The Best of 2010 from JBug's Kitchen

Today we're going to review the most popular posts on JBug's Kitchen Antics for 2010 and by "most popular" I mean the dishes that generated the most traffic on this blog; however, they're not necessarily our personal favorites. We'll go that direction another time.

Isn't it hard to believe a year has gone by and we're on the cusp of a new one? I don't know about you but I've just gotten used to writing 2010 and now I've got new numbers to remember. Darn!

  
                Scotch Eggs                      Braciole - Italian Beef Rolls

Speaking of numbers, exactly a year ago the big guy and yours truly got tired of watching the scale numbers increase and the ease in our clothing decrease. It was so bad it got to the point that we were talking about ditching our queen sized bed for a king - cause there was no room left therein. We were so desperate we didn't even wait for the new year to arrive. On December 28, 2009 we'd had enough and rather than wait till we gained another ton or so, we started what the big guy calls "The Push Away" diet...as in "push your fat ass away from the table".

    
Old Fashioned Date Filled Cookies          Chocolate Lava Cake

Now I know if you look back through the past year's blogging you'll think I'm telling a gigantic fib, but you'll see I certainly didn't stop cooking. Not when you love doing it as much as I do! What I did was cut down on quantities so there's wasn't so much temptation to have another helping or enjoy the leftovers. I also decreased excess calories as much as possible by cutting fats without compromising flavor, and we ate a lot more vegetables. We still dine well but more intelligently than we used to.

   
            Salmon Wellington                Chicken with Roasted Lemons

Oh, we also cut out empty calories like our favorite libations through the week and saved them for weekends only, and limited them further by only have one a night instead of two. We gave up nothing, just adjusted the quantities and frequency. The big kicker though is that ...hold on to your hats my three sisters...you're not going to believe this...I have MUSCLES! Yes muscles and having muscles burns a heck of a lot more calories that fat. We work out 6 days a week - the big guy 45 minutes to an hour a day, and I aim for 30 to 45 minutes. I use the old calorie burning elliptical for 30 minutes, then do up to 200 crunches a day as well as a series of exercises with 1-1/2 to 5 pound weights. Weight wise I'm limited because of degenerating discs and wonky vertebrae(s), but I'm not out to look like King Kong anyway, so more repetitions with less weight has been working just fine.

    
          Stuffed Sopapillas                  Pork Tenderloin with the Bomb

Needless to say, the proof is in the pudding...ah results. The big guy's lost over 30 pounds and I'm down over 20. So what have we given up? Not one single solitary thing except a combined 50 plus pounds worth of lardo. I still get to cook to my heart's content and we still eat all the foods we love. We feel better, look better and even the Maxer Dawg is happier. After all, he has more room on the bed.

 

Comments

[Nanan]

Looking back at the food from the last year and thinking back - it was a delicious and healthy year - and not one bit shallow in the decadent department - and that means life is good - you did well - my friend - and that is why you are healthier and happier!!!! Keep up the joy and happiness and most of all - the excellent food and the love!!!!

[June]

Life is good Lea! Happy new year to you my friend.

[pam]

Congrats on all your healthy eating!! And best wishes for the new year.

[June]

Thank you Pam & Happy New Year to you too!