Fall Leaves, New Thoughts, and my Daily Manna: 10/8/13

Wow! I can't believe how long it's been since I've written a post! Last time I wrote I'm pretty sure it was still summer weather and now the leaves are finally changing! I absolutely love the fall season and am so excited it is finally October! These past couple of weeks have been a little crazy, but I'm finally trying to have some kind of routine back! My workouts have still been on point, which I am so glad about! I have been keeping up with my runs even though my toning efforts went a little downhill last week. But I've been better this week so far!

Before I get into what my day looked like today, I wanted to update you all on my gluten/grain free adventures! I wrote a post about a month ago about my history and adventures with gluten and grain-free eating. While I have been eating this way about 80-90% of the time, I have decided to give myself a little more freedom when it comes to these food choices! I naturally lean towards gluten and grain free foods in my everyday dietary choices; however I also do not want to severely restrict myself because, as I have stated before, I am a bread/tortilla/cereal LOVER and the more I tell myself to not have these things, the more I want them! I have been spacing out my gluten/grains if I decide to have them to make sure to prevent any stomach upset that may occur if I overflow my system! Above all else, I am making healthy nutrient-dense choices that work for MY body and am always listening to my body in the process, as well as my mind! With that being said (one last thing I promise! Then on to my day...) I have also been intrigued lately with the iifym lifestyle or "if it fits your macros." Even though it requires calorie counting, it encourages nutrient dense choices while allowing for some flexibility as long as it fits into your daily "macros" which are carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Even though I have yet to fully commit to this idea, I have been researching and looking into it! From what I have read, it seems to really help people who are severe perfectionists and rule followers with their food (ahem...guilty!) and allows them to develop a more balanced approach to healthy eating!! I will probably post more on this topic later on as I research it more...but! Without further ado... my day!

I woke up pretty early this morning around 5:30am and did my quiet time. I've been reading through the Bible and have been doing a Daniel and John Bible Study workbook (two separate ones!) which have both been phenomenal! After my quiet time, I got ready for the gym and ate an egg with a small handful of nuts as my pre-workout meal!

This meal gave me GREAT energy! I was able to comfortably do a 5 mile run, but didn't push myself further because I knew I wanted to do the toning segment of my "Frisky Fall" workout routine made by "Tone it Up" trainers Karena and Katrina! Check out their website for more awesome workouts!

http://www.toneitup.com

After my run + toning session, I was drenched and STARVING! I decided to make some paleo pancakes with the remainder of my coconut flour. However, I had some flipping issues, but still managed to make the pancakes look pretty in my heart plate! Belle and the Beast are under all that pancake goodness. But! Don't judge these pancakes by their cover, they tasted GREAT! I am waiting on a shipment of some almond flour to arrive, which is when I plan on experimenting a bit with these two flours and finding a recipe that works!

After breakfast, I got ready for my day and headed to the park near my house to study for my RD exam. It's been really hard being able to focus at home because of so many distractions! However, the park was perfect today and the weather was just right! I was able to get a few really good hours in which made me feel very productive.

I had packed a salad to eat at the park, but decided to go home instead and eat while relaxing for a bit before an appointment I had!

This salad had spinach, tomatoes, carrots, snap peas, and a cut up string cheese. I also made my own dressing with lemon juice, olive oil, mint, garlic, and a bit of salt. I don't really measure out this dressing and usually eyeball the ingredients, but maybe one day I can standardize this recipe and share it with you all. The salad tasted great and was a perfectly light meal!

After lunch I decided to relax a bit before my dentist appointment at 2:30! As usual, the appointment took a while, and with the usual traffic I didn't get home until about 4:15. I was meeting my friends for dinner at 5, which I wasn't even feeling hungry for! I was surprised at how full my lunch kept me! But at 5pm, my friends and I went to Tender Greens which is a really yummy salad place! I usually always get the Mediterranean Spinach Salad which is DELICIOUS but decided to try something new and get the Chipotle BBQ Chicken salad, which was also very yummy!

This salad had such a light cilantro dressing too, which made it so refreshing yet filling! After dinner I headed to Bible Study and had a great time with some amazing women! We watched the video component to the Daniel Bible study we are doing and learned about how important being humble is and how clothing ourselves with humility is an intentional action that we need to do daily! I will definitely be trying to apply this to my daily life and always keep asking God to humble me and remove my pride!

