Healthy Strides

An ode to my BFF

2012-03-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

It's been too long.

Two long actually.

Two years since I've seen my friend in person.

She's the one who's success with Weight Watchers inspired my own journey.

We have seen each other graduate from college, experience (and live through) first jobs, make big moves, find love.

We have seen each other get married. (And yes, I accidentally "borrowed" her wedding colors.)

She stood by me and held my hand when I said goodbye to my mom.

We've been with each other through pregnancies and motherhood.

Through it all, though, we've never lived in the same city (except for our senior year of college). Yet, I could not be closer to this amazing woman. A woman who never fails to inspire me, never fails to be there for me. I am blessed to call her my friend.

Today, I get to see her, her skinny self. And she will see me in my skinny splendor. Two longtime friends who will, in a way, be meeting each other for the first time. Sort of amazing, right?!

To say I'm excited would be an understatement. Not just because I will get to hug her and sleep with her (yes, it's one bed for us though not by choice). I am excited to celebrate who we are and who we've become and all because of each other.

I cannot wait to toe the starting line of Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans and run 7.5 miles for her ... and because of her.

Kick it up ... or how I almost punched my friend

2012-03-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

I learned something last night. Well, more like reaffirmed something I've known for a really long time.

I have no rhythm. None. Zilch. Nada. Just ask my college roommate. She has stories but none that anyone really needs to hear.

Anyway. My lack of rhythm usually only plagues me during Zumba, when I just jump around and shake my butt, but last night I got to experience it in a whole new way.

Since I'll be missing Body Pump, Zumba and L on Saturday, I asked my friend to meet me for a boot camp-esque class and Turbo Kick. She is far too kind and obliged me - even though she took Body Pump and two Zumba classes the day before.

Katie (in the middle) taught our boot camp session in December, and it was so nice to have her kick my butt again. Instead of the normal circuits, we did cardio and strength intervals, which used only our own body weight for resistance. The cardio intervals consisted of squats, lunges and jumping jacks. For strength, we hit the mat for push ups, tricep push ups, bridges and planks.

I must be getting stronger (finally) because when Katie announced that the 45-minute class was over, I said, "Are you serious?"

And she was.

L and I had a half-hour between boot camp and TurboKick - a bit too long if you ask me. Sure, I had time to go to the bathroom, chat with my friend and get some water but I was antsy by 7:15. So I did what any sane person would do.

I hopped on the spin bike and pedaled with mock ferocity while I chatted with L. I figured if I didn't feel challenged enough in boot camp that I should make the best use of the down time. And somebody else was doing it, and how dare someone show me up?!

A quick ride later, and it was time for Turbo Kick.

Turbo Kick is "a combination of intense kickboxing moves, as well as, dance moves all perfectly choreographed to high energy and motivating music."

And this is where my rhythm problem came in, only exacerbated by my unfamiliarity with the workout. People punched right, I punched left. We were supposed to take 3 steps, I took 5. I was supposed to punch to the wall and I almost punched L. It was a mess. A hot mess. Unlike Zumba, I couldn't just jump around and shake my ass. I found myself just jumping and punching ... and praying that I didn't hit anyone. Which I didn't. I don't think.

Although, I think I could have totally punched the instructor in the gut and she wouldn't have felt it. How is it fair to have abs like that? I look pregnant and she's got an eight-pack.

Oh well. It was a good workout and it's always good to venture outside your comfort zone. Oh, and it was a good affirmation of my chosen workout love: running. Very little rhythm required.

Have you busted out of a rut lately? What's your favorite new-to-you workout?

WIAW: Happy baby

2012-02-29T08:51:00.001-05:00

"Seven times?" Mark asked. "Are you serious?"

"Yes, Mark. Seven times," I told him. "Eight if you count the middle of the night."

I was giving Mark a feeding schedule for Miles while I'm away. It's more of an ideal schedule than an actual one ... but that could be said for pretty much anything about babies.

Anyway, while I was getting Miles' food down, I thought it might be interesting to do What I Ate Wednesday ... Miles edition.

6 a.m. Bottle, 4 ounces.

8 a.m. 3 tablespoons cereal with pureed fruit and 3-ounce bottle.

Right now, we have three boxes of baby cereal going on - oatmeal, brown rice and barley. It's a good thing they're flaky and weird because we all know I can chow on some cereal. Anyway, I just throw a tablespoon of each into the bowl, add a couple plops of fruit (if using Gerber) or 1 cube (if homemade). Today was Gerber, of the apple-prune variety. Mmm.

10:30 a.m. 4-ounce bottle, served in the tony lobby of our pediatrician's office/in the back of the car.

Yep, we were at the doctor again. Miles was still pulling at his ear, and I was worried that his ear infection was lingering. I wanted to make sure he was as close to 100 percent as I could before leaving for NOLA so I made an appointment.

And, as it turns out, I was right. I might be 98 percent clueless but I did get that one right. New antibiotic for Miles. Yay. So if he's fussy for Mark this weekend, it will be separation anxiety and/or general crankiness.

Noon. 3-ounce bottle and 4 tablespoons cereal ... with beets. Yes, beets. My son ate beets. My son, who refused solids for so long. I swear my daycare provider can get him to do just about anything - nap, eat foods, behave.

3 p.m. 3-ounce bottle

5 p.m. 3 tablespoons cereal with green beans - his favorite.

And, no, we don't use bibs.

6 p.m. Potato

OK, he really didn't eat it. More like chewed. I gave it to him (washed, of course) while I was prepping my dinner.

Open-faced Buffalo chicken sandwich with roasted potatoes and broccoli.

7 p.m. 6-ounce bottle

11 p.m. 4-ounce bottle

Sounds super interesting, right? I'm sure you've got something better. What are you eating today?

Oh, the shame

2012-02-28T08:36:00.003-05:00

I'm a street walker.

But before you get your minds in the gutter, I must also tell you something else.

I'm also a street runner.

It's more about logistics than anything else. It's much easier to negotiate a stroller on a semi-smooth road than it is a sidewalk with its bumps and dips and tree limbs and sometimes parked cars. If it's a whole family run, we simply can't fit on the sidewalk. The BOB takes up a good 75 percent of available space and Denali would take the whole sidewalk to himself if he could.

Of course, when I run alone, I could opt for the sidewalk. And, sometimes, I do. However, weather (roads are more likely to be plowed and salted) and plain old habit keep me on the streets 70 percent of the time.

And that's where I found myself on Sunday during my long run. Before I tell you the story behind this post, I need to tell you a little bit about this run. I had 6 miles on tap as a pseudo taper ahead of this weekend's Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans half-marathon relay. During taper weeks, I always have this little devil saying that it would be totally OK to wuss out on the run and do just a few miles. Such was the case on Sunday. My legs were heavy and sore from Saturday's Body Pump class and I only had Mark with me for 3 miles. Three miles as we set off just sounded better than six.

However, for all my mental weakness, I found myself really enjoying the run. By the time I dropped off my three boys and set out on my own, I felt amazing. It was one of those times that you wish running would be all the time but, in reality, you only experience 10 percent of the time. I felt strong. Fast, even. (Note: Feeling fast doesn't always equal running fast.) The sun was shining, making it easy to feel joyous for the ability and determination to run.

My state of euphoria, though, was burst just as I was about to enter the home stretch. I was standing - gasp - in the street, waiting to cross a semi-busy street into my neighborhood. I was waiting for a car to turn when an old lady turned onto the street where I was. As she passed, she waved her finger at me.

Maybe she was doing a little dance to some him jive music but I have a feeling she was shaming me. For standing in the street. If I didn't love my grandma so much or have a general fear of getting shot (you never know who is packing heat these days), I might have done something more than stand there in disbelief. I might have done more than spend the rest of my fabulous outing running with hate.

Don't get me wrong - I don't expect drivers to applaud as they pass me (though that would be nice) but I don't think they should be wagging their finger at me. After all, I'm braving the fake winter cold to do something good for myself and, in turn, good for my family. The shame should be on those who choose to look down and judge me for my decision.

But maybe that's just me. What are your thoughts?

If the shirt fits

2012-02-25T20:24:00.001-05:00

I’m not a fashionista by any stretch of the imagination. Nine times out of 10, I’m headed to work with spit up or oatmeal on my shirt.

The other one time?

Yeah, I’d be workout clothes.

But there’s one piece of fashion advice that I can share with you: If you are losing weight, there’s nothing more important than having clothes that fit. Sure, it’s can be fun to see how baggy your shirts can get and pull off your pants without unbuttoning them. However, well-fitting clothes will help you to see the physical effects of weight loss and make you feel better mentally. (Read: If you look dumpy, you’ll feel dumpy.)

It’s for that reason that I invited L to go shopping with me. My girl is dropping the LBs and is looking good. Her pants are loose, shirts hanging off – definitely reasons to get some new duds. When I was losing weight, I often went to Clothes Mentor (a consignment shop) to pick up basics but lucky for L, I had received a couple coupons for two free Best Tees from Old Navy via Crowdtap and Old Navy’s Sample and Share program.

Disclosure: My participation in Crowdtap is not related to the blog nor was I compensated. I’m just choosing to share our shopping adventure with you.

We hit up the store after Body Pump and Zumba … and lunch … and started eying the goods.

All right, all right. I got a little distracted from our task at hand. Cardigans, butterfly dresses and running jackets with thumb holes are hard to ignore!

L picked up two V-neck vintage tees – one in a gorgeous aqua and the other in a vibrant pink.

I originally grabbed a couple racerback tanks but later found out they weren’t part of the deal (even though that’s what I had seen on the website). Womp. Womp. I ended up with two ribbed tanks – one in blue moon and one pink striped. It might not have been what I wanted but I wear the crap out of these in the summer so it’s no biggie.

And I’ll be back for the racerbacks. After all, what better what to show off all my work in Body Pump than a fitted tank.

Miles, who was shopping with us, refused to leave empty handed. I found him a lion hat on clearance for $2.97. I bought it in the hopes that it will fit him next winter! Rawr.

And as for my winter wardrobe? Well, it got a little addition.

Check out the coat I got for $9.97 – originally $89.97. Booyah! Even better than that? It’s an extra small – two words that I never thought I would see on a clothing label in my closet.

Oh, and before I go, remember when I said I wasn’t a fashionista? Yeah. Just check out my legging, fleece, fake Ugg combo. I so wasn’t lying.

Are you a fashionista? What clothing tips do you have for someone losing weight?

Friday Love: Luck be a lady

2012-02-24T12:47:00.002-05:00

Things are about to get crazy.

After bringing back WIAW this week, I thought I'd revive one of my old features - Friday Love. It might be just for today ... or it might not. We'll see.But since it's been so long, let's skip the introductions and get on with it.

Food. There's this not-so-tiny Greek restaurant not too far from our house that Mark and I love to frequent. I love the exuberant owner and his tzatziki sauce, and Mark loves the braised lamb over noodles with a starter of avgolemono soup. We'd probably eat there every week but since we try to rotate our dining out, we usually only make it once a month or so. In an effort to tide us over, I brought a little bit of Greek to us.

Homemade Avgolemono Soup and Greek-inspired grilled cheese.

I made the soup based on this recipe, subbing rice for orzo, and it turned out OK. I think I blended the eggs and lemon juice too much and it ended up a bit, umm, frothy.

The grilled cheese, though ... yeah. Wow. I had some white (gasp!) pitas in the freezer so I started with those. I added a slice of Provolone (broken in half, one for each side of the inside), raw spinach, diced tomatoes, chopped roasted red pepper and feta. I put it in the skillet and used the tea kettle, bottom covered in foil, to smash it down. Flip and smash some more. Very good.

Nutritionals on the sandwich: 181 calories, 8 grams fat, 12 grams protein and 15 carbs.

Fitness. When I made my Martian half-marathon plan, I was very set on one thing: I only wanted to run three days a week. I didn't want the pressure of a fourth run as sometimes the mornings can be a bit hectic. However, with fake winter, my 5K and just a general desire, I have been running 4 days a week. And, I have to say, I'm quite happy about it. It just feels good to be running more - mentally, at least.

Life. I feel like such a lucky girl. And not just because I'm mom to the most beautiful boy on the planet. Come on, I'm used to that by now. No, yesterday I not only won a giveaway on GU Energy Lab's Facebook page (I'll be receiving some of the new Roctane drink mix!) but I came home to find a sample from Procter & Gamble. And by sample, I mean a new full-size (desperately needed) Cover Girl mascara.

I often sign up for free samples that I see on Money Saving Mom so I'm assuming that's where it came from but I'm going to pretend the Beauty Fairy was pushing me to actually put effort into my appearance.

(Read effort as haphazardly apply minimal makeup in the car while parked in the parking lot of your office building.)

What are you loving lately?

A lesson in sacrifice ... or why I'm not giving up shit for lent

2012-02-23T16:16:00.003-05:00

I grew up in a Catholic family, attended Catholic school and lived (I swear) in one of the most Catholic cities in the country.

From Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, my life was ruled by sacrifice, Boy Scout fish fries, the Stations of the Cross and the desire for what I couldn't have -- sausage links and candy. Or pop. Or hitting my brother. Or ice cream. Or whatever else I had decided to give up for Lent that year.

Even as my religious "practice" waned, I still kept up the ritual of giving up something for Lent. I liked to think it made me a better person and that I was doing it for the glory of God. But let's get real. I was doing it for myself as a way to kick off a diet or renew my healthy lifestyle.

For 40 days, I would give up soda or potatoes or candy and then, on Easter Sunday, I'd hit up the brunch buffet at Granite City and eat my weight in Carmel Rolls and Reggiano Hashbrowns. Total fail on sacrificing for God and total fail on improving my eating because all I was learning was to restrict and purge.

When I realized that Ash Wednesday was this week (thanks to my college roommate for reminding me/giving me an "Oh shit" moment), my immediate reaction was to start thinking of what to "sacrifice" this year.

Enter completely non-nonsensical thoughts of a sleep-deprived mother.

I could give up ice cream, especially the three bites of Mark's I eat each night, because Lord knows I don't need it. Wait. I could give up Diet Coke because that devil aspartame is going to make me need teeth whitening. Or what about macaroni cheese - kryptonite to my carb-loving self. It tasted way too good at the hospital the other day and it's really too easy to make shells and cheese for a side dish. Hot chocolate. Maybe hot chocolate? I know there are way more calories in that cup from the vending machine even if it is teeny tiny.

And then I realized that the only person/deity I was thinking of was myself. If I really wanted to do something for God, I would move my long runs to Saturday and go to church on Sunday. Or at least think about going to church and not running. (Don't even get me started on the notion that it would be me pretending to be pious for a whole 40 days.)

On the flip side, if I want to do something for myself - if I want to make positive changes - I don't need to wait for the black cross on my forehead for the go-ahead. I can do it any time as long as I set my mind to it.

Lent - what are your thoughts?

WIAW: A brief return

2012-02-22T10:21:00.000-05:00

I felt like I had finally made my peace with the scale. After nearly eight months of trying to get my pre-baby body back, I resigned myself to the idea that maybe, just maybe, my post-baby happy weight would be more like 129-130 than the 125 I wanted it to be and definitely not the 122 I saw on the scale just shortly before the big news.

Then something happened. I lost two pounds. To say I was excited would be an understatement. I was filled with new energy and new hope that the number 125 would be in my future. My resolve to eat well was renewed, and I recorded my first 20-mile week.

But just as the excitement set in, something happened. This time, not so good. I stepped on the scale yesterday morning and I was up 3 pounds. I know there is no way I gained 3 pounds and it's likely a fluke but it didn't do much for my mood, which was already dampened because my run got rained out.

In an effort to not let the scale (or Fat Tuesday) set me back, I thought I would bring back What I Ate Wednesday just for fun.

Breakfast

Grits with cheese and dippy egg

Unpictured: Pre-breakfast snack of Fiber One 90-cal bar

Mid-morning snack

Fat-free hot chocolate spiked with instant coffee

Lunch

"Sushi" salad - Bibb lettuce topped with diced cucumbers, matchstick carrots, cubed avocado, faux crab and a brown rice mixture made with brown rice (duh!), 1 tablespoon light mayonnaise, 1/2 teaspoon wasabi and a couple drops of Sriracha.

Afternoon snacks

Apple, Chips Ahoy 100-calorie pack, 1 ounce cashews and Weight Watchers smoked mozzarella string cheese

Dinner

The Deen Brothers Lighter Slow Cooked Stuffed Pepper (On a side note, this recipe was good but not great. I loved the ease of preparation and nutritional stats but it was definitely lacking in flavor. I would add more salt or even better, season salt, black pepper and maybe some Italian herbs.)

Unpictured: Post-run fat-free fudge pop

How did you fare on Fat Tuesday? I would like to note that I passed up King Cake, brownies, pasta leftover from a luncheon in another department and french bread. Go me!

Hello, MOTOACTV: a product review

2012-02-21T10:00:00.000-05:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I love my Garmin Forerunner 305.

Well, loved my Garmin.

After nearly 2 years, my favorite training tool was beginning to fail me. It was taking forever to find a satellite. It was taking forever to load workouts - if they even loaded. It was crashing my laptop at any chance it got.

I tried to make things better between us. I spoke with customer service (the Garmin folks are great!) and got the crash issue resolved. For a short period. I ordered a new USB connector thingy (technical term) from Amazon but it only made it apparent that I was going to need a new cradle - if not a new Garmin. I was scouting discounts and trying to draft a creative, witty proposal to Mark on why we needed to forgo a new dresser for a new Garmin when I got an email.

A very interesting email.

The folks at MOTOACTV had seen my story on Yahoo! and read on this here blog that I had just registered for the Martian half-marathon. I have newish shoes and a pair of tights to get me through training but what I didn't have was a MOTOACTV.

The MOTOACTV, I was told, is an all-in-one GPS fitness tracker and smart music player. It's the perfect companion to help motivate, track, and share workouts. The device features running, biking, elliptical and stair climbing settings. (No swimming for you, you crazy triathletes.)

After some reading and wallet soul searching, I decided that I had nothing to lose by accepting the generous offer. Within a few short days, I was sent an 8GB MOTOACTV with several accessories - the wrist band, the arm band and the bike mount.

It took me a few days to get everything set up and ready (I got it just before Mark went away for the weekend) but soon enough we were off and running ... literally.

Like any relationship, it took us some time to get to know each other but after two weeks and 10 or so runs, I'm ready to share my thoughts.

Oh, you're just a dainty little thing. Weighing in at 35 grams, the MOTOACTV feels significantly lighter than the hefty Garmin Forerunner 305. It is, however, just as big dimension-wise.

Like an iPhone but not. Once I got past just how light this thing was, I was enamored with the display. It was like switching from an old Nokia phone to an iPhone. The display is bright and colorful, and the menus are accessed through touch. I felt like the menus made sense, and it was easy to navigate the system to find what I wanted. Also, the color display makes it much easier to see things like pace, mileage, etc. even in the early morning hours. The only downside is that in the winter you will need to take off a glove or have those fancy tech gloves to get to what you want.

Locating, locating, locating. One of my complaints with the Forerunner 305 was just how long it took to find a satellite. It seemed like forever. And by forever, I mean at least a tenth of a mile walk and sometimes longer. The MOTOACTV has a countdown timer to show you how long it takes. For me it's never been longer than 30 seconds and is usually in the 10 second range.

Glitches. I've had a couple times where things weren't working just right. One of my first times out with the MOTOACTV, I hit something and the display changed. I could no longer see my pace, which was crucial as I was doing a tempo run. Another time, the pace showed just "---" as if I lost satellite but I hadn't. I knew that because it showed a changing distance. When I sync'ed the workout, it showed paces for those splits.

End workout. Damnit! I am not a non-stop runner. We pause for poopy breaks (Denali, not me) and intersections and checks on Miles. You can use an autopause setting (which I hated - took 5+ seconds to pause and didn't restart automatically) or you can manually stop-start the watch by pressing a button at the top of the device. However, when doing so it's too easy to accidentally swipe the screen and end the workout. Seriously, my long run on Sunday was in three parts because of it. It would be nice if there was an "are you sure" feature after pressing end workout.

Sync it to me. After having issues syncing my Garmin, I think the sync feature might be my favorite. Once you end your workout and walk in your house, with a few finger strokes, you can sync your workout via a wifi connection. The information is uploaded to your MOTOACTV profile, where you can look at splits, route and other features.

Music to my ears. While I'm not one to listen to music during most runs because I have the stroller, it is nice to have a playlist to zone out to. MOTOACTV users can sync their music via iTunes (or other things I'm sure) directly to the device, eliminating the need for a Garmin and an iPod. You can sync as much as you want but I created a playlist in iTunes and uploaded just that because 8GB fills up fast when you factor in the space the maps require.

The cool thing about the music feature isn't that you can listen to "Bye Bye Bye" during your 5K - it's that you can see how fast you ran to that song during your 5K when you sync your workout.

