Spring Break!

Hello from Los Angeles! I'm spending my break from school here because 3 of my best friends live here. So far I've mostly been hanging out and making my friend Lexi apply for jobs.
Since March is almost over, I figured I should talk about how my working out challenge went. I went to at least one group fitness class a day except Saturdays, when I can't make any classes. There were two Fridays I skipped because I needed to study for tests on Saturday, and I work all day so that early morning time is important. I think I've gotten slightly more in shape because I no longer feel like I'm actually dying during cycling class, and I'm looking forward to start going more than once a day. I started out going to only one class a day and in the last week or so have finally been adding more when I can. I want to keep it up for at least 3 months because I know that's about how long it takes to really start to see a change. My diet hasn't been stellar. I would blame it on the stress of the end of the quarter, but that's not a good excuse. I was hoping giving up sugar for a month would give me less of a sweet tooth, but no luck. I also had some weird strong cravings, like for cheese. I'm currently on vegan vacation while I'm on actual vacation. 

Happy March!

And Happy Texas Independence Day!!!

I had something very important to say... but I forgot. Anyways, we got our first sugar treats yesterday at Mighty-O's! 2 donuts is still a lot for me. And actually, I had my first sugar Friday when I caved and bought chocolate chips. I them used said chocolate to make some nut butter brownies with a failed batch of chocolate sunflower seed butter. The only sugar was in the chocolate chips - the seed butter had 1 date in it and I used a banana in place of the eggs and sugar in this recipe! I didn't quite make a full recipe, and I finished them all in 2 days. The recipe does warn they won't last 24 hours... but in my defense they taste better warm and I was pretty much just eating a banana with sunflower seed butter which makes it a perfectly acceptable breakfast in my opinion.

I also started working out at a new group fitness place, which ties together perfectly with these brownies because they posted the recipe on their blog as well. I went to my first tabata class yesterday, which was fun, and I'm actually a little sore today. My goal for March is to go to at least 1 class everyday, and maybe I'll work myself up to 2-a-days but I don't want to burn out. Except I can't go to any classes Saturday so I guess that's my rest day, or the day I run if I feel like it. I've been enjoying eating in a defined window of time, except this weekend when I didn't really, but I think it helps me sleep better if I have a few hours to digest before bed. I've always known that, but it's hard when I work till 7 or 8 and then want to be asleep by 10 (which also hasn't been happening, but that's another story). I hesitate to call this fasting, even though it is, because that can sound extreme or scary to people and I'm not really eating any less food than a normal person, I just eat it in a smaller window of time. Pretty much I have a snack or smoothie before class at 11, lunch sometime between 2-3pm, and then usually a snack or 2 in between whatever classes I have from 5-7. If I'm really hungry before or after, I'll have a glass of almond milk with this greens powder I have, which is actually expired but I'm trying to use it up so I can get more fancy powders.

Cleanse Recap

Well, it's over. I greatly enjoyed a mug of coffee this morning and a chocolate coconut Larabar, my new version of a candy bar. I did the cleanse without cheating. Well, I went off the meal plan a lot but I stayed within the guidelines for each week. Sunday I was craving chocolate and caffeine something crazy, but for the most part it wasn't that bad.
I did like prepping with Kate. It forced me to hang out with her on Saturdays, when I would have otherwise probably hid in my room after my mentally exhausting mornings when I have to do a million microbiology labs. Kate often made all the lists and organized recipes and everything when I was at work, which made me feel a little guilty but I also realize it's probably harder for Kate to wait for me to do half the work than for her to just do everything. I think we did pretty well keeping the actual prep work even, except one Sunday when I got home and was ready to prep and Kate had done everything. We approach things differently (like when I said we should get a big package of spinach because it was cheaper, we needed to use it all, and they don't have the big package of kale and the greens are all interchangeable and Kate looked at me and said, "sometimes I like to follow the rules!" She loves rules. I do what I can to get around rules while still technically following them.) The smoothie making was pretty evenly split as well when it was possible. Oh, and I only lost a grand total of 3 lbs. Which I could easily gain back in a day, but hopefully it will keep going in the right direction.

