Hi all,
I've been meaning to update this thing for a few days, but work has been very busy. Ever have one of those "Murphy's Law" weeks where anything that can go wrong will? Well, it was like that for me. But it's Friday afternoon, I have an hour to go, and I was able to knock out 2 projects I've been struggling with this week, so I feel like I'm in a good place to spend some blog time.
Fitness
I've been having good runs and good lifting sessions lately. I've been a bit tired because I've had a hard time sleeping lately, mostly because I've been staying up too late or letting myself get too keyed up before bedtime, but it doesn't seem to be affecting my workouts.
It was thundering out this morning so I had my first treadmill run in awhile. After about 2.5 months of running on the treadmill exclusively, not much will deter me from going outside, but big crashes of thunder will. It was a big investment for us, and it takes up 1/2 our living room, but when I want it, I'm always grateful it's there.
Food
I hesitate to mention this because I don't want to talk about weight loss stuff on here, but I guess I'll share a bit about that because I feel like I've had a success this week.
I don't think I've mentioned it before, but I'm participating in an online lean eating program. There are a few components to it but as far as eating goes, every two weeks you get a new "habit" to follow. The habit two weeks ago was "startchy carbs only after a workout".
The first week I got through it with a bunch of slip ups. The second week I kind of rebelled against the whole thing. This week, I think I've got it together. The first few days were really really hard. Dinner without rice or pasta just wasn't the same. But either yesterday or today, something clicked and I feel satisfied without that stuff. So that's my success story I wanted to share.
Lest anyone get worried that I'm going to die without brown rice every night, I'm 1.Able to eat grains after my workouts, 2.Able to eat unlimited fruit, vegetables, and beans and 3.Running way way way less than I used to and than most of the people readin this run. So don't get worried.
Fun
Lots of good things coming up this weekend. I get my husband back after he spent 3-weeks working long days teaching a class. We have tickets to Antiques Roadshow on Saturday and will get them to look at an old ink well I have. We're planning to go to the Art Fair on the Square. And last, we're taking Monday off and doing something out of the ordinary just because both of us need a break.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
The Lazy Gourmet
Last night I not only cooked dinner, but I did what every healthy eating expert tells you to do: plan ahead for the week.
So I roasted 2 big chicken breasts, each cut into 2 normal-sized pieces. I really really really hate cooking meat, so this was a big deal for me. Two went into dinner and here's the other two left over. Not only do I hate cooking meat, but I hate eating the meat I've cooked after I cook it, so let's hope I don't ignore these guys and let them spoil.
Dinner was pretty tasty. Just chicken and garbanzos with cauliflower in Trader Joe's Masala (not to be confused with Marsala) sauce. Plus some lettuce from the garden.
I have a bunch left over, too.
I stuck one tupperware full in the fridge for later this week and one in the freezer.
I really should have taken some pictures of the garden because we have some baby broccoli and tomatoes coming in. And there were three beautiful wading birds wandering through a neighboring garden, looking for lunch (sorry neighbors). But I did get some more flowers! So pretty. I hope no one catches me.
So I roasted 2 big chicken breasts, each cut into 2 normal-sized pieces. I really really really hate cooking meat, so this was a big deal for me. Two went into dinner and here's the other two left over. Not only do I hate cooking meat, but I hate eating the meat I've cooked after I cook it, so let's hope I don't ignore these guys and let them spoil.
Dinner was pretty tasty. Just chicken and garbanzos with cauliflower in Trader Joe's Masala (not to be confused with Marsala) sauce. Plus some lettuce from the garden.
I have a bunch left over, too.
I stuck one tupperware full in the fridge for later this week and one in the freezer.
I really should have taken some pictures of the garden because we have some baby broccoli and tomatoes coming in. And there were three beautiful wading birds wandering through a neighboring garden, looking for lunch (sorry neighbors). But I did get some more flowers! So pretty. I hope no one catches me.
Update
Ooooooh noes! It's been a long time since I've posted. Let's see what's been going on...
Fitness
My runs have been good lately. Nothing super exciting, but I'm planning to do a bit more speed stuff. I haven't been doing my planned races because, honestly, I don't feel like I'm prepared to do a good job. I'm to the point where I've run races- I don't need to run a 10k for the heck of it- I'm only interested in doing them if I feel like I could run a good race if not PR.
Food
I actually did some cooking prep yesterday. I don't like cooking all that much, and I really hate cooking meat. But I did it anyway, yesterday, and got an okay-tasting dinner plus two other meals out of it. So... I'm thinking about doing a new feature where I post what I made for dinner the night before. It would give me something slightly more interesting to talk and it might, hopefully, motivate me to put a tiny bit of effort into cooking. If left to my own devices, I'd eat cereal for dinner every single night. But that's just not going to cut it.
Fun
4th of July Fireworks!!!
The view from the hill where we were sitting was really nice. This picture really doesn't do it justice, but you could see pretty far out over Lake Mendota.
And another nice action shot.
