Miss Independent?

Before I get started on my daily blabbing, I need to rant: bear with me.

I have lived on my own for three years.  Although there are things I don't like doing (dishes, light bulbs, trash, etc.), I have gotten by on my own fairly well.  

BUT: since I started cooking so often, I have become seriously paranoid that I am going to slice off my hand, and no one is going to be here to help me.  The same goes with splinters: the other day I accidentally scraped my hand on the inside of a door jamb and received a huge, nasty splinter that dug itself deeply into my right ring finer.  I was nearly in tears while trying to remove this tiny piece of wood with my left hand, something that would have taken mere seconds if I had had someone to help me.

And today, I went to Target to purchase a bookshelf; I have hundreds of books and am literally out of room, and this piece of furniture was on sale for $15.  How could I turn it down?!  I hauled it off the shelf, into my cart, into my trunk, out of my trunk, and upstairs: all by myself.  This thing wasn't light, people.  I was awfully proud of myself - until I took it out of the box and tried to assemble it.  Really, all it includes is pieces of plywood and screws.  It should've been a piece of cake.  I took my screwdriver, my hammer, and tried to put this thing together from every possible angle, and it just wasn't working.

FRUSTRATED.

Anyway...  Today was an okay a pretty crappy day.  I woke up absolutely exhausted.  I finally took two Tylenol PM at midnight last night because I couldn't sleep.  And even that didn't help me!  I was up until 2 am - watching "Jersey Shore" and trying to crash.

I finally rolled out of bed around 9:30 and made a scrumptious breakfast of Banana Oats:

They were delish, as usual.  I can't seem to prevent them from overflowing in the microwave, though...  Ideas?

After I ate breakfast, I decided I should shower and actually put on some make-up and look cute today; after all, it was going to be my free day from the gym!

I then went to school and attempted to work.  However, it was quite difficult, as the server kept crashing.  Lovely.  I was then attacked by a bat as I tried to go through the school to a meeting about what?  Oh yes, technology: again, the computers did not work.  Well, that meeting ended quickly.

Because my "check engine" light came on last week, I decided I should finally take my car to the shop.  I dropped it off at Midas at 1:40, and a good friend came to pick me up to go to the gym.  Although it was going to be a free day, I am so thankful she dragged me along: I felt so good and can only imagine the even bigger funk I'd be in if I hadn't worked out.

I came home and ate some leftovers:

Four hours later, when Midas was about to close and I still hadn't heard from them, I decided to walk down there.  Two miles in flip-flops was a horrible idea.  My feet are ruined.  And I should've just let my car be; turns out I'm pretty much going to need to buy a new one because of all the repairs that are needed.  Lovely.

After spending the majority of the evening trying to put together a bookshelf and wallowing, I ate the rest of the leftovers along with a side of baby carrots and a warmed Flatout wrap.

Time for bed.  Busy, super fun weekend ahead.  Stay tuned.

Today's grand total:

Calories: 1,180
Fat: 29 grams
Carbs: 128 grams
Protein: 41 grams

Spin Me Right Round

Whew - today was another busy one, but thankfully, I am much less cranky than I was at this time yesterday!  Perhaps it's because I had more food in my tummy.  :)

I tried to sleep in a bit again today, but the neighbors seem to think 8:30 is the best time to mow the lawn.  So, I was up and at 'em!  (Okay, it's not super early, I know...)  I started the day with my gummy vitamins (haven't forgotten yet!) and a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios, ground flaxseed, and UVAB.

I can't believe how much UVAB I can have for so few calories!  Also, please note that I am trying really, really hard to take prettier pictures.  I am pretty much the Queen of Photography, but I royally suck at food pictures.

After breakfast, I attempted to ride to the bike shop to get my issue from yesterday solved; however, after nearly wiping out about eight times in muddy patches on the trail, I finally turned around when I couldn't pass through mud without getting ankle-deep in it.  I'm pretty sure the last thing Central Iowa needs right about now is more rain!

