You Can Win Friends With Salad!

Well, between me going to bed at 2 AM and Peter not having his keys at 4:30 AM and waking me up with the buzzer for 30 min to come and get him, it was a rough night!  Which led to a rushed morning, since we both slept in!  Out went the AM gym, out went the homemade BBQ treats – in came ordered in breakfast and running around like crazy people.  I’m posting this really quickly on our way out the door to the BBQ.  Breakfast this morning was an egg white sandwich with muenster cheese on whole wheat bread:

Plus fresh fruit.

Breakfast was 609 calories, 77g carbs, 22g fat, and 30g protein.

First on the agenda today is our friend Ellen’s Goodbye BBQ.  Ellen is leaving to go to art school for 4 months – we are really going to miss her.  Ellen and P grew up down the street from each other; P and I actually met at Ellen’s Birthday Picnic about a year ago.  So we definitely owe her one!

Next onto dinner at Columbia.  This event is actually at the Columbia campus, followed by dancing under the stars.  Gotta run – have a great Saturday!

Hey all! Peter is still out partying the night away, but I’m home to do a quick post and then off to bed. This afternoon did not go as I would have hoped, in that I got stuck dawdling around the house, and then had to power errands run. I managed to get in a little cardio and weights at the gym, but not as much as I would have liked. It definitely would have put me in a better frame of mind if I had a good, hard workout under my belt before a party – but it was good enough. Cardio and weights = 300 calories burned.

FYI, I didn’t have a snack before my workout because my lunch was so heavy. I made the right call about that- I didn’t need one. My lunch held me through til dinner.

The agenda for tonight was dinner at Robert Emmett’s and then Casino Night at the Nokia Theater. So here’s the place cards at dinner:

I didn’t know this until I got to the reuinion: apparently Columbia University is made up of different branches: one is Columbia College, one is FU, the engineering school where P graduated from, and a couple others I don’t know the names of. So a bunch of the stuff tonight had ‘Columbia College’ written on it, which really tripped me up! My dad went to Columbia too, and actually graduated from Columbia College, so go figure. Every time P and my dad get together, all they talk about is Columbia. It’s nice that they have something in common.

Service at this resturaunt was TERRIBLE. But they had an open bar, so P was happy. I had a club soda and lime with dinner (sitting out the first round strategy). I started off with salad:

Sorry the photo was a bit blurry, I was trying to be discreet. Nothing special about this salad. For an entree, the choices were ravioli, chicken, or fish. I went with fish, which was a white fish. I think I made the right choice.

I don’t even think the fish was bathed in butter, so woohoo! I ate all the fish and veggies and none of the rice. Then for dessert, they had tirimisu:

This was good. Looking back, I don’t know if I should have finished this (which I did). Half would have been sufficient.

After dinner, we went to the Casino Night. Here’s me getting ready to play blackjack:

Everyone was given 1500 Columbia dollars to start with. P and I both cashed in 500 at the first blackjack table that looked ‘lucky’, whatever that means. Well, it turned out to be lucky! Peter’s pretty good, and our dealer didn’t know there was a 500 bet maximum, so within 20 min, we made over 15,000! Here are some pictures of the table:

On the left is P sticking the red card into the back of the deck. Right is the dealer shuffling.

With the Columbia dollars, you can buy Columbia gear: bags, cups, mugs, etc. As soon as I walked through the casino door and saw the spread, I knew what I wanted: a Columbia sweatshirt! (It should be noted that this was the most expensive item, of course.) Well, after 20 min at our lucky table, that baby was mine! Here’s me in my new favorite sweatshirt:

Anyway, back to food. Here was the spread at the casino night:

To the right there is a huge veggie basket, with a pretty good variety of items. Unfortunately, my sweet tooth was on overdrive, so I mostly stuck to this:

I sampled all of these. Possibly twice. Soo good.

I also had a club soda and vodka at the Casino night to get my mojo flowing.

So that was the first event of the reunion. Definitely a splurge for me, but I didn’t do any permanent damage. I’m not going to attempt a calorie count, but I know it was over my needs. Since I kind of let myself eat whatever I wanted today, I’m going to have to be a little stricter with myself tomorrow. Two days in a row of poor eating will leave a very sad Kate on the third day. Tomorrow the plan is to hit the gym first thing in the AM, bake treats for the BBQ, attend the BBQ, and then attend the Columbia reunion, day 2: dinner and dancing under the stars. It’s going to be a loooong day – I better get some sleep!

Hey guys, today for lunch Peter and I decided to order in.  I’m feeling alot better than I did this morning, so I’m hoping to have a super productive afternoon.  I wanted to try another wrap, so we ordered in from Bully’s. This wrap wasn’t as good as last time, but it was still really tasty.  This was grilled veggies on a spinach wrap with Fontina cheese:

I would have liked this better if it had less cheese and more veggies.  Plus I got some fruit:

Really good.  Then, on the spur of the moment, I decided I wanted a chocolate from the box:

I’m estimating lunch at 700 calories. Plan for the afternoon is to hit the gym in about an hour, then run some errands, speed clean the apt, and (if I have time) bake something to bring to my friend Ellen’s BBQ tomorrow.  All before we have to be in midtown at 6.  Whew.  Better get cracking!

