Thanks for all your kind comments about Tony’s article in the paper. I talked to Tony’s parents and they agreed that Rick Morrissey completely captured the spirit of Tony. And we all agreed that Tony is smiling down from heaven about this!
Hannah worked at the coffee shop yesterday so I swung by on my way to work and picked up a mixed berry parfait. I love the packaging – thanks Hannah!
It was a super busy day at work. One of the secretaries was out sick so I was pretty non-stop all day. Finally took a break at 1 to get to the gym. I did 40 minutes on the treadmill and high tailed it back to work. It went by in the blink of an eye – that hasn’t happened for a long time, so that was nice!
So along with ditching my wine at home, one other small change this week is that I wanted to have at least one low carb meal per day. It could be breakfast, lunch or dinner. Over the weekend I realized I had some Jennie-O sweet Italian turkey sausage in the freezer and defrosted one link – 160 calories. After dinner the night before last I just cooked that up and put a whole zucchini in the microwave and cooked it for 1:30. I let that cool and sliced both the turkey sausage and zucchini and threw it in a container, set that next to a container of marinara I made and shredded an ounce of Cabot white oak cheddar.
Once it was time to heat up lunch, I put the zucchini/sausage mixture in the microwave for a minute. Took that out and then made little bites – zucchini on the bottom, then a slice of sausage and topped that with the cheese and put it under the broiler in the toaster oven. I heated the marinara for a couple minutes and then when it was time to plate, put a heaping teaspoon of sauce on the plate, and set my zucchini sausage bite on top – I ended up with 9 bites and it came in at 319 calories, and 12 grams of carbs.
These were actually really good and filling. I had a cup of cantaloupe on the side for dessert. Before I knew it, it was time to hit the gym again. I am in week 3 of my strength training and now I at 4 sets of 10 reps each. Last night it took me 25 minutes to finish strength! I still use the assisted machine to do dips, but with less weight – go me! Then finished with 35 minutes on the treadmill for an hour after work workout.
We were meal planning this past weekend and Hannah remembered me making red beans and rice with smoked sausage and asked if I could make it. Yep! I cheat, I use Zataran’s, but I use the low-sodium version. Hannah kept saying “it smells so good!” She likes smoked sausage because there isn’t any gristle. But as soon as we started eating it, she said “this isn’t what I remembered you making” and really only ate the sausage. Jacob, who’d never had red beans and rice gave it two big thumbs up. You win some you lose some! I sauteed zucchini and had that on the bottom of my dish.
Do you remember me talking about my friend Andie’s Book – It Was Me All Along back in mid-January? First book I’d read cover to cover in nearly 10 years! I was so moved by the book, and Andie’s writing style, that I reached out to her and asked if I could buy a book and have her autograph it so I could give it away on the blog. She quickly replied “you don’t have to pay for it, I’ll just send you one!” Love her! You can check out all her amazeball recipes here by the way.
Just a few of the many many quotes I highlighted on my Kindle:
- “It all requires discipline and the absolute desire to change. Losing necessitates feeling terrible now so that you can feel better later.”
- “Food had to be a friend, not an enemy.”
- “I was the one who abused the food and gave it character.”
- “I set [a cupcake] on a pretty antique plate, brewed a steaming cup of tea, and ate it seated at the kitchen table for the better part of ten minutes. It was delightful. I’d made it special; I’d enjoyed it, and because of that – the eating lacked regret. And though I did wish I could have another, I didn’t feel my old urge to binge”
There are so many noteworthy things I got out of this book, so I am hoping it will do the same for whoever wins this autographed copy. Just leave a comment telling me, just for today, what you are going to do to make it a better day. Workout after not having worked out in days? Plan a meal, drink more water? Spend more times with your kids or husband? I’ll pick a winner on Friday’s post – good luck!
And I have the link for my Sebastiani pizza contest for voting! Mine is the Cheezy Chicago Italian Beef Pizza – not sure when the voting ends, but I’ll remind you every day – you’re welcome! AND THANK YOU!
