Salad a Day Challenge – Day 1

Posted on April 15, 2013 by L @ Trying Not to be Fat

Woo! Here we go!

I had a very long day and I’d love to tell you all about it but sleep is way more important to me right now

Today is the first day of the Salad a Day Challenge! The challenge where you have one meal as a big tasty healthy salad!

Greek: chopped romaine, cucumber, tomato, red pepper, red onion, feta and grilled chicken seasoned with oregano, salt and pepper. Balsamic vinaigrette.

Deeeelicious! I was pressed for time so I wasn’t as creative as I usually am. Didn’t get started on dinner until about 7:30!

Here’s a few from the facebook page!

Rory shared this, I dunno what it is but it looks tasty. Is that shaved carrot? oOOoh.

Yazmin shared this! Chicken/garbanzo salad with strawberries,almonds,carrots, cucumbers,spinach and romaine!

A few other pictureless salads:

Pepper had: “very colorful , had almonds and tuna and a tasty dressing with mustard and honey”
Petrina had: “Roasted chicken spinach, red quinoa, walnuts, dried cranberries and aged balsamic vinaigrette”

Both. Yum.

So? Who else?! What did you have!

Salad a Day Challenge – Season 2?

Posted on April 10, 2013 by L @ Trying Not to be Fat

Remember this? Click here to remind yo-self.

Grace from Grace Got Healthy suggested we do it again, and dammit, it’s a good idea.

I need a little somethin’ somethin’ to get me rolling again, and this is perfect.

This is how it goes. Every day, have one proper salad as a meal for a week. Forever if you feel like it!

By proper salad I mean well balanced, colourful and with protein! You want this puppy to keep you FULL!

Here are some salads that I made the last time!

Turkey Taco Salad
Mixed greens, extra lean ground turkey, taco spice, black bean salsa, avocado, cheddar, toasted corn tortilla strips and jalapeno ranch dressing.
And a Green Salad
Mixed greens, cucumber, carrot, tomato, pumpkin seeds, crumbled goat feta and a boiled egg.

Bbq Chicken Salad
Bbq chicken breast, mixed greens, mushroom, tomato, and goat cheese.
and
Honey Mustard Basa
Honey Mustard Glazed Basa fillet on spring mix with julienned red peppers, snow peas, tomatoes and raspberries.

Bonus points for being creative, the more colours the better! Extra high fives for including nuts/seeds!

LETS DO THIS!

This starts on MONDAY so get prepping this weekend, fill your fridge and plan plan plan!

Here’s a COMPREHENSIVE salad guide to help you you!

Woop Woop I’m Back!

Posted on April 7, 2013 by L @ Trying Not to be Fat

Well I’ve been busy!

Mostly moving, but there have been a few other things.

The move went well, I LOVE MY PLACE! I’ve also been eating terrible food and drinking. It’s tough, and I know I shouldn’t have done it but I did it anyway! Moving, new areas, being tired, having an empty fridge. If you fail to plan you plain to fail!

Onward!

Here’s my new apt, not fully set up but you get the picture!:

Also, prepare for nerdiness.

The kitchen! Ignore the giant bottle of cider with a bendy straw in it. *cough*

Living room!

Other half of living room!

Bathroom!

Balcony!

Bedroom. I didn’t frame this pic well there’s a bit more room in this…room.

It’s the largest apartment we’ve lived in so far, and in an AWESOME part of the city! Plus I can now fully walk to work, which takes 20 minutes.

Happy!

The rest..what else happened. I have a very close friend in the hospital right now and I’m super worried about her. and other than that I’ve been work work working.

Tomorrow I get back on track properly! As always always “getting back on track”. There aren’t any more upcoming plans that will put a kink in my routine, other than a vacation at the end of June. So from now until then, it’s well behaved Lee.

Hopefully.

Glitter, 1 year Diet-aversary and the Semi-Bad Day

Posted on March 26, 2013 by L @ Trying Not to be Fat

It’s only been a bad day emotionally, not diet/exercise wise. But they all tie in together unfortunately.

The last few days were fine. Same ol. Went one of my best friend’s bday party! It was glitter themed! As a present I bought her decorations and made some platters.

Meat/Cheese Antipasto kind of platter!

Froot!

My outfit. I had cosmetic glitter on my lips. Took it off after it started crunching in my teeth. Lol.

My darling. She’s an actress! Does tons of musical theater! She’ll be famous one day!

