I have a confession to make.... the unthinkable has happened.... I accidentally cheated yesterday.
I didn't go to work yesterday because we had Carter's appointment to have his casts changed out. I woke up and ate the bacon that was leftover from dinner.... I'm never very hungry when I'm at home, because I stay so busy. We left around 9 for our appointment at 1030. We were finished by 1130 with two shiny, new, red casts. We hit the Chik-fil-a drive-through for lunch on the run and I ordered the same thing as yesterday - 12 ct grilled chicken nuggets, a fruit cup, and an unsweet tea. Something went terribly wrong. I took a couple sips of my tea, and after the third, I realized that it was delicious. It wasn't unsweet! They had given me sweet tea. It was hard, but I didn't drink any more of it... thankfully I keep a flat of water in my car. So, there you have it - I cheated on accident. From now on I'll have to have someone test my tea for me (ha). Carter and I napped for 2 hours once we got home, and I had a banana on my way to my hair appointment. For dinner I picked up steamed salmon from Publix, and Josh had roasted asparagus and baked sweet potatoes ready when I got home. Good day besides the cheat...
Image
Friday, May 11, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Cat Food Challenge: Days 7-9
First days back exercising. Over the headaches and some of the cravings.
Day 7: Monday, May 7th
Back to work! But I forgot my laptop... so back home! Ha. Anyway... egg muffins for breakfast. Leftover roasted veggies, I think? Went to kickboxing class and it was stuffy and hot (nearly 90 degrees) in our room. Worked hard, and had a good sweat. After the drive home I was still feeling the need for a little something extra, so I did a quick mile down Blackberry as the storm rolled in. Beautiful lightning, and lightning bugs! Came in to dinner being ready (love my husband) - baked tilapia, squash, and zucchini.
Day 8: Tuesday, May 8th
Back to work - for real! Today we had our weekly weigh-in for Biggest Loser - down FIVE pounds in a week. Thanks, CFD! I didn't exercise at all last week, so this is remarkable! I don't remember what food I ate during the day. I think it involved an egg muffin, an apple, two grilled chicken tenders, half a sweet potato, applesauce, and a boiled egg. Went home so Josh could hit the gym (#4# Crossfit Competition is this weekend, and he's competing in the Advanced level!), then I headed to body sculpting with Nichole. We did some major buns and thighs, and as always planks and upper body, and some abs. After we did a slow mile in the drizzle... and when I say slow, I mean SLOW. My legs were dead from sculpting them, I reckon. We went to Target to pick up a gift, and then we did the most amazing thing EVER - we went to MEXICAN for dinner. I had steak fajitas and a guacamole salad - hold the tortillas, sour cream, beans, and rice, please. I cleaned my skillet - delish! I had to slide the chips over to her side so I wouldn't accidentally grab one. Great night out!
Day 9: Wednesday, May 9th - TODAY
Had the usual egg muffin for breakfast with an added glass of watery apple juice. Enjoyed a boiled egg for a mid-morning snack, and then hit Chik-fil-a with a couple co-workers. I had a 12 count grilled chicken nuggets, fruit cup, and unsweet tea. I was completely satisfied after that meal! Just ate my mid-afternoon snack of baby carrots and cucumber/avocado dip, and will be going to kickboxing at the Y again tonight! I may try to get another run in if the rain stops... hopefully 2 miles! Tonight we're having breakfast - turkey sausage, bacon, eggs, biscuits (for Josh and Carter), and smoothies! I'm figuring out how to mix things up so I don't get bored with chicken and fish. I can't wait to try some new recipes next week! I feel really good overall... still kinda sluggish during workouts... but the food aspect of it is definitely getting easier.
Day 7: Monday, May 7th
Back to work! But I forgot my laptop... so back home! Ha. Anyway... egg muffins for breakfast. Leftover roasted veggies, I think? Went to kickboxing class and it was stuffy and hot (nearly 90 degrees) in our room. Worked hard, and had a good sweat. After the drive home I was still feeling the need for a little something extra, so I did a quick mile down Blackberry as the storm rolled in. Beautiful lightning, and lightning bugs! Came in to dinner being ready (love my husband) - baked tilapia, squash, and zucchini.
Day 8: Tuesday, May 8th
Back to work - for real! Today we had our weekly weigh-in for Biggest Loser - down FIVE pounds in a week. Thanks, CFD! I didn't exercise at all last week, so this is remarkable! I don't remember what food I ate during the day. I think it involved an egg muffin, an apple, two grilled chicken tenders, half a sweet potato, applesauce, and a boiled egg. Went home so Josh could hit the gym (#4# Crossfit Competition is this weekend, and he's competing in the Advanced level!), then I headed to body sculpting with Nichole. We did some major buns and thighs, and as always planks and upper body, and some abs. After we did a slow mile in the drizzle... and when I say slow, I mean SLOW. My legs were dead from sculpting them, I reckon. We went to Target to pick up a gift, and then we did the most amazing thing EVER - we went to MEXICAN for dinner. I had steak fajitas and a guacamole salad - hold the tortillas, sour cream, beans, and rice, please. I cleaned my skillet - delish! I had to slide the chips over to her side so I wouldn't accidentally grab one. Great night out!
