Hydration

July 19, 2016 | cheriarmour

Hi!

I hope it’s perfectly fine with you if I talk about something other than Melania Trump, police brutality, Brexit, or Kanye West. The news literally gets weirder and darker every single day. With the exception of the Taylor/Kanye thing, which I fully plan to discuss my theories on that at some point this week.

However, let’s take a total right turn, and talk about something not awful and stormy, but something really really necessary for summer survival. Hydration!

Okay, so I’ve always been pretty good about hydration, especially since I spent those summers at camp. At camp, I was there before canteens really started coming out with any significant ounce-age (not a real word), so I started making a habit out of buying 101-oz Deer Park containers and just toting those with me to camp. And then again when I started running seriously, water was crucial to avoid bonking on long runs and not damaging muscle terribly when I went for a run.

Now, I’m still super active, and lifting more, but my drive to stay hydrated isn’t just for the purposes of keeping me afloat (tee hee) in a long workout or during a long day of teaching classes, but it’s also to keep me from having contractions and to get into the habit of drinking constantly so that I can keep my breast milk supply up once the baby gets here. Plus I think it helps with some of the headaches I was getting really badly in the first tri…which we can also chalk up to the first tri just being a miserable time in life.

First off, here’s the trick I was kind of given by a nurse 21 weeks or so in, when I was overdoing it, and ended up spending a day on the couch with my feet propped up. On the phone, the nurse told me to try and get 30 oz. of water in before lunch, and then another 40 or so after lunch. Sounds like a lot, but it’s plenty doable with a few tricks I’ve mastered over the past few weeks that totally help you get more clear stuff in. Plus, with all that liquid in, getting diet soda in is harder. My like main vice, even though I consider myself fairly healthy, and plenty active is artificial sweetener, but I figured at some point that that can’t be awesome for the baby, so I’ve backed off a lot. Tricks to stay hydrated, especially in the summertime!

Get cute/large water bottles or canteens.

I’m a big believer in keeping some sort of water bottle with you at all times, because there will never get to be a point in the day when you’re like CRAP, I’ve had nothing to drink all day long! I tend to gravitate toward larger, double-walled ones that are pricier, but can keep things cold. The thing about the price is that it’s something that you’re toting around daily, and you’re not reaching for plastic bottles consistently, which is really not great for you, or for the environment. I have a S’well (24 oz.), another S’well (17 oz.), a Yeti (30 oz.), and I’m in the market for a larger canteen since I’m drinking more lately.

Really quick. The S’well is cute, and a fashion statement I kinda, think, but it’s hard to shove ice cubes in it. I stick to plain water from one of those tappy things at the water fountain for this. The Yeti is great because you can get ice in there and it can fit in most machines. It’s not very pretty though, and I had to buy a separate lid with a straw in it so I wouldn’t have to sip out of it like a coffee mug. I am totally open to suggestions for a slightly larger, double-walled canteen.

Start early!

I do my best on water on days when I have to get up really early for class, and I have to drink to get through classes. On Friday mornings, I get up around 5am to get to my 5:45am class, and typically can at least get a Yeti in during/after class.

Seltzer

I really love anything carbonated, but I can’t slam Diet Cokes all day. Just no good. So, when I’m really wanting something super super cold and bubbly, I’ve done a few flavored seltzers, in the the form of Dasani Sparkling, but my absolute favorite thing is to stop by the Burger King and get plain seltzer out of their Coca-Cola remix machine. It’s always super cold, and overcarbonated, so it really has the most delightful effect.

Monitor your pee.

This is a sorta-gross trick I picked up, that I start using heavily whenever I’m heavy into a training cycle for a marathon. This trick sort of also depends on what supplements you’re taking – a multivitamin or a prenatal can turn your pee BRIGHT yellow, but otherwise, you should be operating in light yellow territory. The darker it gets, the more your eyebrows should raise.

Those are the best I can do on a few tips to stay headache-free this summer.

What are your tricks to keep your water intake up?