For instance, at my recent 5K, I ran my fastest splits to "Bye Bye Bye" and "Jai Ho" and my slowest to "Set Fire to the Rain" and "ET." If I need to run fast, I should listen to the first two. If I need to keep pace in check, Adele's my girl.

Accessorize your life. When you get the MOTOACTV, you get the MOTOACTV - and that's it. The wristband, the armband, bike mount - those are all extra. One could easily spend the equivalent of the device on the accessories, especially if you get the wireless headphones and chest strap (want this!). Sure, it's nice to get just what you need but this girl likes options and options are expensive.

Final thoughts. I like the MOTOACTV. And not just because I got it for free. You see, we've become buddies and I can't imagine going back to the Garmin. Unless I get into triathlons but that's a whole other story ...

Disclosure: The MOTOACTV and accessories were given to me but all opinions are my own.

Bottom's up

2012-02-20T19:09:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you just need a beer.

Served in a glass from your first 5K ... of course.

Sometimes a baby cries for his mom from the moment he gets up till the moment he goes to bed - even if said mom needs to brush teeth and make dinner.

Sometimes a toilet leaks ... and gets your running shoes wet.

Sometimes the weather is absolutely beautiful ... on your rest day.

Sometimes there's rain and snow forecast for your run day.

Sometimes the kitchen faucet doesn't work and when you buy a replacement it doesn't fit.

Sometimes, after a second trip to Menards, a far pricier model and three hours of paid labor later, you have drinking water that doesn't come out of a sprayer.

Sometimes you forget to buy chicken for your chicken lasagna rollups.

Sometimes you get the dang "Laugh and Learn Puppy" song stuck in your head ... for the entire day, leaving you singing "I love you/I love you/Morning, noon and night."

Sometimes your co-workers don't appreciate karaoke hour sponsored by Fisher Price.

Sometimes a hungry bug bites you.

Sometimes you feel like a chunk even though your pants size indicates otherwise.

Sometimes you run out of calories for the day and don't give a flying fig leaf.

Yeah. Sometimes you just need a beer.

Ten(tatively) scheduled

2012-02-19T19:37:00.000-05:00

It couldn't be right. It just couldn't. My training schedule, you see, said I was supposed to run 10 miles today.

Ten miles.

Ten miles with eight weeks still to go till the Martian.

Who the hell makes a half-marathon training plan where you run double digit runs so early?

Source

Oh.

Wait.

That would be me.

I'm fairly certain I designed the plan to include as many double-digit runs as possible because I do best at 13.1 with higher mileage. Either that or I'm a masochist.

This morning, I was betting on the latter.

Nonetheless, I got myself all gussied up in Pearl Izumi tights, a C9 Target top and Nike quarter-zip -- I am loyal to no one -- and tried to get my head in the game. I thought of Megan and Lee who had already fit in (and rocked) their long runs for the weekend. I reminded myself that for 6 miles (the first four would be as a family) I would get to be all by myself. And I did some fuzzy math and realized that 10 miles would finally get me the elusive 20-mile week that I haven't seen in forever.

So I went.

The first four miles weren't too bad. Good, actually. And by good, I mean that I ran too fast with Mark and didn't have to push the stroller. It was a bit cold - 25ish - but there was little wind and some sunshine.

After Mark, Miles and Denali left me, I headed down a main road to catch a section of the Rivergreenway that I don't get to go down much. It was so nice to wind through the woods along the river and feel completely alone. To be somewhere that didn't feel so familiar.

I could have ran the back end of the park where I run a lot but opted to turn off at a trailhead and run through some neighborhoods that would be considered, maybe, urban. I just kept an eye on my distance on the MOTOACTV and winded through as necessary to build mileage. The one thing I didn't want to do was have to run past the house and loop around because I knew if I did, there'd be no loop.

(Did you catch that part about the MOTOACTV? Stay tuned for a review.)

I finished up at 10.02 with a 10:02 pace, strangely enough. And then I had a bowl of oatmeal with pecan butter and dried apricots. Definitely a win-win situation.

How did your weekend shape up?

These are my confessions

2012-02-17T13:35:00.000-05:00

I buy trigger foods - like Honey Bunches of Oats - because they are on sale and have a coupon. And then I proceed to eat two giant bowls because I want to and not because I'm hungry.

I find it hard to say no to co-workers when they wave coconut puffs of heaven in my face and taunt me with facts like, "They don't even have 70 calories."

I have a bite (or three) of Mark's ice cream each night, even if I just had my own portioned treat (read: Skinny Cow bar).

I bribe myself to drink water ... with Diet Coke.

I occasionally eat overly processed pre-packaged meals because they are convenient.

I sometimes make a 6-cup pot of coffee just for myself.

I reheat yesterday's coffee if I managed to stop myself at cup No. 4.

Sometimes that reheated coffee is the only thing that gets me out to run. That, and the hope that a run will put Miles to sleep.

I miss running 6-7 miles before work and sometimes wonder what I would do with myself if I didn't have a baby.

I get down on myself for not being able to run as fast as I used to.

I walk around the house post-run in tights and a sports bra ... and I don't care that we have no curtains in the kitchen and my neighbors can see in.

I dream of having plastic surgery to remove the extra skin so I could care even less about my neighbors seeing my bare belly.

Unfortunately, more bare belly means more places off which Denali can lick sweat. I've given up stopping him.

I flip off the dog when he wakes up Miles.

I also flip off the dog when he steals my Weight Watchers Chocolate-Raspberry Ice Cream Bar while I'm trying to give Miles a bottle and feed myself.

Our bedtime routine, the one that's so important for babies, involves a bottle and "Wheel of Fortune." For everyone involved.

I am pretty sure Miles will flip off his kindergarten teacher and tell her to "leave it" and "no face" because that's what is said most often at our house.

I could never be a stay-at-home. I like eating my lunch with two hands too much. Even if said lunch is a pre-packaged Smart Ones.

What are your confessions?

Only a dream

2012-02-16T13:04:00.000-05:00

I keep seeing them on Twitter. Those damn Spartans.

And while I wish they were of the Gerard Butler variety, they are more of the kick your ass variety.

The Spartan Race is an obstacle race ala the Muddy Buddy, Warrior Dash, Tough Mudder, Mud Run - well, you know what I mean. By the way, did you know there's a Hero Rush? It's an obstacle race designed by firefighters. Can we say yummy?

Anyway ... the Spartan Race looks absolutely bad ass in an epic sort of way. There are four different levels or races, so to speak - sprint, super, beast and death - all with their own challenges. However, according to their website, "There is fire, mud, water, barbed wire, and occasionally Hell on Earth. There WILL be obstacles to catch you off guard. Curve balls, so to speak. Get over it."

Sort of sounds like the HUFF, except you know in advance that you are paying for Hell on Earth.

Considering I rocked the HUFF (or something like it) I would be all about doing the Indiana Spartan ... but it's one week after the Martian Half-Marathon, and I need to be mindful of my race/traveling budget. Damn being a responsible grown-up!

Other races I'd like to do with an open-ended budget and schedule:

Source

Nike Women's Half Marathon. San Francisco. Tiffany necklaces. A group of amazing women. I'm not sure that there's anything more appealing than that (except my upcoming trip to NOLA with my BFF). I am sure it's an overpriced difficult race but I'd love to take a girls' weekend with all of my loves and enjoy all that San Fran has to offer and see the city in an amazing way.

Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Madrid. Ever since I got sucked into the Mario Batali-Gwyneth Paltrow tour through Spain that aired on PBS, I've been dying to go to Spain and more specifically Madrid. The food, culture, history, scenery - they all appeal to me, and we all know that one of the best ways to explore a new place is on foot.

Bourbon Chase. Relays are all the rage in the blog community it seems, with Ragnar being the top dog. This relay is a 200-mile journey across the Bluegrass State – through our historic bourbon distilleries, across our majestic horse country, and into our enchanting small towns. Mark and I took a vacation to Louisville just before I got pregnant, and we toured Maker's Mark and visited Heaven Hill. It was one of the best and most picturesque trips we've ever taken. I would love to relive it mile by mile. The race, which is in September, is already sold out for 2012 and teams will have to participate in a lottery for 2013. Who wants to start buying tickets now?

What is your dream race? Do you have anything exciting on the horizon?

Up to tempo

2012-02-15T14:51:00.001-05:00

I put it in my MyFitnessPal tracker. I tweeted about it. I told my co-worker running pal that he was going to have to match me.

And I even told Mark no.

No, I wouldn’t be going to DeBrand’s for its signature sundae.

I had plans. Plans that involved a little thing called the treadmill and an activity called running. Thirty minutes would be the goal. Thirty minutes of doing something – anything – to get myself moving.

I also had plans to do a Jillian Micahels’ DVD but that was quickly scratched the plan. Why? My plan to just get in a run gradually became a plan to get in this week’s tempo run.

30 minutes – 5 minute warm-up, 20 minutes hard and 5-minute cool down. With Saturday’s 5K as a baseline, the 20 minutes hard were to be ran at a 9:12 to 9:32 pace (or 6.3 to 6.5 on the treadmill). The only hitch was that I didn’t carefully read my schedule, and I thought it was a 35-minute workout. D’oh.

My sick little guy went down promptly at 7, and I headed down to the basement armed … with my laptop. I started out with a short walk, then jogged at 5.0 until the five-minute mark. I bumped it up then to 6.3 and at 10 minutes, I bumped it up to 6.4. Fifteen minutes in, I went up to 6.5 with the idea of going down the “ladder” at 20 minutes. However, I kept thinking to myself, “Stick with 6.5 for this song. Stick with 6.5 till this xx minute. Oh, God. I love to run fast to N’Sync.” (Not so) soon enough, I hit the 30-minute mark and began my cool down.

It was a tough workout, and one I’m quite proud of. Not only did I push myself on the treadmill, which I totally suck at, but I nailed the paces perfectly. After writing last week about my disregard for training intervals, Robyn mentioned that it is good to practice pacing. It’s not just to avoid injury but to make sure you are in shape to do the next workout. It does no good to give it all you’ve got if you have nothing the next day.

And today I need it. I have plans again - this time to do Bob Harper's "Total Body Transformation." You heard it hear so I have to do it ...even though I hate it. It's not because it's long (60 minutes) or because the one guy in the back seems like such a dweeb. No, I hate it because it's hard.

Side burpees? Really? I guess I'll see you at 6 p.m.

In the kitchen

2012-02-15T08:32:00.002-05:00

"A brave man is a man who dares to look the Devil in the face and tell him he is a Devil." - James A. Garfield

Source

And, that my friends, is the devil. Marbled Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies.

I thought I would be nice to Mark and make him a little Valentine's Day treat. I considered peanut butter bars and his favorite chocolate raspberry cake but settled on these brownies after seeing red velvet recipe after red velvet recipe on my favorite not-so-healthy food blogs.

And, really, what says I love you better than chocolate + cheesecake + the color red?

Oh, I know ... making your significant one something that makes you lose all self control and willpower. I'm fairly certain that I ate the equivalent of 3,245 brownies when I was cutting the treats into heart shapes for Mark's dessert and lunch the next day and the squares for us both to take to work. Each sliver of brownie that could have gone in the trash went into my mouth.

Other things that came out of my kitchen recently:

Baked apples and steamed carrots for baby food purees. We're not cool enough to do baby led weaning but I am doing my best to make as much of Miles' food as I can.

"Make What Your Fridge Gave Ya" white pizza: Whole Wheat-White crust that I had frozen with leftover light Ragu alfredo and produce remnants - spinach, broccoli and tomato. Oh, and cheese. Of course.

Amoxicillin. I might not have made it but it's being served up twice a day for the next week. It seems Miles' cold turned into an ear infection and bronchialitis.

What have you made lately?

The fanny is frozen

2012-02-12T19:13:00.003-05:00

I could say it was the wicked headwind.

I could say it was the at-times slick and snow-covered path.

I could say it was a (not-so) rookie mistake that left tying my shoes within the first quarter-mile.

Or I could just say it: I didn't make my "A" goal at yesterday's Fanny Freezer 5K. And that's OK.

After weeks of fake winter, Jack Frost arrived just in time for yesterday's race. It was 20ish degrees with wind gusts making the windchill 9 degrees. Even with a 2 p.m. start, I found my teeth chattering as I awaited the start. Thank goodness L was so willing to cuddle with me as I waited in line to get my bib and chip!

There was little fanfare at the start. It seemed like everyone just crowded around the start and then started running. So I did the same.

And that's about where my memory of the race begins to fade.

I remember having to tie my shoe very early on. I remember climbing the hill that I learned to hate during W.O.O.F. training in 2010. I remember saying hi to a guy on the downhill and realizing it would be better to run in the grass. I remember hitting the half-way point and feeling pretty good. I remember the hill wasn't so kind to me the second time around. I remember chasing a very lean woman in tights and legwarmers (!).

However, if you wanted me to tell you how each step felt, give you a recap mile by mile or explain how I felt effort-wise, I am not sure I could. I actually listened to music during the race (shocker, I know) and I kind of just zoned out to "Bye, Bye, Bye," "Jai Ho" (from "Slumdog Millionaire") and Young Jeezy. I pushed when I could and held back when I couldn't.

For a brief moment, as I headed toward the finish, I thought I might make the sub-27 goal. I kicked it as best I could but the home stretch went on and on and on. I watched my goal tick away as neared the finish. I crossed, according to the GPS, at 27:35*.

*Official times haven't been posted and the race was gun timed.

Yes, I was just off my goal but it was the first time I maintained a sub-9 pace for an entire run and it was the first race of the season. I gave it all I had and, more importantly, I had a great time racing with a great group of girls.

Sleep like a baby

2012-02-10T12:30:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is race day, with lots of (hopefully) good running talk to be had. In the interim, please interrupt our regularly scheduled blogging topics to discuss what I want. After all, it is my blog.

It's one of those days. A day where the Diet Coke and coffee can't flow fast enough. It's the kind where my hand keeps itching for my emergency stash of Jelly Bellys. And my mind, it keeps wondering if it's OK to nap during my lunch break.

And it's all Miles' fault. Or mine. Or both. Whatever. I'll let you decide.

I've briefly referenced to it here on the blog but we are a co-sleeping family. It wasn't so much an active decision, made after careful research and thought. It just sort of happened. There would be a night when Miles woke up at 4 a.m. and didn't want to go back to sleep. Instead of fighting him, we brought him into bed. Once turned into twice. Twice turned into a couple times a week. And now, at some point between the hours of 2 and 4:30 a.m. each night, Miles comes into our bed.

I don't particularly mind Miles sleeping in our bed. He doesn't thrash around, instead choosing to cozy up next to me. If he stirs, I reach for the paci and pop it back in. I also don't worry much about rolling over on him and, as he sleeps between Mark and me, I don't fear that he'll fall off the bed.

However, I've been having the feeling lately that he shouldn't be sleeping in our bed and that we should do something about it. I'm not sure where it came from. It was just like one day I decided that things should change.

And I decided that it should be last night. To say it didn't work out so well would be an understatement.

7 p.m.: Miles goes down for the night in his crib. I go downstairs, make a nasty "smoothie" with a packet (Weight Watchers caramel latte).

8 p.m.: I watch "Big Bang Theory" and amp myself up for the night ahead.

9 p.m.: Go to bed.

10:30 p.m.: Miles wakes up screaming. Give him a bottle and get him to go back to sleep in his crib by 11:10.

1 a.m.: Miles wakes up. I turn on Hushaby Vince Gill and rock him to sleep. Back in bed by 1:10.

2:30 a.m.: Miles is up again. Mark gives him a bottle (4 ounces) but screams. He tries 2 more ounces but Miles still screams.

2:55 a.m.: Exhaustion-induced mini fight with Mark.

3 a.m.: I take over. Give Miles the 2 ounces and get him to sleep. Lie him in his crib and go to bed.

3:15 a.m.: Miles is up. I try popping in the paci, rocking, swaying. Get him back to sleep and go to bed. Repeat till 4.

4 a.m. Miles is finally asleep.

4:30 a.m.: Or not. We say fig it and bring him in.

6:15 a.m.: Miles and I wake up when Denali barks in our face. I swear I might kill him.

As I sit here, wondering what the chances are that I'll faceplant into my Smart Ones Ravioli, I wonder if it was all worth it. Miles does start off in the crib and sleeps most of the night there. In the event that he ever sleeps through the night (I'm doubtful), we should all just grow out of it. Why should we sacrifice sleep and happiness now when it will all just work itself out?

Thoughts? Help!

Steps for a successful speedwork session

2012-02-09T09:09:00.000-05:00

1. Don't spend the day psyching yourself out. Pump yourself up to run fast. Listen to your jams on the way home from work. Wear an outfit that makes you feel speedy.

2. Send the husband and baby to your mother-in-law's for dinner so that you can complete your scheduled 6x400 run without a jogging stroller.

3. While you could run alone, don't. Take the dog. After all, his only response to running fast is to push even faster.

4. Set up your GPS device to "lap" every quarter-mile so you don't have to worry about a lap button or a track.

5. Select a route with minimal stops so that you get the most out of your workout. The park is great for non-stop running and the setting sun will push you to go harder to get the hell up outta there.

6. Mess up the display on your GPS device so that you can no longer see your pace. Instead of sticking to the range dictated by McMillan pace calculator, you'll go as hard as you can until you feel your peanut butter and banana with honey sandwich start to come up.

7. During the last interval just happen to come upon a runner going at a decent clip to use as a rabbit. It works especially well when you think your rabbit is an older albeit fit woman. When you pass it, you realize it's actually a man in tights and a skull cap - giving you immense satisfaction that you could pass him.

8. Do not include a hill along your route, especially during the last interval. You'll feel like a slug and compelled to add another 400 to make up for a lackluster performance during round 6.

9. Upload stats and find yourself pretty proud. I should have done the 400s in 2:03.5 to 2:10.6 (based on 2 hour 10 minute half).

Actual 400 times: 1:59, 2:02, 2:09*, 1:54, 2:02, 1:58, 1:58

My splits are actually in line with a 26:59 5K so we'll see what Saturday brings.

*During the third interval was when I figged up the display and spent too long trying out how to get it back before just going for it.

What are you tips for doing speedwork?

Things

2012-02-08T08:57:00.002-05:00

1. I have my first race of the year Saturday - the Fanny Freezer 5K. After unseasonably warm temperatures, Mother Nature has decided to allow the race to live up to its name.

See there - the temperature dips just in time for Saturday. I don't care all that much except that it might alter my outfit selection. You see, I bought my first matchy-matchy outfit from Nike, and it features a pair of plum capris. Capris + 22 degrees = No good.

2. I would like to say that I have no particular goals for this race as I haven't done a 5K in a year and a half but that would be a lie. And, according to my grandma, lying is bad.

I know I can do it: Sub-30
I might be able to do it: Sub-28
Wouldn't it be nice if the stars aligned: Sub-27

3. Of course, it doesn't really matter how I do. It's more about having a baseline to use for my speedwork and tempo runs as I look ahead to the Martian half-marathon.

4. Oh, and the fact that I'm doing the race with a ton of awesome girls and having lunch with them after the fact. We're going to Chili's, which is not known for being healthy (the Quesadilla Explosion Salad has 1,300 calories) but I have a coupon and I'm a sucker for a coupon.

5. Coupons, and my love of them, are the reason I picked up some Balance bars at Kroger this weekend. They were on sale for 99 cents but them if you bought 10 participating items, the price got knocked down to 49 cents. Pair that with a $1 off coupon when buying three, and I couldn't resist.

6. I had one for breakfast this morning - mocha chip, I think. It tasted OK, and it was easy to grab and slam while I was feeding Miles this morning. What I hate about those bars and any bar like it is that they fail to hold me for very long. It's 8:30, and I have already had my second breakfast.

7. I was able to make breakfast because I actually got Miles to take a nap without going for run (I'll be doing that tonight). It might not seem like such a big deal but I find it nearly impossible to get him to sleep during the day without having him in the car seat/out and about. I hate to say it but I'm actually getting the hang of this mom thing.

8. I really wanted to use this unexpected time to do my hair but I can't find my hair straightener. I have a feeling that Mark put it away because I left it in the living room (where I sometimes do my hair so I can keep Miles company while he plays in the bouncer). So it's my fault ... sort of. It is Mark's fault, though, for not putting it anywhere that makes sense. I have checked every drawer and cabinet in both bathrooms, the laundry baskets and the dishwasher. Nothing.

9. Since I'm bound to look like a hot mess with unkempt hair and perpetual undereye circles, I decided to throw on some makeup and a pair of earrings. I'm sure most people do these sorts of things every day for work but I don't. I could pretend that I'm just so beautiful that I don't need it but it's really that I just don't get around to it/need an upgrade (read: need to spend $$$) in all things beauty related.

