Hey guys,

I’m sorry about dropping off the earth for a bit - you have no idea how guilty I feel when I miss a post! I’ve been overloaded with work so I haven’t had a second of time for myself to blog, relax or even work out! I feel so all over the place not blogging and exercising, but at the same time so bogged down with work I can’t move. But it’s Friday, I’m in the home stretch…I just need to power through and then it’s the weekend!

Wednesday afternoon, I left work around 5:45 to get to the bookstore to pick up the reading for my class. Class started at 6:45 downtown. I think it should be a good experience - I realized how much I enjoy advertising during the class discussion. It’s so interesting. Before the class started, I had an apple (unpictured) around 6:30; during the class break at 8:30, I had 1/2c cottage cheese:

I really enjoying being in ’school’ again - I was much more prepared and involved this time around. I definitely slept through class when I was a kid!

When class ended at 9:45, I walked the 2 miles home. I could have subbed it, but since I’ve been unable to get to the gym, this seemed like the best option to get in some exercise.

At home, my amazing and supportive boyfriend made me dinner while I sat down to get more work done. A few min later, we ate his creation:

Turkey sandwich on toasted double fiber bread with mustard, tomatoes, and spinach; carrots; and grapes:

and then he made me hot chocolate made with water, took a picture, and brought it to me while I worked:

In our coffee cup from our Maine trip, no less! What a sweetheart!

I got to bed L.A.T.E. but managed to get up around 7:40 AM on Thursday. A workout was out, but I decided to act on Keri’s advice and make breakfast at home. I made one egg and two egg whiles in a double fiber bread sandwich, along with sliced banana and ketchup for dipping. (Love ketchup on eggs.)

When I ran errands after my meeting with Keri on Wednesday, I picked up some candles from Whole Foods. I’ve never been big on candles, but since I’ve been having trouble sleeping AND waking up, I figured some olfactory influence might help. This one was Rosemary, to help me wake up.

I have to admit, it was nice to go about my morning with a full stomach. Although, it was almost too filling! Those egg whites are intense!

I had a morning snack around 11 of some blueberries and 1/2c cottage cheese:

It felt kind of weird, eating again after breakfast and before lunch, but I don’t remember being hungry at all yesterday, so maybe there is something to this whole ‘breakfast at home’ thing.

For lunch, I had packed again (hooray!). Double fiber bread sandwich with 2 oz smoked salmon, spinach and sprouts, with watermelon slices:

See all the work on my desk?

And carrots on the side:

I decided to head home early and work from home. It’s so much easier for me to write in my jammies at my empty, clean desk at home (compared to my messy and paperstacked work desk), with some soft classical playing - not to mention P sitting outside the door telling me to focus and stop messing around on YouTube.

Being at home gave me chance to make dinner. I decided on a Mexican Quinoa Casserole I saw on someone’s blog - I forget who…let me know if it’s yours! I cooked quinoa and grilled some spinach, CSA corn, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, celery, and yellow peppers. I layered it in a casserole dish, added salsa, sprinkled cheese on top, and popped it in the over for 10 min. Here’s my portion with a dollap of 0% Fage:

When I sat down at the table, I realized I was going to need some more protein - which is when I realized I forgot an important ingredient - black beans! Grr…it was still good though. I had two slices of turkey afterwards to get my protein in.

Since we still had a good portion of the casserole left, I cooked up some black beans and added them to the dish for future meals.

I spent the rest of the night writing. P left for a bit and came back with a surprise to cheer me up and spur me on - a little brownie! Unpictured because I was so excited he was so thoughtful. I also had two mugs of hot chocolate made with water over the course of a looooong night of writing

Friday I woke up waay behind schedule - a long night will do that to you! I FINALLY got to breakfast around 11 AM:

After delivering a presentation (which went well, thank goodness), I have been working every since. I stopped for lunch around 2: leftover casserole with black beans.

How colorful! The black beans added so much to both flavor and fillingness - I was happy to have them!

