A Few Things

So I was at one of my FAVORITE stores the other day...Trader Joes...and they had a sampling...a very GOOD sampling, of Couscous. So, I bought everything while i was there, to make it...I don't remember what it's called exactly but its darn good!!! I made it tonight for dinner...Nathan, Rylie and I, all liked it...the rest...no. But I'll still make it because its THAT GOOD. (I'll put the recipe) Tonight I served it up w/grilled chicken (seasoned w/salt, pepper and tonys..love that guy...haha), steamed brocolli and zuchini.
Lunch the other day...Turkey sausage w/raw veggies...plain yogurt and frozen blueberries.

This was my snack one day...I usually eat yogurt w/fresh fruit. But I didnt have any except for apples. So, I decided to try some frozen blueberries that were in the freezer. OH MY GOSH. I was in heaven. It was SO GOOD, I felt like i was eating ice cream. This is definitely a treat:)

Couscous Recipe:

1 C Couscous (i bought the TJ's whole wheat brand)

1 1/2 C Pure OJ (not from concentrate, and NO PULP)

1/2 C sliced, blanched almonds

1/2 c dried cranberries

2 diced green onions

salt and pepper to taste

In medium pot bring OJ to a boil and turn off heat. Then add Couscous, put lid on until OJ is absorbed (took mine around 10 minutes or so). While couscous is cooking, put almonds in a single layer on cookie sheet and toast 5-8 minutes. When couscous is done, combine everything else in a bowl and serve! Its good warm or cold!

Can't wait for leftovers tomorrow!!! I doubled the recipe tonight, cz I wasnt sure how much it would make exactly. And we have plenty leftover for Nathan to take to work for a few days, and for me to munch on too.

Food

Okay, so I haven't been tracking my food very well. I keep forgetting to take the pictures and all. And then my day ends and I haven't had time to even get the pictures on here!!! So here's what I've got for the last little while...no idea what days or anything...

This was my packed up dinner on Monday. Girls have piano lessons on Monday so we eat dinner at my MIL house. I always pack my own:) There is a grilled chicken breast under all those veggies!!
Sliced apples and handful raw almonds

ahh, the love of my life! This has become one of my FAVE's for breakfast. Warm brown rice, apples and almonds w/almond milk. I'm actually eating this one right now...I could eat this for every meal!!

Apples and I KNOW it looks like something OTHER then almond butter, but i promise, its not.

Baked salmon (w/salt, pepper and a little Tony's...yum), raw carrots, yellow peppers, cucumber and cauliflower

Grilled chicken breast (w/salt, pepper and tonys...i LOVE tonys)..sliced cucumbers and tomatoes

I can't wait until summer....not for the heat of course but for all the yummy fresh fruit!!! And I really wish I could get my running back on track. I am working out of course, but not hardly any running is involved...that makes me sad:( I guess I need to pick a race to do, that way I have a goal in mind??? That will totally make me stick to a running schedule...

Challenge is going well. Perfect score for week 1...and there was ALOT of other people that did too!!! I think there is going to be a fierce competition this time around!! Which is good...makes me glad that people are reaching their goals...

Tues and Wed

Just haven't had time to get these pics uploaded. And now that they are, they are all out of order! but i don't care...i'm not going back to change!!!
Wed Dinner: Bean salad...lettuce (from garden!), alfalfa sprouts, black beans, yellow peppers, celery and chopped walnuts...w/vinegrette dressing...(this was pretty good, but i'm getting tired of the dressing, need to find a new one)
Wed 2:30 meal...grilled chicken w/raw carrots and steamed brocolli. This was YUMMY. Esp the chicken...i grilled it w/salt, pepper and a little Tony's...mmmmm

I think this was Tues 2:30 meal...just cut up raw veggies...also had grapes

Wed breakfast: This was SO good. Cooked brown rice, almond milk, almonds and apple chunks...can't wait to have this again...

Tues dinner: veg omelete. Another one i love. 2 eggs w/green onion, peppers and zuchini...i put salsa on top when i ate it...w/side of raw veggies

Don't remember what day or meal...but it was good!

Tues meal: chicken salad...green lettuce, sprouts, red peppers, cucumbers, chicken and vinegrette dressing

I had an apple w/this stuff i belive it was tues morning...SO GOOD!!! I love almond butter

Workouts were good. Tues I did cardio x and ran 2 miles...(wanted to run more but had a BAD headache)...Wed was shoulders, biceps and triceps (p90x) also did a lot of jumping on the trampoline w/the family!!!

Monday

Yay for the first day of the challenge!!! Feels good to be back...didn't think I'd actually feel that way. HA....
I am doing my best to stay on a meal plan for the next few weeks. I eat 4 times a day. I only took 3 pictures cz I forgot about doing it at breakfast. I eat at 7am, 10:30am, 2:30pm and 6pm. I kind of like it, I kind of don't. All the food was totally yummy though!!!

