Haute Dish

Like all good midwestern wives, I assessed the cold, blustery weather today, and decided it was time to go where no Jessifer has gone before:

Hotdish, aka, casserole.

I participated in a recipe exchange a few weeks ago - it was the type of thing I normally avoid ("please! who uses recipes!"), but there was a phrase in this particular chain email that intrigued me:

"The recipe shouldn't be something that takes hours, rather something you can rattle off from memory."

Sold.

I received several recipes in response, but one in particular that stuck in my memory - it reminded me of the casserole that I'm sure all Minnesotans ate as a child.  As per usual, I gave it a twist or two of my own, and the results were DELICIOUS.

Here is what the recipe called for (read below for the changes I made, noted with a "*"):

4-5 cups diced cooked chicken (or 3 large cans chunk chicken)

2 T butter

1 c chopped celery

1 small onion chopped

2 cans cream of mushroom soup*

2 c chicken broth

2 cans sliced mushrooms, drained*

1 1/2 cups uncooked wild rice, rinsed and drained*

1/4 t poultry seasoning

3/4 c cashew or almond pieces*

• add butter to skillet, lightly brown chicken, onion and celery
• combine soup & broth in large bowl, add mushrooms, rice, seasoning and warm chicken mixture
• pour into sprayed 13x9 baking dish or pan
• cover with foil and bake 1 hour at 350
• uncover, stir and bake for 30 more minutes*
• stir, sprinkle with nuts and bake additional 15 minutes - don't let the nuts burn
• Serve with salad & warm pillsbury crescent rolls

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My version :

2 large cans of chunk chicken*

2 T butter

1 c chopped celery

1 small onion chopped

1 can of 98% ff cream of chicken soup*

1 box of cream of portabella from Trader Joe's*

2 c chicken broth

2 cans sliced mushrooms, drained
1 (14) oz can of julienne carrots (for color)*

1 1/2 cups uncooked wild rice /brown rice blend (because I could not find plan wild rice ANYWHERE -- WTH??  It's Minnesota, people!)

1/4 t poultry seasoning

3/4 slivered almond pieces*

1 small can of fried onions, the kind that go in green bean casserole

• add butter to skillet, lightly brown chicken, onion and celery
• combine soup & broth in large bowl, add mushrooms, carrots, rice, seasoning and warm chicken mixture
• pour into sprayed oval casserole dish
• cover with lid and bake 1 hour at 350
• uncover, stir
• freak out that mixture is extremely watery**
• note that a month after getting married and moving to the suburbs, you've screwed up the banal. 
• Cry; pour another glass of pinot grigio 
• Return to oven, uncovered, for another 30 minutes.
• Stir, sprinkle with nuts & crispy onions and bake additional 15 minutes - don't let the nuts burn.
• Serve with salad & warm pillsbury crescent rolls
• Watch, thrilled, as your husband has seconds and then thirds
• Snuggle up and watch Pawn Stars while deciding whether or not to go to JC Penney to look at a new media stand for the TV.
• Opt out; glass of pinot grigio instead.
• Curl hair and change into hot heels and a little black dress, just to prove that you've still got it.

So that's it folks - my rockin' newlywed Saturday night of Wild Rice Casserole, reality TV, and JC Penney.

And I couldn't be happier.

Off and running,
~Jessica

**I was sure it was ruined when I saw how watery it was, but never fear - in the next 45 minutes, uncovered, it "sets up" and a lot of that liquid evaporates!

Ten On Tuesday (On Wednesday)

There's a meme floating around the blogosphere that I didn't stumble across until today, so here goes:

1. What are you doing for Thanksgiving this year?
Dinner #1 at The Hubs aunt's house; dinner #2 at my parents; dinner #3 at my father-in-law's (where we won't really eat, just visit).

2. What are you most thankful for this year?
It is really hard to narrow this down to one thing, but I'm going to go a little non-traditional here.  I'm thankful that my dear friend is getting the absolute best medical care that money can buy, and that she has all the support in the world as she bravely battles breast cancer*.

3. Do you have any traditions on Thanksgiving? The parade? Football? Long naps?
A new tradition, that just started a few years ago, is that I go to my parents house the day before and help my mom cook.  I usually make the mashed potatoes**, and anything else she needs help with.  We talk and cook and eat lunch, and it is generally a great time.  We both love to cook and both love to entertain, and in a perfect world I'd be all settled in my dream house and be able to host (and put all that wedding china to good use!), but I'm not quite there yet.  Helping my mom get ready not only provides some great mother/daughter time, but makes me feel more involved in the hosting aspect of the holiday. 

