Finding My Way

Phew! I am T-I-R-E-D.  Turns out, working out/taking care of your body is actually like having another job!  There is so much new information flying around my head, and I’m learning how to re-shape my life around it all.  Going to the gym is actually the easy part.  What’s hard is making the time to create a working meal plan each week.  I’ve found that if I don’t spend the time actually preparing my meals, then it’s much easier to cheat and grab whatever is around.  So Friday night I had an evening off from work, and rather than going out to the bar or even going to visit with friends, I stayed in and had a food prep night.  SO WORTH IT.  I spent 3 1/2 hours weighing, washing, cutting, portioning, and cooking the next 7 days for of food.  Seems like a lot of time, but if that means that I don’t have to do anything except open up a tupperware container or ziploc bag for each and every one of my meals for the next week, holycrap that’s nothing!

To start I opened up myfitnesspal online and plugged in 6 meals that worked for my “diet” – I’ve set my goals as such: 1,350 calories; 135g carbs; 135g protein; 30g fat (the good kinds!!!).  Once I got 6 meals that fulfilled these goals as best as possible, I set to work and made each day’s meals, then put them in a lunch bag labelled with the intended day, and copied for the rest of the week.  Easy peasy.  I figured, I’d really have to work hard at screwing up diet if it’s all ready to go!!

My (intended) meals for one day:

Breakfast: 1/2 cups oats with 1 scoop Biox Xtreme Vanilla Protein Powder

Meal 2: 1/2 banana with 1 scoop Isoflex Chocolate Mint Protein Powder (this is my post-gym shake)

Lunch: 1 can tuna with 2/3 cup of baked yams; mustard to taste

Meal 4: Fresh veggies (celery, cucumber, broccoli, mini carrots)

Dinner: 4oz baked chicken breast with 1/4 cup quinoa; hot sauce to taste

Meal 6: 100g Yoplait Source Exotik yogurt with 125g dry cottage cheese curds

The only thing I didn’t do was cook enough chicken for 7 days.  I did 4 days worth and then will bake another batch halfway through the week, just so it doesn’t go icky in the fridge.  Of course, I’m not being super nazi-strict with this eating plan until I get the hang of eating portions on time.  I’m going to make mistakes, I’m going to cave and eat crap once in awhile, and I’m OK with that . . . for now.  After this week’s worth of meals, I’ll see what worked and what didn’t, or what mealtimes were the hardest to keep on track with, and then try something new to fix it.  Once I’m comfortable with the eating pattern, then I’ll really get strict with what I’m consuming.  Le sigh.  I should really hang a bikini on the back of my bedroom door so I see it every day and get a boost of motivation ;)

Live Fit

So the program I’ve been following so far at the gym is Jamie Eason’s LiveFit program.  It’s posted online for free, at Bodybuilding.com and it’s great for beginners to get started!  For the first week or so I only did cardio because that’s all I knew how to do – all the weights and machines looked so intimidating; also, I refused to venture from the women’s only side.  However, my trainer, being male, convinced me to work out on the co-ed side with him.  We started going early in the mornings, and he introduced me to all his buddies and the random “morning” crew.  He slowly showed me how to use the machines, and the proper form for exercises.  What I found was that although I could easily have figured out how to use a machine properly, based on the diagram, I still needed him to correct and adapt my technique.  When I thought I was doing something right, he would put his finger on a muscle in my back or arm, and say, “are you feeling it here?” and sure enough, I usually was NOT feeling it there lol.  A simple adjustment of my form or posture, though, and BAM! Found the spot ;)

I’m on Day 44 of the program and it’s been incredible to see my progress.  I keep track of my workouts in a plain notebook, and am amazed at how much stronger I’ve become already.  Still working on the diet, though, that’s the hardest part.  I’m getting there, but still need a lot more discipline in staying away from junk food like pizza (hard to do when one of your jobs is a pizza delivery driver) and chocolate, particularly when it’s that time of the month, hah.

Well, I’m up and just finished my proatmeal (oatmeal with protein powder and egg whites), so it’s time to head to the gym.  Today is a legs day; I love legs day!

A New Me

I’ve been away from this blog for a long time now, and to be honest, I had completely forgotten how much I used to enjoy it.  The past year or so has been a difficult time for me, and I thought I lost myself.  I lost my identity, my purpose, my motivation, my happiness.  When I hit rock bottom a few months ago, it seemed that I had simultaneous epiphany, and have begun to turn my life around.  Instead of allowing myself to wallow in pity and depression, I have been able to focus on healing myself – both mentally and physically – through a re-examination of my life and my choices.  If I could no longer understand who I was, then I was going to have to discover who I wanted to be.  Start over, so to speak.  And so I began to go to the gym.  Now, anyone who knows me, or knew me, rather, could attest to my hearty aversion to the gym and exercise in general.  I am a bookworm, the library is my comfort zone, not the gym!  Alas, how I have changed: the gym is now the one place that I feel completely content, and happy, and, dare I say, proud of myself.  Slowly but surely I am finding my way back to loving myself and having some semblance of sanity in my life.  I am taking a break from school, out of necessity, and so this spring and summer shall be entirely devoted to bettering myself, to the point that I am once again a competent and confident student in the fall.  I’ll post my progress on here, my little corner of the internet (that no one reads anyway, but just writing is a form of therapy for myself), and hopefully this process will prepare me for the studious life again.

