Triad Muse - Performance Nutrition Review

So, I've been bad at blogging....

Bad at sticking to working out......

Bad at just about everything....

But one thing I am good at, is eating.

This week, a friend of mine talked me into trying some meals from Muse Catering.  They have a section called Muse Performance Nutrition. 

Triad Muse is the website.

The Menu is AMAZING.  This week, I tried the Asian Beef.  Nutritional breakdown is as follows:

Calories 532
Protein 64g
Carbs 28g
Fat 13g
Fiber 2g
Sodium 34%

This was the "light" version.  It filled me up.  I will definitely make it to dinner on this!  You can buy the meals in pack of 5 or 10.  You don't have to get 5 or 10 of the same thing, but you can mix and match.  These are great for me to have here at work because I forget or don't have time to make my meals a lot and this will be a MUCH healthier alternative to say....McDonalds.

The menu this week looks like this:

Here is this Week's Menu: Classic Beef Ropa Vieja with Orange Zest, Cuban Rice and Collard Greens Calories 418   LITE 367 REGULAR Protein 48g Carbohydrate 17g Fat 8g Fiber 4g Sodium 21% LITE Protein 39g Carbohydrate 18g Fat 6g Fiber 3g Sodium 15% Five-Meal Package: $11.50 Ten-Meal Package: $10.75 Rigatoni Bolognese with Tomato-Meat Sauce and Parmesan Cheese Calories 630   LITE 512 REGULAR Protein 30g Carbohydrate 33g Fat 40g Fiber 7g Sodium 31% LITE Protein 24g Carbohydrate 25g Fat 30g Fiber 3g Sodium 22% Five-MealPackage: $11.50 Ten-MealPackage: $10.75 Risotto of Beef and Exotic Mushrooms with Spinach and Reggiano Parmesan Calories 486   LITE 424 REGULAR Protein 51g Carbohydrate 44g Fat 14g Fiber 4g Sodium 34% LITE Protein 44g Carbohydrate 32g Fat 10g Fiber 3g Sodium 27% Five-Package:$13.50 Ten-Meal Package:$12.75 Oven-Roasted Pork Loin with Sweet Potatoes, Baked Apples, Collard Greens and Sage Gastrique  Calories 555  LITE 423 REGULAR Protein 49g Carbohydrate 22g Fat 29g Fiber 3g Sodium 17% LITE Protein 34g Carbohydrate 18g Fat 18g Fiber 2g Sodium 14% Five-Meal Package: $11.50 Ten-Meal Package: $10.75 Scottish Salmon with Couscous, Fresh Basil, Goat Cheese,  Cherry Tomatoes and Spinach Calories 495 LITE 431 REGULAR Protein 3g Carbohydrate 40g Fat 21g Fiber 7g Sodium 24% LITE Protein 27g Carbohydrate 31g Fat 17g Fiber 5g Sodium 18% Five-Meal Package: $14.50 Ten-Meal Package: $13.75 Wine-Braised Hungarian Chicken with Tomatoes, Spices, Baked Pasta and Baby Green Beans Calories 423 LITE 398 REGULAR Protein 50g Carbohydrate 17g Fat 8g Fiber 4g Sodium 28% LITE Protein 37g Carbohydrate 12g Fat 6g Fiber 2g Sodium 18% Five-Meal Package: $9.50 Ten-Meal Package: $8.75

Healthy Eating Never Tasted So Good Eating right doesn't need to be boring.  We use the best of our local ingredients and prepare them with lean, vibrant flavors from herbs, spices and reduced broths to bring their inherent, natural flavor to life. We use olive oil, safflower oil, and even butter in our dishes, serving you real food in thoughtful portion sizes that leave you feeling sated and energized, not sluggish and weighed down. Remember to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and enjoy Performance Nutrition, the best part of your healthy lifestyle!

