The Light At The End Of The Refrigerator...

The Light at the End of the Refrigerator is actually the title of a book my Mom bought when I was a kid... all about different foods that heal.

That book was what originally got me thinking of food in terms of it's nutritional, healing properties rather than just to fill a physical or emotional void.

But today, I'm using this title in it's literal sense of the word...

When is the last time you've seen the light at the end of your refrigerator?

If you're as bad as me, it's been at least a year!

So since we eat with our eyes first... it's important that our fridge be clean, inviting and organized.

That way we know exactly what we have and it's easier to decide what to eat!
If you're working on a whole foods, raw diet... like I'm about to get serious about doing here with the juicing... then a clean fridge is even more important since produce has a shorter shelf life!

SO today, I went grocery shopping.... and before putting the groceries away... while the fridge was nearly empty, I emptied it and scrubbed it down!

Now I didn't take before pictures because I didn't realize this would become my blog entry for the day... but you can use your imagination!

IT. WAS. NASTY!!!

There was what I presume to be a plum at one point that had turned itself into a prune while resting on the light cover in the back bottom of my fridge!  EWE!  Some sort of brown, sticky stuff that I assume was liquid at one point before it hardened on the back of the fridge... drizzled down all the shelves to the basin below!  It was a witch to scrub off!  The sides and glass were smudged and contained crumbs!

No wonder I kept losing my fresh stuff... mixed up with expired, moldy, old stuff!
What a waste of time and money... and food!

How many times have I opened the fridge and then closed it again, with out even realizing that it was because I was not enticed with the eye enough to actually pull anything out and do something with it!?!

SO, no more!
For now on, I'm going to make an effort to keep it looking like this:

Pretty huh?! :)

Now what would you say if I told you that about 75% of what you see here I purchased today for less than $60?! 

And we'll eat on this for about a week... as a family of 5!

I hear a lot of people using the excuse that they can't afford to eat healthy!

I call BS!  

I have actually cut 30% off the to top of my grocery budget by eating only what's on the outside aisles of the grocery store... shopping sales helps too! 

But it's actually a lot less expensive to eat the right things... IF you're not trying to buy the junk too!

So that's my progress towards my goal today... might have a bum ankle... or wheel as my girlfriend put it, but that doesn't mean there isn't something small I can do each day to improve my chances of success!

Salute!  To your Health!

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead!

I haven't had a KANKLE this big since I was ready to give birth to my kids!

I may be laid up here with a sprained ankle and an ice pack... doing my ABC's with my toes to stretch out... but that doesn't mean I'm not still working towards my goal!

The fact that I can't work out for at least a week means that I'll have to be more diligent than ever in eating and drinking all the right things!

Because, we lose weight in the kitchen and get fit in the gym!

I received a ton of positive feedback from the introduction of the VitaMix!
Not only do I LOVE it, I am finding many of my friends love it as well!

One of my oldest and dearest friends Kim, shared this website with me on facebook.

Kim has never been heavy a day in her life, even though she's had 4 babies!  

She has always looked amazing... and maybe this is why!?  :)

http://www.jointhereboot.com/index.php?lang=en 

(I like the concept of this website, and loved the documentary... but I have to say I had issues when trying to sign up and just navigating the site in general... it would load up really slow, in comparison to other sites that I was on at the same time with no trouble.  I have still not been able to get signed up... and all I want is the recipe's so I may have better luck on the web with a search!?)

I hadn't considered juicing exclusively.... but after watching this documentary Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead, featured on the website above... I'm thinking I need to be juicing more!

Here's a link to the documentary if you're interested:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/289122/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead

Then I see another friend of mine on facebook, Sarah... posting about this very documentary and it starts to feel, again.... like the universe is trying to tell me something!  I'm listening!

I found it to be very Inspiring!  

It made me think about what started me on this journey in the first place... a health scare!

I've had a few... tumor in my thyroid, dangerously high cholesterol, but when I found myself just months ago feeling like I was having diabetic shock... that is what scared me into action.

The thought of having diabetes freaks me right out!

I don't know if I could juice exclusively for 60 days... but I'm thinking of trying to juice 2X per day starting May Day (May 1st) through the end of the month... and having a healthy dinner each night.  That, for me... is doable!  At the end of May, we go on vacation!  So a month should be just right?!

My favorite takeaway from the documentary is when he says, when we skin our knee, we leave it alone and it heals itself.  Why can't the same be true for the insides of our bodies?  When we're sick... we should give our body the nutrients and rest that it needs and let it heal itself!  YES!

I believe that we can prevent disease and heal our bodies with the foods we eat and drink.
Medicine and antibiotics are great... as a last resort!  (In my humble opinion of course).

