Start of 12wbt! It’s time!
I look at my reflection in the mirror and am not really happy with what I see. I see an overweight person. A person that no longer really feels like me. I am the one who has let it get this far and well, let’s face it, being a foodblogger or a lover of food in general usually doesn’t help particularly with losing weight. But in the end those are all excuses. So time to kick some butt! It was a mere coincidence that I heard about the 12wbt program from Michelle Bridges. I was checking out Ahn’s blog A Food Lovers Journey and she mentioned the program.
Upon checking it out I was immediately excited. This was just the program I had been waiting for! So I signed up and then the waiting began. I signed up in april but the program starts today officially. Since the beginning of May we’ve been in warmup period, which means that you already have to start thinking about the excuses you come up with that prevent you from exercising or eating healthy. Writing them all down and coming up with solutions to those ‘excuses’. The program focuses in large part on exercising; a combination of cardio and strength training but 6 days a week in total. Whew… That’ll be more then I’ve ever done before.
Ofcourse being overweight by almost 30 kgs means any exercise will put strain on my body. So I am starting with low impact stuff like cycling and walking and go from there. (you can follow what I’ve done in terms of exercise by checking out the sports tracker widget on the right in the sidebar. It will automatically be updated with the latest training)
I am feeling enormously motivated and good about this one. I will do it! Every once in a while I will share the progress I am making and I will then put the little weightloss ticker you see below in the post as well.
Created by MyFitnessPal – Free Calorie Counter
I’m writing this post a little ahead of time so I am hoping it will already show a nice weight loss. I know I’ve talked about losing weight before and I have lost weight before but this feels different. It feels like a real lifestyle change. Something permanent and a way to be healthy and enjoy life to the fullest. So I am ready!
Now to kick start this whole process I am sharing a delicious healthy Thai salad with you, which is very spicy, especially if you make a mistake with the shallots like I did (oops!) so it was a little spicier then intended but I loved the flavors!
Thai chicken salad
Ingredients:
- 100g unsalted cashew nuts (chopped)
- 4 tablespoons white sesame seeds
- 2 chicken breasts (poached)
- 1/2 cucumber (in cubes)
- 4-5 Asian shallots (finely chopped)
- 1-2 red chillies (deseeded and chopped)
- 1 handful fresh mint leaves (torn)
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon grated palm sugar (heaped)
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
Directions:
| Poach the chicken in about 500 ml chickenstock and a few peppercorns. Simmer for about 10 minutes, Remove from the heat and leave in the hot liquid for another 15 minutes. | |
| Toast the chopped cashews or peanuts in a dry frying pan, and then do the same with the sesame seeds (separately) Set aside for later use. | |
| Shred or tear the chicken into small strips. Rinse and prepare all the vegetables. Combine the chicken, cucumber, shallots and chili in a bowl. Add half of the torn mint leaves and almost all of the toasted nuts and seeds. | |
| Make the dressing in a small bowl, season to taste and pour it over the salad. Toss gently, then top with the reserved nuts, sesame seeds and a few torn mint leaves. Serve at once. | |
Note
Since I didn't have Asian shallots I used regular ones and made the mistake of putting them in a stickblender, then blended for way to long so 5 shallots ended up being almost an onion puree. Raw that is pretty sharp plus these particular shallots were already sharp without making it worse.When tasting the salad for the first time I was a little shocked at how sharp it was, but adding more of the dressing and a little more lemon balanced it all out and it ended up being delicious. Except for that one bite that probably had too much chili and onion in it!
Recipe from Under the walnut tree
Appetizer
Asian
Bread
Breakfast
Desserts & other sweets
Healthy
A great decision! Congrats.
That salad is fabulous! Tasty, fresh and so enjoyable.
Cheers,
Rosa
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Simone (junglefrog) — June 5th, 2012 at 15:21
Thanks Rosa!
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Same her simmon, i took out my summer clothes and most of them are tight so have been dieting too, not on any special diet, just eating smaller quantities, and swwets and cookies etc….
Good luck.
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Simone (junglefrog) — June 5th, 2012 at 15:20
That is usually all that it takes. Using some common sense when it comes to the food we put in our mouths!
