Happy Birthday to the Hub!

So last night I made Husband his birthday cake, a cookie cake.  This man LOVES cookie cakes so it was a huge hit.  I'm glad that so many people responded with similar views about desserts.  It's all about balance.

Tonight we had a mini celebration for Husband's birthday.  We went out to dinner at a local pizza spot and then came home for the dessert.  This weekend we're going out to a nicer German restaurant that Husband has been dieing to try out.

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful man!

*****
My eating and exercise has been very hit or miss the last few days.  Tomorrow I am going to really refocus and get back to the smart choices that my body enjoys. 

"Dieters" and Desserts

One of my biggest pet peeves about dealing with others and dieting/living a healthy lifestyle is that people think I never eat sweets or desserts.  I think this is a very common misconception.  Desserts and sweets can be a part of a healthy lifestyle.  It is all about balance!

Tomorrow is Husband's birthday and I was excited to make him a cookie cake.  Tomorrow I will gladly enjoy a big piece of this yummy dessert.  Life is to short not to enjoy sweets when the appropriate time arrives.  I wouldn't eat this type of treat every day but on a special day it is a necessity, in my opinion.   However, I do usually have something sweet everyday.

I decided to put together a collection of different desserts that I have seen on other blogs or ones that were liked to me.  I know there are many holidays/functions quickly approaching.  It's all about moderation! 

• Chocolate covered strawberries by Mrs. LC
• Carrot muffins by Mrs. LC
• Banana Bread by MegaNerd
• Crustless Apple Pie by She Fit   
  
• Hello Dollies by Life of Ty
• Peanut Buttery Bars by Carrots-N-Cake
• No bake PB cookies by Carrots-N-Cake 
  
• Sugar Cookies by A Year in the Kitchen
  
• Carrot Cake by A Year in the Kitchen 
• Chunky, Everything Blondies by A Year in the Kitchen
• Cookie Cake by A Year in the Kitchen
• M&M Cookies by A Year in the Kitchen
• Lighten Up Brown Sugar Bundt Cake by A Year in the Kitchen
  
• All in One Holiday Bundt Cake by Yet Another Weight Loss Blog
• Fantasy Fudge by Yet Another Weight Loss Blog
• The Classic Strawberry Trifle by Christina Butter
• Rocky Road Candy by Angie Eats Peace
  
• Texas Sheet Cake
• Pumpkin cranberry muffins by Cooking Light
  
• Oatmeal Honey Apple Cake: 
• Crumbled Top Peaches by Weight Watchers: 
• Pumpkin-Orange Cake: 
• Keylime Cheesecake (low fat)
• Strawberry LOW fat Jello Cake by Sparkpeople
  

Christina Butter also suggested Eat Better America for other dessert ideas.  The site looks great!

Tomorrow after school I plan to decorate the cookie cake.  I'll be sure to take pictures!

Are there any recipes you would like me to add?  Are there any you really want to try?

Signing Up for My First 10K

If you haven't already done so, send me your favorite dessert recipes.  

I love how addicting running is.  Once I run one distance, I want to run an even longer and longer distance.  It is definitely like a drug!

Since starting this running journey in late December I have ran in a few different races.  I ran my first 5K in May, an 8K in July and another 5K in August.

Now I am stepping up my distance and running a 10K this weekend.  The registration is in the mail! 

I'm going to be working on my play-list this week.  Any suggestions?  I need some really high energy songs especially towards the end of the list.

Favorite Desserts

With the holidays rapidly approaching I decided to compile a list of favorite healthy (or slightly unhealthy) desserts.  Very soon I'll post a complete list of desserts from readers. 

If you have a blog and have already posted this desert you can simply include the link.  If you don't have a blog or have yet to post it, please include the recipe in the comment section or email it to me (balanceformere "at" gmail "dot" com). 

Thanks!  Can't wait to add more favorites to my recipe collection!

A Walk Down Memory Lane at Camp

Growing up I was a camp kid.  Every summer for 9 summers I spent a week at camp, Lutheridge.  Then I worked there for 3 summers as a counselor and area director.  What is really cool is that Husband and I were both campers at this camp.  I don't think we were there the same week but it was something really cool to discover the night we met.

