For awhile now, people have been asking me how I eat. My answer: it depends.
Are you a vegetarian? Sometimes.
Are you vegan? Sometimes.
Do I eat raw? Sometimes.
Do you eat cooked food? Sometimes.
Do you eat meat? Sometimes.
Do you eat dairy? On occasion.
Do you eat gluten? As a general rule, no :)
But today Tony Horton (Mr. P90X) posted this to his blog/website. And I thought, "Eureka!" OK, s this word has been around for ages, I'm sure, but I guess I hadn't thought about it as it relates to me and being a "tarian" of some sort.
For years I've been fighting conflicting food feelings. In the spring, summer and early fall, I WANT to eat raw. I don't crave meet. I want greens, fruits, veggies. Fall rolls around and I want food cooked, warm, meaty, protein-y. It's OK! It's normal! In fact, eating based on what I crave -- what my body is telling me it NEEDS.
I dig it.
Check out Tony's post! What kind of "tarian" are you?
Showing posts with label Nutrition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nutrition. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
New Year, New You: Fitness Challenge!
It's almost 2013! I've got some big goals next year, mainly racing in a triathlon in August. Not sure what I was thinking committing to that, but I've told too many people to back out now!
With my triathlon in my mind, a bunch of us are hitting the ground running with the New Year, New You Fitness Challenge. For 60 days beginning January 7, 2013, we will be doing a Beachbody program, drinking Shakeology and reporting in via Facebook for daily accountability.
It's going to be fun! That's what we tell ourselves: fitness is FUN! Say it with me...and we'll all believe it. No seriously, it's all better when we suffer together. Suddenly it's not suffering anymore. It's results.
This challenge works just like the one a group of us finsihed in the fall, and are doing right now to keep ourselves accountable over the holidays with nutrition and exercise.. So if you already know the drill, you can stop reading now. If you need the scoop, here it is:
New Year, New You Fitness Challenge
This challenge will be run via Facebook. I'll set up a private Facebook group for all paticipants so we can communicate without the world seeing what we're saying. Some of the fall challenge people are staying on so we've got a good-sized group!
This challenge will also be Beachbody program specific. Why am I making you buy something to take part? In short, because their programs work when you follow them. And they offer a 30-day money back guarantee. So I guarantee that if you follow them, you will see results, but if you're not happy, Beachbody will give you your money back. This is a win-win situation. Yes, I sell their products. Yes, I use their products. I think they are that good. And trust me, I have tried so many different fitness/weightloss products, I am a walking infomercial.
But, the point is, we're going to work together, and you are going to see the results you want. Period.
What you need to do:
1. Confirm to me that you're in so I can add you to the Facebook group.
2. Go to my Beachbody website and choose a Challenge Pack, which bundles the fitness program of your choice and a 30-day supply of their protein shake together at a discount. I can help you if you want advice on what program to choose (you'll recognize some of them, like P90X). I own and have done many of them. (I know some of you who have done these challenges before also already have a Beachbody program on hand to use. In that case, just get yourself on Shakeology, the protein shake. I explained about Shakeology HERE.)
3. We'll start Monday, January 7, 2013. Every single Beachbody program comes with a schedule and an eating plan. I can help you determine how many calories you should be eating if you need help with that.
4. Post at least once a day in our Facebook group for accountability. Post how your workouts are going, how your eating is going, any questions, etc. The support from the group is huge part of our success. It will keep you motivated and accountable. I discover the importance of this myself on a daily basis!
5. Follow the program of your choice and drink Shakeology, the protein shake, once a day for the duration of the challenge(Important Note: Shakeology isn't a "diet" shake designed like Slim Fast. This is a full on nutrient-rich shake to boost your nutrition, not starve you to death. I drink it, my husband drinks it, our dog drinks it. Just kidding. We don't have a dog.
I will be taking part in the challenge right along with you. I'm planning a combination of workouts for the challenge. I just informed Santa he's bringing me Les Mills Combat for Christmas, so that will be my primary workout, with a little bit of ChaLEAN Extreme (to me, it's like P90X for women) thrown in.
We'll officially run the challenge January 7 - March 7, but I'll leave the Facebook group open for as long as the group would like it to be open. That way, if you're doing one of the longer programs, you'll have support the whole way through!
Let me know if you have any questions. And if you’re weirded out about the whole "buying from me" thing, no big deal. I just want everyone to reach their goals, and this is what works for me.
I say this every time we do a challenge: This isn't a short-term fix -- it's a lifestyle change. I am a big, big believer in Beachbody and their products. I would never sell you guys crap. It works. And if you decide it doesn't work for you, you'll get your money back. Period.
OK, let's do it.
With my triathlon in my mind, a bunch of us are hitting the ground running with the New Year, New You Fitness Challenge. For 60 days beginning January 7, 2013, we will be doing a Beachbody program, drinking Shakeology and reporting in via Facebook for daily accountability.
It's going to be fun! That's what we tell ourselves: fitness is FUN! Say it with me...and we'll all believe it. No seriously, it's all better when we suffer together. Suddenly it's not suffering anymore. It's results.
This challenge works just like the one a group of us finsihed in the fall, and are doing right now to keep ourselves accountable over the holidays with nutrition and exercise.. So if you already know the drill, you can stop reading now. If you need the scoop, here it is:
New Year, New You Fitness Challenge
This challenge will be run via Facebook. I'll set up a private Facebook group for all paticipants so we can communicate without the world seeing what we're saying. Some of the fall challenge people are staying on so we've got a good-sized group!
This challenge will also be Beachbody program specific. Why am I making you buy something to take part? In short, because their programs work when you follow them. And they offer a 30-day money back guarantee. So I guarantee that if you follow them, you will see results, but if you're not happy, Beachbody will give you your money back. This is a win-win situation. Yes, I sell their products. Yes, I use their products. I think they are that good. And trust me, I have tried so many different fitness/weightloss products, I am a walking infomercial.
But, the point is, we're going to work together, and you are going to see the results you want. Period.
What you need to do:
1. Confirm to me that you're in so I can add you to the Facebook group.
2. Go to my Beachbody website and choose a Challenge Pack, which bundles the fitness program of your choice and a 30-day supply of their protein shake together at a discount. I can help you if you want advice on what program to choose (you'll recognize some of them, like P90X). I own and have done many of them. (I know some of you who have done these challenges before also already have a Beachbody program on hand to use. In that case, just get yourself on Shakeology, the protein shake. I explained about Shakeology HERE.)
3. We'll start Monday, January 7, 2013. Every single Beachbody program comes with a schedule and an eating plan. I can help you determine how many calories you should be eating if you need help with that.
4. Post at least once a day in our Facebook group for accountability. Post how your workouts are going, how your eating is going, any questions, etc. The support from the group is huge part of our success. It will keep you motivated and accountable. I discover the importance of this myself on a daily basis!
5. Follow the program of your choice and drink Shakeology, the protein shake, once a day for the duration of the challenge(Important Note: Shakeology isn't a "diet" shake designed like Slim Fast. This is a full on nutrient-rich shake to boost your nutrition, not starve you to death. I drink it, my husband drinks it, our dog drinks it. Just kidding. We don't have a dog.
I will be taking part in the challenge right along with you. I'm planning a combination of workouts for the challenge. I just informed Santa he's bringing me Les Mills Combat for Christmas, so that will be my primary workout, with a little bit of ChaLEAN Extreme (to me, it's like P90X for women) thrown in.
We'll officially run the challenge January 7 - March 7, but I'll leave the Facebook group open for as long as the group would like it to be open. That way, if you're doing one of the longer programs, you'll have support the whole way through!
Let me know if you have any questions. And if you’re weirded out about the whole "buying from me" thing, no big deal. I just want everyone to reach their goals, and this is what works for me.
I say this every time we do a challenge: This isn't a short-term fix -- it's a lifestyle change. I am a big, big believer in Beachbody and their products. I would never sell you guys crap. It works. And if you decide it doesn't work for you, you'll get your money back. Period.
OK, let's do it.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Don't You Be Eyeballin' Me!
Portion control is my nemesis! I'm here to tell you right now, I'm bad at portion control. It's what got me into trouble over time.
When I really committed to getting fit and losing weight, I began to weigh and measure all of my food. I know, I know, what a hassle, right? Who has time to do that? Who WANTS to do that?
You do.
Seriously. If you are as lame as I am about eyeballing your portion size, you need to weigh and measure your food to "get your eyes right."
After many years of eyeballing my food, I'm BETTER, but I'm definitely not perfect. Case in point: 10 minutes ago I was having a morning snack. I had 3 dried figs (not hard to eyeball), and then was adding some walnuts. I looked at the bag and thought, "That looks like two tablespoons." I started to pop a few in my mouth and then decided to measure the bag first. FOUR TABLESPOONS. I was totally off. Had I logged the two tablespoons, I would have been as much as 110 calories off.
So what's the big deal? And what is my point? My point is that we can't always trust our eyes. And the big deal is that if you're in weightloss mode, those 100 calories (and the 100 calories you missed at another meal or snack) could, especially over the course of a week, truly make a difference. You hop on the scale at the end of the week expecting to see a one pound loss. But it's not there. You might be close, maybe you just needed another 100 calories per day gone out of your diet this week. Where was it? For me, it would have been in that bag of walnuts.
This happened to me over and over again before I really knuckled down and consistently tracked my food (and ramped up my workouts). Those hundred calories here and there can make a difference if you're trying to lose.
Is it as big a deal if you're maintaining? No, but weighing, measuring, and tracking my food is what keeps me in check and keeps me from mindlessly tossing things into my mouth when I'm cooking or packing lunches. It all adds up!
So don't be eyeballing it! Do some measuring and find out how accurate you are. Make it a game. It's really not that bad -- in fact, it may just grow on you!
When I really committed to getting fit and losing weight, I began to weigh and measure all of my food. I know, I know, what a hassle, right? Who has time to do that? Who WANTS to do that?
You do.
Seriously. If you are as lame as I am about eyeballing your portion size, you need to weigh and measure your food to "get your eyes right."
