Friday love: Quick and dirty

Workout: 45 minutes shoveling snow

Today is Friday and Friday is all about love ... blah, blah, blah. I am sort of cranky today but I do owe it to you all to show some sort of affection.

And here it is.

Food. Apples, apple juice, apple butter, applesauce, apple cider. All things apple. I'm dying to make an Apple Pie Float I saw this week. But if you are in need of a dinner recipe - and not dessert - try this Southwest Pasta Skillet. It was a big hit at the Healthy Strides house this week.

Fitness. I'm really getting back into using the free weights, and I love it. I feel strong. Plus, my arms are the one part of my body I can control, fitness-wise, and I'm going to be damned if I go into labor with flabby wings.

Life. March is nearing. March. Is. Nearing. And that must mean an end to the snow some day soon. I don't even live in the beleaguered Northeast and still, I never have shoveled this much snow as I have this year.

And since this post isn't a whole lot of fun, here's the ABCs of me that's been floating around.

A. Age: 29
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore you hate: All of them. Seriously. I hate to clean. However, the bath tub ranks No. 1.
D. Dogs: Denali!!! He's a 2-year-old Siberian husky and, by all accounts, the cutest dog on the planet.
E. Essential start to your day: Coffee. Even if it's decaf.
F. Favorite color: Green or orange.
G. Gold or silver: Silver
H. Height: 5-foot-3
I. Instruments you play: I took one year of flute lessons in 5th grade but was creeped out by the teacher. No big loss.
J. Job title: Assistant Features Editor
K. Kids: A sea monkey is a brewin'.
L. Live: Fort Wayne
M. Mom’s name: Pat.
N. Nicknames: Kim-Kims, Brat, Sissy and Monkey Poo. I don't think people like me very much.
O. Overnight hospital stays: None that I can remember.
P. Pet peeve: Tardiness.
Q. Quote from a movie: "Donny, you're out of your element."
R. Righty or Lefty: Righty
S. Siblings: Just one - a brother
T. Time you wake up: Before 6:30 a.m.
U. Underwear: Am I supposed to wear them?
V. Vegetables you dislike: I am beginning to like my least favorites - cucumbers and eggplant.
W. What makes you run late: See Letter D.
X. X-rays you’ve had: Arm and my arm and my arm again.
Y. Yummy food you make: Anything I make is yummy unless it is at-home Indian food. I can't make Indian food to save my life.
Z. Zoo animal favorite: Gorillas.

Three Things Thursday

Workout: 25 minutes with weights and “Sex and the City 2”

Whooah/ We're half way there/ Whooah/ Livin' on a prayer/ Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear/ Livin' on a prayer

It’s official. I’m 20 weeks pregnant. I’m really excited to be at the half-way point though I’ve read the second half feels far longer than the first.

And, per request, here’s a belly pic. It was shot by a gal at work who knows how to take a photo and direct me so I look a little less stupid. I’m wearing maternity jeans (from Target) and a shirt from Express that I bought this summer that is stretchy enough to fit.

1. It’s a funny thing, being pregnant. Your body changes, your emotional stability changes. And your ability to make decisions for yourself also seems to change. Before I move on, I feel it necessary to state that I am an adult. I am 29 years old. I lived on my own for five years before Mark moved into my house. I bought a car, went on vacation, moved to a new state – all on my own. Yet, it seems that now that I am pregnant, I am deemed incompetent to make my own decisions. People tell me when I can go for a walk and when I can’t; what’s suitable exercise and what isn’t; that under no circumstances can I do a cartwheel in the office. I am pregnant. I can’t do those things and it certainly can’t be left up to make those decisions.

I know I sound a bit bitter, maybe more bitter than I really am, but it amuses me that people trust me to grow a person but not walk across the parking lot.

2. Speaking of people bossing me around, Mark is jumping on my doctor’s coattails and advocating limited running. I know he’s trying to protect his kid so I’m cutting him slack. And, I’m checking out a water aerobics class on Monday. It won’t be my first foray into water exercise but it will be the first time where I’m sure to be the youngest person by 35 years.

3. I might have ran in capris last week but winter is certainly not over. We had ice this morning, delaying schools (hence the limited workout), and we’re expected to get 6 to 10 inches of snow tonight. Boo! I’d say I’m hitting the treadmill on campus tomorrow but I have a feeling that I’ll be yoga’ing at home and shoveling snow. I still plan to get in two more runs – Saturday (on campus if necessary) and Sunday.

A Guide to Preggo Running: Part 1 and giveaway details

Workout: 3.33-mile run

Running while pregnant isn’t as simple as grabbing a cup of coffee, lacing up your shoes and going. Things have to change. Your routine has to change.

Here’s what I did this morning, very typical of mornings I run:

Step 1: Acknowledge the importance of hydration and drink two bottles of room temperature water as your pregnant self has an aversion to cold water.

Step 2: Realize that the feeling in your belly isn’t the baby moving – it’s your stomach grumbling. Eat a small bowl of oats with a cup of half-caff coffee on the side. After all, you still need to hydrate.

Step 3: Go to the bathroom.

