Running to Slow Things Down

Moving!

2009-05-21T05:42:00.001-07:00

I'm trying out wordpress to see how I like it...so come visit me there, where I'll be relearning a new way to blog. :-)

http://slowthingsdown.wordpress.com/

Introducing Steve...more commonly known as Stevia.

2009-05-20T17:08:00.000-07:00

Whew...what a day. It was so wonderful to wake up according to my internal body clock--which still had me up by 6:30, by the way--rather then my alarm. Lovin' it! But it still hasn't hit me that I'm actually done this insanely busy semester. I still have some homework left on the compute, but once that's accomplished, it's official. And maybe then it will finally sink in that I don't need to sit down and do homework and can actually read what I really want to! :)

Breakfast was really delicious too. Maybe because I could take my time and be creative? :) This mix was made with 1/2 c. oats, 1 c. milk, 1/2 an apple (I ate the other half while prepping!), a handful of raisins, 8 dashes of cinnamon, 3 dashes of clove, and 2 dashes of nutmeg. Then I topped it all off with 2 T. walnuts, 2 T. of the best granola ever, a few more raisins, and a good sprinkling of coconut. I absolutely loved this bowl...it satisfied the aesthetic appeal, chew appeal, and taste appeal.

I also ate this with my breakfast. I don't know, my appetite is definitely higher in the morning lately. I'm thinking maybe I should just increase my bowl of oats to 3/4 cup instead of the regular 1/2. Maybe then I wouldn't have to have two breakfasts in one sitting. ;)

My goal today was to finish up on my chemistry homework that's due in two days via internet. But I just couldn't bring myself to do it! I ended up instead spending an hour on the computer this morning in my pj's, enjoying no homework. Then I ended up shrugging off the whole thing and went shopping with mom and memere instead. Don't worry, I have a major to-do list all prepared for tomorrow! :) Check it out at the bottom of this post...

Anyways, the shopping and no homework day was much needed. So was this iced coffee with 1/2 c. milk and 1 tsp sugar. :) I ate the pear after shopping around for a while.

Lunch was up in the air at around 12:30. Usually I'm eating lunch by 11:30, so my stomach was getting rather cranky. I was glad we ended up stopping at subways instead of the hotdog stand. Not that it's not okay to indulge in the occasional hotdog (I stop at top dog at least once a year!) but when I'm starving, give me some food that will satisfy and make me feel good!

Subways was the next best option. At least it's filling, and I had it along with a handful of baked lays chips and a tall glass of ice cold milk at memere's house. I got the turkey sub with the works (minus the hots) and mustard. And mom and I split a heavenly piece of lemon lush at memere's. I took a couple of bites but wasn't really in the mood for anything sweet so left it at that. When it's really hot out like today, I either want fruit or a chilled dessert--ice cream comes to mind. :)

Me and mom decided to go for a walk upon returning home. Not before having a snack of THIS though!! I've been seeing fage 2% on other foodie blogs, and decided I needed to give it a try. I love fage 0%...to think it could be improved was beyond imagining...ha.

The verdict? OH MY GOODNESS! It was light, fluffy, whippy, and CREAMY beyond belief. Seriously, this tasted very similar to cream cheese, it was just that creamy. Next time I'll split the container into two servings, because 1/2 of it would be rich enough to satisfy me.

I look annoyed here, but really I'm actually pretty excited. This is a stevia plant, which I'm sure a lot of you have heard of. Supposedly it's extracts are 300 times sweeter then sugar. I tried chewing on a leaf and was really surprised by how it really is that sweet! I felt like I was chewing on sugar in the form of a plant. Weird...and fascinating. That's why I bought it. :)

However, I'm notoriously a plant killer. Will Steve--as I've named him--survive? Dun, dun, dunnn...stay tuned! :-o!

I was busy painting a bucket for steve outside, and found myself really hungry by the time supper rolled around. I had about 1.5 c. ww pasta, a side of stir fried zucchini and squash and lots of homemade spaghetti sauce to drown everything in. I love tomato sauces. I could eat them just like that. But even better with veggies and pasta...:)

Mom and I had gone for a walk earlier in the day but decided to go for another short one after dinner. It was an absolutely perfect night. The sky was pink, there was a soft breeze...ah...delicious. It was the perfect first day of my vacation, and a breath of fresh air.

I was hungry around 9:00'ish. I had just gotten back from driving some stuff over for Matthew, and decided that a bowl of cereal would hit the spot. I finished off the honey nut cheerios and was excited to mix it up with some of the new raisin bran cereal I had bought from whole foods. To be honest, it was pretty disappointing. I liked it all mixed in with the sweet honey nut cheerios, but on its own it was kind of...gasp...cardboardy tasting. The nutrition panel was great, but that doesn't really work out so well unless it please the tastebuds too!! ;)

Without further ado, here's my to-do list for tomorrow. Maybe having it in writing will mean I'll actually get stuff done and be productive!! :)

Clean bedroom (and I mean major cleaning!)
Figure out what to do with last semester's school books!
Renew ADA membership
Complete chemistry assignments
Run 3 miles
Yoga or pilates...or any general strength training/stretching routine depending on what I'm in the mood for. :)
Grocery shop

It's not a huge to do list---totally doable with no excuse not to check everything off. :)

Happy HUMP DAY!

Exercise: 4-mile walk in the afternoon and a 2-mile walk after dinner. Both were relaxing and enjoyable. My legs felt a little tired from yesterday's 4-mile run with dad. My legs are so not used to the longer runs any more! But I felt really happy to be running, which is really what it's all about. Find the exercise you love and stick with it! :)

Finished Finals!

2009-05-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

FINALS ARE DONE!!! WOOOHOOOO!!! :-)

I thought I'd announce it with a really corny photo...;)

I celebrated by going out for sushi with a friend (to die for delicious...especially the sweet potato roll!) and now I'm home, snacking on an orange before I plan on heading out for a run. I haven't decided if it will be short or long...but who cares? Either way, I don't have to rush back to do homework for once. I'm no longer a hermit, and it feels great. :-)

Highlights of the Day

2009-05-18T18:01:00.000-07:00

I sat down...a lot today. This whole weekend has been a marathon of studying, which I swear is more difficult for me then if I were to actually train for the real thing. I'm mostly looking forward to not having to sit down for prolonged periods of time once this semester is done. :)

My Food Microbiology final was excruciatingly difficult. I somehow managed to spend my entire weekend studying the wrong stuff, or at least everything that she decided not to put on the exam. That put me in a sour mood, so I headed to barnes and noble for some therapy in the form of a grande soy latte and a couple new books to read once school lets out. :)

I'm a huge Jodi Picoult fan, and can't wait to read this one. And the Omnivore's Dilemna has been on my to read list ever since I read In Defense of Food. Loved it! I can't wait to read this one as well. :)

My two foodie highlights of the day were another caffeine drink. My first goal after staying up late studying isn't a priority is to wean myself off the stuff. I like to enjoy it on the weekends or special occasions...not as a "I need this daily" thing which I've been doing lately. Twas really, really good though. :)

And my other foodie fave of the day was this grilled turkey and avocado sandwich with mustard, lettuce and tomato. I'm in love with whole foods whole wheat sourdough bread. It's the best when lightly toasted and crispy. Mmm...