She was on of the actor’s on “My Evil Sister”, check it out! She shows up in the second half, around 25:20 mark.

http://www.biography.com/tv/my-evil-sister/videos/lose-a-sister-gain-a-husbandthe-sinner-and-the-saint-full-episode-23089219773

Soo proud of her. <3

Speaking of proud, I’ve been at this for ONE YEAR!

Can you believe it?!

I’ve posted this on facebook already, but check me out! A year ago, and a few days ago. Plus my measurements over time!

Now for today.

Breakfast: Oatmeal and Peanut butter

Lunch: Leftover pizza flatbread thing from work and a few slices of lean turkey breast.

Went to the gym straight after work. That’s where my day got crappy!
There are two gyms we workout at, one near my house downtown, and one closer to work. Every Tuesday my workout buddy and I go to the one by work. But for some reason, some of the women that work out there are very glare-y. Not very nice, tend to stare. I thought it was just me but my workout buddy made similar comments.

So today I’m working out, and some hardcore super muscular lady was in the same area as me. I see her staring at me. Frowny, watching me the entire time. I ended up turning around so I didn’t have to see her angrily staring at me.
I start doing some squats and she just snips “You’re doing it wrong.”

Now, regardless of how I was doing it wrong or what, I know my heels don’t always stay on the ground but my center of gravity is still off due to the excess fat I’m still working off.

Just the way she said it, and how she was scowling at me the entire time.

I just walked away, without saying a word and went to do some cardio. I’m no good with confrontation, and tend to panic. I couldn’t even speak, just ran away to cool off.

It made the rest of my workout a little difficult and I was super self conscious the entire time. Luckily I had my workout buddy because if she wasn’t there I probably would’ve went home.

Eventually I returned to the same area and evil lady was gone, thankfully.

My workout:

10 mins treadmill HIIT, which I had to cut short and just walk fast with a high incline because my PANTS KEPT FALLING DOWN. Seriously, to the point of “I probably shouldn’t be running unless someone wants to see my underwear”
10 mins angry/anxiety elliptical
Walking lunges
Tricep Dips
Arnolds
Bicep curl to Shoulder press
Tricep Swingbacks

AND THIS!

Ab DESTRUCTION!

I pretty much did all of it, I cut my jack knives, and leg crossovers short. But I’m proud that I went through it! My abs are already sore, I can’t imagine what it’s going to feel like later.

I’m still feeling a little anxiety so I’m just going to relax for the rest of the night.

Love love.

Thursday! ONE MORE DAY!

Posted on March 21, 2013 by L @ Trying Not to be Fat

This week is almost over, yaay! AND today was GORGEOUS and sunny
Such a cheery mood.

Oh. And another amazingly on track day!

Breakfast! Heartier. Two free range eggs, two slices sprouted grain toast, 25gram sausage.

I also drank a red bull.

The red one! Cranberry flavour! Just to get me going in the morning.

Walked to the train, as usual, and worked worked worked.

Lunch I went with a lighter option to balance out the breakfast.

Wrap! (it’s just red, nothing fancy. No I don’t know where to buy it), with grilled zucchini, red pepper hummus, sriracha, cucumber, sprouts, tomato and spinach.

After work I walked alll the way to my girlfriend’s house to hangout and do my hair!

The sun today. man. So nice. Warm!

On the way there. Chocolate bar hanging in between the glass walls of a bus shelter. cruel!

I had a snack of greek yogurt, raspberries and a mandarine orange at her house. And an almond milk latte. No sugar.

She ombre'd my hair up. This is us later on at some fancy cosmetic's place called Curlique. I waited while she picked out sparkles.

She ombre’d my hair up. This is us later on at some fancy cosmetic’s place called Curlique. I waited while she picked out glitter.

Then I walked home AGAIN. For a total of 4 miles of walking today, woo! Not including the back/forth up/down stairs all day at work either!

I got home so late. But I’m proud I didn’t grab any crappy food along the way. Had some chickpea curry, and pineapple and blackberries for dinner!

1630 calories today! Right on track, plus all the walking I did. Another wicked day.

Here’s to tomorrow ! TGFI. FINALLY.

Wednesday- Halfway There

Posted on March 20, 2013 by L @ Trying Not to be Fat

I greatly dislike the term “hump day” so I don’t use it.

HEEEY! How’s everyone?

Another completely on track day. How am I doing it? Magic? Luck? Common sense and motivation?

