Sprint 2 the Table

Appetites and Adventures

Balance for the Holidays

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I laughed when I opened this post.

I swear we didn’t plan this.

Kat is back with her bi-weekly spot.  It focuses on balance over the holidays…. and it rounds out perfectly this week of posts focusing on holiday survival.

Are you with me the on the #KitchenWorkout?

Most of my posts have been about clean eating and balancing it out with some treats.  Leave it to Kat to keep me honest on the mental front.  It’s not always easy with all we have going on, holiday family visits, and end of the year thing at work!

Don’t neglect yourself  – keeping a healthy mental state will benefit you and everyone around you. 😉

Here’s Kat…

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I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday!  Mine was unreal!  As usual, I had a TON of work to do, but I was in Hawaii.  This felt like a conundrum at first… but I gave myself the “in the long run” pep talk and knew what I needed this trip was balance!

My sister, Kristyn, lives in Hawaii, and because of the cost of travel, she rarely gets visitors.  So, my mom moved Thanksgiving to Hawaii this year!!  I had never been, so I was especially excited to visit my sister, see the island, and celebrate one of my favorite holidays!  My friend Jimmy also came along for the ride!

All in all, I give the trip an A!  The grade is based on the fact that I got a lot of work done, and was also able to spend a couple of care-free days enjoying myself and time with my family.

Whale Watching

Hawaii is NOT really a place for foodies.  However, it IS really a place for active folk!

I don’t know how many miles I swam in the ocean.  Yes, miles. (Editor’s Note: I cannot even imagine doing this… you rock, Kat.)  I also got to run more than I should have (poor IT band, sometimes it hates me for how much I love to run), and got in hours of surfing!   All of this helped to keep off the thanksgiving lbs we all tend to rack up!

I hadn’t surfed in almost 10 years, but after a quick lesson from my sister’s boyfriend on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, I was back up and at it!  Surfing so early in the trip was perfect because not only was it a blast, but it also helped me bring balance into the rest of my trip.

I’m nerdy and metaphorical (Editor’s Note: It’s part of her charm), but after falling a couple of times, and remembering to get up and try again to keep my balance, I knew I would make it through the trip alive, and that I would be able to keep this balance thing going! (I also did some yoga on the long board.)

So after swimming a few miles in the ocean after surfing, I took my Monday to work.  Almost 8 hours at Coffee Gallery in Haliewa, HI.  I got all of the research for my independent study done, and then had an awesome dinner with my mom and sis, and a fun Thanksgiving trip to Whole Paycheck – yep, they’re all over the island!  Besides the fact that my sister kept poking fun at me for being the only chick in Hawaii swimming in a one piece, this balance thing already felt good.

Tuesday I spent the day with my big brother (I mean, my sister’s boyfriend, John).  It was AWESOME.  We hiked up Koko Head.  1,200 feet of elevation gain in 1 kilometer.  It was so much fun and beautiful up top, with 360 views of the southeast side of the island.

Afterwards there was more swimming and lunch.  Later that day I got another opportunity to sneak in some work!

Koko Head

Wednesday was one of my favorite days, randomly enough.  I spent the day with my sister at work.  She works at Starbucks, so I could work on my 35-page independent study all day, and see her, meet all of her friends, and get a run in.

It went pretty well up until about oh, 7 miles into my run, when I realized I was 5 miles from where I needed to be, my IT band wouldn’t let me run another step, and I had to flag down a cop to pick me up and drive me most of the way back into town because the cab I called couldn’t find me.  You follow?  Yes, ride in the back of a cab car in Hawaii.  If only I had a picture of that!  This day still felt balanced because of the assortment of randomness and the work that got done!  (Editor’s Note: Only you… 😉 )

Thanksgiving also rocked!  We surfed in the morning, and I got to spend a bunch of time working while my mom and sister cooked up most of our amazing feast.  I made gluten-free stuffing.  However, I made another contribution that I am eternally sorry for – popcorn.  Yes, I broke a tooth on a kernel and am off to the dentist today to see what can be done.  Yikes!

Sisters contemplating the waves 

The trip was certainly balanced, and I feel more connected to my sister than ever.  Amazing!  How lucky to get to swim, surf, and run for a week in Hawaii!?!  Thanks mom! 

