Chug-along-chica!

1740 Calories

Ran 1.3 miles

At my trainer's request, I did jog/walk intervals for 15 min. and then just walked for 15 min.

Then I did P90X tonight with James.  Shoulders and back,  or in other words "100 different kinds of push-ups."  Or maybe  "Push ups 'til yous Throws Ups."  In between sets I did abs.  I can't do ab ripperX yet, it is just beyond my ability.  I'll get there, though.  I think my posture is improving at least.

Interesting new request from Mason: at least 24 grams of protein in each meal (and I am required to have 5 per day--right now I am sipping a protein shake in milk.  It is yucky, in case you'd like to know.)  I am eating SOOO many eggs.  I couldn't look a chicken in the eye the way I am burning through eggs.

Also, I am supposed to have one "cheat meal" once a week--on Friday.  600-700 calories (340-370 is a normal meal) of carbs and forbidden foods.  Mmmmm.  I'm thinking chips and salsa... This will give me the fuel to get through Sat. without wigging out, hopefully.

God bless whoever invented chips and salsa.  What a genius.

By the way, last time I blogged I was having a rough day.  Well, I feel great today after resting day yesterday.  My...er...Danielle's feeding is going great too.

1780 calories

15 min. of running

15 min. of light intervals

15 min. walking

15 min. of abs

Count 'em, 5 liters of water

You know what healthy food I've disovered that I like?  Kidney beans.  They've got a lot of protein and fiber, so that's a plus.  Almost makes up for the fact that I hate 2 really heatlhy foods: celery and canned tuna fish.  What exactly is the point of celery?  It is 90% strings that get caught in your teeth.  And the flavor is shudder-worthy.  And the tradegy of canning tuna...so sad!  A nice seared tuna fillet is one of the finest things this world has to offer.  But stick that poor thing in a can and it putrifies, it disgusts!  It gets put into nasty casseroles and forced down the throat of children everywhere.  I'm sorry, I'm being negative.  It is okay if you like canned tuna.  Just don't, you know, BREATHE on me right after you eat it.  Or if you are Grant, for the love of decency, DON'T blow your tuna burp right in my face as I am inhaling.   Little brothers...

1710 Calories

Ran 15 min.

Intervals 15 min.

Walk 15 min.

Water: a mere 3 liters.  Wonder why I drank so much less than yesterday.

Strength:  Arms & ShouldersX with James.  I think I might be getting smallish "guns."  I'm no body builder, but there is definitely some muscle in there.

A word about avocados: avocados may be the most delightful food on the whole of creation.   Think about it, they are full of healthy fats, TONS of fiber, (seriously, one med. avocado has 16 grams of fiber--if you wanted to duplicate that with apples, you'd have to eat 16 of them) and they also have tons of vitamins associated with the green color--B vitamins etc.  Now you may be able to think of 1 or 2 things that taste better than an avocado, but let me ask, is it as good for you as an avocado?  There are pleny of foods that taste great, like Pizza-Flavored Pringles, and there are plenty of things that are good for you, such as fat free cottage cheese (which is better suited as a fire retardant on runways than for human consumption, IMHO.)  But it is a rare and raptious moment to find a truly delicious food that is also truly good for you.  And so, my dear readers, treasure the avocado--a sign to all of us that God is kind.   Think I'll go treasure some right now...

P.S.  My brother Grant is the cutest new daddy in the Northern Hemisphere.

1780 calories

15 min. run

15 min. intervals

15 min. walk

20 min. of Yoga that was mostly stretching

A word about computer games.  It breaks my heart a little to see young ones play computer games compusively.  To me it is the sign of an intelligent mind seeking a challenge.  Computer games give the feeling of accomplishment, or of achievement, without actually accomplishing or achieving anything.  And games these days can be so compelling, so colorful, and so stimulating that real life pales in comparison.  That's why at our house, "computer games" = Chess Titans.   Poor kids...I know.  But it's good for their little brains--it makes them develop the ability to think ahead.  And it's relatively boring.  That's important.  Because if a kid thinks that chess is exciting, they will likely not find life boring.  Which is the truth: life is a great and exciting ride, but like anything else, it has its boring stretches.  

P.S. My brother Grant is almost unbeatable in a game of chess.  BUT if it is just Grant and I, and it is SPEED chess, I will win.  Got game, Grant?  You're going down. 

Who knows how many calories today.  Probaby about 2000.  I had my "cheat" meal today, which was ridiculous, because I squandered my one 700 calorie meal for the week on milk and graham crackers, instead of saving it for something uber yummy, like homemade wholegrain pizza.  Which is why when James make pizza tonight I dove in headfirst.  So I had 2 cheat meals this week.  Mason chided my a little, but overall I think that he is surprised at how well I am following his nutritional guidelines. 

Ran 1.3 and skipped weights.

Also had a sore throat.

1835 calories  Within the allowable 1700-1850 range.  I am especially proud of this day because I even went out to eat and still squeaked by on my dietary guidelines.  Salmon and broccolli, people.  Salmon and broccolli--and NOOOOO breadsticks!

Ran 1.3 skipped weights AGAIN!  There is a problem with doing it at night...it is always just too late to start.  Next week James and I will be lifting, sweating, and grunting at 5:00 am instead of 9:00.  OK, that sounds just...wrong...but you know what I mean.  Mason said that if I am going to miss a weight session, it had better be arms or yoga.  I need to do the leg & back ones so I can get those BIG muscles burning up calories.

Did you notice that I had a perfect week for running?  Everyday.  That has only happened once since I had Danielle.  This is the second.  Next week will be the third, I have decided.  Time to dive in!