When reality hits....

So reality just gave me a swift kick in the pants with this one...I have six weeks until race day and this email giving me my number made it feel like it could be tomorrow.  HOLY BOLOGNA!   As excited and motivated as I am, this is scary as all get out. 

I've been doing awesome eating this week and here's another healthy and easy meal! 

4 ounces of tilapia

1/2 c rice pilaf

1T tartar sauce

1/4 c sweet potato

1/2 c green beans

Happy Friday! 

Until tomorrow :) 

C

Seriously Healthy, Seriously Cheap

For me and many other health and fitness bloggers, the idea of spending a crap ton of money to be healthy is a very unrealistic stereotype of healthy living.  Believe me, Bailey, and Katie when we tell you we do it on a college student budget and we really make it work! Here are my meals today and a rough cost.  

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MILLIONAIRE TO BE HEALTHY! 

Breakfast: 

1 whole wheat bagel thin ($2.69 for pack of 8)

1T light garden vegetable cream cheese ($2.30 for a half pound container)

1c bolthouse smoothie (this one was 2 for $4)

Lunch: 

Buttermilk Ranch marinated chicken breast $2

California Stir Fry veggie steamer $2 for whole bag (I only usually eat half) 

Butternut squash $1.40 (I get small one's cut them in half and portion it into my tupperware)

Strawberry fizzy water ($1.99 for 4 bottles)

Quick dinner before night class: 

1 vanilla activia yogurt ($1.99 for four containers) 

1/2 c blueberries ($2.99 for a large container at Target this week!) 

1/2 c Bailey's home made granola

All of the meals that I make for myself are very cost conscious.  I try to keep my grocery budget to $30 a week. 

I will say that the things I splurge on are protein and supplements.  I can usually make it between 1.5-2 months on one package of isopure protein and quest bars, but I RARELY get out of GNC under $60. 

Since it was a balmy 26 degrees here today I took my run out of the gym. FINALLY! I got in a nice 4.5 mile cruise in and I loved being able to run off the fricken treadmill.  Me and that darn machine have a love-hate relationship.  I love it for the first two miles then I want to poke my eyes out if I have to stare at the wall any longer.  I am praying that it is warm enough to run to SJU on Sunday for my long run. 8 miles here I come! 

Until tomorrow :) 

C

Getting ready for the week

Sorry this didn't get posted earlier, a spontaneous trip to St. John's got in the way.

Today we had a snowday so I spent some time preparing meals for the rest of the week.  I made two marianted chicken breasts and baked them with a squash then portioned them into containers.  This is then much easier for me to just reheat then cook on a school night.  I also got some fresh veggies to steam and add right before I eat.

Here are the finished products, can't wait to have one tomorrow on yet another snow day!

Here was a little inspiration from my tea today: "Dignity and tranquility last forever"

Goodnight!

Until tomorrow,

C

Goals and proof that I survived 7 miles

Hello all,

Here are my goals for the week:
Make time for a good workout 6 out of 7 days this week.
No added sugar to coffee or snacks.
One serving of something sweet (dessert) per day.
At least five servings of veggies a day.
Enjoy time with my amazing mother when she comes up on Saturday for hockey.

My half marathon is only 7 weeks away...oh my god.  I would really like to lose another 8 pounds or so before I attempt succeed in running 13.1 miles.  Trying to lose weight at college is hard and seriously give props to anyone who is trying.  You are constantly surrounded with temptations and reasons to celebrate with very unhealthy food.  I can't stress enough how helpful a food journal is.  At times it totally sucks to have to remember to write everything down, but it is so interesting to look back on a sad or crappy day and see what you ate and understand exactly why you feel that way...you probably ate unhealthy foods.

Here's my journal from yesterday!

I am going to post another blog entry later today with some simple meals that I use to help myself be prepared and ready for a crazy week.

Enjoy your day, hopefully, like me you have a snow day :)

Until later,

C

Good shopping and great workouts!

This morning I got a text from Kim.  Not only my wonderful Aunt, but probably one of the most dedicated readers of this lovely blog.  Today was the day she hit Trader Joes for the first time!  YAY!! 

So she asked for suggestions, here's my list of faves.

Snacky Things: 

Quinoa and Black bean chips

Individual Trail Mix packets

Chewy fiber bars in peanut butter of chocolate chip

Power crunch protein bars in peanut butter chocolate or vanilla

Meal Ideas: 

Mandarin Orange Chicken

Fried Rice

In the poultry department they have marinated chicken strips. They are absolutely delicious on salads or in wraps.  Just throw them on a pan in the oven for like 20 minutes and then they can get thrown in the freezer for an easy meal.  I'd suggest the Sun dried tomato or pesto varieties! 

She shared a picture of her full cart! 

And her first TJ's meal! 

Pesto chicken strips with quinoa an amazingly easy and healthy choice :) 

Today I hit the gym for a nice jaunt on the elliptical then some legs and arms in preparation for my killer 7 mile run tomorrow...afterwards I wasn't feeling crappy dining center food, so I made myself a dorm dinner. 

Banana Chocoalte Protein Shake: 

2 scoops chocolate isopure protein (50 grams of protein)

3/4 c almond milk (unsweetened) 

1 banana

ice

I supplemented my shake with 1/2 c of blueberries and a whole grain sandwich thin toasted with a smear of light vegetable cream cheese.  It was absolutely delicious and it made my workout totally worth it! 

Had to share my post workout snapchat with Bailey....needless to say I am horrified about running 7 miles tomorrow. 

Hopefully you'll hear from me post-run tomorrow! 

C

Surround yourself with good people

As all of you know I love getting mail, at college what else is there to live for? Right?  So today Bails sent me a package with healthy sweets, which happen to be my weakness.  Hopefully she'll share the recipes so I can pass them along to you all!  Her cookies are amazing and she uses all local and natural ingredients, that makes them totally worth it and a "healthy" dessert!

Thanks Bailey! 

Remember, the key to losing or even maintaining weight is....

Until tomorrow :) 

C

Goals!

Here are my goals for the week:
Cut down the number of sweets I have. I've been doing better, but this always proves to be my hardest challenge.
Only two days of coffee this week...I may die.
Workout for at least an hour every single day, no excuses
Keep a smile on and a positive attitude, you never know who will notice.


This weekend was a challenge with some friendship drama, birthday celebrations, and post-winter break get togethers, now it is time to hit the ground running. 53 fricken days until the half marathon. I will finish and I will be doing better than I am right now and I can guarantee you that.

What are your goals for the week?  Do you have them written down?

Until tomorrow!

C