30 Minute Ski Conditioning Workout - Strength and Cardio Training, Fitness Blender

Today's calorie consumption: 1612 Cal
Exercise calories burned: 457 Cal
Net calories consumed: 1155 Cal

• Elliptical 45 min
• 30 Minute Ski Conditioning Workout - Strength and Cardio Training, Fitness Blender 
• hardest move -  lateral one legged hops
• POP Pilates: Legilates Legsercizes Leg Workout 
• hardest move - plie squat - I thought I was a squatting queen.  This video proved me wrong.

Today was legs day on the workout calendar.  Both exercise videos were tough! One of my goals in life is to become a graceful skier and I think this ski exercise video has the moves to move me in the right direction.  It was extra tough as it had me hopping around on one leg.  I tore my ACL a few years ago from a ski accident.  Even though I had an operation, my knee has not been the same ever since.  My weak knee was definitely not liking the one legged hops.  But, after continuing a bit with the help of a chair, the knee felt better.  So, I hope that this video will help my knee become stronger.  Both of these videos are going in my regular repertoire as they were quite fabulous.

Starting a diet. Discipline! FOCUS!!

I'm a chronic dieter.  But this time, I really will meet my goals.  I'm writing this blog because to keep an informal eating and exercise notebook.  For now, my goal is to eat between 1100 and 1400 calories / day.  If I exercise, I can eat more based on the # of extra calories I burned . To help, I'm using the following apps:

• LoseIt! - to log my food and beverage intake and calories burned
• Nike Training Club - amazing interval training app
•  C25K (free) - gets me off my butt and doing cardio

I've also become a big fan of the following YouTube channels:

• blogilates - amazing blog and lady.  I'm trying to exercise according to her workout calendar
• Bexlife - one tough lady.

Both channels offer free exercise videos.
 
Today's calorie consumption: 1430 Cal
Exercise calories burned: 232 Cal

• NTC 15 minute ab burner
• hardest move - Russian twist with a 6 lb. medicine ball.  Dagh, halfway through round 3, I had to let go of the ball.
• C25K week 2 day 5 - jogged at 5.3 mph.  Walked at 3.9 mph.  Max heart rate was 169.
• One-Minute Challenge: Introducing Pilates Bootcamp With Cassey Ho!  .  I love blogilates.  On a scale from 1-5, 5 being difficult, this is a 1.
• Day 1 of One hundred pushups.  This one's a doozy.  You can track my progress here.  I'm doing pushups on knees, btw, because I once had a trainer watch me do normal pushups and suggested I do the easier form.  Maybe I should've started with something less challenging and that involves less commitment.

 Also, one day, I will start this core challenge, but not today:
24 day Core Challenge

TWD: Chocolate Oatmeal Almost Candy Bars

The one and only time that I participated in the Tuesdays With Dorie bake along (based on Dorie Greenspan's cookbook: Baking From My Home to Yours). These sweet treats were so divine that I decided that I can no longer participate in this bake along (to save my hips). Each serving is 7 weight watchers points. You should try out these treats. They're so good! You can find the recipe here.

Spicy Ranchero Egg White Salad

Trader Joe's Spicy Ranchero Egg White Salad is so delicious, low in calories, and high in protein. Some lady in my Weight Watchers meeting was all about it. I never thought an egg salad without yolk would be good, but this product is delicious! If you are looking for a healthy snack, grab one. It's $2.69 a tub.

Book Club January 2010

Here's something I made for book club. I actually got it from the loveatfirstbite blog who got it from a different blog.

Southwest Corn Dip
(from Karenpie at Tasty Kitchen)

•4 cans Corn (15 Oz.), Drained
•1 can Chopped Chilies (4 Oz), Drained
•1 can Chopped Jalapenos (4 Oz), Drained
•1 can Black Beans, Drained And Rinsed
•1 whole Red Bell Pepper (Chopped)
•1 bunch(es) Scallions, Chopped
•1 cup Sour Cream
•1 bag Finely Grated Mexican Cheese (8 Oz)
•½ bunch(es) Fresh Cilantro, Coarsely Chopped (or To Taste)

1. Drain corn, chilies and jalapenos. Put in a large bowl with the beans and tilt the bowl on its side while you chop the other veggies. Add the rest of the veggies and drain – there will be liquid accumulated in the bowl. Stir in the sour cream and grated cheese. Add the cilantro last.

2. Refrigerate before serving if you have time and the self-control to keep from eating it.

3. You must eat this dip with Fritos Scoops or lime Tostitos. It’s like the law or something.

New yummy recipe from book club

I went to book club a few days ago and had some delicious chili. Here's the recipe. Hopefully I'll make it someday.

http://www.hungry-girl.com/week/weeklydetails.php?isid=780

Also, work has been ok this week. I was happy when it seemed to me that I was on the right path or when I knew what I was doing and was working at a good rate. These were all based on affirmations from Reem (the boss). Upon receiving the affirmations, I smiled a giant smile which caused her to comment, "Finally I see you smile." Wow, this makes me feel like I send a constant message of dread at work which is definately NOT a message I want to send. Also, there were moments at work yesterday when I became anxious because a Matlab script was not working upon which I shot up a prayer for help and I instantly received inspiration. Perhaps this God thing really works.

New recipe indulgence

When I came home today, I had 300 calories to play with. I wanted to try a new recipe, though and decided that if I were to enjoy my new conconction, there'd be no way to stay within the calorie range. So I ate my heart out. The sad part was that towards the end of the meal, I began to realize that the food wasn't that great.