10. Or, I could say it's just no use trying to compete for cuteness around here.

Miles is always going to win.

We went shopping this weekend and as we were perusing Penney's, a woman from the portrait studio asked if she could take photos of Miles. The studio had gotten a new prop for taking babies' photos and she wanted to try it out since there were no appointments. In exchange for our time, we'd get a free 10 by 13.

I'm sure you can guess what I said.

I don't think you can have enough photos of a baby. Even if some of them look, well, a little ...

Well, I just don't think there are words. But look how good he's sitting up! And the little man, who is now 7 months old, is on his knees, rocking around. We'll be moving and shaking soon, I'm sure!

Free meal: Fakeout salad

2012-02-07T21:34:00.001-05:00

Four days.

It was four days of solo middle of the night feedings, dog duty, floor cleaning, dish doing, baby wrangling. Four days of having to do things I hate like taking out the trash, cleaning windows and holding a baby while I brush my teeth.

It was four days of knowing that I'm one lucky gal who needs her husband. Even if there are times when all he does is take up the entire couch to read on his iPad while I do a Jackie Warner DVD.

But for all my melodrama, there is a small piece of me that likes it when Mark leaves. I don't have cold feet creeping on my side of the bed and the smell of spray bleach doesn't choking me as I brush my teeth.

And I can make dishes with things I like and he doesn't - ranch dressing, vegetables, beans. Like my Fakeout Mad Anthony House Salad.

Mad Anthony's is a local brewery that has awesome flatbreads (unwraps), Old Bay-dusted potato wedges (Scooby Snacks) and deep dish pizza (deep dish pizza). One of my favorite menu items, though, is the house salad. It is a bed of mixed greens with tomatoes, cheese, red beans and rice and ranch dressing. It's an odd but delicious combination.

And something that Mark would never touch - so I made my own version to have for dinner this weekend. Actually, I made enough to have it for lunch every day this week.

Fakeout Mad Anthony House Salad
Adapted from Cooking Light

For the red beans and rice:
3 cups vegetable stock
1 cup dried red kidney beans
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
3/4 cup chopped celery
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups cooked brown rice

For the salad:
Spring mix
Diced tomatoes
Shredded 2% Cheddar cheese
Light ranch dressing

For the beans and rice: Throw everything but the salt and rice in the slow cooker. Cook on high for 5 hours. Stir in salt and brown rice.

For the salad: Make salad with scoop of the beans and rice on top. (Very technical, I know but I think y'all know what to do.)

I was really happy with the way this turned out, and I savored every last bite ... and the $8.99 savings.

What's your favorite fakeout takeout meal?

Let's catch up: Running

2012-02-06T09:34:00.000-05:00

Road ID saved my life this weekend. Just not in a way I ever expected.

It seems that little piece of rubber makes an excellent chew toy for a teething 6-month-old. It's small enough that he can grab a hold of it but too big to choke on. It's colorful and squeaks when played with. And, technically, it's not a toy, which makes it all the more fun to enjoy.

And, thank God, too, because this gal was on her own this weekend. Mark was off enjoying the NFL experience in Indianapolis (read: drinking and sleeping in) while Miles, Denali and I held down the fort. It might have been a bit hectic and there might have been a tad too much co-sleeping but we managed. Heck, we even got in a few miles.

Last week, in running:

Tuesday. I went for a short run (2.48 miles) with the stroller to enjoy the unseasonable temperatures.

Wednesday. 30-minute tempo run. This was my first tempo run since fall 2010, and I was a bit scared. McMillan running calculator said I should do the 20-minutes at tempo (5 min w/u and 5 min c/d) between a 9:23 and 9:43 pace. Let's just say I nailed it. My pace for the entire run was 9:12 and I hit my first sub-9 miles since having the baby. Oh, and I ran it in shorts. On Feb. 1.

Friday: 4.07-mile run with the stroller. Just a steady pace, get it done run.

Sunday: 6-mile run with the stroller. My "long" run of the week but it was a cut back week. Thank goodness I didn't have 10 on the schedule because 6 miles, with hills, is about all I can handle while pushing the stroller.

Total mileage: 16.43

Thoughts: I'm really excited for last week. I got in four runs because I wanted to - not because I had to - and hit all mileage goals on my Martian half-marathon schedule. I really want to get up to 20 miles a week but it takes time. And time I have.

How is your running shaping up?

W.O.W.: Running

2012-02-03T14:00:00.000-05:00

I like to run. Scratch that. I love to run.

Well, most days.

In the past two and a half years, I went from someone who huffed and puffed after a quarter-mile to someone who has ran a handful of 5ks and 10ks, three half-marathons, a 10.5-mile trail race and a 16-mile trail race. I'm someone who's training for a fourth half-marathon and looking toward a full.

And despite thousands of miles logged, I'll be the first to admit that I am not an expert.

Just wanted to put that out there before I answer your running questions.

Robyn asked: I am planning my training schedule, and for the first timehave a speed goal, not just "survive a marathon without dying." Ihave the long, slow run thing pretty much down. But how fast are you doing yourweekly short runs, intervals and tempos, relative to your goal pace?

I am sort of ashamed to admit this but I totally wing it when it comes to running on a pace. For tempos, I run comfortably hard and for intervals, I do almost all out. Wouldn't recommend it.

What would I recommend? McMillan Running Calculator. The site allows you to input your best time, and it will give you paces for different workouts. It's best to have a race, such as a 5K to use, to give you numbers but you can also use a goal time.

For example, I'm training for the Martian Half-Marathon in April. I could put in my best half time (1:54:12) but I was at peak fitness and had trained to go sub-2. I will not be going sub-2 this time, not 9 months after a baby. I think my realistic goal will be 2:10, 2:05 if I'm having a good day. For a 2:10 half, I should be doing long runs at a 10:58 to 11:58 pace; weekly short runs at 9:56 to 10:13; tempo intervals at 9:31 to 9:56; and 400 repeats at 2:03.5 to 2:10.6.

Notice I said should.

When I was training for my sub-2 half, I did most of my long runs far faster than I should have because I was doing them with Mark. Also, my intervals were far faster than dictated because I was so nervous about meeting my goal. Most coaches would not suggest this, and I'm pretty lucky that my body held up and I didn't get injured.

Anonymous asked: I started training for a 5K on December 1st (Istarted the Couch to 5K program). Just this past week I started jogging for 25minutes...straight! Albeit at a 3.8 mph pace. But that's okay. I've only joggedoutside once though (on a trail by my house). The rest of the time I've been ona treadmill. To be honest, I'm scared to death to run"in the real world" (on the roads). I'm so self-conscious. Did youfeel that way when you started running/jogging? Do you have any tips for me toovercome this feeling?

Yay for you! It doesn't matter how fast you go as long as you go. Twenty-five minutes is no joke.

I was definitely self conscious when I first started running. Even as a more experienced runner I wondered what people thought. I wondered how much my butt jiggled or how slow I looked.I wondered if I had the right form or had the right clothes. One day, when I was running at the track in 900 degree weather, I stripped down to sports bra and shorts. I was so self conscious because I have extra skin and not flat abs. After spending one too many minutes worrying, I decided that people could snark if they wanted but I was the one out there. I was the one running and doing the best I could do.

No matter what you do, people will judge you. Let them judge you for doing something good for yourself.

Leah asked: This is slightly off topic, but, have you ever had any issues with your knees that prevented you from running when you first began this journey? Or did you wait to run until after you'd lost some of the weight?

People are going to hate me but I have been very lucky to run pain free. Sure, I've had my fair share of aches but nothing crazy. My biggest problem was shin splints and runner-up was knee pain. I noticed that things got better as the weight came off (I didn't start running till I was in the 180s) and after getting good shoes.

It's so important to invest in yourself and go to a specialty store where they can fit you for shoes. Good support and cushion, in my opinion, are vital for a beginner, and shoes from Kohl's or even Dick's won't provide those.

Don't know (flap)jack

2012-02-03T08:59:00.000-05:00

I don't run with music.

It's not so much a "I'm better than you, and I don't need it" thing. It's more of a safety thing as most of my runs are with the dog and the stroller, and I need to be aware of cars in the event their drivers aren't aware of me.

When people hear that I run "naked" so to speak, the question I most often get asked is: What do you think about? Things. I think about things. Sometimes it's the day ahead or how beautiful the day is (today was a gorgeous "warm" 28). I sometimes write my grocery list or, if I'm lucky, I completely zone out.

Today, though, my thoughts were not focused on any of those things. I had just one focus: Pancakes.

Lots and lots of pancakes.

I normally like to eat a protein-rich breakfast because it holds me best. However, Mark will be out tonight and I'm going to take advantage, eating a dinner he won't - breakfast. Seeing as I didn't want eggs twice in a day, pancakes seemed an appropriate way to end a 4-mile run.

I thought I would make my favorite, banana pancakes. Heck, I could go crazy and add some chocolate chips to the recipe ... until I discovered that Mark ate the last one. Jerk.

So I made the next best thing*: Oatmeal Applesauce Pancake for One.

*Note: This excludes any pancake with pecans because those are on a whole other level of awesomeness.

Source - I don't have a photo of my actual pancake because ... well, let's just say it was a little crispy.

Oatmeal Applesauce Pancake for One

1 egg white
1/4 cup no-sugar added applesauce
2 tablespoons skim milk
Scant 1/4 teaspoon maple extract
1 pouch instant plain oatmeal
2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
1/2 packet Truvia
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

In a bowl, beat egg white until foamy. Whisk in applesauce, milk and extract. In a separate bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. Gently add dry ingredients to wet, mixing until just combined. Spoon batter onto a hot skillet sprayed with non-stick spray or coated with canola oil. Cook like a pancake. Serve with toppings of choice - I had light I Can't Believe It's Not Butter and Sugar-Free Hungry Jack syrup.

If you don't like the texture of rolled oats, you could pulse them in a coffee grinder or food processor to achieve a finer, more palatable consistency.

Nutrition (without toppings): 205 calories, 2 grams fat, 41 grams carbohydrates and 10 grams of protein.

W.O.W.: Getting started

2012-02-02T13:56:00.000-05:00

Time.

It's amazing how it just slips away.

One minute, you're looking at a day (off) full of possibilities and the next minute you realize it's time to pick up the behb from day care. You aren't any more rested, the house isn't any cleaner and dinner isn't made. In fact, it seems that the only thing you have to show for yourself is a stack of homemade baby invitations.

Apparently invitations take 55 hours to do, and they are the precise reason I didn't write my W.O.W. post on my motivation at the start of my weight loss journey. I hope you don't mind if I give it to you now. (#twss)

If you have read my weight loss story, you know that I didn't just decide to lose weight and - BAM! - x amount of time later, I weighed 122 pounds. No. It took a long time, with a lot of up and downs. Along the way, there were a lot of things that motivated me to start, restart and to get serious. I'm going to talk about the moment (moments, really) that helped me get to the track in August 2009 and stay there.

My mom's death. As I've shared in the Woman's Day/Yahoo! story, watching my mom die - not just the moment she took her last breath - but the years of seeing her destroy herself, made me look at the way I was treating my body and myself. I was so mad at her for not caring enough about herself (and me to be honest) to do something. As I worked through those feelings, I realized that I had no right to them if I wasn't willing to do something.

However, as a commenter pointed out, having someone in your life to be an example of what NOT to do is not enough. If it was, I probably would have never let myself get to 245 pounds. There were other things - almost a perfect storm, if you will - to get me going.

Getting the picture. In my weight loss journey, I lost 50 pounds then another 25. Those 25 pounds were lost and regained through three cycles, the last loss cycle just before my wedding in December 2008.

When my mom died, I was under the delusion that I was looking good and far better off than she ever was.

And then I saw photos from a girls' weekend in Chicago. Not only did I not look good, I looked big. I tried to blame it on camera angles and unflattering clothes but there's no denying that my weight had crept up. I had to ask myself whether the person in those photos was who I wanted to be.

Buddy system. I mentioned it in my previous post by my BFF joined Weight Watchers just before I did. The program really clicked for her, and she was able to give me an example of what to do and what I could be.

Support system. Also, in that vein, it's important to surround yourself with people who will encourage the changes you make. I mean no offense by the following but you tend to surround yourself with people most like you. If you are fit and active, your friends are fit and active. If you are sedentary and unhealthy, your friends are more than likely the same. It's important to reach out to those - without alienating your friends - who will encourage you. Mark, a lifelong runner, joined me for my Couch to 5K runs and never grumbled about going slow with me.

Again, with the dog. Mark and I inherited Denali so to speak from my mom, and we brought him home in late July. I wanted so desperately to be a good dog owner, and I knew a key to that was exercising our Siberian husky. I also knew that it couldn't be just something I did when it was nice. Come rain, come sun, come snow - Denali would want to go out. I made it my goal to be able to run a 5K by winter as I knew running 3 miles would be less painful than walking 3.

Breaking it down. I never looked at the big picture when I started. With Weight Watchers, it was about losing 5 percent, then 10 percent. I then looked to getting in the 160s, where I had never been, and down "decade" by "decade." It would have been hard for me to be successful otherwise because I would have felt overwhelmed.

Exploring. It can feel limiting to take on a new lifestyle/diet. The things you like to eat might not fit into your program. I really went outside my comfort zone and tried things like vegetarian patties, faux sausage and low-carb tortillas. I searched for WW friendly recipes and heeded suggestions from members. Slowly, I began to find new tastes and textures that appealed to me and helped to bring excitement to planning my menu.

Splurge. Living healthfully can be expensive, and it was easy for me not to buy the things I needed to be successful. However, if you want to order a crap ton of VitaTops to help you stay on track, do it. If you need Laughing Cow wedges for a wrap but they aren't on sale, buy them anyway. You'll be motivated to eat better if you have not only what you need but what you want.

In it to win it. I am not sure how or why but so much of my success is because I decided that I was worth it and made the changes. I would no longer accept that I was just meant to be overweight. I would no longer sell myself short. I would treat myself how I wanted to be treated - with love and respect - and take action to do so.

Are you a weight loss success? What can you share with others?

W.O.W.: Staying motivated

2012-01-31T08:36:00.000-05:00

44 degrees. At 6 a.m. This morning. January 31.

Days like today are made for running. Even though I didn't have any miles on tap because parent-teacher conferences are shaking up my schedule, I found myself digging out the capris and lacing up my sneakers. It would be a shame to squander such a gift, I thought to myself.

Not every day is like today, where I find myself genuinely excited to run and so antsy to get out there that I can't even wait until Mark leaves for work. There are days I have to fight like hell to live the life I've created. The life I want to live.

When I went through the comments for Words of Wisdom (W.O.W.) week, I was surprised to see just how many were related to motivation.You wanted to know how I got motivated and stay motivated. You wanted the key.

The truth is: I’m not sure I have one. It's just that I've assembled a powerful arsenal, if you will, to keep me going.

Fear. No matter how much I’ve tried, I cannot shake the fat girl. I worry that I will gain back the weight I lost or slip in terms of eating and exercise. I don’t want to lose who I have become and the pride I feel in her just because “I don’t feel like it” or “I can’t take it anymore.” When I was training for my first half marathon, I was so scared that I wouldn't finish that I wouldn't dare run even tenth of a mile less than the plan dictated.

Accountability. It’s not so much about motivation but learning to be accountable to yourself. If I choose not to work out, it is me making the decision. If I order a large chocolate malt, it’s my decision. And to flip that reasoning on the side, it’s not Mother Nature dropping a thunderstorm on your area the day of a run just to ruin your run. Your husband wasn’t acting like an asshole so you’d eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. OK. Maybe he was but then he wasn’t acting like an asshole – he is an asshole (another topic all together).

Passion. I personally like to run. I like the challenge, seeing myself get better and the structure of a training plan. If someone told me that the only way to lose weight was to swim, I’d be a million pounds because swimming is very often a suckfest for me.

Tangible ways to measure success. For the past two years, I have tracked nearly every mile and recorded my pace in an Excel spreadsheet. It's not only useful for training purposes but for motivation. When I get down on myself for not running the way I did pre-Miles, I can look back and see how far I've come since my first brutal post-baby run. Carrie just posted about being frustrated with the scale and then saw a pleasant surprise when she took her measurements. This works, too, with a weight tracker. You might have had a bad week but how has the scale looked over the course of a month?

Treat yourself. And don't forget to celebrate the gains you see when tracking. There's nothing like new gear to make you want to workout.My very generous BFF sent me a pair of running sleeves and a running skirt for Christmas, and I've been dying to wear them ever since. This morning's mild weather was just what I needed to try them out. On the other side of things, I remember the first time I tried a pair of size 10 jeans and they fit. A new pair of jeans was just what I needed in the middle of my journey.

Friendly competition. Enlist a friend in your efforts … and then try to beat her. When BFF and I were doing WW, and her success helped motivate me to do what I needed. The desire to beat her at the weigh-in (sorry, love) helped motivate me to do more. I find the same thing in terms of running.I have a co-worker who is a lifelong runner and goes out 5 to 6 days a week. On the days he runs, he will walk past me and quote his mileage. I love being able to “one up” him.

An annoying dog. I know I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: the thought of wearing the crap out of Denali is enough to make me want to run a marathon some mornings.

Set new goals. Maybe you wanted to run 3 miles and now you can. Think about running a 10K. Maybe you have hit your goal weight. Think about toning or taking on a new workout challenge or lifting more weights. After running my second half marathon, I set a goal to run a third and do it in less than 2 hours. Always having something to work toward gives me a reason to keep going.

If all else fails, give yourself a good talking to. I was reading Runner's World in the bath after my run this morning, and I was struck by something Kate Gosselin said. The mother of 8, who was this month's "I'm a Runner" feature, said, "If I say to myself, 'I don't feel like running today,' I'll say out loud, 'Are you a quitter? No. Are you a champion? Yes! Then why are you thinking about quitting? I'm not.' I'll say this over and over."

What are your tricks for staying motivated?

Tomorrow: How I got motivated.

5 ways not to start your Monday morning

2012-01-30T09:41:00.002-05:00

1. Discover that the White Chicken Chili that you put in the slow cooker is still there ... completely uncooked. I swear that I turned it on - I heard the beep-beep-beep as I set it - yet the chicken showed no signs of being cooked. I guess I won't be following my menu this week. Thank goodness I had a serving of Daily Garnish's Indian-Spiced Chili and a stockpile of Smart Ones in the freezer to get me through the week.

2. Learn that your dog has found the hole in the fence again. There is one spot where Denali can sneak through some brush and get out. And that's just what he did at 5:30 this morning. I had to go over into the neighbor's yard in my bath robe and Mark's sneakers with some vanilla wafers to lure him back home.

3. Have your hands full with an inconsolable baby. Miles didn't want to eat. He didn't want to be held. He didn't want to watch "Sesame Streets" on DVD. All he wanted to do was scream and writhe. And, before you ask, yes. Yes, he's teething. He has two little sharp ones poking through the gums but they aren't all the way in. Thank heavens I found the ~~whiskey~~ Baby Orajel. After 45 minutes, I got him to take a bottle and a short nap.

Side note: When I came down from putting Miles in his crib, I found Denali chewing the Orajel I guess I no longer have that in my arsenal.

4. Find that your legs rival that of your dog's in terms of fuzziness. Not so much a problem unless you are planning to wear a skirt to work. Which I was. I considered throwing on some tights and letting the itchy hair poke through but Miles' nap (albeit brief) gave me just enough time to bathe and shave.

5. Realize that you'll get nothing accomplished on your rest day because the morning rivals the weekend's Mizpah Shrine Circus. Really, who needs a tiger jumping through flaming hoops when you have a fiery red head spewing oatmeal across the room?

A good run and celebrity sighting

2012-01-29T20:58:00.001-05:00

There are two things you should know about this weekend.

No. 1: I ran 9 miles (9.2, actually) for the "fun" of it.

No. 2: I met the winner of the marathon Olympic Trials, Shalane Flanagan.

Which do you want to hear about first? Did I hear the batch of White Chicken Chili that I just threw in the slow cooker?

Sorry. You'll have to check out my new menu page.

So back to my weekend. I ran 9.2 miles and met Shalane Flanagan. Since I ran first, let me chat about that. OK? OK!

I had 8 miles on the schedule for today, and I was counting on the run going as my Sunday runs have for the past few weeks - Mark joins me for the first few miles, shares stroller pushing duties and then baby wrangles while I finish up. However, Mr. Mark woke up with a 101 degree fever and running was out of the question. I was already feeling pangs of mother's guilt for leaving Miles all afternoon so I thought I'd take him and Denali for all 8 miles.

Of course, I was naive in this plan because I assumed that Miles would sleep for the entire run. Yeah. Not so much. I noticed that he was awake at 3.75 and at 4.5 miles in, he let me know that he was not happy and was not going to be a part of an 8-mile run. Thankfully, I was relatively close to home and I was able to drop him off just after 6 miles.

