TGIF! WOW, so happy it's Friday. I am having a rough morning. Sad that 2 glasses of wine now does this to me. Work yesterday was busy and I knew i had a busy night ahead of me too. Grocery store, laundry, cook dinner and Dexter.
I made a delish dinner last night and I finally got to use my indoor grill from Williams Sonoma. I highly recommend it if you don't have a deck. It's easy, a little odd to put together, but easy to use and clean.
The menu for dinner included:
Turkey burgers stuffed with pepperjack cheese on wheat buns
Corn on the cob with honey cinnamon butter (super easy to make!)
Sweet potato fries
Scotcharoos
I loved this dinner. The sweet potato fries were a tad odd, but it worked. And the scotcharoos are dangerous! I still have about 5/6 of a pan. Monster will need to finish these fast b/c I can't stand to look at them.
We also split a bottle (or 2) of red wine which is making me feel a little off this am.
Today is our summer outing at work. It's a full day of activities and food. I walked into a great breakfast from Corner Bakery. Lots of muffins, bagels and croissants. I decided to go with half a wheat bagel and a cup of fruit. At 11am, we are leaving for a boat cruise for the afternoon. I'm sure there will be lots of booze and food involved, but I plan on controlling myself and watching how much I eat and drink.
I will fill you in later!
PK
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Keep runnin runnin, Keep runnin runnin...
Name that song:
So let's see. I got in 3 miles at the gym last night and had a nice 5 minute cool down after the run. It was a tad of a struggle at first, but then wasn't too bad. All of my favorite tread mills were taken so I had to use a random one, which I hated. Next time I will plan on waiting for one of my faves.
I had to run a few errands after the gym so by the time I got home I was famished! I opened the chicken teriyaki container from the night before and it just didn't look appetizing. I had a few bites and decided to pitch it and go with a Southwest Veggie Hot Pocket from Aldi instead. I had this with some hot peppers and it was wonderful.
After dinner, I had a pretty relaxing night and went to bed early so I got plenty of sleep. Today I am feeling refreshed especially after my breakfast which was of course cereal...it's getting absurd.
I packed another Flat Top Flatbread turkey wrap for lunch with popchips and have leftover watermelon to add in. I also packed a string cheese for a light morning snack.
I am skipping the gym tonight. I may do some yoga at my apartment in between 3 loads of laundry. Yuck. I'm ok taking a night off though.
Have a good day!
PK
So let's see. I got in 3 miles at the gym last night and had a nice 5 minute cool down after the run. It was a tad of a struggle at first, but then wasn't too bad. All of my favorite tread mills were taken so I had to use a random one, which I hated. Next time I will plan on waiting for one of my faves.
I had to run a few errands after the gym so by the time I got home I was famished! I opened the chicken teriyaki container from the night before and it just didn't look appetizing. I had a few bites and decided to pitch it and go with a Southwest Veggie Hot Pocket from Aldi instead. I had this with some hot peppers and it was wonderful.
After dinner, I had a pretty relaxing night and went to bed early so I got plenty of sleep. Today I am feeling refreshed especially after my breakfast which was of course cereal...it's getting absurd.
I packed another Flat Top Flatbread turkey wrap for lunch with popchips and have leftover watermelon to add in. I also packed a string cheese for a light morning snack.
I am skipping the gym tonight. I may do some yoga at my apartment in between 3 loads of laundry. Yuck. I'm ok taking a night off though.
Have a good day!
PK
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Dexter = Fail
Unfortunately we did not make it past episode one of Dexter. Monster pulled an all nighter the night prior so he was asleep after 15 minutes. I am fine putting it on hold until we can both commit. I have to say it's no FNL, but after 15 mins it's really hard to judge. I am biased.
I woke up with the plan to work out except I had zero clean work out clothes. I finally did some digging and found an old pair of work out capris to try out. After the search I realized I was past the time of getting to the gym, getting in a good work out and then showering with out being late to work. I packed a bag for tonight, so hoping to get in a good run (crossing my fingers for 3, it's been a few weeks.) I am pretty sore though, so we will play it by ear.
I started my day with another bowl of heaven aka Smart Start with blueberries. I have been eating this slower and slower each morning so I can enjoy each bite. It's sad. I act as if this is the last box on earth. I know I can just get another box at the store, but I am trying to not become addicted. TOO LATE!
I packed a Flat Bread wrap with turkey, spinach, light mayo and dijon mustard for my lunch and a banana for my mid-morning snack. I also picked up some watermelon and Popchips to go with my wrap for lunch. I decided to try out the BBQ potato popchips. I give them an A+. The bag is only 100 calories too! At only $.99, the bag was for sure worth it. "We don't fry it (unhealthy). We don't bake it (undelicious). We take wholesome potatoes, add a little heat and pressure, and pop! It's a chip. The only thing added is a flavorful blend of seasonings." Next time you see a bag of Popchips, give it a try.
I also picked up sliced watermelon at Walgreens too. For a double serving of watermelon it was $2.99. A little more than I wanted to spend on this fruit, but it was worth it. I am going to save the other half for tomorrow.
I plan to have some strawberries with splenda for my afternoon snack before hitting the gym. Dinner should be easy too, left over Chicken Teriyaki, but this time i will be using some of my brown rice from Monday night as my side. Healthier than white rice, brown rice has more fiber. It also contains nutrients like magnesium, manganese, and zinc.
It seems like I am eating a lot more fruit than before. The Food Pyramid suggests 2 to 4 servings of fruit each day and I am hitting this. Fruit is a perfect snack between meals. I should probably look into other fruit options so I don't get burned out. Maybe oranges? grapes? Lots of good options.
Back to work!
PK
I woke up with the plan to work out except I had zero clean work out clothes. I finally did some digging and found an old pair of work out capris to try out. After the search I realized I was past the time of getting to the gym, getting in a good work out and then showering with out being late to work. I packed a bag for tonight, so hoping to get in a good run (crossing my fingers for 3, it's been a few weeks.) I am pretty sore though, so we will play it by ear.
I started my day with another bowl of heaven aka Smart Start with blueberries. I have been eating this slower and slower each morning so I can enjoy each bite. It's sad. I act as if this is the last box on earth. I know I can just get another box at the store, but I am trying to not become addicted. TOO LATE!
I packed a Flat Bread wrap with turkey, spinach, light mayo and dijon mustard for my lunch and a banana for my mid-morning snack. I also picked up some watermelon and Popchips to go with my wrap for lunch. I decided to try out the BBQ potato popchips. I give them an A+. The bag is only 100 calories too! At only $.99, the bag was for sure worth it. "We don't fry it (unhealthy). We don't bake it (undelicious). We take wholesome potatoes, add a little heat and pressure, and pop! It's a chip. The only thing added is a flavorful blend of seasonings." Next time you see a bag of Popchips, give it a try.
I also picked up sliced watermelon at Walgreens too. For a double serving of watermelon it was $2.99. A little more than I wanted to spend on this fruit, but it was worth it. I am going to save the other half for tomorrow.
I plan to have some strawberries with splenda for my afternoon snack before hitting the gym. Dinner should be easy too, left over Chicken Teriyaki, but this time i will be using some of my brown rice from Monday night as my side. Healthier than white rice, brown rice has more fiber. It also contains nutrients like magnesium, manganese, and zinc.
It seems like I am eating a lot more fruit than before. The Food Pyramid suggests 2 to 4 servings of fruit each day and I am hitting this. Fruit is a perfect snack between meals. I should probably look into other fruit options so I don't get burned out. Maybe oranges? grapes? Lots of good options.
Back to work!
PK
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
I'm going to be sore tomorrow...
Gosh, I am not kidding about this cereal. Dreams about you! So mad at you Paige! One day I can't wait to live in the same city as my sister. I have a feeling we will be inseparable (with my mom too)and it will be hard to pull us away from each other. Back in the day, Paige and I used to run together. I think we will make this a daily habit. I can picture us grabbing sushi, going for walks, hanging with Binks, going out, shopping, etc, etc, etc. Hopefully one day :).
So of course I started my day with a bowl of Smart Start with blueberries and skim milk. I may pick up some Unsweetened Almond Breeze Milk that I have been reading about from IEG. Maybe tomorrow.
By 11am I was pretty hungry and snacked on some plain baked lays. These had about 130 calories and was a perfect snack to tie me over until lunch. I had fruit, but the chips were much more convenient since I was on conference calls all morning and these were in my desk and not in the kitchen. What a pain!
For lunch I packed a spinach salad with dried cranberries, a bit of blue cheese crumbles, handful of walnuts and soy nuggets. I need to pick up another box of these bad boys. I'm obsessed. They are so easy and light on calories, they make me happy.
I had a banana before the gym and hit the gym for about 45 minutes. I was sweating so bad doing abs, legs, back exercises and arms. I just really pushed myself tonight which I was happy about. Nothing like knowing you are going to be sore when you get out bed. Too bad I secretly love when that happens.
Tonight I am drinking some red wine and picking up Chinese food for Monster and I. Kung Pao Chicken with crab rangoon for him and chicken teriyaki with spring rolls for me. I had a two buck duck coupon for a place down the street that I had tried once before and decided to give it a go after talking to Lindsay. This is a great and popular topic of convo for us...FOOD! Honesty, Lindsay and I should start a blog about the restaurants we try out. It's a little absurd/AMAZING!
We may attempt Dexter tonight. This sad netflix envelope has been staring at me for weeks.
I will let you know how it is tomorrow.
PK
So of course I started my day with a bowl of Smart Start with blueberries and skim milk. I may pick up some Unsweetened Almond Breeze Milk that I have been reading about from IEG. Maybe tomorrow.
By 11am I was pretty hungry and snacked on some plain baked lays. These had about 130 calories and was a perfect snack to tie me over until lunch. I had fruit, but the chips were much more convenient since I was on conference calls all morning and these were in my desk and not in the kitchen. What a pain!
For lunch I packed a spinach salad with dried cranberries, a bit of blue cheese crumbles, handful of walnuts and soy nuggets. I need to pick up another box of these bad boys. I'm obsessed. They are so easy and light on calories, they make me happy.
I had a banana before the gym and hit the gym for about 45 minutes. I was sweating so bad doing abs, legs, back exercises and arms. I just really pushed myself tonight which I was happy about. Nothing like knowing you are going to be sore when you get out bed. Too bad I secretly love when that happens.