I'm ending here to go chill a bit. I know I should study more for tomorrow's chemistry final but I just don't have it in me at this point. I'm completely drained, and all I can think about is reading in my pjs. Or running. But since it's dark out by this point, it's just not an option. Pretty soon I can go for a long morning run again. I've realized that not being able to run makes me crave it even more. I go through periods where I consider giving it up. Those moments are short lived of course, because after a couple of days of not running, I go practically insane. My running sneakers are a part of me now, and I can't imagine life without them. Running truly does become part of your identity.

Exercise: 6-mile walk, spread out into two walks. My only break from sitting, and it was much, much, much needed.

Weekend With the Couch

2009-05-17T17:05:00.000-07:00

What I'm most looking forward to once I finally finish up finals is having my weekends free. I spent most of my weekend here:

The only list of reasons I had for not studying was to exercise and to pick up eggs from the farm. How's that for a highly eventive weekend? Ha...only two more days of this and then I'm done though. I think I can handle it. ;)

There were some good eats along the way too. On Saturday, I first did a 2-miler in these...it was perfect outside. I had on my running skort and tank top and felt like I could run forever. But I had to stick to my own rules of not doing too much, and I knew my mom and I had planned a 4-mile walk for later so I should stick to the 2-mile run. So I did...and enjoyed it immensely. :)

The good food came in at lunch where I gobbled up more then another serving of this shrimp pasta salad with carrot sticks and cauliflower. It was the perfect summery lunch.

And today for lunch we made steak on the grill. I've been more and more concerned about where we get our meat choices from. I guess you could say it's one of those things I'm more then happy to spend a little more money on. I picked this beef sirloin steak up at whole foods. No antiobiotics...vegetarian fed...no hormones...local. I was happy with the purchase. And maybe it's all in my head, but does it maybe even taste better?

Thumbs up from the parents! :)

I also had three super-size me salads spread throughout the weekend. I couldn't get enough veggies, and this one was extra special with avocado, orange bell peppers, garbanzo's, honey kashis, orange segments, green bell peppers, etc. It had the works and hit the spot when I needed my veggie fix. :)

There was also some chocolove along the way. This was the last of the bar (insert sad face here,) which just warrants another trip to whole foods very soon (insert happy face here.)

I definitely can't say it was the most eventful weekend ever. I was glued to the couch for most of it! But I'm glad that I was at least able to run, walk and eat some good food too. Next weekend I have shopping plans and some good ol' relaxin' and recoopin' from homework for sure.

Tomorrow I have my Food Microbiology final at 8 in the morning. My breakfast is sitting in the fridge (can you guess what it is?) and before I know it I'll be driving home reminiscing on a really good class. After that I'll be back home, cramming for my Organic Chemistry II final on Tuesday. And then it will be over!!!

:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

Up and Adam?

2009-05-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

I just realized that whenever I say "up and at 'em!" it sounds like I'm saying "Up and Adam." I'd like to think its a new englandy thing to say, but I think it may just be another sarah'ism.

I'm wondering how late I'll sleep, when I actually don't have any plans, homework, or lectures to go to! My internal body clock is really always on time, even on the weekend. Sometimes thats a good thing, but not so much when I want to sleep in!

This morning I was happy to have it fully functioning though, because I wanted an early start to my day. For the next 4 days, I'll be glued to my chair studying. Well, not entirely glued. I think working out is always essential, even if it's just a brief walk or two throughout the day. Even a 5-10 minute stretching break is a much needed rest!

Back to breakfast. I haven't been feeling oatmeal lately, which is really strange for me. Maybe it has something to do with the nice, sunny weather? 70 degrees is perfect for lighter fare...I think I should plan a smoothie soon! :)

This morning I had 2 honey oat kashi waffles, my fave flavor. I love, love these for a nice change from oats or regular ol' toast! Although I seem to remember the brand LifeStream having a whole wheat flavor that used to be my ultimate favorite, but I can't find them anymore? *sad* These kashi ones are almost as good though, and I topped mine with a T. of peanut butter and the other with a slice of 2% american cheese. The orange on the side was delish!

Fast forward an hour. My breakfast had no staying power!!! Strange, huh? You'd think with the fat and protein I'd have been good to go. But my appetite this morning was a crazy one. So I added in some scrambled eggs to my morning mix, along with a handful of cherry tomatoes.

An iced coffee with 1/2 c. soy came not too long after because this week of studying for finals calls for desperate measure! ;)

My mom teases me that I have my one'sies, two'sies, and three'sies in the morning. It's true, I'm a very big morning eater. :) This morning especially. I had this about an hour before going for a very fast 2-mile run. I wanted a short run that wouldn't make me too tired to go for a walk later with mom and one that would be just enough to get me good and sweaty. Worked like a charm! :)

This was a tasty bowl of yogurt topped with 2 T. of the best granola ever and a small handful of raisins.

I can't believe how warm the sun is getting! When did summer roll around? The temperature still says its spring, but the sun is screaming that its summer. Love it! All I wanted was a nice big salad, so I did a repeat of last night's supper. How original! :) This time I toasted the bread, which was a special touch, and instead of topping it with butter, I just sort of tore pieces off and used it as a base for my chicken and salsa. Yum, yum, yum...

Pear in a blanket...not to be confused with piggie in a blanket. ;)

Immediately after lunch, mom and I went for a 3-mile walk that turned into a 5-mile walk around the block! It was too nice out to turn around. Next time we do the long walk, we're bringing some money to stop at the ice cream shop down the street. :)

Matthew bought this sunflower seed butter from TJ's, and I've been eyeing it for the past several days now. He's never touched my beloved almond butter, so I knew I should respect his sunflower butter too. But I was so week! Just one tablespoon maybe?

The ingredients were pretty simple...sugar was added in the form of evaporated cane juice which is what gives it that characteristic sweetness (yes, I did try a lick by this point!)

And finally I gave in and had a tablespoon of it on a banana. So sweet and delicious. It was almost desserty but salty at the same time. I think I might already be addicted? I do, admittedly, have a problem when it comes to nut butters.

