Exercise Week 2

Well this was the first day of my second week of exercise. If you read my previous post, you will know that I have not felt well enough to do much of anything. I made a goal last week to go to bed at 10pm and wake up at 6am. Although not perfect, I was able to get to bed before 11pm most nights and was able to get myself downstairs in front of the TV for my workouts by 6:15am. As this is week number two, I have set a new goal for myself. I'm trying to be more careful about my food choices. So for breakfast, I had vanilla yogurt with a Tbsp of cocoa to help curb the chocolate cravings. I took a mug of tea to work with me and was able to get by on only 1/2 Tbsp of sugar (this is an accomplishment, I will have you know). When I got home, I had an orange for a snack. Lunch was a healthy heaping plate of spinach with a wonderful mango dressing (it's only 30 calories for 2 Tbsp). I was doing so well that I celebrated with the last of the cookie dough brownies (not so good). I had a small serving of juice while cooking dinner. For dinner we had pecan crusted salmon (200 calories, approx), spinach salad (30 calories), and spanikopita (because I was trying to get rid of it, and 340 calories, but only because I ate 2 servings, YIKES!). Not a bad first day. . . At least it leaves me a lot of room for improvement tomorrow. Did I mentionthat I'm researching desserts for a baby shower this weekend. Will power!

Healthy Again

We spent several weeks in March sick. Mark found out that he had a sinus infection, since November! Yikes. We are finally feeling better and working on keeping ourselves healthy. The short bouts of sunshine have allowed us to spend time outdoors. Mark has started work on preparing the garden and I have started some plants indoors. I went to Fred Meyer's fushia sale and got some flowers and free potting soil. Mark also recently took a cholesterol test with exciting results. He was considered to have high blood pressure, but with some better food choices and taking a vitamin supplement called GBG, he has been able to lower his blood pressure to normal levels, approx 20 points lower! We had a three day weekend from school, so we invited one of Isabella's friends for a play date. They played games, put together puzzles, colored, and watched Tangled. We also made some decadent brownies. We made a boxed fudge brownie batter. Let it cool and then added "cookie dough". It was made without eggs so that it would be edible without baking. Once the cookie dough was layered onto the brownies, it was put in the refrigerator to chill. I finished dinner while I was melting chocolate chips with milk to make a ganache/glaze. That was layered onto the "cookie dough" and place back in the refrigerator. So yummy! Cookie Dough 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup light brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup milk 2 tsp vanilla 2 cups flour 1/2 cup chocolate chips, mini are best Cream the first 5 ingredients. Add flour until combined and then add chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls onto brownies. (The cookie dough will pull off the top layer of brownie if you don't smooth it out carefully) Chill completely before topping with chocolate layer.