Now, I am in the throws of finals, and hope you all wish me luck in the coming weeks, as I finish the two papers and conquer business tax!  Balance might even be more important this week!

***

I know jealously is unattractive… but I am insanely jealous of Kat on this trip! 🙂

How do you remind yourself to stay balanced?

Last dental problem that you caused yourself?  (Editor’s Note: I cracked a tooth on a hard nut in a piece of carrot cake on Thanksgiving… but the worst was breaking my jaw.)

Complex Carb-Loading + WIAW

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New year, new plan.

 

Nevermind that we still have a month left in this year.

I need to be more careful what I wish more.  The week before last I mentioned that my trainer hadn’t sent my new nutrition plan… but I was headed to vacation and didn’t feel like reminding him.  Yesterday I got the plan.  I’m aiming for another figure competition in March, and the bulking has officially begun!

My 7 meals a day are still in place.  The basics are the same: at least 25g protein at each meal,  a fruit (in the morning) or a veggie.  The big difference is the complex carb portions.  I was getting them 4x a day… now I have a serving at EVERY meal.  I am going to be so stuffed!

 

What are complex carbs?

They have a chemical structure that is made up of three or more sugars, which are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.  These carbs will keep you full longer because they take a little longer to digest, and they don’t raise the sugar levels in the blood as quickly as simple carbs do.

Complex carbohydrates are fuel; they contribute significantly to energy production and have a higher nutritional content that simple carbs.

Some examples:

  • Oatmeal
  • Cereal (the “healthy,” low-sugar varieties)
  • Wild or brown rice
  • Ezekial bread
  • Beans
  • Lentils
  • Winter squash
  • Sweet potato
  • Bananas

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My new plan and re-focus in eating clean fits perfectly with this month’s What I Ate Wednesday theme: good habits.  Yesterday I asked you all to join me in a Kitchen Workout challenge.  Below is how my first challenge day went.

After checking out my crazy-clean bulking day, click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get to see how everyone else is sticking to their good habits.

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Meal 1:

After the usual morning cocktail (mix of Apple Cider Vinegar, Glutamine, and Fitmixer Aminos) I went for a healthified version of a comfort meal.  A cold, rainy morning can only mean one thing: Grilled PB&J with tofu peanut butter (recipe here).  I love how gooey and warm the inside gets!  Served with a side of raspberries. 

 

 

Meal 2:

After perusing Whole Foods, I decided to make my own Mediterranean Salmon Burgers this week rather than buying the frozen stuff.  I’ll post the recipe later, but let me assure you these are very good!

 

For my complex carb, I made a festive salad of edamame with pomegranate and Marcona almonds.  I dressed with with a quick nooch mix:

  • 1 T nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 T coconut vineagar
  • 1/2 T water
  • 1/4 tsp Mediterranean spice blend
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne

 

 

Meal 3:

I’m kind of embarrassed.  I’m turning into a creature of habit.  Lunch was swordfish.  Again.  But I really, really like it! I cook it in a grill pan with Italian herbs, pepper, and lemon juice.  Easy and delicious!  Next week I’m making Heather’s Mexican creation to shake things up.  Today I ate my grilled steak of the sea with an Ezekial pita and a salad of arugula, cauliflower, and radish sprouts.

 

 

Meal 4:

Something dangerous happened.  I discovered that I can handle de-boning a rotisserie chicken much better than touching a raw chicken breast (creeps. me. out.).  The dangerous part is that whole chickens are more expensive.  Whatever.  My sanity is worth it.

I ate my de-boned chicken mixed with red pepper, zucchini, and spinach hummus.  My carb was a pretzels.  Not a good low sodium choice.  I don’t have enough complex carb choices on hand this week as I didn’t get my new plan until after my weekly grocery run.  So for now I’ll enjoy my salty treat. 🙂

 

 

Meal 5:

This dinner was fantastic.  I will be sharing the whole recipe later (when I have enough light to take better pics), but for now I’ll just say that it’s a Mexican-Sweet Potato Pie layered with spinach and chicken (I also discovered ground chicken is easier to deal with than chicken breasts).  It could easily be made vegan with tempeh or TVP… which I may try next time around!

