Thursday Recap and Biggest Loser Check In

Yesterday was a hell-ish day to say the least.  I started out my morning great, good hair day, I felt confident, I felt awesome....then I walked out the door.  Awesomeness - GONE!  The rain completely ruined my good hair day and I drove to work soaking wet, one the way in to work - even more issues....one being the fact that the usual way I take in had flash flooding and was experiencing "major delays", so I detoured and made it to work with only about 4 minutes to spare (typically I have about 20-30).  Things only continue to escalate through out the day.  My first call of the day was a man who started his conversation with "I'm really pissed off...." Well thank you sir, it is 8am, I've had a shitty morning thus far, but please feel free to vent and use me as a verbal punching bag....I'm here for you....yeah! RIGHT! UGH!  AAAAANYWAY...things only progressed throughout the day, I had a difficult conversation with someone close to me and I ended up frustrated and emotional and my appetite went out the window.  So needless to say, no matter what I would've illustrated as far as a menu for yesterday....lunch, snack, and dinner were all nothing.  HOWEVER, things made a slight turn around when I got to hang out with my mom and the kids and have our first visit to a yogurt bar....about 20 different flavors or frozen yogurt and at least twice that many different toppings.  It was very cool!  But that was the extent of my food intake, with the exception of a couple fun size pieces of chocolate at work, for the evening.

The ONE SINGLE plus of the day yesterday was my Biggest Loser weigh in....I was down nearly 4 lbs this week, which makes a total of 16 in 6 weeks.  4 more weeks to go and the nearest competition to me is my director and he's only a mear 2.2 lbs behind me, so I HAVE to stay focused, because I would guess he is going to start stepping up his game to try and catch me.

So....today is a new day!  I'm dismissing the stress and starting fresh.  Stress increases Cortisol which only increases your waist line, so goal is yoga for me tonight and to have a relaxing 3 day weekend.  Hopefully I can get out with a few friends too.  I could use a good night out!

Moving on to today's menu....

Breakfast: Greek yogurt and strawberries
Snack: Jalapeno String Cheese and Cherries
Lunch: Leftover Honey Apple Grilled Pork Chops, sugar snap peas and hummus
Snack: Apple and almonds
Dinner: Grilled Chicken, Stir fried Green Peppers, Onions, and Garlic

Daily Menu

Today's Menu:

Breakfast - 2 hardboiled eggs and raspberries
Snack - Garlic Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Lunch - Apple Almond Quinoa Salad, Strawberries
Snack - Sugar Snap Peas and Garlic Hummus
Dinner - Italian Chicken Salad

HAPPY HUMP DAY!!!

Apple Almond Quinoa Salad Recipe

1 c Quinoa

2 c water

2 Tbsp Honey

½ c lemon juice

½ tsp coarse salt

3 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 c peeled, diced tart apples, such as granny smith (I didn’t peel mine)

1 c finely chopped celery (I skipped this part, I didn’t have celery)

1/3 c raisins

1/3 c finely chopped parsley

½ c coarsely shopped almonds

Coarse Salt and Pepper

Make quinoa as directed, let cool completely

In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, lemon juice, and salt.  Gradually whisk in the oil until blended.

Add the apple, celery, raisins, parsley, and almonds to the quinoa and toss the ingredients well.  Add the dressing and toss once more to coat the salad.  Season with S&P to taste.

Quinoa Salad Review

OMG THAT WAS GOOD!!!!  Enough said!  I promise to post the recipe tomorrow, because this one HAS to be shared!

Daily Menu and thoughts on Go Commando

Today's Menu:

Breakfast: Yoplait Greek Yogurt, Apple
Snack: Jalapeno String Cheese, Apple Sauce
Lunch: Apple Almond Quinoa Salad (recipe and review tomorrow)
Snack: Sugar Snap Peas, Hummus
Dinner: Honey Apple Grilled Pork Chops w/Roasted Brussel Sprouts

So Go Commando....I'm sure you all remember last June when I got out there and did my first mud run.  It was crazy and super fun surrounded by a great group of my girlfriends.  This year there are less girl friends, more challenging obstacles, and I'm not NEAR in good enough shape to be doing it.  Check out the new course here.  Check out the video too, you may see someone you recognize right around 1:29 :)  We still have a few tickets left and are looking for team mates, so if you are interested (and you know you are!) let me know!  We would love to have you!

