Trying Carbs in the Morning (Pre-Workout)

I have an issue with carbs and when is the best time to consume them.  So I thought I would experiment this morning, n=1.  I have been wanting a "pb&j" this week so I decided to make one this morning.  I was debating between having it before or after my gym time.  I opted for before.  I was up early and decided after doing a few things around the house and going to get coffee from Dunkin' and a donut for the pups that I would come home and make it.  I was pretty hungry and thinking that it wasn't going to cut it but I was going to try it anyway.

I have 2 slices of Legit Bread Company bread with homemade macadamia nut butter and Trader Joe's Organic Reduced Sugar Blueberry Preserves.  While it was good I can say that I still feel hungry and a little light headed.  I know I can't possibly lift so I went to the kitchen for the rest of my steak from last night.  I was a wreck for most of the afternoon.  I went to the gym for my workout and it wasn't bad but it wasn't the best either.  After the gym I stopped at Trader Joe's for a couple things and then headed towards home to pick up some tailoring, vitamins and a macchiato.  I did make a protein shake for after which I downed on the way.  I was starting to feel better but wasn't completely there.

I got home, cleaned up and meditated for 30 minutes.  The 30 minutes does end up going by pretty quickly though today I didn't relax as much as I wanted.  I picked up a few things around the house and got my lunch together for work for tomorrow.  I ate some roasted broccoli.  I swear I was just super hungry.  Damn those morning carbs!

D was on his trainer in the basement and when he finished we decided to get an early dinner, like at 4pm!  Early bird special!

D wanted gluten free pizza and he likes the Domino's version.  He gets ham and green pepper.  Tonight he added on mushrooms which he "doesn't like" but wants more vegetables.  I went to 7Greens to get my beloved Blake Bowl.  I asked for roasted brussels but ended up getting broccoli!  What?!?  I know they are both green but not the same!  Good thing I love broccoli too.  I'm finally full!  I can't actually believe it.  It took all day and a bunch of meaningless calories and blood sugar crashes and spikes for everything to come back to normal!

Ah but before I go I should tell you about my workout today!

Treadmill warm up for 20 minutes speed 4.2 incline 12% to 15%

Smith Machine split lunge 3 sets 65#

Curtsy lunges 30# db 3 sets 8 reps

db curl & press 17.5# 3 sets 8 reps

lat raises 12.5# 3 sets 8 reps

squats 17.5# db 3 sets 10 reps

in between exercises ab work.  Frog crunches, lower ab leg raise and foot supported straight leg ab crunches

KB 30# single leg platform step ups 3 sets 8 reps

KB swings 20# 3 sets 10 reps

Airsquats 3 sets 10 reps

There it is my Saturday!  I'm looking forward to Super Bowl Sunday - bring on the commercials and half time show!

Whole30/Sugar Detox/AIP Journey - Day 19

Ah another early morning Saturday where I get to sleep in but the animals won't really let me....

I woke but didn't move and then Jack stirred and headed downstairs.  I followed and let him and Stryker out.  I tried to go back to bed but Jack laid right on top of me letting me know he wanted me up.  All of almost 70 lbs of him and then he likes to kick me in the head.  Needless to say I got up and fed everyone.  My day was going to be relaxed yet productive.  I did a little cardio before coffee.  BOD 80 Day Obsession Cardio Flow (I think that's what it was called).  I didn't sweat but got my heart rate up a bit.  After I got my cardio flow on it was time for a decaf coffee.  I headed to Dunkin and picked up D his coffee and me a decaf and I typically have a free donut coupon for the pups.  I always get them a sour cream donut since the cat like that one too.

Time for breakfast.  Still I wasn't very hungry.  I was sipping on my collagen coffee and I figured I needed to eat since I was going to be lifting at the gym later in this morning.

Ignore the price tag! LOL  I got Bilinski's sausage since it sounded pretty good, has zero sugar and something different!

About 5 minutes later I had this breakfast hash.  I used 1 1/2 pieces of sausage along with broccoli, brussels and spaghetti squash.  This was good and I have more of it for tomorrow and Monday.  I finished just as D was getting up.  I sat for a while with him and then decided it was gym time and shopping after for next weeks meals.

My Saturday gym routine is 20 minutes incline on the treadmill between 10% and 14%.  After that it's free weights.  Walking lunges with 30# db, curtsey squats with 30# db.  Lots of ab work in between.  Sumo squats with 30# db, db curl and press with 15#, lateral raise with 15#.  I also did 20# kb step ups and kb swings with squats in between reps.  I typically do a circuit of 3 to 4 exercises with ab work in between each move.  I do 6 to 8 reps and 3 to 4 rounds.

