tO Run oR NoT To RUn-3 sure steps pushing you to complete your jog!

The anticipation,the planning before,the pushing yourself and especially the sad truth that it's much needed and good for you, is probably what makes it impossible to exercise.  It's our innate nature to hate anything good for us.  Broccoli ring a bell.  The problem is that without burning calories you can't lose weight.  And without losing weight you can't fit into that dress you have always wanted to or those skinny jeans that everyone's wearing.


un:
You have to overcome the first hurdle.  Putting on your jogging shoes and getting out of the house is the key.  Once you start you have to zone yourself out.  Stop thinking about the actual act of jogging.  Instead think about a person you hate.  Think of your boss who bullies you or a girl who gets on your nerves or a guy who is full of himself.  Focus on them and their irritating habits.  Focus all your energy in thinking hateful things that made you so mad that you wanted to kill.  And before you know you would've run a mile or so.   


deux:
Next you think about an upcoming social event and the dress you're planning on wearing.  Focus on the envious faces of all the girls when they see you with a flattering figure.  Think of the shock and awe you will create.  The compliments you'll receive.  Focus on that and another half a mile would fly away. 


trois:
Always begin with a end point or a goal in mind.  You should know where you want to end.  It can be a time limit or a particular distance.  Don't be too ambitious.   If you think you're capable of running for a mile and half then keep a mile as a target.  The extra half mile will make your day and make you think you're the king of the world.  Just before reaching your end point put on the most upbeat,patriotic or motivating song that has ever moved you in your life.  That will take you another half a mile beyond your target.  


Be sure to cool your body down by walking.  That makes you work out for a few more yards.  It gives you such a mood lift that you will feel you will be able to take on the whole world.  Not to mention that pent up anger that you had gnawing your insides would have evaporated.  

Chicken and mushroom in garlic sauce!

Ingredients
500g boneless chicken cut into inch thick pieces
1 large capsicum cut into strips
1 large potato sliced thinly
1 cup roughly sliced mushrooms
1 tsp garlic paste
3 tbsp oil
4-5 tbsp soya sauce

4-5 tbsp worcestershire sauce
1 tsp aginomoto or chinese salt
1 cup chicken broth (optional)
1/3 cup water
1 tbsp cornflour
salt and pepper to taste
oil for deep frying

Method:
Fry the potato slices and layer in the serving bowl.  Heat 3tbsp oil in a wok or non stick frying pan.  Stir fry garlic paste with chicken pieces for 3-5 mins.  Add capsicum and fry for another 5 mins.  Add mushrooms, soya sauce,worcestershire sauce, aginomoto and salt and pepper to taste.  Stir fry the vegies with chicken for 5 mins.  Add the chicken broth and bring it to boil.   Add the corn flour to water and mix to form a paste.  Add to the boiling sauce and allow it to thicken.  Add more salt and pepper if required.
Pour over the layered potato slices.  Serve hot.

Angels and Demons!

There are times when the baby just lies there and coos and laughs by himself.  I would like to think (and hope) that he is seeing angels.  And its not just me.  Most mothers who see this or even non-mommies they also say the same.  This goes to show our need to believe in existence of all good things.  By believing we get hope.  Through hope we get strength.  And through strength we go on.
As we grow older we seldom sit and coo by ourself and we never laugh.  Lets face it if we did, we would be labelled as nuts and committed faster than we can say I'm not crazy.  The evil in us obscures our vision or maturity blurs it.  Or we simply don't just lie there and stare into space.
Medically it is said its gas.  My husband believes its the different spectrum of light and the development of retina interplays on the baby's vision making him see a kaleidoscope of colours thus making him smile.  :) He is indeed very smart and a realist.  But he also believes in the angel story.  We all do.
Only if the angels would also put the baby to sleep occasionally all would be good.

DE-STRESS yourself with yoga!

People age inevitably.  Stress however aggravates and stimulates the ageing process.  Not only that it is also a source of stemming off various diseases.  Everything and anything eventually comes down to stress.  You work, you stress.  You study, you stress. You live, you stress.  It goes on and there's no end to it.  You get stressed, you eat more, you gain weight, you lose friends, you get overworked, your performance drops, your blood pressure rises.  Wars happen due to stress.  Stress causes wars.  Everything and anything causes stress.

