lunchtime! and opinion article: extreme endurance exercise bad for you?

I didn't have any leftovers for lunch today.  Actually, I could have brought pizza left from last night, but since I'm not quite as active I wanted something lighter.  So I dropped by Panera and got the new:

 Chopped Chicken Cobb with Avocado All-natural, antibiotic-free chicken, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, Applewood-smoked bacon, Gorgonzola, hard-boiled eggs, all chopped and tossed with herb vinaigrette, topped with fresh avocado

The line looked like this... I was standing at the door.  I wish our Panera had a To-Go entrance.  I waited in line for 20 minutes, and it felt like it kind of defeated the purpose of calling ahead.  At least it was ready when I got up there, so I suppose I can't complain too much.

And it is fantastic.  I love it!  I also got a summer fruit cup for $1.25, and then I remembered I brought my own homemade fruit cup today.  *facepalm*  Oh well, I just have fruit for tomorrow, right?

So, here it is in all it's glory:

 

 

 I just read this article: Extreme Endurance Exercises Carries Risks.  Now, I know that I don't really qualify this.  My biggest dreams of endurance running include a 5K, 10K, and half.  But it sure makes me think...  So many people glorify endurance running and other sports.  It's such a big thing right now.  But do they think about the risks?

I also found the comments section interesting.  Is the problem that the human body isn't designed to run such long distances?  Is it our lifestyle?  Is it improper form?  Genetics?  Obviously, I don't have any answers but it definitely brings up good discussion points.  It might be something worth researching... and if I ever do get into long distance running, I'll make sure to check in with my doctor since I have a history of foot problems.

baby ducks and dinner 5-24-2012: pulled pork and veggie pizza

Just a simple pizza...  no sauce, just chopped fresh tomatoes.  Sprinkled with a little bit of cheese, covered in all kinds of summer veggies.  Light and tasty!

Pulled Pork and Veggie Pizza

Stats: 188 cals per slice
Serves:  8 slices

1 Pillsbury Thin Crust Pizza Dough
Cooking spray
1/2 cup shredded cheese
Chopped tomatoes (I used 5 or 6 large cherry, but it definitely could have used a couple more)
1 medium zucchini, sliced like pepperoni
8 or 9 mushrooms, sliced
Onion, roughly chopped
Dried herbs of choice
Optional: fresh herbs for garnish
5 oz pulled pork

 1.  Preheat oven to 500 deg F.

2.  Stretch pizza crust across baking sheet.  Spray lightly with cooking spray and then generously sprinkle with dried herbs.  Poke with a fork and then stick in the oven for 3 or 4 minutes.

3.  Layer with zucchini slices.  Don't overlap. 

my crust got a little too crispy, but it tastes just fine...  we like it kind of crunchy.

4.  Layer the rest of the veggies, top with pulled pork, sprinkle with cheese. 

5.  Stick back in the oven for 4 or 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

look at that big hunk of cheese...  mmm, mmm!

6.  Eat up, y'all!

I ended up having another slice after my piano lessons were over, and an Edy's popsicle for dessert.

After lessons, we hopped over to the walking trail and stumbled across these little cuties:

It made my night!  We saw at least one other little duck family last night... but I couldn't get any good pictures of them.

Oh!  Funny/awkward story time.  There are usually several soccer practices going on in the evenings while we walk.  Tons of kids running around, no big deal.  Last week we were walking, minding our own business, when this kid starts running for the fence at the back of the park.  I thought maybe his soccer ball got kicked way out there, but then he drops his pants and starts taking a leak!  I just about died.  Here we are, walking closer and closer to this kid who is answering the call of nature, and I'm freaking out about whether or not he's still going be standing there with his pants on the ground when we pass him.  Thankfully, he finished up and was back out to his playing field by the time we passed him.

Kids these days.

just checkin' in...

Well, I feel like I'm off to a good start.  I've made pretty good choices today...  So here I am, checking in all official-like.

