"One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself."

Last night I spent time with my friend Michelle instead and we played Wii for hours. Usually I don't care for Wii, but I enjoyed the game Just Dance. So silly, yet fun. I have yet to try out the fit fit though. By the way...I did have my twisted frosty with extra m&m's and I do not regret it one bit! My problem is indulging and feeling terribly guilty, but as time goes on I am learning to cope with that feeling and realize indulging on rarity will not hurt me.

I opted to wake up earlier than usual today and I did. Yay. I like having more free time to myself before going into work and I usually find myself rushing around. Well, not this time. 

BREAKFAST

 

Chocolate walnut oatmeal pancake!

Pancake:

1/3 cup Quaker oats

About 1/3 cup egg whites (The kind from the carton)

1 tbsp. unsweetened Hershey's cocoa

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tbsp. yogurt (In batter) 

1/8 cup walnuts, chopped

Topped with warm apples and yogurt 

This recipe is still slightly new to me and this pancake way by far the best one I have made. Originally I planned to make it with a banana, but as usual they were all gone.

LUNCH

I attempted to make hummus today, but ti turns out it doesn't work well at all in a blender. Oh well, I smashed the rest of the chick peas with garlic, onion, chili powder, ground pepper, and salt. The mixture went into the refrigerator for about an hour before I decided to eat them over a bed of romaine, tomato, and broccoli.

 

DINNER

This feta cheese always taunts me when I walk in the store so I figured I would try it. Feta cheese may be my new favorite cheese. I found myself wanted to eat the entire container. Haha. I decided to have a sandwich and soup tonight and of course I used the feta!

Sammie:

Arnold Thin

Turkey lunchmeat

Lettuce, tomato, onion

Feta cheese!

I made sure to toast my sandwich and melt the feta on my turkey. Oh my god! Delicious.

A cup of Campbells' low sodium tomato soup with extra tomato and broccoli. I added in hot sauce for a nice kick. This meal was just what I was looking for.

For dessert I had an oatmeal raisin cookie, but I'm thinking I would have been more satisfied with a piece of chocolate. Tomorrow's breakfast will be a bowl of Kashi, apple, and PB no doubt...I have an enormous craving! I also bought banana's today and can't wait for them to rippen so I can try them in an oatmeal pancake.

Work out update:

I haven't been keeping up with 5 days a week, it's been rough. Lately it seems as if I have a lot going on emotionally and physically so I am not making my work out a number one priority at the time. It's a possibility that I have tendinitis so it's making a lot of movements difficult at the time. It hurts to even brush my teeth! =[ I do feel that I have been maintaining my measurements, if not losing. There will be another update soon.

On a good note; the snow seems to be melting! It's in the 40's! Yes, this is something to celebrate in my eyes. Okay I know it won't last, but I can dream. Off to study for my permit some more...I'm almost done.

"Let him who would enjoy a good future waste none of his present."

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

1/4 cup Bear Naked apple cinnamon granola 
1 medium apple

I added a dollop of peanut butter today and oh my I want PB in my messes ever day! I wish I added more, but I wasn't sure if I would like it or not...who was I kidding?

AFTER WORK OUT SNACK 

Half of an orange from yesterday. Need that vitamin C!

I managed not to skip a work out today. After reading The Chic Life's post about squashing work out excuses I told myself "I can do this! Do the best you can! It will pay off!" My work out plan is a bit too challenging for me, but I stick with as much of it as I can do. My abs are sore, but it will pay off and I will only get stronger.

I did say that I would take my measurements and weight today for my challenge, so here it is:

Smallest part of waist: 27 inches

Waist at belly button: 33.5 inches

Hips: 35.5 inches

Weight this morning: 119.8

I'm not concerned with my weight anymore I am mainly concerned with my waist to hip ratio. When I lose around 2 inches off of my waist I will look much healthier and toned. Also, I have come to realize that I do have a pear shape. Pear is a good shape and I must learn to embrace the curves that comes along with it. 

LUNCH 

Okay, this was more of dinner because I ate it when my parents had dinner. I wake up late what can I say? I am a little embarassed by this one, but I have become an extreme fan of bowl messes. They had sloppy joes, maccaroni and cheese, and peas. My equivalent is 1/4 cup sloppy joe, 1/2 cup Kraft mac n cheese, and about a 1/2 cup of peas. Does this sound gross? I don't care. =]

DINNER

I took a light approach for dinner and had to feed my peanut butter and banana craving I've been having all day.

