Lifestyle Overhaul!

When you get into the everyday rut of work and living between weekends, the most impacted thing is always our health. We plan working out and eating clean but there is always the scarcity of time. Also I don't know if Murphy is reading this or not, but his laws always cause some long term ailment whenever I plunge into exercise mode. And needless to say the cravings are irresistible when them diets begin. This time around, after having a fabulous holiday in the US of A where I indulged to the core and OD'd on all the goodness life has to offer, I'm so ready for a lifestyle overhaul giving scope to only cheating during holiday (twice a year and come on that's allowed). Being exposed to exotic local fresh produce we decided to go organic - to whatever extent we could living in Delhi. Today hubby and I went to a local supermarket and brought back goodies for the upcoming week. This blog is going to force me to record our daily progress in the lifestyle overhaul attempt

Day 1 ( June 1, 2014) 

Brunch : Sandwich made of Boiled egg seasoned with salt, oregano and chilly flakes served with honey smoked ham on a bed of lettuce.

Dinner :Mediterranean grilled chicken with chickpeas , red bell peppers and mushroom on a bed of lettuce served with fresh peaches 

Day 2 ( June 2, 2014) : 2.55 KM Run

Breakfast : Cereal with organic milk (constant)

Lunch : Spaghetti with Asparagus and Chicken

Dinner: Grilled Yakitori Marinated Salmon with Assorted sautéed vegetables

Day 3: (June 3, 2014) Ran 2.51 KM

Lunch : Slow cooked chicken chili

Dinner: Brussel Sprouts and Chicken Salad with orange juice and honey dressing

Day 4: (4 June 2014) - Rest Day

Breakfast :Fresh Mango and Green Apple

Lunch :We ran out of gas yesterday and the frustrated wife gave up all kitchen tasks. So, today was pamper me day and Alex packed me a good wholesome lunch - Lettuce, Egg and Ham sandwich with Siriracha sauce and it's all baked :)

Dinner: Hummus crusted chicken on a bed of baked veggies 

Day 5 : (5 June 2014) - Ran 3.09 KM

Lunch: Chicken Phad Thai Noodles (made from brown flat noodles)

Dinner : Chicken Sauté with Asparagus and Snow peas

Day 6: (6 June 2014) - Ran 2.80 KM

Lunch: Turkish Chicken and Okra Casserole

Dinner: Fish soup for the soul

Day 7 : (7 June 2014) - Walk 1.38 KMs - Semi Rest Day

Lunch: Grilled Peri Peri Chicken with a Caper, Olive & Jalapeño Relish served with spicy rice on a bed of lettuce!

Dinner: Still digesting Lunch! Watermelon juice overload!

Day 8: 8 June 2014

Exercise: Cycled 11.68 Kms

Breakfast: Poached Eggs and Salami on Toast 

Lunch: Chicken Biryani with Chilled spicy Yoghurt

Dinner : Glass of Milk :)

Day 9: 9 June 2014 - Rest Day

Lunch : Subway Salad - Turkey and Chicken Ham

Dinner : Chicken with Garlic Spinach and Button Mushrooms 

Day 10: 10 June 2014 - 2.86 KM Run

Lunch : Chicken in a fresh Tomato and Eggplant Sauce with Fusilli

Dinner: Grilled Rosemary Chicken And Vegetables

Day 11: 11 June 2014 - 3.32 KM run

Lunch : Seasoned Chicken and Bean Sprouts with Flat noodles cooked in lemon grass water topped with ground nuts 

Dinner: Creamy Chipotle Ranch Grilled Chicken

Day 12 : 12 June 2014 - Rest Day

Lunch: Pasta Shell with Chicken and Brussel Sprouts 

Dinner: Rocket leaves and Chorizo salad with capers and pine nuts 

Day 13: 13 June 2014 - Rainy Day

Lunch : More rocket leaves but this in a haaautdaaaag!

Dinner: Salami baked with garlic , tomato and Italian herbs on a bed of rocket leaves

Day 14: 14 June 2014 (3.35 KM Run)

Lunch : Shepherd's Pie 

Day 15: 15 June 2014 (1.88 KM Walk+Sprint)

Lunch : Teriyaki Chicken with Snow Peas and Red Bell Peppers

Day 16: 16 June 2014 (Slothed)

Lunch: Pasta in Creamy Pumpkin sauce

Dinner: Chilly & Lemongrass Drumsticks served with a Thai style chickpeas and lettuce wrap 

Day 17: 17 June 2014 (3.5 KM Run)

Lunch: Spinach pesto Fusilli with grilled spiced chicken

Dinner : Chicken & Salami with Rocket leaves , Brocolli and Mushroom

Day 18: 18 June 2014 (Rest Day)

Lunch: Egg cooked over a layer of spicy Okra 

 

Dinner: Herbed Prawns done two ways with a rocket and tomato salad

Day 19: 19 June 2014 (Rest Day)

Lunch: Mutton Chili with brown rice in tortillas 

Dinner : Watermelon Juice and Wine (Bday celeb) 

Day 20: 20 June 2014 (3.27 KM Run)

