Love, forever

Move that body: 30-minute Jackie Warner DVD and short walk in VFF

Once upon a time, on a blog oh so familiar, a girl would share things she liked. Well, loved, actually. And then she got knocked up. Food didn’t taste the same. Workouts weren’t as fun. And life? It revolved around one thing: a baby.

While life still revolves around that baby, things are a changing and slowly (very slowly) getting back to normal. So it is only appropriate to bring back Friday love.

Food. When I first read the directions for this recipe, I thought it was insane. The Food Network wanted me to sear chicken breast and then bake it for 10 minutes. Insane. Seriously insane. There was no way those thick as thieves chicken breasts would cook in 15 minutes. And, if they did, it wasn’t going to be right. But right they were. Oh, very, very right. Juicy. Flavorful. And very versatile. The Tequila Chicken itself is good (and as leftovers in quesadillas, on a salad or as a sandwich) but the method works with any marinade. Try it. Now.

Fitness. I’m not sure this is a certified love but the newest accessory in the Healthy Strides is a definite like. And it, well they, just might surprise you.

A pair of Vibram Five Fingers KSO. Yep. I’m going barefoot.

Well, sort of.

I have been contemplating a pair for a while now and bit the bullet yesterday after seeing the running store’s Facebook post about a new shipment. I plan to walk – and only walk – in them as a way to strengthen my lower body and prevent injuries as I make my post-baby comeback.

Life. Can I just say that I do have one of the best husbands – if not the best ever – in the whole world? He took Miles and Denali for a walk this morning so I could get my workout on with Jackie Warner. I may regret it tomorrow when I can’t walk but it was nice to have that solo sweat session.

Life, part two. There’s nothing more fantastic than a napping newborn – especially one who naps long enough for you to go to grocery store … all by yourself. 

P.S. Did you really think I’d do a love post without this little one?

What are you loving today? Who’s tried Vibrams and has words of wisdom?

Toot your own horn

Pre-workout breakfast: Pumpkin-banana oats
Workout: 30 minutes with Jackie Warner and 2.5-mile walk with Denali

Pet peeve No. 1,436: Motorists who honk at me while I'm walking/running with Denali.

I don't get it. I just don't. At least once a week, though once a day is more like it, a driver finds it necessary to honk his horn as he passes. These are drivers whom I don't know - or at least don't recognize the car. These are drivers who seem to have no reason to honk as I'm not at an intersection nor am I within range of the hood of their vehicles.

Oh no. It's just a sport. Let's honk at the girl and the dog. I won't go as far as to say pretty girl because I more often than not look like a hot mess. This morning, for example, I was in black sweats, an undershirt, my W.O.O.F. shirt and an Old Navy fleece vest. My hair sort of resembled Pebbles from "The Flinstones." Definitely honk-worthy ... NOT!

I just wish people would keep their urges to themselves. Look at yourself in the mirror and honk. Don't look at the girl being pulled down the sidewalk by a dog and honk. Mmmkay. Thanks.

Three Things Thursday

Pre-workout fuel: Luna Chocolate Cherry Almond Protein Bar
Workout: Ran 5.52 miles in 48 minutes, 50 seconds; average pace, 8:50.

1. It could be Jackie Warner's tough workouts or the fact that I had zero to nill recovery after the W.O.O.F. but today was an absolute slug fest. My legs felt tired, and I felt slow. About the halfway point, when I had to stop for a traffic light, I just decided that it didn't matter how fast I ran. Does anyone really care? Do you care if I run at an 8:30 pace or an 8:50? Do you like me less? I'm guessin' (and hopin') that the answer is no.

The funny thing is, though, once I "released" myself, I ran faster. I ran the definition of negative splits today. Go figure!

2. Even though I didn't lurve this run I did lurve that I had a running buddy. Mark! He didn't have school today (that sissy) because it is Veterans Day. He asked me last night what "our" workout was and agreed to be ready 7 a.m. for 5 miles. Pretty awesome.

3. On a completely non-running note, it's not even Thanksgiving and my hands already rival the coat of a Komodo dragon. Dry. Cracked. Gross. The spot under my wedding bands is peeling, and I really don't want have to do what I did last year. Oh, what was that, you ask. I had to take 'em off and pretend I was a single girl. Any tips for dry skin?

Let me hear you scream

Pre-workout breakfast: Oikos Honey Greek yogurt with banana slices and crushed Quaker True Delights Toasted Coconut Banana Macadamia Nut bar
Workout: "Personal Training with Jackie: Xtreme Timesaver Training" and 2.2-mile walk with Denali

You wanna know a secret. A big, juicy, delicious secret ...


I eat ice cream every day. Every. Single Day. Kind of weird, right? Yet totally awesome, too.

I knew that when I embarked on this journey that deprivation was not the key. I had done that before and all it got me was four years of playing with 25 pounds. Now, I make calculated indulgences - Vitatops, low-fat pudding, Skinny Cows, Weight Watcher frozen treats and pumpkin fluff.

Oh, and a delicious concoction of Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice cream, graham cracker crumbs, caramel and whipped cream.


Yeah, that happened to me last night. I heard an ad for Cold Stone Creamery on Pandora, which led me to check out their website ... which led me to dream of it as I sweltered in the office ... which led me to e-mail my mother-in-law to see if they wanted to meet Mark and me for an ice cream-Barnes and Noble date.

She said yes. Cold Stone was on. Yay!

Now, I will say that I could have gotten sinless sweat cream ice cream with berries and blah, blah, blah BUT sometimes you just gotta have what you want and like it.

And I did.

What's your favorite indulgence?

Mine is definitely ice cream, especially this time of year - pumpkin, peppermint, egg nog ... yeah. Yeah!

To the Xtreme

Pre-workout breakfast: Bowl of Cinnabon cereal and a banana
Workout: 30 minutes "Personal Training with Jackie: Xtreme Timesaver Training" and 2.2-mile walk with Denali

Jackie Warner ... oh, that lady ... she's just mean. Mean. And hardcore.I've been discussing my purchase of her DVD for a week or so now, and this morning I decided to give it a go. Sure, my legs were still a bit tired from Saturday's race but my arms wanted a workout.

"I'll be fine," I thought. "Just do what you can."

Yeah, doing what I can meant the "less intense" modifications for a number of the moves. It's not that I couldn't do the exercises. No, I could. I just couldn't do them for the minute straight as required by Jackie, especially when I had worked the same muscle group the minute before. It's total muscle burnout. And then you move onto the next fiber-torturing exercise to do the same thing.

And you want to know the worst part? I thought I was in shape. I've been committed to upper body work twice a week for six months. I could go through many a DVD with little to no fatigue. (I guess that's my fault - bad choices.) I can do a real push-up. I use weights from 5 pounds to 10 pounds. I have muscle definition. No matter. My shoulders, chest, biceps were all screaming at the end.

Jillian Michaels - eat your heart out.