4. Is it called stuffing or dressing? Is it in the bird or a separate dish?
Stuffing.  Separate dish.  But I don't really care for stuffing.  It's just soggy bread!  A bite or two is good enough for me.

5. Do you cook?
See above - I make the mashed potatoes, and help mom with whatever else she needs help with.

6. What is your favorite dish?
Oy.  I don't know how to answer this.  I like the MEAL - a little bit of turkey, gravy, potatoes, a roll (with real butter)... we don't do any of the "traditional" sides like green bean casserole or marshmallow sweet potatoes or whatever (ick).

7. What is your dessert preference?
Apple pie.  Hands down.  A la mode.


8. What is your favorite Thanksgiving memory?
This is from my "past life" but it is a good memory.  I got my late dog, Gracie, the week of Thanksgiving many years ago.  I brought her to my parents house for the first time for our big meal, and it was just a really special /warm / snuggly time.  she was about 25 lbs, and cute as a button, and it added something special to have a sweet puppy there.  When I went back to work in an office, I had to re-home Gracie, and I was incredibly thankful to find her such a loving home.  Sadly, Gracie had to be put down a month or so ago -- she was suffering from dehabilitating joint issues and had no quality of life.  So this year it is especially poignant to remember her as a sweet little pup.

9. Do you plan to shop on Black Friday?
Eh, I work in the retail industry so I start getting sick of Black Friday / Christmas in about July.  Been talking about it forever.  I might swing through, but I'm really not interested.  I am a BIG fan, however, of Cyber Monday. :-)

