tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75745002947027170972024-02-19T19:56:20.913-05:00Love Notes From A RunnerThe things I love in life...cooking, running, nail polish and more.Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.comBlogger224125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-82446582713365769302014-01-19T12:08:00.001-05:002014-01-19T12:09:20.227-05:00Cauliflower Crust Pizza - A Delicious and Healthy ChoiceThis is not a new thing, people have been making pizza with a cauliflower crust for a while. I imagine it became popular when people started to cut back on eating grains. I'm currently taking part in a healthy eating/living challenge and while technically grains are allowed I've been trying to reduce my intake of them.<br />
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For the past week I've been craving pizza, I don't even eat pizza that much but for some reason I really wanted some. In order to satisfy this craving I decided to finally attempt to make a pizza with a cauliflower crust. I was a bit apprehensive about how it would turn out since it was my first time making it. It ended up being delicious!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOS5FJfyvg7VcItZ5XfsTHI2TpYArcQgftfq-gjjJ7zGktwQMBWJjbvBn9Gf4VbJ_8984Vftz2rCib9A6zzMvfuabMtL5E2GfRswh5oECAdce20JRdb0VPm9I9x78SGbOE4jQgxa9NPz_/s1600/2014-01-18+20.34.45-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOS5FJfyvg7VcItZ5XfsTHI2TpYArcQgftfq-gjjJ7zGktwQMBWJjbvBn9Gf4VbJ_8984Vftz2rCib9A6zzMvfuabMtL5E2GfRswh5oECAdce20JRdb0VPm9I9x78SGbOE4jQgxa9NPz_/s1600/2014-01-18+20.34.45-2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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For the crust I used the recipe found here: http://tastykitchen.com/blog/2013/08/cauliflower-crust-pizza/ </div>
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The toppings that I put on it where: mushrooms, ground turkey (pre cooked w/onions), roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and lots and lots of mozzarella cheese!</div>
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This pizza satisfied my craving and didn't leave me feeling sluggish and full of regret like a normal pizza usually does. If you've never tried making a pizza with cauliflower crust then you should. </div>
Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-33892509175530024782014-01-02T21:38:00.001-05:002014-01-02T21:38:30.127-05:002 Year Hiatus...a short explanation and perhaps a comeback.Soooo...I said to myself this morning, "I should start a blog" then I remembered that I already have a blog that I have neglected for 2 years. Part of me wanted to just start a completely new blog but I decided that since this one is still mine and I still like the name I might as well just pick back up here.<br />
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I'm not going to pretend that I haven't been away for 2 years nor does the irony of my second to last post escape me. I won't make any promises of being back or of being a consistent blogger but I do plan on attempting to do better. So what have I been up to? Well... a lot really. Work has taken most of my time and energy with my travel increasing (I was away about 5 1/2 months total in 2013). I spent time in both India and Switzerland both of which were wonderful experiences.<br />
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On the health front...I gained weight and slacked on my running/working out last year but hey, it's a brand new year so perhaps I can turn all of that around. I'm going to do a half marathon this year, I start training on Monday. I've dabbled in a Paleo lifestyle and by dabbled I mean I visit all the blogs and have a bunch of cookbooks but I can't seem to stop eating pancakes so I've pretty much failed at it.<br />
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I have done more cooking (when I'm at home) and I love it so I do expect to post some recipes on the blog this year. I'm not terribly creative when it comes to cooking so I normally just follow other people's recipes and then make a few modifications.<br />
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I don't know if anyone is still reading this but hopefully I can get some of you to come back and visit me little corner of the internet this year :-)Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-47054376083027588252011-01-11T10:01:00.002-05:002011-01-11T10:41:47.996-05:00sNOw Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-amSUedoEzFpta0csL1wAUZJ7Mwrh4n9ieGdV-CvdxP-FASKmB15W1nX3I6PidCO1Ygid7Dpsvt5KLkhXMqEzmc-gGxwDNdGv2WjKUdd0WA9vTyr31U_IwYTi1U4Ni_paAjZmnz-TmLQv/s1600/snowman.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 191px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-amSUedoEzFpta0csL1wAUZJ7Mwrh4n9ieGdV-CvdxP-FASKmB15W1nX3I6PidCO1Ygid7Dpsvt5KLkhXMqEzmc-gGxwDNdGv2WjKUdd0WA9vTyr31U_IwYTi1U4Ni_paAjZmnz-TmLQv/s320/snowman.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560953998303043426" /></a><br />I remember when I was younger, I used to LOVE snow days. Really, what kid didn't love any excuse not to go to school? I remember making snow men, sledding, and enjoying a big cup of snow cream. Running around in the cold snow without a care in the world. Those were the days!<div><br /></div><div>Now that I'm a (semi) responsible adult the snow just gets on my nerves. Yeah, sure it is pretty to look at, for about 5 minutes and then I'm concerned about how I won't be able to get my car out of the driveway without running into the side of the house. What I didn't realize as a child is that snow isn't some magical powder that shuts the world down. Nope, the world keeps on turning and the snow just makes it more difficult for me to participate in what's going on. </div><div><br /></div><div>I live in the southern part of the U.S. and down here people are incapable of operating during snow. An inch of snow will literally shut the city DOWN. So I guess you can tell that I'm currently snowed in :-/ I'm "working from home" so I have lots of stuff to do but when I'm at home it is just hard to concentrate. Not to mention I still have the urge to run outside and roll around in the snow. But since I'm not going to do that I guess I'll just make myself