Anyone who writes knows you get it done with butt in a chair and hands on the keyboard. Unfortunately, this means you don’t move much, unless you have one of those treadmill desk things.
My other job is in information technology, in front of a computer for 8-9 hours a day. This adds up to 12-14 hours a day in front of a computer with my butt in a chair.
My butt is getting big. No lie.
I’m the type of person who must do everything 100%. No one can do this. I set myself up for failure every single time.
I’m breaking it up into segments: Diet (which sucks) and a slow entry into exercise (which I hate).
Yeah I know I should focus on exercise. Girl please, let me get through this deadline first. Excuse, I know but my editor wants his book and he’ll get his book. No. Matter. What.
Part One: Diet
I think I have read every diet book on the library shelves. I no long buy them but check them out, read them and then buy if the recipes are good. There have been a few where the food was really good: the Sonoma diet is delicious, just a lot of work and I don’t cook any more. My husband does. (Yes, be jealous, because he’s really good.)
My Doctor recommends the Dash diet. It’s good, but heavy on dairy and whole grains. I can’t eat dairy and whole grains: lactose and gluten intolerance. But the concept is good: fresh vegetables and fruit, lean proteins, dairy and whole grains. I can substitute for the dairy and wheat, and I’ve tried.
I do not lose weight when I eat a lot of starch. Why? I wish I knew. I’m measuring it, counting the calories. Keeping it under control, but, nada. Weight comes off in 1/2 ounces per week.
Take the starch away? Yep, 2 lbs per week, just like normal people. So I’m limiting starch to two days a week. Honestly, I want my oatmeal, and a piece of toast. Not to mention potatoes. I love potatoes. Pasta? I can give up pasta most days, but potatoes? My Irish roots forbid it.
Last Sunday, I wanted to roast a chicken. It was cold, damp, rainy, icky weather. I needed comfort food and nothing smells better than a chicken roasted in the oven. Add mashed potatoes and gravy and you have Sunday dinner nirvana. But no potatoes and I wasn’t going out in the ick to buy them.
I came up with this recipe based on a recipe for cauliflower mash. Yes, I know what you’re thinking — ew. But cauliflower doesn’t taste bad, if you cook it right. Ever had it roasted Indian style. O.M.G I could eat it like popcorn. I started with this recipe for Better than Potatoes Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower from IBreathImHungry.
I can’t have the cream, butter or cheese. I only frozen broccoli and cauliflower mix, not fresh. I also had to make it for just me. No one else was going to eat it. Here’s what I came up with. I was surprised how “creamy” it tasted. Full fat coconut milk gives it the same rich consistency as heavy cream.
Broccoli-Cauliflower Dairy-Free Mash
1/2 bag of broccoli cauliflower blend (organic)
1 Tablespoon full fat coconut milk (Thai Kitchen)
1/2 Tablespoon margarine or non-dairy buttery spread (see note)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2-3 Tablespoons plain kefir or lactose free sour cream (see note
1/4 cup grated romano (sheep’s milk) cheese (see note)
Microwave first four ingredients for about three minutes or
until the veggies are nice and mushy. Put into a blender container.
I use a magic bullet. Add the kefir or sour cream starting with 1
tablespoon. Blend until very smooth adding more kefir or sour cream
until the desired consistency. Blend in the cheese. Serves 2.
NOTE: Ghee could be used instead of margarine. I don’t react to Kefir or
lactose free sour cream. Lactose sour cream is tough to find. I get mine
at Earth Fare or Whole Foods. For the cheese, you can substitute really
aged cheddar or non-dairy cheddar here as well. I had romano on hand.
So what’s your favorite comfort food? Have you come up with substitutes for