They bring the meals to you in a sealed package - vacuum sealed.  And they are delivered every Friday.  A friend of mine who joined the weightloss site Healthy Wage.com is doing this to help her lose weight for the competition.  She is also doing it because her husband is going through intense cancer treatment for the next year as part of a research study group.  This way, she knows they are getting healthy meals without a lot of prep time.  She has more time to spend with him and their daughter.

She also had gastric bypass surgery several (over 8) years ago (and gained all her weight back, plus some) and has to watch her nutrition numbers. 

Tonight, I am not going to the gym - we are workong on cleaning the house.  I mean REALLY cleaning - spring cleaning, if you will.  We scrubbed both bathrooms yesterday from top to bottom, including the ceiling.  My room of choice for tonight is the kitchen.  Megan is cooking dinner - Korean chicken wings.  So, while she is cooking (and hopefully cleaning up!!) I will be working on re-organizing my shelf over the washer and dryer, which is where I store most of my small appliances because I have an incredibly small amount of cabinet space. 

This weekend is the huge task - the dining room - which looks like, well I don't know, but NOT anything like a dining room.  Going to go to Hobby Lobby to get a new cabinet for my dvd's and get rid of 2 computer desks and 2 bookshelves.  So Excited!!

Allergies and Weird Weather

I had another allergy attack this weekend.  I had to go get a shot on Monday.  I thought  I was getting the flu that is flying around here like mad, but luckily I dodged that bulled.

The weather has been CRAZY!!

Sunday it was 74.

Today it's 39 with a chance of snow/ice overnight. 

We need a good, hard freeze to kill off all the germs and fleas and bugs that have been going nuts for the past 2 years.

Global warming?

Heck if I know.  Weather has always been pretty mild in my part of the country, so it's hard to figure out.

Megan and I discovered a really cool Asian market last Thursday here in Greensboro.  HUGE place.  Have tried lots of new things.

My new best friend - Green Tea Pumpkin Seeds.

Going to the gym tonight.  Haven't been since last Thursday.  Need to stay on track this time because I want to be back in the 100's by May.  Pretty attainable if you ask me.

Drinking diet soda linked to increased risk of depression (interesting blurb of the day)

Drinking diet soda linked to increased risk of depression

The top response to this article reads as follows:

"This study is stupid! The reason diet soda drinkers are depressed is because the fatties are the ones drinking it. Not mention the age of the people was 50 to 71, hell they are almost dead what do they have to look forward to?"

Really?

A lot of the diet pop drinkers I know are thin, fit, and very, very happy.

Do I drink diet pop?  No.  Not regularly, anyway.  I don't like it that much.  I prefer water.  Once in a while, I'll throw some crystal light or mio in for a little taste, but overall, I like water.

Now, I am trying to get my daughter off of regular pop, for health reasons.  She is overweight and is at high risk for developing a fatty liver.  Getting her off of high-calorie soda and foods is our first priority.  Baby steps, or she will become depressed or pissed off over me being a tyrant and overbearing.  She drinks diet mountain dew.  Is she depressed now?  No.  She's a college student going to school to be an Airplane Mechanic, lives at home, and pretty much has a very good life, including social.

The only reason that I can think of people being depressed from drinking either diet pop or fruit drinks would be the crash after the sugar/caffiene high is gone, lol.  That could be depressing if you were really enjoying that buzz.

But do I really think that drinking diet soda can lead to depression?  Nah.

If caffeine is not a drug....

Then why do you feel so crappy when you quit partaking in it?

I decided to stop drinking caffeine yesterday.  I don't drink a whole lot of it, but I decided to stop drinking it again.  I usually have one cup of coffee in the morning.  Mostly just so I have somthing to drink when I get up.  I've gotten to where I just grab a bottle of water instead. 

I have a meeting tonight.  It's a dinner meeting that I have once a month that helps me earn education credits for one of my certifications so I don't have to re-test when my certification time is up. 

