special.  The Padd Seuw is made with chicken, wide noodles, broccoli, Chinese broccoli and bok choy.  There was the teensiest bit of heat but fell more on the sweet spectrum for me.  It balanced well with the Red Curry which was nice and spicy (I ordered it "Medium Hot")  Again, Thai Spice's sauce was very runny but captured the intense flavors I crave.  The spring roll was pretty typical and would have been nice with a sweet chili or duck sauce for dipping.  There was also a sweet surprise with both entrees.  Khanom Kai Nok Kra Ta or "Thai Fried Sweet Potato Balls" made for a happy ending.  They were just a small bite of sweet potato in a crispy, fried wonton.  Just the bit of sweet to cool my tongue from the heat of the red curry.  I had plenty of leftovers so D and I enjoyed them them for dinner.  His favorite was the Padd Seuw and I still favored the red curry.  I am glad to know that there is a decent Thai place right down the road from where we live.  I look forward to a dine-in experience in the near future.

THAI SPICE
2220 East County Line Road
Indianapolis, IN 46227-6315
(317) 881-2243