Day 16 - Trying to get back on track

Tuesday, October 16th, 2012


Food
-turkey and cheese sandwich with cucumbers, spinach, honey mustard
-half coffee/half hot chocolate (20 oz)

Exercise

Day 15 - Not going to make my workout goal

Monday, October 15h, 2012

Food
-banana
-handful of vanilla wafer cookies
-two chicken wings
-onion soup
-bread
-steak with garlic mashed potatoes
-glass of Sangria

Looking for some distraction so I went with Victoria and Richie to Outback.  The steak came with soup or salad so I chose soup.  I only had a couple bites of the mashed potatoes but they didn't really taste too garlicky to me.  Basically all I had eaten all day was the banana and like 4 cookies, and then everything else was at Outback at like 9pm.  Not a good thing cause I was so full after.

Exercise
-none

Just wasn't up to go to HIT and try to be upbeat.  With skipping this workout, I am officially beyond the point where I can fill up my book before the end date.  So I lost $150 dollars for that, but I guess it was still nice to track my workouts in that book.  Maybe I should start fresh with a new book.

Day 14

Sunday, October 14th

Food
- lots of pieces of sushi which equalled probably 2 full rolls
- green tea

Exercise
-none :(

Day 13

Saturday, October 13th

Food
-French dip sandwich with Old Bay fries
-1/2 Freshii buffalo chicken wrap with lettuce, spinach, chicken, blue cheese, blue cheese dressing and hot sauce in a wheat wrap (it was cold, would have been better warm...I'm glad the chicken was grilled and not breaded - much healthier)

Exercise
-no formal exercise but I did walk 2.3 miles to the Inner Harbor (in heels, which was stupid) and then did a lot more walking around there

Day 12

Friday, October 12th, 2012

I had off today!  Wasn't as productive as my day off Fridays normally are, but I think I needed the relaxation time.

Food
-grilled ham and cheese on whole grain bread
-Starbucks mango orange smoothie
-salmon with spinach in a cream sauce
-Sam Adams Oktoberfest
-vodka soda

Exercise
-power vinyassa flow class!!

Day 11

Day 10

Day 9 - A new week

Tuesday, October 9th, 2012

Even though it is Tuesday, since I had off yesterday, it feels like the start of a new week!  A new opportunity to eat well and do good things for my body.  Ehh, I haven't started off too good since I woke up too late to eat breakfast/make anything at home.  It is also my coworker Tim's week to drive in our carpool so I have no car to go out to get something.  Will have to try to change that tomorrow.  I do have good breakfast food at home!

Food

Exercise

Day 8 - Lazy Day Off

Monday, October 8th, 2012

I had off for Columbus Day today.  Just had a relaxing day at home with no plans.  After a busy busy Saturday and a kind-of-sick Sunday, I liked having a day to just relax.


Food

• homemade bacon, egg and cheese on wheat bread
• smoothie - mango, raspberry, coconut water
• peanut butter spoon
• grilled ham and cheese
• apple
• oven roasted butternut squash and sweet potato

Exercise

• HIT class at the gym!!

Gwen was back!  She was also training someone to teach the class so we did a little bit of everything.  Good mix of cardio and strength.  She said we were all working hard.

Day 7 - Rainy Day

Sunday, October 7, 2012

We woke up to a rainy day and were not able to go skydiving for Branden's bday like we wanted to
:(.  I had looked at the weather and had a feeling that was going to happen.  I had a bad hangover headache for a lot of the day.  We just laid low and went to the gym, did a little athletic clothes shopping and watched some football/Walking Dead.

Food

• smoothie- apple, raspberry, banana, strawberry, peanut butter, vanilla froyo
• cheese omelet and breakfast potatoes
• piece of sushi
• slice of homemade Funfetti cake
• glass of milk
• couscous with onion, squash, zucchini, carrots, celery

Exercise

• 20 min "success circuit" at the gym - includes a mix of upper and lower body exercises
• ab ladder vertical
• stretching

Day 6 - Bachelorette Party

Saturday, October 6th, 2012

Today was Brittany's bachelorette celebration.  I started the day out by waking up early to go to Safeway to pick up some ingredients to make Branden a homemade Funfetti cake for his birthday.  Here is the recipe I used: Homemade Funfetti Cake.  Then we went to Zena's Salon and Spa in Mt. Vernon and we all go the Cinderella Package, which included a manicure, pedicure, mini facial and mini massage.  I think Brittany had fun!  We went out to dinner later to celebrate and then for some drinks. 

