Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Accountability Update Week 2 Day 1

Hey all!

Wow, I've been so busy I can't see straight.  Work is crazy, after hours work dinners, and trying to squeeze in workouts, I really have been wondering if I'm going to make myself sick.  Trying to make sure even if my house is a wreck, I get enough sleep right now. 

I've had two work dinners the last two nights.  Interesting results, one was at an executive's home and had mostly fried options, the other was a restaurant where I had too many options.  Here's how I fared:

Monday:

Food (calories in):

Breakfast: Cereal, dark chocolate chips mixed in
Lunch: wheat wrap with pepperjack cheese, all natural turkey, bbq ranch and tons of greens
PM Snack: banana
Dinner: Fried catfish, 2 fried hushpuppies, 5 (literally) fried french fries

Exercise (calories out):

Nothing, didn't feel well when I woke up (likely from the crap I ate Sunday - ugh!)

Tuesday:

Food (calories in):

Breakfast: Uncle Sams Cereal with dark chocolate chips
Lunch: Thin crust pizza, side salad
PM Snack: 3 andes mints, 2 small york peppermint patties
Dinner: ceasar salad, 3 oz steak, 3 oz tuna, 1/2 cup mashed potatoes, some bread and crab dip and waaaaay too many bites of a dessert... UGH oh - had TONS of diet coke today to stay away....yep.  bad.

Exercise (calories out):

Nothing again.  Exhausted from the long days.

Assessment:  Not having a fantastic week and I'm sure exhaustion is partly to blame.  I did skip dessert on Monday night and was pretty proud of that.  But then Tuesday night I just caved.  Tonight I have yet another dinner out but plan to be reasonable.  I did get up and run 2 "fast" miles this morning so that is a plus, especially given all I wanted to do was sleep more!

Not my proudest week...I continue to struggle with self-control and making the best choices.  Being honest on here is painful, but necessary. 

I'll probably do two days at a time as I'm literally squeezing this blog in during my 15 min eat at my desk break before jumping back into the craziness of my work world.

Thanks for keeping up with me and for being supportive! 

hugs,
Clara

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Accountability is BACK! The last few days...

OK folks, I'm back in town.  It was a whirlwind weekend.  A memorial service for a dear friend's husband, time with people I have not seen in YEARS and lots of unscheduled meals. 

While you already read about Friday, oh, Friday, it was terrible. I had been so amazingly good all week I don't know if I just lost my ability to think clearly or what, but I really really did a face plant.  And paid for it physically.  Amazing how terrible food can make you feel literally sick.

Here is a quick summary:  chicken biscuit, half a sausage biscuit, 2 chocolate chip cookies, SW chicken salad (probably the best choice I made all day) cranberry muffin with buttercream frosting, McDonalds for dinner (if you can even call that food) and random candy throughout the day.  UGH.  I felt horrible. 

Saturday was all about cleaning that out:

Food (calories in):
Breakfast: small slice healthy homemade banana bread, 1 scrambled egg, 1 piece of bacon
Lunch: mediterranean wrap, steamed veggies (Jason's deli)
PM Snack: half a larabar, banana
Dinner: 6 oz steak, steamed broccoli and salad with no cheese and 1 tbsp dressing, 1 yeast roll
Dessert:  small slice healthy homemade banana bread

Exercise (calories out):
Nothing...we got into town at 1am and were exhausted.  I overslept and had to rush to get to the memorial service, etc.

Assessment:  WAY better than Friday but still not perfect.  Some of the banana bread was likely unnecessary.

Sunday was about continuing to teeter on the travel wagon but trying to be careful:

Food (calories in):
Breakfast: banana, banana bread
Lunch: family chose mexican - I ordered chicken fajitas with a side of sliced avocado.  Ate 2 fajitas (no cheese) then the rest of the chicken/avocado by itself.  NO CHIPS!
PM Snack: We split trail mix and dark chocolate mint M&Ms in the car.
Dinner: Thin crust pizza, 3 grilled hot wings

Exercise (calories out):
5k run

Assessment:  still not stellar on the food choices, but again, could be WAY worse as indicated by past behavior.

The next few days are going to be completely crazy.  I will need prayer to get through it!  Will do my best to blog and keep up.

Clara

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Accountability Post Week 2 Day 1

Week 2 off to a GREAT start!

Let me start with how I did!