On our way home from Husband's parent's home we stopped by camp to walk after visiting a nearby camping store.  We walked around the entire camp and even on a trail that leads to the chapel at the top of the campus.  It was great thinking back about all the memories I have as a camper and staff member.   The weather was perfect, especially after the many days of rain.

Here's a quick tour:

 

 

My last year on staff I was area director of Pioneer A.  There are several areas but this area was were campers in grades third-fifth stayed.  While working here I perfected my ability to deal with homesick campers.  Generally many kids in my area were taking part in their first "sleep away" camp experience.

Did you ever attend camps as a kid?  I attended this church camp and also basketball and chorus camps at different points growing up.  Did you like camp?  Tomorrow I'll be back with more things related to health and fitness but today I was happy with this "walk".

Rainy Days Friday and Saturday

Last night we drove through crazy rain coming to visit Husband's parents.

After about an hour of rain it finally stopped.

I was thrilled that it had ended in time to enjoy dinner at my favorite road spot:  a Subway/TCBY.  This is my food heaven!  I enjoyed chips and a lovely veggie delight.  Husband calls my sandwich a salad between bread.  The sandwich was good but not nearly as good as the TCBY.  I enjoyed a mix of coffee and white chocolate mousse before hitting the road for the 2nd half of the trip.  The combo was the perfect blend.  The coffee muted the sweetness of the white chocolate.

 

Once at the in-law's house we sat around and talked or "visited" as people in the south say.  By 10:30 I was ready to go to sleep!  Hello, I'm the girl that crashes early on Friday nights so this was late for me.

Husband and I decided to wake up early and go for a run along some neighborhoods and through the town's greenway.  The forecast via Husband's blackberry was not good:  rain, rain, rain.  Luckily we got in about a 5 mile run before the rain began.

After reading so many posts about races this weekend, I am really excited for next week's 10K!

The rest of the day included lunch out with his parents and a relaxing afternoon of college football.  Husband's mom had wanted to do a fire-pit weenie roast with marshmallows tonight.  Sadly the weather had other plans so we had one inside.  Birthday smores for Husband and I; our birthdays are both in September.

Now we're playing with their crazy cat and more laziness.  LOVE IT!

Today's EATS and Exercise

B:  slimwich, 1 tbspn PB, banana

L:  grilled chicken salad, Kashi pumpkin bar

S:  apple

D:  turkey hotdog, homemade potato salad, baked beans, carrots and celery

d:  2 smores... yum!

Playground -- Not Just for Kids

Back in July while spending a lot of time at a hospital with my grandfather I made a stair landing my gym.  Today after school I made the playground my gym.  I started off by running and walking in intervals around the track.  I became bored with the running so I decided to mimic my kids and move how they move.  I then began doing butt-kicks around the track.  I also pretended to hopscotch, skip and gallop.  No matter what I did, I was moving and sweating!

After about 20 minutes of cardio I decided to use the playground equipment for strength-training.  I used the ladder of the slide for calf-raises and then later as as an single leg step-up.  Then I used the balance beam for a raised platform for push-ups and also mountain climbers.  I used the monkey bars for a few attempts at pull-ups.  It was an awesome workout.  I WISH I could do this everyday during recess but sadly I have to supervise the 60 students in 2nd grade and of course they would get in my way.

(mountain climbers... I think)

This workout was so much fun!  I love workouts where I decide on a whim what to do.  Sometimes I enjoy not having a plan and just doing what I feel like.  And of course NO GYM REQUIRED!

We're now heading to visit Husband's parents for the weekend but I hope to post and stay current with all of your happenings.

Today's EATS and Exercise
B:  pancake with cooked apples
S:  Greek yogurt, peach, cereal
L:  tomato soup, cheddar bunnies, orange, Dove chocolate
S:  14 almonds, banana
E:  playground exercise
        below planned
S:  grapes
D:  Subway 6 inch sub roast beef or veggie (to be decided), baked chips
d:  TCBY (can't wait!)

Thankful Thursday -- The Body Edition

Going off my Dear Body letter from Monday I have been trying to appreciate, regonize and honor my body more.  If you really take time to think about it, our bodies are AMAZING!  They grow, move, elvove.  Bodies allow us to reproduce.  At any point our body is converting food to energy and repairing and cleansing itself.  That is COOL!

