Salad fail

Its official...i am a salad snob. todays  deli salad was filled with The bitter White innards of iceberg.....yuck.On The other hand i dont love a salad that is too wild with curly field greens...i guess i am picky. i love a 50/50 mix.

What are you picky about?

week 67- TMI

weight 138


perplexed by the scale... but whatevs....not letting that bother me because I know I have done the work and made healthy choices. Been super healthy this week. I am going to my endocrinologist in Oct and having labs done and asking for an increase in my thyroid meds..over the years my dosage goes up & down and this is when of those times I need it to go up.. I can just feel it.



Todays run was the complete opposite of Mondays run.. I was not feeling the running outside today.. my thighs were screaming at me... still sore from Mondays run. Dealing with a girly issue that made running uncomfortable. I resorted to walking for 15 min and then I came inside and managed to run on the treadmill for 15 minutes and then hit the weights for upper body and did some prone jackknifes. Better than nothing for sure.

I have been cranky as heck... trying unsuccessfully to battle a yeast infection for a good month with probiotics.
I was on z-pac last month and that got my system out of wack. sorry TMI I know... it was like it was manageable and than suddenly I felt that If I did not get some relief I would go postal. I finally called and asked for a script for diflucan. Can't wait to feel better.


to top off my week I discovered Liv had lice... ugghh..I think she picked it up the daycare she was at briefly before school started. There was a two week gap between summer camp ending and school starting. She was scratching her head on Saturday and I checked her but found nothing. I chalked it up to chlorine or not rinsing well enough... after continued itching and after a closer look.. I found them.... 15 years as a daycare/headstart teacher has honed my lice detection skills. So Tuesday I did not workout... I spent the evening stripping the beds, bagging up stuffed toys, washing bedding and treating Liv and myself for good measure. I don't have it, however Liv has been sleeping in my bed lately so I just wanted to cover all bases. What an ordeal... it took up the whole night. That was two days ago.. I have been checking her twice daily.... combing her out.. as of now she is nit free thank goodness.. I will keep checking though.. she has a lot of hair and those nits are tiny.


I used a natural non chemical shampoo called Lice guard, tea tree conditioner and a special metal tooth comb... the secret is just comb, comb, comb.. grab a flash light or sunlight is best and divide the head in sections and carefully look for eggs. It takes me an hour to get through Liv's head. This is the second time she has brought it home.. the last was 2 years ago... I am hoping this is the last time.. because it sucks.


Is it Friday yet?

A big Plate of healthy stuff

Yummy

Improving

My outdoor pace is improving. I find it helpful to warm up on the treadmill and then just hit the pavement running right out the door. That way I stay moving. I stay on my street and near my house to stop back for water often. MY street is a mile long stretch. I don't know how people run w/o water breaks. Not sure how long I am actually running w/o stopping... I just know its longer than last week and that is fantastic. It is my goal to be able to do a mile without stopping. If I had to guess I would say I am doing 1/2 a mile now w/o stopping. I do have a nike app on the phone, but my phone is bulky and awkward to carry. I tell myself I will run to a specific house and then try to go a few houses past. The biggest struggle is just quieting that voice in my head telling me to stop and walk. Today I amazed myself at how much further I could go when I pushed myself past those moments of wanting to walk. I can't say I love running... I don't love it, but I do love the way I feel afterwards. I just feel alive.



I have been doing good at my new job. I have been there nearly 2 months. However One of my programs is out of money.. so twice a week I just answer phones and am a " body" in the office for eight hours... I have offered to cut my hours during the dry spell, but they insist on having me in the office... not going to lie.. that sucks. I like being busy and just farting away the day drives me bonkers. I look for things to do, but when there is no work... its really hard. Hopefully that is short lived. I should not complain.. I have a job... Wednesday's and Fridays are just really hard.... I hate feeling unproductive. I hope new money comes soon. Tuesdays & Thursdays are spent working my other program which is doing great... so I get a reprieve from my boredom.


It was a hot day today to run... I made a tasty pumpkin smoothie for lunch... yummo.


role call.... so who is still reading this blog?

Pumpkin pie smoothie

My fav smoothie so far... a little backstory.. I love, love, love.. anything pumpkin... Pumpkin pie with plenty of whipped cream or ice cream is my very fav dessert. In fact I usually make a pie in the fall and have it for breakfast daily. This smoothie did not disappoint. It was so tasty and just what I needed today for lunch.


I had some eggs on sat morning.. Liv and I split a greasy spoon breakfast of eggs, hashbrowns and bacon and then my gall bladder stated acting up. Looks like I really need to avoid eggs... they seem to bring on gall bladder issues as does red meat.