a big cup of hot chocolate and bundle up on the couch :-) </div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy the snow day if you're having one! </div>Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-29747551445261751722011-01-09T14:24:00.002-05:002011-01-09T14:48:58.500-05:002011 - New Year, New Goals, More Blogging2011 sure seemed to arrive quickly! We always say how fast time goes by but I'm starting to think that's just the pace of time. It's quicker than we desire because there are always things we plan to do but never actually do them and the lack of time is an easy excuse. <div><br /></div><div>I guess I should have started the blog by saying HELLO and I'M BACK! I stopped blogging last year because I just wasn't into it. I had a lot going on at work, wasn't really doing the things I needed to be doing fitness/nutrition wise, and who wants to talk about what they aren't doing right? </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm in a better place now and I've started 2011 with a renewed sense of purpose and new goals. Just like last year I've come up with a theme for the year. That theme is "No Clutter". Over the next few blog posts I'll discuss this in more detail but the goal is to reduce clutter in all facets of my life. Clutter is just mess that gets in the way of the important things. It trips you up and distracts you from your goals. By ridding myself of clutter I will be able to be more effective in achieving my goals.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm going to attempt to make the blog a bit more focused but we'll see how that part goes. It will probably still end up being a mixture of my thoughts about life. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm excited about the new year and all the things that will happen this year. Are you excited? What things do you have planned for the year?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-44355751565451739452010-03-16T13:39:00.003-04:002010-03-16T13:57:45.661-04:00Water, Water and more WaterOkay I was supposed to give you an update on how the water only challenge is going. I've done very well. I've only slipped up twice. Once was when the husband made some cookies (which I didn't need to eat in the first place); I always have milk with my cookies so I poured a small glass and as I was taking the last gulp I realized..."Oh shoot, I just drank something that wasn't water." The other time was a little more deliberate. It was one of my friend's birthday so I had an alcoholic drink with her. It was a vodka and tonic which is practically the same thing as water. Not really but at least it wasn't something super fancy. I haven't really missed drinking things other than water. The only time I get a craving is when I get cold at work and wish that I could have some hot tea to warm me up. I considered drinking some hot water but that just seemed like it would be nasty.<br /><br /><br /><br />Speaking of hot. I went for another round of hot yoga yesterday. Today I'm a little more sore than expected, mainly in my hamstrings. I guess I don't strech them as often as I should. We'll see how the next sessions feel.Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-27783363165939833862010-03-14T21:41:00.002-04:002010-03-14T22:27:29.208-04:00Hot Yoga and H2O<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge828X90r2wf2uGTTP7_E-IuV_YYlxKepL0tA7PwwgX9mDomTIpowCk13WNGBjKD_joHhiiR7btFC59I-rtMK834-9jt0QGQKIwsi3b_yORw5-Am4oL6BDmoUqRg9XdiYDsiCokWtaTRJc/s1600-h/YOGA15bb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge828X90r2wf2uGTTP7_E-IuV_YYlxKepL0tA7PwwgX9mDomTIpowCk13WNGBjKD_joHhiiR7btFC59I-rtMK834-9jt0QGQKIwsi3b_yORw5-Am4oL6BDmoUqRg9XdiYDsiCokWtaTRJc/s320/YOGA15bb.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448681478836916146" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>I've been doing yoga on and off since college and I've always enjoyed it. I'm not well versed on the different types of yoga but I know I prefer the more "power" type yoga verses the meditative type. Recently a friend of mine told me about Hot Yoga. I was a little skeptical at first seeing as I hate being hot. Well this morning I decided to go for it. And you know what?? I loved it!! It was invigorating, relaxing, and an intense workout. <div><br /></div><div>The workout was 90 minutes long, we did 26 different poses in a room where the temperature was about 100 degrees. The poses were a combination of sitting and standing poses. Unlike the majority of the yoga I've done this was mainly focused on flexibility and balance. I was able to do the majority of the poses even if I couldn't move into the advanced form of the pose. The actual workout itself wasn't too hard but the heat made it super intense. I'm pretty sure I was sweating from every pore in my body, I must have lost 5 lbs in sweat. I'm strongly considering added this to my workout routine. The yoga place recommended that you go 3-4 times a week to get the maximum benefit but that's a little to costly for my budget. I'm thinking once a week is the most I'll be able to swing.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bottom-line: I really enjoyed this new workout..it is always nice to find a new way to exercise.</div>Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-61825805526678455082010-03-02T08:50:00.002-05:002010-03-02T10:49:38.226-05:00March Challenge: Water OnlyOne of my friends and long distance fitness buddies issued a challenge to me and some of our friends. The challenge is to only drink water for the month of March. After some bullying from her side I agreed to accept this challenge. On the surface it seems easy because I generally do only drink water. The thing I didn't take into account was that by doing this I will also be giving up <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">caffeine</span>. Now I'm not some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">caffeine</span> junkie but I do often have a cup of coffee or green tea in the morning to <s>jolt myself awake</s> help me make it through the day. This just means that I may need to seriously work on getting more sleep so that I won't need the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">caffeine</span> anyway.