ObsessivelyHealthy

Monday again!

2010-07-12T13:15:00.001-07:00

I could not sleep last night! I think it was a combination of all the food I ate mixed with a 9pm run. I tossed and turned until 2am. I was not a happy camper this morning. I actually plan on going to bed by 8 tonight. I like to wake up early in the morning to enjoy my breakfast and the quiet before getting my day started. The kids and I were headed to the YMCA today so I made a quick breakfast.
This mess is actually a Van's Waffle (70cal,1wwpt) with 1/2 a cup of Fage O% (60cal, 1pt) and 34g of SF strawberry jam (20cal, opt). This is a really great combo. I usually add some oatmeal on the side, but I was in a hurry this morning.

I got the kids off to science camp at the Y and took a spin class. I am really enjoying spin. I like how much I sweat in it. It is great cross training and I feel like my legs look different already.

After spin we went to Cool Cut's to get Ryan a haircut. I tried to grow it out, but was tired of trying to untangle the rats nest in the back every morning. Now she looks like she has a home.

She wanted me to show you all the back.

I am about to eat my lunch of broccoli, brussel sprouts, and an Earthgrain sandwich thin (100cal,1pt) with a Laughing Cow Light Garlic and Herb wedge (35cal,1pt) and 1/2 cup of egg whites (60cal,1pt).

I need to get off the computer because my kids are making a fort in their room and need my chair. Have a great afternoon!

Back to my old self

2010-07-11T22:15:00.001-07:00

I wanted to share another picture of Vegas. Someone just emailed it to me. Let me just say I had been drinking for quite a while at this point so I do understand that I look a little scary. At least I am smiling!

Thanks for being patient this last week or so. I can say that I am back to my old self again. I was really struggling this week with my OCD. An obsession comes back every now and then and the only way I can explain it is that it is like a cloud that suddenly comes over you. Sounds corny, I know, but that truly is what it feels like. It is almost like my head gets foggy and I have a hard time differentiating between what is "real" and what is my OCD. An obsession seems so real, that I can't tell if it is true, or my disease talking. My therapist used to teach me to say "it is not me, it's my OCD", but when you are in the middle of a really good obsession those words hold no meaning. Anyway, I prayed that God would just take this from me quickly, and I feel so much better. In some ways my OCD is a blessing. It teaches me to appreciate the times I feel good or normal. I can enjoy the little things so much more. I have also learned that I have to take very good care of myself or my OCD will flare up. First, I have to sleep enough. I also have to eat right. Hormones play a role too. Unfortunately I have been struggling with a balance lately. I have been working out constantly without rest, and I think I have messed up my system a little. I have not had my cycle in almost 6 months and as much as I would love to be menopausal at 30, my Dr. says it is too young. I am trying to add some more healthy fat into my diet and hopefully that will start some estrogen. I am starting to lose my hair, and I am always cold, both signs that my body fat is a little low. It is just hard to have lost weight, only to have to gain some back. I need to learn balance. That should also help my control my OCD.

I will start showing meals and exercise schedules tomorrow. I have actually had a pretty bad day of eats. It started well, but then after eating too much Greek food for lunch (can you say baklava) and then proceeding to eat my weight in pretzels, chips and salsa this afternoon, followed by a funfetti cupcake (or 3) and ice cream, my tummy is pretty upset with me. I was going to take today as a rest day from exercise but after coming home tonight from Jeff's parents I knew I needed to burn off some of the sugar I consumed. I went on a slow and uncomfortable 4 1/2 mile run. Did I say how slow and uncomfortable it was? First off, I don't usually run at 9:00pm so I spent my entire run trying not to trip and fall. Second, my tummy was so full that I almost stopped to get sick in the bushes. I barely kept under a 9min mile and that is slow for me. My long runs are usually an 8:30 or better so it was kind of sad. At least I maybe worked off 1/2 a cupcake. I haven't had a rest day in almost two weeks, but I have been spinning instead of running some days and I think I am hooked. I actually find I get just as good of a workout in a spin class with HIIT work as I do on a long run, plus my legs aren't as achy afterwards. I have also started body pump which at first I didn't like, but now I really enjoy it. I am off to read and then go to bed.

Bring on the new week!

Struggling

2010-07-08T13:22:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to apologize for not being around. Unfortunately, my OCD has returned. I felt it coming on and now I am in a full-blown obsession. I can't explain it other than saying it feels like I have no idea what is "real" or what is my obsession. I am praying this will pass soon. It is really, really scary. I will post with updates and hope to be back to my old self soon. Everything happens for a reason, so I am hoping this will be another experience to grow from.

Spinning into the weekend

2010-07-02T11:35:00.000-07:00

I hope you are all having a wonderful Friday so far. I just got back from a spin class at the Y. It is really nice to have a membership there as well as at 24hr fitness. I like the Y because childcare is free and it is a smaller, friendlier place. I ended up meeting a friend for class and I am glad she came. I was debating whether or not to go, but if you know you are meeting someone, then you can't flake.

Last night's dinner was tasty, but the pictures are ugly. I had a Whole Wheat La Tortilla Wrap with Trader Joe's Meatless Meatball and light provolone cheese. I added some romaine and tomatoes to bulk it up.
Along side I had a salad with mixed greens, carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes, snow peas and balsamic.

Yesterday's lunch was 2 pieces of Sarah Lee Light Bread (45cal a piece) with a Laughing Cow Light Swiss Wedge and SF Jam.

And the usual broccoli and brussel sprouts.

We ended up going to the Y yesterday afternoon so I had a Fiber One Yogurt and TJ's High Fiber Cereal as a snack. Since I ran in the morning I just warmed up for 10min on the bike and did arms, back and chest.

Today's breakfast before spin was my usual oats, Fage 0%, SF jam, cinnamon and almond milk.

Nothing too exciting, but it is pretty good.

I am off to pick up the kids at their last day of Vacation Bible School. It is Jeff's birthday today so we are going to think of something nice to do for daddy.

Have a great Friday afternoon!

Balance

2010-07-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/weightloss/diet-type-or-calories-lost-whats-best-weight-loss

I just read this article and thought it was interesting. I am a firm believer that if you want to lose weight, then you have to decrease your calories. 3,500 is a pound. I really don't think that you have to eat certain foods (or not eat them) to loose, just find a way to cut out some calories and/or up your activity. I am not saying to eat donuts (although the occasional won't hurt you), but the basic premise for losing is pretty simple.

I choose to eat certain foods because of the way I feel when I eat them and to keep my body as healthy as possible. I would much rather eat a giant salad for the same amount of calories as a small serving of french fries. I sometimes think that people get so hung up on "low carb, high protein" diets that they don't realize that too much of anything is not good. As a runner I could not imagine eating a low carb diet. I try to find a balance. I try to eat plenty of veggies to get my vitamins and whole grains for fiber. I don't like to eat white bread often, but I am going out to dinner to celebrate Jeff's birthday tonight and you better believe if they have thick, white rolls I will have one (or 3). It is about balance. If I am going to have a big meal out, then I will try to cut calories in other meals. I won't starve myself or restrict, but I just try to keep my daily total calorie intake at a certain point. I also am planning a long run tomorrow, so I know all the food I eat tonight will help fuel my run tomorrow. It is all about balance and not restriction. That is the only way any weight loss and healthy lifestyle will work for the long run.

I am off to eat breakfast and try my first body pump class at the Y. I don't like first classes because I never know how much weight to use. Wish me luck!

Not to Rest!

2010-07-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

I did it. I did not feel like working out at all today. I really just wanted to lay back down in bed and sleep the morning away. When I got home from dropping my kiddos off I decided to have a snack and see how I felt. I had a PB Cup VitaTop. This is not my favorite flavor. I prefer the Deep Chocolate Ones with a little pb spread on top, but this is what I had in the freezer. I already had my workout clothes on and was debating whether I should go to the gym, the YMCA or on a run. I figured the outdoors would do me the most good and since I didn't need daycare at the gym I should take advantage of running at the beach. I put the Garmin on and headed out. I was wondering whether I should even run with the Garmin on, but I forgot to press start again at a stoplight on my run on Monday and it drove me crazy having to estimate how far I went, so I decided to wear it. The first 1/4 mile was tough. My body felt heavy. I just prayed that God would bless my run and get my through it. I started to warm up after about a mile. It was not an easy run, some days are harder than others, but I am glad I went. Here are my stats:

Splits:

Mile 1 8:43

Mile 2 8:21

Mile 3 8:08

Mile 4 8:19

Mile 5 8:22

Mile 6 8:22
Mile 7 8:22

Mile 8 8:25

Mile 9 (.26) 8:13

All in all, not too shabby. I am going to clean up and head to get myself a Diet Coke at 7 eleven. Yes, it's bad for me, but I have three kids that I am planning on taking to the grocery store on the way home from VBS and I need all the caffeine I can get. Summer time requires a lot of caffeine for mommy. Have a great day!

To rest or not to rest?

2010-07-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

I am getting ready to take my little Vacation Bible schoolers to VBS this morning. The theme is Super Giga World and "Wii Serve".

I got up this morning pretty sore. I am not sure why my body is so tired, but it is dragging. I made my normal oats with Fage.

I am hoping the protein and carbs will kick in soon. If not I might need to take a rest day today. I am tired!

Last night's dinner was an oldie but goodie.

Sweet potato, light string cheese and a la tortilla.

With a giant, gorgeous salad. Mixed greens, grilled asparagus, tomatoes, mushrooms, carrots and snow peas. Drizzled with Balsamic dressing from Whole Foods.

Have a great Thursday!

Worn out Wednesday

2010-06-30T14:18:00.001-07:00

I am so tired today. I think I am still recovering from the weekend. I also wonder if my "two a day" workouts are wearing me out. The kids and I got up early this morning to get ready for another day of Vacation Bible School. Our church has over 2,000 kids attending, so you can imagine how crazy drop off is. I made my usual Rye, steel cut oats and Fage bowl this morning.

All mixed up. I was hoping that would fuel me through my S.E.T class at the gym today, but I was dragging. I made it through (barely) and headed back to pick up the kids.

When we got home I made them change out of their VBS shirts so I could wash them for tomorrow. I really wish they weren't white as that means they are already stained and I have to wash them every day.

I dug into my freezer for lunch and pulled out Meatless Meatballs from TJ's. I put them on a La Tortilla Low Carb Tortilla with provolone, tomatoes and romaine. Super tasty.

Alongside my wrap I had my usual broccoli and brussel sprouts.

Last night's dinner was a new one, but nothing fancy. I bought this bag of stir-fry veggies from TJ's.

I just microwaved two cups in a bowl with a little water on the bottom.

I put them on top of this rice and added a little pepper and soy sauce.

It was a pretty good dinner.

I am off to do dishes, laundry and to try to keep the children from destroying the house. Have a great afternoon!

Vegas Weekend

2010-06-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

What a fun, exhausting weekend. Jeff and I headed to Vegas Friday afternoon to attend his sister's wedding. I was overwhelmed because it was the last day of school for Jake and Ryan and I had to get them packed to spend the weekend at my mom's. I ended up waking up early that morning, going to a 6:00am spin class and then coming home and packing. It all worked out and we were on the road by noon.

We stayed at the Paris Hotel for the weekend.This is probably the closest I will ever get to the Eiffel Tower after paying three sets of college tuition, so I just pretended I was in France. C'est La Vie!

The hotel was nice, but I thought it was a little pricey for what you got. The rooms were nothing exceptional. The restaurants were very expensive and just breakfast alone was $10 for oatmeal.

When we got to the hotel room we had a couple of hours to kill before heading out to Toby Keith's Bar and Grill for dinner with the family and friends of the bride and groom. Jeff and I had a few beers and just enjoyed being with adults.

The bar was fun, but it was incredibly noisy and hard to talk to anyone at the table. That is the groom I am sitting next to and next to him is his Great Grandma who just turned 104! We stayed at the bar pretty late and got back to our room at about 2am. Jeff and I stopped for another drink and desserts at the cafe in the hotel before heading back to the room. I had big plans to work-out in the hotel gym the next morning, but they wanted $25 to use it. I decided to run the strip instead. Poor Jeff agreed to go with me, but he is not a runner, it was HOT, and I think the smoke from the casinos was stuck in our lungs. I can't believe I was running by 8am, but I ended up running about 45min. Jeff went back to the hotel after about 20min and I continued on. I was amazed by how many runners were out running the strip. I probably passed 10-15. One thing that was cool is there were lots of stairs so I would run ahead of Jeff, do stairs, then run and meet him again.

We just hung out on the rest of Saturday. We went to the pool for a little bit, but I didn't want to get burnt and it was pretty hot. The ceremony was that evening at the hotel. After the ceremony the bride and groom rented a big Limo bus for the "under 40" crowd. It was really fun. We drank and stopped at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign for pictures.

You can tell I had been drinking quite a bit at this point.

I had never seen the Vegas sign, so I was pretty excited to stop.

We all went to a German restaurant for dinner. I wish I had a picture of the giant homemade pretzel I ate. It came with a brie cheese spread, sweet mustard and spicy mustard. So, so good.

After dinner we went to the casinos to gamble. I only had $5 to gamble with ( big spender), but thanks to the Roulette table I walked away with $65.00. You would have thought I won thousands with how excited I was.

I went to bed about 3:30am and I slept the entire drive home. We had to pick the kids up at my mom's on the way home and then I had to get them unpacked and ready for Vacation Bible School this week.

I am trying to get back to normal now, but I still feel tired. I did do a 9mile run yesterday and felt all the alcohol sweating out. Jeff and I went back to the YMCA that night and I did arms, shoulders and back. After I dropped the kids off at VBS this morning I did an ab class and ran 5.5miles. We went to the Y again tonight and I rode the bike for an hour and did 19miles. I love the Y because there are TV's on each piece of equipment. I am still getting used to running with a TV in front of me, but I really like it for biking.

I am off to eat dinner and then go to bed. I am hoping one more night of good sleep and I will be all caught up.

I can't believe it is Wednesday tomorrow! This Summer is already flying by.

Congratulations Kristen and Mike and many happy years together!

Back from Vegas

2010-06-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

I am back from Vegas and still recovering. We had a great time. I will give a full recap this evening, but I have to go pick up the kids from VBS right now. Here are a few pictures until then.

One More Day

2010-06-24T09:07:00.001-07:00

Pack, pack, pack. Those are my plans for today. I have to get myself and three little ones packed and ready to go. Jeff and I are leaving tomorrow for Vegas at 11:15. I am actually looking forward to just sitting in the car and doing nothing for the drive. I am going to hit up at 6:00am spin class in the morning, so I want to get everything done early tonight so I can go to bed at a reasonable hour. It is Jake and Ryan's last day of school tomorrow too. Next week is VBS and they are very excited.
I woke up today and had a filling breakfast. Cream of rye, steel cut oats, almond milk, sf jam and Fage 0%.

I love this combo and by putting the cooked oatmeal in the fridge overnight, it really expands and makes for a huge bowl.

Conner and I are going to try and tackle our to-do list today. I make lists because it is the only way I can feel sane. It also feels great to check off things that get done. We are going to hit up a strength class at the gym at noon and then it is back to packing. I hope you all have a great Thursday.

PS. Last night's dinner was a sweet potato burrito and salad. You've seen the pics so I thought I would spare you some more.

Sing it Loud, Sing it Proud!

2010-06-23T18:38:00.000-07:00

The show today was absolutely adorable. I will be honest and say that generally I don't enjoy these things. Yes, it is my child and I feel blessed that I am able to attend these events, but sometimes I wish I was at home doing laundry instead. Today though, I laughed the entire time. So very cute!

I was rushed to get there, so unfortunately I was unable to sit in the front, but Ryan could still see me so she was happy. Before the show I went to the gym and did 60min on the Elliptical. My gym has a different kind of elliptical that simulates running. My leg was bothering me, so I decided to do that instead of the treadmill. I did 60min at level 16-20. It actually felt pretty easy, but I had a good sweat going, so it must have been doing something. I rushed home, washed my face, put on all my make-up (all being mascara) and cut up oranges for the party at the park afterwards. They did sack races, relays and played on the jungle gym. All and all, a great afternoon.