Day 9: Wednesday, May 9th - TODAY
Had the usual egg muffin for breakfast with an added glass of watery apple juice. Enjoyed a boiled egg for a mid-morning snack, and then hit Chik-fil-a with a couple co-workers. I had a 12 count grilled chicken nuggets, fruit cup, and unsweet tea. I was completely satisfied after that meal! Just ate my mid-afternoon snack of baby carrots and cucumber/avocado dip, and will be going to kickboxing at the Y again tonight! I may try to get another run in if the rain stops... hopefully 2 miles! Tonight we're having breakfast - turkey sausage, bacon, eggs, biscuits (for Josh and Carter), and smoothies! I'm figuring out how to mix things up so I don't get bored with chicken and fish. I can't wait to try some new recipes next week! I feel really good overall... still kinda sluggish during workouts... but the food aspect of it is definitely getting easier.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Perfectly Boiled Eggs
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
This recipe could change your life. Just saying....
Ok, I don't know how many of you are even aware that boiled eggs are not supposed to have greenish/grey yolks. I didn't know... but now I do! A perfectly boiled egg should have a bright yellow yolk, just like if you were to scramble it or fry it! I'm going to give you the skinny on how to boil your eggs to perfection.
Put your eggs in a pot and cover them completely with cold tap water by about an inch or two. Place them on the stove over high heat, and stare at them until they start boiling. Just kidding... but keep a sly eye on them, because as soon as they get to a full boil, take them off of the heat and cover the pan. Let the eggs stand for 10 minutes. If you're using the eggs immediately, you can peel them under cold running water. If you're not using them right away, throw them gently place them in an ice water bath to lower their temperature and stop the cooking. I usually dry them off and then store them in a Tupperware in the fridge for the week.
Speaking of eggs, mom and I found these precious ceramic egg crates on clearance at Target last week, and we each picked up two. Josh thought I was crazy, but then we bought 2 1/2 dozen farm fresh eggs at Publix, and they weren't easy to store - voila! They are being used!
Cucumber Avacado Dressing
I've had one of those night where I just wanted to get things done - ha! I decided to make a couple recipes that will last most of the week. This is one that our Cat Food Coach, Hardy, told us about. It's wonderful because it can be used as a salad dressing or a dip for veggies!
Cucumber Avocado Dressing
Ingredients:
1/3 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 fresh cilantro, chopped
2 avocados, peeled/seeded/cubed
1 large cucumber, peeled/seeded/cut into chunks
1/4 lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Puree the olive oil and garlic in blender until smooth. Add the cilantro, avocado, cucumber, and lemon juice. Puree again until smooth, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
*Notes: I pressed my garlic because I hate chopping garlic. I eyeballed my cilantro because I'm good like that. I just mushed my avocados out of their skins, because them puppies are getting pureed anyway. And I have no idea how to seed a cucumber, so those bad-boys went in there, too! Also, I didn't add any salt or pepper because I thought it tasted pretty scrumptious without it. AND, I used my absolutely fantastic KitchenAid Immersion Blender to do this.... super easy.
This recipe says it yields about 4 cups. I had enough for a snack container to take to work, and this pint. Approximately 3 cups after I splattered some all over the kitchen - gotta love blending. I also love any recipe that can be stored in a Mason jar. They're one of my favorite things in life :)
Cucumber Avocado Dressing
Ingredients:
1/3 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 fresh cilantro, chopped
2 avocados, peeled/seeded/cubed
1 large cucumber, peeled/seeded/cut into chunks
1/4 lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Puree the olive oil and garlic in blender until smooth. Add the cilantro, avocado, cucumber, and lemon juice. Puree again until smooth, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
*Notes: I pressed my garlic because I hate chopping garlic. I eyeballed my cilantro because I'm good like that. I just mushed my avocados out of their skins, because them puppies are getting pureed anyway. And I have no idea how to seed a cucumber, so those bad-boys went in there, too! Also, I didn't add any salt or pepper because I thought it tasted pretty scrumptious without it. AND, I used my absolutely fantastic KitchenAid Immersion Blender to do this.... super easy.
This recipe says it yields about 4 cups. I had enough for a snack container to take to work, and this pint. Approximately 3 cups after I splattered some all over the kitchen - gotta love blending. I also love any recipe that can be stored in a Mason jar. They're one of my favorite things in life :)
Cat Food Challenge: Day 6
Started of my morning with one of the egg muffins and a short glass of Carter's Mott's for Tots Apple juice (40% less sugar!). It makes me feel better if I don't have to dilute it myself... haha. Had an apple mid-morning, and C joined me :) He didn't like the way it tasted, but he liked biting into it!