After many years of eyeballing my food, I'm BETTER, but I'm definitely not perfect. Case in point: 10 minutes ago I was having a morning snack. I had 3 dried figs (not hard to eyeball), and then was adding some walnuts. I looked at the bag and thought, "That looks like two tablespoons." I started to pop a few in my mouth and then decided to measure the bag first. FOUR TABLESPOONS. I was totally off. Had I logged the two tablespoons, I would have been as much as 110 calories off.
So what's the big deal? And what is my point? My point is that we can't always trust our eyes. And the big deal is that if you're in weightloss mode, those 100 calories (and the 100 calories you missed at another meal or snack) could, especially over the course of a week, truly make a difference. You hop on the scale at the end of the week expecting to see a one pound loss. But it's not there. You might be close, maybe you just needed another 100 calories per day gone out of your diet this week. Where was it? For me, it would have been in that bag of walnuts.
This happened to me over and over again before I really knuckled down and consistently tracked my food (and ramped up my workouts). Those hundred calories here and there can make a difference if you're trying to lose.
Is it as big a deal if you're maintaining? No, but weighing, measuring, and tracking my food is what keeps me in check and keeps me from mindlessly tossing things into my mouth when I'm cooking or packing lunches. It all adds up!
So don't be eyeballing it! Do some measuring and find out how accurate you are. Make it a game. It's really not that bad -- in fact, it may just grow on you!
Monday, September 17, 2012
Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Knuckling Down and Getting it Done
I have made a personal choice for fitness to be a big part of my life. Part of that has to do with where I live now - Colorado - where I'm surrounded by athletes, both amateur and professional, on a daily basis. Part of that also has to do with vanity -- I like the comments I get from my current level of fitness. Another part has to do with the example I want to set for my kids.
When we first moved here, I was intimidated. I come from the Midwest, Ohio specifically, where all of our family events revolved around food. I look back at pictures of my heavier self and I see "soft." I would go through times of better and worse fitness, better and worse eating, weighing more or maybe a little less. It was a back and forth I was constantly battling, and I wasn't at all sure how to break the cycle. I just knew I didn't like feeling soft. I didn't like being out of breath by just dashing up the stairs for something (an effect that was magnified a zillion times when we moved to high altitude!). That was not acceptable to me.
So I started by not wanting to huff and puff going up the stairs. Now I'm doing things for fitness I swore I'd never do (yes, I do remember that I said -- probably somewhere on this blog -- that I'd NEVER run, and now I am).
The bottom line is deciding what's acceptable to you. If you're OK with how you look and feel, that's great! I wasn't.
If you're not happy with it, what sacrifices are you willing to make? Because it will require sacrifice.
Have I gone to an event and not eaten what they had there? Yes. Have I gone to someone's house for dinner and taken my own food? Yes. Have I eaten nothing when everyone else around me is eating cake and ice cream? Yes.
How did I feel when I did these things? Did I feel deprived or sad or sorry or embarrassed? I really didn't. I thought about my long-term goals and where I'm trying to get to. People had/have a lot of questions and comments: why are you doing that; that seems extreme; do you have an eating disorder; oh, you can relax and eat this just once; come on, just try it. But in the end, many ended up being intrigued by what I was trying to do.
Does everyone need to behave like this? No, but you do need to understand that if you have goals, especially weightloss, it's going to take longer to reach your goals every time you make the conscious decision to eat more calories than you burn. I was bummed when I found that out -- haha!
I want to empahsize that it's OK to have a cheat meal, even when you're trying to lose weight. In fact, you SHOULD have a cheat meal once a week. If you try to be so restrictive, you'll rebel eventually. Trust me on that one.
But have the cheat meal in a controlled manner. Prepare for it earlier in the day, or week even. If you're headed out to a party or event, eat very, very clean earlier in the day -- veggies, fruit, lots of water -- so you have calories to spare when the time comes. And don't make it a no-holds barred cheat. Put some parameters on it: take small portions of everything you want to try ONCE. Don't keep going back. Step away from the table. And definitely make a point of burning some calories through exercise when you know a cheat is coming!
I try to eat super clean six days a week and leave myself room for "cheats" on Friday. When I first adopted this system, I literally binged on Friday. In the end, that didn't work for weight loss, and I felt like crap on Saturday.
Ultimately, I had to decide how I would spend my calories. These days the things that I save for Friday cheats are chips and guac (measured out, not eaten in a binge like I used to do) and popcorn. Again, an enjoyable amount, not enough to make me feel horrible.
Now, I will tell you, as I got further along towards my goal weight and I was trying to drop the last few, tenacious pounds, it got harder. And to get to the bitter end, I had to drop all cheating completely for a few weeks to get to my goal. For me, it was worth it.
You'll need to answer for yourself what you're willing to do to get there.
And yes, we can work out like maniacs, but if we're undoing our good intentions with poor eating, it's not going to happen. Weight loss is at least 80% of what goes in your mouth. I know. That sucks. But it's a fact. Once I got that dialed in, the weight started to come off.
Other basic tips:
-Learn to listen to your body. Stop when you're satisfied and before you're full. Portion control will always be a big problem for me so I weighed and measured my food for a LONG time into correct portions to teach myself what it felt like to eat the right amount. I still do it on occasion because I'm just that bad at it. I've accepted that this is part of my makeup and I've moved on.
-Log your food. I say it so often and it's so true. If you aren't losing weight, write it down and look at your food in black and white. It's usually staring you in the face.
It always sounds like so much when I'm telling people, "Exercise! Eat clean! Log your food! Count your calories! Come to the Facebook page and report in for accountability!" The goal is to get you in the habit of these things so it's no longer work -- it's just something ingrained that you do without thinking or adding extra complexity to your day. Automatic is the goal. You exercise, you eat clean, you log your food and workouts. I don't even give it a second thought anymore.
Ultimately, you need to decide when and if you're ready to dig in and go for the results you want. I had to have my own personal wake up call, which was really about seeing others who were emulating what I wanted and then taking the steps to get there. I'm not getting any younger! Are you? I believe you can be in the be shape of your life at any age, and I believe it because I have felt it for myself and I have seen it in countless others who I connect with through my own Beachbody coach. Yes, even I need support and motivation so I have a whole group of people I rely on in addition to you guys!
OK, so what are you going to do now?
When we first moved here, I was intimidated. I come from the Midwest, Ohio specifically, where all of our family events revolved around food. I look back at pictures of my heavier self and I see "soft." I would go through times of better and worse fitness, better and worse eating, weighing more or maybe a little less. It was a back and forth I was constantly battling, and I wasn't at all sure how to break the cycle. I just knew I didn't like feeling soft. I didn't like being out of breath by just dashing up the stairs for something (an effect that was magnified a zillion times when we moved to high altitude!). That was not acceptable to me.
So I started by not wanting to huff and puff going up the stairs. Now I'm doing things for fitness I swore I'd never do (yes, I do remember that I said -- probably somewhere on this blog -- that I'd NEVER run, and now I am).
The bottom line is deciding what's acceptable to you. If you're OK with how you look and feel, that's great! I wasn't.
If you're not happy with it, what sacrifices are you willing to make? Because it will require sacrifice.
Have I gone to an event and not eaten what they had there? Yes. Have I gone to someone's house for dinner and taken my own food? Yes. Have I eaten nothing when everyone else around me is eating cake and ice cream? Yes.
How did I feel when I did these things? Did I feel deprived or sad or sorry or embarrassed? I really didn't. I thought about my long-term goals and where I'm trying to get to. People had/have a lot of questions and comments: why are you doing that; that seems extreme; do you have an eating disorder; oh, you can relax and eat this just once; come on, just try it. But in the end, many ended up being intrigued by what I was trying to do.
Does everyone need to behave like this? No, but you do need to understand that if you have goals, especially weightloss, it's going to take longer to reach your goals every time you make the conscious decision to eat more calories than you burn. I was bummed when I found that out -- haha!
I want to empahsize that it's OK to have a cheat meal, even when you're trying to lose weight. In fact, you SHOULD have a cheat meal once a week. If you try to be so restrictive, you'll rebel eventually. Trust me on that one.
But have the cheat meal in a controlled manner. Prepare for it earlier in the day, or week even. If you're headed out to a party or event, eat very, very clean earlier in the day -- veggies, fruit, lots of water -- so you have calories to spare when the time comes. And don't make it a no-holds barred cheat. Put some parameters on it: take small portions of everything you want to try ONCE. Don't keep going back. Step away from the table. And definitely make a point of burning some calories through exercise when you know a cheat is coming!
I try to eat super clean six days a week and leave myself room for "cheats" on Friday. When I first adopted this system, I literally binged on Friday. In the end, that didn't work for weight loss, and I felt like crap on Saturday.
Ultimately, I had to decide how I would spend my calories. These days the things that I save for Friday cheats are chips and guac (measured out, not eaten in a binge like I used to do) and popcorn. Again, an enjoyable amount, not enough to make me feel horrible.
Now, I will tell you, as I got further along towards my goal weight and I was trying to drop the last few, tenacious pounds, it got harder. And to get to the bitter end, I had to drop all cheating completely for a few weeks to get to my goal. For me, it was worth it.
You'll need to answer for yourself what you're willing to do to get there.
And yes, we can work out like maniacs, but if we're undoing our good intentions with poor eating, it's not going to happen. Weight loss is at least 80% of what goes in your mouth. I know. That sucks. But it's a fact. Once I got that dialed in, the weight started to come off.
Other basic tips:
-Learn to listen to your body. Stop when you're satisfied and before you're full. Portion control will always be a big problem for me so I weighed and measured my food for a LONG time into correct portions to teach myself what it felt like to eat the right amount. I still do it on occasion because I'm just that bad at it. I've accepted that this is part of my makeup and I've moved on.
-Log your food. I say it so often and it's so true. If you aren't losing weight, write it down and look at your food in black and white. It's usually staring you in the face.
It always sounds like so much when I'm telling people, "Exercise! Eat clean! Log your food! Count your calories! Come to the Facebook page and report in for accountability!" The goal is to get you in the habit of these things so it's no longer work -- it's just something ingrained that you do without thinking or adding extra complexity to your day. Automatic is the goal. You exercise, you eat clean, you log your food and workouts. I don't even give it a second thought anymore.
