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
Color Pop, Sherry Drive Atlantic Beach, FL – August 29, 2021The Little Library Project, Ocean Grove Drive Atlantic Beach, FL – August 29, 2021
Parks and Recreation:
Up and Down, Howell Park Atlantic Beach, FL – August 29, 2021Water water everywhere….Codee’s Dream Come True Atlantic Beach, FL – August 29, 2021
In The Garden:
I am a little worried for the bitty San Marzano tomato seedlings I put in the garden today, but the oppressive tick of the clock has me throwing caution to the wind…literally. Fingers crossed, these little sprouts survive the end of summer heat. This section of the plot is shaded for a vast majority of the beginning of the day, so there is high hopes for them…That is, if the pests and afternoon storms don’t take them out first.
Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – August 29, 2021
On The Beach:
Atlantic Beach, FL – August 29, 2021
On The Plates:
To round out the 28 day gluten free, dairy free, no added sugar, real food challenge, I had some fried eggs on top of a lentil, beet, and chickpea salad with some greens from our local hydroponic farm, Atlantic Beach Urban Farms. Dinner was a quick cubed steak coconut wrap with some butternut squash, broccoli, grape tomatoes, and more of the yummy greens. So easy it reminds me of a song about Sunday mornings….
Simple Sunday meals are more normal for me than the big cooking projects that some people tackle over the weekend. On the road, Sunday is typically the longest and busiest day of the work week. My day begins at the theater at 9AM and usually doesn’t “end” until the show is completely packed back into the trucks which, depending on the venue, tends to be at around 4AM. I have gotten very good at bringing food for the duration of the “day”. While I still have a couple of months before I leave, the practice never hurts.
Cronometer:
There is a camp of the nutrition and wellness community that agrees that counting calories is a ridiculous endeavor and certainly not a way to live long term. For the most part, I am inclined to agree with them, but like so many other nutrition and lifestyle choices, it’s complicated and highly individualized. My personal take is that it helps to know some of the science and policy facts before you start doing it… For example, your microbiome and a slew of other factors like stress, sleep, and previous dieting experiences will impact the number of calories that you process and how you, personally, process them, ie. burn or store. While it’s true that you have to be in a calorie deficit to lose weight, calories in does not necessarily equal calories out. Even if the human body did act like a machine and not a complicated organism, nutrition labels can be as much as 20% inaccurate to begin with. When I look at it on paper, the reasons not to count calories far outweigh the reasons to count them.
So….Why Did I Post My Food Journals?
Here’s the complicated part…I still track AND I still encourage new clients to do it for at least a week. You have to have data to really know what works for you, your body, and your mindset. Tracking works for me, not necessarily because counting calories in an accurate science (it’s ABSOLUTELY not, in case that wasn’t clear), but because it forces me to be accountable for my decisions. I am more intentional about choosing to eat the right thing for my body, for the right reason. It also allows me to look for patterns in how I feel versus what I consume. Tracking urges me to be super honest about it all. My food diaries are not about judgement and “good” foods versus “bad” foods, but rather, a way to gather data. Thanks for helping to keep me accountable during my four week challenge.
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.
Tideview Preserve Atlantic Beach, FL – August 27, 2021
You might think that after five hundred and thirty days of hanging out here in Atlantic Beach, I would be getting bored of some of my favorite places. Maybe it’s that the tide and the storms bring natural variation every day or maybe it’s that I split my focus between the view and the little dude or maybe it’s that I am hardwired to do the same show eight times a week. Whatever the reason, I can say that I am not the least bit bored with the views at Tideview and I hope you aren’t either.
Fishing For Lunch, Tideview Preserve Atlantic Beach, FL – August 27, 2021Codee, Tideview Preserve Atlantic Beach, FL – August 27, 2021
In The Gardens:
San Marzano Tomatoes and Honey Nut Squash, Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden Atlantic Beach, FL – August 27, 2021
Who else has had the pleasure of the honey nut squash on their plate? They can be tricky to find, but the small squashes were bred for a chef that was looking for a butternut squash with more flavor and less size….So, basically a honey nut squash is a concentrated butternut squash and they are super delicious and really adorable. You know, if you’re into that sort of “vegetables can be cute” thing like I am. I bought a packet of seeds last year and have had some limited success growing them on the balcony, but as I mention often, I grow things more for the entertainment than the yield…at the moment. Honey nut squash produce these bright, shiny blossoms that make me smile even if they never become squash. As a side note, I can’t get any variety of squash to survive in the garden, but I do have a few peppers holding on.