Lunch: Left overs with a makeover

Dinner: Comfort Chicken & Leek Soup

Day 21: 21 June 2014 (3.07 KM Run)

Lunch: Chilly Garlic Rice with Chilly Chicken

Day 22: 22 June 2014 (Rest Day after OD Yday)

Lunch: Masala Dosa

Day 23: 23 June 2014 (Ran 3.55 KM)

Lunch: Green Bean & Red Pepper Chicken Pasta

Dinner: Spicy BBQ Chicken with lettuce and saucy chickpeas

Day 24: 24 June 2014 (Ran 2.16 KM)

Lunch: Carrot Rice with Sautéed Greens and Chicken

Chicken on a garden fresh salad seasoned with garlic and herbs

Day 25: 25 June 2014 (Ran 4 KM)

Lunch: Creole Chicken and Okra

Dinner : Herbed Chicken Roulade with a Chicken Jalapeños Salad - Chef Hubby

Day 26: 26 June 2014

Lunch: Chicken and Pumpkin Goulash

Dinner: Herbed Chicken & Prawn Pasta in Red Sauce

Day 27:27 June 2014 (2.86 KM Run)

Lunch: Chicken and Asparagus Lemon stir fry

Dinner: Wedding reception - lots of salad

Day 28: 28 June 2014

Lunch: Mom's Super Delicacies all the way from Kerala - Squid, Prawn, Beef and all that Jazz

Dinner: Lemon Coriander Soup

Day 29: 29 June 2014

Lunch: Appam and Chicken Stew - South Indian yummies!

Day 30: 30 June 2014 (4 KM Run)

Lunch: Chicken and Peas Pesto Pasta

Dinner: Grilled Peri Peri chicken with an herbed Mushroom, tomato and Vodka Pan sauce 

With this we ended our one month of awesome eating and working out. What we gained? Happy tummies, physical fitness, conversion from sloths to prospective marathoners (we've already done two 10 K runs and are preparing for a half marathon in November) and a whole load of contentment. Are we done yet? Hell no, this was just the beginning to a lifetime of good lifestyles :)

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Bottomless Pit #3 : Asia Alive - Double Tree by Hilton

So, we woke up this beautiful Saturday morning - the skies were grey, there were sparks of lightning and bursts of thunder. All I could think of after last nights Mojito's was a 'Heart Attack' meal - greasy, meaty comfort food.

We quickly checked our favourite All in All restaurant/hotel directory - Zomato, for options in and around our neighbourhood. Closest option, and one that had some great reviews was Double Tree's breakfast buffet.

It was 10:00 AM by the time we got our act together, Alex made a quick call to the restaurant 'Asia Alive' and found out the buffet ended at 10:30 AM. We knew 10 minutes would not be enough to do justice to a Buffet so we requested a time extension. Why 10 minutes you must be wondering, when 10 to 10:30 is clearly 30 minutes? Well, 15 minutes for the lady to get dolled up and 5 minutes driving time.

The reception informed us they would make a special request and arrange a confirmatory call back in five minutes. Alex just about hung up and started his song of 'Baby Get Ready! We have 5 Minutes to leave!' and his phone rang. It was Double Tree calling to inform us that they would extend the buffet till 11:00 - 11:30 for our benefit. A.W.E.S.O.M.E.

We got ready and just when we stepped out there was a downpour - but well nothing was going to stop us now! We ploughed through the water logged roads on our mission to Hog!

We reached Double Tree - Customer Satisfaction Overload. The person in-charge, who made the call to Alex was at our table eagerly waiting to greet us and give us a tour around the food islands, where lay a large spread of utterly delicious goodies. His service was commendable as he showed us around the various LIVE counters and simultaneously took our orders - this was quite surprising for a buffet, considering buffets are normally self service.

Then began the food orgy - We started off with Omelettes stuffed with gooey cheese , mushroom and bacon with potato wedges and grilled seasoned tomato on the side.

Next up : Cold cuts - Smoked salmon, Pork Salami and Ham served with olives doused in vinegar and some interesting sauces. We also tried out various cheeses - Brie and Emmental and Cheddar. I figured I'm not too much of a cheese connoisseur :)

By now, I started to feel a little full so I decided to space out the meal. The theory worked because as I sipped my piping hot cup of cappuccino, my tummy started making space for more. We decided to stroll around the diner and see what other options we had and that's when we decided we're not leaving without trying everything - our meal had just begun.

We had a vegetable bake - done to perfection still retaining some of the crispiness of the vegetables, lamb patty - succulent and rich in flavours of herbs and then placed our orders at my all time favourite counter - pancakes and waffles! I knew this was going to be a herculean task but I was determined to finish my mission.

Last but not the least, Alex piled up his plate with all the goodies from the pastry section - Donuts, Muffin, Eclairs and Croissants.

By now we felt like two stuffed turkeys - we'd make some nice fat birds for Easter! We were informed close to 11:30 that the counters were closing and food was to be cleared away. We were so done with the food bit but we sat around catching up on the week's happenings. Such a lovely start to our weekend - Good Food and Great Company!

We left the Hilton and set out for a lovely long drive on the highway, our tummies nice and satiated, rumbling amiably along.

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