Food (calories in):

Breakfast: honey nut cheerios with raspberries and almond milk
AM Snack: Greek Yogurt
Lunch: Cup of roasted red pepper soup, chicken salad, fruit & crackers
PM Snack: Larabar (and 2 mini
Dinner: Homemade thin crust whole wheat pizza with spinach, feta and red peppers

Exercise (calories out):
None...unless you count walking a bunch in 4 inch heels!  Really, didn't meet my burn goal.

ASSESSMENT: 
Well...it was a very insane day at work.  My brain is still reeling.  Let me start by telling you what I avoided:

1) M&Ms...they were used in a training activity and I got 1 then threw it away when we were done.

2) Fresh made donuts from a local shop...we had a BUNCH of these around, including the ones that are cream filled, and BUTTERCREAM filled and chocolate glazed.  I walked by those ALL day.

3) Muffins...calling my name.

4)  Brownie Bites...random box sitting on our counter.  Next to said muffins and doughnuts.

All in all today was a SUCCESS!  I even had a MAJOR diet coke craving and avoided it!  SUPER happy, especially as days like today and weeks like this week usually cause me to drink...diet coke that is...and break my no caffeine rule.

Now if I can just wake up at 4:40 tomorrow morning and NOT feel nauseated...

G'night!
Clara

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Accountability Post Days 6 & 7

Hey friends!

Here we are almost a week into this accountability thing.  Going well so far I think!  I definitely think twice before indulging...

Here are my stats for the last 2 days.

Monday:
Food (calories in):
Early Breakfast: Larabar
Breakfast: Apple Pie Oatmeal
AM Snack: 1 oz almonds
Lunch: Thin crust veggie pizza, salad, 2 prosciutto wrapped shrimp
PM Snack: Yogurt
Dinner: Sweet potato chips, 6 oz of steak, 2 cheese balls and 2 shrimp
Late Snack (yes I was still hungry!): Whole wheat english muffin, with peanut butter & jam

Exercise (calories out):
I RAN 8 MILES!!! WITHOUT STOPPING!  WOOHOO! I even fell about 1.5 miles in and scraped up my leg - it was bleeding some but all my joints felt fine so I kept going!!!

ASSESSMENT TIME (I'm changing Confession time to be Assessment time):
Probably could have avoided the sweet potato chips and the cheese balls...but overall I did burn 3,750 calories given my long run...and only ate 2,600 so I still did pretty good I think.  Most of my calories were "good" calories.  OH - and I avoided DESSERT!!!  AND DIET COKE!  I am a beast.


Tuesday:
Food (calories in):
Breakfast: Banana, Honey Nut Cheerios
AM Snack: Larabar
Lunch: Panera Black Bean Soup & BBQ Chopped chicken salad (You pick two deal), wheat roll
PM Snack: Apple, orange
Dinner: Grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup


Exercise (calories out):
Impromptu rest day...and not because my muscles needed it, my body did. Woke up nauseated and felt overall blah.  Slept in a little bit and then went to work, but fought this nausea bug all day.  Was planning to go to the gym after work but did not feel up to it. 

ASSESSMENT TIME:
Overall I think I did pretty well today.  Could have done more veggies, especially at dinner, but for not feeling well I did a great job staying on track.

I tend to not eat well for many reasons, but one of them is when I'm sick.  All I want is cheeseburgers when I'm sick.  And milkshakes.  Crazy.

I'm feeling great and strong.  I actually haven't thought much about dessert in the last few days.  Progress!

Clara

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Accountability Post Day 5

Much better day today!

We visited a church with a friend today and heard a great message.  We don't have a church home right now, given we are waiting on what is next from God, and I'm enjoying seeing how other congregations do their thing. 

Heading to bed in about 5 minutes, all packed and ready to run 8 miles with my running buddy tomorrow.  EEK!  8 miles!  Ok - not going to think about it or I may not fall asleep....

Here's how my food choices ended up today:

Food (calories in):

Breakfast: Apple Pie Oatmeal (another pinterest recipe - get it here!
Lunch: Grilled chicken breast, lima beans, steamed cabbage, 2 small biscuits (and 1/2 a chicken finger)
PM Snack: 19 Fresh Cherries (yes, I counted them, after the fact - lol)
Dinner: Uncle Sams Cereal baked chicken fingers, mashed cauliflower, steamed broccoli
Dessert: leftover Zucchini Brownie!

Exercise (calories out):

5k run this morning

CONFESSION TIME:

This will include anything I ate that day that did not promote fat loss, but fat storage:

2 small biscuits at lunch - they are really mini biscuits.  unnecessary but I had a very low carb lunch otherwise for the most part and I was legitimately hungry.

