Figured now is as good of a time as any to move the blog over to the new site.
To my site. I own it. 
As I already said, I’m a bit rusty in working with CSS and just design in general. So let me know if you find any errors, issues or just have some suggestions. I didn’t move the old blog over because well–I’ve turned over a new leaf and this is truly a new journey.
To Smile,
Last night, when I was getting ready for bed I think I had a moment where reality hit me a little bit. I got a little scared to think about the future. Okay, I got a lot scared. I know we will be fine financially but I want to start bringing in money as soon as possible. What if I fail at this? There is no one I can put the blame on but myself. I know that I need to tell myself that I will not fail, but……a lot of pressure and quite exciting.
I’m working on designing my own website for Happiness Awaits. I haven’t done any coding or design work in ages. I am definitely a squeaky wheel so it is taking longer than normal to get basic things to work. But I do feel the reward will definitely be worth it once I get the site moved over to my own control. But working in databases, creating email accounts, log ins, working in a server and doing CSS work has been interesting. But once I get it down, maybe that will be a way I can bring in a little bit of money. Who knows.
So I have been up this morning early, with a cup of Irish Breakfast Tea, working on the new website. I am also going to look through the local paper and try and see about jobs. I have also filled out paperwork to volunteer at the hospital and to read to children one night a week at the library. There is also an after school volunteer organization for kids from 4-6pm that I may go try out once or twice.
I was going to go buy a new dress for the wedding I am in (that I am reading in) but due to the impending financial doom, I am going to have to hold myself back and say no. Time to go shopping in my own closet and hope for the best.
To be honest, I have absolutely no idea what I am doing. If I keep feeling around in the dark, hopefully I’ll eventually find the light.
To Smile,
First off–let me thank you all for your amazing comments. I cannot express how much I appreciate them, because well I am terrified. I really hope I’m making the right decision. Actually, I am sure I’m making the right decision but having so much support behind me does help build up my courage.
Everyone in my family and all my friends have definitely been behind me too. I think everyone is very proud and deep down I think people a teeny bit jealous. I think a lot of people wish they could do this to. I don’t know that I would recommend it to just anyone.
I talked to one of my brother’s about it for awhile yesterday, who was very proud. This is the guy who already makes an incredible amount of money and had a previous company offer him over double his salary to go work for them…which would probably be something resembaling close to half a mil a year. Anyway, he turned them down. He knew what the job would entail and knew that it wasn’t worth the money. So he has been in the position that I am in where it isn’t all about money–it is also about your life and your happiness.
One of his words of advice were “Don’t get lazy”. I’m not too worried that will happen to me because I am too type A and too go-go-go, but I can see that concern. I need to continue to push and strive for things, I can’t get lazy or get down or just take it easy because I don’t have a boss at the moment.
My current plan to at least start working on this job search is all those vacation days that I have to take off in the next month–I am going to go volunteer for a half a day some where. Hospital, school, nursing home. Where ever. Try to get a feel for what is out there and what I really enjoy and love doing. And that will also prevent me from getting lazy and enjoying the being at home aspect too much.
While I was swimming yesterday, something hit me.
I have had plenty of jobs that were challenging. That obviously isn’t what I seek out of my employment. I want a job that is rewarding. I don’t think I’ve ever had one of those and that is what I am searching for. I think that is what my heart and soul need.
(it is amazing how quickly you care about your current job and pleasing everyone and getting all your work done when you’ve already quit!)
Enjoy the day. Seize the day!
To Smile,
I’m mildly shaking just writing this post. I am absolutely terrified and also so excited all at once.
I quit my job.
Yes, you read that correctly. I quit my job and no I do not have another job lined up. Luckily I have an amazing supportive husband who is willing to let me take this leap of faith and support us (me) through it. We are very lucky to be in a position where we do not have any credit card debit and the only debit we do have are your normal bills–mortgage, car, food, heat, etc. We have been good about always trying to save my salary, always thinking we would have kids one day and I would like to stop working when that happens.
This is so scary but we are going to be fine. We definitely are going to have to cut back on things–Christmas is going to be bare this year. That France trip–right now is definitely on hold. Our going out spending money and buying things for the house–going to have to stop unless I start bringing in some cash.