Any suggestions on a slightly-larger canteen that I can start to use as I try and get in a few more ounces throughout the day?

I got called out (and I totally deserved it)

December 3, 2015December 2, 2015 | cheriarmour

It started a few days ago, when a nude picture of Amy Schumer started circulating around the internet.

One of my initial thoughts upon seeing the picture was, “that is not flattering at all. Just, why?”

I immediately hated myself for thinking that, and tried to pretend, every time I saw the picture circulated again, that I didn’t think that the photo was unflattering, or that I’d be too embarrassed to let the world see my tummy rolls. But it sat in the back of my head.

I fought with myself over that picture.

And then, the other day, when I was at a pretty rigorous training, I spied a tall woman wearing a bright pair of leggings. I immediately checked out her bum, because that’s what I do, and was less-than-impressed. I sent a snarky comment about the leggings and the bum to the group chat, and put my phone away.

Thank God for good friends.

I thought the comment was sort of funny, and the others would share in my laugh, but instead, a friend of mine in the chat pointed out to me that not only was what I said unkind, but that the comment made her question what sort of things I might be saying about her and her body.

I was a little blown – of course, she had to understand the comment was meant to be funny, right?

But was it?

And 30 seconds into me trying to rationalize my wretched comment, I realized that she was completely correct, and that I’d made a mistake. A big, mean, nasty mistake.

The woman’s leggings were not affecting me in the least. They didn’t take away from my workout. Her body was a strong, healthy, functioning body. So why, oh why, for the love of all things holy, had I felt the need to snark?

Because I don’t always feel 100% about myself, and I was picking apart in her, the things I don’t love about myself.

I’m preoccupied with my stomach – it’s the first place my body will let me know that I’ve gained weight, and I feel like I’m the only woman in the world who gets the donut when she’s wearing a bikini and bends over. (I know, in theory I’m not, but stay with me). My butt has grown since I’ve started lifting heavier. Though I’m tall and thin, sort of that ecotmorphic shape, I have wild stretch marks on my thighs that have been there so long that I almost don’t notice them any more. My boobs are bigger than I’d like, and I take care to hide them – I was actually (very kindly) told by a photographer for the Y recently to put my boobs away when they’d escaped my top.

And THIS is why I pick other women apart. Because, in a really fucked-up way, I pick myself apart, and when other’s don’t abide by my rules of what’s flattering or what’s sexy, I can’t handle it.

And that’s not right.

I’ll conclude by saying I’m disturbed by my behavior, but that I know I can be better, I know I can change my thinking, and I plan on starting like yesterday. And in making a pure, concerted effort not to pick part the bodies of others, I will start to forget those little things about myself that are, in my mind, less-than-perfect.

Thanks for reading.

Trying something new: my visit with a registered dietitian!

August 14, 2015August 13, 2015 | cheriarmour

One of the perks of my wonderful work is that I get free personal training (which I take full advantage of) and visits with a registered dietitian, which I took advantage of starting with a visit that I made yesterday morning.

When I told my mom that I was going to see an RD, she was pretty shocked. I’m perceived in my family as kind of the weird one who eats really crunchy weird stuff, and as a result, my mom didn’t think there was a need for me to visit with her – but because the visit was free, and because I felt like there were things I could learn from her, I decided to sign up with her and visit yesterday.

I think a lot of times, when you go to see a nutritionist, folks assume that you’re in it to lose weight, but there was more in it for me, and in the days leading up to the visit, where I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I knew these things:

That my sweet tooth is a little louder than I’d like to admit.
We could potentially be talking about kids in the next few years, and I’m interested in being in really great shape to get pregnant, continuing in good health throughout my pregnancy, and returning to good shape after having a baby, and I could get help with that.
I’d like to have more energy – wake refreshed and ready to do stuff, rather than wanting to cut my own fingers off when I wake up in the morning.

