52 Changes Week 3: Get off the Couch

Last night was a fun one!  After studying during the day, Joe and I went on a double date with some friends of ours to a restaurant in China town that they had recommended called Mixx Bistro.  They have an all you can eat sushi menu for $24.  For that, you get miso soup or a salad, and then can order up to 20 pieces of sushi at a time.  You can also order multiple times, but the one disclaimer is that you must pay $1 of every piece of sushi left.  That’s why it’s better to go slow and try a lot of different kinds!

Romaine lettuce with unidentified gingery-fattening dressing

Spicy tuna roll and Philadelphia roll

Spicy Cunchy Kani roll and Dragon roll

The 5 rolls I ate left me filled to the brim, luckily I got the the gym earlier that morning for a great 30 minute elliptical session and leg strength workout!  This morning I got up and headed to Monday morning spin!  I’m feeling really good today, and I am hoping this week is productive and happy.  I want to glide through it effortlessly getting stuff done because my “hell week” is approaching fast (last week of February/beginning of March where I have a lot of important school and work commitments).  I will be much calmer if I can prepare as much ahead of time as possible so that when it’s crunch time I’m not stressed to the max. 

After spinning, I headed to Starbucks to work on my seminar slides.  Considering my slides are pretty much finished, it is still taking forever to perfect them!  So frustrating!  Moving things around, fixing charts and graphs, etc. are taking forever.  I also started writing out my “script” about what I am going to say during each slide.  I brought with me a banana and yogurt, and then paired it with some ice water and a grande skinny vanilla latte. 

Back at home, I dove into something new for breakfast.  If you read my blog, you know that I’ve been on a big breakfast kick lately.  I’m loving breakfast…specifically eggs, breakfast sandwiches, and turkey sausage.  Jimmy dean is one of my favorite breakfast brands, and when I went to the grocery store this past weekend, I came across something new in the Jimmy Dean D-Light frozen section.  Jimmy Dean D-Light turkey sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast quesadillas!  Each box comes with 2 round quesadillas, each 250 calories.  I tried one for lunch today (1 round one cut in two halves) paired with half of a grapefruit.  This picture looks like the quesadilla is small, but the grapefruit is really just ginormous. 

The verdict?  Pretty tasty…but kind of bland.  It could use a tad bit of salt..or maybe some salsa or fat free sour cream would have been good.  I’ll definitely be eating it again though that’s for sure!

52 Small Changes Week 3: Keep off the Couch!

My week 2 challenge spanned over 2 weeks, because with an exam last week my sleep schedule was definitely erratic.  I have been making a conscious effort to get at least 8 hours at night, even if that means taping that new episode of the real housewives to be watched the next day…it will be just as interesting over lunch!

This week in the 52 Small Changes book is all about getting moving!  I was a bit lethargic a few days last week, taking extra naps and missing the gym on days that I planned to go.  That is definitely a pattern that I do not want to get into, so I’m really happy that “keeping off the couch” is this week’s challenge! 

The goal of this week is to increase activity levels, apart from exercise.  I am certainly guilty of driving to the gym, because I convince myself that the workout is enough (plus it’s cold out…or I’m pressed for time..or insert other excuse here).  A good walk to the gym is definitely a great warm up or cool down as well as another way to keep active.  Going to the gym is great, but laying on the couch doing work or watching TV for the rest of the day is not.

Ways to stay active:

Since I live in a city, I can walk or take public transportation as opposed to driving or cabbing it.  Even walking a few blocks from the trolley stop add up.

Walk the dog.  I don’t have a dog, but one of the main reasons I’m jealous of dog owners is the increase in activity time they get!  I sometimes feel awkward aimlessly walking around without heading to a destination, but if you have a dog it’s just…walking your dog! 

Running errands.  Walk or bike to the grocery store, dry cleaners, drug store, etc. if you only have a few things to pick up.  Carrying the bags is also additional activity!

Parking far away.  By parking towards the back of a lot, you get a few steps on the way in and out which definitely adds up over time.

Taking walks.  The book suggests taking walks to start off or end the day.  Even if it’s only 5 or 10 minutes, that’s better than nothing!

Do active things while watching TV.  I definitely fall into the trap of watching TV for hours on end.  By doing laundry or cleaning the apartment while the TV is on, I am still being entertained, but also getting things checked off my to do list…making for a more productive day!

Commercial break exercises.  Make a game of doing a round of sit ups or push ups during each commercial break during one of your favorite shows.  A little movement goes a long way!

Take the stairs.  The steps definitely add up when you take the stairs instead of the elevator. 

Do active activities that are fun.  Hiking with a friend, ice skating, running around playing paint ball are all ways to be active without hitting the gym. 

Here’s to an active week!

What little things do you guys try to do to stay active?

I always try to walk to campus (0.5 miles each way) instead of drive.  If I go to and from campus twice a day on average, that adds up to 2 miles round trip!