But aren’t all those things worth it if you aren’t miserable in life? I had hit a wall and something had to give. My job was ruining so many aspects of my life, so I (with the incredible support of Justin) decided this was the decision to make.
Gameplan
–I gave my notice but I agreed to stay on for 1 month to see the completion of my current project and to help with transitioning. I did have 87 hours of vacation time accrued. My HR will pay out for 40 hours, so that means I need to get rid of 47 hours, or about 6 days. In my resignation document, I have requested to take at least a day off every week from here on out, sometimes more. I shouldn’t lose that time that I have earned.
–I have already filled out the paperwork to become a substitute teacher in Loudoun County
–I will not take a job just to have money. I need a job that I enjoy and have a passion for.
Justin will be putting me on his insurance plan, so I don’t need benefits. I am willing to do multiple part time jobs. I have started brainstorming ideas to see where I should focus my job search:
–Teaching/kids
–Healthcare/doctor’s office–(I was an office manager of a family care office all through undergrad and grad school.)
–Hospitals/Nursing homes–I’ve been through a family member dying of cancer. I can definitely appreciate and respect how having supportive caring people around you make things better. Additionally, I have always loved the “Active Seniors” generation. When the generation of 75-90 year olds die, our country will lose so many amazing stories of strength, courage and heartache. What those men and women did for our world always always amazes me and I love spending time and hearing their stories.
–Researching–I loved researching and writing for my thesis. Now I need to find someone to hire me as their research assistant!
–Writing–I love words. I love their power and strength and the release they give. I want to expand on this blog–so I think I may be moving it off of wordpress.com and also from Food Buzz. Unfortunately, I have to make money now and I know I can make some with blog ads, just need to figure out how and get that taken care of.
–Exercise–I used to be a personal trainer for Washington Sports Clubs. I could do this again. I have kicked around the idea of being a personal trainer for stay at home mom’s/wives. Go to their house and take them out running, working out, do strength training, etc. I would be cheaper than a personal trainer at a gym.
Wine–I live near a lot of vineyards. Justin and I always love to go wine tasting and visit the vineyards. Why not work there? I think that would be a fabulous job. Who knows.
So as you can tell, I’m clueless.
Ready to go on this amazing and ABSOLUTELY terrifying journey with me?!
To Smile.
Trying to focus on something I enjoy. Music. It is helping me get through work this week. Something else to distract me, so my thoughts and other people’s words don’t sink into my head.
1.) Everything is Free–Gillian Welch
3.) St. Stephen’s Cross–Vienna Teng
4.) Cry–Jason Walker
5.) Tried to be True–Indigo Girls
6.) Battle of Who Could Care Less–Ben Folds Five
10.) Golliwog’s Cakewalk–Claude Debussy
12.) Forget About It–Alison Krauss
I’m trying….wow.
Can someone have a mental breakdown in a 12 hour period? Because I think I am. I honestly want to curl in a ball and sob. All I did last night was sob myself to sleep. I was suppose to wake up and go to the gym this morning but there wasn’t a chance of that happening.
Let me rewind.
Yesterday my plans seemed to change every 30 seconds. I was suppose to get together with my neighbor, but she ended up being sick. Then I was supposed to go to a HOA meeting. Then my bosses boss asked me to go to dinner. Well that obviously had to trump everything.
Dinner went okay. It wasn’t what I was planning on eating, obviously. Now I drank 2 pints of beer (Guiness and Blue Moon), had some of a a cheesy artichoke appetizer and then had a salad for dinner. WHAT THE HELL!?! This isn’t really on the game plan. So I’m extremely mad at myself for that.
Then the whole reason for this dinner (or at least what I thought) was never even brought up. It was hinted, but nothing. (This has to do with the raise I asked for last week.) So I sat through this 2+ hour meal on pins and needles for nothing. To find out nothing. And it is really wearing me down.
