Rants, Adventures…and a 30 Day Challenge Update!

I swear, the faster the year goes by, the less time I seem to have! I am trying to juggle life lately, and while I haven’t shut myself in a closet and hidden from the world at this point….I have considered the idea frequently.

So it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyways: I apologize for the delay!

This will be yet another modge-podge post, made up of photos and anecdotes since we last spent some time together.

Adventures as of Late:

Keys Creek Lavender Farm!

Sean and I finally made it to the Lavender Farm! I was so beyond thrilled, words cannot describe. The sweetest woman was in the gift shop, and shared tons of info with us. I am interested in using the farm as a venue in the distant future, and had just wanted to check it out since I have heard GREAT things….Sean and I are big lavender fans. I came home with a fragrant lavender candle, and a cute little lavender sachet that is hanging in my closet making things smell wonderful! YES!

Big Football Fans…and the Bolts WON!

If you ever wondered what Field Level Season Tix look like….

Alex and I surprised the boys with tickets to the Pre-Season Chargers vs. Cowboys game. Josh is a huge Cowboys fan, and Sean grew up watching and adoring the Chargers. As you can imagine, grins were everywhere! Also, Sean lives two exits from the stadium, and yet somehow it took FORTY minutes to get there. UGH. Anyways, first half had my spirits down (as usual, the Chargers forgot how to play momentarily), but then….things were looking up in the second half, and we WON!

After the game, we headed to Slaters 50/50 Burgers by Design in Point Loma, and I had a lettuce wrapped turkey burger with roasted peppers, cheddar, chipotle mayo, tomatoes, and pickles. I would share a photo….but I was too hungry to take one before digging in! And no…I didn’t finish it. Lol.

Hash House a Go-Go in Hillcrest…..the pancake is the size of my former stomach!

Brian’s 24 in Downtown San Diego…this is a TWO EGG BREAKFAST! Holy Hotcakes!

Sean and I have gone to the local hot-spot diners the past few weekends, and as you can see….we get far more than we bargained for (at a BARGAIN, no less). These two wonderfully hip SD establishments have delivered fresh, hot, and yummy breakfasts the size of my Jeep…and I like it! No, again. I never finish my food. And yes those sausages are the size of a chubby baby’s thigh!

It’s all about touching this sucker when you finally reach the top!

It’s an uphill climb….literally.

My gym buddy Ashley and I hit Cowle’s Mountain in San Diego for my first time last Tuesday (after prepping with a protein-packed pitstop in Pacific Beach for Taco Tuesday!), and it was amazing! The climb is 1,591 feet above sea level, and you can see pretty much all of San Diego from the peak. It was a great experience, and I cannot wait to do it again (add that to the list of reasons why North County and I need to part ways). It’s virtually ALL uphill, and then slippery and downhill on the way back, so it was like a jog down, and a climb up. My legs felt sore and hated me the next day….but of course we went to the gym at lunch regardless!

Fun and Happy Happenings:

 

Curly girl is back!

After many complaints about missing my natural curls, I decided “To heck with it!”, and they are back. And they are great, because Lord knows if I had to wear a shower cap or not be able to touch up my bangs after a workout again, I was probably going to lose my cookies!

Spinach, apple, orange, green grapes, red grapes….and I added some carrots too!

Juice-tastic! And lest we forget the amazingness that is the Blender Bottle (especially when it comes in hot pink…hello?!!)

Sean upgraded his (lightly-used) Black and Decker juicer for that fancy Breville juicer in the “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead” documentary. So alas, I have a juicer now…and I went to Sprouts when I was done on campus and loaded up on some fresh fruits and veggies, and voila! JUICE! Yummy, full of vitamins and good-for-yous, and it’s quite filling. I am taking this batch to work tomorrow for my pre-gym boost, and I am excited! Tomorrow, I’ll pick up some berries and such and get this party started for real!

Found these on my desk….BEST BESTIE EVER!

I found these week before last on my desk upon returning from my lunchtime gym workout! NOT A BAD WAY TO START THE WEEKEND! But, then again, you all pretty much knew my Bestie is amazing, didn’t you?

Last but not least, 30 Day Challenge Update:

It’s totally been more than 30 days…but here goes nothing! As usual, forgive the quality. 🙂

GASP!!! Is that deifnition forming on that stomach??!?!?!

Side View…accidentally got the side that has two rolls, instead of the side with only one. SMH.

So, alas….while the number on the scale isn’t dropping as fast as before….I feel and look stronger when I see myself in the mirror. I am working hard to get my nutrition up to par, and keep these lunchtime runs going….San Diego Half Marathon next year, here I come!

