Although it didn’t feel like it when I left for my walk before work:

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The river looked really pretty, love when it’s still like this.  Too bad we couldn’t have afforded a house on the river, but I am glad that we are close enough to it so we don’t have to hear the noise of boats and jet skis – it can get really loud in the summer time.

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My Mom texted me before she came over to my house for Easter with a picture of a multi-pack of Flatout wraps and asked if I wanted any.  Um, yes please! 

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Now that I am doing my 30 day 30 grams per meal of protein challenge, these fit the bill – 9 grams of protein and only 90 calories!  I decided to make a breakfast panini with one of the wraps.  I wasn’t sure this would work in my panini maker, but it made it nice and crunchy – nice!  I had egg white, spinach, ham and Cabot cheese pepper jack cheese with fresh fruit on the side.  This meal comes in at 406 calories, 17 fat, 30 carbs, 11.7 fiber and 36 grams of protein.

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Work was actually super busy.  So busy in fact I finally pulled myself away from my desk at 2:00 to get out and walk – so I ate that breakfast at around 9 a.m. and I didn’t need any food for fuel before my walk – that extra protein really stuck with me!  I did a quick 40 minute walk around my office building.

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As I was walking back into my office building, I noticed daffodils starting to bloom!  Spring can’t be too far away, right?!

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For lunch I had lasagna soup with spinach and cheese tortellini, a side of new to me yogurt, without the topping (I’ll save the nuts for a parfait later in the week) and I got this new immersion water bottle – it has a little contraption on the lid where you can add fresh fruit or veggies to flavor your water – I ended up using English cucumbers and fresh mint – so refreshing!  This meal comes in at 500 calories, 48 carbs, 20 fat, 2.7 fiber and 31 grams of protein.

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I ended up working a bit late, and when I looked down and realized I had already gotten almost 14,000 steps for the day, I decided not to hit the gym after work.  I will tonight as it’s a strength day for me.  Jacob was working late and I knew I was going to cook myself a steak for dinner.  Knowing Hannah wouldn’t touch that with a 10-foot pole, I made mac n cheese with Cabot’s smoky bacon cheese with broccoli.  She always asks me to use shells or shaped pasta because it has more flavor than elbow macaroni – Open-mouthed smile

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I cooked once, but will eat twice.  I ate half the steak, had half a cup of the macaroni and green beans.  I flavored the steak with a new seasoning I got at Spice & Tea – Cinnabar Smoke!  OMG, so good!  It has garlic, chipotle pepper, (onion!), smoked black pepper, hot paprika, Worcestershire powder, cinnamon, marjoram and parsley.  Such an interesting blend of flavors with a bit of heat!

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So even without my after work workout, I got in some serious steps!

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I think it helps that I start off my day with a walk, even if it’s only 20 minutes, it adds between 1500 and 2000 steps before I even leave for work – nice!  This morning I have the results of my MRI – I have to say yesterday my knee felt pretty good, but this morning after my knee has “rested” overnight, it hurts to get it going.  Fingers crossed it’s nothing too bad.

Did your week start off on the right foot?  If not, today is a new day.  I have to say that the best thing about having grown children is there is no Easter basket candy to loot!  Those marshmallow peeps always call my name!

Make it a great day!