I ate too much

I’m back in Cali, which means I’m back at work and back to my routine.

Unfortunately, I feel a bit like this:

Yep, a bloated cat, that’s what I feel like.

When I’m on vacation, I do try to balance healthy eating and some rigorous activity with the added treats and splurges. 

Unfortunately this trip my activities didn’t quite balance my indulging.  Meep! While we did do about 1.5 hours of kayaking on Sunday, and a 3 mile run Monday (in the HOT weather I might add, so it was like double..haha), and a 2-3 mile walk on the beach on Tuesday, this did not combat my eats.  I don’t feel too incredibly guilty because I enjoyed all of my extra treats.

I only get to see my Mom about 1x per year and she’s always great about buying things I like, including Brach’s gummy fruits (sooo good — love these things).  And well, it’s hard to say no.  And frankly, I didn’t want to.  I also liked indulging in some coconut vanilla cake, a DQ Blizzard (quite refreshing after our beach day), and huge heaping portions of watermelon.

But now I’m home and ready to face reality and also the scale (side note: I need to write a post about the scale…my opinions may surprise you). 

While my tastebuds still have a hankering for some sweet treats and salty goods, I am mentally very excited to start consuming my greens, my balanced meals, and my typical eats (oats, salads with chickpeas, etc).

I’m also stoked to get a nice long sweat session going on tonight with the gym.  I like to “earn my treats” and right now I’ve got a debt to pay in the exercise department before I can earn some more brownie points brownies.

Also on my agenda is some major cleaning.  I love coming back to an organized clean home so tonight will also include tidying up and tackling the beast of a laundry basket that’s consuming our closet.  Oye.

How do you get back into your routine after a vacation?

Not alone this Memorial Day

Hellooooo from hot, humid, sticky Florida   I hope everyone is having a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day — this is the first holiday this year that the hubby and I have not been alone!  Hurray   We’re with my Mom and her fiance in Port Orange and relaxin’.  Beach day tomorrow 8)

Here are last night’s eats at Ponce Inlet.  Nom, nom, nom!

Here’s a little survey about some A,B,C’s that I’ve seen floating around…

A is for Apple, what’s your favorite variety? I tend to buy Braeburn mostly.  Honeycrisp are pretty good too.

B: is for Bread, regardless of nutrition, calories, or whole grains what is your favorite type to have a nice big piece of? The rolls my Grandma makes, olive loaf (dipped in olive oil), Olive Garden bread sticks (don’t hate), or Cheesecake Factory’s pumpernickel bread

C: is for Cereal what is your favorite kind currently (just one!) : Blueberry morning used to be my fave. Now, perhaps TJ’s Maple Shreaded Wheats

D: is for Doughnuts, you might not currently be eating them but what kind do you fancy? Blueberry glazed cake donut or chocolate donut with chocolate frosting and whipped cream center (a la PDQ )

E: is for Eggs, how would you like yours prepared? In a baked good only.  I hate eggs.

F: is for Fat Free, what is your favorite fat free product? Cottage cheese perhaps?  Ooo or sals

G: is for Groceries, where do you purchase yours at? Trader Joe’s for most stuff with Safeway for the standard/bulk items

H: is for Hot Beverages, what is your favorite hot drink? Peet’s non-fat 2-pump vanilla latte

I: is for Ice Cream, pick a favorite flavor and add a fun topping. Blue Moon!  Topping — whipped cream

J: is for Jams or Jellies, do you eat them, and if so what kind and flavor? Strawberry, but I rarely use jelly (I’d rather use pumpkin butter)

K: is for Kashi, name your favorite Kashi product? Pumpkin pie flax granola bars…mmmm.  Their frozen lunch meals are darn tasty too.

L: is for Lunch, what was yours today? Not lunch time yet, but I’m expecting to pack in a huge spread  of pasta salad, fruit salad, hummus, soda cake, and a turkey burger.

M: is for microwave, what is your favorite microwave meal/snack? SmartPop popcorn.  It’s my fave dinner…I’m serious.

N: is for nutrients, do you likes carbs, fats, or proteins best? Hmm probably carbs.  I’m a sucker for pastas, breads, cereals, oats, etc

O: is for oil, what kind do you like to use? Trader Joe’s EVOO

P: is for protein, how do you get yours? Chobani Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, tofu, almonds, chickpeas

Q: is for Quaker, how do you like your oats? Hot in the AM with lots of cinnamon or maple syrup

R: is for roasting, what is your favorite thing to roast? Onions…yummm.  Or beets…

S: is for sandwich, what’s your favorite kind? PB&J – can’t go wrong with a classic

T: is for travel, how do you handle eating while traveling? I eat.  A lot.  And I enjoy it.

U: is for unique, what is one of your weirdest food combos? Salsa and cottage cheese.  Tortilla chips and peanut butter.

V: is for vitamins, what kind do you take? Multi-vitamin, B-complex, magnesium (for migraines), and iron

W: is for wasabi, yay or nay? Yay — bring on the spicy

X: is for XC Foodie, why is she so awesome? ???

Y: is for youth, what food reminds you of your childhood? Ella’s Deli grilled cheese or McDonald’s pancakes

Z: is for zucchini, how do you prepare it? In banana bread or on a pizza

Okay your turn.

I is for ice-cream — what’s your fave flavor?  Topping?

M is for Microwave — what’s your fave meal/snack?

Workin’ it out — vacation style

It’s the end of my 1.5 day workweek and I’m stoked.  On my agenda today is some work, shopping, a pedi, and some girl time!  Yay for Fridays

My one and only motivation for working out on vacation is to eat and drink more.  Yep, I said it.  I own it.

But being that it’s vacation, I for one don’t like going the traditional gym route.  Enter diversity!

Paddleboarding in Hanalei Bay (the last time I went was in Tahoe):

Bestie and I just settin' out

And I'm up!

Kim and I coming in to give the boys a try

Hike the Napali Coast:

Not a shabby view, eh?

Rough traversing

Our ocean view lunch location on the hike

Beach yoga:

Tree pose

Standing bow

Running:  Um yeah…no pics of this, but I did run just under 2.5 miles along the North shore on Thursday, Sunday, and Tuesday.  Running in Kauai is so much more fun than on the mainland

Am I an advocate for working out on vacation?  Meh.  If you have time and want to, go for it.  Otherwise, take a break and enjoy your new and temporary surroundings!

If you workout on vacation, what’s your favorite way to get the heart rate up?

Best form of non-traditional exercise? For me, paddleboarding!