Tenth Street Walk Out Atlantic Beach, FL – September 6, 2021Sand Art Atlantic Beach, FL – September 6, 2021Choppy Waves Atlantic Beach, FL – September 8, 2021King Tide Season Begins Atlantic Beach, FL – September 9, 2021It’s A Hell Of A Day At Sea, Sir Atlantic Beach, FL – September 9, 2021Passing Storms Atlantic Beach, FL – September 10, 2021Pink Skies At Night Atlantic Beach, FL – September 10, 2021Bloom Where You’re Planted, Tenth Street Walkout Atlantic Beach, FL – September 12, 2021
In The Gardens:
Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – September 7, 2021Honey Nut Squash Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – September 7, 2021Orange Bell Peppers Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – September 8, 2021Honey Nut Squash Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – September 8, 2021Gateway Greens Moistenland Hydroponic Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – September 9, 2021Snowball Cauliflower Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – September 11, 2021 Guitar Case Greens, Honey Nut Squash, Red Bell Pepper, Celery, San Marzano Tomato Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – September 11, 2021Eggplant Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – September 12, 2021Gatherer’s Gold Pepper, Orange Bell Pepper, San Marzano Tomatoes, Bumblebee Tomatoes Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – September 12, 2021Orange Bell Pepper Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – September 12, 2021Honey Nut Squash, Guitar Case Greens Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – September 12, 2021
On The Streets Where I Live:
Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – September 6, 2021Palm Avenue Atlantic Beach, FL – September 6, 2021West Third Street Atlantic Beach, FL – September 9, 2021
Parks and Recreation:
Tideview Preserve Atlantic Beach, FL – September 7, 2021Spanish Pond Trail, Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve Jacksonville, FL – September 11, 2021Spanish Pond Trail, Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve Jacksonville, FL – September 11, 2021Lake Loop Trail Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens Jacksonville, FL – September 12, 2021
Codee Cam:
Snuggle Bug Close Up Codee, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – September 8, 2021Watching The Waves Atlantic Beach, FL – September 9, 2021 The Ripple Effect Atlantic Beach, FL – September 11, 2021
On The Plates:
Roasted Cabbage, Sweet Onion, Golden Beet, and Chicken BreastPotato Cabbage Chicken Salad, Sugar Snap Peas, Gatherer’s Gold Sweet Pepper
The Town Line, Tideview Preserve Atlantic Beach, FL – September 1, 2021
On The Beach:
Rise and Shine, 10th Street Atlantic Beach, FL – September 3, 2021Rise and Shine, 10th Street Atlantic Beach, FL – August 30, 2021Sky Art Atlantic Beach, FL – August 31, 2021Sky Art Atlantic Beach, FL – September 4, 2021Sunset Storms Atlantic Beach, FL – September 2, 2021
In The Gardens:
Mammoth Sunflower, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – August 31, 2021Bumblebee Tomatoes, San Marzano Tomatoes, Gatherer’s Gold Peppers Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – August 30, 2021Gatherer’s Gold Peppers Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – September 5, 2021Eggplant Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – August 30, 2021
On The Streets Where I Live:
Painted Rock, Tenth Street Atlantic Beach, FL – September 3, 2021Neighborhood Love, Beach Blvd Atlantic Beach, FL – August 31, 2021Stop And Smell, First Street Neptune Beach, FL – September 1, 2021Stop And Smell, Beach Ave Atlantic Beach, FL – September 4, 2021Reduce Reuse Recycle, First Street Neptune Beach, FL – September 1, 2021
Howell Park Atlantic Beach, FL – August 31, 2021Tideview Preserve Atlantic Beach, FL – September 1, 2021Tideview Preserve Atlantic Beach, FL – September 4, 2021Jacksonville Arboretum Jacksonville, FL – September 3, 2021Fort Caroline Jacksonville, FL – September 5, 2021Public Art, Jack Russell Park Atlantic Beach, FL – August 31, 2021
Codee Cam:
Codee Coolin Off, Atlantic Beach Dog Park Atlantic Beach, FL – September 3, 2021“Are you sure this is okay?” – Codee Jack Russell Park Atlantic Beach, FL – August 31, 2021“Something doesn’t feel right here…” – Codee Atlantic Beach, FL – August 31, 2021
On The Plates:
Beet, Lentil, and Chickpea Salad; Mary’s Gone Crackers Super Seed Classic Crackers; Nancy’s Cultured Cottage Cheese; Mixed Spring Greens Yellow Bell Pepper, Grass Fed Cubed Steak, Coconut Milk Buckwheat, Parsley, Arugula, Blistered Grape TomatoesRaw Veggie Plate; Chicken, Cabbage, Egg Salad
Garmin Says:
Cardio Workouts – Atlantic Beach, FL August 30 – September 5, 2021
Sky Art Atlantic Beach, FL – August 28, 2021Sky Art Atlantic Beach, FL – August 28, 2021
Painted rocks are huge in my tiny town and lots of people get into the game of leaving them for people to find! They are hidden or randomly placed around the town to bring smiles, mantras, and creative tiny creatures. I find them everywhere and, this morning, these guys were hiding under the pier. I’m always the most impressed with the rocks from the artist who painted the elephant, but for some reason the duck, especially stashed under the pier during this dreary weather, really brightened up the morning. Thanks for the fun, #abrocks!
