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On this day…
Well, it is nearing midnight which means this day is almost over. I don’t have any big announcement, giveaway, or candle in a bowl of oatmeal to mark this day. Just a slight nod of the head and tip of the cap to the year that was.
One year ago, on July 14, 2009, I started a new blog. I’d been blogging for six months prior about my journey to my first triathlon. Once that was done, The Great Balancing Act was born as a way to continue my chronicles of leading a happy, healthy, balanced life. Special shout-out to Ellie who came up with the blog name!
To say a lot has changed since I began this blog one year ago would be an understatement. If someone had told me one year ago that this is what I’d be doing, where I’d be sitting, while typing up this blog post, I wouldn’t have believed it. Only because one year ago I don’t think I was capable of doing the things I’m doing today. But each day that has passed since has been a day of growth.
Here’s a measly selection of some of the year’s most notable occasions:
I moved into my first bachelor apartment.
I quit my job as a radio reporter, and left without turning back.
Took a job at Starbucks AND decided I want to be a personal trainer
Received an e-mail landing me a sweet position at my old university.
Ended a four-year relationship
Celebrated one year of blogging
Announced I was moving from my home province of New Brunswick to Toronto
Took a personal training course
Took care of the world’s cutest dog (I’m biased)
Passed my personal training exam
Left home and took off to a great adventure in Banff.
Lived with my sister for two weeks in Ottawa.
Got my first job as a personal trainer
And that last link is from yesterday’s post. Today, I spent the day being shown the ropes at the new gym I’ll be training at. I can’t believe how my life has changed since I began this little blog one year ago. All I can say is that I enter this next year with open arms.
Bring it. ;)
Numbers Game
Happy Waffle Wednesday friends!!
Today’s batch was two Nature’s Path Maple Cinnamon waffles defrosted in the microwave and dredged in egg whites. Then cooked in a pan to make waffle french toast!
Topped with some almond butter, frozen strawberries and sugar-free syrup. Yummzzz. Although, it kinda makes me miss fresh berries. Remember when strawberries were less than $5 a pint?? Those were the days…
Today was my rest day from the gym, which meant my hunger was out of control! Body needs the fuel to repair itself from all that stress I put it though ;) Morning snack came early with a homemade PB&J protein bar.
These may be a little mushy, but my gosh are they good!!
I didn’t quite make it to lunch though, I broke into my second snack at 10:30.
I ate the Kashi raspberry chocolate bar. These are growing on me. Kashi bars are like eating air though.
Lunch was something different for me – a yogurt mess!
I only ever have these for breakfast or a snack, but it made for a decent lunch! With the yogurt was also cottage cheese, peach mango flavoured protein powder, cashew butter and homemade granola. Surprisingly satisfying. Thumbs up yog mess :)
I then rushed home to furiously clean my apartment for my lunch break. Someone was supposed to come look at it at 6 o’clock, but shortly before I got off work, they cancelled! Boo-urns. I have someone else coming tomorrow though, so at least it wasn’t all for nothing I guess…
It did leave me more time to EAT when I came home :)
A steamy bowl of broccoli + brussel sprouts with Braggs.
Paired with a real hamburger on an english muffin. Topped with hummus, hot sauce and swiss cheese.
Holy crap the burger was awesome. The hummus was amazing on it!! Is there anything hummus doesn’t taste awesome on? Wait. Don’t answer that. Because the answer is NO!! :P
All about the numbers?
Bloggers. How many of you out there obsessively check your page views, website hits, and clicks?
I was reading the always insightful, smart and entertaining MizFit today and she mentioned something that really hit home for me:
I also yammer to my IRL friends about how I never check my blog stats. For me it’s the same as the scale: why let a number dictate my self-worth!
Bingo. When I first started blogging at Trying for a Tri over a year ago, I would check that WordPress stats page everyday, and feel awful because I wasn’t getting any readers. I didn’t feel good enough, or entertaining enough, or informative enough. It made me question my self worth. I let it control my emotions. A popular day for page views could lift my spirits, and in turn a low day with no comments would bum me out.
Somewhere along the way, I stopped caring. I decided I would take that daily “stat check” out of my morning routine. I started writing what I wanted to write about, and not what I thought others wanted to hear.
When people ask me how many readers I have, I can give them a ballpark, but I don’t really know. What I do know, is that the people I have met through blogging are amazing. I feel SO lucky to have had the opportunity to communicate with people through my blog, e-mail, comments, Twitter, and even real life.
The numbers don’t really mean much in the end. That one e-mail I get from a girl saying I helped her with an eating disorder, or a girl who says my blog helped inspire her to do a race, that’s worth it.
