Meal Planning and Disney World

I love to plan out my meals for the week because it saves me money and time that I would otherwise spend thinking about what to make (and in the past finding myself grabbing something qucik and not healthy).  So, this weekend when we went grocery shopping all of the meals for the week were planned out.  We're having some new things and some good old standby's.  This is the last week before our trip to Florida since we leave on Saturday morning.  I am beyond excited to get out of this freezing cold, snowy tundra that I have been living in for the past 6 months!

So, thinking about Disney World has me excited and a little anxious about some things.  I don't love flying, so I always worry about that a little bit, but once the plane takes off I am usually okay. I am also a little worried about the food situation while we are there.  My fiance's parents have bought us a very generous meal plan that includes three meals a day and two snacks.  That is generally what I usually eat, however I like being in control of my options.  I have looked a little bit at some of the restaurants available and it seems like there will be some healthier options available.  I am planning on starting out with a nice healthy breakfast every morning to get me going and that shouldn't be too hard to find.

All in all this week feels much better than last week.  I am starting to feel more relaxed and ready to take on the week in a healthy way and and I am preparing for my vacation as best as I can.  I want to really relax and enjoy myself while I am there and take advantage of all of the activities going on.  I am hoping that just being active will help me to not have a gain next week.

Last year when we went to Hawaii I bought a whole bunch of new outfits and this year (being in between sizes) I decided not to buy too much because I am hoping to buy summer clothes in a few months when I have lost more weight.  I feel like if I buy them now and I spend a week wearing them and then have to put them away until May or June they will hopefully be way too big and thus a waste of money.  So, I am wearing what I have and I feel okay about it.  I am going to get a few new shirts and a pair of shorts and other than that I shouls be set.

I made the most amazing veggie omelete this morning.  I will post pictures later.  I also had a piece of whole grain toast with it and an apple.  Unfortunately, the apple was mealy and not crisp like I like them to be, but nothing is stopping my good mood today.  This evening I have a date with the gym and a delicious dinner which will be honey dijon grilled chicken with brown rice and asparagus.  Dessert will be the always delicious clementine.  I hope you all have a healthy and productive Monday! :)

Organizing myself skinny

Happy Friday!

I just wanted to write a little bit about the importance of planning and organizing in my weight loss journey.   I am a very, very organized person.  I used to have a caboodle filled with nail polish and then I had each color on a sheet of white paper with the corresponding name next to it.  I also color coordinate my closet, accessories, etc.  I am also a list maker.  I make lists because it helps me feel like I have accomplished something when I cross it off.  I feel like my life is in order when I organize, plan, make lists, you get the point.  So, I figured why not incorporate this into my weight loss journey.  Actually, if I am being totally transparent I didn't think about this so much as I just started doing it without even thinking because that is what I do.  Don't get the wrong idea here.  I am NOT like a total crazy neat freak organizer.  I just like to think ahead and make sure that I have a plan for things because I hate being caught off guard.

I think that being organized and planning ahead works super well when you are trying to lose weight, whether it is planning your meals, work-outs, etc.  I went grocery shopping this week and I got lots of fruits, veggies, snacks (low-calorie, low-fat something salty because I LOVE chips and the hardest part of this lifestyle change is not sitting down and eating an entire bag of sour cream and onion chips... okay maybe not the whole bag, but more than anyone should eat).  So I made my own 100 calorie packs, portioned out my oatmeal for breakfast, cut my veggies and fruit and portioned them out into baggies and containers.  This has been AMAZING this week.  There is no excuse to not eat these delicious things when they are all cut, washed, packaged and ready to go.

Another thing that I have done is plan out things that I am going to do (as far as eating options goes) this weekend because I have a jam packed schedule.

Saturday- Ron's brother's birthday party.  This is a challenge.  I don't know what his mom is making to eat, so I will have to play that by ear and try and make decisions according to what is offered ( I am not publicly telling people about this weight loss journey until the results start showing up, so I don't want to tell her about it or offend her for not eating what she has prepared).

Sunday- Breakfast with friends.  I already looked at the menu and have decided what I am ordering.  So, I have dodged that bullet.  Lunch is going to be spent at the apple orchard with friends and we are having lunch there.  I called to see what they offered and it turns out that they have grilled chicken sandwiches, so I will probably have that and an apple.  The evening is going to be spent with one of my best friends baking fall goodies.  I know, i know, you are probably wondering how I am going to avoid over-indulging in these baked goods.  I LOVE to cook and bake, but I enjoy bringing it to people even more than eating it, so I plan on bringing all the goods to work.

Wish me luck!  Wait for an update on Sunday to see how the weekend goes.