Lent starts with “F”

Hey guys! Happy Sunday! Hope you’re having a great day <3

Our farm fresh salads from yesterday were nothing short of amazeballs.

salad

Chard, spinach, Organicvile balsamic, roasted asparagus, onion, stripy beet, and honey goat cheese.

salad (2)

No words.

We did some stuff around the casa, watched Food Revolution a la DVR (incredible), and then met some friends at Giulio’s for dinner.

Giulio’s is one of those hidden Valdosta treasures that we always forget about. Last night, we decided that it may be taking the place of our weekly Indian, since the Indian restaurant is garbage now.

Giulio’s has Mediterranean and Italian food, and the inside looks like grandma’s house. Think old tapestries, rickety tables, lace, antiques and ghosts—I’m 100% sure it’s haunted. The food, is also like grandma’s… delicious.

We all shared the mussels, which were glorious.

mussels

(x2)

With the entrees, you either get soup or salad, but since my entree was a salad, I got the soup. Had it been just the two of us, I would have gotten two salads 😉

Lentil Soup

soup

My entree was the Neptune Salata– marinated pan-seared ahi tuna, greens, cucumbers, tomatoes and balsamic on the side.

tuna

Sorry for the blurry pic! I was in sneaky blogger mode last night 😉

I also had about 3 bites of bakalva that was still warm from the oven, and 3 bites of Belgium chocolate cheesecake.

For this, I’ve decided that I’ve pretty much failed my Lent plan of no sweets. I did well for the most part, but honestly my Lent decision was kind of impossible, considering what a big part of my life sweets are. I’m always baking or un-baking healthy goodies and save the indulgent stuff for once a week. Since I couldn’t get my sweet tooth fix, I actually think I ended up eating worse than I would have (and also got back into gum-chewing and coffee drinking for a few days). This is why many people with the wrong intention of losing weight for Lent are unsuccessful. There are so many other things to eat, and chances are you’ll just overdo it on those to make up for lost feasting elsewhere.

Of course, my Lent goal wasn’t to lose weight – I wanted to eliminate something that I truly love (SWEEEEEETS!) and see if I could handle the absence of it for 40 days. I ended up dipping into my coconut butter mug, drinking coffee, chewing gum and hating life (not really, but you know) without sweets.

That being said, I’m gonna call this Lent a fail and next year I’ll be doing something along the lines of what I usually do.. vowing to DO something, rather than taking something away.

So for this week, I’m back to Gina style of eating (toned down a little since I’m on cardio hiatus, but the healthy sweets will be in there). Then Easter Sunday, I’ll be chowing down on Liz Lovely cookies and that Bailey’s and vegan espresso gelato shake I told ya’ll about 😉

We’re off to tackle our Sunday to-do’s.

xoxo,

Gina

Today’s tip: Spend today prepping out your meal and fitness plan for the week. This way, you can chop up veggies and prep food in advance, and schedule in your workouts according to what your week looks like.

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44 Comments

  1. Leo @ Cupcakes in Paris on March 28, 2010 at 10:36 am

    Your salad looks delicious!
    I love your new Lent plan: do something instead of taking something away! Cant wait to see your cookies and expresso gelato shake!
    Passover starts tomorrow so I’ll be off soon baking some special passover sweets!
    Have a great day!

  2. Nicole @ Making Good Choices on March 28, 2010 at 10:36 am

    Well, I wouldn’t call it an absolute fail because you learned that you can’t live without sweets. I think that’s a good lesson because you know you eat/drink other things when you try to abstain from sweets. I gave up white flour and I think it was pretty successful, but then again I mostly didn’t eat it anyway. it’s funny because people always make comments about not eating white bread, some desserts, pasta etc, but since Lent it’s like it’s acceptable to not eat it and people don’t ask anymore questions when I say I gave it up for Lent. have a great Sunday.

  3. Jenny on March 28, 2010 at 10:39 am

    Lent is neatly impossible for me!! I love sweets, so I always make it about activity:)

  4. Allie (Live Laugh Eat) on March 28, 2010 at 10:53 am

    I would never dare give up sweets for 40 days so you get a pat on the back just for thinking about it and lasting quite some time. My sweet tooth NEEDS to be fulfilled or I am a cranky biatch. Not even sweets as in desserts but sweet tasting foods like yogurt and granola bars and what not. I’m excited to see the return of sweets here!

  5. Mara @ What's For Dinner? on March 28, 2010 at 10:55 am

    It’s not a Fail… please, you learned something!
    Now, can I tell you about my coconut lime cupcakes??

  6. Maggie on March 28, 2010 at 11:07 am

    I am so much like you. I was going to try to go without sweets but I decided to go without coffee… and I failed anyway.

    I would have gotten 2 salads too 🙂

    Anyway, I don’t think it was a fail. I think admitting that it was hard makes you an awesome role model!

