I've never been a morning person, I think in part because when I typically wake up I am light-headed (for years I used to faint as soon as I stood up) and can't focus my eyes properly. Today, I woke up a half hour before my alarm, my eyes popped right open, and I just felt great. What a nice change of pace!
Breakfast
- oatmeal mixed with vanilla protein powder, almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg & 1/2 packet of Splenda
- lemon green tea (not on diet, but allowed)
- turkey bacon
- sliced kiwi
Once again this morning I took my time preparing breakfast. I think that if I begin to incorporate this relaxing routine into my days, I won't feel so hectic and out of control the rest of the day. It should not be too difficult to give myself that extra time if I wake up at a reasonable hour and plan ahead.
The oatmeal was good, though I couldn't really taste the protein powder because I was heavy-handed with the cinnamon. It did benefit from a little Splenda, and I was happy to use the rest of the packet in more lemon green tea, which is simply fantastic in the morning.
The turkey bacon I was substituting for Canadian bacon, based on calories, fat etc. Though I was careful with my math and the weighing, this still seemed an awfully large serving to me. I'm going to check it again or try to go by a cleaner measure next time I make it, as I think that the bacon has dehydrated some in our fridge, such that 1 oz. of it by weight is not the same as the 1 oz. serving I should have had.
As always, I like kiwis despite how much I dislike slicing them. I think it really comes down to if we have a clean cutting board or some other surface or if I have to slice it out of my hand. Since I did all the dishes on Friday, this was not an issue today.
Exercise
- 45 min Paula Abdul Cardio Dance workout
I know, I know, stop the presses - I finally exercised! Crazy!
It was hard to keep up with the tape, and I didn't bother rewinding to learn the footwork. Mostly I slogged through it, kept moving, and occasionally burst out in enthusiasm.
By the end I was drenched in sweat, though I think that the sunshine streaming in my apartment window may have helped. I was keenly aware of how out of shape I am, and I got a little bummed thinking about how these kinds of dance moves used to be effortless for me.
But the only way to get that back is perseverance, right?
Afternoon Snack
- hummus Masbacha with low-fat Cheddar cheese
- baby carrots
I really, really love this snack in every conceivable way. Even the contrast of the cool carrots and the microwaved hummus and melty cheese - just sublime.
Lunch
- Beef Picadillo: beef with onion, garlic, bell pepper, tomato sauce, and spices
- brown rice
- steamed vegetables with olive oil, garlic powder, and balsamic vinegar
I had never heard of Beef Picadillo before, and now I suspect I know why. Fundamentally there was nothing wrong with this dish, but the bland tomato sauce and not enough seasoning really killed it.
The rice was excellent though it required a lot of attention to keep from over- or under-cooking it. The vegetables unfortunately were an exercise in substitutions, and I don't know if they'll all fly. I was supposed to have green beans, which I swore were in the freezer and were not, so I swapped them for broccoli and cauliflower. I was also sure we had lemon juice (the dressing was meant to be olive oil, garlic and lemon juice), for which I substituted balsamic vinegar. It was only a little dash anyway, so I can't imagine it makes a huge nutritional difference, but I don't like having to change things.
The weird thing is that shortly after having this meal, I had a very sudden and, umm, loose bowel movement. I have heard of mass reflex, but this was a bit extreme. I wasn't feeling spectacular, so I laid down and ended up falling asleep for the night.
Dinner
- beef tacos with hot sauce, low-fat Cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and avocado
- green grapes
I had this meal early the next morning, when I woke up to finish my schoolwork. I was planning to skip it, but I was light-headed and my stomach was growling, so I figured I should probably get it in if I wanted to write an even remotely intelligent paper.
I don't know if it was the energy boost or the endorphins from something so delicious, but it definitely boosted my productivity and mood. The pounding headache I had upon waking went away almost instantly, which tells me that morning headaches and light-headedness are probably more to do with hunger than anything else.
Late Night (Early Morning) Snack
- low-fat cottage cheese with almonds and raisins
I also ate this in the morning, shortly after the tacos, while I printed out one paper and started on the next assignment (really wish I hadn't left this all to the last minute, but that's another topic altogether). It was tasty, easy and quick to prepare, and I enjoyed it a lot.
The food for today went well, though I wish I had spaced them out better so that it didn't get to be close to midnight before I started thinking about making dinner. I think if I want consistent energy levels (and if I want this diet to work), I have to eat the meals on time and not put them off like I usually do.
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