Presentation is Everything

As much as I'd like to take credit for this I can't. I saw this posted on another blog and I loved the idea of a mason jar contained salad. Here is my take on it. Sure, you can put the salad contents in a plastic container, but look how pretty it looks in a jar. Presentation is EVERYTHING!

I saw a lot of Pinterest pictures of people using the Kerr brand jars, so this weekend I went in search of them. Yeah, those babies are kind of pricey. The cheap-skate in me went home, dug through my fridge hoping I'd find something in a jar that had expired. SCORE! After a scolding hot rinse, I had a clean/re-usuable -- "great value" (pun intended) jar. I'm so green. If I have enough jars I can make about 3 salads at a time, in separate containers. Yes, a TIME SAVER. It's time to purge the fridge again and see what else it rotting in there.

In the future, I'll make sure to reverse the order of ingredients. The tomatoes should've been on the bottom and spinach at the top. You can add other ingredients later, when you are ready to serve, like fresh fruit, avocados and don't forget about the dressing. I prefer making my own dressing, Oil/Vinaigrette/Lime, but lately, I've been skipping the dressing all together and going with Louisiana Hot Sauce. The ingredients are Aged peppers, vinegar, and salt <-------that's it. 

My Little Workout Partner

This morning, Cheyenne joined me during an Ab workout. She used her nap mat for padding.
 We are starting the week off right. I gave my legs a break from running and spent some time on the elliptical. I had a chance to catch up on the news. An elliptical workout is perfect cross training for me on my easy days -- that and weights.

 Cheyenne was taking a breather.
 
Leg Climbs are tough!

Primal Pancakes & News Segment

A few weeks ago, I didn't even know almond meal existed, now I'm excited that I can enjoy paleo friendly pancakes. Can you believe I didn't use any flour? The only ingredient in almond meal is almonds. It's a powdery/flour like substance. Imagine if you put almonds in a food processor and pulsed them for a few seconds. Almond meal is what you would get.

Primal Pancakes Ingredients:
1 cup almond meal
3 eggs
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon

Mix all the ingredients together and cook pancakes on a lightly greased pan.

There is no sugar in the mix, so to balance the savory taste of the nutty batter I would say load it with the sweetest fruit you have. I drizzled a little bit of honey on my fruit and it really tied the flavors together.

Inspired by Mark's Daily Apple

When I'm cooking Trey likes to tease me and tell me if I'm eating like a caveman, I need use the same kind of kitchen tools they used. He's crazy, if he thinks that's going to happen.

Hey, some NEWS on the paleo challenge....
It looks like I will be talking with CW Channel 33 news about the Paleo Challenge. I believe the news clip will air Tuesday (tomorrow) night at 9 pm. I think I should have pizza hut delivered at the same time they show up to interview me. Haha! Just kidding....but seriously I should met them at McDonald's over lunch OR dress in cavewoman attire for the interview....Either or because I think both of those at the same time would be too much. Don't you?

The Inevitable Post: Paleo 30 Day Challenge.

Okay, I'm all about healthy living and healthy eating, so this Paleo post should come as no surprise. Really, it was just a matter of time before I finally gave in.
(Said in dramitic voice ---->) The time has come!  DUH. DUH. DUH.

I can't wait to tell Trey, in person, so he can roll his eyes. Yay, the fun is about to start! Not for him, but for me.

For those who have no idea what Paleo is -- let me give you a basic 101 Intro to the Paleolithic Diet, or at least what I understand it to be.
THE BASICS
- Eat like a caveman.
- Eat meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, & some oils. Did I miss anything? Really, that's it?
- No grains. :(
- No Beans. :( double sad face :(
- No Dairy
- No Alcohol (but I just started drinking red wine)
- No processed food. I believe that includes cookies. Yes, I'm almost certain.

A typical paleo friendly meal would look like this, excpet with a lot more veggies to fill me up.


My stomach can thank The Running Couple for this one. On that note, I can blame my sugar withdrawals on them as well. It's only fair. Thanks guys! The RC has created a 30 day Paleo Challenge. It starts August 1. I have a well stocked Paleo fridge, so I feel like starting now. Why not? Please answer me, that was not a hypothetical question. Tell me to live my last week of free eating on nothing but candy. P-L-E-A-S-E! Perhaps, I will use this week to ease myself into Paleo.

