Tony and I tried to vote early on Saturday. We walked up to our County polling venue, only to find out that it was a 2 1/2 hour wait! Our local polling place is at a church basement a couple miles from the house. I got up early this morning, figuring if there was too long of a line, I’d just have to try again after work.
I walked in at 6:15 a.m. and was back in my car at 6.18 a.m. Winning! And I got a sticker that said I Voted! 
I really can’t wait for today to be over because I am tired of my mailbox being 75% campaign ads, and the repeated annoying local politician commercials.
My 21 day challenge plan was to get my 4 mile runs done in the morning, before work. Only one teeny tiny problem yesterday. It took me 50 minutes to get to the gym, nearly 20 minutes longer than usual. I thought, no problem, I’ll just run at lunch.
I did get a 9 mile bike ride while watching HGTV though.
In the car I had a Carnation Instant Breakfast and ate that at my desk – I was busy right off the bat, so my cell phone stood in at breakfast. Mixed with 1 cup of skim milk, this cup comes in at 231 calories, 1.4 fat, 34 carb s, 3.5 fiber and 15 protein. I drank this around 9:00 a.m.
Around 10:30 I was hangry! I had the last of my poblano potato quiche – this slice comes in at 226 calories, 12 fat, 12 carbs, 1.6 fiber and 15.9 protein.
I normally take my blood sugar around 11:15 to see where I am at. If it’s too low I have time to have some fruit to bring it up. I went to test it, and got an error message. WTF? I looked up the error code, and my battery was dead. It takes a 3 volt battery.
I can’t work out not knowing where I am at, so I had to hit up Walgreen’s before my workout. When I got to the gym I tested it, it was 199 – I would have liked it to be over 200, but I figured I’d go as far as I could.
Um, who forgot to tell me that 4 miles is a long run?! I don’t know how I thought I could finish walking/running 4 miles in my lunch hour. And as luck would have it, my blood sugar was dropping and I only got in a 5k.
When I tested it when I got back in the locker room, it was 69. I then started thinking that I might make this challenge a “5k a Day” with the hopes of running a 5k without stopping, and under 35:00 minutes. I also realized when I was at the gym yesterday, that I never take advantage of their exercise classes. So here is my revised “changed my mind” 21 day challenge!
21 Day Challenge
- 5k a day
- strength training 3x a week
- 5 group classes
- getting water in, even on the weekends
- adding more fruits and veggies to my diet
- keeping my carbs under 135 grams per day
- no alcohol for 21 days
- only fruits and veggie snacks after dinner
Guess what I had for lunch yesterday? More lasagna soup! Seriously, if you haven’t made this yet, please do. It’s pure comfort in a bowl. I didn’t make the cheezy mixture that Suzie does, but its still delicious. And I scored at the discount meat rack and got a package of mild Italian sausage for 75% off.
I also didn’t have any lasagna noodles, so I cooked up 8 ounces of manicotti, and when they cooled, sliced them in rounds and added them to the soup. 354 calories, 15 fat, 34 carbs, 3.0 fiber and 17 protein.
While I was busy all day, right around 4:45 I thought I might have to work late. I called Tony and he said “keep me in the loop.” I called him at 5:15 – crises averted and I was on my way home.
Now here’s what is the problem with my kitchen. Since I do 99.0% of the cooking, I pretty much know where everything is. Except I hardly EVER put anything back in the same place twice. Our kitchen is tiny, and I tend to just shove place things in the nearest cupboard. It drives both Tony and Hannah nuts.
But Tony prevailed and dinner was ready by the time I got home. Spicy pork chops with rosemary parmesan potatoes. He told me that he didn’t use any oil in making the chops, just Pam, and added just a splash of olive oil to the potatoes – thanks Tony! This was an 8 ounce chop, I ate 6 ounces of it. My guess is dinner comes in at 399 calories, 8 fat, 34 carbs, 4 fiber and 42 protein.
Can you see how flippin juicy that chop is?? And Tony has learned over the years that just because I like spicy shit, it can’t JUST be spicy, it has to be what I like to call “flavorful” spicy. He added just a touch of cayenne pepper to my chops – can you see the flecks of cayenne? Perfectly spicy! 
Thanks Tony!
Stats for the Day:
- 1305 calories, 38 fat, 135 carbs, 12.8 fiber and 91 protein
- 9.1 mile bike ride before work
- 5k at lunch
- no alcohol
So all in all, not a bad Day 1 of this challenge!
Since I am not going to the gym before work, I have time to cook up my Cincinnati chili for dinner tonight, and take the dog on a walk – I have a whole hour before I have to leave for work – love it!
