My ABCs

A: is for Apple, what’s your favorite variety?
I may be the only one who loves Golden Delicious Apples…

B: is for Bread, regardless of nutrition, calories, or whole grains what is your favorite type to have a nice big piece of?
I actually really enjoy healthy bread with lots of grains, seeds, etc. They are just so dense and high calorie that I tend to choose ryes instead.

C: is for Cereal what is your favorite kind currently (just one!)
I like Nature’s Path Ancient Grains Granola. SOOO GOOOD! So good, in fact, it deserves 3 extra Os.
 
D: is for Doughnuts, you might not currently be eating them but what kind do you fancy?
This could be a Canadian thing, but I loooove sour cream doughnuts, "but I can't eat them because I'll get fat." Nom nom nom.

E: is for Eggs, how would you like yours prepared? 
Overeasy or scrambled with a bunch of random stuff in them- mushroom, peppers, sausage, etc.

F: is for Fat Free, what is your favorite fat free product?
Egg Whites- it was genius to put only whites in a carton! Those crazy egg white only chickens! What will they think of next?


G: is for Groceries, where do you purchase yours at?
I go where there is a sale. But I fancy Food Fare, Sobeys, and Superstore.

H: is for Hot Beverages, what is your favorite hot drink? 
Coffee and all sorts of teas.

I: is for Ice Cream, pick a favorite flavor and add a fun topping.
I like peanut butter chocolate chip ice cream. I’m not a toppings girl though.

J: is for Jams or Jellies, do you eat them, and if so what kind and flavor?
I have found a great low sugar jam from President’s Choice Blue Menu. I would die to have some fresh freezer jam in all its’ sugary glory though! Strawberry all the way.

K: is for Kashi, name your favorite Kashi product?
We don’t have a lot of Kashi products up here. But I like their Cinnamon Harvest Cereal.

L: is for Lunch, what was yours today?
A crepe wrap with lettuce, parmesan, Caesar dressing, and chicken inside. Yum!

M: is for microwave, what is your favorite microwave meal/snack?
I like the Hungry Girl Egg Mugs.

N: is for nutrients, do you like carbs, fats, or proteins best?
I am a sucker for carbs. Give me my toast!

O: is for oil, what kind do you like to use?
I use olive oil for cooking and a spray vegetable oil for other things.

P: is for protein, how do you get yours? 
Eggs, beans, fish, some white meats. Not a big beef eater, but will eat it once in a while.

Q: is for Quaker, how do you like your oats?
I like quick cooking oats. I usually eat them with lots of fruit.

R: is for roasting, what is your favorite thing to roast?
Root Veggies- I will cut up tons of carrots, parsnips, potatoes, onions, garlic, sweet potatoes, sprinkle with evoo, salt & pepper, then roast in the oven at 400F for 30 mins or so. Delish!

S: is for sandwich, what’s your favorite kind?
"Sandwiches are beautiful, sandwiches are fine…" I have been eating the weirdest sandwich for years- dill pickles and cheese.

T: is for travel, how do you handle eating while traveling?
I don’t travel a whole lot, but when I do- I usually blow the diet. Haha.

U: is for unique, what is one of your weirdest food combos?
My Mister tells me I eat a lot of weird things, like- Egg and Avocado sandwiches, pickles in my tuna salad, perogies minus sour cream, cucumbers with vinegar.

V: is for vitamins, what kind do you take? 
Omega 3, Multi, calcium, b12, vitamin c, Echinacea

W: is for wasabi, yay or nay?
Yay!

X: is for XRAY. if we xrayed your belly right now, what food would we see?
Oooh. Beer and pasta.

Y: is for youth, what food reminds you of your childhood?
Fried bologna and kraft dinner

Z: is for zucchini, how do you prepare it?
Sautéed and in a pasta dish.

Weigh-In #20

I'm starting a new template for my weigh-ins. It will be a la Biggest Loser style.

Previous Weight: 197.8
Today: 196.2
Loss = -1.6
Total Loss = -22.2 lbs

Slowly but surely. I am getting there!

Emotions

Feeling really lonely today and a bit depressed. I can't really pinpoint the feelings. Maybe it's just boredom.

Really fighting emotional eating today. Good thing I don't have any junk food in the house. Except for the pizza Mister insisted on getting to watch the hockey game.

Feeling so... blah...

EDIT: I ate 3 servings of Tater Tots (480 calories) and a small slice of pepperoni pizza. Boo.

What's In My Gym Bag?

Have you heard of the phenomenon of "What's in My Bag" videos? Basically, girls or guys sit in front of a camera and show their viewers the contents of their bag or purse. I am totally enthralled and intrigued by the items that people carry around with them on a day-to-day basis. Why? I don't know...

