I woke up yesterday morning to the sound of rain drops outside my bedroom window. I love having my window open pretty much all the time in the spring and summer. I have a down comforter on my bed and it’s super chilly in the room, but I am toasty poasty. I gave into the fact that it’s raining and I probably wouldn’t be able to get my pre-work walk in. But then I moved the curtains, saw it was just sprinkling and I told myself “you aren’t going to melt.” I literally said those words out loud as self-motivation to get up, and do what I knew I needed to do. It was actually 55 degrees and I was actually pretty sweaty with my rain coat on by the time I got back. Just a quick 25 minutes, but it really helps add steps to my day. It’s just a subtle reminder that every day I have a choice to make me healthier or not. It’s kind of as simple as that.
When I got back home I showered, put my makeup on and was out of the house in 20 minutes since my gym back and food was already packed for the day. Since I’ve started the 30 day protein challenge, I was trying to think of different things to eat for breakfast. When I was at the store I saw that small boneless pork chops were on sale for $1.39 a pound so I picked up a package. Each one raw is about 4 ounces. I cooked it about 3/4 of the way through at home, put it in a container, let it cool, then stuck it in my bag o food. Once at work, a quick minute in the microwave was all it needed. On the side I had an egg white and spinach omelet with Cabot cheese pepper jack cheese melted on top (that I heated up in the toaster oven) and some fruit. Super filling and delish – this plate came in at 496 calories, 28 fat, 19 carbs, 2 fiber and 39 grams of protein.
I had to run an errand for work at lunch and decided to walk my old stomping grounds near my old office – they have sidewalks throughout the whole office complex which is nice to walk on and not have to worry about traffic. Just left my work clothes on and slipped on my gym shoes and got another 35 minute walk in at lunch. By lunch time the rain had gone away and it was a gorgeous 65 degrees – and just a tad windy! I was listening to my iTunes station “pop workout” and one of my favorite songs came on – actually Hannah and I both love not only the song but the music video too.
When I got back to the office, I heated up my shrimp stir fry with frozen veggies and rice. I only bought the frozen veggies because I had a coupon for a free bag, but half of the veggies tasted like ass – the sugar snap peas were tasteless, and I should know better to just chop up my own veggies, but I am frugal and was thinking “free food!” Of course, my friend sriracha was invited to lunch too – duh.
By the time I left for the gym after work, I already had close to 13,000 steps! I had strength on the menu, and have now moved up to 15 pound dumbbells for 5 sets of 10 reps each on the incline press – ballers. I’ll be a swimsuit model before I know it! Ha. After strength, then 10 minutes of abs on the ball, I finished with a 2.5 mile walk at 5% incline. My bangs have been driving me crazy lately getting in my face, so I bought this headband and I love it – it’s just a cheap one from Wal-mart, but I like that it stayed in place throughout the whole workout.
My workout was a bit longer yesterday so I didn’t get home until close to 7, but dinner was quick and easy. I made a quick mac n cheese with unsweetened almond milk and cheddar cheese, and added chopped Italian sausage and baby spinach. Hannah was my sous chef and made chopped salads on the side for us. Dinner comes in at 625 calories, 35 fat, 45 carbs, 4 fiber and 31 protein. I was really hungry!
And check out my steps! Now that I know it’s possible to get 20,000 steps in a normal course of a work day, I kind of want to do it every day if I can. Still have 6 days until my final DietBet WI – not sure if I’ll join another, or just keep on doing what I am doing. I did see that there are DietBet’s that are longer term, where the pot is bigger but you have like six months to lose 10% of your body weight. I guess I’ll just wait and see!
Alright, off to get those steps in – make it a great day!
Holy shit on those steps, Biz! I need to get my pedometer out of my gym bag and actually wear it to work each day. I’m amazed that you can get all those steps in with an “office job.” Makes me wonder where I’m at (probably nowhere close…)…
Yep, the copier/scanner is on the other side of the office, so if I am busy, it isn’t unusual for me to get 5000-8000 steps just at work!
Was that meat juice on your fruit? Ahhhh! I have a no touchie rule with my food LOL.
Why yes, yes it was! And I dipped my fruit in all the pork juice – yum! Hannah is like you, so I get it 😀
First I wanted to tell you that you look pretty in green. And second i wanted to tell you that you are so positive it is killing me. And third I wanted to tell you that you always make my day!
