Fitgirl Chronicles

Spring is around the corner....

I'm so happy that Spring is around the corner.

It's out there.  I know it is. 

Does this look like the face of a "Banana Bread Thief"?  This innocent sweet face... 

 

 Guilty!  She ate an entire loaf that she snagged off the counter.  An entire homemade loaf of banana bread goodness.  She has discriminating taste.

 

 

I am looking forward to Spring. 

I am looking forward to the muddy brown landscape turning green.  I am looking forward to longer days.   

 

I am looking forward to the smell of grass and dirt and planting in the garden.

 

 

I am looking forward to getting outside more and walking and running (after the knee recovers) and defrosting from winter and shedding a few pounds figuratively and literally!

 

 

Happy Spring Everyone! :) 

White, Green, Red kind of a day.......

White because it is snowing here - Yes, I said SNOW - May 19th and the white stuff is coming down!  Although thankfully it is not staying on the ground too long.  It is nice in some ways, it makes me want to stay indoors and read a book or do something nestish.

Green because Spring is hiding right under the snow poking out and it is glorious!

And Red because I did go to the gym today and PUSH myself with an intense walk/run and my face was as red as this flower!

I made one of Jamie's recipes on the weekend and it was great and the family ate it too which is always a HUGE bonus.  I made his basic stew recipe (mine was chicken) and I added the mashed potato top.  Now I know this is not food that you eat mounds of but it was all healthy ingredients and I tried to have a sensible portion.  Sometimes I am good with that sometimes I'm not so good. 

I really want to get one of those fab pots that all good chefs have from Le Creuset an enameled cast iron french oven....ahh...someday!  With my sad 1970's casserole dish there was not enough space and my casserole was over flowing.  It was worth the effort and very comforting.  I guess anything with mashed potatoes is pretty much comfort food....

I also made Jamie's chocolate tart (sorry no photos) for company, ya... and I did partake in more pieces than I would care to admit.  This is where I run into muddy water.  I want to be a good mom and bake and make exciting food but I don't want to be fat.  I know it all comes back to moderation. Have one or a taste.  It can be done.  

Some other food:  My breakfast lately.

I was cutting back to one egg and I was feeling too hungry by lunch.  I think I could give up one slice of bread though....

Lunch was a healthy homemade tomato soup and 1/2 of a sandwich on whole wheat bread, 1/2 tbsp light mayo, 1/2 tsp mustard, 1 slice cheddar, cucumber,  2 1/2 oz of chicken breast, pickle and a pile of lettuce.  I was stuffed.

So overall eating is going fairly good but did have a few slip ups on the weekend with too much of a good thing.  Too many sweets.  But I am happy to say I am moving forward with exercise I refuse to give up.

Monday Workout :

Walk 12 laps / Run 8 laps (interspaced) - 45 minutes.  Deep water running for 15 min.

100 ab exercises, 100 squats

I have upped my 100 challenge to doing 2 exercises of 100 each day.  One (100 set with abs everyday) + One (100 set with arms one day and legs the next).  If that makes sense??  The exercises I will choose from will be  1. abs (everyday) 2. push ups (arms) 3. squats (legs) 4. lunges (legs). 

Anyway I should run and keep organizing my Spring Clean in the snow!

Have a great day everyone!

More Water......

This is what I have discovered lately and it is not anything new but I need to drink more water.  This morning in my workout I felt like I had lead legs and I know it is because I need to drink more water.  If anyone has any suggestions for getting more water in - please feel free to share.

Here is proof that I had a big glass this morning - with ice and lime.

Monday Workout :

Swam 25 laps in the pool.  Deep water running for 10 min.

Tuesday Workout: - off

Wednesday Workout :

Circuit -

Arm weights - dumbbell chest presses, dumbbell triceps, push ups on the ball

Ran 2 laps in between each weight exercise & one set of stairs

One set of walking lunges

50 bicycles abs, one set of plank and on sides, stretches

Weigh Day Tuesday May 12: 

 Lost -2 lbs!!  Yeah! So I am down 8.4 lbs total.  It seems slow but I will take it!

I am finding that it is easier for me to stay on track if I do include foods that I really like in my meals - like nuts, avocados, almond butter, peanut butter, cheese, olives. Of course all of these foods are high in fat so the trick for me is to use them in very small amounts but not eliminate them or I will freak out.

I was over at Kathy Eats Real Food (I love her blog - you must check it out she makes amazing healthy inspiring food and she is fit) anyway she was recently at a Graduation at Duke University where Oprah was the guest speaker and Kathy picked out these inspiring parts of Oprah's speech I also thought they were inspiring so I have posted them as they appear on Kathy's website:

“You are responsible for the energy you bring into a room”

“If you can see the possibility of change, you will be a great success”

“If you can go through life with just a portion of Nelson Mandela’s humility, you will be a great success.”

“You never know what kindness you offer to someone today may live with them forever.”

“You haven’t completed the circle of success until you have helped someone else move to higher ground”

“Listen to your gut. It is always right.”

This morning the sun is shining and the trees are budding out; it's a good day.

I am off to work dreaming of what to add to my muesli recipe.  And by the way I hate that word (muesli).  I am going to call it something else.

Have a great day everyone!