I won't be going off the deep end with this 30 day challenge. TRUST ME. My main focus will be to eat Paleo the majority of the time. I will make exceptions for my recovery drink, which consist of milk and whey protein. I drink this maybe 2 times a week. And I'll also cut myself some slack, if I go out to dinner with friends or family, which is maybe once a week. I'll make a healthy decision based on the available menu and if the only thing on the menu to eat is a burger, then guess what? I'm gonna eat me a greasy burger. So, goes life.

When I do my long runs, (you know, like 13+ miles), I'll re-fuel with gel packs. Paleo is not worth passing out mid-run. Sorry, but it's not worth it. And I don't see myself doing a long run with a chicken breast in my SPIbelt. Eww, gross!

I'll also allow myself to eat nachos at least once a week, during this challenge. I can't resist them...and really, by the US food pyramid standards they are considered healthy. To top it off, that's greek yogurt. It's gotta be good.


Have I completely lost my marbles for doing this? I mean, think about what you eat everyday and now imagine if you did Paleo. So, who wants to join me? Anyone? ....(crickets)....

P90X. Week 5. Day 30.

I'm 30 days into this program and I'm not seeing the intense results, I saw last time. Sure my arms look more flattering, but what about the gut? Ummm..(silence) The main problem is my current eating habits. I eat healthy, but I also eat a lot....(this feels like confession time) AND lately, I've been snacking in the evenings. I've heard the best way to stay on a healthy eating habit-track, is to write down what you eat.....So, starting today, I will write down the food I consume using a food journal. So, far it seems to be helping.

Here is a look at what I had for breakfast and lunch....

There is more info on this log, but this is just a peak. I promise I eat more. Oh yeah, I do.

I plan on going back to basics and Indulging treating myself to treats on weekends....like I use to do. I know exactly what happened, I was marathon training and then ultra marathon training and now I'm not, but I'm still eating like I'm prepping to run a 26 plus mile race and running a total of 40 miles a week. Umm, news flash to self: I'm not!

Here is to getting back on track...


P90X: A Look at this Week 
Sunday - Rest - Ended up going for a 1 mile walk and 30 min elliptical workout (low intensity)
Monday - Chest, Shoulders and Triceps + Ab Ripper X + 30 min elliptical workout.
Upcoming Workouts:
Tuesday Night - Plyometrics. I would also love to run 2 miles.
Wednesday -  Back and Biceps + Ab Ripper X
Thursday - YogaX
Friday - Legs and Back + AbRipperX
Saturday - Long Run 8 - 10 miles. I would love to run 14 MILES.

Now it's your turn to confess....

Everything in its Right Place

This lunch box is the best $4.99 investment. Talk about convenient! This would be a good gift. Maybe Christmas....What do you think? I know a few people who could really use something like this.

Bring It!

I've had a lot of people ask me about P90X and according to my blog stats, I'm seeing more traffic on the P90X posts. So, if you are still curious, here is an intro video I found.

This will give you a taste of what I've been up to these last few weeks.



Before taking my 30 day photos, I was a little scared that I wouldn't be able to see an obvious difference. I thought, maybe I'm just convincing myself that my arms are gaining muscle and my stomach is actually transforming. P90X guarantees results, for those who commit and the pictures don't lie. I'm happy enough to move forward to Phase 2. BRING IT! Who wants to join me?!

Marathon Training and P90X

Marathon training plus P90X has been tough. On average, I've been doing p90x workouts 4 days a week and then running 5 days a week averaging around 25 miles (weekly). If you are familar with the P90X program, you know that it's a 6-7 day a week workout program. Yeah, when "they" mean extreme, "they" mean CRAZY EXTREME. I'm cutting myself some slack, since I'm training for a marathon (not too much slack there). I want to push myself, I don't want to kill myself, BIG difference.

Most days I'm mentally and physically tired. I keep going because I'm starting to see and feel results, specifically in my arms and abs, the two areas that no matter how long I ran, I could never tone.

