Normally I eat bagels for breakfast, I LOVE my bagels for breakfast. I’ve eaten them since I was a kid honestly – including stopping to buy a fresh bagel every day when I used to work (without kids). Now, we go buy panera bagels every Saturday.

Here is the quick comparison – a panera bagel is 9 points. I have 29 points per day and that bagel is 30% of my day and doesn’t include much protein. So, a simple change I can make, though it does make me sad – is to give up my bagels and replace it with oatmeal. I need carbs in the morning, I wont lie. If I ate eggs I’d be starting 10 minutes later. I have tried shakeology in the morning but chocolate in the AM isn’t my thing. I still need to find a good time to drink that!

When I eat my oatmeal I only use 3 points – which saves me 6 points. I could have my oatmeal and shakeology and still save points! I dont go for plain oatmeal, I eat the Low Sugar Quaker brown sugar oatmeal. Its YUMMY!

What simple change can save you a few hundred calories? Giving up soda? That glass of wine? or maybe bread at dinner?

My program has changed!! ACK! Its all different. It used to be you could have a day of carbs and as long as it was high fiber low fat you were golden. Not so much anymore! My beloved morning bagel has gone from 6 points to 9 points! That night time popcorn – from 1 point to 2points. My glass of wine – 3 points to 5 points! Granted, you get more points in a day but not enough to compensate.

This week is going to be hard to find foods I like and can stay within my points. But its definitely closer to the p90x plan, higher protein lower carb.

I love the iphone app for it – keeps me connected to what I ACTUALLY am eating.

I did pretty good today – my goal is 1500 calories. I didn’t work out, my legs are still so sore from P90X legs and back, but tomorrow is Yoga in the morning. If I dont make it I promise I’ll do Turbo Fire 45. Working out is the best fix to a sore body!

Shakeology for breakfast – with skim low fat milk

Chick-Fila grilled chicken sandwich with a side of fruit – did you know the fries are 500 calories?

Chicken Enchiladas for Dinner (yes my dog ate the rest of the pan)

And I did sneak a cookie Thankfully it was the last one so I wont eat anymore!

What did you do today?

Week 1 – avoid fried foods.

This was pretty easy for me. I love fried foods, but if I avoid things like Five Guys and Bojangles, then I’m OK.

Week 2 – Shakeology!

I drink Shakeology when I can, when I think about it. But this week I am going to drink it 5 times. If I dont do it in the morning for my breakfast, then I will do it after dinner.

One thing to think about when you are committing to whatever you are going to quit – pick an easy thing to switch. Choosing something easy allows for small success which builds confidence. Choose something you CAN succeed at!

How’d you do last week?

A huge part of our vacation is food. We like to eat. Scratch that – we love to eat. I had no premise of eating healthy. Donuts, ice cream, bagels, soda, all the yummy things in life. It makes me feel awful though.

I think the moment of eating horribly isn’t worth the icky feeling you get for days after. So here we are, day 5 of our vacation and I can’t stand the thought of eating anything else awful. So tonight I plan on eating something lighter. We are by the beach so seafood is always a good option, though I may go for something chicken.

There is the theory that giving yourself that bump in calories will help boost your metabolism, though I dont think they mean by eating 3000 to 4000 calories a day

In any case, its almost over and I’m sad, but I do enjoy my life of exercise and eating well so I’m happy to get back to that. I think eating junk makes me more emotional *g* Which isn’t a good thing! LOL.

Its a few weeks until we leave for the beach. I am not going to diet when I’m there, we do eat out most of the time. I’m not saying I’ll go crazy eating 3 donuts every day, but if there are donuts I’d like to be allowed to have one and not feel badly. So, for the next few weeks I’m going to be strict with my diet. Here is my plan (from the turbo fire book). Its around 1400 calories which is low for me. We’ll have to see how I do with it.

Breakfast – 350 calories
Egg whites
Low fat cheese
Turkey bacon (she called for sausage which I dont like)
English muffin

Fruit Cup – 100 calories

Lunch – 350 calories
Turkey avacado wrap (any tips on keeping avacado fresh?) or that awesome mexican bean salad would be yummy

Snack – 200 calories
Hummus and Pita
Fruit

Dinner – 300
Shakeology

Yogurt – 100

Not a huge fan of beans– but I loved this.  Keep it cold a couple days and it’s even better.  I threw southwest grilled chicken (cold) on top and had myself a week’s worth of lunch.  It makes a LOT, so invite friends over for dinner.  Not kidding, guys, you’ve gotta try this one!

Mexican Bean Salad

• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn kernels
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 clove crushed garlic
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1/2 tablespoon ground black pepper
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 334 | Total Fat: 14.8g | Cholesterol: 0mg

I have a local business that delivers me local organic produce.  Its fresh and absolutely wonderful! There is a big difference in a fresh cantaloupe in case you didn’t know that.  They often times offer little specials or side products, I normally ignore them.  But this time I thought what the heck, live a little Amy!

They had this product called Pure Bliss Granola Bar Bites.  I went out on a limb and purchased two kinds, Naughty but nice and Mocha Java.  These little things are amazingly good.  They are a great snack as you can just grab one or two and they aren’t messy.  They look like little brownies honestly.

Here is the breakdown:

Oats, Agave Syrup, Vegan Chocolate Chips (huh?), Natural Peanut Butter, Brown Rice Syrup, Sunflower Seeds, Brown Rice, Flax Meal, Sunflower Oil, Sesame Seeds and Sea Salt.

Serving Size: 3 bites

Calories :150

Fat: 8g

Sugar: 3g

I am amazed the sugar is that low in a chocolate product, but maybe that’s because its vegan?  I’m going to look and see if I can find something like this at trader joes – even the kids liked it. Its the perfect 3pm pick me up I always need!