My New Find!

I have been searching for an "energy bar"/"good for me bar" for quite some time. But they all have so much ADDED Crap in them! I hated it...well I was purusing bloggers websites and found a girl talking about these Larabars. So the last time I was at the grocery store, I looked for them and found them! There is NOTHING added to them, only natural ingredients...no high fructose corn syrup or words I cannot pronounce!!! They have No added sugar, they are unprocessed, raw, Gluten free, Dairy free, soy free, vegan...today I tried the chocolate coconut chew and i was pleasantly surprised at how good it was! Even my 17 month old ate it! My husband took one to work but I don't know which one he took...I need to ask him if he liked it. Anyway...what was ALSO cool about that girls website...she made her OWN version of the larabars!! So now if I don't want to buy them, I can make them myself!! yay!!!!
This is my peanut butter! It is so yummy...I LOVE it on homemade bread thats been toasted (as stated in a previous entry!) and with celery or just whatever!! AND it's good for me! No hydrogenated oils! yipee!!! I still have JIF in the cupboard...but I switched it on the kids too, and they dont even know it! I use this kind for Rebekkah's sandwich EVERY morning!
And THIS is my 6 pack...a DEAR friend has been requesting a picture of this...so I thought I'd give it a whirl...I don't think the picture does myself justice...I guess I need a DARK tan on my stomach and oil all over it like most people do for pictures! hahaha

Todays workout was Chest and Back...Pushups and pullups!!! LOVE IT!!! I also did my AB workout which kicked my butt cuz I haven't done it faithfully for a while!!!!

Nike Poster

I got this quote from a Nike Poster and it served me well today...
"The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running"

I REALLY love this quote and will think of it often in my training. This morning I got up at 4:45, ate some yummy toast with REAL peanut butter (no JIF thanks!) and got ready to leave. (And can I just say, my homemade bread is DEVINE when it's toasted!!! ha!) Christine picked me up and we did another great trail run over in the San Tan Mountains. She did awesome!!! No puking for her this time! It was a beautiful morning, a little chilly to start out but not too bad. A perfect morning for a run. I only wish I had a SMALL camera I could take with me to take some pictures...but I DON'T so you'll just have to imagine the beautifulness of the morning!!!

1/2 Marathon is only ONE week away!! I am getting really excited and feel really good about the run! yay!

Todays Workout

I LOVED doing the trail run today...I did 7 miles and it was so fun. Unfortunately CHRISTINE threw up about 2 miles into it but she kept on trucking!! I definitely think that my BUTT will be sore the next few days with all the hills I did. But I really did enjoy doing it. The best part is that the San Tan's are only like 10 minutes away from where we live. So now I can go back often!!!

AND my arms are SO VERY sore from yesterdays workout! I love the feeling of being sore though, because I KNOW that I did a darn good workout. So from todays run, and yesterdays workout...I should be sore ALL over by tomorrow morning!

Back and Biceps

This workout KICKED my butt today....my arms were shaking SO bad by the end of it!!! my husband called right as I was finishing and I could barely hold up the phone! hahahaha

Wide Front Pullups: 15 reps
Lawnmowers: 14 reps, 15 lbs
Twenty-Ones: 21 reps, 10 lbs
One Arm Cross-Body Curls: 13 reps, 12 lbs
Switch Grip Pullups: 12 reps
Elbows-Out Lawnmowers: 12 reps, 15 lbs
Standing Bicep Curls: 15 reps, 12 lbs
One-Arm Concentration Curls: 8 reps, 12 lbs
Corn Cob Pull Ups: 10
Reverse Grip Bent Over Rows: 12 reps, 10 lbs
Open Arm Curls: 12 reps, 12 lbs
Static Arm Curls: 16 reps, 12 lbs
Towel Pullups: 12
Congdon Locomotives: 40 reps, 12 lbs
Crouching Cohen Curls: 10 reps, 12 lbs
One Arm Corkscrew Curls: 12 reps, 15 lbs
Chin-Ups: 12 reps
Seated Bent Over Back Flys: 8 reps, 10 lbs
Curl Up/Hammer downs: 9 reps, 15 lbs
Hammer Curls: 8 reps, 15 lbs
Max Rep Pullups: (wide front) 9 (my goal was 12 but it was really hard for me just to do the 9!!)
Superman: 5 reps of holding for 10 seconds
In-Out Hammer Curls: 8 reps, 12 lbs
Strip Set Curls: VERY HARD SET!!!! 5 reps, 15 lbs...8 reps, 12 lbs...16 reps, 10 lbs

I am SO excited for tomorrow! My running buddy and I are going over to the San Tan Mts to do a trail run!! Yipee!! I can't wait!!!

