Chuggin Along

Those of you not in the tax world probably wonder what the heck tax accountants do after the April 15th deadline.  Whelp, I wish April 15th were the only deadline during the year, but alas we have several big, BIGGER, and BIGGGGER deadlines through the year.  The BIGGGGER deadline I’m referring to is the lovely September 15th, which is fast approaching.  Most of the work we do outside of “tax season” relates to businesses who extend their tax returns and/or have a fiscal year end and thus a different due date.  I’ll leave it at that.  People can only stomach so much tax-talk, especially on a Monday 🙂

On top of the tax deadline, the accounting course I’m teaching at a local university starts next week!  When things get busy like this, the first thing that gets sacrificed is exercise.  It saddens me to admit that fact, but it’s the honest truth.  I know it’s all about making time.  My problem is when I’m mentally exhausted, I don’t have the energy to do physical things.  I’m still trying to find ways to get myself motivated.  The busier I am at work, the greater the need for planning meals and batch-cooking.  Thus, yesterday morning I did all my shopping for the week and had a mini cookathon.

Breakfast #1

First up on the Sunday cooking agenda was a 3-serving batch of scrambled eggs and roasted broccoli. 

Here’s what went into the scrambled eggs:

• 3 whole eggs
• 9 egg whites
• splash of water
• S&P
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Frank’s red hot

The broccoli was roasted on a cookie sheet (sprayed down with cooking spray) and then seasoned with garlic salt and pepper.  I roasted them in a 415 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Good things come in threes? 

I added a dollop of ketchup (mandatory) before eating 1 of these 3 lovelies at my desk at work:

Stats on B#1:  163 Calories, 12g carbs, 5g fat, 19g protein, 2g fiber

Breakfast #2

There is one breakfast in the world that would make me actually look forward to a Monday.  Overnight Oats, of course!

I made my usual overnight oats to enjoy at my desk at work this lovely Monday.

Keep an eye out for tomorrow’s post which will greatly elaborate on my overnight oats… Can you smell the excitement?! 

Stats on B#2:  233 Calories, 44carbs, 5g fat, 6g protein, 7g fiber

 

Lunch

I don’t buy much lunch meat, but yesterday I had a real hankerin for a toasted sub so I picked some Roasted Deli Turkey and Ham up at the grocery store.  I also picked up some Arnold’s Fill’ems.  Have you guys seen these?  They are basically sandwich thins in long rectangles (for use with hotdogs, sausage, etc).  How cool!

For lunch today, I piled a couple slices of turkey and ham atop an Arnold’s Fill ‘em along with some tomatoes, onions, banana peppers, spinach, and sprouts and a squiggle of Wasabi mustard:

Stats on Lunch:  275 Calories, 33g carbs, 2g fat, 25g protein, 8g fiber

Yesterday, I made a grilled version of this same sandwich—except no sprouts and I used a little Italian dressing and hot sauce instead of mustard:

It’s crazy how simply grilling a sandwich makes it taste infinitely more delicious.  I’m seriously considering bringing a mini George Foreman to work.. You know the ones that are just big enough to cook a single burger?  I wonder if anyone would mind… or if it’s a fire hazard or something.

Warm, crispy, and DELICIOUS:

 

Random

Over the past week or so, I’ve tried out a few new goodies and I wanted to comment on them (mostly to link up to the products I’ve tried page).

First up, the Kardea Lemon Ginger bar.  I was really excited to try this flavor out:

But, sadly I HATED it!  Of the 3 flavors I’ve tried thus far, this is the only one I won’t be purchasing again.  It just didn’t jive with me.  I have one bar left (Banana Nut) and  I sure hope it tastes better than this flavor!

I also FINALLY found a FAGE yogurt with the fruit mixins:

Another sad story!  I didn’t like this yogurt at all!  I GREATLY prefer Chobani and Dannon Greek yogurt to the FAGE.

So sad.

As you may recall, I haven’t had the greatest luck with Larabars.  When I found two mini lara’s in my HLS swag bag, I wasn’t too excited to try either of them out.

 

But surprise, surprise, I REALLY liked this cashew cookie bar!  I think now that my palate knows a larabar isn’t supposed to taste like a Luna bar, I’ve become more accepting of them.

Besides, look how stinkin cute it is:

Annnnd I also tried the cherry pie larabar:

And I liked it!  Crazy talk!

Dinner

Dinner went unpictured, but deserves a notable mention because the BF and I hit up Applebees after work.  Now this may not sound too exciting to most of you, but to me it was a definite highlight of the week.  Ok, I know the week just started, but I feel confident saying it will be a highlight 🙂  We don’t usually see each other during the workweek, and the past weekend was.. lets just say “not the most cheery.”  So it was ESPECIALLY lovely to have a nice dinner together.  Not to mention the fact that Applebee’s had a special on cabernet tonight (only $3.50 a glass!!).  I went with the steak on the under 550 calorie menu, and it was delicious!  By the way, I’m also a BIG fan of the Shrimp & Island rice on the under 550 calorie menu as well.  Check ‘em out!

QUESTION:  When work/life gets super busy, how do you keep up on your exercise and eating healthy?