Coffee Love

It's Starbucks Sunday Ya'll! 

I've been there twice already (once for coffee and once for tea...don't get all judge-y on me. I am still counting calories and points after-all!)

Perfect for beating the Texas heat!

It's 105 (degrees, not celsius) in Dallas today. It's melt-your-makeup-off-your-face scorching! Crazy heat, my friends! I've spent most of the day inside but did meet up with the boy and bestie for lunch and a coffee run. ;) The beau indulged me and bought me my venti espresso madness. It's delicioso, btw! By ordering a skinny version and holding the whip, my venti drink was only 210 calories. Completely do-able for the caloric range I'm in.

Since that it's so hot, I've been keeping my workouts indoors. It's very easy to get heat-stroke and collapse out on a trail, so my advice to you crazy-person braving the hellacious temperatures is:

1. Be sure to have a workout buddy. For example:

2. Stay hydrated! Always make sure you're camelback/water bottle/beverage container is full. Or, at least have enough water to keep you hydrated for your run (and a little extra!)

--- Side note: I've got a couple of friends who enjoy hiking on Sundays, mid-day. They always take water, food and supplies in case of an emergency. Remember to be prepared! 

As close to 8 glasses as you can get!

3. Don't drown yourself in ice-cold water! Avoid this! Going out for a run and then stopping to use your ice-cold water as a quick cool down is NOT a good idea. I repeat, do not do this. Using a mister is perfectly fine, as the spray provides a gentle change to your external temperature. Drowning your head and/or most of your body in mega-cold water will only cause a form of shock. Be careful!

Ok...enough of the PSA - for now. 

Stay safe and make good choices. Pushing your limits is key to better fitness, but blowing past them and then getting hurt will not help you. 

I aim to feel like I've rocked a workout. I feel great, pushed myself a bit further each and every day. When I have an awesome workout, I leave the gym feeling epic!

Awesome workout songs make my workout bunches more fun!

Today I figured I'd enjoy some awesome coffee because I stepped on the scale and saw that I lost another pound! :D EEEP! I'm so very excited to be inching my way toward my weight goal. It's not easy, but I'm getting there. How are you all doing? 

I hope that your journey is putting up a fight. If it's not, then you may not be working hard enough. You need to remember how hard it is and then keep on going. Losing this weight needs to be memorable. You don't want it back! Keeping a note of how crazy-difficult this has been will make it a lot easier to keep the weight off. Just kick it to the curb! Don't quit. Find inspiration daily. It's been working for me and I highly recommend it. Here's today's little nugget of exercise wisdom:

I love to RUN. My mind plays tricks on me and says I can't do it. I've got to slap myself back into things and keep my eyes on the ultimate prize!

 

Thankful Thursday!

I may make this a weekly cheesefest, who knows! Consider yourself warned! :)

What I'm thankful for today: All things caffeine and the finale of exam three. Yay!

Yes, I <3 SB, however...my fave little place is by campus. Common Grounds, all the way!

This week has been pretty rough. I'm three weeks from graduation and dying drowning in my studies. The alarm I've been setting to help remind me to get to my workout is anything but helpful. More often than not, it ruins my concentration and ends up getting shoved to the bottom of my backpack. [I know, counter-productive...I'm sure my abs will kill me later.] I'm trying to be better, but the books keep reeling me back in! What a crazy mess. 

Due to missing workouts, I have learned to be a better snacker throughout this week. [It still amazes me that I don't grab the candy + chips...the caffeine stays though. Don't get any crazy thoughts, man!] But, I had a weird dream about desserts. Maybe it was the sleep deprivation and extreme amounts of java, but it was something like this:

I'm thinking Freud would say I have a problem. Oh, for the love of food!

I'm still drinking all my daily-joes [because, honestly...I'm a caffeine junky] but I'm going for skim milk [if any, at all] or a completely sugar-free, fat free option from the store. There are a few good ones, I promise! Instead of chips, I pack a bag of pretzels, one sliced apple and [if I'm staying waaaay late at the library] another baggie of quake bites - the adorable little rice snacks that I told you guys about earlier. 