Get Lost!

                                                            Veteran Acres, Crystal Lake IL.


Yesterday, I got lost!  And it was SO much fun!!

I had been out to Veteran Acres in Crystal Lake before to take family pictures and our photographer at the time pointed out the trails behind the park.  That was 3 years ago!
I have been meaning to go back there and run those trails ever since!  Yesterday seemed as good a day as any!
I get bored with the same routes and scenery so I need to switch it up!

When I see winding trails and hills, I get excited!  I have no idea why that is?!
Running is just in my blood... I don't know how to walk, when I can run... I want to run!
And the more exciting the terrain the faster I seem to go!
It's strange... does anyone else experience this?

So imagine my excitement yesterday when I find these trails!
Such a mix of forest and prairie and a maze of trails leading so many different directions.
At first, I was stumped.  Which way do I go?!

I finally just decided to 'get lost!'  And I was okay with that!  In fact it added to the excitement of it!
I had no idea where I was going and I didn't care, I was enjoying the journey!
Good analogy for life I think!  I need to quit over analyzing every move I make and just MOVE IT!

Remember the GIT (Grand Illinois Trail) I mentioned in an early post.... it runs side by side with the Sternes Woods and Veteran Acres Trails... they're all interwoven... so it really allowed for some great scenery and distance!

So these trails, some are small and narrow as if not intended to be there... the road less traveled, those excited me the most... so my dance training came in handy here!  I did a lot of sideways 'grapevines' down narrow path hills and some 'chasse's!'  Also, just like in tap dancing... I  had to remind myself to keep my ankles loose!
I was running on sand, dirt, mud, rocks, mulch, grass... you name it, it was all there!
It is ESSENTIAL to keep your ankles loose in this kind of terrain!

It's like a car accident, if you tense up, you'll be in a lot more pain and possibly suffer greater injury than if you keep it loose!  That's why you hear those stories about drunk drivers walking away uninjured.

I was doing good, going way too fast, enjoying the hell out of myself and around mile 4.2
I was coming down a gravel hill on a turn and I cut across the path to the inside lane, big mistake!
Right in the middle of the path, unseen to me was a small hole.  My left foot caught it and it rolled inward.

I fell to the ground so hard I hurt my back and both wrists!  I fell so hard the dust cloud I was sitting in took a few minutes to clear before I could see again!  I have never fallen that hard or twisted my ankle that bad in my life!
I had my ipod on and I heard a pop noise all the way up into my skull!

I remember my inner and outer dialogue very well!
It was as if it was all in slow motion!
I was choking back tears more from fear then from pain.
I saw all of my running dreams going down the drain!
I saw myself in a cast on crutches and I quickly begin to pray and beg God even for forgiveness for talking crap about my husband on a public blog or whatever he might be humbling me for!?

I kept saying, no.... no......no......no.....no.....no....no, somehow hoping that if I said NO enough times this would NOT be happening!  This is every runner's worst fear... injury.

I quickly took both shoes and socks off so I could compare them.   I started moving my ankle around, twirling it around, up and down, side to side.... it hurt, but not too bad.  I could move everything and my toes!
The true test would be whether or not I could put weight on it?!?!

I started to get up.... but before I did I thought to myself... ummm, what if I can't put weight on this foot.  How will I get out of here?
I don't have my cell phone with me... (big mistake, when getting lost... take a phone!)
But even if I did have my phone, I would have no idea how to tell someone where I am at!

So I got up and limped on it until I felt like I could walk... I was ok!
It's not broken, just a sprain!

I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO relieved!  Thank God!!

I quickly put my socks and shoes back on and continued on... I walked about a mile before the call of the path was too great and I HAD to run!  Now I realize this is dumb... but I can't  help myself.... I told myself I would just jog, and I did.... until, I saw this trail!  OH this trail!

It was the best trail of the day and it just happened to be the last 1.2 miles heading back in... and Queen's We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions just happened to be coming through the ipod at this time and the combination of it all was too much to resist.
I finished my 8.5 miles ... the last mile at a 7:58 time!

I broke my 8 minute mile!  Granted, it was only by 2 seconds and there was a lot of down hill on this path... but still, this is after 7.5 miles and a sprained ankle!
There is something to be said for endorphins here!

I haven't had a Runner's High like that... maybe ever?!

And as I lay here RICEing my ankle... (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate) all I can think about is getting back out there to run it AGAIN!  :)  I'll give this thing at least a week to repair and recover... but in the meantime I'll be dreaming of my next run!

I realize I am probably too old and too broken for this $#*%.... but somehow, I just wont feel alive in this lifetime if I can't run!  And so it is.