I feared that the last two miles would be difficult. My legs, already tired from Body Pump, would be fatigued from the stroller's resistance (+pushing it in the snow) and my mental game would not be there. However, as I set off alone, I had one of those rare moments in running. I felt like I could run forever. I was enjoying the activity so much that I missed my turnaround and ended up at 9 miles.

Crazy, right?

Onto No. 2. I met Shalane Flanagan.

She was the keynote speaker at the track club banquet and my new BFF. I mean, it was written in the stars - we have the same shirt from Target.

Shalane had a lot of great things to say, and she is very much a testament to hard work and believing in yourself. I took notes on the things she said but I'm too tired to go get them. It's not like you need a book report, though - just look at those arms!

How was your weekend?

Go random or go home

2012-01-28T15:56:00.002-05:00

I think I'm a little late to the party but I was tagged by a lovely gal to share 11 random things about myself. As there's a lot of new followers out there, I thought this would be a great way to share more of myself. (Sorry, no bikini pictures!)

1. I spent my entire pregnancy worried that I wouldn't know I was in labor and, as it turns out, I still don't know what labor feels like. The doctors decided to induce me at 39 weeks because they thought Miles was too small but we had some heart rate issues and I had a C-section.

2. I keep a pair of tweezers in my car so that I can pluck stray eyebrow hairs at stop lights. I find the visor mirror and natural light create the optimal environment for grooming.

3. I had a benign tumor in my foot when I was 13. When they did the biopsy, the doctors found a small piece of a toothpick.

4. I know there are built in undies but I always were undergarments with running shorts.

5. I have never been to Las Vegas and, to be honest, the idea of spending a trip gambling bores me to tears.

6. I have watched every episode of "Sex and the City" more times than I can count and I often find myself referencing the show at very random times. Also, I recognized the one chick from "Two Broke Girls" because of a guest appearance on SATC.

7. I hate winter. The cold temperatures, winter coats and snow.

8. But I kind of like shoveling snow. Maybe because I know it's a good workout?

9. I did not brush my hair before Body Pump this morning. I did, however, brush my teeth.

10. My BP pants were far too long and I spent the entire class (+Zumba) rolling them up. I really should hem them ... and I can. My grandma taught me how to sew when I was young, and I have made all sorts of things - dresses, skirts, curtains, pillow cases.

11. I went shopping this afternoon at Marshall's and picked up two dresses, a tank, a chiffon open cardigan thingy, an Asics short-sleeve running top and a pair of Steve Madden wedges - all for $50. Holla.

As part of this dealeyo, I'm supposed to answer some questions from Lisa.

1. If you could change your first name, what name would you choose? Umm ... I have no idea. Maybe Stella.

2. Do you have siblings? If so, how many? One brother. Jim. Or Bubba. Or Van Halen.

3. What's your favorite flavor of ice cream? All of them. More specifically, anything from Graeter's in Cincinnati. Still not good enough, pumpkin from Graeter's.

4. Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Milk

5. What's your dream job? Working in the marketing department for a race group.

6. Do you take compliments well? NO.

7. What is your favorite physical attribute? My fingernail. The right pinky one.

8. Which article of clothing do you own that always makes you feel beautiful? I always feel fantastic in a good pair of heels.

9. Dogs or cats? Dogs

10. Have you broken any bones? Which ones and how old were you? Nope

11. Absolute favorite vacation spot (or dream vacation spot)? Savannah, Georgia

I'm supposed to tag people but Miles is getting squirmy and I'm hoping I can shove some sweet potatoes down his throat.

And a random question for the moms out there, any tips on getting a little guy to eat solids? Miles could care less about cereal, fruit or veggies. He just wants formula, which is so awesome because it's so affordable. Not. Maybe I shouldn't have quit breast feeding ... ARG.

Perks of being married to a teacher

2012-01-27T08:40:00.002-05:00

1. You can say things like, "This summer, I think you and Miles should take a 'Mommy & Me' swim class," and the response you get is: Will we need water wings?

2. Early dismissal times mean he has time to go to the grocery and pick up lettuce, tomatoes, Diet Coke and sweet potato fries.

3. You still get to go shopping for school supplies. Lisa Frank folders for everyone!

4. You can feel good knowing that he is shaping the minds of young children ... by assigning "The Hunger Games."

5. You finally get to fill that longing to be a teacher's assistant and help grade papers with an iron red pen. You used the wrong form of "it's"? No points for you!

6. Two-hour delays offer a break for you (and not for him). After ice prompted the district to call a delay yesterday, I got to get in my interval workout on the treadmill, shower in peace and get dressed - all without worrying that Miles was going to fall of the bed.

7. When a 2-hour delay turns into a day off, you find yourself with a lunch date with Mark, Jimmy and John.

As I'm a lady, I first greeted Mark.

And then ravaged Jimmy & John.

I was feeling particularly healthy so I ordered some paper ... err ... a #12 Beach Body Unwich.

Turkey, provolone, avocado spread, cucumbers, sprouts and tomato (hold the mayo) - OH YEAH. This baby clocked in at 199 calories and 9.78 grams of fat (healthy fats, mind you). I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss the bread but I got the things I love most at Jimmy John's - sprouts and avocado spread.

I also had a giant pickle (no, I'm not pregnant) and split a bag of Thinny Chips with my main man, Mark. By the way, those sneaky guys at Jimmy John's should be reprimanded. The bag of Thinny Chips was actually two servings. Had I eaten the entire bag, which would have left no room for the cookie we split, I would have eaten more calories in chips than I did unwich.

What do you get when you go out for a workweek lunch date? Do you have a favorite place?

Planning an invasion

2012-01-26T20:16:00.000-05:00

It was the "no plan" plan.

For weeks - really since the December Huff, I've been following a very loose training plan. The goal was to keep a respectable base and (hopefully) pick up some speed as I looked toward the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans half marathon relay. As I'm doing an 8-mile leg, I needed to keep up my Sunday long runs but didn't have to fret too much about weekday mileage.

After the March race, it was my plan to train for a spring half marathon. I had set my sights on Cincinnati's Flying Pig, which was my first half, but found myself less than thrilled by the $80 entry free. Nevertheless, I set a loose schedule based on the May race date. I planned for three days a week running, per my "survive winter" plan, and I would keep up with the twice weekly strength sessions.

Of course, that all changed when I registered for the Martian Invasion of the Races half marathon on Tuesday. The Martian race is April 14, nearly a full month before the Flying Pig.

Some things would stay the same - the three days a week running and my scheduled runs ahead of RnR NOLA - but I would have to redo the long run schedule. Based on plans by Hal Higdon and one I found on RunnersWorld.com, I came up with something that will get me to the starting line strong.

*Note: I totally flipped a week. My Fanny Freezer 5K is Feb. 11 - not Feb. 4.

As I'm running just three days a week, it's important to have quality runs so I'll be incorporating one speed day. The Runners World three-day plan had one tempo run and one interval run each week but I don't think that's feasible for me fitness-wise nor schedule-wise. Seriously, who wants to push a jogging stroller for 8x400? Not me.

I kept the strength training and Zumba, as well. I find that resistance workouts build muscle and help reduce weak joints thus reducing the risk of injury. Zumba ... well, it's just fun. (I never thought I'd say that!) I think that explosive-type cardio, like Zumba, should help work different muscle fibers and maybe ones that help with speed. Of course, I'm more than likely just making that up and the statement has no basis in reality.

I do have Fridays open in the event that I decide to add a fourth run during the week. I know a fourth run will do a lot to improve my base, stamina and speed but I felt overwhelmed running four times a week when I was training for the Huff. I'm sort of going to see when spring arrives and what sort of schedule Miles is on.

What is your preference when training - 3 days of running or 4? Or, are you crazy and do 5?

Working out with Miles

2012-01-26T09:02:00.000-05:00

Go for a barefoot run.

Do some core work, starting with side planks.

Move onto traditional planks, downward facing dogs and pushups.

Boot scootin' boogie to finish up.

Monkey leotards coming soon.

Outside the gym

2012-01-25T08:38:00.001-05:00

I guess I just can’t stop believing in Santa.

Or maybe I just can’t stand someone as good looking as Dolvett not to come out on top.

Either way, I found myself rooting for the red team to win last night’s weigh in when, in fact, I was really hoping for the black team. I wanted them to prove to America that you don’t need a fancy gym to lose weight.

And I’m proof.

I haven’t had a gym membership for going on three years. Initially, it was a financial decision. Mark and I weren’t visiting the YMCA enough to justify the $60 monthly fee. Later, it was because of Denali. I didn’t want to pay to walk on a treadmill when I would only have to go home and walk the dog, too. Now, it’s both. Denali still needs a walk, Miles needs a nap and the $60 would be better spent on diapers.

It is true that my passion for running helps me forgo the gym but that’s only three days a week.

Here are my tips for gym-free workouts:

Scope out your local library. My library has TONS of exercise DVDS, and it’s a great way to try out a disc before you even buy it. I’ve found plenty of Jillian Michaels, “Biggest Loser,” Denise Austin and Firm workouts. I found the library particularly helpful when it came to yoga DVDs because I’m not one who enjoys the spiritual side of practice and dislike 90 percent of the workouts. I got to play Goldilocks until I found the one that was just right for me. (I am a fan of the Crunch DVDs with Sara Ivanhoe.)

Trade off. After two months of Yoga Booty Ballet, you find yourself ready to throw a ball through the TV at that stupid drummer. Well, your friend feels the same way at Billy Blanks. So why don’t you trade?

Make a small investment in you. For less than $20, you can get everything you need for a heart-pumping circuit workout. I have a jump rope and hand weights – all from Target – that I like to use if I only have 15 minutes to exercise. Jump rope one minute, perform an upper body exercise for one minute and follow up with one minute of squats or lunges. Repeat five times. This workout is great, too, if you want something to do during commercial breaks.

Don’t be shy. Everyone (well, except for me) seems to have an exercise bike or elliptical that is only collecting dust. Tell co-workers, family, friends that you are in the market for some exercise equipment and you might be surprised what turns up. Our treadmill was a hand-me-down from my in-laws.

Project analysis. Maybe you have a bedroom that’s more storage locker than guest room/office or a basement stacked with storage boxes. Take an afternoon and tackle a project – whether it’s painting, moving boxes or building furniture.

Free pass. The yoga studio where I went for a month or two when I was pregnant offers a free class one Saturday a month. Some gyms offer one-week passes. You can use these when the weather outside is frightful or you need some motivation via friendly competition from other people working out.

Drop on by. I do take two group exercise classes a week on a drop-in basis at a tumbling gym in town. In the past, I also got a punch card via Groupon.

Friendly competition. People always say to exercise during commercial breaks, which can be boring. Mark and I have been known to challenge each other to push-up and crunch competitions.

Explore the outdoors. Many cities have fantastic trails and greenways. Get an upclose look at how your taxpayer dollars are being enjoyed.

Get dirty. It might not be the right time of year but tackle your yard. This summer, I worked up a sweat hacking at an invasive honeysuckle. It might have been because I was 9 months pregnant (I didn’t nest in the traditional way) but I don’t think so.

No excuses. It’ so easy this time of year to want to stay inside and drink hot chocolate on the couch. And I do. Sometimes. I also walk the dog and baby as long as it’s 25 degrees or warmer, and I’m willing to run as long as it’s in the double digits.

What are your tips for living without a gym membership?

Coming up short

2012-01-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

You know what the problem is with owning just one pair of running tights?

You own just one pair of running tights. And sometimes (but only sometimes) you discover that said tights are in the laundry basket and smell like ... you know ... and you only make that discovery minutes before you hope to be out the door.

Or does this only happen to me?

I had 4 miles planned for today, and I did not want to cop out just because of something so minor as a pair of pants. Not that pants are minor but ... you know what I mean. So I did what anyone would do - made do with what I had.

A pair of Old Navy active capris paired with a pair of knee socks = makeshift running tights.

Note: I had a pair of running socks underneath so as to not get any blisters.

As it turned out, my haphazard outfit was the least of my worries. The temperature was an acceptable 31 degrees but the wind ... oh, the wind. Weather.com, which I looked at more closely after my run (doh!), said there were gusts from 15 to 25 mph. Eek! Factor in that I was pushing the stroller through a hilly-ish area, and it is undeniable that I had my work cut out for me.

I paused when I could, catching my breath at street crossings and when Denali had to pee, and I made no bones about not running as fast as I could. Even still, as reached my second neighborhood, I had to summon every ounce of #OpHardcoreFit I could and not cut the run short. I knew that if I could push through that I would feel better about the day and myself.

Oh and a little better about this.

After months of "researching" spring half marathons, I finally put my money where my training plan is and signed up for the Martian half marathon on April 14. Maybe it's the awesome medal or the chance to maybe meet the Megans, but I'm super stoked.

What are you looking forward to? Any spring races?

P.S. I'm deeming next week W.O.W. (Words of Wisdom) Week. I saw a lot of questions in comments after the Yahoo! story so I thought it might be good timing. I'll answer any questions you might have - whether it's weight loss, my eating habits, running, etc. Just leave me a comment or shoot me an email!

All syrup super squishy bender

2012-01-23T08:39:00.003-05:00

These were it.

The it boot of my middle school years. I think every girl in my grade had a pair of the Nike hiking boots ... except for me. My shoes came from Kmart or Payless - and nowhere else. It didn't keep me from lusting after them, though.

Even 20 years later.

I couldn't help but think of those boots, and how useful they would be, on my walk this morning. The weekend's snow was turned a slushy river overnight by rain and mild temperatures. The retired Mizunos I wear for recreational use just aren't cut out for such weather but those boots ... OH YEAH.

Monday is typically a rest day but I figured a jaunt in the slush would do us all some good. And by all I mean Miles and Denali. Miles was up at 4:45 a.m. and a walk would guarantee him a much needed nap, even if only a short one. The ever jealous Denali has been acting out lately but his behavior is usually better when he has some exercise.

So I got everyone together - Denali leashed up and Miles bundled - and we went for a casual 2.7-mile walk in a neighboring addition. And by casual, I mean I took the travel system stroller so I could bring along a cup of coffee.

So good.

Also good - Miles stayed asleep long enough for me to not only make breakfast but eat it with both hands free.

I had some leftover shrimp and avocado-tomato salsa from last night's Shrimp Quesadillas, and I realized that I could make a version of one of my favorite make-it-over restaurant meals. A California omelet for unseasonably warm temperatures - perfection!

How are you starting off the week?

Rock it out

2012-01-22T07:17:00.001-05:00

You know what happens when you get called out of bed at 5:45 a.m. on a Sunday?

A lot.

By 7 a.m., you'll have fed the baby, fed yourself, fed the dog, paged through the Target ad from the Sunday paper and made a pot of coffee.

Oh, and you'll have spent 20 minutes of your life (which you can never get back) watching an infomercial for the Rhythm Rocker.

Just what you need, right?

The Rhythm Rocker is a crunching, rolling workout system that promises to help you "melt away" weight. It allows "you to create your own level of resistance by leveraging your body weight against the tilting action of the seat."

Or, from my perspective, it allows you to learn how to give a lap dance. Just what everyone should be thinking about at 7 a.m.

I'm sexy and I know it/ I'm sexy and I know it/Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle yeah /Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle yeah /Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle yeah /Do the wiggle yeah

Of course, this is coming from the girl who spent too much cash on the Carmen Electra Strip Aerobics DVD set. I hang my head in shame - especially because I used it all of five times. I just felt sort of silly gyrating in the living room of my empty apartment.

And I think that's what will happen with the Rhythm Rocker. Iit seems like one will seem turbo awesome when you're sleep deprived and feeding a 6-month-old but when you bust it out, it all seems a bit hokey. And you won't even dare try to use it in front of your husband for fear of being laughed at (or allowing him to get the wrong idea). It will sit in the living room for a few weeks, becoming a spot to stack diapers and eventually it will go in the basement next to the deep freeze full of Lean Cuisines.

If you use it, though, I'm sure it will work. Why don't you give it a try for three payments of $33 and let me know how it works out?

As for me? I'll be spending my $100 on Body Pump, drop-in Zumba classes and a new pair of gym sneakers (not running shoes - they are different).

What about you? Have you ever ordered a fitness system online? How did it work out?

Flaking out

2012-01-21T18:23:00.001-05:00

It's official: Winter has arrived.

After flirting with us, with its chilly temperatures and dusting of snow, Old Man Winter dropped 4 or so inches of snow on Fort Wayne.

It was quite a beautiful sight ... until I realized that the snow could very much bury my plans.

L and I were all set to go for our weekly Body Pump class, with a side of Zumba because we're crazy like that, but I wasn't so sure about the gym. I had seen cancellation after cancellation scroll across the bottom of the TV the night before and it would be just my luck that my baby-free workout would be snowed out.

"What are you going to do?" Mark asked as I fretted about the living room.

I ran through my options - go to the grocery and hope for a run later, lie on the couch or pull one of my exercise DVDs and head down to the basement.

Let's see ... You know as much as I LOVE the grocery, I figured that I could at least do something for a half hour. Before I had to convince myself that yes, I could do Bob Harper's "Total Body Transformation" for the second time this week (it kicks my butt every time), I realized that nothing was canceled this morning.

Body Pump and Zumba it would be after all.

The classes were a bit smaller than usual, no doubt because the neighborhood roads were still yucky, but they were fun nonetheless. Lunge track killed me, I remembered not to go crazy on the weights during biceps and I managed to do one real push-up.

Oh, I even think I had the hang of Zumba ... for about 5 minutes.

How is your weekend shaping up?

Wo-hoo!

2012-01-20T18:30:00.000-05:00

I knew it was coming.

A few days ago, the web editor for Woman's Day emailed me and asked about the rights to the before photo the magazine used in my weight-loss story. More specifically, she wanted to know whether Yahoo! could have permission to use the photo as it wanted to publish the story on its site.

"Sure," I thought. "No biggie."

And then this.

Me, my photo, my story, was on the main page.

Wow. Just wow.

I know there are many of you visiting because of that story and Yahoo!, and I want to thank you for not only stopping by but sticking around. Feel free to explore Healthy Strides, taking note of my About page, before and after photos and the story of my journey.

I never expected to be the center of so much attention.I am truly grateful and humbled by the comments and emails I have received.

I hope to respond to each email over the weekend and answer any questions left in comments in an upcoming post(s). If you have a question, do not hesitate to email (my address is on the right side of the home page) or leave a comment.

I look forward to sharing my thoughts and words with you.

And for those of you who were here before ... I heart y'all and always will.

Hand it to me

2012-01-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

Note: I wrote this post yesterday but forgot to post it. Probably because I nominated myself for mother of the year when I turned my back and "let" Miles fall off the bed. Don't worry, though, the only one to suffer traumatic injuries was me.

I tried something so unexpected, something so new thismorning – a piece of whole wheat toast with peanut butter, banana slices,cinnamon and a drizzle of honey.

Wait. What am I thinking? Such a “dish” – if it evenqualifies is that – is not new. However, I will say that it has been a longtime since I made myself PB&B (&CH) toast in the morning. Lately, evenpre-run, I’ve been eating plain instant oatmeal with a teaspoon of peanutbutter, a tablespoon of raisins and stevia. So good.

Anyway. Back to the new.

On Sunday, after a 7-degree 6-mile run and a marathonshopping day at the mall, I decided to head to the running company to check outtheir new digs. I ooh'ed and aah'ed at the extra space, combed through theclearance and was about to leave when I saw a display of gloves.

Yes. Exactly what I needed. Especially as I have beenwearing $1 Target knit gloves, which can be warm, but don’t breathe and make mefeel all hot and sweaty.

There were gloves from every big name – Mizuno, Saucony,Nike, Asics – and gloves in every price range. The low end was $20 and the highend was $70. I really felt like going for one of the higher end pairs –Mittens! Base layer! USB light thinger! –but my frugal side (aka Mark) won out, and I selected a pair of Nike Thermalgloves, size small, in an attractive gray and pink.

With a word like “thermal” in the product description, Ifeared that the gloves would be too warm when I headed out this morning. Itwasn’t as warm as it has been but 28 degrees in mid-January is a welcometemperature. Upon stepping out on my front step, I realized that I needn’tworry. If anything, I should have feared the opposite: my hands being colddespite wearing gloves. The breathability Nike touts means, at least for me,that the cold air could come inside the gloves. Brr!

I thought briefly of going inside to grab my cheapo glovesbut we were all ready to go, and I thought I’d see how it went. And it went …OK. I noticed my hands less and less as the run progressed, and my hands nevergot clammy the way the do with the cheap gloves. However, I did find myselfflexing my hands at stoplights and street crossings to keep the bloodcirculating.

After finishing 3.5 miles (which required me to run past my house and down the block), I found myself at the front step. I took off the gloves and went to unleash Deanli. My hands were cold but mobile - a win ... sort of.