All of these snacks are super yummy and keep my mouth moving, which tricks my brain into thinking I'm eating lots more than I actually am. Combine them with coffee [you'll be quite upset if you combo coffee + apple, so avoid that sitch!] and you've got yourself an awesome snack to keep you roaring through those studies! Don't avoid a good meal though! That's a HUGE mistake. Take a break and make something tasty for your tummy!

Sadly, I felt like this through half the study time today: 

OK...Maybe through ALL my study time.

Thankfully, tomorrow is Friday! Get excited!

I've got a pile of graduation invitations to send out and a yummy lunch date with my beau. Feeling blessed! There's so much left to do! I've got my fingers crossed for my last two exams. [prayers, please] I am so ready to be done with my undergrad! 

Wish me luck!

What are you thankful for today?

[I'll be even more thankful for a regular sleep schedule in a few weeks.]

Have a great night, all!

 

Brown-Chicken-Brown-Cow!

I gave the Healthy Choice line another chance. 

This time: Ravioli Florentine Marinara. 

Surprise! It's not as awful as the other brown trash they tried to pass off as food.

Again, their advertisement is wonky. These fools added cheese (this skyrockets my WW points, so I avoid it like the crazy cause of fat pants that it is), which does not come in a convenient tiny package within this microwaveable bowl of fancy deception. So, I ask...why did they sprinkle cheese on the pasta in the picture? What a farce!

The Florentine marinara sauce is enough to coat the raviolis (I'm sure this is their attempt to flavor-up their bland pasta). The pasta itself is thick, which adds a play-doh-like quality to the dish. I never thought I'd have edible clay for lunch. Honestly, it's not as awful (though it's not too much better) as the brown gunk that I tried to eat last week. This dish was palatable, but not great. I understand that it must be difficult to create a recipe and then preserve it in the freezer for weeks on end. I get it. But come on people! This close-to-carboard brilliance is one of the many reasons why America's waistline continues to rise. Passing off something as "healthy" when it contains exorbitant amounts of sodium, is in fact - opposite of HEALTHY! 

This will be my last healthy choice meal, unless they can re-vamp their recipes and prove to me that they aren't kitchen failures. I'd really like a crack at creating some delicious recipes for them. {hint, hint at an awesome possible job!} I have a few in mind that people may in fact fall head over heels for (but they'll be my secret unless these guys ask me for help - which they may sorely need). Who eats this stuff? 

I keep trying to give these frozen "healthy" meals a chance, and then they fall ridiculously short of good, like an air-ball. Lesson officially learned and I am nixing the not-so-healthy choice options. 

On a much lighter note (yet, somewhat devastating to me), I fell asleep on my book today...while studying, at my desk. [Yes, I'm such a nerd genius pre-med student and have no life] My allergies have been wreaking havoc and the zyrtec wasn't up to the battle. So, I guess my body decided to konk out. I ended up waking up at 8:45pm, successfully blowing my chance to get a work-out in. [insert colorful words and griping here]

I guess this girl will be hauling her big caboose out of bed to get a workout in before class tomorrow. Not so bad, right? Morning workouts make me feel so alive accomplished, like the entire day is mine for the taking! Muahaha!

At least, a morning run provides me with tons of energy to last throughout the entire day. Hooray for endorphins, right? Love them!

Anywhositwhatsit....I hope your Monday has been more munificent [don't you just love my expanding GRE vernacular? Two points for gyffindor!] than manic. 

Rock out your week and be sure to get some exercise in! 

Also, remember to hydrate! I'm in Texas [howdy, ya'll] and heat stroke is so very common, don't be the person who didn't get enough electrolytes in their system and passes out somewhere. You really don't want to be the "funny" story that people tell at holiday parties, do you? 

Stay safe and work hard! I've got 12 pounds to go on my short-term goal. I'm not sure I'll reach it, but I'm going to kill off as much flab as I can! 

Deuces!

Food baby?

Coconut-Mango + Mahi Mahi + Cucumber + Cream Cheese + Avocado Habanero Paste

This was only one of the 15 sushi rolls I made tonight. We had bundles of friends over for a nerd-night (the boys played Dungeons and Dragons...yes, the game is still around!...and the girls watched movies). It was a fun night, but ridiculously busy. Most of my friends don't really know how to cook (and those that do rarely venture outside the realm of ramen, pasta and tacos - not in combination, of course). That said, when we have get-togethers, our rule is - "If you want food, pitch in or bring something to the party. Otherwise, Sarah will be quite furious with you for making her cook for your lame a**!" Fair enough, right? We certainly think so...otherwise feeding all these peeps would make us broke!