Food

• 2 mimosas (orange juice and champagne)
• some cake batter and icing
• cheese quesadilla with avocado
• steak, duck fat fries, arugula salad
• tried some tempura okra
• 2-3 glasses of red wine (the waiter kept refilling my glass before I was done, so I'm not sure)
• 3 mojitos
• ~4 shots

I was so busy all day that I realized all I had eaten was to try some cake batter in the morning.  At around 4 I made myself a quesadilla with one tortilla and some cheese.  I drank a lot more than I probably should have but it WAS a bachelorette party and we were celebrating.  We went to Ten Ten resturant and the food was really good.  I liked what I got and I chose that becuase the waiter recommended it, but everyone else's food looked good too. 

Exercise

• rest day

Though I had planned to go to the gym between the spa and dinner I just literally didn't have enough time.  The spa took a lot longer than I thought it would and I wanted to swing by Branden's all dressed up to say Happy Birthday and drop off his cake.  :)

Day 5 - Crazy Ab Day

Friday, October 5th, 2012

Food

• apple with peanut butter
• coffee with 1/4 hot chocolate
• Wawa shortie hoagie (6 inches) with oven roasted turkey, cheddar cheese, spinach, cucumbers, honey mustard
• individual bag of Utz chips
• smoothie - mango, banana, raspberries, coconut water
• grilled cheese sandwhich
• chocolate peanut butter bar

Exercise

• 1.88 mile run to the gym
• ab ladder vertical
• ab ladder horizontal
• knee up 3X10
• lots of stretching

Since I'm trying to fill up my book for my health insurance, I need to go to the gym everyday until Oct 20.  I still needed to get a run in since I have that 5k coming up so I ran to the gym.  I spent a lot of time doing ab exercises and figured out that I did 390 (!) different crunches (or cruch-like moves).  My abs hurt when I was laughing later that night so I think that's a good thing.  I hung around and stretched for a while at the gym to see if Branden was going to show up.  I read online that if you do parctice a straddle every day you will be able to get more flexible so I was trying to do that, while holding 30 sec in the middle and 30 seconds on each side.  I did that 3 times. 

Day 4 - Swimming Laps!

Thursday, October 4th

Today I went to see Wicked at the Hippodrome! It was really good and I knew a bunch of the songs.  Our seats were just okay -- we were pretty far back and I felt like the shortest one there and I kept having to move from side to side to see parts of the stage around the people in front of me.  I still managed to get a quick workout in though.  This was the first time I had been in the pool in a while.  I forgot my goggles so I didn't do as many laps as I probably could have, since I was worried about my contacts falling out. 

Food

• mini Luna bar - Lemon Zest flavor
• leftover Freshii chicken terriyaki bowl
• individual bag of Utz potato chips
• smoothie - mango, strawberry, banana, coconut water
• glass of white wine
• handful of cashews
• glass of milk

Exercise

• swim laps for 1/2 hour in the pool

Day 3 - Back Pain?

October 3, 2012

The other day when I did this move (Superman ab exercise) I felt like I arched my back too much and my lower back hurt for a little while after.  It probably didn't help that I did yoga on Tuesday and did 3 wheel poses too.  Today I was all set to run to the gym, do some ab exercises and run back, but a few minutes into my run, my back started hurting again.  I'm not sure if it was because of what I did the other day or becuase I was running in a hunched over position to try to keep a small drawstring bag on my back.  I forced myself to run the 2 miles to the gym even though it hurt, but I didn't get as much running in as I had planned.  I really need to work on the running becuase I have my first ever 5k coming up in 18 days! Branden has been running a lot and I think he is ready to go!!  I know I can do the 3.1 miles, but I'd like to keep training and be a little more prepared.

Food

• mini Luna bar (white chocolate macademia nut)
• pretzel flats
• pasta with asparagus
• goldfish crackers
• Freshii teriyaki twist bowl - brown rice, broccoli, carrots, edamame, cucumber, green onions, sesame seeds, crispy wonton strips, chicken and teriyaki sauce

The teriyaki chicken bowl was great!! And so much food!  Lots of leftovers - I can't wait to have the rest for lunch :)

Exercise

• run 2.0 miles to the gym
• ab ladder (crunches 30x legs flat, 30x feet on floor knees bent, 30x knees in table top, 30x reach for legs straight up in air, 30x back to knees in table top, 30x feet on floor with knees bent, 30x legs flat)
• oblique abs (side crunches: 2 sets of 30x and bicycle 30x)
• knee lifts (3 sets 10x)
• a couple straight leg lifts
• walk back to corner of Boston and Alicanna street, then run 0.8 miles to my apt

Here's my run:

Day 2 - Lot's to Do!

Being busy at work and staying up too late = really tired.  I was planning to go for a run, but it had been rainy all day and when I got home it was clearer, but still drizzly and I didn't want to get caught in the rain.  I went to yoga at the gym instead and the class was packed.  The teacher who does this class is popular so a lot of people show up and when the previous class gets out, it is a mad dash to get floor space.  I'd say the class is a medium-level one.  Not as hard as the Friday class I go to, but  still a good workout.  I like the music he plays.  We did one pose I had never heard of before - called Wild Thing (pictued above).