Ultimately, you need to decide when and if you're ready to dig in and go for the results you want. I had to have my own personal wake up call, which was really about seeing others who were emulating what I wanted and then taking the steps to get there. I'm not getting any younger! Are you? I believe you can be in the be shape of your life at any age, and I believe it because I have felt it for myself and I have seen it in countless others who I connect with through my own Beachbody coach. Yes, even I need support and motivation so I have a whole group of people I rely on in addition to you guys!
OK, so what are you going to do now?
Monday, August 20, 2012
Shakeology: What is it and why do I keep yammering on about it?
So if you've read the info about the upcoming Fall Back into Fitness Challenge (starting Sept. 10 -- join us!), you'll know that one of the requirements is to drink a protein shake called Shakeology once a day for 30 days.
Why? Why am I making you do this as part of the challenge?
Because it works. Pure and simple. I've said it before and I'll say it again, and I'll keep saying it: I have kissed a million protein shake frogs over the years before I discovered Shakeology. I trust Beachbody and their ingredients implicitly. That's really all there is to it. I think the entire world should be drinking Shakeology for the nutrients it provides.
Remember, Shakeology ISN'T a crash diet shake like Slim Fast or nasty stuff like that. This is an all natural recovery drink with all sorts of good stuff. The bonus is the weight loss that I, and thousands of others, have experienced as a result of getting your body back in balance.
People balk because when they first see the price. So I'm going to break down the nutrition for you and you can see what you're REALLY paying for. I have cut it out of our daily routine before because I thought we just couldn't afford it. Then I didn't feel as healthy. So we (Eamonn and I both drink it once a day) quickly realized we couldn't afford to NOT drink it. I know, I know, so sales pitchy. But it's that good for you. I promise.
Read on for the nutrtional low down:
The cost of Shakeology on home direct (you get free shipping) is $119.99 plus tax. A one-month supply breaks down to around $4/serving. When you are using it as a meal replacement to lose weight that means that your meal costs $4.
But what does it cost to eat at a restaurant and at home? A fast food meal on average is $5, more if super-sized and definitely more when you live in the mountains and the value meals really aren't so value-ish! A meal in a sit-down restaurant is on average $10 or higher. A home-cooked meal is typically around $4/serving when you have a meat, veggie, and carb. Yes, a home-cooked meal may rival Shakeology regarding cost, but is that truly accurate?
Here is what you’d have to eat to get the same nutrition in a glass of Shakeology:
4 cups raw broccoli ($3.94)
7 whole carrots ($1.99)
10 cups raw cauliflower ($4.30)
3 cups romaine lettuce ($1.99)
4 cups uncooked mushrooms ($8.97)
3 raw onions ($2.91)
1 cup peas ($1.09)
4 cups red radishes ($5.16)
4 cups non-fat yogurt ($3.49)
1 bowl exotic fruit, including goji berry and acai berry ($4.40)
1 shot wheat grass ($1.95)
Total $41.19
Multiply that by 30 servings and you are getting $1,235.70 worth of food for only $119.95.
As for calories, Shakeology is 150 - 170 cal/serving (depending on which flavor/blend you choose), plus whatever you add to your shake. A fast food or restaurant meal is 400 cal or more, at the bare minimum.
The bottom line is that we need to think differently about our food, what it costs, and what we're getting in return. Are you getting the biggest bang for your nutritional buck? It IS affordable if you think about what you're getting. You could take $120 of your monthly food allowance and direct it to Shakeology. The nutritional benefits that you would receive, in return, would be worth its weight in gold.
Take a look at Shakeology again, but look at it through different eyes -- get beyond the "oh my gosh it costs this" reaction and you'll see something totally different. I promise! :)
Why? Why am I making you do this as part of the challenge?
Because it works. Pure and simple. I've said it before and I'll say it again, and I'll keep saying it: I have kissed a million protein shake frogs over the years before I discovered Shakeology. I trust Beachbody and their ingredients implicitly. That's really all there is to it. I think the entire world should be drinking Shakeology for the nutrients it provides.
Remember, Shakeology ISN'T a crash diet shake like Slim Fast or nasty stuff like that. This is an all natural recovery drink with all sorts of good stuff. The bonus is the weight loss that I, and thousands of others, have experienced as a result of getting your body back in balance.
People balk because when they first see the price. So I'm going to break down the nutrition for you and you can see what you're REALLY paying for. I have cut it out of our daily routine before because I thought we just couldn't afford it. Then I didn't feel as healthy. So we (Eamonn and I both drink it once a day) quickly realized we couldn't afford to NOT drink it. I know, I know, so sales pitchy. But it's that good for you. I promise.
Read on for the nutrtional low down:
The cost of Shakeology on home direct (you get free shipping) is $119.99 plus tax. A one-month supply breaks down to around $4/serving. When you are using it as a meal replacement to lose weight that means that your meal costs $4.
But what does it cost to eat at a restaurant and at home? A fast food meal on average is $5, more if super-sized and definitely more when you live in the mountains and the value meals really aren't so value-ish! A meal in a sit-down restaurant is on average $10 or higher. A home-cooked meal is typically around $4/serving when you have a meat, veggie, and carb. Yes, a home-cooked meal may rival Shakeology regarding cost, but is that truly accurate?
Here is what you’d have to eat to get the same nutrition in a glass of Shakeology:
4 cups raw broccoli ($3.94)
7 whole carrots ($1.99)
10 cups raw cauliflower ($4.30)
3 cups romaine lettuce ($1.99)
4 cups uncooked mushrooms ($8.97)
3 raw onions ($2.91)
1 cup peas ($1.09)
4 cups red radishes ($5.16)
4 cups non-fat yogurt ($3.49)
1 bowl exotic fruit, including goji berry and acai berry ($4.40)
1 shot wheat grass ($1.95)
Total $41.19
Multiply that by 30 servings and you are getting $1,235.70 worth of food for only $119.95.
As for calories, Shakeology is 150 - 170 cal/serving (depending on which flavor/blend you choose), plus whatever you add to your shake. A fast food or restaurant meal is 400 cal or more, at the bare minimum.
The bottom line is that we need to think differently about our food, what it costs, and what we're getting in return. Are you getting the biggest bang for your nutritional buck? It IS affordable if you think about what you're getting. You could take $120 of your monthly food allowance and direct it to Shakeology. The nutritional benefits that you would receive, in return, would be worth its weight in gold.
Take a look at Shakeology again, but look at it through different eyes -- get beyond the "oh my gosh it costs this" reaction and you'll see something totally different. I promise! :)
Friday, August 3, 2012
I Have Been Running. Don't Fall Down in Shock.
I know. I KNOW. I swore I'd never run. And really, I think that what I've been doing can only loosely be called running. I'm not sure I'd even call it jogging. I'm probably doing some sort of fast shuffle like the old people at the mall. But I have managed to finish the second week of a Couch to 5K program (the one I'm using is 5K101).
It's really nothing short of a miracle.
A bit of advice: if you pig out on SmashBurger and frozen yogurt, the next day's run might be a bit compromised. Take my word for it. Don't try this at home. Ick.
News update: I've decided that a year from tomorrow, I'm going to participate in a local triathlon. Eeeek. There. I said it. It's out there.
So I figured if I want to do a triathlon, I'd better figure out how to run, and I'd better do it sooner rather than later. I also figure there's going to be a lot of pain involved.
I randomly chose a free podcast program off iTunes to help me run. When I've tried running before, I've made the clssic mistakes: running too fast at the beginning. The podcast helps. It eases you into it gradually with alternating walks and runs. I did a few test runs just listening to the free podcast, and it was OK, but the music is so boring. For $2.99 I could download a program you could set to your own playlist. Truly, it's the best $2.99 I even spent. My first two weeks of "running" have actually gone pretty well. Other than the whole post-Smashburger debacle.
I'm going to add some swimming into my workouts starting next week. Shape magazine (you know how I love it), printed a triathlon training schedule, and next week I'll start following that. In addition, I've been doing some weight training with ChaLEAN Extreme.
I am struggling with my eating somewhat. When I lift weights, it makes me crazy hungry, so I'm trying to balance sensible portions with what my body needs. Weighted workouts always challenge my eating.
Next week will be Week 3 of Couch to 5K. I cringe to think I'll bump up to more running, but I guess it has to happen!
It's really nothing short of a miracle.
A bit of advice: if you pig out on SmashBurger and frozen yogurt, the next day's run might be a bit compromised. Take my word for it. Don't try this at home. Ick.
News update: I've decided that a year from tomorrow, I'm going to participate in a local triathlon. Eeeek. There. I said it. It's out there.
So I figured if I want to do a triathlon, I'd better figure out how to run, and I'd better do it sooner rather than later. I also figure there's going to be a lot of pain involved.
I randomly chose a free podcast program off iTunes to help me run. When I've tried running before, I've made the clssic mistakes: running too fast at the beginning. The podcast helps. It eases you into it gradually with alternating walks and runs. I did a few test runs just listening to the free podcast, and it was OK, but the music is so boring. For $2.99 I could download a program you could set to your own playlist. Truly, it's the best $2.99 I even spent. My first two weeks of "running" have actually gone pretty well. Other than the whole post-Smashburger debacle.
I'm going to add some swimming into my workouts starting next week. Shape magazine (you know how I love it), printed a triathlon training schedule, and next week I'll start following that. In addition, I've been doing some weight training with ChaLEAN Extreme.
I am struggling with my eating somewhat. When I lift weights, it makes me crazy hungry, so I'm trying to balance sensible portions with what my body needs. Weighted workouts always challenge my eating.
Next week will be Week 3 of Couch to 5K. I cringe to think I'll bump up to more running, but I guess it has to happen!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Eating Seasonally
Sometimes I get tired of making my kids eat vegetables. I know. That's a terrible thing for a mother to admit. But it's true. And I think it stems from the fact that there are certain times of the year I don't want to eat certain vegetables. It took me a long time to figure out why.
A few years ago someone made a casual comment about how she was starting to crave leafy greens again now that spring was coming (I think it was March of that year). I had no idea what she was talking about. Why would the fact that it's March have aything to do with the fact that she wanted to eat leafy greens? So I started doing a little research and really, the whole concept is so obvious that this is one of those things that I wonder how I got to a certain age and just had no clue about it. Trust me, this is one of MANY things I got to this age and still have no clue about.