Anywho...I thoroughly love making sushi (and pretty much any other foodie-member)! I stopped by Whole Foods and picked up a pound each of Ginger Soy Tuna and Mango-Coconut Mahi Mahi. The sashimi was delicious [though, I have yet to go wrong with any choice from Whole Foods]! These were about $9 a piece and fed 7 people, several times over, along with smoked salmon and lump crab meat (to round out our meat options). I love me som variety. The best part? I healthed-up these rolls (the rest of the ingredients were purchased from Tom Thumb, another one of our favorite grocery stores). 

With all the rice, one sushi roll is plenty filling! But, in a group of mostly burly, 20-something young men....well, it's like trying to satisfy trash compactors, hence the many sushi rolls. They can just keep taking it in! Their capacity for food always surprises me, but I digress.

Inside-out Roll: Mango-Coconut Mahi Mahi + Cucumbers + Smoked Salmon + Mango-Citrus Puree

My mom taught me how to make sushi several years ago (sometime in the early highschool years) and I've gotten more creative with my choice of rolls. 

I used the Tom Thumb "Waterfront Bistro" line of sauces as a base for three different dipping/paste choices...but I added my own flair. We lean toward all things spicy in this household, so I add generous portions of peppers and hot oil to all of my sushi creations - in this case we used jalapenos, habaneros and santa fe red peppers. What our guests (and even my boys) didn't know was that I opted for organic veggies (which actually do taste different from those with added pesticides), reduced-fat cream cheese and I didn't use any salt or pepper! This was such a success, we will definitely be trying these novel creations again soon. It was such a delicious night! 

The First Batch of Several Sushi Rolls

I almost forgot to tell you! We tried the Green Monster smoothie today!  I added my own spin to it though, because it just didn't have enough oomph for me. To the basic recipe of Spinach, Milk, Honey, Banana and Ice....I added 1 tablespoon of Sunbutter, 1- 8oz can of  pineapple chunks (with the pineapple juice....NOT syrup!) and a few shakes of cinnamon. It was fantastic and a total hit with my non health-nut visitors. I will definitely be making this again. Thanks @lsandoe for suggesting it! BTW - I know that you can use any blender to make your smoothie goodness, but let me just say [and no, I'm not getting anything for this] that I am so very impressed with our NINJA! The boyfriend's mom gave us ours and we have used the heck out of it! It blends everything completely and crushes ice like it ain't no thing! If you're in the market for an awesome new kitchen gadget, we highly recommend this one!

Organic Spinach

The extra "oomph" I needed

Sunflower Seed Butter (From Trader Joe's) and 1% (because my boys don't really like skim) milk

 Our Saturday was eventful! A regular whirlwind. One more piece of advice on some nummy, nummy food:

T.G.I.Friday's is having an awesome deal right now! They have healthy options to choose from and we enjoyed a visit to their restaurant today. The service here is great and the food was fantastic. I had the Parmesan Crusted Flounder + Tomato, Mozzarella Salad and Steamed Broccoli. Throw in my three glasses of iced water and my meal was brilliant! Check them out. Their 2-for-$10 deal is pretty hard to beat and so fiendishly kind to our college-kid budget. 

:]

What did you all eat? Did you venture out of your comfort zones? I sincerely hope so! 

Obstacles

What I felt I looked like...

I haven't posted anything in a couple of days, my apologies. Unfortunately I got food poisoning and couldn't bother to be more than three feet from the bathroom. I went to Subway, of all the healthy places to stop and grab a bite - then three hours later, I became intimately acquainted with my porcelain throne. If you've never had the pleasure of puking your brains out, let me enlighten you: It was all kinds of crampy, sweaty and dry-heaving awful. It did make me wonder how some people could be bulimic, though. Personally, the thought of vomiting on purpose just makes me queasy. I felt horrendous and couldn't even keep down water, for fitness sake!

