The first full day of spring, and what do we get?
It’s like winter left giving us a swift kick in the pants on the way out. Or spring is messing with us. Either way it isn’t very nice…
I am going back to lifting 3 days a week now with the lowering of the weights/increased reps, so I was up fairly raring to go today.
| Exercise | Set/rep/weight | Muscle worked |
| Barbell Split Squat | 3 sets of 10 (each leg) at 65# | Lower Body |
| Dumbbell 1-point row | 3 sets of 12 with 20# DB | Back |
| Captain’s Chair | 3 sets of 10 | Core |
| Low Back Extension | 3 sets of 15 at 80# | Low back |
| Barbell Chest Press | 3 sets of 15 with 45# bar (which is an empty bar, btw) | Chest |
| Reverse Lunge/forward reach | 3 sets of 15 with 8# DBs (16# total) | Full Body |
| Upright row | 3 sets of 12 at 25# | Shoulders |
| Seated Calf Raise | 3 sets of 15 at 140# | Calves |
Whew! I did super sets with these in groups of 2, so it was a nice compact 30 minute workout.
I made it home before it started to snow, but you could smell it on the air. John doesn’t understand that, but you can smell when snow is coming.
I decided to play with the 1-minute muffin for breakfast. Instead of doing it in the microwave as a muffin, I put it into a pan with a tiny bit of butter to make a pancake.
Topped with peanut flour mixed with a little bit of cinnamon, salt and enough water to make it like frosting. (You can use PB2).
I have to say that I liked this cooking method better than the microwave for this! It almost is like an oatcake in density. I was a little worried it wouldn’t cook through, so I just had it on lower heat and cooked a little longer. 1-minute muffin becomes 5-minute flax cake. Winner!
I alluded to this on Friday, but here is my current dilemma. The company that I currently work for, which I was unable to get full time with after losing one of my other jobs, has just offered me a full-time position in house. Most of you know I do the work at home as an independent contractor.
– The new position I was offered with another company:
Employee. Hours 2pm to 10 pm Sunday through Thursday. No commute. Paid on production at a decent line rate (but that depends on the dictators and platform, really). PTO. Fairly affordable benefits.
– What was offered by current company on Friday:
Working in the office as an employee (currently IC with them). Hourly rate (which is quite good) with the opportunity to do production if it made more than the hourly rate (possible, although very dependent on the dictation quality). Hours 10-6 Monday through Friday. Commute of 11 miles each way. PTO. Benefits available, although not that great price wise.
So. Both definitely have their pros and cons. I haven’t worked outside in over 3 years since I was flipping houses, – so I wasn’t even working for someone else then. I would miss the freedom of working at home, but the schedule and pay is so much better. Why they didn’t offer me this before is beyond me, although it is a new option they are trying to implement and I would be the first (eek!).
I do get to go into the office on Tuesday and try it out to see if I like working there. That is pretty cool that we can test it out like that. The company is fairly relaxed, which is one of the reasons I liked working for them. We shall see what transpires tomorrow…
Lunch time! Been on a real meat kick lately. The smokehouse has had some good stuff.
This pork burger was bigger than planned, but when I weighed out the meat that was left, I thought putting an ounce back into the fridge was pretty pointless. Hooray for extra protein on lifting days!
Speaking of extra protein, I supplemented my latte with some whey protein (2% milk today).
Pixie not happy I came and messed with her space for this shot. She will miss me tomorrow, though. 
I decided to go meatless for dinner tonight. That meant eggs for me!
For the brussel sprouts, since I get a lot of questions, I just slice very thin and pan saute with some coconut oil, salt, and pepper. This is my favorite way to cook brussels (roasting is 2nd).
Tonight I need to get my stuff together to go to the office. This means I have to plan some meals to take with and pack all of my work stuff. I guess the slippers need to stay at home, though…
I’ll be snacking on this while I make my list:
** FYI – this is one of my lower carb days. I had 85 grams of carbs and 27 grams of fiber. Goes to show you can reduce your carbs and still get in a decent amount of fiber if you make the right food choices.
Oh that’s a hard choice to make. Which job provides more in the future in terms of benefits, promotion, etc?
Well, that is the part that is really unclear, particularly in my industry. Things change a lot. Guess I am just going to have to go with my gut on this one.
I eat a ton of babybel light! Fortunately they have it at my Costco now:)
Yippee for having 2 job choices. Trust your gut – you’ll choose correctly. Good luck, Lori.
Ugh, I think that’s the white stuff that they’re saying we’ll get on Wednesday…just when I’m getting into my spring walk routine. I am soooo ready for spring!