Well, that's it for my day! It was a great one and I honestly loved all the yummy greens I ate today! Tomorrow is supposed to rain which I am so excited about! Looking forward to a cozy day! Have a great night everyone!

Be a Light: Daily Manna 9/9

Wow! I feel like I haven't posted in so long! This weekend flew by fast as I was recovering from a horrible sinus infection and trying to rest up. I'm feeling much better today and thought I'd write my Daily Manna post! Today started off in the usual fashion with my quiet time and getting ready to work out. I was also reflecting on this picture I found a few days ago on Pinterest...

I've realized lately that I have been really stressed out and focused on my RD exam, needing to study, and even needing to get better from this sinus infection! But after finding this picture, I realized that the reason why God put us on this earth is to glorify Him and bring others to Him by being a light to those around us! I made this the background for my phone to make sure I have a constant reminder as to why I am on this earth. Seeing this picture also reminds me to pray that God helps me and strengthens me to further His will and purpose for my life!

After my quiet time, I had one of my Peanut Butter Banana Scones (with added chocolate chips!) and headed to the gym. I kept with my workout plan yesterday (posted in the workouts section) and was able to run 2 miles, do my 20 minute elliptical HIIT workout, and do my plank challenge with some strength training mixed in. Today, my plan was to run 3 miles, but I was able to run 4! Yay!!! It felt so good to run after not being able to for so long since I have been sick. I also did my plank challenge for today, then headed home as I had planned to take a Nike Training Club class at noon. Once I got home, I made myself a sausage and veggie scramble with a side of sliced apples and blueberries.

After breakfast, I decided to make a study schedule for preparing for my RD exam. I have been stressing and struggling to find the motivation to studying, but making a plan always seems to help me out! Tomorrow, I plan on going to the public library by my house, follow my plan, and get to studying! I'm actually looking forward to begin studying, and now that I posted that I have a study plan to follow on my blog, it should help keep me accountable! :)

After making my plan, I was able to Skype with one of my bestest friends, which was SUCH a blessing! After our Skype date, I made a quick and early lunch by grilling a light string cheese in a flat out bread and adding a side of veggies. It was around 11:30am when I had this meal, and my NTC class was at noon, so I didn't want to eat too heavy. This was the perfect pre-workout fuel! I had so much energy during my workout!

After a crazy and intense NTC class (I wanted to cry during the squat session!), I needed a quick but protein-packed snack as I had a few errands to run before coming back home. I had already planned ahead and put a Think Thin bar in my bag, so this definitely helped keep my hunger at bay this afternoon! These bars are gluten free and have 20g of protein per bar! They are delicious!

Dinner was absolutely amazing tonight. We made our tabbouleh once more (recipe is posted!) while grilling some fish! My mom and I made salmon for my dad and trout for us. My cousin bought me this amazing Cajun seasoning from Whole Foods a few months back, so I used that to season my fish and my sweet potatoes! This meal turned out to be delicious and very filling!

Now that the evening is coming to an end, I am realizing how exhausted I am! However, it is a good exhaustion because my muscles feel so worked! I can't wait to be sore tomorrow and know that I did something to better my body today! I hope you all have a wonderful evening!

Late Post! Daily Manna 9/3

Good afternoon everyone! I am very late posting my Daily Manna from yesterday, but I have some down time now so I figured I would share my day! Yesterday was an extremely busy, non-stop day for me, but thank God I was able to stay sane and make healthy choices along the way! I woke up extra early for my workout because I had to take my mom to work in the morning. I woke up around 5:45am, had my quiet time, and had my small pre-workout meal before heading out.

I had my usual flat out fold it bread with some peanut butter, popped in the microwave for about 30 seconds! I know my pre-workout meals can get pretty repetitive, but I figure...why steer away from something that works for me? I look forward to my peanut butter flat out melts because they taste SO good and give me good fuel and energy for my runs and workouts!

