Breakfast: I started off right with a bowl of coconut breakfast quinoa topped with strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and unsweetened coconut.
And then...all hell broke loose...
I spent the day with my family. While the kids swam, I snacked on potato skins (the chips), Twizzler bites, Brach's candies, horseradish cheese and crackers, and two small tortillas slathered with Biscoff spread.
For dinner, you ask? We ordered Outback. I had a house salad with tangy tomato dressing, bread and butter, some bloomin' onion, some cheese fries with ranch, and a few bites of spinach and artichoke dip.
For dessert? A bowl of vanilla ice cream and a Heath candy bar.
Take that, clean eating.
Oh...and no exercise.
Approximate calories consumed: 3216.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Thursday, July 18, 2013
July 18: Daily Recap
Breakfast: 2 servings of low fat cottage cheese with strawberries [203 calories].
Exercise: [Yeah. I did that shit today. In this heat. BAM!] Speed workout on the roadie--5 minute warm-up; ten 3-minute intervals [1 minute high intensity/speed; 2 minutes low intensity]. Turned around after the final high intensity interval and rode back home for a total 70-75 minute ride.
Lunch: Salad with mixed greens, cucumber, carrots, adzuki burger, roasted red peppers, havarti with dill, crispy rice noodles, sliced almonds, and the rest of the Applebee's dressing [720 calories]. [I forgot to take a photo, but it looks just like yesterday's, so here ya go.]
Holy SHIT, salad?! That's a lot of damn calories. The dressing was killer, and the mayo in the dressing alone accounted for 180 of those calories. I loved the dressing, though, and want to try and make it work. I'll try making it with fat free Greek yogurt next time, and see if it's still as delicious. Otherwise, I'll have to 86 the havarti and the rice noodles to fit this into my diet on occasion. It really was a welcome break from my usual honey with Dijon mustard, and it made my lunchtime salad something that I actually looked forward to eating.
On the plus side, my calories for breakfast were very low, and I ate that salad after a 15-mile ride with speed intervals. MyNetDiary tells me I burned over 800 calories, which I think is preposterous, but even if I only burned 300-400, I'm still looking good for the rest of the day. Besides, I'm counting calories to get my eating in check, not to obsess about the numbers. Counting made me realize that, on a rest day with a regular breakfast, this salad is a little too high in calories as it is and adjustments will have to be made.
Snack: Pickle [10 calories]
Dinner: 2/3 cup brown rice topped with 2/3 cup leftover chickpeas romesco and one cup of red, seedless grapes [425 Calories]
Total calories consumed: 1357
I am trying to remember that I need to be a little hungry to make the number on the scale go down. I'm not talking about starving myself or anything. I want to keep my body fed and nourished. I want to build muscles and get stronger and faster and heal my old wounds, but I can't feel satisfied all of the time. I've been documenting my food here for over a month now, and I'm a long way from having a healthy, consistent diet. It's something I must continue to work on.
Even now, when the sun is sinking and the day is ending, I could go for some ice cream. Heck, I could even go for some fruit and yogurt (but no vegetables, please, I'm not that hungry). Some Vega chocolate protein powder with soy milk would also be fantastic. Or a frozen waffle (or four). Instead, I will focus my attention elsewhere, and remind myself why I'm doing this.
For me. For Mr. Kazoo. For my kids. To feel comfortable in my skin. To be confident. To be healthy. To be strong. To be fit.
Exercise: [Yeah. I did that shit today. In this heat. BAM!] Speed workout on the roadie--5 minute warm-up; ten 3-minute intervals [1 minute high intensity/speed; 2 minutes low intensity]. Turned around after the final high intensity interval and rode back home for a total 70-75 minute ride.
Lunch: Salad with mixed greens, cucumber, carrots, adzuki burger, roasted red peppers, havarti with dill, crispy rice noodles, sliced almonds, and the rest of the Applebee's dressing [720 calories]. [I forgot to take a photo, but it looks just like yesterday's, so here ya go.]