So I was a little nervous to see Katherine (Katherine is the RD), because I as afraid she might be judgey, or condemn some of the unhealthy decisions I make. I DO eat well, but I really enjoy my diet coke and my candy. And it’s never like I feel like it would be impossible to give those up, but I haven’t. But I was really pleasantly surprised at a few things that we got out of our first visit.

Similarly to a good therapist, Katherine did a lot with questions – but not yes/no questions. Questions that involved me talking…a lot. I hope I didn’t come off as neurotic as all, but I did talk a lot.

I was really happy that Katherine didn’t tell me to do…or NOT do anything. She really listened. And suggested. And recommended. But there were no demands.

Katherine allowed me to set my own goals, and didn’t set any for me. I am going to share my goals with you for sure, but wanted to share with you my experience with an RD.

Have you ever visited a registered dietitian? What was your experience like?

Mine was inspiring, refreshing, and a reminder. No matter how awesome you eat, how many miles you run, or how many kombuchas you drink, there is always, always something to be learned from someone like Katherine. And I really appreciate the chance to get to learn something from someone who’s better at it than I am!

Happy & Hale

November 20, 2014November 19, 2014 | cheriarmour

First off, let’s go ahead and thank the sweet Starbucks angel from above who made me an eggnog latte on the DL today. I don’t know what Starbucks’ deal is, but for some UNGODLY reason, they decided that they needed to discontinue the eggnog latte in our market.

I mean, not to say that I don’t completely understand that eggnog, on its own, is a horribly disgusting invention, however, in a latte, that is the most wondrous thing that has ever been created. It’s creamy, it tastes like Christmas, and in small doses, it doesn’t make my stomach hurt ~~that badly~~.

So, shoutout to the sweet angel, sent by God at the Starbucks on Fayetteville Street. Hashtag blessed.

Happy & Hale

So a few days ago, the boys from Happy & Hale came to the Y, where I work, and they, in partnership with a local organization, brought lunches for everyone. The salads and quinoa bowls looked so beyond words, I decided that although I couldn’t partake in the food that day (I was teaching a class, and food + exercise at the same time is not encouraged), I would try and get down there that day.

Happy & Hale is a far cry from what you typically think of when you think of southern food. The south is great for a lot of things, however, nutritional health and well-being is not our strong suit. We have Bojangles, Cookout, and biscuits (which are delish in moderation). However, with the advent of Whole Foods, Trader Joes, local farms, and the influx of hipsters and lumbersexuals that we have here, Happy & Hale has been an interesting and successful business downtown.

First, I checked out the menu online. I thought it seemed a little pricey, but decided to splurge – plus the option was either that, or a Lean Cuisine because I didn’t pack a good lunch. #fail

I decided on the quinoa bowl, as I’d heard that this was one of the most popular things on the menu, and went for it. The bowl was kinda similar to the salad bowl, and was packed. Picture this. Quinoa on the bottom. Black beans, feta cheese, pico de gallo, onions, and some sick vinegarette were all included with some tofu for some more protein.

Lunch was DELICIOUS, and super filling. Though I probably should have done without the onions (had to scavenge around for mouthwash after lunch), it was satisfying on two levels. For one, it tasted good. And there’s a lot to be said for that. For two, it felt way better than shoving something really quickly while sitting in front of my computer.

If you didn’t pack it, where do you go to get your lunch?

Staying Fit With a Full-Time Job (and a Baby)

June 16, 2014June 16, 2014 | cheriarmour

This is a guest post, kind of stemming off of a post I wrote last week about making time to stay fit. I was not comfortable speaking to staying fit while you’re a mom, because honestly, I’m not a mom, and I feel like I’m not necessarily in a position to judge.

Over the past year or so, Chelsie, a good friend, and an AMAZING bridesmaid, has made the transition from being a hard-working wife, to a hard-working wife and mommy, and she’s managed to, in my opinion, find herself in even better shape than she was prior to becoming a mommy, all the while baking, working full-time, and making sure that Evie gets fed too!

So from mommy to mommy, here some tips to staying fit with a job, husband, and baby!