And, another iced coffee. I never drink two caffeine drinks in a day, and I was going more for taste then any "pep me up" effects. I think I'm going to need to start buying decaf maybe? This one was made with my favorite mix of 1 c. coffee, 1/2 c. milk, and a tsp of sugar. Perfect every time. Especially when made with whole foods beans. :)

This bowl of whiteness was as boring as it looks. I kind of felt like munching on something because studying does that to a person! And I used to love munchin' on raw cauliflower, but for some reason I'm just not that into it anymore. I should have steamed it just slightly so it was still a lil' crunchy and added in some other veggies for color.

Holy Potato! For supper I had a nice big potato topped with about 1/2 c. black beans, salsa, cheese and 1/4 of a very overripe avocado! And then continued to grind some black pepper on top. Potatoes are one of those poor vegetables that gets such a bad rap! Don't judge a veggie by its color, even when they're pure white! This bad boy is still loaded with fiber (if you eat the peel!), vitamin B6, potassium, vitamin C, etc. And when you top it with the right stuff, you get a wholesome, quick and easy, nutritious meal that will keep you feeling full! :)

I broke into the freezer and had a frozen chocolate chip cookie with a pat of peanut butter for dessert. I love frozen cookies! :)

This was Matthew's dessert. Unfortanetly I didn't snap the picture until after he had already eaten most of it, but just picture this bowl heaping with almonds and walnuts, all doused over in molasses! Is that a guy thing? Or just a "molasses is good on everything" thing?

I'd like to say I didn't procastinate at all today, but that just didn't happen. I did study for about 3-1/2 hrs. on food microbiology though, and chemistry got about 1 hr. or so of my undivided attention. It being Friday night and all, the last thing I want to do is zone in on carboxylic acids and aromatic compounds! But a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do. And next weekend I'll have no plans but a shopping trip with Nicole.

Back to focusing! :) Happy weekend, I'll see you Monday! :)

Edited to Add My Bedtime Snack...kashi heart to heart with soy. Delish!

Exercise: 5-mile leisure walk and a very brisk 2-mile run. This is so not me, but for some reason, I've been enjoying these speed runs lately. I try not to do them more then once a week, but this was my second time this week. Usually I enjoy the longer, slower paced runs, where I kind of zone out. But I'm glad to see myself enjoying the speed a little. I've been feeling super strong and really energetic...lovin' it!

One final down, two to go!

2009-05-14T15:44:00.000-07:00

I had two options this morning. Either I could wake up at 5 and study for another hour before leaving for my meal management final or I could get up at 5:30, get an extra half hour of sleep, and not study. I chose the latter. :)

I decided to sleep a little more and have a good healthy breakfast. Sometimes those help out moreso then cramming in a little more study time!! Besides, my entire day yesterday consisted of studying and reviewing and I felt as if not much more would sink in at that point.

Breakfast was two slices of whole wheat bread from Trader Joes with 1/2 an avocado and some fresh pepper ground on top. And a glass of milk on the side. YUM...this breakfast held me over for a good 3-1/2 hrs, which is a lot to say for me. :)

I decided I could use a little bit of a caffeine boost for my 8'am final. This is made the regular way: 1 c. coffee, 1/2 c. milk, and 1 tsp. sugar. So good. :) I also brought along a handful of almonds to have for a snack before going to whole foods for some supplies.

Lunch was a hodge-podge. My typical Thursday lunch is meant to clean out the leftovers from the fridge, and I love it. Ha...one of my favorite ways to eat is to sample a bit of everything. I finished up the salmon from yesterday, had about 1/4 c. each of cottage cheese and ricotta cheese, the rest of the kashis (which equaled a serving,) a carrot and the last of the cherry tomatoes, the last of yesterday's quinoa, the rest of the beans (about 1/4 c.,) and a really juicy, delicious peach that I picked up at whole foods for dessert. This lunch kept me full and happy to go grocery shopping with mom. :)

...I also brought along a cup of hot soymilk to-go. Perfect for the rainy weather.

I was so excited to try out the new hand-held scanners that stop&shop have now! I wanted to scan everything in sight just for fun. ha...but I restrained myself. ;) And mom was happy because it kept me entertained...ha...I felt like a little kid again. I'm just wondering how they know people are being honest with these things? Either people are incredibly honest or the stores are being very, very trusting. I don't know. Either way, I liked the idea of seeing what my bill was coming up to, and I think it prevents a lot of mindless shopping.

I had a snack when I came home, even though I really wasn't all too hungry. A banana with a T. of almond butter was just perfect.

I was thinking of not going exercising today since shopping and walking around campus had kept me busy. BUT, the clouds cleared up long enough to get me out the door for a brief 3-4 mile walk with mom. It felt good to move and chat and laugh. It's funny how even a quick burst of energy can really wake a person up. :)

I had a nice big salad for supper with some yummy yellow bell peppers on top, along with the regular additions. I also added about 1/2-chicken breast and 1/2-c. black beans, with some fresh Trader Joe's salsa and a tsp of olive oil. Yum...

And on the side I had a slice of whole wheat sourdough bread from whole foods. Gooey and doughy and delicious. I think it might work it's way into tomorrow's breakfast. :)

I split this grapefruit for dessert with dad...

...and this is not you dreaming. This picture was stolen from yesterday's dessert, because I ate my peice too fast before snapping a photo! :)

I decided that tonight I'll just be refreshing and not studying. My brain needs a rest in order to make a full day of hard-core studying tomorrow, so I'll take advantage of a night off. Maybe journaling? And lounging in my pj's for sure. :)

Exercise: Just a 3-4 mile walk

~Edited to Add:

My night snack of yogurt topped with 2 T. of the best granola ever and a handful of raisins. Mmm..

~~**Cutting Calorie Counting**~~

I've noticed a lot of people have a hard time with this. There are a ton of personal opinions and stories based on the pros and cons of it all. Personally, I think it has its time and place but isn't meant for long term usage.

When I needed to lose my freshman-15, it came in handy to figure out what a day typically would look like and kept me accountable for keeping my portion sizes reasonable.

It also came in handy when I needed to gain weight. There were times when I just wasn't hungry but knew that I needed to force myself. It helped me find the foods that would pack in the calories without filling me up too much.

But with maintenance? Where do people draw the line? I think once you figure out proper portion sizes, and start to get a hang of intuitive eating (learning what it feels like when you're hungry or full) you'll be better off without it. It can be compulsively obsessive, or make you eat more when you don't really need it (aren't hungry) or eat less when you could use it (some days you just need more food then others!)

Try giving up calorie counting for a while and see how you feel. If it's too scary to go cold turkey, write down everything you ate throughout the day and tally it up at the end. Are you hungry? Did you eat when you were full and hungry and did it pan out pretty well? Did you choose healthy options most of the time? How does your calorie count look in comparison to where you were aiming for?