Mom, Greyson, and I had a late lunch/early dinner at Longhorn. I had a salad (no croutons, no cheese) with balsamic vinaigrette, a sweet potato (no butter, no cinnamon sugar), and a small filet. We took a nice long nap late in the afternoon (which is why I'm still up), and then I was busy until almost 8pm. I wasn't super hungry, so I made a quick smoothie and was done for the night. Today was an easy day - no headaches - but I was in a kinda crummy mood. May have been the weather. Hopefully I'll make kickboxing or get a run in tomorrow night. I'd like to log 10 miles this week since I busted that goal last time I set it.
Mom, Greyson, and I had a late lunch/early dinner at Longhorn. I had a salad (no croutons, no cheese) with balsamic vinaigrette, a sweet potato (no butter, no cinnamon sugar), and a small filet. We took a nice long nap late in the afternoon (which is why I'm still up), and then I was busy until almost 8pm. I wasn't super hungry, so I made a quick smoothie and was done for the night. Today was an easy day - no headaches - but I was in a kinda crummy mood. May have been the weather. Hopefully I'll make kickboxing or get a run in tomorrow night. I'd like to log 10 miles this week since I busted that goal last time I set it.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Cat Food Challenge: Days 2-5
Still going strong.
Day 2: Wednesday, May 2nd
Today was a challenge, as it was C's surgery day. We got to Children's at 0530. I wasn't hungry because of nerves, so the morning wasn't very much of a challenge. Once he was back in the OR and we were just sitting around in the waiting area, I started getting hungry. I went down to the cafeteria and went straight to the Home station like we normally do. Scrambled eggs and bacon. Glad that's okay for the diet! Also got a small fruit cup to help fill me up, and an orange juice. This held me over, thankfully, until 1 o'clock when we finally got settled in a room. None of the proteins were viable options because they were all smothered in sauces and glazed... or fried. So I grabbed a giant baked sweet potato and hit the salad bar for baby spinach and the works. The only safe-looking dressing was a balsamic vinaigrette, so I dabbed on a little. That night we decided to order Steak Out. I got the sirloin tips and went down for another sweet potato and salad. Besides being taunted by their amazing onion rings, dove chocolate bars, and delicious blue cheese burger, Children's cafeteria wasn't as challenging as I expected. I did, however, keep a headache all day, and I'm assuming it was from detox.
Day 3: Thursday, May 3rd
I was tired, not hungry. Carter's breakfast (haha) came up around 7, so I ate the bacon and scrambled eggs from that, and drank the small apple juice, and called it good. We got home around 11, but we had no food in our house, so I just ate an unsweetened applesauce. That night we loaded up C to get him out of the house for a bit, and hit KFC for some KGC. I told Shannon, "I'm not sure if this is cheating, but if it is, it wasn't a good cheat, so it's probably not a cheat." Josh had mashed potatoes and gravy... I abstained, and just ate chicken. Headaches weren't as bad today, but were still there off and on.
Day 4: Friday, May 4th
We went to Publix! Which means we have food now! I didn't eat all morning... just wasn't hungry. Ate an applesauce around 2 on our way to the store. We had a list and a game plan for the week - mainly so we wouldn't overspend. We ended up with a $143 grocery bill (before tax) and Josh only got a few "junk" items (labeled Other) and Dairy that I'm not able to eat.
We got a ton of fresh veggies and fruit, a few cans for Josh's lunch, and a few frozen items for smoothies/quick dinners.
I spent all afternoon in the kitchen. I made 18 Southwestern egg muffins (ground turkey instead of pork sausage) for breakfast for the week. I cleaned out the fridge of old stuff/stuff we don't need. And I cooked dinner somewhere during this time. Peppercorn pork loin and garlic roasted veggies (asparagus, squash, and onions). We ate early and went to the ball field for my brother's game, and Josh got a snow cone for C to share... I was jealous. When we got home and got C settled in bed, I made myself a smoothie of frozen strawberries, a banana, OJ, and coconut milk, and it satisfied my sweet tooth for the night. No headaches today! But sort of lethargic still.
Day 5: Saturday, May 5th
Josh let me sleep in this morning since C kept me up last night. I got up around 10 and ate two egg muffins and had a small glass of OJ. Not sure what I'm doing for lunch, but for dinner we're grilling chicken and eating sweet potatoes and green beans. I'm going to have Josh grill some chicken tenderloins for me to take for lunch during the week, and I'll probably hit Publix for fish a couple days. No headaches so far today, and hopefully I'll start to feel my energy picking back up, because I plan on hitting the gym and the pavement a few days this week. So far I've noticed that my belly is much less bloated, and the scale has definitely dropped a few numbers. I can't wait for our weekly weigh-in at work Tuesday.