I realized I have to go to the gym basically every day this month.  I'm part of a program for my health insurance where if I go to the gym 120 times in a 1 year period, they will reimburse me $150.  It is set up so you have to go to your gym 3x a week.  I normally do hit that, but have missed some days with vacations, going home, not feeling well, running outside instead of an inside workout, etc.  Now I realized I have until Oct 20th (which was my start date last year) to fill in the last 18 slots.  You have to get this little booklet signed each time you go to the gym.  I'm on the last page, but in order to complete this by the 20th, I need to go every day.  I was thinking that even on days that I want to do a run, I'm going to just have to run to the gym and get it signed, maybe do some ab stuff and then run back.

Food

• mini Luna bar (White Chocolate Macademia, 80 cals, 4 g protien)
• handful of pretezel flats
• coffee (half hot chocolate, half regular coffee)
• Subway 6in turkey on wheat with spinich, cucumbers, provolone cheese and mustard
• piece of zucchini bread
• peanut butter spoonfuls
• smoothie - frozen mango, banana, strawberries, coconut water
• Trader Joes baked cheese puffs

So not exactly the healthiest food day but not horrible either.  I had the zucchini bread and peanut butter as a snack after work and when I got home from the gym at 8:30 I didn't feel like cooking so I just had the smoothie and cheese curls. 

Exercise

• yoga!!

Day 1 (Again)

So, I'll admit I've done a bad job with this.  Between having to go home to Philadelphia for 5 days for my grandfather's funeral, a couple of late nights (Ravens game -awesome!, late kickball games-with a win!, doing work-not awesome), and some personal family stuff, I've been a little distracted and haven't kept up with tracking my food and exercise.  I have still been trying to eat healthy and keep up with my workout (I even went to yoga at my dad's gym while I was home).  But since it is a new month in my favorite season, I'm going to try again.  Skipping a little and then picking up again is better than never going back at all right?  Time to hit the reset button...

October 1st, 2012!

Food

• mini Luna Bar (Lemon Zest - 80 calories)
• handful of pretzel flats
• 7-11 coffee (half pumpkin spice latte, half regular coffee)
• quesadilla (onions, mushrooms, black beans, cheddar cheese, 1 strip bacon)
• smoothie before the gym - frozen mango, fresh strawberries, banana, coconut water
• pasta with asparagus - this recipe

Exercise

• HIT class!!

Another sub today.  I think Gwen will be back next week.  The sub today was Lauren and I've gone to a couple of her classes before.  It wasn't Gwen but it was still a good workout.  And by good workout, I mean, I got my ass kicked.  We did a series of ~20 moves all in a row (some for 1 min, 30 secs, and others for just 30 sec)and when we finished, we repeated the whole thing.  I'm talking total body workout.  Too many squats and lunges...

I was trying to remember the whole list cause I was thinking this would be a good workout that I could do on my own when I go to the gym not during a class time. Here is the moves I remember...I may be missing one or two...

1. squat with shoulder press (heavy weight)...1 min 30 sec
2. using step, squat jump from side to side....30 sec
3. forward lunge (with heavy weight), take weights to forward foot and row back...1 min 30 sec
4. arms in air, jump lunges...30 sec
5. pushup position, jump legs wide and hip length....1 min 30 sec
6. abs - right leg at 45 degree angle, cruch up, switch to left leg....1 min 30 sec
7. stand on one leg, lean over touch ground, jump to swich to other leg....30 sec
8. kickboxing cross punch with ligher weights...1 min 30 sec
9. pushup position - spiderman....1 min 30 sec
10. football fast feet...30 sec
11. moutain climbers....30 sec
12. abs - bicycle....1 min 30 sec
13. speed skate....1 min 30 sec
14. toe taps...30 sec
15. reverse fly....1 min 30 sec
16. shuffle, shuffle, drop...30 sec
17. burpees....1 min 30 sec
18. tricep dips....30 sec
19. abs- superman....4x slow with hold, 8x faster
20. abs - swim....30 sec

REPEAT!!!

Afterwards, I felt kinda like this...

Day 7

Went to the Farmers Market this morning! It's a fun time! Besides stocking up on some fruits and veggies, they have lots of stands to get some good breakfast foods.  Today the Eagles and the Ravens play AGAINST EACH OTHER.  Tough to be an Eagles fan in a bar full of Ravens fans...but good thing I like the Ravens too!!