How serious was this 2-day torture? I did not even crave coffee. Not one, single drop. As a matter of fact, the smell of it made me nauseous. That serious.  My philosophy on coffee is similar to that of a drunk and their alcohol of choice...dropping it or cutting it out is NOT an option! Just so you know. :)

So...hooray for feeling better and thank the exercise gods that I can now take a few steps without having to hold onto something.

I feel that I got better by eating some yummy soups. I didn't feel like making anything, so I called in an order for Wonton Soup (just the broth...they thought it was a weird request) from my favorite Chinese restaurant in Waco. Cathay House! They have amazing food and fit perfectly into a college-kid budget. Not a single one of their dishes is above $7. Perfect, right? 

Along with the wonton soup broth (which was the only thing I forced down on Wednesday), I picked up a Mushroom Rice Noodle Soup Bowl by Thai Kitchen. It was only 3 WW points [not that it mattered, since the only other thing I had was sips of water] and was very tasty. [I had my taste buds working at half-power on Thursday, so it may have been on the saltier side and I honestly had no clue] I followed the microwaveable directions and added half a cup of Green Giant mixed veggies. After a nap, I was on the mend: fast-track style! 

Super Tasty, Quick to Make - You can't go wrong!

Needless to say, my week was complicated and very rough. Just another obstacle. I didn't get a chance to work-out much, but I did lose three pounds. All water-weight, no doubt...but I'm still feeling out-of-my-mind weak, so I won't be running again until at least tomorrow evening. That said, let me give you some advice:

If you're feeling crummy, don't push it. There's nothing to win from working out when your body is not able to benefit from your endeavors. Take a break, a day to gather yourself and then head back out there. Knowing your limitations is key to successfully losing weight. 

I hope your weekend is amazing! As for me? I'm hitting the books hard and spending my time making oodles of study-notes. Graduation is in a few weeks and I'm in the last leg of this all-out sprint. 

Until tomorrow!

Junk in the Trunk

Sometimes the junk is hard to resist...

Let's face it, we all have "cheat" days. For me, I cheat on healthy foods when I study, and boy is it a love affair! It's so much easier for me to reach for a bottle of Mountain Dew and  a bag of Doritos + Kit Kats. The perfect study snack, right? 

WRONG!

I'm still learning to move away from the junk food, and I'm completely smitten with my friend, The Dew. So...I opted for a healthier Teddy Graham option and limited myself to ONE 16 oz. bottle of the awesome green bubbly. 

Again...everything in moderation! 

As I'm getting ready for my midterm (and pulling an almost-all-nighter) I realized where most of my pounds started accumulating. 

The culprit? My late-night study and snack routine. 

Lightbulb!

Those 2am kit-kats and soda-breaks through SoRo are the cause of all the junk in my trunk. This booty just won't quit. I know that's probably not much to truly complain about...I mean, I could have no booty and that would make me sad. I'm quite fond of said booty, though I want it to not be so...in-your-face. Hence, the workouts!

Unfortunately, studying takes up my time and then I forget to work out. 

Solution?

Set an alarm! I now set a "Get your Sexy Self to the Gym" alarm and it reminds me to step away from my academic prison to get me some endorphins! 

Try the alarm idea...it works so well for me!

Get that trunk moving and have fun doing it!

Hasta!

The Teddies...helping me study!

Veggies have SWAG, right?

 

Hello, lovelies! :] I hope your weekend was amazing! Mine was a bit hectic and nothing less than tons-of-fun. <3 Hanging out with besties and eating some great food? Life can't be much sweeter. Today I'm adding my Beef Stir Fry Recipe, get excited!

Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to make the Green Monster, just yet. It'll have to wait...for now. Don't worry though, I promise to get to it soon!

Part of this weekend's adventure included a trip to the movies (I dreaded the snacks), a few bites out and some traditional at-home sit-down meals. It was awesome.

Let me start by saying that I have fallen completely head-over-freaking-heels for Whole Foods! They have some amazing Vegan Cupcakes, which says something...because I loathe being able to taste healthier food. I know that sounds weird, but let's face it: Once you've had a romance with butter, flour and all their yummy, nummy friends...it's hard to forget they exist.

