My Rule

Loving these posts I saw yesterday.  They are part of Nike's Make the Rules campaign and I am all about anything that tries to empower females to be healthy and athletic.  How kick butt are these?  Seriously... Love them!  

Of course the running one is my absolute favorite.

Don't know anything about this boxer,
but her attitude is fabulous.

True for me during rugby and also when I trip while running (constantly)

I've got mine ready in case Nike comes a calling.  

What would your rule be?
Would love to hear what yours would say.


Runner's World Summer Run Streak -
Day 24 = 1 mile (work followed by night class, but the streak is still alive)
Total Miles Run = 89
Lose A Marathon Progress - 
After my obsessive eating yesterday I was good about staying under my calorie goal today.  Didn't want to have to give you all a sucky report.  

Tell it Like it is

Riddle Time: Who is starving to death, craving every food imaginable, clearing out her cabinets, then regretting it instantly, yet still hungry? 

If you guessed me during the week before my period you're right.  (Sorry to my 2 male readers.)  Aunt flow, your monthly visitor, the crimson wave, the curse, whatever you want to call her... homegirl is a diet sabotaging bi*ch!  It's time I tell it like it is and get it all out in the open.  

I don't have any other PMS symptoms- no mood swings, etc.  However, in the week before my period I am a raving, starving, will destroy all food in sight, lunatic.  I try to tell myself it is mental, that I'm not really hungry, but my stomach hurts and I feel hungry (not just like I am craving). 

I want to get this off my chest and tell you the truth of what is holding me back because this one stupid PMS week of unrestrained Man vs. Food style power eating is my worst diet saboteur.  I did great the past few weeks.  I was down over 3,500 calories a week and losing about a pound each.  Woohoo!  Even though last week with girls' weekend wasn't as good, I still busted butt, ate healthy the other days, and was below my calorie count for the week.  Here is my vicious cycle though- I lose two or three pounds on the nonPMS weeks and then gain it all back in that one week.  Argggghhhh…..

I Cannot WILL NOT continue doing this.  I was hoping starting my LoseAMarathon Challenge through Run with Jess this week would help, but I have failed these first two days.  Yesterday evening after I ate my normal 1,600 calories worth of healthy food I was still starving and mindlessly ate an entire 4 servings of Popchips.  Not horrible, but not helping.  Today I had a good breakfast and even though I was hungry restrained myself at lunch.  (On a normal week my lunch would have left me full.)  Then I had an hour after work until b-day dinner with my mom and basically had an entire dinner before our scheduled dinner.  Crap.  Two full dinners.  Double dinner day = Way too many calories  Welcome back pounds I worked so hard to lose.  You suck!    

I hope that admitting to everyone that this is kicking my butt will help me conquer it. 
My plan:

1. When hungry eat a small, healthy smack packed with protein to fill me up.       

2. Stay out of the kitchen after meals during PMS week.

3. If I'm feeling starving go for a walk/run first and then see how I feel. 

Time to try these and hope they work.  Do any of you have PMS food issues?  If so… I showed  told you mine, now you show tell me yours. 

Runner's World Summer Run Streak -

Day 23 = 1 mile (quick predinner plans)

Total Miles Run = 88

Dinner #2

Celebrating my mom's birthday

You know you're in Charleston when....
Boiled peanuts are an appetizer.

Her birthday shrimp & grits.

My curry chicken sandwich.  Amazing! 

And because 2 full dinners was not enough...
and since it was mom's birthday...
I got a slice of cake too.
I'm all about splurging sometimes, but today was a fail!

Healthified Recipes & Losing A Marathon

Two new healthified recipes that made the cut from my weekly Sunday True Blood dinner/viewing get together.  These were both really quick and easy.  Everyone went back for seconds on the dip so I take that as a great review, and it was so simple to make.    

Mexican Hot Corn Dip:

  2 cups shredded 2% Mexican Blend  

 4 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, diced (one small can and you'll have plenty, if you like extra spicy add even more)

 1 small can (4oz) diced green chilies, undrained

 1/2 cup Hellman's Low Fat Mayo

 1 11oz can of corn, drained

 1 small tomato

 2 tbs cilantro, chopped (I love cilantro so I probably used 4ish)

 3-4 tbs green onions, sliced thin

 baked Tostitos tortilla chips

1.    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.    Mix all ingredients except tomato, cilantro, & green onion

3.    Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly

4.    Top with diced tomatoes, green onions, and cilantro. Serve immediately with baked tortilla chips.

5.    *Next time I think I am going to add some chopped green or red pepper along with the corn before baking.