I am a perfectionist, we all know that. But right now, I feel like I’m failing at every single thing I do. I’m obviously not working hard enough or a good enough employee for my company to care to keep me, my eating habits continuously fluctuate, I skip my workouts, my house is a disaster area and lets not even talk about my relationships. I feel like I have no time left to give to anyone, not Justin, not my family, not my friends. I am an mediocre person at best to all of them. I can’t even fathom finding the time and effort to really focus my efforts on my new job search. Where am I going to find the time to do that?!@$?!@$%KOJ@#%JHI!@# I am always exhausted and stressed out.
I have no idea what I do in life right now that makes me happy. It definitely isn’t traveling to Blacksburg every weekend, but I’ve known that. When I actually am home, I have a chore list a mile long to address–because well, I’m never home. I don’t have extra money to just go out and do things and I’m trying to watch what I eat so it isn’t like going out to eat is really relaxing and enjoyable. I don’t know where I find comfort or release and I really don’t even have the effort to try to find it.
I just want to quit it all right now….quit my job, my marriage…all of it and go live in a cave. This is all taking a lot of effort with no end in sight and potentially no reward. I have these dreams and hopes that I want to acheive in the next year but they are all slowly slipping into the impossible realm. This includes my France trip, something I have been dreaming of and have already started planning. How is that ever going to happen if I leave this job? I am just stuck and it is awful and I am so overwhelmed it is killing me.
Yeah, under a bit over stress regarding the whole work/job situation. Can’t really get into it but worried that I am about to be put into a make or break situation, which definitely terrifies me. I may find out today, maybe not…
Anyway.
Typical–went to the gym last night. Swam. I am truely obsessed with swimming right now it is almost amusing. I go to the gym, exhausted and not wanting to do anything but take a nap. Then I get in the pool and I become so motivated. It really amazes me. I also think all the lines that I see on my arms and my shoulders while I’m walking out to the pool deck keeps me motivated.
I had a workout printed out and I took it with me but all got thrown out the window…mainly because I’m a selfish bad person. I got out to the pool deck and it was CROWDED. I luckily was able to grab an empty lane right when someone got out of the pool.
I warmed up:
2 X 100m easy
Then was going to my drill set of:
1 X 100m pull with paddles and buoy
1 x 100m kick board with fins
Which I was going to repeat twice, but when I went to start my second set with the paddles, I noticed a guy waiting to ask me if he could join my lane. Now I don’t mind sharing if the person swims at my same level (and doesn’t want to swim circles! Why swim circles when there are only 2 of you…swim sides!!) but if they can’t swim well I don’t like sharing–sorry, I’m selfish. And I stereotyped and I didn’t think this guy could swim well enough to want to share a lane. So I kept swimming…and I kept swimming and I kept seeing him standing there. After I had done about a 350, I said screw it and kept going. 1200 meters later with paddles, I finally stopped. It felt fabulous!
1200M swim with paddles
2 X 100m kick with fins
2 X 100m cool down
Total: 2000 meters. Time: 40 minutes.
I was about ~2 minutes faster than normal.
After the swim I got in the hot tub for about 15 minutes while I waited for Justin to finish up his haircut (we have a full day spa at our gym–so convenient!)
Then dinner. I am on a pork kick right now. Actually, it is more, pork is quite affordable. I got a pack of 8-4 ounce pork chops for $6. I couldn’t turn my back on that. I haven’t always been a huge fan of pork but I think a lot of that has to do with how it is cooked, which I think I am improving at.
I made Pork Loin Chops with Cinnamon Apples and Maple-Glazed Acorn Squash Rings. The pork was fabulous, the squash–not so much. No flavor.
I also made some mashed potatoes for a side dish (worried I didn’t have enough food for Justin, which I definitely didn’t after the failure of the squash. And I had a MASSIVE red skin potato that needed to be used asap.)
Pork:
It was so so so good and the apples were fabulous.
My little bit of yummy mashed potatoes.
I skipped dessert last night (just wasn’t too hungry and felt I had eaten enough at dinner.) I had a nice cup of tea instead.
Breakfast
Oats. Again. 1/2 cup of oats, 1 cup of water, some banana, some cinnamon and a bit of maple syrup. This wasn’t too great. The maple syrup got lost.
