What do you do?

What do you guys do when you have a silly little cold? Do you push through it and keep exercising? Tone it down, but still get a work out in? Or just rest? I remember when I was swimming on a team, my coach always made me push through what ever my body was fighting. I rarely took a day off and missed practice. Any advice anyone? Will I get better faster by resting? Or moving my body?

My silly mental block

I have sat down several times over the past week trying to post something on this blog, but for some reason or another I end up scrapping what I have written so nothing ever gets posted.

Anyone who knows me, knows I NEVER run out of things to say, but when it comes to writing I get this mental block and though I write a lot down, very little actually stays on the page. I don't know why, but I worry about everything when I am writing from the punctuation to double meanings. Maybe it is the fact that I can go back and reread what I have written that creates the problem. When I am talking I can’t take back what I have said (it’s really too bad sometimes too) so I just keep going.

I know this blog is kind of a safe haven so as we go through this challenge I’ll keep trying to step out of my comfort zone and post some things.

I also wanted to add, I have loved reading everyone’s posts. It is so comforting to hear women dealing with the same things I am. Your fun stories, recipes and encouraging words have made all the difference this past week. I have failed so many times at past diets and ”lifestyle changes” but this time around I really feel like I can do it, so thanks to all of you for that.

Chinese Chicken Salad

I wouldn't say this recipe showcases any new vegetable to my repertoire but eating raw veggies was not my strong suit.  And how tasty is ginger!!  Sorry, no picture but really, really good. 

Ingredients
1/2 cup fat-free mayonnaise
1 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 tsp ginger root, fresh, grated
1 pound cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, shredded (about 3 cups)
1/2 cup snow peas, cut in half lengthwise on a diagonal
1/2 sweet red pepper, diced
1/2 cup carrots, shredded
1/4 cup green onion, sliced
4 pieces lettuce (I use romain leaves)

Instructions
In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, soy sauce, and ginger until blended.  Add chicken, snow peas, peppers, carrots, and green onion; toss to mix and coat.

Immediately serve salad in lettuce leaves or cover and refrigerate up to 1 day.  Yields about 1 1/4 cups chicken salad and 1 lettuce leaf per serving.

Pulling oneself out of a funk.

My mental conversation for the past week has pretty much consisted of snap out of it, get moving, what's causing this blah feeling...just to mention a few. Since I've started this challenge back in February I have not have more than a weak day or two in a row and easily bounced back from it knowing others were counting on me.

This past week I just didn't care. I didn't fall into an eating binge, I didn't completely stop working out but there was no motivation behind what I was doing. I was just going through the motions and discouraged that I could not be there to support others in need.

Mondays always build my weeks foundation. I'm a little OCD about everything that needs to happen on that day...but I was tired and didn't get up to go to the gym. After a day without a workout but accomplishing many things on my list I decided it was time to get out of my funk. One important step to getting out of a funk is knowing what got you there in the first place. This time it was an external factor, one of which I have not control and really shouldn't care about, but I do. But, I realize this and need to move on.

So this morning I was out the door early with Sam in tow and headed for the gym. I got a three mile run in before my yoga class which meant I had to continue to pick up the pace so I could make it to class on time.

As I've mentioned before I love this yoga class. There is just something about this instructor that speaks to me. She always has such profound and real things to say. Today I really needed to hear what she had to say. Here are two that stuck:

1) If you don't take time to get yourself healthy who is?

2) Sometimes you just let life happen to you, when are you going to decide that you can make something out of life, do something about it?

She always ends with a long quote, I almost walked up and asked her for it today...but I was out of time. My two hours of in the kids center were up and I had to move it....RIGHT OUT OF MY FUNK.

Edamame, I love you

I've had edamame before, but I've never done anything with it, just eaten it raw. Do you all know how good edamame is for you? The soybean is a complete protein containing all of the amino acid building blocks. It also provides an antioxidant boost from plant chemicals called isoflavones. So, this week I wanted to try a summery salad with edamame. And boy am I glad I did! I had two generous helpings of this for lunch. It was so fresh and satisfying and went especially well with the leftover healthy crab cake from dinner last night.

Edamame Corn Salad

1 pkg 16 oz shelled edamame
3 ears fresh corn
1 red bell pepper
4 green onions
1/4 c parsley

dressing
1/4 c olive oil
1/4 c cider vinegar
1 T oregano flakes
1 t garlic powder
1 t sea salt
1/4 t ground black pepper

Chop the fresh ingredients; remove corn from cob. Mix together. Add dressing. Stir. I halved the recipe knowing that I'd be the only one eating. I also forgot to put the parsley in.