10. What are you most dreading about Thanksgiving this year?

It ending!  I never dread anything about Thanksgiving.  I love every second with all three sides of my family. As long as we've known each other, The Hubs and I have hit 3 Thanksgivings and while it always feels a little rushed, in the end, I'm always glad that I get to see EVERYBODY!

~~~~~

Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday -- and my very favorite day - of the whole year.  I can't think of anything better than a day devoted to family and gratitude and delicious food, prepared with love. I love that there's no over-commercialization, no gifts, and that everybody is spending the day being grateful for what we have.  I think that as a nation, our collective mercury rises on Thanksgiving.

This year I'm more thankful than ever before.  It's a gorgeous day***.  I have a healthy, happy, loving family.  I have a NEW family that I adore, and a husband I love to pieces.  We have a roof over our head that we're making into a cozy home, we are both employed, and we're both healthy.


I couldn't ask for a better life, and as I said during my wedding toast -- I wake up most days feeling like the luckiest girl in the world. 

I wish you all the very best this holiday season, and I wish you all the gift of gratitude -- the most rewarding feeling in the whole wide world.

Off and running,
~Jessica

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*My request of you -- if you're the type who prays, please send one up to The Big Guy for my dear DEAR friend AKPA, who gave birth to a darling baby girl yesterday morning, in between rounds of chemo for fairly aggressive breast cancer. Her strength is being tested right now, and she's not only rising to the occasion but smashing that thermometer, but could use all the additional support in the world.  


**I've been making these potatoes for years -- they are super healthy but you'd never guess it.  Basically, I boil yukon gold potatoes in chicken broth (vegetable broth works too!), then mash using a bit of the broth and a can of evaporated milk.  While I'm mashing, I roast a diced shallot and a bulb of garlic, and then mash those in as well, adding broth and milk as needed.  So basically, there's no added fat, but they taste amazing.  Don't tell anybody about the fat thing though, or they'll get all up in your biz and make comments like "Well, then they must be terrible," etc., which is super annoying.

***Well, it is beautiful by late-November standards in MN -- it's very overcast and grey here today, but it is WARM -- supposed to hit almost 50, which is great for this time of year!

The Fifth Taste

I've always loved the notion of a nice Sunday dinner -- since The Hubs and I were engaged, I've tried hard to make Sunday a day of relaxation, indulgence, and produtivity... a day that always ends with a nice meal.  Now that we're all married up and getting settled (and football season is in full swing), our Sundays typically consist of coffee, "big breakfast," and LOTS of football. 

(To clarify - the hubs is actually WATCHING and caring about football - I'm reading, talking, facebooking, writing, making grocery lists, cooking, etc).

Today is no exception. 

The world turned white yesterday -- MN's first snow of the season (and naturally, it was the day we picked to rent a storage locker and start consolidating our things), which means that today's 20 degree temps called for some comfort food.  During a momentary lapse of judgment, I braved SuperTarget at 10:30 AM the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and ran away scared -- but not before picking up ingredients for tonight's feast -- Umami Meatloaf.

Do you know what Umami is?  It's "the fifth taste" , and ever since I discovered this amazing product, I've been hooked -- bruschetta, pasta, eggs... and tonight I'm putting it in meatloaf.

I can't really explain the flavor, you just have to trust me, and you just have to try it.

Since we'll be having plenty of turkey this week, I decided it was a beef night.

Umami Meatloaf
2 lbs ground beef (85/15)
2 eggs
1 small onion, diced
1 cup of bread crumbs
1 cup of 2% milk (I used 1%)
1 cup of ketchup
1 TBSP worcestire sauce
1 TBSP Umami paste
1/2 tsp ground mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper
1/2 tsp dry sage
2 cloves of garlic, minced

Start by whisking the eggs; then combine everything EXCEPT the ketchup.  Mold the beef into a loaf; top with ketchup.  Bake, uncovered, at 350 for about 1 hr 15 minutes.

Serve in slices.  With a smear of lingonberry jam.  Atop mashed potatoes.  With a side of roasted vegetables.  Have seconds.

Enjoy!

Off and running,
~Jessica

This Conversation Actually Happened.

Dad: So, I'm reading this article in the New York Times about how to talk to your kids about sex...
Me: (Oh God, where is this going?)Dad: And it's about how you shouldn't just talk to them once, but it should be an ongoing conversatio---
Me (interrupting), Um, I definitely don't want to talk to you about that NOW..
Dad: That's not what I was saying.  Just wanted to make sure we did this for you, and that we did ok --
Me: Well, Mom took care of that.  Which was fine, because at 12 years old, I certainly did NOT want to talk to YOU about it.
Dad: ...because I know that with your brother, the conversation I had with him was abysmal.

(~wait for it~)

Me: Well, Marc got married young and has two kids. And I JUST got married and have no kids. So I'd say that things pretty much worked out how you probably wanted them to.

Annnnnnnnnd scene.Today I'm not only grateful for my family, but that I have a FUNNY family.  Everybody has a great sense of humor, and we laugh a lot when we are together.  Laughing is possibly my favorite human activity, so that works out well. :-)