If you know me in real life or if you follow me on Instagram (http://instagram.com/cchlykens) then you know that I bake often. This fact frequently leads to the question, “But why aren’t you huge!?” When Cheri, who is basically a fitness goddess, asked me to share how I work full time and stay fit I was honored that she wanted my take on things. I am in no way a professional when it comes to nutrition or fitness. However, I do know what is working for me. My daughter, Evie, is nearly 17 months old and I find myself in better physical shape than I have been in, in years. That is not to say I left the hospital in non-maternity clothing. I gained the recommended 35 pounds while I was pregnant and it took about 8 months to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I have since continued the journey with the only goal in mind being to be as healthy as I can for my daughter. I think my methods break down into three categories that hopefully even persons who are not parents can take tips from.

1. Breastfeed

Ok, so this one sounds mom-specific, but hear me out. We’ve all heard “breast is best” and there are endless studies that show breastfeeding is excellent for babies and their mothers (for more on that HERE http://thecultureofbreastfeeding.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/the-benefits-of-breastfeeding.png?w=640 ). This, however, is not that post. When you are pregnant you are supposed to eat 300 extra calories a day to provide your developing baby with enough nourishment. When you are nursing you are supposed to eat 500 extra calories a day. Breastfeeding burns 500 calories, y’all. FIVE HUNDRED for snuggling with a cute squishy baby (or a cute wriggling toddler who may or may not be pulling your hair and presently has one foot on your throat, or still yet 500 calories for spending some QT with that pump you love, but hate).

So, you don’t have a baby? You’re just busy and you want to be healthier. Still a very likely, very valid scenario. My suggestion here is to take a cue from breastfeeding mothers and limit your alcohol and caffeine. I love coffee, and in what sometimes seems like another life, I loved bourbon. I will not begrudge you that morning cup of joe or occasional glass of wine (though I did give up alcohol and caffeine for my entire pregnancy… except for what caffeine is found in chocolate- I have my limits.), but it is something to think about when you are considering calories. It is extremely easy to drink extra calories without even batting an eyelash and that goes for cocktails and coffee drinks alike. The same goes for sodas, teas… you know what your vice is.

2. Eat Like A Toddler (or how you would want your toddler to eat in a perfect world)

When introducing solids to Evie we chose to go with a modified version of baby led weaning, which basically means no baby cereal and no jarred foods or purees. The short answer as to why we went that route is that the nutritional value in cereal is artificially added (it’s “fortified”) and I would rather she get nutrients from a rainbow of foods, not enhanced rice. She eats what we eat, only in a more baby friendly version, which means our meals have to include things that are baby friendly. We started her out on single ingredient foods that were naturally the right texture for somebody who only has gums to work with – think avocado, banana, steel cut oats. As often as possible she ate (and still eats) fresh fruits and vegetables (strawberries created the crime scene above) with no added sugar and no added salt. When I’m cooking dinner for a discerning toddler (now almost 17 months and quite the foodie) I can’t throw her just any old junk in good conscience. Having a child makes you a better person, and in the case of my husband and I, it has made us better eaters. Before you put something in your mouth ask yourself if you would feed it to a toddler. I’m not asking you to eat mush, but I think you get the point. It takes a little planning – you have to buy whole foods if you want to eat whole foods- but it’s so incredibly worth it. Instead of handing her a pop-tart, I can just as easily (with less than 15 minutes of prep on a prior evening) hand my daughter a hard boiled egg for breakfast. Grab some fruit or half an avocado and you’re set in minutes! If you’re just getting started with cooking, simple is best. Less than 5 ingredients is perfect, raw is absolutely acceptable (carrot sticks as a side? Yes, please!), and seasonings are your friend. I’m pretty sure apples are the original convenience food. We have excellent resources here in Nashville in our various farmers markets. The main market is open 363 days a year and we have neighborhood markets nearly every single day in the summer that spring up all over town where we can buy locally grown produce as well as grass fed meats and dairy. Look around a little, I’m sure these things are available in your area too (Tip: you can sometimes source local free range chicken eggs via Craigslist). Odds are good you’ll be able to support local agriculture and it’ll be easier on your wallet than a health food store.

