Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Still Alive
I know it's been a really long time since I have done a post. Things have been pretty crazy and I've gotten way off track. I'll go into more details and explain more someday. But for now, just wanted to let everyone know that I am still alive and that my half marathon is in about 4 weeks! That seems way close and I feel like I'm not going to be ready. My longest run so far was about 6.7 miles and it took me about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Almost exactly half of what I'll be running. Seems daunting and a wee bit frightening. My goal is to run across the finish line and not be on all fours crawling.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Cauliflower Mashed Potatos
This is what my dinner looked like tonight:
And let me tell you...it was AMAZING!
What you see is a 6oz steak seasoned with Montreal Steak seasoning. Then there is about 1-2 cups of broccoli topped with "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray". And last, those "mashed potatoes" aren't even potatoes at all. Did you know that cauliflower is an amazing substitute for things like rice and potatoes?
I didn't until recently, but I'm so excited that I found out.
I didn't until recently, but I'm so excited that I found out.
Now, they didn't taste exactly like mashed potatoes. They weren't nearly as creamy, but for the health benefit, they were pretty dang good. Plus, most directions said to put them into food processor, which I don't have. Or do mix them with sour cream. I did neither, which may be why they weren't very creamy.
Even so, they were delicious and something I plan on having lots of in the future.
Here's how I cooked mine:
Cut desired amount of cauliflower into florets put in pot. Instead of boiling mine in water, I boiled them in chicken broth. Then I added some minced garlic. Let it boil until it is super soft (12-18 minutes). From here, most instructions say to put in food processor. I don't have one, so I just put the cooked cauliflower in a bowl, added the tiniest amount of skim milk, then mashed them with a wisk.
And that's it! Simple and very tasty.
And this entire meal (which was a ton of food) was less than 450 calories!
Cut desired amount of cauliflower into florets put in pot. Instead of boiling mine in water, I boiled them in chicken broth. Then I added some minced garlic. Let it boil until it is super soft (12-18 minutes). From here, most instructions say to put in food processor. I don't have one, so I just put the cooked cauliflower in a bowl, added the tiniest amount of skim milk, then mashed them with a wisk.
And that's it! Simple and very tasty.
And this entire meal (which was a ton of food) was less than 450 calories!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Utah Valley 10k
As I mentioned previously, today I ran in the Utah Valley 10k. For those who may not know the conversion, a 10k is 6.2 miles.
Lance, Will and I headed down to Lehi yesterday and spend some time with siblings. Then by 6am this morning, Lance and I were on the road to head to the race. We got there a bit early, but it gave me time to stretch and mentally prepare a little bit.
1-To run the entire time. No walking. No bathroom breaks. No stopping for water.
2-To finish in less than 70 minutes.
I was pretty sure I could accomplish the first goal, but I was a little nervous about the second. When I started running, I averaged about a 12 min mile pace, and that was fast for me. I've been working on my speed and trying to get faster. When I did my long run last week, my pace was about 11 minute miles. So I figured if I could somehow maintain an 11 minute mile the whole time, I should be able to finish in less than 70 minutes.
When the race finally started, I was feeling pretty good. I had a decent pace and was determined to keep it. The first mile alternated between slight decline and slight incline. When we got to the first mile marker, I was surprised how fast I got there and was feeling good. I was running to the Wicked Soundtrack, as well as some really upbeat songs. (Weird, I know. But Wicked makes me happy.)
And then around 2.5 miles, I started feeling sore. It was my first time running with my water belt and in order to keep it from sliding up to my chest, it had to be super tight. My stomach was in knots and I almost doubted myself for half a minute.
Then the 3 mile marker showed up. I was both relieved to see it, and reminded that I still had more than half way to go. I know that running is such a mental game, so I told myself that this was easy and I would finish no problem.
Around 3.5 miles, we started going up a decent hill. Not super steep, but enough of an incline to feel it and wear me out. I'd estimate we climbed for at least 1/2 mile or so. But once that climb was over, the rest of the way was downhill.
It was so motivating to have people all along the road, always cheering and giving you high fives. It was so fun and really kept me going. It didn't matter if they were there to support someone else, their presence helped.
I had some apple slices in my pack and started nibbling on those around mile 4. Because I had my own water, I never needed to grab a cup from an aid station. Even though my pack was slightly annoying because of how tight it was and I had to constantly adjust it, I was super glad I had it. I like to take small sips of water often, and the water stations weren't close enough for my liking.
Once I got past mile 4, I was feeling good again. And when I saw mile 5, I knew the end was getting close. My thought process was, the faster you go, the sooner you'll be finished. It helped that I could see the finish line and the end was in sight. The last quarter mile was packed with people cheering you on. I sped up and finished strong.
Throughout the race, I passed very few people, but I was being passed constantly. I had to remind myself that I couldn't compare myself to others and that I was only racing myself.
After I crossed the finish line, I was given a medal, had some pictures taken, and ate a few snacks. Then I check my results....and my time for 6.2 miles was...
Lance, Will and I headed down to Lehi yesterday and spend some time with siblings. Then by 6am this morning, Lance and I were on the road to head to the race. We got there a bit early, but it gave me time to stretch and mentally prepare a little bit.