Nike Dri-FIT Lightweight Women's Running Gloves

Product description: Keep your hands free of cold and sweat in the Nike Dri-FITLightweight (Small) Women's Running Gloves, a breathable stretchdesign with the safety features you want for a hassle-freeexcursion.

Dri-FIT fabric to wick sweat away and help keep you dry andcomfortable
Rib cuffMesh fabric between fingers
Reflective pattern at outer handKey compartment at palm

Pros: handKey compartment - the gloves might not be the warmest but having a spot for the house key was awesome; and they are machine washable.

Cons: Not very warm. These would be fine for those in a more mild climate but for the temperamental Midwest, I think I'd want something better. Also, if you are an iPod user, these don't have the smart feature that allows you to do touch screen stuff.

Parting words: I might not love these gloves but I'll keep wearing them. They are better than my $1 gloves and, at $20, not something I'm just going to toss in the back of the closet. I think I might look into some running mittens (hi, Asics) to wear over the gloves for the very cold days.

Lessons in night-time treadmill running

2012-01-18T09:30:00.000-05:00

1. Search the interwebs for a structured (and challenging) interval workout so you know exactly what you’ll be doing, making it less likely that you’ll just hang on for 20 minutes

2. Do not eat dinner – like dinner dinner – an hour before you plan to run. That is, of course, assuming that you don’t like burping up pork “fried” brown rice for half your workout. If you like that sort of thing, carry on.

3. While sitting on the couch with a bowl of Turkey Hill’s light cookie dough and watching “Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” seems like a better alternative, it’s not.

4. Find an acceptable Pandora station on your phone before starting the workout in an effort to avoid stopping several times in the warmup.

5. Creating a “Bye Bye Bye” station on Pandora does not guarantee that you’ll hear “Bye Bye Bye.” You will, however, hear “Cry Me a River” by Justin Timberlake. Though “River” is no power “jam,” the thought of Timberlake will help you push through a tough interval.

A moment of silence, please.

6. Listening to a ’90s pop station will remind you of a better workout song than “Bye Bye Bye”: “Dirrty” by Christina Aguilera.

7. A drink of water is an acceptable reason to stop the treadmill after a tough interval. If anything, it might help get rid of the flavor of pork “fried” brown rice.

8. Pausing because you’re afraid that you can’t keep up? That is not an acceptable reason to stop. You will only run as fast as you let yourself. #OpHardcoreFit in full effect.

9. It’s a smart idea to grab a towel from the laundry pile – even if it is the dirty laundry pile – to keep next to you. It will come in handy when the sweat is literally dripping down the backs of your legs, past your ankles.

10. The bowl of ice cream that sounded so good doesn’t sound so good 41 minutes and 4 miles later. What does sound good is peppermint tea and a hot bath.

Off my chest

2012-01-17T18:00:00.000-05:00

It was everywhere.

On the bed, in laundry baskets, on the floor.

Clean laundry was everywhere I turned, demanding to be put away. Normally, I'd tell the laundry to hold the phone until Saturday but I found myself with a "free" hour this morning as my BOB run got rained out and Miles decided to take a nap after spending 15 minutes screaming in his crib while I took a shower.

I began separating the mountain into piles - Mark, Miles, Kim, Kim's running gear. As I made some headway, I made a shocking discovery: I have more work out clothes than I do actual work clothes.

And what's so sad about the situation is not that I end up wearing the same handful of outfits to the office. Nope. It's that my tech tees, tights and wicking socks are relegated to the most unfortunate of places.

A paper box on a shelf next to the chest of drawers.

Mark and I are in desperate need of a sizable, quality dresser (have been since we got married) and are currently sharing the chest of drawers he had ... as a child. I have two small half-size drawers and three mediocre-size drawers that are just enough to store tank tops, knit shirts, T-shirts and leggings. I would love to have room for my workout wear in the chest but I just don't have room.

Or do I?

Seeing as a complete revamp of my clothing organization system was the best way to spend my "ohmygodmilesisnapping" time, I dumped the contents of my dresser on the bed and quickly began working. Underthings were put in a basket on the shelving system, tank tops and pajamas were moved up to their spots.Any top with a sleeve was hung in the closet, and T-shirts, which I rarely wear, were thrown on a chair. Because, you know, that's where they belong.

I did have to make some room in the closet for the new additions. Anything deemed "outerwear" was moved to the hall closet downstairs.

I now had three drawers to put all things wicking - and let me tell you, I needed them. Tanks and bras in one, short- and long-sleeve tops in another and pants and socks in the last one. The only items that didn't fit were running jackets/half-zips and I figured they could count as outerwear, shipping them downstairs.

The box of shame was empty. Giving me somewhere to put my T-shirts.

How do you organize your workout wear? Do you find that you have more Nike Tempos than Nine West pants?

Weekend warrior

2012-01-15T19:49:00.000-05:00

It all started with a missed workout. Actually, it started with a blog challenge. Wait. No. It started with an email. Or the discovery that the gym where I took boot camp.

Shit. I don’t know where it started. All I know is I showed up at the gym at 8:30 Saturday morning and didn’t leave till 11.

After boot camp finished up in December, L and I were excited to learn that the gym was going to offer Body Pump in the new year. I know this class isn’t new to about 90 percent of the world but Tumble X is only the second gym in the area to offer the class and the other one is about a half-hour drive. Arg.

This week was our second class and let me tell you – I was excited. It’s challenging and fun all at the same time, and I find that my competitive spirit helps me push a bit harder than I would at home.

It’s just hard not to feel hardcore and not want to work when you are lifting a barbell and weights. Of course, sometimes like my stomach, my eyes were bigger than my muscles.

There were a couple tracks where I had to stop in the middle and reduce the weight. Just gotta give myself a place to work up to!

After class, it was time for Zumba.

Now let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am not really a dancer. Sure, I move on the floor but I usually reserve such activities for times when I can consume alcoholic beverages. L had wanted to try it, though, and I’m all about giving things a whirl.

And I’m glad I did. It was a lot of fun though it was clearly evident that I’m no Zumba superstar. I spent a good part of the class following L’s advice: when in doubt, move your hips. Of course, that’s how I got myself into trouble …

Anyway … 45 minutes of Zumba later, and we had finished two classes.

While two fitness classes in one weekend is more than enough exercise, I still had a run to fit in.

I am training for a yet-to-be determined spring race, and I’m following a run less, run faster approach. As the runs are about quality not quantity, it’s important not to skip one.

Even if it’s 7 degrees.

The weather Sunday morning was against my principles (aka the 10-degree rule) but there was no wind and a lot of sun.

And Denali was on my last nerve. God, that dog gives me a reason to run even if I don't want one.

We logged 6 snow-covered miles, and I felt surprisingly good. I had tried to keep the pace on the slow side as it was a "long" run but Denali kept it honest. (I think I watched too much of the Olympic Trials yesterday.) Thankfully (and surprisingly) my body responded, managing a 9:38 average - a pace that hasn't been seen much, if at all, since I had Miles.

It was a perfect way to wrap up such a movement-filled weekend.

Wait.

Scratch that.

Shopping at the mall and getting two pairs of sweats and a new workout tank ... for $24 total ... was the perfect way to end my weekend.

How did your weekend shape up?

Keeping it real: Sometimes I just like to post pictures of my kid

2012-01-13T17:00:00.000-05:00

Oh, and just for funsies - here's a video of him letting me know he's had enough of his cereal:

Yeah, I'm pretty sure he's saying "mamamamama."

Keeping it real: My famous recipe

2012-01-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

I was supposed to make turkey burgers for dinner.

But I had no lettuce. No tomatoes. No onions. And I'm pretty sure there were no buns, too.

I might be able to handle a patty on spinach with cheese and Dijon mustard but I'm pretty sure Mark would have thrown it in my face and made me sleep outside in the snow.

So I turned to a tried and true family favorite that is perfect in situations like these.

Grilled chicken with spinach and coleslaw.

It's super easy to prepare. In fact, it only takes a few steps.

Drive past your house and head to the nearest KFC. While the grocery store, with its healthy rotisserie chickens, is also nearby, the KFC is preferrable because you don't have to get out of the car.

Purchase a four-piece meal for you and your significant other. White meat for her, dark meat for him. Pick one side for each person - mac and cheese for him and cole slaw for her - because you know you have frozen vegetables in the freezer.

Go home.

Greet your husband and baby while making a bee line to the kitchen. Microwave your frozen veggies (in a microcooker from Pampered Chef, ideally) while you plate your meal.

And, ta-da! Dinner on the TV tray in 5 minutes! Courtesy of the first "celebrity" chef.

What do you "make" in a dinner emergency?

Keeping it real: Bottles up

2012-01-11T11:11:00.002-05:00

This post has nothing to do with running, healthy eating or weight loss. We will return to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.

I had rehearsed my answer for days. Over and over again in my head I said the word "no" but all the preparation in the world could not take away the shame I felt when it came "show" time.

At Miles' 6-month well-child appointment, I had to tell the doctor that I was no longer breast feeding.

I tried to place no expectations on myself or Miles when I made the decision to breast feed. I would tell those close to me that if it worked, it worked. If it didn't, it didn't.

Early on, it was clear that though breast feeding might have been "working," Miles and I weren't working well together. He was nursing every hour to 90 minutes during the day, with maybe 2 hours between feedings at night. It was nothing like the every 2 to 3 hours I had read about when I was pregnant. I was exhausted and discouraged, feeling like I could do nothing more than sit on the couch with my top off.

I reached out to the La Leche League and lactation nurses at the hospital where I delivered for help, almost wishing that they would tell me that it would be OK to stop. Instead, I was told everything was OK because Miles was gaining weight. He just might need to eat more because he started out so small.

Days and then weeks passed, and we were still eating at least every 90 minutes. I tried to stay strong, continually assured by lactation nurses, and prayed that there would be a time when we just magically clicked. At Miles' six-week appointment, we still hadn't gotten there. Our pediatrician, whom I adore, turned out to be the person who offered me some help. She told me to start supplementing with formula. I should try offer him a bottle of 2 ounces after he had nursed, three times a day.

I might have said I had no expectations for breast feeding when I was pregnant but I secretly hoped that I'd be a superwoman, nursing him to a year and managing to have a freezer full of milk. I felt like a failure, that my body should be able to provide for my son. I cried making that first bottle, with Miles screaming in my arms, but I had to do it. The well being of Miles and myself was not worth my pride.

Miles got about 6 ounces of formula a day when I was on leave from then on. When I went back to work, I was able to pump enough to keep him in breast milk at daycare but Mark gave him 4 ounces in the afternoon and we "topped" him off with 2 more before bed. About a month or so ago, I was no longer able to keep up and our daycare provider started a half breast milk-half formula regimen.

On the weekends, I tried to "power nurse" as the lactation consultants suggested but it did nothing to boost my supply. It didn't help that Miles became increasingly difficult to nurse. I'm not sure whether it was a growing awareness and desire to observe or just a preference for the bottle but he was just not having it. I had such trouble in Florida that I spent a chunk of the trip in the guest room, by myself. The family thought I was "different" but I was just fighting for a way to get Miles to eat.

But you can only fight so much and so hard.

After a lot of discussion with Mark, soul searching, tears and reaching the 24-week mark, I decided that it was best for my family - the entire family - to wean Miles. I started skipping feedings, pumping less at work and then I stopped entirely on Saturday.

I currently look like I had a botched boob job but Miles seems no worse for the wear, gladly taking a bottle when it's offered. (Now, solids - that's another story.)

I wanted to share this because very few people will tell a mom that it's OK to stop breast feeding - or to not breast feed at all. I was made to feel like I just had to tough it out, that my feelings and well being didn't matter and that I had to do it. Period. But I do matter. And if I realize that, I will be a better mom.

Keeping it real: Can it, would you

2012-01-10T18:09:00.001-05:00

This one is for you, Megan ...

We wake up together. We've gone to bed together. We go to dinners, parties, sporting events. We've even been on vacation together.

It's a torrid love affair we have. And it's still going strong after 10 years.

Don't worry. Mark knows about it. In fact, he fully supports the relationship. He doesn't really have a choice, of course, as he knows full well that I'd be a mess without it.

It being Diet Coke. It being a chemical-laden, artificially sweetened, full of caffeine beverage. It being the beverage the authors of "Skinny Bitch" might have likened it to drinking formaldehyde.

It being the beverage that makes me feel normal.

And you know what? I don't feel bad about it.

Coca Cola Light on my honeymoon in 2008. It tasted like doody and I was about 40 pounds heavier.

Many of those in the healthy living world demonize diet soda because of the chemicals and sweeteners, and they would tell me to drink sparkling water or, if I had to have soda, Zevia. I'm not going to lie - those would be better options.

But here's the thing: I rarely drink, I don't smoke, I think gambling is boring and recreational drugs are just too darn expensive ... and illegal. Diet Coke is my one and only vice.

I'm also not drinking a 450-calorie iced latte or throwing back energy drinks at my desk (though that is something to think about ...). Nor do I imbibe the 3+ 20-ounce Mountain Dews I used to drink in my college days when I began to seriously gain weight. I merely have one or two diet sodas to break up the monotony of tap water and peppermint tea.

If Diet Coke is the worst thing I do, I think I'll survive.

Where do you stand on diet sodas?

Keeping it real: Push it, push it real good

2012-01-09T10:30:00.001-05:00

Dirty diapers, dog vomit, nasal aspirators, ripe morning breath. It's nothing but real in our house. And to spread some of that love, I'm dubbing this week "Keeping it real" week on Healthy Strides. I'll share some stories that might not otherwise make it on the blog.

No worries, though. I promise not to share with you the contents of Miles' diaper.

***

I'm a lazy mother runner. Really. I am.

About 1.5 of my runs each week are with my boys - Denali, Miles and BOB. BOB, of course, being my jogging stroller and not some random guy I hang out with while Mark is at work. The runs offer me a chance to wear out Denali, get Miles to take a nap and grow as a runner and gain strength.

But I only do two of those things. Wanna guess which two?

Running with the BOB is no easy feat, and I'm sure even the greatest of athletes would notice a difference in form, pace and endurance when running with a stroller and a nearly 15-pound behb. Instead of embracing the challenge, I use it as an excuse to avoid pushing myself ... because I am pushing Miles. I allow myself to skimp on mileage, often running less than my training plan dictates, and to keep the pace as easy as possible. The run is all about going through the motions and getting it done rather than the joy of running or feeling of accomplishment.

I embraced an "every run is a victory" attitude when I was pregnant but I have since adopted an "as long as I don't flake out" mantra, which is preventing me from making any significant gains in my pace since I returned to running nearly five months ago.

It's something that has got to change and, on Friday, I took my first step to doing that.

I had missed a 3.5-mile interval workout on the treadmill earlier in the week because of sleep deprivation and illness, and I wanted to make it up. I also needed to wear out Denali. My running partner doesn't win much these days (poor guy!) but he did Friday morning. I got everyone (Denali, Miles and BOB) ready to go and set out with a loosely based plan. I would do a half-mile warmup and do a series of pickups to cover 3.5 miles. Basically, I ran to x point (stop sign, parked car, etc.) as fast as I could then jogged to x point to recover; rinse, repeat.

It was hard. Really hard. It was the type of out-of-breath hard that I had been trying to avoid when I went out with the BOB. And you know what it got me? A blistering 9:26 pace - the fastest ever with the BOB and faster than any run I had done outside of a race since my postpartum return.

I still hope to do my interval workouts on the treadmill - if only to have one run for myself each week - but I learned something. Well, I was reminded of something. To run better, you have to run. To run faster, you have to run faster. To be the person you want to be, you have to act like that person.

How are you keeping it real today?

Lunch line

2012-01-06T12:04:00.000-05:00

Right across the street from my office, there is a hospital. It's not one of those sprawling, newly built medical centers where you go to have your baby, tummy tuck and heart transplant all in the same day. Sure, you could have a baby there ... but I wouldn't. The hospital is more of the kind of place you go to when you staple your finger to your pants, get your wedding ring stuck after mistakenly putting it on the wrong finger or miss the chair and crack your head open on a 7-year-old PC tower.

Oh, it's also a hospital you could go to to grab lunch.

Go ahead. Turn up your nose. But when the office cafeteria has a candy machine, chips machine and refrigerated one with curiously labeled meat sandwiches, you might just walk your butt across the street to get an upgrade in the form of hospital cafeteria food.

The offerings vary day-to-day but I'm always happy with a salad from the bar, hot soup and a veggie from the hot line. I'm not usually persuaded to get much else (hello, meat "gravy" and chicken fingers) but the other day, I dared to be different. I ordered the pesto baked tilapia that was right next to the roasted squash.

Lunch lady, you had me at pesto.

The fish was surprisingly delicious, with the pesto adding tons of flavor to an ordinarily bland fish and roasted tomato garnish adding a bright burst. I knew with one bite that I'd have to make it at home.

Pesto Baked Tilapia with Burst Tomatoes

1 tablespoon olive oil, more or less as desired
2 tilapia filets, thawed
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 pint grape tomatoes
1 clove garlic, minced
2 teaspoons prepared pesto, divided

Preheat broiler.

In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Season fish with salt and pepper. Add filets and cook 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the fish. Add grape tomatoes and minced garlic, tossing as the fish cooks another 2 minutes. Top each filet with 1 teaspoon and spread with back of spoon to coat. Put skillet (as long as it's ovenproof) under the broiler for 6 to 7 minutes. The key here is to make sure the pesto gets a bit crusty (for lack of a better word), the tomatoes burst and nothing catches on fire. Trust me, that last one is important.

Serve with couscous, wild rice or whatever the hell you want.

Mark and I both really enjoyed this dish, which is very light - even with the pesto.

What's your favorite fish dish?

Losing resolve

2012-01-04T13:02:00.000-05:00

Give up Diet Coke.

Lose the last of the baby weight.

Stop using curse words.

Take better care of myself.

Keep "treats" as treats.

There are a million and one things that I could - and maybe should (I'm looking at you, Diet Coke) resolve to do in 2012 but I am not going to. Nope. In fact, the only thing on my mind as we begin 2012 is this: Survive the winter.

Winter is always a tough time to stay active and healthy. The cold and snow make running difficult, and heartier meals are much more appealing when the temperature dips. Factor in that many runs are with an infant and my time isn't my own, and I could be in trouble.

But I have a plan. A plan I think will work to keep me healthy, happy and active this winter.

1. Run less. Sounds a bit contradictory, right? However, I was feeling overwhelmed trying to fit in four runs a week during the fall as I trained for the HUFF and I know it's going to only get worse this winter. I plan to run three times a week, with one treadmill specific workout (i.e. speed or hills).

2. Maintain strength. I'm going to start taking Body Pump on Saturdays, and Mark and Miles will be hanging out with Nana on Wednesday nights so I can workout at home with no interruptions.

3. Focus on races. I am registered for the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans half-marathon relay, and I am eying a spring half marathon. Knowing that I have a reason - a paid one, mind you - to run is a good motivator.

4. New duds. A new workout top or pair of running tights always gets me out the door. I'm a fan of my Pearl Izumi tights, the Under Armour top (as seen in Woman's Day) and this Craft Crew Neck I just spotted (size small, please). My favorite places to get good deals are Marshall's/TJ Maxx and Target.

5. Soup's on. Soup is one of my favorite meals year-round, even in summer. It's a great way to load up on veggies without feeling like you have to eat a salad. In the winter, I usually make soup once a week. It's warm, filling and makes great leftovers.

6. Hot tea. My office gets a bit cold, and it's very tempting to hit up the hot chocolate machine several times throughout the day. While there's nothing wrong with a hot chocolate, 10 a day is not so good.

How do you plan to survive the winter?

Good riddance

2011-12-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

I was listening to NPR on the way home from work the other day (go ahead - yuck it up), and I was struck by a story advancing New Year celebrations. It wasn't about resolutions or goals. It wasn't about what people accomplished in 2011. And it wasn't debating whether Dick Clark will manage to stay awake to see the ball drop.

No. The story was about Good Riddance Day in Times Square. It was the fifth year for the event, where visitors are "encouraged to 'shed and shred their bad memories of 2011." Some people tossed photos of former lovers, medical bills, the names of people who had been unkind.

Source

And while 2011 was a very good year (hello, Miles), I couldn't help but think of the things that I would like to leave behind as I look toward 2012.

The negative self talk. I spent half the year pregnant and while people will say that they felt so beautiful and gorgeous and great while they were pregnant, I felt like a cow. All. The. Time. I never had anything nice to say about my pregnant body and often times I resented it. After I had Miles, the Kim bashing continued as I adjusted to a body that didn't feel like it belonged to me. Even though I've lost most of the baby weight, I still find myself saying things like, "My fat @ss doesn't need that cupcake." I would punch someone in the face if they said it to me so why do I say it to myself. It's not fair to me, the work I put in, the people who love me and that little guy for whom I desperately want to set a good example.