It’s good to see the results when I am making a conscious effort to be fit, and stay fit. So, I just keep focusing on that, and eating dessert whenever the heck I feel like it (I bought ice cream at Target called “Monster Cookie.” It is PB ice cream with chocolate candies and oatmeal cookie chunks. Pretty much the devil in a carton, and I plan to have a scoop when I finish this, thank you very much!).

I hope everyone’s week is off to a great start, and that you all have a great rest of the week! Major thanks to all of those who follow and subscribe to the blog….whether you sign up on the page for email alerts when a new post is up, or you liked SeeSondraSlim on Facebook, your support is much appreciated! I don’t think I could’ve made it this far without each and every one of you!

‘Til Next Time!

XOXO

You Want Some Water with That? (Or, the Latest Recipes in my Repertoire).

Why, hello all! I was originally going to do the latest installment of the 30-Day Challenge today, but I’m sore and lazy, so I will post the recipes as promised, and you will most likely see my half naked body in the next day or two. 🙂 I have been drinking water like my life depends on it (wait…..) as of late, and trying to cut out all juice and other sugary beverages, hence this post’s title. It seems to be going pretty well! I carry hard cups with me everywhere, and I drink at least 32 oz at bootcamp, and at the gym. At this rate, I should be see-through any day now!

….on to the good stuff!!

To start, some of you may have noticed I really like pesto. I recently decided to make my own pesto, instead of buying store bought. I use my old Trader Joe’s pesto jar to store it in, and voila! Pesto on demand when the mood hits me!

I use my handy dandy Magic Bullet blender, but you can easily use a food processor instead. Not gonna lie…I don’t really measure things. I usually just need enough for one meal or one serving, and I put enough ingredients in the “tall cup” attachment to make it.

Sondra’s Presto Pesto:

Ingredients:

Fresh Basil Leaves

Pine Nuts (I just buy the amount I need at Sprouts. More economical, less wasteful)

EVOO

Fresh Garlic

Shredded Parmesan Cheese ( the hard stuff!)

What You Do:

Add all ingredients to blender, pulse for about 45 seconds, or until it develops a coarse grainy texture……and you’re done.

If you don’t own a Magic Bullet, that probably made you reaaaallllly want one, huh? Lol.

With this pesto, I made a yummy shrimp dish last night:

Pesto shrimp scampi with broccoli and parmesan. Yum!! ❤

Sondra’s Pesto Shrimp Scampi with Broccoli and Parmesan:

What You Need:

1 lb whole, raw, peeled shrimp

1 bag broccoli florets (I prefer the Fresh and Easy steamer bags. They were recently on sale for 99 cents, and I just stick in the microwave for 2.5 mins and they’re cooked perfectly for this recipe!)

2 tbsp garlic, diced

2 tbsp EVOO

1 tbsp butter

2 tbsp pesto

Shredded parmesan

Vermicelli pasta (you could also use spaghetti or fettuccine….I just had vermicelli on hand)

What You Need to Do:

First, get your water started for the pasta. I had the water going while I cleaned and prepped ingredients, so that by the time it’s ready to strain, the main part of the meal is ready to go. Add half your EVOO and some salt to taste to your pasta water (I use garlic salt).

In a sautee pan, you want to get your EVOO heated up. Coat pan, and add garlic, pesto, and butter. Add shrimp, and sautee on medium heat. Shrimp cook quickly! When you see the pink start to form, flip them to the other side, and add broccoli. Flip pan a few times to evenly coat all ingredients, and turn heat off. Add parmesan, and let it start melting while you strain the pasta. Add salt and pepper to taste, if you like. I typically add EVOO and garlic salt to my pasta after straining.

Next? Simply put some pasta in a dish, top with the scampi, and it’s DINNER TIME! I typically do not indulge in pasta, but I made dinner for Josh and Alex as well. You could easily eat this without any pasta, and it’s actually really great cold the next day! Great source of protein, a good amount of vegetables and healthy fats, and it’s deliciously rich without excessive cream sauce or ridiculous amounts of butter.

Tonight?? Tonight was pork roast!

I caught a great sale on Pork butt roast at Fresh and Easy yesterday, and decided to try my hand at a roast. It’s so hot outside, that I definitely have my regrets….but I am excited!

Sondra’s Bootylicious Pork Roast (Get it?!)

What You Need:

Rub:

Dijon mustard

Pesto

Garlic salt

Asiago cheese

Pepper

EVOO

Cayenne Pepper

Dried Basil

Dried Oregano

Roast:

2-3 lb Pork Butt Roast (Or whatever cut you want. I’m no expert!)

Whole garlic cloves

What You Do:

In a small bowl, mix equal amounts of mustard and pesto ( I eyed mine to the size of my roast, which was 2.95 lbs). Add all seasonings, and stir in a bit of EVOO until smooth.

