Ha! Gotcha! That should have actually read Gaining Gaining Gaining
My weight that is.
Ever since i stopped nursing my younger son, I have steadily packed on the pounds.
It’s not like I’ve ever been skinny, but as Alexander mccall smith
would say i have a ‘traditional waistline‘.
But when i gained 12 kgs( no, that’s not a typo) in just ONE MONTH, i knew something was wrong…
A visit to my doc confirmed my worst fears…er..no I wasn’t pregnant again…rather i had low Thyroid. My TSH — Thyroid Stimulating Hormone-levels had hit the roof…
Now as many of you probably know, the Thyroid gland which is situated at the bottom of the neck regulates the body’s metabolism(among its other functions)..sorta like a thermostat.
What I have is low Thyroid /hypothyroidism or rather an under-active thyroid which translates into a high TSH level.
Well I am on medication now so all should be fine soon..but what i need to do is WATCH MY DIET and more importantly Exercise…
So when i saw the Ten in 10: Ten weeks to healthy in 2010 challenge on the Recipegirls blog I just HAD to join…
So here goes..
These are my goals
Eat healthier.. which means include more veggies and fruits…and not as desserts!!-Include more salads and soups each week…
Try and get to the gym atleast 4 days a week.
Continue with my walks and yoga ….
lose weight in time for our annual holidays!!!!!!
So now i leave you with a wonderful recipe(ok ok it’s not all that fat free) but it does have loads of beans….
Beans Casserole
Ingredients
600 grams beans- halved and rinsed and cooked until crisp-tender
2 medium onions, thinly sliced into rings
2 tbsp bread crumbs( I used whole wheat bread crumbs)
2 tbsp all purpose flour
2 tbsp butter
200 grams mushrooms, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 cups milk
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tbsp oil
salt
pepper
Boil/steam beans in some water until cooked but still crunchy.
In a saucepan heat the oil. Add the onion rings and cook till crispy brown.I also read here that you can bake them instead. So that’s what i did. To do this preheat oven to 300 F. Lightly grease a baking tray and spread the onion rings on them and bake 20 minutes or until they turn brownish…Set aside.
In a well buttered pan, add the mushrooms and cook on high flame for no more than a minute or so. Add the garlic cook for another minute and remove and strain.
Add 1 tbsp butter to a saucepan and once it melts add the flour.After a few minutes slowly add the milk.Cook it on low heat for maybe 15 minutes. Stir it every once in a while.Add the salt and pepper and any other seasoning you want to….
Add the mushrooms into this sauce.
Take off heat and combine with the cooked beans.
Top with the baked(or fried) crispy onions and the bread crumbs
Place into the oven and bake(350F/160C) until bubbly, approximately 15 minutes….As you can see the bread crumbs haven’t browned enough( I took it out too soon)…but they should have…
Note: You can top with cheese if you wish…but well to cut down on fat , I didn’t.
It is one delicious one dish meal….Try it…
I got this recipe from many sources….you can look here, here and here….
Art , Food and Travel Chronicles 
PJ
/ January 15, 2010take care, s! I am sure with medication and loads of exercise everything will be fine. Don’t sweat too much over it. You are making a great start to the resolutions by making this green bean casserole which btw is looking soo good.
Mamatkamal
/ January 13, 2010I love fresh green beans, this must taste absolutely delicious. Thank you for the recipe.
Cheers,
Mamatkamal
/ January 13, 2010I love fresh green beans, I would love to try your delicious dish,
Very tempting,
Cheers,
radha
/ January 13, 2010You would never be able to lose weight if you cook such delicious, rich, yummy food. Maybe you should get someone else to do the cooking!
ruchikacooks
/ January 13, 2010beans casserole looks delicious..TSH will get better soon with diet and medicines..take care 🙂
vineetha
/ January 13, 2010.Love ur space .
Dont worry abt ur weight,once u r on medication u will be back to normal.During my pregnancy I gained so much weight without any problem from 50 – 72. Back to 47 now..
Divya
/ January 13, 2010Hey S..long time,I was on a self-proclaimed break for a while!!
The casserole looks delicious,hope your health is fine now..take care!!
Deepa G Joshi
/ January 13, 2010hey..me too with weighty issues here :(. This year resolution is to loose weight, eat healthy and stay fit..will try this recipe..and best of luck..you gonna do it…
Barbara
/ January 13, 2010Good luck with the healthy eating. This recipe sounds like a great start!
Miri
/ January 13, 2010This is very interesting – will try this recipe ! Good luck on treating the condition – hubby had the opposite and lost 9kgs in 2 months…but medication really worked and he was back to normal!
s
/ January 13, 2010oooh…wish i had that version of thyroid:(
PJ
/ January 13, 2010That sure looks yumm!Would love to have it.I have an award for u in my blog.Kindly collect it @ http://seduceyourtastebuds.blogspot.com/2010/01/7-secrects-of-mine.html
Oriya Foodie
/ January 13, 2010Hey I have the same thyroid issues too… Yep all the wt gain I blame it on it. But I guess the eating and exercise is very imp too…
I love the casserole…
kothiyavunu
/ January 12, 2010Delicious and healthy casseole…Wish to taste some..Take care.
