Ways Not to Lose Your Mind

You might think this blog will be me telling you ways to deal with stress when in fact you are completely wrong. I'm hoping you can tell me, because I'm going insane.

Let me tell you why.

My mom is coming next week.

Dad's not coming.

And, I'm working like CRAZY to get all my work done before she gets here. Which means basically double-time.

Additionally, Ryan and I have added P90X to our life. So, in addition to running four times per week, we have an additional 6+ hours of P90X. This means that for more than six hours a week, our living room becomes a deluxe torture chamber...

complete with whips...

(Resistance bands.)

Uncomfortable sleeping quarters...

and an evil man who scream at us to do things our bodies can't handle.

 

The added benefit is that I now fit into these:

My fat jeans. Yes, my fat jeans were getting tight. :(

The unfortunate consequence of adding all that workout time to my life is that my house has become utter chaos between work and workouts.

If you know me, you know this is HIGHLY messy for me. Ugh.

I'm also now wearing braces on both wrists, so that has slowed me down a bit too. Boooo.

Good news though!!! After three months of waiting, we finally got our new couch.

Love it! Love it! Love it!

Oh, and I've been eating, but not nearly as much. I've mostly been making things in bulk. Like this:

Garlic-Chicken Spaghetti w/Orange Peppers

and

Polenta - one of the most amazing foods ever

I swear I've been eating more than polenta and spaghetti, but seriously life is fast right now. I'm also working on giving Eat Move Write a new home. Very, very soon it will go on to greener pastures from Blogspot. Very soon, my friends. Very soon.

Oh! Guess what? Speaking of traveling, do you guys watch Man Vs. Food? You know, that show were the guy eats gargantuan amounts of semi-nasty, greasy food just to say he did it. :) Well, he came to San Diego! The episode airs tomorrow. Here's some info:

About the Show

Adam Richman, a food fanatic with a serious appetite, travels around the country taking on the most legendary food challenges. Adam has held every job in the food business and is now on a journey to explore the best eats our country has to offer. Whether it's a fourteen pound mountain pie, or an eight-patty burger, Adam is ready for the challenge.

San Diego Episode - Wednesday, June 16 at 9:00 E/P


Next Wednesday, Adam will experience the best taco in San Diego at Licha Libre and a burrito full of... french fries? After that, Adam visits Phil's BBQ and tastes a tri-tip signature sauce that changes flavor as he eats. At his final stop, Adam will be taking on the Broken Yolk Iron Man Challenge at the Broken Yolk Cafe. In this challenge, Adam will attempt to take down a twelve egg omelette that is smothered in chili and a pound of melted cheese. This omelette is served with a side of two biscuits and nearly two pounds of hash browns. In one hour, Adam will have to achieve what 96% of people have failed: finish everything on his plate. Can Adam finish it?

Want to know more about Adam's ultimate hunger quest or how he attempts to conquer the unbelievable legendary Broken Yolk Iron Man Challenge? Be sure to watch the season premiere episode (followed by another all-new episode in Boulder) on Wednesday, June 16, at 9:00 E/P. If you're interested in getting updates via social media, check out the Facebook Page and our @ManvFood Twitter account.

Tootles,

Five Not-So-Obvious Reasons to Exercise

Hey lovies!

It's a beautiful Humpday here in Southern Cali. Dontcha wish your weather was nice like mine? (Don'tcha? Don'tcha Baby?) Yes, that was to the tune of Don'tcha by the Pussycat Dolls.

I have discovered the cure to my insomnia: EXERCISE!