But the whole concept of eating seasonally explains perfectly WHAT I've been feeling over the years -- not wanting to eat salad in January, being drawn to squash in the fall, wanting berries in the summer -- but not feeling right about it. Meaning, shouldn't the healthy person in me want to eat salad and spinach and all sorts of greens all year round?
Turns out, that's not really the healthiest way for us to eat. We're pretty much programmed to be drawn to what we need, what is seasonal, at the right times of the year. So those anemic looking tomatoes and strawberries that are grown in a greenhouse and are on the store shelves in January? We should just walk away. Walk away, I tell you.
I found a few good links with good info about what to eat when, and of course, some of it has to do with where YOU live.
I like how this page describes eating seasonally.
And here's a website that has more to do with geographic info and being sustainable by eating what's in season on your state.
Personally, I was happy to discover that chocolate does not have a season. I'm going to take that to mean you can eat it all year round. In moderation, of course.
A few years ago someone made a casual comment about how she was starting to crave leafy greens again now that spring was coming (I think it was March of that year). I had no idea what she was talking about. Why would the fact that it's March have aything to do with the fact that she wanted to eat leafy greens? So I started doing a little research and really, the whole concept is so obvious that this is one of those things that I wonder how I got to a certain age and just had no clue about it. Trust me, this is one of MANY things I got to this age and still have no clue about.
But the whole concept of eating seasonally explains perfectly WHAT I've been feeling over the years -- not wanting to eat salad in January, being drawn to squash in the fall, wanting berries in the summer -- but not feeling right about it. Meaning, shouldn't the healthy person in me want to eat salad and spinach and all sorts of greens all year round?
Turns out, that's not really the healthiest way for us to eat. We're pretty much programmed to be drawn to what we need, what is seasonal, at the right times of the year. So those anemic looking tomatoes and strawberries that are grown in a greenhouse and are on the store shelves in January? We should just walk away. Walk away, I tell you.
I found a few good links with good info about what to eat when, and of course, some of it has to do with where YOU live.
I like how this page describes eating seasonally.
And here's a website that has more to do with geographic info and being sustainable by eating what's in season on your state.
Personally, I was happy to discover that chocolate does not have a season. I'm going to take that to mean you can eat it all year round. In moderation, of course.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
100%
After about two months of not feeling that great, between the candida cleanse and being sick, I feel like I can finally say that I am back at 100%. Or as close as I'm ever going to get.
Work is settling down for the next month or so and I'm going to use this opportunity to do what I said in my last post and add some extra workouts in to really push myself towards my goal of getting rid of the last 5 pounds I put on when I had to take my big workout break post surgery and then also do some toning before baring my legs. Although the baring the legs is going to happen much sooner this year. We are having such an early spring here so I don't have much time.
Quick question: have you noticed as spring has approached, that you are craving different foods? I definitely have. All winter I've struggled to consume leafy greens. Give me a potato any day! My next post is going to be about eating raw and eating seasonally and why it's important.
Just wanted to touch base and let you know I didn't forget about you, I was just wrapping up a big work project. Now I'm back in the swing, so stay tuned.
And I did start a Shakeology cleanse today to really reset my brain and get myself ready for spring!
Work is settling down for the next month or so and I'm going to use this opportunity to do what I said in my last post and add some extra workouts in to really push myself towards my goal of getting rid of the last 5 pounds I put on when I had to take my big workout break post surgery and then also do some toning before baring my legs. Although the baring the legs is going to happen much sooner this year. We are having such an early spring here so I don't have much time.
Quick question: have you noticed as spring has approached, that you are craving different foods? I definitely have. All winter I've struggled to consume leafy greens. Give me a potato any day! My next post is going to be about eating raw and eating seasonally and why it's important.
Just wanted to touch base and let you know I didn't forget about you, I was just wrapping up a big work project. Now I'm back in the swing, so stay tuned.
And I did start a Shakeology cleanse today to really reset my brain and get myself ready for spring!
Saturday, March 10, 2012
The Candida Cleanse
So during the fitness challenge some friends and I have been doing, I wrote a bit to them about the fact that I decided to do a candida cleanse.
What the heck is candida? Brace yourself. It's yeast. Gross. I'm talking about yeast. And I'm talking about it beyond, you know, your private parts. Eeeek! I swear, I'm not going to get THAT personal.
My point is that candida goes way beyond that. Yes, you can have it on your skin (Finn used to get it on his bald head when he was undergoing chemo), babies get it in the crooks of their fat little arms or behind their knees, etc. But you can also get it as a systemic infection in your bloodstream.
How?
I think it happens all sorts of ways (you can Google it and see about 5 million different explanations for it), but for me, I think it tied into my melanoma surgery back in early December and then eating too much sugar, wheat, and all sorts of other goodies over the holidays.
When I was able to start working out again after the first of the year, I noticed my recovery from workouts wasn't the greatest. My joints were sore, I was really tired, and I just had weird muscle fatigue. At first I thought it was just beause I hadn't been able to work out for those 3 weeks (I read that you can lose aerobic endurance in as little as two weeks--bummer, but good incentive to keep up with your high intensity workouts). Then I remembered a few years ago when I was consulting with a nutritionist and she had me do a candida cleanse.
According to natural health people, candida overgrowth in our bodies is rampant in Americans because of our highly processed diets. Really, it all comes down to what you believe and buy in to. I felt really great after I did the cleanse last time, so I thought, I'll do it again.
And so I did. I bought the same products I'd used before and away I went. I didn't even call my friend, who is a naturopathic doctor. I figured I'd have no problem.
Holy cow, I was so wrong.
So if you do your Googling, you will see that there might be some side effects as the yeast in your bloodstream start to die off and get expelled from your body. I was fine for about the first three days and then the die off hit me like a ton of bricks. UGH! At first I thought I was getting sick, but the severity and how fast it all came on got me thinking and that's when I discovered the yeast die off side effects/symptoms.
It was really bad for about four days, then moderately bad for another three. After that things simmered down.
So what I experienced:
-Massive histamine reaction. It was like having the worst sinus infection ever. My sinuses closed almost completely off.
-My lymph nodes were like golf balls and so sore that I could barely eat or drink. Yawning or even opening my mouth very far were both incredibly uncomfortable. That was the symptom that has taken the longest to go away. It was a week before I could eat without wincing. But then, I'm a total baby about such things.
-Complete and total fatigue.
-My tongue had a lovely white film on it.
-The skin on my jaws felt bumpy and itchy.
Literally, it was like I had the flu, except I didn't. At one point I took my temparature, but I never had a fever that I know of.
I did also have night sweats and trouble sleeping. My husband said I was snoring up a storm (I don't THINK I normally do that) because of all of the swelling in my nose and throat.
Sounds lovely, eh?
My Internet doctoring lead to two different trains of thought: don't stop the cleanse because you need to keep going, or stop the cleanse and let your body recover because this massive die off is taxing your immune system even more.
WTF?
So I did the only thing I could think of at that point. I went to my naturopath and we decided on a course of action that dialed back on the supplements to let my body recover, but to still keep going with the cleanse.
The thing is: I have to be super clean with my diet and really only eat meat and veggies. Super. Clean. Ugh! I know I can do it, but it seems overwhelming because there's no time limit on this--it's just until the symptoms go away and it's clear the candida is gone. That could be next week (very unlikely) or two months! ARGH! I don't do well with undefined deadlines.
Guess I'll learn pretty quick!
So do go out and learn more about the negative health issues candida can cause if you're so inclined. As with many other things, much of the traditional medical community kind of poo poos the whole concept, but there are stories about how in autopsies people organs are just covered in the candida fungus. Personally, I think candida is a real problem and I want it gone!
What the heck is candida? Brace yourself. It's yeast. Gross. I'm talking about yeast. And I'm talking about it beyond, you know, your private parts. Eeeek! I swear, I'm not going to get THAT personal.
My point is that candida goes way beyond that. Yes, you can have it on your skin (Finn used to get it on his bald head when he was undergoing chemo), babies get it in the crooks of their fat little arms or behind their knees, etc. But you can also get it as a systemic infection in your bloodstream.
How?
I think it happens all sorts of ways (you can Google it and see about 5 million different explanations for it), but for me, I think it tied into my melanoma surgery back in early December and then eating too much sugar, wheat, and all sorts of other goodies over the holidays.
When I was able to start working out again after the first of the year, I noticed my recovery from workouts wasn't the greatest. My joints were sore, I was really tired, and I just had weird muscle fatigue. At first I thought it was just beause I hadn't been able to work out for those 3 weeks (I read that you can lose aerobic endurance in as little as two weeks--bummer, but good incentive to keep up with your high intensity workouts). Then I remembered a few years ago when I was consulting with a nutritionist and she had me do a candida cleanse.
According to natural health people, candida overgrowth in our bodies is rampant in Americans because of our highly processed diets. Really, it all comes down to what you believe and buy in to. I felt really great after I did the cleanse last time, so I thought, I'll do it again.
And so I did. I bought the same products I'd used before and away I went. I didn't even call my friend, who is a naturopathic doctor. I figured I'd have no problem.
Holy cow, I was so wrong.
So if you do your Googling, you will see that there might be some side effects as the yeast in your bloodstream start to die off and get expelled from your body. I was fine for about the first three days and then the die off hit me like a ton of bricks. UGH! At first I thought I was getting sick, but the severity and how fast it all came on got me thinking and that's when I discovered the yeast die off side effects/symptoms.
It was really bad for about four days, then moderately bad for another three. After that things simmered down.
So what I experienced:
-Massive histamine reaction. It was like having the worst sinus infection ever. My sinuses closed almost completely off.
-My lymph nodes were like golf balls and so sore that I could barely eat or drink. Yawning or even opening my mouth very far were both incredibly uncomfortable. That was the symptom that has taken the longest to go away. It was a week before I could eat without wincing. But then, I'm a total baby about such things.
-Complete and total fatigue.
-My tongue had a lovely white film on it.
-The skin on my jaws felt bumpy and itchy.
Literally, it was like I had the flu, except I didn't. At one point I took my temparature, but I never had a fever that I know of.
I did also have night sweats and trouble sleeping. My husband said I was snoring up a storm (I don't THINK I normally do that) because of all of the swelling in my nose and throat.