As far as nutrition goes, I've decided to try the P90X Phase 2: Energy Boost-Portion approach. Somewhere in the ball park of 2,400 calories/day. If anything, this approach should steer me in the direction of eating more protein. I'm not married to this, just trying it out. It seems a lot easier than the meal plan approach. Yeah, tried that for one week and got tired of measuring all my food.

Tonight, I'm taking before and after 30 day pictures. I'm not sure I want to share those with the world. Who knows...I might, after all I feel like you are also taking this journey with me. I know that each of you have your own fitness goals and I hope that this encourages you. Like you, I work, have a family, church activities, laundry, have to meal plan/cook/grocery shop/ clean house/ take care of the garden, etc..... Look, we all have the same amount of hours in one day. Sometimes it's hard, but I put one foot in front of the other. No one said this was going to be easy.

So it Grows...

Here is a snapshot of the vegetable garden -- @12 Weeks

We're still enjoying plenty of basil, rosemary, mint and a few onions. The cilantro is pretty much done :(

Chey picking-up the mint

What is up with my tomato plants? They are giants!

CRAZY TALL! Even at this height, they show no signs of tomatoes.

Look at the squash!

Next year, I'm not sure if I will replant squash. One, it takes up a lot of real estate and two it's harder to pull the weeds and grass around it -- since it's a type of plant that grows low to the ground, unlike tomato plants that grow-up. Honestly, this area of the garden scares me.

P90X Nutrition Phase One

Warning: If you are hungry look away! 

Last week, I started the nutrition meal plan and I learned a few things about myself. One thing I learned is that I don't like to follow recipes. I did pretty good until mid week and then I started improvising and using the meal planner as a guide. This worked well for me. Plus, following recipes each night got really old and I had a lot of extra dishes to clean (measuring spoons and cups). I didn't document my breakfast that much, but for the most part it consisted of egg whites and fruit. Towards the end of the week, I started to add toast. I'm a runner, I need my carbs! 


Here's what I liked: 
1. Adding tons of veggies like tomatoes, celery, onions, mushrooms to my eggs. Talk about healthy fillers. 
2. I love having tons of colorful veggies on my plate. 
3. The portion sizes were big, I always felt full, once I figured out I was in the 2,400 calorie bracket versus the 1,800 bracket. The 1,800 calories were not doing it for me. The first day, I knew something was wrong when I got up and felt lightheaded. No bueno, but nothing a little food can't fix. 
4. I like the idea of drinking a recovery drink/protein shake as a desert versus grabbing junk. 
5. Over the course of last week, I discovered I love onions. Really.


Did not like:
1. Eating Egg Whites - They tasted alright, but I really like normal eggs with the yolk. It tastes so much better and I figured, since I'm not at risk for heart disease I can eat normal eggs again. Also, the yolk has all the good nutrients! I would hate to miss out on that.
2. I kind of got burned out on fish. I think it may have been because I ate several meals of it back to back.
3. I prefer brown rice over wild rice.

Dinner
Salmon with wild rice and asparagus

Breakfast
One cup of mixed fruit topped with greek yogurt. Here is my mushroom omelette, more like scrambled eggs. It's the same ingredients no matter what you call it. The recipe called for six egg whites and lots of veggies.

Lunch
Tuna Salad

Dinner
Turkey Burger
We are adding this to the "Let's make it again" list! Some of the ingredients - turkey, parsley, low-fat buttermilk, onions, spinach, and worcestershir sauce. I used a whole grain bun that I got at Central market for .44 cents! 

I believe with this burger, the meal plan called for a butternut squash soup on the side. I used what I had on hand, yellow squash. Main ingredients - squash, shallots, garlic, and low-fat/sodium chicken broth.