Mostly ready to start the race.
Can you tell I was excited?
I had two goals going into this race.1-To run the entire time. No walking. No bathroom breaks. No stopping for water.
2-To finish in less than 70 minutes.
When the race finally started, I was feeling pretty good. I had a decent pace and was determined to keep it. The first mile alternated between slight decline and slight incline. When we got to the first mile marker, I was surprised how fast I got there and was feeling good. I was running to the Wicked Soundtrack, as well as some really upbeat songs. (Weird, I know. But Wicked makes me happy.)
And then around 2.5 miles, I started feeling sore. It was my first time running with my water belt and in order to keep it from sliding up to my chest, it had to be super tight. My stomach was in knots and I almost doubted myself for half a minute.
Then the 3 mile marker showed up. I was both relieved to see it, and reminded that I still had more than half way to go. I know that running is such a mental game, so I told myself that this was easy and I would finish no problem.
Around 3.5 miles, we started going up a decent hill. Not super steep, but enough of an incline to feel it and wear me out. I'd estimate we climbed for at least 1/2 mile or so. But once that climb was over, the rest of the way was downhill.
It was so motivating to have people all along the road, always cheering and giving you high fives. It was so fun and really kept me going. It didn't matter if they were there to support someone else, their presence helped.
I had some apple slices in my pack and started nibbling on those around mile 4. Because I had my own water, I never needed to grab a cup from an aid station. Even though my pack was slightly annoying because of how tight it was and I had to constantly adjust it, I was super glad I had it. I like to take small sips of water often, and the water stations weren't close enough for my liking.
Once I got past mile 4, I was feeling good again. And when I saw mile 5, I knew the end was getting close. My thought process was, the faster you go, the sooner you'll be finished. It helped that I could see the finish line and the end was in sight. The last quarter mile was packed with people cheering you on. I sped up and finished strong.
Throughout the race, I passed very few people, but I was being passed constantly. I had to remind myself that I couldn't compare myself to others and that I was only racing myself.
After I crossed the finish line, I was given a medal, had some pictures taken, and ate a few snacks. Then I check my results....and my time for 6.2 miles was...
1:02:53
I beat my goal by over 7 minutes, making my average time just over 10 minutes. I am completely shocked. I did NOT feel like I was running near that speed at all, but I was super happy to find that out. I know that my speed was faster because it was mostly downhill, but I don't care. I'm still happy about it. I tried using Endomondo to track it, but I forgot to turn it off right at the finish line so it might be a little skewed. But according to Endomondo, here is a breakdown on my miles.
1 - 9:34
1 - 9:34
2 - 9:34
3 - 10:01
3 - 10:01
4 - 10:23
5 -10:36
6 - 10:13
The pictures are a big deceiving as they say Marathon Finisher, but I only did the 10k.
While I felt like I could have gone a bit further, 7 miles more than this seems a bit daunting. It really made me nervous for my half marathon in August. But I'm still determined to do it, and I am lucky I have several weeks to train.
Special thanks to Lance for going to support me. It really meant a lot to me
It's weird to think that I went from this...
Just a few months ago to running a 10k now.
While I felt like I could have gone a bit further, 7 miles more than this seems a bit daunting. It really made me nervous for my half marathon in August. But I'm still determined to do it, and I am lucky I have several weeks to train.
Special thanks to Lance for going to support me. It really meant a lot to me
It's weird to think that I went from this...
Just a few months ago to running a 10k now.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Hey, Fat Girl
I found this post a few days ago and I had to share it. Every time I read it, I get a little emotional because that is exactly how I used to feel and still feel sometimes. And in case you didn't click on the link and read it, I'm going to post it here:
Hey, Fat Girl
I hear so often how someone wants to go to the gym, but they are too embarrassed because everyone there looks great and can run forever or lift hundreds of pounds. It makes me sad that the gym is such an intimidating place for so many people. Maybe if those "fit" people were a bit nicer and more encouraging, there would be less overweight people because they wouldn't avoid the gym anymore.
It's so hard not to compare yourself to other people. As I walk on the treadmill, thinking I did awesome for doing it for 60 minutes, I can't help but feel inadequate as the person next to me was running when I got there and is still running when I leave. But it also helps me push myself. I want to be that person someday!
In January, I could barely run a quarter of a mile without needing a break. I was embarrassed and intimidated by others at the gym. But I knew that the only way to get anywhere close to where they were was to keep going back. So I did. It's been 5 months and I've lost about 50 pounds. And in 4 days I will be running a 10K and I KNOW that I will run the entire thing and enjoy it.
I've come a long ways, but most days I still feel like that "Fat Girl". I've been running and training for about 4 months, yet I am still a super slow runner. It's frustrating when you hear of friends that haven't run in years that decided to run and the first time ran 3 miles in 30 minutes. Or when people complain and say they are terrible at running because they run at 6.0 mph pace. I hear that and it brings back feelings of inadequacy as I can only run at that pace for a short period before I have to go back to my dreadful 5.0 mph pace.