Jeff got home early from work so we decided to hit up the local YMCA. We really want to join, but I am not sure we can swing the monthly family membership. It is great because kids club is free and Summer is coming. They also have great programs for the kids. I ended up running 5.5 easy miles on the treadmill while we were there. I kept the incline at a 2% and ran at about and 8:37mile. They have televisions attached to each treadmill and I am not sure I like that. It kind of made me dizzy, but it did make time fly.

Here are some photos of my food over the last day and a half. Pretty typical.

Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower and carrots (this pic is before I learned how to work my camera).

Ezekiel Pita Pocket (100cal, 1pt) with Laughing Cow Light Swiss Wedge (35cal, 1pt)

A big juicy peach (~50cal, 1pt).

Fiber One Yogurt (50cal, 0pt) with 1/3 Cup TJ's High Fiber Cereal (40cal, 0pt) plus a little Reddi Whip (15cal, 0pt)

My favorite breakfast. 36g of Rye (110cal, 1pt), 20g Steel Cut oats (75cal, 1pt), 1/4 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk (10cal, 0pt) and cinnamon. I topped it with 34g SF Strawberry Jam (20cal, 0pt).

To get some protein in I added 1/2cup Fage 0% (60cal, 1pt).

This is just some of the food I have had over the last day and a half. Some have escaped my camera due to how hungry I might have been :).

Tomorrow is Thursday! Two more days until school is out and Jeff and I are off to Vegas.

Have a great night!

Over it

2010-06-23T07:21:00.000-07:00

First of all, let me say thank you so much to a reader who gave me a tip on my camera. It works and from here on out my pictures looks great! I will post yesterday's eat and this morning's later today, but right now I have to go to an Earth Day performance at Ryan's school. Well, actually I have to drop them off, go to the gym, buy oranges for party after said performance, and be at school by 10:30. I am ready for the end of the year festivities to be over. Jake had his graduation and play yesterday, Ryan has Earth Day concert and her party today and then I need to start packing the kids for Grammie's this weekend so Jeff and I can go to a wedding in Vegas on Friday. I need a drink already.

I know my neighbors will be glad to have Earth Day performance over too! Ryan spends hours swinging outside and practicing. One more rendition of "What a Wonderful World" sung by a tone deaf, hearing impaired (therefore incredibly loud) Ryan is starting to wear on all.
I am off to make breakfast (and take a good picture of it). Have a great morning!

Remember, as I am told by my kindergartner, Every day is Earth day!

Caution, crummy photos!

2010-06-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday Morning. I need to apologize for the pictures you are about to see. They are not well shot. I am still figuring out this new camera and cannot find the manual, so it is practice and learn.
After I picked up Ryan from school yesterday I had a Fiber One Strawberry Yogurt (50cal,opt) with 1/3 cup Trader Joe's High Fiber Cereal (40cal,0pt). I then made a veggie wrap for lunch. La Tortilla Whole Wheat Tortilla (100cal,1pt) with TJ's Light String Cheese (60cal,1pt), carrots, romaine and sprouts. I added a little Annie's Horseradish mustard (10cal).

I also had a bowl of broccoil and snow peas, but I was so hungry that by the time I sat down to take a picture, the snow peas had been consumed.

Dinner last night was simple. I had a La Tortilla Low Carb Tortilla (80cal,1pt) with Light Provolone (50cal,1pt) and a Tbsp SF strawberry jam (10cal).

I also had a big salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, mushrooms, asparagus, sprouts, 14g goat cheese (40cal, 1pt) and Whole Foods Balsamic (20cal,0pt).

Dessert looks really gross, but it is my new favorite. 36g Cream of Rye (110cal,1pt) with 16g Better N' PB from TJ's (50cal,1pt) and a Kozy Shack No Sugar Added Chocolate Pudding (60cal,1pt). I also added a little Reddi Whip (15cal,0pt). It tastes like a chocolate cream pie. The picture is horrible (sorry) and the bowl had much more in it, but dessert doesn't last long in front of me.

I am off to take the kids to school, and then Conner and I are heading to the gym for a Strength Class. After that Jake has a Charlotte's Web play at his school, followed by 3rd grade graduation.

I will see you all sometime this evening. Have a great Tuesday!

Manic Monday Morning

2010-06-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

It has been a crazy morning...It's already 1pm and I have not had lunch or a snack. I just wanted to share with you a few pictures from our Father's Day. Last night my Dad came over. He lives in San Diego and they stopped by on their way home from a party up north. Ryan and the kids adore their Grandpa Kim and Grandma Ruth.
We all went out to dinner to my favorite Mexican Restaurant, Caliente. I had chips, guacamole, a HUGE veggie burrito and sweet corn cake (the best). I polished it all off. We walked down to get ice cream cones afterwards. I ate mine and some of Conner's. At this point I am stuffed, but my dad brought carrot cake so I had a big piece of that too. Not the finest weekend for eating. Oh well, back to the grind today.

After dinner we came back and did Wii dance. I had to work off some of the food I just consumed. Ryan and I showed the boys how it is done. This has to be the worst picture of me ever, but it does clearly demonstrate how serious I am when I am competing with my 6yr old daughter. I show no mercy :)

I went to bed in a food coma last night. When I got up this morning I just wanted oats.

I had 36g of Rye (110cal, 1pt), 20g of Steel Cut Oats (75cal,1pt), 1/4 cup Almond Milk (10cal) and then I added 113g of Fage 0% for some protein (60cal, 1pt). I drizzled it all with some SF syrup (10cal) and cinnamon. It was quite good.

I went to the gym and did sprint repeats. I ended up doing 6.25miles on the treadmill and went to pilates.

I just got home, started a load of laundry and decided to write this quickly. I am starving, but it is just going to have to wait. I have to pick up Ryan in 10min at school. Last week of school!

I will be back with pictures of whatever I decide on for lunch. Have a good afternoon!

I'm back!

2010-06-20T14:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I ate a hamburger.

OK, not that kind, but the kind that tastes like a chocolate cake.

I am sorry this is the only picture I have of the "hamburger cake" Jake requested for his family party. I did not make this myself, but thank the lovely bakery section of Ralph's. This cake was so cute and it tasted great.

I also tried this new ice cream. Here are the stats.

Not too bad. If you are counting WW points it is only 2pt per serving. I ended up eating way more than a few servings and my belly is paying for it today.

I finally got my new camera so I am trying to figure out how it works. That is why some of the pictures below are blurry, some are dark and some are just right. I am learning, so bear with me. I will be taking pictures of all my eats from here on out, so I should catch on pretty quick.

A little blurry...

Breakfast today was the usual 36g Rye (110cal, 1pt), 20g Steel Cut Oats (75cal, 1pt), 1/4 cup Almond Milk (10cal), cinnamon and a TBSP SF strawberry jam (10cal).

A little dark...

Along side it I had a Van's Light Whole Wheat Waffle (70cal, 1pt), 113g Fage 0% (60cal, 1pt) and 10g of Redi Whipp (10cal). I ran out of jam so I used whip cream to sweeten it instead.

Since it is Father's Day we made daddy breakfast in bed (I did, they played Nintendo) and went to the mall. By the time we got home I was starving so I made my favorite quick meal.

Just right....

A Whole Wheat Tortilla (100cal, 1pt), 19g Light Provolone (50cal, 1pt), 4oz Sweet Potato (103cal,1pt) and Romaine.

A little blurry again...

With a bowl of broccoli on the side.

Today is a rest day from exercise, so I am going to go get my haircut for Vegas next weekend. This week is the last week of school for my kids, so it is crazy and I think this is the only day I have free. I would get a pedicure, but my toes are thrashed from running and it seems like a waste.

My dad is coming for dinner tonight to celebrate Father's Day so I am taking him to my favorite Mexican restaurant. The kids are going to try and talk him into Rite Aid ice cream for dessert.

I hope you all had a great weekend and Happy Father's Day to everyone!

Fun Friday

2010-06-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
My new camera come tomorrow! So until then I will save you more camera phone pics and give you something funny to watch. A friend sent this to me and I thought it was cute. Sums up my life now. Have a great day!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql-N3F1FhW4

Edamame Ice Pack

2010-06-16T21:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I decided to take advantage of Jeff being home and decided to go for an outdoor run. I know that I can wait until Jeff gets home from work to run outdoors, but by that time I am tired so I prefer my morning workouts. I ended up running 9.7miles. The "June gloom" has hit our area so it stays overcast until noon now. Perfect running weather. When I got home I made sure to ice my legs. While I was training for a full marathon after an 18mile run I started to get pain in my leg from my ankle to my knee. I had an x-ray and although nothing showed up, they said it could have been a stress fracture. Needless to say, I did not run that marathon. Now my leg is starting to hurt again in the same place, so I am really trying to take care of it. That is where my frozen veggies and fruit come in. I stretched, iced, then made lunch.

An Ezekiel Pita Pocket with tomatoes and melted provolone.

I cooked some fresh broccoli and brussel sprouts to go with it. I was watching the news while stretching and I saw a story about how broccoli and brussel sprouts are two of the foods people dislike the most. Not this girl. I could eat them all day long.

Dinner was not new.

A whole-wheat tortilla, string cheese and sweet potato.

With a huge salad. This time I added some artichoke hearts to it. Very, very good.

I really wish that this picture had turned out. Conner completely passed out reading his book last night. He is fast asleep in this picture. Conner goes and goes all day and then crashes.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday! I have plans for a noon strength class at the gym and then laundry. Fun, fun.

Happy Birthday Jake!

2010-06-16T07:55:00.000-07:00

To celebrate Jake's 10th Birthday today, I stayed up all night and made this cute Nintendo cake. OK, I didn't, but I did make this fancy donut cake for his "Donut's with Dad" party at school today. Complete with candles and organic oranges so that I don't feel so bad about sending a plate of sugar to a classroom full of 3rd graders.

10 years ago today I was still in labor. Technically I think Jake was born about 3pm. I actually was induced on a Wednesday morning and had him on a Friday afternoon. 52hrs of labor, 3hrs of pushing, 9lbs 2oz of baby (all head) no wonder I have some mental problems. Something had to be affected from that much trauma. I will spare you the birth photo. Jake's head was squished, my face was black and blue and I certainly did not have that motherly glow.

Here he is at 6mos. You can still get a sense of the size of his head. He is finally growing into it at age 10. He was a very cute baby though. Out of all three kids he was the easiest, happiest, sweetest baby.

Now my baby is entering the double digit years. This is him this morning. Already he is giving my the surly teenager look.

Maybe he is upset because he didn't get the Nintendo cake, but he should be pretty happy when he opens the Nintendo DS we bought him. Happy Birthday Jakey!

Drug Free and Proud

2010-06-15T11:07:00.000-07:00

I have officially conquered one of my vices. No I am not a speed addict, although when I had a new baby a toddler and a kindergarten and was living off of two hours of sleep (a week, not a night) the thought did cross my mind. I have been taking the other drug of choice for moms, Tylenol PM. I started taking this when I was on Prozac for my OCD. I had trouble falling asleep and was told that this is safer and less addicting than prescription sleep medications. Wrong, I became addicted. I started taking it almost every night. It allowed me to fall into a deep sleep and wake without any drowsiness in the morning. Last night I realized the bottle was empty and decided to try without it. I did toss and turn for about 30min, but I managed to fall asleep and stay asleep. Yeah!! Now I am officially off all prescription and non-prescription pills-except the occasional Advil (or three) after a 3rd grade recorder performance.
Onto last night's dinner. You have seen it before. I had a sweet potato burrito and a huge salad with goat cheese and balsamic dressing.

My burrito had 4oz sweet potato (103cal) provolone (50cal) a La Tortilla low-carb tortilla (80cal). I dipped it in SF syrup (10cal). My husband thinks this is disgusting, but it tastes so good!

My salad had romaine, sprouts, cucumbers, mushrooms, red peppers, carrot, asparagus, tomatoes and 14g goat cheese (40cal). It was so fresh and yummy.

Dessert was a pudding bowl. Last night's had a serving a Puffins (90cal), No Sugar added Kozy Shack Tapiocca (70cal), No Sugar added Kozy Shack Chocolate (60cal), a small banana (~80cal) and Reddi Whip with cinnamon.

Today I woke up and had my oatmeal with a Van's waffle and greek yogurt. I was not feeling like working out, but I went to my strength class and I am glad I did. I feel better now and have more energy. I am going to go make a yogurt parfait for a snack and get ready for the rest of the week.

We have a Cub Scout graduation for Jake tonight. Tomorrow Jake has Donut's with Dad in the morning plus it's his birthday. Ryan has Donut's with Dad on Friday, then Jake has his Boomer's party with his friends that night. Saturday is his family party here and Sunday my dad is coming for Father's Day. Maybe that speed wouldn't be such a bad thing right now. At least I will be too exhausted to care if I have my Tylenol PM!

That kind of day

2010-06-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon. Today totally got away from me. I woke up, got the kiddos ready for school, had my usual breakfast and headed to the gym. A Van's Light Waffle (70cal) with 113g of Fage 0% (60cal) and Tbsp of Sugar Free Strawberry Jam (10cal).

I also had a bowl of 36g Cream of Rye (110cal) mixed with 20g of Steel Cut oats (75cal) and 1/4 cup of unsweetened Almond milk (10cal) with cinnamon. I topped it with another Tbsp of SF jam. I don't know if I told you, but I always make my oats the night before. That way in the morning I just pop them out of the fridge, microwave them for 2min and they are ready to go. Just make sure to leave a little extra liquid in the bowl so that it gets absorbed in the oats overnight. It makes for a huge bowl in the morning.

I ran to the gym and did an hour on the elliptical. I usually run on Monday's followed by pilates, but my leg was throbbing a little last night, so I decided to mix it up. I did resistance 14-20 (the highest) and kept my arms going the entire time. I did sweat quite a bit, so I think it was good for me to mix it up. I was unable to go to pilates because I got to experience this.

Yes folks, the good old recorder! Do you remember this from 3rd grade? I bet your parents do. Jake had his 3rd grade recorder performance today. Vodka and aspirin? Yes please.

It was loud, off key and when they brought out the percussion instruments I wanted to run. I think I completely earned my Mother's Day present this year.

After Jake's performance Conner and I ran to the produce store. We got plums, nectarines, apples, peaches, broccoli, zucchini and about every other veggie they had. It is so fresh and so pretty I just can't resist. We then went to Ralphs to order Jake's birthday cake (10years old on Wednesday) and the bank. Off to pick up Ryan after that and we're finally home.

I made a gorgeous, fresh green salad for lunch. Mixed greens, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, snap peas, onion sprouts and mushrooms. All topped with goat cheese and balsamic.

I have 5 loads of laundry to do and then I think it is time for some wine. Don't judge until you have had to listen to Mary Had a Little Lamb played on a recorder accompanied by 10 tambourines.

Have a great day!

Thank you Mc. Donalds

2010-06-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend. I sure am. After my class at the gym yesterday Jeff's Mom and Grandma came down and took us all to lunch and then shopping for new dresses for Vegas. Unfortunately, she did forget to bring her extra camera so I apologize for the crappy cell phone pics. But, thanks to Macy's, Jeff's mom's charge card and three of these, I was able to get two new outfits.
Yes, we went to Mc. Donald's for Mc Flurrys. Desperate times call for desperate measures and three kids at the mall for three hours definitely constitutes a crisis. But look what I managed to get!

If you can't tell those darling heels are hot pink and orange. SO CUTE (and I am not even a shoe person)

I also got this dress and hot pink sandals. Once again, sorry for the cell phone picture. I just noticed my foot is in the photo. I tried to make the picture good, I really did.

Today Jeff took the kids to the beach. All by himself, brave man. We did get them greased up with sunscreen here before they left.

Check out that greasy chest!

I am going to relax. I did another fantastic 12plus miles this morning. Thanks to McDonald's and their delicious ice cream, I had motivation to go far today.

