"Optimism is the foundation of courage. "

BREAKFAST

I saw a lot of rave about cocoa oats, so I decided to try it today. I will be making more of this in the future. I've never added dried cherries to anything either, again I will be doing more of this.

1/2 cup Quaker Oats

1/4 cup dried cherries

1 tbsp. Hershey's unsweetened cocoa 
Cinnamon and a little Splenda to add some spark

Unfortunately I have to work a weird shift at work today. Not so much weird, but I don't like working shifts that make me stray from normal eating habits. I'll have to pack something quick I can eat in 15 minutes. Nothing is worse to me than being forced to eat in a 15 minute time frame, I prefer to take my time and savor it. 

 LUNCH 

I was a bit pressed for time so I grabbed the quickest thing from my house I could think of.

Cheese ravioli Lean Cuisine meal

1 small apple 

Odd thing about mentioning the 15 minute break thing today, I found out that we will no longer have 15 minutes breaks. When we work 6.5 hours we will get a half an hour for our break. I worked 3-9:15 today, not getting home until around a 9:45...a normal person eats within this time frame. I am by no means a morning person so I eat later and don't want to eat around 2 before I go in for my shift and the eat after 10 the next time I eat. The body needs food at least every 6 hours from what I hear and I personally feel the need to eat something within 4 or so most of the time. I am very frustrated with this. I did get a nice surprise from a co-worker today though. As I walked into our break room I noticed a gift bag with my name on it...I got a nice Christmas mug set with some yummy cocoa. I'll have to try the cocoa and take a picture of the mug soon.

DINNER 

"Taco salad":

Left over salad from my parents dinner 

1/2 cup Ortega fat-free refried beans

2 tbsp. salsa

Jalapenos

Chili powder to spice up the salad

8 reduced-fat Wheat Thins

DESSERT

1/2 Peanut butter and chocolate Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich

A few dried cherries (I think I'm hooked after trying them this morning)

A few of my friends stopped by my work tonight and invited me out for some Chinese tomorrow afternoon. I really haven't had to face Chinese with a group of friends since I've become health conscious, I've avoided it. I am thinking of getting steamed veggies and unbreaded chicken with sauce on the side, if at all. Cream cheese won-tons with duck sauce are my weakness, but I promise to myself that I will not touch them. 

In the past week or so I haven't followed a very healthy diet or exercised as much as I'd like, especially with me not feeling well. There is a noticeable difference to me in what I look and feel like from eating too much junk and not exercising. The pants are fitting a bit snugger it seems. ;p I do know that I will be getting back on track and then some. Like I said before, the holidays make me a bit weak just as they do with anyone. Good news is...I am stable enough to not let myself continue with the rut. 

Did I mention how cold it is here? Under 13 degrees! Brrrrrr! Hope everyone is staying nice and warm. =] 

"Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to error that counts."

BREAKFAST

Whole wheat low-carb tortilla

1 tbsp. Skippy Natural peanut butter

1/2 large banana sprinkled with cinnamon 

3/4 cup 2% milk (We didn't have much milk left unfortunately) 
Estimated calories: 314

Luckily we should be going grocery shopping tonight. I am in the mood for a veggie burger! I most certainly will be picking those up. Lately I've been eating walnuts, but I think I may switch to almonds this time around. Hopefully I'll find some yummy recipes this afternoon so that I can pick up what I need tonight.  

LUNCH

While out shopping my parents decided to stop at Burger King, so I tried to find some healthier options while there.

(Not pictured) 1 Morning Star veggie burger with lettuce, onions, and mustard

1 Salad (removed cheese as much as possible) with about 2 tbsp. light italian dressing 

1 bottled water  
Estimated calories: 440 

 DINNER 

Chicken salad made with chicken from last nights dinner and fat-free Kraft caesar italian dressing

1 tall glass of cranberry water 

Estimated calories: 200

SNACKS 

6 Reduced fat Wheat Thins

1 tbsp. fat-free Philadelphia cream cheese

Estimated calories: 64 

OVER-ALL CALORIC INTAKE: 1,018

While shopping today I came across sweet potatoes, which I have never had aside from Thanksgiving so tomorrow I will be trying one! Eatingwell.com has some pretty good recipes for them. (and in general)  Most likely I will be trying sweet potato fries. 1/2 of the sweet potato I bought cut up, drizzles with olive oil, and seasoned with some no salt seasoning I have. There are a ton of whole wheat tortillas left that I need to eat soon so I will be making a turkey lunch meat wrap to go with the fries.