Mother's Day - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 15

I spent a beautiful Mother's Day in sunny Brooklyn with my father and step-mother and remembering my loving grandmother. The weather seems to have permanently turned and I took the warmth and crystal clear blue skies to be the embrace I've missed for almost 14 years.

Nutrition
I had another banana and another Lara bar for breakfast. Perhaps I should get back to the frittatas. I made a spicy tomato sauce with carrots and sausage for my parents. Mr. Crying Cook, my dad, and step-mom had their sauce over spaghetti. You know, like normal people. I had mine over raw zucchini. It was good, but I was hungry again very soon afterwards. I'm guessing the serving of sauce had little protein by way of the ground sausage, so I ate the portion I saved for tomorrow's lunch for tonight's dinner. I'll need to boil some eggs and get some vegetables together to have enough to eat at work tomorrow.

Exercising

It's been awhile since I've done a pure HIIT routine and I had limited time to workout, so I did this HIIT Workout for Fat Loss. I still hate sidewinder mountain climbers.

Mobilizing

Two points.

Drinking

Apparently, Mr. Crying Cook picked an excellent red wine for lunch. I wouldn't know.

Lifestyle

Since it's the start of a new week, we have a new lifestyle challenge: meditation. I've never actively meditated before. I tried to sit and focus on just my breath. It was incredibly hard, as what felt like a fourth of July fireworks show of thoughts and emotions came to mind. I paid attention to them, but it's hard to know how "successful" I was at meditating.

I have a very strong memory of riding in the back seat of my father's beige hatchback with my grandmother. When I was very little, she was always in the back with me. I can only guess that I requested it and she obliged. That's a good summary of how she took care of me. 

On longer rides, I'd get tired and she'd let her black leather purse be my pillow. She'd stroke my hair and created a safety only a child can know. It's impossible to thank someone for that. I look forward to creating that sense of security for my own children someday. 

Picture Post - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 14

Nutrition

Quickie Breakfast

Spinach, Mushroom, and Bacon Omelette
with Overdone Sweet Potato Fries

Hemp Latte with One Sugar and Minus One Point

Lobster Roll with Zero Roll and All Points

Exercising

Mobilizing

Yoga for Better Sleep

Drinking

Two Points

Lifestyle

Thank you to my family for great seats at
Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs--Brooklyn wins!

I ate bread! Gasp! - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 13

Today was not a perfect point day, but the world kept spinning. Teacher appreciation week came to an end and it was tremendous. We were showered with gratitude through A LOT of food, but I honored the challenge consistently. Well, at least I did until today.

The culmination of our week was at a bar and we were treated to food and drink. I lost points for the first time by ordering wine [not really worth it], empanadas and fried calamari [worth it], and a grilled chicken sandwich [the bread wasn't worth the point].

So, I've learned my need for sugar has been considerably curbed. I would have predicted that bread would have felt more like a sacrifice, but it isn't. When I'm prepared with my own food, I don't feel tempted by other offerings.

Nutrition
I had more of my paleo granola with almond milk for breakfast and turkey tacos without the shell or cheese for lunch. See above to understand why I lost three points.

Exercising
I have not been this consistent with exercising since my high school cheerleading days and my muscles are making me very aware of it. This routine was definitely needed.

Mobilizing
I think my workout counts here too.

Drinking
One point.

Lifestyle
I wrote another note to friends. I have nice stationery, but if money was no object, I'd like hand engraved stationery from Cranes.

Quick Post - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 12

Nutrition
My all-paleo-all-the-time friend ordered me something from Kettle Bell Kitchen. I got this Pamanian Paleo Granola and it was really good with almond milk. I was really happy to be eating something other than 'dinner' for breakfast today.

I went out to dinner with two friends and talked about this challenge a lot. We had Israeli food, which meant I had to avoid hummus, pita, and probably half of the menu because the dishes had feta. I managed to make a delicious dinner of meze: roasted eggplants, beets, merguez, and fried cauliflower.

Exercising
I really like this total body workout.

Mobilizing 
I want to try to get some stretching in during the work day, but I haven't been successful so far. I paid close attention to my chronically tight hips after my work out.

Drinking
Two points.

Lifestyle
I put my stationery to use and sent a friend a note. On actual paper.

Appreciation - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 11

Teacher appreciation week keeps getting better and better! Not because today we had a cafe with coffee to order, paleo cookies, sugary treats [not for me, but others]. Not because we went to a Soul Cycle class or because today is my work buddy's birthday. Teacher appreciation week keeps getting better because I'm appreciating my fellow teachers even more.

As the normally busy day wound down, a few of us met in a conference room to head to our school-sponsored spinning class. I've been spinning before, but never to this particular chain. It was an incredible time because I went with these incredible people.

My school is atypical. We work longer, harder, and more seriously than most. I know because I've been around the block with public education. My colleagues are fiercely intelligent and dedicated. They are all just good people. In case you needed a reminder of why I'm a crying cook, I'm getting a bit emotional writing about these people I feel honored to work with and who make me happy to show up and give it all I have.

Selfie with my
Gorgeous Buddy

Nutrition
I had my Chipotle teacher appreciation deal for breakfast: a beef salad. Whoa, that kept me full all day long.

There were so many treats in the cafe my school organized: cannoli dip [hello, actual dip made of the cannoli filling], danishes, brownies, you name it. A dedicated paelo-enthusiast made chocolate and coconut paleo cookies that were so good. I am really impressed with myself that I only ate one.

Later in the day, a huge fruit basket showed up in our cafe [by the way, the cafe is usually the PE room] and I made this delicious lunchtime snack.

I had a banana before our spinning class and then made a pretty tremendous dinner, if I do say so myself: steak, mushrooms, and Brussels sprouts with bacon.

Alright, I am sad to report that I lost one nutrition point today. I confessed to my teammate by the copy machines. I had a latte with almond milk and a tablespoon of sugar. Now, if you know me, you realize this is comparatively less than the amount of sugar I usually put in my coffee. I took the one point hit and enjoyed every sip of that latte. And here's the breaking news: that was enough sweetness for me to enjoy the drink. This seems to be another excellent consequence of the challenge; I may have recalibrated my need for sweet tastes.

Exercising
My experience at Soul Cycle fell in line with those before: a really energetic teacher, loud, good music, and upper body moves that really test my coordination. What Soul Cycle really has going for it is super clean facilities and friendly folks behind the counter. Still, I can't pay $34 for one class.

I was really tested as a student because I was trying to distract my friend with my loudly obnoxious singing, but she was too in the zone. My favorites were oldies that took me right back to middle school--two very different ends of musical tastes from the 90s.

Mobilizing
My legs were SCREAMING at the beginning of the spin class. I stretched for 10 minutes before bed and could have probably used another 20.

Drinking
I almost forget to add this everyday because it's a non-issue.

Lifestyle
I think this post qualifies. I love you, Lions!