Thanksgiving Eve

I uploaded (downloaded?) my ipod with new songs so I couldn't download the pictures from breakfast-

I had a delicious Banana, Strawberry Pineapple smoothie
1.5 cups organic 1% milk
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup frozen pineapple
1 large banana
1 scoop protein powder (chocolate)
1 teaspoon peanut butter

And I had a slice of banana bread with some added flaxseed!
( I will download photos whenever I get home to clean!)

Today's To-Do List :
I am off to campus to finish up my Metabolism Paper
Maybe get some work done on the other papers/research projects I have
Some shopping ( a running shirt for cold weather)
Pick up my 8k Turkey Trot race packet
Clean Up the house a little
My parents arrive this afternoon
Dinner with Jeff, my parents and my brother and his girlfriend

Monday

Body: Gym!
Strength Training: Chest, Shoulders, Triceps, Hammies and
Cardio: Biked 10 miles in 23 minutes, Elliptical for 30 minutes

Mind: Class was cut short today but I got some reading down on Slow Food Nation... I was super sonic at Suduko today too!

Soul: I went shopping and found a sweater to go with dress #1 !! I also bought christmas presents (early!!!) from Bath and Body Works- I got a free Lambie and a free candle! I also got a ton of wallflowers b/c they were on sale! I bought frames and ribbon from the craft store too! Jeff and I made dinner together...


Dinner:
Jeff grilled:
-Ribeye Steaks with bone in ( BOGO at Harris Teeter!)
-An onion with green pepper, tossed in some worchestire and S&P

I made:

Brussel Sprouts roasted in the toaster oven ( I had a bag from TJ and microwaved them for the 2 minutes it says on the bag, chopped em up, drizzled smart balance olive oil on em, S&P, then tossed it all around. Toasted em at 400 for about 8 minutes.

Also on the pan, the last slice of red pepper

Kashi Whole Grain Instant Pilaf!


Lovely meal - there is plenty left for Jeff for lunch tomorrow and me too!
Speaking of Lunch:
Today was a quick grab after the gym - Chobani Plain with some Chobani Strawberry , Kashi Go Lean Crunch, a tsp peanut butter, a slice of red pepper...

Breakfast!

Quaker Simple Harvest Oatmeal
- delicious and it has flaxseeds and almond slivers- 2 heart healthy fat sources!
- the smell of this is the absolute best though!
Scrambled Egg Whites for Protein

Small Banana and PB
Black Coffee

There is a close up of the falling flaxseed and almond slices. Hmm yum!

Reading and Couch time with Jeff! See you in the morning!

Friday- Saturday

Friday Wrap Up
Body: GLORIOUS RUN! I felt like a supersonic speed racer... Total distance 7 miles... First 2 miles: 18 minutes... Second Deuce miles: 16 minutes.... Third Duece: 15:40... Last 1 mile: 6 minutes 22 seconds !! Wohooooooooooo! Total time: 56 minutes 2 seconds .. I biked for 2 miles as a cool down, very light and easy.
Absolutely FANTASTIC workout... I feel completely happy and excited to REST saturday!

Post workout I was not hungry at all but knew I should fuel up before heading to andreas... I had a new "Strawberry and Flax Kashi Waffle" - and for the first time- a blueberry nonfat TJ greek yogurt- definately good but since Trader Joes and Lowes ( the only chobani dealer) are in the same complex - I figure it will be a great switch for whichever is on sale...

Mind: Suduko and 1 chapter of SFN

Soul: GIRLS NIGHT!!!! We tied personalized tags to Andrea's favors ( wine bottle stoppers both shells and hearts) while we drank fantastic wine , played Guitar Hero, played Wii Tennis ( had the most awesome time!) and caught up with each other on everything and excitedly discussed wedding details for exactly in ONE week one of my best friend's will be married to one of Jeff's best friends!!

