While my mind knows I should never stop because starting over is the hardest part, I never have been the best listener. After working a side hustle that kept me from my usual gym schedule, I had fallen completely off the wagon. When I left the side hustle in December, it STILL took me a good four month to find myself back at the gym.

Thank God they welcomed me back to the fold. And, although I’m not back to lifting what I once was or having as many reps in as I used to, I do feel like this has not been as awful as I had imagined it would be.

This week, I am trying something new. My gym offers a meal prep service and I thought, “Why not?!” So far, it has saved me from myself and I am absolutely loving all the meals I’ve tried.

After completing the WOD Monday night, my trainer sent me home with a bag full of awesome. Because I had major grading left to do (my grades were due at 9 am today) and I had not had a bite to eat all day, I decided to break out one of the lunches from the bag and eat it for dinner.

Will you look at how pretty this is?

Almost too pretty to eat.

But, I managed.

This set me up for a great night. No hitting a drive through, visiting the break room candy box, or stuffing my face with whatever I determined was edible in my office cabinet.

I didn’t leave my office until nearly midnight–next year, my term paper will only be 8 pages! And I am SO thankful to have grades for this semester finalized. I had a great class and I hope the students enjoyed it as much as I did.

This morning, I decided a half-day might be more to my liking given my late night adventures at the office.  I ate one of the meal prep breakfasts–an egg with avocado on a gluten free, flax seed bagel. On the side, some blueberries and dragon fruit. I’m embarrassed to admit I have never had dragon fruit before–where has it been all my life?! No photos of breakfast because I had half of it eaten before I though about snapping a pic.

This afternoon, although a bit late for “lunch” [not for me as my schedule is always so dumb], I tried the chicken fried rice from my meal prep stash.

I know my trainer is very deliberate about portioning and such, but I felt like this was a very generous portion of this dish. I noticed she slid in lots of veggies and I am not complaining.

I’m amazed at how well this dish held up–the rice was not dry or sticky–and with a little heat, it was ready to eat!

Tonight is Taco Tuesday–a night where the gym fam heads to a local restaurant that has $1 tacos. I am looking forward to it as it is my first time attending. I decided I will take a change of clothes to the gym with me as I am sure if I don’t tonight will be one of those unfortunate evenings where I sweat like a pig and/or have to jump rope–that is never fun for a person who has given birth to kids.

Hang out and see what’s for breakfast tomorrow!