But, like the post said...I am a runner...and NO ONE can take that away from me. I may not be the fastest runner, but I am a runner nonetheless. And I will continue running.
Hey, Fat Girl
Yes, you.
The one feigning to not see me when we cross paths on the running track. The
one not even wearing sports gear, breathing heavy. You’re slow, you breathe
hard and your efforts at moving forward make you cringe.
You cling
shyly to the furthest corridor, sometimes making larger loops on the gravel
ring by the track just so you’re not on it. You sweat so much that your hair is
all wet. You rarely stay for more than 20 minutes at a time, and you look
exhausted when you leave to go back home. You never talk to anyone. I’ve got something I’d
like to say to you.
You are
awesome.
If you’d
look me in the eye only for an instant, you would notice the reverence and
respect I have for you. The adventure you have started is tremendous; it leads
to a better health, to renewed confidence and to a brand new kind of freedom. The
gifts you will receive from running will far exceed the gigantic effort it
takes you to show up here, to face your fears and to bravely set yourself in
motion, in front of others.
You have already begun your transformation. You no longer accept this physical state of numbness and passivity. You have taken a difficult decision, but one that holds so much promise. Every hard breath you take is actually a tad easier than the one before, and every step is ever so slightly lighter. Each push forward leaves the former person you were in your wake, creating room for an improved version, one that is stronger, healthier and forward-looking, one who knows that anything is possible.
You have already begun your transformation. You no longer accept this physical state of numbness and passivity. You have taken a difficult decision, but one that holds so much promise. Every hard breath you take is actually a tad easier than the one before, and every step is ever so slightly lighter. Each push forward leaves the former person you were in your wake, creating room for an improved version, one that is stronger, healthier and forward-looking, one who knows that anything is possible.
You’re a
hero to me. And, if you’d take off the blaring headphones and put your head up
for more than a second or two, you would notice that the other runners you
cross, the ones that probably make you feel so inadequate, stare in awe at your
determination. They, of all people, know best where you are coming from. They
heard the resolutions of so many others, who vowed to pick up running and
improve their health, “starting next week”. Yet, it is YOU who runs alongside,
who digs from deep inside to find the strength to come here, and to come back
again.
You are a
runner, and no one can take that away from you. You are relentlessly moving
forward. You are stronger than even you think, and you are about to be amazed
by what you can do. One day, very soon, maybe tomorrow, you’ll step outside and
marvel at your capabilities. You will not believe your own body, you will
realize that you can do this. And a new horizon will open up for you. You are a
true inspiration.
I bow to
you.
(Copied from FlintLand.blogspot.com)
Being overweight is difficult. And unless you've been there yourself, you can never truly understand what it is like. And while the process of losing weight and becoming fit is extremely challenging, I think the most difficult part is starting.
(Copied from FlintLand.blogspot.com)
Being overweight is difficult. And unless you've been there yourself, you can never truly understand what it is like. And while the process of losing weight and becoming fit is extremely challenging, I think the most difficult part is starting.
I hear so often how someone wants to go to the gym, but they are too embarrassed because everyone there looks great and can run forever or lift hundreds of pounds. It makes me sad that the gym is such an intimidating place for so many people. Maybe if those "fit" people were a bit nicer and more encouraging, there would be less overweight people because they wouldn't avoid the gym anymore.
It's so hard not to compare yourself to other people. As I walk on the treadmill, thinking I did awesome for doing it for 60 minutes, I can't help but feel inadequate as the person next to me was running when I got there and is still running when I leave. But it also helps me push myself. I want to be that person someday!
In January, I could barely run a quarter of a mile without needing a break. I was embarrassed and intimidated by others at the gym. But I knew that the only way to get anywhere close to where they were was to keep going back. So I did. It's been 5 months and I've lost about 50 pounds. And in 4 days I will be running a 10K and I KNOW that I will run the entire thing and enjoy it.
I've come a long ways, but most days I still feel like that "Fat Girl". I've been running and training for about 4 months, yet I am still a super slow runner. It's frustrating when you hear of friends that haven't run in years that decided to run and the first time ran 3 miles in 30 minutes. Or when people complain and say they are terrible at running because they run at 6.0 mph pace. I hear that and it brings back feelings of inadequacy as I can only run at that pace for a short period before I have to go back to my dreadful 5.0 mph pace.
But, like the post said...I am a runner...and NO ONE can take that away from me. I may not be the fastest runner, but I am a runner nonetheless. And I will continue running.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Still working on New Years Resolution
One of my New Year's resolutions was to run a half marathon. About 2 months ago, I signed up for a 10k and I have been training for that. My 10k race is in a little less than 3 weeks away and I am feeling pretty good about it. But running a 10k was not my goal. My goal was a half marathon, which is more than twice as far.
So today I took a leap of faith and registered myself for the Top of Utah Half Marathon in August. That gives me a little over 3 months to continue training and get myself ready. I think it'll be hard, but I'm prepared to do this. I'm excited to get this crossed off of my list!
So today I took a leap of faith and registered myself for the Top of Utah Half Marathon in August. That gives me a little over 3 months to continue training and get myself ready. I think it'll be hard, but I'm prepared to do this. I'm excited to get this crossed off of my list!