  7. Jessica @ Dairy Free Bety on March 28, 2010 at 11:10 am

    Sweets would be SOOO hard!! and 40 days! EEK!!

    Good job though!! I don’t think I could do it for a week!! 🙂

  8. TheFoodPatrol on March 28, 2010 at 11:21 am

    oh girl i completely understand u!! I gave up the same thing, with emphasis on chocolate. I did great and didn’t have ANY at all…until 6 days ago. I’m so mad at myself because I was so close to finishing!! I am planning on doing the same thing next year (to improve myself somehow) and maybe giving up just chocolate 4 days out of the week or limiting it. Heck, at least we tried!!

    • Fitnessista on March 28, 2010 at 11:30 am

      exactly– we did really well for the most part 🙂

  9. Tyler Ramey on March 28, 2010 at 11:25 am

    I must confess that out of my Lent Trifecta (no late night snacks, splenda, or meat) that I have only been successful with the no meat. In fact, it has inspired me to be vegetarian fo lyfe, dawg. Sorry, the gangsta-ness was needed. That being said I feel ya on the Lent thing.

    I also must say that you made it WAY longer with no sweets than I would have. Likeeeeeeeeeeee…I would have cracked after hour 3.

    • Fitnessista on March 28, 2010 at 11:30 am

      hahah gangsta-ness is always needed 🙂
      veg fo life! that’s awesome.. i’m so happy for you! it’s easy to be veg or vegan.. so many delicious things out there. i can’t survive without seafood or goat cheese though 😉

  10. Emma on March 28, 2010 at 11:27 am

    I’m sorry you’re local indian isn’t delicious anymore! have you tried the seeds of change curry sauces? They’re organic and absolutely delicious. Plus you can put any kind of favorite vegetables/meat/tofu in them!

    the website is http://www.seedsofchangefoods.com/default.aspx

    • Fitnessista on March 28, 2010 at 11:29 am

      i’ve tried their pasta sauce but not the curry sauces– i’ll be on the lookout 🙂

  11. Mary on March 28, 2010 at 11:31 am

    Aren’t there any knee-friendly cardio options? Swimming or cycling, maybe?

    • Fitnessista on March 28, 2010 at 11:36 am

      i can’t swim, but i can cycle! i’ll try it out 🙂

      • Mary on March 28, 2010 at 2:00 pm

        Got a kettlebell? (Short, interesting article)
        http://www.acefitness.org/getfit/studies/kettlebells012010.pdf

        I wonder if recumbent bikes are even more knee-friendly, also?

        Also, perhaps when you’re more recovered, jogging on a rebounder (if your gym has one) might be good. I don’t run due to loose knee ligaments but I love to jog on a rebounder during tv shows.

  12. Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg on March 28, 2010 at 11:36 am

    Awww, sorry about the Lent “fail.” I definitely like the idea of adding something instead of taking something away. I’m sweets-crazy too, so I know how hard that must have been– I still think you did great!

    Diner looks delicious!

  13. Melissa on March 28, 2010 at 11:47 am

    espresso gelato shake?! holy moly, I cannot wait!

  14. Kelly on March 28, 2010 at 12:09 pm

    I wouldn’t consider it a fail! Realistically, you did really well avoiding something that you generally like to incorporate into your daily/weekly diet. Especially since you do so much exercise (when your body isn’t healing!) you can treat yourself with delicious sweets when you feel like it! Especially since so many of the ones you eat are healthy too!

    I failed even more so and didn’t give up anything! Although I was on an unplanned hiatus from the gym around the same time and have begun going back, so that is something good!

    I can’t wait to see this Bailey’s shake!

  15. Jessica @ The Process of Healing on March 28, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    That salad sounds absolutely amazing! Honey and goat cheese are amazing together!!!

  16. Catherine on March 28, 2010 at 12:34 pm

    It happens… I lasted two weeks and then started looking forward to my Sunday “cheat days” and actually planned sushi/fish dinners every Sunday (I gave up fish since I already don’t eat meat). I’m still sticking to that, but still feel like a total cheater since my cheats are so planned (even if the church technically allows it)

  17. Kristin (Cook, Bake and Nibble) on March 28, 2010 at 12:36 pm

    What an amazing salad! I love, love, love fresh produce.

    And hey, you didn’t go 100% through the Lent promise. But you tried! And sweet ARE a big part of your life, so don’t worry too much about it. Still excited about the Bailey’s shake =D

    xo
    K

  18. Mama Pea on March 28, 2010 at 12:49 pm

    Lent is not the only thing that starts with F. I love the idea of adding things in instead of taking things away!

  19. s on March 28, 2010 at 12:59 pm

    you did a way better job than i ever would cutting out sweets for more than a week. really.

  20. kristi (sweet cheeks) on March 28, 2010 at 1:03 pm

    I commend you for even attempting to cut out sweets. The willpower definitely would NOT be there for me, haha. No worries!

