ZUNE ZUNE ZUNE

ok. today i'm going to do a bit of a product push.

a couple of months ago i filled out this online survey to get a free mp3 player. i am always filling out tons of surveys and i love free stuff. i don't even care what it is. if i don't need it, i'll give it away to my friends or family. well anyway, someone from the mp3 player company called me, and decided i was a good candidate to receive this player, because i could talk about it on my blog. isn't that wild? it kind of blows my mind actually.

anyway. the mp3 player is from the brand microsoft and is called ZUNE, and basically it's the greatest thing of all time. i think it's already available in the states but new to canada, although i've already seen it in stores. if you think your ipod is a good mp3 player, you need to check out zune, because it really blows ipods out of the water. i like my ipod, but the battery life is SO BAD. seriously, if i don't unplug it directly from the charger before working out, it stops working during my workout/run. crappy!

this is what the zune looks like:


so why is the zune so great? here is a list of reasons:

1) it's little and cute. mine is black.

2) it comes with different storage. mine is 8G.

3) the screen is colour.

4) it plays video.

5) it stores pictures.

6) there is an fm radio which picks up stations from the area you are in. (really good feature.)

7) the battery life is LONG.

here is where it becomes really cool...

8) it has some sort of wireless technology that allows you to download songs from your (or any) computer without a plug or wire.

9) it has wireless sharing capabilities which means that if you and your friend "greg*" both have zunes and are standing within range of each other, you can up and download each other's music to your player. *could be any name.

so anyway. i am really enjoying my zune. and obviously this company wants me to talk about it and spread the news. but seriously, if i thought it was not a good one i would say so. after all, i already have it and stuff.

and now, if you want to (only if you want to please), you can log on to ChatThreads.com and type in Conversation ID 102 986 0145. there is a short survey and you can have ChatThreads donate up to $5 to charity OR enter to win $500 in amazon.ca gift certificates. the point of the survey is word of mouth... this company just wants to know how word of mouth spreads. but seriously, only do it if you want to. and honestly i really love my zune. although i wish they sent me a sports arm-band!!!!! (that would be very useful.)



in other news, last night i walked for 5 miles on the treadmill, then did some strength training. this morning i had a quick 3-mile run and then did situps. it is so hot now, even in the mornings (not complaining), that running outside can be really draining.

tonight i have a "date" and i am making my boyfriend dinner. we are having quick carne asada and instant mexican rice... i think it is that brand. yes, i'm all about the instant. maybe some refried beanies too. from a jar. :) it's "mexicali" to prepare us for our upcoming cali vacation.

tuesday, great day!

first off, it's great to know that there are so many other grocery store snobs out there!

secondly, today is a great day!
1) it's beautiful outside.
2) i already worked out today.
3) i biked to work and it wasn't windy (wind is a bikers enemy).
4) the biggest loser finale is tonight (hooray! although i will be sad that it's over...).
5) i got a free square of dove dark chocolate on the street this morning. free chocolate? hoooorrrrraaaaayyyyyy!

i wanted to talk for a brief moment about these videos that sister skinny posted. it's a series of videos posted on youtube, well worth watching by the way, called super slim me. it's about this british girl who tries to get down to a hollywood size 0, or UK size 4. she exercises, and eats 500 calories a day. she does reveal some truths about the diet, fashion, and celebrity industries, but nothing was really shocking to me. the way i see it, is that you are born with a certain type of body. this body has a pretty specific general shape and bone structure. some women have large breasts, curvy hips, a round bottom.... other's don't. you can change a lot about your body but you can't change your bone structure. unless you remove ribs or something - i've heard about some people doing this haha. actually i know a girl who got bum implants in mexico, but that is another story all together! in terms of size zero, i think it's attainable for some women and not for others, although it's not something you should strive to attain if it doesn't come naturally to you. i also think that if you have to eat only 500 calories a day to be a size zero, it's not worth it! don't do it! this video bothered me because she was crash dieting - trying to lose as much weight as possible in the shortest amount of time. who is to say, that if she took it slower and just tried to lose 1-2 pounds a week, that she wouldn't drop as much weight as she wanted without feeling deprived or being unhealthy? hmmmmm? just a thought! obviously crash diets are not the way to go. i felt for her though when she was sooooo hungry and just snapping at everyone. i've been hungry before and trust me, hunger + me = total bitch.

