Mighty Green Goddess

Another Monday (also known as "lack of fun day") is upon us. Joy of all joys I do declare! The 3rd annual Puppy Bowl last night was jam packed with incredible, exhilarating and exciting non stop action. Dogs RULED the house. I think I counted 8!! Here are just a few of the highlights from our lovely evening.

• An overly excited dog peeing all over someones jeans.
• Dog vomit that mysteriously appeared out of thin air.
• A group dare to consume soft "chalk-like" puppy treats. 3 people participated.
• Shots of a mysterious clear liquid that smelled like rubbing alcohol.
• A tower of Miller High Life cans, the champagne of beers of course.
• A TON of naughty food and sweets.
• Early contractions (mild) by a friend who is going to POP at any moment. We all freaked out but she assured us that all was well and the baby was NOT going to surprise us tonight. WHEW!
• And of course, Puppy Bowls Kitty Halftime show (GO CATS!).

Seriously, who thinks of this stuff? HA! Such a BAD/BRILLIANT idea to have a party based on something so awful (yet cute and compelling). I love our friends!

I would like to clarify that I was NOT involved in any of the ongoing shenanigans last night. I was a little angel all night and had no beer, no mystery shots, no sweets or snacks, and for sure no puppy treats. I snacked on the Amazing Grass chocolate super food bar that I took with me and on some raw veggies off of the veggie platter.

Alright, enough about last night, let's talk about "lack of fun day" now.

BREAKFAST! (meal#1) at 9:15am.

• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/4 wheat bran
• 1 tbs ground flax
• 1 1/2 cup water
• 1 tbs unsweetened cocoa
• Splenda to taste
• 5 drops of chocolate fudge brownie Capella Flavor Drops
• PB2

Enjoyed in my office with the door shut and my space heater cranked on FULL BLAST! When I walked into the office this morning the temperature was set to 60. Is this some sort of cruel mass torture? Come on people.... GIVE US HEAT!

LUNCH (meal #2) at 12:15pm.

I was craving one thing and one thing only, SALAD!

• Baby spinach leaves
• Cherry tomatoes
• Black beans
• Fat free cottage cheese
• Drizzle of spray butter

Not a lot of ingredients or pizzazz but in my opinion it tasted perfect. I also enjoyed a sad little bruised banana.


On our break today we hit up the grocery store (we can't stay away I tell you) to pick up some of my beloved multi grain & flax FlatOut. The grocery store by my house doesn't carry it and I HAVE TO HAVE IT! I also found the honey wheat variety to try. So uhm, yeah... That was lunch..... Yep, sure was exciting aye? WEEEEEEEE!!!!!

SNACK (meal #3) at 4:00pm.

I didn't have yogurt all weekend and my body was screaming for it. Naturally I had to oblige.

• 4oz cup of plain 0% Oikos
• Fuji apple slices
• Cinnamon
• 1 packet Splenda
• Small kiwi
• Sprinkle of Back to Nature, chocolate delight granola

I'm not sure why but I woke up seriously sore today with pretty intense DOMS. However, as always, I put those aches and pains aside and went straight to the gym after work. We are expecting yet another titillating and exciting winter storm tomorrow so I wanted to make sure to get a good workout in tonight. Tomorrow may not happen. I HATE WINTER!

WORKOUT!

Advanced Chest Press (plate loaded)
30lb x 15 (3 sets)

Lat Pulldown with V-Bar (cable)
70lb x 15
60lb x 15
60lb x 15

Seated Chest Press (plate loaded)
60lb x 13
50lb x 15
50lb x 15

High Row (plate loaded)
90lb x 15 (3 sets)

Advanced Inclined Chest Press (plate loaded)
30lb x 15
30lb x 15
20lb x 15

Row Machine (cable)
60lb x 15
50lb x 15
50lb x 15

Elliptical Cross Trainer, 20 minutes, 244 calories, 1.72 miles
1-2 min, (level 5)
3-4 min, (level 6)
5-6 min, (level 7)
7-8 min, (level 8)
9-10 min, (level 9)
11-12 min, (level 10)
13-14 min, (level 11)
15-16 min, (level 12)
17-18 min, (level 11)
19-20 min, (level 10)

Oh the aches and pains were screaming at me by the time I was done. SO SORE! I only did 20 minutes on the Elliptical instead of the usual 30. WE WERE TRICKED! The clock in the cardio room was set 20 minutes ahead. Thinking that we were running WAY late, Ann and I thought it best to only do 20 minutes on the ellipticals. As soon as I grabbed my purse out of the locker I noticed the correct time on my phone. BAH! Oh well, I was tired, sweaty, sore and ready to go home anyway.

