Tension

Good morning Friends,

Ok, let me just say that blogging everyday (my goal for the week) is very rewarding this week, but WOW am I getting some serious neck and shoulder tension from being on the computer for so long every morning after work! I am not sure if it is the slouching or the combination of the fact that I have been awake all night + the slouching. Either way, I'm pretty sure my shoulder blades are on fire.

In other thoughts, I am running low on snack options that are "real food". You know how you hear that you should not eat as much fruit because it has too much sugar, hence more calories than veggies....or maybe that's just me hearing this nonsense? Then of course you know that the sugar in fruit is much better than the sugar in processed sugary snacks. So, I am at a loss. I am kinda worried about what I will eat snack-wise in the winter of Illinois because I worry about everything a million light years before they actually happen because what is in season in the dead of December in the midwest? 

Snow.

That's what's in season. I have been seriously trying super hard to eat as many whole foods as I can, but in this day and age, working and schooling take up so much time, that who has time to chop veggies and wash fruits, and go to the grocery store several times a week so that your stuff doesn't go bad faster than you can eat it (a problem we have around here).  Every single day Sometimes I really wish that I lived in an all year round state that I can get local fresh fruits and veggies from!

Have an amazing day!

Yesterday's Eats!

some snacks...a banana, plum, clementine, granola and Greek yogurt

the breakfast usual...oats and almond milk

 then I tried something new from Caitlin's eats...a sweet potato with vegetarian baked beans! DElish!

 ...added that to a basil butter frozen veggie mix

then I ate the last of the can of baked beans for dinner before heading off to work....
(in my rush of mad hunger, I forgot to take a pic)

My Question to You: What are your usual fast go-to snacks when working? Help me out! I need some ideas! :-)

Happy Hump Day!

Today will be short and sweet, as I am a bit fuzzy in the brain. I did not get enough sleep yesterday, and now I am most certainly paying for it. I have heard the many theories behind weight loss and adequate sleep...or in my case, lack thereof. Sometimes it is a bit tough to work the overnight shift, and I think that you never really get used to it. It is also a time when I start to crave crazy things. Today I think I am doing pretty well with that, so I should congratulate myself I guess. (shrug)  Anyways....

I had better get to bed before I pass out! Have a great day, you normal daytime workers!

Yesterday's Eats!

a banana, clementine, grapes and some triscuits for snacks

almond milk and oats for the morning

then I used this new yummy deliciousness....

to make this yummy deliciousness...a whole wheat English Muffin with hummus, red pepper, cucumber and spinach

I then added that to leftovers from yesterday

...and packed it all away, ready for my shift!

after that, I ate the last of my leftovers from yesterday for dinner

My Question to You: I am currently trying to eat the very last crumb of everything in my house before moving onto the next box, container or recipe in an effort to save money and feel less wasteful in general. What are your habits with leftovers?

More and more naysayers...

Good morning friends,
So I had an earlier post about going to family gatherings and dealing with your choices for healthier options...or lack thereof at these gatherings. Today my mind is along a similar path, but dealing with the workplace. I try very, very hard to eat the best that I can while I am working, but working with aisle after aisle of junk is tough when the fatigue sets in and the inevitable mindless hunger then tries to take over your body. Fighting that off alone is enough of a chore on it's own without the endless comments of the coworkers who often share meal time with me and often times...in past times...share my decisions about what to eat that day. It is often hard for me to deal with the comments as of late about all of my healthy choices and the fact that I have lost about 14lbs since April. I am super sensitive, which makes it all much more worse than it needs to be. The comments that I get the most are "oh, you're gonna eat that...aren't you on a diet" .... "no, don't ask Monique if she wants some, she is trying to lose some weight" ... or my favorite (from someone who is drinking a bottle of completely non diet Coke, as I am drinking a Gatorade) "isn't that non-healthy food? there's too much salt and sugar, right?" or wait, better yet here's one (if I decide to have a bite of a brownie in the office someone brought for everyone) "oh Monique, you're falling off the wagon honey, you better watch it"....

I am literally going to lose my mind. I know, I know, I should just ignore these people, focus on myself and move on, but sometimes it is so very hard.

You don't even have to tell people that you are on a diet. They automatically assume that you are dieting when they see anything green in your lunch box!!! Someone please give me some nice and polite (maybe a little saucy, just kidding) comments that I can deliver in return to this nonsense!


Yesterday's Eats! (since I just got off work, this is nighttime for me right now and is the end of the day for me)

First I pack the snacks! My shift is 10 hours long with a 30 minute commute, so I gotta be prepared! Then I gotta make my "lunch" which is really a dinner at 3AM, then I pack a breakfast for around 7AM, off at 8AM!

• Dried Apricots
• Plum. Tangerine and Banana
• Brown Rice Cake

• Vegan Burger w/Whole Wheat Bun
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Grilled Squash and Zucchini 

• Almond Milk
• Country Choice Multigrain Oats

Then after packing my lunchie lunch, I ate dinner at home before I left, black beans and brown rice with veggies. Yummmmmy.

 Anyways, it's off to bedtime for me now folks! Have a great day! Check out yesterday's post for an awesome discussion!

My Question to You: What do you say to the people who are "monitoring" your weight loss or healthy eating choices at your workplace?