Even the ducks are hiding from the storm… Atlantic Beach, FL – August 28, 2021Painted Rocks Atlantic Beach, FL – August 28, 2021
In The Gardens:
It’s time to start getting some plants in the ground over at the garden even though it’s still a bit early in the fall season. I am definitely going to run out of time before Dear Evan Hansen starts again, so I started to clean out the garden a bit. Typical me, I’m going to plant anyway because…well, why not? I considered not having a garden this season because I thought it might make it harder to leave, but I decided that I would rather make the most of my time off. Plus, it’s not like it could get any harder to leave…are you starting to sense that I am having mixed emotions about packing up?
Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – August 28, 2021Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – August 28, 2021Mammoth Sunflowers, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – August 28, 2021
About The Town:
While I I live in Atlantic Beach, technically speaking, my little bubble includes Neptune and Jacksonville Beach as well. We’re all connected in a strange government consolidation that happened in 1968, yet each town still maintains their own municipal governments… Let’s not go down the politics road yet, though…There are so many things to love packed into the trifecta of towns we call “The Beaches”, especially if you are into cooking and great food. Goodness knows, with four farmers markets, a natural foods market, and an urban hydroponic farm in the area, I really don’t need to grow plants for the harvest…which leaves me more time for sunflowers. 🙂
Penman Park Jacksonville Beach, FL – August 28, 2021Hydroponic Farm and Market Atlantic Beach, FL – August 28, 2021
Sweating It Out:
I fear that I might be getting a bit too comfortable kicking it at this pace, but I have increased my weekly mileage as I have decreased my speed. Plus, this feels right for right now and I think that’s what matters.
What I Watched:
Okay, this show came out last summer, but it is worth a revisit. You could blame it on my admiration for Reese Witherspoon, but this one is so much more that than. An incredible novel, Little Fires Everywhere, was made into an extraordinarily compelling, limited series on Hulu. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it.
On The Plates:
I haven’t made a big grain/legume salad in awhile, but I got out the big bowl this afternoon. Normally at the condo, I keep all of the components separate because I like to make something slightly different each time. This way, no one dish gets stale in the rotation, but during a conversation about meal convenience earlier this week, I was reminded that I am going to have to get back into my tour batch cooking ways soon. As a little practice, I put together some roasted beets, canned chickpeas, sprouted lentils, roasted zucchini, and some homemade pickled carrots and onions. I am also working my way through the jar of mayo that I made, so I whisked a little of that with some pickling juice to make something like a dressing for the whole thing. For supper, I put a couple of fried eggs on top of a big serving to bump that protein up.
I eat so many versions of this salad that I decided I would add the date to the title. Do you have a salad that you can eat every week…sometimes twice a week…and not get tired of it? This is mine. Anyway, I get all of the chicken that I eat these days from Lola Farms and it never disappoints. Again, you could use any chicken that you like or not…This one has the yummy dark thigh meat. I batch cook a few pieces at the beginning of the week and then take the meat off the bone and jar it in 4oz portions. Some weeks, it’s breast and thighs, sometimes it’s quarters…It’s all delicious and, for every day meals, it all gets the same preparation. I thaw it in the fridge and then remove it from the package and put it on a normal dinner plate. I season it liberally…I mean, would I do it any other way…with sea salt and black pepper on both sides. I cover it with another plate and put it back in the fridge until the next day. I roast it in the Ninja at Bake/400 until it hits 165 degrees. The dark meat likes to go just a bit longer so that more of that collagen breaks down, but I don’t get too crazy because a lot of the time I reheat it. Her product is so great, though, that I have never one time been disappointed…even when I KNOW I overcooked it.
