Yoga today...Yoga tomorrow

Yesterday I bought a book about yoga in a bargain bin. Naturally I started reading the book and it inspired me, to the point of actually doing, to add yoga into my workout last night. I started with 35 minutes of yoga then I hit the elliptical (too hot outside, I wussed out) and only managed to go for 20 minutes. The absolute slowest 20 minutes I have ever done. Holy moley! Yoga before running equals mistake.

I haven't given up on the idea, like all my ideas I think it is genius, but I think I may have had an order issue. I think it will work out better if I run first and end with yoga. That probably makes more sense. I am going to test this theory on Thursday. Today will be a 40 minute run with no yoga.

I still do not feel like I am moving along fast enough in this 5k training but maybe I am. I'm trying to remember to be patient that I will not change overnight though in this world of consumerism and instant gratification it is hard not to expect that. It is hard to maintain motivation when after a couple weeks you feel like you should be awesome but are not...yet.

Then once I recovered from wobbly legs I made myself dinner. I made an extra spicy, healthy version of chilaquiles. It was all types of spicy and tasty. I used chicken, balck beans, tomatoes, green chiles, jalepenos, hot salsa, spinach, 2% cheese, and plain yogurt over a bed of homemade tortilla chips (made with whole grain tortilla shells I found that have 12grams of fiber! 12 grams!?!?!) seasoned with chile powder. It was spicy enough to make my nose run, so basically it was perfect. :-)

Feeling Good

Last night I forced my tennis shoes on over my blistered heels. I was happy to discover it didn't hurt nearly as much as I anticipated. So I jogged for 40 minutes on the elliptical machine. It felt so refreshing to be moving again.
Normally, I hate working out inside. I only do it if I have to because I get so bored while I am doing it and the workout feels like it will never end. I need the visual stimulus of being outside. However exceptions have to be made like last night. I have found that watching hour long action tv shows are the only thing to keep me going without focusing on wanting to stop. I have tried several different types of shows. Sitcoms don't work because I am not paying enough attention to get the jokes and if I do get them and laugh then that messing with my breathing. Scary movies also do not work because I cannot focus on what is happening enough to care when someone dies. Romantic comedies do not work probably because I don't like them as much even when I am not exercising. Right now the best show for me to watch while I am working out is the BBC Robin Hood. The episodes move fast, lots of action, I have recently watched them all so I don't have to pay close attention to what is happening, and I adore the accents. What more could I hope for?
Last night for dinner I made the rest of the fresh pasta and sauteed some veggies (broccoli, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, red pepper, and spinach) and then added in some red beans and spices. Served over the pasta with a side of cottage cheese. Delicious and healthy! Mmmm. I even brought the leftovers for lunch today.
Today's goal: Run outside tonight without making my blisters worse.

It's the Eye of the Tiger.

Relay is done!!!! Holla!!

It was a fun, yet exhausting night. I am not sure I could have made it through as well as I did without having the most incredible team mates ever. We cheered each other on as no other team there. I am sure we annoyed other people, but oh well we had enthusiasm in spades. I ate a lot of unhealthy things but I figured I also burned off a ton of calories so I really do not feel bad about having a cheese burger and piece of pizza. It was delicious. :-)

It was also humid. Ridiculously humid. I think I sweated off gallons of water. I have been fighting off some dehydration ever since, not quit able to get rid of this constant thirst. Also lingering behind are two nasty blisters on my heels. Not the end of the world but it will prevent my from running for a couple days. So I have been doing yoga. I cannot describe how amazing it felt to stretch so intensely on the Saturday following the race. I really intend to make a better effort of running and doing yoga most days.

I invented a delicious and carb filled dinner on Saturday night. It had whole wheat fresh pasta I bought at farmers market. I added in some chicken asiago sausage (my new favorite thing at only 110 calories), laughing cow lite cheese, and spices (garlic, onion powder, cajun seasoning, sea salt, and pepper). Broccoli and tomatoes on the side. Mmmmm is was so so delicous.

Average Everyday Sane Psycho

Hello people (though I have my doubts there are actually people reading this, but on the off chance I feel as if I should offer a greeting, so here it is...glad I clarified that)

This week as expected is crazy busy. I am supposed to meet the girls tonight for a run, BUT I think I am too busy. I think I will have to work out alone so I can finish and get to the Relay stuff.

