Burn Baby Burn!

found here

My total weight loss for the 26 days I played the Game On Diet.....6.8 pounds! Week 3 I didn't lose much.  I discovered that I was eating too few calories.  I downloaded the fitness pal app on my phone and started tracking my calories the last week.  The weight started coming off again.  I think the Game On Diet is a great way to kick some bad habits and get yourself on the road to eating "clean".  The fitness pal app is awesome and available on both droids and iphones . You can search or scan bar codes, and you can even type in a recipe to get a calorie count! 

Wordless Wednesday

Here are my weekly words of wisdom that I stole reposted from pinterest or fitspiration.  Enjoy!

Game On Diet - Week 4

This is the last week for our game.  My team isn't going to win. :(.  While my purse is $50 lighter, it isn't a complete loss. 

I kicked my diet dp habit!
I started running again!
My skin is getting clearer!
I feel better!
My clothes are fitting better....and again!

I think this was just the kick in the booty I needed.  I will let you know my official weight loss for the 4 weeks on Saturday.  I have decided not to play again until maybe after Christmas break.  I am really going to focus on upping my mileage and cross training.  I am going to keep my good habits and stick to most of the Game On plan. 

Lapping Couch Potatoes!

Today, I ran my first race since February...that was 9 months ago.  I got talked into running the race even though I just started running a couple of weeks ago after my long lazy spell.  Then, I proceeded to talked my mom into walking the race.  My time was actually better than I hoped but no where close to a PR.  When I saw these, I felt so much better about getting myself up and running this morning!  Way to go, Mom.  I'm proud of you. 

Austin, I'll be seeing you again in February and this West Texas girl plans to kick your hilly butt! 

Thank you Pinterest!

Wordless Wednesdy: Don't Quit

Game On-ers, Here is some MOTIVATION for you!  This means we must play 2 more rounds?!?

I found this great saying here

Multitasking Queen of the Kitchen

Today after work, I made 3,THREE, meals at ONCE!  Here is the amazing part...it took me about an hour to accomplish this amazing feat!

1.  stuffed bell peppers for dinner
2.  Texas Tortilla Soup for tomorrow's dinner
3. stuffed zucchini for next week

How, you ask?  Most of my vegetables were already chopped.  I usually do this on Sundays and bag them in little baggies.  It makes it easy to include them in my salads, omelets and other meals.  Last night, the hubby grilled about 4 pounds of chicken.  I cut it into cubes and saved about 2 pounds for my tortilla soup.

Here is what I did today:

1. Cut off the tops of my bell peppers, cleaned out the insides and put them in a pot of boiling water, reduced heat a simmer for 5 minutes.  Removed and set aside to drain.

2.  Put my ground chicken breast in my saute pan to brown.  I used 1/2 pound of ground chicken breast and 1/2 pound of ground chicken seasoned with Italian Spices.  This what it looks like from Sprouts. 

3. Put all my chopped vegetables in another saute pan with a little EVOO.  I used the same vegetables for all three recipes.  Green bell pepper, red bell pepper, purple onion, celery and carrots

4.   I poured my chicken stock and cut up grilled chicken from the night before in my crock pot and turned it on low. 

Sprouts Organic Chicken Broth..low sodium and only 5 calories a cup! 

5.  Microwaved my brown rice.

6.  Mixed vegetables, brown rice, sauteed chicken breast, and 1 jar of Organic Spaghetti Sauce from Sprouts and filled the peppers.  Put them in the oven and baked them for about 30 minutes at 350.  Topped with a little Italian Blend Reduced fat cheese and Voila!

7.  There was so much of the stuffing left over that I hollowed out some zucchini and stuffed them.  I put them in the freezer for next week.  I think I could have stuffed four more peppers.

8.  I added the rest of the vegetables and spices to my soup.  The soup tastes best when it simmers for several hours and then refrigerates overnight.  I started fixing this soup for Christmas Eve.  Here is pic from then with all the yummy options...avocado, sour cream, and tortilla chips!



My old counter tops...isn't my granite much nicer?!  The peppers were delish.  The hubby had 2.  I ate one and dropped the other on my kitchen floor.  BOO.  There went my plan for lunch tomorrow.

 

Game On Week #3

Pros

I have lost almost 5 pounds and I feel better thanks to the "clean" eating and the gazillion gallons of water. 

I am paying even more attention to food labels.

The 20 minutes of exercise has made me start running again.  Sorry, I'm just learning to use my fancy new phone, but I love this!

Cons

I don't always want to eat my 5 meals. 

I'm really not an early breakfast person, but if I wait too long to eat, it throws my whole day off!