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May we be able to encourage and cheer you on as you journey toward your goal! I too have not been exercising enough, which ends today. Hell or high water (Midwest expression), that has got to happen! Sitting at a keyboard makes it even more important.
I like your salad and I am excited because I planted mint in my garden this year, so I don’t even have to run to the store for herbs.
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Simone (junglefrog) — June 5th, 2012 at 15:19
I can use all the cheering and encouragement I can get Judy! And yes, the keyboard thing is soooo not helping!
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Brave you! I am cheering you on from afar and taking inspiration to do the same. The salad looks so tasty and fresh (thanks for the tip on the onions…
)
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Simone (junglefrog) — June 5th, 2012 at 15:18
Thanks Robin!
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Cheering you on and wishing you success. I too am trying to excercise regularly, but some days I forget, well not really forgetting, get involved with something and ending skipping.
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Simone (junglefrog) — June 5th, 2012 at 15:13
Ah yes, well I used to have all sorts of excuses for not exercising but I find that if I plan it in at the beginning of the week it is actually not so hard to stick to a sort of schedule..
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You go girl!
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Simone (junglefrog) — June 5th, 2012 at 15:12
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A Thai salad without cilantro? yeah! Perfect for me as a cilantro-hater;)
Good luck, Simone! I know you’ll succeed!!
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Simone (junglefrog) — June 5th, 2012 at 15:09
Come to think of it, I actually think I forgot the cilantro..lol… But then I do love it… And thanks!
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Wishing you success with your goals!
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Simone (junglefrog) — June 5th, 2012 at 14:59
Thanks so much Gerlinde!
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Way to go Simone…thats the spirit! All the best.
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Simone (junglefrog) — June 5th, 2012 at 14:57
Thnks so much Nina!
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I feel your pain ! I have some weight to take off as well. I am on my first day on the South Beach diet. It sounds like a good, life style changing diet. I hope it goes well. Good luck with your weight loss, 4 kilos so far, not bad
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Simone (junglefrog) — June 5th, 2012 at 14:57
Yes, this is also lifestyle changing rather then a ‘normal’ diet. I’ve heard about the South Beach diet but never really looked into it yet. Good luck to you too!
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This salad looks incredible..I love the cashew nuts in it. Cashew nuts are good fat, kind of like avocados. On that note..I don’t think you need to lose weight at all..Thia chicken you look beautiful..curvy!
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Simone (junglefrog) — June 5th, 2012 at 14:56
You’re too sweet Lisa! I do think there is something as too curvy!
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Good for you! Best of luck on your new program and congratulations for taking control! I know what you mean about being a foodblogger vis a vis weight!! I know I should be exercising more too…you will be my inspiration!
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Simone (junglefrog) — June 5th, 2012 at 14:56
O dear! I hope I do not fail you in terms of the inspiration…
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What a light and lovely dish! Definitely my speed. I even have some vegan “chicken” cutlets in the freezer that could work perfectly here.
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That’s just plain awesome, Simone. Congratulations on making this commitment. 12wbt sounds like an amazing program, I can’t wait to follow your progress and hear your comments on it.
As for that salad, it looks stunning! I might be tempted to add a mountain of spinach or leafy greens though, just so I get the feeling that I have a little bit more to eat. It does look like a very modest portion!
Brilliant pics, as usual. You are the queen!
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Simone (junglefrog) — June 10th, 2012 at 23:37
Yeah it does look like a small portion doesn’t it? But it was quite filling I have to say..
Loving the program so far and I already feel so much healthier, you wouldn’t believe it!
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This salad sounds like a delicious way to get started on the path to your goals. Good luck!
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Simone (junglefrog) — June 10th, 2012 at 23:37
Thanks so much Esi!
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Good Luck Simone! I’ve heard great things about that program! Love the salad…very healthy!
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Simone (junglefrog) — June 8th, 2012 at 12:49
Thanks Peter! Yes I think it is indeed a great program so I have high hopes..
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Great stuff!! I am doing well with week 1 too. So far so good right?
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Simone (junglefrog) — June 8th, 2012 at 12:01
Exactly! We’re gonna rock this one!
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