Week #1

In some ways I did really well.  In other ways, well, let's just say there's a lot of room to grow.  First off I have to say that I like the rewards of points for good behavior.  I feel my inner child aching to put a gold star next to my name!  I plan on doing a lot of things differently this week.

-I really like protein.  It makes my my meals much more filling and I do much better if I have some good protein in the morning.  The days I skipped breakfast or grabbed something light were challenging for me.

-I will plan all my meals for the week.  Yes, even breakfast and lunch for me and Logan.  I've been winging it for the day time meals thinking I had them covered.  Not so!

-I will plan my activities for when Logan is napping.  I used to have lunch and watch the programs I wanted to watch on tv.  I found this my weakest time for all things bad for me.  I will now weed my garden or work on some artwork, read, household repairs, clean the bathrooms, weave that basket I've been meaning to get to...ANYTHING but sit, watch tv, and eat in the name of relaxation. 

-I will not compare my journey with others.  I am on my own path and that is just fine.  I have a lot of work to do and a lot of changes to make.  My deadliest obstacle lies in comparing myself to others.  This week I have my head down and focused on the week ahead of me. 

A friend of mine sent me this quote and I love it.  It has been on my mind since committing to this challenge...

"Wilma Mankiller, the first female principle chief of the Cherokee nation, once told me how the cow runs away from the storm, while the buffalo charges directly toward it- and gets through it quicker. Whenever I'm confronted with a tough challenge, I do not prolong the torment. I become the buffalo."  -Donna Brazile

Here we go, week #2!

 

Gawker

Foodgawker has been my new go to food blog because it's a magical portal into the wonderful world of yummy food. A round-up blog that pulls together the best of the many wonderful food blogs, it is an index, if you will.

Foodgawker is organized photographically. We can probably all agree that the photographs are the best part of a cook book. It also has a search engine so that you can look up recipes by ingredient or category (great for this week's veggie challenge). This is a huge help to me because I can see what the meal will look like on the plate right away and determine if it has a fighting chance to make it past my picky eaters's eyes and into their mouths.

I am a gawker geek. . . and proud of it. Go gawk your way to a some tasty new meals!

Trashed . . .

Look what's in my garbage can:

It's almost half of an enormous Costco apple pie that was given to us as a gift.  It has been sitting on my counter for four days taunting me.  I couldn't stand it another minute, so I picked it up and dumped it.  My hubby will be sad since he's been whittling away at it slice by slice - but me, I'm more of a remove the temptation altogether type of girl.  And I've learned that sweets in my house are my downfall.  Adios Apple Pie.  I will not miss you.

Swiss Chard, Spinach and Rice Gratin Oh my!

This caught my eye this morning as I was reading the news online. It's from the NYT and I think it has real possiblities in regards to Ms Thunder Bumpers challenge for this week. If you added a portion of meat or fish it would be a great dinner.

Swiss Chard, Spinach and Rice Gratin

By MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN

I like this dish as much cold as I do hot. It’s very portable — if you’re looking for lunchbox ideas, try it.

1 pound Swiss chard, washed and stemmed

1/2 pound spinach, washed and stemmed

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 large garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

3 large eggs

1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated gruyère cheese

1 cup cooked basmati brown rice

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil while you clean the chard and spinach. Fill a bowl with ice water. Strip the leaves from the chard stalks but hold onto the stalks. Wash the leaves in several rinses of water. When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the chard leaves. Blanch for about two minutes, just until tender. Using a skimmer or slotted spoon, transfer immediately to the ice water. Blanch the spinach for 30 seconds, and transfer to the ice water. Let sit for a few minutes, then drain, squeeze out the water and chop medium-fine.

2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Brush a 2-quart baking or gratin dish with olive oil.

3. Trim both ends off the chard stalks, then dice them. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large, heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Add the diced chard stalks, thyme, rosemary and a generous pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, for about five minutes until the vegetables are tender. Add the garlic and stir for a minute or so until fragrant. Add the chard and spinach. Stir together for 30 seconds to a minute, just to blend the mixture. Season with salt and pepper, and remove from the heat.

4. Beat the eggs in a bowl. Stir in the chard mixture, cheese and rice. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to the baking dish, and drizzle on the remaining oil.

