Hiiiii!! You guys are SO sweet. Thank you- I mean really thank you- for all your kind thoughts and prayers. Means a lot to us.

Our time in Florida was brief, but really nice. There were many memories shared along with tears, but Jared has a great family and group of family friends so it was nice to be all together.

We woke up at 4am this morning and Jared’s step-dad took us to the airport.

I headed straight for the coffee kiosk, of course. Sadly, Dunkin Donuts was in another terminal!! I was hoping for a DD coffee since I never get them at home. Oh well.

Our first flight was to Phoenix and we slept most of the way. We had an hour layover and even though it was only 10am AZ time, we ate lunch- there was so much food leftover from the post-funeral “party” (I know it’s not really called a party, but can’t think what to call it…) so we packed a bunch of food.

Can’t ever go wrong with a bagel sandwich.

East Coast bagels are so much better than West Coast ones!

I was planning to do a What I Ate Wednesday post and photograph today’s eats….but you know how traveling is- I ate a little of this, a little of that (cashews, apple, etc) and just gave up on photographing. We got home around noon Cali time and it has been great to have a catch-up day. I’m currently in the middle of two loads of laundry.

I also went grocery shopping! And since I’m not doing a WIAW post, I thought I’d tell you about some of the things I’m currently “obsessed” with from Trader Joes…

You probably won’t be surprised by any of these, but here’s my top 5 list:

1) Lentils- I can’t get enough of TJ’s per-cooked lentils. Soooo easy and tastes great.

2) Apple Cider Vinegar- Great price at TJs. I take a swig every morning, it’s supposed to help your digestive track.

3) Rice crackers(yes, still), Brussel Sprouts, and their frozen spinach- Every day staples that I like buying there better than at Safeway or Whole Foods for some reason.

4) Refried Pinto Beans- I’m always very hot or cold with beans in general. Now I’m going through a “hot” phase and love them! TJs has a good canned bean selection.

5) Pre-cooked Rack of Lamb- Okay, this is a cheat meal (NO not cheat meaning unhealthy, cheat meaning it seems like you slaved in the kitchen to cook it, but you didn’t so it’s awesome for a lazy night). You just pop it in the oven for 35 minutes and it even smells great. Jared loved loved loved it…and I made it on a night I promised to cook, but then started feeling lazy and it worked out so well. I’d def cook-cheat again with this meal another time.

That was his plate…meat and potatoes are a guy’s best friend.

So…you tell me–

- What’s a food vacillate between hot or cold with? (like me and beans)

-How far do you live from the airport?

I hate to admit this, but no less than one day after Jared proposed my mind went immediately to….”Crap, I need to lose weight for the wedding.”  I’m sure I’m not alone in this mindset.  Everyone wants to look their best on their big day and to be fully honest with myself, I look no where near my best.  I’m about 7 pounds over my “happy weight” and there’s jiggly stuff on every part of my body.

Because I’ve been obsessive and extreme about my weight in the past, I refuse to go down this road or even come close to it.  But I still want to be proud of how I look when I walk down that aisle. Proud meaning I’ve been healthy and “loving my body” the months beforehand.

yay, i get to walk down the aisle to this guy!! i really can’t wait!

I googled “wedding diet” and “lose weight before wedding” and of course, a thousand things come up.  It’s all the same advice you’d give anyone trying to lose weight– cut out sugar, ramp up your exercise, eat more protein, etc.  We all know there’s no magic switch.  It takes really hard work.  And lately, I’ve shyed away from that hard work part a little bit.  When I started blogging a year ago, I thought it would actually make me more committed to a healthy lifestyle.  But over the past 12 months, I hate to admit it, but I think I’ve leaned the other way instead.  Life feels like it’s moving so fast, a constant whirlwind, and I haven’t gotten the balance part in check yet.  Plus those 40 hours of commuting every month where I just sit in my car doing nothing has added so much to my stress levels and inactivity time.

So what to do about it? 

1) Stop Complaining.  I’m so sick of hearing myself complain and make excuses, so enough already.