I also wore a shirt due to the fact that my back is covered with flaky skin peeling off from last weeks burn.

I am going to go eat my lunch. It is not pretty (and I am not blaming the camera for this one), but it is good. Ezekiel Pita Pocket, 1/2 cup egg substitute, provolone and spinach. I also put some SF strawberry jam on the side. I added a bowl of broccoli and brussel sprouts for more green.

After lunch I am going to take a nap. It is quiet and quietness around here is a rare thing. Have a great afternoon!

Happy Day

2010-06-11T18:02:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a great Friday. I am happy that the weekend is here. Tomorrow my mother-in-law is coming to go to take us to lunch. She also is taking my shopping for a new dress. Jeff's sister is getting married in Vegas in two weeks and since my fanciest outfit is a pair of clean jeans, she is taking me shopping. She told me I could use her old camera too, so I will be able to post again with new pictures. Another favorite thing about Saturday, it's ice cream day! I look forward to my weekly scoop of Rite-Aid ice cream tremendously.

It is finally feeling like Summer here too. The kids are getting their end of the year stuff ready at school and it feels like Summer in the air. We were driving today and saw the Ferris Wheel at the fairgrounds going up. Nothing says Summer like the county fair. I will leave you with pictures from last years visit. Have a great night and I am excited to post with new pictures tomorrow.

Live and Learn

2010-06-10T17:47:00.001-07:00

There are certain things in life that have to be learned.

I have learned to always wear sunscreen no matter how short or long you think your run will be. These beauties are the blisters that have shown up all over my shoulders and back after my 12miler on Sunday. My dermatologist will not be happy with me.

Sorry for the poor quality photo. I am using Jeff's camera phone to take pictures which leads me to my next life lesson.

I have learned that it is not wise to charge your cell phone next to the kitchen sink. Inevitably it will be dropped into a sink full of soapy water. Not only that, but people at Sprint have learned that people will lie and state they have no idea why their phone stopped working. They now have ways to test for water damage. When this happens, you get the basic phone that doesn't take pictures because your husband won't spend another $100 for you to drop it in the sink again. Lesson learned.

Another lesson I learned this week? After dropping your camera, don't try to "fix" the stuck lens with your scissors. Not only will this not work, but if it does, your lens will be very scratched.

One lesson I did learn was to stick to what you like for dinner. Tonight was a bean and cheese quesadilla with a giant salad. I will save you the "scratchy" pictures because it is the same as my dinner a few nights ago.

I am going to go and try to "talk" my husband into a new phone and camera. I have been married long enough to have learned that special "talk" leads to getting what you want.

Goodnight!

Edited to add: I also just learned that when your four year old asks you "what pee tastes like?" RUN to the bathroom!

Skinny and Rich

2010-06-10T09:27:00.000-07:00

I saw this link that Angela from Oh She Glows posted on her health roundup yesterday.

It is an interesting article regarding pricey stores and skinny shoppers. It specifically discusses Whole Foods.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37280972/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/?ocid=twitter

It is really funny because my mom and I were talking about this very subject the other day.
As you know, I have three kids and a husband to feed. I do not work and because of the economy money is extremely tight, as in sometimes I decide what bills to pay and what are going to have to wait until next paycheck (hence the fact that I was really bummed when I broke my camera yesterday).

As ashamed as I am to say it, I often feed Jeff and the kids food that I myself would not eat. An example would be Del Taco. If we are in a hurry or I don't feel like dirtying the kitchen we can get the Fiesta Pack for around $8.00 and that will feed all four of them. If I am in a hurry I will have an Amy's Organic Brown Rice and Tofu bowl for $5.00. $8.00 to feed four (with much more food) compared to $5.00 for one.

I also shop at different stores for them as opposed to myself. I love Whole Foods and Mother's. I will buy myself the Van's waffles, yet I will go to Ralphs and buy their store brand waffles for the kids because I get more and they are two dollars cheaper.

It saddens me that it is more expensive to eat organic food with healthier ingredients. I am not saying that it is impossible, but if you are financially strapped you look for foods that are cheap and filling which unfortunately are usually heavily processed and high in calories and fat.

I do find ways to feed my family healthy foods. We are fortunate to have a local produce store where I stock up on fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables. I just think it is sad that many people don't have that option and that is why we see such a high rate of juvenile diabetes, obesity and physical problems no child should have to deal with. Even participating in organized sports cost money. I just signed my boys up for AYSO soccer and it is $100 per child. We are blessed to have Grandmas that pay for the kids extra activities, but if you have three children and are struggling, would you be able to fork out $300 for them to play a season of soccer. Don't even get me started on what dance lessons cost!

I really don't know what to do about this issue. Do we as a society need to put more pressure on stores to carry healthier, more wholesome food that is affordable? Do we try to educate about health and well-being? I have no problem with feeding my family the occasional Del Taco or $5 pizza from Little Ceasars, but when that is the staple of many children's diets, something has to be done.

Real Hunger

2010-06-09T07:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday. So I was planning on posting everything I ate yesterday, but I dropped my camera. It now is broken. One positive is that I ate the same exact meals yesterday as I did Monday. I was looking back at my food journal and I really did eat the same meals. Maybe an extra cucumber in my salad, but that is it. I guess I am just a creature of habit. I also don't like having opened containers lying around, so if I open a can of beans, I eat them in all my meals until they are gone. I just finished my oatmeal and waffle with Fage yogurt breakfast and letting my food settle before I hit the gym for a treadmill session.

Lately I have been noticing that I want to snack often. Even more so at night. At first I had a hard time deciphering "real hunger" from just boredom or thirst. I finally found a few tricks to help me determine what it is I am really feeling.

Drink a glass of water. I drink Diet Coke all the time. I do drink a bottle of water between each soda, but I think often times I mistake hunger and thirst. Before I reach for a snack I drink a bottle of water and wait 10min. Often times I find that is all it takes for the craving to subside. If I still feel it after 10min, then I will eat something.

Am is stressed? I am an emotional eater. I find myself reaching for cookies and carbs when I am stressed out. One way I can tell is that I will grab something and stuff it in my mouth while standing in the kitchen. I am very good about eating all of my meals on a plate, sitting down, so if I find myself trying to stuff a piece of bread in my mouth before sitting down at the table, I usually can tell it is emotional eating. I have this sense of urgency in my eating when it is emotional.

The easiest way for me to tell real hunger is by what I want to eat. If I am truly hungry, I will eat veggies, broccoli, fruit, anything sounds good. If it is emotions or boredom I usually only want carby, sugary food. If I am craving only these items, it is never true hunger. Usually it is fatigue or boredom.

Now I don't always follow this thought process. Sometimes that cookie makes it into my mouth before I even have time to think about anything. But I am trying to be a more mindful eater. By asking myself these questions I am able to have more control over what and when I eat.

I am off to the gym. Have a great Wednesday.

Food Recap

2010-06-08T12:47:00.000-07:00

I hope you are all having a great Tuesday. I managed to go to my strength class, TJ's, Ralph's and the bank. So far very productive. I will post tonight with my food from today, but here is a recap of yesterday.

I had a good day of eats and exercise yesterday. I woke up and went to the gym for 5.5miles of speed work (alternated 1/2 miles at 7.0 with 1/2 miles at 8.4 on 1%). I was worried about my legs after Sunday's run, but the only thing that was sore was my sun burnt back. I then went to a Pilates class and left the gym sweaty and happy. My meals yesterday were great too. I'll start with dinner and work my way backwards.
I purchased this can at TJ's awhile back and just remembered it in the cupboard. I decided to add it to my bean and cheese quesadilla. It is fantastic. Look at all the big chilies and tomatoes. 1/2 cup is only 25cals too!

I used a Lo-Carb La Tortilla (80cal,1pt) and spread 64g Rosarita Vegetarian Re fried beans inside (60cal,1pt). I added a slice of Low Fat Provolone (50cal, 1pt) and my chilies and tomatoes.

I "cooked" it in the microwave for 50 seconds and it came out gooey and delicious.

I was starving yesterday (it always happens when I start adding longer runs) and made a giant salad to go with dinner.

Mixed greens, tomatoes, grilled asparagus, snap peas, yellow peppers, mushrooms, sprouts, cucumbers, carrots, 14g Blue Cheese (50cal,1pt) and 2tbsp Balsamic (20cal, 0pt).

Snack yesterday was a yogurt parfait. 113g Fage 0% (60cal,1pt), Fiber One Strawberry Yogurt (50cal, opt), 1/3 cup TJ's High Fiber Cereal (40cal,0pt) and 15g Reddi Whip (15cal,0pt).

Lunch was an Ezekiel Pita Pocket (100cal,1pt) with a TJ's Light String Cheese (60cal,1pt) and SF strawberry preserves on top (10cal,0pt).

Plus a bowl of brussel sprouts, broccoli and a Tsp of Annie's Horseradish Mustard (10cal).

Breakfast was my usual mix of oats. 36g of Rye (110cal,1pt) 20g Steel cut Oats (75cal,1pt) 1/4cup of Almond Milk (10cal,opt) cinnamon and 17g of SF strawberry jam (10cal).

Plus my new favorite. A Van's Light Waffle (70cal,1pt) with 113g Fage (60cal,1pt) and 17g SF strawberry preserves (10cal). This combo is so rich and creamy and the protein really keeps me full.

I actually had this same breakfast today so I will spare you another picture tonight. I hope you have a great rest of your day. I will see you in a few hours.

Yesterday's Eats

2010-06-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

After my run yesterday, I came home and made a delicious lunch. I had a Vegan Burger (80cal, 1pt) with a Light String Cheese from TJ's (60cal,1pt) on an Ezekiel Pita Pocket (100cal, 1pt) and sprouts, tomatoes and my new mustard I bought at Mother's.

This stuff is great. 2tsp for 10cal. It has just enough kick without being too hot.

Alongside my wrap I had asparagus, brussel sprouts and broccoli.

Dinner was a bean and cheese quesadilla. I used a Low Carb La Tortilla tortilla (80cal, 1pt) and added provolone (50cal, 1pt) and 1/4 cup Rosarita Vegetarian Refried Beans (60cal, 1pt).

I also had a beautiful salad.

Look how pretty all the colors are!

It had mixed greens, carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes, broccoli, yellow peppers, snap peas and wilted spinach. I added 14g blue cheese (50cal,1pt) and 2tbsp Balsamic (20cal, 0pt).

Dessert was a pudding bowl. Banana (~90cal,1pt), Kozy Shack No Sugar Added Tapioca (70cal,1pt), Kozy Shack No Sugar Added Chocolate Pudding (60cal, 1pt) a Vitamuffin (100cal,1pt) 16g Better N' PB (50cal 1pt) Reddi Whip (15cal, 0pt) and cinnamon. Yes, it was a huge dessert, but I did just run 12miles :)

Have a great Monday.

Welcome back old friend!

2010-06-06T14:33:00.000-07:00

My old friend Garmin came back today. It was too pretty to go to the gym and I was starting to get bored so I decided to head out doors. I was planning on running from my house down to the beach. I told Jeff I was thinking about doing 7miles so I would call him and he could pick me up wherever I ended up. I ended up doing 12.26 miles! I really wanted to keep going so that I could do a 1/2 marathon today, but I haven't ran outside for awhile and didn't want to hurt my legs.

I didn't have enough fingers so Ryan helped me out. I also didn't have enough sunscreen (as in none). I guess I didn't think about it, but I will from now on.

This is going to be lovely with my backless dress I am planning on wearing to Vegas in a few weeks.

All in all it was a great run. I kept my pace fast and finished 12.26miles in 1hr 41min. Looks like my sub 2hr 1/2 marathon goal is gonna happen.

I am going to have lunch, I am starving, and then get things ready for the week. I will see you at dinner with all the food consumed today!

Sandy Saturday

2010-06-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

Check out these white legs! They almost are a bright as Conner's day-glow orange Body Glove wetsuit.

We decided to go to the beach yesterday since we live 5min away. Too bad it took us 45min to find parking. The kids are still a tad too young to ride their bikes on the busy streets, so we had to drive.

It was overcast, but pretty warm. We got down there at about 2pm and stayed until 4.

The kids played in the sand and boogie boarded while I slept on the towel.

Ryan came home with sand in places sand should never see.

Conner bragged about the big waves he caught.

Jake had a great time making new friends and spent most of his time in the water.

Ryan talked us into a stop at Rite-Aid for ice cream cones on the way home. You don't need to ask me twice!

All in all it was a relaxing Saturday.

I think I am going to head out for an outdoor run down to the beach right now. I haven't ran outside since my race because usually I have a child with me so I need the kids club at the gym. Have a great Sunday!

TGFI- Thank goodness Friday is Over

2010-06-04T21:25:00.000-07:00

Today has been crazy. I will start with the good. My lunch. I stuffed and Ezekiel Pocket bread full of onion and alfalfa sprouts, tomatoes, and Ranchero Egg salad from Trader Joes. I heated up some frozen broccoli, snow peas and asparagus for my sides. It was great!

Not so good part of the day...Ryan's Dr. appt. Ryan is going to have surgery in July to remove her adenoids and get tubes in her ears. She has pretty serious hearing loss and we are hoping the tubes will help drain some of the fluid. She also snores louder than my husband and has sleep apnea so we are hoping that removing the adenoids will help with that. I know that the surgery is routine, but it still scares me and I am really worried about her hearing. I also feel bad about all the times I told her to pick up her toys and she told me she didn't hear me. Turns out she was telling the truth.

After leaving the Dr.s we headed to Jake's soccer game where his team was crushed. I would tell you the score, but I lost count.

Jeff took Ryan to her birthday party and then the boys and I went with my mom to Chick Fil A for dinner. I knew we were going so I made a La Tortilla burrito with a vegan burger, Laughing Cow cheese, romaine, tomatoes and carrots. I also got a large fruit bowl and a side salad there.

I am going to go drown my sorrows in dessert right now. I am glad this day is over and look forward to a relaxing weekend swinging at the park with the kids.

Friday is flying

2010-06-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

Meet my new favorite snack. This is so good and filling.

1/2 Container of Fage 0%,85g (45cal, 1pt)
Fiber One Strawberry Yogurt (50cal, 0pt)
1/3 Cup TJ's High Fiber Cereal (40cal, 0pt)
15g Reddi Whip (15cal, 0pt)

The protein in the yogurt and the carbs in the cereal really satisfy my hunger. It is also high volume. I would much rather eat this than a little bar for 150cal.

So I decided to take today as a rest day. My last rest day was last Friday and I decided to start making Fridays my "official" rest day. I am still debating whether to take off two days a week. If so, probably Fridays and Sundays. I just feel really guilty about not working out. I think this is an issue I need to work on.

Conner and I did go for a nice walk to Mother's Market. I was already out of my Ezekiel Pita Pockets and I wanted to actually take my time and walk through the store today. I am glad I brought the stroller. I was originally planning on letting him walk-it is probably only 1/2 mile each way, but if i did that we would still be walking. I picked up a bunch of new items to try and a few of my old favorites. Good thing we took the stroller. We did a brisk, brisk pace on the way home. I drink copious amounts of water and diet coke- my rule is I have to drink at least 1 water bottle (33.8oz) per two diet cokes. Needless to say, I spend lots of time in the bathroom. Well my liquid consumption mixed with three pregnancies has led to very little bladder control. I am sure my neighbors were laughing as I sprinted down my driveway, leaving Conner and the stroller behind.

Conner is having a "smovie" right now- watching a movie while eating a smoothie, and then we are off to pick up Ryan. Have a great afternoon!

Dancing to the weekend

2010-06-04T07:31:00.000-07:00

Yeah, it's Friday! Today's list includes the gym (possibly, maybe a rest day instead), Ryan's Dr. appt., Jake's soccer game, and taking Ryan to a birthday party. Fun...fun.