Otherwise I did great today.  And feeling MUCH more like my old self again.  YAY for that!

Now off to sleep.  If I get a chance to post tomorrow night, it will be late and very very brief...I leave my house at 4:45am and likely won't be home until 9pm!

Have a Happy Monday and make GOOD choices!
Clara

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Accountability Post Day 4 (just ONE of those days!)

Ever had just "one of those days?"  ugh did mine ever start off that way!

First, I decided to sleep in.  This should be a good thing.  It felt wonderful.  Sleeping until 8am is sleeping in for me.  I worked until a little after 10pm last night.  So sleeping in was wonderful.

That meant I didn't get up early enough to run.  My solution?  We would go to Dothan and I could run at the gym, then shower and get our day started in Dothan.  In the meantime, I worked on the budget (ugh), made the grocery list, and created the menu plan for the week.

Feeling good, I wondered, should I see what time the gym closes just in case?

Glad I called. They closed at noon.  I called at 11:30.  Oops.

So I got dressed in my workout clothes deciding I would do a punishing mid-day run in the direct sun.  It was 89 degrees out and very sunny.  I sprayed on my sunscreen, being sure not to miss any spots.

Then I walked outside.  And it started pouring.

REALLY????

I came in the house absolutely fuming.  I showered and resigned myself to the fact that I would not get to work out today for one reason or another.  This will be my second rest day in a row.  I NEVER do that.  And I don't "need" it so it feels like a waste.

I got out of the shower and looked outside to see the sun shining brilliantly again.

REALLY????

We headed to Dothan and had a nice lunch together, then did some shopping and came home.  Normally the above frustration would have been finely finished off with something unhealthy as I would be NOT in the mood to eat healthy. 

Here is how I ended up faring with my food choices today:

Food (calories in):

Breakfast: 2 eggs scrambled, whole wheat english muffin and 1 oz pepperjack cheese
AM Snack: Greek yogurt
Lunch: 6oz sirloin steak, steamed broccoli, grilled vegetable skewer, 1 yeast roll
PM Snack: 1/2 oz cheese
Dinner: last of the Zucchini Lasagna
Dessert: Zucchini Brownies

Exercise (calories OUT):

Does donning and doffing my workout clothes multiple times count?  Fortunately I reached my burn goal for the day (2450) just by shopping, etc. but STILL.

So ready to run in the morning.

CONFESSION TIME:

This will include anything I ate that day that did not promote fat loss, but fat storage:
1 yeast roll at lunch - pretty proud it was only one, actually was more like 3/4 of one.
Zucchini brownies - these are very healthy (no flour, no added sugar) but still probably didn't need two. :)

Here's a link to the recipe for the brownies:

Awesome Paleo approved Zucchini Brownies!

Pretty proud of myself overall. While I'm not 100% in line, I'm once again resembling my old self.  I'm planning a 4 mile run in the morning, then an 8 mile run Monday morning. 

8 miles - EEK!

Holla!
Clara

Friday, September 7, 2012

Accountability Posts (day 2 and 3)

Hey!

I probably should have evaluated my schedule this month before launching into this challenge.  It's been absolutely crazy in my world BUT given the stress I'm pretty proud of how I fared in the food and activity department!

Thursday 9/6

Food: (calories in)


Early Breakfast: Banana
Breakfast: Greek yogurt & Fit Brownie bar
Lunch: Turkey/apple/brie panini, hummus and pita
Dinner: Homemade Zucchini Lasagna (YUM!)

Exercise: (calories OUT!)

45 min Cardio Class (with a million burpees I think)
25 min on Elliptical
Weight circuit

CONFESSION TIME:

This will include anything I ate that day that did not promote fat loss, but fat storage:
4 mini-york peppermint patties
2 small godiva chocolates



Friday 9/7

Food: (calories in)
Breakfast: Uncle Sam's cereal mixed with Cheerios and a tbsp of dark chocolate chips
AM Snack: Greek Yogurt
Lunch: Mexican Salad (with black beans, 3 oz pork, and cilantro lime dressing, no rice, no cheese!), some tortilla chips with guacamole and cheese dip
PM Snack: Wheat thin crisps (hospital vending machine - limited choices!)
Dinner: Homemade Zucchini Lasagna (YUM!)

Exercise: (calories OUT!)
REST Day
MRI of Brain day...wonder if that burns any calories?