I only made it 3.5 miles roundtrip, so when I got home, I hopped in the car to go to spinning class at the gym.  O...M...G.  Toughest. Workout. Ever.  Or maybe it was just my instructor (my amazing friend/colleague/yogi).  Anyway, see for yourself just how tough it was:

Haha - isn't that the most disgusting picture?!  My hair WAS in a cute bump but became matted to my forehead in the first 30 seconds of the workout.  And my shirt WAS light gray, as you can see on my sports bra-covered boobs.  It was definitely not a waste of 45 minutes, that's for sure!

I was fairly starving after that - and thirsty! - so made myself a delicious lunch:

A Light Italian Herb Flatout wrap stuffed to the brim with one wedge of Queso Fresco and Chipotle Laughing Cow cheese, turkey, lettuce, and 1/4 an avocado - with a side of juicy white peach - was just what the doctor ordered!

Just look at all of the deliciousness I packed into one "sandwich"!

After my lunch and shower, I had fully intended on going to back to the coffee shop to make serious headway on lesson plans and other miscellaneous school stuff.  However, I was utterly pooped and decided that lying on the couch was a much better option.

But don't worry: I eventually felt guilty for doing nothing, so peeled myself away from my oh-so-comfy sofa, ate a snack, and headed to Caribou.

Honestly, if you've never tried Larabars, you must.  Today's flavor was Ginger Snap, and it totally tasted like an actual cookie.  So. Good.

Even though I say I worked a good two hours on school stuff, I'd be lying if I didn't say some of the time was spent procrastinating: for example, finding something to cook tonight.  After scouring Cooking Light's website, I found a recipe for which I only needed to purchase three ingredients: Pasta with Spinach and Prosciutto:

It was very good; I absolutely love tortellini - probably my favorite pasta - and spinach and garlic are also two of my faves.  However, I was not completely impressed with the flavor of the prosciutto.  Perhaps it is because of the brand, or maybe it's because I'm not much of a red-meat eater.  I'm not sure.  But, I know I needed the protein, so I ate it regardless.  And on the side, an overflowing bowl of carrots and cherry tomatoes.

It truly was a meal of favorites - YUM.

Well, I'm about to finish my second bottle of Nalgene (in addition to the 24 ounces of water I drank during spinning) and then hit the sack!  I need to wake up early to take my car to the shop: dumb "Check Engine" light...  Ciao!

Today's grand total:

Calories: 1008
Fat: 40 grams
Carbs: 131 grams
Protein: 45 grams

Oops

You knew it was coming.  Of course you knew.  I was going to mess up.  Who would've thought it'd be already, though?  This is only Day Three.

BUT.

I did not mess up in the way you might imagine.  Even though it was volleyball night, I did not drink.  Even though it was a warm, humid day, I did not go get ice cream.  Nope.  In fact, I messed up by not eating enough.

Unlike many other people, I do not overeat when I am stressed: I undereat.  Give me a good break-up, and I lose a good ten pounds.  Give me the start to the school year, and I eat less than 1,000 calories.  And get a massive headache.  (Mom, please don't yell at me.  I'll do better tomorrow!)

Here's the break-down of the day:

It started off phenomenally well.  I woke up and concocted one of my favorite breakfasts, courtesy of a fellow blogger: Banana-Almond Oats.  In the mix: 1/3 cup oats, 1/3 cup UVAB, 1/3 cup water, half a chopped banana.  Microwave on high for three minutes, and top with the other half of the chopped banana and one tablespoon of almond butter.  It's so good that it's almost like dessert.

I then booked it (pun intended) to Caribou to work on school stuff.  One of the stressors in my life is that school starts a week from tomorrow, and I have yet to figure out what I am teaching.  After several hours of hard work, one large iced tea, one Nalgene, and many bathroom breaks at the coffee shop, I still felt like I had accomplished nothing.

So...it was time for relaxation.  I first went to yoga with my friend, the best instructor in the world.  It was a difficult work-out, but I feel like I am improving, so that made me happy.  Plus, she has the best relaxation at the end of the work-out, and I felt so much better.

