Success is Sweet!

I have been training since the beginning of the year for a half marathon, and two days ago I was finally able to put all my preparation to the test.  I ran the Hobble Creek Half Marathon (13.1 miles) in 2:12.  I was hoping to finish in 2:30 when I first started training, and then as time has passed this year I have gotten faster.  After my last training run I thought I might be able to finish in 2:15 to 2:20, so when I crossed the finish line at 2:12 I was so proud! I wasn't running with a watch or a pace group or anything, just going at a pace I was comfortable with.  I loved seeing family cheering me on and it made me want to go faster. I saw two of my sisters and my kids just after mile 10, and I knew Jacob would be waiting for me at about mile 11.5. It was a great feeling to be passing people during the last few miles of the race instead of being passed like I had been for the first half of the race.  It is hard to explain the feeling of satisfaction I still feel at having accomplished something that felt so big when I first decided to do it. 
After the race I was riding home with Jacob in the car and I had the biggest grin on my face.  I felt like a kid at Christmas who just got exactly what they wanted.  I still have that same grin when I think about how I felt finishing the race, passing two women who were in front of me coming down the home stretch, knowing that I had worked many long hours to prepare for just that moment of personal victory.  I didn't break a world record, or run the fastest time, but for me it was the fastest and farthest I had ever run.  That is enough for me, for now anyway!
I need to sign up for some other races soon so I keep my running momentum.  It is easier for me to be consistent with my running if I know I am training for something specific.  It is like that with all goals, and for me, success is sweet!

Overcoming Obstacles

Despite our best efforts and planning sometimes things beyond our control come up. The most recent one for me being the passing of my grandmother.  Her funeral was the Friday before my first scheduled half marathon, with her graveside service the day of the race.  Because both events were far from home I made the decision not to run the race. I had been training and preparing and was excited to be able to run, but it didn't work out this time. 
I went running again this morning for the first time in two weeks.  I felt rusty and out of shape.  It can happen quickly when we don't keep a consistent schedule, but each day is a new day and a chance to start again. There are times when I don't want to go running, or eat or prepare healthy meals for myself and my family, but I can feel a big difference when I "give in" to my lazy side. I don't have as much energy or desire to do what needs to be done.
Acknowledge the times when things happen that are beyond your control, but don't let yourself be the obstacle you let keep you from your health and fitness goals. It is your choice to make the best of your own unique situation. Let that power move you on to success!
And a side note, I am registered for another half marathon in August, so I am still working toward my goal of competing in a half marathon this summer!

Slackers

All right, so things came up where we were out of town for long periods of time.  We were in Las Vegas for a funeral.  Going out of town can really take a toll on you in many different ways.  It is harder to eat good, it is harder to exercise, and it is hard to stay consistent with anything.  Things to consider when you are going out of town for either vacation or work, First, plan ahead.  Don't use this to make the excuse not to eat well or exercise.  I like to make sure I bring my running clothes and set times that I will be out running.  I also tell those who I am with that I will be gone during those times.  Having someone to "report" to, goes a long way.  The great thing about being away is you also get to explore new places while running.  Map your course so you know where you are running and how far you are running and then tell your buddy what that course will be so someone knows where you are.  Second, when going out to eat, if you have to go out to eat, choose places that are good for you such as Subway.  Choose the good meals that will give you energy.  If you can, try and buy food at the grocery store and stick to what you know is best.  It will help you out health wise and also help your wallet out. Don't ever let being away from home be an excuse to be lazy and unhealthy.  These are the times to shine and show your desires to do good.

This week has been tough.  I feel like I am losing my running stamina.  I have been running so much over the last while that taking the week to rest is difficult.  I ran a little bit here and there to keep my legs fresh but nothing like I had done before.  I am getting nervous and excited all at once.  I just hope that the training that I had put in will pay off.

Get Moving

If healthy eating is the first step in the journey to health, being active is a close second. Take a minute to evaluate what your current level of activity is, and what your ideal level of activity would look and feel like.