Do this for a while until you can go a couple days before tallying it up. Try a week next. And if you're feeling really good about this new idea, try giving up the tallying journal for a couple days at a time. You'll be surprised over how liberating this new way of eating can be. :)

2009-05-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

I had today all planned out. Since it's my first day of no classes (can I get a yeehaw!) I wanted to be extra productive with my time and get some hard-core studying in. I can't believe I already have a meal management final tomorrow. When did that sneak up on me?

To start the day off right I had my first peach of the season on the side of 1.5 c. kashi heart to heart with 1 c. milk and 2 T. walnuts. I'm loving cereal for breakfast lately...

So then I studied for a bit...but there's only so much you can read about sulfite compounds and anthocyanins and cream of tartar before you sort of drift away. Yes, yes...I know I'll look back someday and see why it was all so very important. And for the most part I even find it interesting. But I also tend to drift when I'm reading the material, and it can be hard to stay mentally focused.

Snack was a T. pb on toast, which came about 2 hrs. after my breakfast. I love cereal, but it just never keeps me full for very long. Actually...what does keep me full for very long? ha...

How cute are these adorable little pink flowers? They spring out everywhere and remind me of myself on a really frazzled, bad hair day. :) It was really nice having the study break to enjoy some butternut squash soup with cinnamon and parsley with a rosemary scone on the side. I spent some time soaking up the sunshine out on the deck. Blissful. I absolutely can not wait for summer to officially be here.

In honor of my duty and resolution to not be wasteful whenever possible, I gobbled down the rest of yesterday's stir fry.

...and finished the very last of the fruit in the fruit drawer (helllllo grocery shopping trip) with about 1/4 c. of ricotta cheese sprinkled with cinnamon. I forgot how much I love the stuff. And it's much less salty then cottage cheese, which makes a nice change.

I'm finding that the older I get, the more I enjoy flowers. I remember in high school, the only plants I enjoyed growing were the ones that fed me back. ;) But flowers have a way of cheering up a space. I love 'em.

...and despite my reputation of being a plant killer, I can still appreciate them. And leave the watering and other plant-care duties to other family members. ;)

Finals have been doing this to me lately. As in caffeine. With milk and just a tsp of sugar for sweetness. Ahh...I love the stuff too much lately.

I ended up going to a nursing home to apply for a dietary aide position. My mom had told me about it this morning, and I decided that instead of battling the idea around in my head like I normally do, I'd just drive there and apply in person. Whatever happens, happens. *crossing fingers* I asked myself if I really wanted the job or if I was mentally just telling myself it "would look good on a resume." And I came to the conclusion that it would be a great experience and would give me some insight into a different side of food preparation. We shall see what happens...:)

My snack was a packet of instant oats (not gonna waste them!) with a T. of chocolate carnation breakfast, 2 peices of chopped dried mango and a T. of peanut butter. Deliciouso...

I started to panic a little later as I realized all the information I still didn't know for tomorrow's final. But then I reached the conclusion that it wasn't worth freaking out over. All I can do is study and leave it at that. Otherwise I become overly anxious to the point where nothing sinks in. And when worse comes to worse, I ask myself, "In another ten years, will it really matter?"

Supper was wonderful and spent out on the deck again--I'm loving this georgeous 72 degree, sunny weather. :) We had orange marmalade salmon with quionoa and broccoli on the side. Also made a stir fry of summer squash, portabello mushrooms, onion, and zucchini by throwing in some oregano, salt, pepper, basil, and balsamic viniagrette on top. Really good!

...peice of 77% dark chocolate for dessert. I'm getting braver every time I buy a bar, trying to go a little darker then before. My next attempt will be 82%, but I think that may be where I draw the line. This one has a really nice, intense flavor.

And after another 2-mile walk, I came home to study more. But now my brain is officially fried, so I apologize if this entire post is incoherent, because my eyes are about to shut. Tomorrow is a busy morning and the final will be at 8. I have my iced coffee already made, and I hope to get in some studying as well before I go. There's just that much information that I know I haven't covered yet. Ugh...

Is it summer yet? :)

Exercise of the Day: 6 miles of walking, spaced out throughout the day...it was nice getting up off the couch from studying for just enough time to get much needed fresh air!! :)

MIA!!!

2009-05-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

It's been a while...blame it on finals and presentations and life in general! I've been a crazy woman these last few weeks. But I have so much to talk about, I just don't know where to begin.

I've gained some weight (133'ish), which I'm really happy with. It's been hard to keep it on, but lately it hasn't seemed so bad at all. I think decreasing my exercise is what's really helping. I won't exercise more then once a day unless it's walking, and if that happens to happen by some chance, I'll eat a ton more (thereby more then make up for it! haha.)
After feeling like a human garbage disposal, I actually have discovered two foods I dislike. Clams and chicken loaf. What is chicken loaf made out of anyways? Ick...
Finals are going to be over by next Tuesday...one week! I'm so ready for summer to start, but not ready to actually have to find a job or volunteer position. It's not the working part I abhor, it's the actually seeking it out that I dislike. But it's good experience to even just be looking, and I need to remind myself of that.
I've been considering starting up an actual food blog again, but I'm not sure...the decisions are still in the making. ;)
Running has been a little inconsistent lately, but I've been averaging 8 miles a week, while eating 2400-2600 calories a day (sometimes more, but that's not the general overall average.) Now that my weight is up, I plan on keeping my running the same (8-10) and not counting calories at all. Which is weird for me since I used it to help me lose my freshman weight and to gain my junior weight. haha...but I don't believe counting calories is good for lifelong usage, so I'm excited to be stopping that. :)
And now, off to finish my take home final and then study for my nutrition final, which covers everything from the temperature an egg souffle should be cooked at to food safety to how to make cheese! There's a ton of information, and I want to remember it all, so I'm trying to keep my brain wired with an iced coffee. Ha...and later I have a walk planned with my favorite walking partner (aka, mom).

Monday is almost over! :)

The Experiment Continues...

2009-05-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

...Sort of....

Ironic that on two days into my experiment, I went out running? I had only run one other time all week, but once I told myself to take a week long hiatus, I wanted nothing more then to run. So I did. And it was wonderful. :)

Tuesday: 3 miles
Friday: 3 miles
Saturday: a lil' over 3

...+ walking on my off days.

This beautiful weather has been inspiring me to move. What perfect timing. :)

Experimenting

2009-04-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

I'm doing a week long experiment starting now.

I've noticed lately that I haven't been too interested in running. At all. What's up with that? It's just so unlike me, and I can't figure out if it's because I'm just too overworked with school, or I need a mental break, or my body is trying to tell me something. I just don't know. So my experiment is that for a week, I'll only run when I want to run. If I feel like walking, I'll walk. If I feel like biking, I'll bike.

I need to figure this out...

