January's Delicious Descent into Diet Mode

Cheese and Chocolate Fondue and Steak on a Rock at Anasazi

January was an indulgent month, setting the stage for a 6-week transformation challenge at my new gym. Both Erik and I decided to enjoy some of our favorite foods before the strict dieting began. This challenge is not only about resetting our metabolism but also about significant weight loss. The true challenge, however, lies in keeping the weight off afterward.

Fresh and Frozen Rolls from The Dough Lady

Dough Lady

We started our culinary journey at Dough Lady, known for her irresistible cinnamon rolls. Before the diet kicked in, we savored traditional rolls, blueberry lemon rolls – which surprisingly became my favorite with its refreshing lemon icing, brown butter chai rolls, and we even took home some frozen Biscoff rolls for later enjoyment.

Soup Dumplings, Ramen, and Fried Rice from Oishi Ramen

Oishi Ramen

Then, there was Oishi Ramen, a place we had to try after seeing it featured online. We ordered soup dumplings, which exploded with flavor, chicken fried rice as a safe bet for the kids, curry ramen which wasn't my favorite due to the fried meat but was a hit with the family, and the beef brisket ramen, which stood out for me due to its exceptional noodles. After ramen, we popped into Aboutea next door for some boba; I had the Happy Milk Tea with fruit jellies, a surprisingly great combo, while Erik opted for a caffeine-free brown sugar pearl latte, which our daughters shared.

Boba from Aboutea

Dominos

Next up was Dominos for a family pizza night. We chose the easy route but were delighted by their handmade pan pizza. Erik had discovered the Philly Cheese Steak pizza on Instagram, which turned out to be a revelation, and we complemented it with a classic combo pizza.

Cheesy Pastor Tacos from Del Barrio

Del Barrio

A friend from work visited, craving tacos, so we went to Del Barrio. I stuck with the cheesy pastor tacos, knowing their quality, while my friend explored various options, loving each one. Madi enjoyed her bean and cheese burrito but couldn’t resist the chips and salsa, which might just be the best I’ve ever had.

Victor's Pizza

For the National Championship game, we ordered from Victor's Pizza, getting the hot honey pepperoni and Taj Mahal pizzas for the adults, and a straightforward pepperoni for the kids. It was a hit with everyone, making the game night even more memorable.

St. George Escapade

During a work trip to St. George, UT, we stopped at Mad Pita Express for a quick lunch of beef and lamb gyros pita. Dinner was at Anasazi, where we cooked our own steak on a rock, an experience I relished with a glass of Malbec, cheese fondue, and milk chocolate fondue for dessert. On our way back, in Fillmore, UT, we stumbled upon Taco Los Panchos, where I took a chance on a shrimp and octopus burrito - it was enormous, flavorful, and unexpectedly delicious in the middle of nowhere. Madi, my adventurous eater, loved it too, even after learning what was inside.

Huge Burrito from Taco Los Panchos

These January adventures were more than just meals; they were celebrations of flavors, friendship, and family before diving into our fitness challenge. Now, with the challenge underway, these memories motivate us to achieve and maintain our health goals.