Hormones - Sheesh!

Seriously. Hormones SUCK! I deeply apologize to my male readers - I know you're there ;-)

But seriously, the last 6 months or so, poor Kevin has been subjected to some pretty dramatic mood swings. I go from my normal happy go lucky positive outlook-self to overly clingy, to crying (I cried at a RADIO news report this morning about the poor family from Montreal that died when their house was swallowed up in a muddy sink hole the other day - see here -), to extreme bitchy. So last month I actually started marking these dramatic shifts in my agenda.

Well today after my workout, I started to feel really depressed that I didn't workout harder and longer. Rationally I know that after doing a 2 hour 1235calorie burning workout yesterday warrants a more relaxed less strenuous 1.15 min 350 calorie burning kind of day. I know my body needs to rest.

So I got to work and I marked it in my agenda. Then I looked back to last month. Hmm... Started to feel the same way last month on the 16th. 3.5wks ago. Hmm... Might be starting to see the starting of a pattern here. Time will tell. And if it does tell, I will be asking my OBGYN to change me to a new birth control pill to help regulate this.

Before the gym at the early hours of 5:10am, I made myself some scrambled eggs. Funny how I miss scrambled eggs in the morning. They just take so much more time I find than an GM or oatmeal.

• 3 Egg whites
• 1 whole large egg
• 4 grape tomatoes
• about 1/2 cup chopped spinach
• 1/4 cup UVAB

* the 3 egg whites are from the liquid, boxed, egg whites. On the box it says 1/4 cup is about 2 egg whites. Well I have a 1/8cup measuring cup, so I just used 3 of those to make up 3 egg whites.

At the gym, Kevin and I did a muscle moves class. It's all weights or rather strength training. Today we didn't use the free weights at all. We all did strength training using a floor mat, a stability ball and our own bodies. Lots of ab work, which what woman doesn't love to work her abs to get that 6-pack going?!

Once muscle moves finished I hit the pool. OMG my arms and shoulders are tired today after yesterdays double Jillian workout vids. I did a measly 6 laps of the pool, and they were brutal formed laps. lol.

After showering, while Kevin and I walked to our cars (yes we both drove. Only because he went home and I went right to work from the gym, which is a 10 min drive from home), I realized that I left my lunch at home. And being that today is Wednesday, that means I go from one job to the other, so lunch isn't just lunch, it's, am snack, lunch, pm snack and dinner.

Kevin being the amazing husband that he is, reassured me that he would go home, unpack our gym bags, grab my lunch and bring it to me at work. What a great guy.

However being that I was feeling down in the dumps this morning, I thought that I would treat myself to some Starbucks to try and boost my spirits. In my own tumbler (to save the enviro and .10cents) Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte & an oatbar.

Seriously I have never had any foods from Starbucks before other than their fruit parfaits. This thing is De-lish! I think there might have been some nut butter in it somewheres. Mmmm dangerously tasty.

Question: Do you find that you have a lot of mood swings? Have you ever tracked them from week to week or month to month?

Wednesday's Wishes

We all have wishes, hopes and dreams. I have a couple right now.

• I want the lay off drama to end at work - I'm over it but it's just irritating now.
• I want to go into work (both my full time and part time job) and quit on the spot.
• I want to be working for myself.
• I want to be working out more and enjoying what I love to do.

*sigh* One day. . . . One day. . . . And I am working on putting these dreams (well I can't control #1) into motion.

Yesterday the second half of my day was spend eating on the go. At 3:30 while driving to work to a convention centre two towns over, I munched on some veggies. Red and yellow pepper, baby carrots and celery.

I was a vendor at a local Chamber of Commerce Showcase event for my full time job with Big Brothers Big Sisters. I didn't know how it was going to and what the food situation would be like. Which is why I mowed down on the veggies in the car.

Sadly also I had to buy my dinner at the grocery store in a rush, because we had nothing I could throw together quick enough.