I decided to have an old favorite for dinner last night. I used to eat this all the time and I think I got burnt out, but I broke it again and it was really good. I had 1 1/2 cup (150cal,2pt) with an Ezekiel Pita Pocket (100cal,1pt) spread with a Laughing Cow Garlic and Herb Wedge (35cal,1pt). I also had a big salad with snow peas, mixed greens, yellow peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and 14g blue cheese (1pt).

Dessert was awesome. I read about this idea in Shape Magazine and I thought it looked good. I cooked 39g of oats (140cal,2pt) with water and mashed a banana on top (~80cal,1pt). I put a Skinny Cow Ice cream cup on top (150cal,2pt) and Reddi Whip (15cal,opt). It was so good. Warm bites of chewy oats with banana and cold icecream. I was a happy camper.

I will leave you with dance party Friday Pictures. We have Wii Dance and it is so fun. Ryan was rocking out to Hot and Cold and Womanizer this morning. Nothing like your fancy nightgown to get you going. Have a great Friday!

Stevia, Strength and Shirataki

2010-06-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

Happy Thursday everyone. Sorry I was not on Wednesday. Nothing special happened and I am pretty sure you have seen everything I ate yesterday before on the blog, so we will just skip it.

I did get my Shape Magazine in the mail yesterday and I was excited to read this article.

Trading your regular blueberry yogurt for a sugar-free version can shave off 60 calories-but researchers have long suspected you'd make up for the missing calories by eating more later. Now a new study from the University of Florida discredits that theory: People who ate a mid morning snack sweetened with aspartame or stevia didn't eat more at lunch or dinner than those who ate one containing sugar. "And despite consuming fewer calories over the course of the day, they reported feeling just as satisfied as those who ate more," says lead author Stephen D. Anton, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the university.

I have always heard that this is true, but this makes me feel much better about the sugar-free jelly I used on my Ezekiel Pita this morning. I made my usual bowl of oats (2pt) and had an Ezekiel Pita Pocket (100cal, 1pt) with a Laughing Cow Swiss (35cal, 1pt) and 17g jam (10cal, opt).

I took a noon Strength class at the gym today, so before I headed out I had half a Fage 0% yogurt (45cal, 1pt) mixed with a Fiber One Strawberry Yogurt (50cal, 0pt) and 1/3 cup High Fiber Cereal from TJ's (40cal,opt). I added some Fat Free Reddi Whip too! (the pic is at the top. I accidentalydeleted it from below and can't figure out how to add it to the spot I want again, if anyone can help, let me know!)

Lunch contained my new noodles I bought at Mother's Market yesterday.

They are like the shirataki noodles. Only 20cal (opt) for half a package and low carb. They do have a funky smell so after I washed them I soaked them in 2tbsp Balsamic.

I topped a giant salad with Romaine, mixed greens, carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes and 14g goat cheese (40cal, 1pt) with my noodles.

They were so-so. Not my favorite. I think it was because they weren't very dense, but I guess for 20cal, they work.

I am off to read to Ryan. Her homework this week was to read and write down all the books. She is supposed to turn in the list Friday. I have LOTS of reading to do tonight. We need to catch up from the nights we decided to watch movies instead (or I just didn't want to read The Little Engine that Could one more time). Have a great night!

In a funk

2010-06-02T19:11:00.000-07:00

Hi guys. I am not feeling too well today, so I am just going to watch a movie with the family. I will be back tomorrow. Have a great rest of your Wednesday!

Typical Tuesday

2010-06-01T14:57:00.000-07:00

Well, my peaceful memorial day changed when Ryan came home sick. Poor little thing had the stomach flu. I was supposed to see Sex and the City with my friends, but instead I watched Annie. I guess both movies have a red-head in it and are about girls in NYC.

This morning started out better. I would like you to meet Conner's bird. Conner's class made bird feeders at school and this little guy started showing up.
Some people give their kids puppies, we do wild birds.

He's really pretty and comes everyday for breakfast.

My breakfast was 36g Cream of Rye (110cal,1pt) with 20g Scottish Oats (80cal, 1pt).

I mixed it with 1/4 cup of Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (10cal, opt), 34g Sugar Free Strawberry Preserves (20cal,opt) and cinnamon.

Alongside I had 1/2 cup Egg Beater puff (60cal, 1pt). I am trying to add a little more protein into my morning.

I dropped the two older kids off at school and went to my favorite strength class at the gym. After the gym Conner and I had a play date at the park. It was so warm here this weekend, but today was overcast until noon. Bummer.

Lunch was broccoli, snow peas and spinach (opt)

and a Garden Burger Vegan Burger (80cal, 1pt) on an Ezekiel Pita Pocket (100cal, 1pt) and a Light Laughing Cow Swiss Wedge (35cal,1pt). I added sprouts, romaine and tomatoes for more veggies. I really like these pockets. I have not had them before and they are really good. We just got a new Mother's Market right down the street and they have all this great stuff I am excited to try.

I am off to go "bedazzle" my toenails with Ryan. Thank you Grandma for such a lovely gift that I am sure will end up bedazzling my entire house.

Have a great Tuesday!

A beautiful day!

2010-05-30T12:58:00.000-07:00

The weather today is absolutely amazing. It is warm, there is a light breeze and the birds are chirping.

Today's plans of sleeping in were foiled when Ryan work up at 4:30 with a tummy ache. At least I went to bed at 7pm last night, so I did get my rest.

After breakfast we decided to make use of our extra time and made a Trader Joe's run.
Only 2 bags this time, so I did good. (yes, I forgot my reusable bag)

Everything is mine except for the cheese enchiladas. My family loves them and I love the fact that I don't have to cook.

We came home, unpacked our loot and then headed to the gym. Ryan was complaining about her tummy again, so I warned them at Kid's Club and decided to run until they told me I needed to come and get her. I got my full 7.5miles in with hills and speed work. It kicked my butt.

Here is my sweaty, "I'm hardcore", post workout shot. I was still drenched and this was about 20min after coming home. I need to say here, that my bathroom mirror is not this dirty. It must be the lighting. I am meticulous about cleanliness. Really, I am. I do have OCD, remember?

Another great part of today?

Going to grandmas!

When Jeff's mom came to pick up Ryan and Conner, she thought Ryan had a fever. I told Ryan to stay home, she cried, grandma took her anyway. I am praying that she will feel better and not be sick. I loaded them up with Tylenol and told her she could come home if she doesn't feel better tonight.

I just made a lovely lunch of snow peas with broccoli and brussel sprouts.

Also a La Tortilla quesadilla made with my TJ purchase.

With another TJ purchase on the side.

I am off to read on the couch. I have no idea when Jeff and Jake are coming home from camping, but I am going to enjoy listening to the birds chirp and nothing else.

Grumpy girl

2010-05-29T16:53:00.001-07:00

I am a grump. 100% grump. I had big plans to sleep in today so I stayed up really late last night. Jeff and Jake were leaving to go camping at 5:45am and my mom had Ryan and Conner so I was going to sleep the morning away. It didn't happen. I was up at 5:30 and could not get back to sleep. To make matters worse, my class at the gym didn't start until 10:30 so I spent the morning bored, debating whether or not to even go. I ended up going and I am glad I did. It was hard today and incredibly hot and humid in the gym. I think that I am the only person who enjoys sweating profusely. I leave the gym stinky, sweaty and feeling hard-core. I know that I probably sweat on the people next to me at the treadmill, but my philosophy is if you are not sweating, you are not working hard enough.

After the gym I drove to my mom's to pick up Ryan and Conner. Unfortunately, my car is not working right now. I am not sure what is wrong, but we haven't had time to take it in. Therefore I am driving my father-in-law's little car. I am terrified driving it because it is really, really old, and it is really, really little.

I picked up the kids and feel like I spent the entire day snapping and yelling at them. To take away some of my guilt I took them to Rite Aid for ice cream cones. This was my bright spot in the day. I love chocolate chip cookie dough Rite Aid ice cream. I got one scoop on a cone even though I really wanted a triple.

We got our cones and all yelling was forgotten.

I just gave the kids a bath and decided to feed them cereal for dinner. It's Saturday, right!

I also just realized my phone is not charging and my charger seems to not like me. At least when I go to bed with the kids at 7:00 tonight, no one can call and bother me.

Hopefully a good night sleep will take care of this foul mood. If not, another ice cream cone might be in order for tomorrow.

Class of 2010

2010-05-28T20:17:00.000-07:00

It's official. Conner has received his first diploma (and hopefully not his last).

My youngest is a preschool graduate!

It was such a cute afternoon. Caps, gowns, cookies, the works.

They had a short ceremony. They called each child's name and said what their favorite color was (Conner had 4), favorite food (supposedly turkey), and what they wanted to be when they grew up (a surveyor like his dad).

We then had a potluck lunch. I chose to wait until I got home to eat my lunch. I tend to go overboard with potlucks, so it is best for me to not even start.

Jeff and I gave him every graduate's dream gift of hotwheel cars and toy dinosaurs.

I will have all three of my children in school next year!

Rest Guilt

2010-05-28T07:02:00.000-07:00

Hi all. It has been a crazy week. Open house night at Ryan's school, Conner's last week of preschool, Jake getting ready for Cub Scout camping, etc. Of course my children have a way busier social schedule than I do.
Here are a few of the last few day's meals, but they are really nothing new. A huge bowl of oatmeal with a copious amount of cinnamon- I really need to start buying bigger jars of cinnamon. A provolone quesadilla with egg white egg salad and brussel sprouts and broccoli.

A couple of giant salads with blue cheese.

And of course a pudding bowl with a Vitamuffin and Better N' Peanut Butter.

I have decided to take today as a rest day. I usually run on Fridays but I am so tired that I think I need a break. I am going to run on Sunday which is my usual rest day. I just wish I didn't have such a difficult time with rest days. I really know that I need to listen to my body, but I feel so guilty when I don't workout. I also know that it is not necessary to work out six days a week and that rest is just as important as exercise, but it still doesn't make me feel less guilty. I also seem to feel that I need a really hard workout every time. I can't just go for a 5mile run, I feel the need to do intervals and sprints and hills. I just don't know how to get over this "hard or nothing" mentality. I also know that it is better to have a really great workout and a rest day, than two so-so days. By Saturday my body is usually so tired that my Saturday class is a struggle to get through. So long story short, I am going to rest today and see how I feel tomorrow. I just don't know how to get over this "rest guilt". Any ideas? How many days a week do you rest?

One more thing. I would like to introduce you to our new graduate. Conner is officially graduating from preschool today. Cap and gown pictures to come!

Weighing your food

2010-05-26T18:16:00.000-07:00

Meet my most used kitchen item. I did not personally buy this scale. I told my Grandma I wanted one for Christmas and she thought I like The Biggest Loser, so she bought me a Biggest Loser food scale. It works, so I don't care, but I really don't like The Biggest Loser.

I weigh ALL my food. The reason is that it seems that a slice of cheese or a piece of bread often weighs much more than the serving size states. That is why when I write out what I ate, it always says the grams or ounces, not a slice, or a piece. This is why.

My first example is this piece of provolone.

A serving size on the package is one slice/21grams. Obviously, this slice is more than 21g. The funny thing is there is actually a piece missing, so a slice could add up to 26g. I know you are saying this is not a big deal, but if you are doing Weight Watchers (or even counting calories) this will push your WWpt up from 1 to 2pts.

I always "trim" pieces off so that I can stay within the serving size. At the end of the bag I usually have enough trimmings to add up to another full slice.

Another example are Ezekiel Tortillas. A serving size is 57g. Most people would assume that one tortilla would be a single serving. Wrong.

This tortilla is 63grams.

You have to take off almost a quarter of the tortilla to equal out to the serving size on the bag.

Conversely, some things actually weigh less than the serving on the package. Bread is notorious for this. Obviously, not all slices are going to weigh the same. This slice is only 35g and a serving is 42g.

This excites me because I can add a few more pieces for nibbling.

I know this might seem really obsessive (hey, I do have OCD), but every thing adds up and I really like to know how many calories I consume a day. Not just for weight loss, but to make certain I don't go to low.

Lastly, I always weigh my oats. 1/2 cup does not equal what the container states a serving is. It is such a habit now, that I don't even think about it. I even put my dessert on my scale and measure out my whip cream.

Just make sure that you always have extra batteries on hand. Jeff had to go to CVS one night just so I could weigh my oats for the morning. Oh the joys of living with an obsessive-compulsive!

Great Monday

2010-05-25T07:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a great day. I had a great run at the gym (maybe all that food from Saturday helped), I got all my errands and chores done and was still in bed by 9:00.

Breakfast yesterday was the usual, so I decided to not bore you with another picture of oatmeal and toast. Just know it was good. After breakfast I headed to the gym and did speed work. I alternated 1/2 mile at 7.0 1% incline with 1.2 mile at 8.3 1%. I did 6.35 miles in 48min. I only have about 45min to run on Mondays before my pilates class starts. I did pilates, ran home, grabbed a Fiber One Yogurt and some Fiber Cereal from TJ's (both opt) and went to pick up Conner.

Lunch was my new favorite combo. I had a Light Flat-Out Wrap (90cal,1pt) with a melted piece of TJ's Light String Cheese (60cal, 1pt) and a Tbsp Polaner (10cal, opt). I have a Weight Watchers Calculator and when you enter in the calories, fiber and fat content of an item, it tells you how many points. Well, the Polaner is 10cal with 3grams of Fiber. When you enter it in the calculator it comes out a -0pts. Not sure what "-0" means, but maybe it will negate some of the damage I did Saturday :). Along side my wrap I had broccoli, brussels and snap peas. Trader Joe's sells a bag of microwavable snap peas and I love them. I just microwave them and put them in a Tupperware container to eat throughout the week.

Dinner was an Ezekiel Wrap (150cal, 2pt) with 40z sweet potato (103cal, 1pt) and a Light Laughing Cow Garlic and Herb Wedge (35cal, 1pt).

Of course I had a giant salad too.

mixed greens
carrots
cucumber
snap peas
tomatoes
sprouts
mushrooms
14g Blue Cheese (50cal,1pt)
2tbs Whole Foods Balsamic (20cal,opt)

Dessert was the best. I usually try to eat 20pts a day. Sometimes less, but usually 20. After dinner I was only at 10pts for the day so I made a great dessert.

Vitamuffin (100cal,1pt), 16g Better N' Peanut Butter (50cal,1pt), Kozy Shack Tapioca (70cal,1pt), Kozy Shack Chocolate Pudding (60cal, opt), a small banana (~80cal, 1pt) and Reddi Wip (15cal, opt). It was delicious. I always have dessert. I look forward to it every day and I figure as long as I incorporate it into my points and calories, it is just fine.

My point total and calories were a little low yesterday, but since I had an indulgent weekend, it averages out.

I am going to go have breakfast now and head to my favorite strength training class.

Have a great Tuesday!

Way too Indulgent

2010-05-24T14:06:00.000-07:00

I had a very indulgent Saturday. I tend to make Saturdays my "cheat days" meaning I eat what I want. The problem is my "all or nothing" attitude. I have found that I start eating and can't stop. I am wondering if I am restricting too much during the week, but whatever the reason, it needs to stop. I think that I get the idea in my head that I won't get to eat like this for another week, so I should really live it up, the problem is that I usually get an upset stomach and I feel really guilty afterward. I then restrict my calories on Sunday and Monday to make up for my Saturday Binge. I know it is not good, and I will work on this.

My Saturday started out on the right track. I had my oatmeal and toast with Better N' PB combo for breakfast. I then headed to the gym for a CORE class. It is a 45min strength and cardio class, followed by 15min of abs. This one was a tough one and my arms are still sore.

When I got home from the gym I was starving so I had a piece of Whole Wheat Bread. My mom offered to take the kids to the zoo, so Jeff and I decided to try a restaurant near us.
It was so good. I wish I had a picture of the burrito I ate. Here is the description.
Texas Veggie Burrito- fire roasted zuchini, pico de gallo, cheese, lettuce, tomato, rice, vegeterian beans with avocado in a cilatro tortilla and salsa quemada.

It was a big burrito, but I ate it all. I also had some sweet corn cake and some chips and salsa.