[Yes, I did see you shake your head in agreement]

So I can completely appreciate a healthier option for anything, as long as it's delicious!

Enter, my new stir-fry favorite. 

Fun fact? I used a quick spritz of Crisco's Extra Virgin Olive Oil spray (about a second's worth) and proceeded to add flank steak and onions (let 'em get well-acquainted). Once the meat's nearly completely cooked, add the rest of the veggies and the sauce (found in the "Asian" food aisle...really. Not, "P.C."...but hey, that's what they called it). Let the sauce thicken while you pop in a bag of Uncle Ben's Jasmine rice for 90 seconds, then you're ready to plate your wonderful dish! This entire dish is only 460 calories and so, fantastically delicious! There was plenty of the main dish left for two more meals (though there was only enough rice for one more). I hope you like this dish as much as I do!

Now, onto HYDRATION!

It's extremely important to give your body water, you need it! Sodas and coffee do not count (well, they do - as does your food - but it's not enough water). Your body needs plenty of water to simply survive. The general rule of thumb is 8 glasses of water per day, but if you can get close to 6, you will be just dandy and feeling quite peppy! :] Drinking water, in generous portions throughout the day keeps you focused, alert and full. For zero calories, how can you complain? 

That's right, you can't!

So pick up that water and make an honest effort to drink more of it every single day. Make small goals, like adding one cup a week, until you reach 8 cups. Your body will tell you when your full of water, so trust it. If you don't think that you can ingest anymore, then STOP! Don't make yourself sick by trying to hold down that liquid. Too much water is in fact very damaging to your body, so don't push it. 

Another switch-up!

Desserts. 

You love them, I love them and hate them, but learn to love them again. Where do we draw the line with this sumptuous relationship

Draw the line where you know another bite will make you that much closer to unbuttoning the top button on your jeans. That's just not attractive. 

Instead of devouring the entire cheesecake, take a small slice. Indulge every now and then, but still in moderation. Come on, sweetheart...the goal is to lose weight. Keep that in mind, always. Unfortunately, the increase in cheesecake consumption will be directly proportional to the rising size in pants for you. Be warned. Stay in control. Your relationship with food should be a healthy one, not one of over-indulgence. Learning control is difficult, but can be done. 

Case in point...me at the movie theatre last weekend.

My friend loves the popcorn at Studio Movie Grill, she goes nuts over it. Plus, she likes to pour extra butter on it (something I never, ever, ever like to do). This tub-o-corn comes in a smaller size than that of the average theatre, but it's still chock-full of somewhat-empty calories. Imagine my surprise, if you will, when I realize that I'm so very hungry and my only real option is to eat this popcorn. Thankfully, the waitress forgot to bring the butter, so I was safe there. I ate about a cup and a half of popcorn (out of the nearly 6 cups), with two glasses of water. As it was 6pm and I'd only eaten 400 calories so far that day, this wasn't such an awful splurge. However, I won't be doing it again any time soon. 

Remember to think about what you eat! Count your calories (or points), make sure you have space in your daily diet for a bit of something extra. It's important for us to get the tasty things we crave, along with the nutrients our bodies need. The ultimate goal will be when those two elements can be found in the same food. Oh, that will be bliss!

I hope that your workouts are going great. Mine were thrown off this weekend and I'm going out for a couple of runs tomorrow. 

Thanks for keeping me company on this adventure!

Let me know how you're doing.

:]

 

Oh, Reebok. Look What You Made Me Do!

I was searching for a new workout routine when I stumbled across this:

Seriously?

Really Reebok? Who is in charge of your advertising, because I know of a fantastic firm that would NEVER have let you all embarrass yourselves like this. 

How does this appeal to the general male populous? This isn't comical or even remotely a "only-guys-would-truly-get-this" ad. You paid good money, earned through reaching out to both males and females (I'm sure a majority of your consumer base is in fact women), to an idiot who came up with this for your brand? It's disrespectful and offensive. How is it that not a single person stood up to say this idea was moronic? More-over, how could you blatantly segregate your male and female consumers? Rude! You're perpetuating a cycle that belittles women and that is just plain awful. You should be ashamed of yourselves. 