I'm not liking the day off concept.  It make my next day back on so hard and both weeks I have gained a pound back.  I don't like digging myself out of a hole.

So, here's to losing that one pound, again plus my 1%.  I did it last week, so I am sure I can do it again!

Get Your Game On...5k style

Here is your chance to get your exercise points next Saturday.  Women Run Lubbock is hosting a 5k on November 12th.  Yes, it is ok to walk or walk/run if you are not ready to run a little over 3 miles. 

I thought that might get your attention!You get a Nike dri-fit shirt, after race massage and Ghirardelli Chocolate.  Most importantly, you will be helping out Women's Protective Services and the YWCA.  The entry fee is $30. 

Thank you Danielle, for talking me into this!    

Game On Diet Recipe

Green Chili Chicken Burgers

mix 1 pound of ground chicken (we bought ours at Sprouts and mixed unseasoned with some that was seasoned with italian spices) with

4 ounces of chopped green chilies, drained (we had some hatch chilies in freezer)

1 fresh jalapeno if desired

3 green onions finely chopped

1 tsp oregano (we didn't since we had the spices in the chicken)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp garlic

pepper to taste

form into patties and grill (we cooked ours on our flat electric skillet)

I didn't eat mine with a bun, but Shannon and Jaxx put theirs on thin buns. 

Three Things Thursday

1.  I worked myself back up to 2 miles. Since it was an after school run, I think my Saturday run should go pretty good. 

2.  Our Green Chili Chicken burgers turned out really good!  Earlier this week we made homemade lasagna with zucchini instead of noodles.  Both recipes scored big with the fam.  Recipes will be coming soon.

3.  I have completed almost 2 weeks of the Game On Diet and my cravings for Diet DP have diminished greatly!

Have a SUPER Friday!

Game On Struggles

The honeymoon is over and the reality of the Game On Diet sets in.  Struggles from week 1 make you want to throw in the towel.  If you excelled in week 1 but week 2 is getting off to a slow start, you begin to doubt yourself.  Ignore the scoreboard.  This game will not be won or lost in the first quarter (week 1) but by the team that plays all 4 quarters! 

Check out this company created by professional runners and read what they have to say about having a mantra.

Belive I Am 

Find Your Mantra (or use one of ours)!

A mantra, by definition, is a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation. Our “I Am” statements are examples of mantras or affirmations that can keep you focused, “on task,”and present. Athletes across the globe in many sports use “power words” that resonate with them in order to anchor their mind and focus when anxiety or negative thoughts start to creep in. (Read about Pro Golfers here)

Lo likes to write out positive statements over and over in her journal before she races so that when she closes her eyes she can see the words from the page. Ro likes to write some key words on her hand such as “Light, Fast, Joy”, along with a smiley face, going into an important race to keep her focus (and therefore energy) where it needs to be.

We’ve used these tools to help us mentally prepare to battle on the track. We consider these techniques to be our “Secret Deadly Weapons” and now we want to share our secrets with other sisters, so they, too, can keep their wandering minds from sabotaging their goals.
Next time you feel too nervous or psyched out before a race or event, try one of our methods to help you focus your mind, calm you down, and get you in the zone!

Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded. But once mastered no one can help you as much, not even your father or mother- Buddha

Inspiration by Email

I have been talking myself into running another half marathon.  Tayler and I promised each other we would run the Austin Livestrong again in 2012.  I have been trying to get excited about training hard and trying for a new PR on one of the hardest courses I have ever ran.  Not sure if it is working. 

Today, I received an email update from  Livestrong telling me that the course would be exactly the same.  I guess the good thing about knowing exactly what is coming is that you can be better prepared, right?  I know reading my race review will make you want to come too!

I love their slogan on the front of the shirt....I really don't LOVE Austin :)

I took a little run this evening...Gotta start building those miles! 

Down 1, Three to Go!

Happy Halloween.....We are passing out the candy we received last night at our church's Trunk or Treat!

I really wasn't feeling the whole GAME ON thing yesterday or today. I'm tired. I didn't sleep well. I have had a headache for two days, possibly allergies?  Poor Me. Welcome to my pitty party, I'm done complaining now. 

I haven't gotten the official score reports, but I think my team did pretty well on week 1.  Last night, I really struggled to eat my last meal and finish off my water.  I know I would have thrown in the towel and crawled into bed if I wasn't accountable to my teammates.  Today, I really watched my carb intake because I really want to shed that pound I gained back from my Saturday free day. BOO!

I am thankful to be held accountable to someone other than myself.  Other than the bazillion gallons of water I drink each day, I think the team aspect might be the key to being successful. 

