Another spring winter day. In the mid 40s today. After last winter, it is kind of nice not getting feet and feet of snow, but I do have to say this is weird, weird weather.
I didn’t even have to warm up the car to go to the gym this morning. Today was lower body day. Again with lower weights, increased reps and supersets.
| Exercise | Set/rep/weight | Muscle worked |
| Superset Dumbbell Split Squats Barbell Good Mornings |
3 sets of 15 with 15# DBs 3 sets of 15 with 45# bar |
Quads Hamstrings/low back |
| Superset Leg Extension Hamstring Curls |
3 sets of 15 at 25# 3 sets of 15 at 25# |
Quads Hamstrings/Glutes |
| Superset Hip Adductor Hip Adbuctor |
3 sets of 15 at 30# 3 sets of 15 at 30# |
Hip Abductor/Adductors/Glutes |
| Superset Single leg dumbbell calf raise Seated calf raise |
3 sets of 15 with 15# DBs 3 sets of 15 at 30# |
Calves and balance |
I really don’t like doing the seated abductor/adductor machine. It feels like a waste of time and I have read multiple times that it is fairly pointless. I should have subbed something else. This was a tough workout, though! I walked on the treadmill to cool down and my legs were rubbery. Good thing I didn’t bike to the gym!
Headed home to make an awesome breakfast. The one-minute muffin/waffle topped with apple cranberry topping.
This tasted every bit as good as it looks!
You know, I have to say that I really, really wish I could be as disciplined with my eating as I am with my exercise. If I was, I would easily be at my goal weight. I never have a problem with the exercise. It’s always done and I enjoy it.
I don’t really have a problem with portion control with my meals. Obviously you all see that on the blog. I eat what’s on my plate and hardly ever get seconds.
I just have a problem with nibbling and snacking and lately it has been at night. The last couple days have been terrible with that. I know it is PMS craving, but gosh it is super strong! And the worst part is that I cannot get full. Why is it when I crave like that I don’t get full? Any other day I eat that much and I definitely feel it. I also try to analyze when I overeat to see what the emotions might be about it and I just can’t find any at all. I don’t eat out of depression or anxiety. I am not trying to squash any type of feeling. Sometimes I eat out of boredom, but that is more controllable for me than a real craving to eat. It’s different than the eating that happens at get togethers because those are happy occasions and I do associate food with happiness and fun.
That is really the sticking point for me. I know I have talked about in the past that some of these cravings are brought on by wheat, but I really don’t necessarily want to lay it all at the foot of a grain. Part of that is I don’t always snack/overeat grains. It can just as easily be cashews or chocolate.
Anyway, I just thought I would lay that out there for those that think I don’t struggle.
Funny how today I am not having any craving issues. Go figure. I wanted an omelet for lunch as I haven’t had one in a while. Welcome back omelet!
This was made with 2 eggs and 2 egg whites. I just love cheese, too. Note to self – eat more cheese.
Pretty much a quiet work day around here. I keep thinking it’s Friday, though. I had no desire to snack at all this afternoon before latte time.
Mickey says “Way to go, Lori!”
We are almost done with the leftovers, thank goodness! Just that last bit of cooked chicken and my roasted veggies. I kind of stared at what was left to figure out what to do with it. I then remembered a bottle of this from my TJ’s road trip.
I sauteed up some shredded brussel sprouts, then I just decided to dump in the carrots, parsnips and the shredded chicken with the curry sauce.
It was actually pretty good, although the sauce is a wee bit salty. Has a nice bit of heat to it.
Done with leftovers just in time to make more this weekend 
My snacks tonight are only fruit or protein drink. No other snacks! I am going to make John hold me to that 😳
Speaking of fruit, I read a very interesting article on sugar and if it in itself is responsible for obesity. It’s quite interesting (and quite long). I really enjoy Stephan’s blog. He is a PhD and focuses on the study of obesity. Check out his series on cholesterol as well. It will make you think.
Do you measure out the cheese in your omelet? Just curious.
I’m glad you shared with us that you sometimes struggle with the munchies. I am *always* envious of your amazing portion control that you show on the blog. I am DEFINITELY guilty of the “nibbles” here and there–especially while cooking. I’ll eat an olive here, a little cheese there, some crackers….It’s awful!