That's life right?!  We need to get out there, get lost, keep loose, dance when we're in a pinch, fall down, get back up, but above all.... KEEP MOVING and enjoy the Journey! ;)

His Needs, Her Needs...

No, I'm not discussing the relationship self help book.... although I own it and it's a good one.
I'm just speaking generally here.

How in the heck do you all balance out your needs, with your husbands needs, with your kids needs?!

This feels like a constant struggle in my life.

I have to start out with the fact that I am very proud of Jeff...he has been really steadfast on this weight loss thing!  I mean, he is so all or nothing... and when he puts his mind to something... he does it.
He's at the gym when he's not at work.  And it's showing.
I'm impressed by his ability to watch me eat french fries and not even have one!

BUT here's the thing... if history is an indicator... he'll do this til' he reaches his goal weight and then he'll slack off and eventually give way to the temptation of yummy food again... you can't live your whole life with out ever enjoying good (bad) food again!
And usually he let's the lifestyle of making healthier choices and working out go because he doesn't have BALANCE!

YA, I want to lose weight... but I love food just as much so once I reach my goal weight, (and obviously before then too)  I'll just be moderating and working out so that I CAN eat the stuff I want... in moderation... once in a while.

Anyhow, I've been joking with him that he's going to need to run this race for me, because he's getting a lot more gym time!

Granted, I don't work out in a gym so I am dependent on weather to get my work outs in, but I also have 3 kids six years old and under that are dependent on me constantly... so when they're home sick, so am I.   And at the very least I usually have at least one in tow... and honestly, I'm not loving running with a stroller.  It just doesn't have the freedom component... one of the things I love most about running.

I feel like there's a complete imbalance when it comes to the sexes.
I would be willing to bet that whether a woman works outside of the home or not the majority, if not all of the responsibility of the home and children, falls on the woman!?

So maybe it's not that men just lose weight easier than women... maybe men just have it easier period.
If I had the freedom to leave and do whatever I needed to do whenever I wanted to do it... things might be different!?

Just say'n....

and on that note... he is finally off today, so I am going to

Fast... and far... and I may not come back... til' tomorrow!  :) 

OH wait, but first I need to get all my kids ready for school, make sure lunches and snacks are eaten/packed and make sure there is nothing else left undone...  you feel'n me ladies?!

Curbing the Cravings...

The weather has been chilly... after being in the high 70's and low 80's.. to the high 40's low 50's sent this house right back into sickness!  Ugh!  

My kids missed 5 days of school, which made me want to pull my hair out... and quickly made me panic and wonder how in the world I might survive the summer!?!  

WHICH reminded me that we are supposed to be taking a trip out west to Vegas and Cali, to see our families in June and celebrate a wedding in the family an just catch up because it's been 2 years too long since we have!  

So I haven't slept in 2 days!  I've been combing the internet non stop and on the phone trying to figure out what our schedule will look like and what everyone in our families schedules will be like... and I'm still in the middle of all this planning!  Realizing that time has gone by way too quick and we are literally planning this vacation last minute here!  When will I learn!?

So I was doing real good with the sickness and all... chicken soup, vitamix smoothies... until, this evening.  My son asked me for a happy meal and well, it seemed like a good opportunity to negotiate getting my family room picked up in exchange... all the while escaping chicken soup for a 3rd time and cooking dinner!  Win, win, win for me! :)

Where I lose is when I caved and ate those french fries and a fried chicken sandwich!  

And might I add that I haven't run in 2 days!  Eeeek!  Seriously, Mel?!  

Tomorrow... your butt is run'n!  

Unless I catch the kids cold and I'm flatlined ... (knock on wood).

Hey, remember one of my first posts when I was discussing cravings and how when we crave something I felt it was that we actually need something in it or even something else entirely?!  And I was wondering if anything has ever been proven on it.... well, I'm not sure if this is 'proven' I found this on Pinterest... but thought it was interesting! 

I notice french fries and fried chicken sandwiches aren't on the list!?  Hmmmmm....  ;)

It's Better With A Friend Like You!

Today, Kris and I hit the trails together!  This is us stretching... HA!  :)
(I didn't shave so don't look too close)  She is training for a 5k Dirty Girl Mud Run coming up here... and she's got this fun program on her phone where the (unnamed lady) yells at us "Walk" or "Run"... funny how she always had us running on the inclines!

It was nice to get out of the house, breathe some fresh air and catch up with my girl!
We did a little retail therapy after that... followed by some dinner... and what do you know!?
The Funky mood is Gone!

It's amazing how much easier and even fun it was to run with a buddy!
I hope we can do this more often!

I was back to the grind today with my health food smoothies!  I did however enjoy a grilled avocado, tomato and cheese sandwich!  It was delicious and I highly recommend it! ;)

In A Funk...