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Oh Happy Day!
I've been wanting to get my body fat percentage tested for quite some time. I have a scale that supposedly measures body fat, but it is extremely inaccurate. However, I still keep track of it just to evaluate trends and to make sure it is going down.
In January, at the beginning of my journey, I had it tested using one of these:
In case you are not familiar with body composition, ideal BF% for a female is 18-22%.
To give you an idea of what I was expecting....
-In January, my scale said I was 44% body fat...eek!
-In January, the Omron hand held device said my body fat was 37%
So I discovered my scale was anywhere from 4-7% off.
Yesterday morning my scale said I was 34% body fat. So I figured my real percentage had to be in the upper 20s. I don't think I've ever had my BF% less than 30, so my goal was for it to be 29 or less. I would've been THRILLED with anything less than 30.
So we did the analysis...and I got SHOCKING results...
My body fat percentage is: 21.8%!!!!!
I am seriously doubting the accuracy of that bod pod! I NEVER would have guess that it was that low! Still in disbelief, I quickly grabbed an Omron and used that to see if it was way off. Yesterday, the Omron said my percentage was 25%. A little difference between it and the bod pod, but not a questionable amount. Either way, my body fat is 25% or less!
Oh happy day!
In January, at the beginning of my journey, I had it tested using one of these:
 |
| Omron hand held device |
Now these are much more reliable than my scale, but still not the most accurate method. My neighbor is a grad student at USU and needed participants for a study in which body composition would be measured, as well as VO2 max, and other things. I was able to get my body fat tested in the bod pod, which is one of the most accurate methods available.
 |
| This is a bod pod. Obviously that's not me, but it gives you an idea of what it is. |
To give you an idea of what I was expecting....
-In January, my scale said I was 44% body fat...eek!
-In January, the Omron hand held device said my body fat was 37%
So I discovered my scale was anywhere from 4-7% off.
Yesterday morning my scale said I was 34% body fat. So I figured my real percentage had to be in the upper 20s. I don't think I've ever had my BF% less than 30, so my goal was for it to be 29 or less. I would've been THRILLED with anything less than 30.
So we did the analysis...and I got SHOCKING results...
My body fat percentage is: 21.8%!!!!!
I am seriously doubting the accuracy of that bod pod! I NEVER would have guess that it was that low! Still in disbelief, I quickly grabbed an Omron and used that to see if it was way off. Yesterday, the Omron said my percentage was 25%. A little difference between it and the bod pod, but not a questionable amount. Either way, my body fat is 25% or less!
Oh happy day!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Ripped in 30
I am finished with Ripped in 30. I lost 10 pounds during the last four
weeks and many inches. I have updated my current weight and
measurements into the chart if you want to see specifics.
Today I started a new weight lifting program. Besides these videos, I have stuck only to cardio up to this point. But now I am going to lift 3 times a week as I do the program outlined in "The New Rules of Lifting for Women". If you are interested in lifting weights, this book is a must read. It is a 6 month program and hopefully by the end of it I'll be much stronger and looking good.
**I feel like most (if not all) of the weight I've lost has been from my waist up. My hips and legs really haven't changed that much, so I'm really hoping that weight lifting can help that along.
 |
| Before Ripped in 30 |
 |
| After Ripped in 30 |
**I feel like most (if not all) of the weight I've lost has been from my waist up. My hips and legs really haven't changed that much, so I'm really hoping that weight lifting can help that along.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Proud Moment
Do you remember how Wednesday was a bit of a rough day for me? Well that rough day poured into the rest of the week. Will woke up earlier than usual this morning and I had a pounding headache. I was determined to go running, but my head hurt, by body hurt, and I wanted sleep!
Luckily Lance woke up and I was able to take a short nap on the couch. I woke up around 9:30am and decided I was feeling well enough to try for a run.
I'm trying to always make Saturday my long runs. Last Saturday, I ran my 4.75 miles for my furthest distance ever. My only goal for today was to try and beat it, even if it was only by a little tiny bit. I figured I'd run a little slower and push for more distance.
Using my favorite running app Endomondo on my phone, I began running. And I kept running. And my legs hurt. And I kept running. And I felt like I was going to throw up a few times. And I kept running.
When I finally allowed myself to look at my time, I had been running for 57 minutes and had beat my goal. But I was determined to not stop there. I made it my new goal to run 60 minutes straight. I had already been running for 57 minutes, what was another 3 minutes, right?
GOAL COMPLETE!
I ran 5.4 miles in 60 minutes. I extremely shocked and pleased with my pace. I figured I was running 5.0mph or less the entire time, so I was stoked to see it was faster than that.
Here is a breakdown:
Mile 1: 10:53
Mile 2: 11:05
Mile 3: 11:09
Mile 4: 11:19
Mile 5: 11:16
This picture was taking after my run. Usually my shirt is pretty much drenched in sweat, but for some reason it wasn't today. Wont find me complaining about that!
Luckily Lance woke up and I was able to take a short nap on the couch. I woke up around 9:30am and decided I was feeling well enough to try for a run.
