"Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life."

BREAKFAST

A lovely bowl of oats with coffee.

1/2 cup oats

1/2 red delicious apple

About 1/4 cup dried cherries

1/2 tbsp. crunchy Skippy's PB

Instant coffee mix

I originally made overnight oats with the cherries and coffee, but heated it up and added the rest in the morning. Instant coffee isn't good as an actual beverage, but is a nice addition as a spice. Yes, coffee is a spice.

LUNCH

 

Sammie:

Arnold Thins

Turkey lunchmeat

Romaine lettuce, tomato slice, onion

Laughing cow cheese wedge

Side:

Nectarine

1/4 cup vanilla yogurt

Pistachio's

SNACK

I ate lunch after work today so it was around 3:30 or 4. I went to Matt's house and was still too stuffed so I passed on dinner, but around 9:30 my tummy was growling while we had a mini marathon of watching Are You Afraid of The Dark (Does anyone remember this show? A blast from the past!) so I pulled out a Kashi pumpkin granola bar. I stole one of his hot wing pretzel's and a few fries from Wendy's later on.

DINNER

Leftover baled turkey penne pasta with added broccoli
Morningstar chick'n patty

DESSERT

1/2 of my apple from breakfast dipped in some yogurt and PB.

Let me be honest with you with my craving...for the past two days I have been craving a Wendy's chocolate m&m twisted frosty and must fulfill it before I eat everything in site. I turned one down two days in a row, but nothing will satisfy the craving. If I can get it made in a small cup I will, if not I am afraid of the outcome. It is what it is. I must find an avocado recipe tomorrow or I will end up pitching the one I bought and I hate wasting food. Top priority. ;) Studying for my permit test is my actual priority right now. I broke it down into a 2 week period to make sure I will indeed pass. This is something I need to do for everyone, not just myself. That thought alone is keeping me motivated. Staying motivated and positive is coming along well.

Hope everyone is having a good week so far!

"Self-sabotage is the smartest thing you can do if you're sabotaging a self that is not really you."

I know that I am blogging late, but it's been a long day. Finally got a hair cut today after quite a number of months I believe, saw A Christmas Carol in Pittsburgh, and had a nice free dinner at Marks Grille so it was an over-all good day.

BREAKFAST

1 whole wheat tortilla wrap

1 small apple

1/2 slice sharp cheddar cheese

Lettuce

1/2 tbsp. fat-free Philadelphia cream cheese

(I some how mixed my lunch and breakfast around.)

LUNCH

(Not pictured, although I thought I took one.)

Omelet:

1/2 cup Egg Beaters

Onion, broccoli, tomato in omelet

1 Small Apple

About 1/8 cup cottage cheese 

This was my first time trying cottage cheese and I did not like it! I kept trying to convince myself that it was an acquired taste, but more than anything I hated the texture. I will not be eating this again any time soon.

DINNER 

(Not pictured)

1 about "4 roast beef lunch meat sandwich with lettuce and tomato

Raw veggies: 

carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower

2 slices of tomato flavored with olive oil and parmesan, I believe

1/2 of a giant oatmeal raisin cookie (equal of about a regular large cookie)

This meal was made after seeing A Christmas Carol at Marks Grille in Pittsburgh. Matt's professor reserved us a room and had it catered. Some of the foods there were: mini tacos, chicken strips, bacon and cheddar potato skins, chips, veggie tray, cheese and cracker tray, roast beef sandwiches, cold cut combo sandwiches, various giant cookies, etc. I ate tons of veggies to fill up so I wouldn't be as tempted to try the fried foods or actually eat the entire cookie. At the end of the day I do feel a little bloated for some reason...I'm thinking I had too much sodium or maybe more calories than I intended at Mark's. The show and dinner were a treat though, I'm very thankful Matt's musical theatre professor was kind enough to let me tag along with the class the past two shows. Tomorrow I'm thinking of making a "taco" with a veggie burger and another tortilla, but am unsure what to have with it.

"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing."