Like I mentioned earlier, I am a baker. Another one of my food related tricks is that I have kind of an unwritten rule where I make my own junk food. This allows me to eliminate preservatives for the most part and ingredients I can’t pronounce. The added bonus here is that because I went to the trouble to make it from scratch and use quality ingredients I tend to savor it as a treat a little more. I eat a piece (or two), and ultimately take the rest to work to share.

The same goes for bread as it does for cake. I make most of our sandwich bread. I don’t find myself chowing down on toast because while simple to make, bread takes time, and time is not something I have a lot of these days.

Side note: My toddler loves curry. Who would’ve thought?!

3. Rethink Your “Workout”

Just because you don’t have time to fight traffic on your way from the office to the gym, change clothes, kick your own booty in a high impact cardio class for an hour and a half, then swim some laps before heading home doesn’t mean you don’t have time to work out. I can not block out hours at a time to workout inside or outside a gym. The number of hours in a day do not exist and I do not have the childcare that this requires. My husband and I have been on ONE real date since sweet Evie was born and sometimes I feel like I hardly have time to shower. However, I do have time to take a brisk walk at lunch or after dinner. I do have time to do 20 pushups or hold a plank until my eyeballs pop out while on the floor playing with Evie (babies think planking is HILARIOUS). It’s an added bonus when she climbs on top of me to add an extra 27 pounds to my pelvic tilts (if you can’t tell, I’m all about rebuilding my core post-partum) and the same goes for squats. She has a good time, we get to play, and mama gets in a little extra strength training. Next time you’re catching up on your Twitter feed do some simple barre exercises (tendu, anyone?). Netflix has eliminated the commercials for many of us, but if you’re watching regular tv, do something, ANYTHING during the commercial break. 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there adds up, and 5 minutes is better than no minutes.

It’s not perfect, and I don’t think I’ll be writing a best selling fitness book anytime soon, but I hope I’ve provided some insight into what works for me.

How do you stay fit with a full time job?

Splenda and the Judgey Moms Committee

May 29, 2014May 28, 2014 | cheriarmour

Okay, so yesterday, I’m not sure if you caught it, but a sort of funny study and the results were released. And not funny, like HA HA, but funny like hm. You get it.

Basically, the study was industry-funded. Two groups of folks, all weighing on average over 200 pounds were divided, and folks who were permitted to drink diet sodas, on average, lost a little bit more weight than folks who were banned from drinking sodas all together.

If you are a complete idiot, you might read the study to say to “drink diet soda rather than water to lose weight,” however, if you are a reasonable human being who thinks critically, you might think just as I did. The folks who went cold turkey off of soda had a bit of an easier time than folks who “stairstepped” their way off of drinking regular sodas. Because for a lot of people, going cold turkey is really really challenging, and ends up screwing them in the end. I am one of those people.

The rub was, the “judgey moms committee,” as I’ve dubbed them, got themselves all up in arms about the findings of the study yesterday.

The Judgey Moms Committee (JMC)

The Judgey Moms Committee is a committee of, well, judgey moms who like to get themselves all up in arms about many things, and then write really really angry Facebook posts about them, a lot of times, without reading into what it is, and getting the facts.

Topics that the JMC members get really upset about are not limited to:

Aspartame
Sugar
How to parent other people’s children
Judging other mothers negatively
The age at which it’s appropriate to stop breastfeeding, which is truthfully no one’s business
Gwenyth Paltrow (they usually either love her or hate her, there is no in-between)
Miley Cyrus

The JMC was out in full-force yesterday to speak out on this study. So here’s what I say on the study, its findings, and diet soda as it pertains to health, wellness, and weight loss.

