Weekly Recap

Despite my recent case of Fatkiditis, I actually did well in my Lunchbox and Exercise challenge. 

Just check out the digs below!

Roasted Vegetable Strudel

A variation of my delicious Asian Veggie Salad

Marinated Tofu with Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Nacho Yum Sauce

Marinated Tofu

I also worked out five times this week, using BodyRock workouts! Too bad I've had some really shitty blood sugar numbers and have gained 5 pounds. I'm saying it's all muscle.  

Recipes to come!

Weekly Roundup

Okay, so I can't say the Lunchbox Challenge and Exercise Challenge went any better this week then it did last week. I only really made one thing for lunch this past week, but liked it so much, I ate it again and again. Plus, I had some yummy leftovers from Super Bowl which helped me throughout the week.

I was able to exercise 5 out of the 7 days this week, using several workouts from BodyRock.tv. They're really intense and not always "workout at home" friendly, but have definitely had me feeling sore the next day. The best part? They're only 12 minutes!

However, I can't say that my eating has muched improved or that I'm feeling any healthy/thinner. And I've had a really low low and a really high high in the last two days. Bleh.

In good news, I think I may have found a detox plan that I'm going to try next month! Yay! For now, here's my kick as Peanut Asian Salad that I enjoyed throughout the week.

Peanut Asian Salad

Ingredients
1/2 head of red cabbage, shredded
1 large red pepper, sliced
1 large carrot, shredded
2 scallions, sliced, only green parts (optional)
2/3 c edmame
1/3 c peanuts

Peanut Dressing
1 - 2 garlic, minced
1 tsp grated ginger
1/2 c peanut butter
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
1/4 - 1/3 c vegetable broth (depends on how thick or thin you want the sauce to be)
1 - 2 tsp srichacha (optional)
1 tsp sesame oil
canola oil
salt and pepper

Method
1. Add all the veggies to the bowl.
2. Place garlic cloves into a food processor or blender. Blend until garlic is minced. Grate ginger into processor.
3. Add all of your ingredients and blend until thoroughly combined. You can choose to add a little more broth to thin it out.
4. Add desired amount of dressing to veggies and toss well.

Challenge Accepted!

I love challenges! Especially ones that I assign to myself!

Here's my 30-day...well, really 29...ok, let's just say February challenges! Obviously, I'm giving myself two challenges. Because one isn't challenging enough! Duh.

The first of my challenges is a Lunchbox Challenge! I've been pretty underwhelmed with my lunches as of late. It's probably what keeps me grazing in the communal kitchen and snack cabinets at work all day. The challenge is to make myself interesting, healthy lunches throughout the month of February and share them with you on a weekly basis. These lunches will have be well-rounded, fit into a low-carb diet, and look pretty. Because who wants to eat ugly food?

The second challenge is a 30/29 Days of Exercise Challenge. Now, let me clarify. This is not 29 days of me going to the gym every day. I think that would be overkill, even for me! But it is 29 days of activity, whether it be the gym, yoga, going for a walk, running up and down the stairs 20 times, whatever. Just something to keep active.

BONUS CHALLENGE! Because, really, what's the point of having a challenge if there's not a bonus challenge?! I would like to start my mediation practice. And, yes, I am a granola-munching hippie.  I had started a meditation practice a few months ago and found it really helpful. I have since lost consistency with it but would like to get back on track.

I'm not sure what happens if I don't meet expectations in my challenges.

Slap bet, maybe? -- How I Met Your Mother

Addicted....

I'm addicted to sugar! I'm not sure if I need to tell you, but that's generally not recommended for a diabetic!

Ever since the holidays, I feel like my diet has fallen by the wayside. Carby foods and sugar has slowly been creeping its way. Sneaky, sneaky. I've even allowed myself to buy two kinds of flavored marshmallows!! It needs to stop.

While my blood sugar control has been okay, I've been feeling rather run down, unmotivated, and just bleh! Prior to the holidays, I had been feeling pretty good about my weight, eating habits, and workouts, but lately...not so much. I'm definitely eating too many carbs and not enough veggies, fruits, and lean protein. My portion sizes have become larger as my exercise regime dwindles. It's becoming a problem.  I am a MUCH happier, confident person the more fit and healthy I am.

While I think it's partial related to being weighed down by the food of the season (i.e. lots of starchy vegetables, hearty soups and stews), winter time blues are also starting to kick in. Cold weather and lots of time indoors has a way of messing with me.

Starting this week, I'm getting myself back on track!

First, I'm going cold turkey, man! No more sugar. Okay, okay...that's probably not completely accurate. But I am throwing away my flavored marshmallows (Chocolate Mint Jet Puff, how I love you!), no snacking at the junk people bring in at the office, and only ordering dessert as an occasional treat.