Factors

I continue to be amazed at how many factors can come into play when running. What I mean is, how one day a 9 mile run can seem so easy, but then the next day a 5 mile run is difficult. Last week I had two days where I ran 5 miles each...and they were very difficult. Yet, I was running in almost 90 degree weather. That same week, I ran 9 miles and I felt SO GOOD...the temp? probably around 65 degrees! The heat can take so much out of you, it's amazing. Lack of water, lack of food, too much food, how much sleep i am getting...all big factors in my running performance. My speed is getting better, especially on my long run days. When I ran 9 miles last week, I did it in 1 hour and 35 minutes...that works out to having 10 minute, 33 second mile. Not too bad for me! That's about a minute and a half faster then what I've been running in the past. I am feeling good and am getting excited for the 1/2 marathon, which is coming up quickly!!! I keep wondering what I am going to do next???!!! What will I get to work towards after this next race???

Shoulders and Arms

1st set:
Alternating Shoulder Presses: 12 reps/12 lbs
In & Out Bicep Curls: 16 reps/12 lbs
Two Arm Tricep Kickbacks: 10 reps/10 lbs
2nd set:
Alternating Shoulder Presses: 14 reps/12 lbs
In & Out Bicep Curls: 16 reps/12 lbs
Two Arm Tricep Kickbacks: 10 reps/10 lbs
3rd set:
Deep Swimmers Presses: 12 reps/12 lbs
Full Supination Concentration Curl: 10 reps/12 lbs
Chair Dips: 25
4th set:
Deep Swimmers Presses: 10 reps/12 lbs (wasnt happy w/that little of reps for myself:(
Full Supination concentration Curl: 11 reps/12 lbs
Chair Dips: 25
5th set:
Upright Rows: 14 reps/12 lbs
Static Arm Curls: 16 reps/12 lbs
Flip Grip Twist Kickbacks: 18 reps/5 lbs
6th set:
Upright Rows: 14 reps/12 lbs
Static Arm Curls: 16 reps/12 lbs
Flip Grip Twist Kickbacks: 16 reps/5 lbs
7th set:
Seated Two Angle Shoulder Flys: 16 reps/10 lbs
Crouching Cohen Curls: 10 reps/12 lbs
Lying Down Tricep Extensions: 10 reps/12 lbs
8th set:
Seated Two Angle Shoulder Flys: 16 reps/10 lbs
Crouching Cohen Curls: 10 reps/12 lbs
Lying Down Tricep Extensions: 8 reps/12 lbs
BONUS ROUNDS:
In and Out Straight Arm Shoulder Flys: 20 reps/5 lbs
Congdon Curls: 10 reps/15 lbs
Side Tri-Rises: 12
In and Out Straight Arm Shoulder Flys: 20 reps/5 lbs
Congdon Curls: 10 reps/15lbs
Side Tri-Rises: 12

I only got halfway through my ab workout today...Walker woke up just as I was starting it, and I wasnt able to finish because he was ready to EAT!!! Yesterday I did 5 miles and tomorrow is my long run, 8 miles! yay!!!! My arms are VERY tired from the workout and I have a feeling they are going to be pretty darn sore!!!! As for dinner tonight, we just had good ol' spaghetti!!! Greenbeans, cesar salad and wheat french bread...BUT Walker ATE most of my plate so I was hungry about an hour ago...so I had me a bowl of granola! yum!!! (maybe I should go do some jumping jacks to work that off! ha!)

It's HOT!!!

Holy cow...it was definitely HOT this afternoon!!! I had 5 miles to do today, and it was a killer! The sun was not my friend today! But I accomplished my 5...with all the little stops for water in between! I've never taken so many water breaks! sheesh! But my body definitely needed it...when I got home, I lost count of how many glasses I drank while making dinner!

Speaking of dinner...head over to www.downrightdelish.wordpress.com for a yummy dinner! Scroll down until you find the Sweet Pork Dinner. That's what we had tonight, and it was a HIT!!! I didn't do many things the same as hers, because it was just too much work! ha! I did the pork the same and it was SO YUMMY!!! The flavor was great. We did make burritos out of it, but I used plain brown rice, and didn't make the Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing. I just used the pork, brown rice, black beans, lettuce, tomatoes, a little cheese and a little sour cream and called it good! Maybe some day I'll do it the "real" way but for today it was just dandy! And it will be tomorrow too, because we have a ton of leftovers! yay! No cooking for me tomorrow:)
The kids gobbled it down!! When I was almost finished with my food, Rebekkah goes, uhoh mom! You forgot to take a picture! Ah well!!!