After lunch Jeff and I decided to go down to Laguna Beach and enjoy the weather. It was so nice to be able to walk and talk without the kids and a stroller.

This is the view from our car. It was so pretty I made Jeff use his camera phone to take a picture. I love Laguna because of all the hills. Jeff and I walked probably close to two miles. Then I saw this place.

We decided to get drinks on the patio. I had a glass of wine and a really delicious dessert. It was chocolate mouse (almost like frosting) with strawberries in a chocolate covered crepe bowl. It was served with icecream and the most delicious shortbread cookie. I once again devoured it. At least I walked first, right?

We met my mom and the kids at church and then headed to Marie Callender's. At this point I have consumed more calories then I usually eat in three days.

I still ate tons of cornbread, a salad, some of Conner's macaroni and a piece of garlic bread.

How can you resist this deliciousness? (not my pic)

Then we got dessert (yes, I had two in one day, once again not my pic). If you have never had their chocolate muffin, you must try it. I devoured it with some of Conner's whip cream and icecream. By this time my stomach was aching.

I spent all day yesterday feeling guilty about what I ate on Saturday. I really need to remember this when next weekend rolls around. I can still splurge, but I need to not binge. I guess it is a learning process, but I don't want all of my good choices in the week to be ruined by one indulgent day.

I am going to try to use this as a learning experience. There is nothing I can do about it now but move on.

It's a new week and I am ready for it!

Being Thankful

2010-05-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

I was talking to my dad today about a person we know who had Lou Gehrig's Disease. It really made me stop and think. I spend so much time worrying, complaining and always rushing, yet I have so much to be grateful for. I have healthy children, I have a wonderful husband (that I completely do not deserve), and I can move and run and be active. I look at working out as a chore, I let myself get overwhelmed with "to dos" and errands and money. I need to stop and be grateful for how much I have. There are so many people who would be so happy to be able to pick up their children or go for a run or bike ride on a beautiful day. It's time for me to stop always wanting more and to be happy with what I have. I am truly blessed. God always provides and I have more than enough.

My New Favorite Food

2010-05-21T15:47:00.000-07:00

So I will start this post by apologizing for another repeat breakfast. WW toast with Better N' PB and Polaner (the stats are in previous posts).

You will probably be seeing this breakfast for a long time. I go to bed looking forward to it each night, so it definitely will be around for awhile.

I went to the gym today even though I was not feeling it. I really felt "blah", but I told myself just to get on the treadmill anyway. I was thinking about just staying at the same speed, but decided to try intervals. During each one I told myself that this was going to be the last, but after my 1/2 mile jog recovery I would decided to try one more time. I ended up doing 7.5 miles of speed work and hills. I felt great afterwards. Sometimes I think to myself that since I have already gone so far, why not just finish my workout. That usually is what keeps me going.

Lunch today was new for me (what, no sweet potato or egg salad?). I had a flat-out wrap (90cal, 1pt), with a Laughing Cow Swiss Wedge (35cal, 1pt) and a Tbsp Strawberry Polaner (10cal, opt). It was so good. The sweet of the jam mixed with the swiss was delicious.

Of course I had my broccoli and brussel sprouts too.

I know the combo of the wrap and veggies don't really go together, but I needed something more to eat.

Let me introduce you to my new favorite tortillas.

I bought these at TJ's because I like the fact that they have protein. I always tend to lean towards the lowest calorie items (or lowest pt items), but these are only 50 calories more than my usual ones and the ingredient list is much better.

(sorry about the blurry pic)

They are 2wwpt in case you are doing the plan, and are delicious. I tried the sprouted bread once and was not a fan, but I really like these. My unpictured dinner last night was sweet potato and melted string cheese in one. So good. If you haven't tried them, please do.

I am off to soccer practice (Jake) then do a playdate pick up (Ryan). Have a fantastic Friday night!

New Find

2010-05-20T10:16:00.000-07:00

I got this delicious Eggplant Hummus from TJ's. It is VERY garlicky, but good. I used it to create my lunch yesterday. I was starving after getting home from our play date, so I threw 14g Hummus (~20cal, opt) on a Flat-out wrap (90cal, 1pt) with a Laughing Cow Swiss Wedge (35cal, 1pt). I added tomatoes, romaine, carrots and sprouts. It was good a filling.

Alongside my wrap I had cooked snap peas, broccoli and brussel sprouts.

Here is half of my dinner. I made a huge salad with mixed greens, mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumber, broccoli and snap peas. I added 14g of blue cheese (50cal, 1pt) and Whole Foods Balsamic (20cal, opt). I forgot how good blue cheese can be. It really made the salad flavorful and a little bit goes a long way.

The un-pictured half of dinner was another Flat-out wrap with 4oz of sweet potato (103cal, 1pt)and a light string cheese (60cal, 1pt). I melted it all together and added a tbsp of sugar free syrup (15cal, opt). I was really good.

I ended up making a pudding bowl for dessert while watching The Middle. We love that show. Maybe because I can relate to having three kids, but it always makes me laugh.

I just came from Mother's Market, Ralph's and Trader Joe's. I am going to do a noon strength training class, so I better get a snack. So glad that tomorrow is Friday! Have a great rest of the day.

A New Ingredient

2010-05-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

I have added a new ingredient to my current favorite breakfast. I was at Target yesterday and I saw this jar of Polaner. It is sugar free and has fiber. Yes, I know that it just means it has fake sweeteners, but since I drink Diet Coke by the case, I am just fine with fake sweeteners. I really don't need the added fiber since I eat so much now, but it is a nice touch. The ingredient list is a little sketchy, but I figure 10 calories of sketchy ingredients won't kill me. Here are the nutritional stats:

It tasted great and spread well. Usually my fake jams don't spread well, but I liked this. I added it to my Whole Wheat toast (90cal, 1pt) and 16g Better N' PB spread from TJ's (50cal, 1pt).

Along side it I had another boring bowl of oats (Not to me, but you can only look at pictures of oatmeal for so long). 36g Rye (110cal, 1pt), 20g of TJ's Steel Cut Oats (75cal, 1pt), 1/4 Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (10cal, opt) and Cinnamon.

I headed to the gym after dropping Conner off at school. I wasn't really feeling a workout, but I ended up alternating sprint and hill repeats for a nice 7.7mile run in 63min. I have a confession to make. I blame this on my OCD, but I always have to go over my intended mileage in order to feel like I got my full run in. Example being the 7.7 miles above. In my exercise journal I wrote down 7.5miles in 60min. I always go over at least 2min in my run and .20 miles. For some reason I feel like I "have to" do this in order to get my full intended mileage. I know it is neurotic, but it is just one of the many neurosis I have.

I went home from the gym, took a quick shower and was off to get Conner. I ate a Kozy Shack No Sugar Added Chocolate Pudding (60cal, opt) with 15g of Reddi Wip (15cal, opt) and 1/3 cup TJ's High Fiber Cereal (40cal, opt) in the car on the way.

This is my food and exercise journal. I write down everything I eat. It is hard to read, but I write down calories and ww pt. Any veggies and fruits that are opt I write in the bottom left corner and any opt foods that are not veggies and fruit go in the right corner. I do this not only to "count" calories, but to make sure I eat enough. I don't want to come in too low or my body gets really tired. I am POSITIVE this feeds my compulsions, but I figure there could be worse ones to have. It helps me to also see what nutrients I might be missing from my diet.

I am off to pick up the other children and have a play date at the park. See you tonight!

Facts about Me

2010-05-18T15:11:00.000-07:00

The title sounds so egocentric, but I figure I would share a little more about myself since I have had the same meals the past two days and figured it would make for boring pictures. I guess fun fact #1 would be that I am a creature of habit and could eat the same meals for months.

As you know I have three children. Jake is 10, Ryan is 6 and Conner is 4. I had my children very young. I had Jake when I was 20, Ryan at 24 and Conner at 25. I actually graduated college when Ryan was 4 months old. I think that fact that I have been pregnant twice during finals helped get me better grades in my classes. I have my degree in Criminal Justice, but at this time I am staying home with my kids. I would like to go to grad school, but am perfectly happy with the title "educated housewife".

I have been married 10 years. Yes, I was expecting at my wedding, but if it makes it any better, we were already engaged when I found out I was pregnant. In fact, I still have wedding glasses that have July 2000 engraved on them (my anniversary is December 1999). Proof right there.

I live in Costa Mesa California on the border of Newport Beach. I live in an affluent area, but I am not. We are blessed to live here, but by no means am I an "Orange County Housewife". I get my hair trimmed every six months, I don't get pedicures and I get all my books and rent all my movies from the public library.

Here are some other facts:

I am terrified of the ocean
I still sleep with a "special blanket"
I drink too much Diet Coke
I go to bed by 10pm
I really need to work out or I am a grump
I rarely wear make-up

I wish I had some more pictures to share right now, but another fun fact is that I always forget to charge my camera. ALWAYS. So have no fear, I do have more photos of this week (and I did buy new items at the grocery store), but it will have to wait until tomorrow when my camera is charged.

A full day of food

2010-05-16T18:24:00.000-07:00

I wish I had some exciting weekend news to share, but I don't so I thought I would share my entire day of food with you. It's not exciting, but it was yummy. Breakfast was my usual 36g Cream of Rye (110cal, 1pt) with 20g TJ's Steel Cut Oats (75cal, 1pt) mixed with 1/4 Cup Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (10cal, opt) and Cinnamon.

Along side my cereal I had a piece of TJ's Whole Wheat Bread (90cal, 1pt) and 16g Better N' Peanut Butter (50cal, 1pt). This stuff is really like crack. I could eat the entire jar in one sitting.

My morning snack was not very exciting. A peach that was starting to shrivel. I still ate it since I have three kids and am not one to waste anything. It tasted OK.

For lunch I made an egg-white egg salad wrap.

La Tortilla Factory Whole Wheat Tortilla (100cal, 1pt) with a Laughing Cow Garlic and Herb Light Cheese Wedge (35cal, 1pt) and 1/2 container TJ's Egg White Egg Salad (50cal, 1pt). To bulk it up I added Romaine, Carrots and Grape Tomatoes.

It was huge. I had to use my fork to keep it closed. I had my usual broccoli on the side. Yes, that is my Diet Coke in the background. I have a problem. I know the first step is to admit it, I am just not ready to take any further action at this time. That is also my classy china, but it is Sunday and I do not want to spend the day washing plates.

Dinner does not look very good, but it was tasty. I found a Dr. Praeger's Tex Mex Burger in the freezer (110cal, 2pt). When I cooked it the consistency turned to mush. I am not sure if it is because it has been in the freezer so long, or if it is microwaving them, but it did look pretty gross. Once again, not one to waste anything, I decided to eat it anyway.

I mushed it up on a piece of TJ's Whole Wheat Bread (90cal, 1pt) with a Laughing Cow Light Swiss Wedge (35cal, 1pt).

I added sprouts and a tomato. It was really good. I have one left in the freezer and I am thinking about making a burrito out of it for lunch tomorrow. It tasted much better than it looked.

Along side of my dog food looking burger I had a big salad.

Mixed greens
Carrots
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Cooked Broccoli
Cooked Snap Peas
Whole Foods Balsamic (20cal, opt)

I am going to finish my evening with a pudding mess. Vitamuffin (100cal, 1pt), Kozy Shack No Sugar Added Tapioca (70cal, 1pt), Kozy Shack Chocolate Pudding(60cal, opt) and Redi Whipp (15cal, opt). Sorry there are no pictures, but I don't want to share with the kids so I have to wait until bedtime to make it.

I hope you had a great weekend. I think I am the only one excited about Monday's. Back to school time!

Too Much

2010-05-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

Since I feel like sharing this week (read my post about my OCD), I thought I would share something that is going on with me and my body. I am actually hoping that some of you might have suggestions or similar experience. I feel fine sharing this because I have not told anyone in my circle of friends except for one person (hi Carrie!) about my blog. My family, friends, and acquaintances don't even know I have a blog. I am not sure why, I just haven't told them. Anyway, this is pretty personal and I am sorry if it is too much, but here goes.
I am concerned that I might be exercising too much, eating too little, and my body is starting to rebel. I actually eat a lot and eat about 1800 calories a day, but I am wondering if I should add more. I work out 6 days a week and usually no more than an hour a day, but I am continuing to lose weight and although my BMI is still in the healthy range at about 20.5, I am starting to notice that my body is feeling very tired. I have not had a period in three months (and there is no way I am pregnant) and my moods have become quite severe. I am grumpy (really, grumpy) and short with my family. I know that I should go to the Dr, and I am going to go, but I just wanted to know if any of you have experienced this? Thanks for listening.

Kellie

Run Ryan, Run!

2010-05-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

I am so tired and it is not even 1:00pm. Today was Ryan's Jog-a-thon at school. I was not planning on attending, but she told me she really wanted me to come, so I told her I would be there. The jog-a-thon was at 10:30 during my usual work-out time. In order to be able to take Jake, Ryan and Conner to school and be back at her school by that time I knew I would have to move my work-out to a much earlier time. I managed to get my self out of bed by 5am and on the treadmill at the gym by 5:15. I was not sure what to eat since I didn't want a full belly, so I grabbed a Flat-Out wrap and ate it on the way (90cal, 1pt). I alternated hill repeats with sprint intervals and did 7.6miles in 62min. I felt great having my run done by 6:30 and I was home in time for Jeff to leave for work. I showered, got the kids fed, and then dropped them off at school. Conner doesn't start school until 9 (the other kids at 8:15) so we went to the grocery store before I took him to preschool. I then came home and had my real breakfast.
I know you are probably getting tired of seeing this combo, but I still like eating it, so oh well.
TJ's Steelcut Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal (150cal, 2pt) with 1/4 cup Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Milk (10cal, opt), 1/2 Tbsp Chia (~35cal, 0pt) and cinnamon.

With it I had 1/2 cup of egg substitute (60cal, 1pt) on a Van's Light Waffle (70cal,1pt). Drizzled with a Tbsp Sugar Free Syrup (15cal, opt). If you have not tried the Van's Light Waffles, you should. They are made with Whole Wheat and really hearty.

After I enjoyed my breakfast in a quiet house, I was off to watch Ryan run.

She has her game face on.

So I need to confess something here. I am "that mom". The kids have 20min and they run in a marked circle. I am yelling the whole time "it's a jog-a-thon, not a walk-a-thon, get moving".

Ryan completed 38 laps and I was very proud.

I just picked Conner up from school. We were supposed to have a playdate at the park for an hour until Ryan is out of school, but he wet his pants so we had to come home and change. I am hoping that I can convince the kids to nap with me this afternoon. I am already feeling my 5am wake-up. Good thing today is Friday.

What is OCD?

2010-05-12T15:51:00.000-07:00

I decided it is time to explain a little about my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. First off, I do want to say that everyone to some extent has a little "quirk" or something that they feel they must do. Some people have to close all the closet doors before bed, some people don't like their food to touch on their plates, some have to have their clothes hung a certain way. All these are little OCD tendencies, but what make OCD really debilitating is when it is all consuming and completely interferes with living. I do get upset when people think that OCD is funny or amusing (although looking back, all I can do is laugh at certain things I did), but it is truly agonizing for the person living with it.

Obsessions are intrusive thoughts that are uncontrollable to those dealing with them. An example would be someone who is afraid that they left the stove on. Yes, we all have dealt with this, but the person who has OCD knows somewhere deep down, that they did not. The problem is that no matter how many times they might return home to check, they can't get the certainty they need. A person who has OCD might return home five or six times just to make sure. Even though they know they turned it off, they feel the need (or compulsion) to go home and check again. "What if" becomes the motto for those with OCD. What if I accidently looked at the stove the wrong way and thought it was off but it is really on? What if I didn't turn it off, but thought I did? What if I burn the house down and hurt someone? People with OCD are often worried about causing harm to others, this is also known as responsibility OCD.