Holy SHIT, salad?! That's a lot of damn calories. The dressing was killer, and the mayo in the dressing alone accounted for 180 of those calories. I loved the dressing, though, and want to try and make it work. I'll try making it with fat free Greek yogurt next time, and see if it's still as delicious. Otherwise, I'll have to 86 the havarti and the rice noodles to fit this into my diet on occasion. It really was a welcome break from my usual honey with Dijon mustard, and it made my lunchtime salad something that I actually looked forward to eating.
On the plus side, my calories for breakfast were very low, and I ate that salad after a 15-mile ride with speed intervals. MyNetDiary tells me I burned over 800 calories, which I think is preposterous, but even if I only burned 300-400, I'm still looking good for the rest of the day. Besides, I'm counting calories to get my eating in check, not to obsess about the numbers. Counting made me realize that, on a rest day with a regular breakfast, this salad is a little too high in calories as it is and adjustments will have to be made.
Snack: Pickle [10 calories]
Dinner: 2/3 cup brown rice topped with 2/3 cup leftover chickpeas romesco and one cup of red, seedless grapes [425 Calories]
Total calories consumed: 1357
I am trying to remember that I need to be a little hungry to make the number on the scale go down. I'm not talking about starving myself or anything. I want to keep my body fed and nourished. I want to build muscles and get stronger and faster and heal my old wounds, but I can't feel satisfied all of the time. I've been documenting my food here for over a month now, and I'm a long way from having a healthy, consistent diet. It's something I must continue to work on.
Even now, when the sun is sinking and the day is ending, I could go for some ice cream. Heck, I could even go for some fruit and yogurt (but no vegetables, please, I'm not that hungry). Some Vega chocolate protein powder with soy milk would also be fantastic. Or a frozen waffle (or four). Instead, I will focus my attention elsewhere, and remind myself why I'm doing this.
For me. For Mr. Kazoo. For my kids. To feel comfortable in my skin. To be confident. To be healthy. To be strong. To be fit.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
July 17: Daily Recap
I woke up miserable thanks to the suffocating heat and a throbbing headache. I just need to survive until the weather breaks on Saturday. I'd planned a speed ride today, and a hill ride tomorrow, but exercise and training just may not happen until Saturday morning's 45-mile distance ride (and coincidental break in the heat).
Breakfast: Fat-free Greek yogurt drizzled with honey and topped with cherries, strawberries, banana, and granola.
Today was a work day for me and, in an effort to beat the heat, I headed to the closest SBux for some A/C and some icy, headache-reducing relief.
Snack: Starbucks iced venti nonfat latte with cinnamon and two packets of Sugar in the Raw.
Lunch: Mixed salad greens with carrot, radish, cucumber, Azuki bean burger, Havarti w/ dill, crispy rice noodles, and sliced almonds dressed in the Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad dressing (recipe here). I used to love this salad, back in my meat-eating days, and was really hankering for the taste of this dressing. Is it the healthiest salad dressing I could have chosen? No. Did I enjoy my salad greens, rather than fighting the urge to gag and choke this salad down? Hell to the yes.
Snack: Granola with raisins and soy milk. Ritz crackers and Havarti w/ dill (not pictured).
Dinner: The tortilla salad from EYC topped with a black bean burger and dressed with chipotle ranch dressing. The salad had scallions, black bean and tomato salsa, cheese, and tortilla strips. Again, not super healthy, but hey...green.
Dessert: (sigh) Vanilla ice cream.
Two things:
Between breakfast and latte, I stepped on the scale for the first time in 21 days. Yes, I was supposed to wait another nine. No, I was not thrilled with the result. I put the scale away, and will not touch it again until the 26th.
Second, I NEED. TO. FIX. MY. DIET. Sweets and cheese seem to be my problem. I'm tempted to go vegan for thirty days, just to fix that shit, but I think it would be simpler to count calories again. I need some new batteries for my food scale, though, but I'll bust out the measuring cups and spoons and start counting tomorrow, scale or not. We'll see how that helps me through the next nine days. I want my next date with the scale to be a bit more promising.
Breakfast: Fat-free Greek yogurt drizzled with honey and topped with cherries, strawberries, banana, and granola.
Today was a work day for me and, in an effort to beat the heat, I headed to the closest SBux for some A/C and some icy, headache-reducing relief.
