New digs.

I couldn't find Penny this morning.  After a terrible nightmare about losing Tucker violently (woke up crying, I hate those dreams), I completely panicked looking for her.  She was somewhere in the master bedroom.  As far as I know, she can't work doorknobs (yet), and it's not that big of a room.  Finally, I heard the tiniest peep from the corner ... she was stuck in my closet.  A girl after my own heart.  And also a sign that I shouldn't just toss laundry in there when I am in a rush.

It is a minor miracle that her top-knot has survived more than a week post-groomer. I think she likes it.

I bid a sad adieu to my office door this morning. Our department has moved into a swanky new building and today consisted of a flurry of unpacking and organizing. I may not have walls, but it does have that new cube smell. You won't hear me complain about brand new office furniture and an unblemished desk top (upon which I cannot wait to spill my lunch).

 

Breakfast: skinny latte, green smoothie, waterwaterwater.

One of those absolutely crazy days.  I still don't feel settled in to the new space.  My headset is missing a critical adapter piece.  I feel like I am way too loud for cube land.  I had more than one last minute meeting pop up.  But I'll get used to the space.  I'll figure out if I want the stapler there or over there.  Those meetings happen regardless.  At least the day went by quickly.

Lunch:  Leftovers from last night's dinner ... tortellini pesto salad. 

The best part about Kenny getting home from work before me is that I always get picture texts late in the afternoon of the dogs.  I am pretty sure that Tucker never moved from this spot all day.

 Please note that someone turned the chair so that he had an unobstructed view.  That someone was not me. 

Dinner: homemade chicken and dumplings, honey roasted asparagus

I can only hope the rest of the week feels a little calmer.

Ate: 1574

Burned: 252

Net: 1322

Le Meal Plan, April 30

In no particular order...

Monday: Chicken & dumplings, roasted asparagus
7-Layer sliders, sweet potato fries
Penne alla vodka
Greek chicken meatball pitas
Buffalo chicken tenders

Let's hope my avocados ripen fast!

Close calls.

Scary weather rolled through St Louis this evening. We had a last minute chance to grab a bite with some friends from out of town, and headed into the city just as the storms were doing the same. We drove down Jefferson towards Washington Ave, noting lots of tree limbs down. We were feeling pretty lucky to have missed the straight line winds and hail that caused it.

As we sat at the restaurant a few blocks away, another storm cell moved over downtown, collapsing an event tent by Busch Stadium. The last report said over 100 people were hurt and sadly one person was killed. I was nervous watching the sky go from grey to black as we drove back home, and I was shocked to see the news on twitter about the fatality. With more reports of circulation and baseball sized hail coming out of the metro-east, I was more than relieved to be driving in the opposite direction. Our friends were driving back north through lots of red and orange on the radar, so I was definitely still anxious.

The sirensternly off when we were about halfway home, but it was nothing but pouring rain as we crossed the Meremac River back into our little burb. Kenny turned to me and said that he thought we were in the clear. He has a meteorologist/storm chaser friend who texts whenever things are bad, and we hadn't gotten any updates after his initial warnings to take cover ( as we were driving home).

We walked into our house five minutes later, and turned on the news just in time to catch the breaking report about a semi truck that had crashed through the median of the highway just after the Meremac River bridge. It had to have happened just minutes after we drove past. Two hours later, traffic was still blocked as they worked to reconstruct the accident, which means there is a good chance there was another fatality.

Needless to say, I am feeling very lucky tonight. I cant stop thinking of those poor people hurt, and worse, outside of the baseball stadium. Our friends made it home safely too, thank goodness.

Be safe, everyone!

On the Weigh: But steady.

WI: -0.4

I shouldn't complain. It's moving along. I guess it never really happens fast enough. I mean, no amount of weight loss would be rapid enough to turn back time and prevent me from gaining it all in the first place.

It's embarrassing, you know - to have gained all this weight. I've never been "skinny" but certainly not this big either. I think about it a lot, especially since I put myself out there so much with facebook and this blog. It's painfully obvious, even in spite of my recent progress, that it's really visible. When a couple of Kenny's friends were making off-hand comments last weekend about a girl one of them used to date and how big she is now, it made me incredibly uncomfortable. Do people have those thoughts about me? I hate being so self-concious, and Kenny tells me not to think like this (because he thinks I'm pretty and all that), but it still stinks. I'm all in my own head.