Sounds lovely, eh?
My Internet doctoring lead to two different trains of thought: don't stop the cleanse because you need to keep going, or stop the cleanse and let your body recover because this massive die off is taxing your immune system even more.
WTF?
So I did the only thing I could think of at that point. I went to my naturopath and we decided on a course of action that dialed back on the supplements to let my body recover, but to still keep going with the cleanse.
The thing is: I have to be super clean with my diet and really only eat meat and veggies. Super. Clean. Ugh! I know I can do it, but it seems overwhelming because there's no time limit on this--it's just until the symptoms go away and it's clear the candida is gone. That could be next week (very unlikely) or two months! ARGH! I don't do well with undefined deadlines.
Guess I'll learn pretty quick!
So do go out and learn more about the negative health issues candida can cause if you're so inclined. As with many other things, much of the traditional medical community kind of poo poos the whole concept, but there are stories about how in autopsies people organs are just covered in the candida fungus. Personally, I think candida is a real problem and I want it gone!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Coping with Cravings
OK, a small group of us started a challenge on Jan. 30 and are communicating via a private Facebook group. If you want in, let me know. It's never too late! We're just using the page to keep ourselves accountable with exercise and eating.
Now, for the past two days, I've been craving avacados/guacamole. What is it in the avocado that I need right now?
I am a big believer in eating what you crave. Please note, this doesn't apply if you're craving a bag of potato chips or 10 pounds of chocolate. For example, at certain times of the month (TMI, I know), I have intense cravings for protein, specifically for chicken and eggs. Other times of the month, the thought of eating eggs makes me sick.
Keep in mind, I'm no medical expert, so what I'm saying could be a load of hooey, but I think our bodies are talking to us all the time and trying to tell us what what they need. Unfortunately, we are so far removed from listening to our bodies, we have no idea what they're saying. "I need some protein" becomes a hamburger and French fries at a fast food retaurant. "I need some antioxidants" becomes a binge on cheap chocolate that just leaves you wanting more.
It has taken me a long, long time to get to the point where I can sort of listen to my body (and then not ignore it). Trust me, I want to mow through an entire chocolate bar sometimes, too. But the next time a craving hits, slow down and think about what you're feeling, and you might find a nutritionally better way to satisfy your crave and really nourish your body versus just eating to consume what you think you want.
Here are the ways I try to deal with irrational cravings and try to change some bad eating habits I might have taken on lately...
1. Get out of the kitchen. I find that after I eat lunch, my body wants something sweet. I'm pretty sure this is just a habit I got into over the holidays. So I hurry and get away from the temptations.
2. Brush my teeth. Nothing kills wanting to eat something else faster than brushing your teeth because anything after that tastes nasty. Even better: floss. Way better: put in a tooth whitening strip. You'll never want to eat again.
3. Drink water. I'm usually just thirsty.
4. Pack snacks. And try to think about what will give you the most bang for your buck. Candy bar, no. An appropriate portion of nuts and raisins, yes.
5. Chew gum/eat a mint. This is kind of like the toothpaste one. Today I had the overwhelming urge to keep eating after I had alredy finished lunch. I grabbed a piece of gum and was fine.
So there you have my five key strategies for trying to break habits and stop cravings. I admit, some days are easier than others!
Now, for the past two days, I've been craving avacados/guacamole. What is it in the avocado that I need right now?
I am a big believer in eating what you crave. Please note, this doesn't apply if you're craving a bag of potato chips or 10 pounds of chocolate. For example, at certain times of the month (TMI, I know), I have intense cravings for protein, specifically for chicken and eggs. Other times of the month, the thought of eating eggs makes me sick.
Keep in mind, I'm no medical expert, so what I'm saying could be a load of hooey, but I think our bodies are talking to us all the time and trying to tell us what what they need. Unfortunately, we are so far removed from listening to our bodies, we have no idea what they're saying. "I need some protein" becomes a hamburger and French fries at a fast food retaurant. "I need some antioxidants" becomes a binge on cheap chocolate that just leaves you wanting more.
It has taken me a long, long time to get to the point where I can sort of listen to my body (and then not ignore it). Trust me, I want to mow through an entire chocolate bar sometimes, too. But the next time a craving hits, slow down and think about what you're feeling, and you might find a nutritionally better way to satisfy your crave and really nourish your body versus just eating to consume what you think you want.
Here are the ways I try to deal with irrational cravings and try to change some bad eating habits I might have taken on lately...
1. Get out of the kitchen. I find that after I eat lunch, my body wants something sweet. I'm pretty sure this is just a habit I got into over the holidays. So I hurry and get away from the temptations.
2. Brush my teeth. Nothing kills wanting to eat something else faster than brushing your teeth because anything after that tastes nasty. Even better: floss. Way better: put in a tooth whitening strip. You'll never want to eat again.
3. Drink water. I'm usually just thirsty.
4. Pack snacks. And try to think about what will give you the most bang for your buck. Candy bar, no. An appropriate portion of nuts and raisins, yes.
5. Chew gum/eat a mint. This is kind of like the toothpaste one. Today I had the overwhelming urge to keep eating after I had alredy finished lunch. I grabbed a piece of gum and was fine.
So there you have my five key strategies for trying to break habits and stop cravings. I admit, some days are easier than others!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Pardon Me While I Undo My Top Button
Truly, I feel like Halloween is the start of a slippery slope to New Year's. I think I said that in a recent post. I cling to the slippery slope for awhile and then I slide down a bit.
I was hoping that I wouldn't have enough weight to lose to participate in my friend's annual weight loss challenge this year. If I don't get my act together, I think the outlook could be grim and I could be right up there in the running for the contest this year! Ack!
When I find myself struggling, I realize that I need to get back to eating more raw. Cooked food tends to trigger overeating with me, so this week I will be focusing on my eating habits. You know, like always.
For now, I'm reclinging and trying to digest a piece of apple pie the size of Rhode Island.
At least it wasn't Texas.
I was hoping that I wouldn't have enough weight to lose to participate in my friend's annual weight loss challenge this year. If I don't get my act together, I think the outlook could be grim and I could be right up there in the running for the contest this year! Ack!
When I find myself struggling, I realize that I need to get back to eating more raw. Cooked food tends to trigger overeating with me, so this week I will be focusing on my eating habits. You know, like always.
For now, I'm reclinging and trying to digest a piece of apple pie the size of Rhode Island.
At least it wasn't Texas.
Monday, September 26, 2011
H2O
I know I've written on here before about how water is probably my biggest hurdle in terms of fitness. Isn't that hilarious? Not eating clean, not working out, but water. Simple, plain water.
I just forget to drink. And then sometimes I don't want to drink because I'm going to be driving somewhere or doing something and I don't want to have to stop and go to the bathroom. And that will surely happen if I drink.
I basically walk around in a state of semi-deyhydration all of the time.
So a group of my fitness friends are doing a challenge where for 20 days, each of us choose the number one "trouble" issue we face and address it.
I knew I had to go with water. It sounds like madness, but I knew I'd struggle to drink 64 oz. of water a day. There are people who drink a gallon, no problem! Eamonn is one of those people who drinks tons.
So the challenge started a week ago today and some days have been tougher than others. I do find that the more I drink, the more I want to drink. Weird. I was dashing to the bathroom the first two days, but since then my body seems to have adjusted.
And I have to say, it's a good thing that I picked water vs. food for the challenge. I just had three days in a row, not of crazy bingeing, but weight-loss inappropriate foods. Fritos and chili dog anyone? Mmmm.
I'm feeling the need to cleanse and am trying to get motivated to do it. I've got to make it through this week and then I think I'm going to do a 6 - 7 day cleanse (need to check my supply of materials). I'll let you know what I decide to do, but if you're considering any sort of cleanse, the fall and spring seasonal changes are supposedly ideal times to do it. I'm a few days behind, but I'm going to be a nut and do it anyway.
That's just the way I am.
I just forget to drink. And then sometimes I don't want to drink because I'm going to be driving somewhere or doing something and I don't want to have to stop and go to the bathroom. And that will surely happen if I drink.
I basically walk around in a state of semi-deyhydration all of the time.
So a group of my fitness friends are doing a challenge where for 20 days, each of us choose the number one "trouble" issue we face and address it.
I knew I had to go with water. It sounds like madness, but I knew I'd struggle to drink 64 oz. of water a day. There are people who drink a gallon, no problem! Eamonn is one of those people who drinks tons.
So the challenge started a week ago today and some days have been tougher than others. I do find that the more I drink, the more I want to drink. Weird. I was dashing to the bathroom the first two days, but since then my body seems to have adjusted.
And I have to say, it's a good thing that I picked water vs. food for the challenge. I just had three days in a row, not of crazy bingeing, but weight-loss inappropriate foods. Fritos and chili dog anyone? Mmmm.
I'm feeling the need to cleanse and am trying to get motivated to do it. I've got to make it through this week and then I think I'm going to do a 6 - 7 day cleanse (need to check my supply of materials). I'll let you know what I decide to do, but if you're considering any sort of cleanse, the fall and spring seasonal changes are supposedly ideal times to do it. I'm a few days behind, but I'm going to be a nut and do it anyway.
That's just the way I am.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Homemade Energy Bars and a Challenge
I'm alive! Made it to my high school reunion at my goal weight--SWEET! And very exciting.
I'll be back later to blog more about what I'm up to fitness-wise these days, but a few quick things.
First, this morning I made these homemade energy bars. They are v v v v awesome. Why, why did I feel compelled to make my own energy bars? Well, not to be gross, but Eamonn cannot eat oats. Well, he can, but the consumtion of oats comes with dire intestinal consequences. Actually, I'm the same way. TMI, I know. Anyway, he needed an alternative for when he's out on his bike. These are tasty, but we'll see if they stand the rigor test in the pocket of his cycling jersey or his Camelbak. Or the heat. Always have to think about the heat, even out here.
Energy Bars with peanut butter and sunflower seeds
1 cup peanut butter (or experiment with almond butter, too)
1/2 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
2/3 cup dried cherries or dried cranberries or raisins (or a combination)
3 tablespoons sesame seeds
1/3 cup shredded coconut
3 cups puffed brown rice cereal
Grease an 8×8 pan with a cooking spray.
