My "Running" thoughts

 

en·dur·ance

1. the fact or power of enduring or bearing pain, hardships, etc. 2. the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; stamina: 3. lasting quality; duration 4. something endured, as a hardship; trial.

 

While I was I was running yesterday I experienced one of those goosebumpy sorta realizations. First off may I start with my husband has been home (yay!!!) in the mornings this last week and have been able to run alone(yay!!)without pushing the stroller. I thought "hey, maybe I will head to the gym!" sooo not fun in so many ways!! I realized even more so why I hate running on the treadmill, I HATE IT! The whole concept and the benefits of running, to me, are meant to be on pavement. The worst part of the treadmill is running and thinking the whole time  asking "am I done yet? how far have I gone now?I feel like I'm done? I need to stop?" literally the WHOLE TIME! Plus, I dropped my phone...again,lol! Back to the pavement yesterday and was so happy to return.

Me getting ready to hit the road!

I woke up around 8am to head out and actually got up and got going I knew I had to before it heated up.  My goal was 7 miles yesterday and I needed to be back in time to go weigh in at WW before lunch time. I started out slow and easy and right away I was lost. Not lost like I didn't know where I was but my mind was lost and I begin to forget I was even running. My mind went here and there and I really do think running is beyond therapeutic for me. My husband is leaving this week for Virginia for over 2 months...boo! But, I love a challenge..hooah! (#armywife) With him being gone this actually does allow for an amazing chance to run alone and really rev up my marathon training. I am looking forward to adding my mileage and getting stronger. My mind also shot back and forth to the fact that I got to weigh in later on and see exactly how I am doing. I couldn't wait I was really disciplined all week because I know I want this so bad.

 

As I ran the miles I also started thinking how much my weight loss journey is just like a long training run. I came home and wrote out qualities of each and how they really mirror each other.

looks just about the same to me!

I was at about mile 6ish when this came to me and how I have been running this journey and how much I have accomplished, why its important to me, why I am so glad I chose to start, the list seriously went on and on. I got to a home stretch right before our house and I knew I wanted to just kill it. I thought of why I started loosing weight and running other than becoming a cop I wont lie and tell you that getting to wear cut offs and short skirts with my cowboy boots was not my main motivation, haha. But, I knew that my driving force was I wanted to be healthy and strong and thats really why I started these now huge aspects of my life. Realizing this and running my heart out on that last stretch I totally broke down and lost it, there on the curb, laughing and cryin and suuuuper hot and just soaked it all in. I had finished my run and it felt awesome.

10am rolled around and it was time for my weigh in Greens and I did mama/baby girl date so as she says "I can get scaled" lol, this makes me laugh and some stuff I just don't like to correct her,haha. I had a huge loss and hit a major goal. I felt almost as good as my earlier run knowing that I was moving forward, making progress and that I was almost to the finish line.

I was playing around on etools(ww online tool) and figuring out my new goal and how much I had left to loose. I found it completely amazing what the number was.

marathon distance and final weight loss goal





 

As my marathon training goes on and my weight loss goal is almost achieved I know a couple things right away. Its going to be HARD. It is going to take time, perseverance, endurance, patience, rest, hard work, planning, optimism, adjustments, vision, support, encouragement, inspiration alllllll of these things and more. I have never gone that far of a distance but then again I have never been at that weight either. :-)

 

Mahalo!



 

Change

Last night we went to the Hollywood Bowl and saw "The Producers" which,if you like Mel Brooks, was hysterical! Husband and I went I bought new clothes, we took yummy goodies and had an awesome night! I finally broke through a huge plateau in my weight loss this week and after bouncing back and forth for 3 weeks. I have lost 86 pounds now...still trips me out. I was wearing the smallest pair of Hudson black skinny jeans that I ever thought I would ever wear. I looked and felt amazing it was one of those outfits that just made me so aware of my body and how much it has changed. I hate spending money on expensive clothes midway through my journey but I know how important it is to see and feel my success to know how great my progress has been. I plan on going down one last size at least so I try to buy limited new size clothes as I go.