Something needed to be said.
Their ads [and those of many other corporations] seem to be working hard at this backward thinking. What gives, folks? We need to continue to empower young women so that they may strive for greatness, not making them feel as if they're replaceable and meaningless. 

In an effort to becoming healthier people (I promise I'll get off my soapbox soon) we need to be better to each other.

To the guys: 

Please be a man that your girl can be proud of; open the door often, shower her with forehead kisses and be her knight in shining armor. Understand that she's not perfect, but is constantly trying to be so for you. Never underestimate her passion for life, her hopes and dreams and know that you are a pivotal person in her world. Relationships are hard and they take work, but when you find the right girl (whether she is Mrs. Forever or simply in-the-moment) treat her with the same respect and tenderness that you wish to receive. 

For my girls:

Be honest and open with your guy, but remember that [though partnerships are important] you do not need a man to define you. Be yourself and be sure to let him in. Spoil him with your wonderful laugh and a good tickle fight. Appreciate him for loving you and being there when your world seems to be falling apart. Lean on him as much as he leans on you. Be sure to get through life together, with sweet words and warm hugs.   

No, I didn't make mention to same-sex partnerships. Wondering why?

It's because (though I'm sure it occurs) same-sex couples seem to have come to a realization that heterosexual couples can't seem to grasp:  Everyone wants to be loved. To truly love someone means to accept them for everything they are - mind, body and soul. Love is something so deep that it cannot fit into a tiny box that society tries to shove it in. They understand the gravity of fighting for someone to cherish and be allowed to do so and, for that, I applaud them.

Try to live out your life in a positive way, always thinking of the upside. Maybe if more of us do that, we won't have so much negativity floating around. We could rid the world of scummy awful offensive crud and be happier. It pays to be happy and studies have shown that endorphin-filled, happy people live longer, healthier lives. 

It amazes me to find how health can transcend so many different realms and yet they're all relative to each other. In what ways have you reached out lately? Are you any closer to that happy + healthy lifestyle?

 

Food Critics Unite!

When I went to the grocery store yesterday I picked up a new brand of oatmeal [that looked amazingly nummy], a beautiful bunch of bananas (like that alliteration?) and a bag of quakes rice snacks. I've fully transitioned into the health-nut phase during this third week of my adventure. I haven't worked out in a week, due to studies and stresses going on right now - so I've had to make my daily caloric intake stricter than usual. I'm still following my WW points, and that alone allows me to lose weight by watching what I eat. Where I wanted to pay more attention to my diet was my breakfast. 

For the first two weeks, I ate a granola bar (Cascadian Farms Chocolate Chip or NutriGrain Raspberry) + an apple and a bottle of water. Now, this got me through class and a morning workout just fine, but I was using 6 WW points on a measly breakfast. So, I went in search of something better and more filling. What I found was this:

I am not a huge fan of the sugary oatmeal types and prefer a "build-your-own" approach, but for some reason (probably the blueberry muffin on the box & "Better Oats") caught my eye. Let me tell you, I was sincerely surprised with this product! There are 5 packets in one box ($1.98) and you microwave (there's a stove-top option too, but I needed the quick-semi-lazy way in order to make it to class on time) the oats with one-half cup of water [the oatmeal pouch doubles as a measuring cup! I <3 easy directions!]

I added a full banana to the oatmeal, add a bottle of water and voilà! It's a delicious brekky, filling and less than 175 calories! It's a win-win, friends! What are your favorite oatmeal combos?

YUM-O! Blueberries + Banana Oatmeal

EDIT: I forgot to mention that there is flax seed in this oatmeal. I'd never tried flax seed before and was a bit skeptical. However, the seeds add a bit of crunch to an otherwise [regular-old-oatmeal] plain mush. The flax seed really makes all the difference and I'll be sure to add it to my own home-style creations for breakfast in the near future!

I loved my oatmeal breakfast but was not-so-impressed with my dinner option. Enter: Healthy Choice Honey Balsamic Chicken. The box is out of this world DECEIVING! Honestly, false advertising is the worst! Though low in calories (210 cal) and high in protein (12g) this meal is a bit high in sodium (500mg), no surprise there since it's a frozen meal.

Advertised Meal:

Looks delicious, right?

 Think again!