Before
After
The beets roast in the Ninja, so while it is a bit time consuming on that side, it’s all inactive and it doesn’t even heat up your house. You can, of cook them in the oven, buy them already cooked, or use your slow cooker. Come to think of it, you could probably steam them…hmmm… As with most things, I usually cook two or three at a time and keep them in the fridge or freezer. This go around a decided to use my vegetable peeler to shave pieces off the whole, peeled beet. There are many days when it all gets mixed together and turns into an entirely pink dish, but I kept them fairly segregated today. I splashed a bit of champagne vinegar and sea salt on the shaved pieces in a small bowl so that they were seasoned, but I dressed the rest of the components together.
The greens came from the my balcony garden Guitar Case Greens collection. 🙂 I can’t get enough of growing lettuce. I get the perfect amount of sunlight for it and there is nothing better than picking greens right before you eat them. This plate was made mostly from the arugula growing in the neck of the case, though there were a few mixed lettuces thrown in for texture. Also, my arugula is INTENSE in flavor, so it really does well as part of a mixed green plate and standing up to a pretty full bodied dressing.
For the dressing today, I used about a tablespoon of the grapefruit juice, a splash of champagne vinegar, a teaspoon of Dijon, a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper. I had a half of a sliced and sautéed white onion in a small jar in the fridge, so I added the ingredients to that jar, re-lidded it, and shook it up. I popped it in the fridge for awhile to meld those flavors. Because I am taking a break from dairy this month, I omitted my usual goat cheese and tried to get just a little twang with the Dijon. I feel like that, plus the umami from the onions, and the juicy chicken made me not miss the goat cheese at all. You will have extra dressing, so go lightly and dress it immediately before you plate it. Though, here’s the truth about how I ate it…
“You wanna do what now?” – Codee at The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – August 10th, 2021
We have been getting out and about in the morning, but mostly in the car to run errands. Like everywhere else, it’s pretty warm outside no matter the time of day and Codee gets in most of his steps in the evening. I did a bit of container gardening after we got home and he took a little nap. Luckily, I have an eastern facing balcony, so by 12:30, we have some shade. He really likes to break up the early afternoon by going in and out. This way he can check out any neighbors passing by and then cool off on the air conditioned, hardwood floor. Not a bad gig, if you can get it.
Honey Nut Squash, Tom Thumb Peas, and Arugula Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – August 10, 2021The Carrot Patch Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – August 10, 2021
Parks and Recreation:
An Unusually Empty Day, Atlantic Beach Dog Park Atlantic Beach, FL – August 10, 2021Howell Park Atlantic Beach, FL – August 10, 2021
On The Streets Where I Live:
There are all kinds of unexpected joys kicking around Atlantic Beach. Finding hidden bits helps keep me motivated….and not just because it means I can stop in this heat to take a photo. 😉 I find I have just a little burst of energy after I smile.
“Nothing to see here, folks.” – Tree Man, 11th Street Atlantic Beach, FL – August 10, 2021Sunshine in Rock Form, Beach Ave Atlantic Beach, FL – August 11, 2021Mammoth Sunflowers, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – August 10, 2021Happy Little Clouds Atlantic Beach, FL – August 10, 2021
Sweating It Out:
A return to the streets!!! It was great, but it was a walk/run/limp combo, to be completely honest. My left hip HATED me at the end of this. I stretched it out a bunch and used my roller ball, but this is a great reminder to do what I say…or not…and not what I do. I am a negligent stretcher/flexibility training buddy. Heed the warning, please.
Podcast of The Day:
This section should be retitled, “My Schoolgirl Crushes”… Today, it’s back to my boys and their guest, Tony Hawk. I was never cool enough to be a skater, but I think the first time I saw him was in the movie “Gleaming The Cube”…Could that be accurate?