So what parts of your body are you THANKFUL for or LOVE?

1. I love my curly hair.  It wasn't curly until I hit puberty, which is just like my dad's hair.  The back-story is that my dad died when I was really young so I have NO memories of him but I am connected to him through my curly hair and long legs.
2. I am thankful for my feet.  Growing up they were used for 16 years of dancing and now running.
3. The crazy internal organs that I never think about or acknowledge.  I think about my lungs and heart when I'm running.  I think about my bladder when I have to got o the bathroom.  I think about my uterus and ovaries every 4th week.  But there are a lot of other organs in there that I have not once thought about.  Thank you organs!
4. My teeth.  I never had braces but have good teeth. 

What to know some interesting things about your internal organs?  Check out this article in the September issue of Self Magazine.  Want to find ways to love your body just a little bit more?

Move Over Martha, Forget Rachel, I Make Ashlee's Recipes

To say that I am a fan of Ashlee and her A Year in the Kitchen blog would be an understatement.  In all honestly this girl taught me how to cook!  My mom cooked for my brother and I growing up but her recipes weren't very inventive or too healthy (sorry Mom, I still love you!).  So going into marriage I was nervous about having to cook.  But in all honesty it did not hit me until we're home from the Honeymoon that I actually had to cook and use all the new pots and pans.  I had the equipment but not the interest or knowledge.

After a year of floundering in the kitchen I found Ashlee's blog and began using her blog to help me meal plan.  I love the fact that she is roughly my age.  My thinking is "if Ashlee can create the recipe, I can follow it."  And knowing that the girl has lost a lot of weight is another great aspect.  I know her recipes are healthy and I trust that if there were any healthier substitutions that could be made she would have made them.  So when Ashlee wrote that she was creating a cookbook I said, I HAD TO HAVE IT!  I was thrilled to see it in the mail today!  I ripped into the package!

I quickly browsed all the great recipes.  There are several favorites and many I have got to try ASAP!  I was so happy to see that I have a signed copy!  Thanks Ash!

Now anyone can claim to be a fan but I have the goods to back it up!  I have made many of her recipes including the following:

• White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
• Penne with Broccolini and Crispy Prosciutto
• Herb Butter and Goat Cheese Linguine with Fresh Tomatoes
  
• Spinach and Sausage Lasagna
• Sausage and Peppers Baked Pasta
  
• Quiche
• Latkes
• Spicy Potato Wedges
  
• No Mayo Coleslaw
• 7 Layer Dip
• Crispy Oven Friend Onion Rings
• Southwest Cobb Salad
• Chicken tenders
• Chicken and Black-bean Enchiladas
• Parmesan and Sun Dried Tomato Turkey Meatballs
• Pulled Pork BBQ
• Philly Steak Wraps
  
• Tomato Soup (one of my personal favorites -- I make it at least monthly or bi-monthly in the fall and winter but use turkey bacon)
  
• Creamy Broccoli and White Bean Soup
• Grilled Summer Corn Chowder
• Garden Harvest muffins
• Chunky Everything Blondies
• Sugar cookies
• Carrot Cake
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
  
• M&M Cookies
• AND MANY OTHERS!
  

Check out all the recipes that I have record on notepad paper.  All these recipes are at my finger tips in my notebook of recipes I've collected.  Now I am still keeping my handwritten recipes as they are like old friends but I am happy to welcome a new and improved edition to the recipes already recorded! 

So if you haven't already, check out Ashlee's food blog A Year in the Kitchen.  You can easily browse recipes by ingredient, ethnic background and result.  There are so many options!  She has begun adding more vegetarian options but her meat recipes are still there.  Also make sure you check out her weight loss blog:  Ash is Fit!  The girl is inspirational and a great cook!



Today's EATS and Exercise
B:  3/4 cup h2h, 1/2 cup ff milk, chopped apple
S:  some animal crackers, Greek yogurt and strawberries
L:  veggie wrap (sprouts, broc, lettuce, green peppers and laughing cow), orange, Dove chocolate
S:  14 almonds, banana
E:  2 miles treadmill, various strength training
D:  taco soup, baked mexican chips, a peach
d:  Cliff Z Kids bar

Happy Fall!

