February 2012
12 posts
4 tags
An Elliott Original?
Good GAWD I’m tired. Bar Method yesterday and today, plus 5 sweaty miles on the treadmill tonight has left me zapped of all energy.
Thank goodness dinner was already made tonight! The BF has class Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday right now so we make Mondays a priority to spend time together and make dinner. I wanted to make a really awesome recipe that I saw on Pinterest but I couldn’t...
5 tags
Starvin' Marvin
I hate days where I’m so hungry I’m about to eat my fist and it’s not even 11 o’clock yet. I just don’t get it- most days I’m completely fine until about 12:30 and then can eat lunch like a civilized person.
On mornings where I go to Bar Method before work I like to split up my breakfast into 2 parts so I can at least have something in my stomach before...
4 tags
The week ahead
Only 2 long runs left before the half marathon. Freaking out a little bit….ok, a lot!
I’ve been out of the long distance running saddle for awhile now, but when I left it circa June 2010 (oh hey, does that happen to coincide with me starting at a super busy start up??) I was feeling pretty good about myself. I’d just slaughtered (by my terms) the Nashville Rock N Roll half with...
4 tags
Stuffed Peppers and Easy Chicken
Two recipes to share this morning— I’ve been getting really good at making a batch of something to take for lunch for the week and planning my weekday dinners out on Sunday, too.
This week was a slam dunk. Not only are both of these recipes really easy, they’re super delicious, too.
Browsing Pinterest, I cam across this recipe:
...
2 tags
8.5 Miles and CHOCOLATE
Today I combined two of my favorite things: running (ok fine, jogging) and chocolate.
I’ve become part of a running trio with Kate and Blair and we all do our long runs together on Saturday mornings. The run was a little less than ideal- wind gusts of 25 MPH and snow flurries made for a less than happy Elliott, but we powered through and got it all done!
One of the best things about DC is...
2 tags
Bathing Suits
Y’all. I ordered this suit from J. Crew last week thinking “sure, looks great on the model but J. Crew bathing suits never really look good on me.” I figure I need a LOT of time to figure out suits for Hawaii.
But I may just order this in every single color. Seriously, amazing— the one shoulder makes it sexier than your normal one piece, and the ruching really does...
Embarrassed
I’m feeling kind of sheepish…. you know that feeling where you know you’ve done something wrong and then you want to make it right, but each day that goes on without making it right makes it harder to make right?
Yeah.
That’s where I am right now over not posting for over 2 weeks now. I could make up a million excuses (my computer faces people now and it’s awkward...
3 tags
Grocery List
And finally (holy lots of posts at once!) the split up grocery list this week. I forgot to make a guesstimate for how much groceries would cost this week, but all said and done it was just under $70.00! For two people that’s a pretty awesome week!
What I’m finding out is that I often have quite a few of the things that I need to make recipes now, so instead of having a huge grocery...
5 tags
Week Ahead
It’s that time again! Time to plan menus, workouts and grocery lists!
My second job fell through so it looks like I’ll continue to have NO excuse for squeezing in 6-8 workouts a week (that’s both a blessing and a curse I guess!) With Hawaii just over 2 1/2 months away it’s hard to conceptualize being in a bathing suit, but I know if I don’t kick my butt now I...
3 tags
Super Bowl Snacking
Why is it that Americans use the Super Bowl as an excuse to eat as much crap as possible? My family’s never been huge into football so growing up the Super Bowl was just about watching commercials, seeing the half-time show and then going to bed.
It wasn’t until I got to college that I realized people get NUTS about the game, and even more NUTS about the food they...
2 tags
My True Love
Sorry BF it’s not you (kidding, but this love is different).
I’m talking about my Soda Stream. If you’re unfamiliar, check out this figure:
Just beautiful. I’ve been a huge fan of sparkling water since my study abroad in Italy but it’s often expensive or not readily accessible. I’ve been lusting over this guy for about a year now, and finally my sister...
3 tags
1 Month
It’s been a month on South Beach, and I haven’t:
-eaten a piece of bread -had a soda -had anything fried -had icecream or fro-yo
And what I have:
-started grocery planning on a regular basis -cooked 90%+ of all of my meals -stuck to a pretty aggressive workout regimen -lost almost 8 pounds
Yes, almost. I have a feeling all of that wine in NYC and some baking I’ve been doing...
