Summer B.E.A.C.H. Challenge!

Of course it counts, it was Chinese food and it was new to you. you go girl!

TALLY

Wednesday Aug 14

5-Got up early (I guess it helps that I am an insomniac so am usually awake when it's time to get up ). Took Otis out for a walk to my office, then went out for lunch walk and oh I forgot did the usual sit-ups and other weighty things first thing. Will walk home tonight by the beach and then do my third "performance" in the pool this evening. Last night I added music to the synchronized swim-the theme from JAWS. My husband was most amused and even added a special effect (spraying water over but mostly at me) . Somehow the JAWS improvisation morphed into a bit of Kabuki theatre....Anyhoo ended up being 45 minutes and I was sore afterwards (especially arms and legs)

I too do not want this challenge to end. It has been a great pleasure to part of it and to get to meet knew peeps and to get to know other peeps better.

Feeling very helen mirren today

Ah, well, me and the mini-challenge didn't get along this week. While I find handball interesting (it was a sport I hadn't heard of before), I didn't try it out or anything like that. I also can't honestly give myself 4's and 5's every day this week.

The only part that I did do well was eat. I'm not a big seafood fan but I like crab sushi, so I got some crab sticks from the local Chinese restaurant. They were basically breaded and deep fried pieces of crab. Tasty, but not something I would eat often.

Densible, join the next challenge Im doing..I think it will be something you'll really enjoy. It's pretty different from any of the others I've seen yet. I can email you more details.

** Tally ** Thursday 8/14 - Red Team

Oh, definitely a 5 today!

As mentioned before, I rode the exercise bike. While I was catching my breath I did some arm exercises using handweights. Then I got on the treadmill for 50 minutes. 5 of those minutes I increased the speed and jogged (my knees will be upset). If you count my shower afterwards as water exercise, it was kind of like a triathalon!

Tonight was dinner at Olive Garden with friends. I did just as I planned: Ate lunch late, so I wouldn't be too hungry, ordered Minestrone soup (2 points) and my own salad with lite dressing on the side, and water to drink. I DIDN'T EVEN EAT THE CHOCOLATE MINT THEY GIVE YOU WITH THE CHECK!

On the way home I bought some bok choy - I've always wanted to try it at home. I also got some Chinese ginger honey dressing, which is not too bad if I don't use a lot. On my way to get ideas for the bok choy!

Whoohoo amryk-way to keep Beach Bods Hot!!

I enjoy bok choy in a stir fry....

TALLY RED HOT BEACH BODS
Thurs 8/14 I get 5 points!

it was a weird day, I was tired and took a nap (which I never do) and almost skipped lunch but managed to get it in. I also got onto the treadmill twice today for 41 minutes each which is another thing I don't normally do but did as a promise to myself because of the lously choices I had available to me yesterday at the "other" buffet that we never go to! today I totally rocked! even though I was tired from the company and being on the go all the time.

MINI CHALLENGE FOR RED HOT BEACH BODS

I had my chinese food tonight! THis was a little difficult for me because having owned a restaurant and been raised on trying different foods and finding that all my life I've been exposed to new foods that it was hard to find some chinese food I had not had before. I actually discovered a very common dish that is served everywhere that I had never tried before. Moo Goo Gai Pan, I also discovered that according to the nutrition guide online at livestrong that it is a healthier option in Chinese food. I will order it again because I now know its a healthier choice and it really tasted good.

MINI CHALLENGE 8/11-8/16

I completed the Olympic Event!! -synchronized swimming with a grand finale-a "freestyle" water opera to the music of Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. I swear I channeled Freddie Mercury. It was so much fun! I think I will continue to do it until it's too cold to swim.

I had my chinese food earlier this week -moo shu veggies and actually ended up having shrimp dumplings tonight.

Here is an interesting article on the top ten foods to try in Beijing.

http://www.chow.com/stories/11258


Do you know that fortune cookies are not Chinese but a Japanese invention perfected in USA? I love the Today Show!

I always have that one dish they mention...the "something adventurous"

GO YELLOW SUN E BEACHERS!

The TRIATHALON was a great success! The only thing I have to do now is have something Chinese before Noon California Time! I think I can do it! YAY

Now that I'm up with "What's that rumblin' in my tummy" I can claim my points for trying a new Chinese dish but Id rather claim double points just for the gross factor!

Oh well, though I like weird things usually, Seaweed salad is NOT one of them! I ate it ok but it wasn't a yummy thing.
Mind you though, I can eat dirt if I knew it would help me! Dirt, Seaweed salad, dirt, seaweed salad..... I choose DIRT!

Its Friday!!!
Drum roll please: the scales have announced the long awaited drop: this morning the scales showed a new number--249-- 3 lbs this week!!!!
my chinese food was a broccoli stir fry with dinner last night. That all the adventure my husband would buy into.
my sport was the speed walking, have you seen those guys walk, and hips going side to side?? I lasted 2 laps around the atrium then had to reach for the aleve.
tally for week 4
S 8/9 5 pts
S 8/10 3 pts
M 8/11 4 pts
T 8/12 5 pts
W 8/13 5 pts
T 8/14 5 pts
F weigh in 249!!! going for 5 again today.

