A French treat or cheat?

30 Day Shred - Day 4

Today's a rest day woohoo!

Actually, it's not. I didn't do yesterday's arm workout, so I get to start my day with doing a circuit of four exercises with light dumbbells. It's actually a good way to start the day. I love going for runs in the morning. It gets my blood pumping. It wakes me up and the endorphins start to get going. I didn't wake up early enough to go on my usual run. I blame soccer...or work...or soccer.

It's Friday. Why was work so tough today? I had not only back to back meetings, but was often times double booked. I started my day with another five egg omelet. It was the protein I needed to prepare me for my day. I kept my calm and in the end got through all my meetings and got some wins for some of the projects I'm on. Told ya, it's time to kick some goals!

After a long week of work and shredding, I couldn't wait to see Dave for ou date night. But before we went, I joined my colleagues for a drink. I of course didn't drink and that was just not OK to them. They understood my personal challenge, but they kept teasing me about it. What is it about the idea of taking a break from drinking that gets people all stirred up? I told them I was on the shred and that wasn't enough for them.

"Why do you need to do a shred Shady?"

"Why aren't you drinking?

"Can't you have a vodka, lime and soda?"

Is eating healthy for 30 days such a big deal? I know they tease me in good fun, but it almost feels like they don't support me. It's a tough road, but at the end of the day, I have to remember that this is my challenge and mine alone. I have persevere and get through the adversity.

But now Dave and I are off to a French restaurant. You know what that means...butter, butter and more butter.

I was feeling guilty all day about cheating on the 30 Day Shred. But it's one meal.

Our last restaurant voucher expires on the 10th Feb. This was the only day we could book it in.

Am I cheating on challenge or is it a treat for getting this far? I've been so good so far. One meal isn't going to reverse all my good work is it?

In the end, Dave and I enjoyed our meal and I stopped worrying about its effects on my body. I needed this date night with our rich delicious dinner and dessert. Sometimes you have to reward yourself and enjoy the good things in life. I'm loving the way my body feels so far on the 30 Day Shred, but I also love spending quality time with Dave just enjoying ourselves with no care in the world. Bon appetit!

Restaurant: The Little Snail

Location: Pyrmont near Darling Harbour

Price: $$ (but we had a voucher for a 3 course dinner for 2 with wine)

Best dish: snails - delicious buttery garlicky goodness

Worst dish: profiteroles - really dry pastry

1st Course

Bouillabaisse de Marseille

Traditional French seafood soup of mussels - fish fillets and prawns - cooked in tomato and seafood broth - served with garlic baguette

1st Course

Escargot de Bourgogne

Dozen snails marinated in herb-infused court bouillon, oven baked in garlic butter

(Lots of butter and garlic yum!)

2nd Course

Salmon served with crab meat risotto

2nd Course

Cote de Veau

Veal tenderloin with champignon and chardonnay beurre blanc - served with potato croquette and seasonal greens

3rd Course

Handmade Profiteroles

With creme patissiere and mint chocolate sauce

(Very dry)

3rd Course

Classic Creme Caramel

Kicking goals

30 Day Shred - Day 3

I'm feeling good so far today. I'm a little sick of eggs for breakfast, but lucky me I get to eat quinoa with bananas and cinnamon. I'm actually used to bland porridge for breakfast because I eat regular oats anyways. By regular, I mean no added sugar, honey etc - just oats and milk heated up in the microwave.

I have an incredibly busy day. On top of back to back meetings, I'm travelling to Burwood for work from 12-2. Thank goodness that quinoa  bowl was so filling because I missed my morning tea and ate my beet root and pumpkin salad on the train. 

I made the huge mistake of adding uncooked beetroot into my salad thinking I could eat it like apples. Knowing how hard the beetroot is when I cut it, I couldn't stomach eating them so I left them in my plastic container to take home. I got some good advice from my colleague that they are better baked if anything.