On The Plates:
The old standard… Guitar Case Greens, Roasted Lola Chicken, Roasted Shaved Beets, Grapefruit, Sautéed Onion, and English Cucumber with a Grapefruit Vinaigrette
Since we’re being honest…this is how it played out behind the scenes….
How I Really Eat My Salads, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – August 10, 2021
Cronometer:
Garmin Says:
That step count is a little more in line with what I like to see.
110 Days Until Load In!!…Stay safe and moving, y’all!!!
I did it!!! I finally found the right combination of recipe, gear, and ingredients to successfully make mayonnaise. I know that I should have gone to Martha from the beginning, but I blundered through whisks and bowls, blenders and lots of wasted oil…which splattered EVERYWHERE, mind you…before I remembered to check her website for a recipe and, voila. I am very excited and, to be honest, a little bit nervous. Mayonnaise is a condiment that I gave up back when I lost my first large amount of weight. It was one of those mind games, though, where I told myself that I didn’t like it knowing all the while that it was untrue, but it made me not miss it. Then, came my real food guidelines and that kept it away for the most recent past. Well, my inability to make it keep it away, but it’s a product that can have a lot of additives.
I don’t miss it often, obviously, but I am trying to eat more fish and I definitely miss it when it comes to canned salmon and tuna. I didn’t use much and also added Dijon mustard and caper brine, along with celery and sea salt, but it makes a big difference. As if I didn’t have enough beets earlier in the week…I served it along with some roasted beets tossed with champagne vinegar, salted English cucumber slices, and Balcony Garden Greens. Perfect on a hot summer day.
Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – August 8, 2021
It was a beautiful day to round out Week 1 of my challenge…one of those days where there is not much to report in the garden, though. August is like that around here. After checking on things there and then heading to my favorite grocery store (they have 10% off produce on Sundays), we headed back to the condo for a chill day. I did a bit of my strength training while getting extra vitamin D and composting a couple of plants on the balcony while Codee napped. It was a warm and sunny day, so we took a lot of short walks. After my coaching call, we headed to the park…again. It’s not uncommon for us to hit at least three of the parks in Atlantic Beach on any given day and today was no exception. It’s a really difficult place for boredom to set in and that is only one of the reasons I love my tiny town so much. And now for some photos from the next town over…Neptune Beach….
Simple Beauty, First Street Neptune Beach, FL – August 8, 2021Bumper Sticker Wisdom Atlantic Beach, FL – August 8, 2021Creatures by Scotie Cousins Neptune Beach, FL, August 8, 2021I’m a sucker for a penny farthing…, First Street Neptune Beach, FL – August 8, 2021
Sweating It Out:
I had a fun walk/run combo into Neptune Beach this evening. I walked the first 2.5 miles, jogged 2 miles, and then walked the last half mile home. Straight out and mostly straight back. There isn’t a ton of shade on First Street in Neptune, so I haven’t gone far in that direction in a long time. The bummer is that I noticed my phone was going to die, so I skipped a podcast/music and didn’t take a lot of photos, but I was reminded how nice the route is with a good breeze, creative neighbors, and the occasional view of the ocean. No turns and very little traffic means you can just get in the zone and the fellow fitness seekers provide just the right amount of motivation when you need it.
I also had a double dose of arm resistance training. It seems like such a small daily amount, but I will be honest that I am feeling it after a day off tomorrow. I’m not sore, but I’m glad I am easing back in.
On The Plates:
7 for 7 on the brunch consistency this week. This photo is from yesterday, but my Green Drink is exactly the same, so…
Have a mentioned recently that it is an acquired taste?…
I had a HUGE kitchen win today and finally found the right combo of recipe and technique to make my own mayonnaise. Why didn’t I go to Martha months ago??? I am very excited about this development. Mostly because I failed so many times prior to this success, it seemed like I was not ever going to get it right…blender, whisk, food processor…nothing had produced anything but an oily mess. Mayonnaise is a condiment that I gave up back when I lost my first large amount of weight and I don’t miss it often, but I am trying to eat more fish and I definitely miss it when it comes to canned salmon and tuna. I didn’t use much and also added Dijon mustard and caper brine, along with celery and sea salt, but it makes a big difference. I like to let it chill in the fridge for a few hours before eating, if I think to plan it out that way. I’m really excited to have this in a sandwich, but I am keeping gluten out of my diet for a month, so as if I didn’t have enough beets earlier in the week…I served it along with some roasted beets tossed with champagne vinegar, salted English cucumber slices, and greens from my balcony garden. Perfect for a hot summer day.