You ever have one of those days... or even a few of those days... where you just feel funky!?

No real reason why... you just don't feel much motivation or desire to do anything?  

Not happy, not sad... not anything really... just... bleh!

Well, I have been feeling funky!  

I lost 2 more pounds... and even that barely mustered any excitement.  

I ate pizza tonight with the kids, and yesterday I enjoyed some artery clogging french fries that I washed down with a soda!  It's been so long since I've had a soda, I hiccuped through it and couldn't finish it because it tasted too sweet!  Imagine that!  I used to drink several a day!

I watched like 3 different movies, read, watched some crappy reality TV like 16 and Pregnant... believe it or not shows like that actually make me feel better!  It's like... man, I thought Motherhood was rough and I'm 32... at least I'm not trying to raise kids in my parents house, with zero income and a baby's daddy that just barely acquired facial hair... while I struggle to get a GED!  

I mean, things could always be worse, right?! 

So anyhoo... this blog is a confession of sorts.  

I have been a lazy... falling hard off her own bandwagon, bum!  

I have been feeling bad about this... but then I read a quote that said 

"Time wasted... if enjoyed, was not wasted" and it actually made me feel a lot more justified in my actions.  I mean really, sometimes we just need to be.  

"We're human beings not human doings."  Right!?

But tomorrow... it's back on the band wagon!  

I'll be a Vega, kale, flax seed smoothie sucking... running, circuiting... fool!  :)  

Til' then, I'll be in my bed if you need me... watching Smash!  

(Love me some McPhee y'all!)  ;)

*** Edited to add that while watching Smash... what do they roll onto the set for their high maintenance star?!

A VitaMix Blender, Kale and Flax Seed smoothies!  

HA!  Too funny!  I had to actually laugh out loud!

See what I mean?!  Everywhere you look... inspiration and validation!

You're on the right path! ;)  

OK, funk over!

Thanks to my friend Kristin for promptly calling me after this post to make a 'wogging' (walk/jogging) date for tomorrow evening!  Good look'n out friend, thanks for keeping me moving! 

If You Deserve Commitment From Anyone, It's Yourself!

It's a scary thing to realize we're all alone.  

We come into the world alone.  

We leave the world alone.  

We may or may not have family and friends, spouses and children along the way... but really, at the core... we know that the one and only consistent thing we can always count on in this world... is that we will always have ourself!  

Hopefully, you are at peace and love with yourself, regardless of your image... because you'll be spending a lot of time together!  

It's true.  If we deserve commitment from anyone... it is ourself.

And yet time and time again, we put our own needs on the back burner.  

We tell ourselves we aren't important.  

We can wait.  

We search so long and hard for others to fill our voids and when they don't we feel neglected and angry... wondering why we feel so alone.  

Forgetting that it's our responsibility and ours alone.  

Now don't get me wrong, I believe the human exchange and mutual connection is vital to our experience here on earth... it's something we all need and search for!  But it should never trump our own relationship and our own experience with ourself and in my personal perspective, God.

The trouble starts when we start putting expectations on others that really shouldn't be there.  

We should never expect anyone else to give us more than they're able.  

Or to be someone they're not.  

Or to shut out the world to protect our fragile egos... never experiencing human connection with any other soul.  

Wouldn't life be simpler, richer even ... if we all took one giant step back to see that life isn't a race or a competition... but about the fulfillment of our soul, lessons learned... experiences gained.  

Wouldn't we all be happier if we stopped trying to please everyone else and gave ourselves permission to make ourselves happy for a change.  

Wouldn't those around us in turn, feel that release of pressure and responsibility that should have never been theirs in the first place.  

What if we could be honest with ourselves and each other about what does or does not work and why.  

What if we were enough.  All on our own!  

What if we were truly supportive, loving, kind and happy for one another... or truly sorry or empathetic when necessary... because we come from a place of wholeness and not lack!

It's not about being selfish.

It's about being responsible enough to be self-full!

And this is what this journey is about for me.  

Getting back in touch with me.  

Getting strong and brave and facing my life and truth head on!  

It's not a fad, or a phase... not a race to be run then I'm done.  

This is a lifestyle change!  

A resurrection of sorts.  

From the fearful and lifeless back to the living and brave.

I encourage you all to consider the same. 

If not now, when?

A Clean House Is A Sign Of No Internet Connection

My computers are working fine... it was our connection that wasn't so great.  Along with our digital voice telephones.  Comcast.  They suck, seriously!  They sent people out twice to fix the problem only the problem was never fixed and every time we'd call to report loss of connection they'd tell us to go unplug and reset our modem.  