I made a quick and delicious shake as soon as I walked in the door. I look forward to these frosty treats all day long!

SNACK (meal #4) at 7:15pm.

• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze
• 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
• 1/2 small banana
• 1 scoop (30 grams) vanilla whey protein powder
• 5 drops orange creamsickle Capella Flavor Drops
• 2 cups spinach
• couple pieces of ice

Mighty Green Goddess, I shall worship you until the end of times. I bow to thees luxurious deliciousness! This is my absolute favorite combo YET! Something about this mix just blended beautifully together. Just look at that color. So pretty and fresh!

After my heavenly Goddess fuel, I soaked in a steaming (almost painfully hot) bath for a good 30 minutes. I also stretched afterwards for about 10 minutes. Hopefully I'll feel better by tomorrow.

DINNER (meal #5) at 9:00pm.

I didn't want anything too fussy for dinner so I decided to make a quick veggie burrito. Into a large pan went the following.

• 1 large red onion, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• Spray butter
• Trader Joe's spicy taco seasoning mix

While the veggies were cooking away I heated up a serving of Morning Star Farms grounds which I also seasoned with taco seasoning.

When the veggies and grounds were done I sprayed a frying pan with Pam and layered the following.

• Honey Wheat Flat Out
• Cooked and sauteed veggies
• Morning Star Farms grounds
• A bit more sauteed veggies
• 1 slice of provolone cheese

I toasted the wrap on each side for a few minutes. Just long enough to melt the cheese. I topped the toasty wrap with pineapple salsa and jalapenos.


It was so incredibly easy and delicious! The sweetness from the salsa and the heat from the taco seasoning and jalapenos was perfect! I seriously enjoyed this!

Well lovelies, that's all she wrote. Time to go cuddle with the Mr.

Enjoy the rest of your Monday and STAY WARM and cozy tonight.

XO
Ildie

Me time

It's Friday, YAAAAY! My day started off in typical Friday fashion. Here is a step my step snippet of my morning.

1. I rolled out of bed, tired, and stumbled around upstairs in my usual morning fog.
2. Damn near tripped over the cat. He was spread out and whoring himself outside the door as usual.
3. I had a little pep talk with myself and walked into Mr. Scary Scale room. I swear the air feelt cooler in there. Evil lives within these walls!
4. Mr. Scale and I stared at each other, intensely, for a solid 30 seconds. There is much tension between us.
5. I took a deep breath and cautiously slithered closer.
6. I removed all unnecessary clothing (every little bit counts) and stepped on.
7. I exhaled every single breath left in me, just in case it adds weight. (I'm quite crazy you see...)
8. I closed my eyes, said a little ditty and looked down. SWEET succulent victory you are mine again!

After realizing I lost another 2.3 pounds I couldn't stop smiling. I finally broke the 40+ pounds lost mark and I couldn't be happier. It feels DAMN GOOD to set a goal and reach it, stick with it, and proactively better myself.

Here's how I look at it. You only get this one body, this one chance, this one opportunity to make it the best and healthiest it can be. WHY in the world would you waste it? Live healthy, live strong, live happy. ;)

Okay, moving on. I think that's a sufficient amount of self patting on the back for one day.

BREAKFAST (meal #1) at 9:00am.

I wanted to try the Capella Flavor Drops in my oatmeal this morning. I was very intrigued by the vanilla custard drops and thought it would pair well with warm oats. I was right. YUM!

• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/4 wheat bran
• 1 tbs ground flax
• 1 1/2 cup water
• Lots of cinnamon
• Splenda to taste
• 5 drops of Capella vanilla custard flavor drops
• Splenda to taste
• 2 tbs PB2

Om my damn, DELICIOUS! The combination of the hot oats, the melted, rich PB2 and the flavor and aroma of the Capella drops mixed with cinnamon was brilliant. SO GOOD! Now I'm not sure which one I like better, the chocolate fudge brownie flavor drops or the vanilla custard one. The vanilla gets a 10 out of 10. I love officially love this product.

A bit later I enjoyed a chocolate treat and had a square of Newman's Own Organics espresso dark chocolate. I nibbled on this for ever. I would nobble, walk away, come back, nibble, walk away and so forth. I don't have chocolate often. Any moment spent together with it is precious and must be enjoyed slowly, lovingly, delicately.


Work was quiet today so I decided to clean and reorganize my office. Yes, I clean EVEN AT WORK. I just can't help it. I like all things clean. Not in a scary, I wash my hands 50+ a day clean. Just organized, dusted and clutter free. It makes me happy and puts me at ease.

