All done…Bad News, then some good.

I felt like I should not take much of a break from studying yesterday, so I really didn’t.  I am so glad my test is over and the semester is over!  I just have to do a very simple take home test and e-mail it to my professor by Wednesday night, which is nothing to worry about.  I think I did well on my test…I hope.  Those are the most difficult tests I have ever taken in my life.  I know the material, but his tests are ridiculous.  So, let me catch you up on my food!!  Yesterday for lunch was a simple but delicious PB and honey sandwich on fiber and flax bread, carrots, and grapefruit.  I had a snack before dinner…a banana bread muffin and an apple!  Dinner-I had leftover pumpkin baked ziti and slowly enjoyed it this time.  It was just as good as it was fresh out of the oven.  I spent the rest of the night studying…bummer.  Studying makes me want to eat.  I guess that goes for any school related work…not just studying.  Papers too.  I fought the urge though!  I am very proud of myself because this is a huge accomplishment for me.  I wasn’t hungry at all, I just get bored while studying and the stress probably adds to it too, I’m sure.  I just kept reminding myself that I wasn’t hungry, and that I was just bored studying, and it worked.  So, yay for that!

I think this picture turned out better!

This morning I got up early at 7 and made a bowl of strawberry banana oatmeal before heading out to catch the bus into Pittsburgh.  I love the way this looks in the pictures…so fresh.  I made them the same as yesterday with rolled oats, about 8 strawberries? (half mixed, half on top), 1/2 cup soy milk, 1 sliced banana cooked in, 2 Tbsp flax, and cinnamon.  Today, I put a Tbsp of walnuts on though to hold me over about an hour longer.  I don’t think I needed it though because I wasn’t even hungry for lunch at noon which was when I experienced (and I am so ecstatic to say) my VERY LAST MEAL EVER in the DINING HALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  HOORAY! 

It was actually not bad today, but it’s just not fresh tasting and neat if you know what I mean?  I had some orange slices, watermelon, and went back for pineapple that I saw after I was finished (not pictured), and I had a salad.  I used spinach, chickpeas, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, cucumber, green bell pepper strips, and snow peas.  I drizzled a little bit of oil and vinegar on top.  It was pretty good!  I know the picture is terrible, but I felt like I was being watched and got a little embarrassed, so I just snapped it.  

After lunch, I studied for another hour, took the test, and got back on the bus to head home.  I was so excited to go home because I was going to go to Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s with my sister.  I had a PB and honey sandwich to hold me over while we went shopping, but (Bad news) we ended up not going .  My dad said it’s not a good area, and he is right.  So, I will wait to go with my parents when they can go.  I want my nutritional yeast!  

My nails are in need of some help from a manicure…

For dinner I had the same thing.  Pumpkin baked ziti!  Followed by a banana bread muffin shortly after!  

Yes, this is the same picture as above haha!

As for exercise, I’m taking a rest day because I’m both mentally and physically exhausted.  I guess school will do that.  Oh, yeah…the good news!  I got the job that I had an interview for a couple weeks ago!!!  I’m very happy and can’t wait to start working in the hospital  I’m going to do some meal planning now and try to think of some different things to have over the next few days.  I have a spaghetti squash waiting to be cooked.  Anybody have any suggestions on what to do with him?  I loved the V’con recipe but need something new to try.  Thanks!  Have a great Monday night everyone! (for me it is almost like a Friday )

 

Meet Pumpkin Baked Ziti by Veganomicon

Again, I was busy!  About two hours after breakfast I went outside for another walk/run!  It was great  I would say I ran about 3 miles total and walked 2.  Then, I came back and made lunch.  It was the same as yesterday.  Two slices of fiber and flax bread with V’con hummus, spinach, and tomato; the rest of my cabbage, and strawberries.  I took the photo in front of my sister and she thought I was nuts and it was soo funny that I do this.  Haha.  

After I ate, I began cooking dinner.  I made Veganomicon’s Pumpkin Baked Ziti with caramelized onions and sage crumb topping.  This recipe did NOT disappoint!  I loved everything about it!  I halved the recipe this time and ate one quarter of the halved recipe.  Unfortunately I probably ate this in about 5 minutes because I was rushed trying to get out the door to go see a play with the boy.  We went into Pittsburgh and saw Ultima Vez.  It was pretty good.  I didn’t really understand what it was about completely, but I appreciated the dancing as I was a dancer for 18 years.  I miss it  While waiting to go into the play I ate one of my banana bread muffins!!  (sorry no picture again)  So, we had a fun night!  I’ll enjoy another portion today for dinner especially since I won’t have the time to make something else since I am dedicating myself to studying, and well…the gym shortly and this for a bit too of course!  It is not a nice day.  I guess that’s a good thing, so I will not be as tempted to stray from studying.  I won’t mind being in the gym since I enjoyed the past two days with a great outdoor workout!

Fresh out of the oven!  mmmmm

My portion (about 580 calories)…This recipe isn’t exactly photo friendly.  It doesn’t help that my picture is blurry either.

This morning I made myself some rolled oats.  I cooked them with 3/4 cup water and 1/2 cup soy milk, a sliced banana, cinnamon, strawberries mixed and on top, and 2 Tbsp flaxseed meal.  Very good!  

I’m off to study all day long!  (But I will be back to post at some point!!)

 

PB and honey

My interview went well!  I made a quick lunch afterwards before heading to the grocery store with  my dad.  I made a PB and honey sandwich with, carrots, strawberries, and an orange on the side.  I picked up some things to make dinner tonight.  I haven’t decided what I want to make yet, but I’m choosing between two recipes from Veganomicon!  I’m soo excited!  I gotta run to the gym now for a workout, and I want to make it by 4 to watch Oprah!  See you later!  Ugh, blurry picture :( 

 

Taco salad?

I came home from school today because I have a doctor’s appointment early tomorrow morning, so I got to make my own dinner again!  (I ate a Cherry Pie Larabar about an hour after lunch because I felt like it and knew I wouldn’t make it until 6:30 for dinner!)  Dinner–I had hummus and avocado that needed to get used up, so I kind of made a taco salad, but not really.  I tossed some bagged lettuce into a bowl, added spinach, some baby carrots, cut up plum tomato, cucumber, 1/2 an avocado sliced, all of what remained of my hummus (I’d say about 1/2 cup!), hot sauce!, and salsa!  Very yummy.  I love salsa on my salads  On the side, I had a kiwi and some strawberries.  The strawberries are so nice!  I waited for my food to settle a bit and then set off for the gym to do 30 minutes ET and 20 minutes treadmill.  I ran for about 15 minutes at 6.5 mph, then 8.0 for about 2 minutes?, and then 6.3 at a 4.0 incline, walked 4.0 at 12.0 incline, ran again 6.3 until I reached 2 miles!  Then I cooled down!  (totaled 22 minutes).  I like to watch the distance better than the time though while I run (well more like check it not watch haha).  It seems to be more fun to me.  I injured my ankle a couple months ago, and it is always sore the day after I run but it doesn’t hurt…it’s just stiff.  I have been running a lot more lately in my workouts.  I can’t help it!  I like to run :-/  Came home to another gooey pumpkin muffin with PB and honey.  mmmmm ….Off to write a paper that is due tomorrow.  Only 4 pages and not difficult topic…(what cultures do I subscribe to?)  Okay, cya! …The spinach leaf looks like it’s waving!