They wanted me to live under my desk, I'm convinced of it!  

And they offered zero customer service... we'd been with them for 6 years at $200/month... and the best we could get was a 'sorry Mam, we can get someone there (for the 3rd time) in a few days."  

First off, don't call me Mam!  

Second, what in sweet carnation makes them think I have any faith they can get it right the 3rd time around and why should I give them the opportunity to try when At&t offers more for less $?!  

So, we switched.  It took the At&t tech all day to rewire the house in the basement and the attic and get it all up and working... but so far, I am much happier with the switch!

What became apparent to me while our service was down was how much time I spend on the computer, phone and internet!  And how much time my kids spend watching TV or playing video games, both were unavailable to them for the day so we had to get creative.  They painted, picked up a guitar and played... played the piano, read books and helped me clean and cook!  My house got cleaner then it's been in a long time... hmmmm.... I've never thought my 'addiction' to technology was that big or that strong but being with out it has made me realize how strong it actually is... and consuming!  I've felt out of the loop even if I've missed nothing!

We should probably lose our internet, TV and phone altogether and we might be smarter more well rounded people... living in a cleaner home!  Hmmmm.... maybe one thing at a time... for now I'll just focus on healthier eating and living. :)

I talked to my good (healthy living guru) friend Carey the other day and she reminded me that I could also use the VitaMix for Tzatziki dip and hummus!  Two of my favorites!  

And the plain, non fat greek yogurt makes a good, healthier substitute for sour cream as well... so I really should substitute it in more often.

Tzatziki dip is good with just about anything, but I like it best with carrots and celery... my kids liked it too!

To make it, mix well:

1 container of non fat plain greek yogurt

1 package of Feta

1 small onion

1/2 lemon squeezed

2 cloves of garlic 

then

1 cucumber cut and mixed in after

Dill and Oregano to taste

*Mine came out a little runnier then I would have liked... and I read (after, of course) that I should have strained the liquid out of the greek yogurt by putting it into a coffee filter and resting it on top a glass... next time.  The taste is still good though, thinking of incorporating it into a greek chicken dish.

I like to wash and cut my veggies so they're ready to eat.  FYI, celery is kept best wrapped in foil.  

I've had it last for weeks in a paper towel and foil.

Nummy!  :)

Speaking of Technology addictions... I've just caught this movie on one of my new movie channels called Saint Ralph ... It just sucked me in!  All about a kid whose Mom is in a comma and needs a miracle to wake up.  He prays and he trains to run (and win) the Boston Marathon "If you're not chasing miracles in life, what's the point" is my favorite take away so far... I haven't finished watching yet so I can't tell you how it ends even if I did want to spoil it for you... but I find it interesting... how even when we're not looking for it, inspiration finds us!  

Ever notice that?  How when you set your mind to something...  that something, seems to be everywhere you look! ;)

Taco Bell, huh? Jamba Juice, wha?

Today the weather was kinda 'egh' ... and since the walking pneumonia incident, I can't seem to run outside anymore if the temp falls below 50!  It rips my lungs a new one!  So although my foot still feels great (Yay Asics) and I feel pretty good... I opted for working out indoors.  Most of which I did on my back... focusing on the abs!  Some light cardio... kind of a recovery day.

My son asked for Taco Bell after school and I was almost about to do it... but instead, went to the store where we picked up some whole wheat, high fiber... low carb tortillas.  Light sour cream, low fat cheese, tomato, lettuce, ground Chicken and get this... refried BLACK beans!
Did you even know there was such a thing!?  Me either!  Yup, organic refried black beans!  I LOVE refried beans and was wishing yesterday that I could have some in my burrito so imagine my excitement when I found this healthier option!
There was a happy dance on aisle 7!  :)
The burritos were delicious and not even the kids could tell the difference!
I cringe to think about all these years that I've been doing full fat sour cream and cheese, brown beans, white bread and white flour tortillas.  Sure they taste great... but so do the healthier alternatives!
Either way, home made is always better than fast food!  So much sodium and MSG... and what the heck is in that meat anyway?!

My middle son came home complaining of a soar throat!  :/  The weather has been kinda bipolar lately... colds happen!  So I immediately turned to my VitaMix.  Ice, two whole oranges freshly squeezed, one packet of EmergenC with 1000 mg of Vitamin C (tangerine flavor, yum!), 1 banana, a handful of black berries, a tbsp. of flax seed, and a good squeeze of honey....

It was num-e!

Taco Bell and Jamba Juice used to be two of my favorite places... but now.... who needs 'em!?  ;)

Sometimes, You Just Need A Quickie!