5. Bake 40 minutes until firm and brown on the top. Remove from the heat, and cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. You can serve this warm, at room temperature or cold.

Advance preparation: The blanched greens will keep for three or four days in the refrigerator in a covered bowl. The recipe can be prepared through step 3 up to two days ahead. The finished recipe will keep for three or four days in the refrigerator.

Nutritional information per serving (based on four servings): 260 calories; 16 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 174 milligrams cholesterol; 19 gramscarbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 389 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during cooking); 14 grams protein

Nutritional information per serving (based on six servings): 173 calories; 11 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 116 milligrams cholesterol; 13 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 259 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during cooking); 9 grams protein

Give me those numbers girls!

Add up your numbers Tuesday through Sunday and post them in the comment section here.

If you completed any of the Ms. Thunder Bumper challenge you can include those points or keep track of them to post next week.

If you have not done so make sure you decide on a 30 point challenge and get started!

You have until Wednesday at midnight...your local time to complete the bonus challenge.

Good luck and keep up the good work!

Bolder Boulder Recap, Part 2

***This post was so long, I lost interest writing it halfway. If you missed part 1, you can find it just a few entries back.***



Since I'm starting at the back of the pack, I kind of jog in place until the crowd thins out enough for me to really get moving. The conditions are perfect. There's a slight breeze, and it's just cool enough to be glad for a chance to run. I find my pace and breathing pattern, and FINALLY begin to relax. This feels good, I feel normal. I zoom by the idiot who is hobbling around in his Moon Shoes. I see a group of college kids up on a balcony with a beer in one hand and a sign in the other that says, "YOU RUN, WE'LL DRINK." I spot a group of porta-potties, but I don't need them anymore. I make a mental note, though, in case disaster strikes in the next mile or so and I have to utilize the Tampax that's nestled safely in my bosom. I pass the first of many local bands. This one's named Air Dubai and is playing weirdo middle-eastern hippie music. I'm not into that kind of thing, but I sorta dig it. At least for today.

I catch my reflection in a storefront and see that I'm smiling. Like, a full-on toothy grin. And that's when it hits me- I am about to have THE TIME OF MY LIFE!

There are maybe 25 bands, mostly in the first and last two miles. They play everything from Pearl Jam to The Cars to the typical singer-songwriter crap that can be heard on any college campus in America. I sing along to everything I know. Loud. I dance a little jitterbug when I get to a house that's blasting big band music. They whistle and clap for me. The race is 6.2 miles, but I swear I run at least 8 from all the zig-zagging I do to high five every single supporter who sticks out their hand. I am pelted by marshmallows, showered with bubbles, squirted with hoses and sorely tempted to do the slip and slide, but think better of it at the last minute. The banana just ahead of me, however, jumps straight into the kiddie pool. I am offered a cupcake, consider it, but refuse. Because it IS Boulder after all, and you never know WHAT might be in the baked goods.

I discover something slightly alarming. Apparently, two separate groups of belly dancers are necessary in order to fully support the people running the Bolder Boulder. Not one, but two. TWO. The first group takes me off guard, but when I see the second group, I'm totally into it. I pass an older lady with magenta hair wearing a particularly bedazzled bra top and harem pants. She's not doing much in the way of dancing. I can't help myself. I yell out, "Shake it ladies, shake it!" She screams back, "WOOHOO! PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND IN THE MIDWEST, BABY!" I almost reply, "I'm a republican!" just to be controversial.

I reach the banner that says 5K and think, "Oh No! Halfway! I don't want this to be over!" My cheeks start hurting from all the smiling.

At about mile 4 I see a lady with a sign that says, "NO ONE MADE YOU DO THIS." I think she is commenting on all the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans, but for me it means something different. I think about myself 8 weeks ago. I think about the comment I made on that post of Alicia's, how I said something like, "Gee, sure wish I could do the Bolder Boulder this year." I think about how incapable I felt at the time. Running... it's been an escape for me, because life is hard right now and I don't know how to solve my problems. I feel completely overwhelmed in my personal life, totally incapable. But then again, just maybe....

The tiniest tear escapes the corner of my eye. I shake it off, chalk it up to hormones, thank my lucky stars that Aunt Flo hasn't turned out to "support" me yet, and pick up my pace. I run my best times in the last two miles.