Best comment evah Abbe! You are so sweet – thank you! Just trying to keep one foot in front of the other and trying not to eat deep dish pizza every day. 😀 Hugs!
Girl, you are my new role model!!! I need to start being more disciplined (as I sit here drinking a margarita)!!!
Not to worry – I had a big beer last night – it’s all about balance! 😀
I really love this new protein challenge! I’m going to copy that. I hope you keep doing it even after this challenge is over
I definitely will – maybe not 30 grams every meal, but at least 25 – it’s so filling that I find myself not reaching for things in between meals because I am just not hungry. 😀 #winning!
YIPPPEE! Love that you’re having that feeling. 🙂
Unless it’s pouring, rain isn’t too bad to run or walk in. It’s just, as you discovered, a mental thing to get yourself out there in the first place. 🙂
And so far I’ve never regretted getting out there, but sometimes its a battle!
Sometimes I beat myself up for not doing “good” on my food or exercise and then I remind myself what you said: every day is a choice. Make a healthy choice, but don’t beat myself up if I slip up…
Yep, its consistency not perfection – I have to keep reminding myself of that too!
I love running in the rain in summer!
I used to love playing field hockey in the rain and getting all muddy 😀
Your doing great ! what app do you use to make 4 pictures come out on instigram on one picture ?
It’s the new Layout App in the app store – just search “intagram layout” and you’ll find it. 😀
I having been reading your blog for a couple of months now, love you! You have been a great inspiration for me.
What brand of bathroom scale do you have? I have been looking at buying a zero scale, but don’t which to get.
Thanks!
Hey Tracy, sorry I am so late in getting back to you! This is the scale I have. It was actually given to me by the manufacturer several years ago. I love it because 1. up to 4 people in your family can use it 2. you can only have it show you your gains or losses, but not the actually weight 3. you could use it as a regular scale if you wanted to.
http://www.thezeroscale.com/product_p/tzs.htm
If you share it with your family, just remember to make sure they weigh in on the right number – I am no. 1, Hannah is no. 2 and Jacob is no. 3 – once Hannah weighed in on my number and then that screwed up my stats 😀 I just reset it and started over – no big.
Yum! I love pork chops for breakfast. I could go for one right now. 🙂 I have been trying to increase my protein in the mornings, 30 g is a lot! Good for you for getting so many steps! I have really been enjoying getting outside to walk – the time goes by so quickly! Hope you have a great day!
A great and simple way to add protein is just one container of Chobani – 15 grams right there!
Hey, your pork and eggs is just another take on a very popular diner breakfast: steak and eggs! Looks delicious.
So the question I’m going to ask you: is what you’re doing (90+ minutes of exercise every single day) sustainable? Is 20,000 steps every single day sustainable? Yes, this will get you to your goal of winning that Diet Bet but is it sustainable forever? At some point you’re going to have to settle down and figure out what you can realistically do for the rest of your life, weight loss or not.
In my case, my choice is to move every single day, but definitely not for 90 minutes or 20,000 steps. I know I am unable to sustain that day after day. But I can move every single day in some way.
That would be my question too. I already mentioned in my last post that 90 minutes a day is too much for me too. Like Helen I try to move 60 minutes a day or at least move every day. Like yesterday I had a dinner appointment right after work and I only did a 30 minute workout in the morning and that’s okay: I moved.
You should take a rest day at least a week where you just take an easy walk.
While I am in full gear as the DietBet ends, I will find a balance. I will sleep in a couple days and not walk before work, skip the after work workouts once a week and then plan to have Friday as my rest day, as I have more time on the weekends to workout. I will find a balance, no worries! But I do have a lot of time on my hands and I don’t want to fill it just watching t.v. – I already watch 90 minutes a day as it is! 😀
Your steps are impressive! You look so fresh faced and youthful in those pictures- just beautiful.
Aw, you are too sweet Kimberly – thank you! (p.s. I normally wash my face with whatever shampoo I am using – ha!)
I once heard someone say that you don’t need to worry about what you’re going to do for an entire month (i.e. I’m going to workout 28 days), just worry about that day. If you successfully hit your goal each day, then ultimate success will come. Greatness is a habit! And you’re rocking it :). Your meals are always so creative. I feel like I eat the same thing all the time ;).
Thanks Erica – the other thing that has changed in my mindset is the all or nothing mentality – I am striving for 90/10 balance and so far it seems to be working!
Wow, that’s a ton of steps! You’ll be in the 150’s before you know it! Great job.
Thanks Dana!