Diet soda is not good for you. Duh, but I really needed to put that out there. I am not saying that it’s good for you, so be smart.
Many, many studies are industry-funded. So yes, the findings of this study should make you raise an eyebrow, however, the findings of a lot of studies should make you do that. Do your own research, and figure out what may be best for you and your family. Do the benefits of whatever this is outweigh this risks? That is for you to determine.
For the soda-drinkers out there….what kind of quitter are you? Are you a cold turkey kinda gal/guy? Or do you did a little bit of something else to motivate you through that?
Though diet soda, and the things that it’s sweetened with are not at ALL the best thing for you, I strongly believe that diet sodas and artificial sweeteners can be a valuable tool to ease someone that’s not living the healthiest lifestyle, into a healthier phase of life. I know, I know. Insert your horrified gasps here. But I believe it to be true. Cold turkey is really hard and unsustainable for a lot of folks. So maybe someone like me, who guzzled Coke like it was going out of style can benefit from Diet Coke instead. After I graduated, and began teaching a ton of classes, I stepped it to club soda, water, and water infusions. The same went for my addiction to sugar and sweets. I started by cutting down the sugar I was eating and drinking, and moving to something like Splenda or Truvia. When I was good and ready, I stepped it down, and now, though I admit I still enjoy my sweets, I don’t feel the compulsion to shove them into my face like I did before. So while I’m not suggesting you go on a strict diet of Coke Zero and cheesecakes fashioned with Splenda, I think a little bit, especially in a time of transition, can really help you go a long way.

photo (1) — On the right is Coke-guzzling, non-working out Cher, from about 5 years ago. I actually got a little bigger after this. On the left is much-healthier, much better-feeling Cher, eating mostly clean with the occasional treat snuck in. I was busting out of the dress, which didn’t fit at one point, and now, it totally doesn’t fit. Shame though, that dress was cute!

Tell me what you think about all of this buzz?! Who else loves club soda the way I do?

Wedding Wednesday: the weight issue.

May 28, 2014May 27, 2014 | cheriarmour

Don’t know if you know, but there was a big wedding this past weekend…

I texted one of my bridesmaids and asked her if it made me a huge sap that I thought the two of these guys looked legitimately happy…seriously, they seem super pumped, whereas if you remember the special when she married the Hump, things were not as rosy. (Seriously, do you guys remember the fact that the two didn’t talk in the days leading up to their rehearsal dinner? Oy.

Okay, so I’ve been working on a few things on my end, this being one of those things.

I’ve got a million more jars, and a million more coming, so I’m happy, but also staring to get a little anxious and starting to doubt my ability to get all of this finished. I know I can do it, it’s just a matter of wrapping my brain around that.

But today, I want to turn my our attention to something else that I’m struggling with a little bit.

The weight before the wedding thing.

So I’ve seen this hashtag a few times over the past few months.

#sweatingforthewedding

And though I don’t have a weight problem, and I work out extremely regularly, there is this gnawing at the back of my mind, and I honestly think it’s a little bit of pressure from other brides. And the nagging, needling question is, should I be worried about my weight? Should I be pushing myself to lose 5 pounds to ensure that I look impossibly thin in my photos?

And I know the answer to that question – I’m healthy. I’m at a great weight. I take care of myself. And I still treat myself. But occasionally, those thoughts try and creep in.

Any other brides feel this way?

The definitive list of the 5 best foods ever.

May 22, 2014 | cheriarmour

First and foremost, you guys are amazing. The responses I got on yesterday’s post were nothing short of amazing, and you guys let me know what the hell foods would ruin your entire day. I have to say, the top food had to be mayonnaise, which ruled supreme as the creamy white food that you guys absolutely love love love to vomit to. I swear, you guys had me absolutely cracking up.

After this post from the other night, I can’t have you guys thinking that I’m just this negative Nancy who won’t eat anything, so I bring to you, the definitive list of the best foods ever.

5. Grape leaves.

I appreciate a lot about Mediterranean culture. But one of those things that I appreciate more than anything else, is stuffed grape leaves. These delicious little green cylinders are, in my humble American experience, typically stuffed with a rice creation, and so refreshing. So usually, if I’m at the mall, and I can’t find anything vegetarian to eat, I will find a Greek Fiesta and order a side of these to tide me over until I figure something out.