Grocery store time!  Trader Joe's was busy (doesn't help that there is construction) and I got just about everything I needed, which I figured.  Brussels, green onion, onions, spices, salmon, ground pork.  What they don't typically have, quality ghee, plantains and collagen (Vital Proteins).  I also stopped at Pet People for cat food.  I didn't feel like going south since everything else I needed was all on the same road, just miles apart.

I got to Whole Foods and got a few more things than I planned.  At the hot bar I got some Nom Nom Paleo brussels and cauliflower rice for brunch at work tomorrow.  I also picked up ghee, Bilinski's sausage, white sweet potato, spinach mix, Vital Protein's, GT's Kombucha, Tessemae's Ranch Dressing, and cat food.  The lines where long and I didn't think I had as many items as I did.  I jumped in the 10 item line.  The cashier promptly told me I had too many items for that line but she would take me this time.  I always bag my own groceries anyway to keep things moving.  She repeatedly told me over and over how not to do it again and next time only 10 or under.  I apologized to her several times and said that it was a completely inappropriate thing for me to do and I didn't realize how many items I had as I was trying to hurry.  I would never do it again.  She told me again one more time.... 😳😲

I also grabbed a coffee before I left and headed home.  I had a little bit of banana as a snack and brussels, go figure!!

D called me while he was out on his ride and said he wanted to try to get 7Greens again.  It was 4:45pm, it was a gamble.  I called them this time and they took my order and said they closed at 5pm.  Not a problem since I am 3 minutes away.  I got up there and they hadn't finished our bowls.  Though it would have been nice if they mixed it, so I had to do that when I got home.  No biggie.  D got the Popeye bowl and added an egg, green beans, sunflower seeds and cucumber.  I got my beloved Blake bowl and added roasted brussels (I seriously have an issue, so addicting).

I was talking to my bestie today about how I only eat 2 real meals everyday.  I know I should be eating more than that.  I'm thinking it's the amount of vegetables that I have been eating.  Maybe it's more protein?  More fat (doubtful).  I'm not really sure but I wasn't hungry when I ate my bowl but knew I needed to eat.  I've been working on eating intuitively and maybe that is the real reason for only 2 meals.

Who else has that issue?  Thoughts and comments?

Whole30 Journey - Day 12 SaturYay!

Happy SaturYay!  Honestly I feel this way everyday.

Though I have to say this morning I really wanted to sleep in.  Just before 5am, Jack decided he needed to go out.  I went downstairs and let them both out and went myself.  Nostrand thought that since I was up it was time to eat.  I don't think so kitty!  I want to go back to sleep.  The dogs came back in and I headed back upstairs to a comfy warm bed.  Did I get restful sleep?!? NOPE!  Jack kept kicking me and laying on me (he's almost 70 lbs!).  Nostrand kept coming up and jumping on me and making all sorts of nosies.  Jack got up 2 or 3 times and went downstairs and then would come back up and bump the bed.  I finally gave up around 7:30, so not horrible but definitely wanted to sleep longer.

I headed downstairs and got everyone fed.  The dogs them like to tap dance around the house after the cat waiting for her to throw up.  Of course she did and where did she do it on?  My silk scarf from Paris.  UGH!!  I rinsed it off and threw it downstairs in the washer until I could figure out the best cleaning option.  Seriously cat?!?  I'm really not surprised, it's what she does.  This is another reason I cannot have nice things!

It was so time for coffee!  D wanted to try the new Starbucks Blonde espresso so I ordered on the app and headed down the street to pick it up.

I didn't have much left in the refrigerator, I lack for Whole30 sauces currently too.  I'll probably shop today after the gym.  I had leftover ground beef and frozen tri-colored cauliflower and brussels.  I sautéed those up with the beef and topped it with arugula at the end to wilted it down and incorporate everything.  Sprinkle on some sea salt and it was good to go.  So I talk about not measuring food or counting macros, etc.  The one thing I do is weigh my meat, but that's it.  Why do I do it?  Well, I still have a problem with satiety.  I've been trying to figure out what is a good amount for me and what will make me feel satisfied by the end of my meal.  I find that it takes me almost an hour after I eat to know if I feel full, stuffed, hungry, etc.  It's kinda frustrating.  I don't eat quickly.  I've always heard that it takes 20 minutes to feel satiety when eating, so I'm there, but not there.  Maybe one day I will figure it out.  Maybe I just need to still feel hungry when I'm done eating in order to feel full an hour later.  WHAT?!