2) Clean Up My Diet in “small” ways.  Too many restrictions don’t work for me (or anyone) so I’ll just focus on a few things.

eat more of this

1. Gluten free– I’ve *mostly* given up gluten these past few months.  Maybe you’ve noticed, maybe not.  I was getting killer stomach aches regularly for the past few YEARS and had other tummy problems, and on the advice of a gluten-free friend, I gave it up for a month last year.  Then I started eating it again, started getting stomach aches again, and then finally recommitted in October (post my September birthday cake eating).  I still eat it when I’m at someone else’s house or at a party, or if something just looks too good, but I’m about 80-20 right now and I haven’t had a single stomach ache since then.  Wow.  So, I need to recommit though and make it 90-10….aside from stomach aches, the less cookies and pastries in my life, the better.
2. Nuts- I know they’re healthy, but I have an unhealthy relationship with them and can eat like 10 servings at a time.  Goodby nuts and nut butters.  I love you, but this just isn’t working and it’s just not healthy.  I’m sure I’ll still eat them once a week, but by saying no, I’ll save myself those extra handfuls and licks of the pb spoon.
3. Fake sugars– I gave this up years ago and now that Jared and I live together, they’re creeping back into my life.  He always makes crystal light fruit punch or iced tea in a big pitcher and I went from avoiding it completely to drinking one or two glasses every single day.  And I even started drinking diet hansons soda again occasionally.  What the heck?! That is so not good for me.
4. The extras.  I have a sugar and snacking problem pretty often.  Those handfuls of chocolate chips I eat after dinner have to go.  So do the miscellaneous snacks I eat at my parents’ house solely because it’s just something different than the things I buy (aka, a scoop of their ice cream, a handful of raisins, a few bbq chips, etc).  Not to mention, I have a bad habit of stealing Jared’s fries or extra bits of his “boy foods” and that’s just not necessary.  It adds up.

My parents always seem to have ice cream in their fridge….ugh!

3) Exercise–  Yeah, I know I’ve said it often lately, but I need to get more of this into my life.

1. A lot of people talk about their exercise journals.  I think I need one.  That way I can be proud of myself and more motivated.  So….I’ll print out something on excel that I can check off each week.
2. Start saying no more.  Sorry friends, but I’m overcommitted lately and need to start saying no to more things so I can leave enough time to go to the gym daily.  I feel better and happier when I have a schedule that allows this and I need to take care of my mental and physical self now.
3. Take more workday walks.  Sometimes I’m really good at this and leave my desk for 30 minutes to walk a few miles around the neighborhood.  With the constant rain and yucky weather lately, I haven’t been doing this as often.  But this can be part of my checkmarks on my journal too.
4. Wine nights to Walk nights.  When I lived within walking distance of the beach and the golden gate bridge, I’d often meet friends after work for a “long walk and talk.”  Our loop was 5-6 miles, took under 2 hours, and we’d get all our chatting in plus some bonus fresh air.  I don’t live that close anymore, though there are plenty of other loops.  We’ve all gotten into a wine habit and so now I’m insisting we move back to Walk nights.

From a walk night to the bridge oh so long ago

And that’s it for now…..I don’t wan to be too hard on myself or make too many “rules,” especially because if I feel too restricted, I’ll probably have me rebelling into becoming unhealthy.  I also think it’s silly to be hard on myself.  This year was great and crazy and busy and I did my best.  I did well considering.  So it’s not about being angry about the past, it’s just about making the future the healthiest it can be.

We’re 95% certain the wedding is Memorial Day Weekend (we’ll be 100% once we officially sign the venue contact) so I have 5 full months of body clean-up ahead of me.  I have to admit that I feel weird posting this, like I’m destined to fail or something, which is a silly way to think, I know.  But I’m going to do my best and make ME and my healthy a top priority again.

– Do you steal bites from your friends, family, SO, etc?
– Are you at your happy weight?
– What am I missing from this equation?
– How much weight did you lose, if any, before your wedding?
– How long was your engagement?