Gatherer’s Gold Peppers Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – August 27, 2021Codee Enjoying an Unexpected Snack Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – August 27, 2021
On The Streets Where I Live:
High Flamingos, First Street Neptune Beach, FL – August 27, 2021
Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach share a town line and they are similar in a lot of ways, but there is a little more of the funky beach vibe in Neptune. This particular little patch of front yard is probably my favorite along First Street. The owner is quite an artist about using recycled materials to scatter some fun into native plants beds. They also have wildflowers for the pollinators and a couple of other cute sculptures.
Recycled Flower, First Street Neptune Beach, FL – August 27, 2021Neptune Flower, First Street Neptune Beach, FL – August 27, 2021
Sweating It Out:
I love a quick walk down First Street. It’s a straight shot and there are so many people out running, walking, biking, and roller blading to help move you along. On the way back, a very pleasant older gentleman on a bike remarked, “Now THAT’S what I call a power walk!” While it was a bit startling, his encouragement was nice and reminded me that I hope to hear that same phrase during a load out again soon enough.
On The Plates:
Chicken twice in one day? Almost unheard of for me. 😉 Both meals were really yummy and pretty filling, though. Supper included Applegate Organics Chicken and Apple Sausage, spaghetti squash, roasted cauliflower and orange pepper, basil, olive oil, nutritional yeast and a dash of crushed red pepper. Dinner was shredded chicken breast with roasted eggplant, onion, and grape tomatoes. I threw a couple of over grown arugula leaves that I had on the balcony in there for a little brightness. To round it out and up my fat intake, I had a couple of servings of raw cashews. I also had an apple because I love a little sweet at the end of my day.
Cronometer:
Perfectly on that razor’s edge of the calorie goal for the day….Just the way I like it.
Garmin Says:
Stay safe and moving, y’all!
PS.
Sweet Dreams, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – August 27, 2021
Keeping Guard at Town Center Atlantic Beach/Neptune Beach, FL – August 26, 2021
There were some rough seas this morning and not many people were braving the water, but our lifeguards were looking out just the same. Remarkably enough, I have not braved the water above my knees this summer, but I come to the beach almost everyday and it’s one of the places that I will miss the most when my time off comes to an end. I just keep reminding myself that I bought my condo and that it will all be here waiting….fingers crossed, of course.
Atlantic Beach, FL – August 26, 2021
In The Gardens:
Team Beautification, Beach Blvd Atlantic Beach, FL – August 26, 2021Dreary Day Sunshine, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – August 26, 2021
Back To The Beach:
Atlantic Beach FL – August 26, 2021
There was a break in the storms that made for a beautiful evening stroll and a little “bird” watching. I know it sounds a little like something an 8 year old boy would say, but I think that helicopters are so cool. We get a fair amount of air traffic over our beach because there is a Navy base 3.5 miles up from my place.
Atlantic Beach FL – August 26, 2021Atlantic Beach FL – August 26, 2021
Sweating It Out:
I had pretty mixed emotions about my cardio goal when I first set it. First, I thought it was too easy. Then, I was concerned that it was going to be too hard, but I think I hit it right on. The freedom of pace makes it not an overwhelming daily task and I think that I have found an awesome rhythm this week. I used to be so concerned with pace and distance. Right now, I am concerned with consistency, fun, and a feeling of accomplishment. Plus, it’s a truly great way to spend a rainy hour.
What I Watched:
I wouldn’t say that I am a fan of her music, mostly, because, well…I just never really listened to it. BUT….I am a big fan of hers. What is there not to love about a business woman, positive role model, and artist. I really enjoyed watching some of the story of her rise in the industry. I hate how right she can be about the perceived length of time that the American public will tolerate a woman being successful, but I hope that she sticks around for a few more decades. It turns out, she’s also a great storyteller.
On The Plates:
I don’t think that I have had this green drink consistency before. I am thinking about mixing it up once tour starts again and trying Athletic Greens. I don’t usually consume things with stevia because I have read some conflicting reports…surprise, surprise, right?…But convenience might win out a bit more on this upcoming tour. Drop me a line if you are an Athletic Greens supporter. I would love to hear your opinion of the product. Goodness knows that I hear all my favorite podcast hosts rave about it. Anyway, for the first food food meal of the day, I had chicken breast with roasted cauliflower, eggplant, and grape tomatoes. I also had a few extra herby bits kicking around, so there is a bit of basil and parsley in there as well.
See? Sometimes, I want to shout, “I eat things out of a package!!” 🙂 I’m just kidding, but it does happen. It’s a complicated food system out there, but I do think that a few companies are really trying to put out quality products. I really like the Applegate Organics Chicken and Apple Sausage. The chickens are raised in a certified humane way and the majority of the ingredients are organic which is about as good as it gets, barring knowing the farmer, of course. Plus, they are fully cooked and tasty. Tonight, I had one sliced into some coconut milk buckwheat and green beans. Less than 15 minutes to the bowl!