In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, honey and vanilla extract until well-combined.
Add the sunflower seeds, dried fruit, sesame seeds and coconut and combine thoroughly with the peanut butter mixture.
Gradually add the puffed brown rice cereal to this.
Firmly press the mixture into the prepared 8×8 pan; you’ll need to wet your hands slightly, otherwise the mixture just sticks to them. (I used wax paper to press in the mixture and it worked great)
Cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours, then cut and go biking, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing or whatever floats your boat!
You can also change up the fruit or add some chocolate to this mix to change it up a bit.
And a final note about energy bars. I don't usually eat them in conjunction with a regular workout because they tend to be high in calories (get a load of all that peanut butter!). I tend to consume them as a snack or even a meal replacement when I'm out doing a long hike or skiing. It's different for Eamonn who is out on his bike for rides of 2, 3, 4 or even 5 or more hours. My guess is he's earning those calories far more than me.
And as for the "challenge" part of this post, a friend and I are kicking off a commitment to wellness starting Monday. Not a challenge, per se, just focusing on our health and wellness. We're talking today to map out the details about how each of us will achieve our goals. I'm going to try and convince her to put her progress on her own blog. I'll keep you updated, but if you want to join in, the more the merrier!
More later...
I'll be back later to blog more about what I'm up to fitness-wise these days, but a few quick things.
First, this morning I made these homemade energy bars. They are v v v v awesome. Why, why did I feel compelled to make my own energy bars? Well, not to be gross, but Eamonn cannot eat oats. Well, he can, but the consumtion of oats comes with dire intestinal consequences. Actually, I'm the same way. TMI, I know. Anyway, he needed an alternative for when he's out on his bike. These are tasty, but we'll see if they stand the rigor test in the pocket of his cycling jersey or his Camelbak. Or the heat. Always have to think about the heat, even out here.
Energy Bars with peanut butter and sunflower seeds
1 cup peanut butter (or experiment with almond butter, too)
1/2 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
2/3 cup dried cherries or dried cranberries or raisins (or a combination)
3 tablespoons sesame seeds
1/3 cup shredded coconut
3 cups puffed brown rice cereal
Grease an 8×8 pan with a cooking spray.
In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, honey and vanilla extract until well-combined.
Add the sunflower seeds, dried fruit, sesame seeds and coconut and combine thoroughly with the peanut butter mixture.
Gradually add the puffed brown rice cereal to this.
Firmly press the mixture into the prepared 8×8 pan; you’ll need to wet your hands slightly, otherwise the mixture just sticks to them. (I used wax paper to press in the mixture and it worked great)
Cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours, then cut and go biking, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing or whatever floats your boat!
You can also change up the fruit or add some chocolate to this mix to change it up a bit.
And a final note about energy bars. I don't usually eat them in conjunction with a regular workout because they tend to be high in calories (get a load of all that peanut butter!). I tend to consume them as a snack or even a meal replacement when I'm out doing a long hike or skiing. It's different for Eamonn who is out on his bike for rides of 2, 3, 4 or even 5 or more hours. My guess is he's earning those calories far more than me.
And as for the "challenge" part of this post, a friend and I are kicking off a commitment to wellness starting Monday. Not a challenge, per se, just focusing on our health and wellness. We're talking today to map out the details about how each of us will achieve our goals. I'm going to try and convince her to put her progress on her own blog. I'll keep you updated, but if you want to join in, the more the merrier!
More later...
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Nachos That Won't Blow Your Daily Calorie Count
I love tortilla chips. I think we've established that over time. They are a trigger food for me so I usually hide them away and save them for a cheat day.
So last week when I was planning meals, I had this madcap idea that I wanted to do a fun nacho dinner on the last day of school. But could I make a nacho dinner that wouldn't blow my whole day? It remained to be seen.
In the end, we didn't eat the nachos last night. Declan was invited to a friend's for a sleepover--they've had a sleepover on the last day of school for the last 3 years, and Eamonn had a bike race, so it was just me and Finn. I didn't feel like cooking and then galloping out the door to the bike race, so I...took Finn to Wendy's, oh yes I did, and saved the nachos for tonight.
The nachos were an overwhelming score for all parties involved.
-15 Garden of Eatin tortilla chips = 140 calories
-1.5 oz. cooked ground turkey (I browned the meat, added the beans and sprinkled in some organic taco seasoning) = 100 calories
-3 tbls. pinto beans = 39 calories
-jalepeno slices = 3 calories
-10 cherry tomatoes = 29 calories
-1 oz. shredded cheese = 110 calories
-1 tbls. sour cream = 26 calories
Total calories = 445 (or thereabouts after the Bodybugg rounds the numbers)
These were yummy and I'm really full--too full, but I feel OK with my calories overall today (1366).
My workouts this week have been good. This last month of TurboFire is a HIIT month so I actually laid in bed this morning, sort of hiding and afraid to get up and do HIIT 30. It's hard, people. 30 minutes of fire drills--plyometrics over and over.
I did finally get up and slog my way through HIIT 30. I think these HIIT workouts are actually made more tolerable by the fact that I got new shoes. I'll talk about them in another post because I heart them very much.
Had a cheat day yesterday. The day started just fine, but when we went to Declan's school for his continuation ceremony, they served cake. I didn't actually eat cake. What I did was much worse. When the party was breaking up, I looked over and the cake was gone. Which was good. What was still there was a ring of piped icing. Another mom was standing there. She looked at me. I looked at her. We each picked up a fork and scraped off the icing and ate it, each confessing that it was our favorite part. After school, some friends and I all took our kids to the diner for ice cream. I had a junior malt.
So the icing started my downward spiral and the malt continued the disaster. I have trouble recovering from stuff like that.
I'd do it again though...
So last week when I was planning meals, I had this madcap idea that I wanted to do a fun nacho dinner on the last day of school. But could I make a nacho dinner that wouldn't blow my whole day? It remained to be seen.
In the end, we didn't eat the nachos last night. Declan was invited to a friend's for a sleepover--they've had a sleepover on the last day of school for the last 3 years, and Eamonn had a bike race, so it was just me and Finn. I didn't feel like cooking and then galloping out the door to the bike race, so I...took Finn to Wendy's, oh yes I did, and saved the nachos for tonight.
The nachos were an overwhelming score for all parties involved.
-15 Garden of Eatin tortilla chips = 140 calories
-1.5 oz. cooked ground turkey (I browned the meat, added the beans and sprinkled in some organic taco seasoning) = 100 calories
-3 tbls. pinto beans = 39 calories
-jalepeno slices = 3 calories
-10 cherry tomatoes = 29 calories
-1 oz. shredded cheese = 110 calories
-1 tbls. sour cream = 26 calories
Total calories = 445 (or thereabouts after the Bodybugg rounds the numbers)
These were yummy and I'm really full--too full, but I feel OK with my calories overall today (1366).
My workouts this week have been good. This last month of TurboFire is a HIIT month so I actually laid in bed this morning, sort of hiding and afraid to get up and do HIIT 30. It's hard, people. 30 minutes of fire drills--plyometrics over and over.
I did finally get up and slog my way through HIIT 30. I think these HIIT workouts are actually made more tolerable by the fact that I got new shoes. I'll talk about them in another post because I heart them very much.
Had a cheat day yesterday. The day started just fine, but when we went to Declan's school for his continuation ceremony, they served cake. I didn't actually eat cake. What I did was much worse. When the party was breaking up, I looked over and the cake was gone. Which was good. What was still there was a ring of piped icing. Another mom was standing there. She looked at me. I looked at her. We each picked up a fork and scraped off the icing and ate it, each confessing that it was our favorite part. After school, some friends and I all took our kids to the diner for ice cream. I had a junior malt.
So the icing started my downward spiral and the malt continued the disaster. I have trouble recovering from stuff like that.
I'd do it again though...
Friday, June 3, 2011
Need to Get Serious
My 25th high school reunion is in approximately 6 weeks. Why couldn't the reunion have been about three weeks ago when I was at a great weight? Angst. I continue to flounder around. I need some sort of weight loss challenge to get my rear in gear.
What happened? My workouts have been great, but PMS came around and I always let myself indulge a little in the last day or so prior. But then, there was some sort of, um, delay and the PMS just kept going. Then we went to Erin's for Memorial Day and I'm telling you, people, that girl is the WORST influence! How is someone supposed to resist Chex Mix, Mochi (or whatever that Japanese ice cream in rice paper is called), popcorn,s'mores... See! Do you see what I'm up against?
Well, in all seriousness, it's my own lack of prior planning that has been doing me in. Work is busy. The end of school is madness. Blah blah blah. I just haven't planned and the results are showing. Last night I ate pizza and potato chips at the 5th grade party. Because I'm a sadist and because it was Friday, I hopped on the scale this morning. UP 6 POUNDS from a few weeks ago!
Now, Eamonn would say not to freak out. Sodium is everyone's enemy and it doesn't get much worst than pizza and potato chips. Except maybe for popcorn.
Combine the bad eating with the fact that I'm not even logging my bad eating and nothing good can come of it.
Anyway, tomorrow, I'll be back to business: keeping up with the workouts, planning meals, logging food, making better choices overall.
Because the 25th reunion is not a time to let things fall apart. I don't know when it is I can let things fall apart, but it sure as heck isn't now.
So, tomorrow--daily reports once again. And maybe for some incentive I'll tell Eamonn I would like to have a new pair of shoes if I get back to my goal. I'm sure that will go down well.
What happened? My workouts have been great, but PMS came around and I always let myself indulge a little in the last day or so prior. But then, there was some sort of, um, delay and the PMS just kept going. Then we went to Erin's for Memorial Day and I'm telling you, people, that girl is the WORST influence! How is someone supposed to resist Chex Mix, Mochi (or whatever that Japanese ice cream in rice paper is called), popcorn,s'mores... See! Do you see what I'm up against?
Well, in all seriousness, it's my own lack of prior planning that has been doing me in. Work is busy. The end of school is madness. Blah blah blah. I just haven't planned and the results are showing. Last night I ate pizza and potato chips at the 5th grade party. Because I'm a sadist and because it was Friday, I hopped on the scale this morning. UP 6 POUNDS from a few weeks ago!