Breakfast on the Deck

2009-04-25T04:29:00.000-07:00

2 c. kashi heart to heart
1 c. plain, ff yogurt
1/2 a banana
handful of blackberries
2 T. almonds

...add this up and you equal one of my breakfast faves:

Eating breakfast outside in the warm (?) weather on the deck totally made my day. All week we've been stuck in the 40's, and all of a suddenly this weekend it's supposed to reach the upper 80's. You can bet I'll be out there running and taking in the sun for sure. :-)

Meanwhile, in other plans, I have the entire weekend to spend with my sis at her apartment. We plan on renting girly movies and just relaxing. I can't wait. :)

I also need to recover from a bad case of procastination syndrome. I don't know what's up with me lately, I just can't seem to focus on homework. Not good since there are only 2 weeks left of classes before finals, with lots of presentations coming along this week and next. Ahh...gotta get movin'!

Enjoy the weekend!! :-)

2009-04-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick post, but I had to leave one to avoid keeping it on the Debby Downer post that I wrote yesterday.

This morning I went for the most wonderful 3-mile run. My legs feel tired and a little sore now, considering it's been a while since I took to the streets. But it's a good feeling, and I'm happy to say my own motivational reminders kept me going through the hills. :)

Stay tuned for a Day In The Life post soon!!! ;)

Gettin' with the Groove...

2009-04-22T17:44:00.000-07:00

I can't figure out what's up with my running lately. I just haven't been in the mood at all! I've been walking plenty, but haven't felt like pumping through the hills like I normally do. My poor running sneaks have been tucked away in the closet for 4 days now!

I had to remind myself of why I fell in love with running in the first place. So I came up with this list:

Because I'm healthy and able to run and should never--ever--take that for granted.
Because it makes me feel confident and strong.
Because I like to be able to run up a flight of stairs without being out of breath.
Because it's nice to know I can always head out for a long, 1-hr. run if I need to get away for a while.
Because it helps me think but not think at the same time.
Because I love food. ;-)

So what are your reasons for exercising? And what do you do when motivation runs low?

~~ ~~ ~~

I'm in the gaining weight phase again. If I don't stay on top of things, my weight tends to drop slowly but surely. So I'm planning on remaining strong with strength training, a lil' cardio, and bringing up the pounds. And when I say a 'lil' cardio, I'm referring to anywhere from 10-12 miles run a week. Of course, referring to this week, that would be 0 miles! ha...

Not to worry though. My motivational reminders are going to get me out the door bright and early tomorrow morning, rain or shine! Food science lab was cancelled which gives me time to fit in a nice and early morning workout. Can't wait! :)

Soul Food

2009-04-10T16:29:00.000-07:00

This is what I craved on my road home from school today:

can of tuna with 1 tsp mayo
slice american cheese
2 thick tomato slices
lettuce
2 slices stoneground whole wheat bread from whole foods (tastes like sourdough! :)
veggies on the side

Grilled to perfection. All melty and gooey and heavenly. Soul food of the day. :)

Summed Up Sundays

2009-04-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

Goergeous weather outside today! I wanted nothing more then to keep on running after 2 miles but that's what I decided on covering before I left the house, so that's where I stopped (bummer!) But I had planned on logging just 16 miles this week and didn't want to go over too much. My plan is simple: increase mileage without increasing injuries!!!

So my Sunday Sum Up this week has been 16 miles of which I'm pretty happy with. Next week is supposed to be rainy, so I have a feeling my mileage might shrink back a bit. I like a nice gentle rain to run in, but I'm a wimp when it comes to cold downpours! The gym and my sister will probably see a bit more of me today too. ha...

Okay, off to study some before the school week starts again!

My Weekly Running Thoughts

2009-04-04T07:43:00.001-07:00

This week covered all the bases of running.

On Monday I ran 4 miles of complete bliss. I was happy, light, energetic...the sun was warm, there was a cool breeze, and I was running in my shorts!!! for the first time this year. The neighberhood was alive which made it easy to 'keep on pushing' through some mental blocks. I love it when there are a ton of cookouts going on. I usually try and guess what people are eating for supper. :)

So that was my good run.

Then on Tuesday I ran at the gym which was incredibly hard, both physically and mentallly. I kept on trucking, but just couldn't get into the rhythm of things. Blah.

That was my bad run.

Wednesday I just relaxed and ate kashi pizza and orange soda with my sister...these days are needed. :)

Thursday was my ugly run...see? I covered the good, the bad and the ugly all in one week. It's kind of how it normally works for me, which is a nice cycle because by the time I get back to a new week I'm covering the good runs again. ha...

It was ugly because I underfueled throughout the day. No, I didn't starve myself. But my carb intake was low and my protein/fat intake was a bit higher. I also had a scattered schedule of classes and didn't get a chance to eat lunch until in the afternoon. By the time I came home for supper I was starving and decided to eat before running. Next time I'll stick to a light snack to give me some pep without weighing me down, and eat dinner afterwards.

Can we say heartburn??? It gets me every time I eat a big meal (especially in this case, with it being shrimp marinara!) Add a salad (fiber!) plus a whipped three musketeers bar, and I was a wobbling, bloated blimp! Sad, but true...

Today's run?? It was 3-miles of contemplation and thought. Sort of the period to the end of the sentence of running for the week. :) I covered 14 miles this week which I'm happy with...I might add on 2 miles tomorrow and bring up that mileage for a week or two before increasing my long run a bit more. Kind of excited about that....:)

On that note, off to panera to indulge in good food and friends...:)

Weekend Eats Part 2

2009-03-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

I finally had a productive school day of homework. I'm glad it was rainy and cloudy out. I did fit in a brisk walk, but I wasn't itching to be outside like I normally have been lately. So, sitting down with the chemistry books wasn't so unbearable...;)

Breakfast started with a delicious bowl of hot oats. I haven't been craving them lately, but this morning that's all I wanted. This bowl was made with 1/2 c. oats, 1/2 c. water, 1/2 c. milk, 1 banana, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. On top I added a T. of crunchy peanut butter (the best part!), and 2 T. cranberry pecan granola. It was a very good bowl of oats...:)

Mid-morning munchies...already 3/4 eaten. Ha...

Lunch was a bowl of vegetable soup and a grilled tomato and cheese sandwich...perfect rainy day meal.

A repeat of yesterday's snack with some raisins added too. I love this filling, crunchy, sweet combo. Hits the spot every time!

This was my quick studying snack...a mix of carrots, peppers and cukes.

I also made a big batch of steel cut oats for the upcoming week. There should be enough for 4 breakfasts here. I made it plain so that I can easily add whatever toppings I'm in the mood for. :)

Hunger hit about an hour before supper...I needed a lil' something to calm the stomach, so I had a chocolate cranberry kashi bar. And they certainly didn't go easy on the chocolate chips...yum!