Lunch
Salad with romaine, spinach, small bit of a pear, beets and green pepper. All topped with some Cesar dressing.
A little plum (hope it’s still ripe!)
Cottage cheese:
And a piece of AMAZING chocolate. This piece took me like 30 minutes to eat yesterday, incredible!
Snack
More yogurt. Justin and I have been saying lately that we don’t even really like yogurt all that much, we just eat it every day. It is healthy, already portioned out and easily portable. Too bad neither of us love it.
And then my commute home/pre work out snack (no Justin with me today, so I had to pack my own snack–I can’t steal his crackers.)
I love these little things. Yes, I’m sure there are healthier/better choices that I could make, but well–these make me happy!
Heading to the gym after work, plan to lift and do some cardio, so a nice long workout session. Then I’m having one of my neighbors over for dinner because we are going to work on some things for Halloween tonight.
Anyway, have a fabulous fabulous day!
(Oh yes, and I am hungry. I am paying for this past weekend! Only one more day after today to push through. Scale better be nice to me again!)
Remember when I said I wasn’t going to overeat over the weekend? Well apparently I forgot about that. Which unfortunately leads to another week where I really have to be strict what I eat. This really isn’t a lot of fun. I’m ready to get back to the point where I just want to maintain my weigh not lose! I was only 3.8lbs away from there last week, so hopefully this won’t go on for too long…and maybe I’ll learn some self control. I also think I may overestimate how “bad” I am on the weekends–I went to a party Saturday night. I have no idea how bad/good all those little bites really were and what they added up to. I just have to guesstimate and my guesstimation says it wasn’t too pretty.
Despite all this I had a wonderful weekend. It was amazing to get to be at home finally. The unfortunate thing, I think both Justin and I ran ourselves into the ground doing the 1 million things that we wanted to get done since we were at home. Hopefully it’ll slow down soon. And the weather was AWFUL all weekend. I think we have a river running next to our house! But let me back up!
After work Friday–hit the gym and the pool. I was really excited about this workout because it was different. Apparently I forgot to take into account how hard it was going to be!
Distance 2000m
Warm up
2 x 100m Freestyle Swim , rest 0:20 / 100m
Build up
4 x 100m Freestyle Swim (kick every 4th 25m), rest 0:20 / 100m
Core
8 x 100m Freestyle Swim, target time 01:35 / 100m, rest 0:20 / 100m
2 x 50m Freestyle Kick with kickboard, rest 0:15 / 50m
2 x 100m Freestyle Swim, target time 01:35 / 100m, rest 0:20 / 100m
2 x 50m Freestyle Kick with kickboard, rest 0:15 / 50m
Warm down
2 x 100m Freestyle Swim , rest 0:20 / 100m
Then Justin and I headed to Wegman’s to get things to cook for dinner. So exciting to have time to cook a long, Friday night dinner together. We decided to go with a thai-inspired dish.
And grabbed some pumpkin beer. I had 2 of these and they were lovely!
Will definitely buy these again! Not too sweet, very enjoyable!
And on to dinner. We started with summer rolls. Have you ever used the summer rolls paper before? We hadn’t…quite novel and easy!
Yes, I know they don’t look quite as good as restaurant grade. We put in bok choy, carrots, celery, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, mint and basil.
Served with peanut sauce for dipping. I had 1 of these.
And the main event.
Here is my plate. We sauteed shrimp (in a bit of sesame oil), brocolli, carrots, bok choy, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, with some rice noodles and added some fish sauce, hosin, soy sauce, sake and a few other random ingredients. Topped with a bunch of basil (and hot sauce). I had 2 plates this size.
We stayed up and watched a majority of the Yankee’s game and then went to bed. I woke up in the middle of the night with a TERRIBLE stomach ache. Bad enough I had to turn on the light and read for about an hour and a half. It never really went away and I slept terribly that night. Don’t know what caused with….I can think of a few things that may have.
So when I got up Saturday morning, I started with some ginger tea.
And after a few hours, I eased in for some toast and hot chocolate (with whipped cream).
Then we left the house, headed to the gym. I did 40 minutes on the elliptical and then went and lifted for about 40 minutes. Nice good, long workout!