SAVASANA or THE DEAD CORPSE POSE:

In the movie GoldenEye, James Bond, while lying in a hospital bed under the strict eye of the enemy causes an acute emergency by making the cardiac monitor beep out of control because his heart rate starts falling like crazy.  The result, makes the people keeping him there panic and also ensures his escape.  Savasana or the dead corpse pose is the most efficient ways to lower your heart rates to astonishing levels.  Drowning, deep coma and severe hypothermia are some other conditions in which this may happen.  I would suggest sticking to yoga.  Complete deep relaxation is something everyone craves for but doesn’t know how to achieve.  Through yoga it is not only possible but so thorough that you will become a new person over night.  It not only thoroughly induces relaxation of each and every part of your body but also de-stresses you to the maximum.

Lie down on the floor with your legs spread out straight, feet gently apart, and arms by your side with your palms facing upwards.  Close your eyes and focus on your body.  Ignore your surroundings, the stray thoughts.  Mentally visualize and relax each and every part of your body starting from your toes.  Mentally relax the soles of your feet, heels, ankles, calves, shins, thighs, hips, pelvis working your way upwards.   Focus on relaxing your lower, middle and upper back along with your tummy, chest and shoulders.  Relax your arms, elbows, palms even your fingers.  Consciously relax your facial muscles, concentrating on your forehead, eyes and cheeks.  Breathe in slowly and deeply.  With each breath feel the oxygen spreading to each and every part of your body.  Breathing out, just let your body go totally limp.  Let it become lifeless.  Feel your heart rate slow down and visualize yourself floating in the air, gentle, effortless and weightless. 

Slowly breathe in and out 6 times, open your eyes, stretch and get up. 

The whole head to toe relaxation should take about 10 minutes to complete but you can even stretch it to 20-30 minutes.  By the time you’re done you would have not only completely relaxed your entire body but also will feel totally rejuvenated and energized.  This posture effectively gets rid of chronic fatigue, stress and also keeps a check on your blood pressure.  It will help you sleep better and also improve your appetite.  Each routine of yoga should and must end with this posture.  Once you have mastered it you will understand the true benefits of yoga and will be hooked onto it for life.

Chicken with lemon and herb dressing!!!

Ingredients

2 chicken leg pieces whole
1 cup fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup fresh coriander or parsley leaves
1 large tomato chopped

3 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp anardana seeds
2 green chillies
salt to taste

Method
Blend mint,coriander,tomato,lemon juice,salt and green chillis along with anardana in a blender till a paste forms.  Marinate the chicken pieces in this mixture for 3-4 hours or overnight if possible.  Grill on medium heat for 15-20 minutes flipping once till the chicken is cooked.  Alternatively can be baked wrapped in foil with excess sauce to get more spicy or intense flavour.
Serve hot with sides of your choice.

Hot and Sour Soup!

Ingredients:

6-8 cups chicken broth
1 cup small boneless chicken pieces
1/3 cup green capsicum cut into small pieces
1/3 cup carrots cut into small pieces

1/3 cup cabbage cut into small pieces
1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
1 tsp aginomoto
2 tsp dark soya sauce
2 tbsp vinegar
2 tbsp chilli sauce
4 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp red chilli flakes
4 tbsp cornflour
1/2 cup cold water
2 eggs

Methods:

Heat the chicken broth in a large pan.  Add the vegetables along with salt, pepper, aginomoto, chilli flakes and soya sauce and vinegar.  Heat the soup till it comes to boil.  Add the cornflour mixed in cold water till the soup thickens to a likeable consistency.  Beat the two eggs and pour into the boiling soup NOT stirring.  Let the eggs fall into the soul naturally and let it solidify.  Add the ketchup,chilli sauce and more spices if required.
Serve hot with toasted bread or bread sticks.

Chicken steak with tangy cheese and capsicum sauce!

Most things which look complicated are actually not.  These steak recipes are easy to make, taste amazing and look gorgeous.  They can be used to impress your friends and family too.  It doesn't help if you're desperately trying to lose weight though. 