Nothing makes me wish more to be on the other side of this journey, to be living a healthy and fit life, and have that part where I gained a ton of pounds in college and then more after just be a phase in the dim past.

It could not happen fast enough.

Five for Friday, vol 45

1. When I took a nap in Sunday, you kept adding dogs and blankets on top of me to keep me extra warm.

2. "that was an intense movie thrill ride" ... as you fell asleep in the couch.

3. I think of you whenever Bittwrsweet Symphony pops up on my Pandora.

4. [Raki symbol]

5.You like to make the bed with mix-and-match sheets.

I love you.

Diet and Life Laws

When Bebe posted the following list earlier today, I knew I had to share it.

• If you had time to eat it, you have time to track it.
• Feeling guilty about eating a certain food is not healthy. You can eat what you want, just not all you want.
• Your diet is a bank account. If you take too much out at one meal, eat less at the next one.
• You need rest recovery days. Even if they aren’t scheduled. You can’t let yourself feel guilty for those.
• We all take turns driving the struggle bus.
• We believe in cleanses. Cleanses being: Clean eating, lots of water, exercise, and going to the bathroom.
• Pizza is sometimes the answer
• So is wine.
• Baking can be therapeutic
• Slow and Steady is a rule for everything. Weight Loss, eating in general, and recovery from injury
• Running is not for everyone. This goes for all exercise, if you hate it, you won’t do it. So don’t.
• Bowling is a lot of fun.
• What works for me might not work for you, and vice versa.
• DRINK YOUR WATER.
• Office candy dishes, jars, bake offs, pot lucks, and birthday parties will happen – but everyone sneezed all over the food, so don’t eat it.
• If you have to ask if something is a bad idea to public message board, it most likely is a bad idea.
• The Warrior Dash is for the Tuff Ladies (I need not apply.)
• Take it one day, one meal, one moment at a time.
• Babies, especially in our group, are always the center of conversation (Human and Animal alike)
• Recipe March Madness is my favorite time of year.

 What rules do you have in health and in life?

Poulet Sauté aux Herbes de Provence

Don't you love how saying something in French makes it seem so fancy? I mean, "chicken cooked with herbs" certainly has a lot less appeal and pizzazz. I used to be able to say a lot more of the French things, what with six years of study under my belt, but sadly most is now lost. I can still conjugate the occasional irregular verb (and I still remember some of the curse words, pardon my French) but otherwise my Francais est tres mal.

Enter Julia Child, who makes me feel nostalgic to be back in Madame Swanson's classroom getting scolded for chewing gum and writing endless sentences about how j'aime le shopping et le match du football. The best part of high school French were the days we got to eat one of France's many native cheeses and watch teen soap operas ("Merci, Julien. Merci beaucoup!"). You know those skits on SNL where they all look depressed and break into random dancing? Yeah, not that far off.

Fun fact - I was also President of French Club. Oh how the boys were knocking down my door back then.

Poulet Saute aux Herbes de Provence

1/4 pound butter
2 1/2 to 3 pounds chicken, in pieces
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried basil
Salt and pepper
3 cloves unpeeled garlic
2/3 cup dry white wine

2 egg yolks
1 T lemon juice
1 T dry white wine

Heat butter in a large skillet until it is foaming. Add chicken pieces and saute for 7 to 8 minutes, turning often. Do not let chicken color more than a deep golden yellow. Season with herbs and salt and pepper. Add garlic and cook, uncovered, for another 20 to 25 minutes, turning 2 to 3 times, or until chicken is tender and juices run clear. Remove chicken to a warm platter and tent with foil to keep warm. Mash garlic cloves with the back of a spoon. Remove peel. Add wine and boil down until reduced by half. Beat egg yolks in a separate small saucepan until thick and sticky. Beat in lemon juice and wine with a whisk. Add liquid remaining in saute pan, a half teaspoon at a time, until a creamy sauce begins to form. Beat over very low heat until warm and thickened.. Remove from heat. Adjust to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon sauce over chicken and serve immediately. Adated from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Enjoy!



Le Meal Plan, April 26

But like, on Thursday.  Erm, better late than never?