Food:
I stuck with my plan today.  Here's what went down the hatch:
     Breakfast:  egg+egg white, english muffin with a little whipped butter, water, black coffee, nectarine.
     Pre-lunch Snackie:  2/3 c. Dulce de Leche Cheerios
     Lunch:  Salad with 1/2 oz goat cheese, Strawberry Balsamic dressing, spinach/lettuce mix; 1 c. chili; 1/2 c. pineapple; Skinny Cow PB Crisp.
     Post-lunch Snackies:  ~35 pistachios, Brown Cow yogurt

Exercise:
     This morning I did 25 of these tricep exercises with my 5-lb weights before I left for work.  At lunch I took a short walk (~0.6 mi), and around 3 I took a short walk (~0.35 mi).  I did 25 each arm bicep curls with my 5-lb weights, and 25 more tricep exercises. 
     I packed some workout clothes, so when I pick up Bella at my parents' house I can ride their stationary bike for some cardio.  I also plan to throw in 20 push-ups (I am SUCH A WIMP... I hate push-ups) and some other strength training.  Normally I'd want to do some running/walking/jogging intervals, but Wednesday nights are a little rushed because we have Bible Study... so I have to make good with the time I have.  I think tomorrow I'll have a better report!

credit:  Pinterest

 This is what I'm going for:  healthy and fit and STRONG. 

You know, strong.  Like... I AM WOMAN.  HEAR ME ROAR.

Anyway...  see the difference muscle vs. fat makes??  Unbelievable.

For dinner, I'm wrestling up some Mexighetti Bake with broccoli and fruit.  HOPEFULLY I don't get crazy-snackie...  I'm very hungry right now, and my worst time is afternoon/dinner time.  Someone PLEASE take the chips and gummy bears away from me.  Please.  Anyway, I'll probably snack on something after I ride the bike and while I'm cooking dinner.  Something full of beautiful nutrients, of course.  No, really.  That's the plan.

For better or for worse, I'll update tonight or in the morning.  Let's see if I can't finish up Day 1 all nice and pretty-like, hmmm?

UPDATE:  *sigh*  I caved and had a brownie at my mom's before I biked.  So I'm exactly 268 cals over my limit today...  what a brownie is worth.  Oh pooh.  But I still have time to burn some of it off, right?  Here goes nothing!

UPDATE 2:  Well, that brownie turned into another brownie... and then a cookie at Open House...  I ate a great dinner, but was feeling sharp hunger pains around 8:30 PM, so I made some popcorn and split it with my hubs after Bible Study and Promotion Open House.  I used 2 TBS canola oil, 4 TBS corn kernels, and some salt.  I figured it was a whole grain and would keep me full.  I woke up in the morning FAMISHED.  Maybe I'm going through a growth spurt!

some days, I just wear PJs.

I think we all agree that sometimes, it's hard to feel good about our appearance.  Maybe it's weight gain, or weight loss...  or pregnancy...  or having just popped out a baby...  new job...  health problems...  yada, yada, yada.  We've all got a reason!

I've been struggling with feeling confident about how other people perceive me for two big reasons:

     1.  Post-wedding weight gain.  Yep.  I have it.  About 10 lbs difference, but on such a small frame (~4'10"), it really shows.  And most of my favorite clothes are a little too snug for comfort.  Trying to lose that weight has been a struggle, and I'm still fighting it.  I've lost some motivation ("will I EVER fit back into that cute pencil skirt?") and I'm trying desperately to get it back.  I admit, it's mostly vanity pounds...  but I also want to stay in the habit of a healthy lifestyle.  I don't want to let weight gain and unhealthy habits creep up on me, until they've taken over.  So it starts NOW.

     2.  I've got a foot problem.  I've got bone spurs ("pump bump" FTW!) on the back of my ankles.  Five years ago, I had the biggest one on my right foot removed.  It was a long and grueling recovery.  Usually, I'd be exaggerating by using "grueling"... but in all honesty, that's the truth.  Now the one on my left foot is bothering me so much that I can only wear flat boots (um, not in THIS summer heat!) and flat sandals for any extended amount of time.  Funnily, heels bother me LESS than flats do; currently, flats are almost unbearable.  Now flat sandals are cute, and I'm lucky it's summer and I can get away with it at work.  But sometimes, I want to wear heels or really cute flats... and I can't.  I feel extra-stifled when it comes to my fashion choices:  I can only wear half my clothes (see #1) and I can only wear certain shoes.  That really narrows things down!

See this example:

oh, hi!  welcome to my bathroom.  we have renegade flies, hence the flyswatter behind me.  I'll try to move it out of the picture next time.  :)  actually, how about I find a better location...?

My clothes actually kind of match today!  Normally, I would wear this skirt with heels and a dressier shirt.  But, I'm limited to flat sandals, so that also limits the outfit...  I feel like I have to dress it down.

But I don't want to dress EVERYTHING down!