After yoga I went home to do another of my most favorite relaxing activities: cooking - and more precisely - chopping vegetables.  Julie Powell, from Julie and Julia, once said, "You know what I love about cooking?  I love that after a day when nothing is sure, you can come home and absolutely know that if you add egg yolks to chocolate and sugar and milk, it will get thick.  That's such a comfort."  I'm not so sure that baking is my comfort (not enough experience + crappy oven = stress), but I do love the methodical chopping of food.  That is comforting to me.

And the result of the chopping?  A beautiful black bean and avocado salad courtesy of Women's Health. (I am just obsessed with magazine recipes lately!)

Mmm, mmm good.

After that afternoon "snack," I decided to go on a bike ride prior to helping a friend move and volleyball later in the evening.  I did not get far in my ride, as the bag my mom got me for my birthday kept snagging on my tire.  I tried fixing it numerous times, but it still kept rubbing and eventually started to rip a hole in the rubber.  After closer inspection when I arrived home, I decided that I weigh too much so that my ass keeps pushing the bag onto the tire.  Awesome.  Let's add to the frustration.  And the headache.

Oh well.  I'll be riding to the bike shop tomorrow - with my bike bag in my backpack.  :)

And, on a semi-related note, my BFF gave me a scale that she had sitting at home, still in the packaging. I may be a little obsessive and have stood on it no fewer than four times today.  Damn you, bike bag!

But I digress...  I arrived at my friend's new apartment just in time: I only had to carry one load upstairs.  (Sorry, Friend!)  And then headed off to volleyball, where we almost won!  If I had played better (or, probably, sat on the sidelines) the first two games, maybe we could've won; but, I did pull my weight (I'm so punny tonight!) during the last one!  And finished Nalgene #2!

And due to the massive headache and lightheadedness I acquired during volleyball, I decided that, despite not being hungry in the least, I should probably eat something when I got home.  So...I ate the other half of the salad, wrapped in my new favorite food product: Flatout Bread.  (Seriously: go buy some.  Now.  OMG.)

And, to make me happy, I chugged down a glass of sugar-free, tropical punch Kool Aid.  OMG.  I cannot even begin to describe how much I love Kool Aid (grape, cherry, tropical punch - it doesn't matter!) - and how much I drink - always with a straw, of course!

Tomorrow's going to be a busy day: bike shop, spinning class, and a whole lot of work for school.  Wish me luck!

Today's grand total:

Calories: 924
Fat: 48 grams*
Carbs: 108 grams
Protein: 30.5

*That is a lot for how little I ate, but there was an entire avocado in the salad!

Believe It Or Not

I know I said I would blog every day, but even though it is technically Wednesday, I haven't been to sleep yet.  And because it's my blog, it counts.

Today was a very productive day.  I got it started with a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios and Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze.  Holy moly: if you've never tried this, go to the store and buy some now.  Totally delish.

I then packed a satisfying snack to take to my classroom for my morning work: a chocolate coconut Larabar, a banana, and a piece of string cheese.  Because my breakfast was a little protein deficient, I thought I was going to be famished quickly.  Perhaps it was because I was just so busy, but I only ate the string cheese!

After nearly finishing my classroom (I only have files to unpack and sort), I took my BFF, who also helped at school, to lunch.  I wish I had remembered to take a picture of the amazing Palmer's salad before I inhaled it, but alas, I did not.  Anyway, I had a small spinner salad with romaine lettuce, red pepper, mushroom, black olive, provolone, turkey, and an egg, topped with a little raspberry vinaigrette dressing.  It came with a whole-wheat roll, but I didn't even eat it!  :)

Then it was off to the gym.  After three miles and 35 minutes on the elliptical (made much easier with an old Women's Health magazine), I did an ab workout and then walked a mile on the track.  Done within an hour, I was feeling refreshed and a little sore!  So, I ate my banana on the way home, hoping the potassium would help the muscles feel better.

As soon as I got home, I plopped on the couch to finish my book!  Yes, month one's goal of completing a book of my choice is already complete!  I absolutely LOVED The Girl Who Played With Fire, even more so than Stieg Larsson's first book, and I couldn't put it down.  Now I am trying to figure out what to read next!  Suggestions?

