Meal Plan Monday {Feb 27}

Every week starts with the best of intentions --- creating a meal plan, grocery shopping, cleaning & chopping veggies and fruit to make healthy snacks easily accessible.  But even the best laid plans can easily get derailed.  Last week is a really good example.  We had a solid meal plan in place but we ended up eating out two times.  We also enjoyed a bottle of wine, several beers, and margaritas.  Not to mention the pudding snacks, candy, and Girl Scout Cookies.  I started the week, like every other week, with the intention of being mindful of what I was eating and limiting the indulgences.  But, like I said, even the best laid plans can easily get derailed.

I’m hopeful that this week will be different.  I’m plan to “detox” and avoid alcohol, candy, and cookies.  As well as stick to the meal plan.  Eating “clean” will be a priority this week.  Besides, I’ve got a 5k race on Saturday and it’s important to remember that food is fuel and I need to properly fuel my body for running.  It’s a FACT that if I eat junk, then my running suffers.  {I’ve learned this the hard way!}

 
Monday ~ Lentil Tacos

This is one of the meals we skipped last week.  I’m going to make a big batch so we can have leftovers on Tuesday night after our group track workout.

Tuesday ~ leftover Lentil Tacos

Wednesday ~ Dirty Quinoa

I’ve had this recipe saved to try for a while now.  I’ll be using ground turkey instead of ground beef because I have some leftover from the Enchilada Casserole from last week.  I’ll be serving this with some roasted zucchini. 

Thursday ~ leftover Dirty Quinoa

Friday ~ Pasta with marinara sauce and turkey meatballs

Saturday ~ Marsala Chicken and Mushroom Casserole 

We really enjoyed this a few weeks ago when we had it and I’ve been looking forward to having it again. 

Sunday ~ leftover Marsala Chicken and Mushroom Casserole

 

What’s on your menu this week?
Do you meal plan? Why or why not?
Got a favorite recipe that I’ve got to try? Please share :)
Don’t forget to check out the links … you never know what you might discover! There are some GREAT food blogs & recipe websites out there :)

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Weight in {02.27.12} = 137.6 lbs
Loss/Gain from previous week = +1.8 lbs

Thankful – Wk8

It’s all the little every day things that make life so extraordinary and this year I want to make sure I am appreciating and focusing more on them.  In an effort to remember to slow down, let the little things go, and enjoy every moment of this life I am going to share what I’ve been thankful for each week.

{Source}

This week I’m thankful for …

• My cousin Judy for her insightful help this week
• Overcoming my shyness and meeting new people
• The possibility of new opportunities
• National Margarita Day on Wednesday, just when I needed to “relax” :)
• A bad run on Monday, because the bad runs make the good runs that much better!
• The power of positive thinking and prayer
• My husband for always believing in me <3

 

What are you thankful for this week?

{Thanks to Sam at Fitness Food & Faith for this wonderful idea … I’ve enjoyed reading her thankful posts ever since I discovered her blog!}

Three Things Thursday

1.  Wait.  What?  It’s Thursday?!?  Ahhhhhhh. 

2.  Today was a busy day.  I got up early, went to Spin Class, had a mid-day appointment, took the dog for a walk and got caught up chatting with a neighbor for almost an hour, then had to rush to an evening event.  It’s 8:10 p.m. and I haven’t eaten dinner yet.  We’ve got take-n-bake pizza is in the oven because I never got a chance to pre-cook my lentils today for lentil tacos.  In other news --- my favorite pair of black dress pants are too big and although I’m happy about this, I’m also sad because those pants cost me almost $100 in 2005 and are still in excellent shape.  I’m hoping I’ll be able to have them taken in.  {Pssst … I had on my black pants because I had a job interview today!  It went well but I’m trying not to get too optimistic because I know they are doing a lot of interviewing for the position.  Wish me luck!}  Tonight I got the chance to attend a mixer for a local women’s organization that I am thinking about joining and I met some really great people that I’m excited to get to know more!  It was a busy day … but a good day :)

3.  Ali from Running with Spatulas posted today about healthy eating and is searching for some tips.  If you got any advice you’d like to share about making healthy lifestyle changes to your eating habits leave a comment and I’ll pass on the info :)

 

Happy {thirsty} Thursday!  I’m going to go enjoy a cold beer with my pizza :) 

WIAW #4

WIAW is hosted by Peas & Crayons

This month Jenn has challenged the WIAW’ers to VEG-ify our posts. 
{Talk about our favorite vegetables, share our go-to cooking/prep methods for veggies, talk about how to eat more veggies/fruit, or any other veggie-centric topics we can think of.}

Today’s photos are from yesterday, Tuesday February 21st.