Funny story - last night I dreamed about eating a bagel with cream cheese spread, and I woke up in a freakin' panic! I'm so worried that I'll cheat on this diet... especially unknowingly (like in my sleep! haha!). Have a great weekend, and make great choices!
Day 2: Wednesday, May 2nd
Today was a challenge, as it was C's surgery day. We got to Children's at 0530. I wasn't hungry because of nerves, so the morning wasn't very much of a challenge. Once he was back in the OR and we were just sitting around in the waiting area, I started getting hungry. I went down to the cafeteria and went straight to the Home station like we normally do. Scrambled eggs and bacon. Glad that's okay for the diet! Also got a small fruit cup to help fill me up, and an orange juice. This held me over, thankfully, until 1 o'clock when we finally got settled in a room. None of the proteins were viable options because they were all smothered in sauces and glazed... or fried. So I grabbed a giant baked sweet potato and hit the salad bar for baby spinach and the works. The only safe-looking dressing was a balsamic vinaigrette, so I dabbed on a little. That night we decided to order Steak Out. I got the sirloin tips and went down for another sweet potato and salad. Besides being taunted by their amazing onion rings, dove chocolate bars, and delicious blue cheese burger, Children's cafeteria wasn't as challenging as I expected. I did, however, keep a headache all day, and I'm assuming it was from detox.
Day 3: Thursday, May 3rd
I was tired, not hungry. Carter's breakfast (haha) came up around 7, so I ate the bacon and scrambled eggs from that, and drank the small apple juice, and called it good. We got home around 11, but we had no food in our house, so I just ate an unsweetened applesauce. That night we loaded up C to get him out of the house for a bit, and hit KFC for some KGC. I told Shannon, "I'm not sure if this is cheating, but if it is, it wasn't a good cheat, so it's probably not a cheat." Josh had mashed potatoes and gravy... I abstained, and just ate chicken. Headaches weren't as bad today, but were still there off and on.
Day 4: Friday, May 4th
We went to Publix! Which means we have food now! I didn't eat all morning... just wasn't hungry. Ate an applesauce around 2 on our way to the store. We had a list and a game plan for the week - mainly so we wouldn't overspend. We ended up with a $143 grocery bill (before tax) and Josh only got a few "junk" items (labeled Other) and Dairy that I'm not able to eat.
I spent all afternoon in the kitchen. I made 18 Southwestern egg muffins (ground turkey instead of pork sausage) for breakfast for the week. I cleaned out the fridge of old stuff/stuff we don't need. And I cooked dinner somewhere during this time. Peppercorn pork loin and garlic roasted veggies (asparagus, squash, and onions). We ate early and went to the ball field for my brother's game, and Josh got a snow cone for C to share... I was jealous. When we got home and got C settled in bed, I made myself a smoothie of frozen strawberries, a banana, OJ, and coconut milk, and it satisfied my sweet tooth for the night. No headaches today! But sort of lethargic still.
Day 5: Saturday, May 5th
Josh let me sleep in this morning since C kept me up last night. I got up around 10 and ate two egg muffins and had a small glass of OJ. Not sure what I'm doing for lunch, but for dinner we're grilling chicken and eating sweet potatoes and green beans. I'm going to have Josh grill some chicken tenderloins for me to take for lunch during the week, and I'll probably hit Publix for fish a couple days. No headaches so far today, and hopefully I'll start to feel my energy picking back up, because I plan on hitting the gym and the pavement a few days this week. So far I've noticed that my belly is much less bloated, and the scale has definitely dropped a few numbers. I can't wait for our weekly weigh-in at work Tuesday.
Funny story - last night I dreamed about eating a bagel with cream cheese spread, and I woke up in a freakin' panic! I'm so worried that I'll cheat on this diet... especially unknowingly (like in my sleep! haha!). Have a great weekend, and make great choices!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Day 1: Cat Food Challenge
Day one was rough. I've had major cravings. It doesn't help that I wasn't really prepared on the home-front. We've been putting off grocery shopping because we'll be heading to Children's tomorrow. My day consisted of boiled eggs, larabars, fish, salad (no dressing... BLEGCHH!), more fish, veggies, raw almonds, carrot sticks, and unsweetened applesauce. Yummmm. Not. Anyway, Josh took Mav to the vet today for his check-up, and it looks like he'll be joining me on the Cat Food Diet. He weighed a whopping 130 pounds! Not great for a Rott since they're prone to joint issues. His ideal weight is 100 pounds, so they're running bloodwork to make sure it's not a thyroid issue, and we're cutting back on his food. He needs to exercise, but no one fences their dogs out here, leaving too many opportunities for bad encounters if we were to take him running with us. He'll have to settle for fetch in the backyard!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)