Well, I woke up at 7 AM this morning feeling absolutely miserable: just nauseous and awful.  I woke up two hours later feeling better, but I decided to stay home from work and rest anyway.  If I get sick before the surgery, they’ll cancel it – so I have to be extra careful.  Peter had a hard night too (first of many alumni events), so he decided to stay home as well.  I took full advantage of this by requesting breakfast in bed!  Peter very skillfully made waffles sandwiches for us.  Mine contained two flax waffles, two tbsp almond butter, and a banana:

Yum.  He did an excellent job.  Breakfast was 495 calories, 65g carbs, 25g fat, and 14g protein.

I’m loving the comments on the blog, guys!  Keep up the great discussions!

I think one of the biggest reasons why I’ve been successful with weight loss this time around, and not in any of my previous attempts, is my new-found ability to change up my strategies. I used to think that if a certain strategy worked in the past, that’s the only strategy that will ever work for me. I remember for 6 months during Freshman year in college I worked out for 60 min on the elliptical at 6 AM. Not that it’s a bad workout schedule, but there was no room for flexibility. If I was sick, or had a late night studying (or partying) or whatever, it didn’t matter – I had to be at the gym at 6 AM for 60 min on the elliptical. I remember one time the gym was closed unexpectedly and I freaked out. It was that rigidness that made it impossible to keep up. It wasn’t a lifestyle – it was a schedule, and a rigorous one at that.

I bring this up because lately I’ve been getting crazy hungry after work because I’ve been waiting until after I work out to eat dinner. But by the time I get home from the gym, I ’ve lost my appetite and end up eating just to eat, which prevents me from trying new things or having fun with my meals. So I switched things up today in order to stay happy and satisfied all afternoon and evening. I had a small snack at the office, then another snack, dinner, then had my workout snack, then worked out. MUCH better! Here’s the breakdown:

Towards the end of the workday, my stomach began to growl. So I had about 7 raw cashews:

Snack was 55 calories, 3g carbs, 4g fat, and 2g protein.  That held me over.

Once I got out of work, I ran some errands including getting a polish change (to Galapa-ghost, a peachy-white) and hitting the drugstore. I had a new Lunabar along the way: Cookies n’ Cream Delight:

Snack was 180 calories, 26g carbs, 5g fat, and 10g protein.  This was a good flavor!  I am LOVING my quest for Luna bar flavors.  It makes snacking so fun!   (Love the deli flowers in the background!)

Once I got back home, I decided to have dinner! And because it was earlier in the evening, I had the energy to try a new recipe! I made black bean burgers from Veganomicon, served on a Ezekiel hamburger bun (seriously the best bun in the history of the world – go and buy some today!  You will not be sorry) alongside some blackberries and ketchup for dipping:

Even though I loved loved loved this burger, I realized after the fact that I messed up the proportions of the recipe.  Oh well.  Mine was still delicious (and actually less caloric!).  Dinner was 428 calories, 79g carbs, 3g fat, and 29g protein.  I have one of these burgers left…this will definitely be a repeat recipe.

So the last part of my switchup was my workout!  A few hrs after dinner I had a slice Cinnamon Raisin Ezekiel Bread with a tbsp PB:

Pre Workout Snack was 175 calories, 21g carbs, 9g fat, and 7g protein.

At the gym, I did half my workout on the step mill, but got bored.  So I got off.  Switching it up again!  Who says I can only do the stepmill?  It’s a big gym – I can do whatever I feel like!  So I finished up with treadmill with weights, Cardio Wave, and elliptical.  Cardio Smorgas = 458 calories burned.

So now I’m home and feeling great.  The plan worked!….for today.  Who knows if it will work tomorrow?  But I do know that my ability to adapt to my changing needs that will keep me healthy for years to come.

…for being crazy cool and spotting the reference on my t-shirt.  Here is the music video for the best song ever featured in the best movie ever which inspired the best t-shirt ever:

Swoon. Marty McFly is a dreamboat.  I’m surprised it took him this long to make it on the blog.  Really, Kate, get in the game.

Anyway, for lunch today I went back to basics with a salad!  Spinach, feta, blueberries and tomatoes:

Yum! So fresh and lovely.  On the side, I had smoothie leftovers from last night:

I am still eating this smoothie 45 min later.  Smoothies are great for satiety because you get a lot of volume for little calories, and they take a long time to eat because they’re so cold, and in this case, tart!  I get most snacky in the afternoon, so I’m hoping this smoothie will keep me full and prevent any unauthorized snackage.

