Today

12 hour shift is done. Gym after work. Taco time "light meal" for dinner (316 calories!!! I bailed on a party tonight :(. J couldn't skip the gym and I didn't want to go out and drink/eat 2 nights in a row. I can't afford the splurges. Need to keep it at one night :(. I shouldn't pretend to be too disappointed - I would have liked to have gone, but I'm also a homebody at heart, and was feeling soooo worn out after work/gym (my bed is really the only thing calling my name at this point). This pik is of today's lunch. "kitchen sink" salad . It has everything but the kitchen sink! Baby corn,chicken,brown rice,tomatoes,beets,Worcestershire sauce (the verdict is out on that)and sunflower seeds !

Healthified cashew chicken and broccoli

2 tsp canola oil 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breats, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 tsp finely chopped gingerroot 2 cups fresh broccoli florets 1 cup reduced sodium chicken broth (from 32 oz carton) 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes 2 cups frozen sugar snap peas (fromm 24 oz bag) 3 tbls reduced sodium soy sauce 2 tsp rice vinegar 1 tbls cornstarch 1 tsp sugar 2 medium green onions, sliced 3 c hot cooked brown rice 1/4 c salted cashew halves and pieces 1. in 12 inch non stick skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Add chicken and gingerroot : cook and stir 4-5 mins until chicken begins to brown. 2. Add broccoli,1/2 c of the broth and pepper flakes. Cover: cook over medium heat 2 minutes, stirring once. Add peas; cook 2-4 mins longer, stirring once until veggies are crisp and tender. 3. In a small bowl, mix remaining 1/2 c broth, soy sauce,vinegar,cornstartch and sugar; stir into chicken mixture. Add onions;cook, stirring frequently, until sauce is thickened and bubbly. Stir over rice;sprinkle with cashews makes 4 servings 1 serving =chicken mixture & 3/4 c rice. calories- 440 fat- 11g carb- 51 fiber- 8 protein- 35

Today!

12 hour work day is done. Went to the gym after work for a 1/2 hour workout. 300 calories burned. For lunch today I had Indian Dhal. I highly recommend it for anyone, especially if you are dieting. It's very healthy and comes in @150 calories for a 1 cup serving. Note to self- find a good recipe for indian dhal and try to make it yourself!

My Dream!

Last night I had a dream that the world was ending and my first thought was "cool, I get to quit my diet!" That just goes to show how difficult and horrible dieting can be at times!!!!

550 calorie workout is done! Here is tonight's dinner. I had enough cals left over for 1/4 avacado on my salad. Btw- I tried Lean Cuisine "spinach artichoke dip" for lunch. It is 200 calories and I you pair it with a big salad, makes a decent lunch and tastes pretty good! I have to be honest and tell you that the serving is TINY!

Holy sore!

Even though I've been doing a lot of cardio at the gym, I must have used some leg muscles that have not been used in a while! My hip joint is a little f$&?!d also! Did I mention I saw Bill and Melinda gates on my hike yesterday?

Note to self- must do more hiking....

Hiking!

4 mile hike today at Rattlesnake ridge! pasta Dinner after. Great day:)

Dinner!

Here tonight's dinner! A veggie sandwich and salad. I tried to find a whole wheat baguette,but no such luck :(. Sandwich has avocado, pepperoncini, tomato, cucumber, lettuce and olives. Oh yeah, a very small slice of cheese and red wine vinegar. 341 calories for whole meal!

Lunch!

Lunch ! These are veggie nuggets by the way .......258 calorie lunch! That includes BBQ sauce

Dinner fail!

Last night I made dinner. 1 sun dried tomato sausage, asparagus, and a small gold potato. NOTHING turned out! I have to admit that I am horrible at cooking meat! I don't know what it is, but I have the hardest time cooking meat in any way. it rarely tastes good. Last night the sausage was indelible! The asparagus was bitter (was going to have an artichoke,but it was over ripe) and the potato was tough. tonight I was not in the mood to cook and got a "light meal" from Taco Time. I try not to eat fast food too often, but their white chicken chilli is 139 calories for a cup and their crisp chicken taco is under 200 calories........not bad!

Lunch !

Come on, doesn't this look awesome?

1200 calorie day!

Yesterday was a 1200 calorie day (no gym) here is what I ate... Breakfast: 247 Yogurt light bread jam Snack: 140 Fiber one bar Lunch: 349 Red leaf lettuce bell peppers cucumber avocado parmesan cheese olive oil balsamic vinegar pinch of sugar salt/pepper dijon mustard chicken breast gold potato parsley Snack: 155 cherries 3/4 oz cheddar slice Dinner: 262 calories 1 slice goat cheese pizza (200 cals) red leaf lettuce bell peppers cucumber light blue cheese dressing 45 calories left over

Perfect lunch ?

Yesterday's lunch ! A HUGE salad with veggies and avacado for fat and a homemade balsamic vinaigrette! a 3oz serving of grilled chicken and a VERY small gold potato. 350 calories!
I have tried to eat low carb or carb free lunches and it doesn't work well for me at all. I get shaky and clammy and I am not able to operate at full capacity! I just need a very small starch ( even if it's just a few croutons!) with every meal. I try to have a fruit/veggie, protein, fat, and carb with every meal. The protein doesn't have to be meat (yogurt,cheese.) I have found I feel better when I eat well rounded meals.

Yum!

Made this salad for this weeks dinners!

Workout done!  Family in town! trying to figure out how many calories are in my favorite gnocchi!  I have to admit that all the calorie counting and talk of calorie counting is getting a little old and repetitive.  I've made a resolution to do the counting but talk about it less.  I'm annoying myself!

It's raining and it's cold.  I turned my heat on this morning!  I'm finishing my coffee and I will head to the gym for a 600 calorie workout!

1200 calorie day

This is what a 1200 calorie day looks like!

Breakfast

1/2 c 2% fage yogurt
1/2 tbls blueberry jam
1/2 c fiber 1 cereal
1/2 c fat free milk

snack

1 fiber one oat chocolate bar

Lunch

1 c chicken orzo soup (safeway select 90 calories!)
asparagus
1/4 potato w/ butter and parmesan cheese (small amounts!)

Dinner

2 oz lean pork chop
1/2 cup rice
1c 1% milk
asparagus

Snack

Macadamia caramel cluster (costco, 105 cals and....yum!)

I think I have 100 calories left over.  I would normaly have a snack between lunch and dinner, but it didn't work out today.  I brought a peach for that snack.  I should eat it now, but I'm too tired :(   Also i'm afraid of what will happen if I eat that peach (fruit allergies) They are my all time favorite fruit when they are ripe:)  

Junk food or not ?.....

So I am trying to follow the 80/20 philosophy when it comes to my diet. 80% healthy nutritious food and 20% "not so healthy" foods. This 20% includes my daily piece of chocolate or added butter etc. Everyone has a different idea of what is healthy. For example, I know some people who would consider any store bought pre packaged food of any kind to be on the "no no list.". Yes, a package of cookies is bad, but I don't believe that a cup of store bought 2% plain yogurt is bad. I don't believe 1/2 cup of 1% milk is bad. I don't think an appropriate serving of a low cal/fat salad dressing is bad. So for me, the obvious junk foods are the bad foods. I purchased some "fiber one" bars. They are probably considered a "junk food." I don't love the way they taste and I would never choose to eat these as a "guilty pleasure." I only bought and eat these because I find it impossible to eat enough fiber (they contain a whopping 9grams of fiber!) while following a low cal diet! So the question is.....does this go toward my 20%

BYW- I'm thinking I need to follow a 85/15 diet soon.....just a little re-vamp!