Life Has Been Crazy

My life has been supper nuts with me being sick (yes still), my daughter being sick (yes again), work being crazy (loving it), mid-term reports due for my Masters degree (apparently I had too much free time previously) and my baby daddy being a douche (yes again).

I will post later giving a more in depth version but just wanted everyone to know I was still alive. I miss you all.

Tough Week - But I am not Giving Up

This week was tough for me. I woke up every morning feeling sick - head ringing, nauseous, and just all around icky. I would drag my ass out of bed and force myself to get ready for work, taking some cold/sinus tablets and be on my semi-icky way. Even with the tablets I still was off all day but we are heading into a crazy busy time at work, one girl is on bereavement leave most of the week and the other girl was new (she started on Wednesday). I kinda had to be there.

So me being a dedicated employee lead to a week of feeling tired and sick. A week of not getting up early to run and a week of doing nothing one my daughter went to sleep. It was a tough week but I made it through it. I made it through it without making too many bad choices. I had a work supper last night but made the wonderful plate of Greek goodness last for two and a half meals (supper last night and supper tonight for me and my little one) and there was nothing deep fried on the plate.

I am going to bed early tonight. I need to. I feel myself entirely exhausted. That being said, tomorrow is going to be a good day. It is going to be beautiful fall weather and because of a birthday party, I get a chance for the second week in a row to run outside. Plus, I told my daughter we can decorate for Halloween so that will be exciting.

I am not letting me feeling like crap get in the way of my goal to be skinny. Fat people make excuses as to why it can't happen. I am just stating why its going to be a slow week. This weight may not fall off of me but I know that I am sticking with this journey and I will get to my destination. Preferably in a pair of size six pants!!

Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast is always a challenge. I need to eat breakfast but don't usually have time to prepare anything the morning of. I am really not a cereal or bagel kind of girl either. I need substance in the morning. If I am totally desperate I can get away with a fiber one bar and piece of fruit but I feel deprived and snack all day to make up for it. Here are a few of my favorite breakfast staples that are either make ahead or quick and easy.

Steel Cut Oats
No not oatmeal. WAY BETTER. Steel cut oats are oatmeal like but they do not have the consistency of baby food. They are hardy and wonderful. The reason that this s my number one choice is that I make a big pot on the weekend and portion it out for an easy pick during the week. Even better is the versatility. You can change the flavour of it depending on what you are craving. Some of my favorite toppings are: fruit, flax seed, cinnamon, brown sugar, honey, goji, berries, raisins, peanut butter, toffee bits, jam or a combination of them all. (2.5 to 4 points depending on what you put into it)

Eggs in a Cup
I have to admit I stole this from Hungry Girl. Spray a large microwave-safe mug lightly with nonstick spray. Add half a cup of egg whites and a slice of laughing cow cheese and stir. Microwave for about a minute. Stir gently, and then microwave for another 30 - 45 seconds, until scramble is just set. You can put anything in them that you want. I like to put in a tablespoon of a cheese and chive potato topper and it turns out fantastic. If I feel the need for carbs, I put it in a wrap. (2 to 5 points, depending on the extras and what you use for a wrap)

Breakfast Casserole
This is my favorite Breakfast Casserole ever. I am a Eat, Shrink and Be Merry cookbook addict. I have made most recipes form the book and now working my way through Greata and Janet's first two cook books. I love this recipe. I make it at least once a month. It freezes well and I will eat it for breakfast, lunch or supper. (4 points)

Most Egg-cellent Breakfast Strata
Yield: 8

Per serving: 245 calories, 11.4 g total fat (4.4 g saturated fat), 19 g protein, 17 g carbohydrate, 1.2 g fibre, 241 mg cholesterol, 607 mg sodium

Ingredients:
3 cups low-fat herb-seasoned croutons
8 oz light mild Italian sausage (I usually use turkey bacon)
1 cup diced zucchini
1/2 cup minced onions
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1 cup packed shredded light old (sharp) cheddar cheese
8 x omega-3 eggs
1 cup 2% evaporated milk or light (5%) cream
1/4 tsp salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:
Spray an 11 x 7-inch casserole dish with cooking spray. Spread croutons evenly in bottom of dish. Set aside.
Spray a medium, non-stick skillet with cooking spray. Remove and discard casing from sausage. Break or cut sausage into small pieces and add to skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until no longer pink, breaking up any large pieces. Add zucchini, onions and red pepper. Reduce heat to medium. Cook and stir for about 3 more minutes, until vegetables begin to soften.
To assemble strata, spoon sausage mixture evenly over croutons. Top with shredded cheese. Whisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Pour egg mixture evenly over sausage and vegetables. Let strata stand for 15 minutes while you preheat oven to 350°F.
Bake, uncovered, for 40 minutes, until eggs are completely set. Let stand 5 minutes before serving


I hope this helps for those of you who are struggling with breakfast. I will try to post some more of my favorite fabulous for you recipes.

I Want to Pop my Face

I have a horrible sinus cold. It feels like I have a huge zit in my sinus that just needs to be popped - bad thing is I can't pop it. Yesterday at work my head hurt so much that I was sick to my stomach. When I take my sinus medication (Buckley cold and sinus rocks) I can function but when it wears off I am knocked on my ass.

Needless to say, I was planning to run yesterday and today and that did not happen. Tomorrow my plan is to set both of my alarms, one to wake up and take my Buckley's and one set an hour later to run.