Tonight I am drinking some red wine and picking up Chinese food for Monster and I. Kung Pao Chicken with crab rangoon for him and chicken teriyaki with spring rolls for me. I had a two buck duck coupon for a place down the street that I had tried once before and decided to give it a go after talking to Lindsay. This is a great and popular topic of convo for us...FOOD! Honesty, Lindsay and I should start a blog about the restaurants we try out. It's a little absurd/AMAZING!
We may attempt Dexter tonight. This sad netflix envelope has been staring at me for weeks.
I will let you know how it is tomorrow.
PK
Monday, July 26, 2010
Monday Blues
I had such a great Sunday. Monster and I spent the day together doing basically nothing. It was gorgeous outside and we were able to sit outside for about 2 hours catching some rays.
I skipped breakfast by accident. I woke up at 9:30 and didn't realize until 11:30 that I missed my chance for breakfast. On the walk from my apartment to Monster's we stopped by Potbelly (my favorite sandwich shop in Chicago) and had a sammy. I always get the same sandwich at Potbelly's. I know I should have avoided a sandwich and gone for a salad, but I have been overdosing on salads lately and needed a day off or at least a meal off.
I went with the turkey and swiss on wheat. I have all the goods on the sammy but oil and mayo. I also went with a bag of plain baked lays. It was delish! Such a good sandwich. Potbelly is dangerously close to my new place. I am going to try to stay clear from this sandwich shop unless I have a serious craving.
We didn't eat again until dinner (besides a handful of chips) so by 7:30, we were hungry. Our dinner plans with a few friends was postponed so we decided to bbq chicken on the charcoal grill. For sides, we ventured to Whole Foods to pick up some healthy options. I went with a market side salad. This salad is very basic, but includes my faves: dried cranberries, walnuts and blue cheese. Surprisingly enough, this salad is only $3 too and it can go for a few meals. Monster went with Israeli cous-cous and tomato and mozz salad. I also picked up watermelon for dessert. Dinner was a 10! I think the Sweet Baby Rays sauce on the chicken made it so much better.
I was stuffed after this wonderful meal and decided to be lazy the rest of the night and focus on E!. Khloe and Kourtney and Holly's World always help end the weekend well.
I am having the Monday Blue today. It's the feeling that you have to go back to work after having a lazy fun weekend. I love sleeping in and just hanging out drinking coffee with no where to go. I guess I have to wait and be patient for Saturday to come...
More to come later today!
PK
This morning I kicked off my Monday with a small bowl of Smart Start with blueberries. I am ready for this box to be done. I dream about this cereal and can't wait for the next bowl I get to eat!!
I packed watermelon and strawberries as my snacks for the day. I had lunch plans with one of my girlfriends who just got back from her Hawaiian honeymoon, so I didn't need too heavy of snacks.
Lunch was Dana's choice and we ended up back at Kerryman. I went with the same Grecian salad sans roll and butter. I have been happy bringing carbs back into my diet. It makes me feel better, more energized and helps my stomach out. My stomach never feels right when I cut out carbs.
My afternoon snack was delish. I cut up about 10 small strawberries and sprinkled splenda on them. Very sweet and a great treat!
I hit the gym for cardio tonight. My Monday Blues did not make me enthused about this work out. I forced myself there and did 30 minutes on the running elliptical and then 15 on the treadmill. It was a great work out. I also made plans to meet Kate for a walk so I was getting a solid double work out in today.
I rushed home and made a quick mexican fiesta for myself before our walk. I picked up the Morningstar Soy Crumbles at Target on Saturday so I used this as my taco meat. I put about 3/4 cup of the crumbles in the microwave for about one minute and then sprinkled taco seasoning on them and mixed it up. I used one Flatout Flatbread Multigrain as my tortillas. This only was 100 calories. I spread a bit of light sour cream, giardiniera and salsa on each half of this flatbread. I also had some brown rice with taco seasoning, salsa, sour cream and some hot sauce. It was a tasty meal!!! Very easy to prepare too.
After our 45 minute walk, we stopped in for some Berry Moon! This is the best invention ever. This yogurt is only $.45 per ounce but can add up with all the delicious flavors and toppings they offer. I only had about a cup of fro yo, but it hit the spot. I went with non-fat strawberry frozen yogurt with a splash of chocolate frozen yogurt. I topped this with chocolate sprinkles and yogurt chips. Very healthy and yummy!
I'm off for some rest and relaxation.
Chat tomorrow!
PK
I skipped breakfast by accident. I woke up at 9:30 and didn't realize until 11:30 that I missed my chance for breakfast. On the walk from my apartment to Monster's we stopped by Potbelly (my favorite sandwich shop in Chicago) and had a sammy. I always get the same sandwich at Potbelly's. I know I should have avoided a sandwich and gone for a salad, but I have been overdosing on salads lately and needed a day off or at least a meal off.
I went with the turkey and swiss on wheat. I have all the goods on the sammy but oil and mayo. I also went with a bag of plain baked lays. It was delish! Such a good sandwich. Potbelly is dangerously close to my new place. I am going to try to stay clear from this sandwich shop unless I have a serious craving.
We didn't eat again until dinner (besides a handful of chips) so by 7:30, we were hungry. Our dinner plans with a few friends was postponed so we decided to bbq chicken on the charcoal grill. For sides, we ventured to Whole Foods to pick up some healthy options. I went with a market side salad. This salad is very basic, but includes my faves: dried cranberries, walnuts and blue cheese. Surprisingly enough, this salad is only $3 too and it can go for a few meals. Monster went with Israeli cous-cous and tomato and mozz salad. I also picked up watermelon for dessert. Dinner was a 10! I think the Sweet Baby Rays sauce on the chicken made it so much better.
I was stuffed after this wonderful meal and decided to be lazy the rest of the night and focus on E!. Khloe and Kourtney and Holly's World always help end the weekend well.
I am having the Monday Blue today. It's the feeling that you have to go back to work after having a lazy fun weekend. I love sleeping in and just hanging out drinking coffee with no where to go. I guess I have to wait and be patient for Saturday to come...
More to come later today!
PK
This morning I kicked off my Monday with a small bowl of Smart Start with blueberries. I am ready for this box to be done. I dream about this cereal and can't wait for the next bowl I get to eat!!
I packed watermelon and strawberries as my snacks for the day. I had lunch plans with one of my girlfriends who just got back from her Hawaiian honeymoon, so I didn't need too heavy of snacks.
Lunch was Dana's choice and we ended up back at Kerryman. I went with the same Grecian salad sans roll and butter. I have been happy bringing carbs back into my diet. It makes me feel better, more energized and helps my stomach out. My stomach never feels right when I cut out carbs.
My afternoon snack was delish. I cut up about 10 small strawberries and sprinkled splenda on them. Very sweet and a great treat!
I hit the gym for cardio tonight. My Monday Blues did not make me enthused about this work out. I forced myself there and did 30 minutes on the running elliptical and then 15 on the treadmill. It was a great work out. I also made plans to meet Kate for a walk so I was getting a solid double work out in today.
I rushed home and made a quick mexican fiesta for myself before our walk. I picked up the Morningstar Soy Crumbles at Target on Saturday so I used this as my taco meat. I put about 3/4 cup of the crumbles in the microwave for about one minute and then sprinkled taco seasoning on them and mixed it up. I used one Flatout Flatbread Multigrain as my tortillas. This only was 100 calories. I spread a bit of light sour cream, giardiniera and salsa on each half of this flatbread. I also had some brown rice with taco seasoning, salsa, sour cream and some hot sauce. It was a tasty meal!!! Very easy to prepare too.
After our 45 minute walk, we stopped in for some Berry Moon! This is the best invention ever. This yogurt is only $.45 per ounce but can add up with all the delicious flavors and toppings they offer. I only had about a cup of fro yo, but it hit the spot. I went with non-fat strawberry frozen yogurt with a splash of chocolate frozen yogurt. I topped this with chocolate sprinkles and yogurt chips. Very healthy and yummy!
I'm off for some rest and relaxation.
Chat tomorrow!
PK
Sunday, July 25, 2010
What do I eat on my free day???
I love Saturdays. It's a wonderful day b/c you know you have Sunday to relax too. I had zero plans today, but knew I wanted to hit up Target. We also talked about hitting Lincoln Fest as well.
For breakfast I had half a wheat bagel with light cream cheese. It was really tasty and I am so proud I only ate half. I will have the other half one day this week for breakfast.
Before hitting Target, I made a southwest veggie hot pocket from Aldi. The Fit and Active brand at Aldi is AMAZING! Not only is this brand of healthy products cheap, it's really good and good for you. This pocket has sweet corn. pepper jack cheese, brown rice, black beans all wrapped in soft bread. Only 270 calories and 6g of fat. I wanted something else with this pocket but didn't have time to make anything.
After shopping for a bit, I was getting hungry. Unfortunately the southwest veggie pocket did not keep my full for too long (as expected.) My mid-afternoon snack was a small bowl of Smart Start cereal with a few blueberries. Goodness, Paige was not lying! This was so good. I may have this for breakfast tomorrow too. I usually don't buy cereal b/c I love it so much and can't stop eating it. A small bowl won't hurt though.
I had plans to meet a girlfriend of mine for dinner. She is 5 months pregnant and just adorable! Her and her husband are expecting a little boy mid-November. I can't wait to meet Baby Hull! I also have a special place in my heart for little boys b/c of my nephew Binks (Sam.) He was such a sweet baby and has grown to be such a funny little dude. I hate that I live 6 hours from him, but enjoy spending time with him when I go home to visit. Love you Binks!
We went to Dunlay's for dinner. This place is very convenient to my apartment so I end up eating here at least once a week. I was feeling a salad for dinner and a beer. I ordered a miller lite and stared at the salad options. My friend insisted we get spin-art dip. I had an angel on my shoulder saying "will power!" and then the devil on the other shoulder saying, "it's your off day, enjoy some spin-art dip." Ha. I decided to dig in and have some. What a tasty app! Wow.
I ordered the Wrightwood Salad for dinner with the dressing on the side. I loved it!
This salad has mixed greens, chicken, tomatoes, craisins, avocado, corn, almonds and fresh goat cheese. The dressing was a citrus vinaigrette. I will for sure be having this salad again soon.