Five Not-So-Obvious Reasons Why I Must Exercise

1. It helps me sleep! There is a drastic, and I mean drastic, difference between the type of sleep I get when I exercise daily and the kind I get when I don't. I feel more rested and ready for the world the next day. That's reason, enough, considering I've been experiencing mind-numbing insomnia.
2. I eat better! When I exercise regularly, I feel healthier. Somehow feeling healthier leads me to be healthier all around because I don't want to undo the good efforts I've already done.
3. My skin glows. Has anyone else noticed this? I swear it makes a huge different in the tone and "glow" of my skin. Perhaps it's the Vitamin D I get while I'm outside?
4. It affects my mood. This is a major one. Exercise is an incredible mood booster, and that's especially true with outdoor exercise. The sun, the fresh air, the exercise. It just makes me happy (afterwards).
5. It allows me to be a positive influence. My husband has told me many times that my exercise routine is a huge motivation for his routine. Knowing that the things I do influence other people to make good decisions is a HUGE motivator for me. Goodness is contagious, people!

So, suffice it to say, I really want to focus on getting in 45-60 minutes of heart-pumping cardio per day. I also need to add in some good strength training, but that will have to come a bit later. I need to get back into a more regular cardio habit, stat!

Speaking of goodness, here's lunch:

• Two poached eggs w/sea salt and pepper
• Salad with romaine, oh-so-sweet cherry tomatoes, snappy green persian cucumbers, walnuts and light ranch
• One slice whole-wheat bread with Best Life butter

Okay, I need to get back to work. The rest of today looks like this: 

• Write two more freelance artices (one on DRIs and another on Portion Sizes)
• Go for a run with the Hubs
• Get a One-Hour Massage!!!!!!!!! (I haven't had one since my wedding day in March 2009!)

Tootles, 

"Spend Out" Success!

Today was a day of failure and victory. I will start with the failure.

Well, actually, I will start with breakfast.

Remember that Quaker pancake mix I picked up the other day?

I broke it out today.

I hate syrup, so it's basically butter and peanut butter for me.

Yes, that's a 50% off sticker on there. You guys know I love a bargain.

I realized after I snapped that first pic that my eyes were bigger than my stomach, so I downgraded to one pancake.

So, after breakfast, things went downhill. We ordered pizza last night and there was half of it left this morning. Let's just say that it was all gone by 1pm. Then, I finished off two snack bars, a can of green beans, two persian cucumbers, and... I think that's it... Sigh... Oh, E.D., why do you hate me?... Telling you guys all about that is my way of being accountable. boo.

However, things looked up after Ryan came home. I got my new Lunarfly Nikes in the mail today. Oh, be still my beating heart.

Immediately, I fell in love. I've never had running shoes this cute. EVER! I got a chance to work on this week's "moral," Spend Out. The first thing I thought when I saw these shoes was: I don't want to get them dirty on our running path!

Then, I got my Health magazine in the mail. Again, I was like, "Oh, I don't want to read that yet." I always want to "save" it, since I won't get another mag for a whole month.

THEN, I realized I was on my last "running" bandaid and wanted to save it.

I realized... WHAT AM I SAVING FOR?!?

So, I reminded myself that I need to SPEND OUT. Quit saving everything for later. Enjoy the moment!

I opened up my mag.

Put on my running bandaid (it's covering a blister).

And, I tied up my laces and went out for a run with my hubby! He pushed me SO hard, too.

SUCCESS!!!!

I felt so bad after my binge today, but my run completely turned that frown upside down. :D

For dinner, I made chicken and rice with brussels sprouts.

Ryan's plate:

Mine:

After dinner, JGago came over for some after-dinner coffee.

I mixed a bit of this with some instant decaf. Yum!

See? Everyday can be a success. You just have to take the time to something good for YOURSELF, and remember to spend out your goodness. :)

**Silly Survey**

Do you put off things that make you happy so you don't "use them up"?

What are some of the little joys in your life?

What do you do to turn around a bad day?

Have a great night/day everyone!

Tootles,

It's the Climb

As you know, JGago and I hiked Torrey Pines. We took mostly "artistic" pictures. I'm hoping to get some good images that I can blow up and put on the walls of my new place!!!

(Don't do it!!!!!!!)

Our car is wayyyyy down there.