Yes – I weigh out really pretty much everything. There was an ounce of cheese on the omelet.
I had bacon, scrambled eggs, and melted old cheddar for dinner…so tasty!
Glad you are over the snackiness!
Hmm. I bet I would like scrambled eggs a little bit more with some cheddar cheese on them. Must experiment!
This is such an interesting topic to me. I don’t have enough time to write a lot now. Must think and come back. But I do believe that cravings, especially those when you can’t get full, are driven by something other than emotions. Something in our bodies is telling us ‘MUST HAVE FOOD’ even if we think our bodies don’t need it. There, that’s pretty scientific, isn’t it LOL? I also want to check out that article you linked.
Debby – didn’t you know that cheese makes *everything* better?
Jinx with the ability to exercise with no trouble, but struggle with not snacking. Too bad exercise doesn’t account for 80% of the equation instead of only 20%. I have implemented “no snack Friday” for Lent. I tend to make low calorie meals to allow more room in my food budget for snacks, BUT… I think the first snack leads to a second snack, etc.. I did “no snack Friday” last weekend and it set the tone for a very “in control” weekend.
P.S. I’m hoping our weird winter just moves right into SPRING:)
I know – you can’t out train a bad diet, unfortunately! I am throwing down the gauntlet on the snacking for myself this weekend.
It’s a hard thing to fight, the snackiness…and hello, I know for me, that’s why I gained weight. I just ate whenever I wanted to. I bet there are a lot of us who, even though we’re maintaining a weight loss, struggle with this from time to time.
Cheese definitely makes everything better! I struggle with snacking too … especially at night when I get home from work. I think PMS always makes(everything!) worse! lol! Your waffles always look so good!
yes i totally relate to you. Somedays, I have a larger appetite than others. Not related to exercise/monthly cycles/mood swing/stress levels or anything. I can just eat eat a large amount of food and not feel full 🙂
I must also roast some veggies this weekend…they come in handy and have been slacking a bit on that front 🙂
Totally with you on this, Lori! I can be so disciplined about working out but when it comes to food… *sigh*… I also get those weird craving attacks where it feels like a bottomless pit that just can’t be filled. What is that all about? I have no idea.
Well, you know what happend when I tried eating in a more disciplined way. 🙂 In retrospect the experimentit was actually really funny. Now I’ve just focused on eating better in the evenings and it has helped me a lot. No need to eat 100 grams of chocolate in one sitting. 🙂
I had a learning experience last Friday. I bought a biggish stash of candy for the night but realized that I wasn’t really satisfied by it. Smaller amount would’ve been enough. What I really wanted was to have
sometihing fun happen in my life.
I completely understand your problem with the snacking. Like Shelley, snacking is what made me gain weight. And still it’s the hardest thing not to do for me. As soon as I stop snacking I know I will be losing weight too. I guess we have to keep trying and don’t give up.
Have a great weekend Lori.
This is something that I need work on as well. I’m an emotional eater, and I do well at meal time. It’s the other times during the day that I have trouble with!
I have a post coming Monday about this same topic. It’s very, very difficult to deal with when you can’t pinpoint what’s causing it. Glad you have John to help you fight your battles!
Thanks for sharing that you struggle too sometimes:) Some days it is so easy for me and others… look out!
Lori, FWIW, I admire your discipline in your strength training! That’s my personal sticking point- just can’t make myself do it, whereas cardio is no problem. So, I bought that book you recommended, and I will endeavor to stick to it for 28 days. I guess if we were all perfectly disciplined in everything automatically, there’d be no room for improvement, right? 🙂
Indeed. I hope you like the book! The workouts are very good and you will feel them, I promise! 28 days goes by really fast, too.