After 2 miller lites, spin art dip and a salad, I was extremely full. I was happy to have this small break from my diet, but couldn't wait to start back up tomorrow.
I walked to the fest and had a few more beers there before heading home. It turned out to be a nice night out so I was happy to walk vs taking a cab.
Sunday is a new day and I am very ready to get back on track! I am not going to beat myself up for taking a day off. Every once in awhile you need this.
Talk to you soon!
PK
For breakfast I had half a wheat bagel with light cream cheese. It was really tasty and I am so proud I only ate half. I will have the other half one day this week for breakfast.
Before hitting Target, I made a southwest veggie hot pocket from Aldi. The Fit and Active brand at Aldi is AMAZING! Not only is this brand of healthy products cheap, it's really good and good for you. This pocket has sweet corn. pepper jack cheese, brown rice, black beans all wrapped in soft bread. Only 270 calories and 6g of fat. I wanted something else with this pocket but didn't have time to make anything.
After shopping for a bit, I was getting hungry. Unfortunately the southwest veggie pocket did not keep my full for too long (as expected.) My mid-afternoon snack was a small bowl of Smart Start cereal with a few blueberries. Goodness, Paige was not lying! This was so good. I may have this for breakfast tomorrow too. I usually don't buy cereal b/c I love it so much and can't stop eating it. A small bowl won't hurt though.
I had plans to meet a girlfriend of mine for dinner. She is 5 months pregnant and just adorable! Her and her husband are expecting a little boy mid-November. I can't wait to meet Baby Hull! I also have a special place in my heart for little boys b/c of my nephew Binks (Sam.) He was such a sweet baby and has grown to be such a funny little dude. I hate that I live 6 hours from him, but enjoy spending time with him when I go home to visit. Love you Binks!
We went to Dunlay's for dinner. This place is very convenient to my apartment so I end up eating here at least once a week. I was feeling a salad for dinner and a beer. I ordered a miller lite and stared at the salad options. My friend insisted we get spin-art dip. I had an angel on my shoulder saying "will power!" and then the devil on the other shoulder saying, "it's your off day, enjoy some spin-art dip." Ha. I decided to dig in and have some. What a tasty app! Wow.
I ordered the Wrightwood Salad for dinner with the dressing on the side. I loved it!
This salad has mixed greens, chicken, tomatoes, craisins, avocado, corn, almonds and fresh goat cheese. The dressing was a citrus vinaigrette. I will for sure be having this salad again soon.
After 2 miller lites, spin art dip and a salad, I was extremely full. I was happy to have this small break from my diet, but couldn't wait to start back up tomorrow.
I walked to the fest and had a few more beers there before heading home. It turned out to be a nice night out so I was happy to walk vs taking a cab.
Sunday is a new day and I am very ready to get back on track! I am not going to beat myself up for taking a day off. Every once in awhile you need this.
Talk to you soon!
PK
Friday, July 23, 2010
And it's Friday!
Happy Friday! I live for this day.
Not much excitement over here today. It's brutally hot which is strange since the forecast showed showers all day. I am sure they will come later or all weekend when we pray for sun.
Today I slept in a bit and made a nice breakfast before getting ready. I had a cup of french vanilla coffee with sugar free vanilla creamer and a splenda. I also made scrambled eggs with a dash of hot sauce and pepper jack chese. I had my last soy sausage too. It was very good and I am thinking I may need to repeat this breakfast tomorrow morning.
I didn't have a morning snack because I truly was not hungry. I did pack my lunch which was a buffalo chicken salad. I had 5 morningstar buffalo chicken nuggets on spinach and blue cheese crumbles. I also added a bit of hot peppers. I didn't need a ton of dressing since the peppers and blue cheese crumbles gave this salad plenty of flavor and kick.
I used to say that ketchup was my favorite condiment, but in the past year Buffalo Sauce has taken the lead. I can't get enough of it!
Tonight I will be hitting the gym for some weights and then going to a movie with Monster. I will let you know how it is.
Have a good day!
PK
I did a quick 30 minutes of weights at the gym and headed home to try an On-Demand cardio session. They have wonderful options. All you do is select On-Demand on your remote control, select Sports and Fitness and pick anything you want. They range from 5 minutes - 30 minutes. After reviewing a few I selected "Cardioke" as my cardio routine. OMG! I wish someone would have been watching, I looked like a fool, but worked up a serious sweat. Billy Blanks Jr. is the host and has a group of 15 people or more doing choreographed moves while singing. I laughed the majority of the time, but I am going to come back to this some time soon. DEF TRY IT OUT! Ha.
For dinner, I made a quick wrap with turkey, spinach, a 1/2 cup of shredded pepper jack cheese and honey dijon as my spread. It was a quick and easy dinner. Monster and I agreed to split pretzel bites at the movie so it was a perfect meal that didn't make me extremely full.
Tomorrow is going to be a pretty chill day. I am going to have a free day of eating. I think after almost 2 weeks of doing my best on this diet, I am going to give myself a break. I am not going to go wild, but have a little fun.
PK
Not much excitement over here today. It's brutally hot which is strange since the forecast showed showers all day. I am sure they will come later or all weekend when we pray for sun.
Today I slept in a bit and made a nice breakfast before getting ready. I had a cup of french vanilla coffee with sugar free vanilla creamer and a splenda. I also made scrambled eggs with a dash of hot sauce and pepper jack chese. I had my last soy sausage too. It was very good and I am thinking I may need to repeat this breakfast tomorrow morning.
I didn't have a morning snack because I truly was not hungry. I did pack my lunch which was a buffalo chicken salad. I had 5 morningstar buffalo chicken nuggets on spinach and blue cheese crumbles. I also added a bit of hot peppers. I didn't need a ton of dressing since the peppers and blue cheese crumbles gave this salad plenty of flavor and kick.
I used to say that ketchup was my favorite condiment, but in the past year Buffalo Sauce has taken the lead. I can't get enough of it!
Tonight I will be hitting the gym for some weights and then going to a movie with Monster. I will let you know how it is.
Have a good day!
PK
I did a quick 30 minutes of weights at the gym and headed home to try an On-Demand cardio session. They have wonderful options. All you do is select On-Demand on your remote control, select Sports and Fitness and pick anything you want. They range from 5 minutes - 30 minutes. After reviewing a few I selected "Cardioke" as my cardio routine. OMG! I wish someone would have been watching, I looked like a fool, but worked up a serious sweat. Billy Blanks Jr. is the host and has a group of 15 people or more doing choreographed moves while singing. I laughed the majority of the time, but I am going to come back to this some time soon. DEF TRY IT OUT! Ha.
For dinner, I made a quick wrap with turkey, spinach, a 1/2 cup of shredded pepper jack cheese and honey dijon as my spread. It was a quick and easy dinner. Monster and I agreed to split pretzel bites at the movie so it was a perfect meal that didn't make me extremely full.
Tomorrow is going to be a pretty chill day. I am going to have a free day of eating. I think after almost 2 weeks of doing my best on this diet, I am going to give myself a break. I am not going to go wild, but have a little fun.
PK
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Pockets!!!
It's almost Friday!! I love weekends, especially weekends when I am in town with zero plans. Zilch, Nada, Nothin! I can't wait to just be spur in the moment about everything. I do know that I am going to hit the gym at least once this weekend. Speaking of gym, that is how I started my day. I don't always do well working out in the morning b/c i feel like I have no energy. It takes awhile for me and my legs to wake up. Since I got in some weights last night, I stuck to cardio today. I ended up doing 10 minutes on the cross fit elliptical, 15 minutes on the regular elliptical and 15 on the treadmill with a 5 minute cool down. My cool down consisted of treadmill lunges for 3 minutes (I know I will feel this tomorrow) and 2 minutes at 3.0. I did some quick stretches and I got ready for work.
Packing a breakfast and lunch is tough when I hit the gym in the morning. I don't want anything to spoil and it takes about 2 hours from when I leave my apartment to get to the office. My frozen soy sausages were a good option b/c it would still be cold by the time I got to work. I didn't pack any eggs b/c warm hard boiled eggs are not that good :). So I went with 2 patties today for breakfast. Gosh I love these things! It's time to get a new box already!!
I have a few items at the office to snack on today, but don't have a lunch. My mid-morning snack is a snack pack of cottage cheese and my afternoon snack will be a string cheese. That leaves me with lunch...POCKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait. I received an email on Tuesday offering $3 off any purchase of $10. What a deal!! I may get crazy today and switch up my norm, but we will see. This email also mentioned that on August 14th, it's customer appreciation day. Pockets are only $1! Are you kidding me? This is going on my calendar and I will be taking advantage of this hot special.
More to come later. Have a good day!
Well Pockets of course was delish. I got the "Peri" today. I always get the same salad so I decided to call it that. I got a small salad which was a lettuce/spinach mix. I added tuna, blue cheese, mandarin oranges, edamame, dried cranberries, cucumbers and walnuts. I had half fat free raspberry dressing and half honey dijon. It was definitely a 10 lunch!
No snacks this afternoon. I was stuffed from my salad. I also needed to think about dinner. I didn't need anything heavy, so I went with a taco salad (which was heavy enough.) I had made lean hamburger taco meat last night. It was easy just to throw it in the microwave and warm it up. This spinach salad also consisted of baby tomatoes, shredded pepper jack cheese, salsa, light sour cream, giardiniera and a tad of ranch dressing. I also had a spoonful of mexican rice. It was a last minute put together dinner that I enjoyed. I like to make taco salads with soy crumbles too. These can be found in the freezer aisle near the rest of the Morningstar items. These are on the pricey side, but last a few months. I will pick that up the next time I get to the store.
I'm enjoying some decaf and ready to watch the final episode of "Bethany Getting Married?" I am sad its over, it's been one of my favorites this Summer.
Have a good night,
PK
Packing a breakfast and lunch is tough when I hit the gym in the morning. I don't want anything to spoil and it takes about 2 hours from when I leave my apartment to get to the office. My frozen soy sausages were a good option b/c it would still be cold by the time I got to work. I didn't pack any eggs b/c warm hard boiled eggs are not that good :). So I went with 2 patties today for breakfast. Gosh I love these things! It's time to get a new box already!!