So colorful and sweet.  Lunch was 408 calories, 68g carbs, 9g fat, and 17g protein.

No real plan for the afternoon…I tackled the dishes last night and I finally have a (mostly) clean kitchen!  Now I just have to get the rest of the apt looking good.  Plus a gym trip, of course.  Also I need to get a fresh manicure for the events this weekend.

Hey all. Today is my last normal day before the craziness of this weekend starts. We have a bunch of different events to attend, so it’s going to be more action-packed than relaxing. I don’t know about you guys but I find such comfort in my daily routine. Especially since now the surgery is definitely on, the next couple weeks are going to be a little off kilter. I’m a little set in my ways in that special events ruffle my feathers. But then I tell myself, ‘get over it, grandma!’

On a related side note, it’s nice to feel comfortable in my healthy living that I can take on a couple weird weeks with the confidence to do so healthfully. I know a couple special events aren’t going to trip me up!

I grabbed a banana on my way out the door this morning. P got these a few days ago but they were still a little too green. Today was the first day they were looking good. When I got to work I had my banana with a cup of Fiber 1 and a cup of fat free milk:

Yum. Simple, nutritious, and delicious. Breakfast was 313 calories, 89g carbs, 3g fat, and 14g protein.

Have a great day everyone!

Continuing in the spirit of the best day ever, I received the best t-shirt ever in the mail today. Here’s me on my way to the gym modeling the coolest t-shirt in creation:

Name the reference and I’ll give you special blog props. Or, you know, a good prize. Either one.

So if this isn’t the greatest day ever – I don’t know what is! I got home pretty early today – but still managed to put off the gym until the last possible moment. At some point in the afternoon I had a new flavor of Luna bar: Peanut Butter Cookie:

Cute story: Peter picked up some stuff grocery items last night and got a couple flavors of Luna bar that I’ve never tried before. I remarked that it was such a coincidence that he got only flavors I’ve never had and he said it was no coincidence – he’s been reading the blog and knew which types I have and haven’t had! So considerate! Pre Workout Snack was 180 calories, 23g carbs, 6g fat, and 10g protein.

As I said, I procrastinated again and did another last minute power session at the gym: fast and furious on the stepmill with a Podfitness workout. Stepmill = 475 calories burned.

When I got home, I made a huge smoothie: enough for servings for dinner and lunch tomorrow.

Dinner was 281 calories, 56g carbs, 3g fat, and 10g protein.

Night guys!

Hey all!  I’ve been getting tons of great news this morning, the most important of which is from my doctor’s office, who said that my surgery is this close to being approved by my insurance company.  YAY!!! I have been dreading and delaying this surgery for close to 10 yrs now – I’m finally willing and ready to get it over with.  It’s scheduled for June 9th and it still hasn’t been approved.  Hopefully soon I’ll get the news that it’s been approved and I can start my pre-operation to-do’s: blood test, book temp for office, clean house, buy easily swallowed food, etc.

I also got an email from a CSA reminding me about the first pick-up scheduled for June 5th: next THURSDAY!!  Peter and I signed up for the CSA months ago, and I’m ready to see the fruits of that labor! Pun intended.

I did end up having a coffee this morning – I was still in sleep mode and needed to wake up!  Around 1 PM, I settled in for lunch.  Lunch was delicious and FILLING today.  I started off with a chickpea cutlet on Ezekiel bread with a Laughing Cow wedge and spinach:

Along with a cup of nonfat cottage cheese and about 10 strawberries:

I am totally on a cottage cheese kick these days!  I can’t get enough of this stuff!

Lunch was 621 calories, 70g carbs, 11g fat, and 60g protein.

This afternoon the plan is to go home, TACKLE the dishes, and hit up the gym before dinner.  Have a great afternoon everyone!

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While  I was writing this post, I got an email from my doctor saying my surgery has been approved!!! It truly is a happy day!!!

Morning all!  I was totally wiped out last night.  You know those nights when you sleep so hard that you forget that you’re sleeping?  Usually I have some consciousness that I know when I’m sleeping (does this sound weird?), but today there’s just a huge gap in time from last night to this morning.  Anyway, after a perfectly restful sleep, I got up and got going.  Work is completely empty today (everyone’s out at meetings and won’t be back til this afternoon) so I ate my breakfast in peace and quiet.   Definitely a calm entry into the day.

I made this muesli last night to sit in the fridge.  It contains:

1/2c nonfat vanilla yogurt

30 blueberries

1 tbsp flax

1/2c oatmeal

vanilla

cinnamon

I didn’t even arrange the blueberries like that!  When I opened the container they were just all lined up…weird.  Breakfast was 282 calories, 50g carbs, 5g fat, and 12g protein. Too low, whoops!  I hope this keeps me over until lunch…   I think I’ll have some coffee if I need to fill my stomach.  Have a great day everyone!