LUNCH (meal #2) at 12:00pm.

I've been craving my beloved breakfast burrito. I had to feed this uncontrollable desire so I cooked the eggs up last night and packed them for lunch today. Addicted!

• 4 egg whites, seasoned with S + P
• 2 tbs Trader Joe's cilantro and jalapeno hummus
• Spinach leaves
• Drizzle of Sriracha sauce

Lovingly wrapped in a light FlatOut wrap and devoured in seconds.


I also had 2 small Kiwis on the side. Gotta get my fruits in.


On our break today I went to the grocery store and got all of the necessities for next week. Rumor has it that a huge snow storm is headed this way from the South so I thought I better get it done while I still can.

I left work at 4:00 instead of 5:00. It proved to be a good decision. The storm hit about an hour before I left and WHITE DEATH was smothering everything outside by the time I got home. Nauseating!

SNACK (meal #3) at 5:00pm.

I never had my snack at work because I left early and by the time I got home I was STARVING! Yogi mess to the rescue!

• 4oz plain 0% Oikos
• 1 banana, sliced
• a few red grapes
• cinnamon
• 1 packet of Splenda
• Kaia Foods cocoa sunflower seeds

Nick was home for no more than 2 hours and was already getting ready to leave again. He was invited to his Aunts house to celebrate his cousins B'day with some cake. No dinner, just cake. I couldn't believe he was heading back out in this CRAP! LOOK AT IT! UGH!


However, after he left, I took FULL advantage of some ME time.

Photographic Evidence #1.... (nail polish, magazine, wine, candlelight etc... And you can't see it but I was watching Say Yes To The Dress.)


Do I spy some peeps? Oh my! (This with the wine was SNACK #4). OH SNAP!


Photographic Evidence #2.... (Bubbles & more candles.)


Photographic Evidence #3.... (Cheers)


I waited for Nick to get back before making Dinner. He was DYING for Taco Salad (the usual Friday fare) but had to go on his Winter Wonderland Adventure for some cake B'day celebrating first. So I waited... And waited... (SO HUNGRY)... And waited... FINALLY he got home at almost 10:00. GOOD GRIEF I WAS STARVING! He got delayed because of the bad road conditions. DUH! I told him not to leave.

DINNER (meal #5) at 10:15pm!!!!

I worked at the speed of light. You couldn't touch me I was SO FAST. Dinner was done in less than 15 minutes. That's right my friends, I've got SERIOUS skillz. You can find the recipe for the usual Friday Taco Salad on my Recipes Blog ***HERE***. I did add jalapenos this time. My tummy is now happy and full.


Time to unwind with some mind numbing TV now. Have a great night. I wonder if the snow will stop in time for me to make it to the gym tomorrow morning? SIGH!

XOXO
Ildie

Safe Subjects

I've been trying to come up with something brilliant and clever to talk about all day today. Which of course means we could just talk about how amazing I am but we've done that before. HA! I needed something new. Something FRESH and exciting! Do we talk about just food? Just my workout? Which coincidentally is WHY you read this blog to begin with so I guess that would be a safe subject. Do we politely chat about the weather? It sucks here... There, that's covered.

Alright, I'll cave. I guess we can talk about my tantalizingly super fruit infused breakfast.

BREAKFAST (meal #1) at 9:00am.

• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup wheat bran
• 1 tbs ground flax
• 1 1/2 cups water
• TONS of cinnamon
• dash salt
• Splenda to taste
• 2 tbs Trader Joe's superfruit spread

I love this spread. SO flavorfull and chunky. It contains pomegranates, cherries and goji berries. MMMM!

Do any of you follow Lost? We watched it last night and to be honest, I'm still LOST on Lost. Yet I love it. I'm intrigued because I can't figure it out. All I know is, the writers better wrap up this last season right or heads will ROLL! ;)

LUNCH (meal #2) at 12:00pm

Yep, I kept it super simple. I brought in the leftover veggies from last nights dinner and had them with a wheat and flax pita on the side. Boring you dare ask? BUT OF COURSE NOT!


I love veggies so much. Sometimes I play around with the idea of becoming a vegetarian. I don't think it would be a far stretch for me. I eat the occasional pork loin, chicken breast or seafood. Are seafood and shellfish allowed? I need to investigate this!

On our break today we found ourselves at World Market again. Cursed be that store for it's never ending COME HITHER charm! I returned a kitchen timer I got there the other day which did NOT work and picked up a bottle of sugar free Torani chocolate syrup. I can't wait to add it to my chocolate protein shake tonight!


