Half the breakfast for half the intake

So I am so sad to say I have gained 5 pounds . . . . I am not sure if this weight gain started in Spain or if the Holidays have put me over the edge or if the stress of starting school is making me eat more. All I know is this has got to STOP! My sister has recently lost 45 lbs ( she just had a baby) and I asked her how she managed that in just 3 months. She told me she just eats half of what she really wants, "hmmmm" I thought to myself. I guess I was justifying eating such large portions because they are so healthy. But since my way of eating is clearly not working, I have decided to eat smaller portions. This will be hard for me to do because I am a 3 meal a day girl. I have noticed that lately I have been snacking too and probably too much.

So here is my plan:

Eat a smaller Breakfast -I don't need more than 1 serving of fruit here like lately

Eat 1/2 the snack I would usually have- ie half a bar

Eat 1/2 the lunch

Eat 1/2 the afternoon snack

Eat 1/2 the dinner portion

No alcohol- for 2 weeks

No refined sugar

No white wheat- only whole wheat -I usually only have whole wheat but this will be a test.

I am excited to try this and hope it doesn't make me crazy! It seems pretty doable.

Today I started with:

1/2 Oatmeal, 1 cup water (no milk added at all), 1 shot of frozen blueberries, 1/2 banana mashed, 1/2 shot Bare naked Fruit and Nut granola, ( Sean bought this for me, it's not my fave but this morning I really enjoyed it) 1/2 Mixed berry non fat yogurt and 2 cups of coffee with a splash of skim milk. along side I gulped a full glass of water to fill me up. So far my plan worked out and I feel very satisfied and hope to loose this extra weight that has snuck on.

Today I am applying for financial aid and studying for my test. I want to go to the beach for a run but we will see, I might end up doing yoga at home instead or maybe both! See ya'll for lunch!

C

Happy New Years!!!!!

Hello 2009! Yesterday I started my day off with this pre run snack: Small Gala with 1/2 tbs of Almond Butter

Sean gets nervous when I run alone so sometimes he joins me on his bike to follow, it's nice and it changes it up a bit from my ipod. But it took a little longest to get out the door and I woke super hungry so I had this also: banana with 1/4 tbs almond butter

I ran for 30 min to TJ's and it wasn't open yet so we waited for 10 min and I tried to keep my heart rate up by jogging in place and doing knee ups -people were starting to stare but I didn't mind:) We walked back because we had grocery's to carry and my total time was 50 min and I burned 333 cal, not bad. We got back and had just 2 hours before we had to leave to check into the Hotel and help my sis with the baby, soooo I had cold cereal again: 1 cup Go Lean, 1 cup Quaker Squares, 1.5 cup skim milk, 1/4 cup frozen blueberries, 1/2 shot almonds, sprinkle of raisins and a cup of coffee.

I packed for the night and got things together in the house so we could leave Ella, poor Ella she has been alone so much lately she seems a bit POed. I was still hungry so had a Fage 0%

I made this WW wrap with leftover pork and lettuce with a side of raw baby carrots to bring to the hotel for a cheaper and healthier lunch.

I also packed these emergency snacks, and a first breakfast for the first day in 2009!

I had this at the hotel

Here is our old timey hotel room and my handsome BF!!! I just love getting dressed up!

Me and my sister and my niece

The favors at the table!! I ended up eating mine shortly after dinner oops!

The first course- some kind of Sweet Potato bread with mushrooms and cheese inside and pickled veggies on the side, odd sounding but very tasty. I had 1 glass of champagne at cocktail hour and one with my dinner not pictured.

My table #10 and the beautiful flowers and my glass of Merlot to go with my dinner.

The salad with feta( I picked it out) and caramelized pears and pecans. I opted for no dressing.

My steak!!! It came with mashed potatoes, carrots and asparagus, I hate about 1/2 the steak and the veggies but left the potatoes and rest of my steak for Sean who polished it off.

Here we are at our table, my goodness the venue was just gorgeous!

The cake!!!

My slice- it was Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting! I had 2 bites, and another glass of champagne!!

Getting ready to bring in the New Year

Our noise makers and table of booze!

It was a wonderful night over all and we had a lovely kiss and then went up to bed to sleep off our hangover in our lovely king size bed!

Moving on to New Years day! I woke to my sister's phone call informing me that she and her husband were in the mood for some greasy Chinese at our favorite spot Yang Chow and since we were all in downtown it was perfect. We begrudgingly got out of bed and checked out. I had a banana that I packed and the rest of my emergency snacks as a makeshift breakfast since I ate my cereal I packed yesterday. We ordered Hot and Sour soup- my fave! A plate of Slippery Shrimp-a Yang Chow must! Shrimp fried rice, Baby Bock Choy with mushrooms, and a small brown rice for me!This is my plate, I had seconds of the brown rice and bock choy and we sipped Green Tea.

My fortune:

Now at home with Ella and Sean, the plan for today is to RELAX! We have declared today PJ day so I am super excited for that. Hope everyone had a joyous and safe New Years!!!! I can't wait to catch up and see how ya'll spent yours!

C

Ooops! and some foggy pictures.

