Author: Victoria Elizabeth

Victoria Elizabeth http://www.victoriaelizabethann.com Bubbly and enthusiastic, I am a lover of all things pink. My writing style is as eclectic as my personal library, so you'll see everything from dark poetry to light-hearted short stories posted in my portfolio.

Trader Joe’s is my BEST FRIEND!

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OK, I know everyone raves about Trader Joe’s for their Two Buck Chuck (technically, it’s Three Buck Chuck, since it’s $2.99, but let’s not argue technicalities) and their insane Cookie Butter spread, but I’ve discovered that this Aldi-esque giant is actually PERFECT for someone trying to eat well, eat fast, and eat on a budget.

Introducing …their insane selection of pre-made and SUPER INEXPENSIVE salads!

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Seriously, this is HEAVEN.

All of the salads are between $2.99 and $4.99, they are perfectly portioned, and there are at LEAST fifteen different varieties/options when I go to my local Trader Joe’s.

They offer some vegan options, some vegetarian options, and several with salmon, seafood, chicken, and chopped deli meat!

I love the fact that the nutrition labels include the calories/fat with and without the dressing! Huge convenience and really helps us put into perspective the calories added with just a little cup of sauce! I’m one of those weird people that happens to just REALLY enjoy the taste of my fruits/veggies, so I never use dressings, so the separate calorie count helps me be more accurate.

These are my TOP salad choices:

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I could eat the broccoli/kale one for every meal, honestly. It’s just SO good!

I’ve been making it a point to go almost every Sunday morning and buy about a dozen salads to eat for the week. I try to buy the ones at the very back of the refrigerated section (the ones dated the last the longest, since they’re the freshest) and I’ll eat 2-3x per day over the course of the week until they run out.

Most of the salads are just 160-300 calories without their dressing, so I can eat three per day and still fit in another full meal, a snack, or a sweet treat without breaking my 1,500 calorie goal.

If you have a Trader Joe’s nearby and haven’t check it out, it’s time for you to go! You won’t regret it!

Bon appetit, my friends!

~ Tori

Purchased an UP!

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I’ve been wanting to get a fitness tracker for a long time. I’m a tech-addict, and I currently use about 10 different apps on my iPhone for tracking my diet, my exercise, and my overall well-being.

All of these apps are currently on my dock:

  • MyFitnessPal
  • GymPact
  • RunKeeper
  • FastPaleo
  • WebMD
  • Paleo 101

Now that I work 18-20 hours per day, I’m positive that my metabolism has changed. I’m constantly hungry and have seen my cravings/body changing (not necessarily for the good) the past six weeks. I decided that the UP by Jawbone would be perfect for me to get a better understanding of what my body goes through every day so I can aim to properly fuel it.

With the announcement of the iWatch in production, I noticed that the Fitbit and UP by Jawbone both started to go down in price. I’ve been watching them for weeks, and – out of the blue – the UP went down from $80 (compared to the UP24, the newer model, that’s around $139) to just $50!!

Seriously, $50? I couldn’t say no. The mobile app looks super easy to use and synch to my other apps, so I’m pumped that this new accessory might simplify my mobile-life and finally give me a better understanding of what my body needs and wants on this new schedule.

It should be here next week, so definitely look for some posts in the new future either raving or complaining about it! 🙂

On that note, bon appetit my friends!

~ Tori

Acceptance

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I’ve reached the point where I’m accepting the fact that it’s not possible for me to lose weight while balancing two jobs.

Working 18+ hours daily and sleeping less than 3 hours per night is not the recipe for optimum health. I’ve put on about 10 lbs since starting this new crazy life (six weeks ago) and I’ve realized that the best I can do – at the moment – is try to maintain.

I’ve gotten my diet somewhat controlled, averaging 1800 calories per day – an improvement over the 2500+ I was struggling with a few weeks ago. When you don’t sleep, your body compensates by bringing in energy through food. I’ve never had sugar cravings as severe (and as insatiable) as I’ve had the past month.

I finish my contract with the TV studio on October 31st, at which point I will resume a normal, liveable work schedule. Either they will offer me full time (wahoo!) and I will leave my other job… or life returns to normal and I stick to my original position. I know I cannot balance two jobs long term (for the sake of my waistline AND mental health), so I’ve given myself the goal of just surviving the next six weeks without additional weight gain or mental breakdown. I’ll stop stressing the scale (I haven’t weighed in for three days and my hope is to NOT weigh in until after 10/31) and just focus on enjoying the experiences I’m gaining through this hectic schedule.

I think I can do it. Wish me luck!

