Keep on tracking

Well I need to go get my agenda and make some notes. I am totally down in the dumps again. Ugh! Set off by what? Well I'm not getting any exercise today at all. I woke up pretty sore in the calves (nix the am run), and my upper back and shoulders were sore, so, no 30 Day Shred in the wee hours.

I had planned on going out for a nice rain run late in the afternoon/early evening, before hot yoga. Kevin however said that lately all the time we are able to spend together is spent exercising, he misses watching tv and cuddling. So I emailed and cancelled my spot at hot yoga, and put off running.

I had nothing planned for dinner, and remembered that Kevin had said a few weeks ago how he would like to have some real pasta sometime soon. So I thought we'd go pick up some Olivieri pasta and make a ravioli bake and some side salad. So that is what we did (keep reading below for dinner pics).

It's terrible that lack of exercise and carb heavy foods bring me down so. I think a lot if it has to do with my own body image issues I have going on right now.

I've gained the weight back again. The same weight I've lots and regained 2times now since Jan. I can't seem to stay focused and get what I deem to be a good workout in because I am so busy with work, and the stress that I feel from work.

My body imagine is as a result of the 10 lbs in the pits. Sure on the outside I look no different, but, my clothes are feeling too tight, the definition I was gaining, has returned to mush and muffin top. I am currently waiting for my cousin and her boyfriend to arrive to hang out in our hot tub, and am literally dreading having to put a bathing suit on. Mainly because I feel that they will look at me and see the weight that I've put back on. I shouldn't feel this way, maybe it's that hormonal issue I was talking about the other day (here).

My morning snack, which I thought would have been my afternoon snack, but I was feeling something chewy.

Thought I loved this flavour when I first tried it, however today, all I could taste was salt. I didn't enjoy it. Hmmm. Maybe this one was just from a bad batch.

My coworker was running out to Tim Hortons, and as usual he asked everyone if they wanted anything. Normally I say no, but today, I thought I would get something. Something like a Med Iced Capp.

I've been reading on a few blogs that May is National Salad Month. Well I guess it's a good thing that I love salads! Today I made a fruit and nut salad.

• 1 cup spinach
• 1 cup romaine
• 2 extra large strawberries
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• 1/2 cup blackberries
• 1tbsp slivered almonds, pumpkin seeds, cashew, walnuts and unsweetened coconut

One thing I love about this kind of salad, is that even when I get a piece of salad with each bite of greenery, there is still a nice combination of toppings left over once the greens are all gone.
When I got home, I grabbed my new mug and some granola with dried fruit. Sadly the fruit was so tart it totally wrecked the flavours. But hey check out my awesome mug. It's totally me. Kevin agrees.
Dinner, as I mentioned was pasta for Kevin, with a salad on the side for me. Kevin also got himself some Texas toast cheesy garlic bread as you can see.Whole wheat basil and three cheese ravioli, with tomato sauce and button mushrooms, baked with a sprinkling of old cheddar cheese. With a veggie salad. Very simple salad. 10 cherry tomatoes, 1/6th orange and yellow pepper, some red onion, 1tbsp light feta. Topped with homemade balsamic vinaigrette.

Question: How do you feel if you miss a workout session?

A new spin on leftovers

You know what is great about making soup that your husband doesn't like? You can throw it into the freezer, thaw it out and know that it's still there untouched, lol. I'm sure that if I served Vegan Lentil Soup to Kevin, that he would eat it, because 1) that is what I put on the table, and 2) because he likes to make me happy by trying new things.

But I did not serve lentil soup for dinner, I had it for lunch.
I also munched on some baby carrots .

My afternoon snack was glorious! I have not tried all the Luna bar flavours. And to be honest just until the other day I had not yet tried Luna bars, only Lara and Cliff bars. Luna bars let me tell you are an easy transition from no nutrient chocolate bars to healthier for you delicious treat. I had thought that the Smores bar was good,

It says caramel, but I tasted a hint of cappuccino in the caramel topping. Hey, I'm saying that is a good thing. If you haven't tried them, I highly recommend that you go out and try some Luna bars. Have you ever tried a Luna bar? What is your favourite flavour?

After work, I had an RMT appointment. I haven't been since Feb 22nd. Much much too long ago. She worked out some kinks I didn't even know I had, mainly because I had so many it was hard to know where they all were. I had my RMT work my neck, shoulders, back and my hamstrings.

Last summer I was showing my second degree black-belt husband kicks I was learning in my box&sculpt class. Well I wasn't warmed up, nor had I stretched before, and I pulled a muscle in my left hamstring. At the time I had no idea how to care for this injury. As a result, it is still tight today. Do you know how to take care of your sports injuries? Do you take care of your sports injuries?

At home I had promised Kevin I would make him some Sheppard's Pie. Though I love Sheppard's pie, decided I wanted to make sure my smoked salmon didn't sit in the fridge waiting to be eaten again and go bad. So I made 2 individual Sheppard's Pie for Kevin. He was so happy.

So I was planning on just doing a repeat of Monday nights dinner, however I came across an entry at Health for the Whole Self. Check out what Katie made that inspired me to change up how I was going to eat my smoked salmon here.

Tortilla with light cream cheese and a sprinkling of Dill.