Grocery List and Daily Menu

The weekend went well as far as food goes...I did splurge on some boneless wings and a few drinks at Green Mill yesterday, but I had a great time!  I got up and did yoga to start my day and rid myself of the bad mood I woke up in yesterday morning as well.  I forgot how amazing I feel after doing yoga...LOVE IT!  So yesterday evening after Green Mill I went grocery shopping alone since the kids were still with their dad and took my time.  I had a general list of things I NEEDED but found other various items on sale too, so here's what I got.....

10 containers of Yoplait greek yogurt
1 Large container of garlic hummus
1 small container of sour cream (for a recipe)
1 box of quinoa
1 box of fat free organic chicken broth
1 dozen large eggs
4 packages of bonless skinless chicken breasts (buy one, get one free at Cub this week!)
3 bags of frozen mixed vegetables
1 package of orange and white string cheese (for the kids)
1 package of jalapeno string cheese
1 large bag of raisins (for a recipe)
1 box of blueberries
2 boxes of blackberries
2 boxes of raspberries
2 boxes of strawberries
2 Granny Smith apples (for a recipe)
2 zucchini
1 HUGE bag of carrots
1 HUGE bag of sugar snap peas
1 bag of cherries
2 bulbs of garlic
1 HUGE box of mixed spring greens
1 bag of coconut (for a HEALTHY coconut shrimp recipe)

So that's it!!  There it is for all to see what was in my grocery shopping cart last night for the next two weeks - $120.00 after coupons...not too bad.

Today's menu includes:

Breakfast - Oatmeal
Snack - Carrots, Sugar Snap Peas, Hummus, Almonds
Lunch - Mixed Spring Green and Chicken Salad w/Blackberries and Raspberry Vinegrette dressing
Snack - Two sticks of jalapeno String Cheese, Pickles
Dinner - To be determind - yeah yeah yeah I know....I need to plan!!!  HOWEVER, in my defense, I don't know if my kids are coming home tonight or tomorrow night and what I make could be affected by that....LOL who am I kidding....it shouldn't matter and I should've planned.  If all else fails I'll have a salad for dinner too :)

I fully intend on doing either Weight Loss Yoga with Bob Harper tonight or Biggest Loser Bootcamp...also with one of the most handsome men on the face of the earth....Mr. Bob Harper.

Now to pin some more recipes and fitness idea on Pinterest, make my oatmeal and get to work.

A shout out to my friend, Judy, you are doing an awesome job!!  Keep up the great work!

No Lunch bag :(

Well as I pulled in to my parking space and reached for my purse and lunch bag, I realized my lunch bag was missing.  Typically I toss it on the passengers seat next to my purse while I buckle the kiddos in to their car seats.  Did I leave it on the counter?  Did I leave it on the trunk of the car?  I was just baffled!  I have no clue what-so-ever where it disappeared to.  So today I'm working with the little cafe downstairs that actually offers some great healthy choices, a "Global Market" of all different kinds of foods, from healthy to horrible, and then of course, there is KFC across the street outside.  I opted to run down to the little cafe downstairs and use what I already had in my drawer (mostly just an apple and oatmeal)....so here's the plan for the day...

Breakfast: Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Oatmeal & Apple
Snack: Broccoli/Cauliflower Salad - yes the kind with bacon and raisins and that yummy mayo/vinegar dressing
Lunch: Mandarin Chicken Salad (greens, almonds, mandarin oranges, grilled chicken, tomatoes)
Snack: Two pieces of String Cheese (I feel like I need to find a fruit or some sort to add to this)
Dinner: To Be Determined (I know I know....NOT good!)  **fingers crossed**

I realized I didn't post my menu yesterday....

Breakfast: Oatmeal & Blackberries
Snack: Veggie Chips & Almonds
Lunch: Turkey Deli Meat & Baked All Natural Tortilla Chips with Green Apple Salsa
Snack: Carrots w/Hummus
Dinner: Turkey Apple Provolone Panini w/a Spring Salad and Blackberries

Today's menu

I'm struggling with an ill little girl at home, so I haven't been able to move a whole lot the last couple days, but here's today's menu....

Breakfast: Greek yogurt, Berries (strawberries/blackberries)
Snack: Sugar Snap Peas & Hummus, Almonds
Lunch: Shrimp Stirfry w/Quinoa (the last of the leftovers), Berries (strawberries/blackberries)
Snack: Apple & Natural PB
Dinner: Chicken and Dumplings (hopefully the last of the leftovers) - apparently I made more than I thought.

