Day 10 & 11

To be honest, I can't remember a whole lot about these days except that I survived them. Just seems like I have been super busy lately.  Definitely doing lots of taxi trips with the kids, etc.  Thursday I ate really clean and had a good Zumba class.  It was throwback Thursday so we did some old songs that we hadn't done in a long long time.  It was fun.  One benefit to teaching Zumba is drinking lots of water; in a single class I can easily consume 30oz.  Thursday night I made this awesome Balsamic Pork Roast and some broccoli/cauliflower salad.  Recipes below.

Balsamic Glazed Pork Roast

Ingredients:

1 (2 pound) boneless pork tenderloin (or regular pork loin)

1 teaspoon ground sage

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/2 cup water

Glaze

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons soy sauce

Directions:

Combine sage, salt, pepper and garlic. Rub over roast. Place in slow cooker with 1/2 cup water. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. About 1 hour before roast is done, combine ingredients for glaze in small sauce pan. Heat and stir until mixture thickens. Brush roast with glaze 2 or 3 times during the last hour of cooking. Serve with remaining glaze on the side.

 (original recipe: http://www.candcmarriagefactory.com/2011/01/brown-sugar-and-balsamic-glazed-pork.html)

Broccoli/Cauliflower Salad
1 small head of broccoli and cauliflower chopped
1/2 purple onion
6 slices of bacon
1/2 C slivered almonds
1/2 C sunflower seeds
1 C raisins and/or craisins
Dressing: 3/4 C light olive oil mayo, 2 TBSP rice vinegar, 2.5 TBSP sugar or splenda
(This makes a very large salad, so you may want to make it smaller)

Yesterday was day 11.  I had promised Reese that I would take her to a special lunch at Chic-fil-a and she could play at the playground.  I had 8 grilled chicken nuggets and also against my better judgement I had some french fries (I figured I deserved a treat and they were gluten free, right?).  This really wouldn't have been so bad except that I had 3 very (almost too) ripe bananas on the counter.  I hate to see them go to waste so I quickly made two loaves of banana bread.  My intention was to give one loaf to a friend and one loaf to a neighbor.  I didn't use oil, I subbed out for applesauce and I was out of nuts so I saved some calories by omitting them.  I gave one loaf away but when I asked my neighbor if she wanted a loaf, she said no thank you.  Long story, short...I ended up eating two slices.  

I made a greek dinner.  It was super yummy.  I made greek chicken, quinoa salad and tzatziki sauce.  It is very tasty, healthy and fresh.  I will post the recipes a little later.  

Update

Some of you may remember that I started this challenge with my mother-in-law after their recent visit here to TN.  I committed to eating like her (gluten and sugar free) if she agreed to exercise like me (at least 4x per week, 30 minutes a day).

I am proud to report that she called me last night and she is doing really well.   She has done walking in her neighborhood, she has walked on her treadmill and even rode her bike several times.  I am happy that we are both doing this and holding each other accountable.

Sometimes eating healthy is hard, exercise is hard but I think so many of us take our bodies for granted. We have strong and able bodies!  I have a friend that is in a wheelchair; he would do anything in this world to be able to run...we can run but instead most of us chose to sit.  There are people in hospitals eating cafeteria bland diets or even being fed intravenously and would love to just eat a healthy meal...we take all of this for granted!

When my mother in law was visiting I insisted that we go on a bike ride at the greenbelt.  It is a relatively easy, paved, flat trail.  I think she was a little apprehensive but she did great.  We went 5 miles and we all lived to tell about it.  While cycling we saw a man in an electric wheel chair enjoying the day and taking in the views of the water and trees; how lucky we were to be able to see the beauty from a bicycle and not a wheelchair.

Don't take this life for granted.  Use your body!  Fuel it, take care of it and use it!