Welcome to my favorite season!  I love fall!  As a teacher I enjoy summer because of having the summer off but fall is really my favorite.  I love fall:

• clothes (3/4 length shirts, jeans, light sweaters, boots, etc.)
• leaves falling
• pumpkins
• warm afternoons but cool mornings
• hot chocolate
• Friday night high school football games
• pumpkin flavored products
• Halloween candy
• Thanksgiving food
• OH SO MANY THINGS I LOVE ABOUT FALL!

What are your favorite things about fall?

I also love that new seasons and shows start in the fall... including the newest season of The Biggest Loser!

Today's EATS
B:  chopped apple, 3/4 cup h2h, 1/2 cup milk
S:  Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup bb, 1/4 cup h2h
L:  tomato soup, fruit salad, Annie's bunny cheddar crackers
S:  banana, 14 almonds
D:  baked chicken sandwich with broccoli salad

A Letter to My Body

Dear Body,

I am so sorry that I have mistreated you today.  I forgot to acknowledge your beauty and strength.  When work forced me to miss the cardio class I decided to punish you with too many crackers and chocolate.  I am sorry.  You do not deserve to be treated in such a way.  It wasn't your mistake.  It was my mistake.

You deserve so much respect.  You deserve to be worshiped not chastised and littered.  You, my strong body, have carried me the last 27 years and I pray you will continue to do that for the next 60+ years.  Each Saturday when I say "run", you run.  Each day when I ask you to work, clean and cook you don't give attitude.  You gladly accept any challenge.  You know the truth in life and don't get confused by the stresses of life.  You are an amazing work of art.  

Sadly for several years I behaved everyday like I did today.  But you didn't turn your back on me when I gained 40+ pounds.  You didn't give up on me.  Instead you stayed with me through all the challenges and attempts to lose weight.  And now when I feel like I am moving in the right direction, I stupidly make poor choices.  I give you garbage and expect beauty from you.  Please forgive me.  Unfortunately, however, I can safely say that this won't be the last day that I shove trash at you.  I will try to do better but know that won't always happen.  Continue to forgive me.  

To atone for my poor mistakes I can only promise to do better beginning now.  I wish I could go back and make better choices but sadly I can't.  I can however improve my choices.  I can select better quality food.  I can give you plenty of sleep.  I can give you enough time to complete tasks instead of making you feel rushed and hurried.  I can look at you with appreciative eyes.  I can also say "thank you" for runs and strength sessions.  So Body, again I am sorry.  I will always try to do better.  All I ask is that you don't give up on me! 

Sincerely,

Mere 

P.S.  Thanks for the rocking curves!  I am curvaceous and beautiful!  

Today's EATS

B:  3/4 cup h2h, 1/2 milk, apple

S:  Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup h2h

L:  portabella mushroom slimwich with cheese and sliced tomato, orange, Dove piece

S:  almonds, WAY to many crackers and chocolates

D:  baked macaroni with veggies, fruit salad

Success Stories

When reading health and fitness magazines my favorite types of articles are always the success stories.  Skinny models with perfect hair don't inspire me.  Seeing REAL women doing small things that produce BIG results is so inspiring!

Check out this collection of success stories from Women's Health Magazine

One of the reasons that I like it so much is because the tips are real and have been tested.  What lesson have you learn?  What is your secret weapon(s)?

Lesson learned:  I learned that being healthy is so much more important than being skinny.  Learning to value my health is an on-going (for life) journey.  Reaching a particular goal weight is nice but knowing that I am becoming healthier is so much more rewarding.  As a result of focusing on becoming healthy I have lost weight so it's been a win-win.

Secret weapon:  I felt like I had figured out the health/weight loss universe when I found out my BMR and activity multiplier (Harris Benedict Equation) and then started tracking calories.  When I record what I eat I do much better with my eating.  I like to review my eats each day and see how many fruits and veggies I ate.  I can also notice trends.  When I eat a lot of carbs I want more.  I still eat carbs and sugar but try to use some restraint because I often want more and more.  Also find several different workouts/exercises/classes that you enjoy.  Don't rely on one love.  Have some variety.  