Ack!!! Relay for life is tomorrow afternoon. There is SO much to do and so little time left. I am not good at putting things off until the last minute. Yes, the stress is motivating but at the same time it is all consuming and I hate that. This week and my time feels like it has gotten away from me a bit, but I am sure I will rally fine and everything will work out smoothly. Besides it is totally worth it. Relay For Life is such a great cause. So many people in my family alone have had and died from cancer. It is a disease that touches absolutely everyone and I want to do my part in preventing cancer for future generations.

This morning's green monster was the same as always (banana, strawberries and blueberries, a little vanilla yogurt and almond milk. I left out the juice this morning because I didn't have time to open a new bottle.), delicious. I am thinking tonight will be some sort of pizza I have an idea for, but we will see what my time situation is. I might have to settle for the always classic PBJ. Mmmm. I took off last night because I was just too busy to work out with meetings and what not. Tonight my goal is to improve my miles per hour by .1 miles per hour. Wish me luck!

That's What Friends Are For

The greatest thing to happen during this get healthy, get in shape, 5k training kick is the wonderful, wonderful support from friends. New and old friends are so supportive of my endeavor and several have even jumped on board with me. The main people training for the 5k with me are friends I have had since high school and elementary. We have been friends for a crazy amount of time. We have known each other through big hair, braces, heart break, rumors, bad skin, bad attitudes, crayons, recess, kick ball, tag, moving, marriage, divorces (parent's and our own), successes, and failures. Basically, I know these girls as well as I know myself. It is so motivating knowing that they are counting on me. There are days I do not want to work out, days I want to make bad choices but then I think doing this isn't going to get me to my goal and I will not allow myself to fail them.

Our running group has made talk of escalating. Why should we only work on our bodies when we can use our time together to strengthen our minds and souls? It isn't easy getting everyone on board but they will eventually come around to the new plan. Meeting once a week or biweekly to go yoga and jog. Then followed with a healthy breakfast. I have lots of ideas for different breakfasts we can try. We are also going to start reading books together as well. First book is Eat Pray Love. Would I have ever read that book without one of the suggesting it. No. But it won't hurt me to read it and if I am lucky maybe it will open my mind to something I had never thought of before and I will be a better person for having read it. The worst that could happen is I will not enjoy and and wasted a couple hours of tv time. But can you ever really consider time spent reading more of a waste than rotting your brain in front of the glorious television, probably not.

I am an incredibly fortunate person to have so many wonderful, strong, and funny women in my life. I hope everyone has friends like this, because it makes life that much more enjoyable to live.

Ha! Enough with the sappiness. Back to the facts. Had an incredibly enjoyable green monster this morning. I added a little more almond milk and cranergy, it tasted fabulous. I also improved my minutes per mile by 45 seconds last night. Huge WIN for me!!!

It's all in your mind

I joggled my two fastest miles yesterday. It felt great when the Nike + congratulated me on my time. It also made me realize I haven't been pushing myself hard enough. I think the problem that is easy to fall into is that when you work out with someone you naturally talk to them. While conversation is good, it takes your concentration away from what you are doing and it is easy to slack off.
However, now that I am aware of the problem I can double my focus and push myself harder whether I am joggling alone or with someone else. Playlist is coming along great. It has gotten slightly out of hand with all the songs I want on it. I think I will refocus the effort and make a 30 minute one, a 45 minute one, and a hour one because I can be crazy obsessive about music.
I have a new recipe floating around in my head. I will make it either today or tomorrow and let you know if it is good. (Pictures included, hopefully) I love cooking, I even love it more when I know that I have made something healthy, delicious, and low calorie. :-)

With enough courage, you can do without a reputation

Whew! It was a crazy weekend. It also promises to be a crazy week. Relay For Life on Friday/Saturday and lots to do before then. I joggled on Friday, it was hot but good. Saturday I did a short workout in the morning and Sunday was my first day off from exercising in the last few weeks. It was a much needed break, I am glad I took it, but I am ready to get back out there today. This morning also marks my first morning without a green monster in a while too (because I overslept! FAIL). I miss it.
Oh well a new week is before me and I am still determined… like Scarlet O’Hara determined. So what if my lungs at times feel like they are going to explode, so what my hip and knee now occasionally hurts. I am armed with apsercreme and stubbornness. *cue light breeze*As God as my witness… *cue sunset* I will never give into laziness again.

Goal this week: Make myself a kick-ass running playlist.