Miso... is so delicious!

One of my favorite things is to make a big batch of Miso Soup so I can enjoy a warm, tasty, and nutritious meal whenever I need. I like to savor a bowl first thing in the morning or after dinner if I need a little something before reaching bedtime. I've made it many ways before but my favorite is the recipe from The Kind Mama.

Kabocha & Wakame Miso Soup
Put water into a pot - how much depends on your preference for broth-to-ingredients ratio. Soak the Wakame (the seaweed) and Shiitake Mushroom to re-hydrate. After they're softened and plump, either scoop or strain them out - chop Wakame if the pieces are too big. Keep the soaking water.

Heat the soaking water to boiling over medium heat. Add: Wakame, Shiitake Mushroom... and Kabocha Squash, Daikon, Leek, and Red Onion. Use your desired amount of everything and chop to your desired size. Boil for about 15 minutes, until all the veggies are soft.

Put 2-3 tbsp or more Miso paste (depends on flavor preference) into a small bowl. Only use the refrigerated kind that contains living probiotic culture (NOT the powder kind). Ladle a couple big spoonfuls of the hot water into the bowl to dissolve the Miso. Turn down the heat to very low. Add the Miso to the pot and it should just be warm enough for you to see the Miso swirl on its own, but DO NOT let the water boil... even with small bubbles... because then you'll destroy all the living nutritious goodness of the Miso.

Here are 10 scientifically researched benefits of Miso:
1. Contains all essential amino acids, making it a complete protein.
2. Stimulates the secretion of digestive fluids in the stomach.
3. Restores beneficial probiotics to the intestines.
4. Aids in the digestion and assimulation of foods in the intestines.
5. Is a good vegetable source of B vitamins (especially B12).
6. Strengthens the quality of blood & lymph fluid.
7. Reduces risk for breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers.
8. Protects against radiation due to dipilocolonic acid.
9. Strengthens immune system & helps lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.
10. Is high in antioxidants that protect against free radicals.

And while we're at it... some benefits of Wakame! Magnesium, Iodine, Calcium, Iron, Vitamins (A, B2 - riboflavin, C, D, E, K), Folate, and Lignans.  If you don't normally eat sea vegetables, you need to get at it. Seriously.

This Miso Soup is so filling and delicious... and packs a serious health punch. So, next time you've got the sniffles or feel a bit under-the-weather... don't reach for the canned stuff filled with sodium, preservatives, and year-old 'shelf stable' noodles & junk. Treat your body and yourself to this elixir of health. Yum!

The Kind Diet

I read a book by Alicia Silverstone called, The Kind Diet, years ago. It sparked this whole eating revolution within my own life... in fact, I only ate meat that was certified organic and humanely raised and handled for the entire year of 2010. I permanently made the switch from keeping milk in my fridge to almond & soy milk. I learned a lot about eating kindly for the earth and for my body. That book really changed the fundamental way I viewed the relationship between me, my food, and the planet.

Since then, she's come out with another book - The Kind Mama. I read the introductory chapters about the plant-based lifestyle research and benefits. And then I read the chapters on how it can increase fertility. I just love her holistic approach to everything and the complete picture on plant-based nutrition and the female body. So, in my renewed dedication to The No Food Fun Life, I am still going to aim for carb-free and sugar free... but I think I'm going to ease up a bit on the natural starchy veggies, fruits, and whole grains. It will probably make life a lot easier and more enjoyable.

In the beginning, it was easy to get swept up in the initial momentum and go all-out carb free, get on the meds, download apps, and just turn the whole experience into a regimen. I was on a mission and it was quite stressful. Now that it's been almost 6 months and the frantic excitement has died down... I want to keep up a healthy lifestyle filled with good nutrition and fitness, but less militantly.

So, here's the first meal I've made since deciding to embark on a kinder diet. I made my lunch for tomorrow... some Korean Hobak Jun (side dishes) of egg-battered fried tofu and zucchini. I also scrambled the leftover egg. I made a big batch of the Miso Soup recipe found in The Kind Mama. It was the first time I had cooked with Kabocha Squash... and it's a delicious little squash. Love it!

What else is changing? I've stopped taking Clomid, the nightmare hormone pill. Even though I only take it 5 days each cycle, I am positive that it continues to affect your body long after. I finally feel joyful and lighthearted again for the first time in months... since starting the medication! It was like running on a revved up hormone engine... I was strung super tight. I didn't even realize how miserable I've been feeling until I felt better. I'm hoping acupuncture can help regulate my ovulation issues instead.

I've also been working less hours. I think the Clomid affected me so much that I literally got talked to at work about my attitude and behavior... :/ I don't agree with everything that was brought up in that meeting, regardless of my emotional issues. But, I also don't excuse or justify anything either.. Suffice it to say, it was a get-it-together and back-to-reality moment... I think sometimes I forget some important lessons I learned from previous workplaces because I FEEL like I do valuable work and that I am among friends... I've put myself back into my government worker bee shoes and just started playing it a lot safer. I've also pulled back my hours at work as a self-preservation tactic. For the past few weeks I've averaged about 35-ish hours per week. So far, so good.

And I reduced my Metformin to 1/2 the dosage - which has done wonders for my eyes! LOL... Anyone remember that post? The side effect from the Metformin was doing really strange things to my eyes... my right eye was always red no matter what and my left eye couldn't stop watering all day. It got to a point where the skin at the corners of my left eye was red, raw & broken from the constant watering and me wiping the moisture away. I couldn't really put Neosporin on the corners... but you know what worked amazingly well? Honey! The skin healed up and got better... yay!