Then we ran around doing errands and stopped at Boston Market for lunch. This was unplanned so no camera, sorry! I got a cup of chicken noodle soup and some corn bread. Still try to feel out my stomach…I also had some bites of Justin’s sandwich which was fabulous.
Then I showered and headed over to my friend Cristi’s house to help her set up for her party. She can throw an AMAZING party. This was a wine and cheese party for women only.
She had an amazing spread that she put together. SO MUCH AMAZING FOOD!
She has this awesome wall in her kitchen that she painted with chalkboard paint and had written out the menu on it.
I had a great time and definitely ate and drank my far share over the course of the 6 hours I was there!
Me with another one of my neighbors.
Sunday
Woke up and was ready to get the day going immediately. We had a ton of things to do. I skipped breakfast because I just wasn’t hungry. Headed to Home Depot and then Wegman’s and then headed home. At home, I noticed I had left my camera at Cristi’s, so no pics of lunch. (Split a can of soup with Justin and had a piece of toast with some cheese melted on it…and a leftover summer roll.)
Then worked around the house all day–finished painting (most) of the bathroom downstairs, worked on a ton of halloween things (pictures to follow), baked 2 loaves of bread, helped just do some fall cleaning and had a get together with the neighbors around 4 to discuss the Haunted Forest we are having in our neighborhood. Before I knew it, it was 6pm and I don’t think I had sat down all day.
And it was still cold outside, so I figured soup was needed, again.
Homemade tortilla soup (with store bought tortillas)
These things were really good!
and a big salad that we split.
My plate (times 2)
Then I don’t know what I was thinking, it was around 8:30PM and I decided to make cookies. Who knows what is wrong with me.
I had run out of all purpose flour so had to use whole wheat. This was kind of a disaster. They turned out very flat and crispy. Not bad but not how I love my cookies.
But at least our cookie jar is now full!
And on to today. And again, I am really going to have to be strict and watch what I eat this week. Hopefully I’ve learned my lesson and won’t go crazy eating/drinking this Saturday!
Trusty oats for breakfast–1/2 cup of oats, 1 cup of water, 1/2 a pear, cinnamon and 2t of brown sugar.
Lunch
Leftover soup with some cheese to add
The smallest slice of bread that I could cut
with an orange
and a hunk of dark chocolate
Snacks
of course–yogurt!
Okay–off to workworkwork. Tons going on, like always.
Hope you had an amazing weekend and the weather was better where you are!
Sorry about the late post. I don’t know what is going on with me today. I’m in a good mood but have literally no motivation to do work. Maybe it is because it is 38 degrees and raining right now. Just go ahead and snow, rain is no fun when it’s this cold!
I share a cube (massive cube though) with my closest coworker at work–okay, I would call her a genuine friend. Anyway, all we have been doing is turning around and talking to each other all day. I think neither of us are motivated. And our office is EMPTY. It is fabulous. So having almost no emails or phone calls coming in keeps me unfocused. I sort of like it. One of my bosses (don’t ask, I feel like I answer to about 15 different people) told me to get out of here early today because it is so slow. I may try to take him up on that (if Justin is available to leave early) because days like this are few and far between.
Speaking of work. I did something terrifying yesterday. I asked for a raise! I know! I have been talking myself into this for weeks/months. I finally did it yesterday (due to numerous reasons…strike while the fires hot!). I was told that they needed to present it to the President/COO because we are under a raise/bonus freeze due to the economy. I was told that I definitely deserved it and that they would go to bat for me. I will find out in a few weeks. The weird thing will be if I am told No…am I suppose to just work normally like it is okay?
Sigh.
Went to the gym after work yesterday. It was one of those days where you want your workout over from the moment it starts. Where you are struggling the entire time, but not in a good way.
It took about 40:30.
