My charger has returned...

The Prodigal Charger has returned! I have a fully charged battery in my camera yet suddenly nothing seems NEARLY as photographically interesting as it did when I had no way to take a picture. Of course.

Tennis playoffs were a bust. We lost in the first round. On paper, that should have never happened. We were the number one seed. The girls drove 1.5 hours to our courts to play us. They should have been tired. Maybe the drive somehow energized them. I will have to remember that next time and take a long drive before my next match. Or not. Either way, they were a good team. We lost 3-2. I really hate losing in the first round but someone has to do it I suppose. We still won our division so I will have to be satisfied with that accomplishment...until next season. :)

My healthy eating continues. I have had minor diversions here and there but for the most part I have stayed on the green line much like that Fidelity Investments commercial.

Here is a sample of my dinner last night. I have been on a spinach based salad kick lately. Almost as odd as the healthy eating kick. I am pretty sure I have had at least 1 cup or more of raw spinach every day for a week. This was last night's sampling:



I also had some chicken and rice soup. I LOVE this recipe. It is so basic but really clean and tasty. The picture does not do it justice. It reminds of Sizzling Rice Soup only the rice doesn't sizzle and there are no shrimp or water chestnuts. I guess I don't know why it reminds of that soup... LOL

It is borrowed from the Eat Clean Diet book. I am a little obsessed with the concept right now. Normally I hear of these things and think it is way too complicated and not something that is realistic for me. As I was looking through this book, I realized that I eat pretty clean as a rule already. I am going to keep reading up on it and try to incorporate it more into my life. I am not all that interested in losing much weight but am interested in being a healthier eater. I think Hubster would benefit too. The title is really misleading as it really isn't a diet in my opinion so much as a way of eating for life but I guess all diets are supposed to be that way aren't they?



Spring Chicken Soup

64 ounces of chicken stock
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 leeks (stems discarded, wash and then coarsely chop the white and light green parts)
1 t sea salt
3 inner stalks of celery (chopped, leaves too)
2 cups cooked brown rice
1 cup frozen peas and carrots (the recipe actually called for 1.5 cups of bean sprouts but I knew hubby would NEVER eat it so I subbed the peas and carrots)

Did I mention this was EASY? It totally is... Bring stock to a boil, add chicken and bring to a boil again. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes or so while you spend your time chopping the veggies. Add chopped celery and leeks to the pot. Add the peas and carrots (if you are going that route) and boil for 10 minutes. Remove chicken from the pot. Cool slightly and chop into bite sized pieces. Return to the pot with the cooked brown rice. Add bean sprouts (if you are into that sort of thing) and cook 3 minutes more. Add sea salt and serve hot.

YUMMY. That is all that needs to be said.

I spied some sprouted grain Ezekiel Bread at the store today. I have heard much about this bread and would love to try it. As soon as my stockpile of Chobani runs out I am going to have to get some and maybe work it into my breakfast rotation with some almond butter. They had sesame, regular and cinnamon. The cinnamon was calling my name so maybe next week...

Strength training WEEK TWO!
I am really enjoying the strength training. It is funny how some days you walk away thinking you didn't do all that much and then 2 days later your body tells you a different story. Monday was Shoulders/Chest/Triceps. I feel the triceps work big time. LOVE THAT.

The shoulder/chest/tricep workout (again stolen from Fitnessista)

Overhead press 3 sets of 15
Dips 3 sets of 15
Stability ball pushups 3 sets of 15
Planks 3 sets (60 seconds, 60 seconds, 30 seconds)
Lateral Raise 3 sets of 15
Cable Tricep Extension 3 sets of 15
Stability Ball Leg Lifts (those were a little tricky, I might need remedial training)

I am really proud of myself for sticking with it. It is like a bootcamp for 1 person. I guess it sounds kind of sad when I say it like that, doesn't it? Seriously though, I am enjoying the variety. New year, new things to try I suppose!

Guess that about sums it up for now. Have a great week!