Snack: Starbucks iced venti nonfat latte with cinnamon and two packets of Sugar in the Raw.
Lunch: Mixed salad greens with carrot, radish, cucumber, Azuki bean burger, Havarti w/ dill, crispy rice noodles, and sliced almonds dressed in the Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad dressing (recipe here). I used to love this salad, back in my meat-eating days, and was really hankering for the taste of this dressing. Is it the healthiest salad dressing I could have chosen? No. Did I enjoy my salad greens, rather than fighting the urge to gag and choke this salad down? Hell to the yes.
Snack: Granola with raisins and soy milk. Ritz crackers and Havarti w/ dill (not pictured).
Dinner: The tortilla salad from EYC topped with a black bean burger and dressed with chipotle ranch dressing. The salad had scallions, black bean and tomato salsa, cheese, and tortilla strips. Again, not super healthy, but hey...green.
Dessert: (sigh) Vanilla ice cream.
Two things:
Between breakfast and latte, I stepped on the scale for the first time in 21 days. Yes, I was supposed to wait another nine. No, I was not thrilled with the result. I put the scale away, and will not touch it again until the 26th.
Second, I NEED. TO. FIX. MY. DIET. Sweets and cheese seem to be my problem. I'm tempted to go vegan for thirty days, just to fix that shit, but I think it would be simpler to count calories again. I need some new batteries for my food scale, though, but I'll bust out the measuring cups and spoons and start counting tomorrow, scale or not. We'll see how that helps me through the next nine days. I want my next date with the scale to be a bit more promising.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
July 16: Daily Recap
Breakfast: Fage fat-free Greek yogurt drizzled with honey and topped with cherries, strawberries, banana, and granola.
Lunch: Salad greens with cucumber, carrot, radish, spicey smoked tofu (not great), havarti with dill, hard-cooked egg, dried cranberries, and walnuts dressed in Dijon mustard and honey.
Exercise: 30 minute circuit. I alternated 3 minute intervals of spinning with 3 minute intervals of strength exercises focusing on the shoulders, biceps, triceps, chest, abs, glutes, and hamstrings. I tried to keep this one a little less intense because it was HOT, and my day was kicking my ass enough as it was.
Dinner: [Not pictured.] My usual order from Cozumel. Cheese quesadilla, bean burrito, and bean tostada with sour cream. Don't forget the chips and salsa.
Dessert: Mitchell's pistachio ice cream. Sooooooo sweet. Too sweet, even.
I've clearly got the exercise portion of my program down. I'm, of course, struggling with THE MOST IMPORTANT element that will help me reach my goals, diet. It's what I always struggle with. In ten days, I take my first round of progress photos in over a month, and I step on the scale. I don't want to be discouraged, so for the next ten days, I really need to focus on food.
The forecast through Friday looks BRUTAL, and I may not get much exercise because I really, really struggle in weather like this. Food is key.
So...for the next ten days, I will eat clean, clean, clean, clean. The only exception I will allow myself will occur at a wedding I'm attending on Saturday night. I will allow myself a few cocktails and, of course, a piece of wedding cake. But other than that, it's got to be perfect. And if I succeed, I'll buy myself a reward. Maybe a sandbag, maybe an equalizer, maybe a pair of cute shoes--just so long as the thought of it keeps me on track.
Let's do it.
Lunch: Salad greens with cucumber, carrot, radish, spicey smoked tofu (not great), havarti with dill, hard-cooked egg, dried cranberries, and walnuts dressed in Dijon mustard and honey.
Exercise: 30 minute circuit. I alternated 3 minute intervals of spinning with 3 minute intervals of strength exercises focusing on the shoulders, biceps, triceps, chest, abs, glutes, and hamstrings. I tried to keep this one a little less intense because it was HOT, and my day was kicking my ass enough as it was.
Dinner: [Not pictured.] My usual order from Cozumel. Cheese quesadilla, bean burrito, and bean tostada with sour cream. Don't forget the chips and salsa.
Dessert: Mitchell's pistachio ice cream. Sooooooo sweet. Too sweet, even.