I'm trying to always make Saturday my long runs. Last Saturday, I ran my 4.75 miles for my furthest distance ever. My only goal for today was to try and beat it, even if it was only by a little tiny bit. I figured I'd run a little slower and push for more distance.
Using my favorite running app Endomondo on my phone, I began running. And I kept running. And my legs hurt. And I kept running. And I felt like I was going to throw up a few times. And I kept running.
When I finally allowed myself to look at my time, I had been running for 57 minutes and had beat my goal. But I was determined to not stop there. I made it my new goal to run 60 minutes straight. I had already been running for 57 minutes, what was another 3 minutes, right?
GOAL COMPLETE!
I ran 5.4 miles in 60 minutes. I extremely shocked and pleased with my pace. I figured I was running 5.0mph or less the entire time, so I was stoked to see it was faster than that.
Here is a breakdown:
Mile 1: 10:53
Mile 2: 11:05
Mile 3: 11:09
Mile 4: 11:19
Mile 5: 11:16
This picture was taking after my run. Usually my shirt is pretty much drenched in sweat, but for some reason it wasn't today. Wont find me complaining about that!
Hope everyone has a GREAT weekend!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
"Hump Day"
Wednesday's truly are my hump day. For some unknown reason, I always wake up completely exhausted Wednesday mornings. I have to drag myself to the gym and try to get some semblance of a workout in. And even the thought of doing Ripped in 30 is unappealing.
Today was especially rough, but I did what I had to do and made it to the gym. I felt tired, weak, and a bit sore and the last thing I wanted to do was go running. So I decided that even if I just spent an hour walking on a treadmill, it was still better than nothing.
I walked at 14% incline, speed 4.0-4.2 for about 40 minutes. Then I decided I wanted to run a little bit, and figured I should run for one mile at my fastest speed. I tried to stay between 6.0 mph and 6.5 mph, but that only lasted for about 6 minutes before I dropped down to 5.4 mph. I ended up doing a mile in 10:14...about 30 seconds off my fastest time.
My adrenaline from my workout lasted about 2-3 hours. I got home and was feeling great. I ran a few errands and was doing lots of stuff. Then at about 2 o'clock, exhaustion hit again. I pretty much collapsed on the floor and took a quick power nap. And I did not want to get up...ever.
I thought about doing Ripped in 30, but I wasn't sure I had the energy. I thought about it some more and decided that I needed to push myself. I haven't missed a day of Ripped in 30 yet, and I only have 3 days left! Why quit now? That would just be silly! Plus I knew I would be so disappointed in myself if I didn't do it. So I put the DVD in and did it. I'll admit, I didn't push myself as hard as I usually do, but I was still sweating pretty good.
Now it is 6pm and I am feeling great and getting ready to go to volleyball! I know this is a long, boring post...but the moral of the story is that YOU ARE CAPABLE! You are capable of working out! You are capable of pushing yourself hard! Sometimes when we don't have motivation, that's when it's most important to just do it anyways.
Wednesdays are usually my rough day...in the morning at least. But I know that if I can just push through and get past those workouts, then I'll be feeling great and the rest of my week will fly by. I don't feel tired or lacking energy, in fact I'm pumped to go play some sports!
Just remember, YOU ARE CAPABLE of amazing things! Whenever you come to the top of your hill and you feel like you can't make it, push just a little harder and think how great it'll be once your on the other side.
Today was especially rough, but I did what I had to do and made it to the gym. I felt tired, weak, and a bit sore and the last thing I wanted to do was go running. So I decided that even if I just spent an hour walking on a treadmill, it was still better than nothing.
I walked at 14% incline, speed 4.0-4.2 for about 40 minutes. Then I decided I wanted to run a little bit, and figured I should run for one mile at my fastest speed. I tried to stay between 6.0 mph and 6.5 mph, but that only lasted for about 6 minutes before I dropped down to 5.4 mph. I ended up doing a mile in 10:14...about 30 seconds off my fastest time.
My adrenaline from my workout lasted about 2-3 hours. I got home and was feeling great. I ran a few errands and was doing lots of stuff. Then at about 2 o'clock, exhaustion hit again. I pretty much collapsed on the floor and took a quick power nap. And I did not want to get up...ever.
I thought about doing Ripped in 30, but I wasn't sure I had the energy. I thought about it some more and decided that I needed to push myself. I haven't missed a day of Ripped in 30 yet, and I only have 3 days left! Why quit now? That would just be silly! Plus I knew I would be so disappointed in myself if I didn't do it. So I put the DVD in and did it. I'll admit, I didn't push myself as hard as I usually do, but I was still sweating pretty good.
Now it is 6pm and I am feeling great and getting ready to go to volleyball! I know this is a long, boring post...but the moral of the story is that YOU ARE CAPABLE! You are capable of working out! You are capable of pushing yourself hard! Sometimes when we don't have motivation, that's when it's most important to just do it anyways.
Wednesdays are usually my rough day...in the morning at least. But I know that if I can just push through and get past those workouts, then I'll be feeling great and the rest of my week will fly by. I don't feel tired or lacking energy, in fact I'm pumped to go play some sports!