I've been warned about the hill leading into the finish at CU's Folsom Stadium, but it doesn't phase me. I've been running up tough hills for a while now, and I'm totally prepared. Plus, with my adrenaline pumping I feel like I could run up Everest right now. I round the corner, get impatient with the slow pokes in front of me, and turn into the stadium. It's maybe half full. People are leaning over the barrier to high five each person that passes like we're the team that's about to play in the super bowl. I search the stands for my husband and girls, realize the search is futile, and decide to really enjoy this last half lap. The music is blaring, the crowd is roaring, I could lift off at any moment. I literally leap across the finish line. Like a dancer's leap. I realize this is the dorkiest thing I've done since show choir in high school, but I don't care. I'm so happy, so fulfilled, I can't help myself. I want to do a cartwheel, but I'm not confident that I still can. So I settle for a leap. Or two.

I keep walking, because that's what everyone else is doing. I find someone with a watch and ask the time. I've told everyone I think I can do this race in under 70 minutes, but secretly I'm shooting for 66. The girl with the watch tells me it's been 66 minutes since my gun went off. Later I discover my official time is 64:51.99.

I'm thrilled, proud, vindicated, even though I finished in 20, 621 place.

I find my husband, Matt. He is absolutely crestfallen when he realizes he somehow missed me crossing the finish line. He blames my shirt. Tye-Dye doesn't stick out in this crowd. I pose for a picture.



A full two hours later I get home and take a shower. I pull off my sports bra and out pops the tampon. I realize I've completely forgotten about it. I laugh at myself for taking this so seriously.

The race is over and I've done it. I wish I could do it again tomorrow. I'm sad I have to wait a whole year, but I'm comforted by the thought that next year I won't be doing it alone. You see, I've been planning a Healthy Wives weekend getaway, and let me tell you, it's gonna be gooooood!

So how 'bout it ladies? Memorial day 2011?

Mixing things up

Back at Healthy Wife this go-round, and having taken the past challenge "off", I thought I'd change up my routine this time. Part of that involved embracing Cat's Walking/Running challenge and I've averaged about 2.5 miles a day walking briskly. I live a couple of blocks away from a Great Lake and so, it's been a real treat to walk along the streets bordering the shore and see how the lake is doing. She's fine, by the way. I have also resurrected my bicycle and have been packing the little ones in the Burley and going for scenic rides of the neighborhood. We go dog spotting or lawnmower spotting. I, of course, manage to add another 2 or 3 miles to my day and double my workout. I just love seeing all the bikers,walkers, runners, joggers and strollers out there. I feel the sense of community when I see my neighbors out and about. What a great feeling!

I was sorely tempted to give up my 5:45 a.m. rec center weights class this session, but then I thought, hmmm, if I don't do this class how am I going to keep up in the plank arena (the class is the only place I regularly do plank position). And I have a wee bit of pride there (as it took me 6 months to work up to 4 one minute planks during the class).

I've also reached a point where I don't journal everyday...my points will reflect that, but I've kind of gotten into the rhythm of the how much, what and when to eat. Still, there are two times when journaling is a huge help: that time of the month that red headed runners of their first 10Ks can write about with such wit and panache and the other is when I'm entertaining. Lots of taste testing before, then there are also appetizers and dessert book-ending the main meal.

Bolder Boulder recap, part 1

Here follows the incredibly true story of how I ran 6.2 miles with a tampon between my boobs.

BACKSTORY:
About seven or eight weeks ago Alicia wrote a post called "Am I a Runner?" It was totally inspiring to me. I put my shoes on, ran out the door and never looked back. I became a runner, or at least a jogger, all from that post. A few weeks later I registered for America's Best 10K, the Bolder Boulder. And yes, apparently they do give out awards for that sort of thing.

Now this may not sound incredible to those of you who don't know me, but those of you who do were probably shocked, maybe even flabbergasted. (Ewww, that word is so ugly when written. I'm now adding flabbergasted to the list of words that I think are gross.) If you knew me, you'd know that I don't run. I'm not sporty. I never, ever have been. My workout regimens have consisted mainly of things you can do on the Wii and silly articles I tore out of even sillier fashion magazines about getting a better bikini body. I have never once been admired or complimented on any of my athletic abilities. Mainly because I have never before manifested any. I have participated in organized sports exactly once in my life. It was a spring intramural softball team at BYU and I was absolutely terrible. I don't think we won a single game.