3 tags
PANCAKES
Truth be told, I’ve been a little scared of reintroducing carbs back in my diet— I haven’t lost a ton of weight since the initial 2 weeks and I have this thought that the first carbs that pass my lips are just going to bring all of that weight back. Unrealistic? I sure hope so. I know it’s a bit silly, but I’ve been afraid to go past a piece of fruit and a serving of...
January 2012
34 posts
2 tags
It's OFFICIAL
I’m going to be HERE (Four Seasons Hualalai) in April!
Got my motivation back!
3 tags
Fiber One Meatballs
You can’t even taste the Fiber One. No, seriously—I’m not pulling your leg or trying to pretend like you can’t taste it. You really can’t.
These are GOOD. They also have a good serving of fiber and veggies so it’s a pretty healthy dinner. I chose to have mine sans pasta but the BF made traditional spaghetti and meatballs with his. Either way, a healthy and...
2 tags
Sparkly Soul
About to CRUSH a run with my new sparkly accessory. Seriously I’m betting this thing will make me run a whole hell of a lot faster
No, that’s not me. She’s just the awesome model for Sparkly Soul
4 tags
Cookie Dough!
I started the week off…not strong. Eh, I felt like I needed sleep after this weekend so I didn’t quite get up for my run. I will do it tonight but no Bar Method—turns out that will be ok because I thought I was starting a second job this week (more on that later) but I think it’s been pushed back. So plenty of time to sweat sweat sweat!!!
If you haven’t obsessed over...
4 tags
Plan, Plan, Plan
I’m on the way back from a great weekend in NYC so I’ve got lots of time to plan for the week ahead. I really do believe that planning is the key to any sort of diet, mainly so when you get hungry you know what’s coming next (instead of grabbing the next carb laden thing you see to eat and then feel guilty about).
Lucky for me, I LOVE to plan and am more than happy to spend an...
4 tags
Grocery List
To go along with the post above, I figured I’d share how I split up my grocery list. I love the act of grocery shopping but in general I hate to waste time. So while I WILL go up and down each aisle just for the sake of seeing what’s there, I DON’T want to spend any extra time hunting down items. Maybe I’m a bit too planned out, but I’ve found dividing my list into...
3 tags
Snack Pack!
…..I only wish it was pudding! I’m off to NYC to hang with my sister, mom and aunt and currently enjoying the luxury of Amtrak vs the dirty Chinatown bus I usually take. The bus is cheaper, yes, but my past 4 visits the bus has either broken or taken 3 extra hours to get to my destination. So for an extra $30 I was willing to splurge on being on time and having a (semi) clean bathroom...
3 tags
Goals and Rewards
I ran six miles this morning before work….so I rewarded myself with a skinny vanilla latte from Starbucks. Best nutrition decision? Debatable. But leaps and bounds ahead of how I used to reward myself with food for being “good” for a day. I’ve since come a long way and realize if I’m going to reward myself with food it needs to be appropriate— so I built the...
2 tags
Weigh In
Drats. It’s Wednesday. I hate Wednesdays now because it means the number on the scale counts. And today was depressing— just .5 down. YES, I know that’s a loss. But for all of the sweating and non-eating I’ve been trying to do it just seems so…..minimal.
However, a little loss is bigger than a little gain so I’ll take it. I was hoping for a bigger loss because...
4 tags
Tired and hurting
I’m in the midst of training for the DC Half Marathon in March. It’s been almost 2 years since I’ve trained and run a race (I say that because I’ve crapped out on training for 2 marathons inbetween) and while it’s good to get back to things, I forgot just how much time running takes up!
Case in point- since I hit snooze this morning and didn’t get to the gym...
1 tag
Self Control
Being on a diet in a social setting is awkward…I’ve never been that great at self control and being on a diet just seems to amplify my “I want that” attitude. I’ve never really understood those Cosmo or Glamour articles about how to eat at a cocktail party so that you walk away only 300 calories in the hole (including drinks). It’s a cocktail party…with...
4 tags
Holy Early Morning...and a Weigh In
When my alarm went off at 5:03 this morning, I really thought it was part of my dream. Nope, I thought as I groaned and rolled out of bed, I signed up for a 6 am installment of Bar Method.
Why in the world you ask? Good question. I think mainly because I’ve been seeing lots of inspirational quotes on Pinterest and I’ve been thinking hard about true athletes—they don’t let...
3 tags
The week ahead....