Dinner
Dom's Go-To Meal!
Trey worked late and I knew it would be difficult to try to tackle a new recipe and watch Cheyenne at the same time, so instead of making a P90X recipe, I opted to make my go-to meal. By the way, this meal is super healthy, delicious, and it's mexican food. Ingredients: Multi-Grain Chips, my own slow cooked refried beans. I freeze my beans in ice cube trays, so I always have them available. It's better than the can. Other ingredients - a little bit of ground beef or turkey, I had grilled lime chicken, so that's what I used. Topped with whole grain rice, spinach, tomatoes, cilantro, onions, hot sauce, greek yogurt, and sprinkled with flaxseed and/or wheat germ. I should note that aside from having the frozen beans available, I typically keep a frozen stock of rice and meat. That's why it's so easy to make, because I don't have to cook it, it's already been cooked ahead of time! I could go on and on about this meal. And Linda, I promise one day I will make it for you.

Dinner

Grilled Steak with Veggies 

Dinner
Lemon Garlic Chicken
This was delicious. I would be happy to make this for anyone.

If you are interested in a particular meal, I would love to share. After cooking all these delicious meals, it looks like I'll continue on high protein and high veggie road.  

P90X First Impression

Instead of starting the program on Monday, I started it last night. Trey went to a baseball game and I had the house to myself and figured I'd workout. I completed the 50 minute chest and back exercise and later found out I needed to continue with the ab ripper. I'm not sure how long that segment takes, but I'm not sweating it. Earlier that morning, I ran five miles. Pretty sure, I got my exercise in for that day! The Anderson P90X program "officially" starts, next week. 


Equipment 
I didn't realize how much equipment you need to start this program. Yoga mat, normal size chair (not a bar stool), pull up bar and/or resistance bands, dumb bells (again) and/or a resistance bands. There are also other items that are not necessary, but makes life a little easier - gloves, heart rate monitor, and push-up stands. I think our neighbor is going to let us borrow his weights. That would be wonderful. Eventually, I would like to invest in a nice set.


Goals
Like most women, I don't want to get all ripped. My ultimate goal is to get more toned in my abs and build upper strength. My arms are so weak, it's pathetic. Currently, I can only do one unassisted chin-up. How many can you do? I'm sure it's more than one!


Nutrition
I've never cared too much for counting calories, but I figured it would be in my best interest to at least start entertaining the idea, since I'm marathon training + P90X. I don't want to deprive myself of nutrition and I certainly don't want to over eat. Before doing the math, I guessed I needed about 2,000 calories per day. NO. Apparently, I need 2,400! and that's only based on doing P90X that day - that does not include running! GASP! Say I run that morning and do P90X in the evening....I guess I'll need around 2,800 calories. Wow. 


Meals
Later, I'll post pictures of the food we've been eating over the course of the week. The other night, I got my camera out and started snapping photos of my plate. Trey said, "Nobody wants to see that!" And then he encouraged me to continue, since Brandon will most likely start the P90X program. He said, "Yeah, go ahead so Brandon can see all the CRAP he has to eat." Can you tell, Trey is enjoying the food? 

Cross Training with P90X

Say hello to Lemon Parsley Tilapia with Wild Rice and Squash.

Okay, why don't more people around me cook with parsely? Wait, why don't I? This stuff is amazing and oh so fresh. I love it!

P90X workouts start tomorrow and I'm oh so excited! I'm sure you've all heard of it. From what I hear, it's intense. We bought the pack from someone who never opened it, so we got a killer deal. Included in the purchase we got the DVD's, pull-up bar, a resistant band, and a nutritional guide. I found this recipe in the guide and it was over the top AMAZING! I want to stick to the nutritional guide for breakfast, snacks, and dinner. This is the first week, so at the end of the week, I'll step back and determine whether I want to continue this route or not. You should see my fridge, my veggie drawer is overflowing. It's nuts!

There are three different daily calorie brackets:
1. 1,800
2. 2,400 (I think Trey falls in this category...)
3. 3,000

I definitely need more than 1,800 calorie intake per day especially when marathon training picks up, but 2,400, may be too much...Well, to tell you the truth I have no idea. I'm taking the 1,800 calorie approach, but instead of sticking to the lunch nutrition guide...I'm going to eat more carbs than the guide allows that way my calorie count gets bumped up and I get some extra fuel.

This week, I'm not sure how often I will be doing P90X, since I'll be running 23 miles. I will keep you posted. Trey also plans on doing the program, although he may start next week.