So, I have to be honest.  I’ve been in a bit….okay MORE than a bit…of a food rut lately.   I eat the same things over and over.  Salad.  Green Smoothie with Spinach and Blueberries.  Sweet Potatoes.  Almonds.

Sure, they’re healthy things, but I’m missing out on other important, vital nutrients.  Where’s the Kiwi?  The Pumpkin Seeds?  The And it’s just time to get out of the rut…spring is here afterall!  That’s as good as excuse as any.

So, to counter my rut, I’m on Operation Superfood.  I will eat as many superfoods in each meal as I can…..and not just the same superfoods over and over again, a variety of every kind there are.

What’s a Superfood?  I’m sure you all hear it tossed around, but to be brief, a superfood is a whole food that is loaded with extremely high nutritional values, and some of their chemicals have been found to reduce the effect of certain disease processes.

Yes, blueberries are a superfood.  You get a lot of bang for your buck in one of those little guys!

Last week's blueberry raspberry smoothie.

I got a Superfood list off the internet the other day.  It’s a list of 111 “Superfoods” (some which I was surprised at and not sure I believe– Cheese?  A superfood?), but regardless, have been on a quest to cross them all off the list.

The Superfoods List is really long, so I put it at the end of the post (but I thought that it was better to have it all in one place).

So to start Operation Superfood:  When I was at the grocery store Wednesday night, I searched through the veggie aisle and only picked things I HADN’T eaten in the past few days (it’s been a long time since Swiss Chard HASN’T been in my cart, but time to move on to Mustard Greens, I guess).

And so far, so good. My days have been Superfood variety heavy.  And there’s nothing about Operation Superfood that could possible be bad for me…..so here we go.

Case in point– Dinner the other night:

Beets, Sweet Potato, Kale, and Asparagus....Superfoods galore

The Superfoods List is really long, so I put it at the end of the post (but I thought that it was better to have it all in one place).

I put a “X” next to the ones I’ve eated this week.  Please ignore the weird numbering system…..it just autonumbered after each pic and I couldn’t fix it.

1. Acai (antioxidants, omega-9 fats)
2. Almonds X (protein and fiber)
3. Amaranth      (highest protein in any grain)
4. Apples   X   (vitamin C, fiber, phytonutrients)
5. Apricots      (vitamin A and beta-carotene)
6. Artichoke      (vitamin C, fiber, minerals, silymarin, 7^th out of top 100      antioxidant foods)
7. Asparagus  X    (C and B vitamins, antioxidants)
8. Avocados  X    (monounsaturated fat & other nutrients)
9. Bananas X (vitamins C & B6, fiber, potassium)
10. Barley      (fiber, vitamins & minerals)
11. Basil     X  (antioxidants)

Basil & Grapefruit.....two superfoods that I rarely ever eat entered my cart (and my belly) this week!

1. Beans  X    (protein and fiber)
2. Beef, Lean      (protein, B vitamins, selenium and zinc)
3. Beets     X  (phytonutrients, carotenoids)
4. Blackberries   X   (antioxidants, vitamin C, phytochemicals)
5. Blueberries X (antioxidants, phytochemicals)
6. Broccoli      (vitamin and beta-carotene, cancer-fighting compounds)
7. Buckwheat      (fiber, B vitamins, magnesium, manganese)
8. Cabbage  X    (vitamin C, fiber)
9. Cantaloupe      (beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium, fiber)

Purple cabbage....why don't I eat this more often? sooo good! With leeks and yes, a sweet potato