Cronometer:
Around 9PM, I got a little snacky…some carrots, an apple, and coconut peanut spread were a perfect, if strange, solution. It was kind of a weird day with a touch of an over indulgence at the end. As a side note, I have not had the exact same weight three days in a row in any other time in my memory…so strange, but holding steady through day 7 of my challenge and day 1 of my cycle.
Garmin Says:
It was a beautiful day… which was exactly what I needed to close out the week hitting all my goals!
112 Days Until Load In…Stay safe and moving, y’all!
It was in the low 80’s this morning and the beach was lovely. We walked with a neighbor and her dog for about a mile and then hung out like riff raff under the pier for a bit. On the way home, Codee found something that he just couldn’t get close enough to…
Boys Are Gross – Codee Rollin’ It Atlantic Beach, FL – August 5, 2021Camouflage Codee Atlantic Beach, FL – August 5, 2021
In The Gardens:
The balcony plants get a pretty decent amount of really direct morning sunlight this time of year and because they avoid the blistering heat of the afternoon sun, they do pretty well. I’m excited to see if this pepper comes all the way through ripening.
Potted Pepper Plant Upcycle Balcony Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – August 5, 2021
I don’t typically get any squash up here, but I think the plants are fun so I grow them anyway.
Honey Nut Squash Flower Upcycle Balcony Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – August 5, 2021
Just waiting on the last two little seeds to sprout in this lot of tomato plants….
Tiny Tomato Sprouts Upcycle Balcony Garden, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – August 5, 2021
Speaking of seeds…I give you The Ultimate Seed Spreader!
The World’s Cutest Seed Spreader – Codee Atlantic Beach, FL – August 5, 2021
Sweating It Out:
By the time I got around to hitting my five miles for the day, we were just starting our daily storm, so back to the treadmill. I am really grateful that I bought it though I need to stop filling my living room with recreational gear. It was a walk/jog combination holding 3lb dumbbells for 4 of the 5 miles.
What I Watched:
What a fun soundtrack! I mean, the whole movie is pretty glorious, but the orchestrations and songs are everything you want in a musical. Also, I confess that Hugh Jackman is pretty awesome workout motivation for me. A girl can have day dreams, right?
On The Plates:
Should I start posing my brunch Green Drink in random places around the condo so you don’t get bored with it? That’s the thing…it’s not exciting and, I repeat, it’s an acquired taste, but at 215 calories with 25g of protein (important albeit, not complete protein), my concoction takes about an hour to drink and is more interesting to me than plain water. Plus, it’s full of all sorts of things that are really beneficial (for most people) that I definitely wouldn’t consume most days if I didn’t intentionally try, like chlorella and spirulina.
My brunch plate was the greatest example of a silver lining to being single and only cooking for myself. It’s also a reminder that I would never ever recommend that anyone follow my eating plan because it is very specific to my…let’s say…uniqueness. I’m not saying that what was on the plate wasn’t delicious and remarkably nutritious, but who in their right mind wants to eat a plate of roasted beets and steamed broccoli?…Besides me, that is because I really enjoyed it. 🙂 I used a bunch of champagne vinegar and sea salt and the beets I cooked in the Ninja the other day were perfect! You have to be a big beet and broccoli fan for this one. I get it if you aren’t.
Dinner was another “pasta” plate, this time black soybean spaghetti. Now that I have leaned into the single ingredient alternative noodles, you can expect to see lots more of them in my rotations. I do this with most new ingredients that I get into…potentially eat it too often…but I’m reminded why so many people are drawn to making and eating pasta. Obviously, actual, real, good pasta is also amazing, but pulling a meal together with a base of pasta is SO easy and fast. The bonus with the alternatives is that you get the plant protein you want, the downside is that none of them are pasta.