in other news, i got this free sample in the mail. a three day supply of salba. apparently it's some sort of magic superfood, the "richest source of omega 3 fatty acids and fibre found in nature. i am going to try it out for three days and see how i feel. it's recommended that you eat it with breakfast.

today i'm eating:

all bran muffin (2)

cereal (1)

oatmeal (3)
added flax and salba (1)
little orange (0.5)
(7.5)

grapes and yogurt (2)
(9.5)

santa fe rice and beans weight watchers meal (5)
1/2 banana (1)
(15.5)

yogurt and strawberries (1.5)
(17)

chicken veggie burger (4)
bread (3)
peas (1)
kale (0)
(25)

exercise:
4 miles running, 8 miles biking :)

freitag (that's german for friday)

i have a lot to talk about today, so i'm going to do it in a list format.

1) friday weigh-in day: gained 1.6 and now am 120 pounds. note to self: stop mindless snacking immediately.

2) yesterday i bought this online. it is a starfrit electronic digital kitchen scale. it was only $19.99 with free shipping, and it has a tare function. my current kitchen scale is not electronic, not digital, has no tare function, and is so tiny. so can't go wrong.


3) last night i had an excellent run: 5 minutes walking, 35 running at a 6.2 mph pace, then 5 minutes walking cool down. and then i went to tap class for an hour.

4) after tap last night, i hit up shoppers drug mart and the grocery store. i noticed that the dominion has lean cuisine paninis now, but i didn't buy any because my freezer is full. i did buy diet chocolate cherry dr. pepper though. i don't drink pop on a regular basis, just when mixing drinks and stuff.

5) at shoppers drug mart, i bought this clearance oil of olay in-shower body lotion. you put it on in the shower and rinse it off. i've only used it once (this morning) but seriously people it's wonderful.


6) this morning i did A LOT. i woke up at 6:13 am, walked on the treadmill with interval inclines for 80 (yes 80!) minutes, made a giant pot of homemade soup, made oatmeal (the kind that takes 15 minutes), showered, got ready for work, and here i am.

7) i made a modified version of a hungry girl 0-point soup. i made this soup to have with meals, in a hope that it will deter me from stuffing my face unnecessarily.

ingredients:
1 onion, chopped
1 can plum tomatoes, diced
1 can sliced carrots
3-4 cups cabbage (i used bagged)
leftover adzuki beans
4 cups (i used 900mL) fat free vegetable broth
salt
pepper
mrs. dash original
many shakes of frank's chili lime red hot sauce

directions:
in a large pot sprayed with non-stick spray, cook onion for 2-3 minutes, chop the tomatoes from the can, add everything including tomato juice. cook for 2-3 minutes on medium. add carrots, cabbage, beans, broth. bring to a boil, season accordingly, reduce heat and cover for 5 minutes, and voila! the original recipe made five 0 point one cup servings. mine made a lot more than that and probably 1 point per cup, or something because i added the carrots and a few beans... maybe. does it matter? no, it does not. the hot sauce made it really good.

8) tonight i am going to see 27 dresses with my main gal pal. am looking forward to it!

9) my mom wants me to take her car (instead of mine) to niagara falls this weekend. hers has automatic doors and windows, an automatic starter (from a remote), and heated seats. mine has none of these things and makes funny sounds.

10) what does everyone think about these?