Breakfast was kind of lazy, this waking up at 4am business I still can’t seem to adjust to. Over 1 year of this and I’m still dead tired.

2 slices of sprouted grain bread and 2 tbsp crunchy peanut butter. Heftier in calories, but this bread I found has 6g of protein in each SLICE. My toast breakfast had 18 grams of protein. Ha! That’ll keep ya full.

This bread. This is the first actual loaf of sliced bread I’ve bought in a very very long time. It was on SALE!

Walked to the train as usual, worked a bit overtime today too.

Lunch:

Portuguese bun hollowed out, 2 tbsp red pepper hummus, grilled salmon, cucumber, sprouts, tomato.

I only ate about 3/4 of this, near the end I was getting full so I just plucked the remaining salmon and chucked the rest.

Went to the gym right after with my workout buddy!

20 mins on the elliptical

10 mins HIIT on treadmill

tricep dips
tricep swingbacks
arnolds
walking lunges
squats
bicycle crunches
regular crunches
situps while my buddy held my feets.
More of those funny bosu planks I posted the other day

There’s this one part of the gym there that’s a ladies only stretching area that I was exercising in, and I dunno for some reason that gym always seems to have some rather…glare-y women in it.

There was this one woman who kept giving my workout buddy and I the super evil eye. I don’t know why some women do that? I try to not let it bother me but it cut my alternating planks short.

I wasn’t in the way or even saying anything, just working out peacefully on the other side. Bah!

Women.

Anyway.

After the gym I grabbed a muscle milk. FOR ALL MY MUSCLES! *flex*

I kinda hate these. Lol. Plus the ingredient list isn’t so… clean.

Walked home from the train again, did a bunch of laundry.

Then made some super simple chicken noodle soup.

I didn’t have much to work with, so.

I sauteed some white onion and carrot. Added my chicken stock (1 full carton), and a bay leaf. Let that simmer a bit until the veggies were cooked through. Added 1 heaping tbsp of itty bitty soup noodles. I had 1 lb of skinless chicken breast tenders, so I cubed them and pan seared them just until brown, and threw it into my stock. Brown = more flavour! Boil for a few minutes so chicken finishes cooking and you’re done! Add fresh parsley and green onion right before serving.

Et Voila! You don’t have to use noodles, and I usually put more veg in but this was what I had!

Simple and comforting.

Now, to fold all that laundry I did, and sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be another great day!!

Tuesday, the other other Monday.

Posted on March 19, 2013 by L @ Trying Not to be Fat

Another good day down. Too bad this week already feels like it’s gone on forever. I watched my reflection as I ran on the treadmill earlier and had some rather noticeable bags under my eyes. The bad lighting didn’t help though.

Breakfast! Similar to yesterday, eggs and toast. (Foreshadowing! I eat eggs again today! *GASP!*)

Lunch:

Wrap. A rap rap.
Black bean corn salsa, sriracha, chicken breast, sprouts, tomato, lettuce. delicious.

Went to the gym but got into a stupid text argument RIGHT before.

I don’t care what anyone says, working out when angry is very difficult. It’s also hard to do cardio with a lump in your throat. Kinda hard to breathe.

Anyway. I got over it. That’s me post workout. It’s how I’m looking now! Woo!

I did 20 mins on the elliptical. Dips, bicycle crunches, sit ups, crunches on the ball, leg lifts, and those planks where you alternate straightening your arms.

Starts around 28 seconds, watch the guy on the right.

I followed it all up with 10 minutes of HIIT intervals on the treadmill.

I walked home after the gym and had a protein shake made with 1 cup unsweetened almond milk.

I think I need a smaller blender bottle. Also. Semi empty apartment! Got a good head start on packing!

I also ate a way overripe banana. I prefer them “recently green”.

Dinner. Lazy kind of, I had to run an errand before and want to pack more tonight. Liberte pineapple yogurt, pineapple, blackberries, 2 free range eggs, 25gram sausage, 1 tsp canola oil to cook egg in, 1 slice sprouted grain bread, 1 tsp olive oil margarine.

My total calories for the day was around 1619. Give or take. Or Give.

Probably give.

Now. I procrastinate on packing and probably make my husband dinner before he gets home. Taaa!

Who wants to pack for me?!

Ready for Next Week

Posted on March 17, 2013 by L @ Trying Not to be Fat

Well I’ve been kind of bad again this weekend, lol. Sometimes they just get you.