Our baby bels look different here – maybe the french on packaging?
The pancake sauce looks yummy! mmmm.
D
PS Forgot to mention about the jobs – it’s nice that you have options! Congrats!
D
I can’t believe that I got a little sunburned over the weekend (and again this afternoon) and you have that awful snow – something just ain’t right!
Good luck making the decision about your job – I imagine that after the freedom of working from home for so long, it will be a big change, should you choose to make it.
Yes, spring has been rather fickle this year for some of us. Good luck with your decision making on the job situation. I hope trying it out will help with that. Your food looks wonderful. A couple of questions for you… Did you add additional snacks to this menu? Also is this pretty much how you ate while losing your weight? It looks like a very healthy plan that will also allow for efficient weight loss!
Hi Jane – today I had a few nuts tonight that didn’t make it in (plus the dairy for my morning coffee). I have a fair amount of fat on days like today, which doesn’t show in the picture, but adds more calories for me. I cook my veggies in oil and I use fuller fat cheese and whole eggs.
Normally I eat 3 meals and 2 snacks a day.
So nice to have options!
Have a great day tomorrow and have fun!
ugh I was so mad when I saw all the snow today. Seriously? I’m ready for Spring already!
I love your pancake idea…I will have to try this PB2!
It’s great that you have options for your job, means you’re damn good at what you do since they both want you. I can understand it’s a big and difficult decision: work at home or become an office girl like me 🙂 After 3 years of working home, going to the office might be hard to get used to again. But on the other hand, if you have an office job and your work is done you’re free and home will be home to do the things you like. Personally I prefer an office job instead of working at home for the reason I mentioned before.
And 11 miles? In Summer you could go by bike, that would be nice wouldn’t it?
Good luck on making the decision that’s right for you.
Boy, it’s going to be a tough decision – I love my time at home and I think I would never be able to get used to working in an office again…but of course, if the money is good enough, we are able to adapt to a lot, arent’ we? Good luck with figuring it all out!
And I’m with Fran – you could go by bike – how cool would that be?
HOLY MOLEY YOUR WEATHER!!
get thee to texas.
STAT.
Boo on the snow!
Better to have 2 options than no job at all.
I’ve work both on the line and in the office. Everytime i’m in the office I always wish I was on the floor where I was left alone. Fridays off would be nice as well.
Your gut will do fine 🙂 I can’t wait to hear your choice.
Options can be a good thing. Or they can drive you crazy trying to decide between the two. 🙂 When I have a big decision to make, I also consider an ‘extraction plan’, which is how I plan to get out of it if it turns out to be the wrong thing. It helps me if one of the options has a plan B attached to it.
Your mention of having to pack up your meals and snacks is one of the things I’m not so keen about in returning to a workplace. Add in a gym bag and it’s like leaving for a vacation every morning. Only the destination doesn’t have a sunny beach. 🙂
I’m at the point in my life and career where I would like a job where I could have both some office time and telecommuting time. I don’t happen to be in a career field where that is likely to happen but particularly when the weather is bad I wish I could just stay and work from home!
Have fun with your office exploration today. I’ll be interested to see what you think.
OMG, Pixie is tooo funny! Love that pic!
Work decisions are HARD! We never know if we are making the right one till we get at it. I hope today went well for you & helps you decide. It would be hard to work outside the home after having the leisure to do that & getting to eat when & what you want more easily! 😉
It is not snow but first day of spring here in CA brought a horrible rain storm & more rain this week…
I know! That snow is totally unnecessary AND we are expecting up to 3″ more. It’s time for Spring already. I’m getting really jealous of the folks in California.
Congrats on the job offers. Going from home into the office? My hubby always liked going into the office. They had good food in the break room. 🙂
Man, I have no opinion. I will be interested to see which way you go with the jobs. I know I don’t like those hours 2-10p. Eleven miles is a pretty sweet commute!
Its great that you are in a position to pick which of two you like better! Though my goal is to work from home, so I don’t know if I could ever go back to an office once I get there.
Tough choices. At least you get to go in and test drive one of the options. That’s really nice.
Hope that snow packs up and leaves soon. It’s overstayed its welcome.
Tough call on the job front BUT at least you have options, so that is a blessing. Keep us posted on which you choose. I love the Pixie Pic! She WILL miss you while you are out! Have a good day Lori, hope it’s a good one!!!!
Apparently old man winter does not want to leave! We are currently under a winter storm warning and i’m not pleased at all!!!
Hope you enjoy your day at the office! It’s nice to have job choices! It would be hard to give up working at home though!