I was in a hurry this morning to make it back home in time to take my mom to work, so I ran faster than I normally do and PR'ed on my 4 mile run! I have never ran 4 miles in under 38 minutes, so this was a huge accomplishment for me! Even though I was in a hurry, I still fit in my plank for my September plank challenge!

I got home and quickly scrambled an egg with some egg whites, spinach, and a spicy jalapeno chicken sausage from Trader Joe's! This is one of my favorite sausages because it has all clean ingredients, no added sugars, and is pork-free (I'm not a big fan of pork!) I gobbled this up as quickly as I could before taking my mom to work!

After dropping off my mom, I had to drive an hour down to my apartment to officially check out with my RA, as well as turn some evaluation forms in for finishing my internship! Driving there and back took up most of my morning, so by the time I got home, I was ready for lunch! I made a simple turkey and spinach sandwich on my flat out bread, with a string cheese, a side of veggies, and a peach.

After lunch, I went to my mom's classroom to help her get ready for her first day of school (which is actually today). After we were done setting up her classroom, we decided to treat ourselves and get our nails done. It was so relaxing to be able to enjoy some down time with my mom, which we haven't been able to do all summer!

I met up my cousin and one of our best friends for an early dinner at 5pm at a HUGE Whole Foods that is by our house. I've really only had a few breakfast meals at Whole Foods before, so I was definitely unprepared for the plethora of options that met me in their prepared foods section. They had a salad bar, hot foods section, Indian cuisine, deli and sandwich bar, pizza parlor, and a Mexican station! I decided to stay simple and make myself a salad with a ton of veggies, grilled chicken, black beans, and an avocado dressing. This salad tasted so great! I also got some strawberries and pineapples as dessert, which definitely hit the spot! I am so excited to go back to Whole Foods and try some more of their different prepared foods!

Even though I had dinner early, my salad was very satisfying, which meant that I did not get those evening snack cravings! I love having filling dinners that keep me going until I get to bed because it prevents that dangerous night time snacking syndrome! Even though yesterday was a busy day, I enjoyed spending time with my family and friends, going out to eat, and getting to bed early :) That was my day yesterday and I hope you all are having a fabulous day today!

Finally Home: Daily Manna 9/2

I am so excited as I write this post because I am finally HOME! It feels great to be settled back in, but it also feels incredibly different than living on my own in my apartment for the past 2 years. This will definitely take some getting used to...but I am looking forward to getting back into a routine, studying for my RD boards, and cooking a lot of my favorite foods! So, with that said, here is today's Daily Manna! I woke up at 6:30am which is sleeping in for me considering I was up at 3:30/4am almost every day this summer! It felt great to be able to sleep in :) I had my quiet time and got ready for the gym. For my pre-workout meal, I had my usual flat out peanut butter sandwich and some H2O!

I got to the gym and started running, not knowing how long I wanted to go for today. I usually have some kind of number in mind but I just kept going today until I hit 6 miles, which felt great! I did my plank challenge for today (1:20) and did some chest and bicep workouts!

I got home and made such a delicious omelet! We had some leftover tri-tip from the night before, so I scrambled some of the meat in an egg + some egg white omelet with spinach! I also cut up a fresh peach on the side :) Leftover protein is always a great way to add some flavor to your eggs in the morning!

I spent most of the morning cleaning my room and before I knew it, it was past noon. My parents and I finally got lunch together around 1pm. I made a tuna salad, but instead of using mayo, I used some mashed up avocado! This adds such a good flavor and creaminess to the tuna, not to mention the extremely healthy fatty acids!

I ate the tuna with a salad made from spinach, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and snap peas! I used lemon juice, mint, salt, and red pepper as my dressing. This salad tasted amazing!

After lunch, I did some work around the house, then around 3:30pm, my dad and I headed out to see a movie with my uncle and cousin. We saw "The Butler," which I HIGHLY recommend for everybody! The movie was incredible. I can't even say more about it, just go see it :)

I knew I would get hungry during this movie since it was over 2 hours, so I planned ahead and packed some sliced apples and a quest bar!

By the time the movie got out, we made it home and I was able to help my mom put together one of my favorite homemade dinners! Tabbouleh is a parsley and herb salad that has been one of most-wanted dinners since I was 2 years old. This salad can be eaten on its own, with lettuce, or with pita bread. I decided to lettuce wrap my tabbouleh tonight, which tasted great!

