Or maybe going underboard.
The past couple of weeks have been a combination of too much junk food and not enough exercise. It happens. Blame it on Texas, blame it on half-off wine, or blame it on general summer activity. If only walking to Sweet Frog counted as exercise.
So I’m making an effort to get moving. Life has been crazy busy, but that’s no excuse to skip a workout!
I made a step in the right direction on Sunday, when I got myself back in the gym. (No, not that gym.) THIS gym!
I forgot how much I love gymnastics. I also forgot how much my calves would hurt the next day. Ouch. Talk about a calorie burn.
I’ve also tried to return to balanced eating. (Note: eating an entire bag of love grown granola at your desk does not really count as balance.)
Breakfast
I’d been getting really hungry in the middle of the morning, so I pumped up my breakfast with a little extra protein. (For details on the protein powered yogurt, click here!)
Lunch
Ready for the easiest lunch ever? Here we go.
- Step 1- Open bag of greens
- Step 2- Add a handful of trail mix (I used Wholesome Goodness Yukon Mix)
- Step 3- Add balsamic vinegar
Enjoy!
Dinner
I love veggie-packed dinners, but they tend to take a little more thought and preparation. I made it easy on myself and went with a classic stir fry. I did, however, mix in a little something new.
Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, which are amino acids derived from soybeans, taste just like soy sauce. I used a bag of Trader Joe’s frozen veggies, 1 1/2 oz rice noodles, a few sprays of olive oil, and some of the Braggs.
The results was delicious & veggie packed. Plus it was low in calories and sodium. Win-win! Have you tried Bragg’s amino acids? I really couldn’t believe how much it tasted like soy sauce!
So I’m starting to get back on track! If I can’t get to the gym, I try to squeeze in a workout at home, or a walk in the evening. It’s the little things that add up to big changes!
i love soy sauce! I will have to give Braggs a look-see. Isn’t it awesome how the simple things can be the best things? That salad looks amazing.
Oh yes yes yes on the liquid aminos! I have almost completely stopped using soy sauce and use Braggs on everything, including my stir frys too!
Looks like you are on the right track! As much as I love to indulge, a few splurges are enough to make me crave good, wholesome food! I try to maintain a balance by working out first thing in the morning so I have no excuses as well as eating REAL food (ie. homecooked meals) where possible!
I love to indulge every now and then as sometimes my body just needs that little bit extra. To balance it out I just go easy on myself the next day with big green salads, smoothies and lots of veggie packed meals.
Mmmm, dinner looks awesome. Oh, and way to get back in the gym. I could never do gymnastics. My cross country coach once told me I’m “as flexible as an oak tree.” ha I’m about as graceful as one too!
I love a good stir fry! Looks like you are on the right track loading up on veggies!
Being a Weight Watchers Lifetime member, I always track my food. That is a huge step in keeping my food balanced. The rest of my life? I haven’t a clue!!
summertime brings splurges and relaxation – so no worries about going overboard for a bit! we all do it. i absolutely love your simple lunch salad. this would totally be a lunch i could get into.
I love rice noodles! Yes!
And balance can sometimes be hard. Today is a lunch out with the boss. So I assume tonight will include a big salad or something of the sort that is pretty much all veggies to counteract.
I try to balance weekends and vacations by always starting out with a healthy and filling breakfast and working out soon after!
I feel like it’s easier to make healthy choices for the rest of the day, if you start off on the right foot!
I love how you use the plain chobani yogurt, it is what I enjoy too
Easy lunches are always ideal so bags of greens are a staple in my fridge 
i LOVE gymnastics..i use to do gymnastics growing up and I still love to tumble..i’m so jealous you got the chance to do gymnastics again at a gym thats awesome!
Where in TX do you live? I just came back from a trip, and my balance is def thrown off! Although I enjoyed all the scrumptious eats, I’m ready to get my body moving rather than my mouth. Bragg’s amino acids are great!!
Oh I actually live in Virginia! But I drove to Dallas with a friend, he was moving there. It was a fun trip but way too much wine and tortilla chips
Balance is a tricky word, especially living with MY husband! He thinks balance is eating a proper dinner followed by a tub of ice cream and fudge. EVERY. NIGHT. Silly man
Ohhhh to have the metabolism of a man!
I miss me some gymnastics, but I know after all these years I’d probably look quite silly back on the beam. LOL.
Love that you used trail mix on your salad. Never thought about it, but it is the perfect salad topping combination. thanks!
I miss gymnastics!! I’m so jealous!
It’s SO much fun!!! Come visit Richmond, and go with me
I’m not the greatest at maintaining a healthy diet. I try not to over indulge but it is hard. Your dinner looks so yummy!
Amy
Fashion and Beauty Finds
Gymnastics truly is the best total body workout. It’s nuts! And I can’t wait to try the Braggs’ amino acids instead of soy sauce. Love the healthy swaps!
Gymnastics isn’t something I’ve done a lot of but it’s my favorite thing to watch in the olympics!
Balance is something I think we’re all continuing to improve on…just keep making one positive choice after another and they all really add up!
