When you are cruising at approximately 35,000 feet above the ground in an aircraft with in flight WiFi that doesn't support netflix? Write a blog post on your tablet of course! And let me just say a quick thanks to the auto correct gods as I'm still getting used to this keyboard. (Also an FYI that there may be funny grammar and spelling mistakes in this one)
I'm going on vacation! Quite excited given this trip was about two years in the making and much needed. I'm pretty sure everyone in the building I work at was happy to have me away for a couple days given how high strung and slightly irritable I've been for oh, the last 6 months.
I promise the purpose of this post is not to gloat, it's to pose a question. What do you do with your exercise routine on a vacation? I've been working out/running almost everyday for the past month and feel really good about it but for obvious reasons its tougher when you are out of your routine. Case and point, in an effort to get everything ready to go I packed my running shoes early in the week and haven't done any running yet this week. Boo. I actually felt kinda gross working out every day for a month and then stopping. My hope is since there is a fitness center where we are going that I can at least maintain what I have been doing but I'm just not sure how realistic that is given that working out just isn't a high priority on my vacation :)
So any tips or tricks you have, please pass them on!
The big race is one year out!! Geez, here did the time go?? So its officially go time! Let's do this peeps! 13.1 miles isn't that far :)
And the adventure continues!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
PINK!
*WARNING- Stop right now if you have no interest in sports bras*
Tee-Hee.... that's funny to even write....
OK! So I promised a review of the new Victoria's Secret sports bra (will hence be known as SB) like forever ago and got lazy so finally here it is! Good to note I'm not getting paid for this, although it would be fabulous if I was.
Background- I've been looking for a good SB for a while, my cheap Target one just wasn't cutting it anymore. Victoria's Secret put out a new active line so I decided what the heck!
Pros- First of all LOVE LOVE LOVE the color! Pictures don't do it justice, it's like seriously neon, hot pink! It's under wire, which I like and gives nice support to us bustier ladies and it's sized 34C, 36D, etc so you can get the exact size you need. The racer-esque back gives your shoulders nice support so all the weight isn't pulling down on them. It also has a nice band with different length closures so you can tighten or loosen based on what you want. It's also machine washable! I definite plus!
Cons- It's hard to get on by yourself as funny as that sounds. It takes quite the effort to finagle this puppy on but once you do it's great. It's REALLY hard to do the clasp up by yourself, like almost impossible for me so you may need help with that one. There's also a really annoying tag that was cut out pretty much immediately. One last thing, it's a VS bra so even though it's the most supportive of the collection, it's all about the cleavage. Not a big deal for me because I wear tank tops over everything but it's something to think about.
All in all, a great buy! I'm seriously considering buying another! If you are interested check out Victoria's Secret website for the whole collection.
It's been 4 weeks since I actually started my run training! I'm plodding through it on my trusty ol' treadmill very regularly, following my set training religiously but still quite nervous. I'm no where near the pacing requirement! GAH! Hopefully my body really starts taking to this running thing and I start getting faster!
I know of one Facebook friend doing the Princess Half this weekend so good luck! I'm so hoping that I will be able to share in that journey next year! Send encouraging thoughts to all the runners this weekend and look for a special edition post next week! ;)
And the adventure continues!
Tee-Hee.... that's funny to even write....
OK! So I promised a review of the new Victoria's Secret sports bra (will hence be known as SB) like forever ago and got lazy so finally here it is! Good to note I'm not getting paid for this, although it would be fabulous if I was.
Background- I've been looking for a good SB for a while, my cheap Target one just wasn't cutting it anymore. Victoria's Secret put out a new active line so I decided what the heck!
Pros- First of all LOVE LOVE LOVE the color! Pictures don't do it justice, it's like seriously neon, hot pink! It's under wire, which I like and gives nice support to us bustier ladies and it's sized 34C, 36D, etc so you can get the exact size you need. The racer-esque back gives your shoulders nice support so all the weight isn't pulling down on them. It also has a nice band with different length closures so you can tighten or loosen based on what you want. It's also machine washable! I definite plus! 
All in all, a great buy! I'm seriously considering buying another! If you are interested check out Victoria's Secret website for the whole collection.
It's been 4 weeks since I actually started my run training! I'm plodding through it on my trusty ol' treadmill very regularly, following my set training religiously but still quite nervous. I'm no where near the pacing requirement! GAH! Hopefully my body really starts taking to this running thing and I start getting faster!
I know of one Facebook friend doing the Princess Half this weekend so good luck! I'm so hoping that I will be able to share in that journey next year! Send encouraging thoughts to all the runners this weekend and look for a special edition post next week! ;)
And the adventure continues!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Phood Philosophy
*First of all Happy Valentine's Day everyone! My FANTASTIC Hubs got me a big bouquet of chocolate covered strawberries from Edible Arrangements! Can you say yum?? On to another guest blog from my partner in crime. Isn't she the best?? I can't wait to try some of these! Enjoy!*
I have had a love/hate relationship with food most of my life... namely, I love food, and it hates me back. I've had a milk allergy all of my life, and at various inconvenient times I've discovered some rather unpleasant food intolerances. Some of those (like lettuce and celery) have thankfully come and gone, while others are persistent little buggers. Last week, my husband started reading Wheat Belly, and now we're trying to cut back on bread, pasta, flour, etc, and see if it makes a difference for us. Sometimes it feels like my entire diet is in flux.
