Day 3: Course Correction

Today I did much better. I woke up a little earlier, (though not early enough to do a pre-work workout) and had time to eat my yogurt at home (since I forgot it yesterday and nearly starved for breakfast). Then, I packed my lunch, making sure to have plenty of fruit for snacking (just in case). In the interest of full disclosure, my biggest weaknesses with food, while at work, is that just a few doors down, there is Qdoba, Menchies (fro yo) and the biggie: Mod Pizza. If I forget food (which I often do, and sometimes on purpose will “forget”), I can just run down and grab a tasty bite from one of the local food places. It is really important to plan ahead with food.

***Tip of the Day***

Have a plan!! If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail! I've always hated that saying because it is so cheesy, but it's true. When you are trying to make healthier choices it is important to plan both short and long-term goals with food. "Long term" means plan weekly, (if not monthly) menu's, so you can shop and cook according to a set menu. With just a little work, you set yourself up to save money by cooking and eating at home and there will be less temptation to just grab whatever is easier because you don't know what to make for dinner.

"Short term" means to pack food for the next day - the night before. Pack your lunch and set your lunch bag at the front of the fridge so that as you are making breakfast you will be more likely to see the bag, grab it on your way out the door and go. BOOM! You've set yourself up for success! When you do this, you will be less likely to forget your food, and tempted to grab something unhealthy because it is quick and easy and you have no other option. *I have to either put a post-it note on the door as an extra reminder or just grab it when I see it and set it by my purse by the door or I WILL forget it. Yeah, I'm a bit of a space-case.

So, today with food, I stayed almost perfectly on track.

Breakfast: 1 cup Chobani peach yogurt, 1 banana & ½ cup blueberries

Lunch: Turkey BLT, 1 cup grapes, ½ cup mandarin orange slices

Snack: 1 medium Fuji apple

Dinner: 3 Scrambled eggs, with chopped tomatoes and basil & steamed broccoli

Workout: 45min jogging/walking intervals – 12 min mile

Post-workout snack: 8 oz Blue Diamond chocolate almond milk (for my sweet tooth)

FUNNY STORY

While trying to figure out what to have for dinner, I was very nearly tempted to grab the nearest, easiest food to me (again), because I didn't have a plan and because there is very little food in the house right now. The nearest, easiest food available was a can of Spaghetti O's. I pulled the can out of the cupboard, and it made it as far as the kitchen counter before I stopped myself and decided on scrambled eggs instead. I also made some steamed broccoli, so as to get in some good, green veggies.
~ I could feel the Spaghetti O's watching me.

I did have some chocolate milk for "dessert", but that is WAY better than I normally do that time of night. I normally have the munchies horribly after dinner and will eat everything in sight, but then, after dinner, I usually will sit on the couch and watch TV. Lately, I have taken to the approach of "get productive: then relax". I chose a chores or two, and get that out of the way (doing the dishes, and finishing up the laundry), before I do something relaxing; reading a book, writing, playing with my dog, or enjoying a reward (hot bath or soak in the hot tub) to help me wind down before bed. This burns calories, gets stuff done, and gets out some energy before I begin to wind down for the night. And when I can finally relax, it helps me fall asleep faster too! Soaking my tired muscles is especially important this week, since it is jump-start week.

**Good to remember**

When you first start a regular regimen of exercise, know in advance – you WILL be sore afterward!! If you can go into the first couple of weeks expecting muscle soreness, I think it helps you to get you in the right mindset. You are working out. You are challenging your muscles and using them differently than normal. That's awesome! If you are working hard, you should expect soreness, almost as a reward of a physical reminder of how hard your worked, and what a good job you've done. It is also a great reminder to stretch! It will feel SO good, and your body will feel so much better afterward. Stretching helps warm up the body for use (pre-workout) and helps prevent injury (post-workout). When you feel sore after working out (and you WILL if you are giving your workouts the proper focus and effort), look at it as evidence that you are getting stronger, NOT at it as an excuse to take it easy, or take a day off.