Anyway, I guess I said all that to say this:  There has been a lack of outfit posts because of reasons 1 and 2 (and also because I have a cruddy iPhone and bathroom mirror for taking pictures).  I haven't felt like I have anything to share.  I am wearing the same stuff, just mixing and matching... it's like I'm caught up in a bad cycle of 30 for 30... FOREVER.  And then I just wear PJs.  Because who doesn't feel good in a pair of comfy PJs?

Oh, is that just me? 

So, I'm going to have to be a little more honest here.  I'd like to start updating my workouts (and when I skip them, more importantly) and all the snackies that happen during the day...  Accountability.  I need motivation and encouragement!

Am I being superficial?  Maybe a little...  But it's more than just looking hot.  It's about learning to love and respect your body.  I am NOT respecting my body or loving myself by constantly gorging on brownies or gelato or nommy Jalapeno Kettle Corn chips.  I'm not loving myself by skipping workouts or berating myself for it.  I'm just not.  And that, in turn, makes me feel very un-confident.  And that's just not cool, folks.  NOT COOL AT ALL.

Also, I'm looking into getting the same surgery done on my left foot this winter.  It's getting hard to walk, which is so much more frustrating than my limited shoe collection.  A little somewhat scared out of my mind to have it done again, but I guess I gotta be a big girl and just DO IT.

That's become my motto, I guess.  Scared of a bundt pan?  Need to finish a home improvement project?  Gotta get healthy?

No fear, no regrets: JUST DO IT.

credit: http://elembee.com

dinner: 5-14-2012 & exercise

Good morning!

Just stopping in to share a recipe from dinner last night.

When I cook, I try to use as little preservatives/chemicals/etc. as possible...  which means that a lot of my marinades are homemade with all natural products.  It only takes a few more minutes (and by a few, I mean like FIVE minutes) to make a simple marinade instead of using something from a bottle.

Lemon Garlic Rosemary Chicken (adapted from Annie's Eats Lemon Garlic Chicken Kabobs)
Stats: ~260 cals for 1/8 of recipe

2 lbs chicken breast (or whatever kind of chicken you have available)
1 TBS minced garlic
1 TBS sriracha sauce (you can leave out if you don't like any spiciness)
zest of 2 lemons (you need the zest of one lemon per pound of chicken)
3 or 4 rosemary sprigs, chopped
4.5 TBS olive oil
sea salt
fresh ground pepper

1.  Zest your lemon.  I like to use a peeler to have big chunks of lemon zest, but you can zest it however you like.

2.  Trim the fat off the of the chicken.  Chop into smaller servings sized pieces of chicken, or into kabobs.

3.  Mix garlic, sriracha sauce, lemon zest, rosemary, olive oil, sea salt, and fresh ground pepper into a bowl.  Whisk it to mix it well.

4.  Stick chicken in a Ziploc bag and pour marinade in there.  Mix it well so all the chicken is coated.  Let it sit anywhere from 20 minutes to 8 hours.

5.  Grill the chicken and serve!

Dinner is served!

salad of mixed greens with olive oil and raspberry balsamic, 1/2 cup watermelon chunks, small piece of lemon garlic rosemary chicken, broiled artichoke (it was a FAILURE!), 1/3 cup spinach tortellini with some shaved parmesan, 1 oz of ciabatta bread drizzled with olive oil, and homemade Passion Tea Lemonade a la Starbucks.  also, please ignore the wet spot next to my drink where I moved it over...  it kind of ruined the pretty picture!

As I mentioned in the caption, the broiled artichokes were a complete and utter FAILURE.  We tried so hard to eat them (I paid a dollar each for FOUR of them!) but, alas, we couldn't force ourselves to eat them.  They were rubbery and chewy...  maybe I didn't pick ripe artichokes?  I think I need to find a YouTube video or a better recipe with more clear explanation (and pictures!) of how to broil/roast/grill a whole artichoke.  If you have any, PLEASE share.

So that was our dinner...  and it was pretty wonderful!  You'll see some chicken and tortellini leftovers for lunch soon.

After we cleaned up from dinner, we dropped off some library books and headed over to the local walking track.  We ended up doing intervals (1:30 min brisk walking, 0:45 min running) for 3.85 miles and then a cool-down walk until we hit 4.09 miles (~53 minutes).  I felt so bad that we didn't take little Bella that we took her on a little walk when we got home, about 0.93 miles in 15 or 16 minutes.  Not bad!  The scale was down this morning so I was a happy camper.