Trim fat off roast, and put in the center of a roasting pan. I coated it in EVOO and garlic salt like the package suggested, and then rubbed my mixture to coat all sides as well. I added some whole cloves of garlic on top, because roasted garlic is a favorite of mine! Also, when trimming the fat, I put a couple of cloves in the fold of the roast, near the bone. The package recommends cooking the roast 20 minutes for each lb.

Before!!!

During!

Dinner is served! And, my house smells FABULOUS!!!

Typically, you want to let a cut of meat like this “rest” for about 20 minutes before you slice and serve.

For sides, I used Fresh and Easy’s new Kitchen to Go line. From the Italian family, I got the Garlic Potatoes: Baby new potatoes with garlic, rosemary, lemon and onions! As a BzzAgent, I was recently chosen for a Fresh and Easy campaign, and I used my $2 off coupon on the potatoes, and only paid $2 for them! This new line of practically ready-to-eat meals is not only on a gournet-level, but you have the choice to pick just a side, or create an entire meal for four.

Photo Credit: Google.com

Often times, you can create a whole meal for a family of four for under 15 dollars, in less than 20 minutes! Does it get much better for a bootcamp going, recipe-blogging diva on a fitness mission? NOPE! The dishes are preservative free, nutritiously conscious, and amazingly delicious. Don’t even get me started; Ashley (yup! YOU MADE IT TO A THIRD BLOG ENTRY!) and I have our routine that we call “Gym ‘n’ Easy.” When we hit the gym Weds-Fri at lunch, we hit Fresh and Easy right after! They have $6 cold lunch combos wtih options like gourmet cheese and fruit protein boxes, delectable BBQ chicken salads with fresh fruit and greens….plus you add a drink and a side like chips, apple slices, or a mix of pineapple and strawberries….for six dollars. And then there’s the clearance section where we tend to find a tasty dessert for under $2. It’s delightful! Plus, F&E stores use 30% less energy than typical stores, and with things like self-check out, store-brand fresh and inventive products, and helpful knowledgeable staff? Fresh and Easy has set a new standard for green and efficient stores across the board.

Photo Credit: Google.com

One last gush about Fresh and Easy? They, like most stores, have started a new loyalty program called the “Friends Card.” You get points for every dollar spent, and 2-3x points for select items periodically. You can also load special savings onto your card easily from their website, and 500 points=$5 to shop with! I currently have $7 in points that I am saving. Once I get to a big dollar amount, I think I’ll make a fabulous dinner for Sean and I, to celebrate our success in our new fitness endeavors! And, it will be a ridiculously healthy meal!

Check out the selection and the amazing differences that Fresh and Easy brings to grocery shopping here!

Speaking of these new fitness endeavors, those of you who’ve known me for awhile know that I am not a fan of eating breakfast. I drink protein smoothies or pre-made protein shakes, because the thought of eating in the morning typically makes me feel really sick. Lately, knowing that I’m waking up early for boot camp (which, I might add, is kicking my BUTT), I have been making a conscious effort to wake up thirty minutes earlier, and make myself a protein-packed, real breakfast. You need feul to kick ass, right?

Today? I used a whole wheat sandwich thin (I like Splitz brand, which I grabbed an 8-pack of at F&E for $2.99), and toasted it. While it was toasting, I got one egg in a small skillet, and hard cooked it with salt and pepper, topped it with a slice of F&E sliced mild chedddar (they were on sale 2 for $6 Monday!) and then topped the sandwich thin with it, and voila! 15 grams of protein, 290 calories, and the perfect feul to get me through the morning. I took a protein shake to work in case I was hungry when 12pm came around, but I was still feeling great, and didn’t even end up drinking it.

Goooooood Morning! All you need is a paper towel, and you’ve got a healthy and amazing “grab and go” power breakfast!!

Well folks, that’s all for now. But I  really am trying to make more of an effort to share my recipes on here; I really just throw ingredients together, and my ideas fortunately come to good conclusions. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be dreadful, hard, or expensive. It can be efficient, delicious, and affordable! I’m here to help!

Hopefully, you see something that you like, and you try something new. If you try my recipes, or you try Fresh and Easy, let me know how it goes! Time for me to eat my dinner, soak in some more epsom salts, and get ready for bootcamp in the morning, and the gym at lunch!

‘Til Next Time!

XOXO

Think Fit, Be Fit…and a Synopsis of Life as of Late!

You see, the motto used to be “Think Skinny, Be Skinny!”

I’ve reassessed. It doesn’t seem appropriate for that to be my motto, because I didn’t really set out on this journey to be skinny. I just wanted a body I could be proud of…a body that showed people how much I care about myself, my health, and the way I present myself to the world.