I think it's really easy for people to feel deprived when they're readjusting their diet (whether for weight loss or health/allergy reasons), and I'd be lying if I claimed to not occasionally drool over the cake / pizza / donut / etc I know I shouldn't/can't eat. But I think over the years I've learned a lot about how to have a wonderful relationship with food even if I can't eat everything that other people eat.
Some of my thoughts on the topic:
1) Focus on what you CAN eat. It can be really easy to focus on what is suddenly off-limits, but that is exactly what you don't want to do. What do you already eat and love that you can keep enjoying? These might be recipes, convenience foods, or simple whole foods. When trying to cut down on our wheat consumption, I started thinking immediately about the entrees we already made that had minimal wheat products: steak and potatoes, homemade sushi, burrito rice bowls, brined and roasted pork chops, BBQ ribs, buffalo chicken, etc.
2) Learn to love substitutions. A lot of recipes can be made healthier or allergy-friendly just by making simple ingredient swaps, but I'm mainly talking about things that require thinking outside the box a little more. Think about the flavor profile or the texture of what you're trying to recreate. I love the taste of peanut butter cups, but it is next to impossible to find affordable milk-free versions of them. When I crave that flavor, I'll make up no-bake cookies or a small bowl of puppy chow. I'm also a huge fan of cole slaw and recently had to stop eating cabbage. In that case, it's the crunch and acidity I want, so a lemony jicama slaw does the job fantastically! I'm desperate for cake? Pass the cinnamon toast crunch!
3) Splurge a little on what you can have. When I'm changing my diet, I stop looking at food prices for a couple weeks. I want blueberries in the middle of winter? I buy them. Those fancy little dark chocolates look fantastic? Into the cart they go. Go for the more unusual foods that you usually don't think about getting due to the expense or the time they take to prepare. They might become long-term staples, or they might just help you get over the hump into a new eating habit.
4) Try everything once (or twice... or thrice). If someone offers me a new food (and I can verify it's ok for me to eat), I will ALWAYS try it, no matter how gross it looks, sounds, or smells. I've also made it a goal of mine to try every type of fruit and vegetable that I can find. Some I like and introduce into my somewhat regular diet, and others... not so much. Sometimes the preparation method makes all of the difference though, so trying it more than once is usually a good idea (raw cauliflower = yuk to me, but roasted in the oven until browned and crispy = MINE ALL MINE GO AWAY).
5) Cook from scratch. Starting from raw/minimally processed ingredients gives you freedom and flexibility to adapt foods to your needs and desires. Prepared meals are great sometimes when you're busy or stressed out, but they can also be really limiting. Trying new recipes and combinations (hello sloppy joes with tortilla chips) can make eating so exciting you're likely to not even miss what's not on the plate.
There are so many delicious, healthy, unique, and awesome foods out there that totally outweigh the "can't have it" foods; sometimes it's all about perspective and being an adventurous eater... Rocky mountain oysters anyone? :-)
-Cindy
I have had a love/hate relationship with food most of my life... namely, I love food, and it hates me back. I've had a milk allergy all of my life, and at various inconvenient times I've discovered some rather unpleasant food intolerances. Some of those (like lettuce and celery) have thankfully come and gone, while others are persistent little buggers. Last week, my husband started reading Wheat Belly, and now we're trying to cut back on bread, pasta, flour, etc, and see if it makes a difference for us. Sometimes it feels like my entire diet is in flux.
I think it's really easy for people to feel deprived when they're readjusting their diet (whether for weight loss or health/allergy reasons), and I'd be lying if I claimed to not occasionally drool over the cake / pizza / donut / etc I know I shouldn't/can't eat. But I think over the years I've learned a lot about how to have a wonderful relationship with food even if I can't eat everything that other people eat.
Some of my thoughts on the topic:
1) Focus on what you CAN eat. It can be really easy to focus on what is suddenly off-limits, but that is exactly what you don't want to do. What do you already eat and love that you can keep enjoying? These might be recipes, convenience foods, or simple whole foods. When trying to cut down on our wheat consumption, I started thinking immediately about the entrees we already made that had minimal wheat products: steak and potatoes, homemade sushi, burrito rice bowls, brined and roasted pork chops, BBQ ribs, buffalo chicken, etc.
2) Learn to love substitutions. A lot of recipes can be made healthier or allergy-friendly just by making simple ingredient swaps, but I'm mainly talking about things that require thinking outside the box a little more. Think about the flavor profile or the texture of what you're trying to recreate. I love the taste of peanut butter cups, but it is next to impossible to find affordable milk-free versions of them. When I crave that flavor, I'll make up no-bake cookies or a small bowl of puppy chow. I'm also a huge fan of cole slaw and recently had to stop eating cabbage. In that case, it's the crunch and acidity I want, so a lemony jicama slaw does the job fantastically! I'm desperate for cake? Pass the cinnamon toast crunch!