BREAKFAST

1/3 cup Danon Light and Fit vanilla yogurt

1/8 cup walnuts

1 medium banana 

Cinnamon to taste 

Estimated calories: 227

LUNCH

1/2 medium sweet potato roasted with chili powder

Wrap:

1 "8 whole wheat tortilla 

1 tsp brown mustard

Healthy Choice turkey breast

Ground black pepper to taste  

Lettuce, onions

Estimated calories: 227

DINNER

Taco salad:

Lettuce, onion, brocoli, tomato, a smidge of parmesam cheese 

(This was already made up by my Mom when I came home, so I used it.) 

1 Southwest Morning Star veggie burger

5 jalopeno pepper slices

1 tbsp salsa

2 tsp brown mustard for dressing 

Estimated calories: 163

DESSERT

(Not pictured)

1/2 Skinny cow chocolate and peanut butter ice cream sandwich

1/2 medium banana

Estimated calories: 128

OVER-ALL CALORIC INTAKE: 744

I have a few things I need to get rid of soon so my meals seem a little repetitious. Yesterday I bought the Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches and they tasted a bit better today than yesterday for some reason...the taste isn't what you would expect. I prefer my ice cream smooth and creamy, but this was more "icy" to me and didn't have much of an ice cream flavor. The cookie sandwich part is pretty good, but over-all the flavors aren't very strong. Tonight I pared half of the sandwich with half of a banana and I liked it much better and cut down calories. I don't know how I'm going to get rid of all of the sandwiched these next couple of days. I've tried to cut back on my sweets and desert intake, especially before Christmas, but I've come to the conclusion I can't cut it out of my life. Instead, I am eating sweets and such in moderation. Christmas is just about 8 days away, but all of the heavy goodies come to me on Christmas Eve and I have confidence that I will do much better this time around than Thanksgiving. Pierogi is a big part of Christmas Eve and also my favorite food, I'm really looking forward to them considering this is the only time this year I believe I will have eaten them. Also, I am looking forward to tomorrow. A Christmas Carol is showing at The Benedum Theatre in Pittsburgh and I will be going with my boyfriend and his musical theater class at CalU. I hear we're going to some kind of dinner event after, hopefully I will find something yummy.

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

BRUNCH

Roasted sweet potatoes:

1/2 medium sweet potato cut in wedges, seasoned with no-salt season and ground black pepper

Wrap:

1 "8 whole wheat tortilla

1/2 slice yellow american cheese

Healthy Choice turkey breast lunch meat

1 lettuce leaf

1/2 tbsp. light miracle whip

1 tall glass cranberry flavored water  

Estimated calories: 236

Originally I was going to make sweet potato fries, but this was a shorter process so I went for it instead. Before I go into work this evening I'll probably have a little bit of yogurt and the other half of my banana from yesterday.

"LUNCH"

1 medium apple

3/4 cup Danon Light and Fit vanilla yogurt with 1/8 cup walnuts

Estimated calories: 266

DINNER 

 

Sandwich:

2 slices Sara Lee whole wheat bread 

Healthy choice turkey lunch meat

Mustard

Horse radish sauce

1 cup steamed broccoli and carrots with seasoning

1 tall glass water 

Estimated calories: 257

"DESSERT"

2 Hershey's special dark mini bars

1 Danish cookie

Estimated calories: 128

OVER-ALL CALORIC INTAKE: 887

Tomorrow I finally get to go Christmas shopping for myself. I plan to buy clothes and only clothes because I actually need them. Since June or July I've lost around 23 pounds and went down 4 pants sizes. I have a few things I can wear, but not very much so it will be nice to finally get some things. I'm not looking forward to the holiday crowds though! After shopping I will be going to Matt's house (my boyfriend) to help decorate their tree, which is especially nice because I didn't get to decorate mine this year. I think I'm getting into the holiday spirit. Oh and tomorrow I'm thinking of possibly having french toast for breakfast, it's been too long! If the bananas are ripe enough I may add those on top. I really have a craving for sweets and comfort food this time of the year.