Last week I talked about my favorite vegetable … and declared that I couldn’t pick just one!  This week I want to share my tips for eating more veggies, and fruit.

• Tip #1 ~ Salads.  A salad is a great way to get in some extra veggies.  Start with your favorite greens and pile on your favorite veggies.  Top with some dressing and you will have easily added some veggies to your day. 
• Tip #2 ~ Plan your snacks.  If you pre-plan your snacks for the day it’s easy to pack up some carrots and celery or a banana or an apple to have has a snack. 
• Tip #3 ~ Pre-prep.  When you get home from the grocery store clean and prep your veggies.  That way you’ll be more like to reach for some celery if it’s already cleaned and cut. 
• Tip #4 ~ Hide them.  Add veggies to pasta sauces or soups.  Blend up some spinach in your favorite smoothie.  Get creative. 
• Tip #5 ~ Roast them.  Clean and chop up your veggies, pile them onto a cookie sheet, and roast them in the oven.  So yummy!

What are your tips for eating more veggies, and fruit?

Breakfast:  Coffee, 1/2 a banana, and a yogurt bowl with greek yogurt, raw oats, cinnamon, & raisins
Post Workout #1 Snack:  Green Monster smoothie with fresh spinach, vanilla soy milk, OJ, a frozen banana, & frozen blueberries
Lunch:  Mock Tuna Salad* on Corn Thins and 1/2 an apple, carrots, celery, & grapes
Snack:  String Cheese, 1/2 grapefruit, the other 1/2 of my banana from breakfast
Pre-workout #2 Snack:  Welch’s Fruit Snacks
Dinner:  Salad with carrots, zucchini, & radishes topped with homemade ranch dressing with Spinach Tomato Orzo Soup and milk

*Mock Tuna Salad modifications:  I used greek yogurt, celery, salt & pepper, tomato, onion, and dijon mustard.  So yummy :)

Thanks to Jenn at Peas & Crayons for hosting!

Meal Plan Monday {Feb 20}

The husband was off work today for the President’s Day Holiday so we’ve been busy all day long!  We went for a 5 mile run, deep cleaned our kitchen, took the puppy for a walk, and made dinner.  I’m looking forward to relaxing with him on the couch, drinking some wine and watching a movie when I’m done sharing my meal plan for the week :)

 
Monday ~ Spinach Tomato Orzo Soup {new recipe} + salad

This recipe made a huge pot of soup {16 cups total and I reduced the amount of water from 2 qts to only 1 qt} so we’ll be enjoying leftovers tomorrow for dinner, later this week for lunches, and we’ll be freezing some for future meals :)

There are a lot of mixed reviews on the site for this recipe.  I think it turned out great but here are the changes I made:  only 1 quart of water; only 3/4 lb of orzo pasta; added salt, pepper, & dried basil; added 1 small can of tomato paste to “thicken” it up a bit.  Also, I think I would reduce the amount of orzo even more next time if I make this again as it bulks up a lot. 

