Originally, I didn’t want to weigh-in today. But I decided that I needed to resume my official weekly weigh-ins.

They keep me focused.
They keep me motivated.
They keep me goal-oriented (even if I don’t achieve my goals every week).

I don’t accomplish the goals I set all the time. But having them there, knowing that there are things I want to achieve, forces me to work and strive harder.

I didn’t meet any of my goals this week.

Not even a single one.

And that’s ok.

I tried.

But I overestimated my strengths and abilities this week while goal-setting. I thought I would be able to do a two-minute wall-sit easily, but after a week of plenty of leg work and running, my quads weren’t feeling it.

I thought I’d be able to do a two-minute plank by now. Close, but not quite.

I didn’t get my swim in. No excuses. I just didn’t do it.

And Tara, I give you permission to nag me about making your dish. It’s taken awhile (far too long).

I barely even cook for myself now. I need to get back into the kitchen. I like it there. I like creating food, but I just haven’t felt that burst of creativity.

You know when writers have writer’s block? I have cooking and photography block.

Where’s my muse?

I need to rekindle my love for cooking soon.

The thing I’m most proud of this week was realizing that being vulnerable can be a beautiful feeling. It has helped me grow as a person, and even though I always want to put up a very powerful, strong appearance, I’ve discovered that I’m actually very sensitive.

The most important thing I’ve learned from this experience:
You can only fail if you stop trying.

Never give up.

Last week’s weight: 178.2

This week’s weight: 177.0 (down 1.2)

Last week’s goals:
1. Pack 1 box to ship to DC.
2. Swim 1600 meters.
3. Do a 2-minute plank.
4. Do a 2-minute wall chair.
5. Make Tara’s Couswalnachalicious.

This week’s goals:
1. Pack 1 box to ship to DC.
2. Swim 1600 meters.
3. Do a 2-minute plank.
4. Do a 2-minute wall chair.
5. Make Tara’s Couswalnachalicious.

Same goals. New week.

Do you like to cook?

What are your inspirations for cooking?

What is one new food/dish you’ve tried this week?

Random: How much do you love Nutella and/or peanut butter?

Related posts:

1. Weigh-in #16
2. Weekly Challenge #3: Mutiny!
3. Weigh-in #19

What’s better than relaxing on a beautiful Sunday afternoon? Eating lettuce wraps! They’re healthy, filling, and hit the spot. What more could you ask for?

I have only ever seen duck or fish lettuce wraps in traditional Chinese restaurants but you could make it with any kind of meat: chicken, turkey, beef, pork, etc. I happened to have lean ground pork on hand so that’s what I used but feel free to substitute.

INGREDIENTS
5 oz. ground pork
1 shallot, minced
2 clove garlic, minced
1/3 cup bamboo shoots, minced
1/3 cup water chestnuts, diced
3 crimini mushrooms, diced
1 stalk green onion, diced
8 leaves lettuce

Marinade
3 Tbs. soy sauce
1/8 tsp. salt

Sauce
2 Tbs. soy sauce
2 Tbs. oyster sauce
2 Tbs. hoisin sauce
1/2 Tbs. Shaoxing wine
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Method

In a bowl, add the ground pork and marinade. Combine the marinade thoroughly into the pork using a spoon or your hands. Set aside for at least ten minutes.

When the meat is done marinating, spray a non-stick pan with some Pam and place on high heat. Add the pork to the pan and start stirring. Add the shallot and garlic. Continue stirring. When the meat is halfway cooked, meaning there’s still a lot of pink, add the mushrooms, water chestnuts and bamboo shoots. Continue stirring.

When the pork is almost finished, at least four to five minutes, add the green onions and sauce. Combine the sauce thoroughly into the mixture and turn to medium heat. Continue stirring for another minute.

Place the lettuce leaves onto a plate so that the leaves look like little bowls.

Turn off the heat and spoon the meat mixture onto the lettuce.

Serve hot and enjoy!