<br /><br />I don't know how much of a difference drinking only water will make but I'm certain that it will at least cut out a couple hundred calories a week that I get from various drinks. I also won't be ingesting any unnecessary chemicals from those diet sodas I like. The one exception I'm making is that I will not include my breakfast smoothies in this "water only" challenge. I don't believe that counts as a drink since it is being used as a meal replacement.<br /><br />Will I make it? I think so. I've decided that everything comes down to willpower. While that is a simplification I believe it to be true. I'm making the decision to have the willpower I need to accomplish this and other challenges. Wish me luck!Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-79082919054655756772010-02-22T21:53:00.002-05:002010-02-22T22:09:24.487-05:00Ski Trip 2010The last time I went skiing I was 13 years old. When I think back on that ski trip all I remember was how much fun I had. I didn't remember it being particularly difficult or that I fell too many times. Well that was about 15 years ago.....<div><br /></div><div>This past weekend I went on a weekend ski trip to Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia. It was the perfect weekend for skiing. It had snowed a few days earlier and the sun was shining so the snow was nice and powdery and it wasn't terribly cold. Since it had been so long since the last time I'd been skiing I decided to take a 2 hour lesson before hitting the slopes. I'm glad I did! While I picked it back up fairly quickly it was very helpful to learn some new tips. I was mainly familiar with doing to "the wedge" in order to stop but during my lessons I learned how to do the "hockey stop" which is more effective and it just looks cooler. The ski instructor made fun of me because at first I definitely wasn't getting it and he said I was doing the hockey FLOP and not the hockey stop.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was smart enough to stay on the green (easy) slopes because I wasn't trying to come home with any broken bones. As it was, I fell about 10 times and I'm definitely suffering from that today. My body is SORE. I didn't realize how much of a workout skiing is. Your legs get a heck of a workout trying to control yourself going down the hill. When you're trying to stop yourself from going too fast you get even more of a workout. The crazy part was how sore my arms were. I didn't even think about my arms being involved but when you get to the flat parts and you need to keep moving that is allll arms. </div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, I really enjoyed myself and I definitely would like to make this at least a yearly thing. Skiing isn't exactly cheap so unless I get a raise I don't think I'll be doing it much more often than that. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Have you ever skied? If so, what's your favorite ski resort?</b></div>Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-75415563692736608142010-02-04T10:04:00.002-05:002010-02-04T10:20:14.906-05:00S.A.D.I'm starting to think that I have Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) which is also known as "the winter blues". I just don't really feel like doing anything other than sit on the couch and watch TV and honestly I barely feel like doing that. I wish I was a bear and I could just hibernate for the winter. I also wouldn't mind eating a whole bunch of food to prepare for hibernation. Sadly, I'm not a bear so I have to deal with the cold and dreary weather.<br /><br />I need to come up with a happiness kit, full of items and activities that make me happy so that I can survive this winter. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hmm</span>...maybe I can find a way to bottle up some warmth and sunshine.<br /><br />Okay, I really just wanted y'all to know that I haven't frozen to death in a block of ice. I'm still here just haven't been in the greatest mood and I didn't want to bring anyone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">else's</span> mood down with a bunch of depressing posts. So that I don't end this post on a "sad" note, I'll share with you a few things that make me happy and keep me warm.<br /><br /><ul><li>A mug of hot chocolate with melted marshmallows on top</li><li>My <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">snuggie</span></li><li>A large pot of homemade soup</li><li>Fuzzy slippers</li><li>Super soft pajamas</li><li>Hot bath with red velvet scented bubble bath</li><li>The best chili ever</li><li>Cuddling with my hubby</li></ul><p>What things help you make it through the winter blues?</p>Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-81800359936216855362010-01-15T20:38:00.003-05:002010-01-15T21:43:39.671-05:00Pasta Free SpaghettiI've been saying that I was going to write this post since Tuesday when I made some spaghetti squash for dinner. I'm not sure why it took me so long to get around to it but here we go. <div><br /></div><div>Have you ever had spaghetti squash? If not, you should definitely try it because it is delicious. One of my friends was over and he is a pretty picky eater. So I told a little "white lie" and failed to mention the SQUASH part of the spaghetti. The funny thing about it is that he didn't even notice and after he finished eating it he didn't even believe that it wasn't pasta. Which just supports my developing theory of who needs grains? </div><div><br /></div><div>If you're interested here is the method I used to cook the spaghetti squash. There are a several other methods.....if you google it then lots of different recipes will pop up. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Spaghetti Squash:</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Ingredients</b></div><div>-1 big spaghetti squash</div><div>-pasta sauce (whatever kind you like best)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Instructions</b></div><div>1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees</div><div>2. Wash the spaghetti squash.</div><div>3. Poke holes all around the squash with a sharp knife or skewer. (very important step if you don't want the squash to explode)</div><div>4. Place the squash in a baking pan and bake for an hour or until the squash is soft. *test the squash by squeezing with an oven mitt. It should give easily.