Interested in sharing your own story?  Email Women's Health at  

youloseyougain@womenshealthmag.com

Today's EATS and Exercise
S:  1/2 banana
E:  3.1 mile run
B:  chopped apple, 1/2 cup milk, 3/4 cup h2h
L:  Bojangles:  potato rounds, pinto beans, green beans
S:   14 almonds, grapes, Jason's Deli cracker and laughing cow cheese
D:  2 small slices of homemade veggie pizza, 1 small piece of turkey bacon/pineapple pizza, salad
d:  my Mom's homemade persimmon pudding (a southern delicacy) and coffee



Check out Paige at Running Around Normal!  She is doing a banana holder (that's what she said) giveaway.  I joke about it BUT I seriously want it!  

Need Motivation?

Check this video!  The man workout for a year and saw these results.  I'm sure diet played a roll too.  You can change your life in just a few short months to a year!

B:  slimwich, 1 tbspn PB, 1 banana

S:  Greek yogurt, peach.1/4 Heart-to-Heart

L:  baked mexican chips, 1/4 cup black beans, sprinkle of shredded cheese, green peppers, onions, salsa, Dove chocolate

S:  Cliff Z bar

D:  tialapia, sweet potato with apple and pecans

d:  ice-cream with coffee and chocolate

Sweaty Date Night

Get your minds out of the gutter!  It was a date night that included a trip to the gym! 

After school I had a retail therapy session at Target!  I'll pics of the purchases tomorrow.  Then I met Husband at a gym different from our typical spot.  We have access to this gym since it's a part of the YMCA community we belong to.  The gym was standard and the people weren't friends but the gym redeemed itself with a cool indoor track.  After 25 minutes on the elliptical we headed upstairs and ran 1/2 mile around the track. 

Post workout we were all smiles!

For dinner we hit up my favorite spot again, Jason's Deli.  I highly recommend the spinach veggie wrap.  It is good and has a spicy kick. 

And now (post Walmart grocery trip) I am relaxing with some decaf coffee before going to bed (sweaty date night continued?  we'll see).  I'm expecting a long run in the rain tomorrow.  Any ideas/suggestions on what to wear for running in the rain?  The next week looks like days and days of rain. 

Will It Matter in 5?

Will it matter in 5 day?  
Will it matter in 5 weeks?  
Will it matter in 5 months?  
Will it matter in 5 years? 

For the past few days I have been dealing with a higher than normal amount of stress at school.  It involves lovely teaching things including new assessment materials, report cards, workshops, etc.  The first several weeks of a school year are busy and stressful but this year has definitely been more of a challenge than normal.  

The problem is that I AM ALLOWING this stress to consume me.  I allow this stress to follow me home and weigh on my heart.  For the past 2 days I have allowed the stress to be my excuse for not working out.  I had intended on going to a toning class this afternoon but I had a meeting and talked with some other teachers after the meeting (about the above stressers) and ended up missing my class.  Sadly I didn't go to the gym and do a different workout and instead came home and ate my stress.  I am definitely a stress eater!  I hate being that way!  

But then I started thinking "Does this really matter?".  NO!  Whatever the stress is, none of it will be remembered in a few years, months, or weeks.  It simply won't matter!  So why I am letting this bother me?  I shouldn't!  So tomorrow I am going to work really hard while at school and then LEAVE IT!  I intend on having a great weekend.  I am WAY MORE good things in my life than I do stressful items!  Let's focus on the good

So I'll leave with my Thankful Thursday list

1.  Coffee!  Coffee says fall/winter to me.  I am glad fall is here.  I wish the weather could stay like this much longer than it does.

2.  Ella's kisses!  I know some people think it's gross but I let my dog lick my face and I don't care about the germs.  She is my baby.  Her kisses are my 2nd favorite.  Husband's are my favorite.  I'm hoping you assumed that.

3.  The Real Housewives series on Bravo.  I LOVE THIS TRASH TV!  I think my favorite is New Jersey.  I love it even though their "bubbies" aren't real!

What Do You Do When No One is Looking?

Oh I loved The Biggest Loser last night!  But we'll talk about that later.

This morning I woke up with energy and ended up dancing in the shower.  I am sure I lose points for upping our water bill and safety as I am sure I'll fall the next time I try such craziness but it was still fun to dance.  This early A.M. dance was inspired by and was to honor Patrick Swayze.  I love Patrick, especially in Dirty Dancing.  I have seen that move hundreds of times.  In fact our last dance at the wedding reception was to "Time of Your Life".  That was my personal request and I loved it!  Isn't this picture great!  It was during the last dance and I was channeling Jennifer Grey (pre-nose job). 