Get your minds outta the gutter! ;)  A quick run... this is not that kind of blog! Ha!  :)

Don't mind me, while I amuse myself.
So today, I went for a quick run... 2.5 miles in 21.38 minutes... no stops, 9 minute miles!  I am very happy with that as that is the best I've done yet... and I think I owe it all to my new shoes!!  Love'n me some Asics Gels!!  This morning I woke up with out ANY pain!  None!  Do you have any idea how amazing that is for me, it's been months since I could walk to the bathroom in the morning with out holding onto furniture due to this dang right foot!  I am amazed and grateful!!  So very grateful!

Are you embracing the bounce?!  Ya, me neither!  I tried the whole..."well what's the difference between fat on your belly or fat on your chest, why is one sexy while one is not!?" stuff... but it only works so well, ya know!?  Which leads me to my other great find... spandex.
Let's get real for a minute here.... when you've gained weight (like I have) it aint pretty in the thigh area.  There will be rubbing and chafing... ouch!  And that belly blubber bouncing... ugh!  It's all very annoying and a constant reminder that you indeed have been a lazy ass!
I get it, I'm fat... but that's why there is spandex shorts with tummy control fronts to hold it all in and prevent the chafing.  I wore them under my running shorts... yes I said shorts, it was sunny and warm today... albeit windy, my hat kept blowing off... I now need sunblock! :)
Anyhow, point is, no more bounce and no more chafing!
They're a fat girls best friend! :)

Here are some pics from my run today!  Would you just look at this path!  Do you hear that?
"Come run me... come run me..."   :)

While I was on the path today I came across this:

Someone spray painted on the path "Don't Pity the Living"

This resonated with me enough that I took a picture!  Not that I want pity, ever... but until recently I have been alive, but not living... there's a difference between breathing and living!

After my run, I had a smoothie for lunch!  The Vega One has enough carbs and nutrients and it's filling enough to be a meal replacement!  I added that to three pieces of kale, a tablespoon of flax seed, some strawberries, blueberries, almond milk and ice.  It's healthy and delicious!  And Kale and Flax Seed, if you haven't heard by now are real SUPER foods!  Seriously, they give you Super Powers such as fighting 9 different types of cancer, improving your bowels, skin, hair, energy and so much more!  Cheers to that! :)

YA.... I got the curly straw... don't be jealous! ;)

Embrace the Bounce!

Today the weather was just right for a good run!  And seeing as I've got these new shoes to break in... that's just what 'we' did... sissy and I, while the boys were in school.  I put her in the stroller and we were off!  I felt sluggish at first, it's been a while... too long!
The baby condo was bouncing again and distracting me... but I'm learning to embrace the bounce... it wont go anywhere if I don't.
So instead, I played mind games with myself... pretending my belly bouncing was hot,... in the way some might view Pam Anderson running on the beach... oh if only I could push the blubber UP!

Around mile two, I started to feel good... and realized the shoes... were still awesome!   I tied my laces loser than usual and it took some getting used to, but I can see why it's important!

I am very happy with these shoes!  I'm reluctant to say "I've found the one" for fear that these too will turn into a toad!  But dare I say, I really think, hope and feel it to be so!  So much so that I have 5 pair sitting in my amazon shopping cart right now.
Well, they no longer make them... and they're clearanced out for $54.99 with free shipping... that's a great deal!  And look how long and hard I've looked, and how much I've spent to get here!
I don't know, maybe 5 pair is a bit much.... HA!

So just when I was starting to get my stride my daughter starts whining about something ...I thought she was saying "a bug go!?"  she hates bugs!  But I kept telling her there's no bug and she kept insisting..."abuggo" what does that mean in 2 year old language?
Finally, it clicks when I see her trying to lift the stroller tray!
She's saying "Abajo, Abajo" = "Down, down!"  ...  :/  Thanks, Dora the Explorer!

I have to admit I was really reluctant to let her out of the stroller, I was just getting a good pace!
But who can argue with a two year old in Spanish!?  Not me... so I just said "si" and let her "abajo".

Instead of wishing she were in the stroller so I could run, I began wishing I had brought my camera!
She was too cute chasing the flutterby's and blowing the dandelions!  She walked, skipped, hopped and ran for nearly a mile!  So happy!   We saw birds and ducks and even a beaver, all the while... I made an effort to suck in my stomach the entire time we walked!  Holy isometrics, Batman!  My stomach is sore as if I had done 100 crunches!
Whenever the thought crosses your mind, suck in your stomach and multi task, see how long you can hold it!  We used to do this in dance... and it's fantastic for toning!

We stopped at the park and played then ran home, just in time to get the boys from school!  What a great afternoon!