Well, that's about it. Everything else is pretty much the same. Something happened at work today that was cray-cray... but that's like a whole new topic that would be too complex and weird to write down. It certainly has been a super weird atmosphere... and it's not slowing down... But, I'm just going to not let it affect my state of mind. Anyway, I'm going to head to bed because I know my tomorrow is jam-packed. Gotta get that quality sleep... *Zzzzzzzzzz*

PS - After many complaints from my loyal readers about how difficult it is to leave comments with their phones... I finally figured out how to tweak the settings. So, now it should be easier? Give it a try and let me know if it has improved! :)

Badminton, My Throwback Thursday

So... in keeping with the racquet sports for the month of March... I attended a practice/tryout session for the Corporate Challenge Badminton!!! Why is this a Throwback Thursday moment? Well... as some of you may know... I played varsity badminton in high school!

At the time, I was feeling a little bit overstuffed from the team potluck and I also had a bit of a headache. None of my friends were going to be there. I seriously spent the last hour of my day contemplating skipping the practice.... all these things were stacking up & telling me to just drive home instead of going the exact opposite direction of home to play a sport I hadn't touched in over a decade w. a bunch of strangers. I think I was afraid of how bad I might perform. I was on the varsity team back then, even though I wasn't like an Olympic contender or anything, I was good enough. I was afraid that I'd get on the court and find myself starting from scratch... or worse... maybe I'd be able to envision what I should do and just wouldn't be able to execute any of it and become super frustrated & embarrassed with my own inabilities.

As I got to the freeway junction where I had to choose whether I'd go home or go to practice... I sucked it up and drove to the Las Vegas Badminton Club. I doubted my decision the entire way as I sat through traffic, drove around the enormous complex many times because I kept missing the obscure door, as I stood in the front being awkwardly not greeted by the Chinese mother/daughter receptionist duo, and finally signed the waiver. Then, I stepped into back area where all the courts were. And instantly, I felt excited! I was exhilarated! Exuberant! *Eeeeeeee*

I introduced myself to the team captain and immediately apologized for how bad I'm going to be because I hadn't played in over 12 years. She was so encouraging and spent time running some volleying and serving drills with me while the others played doubles. The first half hour or so was ROUGH. I'd swing and just keep missing. I had to slow down and remind myself that I had adjusted my swing to accommodate the really short paddle of pickleball. I kept at it and stayed positive.

An hour or so into the game... it was like riding a bicycle! Of course, my various partners really helped. Use your wrist! Hit high and force them back! Give them room and let them make the mistake! I loved every minute of it! The muscle memory came flooding back and the game, the strategies, the moves ... they just all started popping up. Don't get me wrong... I'm nowhere near good by any means, but I was definitely pleasantly surprised by the progress.

On top of it all,  I made a bunch of new friends! I definitely made the right decision. :)

What The Heck Is Pickleball?

I never heard of Pickleball until earlier this month... and now I'm totally in love with the game. It's basically a mixture of tennis, badminton (court size is the same as a badminton doubles court), and ping-pong... and you play with a paddle and wiffle ball.

Well, a couple of my teammates were trying out for the company pickleball team for Corporate Challenge, so I decided to join them. I figured that I knew how to play tennis and I used to play varsity badminton in high school... why not just try?!

It was amazing! I must admit that my work life had been in sort of a slump and dragging myself out of the house had become a chore. However, with the early morning picklball practice in our courtyard - I felt the zest come back! It felt so incredible to start the day off with some mentally challenging and physically engaging fun! Get that heart pumping, yeah! I gotta admit that after three days straight of early morning practice, I felt it all over. *groan* I also threw in a day of racquetball so my right arm/elbow/shoulder were so sore... lots of icing and Biofreeze. Even my ankles hurt!!! LOL... I don't think I've put them to so much work with sudden stops and turns in like a decade!

I didn't make the official mixed doubles team or the backup, but I loved cheering on the team on the day of the tournament. It was so awesome to be out there and feel the camaraderie in the air!

There are some plans in the making to continue practice throughout the year... and I really, really hope the plans come to fruition. I seriously love, love, love piiiiickleball! I just got the email this morning regarding badminton practice and tryouts. I'll definitely be trying out!!! :)

Scale the Strat 2015

So... it took me a long time to finally blog this... but here I am! On Sunday, March 1st - I attained one of my greatest physical accomplishments to date! I Scaled the Strat! I took 1,455 steps very, very slowly and steadily all the way to the 108th floor of the Stratosphere tower. It felt like quite the triumph when I reached the top!!! Woohoo!

It was daunting and I didn't train as rigorously for it as I should have. However, I was proud of myself for even signing up... I think it took a certain amount of self belief and a spot of courage to take that on knowing I am nowhere near the peak of physical health, lol. I have really great friends who supported me, helped me fundraise for the American Lung Association (the charity for this event) and even two friends who participated with me! It was a great feeling knowing there would be high fives and selfies at the top! :)

My hometown friend who Scaled the Strat with me stayed for the whole weekend and we definitely treated it like a vacation/staycation for both of us. Hee hee! We ate lots of food, relaxed and watched tv together - thanks for indulging in real life crime shows with me, and enjoyed a hard earned pedicure.

I can honestly say that I will do this again! My time this year was 34 minutes 53 seconds... now that I know what to expect, I think I can be more mentally prepared for it. I'm going to improve my physical condition for the next 11 months and try to beat my time. YEAH!!!! #beastmode #cantstopwontstop

PS - THANK YOU to everyone who supported me with donations to the American Lung Association. Your belief in me was like wind beneath my wings. ;)