I have a few items at the office to snack on today, but don't have a lunch. My mid-morning snack is a snack pack of cottage cheese and my afternoon snack will be a string cheese. That leaves me with lunch...POCKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait. I received an email on Tuesday offering $3 off any purchase of $10. What a deal!! I may get crazy today and switch up my norm, but we will see. This email also mentioned that on August 14th, it's customer appreciation day. Pockets are only $1! Are you kidding me? This is going on my calendar and I will be taking advantage of this hot special.
More to come later. Have a good day!
Well Pockets of course was delish. I got the "Peri" today. I always get the same salad so I decided to call it that. I got a small salad which was a lettuce/spinach mix. I added tuna, blue cheese, mandarin oranges, edamame, dried cranberries, cucumbers and walnuts. I had half fat free raspberry dressing and half honey dijon. It was definitely a 10 lunch!
No snacks this afternoon. I was stuffed from my salad. I also needed to think about dinner. I didn't need anything heavy, so I went with a taco salad (which was heavy enough.) I had made lean hamburger taco meat last night. It was easy just to throw it in the microwave and warm it up. This spinach salad also consisted of baby tomatoes, shredded pepper jack cheese, salsa, light sour cream, giardiniera and a tad of ranch dressing. I also had a spoonful of mexican rice. It was a last minute put together dinner that I enjoyed. I like to make taco salads with soy crumbles too. These can be found in the freezer aisle near the rest of the Morningstar items. These are on the pricey side, but last a few months. I will pick that up the next time I get to the store.
I'm enjoying some decaf and ready to watch the final episode of "Bethany Getting Married?" I am sad its over, it's been one of my favorites this Summer.
Have a good night,
PK
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Learning to like the gym again.
Today was a great day. I slept very well last night and woke up right before my alarm went off...I hate when that happens. I knew I had a busy day ahead so I got ready, had a quick breakfast and was out the door.
Breakfast was a mug of eggs and soy sausage patty. My mug of eggs was simple today. Just a little salt and pepper. I actually had liquid egg whites instead of egg beaters. Pretty tasty in my opinion. I'm going to make hard boiled eggs tonight. I don't want to get sick of the mug of eggs! I also am going to start adding in carbs to my breakfast. Maybe switch it up and make a whole grain english muffin. I like to use a wedge of laughing cow cheese as the spread. My sister (Paige) mentioned tonight that she is obsessed with Smart Start cereal topped with blueberries or strawberries. That is another healthy option for breakfast. I haven't had that cereal in quite some time so I think I will pick some up the next time I'm at the store.
I packed strawberries, string cheese and mushrooms with hummus for my snacks today. I didn't know the plan for lunch so I wanted to be prepared with snacks in case I went with a light light light lunch. My mid-morning snack was a piece of low fat swiss string cheese. This was perfect. A nice little treat before I had a Grecian Salad from Kerryman! I love the menu at Kerryman (they have the best fries.) I decided to go with the Grecian Chicken Salad with the dressing on the side. This salad has a ton of goodies! Grilled chicken, egg, tomato, green pepper, feta cheese, kalamata olives, pepperonccini,red onion and red pepper. I highly recommend this salad and Kerryman!
My afternoon snack was about 10 strawberries sprinkled with splenda. This is a sweet treat! I hope I can eat all of the strawberries I bought at the store before they go bad. If only fruit lasted an extra 3 days...
The gym was awesome. I really like taking a few days off and then getting back into it. I was in the mood/not in the mood to go when I left work. I was pretty beat by the end of the day and just decided to put in my ipod and head to Xport. I was able to do cardio yesterday so I went with 45 mins of weight lifting. I am planning on reading up on some fitness mags this weekend. I want some new moves for the gym :). I'm sure I will be a tad sore tomorrow, so I am looking forward to a cardio day.
On a random note, I recently decided not to do the half marathon. Looking at the big picture, 13 miles sounds ridiculous. Who would ever want to run that? Who would ever want to run 26 miles? My issue with running is that I am scared of it. I feel like I suck at it, but you have to stick with it. Once you start running more than 2 or 3 miles for your workout, you can't give up because you will have to start at a 1/2 mile or 1 mile after a few weeks off. I got up to 8 miles and felt like I accomplished such a big goal, but hated the idea of going any further! I plan to stay committed to running anywhere from 2 - 5 miles once or twice a week and one day maybe I will cross the half marathon off my bucket list. Not going to be 2010 though. I do have to say that watching a half marathon or marathon is coolest thing ever. I am so proud of M for doing the marathon this year for the 2nd year in a row. This year he will have a bigger crowd to cheer him on and he will be running with his best friend Kevin. It will mean so much to see them cross the finish line. I know for a fact I will be a ball baby. I have cried at every marathon I have spectated. Just a few months until the Chicago Marathon!!!
Oops quick dinner update. I made a spinach salad with soy nuggets, dried cranberries, a few blue cheese crumbles and a 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts. I can't get enough of this salad! I recommend trying it soon. I also had a few bing cherries in addition to the salad.
I hope my few followers are enjoying the blog. I look forward to writing every night.
PK
Breakfast was a mug of eggs and soy sausage patty. My mug of eggs was simple today. Just a little salt and pepper. I actually had liquid egg whites instead of egg beaters. Pretty tasty in my opinion. I'm going to make hard boiled eggs tonight. I don't want to get sick of the mug of eggs! I also am going to start adding in carbs to my breakfast. Maybe switch it up and make a whole grain english muffin. I like to use a wedge of laughing cow cheese as the spread. My sister (Paige) mentioned tonight that she is obsessed with Smart Start cereal topped with blueberries or strawberries. That is another healthy option for breakfast. I haven't had that cereal in quite some time so I think I will pick some up the next time I'm at the store.
I packed strawberries, string cheese and mushrooms with hummus for my snacks today. I didn't know the plan for lunch so I wanted to be prepared with snacks in case I went with a light light light lunch. My mid-morning snack was a piece of low fat swiss string cheese. This was perfect. A nice little treat before I had a Grecian Salad from Kerryman! I love the menu at Kerryman (they have the best fries.) I decided to go with the Grecian Chicken Salad with the dressing on the side. This salad has a ton of goodies! Grilled chicken, egg, tomato, green pepper, feta cheese, kalamata olives, pepperonccini,red onion and red pepper. I highly recommend this salad and Kerryman!
My afternoon snack was about 10 strawberries sprinkled with splenda. This is a sweet treat! I hope I can eat all of the strawberries I bought at the store before they go bad. If only fruit lasted an extra 3 days...
The gym was awesome. I really like taking a few days off and then getting back into it. I was in the mood/not in the mood to go when I left work. I was pretty beat by the end of the day and just decided to put in my ipod and head to Xport. I was able to do cardio yesterday so I went with 45 mins of weight lifting. I am planning on reading up on some fitness mags this weekend. I want some new moves for the gym :). I'm sure I will be a tad sore tomorrow, so I am looking forward to a cardio day.
On a random note, I recently decided not to do the half marathon. Looking at the big picture, 13 miles sounds ridiculous. Who would ever want to run that? Who would ever want to run 26 miles? My issue with running is that I am scared of it. I feel like I suck at it, but you have to stick with it. Once you start running more than 2 or 3 miles for your workout, you can't give up because you will have to start at a 1/2 mile or 1 mile after a few weeks off. I got up to 8 miles and felt like I accomplished such a big goal, but hated the idea of going any further! I plan to stay committed to running anywhere from 2 - 5 miles once or twice a week and one day maybe I will cross the half marathon off my bucket list. Not going to be 2010 though. I do have to say that watching a half marathon or marathon is coolest thing ever. I am so proud of M for doing the marathon this year for the 2nd year in a row. This year he will have a bigger crowd to cheer him on and he will be running with his best friend Kevin. It will mean so much to see them cross the finish line. I know for a fact I will be a ball baby. I have cried at every marathon I have spectated. Just a few months until the Chicago Marathon!!!
Oops quick dinner update. I made a spinach salad with soy nuggets, dried cranberries, a few blue cheese crumbles and a 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts. I can't get enough of this salad! I recommend trying it soon. I also had a few bing cherries in addition to the salad.
I hope my few followers are enjoying the blog. I look forward to writing every night.
PK
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Adding carbs back in.
Dinner last night was amazing! I unfortunately skipped the gym for an impromptu birthday party at Blue Frog (booze free) and then went to dinner. I met CP and her mom for a drink which was tasty sangria from Theory Chicago. I was not in the mood to drink but decided that the sangria needed to be tested out. Urban Daddy sent out their daily email about Theory's sangria yesterday so I had a taste and I give it 2 thumbs up! Nice work Joel.
We met a few others at Hub 51 for dinner and had some appetizers on the house to kick off our dinner. I didn't have more than a taste of each, but I loved every one. We had the ahi tuna poke, chicken nachos and the three green bites. I knew we would be having the carrot cake for dessert so I wanted to splurge on that. For dinner, Monster and I shared the Turkey Meatloaf sandwich. It was so good and perfect to share. I had my half with a side salad and M had his with cheddar mashed potatoes. Wow wow wow! They were so good.
The carrot cake was a perfect way to end the evening. 5 of us shared it and I had a small taste with a dab of extra frosting. Hub 51 knows how to do their carrot cake right. 2 scoops of additional frosting??? I have dreams about it.
As you can see I have been adding a few carbs back into my diet. I have taken the week off from them for the most part and excited to slowly add them back in. I'm not going to get back into the habit of bagels, rolls, sandwich bread, etc for all meals. I will continue to cut back and eat a good amount to give me the energy I need.
Today I had training for work from 9 - 4. It was a long day and I needed a lot of caffeine to keep me alert. I wanted a healthy breakfast to start my day and get me going. This consisted of a mug of eggs and soy sausage patty. I had a laughing cow wedge and splash of hot sauce in my eggs this am to switch it up.
For my mid-morning snack I had grapes and strawberries. I got a little nervous about the lunch menu, but planned on being strict and eating what was healthy. Usually these trainings have pizza or deli platters with salads filled with mayo and that did not sound good nor healthy. Luckily, my company planned something for everybody and I was able to make a delicious salad! I had a few more pieces of fruit with my lunch and plenty of water to get me prepped for my post work - work out. My mid-afternoon snack was a string cheese just to give me a bit of energy before hitting the gym.