So, for the Bowl if your not familiar it's a large outdoor amphitheater. The best part about seeing a show there is you can bring your own food and drink including wine. I packed cucumber slices with mango salsa,fresh guacamole and carrot sticks, almond cranberry bites and a gigantic container of fresh strawberries. We had an amazing bottle of Cabernet and I was in heaven feasting on these treats. The best part was it seemed completely unplanned it was just stuff I picked up there was no like. "ugh I HAVE to pack healthy stuff!" (here is where the change part starts) I was eating stuff that tasted good to me and I was enjoying every minute of it. I never felt deprived or that I was missing out on something. Husband turned to me at intermission and said "this is a lot
different than the last time we were here!" at first thoughts came through my head I was about 8 weeks pregnant the last time we were there and I weighed about 60lbs more than I did last night. He also mentioned the change in our menu. It was fried chicken and a white chocolate raspberry cheesecake. Haha, not that you can't have that stuff. But, I realized even more how much I have changed. The rest of my strawberries were just as sweet as the success that I felt sitting in my overpriced jeans.

Progress will not happen unless you make changes. Of course this is not easy and it will be difficult at first but before you know it things will have changed and it will be just a part of you!

Mahalo

Friday Recipe Recap

This week I made some yummy light meals and thought I would share some for inspiration. My culinary background allows me to play with food and flavors maybe more freely than I should. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't and that's fine by me! I have come up with some interesting ideas and mostly love all of them. I was on pinterest earlier in the week and got some inspiration for some meatless dishes as well as my typical "lc"(low carb,low calorie) ideas!

My first inspiration was playing with fruit in sweet and savory dishes. I made a grilled peach portabello burger. I really have been playing with flavors and really just saying would I put this on a meat burger? Sure,let's try on a meatless option! I grilled a portobello cap in george foremen grill. I then grilled sliced peaches and topped my "burger" with them. The combination of the 2 were awesome!

My next creation was a skinny eggplant Parmesan with Caprese chicken (mozzarella,tomato and basil). I made the eggplant by whisking some eggwhites and Dredging eggplant slices in egg then whole wheat flour. I pan fried in Pam and seriously I could eat this all day!! I sprinkled with parmesan and popped in toaster over while I grilled a butterflied chicken breast then topped with sliced tomato,basil and mozzarella again browning in oven to melt cheese! I served with salad and made a yummy lunch.

Yesterday I also tried some zucchini fritters! These are great snacks or side item. These consist of shredded 2 zucchini,1 egg white,3 tbsp of whole wheat flour. I pan fried with Pam and made little Fritters and I let brown on each side about 5 mins.

Hope you have a great weekend! Play with some flavors and happy cooking, and eating,haha!

Mahalo!

Never Say Never

Oh sweet, sweet Jesus! Yup, I have been kind of keeping a secret and no... I'm not pregnant nor have any intention to ever become pregnant again,haha! Okay, so, my secret is I am running a marathon! Like a fuuuuuuuulllll marathon, what!?! I KNOW!

So, when I look back at the moment I crossed the finish line of my first half marathon and how I fully recollect standing in the lobby of my hotel saying "I have NO intention,none, zilch to ever run a full marathon!" hahaha! I ran my first half in Long Beach and I did not properly train, I mean, I trained but I didn't as well as I should have, and I got worked! I finished and it was magical but it could have been way better. The next race I did was the Orange County half and I trained and did beyond amazing, I loved every minute of it! So, after doing that one I have a couple blogger friends who were all gung-ho to do a full and dreams of Boston are thrown around as if we are already qualified and then begins the contemplating "hmmm, I may actually consider this."

A couple of weeks ago I decided that if I was going to ACTUALLY do this I was gonna DO it. So, I already knew which one I wanted to run and of course its Hawaii related,haha! I also wanted to run for a cause other than myself. I looked into some fundraising programs and came across the Team 2 End Aids LA and knew this was a program I could not only compete in but also raise money and awareness for a great cause!