Dinner:
Sundried Tomato and Basil Dressing with added Sundried Tomatoes on top of Chicken- Baked in the oven while we enjoyed our first glass of the pinot I got at TJ- It was great and only like $5 ..Rice and Corn on the side and a Salad with romaine, carrots, red pepper, tomato and onion...
P.S That's the second glass of wine

I decided to start training with this agency to work with Jacob a few hours a week... His mom won't have to pay me and I can get paid for training, re-certified in CPR for "free" and get flexible hours only when I can fit them in. There was the first training today from 9-2 so I had to "work" on a saturday but really just sit and listen to the first training part of working with people with disabilities .

Saturday Morning Breakfast: I tried that frozen steel cut oatmeal from trader joes and was pleasantly suprised with its "Hint of Maple Syrup". It was indeed a great "fast fix" - you take the oatmeal out of the package and heat it in the microwave for about 2-3 minutes.. stir and thats it!
I had a banana with peanut butter and tiny piece of banana bread.... and a spoonful of applesauce and plain greek yogurt ( TJ- the texture is different than chobani, fage, and oikos - I liked it but equally as much as the others)

Saturday Lunch:
I realize it is pitiful but I woke up ( not early) to go to training and I wasn't sure how long it would be or if we had a "lunch hour". We did get a half hour break so I had this granola bar and came home before 2... I will be making something shortly but I did grab some mini chocolate peanut butter cups for now..

Okay or Jeff will be making something as he just announced..


Body : REST! my quads and hammies are actually sore... but in that good way like " hey we should do that more often" kinda way...

Mind: Read a few pages of SFN and will read after I post this! I also have tomorrow to read and research...

Soul: I love the weekends because I get to spend them with Jeff and my friends and ( family sometimes) so being around my favorite people is always fantastic. Andrea and Nate ( the bride and groom) , Me and Jeff, and Brit and Tim are all planning on getting together later for dinner/drinks/??? debauchery ?

Happy Weekend All!

Banana Bread Breakfast

Banana Bread with Peanut Butter
Scrambled Eggs ( mostly white)
Sliced Banana( I made Jeff a smoothie, there was a little leftover so I put it in the bowl as an "icing")

Yum! Stuffed! I don't know why but I couldn't even finish all of this! I calculated the calories and it was only 230 plus about a teaspoon of peanut butter - so less than 300 calories and stuffed!

* ( i use a spoon that equals a teaspoon so that I can approximate peanut butter. It is so easy to under-estimate with peanut butter since it is so calorie-dense and Delicious!)

The Plan
Body: I am hoping to get a fantastic run in today or tomorrow but hope for today. I work with Jacob at his home from 10-12, so I will pack .... hmm.. thinking.... a Z-bar to eat after so that I can get a good workout in at the gym ( rain clouds outside) without being full or starving!

Mind: I'd like to get in at least 1 or hopefully 3 chapters of SFN...

Soul:

Andrea is planning girls night this evening-Hoorray!!!
She got in her program materials and needs "Stuffers" and she got paper to build a card box for the guestbook/gift table. I'm not sure what we will make but I need to call her on my way to Jacob's and see what to get.

* How fantastic, Andrea's wedding is at the Aquarium! What a great idea! We went down early in June to meet with the caterer and work out some details. So I can't wait to see it all together. The fish tanks are amazing and a great "decor" so kids can walk around if they get ansy during the ceremony.... during the horsdevours hour we can walk around and look at everything- I highly recommend it as a wedding ceremony/reception site all in one! Plus it is at the beach!!! BEACH in one week!

* moral dilema mentioned "tuesday " I believe*
Working with Jacob should be fun but also tough on me. I am concerned because I feel like I just can't devote the time he deserves and I don't know what else to do because I want to help him but feel like its not in "my best interest"... I hate to be "selfish" but at the same time, I have graduate school and books to read and nutrition research to complete and need to work on my own life before helping someone else's.. right?

I mean her father just passed away last week, all of jacob's other therapists have left when they told her they would stay, she lost me at my "Work" ( the school I worked at, jacob goes there in the afternoons and I was his therapist but stopped once school started for me) so she got stuck with a new instructor who I tried to train but she didnt pick things up quickly...

How do I let his mom "down" easily? How do I help everyone else without compromising myself?