</div><div>5. Let the squash cool for about 10 minutes. Cut in half and scoop out the seeds and stringy portion (this part was hard because it stringy part and seeds got caught in the "meat" of the squash).</div><div>6. Scrape the meat of the squash, it should look like noodles. Serve with pasta sauce.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tip: I recommend using a meat sauce. The next time I make it I will serve it with a tomato sauce that has ground turkey in it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I will definitely be making spaghetti squash a part of my regular meal plan. The good thing is that my mom said she plans on growing spaghetti squash in her garden this year.</div><div><br /></div>Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-7793611352096866652010-01-10T20:30:00.003-05:002010-01-10T20:41:52.404-05:00Primal Living UpdateIt has been a week since I decided to change my lifestyle and predominately eliminate grains from my diet. I've done pretty well. I ate some sushi one night which of course contained rice. I'm not sure if I count that 100% since I got sick after eating it and most of it didn't stay in my stomach. A word of advice...don't mix sushi with bananas and ice cream. It is NOT a good combination. I decided not to eliminate potatoes but I do plan on eating them in moderation. Potatoes and beans aren't officially a part of the Primal lifestyle and maybe if I get more into it I will eliminate them as well but for right now I'm not going that extreme. <div><br /></div><div>So how do I feel? I feel great! Other than a slight stomach issue I've had for the past few days, which I don't believe is due to the diet I've felt much less bloated than normal. I've also lost a few pounds which is great. Hopefully this weight loss trend will continue so I can reach my goal of losing 15 pounds by June. I haven't really started exercising regularly so once I get on track with that, I expect to see more results.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do I miss grains? Not really. There have been a few times this past week when I wanted to eat some cake or a doughnut but it hasn't been that intense. When I think about it, the things that I have eliminated are the things that I shouldn't have been eating regularly in the first place. It isn't like I was eating some super healthy grains, I was eating the unhealthy types of grains and it is best that I eliminated them anyway.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tonight I made tacos but instead of a taco shell I used Boston Lettuce leafs. They were delicious. I didn't miss the taco shells at all. This is just one example of easy substitutions I'll be making.</div>Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-75863492943891473172010-01-07T21:39:00.002-05:002010-01-07T21:51:39.592-05:00The Island of TemptationI've blogged before about how my office is full of unhealthy temptations. At first I was thinking maybe I was exaggerating and it really isn't that bad, until this week. Yesterday at a breakfast meeting we had Chick-fil-A chicken minis, doughnuts, and fruit with caramel sauce. What in the world! If that wasn't bad enough today we had a going away event complete with a giant cake that they tried to force down everyone's throat. I mean, some people actually tried to make me feel guilty about not eating any of the cake. <div><br /></div><div>It is a good thing that I am resolute in my decision to keep my diet at around 80% primal. I was able to pass on all of the things that didn't meet this description and just stick with the fruit in both cases. The funny thing is that I was only slightly tempted to partake in the food orgy that was going on around me. There are some key visuals that helped curb my enthusiasm for the unhealthy food but I'll let you just imagine what they were since my blog is open for anyone to read. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sure that this situation is not unique to my office. These scenarios are what cause large amounts of office workers to become unhealthy and overweight all the time. Between the stress of the job, the long hours and the endless "celebrations" it is no wonder people have such a hard maintaining a healthy lifestyle. </div>Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-75875162894133665192010-01-05T21:44:00.003-05:002010-01-05T22:03:52.437-05:00The Biggest Loser....Motivating??I usually don't watch The Biggest Loser but since none of the shows I normally watch are on tonight I decided to watch. I know that some people find this show motivating but I just find it extremely sad and depressing. The fact that there is no shortage of potential contestants for this show and the fact that each season these contestants get bigger and bigger each season is very sad. It just illustrates the problem with obesity that is plaguing our society. If we, as a society, don't make some major changes when it comes to health and diet then they can run 100 versions of The Biggest Loser and still not capture all of the people that need the help.<div><br /></div><div>I have somewhat of a love/hate relationship with this show. Yes, these are people that are morbidly obese. If they don't lose weight they will most likely die from an obesity related disease. So I'm happy that they are getting professional help and that they are losing the weight. The problem I have is that most of these results are not feasible for a normal person. If you are at home and you have a job and other responsibilities then you are not going to be able to work for the amount of time that these contestants are working out. You won't have the incentive of winning a quarter of a million dollars to help motivate you to lose the weight. And we all know how powerful of a motivator money is for a person. I also question how healthy it is to lose 50% of your entire body weight in less than a year. I'm not a nutritionist or a doctor but it just doesn't seem right. </div><div><br /></div><div>I just hope that the show does provide motivation for some people and helps push them to meet their goals. To me it is just a reminder of the ills of our society...