CONFESSION TIME:

This will include anything I ate that day that did not promote fat loss, but fat storage:

Chips & Guacamole/cheese dip.  Didn't go crazy but a bit unnecessary...
Wheat thin crisps - weren't the worst choice in the vending machine, but probably should have gotten the almonds and just eaten half the bag instead. 

Overall the last 2 days haven't been horrible.  I was exhausted and felt a cold coming on which is why today ended up being a rest day.  Doesn't hurt I can barely move from yesterday's workouts. It's also that time of the moon for me hence the chocolate slips here and there.

I'm happy.  Planning for a healthy, active weekend and an 8 mile run on Monday!

Clara

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Accountability Post Day 1

Greetings friends!

I'm excited to begin my public accountability posts today!  My plan is to post my eating log as well as activity info here on my blog each day for the month of September in order to keep myself on track. I'm way less likely to eat the doughnut if I know I will have all of you to face!


Food: (calories in)

Early Breakfast: 2 Mini Clif bars
Breakfast: Wheat English Muffin with Peanut Butter & Jam
AM Snack: Greek Yogurt
Lunch: Thin crust veggie pizza, side salad
PM Snack: Powerbar
Dinner: Venison cube steak, broccoli, sweet potato "fries" (baked)

Exercise: (calories OUT!)

4 mile run in the evening

CONFESSION TIME:

This will include anything I ate that day that did not promote fat loss, but fat storage:

NADA!

Off to a great start!
Clara











Monday, September 3, 2012

Season of Accountability

Hey all!

I've had good days and bad days in August.  Successes and failures.  Hard times and wonderful times.

To every season there is a purpose!

I'd love to completely understand my own brain enough to know why I don't have my "crap" completely together at this point.  But my unfailing humanity is what keeps failing me.

I am ok with being imperfect.  I am thankfully forgiven, and continue to be when I fail and sin on a daily basis.  But that doesn't mean I should stop striving to be better in all areas and aspects of my life.

Friday night I hit and killed a family's beloved dog on my drive home from work.  It was horrible - did not see her until I hit her and I was going 60 mph as it was a long stretch of highway.  I turned around immediately and tried to help her owners with her but she was gone.  It was horrible.  Talk about ugly cry all the way home and for hours after that.  I felt horrible for her, for the family, and couldn't help but wish it was different and that I had seen her and been able to stop (though at that speed it is unlikely - by the way, the posted speed limit is 55 so I wasn't really speeding).

I had a feeling that hitting her at that speed would kill her instantly, but I was still accountable for having hit her, so I turned around to see what I could do to help.  There was no question in my mind that I had to stop and I ran barefoot across the highway (my 4 inch heels didn't make it far past lunch) and grieved with the owners.  They asked if I was ok, if my car was ok, honestly I didn't care, I was just horrified that I had taken a life.  And the grown man struggling not to cry in front of me made it that much harder.

What does this have to do with my healthy lifestyle?  Accountability.  I recently had to take driving school due to a speeding ticket and not being able to carry more points on my license (ahem).  One of the sections said if you hit an animal you must stop - to see if it has passed, call the authorities if it has not and no one is around because you can't leave the animal there suffering.  I probably would have stopped anyway but that is what immediately came to my mind.

So when it comes to accountability, I realize in my life, I need that in order to be successful.  My blog has been a huge source of that for me.  The virtual friends I've made online following my journey and cheering me on have all become an integral part of my success.  I've always been honest and up front with my failures and faceplants.  And you all have always told me to keep on keeping on.

So for the next month (at least) I'm going to post on my blog daily.  I may post a scripture, or quote that has inspired me, along with what I ate that day and what activity I did.  I know myself well and if I have to post a picture of every crappy choice I make, I will much less likely eat it!  I won't post pictures of every food I eat, just the amazing healthy choices here and there along with my slip ups.  It will make me think twice, that's for sure.

I'll also likely have a note here or there about my running training as right now I'm training for a half marathon.  I just finished week 4 of that training this morning and the race I've tentatively chosen is set for November 10th.

Follow me along this next month or so.  I'm percolating a new goal for the end of the year.  I've decided I totally have maintenance figured out.  But I need to get to where I need to be before I can even think about maintenance dad-gumit!

Thanks all for holding me accountable.  A comment on my blog posts, or note on my facebook page go a long way with encouraging me.  I'll take all the help I can get; and I'll do the same for you!

We got this friends.

Holla!
Clara