Back To The Gym

I was itching to get to the gym first thing!  Although, we had some nice family time over the Thanksgiving break, it was good to send everyone off to their appropriate locations and get back to my routine.

I was hungry right off the bat, too, so I made up a Yogurt Bowl before heading out.  In the mix…

• 1 cup plain nonfat Chobani (it’s baaaaack!)
• 1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 packet NuNaturals Stevia
• 5 sliced strawberries
• 1 tsp. shredded coconut

It was so rich tasting;  the cocoa powder mixed into the yogurt made it seem like frosting!  Mmm…dessert for breakfast.  It’s a good thing :)

I pumped it out on the elliptical for 35 minutes, then hit the circuit weights for an upper body workout.  I decided , for the month of December, to mix up my workout.  I’m going to run 3 days a week – T, TH, Sat, do a cardio mix with weights 3 days – M, W, F and take Sundays off.  I think this will be a better plan for me.  More consistent running ( my marathon running neighbor told me he hated my “every other week running plan” – LOL!) and a nice mix of cardio and weights on the other days.  I think that will keep it fresh and fun!

After the gym, I ran errands in the nasty, cold rain and finally made it home to eat LUNCH!  My stomach was way past growling.  I did notice the growl at the 3 hour mark again, so that seems to be the magic number these past few days.  I reminded myself not to grab anything and start shoveling.  Instead, I heated up some leftover Individual Turkey Pot Pies…

Halleluia for leftovers!

Later, I couldn’t shake the damp coldness, so I made a cup of French press…

For a special treat, we went to dinner with the in-laws at a new local restaurant.  It’s owned by the family of the husband’s best friend and opened for business today.  I was in the mood for a big greek salad…

I’m not usually a fan of stuffed grape leaves, but the ones on my plate were delicious and very rich, so I only ate one and passed the rest to the husband and FIL.  Sadly, my salad was supposed to have grilled chicken on it, but it didn’t make it to the plate on time, so I had it on the side.

I wasn’t completely satisfied (taste-wise) after this meal, but I had eaten enough and was okay with it after everything settled.

I used a little “pep talkin” while scooping some ice cream for the daughters when we got home.  I knew I didn’t need it.  But I sure did feel like I wanted it!

 *hit replay in my head* 

I will not let food control me.  I have the ability to eat just what I need. 

Somehow repeating that over and over took all pressure off.  It was almost a sense of relief.  Like, oh yeah, I can say “no” and it’s okay.  Niiiiice :)

Today is the last day to enter the Campbell’s Soup Giveaway! 

Have a great day, everyone!

Step It Up + A Giveaway

Hey everyone!  Hope you had a fantastic weekend!  Did you shop til you dropped?  Not me!  It was a hangin’ out kinda weekend here :)

I woke up ready to start a new day.  A new “non-holiday food” day!  I’ve been lazy about my regular exercise;  just been doing some Wii Fit with the daughters and a little weights here and there.  I guess my normal routine shifted with them being home, but I’m looking forward to hitting the gym HARD when they get back to school this week!

After doing some cleaning (the husband was up early and scrubbed the bathroom floors for me –LOVE HIM!), I made got out of the freezer a hearty breakfast of Fat Free Pumpkin and Raisin Biscuits and a small banana…

The cleaning kept on for most of the day.  I wanted to get everything spiffed up before we put up the Christmas decorations!

I did make a pit-stop for lunch.  I was feeling pretty hungry, so I heated up one of the Bean and Rice Burritos  topped it with guacamole and ate it knife and fork style…

As filling as that was, I still did some picking in the afternoon.  It actually didn’t hit me until later that I was doing that.  A classic case of “mindless eating”.  It’s amazing how fast that bad habit comes back and into play.  Bites of this and that leftover from daughters’ plates, a candy from the candy dish, a nibble or two while preparing snacks.  The awareness fades and it becomes almost robotic in nature.

I finally came out of the haze I was in and realized what I was doing!  Okay…refocus… or just focus…or snap the hell out of it, I said to myself!

Dinner was much better.  I tried out a recipe from the current issue of Clean Eating Magazine for Individual Chicken Pot Pies.  I changed it up a little by using leftover turkey breast and 2 cups of frozen classic mixed vegetables.  It was super easy and very good;  everyone liked it and there were no complaints…yippee!

The recipe called for topping the pies with 3 whole wheat biscuits…

They were pretty hearty, so I was fine with two…

Despite the mindless eating episodes, I feel stoked and totally ready to step it up!  I really want to give this holiday eating season a run for its money!  I want to prove to myself that I can indulge in a controlled way during the specific holiday DAY and not have this sending me spiraling out of control into an eating oblivion.  I CAN DO IT!  You can do it, too!  Let’s do this!!!!

Okay, pep talk over (mainly for my benefit, but thanks for hanging in there with me –LOL!), now let’s get to the GIVEAWAY!!!!  The Campbell’s Soup folks sent me this neat package of goodies…

• Campbell’s V8 Garden Vegetable Blend soup
• A Campbell’s V8 Soup Health Journal and vegetable shaped pen
• A Flip and Tumble shopping bag
• A Pedometer – to count your steps!

Perfect for stepping it up, right?!  Well, they would like to send this gift pack to one lucky winner, too!  All you need to do is leave me a comment telling me what your favorite soup is.  I’ll pick a winner using random.org on Wednesday, December 2.  Good luck!!!

Have a great day, everyone!!!