Lent Trifecta.

That’s right folks…it’s Ash Wednesday, and I am giving up *3* things for Lent.  More on that at the end of the post.

Left off prepping for my Express Spin class at the YMCA…headed out the door and munched on my other half of my Toffee Buzz Clif from this morning:

I was all decked out in my winter gear (from the waist up)….these winters are rough.

Gotta rock the GaGa Stunna shades. (And knee strap for the stupid achey knee 😦 )

Express Spin was AWESOME today!!!  We had 12 people which is amazing for a 12:15 lunch class.  I was super stoked.  We were also super SWEATY.  I try to do only the most intense and challenging songs during these shorter classes so that the participants still get the intensity and benefits of the 60 minutes class.

Convinced Christie to come home with me for her lunch break, and treated us to a yummy meal:

Boca Burgers on Arnolds Thins….fresh veggies with the LAST (major sadness) of my Sabras Hummus…and my last Veggie Stix:

I spread some Light Swiss Laughing Cow on top….it MAKES this “Burger” complete.

Talk about some major yum.

Christie approved!!!  Look at Sam, he is in mid-bark/food excitement.  He wanted some veggie burger lovin’, too!!!

Dessert was in order, of course.  Crumbled a Black Bean brownie in a bowl with some berries…

Then (as if it needed anything) melted and drizzled some of this nut-butter joy:

Yea.  It was pretty much as heavenly as it looks.  *drool*

Finished working on some CD’s, and then whipped up a protein shake to take and have at work for my snack pre-dinner!  This baby had:

• 1/2 Cup Frozen Blueberries
• 1/2 Cup Frozen Strawberries
• 1 Scoop Natural Vanilla Protein Powder
• 1 Cup Skim Milk
• 1 Cup Ice

Yummmmm!

I will be having dinner at work which will most likely be Panera (Panizzle) …photos forthcoming!

Now, onto my Lent Trifecta!  I have decided to give up *3* things over the next forty days.  They are:

• Splenda

Splenda is a beast I have went back and forth went for quite some time now.  I have read both good and bad things, but at the end of the day…it is still an artificial sweetener, that our body doesn’t even digest.  I will be sticking with Truvia/Stevia from here on out.

• Meat

First let me say that I am not vegetarian.  I just prefer the veggie options over meat the majority of the time, and rarely if ever eat red meat/pork.  When I do eat meat it is lean poultry/fish.  I would like to see how my body does all veggie though, so I am embracing it for Lent!

• Snacking Post Dinner

Ok, there may have been several un-documented snacks that were feasted upon right before bed.  I have to break myself of this habit.  Grabbing a handful of cereal here, or a couple of crackers there doesn’t appear to be that bad…but when it is happening every night, it becomes a problem.  I will almost always have dessert, but after that….NO snacking.

So the question for this evening is simple.

What are you giving up for Lent? Religious or not, I think it is a way to challenge our bodies that much further, and holds ourselves accountable!