So my bloggie friends, I just wanted to remind you to not let those numbers dictate your self-worth. I’m telling you straight up, readers or no readers, you are worth it!! Keep writing!
x’s and o’s <3
Too Many Awesome Things To Give This Post A Title!!!
Why hello there! Hope everyone got a great start to their weeks! My Monday actually went pretty well, all things considered. Had a good day at work, which will hopefully turn into a good week! However, spin class did not happen today, I showed up and the class was full! So I’m doing my own spin class in my living room tomorrow out of spite. It’s going to be a million times better. And fret not Brie, I’ll explain the trainer!
Aaaanyways! I have a bunch of exciting stuff to get to so I’ll keep the yummy food pictures to a minimum. First up: waffles!!!
Who says waffles are just for Wednesdays? :P The usual ingredients were blended for the batter:
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup egg whites
- cinnamon/pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
Torn up and eaten with my hands like a barbarian. Dipped in my favourite concoction – almond butter whisked with sugar-free maple syrup. Yes, sometimes, I eat sucrose.
Dinner was eaten in two courses! Started with a salad…
- romaine lettuce
- mushrooms
- tomato
- red onion
- green pepper
- olives
- pickles
- balsamic vinaigrette
The main course: leftover roasted zucchini, carrots + parsnip and mini turkey meatloaf!
I actually intended to make a proper loaf-sized meatloaf, but I apparently don’t own a loaf pan. The downfall of relying on roommates for kitchen supplies then moving out on your own. I found a decent recipe here which I basically followed.
Ingredients
2/3 cup old-fashioned oats (Quaker oats)
1/3 cup milk (2% but other can be used)water3/4 pound ground turkey1 pound ground turkey1/4 pound ground beef (the leaner the better)1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup diced1/4 cup minced1/2 cup shredded/chopped onions
2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
1 tablespoonDijonMustard
2 teaspoonsItalian Seasoningoregano + parsley
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1teaspoonclove minced garlic1/2 teaspoon salt1/3cup Heinz Ketchup1/4 cup reduced-sugar ketchupDirections
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. Lightly mist a regular-size muffin pan with olive oil spray. Set aside.
In a medium or large mixing bowl, combine the oats and the milk and let stand for 3 minutes (or until the oats are slightly softened). Add the turkey and beef, carrots, onions, egg whites, mustard, Italian seasoning, Worcstershire sauce, garlic and salt. With clean hands or a fork, mix well. Scoop the mixture into the muffin pan, making level with the top of the pan. Spread the ketchup over the top. Should make exactly 9 muffins.
Bake for 30 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in the center registers 180 degrees (I usually put back in for 5 minute increments until it reaches 180 degrees, which brings the total cook time to 40 minutes).
Number of Servings: 9
My only complaint is they were a little mushy which is entirely my fault. I shredded way too much carrot and onion because I’m a shredding machine. My stats on them are similar though – 128 calories, 5g fat, 152mg sodium, 7g carbs, 1g sugar, 1g fibre, 14g protein for each one. Wouldn’t make for a bad grab-n-go snack!
Okayokayokay. MY NEWS!!!! Click to play please! Turn your volume up :) (also, why does You Tube always pick the worst screen shot of my face?)
Sooo, if you missed it, not only is it my one year blogaversary, but I’m giving away a package containing each of the three Vega Vibrancy flavours!!
In order to make it fair to bloggers and non-bloggers alike, I’m going to keep it simple. Just leave a comment on this post and I’ll pick a random winner on Friday, January 15. Pretty easy, eh?
My other big news is that my favourite Everythingtarian, Holly, and I are taking a bloggie vacation – and you’re invited!!
We’re planning a trip to Banff, Alberta, Canada in June. We’ll be eating, hiking, biking, and adventuring our way through one of this continent’s most beautiful areas.
Photo courtesy my mom, who says Banff is one of her favourite places on earth :D
If you’re interested in joining in on the fun, or at least part of the fun, e-mail myself at thegreatbalancing@gmail.com or Holly at healthyeverythingtarian@gmail.com. It’s going to be mind-blowingly awesome. I am SO excited!!!
Okay, that’s enough excitement for me, I’m about ready to bust :P On a sappier note, I just want to reiterate how much fun this past year of blogging has been for me. I started it as a way to track my progress to a fitness goal, and enriched my life in ways I never thought possible in the process. Most of all, I’ve met amazing people. Thanks for stopping by my little piece of the interwebs (almost) everyday. Blogging is often one of my favourite parts of the day, and I’m one helluva lucky gal to get to do it :D
Question of the Day: Well?? Do you want free stuff or not!?