So with only having 1 glass of water and 1 salmon roll, 3 .5 hours later at 7:30, I was back in my car to munch on some dinner while driving home. Nothing very imaginative after my sushi dinner Monday night. Some Californian rolls. They were not very fresh but whatever, they were easy to eat while driving.

As tired as I was and just wanted to go home, we, I desperately needed to get some fresh produce (groceries).

An hour later, I got home and unpacked everything. I also had a bowl of grape nuts. I don't know why I ate those. I know how I feel if I eat cereal late at night. NOT GOOD is how it makes me feel.

I had also bought some new ingredients to make my own healthier less ingredients needed red wine raspberry vinaigrette. Version 1.0 No exact measurements, but 2 parts EVOO, 1 part red wine vinegar, splash of agave nectar and 1/2 pint of raspberries. Throw the raspberries in a food processor first before adding them to the dressing.

This morning I was wanting to go to muscle moves and go hit the pool again. Sadly when I woke up I was defeated. I was going to Hot Yoga tonight and hadn't packed those gym clothes. I went back to bed.

When I did get up, I made myself a green monster.

• 2 cups spinach
• 1 tbsp cashew butter
• 4 large strawberries
• 1 small yellow mango - can't remember the name right now.
• 1 tsp ground flax
• 1 cup almond milk

I was bad too and had a small bowl of sugar crisps. I needed the sugar. My body was clearly craving it (TOM), because mentally I didn't want it. I didn't want to the crash from the sugar that was going to come later. I didn't want the bloated feeling I knew was coming. I know it serves no nutritional value. WHY AM I EATING THIS? To make up for the cereal, I opted to not have a mid morning snack. Turns out I didn't need it either I didn't get hungry.

When lunch time rolled around at noon, however I clearly was hungry. I made a bee line for the fridge and dug out my lunch.

This salad I was excited to try. I had seen a picture somewhere similar and made it my own.

• 1 cup of English cucumber
• 2/3 med size tomato
• 1 yellow pepper
• several thin slices of red onion
• Light feta cheese

Topped with my own balsamic Very low calorie lunch. So delish! I can't wait to have it again and being that I have another whole cucumber at home, that time might come sooner than later.

What wishes do you have for your life? Are you taking the steps needed to realize those wishes? Have you already made your wish, and had it come true?

I could get used to this

I tell ya! I could get use to this sleeping in until 6:45 business instead of 5am. I wake up feeling so rest ful. To tell you the truth I wake up a good 30 mins before my alarm goes off and I could get up then, but I know this is my week to rest and take care of myself so I just roll back over and enjoy the Zeds (lol Canadian).

I do feel bad slightly today. I have made a gym friend Paula, who comes to the Wednesday 6am muscle moves, and then after we both hit the pool to swim a few laps. I know though I will see her next week stronger and better than today.

Did you know: It takes 6 weeks for your muscles to lose their 'memory'. So by taking a week off, I should be able to return next week and not feel sore, like I might if I took 2 months off from the gym.

I heart apples!

This morning I cooked myself some breakfast. That's right, I'm taking full advantage of this extra time in the morning and no rushing.
Cut myself 1/2 a Royal Gala Apple, and added it to my Tomato Spinach omlette.

• 3 egg whites
• 1 whole egg
• 1/2 cup spinach
• 1/2 Kumata tomato
• about 1oz mozzarella cheese

At work I went straight to my placement students evaluations. Where I work we have a total of 14 placement students from the Criminology Dept from the local University. I supervise 6 of those placement studenst. Their semester is coming to a close soon. I have to have their evaluations in by Friday. Ack! They are all rock stars and I am just taking my time to write up the best evaluation I can for them (though I am taking this break here to blog, just so I can go back refocused).

For my morning snack, I used up the second half of my apple.

• 1 tbsp Rasins
• 2 tbsp slivered almonds
• 3 tbsp Natures Path Flax Cereal

• 4 tbsp Kashi Go Lean Crunch Cereal

Topped with 1/8 to 1/4 cup Liberte Coconut Yogurt.

What is your favourite kind of Apple?