Here I am!!!

Yes, it has been almost a week since my last entry, but here I am!

THE CHALLENGE

Returning to work with a calf injury and taking pain medication...not a good combination. Not only was a having a hard time getting around, I also was taking pain medication.  The pain medication made me sluggish at work and it made it difficult to get up to workout.  Not work out  made me feel sluggish too.  So, the theme for the week:  SLUGGISH!

BUT NOW...

I am feeling much better!  I revisited the doctor on Tuesday and he suspected I had a small tear in my calf.  Or, it could have been a deep strain.  Who knows! The doctor opted to skip the MRI based off the fact that I can walk. I haven't needed pain medication for two days, except at bedtime, and I am definitely on the mend!  I am picking up my workout routine tomorrow.

However, I will be modifying my workout routine once again. As I did on Tuesday, I will workout from a chair or from the floor on my back.  This will be for at least the next couple of weeks until I am certain I have no more injury. But, at least I will be back to my daily workout routine! I can't wait for tomorrow!

EATING...

I have continued to maintain my tracker and eat the RIGHT WAY! I have stayed to 1800 calories with the exception of my cheat meal which was Friday evening.  I had a great time today shopping with my fourteen year old daughter today!  She is amazingly supportive and has taken on this healthy lifestyle with enthusiasm.  I think it is terribly important that we teach our children how to read a label, how to make healthy choice and to invent in their health from an early age.  I do not want her to look at food as therapy.  But, I want her to enjoy the right kinds of food...and an occasional treat.

My treat this week came from a restaurant called "The Counter".  The Counter has amazing burgers.  There is a huge "BUT" here.... At The Counter, you pick your "burger":  beef, chicken, vege, etc.  You pick the type of bun or lettuce bowl you prefer.  You pick your toppings and your glaze. And, the best part is THE WONDERFULLY DETAILED NUTRTION BOOK THEY HAVE. They provide you with a clip board and an order sheet.  I go through and write down the calorie count next to everything I want and narrow down from there.  I usually get a chicken burger with a soy ginger glaze, grilled pineapple, avocado, sprouts, tomato, brie and lettuce.  Just 400 calories!  This wasn't the cheat.  They have the most amazing peanut butter chocolate milk shakes.  All totaled, I only went 300 calories over for the day.  That's planning!

One of the challenges we have on work nights is that Brian and I both work retail.  On the best of days we may get home by 6 or so.  But must days it is more like 7-830.  We have a hard time getting dinner together and eating at a reasonable time. So, we are teaching the 14 year old to cook!  And, she is enjoying it.

Tonight I am enjoying grilled chicken tossed in a Piri Piri sauce, sautéed spinach in garlic and olive oil and oven roasted potato wedges.  Thank you to my sweet baby girl for cooking it! (Yes, I am having to pay her to cook in the evenings, but it is much healthier and much less expensive than eating out!)

So, I am definitely looking forward to someone else cooking this week, to home cooked healthy meals, to helping my daughter learn to be independent, and my workouts.

I can't wait till Monday!