I love the salad idea! I actually sprinkle a bit of Love Grown Sweet Cranberry Pecan on my summer salads- it adds such a good texture, too! Love the protein powder yogurt, too! Talk about staying power!
Haha I have the cranberry pecan one at my desk
it’s dangerous to have in my desk drawer!
Ughh, I have had a horrible time trying to maintain a resonable diet this summer. Too much wine, beer, and desserts!! Not to mention every week there seems to be a birthday party or celebration cookout! I totally need to get back on track. That mixed with the weight gain from the steroids while I had pneumonia, I feel like crude
I take inspiration from you!!
Aw, that’s rough! Honestly, it’s REALLY hard to stay on track in the summer! At least there is a lot of fresh fruit!
You can do it, Helen!
This reminded me to try your protein-packed yogurt bowl. Thank you!
PS Half price drink deals are what summer is all about
Yummy eats
I am the same way right now.. it is so hard in the summer! The week days are fine but the weekends get me! Oh well… I guess I would rather enjoy than miss out!
I love braggs aminos! I also really like coconut aminos too!
I’ve never even heard of coconut aminos! I’ll have to keep an eye out
Looking great Liz – time to get balanced is so important! Loving the look of that salad
It’s SO easy to make! But quite delicious
Mmm… I love stirfry so much! In fact we am having it for dinner tonight!
Yum!!! I’m sure it’ll be delicious!
I’ve been enjoying Greek yogurt and fruit for lunch. Love the protein boost mid-day.
As goofy as it may seem, I think when I can really plan ahead and stay organized, I can stay balanced!
Obsessed with greek yogurt, obsessed with salads, and obsessed with veggies!!
I thin kthat gym would totally intimidate me! I did gymnastics years ago, and know I couldn’t do it now! Your eats looks delicious, as per usual!
Way to go with your return to balance! Our breakfasts are so similar by the way. Almost every morning I eat a Chobani nonfat yogurt with granola (yes, LOVE GROWN!) and a banana. I need to get back into a workout routine too; I tried to get back on track this week, then had a bad fall while trail running Sunday and had to take a few days off…. maybe next week!
gymnastics!!! man it has been YEARS since I did any. I was never really good, but sure was fun to dance and jump all around
Wow- gymnastics! Sounds like so much fun- and well done for getting back into the healthy swing of things
I just did a post yesterday on a study that was released in The Lancet stating that 10% of deaths worldwide are caused by lack of exercise/ inactivity. Now that’s true motivation to keep moving.
I definitely agree that squeezing activity in here and there can really add up!
Those veggies look delicious!
Braggs???? omgosh—-I must try. I am a soy sauce lover–but not a lover of the sodium effects….liquid aminos? Perfect!!
Balance. I usually try to get in 3.5 miles per day-with 5lb (usually) or 8lb (sometimes) hand weights. So far this summer-my friend and I have some rockin arms!
totally jealous of you getting back into the gym. I used to be a gymnast waaaay back in the day, and I loved it. Mainly the beam and the foam pit haha. those rice noodles look delicious. I have a box that I haven’t even opened yet. I shall be making this.
Gymnastics is always a blast. I used to do it for fun as a little kid, but dang, I can only imagine what a great workout it would be as an adult! GET IT, Liz!!!
Hmmmm aminos…I’ll have to give it a try!
I love the idea about using trail mix on a salad. I often use dried berries and nuts, but never thought of trail mix. Thanks!
How cool that you can do gymnastics! I’d love to do that again but there’s nowhere near here – and the last time I did a cartwheel, a couple of years ago, I felt like I’d pulled a muscle afterwards
Love the three-ingredient salad – and I reckon walking to Sweet Frog definitely counts…!
oh gymnastics! One of my “want I want to be when I grow up” dreams as a little girl (along with figure skating)…haha funny because I can’t skate and have never done gymnastics..but I’m quite the spectator at least. (Oh, and just to let you know -if you didn’t get the comment I replied to – the giveaway you entered on my blog – you have to re-subscribe to my site (so annoying, I know!) because when I switched over to being self-hosted, it got rid of the __.wordress.com part of the address and so you’ll just need to resub.) But, then you’ll see that I have ANOTHER giveaway to enter with a ton of great food products
hehe
(sorry – you can delete the first comment) oh gymnastics! One of my “want I want to be when I grow up” dreams as a little girl (along with figure skating)…haha funny because I can’t skate and have never done gymnastics..but I’m quite the spectator at least. (Oh, and just to let you know -if you didn’t get the comment I replied to – the giveaway you entered on my blog – you have to re-subscribe to my site (so annoying, I know!) because when I switched over to being self-hosted, it got rid of the __.wordress.com part of the address and so you’ll just need to resub.) But, then you’ll see that I have ANOTHER giveaway to enter with a ton of great food products
hehe
YAY for balance!
One way I strive for balance is to love myself for who I am today. I may not be perfect, but I can strive to do my best and be my best, and that in its self is enough. 
Hahahaha that looks like my dinner last night. I had a random bag of frozen Asian veggies I needed to use up. I did add tofu and a ginger sauce, but it needed a heavy dose of Bragg’s at the end!