Anyway this water-dance got me to thinking about things we do when no one is looking.  I really love to pose in arabesque while going over a bridge.  Sometimes I do running split jumps too.  I don't know why but I love being silly while going across bridges.  If you ever hear about a runner falling to their death from a bridge, say a prayer for me!  So that's enough about me and my silly/dangerous discussions.  

What do you do when no one is looking?   

Who all watched The Biggest Loser? Husband and I did and while watching I took notes and made predictions about the contestants.  Some people create brackets for the NCAA basketball tournament.  I write my predictions for the winner of The Biggest Loser.

My Choices

• To Win:  Abby (green team)
• Favorite:  Rebecca (pink)
• Wild Card:  Sean (red), Shay (orange)
• Least Favorite:  Tracy (purple)

Husband's Choices

• To Win:  Rudy (blue)
• Favorite:  Rudy (blue)
• Wild Card:  Coach Mo (purple), Allen (green)
• Least Favorite:  Julio (black), Liz (green)

Who are your favorites?  Who do you think is going to win?  Who do you dislike?  

What Have You Done Today to Make Yourself Proud?

Tonight begins the newest season (season 8) of Biggest Loser and I can't wait!  I so love this show (aside from the "commercials" that take place between the real commercial breaks).  I am excited to see the different contestants and how they change.

I also love the theme song!  It is just such an inspirational theme song.  So what have you done today to make yourself proud?

One thing that I'm proud of today was a workout that I did at home.  After not leaving my "box"/classroom all day I NEEDED to be outside!  The idea of working out indoors was not appealing.  I needed to breath in freshair and feel the sun on my back.  So I decided to come home and workout.  I decided to break the workout into parts as it makes it go quicker.  

I did 10 minutes of cardio

• 1 lap (between home) walking
• 1 lap running
• 1 lap sprint
• 1 lap walk
• 1 minute jumping jacks
• 1 minute of stepping up and down on the porch (about 20 inches off the ground) 
• 1 minute of punches
• 1 minute of jumping rope
• 1 minute of torso twists
• 2 laps running

Then 5 minutes of arms

• 1 minute of bicep curls
• 1 minute of hammer curls
• 1 minute lateral raises
• 1 minute tricep kickbacks
• 1 minute of shoulder presses

Followed by 5 minutes of abs

• 1 minute crunches
• 1 minute of reverse crunches
• 1 minute bicycle crunches
• 1 minute of plank:  25 seconds of planks, 10 seconds of rest, 25 seconds of plank
• 1 minute crunches

Finally 10 minutes of running

I am proud of this workout.  I enjoyed it!  It went by quickly and I was in control.  I really like workouts where I dictate what I do.  

I can't wait to talk with you all about The Biggest Loser!  Be sure to leave comments about what you think.   

Also if you haven't yet done so, check out MY Biggest Loser story.  Feel free to share part of your journey with weight loss!  The picture above is part of my weight loss story.

Today's EATS and Exercise

B:  1 chopped apple, 1/2 cup milk, 3/4 cup heart-to-heart

S:  banana, 14 almonds

L:  portabella mushroom and cheese sandwich, Stoneyfield yogurt, orange

S:  Cliff Z bar

D:  salad, chicken with steamed veggies and asian noodles.  

d:  Dove chocolate

Blog Award

Yesterday I was pleased to receive A.Leo of Delicious Ambiguity's blog award.  THANKS A.LEO!  I always enjoy reading her blog.  A. Leo has such a balanced and realistic view of weight loss and healthy eating.  She has met some amazing goals and has so many reasons to be proud.  She loses weight and eats healthy and still enjoys her recipes and treat!  I really respect that and try to eat in a similar way.

As part of the award I am suppose to pass it on to other bloggers.  So here goes:

Angie Eats Peace

Chas Runner 

Fit, Sexy, Super-Wife

Healthy, Hott, Housewife 

In a Fit Frame of Mind 

Madison's Healthy Happenings 

Mrs. CJ Running and Traveling 

Yet Another Weight Loss Blog

365 Runs Hopefully  

Life According to Mrs. LC 

In the Skinny 

Highway to Health 

Caution:  Redhead Running

Christina Butter

Discom-BOB-ulated Running

A.Leo's and mine list overlapped.  I chose not to give the award to those who were on her list.