And an apple:

I’m going to have a snack around 6, then I’m meeting up with MaryBeth for a training session at 8.

Tonight I’m meeting up with Eva for dinner and drinks (perhaps more drinks than dinner after THIS week). Not too many though, because the Fitness 4 mi race is tomorrow! I can’t believe I’m running a race tomorrow - and I haven’t even worked out in 3 or 4 days…yikes.

I’m definitely going to have to work a bit this weekend, but I’m planning to buckle down Saturday afternoon so I can have a relaxing Saturday night out with Peter and a quiet Sunday. Monday is our 1 yr! Man, where has the time gone?? Happy FRIDAY!!

Goodness! This afternoon it really hit me just how much work I have to do and how hard it really is!  I love to write, but this is a whole new ball game.  It’s amazing how long it’s taking me to write 100-word blurbs!  I guess it’s harder to be succinct rather than lengthy.  I ended up staying at the office til 9:30 PM.  I originally planned on staying late tonight, but when my deadlines got pushed I thought I’d be okay.  Not so fast, Miss Kate.  Even though I still have a TON to do, I do feel accomplished for what I have done.  And I feel very blessed that I have been able to bring my passion into my career!

On to food.  Since I had to delay dinner and resist the office temptation of free takeout, compliments of the boss, I added an extra snack to my day.  Around 5 PM, I had a nectarine and 1/2c Fage spiked with honey:

This nectarine was too stringy inside.  I’ve decided I only like the red-insided nectarines, rather than the white-insided nectarines.  Does anyone know the proper names so I can distinguish between the two during grocery shops?

Around 8 PM, I had a Larabar.  Who knew I would grow to like these guys so much?  This one was Cinnamon Roll:

Back at home, I sat down to dinner at 10 PM.  I started with a huge salad:

Spinach salad, carrots, sprouts, tomatoes, fig goat cheese, blueberries, walnuts and snap peas.  This was WAY too big.  I finished half and saved the rest for tomorrow’s lunch.

And an Amy’s veggie burger on a Cinnamon Raisin Ezekiel muffin with ketchup for dipping:

All together:

With o% Fage/mustard dressing in my little flower cup for dipping.

Before bed, I have to prep for my meeting with Keri tomorrow (I’ve been slacking on my meal log!).  I’m hoping to get to bed early so I can wake up for a morning workout.  I should have to stay even later at work tomorrow night and I’ll really need the adrenalin to keep me going through the day.

This afternoon I got hungry earlier than normal (lunch probably wasn’t caloric enough), so I went down to see to the Organic Market to see if they had the Peanut Butter Larabar.  Ta da!

It was good!  I would get it again…although, I don’t know if it’s worth all the fervor it’s receiving in the blog world!

After a busy and stressful afternoon at work, I left around 6 PM for the gym.  I really wasn’t feeling motivated at the gym.  I did some standing weights (including the Magic Multitasker), elliptical, Arc trainer, recumbent bike with weights alternating on my thighs and doing arm and chest presses, and interval training on the treadmill.  I couldn’t get my HR up though…the highest it ever wen was the 150s, and even that was only for a short period of time.  Cardio and weights = 457 calories burned.

I felt unsettled before going to the gym (I’m hesitant to say hungry, because I should have had enough calories), but I was definitely hungry leaving the gym around 8 PM.  Knowing it would be at least 2 hrs until dinner, I picked up a snack at a bodega outside the gym.

After my snack, I dropped into the nail salon for a hot sec to get an eyebrow wax.  Can’t go to Cali with bushy brows.  Homegirl really went to town on my brows…they’re way thinner than I usually get.  I kind of like them this thin though… Does anyone else think that their face looks slimmer/heavier with smaller/larger eyebrows?  I always feel that way whenever my eyebrows get too intense.

Anywho, I headed uptown for my appt, and then called P to meet up.  Of course, he dragged me to MaryAnn’s for dinner (on my stipulation that no alcohol be consumed).  I got the most delicious meal!  Avocado, brown rice, grilled veggies in a whole wheat wrap with a side salad:

I ate it all - delicious!