283 calories, 7 gram fat, 14 gram protein, 8 gram fiber, 29 sugar



6 oz unsweetened almond milk

1/4 cup frozen pumpkin ( I just scoop out portions into freezer bags)

1 scoop vanilla whey powder

1/2 teaspoon flax ( working my way up to adding more flax)

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 tablespoon vanilla pudding dry mix ( really thickens up the smoothie, worth the extra cals)

4 ice cubes

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice



I think I will try to forgo the maple syrup next time... or add less.

week 66

weight 136

sore this week.... over did my upper body work... plan on resting poolside today

I love a deal

I have been having protein shakes every morning for the past few weeks.... they are replacing my typical belvita bars and coffee at 6.30 am. I have basically cut out caffeine from my diet... not intentionally. I had some wicked headaches for the first week sans coffee. My whey powder of choice is $18 at Walgreens and one can makes 15 smoothies. ( 1st step pro wellness is the brand I prefer). I found it in the clearance section today for $8.99.. woot! I remembered I had a $2 off coupon at home and another $2 off coupon from the store... so I am hoping nobody snags the last can left so I can stock up tomorrow after work.

I find the vanilla flavor more versatile as I can easily make it chocolate flavored by adding baking cocoa.I just need to find a way to cut down the sugar in my shake.... I think getting unsweetened almond milk will help a lot. The protein powder has very little sugar 2 grams, while the milk has 10 grams. I am guessing it is just the natural sugars in fruit that make up the rest. I suppose I could add water.... but I like the calcium of almond milk. I am going to have to play around with different types of liquids. Liv really likes the Vanilla sweetened almond milk and prefers it to regular milk which she basically refuses to drink plain.

I want to start adding some ground flax to my smoothies... because it is supposed to be good for you. My reason for drinking protein shakes is all the positive research I am reading in favor of it. I also use my blender instead of just a blender bottle. The blender really gives it a great texture.


while I am not seeing any wow scale changes yet.. I do feel stronger & better.  also My skin, nails and hair look better and I am really enjoying playing around with different combos and recipes.

Here is what my typical day looks like

6.30 am Protien shake-  8 oz almond milk, 1 scoop whey powder,  assorted frozen fruit, ice ( extras- PB2 powder, teaspoon dry pudding mix, etc. = 280/300 calories, 5 gram fat, 8 gram fiber, 28 grams protein, 25 + gram sugar depending what fruit I add.


10 am- light snack- Fat free greek yogurt or triscut crackers & cottage cheese or granola bar


12- lunch ( salad, leftovers or a lean cuisine)

3- light snack- fruit or fiber one bar

5- dinner

7- snack if I have calories leftover and if I am hungry.  If It is a rest day than I typically don't have the calories left for a snack.


have you tried protein shakes?

Dinner

Content

My Office fruit bowl

To keep myself on track

A typical day

Do you track your calories?

Reward

A new netbook- Asus 1215 B netbook.....

My dell laptop broke after having it just over a year.. the motherboard is bad. I have been sharing Liv's computer, but am happy to now have this netbook to blog on.

Goals

weight 137

I am a little frustrated with the scale... but I should know better right? to let the scale have so much power. Chris Powell on extreme makeover is all about the scale.  Is anybody else watching extreme weightloss? a new episode is on tonight. It is so inspiring. Anywho my scale is seemingly stuck... even though I have been under my calorie goals and working out hard.... Hrrumph. I want to lose 5 lbs.


I have been doing pretty darn good at eating fresh fruits and veggies. I went to the farmers market today after work I was so tempted to buy a ton... It seems they go bad so fast .... but I am sick & tired of throwing away fruit. I always ask John to put fresh fruit in liv's lunch ( we take turns packing) but he won't and she won't make those healthy choices. If I pack it.. she typically eats it.

I started making my protein shakes with almond milk... should have got the unsweetened because the sugar count in my fav shake is pretty high. I keep going over my sugar limit... going to really try to rein this in. I do not drink any pop or anything...just water all day, nor am I adding sugar to anything... It's just in fat free low fat stuff in copious amounts. Today I ate pretty darn healthy and still my sugar is over. I am making a goal to be more aware of hidden sugars and limit them.

I get frustrated that after a year of running, that my outdoor running stamina has not improved much... It is a slow process. I have been making a serious effort this summer to improve and yet I struggle with running 1/2 mile before getting very winded.  I think its pacing and todays heat did not help. So I typically just do the c25k regimen... walk to warm up...run until I can't run anymore and my lungs are burning... then walk until I catch my breathe... wash, rinse, repeat.

My goal is to be able to run a mile outside without stopping.. mind you I can do three miles without stopping already on the treadmill.

I want to achieve these goals by October 20th 2013.

Farmers market haul

Lunch

week 65-a good week

I have had protien shakes every morning for the last week..... kinda addicted to them since I discovered so many yummy reciepes. I ran outdoors last week and man does that feel different to my body. It is so much harder.. my butt, inner thighs and shins were so sore...i am still working out monday, tuesdays and thursdays and focusing on being active with Liv on weekends and squeezing in workouts when I can... balance.



