18k conquered on soup and veggies; 14 days more to go!

21 days of Healthy Eating is going strong, I love it when I have to push my limits and this challenge is making me do it everyday!

Here is a small write up of the past couple of days, the workouts done and the food I have cooked to keep me sane!

Day 4 – Friday

The day began with 40 minutes of cross training; went for 4 km brisk walk ,had planned to do one set of Suryanamaskar, but ended up doing stretching exercises and finished my workout for the day!

Breakfast was another bowl of fresh fruits, sprinkled with salt n chaat masala.

Lunch was stir-fried vegetables with a bowl of soup.

Mid day snack was green tea, one carrot + one tomato

Dinner – Some more soup and a large bowl of vegetables with 5 almonds, saturday was a big day for me and I already had a huge butterfly in my stomach.

Day 5 – Saturday

It was a chilly morning, I pulled my self out of the warm cozy cocoon to get ready to face the day… it had been close to 2 weeks since I ran last.

It was the day of the 1^st longest run of the season – 18k, the last time I ran that much was 1 week before my first Marathon in September 2012.

My mind was playing games with me, giving me enough reasons to cut back the miles and not push my self – not enough practice, a long gap since the long run, exertion, I may trip n fall, injury, I am on diet, not enough energy, the list is endless. I was not ready to give in, the whole point was to push my self and make my mind and body understand that I am in control and not vice-versa.

In the end I won, not with the best of time, walked the last km as my thighs were really paining, but completed 18k in 2 hrs – 40 minutes. Other than leg pain, I was absolutely fine and felt strong throughout the run, no hunger pangs, no weakness.
Now for the next month I have to focus and stick to my workout or else I am in trouble!

After a long run I was obviously very hungry, unlike our usual of hot idli-vada sambar and kappi at a Darshini, we came back home to have boiled egg scramble with vegetables.

I had this entire portion for brunch (we reached home at 11 am) with a glass of milk (no sugar). A cup of tea with an apple at 3 pm, 6 pm another small glass of milk (no sugar) and dinner was a bowl of soup.

The brunch kept me full the entire day J

Boiled eggs and veggies

Day 6 – Sunday

After the previous day run, I was really tired and my legs were still paining, I had a 7 kms run today, but dint go for it.

Instead went for a brisk walk of 5 kms and did a lot of stretching exercises.

I wish I had completed my run, as this is the best way the body learns to recover from the previous day long run, but I dint have it in me.

The routine with my food was pretty much the same J

For my stir fry I added a bit of scrambles tofu and soup was tomato and celery soup with some freshly ground pepper.

Veggies and Soya Tofu

I had a condensed milk container lying around the fridge, I so wanted to dip my fingers in it, before my evil mind got to me I made some butter biscuits and sent a few with hubby today to the office.

Cardamom and Chocolate Condensed Milk Biscuits

Day 7 – Monday (Today)

I missed my run yesterday, which I had to and did complete today, ideally Monday is a rest day, but I had rested enough on Sunday, so there was no excuse to miss out on exercise.

Will do some stretching exercises in the evening as my legs are still paining L from the long run!

My fruit stock got over, planning to replenish it with some papaya, pomegranate, grapes (if they are sweet) and oranges before they get over.

Veggies are there in plenty, going to try some new soups tomorrow.

For today I made a tomato and carrot soup, just added some carrots to this soup recipe.

In the last 7 days I have lost 1.2 kgs, long way to go but it’s a start.. And a fine start to the year I say!

Condensed Milk n Butter Biscuits

Ingredients	Quantity
Condensed Milk	200 ml (half tin, I used nestle)
All purpose flour (maida)	250 grams
Unsalted butter room temp.	150 grams
Baking powder	1 ½ tsp
Cardamom	½ tsp
Milk	2 tbsp (only if required)

Makes – 30 medium size biscuits

Preparation Time – 20 minutes

Baking tome – 20 minutes @ 180 degrees celsius

I have a microwave convection oven do please adjust the time accordingly.

Method:

• Sieve the flour, baking powder and cardamom set aside.
• Beat the condensed milk and butter together till well incorporate and the mixture looks smooth.
• Fold in the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and make soft dough.
• Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees celsius, roll out small balls, flatten hem slightly and take for 20 minutes.
• You can also roll them out on butter paper, or else the dough will stick as the dough is really soft and sticky.
• Cut the rolled dough into desired shapes and then bake.
• I made chocolate flavour with the same recipe.
• Remove 3 tbsp of APF / maida and replace it with cocoa powder. The reaming recipe is the same.

Chocolate Butter biscuits cut and ready to bake

• Once baked, remove and cool them completely before storing in an air tight container.
• These biscuits not very sweet and taste more like butter biscuits.