Things are a-Changin'

I realize it was quite a hiatus I took for home leave and muscle breakage, so plenty has gone missing in the blog world.  For starters, the Weight Watchers Points system changed.  And when I say "changed", I mean it got a severe makeover.
If you keep up with Weight Watchers blogs, the entire ordeal has already been covered in great detail.  I won't bore you with specifics.  Basically, we've moved into the Points Plus scheme (which is why you'll notice my new posts include the Points+ values).  I'm not one of those overachievers who goes back through all of her old posts and recalculates points+ values.  Whatever - call me lazy.  And I'm also not one of those crazy bloggers who calculates both new points and old points in all of her new posts.
However...if you see an old post, and desperately want to know the new points+ value, comment on that particular recipe.  As soon as I get your comment, I will revise that particular post for points+.  Deal?

Whew!  It's sorted.

And since we're already on the topic, how do we all feel about this points+ crap?  I mean REALLY?!  I'm supposed to eat 29 points every single day?  I've got my meals planned for tomorrow, and I'm sitting at 21 with no clue how I'm going to keep eating.  I would just drink a 7 point glass of wine, but the whole "your muscles have also damaged your liver enzymes and you should avoid alcohol like the plague" thing puts a bit of a damper on that.  What the hell is a girl supposed to eat for 7 points when she's trying to lose weight???

I'm still scared of my scale, but I'll be stepping on it Tuesday morning.  Shit, this is going to suck.  I can tell you right now that my stomach has taken a turn for the worse, and I'm betting a good 7 pounds have been added to my midsection over the past two months.  Way to go, Sarah, way to go...
So I guess we'll just start all over with me trying to reach a goal and you inspiring and motivating along the way.  Tuesday morning I'll take a self-portrait standing in front of a full-length mirror in nothing but my Smugglette.  Then you can see what I'm talking about.
Till then, go eat some green beans!

Lemon-Sauteed Green Beans with Parsley

I can finally walk like a normal person!  It's AMAZING.  As of this morning, there was no pain and no tightness in my calves, and I've got a spring in my step.  Clearly this got me uber excited for some healthy cooking.  Digging into the fabulous Weight Watchers cookbook (courtesy of my amazing friend Lauren), I found this tart green bean recipe and couldn't wait to dig in.
I left my beans long, and used dried parsley rather than fresh; I do think this would taste even better with fresh herbs, though.  When subbing dried herbs for fresh, you want to quarter what the recipe calls for.

Makes 4 servings
Points+ value:  1

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 pound green beans, cut into 2-inch lengths
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp water

In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat the oil.  Saute the beans until bright green, about 3 minutes; add the parsley.  Cook, stirring frequently, 3 minutes.  Stir in the lemon juice and water.  Reduce the heat and cook, covered, 2-3 minutes.  Uncover and cook, stirring frequently, until the beans are crisp-tender, 2-3 minutes longer.

Boredom.

Remember that personal trainer I told you about?  Well, I signed up with her.  And the next time I'm at the gym I'll be un-signing with her.  Last Thursday she had me do 120 calf raises with 30 kilos on the resistance.  I hadn't worked my calves in years.  Woman is a complete idiot.  Hell, I'm a complete idiot!  60 reps in you'd think I would scream and tell her it hurt too much - but I didn't.  Because I want to look like this:

No really though, this is my dream body.

Friday morning I felt a bit of soreness, but I jumped on the plane to Bangkok anyway.  By Saturday I was traipsing around Thailand with my fabulous friends, feeling some hard pain and walking like a silly person, but I dealt with it.  By Sunday morning I was nauseous my calves hurt so bad, and I couldn't put my feet flat on the ground.  No joke, I looked like a raptor...especially when I made my arms super short and did a crazy dinosaur face.
Monday I went to the doctor.  Long story short, I have Rhabdomyolysis, but my kidneys are fine.  Today I did a 1-hour ultrasound Doppler study to rule out deep vein thrombosis, which I don't have.  And did I mention that I'm not allowed to work all week?  I've been sitting on my couch watching old episodes of CSI and NCIS.  BORING.  I haven't been this bored in ages.  Throw in the inability to walk and you've got hell in your own house.  No joke.

Moral of the story?  Check your personal trainer's credentials before you let them severely hurt you.

So after three weeks of nothing but Mexican food in Houston, I gained about 4 pounds.  Not too terrible, considering I hadn't worked out more than once.  But now I've put on another 2 pounds and I'm actually scared of my scale.  I refuse to step on it for at least another week.  No way in hell.  As soon as I can walk again I'll start cooking, and the doc says swimming is my best exercise option for now.  Good thing I live in Asia - the land of hot.  But I'm feeling fat and sassy, and the cheesecake they sell downstairs is calling my name.  I won't do it, but I'll tell you how badly I'm craving it.  BADLY.

How about a new recipe or three?