Calories: 531
Fat: 5 grams

Related posts:

1. Day 49: Fajita Fiesta!
2. Day Seven
3. Day 108: Overcoming Insecurities

I’m running the Santa Monica Classic 5K on Sunday. Originally, I thought I would just aim to finish this race. No time involved. Well, I’m super competitive, especially with myself. So I’m really going to try my best to PR. My first 5K race was a month ago, and my time and PR was 33:21. It was HUGE for me because I came in under 35 minutes.

This time, I will be running without shoes and I hope to come in under 33 minutes.

To make this fun, I’d like to see your guesses on what my finishing time will be!

THE PRIZE:

A signature Jess-created dish with ingredients selected by you. You also get to pick the name of your dish and it will be featured, with a step-by-step photo tutorial, on Half of Jess.

HOW IT WORKS:

You get one guess at my time. Along with that guess, you can list three ingredients that will be the basis for the dish I will create in your honor. Also, please pick a name for your dish.

Example: 33:11. Garlic. Cilantro. Soy sauce. The Incredible Jess.

THE WINNER:

The person who’s guess is the closest to my actual finish time.

A few things to keep in mind:

I did a three-mile run on Wednesday. Finishing time was 30:45.
I did an intense leg workout after my run on Wednesday.
I am still sore from my leg workout.
I will not be running before Sunday.

NOW GUESS AWAY!

Consumption: 1790 calories, 41.6g of fat.

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Workout: Rest.

Related posts:

1. Weigh-in #22: The Downward Trend
2. Day 32
3. My First Q&A!

We are all confined by a box. Some of our boxes are bigger and wider, some of ours are smaller and narrower. Either way, we all stay in some kind of defined boundary, a comfort zone, a safety net. We like being secure, we like knowing what to expect, we like familiarity.

But for most of us, trying to lose weight and live healthier requires us to break out of our comfort zone, to step outside of our box and try something new. We transform from sedentary to active, we try new vegetables and fruits, we discover new ways of cooking, we fall in love with new exercises, and we find new ways to make life more interesting and entertaining.

It’s been less than three months since I re-started my healthy journey, and I’ve already branched out farther than I ever have before. By finding new passions and interests, I’ve expanded my box and broadened my horizon.

I have never been a picky eater. If you put something in front of me, I’ll eat it. It doesn’t matter what part of the animal it comes from, it doesn’t matter what kind of vegetable it is, even if it’s something with a weird texture, I’ll at least try it. Most of the time, it’s never as bad as I imagine it to be.

Curious as to what I’ve eaten? Ask away!

I’ve recently read many blogs that RAVE about pumpkin and almond butter, so much to the point that I HAD to have and try it.

What IS this craze? I had to test the waters myself.

Pumpkin butter was a definite win. I bought some from Trader Joe’s a few weeks ago, and it is delicious! Yesterday, I picked up some almond butter from Costco. I took a risk and bought a MASSIVE jar of something I had never tried before. Curiosity did not kill the cat. Almond butter has an interesting taste. Definitely an almond taste, but with the texture of Better ‘n Peanut Butter (which I love). I don’t know if I like it much on its own because it tastes kind of oily and bland, but with jam, it’s pretty yummy. How do you eat almond butter?

I also finally made some oatmeal today. No, I don’t live in a hole. I’ve had oatmeal before but I’ve never made it myself. I added some milk to my oats, nuked it for a minute, and then added some apricot jam, protein powder, and peanut butter. It tasted alright, like a mushier version of a protein bar. I don’t know if I’d eat this EVERY morning but once in awhile, it’s a nice change. I can see why people eat oatmeal. Oats fill you up like no other. I wasn’t hungry for a LONG time. I had to force myself to eat a late lunch so that I could hit the gym. How do you eat your oats/oatmeal?

What are some new foods you’ve tried? What are some that you want to try?

I have discovered my LOVE for cooking. I’ve grown up in a cooking household, but never before in my life have I cooked so much for myself and with such a large variety. I think it’s a great skill to have. I’ve discovered that you can pretty much bake everything instead of frying it. I also found that onions and garlic taste much better when NOT sauteed in oil. They maintain a more distinct, natural taste. I found lavash at Trader Joe’s and it is now my go-to pizza crust. Store-bought salsa? Please. I’ll make it. Marinara and alfredo sauce? I’ll make that too. I’ve learned that there is nothing that I can’t make. It is actually WAY cheaper and healthier to eat at home than to eat out.