Arnold thin

1 tbsp. Skippy's Natural creamy PB

1/2 banana

Cinnamon

Side of...

6 Seneca Gingerbread Apple Chips

Only $1 at Big Lots! Normally we buy the cinnamon, but these taste almost the same to me. Only 140 calories for 12 chips and they aren't doused in grease. Seneca has a wide variety of apple chips and also carry sweet potato chips, which I have yet to come across. Pick them up if you happen to spot them.

I wanted to talk to you about NuVal if you haven't heard of it yet. NuVal is nutritional value listed along with the price of items. They take calories, fat, carbs, etc. into consideration when giving a rating from 1-100. The higher the number, the better for you. Simple, right? Unfortunately only a select few stores have this for their customers. If you would like you may suggest stores near you where you would like to see NuVal. Many people are not educated in nutrition, even those of us who think we are may be surprised by their scores. Having NuVal can take out a lot of guess work plus lead the busy and slightly lazy into a healthier life style. Although they do not have wide selection of grocery items listed with their scores on the website they do have some and update frequently. Do you think this is a good idea or should people rely more on their own nutritional education?

 

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other."

I had an extreme craving again for pancakes this morning, but time did not allow for such a craving so I opted for the usual oats with cocoa. (I will be making those pancakes tomorrow!) Never will I get tired of eating in the morning, or lunch, or dinner. Ever. 

BREAKFAST

1/2 cup oats

1 medium gala apple

1 tbsp cocoa

A nice glob of yogurt

I took a nice mini trip to the store today, mainly to get some produce. Who would have thought I'd come home with more than apples and bananas? Picked up some plump oranges and nectarines this time around. The last time I had a nectarine was most likely over 5 years ago I'd bet! Why don't I eat these tasty suckers on the regular? But like I have said before, most of the produce in the store is poor quality so I stick with what I know. Romaine lettuce is my new choice of lettuce, I've always been an iceberg girl. (Terrible, I know.) Iceberg lacks so much flavor! Romaine is a nice combination between iceberg and a more leafy lettuce. Never will I be making my salads from iceberg out of choice again.

LUNCH

Bed of Romaine lettuce and celery

1 small apple

1 Morning Star Chick'n Patty

Topped with yogurt and cinnamon, of course!

Yay for something different! So yummy, but I wish I added in walnuts. This was much more appealing to the taste buds than it sounds, trust me. First time trying the Morning Star Chick'n patty and I haven't been disappointed with a product from them yet. Honestly, I was almost convinced it was indeed chicken. Haha. The breading was nice and crispy, not soggy at all. I've been trying like crazy to get rid of my quart of yogurt before it expires so I figured why not use it as dressing?  

SNACK

1 nectarine

1/8 cup walnuts

3 tbsp. frozen light cool whip (I'm being naughty and using cool whip for "dessert" fruits.)

DINNER

Don't you love my "dishware"? ;)

1 big ladle of my Moms chilli

1 Arnold Thin with 1/2 laughing cow cheese wedge

FINALLY STARTED A WORK OUT CHALLENGE PLAN!

This is an ab challenge based off of Oh She Glow's Whittle My Middle II and 10 Minute Solution Yoga's Ab work out. Also use shape and womens health mag as references. Just as Whittle My Middle I will be doing this exercise 5 times a week for 30days and may add in the 10 Minute Solution buns and thighs work out every now and then. I did the work out today and it was a bit challenging, but my goal is to improve and tone up my tummy either way. 

Front plank: 60-90 seconds. 

Side plank: 60 seconds.

Torso twists: 10-20 reps.

Plank ups: 10-20 reps. (I'm determined to finish the challenge able to lift my legs)

Low boat extension: 20

Rock N Raise: 20

Double crunch: 30. 

(10 forward, 10 left side, 10 right side)

Side leg lifts: 20.

Rock N Raise: 20. (2 reps of 10) 

Double crunch: 30.

Hyper back extension: 20. (2 reps of 10) 

Bridge pose extension: 10-20.

Sliding mermaid: 20.

Butterfly stretch: 60-90 seconds.