Shape Up Series: A Souper Hearty Low-Cal Lunch

By: Finance Foodie

So another week has gone by, and it's time to check up on my New Year, New You Shape Up Series progress (be sure to check out week 1 and week 2 results/tips if you just started reading)! Before I go any further, I have to confess -- I had a "fall off the wagon moment" this week :( I ATE AN ENTIRE LARGE PAPA JOHN'S PIZZA IN TWO DAYS. That's right, 8 large slices of bacon and mushroom plus garlic butter sauce in 48 hours. Maybe it's because as a kid, the only time I'd ever got to eat it was at my American friends' birthday parties, but pizza has always been and will be my ultimate comfort food.

Anyways, I thought I could resist the temptation and eat one slice per day, but obviously, I ended up inhaling that baby like the world was ending tomorrow. Bummer!!! Luckily, I mostly exercised and ate right the rest on the other days, which helped offset the pizza indulgence.

The yummy but oh-so-bad for you pizza

With that said, let's get the skinny on what happened this past week.

Height: 5'1''
Goal Weight: 130lbs
Week 1: 140 lbs (Starting Point)
Week 2: 138lbs
Week 3: 137lbs (it's because I was extra healthy the other 5 days)

Goal Body Fat: 20%
Week 1: 25%
Week 2: 24%
Week 3: 24%

Weekly Exercise Plan (and actual results in red) 
Day 1: 45 minutes on the elipitcal trainer, level 5 – Check!
Day 2: 30 minutes on the recumbent bicycle, level 7; 30 minutes weight training using 5lb to 8lb weights – Check!
Day 3: 45 minutes on the treadmill, speed 3.5 , incline 2.0 – Check!
Day 4: 30 minutes on the recumbent bicycle, level 7; 30 minutes weight training using 5lb to 8lb weight – Check!
Day 5: 30 minutes on the elipitcal trainer, level 5; 10 minutes on the recumbent bicycle, level 7– This was the day I ordered the Papa Johns, instead of going to the gym after work. Ugh this is totally a Minus a Check
Day 6 &7: Rest – Check (although I should have made up for the skipped day on Day 5)

To be honest, I like working out and really have no problem getting my butt to the gym -- it's my eating habits that I need to really work on. As a food LOVER who can eat a lot, I constantly find myself hungry when I am trying to shed holiday pounds -- which causes me to overindulge in fatty foods later on in the day. Therefore, it's imperative that I eat more foods that are "voluminous" while being low calorie and still somewhat palatable.

And this is where my good friend and fail safe option of Mr. Progresso Soup comes in. During every winter's shape up, my kitchen cupboard is packed with cans of different flavors of Progresso Soups. Frankly, soup is totally not my favorite food, but I always feel super full and warmed up after a big bowl of Chicken Noodle, Clam Chowder, or Beef Stew -- plus it's super easy to toss in my bag in the morning for a quick work lunch (I don't usually have time for long lunches and usually eat at my desk). So this week, I want to share with you one of my diet tricks: the...

FF's Quick and Filling Lunch for the Busy Worker Bee*

--One can of Progresso Chicken Noodle Soup: 140 calories

--One Wasa Flatbread Crisp: 30 calories

--One can Low Sodium V-8 juice: 60 calories

*230 calories may not seem like a lot for lunch, but I eat about 6-7 meals a day, so each meal has to be small. Feel free to add to the lunch based on your own calorie needs.

Check back next week for another tip/trick/recipe -- and another giveaway ;) !

***Giveaway***

Congrats #9 - Wanda F! 

Progresso Soup wants to one of my reader's to take on my New Year New You Shape Up challenge and will gift one lucky lady or gentleman their own workout kit to do so. This kit includes a yoga mat, water bottle, aerobic bands, sport headband and wristbands, and a coupon for a free can of Progresso Soup! 


(PS For those in search of bigger prizes, Progresso is also offering a full-makeover trip to NYC as part of their Souper You contest. For more deets on this contest, check out their facebook page!)

There are THREE ways to enter for the workout kit
1. REQUIRED: In my comments section, tell me what is your favorite way to exercise? (Mine is the recumbent bicycle where I can watch my favorite shows while pedeling!). Also please include your email address so I can contact you if you win!
2. Follow Finance Foodie on Twitter (leave separate comment telling me this)
3. Reblog / Retweet this giveaway (leave separate comment telling me this)

Contest ends Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 5pm EST. Winners will be chosen via random integer generator on random.org announced on the financefoodie.com site shortly afterwards that night! 
Disclosure:  Progresso provided the workout kit for my giveaway