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Food & Workout Journal – May Week 3

Happy Sunday guys!

As promised, I want to share my food and workouts with you as part of my renewed focus on my health and well being. Similar to my weight loss journey with Weight Watchers back in 2005, I find that tracking my food and workouts as well as sharing them with you on the blog helps hold me accountable. I am not counting calories or points this time around, just focusing on eating primarily healthy, natural foods. When it comes to workouts, keep in mind that I am currently recovering from a strained hamstring and bruised cuboid which have limited my workouts. In the coming weeks there will be a more high intensity workouts and running but for right now, I’m listening to my body and doing what feels good.

I am tracking my workouts daily but only tracking my food Monday morning through Friday afternoon. While it may not work for everyone, I find that allowing myself the freedom and flexibility to enjoy on the weekends helps me. I am also limiting alcohol to Friday and Saturday, with a goal to have no more than five glasses during the course of the weekend.  You will also see that I am a creature of habit.  This week I had the same breakfast most mornings and almost an identical lunch. Keep in mind that I work from home most days and therefore I try to buy enough salad ingredients to make a week’s worth of salads. Sometimes the salad varies based on leftovers in the refrigerator but I try to keep the base the same.

at home lunch
Food

  • Monday
    • Breakfast: Unsweetened iced green tea, banana and Starbucks perfect oatmeal
    • Lunch: Salad (spinach, grilled chicken, egg whites, celery, tomatoes, carrots, red peppers, salt, pepper, olive oil, lemon, and red wine vinegar)
    • Snack(s): Apple with almond butter drizzle (~ 1 tablespoon), 2 cups natural popcorn
    • Dinner: Healthy Mexican Grilled Shrimp Salad
    • Water: 9 glasses
  • Tuesday
    • Breakfast: Coffee w Unsweetened Almond Milk, Fage 2% yogurt, 1/4 cup Purely Elizabeth granola, 1/2 banana, chia seeds and flax seeds
    • Lunch: Salad (spinach, 1 egg + 1 egg white, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, balsamic)
    • Snack(s): Apple with almond butter drizzle (~ 1 tablespoon), 2 cups natural popcorn
    • Dinner:Healthy Mexican Grilled Shrimp Salad
    • Water: 10 glasses
  • Wednesday
    • Breakfast: Coffee w Unsweetened Almond Milk, Fage 2% yogurt, 1/4 cup Purely Elizabeth granola, 1/2 banana, chia seeds and flax seeds
    • Lunch: Salad from Potbelly (Spinach, hummus, tomatoes, grilled chicken, cucumber, egg white, avocado, dressing on side)
    • Snack: orange + 1 serving almonds, unsweetened iced green tea
    • Dinner: Salmon, roasted broccoli and fennel & kale salad from Little Beet
    • Water: 8 glasses
  • Thursday
    • Breakfast: Coffee w Unsweetened Almond Milk, Fage 2% yogurt, 1/4 cup Purely Elizabeth granola, 1/2 banana, chia seeds and flax seeds
    • Lunch: Salad from NYC deli (Spinach, grilled chicken, edamame, tomato, carrots, cucumber, celery, green peppers, salt, pepper, olive oil & balsamic)
    • Snack(s): orange + 1 serving almonds, 1/2 serving popcorn (without butter) at Lincoln Center during King and I
    • Dinner: Homemade Greek salad (romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, red peppers, feta, chicken, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice)
    • Water: 11 glasses
  • Friday
    • Breakfast: Coffee w Unsweetened Almond Milk, Fage 2% yogurt, 1/4 cup Purely Elizabeth granola, 1/2 banana, chia seeds and flax seeds
    • Lunch: Refrigerator leftovers salad (spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, 1/4 avocado, onions, 1 egg + 1 egg white, balsamic
    • Snack: orange + 1 serving almonds, green tea
    • Water: 7 glasses
    • bar method

Workouts

So there you have it! After the first week I’m down three pounds and hope to lose one pound per week, on average, until I am back at my healthy weight and my Summer clothes fit again.

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ashleyd /

Dinner with Green Blender

green blender

Even though I didn’t run today’s Brooklyn Half Marathon, I had the pleasure of enjoying a relaxed, pre-race dinner with a lovely group last night in Long Island City thanks to Green Blender.

