Stair Climber

Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal.

Man, oh man! My Monday was flying by up until lunch hit. Don't you hate when that happens? Good thing I keep an emergency bottle of 5 hour energy in my car for days when I need an extra pep in my step.

Breakfast was oatmeal with half a banana and tablespoon of peanut butter... which was the remainder of what I could get out of the jar. Have you ever noticed organic peanut butter starts getting hard at the bottom? Wasn't as appetizing as I had hoped. I was in a rush to work so lunch was a packet of miso soup and the other half of my banana.

One of my friends re-introduced me to makeup application videos. I was in a trance for a good 30 minutes during my lunch break. Now you can be too! I am in love with 1960's makeup and might have to make a run to Sephora and MAC to pick up a few things next paycheck!

 

Last night I decided to give cycle class a spin (ha). I cannot get over how rude some people are, especially older woman. I think it is perfectly understandable for a new class member to not know they had to sign up ahead of time (me). These woman counted OUT LOUD the number of people leaving since they were not on the sign up sheet. Rude. The normal me would have said something, but I was way too disappointed I rushed to the gym only to miss the class.

That's why I woke up early, packed a banana protein shake, clothes and sneakers and will head directly to the gym after work today. Lesson learned. But I do think they should have the option of signing up a day in advance or calling in your reservation.

I almost left the gym after I got booted out of class, but I stuck around for an hour hitting the weights and doing 25 minutes on the never ending staircase. Have you ever tried this before? It is brutal!

apparently the eyes bugging out of your head look is hot! man i looked rough.

Dinner was ammaazzzinnng. I know I said I was going vegan, but with Chris home and both of us exhausted from the gym we needed protein. I might be crazy, but when I was looking at the nutrition facts on our enriched white rice and brown rice, the white was lower in fat and calories but lacked the fiber. Lucky me I keep this handy in my kitchen.

It seriously has no taste and I'll sometimes add it to my smoothies or when cooking.

Problem solved. Now, about dinner. I made a healthy version of fried rice with chicken and shrimp. I looked up all the calories too and listed below. The whole meal (2 servings) was 346.5 per person. Not too shabby thank you.

Cara's Healthy C&S Fried Rice:

1 cup uncooked rice (brown or white) 102 per serving
2 tablespoons fiber 0
1/2 cup uncooked shrimp 50 per serving
1 chicken breast or 2 thin cut chicken breasts 95 per serving
1 teaspoon sesame seeds or oil 26 per serving
3 tablespoons soy sauce 12.5 per serving
2 egg whites beaten 17 per serving
3/4 cup carrots 20 per serving
1/2 cup brocolli 8.5 per serving
cooking spray 0
1 tablespoon minced garlic 4.5 per serving
1/4 cup fine chopped onion 11.5 per serving
salt/pepper to taste

Directions:

Cook rice completely with fiber mixed in (optional). Set aside. Spray pan with cooking spray and cook chicken with pepper - when the chicken is almost complete add in your shrimp since they take less time to cook. Set aside. Boil your carrots and broccoli. Spray pan with cooking spray and cook your onions and garlic, add in rice, egg whites, soy sauce and sesame oil/seeds. Cook until egg whites are fully cooked. Combine rice with veggies and top with shrimp and chicken.

Your welcome. This meal was not only low in calories, but huge in size! You get almost all of your food groups. I said almost... here is a recipe for your fruit if you need a little dessert.

Black Cherry and Peach Sorbet:

1/4 cup frozen black cheeries
1/4 cup frozen peaches
1/4 cup water/OJ

Directions:

Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth!

Since I am combining yesterday and todays post I'll make the rest fairly quick. Since I am reattempting cycle class tonight I have my dinner all planned out. I am always searching for healthier versions of food. I like being able to make meals based on what I already have in my kitchen. Tonight is black bean burgers. I got the idea from Whole Foods website and it got great reviews so I am going to make with a few variations.

Black Bean Burgers: 248 calories per burger (roughly)
1/2 - 3/4  can no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained (been using my can so had to reduce amt)
1 egg white
1/2 cup finely diced onion
1/4-1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Spray

Directions:

Put beans in a large bowl and mash well with a fork. Add egg white, yellow onion, bread crumbs, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well and shape into patties. Heat your pan over medium heat and coat with cooking spray. Arrange patties in a single layer and cook, flipping once, until golden brown on both sides and cooked through, about 10 minutes total. 

I'll leave you with info on two new blog giveaways! Jane @ Hungry Runner girl is giving away some goodies you can enter here and my daily fix Bess is giving away something for Valentines Day which you can find here. Good luck!

Day 11: Favorite TV shows

All Real Housewives, Everyday Italian, The Haunted, Jerseylicious, Matchmaker Millionaire. Anything on Bravo.

Day 12: Something you cannot leave the house without

My keys. Seriously. Everything else I will forget. Makeup, CELL PHONE, my head. You name it. I should start utilizing lists!

wish me luck tonight!

xoxo,

Cara