3) Splurge a little on what you can have. When I'm changing my diet, I stop looking at food prices for a couple weeks. I want blueberries in the middle of winter? I buy them. Those fancy little dark chocolates look fantastic? Into the cart they go. Go for the more unusual foods that you usually don't think about getting due to the expense or the time they take to prepare. They might become long-term staples, or they might just help you get over the hump into a new eating habit.
4) Try everything once (or twice... or thrice). If someone offers me a new food (and I can verify it's ok for me to eat), I will ALWAYS try it, no matter how gross it looks, sounds, or smells. I've also made it a goal of mine to try every type of fruit and vegetable that I can find. Some I like and introduce into my somewhat regular diet, and others... not so much. Sometimes the preparation method makes all of the difference though, so trying it more than once is usually a good idea (raw cauliflower = yuk to me, but roasted in the oven until browned and crispy = MINE ALL MINE GO AWAY).
5) Cook from scratch. Starting from raw/minimally processed ingredients gives you freedom and flexibility to adapt foods to your needs and desires. Prepared meals are great sometimes when you're busy or stressed out, but they can also be really limiting. Trying new recipes and combinations (hello sloppy joes with tortilla chips) can make eating so exciting you're likely to not even miss what's not on the plate.
There are so many delicious, healthy, unique, and awesome foods out there that totally outweigh the "can't have it" foods; sometimes it's all about perspective and being an adventurous eater... Rocky mountain oysters anyone? :-)
-Cindy
Monday, February 4, 2013
Down but not out...
Phew what a week it was and the weekend wasn't much better (aside from a much needed visit with my fabulous in laws) It seems like Monday came way to fast and Friday afternoon can't come fast enough but isn't that life.
This weekend was a bit hard for me personally because I seem to have hit a fitness plateau. And while I know everyone does, it still doesn't feel good. After more or less losing weight consistently for the past couple months I've been stuck at the same number for the past couple weeks. I know, I know, this coming from the woman who is all preachy about not paying attention to numbers but I can't help it! Seeing the scale drop has been a huge source of internal motivation. I'm trying to focus on that fact that I'm working new muscles and we all know muscle weighs more than fat. I'm also trying to take my own advice and pay more attention to how my clothes fit and my skinny jeans are still looking fab so let's focus on the positive! I have a specific number goal in mind for the end of this month before I go on vacation that is significant to me and I Really want to make it so I'm going to be more restrictive in calorie intake. Not "on a diet by any means" you all know I have no self control for that :) But just more careful and selective and hopefully I'll see some more results.
I'm on week two of the conditioning training. It's been going OK, my knees have been giving me trouble but I have been icing and just hoping that it's the shock of the stress on the joints and that it will go away in time. Last night was the first mile run/walk and boy did reality smack this lady is the face. My 1 mile was WAAAAYYY above the pacing requirements for the race. Like so much so I'm embarrassed to put it on here. But I did it and I finished semi strong. I was tired but not dead. That's one of the main reasons for starting so early I guess. I've got a year and 2 weeks to drop my time and I'm fairly confident that it can be done.
So long story short I'm a bit down about the progress thus far but still motivated to continue. How is everyone else doing on their resolutions?? And specific food post requests?
And the adventure continues
P.S.
This is my goober. She is amazing and I love her more than anything. She is the reason I want to be healthier. She is also the reason I pee my pants laughing something. <3 Feel better? Cuz I do.
This weekend was a bit hard for me personally because I seem to have hit a fitness plateau. And while I know everyone does, it still doesn't feel good. After more or less losing weight consistently for the past couple months I've been stuck at the same number for the past couple weeks. I know, I know, this coming from the woman who is all preachy about not paying attention to numbers but I can't help it! Seeing the scale drop has been a huge source of internal motivation. I'm trying to focus on that fact that I'm working new muscles and we all know muscle weighs more than fat. I'm also trying to take my own advice and pay more attention to how my clothes fit and my skinny jeans are still looking fab so let's focus on the positive! I have a specific number goal in mind for the end of this month before I go on vacation that is significant to me and I Really want to make it so I'm going to be more restrictive in calorie intake. Not "on a diet by any means" you all know I have no self control for that :) But just more careful and selective and hopefully I'll see some more results.
I'm on week two of the conditioning training. It's been going OK, my knees have been giving me trouble but I have been icing and just hoping that it's the shock of the stress on the joints and that it will go away in time. Last night was the first mile run/walk and boy did reality smack this lady is the face. My 1 mile was WAAAAYYY above the pacing requirements for the race. Like so much so I'm embarrassed to put it on here. But I did it and I finished semi strong. I was tired but not dead. That's one of the main reasons for starting so early I guess. I've got a year and 2 weeks to drop my time and I'm fairly confident that it can be done.
So long story short I'm a bit down about the progress thus far but still motivated to continue. How is everyone else doing on their resolutions?? And specific food post requests?
And the adventure continues
P.S.
This is my goober. She is amazing and I love her more than anything. She is the reason I want to be healthier. She is also the reason I pee my pants laughing something. <3 Feel better? Cuz I do.
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