Hi Lori! I have one suggestion for late night snacking. Maybe 10 years ago I tried the Body for Life workouts (www.bodyforlife.com) and one of the things that was on there were Myoplex Light protein drinks. It was a powder and you could mix it with water or skim milk. What I would do is mix that with a bunch of ice in the blender and I would have this GIGANTIC chocolate milk shake and it was only a few hundred calories. It was so satisfying and filling. Another tip if you are really hungry instead of just nibbling, is actually make a mini meal. You could pop a potato in the microwave top it with salsa and cheese and eat it slowly. Or you could of course make and eat a bag of 99% ff popcorn. The big bag is 250 calories for the whole thing and it takes a long time to eat.
But you are still doing awesome with your workouts/food – very inspiring to me!
I’m just lazy with the nibbling. I will have that on top of a planned snack in the evening. Bad habit that really needs to be worked on.
Your food looks delicious. An omelet sounds wonderful and the cheese looks all melty and yummy.
Cravings and snacking is so difficult when you have hormones that are changing monthly! I dont’ think it’s really that easy for most of us at some times in our lives. We are not alone in that.
Thanks for the links I am off to check them out.
Best part of your post: “note to self – each more cheese!”
Happy Friday Lori!
Every time I read your blog, I regret getting rid of my waffle maker!
Yep I’m the same way good with exercise struggle with the food at times. I’ve been trying lately to just time my meals and snacks and make myself wait till it’s time. It seems to be working good and I can actually feel a bit hungry at times. I think for me that’s a good thing since in the past never feeling hungry tended to let me give myself permission to just eat whatever whenever. I still look to you often that you do seem to have peace with food 🙂 As for “goal weight” I say it’s where we feel comfortable not a number. I’m so behind with my reading lately need to catch up with you 🙂
I’m right with you on the snackies when PMS’y. And not being able to get full. Ah, the joys of being a woman in our 40’s…. Oh wait, that happened in my 30’s and 20’s too. Never mind… 🙂
Hope your Friday is going well Lori. LOVE the Mickey mug!!!!!
Late to the game… Love that workout! My leg workouts are pretty tough so I understand the rubbery feeling! I don’t use the abb/abd machines I have for over 15 years used the cable cuff & do inner & outer thighs there plus I do extra inner with toes pointed out leg press & squats. With age, that is an an area I really have to work harder at! Legs too ! 😉
Get he nibbling thing. When I had the periods, carb craving for me big time & even with the age hormones, I get some crappy cravings too! We all get it! 🙂
I could have written a very similar post this week. I have felt more hungry and snacky than usual. I wanted sweets in the worst way and I caved…a number of times. My exercise schedule was thrown off kilter by my son’s school vacation this week. I haven’t run since Sunday.
It’s funny that you included that article about sugar. I have been doing some reading on sugar. I am even contemplating cutting out sugar for a few weeks to see how I feel without it and to kick the intense sweet cravings I have been experiencing. I’m not usually a proponent for eliminating a food or ingredient in its entirety. It seems dramatic. I try to live by the philosophy of everything in moderation, but I have been feeling like I have no control lately. Any thoughts?
I have done no-sugar challenges and they really are eye opening as to how much you actually can consume in a day just in products like condiments and sauces – let alone the known stuff like chocolate.
I found I had the least cravings when I followed a no-grain diet for 3 weeks. They were pretty much eliminated and I still ate sugar. So, I don’t know. I think it is maybe the combination of the grain/sugar thing that is the most addicting.
I can relate to every word you said about snacking and that “not ever feeling full” feeling! The last 2 days were BAD! I do well for the first 2 meals of the day, and then dinner comes, which is ok, but some switch flips and I throw in the towel. To make matters worse, I didn’t exercise BOTH days! It’s been what seems like forever since I’ve taken off 2 days. I just feel wrong! And I know this behavior is not conducive to getting to my goal weight, and yet I do it anyway! I can ask myself “Why am I eating this? Do I really want this?” until I’m blue in the face, while shoveling it in my mouth! UGH! So frustrating! I think it’s my old “All or nothing” mentality creeping in. Today is a new day. Running and trying to clear out those cobwebs in my head!!!
I am the same way. I have trouble with the eating part of this journey. Exercise is not an issue. I love food too much. I don’t want a small portion of the snacks I like. I still struggle with the all or nothing mentality. I am working at moderation and I am better… just not there yet. Your omelet looks great- thanks for giving me my lunch plan for the day!!!