When It All Goes Wrong

The older I get the more I learn about myself, and the more I learn the more I realize that I am a stress eater. When everything goes wrong all I want to do is order some take out from Big Bowl, close the blinds and watch a 30 Rock marathon on Netflix. For the last few weeks I have been going along on a straight trajectory and then on Friday, BAM, stress tornado. Between some unfortunate car issues and a really busy job I wanted to stop at every restaurant from work to my apartment and then wash it all down with one of those Hostess cupcakes that has the little white swirlies on the top. But in weight loss THIS is where the heavy lifting comes in. I have to work to retrain myself to avoid what I have always done—thus the reason I am trying to lose weight—and do something different. I’d like to tell you that I am the kind of person who could funnel it all into cooking a brilliant and healthy meal for myself, but that would be a lie. When the busyness sets in the best way to stay on the up and up is to be prepared. Here are some of the things in my food survival kit:

Packets of Lemon Pepper tuna—I eat these straight out of the bag and they are tasty and filling. It gives you some great (although not necessarily great smelling) protein to keep you going.

Trident Bubble Gum—very useful on the days where you eat Lemon Pepper Tuna for lunch!

Luna Bars—I only eat these on workout days because they are kind of a treat AND a lifesaver when you need some protein, but they aren’t necessarily super nutritious. My favorites are the Nuts Over Chocolate and the Peanut Butter Cookie.

String Cheese—I eat this snack once a day to keep me going and it also helps distract me because it is like a game and a snack!

Pistachios---I like to buy the Wonderful brand ones in the black and green bag to support my cousin Addy (he sells them), but sometimes I cheat and buy the Roundy’s ones if they are on sale-- which they are this week. They are kind of expensive, but when you need a good, filling snack they do the trick. They also distract you much like the string cheese because it takes a while to get them open. (I think this is my second pistachio mention, so I must really love them.) As a side note don’t try to open the barely cracked ones with your teeth because it only ends in a bloody tongue or a chipped tooth. Take it from someone who knows.

Protein Powder—Mix with milk and I have a breakfast on the go for those days that I can’t seem to drag myself out of bed. If I have a little extra time I’ll add it to the Magic bullet with some banana, strawberries, blueberries and ice and make something that I call Steroid Ice Cream.

As of today I am down 10.5 pounds and feeling good! I hope I can keep it up and I hope all of you who are trying hard can keep it up to! On to the good stuff:

Best Food of the Week:
It isn’t so much a food, but a lifesaver. Crystal Light Peach Iced Tea is so delicious!! I also saw an advertisement for Crystal Light Margaritas, but I have yet to see them.

Worst Food of the Week:
Kohlrabi—perhaps it is just a matter of knowing how to cook it, but the German turnip did me wrong.

Best Exercise of the Week:
Mule kicks. Get down on all 4’s with your palms flat. Press one leg up into the air as high as you can with your foot flat and then bring it down to parallel, but don’t touch the ground. Do this 10 times and on the tenth time hold for 5-10 seconds. Repeat 3 times on each side. (Don’t hate me)

Best Workout Jam of the Week:
Maybe I am just systematically working my way through the catalogs of all of the judges on The Voice, but I have been listening to Cee Lo Green’s newest CD and it is great!

Becky Today:
BUMMER!! I can’t find the cord that connects my camera to my computer, so this week I don’t have a photo.  I will do a mini weekend update with a photo. 

In the meantime….what is in YOUR food survival kit?