Weekly Money Check Up

1. The most I’ve spent this last week was on Black Friday - Christmas gifts, & clothes for me. The majority of the clothes are going back (I don't try things on during the madness & always return a bunch).
2. Today I feel worried about money because I'm not tracking it the way I like, & I'm spending it too freely. I hate that out of control feeling, & want to funnel my money towards my priorities (read: not clothes, but my 401K loan payoff fund).
3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free/inexpensive thing I did last week that made me happy was laugh with family members for hours over delicious food and wine. (that sentence came from MPP, but it was exactly how I felt, so I'll liberally borrow it.). :-)
4. I will consider this week a success if I finish my shopping returns & complete my Christmas shopping & wrapping.
5. My favorite holiday song is Silent Night.

For more weekly money posts, check out My Pretty Pennies.

Ambitions for December

I haven't done monthly goals in a while, & I really need the accountability. November & December tend to be two months of indulgence for me, so I'm feeling highly motivated to put pen to paper (or rather, fingers to keyboard) & set out specific goals for the month. I'm also working on  my 2011 goals, which I find exciting to set. I'm a planner like that. :-)

Lose Weight:

• Lose 9 pounds by the end of the month. My current weight is 162, so this will bring me to 153 - my official weight before I got pregnant with my second child.
• Eat 1500 calories/day (averaged weekly).
• Workout 24 times. This is very ambitious, but I'm at 126 workouts for the year, & my goal is to hit 150 for 2010.

Financials:

• Spend $700 or less on food.
• Stick to my budget for the month.
• Create & follow weekly menu plans.
• Use up 5 random items from the pantry/freezer or donate them.
• Create a 401K loan payoff plan.

Work:

• Get a new job. :-)

Organization/Planning:

• Go through the boys toys & books to make room for holiday gifts.
• Organize/declutter my closet & drawers
• Organize/declutter the master bathroom

11/29 - Fitness & Nutrition Update

Weight = 162.4. Have to get below 160. That's my "scary" threshold, & I'm freaked out a bit to be over it.

Food:
Breakfast:

• english muffin + egg + laughing cow - 240
• coffee with milk - 20

Snack:

• trail mix - 170

Lunch:

• small salad with chicken - 200
• turkey & provolone sandwich - 290
• 3 mini butterfingers - 150

Snack:

• carrots with hummus - 90. .

Dinner:

• pesto pasta dish - 400

Total calories = 1560. A much better calorie day, but still need to work on this.

Fruits/vegetables = 0/4. I suck with the fruit, which is odd, because I'm a huge fan. Apparently, just lazy.

No workout today.

The long overdue financial update

*shiver* Not excited to write this all out, but I suppose that's the most obvious sign that I need to. I have been spending more money than needed, pretty much for the past couple of months. Buying gifts for the holidays seems to set off this massive consumerism *buy, buy, buy* trigger in my head. It's not pretty.

I think that next year, I'm going to skip Black Friday shopping & plan a spa day. I'll still come out ahead, financially. In terms of buying gifts for others, I'm mostly on track for meeting my goals. However, I've bought myself & the kids way too (clothing). I need to return a lot of stuff, but the damage is much more than I had hoped to spend. Just checked my credit card statements. YIKES.

I also want to update my tickers/side bars, so that's on my agenda. Isn't it interesting that when things fall apart with my eating, they also do with the finances? For whatever reason, the two seem to go hand in hand.

I'm not entirely sure I can fully explain what caused either, but I will say that work has been incredibly stressful lately. More so than the usual stress. I'm looking at a new job, and may have an interview as soon as next week. Crossing my fingers that pans out, as getting a new job would be a huge win for my stress levels.

I'm going to be incorporating more financial updates regularly, so look for those!

Menu Plan Monday

My better half is traveling this week, so it will be a quick & easy menu. When he's not around, I tend to improvise quite a bit more. :-)

Lunches will be: leftovers, sandwiches, fruit & vegetables with hummus, + nuts.

Dinners:
Monday - Tacos
Tuesday - Cider Glazed Chicken
Wednesday - Crunchy Parmesan Chicken Tenders
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - on a mini trip with my sister, so we'll be eating out.
Saturday - I'm thinking of taking my kids to an event at our gym that includes dinner.
Sunday - Panera's Creamy Potato Soup & rolls

11/28 - Fitness & Nutrition Update

Back to reality. The scale has shocked me into realizing that I have undone a lot of ground & need to get back into the rythm of healthy eating & losing weight.

Weight = 164

Food:
Breakfast:

• coffee with milk - 20
• english muffin with laughing cow & jelly - 200
• Honeydew - 30

Snack:

• walnuts/almonds/cranberries/pretzels - 250

Lunch:

• pizza - 300
• cottage cheese - 100
• mandarin + honeydew - 50.