I skipped the gym last night, but have plans to go 3 - 5 times this week. I got 40 minutes of cardio in tonight. I did 30 on the elliptical and 10 on the treadmill. I will focus tomorrow on weights and doing some abs. I like doing cardio one day and weights the next. Makes for a fun and new work out that doesn't get boring. I wish the gym wasn't crowded though. I bob and weave looking for a machine.
After the gym I grabbed a quick dinner with my friend Kyle and I had a spinach and apple salad with chicken with a miller lite. It was one of those days that I just craved a beer. The miller lite hit the spot :).
Tonight I plan on resting up and doing some work. Tomorrow is a sad day...my friend Collis has her last day at work. I'm sure we will grab lunch in the work hood to celebrate her next adventure. I'm just sad that I won't have a friend at work to talk restaurants and recipes. Luckily she is an email away.
Good night Chi!
PK
We met a few others at Hub 51 for dinner and had some appetizers on the house to kick off our dinner. I didn't have more than a taste of each, but I loved every one. We had the ahi tuna poke, chicken nachos and the three green bites. I knew we would be having the carrot cake for dessert so I wanted to splurge on that. For dinner, Monster and I shared the Turkey Meatloaf sandwich. It was so good and perfect to share. I had my half with a side salad and M had his with cheddar mashed potatoes. Wow wow wow! They were so good.
The carrot cake was a perfect way to end the evening. 5 of us shared it and I had a small taste with a dab of extra frosting. Hub 51 knows how to do their carrot cake right. 2 scoops of additional frosting??? I have dreams about it.
As you can see I have been adding a few carbs back into my diet. I have taken the week off from them for the most part and excited to slowly add them back in. I'm not going to get back into the habit of bagels, rolls, sandwich bread, etc for all meals. I will continue to cut back and eat a good amount to give me the energy I need.
Today I had training for work from 9 - 4. It was a long day and I needed a lot of caffeine to keep me alert. I wanted a healthy breakfast to start my day and get me going. This consisted of a mug of eggs and soy sausage patty. I had a laughing cow wedge and splash of hot sauce in my eggs this am to switch it up.
For my mid-morning snack I had grapes and strawberries. I got a little nervous about the lunch menu, but planned on being strict and eating what was healthy. Usually these trainings have pizza or deli platters with salads filled with mayo and that did not sound good nor healthy. Luckily, my company planned something for everybody and I was able to make a delicious salad! I had a few more pieces of fruit with my lunch and plenty of water to get me prepped for my post work - work out. My mid-afternoon snack was a string cheese just to give me a bit of energy before hitting the gym.
I skipped the gym last night, but have plans to go 3 - 5 times this week. I got 40 minutes of cardio in tonight. I did 30 on the elliptical and 10 on the treadmill. I will focus tomorrow on weights and doing some abs. I like doing cardio one day and weights the next. Makes for a fun and new work out that doesn't get boring. I wish the gym wasn't crowded though. I bob and weave looking for a machine.
After the gym I grabbed a quick dinner with my friend Kyle and I had a spinach and apple salad with chicken with a miller lite. It was one of those days that I just craved a beer. The miller lite hit the spot :).
Tonight I plan on resting up and doing some work. Tomorrow is a sad day...my friend Collis has her last day at work. I'm sure we will grab lunch in the work hood to celebrate her next adventure. I'm just sad that I won't have a friend at work to talk restaurants and recipes. Luckily she is an email away.
Good night Chi!
PK
Monday, July 19, 2010
First Weekend = Trouble...
Happy Monday/get back on track day!
I do have to say that this weekend was extremely tough. I would rate my diet a B-. It's ok though b/cI did much better than before. I can't be too hard on myself because this is going to be an adjustment no matter what, but I had too much going on this weekend to stay 100% on track. Lesson to self...learn to say no!
Dinner on Friday was fair. I heard great reviews about The Gage on S. Michigan Avenue so I was excited to bring some of my family from Iowa there. The mussels at this restaurant were supposed to be top notch. Unfortunately they were drenched in butter and came with a ridiculous piece of toast (I may have stared down every table who ordered these.) I passed on this option and went with the Roasted Amish chicen. The chicken was served with grilled asparagus and wilted cherry tomato with goat cheese. I liked the dish, but probably wouldn't go back for it. A few others at the table got the Gage Burger which was served with french fries. “The Gage” is a USDA prime burger with melted onion marmalade and served on a toasted malt roll. OMG DID THIS LOOK AMAZING! Monster ordered this which I knew was going to happen. Isn't it funny when you know what other's are going to order? I can usually always guess Monster's dish and Lindsay's. I had a few MGD 64 beers with dinner and half a Blue Moon at Rebar, but was pretty tired and called it a night.
On Saturday I woke up and had my mug of eggs. This time I added giardiniera which gave it a nice kick. I skipped lunch since I decided to head to my friend Ally's pool. For my linner (lunch/dinner) I had a grilled chicken salad from subway. I had mostly all veggies on this salad. It was very tasty and I had honey mustard on the side.
I love ranch and honey mustard for salad dressings. I can't get into balsamic vinaigrette. I'm not sure why since I know it's healthier. I always get ranch or honey mustard, but follow the dip my fork technique. I order dressing on the side and rather than pour over the salad, I dip my fork in it and add it to a bite of salad just to get a taste of the dressing. I highly recommend doing this.
That night we had a surprise birthday party. This is where everything went south. I had a few drinks at the party, but could not stop eating the cashew, almond and pistachio mix. I also had a few stuffed mushrooms and 2 chicken skewers. I did manage to stay away from the chips and guac, taco salad, sliders, etc etc etc. The menu was un-real! I mostly had beer the rest of the night and tried to take down an RBV (red bull vodka,) but had maybe half of it. Also, we skipped eating late night food and just went right to bed. I have to say this was a huge hump to get over. I love eating a slice of pizza after a long night of drinking. Baby steps...
On Sunday things got better. I met some girlfriends at Dunlay's for brunch! It was so good! Lindsay claims to like Dunlays better for brunch than dinner and I may have to agree with her. I had a veggie omelette, side of fruit and a grilled tomato. I had a few bites of the hashbrowns and gosh they were good. I skipped the mimosas and bloody marys, but I really was craving one. I decided to go home and be lazy before hitting the grocery store. I went to Aldi and Trader Joes! I got my usual items from both. I purchased some strawberries which I am going to have for a snack today :).
For dinner I made soy nuggets and had them with ketchup. I love these so much. If I had the option to have chicken nuggets or soy nuggets, soy nuggets would win!
The soy nuggets are seasoned, dairy free, vegetarian and breaded with stone ground whole wheat flour. They come frozen and can be microwaved. There are 120 calories and 1.5 grams of fat for 4 nuggets! What a steal! I only had a few of these since I knew I would be sharing some pretzel nuggets with cheese for a snack at the movies. Now these really ended the weekend with a bang! Probably didn't need them, but much better than candy or popcorn. (Side note: I hate popcorn! The smell drives me up the wall.)
So after reflecting on my weekend, I have decided that today is a new day. I will be back on track today and excited for a good slow week.
The plan:
This morning I had mug of eggs with 2 cubes of pepper jack cheese and giardiniera. I also made one morninstar soy sausage patty. I skipped my morning snack and will be having a spinach salad with soy nuggets for lunch. My afternoon snack will be a banana and strawberries with equal. My gym plan is cardio for 45 or 50 minutes.
I am meeting one of my best friends and her mom for drinks later tonight. I'm passing on dinner since I spent plenty at the grocer and don't need to be spending money. I'm not really in the mood to drink so I may stick with soda water with lime.
Talk to you soon!
PK
I do have to say that this weekend was extremely tough. I would rate my diet a B-. It's ok though b/cI did much better than before. I can't be too hard on myself because this is going to be an adjustment no matter what, but I had too much going on this weekend to stay 100% on track. Lesson to self...learn to say no!
Dinner on Friday was fair. I heard great reviews about The Gage on S. Michigan Avenue so I was excited to bring some of my family from Iowa there. The mussels at this restaurant were supposed to be top notch. Unfortunately they were drenched in butter and came with a ridiculous piece of toast (I may have stared down every table who ordered these.) I passed on this option and went with the Roasted Amish chicen. The chicken was served with grilled asparagus and wilted cherry tomato with goat cheese. I liked the dish, but probably wouldn't go back for it. A few others at the table got the Gage Burger which was served with french fries. “The Gage” is a USDA prime burger with melted onion marmalade and served on a toasted malt roll. OMG DID THIS LOOK AMAZING! Monster ordered this which I knew was going to happen. Isn't it funny when you know what other's are going to order? I can usually always guess Monster's dish and Lindsay's. I had a few MGD 64 beers with dinner and half a Blue Moon at Rebar, but was pretty tired and called it a night.
On Saturday I woke up and had my mug of eggs. This time I added giardiniera which gave it a nice kick. I skipped lunch since I decided to head to my friend Ally's pool. For my linner (lunch/dinner) I had a grilled chicken salad from subway. I had mostly all veggies on this salad. It was very tasty and I had honey mustard on the side.
I love ranch and honey mustard for salad dressings. I can't get into balsamic vinaigrette. I'm not sure why since I know it's healthier. I always get ranch or honey mustard, but follow the dip my fork technique. I order dressing on the side and rather than pour over the salad, I dip my fork in it and add it to a bite of salad just to get a taste of the dressing. I highly recommend doing this.
That night we had a surprise birthday party. This is where everything went south. I had a few drinks at the party, but could not stop eating the cashew, almond and pistachio mix. I also had a few stuffed mushrooms and 2 chicken skewers. I did manage to stay away from the chips and guac, taco salad, sliders, etc etc etc. The menu was un-real! I mostly had beer the rest of the night and tried to take down an RBV (red bull vodka,) but had maybe half of it. Also, we skipped eating late night food and just went right to bed. I have to say this was a huge hump to get over. I love eating a slice of pizza after a long night of drinking. Baby steps...
On Sunday things got better. I met some girlfriends at Dunlay's for brunch! It was so good! Lindsay claims to like Dunlays better for brunch than dinner and I may have to agree with her. I had a veggie omelette, side of fruit and a grilled tomato. I had a few bites of the hashbrowns and gosh they were good. I skipped the mimosas and bloody marys, but I really was craving one. I decided to go home and be lazy before hitting the grocery store. I went to Aldi and Trader Joes! I got my usual items from both. I purchased some strawberries which I am going to have for a snack today :).