Obsessions can manifest themselves in many ways, and often those who deal with OCD have many different ones throughout their lives. Mine seemed to hit hard when I got pregnant and that began a very difficult 8 years of my life. One of the obsessions I can look back and laugh at now is my "hit and run" obsession. This is just one of many I dealt with, but this one I feel comfortable sharing.

I went through a good six months where I hated to drive. The reason being, is that I was certain I hit someone while driving and somehow had not known. I would check my car as soon as I got home for dents or any tell-tale sign that I hit a person. I would also make Jeff check my car for dents or blood. I would circle the blocks for hours in my car, often making myself late for work just so I could get a sense of peace that I indeed did not kill anyone while driving (crazy, I know). Any pothole or bump in the road would send me into a tailspin. I checked all the local traffic sights for hit-and-run accidents in my neighborhood and I would look at the Highway Patrol sight daily. It got so bad that at one point I called the police on myself. I wanted to make sure that I didn't hit the man I saw in the crosswalk. Yes, I know how crazy it sounds, but I felt I needed certainty. Luckily, the woman on the phone must be used to crazy people because she told me she would send someone out to check, but not to worry about it. I seriously wonder how Jeff managed to stay with me during all this.

I had many more obsessions that caused lots of anxiety. A lot of my compulsions were mental compulsions. I would spend hours going over situations in my mind to make sure that I didn't do anything "bad" or "wrong". Even now it is hard for me to explain, but I can tell you that it was a tough time. I was put on Prozac, Zoloft, Xanax, you name it I tried it. The problem was that these drugs worked for a little while, but then eventually they stopped and I had to switch to another medication. OCD requires higher doses of medications than depression or other mental illnesses do, so the side effects tend to be worse. I probably gained 20 or so pounds just from the medication. Couple that with how tired the pills (and the worrying) made me, I just was not active. I would eat and sleep most of the time.

I finally decided it was time to try Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I found a great therapist who taught me ways to cope with my obsessions and compulsions instead of feed into them. The problem with compulsions is that even though you might get temporary relief by performing them, it is cyclical. You do a compulsion (ie driving the block), feel better, then five minutes later you feel you have to do it again. I learned other ways to deal with my obsessions and compulsions and finally decided I might have the tools needed to control my OCD without medication. I went off my meds and began to work out. I knew I needed the endorphins to help me maintain my sanity. I also started to eat better and began following Weight Watchers. The weight started coming off and it has been about a year now that I have lost my weight. I will always struggle with my OCD. I still have days now that I obsessively worry about things and do mental compulsions, but it is not debilitating like it was before.

I know that I am very blessed to be able to control my disease without medication. I am also extremely blessed to be married to my husband. He has put up with a lot of ups and downs. Although I would never wish this disease on anyone, it has given me great empathy towards others dealing with mental disorders. It is so tough to live in your head and know that you can't control your thoughts. You want to, but you just don't know how.

Sorry this is such a rambling post, but I felt I should explain a little about my battle with OCD.

Thanks for reading,

Kellie

Egg-cellent!

2010-05-11T17:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was filled with eggs. I seriously had eggs with every meal. Lunch was an egg-white egg salad wrap. It had 1/2 container of Trader Joe's Egg White Egg Salad (50cal, 1pt), a Laughing Cow Light Swiss Wedge (35cal, 1pt), tomatoes, sprouts and romaine, all on a light Flat-Out Wrap (90cal, 1pt). It was so big I ended up eating it with a fork. Along side it I had my usual broccoli. I really could eat four bags of frozen broccoli a day.

Dinner was eggs as well. This time I had an entire container of Ranchero Egg White Egg Salad form TJ's (1oocal, 2pt), a Laughing Cow Light Swiss Wedge (35cal, 1pt) and Romaine in a La Tortilla 100cal Whole Wheat Tortilla (100cal, 1pt).

I had it with another huge salad, same ingredients as last night.
Breakfast this morning is my new favorite creation. 1/2 cup of Egg Substitute (60cal, 1pt) on a Van's Light Waffle (70cal, 1pt), with a Tbsp Sugar Free Syrup (~15cal, opt).

I also had Trader Joe's Frozen Maple and Brown Sugar Steel Cut oatmeal. I like that they are easy to heat up, but they don't taste as good as my usual bowl of oats. TJ's Steel Cut Oats (150cal, 2pt), 1/2Tbsp Chia (~35cal, opt), 1/4cup Almond Milk (10cal, opt), and cinnamon.

And to finish off with the egg theme, here are my new egg heads. Yes, it is Summer haircut time at our house. I refuse to pay $2o per child for a haircut, so Daddy just shaves them in the back yard.

Don't worry, it will grow quickly :)

Yoga Pose May

2010-05-11T07:26:00.000-07:00

Hi all! My computer has been doing weird things lately, hence the lack of a post yesterday. So let's just start fresh again.

I purchased these waffles when I was at Whole Foods this weekend and I decided to give them a try. They are only 70cal a piece and 1ww pt.
I ended up adding 1/2 cup of TJ's egg substitute (60cal, 1pt) to the top and sprinkled it with a tbsp of sugar free syrup (10cal). It was good.

Along with my egg and waffle I had a big bowl of oats. I mixed 36g of Cream of Rye (110cal, 1pt) with 20g Steel Cut Oats (75cal, 1pt). I topped it with 1/4 cup unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (10cal) and cinnamon.

Last night's dinner was one of my usual favorites. I simply put 102g of Polenta (70cal, 1pt) in a microwavable bowl with 40z Sweet Potato (103cal, 1pt), 1/2 cup egg substitute (60cal, 1pt) and a Laughing Cow Light Swiss Wedge (35cal, 1pt). I topped it with a little salt and pepper and microwaved it for 4min. All the flavors mixed really well together.

Along with my polenta I had a Sandwich Thin (100cal, 1pt) and a HUGE salad.

Mixed greens, carrots, tomatoes, mushrooms, cooked broccoli, 14g goat cheese (40cal, 1pt) and Whole Foods Balsamic (20cal, 0pt). This tasted so good. I think my body needed veggies yesterday.

I am participating in Yoga Pose May with Tina www.carrotsncake.com and my pose is Camel.

(Please don't be too envious of my ample cleavage)

I just came back from a strength training class at the gym, and am off to do laundry. Have a great Tuesday!

Mother's Day 2010

2010-05-09T16:04:00.000-07:00

Look at these beautiful tulips I got from Jeff and the kids this morning. Tulips are my favorite flowers. They are just so happy and colorful. I also got an itunes gift card and scratchers. I have an addiction to lotto scratchers. I always get them and then keep them in purse all day imagining what wonderful ways I will spend my inevitable winnings. I have not won big money yet, but I haven't lost hope.

We went out to Marie Callendar's last night for Mother's Day dinner. I know it is not an exciting restaurant, but I LOVE the cornbread. I love it so much that I order the entire table cornbread and then eat it all myself. I'm not kidding. I also love dessert, so I eat my pie with ice cream, then Jeff's and then the kids. I always leave with a huge belly ache, yet I return each week for more.

So instead of going out for lunch today, I opted for a sandwich made with these.

If you haven't tried them, you must. They are only 80 calories and are really flavorful. I put mine on a sandwich thin with a laughing cow light garlic wedge. I layered on tomatoes, sprouts and spinach so that I couldn't even close the sandwich.

Looks good, huh?

With a huge side of broccoli and asparagus. I do think that Trader Joe's has the best frozen broccoli around.

I am off to read while the children play Monopoly. There will be fighting, tears and possibly blood,

but since it is Mother's Day, it is not my problem.

Dinner is looking like sweet potato polenta and a vitamuffin sundae. I hope you all had a great Mother's Day.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

I won't be posting tomorrow so I can spend some extra time with these three monkeys.

Happy Mother's Day

Surf Contest Fun

2010-05-08T16:07:00.000-07:00

I just checked my email and saw the Jeff sent me some pictures he took with his phone. I wish I could tell you who these surfers are, but I have no idea. The kids look excited, though. As soon as I got these I called Jeff to make sure that he remembered sunscreen and I was reassured they have tons on.

Another beautiful day in Southern California!

A day to myself

2010-05-08T08:25:00.000-07:00

Jeff and the kids were up and out of the house at 6:30 this morning. He was taking them down to a Surf Contest today and I chose to stay and enjoy the quiet. Jeff loves surfing, the kids love the beach, and I love a quiet house to myself, so it was a win-win for everyone. This was a picture from the US Open this Summer.

I had big plans to sleep in, but I just feel lazy when I do, so I got up and cleaned the house. It really needed it and it went so fast when I could do it without any "help" from little ones. I tried to stall breakfast as long as possible and as soon as I put the mop away I dug in.

I had a Sandwich Thin with a Tbsp Better N' Peanut Butter and some spray I Can't Believe It's Not Butter.

I also made a bowl of oats last night. It has 36g of Cream of Rye, 20g of Steel cut Oats, and 20g of Scottish Oats. I mixed in 1/4 cup almond milk and some cinnamon.

I am going to read a little and hit the gym for a 10:30 class. I hope you have a great Saturday.

Muffins with Mom

2010-05-07T13:37:00.000-07:00

Today I got to go to Ryan's class for Muffins with Mom. She was very excited to have mommy all to herself this morning.

So cute.

They had quite a spread of muffins, fruit and juice. They sent home a note to all the dads asking for them to contribute something for the breakfast. Yeah right, we moms brought all the goodies.

Ryan is not one to miss out on good food, so she had two plates. I had my oatmeal and flat-out wrap at home, so I decided to just enjoy the company.

They each made us a pot with seeds inside.

It was a great morning and it is tons of fun having a little girl.

I'm Back

2010-05-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the last few days. It sucks when the internet is out. Here are some picture recaps of what went on, foods consumed, and Mother's Day parties at school. I really like the book Jake made for me. Full post tonight.

Internet Down

2010-05-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
I am using the library computer right now. My internet is down and I am crossing my fingers it will be up tonight or tomorrow. I will post then. I hope you are having a great week.

Spring is Here!

2010-05-03T18:24:00.000-07:00

It is finally warm here! So warm that Ryan can go deep sea diving in Grandma's spa.
I am so happy it's finally warm here. I know that most places would love to have our beach weather all year long, but when it is below 75ish, I freeze.

Today I made a delicious, creamy bowl of oats for breakfast. This one had 20g Steel Cut Oats (75cal, 1pt) 20g Scottish Oats (80cal, 1pt) and 36g of Rye (110cal, 1pt) mixed with 1/4 cup of Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla Milk (10cal) and cinnamon. I also had a side of whole wheat toast (90cal, 1pt).

On Monday's I go to the gym after dropping Conner off. I usually run on the treadmill and then go to a Pilate's class. I had a great interval run today. I alternated 1/2mile at 7.0 (1%incline) with 1/2 mile at 8.2 (1%incline). I finished 6.5miles and felt great. I went straight to Pilates and had a great core workout. I have become a big fan of Pilates.

After the gym, I picked Conner up at school and we went to Trader Joe's for our first of probably about 4 visits there this week. I stocked up on my favorites and got some Ranchero Egg White Egg Salad for lunch. It is hidden there beneath all the sprouts. My sandwich was made up of a Whole Wheat Sandwich Thin (100cal, 1pt) Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedge (35cal, 1pt) 1/2 container Egg White Egg Salad (50cal, 1pt) tomatoes, sprouts and lettuce. I also cooked some fresh asparagus and broccoli for the sides. It was a huge lunch.

I went to a LIFT class at the gym this evening. After class I had a Vanilla Protein Shake from Trader Joe's. 21g of protein, only 100cal. It was really good and kept me full while I got the kids fed.

Dinner was my usual sweet potato burrito and salad. (You can look at a previous post for stats)

I am going to go join Conner in a round of golf. The dress code on the course is obviously casual.

Good night!

Going to Grandma's

2010-05-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

Last night we got to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house for our Auntie Kristen and soon to be Uncle Mike's bridal shower. They had a co-ed casino party and since we did not have a babysitter, Ryan, Jake and Conner got to come. Everyone loves going to Grandma's. When we got there, Jeff and I mingled with the adults while the kids got to go into the back room and play on the computer. I don't let them on the computer very much at home, so when they get to play it is a big treat.

Future Uncle Mike and Auntie Kristen (Jeff's sister). Jeff and I actually met through Kristen. She was my roommate in our Sorority house. Some good times were had in those days (some I would rather forget).

Dinner was a chicken casserole with rolls and salad. Since I don't eat meat I think I consumed 3-4 rolls with butter (so good) and lots of Mandarin salad. I will tell you, last night was quite a binge. I seem to have a hard time when I start drinking as far as knowing when to stop eating. Oh well. You only live once. I never eat white rolls and real butter so these babies were definately a highlight.

This punch is why I lost control of my eating. It had vodka, peach schnapps and juice. SOOO good. You couldn't taste the alcohol so you just kept drinking. Remember "jungle juice" in college..same thing here.

The kids stayed in the bedroom most of the night, but they did get to come out and visit with Grandma Chris. They love their Grandma. As you can see, Jake was no where to be seen. I think he didn't leave the computer once the entire evening.

Conner and Uncle Mike

At this point in the night I had consumed my body weight it Chex Mix, wine, punch and rolls. But I definitely had room for the beauty on the counter behind me.

A chocolate fountain!

with cream puffs..

marshmellows, pretzels, brownies, strawberries, rice crispy treats and angel food cake. I ate until I was sick. I also consumed 2 huge slices of carrot cake. Not my finest food night. Some girls take their clothes off when they are drunk (ok, maybe in my sorority days), but I just keep eating.

Notice how the pictures are getting blurry..so was my vision.

Conner enjoyed the fountain.

Ryan didn't waste any. None on her face, all in her mouth.

The sugar kicked in, then resulted in a crash.

On the way home I needed a diet coke. I might have had some fries from Del Taco too. I am still dealing with a tummy ache, but it was a fun night. Here's to many happy years Auntie Kristen and Uncle Mike.

Kids

2010-04-30T17:11:00.001-07:00

No time to post today, so I thought I would introduce you to Jacob, Ryan Grace and Conner.

Sweet Potato Polenta

2010-04-29T19:49:00.001-07:00

I had such a great dinner tonight. I decided to use the polenta that I had in the fridge. I also had part of the sweet potato from last night so I decided to incorporate the two. Introducing Sweet Potato and Egg Polenta.I started off with one serving of polenta (70cal, 1pt) and smashed 4oz of sweet potato (103cal, 1pt).

Next I added 1/2 cup of my liquid eggs from Trader Joe's (60cal, 1pt).

I put a wedge of Laughing Cow Swiss (35cal, 1pt) and microwaved it for 4min.

The finished product was SO good. All the different flavors were great. I enjoyed a big salad (same as last night) and a piece of whole wheat toast (90cal, 1pt) with I Can't Believe it's Not Butter Spray.

I am now trying to decide which one of these beauties I am having for dessert. There will be a vitamuffin and probably a banana on top too.

Going to watch The Hangover with my husband. G'night!

Happy Meal

2010-04-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

I am actually on schedule this morning. Some mornings I feel like I am running around, but not getting much done. Today I am going to be able to sit down and eat my oatmeal before doing morning drop offs at school.

Last night I brought back an old friend. I have not had sweet potato for almost a week. I used to eat them for every meal and am surprised that I don't have an orange hue to my complexion.

I simply microwaved this guy for 4min on each side in a paper towel.

I cut up 6.4oz (yes, I measure it on my food scale) and put it in a whole wheat tortilla with provolone.

I had a delicious salad to go with it. This picture is before I added brussel sprouts and sesame soy dressing from Trader Joe's.

cooked Broccoli
mixed greens
spinach
tomatoes
cucumbers
mushrooms
brussel sprouts
carrots
14g goat cheese
2tbsp sesame soy Dressing

I saw this article online last night and I thought it was interesting. A county in California is banning Happy Meal toys. The idea is that the toys are encouraging children to eat fatty, unhealthy food.