I also picked up some sugar free Valentines Peeps. OMG, I love these sugar free pillowy puffs of marshmallow decadence. Only 60 calories for the entire pack of three!!! SOLD!!!! I picked up three packs. :-o (Oh my, I gasp...)


MINI SNACK (meal #3-a) at 3:30pm

I forgot that I packed a tanjelo to enjoy with my lunch and it looked TOO GOOD not to eat. It was my first time trying one and I must declare, delicious! Super juicy and sweet. :)


SNACK (meal #3-b) at 4:15pm

The usual yogi mess. A 4oz plain 0% Oikos mixed with cinnamon and a packet of splenda poured over a juicy and crisp Fuji apple. I sprinkled the very last of my Kaia Foods cocoa bliss granola on top. TIS SAD. :(


I was NOT excited about the gym today. Sometimes, to be frank, I would rather shovel s--- than do an hour of cardio. But of course I got it done. I try not to make excuses. I just go and get it done and then feel great about it.

WORKOUT!

Elliptical Cross Trainer (45 min. total)
1-2 min. - level 6
3-4 min. - level 7
5-6 min. - level 8
7-8 min. - level 9
9-10 min. - level 10
11-12 min. - level 11
13-14 min. - level 12
15-16 min. - level 13
17-18 min. - level 14
19-20 min. - level 6
21-22 min. - level 7
23-24 min. - level 8
25-26 min. - level 9
27-28 min. - level 10
29-30 min. - level 11
31-32 min. - level 12
33-34 min. - level 13
35-36 min. - level 14
37-45 min. - level 8
3.8 miles
548 calories
Summit Trainer - Stair Glider (15 min. total)
.82 miles
152 calories
Level 1 (I hate this thing! I think I might be too sort for it.. ??)

700 calories burned total during entire workout. YEAH!

When I got home I lovingly unpacked my bottle of chocolate Torani. The plan was to add it to my smoothie tonight. However, Nick surprised me with a little box from Capella Flavor Drops before I had a chance to make it. EXCITING! The lovely folks from Capella sent me three samples (chocolate fudge brownie, orange creamsickle and vanilla custard) to try and review and they all sound and smell incredibly delicious! I immediately changed my mind about using Torani and decided to try the chocolate fudge brownie drops tonight.


SNACK (meal #4) at 7:15

• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze
• 1 scoop chocolate whey protein powder
• 1 small banana
• handful of frozen strawberries (1/2 cup??)
• 10 drops of Capella chocolate fudge brownie flavor drops
• NO GUMS today, I needed a break! :)

Awe snap, DELICIOUS! The drops added an intense chocolaty fudge flavor and aroma. The smoothie tasted like a liquid brownie. DROOL! I drank it in 2 minutes flat! AMAZING! The flavor drops get a 12 out of 10. Yeah, that's right, they were THAT GOOD! I seriously can't wait to try the other flavors. I think I'll add the vanilla custard to my oats tomorrow morning. Getting all giddy just thinking about having it tomorrow. ;)

Here is a little information about the drops off of their website----Capella Flavor Drops are a highly concentrated, Water Soluble PURE FLAVORING, which require just drops per serving. Unlike syrups, Flavor Drops dissolve instantly. Use them to flavor Shakes, Smoothies, baked goods, water, or even fresh brewed Coffee or Tea. Without any Fats, Calories, or Sweeteners, the sweetening is all up to you.
ALL of our flavorings are Diacetyl Free. They are Gluten free and contain NO caffeine and zero sugars.

After my chocolate infusion, I frolicked in my bubble smothered tub for a while. Ahh, the simple life. While floating around, I contemplated dinner. It was another NO CARB night. What to have... What to have...???... After much deliberation with myself, I decided to have a salad. Somehow, it always ends up being salad to the rescue. For some odd reason I just had a vision of a superhero, dressed as a salad. HA! I'm clinically insane! :)

DINNER (meal #5) at 9:15pm

• Sweet butter lettuce
• Spinach
• Cherry tomatoes
• Cauliflower
• Avocado
• Low fat Feta crumbles
• Spray butter

The combination of the feta with the avocado was brilliant! Creamy, cheesy, smooth and luxurious goodness. I devoured this!

I think I'll go watch The Office now and then TRY and then force myself to go to bed early. I doubt I'll need much forcing though. I feel exhausted right now.

Tomorrow morning is my usual Friday rendezvous with Mr. Dirty Scale. EEK! I hope to have more good news for you tomorrow. Though after an almost 5lb loss last Friday, I'm going to be realistic and not expect an AWESOME loss again. We will see. WE WILL SEE!!!

XO
Ildie