Grocery shopping is exciting for me. Some people go down their usual aisles. Not me. I go and inspect a bunch of things, especially canned stuff. I never buy them, but they’re great for ideas. I now have daily dilemmas over what to make for dinner, not because I’m out of ideas, but because I have too many. It’s amazing. For me, food is now fun, exciting AND delicious. Healthy eating is no longer boring and repetitive. It’s a journey in and of itself.

If you had told me back in February that I’d run a 5K before July, I would’ve laughed in your face. Yeah…RIGHT. I could barely run a mile, much less three. What I did want, in February, was to break out of my comfort zone. I wanted to break out of my box. My box only provided me with fear. I feared running. I was too fat. Too out of shape. Too heavy. Too slow.

But it’s not true. My box constrained and limited me, but instead of being comfortable and settling, I wanted to expand those limits and achieve new heights.

And so I ran.

It started out with a few minutes. Then a few more. Slowly but surely, I made my way through a whole mile. When I finished that mile, I felt great. I pushed myself and proved that I could do it, that if I set my mind to it, I could accomplish anything. All of a sudden, I was running two miles. Then three. Then seven. I ran my first 5K race a little over a week ago. Now, I’m registered for a 10K on May 22 and a Half Marathon on June 6.

I recently started minimalist running. I’ve been running in my Vibram KSOs for a week. In just one week, I have already bested my official 5K PR of 33:21 by almost a minute. It’s pretty incredible. Although my feet hurt every night, they’re usually recovered by the morning, and I’m good to go again.

My passion for running stems from my belief that we are all meant to be runners. Seriously. How else were cavemen supposed to catch dinner? That buffalo sure as hell wasn’t going to just show up at your front door.

I also love running because it brews discipline. I honestly believe that discipline strongly influences long-term success in all aspects of life, whether it be weight loss, healthy living, careers, education, relationships. You name it.

Elite athletes are disciplined when it comes to training for their sport. I bet Kobe Bryant has shot at least 10,000 free throws. I bet Sidney Crosby has shot at least 10,000 pucks. I bet Michael Phelps has swam at least 10,000 laps. And I bet Serena Williams has hit at least 10,000 tennis balls. Fortune 500 CEOs are disciplined when it comes to their work. Top chefs are disciplined when it comes to practicing and improving their cooking skills. I see successful people, and all I think of is how disciplined and dedicated they are to accomplishing their goals. It takes a lot of work and discipline to become successful.

Running helps me to become disciplined. I might not be the fastest or the best runner, but I continue to practice and train. Through running, I have learned to let my mind control my body instead of the other way around. Through running, I’ve learned to push through pain and discomfort in order to reap the rewards and benefits. There are no words to describe the satisfaction, pride, and joy that comes from accomplishing a new running goal.

I’m stronger, faster, and fitter because of running. Most importantly, running empowers my mind. It is like therapy. I clear my thoughts when I run. I focus on one goal, and I get there. Running has taught me how to put my mind back in control of my body and not let my body dictate what I do or don’t do.

So step outside your box today. Find something new to try. Break out of your shell and discover a new passion. Expand your boundaries and set new limits. Be brave. Be bold. Be daring.

Steve from Nerd Fitness is trying to send 40 kids with cancer to summer camp. But that’s not all. He’s also becoming a Warrior. Help him pick out his costume!

Steve from 265 and Falling is running his first Half Marathon on May 23! Help him raise money for cancer research.

Chad from Reconstructing Thirty is running his first 5K on Saturday. Give him some encouragement!

The list doesn’t stop there. I could go on, and on, and on! Every single day, somebody out there is pushing their limits, going from ordinary to EXTRAORDINARY. Follow in their footsteps. Break out of your box.