Off and running,
~Jessica

We've Returned From Our Brief Intermission...

...and have nothing for the second act!

People, I know I said I would post every day in November, but I'm sort of at a loss for topics outside of my quick "gratitude" posts.


Help a sister out?

This is an open call for topics - not only to get some meatier writing going here on the blog, but for some essay contests I'd like to submit to. 

What do YOU want to read about?

Grateful, Day 15:
I'm grateful for my husband, who always knows exactly how to "talk me off the ledge" when I'm freaking out about various things.  With just a few words, he's always able to settle my stomach and calm my heart and head, and then things don't seem so dire anymore

(On the "freakout and obsess" scale, I tend to go from 0 to 10,000,000,000 in about 60 seconds when I am anxious about something.)

Off and running,
~Jessica

NaBloPoFRO

Oops - it is Saturday and I haven't posted since Tuesday.  My bad!

I guess I'll post twice today to make up for it.  On a "thankful" note, here's what I'm thankful for today -- this is actually at the tippy top of the list, but I was waiting to get professional wedding pictures back to post about it. ;-)

FAMILY.

And of course, not only do I already HAVE a great family, but I married INTO a great family.

And then, of course, there's "FRAMILY," the word I like to use to mean "friends who are considered family."  Some of them, here:

And now, I'm back to uploading a zillion wedding pics to Snapfish and creating albums!

Off and running,
~Jessica

Day 8: 400 calories by 7 AM

Well, I did it.

Got up at 5:45, was on the treadmill by 6, and in the shower by 7 AM.  By 7:15, I was looking up the train schedule on my iPhone when I decided to quick check my work calendar, and realized that I had an 8 AM meeting.

So I didn't take the train to work -- which is too bad, because I'd just downloaded a new book that I was excited to dig into -- but I did burn 400 calories, STRETCH, eat a healthy breakfast, remember my lunch, park in the cheap parking ramp, and roll in on time for m 8 AM meeting.

I'm reminded of the words that always inspire my morning workouts: You always have time for the first thing you do every day.

Now that I'm here, I can relax into my work day - I can work without the pressure of having to leave at a certain time in order to avoid rush hour / change clothes / get to gym / get home in time to make dinner... I can just BE.  And that's a good thing - because we have dinner plans with friends tonight. 

Next goal: make healthy food and drink choices at whichever restaurant we choose.

But so far, I'm calling today a success.
Off and running,
~Jessica

Day of Reckoning: Thankful, Day 7.

Over my years of weight loss / fitness blogging, I've probably used that title, oh, 5 times.  Each time, it was about my strategic and calculated decision to step on the scale and get back with the program.

Today, it happened to me accidentally and it was possibly the best possible thing.

I had the best of intentions of hitting the downtown gym before I left the office today -- I even brought my gym bag to my cube from the car - but at 5:30, when I finally left, I just wasn't feelin' it.  I figured that I'd just go home and maybe get up early to work out... but then I realized that I had to talk to a salesperson at the club in order to downgrade my membership from platinum to gold (no reason to have a platinum membership anymore, none of the gyms I'm currently using are platinum level), so I figured I'd go to my old gym, say hi to the old trainers, downgrade my membership, MAYBE walk on the treadmill, and be on my merry way --  and then I remembered that my heart rate monitor also needed some servicing...

And before I knew it, I was on the treadmill with a trainer, taking a VO2 max test, and then on the scale for my weights and measurements in order to reprogram my watch to more accurately count my calorie burn.

I'm not really even sure how it happened, but here are the pros and cons:

Pro: got my watch all fixed up and recalculated so that I have a more accurate picture of my workouts.

Pro: even though I'm in nowhere near the shape I was in in 2007, my VO2 max was still pretty good -- around 38, which she said was average.  And I HUSTLED through that test.  She said "I like how hard you're working, you're in good shape."   Yay!

Pro: This wasn't my usual trainer (Scary Trainer Liz), but a new trainer named Jolene that I liked a whole lot -- I told her my whole story (lost a lot of weight, ran a marathon, lifestyle changes led to weight regain and sloth, and now marriage and I'm trying to get my weight back under control), and she seemed really interested in working with me.  NOt sure at this point that it is in the budget to hire a trainer, but I like knowing the staff at the gym - they keep me honest!

Con: The scale.  Oh how horrifying. 

When I look at that list, it was quite a success -- if the number -- A NUMBER -- is the only thing bugging me out right now, then really, I have nothing to complain about.  Granted, the number is representative of a bigger picture, but all things considered, I'll take it.

I got home from the gym and heated up some leftover chili and made a small salad.  And as I was packing my gym bag and formulating my plan of attack for the rest of the week I glanced over to the stack of mail on the table, only to find:

My monthly weight watchers membership card

Oh.  Hello.  I remember you.   

I totally forgot that I never bothered canceling my monthly WW membership -- I guess I've been throwing away everything I receive from them lately.  But there it was, a bright shining envelope of promise amongst the bills and pre-holiday flyers. 