I'm leaving at 3:30 so that I can get to the gym before I have to be at the meeting at 5pm.  They feed us dinner at the meeting.  Most of the time it's really gross pizza (seriously) and salad.  Sometimes some kind of pasta.  If the meeting wasn't so long, I would just wait til I got home to eat.  My Greek yogurt is NOT going to last til we eat dinner at 6:15ish :p.  Maybe I will grab a chicken sandwich or something on the way there. 

This week at work has been very hectic so far.  I have an unannounced audit that will happen any day - at least we know approximatley when it will be.  The guy comes the same time every year.  Usually the day before or the day after my son's birthday.

Speaking of my son, he is student teaching this semester.  Hard to believe that he will be 22 on Thursday.  He graduates from NC State in May with a degree in Science Education with a concentration in Physics.

One of the dogs is sick.  If she's not doing any better by tomorrow, I am going to have Megan take her to the vet.  She is 13 (the dog, not Megan :p), so unless it's something easy to fix, there really isn't very much they can do.  We know she has several tumors - begnin for the most part.  But there is no telling what's going on inside.  Most of the tumors are mamary.  She's still eating and bouncing around...she just has a cough and is vomitting.  I have a feeling it may be her heart :(.

Anywho.  Until later....

Weekend Warrior - and some more Florida pics :P

It's Saturday.

I'm at work.....

Surprise, surprise, surprise.......

I'm leaving around noon and I want to go home and re-arrange my kitchen and do some cleaning and get laundry out of the way because tomorrow I want to do NOTHING!

Except get my 5 mile walk in that I have been neglecting.

Last night, didn't get to the gym because of having to go to my mother in laws old house to go through her pantry and spices.  Got a bunch of great stuff, but man, she can't concentrate on ANYTHING!  Ugh.  Worked on it for 10 minutes "Ok, I'm ready to call it a night".  Now I see why she didn't get everything to Florida in one trip.  *sigh*

For some reason I can't pull up Blogger at home on any computer in the house.  It's weird.  I've tried different browsers, resetting my computers settings, and everything and can't get it to come up.

So I can only post from work O.o.

Anyhow.....

Making Tortellini soup tonight!  Tomorrow, we are celebrating my son's 22nd birthday at Arigato Japaneses Steakhouse.  Monday he starts student teaching and he graduates from NC State in May.  I'm getting old.....and my youngest goes back to GTCC on Monday, too.  She turns 20 next month.

Better get back to the grind...soooooo.....here is another batch of pictures from the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Refuge.

Days Gone Bye

Days have been flying by here lately. 

Work has been super crazy - with a trip to Cincinnati (pictures to come), having to come in at 4am when a certain customer comes in to watch their product run (which has caused me to work 21 hours....yes, 21 hours....in one day) and on and on and on.

I'm not going to make any excuses as to what is going on with my weight loss and with my workouts.  It's all on me.  I have full responsibility for my actions.

Last night was the first night back to the gym in forever.  And I was so happy I went.  I did almost pass out in weight lifting class, though.  My blood pressure got too high. 

And I have gained some back.  I can tell because my hernia is acting up again.  I could tell a big difference when I was losing steadily before, because I couldn't feel my hernia as much.  It didn't pop up so often.  Gotta get back down to that.

More later.

A new week and some stitching

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeewh.

It's been a long couple of weeks.  I have training coming up later this week that I have to go to Charlotte for for 2 days.  I don't know if I am looknig forward to it, or dreading it.

You see, my entire job depends on this training.  I have gotten one certification already.  This one, will be directly linked to my new title.  Which, if I pass, I will share more info on later. 

I really don't want to jinx it.

Today and tomorrow are kinda sad days.

My favorite Zumba/Hip Hop instructor is leaving.  We've been doing classes with her since November of last year.  So, just about 10 months.  That's a long time to do workout classes with someone.  We have had subs - and none of them have been as good as Tassie - or as energetic or as high-impact.  *sigh*. 

Maybe change is good.  My weight has been at a standstill for about 3 weeks now.  The 6lbs I lost a few weeks ago was water weight.  And, I know a lof of that is my own fault.