 

The pie was shared with my friend, Kenny, who came by to say hello and talk clean eating.  Kenny has some specific goals for fitness and nutrition, so we strategized a bit.  His “homework” is to write his own guidelines.  I also roped him into doing a few quest posts about it.  *evil grin*

He calls me his “food sponsor.”  I kind of like it.

 

 

Meal 6:

Before vacation I made Alexandra’s Spunky Monkey Pumpkin Pie into muffins and left before I could eat them all.  Good thing they freeze really well!  I enjoyed one tonight atop an old favorite: Carrot Cake Batter.  Made with whipped cottage cheese instead of Greek yogurt.  I almost forgot how good it is!

Meal 7:

I failed.  I ate dinner late and skipped meal 7.  All those carbs and I think I’m getting a cold… I couldn’t bring ,myself to eat another bite.  Like when I first started with the 7 meals a day, this is going to take some adjusting!

***

The protein count for the day: 170.2g.  I’m back at it!

Are you on board with the #KitchenWorkout?  How did you keep it clean today?

What is your favorite complex carb?

 

Work It Out: Kitchen Edition

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You can’t out crunch a bad diet.

 

Where’s the chocolate-lovers ab diet?!

Today’s Work It Out post is a little different.  Usually I feature a new workout technique, but this post-Thanksgiving week I’m being a little selfish.  I need to Work It Out in the Kitchen.  Like many others, I indulged throughout the Thanksgiving holiday.  No regrets – it was fantastic – but now I need to reset and not let that sweet tooth take over all the way into the new year.

 

When I start with the sweet tooth and red wine other indulgences it quickly becomes a habit.  At one point I was eating dessert after every meal… including breakfast.  What works for me is to go cold turkey (pun intended) to reset myself.  I’ve done this in the past through my favorite cleanse, but I haven’t gotten to the “emergency” point yet.  This time around I’m going back to the basics.

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Leading up to Christmas I’m going to be doing a Kitchen Workout in addition to my normal routine.  This isn’t about weight loss (my new diet is actually focused on gaining – more on that tomorrow).  The Kitchen Workout is about eating to fuel your body properly.  Eating clean makes me feel energized, keeps my skin clear, and improves my ability to focus.

The following guidelines are what works for me.  For example, I know that I can’t have just a little sugar and stop.  Therefore, I’m cutting it out.  I also know that I can’t be too strict on myself or I’ll go full-speed in the opposite direction.  A Saturday “cheat day” will be employed. 🙂

 

The Kitchen Workout

  • Eat clean – minimize processed foods
  • Cut out the sugar (except fruit)
  • Limited dining out
  • Keep sodium to a minimum
  • No drinking on “school nights”
  • Stick to complex carbs
  • Eat small meals throughout the day
  • Take in plenty of protein to feel full and build muscle
  • Incorporate vegetables into each meal

 

Who else wants to join in the Kitchen Workout?

A good support/accountability network is a big part of staying on track!  Feel free to steal the #KitchenWorkout graphic and show your clean eating pride!  I’ll be sharing some new recipes, as well as more tips for holiday survival.

To get started, check out these posts for more ideas on eating clean:

 

For some initial food ideas?  Here are a few clean recipes that won’t leave you feeling like you’re missing anything:

 

Maple TVP “Oatmeal”

 

 Crab Eggs Benedict, Lightened Up

 

Grilled PB&J with Tofu Peanut Butter

 

Tzatziki Chickpea Tuna Salad

 

Mexican Crustless Chickpea (Vegan) Quiche

 

Fig and Edamame Kamut Berries with Sriracha-Lime Vinaigrette

 

150 Calorie Microwave Chocolate Protein Cake

 

Chewy Granola Cookies

***

The holidays have begun!  I’ve been invited to a cookie swap… I’m taking my granola cookies so I know I have a healthier option.  Can’t wait to see if anyone knows they are better for you!

Did anyone try the bicep moves Jody shared last week?

Are you making an effort to keep it clean over the holiday season?

 

My Vegan Friendsgiving

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Sometimes you need a holiday break to be a real break.