Topped with smoked salmon, steamed asparagus & yellow peppers. Roll and serve.

With this meal, I was trying something new, brussel sprouts. I always see Caitlin having brussel sprouts on the side. I have honestly never tried brussel sprouts. They have such a stigma attached to them.

Here I go having my first bit of brussel sprouts!

Meh, they were ok. I will have to say that I will do a little more research other than just throwing them in the oven to bake before I try them again. They were kind of bland. I tried to jazz them up with some balsamic, but after about 6 I grew tired of trying to enjoy the flavour. But I WILL give them a second chance.

After dinner I was still a little hungry so I ate my mini breakfast cookie.

Kevin and I cleaned up from dinner and then loaded our bikes onto the back of Kevin's car to go to Long Sault Conservation area for our first bike ride of the season.

Best dinner bagel evah!

So Monday was my first day of rest. It felt good to get to sleep in, take my time with my morning routine, and know that I wasn't going to be running around like a complete mad woman.

My work day was different than the usual Monday. Today I went into my full time job for 8:30, to leave at 10:45am. Where did I have to go? Downtown Toronto. I got to go and do some U.M.A.B training for the group home I work with.

This was quite possibly one of the dullest U.M.A.B. refreshers I've ever had. It was 2.5 hrs of power point discussion. Thankfully, I have Nicole B & Paul to thank for keeping me entertained. With Paul's hilarious doodles (including Humpty Dumpty falling off his wall) and Nicole's off the cuff remarks, the time went faster. Also knowing that it was going to be dull I snagged myself a Tall non-fat, sugar-free vanilla chi tea latte (only 2 flavour shots instead of 3). Yummo!I was anxious to get out of the training. After our supervisor wanted to do an annual review of the policies and procedures. Bah! It was already 2:45! People, I had to get from downtown Toronto to Bowmanville in rush hour traffic (DVP and 401). And before we could start the 20 min annual review, people needed a smoke break. Gah! lol. No matter, I still made it out of the city and home in no more than 1hr15mins (pretty good seeing as I didn't take the DVP and didn't get on the 401 'till Pickering).

Anywho. Though I am resting this week, I felt that I should still be going to Yoga. It's all about relaxation, stretching and what more do I need right now than to relax and a good long stretch. My cousin Courtney came to Hot Yoga with me as her first ever Yoga experience. Though she did try to back out on me, I managed to convince her to come.

(source)

Courtney says that she did like it and would consider going back again for more. Yeah!

For lunch Monday, I needed to make something that was portable, that could be eaten in the car if needed. So I went with a wrap.

I have learned that you can use cauliflower as a rice substitute, and frankly I love doing it. I have a feeling you will be seeing a lot of cauliflower 'rice' this week.

I cut 1 Florette from the bunch and tossed it in my 1.5cup food processor that I picked up at Wally World, for get this, 7.77$ Can't beat that!

Pulse for 5-10 seconds. Voila!

Cauliflower 'rice'. I sprinkled the cauliflower over 1tbsp of hummus on a tortilla wrap.

Topped it with, sliced zucchini,

Avocado, tomato, artichoke heart and green onions.

I had also packed myself my afternoon snack, which had baby carrots celery and 1 more cauliflower Florette.

When I got home I was 'marven! I grabbed one of my new buys from when I went to Whole Foods Sunday. I know I didn't' mention it sooner, but today is the perfect day to talk about it. I was so excited to go to whole foods and see what all I could find that I don't have at my local grocery store or health food stores. Now this was a special trip. If I make it to whole foods twice a year that would be enough. According to mapquest, a drive from home to Whole Foods is 59 mins. And I can tell you that doesn't account for city traffic. So what did I get to snack on?

This is quite possibly the tastiest bar I've ever had! I defiantly recommend you going out and trying one for yourself.

So I munched on my Luna bar while I prepped dinner. Which also included a new item I picked up at Whole Foods.

Whole Foods fat organic asparagus, toasted bagel with cream cheese & la piece de resistance. . . . Smoked salmon (it wasn't frozen in the store, it was fresh!). I sprinkled some dried dill on the salmon. OMG I seriously can't wait to have this again for dinner. I think I might do some rearranging with what I have planned out for this week (remember I've been making a week long meal plan so I don't have to think throughout the week. I just look and see what I have to eat).

Because this week I am not looking to stay below my calories, rather I am looking to repair my body, after getting home from Yoga I thought I should eat something just to replenish what I had just worked off.

I mixed Kashi Go Lean - Honey Almond Flax cereal, some dried cherries and blueberries, 1/3 banana, astro plain yogurt and a drizzle of agave nectar. Also a to note I think this is my new favourite cereal!

I am not going to count my calories burned or taken in this week through my blog. For those of you on MFP you can check out my food diary. I just don't want the calorie counting to be the focus this week. This week is all about self-care. So I will note that I did drink 12, 8oz glasses of water.

YESTERDAY's Goals:

1. Rest & relax.
2. Book an RMT.
3. Stay within calories.
4. Drink lots of Water, not been staying hydrated yesterday and Saturday.

I met all 4 of those goals.

TODAY's Goals:

1. Stay hydrated, drink lots of H2O.
2. Stay below calorie limit.
3. Continue to heal both inside & out.
4. Go to bed early 10pm.

Have a great day!