I talked to Hannah last night and she had a great first day at work! She has orientation for 4 hours on Thursday, then a dinner orientation on Sunday, then she’ll get her schedule. She said everyone was really nice, and when she left she got to pick out a pastry, loaf of bread and a bagel to take home.
But she said the best part was that they get 65% off any food purchase AND she gets three free drinks during her shift – which knowing her, will all be coffee! 
So excited for her.
Make it a great day!
So happy for Hannah!! My three free drinks would all be coffee, too, hee hee.
I can’t wait to be able to vote (not a citizen yet). It KILLS me when my friends say things like “I don’t like politics,” or worse, “I don’t have time to vote!” GARRGH!
Go Biz! I just had to replace my battery too. Last night I completely LOST my whole kit. I was freaking out. But stupidly I went to bed without finding it so I didn’t test before bed. I’ve never had to use my glucagon kit but I came close–I was practically paralyzed and couldn’t get out of bed and wet it. When Dennis found my kit & checked it was like 27…that was AFTER he gave me some maple syrup and cookies. I could barely swallow. Freaking scary. My muscles took a long time to work right again.
Glad for Hannah I hope she enjoys working there. I’d sure enjoy those free coffees! And I’m adding that lasagna soup to my meal plan for next week. What has taken me so long?
Holy Shit V!! That is scary! I think the lowest I’ve ever been is 35, but that was before I ate anything. I bought extra batteries so I won’t have this problem again. Be safe!
I got that low a couple times as a new diabetic but I’m proud I was never hospitalized once b/c of a low-everyone I know that’s type 1 has been. Have you? Anyway, you asked how often I check my blood sugar-girl I check at least 6 times a day, and up to 10! I was pissed when I couldn’t find my kit but I was tired so I just went to bed. Dennis found it underneath a cookie sheet of all things. That’s kind of ironic right there-lol!
Nope, never had it get that low – been close a couple times when once I gave myself insulin twice by mistake, and once when I woke up at 25, only because Tony was sick and needed me, but he ended up saving me!
I think you still did great exercising! I like the revised schedule too. My hubs rarely cooks, maybe the occasional steaks on the grill. That would be nice to come home too. I didn’t realize how much time (and money) I spent at the grocery store. Now that I’m off work, I’m trying to conserve and use things we have. It’s been a challenge! Good for Hannah and that discount is nice 🙂
Yep, having to be frugal at the grocery store is a challenge – see if your store has the reduced meat bin like mine does that sells meat on the last day it can be sold – just bring it home and freeze it for later. 😀
It took me about 5 minutes to vote this morning. No line – only the time to fill out and post my ballot – woot! Luckily, my polling place is a 5 minute walk from the house, too. It took me longer to walk there and back than it did to vote 😀
Great way to start the week! Congrats to Hannah on her new job. Some how I missed that news.
Oh those chops look amazing. I’m going to try a coffee marinated pork chop recipe tomorrow. Hope they come out looking as good as yours.
2.5 hours wait??? Holy smokes!!!!!! Way to go on those revised goals Vat. I know you’ll meet ’em all! Have a great day.
No waiting for us! We vote by mail. All signed, sealed and sent in over the weekend! 🙂
Cutting out the cheese sauce step makes that lasagna cheese sound that much more appealing to me. I’m quite the lazy cook lately! 🙂
You do 99% of the cooking?
Two breakfasts and a dinner radically changes the percentages. My guess…98.5%. There , I have spoken!
You are so right Tony, I guess I was just thinking about dinners! 😀 I love you! xoxoxo
You only have to tell me once…making that lasagna soup next week!
Changing of mind is a woman’s prerogative!
Took me 35 mins to vote this morning. That’s the longest line I’ve ever seen so early in the morning!
Way to go! Keep it up, girl!
Great that you voted. Voting is a right, especially for us women and personally I think everyone has to vote.
5K a day, is that running 7 days a week or can it be walking too? If it’s just running, I would say it’s a lot and I would cut it down to 5 times a week. The body needs rest too. If you do a few walks and a few runs you’re okay. But this is just my thought about this.
Fran, I’ll be walking the 5ks on the weekend for a break – thanks for the info though! 😀
Free coffee? Great job- where do I sign up? I’m such a coffee-aholic ;). I need to make that soup- its been on my to make list for wayyyy toooo long. I voted this morning- 1 hr 15 minute wait. Glad to have my vote in
Awesome! But no alcohol for 21 days?! Yikes 😉 I made your Cinncinati Chili last week, just haven’t had time to post about it yet!!
You’re off to a great start! yay!