Dish Stats:

Entire Dish = 1,176 calories & 62 grams of fat

Split into 8 decent sized servings = 147 calories & 8 grams of fat

     For dessert I blended bananas in the blender (enough for each person to have one).  If it sticks add just a bit of low fat milk.  Then put the smoshed banana puree in the freezer for about 2 hours and you'll have something between the consistency of fro-yo and ice cream (depending on how long you freeze and how strong your freezer is).  I served mine yogurt bar style with mini chocolate chips and fresh strawberries.  This is a million times healthier than fro-yo or ice cream since IT'S JUST BANANAS!  Amazing!  If you removed the toppings you'd be eating straight fruit.  If you like frozen chocolate covered bananas this is your new heaven.  Try it now!

     I'm also about to start the Lose a Marathon (or in my case half) Challenge from Run with Jess.  I really need to do this.  I was so excited when I saw 159 on the scale a few weeks ago, but since then it's been stuck between 163-164ish and I need to do something about it.  

     This will hold me accountable and I need just that.  Don't get me wrong since I lost my 25 pounds a few years ago I am no longer overweight and I am not trying to lose a full 26.2 because I don't want to be stick skinny (I don't think that is pretty).  I am pretty happy with my body, I just want to be healthier and a bit fitter.  If I lose the full 13.1 I'll be down to 150 pounds and hopefully that will get rid of most my spare tire (which is my main trouble area).  I plan on counting calories and trying to drop a pound a week for all 13 weeks.  Wish me luck, and will power.  I'll need the will power (a lot).  I love food, too much.  P.S. - I logged in yesterday at 163 as a starting weight, but when I weighed myself after the weekend I was actually 164.  That needs to be a big goal of mine, doing better on weekends!
  

Cross out skinny & add fit
I'm working to be fit and it will make me stronger

Runner's World Summer Run Streak-
Day 22  = 5
Total Miles Run =  87

I'm Famous, Where's the Rich

Today was one of those crazy, busy, hilarious wonderful days. 

I woke up and could barely get myself out of bed (snooze button Queen) after such a busy day yesterday.  Then I puttered around the house playing on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter while eating breakfast. 

After that I was off for a run.  Wow!  Everything just clicked.  This was one of those runs that makes you remember why you became a runner in the first place.  I kept pushing it, a bit faster, than a little more, and my body happily agreed.   By far the best run I have had in almost 5 months since my injury.  What a ridiculously amazing feeling.  People riding, walking, and running on the trail might have actually been crazy/stupid enough to mistakenly think I am fast.  I was am on such a runner's high.

The whole time I ran I couldn't stop thinking about how much I love running and even imagining all the races I'd do if I wasn't a poor teacher, with crazy grad school loans, who is only given three personal days a year.  Really… It is almost dangerous for me to have great runs because the whole time I am running my brain is spending thousands of dollars I don't have to go have more great run in other places.    

FYI My Imaginary Run List Compliled During Today's Run:
*If I were rich not poor this would be my fall/winter race schedule.  See why having good runs can give me bad ideas. 

10/06/2012 - Isle of Palms Connector Run 10K = Actually Registered
10/28/2012 - Marine Corp Marathon =  Actually Registered

11/03/2012 - Savannah RnR Half Marathon - Nearby would be fun (Maybe possible)

11/18/2012 - Big Sur Marathon - Right next to my Oma's house & right before here 90th birthday (totally cannot afford)
12/08/2012 = Kiawah Island Half Marathon - Hope to do this if it doesn't conflict with our big rugby tourney (Maybe possible)

01/12&13/2013 = Go Goofy at Disney - Half & Full Back to Back - How cool would it be to go back to the sight of my first marathon where I look at all those Goody runners with such admiration and do it myself? (totally cannot afford)
01/19/2013 = Charleston Half Marathon - So close, hope the dates on this one work out so I can do it again (Maybe possible)
02/24/2013 = New Orleans RnR Marathon - this will get done in 2013 for sure, but I'd would love to do it before then (totally cannot afford)
04/06/2013 = Cooper River Bridge Run 10K = Actually Registered