Snack:

• hummus/vegetables/pita chips - 250

Dinner:

• cosmopolitan - 150
• chicken with roasted vegetables - 300
• crackers - 120

Total = 1770. I need to start driving this lower - 1400 calories/day.

Fruits/Vegetables = 2/4

Workout = 40 minutes on the elliptical, level 13.

11/27 - The Thanksgiving/Black Friday Hangover Edition

Not hangover in the true sense of the word, but more of a complete indulgence with food & finances. I need to update my financial trackers asap & get myself back on track.

Weight = didn't weigh in today. Have promised myself to deal with the reality tomorrow. :-)

Food:
Breakfast:

• 1 tortilla + 1 egg + 1 tbsp cheese + salsa + a small tomato = 300
• coffee with milk - 20

Snack:

• 1 mini doughnut - 60

Lunch:

• 1 cheese bagel with light cream cheese - 450. Subtotal = 930
• 1/8 of a quesadilla - 75
• crackers - 300
• 1 small package of skittles - 80
• two lindor truffles - 160

Workout:
46 minutes of elliptical, level 13.

11/24 - Fitness & Nutrition Update

I promise to break out of my rut & actually post things other than my daily update. Soon.

 

Weight - 161. I had a good day today, so a little disappointed.

 

Food:
Breakfast:

• 1 pear - 80
• coffee with milk - 20
• english muffin with laughing cow & egg - 220

Lunch:

• cashews - 80
• cottage cheese - 175
• fat free grilled cheese on wheat bread - 235.

Dinner:

• tortellini with pesto & fresh tomato - 300
• wine - 200
• 1/2 mini hoagie with parmesan & butter - 300

Total calories = 1610.
Fruit/vegetables = 1/1. :-(

Workout:
35 minute walk in the snow with the kids. :-)

11/23 - Fitness & Nutrition Update

I'm home with the kids today, as their school is closed due to snow. :-)

 

Weight = 160.2 Feeling good about heading in the right direction. My goal is to be at 150 by 1/1/11.

 

Food:
Breakfast:

• coffee with milk - 20
• 1 pc wheat bread + laughing cow + egg - 200
• Pineapple - 50

Lunch:

• chicken pasta casserole - 350
• pear - 80
• cashews - 80
• babybel cheese - 60.

Snack:

• 1 cranberry muffin - 180.

Dinner:

• wine - 120
• steak with risotto & macaroni & cheese - 300.

Snack:

• pomegranate - 80

Total calories = 1320

Groan. Still no workout today. I'm going to try & work out something tomorrow with M, so he'll watch the boys for an hour between meetings while I work out. This no school thing & still trying to work this week has proven to be quite a challenge.

Fruits/vegetables = 4/1. Better than yesterday!

11/22 - Fitness & Nutrition Update

I got on the scale this morning, & it was not good news.
Weight = 162

Food:
Breakfast:

• english muffin + 1/2 laughing cow + egg - 200
• coffee with milk - 200

Snack:

• babybel cheese - 60
• almonds - 100

Lunch:

• (Panera) potato soup + vegetable sandwich + multigrain bread - 700. Subtotal = 1260

Dinner:

• 3/4 of a serving of baked chicken casserole - 300

Total calories = 1560.

Will try to have fruit tonight. :-( again with the fruit & vegetables.

No workout. Had to leave work early to pick my kids up today, as their school closed early due to snow. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!

Menu Plan Monday

This will be a bit of an unusual week because of Thanksgiving, but I'll see what I can come up with. :-)

Lunches will be leftovers, sandwiches, fruit & nuts this week.

Dinners:
Monday - tacos
Tuesday - Italian Baked Chicken Pastina (bumped from last week)
Wednesday - White wine marinated steak
Thursday - Thanksgiving dinner with family
Friday -  Chicken piccata
Saturday - Balsamic chicken with spinach risotto
Sunday - Linguine with shrimp & lemon

11/21 - Fitness & Nutrition Update

Weight - unknown. Will weigh in tomorrow.

Food:
Breakfast:

• scone - 200
• english muffin + laughing cow + morningstar - 200

Lunch:

• grilled halibut with fries & small amount of coleslaw - 800

Dinner:

• brussel sprouts - 100
• small serving of lubia polo - 250

Total calories = 1550.

Horrible on the fruits & vegetables today.

No workout - drove home from the beach & got caught in some terrible weather. Happy to be home. :-)

11/19 - Fitness & Nutrition Update

I'm going to the beach this weekend for my mom's birthday, & I'm looking forward to relaxing!

Weight - Unknown. The boys woke me up very early this morning, so I forgot.