Now, Eamonn would say not to freak out. Sodium is everyone's enemy and it doesn't get much worst than pizza and potato chips. Except maybe for popcorn.
Combine the bad eating with the fact that I'm not even logging my bad eating and nothing good can come of it.
Anyway, tomorrow, I'll be back to business: keeping up with the workouts, planning meals, logging food, making better choices overall.
Because the 25th reunion is not a time to let things fall apart. I don't know when it is I can let things fall apart, but it sure as heck isn't now.
So, tomorrow--daily reports once again. And maybe for some incentive I'll tell Eamonn I would like to have a new pair of shoes if I get back to my goal. I'm sure that will go down well.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Post Challenge Status
So I'm suffering a tiny bit from that post-challenge lack of accountability. I haven't gaineds, but I haven't lost any either, and I did have a few indulgences last week. I'm trying to tell myself that's fine, there will be time to pick up and keep going after vacation. In fact, in my pre-trip frenzy, I completely skipped my workout yesterday. Haven't done that in ages. But it's OK. Big picture. Big picture.
In fact, I may not get workouts in today or tomorrow. The horror!
So I think I've talked about how the boys like to watch the Biggest Loser. They're pretty amazed by how big the people are on there because frankly, we don't really see many overweight people around here (which frankly, can produce a lot of pressure on me personally, because seriously, you're 10 lbs. overweight and you feel like a Biggest Loser contestant). I don't think everyone has eating disorders or anything, this area just attracts people who like the outdoors so they're really fit and strong.
Anyway, in recent episodes, one of the Biggest Loser contestants has been caught on camera binging in his room at night. One of the boys, I can't remember which one, asked us if we ever ate at night after they went to bed.
Hmmm, interesting question.
Eamonn 'fessed right up. "Totally. I'm really bad about eating chocolate chips at night." It's true. It's a longstanding vice of his.
I thought for a second. "Popcorn on Friday nights is really the only thing I eat at night after you go to bed." I have to be careful because when we watch a movie or a TV show at night, I love to munch popcorn. But I have to keep it to once a week or else.
I pondered all of this while I ate about a dozen cookies after everyone was in bed last Friday night. That happens about once a year, but I thought it was hilarious timing since they had just asked us that question.
I haven't admitted it to anyone yet.
In fact, I may not get workouts in today or tomorrow. The horror!
So I think I've talked about how the boys like to watch the Biggest Loser. They're pretty amazed by how big the people are on there because frankly, we don't really see many overweight people around here (which frankly, can produce a lot of pressure on me personally, because seriously, you're 10 lbs. overweight and you feel like a Biggest Loser contestant). I don't think everyone has eating disorders or anything, this area just attracts people who like the outdoors so they're really fit and strong.
Anyway, in recent episodes, one of the Biggest Loser contestants has been caught on camera binging in his room at night. One of the boys, I can't remember which one, asked us if we ever ate at night after they went to bed.
Hmmm, interesting question.
Eamonn 'fessed right up. "Totally. I'm really bad about eating chocolate chips at night." It's true. It's a longstanding vice of his.
I thought for a second. "Popcorn on Friday nights is really the only thing I eat at night after you go to bed." I have to be careful because when we watch a movie or a TV show at night, I love to munch popcorn. But I have to keep it to once a week or else.
I pondered all of this while I ate about a dozen cookies after everyone was in bed last Friday night. That happens about once a year, but I thought it was hilarious timing since they had just asked us that question.
I haven't admitted it to anyone yet.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Cereal. It's what's for dinner.
I have eaten cereal for dinner the last two nights.
And I liked it.
I love cereal, in fact. I am somewhat careful about which ones I eat now. Since I try to avoid gluten, I no longer eat my beloved Grape Nuts. Yesterday I did break down and eat some Frosted Mini Wheats though. I'm fairly certain that they are nowhere on Michi's Ladder.
Anyway, it has been a weird last two days, but I can't exactly explain why. What was I doing that I needed to eat cereal for dinner two nights in a row?
I think I did it last night because I didn't want to eat pizza. And tonight, we were at a hockey game until 9pm, so nothing screams "I am a healthy eater" like cornflakes and granola at that hour.
Good example of me not logging my food and forgetting what I ate. I'd better get my act together.
Workouts are good--on track. Today I only got one workout in and that's may very well be the trend for awhile--possibly until the end of the challenge because work is racheting into high gear for the next month.
I hate it when I have to work for a living. It totally messes with my plans.
Hope you are eating well and getting fit and not eating cereal for dinner.
And I liked it.
I love cereal, in fact. I am somewhat careful about which ones I eat now. Since I try to avoid gluten, I no longer eat my beloved Grape Nuts. Yesterday I did break down and eat some Frosted Mini Wheats though. I'm fairly certain that they are nowhere on Michi's Ladder.
Anyway, it has been a weird last two days, but I can't exactly explain why. What was I doing that I needed to eat cereal for dinner two nights in a row?
I think I did it last night because I didn't want to eat pizza. And tonight, we were at a hockey game until 9pm, so nothing screams "I am a healthy eater" like cornflakes and granola at that hour.
Good example of me not logging my food and forgetting what I ate. I'd better get my act together.
Workouts are good--on track. Today I only got one workout in and that's may very well be the trend for awhile--possibly until the end of the challenge because work is racheting into high gear for the next month.
I hate it when I have to work for a living. It totally messes with my plans.
Hope you are eating well and getting fit and not eating cereal for dinner.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Pancake Day
I was elated when I was reminded that today is Fat Tuesday. Nevermind that we are not Catholic. Well, Eamonn is, but he describes himself as a recovering Catholic. So I asked him if they ate pancakes on this day when he was growing up and still a Catholic. He said, "Of course!" He didn't know today by Fat Tuesday.
"Well," I asked, "Did you call it Shrove Tuesday?"
"Yes, it's Shrove Tuesday, but we just called it Pancake Day."
That's about all of the encouragement I needed to declare "Pancakes for dinner!" I ignored the fact that we had also eaten pancakes LAST Tuesday in honor of National Pancake Day. Next year they should probably combine Fat Tuesday and National Pancake Day.
Just my two cents. You know, if anyone from the Vatican or the national holiday society is looking for advice.
When I weighed this morning, I was happy to discover that I was down 1.6 lbs. from last week. The scale continues to move.
But perhaps I will have a rebound effect because yes, I did eat pancakes. How can you not eat pancakes today?
Two-a-days continue and I'm pleased with how I'm feeling. I've hit 2400 calories burned consistently as well. I may not get there today, but I have been sitting and working a lot today.
Tomorrow is a rest day and I am feeling happy about that.
As a side note for today, Anne and I had an e-mail conversation about contests and diets, etc. Here's something important to know: The way I eat and structure these challenges--this is what has worked for me and for other people on my BeachBody forums. BUT, that doesn't mean it's right for everyone. Anne is tweaking things and working to find what is right for her and that's really good and really important. There are plenty of ways people eat or structure their workouts that don't work for me. Take the ideas and mold them into what gets you into the groove.
When I really committed to getting fit two years ago, it still took me time to settle in. First I had to develop a routine that worked. It comes and goes at times, but I'd say this is the area where I feel really solid.
Next, I had to get the eating part down. I tried lots of different ways of eating: planned menus per different websites, vegan, higher protein, etc. To me, it's fun to experiment in this way. Ultimately, what I found out is that I need to eat the foods I like, just in a controlled way. I finally mastered portion control--my lifetime nemesis! Deprivation will never work for me. My eating 6 days clean (perhaps not on Fat Tuesday) and one day wild card works for me. I don't feel deprived at all. I like how I feel when I eat this way. Plus, as silly as it sounds, until someone tells me that I have to stop eating popcorn or else I'll die, I have to have it. Have to. Whatever your "Have To" is, make it a part of your plan.
Finally, I had to learn to pay attention to my body and that has been a very interesting process. After a lifetime, I feel like I can finally stop when I'm satisfied, before I'm full. I had to train my brain. If I crave something, I eat it and then factor it in. I've mentioned that for the most part, I don't eat cheese. For whatever reason, today I was craving cheese (salty, fatty protein) so badly. So I ate one ounce of cheese and I was happy.
Keep it simple.
Today
Workout 1: Fire 45 (I was also supposed to do Stretch 10, but forgot!)
Workout 2: 20 minutes on elliptical
Breakfast: Chocolate Shakeology, almond milk
Snack: Apple, Brazil nuts
Lunch: Banana, almond butter
Snack: Chocolate Shakeology, almond milk, cheese
Dinner: Pancakes, maple syrup, strawberries YUM!
I am full. I am Fat on Tuesday.
Total calories: 1643 (although I just realized I didn't put the strawberries in there, so it's higher)
"Well," I asked, "Did you call it Shrove Tuesday?"
"Yes, it's Shrove Tuesday, but we just called it Pancake Day."
That's about all of the encouragement I needed to declare "Pancakes for dinner!" I ignored the fact that we had also eaten pancakes LAST Tuesday in honor of National Pancake Day. Next year they should probably combine Fat Tuesday and National Pancake Day.
Just my two cents. You know, if anyone from the Vatican or the national holiday society is looking for advice.
When I weighed this morning, I was happy to discover that I was down 1.6 lbs. from last week. The scale continues to move.
But perhaps I will have a rebound effect because yes, I did eat pancakes. How can you not eat pancakes today?
Two-a-days continue and I'm pleased with how I'm feeling. I've hit 2400 calories burned consistently as well. I may not get there today, but I have been sitting and working a lot today.
Tomorrow is a rest day and I am feeling happy about that.
As a side note for today, Anne and I had an e-mail conversation about contests and diets, etc. Here's something important to know: The way I eat and structure these challenges--this is what has worked for me and for other people on my BeachBody forums. BUT, that doesn't mean it's right for everyone. Anne is tweaking things and working to find what is right for her and that's really good and really important. There are plenty of ways people eat or structure their workouts that don't work for me. Take the ideas and mold them into what gets you into the groove.
When I really committed to getting fit two years ago, it still took me time to settle in. First I had to develop a routine that worked. It comes and goes at times, but I'd say this is the area where I feel really solid.