Just remember, YOU ARE CAPABLE of amazing things! Whenever you come to the top of your hill and you feel like you can't make it, push just a little harder and think how great it'll be once your on the other side.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Buffalo Chicken
I made this recipe for dinner on Sunday and boy was it good! I love it because it is SO simple. It only has 3 ingredients and requires hardly any work. That's my kind of meal! Did I also mention that it is low calorie?
Buffalo Chicken
-4 chicken breasts (I used about 20 oz of chicken)
-2/3 bottle Buffalo marinade (I used KC Masterpiece Hot Buffalo marinade)
-One packet of dry ranch mix (I used Kroger Fat Free Party Ranch Dip)
Put the chicken in the bottom of the crock pot. Pour 2/3 of the buffalo sauce over the chicken, then add the packet of dry ranch mix. Mix it together. Cook on low for about 5-6 hours. Shred the chicken with a fork. Then cook for an additional hour.
Nutritional Facts:
-Calories: 191 per serving
-Carbs: 10g per serving
-Fats: 3g per serving
-Protein: 30g per serving
These nutritional facts are based on the recipe making 4 servings. But I found afterwards, that those are HUGE servings. I made 2 mini roll sandwiches and only used half a serving.
And that's it! Another of my favorite things about this dish is that I think it's so versatile. For Sunday, we used dinner rolls to make little sandwiches with them.The next day, Lance decided to make some rice and put the chicken over rice. I bet it would also be good in a wrap or burrito. Or you could simply add a little cheese. So many possibilities.
I made a sandwich using about 2/3 of a serving of the buffalo chicken and put it on a Kroger Sandwich Thin. And I had a large salad to go with it. Lately, my absolute favorite thing in a salad is frozen peas. So my salad consists of romaine lettuce, 1/3 cup peas, and 2 tablespoons ranch dressing.
An important piece of this meal is the bread. An average slice of bread is around 100 calories. So if you wanted to make a sandwich, that would be at least 200 calories for just the bread alone. So I found these great bread replacements and I love them. Sandwich Thins. Basically two really thin pieces of bread. The reason they are awesome? For the whole bun (2 pieces) it's only 90 calories! I use these for everything. I use them for deli sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a bun for my turkey burgers, etc. They are a must.
The most important thing is probably the Ranch Dressing. I found this dressing a few weeks ago and I am in LOVE! Normal ranch dressing has about 150 calories for a 2 TBSP serving. That is ridiculous! So for the past few months, I've been using fat free ranch, which has about 50-60 calories per serving. But it tastes terrible! I've learned to somehow tolerate it though. Until I found this amazing dressing. This dressing is only 45 calories per serving AND IT TASTES GREAT!!! Wahoo! Now I can pile on the ranch and not have to worry about adding 1000 calories.
Buffalo Chicken
-4 chicken breasts (I used about 20 oz of chicken)
-2/3 bottle Buffalo marinade (I used KC Masterpiece Hot Buffalo marinade)
-One packet of dry ranch mix (I used Kroger Fat Free Party Ranch Dip)
Put the chicken in the bottom of the crock pot. Pour 2/3 of the buffalo sauce over the chicken, then add the packet of dry ranch mix. Mix it together. Cook on low for about 5-6 hours. Shred the chicken with a fork. Then cook for an additional hour.
-Calories: 191 per serving
-Carbs: 10g per serving
-Fats: 3g per serving
-Protein: 30g per serving
These nutritional facts are based on the recipe making 4 servings. But I found afterwards, that those are HUGE servings. I made 2 mini roll sandwiches and only used half a serving.
And that's it! Another of my favorite things about this dish is that I think it's so versatile. For Sunday, we used dinner rolls to make little sandwiches with them.The next day, Lance decided to make some rice and put the chicken over rice. I bet it would also be good in a wrap or burrito. Or you could simply add a little cheese. So many possibilities.
To give you an idea of what my dinner looked like tonight:
I made a sandwich using about 2/3 of a serving of the buffalo chicken and put it on a Kroger Sandwich Thin. And I had a large salad to go with it. Lately, my absolute favorite thing in a salad is frozen peas. So my salad consists of romaine lettuce, 1/3 cup peas, and 2 tablespoons ranch dressing.
An important piece of this meal is the bread. An average slice of bread is around 100 calories. So if you wanted to make a sandwich, that would be at least 200 calories for just the bread alone. So I found these great bread replacements and I love them. Sandwich Thins. Basically two really thin pieces of bread. The reason they are awesome? For the whole bun (2 pieces) it's only 90 calories! I use these for everything. I use them for deli sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a bun for my turkey burgers, etc. They are a must.
This entire meal....for the sandwich and the salad....was only 336 calories!
Definitely one we'll be making again.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
A Good Wednesday
Every Wednesday at the Sports Academy, me and a group of women get together to play volleyball. It's hard to describe how much I love playing volleyball. It's that much. It's honestly something I look forward to so much. It gives me a little break from Will, gives me interaction time with other women, plus it gives me a little exercise. Who wouldn't love that? So if you need me on a Wednesday night, you know where to find me.