Honestly, I really haven't cared lately.  Seriously.  Zippo caring here.

Now, on the other hand.....there was another reason I started this blog.  That was to keep track of my sewing/knitting.

Here are a few shots of my current projects:

The first is a baby blanket I am doing for a dear friend of mine here at work that has a baby due in January.   I will also be making her a bonnet and a pair of mary-jane booties.

This one is a scarf that I am doing for my co-worker/workout buddy who I have been sweating with for the past 27 weeks.  This will be her birthday present.  Her birthday is December 1st.

I do have another one that I am going to be starting on this week. 

At the end of October, I will be going to the SAFF - Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair in Asheville, NC with my daughter.

Just a quick update

I'm still here, I'm still alive and this week I am going to ROCK IT at the gym.

Nellie is back from vacation.  We are going back to the gym tonight.  I kinda blew it off last week.  See, I'm stuck in my same cycle again.

Ugh.

Weigh In and some Monday Lyrics

So...... 6 pounds down this week!  That was expected.  I knew when I started back I would lose a lot of water weight, as normal, right off the bat. 

Let's see what next week brings.

This weekend was super busy.   Friday, I worked from 6am to 11:15pm.  Yeah.  That way, I didn't have to come in this weekend.  Plus, I went and picked up "The Hunger Games".  I've watched it 3 times this weekend.  Yes, I am a dork.

Saturday was a surprise party here at work for a friend.

Sunday, they came and finished installing all our stuff for our new tv.  We went from a 56 inch projection tv, to one you mount on the wall.  I have sssoooooooooooooooooooo much more space in the living room, it's stupid!!  We need new furniture :(.  It doesn't look right anymore.

I am doing this run in October in honor of my dear friend Kevin's oldest son, Cody.

The Triangle Run/Walk for Autism

I have some others that I am doing, but not set in stone yet.  I have to get through a training course for work before I can plan any others.  The only other one I am DEFINITELY doing is the Outer Banks 1/2 Marathon in November.

Zumba tonight!  There is also a new class they started I may try - It's called Rush Active.  It's cardio, balance, core, and strength all in one. 

Lastly....I cannot say how much I LOVE this new Carrie Underwood song. 

I'm from Oklahoma.  My brother knew Carrie in school.  This song in no way applies to me, but I LOVE it.  The score is amazing and the lyrics are heart wrenching, because I do know some people this can apply to.

"Blown Away"
by Carrie Underwood

Dry lightning cracks across the skies
Those storm clouds gather in her eyes
Her daddy was a mean old mister
Mama was an angel in the ground
The weather man called for a twister
She prayed blow it down

There’s not enough rain in Oklahoma
To wash the sins out of that house
There’s not enough wind in Oklahoma
To rip the nails out of the past

[Chorus:]
Shatter every window 'til it’s all blown away,
Every brick, every board, every slamming door blown away
'til there’s nothing left standing,
Nothing left of yesterday
Every tear-soaked whiskey memory blown away,
Blown away

She heard those sirens screaming out
Her daddy laid there passed out on the couch
She locked herself in the cellar
Listened to the screaming of the wind
Some people called it taking shelter
She called it sweet revenge

[Chorus:]
Shatter every window 'til it’s all blown away,
Every brick, every board, every slamming door blown away
'til there’s nothing left standing,
Nothing left of yesterday
Every tear-soaked whiskey memory blown away,
Blown away

There’s not enough rain in Oklahoma
To wash the sins out of that house
There’s not enough wind in Oklahoma
To rip the nails out of the past

Shatter every window 'til it’s all blown away (blown away)
Every brick, every board, every slamming door blown away (blown away)
'til there’s nothing left standing,
Nothing left of yesterday (blown away)
Every tear-soaked whiskey memory blown away,

Blown away, blown away, blown away, blown away, blown away

Back on Track

Well, after about a month or so off-track and half-assing everything, I think that I am back into the groove of things.