Yesterday, I made a box of Near East pasta. I added in cherry tomatoes and a chopped up hardboiled egg. After I made the pasta, I added in the tomatoes and crushed egg, and then I chilled for 20 minutes. Yum!

***Silly Survey Time***

April Fools Survey

Have you ever been fooled for April Fools Day?
Are you going to fool anyone today?
What was the worst April Fools Joke you've ever seen played on someone else (or you)?
Do you think it's appropriate to play April Fools Jokes on a coworker / in the workplace?
When you get tricked or pranked, does it make you mad or do you laugh at yourself?

Happy April Fools!!!! (My answers below...)

Why I Don't Swim... (And Good News)

If humans were meant to swim, we would have fins...

:-) (Good news at the bottom.)

Today, I had the insane idea to go swimming. I rarely go swimming, mostly because I'm terrible at it. But, I wanted a different workout, and the idea of a heated pool sounded lovely on this cold morning.

I pre-fueld with a bowl of warm choco-pb oatmeal. This was about 2 hours before I left home.

Afterwards, I borrowed my roommate's car to run some errands. Bank, check! Post office, check check! Then, I hit the gym for some water laps, having completely forgotten why it had been so long since I'd been swimming at the gym.

Ugh.

Why I Don't Swim (at the Gym)

1. It's dirty. The entire time I'm swimming I have a million thoughts swimming in my head (pun intended): I wonder if someone peed in here? Does chlorine kill germs? Ew! Is that hair? Oh God, that's someone's hair on my arm. Ew ew ew.

2. I do not have appropriate swim-workout attire. At the end of every lap, I have to stop and adjust myself. Are the girls tucked in? Is my booty showing? Are my strings tied?

As you can see, my bathing suit is much more suitable for the beach than for actual swimming.

3. I'm a big floppy fish. The act of me swimming probably looks something like a frog swimming. I try to keep my legs in the correct position, but they tend to turn outward, like a frog. I splash like crazy the faster I swim, and if I'm sharing a lane, it's all but impossible. I'm like a big.floppy.fish. Yay fun.

4. I'm slightly anti-social at the gym. People irritate me. Okay, not you, my bloggy friends, but people at the gym irritate me. Here are a few Jasmine rules: Don't stare at me (even if I am swimming like a frog). Don't get in my way (frogs need lots of room). If you are also a big floppy fish, don't get in my lane. You already know you need lots of room. And, above all, if you are a guy, I'm so.not.interested. This is the gym, not a night club.

Obviously, I'm poking fun here. I realize lots of people LOVE to swim. More power to them. I realize there's alot of people who think the elliptical is the most boring thing in the world. I love it though. To each his/her own.

Atleast, I got my workout in for the day, right? :D When I got out of the gym, there was a message on my phone with GOOD NEWS. (Keep reading.)

After the gym, I came home and had leftovers. I was ravenous and didn't take pictures. However, it was the same as both lunch and dinner yesterday. I also had a banana for dessert.

I also decided to fire up the crockpot. I used frozen chicken tenderloins, yellow yukon potatoes and a couple cans of soup. I usually use carrots or celery in this recipe, but I don't have either. I'll serve green beans on the side tonight, though.

I bought this whole 5lb bag of yukon gold potatoes for 50 cents!!!

Yay for another easy supper!!!

Okay, now for the goodness... We got the apartment!!!!!!! I'm SO super duper excited. We go over there on Saturday to sign the papers. They also had a second unit come open, so we'll be checking out that location to see if we prefer it over the one we're getting. It's a second floor place. I kinda got used to the idea of the apartment we were getting. We'll see.

Thanks for all your good vibes! That stuff makes all the difference in the world! :D

And, guess what? I think our good friend, Jess, is also going to be renting a place in the same complex. How fun is that? It'll be like Friends! he he

Okay, off to work. Lots of stuff left to do today.

Do you like to swim? Is there an exercise that you just do NOT enjoy?