Taco Mac [Atlanta]

Don’t let the name of this restaurant fool you because it definitely fooled me. While there were a few Hispanic inspired dishes on the menu, the menu was mostly composed of American grill food items. I wasn’t really disappointed because at that point, I was starving. So, anything would have been fine.

This restaurant is set up like a typical bar and grill. There are a ton of TVs and high-top tables. We were sat almost immediately upon arriving. Our server was very good. He was attentive, had suggestions, and checked on us quite often. He seemed genuinely willing to serve us.

I ordered the Rocky Mountain Chicken Sandwich and fries. I also ordered a side salad. The salad was very filling alone. It was fresh, and had all the toppings I needed. The fries were good, and so was the chicken sandwich. It came with a special sauce, rocky sauce, which was pretty tasty. I believe the sauce was a mixture of BBQ and honey mustard sauce. An added bonus was that unlike some restaurants,  they weren’t stingy with the avocado. So, that made me happy. I will say this though, the food was good, but it wasn’t outstanding.

I would recommend dining in here. The atmosphere is fun, the service is great, and the food is decently priced.

Reflection: Insanity Completion

Well, I finally completed the Insanity challenge. It took me 11 weeks as opposed to 9. I took a 1.5 week hiatus due to unforeseen circumstances. So, I redid week 8 in its entirety and completed week 9.

This is has been a crazy journey. I am so thankful that I completed it, even if it took longer than expected. I love the results I got. During the Insanity challenge, I learned a lot about myself. I learned that when I set my mind to doing something I will accomplish it no matter the obstacles. I also realized that my losing weight, was something done solely for me. A lot of people told me that I am fine the way that I am, and that at the midpoint, I didn’t need to lose any more weight. Well, I can’t look at myself through the eyes of others. I can only view myself through my eyes and that means that I have to be satisfied with me. While I appreciate all the compliments and kind words shared with me, I’ve come realize that a person should lose weight because he/she wants to. Not because of the attention you may receive or because society says that your overweight. Do it for you. Make yourself happy.

I’ve also noticed that I am not the only one who has taken a weight loss journey in the past year, a lot of my friends are also on their own journeys. I think that is a beautiful thing, and I hope they all reach their goals. I am definitely here for motivation, if  it’s needed. I received a ton of motivation from all directions, and it definitely helped me push through and accomplish my goal. However, I have to mostly thank God for providing me with determination and motivation because there were days that I wanted to quit. With prayer, He always pushed me through, and I am thankful!

I’ve decided to cancel my Weight Watchers subscription. It does work, but it has become instilled in me to eat better, and commit to daily exercise. I was really worried about what I would do at the conclusion of the weight watchers program, but having done this for so long, I know that I’ll be subconsciously telling myself to eat healthy and not to indulge.

Something else that I’ve realized is that losing weight is a process. It took time for me to gain weight, so of course it would take time to lose it. I think the biggest mistake people make is thinking that the weight is just going to fall off. It isn’t. It takes time, be patient. If you don’t take anything from my journey, please take this… The weight will come off in due time, especially if you are working hard and eating right. It may not fall off as quickly as you like, but it will eventually. Trust me.

Cantina Laredo [Chicago]

Let me start off by saying this restaurant is gorgeous. The atmosphere is amazing! There are two floors for dining. The first floor was a bit more crowded, and set up more like your typical restaurant. The second floor, where we dined, was arranged like a lounge. There was a very relaxing and laid back ambience that I truly enjoyed, especially after walking all day. There were huge windows they let open and allowed for the cool breeze to come through. It was great!

I will say this though, the menu was lacking. They did not offer a lot of items, at least not to my liking. Thankfully, I was able to locate something to eat. I ordered a quesadilla with a small side of guacamole. The quesadilla was pretty good, but the guacamole stole the spotlight. I absolutely love avocados and I love guacamole. I’m not easily moved by a lot of guacamole, but this was definitely noteworthy. It was fresh and wonderfully prepared.

Our service was pretty good. Our glasses stayed full, our complimentary chips and salsa were brought out quickly, and all of our questions were answered throughly and truthfully. He also provided us with recommendations when asked.