Day 9

Yesterday was kind of a crazy day.  It is definitely difficult to get into a new routine or waking kids up at 6:20 and having them out the door by 7:10.  I am so thankful that Travis takes the kids to school because it would waste so much time in the morning for me and it is on his way.  I do really good if I have a project, whether it be cleaning, CPR work, etc if I can wake up and get started on it.  However, that first trip to town kind of throws a wrench in it all and when I get home I don't have that same drive. That is why going to the gym in the morning is kind of a problem for me.  I get a great workout but then I get home and feel worthless.  I am tired and sweaty and its hard to get into a good groove and flow to start doing chores or whatever it is I have that day.

Yesterday, I had a meeting early with the Chamber of Commerce about CPR Choice.  Then I had to rush to be at the Hudson's school at 10:30 because I had promised I would eat lunch with him.  Yep, they eat lunch at 10:30!  Crazy.  I packed a lunch of left over cranberry pork loin and some rice with a few raw carrots.

Once I got home I got into the throws of CPR.  This is a huge change for me as I never have had time to really work on it in the past.  Wednesdays both kids go to school from 8-2:30 so it is my day to get real work done.  I had a few snacks at my desk but I forgot to lay out the meat to defrost.  I was tired at the end of the day and didn't really have dinner prepared so we all just fended for ourselves.  Travis grilled up some hotdogs for the kids and I just munched on miscellaneous things, yogurt, apple, cheese, smart popcorn.

The day didn't go as planned but I think it was still a success!

Day 8

I lost 2 Lbs exactly this week.  I think I actually lost a little more but like I said, I am retaining a little extra water right now.

Today was a crazy day!  I had a CPR class early this morning and then had to run some errands, pick up Reese, volunteer at the church, pick up Hudson and then I was home for about an hour before it was time to take kids to karate.  I wasn't home much at all.

Eating wasn't great in that I didn't eat enough at the right times.  For breakfast I ate a banana, when I picked up Reese at noon I had an apple and I didn't actually eat anything of substance until I got home around 3PM.  I ate some chicken salad and a couple of nut thins with cheddar spread.  Then around 6:15 I had a small piece of left over pork roast from last night and 1/2 C of rice.  I also had 2 dark chocolate squares (instead of 1)!

Still feeling good though and feeling like I am on track for success.  When I stopped at the church around 1, I was hungry and there was pizza and cookies there and I resisted.  For that I am proud!

 Zumba last night was great.   I was so tired and totally not feeling it but then the lights turned off, the music turned up and it was a great time and a great workout!  It is fun working out with friends, I am so glad that I have made relationships with so many of my Zumba peeps.  It has been life changing for me and I am getting to do what I have always loved....Dance!

Day 7

Temptations are so hard!  I am snack helper for my daughters preschool class tomorrow and my favorite thing to make in the fall is apple slices with caramel puffed corn.  I shouldn't have made it, I should of just bought a box of squeeze yogurt...but the Pinterest mom inside of me told me to make something so yummy and homemade.  A good chef always tries her food, right?  Ok, lets not beat around the bush...I had a large handful of caramel corn and it was super yummy.  I am naughty!

I woke up early and got busy on some chores and didn't eat any breakfast.  Bad Cheryl!  By 10:45 I was getting pretty hungry but didn't want to spoil my lunch so I totally had my lunch early.  I had left over taco salad and it was so yummy.  For dinner we are having cranberry pork loin and a small green salad.  Other than the caramel corn I have been on task with my diet.  I haven't had any snacks today and don't even feel hungry.  I have Zumba tonight and I am looking forward to burning some calories, hopefully a few extra calories.

Tomorrow morning is the end of week one.  While I haven't been perfect I have definitely be conscious of my decisions and food choices.  I am kind of sad because I am retaining some extra water right now, it should be gone in a few days...if you know what I mean?? Hopefully it doesn't discourage my weight loss too much.  I'll be reporting in the morning, my progress.

Cranberry Pork Loin
1.5-3 Lb Pork Loin
1 can whole cranberry sauce
1/4 C worshestire sauce
1 TBSP brown sugar
1 tsp mustard
1 tsp dehyrated onion

Put all the ingredients into slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.  I personally like to cook mine a few hours and then drain off all the liquid and then add the rest of the ingredients (mixed together). This recipe isn't the best looking but it tastes great.  It is good served with rice, potato, sweet potato or salad.

