Bishopville, SC

Last night I went on a cleaning rampage and cleaned my apartment literally from top to bottom. The best part of it was I finally organized my desk in my spare bedroom (well not as good as cleaning the kitty bathroom... whheww). Now I have a place where I can think, plan, craft & blog.

 

 

 

 

This weekend I am going with the bf to his parents house in Bishopville, SC. I know, I know I go somewhere every weekend but I enjoy being on the go.

 

 

I know I have mentioned visiting his parents in the past so you already know how tough it is to stick to my healthy eating ways because there is a lot of red meat, southern eating.

 

My goal is when we arrive there tonight to go straight to the Piggly Wiggly ( I just love to say the name of that grocery store) and get me some healthy fruits and veggies to snack on throughout the weekend. That way I won't be tempted to have a late night rampage in the chip cabinet.

But first I have to get through today...blah.. blahh... Fridays. I am kind of kicking myself right now because I usually make a lunch (that way I know exactly what I am eating) but I  ran out of time last night to cook anything after my cleaning rampage (I guess rampage is my word of the day). So now I am either stuck eating in the cafe at work or going out and picking something up. Not to mention I really would like to nap during my lunch. So I think I will stick with the cafe & a nap. (of course anything involving a nap always wins)

I keep a fuzzy, warm blanket in my car for cold, rainy days like today

Then it was finally 5:30 and time to get out of the office and head South.

The next day we had to go eat at one of our favorite places the Corner Grill. It literally looks like a hole in the wall but it has the best grilled chicken with onions and peppers.

 

Afterwards we just had a lazy, rainy day with a little fun at night with some of my favorite people!

It was much prettier on Sunday, so my bf's mother and I had a day of shopping and mani pedi's. (amazing)
 

Day 29:

Breakfast: 2 eggs, feta & hot sauce

Lunch: grilled chicken salad (spinach, chicken, mozzarella cheese, green peppers, jalapenos, a little BBQ sauce with hummus

Snack: Pistachios

Dinner: 2 veggie burgers (only veggie burgers and ketchup)

Day 30:
Breakfast: fat free yogurt
Lunch: grilled chicken with onions and peppers with side salad with lettuce, cheese, balsamic  vinaigrette
Dinner: grilled shrimp, green beans, pinto beans

Day 31:
Breakfast: broccoli and low fat dip
Lunch: ham, chicken salad, green beans,
Snack: just veggie burger and ketchup
Dinner: grilled chicken salad, boiled egg, blue cheese crumbles, Parmesan cheese, hot sauce, jalapenos.
 

 

 

49days



 

The 10 Things

The countdown begins, like really begins. I have 50 days. The great thing is I tried on the LittleBlueDress last night and I have to say it was feeling much more comfortable. Now below are some things that I really want to focus on over the next 50 days, some will be tougher than others (the meatless days)but well worth it. I personally think these 10 things everyone should try doing more often.

1. Water yourself. Research shows that dieters who guzzle plenty of H2O lose more weight than those who don't.

2. Halve at it. Divide your normal portion by two and save the rest for later. You are likely to feel full on less food than you think.

3. Go meatless. In general, vegetarians have lower body weights than their meat-eating peers. Follow their lead—at least until you drop a few pounds


4. Not so sweet. Everyone knows sugar isn't healthy, but when you start reading labels, you find it in unexpected places, like pasta sauce and frozen entrees. Cutting the sugar out of your diet will mean healthier meals overall
5. Quit snacking. The real reason the French don't get fat is because it's a cultural faux pas to eat between meals.

6. Eat more yogurt. A recent report revealed the foods most identified with maintaining a healthy weight, and yogurt ranked among the best.

7. Remind yourself to eat better. One study found that people chose better-for-them foods when they were prompted to "consider the healthiness" before digging in.

8. Swap a meal for soup. Soup's high water content makes it a low-calorie and filling option. Just steer clear of the creamy kinds.

9. Veg out. Fill two-thirds of your plate with vegetables, which are less calorie dense and more nutritious than any other type of food.

10. Turn off the TV. Dining while viewing can make you take in 40 percent more calories than usual, reports a new study. And texting, driving, or any other distracting activity during a meal can also result in your eating too much. Instead, make each meal something you put on a plate and sit down to, even if you're eating solo.


Day 28:
Breakfast: egg and turkey sausage casserole
Lunch: broccoli and cheese soup
Snack: Pistachios
Dinner: turkey burger with jalopenos, hot sauce and ketchup












 50days

A Little Sickly

I have been a little under the weather these past couple of days, so today I thought I'd share

7 Tips if you catch a cold

• Drink lots of fluids. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water are all good choices. They help replace fluids lost during mucus production or fever. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can cause dehydration.
• Grandma was right. Generations of parents have ladled chicken soup into their sick children’s mouths. Now scientists have put chicken soup to the test, discovering that it does seem to help relieve cold and flu.
• Go to your room! If possible, stay home from work (I did) if you have a fever or a bad cough, or are drowsy after the medications. This will give you a chance to rest as well as reduce the chances that you’ll infect others.
• Adjust temperature & humidity. Keep your room warmer, but not overheated. If the air is dry, a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer can moisten the air and help ease congestion and coughing.
• Try a neti pot. To help relieve nasal congestion, rinse your nose (I know this sounds weird, but it really helps) with warm saline solution, meaning salt water. Be sure to use distilled or filtered water, not tap.
• Vitamin C & Echinacea. The jury is still out, but it appears taking vitamin C & Echinacea at the onset of a cold may shorten the duration of symptoms. As with all of these tips, check with your doctor.
• Apply some VapoRub. This is my secret go-to treatment when all else fails. Did your mom use it on you, too? It brings back memories of her TLC… and really helps improve my breathing and reduce my coughs.