So I was busy all day with baby siting my niece and going to Jackie's (my sister's best friend) bridal shower, she is getting married tomorrow at the Biltmore!!! The most beautiful hotel in LA for sure! I was on diaper duty most of the day but I don't mind she is and angel and the most perfect little babe, I'm sure I'm biased! I stared my day with a pre-run snack of a Granny Smith apple with Almond Butter
After my 15 min (only I had no time:() run I came home to have a rushed bfast of 1 cup Kashi Go Lean, 1 cup Quaker Oat Squares, 1.5 cup skim milk, 1 sliced banana, a shot of Almonds, 1/2 shot of raisins, and a sprinkle of frozen blueberries- very satisfying

I thought the cereal bowl would be enough but I was wrong and right before I left to go to the shower I had a Fage 0% to hold me til lunch.

At the shower it was more of a brunch so there were assorted bagels:

I had 1 onion bagel with a tad of cream cheese and not pictured another half of a bagel with a slice of Cheddar. I mean it was lunch time after all and I am used to a big 3 food group meal at that time so I needed the extra carbs to hold me. I fully enjoyed eating white flour and full fat cheeses!

and Susie Cakes cupcakes!!!!!!! But I knew better and steered clear, I thought I would show you just for fun though! Ya you can thank me later- food porn!

There was a Bellini bar and Mimosa bar but I stuck to plain Perseco with a splash of Peach White Grape juice- that stuff is so good! I had 2 glasses:)

The girls went for a Mani Pedi after the shower and I was on baby siting duty so I could not get one but that's all good. I was starving by 3pm so I split a Mint Chocolate Chip Cliff bar with my sis.

We went to the rehearsal at the hotel and I was then supposed to go home with baby but I ended up staying with my sis and niece and tagged along to the rehearsal dinner, lucky me cause I got yummy salmon with green beans and pureed potatoes. I ate the salmon but left the rest and had 2 small pieces of bread and 2 glasses of white wine. Hey I mean it was a long day and I needed a break!

Overall it was a good day, oops I didn't post earlier and oops I had more wine again, and oops I didn't eat 3 square meals at all, but I feel fine and it's late so I should go to bed to wake and run before the big wedding day! I am sure I will eat lots of yummy food and drink lots of champagne! I mean it's New Years Eve tomorrow!!!

My New Years Resolution: Sign up for a 1/2 marathon, eat healthy and get good grades!

Well Gnight ya'll!!!! And If I don't post tomorrow by midnight HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009 BABY!!!!

C

yesterday, run, birthday, and breakfast

This morning I was able to sleep in until 7:30! My schedule has been out of walk and I have been waking up at 4:30 and every hour after for the last week so this was a real treat! For bfast I had 2 Kashi 7 grain waffles with a bit of butter, sliced pear and an orange and fat free raspberry yogurt on the side with coffee! Sean bought a big bag of oranges so I have been trying to eat them up so they don't go bad you will probably see another later today!

Yesterday was my Moms birthday. We spent the day at my parents house with my niece and sister. I forgot to bring my camera cord so I was unable to blog so I will catch you up on my days eats:

nougat with almonds from Spain for dessert

and a chocolate mint cookie!

For dinner my sister made Coq Au Vin, Chicken with wine basically, but very tasty and the chicken was so moist it just fell of the bone! I made a salad with ice berg, baby spinach, a satsuma, tomato, carrot, and red onion with balsamic dressing. I am obsessed with citrus in my salads! And I baked a sweet potato and topped it with the veggies from the chicken!

I had 2 or 3 glasses like this of really good wine from 1998!

I had 3 pieces of cheese, one of each.

before dinner I snacked on leftover salsa they had in the fridge and a carrot

My Sister, niece and I took a stroll for about 30 min and I had this lovely apple before we left. In the picture- Moms birthday flowers, her favorite color is Yellow.

I can never resist some candied ginger I popped these in my mouth when I arrived at the house.

For my Moms birthday lunch we went to PF Changs. For dessert we had fortune cookies, my mom had a birthday candle in a little piece of chocolate cake, but I didn't have any. I like my fortune, perfect cause I am going back to school. A BIG chance!!

My vegetarian lettuce cup all wrapped up for me to eat!

Whats on the inside

My full plate of tastes included- vegetarian lettuce cups ( my fave at PF Changs) salad, shrimp in lobster sauce, a salt and pepper prawn, a little fired rice, a piece of Ahi Tuna, and a crispy green bean. Totally greasy but I never have Chinese food so I think it's OK to indulge a bit.

On my way to my parents house I snacked on these rye toasts and almonds from by emergency snacks. I packed too many!

My waffle sandwich from bfast For bfast I had and orange, 2 blueberry Kashi waffles with a 1/2 tbsp of Peanut butter and a chopped banana. On the side a half container of nonfat strawberry yogurt and coffee!
Before my bfast I went on my first run since back from Spain! I could only go 23 min but I ran the whole time and I will be increasing my time by five min each day. My avg HR was 141, max HR 172, and I burned 170 cal. Before my run I had a Honey Gram flavored Z Bar, I should have just had half because my work out was not very long but oh well. Sorry no pic.