To my running friends, I am ready to sign up for another race.  I bought some new running clothes for inspiration since my other clothes are packed away in storage.  I will post pics soon.  Prepare to be jealous! 

Race Suggestions?

. 

Sunday Shopping

Disclaimer:  I am not a professional nutritionist or dietitian.  Therefore, you cannot sue me like that guy sued Mickey Ds for making him fat.  However, I have researched a lot about eating healthy throughout the years and the information listed below is merely my conclusion after such said research.

Today, Mom and I went to Sam's.  Mostly she needed stuff for their business and my strong muscles.  If you have been reading my blog, then you realize this is my third trip in 7 days.  Wow!  I must plan better. 

I decided that today I would talk about what my nonprofessional opinion is about the GAME ON DIET.  I can't give my complete true opinion yet, because I haven't read the book.  It is sold out at Barnes and Noble and I am too lazy to drive across town to the Hastings.  My SIL, said she would let me borrow hers, and since I'm cheap that way, I will wait. 

I did read this recently ( I forgot my source...please don't sue me for plagiarism)  Foods linked to weight loss in order of impact were yogurt, nuts, fruit, whole grains, and vegetables.  Yea! Game On!

It is about creating a healthy lifestyle.  Ridding yourself of the chemicals and "stuff" found in processed foods and my much loved diet dps.  I am not a vegan, vegetarian or organic nut.  I am a meat eater.  I actually LOVE beef, but red meat is harder for your body to process (slows down your metabolism and is typically higher in fat)  Therefore, I try to limit my beef intake to once a week 

It is about portion control and eating foods that have a low Glycemic Index.

What is the Glycemic Index?

Not all carbohydrate foods are created equal, in fact they behave quite differently in our bodies. The glycemic index or GI describes this difference by ranking carbohydrates according to their effect on our blood glucose levels. Choosing low GI carbs - the ones that produce only small fluctuations in our blood glucose and insulin levels - is the secret to long-term health reducing your risk of heart disease and diabetes and is the key to sustainable weight loss.

Man, can you tell I'm a teacher?  Here's the DL (down low for those who aren't as ghetto as me):

When choosing your carb for your meal, fruits generally have a lower GI than the other carbs.  For example, the GI of an apple ranges between 30-40.  Anything below 55 is considered low.  A baked white potato is almost 100.  Now, if you eat the skin, the GI goes down. Don't ask me why, because I don't eat the skin, so I didn't research it.  Something about that's where are the nutrients are, blah blah. 

Here are some cool websites to help you with GI

South Beach Diet - this is where I first heard about the GI (8 years ago) and where I got the original recipe for the delicious Quiche Cups .  It is broken down into 3 categories, Low GI, Med GI  and High GI (STAY AWAY!)

Glycemic Index - here you can do a search for a specific food

Crossfit - this is how my hubby has lost about 30 pounds since January.  Crossfit is a type of workout, but they also teach you about GI

The Glycemic Gourmet - here you can get a printable shopping list of 101 low GI foods.  Warning, they try to get you to buy their cookbook.  You have to give them your email, then they prompt you to buy the cookbook, twice.  Say no if you don't want it, and the list will be emailed.  You can download and print. 

Enough about the carbs and GI, let's talk proteins.  Fish, Chicken and Turkey are better choices than red meat.  Greek Yogurt (low GI, 14 grams of protein) is a good choice.  Cheese is a good choice (low GI), but watch the fat content.  Laughing Cow is the best brand of cheese for watching your weight.  See here where I talk about Babybels and Wedges. 

My mom buys Low-Sodium Starkist Tuna Packets for her "snack" protein.  I'm not a big fan of tuna, but if you are, it is GREAT choice. 

Here is my morning snack...it works great for me at school.  Sometimes the I eat a banana instead of the apple.

I lost 2.6 pounds this week.  Gained one pound back after my "free day".  I am still getting my weight loss bonus.  

I hope this helps your Sunday Shopping. 

Game OFF

Today, I got paid for cleaning my own house!  I know you are jealous.  You too can have $3.23 cents if you want to come clean my floors and dust!

After cleaning, I took a nice run.  It felt really good this morning.  My breakfast consisted of water and a large spoonful of peanut butter.  My favorite prerun snack.  Very rebellious, I know.   Then I fooled around and didn't eat again until around 1pm.  Mom and I visited Rosa's Cafe, where we had nachos, chips, queso, and SWEET tea! 

Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs and we left a lot of chips.  If you know me well, you know I love my chips and hot sauce.  What is wrong with me?  In the past I could easily put away a basket by myself.  I actually took a picture of my nachos, but I got a new phone this afternoon and it is on my old phone.  Sorry. 