For dinner I made soy nuggets and had them with ketchup. I love these so much. If I had the option to have chicken nuggets or soy nuggets, soy nuggets would win!
The soy nuggets are seasoned, dairy free, vegetarian and breaded with stone ground whole wheat flour. They come frozen and can be microwaved. There are 120 calories and 1.5 grams of fat for 4 nuggets! What a steal! I only had a few of these since I knew I would be sharing some pretzel nuggets with cheese for a snack at the movies. Now these really ended the weekend with a bang! Probably didn't need them, but much better than candy or popcorn. (Side note: I hate popcorn! The smell drives me up the wall.)
So after reflecting on my weekend, I have decided that today is a new day. I will be back on track today and excited for a good slow week.
The plan:
This morning I had mug of eggs with 2 cubes of pepper jack cheese and giardiniera. I also made one morninstar soy sausage patty. I skipped my morning snack and will be having a spinach salad with soy nuggets for lunch. My afternoon snack will be a banana and strawberries with equal. My gym plan is cardio for 45 or 50 minutes.
I am meeting one of my best friends and her mom for drinks later tonight. I'm passing on dinner since I spent plenty at the grocer and don't need to be spending money. I'm not really in the mood to drink so I may stick with soda water with lime.
Talk to you soon!
PK
Friday, July 16, 2010
I made it!
TGIF! Today has been an extremely long day. I woke up at 3:45am Chicago time to fly back from Raleigh. My body is moving on very little steam. Even though I'm pretty tired, I am happy to say that my diet is still going strong.
Yesterday was a challenge. I got to the airport and didn't feel so well. My body was crying for some carbs. I had made my mug of eggs and a soy sausage before I departed for the airport. I picked up some grapes and a smart water ($4!) for a snack on the plane. My body just felt exhausted. I knew it wasn't going to be a relaxing day so I needed something to wake me up. After passing up Chick-fil-a for lunch, I decided on a chicken greek salad. I also ordered a pita with hummus. This lunch was terrific and I felt so much better after eating this.
We had to do a quick on the go dinner so I ended up picking up Jimmy Johns for the team and ordered an un-wich for myself. This is a good alternative if you are staying clear of carbs. The wheat bread at Jimmy Johns is so good and big! This was tough to stare at when I went in to pick up the order. The un-wich uses lettuce to hold together the sandwich vs bread. It kept me full until about 8:30pm.
After the event we went back to the hotel and ordered some appetizers and drinks. At this point my body craved a glass of red wine. I felt I deserved it after this chaotic day. I also ordered minestrone soup to eat while the group had appetizers (wings, 3 different types of pizzas, cheese plate, meatballs, fries, etc.) I also ordered a caprese salad. I probably shouldn't have had all of this before I went to bed, but atleast I stayed somewhat healthy.
I think I did fair for my first day of traveling and sticking to 30 x 30.
This morning at the airport I knew I didn't have much of an option for a healthy breakfast except for starbucks. I had a skinny cinnamon dolce latte (so tasty!) and a cup of fruit. This kept my full until I arrived to Chicago. I made a quick soy sausage when I dropped off my bag and went to work. I was not my self today. I was extremely tired and just wanted to go back to bed.
For lunch I walked down to Rosatti's and made a salad. The salad had diced chicken, mushrooms, carrots, green peppers, colby cheese. I also had honey dijon dressing on the side. This salad came with a roll which looked great! Unfortunately that roll ended up in the garbage :(.
Tonight I have dinner plans with M, my step-bro and his girlfriend Jenny. We are off to a restaurant on S. Michigan Ave. Excited to check it out, but know I need to be smart.
PK
Yesterday was a challenge. I got to the airport and didn't feel so well. My body was crying for some carbs. I had made my mug of eggs and a soy sausage before I departed for the airport. I picked up some grapes and a smart water ($4!) for a snack on the plane. My body just felt exhausted. I knew it wasn't going to be a relaxing day so I needed something to wake me up. After passing up Chick-fil-a for lunch, I decided on a chicken greek salad. I also ordered a pita with hummus. This lunch was terrific and I felt so much better after eating this.
We had to do a quick on the go dinner so I ended up picking up Jimmy Johns for the team and ordered an un-wich for myself. This is a good alternative if you are staying clear of carbs. The wheat bread at Jimmy Johns is so good and big! This was tough to stare at when I went in to pick up the order. The un-wich uses lettuce to hold together the sandwich vs bread. It kept me full until about 8:30pm.
After the event we went back to the hotel and ordered some appetizers and drinks. At this point my body craved a glass of red wine. I felt I deserved it after this chaotic day. I also ordered minestrone soup to eat while the group had appetizers (wings, 3 different types of pizzas, cheese plate, meatballs, fries, etc.) I also ordered a caprese salad. I probably shouldn't have had all of this before I went to bed, but atleast I stayed somewhat healthy.
I think I did fair for my first day of traveling and sticking to 30 x 30.
This morning at the airport I knew I didn't have much of an option for a healthy breakfast except for starbucks. I had a skinny cinnamon dolce latte (so tasty!) and a cup of fruit. This kept my full until I arrived to Chicago. I made a quick soy sausage when I dropped off my bag and went to work. I was not my self today. I was extremely tired and just wanted to go back to bed.
For lunch I walked down to Rosatti's and made a salad. The salad had diced chicken, mushrooms, carrots, green peppers, colby cheese. I also had honey dijon dressing on the side. This salad came with a roll which looked great! Unfortunately that roll ended up in the garbage :(.
Tonight I have dinner plans with M, my step-bro and his girlfriend Jenny. We are off to a restaurant on S. Michigan Ave. Excited to check it out, but know I need to be smart.
PK
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Well it's a hot one.
Good morning and Happy Hump Day! Well I slept like a million bucks last night. Once I start eating better and working out I sleep much better. My new apartment also allows some peace and quiet through the night. I want to forget about that month of my life at apt. 220. What a nightmare!
Gosh it's hot out today. We are looking at 90 today. Eck. Today is the day to hydrate. Drink lots of water and try to stay inside in the a/c. These are the days where I like to reflect on my job from high school and college. About 20 of my friends and I worked at a day care/summer camp in West Des Moines. We hit the pool once a week and it was heavenly. If only I could rewind and be back at Holiday Pool.
Side note about staying hydrated...I was reading Women's Day Magazine last night and found this interesting fact: The 8-glasses recommendation is not a hard-and-fast rule, says Heidi Skolnik, MS, a certified dietitian-nutritionist and coauthor of Nutrient Timing for Peak Performance. The Institute of Medicine recommends that women have about 11½ cups of fluids a day (15½ for men), but at least 20 percent of that typically comes from what you eat, taking the drinkable number down to about 9 cups. And remember, a cup isn’t much, just 8 ounces (a standard soda can is 12). Hmmm...interesting.
This morning I packed my breakfast and lunch and brought it to work with me. I go through phases where I like to eat out for lunch or order from POCKETS! Pockets is one of my favorite chains in Chicago. I used to have a Pockets across the street from me at my last apartment. I would go through punch cards like nobody's biz. My go-to small salad is: Spinach/lettuce mix, dried cranberries, edamame, tuna, sliced almonds, feta or blue cheese and the little wonton sticks. I get the fat free raspberry vinaigrette and the honey dijon for my salad dressings. It also comes with a small wheat roll which is SO GOOD! I haven't had pockets in awhile, but think I may need to order it soon.
I have decided to cut back on this habit for a bit and pack my lunch. With that said, I packed a hard boiled egg and soy sausage patty for breakfast. I brought bing cherries for my mid-morning snack and a spinach salad for lunch. The salad is very similar to yesterday's except I added mushrooms. One of my favorite bloggers (http://iowagirleats.com/) calls this the "Kitchen Sink Salad." So much random goodness. I also brought a few soy nuggets from Trader Joes to go with my salad. My afternoon snack will be another Breakstone's snack size of cottage cheese.
I am not sure what my plan is yet for dinner. I want to be prepared by the time I get home and make a healthy dinner just for myself. Maybe stir-fry? That would be quick and easy. I also have some cleaning to do since I have visitors coming this weekend.
More to come later.
PK
Gosh I was so hungry when I got home and the quickest thing I could make was a spinach salad. I know I know...I have been eating this every day since Monday. I need a break starting tomorrow. My problem was that I didn't think ahead. I should have defrosted chicken this morning and prepped a grilled chicken breast tonight with spinach.
I didn't have time this afternoon to have a snack which made me extra hungry. I also didn't get to the gym so I decided to take the train and get off at a stop a few stops away from my apartment and walk. It's so hot out and I was carrying a heavy bag and purse and just wasn't thinking tonight. I like to think this walk gave me a small work out. I sure sweat like I ran a marathon.
My spinach salad consisted of Morningstar Buffalo Chicken Breast (3), pepperjack cheese cubes, baby tomatoes, giardiniera and dressing. I had a few pieces of watermelon left and had this as a side. Kind of a random dinner, but I enjoyed it. I love giardiniera. It added a bit of a kick.
Tonight I need to pack for a quick trip I have to Raleigh, NC for work. This is going to be a big test of will power to stick to my diet while I am gone. It's only 24 hours...I know I can do it. I am going to try to stick to water tomorrow too. No booze for this chick. I am not giving up alcohol, but I do know that I will be drinking plenty this weekend and want to keep it at that.
Before I leave for the airport, I plan on making a soy sausage patty and a mug of eggs for breakfast. If you haven't tried a mug of eggs, it's super easy and tasty! Just use a normal mug and add in a 1/2 cup or so of egg beaters. Put this in the microwave for 45 seconds. Sometimes the egg beaters go over the mug, so watch it carefully. After 45 seconds, I add one wedge of Laughing Cow swiss cheese into the eggs and stir. Stick it back in the microwave for 30 seconds. The eggs should be ready. Just stir it up and enjoy! It may take a few times to figure this out.
I will be back in a few days. Happy and healthy eating until then.