At home, I had a coconut bar.  Not because I was particularly hungry, but because I love coconut bars!

Off to bed!  I’m really hoping to make it to an AM workout tomorrow!

Hey guys,

You’ll have to excuse my dinner choice and video post today - I’m exausted!  My workout with MaryBeth was scheduled for 6 PM tonight, and of course, I got hung up at work.  I finally got out with 30 min to make it downtown, change and warm-up.  As I was walking over, my hunger really kicked in.  I broke into my Product of the Week for a Pre Workout Snack:

My workout with MaryBeth was awesome - I really felt like we got some work done.  I wanted to go do some extra cardio before I left, but the gym was totally packed and I just wanted to go home.  Training Session with MaryBeth = 421 calories burned.

After getting back, I wanted to have a small snack and wait to have a full dinner when Peter got home.  So I had a tbsp PB, tbsp jam on a whole wheat chollah roll:

But this PB&J only intensified my hunger.  So I had an Amy’s burrito and a banana:

Told you it was random.

Usually when I eat really randomly like this, it can turn into a binge easily - but this was okay.  I had a coconut bar a few hours later:

As I mentioned earlier, here’s this week’s product of the week: Coconut Creme Pie Larabar.  (You’ll have to excuse me - I was so exausted when I made this video, so I’m totally out of it.  :P)

Enjoy!

Hey guys,

Sorry for the unintentional blog hiatus - just got busy relaxing.

Saturday morning I woke up early (compared to P, who went out Friday night and was nursing a hangover) and was uber productive. I cleaned the apt, picked up the laundry and put it away, did the dishes, and Magic Eraser-ed the kitchen and bathroom. Eva called my cell around 11 - she was in the neighborhood and wanted to get coffee. I met her at a nearby Starbucks for an iced coffee and some laughs.

When I got home, P was almost ready to get it together. We decided to go to the Paris Commune for brunch - so P could get their world-famous French Toast. Well, I realized when we got there that I forgot my camera! I was so mad! (That’s what started the blog hiatus - I didn’t have any pictures to post!) I had an iced coffee (numero two), truffled eggs, half an English muffin, and fruit. I also snuck a good amount of Peter’s fries. P got the french toast, of course - and it was only so-so in my book.

The rest of the afternoon was spent reading, TV watching and relaxing. I had a snack around 5 PM of 1/2c 0% Fage, a banana, and some honey:

Around 8, I had 1/4c cranberry antioxidant trail mix:

P and I decided to order in sushi for dinner. I had two plates. Here’s my first:

and my second:

Sorry for the slight blurriness! After dinner, we hit hit the sack.

The next morning, I slept in, and met Eva for brunch uptown at the Neptune Room around 2:15. I love this place! It is my absolute favorite brunch on the UWS. We started out with some of their delicious cinnamon walnut bread (I had another 1/2 piece after this):

I got a lavender lemonade with vodka for my drink. THIS.WAS.SO.GOOD. I told Eva I wanted to bathe myself in this drink. If I only could drink one thing for the rest of my life, this would be it it. AMAZING.

For an entree, I got my fave, the smoked salmon plate:

Delicious.

After brunch, we took our tipsy selves on a tour of Central Park - where we got ice cream from a cart! Eva was buying, so she stole the last Chipwich. I got a Reese’s bar:

It was sooooo delicious. And surprisingly cold for a hot summer day. We spent the rest of the afternoon walking all around the park and then down Madison Avenue, where I tried on possible birthday dresses at Barney’s. And we saw Janice Dickinson and that Gossip Girl/Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants girl and her bf. Eva was excited about that; I was more excited about Janice. We saw her taking a picture of herself in front of one of her billboards which I thought was great. Pssh, if I came across a billboard of myself, you can bet I’d take a picture of me with it!

