4 days
3 states
2 beds
1 trip to pool
See you in 13.1 miles
Friday, March 29, 2013
Friday countdown
5 bags (1 for Mark, 1.5 for Miles, 1.5 for Kim, 1 for food)
4 days
3 states
2 beds
1 trip to pool
See you in 13.1 miles
4 days
3 states
2 beds
1 trip to pool
See you in 13.1 miles
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Sweet nothings
Sacrifice.
When embarking on a weight-loss journey, it is nearly inevitable that a person is going to have to make sacrifices - especially when it comes to food - because, last time I checked, a large Mint Oreo Blizzard wasn't in most eating plans. There's cutting things out entirely, reducing portion size (though a mini Blizzard still clocks in at xxx calories) or finding innovative ways to enjoy the qualities of certain foods without the calories.
And we've all seen those innovative ways. "Guilt-Free" Hazelnut spread, black bean brownies, protein pudding. But those innovations can sometimes (or) introduce artificial sweeteners and ingredients.
When I was in the thick of Weight Watchers, I was an "innovation queen." I would whip up Pumpkin Fluff that had sugar-free pudding and low-fat whipped topping, each carrying a long list of ingredients. Low-fat ice cream was a favorite but some of he treats have high fructose corn syrup. I made oatmeal variation after oatmeal variation that included my new favorite ingredient, stevia. And, of course, there was the Diet Coke.
I thought that the swaps I was making were what I had to do - and it probably was - and in the beginning, didn't think much beyond that. As I became successful, I told myself and touted that they were healthy. They were such a part of my daily eating habits that I couldn't imagine giving them up.
And then, in November, a co-worker posted a link to Dr. Fuhrman's Healthy Holiday Challenge. The 60 day challenge was a way for Eat to Live followers to reconnect with their lifestyle, which eschews oil, salt, white flour and sweeteners of all varieties among other things. For me, it was a way to disconnect from habits that I was beginning to think weren't so healthy and sever ties with Diet Coke.
I didn't make it the whole 60 days (hello, Christmas) but I did manage to kick my Diet Coke habit and rid my diet of artificial sweeteners. It is true. The girl who put stevia in everything has not touched a substitute intentionally since November (save for the diet soda I had when I had food poisoning).
I was eating sugar, though - and lots of it. But sugar had to be healthier, in moderation, than the substitutes, I reasoned.
Don't worry, the irony wasn't lost at me.
And so I found myself at a cross-roads. Just what kind of sweetener is OK? Honey and maple syrup are natural but still provide a sweet taste that I crave and pack some calories. Traditional sugared treats often send me into a tailspin of indulgence that leaves me feeling guilty. Stevia is "natural" but I find that people use it too frequently to make these faux desserts that are often not solving the need or addiction but putting a bandage on it.
Editor's note: This could be my own issues speaking and is merely my perception.
It's something I have been struggling with for the past couple months. I wanted to eat dessert but I wanted to eat clean and I wanted to control my weight. I thought I could do it with portion control but after a particularly bad bender last week, I found myself revisiting some of the foundations of Dr. Fuhrman's Eat to Live protocol. It's almost as if it's a cleanse, ridding the body of addictive, artificial ingredients and introducing control and willpower.
It's been nine days since I've intentionally eaten anything with added sugar and I plan to continue with it for at least the month of April as Laura at Mommy Run Fast posted a Sugar Detox Challenge for the month. Her initial post had some really interesting things to say about sugar and today she offers tips for overcoming sugar cravings. (I'm a big fan of the sweet vegetables as this weekend I added sweet potato and carrots to my wheat pancake mix, skipped the sugar and enjoyed every bite.)
I love the accountability of the challenge but, more importantly, I'm hoping to find a middle ground where I can eat a dessert here and there without a tail spin and find a definition for my healthy.
What is your relationship with sugar? Do you think certain sugar substitutes are OK? Do you think you are up for the challenge?
When embarking on a weight-loss journey, it is nearly inevitable that a person is going to have to make sacrifices - especially when it comes to food - because, last time I checked, a large Mint Oreo Blizzard wasn't in most eating plans. There's cutting things out entirely, reducing portion size (though a mini Blizzard still clocks in at xxx calories) or finding innovative ways to enjoy the qualities of certain foods without the calories.
And we've all seen those innovative ways. "Guilt-Free" Hazelnut spread, black bean brownies, protein pudding. But those innovations can sometimes (or) introduce artificial sweeteners and ingredients.
When I was in the thick of Weight Watchers, I was an "innovation queen." I would whip up Pumpkin Fluff that had sugar-free pudding and low-fat whipped topping, each carrying a long list of ingredients. Low-fat ice cream was a favorite but some of he treats have high fructose corn syrup. I made oatmeal variation after oatmeal variation that included my new favorite ingredient, stevia. And, of course, there was the Diet Coke.