Day 6

I am pretty proud of myself.  My kids had a birthday party at the bowling alley this afternoon from around 1:30-4.  I knew there would be foods that I couldn't eat so I packed some snacks for me.  I had a helping of chicken salad for lunch and then packed some nut thins w/ cheese spread and an apple with some peanut butter dip.  At the party they had cake, ice cream, chips, pizza and grapes.  I cut my apple, grabbed some grapes and ate my cheese and crackers.  Everyone indulged and I can honestly say that I really didn't even crave it.

My problem is ability to stop!  If I am abstaining I seem to be okay, it is once I indulge and eat one cookie that it turns into five.  I really need to work on self control.

Tonight I made Catalina taco salad.  It was super easy and really good.  I have plenty left over to have for lunch tomorrow.

• Catalina Taco Salad
• 4 cups torn romaine lettuce or lettuce blend
• ½-1 pounds ground beef
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1 (15 ounce) can dark red kidney beans, rinsed & drained thoroughly
• 1 cup diced tomatoes 
• 1 cup pitted ripe black olives, drained
• 1 bunch green onions, sliced
• Fritos corn chips
• Catalina salad dressing

from Jennifercooks.com

Preparation: The Key to Success

I believe that preparation is success!  I think this is especially true when it comes to what you eat.  I make a pretty conscious effort to plan our meals.  This decreases trips to the grocery store, time spent figuring it out, etc.  Every week I figure out what we are going to have for dinner and make a grocery list of any ingredients that I need to buy.  I also try to have 1 or 2 days that I spend a little more time prepping the food.  For example, I might chop lots of vegetables or cook a large thing of chicken that will be made for several meals, etc.  Here is my menu plan for this week.  I will try to post the recipes in my daily posts but didn't want to overwhelm you.  Blogging everyday in itself can be overwhelming.

Sunday: Catalina Taco Salad
Monday: Cranberry Pork Loin w/ green salad
Tuesday: Salmon w/ rice & broccoli salad
Wednesday: Sirloin steaks w/sweet potato & left over broccoli salad
Thursday: Greek chicken w/Quinoa salad (never heard of quinoa??)
Friday: Balsamic glazed Pork Loin w/asparagus
Saturday: Vegetable stir fry

Lunches: Tuna salad, chicken salad w/grapes & left overs

Day 5

Today (Sat) was mostly successful but not 100% perfect.  I had lifted weights on Friday and I am still doing the 45:15 workouts so I went into my Zumba class pretty darn sore!  I fought thru the pain and I know in the long run it will actually help my soreness.  It was a good workout but because my muscles were so tired, I wasn't quite 150%.  I love teaching Zumba but it does make it hard to embark on other challenges.  I am adding weight training into my schedule twice a week and when you are the teacher of a class, I don't think your students understand how sore and tired you are from other workouts. They still expect that 150%.  I am constantly thinking as I workout...will this affect my Zumba class?  So, if you are in my class and reading this, please understand that I workout more than just when I see you guys :)

My husband has made this tradition of taking our kids out for happy meals on Saturdays after our workout.  Yep, you heard me right, I said McDonalds happy meals.  I however, had the southwest chicken salad grilled.  It is low in calories and super yummy.  If you are ever in a rush and want something low in calorie but fast, I encourage you to try it.

The rest of the day we were busy running errands and I did eat an apple in the middle of the day.  We had planned a date night with a babysitter and had been wanting to try out the new Barley's restaurant in Maryville.  I had a chicken wrap, so I did eat some wheat in the tortilla.  That was my big fail of the day.  I also had a green salad and a coke zero.  (I never promised to give them up completely but I am trying hard to reduce my intake).

I still feel good about what I got accomplished yesterday.  I started this process on Tuesday and I know I have already lost weight.  I will be weighing in every Tuesday and reporting how many pounds I lost every week.  Watch the ticker at the top of this blog to keep up on my progress!