Friday, September 9, 2011

Easy Goodness




My kids have decided that they either need to get skinnier or healthier, so they are challenging each other to compete in a “4-Hour Body competition. This is based on the book by the same name written by Timothy Ferris, the same guy that wrote the “4-Hour Workweek.”

 The idea in both books is to discover how to achieve the greatest result with the least time and effort.

The rules are not earth-shattering. Pretty much the same as any low-carb eating plan:

RULE 1: AVOID "WHITE" CARBOHYDRATES.

RULE 2: EAT THE SAME FEW MEALS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

RULE 3: DON'T DRINK CALORIES.

RULE 4: DON'T EAT FRUIT.

RULE 5: TAKE ONE DAY OFF PER WEEK.

Personally, I think the guy is about 3/4ths lunatic, so don’t necessarily rush out and buy the book.  You can find the basis tenets here.

The recommended foods are, in a nutshell:

Greens
Beans
Lean Proteins

My family is very sick and tired of listening to me complain that my pants won’t zip up because of the mennertube*, so they have urged me to try this plan with them. I am notorious for never sticking to a diet, but my eldest has assured me that “this isn’t a diet, it’s just a healthy eating plan.”

I lasted about two days without cheating.

But during that time, I came up with a recipe that’s becoming a staple at our house. I love the idea of a healthy, no prep-time, one-dish meal.

This is so good for you… full of lean protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It will bless your body!

Plus, the time not spent in the kitchen can be used for things that bless your spirit. Go outside, sit on your porch, and just listen.


Shrimp and Lentil Salad

Bag of fresh baby spinach leaves
Can of black beans
Package of pre-cooked lentils
Chopped tomato and avocado
Virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Mild salsa (not chunky)
Bag of frozen cooked shrimp, thawed
Lemon juice

(All ingredients were from Trader Joe’s.)

Thaw shrimp
Rinse black beans in a colander

Layer spinach, lentils, black beans, tomato, and avocado on each plate. Sprinkle with oil and vinegar.  (I always do twice as much vinegar as oil.) Put a big dollop of salsa on top, arrange shrimp on top, and sprinkle with lots of lemon juice.

Voila! Bon Appetit.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend with people you love.


***************

*Mennertube: mysterious subcutaneous innertube that suddenly appears around a female's middle section following menopause.

Has anyone else experimented with the 4-Hour Body plan? 
Have any easy recipes to share?
Want to discuss mennertubes?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

The recipe sounds delicious...I love everything in it. Do not want to even think about my mennertube, much less talk about it. I hate how it appears so much bigger when I sit down...ugh! May look into this eating plan. Jerry and I need to do something. Love..Carol Meredith

Lisha said...

Oh, so THAT'S what it is called, a mennertube. It is just so unfair. Even though I have lost 25 lbs. since April, my mennertube just will.not.go.away.

Again, not fair.

The recipe sounds quite yummy. Unfortunately, I am the only one in my household that would touch lentils. Since I do eat the same meals over and over, perhaps I could add this into my lunch rotation. Thanks for the recipe:) My most recent indulgence is watermelon cubes tossed with balsamic vinegar and fresh ground black pepper (or, add into fresh greens with crumbled goat cheese and chopped pistachios).

Kim said...

Ha!

Well, that's what I've named it, anyway. ('Cause it's not just in front... it goes all the way around!!!)

Ladies, at least we're all in this together! Most of us, anyway.

(Sorry to gross out any male or young female readers, but it is what it is.)

Lisha, congrats on the weight loss. That's an amazing accomplishment. Your recipe sounds yummy, too.

Peggy Dabbs said...

Wow! Love your recipe. Can hardly wait to try it.

Lisa, love yours too. I just happen to have a fresh watermelon in the kitchen.

Yes, we are all in this together!

Bobbie said...

Oh Kim........this menePOT is so hard to deal with......alas, I am drinking calories now with the GA game on......

Anonymous said...

your recipe looks wonderful! but have you read Timothy Ferriss' book? he's got some sex stuff in there that is so racy, Costco quit socking the book! ha ha!! ask your kids about that...

Kim said...

Yikes!

Told you I thought he was 3/4ths lunatic!

(just skimmed the eating part.)

You can definitely get the gist of the eating plan without buying the whole book. It's as big as War And Peace.

thanks!
kim