I thought that the swaps I was making were what I had to do - and it probably was - and in the beginning, didn't think much beyond that. As I became successful, I told myself and touted that they were healthy. They were such a part of my daily eating habits that I couldn't imagine giving them up.
And then, in November, a co-worker posted a link to Dr. Fuhrman's Healthy Holiday Challenge. The 60 day challenge was a way for Eat to Live followers to reconnect with their lifestyle, which eschews oil, salt, white flour and sweeteners of all varieties among other things. For me, it was a way to disconnect from habits that I was beginning to think weren't so healthy and sever ties with Diet Coke.
I didn't make it the whole 60 days (hello, Christmas) but I did manage to kick my Diet Coke habit and rid my diet of artificial sweeteners. It is true. The girl who put stevia in everything has not touched a substitute intentionally since November (save for the diet soda I had when I had food poisoning).
I was eating sugar, though - and lots of it. But sugar had to be healthier, in moderation, than the substitutes, I reasoned.
Don't worry, the irony wasn't lost at me.
And so I found myself at a cross-roads. Just what kind of sweetener is OK? Honey and maple syrup are natural but still provide a sweet taste that I crave and pack some calories. Traditional sugared treats often send me into a tailspin of indulgence that leaves me feeling guilty. Stevia is "natural" but I find that people use it too frequently to make these faux desserts that are often not solving the need or addiction but putting a bandage on it.
Editor's note: This could be my own issues speaking and is merely my perception.
It's something I have been struggling with for the past couple months. I wanted to eat dessert but I wanted to eat clean and I wanted to control my weight. I thought I could do it with portion control but after a particularly bad bender last week, I found myself revisiting some of the foundations of Dr. Fuhrman's Eat to Live protocol. It's almost as if it's a cleanse, ridding the body of addictive, artificial ingredients and introducing control and willpower.
It's been nine days since I've intentionally eaten anything with added sugar and I plan to continue with it for at least the month of April as Laura at Mommy Run Fast posted a Sugar Detox Challenge for the month. Her initial post had some really interesting things to say about sugar and today she offers tips for overcoming sugar cravings. (I'm a big fan of the sweet vegetables as this weekend I added sweet potato and carrots to my wheat pancake mix, skipped the sugar and enjoyed every bite.)
I love the accountability of the challenge but, more importantly, I'm hoping to find a middle ground where I can eat a dessert here and there without a tail spin and find a definition for my healthy.
What is your relationship with sugar? Do you think certain sugar substitutes are OK? Do you think you are up for the challenge?
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Spring Training: Week 12
Spring Training posts document my training for the Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon on March 30 and my "A" race, the Wisconsin Marathon half, on May 4.
The week, in training:
Monday: Crunch "Fat Burning Yoga"
Tuesday: 5 miles + BODYPUMP (taught)
Wednesday: 4 miles, intervals
Thursday: 5 miles + Jillian Michaels' "Killer Abs," level one
Friday: Piloxing
Saturday: BODYPUMP (taught) + 8.18-mile run
Sunday: Jillian Michael's "Yoga Meltdown," level one
The week, in training:
Monday: Crunch "Fat Burning Yoga"
Tuesday: 5 miles + BODYPUMP (taught)
Wednesday: 4 miles, intervals
Thursday: 5 miles + Jillian Michaels' "Killer Abs," level one
Friday: Piloxing
Saturday: BODYPUMP (taught) + 8.18-mile run
Sunday: Jillian Michael's "Yoga Meltdown," level one
◊ ◊ ◊
It's the final countdown. Five days till I toe the line at Run the Bluegrass. Five days till I gauge my fitness for the Wisconsin half marathon. Five days till I sink my teeth into a big ole Sweet & Sassy Redhead cupcake.
Don't hate - a girl's gotta have something to look forward to! And, after five days of no sugar, that cupcake sounds mighty good.
Anyway, it would seem natural in a post five days out from a half-marathon to share my goals for the race but I haven't really got any besides the basic things - run strong, have fun, don't puke at the finish. I'm really just using this as a supported training run with a beautiful break in scenery that offers the opportunity to eat Southern fare and goetta.
Instead, I'll share with you 13.1 notes about my training in honor of the 13.1 miles I'll be running.
1. I've never been more thankful for Netflix streaming than I have this winter as I have relied on it for entertainment on my treadmill runs. I've watched "Downton Abbey" (not very conducive to a sweat session), "LOST," "The Peacemaker" and, last week, "Psycho." We watched the pilot for "Bates Motel" (so good) and I wanted to get the back story. Or the front story. Whatev.