Then before the game, we had Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers and another SWEET tea.  We didn't even eat much of the fries. 

Speaking of Game OFF...My Red Raiders took the game off, unfortunately, Iowa State did not.  We got our Scarlett and Black bottoms beat at home after beating OU in Norman last weekend.  The Rangers took the Game Off last night, so I guess that just sums up my sports weekend.  Thankfully, I'm not a Cowboys fan so I won't mind if the lose tomorrow. (do they even play?).  Anyway, Mom and I enjoyed popcorn, m&ms and I had hot chocolate at the game Jones.

Now, I am making my brownies about 12 hours later than I planned.  I'm going to enjoy one before bed and save the rest for my kids to enjoy tomorrow.  I really don't think I will be that tempted.  If I am, they will be going in the trash.   

Did you notice, I did not have one single diet dp today?  I am going to try to stay away from them.  I do so much better on my running when I don't have them.  I hope to make them a once in a while treat.  My sweet tea will probably be a once a week treat, but I'm okay with that.  And, NO, I am not going to sweeten it with Truvia or any of that other "natural" sweeteners.  I like plain white sugar in my tea. 

 

Game On Friday

My Game was On...even with chips and queso in the teacher's lounge today.  Once a month the parents in our building provide lunch for the staff on Friday.  Today, Kindergarten parents prepared baked potatoes, chili, queso, chips and salad.  If you know me very well, you know I LOVE me so chips and queso.  I was a good girl.  I had a baked potato (I didn't eat all since they were huge) and salad.  Lyneil suggested we put the laughing cow cheese in ours since we couldn't have butter or sour cream.  I put two wedges and it turned out pretty delish!  I took my own salad dressing and some extra veggies.  I was proud that I wasn't even tempted by the Halloween cookies!  I had oatmeal with pecans and agave nectar (new fav) and turkey bacon for dinner tonight since the rest of my family headed to the deer lease.

Last night had to be my free sleep night because the Rangers couldn't put those pesky Cardinals away.  Actually, the Cardinals are my second favorite team in baseball, so I would be rooting for them if they were playing anyone else.  They will probably keep me up tonight, but since I don't have to be anywhere in the morning, I will still get my sleep points.  I may even get to bake those brownies tonight if the Rangers let it go extra innings. 

Speaking of lack of sleep....Lyneil and Andy are headed to Aggieland this weekend and they are going to something called Yell Practice.  I'm pretty sure that is Aggie for Pep Rally late at night.  Anyway, I hope they have a great weekend.  Lyneil's little sister, Andrea, is on my Game On team.  They are actually my husband's cousins.  They are pretty awesome ladies so I have to love them even though they are Aggies. So, here is a cheer Yell for you two...Beat the hell out of Mizzou Whoop!  You can imagine how it pained me to type that. (This is my way of seeing if they really read my blog)

Good Night and God Bless!

Fashionista Friday!

Today, the kids got to wear their Halloween Costumes to school.  I'm a little sad my little guy no longer wants to be a super hero, but this gruesome zombie!

My favorite thing about fall is definitely not the cool weather, but I do love BOOTS!  My friend has some boots like these, but I'm not sure how I feel about them.  Her boots actually have more fringe, but I am sure that is too much for me.   What do you think?

Three Things Thursday

1.  MEAL OFF...After much internal debate, I decided to take my "free" meal tonight.  We went to Jason's Deli and I had my favorite manager's special.  I ate a half California club without the sprouts, a cup of fire roasted tortilla soup and a side of fruit.  I may have had a little soft serve cone.  Yummy! 

2.  DAY OFF...My plan is to take Saturday off.  Texas Tech has a home game and if I feel like braving the weather, I won't be able to pack my appropriate snacks.  I can already taste the sweet tea and smell the brownies cooking.  I may make them for breakfast.  However, I won't use Saturday as my exercise day off or my sleep day off. 

3.  SCALES...I really don't like to weigh myself.  I usually just go by how my clothes fit.  Lately, that hasn't been so good,hence my need to play GAME ON.  As of this morning, I have lost 2.6 pounds.  It will be interesting to see how much that number will change tomorrow after my night off.  My official weigh in day is going to be Saturday mornings.  That means I don't have a full seven days to reach my 1% body weight loss goal this first week, but hopefully my meal tonight won't make that much of dent in my weight loss.  You will probably hear tears of regret in the morning if it did!

Send me any recipes or menu ideas you would like me to share to cgzant@gmail.com.  I think the more you can vary what you eat, the happier you will be, and the more successful you will be in the end.  Have a Fantastic Fashionista Friday!  We'll be sporting our Halloween Costumes!