Granola

Granola is a family favorite....this recipe is handed down from my Grandma Cleverly...its good for you and not full of all the garbage that comes in the cereals/granola from the store....
I am amazed at what are put in cereals these days, even ones that CLAIM to be healthy for you. I don't buy "sugar" cereals for my kids...no fruit loops, no trix, nothing like that. But even the ones that I buy that I THINK are atleast a LITTLE bit good for them, really aren't. Did you know that Special K has High Fructose Corn Syrup in it???!!!! I about died....not only is there so much crap in the cereals out there, they are freakin' expensive!!! I walked down the cereal isle this week and a box of cereal was $7!!!! WHAT??!!!! Are you kidding me???!!!! I could not believe my eyes. So I decided it was time for us to make some GOOD for you granola this weekend. The recipe calls for brown sugar...I ommited this from my last batch and it still tastes great to me and the kids didn't even know it was gone! The honey gives it enough sweetness...
Enjoy!

6 cups quick oats (or you can do 3 cups quick, 3 cups regular oats)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar (I started taking this OUT of the recipe, to cut down on sugar)
3/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup flaked coconut (unsweetened)
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (i have always used walnuts)
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk
1/2 cup sunflower seeds (HAS to be raw, salted is disgusting in this recipe!)
2/3 cup honey
2/3 cup vegetable oil (i started using grapeseed oil and use just about 1/2 cup)
2 tbsp water
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup raisins

In large bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, coconut, sesame seeds, nuts, sunflower seeds and nonfat dry milk. Stir until mixed well. In another bowl, combine honey, oil, water and vanilla. (i usually will use a wire whisk to get this part mixed together good) Add to oat mixture and stir to coat ingredients well.

Turn into two large shallow baking pans. Heat in 300 degree oven for20-25 minutes or until LIGHTLY toasted. (ovens vary, i usually only need to cook mine for 15-18 minutes) Stir twice during heating. Once cooled, crumble into pieces and add raisins if desired.

Tonights Din-Din

I got this recipe out of a slow cooker cookbook. It looked good and so we tried it...and it was OK. Not WONDERFUL by any means, but it was an ok meal. The kids thought it was OK too. I KNOW it wasn't one of Nathan's favorites by the "lack" of comments...like, you did a great job hun! Or this tastes really good....I had to actually ASK him what he thought, THAT in itself is a bad sign!! hahahaha He said it was good, just kind of felt like there was something missing, which I totally agreed with, just seemed kind of blah! I'll post the recipe and you can give it a whirl if you'd like! The good thing about this recipe was that it was WAY easy and hardly any cleanup!!! ha!

Southwester Chicken
2 cans corn, drained
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 jar (16oz) chunky salsa
6 boneless, skinless chicken breast havles
1 c low fat shredded cheddar cheese

Combine corn, beans and 1/2 cup of the sals in slow cooker. Top with chicken. Pour remaining salsa over chicken. Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours. Sprinkle with cheese, cover 5 minutes for cheese to melt.

The Long One

Today I did 8 miles and I felt pretty good! When I do my long runs, I always stash away a water bottle in a bush...i grabbed a drink after mile 3, and when I went back after mile 6, my water was gone! I was sooooo ticked...the people that supposedly "clean" up our subdivision threw it in the garbage! JERKS!!!! :)

Anyway, tonights dinner, I forgot to take a picture of...so you get what was left on Nathan's plate! I made meatloaf w/ground turkey (recipe from my P90X workout)...paired that with peas (YUMMY) and 1/2 of a baked potato...very good dinner!!

Today

First Set: Second Set

Standard PushUps: 15 Standard PushUps: 13

Wide Front Pull Ups: 12 Wide Front Pull Ups: 13

Military PushUps: 8 Military PushUps: 5

Reverse Grip Chinups: 12 Reverse Grip Chinups: 12

Wide Fly Pushups: 13 Wide Fly Pushups: 8 (was not happy about that)

Close Grip Overhand Pullups: 12 Close Grip Overhand Pullups: 11

Decline Pushups: 9 Decline Pushups: 8

Heavy Pants: 10 reps/15 pd dumbells Heavy Pants: 10 reps/15 pd dumbells

Diamond Pushups: 13 Diamond Pushups: 10

Lawnmowers: 12 reps/15 pd dumbells Lawnmowers: 12 reps/15 pd dumbells

Dive Bomber Pushups: 9 Dive Bomber Pushups: 7

My arms were already sore, after only 2 hours of doing this workout! hahahaha...this is one of my favorite ones out of the P90X series...for my pullups, i Use a chair...someday, I'll be buff enough to do 20 with/OUT the chair!!! YES!!!
For dinner tonight we had turkey burgers (no bun for me). I LOVE having turkey burgers, they are so yummy....I paired that with steamed brocolli, some corn and baked beans...tonights meal is a favorite in our house and its so easy!!!