</div>Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-62062189280326564652010-01-03T19:58:00.003-05:002010-01-03T20:27:20.176-05:00Starting off the Year Caveman StyleYou may recall one of my posts last year where I talked about the book The Primal Blueprint and how I said I planned to incorporate those principles into my lifestyle. The main change is in my dietary habits. The elimination of grains and most processed foods. Sounds easy when you put it like that but when you think of how many delicious things are actually made from grains then it becomes a little more difficult. <div><br /></div><div>Well today I've made the switch. Today I didn't eat any grains and my world didn't come crashing down. Of course that's just one day...we'll see how I feel after an entire week. I've made my meal plan for the week and I'm confident that I can stick to it. I will have to make sure I get up a little bit earlier since I'll be making breakfast in the morning. Nothing complex but I can't do like I just usually do and run out of the door and eat oatmeal when I get to work.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not going to type out my entire meal plan for the week but I'll give you an idea of what I'll be having.</div><div><br /></div><div>Breakfast: Protein Shake or Omelet with veggies</div><div>Lunch: Big Salad with chicken and homemade dressing</div><div>Dinner: Variety of meats combined with veggies</div><div>Snacks: Dried fruit, nuts, fresh fruit</div><div><br /></div><div>Tonight I made some homemade ginger dressing. It was pretty tasty but not GREAT, I'm going to try to tweak the mixture a little bit before I post the recipe. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think that I'll be satisfied with this plan. I'm not going to be so super strict that I don't enjoy myself if I go out to eat or if someone invites me over for dinner but I will try to stick to this at least 80% of the time.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll be sure to let you know how it goes and if I feel a difference. And of course I'll let you know WHEN I start to lose some weight ;-)</div>Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-43518284651643522192010-01-01T21:54:00.002-05:002010-01-01T22:11:34.493-05:00Theme for 2010: CompletionIn keeping with my switch from just a list of resolutions I'm instead choosing a theme for the year which will help guide me. I've decided that my theme for 2010 is "Completion". It took me a while to decide on one word to sum up my ideas for the next year but I think that does a pretty good job. I have been working on a number of areas in my life and this year I will be completing some of those items. As you may have figured out by reading my blog, I'm good at planning but not so good at follow-through. Having a theme of completion also signifies that I'm going to follow-through. Plan and COMPLETE those plans.<div><br /></div><div>There are a few specific goals that I am going to list out. I may also post detailed plans for each goal in some future posts.</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Ran a half-marathon: I don't want to take the time to train for a full marathon but I need a race to help me stay motivated with my running schedule.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Pay off 2 of my debts: I'm working on a specific plan to accomplish this. </div><div><br /></div><div>3. Lose 15 pounds by June: That's less than 3 pounds a month which I think is very doable.</div><div><br /></div><div>Those are the only goals I'm going to post for now. There are numerous other small things that I want to accomplish over the next year but I'm only posting my top 3. </div><div><br /></div><div>What do you want to accomplish in 2010?</div>Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-87812140935186396152009-12-30T23:21:00.002-05:002009-12-30T23:31:40.589-05:002009 Mission Accomplished???The end of the year is here...like every year, I've been going over the past year and determining if I met my goals for the year. So how did I do?<div><br /></div><div>These were my goals for the last year:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(41, 48, 59); ">*Complete a triathlon<br />*Complete 2nd marathon (still deciding which one this will be but I'm leaning towards Chicago)<br />*Improve eating habits (I do have a specific plan for this particular goal which I will share soon)<br />*Create a 3 year personal/career development plan and begin implementation of the plan<br />*IMPLEMENT!!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#29303B;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;color:#29303B;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Well I didn't complete all of these goals but I'm still satisfied with the past year.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;color:#29303B;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I completed a triathlon and had a lot of fun doing so. I decided not to run another marathon because I was feeling burnt out and my heart just wasn't in it. My eating habits were just so-so, I definitely could have done better in that respect. I created my personal/career development plan and I have begun implementation of that plan. I received a promotion a few months ago and that was the first step in my plan, I feel I'm well on my way career-wise.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;color:#29303B;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;color:#29303B;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I'm still trying to finalize what my theme for next year will be. Last year I stopped doing resolutions and decided to instead have a theme for the year and to list a few specific goals associated with that theme. I'll figure it out by tomorrow and post my decision either tomorrow or on the 1st.