2. I will listen to music, occasionally, on the treadmill. My favorite songs right now are Christina Aguilera's "Fighter" and "Don't You Worry Child" from Swedish House Mafia. However, I mostly listen to Pandora's Cardio Dance Channel
3. Despite logging a lot of miles on the treadmill, I have been outside about half the time - or more - and I have to say this winter stunk for running. We might not have had a lot of snow (during actual winter) but I don't remember a colder or windier or just plain blustier winter in some time.
4. After eating Swedish fish throughout my marathon training, I've returned to more traditional fueling sources. I've had Honey Stinger Chews, Sport Beans and Shot Bloks. I'm the biggest fan of Shot Bloks, and I have a pack of tropical punch for the race.
5. The one thing that has been off is my hydration. I hate carrying water when it's cold outside, even with a handheld. The water freezes up and my hand is cold and the bottle throws off my balance. Unless Mark joins me with the stroller for 4 miles or I do loops, I have been guilty of doing long runs sans hydration. I definitely need to step up in this department and get things straight for Wisconsin.
6. I have made it through the plan without having to buy new shoes but my Nike Structure Triax now have 400+ miles on them, and I can tell they are ready to go. I'll be hitting the running store for some new kicks next week.
7. I also wear a pair of Nike Lunarfly 3's for lighter runs. Just so you know.
8. I always thought of myself as a 4-day-a-week runner, and I'm beginning to think that I'm more of a 5-day-a-week runner. I really like hitting higher mileage and combining a short run with some longer stretching or plyo workout .
9. Despite going to five days of running, it is still my rule not to run more than three days in a row. Hence why I only ran four times this week.
10. I have not pushed the stroller once during this training cycle. If I do a loop with the boys, Mark is a gentleman and volunteers for BOB duty. (Truth be told, I don't think he wants to deal with Denali pulling.)
11. I'm fairly certain that I have not lost a single toenail this cycle, which is incredible. I am not going to rule it out after the race, though.
12. I had been worried that I would have to give up dairy during this training cycle as I did during marathon training but everything seems to be OK. I've only had one incident, and it was after eating eggs pre-run. Not smart. Not smart at all.
13. And another thing I haven't done? I haven' intentionally carb-loaded for long runs. I probably eat enough carbs on a daily basis that I don't need to make a conscious effort to eat more.
13.1. I love running even when I don't like, and I feel blessed and thankful that I can do it.
Let's do this!
Don't hate - a girl's gotta have something to look forward to! And, after five days of no sugar, that cupcake sounds mighty good.
Anyway, it would seem natural in a post five days out from a half-marathon to share my goals for the race but I haven't really got any besides the basic things - run strong, have fun, don't puke at the finish. I'm really just using this as a supported training run with a beautiful break in scenery that offers the opportunity to eat Southern fare and goetta.
Instead, I'll share with you 13.1 notes about my training in honor of the 13.1 miles I'll be running.
1. I've never been more thankful for Netflix streaming than I have this winter as I have relied on it for entertainment on my treadmill runs. I've watched "Downton Abbey" (not very conducive to a sweat session), "LOST," "The Peacemaker" and, last week, "Psycho." We watched the pilot for "Bates Motel" (so good) and I wanted to get the back story. Or the front story. Whatev.
2. I will listen to music, occasionally, on the treadmill. My favorite songs right now are Christina Aguilera's "Fighter" and "Don't You Worry Child" from Swedish House Mafia. However, I mostly listen to Pandora's Cardio Dance Channel
3. Despite logging a lot of miles on the treadmill, I have been outside about half the time - or more - and I have to say this winter stunk for running. We might not have had a lot of snow (during actual winter) but I don't remember a colder or windier or just plain blustier winter in some time.
4. After eating Swedish fish throughout my marathon training, I've returned to more traditional fueling sources. I've had Honey Stinger Chews, Sport Beans and Shot Bloks. I'm the biggest fan of Shot Bloks, and I have a pack of tropical punch for the race.
5. The one thing that has been off is my hydration. I hate carrying water when it's cold outside, even with a handheld. The water freezes up and my hand is cold and the bottle throws off my balance. Unless Mark joins me with the stroller for 4 miles or I do loops, I have been guilty of doing long runs sans hydration. I definitely need to step up in this department and get things straight for Wisconsin.
6. I have made it through the plan without having to buy new shoes but my Nike Structure Triax now have 400+ miles on them, and I can tell they are ready to go. I'll be hitting the running store for some new kicks next week.
7. I also wear a pair of Nike Lunarfly 3's for lighter runs. Just so you know.
8. I always thought of myself as a 4-day-a-week runner, and I'm beginning to think that I'm more of a 5-day-a-week runner. I really like hitting higher mileage and combining a short run with some longer stretching or plyo workout .