Dang my legs are killing me. Another 12 x 200 workout this morning plus Bar Method tonight has left me wobbly to say the least! I guess that’s a good thing, but walking down the escalators at the metro I was cursing under my breath!
This week is a big week—I can go to Phase 2 of the South Beach Diet if I’d like! I’m officially done with the two week intro period on...
3 tags
Failure..and more pizza!
I tried to make chickpea bread yesterday. The recipe looked like it would produce great results—sadly, it did not.
I can’t really describe it? A mix between weird sponge bread and what bread is supposed to taste like? After a few bites to confirm that yes it was in fact crap and it all went into the trash. Oh well. I haven’t really been craving bread anyway so it’s not...
3 tags
Crackers deserve their own post
I’m wordy. And that other post was already real long, so I decided to reserve the really awesome recipe for a post all it’s own- CRACKERS!
You read right— crackers on the SB diet. I was headed to a Patriots game watch and didn’t want to show up without anything I could eat, but I wanted it to be football appropriate. Enter this AWESOME cracker—seriously they taste...
3 tags
Aaaand I'm back!
Wow, long time no post, huh? When I set out to cover this little adventure I didn’t quite count on being so busy at work.
See, while I would love to have the flexibility to post throughout the day I’ve got 12 direct reports that I have way too much fun with to stop and post about my depressing lunch. The end of the week is always busier than the first half? That’s my excuse?
I...
3 tags
Speed Racer (Day 6)
I’m coming down of my weigh-in high. Next week’s weigh-in is going to be tough for me—I know it’s not going to be as much and while I hope that it’s still a negative loss, I know I’ll compare it to this week and think that it’s not good enough.
Sounds like a personal problem. I know. But in order to help the weight loss along and train for the half...
3 tags
Weigh-in Wednesday
More to come on daily eats from yesterday but this morning was my first weigh-in.
And I’m down SIX pounds! YAY!
Now, I do know that that is an absurd amount to lose in a week and not normal- I think I went into last week with a lot of water weight from eating like complete crap the long weekend before, as well as having a heavy meal the night before I started.
I’ll take it though!...
2 tags
Addicted (Day 6)
Yesterday I woke up and I felt GREAT. Ready to conquer the world—which is weird for a Monday. I’m so glad I feel better because last week I felt like all sorts of crap. I was tired to the point of yawning through work each day, I had the most horrible tension headache for three days straight and I just felt….gross.
I was talking to a co-worker yesterday who’s done South...
2 tags
I survived the weekend!! (Day 5)
SO happy the weekend is over. Did I just write that? Ok, so not happy that the laziness is over, but I am happy that the temptations of the weekend are past and I can get back to the standard weekly routine. My willpower held up, but I’m not sure how much more my little psyche could handle!
After my whirlwind in the kitchen last night, the BF and I went to say “hello” to his...
3 tags
Planning and planning
It’s Sunday, which means in true weekend fashion I slept in, ate breakfast, got my butt kicked by Bar Method and then came home to laze around for the rest of the day.
Or so I thought—the only “drawback” to this type of diet is that it does take a considerable amount of prep work and planning in my opinion. It’s probably the normal amount of planning to someone who...
4 tags
Temptations (Day 4)
What a day of temptations!
First the boy announced he’d like to go to McDonalds for a burger, then he bought some M&Ms, we went out to a bar, and to top it off the boy decided to grab a slice of his favorite pizza post drinks.
AND I CONQUERED THEM ALL. No, I’m not shouting. I’m just dancing from the rooftops for having that kind of willpower. To be perfectly honest, the...
3 tags
Cheating?
I confess. I had a full caffeine skim latte today. Terrible? Probably not. But I did feel a pretty big twang of guilt as I ordered. As far as the latte goes, it’s just milk and coffee. Milk is allowed during phase one as long as it’s skim or 1%…but caffeine isn’t.
I just wanted to stay awake tonight when the BF and I hang out with friends!
It could be worse I guess. I did...
4 tags
Day 3- PIZZA!
I’ve always been pretty ok with eating well during the week—I’m a packer (meaning I pack my lunch instead of paying $8-$10 a day to eat something that’s unhealthy and overpriced in downtown DC) so there’s always been a lot of control regarding my breakfast and lunch. Dinner would generally be ok, but the weekend is where I always fell apart.
Maybe it’s growing...