Thanks for being a good sport, D, although the look on your face says, "Just another thing I have to do to humor the crazy lady with the camera."
Stay tuned for the first installment of The Lazy Gourmet
Fitness
My runs have been good lately. Nothing super exciting, but I'm planning to do a bit more speed stuff. I haven't been doing my planned races because, honestly, I don't feel like I'm prepared to do a good job. I'm to the point where I've run races- I don't need to run a 10k for the heck of it- I'm only interested in doing them if I feel like I could run a good race if not PR.
Food
I actually did some cooking prep yesterday. I don't like cooking all that much, and I really hate cooking meat. But I did it anyway, yesterday, and got an okay-tasting dinner plus two other meals out of it. So... I'm thinking about doing a new feature where I post what I made for dinner the night before. It would give me something slightly more interesting to talk and it might, hopefully, motivate me to put a tiny bit of effort into cooking. If left to my own devices, I'd eat cereal for dinner every single night. But that's just not going to cut it.
Fun
4th of July Fireworks!!!
The view from the hill where we were sitting was really nice. This picture really doesn't do it justice, but you could see pretty far out over Lake Mendota.
And another nice action shot.
Thanks for being a good sport, D, although the look on your face says, "Just another thing I have to do to humor the crazy lady with the camera."
Stay tuned for the first installment of The Lazy Gourmet
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
1/2 way through review
Wow, it's already 1/2 way through 2009. I can honestly say this year has not gone the way I'd expected it to fitness-wise. In some ways it's been disappointing, but it some ways it's a very good thing.
At the beginning of the year my goal was to build up my mileage, run a great marathon or half marathon in May and be ready to try to BQ in a marathon in the fall. But winter and an injury came along and changed those plans. I had to cut way back on running and give up all of those goals- at least for now- which was really hard.
BUT, these challenges have opened up new opportunities for me. I think the most important thing is that my injury has forced me to rethink my relationship between running and the rest of my life. Everything looked good on the outside, but I was ignoring some critical issues that were just waiting to jump up and bite me. My eating habits were pretty bad (I was running to eat and skimping on healthy foods so I could have a humongous ice cream sundae, etc.) and my strength was not where it should have been.
Backing way down on running has forced me to really look at what I'm eating and evaluate if it's in line with my athletic goals. It's also given me the time to do some serious strength training. Both of these things are critical to running a happy, healthy marathon.
Now that everything is feeling good and I'm feeling good about my eating/ exercise balance, I'd like to start increasing my miles again. Very slowly. The goal would be to increase from about 25 mpw (where I'm at now) to about 40mpw before winter starts, hold on to that level of fitness through the winter, and build to be ready to do a marathon training program for fall 2010. I think those are reasonable goals as long as I keep my focus.
In some ways it's frustrating to feel so out of shape compared to other runners out there, but I know that I'm laying the groundwork to be a better runner right now. I just have to stay positive and make the best out of every situation that comes my way.
At the beginning of the year my goal was to build up my mileage, run a great marathon or half marathon in May and be ready to try to BQ in a marathon in the fall. But winter and an injury came along and changed those plans. I had to cut way back on running and give up all of those goals- at least for now- which was really hard.
BUT, these challenges have opened up new opportunities for me. I think the most important thing is that my injury has forced me to rethink my relationship between running and the rest of my life. Everything looked good on the outside, but I was ignoring some critical issues that were just waiting to jump up and bite me. My eating habits were pretty bad (I was running to eat and skimping on healthy foods so I could have a humongous ice cream sundae, etc.) and my strength was not where it should have been.
Backing way down on running has forced me to really look at what I'm eating and evaluate if it's in line with my athletic goals. It's also given me the time to do some serious strength training. Both of these things are critical to running a happy, healthy marathon.
Now that everything is feeling good and I'm feeling good about my eating/ exercise balance, I'd like to start increasing my miles again. Very slowly. The goal would be to increase from about 25 mpw (where I'm at now) to about 40mpw before winter starts, hold on to that level of fitness through the winter, and build to be ready to do a marathon training program for fall 2010. I think those are reasonable goals as long as I keep my focus.
In some ways it's frustrating to feel so out of shape compared to other runners out there, but I know that I'm laying the groundwork to be a better runner right now. I just have to stay positive and make the best out of every situation that comes my way.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Quick Update
I didn't think I was going to have time for an update today, but I'm going to try for a quick one.
Fitness
Running has been going pretty well lately. I've been pretty happy with my 5x per week: 4miles x 4 days and 6 miles x 1 day, but I'm hoping to maybe increase things a little bit. My butt, and hip issues have been practically nonexistent lately, which makes me very happy. I'm also starting a new strength training plan that will carry me through the next month. Hurray for variety!
Food
Check this out!!!!
It's a salad with the romaine lettuce I grew in my garden! It was tasty, but honestly, I thought it tasted just like lettuce from the store. I know you're supposed to say how much more delicious food tastes when you grow it yourself, but it was just regular. But it was cool to have the satisfaction of eating something I'd grown myself. My love-hate with the garden swung a little more toward the love side after that.