Ingredients:

2 chicken boneless breast fillets

1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese

2 chopped tomatoes

1 red/green capsicum cut julienne (thin strips)

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1/2 cup water

salt,

pepper,

red chilli flakes,

red chilli powder to taste

Method:

Grill the chicken steak pieces as in other steak recipes.  I prefer frying with the tiniest bit of oil and soya sauce for taste and grilling in a pan so that it cooks in its own juices. 

For sauce:  

Heat the oil in a non stick frying pan.  Add the tomatoes and capsicum and stir fry with salt, pepper, red chilli powder and chilli flakes for about 5-10 minutes.  Add water and cook for another few minutes till the mixture gets a saucy consistency.  Pour over the chicken fillet.  Sprinkle the cheddar followed by the mozzarella cheese on top.  Microwave the plate for about 1-2 minutes till the cheese melts and mixes with the vegetables and sauces.  

Voila!Serve with vegetables or sides of your choice.

Mashed potatoes!

Potatoes according to my hubby is God's Gift to mankind.  After chickens that is.  Mashed potatoes is a comfort food which is easy to make but we all have tasted some form of it or other that just sticks with us forever and neither our palate nor mind ever forgets it.  I have been fortunate to try one such batch at the Texas Steak house which I have been trying to imitate for years.  Finally I think I have found some tricks and tips to get the best mashed potatoes ever.

Ingredients:

2 large potatoes
3 tbsp butter or margarine
1 tsp chinese salt or aginomoto
1/4th-1/2 cup chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste
oregano or basil or mixed herbs for seasoning

Method:

Cut the potatoes into 4 pieces and boil in water with a tablespoon of sea salt or regular salt.  Remove the potatoes from heat when softened and wash with cold water cos they will keep cooking so long as they are hot.  Mash the potatoes using a masher or even a fork.  Add salt, pepper, aginomoto, butter and chicken broth and mix well.  Add more broth till the mixture has a softer consistency.  You can also add 1 tbsp of yoghurt if you prefer a more tangy flavour.  Sprinkle with oregano or mixed herbs and serve hot.  Reheat in microwave before serving if delayed.

Chicken steak with mushroom sauce!

There are unforseen delays in the life of a young mother.  Young not in reference to age, for I feel I have aged, but in reference to the time which has spanned since I was bestowed with this blessing.  The point of the story being that I'm sorry for a delay since my last post.

Below is the recipe of my fave steaks of all times.  The idea was copied from a steak at my favourite resturant in Islamabad.

Ingredients:

2 chicken boneless breast fillets
1 cup of double cream (thicker than usual cream)
1 cup roughly chopped mushrooms
1 tbsp cornflour
10ml of cold tap water
3 cups chicken stock (yakhni)
salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp aginomoto or chinese salt
3 tbsp dark soya sauce
2 tbsp vegetable oil

Method:

In a shallow frying pan heat the oil and place the fillets and fry on medium heat.  Add the soya sauce and salt and pepper to taste.  Fry for about 2 minutes and flip the steak over and fry from the opposite side for another couple of minutes.  If wanted you can skip the oil and just heat the fillets with the sauce in a non stick frying pan.  Take the pan off heat and in this pan or another place the chicken in the oven and grill for 10-15 minutes or till the steak cooks to your liking.

For the sauce heat the chicken broth till it comes to boil.  Add the mushrooms and cream while cooking on medium heat.  Add aginomoto, salt and pepper to taste and keep cooking till the sauce thickens.  If the sauce is not thickening add the corn flour mixed in water till it thickens and then take if off heat.

Pour the sauce over the fillets and serve with either baked or mashed potatoes and veges as sides.

YOGA-Abs workout!!!

The first thing people want to know if they think you’re a yoga specialist is how to get a 

flat tummy. They will have a look of desperation on their face accompanied with 

at least two or three stories of how they have tried EVERYTIHNG and have failed.  

The trick to getting a flat belly is twofold.  

You obviously have to have toned abdominal muscles but more importantly you 

have to burn the layers of fat on the muscles before you can start dreaming of those 

six pack abs that have the whole of Bollywood in storm.

The only way to get rid of fat over the muscles is by burning calories and eating a healthy 

balanced diet.  The muscle toning is where yoga is specifically helpful.  

The advantage it has over other forms of exercise is that the muscles strengthen as they 

tone hence the effect is more long lasting. 