I am still amazed how walking 15 minutes in the am and then in the pm has finally become do-able. I CAN walk further than from the parking lot to my office!!!

Fri -4
Sat -5
Sun -5
Mon -5
Tue -4
Wed -5
Thu -5

Last night my hubby made stir fry with califlower, broccoli, chicken breast, black bean paste, garlic, sugar snap peas, bamboo shoots and whole green beans ( think that was all) and cabbage wraps with chicken, shiitake mushrooms, silver noodles, water chestnuts, celery, green onion, carrots and black bean paste.
Did I like it?? NO but i ate it I like mexican and italian food MUCH better than asian!

And I've ran 3 times this week (running is all new to me!) and brushed the dust off the rowing machine and have gone at that a couple times ... i don't have a boat so thats as close as i can get to rowing

and the scales show.......NOTHING again but i've measured again and have lost several inches.

MINI CHALLENGE - RECIPE CHALLENGE - GREEN SEA TURTLES

Hello All. Here is my recipe for this weeks challenge. It's a side dish, that we are having tonight with pan seared scallops. I have never cooked with bok choy, so I am pretty excited.

Sesame Stir-Fried Chinese Greens

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons canola oil
2 pounds baby bok choy
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds


In a wok or large frying pan heat the oil over high heat until very hot. Add the bok choy and stir-fry until they begin to soften slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the soy sauce, vinegar and sesame oil and cook until just done, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

I'm hoping my little girl gives it a try. She has been getting pretty brave with trying new foods. Now, she doesn't always like them, but she is trying.

Hope you all have a great Friday!

Your Pal,
Julie

MINI CHALLENGE REPORT

*I was able to create a Chinese inspired recipe for myself at lunch the other day.

1 multi grain wrap
2 slices smoked ham
2 slices smoked turkey breast
6 slices (2 each of) red/yellow/orange pepper
1 tbsp cream cheese (spread on tortilla 1st)
2 tsp balsamic vinaigrette drizzled

Roll it up and enjoy!

I have a liking for these sweet peppers and they seem to be a good fall back for me to get some veggies in. Thankfully, the Chinese use many different veggies!

TALLY
Friday: 5!! Yes!
Saturday: 5
Sunday: 3
Monday: 5
Tuesday: 5
Wednesday: 5
Thursday: 4
Friday: today will be a 5!

Got to get going, got a busy day, ROCK it UP YELLOW SUN-E-BEACHERS!!

YELLOW SUN E BEACHERS Mini Challenge - My lifeguard says it's not too late!

My chosen Chinese dish was a cold peanut sesame noodle - not with regular wheat noodles, but spaghetti squash! We were searching for peanut butter for about 3 days - France does not to peanut butter. Finally I gave in and shelled a mess of boiled peanuts, which I toasted - and did the recipe, which was lovely.

I boiled up a pot of regular noodles for the regular folks, and did my spaghetti squash, with a recipe for a sauce as follows:

1/3 cup peanut butter
1 T. Sesame oil
2 teaspoons black rice vinegar
2T. soy sauce (Sorry Veggies Yuk!)
1/3 cut water
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup Goma Sio (toasted sesame with sea salt)

Blend until a puree, pour over cold spaghetti squash, and top with toasted sesame seeds and parsley.

WOW A new way to enjoy this classic Chinese dish!

MINI CHALLENGE -OLYMPIC SPORT FOR RED HOT BEACH BODS

8/13 Wed, I did the shot put.. I thought I had an 8 lb ball but figured out on day 2 that it is really a 5 lb ball so that is probably why I got good distance for a beginner.
[FIRST DAY.. THREE ATTEMPTS FOR A GOLD MEDAL ..
First Throw.... 15' 2"
second throw... 14' 3"
thrid throw... 14' 10"

8/14 SECOND DAY.. GETTING BETTER FORM..THREE ATTEMPTS
first attempt.... 17' 6"
second attempt... 16'
third attempt... 16' 6"


8/15 THIRD DAY.. BETTER FORM BUT ALMOST HURT A MUSCLE IN MY ARM .. I FELT IT BUT SEEMS OKAY NOW
first attempt.... 17' 1"
second attempt... 17' 6"
third attempt... 17' 3"

TA DA!!! and hubby cut his finger rather badly on the metal measure tape he was usuing.

Oh my gentle J!!

You did fabulously! The woman's world record is 74 ft. and a bit. If you keep it up (an inch farther per day) you could break the record in about 2 months!

MINI CHALLENGE FOR RED HOT BEACH BODS


I just had a Chinese inspired salad. To spring mix, I added Bok Choy, Mung bean sprouts, sesame seeds, mandarin oranges, almond slices, and green onions with a Honey Ginger Dressing.

Next I'll be having stir fry vegetables over brown rice and some type of vege protein.

ALSO, I bought some seaweed sheets, because Julie C. said she snacks on them.
YUKKK!! (sorry Julie). They tasted fishy. Ew, ew, ew. I can still taste it. Did I already say EW!

**Tally for today is 5
I stayed on the treadmill an hour and a half, watching a movie.