Distance 2000m
Warm up
2 x 100m Freestyle Swim (even pace), rest 0:15 / 100m
Build up (repeat 2 times)
1 x 100m Freestyle with paddles and buoy, rest 0:10 / 25m
1 x 100m Kicking, rest 0:10 / 25m
Core
6 x 200m Freestyle Swim, target time 03:15 / 200m, rest 0:30 / 200m
Warm down
2 x 100m Freestyle Easy, rest 0:20 / 100m
Dinner
I ate so many unphotographed carrots (and 4 grape tomatoes) while I was making dinner. I was STARVING last night. I think all those days with low calories finally caught up to me. At least it was carrots that I kept eating and not something much worse! This dinner was REALLY good and really easy. It further promoted my love of chard!
I got the idea for the recipe from: Food & Wine: Baked Pork Chops with Swiss Chard. I switched it up a bit and just sprayed the pan with olive oil, added a bunch of chard with the ribs removed (maybe 5 leaves?), then I put salt and pepper on top of it. Then I added 2 pork chops–they were about 6 ounces each raw. I salt, peppered and put a little bit of smoked paprika on the chops. They went into the oven at 450 for about 22 minutes (you may want to check them sooner). The flavor of the chard, the chops and the “broth” that was created was wonderful!
And we had sweet potato fries on the side. Just cut up sweet potatoes tossed in some salt, pepper and olive oil. Baked on cookie sheets with wire cooling racks between the potato and the sheet (to air out the fries). Baked in the same 450 degree oven for the same amount of time. They were some of the best fries I think we have made at home! I think they could bake for another 5-10 minutes to be extra crispy but we weren’t too hungry to wait!
I definitely snacked on more fries than what is shown here. I had half a pork chop.
And then I had dessert. Tried to get in another serving of fruit. Frozen banana put into the blender to make “ice cream” then topped with some chocolate syrup and whipped cream. Tasted JUST LIKE a banana split! mmm!
Breakfast
More oats! Fairly boring/okay combination: 1/2 cup of oats, 1 cup of water (which boiled over in the microwave. Rookie mistake!) then added 1/4 of a pear, some cinnamon, bit of honey and some cashew nut butter.
Lunch
I sort of like having Friday lunch being PB&J lunch. It feels like a splurge or something. I’m weird, I know!
All closed up
with some cottage cheese
(I definitely like the red pepper kind more!)
and the other half of my grapefruit from yesterday.
Snack
An apple with a bit of cashew nut butter. I’m excited for this!
The plan today is to hit the gym after work. We were suppose to go this morning when the alarm went off, but I rolled over and told Justin I was not getting out of bed. I was so comfy and our room was 57 degrees! I don’t think I fell back asleep but I just enjoyed that extra hour of sleep too much to give it up!
Then a relaxing yet still busy weekend. Tonight we are cooking dinner at home and then I think watching a movie. I think we are both EXTREMLY excited about this plan. Something we haven’t been able to do since August–spend a Friday night at our own house!
Then this weekend, I have a cocktail party to go to tomorrow night and I need to work on things for the neighborhood for our Halloween party. I need to try and enjoy having nothing to do this weekend! I don’t want it to be Sunday evening and I look back and think I didn’t enjoy the weekend enough!
And go Hokies–beat Georgia Tech. This game means a lot for me…it does every year.
Yep–that is me in a Virginia Tech shirt and a Georgia Tech hat. I think this picture is from last year. That is one of my sister’s with me in the picture. Anyway, my dad played football for Georgia Tech, so I was a Yellow Jacket fan before I even knew what that meant. And then I went to VT so I became, obviously, a huge fan of VT. My father died in 2006 and when VT and GT played each other, it was always a big deal for our family. Anyway, makes me always think about my dad and miss him!
Have a wonderful weekend!
It is rainy and like 40 degrees here. Not the most pleasant of mornings! Like always, makes the commute horrendous. And I have a ton of windows where I sit so it is also freezing. If this keeps up I may need to invest in a little portable heater to put under my desk.
