Balance act, tipsy

I have no clue why, but my appetite was out of control today.  It was as if I ran a marathon and couldn’t seem to get in enough kcals to replenish.  The only problem: I didn’t run a marathon.  In fact, I didn’t exercise Sat or Sun because I worked (12 hour shifts are not conducive to gym-ing). 

I never really pay attention to balancing calories on days I exercise, even if I have really intensely active days, because typically my body tells me what to do.  If my tummy wants more, I give it more (it rarely says no).  So when I woke up today starving, and it continued throughout the day, despite my continuous fueling, I felt as if my stomach was a bottomless pit, a tipsy scale that I couldn’t balance no matter how much I ate. 

Weird.  Just wait…you’ll see what I mean.

I started the day with the same old same old.

And since my stomach was growling like a ferosh beast, I broke the fast at 8 am with oats – done up right with THE WORKS.

Added into this massive bowl are: half a nanner, PB, raisins, carob chips, and leche de almonds.  I don’t mess around, yo.

This sat like a brick in my tum for all of 4 seconds.  Ok, not really, but I was hungry again at 10.  Whaaaaa?

I had some fruit to shush the grrrr situation going on in my stomach.

 

And a little more…

Yeah, ok, I basically snacked my way until lunch.

After watching a few juicers make their own lemonade, I vowed I would find a way to do the same (sans juicer), because it sounded so good.  Well today was just the day for it.

Always make sure it leads with a 9!!  Such simple ingreds :)

Add some Britta-fied H20 and voila!  I prefer to drink most beverages with a straw, so if you’re wondering – yes, it’s a stolen Starbucks straw, I have a drawer full of them.

For lunch I had pizza. 

Ok, not really, but that’s EXACTLY what this tasted like.  OMG, HOW did nobody tell me about this flavor of Sabra hummus before?!?  It’s my new fave.  It’s out of this world.

Turns out roasted red pepper hummus + vegan cheese + toasted Alvarado St bread = Pizza!

I had it with a crunchy apple, sliced for more rapid consumption.  It was so good I questioned my current engagement and nearly called off the wedding to propose to this mothah!

What can I say?  Kombucha is like a drug!!  At least the come down off the high doesn’t leave you with the shakes…yet.

I tried to stay away, but the roasted red pepper hummus just LURED me back in.

This is my second lunch (yep, it’s the EXACT same).

I could have eaten 5 more.  My stomach was in a feud with my head.  My stomach was still hungry (how, I’ll never know), but my brain was not buying it…hello, Elise, you’ve already eaten an entire day’s worth of meals and it’s barely past noon!

I decided to quiet the inner voices with some all of these.

 

Finally, I was satisfied.  While facebook stalking, I made a huge batch of iced tea, which I sipped through a straw :)

 

Hydrated and fueled on carbs, I decided to take advantage of the decent (read: non rainy) weather and went on a nice run around the usual loop in Central Park. 

7 miles – 50 min 

It felt heavenly.  I could have been floating it was such a great run.

After I got home, I headed to the gym for a cool down, plus some arms and abs on the mats.  I felt like a rock star, I just had SO much energy.  I guess my body knew what it wanted…

When I got back from the gym, there was something waiting for me!

Package!!!

Look at all the loot!  Kyle’s aunt sent us a bunch of dishware from our alma mater – it’s so perfect for summer rooftop BBQs.  Light weight AND non-breakable makes climbing 9 flights of stairs way less treacherous. 

Go BRUINS!!   Sorry Caroline :)

I also got my official NYRR card in the mail.  I’m legit, too legit to quit.

I opted for several mini-meals for dinner.

What do you call cheese that’s not yours?

NACHO cheese!

This big plate of chips was vegan-ified with some melty fake cheese, and devoured like I was a homeless person presented with booze McDonald’s.

Dinner meal numero dos was a salad from topping-ville USA.  What wasn’t in this thing!?  Not much. 

Just for $hit$ and giggles I had 2 apples, all slicey and dicey.

Then I headed out the door with (the above) papaya spears in tow to meet up with Kyle.  We saw The Hangover and I laughed my behind right off.  Bradley Cooper is h-o-tizzle, and Andy (from The Office) was hilarious.  Two thumbs up in my book.

When we got home, I had a bowl of melon for dessert.  I am now about to pass out as I am typing this (zzzzzz), so goodnight bloggies. 

