Summer vacation has officially started today for my girls. I am certainly happy that I don’t need to worry about rushed mornings, homework, packing lunches, and everything else that goes along with the busy school year. Not to mention, I am looking forward to swimming at my parent’s house, lazy days at the cabin, vacations, and all kinds of summer fun. However, I would be lying if I did not admit to being just a touch nervous. Now that I work from home I am trying to figure out a schedule that is going to work for my family while also keeping me productive. I get easily distracted and have not mastered the art of writing 1000 word posts while kids are screaming in my ear. I wish.
I felt like I had a great schedule going back in May but then I got slammed with the flu and now summer vacation is here. Always something, right? Anyway, I can’t complain because I truly could not ask for a better life. I absolutely love working from home so instead of complaining I am going to figure out a solution because, at the end of the day, work needs to get done.
Now I don’t know about you but testing recipes and writing out blog posts is much easier when I have this kind of view.
This is my parent’s country cabin. As soon as the kids got out of school we packed up and hightailed it out of the city to enjoy some country life for a few days. My office will be located here for the next couple days. I get relaxed just looking at this picture.
Okay, lets get to my weigh in.
SW: 177
GW: 130
LWW: 148
CW: 149.5
PL: +1.5
I really hate to report a weight gain this week. Ugh! Are you just as sick of seeing the same numbers as me? Seriously, I feel so out of whack this last month. I did get in a few good power walks around the neighborhood this past week and some strength training but obviously not enough. Most days I did not eat past 7:00pm and I tracked some of my food but…obviously not enough. I talked a month or so about the importance of consistency in weight loss. I think I need to go back and read that because it is so very true. To lose weight and keep it off I need to consistently keep healthy habits a priority – not when I feel like it or because I am busy. It needs to be a priority every single day. Those are my lessons learned for the week.
Let’s move onto my exercise schedule this week.
Like I said we are at my family’s cabin for a few days so I don’t have access to my treadmill. So when I am here I will take some walks/hikes around the land. I meant to bring my exercise bands with me but you guessed it…I forgot them. But that doesn’t mean all is lost. I can still do some modified pushups, lounges, squats, and crunches. That is going to be the plan. When I get home later in the week I will get back to my regular exercise routine.
Weekly Meal Plan
As always you can find my weekly meal plans on Plan to Eat. All you need to do is friend me (username organizeyourselfskinny) and then you can have access to all my meal plans, adapt them to your needs, and print out grocery lists. Remember Plan to Eat has a 30-day trial if you are still on the fence with using them.
Breakfast
Cinnamon Raisin Baked Oatmeal – new recipe
Make-ahead tips
- I brought all my smoothie ingredients with me to the cabin and my Vitamix so gold star for me! Yay! Another food prep task I did before I left was wash, cut up, and froze all the romaine, swiss chard, and boo choy I got in my farm share. I know you might be thinking freezing romaine is a little odd but it’s just going into a smoothie frozen so it will be fine. I also cut up some cucumbers and froze those too for smoothies. Again, they are going in my smoothies so they will work out great.
- Baked oatmeal cups will be made tomorrow.
Lunch
Greek Quinoa Salad with Kale – new recipe
Tuna Pasta Salad (no mayo) – new recipe
Make-ahead tips
- Both of these recipes will be made tomorrow.
Dinner
Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken
Balsamic Chicken
Grilled Veggie Naan Pizzas
Tacos
Make-ahead tips
- Meatballs will go into the slow cooker in the morning
- chicken will be marinated tomorrow.
- The rest of the dinners will be made the night we eat.
Emmanuel Aniekan says
Hy Tammy,
I love how you break down your meal and exercise plan in actionable steps. it really helps a lot and gives you a clear direction of what you want to do rather than being unrealistic. I’m going to give the PlanToEat a shot and see how it goes.
Enjoy your vacation, you need it!
Deborah says
I also can’t seem to access your recipes at Plan To Eat.
Laurie says
I just can’t figure out how to view your meal plans on PlanToEat. I have been a PlanToEat member for years, and have friended you to see your recipes. But, whenever I click on your link to go to your meal plans, I see my calendar (and your recipes under friends, along the left side). I can’t figure out how to see anyone’s meal plans but my own. What’s the secret?
Tammy says
I am on my third week of planning meals in plantoeat.com, and I love it. However, something is not connecting with us. I can’t seem to get you on my friends list. I’ve sent you requests. I even emailed you my PTE username when you asked; but still nothing. Can you tell me if I am doing something wrong?
My username is iamtammy. I’m hoping maybe my email to you just got lost. I love so many if your recipes. It would be fantastic to have access to them!
Thanks!
Shelley says
Ugh, I am also gaining weight, though I have boycotted the scale for a little while, it’s just too depressing. I try to use my clothes as a gauge right now. I have been going so hardcore for the last year and a half I felt like I just needed a break. Not a break from eating healthy, and working out but a break from being so strict and from counting every little thing I put in my mouth. I still work out every morning (mon-Sat), but I’ve really loosened up my diet. I still eat as healthy as I can but I just don’t stress about it. And for me, 90% of losing weight is eating. I can work out every single day and still gain weight, even eating mostly healthy. It’s such a struggle. I’m 38 and it takes me forever to lose weight now, but i can gain it in the blink of an eye. This will be a constant battle, but I also know that I needed this semi break and in the fall I will dig my heels in and get back to a very strict regimen, because if i don’t all my hard work will be for not.
nancyabc says
Wait until your in your sixties–it gets even worse and when get older you should eat less calories –ugh.
wyokim says
Keep working hard! I am not giving in either! Focus on being healthy and not a ‘number’!
nancyabc says
I was going in the wrong way so I decided for 6 weeks to try no wheat ( just bread, pasta, and mostly processed food)
I’m a teacher and we started summer break on May 29. That first week I was eating too much processed food and gained 5 pounds but in the past two weeks I lost 5.6 so I going to try this for 4 more weeks or until school starts August 12.
I’m still using my WW points and I don’t feel hungry or craving food all the time which I hope will last and there are so many wonderful fruits and vegetables out there now.
Sorry for long comment.
Erika Sindhuphak says
Do you have a method for prepping strawberries ahead of time? Not being able to wash them in advance means they wind up going bad.