Everything but the Kitchen Sink Salads!! LOVE these types. They look a lil' odd, but really fill me up and keep my tastebuds guessing. I made a basic bed of greens with tomatoes and cukes, and added 1/2 c. black beans, 1/4 an avacado, some grilled onions, 2 T. hummus, and 3 dill pickles. On the side I had some kashis. :)

Tonight I had a super juicy orange while doing some nutrition homework.

And now I've finally decided I've reached the point of feeling too fried to function. :) So I'm watching some John Adams and blogging. Hopefully this week will be as productive as today was!!

SUNDAY SUM-UP:

Monday: 3-mile/30 min crosstraining at the gym with Nicole

Tuesday: 2-mile speed walk with dad

Wednesday: 4-mile run

Thursday: 3-mile/30 min crosstraining at the gym with Nicole

Friday: 4-mile FUN run!

Saturday: 3-mile walk

Sunday: 3-mile walk

Total: 6-mile cross training at the gym, 8-miles walked + walking around campus, 8-miles ran...I can't wait to decrease my gym time and increase my running mileage again. So ready for summer! :-)

Weekend Eats

2009-03-28T17:46:00.000-07:00

I decided to record a "day in the life" of my daily eats today. It was a busy day, between trying to accomplish some chemistry homework (umm...not so productive there!) going to a baby shower, and celebrating my dad's birthday party. But I like having a nice busy Saturday now and again. And since I plan on spending my entire day tomorrow with the books, I was glad to give my brain a mental break.

Yesterday I had picked up some panera bagels for breakfast this morning. I had a trail mix bagel with some cream cheese and a big side of fruit. Yum! The bagel was perfectly delicious...doughy on the inside, chewy/crusty on the outside. Add some salted sunflower seeds and bits of fruit peices and it was the perfect bagel. :)

The iced coffee that was too good to not drink before photo'ing. haha...It was my favorite mix of 1 c. starbucks bold, 1/2 c. milk, and a tsp. sugar...+4 ice cubes. :)

This was a brief 1.5-2 hrs of my morning. Not nearly enough, that's for sure. I was pretty much drowning in carboxylic acids and esters. Ick...

The yogurt/TJ's fiber cereal combo was good though...:)

At the shower, I couldn't decide what I wanted to eat. There weren't many protein options...mostly macaroni salads, regular salads, veggies, fruits, things like that. This was my first plate: my mom's macaroni salad, fruit, mixed veggies to munch on...nothing too, too exciting...and still very hungry.

Plate #2...protein available! Someone brought in a wonderful salad of red onions, blue cheese, greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and chicken. It was really delish. I also added on some more fruit and carrots...

I decided on the third trip, that I really needed to actually fill my stomach up because I was H-U-N-G-R-Y!! More pasta salad, more of the chicken & pineapple salad. Finally! My stomach was satisfied. :) I also ate 3 little cadbury chocolate easter eggs for something sweet.

After the shower, it was time to get ready for my dad's birthday party. He cooked some burgers on the grill (underneath all the onions, lettuce and tomato!), and I had some pickles, extra onions, and fries on the side. Along with a nice big side salad. I absolutely LOVE cookouts. This was the first time this year that I ate outside and it felt wonderful!!! :)

Seconds! More salad, some more fries and the rest of the onions and mushroom combo. These were delicious. Lightly sauteed just in pam until soft, and mixed with balsamic vinegar towards the very end. Love 'em!

And a nice slice of birthday cake with vanilla icecream after my dad opened his gifts. It was a nice night of family time and good conversation. Very relaxing and enjoyable. :)

I'm kind of looking forward to a *school day* tomorrow. I'll be happy to catch up a little and feel more mentally prepared for the 2 upcoming busy weeks!

2009-03-27T18:24:00.000-07:00

Current Food I'm Eating Now:

Rachel's Pomegranate Orange Cranberry Cottage Cheese! The verdict? It was just okay. I guess I'm just more used to having a saltier, more savory type of cottage cheese. I like eating it with crackers usually. :) This one was sweet and dessert like.

I fit in one of my best runs ever. I felt so good! I covered 4 miles, and there were only a couple points where I felt like stopping. But I kept telling myself to just push through it...don't panic...keep running. Worked like a charm. Combine that with georgeous weather, an active neighberhood (cookouts, kids biking, people eating icecream cones, etc.), and I was having a ton of fun. :)

Tomorrow is a busy, busy day...baby shower, birthday party, and stuff like that. And hopefully some homework too. Gotta focus on that chem exam!

Good Angel vs. Bad Angel

2009-03-26T16:59:00.000-07:00

Reason #1-million Why I Love Having A Gym Partner:

On my ride home tonight, I was thinking to myself that it was highly possible Nicole might call and cancel going to the gym. She was feeling sick a couple days back, so I was sort of half-expecting a message to be on the answering machine, "Sorry I can't make it...catch ya Monday though!"

Yep, I was all prepared. Then I sort of toyed with the question of whether or not I would still go to the gym. This was my conversation with myself:

Bad Angel: "Well...it's rainy outside and you deserve a night in with your sweats and a nice supper. Enjoy it!"
Good Angel: "But tomorrow you can't work out either, remember? You'll be in chem lab, and I know you won't feel like working out on a Friday night!"
Bad Angel: "Don't worry about it! Just workout extra hard next week! You've done it before. No biggie!!"

My mind was made up. The Bad Angel won the conversational controversy...Then I came home...and no message was on the phone.

I scurried into my workout clothes, grabbed my water bottle with an apple, and hopped back into the car.

And, might I add, I'm super happy I went to the gym after all. It felt so good to get a good sweat in on the cross trainer. I came home with plenty of time to enjoy a tasty supper and my sweats too...now I just need to figure out which angel is going to win when it comes to my homework. ;)

2009-03-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

Today is such a good day. I've been productive with homework, had a delicious iced coffee, had pizza and guacamole for lunch (what a combination!), received THIS in the mail:

And fit in a wonderful 4-mile run too! Lately my breathing has been off, mostly due to the fact that I've been slowly trying to increase my pace. But my problem was that I was doing it with every run which was making me slowly dread my daily run. NOT GOOD!

So today I decided that my main objective was to not look at the clock, and just to enjoy the scenery in my neighberhood. I had the best run in a long time, just taking in the deliciously warm weather, thinking about everything and nothing all at the same time. I considered going further, but decided that I have all summer long to bring my mileage back up and I'd better not push it too fast too soon.

As a post-run snack, I absolutely love having a glass of milk. The protein is great for repairing muscles and helps to fill you up without weighing you down at the same time. Usually I'm more thirsty then hungry after a good workout, so milk fits the bill perfectly. :)

As a continuation of my very productive day, I should get back to doing some homework. I have a fun-filled weekend planned, so I'd like to finish everything up by Friday. :)

2009-03-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I didn't run today, after deciding that my achilles would be better off resting then running. I did however, go to the gym with Nicole. I was close to not going, you know. I was feeling tired and lazy, and hitting the couch early seemed like a good idea. "I deserve it after all! I'm on vacation!"

