All things considered
Tonight I attempted to pick one topic to blog on, but I’ve decided that my day was a compilation of various mini-triumphs. I’m just going to rattle them off, and you’ll have to read and be amused, or read and deem me ridiculous. Ready, set, go….
Happy first day of autumn, everybody! I started my workday with Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte in-hand and that, my friends, is enough to make this girl grin. I tried the drink for the first time last week. After my purchase I looked up the beverage’s ingredients online, and the information unfortunately falls on the same web page as the drink’s nutrition facts. Big mistake.
My grande goodness contained roughly as many calories as some of the fried selections at McDon’tAskWhat’sInIt and Taco BelchAndTummyAche. As a single tear was starting to pool in the corner of my eye I realized, “Substitution may be key!” Sure enough, if you ask the barista to swap a couple ingredients the taste of fall can be achieved without adding up to a laugh-or-cry calorie count. The bonus is, you also sound like a cool-kid, Starbucks-regular when you say, “I’d like a grande, non-fat, no whip pumpkin spice latte please.”
Yum.
At work today had the privilege of fulfilling my duty as the office’s Ambassador of Minnesota by explaining the phenomenon of the dairy princess. It may be hard to believe, but not all places have agriculturally centered pageants where the winner receives the distinguished title of Princess Kay of the Milky Way — and — her bust sculpted from a giant block of locally manufactured butter.
If you’re from Minnesota, chances are you know what I’m talking about. If not, you better read up, because this is some good stuff: the creme de la creme, the high milk-fat content of high milk-fat content.
Moving on…
After work, I had terrific first meeting with my new trainer.
My. New. Trainer.
New. Trainer.
My. Trainer.
Okay, now that I’ve said it a few times, it must be true. On Monday I signed up for an individual fitness adviser at the gym who’s going to help me (or more likely kick my butt) once a week. I decided to do this because the service was free, it’s incentive to actually go to the gym, and my body sculpting class overlord, I mean instructor, said that it would be a good option for me.
When I met with Trainer Andrew today we chatted about my fitness goals, my exercise history and *gasp* nutrition. It turns out, in addition to being a certified athletic trainer he is also holds a certificate in nutrition. This doesn’t bode particularly well for me considering that ice cream is a major food category in my diet, but perhaps I’ll keep that little fact to myself. Please note: I save my morning calories so that I get to hang with my buds Ben and Jerry in the evening.
I can also tell that Trainer Andrew is going to be my real-life buddy. He grew up in Illinois a short distance from Lena’s hometown, has traveled most of Upstate New York with his rugby team, and his family enjoys shopping at the Mall of America. Game. Set. Match.
When I was driving home I recounted the consultation session and my fitness tests to David with just a tad too much enthusiasm.
Me: He’s sooooooooooooo great!
David: I hate this guy already.
Hehe. Don’t worry; Mr. Lindahl doesn’t actually care, especially after I told him that Trainer Andrew has a (presumably fit) girlfriend.
For my final unique happening of the day, Lena made crab cakes at home tonight, which is a meal we’ve never had the courage to prepare in our own kitchen. The food turned out fantastic, and I will tell Trainer Andrew about the crab cakes but not our buttery mashed potato side dish unless he instigates an interrogation session.