It's funny how sometimes the world gives us exactly what we need, right when and where we need it.

Since moving in with The Hubs I am much closer to both my favorite gym and my long-time Weight Watchers center.  Yep, life is different now - I'm married and I have a full time high pressure job -- but it is funny how some things come full circle, only to remain exactly the same.  If I can remember what was the secret to my success last time -- that weight watchers and workouts are a gift I give myself, not a burden -- think of how much greater it can be this time around.

Off and running,
~Jessica

Proud To Be A Minneapolitan

Oh how I LOVE "fall back" time -- I feel like I got a solid 8 hours of sleep, AND I've been awake long enough to hit the grocery store, make dinner, prep 4 days worth of lunches, and it isn't even noon yet! 

There's a post coming your way soon about cooking, prepping, shopping, etc... but today, I have to take a minute and be EVER so grateful for great friends - and also for the fact that we live in a city with so much great stuff to do.

On Friday night, I had the great fortune to hit a Dawes show at First Ave.

For those of you unfamiliar with the band or the venue, both are awesome.  First Ave is sort of a Minneapolis institution with strong ties back to Prince / Purple Rain... I used to hang out there a lot in my 20s but, um, it's been a while.  But my friend (also named Jess) and I are both sort of obsessed with this band, so when she asked if I wanted to go, I jumped at the chance. 

My weeks and weekends used to be filled with clubs and shows and bands and live music, but I have gotten out of the habit over the years... and I will admit that at 6 PM, when I realized that the music wasn't even starting for 3 more hours, I had doubts about whether I could hang -- but once the very first band sang his very first note, I was in love again -- I'd almost forgotten the power of live music and of an enraptured crowd, all singing along to the songs they love.

So that was Friday night.  Amazing music with a good friend.  In fact, I was so rattled by the music that I woke up at 7 AM on Saturday, despite not getting to bed until 2 AM the night before.  Couldn't sleep!  Which made it awfully hard to stay energetic for Saturday night's plans -- MN Wild hockey game + dinner with some good friends.

I'd actually never been to a Wild hockey game before -- back in the day, MN used to have a team called the North Stars, and I remember going to those games with my parents and brother when we were kids... a few years ago, MN got a new team and a new venue, the amazing Xcel Center in St. Paul -- I've been there for concerts before, but not sports.  And although I was exhausted from Friday night's festivities, I had a great time, and MN even won.

SO -- fall, friends, music, and sports - I'm thankful to live in a city that has such a killer music and entertainment scene.

Off and running,
~Jessica

Cheeseburger in the Sky

Today I'm grateful to work for a cool company, comprised of smart, creative people!  Harajuku Mini (Gwen Stefani's line) launches on November 13th -- cute!

Off and running,
~Jessica

TGIF!

Today, I'm grateful that it is Friday...

And I'm grateful for this:

NaBloPoMo

Since I've already started November off on the right foot by writing on the 1st and 2nd, I figured I'd just bite the bullet and attempt to participate in NaBloPoMo.

What is that, you ask?  No, it's not some weird alien babytalk or a new form of pig latin -- it stands for National Blog Posting Month, and it's something that I've always shied away from in the past because, well, I've never needed motivation to write!  But these days -- with a full time job, a new marriage, one house we're trying to make a home and one we're hoping to ditch, time is at a premium -- at the same time, I recognize that the support of the blogsophere is what has helped me stay accountable to my weight loss and fitness goals in the past -- so here I am.

And here's the deal -- BlogHer sponsors a topic each day, so I think that on the days I'm lacking inspiration, I might seek it there.  But I've decided that this month, in honor of my very favorite holiday (Thanksgiving), my theme is going to be gratitude / thankfulness.  Each day, my goal will be to post something that I'm thankful for.  I used to keep a daily gratitude journal, so I know first hand that some days?  It is REALLY hard to find something to be grateful for -- once you get through the "obvious" ones -- like my amazing family and friends and -- well, now I have to stop or I'm going to use them all up -- some days you have to be grateful for the new flowers you bought or the sunrise you witnessed on your way to work. 

So be it.  

The point is not only to take stock of all the good things in your life, but also to pause, breathe for a moment, and take joy in the little things.

Today?  I'm grateful for my health. 

I have put my body through a lot over the years -- both good and bad . From the years of carrying 250 lbs on my medium/smallish frame, to the 6 months in which I ran 350 miles... to smoking and drinking and years of fast food, to a 70 lb weight loss... I would sum that up as "incredibly high highs and incredibly low lows." 

Through it all, my body and my health have been by my side.

Last week, The Hubs and I were driving to the gym for one of our first workouts together -- and suddenly the underwire in my sports bra did something wonky, causing my significant pain in my left breast.  The first thought that crossed my mind* was "OMG, I hope I don't have some weird lump that my tight clothes just detected," and then after some very unladylike adjusting, that thought -- and the discomfort -- were gone as quickly as they appeared.