1. Cardamom      (antioxidants, fights H. pylori bacteria)
2. Carob    X  (fiber, protein, minerals, antioxidants)
3. Carrots   X   (carotene, fiber, vitamins & minerals)
4. Cauliflower      (fiber, vitamin C, biotin, folate, phytochemical)
5. Celery      (vitamin A, minerals)
6. Cheese, low-fat   X   (calcium, protein)
7. Cherries      (vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals)
8. Cilantro/Coriander      (phytonutrients, minerals)
9. Cinnamon X     (antioxidants, minerals)
10. Cloves      (vitamins C & K, minerals, fiber, eugenol)
11. Cod      (protein, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins)
12. Collard greens   X   (antioxidants, vitamin C, beta-carotene, minerals)
13. Corn      (fiber, vitamins, phytochemicals)
14. Cranberries      (vitamin C, fiber, phytonutrients)
15. Cumin      (iron, lowers blood-glucose)
16. Currants      (vitamin C, fiber, antioxidants)
17. Eggplant      (minerals, fiber, flavonoids)
18. Eggs X (high protein vitamins B and D)
19. Elderberries      (high vitamin C, flavonoids, antioxidants)
20. Fennel      (fiber, potassium, vitamin C, phytochemicals)
21. Figs      (high fiber, minerals, polyphenols, antioxidents)
22. Flaxseeds  X    (omega-3 fats, fiber, lignans)
23. Garlic      (phytochemicals)
24. Ginger      (antioxidants)
25. Goji Berries or Wolfberries (beta-carotene and zeaxanthin)
26. Grapefruit  X    (vitamin C minerals, phytonutrients)
27. Grapes      (vitamin C, potassium, resveratrol)
28. Guava      (vitamins C & A, fiber potassium, phytochemicals)
29. Halibut      (protein, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids)
30. Hazelnuts (protein, fiber, antioxidants, folate)
31. Honey  X (trace enzymes, minerals, amino acids, flavonoids,      antioxidants, prebiotic)
32. Kale    X  (nutrient dense, vitamins, minerals, folate, phytochemicals, lutein)
33. Kiwi    X  (nutrient dense vitamin C, lutein)
34. Lemons  X    (vitamin C, limonene and other flavonoids)
35. Limes      (powerful phytochemicals, antioxidants)
36. Mangoes X  (vitamins A, C and K, potassium, carotenes)
37. Maple Syrup      (manganese, zinc)
38. Millet      (fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, carotenoids)
39. Mint      (antioxidants, vitamins, minerals)
40. Molasses, Blackstrap      (calcium, iron and other minerals)
41. Mushrooms  X     (selenium, B vitamins, potassium vitamin D)
42. Oats X (vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, fiber)
43. Olives & Olive Oil (monounsaturated fat, polyphenols are antioxidants)
44. Onions    X  (flavonoids quercetin is antioxidant, other phytochemicals)
45. Oranges  X    (potassium, vitamin C, folate, phytochemicals)
46. Oregano  X    (strong antioxidants carotenoids)
47. Papaya      (vitamins C &A, carotenoids)
48. Parsley      (vitamin C, iodine, iron, phytochemicals)
49. Passionfruit      (vitamin A & C, potassium, calcium, iron, phytochemicals)
50. Peanuts  X     (resveratol and other antioxidants)
51. Pears    X  (vitamin C, potassium, fiber antioxidants)
52. Pecans   (thiamine, magnesium, protein, fiber, antioxidants, oleic acid)
53. Pepper, Black  X    (improves digestion, antioxidant, antibacterial)
54. Pepper, Cayenne      (capsaicin, beta-carotene, thermogenesis)
55. Pepper, Chili      (vitamins A & C, potassium, iron, capsaicin)
56. Peppers   X   (vitamin C, beat-carotene & B vitamins flavonoids, capsaicinoids)
57. Persimmon      (vitamin A, C, and fiber, antioxidants, minerals)
58. Pineapple      (vitamins C & B6, manganese,, copper, anti-inflammatory bromelain)
59. Pistachios      (fiber, protein, potassium, phytosterols)
60. Plums/Prunes  X    (fiber, potassium, vitamin K, iron, antioxidants)
61. Pomegranates      (vitamin C, antioxidants, polyphenol)
62. Potatoes      (vitamin C, potassium, antioxidants)
63. Poultry, Chicken & Turkey  X (protein, niacin, selenium)
64. Pumpkin (fiber, potassium, vitamin A, beta-carotenes)
65. Pumpkin seeds    X  (omega-3 fatty acids, phytosterols)