I've clearly got the exercise portion of my program down. I'm, of course, struggling with THE MOST IMPORTANT element that will help me reach my goals, diet. It's what I always struggle with. In ten days, I take my first round of progress photos in over a month, and I step on the scale. I don't want to be discouraged, so for the next ten days, I really need to focus on food.
The forecast through Friday looks BRUTAL, and I may not get much exercise because I really, really struggle in weather like this. Food is key.
So...for the next ten days, I will eat clean, clean, clean, clean. The only exception I will allow myself will occur at a wedding I'm attending on Saturday night. I will allow myself a few cocktails and, of course, a piece of wedding cake. But other than that, it's got to be perfect. And if I succeed, I'll buy myself a reward. Maybe a sandbag, maybe an equalizer, maybe a pair of cute shoes--just so long as the thought of it keeps me on track.
Let's do it.
Monday, July 15, 2013
July 15: Daily Recap
Today was supposed to be a return to clean eating, but I failed rather spectacularly. It all started, of course, with breakfast.
Breakfast: 2 fried eggs, croissant, cruller.
I work at a very small office with people who constantly bust one another's balls. I often try not to draw attention to myself by, for instance, broadcasting that I'm trying to lose weight. So I'll eat whatever is ordered at the cafe, just as I normally would. I think I may have to change strategies.
Exercise: This was a patch job for me. I started with a five minute warm-up on the spin bike, and did the following circuit three times. Reps and weights varied.
I followed the circuit with a hard five minutes on the spin bike, before completing six 20-second planks with 20-second rests between each plank. I'm wondering if my inability to do push ups on my toes, and my difficulty with the jump-out portion of burpees, is due to a weak core. So I'll add some planks to the end of my circuits for a while to see if that helps things. I look forward to hiring a trainer in November, let me tell you.
Lunch: Smoothie in a bowl made with soy milk, banana, oats, Vega protein powder, and chia seed, topped with granola and PB2.
I had dinner plans last night and had planned on ordering a salad, but that didn't happen. While getting ready for dinner, I had a small sliver of chocolate cake and two Ritz crackers topped with Havarti w/ dill. Then...
Dinner: At Tommy's on Coventry in Cleveland Heights--I started with the french onion soup (with the cheese, of course), moved on to a falafel pocket (of which I ate half), and had a few of the Niblet's french fries.
Dessert: Chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. And then a bit more, for good measure.
*sigh*
No. I am not giving up.
[I only ended up taking photos of my lunch, and I just don't feel like posting even that.]
Breakfast: 2 fried eggs, croissant, cruller.
I work at a very small office with people who constantly bust one another's balls. I often try not to draw attention to myself by, for instance, broadcasting that I'm trying to lose weight. So I'll eat whatever is ordered at the cafe, just as I normally would. I think I may have to change strategies.
Exercise: This was a patch job for me. I started with a five minute warm-up on the spin bike, and did the following circuit three times. Reps and weights varied.
- Air Squats (20/10/8)
- Stiff-legged Deadlifts--50 lbs (20/10/8)
- Bent-over Rows (each side) (25 lb first set, 20 lb second and third set) (20/10/8)
- Push-ups (on my knees...still) 20/10/8
- Sit-ups (20/10/8)
I followed the circuit with a hard five minutes on the spin bike, before completing six 20-second planks with 20-second rests between each plank. I'm wondering if my inability to do push ups on my toes, and my difficulty with the jump-out portion of burpees, is due to a weak core. So I'll add some planks to the end of my circuits for a while to see if that helps things. I look forward to hiring a trainer in November, let me tell you.
Lunch: Smoothie in a bowl made with soy milk, banana, oats, Vega protein powder, and chia seed, topped with granola and PB2.
I had dinner plans last night and had planned on ordering a salad, but that didn't happen. While getting ready for dinner, I had a small sliver of chocolate cake and two Ritz crackers topped with Havarti w/ dill. Then...
Dinner: At Tommy's on Coventry in Cleveland Heights--I started with the french onion soup (with the cheese, of course), moved on to a falafel pocket (of which I ate half), and had a few of the Niblet's french fries.
Dessert: Chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. And then a bit more, for good measure.
*sigh*
No. I am not giving up.
[I only ended up taking photos of my lunch, and I just don't feel like posting even that.]