Time for dinner... and believe it or not, the Vitamix was not used for this meal... for a change :)  Starting to crave some substance!  So I made a combination of the squash, zucchini and cauliflower... cut up in noodle, stringy shapes or broken up small... cooked, drained, then I poured 3 eggs over the top along with some cheddar mixed in.  Sauteed up the onions, with some garlic, cayenne pepper, thyme, garlic herb, lemon pepper and bacon I had already cooked earlier...broken up small into bits.  Poured that over the top with more shredded cheddar and green onion, baked for 15 minutes while I cooked up some chicken for protein.
It was really good, and good for you!

Here it is before cooked.. and after below:

The kids love apple juice, but with all the arsenic concentrate from China crap stuff in the news lately, I've really lost my desire to purchase juice anymore.  And now with the Vitamix, I don't have to!  Two apples and one pear, (whole... stem and all... that's where most the fiber is) into the mixer with water and 2 tbsp's of organic sugar and voila, homemade apple/pear cider!
They loved it... and I loved not having to wonder if I was poisoning them or not!  :)

Runner Girl...

Hubby stuck this magnet on my car today... cute huh?!  Thanks Jeff... :)

I haven't blogged in a couple of days  (did ya miss me... I missed you!)  :)  

I may be hit or miss until we get our service switched over from Comcast to At&t on Friday.  Hoping we can get better service through At&t since customer service for any company these days seems non existent!  I have been trying to blog all afternoon, but my internet connection has been down... ugh!  So frustrating. 

But that's life isn't it?!  Sometimes, despite our best intentions... life happens.  Things come up that are just out of our control.  Such as Metatarsalitis or walking pneumonia.  Both of which are STILL plaguing my best attempts at progressively training.  So I just do what I can.

I have had my fears and reservations when it comes to aggressively training because my foot still really hurts and I don't want to make it worse.  Either way I feel bad... if I train I wonder if I'm hurting myself indefinitely or if I shouldn't be resting this injury more.  If I don't run, I feel like I should be running and training harder.  So I really have been in my own head making it impossible to win, either way by my own thoughts and feelings.

So yesterday, after book club... I asked my new book club friend Maggie for advice.  Maggie besides being a fabulous Mommy Blogger, Clothing line creator, Crafter, Chef and just over all fabulous... is also a Chiropractor!  

She was so kind to take the time to not only discuss my foot issues with me but actually, physically examine my foot in the parking lot after our meeting was over!  She gave me a ton of great information about how to treat and manage the injury... got me thinking a bit more about whether or not I should be running on the Newton's now or ever, since they can be so unstable in the toe front especially.  

But most importantly for me, she put my mind at ease by confirming that it seems to be more of a muscle tendon issue and most likely not a break.  I'm going to be going in to have her adjust me and hope that will help also... so if you live in the Chicagoland area and are looking for a great Chiropractor... you may wish to consider Active Family Chiropractic!  

Maggie, thank you again... so very much for taking the time to share your expertise!

Active Family Chiropractic

http://www.welcometoafc.com/

And if you're interested in checking out all of Maggie's other endeavors, see below:

Blog:  Smashed Peas and Carrots

Crafting, Kids and Crazy Fun!

www.SmashedPeasandCarrots.blogspot.com

Shop: Smashed Peas and Carrots

Beautifully Handmade Goods for Children and Momma!

www.SmashedPeasandCarrots.com

Facebook: Smashed Peas and Carrots

www.facebook.com/SmashedPeasandCarrots

Twitter: Smashed Peas and Carrots

http://twitter.com/smshedpncarrots

So once again... reconsidering my running shoes... I decided it was time to try... AGAIN!  (sigh)

So this afternoon, I packed up my Brooks and my Newtons and took a trip to see Eric over at Running Unlimited in Palatine, IL.  http://www.runningunlimited.com/index.html  

Eric really knows his stuff!  I was also reassured by the fact that the first thing he said, after I explained my predicament... was that he was stumped.  He said "I would choose the Brooks for you, again!"

So if it's a good shoe for me, why the shin pain?

So after more careful inspection Eric realized that I need a half size bigger and a wider shoe base.  I have wide feet I guess?!  AND, I tie my shoes too tight which is causing more pain, stress and possibly even injury.  He said you should be able to pull your foot out of your shoe with out undoing your laces.  This is going to take some getting used to!

So I tried the Brooks in 8.5 (half a size bigger) and wide base.  Ran around the block and while they were a lot better, I still had shin pain on my left.  He said this was because my left foot is bigger than my right.... what a mess I am, eh!?  ;)

So he pulled out the Asics Gels... Dad, I remembered you saying Karen (my step Mom) loves them, and I thought of Lacey praising the Asics and considered that perhaps a Stability shoe would work better than the one I had tried prior... I'll give it a go.  Around the block in the Asic Gels and I was sold!  