We walked over 5 miles and I was starving when I got home! I had some sushi from the night before:

Later, when P got home, we made dinner together. I have to wrestle to get him in the kitchen usually, but he was good about it - and we had fun! Plus it was so much quicker preparing dinner with twice as many hands. We made turkey sandwiches on whole wheat chollah bread, with tons of CSA veggies, laughing cow, and mustard:

A few hours later, I had a coconut bar for dessert:

Sadly, the weekend came to an end.

Monday morning breakfast:

1c shredded wheat, 1c nonfat milk, banana.

Kinda sad that it’s Monday but not too sad!  Short week coming up that leads into a couple packed weeks!

Monday - Training with MaryBeth at 6; C25K 7.1 Run

Tuesday - Gym Workout/C25K 7.2 Run; Appt @ 8:30; Packing

Wednesday - Leave work at 3:45 to take AirTrain to JFK; flight to Cali @ 6:15

Thursday-Sunday - California!

Monday morning - Flight back to NYC @ 11 AM

Tuesday - ?

Wednesday - Appt with Keri; Writing Class begins (every Wed night from now til the end of October)

Thursday - ?

Friday - Training with MaryBeth @ 8

Saturday - 4 Mile Race

Sunday - ?

Monday - 1 yr anniversary!

And then another 5k that weekend and my birthday the week after that.  Whew!

Woah.  I went a little overboard with the workout tonight - and I didn’t even mean too!  When I looked down at my HRM at the end of the workout, I had to do a double take!  Let me back track.

After lunch, I read the new Shape in bed while listening to my fave, Classical.  Midway through an article - I fell asleep!  Can you believe that?! I took a 2 hr nap in the middle of the afternoon!  Nutso.  I love naps, though.  They were my bread and butter in college.  I always scheduled morning classes and late afternoon classes so I would get in a midday nap.  Swoon.

When I woke up, I goofed around before I started to get ready for the gym.  I was almost on autopilot - it took less energy to go to the gym than to fight with myself about going to the gym - do you guys know what I’m talking about?  That autopilot mode?  Anyway, I was hungry, so I had a snack before leaving.  1/4c oatmeal with a tbsp PB.  I haven’t had oatmeal in so long!  It was a nice change!

So I headed to the gym.  I did the Self workout from this month’s issue, including the ‘Magic Multitasker’ move that everyone’s been bloggin about.  It was a good workout I thought.  Some of the moves were a little awkward - I’d like to do them with MaryBeth to make sure I’m doing them right.  After that, I did 30 min on the funky elliptical - it was perfect timing too.  I got on just as Clueless was starting.  Double Swoon.

30 min of that was a piece of cake.  After the gym I set out on my C25K run.  I used Map My Run to figure out how far I needed to go to reach 5k, so I decided to do that.  Well, I finished my run on the way out, so I had to come all the way back.  It ended up being a huge commitment - both time-wise and calorie-wise!  On the way back, I got bored so I started doing intervals of walking and SKIPPING!  It was fun to skip!  I was never that good at it as a kid (I could only gallop). but I figured it out tonight!  That really got my HR up!  Unforunately/fortunately, my runs aren’t getting my HR up as high anymore - I’m getting used to it.  But that skipping did the trick for sure!  So are you ready for the calorie burn?  It’s a little nutso.  Cardio and Weights, C25K 6.3 Run, and Long Walk with Skipping Intervals = 1188 calories burned.

I got back, cleaned up, and made myself dinner.  I had a plan for a meal, but I was really tired, so I ended up just making some corn on the cob and heating up an Amy’s lasagna:

I also had a cup of slightly reheated frozen cherries and blackberries.  Not frozen, but still on the cold side.

All together:

Delicious!

I’m off  to finish my magazine in bed.  Night guys!

I overate AGAIN this afternoon.  And this time I was not so happy coming out on the other side.  I was really mad at myself, actually.  I’ve made a ton of progress in the past couple weeks - really upping my cardio, committing to C25K, and doing well with eating a balanced diet.  I really was not pleased. I can’t really say what brought it on (boredom, home alone) but I can say that I was really mad at myself for self sabotaging like that.  Combined with feeling totally sick and miserable, I was ready to throw in the towel.

