Easy Low Carb Meals for One (Steak with Bearnaise and Mashed Loaded Cauliflower)

I've been trying to eat healthier and I joined the gym. Thanks to all my hard work of 5x a week, I have gained a whopping 4 lbs in 4 weeks AND my clothes feel tighter. I'm just going to keep on doing the right thing, and hope things turn around. I mean I was doing nothing and now I'm walking at least 8 miles a week and doing weights 4x a week. Urgh.

I also did a fitness assessment with a personal trainer. I never thought I was in that bad of shape and I'm in my government BMI range as normal. But yet, I scored below average or poor in every category for my age of 49. Well, I think the system is flawed. I know that I sure didn't want to do a fitness assessment at my age, but curiosity got the best of me. I think the numbers are skewed because the only people who agree to do assessments at 49 are those who do marathons and triathlons, which makes the somewhat normal people look really bad.

So I love Bearnaise sauce, but with my old recipe, there was a lot going on to make it including a reduction. Well, I found a much easier way for the lazy empty nester.

Microwave Bearnaise Sauce
Ingredients:

• Egg yolk
• Onion 1 tsp chopped
• White wine vinegar
• Tarragon
• Butter

Instructions

1. Plop some white wine vinegar into a microwave bowl with some butter and chopped onion. Heat it up a little to soften the butter and onion.
2. Add the egg yolk and tarragon. Stir it up and reheat.
3. DONE!

Steak

Having a grill is ideal, but since I moved to an apartment recently, I use the cast iron skillet method. Put steak on med-high for 4-5 minutes on each side so it is still a little bloody, but has quit mooing. Oh, and this sets off my fire alarm every single time. Drives me batty.

Mashed Loaded Cauliflower

Ingredients:

• Cauliflower
• Butter
• Coconut or Olive Oil
• Bacon bits 
• Cheese
• Chives

Instructions:

1. Chop up cauliflower in small pieces. (I only used about 1/4 of a head...cooking for one and still had leftovers.)
2. Boil for about 30-40 minutes until the cauliflower is easily pierced with a fork.
3. Drain water and add some butter, and a dab of oil.
4. Use a mixer to beat the cauliflower until smooth.
5. Serve and top with bacon bits, cheese, and chives.

Black and Decker Green Smoothies and The League TV Series

After a turbulent year....kids moving, me moving twice, commuting, etc., I joined a gym again. I went to visit several of them and due to traffic concerns (which might prevent me from ever showing up at the gym), I chose the closest gym to me which is LA Fitness. Previously, I was a member of 24-Hour Fitness for years in my old location. Well this weekend, I woke up and went to the gym at 7:30 am Saturday and realized, my gym is NOT open 24 hours a day. It opens at 8am on weekends.  I was forced to go to Walmart and kill 30 minutes. 

Before

So I'm making Green Smoothies every morning for breakfast. Not sure what got me on this health kick, but I guess it's a good thing. Some of my friends have those $400-500 blenders. Well that is not my style being that I am a cheapskate. I found a beautiful red Black and Decker for $29 at Walmart and I love it. I figured if you can make power tools, you can probably make a mighty fine blender. I was correct in my thinking. The Black and Decker rocks.

So here are my typical ingredients, but it varies on what is available in my house.

After

• Handful of spinach
• Handful of kale
• Cucumber
• Strawberries and/or 1/2 banana
• Lemon or lime juice
• Cinnamon
• Chia seeds
• Carrots/Avocado/Zucchini (maybe)
• 8 oz of Almond Milk unsweetened
• Handful of ice

It's not like I really enjoy this drink, but you don't really taste if because its cold and you chug it. At least, I'm getting a lot of healthy fruits and vegetables without having to eat yet another salad.

I watched a documentary years ago about curing diseases through juicing, but I prefer to have the entire veggies and fruit with the fiber. Gerson Therapy

I made a green smoothie for Nicky. He said he felt like he had been given some type of stimulant.  I don't seem to have that reaction.

So I'm back to doing weights and cardio.  I get so bored with cardio, but I found a way to make it happen for me. I watch Netflix on my phone. I have been watching The League. Each episode is about 21 minutes long. I watch two episodes while I do cardio. I have Nicky to thank for that find.

If you don't know about The League, it is about a group of friends in a fantasy football league. It is a very raunchy, super raunchy, but hilarious. I'm sure people probably wonder why I'm laughing hysterically while on the treadmill or elliptical. My daughter who knows nothing about football or fantasy football is enjoying watching it. I only have 2 seasons left, so I need to find another comedy TV series for the gym.

My daughter has suggested I start the entire series of The Office.