Okay, I’m going to keep working on it, but I have always had a difficult time getting these to photograph as delightfully as they taste. I pretty much end every night with a version of one, though, so…there you have it. I’m trying to get into this single ingredient pea protein that I bought and, it turns out that blending it with banana, strawberries, coconut milk, and basil helped me not care that it’s a little grainy. Like so many, I might be a little addicted to sugar…😉 and, like so many things in life, my recovery from it is a long and bumpy process. I like the way the addiction manifests itself in this phase, though and, historically, I have had very few regrets from indulging in natural sugars in whole fruit form. I can guarantee that my blood sugar wasn’t into the Jameson or the ice cream phase of my life, so progress, not perfection, right?
This is Codee’s favorite park right now. It’s really great foe a few reasons, but mostly because there are squirrels to chase, an after school program that produces dropped snacks, and shade. Also, it’s right next to the garden so we go there pretty much every day. In addition to the Community Center, there are lots of amenities, like a really clean bathroom, so it was always one of my favorites.
In The Gardens:
Dig Local Community Garden, Dutton Island Road Atlantic Beach, FL – August 25, 2021
And, there is always some thing to see in the garden even in the heat of August. At the condo, the sprouts are popping, the eggplant has taken off, and some peas are coming in.
Eggplant, San Marzano Tomato, Cauliflower, Eggplant, Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden Atlantic Beach, FL – August 25, 2021Tom Thumb Peas, Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden Atlantic Beach, FL – August 25, 2021
On The Beach:
Love On The Rocks, The Cloisters Atlantic Beach, FL – August 25, 2021
It’s still warm during the late afternoon on the beach but there was an amazing breeze and, if you hide in the shade, it’s the best place to think.
Kisses From Codee, The Cloisters Pier Atlantic Beach, FL – August 25, 2021A Contemplative Happy Hour, The Cloisters Pier Atlantic Beach, FL – August 25, 2021
Sweating It Out:
I think it’s going to be a week of, primarily, treadmill time since the weather can be some what unpredictable. It’s not that I can’t run in tricky weather. I just love to use it as an excuse…too windy, too hot, it might rain, too cold, and on and on…All of it is BS, obviously, and I know myself well enough to know I need to work around it. I say it all the time because it’s true, the treadmill helps me limit my excuses. I started on the treadmill and it’s always a good place to come back.
What I Watched:
I know that this movie has a controversy and a larger story, but I really can’t tell you about it. What I can tell you is that I think watching Bob Ross paint is mesmerizing. I was really just lost in my own thoughts as he made all the landscapes come to life.
On The Plates:
Gratefully, my fridge is well stocked at this point in the week. I roasted an eggplant along with a couple of handfuls of grape tomatoes and a diced white onion the other day in the Ninja. For supper, I served it over mixed spring greens with a roasted Lola Farms chicken breast. Dinner was a variation on the dish of the month…Cubed steak with coconut milk buckwheat, roasted peppers, and zucchini. I know that quinoa has more protein, but I don’t care. I love my soaked buckwheat groats cooked in full fat coconut milk. The protein is why the grass fed beef is there, right?
Cronometer:
I wish I could fix the settings in this app to reflect my static calorie goals of 1500/5 days and 1700/2 days, but it is a good exercise in letting go of things that don’t matter. It’s not like the app is judging me for going over their daily limit…I mean, maybe it feels that way a little bit because of the red ”!”, but I digress. Rounding out the calories today were the standard green drink and dessert in a super weird frozen treat form that is not ready for sharing. I’m not really ready for it yet either since it’s a fall flavor profile, but I think I know how I need to tweak it.
I don’t startle easily so much anymore, but this little dude, literally, came out of nowhere as we were leaving this morning. This is fair warning if you get squirmy with reptiles, this might not be the place for you. Come to think of it, I post a lot of insect photos, too, so…
Anyway…clearly, this little creature was having the exact same experience of being in the wrong place and, man, was she ever freaked out! Truthfully, I don’t even know where she got off to in the end. Right after I took this photo, she disappeared as quickly as she appeared. Fingers crossed that I don’t find her in an upside down state in a few days…
Cornered, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – August 24, 2021
Parks and Recreation:
Spanish Pond, Timucuan National Preserve Jacksonville, FL – August 24, 2021Spanish Pond, Timucuan National Preserve Jacksonville, FL – August 24, 2021
In The Gardens:
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – August 24, 2021
I found a couple of extra trash cans in my guest room closet while I was looking for the right space to put a washer and dryer in the condo. I was about to put them in the Goodwill bin, but decided that I would re-plant some tomatoes instead. I’m going to have to start moving some of these seedlings to the garden soon. It might seem like I am planting a ton of plants and that’s because I am. The clock is ticking down to tour and the end of my time playing in the soil, for now. I think that the 9’ sunflowers will probably be my most successful planting endeavor, but I am looking forward to the fall season.
