What's stressing me?

If you have never had a stress test, let tell you it's a good time...NOT!! I went in and sat and waited. They brought a couple of us in at a time. I got out in record time because the guy ahead of me fainted because of the needle the put in for the IV. Now it's my turn, I don't like needles but, I don't freak out because them either. They shot me up with some something that shows up on the cardiogram and started taking pictures. Next is the treadmill, oh boy what fun!! Now being a fat guy on a treadmill is funny in itself, but then they tell you we got to get you into a target range. What's the range? In my case it was 144 beats per minute. After walking briskly for several minutes the tech says "you seem too comfortable at this pace, we going to speed it up, are you okay?" Sure, fire it up let's see what this baby's got! Now I'm almost running, I'm wheezing, huffing puffing like ....a fat guy on a treadmill! Guess what? I'm still not in the target range!! So, now they incline the stupid thing! 
Now I'm a fat guy with bad knees running uphill, OH GOD WHAT FUN!!

But, I'm still not in the target zone. So, they decide to give me a little chemical help. Now my heart is pounding like a trip hammer, I'm sweating like...a fat guy with bad knees on crack running uphill and I am still 5 beats per minute shy of the target. I think they were afraid I would have a heart attack there in the office, so they settled for what they had.  

So, after a month or so of waiting I went in for the results. The first thing the doctor does is review my chart she goes over the vitamins and meds they have me on and says "we gave you nitro glycerin tabs, how are you doing with those?" "Do you need a refill?" Well doc, if I'd had to use them we would have been having this conversation a lot sooner! "And not doing anything strenuous" Now that would have been good to know. I explain that I went camping at about 6000 ft. and split some firewood, she got a really sick look on her face. I also told her "ya know that treadmill you couldn't get my heart rate in the target on? Let me tell you doc, get rid of it. Take them up to 6000 ft. and split some wood. Their heart rate will be there in an instant!" 

Since the stress test was inconclusive they decided to do and angiogram. Now an angiogram is this fun little test. They perform this by pumping some chemicals that show up  through flouroscopy in you veins and arteries to find any blockage or clogs. What cause the clogs and blockages? FAT that turns to plaque in your arteries. Something that I have learned is fat makes you fat.Those who are old enough to remember the early 90's will remember Susan Powder and her "Stop The Insanity" diet where she proclaimed a war on fat. Seems she was onto something. Dr. Dean Ornish authored a book that I refer to often titled "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing  Heart Diesease" you can find it in hardback online for a couple of bucks. It is invaluable!! I have followed his program and in 5 months lost 40 lbs. and got my cholesterol within the the level that makes my doctors happy. 

Early into this I watched a video online at a health conference in Hawaii. The were discussing why in the last 60 years, since Hawaii became a state the Hawaiian people have become obese. The conclusion was that prior to the becoming a U.S. territory, the people had a mostly vegetarian diet. One doctor said something that absolutely rocked my world, "if it ever had a face, if it ever walked, swam or flew, it has cholesterol". That really freaked me out because every diet I had seen called for you to eat chicken breast, ground turkey and fish. HOLY CRAP!! All these had cholesterol!! They of course advise a vegetable based diet. While I have not gone completely vegetarian, I'll tell you that the number of times I eat meat are far less that I used too. When I do, you guessed it it is boneless skinless chicken, ground turkey or 3% ground beef (diet lean). Believe it or not this ground beef has the same or less fat and cholesterol that basic ground turkey.Why? Because they use the dark meat of the turkey for basic ground turkey. 

Today's recipe it a healthy Chicken Tortilla soup. Bear in mind when I make soups or stews I don't know how to make a small batch so this one make about 16 quarts (4 gallons). It freezes great and everyone I've ever served it to has liked it, so invite some friends and have a small fiesta.

Chicken Tortilla soup

2  large onions

2 Poblano/Pasilla Chilies

¼ tsp crushed red chili flakes

2 Tbsp. minced garlic

1 Tbsp. canola oil (omit and sub fat free chicken stock for lower fat )

2 Whole chickens

2 cup dry beans (pinto or black)

2 28oz. cans diced tomatoes

2 29oz. cans tomato sauce

2 Chipotle chilies (canned, minced more if needed)

1 lb. frozen or fresh corn kernels

Cilantro to taste (chopped, save some for garnish or folks who like cilantro) 

4 Limes Juiced

Salt to taste

1.     Dice onions, seed Poblanos and dice. Heat oil in large stock pot, add onions, chilies, garlic and crushed chili. Sweat about 10 minute until soft.

2.     While the vegetables are sweating quarter and skin 2 chickens. Add to vegetable mixture and cover with water. Heat to slow boil cover and simmer until the chicken is completely cooked.

3.     Remove chicken and set aside.

4.     Add dry beans to stock and return to boil.

5.     Shred cooked chicken and return to pot. Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and chipotles (chipotles will increase the heat immediately, so add a little at a time)

6.     Simmer about 1 hour add cilantro and corn. Simmer until beans are cooked.

7.     Add lime juice (since limes vary in amount of juice add same as Chipotles and cilantro)

Serve in bowls garnished with cilantro, scallions, tortilla strips, shred cheddar or queso fresco and a dollop of sour cream.(of course cheeses and sour cream are omitted for lower fat/cholesterol)

Makes 16 quarts

If you are in a hurry, omit step 2-4 and sub 4 lbs shredded chicken, 4 quarts of chicken both and 1 lb. of canned drained beans.