Oh and before I forget!  PB+Jenny is giving away cuh-raaaazy amounts of goodies.  Git on over there and win it!

Thursday, Wednesday, it’s all the same

Even though I had today off of work, I still had to set my alarm because I had an appointment.  So I was up and at em with the roosters pigeons (?), which was kinda nice because I rarely get to see my K love in the AM.  He made a massive pot of java, which I had with minimal frills (I was lazy and didn’t feel like frothing).

Crossword & coffee makes E a happy hippie :)

Yesterday’s oats were so bomb.com that I decided to repeat the morning routine.  This time I went with nanner slices, cinnamon, almond milk, and stevia.

I debated straightening my hair for all of 4 minutes, and then decided the dermatologist wasn’t THAT special.  I mean, sure med school is hard and all…but don’t expect me to bow at your feet make myself presentable for you.

Random rant to follow, scroll away if you are only here for the food:

I don’t understand HOW medical offices get SO behind.  I mean, I work in the hospital, so I empathize with healthcare professionals (let’s face it, all patients aren’t as delightful as you would hope), but come ON…can you just pretend that you care about being punctual?  I always try to get the earliest appointments (less time to get behind), so I don’t even want to think of when the poor suckers with afternoon appointments get seen. 

So, this morning I got to the doctor’s office a bit earlier than my appt (9:15 am), and watched the clock tick tock tick tock for a full hour before they finally called my name (45 minutes after my 9:30 appointment)…I guess there are some things that will never change – one of them being the tedious snail’s pace that the delinquent clerks at the front desk are so set on keeping. 

I didn’t get out until 11, and since I was already in Union Square, I couldn’t help but do a little retail therapy (not that the news was bad, but I have some thinking to do)…

In case you didn’t know, 14th St/Union Square is packed with my fave stores….so which temptation did I give in to? 

Whole Foods?  Nope! – I know, I know!  [insert gasp here]

Lululemon?  Nope!

Barnes & Noble?  Yep :)

I could have perused the aisles for hours, but I managed to keep it to 30 minutes and $30.  Success!

I had this ‘lil bugger when I got home.  GNU Foods flavor & fiber Cinnamon Raisin bar.

Meh.  It was a bit smaller and more bland than my odwalla love…the super protein flavor odwalla bar is more sugar-y, but in a good way, not a HFCS way.

Pros: The “It works!” quote in the top corner of the wrapper ‘aint no lie (wink wink) – granted I had a heaping bowl of oats for brekkie, so I think I’ve hit my fiber max for the day (hahaha, yeah riiiiight, as if I have a fiber max)! Cons:  As I mentioned before, it’s a bit small (I prefer the extra kcals in the odwalla bar if it keeps my tummy satisfied longer).  Also, it’s not as sweet as I was hoping it would be.  But that’s just me :)  In the end, I don’t think I’d buy it again.

Gym time!

I was pretty lazy today, and my workout was lackluster at best. 

I zoned out to Paris Hilton’s BFF show and the Duel while sweating out on the elliptical…pretty sure my IQ is significantly lowered from such thought provoking entertainment.

I went hummus cuhhhraaaazay when I got home.

Falafel veggie burgers!  Seriously? Seriously!

I had a couple mini falafel balls with some petite carrots, apple slices, and a toasted english muffin – all submerged in some FABBY sabra love!

I just had to dive back in with more apples.  Luuurve me some sabra!

All gone (tear).

I accomplished some very super duper important tasks after my late lunch.  Cleaning.  Cooking.  Wedding church research.  I felt like quite the housewife. 

I had a multi-course dinner.  Not even the Queen of England eats this well!  Trust me, she would be way jealous if she knew the vegan yumminess she was missing out on.

Course 1: Home-made seitan cutlet with re-thawed “cheesy” cauliflower mash, topped in a mini-mogul of vegan parm.

 

Course 2: Steamed green beans with more “cheesy” cauliflower.

Course 3: Red bell pepper

Psych!  (not that it’s that abnormal to make a bell pepper into a meal)  But, I did make a reeeedik sized salad (with a whole lotta crunchy bell pepper).

I bought the (above) gorgy beast yesterday, but was trying to hold off since we still have half a green bell pepper in the fridge.  But isn’t it purrty?  How could I resist that cute little spiral tendril and the shiny red exterior…so I sliced and diced my way to salad bliss!

I told you!!  This salad is SO big you can’t even SEE that there’s a bell pepper buried in there.  I can’t even begin to recall the ingreds, just assume if you can buy it in the store, it’s in the salad.