</span></span></div>Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-58866899070597515502009-12-15T21:02:00.002-05:002009-12-15T21:13:19.249-05:00Easy LivingI've often wondered how people can let themselves get morbidly obese. I still DO wonder how it happens but today I did have an epiphany about how it starts. I'm not about to disclose some mind-blowing revelation, so don't get excited. I just simply realized it happens because it is EASY. It is so much easier to just do nothing. It takes virtually no effort to sit around and not be active. To just eat whatever you want and not even think twice about the amount of calories or the impact of what you're eating on your health. But here is the thing, the longer you take the "easy" route and go down the path of destruction the HARDER it is to get back on track. The harder you have to work to lose the weight and fight the urge to live unhealthy. <div><br /></div><div>I've been taking it easy lately which means it is going to be harder for me to get back on track. It's okay though, I'm ready for the challenge.... </div>Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-6538497234027949852009-12-09T09:07:00.003-05:002009-12-09T09:20:12.568-05:00P90X vs. My HusbandHey y'all! I haven't fallen off the side of the earth, I just haven't been very inspired to write anything but a nudge from Dena and a hilarious workout last night just might get me back on track.<br /><br />I mentioned in a previous post about the Primal Blueprint and how I was going to try to adhere to that way of life. Well we (my husband and I) decided that it we would take it slow and just make a few changes right now and then really get started after the holidays. There is just too much bread, sweets and stuffing floating around during the holidays to make a significant lifestyle change.<br /><br />As a part of our improved lifestyle we are going to start working out together. I know my runner friends won't like the part of the Primal Blueprint that makes a case against chronic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">cardio</span> workouts (i.e. marathon training). I can respect some of the scientific information the author presents BUT I'm not going to stop running! Concerning the working out together part, we are going to start taking walks (my husband doesn't like to run) and we are going to do some of the P90X workouts together.<br /><br />Which leads me to the title of my post. Monday night the husband said he wanted to get started with our work out plan and that we needed to do a P90X video on Tuesday. Since we aren't doing the official plan and we're just going to do some of the videos a few times a week I decided to pick one of my favorite videos (Core <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Synergistics</span>). He was talking junk about how he was going to do better than me with the workout, blah blah blah. I just smiled and replied "of course you are". Well 35 minutes into the video he's laid out on the floor crying about how he feels like he's going to throw up. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">HAHA</span>! I'm sure that eventually he'll build up to the point where he can actually finish the workout but at least he learned a valuable lesson about challenging me when it comes to fitness.....Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-24218731166958952962009-11-06T17:03:00.003-05:002009-11-06T17:11:10.385-05:00Good Luck Amy!My running buddy Amy (who I've been neglecting) is running her 1st marathon on Sunday. Although I won't be there to cheer her on I will be cheering in spirit. I met up with her yesterday for a short run and it was great. I don't know what I was thinking staying away so long but I made her promise to let me know when she was going to start back running after her marathon so I could join her. The plan is to always stay trained well enough to be able to do a half marathon. That sounds like a pretty reasonable plan to me.<div><br /></div><div>I'm looking forward to hearing all about her run and even though she claims it is going to take her 12 hours to finish, I'm predicted that she'll run it in well under 5.</div><div><br /></div><div>GOOD LUCK AMY! I know you can do it.</div>Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-12902658129031827072009-11-03T07:52:00.003-05:002009-11-03T08:10:20.594-05:00Never Underestimate Your SpouseI've been reading this book, <a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/">"The Primal Blueprint"</a> and it really has me considering a major lifestyle change. When I say major, I mean MAJOR. I won't say that this is a Diet because it isn't something you do for a period of time, it is a way of life but the changes are mostly focused around your eating habits.. I'm not going to go into great detail in this post because I haven't actually finished the book and I want to have the full picture before I discuss it here.<br /><br />The biggest change is that this way of life calls for the elimination of grains from your diet. That's right, no bread, pasta, rice, corn or any other grains. The book goes into depth about the science behind the recommendation to eliminate grains and how it will lead to a healthier life. I usually give the side eye (o_O) to these books that propose what seems to be radical changes in the way I live my life. This book, unlike many others, provides a large amount of references and I've found other, unrelated, articles that agree with the beliefs presented in this book.<br /><br />Why am I even considering this? Because I want to feel better. I'm in relatively great shape (although I could still stand to lose a little body fat) and there isn't nothing medically wrong with me. But I don't feel GOOD. My stomach is almost always upset and it was clear from my non-dairy exercise that it isn't just lactose that is a problem. I more than likely have a gluten sensitivity and eliminating grains from my diet is one way to ease that pain. Eliminating grains is something I was considering before I even heard about this book but since reading the book I'm even more motivated to actually do it.<br /><br />Last night at dinner I brought this up to my husband. I just knew he was not going to be happy about my decision and was definitely not going to participate. Surprise, surprise he just said, "so does this mean I can still eat meat?". Apparently his breaking point is taking away his steaks, he doesn't care so much about bread and pasta. I'm not going to go "cold turkey" because that would more than likely just result in a binge and because I'm not going to waste the food I already have in my pantry (that is open). The items that are unopened that won't be a part of my new lifestyle, I'll just add to my donation to the local food bank. This will be a gradual thing but my plan is to be at least 80% primal by the beginning of the year. I'll keep you posted....Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-86359983510014453512009-10-21T11:12:00.002-04:002009-10-21T11:28:16.527-04:00The Only Thing to Fear"The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself" - Franklin D. Roosevelt<br /><br />It's not that I don't understand the quote, of course it is the fear of (fill in the blank) that is the problem and not the actual thing we are fearing. Perhaps this is true but even if fear is the only thing we HAVE to fear, it most certainly isn't the only thing we DO fear. There are a lot of things that we fear and everyone has their own private fears. When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, the fear of change plays a big part.<br /><br />Change scares a lot of people, probably because "the unknown" scares a lot of people and that is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">essentially</span> what change is. You are doing something new, something you don't have experience with and that can be scary. It is much easier to go on living life the way you always have than to potentially experience discomfort by changing your ways.<br /><br />The reason I bring this up is because I think this fear is what has prevented me from making the changes to my lifestyle that I know I need to. Well that and my lack of willpower/possibly addiction to unhealthy foods. If I make the decision to eat healthy, I'm afraid I'll miss eating all of the crap I shouldn't be eating anyway. If I stop watching TV (as much) , I'm afraid I'll miss something exciting and interesting. But you know what? I'm pretty sure that in the long run I'll be much happier if I am healthier and have the potential to live a better and longer life.<br /><br />If I focus on the things that will <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">truly</span> make me happy then I'll be able to overcome the fear of change because I know the change is for the better.Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-24056675539179081392009-10-20T08:18:00.002-04:002009-10-20T08:34:08.432-04:00Recipe of the Week: Mini Meatloaf aka Meal for My Future KidsWhen I think about the future and the potential of kids I often wonder how our dinners will be. Will we all sit at the table and talk about our day or will we eat on our table trays while being distracted by the TV. We always had at least one meal a week at the table with no TV when I was growing up. I think that it is important, it is a time to catch-up and check in on each other.<br /><br />I don't really remember that many meals from my childhood, which is surprising because it wasn't THAT long ago. I do remember the few times my mom made meatloaf and I remember that I hated it. Who wants to eat a hunk of meat that looked dry and had some red sauce on top? Not me that's for sure. The funny thing is, my mom is a great cook so her meatloaf was probably good, I just didn't like the idea. Because of this I have never attempted to make meat loaf (until now). I found an extremely easy recipe and decided to just go for it.<br /><br />It was a hit! My husband loved it and he told me he despised meatloaf (yeah, I made it anyway). Now I have the perfect meal to force my future kids to eat. I can't wait to say the famous line "you can eat this or you can go to bed hungry" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">LOL</span>. I'm joking....maybe....<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Mini Meat Loaves</span></strong><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>*Adapted from the Feb 2009 issue of Better Homes and Gardens</em></span><br /><em><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></em><br /><strong>Ingredients:</strong><br />1 egg, lightly beaten<br />1 cup purchased pasta sauce (I used tomato sauce and added some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Italian</span> seasoning to it)<br />1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs<br />1 lb lean ground beef (I'm sure you could use turkey if you prefer)<br />1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 oz)<br />Italian seasoning or any other seasoning you like<br /><br /><strong>Instructions:</strong><br />1. Preheat oven to 450F. In large bowl combine egg, 1/2 cup of the pasta sauce, bread crumbs and seasonings (I don't know how much seasoning, just sprinkle some in).<br /><br />2. Add beef and 1/2 cup of cheese; mix well. Divide beef mixture in four equal portions. Shape each portion in a 5 1/2 x 2-inch oval. Place on a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. (The pan I used was slightly smaller 13x9 and it worked just fine)<br /><br />3. Spoon on remaining pasta sauce and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 15 minutes or until internal temperature registers 160F (I used my handy oven probe and it took 20 minutes for it to each 160)<br /><br />4. Serve with green beans or whatever you favorite veggie is.<br /><br />5. Enjoy!Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-34269695309167946262009-10-15T20:41:00.003-04:002009-10-15T21:12:37.175-04:00Giving Up Jarred Pasta SauceThis all began the other night when I was making dinner. I didn't really have a specific meal in mind and since I hadn't gone grocery shopping I was going to have to make due with what was already in my pantry/freezer. I had some shrimp and some pasta so I thought, all I need is some spaghetti sauce and I can make shrimp spaghetti. Sadly, I didn't have any of my usual Chunky Ragu sauce in the pantry. What I did have however was the perfect ingredients to make my own spaghetti sauce. I whipped my "homemade" sauce up in no time and after the first spoonful I decided that I was officially giving up store bought spaghetti sauce. <div><br /></div><div>Tonight I made my own sauce again, this time using lean ground beef instead of shrimp and once again it was delicious! It was sooo easy, I really don't know why I wasn't doing this before. I know you are all extremely interested in knowing my recipe, so I will try to appease you. If you know me, you know I'm not the best at explaining how I make something unless I'm following an exact recipe. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Warning: this is not exact but just a rough guide to go by.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Ingredients:</b></div><div>Large Can of Hunt's Diced Tomatoes (I like the ones already seasoned with garlic, oregano, and basil)</div><div>~4 oz Tomato Paste</div><div>Italian Seasoning</div><div>Crushed Red Pepper</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Instructions:</b></div><div>1. Mix the diced tomatoes with the tomato paste. Stir the tomato paste until it dissolves into the juice from the diced tomatoes. *I'd suggest that you add the tomato paste in slowly, you may need more or less.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Add seasoning to taste. I never measure my seasoning so I wouldn't even know where to begin as far as amounts are concerned. </div><div><br /></div><div>3. Enjoy! Yep, it's that simple. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Notes: </b></div><div>-If you like your sauce more "juicy" then you may want to consider adding a little bit of tomato juice or using some crushed tomatoes.</div><div>-I'm thinking of trying out adding additional vegetables to the sauce. Maybe one of those bags of italian vegetables.</div><div><br /></div><div>On another topic....my GoWear Fit came today (yeah I bought it) so be on the lookout for a post about that really soon.</div>Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-75844973329309501912009-10-12T23:05:00.002-04:002009-10-12T23:20:12.845-04:00Recipe of the Week: Espresso-Rubbed Steak with Green Chile PestoI've made this recipe twice, once with the pesto and once without. I liked it more with the pesto which is actually very easy to make. I was a little intimidated by the thought of making pesto sauce but as long as you have a food processor you won't have any problems.<div><br /></div><div><b>Ingredients (Steak)</b></div><div>1 1/2 beef flank steak</div><div>2 tsp chili powder</div><div>1 tsp kosher salt or salt</div><div>1 tsp instant espresso coffee powder</div><div>1/2 tsp garlic powder</div><div>1/2 tsp dried oregano, crushed</div><div>1/2 tsp ground black pepper</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Ingredients (Pesto Sauce)</b></div><div>2 medium fresh Anaheim or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Poblano</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">chile</span> peppers (I used 1 of each)</div><div>1/2 cup fresh cilantro (cilantro tastes like soap to me so I used fresh basil)</div><div>1/4 crumbled <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Cotija</span> cheese (I couldn't find this cheese ANYWHERE so I used <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Parmesan</span>) </div><div>2 tbsp pine nuts</div><div>2 cloves garlic</div><div>1/4 tsp crushed red pepper</div><div>1/2 cup olive oil</div><div>salt and pepper to taste</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Instructions (Steak)</b></div><div>1. Score both sides of steak by making diagonal cuts in a diamond pattern. In small bowl, combine chili powder, salt, espresso powder, garlic powder, oregano, and pepper. Sprinkle over steak; rub in,.</div><div>2. Coat a 12-inch nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat until very hot; add steak. Reduce heat to medium. Cook 12 to 14 minutes for medium rare or 14 to 16 for medium, turning once halfway through. Transfer to cutting board. Cover loosely with foil to keep warm while preparing pesto sauce.</div><div>3. To serve, thinly slice steak against grain.</div><div><b>Makes 8 servings</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Instructions (Pesto)</b></div><div>1. Halve peppers lengthwise; remove stems, seeds and veins. Coarsely chop peppers. In food processor combing peppers, cilantro (or basil), cheese, pine nuts, garlic, red pepper, salt/pepper to taste.</div><div>2. Process to finely chop mixture. With processor running, add 1/2 cup olive oil in steady stream through feed tube to combine into a coarse paste. </div><div><b>Makes about 1 1/2 cup pesto.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a delicious steak and sauce. I will definitely add this to my recipe box (okay I don't really have a recipe box but if I did I'd add this to it).</div><div><br /></div><div>For all of my non-meat-eating friends, the pesto would also taste good over some pasta or maybe you could pour it over tofu?</div><div><br /></div><div>ENJOY!!!</div><div><br /></div>Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574500294702717097.post-9855123418087598032009-10-09T07:30:00.003-04:002009-10-09T07:44:53.036-04:00Planning Makes PerfectI'm the planner queen. I make life plans, meal plans, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">exercise</span> plans, shopping plans, all types of plans. I have calendars, electronic planners, notebook planners, hand-held planners. I make to-do lists, to-go lists, to-buy lists, to-see lists. I set time limits, price limits, all types of limits.<br /><br />Where does that get me? Sometimes it gets me far and I follow my plan and achieve my goal. More often it just leaves me with a well-written PLAN. Excessive planning makes you a perfect planner but it doesn't make you a perfect executor. A great plan is just a nice set of words if you don't actually put that plan into action. The action portion is where I sometimes get hung up. I have some excellent plans in my folder of plans that I've never actually started. I haven't figured out what makes me see certain plans through while others stay trapped on a sheet of paper.<br /><br />I saw this funny episode on South Park where they were making fun of how girls are always making lists. I found this hilarious because I've always made lists, I probably make at least one list a day. I never thought of list-making as being a female thing but maybe it is.<br /><br />My point is this, I will never stop creating my "perfect" plans but I am going to spend more time implementing the plans I've created. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hmm</span>...perhaps I should go create a plan on how I'm going to implement my plans....<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">LOL</span>, just kidding!Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15330887727516920401noreply@blogger.com3