Not that holidays aren’t nice…

This year I was feeling run down after training so hard from my competition, working, and  – yes – consistently blogging.  I love all of these things, don’t get me wrong.  I also love my family.  However, a true vacation getaway was in order.  When Heather and Kirk (her hubby) extended an invitation for me to crash their Thanksgiving vacation on the slopes in Vail, CO I jumped at the opportunity.

We ate fantastic food, drank amazing wine, skied, cooked a vegan Thanksgiving, and even ran a 5K (my first in at least 6 months).  There was also a tasting dinner before we left for Vail, but that’s another post.

I am relieved to report that after a 2 year break, I can still ski.  There were a couple of falls, but nothing bad and after a couple of runs I was able to keep up with Heather and Kirk on their snowboards.  I can tell my legs are much stronger now than they were two years ago.  I guess hack squats work…

We took a break from the slopes for Thanksgiving.  We earned our turkey with a 5K Turkey Trot!  It was a lot of fun… and I realized exactly how much harder it is to run at 9000 ft.

Following the run, Heather made her famous doughnuts.  These were her Pumpkin Spice Doughnuts with Cranberry Frosting.  All vegan, and all delicious.  Heather had to adjust the recipe due to the high altitude; I’m totally impressed by her ability – they were absolutely perfect.  I ate mine at a painfully slow pace (like my 5K – haha).  It was so delicious I didn’t want it to end!

I should also note the lovely orange plates provided by the condo owners.  Seriously.  Doesn’t they know that orange does NOT photograph well?!

We spent the rest of the day watching football, playing Scrabble, and being bums.  It was awesome.  We got up every once in a while to begin another dish for out dinner, so when it was time to eat everything pulled together quickly.

This was my first vegan Turkey Day.  I’ve never been a big fan of traditional Thanksgiving food anyway, so this was absolutely perfect for me.  With a spread like this, why would anyone miss the turkey?

Clockwise, left to right: Kirk opening the champagne, Heather’s Beer & Butternut Mac ‘n Cheeze, the spread, and our vegan hazelnut cranberry roast en croute.

 

Each dish was better than the last.  Heather’s vegan mac ‘n cheese was every bit as good and the “real” thing.  She also made the first cranberry sauce I’ve ever liked!  I made a version of other Heather’s Caramelized Onion, Cranberry & Kale Saute.  It was basically the same except I added jalapeno and used fresh orange juice in place of maple syrup for the vinaigrette.

My (orange) plate:

Much more to come on our adventures, but I’m sure you’ve seen enough orange plate photography for one day. 🙂

Thank you again to Heather and Kirk for letting me crash their holiday and being such incredible hosts!

***

I fell in love with Colorado.  I may have considered pitching a fit when I had to go to the airport.

Have you ever had a “Friendsgiving” or another friend-holiday?

What was the best dish at your table this year?

Happy (Non) Turkey Day!

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Wishing all of you a…

 

 

My Friendsgiving crew (Heather and Kirk) already completed a 5K Turkey Trot (NOT as easy at 10,000 ft.) and we’re on to breakfast before my very first Vegan Turkey Day Feast!

***

Today I am especially thankful for friends that stick by and support through thick and thin, crazy training plans, meals of epic proportions, and everything in between.

Quick – name one thing you’re thankful for!

 

Sources of Protein: Vegetarian and Vegan

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Are you geared up to eat?

My stretchy pants are ready.

Before you start the Thanksgiving extravaganza, I have an awesome guest post from Allie about vegetarian protein sources. Allie decided to start training for a her own figure competition, and began working with my trainer a couple of months ago.  We’ve worked out together a few times and let me tell you – this girl lives up to her blog name (Forgotten Beast).  She is a beast.

You guys know the crazy amounts of protein I’ve been eating?  Well, Allie has a very similar nutrition plan, only she’s doing it vegetarian!  While you may not need quite as much protein as we try to eat, it is important to have an adequate amount (typically 0.8g per pound of body weight for athletes).

Instead of a typical What I Ate Wednesday, check out the creative ways Allie crams in the vegetarian protein in a day.

Be sure to click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get to see how everyone else is ramping up for Turkey Day!

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Hey kids, I’m Allie! You may have seen me pop up on Laura’s blog from time to time, since this wonderful guest-blog-post-host inspired me to get on the figure competitor train and has put up with me showing up on her doorstep three times now. Training for a figure competition requires mega-protein, and I’m trying to do it on a vegetarian diet.  This may seem impossible, but I wanted show just how easy it can be with some pointers/ideas for getting vegetarian protein in any diet.