But knowing Nicole was waiting at the gym for me was what got me out of my seat and into the gym. I decided that if, once I was there, I was too tired to work out, I'd just walk on the treadmill and read a good magazine. I always tell myself that.

BUT, once there, I got motivated and energetic. I pumped out a good, hard-core 30 minutes on the elliptical and felt tired but great at the same time. My heart rate was elevated and I was going strong. Whew...

And leaving? I had a ton of energy which was great. SO glad I went to the gym. I need to remember that feeling of euphoria I always get, and use that as my motivation for the times when I don't have a friend waiting at the gym! ;)

2009-03-17T06:08:00.000-07:00

Top of the Morning to Ya! Time to go green for St. Patty's Day with a lil' something I call my Going Green Smoothie. :-D

Going Green Smoothie

1 super ripe mango

2 c. spinach

4 ice cubes

a lil' water for thinning

I stuck with the green theme for lunch too...:-D Greens, avocados, broccoli, cucumbers...it all fits!

My Irish Soda Bread came out great! I absolutely loved the rustic taste (and appearance!) of the bread. It was sort of like a mix between a scone and a biscuit, all wrapped up in a cute little cross loaf. I took the recipe from Bon Appetit: http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/1994/03/irish_soda_bread

Before eating supper, my mom and I headed out for a 5-mile walk. Yes, that's the right temperature. It reached 58 degrees today and felt absolutely wonderful!!

The boiled dinner was boiling...I was starving...everything smelt so heavenly.

My Irish Soda Bread all cut up...I was just a lil' proud of the results. ;) Seriously though, it was such an easy bread to make. No need to wait and let it rise either, which is perfect for an impatient cook like myself.

The boiled dinner was fabulous, and now I'm relaxing. I did get some time in for chemistry, but it's not nearly as much as I know I need to. Somehow I manage to completely shut down over spring break. Happens every time!

2009-03-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

Today I traded comfort for fashion. I was wearing some straight legged jeans, threw on my skecher walking shoes, and realized that my achilles was feeling a little sore and "rickety." Uh-oh...we all know what that means. I refuse to go back to having achilles tendonitis and not being able to run throughout the summer!!

Anyways, I think it's related to those shoes! So instead I wore my clunky running sneakers. It proved to myself that running is more of a top priority then fashion. Good to know. :)

Current Obsession:

Greek yogurt mixed with a tablespoon of chocolate carnation breakfast, topped with some heart to heart and cinnamon (of course!)

I made up for the fashion faux pas by buying a new pair of jeans! :) I've been dying to get a new pair, ever since last summer when I put on a healthy 10 or so pounds. I decided that it didn't make much sense that I was still wearing the same pants, especially since they were getting a lil' too tight for comfort. Now I can be comfortable in a new cute pair of jeans. :)

I didn't have the most motivation ever today when it came time to hit the road...gotta be honest! But a nice long and slow run did sound a little appealing, so I decided to go with that. I went for what turned into a wonderful 4 mile run. I kept my pace really slow (like, 10-minutes-a-mile slow) but that's exactly what I wanted and needed at the moment.

And I had some of this guy as a finale to my hard work:

I at least did some homework today (and hopefully more tonight!) I brought the car in for an oil change, which ended up taking an hour. That gave me an hours worth of carboxylic acids and nitriles for company. Woohoo...exciting! Not! But I feel good to have gotten that in because I absolutely must do well on the next chemistry exam!

A Day on the Seven Seas

2009-03-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

My parents and I spent a wonderful day in Gloucester. You know how I said yesterday was absolutely gorgeous and perfect? Today even topped that.

But before I jump into the fun part, time for my Sunday Sum-Up:
Monday: Ice storm=skipped workout! I couldn't even bring myself to drive to chemistry class at 6:45 in the morning. :(
Tuesday: An absolutely lovely 3-mile run...I'm liking this time change thing which means I can run after I come back from school. Perfect!
Wednesday: A day of studying and exams! I had my kinesiology exam at night which meant not much time to fit in a good workout...it also meant every spare moment was spent with the books.
Thursday: I came t-h-i-s close to skipping my workout. I felt fried from all the exams and quizzes over the week, and with Nicole's phone call saying she wouldn't be at the gym due to being sick, I determined that a night off sounded pretty good. But when Matthew came out with his running gear on, I knew I'd better gear up as well. A 2-miler it was...brisk, fast, and energizing.
Friday: My dad and I headed out for a 3-mile run. The weather was perfect (it's been an awesome week, weatherwise!) Followed by an omelet. Life's good. :)
Saturday: Day 1 of the most perfect weather...my mom and I went for a 3.5-4 mile walk. And later I went for a 2-mile run with the guys (but they went much further.)
Sunday: aka, today! Lots of walking around Gloucester, and a short 1-1.5 mile walk at home.
All Summed Up: 10-miles of running, 4-miles walking + walking around campus.

Now, on to today!...

I was starving by the time we made our way to the Gloucester House today, but still forced myself to take it slow when looking over the menu. Did I want a large salad with grilled shrimp? Or the Angry Shrimp (spicy shrimp with tomatoes with cannellini beans)? Or the stuffed haddock? Ah...life has way too many decision. ;)

The view was beautiful from our booth too. I love the New Englandy feel of the restaurants around Gloucester.

Silly times=Good times...:)

Anywho...on to the meal. I finally decided upon the Mediterranean Salmon, which the menu described as a "salmon fillet grilled with peppers, onions, summer squash, zucchini and eggplant topped with a lemon caper mayo."

The meal started with a side garden salad. I asked for the raspberry viniagrette on the side, but didn't end up wanting or using it.

Next came...cornbread! I absolutely love, love, love cornbread! I could have eaten the entire basket full and made it my meal. haha...it came as a lovely surprise.

The entree!!! Served with a side of smashed red potatoes. They were light, whipped, and creamy. And I had to take a few seconds to just enjoy the presentation of the main dish because it was just too pretty! I did finally dive in though, and polished it all off. :) The grilled veggies were absolutely perfect, and the salmon was nice and tender. The lemon caper mayo was mostly scraped off, but I did sample a lil', and it was heavenly with the fish. I especially liked the side of fruit as a finish to the meal. :)

Later we went for a nice long walk along the wharf.

Then we reached an opening with some really cool canons.

Enjoying the views...

This cove just always makes me want to go swimming. Haha...it's such a peaceful spot. :)

Spending time with a handsome local...;)

And now I'm home, relaxing. I keep forgetting that I don't have school tomorrow. No getting up early! I love slow mornings. :)

2009-03-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

My latest addiction: chocolate rice cakes, cottage cheese, and a dash (or two, or three...or maybe six...:)...) of cinnamon.