Finally I had to leave the apt to meet up with Arielle and Betsy.  As I was walking over there, I was thinking such negative thoughts.  I was thinking how I could explain this to you guys and how it was going to be really tough to spin this positively.  There is no positive.  I screwed up.  Big Time.

When I met up with the girls at Counter, my bad mood totally melted away.  It’s hard to be upset when you’re talking engagement rings and weddings!  Plus those girls are hilarious and so fun.  I didn’t mention my slip-up - I didn’t want to thing about it.

We split a bottle of champagne:

I had another 1/2 glass after this one.  Congrats Ari and Chris!

For an entree, I just had a spinach salad with crusted goat cheese:

I ate it all except the bread.

I felt alot better leaving the restaurant - the girls totally saved my night!  I met up with P as he was walked home from the gym, and we walked home together.  Beautiful night.

I’m off for an early bedtime.  I still feel like I’m getting sick.

Oh PS, I mentioned it briefly this morning, but P and I are going to Orange County, California next Wednesday for a long vacation.  Night!

Eva will never let me live the title of this post down (she’s a sassy one), but I’ve had wine, so I’m mushy.

At work this afternoon, I had two pieces of the Maine taffy I brought back for the office.  They were tasty.

Of course, something came up right at 5, so I didn’t get out of work til 5:30, and I had a 20 min walk to the house before I would meet up with Mary Beth at the gym.  I had to race to get there in time, but I made it!  I did about 5 min warmup on the treadmill before Mary Beth and I got started.

This was the first workout I’ve done with Mary Beth where I’ve kept my heart rate high and we’ve moved quickly from position to position.  We did alot of great moves today, and I learned something I found interesting.  We were doing kick-backs (where I was on all fours and kicked my leg back towards the sky, keeping it in an L-shape the whole time) and MB told me to make sure I wasn’t leaning to either side while doing them - that I was keeping my weight directly in the middle.  The explained that we do that for the same reason you shouldn’t lean on one foot or the other: if you put more weight on one side, you’ll build up the muscle in that side, causing your hip and thigh to be curvier, ie. more pronounced. And since I’m trying to thin out my hips, not add to them, it was important to stay balanced.  Interesting thought, right?!

After my workout with MB, I set out on my C25K run.  I’m loving the extra cardio these days.  I can’t believe my 4 mi race is in 17 days!  Training Session with Mary Beth and C25K 6.2 Run = 687 calories burned.

After my run, I came home and got cleaned up.  Dinner was still an hour away and  I was starving.  I had 1/4c of TJ’s Cranberry Omega Trail Mix.  Very filling!  It kept me satisfied until dinner:

We attempted to visit the Rouge Wine Bar, but ended up going to the upstairs restauraunt, the Paris Commune.  Being in Paris, we had to start off with a glass of white wine:

After we ordered, they brought out a sample of their corn and tomato rice combo.  It was very tasty!

Eva and I were both craving some greens, so we split a spinach salad.  Here was my portion:

For an entree, I had salmon with a spicy jam sauce on a bed of veggies and risotto.  It was delicious!

I had such a great dinner with - she’s been in Las Vegas for a week!  I’ve missed her!

P got me a little Ghiradelli Peanut Butter Chocolate square for dessert.  Yum!

Headed off to bed!

Well, the emotional eating monster struck again!

This afternoon I finished at the office and set about my afternoon plan.  I hit up the drugstore and then came home.  I planned to change, have a snack, then head to the gym.  It started off well.  For snack, I had a 0% Fage container with a bit of Maine jam and honey:

And then I got caught up watching the Olympics.  It occured to me that I hadn’t had any alone/chill out time on a weekday in a long while.  Yesterday and today were just soooo stressful and I was sick of being overbooked and overscheduled.  So I stayed home and watching the Olympics instead.  I didn’t plan out when (if?) I would go to the gym, I just didn’t go.