Soy, Beans and Lentils

I’m grouping these together to keep it short and sweet. I mean, those are the pretty obvious sources of vegetarian protein, right? But if you’re in a rut or just don’t know what to do with it, you’ve got to give Laura’s Chick-less Nuggets and TVP Oatmeal (20g protein) a try – or pick up a package of tempeh (23g) to make “meat” sauce, stir-fries and more.

Nuts and Seeds

I feel like nuts are another obvious source of veggie protein—but what about seeds? Sunflower seeds (7g protein), pumpkin seeds (9g protein) and hemp seeds (11g protein) are all fabulous sources of protein – and they taste pretty darn good too.

Eggs

Whole eggs (7g protein) and egg whites (4g protein) are some of the most adaptable proteins. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert – there’s no wrong time for scrambled eggs, PB & Jeggs, or an omelet.

Dairy

Greek yogurt tops the charts in the protein-from-dairy category (23g protein in brands like Fage and Trader Joe’s). Other good dairy-based protein sources include cottage cheese (15g protein) and ricotta.

Vital Wheat Gluten

Not an option for the wheat and gluten-free among you, but otherwise?  23g of protein in one serving – and there are SO many ways to use VWG. You can make your own seitan, faux chicken, faux breakfast sausage (Editor’s Note: I’ve made Allie’s recipe with TVP and it is really good!), high-protein bread and more.  Save money and all the preservatives and sodium you find in the vegan “meat” options at grocery stores by making your own.

Protein Powder

Protein powder is an easy way to get a protein boost.  While it is not a replacement for real, whole foods, it can supplement shakes, meals and an overall balanced diet.  There are so many good vegan protein powders out there that there is no reason feel powders are limited to those who can/want to drink whey and casein.  (Or beef protein powder. Really? Has anyone tried this?)

Greens and Veggies

Of course I can’t omit the veggies! Don’t let these precious grams of protein go unnoticed! While a serving may only have 1-3g of protein, if you get 5-6 servings in a day, you’re adding 15g of protein!

 

So How Do You Put It All Together?

Here’s a sample of what a day may look like for me (keep in mind I’m eating seven meals and aiming for crazy amounts of protein – just like Laura – you only need a few of these to meet everyday health goals!):

  • Breakfast: Greek yogurt and fruit (24g)
  • Post-Workout: Peaches and cream smoothie (Vanilla protein powder, frozen peaches, hemp seeds, almond milk) (36g)
  • Morning Snack: Lentil flatbread topped with peanut butter (22g)
  • Lunch #1: Tempeh “bacon” and sautéed collard greens (26g)
  • Lunch #2: Vital wheat gluten “chicken” salad (27g)
  • Dinner: TVP and cottage cheese “hot pocket” with a side of oven-roasted broccoli (42g)
  • Dessert: Egg white topped with cranberries and sugar-free syrup (17g)

Grand Total? 194g of protein

And not an animal in sight.  Half of these options are vegan as well, so, even if you omitted the eggs and dairy (and I do mean omitted—not even substituted one of the other many amazing and completely plant-based protein options), this day would still have 140g of protein – much more than average daily protein needs (which seem to be around 50 – 100g for ladies, from what I’ve read).

While I’m not a huge fan of numbers when it comes to food and nutrition, they can be a helpful guideline, so I’ll include this: this entire day comes in at under 2000 calories and balances out to a 40/40/20 macro ratio.

I hope this answers some questions/busts some myths about vegetarian protein!

***

Thanks again to Allie for such an incredible post.  I am so impressed by her dedication!  For Thanksgiving I’m taking a few days off to relax.  I hope you all get to do the same.  

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

How are you “falling into good habits” over the holiday season?

Do you make an effort to get protein throughout the day?  Post-exercise?

Work It Out with Jody

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New moves are my favorite.

 

I’m doing many right now and I point my toes down some ski slopes.

Today’s Work It Out post features one of my biggest inspirations – Jody @ Truth2BeingFit.  She is a big fan of changing up workouts to keep things interesting and effective, and her positive energy is contagious.  Take one look at her picture and you’ll see she clearly knows what she’s doing.  AND this amazing lady just celebrated her 55th birthday!