And what's next? Well we still have another week with no sugar, and I'm going to try to make it an occasional treat after that and not make desserts at home. Even "healthy" desserts I tend to go a little overboard on.
I occasionally follow this blog about minimalism, and the other day I was reading about one of the guy's views on his own diet and health. He practices intermittent fasting, which I think is probably a good idea in general for some people. I had also just read an article about fasted exercise, and I guess I've known all along that I feel better working out on an empty stomach. This isn't for everyone, but I haven't technically given anything up for lent yet and I think this would make me take another look at my eating habits. He does say snacks are evil, which is the opposite of what my blerch fridge magnet says. This isn't necessarily conducive to my work schedule, but I think it will be useful to think twice before I reach for a snack.


http://www.theminimalists.com/diet/
http://www.theminimalists.com/health/

The Voice

These really have not been a great two weeks for non sugar eaters at work! A giant bowl of chocolate was in the staff room this morning. Our head registrar isn't eating sugar either, and she said she couldn't even keep her food in the fridge anymore because she hates having to walk past the sugar. So she half joked that she wants to get her own microwave up by her desk! We shared the struggle this morning.

Work was fine, but I'm getting sick (no I'm not! I can't afford to!) and everything just felt harder. I went to the grocery store on my break because we needed apples, and I had a moment. The voice in my head, the inner critic, the committee that sits up there and tries to sabotage you, starting going off. I'm actually listening to a book right now that discusses it, and she calls it The Voice. Anyways, it was saying, "why are you even doing this?" "you don't even feel any better" "this is pointless" "you haven't even lost any weight and have experienced zero benefits" "I don't even care about being healthy it doesn't even matter, just quit" and so on, and so on. It was annoying. Maybe something about Valentine's Day set it off, but it's not really an important holiday to me. Anyways, I got a coconut Larabar, which is not technically cleanse friendly but also not technically not, and definitely a lesser evil than pretty much anything else I could have gotten. I also got almond butter and ate it with one of the apples. 

Hopefully I'll be feeling less tired and emotionally worn down tomorrow. Resisting that voice takes work.

Sun's Out Smoothies Out

Happy Sunday!

It's sunny in Seattle today! After TRX Kate and I made our smoothies and drank them outside. Then I ran down to Greenlake, around the lake, and back. It was so crowded! I saw someone we went to college with as well, which was fun. We just waved to each other as we passed.
I came home and have been doing fun things like filing my taxes and homework. And buying tickets to L.A. for my nonexistent spring break to see 3 of my best friends from college!
I ate my leftovers from Thrive for lunch and made some coconut energy balls for dessert. I'm going to continue doing productive things wearing sweats and sitting in my bed. Clearly I am only somewhat ready to be a real adult. So there you go, a typical Sunday in my life.

Thrive

This morning I had my first microbiology exam, and then our brains were all hurting but we had to do 3 more labs. It was great fun. I walked home, and after a lunch of quinoa, chick peas, cruciferous mix and a little cauliflower with a side of almonds, Kate and I went about our weekly grocery shopping and food prep. We made carrot ginger soup, baked since sweet potatoes, got some lemon juice ready for the tonics, and I made roasted cauliflower to snack on. I also ground almond butter. We decided as a treat we'd go to a vegan restaurant. Kate got a collard green burrito, and I got a bowl with quinoa and red rice with kale, mushrooms, zucchini, avocado, and some yummy sauces. It was great. I finished the night with a milkshake with cashew milk, frozen banana, cinnamon and a teaspoon almond butter, topped with toasted coconut. Now we're watching Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead 2. Luda is making it hard for Kate to blog. Happy Saturday!!

Cookies Cookies Everywhere

I was planning on writing a post least night and even took a picture of my lunch yesterday, but learning 4 weeks of microbiology in a day took precedence. Anyway, Rachel's been making a ton of cookies so I'm around them constantly. I don't necessarily want them, but I wish I was in a place where I could just eat one and enjoy it. They are pretty much my favorite thing. Basically I just wish sugar wasn't evil and being vegan wasn't better for my health and the planet's.