Laugh and Learn Puppy. Miles hasn't even played wit it yet, and I already want to beat it with a sledgehammer. If you even move this toy in the slightest, it starts to talk. "Ear!" "Yellow foot!" "Let's sing and play games!"

"Let's watch Mommy shoot herself in the foot" is more like it.

Health scares. From my grandma's heart troubles (she had a pacemaker) to my emergency (for lack of a better word) induction and subsequent C-section to a friend of the family's health issues, we were at the hospital more than I would have liked. I'm praying for health for all my loved ones in 2012.

The remainder of the baby weight. It's only 5 pounds but I don't really want it around anymore.

Oh, if it were just that easy ...

Self doubt. There was a time, albeit a short one, when I believed I could do anything. Run a sub-8 minute mile? Hells yes. A 16-mile race with little training? No problem. And then I got pregnant, had a baby and had to basically start from scratch. All of that confidence I worked so hard to gain was lost, and each run I struggled to get through chipped at what was left. In fact, my problems and near DNS at my most recent race - the HUFF - were not necessarily because of the conditions. No. It was because I didn't believe in myself. Such doubt seemed out of place, according to my friend, because I have accomplished so much. In 2012, I am going to set goals and believe that I can accomplish them because if I don't, no one else will.

What would you like to say good riddance to?

Friday musings

2011-12-30T09:30:00.000-05:00

Terrible. Just terrible. That was basically the forecast for this winter and yet, on Dec. 30, it was 37 degrees when I headed out for a 4-mile run this morning. It was glorious. The weather, that is. The run ... not so much. Two middle of the night feedings and a 4:45 a.m. wake-up call will do that to a girl.

By the way, if the late start to the terrible weather means that it is going to be cold for my April birthday, I may have to kill someone.

***

I got a Kindle Fire for Christmas, and I'm currently reading "Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie Is Not the Answer." It's a weight loss memoir of sorts by one of my favorite authors, Jen Lancaster. I'm about 49 percent in (thanks, Kindle) and I'm loving it. It's snarky and relate-able all at the same time.

"But ever since I made the decision to drop a few pounds-way less easy than it sounds, by the way-I've become obsessed with my size and in so doing I've inadvertently allowed my inner critic to have a voice. And you know what? She's a bitch. Like now when I see my underpants in the laundry, I no longer think Soft! Cotton! Sensible! Instead I hear her say, 'Damn, girl, these panties be huge.'”

Of course, it's not all laughs. There are some inspiring moments in there, too.

“As I paddle along, I slowly become aware that it's been fear keeping me out of this pool for so many years. I never came here before because I was afraid I'd make a fool of myself by not having the endurance to complete a lap. The swimming wasn't what scared me; failure was. My fear locked me in a state of arrested development for so many years. Fear kept me from tackling my weight, which I understand has simply been symptomatic of my greater fear, growing up. I glide down the lane on my back and reflect on how good I feel right now. It's not because I've lost more than thirty pounds. I feel incredible because I've stopped being afraid.”

***

Salt and vinegar almonds are delicious. As is popcorn, grapes and my Unstuffed Green Pepper Soup. All of which I've nibbled on in the past hour. If I didn't know any better, I would think I was pregnant again.

***

Last night, I did week one of Jillian Michaels' "Ripped in 30" in my my sweet new workout space. Sure, it's in the basement, which happens to be unfinished, and it smelled vaguely of dog urine because Denali thinks it's his new toilet. Oh, and the concrete is a bit tough on the feet but it beats doing butt kicks in front of Mark as he plays Angry Birds on his iPad.

***

It's my Monday morning ritual: After I've finished nursing Miles, I plod upstairs to the bathroom and weigh myself. It's been a relatively pleasant experience since I've quit Weight Watchers but I was a bit nervous this week. You know, having eaten a pound of cheese and ~~four~~ 10 million Triscuits on Christmas. I was so nervous that it took me five days to finally step on the scale.

You know what? I lost a half-pound! Huzzah! I guess it goes to show that staying active is key to avoiding holiday bloat.

Now to just get through this weekend ...

Who has exciting plans to share with me? Really. Share. I beg you because this girl is certain to be in bed when the ball drops unless Miles decides it's time for a snack.

Pep(per) squad

2011-12-29T09:23:00.000-05:00

I got my first library card at the age of 5.

I was the queen (queen, I tell you) of Book It awards.

I have a journalism degree, I edit people's writing for a living and I've done my own professional writing.

And yet, for the life of me, I cannot read a recipe well enough to purchase the proper ingredients. It's quite ridiculous.

I've had the recipe for the Unstuffed Green Pepper Soup bookmarked for, like, a year, and I finally decided to make it this week. I looked at the recipe, added the necessary ingredients to my grocery list and purchased green peppers at my local Kroger. To say I was excited to make a twist on a childhood favorite would be an understatement. The fact that it was a slow cooker recipe nearly sent me over the edge but I managed to hold it together.

Last night, I opened up the recipe and began to gather ingredients.

Ground beef (slash turkey) - check.

Two cans chicken broth - check.

Three bell peppers - check.

An onion - check.

Diced tomatoes seasoned with basil, garlic and oregano - chhh. Shit. I got plain tomatoes. Whatev. I'll add Italian seasoning.

Two cans tomato soup -&*&^%$^^. I only bought one. @$%^#$#$#$@#@

1.5 cups cooked rice - I have to cook the rice. Seriously? Seriously! Damnit. It's 8:30, and I want to go to B-E-D.

Arg.

"I guess I could stay up for 20 minutes," I thought to myself. "The soup will surely beat anything else I can take for lunch tomorrow. I sure hope it works." (Read: My only options for lunch were the hospital and a can of Spaghetti-Os leftover from pregnancy cravings.)

Source

Makeshift Unstuffed Green Pepper Soup

3/4 pound lean ground meat of choice, cooked and drained
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed tomato soup
2 cans chicken broth
2 green bell peppers, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1.5 cups cooked rice
1.5 cups 2% shredded cheddar, divided

Combine everything but the rice in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Stir in rice before serving. Sprinkle each bowl with 1/4 cup cheese because my mom always put cheese on stuffed peppers. And because I said so. Makes 6 (2-cup-ish) servings.

Nutritional information (based on 6 servings): 334 calories, 12 grams of fat, 33 grams carbohydrates, 23 grams protein

Make it work

2011-12-28T20:02:00.004-05:00

It's Wednesday. Wednesday night to be specific.That might not mean much to you but, for me, it means boot camp.

Or at least it did for the past three weeks.

My pre-holiday 3-week session is over and, to be honest, I'm a bit sad. Don't get me wrong - I'm more than happy to not be doing the following: the crab walk, burpees and mermaid crunches. What I do miss is a guaranteed good (and uninterrupted) workout that I got to do twice a week with a good friend and a good group of ladies. Watching "Jeopardy" with a cup of Splenda-spiked Rocky Road ice cream just isn't the same.

And, I tell you what, if this eight-day champion Jason doesn't lose soon, I'm going to jump through the screen and punch him in the throat.

Anyway ... I'm feeling a void where boot camp once was and an itch to fill it.

The center where I took boot camp is going to offer Body Pump in the new year, and I plan to meet L once a week for a class. I could go more often but you pay per class and I'm already feeling the pinch as I eye 2012 races.

So what's a girl to do?

Use her adorably cute son to bribe her mother-in-law.

Confused? Well, Mark and Miles have been going to the MIL's house on Wednesday for food and fun while I was at boot camp. Mark got pasta, MIL got kisses, Miles got to be held to his heart's content and I got to workout. It was truly a win-win situation for all involved.

As Mark and I discussed what's next for me, workout-wise, I realized that this little setup didn't have to end. Mark and Miles could still go to MIL's, and I could still workout during that time. I'll just do it at home, for free, with Jillian or Bob.

Next week, of course. My brilliant mind needs a rest.

How do you make exercise work?

Notes from a Healthy Strides holiday

2011-12-27T17:31:00.003-05:00

1. It is advisable to start your day off on the right foot, even a holiday day. On Christmas Eve and Christmas, I was able to coerce a nearly recovered Mark into running with me. I covered about 7.5 miles between the two runs - nothing crazy but enough to offset the pound of cheese (and couple Triscuit crackers) I ate on Christmas Day.

2. Nutella + Orange marmalade + English muffin = a DELICIOUS yet festive post-run snack/late-morning treat/early lunch.

3. If you know you are going to relax dietary habits for one meal, it's best to keep an eye on things during other meals. I made light wheat french toast Christmas morning, saving calories for the pound of cheese and three Triscuits I snacked on Sunday afternoon.

4. Still have room for dessert? Bring your own to avoid any feelings of guilt. I made a peppermint ice cream pie using low-fat peppermint ice cream (half a 1.75-quart container) mixed with a tub of light whipped topping and mini chocolate chips and dumped into a ready-made chocolate pie crust.

5. A screaming, nap-refusing baby is a sure-fire way to miss dessert. Not necessarily bad since you ate a pound of cheese and ~~three~~ four Triscuits.

6. Babies do not care that it is Christmas nor do they care about presents under the tree.

7. Lucky for me, too, because it meant Santa could bring me a Kindle Fire.

8. Instead, Miles was far more interested in Nana's kitten and tried to take it home. Not so fast, buddy.

9. He managed time to break from leg and tail pulling and general cat torture to show some interest in sweet potatoes. He was a fan.

10. So much so that he refused to share said sweet potatoes. A shame, really - it might have limited the cheese consumption to a half-pound.

How did your holidays shape up?

Breath of heaven

2011-12-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

Mail bag

2011-12-23T11:21:00.000-05:00

Good morning, lovelies. It's been an exciting day in the Healthy Strides house today. Miles slept till 6 a.m. (thank the Lord), I went grocery shopping at 7 a.m. and found myself eating a Christmas cookie for breakfast.

OK. Not that exciting but I did learn that my neighbor's perfect sugar cookies are a surprisingly filling treat. Exactly what you wanted to know I'm sure.

Other things you wanted to know ...

Beth, a super cool, super harcore triathlete, asked me what a plank jack is.

Well, it's a medieval form of torture where you assume the plank position and then jump your legs out the way you would for an upright jumping jack.

OK. It's really not torture. I think it requires more coordination than anything and for the exerciser to not be wearing Vibrams. (My little toes kept getting "caught" on the floor.) During my boot camp class, the instructor had us do three plank jacks then complete a burpee. Now those are torture.

***

Katie asked me how to carve a whole chicken after reading about my slow cooker chicken.

While I'm no expert in the kitchen, I can haphazardly butcher a chicken. Start with a sharp knife and cut down the breast bone. Flip the chicken over and cut down the back bone, separating the chicken into two parts - each with a breast, wing, thigh and leg. Once you have the two parts, you can see a line to separate the breast from the thigh; cut there.

Of course, you could do it the right way.

If this is all a bit funky, feel free to just pull the meat from the bone and say "Fig it, carving." You can use pulled/shredded chicken in any number of dishes, such as Buffalo Chicken Tacos, Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches, Chicken Caesar Sandwiches or on a simple salad.

***

Kimberly asked me why her nearly 6-month-old has decided to begin napping in the morning now that her teacher husband is on break and available to baby wrangle. Her dreams of casually styling her hair while he held a screaming baby have been dashed.

"Now he'll never believe me when I exclaim that I don't have time to do things in the morning because the baby won't let me put him down!" she lamented.

Oh. Wait. That's me. Dangit!

At least he's cute - it saves him every time.

How is your Friday shaping up?

With a twist of lemon

2011-12-22T20:12:00.001-05:00

Remember that easy peasy chicken I made the other night? The one I made in the slow cooker?

I sure hope so because you are going to need it for this.

Lemon Chicken Soup with Spaghetti. Yumminess in a bowl.

Mark asked me to make this soup specifically this week. I’m not sure whether it’s because he agrees with my description or that the source of the recipe is a certain Food Network star whom he enjoys, ahem, watching.

I find it really unfair that someone is allowed to look like that but I’ll give her a pass, if only because of the soup.

Lemon Chicken Soup with Spaghetti

Adapted from Giada di Laurentiis

6 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)

1 dried bay leaf

1 (2-inch) piece Parmesan cheese rind, optional

2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch pieces

1 cup (about 2 1/2 ounces) whole wheat spaghetti, broken into 2-inch pieces, *see Cook's Note

2 cups diced cooked rotisserie chicken, preferably breast meat

1/2 cup grated Romano cheese

1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Kosher salt

In a large stockpot, bring the chicken broth, lemon juice, bay leaf, and Parmesan rind, if using, to a boil over medium-high heat.

Add the carrots and simmer until tender, about 5 to 8 minutes.

Add the broken pasta and cook until the pasta is tender, for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chicken and heat through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and the Parmesan rind and discard. Stir in \the cheese and the parsley. Season with salt, to taste. Ladle the soup into serving bowls.

Mark and I enjoyed the soup for dinner, along with a grilled cheese. It was a bit of a haphazard grilled cheese as I was missing some key ingredients – decent cheese and tomatoes. I used some American slices and a stick of Kraft Tomato Basil string cheese. Surprisingly, it worked. Go me!

What did you have for dinner tonight?

Hips don't lie

2011-12-21T09:12:00.000-05:00

I listened to the rain spitter spatter as I nursed Miles at 3:30 a.m. Actually, it was more than a spitter and spatter. It was more like a pounding on the windows.

It was the kind of rain that made you glad you were inside - not outside running. But I had promised Denali (and myself) that we would run this morning. Rain or no rain. If I could run through knee-deep water during the HUFF, I could handle a little shower.

I rolled out of bed at 5:35 a.m., a little later than I had planned but still enough time (I hoped) to squeeze in a couple miles before Miles woke up for the day. I got dressed, leashed up Denali and was out the door 15 minutes later. Once outside, we were greeted with quite possibly the most perfect weather. It was a toasty 47 degrees and the sky had stopped. It was a blessing of a December morning.

We started out slow but steady - I wanted to make sure I was tuned in to my body to see how everything felt after running the HUFF. Unlike road races where I usually feel soreness in my calves, hamstrings and/or quads the next day or so, my ankles and hips were what felt the most uncomfortable. I attribute the discomfort to the awkward gait I had to adopt due to the muddy and sloped trails. My ankles felt fine but my right hip felt ... well ... I could feel it. It didn't hurt, and I wouldn't even say that it was uncomfortable. I just knew it was there.

I continued to be mindful as I picked up the pace a bit as we cruised around the neighborhood - you have to run fast to be fast (relatively, of course). I never felt strained nor did I feel as if the "discomfort" became anything greater. In fact, I think the hip started to feel better as if all I needed was a good stretch.

I felt fantastic and rejuvenated as I rounded home just shy of 2.5 miles. I couldn't have asked for a better run, not even at 3:30 as I listened to the rain.

Did you run today? How was it?

Center of attention

2011-12-20T20:43:00.001-05:00

Oh, hey. It’s you guys!

So glad to see you! I am sorry if I was being rude. I just really love Valerie Bertinelli, and I had to read about her low-calorie blueberry cake.

OK. That’s a lie. I couldn’t give two lattes (getting an early start on my 2012 resolution to stop using bad words) about Valerie. I’m sure she’s a nice lady but I don’t really think it’s hot in Cleveland.

I was reading the January issue of Woman’s Day, which hit shelves today, because … I’m in it. Don’t believe me? Go get a copy and turn to page 75.

See – it’s me. With really great hair and professionally applied makeup. If you turn that page, you’ll see me … again … and a full page of me discussing my weight loss story. So. Crazy. Like, really crazy.

How does something like that happen? It’s all because of this blog.

An editor at Woman’s Day found her way to Healthy Strides and read about my journey. She emailed me, inquiring whether I’d be willing to be featured in a “I Did It!” column to run in November. I said yes, and the editor sent me some questions to answer. I did my best to give thoughtful answers as I consoled my colicky Miles (I was still on maternity leave) and included before and after photos. Just as we were going through the fact-checking process, the editor emailed me to say her boss liked my story so much that she wanted to save it for the January issue.

So there I am, featured with two amazing women – one of whom lost 170 pounds. I feel incredibly honored and humbled to be considered a weight loss winner with them.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner

2011-12-19T15:18:00.001-05:00

Boot camp is proving to be a challenge. And not just because my instructor decided that it would be super fun to combine plank jacks and burpees into one exercise. (Really, how do you think of things like that?)

L and me, pre-plank jack torture

The twice weekly class has been a challenge for my schedule. More specifically, meal planning. The class is from 6 to 6:45 p.m. - the time fame when I would normally arrive home from work and prepare (and eat) dinner. In another life, I would have just made something quick for Mark and myself when I got home at 7 p.m.but that hour is now devoted to baths, jammies and nursing.

By the way, in that other life, I would get to sleep past 5 a.m., eat with both hands and would never feel guilty about taking a shower.

Anyway ... if I had a bigger entertainment budget, less of a conscience and one of those mythical metabolisms where you can eat whatever you want, I'd probably pick up dinner from one of the many fast food restaurants that dot my route back home. Arby's, Long John Silvers, Big Boy, Taco Bell. Heck, I might even go out of my way and hit up KFC.

But why would I do that? Especially when I can make a healthful (and affordable!) chicken dinner in less time than it takes to go through the drive through.

Here's what you do in 5 easy steps.

1. Buy a whole chicken. It works best if you plan ahead and buy the chicken during your weekly grocery trip.

2. Put the chicken in the slow cooker. Don't forget to take the chicken out of the packaging and remove any of the innards.

3. Sprinkle chicken with seasonings of choice - seasoning salt, pepper, garlic powder. You even could go super fancy and use lemon pepper. You do not have to add anything else. Not even liquid.

4. Cover the slow cooker and turn on low. If you have a programmable one like me, set it for 8 hours.

5. Come home. Eat.

Seriously, it's that easy. Whip up some mashed potatoes (I made them in the morning so all I had to do was reheat them) and pop a steamer bag of broccoli in the microwave and you have a whole meal.

What is your favorite go-to meal in a pinch?

This and that: More from the HUFF

2011-12-19T08:43:00.000-05:00

It’s been 37 hours since I crossed the finish line of the HUFF 50K relay, and I feel like I am still processing the entire event. Overcoming the mud, the water and my own fears and insecurities seems to have had a lasting effect – something I wasn’t expecting for a race that was not close to my personal distance record.

So bear with me as I share a bit more from the day.

***

I think what made the day so, umm, special was the fact that I got to share it with these amazing women. So often we go to races with our own agenda and our own goals, and we lose out on the camaraderie of running. Taking on the HUFF as a team allowed us to share the good times, the bad times …

And a little nakedness.

When I say these women were amazing, it wasn’t just because they believed in me when I didn’t or that they were out there in the cold and dark rooting for me as if it was noon on a sunny day. No, these women were amazing because they handed me hot chocolate at the finish and helped me undress and redress in the tent. Let me tell you, there’s nothing to bring a group closer than underwear and trying to get on Recovery Socks.

***

If you are appalled that I stripped down in the tent, don’t be. It was pretty common. In fact, one runner stripped down completely – as in L saw his bare bottom – and that was when the tent was crowded. I give him props for keeping his man parts toward the outside of the tent.

***

Mark knows that I’ll do just about anything for a new pair of shoes. He just didn’t know that included running 10.5 miles in pools of water and ankle-deep mud.

I’m not sure if you can tell from the photo but my shoes were trashed after the race. Thankfully, I found the same shoes on sale at Running Warehouse and using Skinny Runner’s discount, got them for less than $60 shipped. Huzzah!

***

I might have developed a strong affection for the course worker who went out of his way to make sure I finished safely but there was one guy who won my heart.

Ringo, a malamute-husky mix, ran the entire 50K with his owner and still had enough energy to socialize. It made me wish (sort of) that I had brought Denali.

***

People like to preach the benefits of chocolate milk as a recovery drink. Pshaw. I have something better.

Cheeseburger Happy Meal with a Diet Coke – now that’s a combination of protein, carbs and fat that I can enjoy.

***

Remember that video I showed you the other day, previewing the course?

Here’s what the course actually looked like:

***

Huff 50K relay: A recap

2011-12-18T20:20:00.001-05:00

Warning: This is a long one for me. If you don’t feel like reading all of it, don’t.

I could see it – the red stripe on the roof of the white finishers’ tent – in the distance, maybe a half-mile away. It was a sight I had been waiting 10 miles – more like 5 hours actually – to see. I splashed through the final pool of water on the course and did my best to pick myself up and kick it to the finish line.

As I emerged from the woods and headed toward the last stretch along the parking lot, I could hear C shouting my name, the sound breaking miles of silence. I saw L’s red light blinking in the twilight. I dug deep, my legs moving faster than they had all day, and rounded the last corner to the finish line.

My teammates were there to greet me as I crossed the mats. The sky was dark as we embraced and embraced again, celebrating our journey. It was a difficult one, one I don’t think we thought we’d finish. But we did.

