I Need Fast Food

Don't panic. It's a play on words. (Though I do miss McDoubles). I need fast or easy made and portable foods for lunches on campus. Especially on Mondays and Wednesdays. I already feel into running behind and grabbing a bagel at Dunkin along with my coffee (which follows healthier parameters). However, this is a money sink and it won't help me lose weight.

What ideas do you have? I've ended up taking a Special K bar and some Soup at Hand to work with me this week. By the time I get to class I'm starving! Then I run the risk of totally gorging myself when I get home.

So any ideas or possible solutions would be fantastic! ;)

On the recommendation of my good friend Cora, I have purchased the book "French Women Don't Get Fat." It should be arriving any day and I'm excited to check it out! :)

In the meantime, I'll probably get some good exercise in from shoveling all the snow we got last night. That was ridiculous!

Best,
~ M

Articles Like This Give Me Hope

... and cravings!

I love myYahoo!. It gives me tons of different news stories and editorials to scroll through. Naturally I read the news and entertainment crap for... well... entertainment. And then I also check out all health articles and recipes! For all you ladies (and gentlemen) who share a sweet tooth, here is our saving grace:

10 Smart Cures for Your Sweet Tooth

I'm a salty and sweet fiend. You know... the best of both worlds. I crave both usually around the same time. Tonight I was good. A small cup of pistachios and a Special K snack bar (Chocolate Chip). Tomorrow I'll have to fill you all in on Kristen (roomie) and my epic grocery shopping journey to find healthy food on a budget. Some things were great and some we really had to sink money in.

Cheers!

~ M

Special K Challenge Done!

Hello all!

Sorry for my long hiatus! I've been out of town and trying to prep for the new semester of classes which is looming in front of me. Yesterday was my last day of the Special K Two Week Challenge. I'm bittersweet on this. I'm sure I lost a jeans size (yay!!) so that is a benefit. I'm cinching my belts a bit tighter as well. However, I don't look like I'm any smaller and the scale registers me at an amazing 169... one pound lighter. LoL.

So I didn't lost the 6lbs I could have, but I attribute that to me cheating a few days and having babyish workout routines. I'm not trying to overdo it, but perhaps I need to focus a little more all the same. So now I need to try something new. Not a diet per say, but just a way to track myself so I'm not overeating or under-eating, and still have a regular workout schedule. Ideas? I can use all the help in the world!

I need to cut out sodas. Or at least cut down. But I do need a caffeine fix every day or you'll get a grumpy Meg. :) The other thing I want to try is Acai berries in some form. I saw pills of them and drink mixes, as well as foods. Does anyone know a lot about it? I got this off WebMD:


Acai Berries

So yes, we'll see. I still need motivation for all this. My goal remains the same: 30lbs. But it's soo easy to go back to bad habits. Just keep pushing me and I'll feel the need to not let you all down! :)

Best,

~ M

Tips for De-Cluttering

^^^^ No, that's not my bedroom. I just wish it was. I got this photo from yahoo.com.

So today, I'm gonna branch away from the dieting stuff to give you some tips on reorganizing and de-cluttering. I am copying the following from a Yahoo! article I found this morning. This is NOT my original writings. The link is here:

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/10-steps-to-a-clutter-free-life-2435859/

10 Steps to a Clutter Free Life

* by HybridMom, on Mon Jan 3, 2011 10:39am PST

Ours is a culture of abundance. Even in this time of economic recession - most of us have more ‘stuff’ than we really, truly, need. Clutter, whether it be too many tasks on our agenda, too many thoughts pulsing through our minds, or too many belongings in our homes, seems to be a societal epidemic. When we slow down a bit and take notice, however, we find that more stuff actually creates more stress. Additionally, the state of having too much stuff to care for, clean, and manage means less time for connecting with family and friends, taking care of yourself, and nurturing your soul and creative spirit.

Reducing physical clutter in the home creates a sense of calm, and allows energy to flow freely throughout. New possibilities emerge and creative solutions to old problems seem to appear from nowhere. Here are some things you can start doing now to make it happen:

1. Designate one spot for all incoming mail/paperwork and go through it daily.

2. Unsubscribe from email newsletters, blogs, and retail email lists that no longer interest you. Its YOUR inbox, after all.

3. Before purchasing anything, from new socks to a new smartphone, ask yourself: “Do I love it?” and “Will I use it?” Think twice unless the answer to both questions is a resounding “Yes!”
7 Proven Ways to Add Balance to Your Life

4. Commit to clearing clutter from one area of your home each day for a week and schedule ten minutes daily to do it. Start with something totally feasible, like your coat rack or medicine chest.

5. Meditate for five minutes each day. This will help de-clutter your mind and give you the clarity to keep what’s essential and part with the rest.
52 Simple Ways to Be Healthier

6. Eliminate clothing from your closet and dresser that hasn’t been worn in the last calendar year.

7. Find a home for clutter-prone items, you know, the things that wind up on the kitchen table, living room floor, and bedroom dresser. Designate a place for them and make a habit of putting them there, every single day.

8. Create clutter-free zones in your home. The entryway is a great place to start. If there is clutter in the entrance, 98% of the time there is clutter throughout the house. The kitchen table is another good choice. Keep what you love and use, recycle, donate or toss everything else. Be ruthless!

9. Use “maybe” boxes. If, in the course of de-cluttering, you’re not sure what to do with an item, put it in the maybe box. Note the date on the box and store it out of sight. If you don’t go looking for those items within six months to a year, it’s time to get rid of those things.