Bookmania

My favorite historical fiction author, Sharon Kay Penman, has her own blog that is filled with a plethora of books that I want. Sinceshe is, in my opinion, the best of her kind, I completely trust her judgement in all things related. You can read her posts here. I’ve read all her novels at least twice, and everytime I go back to them it is like reconnecting with family – her characters are so real! In fact, I might just delve into one as soon as I’m finished “The Book of Salt,” which is halfway done…

Friday Night Munchies

Tonight I stayed in alone, curled up on my couch with a good movie and snacks. Feeling nostalgic, I made some rice krispie squares. I completely forgot how delicious they are!!! Yummy :) Also, I attempted the French palmiers recipe I posted below… which were, interesting. Not at all like real palmiers lol, but easy peazy nonetheless. Only kind of tasty though. I’ll have to find a new recipe to try out! The movie I had was Boondock Saints II; now, I completely adore the first one, and it’s the kind of movie I don’t think can ever be emulated or topped – what I mean, is they should have left it as a fantastic one of a kind original. The sequel was good, but nothing as awesome as the first. Oh well, I still got to stare at my Irish cuties!

French Palmiers

There’s nothing quite like walking into a Parisian boulangerie, or patisserie, eyeing up all the delectable treats on display and then choosing one perfect, mouthwatering treat. Although there is a shop on every corner, and many in between, full of decadent sweets, it is of course very un-French to gorge oneself on them.

Yes, Parisian's line up out the door of their favorite boulangerie at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

A true Parisian will pick one exquisite piece, to share with a friend over un petit cafe, or gather a few to take home for the family. I regret not trying a new treat everyday, but I was a creature of habit, always getting the same things. One of my favorites were the palmiers, and I found an extremely simple recipe online that I simply must try out: I’ll update after I’ve made them, to see if they do in fact taste as they should.

French Palmiers
(click here for step by step pictures!)

Ingredients:

A package of Puff Pastry (found in the frozen section)
1 tablespoon Cinnamon
1 cup sugar

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

First, leave the puff pastry out to defrost (about 30 minutes).

Sprinkle some granulated sugar on your working surface as if it was flour. Unroll the sheet of puff pastry out on the sugar making sure it is a nice rectangle. Use a rolling pin if desired.

Mix together the remaining sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle the puff pastry with the cinnamon sugar mixture. From one end of the pastry, roll up the dough up until the center. Do the same for the other side. The end result should be a nice heart shaped roll of puff pastry.

Slice the roll into 3/8 inch pieces. Lay the slices out on aluminum foil and bake in the oven for 6-7 minutes.

Bon Appetit!

Parisian Piquenique

Stealing some artistic inspiration from my dear friend realisticchic, I put together my dream outfit for a sunny day in Paris, sitting on the steps of the Sacre Coeur perhaps, or meeting friends on the Champ des Mars for a gossip session. I’m loving the idea of boyfriend blazers, lately, so here it is:

Parisian Piquenique by abeckett featuring TopShop dresses

Floral Cross Dress by Love**
$72 - topshop.com
More TopShop dresses »

Women’s AE Boyfriend Blazer – American Eagle Outfitters
$40 - ae.com
More American Eagle Outfitters blazers »

Soda Carlet Flats
$13 - cutesygirl.com
More flats »

Gap Slouchy Washed Hobo Bag
$38 - asos.com
More GAP shoulder bags »

PARIS POSTERS, FRANCE POSTERS, Calendar Toy Action Figure Poster…
starstore.com

DC NearlyWeds: No Need to Steal
blog.dcnearlyweds.com

Ah, La France.

If I had unlimited amounts of money, I would buy a petite apartement along the Seine (preferably on l’isle de la cite) and furnish it with fabulous French baroque decor to my little heart’s content. Alas, I am a poor student, and can only dream of such things…

Top Models

Australia’s Next Top Model has got to be my favorite of all the Top Model shows… It’s just so addicting! The 6th cycle started just recently, so I’m back to watching it on YouTube. I think I love it so much because they aren’t too careful about what they can and can’t say on TV. If someone cusses, they don’t beep it out. Also, the judges are pretty harsh – but not in a silly way, they are very honest. Also, Tyra Banks is terrible, so anything that isn’t hosted by her is a plus lol. To become an addict like me, click here.

In other news, I’ve failed miserably at my summer reading challenge. I think I picked the worst possible book to start with, ever, though… so it’s not really my fault ;) Hopefully I’ll get something read though!

As for this weekend, the Celebration of Lights is back! I am also addicted to fireworks. They opened Wed night with the USA, whose theme was Big Band/Swing. Sat is Spain and their theme is Heaven & Hell. I’m going to spend Saturday down in English Bay at the beach, doing homework and relaxing, then enjoy the show!

They’re baaaack!

And by they I mean it. The sun, to be precise. Today was gloriously hot & sunshiney!! I think tomorrow I’ll have to wear a lovely summer dress :)

Tonight I went to go see Eclipse again lol… with my roomate & a friend, both of whom hadn’t seen it yet. So really, it was necessary – I even cut class early to go heh heh. Soo worth it! It was definitely just as good the second time round.

I started my summer book reading challenge this week, starting with The Slightest Provocation. So far it’s only comme ci, comme ca… not spectacular writing or anything. Also, I’m not that taken by the characters. It just kind of seems like a romance/sex novel so far. Mind you, I just looked up the book on Amazon to link it here, and now I understand lol. There are 2 covers, and whoever said “You can’t judge a book by it’s cover” was wrong. I always judge by the cover!! For example:

So, cover 1 looks like a trashy romance/historical porn novel. Cover 2, though, looks like a genuine historical fiction novel. Lol, I bought cover 2. Had I seen cover 1, I would never have even picked the thing up! How book-ist am I? Still, I am proud of myself for trying to keep with the reading challenge! Hopefully I can stick with it. More details to come, and perhaps the novel will redeem itself somehow in the end… not likely, though.