The story of the salad that didn’t want to be eaten

Happy Monday all (sad, I actually wrote Tuesday and didn’t realize it was Monday until I got to lunch LOL!  I officially have TWO days of the Body For Life Challenge under my belt and I am feeling awesome about it.  Oh, but, I am SO SORE – My arms, shoulders and back muscles…They say that is a sign the transformation is happening, but, I cringe whenever I go to put my hair behind my ear LOL 🙂

I woke up this morning at 5:25 AM to do my planned 20 minute HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) Cardio workout on the treadmill.

Like I did yesterday I started off doing my intervals easy since I am easing into the workouts.  This was a great workout but I think I maybe can push myself harder the next go round and possibly add some incline.

** Happy Faces are level 8 – that’s fun that 8 ) equals a 8) LOL

minutes 1 & 2: 3.0 mph (level 5)
minute 3: 4.0 mph (level 6)
minute 4: 4.5 mph (level 7)
minute 5: 5.0 mph (level 8)
minute 6: 5.5 mph (level 9)
minute 7: 4.0 mph (level 6)
minute 8: 4.5 mph (level 7)
minute 9: 5.0 mph (level 8)
minute 10: 5.5 mph (level 9)
minute 11: 4.0 mph (level 6)
minute 12: 4.5 mph (level 7)
minute 13: 5.0 mph (level 8)
minute 14: 5.5 mph (level 9)
minute 15: 4.0 mph (level 6)
minute 16: 4.5 mph (level 7)
minute 17: 5.0 mph (level 8)
minute 18: 5.5 mph (level 9)
minute 19: 6.0 mph (level 10)
minute 20: 3.5 mph (cool down)

I also walked for 2 additional minutes to cool down more and because the news was talking about the NEW Biggest Loser Season!  It starts September 15th – they are bringing back some old contestants too!!! I can’t wait 😀

After breakfast I whipped up a modified version of my Protein Pancakes.  I used only 1/3 c of oatmeal and cottage cheese and forgot the ground flax.  I topped my Protein Pancake with 1 Tbsp of Naturally More Peanut Butter (to help make up for the  lack of flaxage!) and a 15 calorie drizzle of Sweet Cactus Organic Dark Agave Nectar. 

 

I had to take breakfast with me in the car so this turned into a PB & Agave Burrito ~ Delish!  3 hours later my body was telling me it was snack time. I a Choco-Banana Protein Smoothie this time with more ice.  I need to remember to freeze my banana!  So good!

 

It made totally worth getting up early to go get a pedicure at lunch.  I picked a fun blue flower and she did a super cute purple/white flower.  My 2nd toe The Husband goes around pulling calling it “The Leader, The Leader” LOL.  Yup, that was enough to “almost” make me not show my feet and walk on my blog 😀

 

I came back from my pedicure totally ready for a nap.  Seriously – why don’t they have nap time scheduled into your work day?  We used to have it as kids 😀  Instead of a nap, I made a WRAP!!! 😀 Yup, and it’s only Monday

I started off with a La Tortilla Factory Multi-Grain Wrap & topped it with 2 Tbsp Roasted Red Pepper Hummus & 1 Tbsp TJ’s Roasted Red Pepper Spread.

 

Topped with 4 oz rotisserie chicken, an orange mini pepper, cucumber and AVOCADO!

 

Plus a little sprinkle of Sriyachi Hot Sauce!

 

WOW!!! This was such a perfect combination ~ full of flavor, spice, avocado and hummus smoothness, crunch and protein.  I LOVED it and now I have to make one up for my co-worker tomorrow because she kept saying how good my food looked 🙂

 

I also made up a side salad of mixed greens, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and mini peppers, but, I was full after my wrap.  I saved my salad for dinner, but…..

 

Ate the 3 mini peppers ~ I LOVE these peppers and can eat them all day long.

 

I wasn’t totally hungry by the time snack time rolled around and I knew we were having an early dinner so I swapped snack & dinner around.  I was really excited to try using a new product I was given by my co-worker ~ Any guess what it is????

 

Harissa!  I’ve been LOVING the Spicy Hummus with Harissa that I have been getting from The Hummus Guy and have heard some much about it.  Tonight I used 1 tsp (look at those seeds!) in my veggie stir-fry.

Plus 1 Tbsp of Black Bean Garlic Sauce.

Steamed in my waterless/greaseless pans ~ Delish!  The Harissa has a little bit of a smoky taste like chipotle, but, not as strong.  It’s definitely spicy but it was delish!  The fresh veggie mix I got at Trader Joe’s – all chopped and ready to cook!

  

Next up was an idea The Husband had ~ Healthy Sloppy Joe Mac!  I took 1 serving of Healthy Joes and put it on top of 1 c of Barilla Multi-Grain Plus Pasta with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. So good!  I actually think the Joes taste better the next day.

I broke out my salad from lunch but I was FULL by the time I decided to eat it.  I suck ~ whenever I buy a big container of organic greens salad suddenly doesn’t sound good.  Yet, when I don’t have it, I want it LOL.  I did pick off the tomatoes and cucumbers then tossed this batch of greens because I think it’s jinxed 🙂  It must’ve been “this” batch that didn’t want to get eaten.

All together with a bottle of fizzy water and my vitamins.

   

Today’s “surprise” vitamin was from The Husband’s Gummy Vita’s.  They included an adult chewable calcium chew.  It has 500 mg of calcium and tasted berry like – weird. I think I am someone who just prefers to swallow versus chew my vitamins.

   

I learned today that Body For Life has a cookbook called Eating For Life.  You all know I have a HUGE cookbook fetish so I had to run out and buy it.  Seriously – it has 150 ideas for meals and recipes.  I NEED ideas for mixing and matching until I get the hang of balancing it all.  I think I spent about 30 minutes drooling over all the pictures – everything looked really good.  I can’t wait to start making some recipes from it.  Book & Recipe Reviews coming soon!

 

Tonight I was faced with my first REAL temptation since starting the challenge.  I made up a caramel ice cream sundae for The Husband with ALL MY FAVORITE things.  I usually will lick the spoons of everything as I make it, but, today I HAD NONE.  I am surprised I didn’t drool on his sundae as I made it though……*sigh* Free day is what I kept reminding myself of!

 

My dessert involved one of my FAVORITE products when I want something sweet.  Sweet Cactus Organic Dark Agave.  It is the ONLY BRAND that has 15 calories per teaspoon with awesome nutritionals.

A little goes a LONG way.  I used a 1 tsp drizzle on top of 6 oz TJ’s 0% Organic Greek Yogurt mixed with 1/3 c low-fat cottage cheese ~ the perfect protein.

Then, I balanced it out with my healthy carbohydrate ~ a white nectarine.

 

I actually LOVED my dessert – it was so good and way more filling than the small bowl of ice cream I’d get to have for a serving.  I am proud of me for resisting!

STAT RECAP:

Calories burned: 2,496 (meetings all day so I sat at my desk 🙁

Steps taken: 7673

Calories consumed: 1,555

Ratios: 39% Protein, 37% Carbs, 24% fat (not perfect, but, definitely better!)

I am off to read and catch some zz’s so I can get up at 5 AM for my Lower Body Workout!

Nite all!