Food:
Breakfast:

• 1/2 waffle + banana - 200
• non-fat latte - 100

Lunch:

• Low fat chicken salad sandwich (the deli at my gym makes them, & they are wonderful & healthy!) - 250

Snack:

• pub mix - 100

Dinner:

• wine - 320
• chicken salad - 200
• hummus/veggies - 140
• Smoked salmon/cheese/crackers - 250

Snack:

• 1/2 mini skinny cow ice cream - 80
• 2 cookies - 250

Total calories = 1890

Workout = 40 minutes elliptical, level 13

11/18 - Fitness & Nutrition Update

I need a kick in the pants. I've completely lost my motivation for healthy eating, working out, & financial tracking. I can't put my finger on why or what happened, but I need to get back in gear & making things happen. I know I *can* do it, but somehow, I'm just not.

Weight = 161.8

Food:

Breakfast:

• 1.5 waffles (no butter) - 200
• banana - 110
• latte - 100

Lunch:

• 1 pc pizza - 200
• 1 babybel cheese - 60
• 1 truffle - 100
• 1 pear - 80. Subtotal = 850.

Dinner:

• chicken sandwich - 430
• Fries - 410

Total calories = 1690

Workout:
Cardio/weights - 30 minutes

11/17 - Fitness & Nutrition Update

Weight = 161.8

 

Food:
Breakfast:

• english muffin + sausage + laughing cow - 250
• coffee with milk - 20

Snack:

• almonds - 80

 

Lunch:

• hummus & crackers/pretzels - 300
• pasta fagioli soup - 170

Snack:

• m&ms - 150. Subtotal = 970.

Dinner:

• 1 2/3 pcs of pizza - 400
• edamame - 200
• pear - 80

Total = 1650
fruits/vegetables = 1/3
No workout.

11/16 - Fitness & Nutrition Update

Weight = 162

 

Food:
Breakfast:

• English muffin + 1/2 laughing cow + sausage - 240
• coffee with milk - 20

 

Snack:

• 2 mini babybel cheese - 120
• almond - 120.

Lunch:

• chicken flatbread - 440
• strawberry smoothie - 170.

Dinner:

• 1 beer - 200
• 1 1/2 pc pizza - 350

Total calories = 1660. Although I was hoping to keep my calories lower for the day, I'm very proud of myself that I didn't have more pizza.Normally, going to my favorite pizza place means losing all control, & tonight I reigned it in. Small steps. :-)

11/15 - Fitness & Nutrition Tracking

Weight = 162.6 - at least we're headed back in the right direction.

Breakfast:

• english muffin + morningstar sausage + 1/2 laughing cow - 230
• 1/2 pear - 40
• coffee with milk - 20

Snack:

• granola with milk - 200

Lunch:

• Turkey sandwich & chips - 1000 (holy smokes! Looked this up after my catered lunch. Too late, apparently)
• handful of m&ms - 100

Dinner:

• Chicken with brussel sprouts - 400
• 1/2 glass of wine - 40

Total calories = 2030. Bummer. I had no idea that the lunch threw me off track by so much. I thought I was going to come in around 1500 or so - shows you how much planning ahead helps!

Fruits/Vegetables = 1/3

Workout:
30 minute bike, level 12

Menu Plan Monday - 11/14

This is my first menu plan in a few weeks, & it feels good to be back on track. :-)

Lunches:

• Monday - catered meeting
• Tuesday - butternut squash risotto + fruit
• Wednesday -butternut squash risotto + fruit
• Thursday - chicken casserole + fruit + vegetables & hummus
• Friday - picking up a healthy sandwich from the gym. Will eat on the road, as I'm heading to the beach with my mom for a girls weekend. :-)
• Saturday - Out of town
• Sunday - Out of town

Dinners:

• Sunday - Salmon + butternut squash risotto (had this tonight - wasn't a fan)+ roasted vegetables
• Monday - dijon chicken with roasted brussel sprouts & possibly rice pilaf
• Tuesday - Italian Baked chicken pastina casserole (freezer)
• Wednesday -white wine marinated steak & roasted vegetables
• Thursday - Leftovers
• Friday - Out of town
• Saturday - Out of town
• Sunday - Lubia polo (from the freezer). I'm getting back home late, so I need something easy.

11/14 - Fitness & Nutrition Update

Weight = 162.8 I almost cried when i got off the scale this morning. I knew I ate out a ton over the past few weeks (traveling & training + date night last night), but didn't expect the damage to be so much. I'm super depressed. The good news is that I'm off to the gym this morning. I know it's going to take a week or so to get my weight headed back in the right direction - all I can do is focus & work hard.

 

Food:
Breakfast:

• 2 homemade waffles with butter - 300
• fruit - 80
• egg - 80

Lunch:

• pear - 80
• cashews - 80
• 1/4 quesadilla - 150
• small srvg chicken casserole - 200.