Well we didn’t end up going to the soccer game last night. I think we are both glad we didn’t (well I think I am more than Justin.) It was pouring down rain and about 40 degrees. That isn’t fun at all. The U.S. tied and Justin spent most of the evening yelling at the TV, but I think deep down he was happy to be watching from the comfort and warmth of our own house! This also meant that I got to go to yoga last night, which I was very happy about. I really don’t like this instructor though. A.) she ran over by 15 minutes. I can understand 2, 3 or 5 minutes, but 15?!!?! I have a husband that is just sitting downstairs at the door waiting for me, which I know…which makes me feel bad, which makes me not enjoy my yoga anymore. And what about the people with children? The daycare place at our gym closes at 7…when class was suppose to end. I just think it is rude, but I’m obviously not going to get up and leave. And secondly, we were doing these funky planks and we held the first one for probably about 30 seconds and the second one for at least a minute. While we were holding the second one, some people came out of it and she said “Don’t make me start counting all over again or make us do another”….ummm, this is so UN-yoga it killed me. Don’t threaten me in yoga! I was so annoyed. I don’t want my yoga instructor to be a drill sergeant. If I want to get down in child’s pose for the whole class, I don’t really expect her to say anything negative to me. Anyway, the unfortunate part is that she teaches the class that is at the best time for me….good thing she seems to need a substitute every other week.
Rant over.
Got home from the gym and our weekly box was waiting for me:
More fruit to try and get through! (I sort of like having this problem because it really makes me push to eat more fruit instead of something else. Like today I thought about having a latte or something like that but I noticed I hadn’t packed a fruit yet, so I grabbed an orange instead.)
All the bounty–apples, pears, oranges, bananas, an avocado, 3 green peppers, fingerling potatoes, an acorn squash, some spinach, some romaine lettuce and a large portabella mushroom cap for me next Tuesday night. (Justin hates mushrooms so I’m excited to have one for dinner!)
Right now Justin and I are on a huge frittata kick. They are so easy, taste so good and I can cram so many veggies into these things! I do have to admit though, this recipe wasn’t one of my favorites. I like potatoes in my frittata a lot more than spaghetti! (That said, I do want to try the one with the spaghetti squash!) Frittata with Leeks, Spaghetti, and Zucchini
I had a nice hunk
(with Sriracha, obviously!)
And then I had a little dessert. I first cut up a pear and had a bite and decided that wasn’t what I wanted at all. Instead of eating that and knowing I would still want to snack, I went straight for the dessert I wanted.
1/2 of a frozen apple pie bar. So small but so good!
Thursday Weigh-In
So I was worried all week about this weigh in. I was bad over the weekend. I was kind-of bad last Thursday night too. I then made myself be VERY good for the past 3 days. Very strict which has meant that I have been very hungry. I was eating between 1200-1300 calories a day. And I was hungry every night when I went to sleep. I don’t like this feeling and this wasn’t enjoyable….but I made myself push through just for a few days.
So I got up this morning and got on the scale with absolutely no idea what I would see. I didn’t know if I had broken even with the strict days after the bad weekend, how bad my weekend was or if I over estimated how bad my weekend was. I had no clue what I would see.
And then I saw the number.
I was down 1.8 pounds!
I made myself get off and on the scale about 5 times to make sure this wasn’t a fluke. Wow. I was happy. I’m now only 3.8 pounds away from my goal.
(WARNING–this exact thinking is what has gotten me into trouble in the past–eat a little amount and see progress. In the past it has made me think–well why not keep doing this and I’ll be at my goal in 2 weeks. I turn very angry when I am hungry that long and sort of turn into the devil. It isn’t pretty and I WILL not let that happen to me again!)
Now I am back to my normal eating habits and aims–eat a weekly average of 1500-1600 calories a day. Workout 6 days a week.
Breakfast
Boring, I know.
A cup of optimum slim cereal with a cup of unsweetened almond milk and a tsp of sugar.
And a grapefruit with a tsp of brown sugar.
Lunch
A nice tasty salad with romaine, spinach, maybe 1/4 of a pear, 1/2 a carrot, a few raisins and some dressing.
some triscuits:
and a cup of cottage cheese (this is my favorite flavor!)
and a hunk of yummy chocolate
Snack
My favorite yogurt!
I’ll enjoy some crackers in route to the gym I’m sure, then swim and then head home for a nice calm night at home!
(oh and work is still EXTREMELY hectic and overwhelming but I’m trying to wear my happy face!)
Have a great day!
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