To make this a well-rounded meal, we made some Armenian soujoukh (or sausage) patties. These patties are so spicy and delicious!

I will try and post these recipes sometime tomorrow because they are seriously two of my favorite foods and fit into a healthy lifestyle perfectly! I can't wait to be able to cook some of my other favorite foods while at home! :) Today was such a great first "official" day being home. I feel so blessed by my friends and family, and am so grateful for all that God has given and provided for me. I hope you all have a great evening and remember to collect all the blessings that God has given you each and every day!

Love Take Me Over: Daily Manna 8/29

I've had this song in my head ALL day. It has such a catchy tune, and the lyrics are so great. The focus on love just taking over our whole being definitely helped me get through the day! Here is the link if anyone wants to enjoy it for themselves :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8DiZhNVu1I

Today started out in the typical fashion. Wake up, quiet time, eat, gym. Here was a verse that I reflected on this morning, as well as a shot of my flat out peanut butter sandwich as my preworkout meal

I love this verse in Philippians because it directly shows us that God works in us for HIS good purpose, which we know is better than what WE think our purpose is, right? Focusing on this verse early in the morning helped me realize that I am on this earth to glorify God, and that my body, life, and my whole self are all entirely the Lord's!

I had a good 4 mile run this morning and did some leg work. I really wanted to continue running, but since I ran 8 miles yesterday, I didn't want to overdo it today. I want to take care of my body by working it out, but also not pushing it too far!

I waited till I got to the hospital around 6:30am to have breakfast and enjoyed 2 scrambled eggs with a peach.

Since I had breakfast so early, I had a little 100 calorie snack pack of raw almonds before my lunch at 11:30am. For my meal, I made a salad, got a chicken breast from the grill, and got a side of pico de gallo and guacamole (they SAID it was guacamole, but I'm pretty sure it was a creamy avocado dressing...but who cares it was YUM!

I mixed this all up on my salad and had a delicious creation!

This salad was so amazing that it lasted me past 2pm! Usually I get hungry again around 1:30 or 2pm and try to fight off the snack attack, but I was able to hold off my snack till JUST before I got off work at 3:30pm. They had yellow plums at the hospital, so I grabbed one and ate a quest bar before I headed off, in awe that I only have one day left of my internship tomorrow!

I stopped at an outlet mall on my way home from work and bought a few things as a little treat to myself :) I bought a nice summery white top and some new amazingly comfortable leggings! My whole drive home, I was being SO indecisive about what I wanted for dinner. I am seriously so tired of not being able to cook my favorite foods in my apartment! And I was not in the mood for either a rotisserie chicken or chipotle for my dinner. I've packed all my kitchen stuff up and don't have many groceries in the house, so cooking any fancy meals were out of the question. Plus, I was still full from my snack by the time I got home, so I passed some time packing, filling out last minute evaluation forms for my internship, and then finally dragged my feet to the kitchen a little past 6pm to see what I could conjure up. I had 3 mini tortillas left, string cheese, salsa, and carrots. So...this is what I came up with...and it wasn't too shabby!

I made a triple decker quesadilla by stacking the 3 tortillas and stringing the cheese between each later, then melting it in the microwave. I had some salsa on the side and a few baby carrots for my veggies! This meal was pretty plain but it met my nutrient needs, while being easy and tasty as well!

And that concludes my last and final evening in my apartment! I can't wait to finally get back home and be able to actually cook my yummy, healthy meals that I miss! Now, on to continuing packing and hopefully have some down time before bed! Good night! :)

Big Breakfast Club: Daily Manna 8/26

Today was such an up and down day with work, energy, and my overall mood. All I wanted to do ALL day was just go back to my bed. It was humid and rainy today, so that will be my excuse. Even if it isn't cold outside, the fact that it is rainy automatically makes me want to cuddle up in bed with a good book. Which is precisely what I plan on doing after writing this post! I woke up this morning, did my quiet time (I started a new Bible study on John and it is incredible so far!) and got ready for my workout. I ate my flat out bread (100 calories and high protein!) with a smear of peanut butter.