Womp womp
Just found out I won’t find out about Hawaii until February 1.
I mean, going on a diet is a good thing and all because I DEF need it, but it’s going to be a real heartbreak if all of this is for nothing!
Keep your fingers crossed!!!
3 tags
Day 2
On to day 3— Day 2 did get a little bit better with the help of some Tylenol and a good night’s sleep.
When I got home, I was SO inclined to go for a run. Really, I was. But then I couldn’t find my iPod. So I was forced to do about 30 minutes of Just Dance on the Wii until the BF came home to help me look.
iPod in hand, I headed down to the gym with less resolve, but still...
1 tag
Feeling it
Guess my body finally realized it hasn’t gotten its usual dose of caffeine. YIKES.
Still have a lot of motivation but I’m cranky, tired and have a raging headache. I slept through my workout this morning because I was so tired and now I’m feeling guilty for doing that.
Blek.
2 tags
Day 1
Day 1 is almost over! I won’t say that I haven’t had any cravings for carbs today, but today was a TON smoother than I expected.
For starters, on my way to an early morning Bar Method class this morning I forgot my coffee (decaf). We were out of cups at work, too, so I didn’t get any coffee at all until about 4 o’clock! I thought I’d have a super headache...
2 tags
D-Day & Zero-ing out
It’s here. No running away from it or planning for it now. The “South Beach to Hawaii” diet has officially begun.
What I HAVEN’T officially found out yet is if I’m actually going to Hawaii. But after stepping on the scale this morning it doesn’t really matter if I go or not. I mean it does. I’m sure if I find out I’m not going I’ll have a...
3 tags
Last Supper
I’m in a carb induced haze right now. No, seriously, I’m about to fall asleep after inhaling my last supper of Chik-Fil-A Number 1, my fav go-to fattie meal. You didn’t think I was heading out into the carb-less dessert without a proper send-off, right? Didn’t think so.
So much for the workout I did tonight. I have a feeling even though I kicked my booty from here to...
4 tags
Countdown!
Groceries = success. The BF and I raced around both Trader Joe’s and Giant to get all of the things on my list. Turns out that a holiday Monday coupled with New Year’s Resolutions will leave the produce section quite bare.
As part of my prep work, I was able to make Lentil Soup AND some quiche cups! These are both really really easy and will make life easier in the morning, I...
4 tags
Preparations
It’s almost here- D Day-or “diet day” rather.
And it’s taking mad prep to get ready. I’m coming back to a super empty fridge and pantry since I played “Oregon Trail” for about a week and a half before the Christmas holidays. What’s Oregon Trail you ask? No, it’s not the game you played in 3rd grade computer. It’s where you eat whatever...
2 tags
Resolutions
Happy New Year!! I hope whatever you did to ring in the New Year was fun & safe!
I’ve been in Boston the past couple of days and must have subconsciously decided to carb it up while I can…have you ever looked forward to starting a diet? Because I am seriously pumped to have a solid “no thanks, I can’t have that cookie/chip/pastry/whatever deliciousness excuse”...
December 2011
6 posts
1 tag
100%!
Team just hit 100% to goal with two days left to sell…. Still not counting my chickens but looks like I need to start working toward that bikini in April in HAWAII!!
Oh, and now I’m in Boston with the BF. Pretty thrilled with life right now :)
4 tags
Shh don't tell Brother!
I feel like Jerry Seinfield’s wife, trying to slip vegetables into family dinner. Only she does it way better than I am, because at the end of the night brother bear wouldn’t eat my surprise. And her hair is perfectly coiffed the entire time.
I’ve been hearing a Ton about making “mashed potatoes” using cauliflower. I find cauliflower to be a tad on the expensive side...
4 tags
Love Hate Relationship
I was a chunker in high school. No, like shopping at American Eagle and buying size 14 jeans while my sister bought XS spandex pants at the Express type chunker. And then one day, my world got turned upside down when my best friend asked me to join the cross country team.
She wasn’t blind, so I was appalled that she’d even ask me, her butterball friend, to do something with her that...
2 tags
"Practicing"
I’m not officially starting the South Beach Diet until January 4—you know me at all, you know I’m a bit selfish when it comes to food and I’m not about to give up the rest of my time with my mom’s cooking or my time in Boston with the BF.
I fly back to DC late on the 2nd and I need time to prepare before starting. So I’ve given myself the cushion of January 3...