Yet another gym tragedy...

In general, I really really like the gym I go to (Anytime Fitness in Sebastian). The people are really nice, the equipment is very well maintained, it's clean, accessible and so forth. The one problem I have with the gym though is the mirrors. Due to the layout of the gym and the placement of the mirrors, there is not a single spot in the place where you can not be seen.

For example, I got a pair of workout shorts (from Junonia, of course) about a million years ago, and they were the only shorts I wore since I got them. I should have expected that eventually they would start to wear out, given the abuse I tend to give my workout clothes (see the sad story of Sporti in a previous post). But unfortunately, I did not realize that the shorts were quite as threadbare as they were until I was in the gym, legs spread wide... I will spare you the details, but due to the mirror placement, I am fairly certain that there are many gym members who were aware of the issue before I was. I finally ordered new shorts.

Then, there was today... As all fat chicks know, the worst part about working out is fear of doing something really really dumb at the gym. Oh sure, we've all farted doing situps. And, at least I, have fallen off a treadmill (at the feet of a really cute guy no less). But with mirrors everywhere, stupidity seems even more magnified.

Today I fell off of a yoga ball. All apologies to any fat chicks reading this, but honestly, there is nothing funnier than someone shaped like a yoga ball rolling off of a yoga ball. I kind of looked like the top 2/3 of a snowman falling off the base. The thing is, I had a false sense of security because I was way off in a corner. But looking up as I picked myself up off the ground, I quickly realized that due to the placement of the mirrors, there was probably not a single person in the gym who didn't see it.

I really love the gym and plan to keep going, but I'm thinking maybe I should wear a wig or dark glasses for a while...

A Taste of Tuesday

One of the staples I like to cook with is frozen veggies. They save a lot of time, there is no waste, and as far as I know, are nutritionally second only to fresh, local grown veggies. So, I was in the grocery store yesterday looking for the ingredients for today's recipe. I stood in front of the frozen veggies, and could not, for the life of me, find the broccoli-cauliflower mix.

David finally pointed it out to me -- silly me, I was looking for something called "Broccoli and Cauliflower". What David pointed out to me was called "Alpine Mix" with the subtitle of "brisk and lively" I immediately imagined cauliflower with long yellow braids skipping happily through a mountain side meadow singing "The hiiiils are alive, with a hunk of broooooccoooolliiiiii...." Now, if it were up to me, I would name this particular mix "Trees and Brains" -- cause face it -- broccoli looks like trees, and cauliflower looks like brains. And I don't know if I would call it brisk and lively -- I think it's more like "green and kinda yellowish-white" But I digress.

Today's recipe is based on one from a Betty Crocker casserole cookbook. I have modified it to make it lower fat and more lap band friendly. Without further ado, I give you today's recipe:

Fish with Trees and Brains

• 1/2 bag frozen broccoli and cauliflower mix
• 1 cup Stovetop stuffing
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 pound fish filets (I've made this with salmon, haddock and catfish, they all work great, but you will have to adjust the cooking time based on the thickness of the filets)

Nuke the veggies till thawed. If they aren't already chopped, chop them.
Mix the broth and the dry stuffing mix into the veggies, and nuke another minute or two, until the stuffing absorbs the broth.
Spray a casserole with Pam. Layer the veggie/stuffing mix with the fish, ending with the fish.
Cover and bake until the fish flakes with a fork. For thin filets like catfish or haddock, about 35 minutes, for thicker filets like salmon, about 45 minutes.