And yes, I pinterest at 4am. Don't judge :)

I had a great workout this morning! I ran 6 miles and it was really easy at the beginning and the end, with just a little difficulty sprinkled in the middle. I like to change the incline on my runs since I run on the treadmill (the air quality is AWFUL where I live at the moment), so I think my body is resisting that a bit! But that's okay, I'll just have to keep pushing! After my run, I did some strength training, working on my chest and triceps! Plus a plank :)

I really want to get better at my planks. I used to be able to do 2-3 minute ones last year! Oh grad school...how it ruins you. Maybe I will make my own Plank Challenge plan to help me out a bit...hmmmm...

I made breakfast at home before heading out for my hour-long drive to work. I had some fresh watermelon my mom had given me over the weekend which tasted like candy! YUM! As I have mentioned before, I've been struggling with getting hunger pangs midmorning. My shift at my internship is 7am-3:30pm, which means breakfast is eaten extremely early. I decided that, today, I would have a large breakfast. And this one was LARGE for me! I scrambled 2 whole eggs, 3/4 cup egg whites and a yellow bell pepper and placed it all on a tortilla with some salsa on top. My hope was that the fat from the two whole eggs plus the protein from all the eggs in general would help me stay full till 11/11:30. And my plan worked! My breakfast kept me so full that I was able to happily wait to take my lunch at 11:45am instead of having a grumbling stomach at 9:30am! I am happy to report that I am now a part of the Big Breakfast Club, and will not fear getting so many calories in that early in the morning!

For lunch, I made my usual salad, got my chicken breast, and meandered around the cafeteria for a little bit. At the sandwich bar, they had a side salad of broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, bell peppers, and red onions tossed in a light Italian dressing. Bingo! I knew this side salad atop my regular salad would taste so good! It was the perfect variation to my typical lunch and helped me not get caught in my salad rut :)

Around 3:30pm, I had my 100 calorie pack of cinnamon roast almonds and a plum. This plum was so juicy and red inside. Plums are definitely one of my favorite fruits so I thoroughly enjoyed my snack!

By the time I ran my errands after work (gas, picking up quest bars, etc), I was ready for dinner. I stopped by the grocery store and got a garlic rotisserie chicken. Once I got home, I picked out the white breast meat, saved the rest for tomorrow, and created my quick and simple basic food groups meal:

This meal filled me up, tasted great, and got the job done. And I have more of it left for tomorrow's dinner! Win-win :) As I've mentioned before, I am moving back home at the end of this week and trying to eat as simple as possible so I won't have any access food :) I can't wait to get back home to my own kitchen and cook all of my favorite meals!!!

Before ending this post, I want to share a quote I had posted on my Instagram a while back (@thejoyfulharvest if you want to follow!) I have been reflecting on it all day today...

I don't know about you, but I tend to focus on my past and the mistakes/victories I have had. I dwell on the former things whether they are the positive or negative aspects of my life. I try to think about what made me do the things I did in the past. However, today, I was reminded of this verse while reading the Socrates quote:

Isaiah 43: 18-19

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

I love the excitement of this verse! "See, I am doing a new thing!..do you not perceive it?" It's almost like God is standing with us, holding us tight, pointing off to something in the distance, and saying with excitement "there it is, right there! Don't you see it?!" God has a plan for us, and He is excited about it! What is the point of dwelling on the former things, when God's plans are alive and active and always moving us forward? I hope that these verses help us focus on the "new" thing instead of the old. Let us put our hopes and energies into what is coming instead of getting caught in what has already passed.

Have a lovely night everyone!

White as Snow: Daily Manna 8/22

Today was a great but tiring day! As usual, I started the day with some quiet time, and was OF COURSE blessed by it! Today's verse on my Bible app was from Isaiah 1:18 and says: "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool."

I love this verse. I reflected on how much God loves us; so much that he would wipe our sins away and make us as white as snow. We are redeemed by Christ's blood, and this verse was a very needed reminder that I am forgiven, and that I should LIVE as a forgiven child of God. I pray that I see myself the way God sees me and that I can glorify Him in all that I do.

After my quiet time, I got ready for the gym, had my egg, and headed out.