Today was perfect. I almost felt guilty for not doing any homework. But not guilty enough to actually do any. ha! It felt nice to force myself not to open my chemistry book. Instead, I went out into the 47 degree sunshine for a long walk with mom, baked some homemade chicken pot pie for lunch, baked some honey oat quick bread for an accompaniment with mom's black bean soup, and enjoyed the most lovely short 2-mile run. I felt absolutely wonderful and considered going further but decided I better keep it short for my legs' sake. :)

Off to get some yogurt for a snack while watching Batman Begins...this spring break thing better not get too enjoyable. Ha...

The Mighty Muffin

2009-03-13T17:29:00.000-07:00

I managed to hype myself up enough to head out into the "cold" which turned out to not be all too cold at all. I think I just felt like being wimpy and having an excuse for a day in. ;)

The run was well worth the effort of getting myself motivated, though! Sun shining, legs feeling strong, and just feeling thankful and happy to be outside! It was one of those runs that remind me, "ooohh yeah....I do enjoy running, don't I?"

I think these guys might have had something to do with the pep in my step too...

Yummay!

I felt like baking all afternoon, and I wanted to try something new. So I made some homemade bran muffins. I took the basic recipe from Cooks Illustrated Light cookbook, but tweaked it by subbing half the butter with olive oil, decreasing sugar and raisins by 1/4 c., doing a 1:1 ratio of wheat to white flour, and...I think that's it. I'll post the revised recipe soon...:)

Now I'm in my p.j.'s, ready to relax. It's been a looong week, and my body is ready to unwind. Although I'm hoping I can be motivated enough tomorrow and get some chem homework in. We'll see about that...

2009-03-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

Spring break couldn't come soon enough. This week was pure craziness, as I found myself staying up later then normal and getting up at rediculous morning hours. It left me feeling drained and running on empty. Add the recent time change, two tests, two quizzes, and a head cold, and voila! You've just summed me up! :)

My running has been a little off this week due to all the chaos. On Tuesday, I had a fast-paced 3-miler, and didn't head out in my sneaks again until Thursday for a quick 2-miler with my brother. Oh, and when I say quick, I mean quick as in speedy. It's been a busy week, so I'm certainly not beating myself up over the fact I've only gone out twice, but still...

If my head cold can dissipate though, I'll be taking advantage of the weekend. 56 degrees? Yeah, I'm lovin' it. Yesterday and today's frigid temps are well worth it if tomorrow and Sunday are going to make up for it. :)

Lunch today was a heartwarming bowl of homemade split pea soup, sprinkled with lots and lots of fresh ground pepper and a bowl of mixed veggies on the side.

Every meal needs a lil' crunch too. :)

Sunny Days!

2009-02-25T18:49:00.001-08:00

The sun popped out its beautiful head today, and I tried to make the most of it. Along with walking around campus, I fit in a 3-mile walk with mom, followed by a 2-mile study break (MUCH needed!) It was absolutely wonderful. I wanted to run, but decided to save the energy for tomorrow at the gym with the sister. :)

Sooo...my news:

You'll have to wait till March 1st. :) I'm so cruel.

Back in the Groove...

2009-02-24T04:41:00.000-08:00

I'm finally back to 100% normality (whatever that might mean?) No flu, no stomach ache, and lots and lots of energy. Being sick might be seen as even a blessing...for one thing, it gave my muscles practically a week off. For another, I gave up caffeine for the entire week since it just wasn't appealing at the time. Now I feel a lil' more energetic without it. But my love for a hot cup of joe with soymilk hasn't subsided, so I still plan on saving it for the weekends when I can truly enjoy it. :) Or maybe even the occasional 'pick-me-up.'

Yesterday was a wonderful workout day. Nothing too fancy or over the top, but I just felt so darn good. :) I walked around campus, came home to go for a nice brisk walk with mom, and later went to the gym for a 3-mile interval run with the sister. I forgot how much I truly did miss running, and even going on a treadmill made me smile from ear to ear. I bounced between 6.2-7.0 mph on a 2% incline for about 30 minutes, and loved the music they were playing. Kept me grooving. :)

Stay tuned for some official foodie news sometime this week! :)

Summed Up Sundays

2009-02-22T04:25:00.000-08:00

Monday: 3-mile run...that was sooo very long ago, but if I can recall correctly, it was a gloriously wonderful run too! Sun brightly shining, legs feeling good, etc, etc.
Tuesday: ...just never works for me. It's either a "get up early and go to the gym" morning or a "relax, make coffee, eat oats" morning. I usually always choose the latter. :-) This week especially, since it's when I started with the whole stomach flu...blah!
Wednesday: 3-mile walk...icky, evil stomach flu!!
Thursday: 2-mile run/waddle...probably one of those days I shouldn't have run considering I hadn't been eating much since Tuesday, buttt I did anyways.
Friday: Nada! But lots of walking around campus, taking stairs instead of elevators, parking in the furthest parking lot, etc.
Saturday: 5-mile walk

All Summed Up: 5-miles of running, 8-miles walking, and some 'excess' walking around campus (aka, looking for little ways to get more walking in.)

It was an off week. But right now all I care about is getting myself better, getting my energy back, and getting my stomach back to where eating a whole bowl of oatmeal doesn't seem like an olympic sized event.

I'll huff and puff and blow it away...

2009-02-21T07:09:00.000-08:00

It's funny how you can feel so victorious and determined to beet the flu bug one day and feel so small and pathetic the next. That was me this morning, in all my glory. I spent about an hour just groaning in bed, wishing someone would put me out of my misery.

I absolutely abhor being sick! This past week, I fit in one 3-mile run and a 2-mile waddle/run. It wasn't pretty. And now despite my stomach upset, I'm dying for a good run where I can think and zone out all at the same time. Running keeps me sane. I feel so lost without it. :-(

An end before a beginning...

2009-02-20T13:45:00.000-08:00

I'm determined that today will be that day. That day when I can finally say, "Yeah, I'm over that darn stomach flu. I conquered those endless trips to the ladies room...repeat to self: *I* am victorious."

Then I look outside and see the cold wind wipping itself through the oak treas. Snow flurries pop out here and there, just to tease me, as if to say "it's still February, you can't get rid of us yet!" They could be here for a long while. Or they could disappear in a few seconds as the temperature rises ten degrees. This is New England...anythings possible.

So, then I decide that today maybe isn't quite that day. But it is still the end before the beginning. Tomorrow I'll be back into the groove with a 4-mile run. You may find me sprawled out on the side of the road by the end. Or you may find me grinning from ear to ear and wanting nothing more then to turn that 4 into a 10, blissfully lost in my endorphin rush. Either case is a likely scenario...

This is my blog...I love to run and I love to eat. It didn't take me too long to figure out that these oftentimes fit together beautifully. :)