I am not quite sure how I feel about this. Yes, my kids don't eat Mc. Donald's unless they are with Grandma, but I think that the happy meal toy is a big treat. I used to love getting them when I was little. My kids still can get the apple dippers and milk instead of fries and a coke, so I think an occasional cheeseburger won't kill them. Isn't it up to the parent's to decide how to feed their children? Would I love to not have to sneak the little toys to the trash while they are asleep, of course. Would I want to deny them the joy of getting the Kung Foo Panda toy they were hoping for, nope.
What do you think about the ban on Happy Meal toys?

I am off to eat and get ready for the day. See you at lunch.

My Favorite Things

2010-04-28T07:43:00.000-07:00

Raindrops on roses

and whiskers on kittens

that is all I know of the song, but I thought I would show you some of the foods that I always have on hand. They are staples of my diet and I usually eat them all at least once a day. Here are my favorite things.

Bagged produce. I know it would be cheaper to buy my own and chop it, but when you are starving and have just given three baths, bribed your 3rd grader to finish his homework, and convinced Conner to "put down the scissors", you have little energy to slice and dice. That is why my fridge is always fully stocked with produce.

Sweet potatoes. You can buy them in bulk at Costco, nuff said.

My liquid eggs. I love these things. I just microwave 1/2 a cup of them in a bowl with some spinach and they make and excellent sandwich, wrap or burrito.

Flat Out Wraps. I will be honest, at first I didn't like them, but now I am addicted. I like to put a little PB on them for breakfast. Really good, and great nutritional stats.

My favorite tortillas. I can only find them at Vons, but I love them. They are huge, 100% whole wheat, and 100 lovely calories.

My crack. My husband actually commented one time why they don't make these in bigger jars. Try this in chocolate pudding with some fiber cereal sprinkled on top. Tastes like a crunchy pb cup.

Almond milk. For my oatmeal. Only 40cal per cup.

My oats. I mix a little of each together. So good. If you have not tried the Scottish ones, you must. Very chewy and dense.

TJ's High Fiber Cereal. I sprinkle this on yogurt, pudding, even broccoli.

My favorite yogurt. Only 50cal so 0wwpt.

I love my desert and never, ever skip it. These usually make an appearance. I make my yogurt bowls with these two. The chocolate is technically 0wwpt.

My new wonderful find. These are the best ever! I just tried the Dulce De Leche flavor last night. Creamy, filling and a great size. Only 150cal, 2wwpt for the entire container. Put these on a vitamuffin and you will be very happy.

Here are a few other unpictured favorites: Laughing Cow Cheese, Vitamuffins, WW Bread from Trader Joe's, Vegetarian Refried Beans, light string cheese. egg white egg salad from TJ's, Gardenburger Vegan Burgers.

Since I am talking about my favorite things, of course these three are my MOST favorite.

Oh.. and bedtime is a favorite of mine too.

Run. Drive. Sleep? Repeat.

2010-04-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Ragnar was a blast! Exhausting, chaotic and fun. The adventure started on Thursday night. We all met at one of our teammate's house and drove up to the hotel. There were 11 people on our team. Since our race time was at 7:30am on Friday, we decided to get two hotel rooms to share in Ventura close to the race start. I probably went to bed around midnight, but since it was before a race, I didn't sleep very well.

The race is made up of 36 different legs. Most teams have 12 runners so each person runs 3 legs. Your team has two vans. Van 1 runners run the first part of the race. During that time Van 2 hangs out and supports the other runners (or drinks beer). I was in Van 1 so I was excited to run the 4th leg of the race. The race officials give you a "slap" bracelet. All you 80's and 90's kids remember those. That is your baton. When your runner crosses the exchange, you slap on your bracelet and start running.

My first leg was beautiful. I ran through strawberry country with farms on both sides. I was worried about my leg, but ended up running 7.7 miles in under an hour. I have to tell you, speed work really helps. It was about 11am, so it was just starting to get warm, but not hot yet.

My first leg.

Once you take off running, your van picks up the runner that just finished, then proceeds to the next exchange. Unfortunately, the directions they gave were horrible, so there was a lot of wrong turns.

Some of my team (minus 1). This picture was at a van exchange on day two. After getting 90min of sleep, total. We all look surprisingly perky for having just ran all night.

After our van finished our first legs, we had time to kill while the other van was running. We ended up driving to the next exchange point to acclimate ourselves with where we needed to be, and then stopped for dinner. We went to Marie Callendars. I so wanted pie, but was afraid that my tummy would act up if I ate it before running. Let me tell you, we looked like quite the motley crew in the restaurant. The smell was probably lovely.

We started our next legs about 9pm. Unfortunately, these run were in some unsavory parts of Los Angeles. The race was supposed to have police every 1/2 mile during these legs, but they were not there. I ended up running the leg below with my friend so she didn't run alone. It was really dark and there were not many runners to be seen along the course. We ran this leg about 1am.

My van!

I had a short break after running her leg with her. My next leg I ran by myself. It was about 2am and I ran down Sunset Blvd. I found a group to stick with and did not feel unsafe at all. It was so fun because all the bars were getting out so the drunks were cheering us on. I kicked but at speed. I looked at my garmin at one point and was doing a 7:11. My new motto is "The faster you run, the sooner you're done".

Ragnar is very big on safety. When runners ran at night (from 6pm-6am) we were required to wear reflective vests, a flashlight, and blinking back lights. We also were required to stop for the signals and run against traffic at all time. This is what the streets looked like with the runners in their gear.

After our van finished we met our group at the Santa Monica Pier and got the hotel keys from the next van. We all took quick showers and crawled into bed at 3:30am. We were hoping to be able to sleep until 6am, but we got a call from Van 2 at 5 saying it was time to meet again. I have never hit the pillow and fallen asleep so quickly.

My last leg was amazing. I ran through Long Beach and actually ran on part of my 1/2 marathon course. I got to run on the boardwalk and the weather was perfect.

Once our van was finished with our last legs, we met Van 2 in Huntington Beach to exchange some gear. We were done after that until we had to meet later to cross the finish line as a group. We went home and I made Jeff take me to Marie Callendars again so I could get pie. I have never been so hungry. I think the lack of sleep mixed with the running did a number on my appetite. I seriously ate all my food, my kids food and three deserts. I came home, took a shower and crashed for a few hours.

Hungtington Beach, our van was finished!

We got a call from Van 2 letting us know what time to meet them at the finish line in Dana Point. We all crossed together and got our medals. You can tell those in van 1 because we had all showered and changed out of our running clothes.

This is our team minus 1. One of our van mates had to head out as soon as she was done running. The little boy in red accepted her medal for her (he's a son of one of the guys).

I ended up sleeping most of Sunday. I woke up pretty early, went grocery shopping, then went back to bed.

I feel great now. I think I got a mild case of shin splints and my ankles are slightly sore, but that is it. I think the hardest part of the race was being in a van for such a long time. You didn't have time to stretch after you ran because you had to get to the next exchange in time. We all were a little stiff.

I will definitely be doing this race again. It was tons of fun and all the participants were great. People decorated their vans, wore costumes, and partied the entire time. I still have not gotten all of my pictures back, but when I do, I will post the rest. It was a great weekend.

Lazy Blogger

2010-04-26T20:26:00.001-07:00

I am so sorry that I have not blogged for a bit. I am waiting for a friend's pictures from Ragnar so that I can give a full recap. So in the meantime, I will give you today's eats.

I woke up super early this morning. Probably due to the fact that I slept on and off most of Sunday. I bought some new Cream of Rye cereal from Mother's and I really like it. Breakfast consisted of:

36g Cream of Rye (110cal, 1pt)

20g Scottish Oats (80cal, 1pt)

1/4 cup Almond Milk (10cal, 0pt)

Cinnamon and Sweet n' low

Trader Joe's WW toast with spray butter (90cal, 1pt)

Half an Orange (~30cal, opt)

It was very filling and good. I love this oatmeal because it is high volume. I like to see a full bowl of food when I eat.

After dropping Conner off at preschool I went to the gym. My legs are a little sore from my race and I think I have a mild case of shin splints, so I was planning on doing the elliptical, but when I got there they were full. I ended up running 5 1/2 miles with intervals and hills. It felt good to move my stiff legs. After running I went to Pilates. If you have not done Pilates, I highly recommend it. I am getting defination in my abs that I have not seen since way before kids.

I had a Fiber One Yogurt (50cal, 0pt) and 1/3 Cup TJ's Fiber Cereal (40cal, opt) for a snack before picking up Conner.

Lunch was delicious.

1/2 Container Spicy Egg White Egg Salad (50cal, 1pt)

Earthgrains Sandwich Thin (100cal, 1pt)

Laughing Cow Light Swiss Wedge (35cal, 1pt)

Sprouts, Tomatoes, Broccoli

Unpictured small peach (0pt)

I decided to take a LIFT class at 4:30 and before going to the gym I had a Fiber One 90cal bar. I try not to eat these as I am not a fan of the long ingredient list, but I had one leftover from this weekend.

I purchased some protein shakes from Trader Joe's when I was there yesterday. One of my instructors recommended that I eat more protein. I was always hesitant about shakes because I thought they were really caloric, but these are great. I had one after class and was pleasantly surprised. It also kept my hunger at bay until dinner.

Here are the stats:

Only 2 points.

I was craving veggies since I was not able to eat as many as I usually do this weekend. I had a HUGE salad for dinner.

Mixed Greens

Broccoli

Tomatoes

Mushrooms

Sprouts

Carrots

Cucumber

2Tbsp TJ's Soy Sesame Dressing (35cal, 1pt)

With my salad I made a quesadilla. I think I found a new favorite creation.

La Tortilla WW tortilla (100cal, 1pt)

14g Goat Cheese (40cal, 1pt)

21g Light Swiss (50cal, 1pt)

Spinach

Tomatoes

I am going to have a vitamuffin pudding bowl for desert.

I promise as soon as I get my Ragnar pictures back I will post them with a full recap. It was a great race and I am definitely doing it again next year.

Sorry for being so lazy, I promise now that I am caught up on my sleep, I will post as usual.

Goodnight.

Must Sleep

2010-04-24T20:14:00.001-07:00

Ragnar is done! 200miles, 36ish hours...90min total sleep. Full Recap with photos tomorrow.

Getting Ready

2010-04-22T12:56:00.000-07:00

I am one of those people who like to be ready in advance. I get ready for the morning by making my oatmeal the night before. (It is somewhere under all that foil)

I make sure the kids will be ready to leave the house quickly in the morning by setting out all their clothes the night before.

We are still perpetually late, but at least I try.

I made my lunch early today so when I got home from the gym it would be ready to eat.

La Tortilla Whole Wheat Wrap (100cal, 1pt)

2 1/2 oz Brown Rice (80cal, 1pt)

21g Light Provolone (60cal, 1pt)

Spinach, sprouts and tomatoes

Broccoli on the side

After I ate I spent the day getting ready for my race. I leave tonight and I wanted to get everything packed and ready to go. I am bringing warm clothes because I heard it was supposed to be cold. Since it is a 24hr relay event and I will be running at night, I want to make sure I have warm running wear. I also am trying to pack my food. I am not a fast food eater, so I decided to pack my own fruit, peanut butter sandwiches and veggies. I figure that way if everyone wants to stop at Mc. Donald's, I can eat what I packed.

I need to get off the computer and get the kids ready for tomorrow. Since I am leaving tonight, I want to make sure that are all set for the morning.

Speaking of kids, Conner has spent the day making sure he is ready for the next earthquake.

That or he is getting ready for a life behind bars. With Conner, you just never know.

I will be ready to give a full recap of Ragnar on Sunday. Have a great weekend!

No Rain on Ragnar

2010-04-21T18:21:00.001-07:00

April showers bring May flowers. That is what Conner learned in school today. This is my "May flower" he made for me.
It looks like it is going to storm here any minute now. I am not a fan of cold weather and seeing as I am leaving for my race tomorrow, I am hoping for a forecast change. Please no rain on Ragnar!

I decided to go to the gym this afternoon, but as soon as I got on the treadmill I knew it was a mistake. I got right off and went home. My body is so tired and I know it needs to rest, I just hate taking unscheduled rest days. I usually take Sundays as my rest days and since I do have OCD, it really bothers me not to stick to a schedule. I need to learn to listen to my body. Rest is just as important as working out.
The trip was not a total loss as Trader Joe's is right down the street. I picked one of my favorite things to have for my dinner.

I love this stuff. It is spicy and delicious. I decided to make an egg salad burrito for dinner.

1/2 container Egg White Salad (50cal, 1pt)
21g Provolone (60cal, 1pt)
2.5oz Brown Rice (80cal, 1pt)
La Tortilla Whole Wheat Tortilla (100cal, 1pt)

I also picked up this new dressing as I am out of my favorite Whole Foods Balsamic.

Not a big fan. It is OK, but it needs something. I ended up adding salsa to give it more of a kick.

The "platter of salad" came back tonight.

Mixed Greens
Sprouts
Cucumber
Broccoli
Carrots
Sweet Peppers
Tomatoes
Slice of Whole Wheat Toast as breadcrumbs (90cal, 1pt)
56g Fat Free Cottage Cheese (40cal, 1pt)
2Tbsp Cilantro Dressing (45cal, 1pt)
2Tbsp Salsa (10cal, 0pt)

I am off to go start packing,

but I definitely see some dessert in my future.

Ragnar Relay

2010-04-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

I forgot to mention that I am running my first relay race this weekend. I am doing the Ragnar Relay. I will be leaving tomorrow night for Ventura County and then finishing Saturday in Dana Point. I have never done a relay race, but have always wanted to. Here is a description of the race from the site.

It's really quite simple. Get a bunch of friends together (or we can help you find team members who'll quickly become your friends) and start running. Okay, there's a little more to it. Your relay team will consist of 12 members. During the relay, each team member runs three legs, each leg ranging between 3 - 8 miles and varying in difficulty. So, from the elite runner down to the novice jogger, it's the perfect relay race for anyone.
Each team is responsible for providing two support vehicles, with six runners in each vehicle. The first vehicle will drop off the first runner, drive ahead a few miles, cheer the runner on, and provide them with water, snacks, and plenty of love. That vehicle will then drive ahead to the first exchange point to drop off the second runner, and pick up the first runner when that leg is complete. They will repeat this pattern for six legs until they hand off to their second vehicle. This leapfrogging pattern will continue all the way to the finish line.

I only know one of my team members, but I figure there is no better way to get to know people than spend a sweaty 24hr in a van with them. Here is a map of the course.

I am doing three legs totalling 15miles. I had originally signed up to to a leg that had 18 miles, but it had two very hard runs in it and since I am still coming off of a possible stress fracture, I didn't want to push it. I ended up signing up for leg 4.

7.7 miles hard
3.8 miles easy
3.5 miles easy
total 15miles

After dropping Conner off at school today I headed to the gym. I sat in the parking lot for 5min debating whether or not I should go home. I did not sleep well last night and I feel like I am getting sick. My body is sore and tired and it feels like I should give it a rest, especially before the race. The problem is that now I feel guilty. I am still debating whether I should go back when Jeff gets home and do some time on the treadmill. I wish that I didn't feel so guilty when I decide to take a rest day.

Do you feel guilty when you take an unscheduled rest day?

See you this evening.

Where did today go?

2010-04-20T16:27:00.001-07:00

Wow, today got away from me. I just sat down and realized it is 4:30. I need to make this quick so I can get dinner ready for the kids. Here are some of today's eats.
Breakfast:

20g Steel Cut Oats (75cal, 1pt)
20g Scottish Oats (80cal, 1pt)
1/4 Cup Almond Milk (10cal, opt)
Tbsp Chia Seeds (35cal, 0pt)
Cinnamon
Earthgrains Sandwich Thin (100cal, 1pt)

After dropping Ryan and Jake off at school, Conner and I hit the gym for a Strength Training Class. I love this class. She throws some cardio intervals in between sets and I get such a great work-out. Conner and I ate our snacks in the car after the gym because we were headed to Target. I had a repeat of yesterday's snack.

Fiber One Yogurt (50cal, opt)
1/3 Cup TJ's Fiber Cereal (40cal, 0pt)
Cutie (~30cal, opt)

After Target I picked up Ryan and headed to the library. She has a farm animal report to do and she chose to do a cat. Farm cats are important too.