    Have a great Sunday!

  21. Lauren @ eater not a runner on March 28, 2010 at 1:05 pm

    I think you did a great job on the no sweets challenge! You definitely learned about yourself and that is a big part of it 🙂

  22. Hannah on March 28, 2010 at 1:16 pm

    Oh my gosh this wasn’t a failure at all!!! You learned something and also reinforced that deprivation doesn’t do us any good!!

  23. Kelly on March 28, 2010 at 1:16 pm

    All those eats look amazing! And don’t call it a fail! You still gave up something you loved for a lot longer than some people would.

  24. Run Sarah on March 28, 2010 at 1:36 pm

    I don’t think it was a fail at all – you did so much better than I could have, I don’t think I could seriously last a day without sweets. Your farm fresh salad looks delish!!

  25. Laura J. on March 28, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    You always come up with the best sounding salads!

    I’ve got sort of a random question– What are you thoughts on Quorn products? I remember reading a post awhile back where you ate them, but I haven’t seen them since. I saw some in the health food section of Kroger and thought about getting them. Just thought I’d get your input first 🙂

  26. Colleen on March 28, 2010 at 1:59 pm

    You are not a failure at all! I think you are a perfect example of moderation, and how healthy it is for our body (and mind)! I think some of the purpose of Lent is to help you learn more about yourself, and you definitely passed that with flying colors! 🙂

  27. Jenn (eating bender) on March 28, 2010 at 2:03 pm

    I feel the same way about Food Revolution. The young boy in the family that Jamie Oliver is working with makes me cry every time he comes on the screen just because his story truly resonates with me. I can’t wait to continue watching!

    I think you have the right attitude about Lent and I remember last year when your promise was to “do” something – I loved it! I don’t see this year as a fail at all, girly. You learned something and isn’t that what it’s all about?

    Love ya, G!

  28. Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) on March 28, 2010 at 2:18 pm

    Oh I am so glad I’m in! I couldnt get thru for a couple days to comment. Ok so the whole Lent thing and doing worse than if you hadnt had the “pressure” of it on you. When I went gluten free about 5 yrs ago and also dairy free, and soy light as in less then 3-5% of my eats are soy, I craved bread and yogurt like it was going outta style b/c my naturopath and all my own research told me those were not good choices for my body. But once I realized that ok don’t stress and gave myself permission to eat those foods even if I knew they’d make me feel blah and did a mental shift with it, I never wanted them again. It’s the PRessure that was tripping me up, lent style 🙂

    I’d gladly share a bailey’s and anything with you, too! OMG love baileys but havent had it in ages…darn. I need to!

    xoxo
    🙂

  29. LisaG on March 28, 2010 at 2:22 pm

    I gave up red meat for Lent. I had a bite of a cheeseburger as my slipup. But, I don’t miss it at all. More veggies definitely make you feel better. Thanks for your blog motivation. I saw the First Food Revolution where the kids didn’t know what the different vegetables were, so sad. Jamie’s doing a good thing.Love your beautiful salads.

  30. Kelli on March 28, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    love the tip of the day! good call 😀 just what i needed…

  31. Ashlei on March 28, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    Hope your knees starting to do a little better! Bummer about the Indian place, but I’d love to see you give it a shot and make one of your favorite dishes (and post the recipe?) 😉

    xoxo

  32. Kalli@fitandfortysomething on March 28, 2010 at 4:24 pm

    agree that sometimes when you give something up it haunts you in other ways! Your dinner looks great and warm baklava? How can you pass that up!

  33. Kathy on March 28, 2010 at 4:38 pm

    Gina – you didn’t fail! You learned a lot. And Lent is over today anyway so you made it nearly all 40 days- would you tell a client with your story about Lent and sweets that she had even a slight fail? No, I didn’t think you would. You are doing great and doing great things 🙂

  34. Katie on March 28, 2010 at 5:44 pm

    Oh gosh, there is NO way I could have given up sweets for 40 days!

    Honey goat cheese sounds delicious!!

  35. AJ on March 28, 2010 at 5:58 pm

    Have you ever tried making a vegan baileys substitute?

    • Fitnessista on March 28, 2010 at 7:09 pm

      no but i think i need to get on that!

  36. Erica on March 28, 2010 at 7:01 pm

    I had the exact same experience! I was good for a few weeks but I definitely started eating unhealthy food I wouldn’t usually eat because of the lack of sweets. Ugh! So it’s over for me too, but I’m following Passover food restrictions with my roommate starting tomorrow, so we’ll see how I do with that!

  37. Heather (Heather's Dish) on March 29, 2010 at 11:02 am

    i think you did pretty well…even when you had a little treat in the middle you still got back on track afterwards! that’s more than a lot of people i’ve been reading about. i’m glad i made it, but it was a really hard road with no meat, chicken, or seafood!

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