But this picture just made my Wednesday even better. Want to know why? Because I went shopping today and got this new jacket for a great price. And although the price made me happy, something else made me way happier. The size. This jacket is a size...wait for it...wait for it...SMALL! Now I know that it's probably wrongly sized or just some random fluke, but I don't care! I don't think I've ever worn a small (or medium for that matter) in my life. When I was a kid going into juniors, I skipped straight to large or extra large. So this was an awesome small little victory for me! Now if only I could get my hips and legs to start shrinking....
Running in the Rain
I woke up this morning to a slight drizzle outside. It looked really refreshing so I decided to do my running outside today. I know most people would probably do the opposite and avoid running outside while it was raining. But there is something about the rain that I have always loved, and I think it feels so great to run in it.
The only thing I hate about the rain is having to wear a jacket. I HATE running in sweatshirts, jackets, long sleeves, etc. I get hot enough and sweat enough without warm clothing, I hate to add any layers. But it was a bit too cold to be running in short sleeves, so jacket it was.
It didn't take me long into my run to realize that the little "drizzle" I thought it was, was more of a steady, but light rain. I was literally dripping by the time I got home and looked like a drowned rat.
I kept a pretty good pace and I am mostly happy with my time. I ran 3.2 miles in 36:06. So close to my personal best! I definitely think I could've beaten it and shaved off at least 20-30 seconds. Next time.
Here is a breakdown of my miles:
Mile 1 - 11:11 minutes
Mile 2 - 11:25 minutes
Mile 3 - 11:22 minutes
The route I take is a really slow incline for the first mile to mile an a half, then the rest of the way is slightly downhill.
Overall, I feel pretty good about my run. It was one of my faster times and it was in the rain. There is a 5K race this Saturday that I am considering doing. I want to because I think it would be fun and I think I would push a little more being around other people and knowing that it was a race. But I'm having a hard time justifying spending $25 to go run a route that I could probably do any day.
The only thing I hate about the rain is having to wear a jacket. I HATE running in sweatshirts, jackets, long sleeves, etc. I get hot enough and sweat enough without warm clothing, I hate to add any layers. But it was a bit too cold to be running in short sleeves, so jacket it was.
It didn't take me long into my run to realize that the little "drizzle" I thought it was, was more of a steady, but light rain. I was literally dripping by the time I got home and looked like a drowned rat.
Here is a breakdown of my miles:
Mile 1 - 11:11 minutes
Mile 2 - 11:25 minutes
Mile 3 - 11:22 minutes
The route I take is a really slow incline for the first mile to mile an a half, then the rest of the way is slightly downhill.
Overall, I feel pretty good about my run. It was one of my faster times and it was in the rain. There is a 5K race this Saturday that I am considering doing. I want to because I think it would be fun and I think I would push a little more being around other people and knowing that it was a race. But I'm having a hard time justifying spending $25 to go run a route that I could probably do any day.
Monday, April 16, 2012
4/16- Workout
This morning I spend an hour on the treadmill.
15 minutes walking 4.0 mph with 13.5% incline. (I cheat and hang on to the rails, but it's still a good workout.)
After the 15 minutes, I began jogging at 5.1 mph. I jogged at this speed for 15 minutes then started increasing the speed. I'd run one minute at 5.2, one minute at 5.3, then one minute at 5.4. Then I'd go back to 5.1 for a few minutes, and repeat. Then second time, I went up to 5.6 and ran at 5.6 for 2-3 minutes. Then I went back down to 5.2.
I was almost done running a 5K and my time was close to my personal best, so I finished the last little stretch at 7.0. I finished 3.2 miles in 36 minutes, then continued running for a total of 3.54 miles in 40 minutes.
My running speed is still extremely slow and has a lot of room for improvement, which is why I'm starting to do these slow interval climbs and slowly increase it.
This afternoon I started Week 3 of Ripped in 30. Wow. It kicked my butt. The past two weeks I've been able to do most of the advanced moves, but I had to do mostly modified moves today. And there was a move or two that I couldn't even do modified! I was dripping sweat, groaning, and trying to just get through it. Luckily they are short workouts and they go by really fast. It was definitely a challenge, but it is only by pushing ourselves and our bodies that we grow and get stronger. I feel like the DVD is helping me to tone, so it's doing what I hoped it would.
Only 5 more days of level 3...I can do this.
15 minutes walking 4.0 mph with 13.5% incline. (I cheat and hang on to the rails, but it's still a good workout.)
After the 15 minutes, I began jogging at 5.1 mph. I jogged at this speed for 15 minutes then started increasing the speed. I'd run one minute at 5.2, one minute at 5.3, then one minute at 5.4. Then I'd go back to 5.1 for a few minutes, and repeat. Then second time, I went up to 5.6 and ran at 5.6 for 2-3 minutes. Then I went back down to 5.2.
I was almost done running a 5K and my time was close to my personal best, so I finished the last little stretch at 7.0. I finished 3.2 miles in 36 minutes, then continued running for a total of 3.54 miles in 40 minutes.