Step 4: As your food settles, load iPod with soothing music to keep you on the slow side and charge it as you now take longer.

Step 5: Go to the bathroom before you get dressed. It’s 18 degrees outside, meaning two pairs of pants are required and if you need to go to the bathroom again, you’ll have to pull down two pairs.

Step 6: Carefully tie the drawstring of your running tights, being mindful of your bigger belly but insuring that your pants don’t fall down.

Step 7: Untie your pants and go to the bathroom.

Step 8: Disconnect your iPod and find your Garmin. Put in your ear buds before putting on your hat.

Step 9: Go to the bathroom again. And again. And again. Three times in 10 minutes is sure to keep you from dribbling on the run.

Step 10: Put on your shoes and double knot the laces, taking even the smallest step to prevent a fall. Acknowledge the greatness in still being able to touch your toes, to move, to run and set off.

***

OK, so I feel like the lamest blogger ever – only two people shared pork recipes with me for my giveaway. I’m going to blame myself for calling the prize lame, when in fact it is not, and not telling you what it was.

So here it is, your fab prize.

 

A POM Wonderful tote bag, which includes a coupon for a bottle of POM Wonderful, an assortment of GU products for all those spring races and a fun cookbook.  I may also include other fun things that I have yet to acquire :) And to sweeten the pot even more, there will be TWO winners!

Here’s the lowdown:

*Go to the original giveaway post here and leave a comment telling me what your favorite pork dish is. You must be a follower of the blog.

*If you leave a recipe in a separate comment, you will earn an additional entry. The two lovely ladies who have already left recipes need to do nothing. I’ll comment on the post with your name and recipe for the additional entry.

*If you post a link on your blog, you get an additional entry. Leave a comment indicating you did so.

*On Monday, using Random.org, I’ll pick the two winners.

So enter. Everyone loves free stuff.

Put a stick in me, we’re done

The morning, in pictures.

30 minutes of my favorite winter cardio: shoveling 4 inches of snow. (I also did 20 minutes of “Joy of Yoga” until it got to the lie on your belly part and then I did five sun salutations.)

Denali found a giant branch in the yard and chewed at it with manic determination.

He also dug a hole with furious determination because he is so over winter … and he likes to eat bugs.

It was such a bummer that this was how we spent the morning but at least the snow should keep me occupied until I can get to the library and pick up the two prenatal yoga videos I have on hold. AND, in sort of related news, I saw on Facebook that my yoga studio is doing a 6-week prenatal workshop. I am not sure if I am going to do it yet. What do you think?

Trimming the pork

Workout: 25 minutes with weights and GMA. I also took a two-block walk with Denali. To quote the great musician Vanilla Ice … “Ice, ice, baby.”

I have a list, divided by department. The list is marked with sale items and coupons. I even have a menu for reference. Yet, no matter what I do, I can’t manage to go to the grocery and not forget something.

This week, it was boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this tasty Asian rice noodle soup (we ate it last night – try it) and pork chops for, well, pork chops.

So Saturday morning, I walked across the street to the other grocery to pick up some meat and ice cream for Mark. Twenty minutes later, I walked back across the street with supplies to make cookies, ice cream, three chicken breasts and 5 million pork chops.

 
In case you were wondering, yes. Yes, I did go to the grocery without brushing my hair and looking like a homeless lady. The scowl was a result of too much thinking in the meat department.

In my defense, these were on “manager’s special” and ended up being $2 more for four times the meat. We’re trying to save money up in the Healthy Strides house so I figured that I could package the chops in sets of two and throw ’em in the freezer. And once each week for the next 3,456 four weeks, Mark and I can eat pork.

Tonight, we’re going super crazy – grilled pork chops (seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic powder) and cornbread stuffing. Broccoli, it’s on the side.

However, for the other three weeks, I’d like to go real crazy. And I was hoping you could help by, like, you know, sharing your favorite pork recipe. If you are a follower and submit a tasty idea, I just might pick you to win a lame prize but a real prize nonetheless. I’m for reals. Just call this a giveaway. Of the pork variety.

By the way, when I Google’d “tower of pork chops,” this was the first photo to pop up on the image results.

That’s Duff from “Ace of Cakes.” A bit ironic, considering he is Jewish and pork is so not kosher. He could not win the prize.

Weight a minute

Workout: 3.0-mile run

I feel heavy.

When I run, I feel heavy.

I can feel my shirts riding up as I move my arms front and back.

I can feel my belly as I put one foot in front of the other.

I can feel my breath become more labored earlier in the run with each passing day.

I just feel heavy.

I first noticed the feeling when I went for a run on Friday, the muscles in my abdomen tugging. My belly just hanging out. It's awkward and sort of gross, really. Like eating three banana splits. And I know you are super glad that I shared that with you.

The funny thing is, though, that as heavy as I feel, my pace isn't that bad. I'm no longer tracking it - officially, at least - but I am hovering just under 10-minute miles. Not too shabby after getting knocked up and a 13-pound weight gain. Of course, paced oesn't matter - it's just getting out there ;)

And baby boy agrees - he just kicked ... or punched ... or stuck out his butt.

How were your weekend workouts?