Made some epic tacos.

Ate half of an epic chocolate bar.

My feet don’t reach the floor on the bus.

We started packing for moving!

Got a cute new purse.

Went for some pho, took a neato photo.

It was sunny today and I’m rarin’ to go for this week!
I’m going to be much more strict this coming week than I have been. Actually going to set up a meal plan. Gotta get serious about summer, AND I have my girlfriend’s birthday this weekend and bought a cute dress!

The dress! Imagine me in leggings instead of jeans. and flats.

Not that a week of hardcore eating right/exercise is really going to make a huge difference, but I’d like to feel good about myself at the end of the week too!

Here’s to a good week, wish me luck!

I don’t need to mention that I skipped Saint Patrick’s Day. Not my thing!!

How was everyone’s weekend?

The Pros and Cons of Weight Loss

Posted on March 13, 2013 by L @ Trying Not to be Fat

I know I’ll get flak for this, but admit it. There ARE cons, and we all have to deal with them!
Also, these may not apply to everyone

PRO: You’re losing weight, FINALLY! You’ve made the commitment and are seeing results!

CON: Everyone and their neighbour is going to tell you what you’re doing WRONG, and will give you every homeopathic/old wives tail dieting/health tip.

No really, tape worms were used as a fad diet back in the day.

PRO: You can finally fit into your old skinny jeans!

CON: Shortly after, they, and everything else, no longer fit. It gets expensive. Then the cycle repeats.

Exhibit A: Baggy sweater (worn TWICE ONLY) and belt penis.

PRO: You have changed your eating habits for the better!

CON: You may now have a mild form of OCD. You went from never really thinking about what you’re eating, to NEVER stopping. Scales, calculators, meal plans, weird vegan recipes. Weirdo!

Unless you REALLY have the time to micromanage, to each his own.

PRO: You’re more confident, you want to go out, see your old friends, dance and party!

CON: You constantly have to face temptation and peer pressure and you wonder why you didn’t just stay home and have your chicken breast/rice/broccoli and run on the treadmill.

Nnnnope! No really. I said No.

PRO: You’re a regular at the gym and are totally comfortable now!

CON: You start to feel guilty once you miss a workout, or take a break and socialize one day. You’re also impatient with others at the gym, and are possessive over certain areas/equipment. Maybe a little judgemental.

No really, you look fabulous!

PRO: You don’t need food to celebrate things, food is fuel!

CON: Sometimes food is a little TOO joyless. Like that time I ate plain unseasoned baked turkey breast out of desperation. MMM! DRY AND CHEWY!

I have yet to see someone post a picture of a protein mug cake that DOESN’T look like poop.

PRO: There is no pro for this unless you had giant boobies that gave you back pain.

CON: Women! You go down numerous cup sizes until you get so frustrated with buying new bras/empty hollow bra cups that you just wear your sports bra everywhere. You’ve become THAT woman.

PRO: You no longer crave sweets/carbs and greasy fried foods. You are a changed person, FOR LIFE!

CON: Liar.

Updates and Whiny Complaints

Posted on March 13, 2013 by L @ Trying Not to be Fat

Ok not so whiny, I just wanted to rhyme with the title.

My feet are always freezing. Drives me crazy. You know some experts believe that women tend to hold heat in the core, where the heart and uterus are, so they can protect developing fetuses. Prehistoric defense mechanisms.

Well I don’t have any developing fetuses, thank you very much. Not sure why that’s plural but anyway. Moving forward.

I’m over that cold, I’m a little frustrated again as I’ve been sick I think 4 times since December. It’s crazy. Always something interfering.

Went to the gym on Monday, took a break Tuesday and today I’m going again. I’ve been super tired and lethargic the last few days though. I just want to sleep!

Been eating my usual fare, right now I’m eating this:

Berries & Pineapple Greek yogurt.

It’s pretty dang yum btw.

Went to an old friend’s Birthday party on the weekend. It was nice to catch up/reunite with someone. This city is weird for people, hard to keep them around.

I’m considering skipping the gym and just doing some ab work here. I’m not copping out I don’t think, I just REALLY don’t have the energy or willpower to walk the 5 blocks right now. Plus being tense and freezing cold isn’t helping either!

I’d like to blame the weather, as it’s been alternating between warm and sunny and cold monsoon rain, I swear. Make up your mind, weather! I can’t handle this!

Anyone else feeling as mopey as I am?

Trying Not to be Fat

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