9. Despite going to five days of running, it is still my rule not to run more than three days in a row. Hence why I only ran four times this week.
10. I have not pushed the stroller once during this training cycle. If I do a loop with the boys, Mark is a gentleman and volunteers for BOB duty. (Truth be told, I don't think he wants to deal with Denali pulling.)
11. I'm fairly certain that I have not lost a single toenail this cycle, which is incredible. I am not going to rule it out after the race, though.
12. I had been worried that I would have to give up dairy during this training cycle as I did during marathon training but everything seems to be OK. I've only had one incident, and it was after eating eggs pre-run. Not smart. Not smart at all.
13. And another thing I haven't done? I haven' intentionally carb-loaded for long runs. I probably eat enough carbs on a daily basis that I don't need to make a conscious effort to eat more.
13.1. I love running even when I don't like, and I feel blessed and thankful that I can do it.
Let's do this!
Monday, March 25, 2013
Order's up: Healthy example
I had a lunch date today. Well, hot in the form of spicy food and date in the form of my favorite adventurous-eating co-woerk.
S and I usually eat lunch once or twice a month, frequenting Asian restaurants (Burmese, Thai, Vietnamese) that our husbands don't particularly appreciate. Today, though, S decided to get me primed for my excursion to the great South (aka Lexington) and selected a neighborhood barbecue joint.
When I wrote my list of goals for the day, I included eating a plant-based lunch ... but I have also been meaning to re-visit this spot, known for its burnt ends and green chile macaroni and cheese.
So we went.
I chatted with S about my menu favorites but I let her order first as I tried to find some balance among the selections. I ended up going with the smoked turkey, green beans, tomato-cuke salad and green chile mac. I figured that going with the lean meats and picking something green as sides equaled enough balance to justify the mac and meet my goal half-way.
I didn't think of my order much beyond that until S and I were walking back into the office. We were chatting about how good the food was when she made mention that she had wished I had ordered first. She thought that if she had seen my selections first, which she knows skew to the better options (not always best), that she might have selected something different.
A bit surprised and flattered, I told her that I'd do my best to go first next time. The conversation got me thinking: Do you rely on friends or family to set good examples or keep you accountable?
I know that I'm more likely to make poorer choices when I'm with people who don't value healthy eating. I can tell you exactly who (but won't) I will invite out because I'm craving dessert or that latte + pumpkin loaf. I will allow myself to, for all intents and purposes, sabotage myself because I can say so-and-so convinced me to get it. However, I've never relied on another person's habits to make me stay in my healthier comfort zone.
I guess you can say that I have an intrinsic motivation to eat things that are good to my body and need extrinsic motivation to eat things that will make my body feel crappy.
P.S. Today's vocabulary lesson was brought to you by the American Council on Exercise and CVS, where I found insanely cute index cards to help me study for my personal training exam.
S and I usually eat lunch once or twice a month, frequenting Asian restaurants (Burmese, Thai, Vietnamese) that our husbands don't particularly appreciate. Today, though, S decided to get me primed for my excursion to the great South (aka Lexington) and selected a neighborhood barbecue joint.
When I wrote my list of goals for the day, I included eating a plant-based lunch ... but I have also been meaning to re-visit this spot, known for its burnt ends and green chile macaroni and cheese.
So we went.
I chatted with S about my menu favorites but I let her order first as I tried to find some balance among the selections. I ended up going with the smoked turkey, green beans, tomato-cuke salad and green chile mac. I figured that going with the lean meats and picking something green as sides equaled enough balance to justify the mac and meet my goal half-way.
I didn't think of my order much beyond that until S and I were walking back into the office. We were chatting about how good the food was when she made mention that she had wished I had ordered first. She thought that if she had seen my selections first, which she knows skew to the better options (not always best), that she might have selected something different.
A bit surprised and flattered, I told her that I'd do my best to go first next time. The conversation got me thinking: Do you rely on friends or family to set good examples or keep you accountable?
I know that I'm more likely to make poorer choices when I'm with people who don't value healthy eating. I can tell you exactly who (but won't) I will invite out because I'm craving dessert or that latte + pumpkin loaf. I will allow myself to, for all intents and purposes, sabotage myself because I can say so-and-so convinced me to get it. However, I've never relied on another person's habits to make me stay in my healthier comfort zone.
I guess you can say that I have an intrinsic motivation to eat things that are good to my body and need extrinsic motivation to eat things that will make my body feel crappy.
P.S. Today's vocabulary lesson was brought to you by the American Council on Exercise and CVS, where I found insanely cute index cards to help me study for my personal training exam.
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