Effective Ways To Lose Weight.

Losing weight can make you feel great, both physically and emotionally. Not only can it be a good way to feel better as you move through everyday life, but it can give you a confidence boost, too. However, losing weight can often feel challenging, and it can be easy to get discouraged, especially early on in the weight loss process. If you're looking for some ways to lose weight effectively, here are a few things to try.

Shin Min Ah in Oh My Venus, 2015.

Try a Diet Plan
Even for those that may not think a diet will work for them, a diet plan can be a simple way to help develop healthier eating habits. Not only can a diet plan be helpful because you will be tracking your eating, and usually eating healthier foods, but also because it can help to make you aware of just how harmful some of your previous habits may have been. It can also make you better able to recognize the things that were causing you to gain or hold on to weight, too. Additionally, whether you're interested in the hcg diet plan or another kind of plan, doing research before you begin is often a good idea.

Drink your water - a reminder from Nam Joo Hyuk. :)

Stay Hydrated
Although many may think about how the foods they eat and how they impact their waistline, what they may not realize is that what they drink, or don't drink, throughout the day can have an impact on their waistline, too. This is due partially to the fact that when you are dehydrated, your body will cling to excess water weight, resulting in a higher number on the scale, as well as bloating. By aiming to drink at least 64 ounces of water a day, you can help to avoid this.

Work It Out
Working out is another key component of losing weight. Not only does working out help to burn calories, but it can also help to regulate your body's metabolism and other weight control mechanisms, as well, like your hormone balance. It should be noted, though, that working out too much may prove to be just as harmful as not working out enough, so listening to your body and finding a balance that works for you can be important.

Kdrama > Sleep.
Flower Boy Next Door, 2013.

Get Plenty of Sleep
While many may know that sleep can help you to feel more relaxed and mentally alert, they may not realize that it can help reduce their waistline, too. This is because when you sleep, your body often does work to regulate many hormones related to weight control. When you don't get enough sleep, your body may not be able to regulate these hormones, which could lead to weight retention or gain.

Screencapped from My ID is Gangnam Beauty, 2018.

The Bottom Line 
Losing weight can have many benefits, from improving how you feel physically, to giving your confidence a boost. However, it may not always feel easy to get started. That doesn't mean, though, that you should necessarily feel worried. With some lifestyle tweaks, it can be possible to see positive changes in your weight and overall health.

Foodie Goodie | Hawaiian Chicken.

Thinking of what to serve your kids this weekend?
Here's a sweet and tangy chicken dish that my four-year-old loves - aside from the usual fried chicken and his all-time favorite chicken curry. I'm pretty sure your little ones will enjoy this, too.

Hawaiian Chicken

Ingredients:
500 grams boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced
1/2 cup flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
salt and pepper to taste

Hawaiian Sauce
1 can pineapple chunks
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon flour

Procedure:
1. Rub chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
2. Place flour on a plate and coat the chicken on both sides with flour, pressing to make sure it adheres. Shake off excess flour.
3. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken pieces to the skillet. Cook by batches to make sure that the skillet doesn't get too crowded.  Add more oil if necessary.
4. Sauté chicken for 4 minutes,until it turns golden brown . Adjust the heat  if needed.
5. Turn the cutlets and continue to sauté for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until chicken is brown on all sides and cooked throughout. Transfer the chicken pieces to a plate and set aside.
6. Next, make the sauce by adding the pineapple chunks (juice included), brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, cloves, paprika and salt. Return the skillet to medium heat and stir for a minute.
7. Add the tablespoon of flour and continue to heat the sauce, stirring to collect any remaining juices and brown bits from pan, and allowing it to thicken slightly.
8. Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve with white rice.

As seen on Spoonful. Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.

Foodie Goodie | Caesar Coleslaw.

Taking a stab at healthy eating?
Here's a salad recipe that's easy peasy to make. Prepare this dish the day before serving and refrigerate overnight so that the dressing soaks well into the vegetables.

Caesar Coleslaw

Ingredients:

Dressing
1 cup low-fat mayonnaise
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 teaspoon mustard
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

Salad
8 cups of shredded cabbage
2 cups of shredded carrots
4 scallions, thinly sliced
2 cups croutons

Procedure:
1. In a large serving bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, mustard, and pepper.
2. Add the cabbage, carrots, and scallions to the bowl and toss to coat.
3. Cover and refrigerate the salad overnight, or until ready to serve.
4. Top with croutons prior to serving.

As seen on Spoonful. Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.

Foodie Goodie | Orange Ginger Chicken.

It's been awhile since I last posted in the 'Foodie Goodie' section of my blog - mostly because I'm on a diet, and lately I don't eat much. If you're following me on Twitter or Instagram, then perhaps you've seen the hashtag #HCGDiet in some of my posts. That's because I'm doing the HCG Program, whose diet protocol includes the intake of HCG drops plus VLCD (very low calorie diet). And by low, I mean just 500 calories a day.

Sounds like a feat? Not really. Although I must admit, at first I thought I wouldn't be able to survive with this diet program. No sweets, no junk food, no cola, no rice - WTF?! But now I'm on Day 22 of the program, and very happy with the results so far.

A few days ago, I posted an Instagram photo of the Orange Ginger Chicken dish that I cooked. Some of my friends and readers asked me to post the recipe, just so they'll have an idea of the kinds of food that they can eat while doing the HCG Diet. Request granted, ladies!

Orange Ginger Chicken

Ingredients:

100 grams chicken breast, cut into chunks

1 medium-sized orange, quartered

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp basil

1 tablespoon fresh ginger root, peeled and minced

juice of half a lemon

black pepper

Procedure:
1. Preheat pan over medium heat.
2. Sprinkle chicken with pepper.
3. Add chicken to pan and stir fry until brown on all sides, about 5-10 minutes.
4. Add garlic and cook for a minute.
5. Squeeze juice of orange quarters over chicken.
6. Peel and separate orange into sections.
7. Add orange sections, ginger, lemon juice, and basil. Stir well.
8. Cover and simmer for about 20-30 minutes.

Wanna know more about the HCG Diet Program? Like The Slim Firm on Facebook or follow them on Instagram. :)

Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.

Wordless Wednesday #49 | Healthy Eating.

Surviving without rice! :)

Wordless Wednesday #48 | Tummy-fill!

One last hurrah before I began my HCG Diet.

I'm on my sixth day, and surviving somehow. Haha!

Sharing with Food Trip Friday and Food Friday. :)