I’ve been on a serious health kick lately. I really don’t know how these things happen. One day I’m stressed out and eating everything in sight and the next day I’m super happy and healthy. Well, I’ve been happy and healthy for 5 days straight now (is it sad that I’m counting?) and I am loving this feeling!! I think the key for me is to plan to make food I’m truly excited about. Planning insures that I’m not winging some random flavorless meal and also makes me have something to look forward to (because I know what’s coming!).  For example the cheesecake brownies I made yesterday helped me easily say no to dessert after Adam and I had a glass of wine at Church last night, and I was also able to pass by dozens of bakeries on our walk around town today for the same reason. I knew I had a great little healthy-ish treat waiting for me at home so it was all good. With that said, I’ve also been trying to truly listen to my cravings instead of eating “what I’m supposed to” (this mostly implies for snacks). The result? I’ve been eating better than the week prior to that and a lot less cranky Lastly this healthy attitude applied even to exercise for me this week. I missed my workouts on Monday and Tuesday but instead of obsessing over that, I just let it go and made sure to add a few extra minutes on Wednesday-Saturday (I still haven’t gone to the gym today… hopefully I’ll make it there, but if I don’t, I’m sure that means I’ll be doing something else productive like planning for the week ahead and that’s important too!). I attempted to go for a 6 mile run on Saturday but quickly got bored and unmotivated. Instead of beating myself up and trying to talk myself into finishing “what I planned” I ran half-way to my destination (3 miles), took a little break and then ran another 1/2 mile up hill (man that was tough!) and finally finished my workout by jumping on an elliptical at my gym at home for 20 minutes. I worked up a sweat, burnt a lot of calories and felt great afterwords. That’s all I can ask of myself!

Anyways, this intro got a little too long. I have Friday’s eats for you! Friday was such a wonderful (eating) day that despite it being Sunday already, I want to share it with you. Hope your weekend was lovely. Mine definitely was

Breakfast started with a great bowl of PB&J oats. I’ve made a variation of this combo before but I think Friday’s oats were the best thus far (thank you, Inna, for reminding me of PB&J oats ). In the bowl: 1/2 cup rolled oats made with 1/2 cup of vanilla soy milk, 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 banana + a handful of dried blueberries… topped with 1T of Jiff’s natural pb (I really like it! It’s like Barney Butter but with peanuts… nice and smooth) + 1T berry fruit spread (I forget the brand name and am too lazy to get off the couch right now to check ) I love how gooey nut butters get when you top them over warm oatmeal. This was nice and sweet, like dessert for breakfast. Yum!

[403 calories]

Since I didn’t make a real dinner on Thurday, there were no leftovers to take for lunch. I know some people hate leftovers but most of the times I really like them (the times when the meal is delicious) because I don’t have to think about lunch – it’s already pretty much pre-made for me. Well, we were running low on groceries and I really didn’t want a random uninspired salad, but after a quick brainstorm I came up with this little combo: chicken quesadilla (used 2 TJ’s low carb whole wheat flour tortillas, 2 oz grilled chicken + 1oz Cabot 50% reduced fat cheddar, all toasted in a toaster oven at work) + veggies on the side. It was SO satisfying. This was a great lunch!

[330 calories]

Mid-afternoon I decided to make Friday a Cookie Friday, just like Tina Good call! I was a happy bee for the rest of the work day, despite the fact that I had to work a little late

[326 calories, incl. coffee]

For dinner I’ve decided to use some more of the Gimme Lean sausage I had left since making this dish. I fooled my husband once into thinking this was real sausage. This time I decided to go with Ellie Krieger’s recipe for beef and bulgur stuffed zucchini, subbing Gimme Lean sausage for beef. I saw her make this on her show a few weeks ago, and it looked like the perfect way to use up some of that “sausage” (and it did work quite well). Hollowing the zucchini was kind of fun! I was in a very relaxed mood so I found it almost therapeutic… I don’t, however, suggest making this dish when you’re in a hurry or very hungry. On Friday I was taking my time (munched on a few unpictured cashews to tide my hunger) and giggling at pretty zucchini balls I was making. Don’t they look cool?

Here is the final dish.

[223 calories]

I found this meal to be pretty creative in its form (de-constructed I guess it’s just bulgur, beef and zucchini with tomato sauce). It was fun; I enjoyed making and eating it, but I’d say it wasn’t mind blowing amazing. I will not be saving this recipe for future use. I like to be truly excited about what I’m eating!

Dinner was super low in calories (although VERY filling) so after a little while I got hungry again and I munched on this Kashi chocolate coconut bar + an unpictured pistachioats cookie and an apple (not all eaten at once – we went to bed very late).

[120 calories + 146 calories for the cookie with apple]

Total calories eaten: 1643

Oh and last thing I did want to mention is that I was listening to Jillian Michael’s podcast today and she said they brought Daniel from season 7 of the Biggest Loser back to the ranch for season 8. I think that’s SO cool! The kid lost over 100 lbs already but definitely needs to lose more. I’m very happy that the producers did this. Any other fans of the show? I can’t wait for the next season… it’s totally one of my guilty pleasures!  All right all right, I think that will do it for this post! “See you” later