I ate the rest of my ground beef before heading to the gym!

I did my workout with a few added exercises.  I've been trying for some more posterior chain exercises, but I've been heavily leg focused, but I definitely get a mixed of upper and lower body lifting and getting in all planes.

After the gym I went grocery shopping at Trader Joe's since it's in the same strip mall just at the other end.  Everything was so busy today!  I got almost everything I needed, so I had to make an extra stop at Whole Foods!  Oh darn!

Of course, I picked up more than I needed!  I got some sausages, a lamb chop for this week's dinner and a big snack for when I got home.  Nom Nom Paleo is featured on their hot bar all month.  So I got to try her Pulled Pork, Brussels with Bacon and Cauliflower rice.  All of it was so good and just what I needed.  Before I headed out I stopped at the coffee bar and got myself a decaf coffee.

This was just what I needed and I happily snacked on it as I put my groceries away.  The rest of the afternoon was pretty uneventful.

Saturday night is our take out night.  We usually go out but I suggested 7Greens.  The Blake Bowl sounded awesome!  He agreed and we decided I would order online and go pick it up.  They were only open till 6pm on Saturday.  D headed out to get his haircut and around 4:30 I placed our order for 5:15 pick up, then was told it needed to be later, so I made it for 5:30.  At 5:15 I received an email that my order was cancelled!  I called 7Greens and it just rang.  I hung up and called back and got the "Sorry but we are closed" message.  I'm super ticked about it!

So, D suggested Qdoba, ugh!  I hate chain restaurants.  I was cranky now and feeling bloated from my snack (brussel sprouts!).  I headed there to get dinner.  I almost didn't get myself anything and was just going to make a Blake Bowl at home.  I should have cause my food just wasn't good.

I made it as compliant as possible, but really it's what I get every time we go.  It's been awhile since we both get bloated after we eat there.  So bloat on top of bloat -great!

I got the naked salad with pulled pork (only meat that doesn't have funky stuff in it), pico and salsa verde with fajita vegetables and guacamole.  I feel more bloated now and hoping it goes away before bed.

Monday I'm venturing into Whole30 AIP.  I've been eating too many peppers, tomatoes, etc and I think it's been bothering my gut.  I shouldn't be getting bloated as often as I do.

Tomorrow is work and early to bed tonight.

Whole30 Journey - Day 3

Day 3!  Woot!

Early yes, but I don't feel different, but then this isn't anything extreme to me!  If anything I am just more prepared than I have been previously!

I went to bed really late and still got up around 7:30.  I had some coffee first in a fun mug I got when I was at Universal Florida.

About an hour later I decided to have some breakfast.  I was going to the gym later since I had to wait to hear from a service guy and when he was coming.  I also decided to get some other things done while waiting around.  Multi-tasking at it's best!

Breakfast skillet bowl!  Leftover chicken thighs sautéed with collard greens, arugula, red peppers, and caramelized onions.  I decided to hold off on the chorizo sausage till dinner tonight and re-create the Blake Bowl at 7Greens.  It's seriously so good and at some point I will go back and maybe try something else! Yeah right!

Lunch was a revisit to Melissa Joulwan's Chocolate Chili.  I wasn't really hungry but figured it was best to eat something since I just lifted heavy.  The good thing is I have enough for lunch tomorrow while I'm at work.

I finished off a few other things and decided it was a good idea to do some yoga to stretch out.  It was day 3 of Yoga with Adriene's True.  It was all about stretching today, so totally perfect!

I was super excited for dinner, I wanted to re-create 7Greens Blake Bowl, but I made a few changes.  Spinach and arugula as the base then on top is a scrambled egg (1), chorizo (1 link), roasted white sweet potato (used 1/2 of a large), avocado (1/2) and salsa verde.  It was seriously so good!  While I was getting it together and making D's dinner (pancakes) I had a few bites of coconut manna.  I tend to get pretty hungry all of a sudden and need to have something.  Apparently I just can't wait!

So now I am relaxing, drinking roasted dandelion tea and getting ready for work tomorrow.  Meals are already planned and prepped so nothing more I need to do now.

Until tomorrow for Day 4!