Curl Up and ...goodbye thursday

So after the vet and before dinner all I felt like doing was curling up and reading. I hardly ever have felt like that but I think it may have been the cloudy day or all the running around I did today! As soon as I started reading, I felt like baking ( another cloudy day fav). So I decided to read another 10 pages then cook!

Dinner:
Baked Chicken Breast

Baked Sweet Potato

"fried" Zuchinni

Delicious!

Since I had to bake the chicken and the potato, I decided to bake banana bread tonight too (utilize the energy on the oven heating up etc).

I used Veganomicon's recipe but changed it because I didn't have applesauce or molasses. I also hate washing dishes, so I try to just make it all in the loaf dish I use.

One Dish Veganomicon’s “ Low Fat Banana Bread”
Makes 1 loaf
3 very ripe bananas ( I can never wait until they are ripe enough)
1/4 cup organic no-sugar-added applesauce or today I used ¼ egg beaters b/c I had no applesauce
1/8 cup Smart Balance Oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 cups flour (I used white whole wheat and AP combo)
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
dash of nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1. Preheat the oven to 350. In loaf pan, pour 1/8 cup Oil and coat the pan by swirling. Peel bananas into dish and smash bananas til smooth ( I like it chunky) with a fork. Add the sugar, applesauce (or egg or yogurt), and syrup and stir well.
2. Sift in the flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Mix until just combined (don’t overmix this).
3. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown

The "one dish" way hasn't failed me yet but if you feel like doing it "right" i.e with the extra dishes, you can do wet ingredients in one bowl, dry in the other then mix em all together in a bowl, then put it in the dish.


Body:
35 minutes elliptical

Mind: Read more of Slow Food Nation (SFN).. its all about the slow food movement, increasing sustainability, knowing where you food comes from, how it arrives to you, "good, clean, fair" ...

Soul: I finally got to the Farmer's Market, and finally took Jack to the Vet, and finally got to reading some of SFN AND baked banana bread and made a delicious dinner.

Thursday Morning Breakfast!

This morning's GLORIOUS breakfast:

Frozen Blueberries
Frozen Mango
Frozen Half Banana
- Heated all that in the microwave in a bowl
-Then put all this in another bowl:Chobani Plain
Cereal: Kashi Heart to Heart and Blueberry Oat Cluster Ground Flax
1 tsp Peanut Butter
Then I threw it all together!

Delicious, with Green Tea!

Off to the gym and tons more of errands! ( Andrea couldnt walk again today but we have exciting plans for tomorrow night!

Tuesday Food

Breakfast!

Here is what I did- I took a 1/4 cup pumpkin, whisked with 1/2 cup egg whites, sprinkle cinnamon- Microwaved for 1.5 minutes ( not done)... Swished it around to half the bowl, then took the Quaker Simple Harvest, Honey Almond Instant Cereal packet (http://www.quakersimpleharvest.com/qsh_products/HotCereal/vanilla/index.cfm)
( delicious!) and mixed it with water ( you could do milk) and mixed it on the other side of the bowl. Microwaved for another 2 minutes + ( power on my microwave sucks so most people this would not take as long!) I topped it with a frozen banana and it thawed from the steam/heat of it. I added peanut butter too but you can't tell because of the colors! I added slices of a gala apple along the side to make a whole serving of fruit!


Lunch: I took a shot with all the products today for lunch below so you could see. I had a salmon burger, thawed then put it in my toaster oven for about 7 minutes ( these were a GREAT brand- i do NOT like trader joes brand- too rubbery- these were very much like salmon in the shape of a burger!), I put that on top of a flat-out light wrap ( sundried tomato basil) and topped with Tomato Pesto Goat Cheese.... Veggies on the side!

(today's lunch was the salmon in the salad and wrap on the side and the product shots )


Dinner:
Whole Wheat Spaghetti, 99% lean ground turkey, Barilla Tomato Sauce ! Some cheese, spinach and cauliflower steamed... ( for me I enjoyed this- but it was a little bland)
I needed something quick and easy because I stayed after class for a prospective student information session to be videotaped for our Online Program Info on the website- I will post a link if they put me online! I was SO nervous! But as a thank you for doing it, I got a gift card to Whole Foods! How awesome is that!