In case you’re not familiar with Green Blender yet, it is a smoothie delivery service which brings organic, farm-fresh smoothie ingredients to consumers in 30 different states. Founded two years ago Jenna Tanenbaum and her boyfriend Amir Cohen.  Each week their members receive enough pre-portioned ingredients to make either five large smoothies or five smaller smoothies. What truly sets them apart is the recipes and ingredients. The recipes range from their fan favorite Chocolate Chip Banana Bread to Creamy Orange Rhubarb.

green blender founders

green blender produce

After giving us a tour of the facility, Jenna and Amir served a delicious meal perfect for runners and non-runners alike.

group at green blender dinner

rainbow chard

None of us could get enough of the delicious Rainbow chard salad, oven roasted chicken thighs, roasted carrots, pesto or pasta. Cooked and prepared by our hosts, the food was delicious! There was rarely a lull in the conversation as our group had so much in common even though we’d just met before dinner.  (The group at dinner included @lilmissrunshine, @meghadoshi, @ohanaloverun, @milesfitter, @jennatanenbaum and @emilynachazel.)

dinner is served

I will share a full review of Green Blender with you guys in the next few weeks as I’m setting up my first delivery for the week following Memorial Day!

Hope you guys have a great day and congratulations to everyone who ran today, especially those people who ran the Brooklyn Half Marathon!

Your Turn: What’s your favorite smoothie combination? 

 

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ashleyd /

Friday Favorites – May 20th, 2016

savannah square

Happy Friday guys!  How was your week? Have any fun plans for the weekend?

I hope you guys have had a great week.  For the first time in ages, I actually feel energized even though it is Friday. I successfully completed week one of my renewed focus on my health and well being. By ensuring that each of my meals were filled with healthy, natural ingredients and that I was drinking plenty of water all week I found myself sleeping better, having more energy during the day and feeling better during my workouts. Due to my hamstring strain and my bruised cuboid my workouts have been limited to yoga, barre and some strength training. I will share more details around my meals in an upcoming post but these changes allowed me to lose 3 pounds this week, much of which I’m sure was water weight I was retaining from travel and the indulgent eating.

This weekend we have very little plans since most of the weekend initially revolved around the Brooklyn Half Marathon. While I’m sad to not run this race this year, I’m looking forward to catching up with a few friends at a pre-race pasta dinner that Green Blender is hosting tonight. The rest of our weekend plans include some yard work, making our way through a few items on our to-do list, working on a few guest posts as well as sipping wine and grilling outside.

  • If you live in NYC or visiting in the near future and are under the age of 35, you need to check out Lincoln Center’s program, LincTix. Specifically for people ages 21-35 this gives you access to $32 tickets and great seats for Lincoln Center shows. Last night Bo and I enjoyed a very NYC evening, walking up to Lincoln Center after work to enjoy The King and I from third row seats!
  • After this week’s orthopedic appointment, I’ve realized just how important it is to give my feet the proper support all year long. I’m upgrading my Summer sandal collection to include these gold wedges and these comfortable, yet in-style rose gold sandals. What can I say, I have a thing for shiny shoes.
  • I’m only on the fifth episode of season one so I have a lot of catching up to do before the new Girlmore Girls revival, A Year in The Life, premieres.
  • Finally, an explanation to why New Yorkers where so much black.
  • I’m sure the company behind these neon little, sticky sheets of paper fully supports this type of war.
  • You know a dress is a winner when you receive multiple compliments all evening long, even when you feel less than your best. My favorite feature of this black, silk dress is the gorgeous back detail. I can already tell this is going to make many frequent appearances for both work and weekend outings this Summer.
  • I loved this tank so much when I wore it to hot yoga, I have already ordered it in another color. The material is sweat-wicking and light weight while still being unbelievable soft. The fit is slightly more fitted than their other styles which ensures it doesn’t move during runs, yoga or barre classes.
  • Even though I can’t run right now, I am so inspired by Kelly’s journey to run a Boston Qualifying time. These videos and posts are just the inspiration I need to set some tough goals for myself this Summer once I heal.
  • In case you haven’t read Sheryl Sandberg’s commencement speech she gave at UC Berkeley, here is the edited version. While I disagreed with certain points in her book, Lean In, I absolutely love the raw emotion in this speech and her reflection on how her husband’s death has changed her for the better.

Okay friends, it’s time to finish the work day and enjoy a wonderful weekend!

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