The sauce was salty, which I didn't care for, and the tomatoes + asparagus - that attracted me to the box in the first place - were wilted and bitter. The potatoes overpowered the entire meal, no doubt to fill the consumer up on starches. My particular portion had less than 1.5 ounces of chicken [oh yes, I weighed it], and the tiny pieces were sprinkled throughout the meal. 

Now, don't get me wrong, I have a healthy love of vegetables and fruits...I can't seem to get enough of them, but this meal was simply awful. Though it didn't taste like cardboard, it was almost like feeding myself a salt-lick with a side of two-week old veggies. Not okay. 

What my meal actually looked like:

Eww...right?

What's appetizing about this? Nothing. Zilch. Niet. Nada. 

See all the potatoes? Yes, it's a cheap ingredient, but my plan is to lose weight, not increase my jiggly-ness for the winter hibernation. 

It most certainly did not rock my socks off. 

I am willing to give Healthy Choice one more try, as I also purchased the Garlic-Herb Shrimp Steamer Entree. Maybe they can redeem themselves. 

If they don't, then I may have to stick with Taralynn's idea that "if it's frozen and in a box at the store, it should stay there!"

Alright, enough with the bad (and it was quite horrendous)...let me tell you about my new favorite sweet snack! I know many of you may think poorly hateful things of rice cakes, but I for one luuuuurve them! You can customize the larger ones (in essence, using them like edible plates) with anything from salads to scrumptious fruits and nut-butters! :D

Behold:

Plain Rice Cake w/ Sunbutter + Banana

Brown Rice Cake w/ Calimyrna Figs, Arugula and a Thyme-Infused Balsamic Reduction

Chicken Salad + Avocado on Brown Rice Cake

You see how awesome these can be? Don't hate. Create! It's amazing how versatile these are. Of course, for those with a sweet tooth and on the run, you can always pick up a bag of Quakes. They're bite-size rice cakes and come in a myriad of flavors. My new personal favorite is the Vanilla Creme Brulee. They're delectable!

One serving size is 13 minis and comes in at 120 calories. I only needed about 5 to feel that I'd met my sweet craving. Be careful though! Portion out a serving size or less...they can be addictive, like chips! It won't do you any good to gobble up the entire bag. 

That's about all the foodie-criticness I have in me today. 


Tomorrow I'm back at the gym. I've got tons of making up to do for skipping in order to study! Angry at myself? YES! However, I'll be back on the work-out bandwagon soon enough. My legs are itching for a great run!

Until tomorrow!

Nummies!

Alright...this looks seriously scrumptious! I'm very excited about this new blog I found and even more excited about tweaking some of these amazing recipes to be a bit healthier (most of them are pretty great already though). The easiest thing to cut out of the recipes I have found is OIL! Switching out the recommended amount for a bit of EVOO spray is a cinch! Trust me, if I can take out all the added oils from the traditional Mexican food that my family and I make, then it's possible to remove it from almost everything! Yes, oils are healthy for you since your body cannot create them and requires them in order to function...so don't cut them out ENTIRELY! Be frugal with them though. 

Now, I'm adding something to my adventure: Healthier cooking, with a twist.

It's going to start out as a weekly kind of thing (Friday-Saturday), because I prefer to cook in my own kitchen [that I return to on the weekends, away from school], as opposed to the one I am subleasing and sharing with 4 other people. It's so not fun to make nummy, nummy foods, only for someone else (whom you did not slave over a stove/oven for) to paw up the leftovers for themselves. Not cool, yo! 

This weekend, I'll be sure to try something new and post up pictures, plus the recipe and nutrition info. I am not one to give up all of my favorite foods, so I'm looking for healthier ways to make them or overall alternatives. I'd like to start with the above CAKE, but that would probably be naughty of me...so I'll think of something else to scrounge up. I'm sure the boy-fran will be excited!

Any suggestions or recipes you'd like for me to make would be greatly appreciated, so put your two cents in!

Relationships

This topic has been on my mind quite a bit, as of late, but I simply had no clue how to address it. While on this healthy journey, I've begun to realize the more pivotal people in my life. These are the people who challenge me to be better, kinder, happier and who can appreciate me for everything I am - all the time. They rally around me and make me feel loved, lucky and ever-so-blessed. If you are one of them, I'm sure you know it - as I am one to spill love all over you! I'm going to point out a few people specifically, because of how influential they have been, always and especially lately. 