Lyndsey
/ January 12, 2010Now this is what I call a green bean casserole! It looks fantastic! Thanks!
Renuka Bedre Rao
/ January 12, 2010Looks very tasty and beans are pretty healthy too..Gr8 entry!! Take care!!
The Diva on a Diet
/ January 12, 2010Hello S.!
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog so that we could be introduced. What a lovely blog you have here! 🙂
I’ve been seeing “10 in 10” posts all over the place this week – good for you for joining the effort! I should do so myself, but am lacking a bit of motivation at the moment … so tough to recover from the holiday eating!
Glad you’ve got the medication you need and hope it will help you a great day. The green beans look excellent too, by the way!
Cheers!
Rachana Kothari
/ January 12, 2010Dear S,
I suffer from the same problem and am on medication since 4-5 years now…
Well on the food front, the beans Casserole looks yummy…and I would like to believe that a little bit of butter/oil does no harm:)
Cheers,
Rachana
sayantani
/ January 12, 2010Take care S, thyroid is very bad. Practice Vastrika Pranayam, its good to normalise Thyroid problems.
I also need to loose some hopping 8-10 kgs but could not diet as still nursing my 10 months old. anyways all the best for your mission.
the bean casserole looks lovely. bookmarked. would make it soon.
Pavithra Kodical
/ January 12, 2010Hi Dear, i know exactly what you have gone through with your weight, 6 months back i was also treated for sub clinical hypothyroid, its just that i went to doc at the right time. I have not gained more than 8 pounds, still i was on medication.Now after 6 months it went the other way round, so off medication now. Check your diet and exercise and it will be back to normal 🙂
Preeti
/ January 12, 2010I loved the bean casserole! Yum! Even I am on a diet (same pinch!). All the best!
Malar Gandhi
/ January 12, 2010Please take care, regular exercise and watching the diet is important. No worries, you can shape back to normal.
Beans casserole looks splendid, very tempting to me:)
Ann
/ January 12, 2010Oh jeez, bye bye to Sheba’s glorious chocolate laden posts. As you can see, I’m the red devil sitting on your shoulder bemoaning your new healthy lifestyle….
s
/ January 13, 2010oh no..i dont think thats gonna happen , Anna…my sons have a permanant sweet tooth so i will have to bake sinful goodies every now and then…
s
/ January 13, 2010oh no..i dont think thats gonna happen , Anna…my sons have a permanent sweet tooth so i will have to bake sinful goodies every now and then…
Nandini
/ January 12, 2010Well, the beans casserole looks fantastic!!! I too would love to have something healthy! Slurp!
Gulmohar
/ January 12, 2010looks rich n creamy…..yummy casserole..
Sushma Mallya
/ January 12, 2010lovely casseole,looks very delicious,….and take care ….
Sophie
/ January 12, 2010Hello s!
What a great casserole!! MMMMMM,…lovely blog!
Take care! Many greetings from Brussels, Belgium!
Matteo
/ January 12, 2010Looks delicious!!!!
Shwetha
/ January 12, 2010s,
I totally sympathize with you. I’ve been hypothyroid-ic for the past 8 years or so. It didn’t hit me until after my son was born. Now I’m on supplements.
You’re on the right track with exercising and eating right. There are a lot of websites out there that lists food that you would be better off avoiding for hypothyroidism. What you eat makes a huge difference here!(for eg soy is a no-no)
s
/ January 12, 2010yup..i know shweta . most cases go undiagnosed until pregnancies..cuz thats when the tests are done. All the women in my family have it..but most of them only found out recently!hey thanks..didnt know about soy..though my doc did tell me to avoid cabbage.
@ nandini..do try some…
@ vinolia…thanks so much
@cham..thanks for the encouraging words..i am on my way to fitdom!
thanks usha, namitha,sophie, priya and everyone for the encouraging words…
Jagruti
/ January 12, 2010Hi S
you know what next in line is beans casserole..
cheers
kitchen queen
/ January 12, 2010Hi thanks for visiting my blog.You too have a nice blog.you r welcome to visit my blog and give ur comments whenever u want.
Priya
/ January 12, 2010Seems u r really very much motivated …take care.Btw casserole looks fantastic..
Vinolia
/ January 12, 2010I forget the diets when I see delicious dishes in front of me, like, when there is a dish which requires cheese, then, cheese will be there! heheehehhe
just balance , there’s nothing wrong eating heavy meals, but have to balance it quickly with a light one for the next, I work like that!!
Beans casserole sounds delicious and filling!!!
happy dieting & exercising, take care!!
Shubha
/ January 12, 2010it looks creamy enuf for me to indulge in.
Cham
/ January 12, 2010Just watch ur diet – regular excer and medication will bring u back in normal.
But u got 2 cut down the extra cheesy to not gain gain …hehe kidding.
Take care buddy 🙂