My running speed is still extremely slow and has a lot of room for improvement, which is why I'm starting to do these slow interval climbs and slowly increase it.
This afternoon I started Week 3 of Ripped in 30. Wow. It kicked my butt. The past two weeks I've been able to do most of the advanced moves, but I had to do mostly modified moves today. And there was a move or two that I couldn't even do modified! I was dripping sweat, groaning, and trying to just get through it. Luckily they are short workouts and they go by really fast. It was definitely a challenge, but it is only by pushing ourselves and our bodies that we grow and get stronger. I feel like the DVD is helping me to tone, so it's doing what I hoped it would.
Only 5 more days of level 3...I can do this.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Turkey Dinner
For dinner tonight, we had one of these Jennio-O Turkey and Gravy's. They are a family favorite around here so we make sure to have them every once in a while.
To me, it tastes a little bit different from regular turkey because it isn't as dry, but it's way good. Plus it's really easy and doesn't really require much. Just stick it in the oven for 2 1/2 hours and it's good to go. We served it with some mashed potatoes and I had a large salad with it. If you keep your portions under control and not over-do it on the potatoes, it can be a very filling meal for very few calories.
For two thin slices of turkey, gravy, a small scoop of mashed potatoes, and a large salad with peas it was around 320 calories.
For two thin slices of turkey, gravy, a small scoop of mashed potatoes, and a large salad with peas it was around 320 calories.
Ripped in 30 - Week 2
1 - It is only 20 minutes long! That is a perfect amount of time for a mom with a busy kid. Its short enough that I can do it with Will sitting close by playing, or I can do it while he is napping. Short and sweet.
2 - It is effective. Don't let the 20 minutes fool you. It's a hard 20 minutes and I'm literally dripping sweat about 5 minutes into the workout.
3 - She always provides a modified or easier version of the exercise. I'll admit, I do a good portion of the moves modified. I'm just not strong enough yet to do the full advanced version. But I am getting better.
4 - It's a good combination of strength training, cardio, and ab work. And when you put all three of those together, you get a fabulous looking body (ideally).
5 - There are 4 different workouts. You do workout one for a week, then move on to workout two. Each one gets progressively harder and builds on the last one. I like the change and its nice to see yourself get stronger as each week goes by.
6 - Plus it is fairly cheap! You can find it at Walmart for $10 and you could possibly find it online somewhere cheaper.
This morning I completed my last workout of Week 2. Yahoo! When I started, I thought week 1 was pretty easy. I felt good and was ready to get the next week going. Week 2 was killer. The first workout, I was seriously hoping she was kidding. It was hard and I had to take tons of breaks. Today, I still took occasional breaks, but there is a significant difference from just 5 days ago. Its seriously amazing how your body can adapt and change so much in such a short amount of time.
I'm so excited to finally be done with week 2, but I'm extremely nervous and anxious to see what week 3 will bring. I'm sure it'll be rough and I'll be begging for week 2 again. But I also know that I will stick with it and by the end of next week, I will be significantly better at the exercises than I will be on Monday.
Believe me, if you are committed and eat sensibly, you will see results!
(Man, Jillian should be paying me for this kind of advertisement!)
Cache Soccer Club
Saturdays are typically my days that I try to do my longest run of the week. I can push myself hard knowing that I will rest all day Sunday. But today I decided to switch it up a bit and play some soccer. I discovered this amazing group last summer right after Will was born. It's basically a group of adults that get together to play soccer. Anyone and everyone is welcome. You basically just check the website to find out when and where they are playing, then you show up. It's pretty much genius. If you are interested, the website is http://cachesoccerclub.com/.
Like I said, I learned about this group last summer but didn't get a chance to play very much because Will was still so little. And the times I did go play, I felt like I was going to die because I was so out of shape. I suddenly remembered about them this last week so I decided to go start playing. And even though I've been running a lot, it still kicked my butt.
But here are some possible reasons why:
1- There were 19 guys, and only 3 girls...and as much as we hate to admit it, guys are simply faster and harder to compete against.
2- When I run, it's a very (VERY) slow and steady pace. Soccer is most short bursts of full out sprints. Completely different training and endurance required.
3- I did a Jillian Michael's Workout DVD about an hour before I played.
4- And last, because even though I am in BETTER shape than I was 3 months ago, I am still not in great shape.
But even though I was a bit winded at times and my legs started to scream by the end, I had a lot of fun. It's always good to shake up your exercise routine a bit. I hope everyone is having a great Saturday!
But here are some possible reasons why:
1- There were 19 guys, and only 3 girls...and as much as we hate to admit it, guys are simply faster and harder to compete against.
2- When I run, it's a very (VERY) slow and steady pace. Soccer is most short bursts of full out sprints. Completely different training and endurance required.
3- I did a Jillian Michael's Workout DVD about an hour before I played.
4- And last, because even though I am in BETTER shape than I was 3 months ago, I am still not in great shape.
But even though I was a bit winded at times and my legs started to scream by the end, I had a lot of fun. It's always good to shake up your exercise routine a bit. I hope everyone is having a great Saturday!
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