Decisions, Decisions & Great Buys

For those of you new to the Game On Diet, you get one meal off a week and one whole day off each week!

I am struggling on when to take my meal off and day off.  I mean, do I really want to take my meal off Friday evening and all day Saturday?  Is that sabotaging my Monday morning weigh in?  Maybe my meal off should be in the middle of the week if my day off is on the weekend?  Then, another part of me is thinking I shouldn't really take a WHOLE day off. 

I took a mini York peppermint patty today and ate it about 2 pm.  It really hit the spot.  Now, I'm still full from my evening meal and am trying to decide if I really need to "spend" that other 50 calories. 

Food RE-Review

I bought the Oscar Mayer brand turkey bacon last night at Sam's  and it was very good this morning.  I just heated it up in the microwave.  Maddox, my five year old, loved it!  It is a million times better than Jennie O.  Don't waste your money!  My sister-in-law said the Butterball brand is also good. 

Another great find at Sam's was the Chobani brand Greek Yogurt.  They have a 12 pack for a little under $12.  It has strawberry, peach and blueberry.

I also picked up some little Babybel cheese.  Jaxxon, my son, loves these.  I thought about the laughing cow, and passed.  Lyneil said she would go pick some up and we could share.  We decided it would be pretty tasty on the Triscuits she found. 

The Rangers' World Series game was delayed due to rain in St. Louis, so I am going to enjoy my extra sleep!  Keep drinking the water! 

Stealing a line from Jim at 50 after 40

Be Great Today!

Sweet Treats...Game On Style

I have a sinus/lack of diet dp headache...so this will be short, SWEET and simple!  I am never really hungry, but I do crave something sweet.  The fruit helps, and in the past, I would have grabbed a diet dp.  Here's how to get your Game On! and feed that sweet tooth.  (I'm already planning on brownies for my day off...and I will be licking the batter off the spoon!)

Weight Watchers Fudge Bars...one is only 45 calories!

Skinny Cow...only the truffle bars are 100 calories.  There are several different flavors of flavors.

My sister-in-law let me in a little secret, a variety pack of fun sized m&ms, twix, snickers and 3 musketeers....all less than 100 calories.

If you missed it before, I love York Peppermint Patties and Junior Mints. 
The mini York peppermint patties are 50 calories each.  I haven't checked on the Junior Mints since I usually purchase them in the Movie Theatre Jumbo box. 

I checked on Chick-fil-a tea and a small is 100 calories.  I'll be saving that for my day off and splurging on a large!

Now that I have given some suggestions for blowing your 100 calories, how about something useful?

Lyneil's Smoothie Recipe...protein, carb and fat all in one.  BAM!

Greek Yogurt
Fruit of choice..best if frozen
Nut of choice
a little milk....blend together

Hope you had a great Tuesday!

Game On Diet Day 1

Other than a slight headache because of no caffeine, I feel really good today.  Stuffed, in fact.  Five meals a day, eaten every 2-4 hours with 3 gallons liters of water is really filling!  I'm getting all my points today. For my exercise, I took a little run after Shannon got home from his new job as a Lubbock Fire Fighter!  I haven't ran consistently since the spring.  My lungs were not happy with me!  

My Food Critic Report for Today's Menu

The turkey bacon for breakfast wasn't my favorite.  It is a bit salty.  I may try another brand or maybe organic.   I added a little agave nectar to my oatmeal this morning since I like sweet and that turned out pretty good.  My lunch of the crock pot chicken and potatoes was pretty good.  The chicken stock is well worth the 15 points from my free 100.  I'm beginning to enjoy greek yogurt more and more. I think having it with fruit satisfies my sweet tooth pretty good. I decided to do grilled fish and a salad tonight.  The new dressing was a keeper.

Tomorrow, I will be having my Quiche Cups.  This time they feature turkey sausage for extra flavor.  I'm not a big fan of eggs, so I have to put lots of other "stuff" in there.

I think my snacks will probably stay the same most days.  I'm having my grilled chicken salad tomorrow for lunch.  Dinner is still a toss up depending on when we get home.  It may be another salad or a wrap.

Quiche Cup Recipe

10 oz. frozen chopped spinach
1 c. egg substitute
3/4 c. reduced fat shredded cheese...I used little mozzarella and feta this time
1/4 c. diced bell pepper
1/4 c. diced onion
1/2 pound of turkey sausage or ground turkey, browned

Salt and pepper to taste.  You can also add Louisiana hot sauce....but I haven't checked the label to see if it contains sugar.  It may be a no no on this diet. 