10. Evaluate your commitments. Most of us are over-scheduled, which is it’s own form of clutter. Make sure your commitments are reflective of your values and your priorities. Say no to new commitments without guilt and drop whatever commitments no longer serve you. Your life needs space for free flowing energy, just like your home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So there you have it. Some things to consider for the day. I've already been working on a "corner" of something every day or so, but it is daunting when you think about it. My room is a mess at the moment and I'm not sure where to start, but I think this is some solid advice, so we'll see.

Happy Cleaning!

~ M

Woah I'm Halfway There!

And definitely living on a prayer lol. I am done with the first week of the Special K Challenge, and I'm feeling bittersweet. I like the plan and the support system they have in place, but I wasn't always good this week. So this weekend has put a kink in the diet and the blogging. My roomie is back in town and brought some of her family with her to visit and for us all to go to a NHL game in D.C. It was a TON of fun, but I know I wasn't as good as I should have been on the diet. It's hard to find health food in a sports arena. I also gave myself two days in a row to let my muscles rest. So this week I need to stay on track!

I was going to weigh myself today, but honestly I'm too scared to! I am pretty sure I haven't lost any weight. :( Now I do get that part of that may be muscle gain, but all the same, I'm not seeing too much of a difference yet. But I'm not discouraged. I did notice that I can run up two flights of stairs without feeling like someone just punched me in the gut... which is progress. :)

Tomorrow I'm back on track and hoping for a more steady week 2. I'm starting to research other diet plans for after the Special K challenge. I was considering Slim Fast, but they are sort of expensive and the food is more limited. I could continue Special K, but I don't want to get sick of the food and steer away from the goal. I figure I'll try something else for a while then do another 2 week challenge further down the road. But again, I'm up for ideas!

Goodnight all!

~ M

Day Five: Temptation Abound!

Cold weather makes me lethargic. It looks a bit like snow outside so I had a hard time getting up this morning. That has kind of put a kink in the whole day and messed with my lunch schedule. So I'm going to get scolded here and that's okay, but I am being incredibly truthful on this blog so you have a right to know. I went to Dunkin Donuts today. *Winces!*

BUT in my defense I tested out a few new things to make this less of a painful experience. I did NOT get a doughnut even though they were staring at me and making suggestive gestures (as only doughnuts can). However, I DID get a bagel. :( With reduced fat cream cheese though! And I know what happened. I had every intention of only getting a coffee, but I had a late breakfast and no lunch at that point so my stomach was screaming at me! Still it's no excuse. That was not part of the diet plan so I'm going to have to really watch calories for dinner tonight. And even though I planned to take an exercise break tomorrow, I think I'll get up early and do some more yoga to help ease the broken rules of today.

So according to the Dunkin Donuts website, the bagel with reduced fat cream cheese was 450 calories and 12 grams of fat. Shame on you Meg!

But back to the point of the trip. Like I mentioned before, I always get a medium iced caramel latte with skim, no whip and no sugar. So today I was testing the waters by getting a small latte light with no flavoring. It was a jolt of bitterness and I've never been a bitter coffee drinker. So I did put two Splenda in. Drum roll please!!!!

According to www.dunkindonuts.com it was only 80 calories (plus about 10 more for the Splenda) and 0grams of fat! WOOOOOOOT! With the Splenda it wasn't that bad, so at very least I can manage that if I need a coffee fix. I do miss my caramel though. :(

But for future reference for my own taste there is a DD Smart menu which is aimed at lower calories, higher fiber and less fat. They have egg white sammies and wake up wraps that are low cal. So that might be a replacement for bagels on days when I just don't have time (after the Special K challenge is done of course). Which on the same token I think I've lost... maybe... a pound. Whoopdy do. I'm not expecting miracles, but with the massively lower calorie intake I'm surprised. A lot of people go through an early purge of pounds and then level off. Apparently my body doesn't roll like that.

But anyway, that is my confession. I need to get back to the routine. Off to organize classwork until Kristen and her family arrive! <3
~ M

Day Four Diet: Namaste

On the request of a few different people, I am taking it easy today exercise-wise. I planned on using the little elliptical here, but when I woke up I could barely move! Thus, I've upped my water intake and decided on some Yoga to relax and stretch. Let me just say this... as someone who really has never done Yoga, that shit is NOT easy. It is yet one more reminder that I have been out of the game for a while! I used to be incredibly flexible and agile. Today I kept grunting and groaning and scolding the woman on the DVD that people's bodies just don't bend that way! :) But I do feel looser which is nice. And I would like to keep up with the Yoga. I felt better, not exhausted, when I was done. Tomorrow I'll do some small exercises in the morning and then take a break from it on Saturday. I'm going to a hockey game anyway so I don't think doing the downward facing dog in the middle of the Verizon Center is uber appropriate! :)

Food-wise I'm a little hungry, but it's still better than before. I got a Subway sub yesterday which was a nice treat. I do believe some coffee may be in the works though. I'm starting to get caffeine headaches since I haven't had much of it lately. I haven't had a soda in well over a week which is massive for someone like me!

The last good thing I've found out with this diet is the Facebook link that Special K has. They offer a discussion board for other women and men who are doing the challenge. It's good to see that others have the same questions as me and sooo many are willing to offer up advice! :) Not sure what I'm going to cook up for dinner tonight, but it's gonna get chilly, so some Progresso Light soup may be nice, as well as a toasted roast beef and provolone sammy. :)

Namaste!

~ M