When I got home I made my lunch.

Earthgrains Sandwich Thin (100cal, 1pt)
1/2 Cup Egg Substitute (60cal, 1pt)
Laughing Cow Light Swiss Wedge (35cal, 1pt)
Spinach and Tomatoes

With a generous serving of broccoli on the side.

And a beautiful apple (~80cal, 1pt)

While typing this post I am eating a Light String Cheese (60cal, 1pt) and snacking on some cucumbers with Conner.

I have no idea what I am having for dinner yet, but I definitely see some of this in my future tonight.

The rest of the day

2010-04-19T22:00:00.001-07:00

I managed to get everthing done I needed to. The kids are fast asleep (Ryan with a pull-up tonight) and I am ready to fall in to bed too. I thought I would finish with a short re-cap of the rest of today's eats.
Lunch was a sweet potato wrap:

4oz sweet potato (103cal, 1pt)
Flat-Out Light Wrap (90cal, 1pt)
21g Light Provolone (60cal, 1pt)
sprouts and tomatoes Served with a side of broccoli.

After lunch (which ended up being at 3) I met a friend for a LIFT class at the gym. I normally don't work out 3hrs a day, but since I told her I would be there, I had to go. On the way to the gym I had a Kozy Shack Chocolate No Sugar Added pudding (60cal, 0pt)

When I got home I did the usual kid's dinner, bath and bed.

My dinner was the same as last night.

Trader Joe's Baked not Fried Eggplant Parmigana (160cal, 3pt)
Earthgrains Sandwich Thin (100cal, 1pt)
4oz sweet potato (103cal, 1pt) unpictured
A salad with mixed greens, sprouts, tomatoes and 14g goat cheese (40cal, 1pt)

Dessert was good tonight.

Vitamuffin (100cal, 1pt)
Light Vanilla Icecream (100cal, 2pt)
Small banana (~80cal, 1pt)
15grams Reddi Wip (15cal, opt)
7grams mini chocolate chips (40cal, 1pt)

Sorry it is blurry. My hands were shaking with excitement.

I am going to fall into bed and get some rest for tomorrow. Wonder when my personal alarm clock (Conner) will be calling?

What do you do all day?

2010-04-19T14:12:00.000-07:00

A single friend without children asked me what I do with all my "free time" now my three kids are in school. I play tennis at the club and lunch with the ladies, of course. Since I have never shown a full day of eats before or what I do with "all my free time", I thought today would be the day.

6:20am- I woke up to a quiet house. So excited to be able to eat breakfast alone I quickly threw on the gym clothes on the floor and tiptoed to the kitchen. I set out the kids breakfast on the table so there would be no interruptions when I sat down to eat. They had donuts (OK so maybe I am contributing to childhood obesity, but A. it's Monday and B. I gave them fat free milk to drink). I, on the other hand, had a new cereal to try.

I am in love with this cereal. This cereal was great. My only concern was that it doesn't make as big of a bowl as my Roman Meal does, but the texture and chew can't be beat.
Here's what my bowl this morning contained:

20g Scottish Oats (80cal, 1pt)
20g Steel Cut Oats (75cal, 1pt)
1/4 Cup Almond Milk (10cal, opt)
1/2 Tbsp Chia (30cal, opt)
Cinnamon

With my oats I made an egg sandwich starring another new find.

I usually buy the Orrowheat Sandwich Thins, but I saw these and decided to give them a try instead. I think I like them better. They are not as sweet and felt slightly denser.

My sandwich:

EarthGrains Sandwich Thin (100cal, 1pt)
1/2 Cup Egg Substitute from TJ's (60cal, 1pt)
Laughing Cow Light Swiss Wedge (35cal, 1pt)
Tomatoes and Spinach

I told you I eat a big breakfast.

6:35am- As soon as my breakfast was done, the kids started waking up. As I was
about to sit down Ryan informed me she wet the bed...again. Not only that but she somehow managed to smuggle gummy bears into her bed last night, which mixed with the wetness made a lovely rainbow surprise. Stripped the sheets while man handling sticky gummy bears out of Conner's sugar crazed hands.
Started laundry, put the load that was already in the washer in the dryer and cleaned up the kids breakfast dishes. Packed backpacks and snacks while trying to convince them that it is not necessary to use half a tube of toothpaste each time they brush their teeth. Clean said toothpaste mess off of bathroom counter (and floor, mirror and towels).

7:56am- Sat down and ate my breakfast.

8:00am- Dropped Ryan and Jake off at school.

8:15am- Ran home because I forgot to pack Conner's lunch. Transferred dry laundry to growing pile on living room chair and put wet laundry in dryer while starting another load of wash.

9:00am- Dropped Conner off at school and went directly to the gym.

9:15am-10:00am- Ran 6.2 miles on the treadmill.

10:15-11:15-Pilates class since I can't even find my core after having three kids.

11:20-Stopped by the house to grab a snack and the growing pile of mail to read while I waited in the parking lot for Conner to get out of preschool.

My usual mid-morning snack.

Fiber One Yogurt (50cal, opt)

With 1/4 cup TJ's High Fiber Cereal (40cal, opt)

Jeff thinks it kind of looks like rat food, and I have to agree.

All mixed up.

With a cutie on the side (~30cal, opt)

Makes mom smile too!

12:15- Ran errands with Conner while he ate the rest of his leftover lunch. Learned all about the letter V while arguing with him that it was a "V" not a "B".

1:30-Picked Ryan up from school. Now home blogging and getting ready to make my lunch. Maybe some cute finger sandwiches like they serve when I lunch with the ladies at the club.

What to choose, what to choose?

2010-04-18T18:42:00.000-07:00

Today's Pet Expo was great! My kids spent the day trying to decide what kind of pet they want. Jake was testing out the "forget dogs, maybe we should get a sloth" idea...

(seriously, cutest pictures ever)

Ryan thought a pony would be fun...

Conner nixed the pony idea and went straight for the horse... (the kid's mentality is go big or go home)

except for maybe this little goat...

Ryan wanted a dog that is way fancier than her mommy... (doesn't take much there)

and Conner found the dog of his dreams... ( I told you, go big or go home)

They all could agree on Dippin' Dots for a snack. I couldn't quite decide so I went with my packed snack of mixed veggies and a cutie (sans the Ranch, I just don't like it).

Instead of using their college tuition to buy lunch there, we decided to go to Del Taco. I ended up making my own burrito at home.

La Tortilla Whole Wheat Tortilla (100cal, 1pt)
Gardenburger Black Bean Chipotle Burger (100cal, 1pt)
Light Provolone (60cal, 1pt)
Sprouts and lettuce
Forgive the half-eaten burrito picture. I was starving and ate half before I took a picture. Yes, I am still wearing my husband's jacket and those are my dry "man hands". I told you I am not a glamorous girl.

Sorry about the lack of food pictures and meals, but I will be better tomorrow. I did get some new Scottish Style Porridge Oats to try, so I will let you know how they are in the morning. Off to go try and choose what pet I want. I am thinking a goldfish is sounding better and better.

Goodnight

Why I live in Southern California

2010-04-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

Jeff told me I had to put this picture up. I should preface this by saying that is over 70degrees outside. I am always cold. ALWAYS. I was writing out my grocery list and looked up to find him taking my picture. I didn't know why until he started laughing and asked me if I was going sledding today? I have on a shirt, a sweater and his jacket. Plus a beanie to keep my ears warm. I guess my plans to move to Minnesota are not the most well thought out.

I am off to the Orange County Pet Expo right now, but will be back with a weekend recap tonight. By the way, we don't even own a pet. Crossing my fingers that Jeff will let me get a kitten today. Something to cuddle with and keep me warm.

Microwave Oats

2010-04-17T08:34:00.000-07:00

It's the weekend!

After making the kids Millet toast with peanut butter and turning on Saturday morning cartoons, I got to making my breakfast. After looking back at previous posts, I realize that it looks as though I don't eat breakfast. Not true. Breakfast is actually my biggest meal and the one I look forward to the most (as in I go to bed thinking about the following morning's breakfast).

Today's was the usual hot cereal mix. I know that everyone says that stove-top oats are so much better than microwave ones, but I like my microwave oats. I think they taste just as good and anything that saves me time in the morning is welcomed (sometimes I don't even shower until 3pm).

To make my cereal I mix Steel-Cut Oats with Roman Meal Hot Cereal. I found that this is the only "bowl" big enough to microwave my oats in. I have had many oat explosions when I have used to shallow of a dish. Because I weigh out my cereal, I simply put the dish on my food scale and add the ingredients.

20g Trader Joe's Steel Cut Oatmeal (75cal, 1pt)
36g Roman Meal Wheat, Oats, Bran, Rye and Flax Cereal (110cal, 1pt)

I never measure out my water. I just put enough in the bowl to cover the cereal completely. Microwave for about 4min. Depending on how much water I put in sometimes more, sometimes less. If I am cooking them the night before I leave a little more water in them as they soak it up in the fridge overnight.

I pour the cereal into the bowl and add my toppings.

1/4 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (10cal, 0pt)
1/2 Tbsp Chia Seeds (~30cal, opt)
Cinnamon

Delicious. Today's cereal was served with half of an orange and a Flat-Out Wrap (90cal, 1pt) with 16g Better N' Peanut Butter (50cal, 1pt).

Last night's dinner was another easy one. I had four packages of Trader Joe's Baked Not Fried Eggplant Parmigiana in the freezer. They always seem to fall out of the freezer when Jeff opens the door (eliciting some lovely words for Conner to repeat to his Sunday School teacher) so I was asked to please start eating them before they end up in the trash.

It does not look very appetizing, but it tasted great.

Baked Not Fried Eggplant Parmigiana (160cal, 3pt).

I added spinach to the top for some extra green.

On the side I had some broccoli and a slice of TJ's Whole Wheat toast (90cal, 1pt). I always seem to pick at the toast so that is why there are some bites already out of it.

Of course there was a salad too. It is much smaller than my usual "platter", but I was feeling lazy.

Mixed greens
Mushrooms
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Carrots
14g goat cheese (40cal, 1pt)
2tbsp Whole Food's Fat Free Balsamic (2ocal, opt)

I might have had a chocolate Vitamuffin (1oocal, 1pt) with a scoop of Mocha Light Ice cream (100cal, 2pt) AND Vanilla Light Ice cream (100cal, 2pt) AND 7g mini chocolate chips (40cal, 1pt) topped with 15g of Reddi Wip (15cal, 0pt). I think I was hungry from my run earlier, but I stilled stayed in my calories and points for the day so it was all good.

That is one of the reasons I wanted to start this blog. I think people think that I don't eat and that is how I lost weight, but it is quite the contrary. I eat a lot, I just try to find a good balance. I also eat a veggie based diet. Whole grains, veggies and low-fat dairy seem to work for me. I do ALWAYS have dessert and I usually have a "cheat" day on the weekends. I know that some feel that "cheat day" is not a good term, but that is exactly what I feel it is. It gives me a break and allows my body a little shock that seems to keep my metabolism going. I did not do this as much when I was losing, but now that I am maintaining, my weekly "cheat day" works for me. I am off to a class at the gym and then who knows what is on the agenda for the day. I hope you have a relaxing Saturday.

Do you have a "cheat day" or do you give yourselves little treats throughout the week?

Success

2010-04-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

Today was a pretty successful day in our house.
- Ryan got her very first Principal Success Award (yes, we are saving for orthodontia).
- I successfully remembered to bring my camera (just forgot to charge the battery first)
After, I drug my tired self to the gym and did a successful 7.5 miles with hill and speed work.

I also successfully kept everyone off of the treadmills next to me by sweating profusely.

Lunch was so successful yesterday that I decided to recreate it today.
- Flat Out Light Wrap (90cal, 1pt)
- 40z Sweet Potato (103cal, 1pt)
- 21g Light Provolone (60cal, 1pt)
- Sprouts, Tomatoes and Spinach
Served with a side of broccoli and sweet peppers.
I decide to reward all of my success with an after lunch treat.
- 113g of Fage 0% Greek Yogurt (60cal, 1pt)
- Kozy Shack Chocolate Pudding (60cal, opt)
- 1/4 cup Puffed Kamut Cereal (25cal, opt)
- 15 g Reddi Wip (15cal, 0pt)
I have successfully washed two loads of laundry, hopefully I will be more successful in getting Jeff to put it away.

Happy Friday to you all!

Polenta Quiche

2010-04-15T21:03:00.000-07:00

Here is the gorgeous peach I snacked on this afternoon. Jeff wanted to know why I was taking a picture of an apple? I now know what Jamie Oliver felt on Food Revolution when the kids didn't know the difference between a tomato and potato.

70z peach (~80cal, 1pt). For dinner tonight I decided the break out the polenta I bought at Trader Joe's.

I added broccoli and a Laughing Cow Cheese wedge (35cal, 1pt) to 102g of polenta (70cal, 1pt).

I poured 1/2 cup of egg substitute (60cal, 1pt) into my cute heart pans and baked at 375 for approximately 30min.

Unfortunately my quiches didn't come out in a heart shape, but they still tasted great. On the side I had a small salad.

Mixed Greens

Tomatoes

Mushrooms

Carrots

1Tbsp TJ's Spicy Peanut Dressing (35cal, 1pt)

I also had another Flat-Out Wrap (90cal, 1pt).

It was a filling dinner. I am exhausted and have an early wake-up call.

Goodnight!

Hard Thursdays

2010-04-15T13:58:00.001-07:00

I am not a fan of Thursdays. By the time Thursday rolls around I am tired and just want the week to be over. I know I have one more night of homework, backpacks and lunch packing. I spend the day counting down until bedtime and due to daylight savings, cannot convince the kids that it's any earlier than 8 o'clock.

I went to the gym this morning and did a LIFT class. I was planning on running on the treadmill afterwards, but my leg has been bothering me. I ended up walking for 30min on a 10% incline and talking with a friend (hi Carrie).

After the gym I had a Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt (50cal, 0pt) and 1/3 Cup TJ's Fiber Cereal (40cal, 0pt)
I also had a package of apple slices (30cal, 0pt).

Lunch was delicious. I decided to mix up my usual sweet potato burrito by making a wrap. I bought the Flat-Out Light Wraps at the store today and decided to give them a try. Verdict? I love them! My wrap was made up of the following

Flat-Out Wrap (90cal, 1pt)
Light Provolone (60cal, 1pt)
4oz Sweet Potato (103cal, 1pt)
Sprouts
Tomatoes

I finished lunch off with a delicious Chocolate Vitamuffin (100cal, 1pt). I love these things, but they are so expensive. I am going to have to start ordering them off of Amazon.

I also had this with lunch. I found these at the store today. I must admit something. I have a horrible Diet Coke addiction. I am trying to wean myself off of them and although this lovely drink below contains aspartame too, I think of it as a step in the right direction.

(Don't worry, that is not a real baby in the background. It is the $50 Bitty Baby doll that Ryan promised she would take care of if she got it for her birthday...a promise obviously well kept).

Dinner last night was lazy again. We had to get our taxes finished (hey, it least it wasn't on the 15th) so I was in a rush. I had an open-faced veggie burger.

TJ's Whole Wheat Bread (90cal, 1pt)
Laughing Cow Light Swiss Wedge (35cal, 1pt)
Gardenburger Vegan Veggie Burger (80cal, 1pt)
Sprouts
Tomatoes
Spinach
Spicy Brown Mustard

All served with a side of Brussel Sprouts and Broccoli.

After dinner I had another yogurt mess.

Kozy Shack No Sugar Added Tapioca (70cal, 1pt)
Kozy Shack No Sugar Added Chocolate (60cal, 1pt)
27g Puffins (90cal, 1pt)
15g Fat Free Redi Whip (15cal, opt)

Apparently I am not the only one feeling tired on Thursdays. I thought Wii was supposed to be a physical activity. Not in my house.

I hope you have a relaxing Thursday.