T-Minus [120 lbs]: 2011-05-08

Friday, May 13, 2011

SoCal LowCal Locale - Olive Garden

I'm a really easy person to impress (add sparklers to any talent show submission and I'm ECSTATIC that I was CHOSEN to join the audience). However, I'm also an easily frustrated person when I can't find a meal that I'm confident isn't going to blow my calorie balance. I swooned when I heard about the California menu labeling law (SB 1420) in 2008. I've been seeing its evidence for a while in drive-thrus, but I'm so giddy that it's finally hitting restaurants!

Mr. Husband took me to a lovely lunch at Olive Garden (because we had a gift card). Normally, we avoid eating out because I get so annoyed when I think I've ordered a healthy option and "grilled" turns out to mean "dripping in butter and so huge you could feed 12 4th graders with it." We decided to give it a shot mainly because we were both really hungry and I didn't want to cook.

Guess who has calorie counts on their menus now? OLIVE GARDEN!

Guess who got to have a delicious, (almost) anxiety free meal? THIS GUY!

Venetian Apricot Chicken
(280-380 Calories)

I had the Venetian Apricot Chicken and one bowl of Minestrone. Both were super delicious and, combined, were the perfect amount of food for lunch. The best part was that together my calorie-bill came to less than 500 calories! Well, actually, the best part was that I got to pick based half on calories and half on what looked appetizing. It's like a dream come true to see that on the menu.

My only complaint is that the menu and the website disagree on the caloric content of the Venetian Apricot Chicken. The menu touted 280 calories and the website says 380. A meager 100 calories doesn't kill me, so I have no plans on complaining. Honestly, if it was 380 it was well worth it! The sauce was sweet and apricotty without being overpowering or overly fruity. The asparagus and broccoli paired really well with it, too.

I really loved their minestrone. I'm ashamed to say I've never had a minestrone that didn't come in a can labeled "Progresso." That said, forgive my language, but that shit was incredible. The flavors were robust and it was packed with veggies!

Minestrone
(100 Calories)

I snuck a breadstick (150 calories). They're just as fluffy and salty as I recalled. I don't know if they're worth the calories, but they are amazing dipped in minestrone.

I'm not going to comment on the service because, well, the poor guy tried... All this post has served to do is make me want to force Mr. Husband into taking me back for more minestrone. I think getting it to-go would make a really yummy lazy Sunday lunch.

Flavor: 4 out of 5

Caloric Content: 5 out of 5

Service: 2 out of 5

The models in these photographs belong to Olive Garden.
The photographs are theirs too..

This Monster Also Comes in Avocado Green

Happy Friday the Thirteenth, people! I've never (knock on wood) had anything but a great day on this most superstitious of holidays. Hopefully, the trend continues because otherwise I'll feel really silly for jinxing myself.

This week has been pretty incredible. I've learned a lot about myself and didn't have much time to let you in on the details. Mr. Husband and I went to the gym 3 times total and ate sensibly all week! Recently, we weren't as consistent or dedicated to our diet or to going to the gym. A whole week of being on point is so motivating! That's not even considering the improvement I'm already seeing in my ability to beat the crap out of myself of the elliptical!

Outside of physical fitness, it has been an amazing week for my mental fitness. Normally, I telecommute but on Tuesday and Wednesday I ventured out of the comfort of the nerd-cave and out into the big world to join my colleagues in the office. This usually causes me extreme anxiety because I (irrationally) think people are going to be angry that I'm taking up so much space with my person. On Wednesday, I started my day trying on a pair of pants I hadn't worn in a while and ALREADY they fit better. I've not even lost 10 lbs and I'm already taking up less space!

I had a talk with a mentor while in the office and he helped me to realize that my biggest barrier in my life isn't me, it's me believing in me. I know, it sounds a little hokey, but hear me out. Why did I stay in the same position within my company for 5 years? Why didn't get down to my goal weight the first time around? Why haven't I gone to a boxing class? It's because new experiences that I don't think I'll be able to handle terrify me and I assume I'll fail. No more, I say! I'm a pretty rad lady! I should have confidence in myself, dangit! The consequences of performing poorly are so much less than the consequences of letting life pass me by.

Let it be known that on this Friday the Thirteenth a monster was born. This monster doesn't destroy anything but the barriers it puts in front of itself. So, it's pretty innocuous. I guess I'm less of a "monster" and more of a "self-cleaning oven"?

Monday, May 9, 2011

Tonto, I Need You to Stop Jumping on it

Mr. Husband and my workout today was pretty dang awesome. I got my cardio and my strength on! :D This is starting to feel like a routine! Now, if I could just get my music together.

One of my best buddies ever was unfortunate in that she's the only person in the known world (known to me) who didn't have any semblance of an iPod. I had an extra Nano so I gave her the one I was using in favor of one Mr. Husband gave me. Unfortunately, I wasn't bright enough to update my new toy and assumed that magically my workout mix would just find its way to the new iPod without me taking any action at all. THIS DOESN'T WORK, GUYS. For some reason, I couldn't just yell at it to make it happen?

There I am on the elliptical sweating and breathing like you'd imagine a pregnant rhinoceros would. I'm doing alright with some of the songs Mr. Husband had on his workout mix, but they're definitely not my kind of workout jam... Then, what wonderful song should bless my ears? Sugar Hill Gang's Apache, of course. How this inspires Mr. Husband to do anything more than this I'll never know.

That got me thinking: I need to finesse a list of songs I can really get into working out to. A workout without good music is really difficult to really go for it in and, honestly, my playlist just ain't jammin'.

Through the magic of time travel and science, you didn't have to wait for me to actually revise this playlist. It magically got better and is listed below for your viewing pleasure. Now, this playlist is songs I can picture myself singing on my "Roadtrip at the Beginning of Every Bad Horror Movie."

Teyie's Revised Workout Jamz

Judge if you must, there's a lot of GaGa in there... If you have suggestions please offer those too!