2/3 Vegetarian

In July I decided to start going Meatless on Mondays.  I wanted to find a new way to challenge myself in the kitchen and knew about some of the health benefits.  Since then I have become phasing in more and more meatless meals.  It began slowly and have developed into being pretty much a 2/3 Vegetarian.  I often (not always) go meatless at breakfast and lunch with the majority of dinners involving meat.  One of my goals is to go vegetarian for a week (and perhaps for a month).  

Since going Meatless I have noticed serveral things:

• I don't miss meat very much.  I've made many typical meat meals meatless and they're often just as good.  Check out my interview with Husband.
• I may not crave meat but I do still crave protein.  I am working to incorporate other beans, dairy products and nuts into my diet.
• There are a lot of really great vegetarian options at options that I really never noticed before.
• Although it has become routine in my life (and Husband's too) some people have really weird reactions to me explaining why I'm not eating as much meat. 

Today's EATS and Exercise

B:  3/4 cup Heart-to-Heart, 1/2 cup milk, chopped apple

S:  2 trash crackers, Stoneyfield strawberry yogurt, 14 almonds

L:  flat wrap, 1/2 avocado, green peppers, sprouts with spinach and apple

S:  Cliff Z bar

E:  cardio/interval class

S:  grapes

D:  salad, grilled cheese slim sandwich, 1 cup veggie chili

d:  Dove chocolate

Sunday Night Reading

Where oh where did the weekend go?  My Sunday was busy -- church, Subway lunch, painting, and over an hour of cooking/prep for the week.  After all that work and dinner I was happy to sit down at the computer and do some reading.  I love reading magazines but enjoy even more reading articles online.  There is just such a wealth of information out there (probably half is true but still!) there is no excuse for not knowing.

Here are some articles that I read:

Stay Motivated -- Women's Health

Conquer Your Fitness Fears -- WebMd

How to Start a Day Healthy -- Fit Sugar 

Top Ten Rules of Weight Loss for Runners -- Women's Running 

6 Simple Ways to Reach Your Best Body -- Shape

 Top 100 Workout Songs -- Fitness

Danger of Detox Diets -- Self

Your Message Here -- Runner's World

Clean It Up -- Oxygen 

Thoughts on articles listed above?

Most Christmas I ask my Mother-in-law for a magazine subscription.  I currently get Shape, Self and Cooking Light.  I have purchased Shape and Self as a way to avoid buying it in stores.  My MIL bought me Cooking Light this past Christmas but I think I am not going to renew the subscription.  I haven't yet touched a 1/3 of the fabulous recipes in the magazine but will given more time.  So I need to think of a new magazine to request.  What magazines do you read/enjoy?  Suggestions, please.

Today's EATS and Exercise

• S:  14 almonds
• B:  1/4 cup honey oats cereal, 1/4 cup cinnamon squares, 1/4 cup heart-to-heart, chopped apple, 1/2 cup milk
• L:  6 inch Veggie sub and chips, Dove chocolate
• S:  Cliff Z bar, plain ff yogurt
• D:  turkey burger, bean salad, sweet potato/apple combo
• E:  abs and arms weights
  
• d:  sips of wine
  

Red Wine

Can you tell what fall color I am really digging?

I am loving this Merlot wine color.  I am digging it as my purse color, nail color and lip color.  

It is also very pretty and tasty in a wine glass.  I'm loving the Duplin (made in NC) Hatteras Red Muscadine Wine.

Today I ran a distance I only once laughed at, 6.2.  Husband and I are preparing for our first 10K in October.  The distance went by quickly today.  Before I knew it we were at the 1 mile mark, the 2 mile mark and the turn-around location.  The second half of the run continued the same.  I was hoping the feeling of running that distance would remind me of the way I felt when I ran 3.1 the first time.  I felt proud when I was done but there were no Rockie type movements with arms in the air.