Dud to Stud

Last night, Trey and I worked out together! That never happens. We lifted free weights and I worked my abs using my super awesome exercise ball.

Yeah, Trey is still going strong with his workout regimen. 5 days a week, he’s hitting the gym -- weight training and swimming and he’s starting to see results. He’s dropping weight, gaining muscle and his dress pants are practically falling off his butt. Currently, he’s doing a specific program he found in a magazine. It’s called From Dud to Stud. Really, that’s what it’s called. It’s a dream of mine to go running with him, but he said he doesn’t want to run with me until he reaches a certain weight. Hopefully, he will change his mind and decide to run, despite this magic number nonsense.   

The thing that impresses me the most is he’s changing his diet. Extra virgin olive oil, cooking his own breakfast, and eating less processed food…he’s even trying new vegetables. Who is this man? For about two weeks, we’ve been eating a lot of protein…mainly meat. We’ve been grilling about three times a week. I’m enjoying this healthy journey and I’m glad Trey is on board.

Try Something New Everyday

This morning, I went to my first EVER yoga class at the Lululemon Showroom!

Yesterday, Lululemon had their grand opening and since Trey worked late (he didn't get home until 10 pm), Cheyenne and I went to the grand opening party. We had sushi and Chey LOVED the green juice.

By the way, every Saturday they offer a free yoga class to the community, so if you're interested let me know!

No, He Didn't...

Yes, he did! My birthday gift from Trey:  The Men's Health BIG Book of Exercises. Before he gave me this book he said, "Women can use it too!" I laughed so hard. It was a thoughtful gift and last night I referenced it, while I used another birthday gift, an exercise ball, which Trey's parents got me. Don't let the ball fool you, it's hard work! Talk about a great core workout. These abs are gonna get ripped.

Here is an idea of what's inside the book. The book has some helpful tips and there are more charts like this including chest, shoulders, glutes...

By the way, my 26th birthday was absolutely wonderful. Friday evening, I spent time with my family in Abilene. Trey organized a birthday celebration at Red Robin's and I got a free ice cream sundae which Trey and Cheyenne ate. Surprised? Cheyenne liked the ice cream a little too much. Some people think I deprive her of sweets. I just like to give her treats when it's a special occasion, nothing's wrong with that :)

I'm So Proud of Trey!

For the longest time, Chad has been working out five days a week at the gym. And for the longest time, he's been inviting Trey to join him. Well, guess what Trey's been doing? Yeah, last week he worked out with him. They've been working out before sunrise.

Today, Trey signed up and got a gym membership and he has no plans of stopping. He's working out five days a week. Lifting weights three times a week and two days a week doing cardio (swimming). This is the same man that tried running with me a few years ago and complained less than half a mile into it, saying that his legs were going to snap and fall off. I could not be happier that he is working out and it's even better that he has an accountability partner. I've already thanked Chad like five times.

Trey is also starting to look at his diet. This past weekend, we made a trip to GNC. We got him some vitamins and also a post workout protein drink called AMP Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60. That drink is so good! I'm think I'm going to start taking it too after my long runs, but only half a cup of it.

Earlier today, Trey called and said he had salmon for lunch. What? ReallY? I'm really happy for him and it's only been a week, but I can already tell a difference in his attitude. I'm so use to me being the "healthy one"...but this morning I woke up and Trey had just got home from the gym. I was about to do some cross training on the elliptical, since Cheyenne decided to sleep in this morning. I was getting my water and about to start stretching and Trey was eating oatmeal with bananas and making his protein shake. What I'm trying to say is...I'm not use to this new version of Trey, but I like it.

Discovering New Food. We Eat What we Know.

Again, I’ve discovered more food. Of all things, it’s butternut squash. I know it’s not exactly an exotic vegetable, but I saw it at the grocery store and I thought Cheyenne would like it. We eat what we know and I never grew up eating it, but I want to introduce Cheyenne to a variety of veggies and fruits---even the ones I don’t normally eat. I better introduce the good stuff to her now before she gets to the phase of macaroni, pizza, and nuggets -- only.