For dinner I ate leftover zucchini pasta from last night, accompanied by some baby carrots, and drank an iced tea.  (I knew that tonight, being Tuesday Team Trivia, had the potential to be a late night and wanted to dope up on some caffeine so that I didn't crash early!)  Don't worry: I did get my two Nalgenes of water in today as well!

Boy, was I right!  I just got home from a rousing game of trivia.  While team Booze Clues totally sucked it up tonight, we somehow still remained in second place overall.  Team: we need to bring our A game next week and push to first!

Y'all will be so proud of me.  I brought my Nalgene to the bar and did not drink a single sip, even though the cheap pitchers of PBR were calling my name!  I didn't even eat a piece of the popcorn that kept reappearing on the table; instead, I ate the Larabar that I had intended for earlier.  Not drinking during trivia was not too difficult, but after it was over and the raucous dance party started, that's another story.  Leslie and the Ly's hosted their after-the-state-fair party at the Des Moines Social Club, and not only did I stay stone-cold sober during this...



...but I also participated in the ridiculous dance party that ensued.  Oh yes.  Stone.  Cold.  Sober.  If I can do that, I can conquer the world!  :)

Today's grand total*:

Calories: 1396
Fat: 60 grams
Carbs: 146 grams
Protein: 79 grams

*This was a bit estimated because I do not know exact amounts of what they put in the salad; however, I overestimated.

And now it's bedtime.  Although the classroom is nearly finished, I have so much left to do before Monday: for instance, figure out what the heck I'm teaching!  G'night!

Success!

Well, today is the day I officially started my quest.  And it went well!

I slept in today because a.) I still can for one more week, and b.) birthday shenanigans last night went a little late.  It was such a wonderful birthday: I slept in, went to the flooded dog park with my bestest friend and her puppies, did a ton of chores that I had been neglecting, and went on a date!  A second date!  We went out for sushi - one of my all-time favorite meals - and then went to the Iowa State Fair.  Initially, we had intended on watching the free Vanilla Ice concert, but because we couldn't see him and weren't impressed with what we were hearing, we decided to wander around the fairgrounds and people-watch instead.  It was a great night!

So, after I pulled myself out of bed this morning, I happily devoured my vitamins (I'm telling you: gummy bears!) and made myself a great breakfast: one egg that I put into a bowl, whisked, and microwaved for one minute; a thin bun; and a strawberry-cheesecake yogurt, which, by the way, is soooooo decadent.  For a little punch of flavor, I topped the egg-wich with Rasta sauce.  OMG.  Perfect.

I was set for a productive day!  I headed to the gym for an hour-long yoga class, and since it wasn't as strenuous as I was hoping, I stayed for an hour-long cardio/weight class.  Let's just say that I am going to be sore tomorrow!  Because I can't procrastinate for that much longer, after I finished at the Y, I went to my classroom to get some work done; after nearly two hours of scrubbing shelves and unpacking boxes, I felt overwhelmed, so I left.  :)  Not before my delicious snack, though!  I brought along my first Nalgene of the day as well as a yummy peanut butter cookie Larabar.  Delish.

After a trip to the grocery store, I was starving again (maybe that's the fault of no lunch), so I had a mini-meal of two string cheeses and a white peach.  Oh - and another Nalgene.  :)

Today was too much productivity for me, so I topped off the afternoon with a two-hour nap.  And will now be awake until 2 a.m.  :)  I attempted a Fitness Magazine recipe for dinner: pasta with chicken, lemon, zucchini, and pine nuts.  At only 426 calories a serving, this is one of my new favorite meals!

It was so easy, and the lemon/zucchini/pine nut topping was to. die. for.  It was a little more than the 30 grams of carbohydrate and 15 grams of protein rule (49 and 32 respectively), but oh well.

Currently, as my last snack of the day, I am enjoying a scrumptious ice cream bar.  Honestly, it tastes just like a frozen Snickers - with a fraction of the calories!  Yum.