As I mentioned in the last post, I went to see Dr. Steres last week, who basically affirmed what I already knew: Sometimes, you have to stop looking at the number on the scale, and appreciate how far you have come. The real work from now on won’t be losing the last 23 lbs….it will be maintaining all the 107 lbs loss that I’ve reached!

Did you know that most WLS patients typically lose 80-100 lbs, then GAIN 20 lbs, and then they pretty much plateau from there? I did NOT. So, you can imagine the slight relief I felt when I realized I lost over 100 and plateaued, without gaining 20 to boot! She made me realize that where I am now is still a really great place to be. Sure, medical charts still categorize me as overweight (btw, has the BMI index been updated since 1901? Because seriously…I don’t know many people who fall into the “normal” category based on their height and weight according to that thing!), but I feel happy. I feel healthy. I can run without dying. I can do hundreds of crunches in the gym. I try to be really careful about what I put in my body….I drink water like a fish! My life has turned around completely, and at the end of the day? I love what I see when I look in the mirror. I recently posted a few new photos, and people don’t even recognize me.

In all my BMI “overweight” glory, the world keeps remarking about how tiny I have become. Who would have thought?!?!?

In other news, I finally got to take Alex away for her Birthday Weekend Surprise, and we headed to…..PALM SPRINGS! We had a gorgeous room at the Hilton, where we lounged poolside reading our new books and magazines, hit the casino and lost money, headed to a cute pub for a fantastic happy hour (where I drank an even more fantastic Tequila Sunrise), hit a place called Toucan’s Tiki Lounge, where we took in the sights (aka, the male stripper) and drank mimosas until we decided to take multiple ridiculous photos that involved cocktail umbrellas, colorful straws, little plastic swords…and some other shenanigans. The next day we hit a great diner for breakfast, hit the Cabazon outlets, and headed home. All in all, it was a GREAT time…and I was happy to spend some girl time with the Bestie. I think she had fun….you be the judge:

Kinda blurry….but it was before mimosa number 4!

And guess who got her first COMPLETE outfit from Charlotte Russe, a store where I could previously only buy accessories (and the chance pair of size 11 shoes, before they started selling those online only….rude!)? BIG THANKS to Alex, the best Bestie a girl could ask for, for spoiling me with this new ensemble. Refuge jeans, and a gorgeous top….paired with some accessories and chunky heels? I think I rocked it! :

All that time as a personal shopper paid off! I call this “Boho Chic.” Lol.

As if that wasn’t enough, I realized how much my face has thinned out, and I’ve officially convinced myself that I could pass for a slightly dark Kardashian:

You can call me Khondra.

Anyways, enough vanity!

Let’s talk about what I’ve been eating lately! I’ve been keeping it relatively healthy, not to mention delicious!

Some recent meals include:

Tonight’s dinner” Portobello caps sstuffed with cream cheese, spinach, and parmesan. 200 calories, and about 9 grams of protein! AND DELICIOUS!

Stirfry! Asparagus, red bell pepper, onion, red cabbage, bok choy, snap peas, yellow squash, sliced boneless chicken breast….sauteed with some sesame giner sauce and served over some white rice….It was quick, easy, and only one pan!!!

Atlantic salmon with garlic herb butter, and an assortment of baby squash…including cute little mini zucchinis! Drizzled with some EVOO, added some garlic salt and pepper…Baked at 350 for about 25 minutes. Flaky fish, and delectable vegetables!

 

Talk about food porn, huh?

Also, since posting photos can be so much fun, I’d like to share some more amazingness that comes from my boyfriend Sean:

 

And my FAVORITE! As football season nears, Sean has gone so far as to switch cable providers in preperation (it seems DirectTV offers NFL season pass, so we can watch every game of the season. OMG!), and he has already begun planning Sunday events to revolve around such.

Part of the plan?

STEELERS SHIRT FOR MY TEAM PRIDE! Black and Yellow, Black and Yellow!

It’s even got bling. He is clearly my soul mate!

Ok. I think that’s all the fun stuff! I am off to bed early tonight. Alex and I start fitness bootcamp tomorrow morning, and we have to be there at 6:45 AM! And then I am off to my lunch time workout at the gym with Ashley!

Seriously….I didn’t think I’d be able to do the rowing machine! But I can do ANYTHING if I want to badly enough!

Wish me luck. A small part of me is terrified that I will not be able to walk after bootcamp…apparently I’ll be flipping tires and crazy stuff like that. Old Sondra would have cancelled.

But new Sondra? SHE CANNOT WAIT!

Night night my loves! Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

‘Til Next Time!

XOXO