Microwave the spinach for about 5 minutes.  Drain and blot dry well.  Mix all ingredients. Line muffin pan with liners.  Spray with nonstick spray.  Fill muffin cups.  Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  This made 18, but I didn't fill them all as full as some.  I think I full muffin cup would probably be your protein serving.  We put ours in a large ziploc bag and freeze.  Then we just microwave them in the morning as needed.  You can substitute any vegetables or meat or just do vegetarian quiche.  If they are not a "dry" as you like upon reheating, blot more of the water out of the spinach next time. Enjoy. 

Crock Pot Chicken and Potatoes

Saute onion and celery in olive oil.  Poor about 2 cups of chicken broth in the crock pot.  I used organic low sodium.  Cut up four red potatoes into cubes.  Add chicken.  I used frozen boneless skinless chicken tenders that I had from sprouts.  Probably about 1 1/2 pounds? Turned my crock pot on low and let it cook for about 6-8 hours or until the chicken is falling apart.  The chicken broth takes about 15 calories of your free 100 calories for each serving. 

I had mine with steamed broccoli.  It was a very filling lunch. 

Enjoy. My Game is ON!

Get Your GAME ON!

Game On Diet...a way to kick your friends' butts while shrinking your own!  I am a competitive person, so I think I will enjoy the Game On Diet.  It is not really a diet in my mind.  The restrictions on food are minimal.  I am playing against family and friends, and there is money on the line.  I think this is just the motivation I need to get my running jump started, again. 

Here is a breakdown of the Game On Diet:

Meals - 5 a day made up of the following: a fist of carbs or fruit, a palm of protein, and a thumb sized portion of fat.  Two of the meals must also contain two fists of veggies.

Water - 3 liters a day....I'm a teacher with no potty break for 4 hours....I see this being a problem.

Exercise - 20 minutes a day

Sleep - Must get 7 hours of sleep

Create a new good habit and break/lessen an old bad habit....aren't I already?  I mean, I have to give up my beloved sweet tea and diet dp :(  My new habit is getting back to blogging to track my progress, share menus and recipes and to motivate others toward healthy lifestyle choices.  My old bad habit I am breaking is making sure I wash my face properly every night before bed. 

Communicate with members of your own team and opposing team daily aka TRASH TALK

BONUS!!!  You get 100 free calories a day, one meal off and one day off each week.  Also, you get bonus points for losing 1% of your body weight.

The game runs for 4 weeks.  There are also penalties that I will save for another day.

My plan for DAY ONE

Breakfast (Meal 1 @ home before school)
oatmeal w/ pecans (carb, fat)
turkey bacon (protein) I cooked this already

Snack (Meal 2 while teaching ?)
2 lowfat cheese sticks (protein)
Honeycrisp apple slices (fruit)
walnuts (fat)

Lunch (Meal 3)
crock pot chicken w/ potatoes (protein/carb/veggie/fat) I will post the recipe tomorrow after I decide if this is worth sharing.  This also contains chicken stock which will take about 15 of my free calories
steamed broccoli(veggie)

Snack (Meal 4 after school snack)
Greek yogurt (protein)
strawberries (fruit)
walnuts (fat)

Dinner (Meal 5 with the fam)
Salad ( 2 fists of veggies including lettuce, baby spinach, bell peppers, cucumbers) with oil/balsamic dressing...I am trying a new Walden Farms dressing.  If you haven't heard of this brand it is gluten free, sugar free, calorie free, carb free, cholesterol free dressing.  Some flavors are really good and others not so much!)
Grilled Chicken
Small Potato or grapes?

My 100 calorie plan for today is either a 45 calorie weight watchers fudge bar or a mini york peppermint patty for 50 calories. 

I have a great recipe for a quiche I am sharing tomorrow....and hopefully the crock pot chicken and potatoes!

GAME ON!

I'm BAAAACCKKKK! Game On!

Life is always full of craziness and some people just have more crazy than others!  After a wonderful vacation with the family to Disney World and all states along the way, my summer vacay came to a screeching halt.  We decided to move which meant finishing our remodel so we could sell our house.  I worked 12-14 hours every day for 2 weeks.  I don't care if I ever see paint or tile grout AGAIN! 

Then, I had to focus on getting my new classroom organized.  I am now teaching second grade at a small school south of where I live.  It is the same school my hubby grew up attending.  It has been WONDERFUL!  My mental health is worth the 8K pay cut I took.  I do miss my BHC girls, but I am a much happier person. 

I am dusting off my brooks and starting a new diet game called Game On!  There is a $50 bye in and if my team wins, we each walk away with $150.  You get points for drinking water, eating properly and exercising.  My plan is start back slow...couch potato to 5k, to keep from injuring myself again.  I usually eat pretty healthy but my love of sweet tea is about to put me in a new wardrobe.  I promise to keep you posted. 