I just totally lost track.  I gained back 8lbs, which will come off this next week since I am back on drinking my water and eating.  I am also back into going to the gym.  Nellie has been pushing me this past week, and even though I have been half-assing the eating and water, I am really working on the gym.  I want to be at at least 199 by Thanksgiving when I go home to visit Mom.  I saw her in March and it was after that trip that I really started working on this.

If I hadn't quit, this would have been my 22nd week in a row working out and eating right.  I would have probably been under 200 by now.  I'm in no way giving up, that is for sure.  That is in no way an option.

I was at my mother-in-laws last week and we were going through old pictures.  I was flipping skinny even when I was pregnant.  My hair was long and Michael and I were talking and he really wants me to grow my hair back out.  I have been looking for long dos that would still not make me look 10 years older.  I look younger with shorter hair.  So, I think I will make an appointment with Christine, my hairdresser, and see what she can suggest.  I have this stupid naturally curly thing, so it has to get down past my shoulders before I can really do anything with it.  I want to get it colored again, but I also want to be able to do more than throw it up in a ponytail.

This Saturday, I went to visit my son in Raleigh.  He moved back for school last Tuesday.  It's so hard to believe that he is a senior at NC State this year.  Boy, I feel old, lol.

On the way there, I was listening ot one of the comedy stations on Serious satellite radio and this came on:

It as HYSTERICAL!!!  Especially the ones that were supposed to be REM and Alanis Morrisette auditioning, lol

Then, Mikey and I went to Sushi Nine for lunch.  It was AMAZING.  Most of the sushi that I have had has come from Japanese restraunts or Chinese buffet.  I had never been to an acutal Sushi place.

What made it better is that all the rolls were BOGO, so a 70.00 dinner was only 32.00. lol

I had the Rainbow Roll and the Lobster Roll

Mikey had the North Carolina Roll and the Wolfpack Roll:

We were going to go to Cheesecake Factory, but we decided on Sushi Nine.  I'm glad we did becase I definitely do not need cheesecake :p.

Then, we went to Trader Joes and I found the most amazing thing ever.....Cookie Butter!!  It's like peanut butter, but it tastes like a damn oatmeal cookie.  It's wondermous!!  The guy at the checkout said it should come with a warning label, and boy was he right!!  We got him some food for the apartment and some beverages and then I took him back and headed home.

Friday night I had found Sugar Cookie Vodka.  I have been looking for this ever since a lake trip where Leslie had it mixed with diet root beer.

It's a nice combo to have at night before I go to bed.

Ok, enough for now.....Zumba tonight and will catch up my weigh in page with the correct weight tomorrow morning.

Wordless Wednesday - The Yellow Brick Road 5-Mile Race

Mikey and I ran in the 1st Annual Yellow Brick Road 5-Mile Race in Roxboro, NC on July 14th.

Mikey placed 3^rd in his age group (20-29) and 44^th overall.  I placed 13^th in my age group and 118^th overall (out of 321 people).

This was a huge deal to me, as I tore my hamstring 2 weeks ago water skiing, but I was determined to finish this race, as it was the first one of the season.  My son is a huge help to me in my running and it’s something he and I enjoy doing together.

Me at the finish line

Waiting for the door prizes

Start line

Me moving ahead

Like this one - this is about 1/2 mile in

Mikey at the finish

Random costume wearers

I passed the mayor of Munchkinland!

Mikey getting his trophy

Wordless Wednesday - Creed run in from 2002

Scott Phillips from Creed.

I will be seeing him on 9/5/12 at the Durham Performing Arts Center.

I always get backstage passes for them.

But, I have lost a lot of weight since 2002, when this picture was taken in Philladelphia.

A short hiatus and a torn hamstring

Yes, I have been MIA.

I am a slacker.

I tore my hamstring doing of all things, water skiing.

So, I have been in a bout of depression.  Or self-pitty, however you want to look at it. 

But, in the infamous words of Jack Nicholson in "The Shining".......Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Lynn!!

