mkeah

I’ve been a vegetarian for about 15 years but about 2 years ago decided to incorporate seafood back into my diet. I made this decision because I missed fish, thought of the health benefits and wanted some variety in my diet. I still eat vegetarian most of the time and fish isn’t a huge part of my diet.

I could have honestly went on forever not eating seafood but it was something I wanted to give a chance again. I wasn’t entirely sure I would still like the flavor of fish but alas I did! And I’ve even tried new seafood that I didn’t have the opportunity to as a kid. I’ve yet to try lobster…and I do have an issue with slimy things like mussels, not always sure about shellfish.

I’m by no means knocking the strict vegetarian diet (I still call myself one even though it’s not true) and I think it’s a great way to live. For me, I was in a rut and being lazy about my cooking. Becoming a vegetarian so long ago, I had intentions to save animals and also to be healthier. Over time we have so many more options such as veggie burgers, chik nuggets, even fake seafood! But these products are processed and actually not all that good for you. To be the best version of a vegetarian, I wanted to make more things from scratch and not depend on the boxed options. For convenience it’s still there and we all resort to that at times, but I want to make more whole foods and know what is in my meals. This was also part of my reason to eat seafood sometimes. It’s healthy and I know what is in it.

So now that seafood has broadened the menu horizon for me, I find it easier to eat at restaurants (there’s always a seafood option) and also to make meals both me and my boyfriend will enjoy. He’s not a vegetarian but eats much less meat than he used to.

I typically buy frozen seafood from Target, mostly the tilapia and tuna steaks when they are on sale. If I can afford it or for a special treat, I buy fresh seafood from Whole Foods and they also carry individually wrapped and frozen options such as salmon. Another great option that I have been experimenting with is canned tuna. Some people hate canned tuna but let me tell you, if you buy the sold white albacore it’s actually quite good and has a “meatier” texture. I use this in the classic tuna casserole, sauted and tossed with pasta and veggies or for tuna salad sandwiches.

I try not to eat fish more than twice a week but it really helps me to change things up at dinnertime. Generally I like to pan fry fish and then serve with a veggie and a grain or starch. There are so many ways to prepare fish, such as with a butter and herb sauce, a tomato sauce, garlic, balsamic, and many other options.

I’ll post some recipe ideas in the near future but I am wondering what your favorite way to prepare fish is? How do you meal plan as a pescatarian?

Thanks for reading!

I’m sure you’ve heard of the freshman 15. Or the madly in love couples who pack on the pounds during the early stages of wining, dining and cuddling up to watch movies. They’re most likely having a lot of sex too so that equals burned calories. Yay for everyone! But eventually if you don’t watch it, you might end up right where my boyfriend and I are. 20 pounds heavier almost 4 years after meeting.

Okay, so that might not sound too bad to some people but to us it’s not okay. I’ve fluctuated slightly with weight most of my life so that’s nothing new but I do know that the times where I was at a healthy weight of 125-130 I felt my best. I’m 5’4″ so that range has always worked for me. We both look just fine as we are now, with clothes on lol.

I’ve never really been a “let’s go the gym” person and only had a membership for about a year. I did take full advantage of it at the time and also finally tried yoga which I loved. I used to run on a regular basis but if I’m being honest, I didn’t really like to run when I forced myself to start and don’t necessarily miss it now.  I know, I know…it sounds like I am full of excuses when in fact I’m just lazy and I can admit that.

After complaining about our weight for awhile, I finally suggested that we start some kind of diet modification. I don’t think that I have a horrible diet to begin with, but my bf has a tendency to enjoy less fruits and veggies and more pizza and sandwiches in the middle of the night. Lord knows we need to incorporate some more physical activity in our lives which can be challenging during the winter months.

So we have all we need: an indoor bike trainer, yoga gear, hand weights, the bands for resistance and plenty of free videos online to access. But somehow my daily excuses and the fact that I am drained after work have equaled no working out for me. That’s where I am hoping Barre3 comes in to rescue me from my slump of excuses. That’s why I am writing some of my entries about Barre3, in hopes to help motivate others and share my experience.

When I first heard about it I thought it sounded great. Combing yoga, pilates and ballet to make my body look rockin’ again sounded fun.  I received a Living Social email about 2 weeks ago offering the into deal for $19.99. This included the workout ball, a DVD and 3 months of unlimited online classes. The membership for online normally ranges from $10-$15 a month depending on the plan you select so this was a good deal to try it out.

I haven’t dove in head first to a full routine with it just yet, but I have tried some of the videos online. My goal is to do the workouts on the weekends when I know I will have time but also to get up at least 2 days a week before work and get my groove on. This will help me be energized for the day but also I don’t have to worry about after work excuses or distractions. That’s where I have failed.

I will post again about my plan and how things are going. Please feel free to comment or share your experiences with using Barre3. From what I have read people just LOVE it so I am hoping I get hooked as well!

Mkeah

 

Quick intro:

I’ve always been a writer, a photographer, a cook, etc. Not professionally but these are some of the interests I hold. I once started a blog to just ramble but with no followers and a busy life, I let it go to the wayside.

So here I am, starting a new blog once again. I hope if you find yourself here you enjoy what I write and also feel free to let me know what you think.

About me, I’m a female in my (almost) mid-thirties who lives in Milwaukee, WI. I grew up in the suburbs but have called the eastside my home for about 6 years now. I was not raised a city girl but truly do love the hustle and bustle of a smaller city like Milwaukee.I live with my boyfriend, our cats and a tank of freshwater fish. We also manage the apartment building we live in so I can assure you there will be posts about the crazy things we encounter on a regular basis. Think scrubbing past tenant’s toilets, a pile of rice on the floor in the building lobby, and a fire extinguisher someone decided to release all over the stairwell just for fun.

Thanks for reading!

Mkeah