I had arrived at Chain O Lakes State Park 5.5 hours earlier per Victorious Secret’s team plan. L thought she would finish in 3 hours or so, and C would take 2 or so hours to complete the course. We were hoping that I would arrive when C was half-way finished with her loop. I would have time to stretch, go to the bathroom and be off. However, despite my worrying, we had grossly underestimated the condition of the course and I arrived just as L was finishing.

I gave L a big hug and ushered her to the tent to get her warm. We chatted a bit about the race, her telling me that the first 7 miles (of 10.5) were the roughest but not to expect negative splits. As I listened, I saw ultra and relay runners come in battered and bruised, muddy from head to toe. Some of them were even bleeding. I tried not to worry but with each minute C was on the course, my anxiety levels grew.

A best case scenario had C coming in at 2 hours but L was sure she would be closer to 2.5, if not 3. However, I still insisted that we keep an eye out for her. Five minutes passed and then 10. I watched the tree line with hope but I did not see her.

L insisted that I move inside the tent to stay warm as she swore that my lips were turning blue. Inside, I might have felt better physically but emotionally I did not. Fear began to overwhelm me, and I seriously doubted whether I’d be able to complete the course. Everyone assured me that I could and promised that I would get wet, not cold, and that it was totally doable. The more I was told I could do it, the more unsure I became. Two hours and 45 minutes after C started, I called Mark in tears. I didn’t think I could do it. I didn’t think I wanted to do it. He said that no matter what I decided he would support me but he knew that I was not a quitter.

I hung up, put in my ear buds and tried to lose myself in Adele. I headed back out to L and decided that I was going to do this … or at least try.

C finished in about 3 hours and it was my turn. My feet felt like frozen blocks as I began, shuffling – not running – up the road. I fought back tears with each step and prayed that my feet would warm up. I started to focus on the music as the course veered off onto the trail at just over a half-mile in. It seemed like a steep decline, and I had to give up feeling sorry for myself to pay attention to my footing.

I found in the early stretches of the race that it would behoove me to really take my time on the downhills and do what I could on the flat stretches – the few there were – and charge the uphills. The course was very muddy and going too fast downhill was only going to lead to disaster.The course went from muddy to wet within the first two miles, and I soon found myself running in anywhere from ankle-deep to knee-deep water for up to 30 feet at time.

An example of water on the course, courtesy of Three Rivers Running Company

There were side “trails” made by previous runners to avoid some of the water but I had been warned that it sometimes did more harm than good to avoid the water. The trails were lined with sticker bushes and taking those side trails meant, at minimum, that you would be stuck if you didn’t fall over the brush and limbs.

Despite the trail hazards, I made it to the first aid station – at 3 ish miles – feeling pretty good. So good that I told a course volunteer, who was concerned that I would finish in the dark, that I could finish 7.5 miles in 1:15. He sort of looked at me with knowing concern and warned that there was more water ahead. I blew him off, telling myself that he didn’t know what kind of runner I was, and kept moving. I was doing OK, I thought. I was managing the mud and the water with far more constitution than that girl I had became in the tent.

Just before the 5-mile sign, the course crossed a road and descended into a different section of trail. What I thought was uncomfortable in the early part of the race became a distant memory as my pace slowed to a walk as I trudged along a path that was more like sewage than trail, with mud ankle deep. The next two miles were a combination of walking sideways to keep from slipping, running on the outer edges of trail, running through water if only to rinse my shoes and making sure that I was following the green flags that marked the trail.

The markers indicated a turn onto a service road about 7.25 miles in, and I made sure to take advantage of the flat, dry surface. I ran. Grateful to be unencumbered by the trail. As I made the move down a dirt road (still dry), approaching the 8-mile marker, a big truck sped past me.

“Who does he think he is, speeding in a park like that?” I thought to myself.

Who he was was the same gentleman who warned me of my chances of finishing in the dark. He was on a mission: removing course markers and making sure that I knew the jogs the course would follow. I stopped for a minute to listen, trying to remember each jog in the trail that he mentioned. Then I waved goodbye and descended back into the woods. Alone.

I tackled the hills and mud with determination, the daylight clock ticking, knowing that I had conquered most of the trail. The toughest parts, according to L, were over.

I weaved around the trail, taking in the sights of the frigid lakes surrounding me. It was beautiful – just as L had promised.

At mile 9 or so, I looked up and saw my kind course worker. He had met me on the trail and ran with me for a half-mile until I made the turn he was so worried that I would miss. All I had to do was follow the path. I couldn’t mess up. The finish would soon be in sight.

Before I could get there, I had to go through one more long, deep section of water. I trudged through without care or concern – unlike the way I approached the water so many times before on the course. In five minutes, I would be finished. And that promise was all I needed.

My Garmin read 2:11:56 when I crossed the mats. It was, hands down, the toughest 2:11:56 I had ever spent running on a course tougher than I ever thought I’d tackle. I wish I could find the words to truly describe the joy and pain I felt during that time but I can’t. Instead, I leave you with this:

You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement. - Steve Prefontaine

Well, aisle be

2011-12-16T09:40:00.001-05:00

It was looking desperate.

Don’t be fooled by the look of the fridge –
a good chunk is breast milk and three types of leftover buns.

No milk. No eggs. No fruit of any kind. The peanut butter was dangerously low, as was the bread and orange juice.

Trying to find something for breakfast was like an episode of “Chopped” – oats made with water, sunflower seed butter and reduced sugar grape jelly with a side of pre-cooked turkey sausage that I found in the depths of the freezer. Thank God, I had some half-caff coffee or I might have been marching to Burger King for a Croissan’wich and cup of joe.

Instead, I bundled up Miles and marched down to Kroger.

I guess that’s the perk of a workday that starts at 10 a.m.

We blazed down the aisles, tossing in bananas and clementines, spinach and broccoli (for Spinnocoli Pizza), flour and marshmallows (for holiday treats) and frozen meals and Kroger’s Private Selection ice cream (for Mark).

An hour and $93 later, Miles and I had everything on the list … and then some. What can I say? I really wanted grapes … and Diet Coke.

What are your grocery staples?

Mark has to have for the week: bananas, orange juice, milk, beer, cereal bars, frozen breakfast items (i.e. Jimmy Dean sandwiches or waffles), frozen meals for lunch and a frozen pizza.

Me? I need at least two kinds of fruit, baby carrots, fat-free hot chocolate, peppermint tea, Progresso light soups (vegetable barley is my fave), eggs for breakfast and wheat bread.

Up a creek

2011-12-15T09:30:00.000-05:00

Move that body: 4.27-mile run

I am starting to get scared. Like, really scared.

For the past two days, it has rained.

Source

And rained.

Source

And rained.

Totally fine. I guess. After all, it's not like I can control these sorts of things.

But it would be nice if I could because, you know, I have this race on Saturday. A trail race. A trail race that promises to be more technical and difficult than the others (ahem, one) I've done and that's without the help of two days of rain.

Rain + trail race = no good. Rain + trail race, even with a day to dry up = one hot mess.

I was directed to the video, on RunIndiana, by pal and teammate L. What was probably a little ditch along the trail is now a full fledged river.

OK. Creek.

Still. It doesn't look like the kind of place you want to run through when the day's high is in the mid-30s - especially if it's in an early section of the 10+ mile course.

I'm thinking of packing extra socks (read: stuffing 'em in my cleavage) for after my dip in the river, and there will definitely be extra clothes for the ride home. L says I should just wear some old shoes, remember that I paid to do this and pretend it's one of those mud runs without the hefty registration fee (read: a nice way of telling me to stop the whining).

Yeah ... I'll be taking the socks.

Any advice or encouragement out there?

Breaking up is hard to do

2011-12-13T20:37:00.001-05:00

I have a confession to make.

I haven’t counted a single Weight Watchers PointsPlus in more than a month and it’s been at least twice that long since I’ve weighed in.

And you know what? I’ve lost 5 pounds.

I had been struggling with the PointsPlus program since I returned to Weight Watchers after having Miles. Some of my go-to foods on the WW program were worth more and others were worth fewer. I didn’t know how to plan meals to fit in the program, and I struggled with eating to keep up milk supply. It just seemed that no matter what I did, no matter how closely I thought I was following the plan, the scale would not budge. I knew if I was going to meet my post-baby weight-loss goals that I was going to have to make a commitment to attend meetings or switch things up.

It was a tough decision. I felt a loyalty to the program as it provided me with the tools, support and inspiration I needed to be successful. However, I found it difficult to fit in the meetings near my house now that I’m back to work and I lacked the motivation to scout out times on the weekends. It became clearer and clearer that I couldn’t continue doing something that so obviously wasn’t working for me.

I began tracking my food choices and exercise on MyFitnessPal.com, a site I used while I was pregnant to make sure I wasn’t giving in to the “eating for two” line. The site “gives” me 1,250 calories a day, and I am able to make an adjustment to account for breast feeding bringing me to 1,750 calories. Any exercise I complete gives me more calories for my eating pleasure.

I set up my account to lose 1 pound a week and, with the exception of Thanksgiving week, I have done just that. My post-partum weight loss stands at 14.4, bringing me 2.2 pounds below my WW goal and just 5.8 pounds from my happy weight.

I have no timetable to lose those 5.8 pounds – I merely want to see the scale to go in the right direction and feel in control of the process.

Have you ever made a drastic change in an effort to lose weight?

Tight squeeze

2011-12-12T18:26:00.000-05:00

I have a 10-degree rule.

If it's 10 degrees or warmer, I'll run outside. If it's not, I'm ... well ... not. I'll stay inside in favor of a DVD workout or a treadmill run.

While I consider running in 30-degree weather perfect and 20-degree weather to be quite comfortable, it's only possible with the right gear. Half-zip jackets layered over compression tops and tights are standard wear for me when it turns chilly. I've been wearing Target's C9 line the past two winters but found myself in the market for a new pair of tights as I ripped mine last year when the sidewalk tripped me.

Thankfully, the folks at Pearl Izumi and Outside PR came to my aid.I was sent a pair of Pearl Izumi SELCT Thermal Tights to try out.

About the tights

The W's SELECT Thermal Tight is designed for maximum warmth and comfort for cold weather.

[Pretend there's a photo of me wearing said tights right here. I left my SD card at work - don't ask - and couldn't snap any pictures this weekend. If you forgot what I look like, just move your eyes to the right hand corner of this blog.]

My thoughts

I'll be honest - I wasn't sure I was going to like these tights when I first put them on. They seemed to ride lower on my already short frame and the elastic seemed to hit me at an odd spot on my hip bones. It didn't chafe or anything like that but merely felt weird. I have since worn them a handful of times and the fit issue no longer seems to be a problem. It might have helped that I've lost 4 pounds since I first started wearing them. Might have.

My favorite part of the tights is the reflective detailing, both on the front leg and the back (a Pearl Izumi logo). As we all know, I'm all about being seen and I'll take any help where I can.

The tights are great for 20+ degree runs but I'd recommend wearing an outer layer for any run in the teens. I even run a bit hot and felt a bit chilly - though not uncomfortably so - when I ran this weekend. (Oh, yes. I ran this weekend. Twice. I totally made up for a lackluster week with a 4-miler and a 5-miler, both sub-10 pace!)

Parting words

These tights are pretty great and look forward to many cool weather miles ahead this winter although I'll be adding a second layer. However, the $70 price tag will probably keep me from getting a second pair. You know, that's like two boxes of diapers and Miles is refusing to start walking and go to the potty. Geesh. 5-month-olds these days!

Diary of a Running Mom, Part 1

2011-12-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

Take a good look at this picture. What do you see?

I mean, besides Miles' seriously 1980s sleeper borrowed from day care and my ~~sweat-covered~~ glistening face.

Look again. More closely this time. Do you see it?

Stop looking at Miles' widow's peak and my man chin.

Seriously, get some glasses. Look now.

That would be my Under Armor shirt label indicating that it was on inside out and backward. A fact that I only realized after my run on Wednesday. Score one for me!

Sadly, that was my only run thus far this week. I had been hoping to go out this morning. In fact, I spent last night and this morning psyching myself up but Miles decided to sleep in. It would have been all well and good had he sent a memo of his plans so I could hop on the treadmill as he snoozed but he didn't. Oh well. I ended up being showered and semi-dressed for work by the time he started stirring.

I did squeeze in some activity by walking him to my mother-in-law's house, where he hangs out on Friday, and then walking home. She lives about a mile and a half from us, allowing Denali and I to log 3 miles before I headed off to work.

How do you fit in exercise when your workout plans are thrown off?

Chip off the old bananas

2011-12-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

I had three bananas sitting on the counter. Three lonely bananas, with peels more brown than yellow. They were far past their eating prime, even for a girl like me who prefers her bananas soft and sweet. It was either trash or treat.

I chose treat.

I quickly surveyed my kitchen for available ingredients: flour, sugar, butter, sour cream, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips and egg substitute. A muffin I could make.

Source

Mini Banana Chip Muffins
Adapted from Paris Sweets in Seattle

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter softened
3/4 cup sugar (I reduced the sugar from 1 cup to 3/4 cup but after tasting, I think 1/2 cup would do it)
1/2 cup egg substitute
3 medium bananas, mashed
1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup assorted chips (chocolate, peanut butter, butterscotch)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray mini muffin tins with non-stick baking spray.

In a bowl, combine flours, baking powder and salt; whisk together. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in egg substitute a bit at a time. Add mashed bananas, sour cream, water and vanilla, mixing between additions. Gradually add flour mixture and mix until just combined. Fold in chips.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until a tester comes out clean. Cool muffins before removing from tin. Makes 45 muffins.

Nutritional stats (per muffin): 75 calories, 3 grams of fat, 11 grams carbohydrates and 1 gram protein.

The verdict: Yum - and that's not just my opinion. I shared some with my co-workers and bites were enjoyed by all. The rest are in the freezer for a day after Christmas brunch I hope to host.

Camping out (+ winner)

2011-12-06T19:43:00.001-05:00

Ow.

Ow. Ow.

Ow. Ow. Mother-figgin-ow.

I. Hate. Steps.

I also hate bending down, ambling to the copy machine and walking in general but I guess that's what I get for following an epic 10-mile run with boot camp.

I've been looking forward to boot camp ever since L sent me an email with information about the three-week session. I was sure that the class would be just the butt kicking I need to get in the game mentally and reclaim some of the strength I lost during pregnancy. Last night, we met at the gymnastics/tumbling gym for our first class.

It started off innocently enough with arm circles and front kicks. There were these knee jump things, which L likened to a dive approach, that I have neither the coordination or the ability to complete successfully. I decided to wing it. And laugh. A lot. Thank goodness L decided to laugh, too, or I would have not only looked crazy but been certifiably so.

From there it was typical, or what I assume to be typical, boot camp fare – burpees, squats, bridges with chest presses, lunges, planks, push-ups, squats. The instructor offered modifications of all of the exercises, and I stuck with those for the most part. I have to give myself room to improve, to paraphrase L :)

I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t feel like @ss crack upon leaving, even though I struggled during certain exercises. I’m hoping that Wednesday’s session, when we’ll move to circuit stations, we’ll give me the @ss crack feeling that merits the type of soreness I’m feeling today.

And the Viva La Resistance winner is (selected via Random.Org) … Bobbi! E-mail me your address (hlthystrides at gmail dot com) so I can mail out your goodies and set up your subscription to Fitness magazine.

Hard to the core

2011-12-05T07:35:00.001-05:00

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the runner I used to be.

I was a runner who did 8:30 min/miles; finished a 7-mile speedwork sessions before work; didn’t think it was worth going out if I wasn’t going to do at least 5 miles. Ten miles was a comfortable distance and I would do it in the rain, sleet, snow, in a middle of a heat wave.

That girl seems like such a distant memory as my pace hovers around the 10-minute mark and I’m happy with any run over 2.5 miles. All runs are still a challenge, whether it’s a mile or 5. And when it comes to weather, I’m sad to say, I’ve become a total weenie.

I’ve been afraid that I might never be that runner again but, yesterday, I got to visit with her.

I had 10 miles on the schedule, my last long run before the Dec. 17 50K Huff relay. It was a bleak morning, with rain and wind gusts in the forecast. I was seriously considering doing 10 miles on the treadmill when Mark encouraged me to get out there and get it done.

I threw on my new Pearl Izumi tights, YMX top and Under Armour hat and headed toward downtown. Large portions of area trails were closed because of flooding or anticipated flooding after heavy rain and snow last week.

Despite some large puddles, the first few miles were relatively uneventful as my legs and body warmed up. I was listening to “My Fair Lazy” by Jen Lancaster (love her!) and enjoying that settling in feeling you get on a long run.

Then the rain came. It started about mile 4 and came down harder as the miles progressed.

I was miserable. The once comfortable 45-degree air became blustery and the wind made it difficult to keep a steady pace. My hands were cold and I could barely hold my water bottle (which I tossed at mile 6). My clothes clung to me like an icy bath.

I hunkered down, turning off my iPod and focusing solely on getting it done. I lowered my gaze and put one foot in front of the other. Put one foot in front of the other. Looked at the Garmin. Cursed. Foot in front of the other. Cursed. Looked at Garmin.

At mile 7.5, I realized that I could keep doing what was I doing – the cursing and constant “Is this over?” dialog - or I could do what I used to do. I could run with dedication, passion and no fear.

I chose the latter. And, in that moment, I found a piece of me that I had been missing.

Viva la Resistance: The recap

2011-12-01T17:54:00.001-05:00

Move that body: 1-mile walk with a planned run tonight on the 'mill

Today is Dec. 1.

Exactly one month since Nov. 1.

Nov. 1.

That's when I promised myself - and y'all - that I would complete two strength/resistance training sessions a week.

Yeah, about that.

I am not the ripped girl that I hoped I'd be and I'm not here bragging about doing curls with the 15-pound weights in the garage. However, it was important for me to set the goal and even more important for me to try. I could have done better - maybe - but I did something.

Viva la Resistance: The results

Number of weeks in challenge/number completed: 5/3.5

Number of times I did Jillian Michaels: .5

I started it once but Miles got super fussy. I've found that the best resistance routines are those that are easily interrupted, i.e. weights in front of "Good Morning America."

Number of times I squeezed in a session while watching "The Biggest Loser": 3 - nothing like Dolvett to get you moving.

YUM!

Favorite workout: A circuit that requires just two pieces of equipment - a set of hand weights and a jump rope. Wait. Make it three pieces of equipment - a set of hand weights, a jump rope and a cell phone. Blast Pandora on your cell phone and set a timer on your phone for 15 minutes. Jump rope for one minute; drop it. Do a lower body move (squats, lunges, dead lifts, side lunges and curtsey lunges) for one minute. Pick up your weights if you didn't use them for the lower body move and work up (bicep curls, shoulder raises, upright row, tricep extension, widegrip curls) for one minute. Repeat 5 times, doing a different lower body and upper body exercise each time around.

How did you do with the challenge?

By the way, you'll get two entries into the giveaway (which includes a Bic Band, iTunes gift card, magazine subscription and Bob Harper DVD) for commenting and three if you completed the challenge. I've been keeping track on a spreadsheet with all who have entered and commented on previous posts. I'll select the winner of the giveaway Sunday night.

Weather or not … not

2011-11-30T09:17:00.001-05:00

Oh, the difference a few days (and a thousand miles) make.

Friday:

Today:

Needless to say, I didn’t take out the BOB this morning. Pushing a stroller in the snow and praying drivers didn’t lose control of their cars just didn’t seem wise. But maybe that’s just me. Thank goodness I busted out 3 miles on the treadmill last night after my wee one went to bed. And by busted out, I mean trudge along while listening to “My Fair Lazy” by Jen Lancaster.

Never again will I lament running somewhere less than scenic as long as it’s warm and sunny. Never again.

What’s the weather like where you are?

Lessons in holiday travel

2011-11-28T20:52:00.001-05:00

1. You might be able to sneak a “lap child” past a TSA agent but you can’t get one past an airline gate agent.

2. A “lap child” needs to be claimed (so to speak) on a boarding pass and you need a form of identification, such as a birth certificate or shot record, for the child.

3. If you look like you’re on the verge of tears and your child is really teeny, the gate agent will be kind and redo your pass without said identification.

4. It is best to travel when your infant should be in bed. He will sleep through a car ride, take off, lay over and second flight.

5. Out of town family members love to hold your baby so you can do things like go to the bathroom, drink coffee and run 12 miles (a 3-miler and a 9-miler).

6. Running in Florida sounds much more glamorous than it actually is. It was humid and not very scenic, aka I ran alongside a highway and planned communities about 30 minutes outside St. Petersburg.

7. Sometimes you have to abandon your way of eating based on what your gracious aunt/host has made available.

8. Muffins taste great for breakfast. Two muffins taste even better.

9. If you are smart enough to procure summer clothes for your infant to wear in Florida, you should be smart enough to pack summer clothes for yourself. Should be.

