fitness

New Obsession

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I admit it. I’m one of those people.

I love the fall flavors.

All of them.

Pumpkin spice, caramel apple, you name it… I inhale them.

I swear, I’m not into it to be cool: I just ADORE them. Can’t help it.

Always on the hunt for healthier alternatives, I decided to scope out the Greek yogurt section for a treat. My hope was to find a nice, low sugar vanilla option that I could blend some pumpkin purée and cinnamon into and cry while I watch someone else eat my beloved pie.

Then I found THIS:

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Oh… My… God.

This stuff is AMAZING.

Just 80 calories, 12g of protein, and only 7g of sugar, this tastes like caramel apple pie a la mode!

It has little chunks of apple in it, and it’s got just enough caramel to make it decadent without overpowering the creamy flavor of the yogurt.

This tastes like real dessert. I’m floored.

I normally try to limit my consumption of fake sugars (or any product with an ingredient I can’t pronounce), but these delicious Dannon science experiments might be good enough to make me break my rule daily. So good.

And for just $1 each, it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than my normal kryptonite: the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte.

Pick one of these up next time you stop by Publix – you won’t regret it!

Bon appetit, my friends!

– Tori

Running Tips with Dr. Romanov: I’m a Fitness Model?

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I was used at the model of BAD running form on the show last week. Whoops! Who knew I was exerting more energy than needed?

Watch this awesome clip as I make a fool of myself and learn correct running posture!

Bon appetit, my friends!

~ Tori

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:

myfavesalad greensandseeds 96285-harvest-salad salmonsalad

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:

 

pumpkin

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