On a high note, I get an child free afternoon tomorrow!!! One of the ladies I work with (I will call her DL) met my daughter about a month ago and it was love at first sight. My daughter actually keeps asking to go to DL's house (something DL promised when they met). This weekend everything works out. It is ridiculous how excited both of them are. I have a fitness expo to go to that supports a friend's running group so it is going to be great. If I have extra time, I may even get some shopping done.

Hopefully tomorrow will all work out as planned, get up early for a run, make a delicious breakfast, get supper in the crock pot and get MJ ready to go see DL.

Sometimes Life is Hard but Running Shoes Makes it Better

Sometimes life just comes up and kicks you in the nuts with no warning for no reason other than to do it. Today was that day for me. Nothing tragic or horrible happened but it was just one of those days that just sucked. Like most people, my life isn`t perfect and some days that is more apparent than others. Its mostly because I didn`t sleep well last night and that always throws my day off a bit.

I know there are many people agree with me that it is way easier to shovel greasy bad for you food in your mouth when you are having a bad day than going for a run. There is a reason it is called comfort food. I did succumb slightly to the bad food temptation, instead of making the fully loaded nachos that I really wanted to, I had a spoonful of nutella and a nut cluster thing. I figure my food choice are much better than the bottle of wine I felt like having. (I don`t drink alone, I don`t think there is anything wrong with it but I am scared if I start it will be become commonplace for me and I do not want that).

For a workout I cleaned my house and I mean every room except for one bathroom. I know you are suppose to take time for yourself when trying to lose weight but there is a point where you need to do something in a form of housework. I always feel better about myself with a clean house, although I am not always the most diligent house keeper.

On the bright side, my pants are fitting better this week than they did last week. Not as tight! My weight stayed the same but it is my TOM so that always throws the weight off a bit.

Tomorrow will be better. I know it will be. Early to bed, early to rise and get my ass on the treadmill. My day is always brighter when it starts off with running shoes!!!

Confession Time - Maybe I Share too Much

Since my revelation I have been eating SUPER well. My meals have been well planned out, my snacks have been healthy, I even went out for lunch one day and chose a wonderfully fabulous lunch that was packed full of nutritional goodness (vegan roasted red pepper bisque and a baked falafel whole wheat pita). Its Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend and I know that I will splurge a little (sorry, I just can’t turn down stuffing, I only eat it twice a year and enjoy it immensely both time) so I really tried to make sure I didn’t touch my bonus points for the week. With all of the healthy eating I have been a tad constipated. Not like, OMG, I need some benifiber stat, but just not feeling quite right. (I know you love it when I share.)

My fridge is a bit bare in anticipation of the weekend (I am going away) so choices were limited for super last night. When I asked my daughter what she wanted, she asked in her sweetest little voice ‘burger and fries please mama”. Rarely do I ever get drive thru but I just gave in. We went to McCrappy’s as it is on the way home and I gave in and ordered myself a cheese burger. Just the burger, not a meal. I knew that if my daughter had one and I didn’t, it would start a dangerous craving. I knew the points of everything and knew it would only take away one weekly bonus point. I felt kind of guilty but was okay with my decision.

I now know why I was so constipated. My diet was missing the grease. That lump of congealed meat like substance sat in my stomach like a glob all last night, reminding my why McCrappy’s is so bad for you. This morning, that not quite right feeling has gone away as I have visited the lieu five times. There has got to be a better way but I am happy with my 'crappy' choice right now!

I Had a Break Down - Now You Are in for Some Trouble!!!

I am not sure what happened this weekend. It started out really good and slid into really bad pretty quick. Now I must say my binge this weekend is nothing of binges of the past but considering I am trying hard it was discouraging. On top of it, I didn't exercise cause I was being a lazy sloth!!

Actually I know exactly what happened, I was told that my raise that I was suppose to get wasn't coming because of the poopy economy and the couple of people who keep saying they will take MJ so I can have some me time pulled out at the last weekend so my relaxing Saturday was shot to shit. I get tired of being a single mommy in a city that none of my family live in so that if I ever want to do something without MJ I have to pay someone.

Monday came and although I didn't exercise, I did eat really well. I didn't put crap into my body but was still being Eeyore about my life (oh so glum, nothing will ever be good). Like many people, I get down on myself at times. I stopped myself yesterday from eating myself into feeling worse which is a step in the right direction.

This morning, thanks to Karilynn I dragged my ass out of my warm and cozy bed at 5 am (okay, so it was more like 5:10) and got on my treadmill. I told myself, it doesn't matter if you crawl, you are doing 30 minutes. As my mind cleared and the music on my ipod picked up, I did run. As I ran I began to think, there are many things in my life I like, there are many that I don't. There are certain things in my life I can change and certain things I have no control over. I started going through my list of what I don't like about my life and I can change and I am sure it is no surprise to anyone that I came to the realization that I don't want to be fat anymore. I kept saying it and saying it and began to cry.

I want immediate results. I want to be thin now. I know that it isn't possible and I have a lot of work to do. One great thing about this choice though is that when I get stressed about what I can't change in my life, I can exercise and help get closer to my goal. Losing weight really isn't that hard, eat less and exercise more. Become accountable for what you put in your body and sweat your ass off.

Come on Biggest Loser contenders, make me work for it. This is not going to be a 3 pound weight loss month. I want that $100 prize money. I have my eye on a pair of boots that are going to look great on my sculpted calves!!!