Welcome to Day 2……. I am feeling very fresh this morning and my riding gear is fitting a tad less snuggly. Got on the scales – 200grams down!!
Today (Wednesday) is one of my riding days. I usually go with 3 other girlfriends and we stop to have coffee on the way back. What a beautiful start to the morning it is; even though, I may hit the alarm clock 10 times before I get up and think why the bloody hell am I doing this at 5.30am, I really do enjoy the ride and the company once I am out. If I am still blogging in winter you may hear a different story!! Anyway, beautiful morning in BrisVegas as shown in my professional photography below.
So off we set for our ride, which only consisted of myself and one of the other girls. I will deal with the other 2 at a later date, and I want it noted it was the 2 babies of the group that didn’t show. T’was a very pleasant ride around the Brisbane River to Toowong and then back to our starting point. Lots of people out this morning, which was lovely. I nearly scored a few points as I narrowly missed collecting people as they stepped out in front of my handlebars! We reached the point where we turn around and my riding partner says ‘Right off to coffee!’
Now, I’m not a big coffee drinker by any means; BUT, I do LOVE my Wednesday morning coffee with the girls. I tell myself “Ok, Ingrid don’t tell her yet that you aren’t having coffee. You already received enough strange looks at dinner last night, so let’s wait till we get there!!” We arrived, along with the 1000 other lycra-clad people who seemed to multiply over Christmas and had taken over our coffee stop. “What you having today, the usual?” my friend asked. Me: “Um, no. I’m not having a coffee today”……. long pause, strange stares from both my friend and the guys that serve us…. “No coffee?”
Ok, so has anyone seen that commercial called ‘Becky isn’t drinking tonight’? If not, I’ve added it below. Trust me, my experience was just like this but with coffee.
So, after sitting there and sniffing everyones coffee, we were back on the bike with a ‘Hope this isn’t going to be an ongoing thing’ and rode home.
Breakfast Time
Got home from the ride and made a lemon water, which 2nd day tastes better again (not so much like I’m sucking on a lemon). Then I had a few almonds and made my usual Chocolate Delight Shake and started working. I actually felt awesome; but, as I’d just done 30kms the natives wanted more, so ate a boiled egg as well. I think the idea is to eat something every 3 or so hours (must go back and check that), but I have to say within 2 hours after my shake and egg the fuel level was flashing LOW FUEL. Seriously, I used to be able to come home from riding, eat an egg, and get through till well after lunch – but not today. So, the hunt for “ALLOWED’ food was on. Now, who would have thought that putting almond butter on a green apple would taste so good? Usually, I’d look at someone suggesting this and think that they should have one of those snug fitting jackets on and be in a padded cell playing cards all; but, let me tell you I scoffed that baby. The natives are once again satisfied.
Oh, have put the crock pot on for dinner: Chicken Taco Chilli on for dinner too……… smelling yummy.
Lunch Time
Welcome to lunch time – well, what is meant to be lunch time. It’s actually 2.30pm and, yes I know it’s not technically lunch time, but I have been a bit hungry and have snacked on almonds, carrots, black rice crackers and hummus. Shortly people will be saying ‘There’s Ingrid, the orange-looking almond!! Oh the choices! Do I have a salad today or another Chocolate Delight? The salad requires me cutting and chopping and getting things out of the fridge, right shake it is. See, this has been my problem with the eating thing: the thought of having to put something together when I am so busy is just too much to deal with. I’m used to just going without – BAD HABIT! So, I make my yummy Chocolate Delight and, this time, I have blueberries with it, YUM. I pour it into my cocktail glass and start drinking. Now the valuable lesson I learned today is DO NOT wait till 2.30pm, even if you have been snacking. By 3.30pm I was completely out of fuel and my brain would not function; I had a 10 minute nanna nap and a fizz to try and get myself going. Took about 30 minutes; but, that fizz really worked. I put mine in my soda water (I have a sodastream) and it reminded me of a spider drink.
After that the afternoon consisted of getting a heap of work done, a nice walk with Mr Noodles (photo below), and the usual domestic chores required of Mother Goddess. Dinner is certainly smelling good and I think I’ll make it past pensioner dinner time today!!
Dinner Time
This is going to be interesting. Girl child (my daughter) doesn’t normally eat anything like what I’ve made for tonight’s dinner, let alone brown rice. The plus side is I can disguise the lower layers with added extras on top: avocado, grated carrot, tomatoes and, for her, cheese and sour cream. Tonight we have an added guest, boyfriend of girl child, but I love this guy as he eats absolutely anything you put in front of him, with added chilli!!
The recipe for tonight’s dinner is below. Everyone loved it! If you like your food spicy I suggest adding more chilli. We made our own taco seasoning. The time they advise to cook the meal is perfect; but, if you leave it on for longer the chicken would flake a little more.
CROCK POT CHICKEN TACO CHILLI
1 onion, chopped
1 16oz can black beans, drained
1 16oz can kidney beans, drained
1 8oz can tomato sauce
28oz can diced tomatoes
2 4oz can diced chillies
1 or less packet of taco seasoning (no sugar)
1 tblsp cumin
1 tblsp chilli powder
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Combine the onion, beans, tomato sauce, spices and tomatoes in slow cooker. Place chicken on top and cover. Cook on high for 6 hours. Remove chicken and shred ½ hour before serving. Return chicken to the slow cooker and stir.
Top with avocado, salsa, coriander…whatever you like!
Well, it’s nearly the end of the day and I’m feeling a bit weary tonight. I couldn’t possibly drink anymore water as I think I’d be declared a river, so I thought I’d try a herbal tea before bed. Not a huge fan of herbal tea; but, thought I best give this a go. First sip was ok, so I took a bigger sip. Sweet lord what is that taste? Licorice??? Why is there licorice in herbal tea? Ok, lets not give up just yet; I took another sip as it cooled. This is better. The licorice taste seems to blend in and I actually found it refreshing. I did get a tip from Maree on this beverage…. add VODKA!!!! No, that’s not true. She actually suggested having it with ice, lemon and mint. I think I’ll try that next time.
Big day tomorrow – I’ll again be standing on those weighing things I’ve refused to get on for years. I’ve been standing on them and someone else has been writing down the figures. Only been told what I’ve lost at this stage. I find that easier!
Night
