Getting Back on Track During the Holiday Season...

Lately, I feel like Im letting myself get too far off track and I keep making little excuses to let things slide that I would not normally do...from skipping a workout, to not doing enough cardio, to eating a cookie (or two). All of these excuses are making me feel quite lazy and at times unhappy with myself.  This is not something that I normally feel, but rather than sit on the sidelines, I decided that I need to do something about it NOW!  Its the start of the Christmas week and I am anticipating holiday gatherings with lots of FOOD, FOOD, and more FOOD (and none of it is going to be healthy)!  The gym is also going to be closed on one of my favorite days to workout...SUNDAY...because of the holiday.  I don't want to be stressed out about all of the food that is going to be surrounding me and the chances that I am going to have to indulge in all of these high-fat and high-calorie foods.  I am going to focus on the beautiful people around me and on how good it feels to give myself the best gift that I can this Christmas, self-respect.  I know it is going to take a lot for me not to eat all of these things and to try to get some sort of activity in during the day in the midst of the holiday bustle, but I know that doing healthy things for myself is what this self-respect is all about.  Giving myself this present is going to take some planning....and I have already began the necessary steps.

Yesterday I made an absolutely delicious cinnamon swirl protein loaf from a recipe that I found on Bodybuilding.com from Jamie Eason.  Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup Ideal (Xylitol)
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups oat flour + 2 scoops vanilla whey protein
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup Ideal (Xylitol) or ¼ cup Stevia in the Raw
• 2 egg whites
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (Almond Breeze)
• 1/3 cup or 1 4oz jar of baby food applesauce and ¼ cup low sugar vanilla yogurt (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray an 8 X 8 inch Pyrex dish with non-stick spray.
2. In small bowl combine: (set aside)

• 1/3 cup Ideal (Xylitol)
• 2 tsp cinnamon

3. In a large bowl combine: (whisk together)

• 1 1/2 cups oat flour + 2 scoops vanilla whey protein

• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup Ideal (Xylitol) or ¼ cup Stevia in the Raw

4. In a medium bowl combine: (whisk together & add to lrg bowl)

• 2 egg whites
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (Almond Breeze)
• 1/3 cup or 1 4oz jar of baby food applesauce and ¼ cup low sugar vanilla yogurt (optional)

5. Pour a shallow layer of batter into the loaf pan (about 1/4 of the batter).
6. Sprinkle heavily with half of the cinnamon/sugar mixture. Repeat with remaining batter & cinnamon/sugar on top.
7. Draw a knife through the batter to marble. Bake for 24 to 28 min. Let cool for 10 min. Bread will be dense.

This stuff is absolutely addicting and it allows me for a little bit of a treat that is sensible and nutritious!  Each square in the 16 serving pan is onle 55 calories, 1g of fat, 8g of carbs, and 5g of protein.  I warmed up a piece in the microwave this morning after my yoga class and enjoyed it while I was sipping my Cafe American with sf mocha syrup from Starbucks (another one of my holiday favorites!). 

Speaking of yoga, that was a total suprise this morning!  I wanted to get in the groove of doing some activity before I went to the office in the morning...hence actually doing the cardio I am supposed to!  Right now I teach two and a half hours of classes at the gym, so I count that as my cardio, even though it is light resistance training.  I wanted to incorporate something different into my routine.  I thought I was going to a class that involved some kind of weight training at the gym around the corner from my gym, but when I got there I realized that the Centurgy class was really a yoga/pilates class!  Rather than booking it out of there, I decided that I mine as well try it while I was there...funny thing is, I LOVED IT!  I think that this class is going to really help me center and relieve some of the stress I have been feeling lately about my body and my busy schedule.  It is hard for me to keep everything together sometimes when I am working 60-70 hours per week.  I cannot wait to take this on Thursday morning before work!  As for my other session of cardio, I'm hoping to get a spin class in Friday morning too!  All about the planning! 

Tonight, Im going to rock Chisel class and Stability Ball and really bring back the enthusiasm that I feel towards fitness.  The love that I have for this lifestyle is going to shine through!  I can only anticipate all of the good things ahead of me rather than dwell on the negative stresses in my life lately.  The alst few weeks, everything seems like a battle...from getting ready for Christmas, working two jobs, training and managing my weight, and just living life in general!  Its time for a change!  Its time for some positive!  This is my last week of carbing up and "bulking" and then its time to start leaning out with a carb cycle next week!  Im sure there will be more details to come!  Its only Tuesday but this fire needs to be burning all week long! :)