I also ate some of our green onions on top of my stir fry.
Fun
And while I was on a green-things jag, I cut some of these guys from a planter in our apartment complex. Yep. I'm that classy.
Hope everyone had a lovely back to work Monday.
Fitness
Running has been going pretty well lately. I've been pretty happy with my 5x per week: 4miles x 4 days and 6 miles x 1 day, but I'm hoping to maybe increase things a little bit. My butt, and hip issues have been practically nonexistent lately, which makes me very happy. I'm also starting a new strength training plan that will carry me through the next month. Hurray for variety!
Food
Check this out!!!!
It's a salad with the romaine lettuce I grew in my garden! It was tasty, but honestly, I thought it tasted just like lettuce from the store. I know you're supposed to say how much more delicious food tastes when you grow it yourself, but it was just regular. But it was cool to have the satisfaction of eating something I'd grown myself. My love-hate with the garden swung a little more toward the love side after that.
I also ate some of our green onions on top of my stir fry.
Fun
And while I was on a green-things jag, I cut some of these guys from a planter in our apartment complex. Yep. I'm that classy.
Hope everyone had a lovely back to work Monday.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Happy Birthday Day
First off, I want to wish a Happy Birthday to two of my favorite people in the world: my husband, D, and my dad. I hope you both have a wonderful day.
D started off his morning with some serious sugar.
I got up early and went to the donut shop to get a special surprise birthday breakfast for us. I bought two sprinkle donuts, a cherry one and a blueberry one. In typical Midwestern style, the woman working threw in an extra one with sprinkles "just because". We'd heard this place was great, and it certainly lived up to its reputation. Mmmmmm donuts.
I got in a recovery 4 miles before I went to the store. I'm pretty tired so I think I'm going to take an easy evening tonight rather than making up for my missed upper body workout yesterday. It's just so hot in the gym with no AC. Tomorrow is a no run day, and I think I'm just going to go to the gym and lift in the morning rather than do elliptical in the morning and weights in the afternoon.
D started off his morning with some serious sugar.
I got up early and went to the donut shop to get a special surprise birthday breakfast for us. I bought two sprinkle donuts, a cherry one and a blueberry one. In typical Midwestern style, the woman working threw in an extra one with sprinkles "just because". We'd heard this place was great, and it certainly lived up to its reputation. Mmmmmm donuts.
I got in a recovery 4 miles before I went to the store. I'm pretty tired so I think I'm going to take an easy evening tonight rather than making up for my missed upper body workout yesterday. It's just so hot in the gym with no AC. Tomorrow is a no run day, and I think I'm just going to go to the gym and lift in the morning rather than do elliptical in the morning and weights in the afternoon.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Monday Update
Hi everyone,
It's hot here. It "feels like" 96, which, even by the standards of places that are actually hot is hot. Which means the gym is going to be a real treat this afternoon because it's not air conditioned. There are fans and they keep the windows open, but it still gets pretty warm and muggy. I call it Bikram weight lifting. And the floor... well... try not to slip.
Fitness
I had a great run today after my day off yesterday. It wasn't super speedy; it just felt really good. And my piriformis pain seems to slowly be going away.
Food
We have our first harvest from the garden!!! Green onions.
I spent a long, hot, sweaty time weeding yesterday so these bad boys better be worth it. There's way more than we'll ever use so I'm going to try to get some of our church group members to take some. The rest will go to work with me tomorrow.
Fun
I won a contest on a blog. I enter a lot of contests on blogs because, really, what the heck, right? Some of the stuff I'm not even remotely interested in. But I won a copy of a book on Cranky Fitness that I'd probably actually pick up at the bookstore and read. I don't really believe in buying books unless you know you'll want to use them for reference, but I have no problems with being gifted with a free one. Thanks, Cranky Fitness.
It's hot here. It "feels like" 96, which, even by the standards of places that are actually hot is hot. Which means the gym is going to be a real treat this afternoon because it's not air conditioned. There are fans and they keep the windows open, but it still gets pretty warm and muggy. I call it Bikram weight lifting. And the floor... well... try not to slip.
Fitness
I had a great run today after my day off yesterday. It wasn't super speedy; it just felt really good. And my piriformis pain seems to slowly be going away.
Food
We have our first harvest from the garden!!! Green onions.
I spent a long, hot, sweaty time weeding yesterday so these bad boys better be worth it. There's way more than we'll ever use so I'm going to try to get some of our church group members to take some. The rest will go to work with me tomorrow.
Fun
I won a contest on a blog. I enter a lot of contests on blogs because, really, what the heck, right? Some of the stuff I'm not even remotely interested in. But I won a copy of a book on Cranky Fitness that I'd probably actually pick up at the bookstore and read. I don't really believe in buying books unless you know you'll want to use them for reference, but I have no problems with being gifted with a free one. Thanks, Cranky Fitness.
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