Enjoy your weekend and GO RANGERS!

One Big Headache

In November, I had a week long headache.  I was little concerned because I'm just not the type to get headaches.  I got another one 2 weeks ago and I still have it.  I finally contacted my doctor and they want me to keep a headache diary for one month and then they will evaluate my diary and see if they can help.  I have to record:

•  what I eat,
• how much sleep I get,
• what I was doing before the headache started,
• how long it lasted,
• what I did to make it stop

Possible current causes:  STRESS, my lovely braces/TMJ/severe overbite, my eyes/vision, allergies or a wonderful combination of all of the above. 

I remembered that it had been a while since I changed out my contacts, so I put fresh ones in Wednesday.  I can't do much about the STRESS in my life (my hubby is narrow minded and won't let me quit my job - something about needing to pay bills) or my braces so I guess we will see what my diary discovers. 
I so suck at such things. I can't even remember to take vitamins daily. 

I wish I was headed to Dallas to run the Big D.  Tayler and I talked ourselves out of it.  Enjoy it TARA!  You will do great!  You can have honorary membership in the BHC! 

In Texas, Bigger is Better

I got my FREE sticker in the mail.  Thanks Jim!  I promise I am trying to be GREAT at something everyday!

Jaxxon started Karate and broke a board with his foot this weekend. 

My running has been more off than on thanks to my knee/leg pain.  My relationship with Tony is on the rocks since I have been neglecting him and my p90x workouts.  Kitchen remodeling is my current excuse.  My jeans tell me I better get serious or I will be president of the Muffin Top Moms. 

I am now going to share something from my tacky sense of humor.  Only my closest friends are even aware that this side of me exists.  Please stop reading now if you are easily offended by rude, inappropriate comments about the physical appearances of complete strangers.




Don't say I didn't warn you.  I only have 16 followers and can't afford to lose anyone....please


You know how sometimes you walk into a place and you just can't quit staring at something or someone?  Well, last week...I couldn't take my eyes off of

Big, proud Texas sized hair with lots of spray, bulletproof I'm sure.  Her make up was expertly applied with the appropriate 34 layers and she was dressed in cute new nike tempos and running shoes.  I wanted so badly to follow her.  I mean, she was dressed for running and if she sweats like Tayler, then I want the after picture of her make-up.  If she had already gone for a run, then I need to know what kind of make up she wears, because none of it was out of place or missing.

I wish my profile shot would have turned out to show you that her hair was jacked up at least 7 inches off of her head with a big rats nest in the middle, but I was trying to be sly about snapping a picture of a complete stranger.  I thought about approaching her about doing an interview for my blog, but she didn't look very friendly so I passed on that thought and the chance of getting a picture of her face. 

RUDE...I know.  Maybe I'm just jealous that my hair and make-up never looks good when I run or workout. 

Life without Sweet Tea

Saturday was day 1 of my life without sweet tea.  I survived.  I even survived.the stairmaster and elliptical machine without leg pain.  We took the kids to the Drive In to see Rango.  Jaxxon seemed to enjoy it, but the rest of us were not so impressed.

Sunday - No Sweet Tea Day 2....I tried running.  I was feeling pretty good until around mile 1.  I shortened my run and came home to roll on my foam roller.  I found this website that has great videos on how to stretch properly using the foam roller.  

Monday - Day 3 without sweet tea

Today, I had to run some errands.  I accidentally found these in DSW.  Madden Girl Morghan for $29.99.  Since I had taken some things back to Old Navy this morning, it was easy to justify the purchase.  On the way home, I really had to fight my car to keep it from turning into Taco Villa for a happy hour sweet tea. 

Tonight is the finale of The Bachelor!  Who will Brad choose? I love my mindless TV! 

My Apologies

As I was looking for something else, I discovered a blog that I had never published.  Usually that wouldn't be such a big deal, but this post has my Outlet Mall finds and the winner's of a giveaway!  This is a perfect example of how crazy my life has become or maybe the bleach they use to highlight my hair has finally absorbed into my brain. 

The winners of these lovely necklaces are:

Jess and Maia!  Sorry for the 2 year delay.  Please email me at cgzant@gmail.com  I am on spring break, so I will be able to get them in the mail ASAP! 
SCORE - Outlet finds!

Now that I have children, it is hard for me to justify buying myself stuff, but I do like to reward myself after a race.  Outlet shopping can be hit or miss.  Lucky for me I scored this past weekend!  After passing up the cheap tempos at the expo, I was excited to find these on the clearance rack at the Nike store.