The rest of the day included cleaning and painting.  I cleaned Husband painted count one on some of our windows.  Coat two comes tomorrow.   I'm not sure if we'll run our "easy like Sunday morning run".  We're both pretty tired and sore.  The soreness from the Thursday toning class was not helped by today's long run.  

Today's EATS and exercise:

B:  slimwich with 1 tbspn PB and banana

S:  Annie cheddar bunnies

L:  soup, 1/2 tuna salad sandwich, orange (a repeat of yesterday because it was so good), piece of Dove chocolate

S:  cereal with chopped apple

D:  grilled steak tips, green peppers and onions, brown rice

d:  glass (or 2) of wine

Do you find yourself gravitating to a particular fall color?  Black is always a staple in my closet but I also really enjoy forest green colors in the fall. 

Three Men in my Life

Hot Date

Tonight I had a hot date with Mr. Foam-roller!  There were many inappropriate noises made during our date.  My legs are so sore from yesterday's toning class.  I opted out of a workout today because it kind of hurts to walk and I want to run 6 miles tomorrow; that will be our longest distance to date.  So tonight I loved on Mr. F-R.  Don't tell Husband!  Ella doesn't like me cheating on her daddy.  :)

Foodie Friday

Here's my menu plan for the week.  Sometimes life gets in the way and the plan changes.

Saturday:  grilled steak, onions and green peppers with polenta (if we can find it)

Sunday:  turkey burgers and baked sweet potatoes with apples, raisins and pecans

Monday:  veggie chili and grilled cheese

Tuesday:  Japanese noodles, chicken and steamed veggies

Wednesday:  calzones

Thursday:  Kashi pizza

This week's purchases:

Meat/Dairy/Frozen:  organic plain ff yogurt, organic milk, Kashi pizza, turkey bacon, Sargento's sliced cheese, frozen veggies, pizza crust, chicken breasts, sliced ham (for Husband), steak tips.

Produce:  bananas, grapes, bag spinach, bag salad, sweet potatoes, avocados, onions, green peppers, sprouts 

Cereals/Canned goodies/Bread products:  Baked chips (for Husband), Oats and Honey cereal, Cinnamon square cereal (for Husband), baked beans, diced tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato sauce, black beans, sandwich slims 

Sweets:  Plum Sweets, Banana chips (for Husband), chocolate wonderful

Chocolate has a place in my diet.  Every day I make room in my calorie intake for something sweet.  This week we had to restock our chocolate supplies. 

I'm off to bed with another man... not Husband or Mr. F-R.  I'm heading to bed with Nicholas, as in Nicholas Sparks and his newest book.  But he won't last too long (that's what she said), I have to go to bed early for our morning run tomorrow.  Goodnight!

Thankful Thursday

I am so glad it is Thursday and almost the weekend!

1. I am thankful for the aerobics toning class I went to this afternoon. My legs feel weak and I am sure I'll be sore tomorrow. I like going to classes and not having to think about what to do next. I have a hard time doing strength training so it is nice to have someone make me do it at least once a week. My only compliant is that it is just toning. Next week I'll get to the gym early to run a little before class for cardio.

2. I am grateful for Saleblan of Running to Slow Down for posting about the wonderfulness that is adding chopped apples to cereal. I had it this afternoon. It is wonderful! I highly recommend it. It is my new favorite way to eat cereal. Try it. You'll love it!

3. Additionally, I am so glad to have a high school teaching intern come to my classroom each afternoon. She is helps me with working with the kids and are a great set of eyes and ears. Today she supervised during writing time so I could write 6 hand-written notes to parents saying "I'm glad your child is in my class. Insert positive attributes of child. Insert area to work on (behavior, talking, etc) but reassuring this issue will be resolved soon. End with positive and this is going to be a great year!" I have wanted to get started on these letters for a few weeks now. I have 6 down and 17 to go! I should get extra points for hand-writing them!

Today's EATS and Exercise

B: 1 cup heart-to-heart cereal, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup plain ff yogurt

S: Stoneyfield yogurt, 14 almonds

L: portabella mushroom and cheese sandwich (inspired by Therese of Healthy, HOTT, Housewife), orange and Dove chocolate

S: Cliff Z Kids Bar -- apple cinnamon flavor

E: toning class

D: salad, Kashi pizza, cereal with apple

d: Dove chocolate