Next, I had to get the eating part down. I tried lots of different ways of eating: planned menus per different websites, vegan, higher protein, etc. To me, it's fun to experiment in this way. Ultimately, what I found out is that I need to eat the foods I like, just in a controlled way. I finally mastered portion control--my lifetime nemesis! Deprivation will never work for me. My eating 6 days clean (perhaps not on Fat Tuesday) and one day wild card works for me. I don't feel deprived at all. I like how I feel when I eat this way. Plus, as silly as it sounds, until someone tells me that I have to stop eating popcorn or else I'll die, I have to have it. Have to. Whatever your "Have To" is, make it a part of your plan.
Finally, I had to learn to pay attention to my body and that has been a very interesting process. After a lifetime, I feel like I can finally stop when I'm satisfied, before I'm full. I had to train my brain. If I crave something, I eat it and then factor it in. I've mentioned that for the most part, I don't eat cheese. For whatever reason, today I was craving cheese (salty, fatty protein) so badly. So I ate one ounce of cheese and I was happy.
Keep it simple.
Today
Workout 1: Fire 45 (I was also supposed to do Stretch 10, but forgot!)
Workout 2: 20 minutes on elliptical
Breakfast: Chocolate Shakeology, almond milk
Snack: Apple, Brazil nuts
Lunch: Banana, almond butter
Snack: Chocolate Shakeology, almond milk, cheese
Dinner: Pancakes, maple syrup, strawberries YUM!
I am full. I am Fat on Tuesday.
Total calories: 1643 (although I just realized I didn't put the strawberries in there, so it's higher)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Whoever Michi is, he's rolling over in his grave
Today was so far off the top two tiers of Michi's ladder, it isn't even funny. I was fine for total calories, but here's the deal.
Last February 10, a cow was butchered in our name. Well, in several people's names actually, but we got a 1/4 of it. And I know it was Feb. 10 because it's stamped on all of the packages of meat in the freezer. It feels overly personal when you know when your cow was killed, just in case you were wondering.
Anyway, we are down to the last few pounds of beef left in the freezer and so a few weeks ago, I commited to buy another 1/4 cow. Last night, the farmer called and said the new 1/4 beef will be here in two weeks.
Houston, we have a freezer problem.
Cow #1 is still partially in there. A few weeks ago, I hit the day old bread sale at the grocery and my freezer has a lot of bread in there. And then I accidentally bought some duplicate items at Costco. The sum of all of these things means my freezer is full and I have a limited amount of time to get it mostly empty or else.
Hence: Beef, it's what's for dinner. I made Eamonn and the boys minute steaks. I myself ate liver. I know, I know. It's all so Hannibal Lechter, isn't it? I did not eat fava beans, however.
Anyway, this may be the trend for a bit while we eat through the freezer.
With that said, I'm also planning a green smoothie cleanse starting Monday. Maybe earlier if I can get to the store and get some greens other than the limp spinach currently hanging out in my fridge.
That will be an interesting experiment and I promise to give you all the gory details. You know how I love all of the experimental eating stuff.
Today's workout: Rest day, ahhhhh
Breakfast: 2 clementines, 3/4 cup Nature's Path hemp granola, almond milk
Snack: Cocoa cassava bar; apple
Lunch: Potato leek soup, flax crackers, chopped veggie salad with too many olives
Dinner: Liver, onions, mushrooms, mashed potatoes
Snack: Banana
Total calories: 1553
Burned: 1952 with 40 minutes to go. I won't hit 2400, obviously, but I will have a 500 calorie deficit.
Running to bed. I'm sure that counts for something.
Last February 10, a cow was butchered in our name. Well, in several people's names actually, but we got a 1/4 of it. And I know it was Feb. 10 because it's stamped on all of the packages of meat in the freezer. It feels overly personal when you know when your cow was killed, just in case you were wondering.
Anyway, we are down to the last few pounds of beef left in the freezer and so a few weeks ago, I commited to buy another 1/4 cow. Last night, the farmer called and said the new 1/4 beef will be here in two weeks.
Houston, we have a freezer problem.
Cow #1 is still partially in there. A few weeks ago, I hit the day old bread sale at the grocery and my freezer has a lot of bread in there. And then I accidentally bought some duplicate items at Costco. The sum of all of these things means my freezer is full and I have a limited amount of time to get it mostly empty or else.
Hence: Beef, it's what's for dinner. I made Eamonn and the boys minute steaks. I myself ate liver. I know, I know. It's all so Hannibal Lechter, isn't it? I did not eat fava beans, however.
Anyway, this may be the trend for a bit while we eat through the freezer.
With that said, I'm also planning a green smoothie cleanse starting Monday. Maybe earlier if I can get to the store and get some greens other than the limp spinach currently hanging out in my fridge.
That will be an interesting experiment and I promise to give you all the gory details. You know how I love all of the experimental eating stuff.
Today's workout: Rest day, ahhhhh
Breakfast: 2 clementines, 3/4 cup Nature's Path hemp granola, almond milk
Snack: Cocoa cassava bar; apple
Lunch: Potato leek soup, flax crackers, chopped veggie salad with too many olives
Dinner: Liver, onions, mushrooms, mashed potatoes
Snack: Banana
Total calories: 1553
Burned: 1952 with 40 minutes to go. I won't hit 2400, obviously, but I will have a 500 calorie deficit.
Running to bed. I'm sure that counts for something.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Calorie Cycling
Today I will hit my 2,400 calorie burn goal and I'm totally excited about it. So there. Even though the frozen Indian dinner I ate had white rice in it which is all the way down in the Swiss tier, I'm calling this day a success.
I was going to write something witty and relevant...and I can't remember what it was...I probably have calorie deprivation brain fog. Just kidding. I think.
Anyway, even though I'm hitting the workouts twice a day to really ramp up my calorie deficit for awhile, you can't do that indefinitely. Have I written about calorie cycling before? Yes? No? Don't remember? Me either.
Calorie cycling is eating a different amount of calories every day, but staying in range for the week or month. Calorie cycling is a theory and method that helps to lose, maintain, or gain weight by eating a different amount of calories each day. The theory is that it keeps your metabolism guessing.
There are a bazillion different theories on whether you should eat the same amount of calories every day or change the total up, keeping in an overall total for the week. I tend to be in the latter category. Even though I generally shoot for 1700 calories (trying to dial that back a bit for the weight loss challenge--unsuccessful so far. Going to have to omit chocolate--wah!), there are days I go a little over and days I try to go under because it's a rest day.
A few things you definitely need to do: You really shouldn't go under 1200 calories a day. Your body needs a certain amount just to function and from what I read, you'll send your metabolism into a nosedive if you "starve" it with too few calories. Your body is no fool. Cut back drastically on your calories and your body is going to conserve.
Remember the low/no fat craze of the 90s? I talked momentarily about it yesterday when I mentioned Snackwells and how everyone loved fat free cookies and binged on them. Well, some people did. Ahem.
Anyway, think about percentages (most calorie counting sites tell you what your carb/protein/fat percentage is--so easy) and keep your fat intake realistic. My BodyBugg calculations have me at about a 55% carb/20% protein/25% fat. I never get those percentages dead on, but mostly I come pretty close.
My point is figure out what you should eat for the week and shoot for that overall total. You might be a little high one day, a little low another, but it all comes out in the wash.
Today's workouts:
Workout 1: Fire 45, Stretch 10; Workout 2: 50 min. walk
Breakfast: Chocolate Shakeology, almond milk
Snack: apple, Brazil nuts
Lunch: Salad w/Romaine, tuna, radishes, celery, tomato, olives, olive oil; one square dark chocolate
Snack: Greek yogurt, banana
Dinner: Amy's Indian entree, two apple slices (leftover)
Total calories eaten: 1609
Total calories burned: 2287 with 3 hours to go. I think I'll just make it!
So realizing how much I have to do to burn 2400 calories a day is sobering. It's a lot of work. But I'm going to keep on, keepin' on to get to my goal.
Hope you had a great day.
I was going to write something witty and relevant...and I can't remember what it was...I probably have calorie deprivation brain fog. Just kidding. I think.
Anyway, even though I'm hitting the workouts twice a day to really ramp up my calorie deficit for awhile, you can't do that indefinitely. Have I written about calorie cycling before? Yes? No? Don't remember? Me either.
Calorie cycling is eating a different amount of calories every day, but staying in range for the week or month. Calorie cycling is a theory and method that helps to lose, maintain, or gain weight by eating a different amount of calories each day. The theory is that it keeps your metabolism guessing.
There are a bazillion different theories on whether you should eat the same amount of calories every day or change the total up, keeping in an overall total for the week. I tend to be in the latter category. Even though I generally shoot for 1700 calories (trying to dial that back a bit for the weight loss challenge--unsuccessful so far. Going to have to omit chocolate--wah!), there are days I go a little over and days I try to go under because it's a rest day.
A few things you definitely need to do: You really shouldn't go under 1200 calories a day. Your body needs a certain amount just to function and from what I read, you'll send your metabolism into a nosedive if you "starve" it with too few calories. Your body is no fool. Cut back drastically on your calories and your body is going to conserve.
Remember the low/no fat craze of the 90s? I talked momentarily about it yesterday when I mentioned Snackwells and how everyone loved fat free cookies and binged on them. Well, some people did. Ahem.
Anyway, think about percentages (most calorie counting sites tell you what your carb/protein/fat percentage is--so easy) and keep your fat intake realistic. My BodyBugg calculations have me at about a 55% carb/20% protein/25% fat. I never get those percentages dead on, but mostly I come pretty close.
My point is figure out what you should eat for the week and shoot for that overall total. You might be a little high one day, a little low another, but it all comes out in the wash.
Today's workouts:
Workout 1: Fire 45, Stretch 10; Workout 2: 50 min. walk
Breakfast: Chocolate Shakeology, almond milk
Snack: apple, Brazil nuts
Lunch: Salad w/Romaine, tuna, radishes, celery, tomato, olives, olive oil; one square dark chocolate
Snack: Greek yogurt, banana
Dinner: Amy's Indian entree, two apple slices (leftover)
Total calories eaten: 1609
Total calories burned: 2287 with 3 hours to go. I think I'll just make it!
So realizing how much I have to do to burn 2400 calories a day is sobering. It's a lot of work. But I'm going to keep on, keepin' on to get to my goal.
Hope you had a great day.
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