It takes longer to get them into shape but once they are they stay that way and look 

more natural.  Lastly the biggest advantage is that most postures which tone abdominal 

muscles cleanse your abdominal organs enhancing their blood supply and detoxify them 

so making you healthy as a whole.  It shows it effects varying from preventing adult onset 

diabetes or giving you a better control over it to bringing a healthy glow to your skin. 

Here are the easy to do postures.

FOUR LIMB STICK POSE:

Start from lying on your belly.  Place you palms flat beneath your shoulders and lift your body 

off the ground making sure it stays parallel to the floor.  There's a tendency in this pose for the 

lower back to sway toward the floor and the tailbone to poke up toward the ceiling. 

Throughout your stay in this position, keep the tailbone firmly in place.  Breathe in 

deeply and tuck in your tummy muscles if you want to deepen the posture.  Don't let 

the elbows splay out to the sides; hold them in by the sides of the torso.  Try and keep

your body as straight and parallel to the ground as possible.  Hold the posture for 15-30 

seconds and release by exhalation and come and lie down flat on your belly.  Repeat the 

posture thrice.

Advantages:

This posture not only tones your abdominal muscles but also strengthens and tones your arms

and wrists.  It massages the abdominal organs bringing fresh blood to them and 

detoxifying them.  The core is where all the essential organs for healthy living are 

located and this strengthens our cores muscles and stimulates the core organs. 

It should however not be done if you’re suffering from acute backache, carpal tunnel 

syndrome or are pregnant.

FULL BOAT:

Start from the sitting position on the floor with your legs straight in front of you.  Take a deep breath; exhale and bend your knees, then lift your feet off the floor, so that your legs are at a 90 degrees angle from the thighs.  In this position, try to balance yourself on your hip bones.  As your body becomes steady straighten your legs with toes pointing upwards; at the level of your chin or eyes, keeping your arms outstretched and straight in front of you or parallel to your legs. If this isn't possible remain with your knees bent, perhaps lifting the shins parallel to the floor.  At first stay in the pose for 10-20 seconds. Gradually increase the time of your stay to 1 minute. Release the legs with an exhalation and sit upright on an inhalation.

Advantages:

This is one of the most effective yoga postures.  It will not only strengthen your abdomen and thigh muscles but also your spine.  It stimulates the liver, kidney, pancreas, thyroid and prostate gland as well your intestines.  With such vast effect on the 

organs it refreshes your entire body.  It helps relieving stress and 

stimulates a sluggish bowel.  It should not be done in pregnancy 

or diarrhoea.  The balancing in the postures calms the mind while 

increasing the bloody supply to it at the same time.  This will 

become obvious as you get better with holding the posture with time.

CHAIR OR LIGHTNING BOLT:

Stand straight facing forwards with your arms by your side and feet slightly apart.  Breathe in deep, lift you arms with palms facing each other and arms parallel to your ears.  Exhale and bend your knees, trying to take the thighs as nearly parallel to the floor as possible. Keep your knees facing forwards and push out your hip bones bending your back forwards so that it is shaped like a lightning bolt.  Keep your arms straight and parallel to your ears at all times and chin up keeping your head straight.  Hold the position for 15-30 seconds breathing in and out slowly and steadily.  Gradually increase the duration of holding the posture.  Repeat thrice.

Advantages:

This is one of the postures in yoga with revitalizes you and gives your body a surge of energy.  It strengthens the abdominal and thigh muscles.  It stimulates the calf muscles thereby increasing the blood supply to your heart.  It strengthens the spine and arms.  The effect is like all yoga posture immense and improves overall lower as well upper body fitness.

ROWING:

Lie down on your back with your body straight and arms by your side.  Join both your hands clenching them together in front of your chest.  From this position lift your upper body up from the ground keeping your chin up, back straight and legs firmly planted to the ground.  Drag you clenched hand forwards along your body towards your toes while bending at the waist.  After reaching the toes bring the hands back and lie back on the ground in constant fluid like motion.  Without taking a break repeat the process 15-20 times.  Keep the body moving constantly keeping your back straight; bending at the waist and arms rowing along the length of your body.  Try and increase the number of times of doing the posture increasing to 30 times.

