Monday, July 19, 2010

Shut up and let me go

Watch your thoughts, they become words.Watch your words, they become actions.Watch your actions, they become habits.Watch your habits, they become character.Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.- Upanishads

Eek! It has been ages since I blogged.

Well since I last shared there has been lots of good food, bad food and workouts. I ran my fastest mile 12.2. Still not good, but I am improving and that is what really matters right? I have started reading Eat Pray Love with the girls.

I don't really dig chick books for the most part. This one is ok, I think what keeps me interested is the traveling aspect because I do love traveling more than most anything. Nothing is better than planning a trip then getting to actually be there. There is something magical and freeing about being in a place so completely foreign to you. I love it, it makes my soul happy. So on that one part I completely get the book. But the rest of it not as much. I believe the author could had histrionic personality disorder. That is just my guess based on the first 25 beads (aka chapters). All in all I am glad I am reading it and I do think it is the sort of books any girl could find something to identify with in it.

Speaking of traveling I have also started planning my 2011 vacation. There are so many options but I have narrowed it down to either Scotland and England or Ireland. I am leaning towards Ireland because it is a different sort of tour and it sounds like so much fun. It is a walking tour that sounds like there will be amazing opportunities for pictures and really seeing Ireland, not just the tourist spots. We'll see, currently I am in the process of recruiting people to come with me.

Today marks the beginning of my official 5k training. What was I doing up until this point, well I was training for the training. I was really out of shape. We'll see how the training program goes. I was filling what my runs should be according to Nike plus and I found myself thinking, only a 4 mile run instead of the frequent 7 mile run it has scheduled me for. Yikes!Only and 4 miles should never be together in any sentence I think... at least not pair with running.

I made the best healthified nachos this weekend. They were simply amazing. I have to say they were better than any other nachos I have had...ever. First I used organic Blue corn chips on the bottom of the plate. Then in a skillet I put a can of rinsed black beans and chopped tomatoes mixed with taco seasoning. Then I added in zucchini, celery, spinach, and broccoli. I topped with some onion powder, garlic, and sea salt. Cover and let simmer until veggies are soft. Then i added in 6 triangles of laughing cow swiss cheese and stirred until it was completely melted. Served over the chips and topped with pepperoncini's (from my garden!). Made 4 servings and it was so so so so good. Paired with a glass of wine. Pictured below. Mmmm


Friday, July 9, 2010

At last

Friday is here. For a short week it was horribly long.

Oh well, well yesterday I jog/walked 2.5ish miles and tonight is Zumba (hopefully I do better this week). I am no longer having the issue of not wanting to run, I actually look forward to it. I find it is a nice release after a day at the office, even if it is 1000 degrees outside. So it is wonderful to not have to force myself to workout nearly every night. I find that after my run I feel more alert and energetic (at least for a while) than I do before, like it is clearing the fog.

Tomorrow I am going roller skating, that should be an adventure. I haven't put on my roller blades in such a long long time. I have also been in the mood to do outdoorsy things, which is so not me. I want to ride bikes and go hiking. All of this fresh air is going to my head.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

No pain...

That's fine with me. That's what I like to say. Ugh. Sore for the second day today, but nevertheless I intend to do a short run tonight and then that blasted 30-day shred video again. I will not be defeated by a workout tape. As God as my witness and all that jazz!

My thighs, abs, and shoulders ache. People talk about how it is a good ache. I have never really understood that. I prefer not to hurt, but I understand that sometimes you have to suffer through a little pain to get the results you want. For example a cute pair of shoes that perfectly compliments an outfit is never going to be the most comfortable pair of shoes, yet you suffer through them to get the desired effect. So I choose to look at the soreness as the cute shoes. I may not like the pain, but it is a means to an end.