Seconds later, I looked down at my iPhone to read an email that one of my dear friends had been diagnosed with breast cancer.


It was a shock -- I'm still shocked - and as we continue to learn more about treatment plans and diagnosis specifics, all I can think is how important it is to not take my health for granted - and more specifically, to be GRATEFUL for this healthy life I've been given, and live it to the fullest.

Those of you who have been reading this blog for a while know that it's not exactly my first time at the rodeo in terms of friends and family with cancer. I am sure almost ALL of us have been affected by this terrible disease, and on a daily basis, it boggles my mind that we can put a man on the moon.  Al Gore can invent the internet.  That technology exists to create iPods and iPads and iPhones (oh my), and that medicine allows artificial limbs and organ transplants, but there is no cure for cancer.  But this time it hits a little closer to home -- and has already made me think differently about my life and the choices I make on a daily basis.

Starting with yesterday's choices: To cook a healthy dinner despite the desire to binge eat out of stress.  To only have half a glass of wine instead of half a bottle.  To figure out how exactly to get to the gym either today or tomorrow so that I can hit my goal of 3 week days per week.  To take the time to write this post, to sit and breathe, to stop and smell the roses.

To go back to Weight Watchers.  

Off and running,
~Jessica


*that's normal, right?  Mild discomfort = instant concerns about cancer?  No?  Hmm.

Five for Fighting

Workout Number 5 took place last night - earlier that afternoon, I ALMOST had myself talked out of the gym ("Let's just go for a walk instead!"), but ended up having one of the better cardio sessions I've had in months -- further proving my theory that when I want to workout the LEAST is probably when I need it the MOST. 

30 minutes on the treadmill at an incline
30 minutes on the elliptical machine (oh, I forgot how much I love you!)

It's been a stressful few days at work and that doesn't show signs of letting up anytime soon -- but the exercise has worked it's magic, just like it always does:

A great workout = great sleep = clear mind = good food choices = energy to do it again = another good night's sleep. 

Lather, rinse, repeat.

It reminds me of some of the best advice I've recieved recently - from a colleague, one of my "mentors" at work - who advised me:

"When ever you're trying to get out of a tough spot, think about what the SCARIEST thing is that you could do.  And that's probably what you NEED to do."

Soldier up, breathe deep, and boldly go.
In almost the same breathe, I recieved this "postcard from Gusto" in my inbox the other day --

"Relax into it, consciously at ease as you slowly move through it."

Is this about life, or yoga? 

Good advice, either way.

Off and running,
~Jessica

PS: the scale was down those 2 lbs this morning

Back In The Saddle. Again.

It's Week 2 of our re-dedication to the gym, and things are going well -- we skipped out on our plans of one weekend gym session, but I figure that I got enough of a workout schlepping storm windows up from the basement and installing them + hauling bags of clothes to the goodwill. 

Yesterday, we were on the treadmill by 6 PM, home about 7:30, and by 8 PM eating a healthy & homemade dinner. 

After 4 gym sessions in the past 7 days, I was horrified to step on the scale this morning and see that it had gone UP two pounds from last week.

Until I remembered the wine and beer and birthday cake and Chipotle and halloween candy that made its way into my gullet.

Can I just tell you how much I DETEST Halloween?  I know.  I'm a spoilsport.  And don't get me wrong, I like cute kids in costumes just as much as the next chick, but it's one of those holidays -- like Valentine's Day -- where no matter how good my intentions are or how carefully lain my plans, calories creep in.

Case in point -- the Hubs and I don't really live in a neighborhood with Halloween activity -- no kids -- so last night we opted to just hit the gym, and then turn off the lights, watch TV, eat dinner, and go to bed.  Because of this, I didn't BUY any halloween candy to have on hand... I know that "candy on hand" is a recipe for disaster, especially when nobody comes to the door and we're then left with bags of high fructose corn syrup.

BUT - my office does Halloween.  Our cubes were all decorated (cute), and our admin set little baskets of candy on each of our desks for the company-sponsored trick-or-treating (employees invited to bring kids in).

Again, cute.


BUT - the candy was set out on Wednesday for a Friday event.  Everybody brought lots of treats into the office all week.  While I'd love to say that I'm strong enough to ignore a basket of candy sitting ON MY DESK for two days, the reality is that I gave way to some temptation pretty early on, and then when not all the candy was taken, pretty much threw the baby out with the bathwater yesterday. 

It's a new day - and a new week - and it's clear I need to get back to business in regards to journaling and attending meetings.  I seem to have the planning part figured out -- I spent most of Sunday tinkering in the kitchen - as a result, lunches for the week were packed + 4 dinners prepped / frozen -- but the tracking and counting is throwing me lately.

Plan for the day:
B: smoothie
L: quinoa chicken salad, pita crisps, vegetables w/ hummus, Kashi bar
S: apple, string cheese
D: pork tenderloin, broccoli, brown rice

It's a cardio-only night at the gym, and I need to focus on getting in all my water today.

Sometimes it just all feels like a lot.

Off and running,
~Jessica