Day 26:
Breakfast: egg and turkey casserole
Lunch: Applebee's roma chicken and shrimp (under550menu)
Dinner: broccoli and cheese soup

Day 27:
Breakfast: egg and turkey casserole                                 
Snack: pistachios
Lunch: broccoli and cheese soup
Dinner: me and the bf went and had dinner at Boston Pizzeria where I had a salad with lettuce and mozzarella cheese with hot sauce as dressing and then grilled chicken with marinara sauce with mixed veggies.
Dessert: I had a fugdesicle and I put my finger in Shauns cheesecake just to try a little taste I couldn't resist :)

51days

Char Town

 

Like I said I went to Charlotte for the weekend to visit a friend. After arriving Friday night it was time to freshen up and get ready for the night.

 

 

 

Then we were out on the town.

 

The next morning I woke up to this, now let me tell you I have been wanting to see snow for such a long time. So I enjoyed a day of fuzzy blankets, a long hot bath and movies.

 

After being lazy all day, we decided we wanted to stay in for the night and cook dinner and have a game night

 

After such a wonderful, yet draining weekend, I need to go by these tips below to recharge my battery!

Ten Steps to Recharge your Batteries after a Long Weekend

Sleep

One of the most important things you can do to regenerate and restart your body is sleep. You need to make sure your circadian rhythm is back on its proper cycle. You can do this by shooting for 8-10 hours of sleep for the next 5 nights. Make sure to get to bed early in a dark room with no distractions. If possible try to wake up at your normal time no matter how you feel. Regenerating this cycle will tell your body its time to get back to normal.

Water

With all the toxins built up from a weekend of campfire smoke, off-plan food, and other indulgences it is obvious we need a flush. This is not to mention the dehydrating alcoholic drinks and lack of water consumption that occurred during the weekend. Drink 2-3 Liters of water a day, period. This is an essential step in your detox.

Exercise

No matter if you feel like it or not get back into your exercise routine. The following day after vacation is the perfect day to start exercising again. I know some of you will be itching to get back into the gym and some of you will be dreading it. For those of you who are dreading it just know that in the end it will feel like therapy. Endorphins will be flowing and the sweat will be dripping. The term “sweat it out” has a definite truth to it! Make sure to give it your all while working out. It’s not about working longer – its about working out harder. Use your energy from those extra ‘Long Weekend’ calories to power your workout to another level. Your body will love it.

Dandelion Root Tea

This tea is an important part of liver detoxification. Try one cup a day for the next three days. A great brand is Traditional Medicinals and it can be found at the Superstore. For a great herbal diuretic with liver tonic properties Dandelion leaf is good as well. Try dandelion tea and see how it makes you feel. You will be surprised.

Stretching

This may not be a part of your routine but it should be. Work on lengthening your muscles that may be stiff or stagnant from a weekend of partying. Start with your quads and hamstrings holding each stretch for 30 seconds. You will feel more relaxed and mobile for your recovery week.

Avoid/Reduce Stress

If you are getting right back into a strenuous lifestyle or job do everything you can to reduce your stress. My favorites are meditate for 15 minutes a day, try a yoga class, go for a massage, take in a funny movie/laugh at something, or simply just take 30 minutes a day just to yourself to do what you like. Do everything you can to not get stressed out. You don’t want to contribute to an already worn out body.

Vitamins

You may have missed your vitamins all weekend… Get back on your multivitamin and omega 3s. You need to replenish your system that may have been depleted over the course of the weekend. These will help with mental clarity, detoxification, and cellular health. Trying to keep your skin healthy? Get your vitamins.

Get Back to Your Healthy Eating

Green veggies, lean proteins, healthy fats, and whole grains are essential in getting you back on track. For 5 days try to stay away from sweets. Pump up your nutrition by drinking a Green Drink every morning and including green veggies like broccoli and asparagus twice a day. DAMY Members – it’s time to get back on plan. Start right away.

Drink Green Tea

Now, more than ever, you need antioxidants to get rid of the free radicals you built up all weekend. One of my favorite ways to accomplish this is to drink green tea. My favorite brand right now is simply the PC Tropical Green Tea. Drink 2-3 cups of Green tea each day this week. If you haven’t done it before you will notice how amazing you feel from it.

Organization

Keep your mind at ease by being organized. Create a 5 day plan prioritizing what needs to get done. Don’t overdo it. Only plan to accomplish the essentials. Seeing it in front of you will relax your mind and reassure yourself that this week is going to go smoothly. From there, take it one day at a time. Include these ten steps in your plan. Simply write them out at the top of each page. Then, do them. You will feel great about how quickly you recover.

Day 23:

Lunch: hunan chicken just onions and broccoli (no rice)

Dinner: Taco night (lettuce, lean beef, Mexican cheese, fat free refried bean, peppers and onions)

 

Day: 24

Lunch: leftover taco night (lettuce, lean beef, Mexican cheese, fat free refried bean, peppers and onions)

Snack: Sonic strawberry's slushie

Dinner: homemade broccoli soup, crab meat, turkey sausage and cheese. (very random dinner but once I go home I just ate whatever I had at the house)

Dessert: fudgesicle

 

Day 25:

Breakfast: egg and turkey sausage casserole

Lunch: homemade broccoli soup

Dinner: Shish Kabobs  

 

 

53days.