Today is a new day and I am back at it.  I have wallowed around long enough.  I need to get back on track....I was doing so well.  I am up 8 lbs.  But, I know most of that will fall right back off.  I really haven't been eating THAT terribly. 

And, while I have been having my pitty-party, I still have a lot to celebrate.

We made it through our SQF Audit.  We have worked towards this audit for 19 months.  And we did it MUCH better than anyone could have thought.  We got an EXCELLENT rating.  99.02%.  And the auditor raved on how I did my verifications and validations.  He was very impressed. 

Now, comes the hard part.

Keeping it.

Our company president is also the acting president of AIB, which is our certification body.

No pressure :p

I am in the process of getting my HACCP certification.  Once that is done, I will go for my SQF Practitioner certification.  Meaning, I will be over the entire SQF Program.

Again, no pressure.

But it means something more......I have been working towards a management position for the past 20 years at various companies.  And I'm about to get it!!!

So, no more self-pity.

Back to taking care of ME.

To water ski or not to water ski.....that is the question

I love skiing. 

Snow skiing, water skiing, they are both the same to me.

Problem is, I haven't done it in YEARS.   Literally.  The last time I skied anything was in 2000.  12 years ago.

We are leaving for the lake on Wednesday evening after the huge regulatory audit we are having tomorrow and Wednesday.  A friend of ours, who I introduced in a different post, owns a house at Hyco Lake.  We are going to stay there and commute to work the rest of the week, going back in the evenings and going out on the boat or just hanging out.

Now me, I'm just going to work Thursday for a half a day, taking a friend for a birthday pedicure and lunch, then I will have all day Friday to myself there until they get back from work.  They being the hubby, David, Randy and Jeff.

Michael and I were talking last night.  For some weird reason, he really, really wants me to try skiing again.  He's adamant about it, actually.  He thinks that I have lost enough weight to try again.  Actually, I haven't tried to water ski since I first did it in 1992, between my pregenancy with my son and daughter.  I think I did try sometime after Megan was born, but I was so unfit that I couldn't get up and just gave up after that summer.  I mostly just hang out on the boat and act as spotter when others are skiing.

Sigh.

So, that is my delema.

Maybe I'll try.

We'll see.

I leave you with what we had for Dinner Saturday night......awesome kabobs!

Weigh in and Friday Lyrics - The Wanted

Sooooooooooo....with my new R3 Program that I am using, my weigh ins are on Friday.

I was 1.4 down this week :) !!  I've lost 30 . 8 pounds and the weight is steady loss now since starting R3.  I've lost 8.1 since June 1st.  This makes me soooooooooo happy!!  And I'm eating a lot better and more than I was eating on WW.

Friday Lyrics....I blame my son for this one, because he made a facebook post about it yesterday and now it's stuck in my head....

"Glad You Came"
The Wanted

 

The sun goes down
The stars come out
And all that counts
Is here and now
My universe will never be the same
I'm glad you came

You cast a spell on me, spell on me
You hit me like the sky fell on me, fell on me
And I decided you look well on me, well on me
So let's go somewhere no one else can see, you and me

Turn the lights out now
Now I'll take you by the hand
Hand you another drink
Drink it if you can
Can you spend a little time,
Time is slipping away,
Away from us so stay,
Stay with me I can make,
Make you glad you came

The sun goes down
The stars come out
And all that counts
Is here and now
My universe will never be the same
I'm glad you came
I'm glad you came

You cast a spell on me, spell on me
You hit me like the sky fell on me, fell on me
And I decided you look well on me, well on me
So let's go somewhere no one else can see, you and me

Turn the lights out now
Now I'll take you by the hand
Hand you another drink
Drink it if you can
Can you spend a little time,
Time is slipping away,
Away from us so stay,
Stay with me I can make,
Make you glad you came

The sun goes down
The stars come out
And all that counts
Is here and now
My universe will never be the same
I'm glad you came
I'm glad you came

I'm glad you came
So glad you came
I'm glad you came
I'm glad you came

The sun goes down
The stars come out
And all that counts
Is here and now
My universe will never be the same
I'm glad you came
I'm glad you came

Wisdom from a cookie

So I went to the Chinese buffet for lunch today because I wanted sushi.