Today I took Liv to taste of willoughby and they had so many yummy food choices, proud that I picked the healthiest option.. a chicken rice thai bowl.... let me tell you the pizza and italian food looked so tempting... but I am really trying to drop some lb's.


still doing my thing over here... how are you coming along with your fitness goals?

Healthy

Yummo

2 tablespoons cool whip
1 tablespoon PB2 powder
( mixed together)
1 graham cracker

would be great with a banana slice added too...

117 cal and 3.5 gram of fat

Yeah it is here

I could not find this anywhere locally... ordered it from GNC... it was a little more expensive but they had $1 shipping special which made it cheaper in the long run compared to other vendors. I have been hearing about this for awhile... excited to try some of the recipes. Tonight I made a snack and tomorrow I will have a chocolate, banana, PB2 protein shake for brekkie.

Have you tried PB2?

protien shakes

I am loving my protein shakes.... I have had one every morning for the past few days... I drink it at 6.30 am and today I stayed full until lunch. How did I not know that you can freeze bananas? How amazing is that?




a few favs- The calories are roughly 250, 20 protein, 5 grams fat, 6 grams fiber and 36 carbs.

1 scoop vanilla protein powder- I like 1step wellness sold at Walgreen $18.00 ( used to cost $15.00..wtf?)
8 ounces 1 % milk
1/4 to 1/2 frozen banana
1 tablespoon cocoa powder ( the unsweetened baking kind)
1/2-1  tablespoon chocolate pudding mix- dry ( add's minimal calories, but great taste and texture)



1 scoop vanilla protein powder- I like 1step wellness sold at Walgreen $18.00 ( used to cost $15.00..wtf?)
8 ounces 1 % milk
1/2 frozen banana
1 tablespoon cocoa powder ( the unsweetened baking kind)
1/2-1  tablespoon chocolate pudding mix- dry ( add's minimal calories, but great taste and texture)
1  heaping spoonful of peanut butter or PB2 powder




1 scoop vanilla protein powder- I like 1step wellness sold at Walgreen $18.00 ( used to cost $15.00..wtf?)
8 ounces 1 % milk
1/2 frozen banana
frozen berries- strawberries
tablespoon of vanilla or banana dry pudding mix



I have a few others I want to try.. pumpkin spice, pina colada, orange creme.

Yummy snack

Lemon blueberry cake

120 calories and 4.5 fat ...10 gram sugar..20 grams carbs


I do a similar one with a fiber one brownie, fresh strawberries and vanilla fro-yo

Its very small... but a tasty little dessert that feels indulgent... this and skinny cow ice cream sammies are my go to treat snacks.

inspiring

Love this new blog I discovered..... her protein smoothie recipes are amazing and I love reading about her journey.

Week 64

Weight 136

All is well

Back to basics

Starting on my breakfast shakes again

Protien powder
1%milk
1/3 frozen banana
A tablespoon of pudding mix
A ice cube
= yummy

Waiting on my shipment of  pb2 powder to add lowfat high protien peanut butter to my shakes.

Into dresses this summer

And the color orange and stripes

you say plateau, I say platoe

Since starting my new job and switching to 3 days a week workouts my scale weight has just been creeping up a lb or two. Nothing major... I fluctuate between 136- 138 ( home scale.. My work scale is evil)... I am much more content at 135. I am not stressing to much... but the scale is the tool I use to keep myself in check.


I have been doing pretty awesome with my workouts... getting extra activity in on the weekends when I am focusing on Livi. Doing lots of stairs. Trying to enjoy as much outside time as I can before summer is gone. If anything I am eating less salads and more convenience lean cuisine type lunches.....stress snacking more at night and indulging in a few to many ice-creams. I really think being lax in my healthy eating is the culprit.I am still drinking my water and making good choices... but just falling off the wagon a smidge. I rather catch it early.

This weeks activity & accountability log

fri- rest day, splurge meal at a mexican place

sat- beach day with Liv... walking up lots of steps at the beach and 1 mile walk/run outdoors combo in the AM - lots of ice-cream too

sun- active day at the farm, over 12,000 steps and 5 miles walked, 600 cals burned ( had a few fries from Liv's kids meal)

mon- walk/run 3 miles on treadmill ( nursing shin splints from Saturdays run, or else I would have ran 3 miles w/o walking)bicep curls, pushups, dips, upper body kettle ball weights, good stretch

tues ( today) 20 min of good intense cardio on my nordic track and then prone jackknife for abs, planks, pushups and delt rows, dips.

wens- rest day

Thurs- TBD- prolly elliptical

fri- rest day


I just did a quick check on MFP for the last 30 days and I have been over on fat & sugar :( ...... funny I tend to just focus on my daily calories and not much else.


It's good to check in and be accountable.... packed a big healthy salad for lunch today.... my back to basics diet that keeps me on a healthy path. I just have to remember to rein in my emotional snacking.

Back to basics

week 63

Weight 136

Very active day with my liv
11,600 steps, 600 cals burned, 5 miles walked....all while spending time with liv at the farm park

Staying true to my word about enjoying more natural snacks.