Yum!

I did my 4 miles today and it was rough AGAIN!!! It was very hot outside and I think that was my problem!!! Anyway, I still did it...looking forward to my rest day tomorrow. Even though I wont be "resting" per say...I wont be running, but I will be doing my P90X workout to continue in my buffness!!! hahahaha

I'm including the recipe for our dinner from last night....TOTALLY loved this...especially the sugar snap peas...i'm a sucker for those! i Love them!!!! (recipe is from picky palate)
Vegetable Ziti with Garlic Caper Cream Sauce and Bacon Crumbles

1 lb dry ziti pasta noodles ( i used whole wheat penne)

2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 medium red bell peppers, finely diced
8 oz bag sugar snap peas
2 medium zucchini, halved then thinly sliced
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper

1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons capers
¾ Cup heavy cream
1 1/2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan Cheese
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
12 slices precooked bacon, crisped and crumbled (I used turkey bacon not precooked...and I didnt use 12 slices...maybe only 5 or 6)

1. Cook ziti noodles according to package directions, drain and set aside.
2. Place oil into a large 5 qt skillet or other large pot over medium heat. When hot, stir in bell peppers, sugar snap peas, zucchini, salt and pepper. Cook and stir for 5 minutes then reduce heat to low.
3. Place oil into a medium skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic and capers for 2 minutes. Stir in heavy cream, salt and pepper. Cook and stir for 5 minutes, until bubbly and starting to thicken slightly.
4. Pour noodles into vegetables then pour sauce over pasta. Stir in crumbled bacon until combined on low heat. Season with additional salt and pepper and parmesan cheese to taste. Enjoy!

I really used to HATE cooking. But over the last few months, I have really started to actually enjoy it! I love getting new recipes and trying them out. Sometimes they are good, sometimes NOT so good! But overall, they have all been pretty tasty...and for the most part, pretty healthy too. I've found that there is a certain satisfaction in taking the time to cook something, and it turn out really good...and my family really enjoy it! I still hate making the dinner schedule every week....but I actually don't mind cooking the dinners!!!

Soft Tacos with Southwestern Vegetables

This is the recipe for the tacos i made earlier in the week...the pictures are in an earlier post...

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium red onion, chopped (i didnt use red)
1 cup diced yellow summer squash
1 cup diced green zucchini (i dont like squash, so i just doubled the zucchini)
3 large garlic cloves, minced
4 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 jalapeno chili, seeded and chopped
1 cup fresh corn kernels (cut from about 2 ears of corn) or 1 cup frozen corn
1 cup canned pinto or black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
8 corn tortillas (i used white corn)
1/2 cup smoke flavored salsa (i just used regular salsa!)

In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft. Add the summer squash and zucchini and continue cooking until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, tomatoes, jalapeno, corn kernels and beans. Cook until the veggies are tender-crisp, about 5 minutes. Add cilantro

To serve, divide the tortillas among individual plates. Spread an equal amount of the mixture on each tortillas. top with salsa and serve immediately. (I also added a little cheese on top)

It's Begun!

My training has begun once again! I ran 5 miles yesterday...and I'm not gonna lie, it was rough!!! I thought about just doing 3, but pushed myself to finish and do what I was supposed to. Not only am I still recovering from being sick, my monthly visitor showed up yesterday morning! These are the times I absolutely HATE running...while being on my period.

Had a really yummy dinner last night...a pasta full of yummy vegetables...will post pics of that one later and the recipe. No struggle with my no sugar rule yet this week! (it's only tuesday though! HA)

Last Night's Dinner

Soft Tacos with Southwestern Vegetables

I really liked this recipe...loved the colors and flavors...

and it was VERY HEALTHY!!!! Had black beans, corn, tomatoes, zucchini..

YUM!!!

Just For Me

I've decided to get myself another blog. Weird I know....but I wanted another place for me...a place where I can come to document my journey in running and eating....a place to hold myself accountable for the things I do or do NOT do. Most people probably won't read this, but that's ok. I wanted it for me anyway!!! I would hope that people would want to read it, because my running, my physical activity, my healthy (sometimes) eating, my mental musings, are very important to me. Yet some may find it boring....and in the words of my Grandma, SO BE IT!!!! I'm excited about this new place for myself....and feel good about having somewhere to come to document myself and the things that I do.

Happy Day!