I am here to add to the trend by doing a "What's in my gym bag" post!

What do I take to the gym? Here is an overview...

I carry a LARGE Lululemon Athletica bag. People always think it is a bowling bag. It carries everything I need and more. I often use it to carry laundry in too! The super cool thing about this bag is that it has a separate zipped compartment in the bottom where you can but wet clothes or dirty shoes, etc.

Here is a close-up of the little stuff I take to the gym:

This picture isn't rotating. Sorry :(

1. Lululemon Headband- keeps the bangs out of my face. I almost always wear a ponytail, everyday. So, hair ties are an essential for me as well
2. Larabar- after workout snack
3. Burt's Bees Lip Balm
4. Iphone- I have the C5K app, 100 PushUps app, a cardio playlist, etc.
5. Headphones- they are cupcakes! They also have a super long cord for using on the treadmill
6. A combo lock for the lockers
7. Deodorant
8. Lululemon water bottle (I'm still using a plastic one :-O )


My go-to workout outfit- cropped yoga pants, sport socks (I'll spare you the close-up), and a looser fitting t-shirt.

Most important- my New Balance runners. Can't do much at the gym without these!

I usually come home to shower, but if I shower at the gym I take a little baggie of sample sized shampoo and conditioner and a towel. But I have long hair, so it takes hours to dry. I'd rather be sweaty on the bus home than have wet hair on the bus home.


What's in your gym bag?!?!?

Weekly Review

Here we are... Sunday evening.

I had a half hectic, half relaxed week. I am fully moved in with my Mister and mostly unpacked and organized. Moving and cleaning went well and it actually ended up being quite the workout- especially hauling that elliptical down 2 flights of stairs, into and out of a truck, and then down another flight. Phew! I did have help though.

Eating was not good this week. Mister likes to drink beer and eat out. With the moving I ate too much fast food. However, I also made a few meals at home too.

Not much to say for exercise this week- used the elliptical and did A LOT of walking! 

Last week's goals?
1) I tracked for 3-4 days of the week. Not the whole week though.
2) Run outside- boo.
3) Elliptical set up by Saturday- It was set up by Wednesday and I used it on Saturday!

This week's goals:
1) Track everyday- no matter what you eat! haha.
2) Limit eating out to healthy choices or not at all
3) Yoga 1x, elliptical 3x, strength 1x

Weigh-In #19

Weight: 197.8
Body Fat %: 39.6
Hydration %: 44

Difference: -2lbs from last week
                  -0.2% BF from last week

Total Loss: 20.6 lbs

I've been either up and down or steady for the past month or so. I'm starting to get back on track by eating a healthy breakfast and a sensible dinner.

Exercise isn't quite what it used to be, but it is getting there.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend and enjoy the sunshine!

Adorable Blog Award

I received the Adorable Blog Award from another adorable blogger- Need To Get ME Back! I'm so happy that people enjoy reading what I write. I love connecting with you too!

The Rules:

• Thank the person who gave you the award, with a link to their blog
• Tell us 10 things about yourself
• Nominate other bloggers and let them know about the award

I've gotten a few awards, but I always forget to do the things about myself part. Here is a chance for all you lovelies to get to know me a bit better!


1. I am not married, but I have been with the same man for the last 6 and some years. We are engaged, but do not yet have plans to marry.

2. I love cats! I have one long haired cat in my apartment named Sampson. He is noisy and finicky.

3. I am a planner. I love to make lists, itineraries, budget, etc. I do not like to be caught off guard- hence... I plan things out.

4. I grew up on a farm. We had horses, cows, chickens, pigs, tractors, and lots of land. I now live in the city and long for a little farm of my own.

5. I love to cook! I don't bake a lot, but cooking dinner is super fun for me. I find it very relaxing and I also love to cook for other people.

6. I have too many books on my shelf. I just can't bring myself to get rid of them.

7. I live in a fairly boring city in Canada. There is not a lot to do. We have too many bars and restaurants. Not good when you are trying to stay on track.

8. I recently (within the last year) made a 360 degree change in my attitude. I could feel myself growing bitter and unlikeable. Even I hated listening to my whining. I vowed to look on the bright side of life and live to the fullest. My new attitude has been helpful in this process of weight loss.

9. I am somewhat of a coffee and tea addict. It has gotten so bad that people buy me tea and coffee paraphernalia for special occasions. I have so much tea, my cupboard is overflowing.

10. Blogging has been such a great connecting tool for me. I would love to get to know all of you better. We should SKYPE Date or something! Anyone up for it?!??!

Other bloggers I'd like to give The Adorable Blog Award to:
TJ's Test Kitchen 
Healthy Dreaming
Confessions of a Compulsive Dieter and Emotional Eater
Getting Healthy