Growing up, I remember my mom always had lettuce and tomatoes in the house. And now as an adult, “just about” every meal I have I eat it with greens and tomatoes.
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Since, I’m on the topic of food, here is an interesting article I read in Runners World, by Mark Bittman. It's a list of items runners should have in their pantry. I added comments next to the list.

The Runner’s Pantry List
1. Grains—Check! My favorite way to get grains-oatmeal, waffles, pasta, and brown rice.
2. Beans--- You don’t have to tell me twice. We have these several times a week. Beans are the cornerstone of the Anderson kitchen.
3. Olive Oil—Check!
4. Long-Keeping Vegetables and Fruits---I typically have fresh veggies and fruit for myself. I should keep more cans and freezer items on hand.
5. Fresh Herbs---Cilantro is my herb of choice.
6. Spices—Ummm Cumin?
7. Vinegar—Balsamic & Red Wine Vinegar
8. Soy Sauce—Nope---I never buy this stuff. Too much salt in soy sauce, but I wouldn’t mind making a stir-fry dish and adding a small amount of soy sauce to it.
9. Parmesan---Check!
10. Dried Fruit and Nuts—Cranberry’s for my granola bars, walnuts for oatmeal, and peanuts for a fast snack.
11. Eggs—Always in the fridge.
12. Bacon---We always have bacon on the weekend.
13. Canned Tomatoes---Nope. I do fresh. But like I said, I need to buy more can products.
14. Sweeteners—I do light brown sugar for most treats and white sugar for coffee. I don’t like artificial sugars.
15. Dried Mushrooms—on rare occasions I buy mushrooms, but they are tasty.

The article left off a crucial item, CHOCOALTE! Every runner needs a treat in the pantry. What’s the point of running 16 miles a week without a few treats?

Read the original article.

Flu Season Approaching

Pick me up...PLEASE

On the Move

Oh my goodness, look at those rolls....Love it!

Is everyone ready for flu season? Yesterday, I got my first flu shot. UTA is offering shots to faculty, staff, and students at a reasonable price. I only paid 15.00 and I hear places like Walgreens and CVS are charging 25.00. Some people say the shot makes them sick, but so far I feel alright....although, my arm feels a little sore.

TV, Food, and Running...The Perfect Combination

I finally got a long RCA cable to go from the satellite box to my treadmill. So, now I can flip through channels and get some miles in. I usually switch between the Food Network, ABC, Planet Green, CNN, and FIne Living Network. Before I had the RCA cable I would usually listen to music or watch a DVD--or stare out the window for 40 minutes--interesting I know. Sometimes, Trey comes in the room while I'm on the treadmill and he'll stare at me...it's annoying and he knows it. haha.....

I cross trained on the treadmill, Saturday, just walking on a 3.0 incline and I think I may have injured my back. Yeah, from walking. Maybe it was because I had too much power in my power walk, yeah...that's it--But seriously, I think it's because I didn't stretch enough. Today, my back feels much better.

Here is a picture of Cheyenne doing some shopping over the holiday weekend. I had to blur the box in the background, it's a gift....for a special couple.

8 Mile Run

Time: 1 hour 27 mins
Average Pace Per Mile: 10:56

This morning I ran by myself. I hope I didn't scare Liz away. I doubt it. It's hard waking up early on a Saturday morning. I thought about skipping too, but knew I would regret it later on, so I got my tired butt out of bed and laced up. Normally, I don't have probelms getting out the door, but last night around 3 am, Cheyenne leaked through her diaper and I had to change her (clothes and all). She went back down, but then around 4:30 am--woke up again, this time hungry. I fed her in bed and then took her back to the crib. Waking up in the middle of the night, is really out of character for her. Weird. Because of the night interruptions, my run this morning felt slow. Towards the end I got a good boost of energy, but overall, I fell like I could've done better.

So, this month I will run 9 miles, during one of my long runs. I don't think I'll do that next week, but maybe the next. We'll see how it goes. And then by October I will be running 10 miles. Woo! Just thinking about it makes me sweat. I'm averging about 16 miles a week. I never thought I'd be covering so much ground, but it feels good.

But other than running, we've been taking it easy at the house and watching college football. We've also been playing with Chey. She is now clapping her hands. Take a look.