Tuesday ~ Leftovers + salad

Wednesday ~ BBQ Chicken Rolls {new recipe} + asparagus & salad

Thursday ~ Lentil Tacos + salad

These tacos were so good when I made them a couple of weeks ago that I knew I would be adding them to my meal plan again soon.  I had accidentally cooked my lentils too long and the end result made the mixture more like refried beans and DELICIOUS.  Besides needing to cook the lentils {which only takes about 25 minutes} this recipe comes together quickly and is both satisfying and filling :)

Friday ~ Pasta with semi-homemade marinara sauce with turkey meatballs

Last week I used up some leftover polenta in our pasta dinner.  I cubed up the polenta and crisped it up in a hot skillet with a little bit of olive oil.  It was really yummy.  This week we’ll be using turkey meatballs {from Trader Joe’s} but I think we’ll be using polenta again soon :)

Saturday ~ Enchilada Casserole {new recipe}

After I had my recipes picked out for the week and my meal plan all created I was going through a Taste of Home cookbook I own and saw this exact recipe that I had dog eared the page on previously so I’m excited to be making it this week :)

Sunday ~ Leftovers

 

What’s on your menu this week?
Do you meal plan? Why or why not?
Got a favorite recipe that I’ve got to try? Please share :)
Don’t forget to check out the links … you never know what you might discover! There are some GREAT food blogs & recipe websites out there :)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Weigh-in {02.20.12} = 135.8 lbs
Loss/Gain from previous week = +0.4 lbs

I am taking a break from WW and I’m not tracking points but I’m still weighing in each Monday morning, as I always have since 2007 when I was at my highest weight ever.

Confessions, V3

I’m currently running my weekly long run.  8 miles planned for today.  But last night I was thinking about a few random things and decided to share … confessional style.  Enjoy :)

Confession #1 – Remember that sneaky spider that took a shower with me a couple of weeks ago?  Well, his sneakiness and creepiness has provoked me to obsessively check my towel, wash cloth, shower curtain, shower head, and water handle before turning on the shower or getting in every single day since.  Thankfully, there have not yet been any more spiders. 

Confession #2 – We are {still} currently using our guest bathroom because I’m still working on removing all the old mildew covered caulk from our master shower so we can re-caulk it.  Thankfully we recently picked up some new razor blades and the process will go much quicker now.  But, that means I’d actually have to spend some time working on it … and I just haven’t.

Confession #3 – I didn’t apply for a single job this week.  Yes, I know I can’t get a new job if I don’t apply for any jobs.  Sometimes I get so fed up with the whole job hunting/applying/receiving rejection after rejection that I need to step away from it to regroup.  Being {unwilling} unemployed is very stressful and emotional.  I urge you to be thankful for the job you have, if you do, regardless if you love it or not.  Times are tough.

Confession #4 – We live well beyond our means.  We are fully aware of it.  I constantly think about money.  Being unemployed sucks.

Confession #5 – One of the main reasons that I feel like I need a break from WW is that I miss cooking anything I want for dinner instead of tried and true recipes that I’ve already calculated the points for.  I love cooking and dinner is my favorite meal of the day :)

Confession #6 – I’m terrified that my portion control will be non-existent without a structured “diet” program to follow.  I have the knowledge and experience and I know what I need to do to maintain a weight loss so now I just have to DO IT. 

Confession #7 – I haven’t followed the 30 Day Cleaning Schedule or the De-Clutter Calendar in weeks.  I’m cleaning on a whim and the clutter remains for now. 

Confession #8 – I’ve been secretly searching for a 50k to run this year … in addition to the two full marathons I’m planning on completing.  Eeekkk! 

 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Saturday!  Rock your long runs, races, or workouts :)

Got anything you want to confess?!?

Thankful – Wk7

It’s all the little every day things that make life so extraordinary and this year I want to make sure I am appreciating and focusing more on them.  In an effort to remember to slow down, let the little things go, and enjoy every moment of this life I am going to share what I’ve been thankful for each week.

{Source}

This week I’m thankful for …

• Feeling better and the sickies are all gone :)
• My body and that it is capable of running and handling multiple workouts in one day!
• Running with the husband and being able to share my love of running with him :)
• A perfect Valentine’s Day at home cooking dinner together, drinking champagne, and eating chocolate.
• Getting our taxes done and finding out that we don’t owe this year!!!
• Talking to my niece on the phone :)
• The feeling of welcomeness at the new church we are attending.

What are you thankful for this week?

{Thanks to Sam at Fitness Food & Faith for this wonderful idea … I’ve enjoyed reading her thankful posts ever since I discovered her blog!}