Hi everyone! I was sooo busy at work today, I decided to forgo a blog post and get some work done. My lunch hour was used to go to Body Pump with my friend Melissa. We actually did mostly tracks from Body Pump 69. It was fun to have different music. I actually really like the music a whole lot better than 72′s music. It is more upbeat and there were some old school jams in there But I think I like 72 better as a whole because I feel like it is more challenging. After, I am not there to listen to music, I am there to work right ?! Before heading to the gym I snacked on a piece of a chocolate chip clif bar.

Lunch was a turkey wrap an an Ezekiel wrap with mustard, laughing cow and pickles. On the side I had hummus and veggies (cucumbers, carrots and peppers).

I love the little mini hummus cups at got at Costco, so convenient!

I had a pre-class snack of pretzels that I found in the kitchen at work, I think they were left over from a meeting. I love free, healthy snacks!

Class was good. It was pretty interesting, we talked about personality tests. Psychological Testing can be a little dry, but this is my professor’s first semester teaching it and she is really putting in the effort to make it more interesting and it is MUCH appreciated. It makes it go by fast and holds my interest. After class, I started my walk to the bus. It was SO WINDY AND RAINY it felt like a monsoon!!! My friend Loren and I were getting blown all over the place. By the time I got on the bus, I was soaked. My pants were soaked to my legs and the water had actually come through my LL Bean winter coat onto my sweater underneath. INSANE, right?! I could not wait to get out of those clothes…nothing is more uncomfortable than clothes that are stuck to you. Dinner was fast, healthy and yummy.

Baked teriyaki tofu, whole grain rice and quinoa mix and steamed asparagus.

A few months ago Seeds of Change sent me a HUGE package of a variety of their products. Slowly, but surely I have been working my way through the things they sent me. I was looking for something quick tonight and I pulled this little guy out of the cabinet.

Microwave for 2.5 minutes and it is done!

It had a light garlic taste and I really like it a lot. I recommend it if you like brown rice and quinoa, it is really good!

I was craving something sweet and since I gave up dessert for lent, I had some blueberries with a little bit of honey. It hit the spot.

In Other News:

“Ask Me Anything: Questions:

Q: Roughly how many calories are in your Green Monsters? They look really good, and I would like to try to incorporate them (especially after you talk about how much energy you get, and how it helps your immune system), but I’m a calorie counter and want to make sure they fit into my diet.

A: I can’t be sure, I don’t count calories. But, if I HAD to guess I would say between 400-500 calories. I don’t make them exactly the same every time, so I bet that it varies. I am sure you can adjust it by adding or subtracting things to meet your own caloric needs.

Q: Do you ever find it morally challenging to purchase stylish clothing from stores that manufacture that clothing in sweatshops? Companies/designer’s like Tommy Hilfiger, The Gap, Nike, Banana Republic, and many more have been accused and shown to manufacture their products in “USA Commonwealth’s” can label their clothing, “Made in USA” but can be made in a sweatshop in Saipan were there are no labor laws to protect those workers.

A: To be 100% honest, I have never actually though about it. I am very ignorant as to which companies use sweat shops and usually just buy things that I like. But, this is an interesting point and I will give it more thought and look into it when I have some extra time.

Q: When you were on your weight loss journey and started to see the weight drop off what kept you motivated? After seeing weight loss did it ever just make you want to go back to a bad old habit because you felt like you could and still keep it off?

A: Well, the short answer is no, I never just wanted to go back to my old bad habits. I actually write a lot about my journey in my Meet Ali page. In this page I talk about once I stopped focusing on loosing weight and started focusing on being healthy, that is when my journey really began and the weight actually started to come off. Can I keep the weight off while drinking a lot, eating fatty foods and smoking a 1/2 a pack a day? Maybe? I am not sure. Am I willing to try? Absolutely not! Being healthy and living an active lifestyle makes me a happier person and A LOT more fun to be around and I guess that is my motivation. I love that my lungs are clean and my hair doesn’t smell like cigarettes. I love the way clean and healthy food makes my body feel and function. Nothing beats the feeling I get after a great workout or as I cross a finish line. So to me, that is all motivation as well. If you are a regular reader you will notice I am not an all or nothing kind of girl though. It as truly all about balance. I eat healthy and workout hard for the most part. But, some sometimes I have a few drinks, indulge a little bit and spend a day laying around my apartment being lazy.

I am accepting “Ask Me Anything” Questions until Next Friday, March 5th, so hurry up and get them in. To submit an question, click here.  Night!!!