The packaging is a little deceptive on this one in that it says black bean on the front, but the black beans that come to mind don’t have the protein content this product boasts about. It’s because the noodle are actually made from organic black soybeans, so be wary if you are sensitive to soy. I’ll say it a little louder for the people in the back…ALWAYS READ THE INGREDIENTS! Sorry, I don’t mean to be so aggressive about it. Anyway, at the end of this month long challenge, I will do a whole taste test comparison of a few varieties to actual pasta. The soybean ones have a little chew to them versus the chickpea noodles, but I really like most of the varieties that I have tried.
Tonight’s plate had the noodles, carrots, mushrooms, zucchini, extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, sea salt, and dried thyme. I cooked the noodles in salted water, drained them, and tossed them in a small bowl with 1tbsp of extra virgin olive oil. I added my veggies and dinner was served.
Cronometer:
Time restricted eating saved me from myself again. I had entered in double of my dessert peanut spread and was still in the calorie range, but I was right up to the edge of 10PM with what I actually ate that I didn’t have the second serving. The calorie count wasn’t really the point, but I had already had a TON of food and really didn’t need to eat it. The genesis of that spread is that I was trying to find something to replace, or at least mitigate, the amount of my beloved peanut butter that I eat. I bought what is effectively peanut powder. It is a single ingredient product, but clearly HIGHLY processed. See? I have a bunch of exceptions to every rule, too! The protein powders and supplement powders, and coconut milk that I use fall into the exception category, though I do try to keep them single ingredient items, like the NorCal Organic Peanut Protein Powder. But here’s where my addiction shines through. I have taken to mixing it with full fat coconut milk instead of water completely negating the lower fat, lower calorie feature of the powder. Of course, when you mix it with water, it’s not nearly as yummy, but it’s dangerously close to higher in calories than peanut butter this way plus, the fat from the coconut milk is predominately saturated. At this point, I might be better off with actual peanut butter, but I have MAJOR portion control issues there so it’s never just one serving. With this spread, one is enough.
Garmin Says:
A fairly consistent day which translates, in my mind, to a win. A decent amount of calories burned and steps taken, according to the algorithms.
It was a pretty overcast morning, but we headed to the arboretum instead of the beach because, frankly, Codee motivated straight for the car after some morning business. I totally understand not being into exercise first thing. Most of the people that I know like to start their day with a workout and I get that, too. It’s great to get moving and “get it out of the way”, but some of us just don’t function like that. The only time that I like running in the morning is if it is a race and there are LOTS of other people involved. My preferred time is in the afternoon and I think Codee is on board with that.
However, I do like to get moving and an easy stroll or walk is my favorite way. During the summer months, I have a few spots that like to frequent and The Jacksonville Arboretum tops the list. They have a bunch of short trails that are almost completely shaded and lots to look at if you are the nature loving sort. It’s also completely dog friendly if they are on a leash and I can usually get Codee into it for at least a mile, even at the peak of his laziness/weight gain/summer heat. The downside is that it’s about a fifteen minute drive from the condo. Of course, Codee has a different perspective and doesn’t see it as a downside, He loves to snooze in the air conditioned backseat. It’s all about how you use your time, right?
It’s too good to resist! Jacksonville Arboretum Jacksonville, FL – August 3, 2021 Off Duty Atlantic Beach, FL – August 3, 2021
The storm cleared as the evening rolled in and it was perfect for a beach walk.
Dig It Out Atlantic Beach, FL – August 3, 2021Beach Avenue Atlantic Beach, FL – August 3, 2021
Sweating It Out:
Rain days call for some treadmill time. For resistance training, I added a few different arm moves and a bonus core exercise. I’ll add this on Thursday and Sunday, which gives my arms a break on Saturday and finishes out the week by compounding all the moves on Sunday.
What I Watched:
We need all the laughs we can get these days…well, actually, on ALL days, but anyway…especially now. And you may or may not know about my crush on Jason Bateman, but despite my minor obsession with his current projects, there are lots of his movies that I haven’t watched. I have been working my way through some of the older ones and today I chose this one. There are parts where his character is reminiscent of his character, Marty, on Ozarks and I have to say, I am just fine with that. His dry delivery through ridiculous obstacles gets me every time. Also, In the past, I have said that I am not a huge Melissa McCarthy fan…we just have a slightly different sense of humor, but her talent is undeniable. I really enjoyed her performance in this one though and the two of them together are hilarious. Yes, it is a movie from 2013, but I still lost my footing on the treadmill because I was laughing pretty hard.
