Kettlebell fail

I worked at home today, and after I finished decided to do some kettlebell swings.  I left my 18 lb kbell at work, so I used the 26 lb.  After 100 swings, my back was hurting.  It was a little tight before I started, and it clearly was not up to the 26 lb.  Oh well, involuntary day off.

Friday ... finally!

The fam is on the road and I am so excited!  I've bought some groceries, done some laundery, and cleaned to pool and kitchen.

Here is a picture of lunch:

Exciting, right???  I should start collecting dishes to try to make my food look more exciting! Ha ha.

Breakfast was "huevos faux-cheros" aka almost huevos rancheros.  I made 2 eggs, with 1/3 cup refried beans and salsa.  Very good and filling.  Dinner tonight is chicken soup with vegetables and white beans.  When I make soup (generally in the crock pot) I will automatically freeze enough for us to have it for another meal.  After that, leftovers get put in a smaller tupperware so that if I need a quick weekend lunch I can heat up some soup and put it with a salad or wrap.

I had several things in the freezer and it was getting full, so over the past couple of weeks I've been using up what's in the freezer.

This may sound crazy, but its pretty normal for me to go to 2-3 grocery stores every weekend - sometimes more!

I hit W-M for non grocery items as well as canned veg, pickles & condiments - that sort of thing.  They do have low prices on that stuff, but I don't care for their produce or meat.

For produce and meat, I go to a local store- they have a butcher, specific farms they buy from, make their own ground meats, sausages etc. in the store (they started as a bucher shop).  And their produce is generally very nice.

Then for misc. items I sometimes go to: Aldi, Whole Foods, and Publix.

I do my grocery shopping early Saturday morning and do my food prep for the week on Sunday.

I know people who say "I can't imagine planning all my meals in advance!".  I can't imagine NOT.  I had a co-worker a few years ago, every afternoon she & her husband would have this huge conversatin around whether anyone had taken anything out of the freezer, what they needed from the store, what they were going to make, etc.  It sounded like they were planning the D Day invasion!  They had 2 young daughters, so getting a good meal on the table was important, but leaving it to the last minute when you both work is a recipe for disaster in my book.

Sometimes I make a change at the last minute, but its good to have most everything you need and a plan.

I started tracking my food in Sparkpeople.  I was curious.  I have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to eat, but I really didn't know the difference calorie-wise between lamb chops and pork chops.  Is it important?  I don't know.  After tracking for a week, my calories tend to fall into a range of 1300-1450 calories. 

I have no plans to take my computer with me to the Keys, so don't expect any posts next week (that it, if any humans continue to read this).

If I don't post again, have a good Easter!

Nothing ruins a Friday like realizing its Wednesday

This has been one of those weeks where it always seemed like it should be a day or two later than it actuall was.  It was busy and I was dragging, so I am glad the end is in sight!

Anyway, not too much to say.  Another good workout with Jeff today - shoulders and arms.  The family is driving down from NC tomorrow and I am very excited!  The house could be tidier, but who cares?  I'm just glad they are coming down a day earlier than originally planned!

Easter menu

Normally, I don't do a big Easter meal.  This year would be no exception except I picked up a 15 pound turkey for 40 cents a pound after Christmas.  That sucker has been in my freezer ever since.  The family (my mom, son, and his girlfriend) are coming down on Friday and we are headed out of town on Monday.  So Sunday seemed like a good time to use the turkey.

My original plan was turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a dessert.  Son asked if I would please make homemade dressing as well, so I am.  It's like a Thanksgiving dinner, but a very streamlined version.

Since we are leaving town the next day I figured leftover turkey would be either frozen or used to make sandwiches for the road (or salad in the case of the hub & I).

Next week we are headed to the Keys for the week as a graduation present to the boy.  Monday is SCUBA diving at John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo (son and I are the only divers in the family), Tuesday is the Coral Castle (google Coral Castle museum if curious), Wednesday is snorkeling back at JP state park, then Thursday and Friday are doing misc. tourist things down in Key West.  So, loads of being out in the warm sunshine - walking and swimming.

Woork is good these days but I am still looking forward to this trip! 

Had a good but difficult discussion with my boss.  And it was genuinely good, just on a sensitive topic.  I find conversations like that hard, and my immediate response after it was over was to look for something to soothe my feelings.  Picked up a "treat", then put it back.  I don't need it - the conversation is done and went well and yes it was stressful but it's over, so why eat to soothe now?

Food today was pretty much the same as yesterday so I won't bore you.

Exercise was 30 minute walk, 20 minutes yoga, 175 kettlebell swings, and a 30 minute back workout with Jeff the trainer.

Dinner going into the oven

Monday

Exciting title, no?

Today was very quiet at work, which enabled me to get in a couple of 30 minute exercise breaks.  So far today I have:

walked 30 minutes
done 45 minutes of yoga
done 175 kettlebell swings
done 30 minutes of challenging circuiut style lower body weight training with Jeff.

I appreciate having the fitness center, it makes getting in exercise much easier!

Food:

Breakfast was as planned - tomatoes & shrimp with feta
am snack was a boiled egg
lunch was salad with grilled chicken
pm snack was half an ounce of walnuts and 2 clementines

dinner tonight is going to be a roasted lamb chop, baked sweet potato, and roasted brussel sprouts.

It is so warm here that we got in the pool yesterday!  I am hoping it will cool back down for a little bit - I love being able to have the windows open.  OTOH, we are planning to go scuba diving and snorkeling next week, so a little warmth might be a good thing!

Lunch

I eat the same lunch 6 days a week.  The base is: greens (spinach in this case), cucumber, tomatoes, and a grilled chicken thigh.  I add banana peppers, olives, etc.  I make different dressings to change it up and I may add cilantro or parsley.  The 7th day we generally have leftovers.

Breakfast this week

I packaged up my breakfasts for the week: 4 oz boiled shrimp, 4 chopped campari tomatoes, a green onion, and 2 Tbsp feta cheese in each container.  And salt, pepper, and oregano. 

This is something my mom used to make and serve over pasta.  I just left off the pasta.  I love it but it isn't one of hub's favorites, so I'm having it for breakfast!

 The peanut butter is not on the counter for convenient snacking - that's what we use to give the dogs their medicines!  Works like a charm.  I'm not a big peanut butter fan myself, but I can't imagine wanting to stick a spoon in it after I've been using dog pills as scoops! :-O

Breakfast

Brekfast today: 2 eggs with 1/4 avocado, salsa, iced coffee.

Almost a month

I'm still alive.

Teeth are healing up.  We're still here in Florida, working on the house, taking care of the dogs.  Things are still largely the same.  Our chihuahua has been sick, but she is doing well.  She was given the incorrect dosage of a medicine, but has made a full recovery.

What else?  Getting ready for spring break.  We are going to the Keys for a week the first week of April, which is going to be a great deal of fun.

Jeff at work has set up an informal group that meets each afternoon to lift weights together.  In a not so shocking development, I am the only girl.  I love my kettlebells, but its nice to be doing some old school style weights as well. :-)

It's perfect winter weather here - nights in the mid to upper 50s, days in the mid to upper 70s - no need for heating or air conditioning.

The hub and I went to Everglades National Park a couple of weekends ago.  I am posting a picture.  I could not believe the alligators!

I just haven't felt like I have a lot to say here, but I am doing okay.  I hate it when bloggers vanish, and a time may come where once again I have more to say, so I want to check in periodically.

Be well.