Monday: cerveza chicken, roasted asparagus, wild rice

Tuesday: rotini with chicken, asparagus, goat cheese, tomatoes, and olives, salad

Wednesday: pot roast, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli

Thursday: chicken & dumplings, ranchy salad

Friday: tortellini salad, garlic bread

Whatcha been eating this week?

On the Weigh: Slow.

WI: -0.2

Another small loss.  I know I should be content.  I should be "yayyyyyy I didn't gain!"  But instead I feel really meh about it.  I certainly gave more than a fractional effort, you know?

I'm focusing on fruits/veggies, and measuring everything, and I hope that this week is a more accurate reflection of how much time I spend thinking/doing this whole thing.

One of THOSE days.

I feel like I've been sprinting all day, and I barely left my desk. I have several things all popping at the same time and today was a sprint to the finish.  I don't foresee the rest of the week slowing down, either.  Maybe I'm a masochist, but I actually like being busy.  Ignore my whining, I secretly kind of love it.

I've finally figured out how to add enough spinach to my green smoothies to be green-green instead of yuck-green. My mini goal for the week is to get back up to 5-9 servings of fruit and veggies a day, which I have seriously slacked on lately. And the scale has noticed, mind you.

Breakfast: vanilla protein, banana, strawberries, spinach, skinny latte ...456 cals.

Lunch: homemade broccoli cheese soup, blueberry bagel thin with light cream cheese ... 472 cals.

Snack: chocolate protein shake ... 200 cals.

Dinner: beer marinated chicken, wild rice, roasted asparagus ... 400 cals.

Ate: 1546 calories

Burned: nada ... and I'm ok with it.

And that's all I've got.  One of those days, indeed.

Instagram Life, April 14-20

new breakroom - love the quote!

We both got our hairs cut (at different places, obviously)

mmmm .... beer

grilled cheese + salad = the best thing at the work cafeteria

green smoothie, pre-smoothing

finally picked up my preserved wedding dress!

sunning

Five for Friday, vol 44

1. You took at least a dozen photos of bath time with the dogs.

2. "you know what this dinner needs? Crab Rangoon."

3. There are about a dozen tennis balls scattered all over the yard because you think it's hilarious to watch Penny chase them.

4. You love charity, especially when it involves pizza and an open bar.

5. You have alerts set up to watch for when our favorite bands tour in the area, so that you can always buy tickets.

I love you.

How my husband is spending his lunch hour.

A mystery.

So you know how yesterday I couldn't start a pot roast for dinner because I forgot about it in the morning? Well, cut to this morning. I couldn't find the roast. Not in the fridge, freezer, deep freeze, or outside fridge.

I bought it on Sunday. I am afraid to open my trunk.

Burrito baby.

Today was gorgeous - my perfect weather day. 70s, sunny, breezy. If only I could have lounged outside all day! Alas, paychecks are nice.

Breakfast: skinny latte, blueberry yogurt ... 221 cals.

I am such a rebel. I always stir my Greek yogurt. No one can quite explain to me why you aren't supposed to, so  I just keep doing it.

Lunch: Evol chicken burrito ... 440 cals.

After eating (my first ever) frozen burrito for lunch, I think I want to try making them on my own. I know people do this. I'm not even going to pretend that mine today was super healthy just because it was organic, but it was delicious. What are your favorite freezer burrito flavors?

Some chocolate happened. I don't even know how.  It was one of those afternoons.

 Snack: Malted milk balls ... 345 cals.

I had planned to make a pot roast for dinner, but it's kind of hard to do when you forget to put it in your slow cooker beforehand.  Since our other options didn't sound good either, we turned to our old standby: chipotle.  I try to justify it by only ordering bols and salads, and that the ingredients are organic and whatnot.   In terms of fast food, it's hardly the worst option out there.  And good thing - we eat a lot of Chipotle.

That's a lot of burritos.

Dinner: Chipotle Bol with brown rice, chicken, pico de gallo, fajita veggies, sour cream, lettuce, and guacamole.  And some salty wonderful delicious chips, too ... 870 cals.

I got a good workout in, but I've realized that working out after dinner (especially after a day like today) gives me terrible heartburn.  Plyometrics are that much harder when that happens.  One more reason to make more effort to get up earlier in the morning.  I keep saying I'll do it - will tomorrow be it?

Ate: 1876
Burned: 535
Net: 1341

Curse of short hair.