Today's Menu Quick

Breakfast: Better Oats Blueberry Muffin Oatmeal, Apple
Snack: Greek Yogurt
Lunch: Shrimp Stirfry w/Quinoa
Snack: Sugar Snap Peas w/Hummus & Almonds
Dinner: Chicken and Dumplings (leftover from last week)

I'll post more later today :)

Today's menu and Yesterday's workout

Last night I decided to vacuum and hand scrub my apartment after the mop didn't do as well as I wanted.  So THAT is my workout for the night.  I was sweating and my muscles hurt this morning...who needs a gym!!?

Today's Menu:

Breakfast: Blueberry Muffin Better Oats Oatmeal
Snack: Jalapeno Sting Cheese, Apple
Lunch: THE LAST OF THE TATERTOT HOTDISH! YAY! & clementines
Snack: Blueberry Fage Greek Yogurt, Apple
Dinner: Chicken and Dumplings

2 Week Menu & Biggest Loser Weekly Results

So I said I would post what my dinner menu looks like for the next two weeks, so here it is.....

Tuesday - Tater Tot Hotdish
Wednesday - Grilled Salmon, Steamed Mixed Veggies, and Berries (strawberries & Blackberries)
Thursday - Shrimp Stirfry with Mandarin Oranges
Friday - Turkey & Apple Paninis, fresh veggies w/hummus
Saturday - Chicken and Dumplings
Sunday - Pork Chops, grilled Apples, and Steamed Broccoli w/Cheese Sauce
Monday - Chicken Cobbler
Tuesday - Oven BBQ Chili w/Beer Bread
Wednesday - Pork Tenderloin & Roasted Veggies
Thursday - Grilled Whitefish & Steamed Mixed Veggies
Friday - Asian Spring Rolls

So there it is folks....any particular night you'd like to join us? hehehe.

As for yoga and weight training....I planned to do one of my yoga DVDs, but forgot I don't have a TV yet LOL!  THAT didn't work out so well!  I had a ton to do around the house anyway, so I was moving nonstop when I got home. 

O!  Biggest Loser weigh ins at work this morning....I'm down another 2.8!!!  ROCK ON!!!  AND I start another new challenge tomorrow led by a personal trainer daughter of one of my co workers.  The prize for that one....$100!!!  WAHOO!  Game is ON!

And last but not least....today's menu:

Breakfast: Oatmeal and Berries
Snack: Carrots, Hummus, and almonds
Lunch: Tater Tot Hotdish (leftovers are almost gone) and Berries
Snack: Apple and Natural PB
Dinner: Shrimp Stir Fry with Mandarin Oranges

My Apologies

I would first like to apologize that I've taken so much time off of blogging!  I didn't realize it's been so long until I checked the dates.  Since I've blogged last, I've started a Biggest Loser Weight Loss Challenge at work and am currently well ahead of the competition and intend to keep it that way.  **fingers crossed**  I've moved in to my own apartment and out of the negative situation I was in previously, so my stress level is down.  Yesterday since I was off of work I took the opportunity to grocery shop and stock my new kitchen with an abundance of fresh fruits, veggies, and meats.  My grocery list is as follows (hopefully I'll remember everything):

Tuna Steaks
Mixed spring greens
Raspberry Vineagrette
Strawberries
Blackberries
Whole Grain Bread
Shredded Cheddar Jack Cheese
Fage Greek Yogurt
Brussel Sprouts
Squash
Rice Paper (for spring rolls)
Apples
Broccoli
Skim Milk
String Cheese
Jalapeno String Cheese


I also planned a menu for the next two weeks with some of the foods I already had left in my freezer.  I don't have the menu here with me at work, so I'll have to save that post for tomorrow.  Other than that, the stairs at my new apartment are giving me all the workout I need for now.  Starting tonight (since I'm all done moving for the most part) I'll be working on some yoga and weight training at home since I cancelled my LifeTime membership, so watch for those daily updates as well in addition to the daily menu.

Today's menu:

Breakfast: Morning Star Farms Sausage Egg and Cheese Biscuit
Snack: Jalapeno String Cheese, Strawberries
Lunch: Tater Tot Hotdish, Clementines
Snack: Greek Yogurt and Strawberries
Dinner: Grilled Salmon and Steamed Veggies