Dinner:

• butternut squash risotto - 400
• cosmopolitan - 200

Total calories = 1670

Fruit/Vegetables = 4/2

Workout:
60 minute elliptical, level 12
45 minute weight training

117th workout of the year (goal is 150).

11/13 - Fitness & Nutrition Update

No weigh in today.

 

Food:

Breakfast:

• Egg with english muffin & 1/2 laughing cow - 230
• pomegranate - 80
• coffee with milk - 20

 

Lunch:

• 1 small piece of vegetable pizza - 150
• cashews - 80
• satuma - 35
• 1 cranberry muffin - 174

Snack:

• pomegranate - 40
• 2 mini babybel cheese - 120.

Dinner (date night):

• hummus with pita chips & vegetables - 150
• cosmopolitan - 180
• 1 glass of wine - 80
• edamame & salad - 300

Total = 1640.
No workout.

11/12 - Fitness & Nutrition Update

Didn't track my food today, but I don't think it was great news. However, back from my trip & training & ready to tackle things again.

Weight = 162. :-(

Full details tomorrow!!!

11/5 - Fitness & Nutrition Update

weight = 158. Hanging tough at 158, but feeling fine about it, given my lack of workouts & unhealthy food choices this week.

 

Food:
Breakfast:

• egg, 1/2 piece toast, 1/2 laughing cow - 210
• honeydew - 30
• coffee with milk - 20

Snack:

• cashews - 150

 

Lunch:

• apple - 80
• 4 carrots & 2 tbsp hummus - 50
• homemade potato soup - 325. Subtotal = 865

Dinner:

• roasted brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes & carrots - 200
• 1/2 grilled cheese - 175
• a few pita chips & hummus - 150.
• Wine - 120

Total calories = 1510

Fruits/Vegetables = 2/6

Workout = 60 minutes elliptical machine, level 13. 20 minutes weight training.
Workout 113/150 for the year. Starting to get nervous on my pacing, I'm still tracking about 9% behind for the year. Even though I'm traveling next week, I can't lose my momentum this late in the year.

11/2 - Fitness & Nutritional Update

Weight = 158

Not a great day. I was in training, & had way too many snacks & overall greatly exceeded my calories. I also didn't wake up an hour early (as planned) in order to get a workout in. Tomorrow has to be a better day!

Menu Plan Monday - 11/1 edition

Little bit of a crazy week, as I have training all week & then leave for New York on Sunday morning. I tried to prep a bunch of stuff over the weekend, so I feel a little prepared. :-)

Breakfasts:
Peanut butter banana bread
Blueberry muffins (I substituted blueberries for cranberries, but left the rest of the recipe intact)

Lunches:
I made a huge batch of potato soup, as well as red pepper hummus. I'll have the hummus with carrots & celery, and add in fruit & nuts to round out my meals.

• Monday - Crunchy parmesan chicken tenders (excellent & extremely kid-friendly) + noodles tossed with fresh tomato sauce (from the freezer) & shaved parmesan
• Tuesday - Italian baked chicken & pastina casserole. Extremely easy & tasty - made it on Saturday.
• Wednesday - White wine marinated steak with mashed potatoes
• Thursday - Lubia polo (from the freezer)
• Friday - Cider glazed chicken with brown butter pecan rice
• Saturday - Date night!
• Sunday - I'm traveling. M & the kids will either have leftover, or go out for Greek food. Their favorite. :-)

10/31 - Fitness & Nutrition Update

Weight = 158

 

Food:
Breakfast:

• coffee with milk - 20
• pineapple & yogurt - 50
• breakfast sandwich with turkey bacon & egg - 350

 

Lunch:

• ceasar salad (no dressing) - 200
• 2 pc halloween candy - 60
• tastes of soup, muffins, etc - 120

Snack:

• 1 pc banana bread - 200.

Dinner:

• chicken & tomato pasta casserole - 400
• cosmopolitan - 120
• candy - 300

Total calories = 1820

Fruits/Vegetables = 2/4

 

Workout:
40 minutes on the elliptical machine, level 12
15 minutes of strength training.
Workout 112/150 for the year. 74.6% of the way to my goal, with 83% of the year elapsed.

11/1 - Fitness & nutrition update

Weight = 158. I'm frustrated. Now, I have to figure out what to do about it. More on that shortly.

Food:
Breakfast:

• Coffee with milk - 20
• English muffin with laughing cow & egg - 230

Snack:

• 1 piece banana bread - 150

Lunch (restaurant):

• potato leek soup + 1/2 turkey sandwich + chips + bread - 900

Dinner:

• cosmopolitan - 200
• 2 chicken tenders + pasta with tomato sauce (small portion) - 400

Total = 1900.

Fruit/Vegetables = 1/4. Again, with the fruit.

I have a seriously crazy schedule the next two weeks, & I need to make working out & eating well a priority. It's critical that I don't let these next two weeks get away without progress.