PK
Gosh it's hot out today. We are looking at 90 today. Eck. Today is the day to hydrate. Drink lots of water and try to stay inside in the a/c. These are the days where I like to reflect on my job from high school and college. About 20 of my friends and I worked at a day care/summer camp in West Des Moines. We hit the pool once a week and it was heavenly. If only I could rewind and be back at Holiday Pool.
Side note about staying hydrated...I was reading Women's Day Magazine last night and found this interesting fact: The 8-glasses recommendation is not a hard-and-fast rule, says Heidi Skolnik, MS, a certified dietitian-nutritionist and coauthor of Nutrient Timing for Peak Performance. The Institute of Medicine recommends that women have about 11½ cups of fluids a day (15½ for men), but at least 20 percent of that typically comes from what you eat, taking the drinkable number down to about 9 cups. And remember, a cup isn’t much, just 8 ounces (a standard soda can is 12). Hmmm...interesting.
This morning I packed my breakfast and lunch and brought it to work with me. I go through phases where I like to eat out for lunch or order from POCKETS! Pockets is one of my favorite chains in Chicago. I used to have a Pockets across the street from me at my last apartment. I would go through punch cards like nobody's biz. My go-to small salad is: Spinach/lettuce mix, dried cranberries, edamame, tuna, sliced almonds, feta or blue cheese and the little wonton sticks. I get the fat free raspberry vinaigrette and the honey dijon for my salad dressings. It also comes with a small wheat roll which is SO GOOD! I haven't had pockets in awhile, but think I may need to order it soon.
I have decided to cut back on this habit for a bit and pack my lunch. With that said, I packed a hard boiled egg and soy sausage patty for breakfast. I brought bing cherries for my mid-morning snack and a spinach salad for lunch. The salad is very similar to yesterday's except I added mushrooms. One of my favorite bloggers (http://iowagirleats.com/) calls this the "Kitchen Sink Salad." So much random goodness. I also brought a few soy nuggets from Trader Joes to go with my salad. My afternoon snack will be another Breakstone's snack size of cottage cheese.
I am not sure what my plan is yet for dinner. I want to be prepared by the time I get home and make a healthy dinner just for myself. Maybe stir-fry? That would be quick and easy. I also have some cleaning to do since I have visitors coming this weekend.
More to come later.
PK
Gosh I was so hungry when I got home and the quickest thing I could make was a spinach salad. I know I know...I have been eating this every day since Monday. I need a break starting tomorrow. My problem was that I didn't think ahead. I should have defrosted chicken this morning and prepped a grilled chicken breast tonight with spinach.
I didn't have time this afternoon to have a snack which made me extra hungry. I also didn't get to the gym so I decided to take the train and get off at a stop a few stops away from my apartment and walk. It's so hot out and I was carrying a heavy bag and purse and just wasn't thinking tonight. I like to think this walk gave me a small work out. I sure sweat like I ran a marathon.
My spinach salad consisted of Morningstar Buffalo Chicken Breast (3), pepperjack cheese cubes, baby tomatoes, giardiniera and dressing. I had a few pieces of watermelon left and had this as a side. Kind of a random dinner, but I enjoyed it. I love giardiniera. It added a bit of a kick.
Tonight I need to pack for a quick trip I have to Raleigh, NC for work. This is going to be a big test of will power to stick to my diet while I am gone. It's only 24 hours...I know I can do it. I am going to try to stick to water tomorrow too. No booze for this chick. I am not giving up alcohol, but I do know that I will be drinking plenty this weekend and want to keep it at that.
Before I leave for the airport, I plan on making a soy sausage patty and a mug of eggs for breakfast. If you haven't tried a mug of eggs, it's super easy and tasty! Just use a normal mug and add in a 1/2 cup or so of egg beaters. Put this in the microwave for 45 seconds. Sometimes the egg beaters go over the mug, so watch it carefully. After 45 seconds, I add one wedge of Laughing Cow swiss cheese into the eggs and stir. Stick it back in the microwave for 30 seconds. The eggs should be ready. Just stir it up and enjoy! It may take a few times to figure this out.
I will be back in a few days. Happy and healthy eating until then.
PK
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
No carbs.
Happy Tuesday! This week is really dragging. That is bound to happen after a nice week vacation.
In looking at my food diary and also what I stocked up on at the grocery store, you can see that I eliminated carbs from the list. I won't be staying away from these babies for long because I would miss them way too much! I had done some reflecting on what I had been eating for meals over the past few months and it was filled with bread, pasta, potatoes and all the other good stuff. If you have a bagel for breakfast, granola bar for a snack, a sandwich with chips for lunch and pasta for dinner, that is carb overload in my opinion. A good solution to these heavy carb items would be eating the Earthgrain bagel thins or bread that is half the calories and size than a normal piece. Wraps are also a good alternative. I have decided to cut back on these for a week or two and slowly add them back into my diet. See you soon carbs!!!
This morning I had a hard boiled egg and a soy sausage patty. This breakfast really fills me up. I sometimes wish I could eat another patty b/c they are so good! One negative about Morningstar is that they are pretty expensive. One box of the sausage patties are about $5. That's expensive when you are buying the sausages, garden burgers, buffalo chicken nuggets, soy nuggets, etc. I like to ration these :). Also, Monster was introduced to these and sometime he snags 2 for his breakfast wraps he makes at my place. I love him enough to allow him to eat 2.
For my snack at around 10:30am I had around 20 cherries. 1 cup of these cherries are about 90 calories. I hate when cherries go out of season or if they aren't on-sale. They can cost up to 5.99 p/lb at a few stores here in Chicago. Lindsay(introduced me to cherries) sometimes would spend $12+ on cherries. It was so funny...she may be addicted. Fun fact: Bing cherries have high levels of anti-oxidants.
I walked around over lunch just to get outside and enjoy the weather. It's always extremely cold in my office, so the heat felt great. It's nice exercise for your body and brain to get out and walk for 15 - 20 mins over lunch. A nice refresher.
For lunch I brought a spinach salad with dried cranberries, 1/2 cup of walnuts, 1 scoop of blue cheese crumbles and a tbsp of blue cheese dressing. I also brought 4 Morningstar buffalo chicken nuggets that I added to the salad. For my snack, I will be having a small Breakstone's snack size of cottage cheese. This small snack size has 11g of protein!
Tonight I will be hitting the gym and making a nice dinner. I feel great so far! Sometimes when you start a diet your body can go into shock. Luckily I feel 100%. Maybe a bit tired, but that is because the weekend was nuts. Updates to come soon.
PK
Good evening. Tonight I made 2 dinners. One for myself and one for M. I made gnocchi with parmesan cheese and butter with garlic bread for him and broccoli with turkey meatballs for me. It was a quick and easy dinner. I stayed away from the gnocchi and bread even though it looked mighty tasty. I purchased the gnocchi at World Market and the turkey meatballs at Trader Joes. The meatballs can be found in the freezer section and are easy to cook. I wrap them in a paper towel and cook for only 2 minutes. Trader Joes is another one of my favorite grocery stores. It has plenty of healthy and organic options. Also, it's cheap! I have my staples that I always make a trip to T Joes for. The bill is never more than $20. Trader Joes is also known for $2 buck chuck. Easy cheap wine to make anyone smile.
For a late night snack I had watermelon. It was $1.25 for a small carton at the market down the street so I decided to splurge. I really was craving ice cream, but decided on the fruit.
I have a feeling I will be sore tomorrow. I spent 45 minutes focusing on my arms, legs and abs. Hoping I don't have a get out of bed ouchie moment. I think I will try yoga for my work out tomorrow.
Have a good night!
PK
In looking at my food diary and also what I stocked up on at the grocery store, you can see that I eliminated carbs from the list. I won't be staying away from these babies for long because I would miss them way too much! I had done some reflecting on what I had been eating for meals over the past few months and it was filled with bread, pasta, potatoes and all the other good stuff. If you have a bagel for breakfast, granola bar for a snack, a sandwich with chips for lunch and pasta for dinner, that is carb overload in my opinion. A good solution to these heavy carb items would be eating the Earthgrain bagel thins or bread that is half the calories and size than a normal piece. Wraps are also a good alternative. I have decided to cut back on these for a week or two and slowly add them back into my diet. See you soon carbs!!!
This morning I had a hard boiled egg and a soy sausage patty. This breakfast really fills me up. I sometimes wish I could eat another patty b/c they are so good! One negative about Morningstar is that they are pretty expensive. One box of the sausage patties are about $5. That's expensive when you are buying the sausages, garden burgers, buffalo chicken nuggets, soy nuggets, etc. I like to ration these :). Also, Monster was introduced to these and sometime he snags 2 for his breakfast wraps he makes at my place. I love him enough to allow him to eat 2.
For my snack at around 10:30am I had around 20 cherries. 1 cup of these cherries are about 90 calories. I hate when cherries go out of season or if they aren't on-sale. They can cost up to 5.99 p/lb at a few stores here in Chicago. Lindsay(introduced me to cherries) sometimes would spend $12+ on cherries. It was so funny...she may be addicted. Fun fact: Bing cherries have high levels of anti-oxidants.
I walked around over lunch just to get outside and enjoy the weather. It's always extremely cold in my office, so the heat felt great. It's nice exercise for your body and brain to get out and walk for 15 - 20 mins over lunch. A nice refresher.
For lunch I brought a spinach salad with dried cranberries, 1/2 cup of walnuts, 1 scoop of blue cheese crumbles and a tbsp of blue cheese dressing. I also brought 4 Morningstar buffalo chicken nuggets that I added to the salad. For my snack, I will be having a small Breakstone's snack size of cottage cheese. This small snack size has 11g of protein!
Tonight I will be hitting the gym and making a nice dinner. I feel great so far! Sometimes when you start a diet your body can go into shock. Luckily I feel 100%. Maybe a bit tired, but that is because the weekend was nuts. Updates to come soon.
PK
Good evening. Tonight I made 2 dinners. One for myself and one for M. I made gnocchi with parmesan cheese and butter with garlic bread for him and broccoli with turkey meatballs for me. It was a quick and easy dinner. I stayed away from the gnocchi and bread even though it looked mighty tasty. I purchased the gnocchi at World Market and the turkey meatballs at Trader Joes. The meatballs can be found in the freezer section and are easy to cook. I wrap them in a paper towel and cook for only 2 minutes. Trader Joes is another one of my favorite grocery stores. It has plenty of healthy and organic options. Also, it's cheap! I have my staples that I always make a trip to T Joes for. The bill is never more than $20. Trader Joes is also known for $2 buck chuck. Easy cheap wine to make anyone smile.