Love them!  Of course, its the GT 2160's which they're no longer making... and Eric said the newer 2170's run more narrow which wont work for me... so I could very well be in the same predicament (looking for the right shoe again) 5 months from now.  If I don't buy every pair I can find in the older model first! ;) HA!

So as much as I loved the fact that the Newtons didn't hurt when I ran in them... they weren't helping my injury either... and I couldn't walk in them without calf pain.  

Thank Goodness a woman reserves the right to change her mind! ;)

So I'll be exchanging the Newtons to Roadrunner Sports thanks to their 60 day return policy and selling my Brooks on ebay.

I am now an Asics girl.  Whooda thunk it?!  :)  

So beyond this, it's been more magical moments with my new VitaMix!

Split Pea soup (with Boars Head Ham... cause Boars Head is A-mazing good!)  and frozen Limonaid had us mmmmmm-ing as of late!

And just look at my purdy new jars I got to house my flax seed and organic cane sugar... idn't dat niiiice! :)

Move Over Cookie Jar... There's A New Kid In Town!

I got my Vita Mix yesterday, and used it all day long today!  I can tell you right now, I'm going to need to clear off some space on my countertop because this bad boy is never getting 'put away!'

I am in LOVE with it, already!   Seriously, so impressed!  Thanks Mom for helping me to get it! 
Happy early Birthday to me!  :)

For lunch I made myself a smoothie.  1 piece of washed Kale, (when you're buying organic watch for the worms.. they love kale... or keep'm extra protein ;)  HA!  JK)  1 tbsp. of flax seed, 2 strawberries, a quick grab a blueberries, 1 tsp. of my new Vega powder, and half a cup of almond milk.  Blended it up with some ice and voila!  Filled me up for hours and I still have steady, natural energy from the Vega One....not the stereotypical jittery then crash and burn energy!

After school the kids wanted milkshakes... so I put in a banana, 4 strawberries, a grab of blueberries, 1 cup of almond milk, washed kale, a scoop of peanut butter and a packet of carnation instant breakfast for the chocolate flavoring and vitamins and minerals.  Mixed it all up with some ice and 'tadda'.... "Milkshakes!" :)
They sucked them down in minutes!

For an early dinner.... the kids helped me make a simple soup in the Vitamix... 2 carrots, washed, but not peeled...even left the ends on!  2 pieces of celery, one tomato, couple slices of onion, clove of fresh garlic, 3 tbsp.s of cilantro, 1 cup of homemade chicken broth, a little warm water, a dash of Mrs. Dash lemon pepper and garlic herb... and mixed it up for a few minutes until smooth and hot!  The VitaMix flash heats the food so it's still considered 'eating raw' cause it doesn't cook out the nutrients!  I mixed in some corn and black beans for texture and crushed up some whole wheat ritz crackers on top for the kids!  They gobbled it up!
Dinner. Done. Just like that.  And healthy to boot!  Saweeeeeeeet! :) 
I heart my VitaMix! 

Pre-K Play!

Today was a fun and exhausting day!   My middle son is in Pre-k and his class had a field trip to Petco to learn more about pets for pets week at school.  His teacher's asked me to chaperone, but I couldn't bring little sis, so big ol' thanks to my good friend Kristin for taking Sissy for me so I could go!

My son was so happy to have Mama there with him on his 1st Field Trip and I was excited to be there also!
I was 'the shiny new toy' as his teacher put it because suddenly all of the 17 children wanted to simultaneously play with me, talk to me or hold my hand!

I'm telling you, if you're ever having a bad day or feeling low... go hang out with a bunch of kids, they'll make you feel like the best thing since sliced bread!

After the field trip I joined the class for circle time where I read them stories and then we had outside play... where we (you guessed it) ran races!
My son said, 'can we run Mom?' so I said of course... and the next thing I know I had 17 kids running around the play yard with me!  It was too cute!

I was a preschool teacher for 4 years before having kids and I have forgotten how much I loved and loathed it.  I mean, the kids are freak'n awesome, but man is it draining!  I was exhausted when I left!  And the germaphob in me just couldn't help feeling like I needed a good scrub down when I got home as well, HA!  You're always sick when you work with or have kids... just part of the gig!

I'd do it all again. :)

I also had a really great talk with my brother Tony this morning too!  I really need to catch up with him more!  He has a ton of good information about proper eating and nutrition as it relates to primitive lifestyle and Atkins... I wish I had been taking notes!  I'm going to need to follow up and get it all down!
Feeling very blessed for my family and friends and my health!

Happy Birthday to Papa who is 87 today!  May we all live as long and as happy as he... love you Papa!