Mammoth Sunflowers, The Condo Atlantic Beach, FL – August 24, 2021
Sweating It Out:
It was such a nice “return from the rest day” pace and there was a good special on the TV, so I added a bonus mile.
What I Watched:
This particular Netflix special is one that I return to again and again. For those of you that don’t know of Brene, we must not be spending enough time together. She is one of my heroes and, by far, one of the most inspirational people to me in terms of trying to understand…well…a lot of things. She is a shame and vulnerability researcher, but she is also a professor, a business woman, an author, and a tremendous storyteller. Her books are all over my house and Kindle and her two podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare To Lead, are among my favorites. This talk is really grounding for me, so I was happy to keep at it on the treadmill while she kept talking.
On The Plates:
Goodness was all over the plates today! Brunch was, per usual this month, my standard green drink, but I had a pretty grain packed day after that. Supper was my new favorite meal of grass fed beef cubed steak with coconut milk buckwheat and green beans. I’m not saying that I licked the plate, but I definitely used a green bean to scrape up the last bits of yumminess. I meal prepped the buckwheat and steak yesterday and the green beans cooked in the skillet that I used to reheat everything. I’ll probably have the same thing tomorrow, but with a different veggie.
Dinner was equally fast, but not quite as successful due to a structural failure. This is my third package of this brand of sprouted corn tortillas and I haven’t had this problem until now. The tortillas seem to be much drier and more crumbly than the past packages, but the meal was good, so I didn’t care and ate it more like a salad. They were very well seasoned scrambled egg tacos with pickled carrots, red onion and green peppers on mixed greens. I ended the day with a pear that was close to the size of my head and two servings of cashews. Today is one of my two “Under 1700 Calorie” days for this week of my four week challenge. The other five days, my goal is to keep under 1500 calories.
Cronometer:
Garmin Says:
Easing back into it and feeling strong heading into Week 4! I’m keeping the goals the same for the last week of the challenge. A minimum of 15,000 steps per day, including a 5 mile stretch of any pace over 4.0mph or a 15minute/mile (meaning 5 miles of exercise, not activity), plus three days of resistance training. I think I can nail it. Everything is started to get a little more routine and moving, in general, is easier as my body re-adapts to purposeful movement. I remember how this becomes addictive again.
“We’re going around again?!?” – Codee Atlantic Beach Dog Park Atlantic Beach, FL – August 23, 2021
After the morning on the beach, a little nap (not for me), and lunch (also not for me), I decided to swing past the dog park. While Codee was doing those other things, I was typing so I was looking for an excuse to get out as much as he was. We like the dog park when it’s empty, especially while Codee is still on prednisone, and today we lucked out. Another silver lining to practice retirement (what I sometimes call my pandemic experience) is that we can go at random time during the day, so we typically luck out a couple of times a week and find the park vacant. The town just completed a renovation of the park where they installed a rubber track, filled in large holes and replaced all the grass. It’s better than ever.
“Is this a food thing?” – Codee Atlantic Beach Dog Park Atlantic Beach, FL – August 23, 2021
On The Streets Where I Live:
Neighborhood Car, 6th Street Atlantic Beach, FL – August 23, 2021Neighborhood Car, Ocean Blvd Atlantic Beach, FL – August 23, 2021
Sweating It Out:
Mondays are my weekly cardio rest day, but I did a little resistance work to keep the tide moving. It’s not that I don’t like a complete rest day, but it’s more important for me to gain momentum this month. A body at rest and all that…Plus, I started really small and I’m feeling good.
On The Plates:
I finally made it through the bag of chia seeds that I had in the freezer, so I have moved on to having flax seed meal in my brunch green drink. They certainly aren’t interchangeable all the time, but for my purposes (healthy fats including Omega 3s and fiber), they are and I am in the process of actively trying to empty my freezers. Yes, plural…I am going to remodel my kitchen and situating freezer placement is definitely a part of that. Anyway, because this is already ground flax meal, nothing about the blending process changes. The drink has a slighting different taste, but I’m into it. Dinner and dessert were kind of a combo meal because that’s how the evening worked out. I love love love fruit and sometimes, I over buy it and sometimes, I definitely over eat it, but I used to drink my sugar in whiskey form, so I’m heading on a positive trajectory. The point is that I made a little (not really) fruit salad because it sounded yummy and I had a few pieces of ripe fruit. Then, I had some…and some more…and then I realized that I should go ahead and add some protein since it seemed I was going to have fruit for dinner. Because I was in the process of prepping chicken for the week, it was easy to add a serving of baked chicken as side to my fruit salad. Is now a good time to remind you that I am 100% NOT recommending that anyone eat how I eat?? I think it is.