Goodby almonds-- I ate pumpkin seeds for a workday snack this week

1. Quinoa      (more protein than any other grain, iron, vitamins)
2. Raisins     X  (phytonutrients, boron)
3. Raspberries  X    (fiber, phosphorus, selenium, vitamin C, antioxidants)
4. Rice, Brown    X  (antioxidants, vitamins, minerals)
5. Romaine Lettuce      (vitamins A & C folic acid, minerals)
6. Rosemary      (antioxidants)
7. Rye      (fiber, lignans, vitamins and minerals)
8. Salmon X (omega-3 fatty acids)
9. Sardines      (omega-3 fatty acids, calcium)
10. Sesame      (lignans, phytosterols)
11. Shrimp      (protein, selenium, vitamins D and B12, omega-3 fatty acids)
12. Spelt      (B vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein)
13. Spinach  X    (fiber, folate, vitamin K, minerals)
14. Strawberries      (vitamin C, folate, potassium, fiber, antioxidants)
15. Sunflower Seeds      (Vitamin E, folate, minerals, phytosterols)
16. Sweet Potatoes   X   (Vitamin A and beta-carotene, minerals, fiber)
17. Swiss chard      (fiber, vitamins A, C & K)
18. Tea    X  (flavonoids)
19. Tomatoes X (vitamin C, potassium phytosterols, beta-carotene      lycopene)
20. Tumeric      (vitamins, minerals, antioxidant curcumin)
21. Tuna      (protein, minerals, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids)
22. Walnuts  X (omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, minerals)
23. Watermelon      (lycopene)
24. Whole Wheat    X  (antioxidants, vitamins)
25. Whey protein      (amino acids)
26. Yogurt    X  (calcium, probiotic)

So, I’m up to 46 this week!  And the list will help me figure out which ones to buy next week.  I’m hoping to get to all 111 by the end of the first week of April….and then I guess I’ll start the list all over again!

How about YOU?  How many have you had in the past week?  Which ones do you eat really often?  Which ones do you never eat?

Happy Monday! Anyone else have a rough time waking up this morning? Sheesh, the alarm at 6:30 felt ridiculously early, I hit it off and then passed out for another HOUR. Haha. But the still-light evenings are well worth it.

This weekend, I had a mini-flu so I mostly layed-low, but I did make it out to the neighborhood Farmer’s Market.

Greeted with the first booth, overflowing with flowers. I love tulips...and tulip season makes me so happy

It was overcast and felt like it was about to rain, but that didn’t stop a big crowd from coming out.

There’s something so fun about buying produce from the sellers. And I am always curious to see what the latest in-season produce will be.

Freshly made apple juice. Um, yum!

First strawberries of the season.

Purple cauliflower.

That’s what I call a sample table! Check out the options.

After a good hour exploring all the booths, I left with bags full of veggies. Will hopefully be no veggie shortage in my house this week!

My only complaint (and yes, of course I have one) is that it really wasn’t any less expensive than if I went to the grocery store. In fact, I think it ended up being MORE expensive. For example, I bought one bunch of kale, about 10 brussel sprouts, and 3 mini cucumbers….and she charged me a whopping $7! Now that I think about it, I think she miscalculated? Whatever it was, that was much more than if I was at an organic market. Oh well. Gas prices are up, so maybe farmers market prices are up as a result?

Do you have a nearby Farmers Market? Is it year-round? How often do you go?

And now for my weekday exercise set-up. I haven’t done this before, but think I need to.

Monday: Swim 30 minutes, walk 1 hour, situps/stretches
Tuesday: Walk 2 hours (in 3 increments)
Wednesday: Run 30 minutes (5k?) morning, walk 1 hour (after work)
Thursday: Walk 2 hours
Friday: Swim 30 minutes, stretches/sit-ups
Sat/Sun: In Tahoe, so probably nothing except for a few walks and maybe some skiing.

Do you do a weekly exercise plan?