I was quite pleased with my workout today! I ran 5 miles and worked on my chest and triceps! I'm already feeling sore this evening, which is always the mark of an awesome workout.

Once I got to work, I had some scrambled eggs (1 egg and a couple egg whites). I also brought my microwavable steel cut oats from home and added 1/2 a banana to them. So so tasty!

I wasn't able to take a picture of my lunch, but I ended up having a salad with some chicken and garlic orzo. I've been feeling very low energy in the afternoons and decided to try adding a bit of carbohydrate at lunch to see how that helps. I usually just have plain chicken/fish and salad and have been feeling so fatigued come 2pm!  The carbohydrate options at the hospital are not always that healthy, but I decided to try the garlic orzo instead of the french fries or mashed potatoes because I. Love. Garlic!!! Really, it's a problem. I just love it. And I loved this orzo! Wish I could have snapped a picture :(

My afternoon snack was a peach again, with my 100 calorie pack of almonds! This peach was so juicy and messy to eat, which made it taste even better!

I finally got off work and hit the road. I was so indecisive on the drive home about what I wanted for dinner. I contemplated chipotle (which I've already had this week), grabbing a lettuce wrap burger from Five Guys (I love this place but wasn't feeling like a burger tonight), or staying in and doing some sort of chicken wrap thing. I'm very low on ingredients at home since I am only living in my apartment at school for another week or so, but I really didn't want to go out to eat again, so I decided to stop at the market on campus and grab some low carb tortillas, salsa, and carrots. I had some hummus and frozen chicken at home, so I figured I could create some sort of concoction out of these ingredients!

I had an afternoon meeting with my professor, then headed back to my apartment to start dinner. Even though it was only 5pm, I have learned that I need to listen to my hunger cues and eat when I am hungry. Also, I usually sleep by 8:30pm since I have to be at work super early in the mornings (and always want to fit in a run beforehand!) so a 5/5:30pm dinner is not too unusual for me. I boiled my chicken for about 20 minutes, then heated up my tortillas and made chicken salsa wraps with some carrots and hummus on the side!

I know this meal seems boring and plain, but it seriously tasted SO good. On night's like these, when I am not really wanting anything in particular and am too exhausted to make a decision, I try to go as simple as possible and cover all my basic food groups!

Protein: chicken

Carb: tortillas

Veggies: carrots

Fats: hummus

This meal was fast, simple, and fueled me up so I could get on with my evening! Mission accomplished :) And now I get to continue packing up my apartment! Have a great night everyone!

Expect the Unexpected! Daily Manna 8/21

Yay for finally having the time to write a Daily Manna post! I am so ready for bed right now, but I figured writing would help me unwind a bit before I sleep! Today had a wonderful unexpected turn of events, but before the day got too busy, I made sure to get my morning workout in! I woke up early, did my quiet time, and had half a Larabar before heading to the gym.

I had a good amount of energy this morning and was able to do a 4 mile run. I didn't have time to get my strength training in...but if you check out my post from earlier today about my workout schedule (http://thejoyfulharvest.com/2013/08/21/workouts-821-824/) , I had planned to go to Kickboxing this afternoon for a little toning workout...

I was wearing this shirt to the gym and for the first time, I wondered what people might think when they saw it. I was glad I wore it, but I also was convicted to think about whether or not I take God seriously. Gave me a lot to think and pray about, that's for sure! I want to be someone that takes God seriously at all times because, as our Lord and Savior, and the Creator of ALL things, He definitely deserves that much and more!

I got to work and had my usual veggie omelet, which was EXPLODING with vegetable goodness today!

The morning went by super fast, with a 2.5 hour meeting that lasted up until lunch. I opted for my usual Chicken Salad with Pico de Gallo dressing!

By the time the afternoon rolled around, I was ready for my snack! The cafeteria at the hospital I am interning at always has such a variety of fresh fruit! I grabbed a peach and ate it with my 100 calorie pack of almonds!

Right before I got off work, I spoke with my mom, and she surprised me by saying that my grandma and her were on their way to have dinner with me! I was so excited! I didn't care that I couldn't go to my kickboxing class because I was so grateful to be able to spend the evening with my family. This is one of the main reasons why I always try to get my workouts done in the morning. Expect the unexpected! You never know what the day will bring, and ensuring that you get your workout done early will increase the chances that you will actually work out!