 

 

I’m Working It Out this week in a few different ways.  Saturday I went hiking at Red Rocks with Heather and Lauren!

Heather, Me, and Lauren at Red Rocks

 

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I want to thank Laura for inviting me to guest post today!  She is an amazing young (Editor’s Note: It’s so nice to be called young…) woman who knows how to kick some “arse” in the gym! 😉

For those that don’t know me, my name is Jody and I blog over at Truth2BeingFit.  I have been working out for over 30 years & turned 55 on the 15th of this month.  YIKES! Where did the time go!  (Editor’s Note: I sure hope I look half this good at 55!)


I know some may look at my pictures & think I can’t relate BUT I can!  I was heavy as a kid.  I lost weight in high school but did many things wrong on this lifelong journey.  My mantra: ALWAYS LEARNING & ALWAYS A WORK IN PROGRESS.


Laura asked to me to share a couple of workout moves that are different from the norm to help you mix it up in the gym & work your body in different ways.  I am a “change agent” in the gym.  I LOVE mixing it up!

I first want to link you to a couple recent posts of mine.  Many people are stuck in a rut using the same attachment for the same move all the time.  Check out this post, Variety is the Spice of Life, Cable Attachment Love!  I also have a post on a variation of drop sets here.  Drop sets are a more advanced move so if you are a beginner, leave this until you have a few months under your belt.

 

One move I love to do is using a seated row machine for bicep curls with a rope (hammer curls w/rope), straight or cambered bar or even a single D handle.  You will have to use a LIGHTER weight for this move.  Grab the bar, rope or D handle & lie back on the seat of the row machine.  Curl away.  The fact that you are lying & you can’t cheat really stresses the biceps – LOVE IT!  You can also do this by placing a mat on the floor by the bottom rung of a cable machine.  With your feet closest to the cable machine, grab attachment, lie back & curl!  (Editor’s Note: This is how I do them – SO effective!)

 

 

Another move is to place a bench by the cable machine.  Place one of the attachments in the paragraph above on the lowest rung of the cable machine.  Grab the attachment & lie back on the bench with your head closest to the machine.  From here, you can do lying cable triceps extensions/skull crushers.  Use a stability ball to engage the core or if there is not a bench available.  Always use proper form!  It is easy to hurt the shoulders if you are not very careful with form!

 

I would like to finish by saying that always be true to you!  There is no “my way or the highway.”  Find what works for you.  Of course, if you are new to lifting, you want to learn the traditional way of lifting with proper form.  Learn to listen to your body and how everything feels from day one – get that mind/muscle link!

Once you become more advanced, you can start putting programs together that meet your needs – not that friend or other person in the gym.  Life changes, we change, our body changes, our goals change along this lifelong journey.  Always work toward finding that best for you.  This does not mean we can’t learn from others BUT it does mean that we learn to recognize what works best for ourselves.

Thanks again to Laura for inviting me to guest post!  Please feel free to email at jody @ truth2beingfit.com with any questions… although Laura knows her stuff! 🙂

***

Thank you for showing us some new moves, Jody!  I’ve never thought to use the row machine for curls… can’t wait to get back and try it out!

Did anyone try last week’s 1 1/2s?

Has the way you workout changed over time?  How so?

 

The Long Run + Peppermint Mocha

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Perspective is important this time of year.

 

Today’s guest post from Kat is all about the Long Run.  I love that she chose this topic at the beginning of the holiday insanity.  Sometimes it’s all too easy to get caught up in the rush and forget to enjoy the moment.

I’ll be keeping this in mind over the next few crazy busy days!  I’m off on a work trip before heading out of town for Thanksgiving.  If you saw the disarray my kitchen is in (food prep and office Thanksgiving party baking).  And let’s just pretend the rest of my condo doesn’t look like a tornado of clothes and suitcases…

Here’s Kat!!!

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Firstly, I have to say that after the rash of comments from my last post, I was surprised, happy, and blushing!  Seriously!  I love that people want to read what I have to say.  Thanks for the extra cheek work-out!  No wonder so many of you are hooked on blogging.  It’s a feel-good mechanism!  (Editor’s note: agreed!  All you guys ROCK!)

