Playing catch up…..

………in all areas of my life!!! 

It is great to take some time off, however you ALWAYS have to play catch up upon your return……=( 

Since I posted my “Weekend Update” yesterday I will post both Monday & Tuesday today so I can catch up in my blog world! 

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MONDAY, 4/5/10 

My morning started a little early as I knew after having time off of work and my daughter being on Spring Break all last week that I would need a little extra time so that we wouldn’t be late. 

So in light of that I managed to eat breakfast before leaving the house.  I had a bowl of Multi-Grain Cheerios with sliced banana and 2% milk. 

Breakfast

The earlyness this morning paid off as I got my daughter to the early bus stop (if we are running late and miss the 1st stop I take her to the 2nd one) and I got to work right on time……at 8:30a.m.! 

Of course there was a TON of work for me to catch up on so I got cracking on that and just after noon time I hit the kitchen and made my self what I call the “Orange Plate” for lunch……which was roasted red pepper humus, whole-grain pita chips, baby carrots and an orange. 

Lunch

The rest of my day just flew by and before I knew it the clock hit 5pm and it was time to head home.  Luckily, it was an OFF DAY for me so I didn’t have to hit the gym or run after work as I was a bit tired.  Once at home I got cracking on dinner, which was Taco’s.  I had a huge taco salad, ate all of it but about 4-5 bites I left at the bottom of the bowl. 

Dinner

And, in trying to keep with Monday’s declaration to start eating to lose weight I had some fresh-cut up pineapple for desert!  It wasn’t super sweet but hit the spot. 

Dessert

I watched one of my favorites before bed time…….Ultimate Recipe Showdown, which happened be a “Burger Showdown” and I loved that of course because burgers are another one of my favorites!!!  =)

 

The $25K Winning Recipe (Burger) was the Northern Italian Trattoria Burger, check out the recipe below:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/northern-italian-trattoria-burger-recipe/index.html 

However, I really want to try the Great American Southwest Sliders that came in 2nd place, don’t they looks YUMMY!  The recipe has a lot of ingredients, but he cooked it in under 60 minutes, check it out below: 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/great-american-southwest-sliders-with-prickly-pear-and-grilled-avocado-salsa-recipe/index.html 

 

 

After watching the above I started my previously recorded from Sunday night Food Network Challenge – Spongebob Birthday Cakes, however I feel asleep 1/2 way through it so I headed up to bed once I woke up and noticed. 

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 TUESDAY, 4/6/10 

Once again I arouse a bit early this morning so I could get a good jumpstart on my day and even though I had to stop and get gas on the way to work I arrived on time. 

After settling in I whipped up an empty PB jar of oats for myself for breakfast that included old fashion instant oatmeal (about 1/2 a cup or so), brown sugar (1 teaspoon), 1/2 a diced apple and water (a little less than a cup)…..I than nukked it all together to get the below. 

Breakfast

It was really good and a nice change from my usual oatmeal!  I almost have another “empty” PB jar that I hope to use next week. 

More catching up was done today, but mainly in the blog world as I still had to post about my weekend and catch up on the blogs I like to visit as well!  Congrats to Catilin @ Healthy Tipping Point on her “trail race”, she did great despite an injury in mile 4…….she is amazing and such an inspiration! 

Around noon I hit the kitchen and made myself another “Orange Plate” for lunch, however this time I used a white plate for my orange food, as it takes a much better picture this way as you can see. 

Lunch

Around 4ish I snacked on a Yoplait YoPlus vanilla yogurt with Kashi granola on top……..always super good!  =) 

Snack

It was time to hit the GYM after work and a week-long hiatus!!!  

I did the following after arriving: 

• Sit Ups
  • Bicycles
    • 2 sets of 50 reps
  • flutter kicks
    • 2 sets of 25 reps
  • frog crunches
    • 2 sets of 25 reps
  • knees up crunches
    • 2 sets of 25 reps
  • oblique v-ups
    • 2 sets of 10 reps each side
• Shoulder, Chest & Triceps 
  • Bench Dips
    • Missed (Due to lack of time!)
  • Lateral Raise
    • 2 sets of 12 reps
  • Overhead Press
    • 2 sets of 20 reps
  • Overhead Cable Triceps Extension
    • Missed (Due to lack of time!)
  • Plank
    • 2, 1 minute poses
  • Stability Ball Leg Lift
    • Missed (Due to lack of time!)
  • Stability Ball Push Ups
    • 2 sets of 20 reps
• Treadmill 
  • 3 Mile Run
    • 31 minutes (Build Speed With Ease)
      • Mile 1
        • 5 minute “warm up” @ 5 to 5.5mph
        • 5 minute 30-second pickups & cool downs
          • 6mph to 7.5mph for 30 second “pickup”
          • 5.0mph 30 second “cool down”
      • Miles 2 & 3
        • 20 minute quarter-mile runs & cool downs
          • 5.0mph to 5.5mph f/2:30 minutes
          • 6.0mph f/2:30 minutes

Unfortunately, a few moves were missed due to lack of time as I got to the gym a bit late (5:45pm) and had to leave by 7pm……however I think I am planning to continue my “Iron Pumping Challenge” for a few more weeks to make up for recent missed days and such, plus I like it!

Dinner was quick & simple……..a spinach, strawberry and walnut salad topped with raspberry walnut vingerette dressing!

Dinner

While preparing the above I had a few chunks of leftover pineapple from last night and yes I will admit it……..2 small bites of a chocolate crispy bunny!

After dinner I was able to make it through the rest of the Food Network Challenge – Spongebob Birthday Cakes that I fell asleep during last night……….the “Mr. Crap Cake” won and it was REALLY good, in fact the judged said it was the best cake they have seen on the show to date!  Wish I could have found a picture of it for you to see but I searched and could not, sorry.  =(

Now, I should of went to bed around 11pm but silly me got caught up watching a show and didn’t hit the hay until just before 12am!

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TIPS OF THE DAY!!!

Eat Out for Less (Calories!)

Savvy dining strategies

By Leslie Barrie
From Health magazine

Take those new calorie counts provided by restaurants with a grain of salt. Turns out that some tallies underestimate how many calories you’re getting by an average of 18%, a recent study shows, mostly due to cooks who accidentally deviate from recipes. Here, six simple tricks to keep your personal intake in check.

1. Make a Split Decision
Sharing an entrée is smart because most portions are two to three times as big as they should be, says Susan Roberts, PhD, a nutrition scientist at Tufts University in Boston and the author of the restaurant study. Or try the “one fewer” trick, says Hope Warshaw, RD, author of Eat Out, Eat Right: for four people, order three dishes and a side salad—and split everything.

2. Downsize your plate

Order an appetizer, soup, and/or salad as your main dish. Taking just a few bites of several different flavors helps you feel satisfied, experts say.