Today I was just not feeling the gym! I’ve been transitioning the classroom over to the new teacher, which means this afternoon after lunch I had nothing to do at work. Nothing to do at work makes you really tired! I couldn’t believe it. By the time school let out I had no energy and did not feel like going to the gym. But, I have a trick I use that gets me there … I walk to school (across the street from my house), so on my way to work I put my gym bag in my car. On the way home I walk right to my car instead of into my house. It works every time = pack that gym bag, people!!!

I went to the gym knowing I would be kind of lazy, but I figured that something was better than nothing and twitter confirmed this! Once at the gym and in my clothes I got going. I ended up doing 50 minutes on the elliptical and a few leg machines.

Just like yesterday I did the post-gym, pre-dinner snack. Today’s was a little odd – a banana with a little bit of a secret spread that will be in Lindsay’s cookbook.It was good, but not v. filling.

Anyone know what that exclamation point in my car is?

For dinner I made this Smoked Refried Bean Soup I haven’t made in over a year! I’ve been waiting ever since then to have some refried beans to use up. I made a bunch of changes, but the basic idea was the same: Veggie Broth + Refried Beans + Tomatoes + Corn + Beans and Spices = good.

I wasn’t sure if Mark would consider this a meal, so I also made the Trader Joe’s Spinach Pie and had a piece of that and a salad. I guess this was a three course meal!

And FYI I had way more Spinach Pie than that.

Soon I had a hankering for chocolate and I caved to two of Dan’s Chocolates Balls.

I think the key is not being too hungry that you’re famished at dinner. Today I had the snack, but I don’t think it was big enough. I always thought spoiling my dinner was a no no, but now I kind of think it’s kind of a great idea!

P.S. Mark is working on a post!

EAS recently sent over a complimentary set of EAS Myoplex Strength Formula bars for Heather and I to sample. Cookies N’ Creme and Chocolate Mint represent my most favorite and most hated flavors of ice cream respectively but I did not let that sway my appraisal of these bars. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by both flavors and even prefer the Chocolate Mint ever so slightly.

Although I’m not a big… oh, how can I say this accurately, exerciser, I have historically been a fan of engineered nutrition. As you might have already observed, I lead a very intense lifestyle and many times don’t get appropriate nutrition through natural means like regular meals and my most covetous object of desire – sleep. For me, as on-the-go, hunger satisfying solutions, “bars” are effective.

Don’t let my nearly universal endorsement of bars lead you to believe that all are good though. My criteria for differentiating a good bar from a bad one are:

1. Satisfaction – After eating this bar will I reach for another bar within an hour? If the answer is No, this bar is satisfying.
2. Taste – Does it feel like I just opened a roll of nickels in my mouth or licked a Coloforms playset? If No, this bar tastes good.
3. Nutrition – Does it have enough good stuff to balance out the bad? If Yes, I’ll eat it.

The Myoplex Strength Formula bars definitely satisfy. Take a look at this naked Cookies N’ Creme bar next to my iPhone (in USB dock)! The consistency is thick but not overly chewy and the size and weight are balanced well.

The title of this post is a homage not just to this bar but to all nutrition bars that taste good. The taste, or more specifically, the flavor of bars has come a long way over the years and these EAS bars represent the next evolution.

The Cookies N’ Creme is smooth and buttery. It masks the usual metallic or Flinstones’ Kids aftertaste you expect and might even give you the impression you’re eating dessert.

The Chocolate Mint achieves the same effect by being, rich but cool with a generous layer of white mint within. It almost makes me rethink the place Chocolate Chip Mint ice cream holds in my current ranking system.

Don’t look at my messy desk. Concentrate on the smooth, silky finish of Cookies N’ Creme.

If you’re interested in sampling a free EAS product yourself head on over and request one.