Today's grand total:

Calories: 1,321
Fat: 54.5 grams
Carbs: 148 grams
Protein: 77 grams

All in all, not too shabby!  Okay - off to catch some trashy reality TV.  Good night!

I Turned Old

Today is my 27th birthday.  I used to love birthdays: the parties, the gifts, being the center of attention, all of it.  But as I have gotten older, they don't really seem to phase me anymore.  Of course I love the girls' nights out and the thoughtful sentiments; I just don't like getting older, especially without achieving some of the goals that I had mapped out for myself.

But this year - my 27th - will be different.  I have decided to take matters into my own hands: I will set goals for myself that I will actually achieve.  And all of you, my dear friends (ok, my mom, probably the only person who will read this), are along for the ride: I suck at follow-through and really need some accountability.

So, if I mess this up and start slacking, get on me.

Here are my goals for 27:

• Eat good, healthy meals: When I was doing Farrell's hardcore, I really stuck to their diet.  Essentially, I drank nothing but water and ate six meals of 30 grams of carbs, 15 grams of protein, and one serving of vegetables every 2-3 hours.  I had one free day a week where none of this mattered, and I could eat whatever the heck I wanted.  With this diet and the amazing exercise program, I lost 13 inches in ten weeks.  And promptly gained it all back as soon as the contest ended and I started slacking.  Starting tomorrow (because hey, today is my birthday), I will be blogging my meals - which means I can't cheat.
• Lose 30 pounds: I have more than 30 pounds to lose, but I think that in 365 days, this is definitely an achievable goal.  However, I have never been one to look at weight as a number - more of a "my clothes still fit" kind of thing - so I am hoping this is not an unrealistic goal for me.
• Work out at least five days a week: I love riding my bike, I love yoga, and I just joined the YMCA, so this should be no problem for me - especially when school starts, and I'm back in a routine.
• Only drink once a week: Drinking is such a social activity in my circle of friends: trivia on Tuesday, volleyball on Wednesday, a glass of wine with dinner, bar hopping on weekends.  However, it is something that my body does not need more than once a week: I feel better when I don't drink, I have more energy when I don't drink, I get more done when I don't drink, etc.  I also suck when it comes to peer pressure.  But, I can do it.
• Drink more water: My goal is to drink 64 ounces (two Nalgene bottles) of water a day.  This should be a piece of cake.  In addition to water, I chug Kool-Aid like it's going out of style.
• Take a mulit-vitamin every day: I hate taking medicine, especially when it feels like I'm choking down a horse pill.  My parents used to buy me huge bottles of multi-vitamins that would sit in my closet for years after their expiration date because I refused to swallow them.  And then...I discovered these: they taste like gummy bears.  Goal: accomplished.
• Do yoga at least once a week: Yoga makes me feel strong and is so calming.  I have been doing yoga for about two months, and when I had to miss last week, I really felt it.  Now that I am a member at the Y, I have no excuses to miss yoga and can hopefully do it more than once a week.
• Ride RAGBRAI: I love my bike, and I love riding.  It makes me feel so young (wheeeee!) and so strong (these legs can pedal up some steep hills).  The current plan is to ride across Iowa with my mom, my aunt, and some of my amazing friends.  I have a lot of training to do first.
• Actually follow a budget: First, I am going to need a road bike in order to ride RAGBRAI, and since they are not cheap, I am going to need to save money.  Plus, I think a new car is in the works in the near future, so I need to be less frivolous with my earnings.
• Read one book a month for ME: Especially during the school year, I get so bogged down with texts I am teaching that I neglect reading for my own pleasure.  I have shelves full of books that I want to read, so I really hope I can stick with this goal!
• Become more spiritual: This does not mean that I will be going to church every Sunday; instead, it means more meditation and conscious gratitude for all of the good things in my life.  I understand this is a horrible goal because it is not measurable in the least, but I will know if I am accomplishing it.
• Blog once a day: Remember, I need accountability in order to be successful.
• Be happy: This one is going to be the easiest: I have a great life!

This is an e-card that one of my best friends sent me today.  Enjoy!