I know we're in a recession but...

Last night we had a broccoli, mushroom, tofu "general tso's" stir fry with brown rice. I keep forgetting to take pictures, but it was so good! I actually make it quite often, but only recently quit frying the tofu and just put it in without a coat of flour. I love it! It's a high protein dinner with a good portion of vegetables and definitely a meal that satisfies the taste buds! We didn't get to walk as much because it got dark and thanks to living out in the country, getting dark means not being able to see at all. I have to think of what to do because the time change is coming soon and it will be dark before I even get home. We really want a treadmill, so I am taking donations :) Just kidding! But seriously, that is going to be our next big buy! And an elliptical but at least with one we can take turns and continue our cardio.

So for lunch today, I ate at a sandwich place that I am becoming so annoyed with! I don't want to call anyone out but seriously... Subway has gotten stingy near my work!! I counted... 4 black olives on my veggie sandwich with like 5 spinach leafs. I get almost every veggie possible, even a few banana peppers and jalapenos. The only thing I don't get is bell peppers. I don't get cheese, I don't get any mayo or anything, just a tiny bit of olive oil and some oregano.... so my veggies are VERY important. I have been so frustrated lately with the lack of veggies that they have been putting on! Anyone have any other "fast food" healthy suggestions that I can grab on the go because I am giving up on this particular location for now?

Tonight I have a work function so I am going to eat some veggie hot dog weiners with some yogurt. I like to include what I eat as much as I can just so others can have some kind of reference (in case you are wondering why I am always talking about food!) Tomorrow night, the hubby and I are going to go to a vegan restaurant called "Veggie Heaven" in downtown Austin, downtown meaning by campus. I ate there a lot when I was younger but haven't in years and am really excited to take him there because he has never been, nor eaten such foods except for the tofu I cook at home. I'll be sure to try my best and remember to take pictures! Almost Friday, then the weekend!

Hard work paying off?

Even though I planned on not weighing myself until the end of this whole 3 week journey, I felt the urge to do so this morning (mostly because I kind of snacked a little too much yesterday.) And guess what?! I have lost 3 pounds since beginning this whole lifestyle change! I don't remember the last time I saw 143 on the scale. I could NEVER get lower than 146! SO I was super excited. Not to mention, last night I ran. More than I ever have. And it felt good to run!! I hate the fact that it gets dark so soon so I kind of have to run now. Even my husband stated that he feels so much better during the day and has more energy. I can definitely tell the difference.  
Last night we watched this documentary called "Forks Over Knives." If you haven't checked it out yet, I would recommend it. I am not an advocate DEMANDING vegetarianism or anything, I used to cook a lot of meat for my husband, but even he doesn't eat it much anymore. Anyways, the documentary discusses some major consequences of eating animal products. I should also note that I LOVE cheese and don't think I could ever give it up! Anyways, it's definitely worth checking out, maybe just for some.. "healthier lifestyle motivation". It is available on Netflix instant streaming.

Last night I was really tired so we just ate some Amy's Frozen organic meals and called it a night. Tonight we're having stir-fry tofu with broccoli and brown rice. The brown rice I use is delicious. It is from Minute Rice I think it is called, and you just microwave it for a few minutes. It actually has a lot of flavor and even my husband likes it. There are also only a few recognizable ingredients so it is a good buy. I love the stir fry! Tomorrow I don't really know what we are having... I thought about grilling pizza again but I kind of think that's too much. Maybe we can have that again after the 3 weeks is over to celebrate. Maybe some whole grain pasta...hmm..

Weekends=challenge!

So a few nights ago we had grilled pizza. It was really easy and didn't take too long. I also got this idea from Tricia, and it came out goooooood! Here is the link. You might be thinking "well that's not healthy" but I did nothing by veggies on mine (and some cheese) and my crust was super thin. Like I said, I am heading towards a healthier lifestyle, NOT participating in a diet. I am still eating carbs sparingly. Surprisingly, grilling the pizza made it soft, not crispy like my husband and I had thought. We like softer pizza but if you like it crispy, just leave it on the grill a little longer! Here is my pizza:

My pizza had broccoli, mushrooms, black olives, and a little bit of cheese. It was a lot of fun and a healthier alternative to popping in store bought pizza.  



I realized that this walking every single day is going to be hard, for days like today. I have school early in the morning in San Marcos which is a bit of a drive (even though it got cancelled 30 minutes before class today...annoying!!!!) then I go to work. After work today we are going to meet my dad for dinner. I will definitely do my pilates though which may not sound like a workout but I work up quite the sweat!

Anyways, it seems as though making healthier decisions is becoming a lot easier. I am drinking  A LOT of water lately and I enjoy how I feel when I substitute a poor choice with a good one. For example, I ate some fruit last night for dessert instead of these stupid peanut butter M&Ms my husband feels the need to keep around the house that his mom got him.........

I like to think that I am kind of rubbing off on him as well. He texted me today and he seemed so excited that he ate his leftover whole wheat pasta that I cooked last night with zucchini, asparagus, broccoli, and mushrooms rather than eating chicken his mother brought to the job site. I could tell he was proud! Yay for him!

The biggest challenge is the weekend, specifically Sundays... so we will see how this one goes! It is my turn to do the football cooking and I am making spinach and mushroom enchiladas with corn tortillas. I will cook mine separate because that is literally all I am eating in mine. The others will have all the sauce and cheese and other things that I want so bad but will not eat!

GO BROCOS! AND COWBOYS! Can you tell which one I like more?!

Day 3 of forever!

21 Days to a whole new you...? No, not really but I did read that it takes 21 days for your body to adapt to a new habit in Tricia's blog. She used this bit of information as a deciding factor for a lifestyle change and I am doing the same. I am going to eat healthy for 21 days and do some form of exercise every single day for those 3 weeks and see where I am at.

Today is day 3 of my 21 days. Does 3 weeks or 21 days sound better? I think 3 weeks. So today is day 3 of my 3 week challenge. My husband is doing it too but I think he is cheating. I have made a point to cook healthy dinners and make sure we both have healthy lunches for these 3 weeks and that we exercise every evening before we sit down to have dinner. I weighed 146 at the beginning of this challenge and I don't think that I am going to weigh myself till the end. I would like to be 130-135 ideally, not necessarily by the end of the 3 weeks but before the holidays would be nice. I am 5'4 so I think this is a realistic goal. If I get there and still am not happy with that weight, maybe I will shoot for more. Unfortunately it has been hard for me to lose these last 10-15 pounds or so. Hopefully this is the beginning to a healthier life style. I don't want to call it a diet, because it isn't. I am just being more aware of what I eat, making better decisions when I am faced with options, and seeing if in fact, by body "gets used to it." Labeling it as a "DIET" means that I will do it for some time, mess up by sneaking a dessert, and then give up all together after being frustrated with what the restrictions that I have. I don't want any of that to happen, therefor it isn't a diet. It is a pathway leading to a new me.

My problem is temptation. They were having a bake sale at school... BIG, YUMMY, brownies for only $1! And of course the proceeds went to a good cause. It took everything to NOT get that brownie... even after convincing myself that it was for a good reason, but I walked away. So I was very proud of myself! But then that seemed to be all I could think of! Why?? I have an obsession for food!! So hopefully after these 3 weeks, my thoughts might be different.... we will see!

I want to end with a picture.... but I don't have a full body shot to end with. I will get one soon but for now... here's a cute picture of my cowboy in his Halloween costume.