Big Sur

How much cooler would my runs be if I had money?  Amazing right?  I would love to have the above schedule.  Great runs are both a blessing and a curse because they get me thinking about things like this.  Time to find a corporate sponsor.  Think any running/fitness companies want to sponsor a perfectly average speed runner?  Maybe I'll find a sugar daddy.  Hey Mr. Hefner.  I am a 5'10, blue eyed, blonde.  Sorry though Hugh, I refuse to take off my clothes in magazines and there is no way I am kissing a dud older than my grandparents, but can I still get a couple grand?  Thanks.

Then after that running high I can home to find out I'm famous (minus the rich part).  Well… almost famous.  I had a new Twitter follower with a weird name Jogging in Jeans.  Who the hell jogs in jeans?  How stupid and uncomfortable.  Those people must be idiots.  Out of curiosity I clicked on their blog.  HA!  Are you kidding me… I was the front page story.  Too funny.  I guess crazy, ridiculous people like me run in jeans.  Enough that there is a whole blog about it and she gave me a pretty glowing shout out.  Does this mean I have a  fan?  I knew there was 1 somewhere out there.  How funny to randomly stumble upon a whole piece about myself on another website.  This must be what the Kardashians feel like.  Fame can be tricky.   

Then it was off to a joint fundraising event for my rugby team and the SPCA, home to cook delicious food (more great recipes to come this week), and True Blood time (not enough Alcide - Boo).  

Runner's World Summer Run Streak -

Day 21 = 8 miles (wanted to do more, but had to leave for the fundraiser)

Total Miles Run = 82

My Big, Fat, Fitfluential Weekend

Crud.  I wear sunscreen religiously.
Today I didn't put it on because I was going to be inside teaching all day.
It finally stops raining, I take the kids out for 20 min recess, I'm wearing a tank top - result = Ouch!

I came home and had 30 minutes for dinner (leftovers and delicious, itty-bitty farmers' market plums)
and packing before it was time to hit the road.
I met the girls and we were off to Myrtle Beach.

We had a girls weekend and stayed in T's grandma's condo that happened to be empty.
Friday we played board games and Saturday we went to Myrtle Waves water park.
Sometimes it is so fun acting like a kid!
This was my favorite slide.  It was almost 100 feet up, super curvy, and very fast.  Scary!
I tried really hard not to scream like a baby.

Then we had dinner at a delicious Italian place.
Before heading back home late Saturday night.

I had the BEST eggplant parmigiana.  It was straight out of your dreams good.

So needless to say after water park food for lunch and a huge Italian dinner I did not eat the best on girls weekend.
Old Abby would have thought,
"Uh oh, I ruined it might as well eat whatever I want today too because I already did badly this weekend.  I'll start again on Monday."
Now I know that just because I did bad one day doesn't mean I have to do bad the next.
I'm about to head out for a run and will be making better food choices today.
However, sometimes (like girls' weekend vacations) it's nice to splurge a bit.

Probably the most exciting part of my weekend though ...
I just found out I was picked to be FitFluential ambassador.
I am already feeling the outpouring of support from the FitFluential community and am so excited to be a part of this group.
I hope that this will mean great things for my little fitness blog.  

True story.

Runner's World Summer Run Streak -
Day 19 = 3 miles
Day 20 = 5 miles
Total Miles Run = 74


I felt really good about these runs, not because they were long, or fast, but because the old me would not have done them.  Friday night I went straight from work, to a 3 hour car ride, and by time we got there it was 9pm.  Everyone else went inside to play games, but instead I went out for a quick run.  Old me = inside playing games with everyone else.  Then T & I set our alarms early and woke up on less than 6 hours of sleep to get a run in before the water park.  Old me = still in bed.  

To think my mom is worried rugby is dangerous, I get more injured running.
Hit a piece of tilted sidewalk just perfectly wrong and boom.
Instant face first crash to the ground.  OUCH!
I caught myself a bit (awkwardly), but the entire left side of my body from shoulder to ankle is still scraped like this.
Cleaning it out and then spraying sunscreen on it almost brought tears to my eyes.  
I did still finish the last 2.5 miles of the run though:)  Dedicated