Transitions + Changes

Boy, the first day of school sure was a hectic one!  After getting the daughters off to school, it was run, run, run!  I think I spent most of the day in the car running around with the exception of about an hour!  It was crazy!  But, we all transitioned into the new schedule pretty well, even me with getting up in the dark to start the day :)  My schedule is a bit different when the daughters are in school;  my day starts much earlier and my workouts aren’t until after everyone leaves for the day.  I usually don’t eat before my workouts, but since I’m changing things up and going to the gym (eek!) after they leave, I may have to eat before the workouts.  And my blogging schedule will be different, too!  I decided to switch to posting in the morning or before lunchtime, so that I can be available for my family at night.  As the daughters are getting older, the homework and afterschool activities are ramping up, so, as much as I love ending my day with blogging, it’s not my best option.  But, I’ll be here !

So, after everyone got out the door, I headed to the basement for a non-eventful 30 minutes on the elliptical, then did a few sets of tricep dips a la MizFit!

I was starving after that, but needed something quick, so I dipped into a Chobani nonfat Strawberry yogurt topped with some crunchy freeze dried strawberries and a sprinkle of Post Trail Mix Crunch cereal…

Can’t forget the Teeccino … no caffeine, but still gives me that “morning coffee” ritual…

Then, the running began.  In the car, out of the car.  Drive here.  Drive there.  The daughters only had a half day to start, so I picked them up and took them to lunch at their favorite place- Chick-fil-A.  This location was “snazzy” and even had a cool quote on the wall…

They have some decent salad options, too.  I chose the Chargrilled Chicken and Fruit Salad…

with a reduced fat Berry Balsamic dressing (only used about half)…

I couldn’t help snagging a few of the waffle fries, too!  This trip to Chick-fil-A was all to butter up the daughters because right after, they had (unknowingly) a doc’s appointment for the flu shot.  I could write a book about the histrionics that go on with little daughter in the weeks leading up to the shot appointment, so this time, I decided they would need to be “game day players” and I sprung it on them at the last minute.  I know, another Mom Crime for the books ;)  It all worked out well though, no major drama.

Then, it was off to dance class for little daughter.  I was hungry by this time, so I was glad I remembered to grab a snack for the car:  Choco – Cranberry- Almond Granola Bar…

These are just the greatest!  Thanks for the recipe, Jaime!

Dinner on dance night has to be heat and eat.  Luckily, I had some leftover Chicken Cacciatore which I reheated with some freezer Greek Lima Beans…

And I was out the door again for one last errand!  I finally ended the night with a little treat…Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate square with a smear of PB2…

That hit the spot!

ONE GOOD THING :  I remembered to pack/plan a snack for the afternoon, so I wouldn’t be raging starving at dinner time and end up picking on a bunch of stuff while getting dinner together.

Hope you all have a great day!!!

Like Butta

Spring is on its way! I can feel it! I love when the sun is shining in the morning; the first thing I think of is going for a run outside. I decided to wait to get the daughters off to school (so much for my early routine!) then headed out. I only ran for 30 min. because I had to get myself ready to meet up with Mom and Gram later. But, it was a glorious 30 min. of Vitamin D!! I am going to try to run everday this week. Did anyone catch Laura on the Biggest Loser last night saying that if you want to lose weight, Jillian would say to do a lot of running??? That's all I needed to hear! I'm on it Jil :)

After my run, I had a lovely breakfast of whole wheat raisin soda bread and an apple with 1 tbsp. homemade almond butter. LOVE this! The husband and big daughter are diggin the almond butter, too. I have to make more! A pleasing 4 POINT breakfast...

I went to meet up with the ladies for some shopping. We stopped for a quick lunch at Chick-fil-A. I had the Southwestern Chargrilled Chicken Salad with fat free Honey Mustard Dressing. It also came with a packet of honey roasted sunflower seeds and tortilla strips. I used half the dressing and half of the seed and tortilla packets. It was a surprisingly filling 7 POINT lunch...

I got the daughters from school and headed home for munch time!!! This is always my worst time of day - remember Pavlov's dogs???!!! I got smart today and remembered a great filling and voluminous snack - POPCORN! Duh, I don't know why I don't have this more often! It's a great munchie snack and low POINT. I have the Orville Redenbacher Smart Pop 100 calorie bags of both the regular and kettle corn flavor. I opted for the kettle corn and fancied it up even more by making it Chocolate Cinnamon Popcorn! I mixed a 4 serving box of sugar free, fat free Jello Chocolate Pudding with 2 tsp. ground cinnamon. After microwaving the popcorn bag, I sprayed the popcorn with cooking spray and sprinkled on a couple tbsp. of the chocolate cinnamon mix. Yummy 2 POINT snack...

I got another trampoline workout with the daughters and then, "prepared" dinner. I use that term loosely because I mainly heated up a bunch of leftover items in the fridge and freezer! I had a 3 oz. baked chicken tender, 7 0z. (total) of sweet potatoes and roasted potatoes and 2 measly broccoli florets. Part way through my dinner, I squirted some ketchup on my sweet potatoes - where has that been all my life!!!! That was soooo good! A delightful 7 POINT dinner...

And for dessert...nada. Well, that's not entirely true. I made some more almond butter and took a spoonful to "taste test". I am loving this stuff and so is the family! So, that was my 2 POINT dessert. I'm thinking about doing either an afternoon snack or a dessert, but not both for this week. I'll see if that helps me out any in staying On Program and getting the scale moving in the right direction...

Have a good night!