The final price for the lightweight half zip was $16.78 and the fleece lined hoodie half zip was $19.18 (regularly $70)!

The Coach store was passing out an additional 30% off coupon at the door.  I found this cute little red patent leather purse for $60 after all discounts and taxes!

Fashionista Friday - Spring Break Style

If you heard a shout of joy around 3 pm CST....it was me!  If you didn't well, I promise the one at the end of May will be loud enough for you to hear!

Why am I shouting for joy you ask?  Did I just win the lottery? Nope, I forget to play.  I'm a teacher and Spring Break = 9 days off for me. 

I love warm weather.  I love the lake and the beach.  I love to hear the crack of a bat hitting a ball while sitting in the stands with my tank top, shorts and bare feet. 

I was reading my Weight-Loss Special Runner's World last night, right after reading Jim's (from 50 after 40)post about finding your "ideal running weight".  I am now scared to get on the scales to see how much I need to lose to reach my ideal running weight.  I use my pants as a "scale" and I know it isn't pretty after my sabbatical.  Although I'm not Catholic and I don't usually give up anything for Lent.....I am once again saying so long to my SWEET TEA!  Giving up Diet DP was hard, but the thought of giving up my sweet tea makes me want to cry. 

For the Fashionistas....Tomorrow Old Navy is having a special sale on some cute little dresses!

Happy Spring Break!

Mini Sabbatical

I had to take a mini sabbatical from my running, exericse and blogging.  My hubby has been enjoying a five star Omni Resort in Tuscon while the kids and I have been counting down the days until Spring Break.  I hope that I have given my old joints enough rest so I can get back to running before I eat myself into a new wardrobe!  The smoked gouda pimento spread and Girl Scout Cookies are virtually calorie free, but my pants are still shrinking in the closet.  I've decided to amp up my cross training and go back to two a days.  Running and p90x.  Throw in a little Body Pump and Spinning at the gym and I will be ready for this!

I am busy planning our summer vacation to visit family in Orlando and trying to convince the hubby that we should take a little cruise over to the Bahamas since it is basically just a hop, skip and jump to island paradise.  My aunt and uncle have even offered to keep the kids and let just the two of us go.  That is an offer that is hard to refuse!  We haven't been to a resort or on a cruise since our 5 year anniversary.....9 years ago.

If I survive the last day before Spring Break, I will try to get back to my Friday Fashionista posts

Have you ever been to the Bahamas? 

We have been to Jamaica and Mexico.  One day, I would like to go to the US Virgin Islands. 

.  

Austin Livestrong Half Marathon

Tayler and I left early Saturday morning and drove to Austin.  We met up with my friend Donna and headed to the expo to get our packets.  Donna is a local girl and got us in and out of the expo quickly.  My favorite socks were buy 2 get 1 free, so I grabbed three new pair.  We passed on some $16 tempos because the line was long and our stomachs were growling. 

Carb loading

We snacked in the car on the way and never really ate lunch.  Great prerun fueling.  We had an early dinner at Saltgrass Steak House.  Tayler and I are great examples of what not to do the day before a race!

At the hotel we got our gear ready and put our chrono tags on our shoes.  I think laying out your clothes and gear early in the evening is so important.  I even double checked my snack bag to make sure I was good for breakfast. 



On Sunday morning, Donna met us at our hotel and we followed her to downtown Austin.  The interstate was clear, but it took us twice as long to find a parking spot. 

The blur is the Capitol building from the interstate

We had plenty of time to find the porta potties, stretch and get our spot in line. 

I wore my spibelt so I could take pics along the way.  That didn't work out so well.  Here is the only pic I took during the race. 

Hill at mile 12 - YUCK! I took this about half way up. 

I knew the course was going to be tough.  Lots of uphill.  I was anxious because of my knee/leg pain. My leg pain and the weather the last few weeks killed my training.  I had in my mind that anything below a 2:10 would be good for me.  The pain started earlier than usual, around mile 3.  At times I thought I should stop or my bone was going to be poking through and then other times it didn't bother me at all.  It was a tough course.  Way harder than anything I have experienced.  The last hill of the San Antonio RnR was nothing compared to this course.  Unofficial chip time: 2:12:18  My Garmin Results if you want to see the elevation chart and how inconsistent my splits were.  It was still a new PR for me so I can't complain.  My stomach was pretty upset after the race and it was hard for me to eat lunch.  We showered and headed to the San Marcos Outlet Mall for our post run shopping.  After dinner we spent an hour in the hot tub and got ourselves to bed!  I can't wait to show you what I bought!