For a late night snack I had watermelon. It was $1.25 for a small carton at the market down the street so I decided to splurge. I really was craving ice cream, but decided on the fruit.
I have a feeling I will be sore tomorrow. I spent 45 minutes focusing on my arms, legs and abs. Hoping I don't have a get out of bed ouchie moment. I think I will try yoga for my work out tomorrow.
Have a good night!
PK
Monday, July 12, 2010
Day 1 was not that bad.
I woke up this morning feeling refreshed and excited about this challenge. After a solid 9 hours of sleep (sleep is extremely important for your health) I got ready for work and planned out my meals for the day. I learned this tip in one of the diets that I tried years ago and they recommended planning out your day and what you want to eat and stick to it. If there are treats at work or a food sample at the store, just walk on by unless you are dying to try what they have to offer. I work at a marketing agency downtown Chicago and we have meetings daily where we order from tasty places like Corner Bakery, Panera, Portillos(god I love portillos), etc. Left overs are always left in the kitchen. Today I decided to fill up my water vs grabbing a cookie. I wasn't really that hungry for a treat anyways. Water is also a very important part of your diet. I am the last person to push this on to people considering I struggle with kidney stones atleast once a year from dehydration, but today is a new day. The goal is 64 oz of water a day. If it is extremely hot out or you are working out, it is best to drink more than that. I am sticking with 64 oz for now. Baby steps...
The plan: I decided that each morning this week I would have a hard boiled egg to start my day. These are so easy to make. I boil the eggs for about 15 mins and just set my timer to remind me of this. I put the eggs in a bowl and splash some cold water on them. Stick them in the fridge and they are ready to eat! I also will pair a morningstar soy sausage pattie with the egg. I am obsessed with morningstar and even more obsessed with these soy sausages. At my old apartment, 2 out of my 3 roommates also were obsessed with these wonderful finds. If you haven't tried them yet, do it! They are great. I actually like them better than regular sausage patties.
Last night I looked through my fridge and cabinets and realized that I don't have a lot of food. Luckily I had a few cartons of cottage cheese so I settled on this for a mid-morning snack on day 1. I never liked cottage cheese growing up. A lot of people I know mix cottage cheese with salsa or fruit. I just add a tad of salt and enjoy it. It's a good snack that fills me up.
Since the kitchen was bare, I needed an option for lunch, I decided to go with a salad from Whole Foods and a side of watermelon. Now Whole Foods(aka Whole Paycheck) is awesome. They have fresh food and their deli/salad bar is TDF! Unfortunately it's extremely expensive so I usually only go if I am craving a good fresh salad or don't care about spending bajillion dollars on food. I had the craving for a fresh salad so I made a great spinach salad with peas, chickpeas, mushrooms, tomatoes and a 1/2 cup of feta cheese. I topped this with basalmic dressing and went on my way.
Tonight, I plan on hitting the grocery store with my gal Kate. My grocery list includes: chicken breasts, turkey meat, light string cheese, spinach for salad, tomatoes, mushrooms, salad dressing and a few morningstar items. My mom loves the Tomato and Basil patties. Maybe I will try those and switch out my soy sausage patty for this one day. Also, if you haven't tried the morningstar buffalo chicken nuggets you are missing out.
I am off to the gym. The plan tonight is 40 mins of cardio and some abs. Hopefully work out for an hour so.
PK
Tonight I experienced my first struggle of what to do. Do I go to the gym, hit the grocery store and then cook a healthy dinner at home? Or do I go to the gym, rush home and get ready to meet Monster(my special man) for a work function. I know what I wanted to do, but the right thing was for me to hit the store and head home. When you get involved in work functions, social events, etc. they usually do not have healthy options for appetizers or dinner. Since I just started 30 x 30, I felt like I should have a relaxed night and focus on other things. This is not to say that I won't be going to social events, because believe me I am the Queen of social events. I love going to these things. Dressing up and trying new restaurants or venues is my cup of tea.
So after my 45 minutes on the elliptical and quick abs session, I walked to Aldi to pick up some groceries. Aldi is my fave! It opened up a few months ago near my old apartment and I think it is absolutely wonderful. Of course it has it's stereotypes, but this place is clean and cheap and I am a happy Aldi shopper.
I picked up some additional veggies for my salad and items for stir fry to prepare this week. I also picked up some bing cherries. One of my best gals loves cherries and I got hooked when we lived together.
When I got home I made a nice salad with soy nuggets, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and a small scoop of blue cheese. Kind of random, but I loved all items in the salad. I also had a few mushrooms with hummus. It was a great dinner.
I am going to relax tonight. Until tomorrow :).
PK
The plan: I decided that each morning this week I would have a hard boiled egg to start my day. These are so easy to make. I boil the eggs for about 15 mins and just set my timer to remind me of this. I put the eggs in a bowl and splash some cold water on them. Stick them in the fridge and they are ready to eat! I also will pair a morningstar soy sausage pattie with the egg. I am obsessed with morningstar and even more obsessed with these soy sausages. At my old apartment, 2 out of my 3 roommates also were obsessed with these wonderful finds. If you haven't tried them yet, do it! They are great. I actually like them better than regular sausage patties.
Last night I looked through my fridge and cabinets and realized that I don't have a lot of food. Luckily I had a few cartons of cottage cheese so I settled on this for a mid-morning snack on day 1. I never liked cottage cheese growing up. A lot of people I know mix cottage cheese with salsa or fruit. I just add a tad of salt and enjoy it. It's a good snack that fills me up.
Since the kitchen was bare, I needed an option for lunch, I decided to go with a salad from Whole Foods and a side of watermelon. Now Whole Foods(aka Whole Paycheck) is awesome. They have fresh food and their deli/salad bar is TDF! Unfortunately it's extremely expensive so I usually only go if I am craving a good fresh salad or don't care about spending bajillion dollars on food. I had the craving for a fresh salad so I made a great spinach salad with peas, chickpeas, mushrooms, tomatoes and a 1/2 cup of feta cheese. I topped this with basalmic dressing and went on my way.
Tonight, I plan on hitting the grocery store with my gal Kate. My grocery list includes: chicken breasts, turkey meat, light string cheese, spinach for salad, tomatoes, mushrooms, salad dressing and a few morningstar items. My mom loves the Tomato and Basil patties. Maybe I will try those and switch out my soy sausage patty for this one day. Also, if you haven't tried the morningstar buffalo chicken nuggets you are missing out.
I am off to the gym. The plan tonight is 40 mins of cardio and some abs. Hopefully work out for an hour so.
PK
Tonight I experienced my first struggle of what to do. Do I go to the gym, hit the grocery store and then cook a healthy dinner at home? Or do I go to the gym, rush home and get ready to meet Monster(my special man) for a work function. I know what I wanted to do, but the right thing was for me to hit the store and head home. When you get involved in work functions, social events, etc. they usually do not have healthy options for appetizers or dinner. Since I just started 30 x 30, I felt like I should have a relaxed night and focus on other things. This is not to say that I won't be going to social events, because believe me I am the Queen of social events. I love going to these things. Dressing up and trying new restaurants or venues is my cup of tea.
So after my 45 minutes on the elliptical and quick abs session, I walked to Aldi to pick up some groceries. Aldi is my fave! It opened up a few months ago near my old apartment and I think it is absolutely wonderful. Of course it has it's stereotypes, but this place is clean and cheap and I am a happy Aldi shopper.
I picked up some additional veggies for my salad and items for stir fry to prepare this week. I also picked up some bing cherries. One of my best gals loves cherries and I got hooked when we lived together.
When I got home I made a nice salad with soy nuggets, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and a small scoop of blue cheese. Kind of random, but I loved all items in the salad. I also had a few mushrooms with hummus. It was a great dinner.
I am going to relax tonight. Until tomorrow :).
PK
Sunday, July 11, 2010
A new adventure...
Today is July 11, 2010 and and tomorrow I am going to be starting a new adventure. After a wonderful weekend celebrating a good friend's wedding I have decided that tomorrow is a perfect day to start a challenge that I have been considering for awhile.
I am 28 years old and will be 29 in September. I have always been a tad overweight but I feel extremely healthy. I work out 3 - 5 times a week and eat the correct amount of fruits, vegetables, fiber, etc basically every day. I have been on almost every diet possible: Weight Watchers (at least 10 times,) Jenny Craig, Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet, Xenadrine(tried it for a week in college...big mistake!!!) and more. I know that the best way to lose weight is to eat healthy, watch your portions and work out. I am ready to follow this plan and accomplish this goal.
I will be 30 on September 12, 2011. I am not scared to turn 30. If anything, it will be a fun new decade and hopefully I will cross off some exciting milestones. More importantly, I want to challenge myself to lose 30 lbs by my 30th birthday. I know this sounds terrible and possibly ridiculous. A good friend of mine told me tonight I was nuts to do this, but she will be joining me in making small goals to accomplish this big goal.
This blog will allow me to post what I am eating, my work out and how I live my extremely social life making healthy decisions and learning how to have serious will power to accomplish 30 by 30.
Wish me luck! I am really excited :).
PK
I am 28 years old and will be 29 in September. I have always been a tad overweight but I feel extremely healthy. I work out 3 - 5 times a week and eat the correct amount of fruits, vegetables, fiber, etc basically every day. I have been on almost every diet possible: Weight Watchers (at least 10 times,) Jenny Craig, Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet, Xenadrine(tried it for a week in college...big mistake!!!) and more. I know that the best way to lose weight is to eat healthy, watch your portions and work out. I am ready to follow this plan and accomplish this goal.
I will be 30 on September 12, 2011. I am not scared to turn 30. If anything, it will be a fun new decade and hopefully I will cross off some exciting milestones. More importantly, I want to challenge myself to lose 30 lbs by my 30th birthday. I know this sounds terrible and possibly ridiculous. A good friend of mine told me tonight I was nuts to do this, but she will be joining me in making small goals to accomplish this big goal.
This blog will allow me to post what I am eating, my work out and how I live my extremely social life making healthy decisions and learning how to have serious will power to accomplish 30 by 30.
Wish me luck! I am really excited :).
PK
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