On The Plates:
Brunch was my standard for the week, 700ml of water blended with these ingredients. I opened the bag of chia seeds too much and instead of 12g of seeds into the VitaMix, I got 22g. There is no turning back from that…I believe this is why chefs mise en place their stuff, but alas….I skipped the eggs I was going to have because it was a lot.
Sam Sifton mentioned Gabrielle Hamilton’s piece in The New York Times Magazine featuring her recipe for a sous-chef salad in his newsletter this week. In it, she says, “I don’t question that the greatest meal salad of all time, the chef salad, was created by a chef. The combination of textures and flavors is consummately professional. Sometimes people mistake the salad bowl for a lawless place of disorganized and mismatched ingredients, chopped up and thrown in — dried cranberries on top of pumpkin seeds on top of soggy corn — which offends even me, who stakes no strong claim to her chef bona fides. A salad nonetheless requires a bit of cheffing, a little experienced attention paid to balance, texture and restraint. Not everything tastes better with bacon bits scattered on top.” There aren’t any bacon bits around here, but something tells me that she would not be a champion of this particular plating anyway. Despite the less than stellar photography of this dish, I assure you, the meal salad was great. The cauliflower still has a lot of crunch, adding in texture and the peppery arugula compliments the earthiness of the roasted beets….It’s a favorite combo of mine and I bet it’s not the last time I write that description. I am taking a month off of dairy so I skipped my standard goat cheese, but there is 4oz of shredded, roasted chicken thigh and I mixed in 2tsp of extra virgin olive oil and a splash of champagne vinegar. This salad was a little overdressed, but I definitely didn’t miss the cheese. Sometimes, when the beets in a dish turn things pink, it is a fun thing. Sometimes, it is not, but it’s almost always delicious and this was tasty.
To wrap it up, I had breakfast for dinner and an apple for dessert. I roasted the sweet potato the other day, so this came together pretty fast. Plus, I got a tiny dose of resistant starch. The unseen heroes of this dish are the 1.5tsp of avocado oil that I used in the pan and my cutting board that I use as a lid. The first teaspoon went in the pre heated pan for the cooked sweet potato and raw broccoli and then, once the broccoli was super bright green, another 1/2tsp for the eggs. Once the eggs were in, I covered it for a few minutes. I was in the mood for pretty runny eggs today. I think the yolk is super delicious with the sweet potato. I wish I got a little more color on the sweet potato, though….notes for next time. 🙂
Cronometer:
The food log app that I use and love is Cronometer. This week, I have a goal of staying below 1500 calories during five of the days and 1700 calories during the other two. I am also doing a version of time restricted eating so I don’t consume anything except black coffee, my daily vitamins, and water from 10PM until 2PM. That means that I have to eat all of my calories in an eight hour window which can be slightly tricky. These are not long term ways of life. I am working a specific program for a specified amount of time in an effort to reset some habits and refocus my nutrition.
I want to stress that nothing that I am posting is a nutrition or training recommendation for you, though. Please don’t think that I am ever recommending my plan for anyone but me.
I love the quick losses on the scale in the beginning 😉…it is the ultimate manipulation device, right? I TRY to use it just as a piece of data because I understand that it isn’t just about THAT one number, but the idea of a “right” number existing has had so long to marinate in my brain that sometimes I get lost in the obsession. I track it daily because it works for me to see just how much it can fluctuate in one day based on a significant number of factors. In any event, all data is good data and weight is a marker that is often used to predict risks of chronic metabolic disorders, so I like to know it. Technically speaking, I was two pounds from overweight yesterday. What it is not, is a judgement or a moral failing. Having said all of that, because I have been up and down the scale, I can say that the weight where I usually feel and perform the best is in the 118-121lb range and that’s the long term goal at the moment.
Garmin Says:
My Garmin app sends data to Cronometer app, so I’m not sure how they have different calorie info, but they do. There’s an algorithm kicking around in there somewhere… I have my step goal set at 15,000, but in my head I really want to hit closer to 20,000-25,000.
117 Days Until Load In…Stay safe and moving, y’all!