By the by, I’ve been downing chickpeas like it’s my j-o-bizzle, forcing me to make them (from the dried beans) on a daily basis now…I just finished my first bag today!  Clearly I’m obsessed.  So much cheaper!!

I was about to pop after this nosh-fest…but eventually I found the room for a bowl of melon (dessert is a non-negotiable in my book). 

It looks small, but this is actually about two cups of fruit. 

Are you proud of me for going a whole DAY without Kombucha?!

National running day!

Did you know Wednesday was National Running Day!?  Step aside hump day, you have been replaced.  Good thing I had the day off work, so I could get a nice exercise sesh in (in honor of the holiday, of course).

No work = extra zzzzs.  So I definitely slept in.  YES!

As I sipped my frothy coffee, I caught up on all the critical news (like the happs in J+K+8 and the crazies from the Jerz) – I’m soooo worldly. 

I went old school with breakfast…oats were my first love, and no amount of time apart can break that kind of bond. 

Naturally, I have classed up my act a bit since my grade school days (of Quaker’s maple and brown sugar packets). 

This bowl was overflowing with almond milk, cinnamon, stevia, and carob chips.

I KNOW you are drooling now :)

That massive bowl held me over for quite a while…so I got my inner-chef on (seeing as the rain was preventing me from doing any outside cardio).

So, a few days ago I received a wonderful treat in the mail from Miss RhodeyGirl. 

She was ever-so-sweet to send me some home-made Za’atar, after I had my first encounter with it a few weeks ago, and subsequently fell in love with it (to then never find it again).  Oh, Sabra how you tease me so…

Just opening the package, filled the room with the most a-MAZ-ing aroma.

I was soooo eager to use it.  First up on the menu, za’atar tofu.

Cut.  Press.  Spice.  Bake.  Flip.  Repeat. 

Done.

I sampled a few before packaging the rest up.  SUCCESS!!!

I hope the apartment smells like this forever.

Sorry I have no recipe, but I’m sure if you head over to RhodeyGirlTests and beg for more info promise her your first born child, she’d pass it along.  I keed, I keed.  She’s a gem :)  Thanks again girl!

Before heading off to corre corre, I had some fruit. 

I thought I had timed my run perfectly – can someone pass on the fact that it’s JUNE to the weather gods?!?! 

The clouds seemed to have put a cork in it, at least temporarily, but alas, the second my sneaks hit the pavement, I began to feel raindrops.  Next thing I know, the soft drizzle turned into a full on downpour.  Good thing I was only a block away.  I came back home, grabbed my gym bag, and headed off to the land of boring machines (aka NYSC). 

I did manage to change things up a bit, thanks to a Shape magazine workout.

• 30 mins elliptical (level 5-10) warm up (3.5 miles)
• 10 minutes stair master (level 10-12)
• 10 minutes treadmill (level 6-7)
• 10 minutes elliptical (level 10-13)

As usual, I finished with stretching, abs, and arms on the mats.  I left the gym high as a kite (on endorphins, duh)!

Post gym “refueling” (in the form of hummus) was very necessary.  No ifs, ands, or buts, I was dead set on a crack-wich.  I used home-made hummus and veggie slices (vegan “cheese”) and toasted it on the grill until the smoke alarm went off (which is my latest substitute for a timer). 

I also had one of these.

Yeah, this habit is going to destroy my wallet.  At $4, that’s like 25 cents per sip (ok, my math is not great, sue me).

I’m not sure my taste buds are refined enough to distinguish the difference between some of these flavors, but Trilogy did not disappoint (unfortunately). 

With so much fruit on hand, I basically snacked my way to dinner.

Because of this, my appetite wasn’t exactly chomping at the bit…but I knew I wanted those darn oat bran sesame crisps, so I created the entire meal around that desire.

I couldn’t find spinach at the store today (sad) so this is a fancy lettuce mix…not that you can even see the lettuce in my salad creations.

Is this not the definition of YUM?! 

Have you ever centered an entire dish around one (not so central) component?  This monster ensalada was my attempt to (healthfully) distract myself from the oat bran sesame stick obsession.  I guess I am just too dang smart, since I finished the rest of the bag of the sesame sticks after the salad was gone…

Note to self: don’t buy these in bulk.  Dangerous.  Very dangerous.

Dessert fruit platter (complete with mood lighting while watching Conan).