Because the past two weeks have been SO crazy, I have had to focus on the long run.  I baby-sat a very time-consuming young puppy, Maggie.  She had to be crated and couldn’t be left alone for more than about 5 hours.  This is typically not conducive to my schedule, but sometimes you have to make things work!

 

It was time to focus on what would help me succeed in the long run (both metaphorically and actual running).  Three things I have kept in the front of my mind in the past two weeks were to relax, be present, and set no expectations about results.  I know I will get it all done, I just have to believe in myself.

 

In the long run, stressing will NOT help you succeed.  Besides adjusting my schedule for the bundle of joy that is Maggie, I also had to go to Arizona for my cousin’s wedding.  That same weekend, I also had to write a 15 page paper, coordinate with a partner to draft a buy-out agreement, and do business tax problems.  (This is in addition to my usual and regular workload. UGH!).  Initially, this all felts extremely unmanageable, but ….dun dun dun… it all got done and I did not stress.  I found an hour here and 20 minutes there to fit it all in.

However, I almost had a fit when the flight attendant on my flight to Phoenix told me I was not allowed to use the blue tooth keyboard on my iPad!!!!!!  That almost added some stress to the weekend, but I seriously made it work! The three things kept me sane.  Relax, be present, and set no expectations about results.

 

In the long run, you will remember the special moments with your family if you are really able to allow yourself to just be with them.  At my cousin’s wedding in Arizona, I was a bridesmaid, met my cousin’s baby, my god-daughter (luckiest girl in the world!!).

What is the point of pushing yourself if you cannot relax and be present, and enjoy the moments you get with friends and family.  Stress happens, but keeping perspective on things that are truly important can really help.  I hardly ever get to see my family, so with a little effort to shove my work into the back of my mind, I was able to really be there and enjoy moments with my family, and the new additions to my family through the marriage.

 

In the long run, not planning your run might just make you happier.  I also squeezed in some GREAT runs.  On Saturday, I ran the wrong way.  Not that there is a wrong way to run, but I didn’t realize that if I ran the other way, I could run all the way to the mountains and unsuccessfully look for a trail to run.  Sunday, I did this, and was my longest run since my ultra, and it left my IT band screaming a little (thank god for my foam roller!), but the beauty, scenery, and peace of mind it gave me were priceless! It really helped to go out, relax, and not set any expectation about pace, distance, or how I might feel afterwards.

On my run in phoenix—someone is a lucky girl (me!)

 

In the long run, the little things add up to a LOT of happiness.  That being said, enough about craziness.  Today I actually want to share something I’ve been DYING to write about since it’s inception, and I think it’s perfect timing with the holidays around the corner.  

Coffee is one of my favorite things in the entire world.  Honestly, I can turn anyone into an addict if they have my coffee.  It’s the way I make it… OMG. Coffee is a production at my house.  I recently started doing my own version of a peppermint mocha (but with fewer calories than Starbucks or your local coffee shop).

Please try this – you will not regret it – and do you like my very first edited/stitched picture? – *becoming a blogger*

 

It might look like I dropped some illegal (now legal in Colorado and Washington) substances in with my coffee grounds, but it’s not… it’s dried peppermint leaves from Penzy’s Spices (a favorite).  I bet you can do this in a regular coffee maker, or a French press, but I use what I refer to as a “drip drip”.  I have no idea what it is actually called.

I make it with two scoops of coffee grounds, a half-ish or more scoop of the peppermint leaves, then just pour on the hot water to brew.  IN THE CUP: I add a pinch of sea salt, a scoop of dark chocolate cocoa powder, and splenda/stevia/sugar to taste. It’s the most peppermint-y delicious cup of coffee you will ever have, and this little thing will add up to a LOT of happiness!!!  I Promise. 🙂  (Editor’s Note: Kat… do you deliver?)
In other good news, Maggie was actually a foster dog, and she got adopted today!!!  Yay!  See the picture of her with her new mom:

Tooooo adorable

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I’m continually blown away by Kat and her productivity.  I’m working on a recipe to bottle her energy!

What helps you in the long run?

What little happiness-es help you get through stressful days?

 

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