My hair dryer shot craps this morning. I got to go to work with wet hair, which I hate. I can't say I've ever done it before, I just hate the principle of it. My hair is not versatile. It does well when products and heat are properly applied, but not of it's own volition. Once I was at my desk and my hair was (wiggly, flat, and) dry, I basically had two options. I can't do cute up-dos or the infamous sock bun. I don't know how to French braid. A headband wasn't going to help in this case. I was SOL.

Option 1. An awkward pony. My hair needs cutting and I know this because it juuuust barely goes into a nubbin of a ponytail. I do not have cute ponies. My friend Sarah has always had the cutest, bounciest ponytails. I have always been envious.

Alas, option two. Good thing I have the habit of collecting dozens of bobby pins wherever I go. It wasn't perfect, but it was the lesser of the two evils.

I need a new hair dryer, stat.

Excellent inner thigh workout.

Resistance training is good for you.

Instagram Life, April 7-13

up close

green.

time to buy a new copy.

new favorite toy.

i'm cold.

naptime.

tucked in.

Riding out the storm.

In style.

Le Meal Plan, April 15

Monday: grilled chicken alfredo sandwiches, caesar salad, grilled asparagus
Tuesday: slow cooker pot roast, mashed potatoes/cauliflower, steamed broccoli, salad
Wednesday: spicy fettucini, salad
Thursday: cerveza chicken (beer-braised), roasted asparagus
Friday: bacon and tomato strata, salad

Here's to a delicious week!

Spring Showers.

Yesterday was a rainy spring day. And not just the weather! These April showers will bring May showers and at least one May bride. Kenny's cousin Alison is getting married next month and yesterday we celebrated her bridal shower.

I love shower food (cake) but I had a big breakfast so I wouldn't be too tempted by the other yummy treats.

Breakfast: egg sammich, protein smoothie ... 521 cals.

And some parties wished we would have shared.

The shower itself was lovely, but I expected no less. The bride-to-be got some great gifts and it made me want to go register all over again. Plus, the country club looked exactly like Mizzou's Kappa house inside, and that just made me happy. And I got to wear a new dress (in a size smaller!)

Lunch was delicious - chicken breast on mixed green salad with berries and goat cheese, plus a dessert plate. The tiramisu disappeared quick, but I manged to reign myself in before polishing off the fudge cake and sorbet too ... 400ish calories.

Pretty spring shower flowers!

And adorable favors!

We had a ridiculously quiet night in. Like a so-married-it-hurts night in.  Neither of us were feeling 100%, so Steak n Shake and getting in bed by 9 was the order of the evening.  We are like senior citizens.  It's awesome.

On the Weigh: Maintain

 
I can't decide how I feel about this.

On one hand, I should be happy not to gain. I had a really active week and sometimes that doesn't reflect on the scale. I had some great NSVs I am really excited about. There is more to this than losing just pounds. I'm gaining confidence, gaining stamina, feeling good.  I'm eating well, feeling balanced, being active.  Everything is happening as it should. 

But it would be nice to see the scale move too.  I know that the scale does not always reflect your actions, but it's still really frustrating.  That's easy advice to give, much more difficult to take.

Onto next week, I guess ...

Happy Opening Day!

BIRDS!

Yes, indeed. I am glad the weekend is almost here. I got my car back this afternoon, and Bridgestone offered to help cover the cost of the two replacement tires. I talked to the nicest customer service rep this morning, and it significantly improved my whole mental state.

Breakfast: peanut butter on a sandwich thin, skinny latte ... 260 cals.

Lunch: asparagus cheese soup, Greek yogurt + berries, protein shake ... 532 cals.

It was a long Friday for me. I am lucky to be able to flex my hours and leave early every week. Since I spent the morning yesterday dealing with tires, that ate up my flex time. I had to work seven whole hours today. On a Friday. Ouch, ouch. My diamond shoes are too tight.

When I got home from work, I was greeted with the sound of singing upstairs. Apparently two puppies, who shall remain nameless, decided to chase a rabbit through our very muddy backyard. In other words, bath time. Kenny sometimes sings to them to keep them distracted. It doesn't work, they are still miserable little drowned rats.

Dinner: buffalo chicken pizza, breadstick ... 721 cals.

Mmmm I love pizza night.

Ate: 1513
Burned: 0