This isn't the best picture...(none of these are...our camera is dying i think..plus I didn't care what it looked like) This was dinner, had piano lessons from 530-630 for the girls so dinner was at the inlaws. I packed up my own to eat when we were done at piano. Green salad topped with chicken...lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, red peppers, celery...and 2 Tbs of homemade vinegrette dressing.
This was my 230 meal. Brown rice topped with seasoned black beans (that i bottled myself! YAY!), red peppers, alfalfa sprouts, avacado and a little hot sauce...very yummy

Protein smoothie at 1030am. Almond milk, peaches and strawberries, powdered greens, 1 tbs sunflower seeds and 1 tbs Xagave. I LOVE this shake...

7am meal was 2 hard boiled eggs w/celery. I like to cut up the eggs and put salt on them...I never really used to like hard boiled eggs. But I am getting used to them more and more. I also snacked on grapes today.

Exercise: Chest and Back, Ab Ripper (P90x)...also did 500 jumps w/a weighted jump rope

Reset

Why do I find myself constantly hitting the reset button?? Like, EVERY DAY!!! Man oh man. I vow to do better the next day, and DON'T. Sometimes its just a struggle and I just don't want to take the time to care. Boo.

Starting Feb. 15th I'll be doing another challenge. I really didn't want to head one up this time...I mean..I REALLY DID NOT WANT TO. But now that I think about it. I am glad that I am. It will give me some much needed motivation, especially to be eating better. I am hoping to get more running in starting soon. Things have just been so busy, I haven't had the time. And I really, really, really MISS IT!!!! I got out and did 4 miles yesterday and I'm hoping to get a run in today too.

SO I've also decided that once the challenge starts, I will start keeping track of my food better AND start taking pictures again. I can't believe how much that helps. OH and I found out that I absolutely LOVE apples and raw almond butter. It is so very tasty!!! Wahoo!!!

I'll be hitting the reset button again....and hope to be posting a whole lot more on this here bloggaroo...cz gosh darnit it helps:)

Yes I Am...A Glorified Slacker

It's been quite a while...and for good reason. I've had nothing to post that is even remotely related to health. Okay, maybe I am just SLIGHTLY exaggerating...but whatev....

I am ready for a new year (isnt that a phrase that everyone uses???). I am ready for a new beginning (again, same phrase)...but it still rings true for me. I am tired of the saying...its okay, I can eat that because...well....it IS THE HOLIDY SEASON!!!!!! Holy hell....what a cop out....

I am not happy with my body and with what I have been eating. It hasn't been horrible, but too many sweets and too many carbs will do something to ya thats for sure. Its funny how your mind works, well atleast mine. I will look at myself in the mirror and think...sheesh I need to change some things. THEN... five minutes later go in the kitchen and eat a cookie and say, oh its not gonna matter. DUH!

One problem is that I am still breastfeeding. So I still need to find that balance between eating good and still having enough to provide for the little one. I do believe that my body won't be exactly where I want it until AFTER I am done nursing. But I can STILL eat better and start to feel better about myself.

I have missed running. I have been so busy with working, holidays and everything else going on that I just haven't had the time. I ran 5 miles on New Years Day and it felt great to get out. But it was a hard 5 miles!!! I couldn't believe it...I was definitely out of my normal rhythm and it had been too long since I had run.

So, it's a new year. What are my fitness goals for this year? I actually have no idea....how sad is that? I haven't had time to even THINK about it....boo

Hoover Dam Marathon

I am so overdue with this post...oh well...it is what it is!!!

I completed my FIRST marathon!!! Wahoo!!!! I was so nervous the morning before...and the morning of! Especially since we got lost and couldn't find the start line to the race...HA! I was late starting, I started like 2 minutes after everybody else!!! Oh well!!!

Nathan took lots of pictures, I'm just putting a few on here:)

I was very proud of myself...and for sticking with the race. The first half was beautiful AND I felt really good...the second half was HARD. There was SO MANY HILLS....ouch!

My time for the race was 4 hours 45 minutes. That comes out to be about 10:50 per mile. I felt real happy with that time, especially with the amount of hills that were involved! I KNOW I could have gotten a better time, if it was more of a flat route. But thats okay. I am taking a bit of a break from the intense training...still running, just not nearly as many miles as before. It takes SO MUCH time and my sweet hubby needs a break too:) I am hoping to do another marathon next year though!!!!

The Wellness Challenge is officially over. Me and 2 other girls got a perfect score!! So we won. yay!!! So this week I have been eating whatever the heck I want...and it hasn't been pretty. HA

Too many sweets thats for sure. I haven't been taking any pictures of food at all...haven't been in the mood I guess. That and I basically eat the same things over and over....which I've already posted pictures on here before. SO! I guess that's it for now!!!

Happy eating...and exercising!!!!