First we have my wonderful boy-fran! 

He is just about the best man I have ever met in my life (second only to my Grandpa). Angel can make me laugh when all I want to do is cry, I swear - his arms were made for the sole purpose of being wrapped around me and he loves me with a fierceness that I have never known from anyone. He is not my rock, but rather my island. I can run to him and be at peace, always. The best thing about him is his smile, it's contagious. He provides me with serenity and constantly challenges me to let go of the small stuff. We are both Taurus signs and fight like the dickens, but we somehow manage to keep it together, constantly in sync with one another. Choosing him was not a fluke, but rather a push in the right direction from two other wonderful people in my life. 

Allow me to introduce Honour and Laura. 

Now, I chose this picture for 2 reasons. 

A.) We are happy and smiley, though Honour is not looking at the camera. :|

B.) This picture was taken the last time we three got together...in 2008.

This is a testament to how crucial some relationships can be. For me, these beautiful ladies are my true north, the reason I stay grounded and a huge reason for why I am the woman I've become. Let me be clear, I have only 8 best girl friends. The two ladies above have been by my side since high school, the other 6 sisters of mine met me in college.

Laura and I fell into step our Sophomore year and never looked back. Though we went to separate colleges (she's the reason I ended up choosing Baylor) and shared infrequent visits over the years, we have never failed to be friends. She was there for every tortured phone call about dreading finals and hating my major, to the heart-breaking moments when we each thought we'd missed out on true love. Laura is passionate, caring, kind and the gentlest person I have ever met. This postcard enthusiast and lover of Indian food has a charismatic spirit and the greatest snorts. She brings out the kid in me and never fails to lift me up when I feel so very broken.

My dearest Honour, she's a whole other type of story. I loathed everything about this quick-witted, beautiful and sassy young lady from the moment she walked into my Freshman English class. Everything about her (for no freaking reason, whatsoever!) pissed me off. Perhaps it was the way my guy friends drooled all over her, or the notion that she may be smarter than me (she is, in so many ways)...but something about her just rattled me. The truly funny thing about this? Honour hated me too. From day one, but one day...we clicked. Our friendship blossomed in our Sophomore year as well but didn't truly solidify until our Senior year, where she let me lean on her for all the tough stuff and I bailed her out of a few sticky situations. She is a prime example for the saying "Friends bail you out of jail, but best friends are sitting next to you in the cell." Yep, that was us. [Thank goodness, we never wound up in jail.]

We talk all the time, despite not having seen each other in years. Time does not matter to true friends. It's simply moments that pass by, allowing us to grow apart in distance, yet closer in soul. I am always thinking of the people who have profoundly impacted my life and none have done more for me than my friends. 

I know this was long, but I have thought long and hard about this. You see, relationships are our greatest ally and weakest link. We tie our hearts to other people, our happiness lies in the essence of another person. Recently, I was speaking to both of these girlies about love and expectations. I came to realize that we all experience different sorts of love and for those bibliophiles like us, we feel like we've been left wanting. Our expectations of a partner or friend are held to incredible standards and, more often than not, we wind up disappointed. 

What we need to do is take stock of the important ones in our life at this moment. Make sure they know they are loved and appreciated. And the others? Those who have abandoned us, walked away or simply lost touch...they should stay gone. I'm not telling you to burn bridges, but I am saying that you should move on. Those who've walked away did so for a reason. If fate should see them back in, then welcome that person with open arms. This is healthy. 

Part of becoming fit is not only strengthening the body, but the mind and soul as well. Get in touch with yourself. Find out what you need, want and feel. Stick to your guns and go after what you love. Keep up with your support system and remember to listen as much (if not more) than you speak. This is a lesson where I am still very much a novice. I'm learning to be a better friend and striving to be a better "me."

Cultivate healthy relationships and prosper in them. When you surround yourself with beautiful, wonderful people, life is such a joy and (from my own personal experience) the problems that were once mountains, are much easier to climb. 

How have your friendships impacted your life recently? 

How is your journey to a healthier, sexier you going?