Alright, I have to get this show on the road – we have dual baby showers at my office that I am in charge of and I have to get all my stuff together for that, and I just got a text that the secretary who was sick yesterday is still sick today, so I better get a move on.
Make it a great day!
I started this book while on vacation last week and I am loving it. I am almost finished with it. I am reading it on my kindle and you can “highlight” passages of a book to keep quotes from it. I may as well have highlighted the whole thing! There are so many similarities between her and I, and her style of writing is so fluid and engaging.
She should be so proud, this book is undoubtedly going to help thousands of people who are fighting their own weight battles every day.
I am happy to have found your blog!
Today I’m going to drink more water and get in 10,000 steps, or at least try harder!
Lately I am trying to not get down on myself for a bad moment of eating. So I had a cookie after dinner….tomorrow is a new day, and I can just start all over! Really want to read this book!
Glad I had my smoothie…your food looks delish!!!! Those zucchini and sausage thingies look especially good. Like those quotes too. Am trying to ride my bike everyday…seem to be plateauing and can’t seem to push the numbers down on my blood sugars and weight…gosh this is frustrating. Will be glad when winter is over then I can walk more outside. Have a good one.
yea for baby showers!!!!!! 🙂 those zucchini sausage balls look amazing……totally up my alley! have a great day Biz, stay warm – if that’s possible….?
I am going to not let stress get in my way! I’ve been letting 7′ of snow and ice damns make me someone I’m just not… I will breathe and walk the dog and it will all be okay
I told Mr. Helen that I feel like winter is winning this year. I’m telling you what I did, as I never got back over here to comment yesterday. As you know I have a desk that I can either sit or stand at. I have been really bad about taking the opportunity to stand so yesterday, I made my self stand 6 out of the 8 hours I was at work. I actually felt better at the end of the day than I have in a while!
You inspire me to be a better person! Today I will move more, complain less, and truly live in the present.
Trying to drink more water and get up from my desk at least once an hour.
working on 10000 steps every day
No wine during the week,,.starting tonight! Also voted
Count my blessings not my troubles : }
It may seem simple but after watching the news last night and all the talk of ISIS…the turmoil in Egypt and Libya I felt so sad. I went to bed thinking ~ “We are so lucky” ~ “We take so much for granted” ~ “We don’t get to pick where we are born but, I feel fortunate that God chose the U.S. for me” ~
Some days my S.A.D. is better and some days its worse…today, in everything I did, I remembered to be thankful for ALL of it. My cold, snowy life in MN may seem very dreary to me (and my mind) at times but it may be a winter wonderland to someone else who is use to seeing tanks, guys in masks carrying machine guns, rifles or the like. I am more THANKFUL today than ever.
This is on my to read list!
Voted!
After my brother’s wedding weekend and between now and our trip out of the tundra, I started my 10-Day-Not-a-Detox. However, I had a little hiccup today. My husband took me to lunch for a specific “famous” roast beef sandwich. So I had white bread AND fries. But I’m not going to “get back at it tomorrow.” I’m going to start right now – with the next thing I eat! We are having pork chops in this marinade: http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2005/06/savory-low-carb-marinade-for-chicken.html and roasted garlic broccoli for dinner. And I’m getting on the treadmill or bike as soon as I get home. No excuses!
Thanks for the accountability, Biz!
Today I started my day with meditation. It really helped me begin in a positive way.
Drinking more water today than yesterday…at least today I’m drinking out of clean water bottles! LOL!
Yum, that pizza looks good! Some great quotes from that book! Sounds like a worthy read. 🙂
I have made an extra effort to up my exercise routine, trying to make sure I get in cardio and strength. Spring is coming, hopefully :), and that means 5 K’s…need to be ready!
I bought the soy chorizo and browned it with the red beans and rice. it was marvelous and my husband could not believe we were having a meatless meal. It was yummy.
I like you little paleo bites! I am trying to make at least one change per two weeks. This time it is carb related. I need to get off the heavy carbs, my sugars are up and down and I am not feeling great. I have gained weight and now I am facing that task once again. Need to make food my friend! I like that quote. Impressed by your workouts Biz!