ADVANTAGES:

This is the best posture for tucking in your upper as well lower abs.  The effect will be very obvious the next day when you will not be able to laugh, talk or do anything involving the abdominal muscles.  It strengthens the abdominal muscles in specific and tones them while stretching the back and the thighs.

 These postures are as usual just a drop in the bucket.  There are several other more postures to move on to once you have mastered the basics.  It takes hardly 10 minutes in a day and with these you are on your way to a good start.  However a good cardio workout and a balanced diet are still mandatory.  There is no excuse to eating wrong.  Another edge yoga has over other forms of workouts is that it will gradually decrease your appetite till it reaches an optimal level.  These postures can be done by any person belonging to any age group.  Once you have learned to combine yoga with your other workouts there is no end to what you can achieve.

Chicken Pie!!!

One of the best comfort foods for autumn and a favourite in out house is chicken pie.  High in calorie content like all good things its the worst thing imaginable if you're trying to lose weight.

Ingredients:

3 cups milk
1 cup mushrooms roughly chopped
1 large chicken boneless fillet cut into bite size pieces
2 tablespoon flour
4 tablespoon butter
3 tablespoon oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1 medium sized egg
Ready to use puff pastry sheet

Method:

Heat the oil in a wok or non-stick frying pan.  Add the chicken pieces and fry with salt, pepper and soya sauce for a few minutes till they are cooked.  Remove and keep aside.
For pie filling start by preparing white sauce.  Melt butter in a pan, add the flour and stir continuously on medium flame till the colour changes to reddish-brown. Take the pan off heat and add the milk while stirring.  Place the pan back on heat and stir using a whisk till the sauce thickens.  Add the cooked chicken,mushrooms,salt and pepper to taste and continue stirring for 4-5 minutes.  In a pie baking dish pour the filling mixture.  Layer the cheese on top.  Roll out the puff pastry sheet and place on the dish sealing the edges to the dish.
Brush the top with beaten egg.
Bake in a pre-heated oven at temp 180 degrees celsius or 350 degrees fahrenheit for 15-20 mins on until the pastry turns orange-brown.

XINNAMON N XPICE, YELLOW LEAVES AND ALL THINGS NICE-AUTUMN IN SCUNTHORPE

Day 65:

Two months after giving birth and bringing up a child almost only by myself, its overwhelming to realize that I have survived and more importantly so has the baby and his father.  Thus starts the intense workout regime to get what was once a moderately admirable or at least thin body back.  So I start with a jog every evening and realize that I am indeed living in a heaven on earth.  It also dawns on me that muscles can be a source of intense pain.  The fall is upon us and the colours are so vibrant and beautiful that they compelled me to walk endlessly the next few days pushing a pram uphill, acting suspicious and taking pictures of random but the most beautiful trees on this planet.  I expect to be stopped by the police or chased by dogs any day now.  The motivation behind the act was also the reactions of my best friends roomzz and usmoi which were thankfully exactly as anticipated. My legs, however, have disowned me and the 1.8miles jog that I have mentioned just to brag about has become a royal pain in the legs (pun intended). The miles seem endless, the night dark, the wind chilling and the sight of other more motivated joggers depressing.  The jog ends with an equally depressing and aggressive workout for the abdominals which are probably also in the process of dying.
So to answer the question that I have been repeatedly asked almost every day is how to tuck in that post-pregnant or non-pregnant belly.

PLANK pose:

Start with lying down flat on your belly and arms outstretched in front.  Place your elbows and forearms flat and at right angles to you arms directly underneath your shoulders.  Lift your body up from the ground with weight supported with toes and bent arms.  Keep your torso straight and about 6 inches above the ground.  Hold the posture steady for as long as possible.  To intesify, suck in the belly muscles and hold for about 5 seconds.  Repeat thrice.

The postures not only strengthens your core muscles but also massages your abdominal organs.  It helps in detoxifying your liver which helps in bringing a healthy glow to the skin.  Also it strengthens the arms and helps in straightening out any hunch in the back.  I will bring pictures next time soon as I can find a model for them.  Meanwhile using our rusted imagination would do the trick.

To end the day I make grilled steak with wild mushroom sauce and sides of mashed potatoes and stir-fried vegies. And before anyone asks will post the recipe soon.

So until next time.