Second, I need to get back into a regular exercise routine! I'm investigating different programs to spark the motivation. I'm perusing BodyRock.tv to see if anything appeals to me, however, I think just getting myself to the gym on a regular basis will be an improvement.

Lastly, I'm considering doing very mild detox to help move along this sugar addiction. Nothing too crazy since lemon juice and cayenne pepper isn't enough to sustain this Diabetic, but something. More info to come on this one.

Wish me luck! Updates are sure to be fun!

Thingy

"Ummmm, sooooo, what is this thing?" as she hands over my insulin pump. "I just call it 'the thingy.'" Giggle, giggle, twirl of the hair. 
And then I bitch slapped her.

Ok, no, not an actual bitch slap. But certainly a mental one!!!

When I first began wearing my insulin pump, figuring out what to do with it during yoga class was a bit of a concern. Usually when exercising, I simply disconnect the pump and put it in my bag. But my yoga studio was a bit more challenging.

I take a Hot Vinyasa yoga class every week. The room is heated to 98 degrees and is generally very humid and wet. Heat and mositure is not an optimal combination for anything filled with insulin. Insulin will degrade faster in higher tempatures. Unfortunately, the only way to know if that has happened to your insulin is when you're actually trying to use it.

I could just put it in a locker, right? Except this yoga studio doesn't have any. They have open cubby holes in a large, open "locker" room. That whole trust and be trusted crap! Now, I'm not paranoid or anything. I don't think any one is walking away with my insulin pump, but it's not necessarily a piece of equipment I want just lying around.

This left me the option of asking the front desk if they would hold it for me. I had some hesitation about doing this. It would mean disclosing to people I don't really know that I'm diabetic. I'm fine sharing with instructors who will need to know to pour honey in my mouth (or eye, if the situation is really dire :)) if I ever get too low in class. But do random front desk staff need to know my business? Especially ones that giggle, twirl their hair, and refer to my life-saving device as a "thingy?"

It's been working out pretty well. I just hand it off to whoever is working at the front desk when I sign in for my class. And they all take it from my hands like I'm asking them to hold Baby Jesus for me! The way the gently take it from my hands and delicately place it behind them on the counter lets me be reassured that my "thingy" is safe.

Let's Get Physical....

In my quest to be beach ready for our trip to Mexico, I have started the "Feel Better Naked" exercise plan. While I'd like to take credit for that cheesy name, it's actually a book produced by Women's Health Magazine that I took out of the library. Recently, I have been very turned off to magazines, in general, as I feel that they're just 100 pages of pure advertisement. Like I can't really trust anything they say or suggest since someone is paying them to say or suggest it.

Paranoid New Yorker? Maybe.

However, after looking through the Feel Better Naked book, I realized it wasn't that bad. At least the exercises. I just skip the chapters about what beauty products are great for my skin and what's going to keep my man happy in the sack. Don't you worry Feel Better Naked book. I've got it under control! :)

Anyway, the workouts suggested are a series of two different strength workouts combined with one metabolic workout, which actually has been kicking my ass a little. It's something simple and easy that I can do at home. I thought I'd share.

Feel Better Naked Metabolic Workout - Week 1

This is a circuit workout, meaning each exercise is done one right after another with a 30 second break in between. Do each exercise for 30 seconds and then rest of 30 seconds. Complete the whole circuit 6 times for a total of 24 minutes.

• Squat Jumps - or just squats with light weights
• Plank to Push-up - starting on your elbows in plank position, straighten each arm until you are in push-up position. Drop each elbow, one at a time, to get back to starting position. Then repeat.
• Stationary Lunges - you can also use weights
• Jumping Roping - or just jumping in place like I did since I kept whipping myself like Kunta Kenta each time the rope got caught on the rug.

I use an online timer to help me keep track of the 30 second intervals. 

Starting Now!

Jerry and I are leaving for Mexico in three weeks! Three weeks!!!! Yay!!!

With that, I need to get my ass back into shape. This summer has been awful as far as gorging and indulging have gone. I think I have eaten more cake in the last 6 months then I have in the last 6 years. Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration, but you know what I mean. It as though I became diabetic and decided I need to prove to my pancreas that I can still eat dessert! I'll show you stupid pancreas....and fat tummy and flabby thighs. Yeah!

I have three weeks to be bikini ready. Three weeks of getting back on eating track, eliminating desserts, and yes, even my beloved alcohol. I may share some of the workouts I'm doing at the gym. Not because I think anyone really cares, but because this is my blog and I get do whatever the hell I want it. :)

Your readership is much appreciated though! :)