I have already started training and have joked with other members of the team as to weather which will prove to be more challenging raising $3200.00 or running 26.2 miles! Haha, I had one friend tell me she will pay me $3200.00 to never have to run 1 mile let alone 26.2 :-)

I am so very looking forward to first of all contributing and being apart of something bigger than myself. Second, challenging myself to doing something that even last year I never imagined I would be doing and of course going to Hawaii to do that!

I hope that you can join me in my efforts and help me to be able to accomplish some great things for a great organization and in return I promise to run 26.2 miles so that you don't have to! If you would like to donate any amount would be GREATLY appreciated. You can do that on my fundraising page, HERE!!!

Mahalo!

Post workout treats

Today's run was gorgeous!!!! The girls and I ran 5 miles and it was seriously delightful! Before we left I whipped up a batch of no bake protein bites!

These things are all over pinterest and there is so many different kinds. I made some last week and used a yummy recipe with pure clover honey,oats,nut butters and protein powder. Today I did a little variation with what I had on hand.

I used

3/4 quick oats
2 tbsp almond butter
2 tbsp better n peanut butter
1/2 scoop protein powder
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tbsp mini chocolate chips
2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 ripe banana,mashed

Mix together, fridge for 30 mins, roll into balls. This yielded about 20 bites. 1ww ppv per bite.

Last night I also assembled some yummy fruit pops with straight fresh chopped fruit and watermelon juice! Sooo good!

I used

4 strawberries cut in half
6 raspberries
1 peach chopped small
Chopped water melon mashed to juice

Next time I will add mint leaves would b so good!

These are so fast and so delish! Whip up some yummy treats and stop eating so much processed stuff!

Mahalo!

Accidental Vegetarian

I have been playing around a lot more with vegetarian dishes and really have always loved meatless dishes. Most recently I made some veggie burgers and they turned out to be delicious!!!

Sweet Potato Fajita Burgers

1 small sweet potato, cut into chunks (steamed microwave 2 minutes and rough mash)

1/2 small onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon coriander

pinch of cayenne

a pinch salt

1/2 cup black beans (rough mash)

1 ear of fresh roasted over fire corn off cob

4 tablespoons rolled oats blended into flour-halfway in blender leave some oats to provide texture

• Combine ingredients and form patties I grilled on grill pan 8 Min's on each side over medium heat.
• Served on Pita with grilled peppers and avocado

Play around with fresh veggies in season and create some yummy goodness!!!

Mahalo!

New Creations

This weekend I was so wanting eggplant! I stayed with my parents Saturday night and decided to make dinner there and take advantage of being creative in the kitchen. I really wanted to use eggplant as mentioned so I had seen a great recipe for an eggplant involtini which is sorta like a canoli shell made of the eggplant instead of pasta. The recipe I found was here... http://www.alexandracooks.com/2011/09/29/eggplant-involtini/

So, I made a couple of changes to lighten these up. Instead of full fat ricotta I used fat free and I omitted the cream and just used a canned tomato sauce. To bulk these up I also chopped a cup of mushrooms and lightly grilled them. I also added chopped parsley because I used parsley with my fish that I served with. It's important when you are cooking to stick with your herbs throughout the dishes to keep your theme and tastes the same otherwise they can clash and it may not be a great combo. Then I finished with light mozzarella cheese!

This morning I was wanting waffles (always) so I was looking through my recipes and came across a yummy Greek yogurt oatmeal waffle here...

http://edibleliving.blogspot.com/2012/03/motherhood-mondays-and-pancakes-parties.html?m=1

Of course I altered here is my version...

{Pancakes or Waffles}
1 2/3 cups whole wheat flour
2/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 tablespoon pure clover honey
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 heaping teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 cup Greek yogurt
1cup dairy beverage I used coconut milk
1/2 cup egg substitute which =2 eggs
1 scoop protein powder

Whisk together flour, oats,baking powder, baking soda/bicarbonate of soda,salt and protein powder in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the yogurt, dairy,honey and eggs. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and whisk in the wet ingredients until well incorporated. The batter should be thick if needed thin with dairy beverage.

Heat waffle iron or griddle for pancakes and cook like normal.

I stacked my waffles with fruit and even used a 1/2 tablespoon of nutella between the layers equals Ahhhhmazing!!

Enjoy and Mahalo!