Food

• smoothie-strawberry, bananna, peach, kiwi, vanilla froyo
• omelet from the stand at the farmers market!! - eggs, mushrooms, asparagus, ham, feta cheese
• breakfast potatoes
• 2 beers during the game
• vanilla fozen yogurt with chocolate chips and peanuts
• brisket with carrots, onions and potatos...(my Jewish New Year dinner - from this recipe

Exercise

• rotational lunge with shoulder press - 7.5 lbs, 12 X3 on each side
• plank with front raise- 7.5 lbs 5 with each arm X3

Day 6

Food

• whole grain toast with cashew butter
• smoothie - strawberries, banana, peanut butter, yogurt, ice
• cheesecake
• tea
• quesadilla with black beans, onion, tomato, cheese
• sweet potato cake with edamame, goat cheese, fig jam, swiss chard

Exercise

• 1.93 mile run to the gym
• 1 hour of yoga

Day 5

Day 5

Run, run, run!!!

Food

• whole grain toast (small amount of butter) with two hard boiled eggs
• apple
• 1/2 turkey sandwich with 1 slice of cheddar cheese, lettuce, little bit of mayo
• bag of Utz potato chips
• 2 beers 
• Buffalo chicken wrap (with fries)
• 1 vodka soda with lime

Exercise

• 2.5 mile run

Day 4

TRUTH!  

Food

• yogurt with almonds
• apple
• Indian food (tikka masala chicken, basmati rice, naan, small side salad)
• cucumber
• whole grain toast with cashew butter
• glass of milk
• sushi (I think I had ~11 individual pieces...but a few were pretty big, so about 2.5 rolls)
• smoothie- 2 apples, cinnamon, vanilla froyo, brown sugar

It was my coworkers birthday yesterday so we got Indian food for lunch.  I actually did bring a healthier lunch to work but I wanted to celebrate with her so I went to the restaurant. I had chicken tikka masala (probably had a lot of fat but all of the other options were just as bad). At least I only went up to the buffet once! A bunch of people who where there went up a few times and kept filling their plates.  The toast with cashew butter and the milk was a snack before my run for energy!! Branden made me an apple pie smoothie for dessert.  It was a good way to get my fruit in and it tasted good!!

Exercise

• 2.5 mile run! (well more of a jog really)...see route below

Day 3

It's starting to feel like fall! Yay!!

Food

• pear
• overnight oats - uncooked oatmeal, greek vanilla yogurt, chia seeds, raspberries, blueberries, almonds
• pretzels (1 serving this time!)
• apple
• smoothie - mangos, raspberries, coconut water
• whole wheat pasta with vegetables (string beans and broccoli), mozzeralla cheese
• cupcake batter (made some cupcakes for a coworker and I couldn't resist trying some of the batter!)
• icing (which obviously means I had to try the chocolate frosting as well)

Exercise
Had a busy night and I didn't do any formal exercise :(.  I did have kickball, which involved a little bit of physical activity but nothing that I would call a workout.  Does carrying a case of beer from the liquour store back to my apartment and then to the field count as a workout?  No? Okay, guess I will consider this as my day off.

Day 2

Food

• whole grain toast with cashew butter
• cheddar goldfish crackers
• pretzels
• smoothie - mango, strawberries and coconut water (very delicious - I got the recipe, and the picture above, from here)
• handful of almonds
• piece of homemade stromboli - whole wheat dough from Trader Joe's, 2% part skim mozzarella cheese, marinaro sauce, sliced deli ham (based off of this recipe)
• 2 chocolate wafer bars

I didn't bring lunch to work and that's how I ended up having goldfish and pretzels as a meal :(.  I carpool with my coworker so when it is his week to drive and I don't have a my car there is really no way for me to get food unless another coworker is going out to get lunch.  Working on an army post, there is no resturant or cafeteria nearby that I could walk to - everything is driving distance.  I really need to try to pack my lunches the night before or earlier in the week if I'm not going to be home at night so that I can just grab them and go early in the morning.

Exercise

• 1 mile walk at lunch along the army PT test route
• 2.3 mile run

I am using the MapMyRun App along with the website to GPS my run.  It's easy!  Here is a picture of my run...the app told me it was 2.3 miles, so I'm not sure why the pic says 2.16....I think that might be the actual ground I covered becasue at the end I did double over where I started at the beginning.

Day 1

Food

• whole grain toast with cashew butter
• apple
• yogurt with almonds
• Trader Joe's pretzel slims 
• smoothie - asian pear, banana, strawberries, frozen yogurt, peanut butter
• couple stolen bites of burrito
• couple stolen sips of a mango, apple, kiwi, frozen yogurt smoothie

I brought the whole bag of pretzels and snacked on them all day...ate about half the bag...whoops.  They aren't that bad for you but the bag has 8 servings so if I had 4 that = 440 calories.  From now on, I'm going to try to always put single servings into little ziplock baggies so that I don't do that again.

Exercise

• HIT (High Intensity Training) class

Gwen, the regular teacher of this class (I love her, she is really motivating), went to the Ravens game so there was a sub.  The workout was good, but I don't think it was as intense as the ones that Gwen gives.  I guess that's a good thing since I hadn't been to the gym in a week!