Moving forward to last Sunday, the night before the race. I'm all nerves. I can't sleep. Naturally, I have eaten nothing but junk all weekend, as it's a break between challenges and I have no real self-control yet. I have sulfur burps which are the pre-cursor to vomiting for me. I am 12 hours late for my period and in a panic about starting during the race and having to knock on some poor Boulder-ite's door to ask for a tampon. I am intensely disappointed that my new fancy running shoes give me a blister and I won't be able to wear them. I keep telling myself, "RELAX!!!! This isn't the Miss America pageant, it's a race that 50,000 other people are participating in! No one will even notice you!" But of course, that doesn't work. I keep worrying, what if I've been measuring my distance wrong this whole time? What if somehow, I've completely misjudged the length of this race, or my abilities, or both? What if I can't do this?

Before I know it, it's morning and we're in Boulder and I'm looking for all the other people with an MR# on their chest so I can line up. I walk past a mass of people, maybe two city blocks long, all waiting for their group's turn to leave. It is the wildest collection of people I have ever seen outside of San Francisco. It's like some kind of Mardi Gras for runners. I see about 35 different people in tutus, men, women, and children. Some have wigs, some have crowns, some have capes. One man is wearing a Halloween costume of some kinda Star Wars creature, complete with rubber mask. Another is wearing moon shoes. I'm postively boring in my black shorts and tye-dye tee. I find my group and begin to stretch. I wonder why no one else is bothering to. They are all too busy chatting. Then I look around and realize I am the only one who is alone. My heart sinks a little bit and I think, "Healthy Wives, WHERE ARE YOU?" That's when I begin planning the matching shirts we're going to wear when you all join me next year.

We're getting closer to the starting line. My stomach churns. I wonder if those sulfur-burps weren't trying to warn me of something else. I think back, have I passed a bathroom at all today? I don't know. Do I even have time to find one? I don't, because everyone around me is whispering, "Is this us? Is it our turn?" It is. The starting gun goes off, and our race begins.

Ms. Thunder Bumper's Challenge #1 Measurments and Veggies

It's time for your first challenge. New Ladies or anyone who did not do this the first go round, complete THIS challenge and it's worth twenty points. That's how important measuring yourself now is. You're be so glad you did in a few months. Plus, 20 points, who would want to miss that.

The rest of you have a different challenge that has been requested. Some of you may have an easier time than others. The challenge is to find a vegetable that you don't usually use in your normal cooking (this means you may have used it before but it's not a staple or maybe you've never used it before) and find a way to incorporate it into a meal.

Have fun with this and be creative. It's so easy to get stuck in a rut when trying to be healthy. The key to making it a lifestyle change is changing things up and being flexible. If you can conquer this you'll be on your way towards achieving a life time goal.

This challenge is worth 10 points. You can receive an additional 5 points for posting the recipe with the new veggie you've discovered.

NOTE: People who have not completed the measurement challenge may receive points for both challenges if they participate in both. You have until Wednesday at midnight!

Drooling Over Food Vicariously

As I attempt each day to eat within my meager 1250 calorie range I find myself enjoying and drooling over food vicariously through food blogs, the Food Network and magazines. I print out, mark, cutout and save recipes that I hope I can eat sometime in the future. Do any of you do this or is it just me?

This past week as I was perusing one of my favorite blogs this recipe caught my eye. I thought to myself, with a bit of tweaking I could eat these quesadillas right now and so tonight I am going to do just that.

Roasted Vegetable Quesadillas | WholeFoodsMarket

Ingredients
1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 cups sliced red, green or yellow bell peppers
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (I will reduce this to 1 tablespoon)
Salt and pepper to taste
3/4 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
6 flour tortillas (I will use reduced calorie tortillas. I'm also considering making it more like a tostada and using just one tortilla)
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
3 tablespoons butter (I'll skip this completely and either use a spray of Pam in the pan or lightly brush the tortilla with a bit of olive oil)
Chopped lettuce
1/2 to 1 cup salsa
1/3 cup sour cream (I'll use low calorie sour cream)
1/2 cup guacamole ( I'll use a small slice of avocado)

Try layering shredded roasted chicken, pulled pork, or sliced skirt steak with the onions and peppers in these quick and easy stovetop quesadillas. (No meat for now as I think the beans will provide enough protein) For vegetarians, sautéed mushrooms are a great addition, too.

Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss onions and peppers with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast in oven, tossing occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes, or until golden brown. Sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons cheese on each of 3 tortillas. Top with roasted onions and peppers, beans and remaining cheese. Arrange remaining tortillas on top. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium high heat and, working in batches, brown both sides of each quesadilla until cheese is melted. Cut into quarters and transfer quesadillas to plates. Serve with lettuce, salsa, sour cream and guacamole on the side.
Serves 3 to 4.

I just finished my dinner and I thought this quesadilla was yummy although a bit messy to eat with just my hands. I used Fiesta Fajita Seasoning on the veggies during roasting with a sprinkle on the beans and La Tortilla Factory high fiber Smart & Delicious tortillas (50 calories each). I figure the calorie count with 1 tablespoon of sour cream and some salsa was around 380 to 400. I'm very full and will definitely be making these often.

Quick Asian-inspired veggie

Another quick and easy "out there" veggie to try: baby bok choy. I just had a plateful for lunch. Total time from start to finish: 7 minutes. I cut the ginger coarsely, instead of mincing.

Two baby bok choys (cut off green tops, wash)
1 t sesame oil
1/2 t sesame seeds
1 t fresh ginger minced
tamari to taste

Saute for about 4 minutes, until bok choy is softened.

Up next week: swiss chard? a new root vegetable?

Fresh, Easy and High Addictive . . .

I just read that title and decided it sounds a bit like a description of a promiscuous woman! Oh well.

I haven't posted in over three weeks.  I've been busy with huge parties, painting projects, beach trips and bad eating habits.  But I'm back and I'm trying to be good.

Here's a recipe I took to the beach house for all the Healthy Wife ladies to enjoy.  The Queen asked for the recipe this morning, so I thought I'd share it with you all:

Fresh Corn & Bean Salad

1 pkg. Good Seasoning Italian dressing (Mix according to directions, do not use Zesty)
1 can black beans
1 can black-eyed peas
1 can shoe peg corn

Drain and rinse the three cans of ingredients.  Place in large bowl.

Dice the following and add to the above:

2 bunches of green onions
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
3 tomatoes
cilantro (optional)

Let marinate and chill for one hour.  Serve with Baked Tostitos or as an accompaniment to any kind of taco, wrap or burrito.

Samantha's Note:
I think you could use 2/3 of the dressing and it would be just fine. Don't freak out that you're using dressing - this makes A LOT of salad, so your spreading the dressing out over probably 16 or so servings.  It might also be delicious to seed and dice a cucumber for some extra crunch if you want more veggies. 

Let me know if any of you try this.

{Picture is not of actual dish . . . just found in the web.}

Day, Interrupted

I know more than a few of you will be able to relate with this post (Queen Vee, I'm looking in your direction!) Today, all my best laid plans got lost in this book. I didn't work out. Because I didn't work out, I went over my range. I didn't even get to my kids to bed at a decent hour. Life stopped until I finished this book.

And it was soooooo gooooood, I don't regret it at all!

Novice Mistake

This morning was picture perfect.  As a "challenge" novice, my fridge is not yet fortified with all things healthy but I did have some frozen fruit so I made myself and my son a healthy shake.  I ran out the door to meet my sisters and their kids for a fun morning at Wheeler Farm then back to my sisters for some egg-dying out in the sun.  We got the kids Happy Meals which are super easy for me to ignore but not being prepared to deal with my own hunger aches I reached for leftover 7-layer dip and the Pie Pizza from my sister's fridge.  Ugh!  The only silver lining that I can conjure is that I only had half a piece of pizza.  Could have been worse, right?

So after Logan's nap I am dashing off to the store to load up on calorie conscious foods that I can grab on the go.  Any suggestions?

Darn cake

I just had to do an update on the crazy Vibram shoes. I finally have built up to running 4 miles...today! Yay! I averaged 10 minute miles, which is ok. My calves screamed at me the whole time, but boy was it fun. Next week I'll try to push for 5 miles. I ran through water and on gravel, and both made my run that much more fun.

Also, I figured something out about myself this weekend. Here's what I learned...I still have little self control when it comes to food. During the week I do so well. I reserve my dessert for the weekend, and usually that works out perfectly. This weekend was bad though. I ended up making a gluten free cake for a girl in my Sunday School class and ended up eating half of it. One piece would have been perfect. Maybe even two, but not 7.

Today I made cookies for the kids.

And I wasn't even tempted.

Only because I can't have wheat and I made them with regular flour. But I couldn't resist the gluten free cake I made, which makes me sad that I still don't have the will power to eat just one. Maybe I just need more practice.