I did a 2.3 mile run last night in the suffocating humidity. After the run was the best I felt all day. My muscles were warm and relaxed, I had energy, but then flash forward 2 hours and it was hard to stand up from the couch. The best things you do in life are not the easy ones. When it is hard and you start mentally breaking yourself down. Trying to talk yourself out of these crazy feats only seems natural. However, It is always best to keep in mind that the harder you have to work for something the more fulfilling it will be when you get it.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

E-vil

Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred dvd was well... not fun. Hahaha it was quite the workout in 20 minutes, I will give it that. My knees hurt after, but that was probably my own fault and improper form. However, today I am sore. This is the first day I have really been sore from working out. It isn't so bad I can't move, but I certainly feel it when I move. I guess this is going to have to be added to the workout routine. I am not sure how I will squeeze it in. Perhaps I will do this on my non yoga days, but in that case I will have to move yoga to be paired with the long run and 30 Day Shred to be paired with the short run, otherwise I will definitely burn myself out. Fridays will stay Zumba and Saturdays may become my off day (however that remains to be seen it could end up being Thursdays.)
Oy! this working out business is starting to take over my life. Oh well, I guess you have to be a little obsessed to make a difference.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Busta Move

So Zumba was not nearly as bad as I anticipated. Yes, I was awkward and terrible at it, but it was fun and I think with practice I could be less terrible, so Zumba on Fridays may be the new order.

I took Saturday as my rest day which was much needed. Sunday aka the 4th of July was super busy so I was only able to run 1 mile which I did at a 13 minute pace (not great but I am getting better). Today I did 1.5 miles and will do my new Jillian Michaels 30-shred workout video, I anticipate being ridiculously tired this evening.

For lunch I had a piece of flax bread with hummus and Mediterranean chickpea salad (recipe from Web MD) on top. It was so so so so delicious and filling. I followed that with a few fresh strawberries for dessert. MMMmmm

Friday, July 2, 2010

Zumba!

Yesterday was a day of bad decisions for me. First, I agreed to be chairperson of a board that I am currently on. That may not seem bad on the surface but trust me this will eat up so much of my time and just hearing of my responsibilities makes me cringe. I tried to say no, but I allowed myself to be talked into it. FAIL!
Then I went running with the girls, always a fun time. Sure we at times giggle and goof off more than we actually run but it was a good time, just what I needed after a LONG day. After the run I was reminded that I said I would do Zumba with them on Friday (i.e. my day off). At the time on the runner energy high that sounded awesome what is one more workout to me I am an average everyday sane psycho super goddess, right...right? Well, now that it is morning and I am tired from doing 14.4 miles this week plus 4 days with yoga added in, I am not so sure. Then I made the huge mistake of googling what exactly Zumba is (BTW it is not what I thought. Nope. Not at all. I told you I was making bad decisions, why else would I agree to something without knowing what it is, oh the arrogance!!).
Anyway for those who do not know what it is, it is Latin dancing. That may not sound scary to you Latin dancers out there, but let me explain to you the last Latin dancing experience I had. I bought towards the beginning of the year a Dancing with the Stars workout video (no I do not actually watch the show I just thought dancing would be a fun way to workout which was a New Years goal). I did the tape once. First of all, I was a complete spazz and embarrassed myself and I was in the privacy of my own home. Seriously, I was a clown. I couldn't put all the moves together fast enough to keep up and most of the time I just flailed around like I was having seizures. Not a pretty sight, I assure you. Second of all, I managed to hurt my knee in all of the flailing. This knee injury kept me from working out for a while which then lead to a 3 month break.
However I am a lady of my word. I will go tonight and I will try not to injure myself or others in my grand flailing. *FLAIL* Wish me luck, I will need it!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Summer in the city

Holla!

I have been incredibly busy with last week or so. I am still working out like a fiend. I believe the word maniacal was used... Anyway, this week the weather has been gorgeous so I have been running on the trail. First day 4 miles, yesterday 3 miles and yoga, today who knows, tomorrow a blissful and well deserved rest day. We have just over two weeks until we start the official 5k training. My biggest challenge at the moment is that I apparently am unable to do a slow run. Not only can I not pace myself, but it leaves me too much time to think about how I am stepping and then I step on a weird part of my foot. I don't know why. I do best with a faster run but I am not sure how to build up my endurance running that fast. Hmmm. Well I have two weeks to work on it, hopefully I will figure it out before the training starts.
The biggest difference I am seeing is how my clothes are fitting and it definitely motivates me to do more. Also my friends are hugely motivating. We are all so inspired on this idea of improving ourselves that we are also reading a chick book, Eat Pray Love, as well. We'll see how it goes, not really my type of book.
Last's night's dinner wasn't anything to talk about (PBJ) but a couple nights ago I made a delicious Farmer's Market Grilled Cheese (recipe from Good Housekeeping). It was delicious with garlic and herb cheese, spinach, zucchini, and tomatoes.
 
Blog Design by Imagination Designs all images from the Scare Dee Doo kit by Irene Alexeeva