I had the sushi....and a few other things.....for a whopping 950 calories total.....and then I got my fortune cookie.  I usually don't read these things.  There was actually one time when a friend of mine and I had the EXACT SAME fortune when we opened our cookies.  But, this time, as I drove back to work, I ate said cookie and read the fortune.

What it says is rather ironic.

With all the working out that I am doing, I'm very determined to make it to my goal this time.

We have a huge regulatory audit next Tuesday and Wednesday....I'm determined we are going to pass.

I'm determined to finish all my Christmas sewing projects in October this year.

I'm determined that Michael and I are going to take at least 2 vacations by ourselves every year.....we never got to travel over the past 20 years because we had kids at home.  Now they are in college and we need "us" time.

I just found it rather ironic that my cookie told me what I basically already know.

Just like I'm determined that even though I ate a crap ton of calories for lunch, I am still doing Power, Core and Belly Dance tonight......I'll be at the gym from 5:30 to 8:15.

And I'll burn all those calories, I am sure.

Somtimes you have to eat a little more than you need to realize that you actually didn't need that extra spring roll or that extra spoon of coconut shrimp.

Blah.

Lol.

Smart cookie.

My review of the R3 Program

The R3 Program is a program that my gym uses to track nutritional info and weight loss for customers.  It's not a requirement - and it does add 10.00/month to your membership fee, but I was so frustrated with Weight Watchers that I thought I would give it a try.

The program was started by Dr. Oz.  I know I have heard about him (I think from Oprah?) but I have never really read anything by him.

The website is here - this is where anyone can sign up:
http://www.dotfit.com/

The other website where the logging is done at is:
http://www.sharecare.com/


So on the 1st, I met with Melissa, who is my Nutrition Coach.  She can look at my info in the R3 program at any time and see how I am doing (or not doing, whatever the case may be) and we can tweak it if I'm not eating enough, losing too fast/slow, whatever.

I really like it so far!  It has me eating 1800 calories a day.  On Weight Watchers, I was eating within my points, but I apparently was not eating enough.  I was only eating between 1300 and 1500 calories a day.  This was putting my body in starvation mode and I kept fighthing the same 4 pounds for about 2 months.  I knew I should be going down in weight, but the scale wasn't budging.

This picture shows the main screen.  It's where I see how many calories I'm supposed to eat, how many I should burn, and what my current weight is.  I actually have 280 from my run this morning I need to plug in there.  Typical daily burn for me is about 800 calories from exercise and the rest is from lifestyle.

This shot shows my weight...the black line is where I should be according to the program.  The little dots are my weekly weigh ins.  The filled area is just showing complete.  By September 18, I should be under 200lbs.  By March 8th of 2013, I should be at my goal weight.

This page shows all my workouts and the notes from them.

And this one shows my food diary.

There are TONS of other things on here I haven't really played with yet.  Menu creator, workout creator, there's a store that has all this nutritional food crap ( I stay away from processed stuff, so probably won't be using it unless I want to try their protein powder).

I really do like it - and I can cancel at any time, not like my gym membership ,where I am under contract.  This is like a supplement to it.

They do offer a free 30-day trial.

So if you are looking for a really good tracker, even though I know there are free ones out there, I would highly recommend this one.



.75 of a mile, New Running Shoes and Chia Seeds

Yesterday, my son and I got to talking about running.

2 years ago, I was walking/running 100 miles per week on average. I would do 5 miles in the morning and anywhere from another 3-5 miles in the afternoon. Every day, I would write this down on the calendar as to how far I had gone and how long it took.

Then I broke my tailbone.