– Tori

Halloween Treats

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Oh man…

Here come all of the Halloween candies, snacks, and themed-treats to further sabotage my dieting attempts.

These are my major weaknesses of the season:

Why, oh why, does every holiday/season have to be associated with such delicious (and fattening) food?!

Ugh.

I’m going to make this smoothie tonight to try and combat my desire to hunt down pumpkin-spiced-everything after work tonight:

 

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Pumpkin Pie Protein Smoothie:

  • 1 scoop Cinnamon Bun Protein Powder (120 cals, low carb)
  • 2/3 cup pure pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup So Delicious Almond Milk Plus Protein (40 cals, 5+ grams of protein
  • 1 tbsp chopped pecans
  • 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 packets of Splenda/Truvia (whatever I have on hand)
  • 1/2 tbsp of pure vanilla extract
  • 1 full cup of ice

This’ll be a pretty big – and heavy – smoothie, weighing in at nearly 300 calories, but it’ll pack healthy fats and a lot of filling protein. My hope is that it’ll fill me up AND satisfy my sweets craving for the seasonal treats!

Bon appetit, my friends!

~ Tori

Started a Tumblr

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Looking for visual inspiration (and trying to feed into my ADD-need for constant stimulus), I created a Tumblr account. I love browsing through all of the incredible transformation photos, checking out the killer recipes (with amazing, mouth-watering pictures), and reading funny or inspirational quotes.

If you’re looking for motivational images, recipes, and just more of the Yo-Yo, check out my Tumblr account today:

http://memoirsofayoyodieter.tumblr.com/

I’m still new to the Tumblr world, so try not to judge me too harshly for my inexpert posts/likes/reblogs. It’s all Greek to me!

Bon appetite, my friends!

~ Tori

Lead Me Not into Temptation

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I am currently trying to resist the urge to purchase diet pills.

Not those thermogenic, crazy-heart rate kind — we all know those are just death capsules waiting to explode your heart — but the pills the promise appetite suppression.

Like I’ve said in earlier posts, my biggest struggle on this new schedule is the fact that I am ALWAYS hungry. Literally, there isn’t a moment in the day where I wouldn’t happily eat a plate full of food and ask for seconds. I went from an average calorie consumption between 1,200-1,500 to averaging OVER 2,000 calories daily …and still being ravenous at bed time!

I know, I know. My body is compensating for lack of sleep by craving excess nutrition. It’s trying to get energy from an alternative source! But how I can I subdue it (slightly) so I don’t pull an Alice in Wonderland growth spurt and burst out of my own house?

I know diet pills aren’t the healthiest choice, but eating fiber-rich foods and drinking water aren’t cutting it. Any other ideas, fellow yo-yos? I’m open to all suggestions!

Soliciting your help,

~ Tori

The Journey

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Whenever I get discouraged about my weight, I force myself to look at old pictures of myself to remember how far I’ve come.

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Even if I yo-yo a few pounds now and then, I know I will never go back to the girl in the outer photos. I have to remember that good health and fitness is a lifelong journey, not a destination.

Bon appetit, my friends.

– Tori

The Menu Tonight: Fish & Veggies!

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As a joint effort with my husband, tonight we’re whipping up pan-fried tilapia, mashed cauliflower (using fat free, plain Greek yogurt, garlic, chives, and 2% cheese), and garlicky Brussels sprouts for dinner.

I got my Monday off to a bad start, snacking on three Hershey’s dark chocolate miniatures (135 calories) after lunch and three more (another 135, gah!) during a LOOOOONG meeting.

Fortunately, the rest of my day was very healthy (salad for lunch, non-fat yogurt for breakfast, and lots of fruit/veggies for snacks), so my hope is that tonight’s hardcore cardio workout will cancel out my little indulgences and let me go to bed feeling good about my day.

Also, a schedule change at my second job means I get to sleep an extra 90 mins every night — meaning I get closer to 4-4.5 hours versus my normal 2.5-3 — so that means my appetite should be better controlled as I catch up on my ZZZs.

I hope everyone had a great Monday!

Bon appetit,
~ Tori

Homemade Guacamole

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Easy, fast recipe that can be whipped up in less than a minute!

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Homemade guac!

Ingredients:
2 whole haas avocados
1/2 jalapeño, finely diced
1 tbsp garlic powder
1/2 lime, juiced
1 tbsp minced fresh cilantro
2 tbsp spicy salsa

Mash all together, leaving one pit in the bowl to keep it from browning! Serve with fresh, crunchy veggies or baked tortilla chips!

I made this about five minutes before having friends over Saturday night and they LOVED it! Thought it was store bought!

Bon appetit, my friends!

– Tori