10. The beach is like a giant sandbox and children love it accordingly.

11. So do adults.

12. And old men in banana hammocks.

13. It’s great to be together as a family. The beach is just a bonus.

What did you do for the holiday?

Smooth and spicy Southern breakfast

2011-11-25T08:51:00.000-05:00

It took this New Orleans born girl 29 years (6 of those working at a Cracker Barrel) to discover that I like grits.

And boy do I like them … with Parmesan cheese and spicy lemon shrimp ;with cheese, tomato sauce and smoked sausage; with cheese and a fried egg.

As it turns out, I also like them with cheese and a fried egg … and green chiles.

Meet my creamy and spicy grits.

1 cup water

Generous pinch Kosher salt

1/4 cup quick cooking grits

1 Chipotle & Queso Fresco Laughing Cow wedge

2 teaspoons chopped green chiles (from a can)

1/2 slice white cheddar cheese

1 egg, cooked over medium

Bring water and salt to a boil. Add grits; lower heat. Whisk often as grits cook. Just as the grits are nearing completion, add Laughing Cow wedge. Whisk in until melted and smooth. Add chiles. Pour grits into bowl and top with cheddar cheese and egg. Serves 1.

Do you enjoy grits? Have you had enough turkey yet?

What a turkey

2011-11-24T08:34:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours.

WIAW: On the road again

2011-11-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today is one of the biggest travel days of the year. According to AAA, 42.5 million people will be going somewhere - anywhere - for the holiday.

And you know what that means? Besides the requisite fight with your husband because he still hasn't packed or you've spent 100 minutes too many with your in-laws, of course. It means eating on the go.

Eating while traveling can be a minefield of fast food joints, eating out of boredom and gas station temptations.

Here are my best bets and tips for eating on the road.

Breakfast

People like to act like oatmeal is the greatest thing on the planet and maybe it is. For me, though, if I don't have some kind of protein, I'm a hangry beotch about 45 minutes later. The Subway egg white muffin melt is a good choice. Sure, it's not whole wheat but it is a good combination of fats, proteins and carbs. The Sunrise Subway Melt, which has bacon (and bacon makes everything better), clocks in at 210 calories. Subways also sell yogurt, which will bump up the protein and round out the meal. Oh, and don't forget the decaf.

Mid-morning snack

Tall Skinny Peppermint Mocha (100 calories) and a banana from home (105 calories)

Lunch

It can be really hard to stay on track when everyone else is eating like crap. If you really can't say no to the fries, employ one of my favorite tricks - order off the kids menu. A cheeseburger Happy Meal from McDonald's will run you 300 calories for the cheeseburger and 35 for the apples (no dip). A small order of fries is 230 calories. Not bad but I'd rather spend the calories on an ice cream cone, which has 150 worth-every-bite calories.

Afternoon snack

I always, always travel with a bag full of food. Carrots, celery sticks, fruit, granola bars and whatever else I can scrounge up. My favorites to bring are the cashew bar from Nature Valley, Z bars from Clif, 100-calorie packs of Blue Diamond wasabi soy almonds and grapes. After all, who wants to hang on to a peach pit or an apple core the whole trip?

Dinner

Pitching Taco Bell on the road can be a tricky thing as it can have an, umm, interesting effect on people's digestive systems. But, you can do it right. Or sort of right. Try the steak salad - fresco style - (220 calories), a fresco style chicken taco (150 calories) and an order of cinnamon twists (170 calories). Hey - a girl has got to splurge!

This might sound weird but whenever I travel, I have a list of meal options for fast food places that we might stop at. I can go in with a mission rather than being tempted by less-than-stellar options.

What are your rules for the road?

A little release

2011-11-22T08:43:00.000-05:00

Move that body: Short run (2.something)

I'm not going to lie: Things have been a bit, umm, challenging in the Healthy Strides house. There have been tears and screaming and all out tantrums. And, I swear, it's not because Mark refused to set a $5,000 minimum on my Christmas gift.

Nope. Our little tantrum-thrower is the cute and not-so-cuddly Miles.

Part of me thinks it's teething and part of me thinks he just wants to be a jerk.

And yes, I just called my baby a jerk. You would, too, if he screamed for three days straight and you could do nothing - not even nurse him non-stop - to make him happy.

It's been very trying, to say the least, and I was trying to garner some sympathy last night when I was on the phone with my grandma. Twas a futile effort as she had seven and has been through it all. Instead, she told me to relax. She told me that God never gives us more than we can handle. And then, the kicker:

"Maybe you need to get on something."

Truth is I was already prescribed something. When Miles was a newborn, his colic-like behavior was too much for me. I spent hours curled in a ball of the upstairs hallway sobbing uncontrollably. I fantasized about running away or getting hit by a car while I went to the grocery. Every day, I wondered how I was going to survive. My OB gave me a bottle of happy pills in the form of generic Zoloft to help.

The Zoloft, though, was unable to ease the despair I felt. The medication didn't make me feel like a better mom or come with a remedy for fussiness. The low dose merely made me feel more even and kept me from snapping at Mark as often as I had been.

The thing that saved me - the thing that kept me from leaping in front of a car - was running. Shortly after receiving the Zoloft, I was able (physically) to begin running with focus. I could now make one thing in my life about me. Running took me to a place void of screaming and demands for milk. Even on the worst days, like this morning, I can strap Miles in the stroller and go for a run. It guarantees me 30 minutes of quiet as the motion lulls him to sleep. I can push the BOB at a lightning fast pace of 10:08 and work out all of my frustrations.

So when my grandma advised that I get on something, I told her I was. On a training plan.

As for the Zoloft, I keep it in the medicine cabinet in the event of an emergency but haven't taken a dose in months.

How has running or exercise helped you?

Let there be light: A product review

2011-11-21T20:10:00.001-05:00

There’s a difference between having a glowing personality and being a glowing person.

While both will garner the attention of those you meet, the former will make you lots of friends and the latter will, more than likely, guarantee you to be the talk of the town – to put it nicely. It might also guarantee that you would be visible to passing motorists on your early morning runs and less likely to be scolded by creepy, mean ladies hanging out in parked vans.

I like friends. I also like not being yelled. But none of that matters because neither my insides or outsides glow.

Good thing the folks at Road ID and Outside PR intervened, prevented any wallowing that could follow.

I was given the chance to try out some Road ID products of my choice. I mentioned that I picked up a slim Road ID, which has emergency info for both Miles and me, but I also selected two Firefly Supernova lights in green (my favorite color).

About the lights (from the Road ID site):

This little fella packs quite a punch. Simply put, it's the brightest, lightest, most durable security light in its class. Other lights just don't compare. You won't believe how bright this safety light is. Its durable plastic clip enables you to securely attach it to your waistband, belt or even your shirt collar. Wear it whenever you go out at dark and be seen by motorists from up to a mile away.

My thoughts:

In one word: Like.

In more words: I’m a fan.

Why?

I really do feel safer with the lights. You flip the battery one way and the light blinks. Sort of like a truck backing up – which is always awesome. Flip it the other way, and it’s a steady beam.

(ET phone home. ET phone home.)

While I can’t guarantee that I can be seen from a mile away, it is like a strobe light in my front entry way. It’s hot. Oh, and no creepy lady sitting in a van has stopped me to tell me that I’m hard to see.

I was surprised at how comfortable the lights were to wear. I didn’t spring for a sassy wristband or belt, opting to just clip them to my jacket and waistband. I have yet to experience any chafing and I actually forget that I’m wearing them. You know, except for that green flashing reflection on the BOB.

One note: I received two lights and one of the two did not work. The battery was good but the light itself did not work. I contacted Road ID, and I was sent a new light with a self addressed stamped envelope to return the bad one. Impressive customer service. Very impressive.

Disclaimer: While I was provided with these products, the opinions (and photo of me) are completely my own.

What’s your favorite way to light up the night … or morning?

Viva la Resistance: Let’s be honest

2011-11-17T09:37:00.001-05:00

Move that body: Mish mash circuit workout

I had high hopes when I gave myself the November Viva la Resistance challenge. I thought it was just what I needed to get myself going in terms of strength training. Reporting back to you, and my desire not to let anyone down, would motivate me to get up at 5 a.m. and hang out with Jillian Michaels.

And, to an extent, the challenge was what what I needed. I am forcing myself to do even the slightest of weight workouts just to meet the goals of Viva la Resistance (two sessions a week). I take advantage of Miles’ post-run naps to do a bit of Pilates.

However, I have yet to get up early and successfully complete a Jillian workout. I’d like to partially blame Miles, who hasn’t gotten back on a schedule since the time change, but I know part of it’s me. I choose sleep over exercise. At night, I choose couch time over exercise. And on the weekends, I’m often catching up on a missed run.

Plain and simple, it’s hard and I’m not meeting my expectations. BUT, I’m not going to beat myself up. I’m trying and meeting the minimum requirements; I am not giving up; and I’m learning a lot.

My Viva la Resistance lessons (so far):

Be creative. If Miles wants to be held but I’m trying to fit in a session, I find ways to incorporate him into the workout. I’ll put him on the yoga mat and do a pushup so that each time I lower to the ground I give him a big ole kiss. I’ll wedge him, in the Boppy, between my legs and do sit-ups.

Create a mantra … and stick to it. This is a recent thing, like the past two days, but I’m starting to ask myself, “What do you want more?” What do I want more: To lie on the couch or make Dolvett proud during “The Biggest Loser” commercials? What do I want more: Clean laundry or a 15-minute circuit workout?

Identify obstacles and find a way around them. My biggest problem is trying to get things done with Miles around. He’s needy, as I assume most babies are, and wants to be held a lot. I can’t lift weights and hold him. I just can’t. I can take a class outside of the house and devote 45 minutes to myself. My friend and fellow blogger L told me about a December boot camp class. It’s twice a week for three weeks, and it’s only $30. The fee is worth the time for me and the chance to socialize, rare things this day.

How have you been keeping up with the challenge? What are your obstacles?

WIAW: Comfort and convenience

2011-11-16T13:45:00.001-05:00

Move that body: 2ish mile run and 25 minutes yogilates

Growing up, it was all about the Hamburger Helper.

Beef Pasta and Cheeseburger Macaroni and Stroganoff. Oh God, I still have nightmares about that Stroganoff.

My mom wasn't serving up this dinner in a box because she couldn't cook or was a bad cook. She knew her way around the kitchen though I would venture to say she was more of a baker than a cook. Our dinners were based on convenience and cost. Hamburger Helper was cheap and easy, and she was able to make it between jobs or before sports practice (mine not hers).

However, every once in awhile, she'd get in the kitchen and make "dog food," a concoction - a very bland one, I should add - of ground beef and white rice; roulade, a German dish; and my favorite, tuna casserole.

I love tuna casserole. Like, love it. Well, the way my mom made it - with canned tuna, canned soup and milk. It's the way I make it now. You know what? I don't feel bad about it.

Tuna Casserole

8 ounces pasta - I like medium shells
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 cans tuna in water
1 can reduced fat cream of mushroom soup
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper, to taste
Milk or fat-free half and half as needed
1/2 cup to 1 cup cheddar cheese

Make pasta according to package directions. Drain. In the same pan, add onion, garlic and broth; cook until soft. Add tuna, including water, soup, Worcestershire and salt and pepper. Stir ingredients together and warm sauce. Add milk or fat-free half and half to give sauce the desired consistency. In the past, I've also added cream cheese or sour cream at this point. Add pasta back in along with the cheese. Stir and cook until cheese is melted.

I ate this for dinner last night, along with buttered peas. I know people sometimes put peas in the tuna casserole but my mom didn't. So there.

What is your favorite convenience meal?

P.S. Sorry for the lack of meals on WIAW but I was too involved with me yesterday to take photos.

P.P.S. Last week, some of you asked about Pumpkin Fluff. It's an old Weight Watchers recipe that calls for pudding mix, milk, pumpkin, pumpkin spice and Cool Whip. I posted the recipe here.

Me, me, me

2011-11-15T17:03:00.001-05:00

Move that body: 5.01-mile run

I needed a day. A day just for me. So I talked to my boss and put in for a vacation day.

I dropped Miles off at day care.

And I picked up a skinny peppermint mocha from Starbucks.

I went to the spa …

… where I had an indulgent Organic Sugar Scrub pedicure.

I met Mark for lunch. (He had to take the day off for a doctor’s appointment.Three months and his sprained ankle is still wonky.)

I went shopping for an outfit for Miles to wear during his Christmas card photo shoot this weekend with the fabulous Kelly Benton. By the way, this is only part of the ensemble. You should see the hat!

I came home and picked up my running partner Denali for a relatively relaxed five miles along the greenway.

Afterward, I took a bath and read Entertainment Weekly while in the tub. (There will never be such pictures on this blog.)

It was a good day. The best part was that I did it all for me.

What have you done for yourself lately?

Oh, bloody hell

2011-11-13T20:26:00.001-05:00

Move that body: 8-mile run

Don’t let that smile fool you.

It was short lived. About 33.67 seconds after this photo was taken, I realized that my Garmin was dead and I didn’t have a route mapped for my 8-mile run. #typearunnerfail

I’m not sure what it was about this weekend but things were not working out for me in the running department. It was as if someone was trying to remind me that the sport isn’t just about casual 3-mile jogs in the park. It’s about headwinds, road rash, side stitches, chafing and bloody toes.

Yeah, I said it. Bloody toes.

After charging my Garmin for about 15 minutes while I mapped a route, I went on my way. A couple miles in, I noticed that my sock felt wet. I wasn’t alarmed, though. It must have been residual sweat seeing as I, umm, wore, umm, the same, umm, socks as yesterday. (Judge me, it’s OK.) A bit later, it felt even wetter. “Weird,” I thought to myself. It’s not even that hot out. And then, about 6.5 miles in, I realized that it was just my right foot bothering me. Residual sweat and/or sweaty feet would affect two socks – not one. I pulled off the side of the trail and took off my shoe.

There was a problem. A big ole red spot was coloring my aqua Asics sock – my fave. I took it off and saw that my first three toes were caked. So gross. I’m guessing my haggard toenails cut into the side of one of the toes and caused the problem.

I thought about what to do for a moment. I could find someone with a cell phone and call Mark to come get me. I could just walk home. Or, I could rinse off the toes, put said sock back on and finish up the run.

Y’all know me well enough to answer that, I’m sure.

It wasn’t pretty but I got it done. On the upside, it gives me an excuse to make a pedicure appointment.

How was your Sunday?

How the mighty have fallen

2011-11-12T20:03:00.001-05:00

Move that body: 3.28-mile run

My run, it just wasn’t meant to be today.

This morning, just before heading out, Miles swung his arm and knocked a glass from the counter and straight to the floor. On the way down … BAM!

Glass.

Hit.

Foot.

Ouch.

Hurt.

I was worried for a moment that it would be broken or I’d forever walk with a limp but it’s barely bruised. Good thing for Mark, I was going to blame him. (You don’t think I’d blame the baby, do you?)

Then there was Denali.

Sweet old Denali. I bet you think I’ve forgotten about him. Yeah, he probably thinks the same thing, too.

Anyway … we could barely get started before he had to go to the bathroom. This happened three times. THREE.

And then there was the fall. And I’m not talking about the glorious event that turns my street into a beautiful show of gold and red. Nope. I’m talking about somebody – I’m not naming names … because there are no names to name – making me trip about a half-mile in. I’m not quite sure what happened but I think my left ankle turned, causing me to fall on the right side of my body at which point I flipped onto my back.

It. Hurt.

A lot.

I paused my Garmin (duh) and laid there on the sidewalk for a minute … or three. It was funny – a number of cars drove by and not one stopped to see if I was OK. I don’t know – it just seemed sad to me.

I managed to get up, walk a bit and realized I could run home to clean up before finishing up my run.

My only real injuries were some road rash and a knock to my pride.

Good news, though, my BIC band didn’t budge through out the ordeal. I’m not sure they will want to use that as a marketing strategy but couldn’t hurt. Ha! Couldn’t hurt. Get it?

OK. I’m going to go watch “Dexter” now and keep my bad jokes to myself.

How is your weekend shaping up.

Love it or hate it: Miles edition

2011-11-11T09:38:00.001-05:00

This might make me a complete weirdo but I absolutely love taking Miles to the doctor. I love hearing about how much weight he has gained, how tall he is getting and finding out just how healthy he is. I think all of the information provides me with some validation as a mother.

Today, we went to see Dr. Kebler (whom I inevitably call Dr. Keebler at least once each visit) for Miles’ 4-month appointment.

Yep, that little guy is 4 months old.

I just love seeing how big he is getting! He was 12 pounds, 7 ounces today and has more than doubled his birth weight. He’s a very healthy guy, I was told.

Lungs especially. We were treated to “I am possessed by the devil” screaming and writhing that accompanies lying him down on the table and the shots.

But let's talk about Miles at 4 months.

He loves sitting up. Lying down and being cradled is for newborns and he is an infant.

He loves bath time. He's learning to kick his legs and splash in the whale tub. He hates getting out of the tub and the time it takes to walk from the bathroom to the bedroom and get some clothes on.

He loves being on his activity mat ... for about 5 minutes and then he hates it.

He loves it when Denali chases his tail and flops on the floor, it elicits the cutest little squeals and giggles. He hates it when Denali barks.

He loves putting his hand - yes, his whole hand - in his mouth. He also loves to drool. I'm pretty sure the two are related.

He still loves Mommy and her boobs even though he's a total champ with the bottle and practically holds it himself now.

He loves story time and reaching for the books. He hates that he can't quite manage to get the whole thing in his mouth (see above).

Sadly, he also loves TV ... womp, womp. Mommy hates that.

What are you loving ... and hating this fine Friday?

Weighing in: So long, sucka

2011-11-10T20:40:00.001-05:00

Move that body: 2-point-something mile run and 20 minutes pilates

I said good bye to my friend, today.

I was not sad.

I was glad to see her go, actually.

After all, I spent what seems like 3 months trying to get rid of her.

I think I should celebrate … with some ice cream. Or, better yet, a pedicure. My feet are looking crazy now that I’m running more miles. Probably how I kicked that friend to the curb, anyway.

Blogger’s note: Be glad I’m not like other bloggers and thus too lazy to get off the couch and grab the camera to take a picture of my feet.

Weighing-in rundown

Weight loss this week: 0.8 pound

Pounds till WW goal: 1

Pounds till pre-baby weight: 11

Pounds till I can fit into my cords that are now required as it SNOWED today: ??

What’s working this week: Miles. More miles. I think the week’s total was 18.

What’s not working: I already told you – snacking. Carb-heavy snacking.

Goals for the week: Pick up some snacks that don’t involve carbs when I go to the grocery. You know, things like vegetables and salsa.

Viva la resistance

My goal is two resistance workouts a week and, well, I sort of accomplished that. I did an intermittent upper body workout. By intermittent I mean doing weights for about a minute at a time at which point Miles screamed forcing me to stop and pop that God send of a pacifier back in his mouth. This morning, I did do 20 minutes of pilates – 10 minutes focusing on the abs and 10 minutes on the butt.

How are you doing with your resistance training? Did it snow where you live?

What I Ate Wednesday: Snack on this

2011-11-09T13:23:00.001-05:00

Move that body: Intermittent upper body workout

I had a bowl of cereal for breakfast this morning. A mix of Kashi Cinnamon Harvest and Peanut Butter Puffins with a half-banana, sliced, and 1% milk. It tasted so great. So, so great.

And I wish it hadn't.

Why? While cold cereal is oh so yummy, it has no staying power with me. I could eat a giant bowl and be hungry a half-hour later. When I eat a portion-controlled bowl, I am lucky if I make it that long. It's disastrous - today, I blew threw nearly half my points plus allotment before heading to lunch. Good thing Mark talked his mom into making baked chicken and veggies for dinner instead of the usual pasta she serves when we're invited for a meal.

Given that I've been so snacky this a.m., I thought I'd do something different for What I Ate Wednesday and show you just the snacks.

In the morning, in the car, after dropping off Miles at day care ...

Nasty SnackWell's bar (it tasted like diet food, if you know what I mean) and a honeycrisp apple.

At my desk, after lunch ...

Pumpkin fluff (No, I don't really have a desk outside. I was just trying to be fancy.)

At my desk, in the afternoon ...

Kraft Tomato Basil Cheese Stick (I'm still undecided on these), an ugly tangerine and an Annie's fruit snack (found on clearance in the Halloween section at Kroger)

After dinner, while watching "Wheel of Fortune" ...

A "Just Pretend It's a Banana Split" Bowl - Strawberries, sliced bananas, Nutella, fat-free Redi Whipp and a crushed pecan. I didn't avoid the ice cream, per se; I was just looking for a way to eat Nutella.

What's your favorite snack?