4. Wine

Red wine is a food group, right? You are mean and rude if you say it is not. Please leave. (Just kidding!) (Kinda!)

3. Donuts.

I maybe eat a donut once every 3-4 months. But when I do, it’s really amazing. And I’m not ashamed. Had one (two) on Sunday, and I promise you, I felt the earth move.

2. Mashed potatoes.

800px-MashedPotatoes — image via wikipedia.org

Yassss honey! Unfortunately, because I don’t have a potato masher, I only eat mashed potatoes like twice a year – once at Thanksgiving, and once again at Christmas. I also ate them two years ago when I got my wisdom teeth out from K&W cafeteria, cafe to the stars. My favorite way to eat them is to mix my corn into them and crunch my way through them. Thank you God, for this perfect, perfect human interpretation of potato.

1. Mac & Cheese.

Not the boxed kind either. The black kind, that you bake and there’s cheese going everywhere, the kind that makes you do a dance while you eat it, that’s what’s the best to eat. Thank you Lord, once again, for this amazing invention.

Honorable mentions go to….

>>Chicken friend tofu. Since I don’t eat chicken, this is about the only friend protein I can do. And it’s awesome.

>>A cold salad with balsamic vinaigrette on it. Backflips.

>>Biscuits. One of the things the south has gotten correctly.

>>Nachos. No explanation required.

>>Green beans. I can eat these any way you fix em. Except with bacon on them.

So let’s hear it! What are you favorite foods!?

Clean eating + the weekend.

May 12, 2014May 11, 2014 | cheriarmour

The weekend was full of a lot of joy.

And a lot of food that was just horrible for me.

Saturday afternoon, after I taught a killer Zumba class, I attended the graduation party of a friend, where there were some amazing sides (life of a vegetarian), and what I ate was not limited to:

Two types of macaroni and cheese.
Potato salad
Guacamole + Chips
Pasta salad
Deviled eggs
Baked beans
Diet Sierra Mist

Followed by…

A lovely thick slice of cheesecake made by my boss’s boss.

I ate disgustingly – and I kind of want to try something to kind of get rid of the nasty I ingested this weekend.

Before that!

Let’s review my weekend!

Because I am so beautiful and gorgeous, I did another photoshoot for Headbands of Hope. Okay, I kid, I kid, but I did another, and don’t worry, I will share those photos with you as soon as they are edited and ready to go! But I did get this sweet buff that made me feel like a fun hippie all weekend. I think I’m gonna buy a ton of these, because these are randomly really absorbent too!

WARK!

I ran home to my parents’ in Charlotte, and got to see my newly-engaged younger sister. Everyone thinks that I’m younger because I’m only 5’8″ and she’s like 5’10-5′-11″. I look SO short compared to her!

My brother kind of impressed me with his burrito making/folding skills and he made one for a ton of folks. I told him he needs to open something up and that he could give Moe’s a run for their money. He’s showing promise in the cooking arena. Between him, my dad, me, and my sister Kimmy (who cooks like a pro), we could have an excellent little family restaurant situation.

And my mom is liable to murder me, but there she is, feeling much much better. Not sure if you remember, but my mom suffered a stroke last year, and this time last year, she was not smiling. Good to see it this year 🙂 🙂

Onto the gross stuff that I ate this weekend and what I’m going to do about it.

I’ve been reading this week about clean eating, and to be 100%, I feel like I’m kind of fumbling around blindly with the idea.

I don’t believe in fads, and I don’t believe in cleanses, but I totally believe it eating good stuff, and prepackaged foods like my yogurt and my Fiber 1 bars are making me feel like crap. For a week, I’m prepping my foods, avoiding alcohol and coffee, and staying away from anything that comes in a wrapper.

My only hope is to alleviate some tummy troubles, and to get rid of this gross stuff that I spent this weekend eating and drinking.

Now….with all of that….what did you do this weekend?

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