Winter Insulation

You know that thing that happens sometimes where you start poking and pinching at your middle area, pulling out the flouncy tops and tucking the skinny jeans away into the very bottom of your drawers? I like to call it winter insulation but you might know it better as weight gain.

Straight up, I got it. I know many of you can relate. A year ago this would have made me pretty miserable (wait, it did), but this year I kind of appreciate the extra warmth. Instead of being downright freezing 24/7, now it?s down to only about 15/7, which is making winter much less undesirable. That?s not to say I don?t complain about the muffin top (they taste good but I prefer them on my baked good rather than my core), but I?ve only cried maybe once about it this winter (hey, hormone dips make jiggly thighs extra unattractive). My mind is finally rational enough to (usually) know it?s a temporary blip rather than an infinite fate.

Schmexy marshmallow bod (weheartit)

Bodies like to fluctuate through the seasons and the times. As long as I don?t have to buy a new wardrobe then I can suck it up. That being said, it?s about time to trim down the insulation and bring back the muscles (It was good grades or toned arms for fall term. I chose the grades).

Maybe not these muscles (vi.sualize.us)

All this talk about not waiting until Monday to start off on the right foot? You bet I?m not waiting until Monday? I?m waiting until Tuesday. February 1st = crunch time!

I really want to clean up my eating habits and bring back the strength training. I?ve become a VIP member of the BLT (Bites, Licks, Tastes) Club and the Clean your Plate Club to the point where I always feel unnecessarily over full, which is not a very nice feeling. That and I did a whole lot of stress-release running and very little strength stuff last term. I?m about ready to actually enjoy my meals and workouts again.

Why wait?

Because first I had to try the Deceptively Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookies (with chickpeas!).

Pretty sure I ate at least ten of these yesterday. And picked chickpeas (and a few chocolate chips?)out of another 5. I also managed to get 50 good-sized cookies out of the recipe that is supposed to make 24 though?so technically that was like eating only 7.5 actual cookies. They?re not actual cookies unless you make them the size that the original recipe calls for, okay?

I also had to eat some nougat. I love nougat. Sadly I did not love this that much. It was more like Styrofoam than nougat.

There?s also been some pasta meals going on that I couldn?t refuse. But pasta is always cool if you load it with broccoli and Frank?s.

When I try to clean up my eating a bit, I?ll be eating most of the same things.

Like oats, oat bran or the occasional smoothie for Breakfast.

Oat bran topped with light ricotta, peanut butter and blueberry syrup.

Pack of low sugar apple cinnamon instant oats with pumpkin stirred in + PB.

Oat bran topped with cottage cheese, coconut banana butter and sugar free maple syrup.

Green smoothie made with spinach, cottage cheese and strawberry protein powder following this recipe.

Lots of Veggies always. 

Spring mix leaves and tuna mixed with a laughing cow wedge, lemon juice and worcestershire sauce.

I?m going to try to bump up the soup (broccoli and parmesan loaded with nutritional yeast in this case) since it?s delicious but I rarely eat it since I rarely crave it. You?d think with winter and all I?d be cramming in the soup. I guess I like to chew and crunch better though.

This is ugly but noteworthy only because there?s some hidden tempeh in there, which I had been deprived of for a while now. Tempeh love!

Mad good veggie (and protein and cracker) snack plates are always a YES.

I want to try to get better at snacking on veggies throughout the day as well when I?m craving a snack but not ready for a meal, as opposed to handfuls of cereal?or leftover freezer chocolate that I?ve been dipping into way too often lately.

My main concern is following my actual HUNGER , not eating to the point of stomach distention, and not snacking 10x a day! It?s gotten pretty out of hand guys, I?m so over it!

But of course there?s always room for the cereals, muffins etc. Moderation station.

Fruits, cottage cheese and pumpkin cornbread muffins all around!

Especially when said muffin is stuffed with light ricotta mixed with sugar free apricot jam. Mmm.

Frozen iced coffee blended with frozen raspberries, loaded with weetabix and granola. I may have some extra insulation but this was still much too cold to eat without being followed quickly by a piping hot beverage.

And one more (unrelated) thing I shall work on: learning to paint my nails like a pro.

Hack job. Anybody know how to paint your nails without painting your cuticles at the same time? I think it?s likely just my impatience, I should probably try slowing down during such intricate work.

What are your go-to tricks for getting back on track?