11) today's menu:
1/2 cup oats with milk and pumpkin
orange
homemade soup
turkey and swiss sandwich on rye
caramel yogurt
more soup
grapes
popcorn
something chocolately

new year, new goals

yesterday's weigh-in must have been a fluke, since today i am back to my normal weight. huzzah! of course, i did drink tons of water yesterday and stayed on plan all day, and did not eat one piece of chocolate or one cookie or even one little potato chip or maltese ball. yes, i have maltese balls. they are in the fridge. however, i did not eat any. no sir ee.

for dinner i made this delicious salad. it consisted of baby spinach, cooked green beans, some almonds i threw in, some raisins i threw in, some baby tomatoes, a grilled chicken breast (sliced) and organic raspberry dressing. this dressing is new and comes in a glass bottle. my bf had an accident over the holidays when it "jumped" out of the fridge and shattered all over the whole kitchen. and then last night, it almost happened to me but i made the save at the last second. i think it is cursed so watch out if you are buying these new dressings.

i also went down to the condo gym and ran on the treadmill. it was so easy i couldn't believe it. i walked for 5 minutes, ran for 32 minutes, then walked for about 6 more minutes for a total distance of 4 miles. i also did some sit-ups and upper body strength training. and some lunges with weights. this move is killing me. i hold 5 pound dumb bells in each hand, then do the walking lunges, 10 at a time, 3 sets. every time i do this i can barely move the next day, so i know these muscles need to be worked.

at first i wasn't going to make any new year's resolutions. this is because every year my resolution is to lose weight and become more physically fit. and now, i don't need to lose weight and i am physically fit. so there you have it. then i thought, there are tons of other ways i can better myself that don't include diet and exercise, and so here are my resolutions.

this year, in 2008, i will:

1) learn photoshop. (better than i already do, which is pretty much not very well.)

2) learn how to sew, or be craftier with clothes. this includes using a sewing machine, or silkscreening fabrics.

3) work harder at work. strive to be the best i can be.

4) not take anyone in my life for granted. show unconditional love to people (and pets) who deserve it, for example my mom, my boyfriend, my sister, my cat.)

5) ween myself off artificial sweeteners. (i just cut back from two to one in my coffee and tea...)

6) live in the NOW and not for the future.

7) become more thrifty or try to save more money.

and then of course there should be a few to do with health:

8) continue my fab workout habits and increase the length of my runs.

9) not stress about occasional overindulges. it happens!

and finally...

10) ride my bicycle to work everyday that it is not too cold or raining. (that is like resolution #7 and #8 in one haha.)

i will also continue to write in this blog and find motivation in reading all of yours. i look forward to it every day :o)

fabulous friday

between last night and this morning i really tcb. (takin' care of business.) after work i couldn't go home because my landlord was showing the apartment (again!) so i went to the mall to try on my new coat in a size smaller. the smallest size was really too small so i'm happy with the one i have. i also got new winter boots. they are great. they come almost to the knee and have a small heel, so they are comfortable and stylish. and they zip up over my skinny jeans and make me look like a somebody. my winter outerwear wardrobe is complete!

after the mall i returned some library books and hit up the gym, where i used the elliptical, did weights, and did day two week six of the running podcasts. hardcore! then i went home, started taping grey's anatomy, put some brussel sprouts in the oven, and walked to shoppers drug mart to buy some hair dye. then i came home, ate dinner (with leftover shepherd's pie) while watching the biggest loser i had taped previously, did two loads of laundry, sprayed my leather (fall) coat with protective spray, and crashed. then this morning i did another load of laundry and dyed my hair. (my hair is medium brown and i dye it dark brown.)

guess what i found in dominion yesterday...

this:


and this:


Hungry Girl is always talking about them. you can find nutritional info here. i love making lattes at home with soymilk because it gives them a nutty flavour - i can't wait to try it with these.

friday is weigh in day and this week i lost two pounds, so am still in my comfort zone.

today's menu:
breakfast:
chocolate chip banana bran muffin (1)
1/19

snack:
1/2 cup oatmeal (3)
1/3 cup pumpkin (0)
1 T slivered almonds (1)
5/19

lunch:
lean cuisine (5)
10/19

snack:
raisins (2)
12/19

dinner: who knows.