Sorry, too much writing, not enough pictures! I’ve left you hungry readers unsatisfied the last two days. Don’t worry. Drool-worthy yumminess to resume tomorrow!

Consumption:1875 calories, 33.3g of fat. Total steps: 17,803

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Workout: Upper back. Lats. Assisted Pull-ups. Biceps. Chest. Leg raises.

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Jess25K: Remember my modified C25K? So I finally started it. I got sidetracked this week. I did 10 minutes of 60-seconds sprints at 8.0 followed by 75 seconds of recovery at 3.7, then ran for 5 minutes at 6.0 and called it a day. Need to stick with the plan more.

Related posts:

1. Two Miles in 24:00
2. Day 74: Lighting Up Your Tunnel
3. The Matrix Guide to Running

Remember when I received a case of POM Wonderful to test out and create recipes with? Well, I’m finally posting a recipe! And it has been AGES since I’ve posted a recipe. I know I’ve been irresponsible, showing you guys all these yummy foods without posting the secret behind them!

My first POM recipe is Roasted Ham-wrapped Asparagus. The photo recipe was inspired by Steve’s cooking show. I haven’t ventured into the art of video blogging, but I’m sure I’ll try it some day. For now, I’m perfectly content with taking pictures.

Roasted Ham-wrapped Asparagus topped with pomegranate sauce

INGREDIENTS
9 spears of asparagus (watch Steve’s video for the bushel reference)
3 slices of deli ham (preferably lean)
9 toothpicks

For the sauce
1/2 lemon
2 Tbs. honey
1/4 tsp. Splenda (or real sugar)
1 Tbs. POM juice

I love asparagus. They are THE spring vegetable. If you stalk food blogs like I do, you’ll see asparagus recipes popping up everywhere now that it’s springtime. Asparagus apparently has many health benefits including detoxifying our bodies, reducing the risk of heart disease, and even acting as an aphrodisiac. Interesting…

METHOD

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Wash your asparagus in cold water. You can either cut off the white ends, or break the ends off with your fingers. I actually learned (from the Mom) that breaking it off with your fingers is the proper technique because the asparagus will snap where it’s naturally meant to break.

Cut your ham in half. If you like less ham, like I do, cut the half in half again.

Take one piece of ham and lay it down flat. Place an asparagus at one end, preferably the end closest to you, and start rolling the asparagus into the ham. It doesn’t have to be perfect but try to get it as tight as possible. When you’re finished, take a toothpick and poke it through the ham and asparagus. The toothpick should hold the ham in place.

Cover a cookie sheet or an oven-safe tray with aluminum foil and spray a bit of Pam onto it. Place your asparagus onto the foil and throw into the oven for five minutes. Remove, flip the asparagus to the other side, and place back into the oven for another five minutes. The ham should be lightly browned when finished.

Remove from oven and let cool for thirty seconds before removing the toothpicks. Serve hot and with sauce drizzled over. I use the sauce pretty generously.

To make the sauce:

While the asparagus are roasting, make your sauce. Remove any seeds from the lemon. Squeeze the lemon juice into a bowl. You should have roughly two to three tablespoons. Add the honey, sugar and POM juice. With a spoon, mix until the honey is fully dissolved. ENJOY!

Stir-fried Noodles with Beef – Dinner: wonton noodles stir-fried with garlic, onions, green onions, cabbage, broccoli, eggs, red chili pepper, fish sauce, soy sauce, and shaoxing wine.

 

Consumption: 1558 calories, 25.85g of fat. Total steps: 29,981

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Workout: 5-mile walk. Upper back. Lats. Biceps.

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I’m definitely breaking them in. I went for a three-mile walk with my mom, then a five-mile walk with my friend Ilene. The five-mile trail was around a huge lake and it was gorgeous out today. Simply beautiful. I think I just found the perfect place to train for my 10K and half marathon.

My calves are sore today, but nothing too bad. I haven’t walked this much in a LONG time, almost 30,000 steps in one day!

Related posts:

1. The Double Down Throwdown
2. Day 66: POMtastic!
3. The Sunday Wrap