Day 1 Overview: Trader Joe's & The Boston Public Gardens

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day in Boston. The weather was about 80 degrees all day, so I decided to take the Commuter Rail into the city to meet up with some of my good friends from the Startup Institute. Since most of us are just starting new jobs or in the process of looking for jobs, we are #poor. We decided to enjoy the day and each other's company with a "picnic" at the Boston Public Gardens.

Since I have not gone shopping for my healthy challenge yet, I decided to stop at Trader Joe's on Boylston Street, before heading down towards the BPG. There, I picked up a bag of snap peas, a box of fresh mangos (I'm a little obsessed with TJ's mangos), and Trader Joe's Mexicali Salad.

Mmmm

While generally a pre-packaged salad if iffy health-wise, I checked out the calories, and the salad which included cheese, chili-lime seasoned chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and corn- with dressing only added up to about 350 calories! Not bad at all.

I also picked up a Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee- milk, one sugar, and I was ready for my awesome picnic! Some shots of the "scenery" below:

Overall day:

Breakfast: Green Smoothie whole wheat toast w/ 1 tbsp almond butter

Lunch: Mango slices, snap peas, Trader Joe's Mexicali Salad w/ Half dressing

Snacks: Medium Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee w/ milk & 1 sugar, handful of pistachios 

Dinner: 1 Cup Trader Joes Reduced Sodium Tomato Soup & a Salad w/ carrots, cucumber, 1 small tomato, 1/2 avocado, sprinkle of parmesan cheese and vinegar & oil. 

Off to the gym for a weights circuit now!

Day One: Green Smoothie Recipe

As I mentioned in my previous post, I plan to start every day of my Clean Eating Challenge with a green smoothie. I have been drinking a smoothie for breakfast just about everyday since last October, and I can truly say it makes me feel so much better when I do!

I adapted my recipe from SimpleGreenSmoothies.com, and feel that it the best way to start my day! Recipe below:


Strawberry, Banana, Blueberry Green Smoothie

Adapted from SimpleGreenSmoothie.Com

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Spinach or Kale
• 1/2 Cup Orange Juice
• 1/2 Cup Water
• 1/2 Cup Strawberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1/2 Cup Blueberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1 Banana

Directions:

• Blend Spinach (or Kale) with water & OJ until smooth
• Add in rest of ingredients (Be sure to add ice if you've used all fresh fruit- 4 or 5 cubes will do)
• Enjoy!!

Super easy and so good!

Two Week Clean Eating Challenege

It is Monday, June 2nd, and I am starting a two week "clean eating" challenge. I got this idea because I noticed that I have been bored and turning to junky snacks and carbs- I don't have as much energy as I should, and I just feel all-around sluggish.

I have decided to try two weeks of my own version of Dr. Oz's "Clean Detox 30 Day Program" and write about my meals, exercise and results here for some motivation! Gotta hold myself accountable some way, right?

Today is the first day, and as I write this it is 8:14 am. I am going to set a few guidelines for myself in the two weeks:

-Green smoothie every morning for breakfast
-I am allowed to have one piece of toast at breakfast w/ (measured) scoop of almond butter.
-I am allowed to have coffee (Milk w/ one sugar, or skim milk)
-NO carb snacks (bye-bye chips, Wheat Thins, Pretzels, I'll miss you)
-NO dairy, unless used as condiment on salad (light, measured sprinkling)
-NO ice cream
-Can have some dark chocolate once a week.
-Weigh myself at the END of this process only- no need to get discouraged by fluctuations
-Vitamins everyday: b12 complex, b12, women's daily.

I know that if I restrict too much I will break my diet, so these guidelines will help me with my challenge. I am excited to start and see if I see any results!

Here goes nothing!

Two Years Later- I'm Back!

I know my little corner of the internet has been gathering some virtual cobwebs, but it's Spring cleaning time and I'm back! I have recently started another blog project-(check me out here!) -but was inspired during my two hour flight home from Chicago to revisit my lovely little blog that I had started here two years ago!

Why am I coming back here? In short, I started a book called The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin on my flight and I was inspired!

Long answer (feel free to skip to the next paragraph): On my twenty minute layover between Chicago and Boston, I stopped into Hudson books on a whim. I was about to go to my terminal, since I only had a short amount of time to wait, but I thought I'd quickly check out the magazine section. Being the book nerd that I am, I was distracted by the rows of books (overpriced) and a bright blue and yellow cover caught my eye- The Happiness Project! I have been hearing this book title being thrown around for the past few months during my time at The Startup Institute, but hadn't had any time to read or even watch TV (not the worst thing). I knew I had to pick it up, and boy, am I glad I did!

I am only halfway through the book, but I already know that it given me inspiration to change the way I go about my life. I have been battling myself to be more positive and optimistic even when it's really hard for me. Yes, I can always improve, and I think this book has shown me how. I recommend this book to everyone- it truly changes your perspective!

I will leave this post with my favorite quote from the book so far:

"What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while"