We decided to go to Outback for dinner, and I got the Chicken on the Barbie (heart shaped!) with some Sweet potato fries. Unfortunately, these fries tasted horrible! So I had a few of my grandma's regular fries to make up for it :) We spent the evening packing up some of the stuff in my apartment as I prepare to finally move back home at the end of this month! I can't believe grad school and my time at my internship are almost over! It's all so exciting and I can't wait to finally move back home.

Before bed, I wanted to make sure I did some sort of toning workout, so I did 2 sets of 20 push ups and a 1 minute plank before bed. It felt so good to do a little quickie workout before bed! And I was glad I at least got some core work in.

As you can see, I still got to check SOMETHING off my list :) I just replaced kickboxing with push-ups (PU)/plank(P)!

Okay time for bed! Have a blessed evening, and make sure to always collect the manna that God provides every day :)

When Hunger Strikes: Daily Manna 8/13

Today was a great day...but it was definitely all thanks to the Lord! I woke up early this morning to get my workout in before heading to my internship. Many people ask me how I wake up so early to get my run in. It actually has surprised me that I am able to get up early and run as early as I do! A few things motivate me to do this, and I'll share them with you now! 1.) I make sure to sleep early. Sleeping is key!!! Since I have an early shift at the hospital (7am-3:30pm), with an hour-long commute, I make sure to be in bed by 8:30/9pm. I know this sounds EXTRA early, but considering how early I wake up, it's perfect for me.

2.) Running and working out is a priority for me. It is something I look forward to when I crawl into bed at night and am excited for when my alarm goes off in the early morning. I make sure that my sleeping, meals, and schedules are all conductive to making sure that I can wake up feeling rested and ready to enjoy my workout!

3.) I make sure to eat before I workout. I am one of those people that just does not function too well on fasting cardio. I usually eat a hard boiled egg, a protein muffin/bar (like my cocoa brownie muffins I baked last night!), or a banana before my workout for some extra energy and strength.

With that being said, this morning I woke up from a very restful night's sleep, spent some time with Jesus, and ate my cocoa brownie muffin before hitting the gym!

I did a 4 mile run at the gym, then did a quick 10 minute back and bicep workout. I use a heart rate monitor to track my workouts and make sure I am working my heart in a healthy cardio zone. I left my monitor on during my strength training session as well and was pleasantly surprised at how high my heart rate stayed during my workout! I think strength training after cardio is key to keeping your heart rate up and burning some of those extra calories!

My breakfast at work today was an egg and 3 egg whites, strawberries, and some tea. This is usually a pretty filling breakfast for me, but by the time 11:30am rolled around, I was starving!!! The Mexican special in the cafeteria today was Chili Lime Chicken Tacos, so I decided to just get the chicken taco meat and top it on a salad! It tasted great and was extra spicy!

Since I had lunch so early, I started feeling hunger pangs around 2:30pm. I usually like to distract myself from these because I tend to be a HUGE afternoon snacker and have a "once I start, I can't stop!" mentality. However, I've learned that if I prepack and preplan a snack, I am less likely to give in to that familiar snack attack feeling. I had packed a quest bar just in case this type of thing happened and decided to listen to my body and have my bar at my desk.

I got home from work around 4:30pm and was still feeling hungry. I knew it was too early to have dinner, but all I wanted was something to snack on! I decided to, again, listen to my body and have a small snack now instead of inevitably overindulging later on in the evening. I've learned that the longer I keep myself hungry, the more easily my brain and appetite will gravitate towards less healthy foods. I decided to have my special nut mix. I love trail mix but I am not a fan of dried fruit, so I tend to stay away from the store-bought mixes. I usually make my own mix by dry roasted almonds, cashews, and dark chocolate sea salt almonds I buy from Trader Joe's to get a little chocolate fix in there as well! I shake this all up in a tupperware and measure out about 1/4 cup of my trail mix as a snack!