We are running in a 5-mile race on the 14th of July. I HAVE to start running again, or I will be walking the whole stupid thing. I don't want to just walk - I want to run.

My walking buddy I walk with - there is no way in Hades she will/can/wants to run. I'm not going to bale on her just because of that.

So, my only other option is to start getting up in the morning before work and run.

This morning, I got up at 5:20, threw on my clothes, and hit the door. I managed to run 3/10ths of a mile, walked 1/10th, ran 3/10ths more, and then ran enough to equal .75 of a mile, walked the rest for a total of 1.5 miles. In 23 minutes. Not too bad, but not great either. It'll come back, I am sure. I will be able to run at least 3 miles of the 5-miler.

It'll just take time.

I'm doing the Outer Banks 1/2 Marathon in November and want to be able to run at least half of that, which would be 6.5 miles. I think I can build up to that by then. I just have to do it.

I LOVE my new Adidas Clima Cool Ride running shoes!! I got them and a pair of Saucony Grid Fiyas. While I am usually partial to Saucony, the Adidas are the bomb!!



I always keep 2 pair of shoes at a time - I like to alternate them and I always have 1 pair that is better for wearing in classes than the other. The Saucony will do better in the classes that I take at the gym.

In other news - I have started adding Chia seeds to my morning oatmeal....these little suckers have a good amount of protein in them and they also keep me fuller for a looooong time. I ate my oatmeal at 8am.....I usually eat lunch at 11am and I am just now starting to feel hungry and it's almost noon. They also have a good amount of fiber in them, which I needed some extra.

So, that's that for today.....Zumba and my walk with Jody tonight! And, possibly, tennis for 30 mins with the boy...we'll see how we feel by 8pm, lol.

Musical Obsessions

Have you ever gotten that song stuck in your head that just will not go away?

It's like you go to sleep and it's there......you wake up and it's there.....and even listening to it, it won't go away??

I've been having that lately.

2 months ago, I had to ask my dr for medication to help me sleep.  I had tried everything, including melatonin, and nothing worked.  Usually, a couple of good beers were enough to get me relaxed enough to sleep.....but with the stresses at work and the stresses on my body of my new lifestyle, I have been constantly wired.  I feel so much better.....I just can't sleep.

So, she prescribed me Ambien, which has really, really helped.  As long as I can GET to sleep, I stay asleep.  The main problem I was having  was falling asleep.

My brain wouldn't shut up.

I'd be laying there and lyrics would be running through my head....

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stand a little taller...."

"Get down hit the floor......."

"My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to......"

And on, and on, and on, and on.

So, the Ambien makes the voices shut up.  I typically only take half.  When I have a beer or alcohol, I can't take any, so I can only do that on a weekend, when not getting much sleep isn't such a big deal. 

I started taking a belly dance class 12 weeks ago.  I LOVE it.  I'll never be able to do Pilates or Yoga....I am not nearly that flexible.....but I L.O.V.E belly dance.

So, right now, I am stuck on music like this....

My favorite song to do in belly dance class...I love Shakira.

And this....we actually do this one in hip hop class, but I could sooooo belly dance to it

I didn't go to step class last night.  I totally bailed on Nellie and I felt really bad.  But I felt crappy.  Feeling crappy and step class do NOT mix for me.  I get too hot and feel like I am going to pass out and my heart rate does stupid things. 

But, I did walk with Jody, so I did do SOMETHING.

Tonight is Power, Core and BELLY DANCE!

Getting dinner from Isabella's.  I'm going to have a big Greek salad.  I feel a lot better today and know I will rock it tonight.

And this made me cry....

I don't have a lot to say this morning.  I'm stressed due to my boss being on vacation this week. I am stressed because my daughter wanted to go to the dr yesterday and I can't get it through her head that there is nothing they can do for her, until she decides to take care of herself.  It's getting ready to be that time of month.

Blah.

But, I did find a wonderful blog post......and it has me written alllllllllll over it.

Read it here :   Hey, Fat Girl