Sunday, July 14, 2013
July 14: Daily Recap
For the record, this is what clean eating does not look like...
Breakfast/Pre-Ride Fuel: Cupcake, peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat bread, and soy milk.
Lunch: We took our family out for brunch at Deagan's to celebrate Sweetpea's birthday. I chose the 3-egg Gruyere omelet with home fries. Mr. Kazoo also ordered some house donuts for the table, and I had half of one. The donuts were oreo-slathered and just ok.
After brunch, we took the fam to our house for presents, cake, and ice cream. I had a piece of chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream (not pictured).
Dinner: I decided to give in and eat all of the foods I've been craving before getting back to clean eating on the regular. I had a sandwich with two slices of Breadsmith rosemary break, tempeh bacon (fried in peanut oil), mayonnaise (the regular, full fat kind), Lacey Swiss cheese, roasted red pepper, and lettuce. On the side? Grandma's macaroni salad, potato chips (more were eaten than pictured), and a real Dr. Pepper. Le sigh.
Dessert: Again? Yes. A bowl of vanilla ice cream. I went for the gold today. No picture.
Breakfast/Pre-Ride Fuel: Cupcake, peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat bread, and soy milk.
Exercise: Distance ride on the roadie--took my Hilliard loop but added a bit on to the western edge, by heading west on Walker from Bradley and taking it to Abbe before heading north to Lake and coming home for a 35.65-mile ride. This was tough, partly due to my terrible pre-ride meal, partly because I'm still recovering from my cold, and partly because my body was just hurting. There was a knot to the right of my upper back that felt like an angry, throbbing softball. I called Mr. Kazoo for a ride about 2/3 of the way through the ride, but I made it home before he found me on the route.
Lunch: We took our family out for brunch at Deagan's to celebrate Sweetpea's birthday. I chose the 3-egg Gruyere omelet with home fries. Mr. Kazoo also ordered some house donuts for the table, and I had half of one. The donuts were oreo-slathered and just ok.
After brunch, we took the fam to our house for presents, cake, and ice cream. I had a piece of chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream (not pictured).
Dinner: I decided to give in and eat all of the foods I've been craving before getting back to clean eating on the regular. I had a sandwich with two slices of Breadsmith rosemary break, tempeh bacon (fried in peanut oil), mayonnaise (the regular, full fat kind), Lacey Swiss cheese, roasted red pepper, and lettuce. On the side? Grandma's macaroni salad, potato chips (more were eaten than pictured), and a real Dr. Pepper. Le sigh.
Dessert: Again? Yes. A bowl of vanilla ice cream. I went for the gold today. No picture.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
July 13: Daily Recap
Breakfast: Oatmeal made with 1/3 cup old fashioned oats, 1/3 cup soy milk, 1/3 cup water, 1/2 banana (sliced), topped with PB2 peanut butter, strawberry jam, raisins, and granola.
Lunch: Salad of mixed greens, cucumber, herbed goat cheese, slice of tempeh bacon, hemp burger, dried cranberries, and walnuts dressed in mustard and honey.
Snack: Banana with two coconut macadamia macaroons.
Dinner: We were too exhausted after a long day of chores to make dinner, so we headed to Sweet Melissa's in Rocky River to eat. I could not do another salad today, so I chose the fried rice. As usual, veg options at most places consist of salads or something fatty. So something fatty, I ordered.
Dessert: Eat at Sweet Melissa's and not order dessert??? You crazy? I ate about a half of a piece of Oreo cheesecake. No photo.
Lunch: Salad of mixed greens, cucumber, herbed goat cheese, slice of tempeh bacon, hemp burger, dried cranberries, and walnuts dressed in mustard and honey.
Snack: Banana with two coconut macadamia macaroons.
Dinner: We were too exhausted after a long day of chores to make dinner, so we headed to Sweet Melissa's in Rocky River to eat. I could not do another salad today, so I chose the fried rice. As usual, veg options at most places consist of salads or something fatty. So something fatty, I ordered.
Dessert: Eat at Sweet Melissa's and not order dessert??? You crazy? I ate about a half of a piece of Oreo cheesecake. No photo.
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