On my way back from Burwood, it finally hit...I was fading. Was it the lack of carbs? My body was adjusting to it's new fuel - mostly eggs, beans, spinach and pumpkin. I was ravenous by the time I got back to my desk at 2:30pm. Those two boiled eggs never looked so good. I try not to peel and eat boiled eggs in the office (ya know - that smell). This time I didn't care. I ate them like a vulture finding it's first meal in days and I instantly felt better.

That afternoon, I was hoping to leave on time but since I was out of the office so long, I had tons of emails to catch up on. I was planning on going to my first outdoor soccer training session, but the mountain of emails were weighing heavy on my mind. I ended up leaving at 6:30pm because I knew I good kick around was what I needed to clear my head.

It was the pacifier I needed. I played for an hour with my old teammates and a lot of new faces. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to commit to an entire outdoor season (Jan-Sept), but getting a touch on the ball felt amazing...despite my heavy panting. I wasn't thinking about work anymore...just good ol' game of soccer with my friends. 

By the time I got home, I was exhausted. Today's shred workout was definitely not happening. My legs were jello from wearing cleats on long grass for the first time in over a year.

Tomorrow is a rest day, so my plan is to do the upper arms workout in the morning before work. Although it's only been a four day work week, it feels like the longest week ever. It could be a combination of starting the shred and having to cram in five days into four. I got over the three day hump still feeling light with lots of energy. I can't wait until tomorrow afternoon because by then, I'll have met my deadlines, finished day four and have date night with Dave. Time to kick some goals!

Beans, beans, the more you eat them...

30 Day Shred - Day 2

It's raining again...

No 'light cardio' until this evening I guess. I'm going to miss my project team's weekly lunch time boot camp too due to a concurrent meeting. Looks like I'm cramming in an entire workout tonight after work.

I arrived at work really looking forward to my 5 egg breakfast. This time it has pears - something I would have never added to an omelet. It was salty and sweet delicious!

Again, due to all the meetings, I didn't eat my morning snack until lunch time. That banana and walnuts sure kept my blood sugar levels stable.

And again, lunch was eaten at afternoon snack time. Today's lunch was harder to swallow. Half can of chickpeas and half can of four bean mix...that's a lot of beans!

I made the mistake of announcing to my team that I'm 'shredding'. One of our more outspoken team members makes a point to remind everyone I'm 'shredding' - all in good fun of course. I'm actually relieved it's out there. It kind of makes me accountable to stick to it. My team is so supportive and I know they'll have my back on this. The looks and questions I get though...

"10 walnuts?! Like 10 pieces of 10 whole ones?"

"You're going to make a lot of music later with all those beans you've eaten."

"I can't stand next to you after you've eaten all those beans."

"I'm shredding too. I have a salad with a side of pork belly and rice."

My colleagues keep me on my ties and definitely my mood light. I'm glad they know because when I can't eat out with them, they'll know why. I keep reminding myself - just 30 days. Well 29 now.

Off to the gym...

I've started 30 minutes earlier than yesterday. I still have to do my 'light cardio' so I'm back to 20 minutes on the elliptical and 1km at 10km/hour on the treadmill. 

Today's focus is biceps, triceps and abs. I surprisingly struggled with 4kg dumbbells so downgraded to 3kgs. Also using the yoga ball for crunches made me nauseous - I get motion sick very easily. My favorite workout were the roman twists. I didn't enjoy the triceps workout but glad I did them. It's a big problem area and I want to get rid of those tuck shop lady arms!

So tonight was better...I got home at 8pm. This time Dave was home. At least the tennis was on, but I did feel bad about not spending much time with him. He's so supportive of my journey though. He even wanted to cut back on his food intake eating a quarter of his pad Thai instead of a regular serving.

I loved my big eggy breakfast, but I really enjoyed my mexi bowl dinner. After two big workouts on Day 1 and Day 2, this dish was very satisfying - although it called for more beans. That's 3 different kind of beans in one day!

I also made Day 3 meals rather quickly because there's no soup tomorrow. I really need to make time to make soup in bulk this weekend.

Now to watch the video tutorials on tomorrow's circuit training. I'm also going to soccer practice eek!