That's a deep shot of my tupperware, since I ate my portion of nuts before snapping my picture :) This snack definitely did the trick for me and filled me up enough to keep my hunger feelings at bay throughout the rest of the afternoon! I decided to watch Grey's Anatomy while working on my resume. I don't know why but working in a hospital, even though I am not a doctor, makes me miss watching this show! Around 6:30pm, I decided to have dinner since I was meeting my cousin for tea at 7! I had my leftover Turkey Marinara and added some carrots and hummus for a side of extra veggies and healthy fat!

Side note, I LOVE these pre-portioned plates! My friend found them at Wal-Mart last year to use as a gift for the kids that participated in our fitness and nutrition camp! We had some plates left over and use them all the time as a fun way to portion out our meals. These plates have become more popular since last year and I have seen them sold at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and many other stores!

The evening ended with a very much needed catch up session with my cousin! I just got home and am exhausted...so bed time for me so I can be up and running tomorrow!!!

Introducing...Daily Manna! 8/12/13

Welcome to this new section of my blog! I've decided to log my daily meals and workouts in the blog as a sort of journal for myself. I believe this will be a fun way for me to track my progress with some pictures and journaling! I'm calling it "Daily Manna" because of the significance this concept in the Bible has had on me. Exodus 16:4 states: 'Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions." '

I love this verse because it shows that God gives us His provision daily, but that it is our job to go out and collect it for ourselves! I apply this to healthy living and working out because God has blessed us with healthy bodies and has given us so many opportunities to live healthy lives. The food he has put on this earth, as well as the ability He has given us to move and do amazing things with our bodies are both blessings . It is our job to go out, do the work, and gather our daily manna in order to receive all that God has promised to us. With that being said, here is my first Daily Manna post!

This morning, I woke up feeling exhausted. I usually love working out  in the mornings, but because of my sleepless weekend (which was very worth it...one of my best friends got married...yay!), I decided to skip my morning workout and push it to the afternoon. I ended up having my first meal at work, which was an egg with 3 egg whites, a peach, and some tea!

Work was busy and stressful today. I call it "work" but it is actually my dietetic internship that I am completing! I am three weeks away from being done with my clinical rotation in the hospital and being able to study, take, and hopefully pass the board exam to become a registered dietitian! I am so excited! It's been quite a journey and I can't believe it is coming to an end.

For lunch I had a salad with a black bean burger patty. I usually ask for grilled chicken breast for my salads, but they didn't have any ready, and since I only get a 30 minute lunch, I opted for the black bean burger patty. I don't know why but it felt SO heavy for me, I barely finished half of it. I topped my salad with some shredded cheese and pico de gallo for a yummy Mexican variation!

Since I am NOT an afternoon worker-outer, I knew I would need a snack around 3pm before hitting the gym. I packed a chocolate chip quest bar with me to eat before I got to the gym for some added energy!

This definitely did the trick! I had tons of energy while doing my 40 minute elliptical workout with some added incline and resistance. I really wanted to run, but since I have a blister the size of a golf ball on my foot (thanks to my cute, but PAINFUL bridesmaids shoes from the wedding), I decided to go easy on my feet and do the elliptical. I also did some strength training and focused on my chest and triceps. I got a new cute and fun workout journal to track my workouts in to have a more detailed record of my strength training:

As I've mentioned before in a previous post ("The Strength Training Woes of a Cardio Queen"), I have a hard time being motivated to do toning workouts. I'm hoping keeping track of my strength training will motivate me to actually DO strength training...we shall see!

For dinner, I cooked some Turkey Marinara, which is so easy to prepare and tastes great! I posted the recipe in my "Recipes" section if anyone is interested!

After dinner, I decided to experiment with a baking recipe I have been brainstorming for a while. I love baking, but I also love trying healthy alternatives to some of my favorite baked goods so I can enjoy them guilt-free. I finally was able to try a Cocoa Brownie Muffin recipe that I created, and they turned out amazing!! I will be sharing the recipe soon on the blog, but here is a picture as a teaser for you all :)

These turned out so yummy and are high in protein, gluten free, and are a great pre-workout snack before hitting the gym! Which is precisely how I plan to use them tomorrow morning!

That concludes my first Daily Manna post! I am so glad I made healthy food choices and was able to work out today, even though there were many things (exhaustion, aching feet) to stand in my way. Thank God for His strength and grace daily! :)