The plated meal today was so delicious that it’s definitely going to top the weekly rotation for quick dinners. These are little packets of grass fed beef, cubed steak with a touch of mayo wrapped in a turmeric coconut wrap. I picked some greens from the balcony to put under a few matchsticked rainbow carrots and some grape tomatoes for color, crunch, and all that other veggie goodness. I choose to use my fat portions in the wrap so I skipped the olive oil, but I definitely seasoned all the veggies. Don’t skip that part.
Cronometer:
Garmin Says:
In terms of my overall challenge goals, not hitting the step goal one day per week doesn’t constitute a huge failure in my book. I didn’t want to adjust the goal because in two months, I am not going to have much of a choice. Better to keep aiming for it, right, but I have to admit that I really didn’t focus on it. I was completely solid on every other goal, so maybe I needed a rule that was meant to be broken. I think I picked the perfect one. 🙂
A Salon Window, Atlantic Plaza Atlantic Beach, FL – August 22, 2021
We went to get Codee’s nails trimmed this morning and I am very grateful that I had this moment of peace before we went in. He wasn’t aggressive, but it didn’t go well. Wanting to keep my inner calm, I abandoned the project before the tide could turn ugly. No dog likes the process, but Codee seems to have a threshold for the number of times that he will allow the groomer to pick his foot up and put it back down. Let’s just say this poor young lady was not terribly efficient and he began to struggle against the whole thing. So, I bailed and vowed to include more pavement in our evening walks until we see the vet again.
On The Beach:
Atlantic Beach, FL – August 22, 2021
We made are way back through the neighborhood, but we started the evening stroll on the beach. He definitely doesn’t look like he’s getting any smaller, but I’m going to get him on a scale this week to see what that says. We’re at the end of Week 3, but I am absolutely not as strict with his new meal program as I am with mine. Sounds like it should be a new goal for the new week, huh?
10th Street Atlantic Beach, FL – August 22, 2021The Cloisters Pier Atlantic Beach, FL – August 22, 2021
In The Garden:
Homemade Pickling Cucumbers, The Balcony Garden Atlantic Beach, FL – August 22, 2021
I have a handful of different plants growing on the ground level of the Upcycle Balcony Victory Garden and it looks like my pickling cucumbers are enjoying hanging around the table. This is another plant that I dig growing because of its cute little flowers. I also have some celery, a honey nut squash plant, a few arugula, a couple of Cuban oregano plants from my friend Katie, a handful of carrots, a cabbage, and a few tomato plants. As I have said before…it’s not like I am having any visitors so I may as well grow some plants, right?.
Homemade Pickling Cucumbers, The Balcony Garden Atlantic Beach, FL – August 22, 2021
Ending the week on the treadmill, but I’m really happy with my consistency this week. Things are starting to feel easier and more like they used to… I will, likely, carry this cardio goal into next week because it’s been working really well for me. I’ll keep Monday as a rest day, but then I am aiming for 5 miles a day at any speed over a 15 minute mile or 4.0mph. They end up being a combination of kind of a power walk/trot and a jog.
I haven’t cried watching a movie in ages, but this one did it. Luckily, I was done on the treadmill at that point because it really got me. It is an exceptional film and a fun one to run to because I got lost in the music of the story.
On The Plates:
I am disappointed, but not at all embarrassed to tell you that it was a terribly basic day around here. I spent some time in the kitchen prepping for the coming week, so everything that I ate was what was left from last week. I’m pretty good about not wasting what I buy and, sometimes, that means supper is planned for me by the fridge. I don’t think that I have mentioned my love of broccoli yet, but luckily, it’s a real thing. I know, I’m unique, but I had some chicken and a, frankly, a LOT of broccoli that needed eating today and, it turns out, that’s an ideal meal for me to munch on while I cook. MY green drink, a blended plum frozen banana jar with some cashews and pea protein made a delightful dinner/dessert combo. An ordinary, but productive and nutrient dense day.
Cronometer:
Garmin Says:
A good way to button up Week 3 of the challenge.
On to the final week of the challenge! Stay safe and moving, y’all!