I would recommend this restaurant. The food was good, but if you’re looking for a wide variety of Mexican food to try, this place probably won’t suit your needs. It’s not a typical Mexican restaurant. It’s more “modern” as it states under the restaurant name.

*There are other locations around the Nation.

Week 9 (Redo): Insanity & WW

9/16-9/23

Weight Loss/Gain: Loss 3.6

9/16: Insanity Day Off: I can’t express how much I really need this day off. It is extremely difficult to take a hiatus during the Insanity program and try to pick back up.

Breakfast: Pancakes, Egg Whites & Turkey Sausage

Lunch: Chicken Deli Sandwich and White Cheddar Popcorn

Dinner: Turkey Lasagna  (Homemade)

Snacks: Cocoa Roasted Almonds, Banana & Grapes

Beverages: Water, Tea & Coffee

9/17: Max Interval Circuit: This was hard, as usual. I pushed myself, but I can feel that I’ve lost a few steps due to my hiatus. It sucks, but I have to push myself to complete what I started.

Breakfast: Egg Whites, Turkey Sausage & 1 Slice of Toast

Lunch: Smart Ones Fettucine Alfredo

Dinner: Turkey Lasagna

Snacks: Cocoa Roasted Almonds, Banana & Grapes

Beverages: Water, Tea & Coffee

9/18: Max Interval Conditioning/Insane Abs: I did a lot better this time around. I was especially happy with my effort during the Insane Abs workout.

Breakfast: Egg Whites & Turkey Sausage

Lunch: Progresso Santa Fe Chicken Soup (Lite) & Peanut Butter Crackers

Dinner: Turkey Lasagna

Dessert: Cookies Galore

Snacks: Cocoa Roasted Almonds, Banana & Grapes

Beverages: Water, Tea & Coffee

***When over alloted points for the day.

9/19: Max Interval Sports Training: I love this workout! I definitely pushed myself through. This is the only workout that seems to go by quickly! I also made a mistake, this workout was supposed to be done tomorrow. I’ll just have to swap it out.

Breakfast: Egg Whites & Turkey Sausage

Lunch: Progresso Santa Fe Chicken Soup (Lite) & Peanut Butter Crackers

Dinner: Turkey Lasagna

Snacks: Cocoa Roasted Almonds, Banana & Grapes

Dessert: 1 Serving of Mini Oreo Cookies

Beverages: Water, Tea & Coffee

9/20: Max Interval Circuit: Knowing that this my last time doing this workout, I tried my best to push through and get it done. I wanted to accomplish as much and feel as I did before I took the time off, but was unsuccessful. However, I still got a good workout.

Breakfast: Egg Whites & Turkey Sausage

Lunch: Sliced Chicken Deli Sandwich & Cocoa Roasted Almonds

Dinner: Turkey Lasagna

Snacks: Grapes

Beverages: Water, Tea & Coffee

9/20: Max Interval Plyo: I killed this workout. As I’ve mentioned before, I like this way better than Max Interval Circuit, so that in itself was motivation to do the best I could. During this workout, I felt like I had not taken any time off. It’s crazy what a day’s difference can do. I’m definitely looking forward to my last Insanity workout tomorrow!

Breakfast: Egg Whites & Turkey Sausage

Lunch: Sliced Chicken Deli Sandwich & Salad

Dinner: Turkey Lasagna

Snacks: Grapes & Apple Crisp Granola

Dessert: Mini Oreos

Beverages: Water, Tea & Coffee

**Went over allotted amount of points. I made the mistake of thinking I had more points than I actually did. 🙂

9/20: Max Interval Conditioning/Insane Abs: As you all are aware, this was my last workout. So, you know I had to show out even if I was the only one in the room. I pushed through, and made sure I went out strong. I did. I feel great, and accomplished. 

Breakfast: Pancakes, Egg Whites & Turkey Sausage

Lunch: Sliced Chicken Deli Sandwich with Shredded Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese

Dinner: Turkey Lasagna

Snacks: Cocoa Roasted Almonds

Beverages: Water, Tea & Coffee

Please look out for my Insanity Reflection Post, coming soon!