So there I was in the apt.

Alone in the apt + feeling guilty about not following my plan + SUPER stressed + pressure of a few weeks without bingeing + being somewhat bored + sweets in the house.

It wasn’t a fair fight.

I didn’t really think about it when I decided to stay home - but I should have known that this would happen.  The only reason I didn’t overeat yesterday was because I gave it serious thought and consideration, got OUT of the house and kept moving.  As soon as I sat down today - boom.

So there went the last 4 Weight Watchers Big Cookies and Cream bars (I hate that I’m like Nostradamus and predicted my downfall in last night’s video).  I also had a tiny spoon of PB and 2 butterfly chocolates.

Surprisingly, I didn’t feel sick or full or guilty.  I felt happy. :P  Happy that I had downtime to myself.  Not necessarily happy I ate my weight in ice cream.  Next time I’ll know I just want me-time.

I went to my 8:30 PM appt, and did my C25K run on the way back.  Then I hit up the gym and watched the Olympics while doing 15 min Elliptical, 15 min Arc Trainer, and some stretching and ab work.  C25K Run and Cardio = 721 calories burned.

I’m feeling good.  Especially since the apt is clean and I did most of my to-do list today (despite doing some of my to-don’t list).  I think that yesterday was such a triumph - between overcoming my emotional eating that day and running for a full 20 min - that today was sort of like a ‘two leaps forward, one baby step back’.  And I’m cool with that.

I ran for 20 min straight!!!!

I NEVER EVER EVER thought I would be able to do that.  I was always the kid who walked in gym class…I walked at reccess for goodness sake!  Not that I was an inactive kid - I did all sorts of sports.  I just wouldn’t run if I could help it!  Man - this feels incredible.

This afternoon went well…free from emotional eating (although two random shortbread cookies did get in there somehow…I was going to leave it off-blog, but I just can’t keep things from you guys!). :P  All in all - a job well done.

I got home and definitely thought about skipping my workout…but I just went on auto-pilot and did it.  The Total Body Conditioning class was TOUGH today!  I think because usually I work out Sat morning, take a rest day on Sunday, and then do TBC on Monday nights.  But I worked out all weekend (sometimes twice in one day) - so I wasn’t rested for the class.  I think I’m going to have to reserve Sunday as my rest day if I want to really give it my all in TBC class on Mondays.  So I did class, and then did my run!  I definitely wanted to quit at the 9 min mark, and then again around the 15 min mark, but I kept pushing myself.  I kept thinking about what I would say to my family, and P and you guys about how I did it - and now I can!  I did it!  I’m so proud of myself.  My HRM did something funky during class, so my calorie burn may be a little low.  TBC Class and C25K 5.3 Run =  658 calories burned.

I got back to the apt, showered, ran to the grocery store and came back to have dinner - I was starving!  I didn’t really know what I wanted, so I just kind of grabbed what we had in the fridge.  I had one of Peter’s yogurts:

Emmi Swiss Premium Lowfat Yogurt in Black Cherry.  I don’t usually eat flavored yogurts (too much added sugar), but I wanted to have something that resembled fruit with this meal and we were all out of the fresh variety.

For an entree, I had a turkey sandwich on whole wheat double fiber bread with a laughing cow wedge, tomatoes, some sort of kale, green peppers and mustard:

Such a big and filling sandwich - great textures, fresh CSA veggies…loved it.

All together:

And for dessert, I had a Weight Watchers Giant Cookies and Cream bar:

Wondering how it was?

WELL!

Product of the Week, Week 2

FYI, even though I was post-workout and shower, I did my hair in this one guys - so I wouldn’t look like a rag-a-muffin.  And for some reason, the camera skipped and missed a whole part.  (Peter said I should film the whole thing again, ha-ha-ha.) I go from opening the box to three bites in - boo!  Sorry…and enjoy!