• What would you be able to do? Hike your favorite trail? Ride a bike course? Run a 5K?
• How would you feel when you accomplished that?

Now you have that picture in your head so we need to put a plan in action that will get you there. Start each day saying: "Today I am physically active." And then follow through!

During this week schedule three 15-30 minute blocks where you can walk, bike, swim, or use an elliptical machine.  The mode of movement isn't as important as the moving itself.  Pick something you enjoy doing and you will be more likely to do it. Three times this week is the minimum. If you feel like doing more then do it, but be sure to get your three times in. Build confidence with yourself by following through.

Eating Healthy While Traveling

I am in Reno right now for my cousin's high school graduation. It is difficult to control what to eat when you travel, but we are fortunate to have access to condos with kitchens for our accommodations. I planned simple meals that I knew my kids would eat and brought most of our food from home to save money on the trip that we would have used for eating out.
When we arrived in Reno on Monday night and opened the back of our minivan my jar of spaghetti sauce for dinner fell out and broke on the ground. My first thought was that I was going to have to go find a store and get some more sauce, but I decided to get the kids into the room and see what I had packed in the cooler. I had fresh tomatoes and avocado, and the condo stocked basic spices (minced onion, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper), so I decided to throw a sauce together while the whole wheat spaghetti noodles were cooking. I quartered the tomatoes and scooped the avocado from the shell and put it in my high speed blender.  I added minced onion, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and a handful of oatmeal as a thickening agent. I processed it until smooth, and then spooned it over the hot noodles. It turned out to be a really tasty save on what I was sure was going to be a failed dinner plan. My kids were so tired and wound up they wouldn't eat, but even my dad, who was skeptical at first, ate every bite.
For Tuesday night I planned to make Black Bean Quesadillas. I packed 2 cans of black beans, fresh tortillas, and shredded cheese. I drained most of the liquid off of the beans and added them to the blender, with some minced onion, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and a dash of salt. I pulsed the blender to break up the beans but still leave them chunky, then warmed them slightly in a sauce pan on the stove. When they were warm enough I spread a spoonful of the beans on a fresh hot tortilla, topped it with cheese and another tortilla and put it in the frying pan until it was crisp on both sides and the cheese was melted. Simple and delicious.You could serve them with sour cream, plain yogurt, salsa, or avocado.

Saturday June 2.

Today's meal was a great meal.  It all came through the inspiration of Jacob.  He woke up from his nap and had thought about mixing some rice, and pineapple, and green onions, and some peppers.  Then put all that over some grilled chicken breasts.  So we took that in and created this wonderful meal.
The grilled chicken had some garlic salt and some rosemary herb seasoning on it.

Grocery Items

Our grocery bill is higher now that we are eating more healthy foods, and because our kids are getting bigger so they eat more.  This has been an adjustment for our budget, and for our tastebuds as we have moved away from heavily processed foods.  The plus side to both scenarios is that we spend less on doctor visits, and feel better physically than we did when our diet consisted mainly of processed foods.

For those of you who have a garden, (or a farmer's market) you may remember the satisfaction and contentment you feel eating fresh produce straight from the field. We eat many more fruits, vegetables, and grains at our house now.  Here are some typical grocery items found in our cart on a regular basis:

• Spinach - great in Green Smoothies, salads, on sandwiches
• Bananas, apples, oranges - great for snacks, in smoothies, for juice
• String cheese - great snack item, quick and portable protein source
• Cottage cheese - try it with fruit (we love pears and peaches) or with tomatoes for a delicious lunch.  Also great for snacks.
• Greek Yogurt - delicious with honey drizzled over it, excellent for tzatziki (a cucumber yogurt dip that is great with breads and sliced vegetables, also as a sandwich spread)
• Frozen fruit - berries and mixed - we use it in smoothies, on our granola, mixed in yogurt for a fruit dip
• Milk
• Eggs 
• Whole Wheat Bread - I am picky about this when I don't have time to make my own!

Other items that find their way on to our table are grains such as bulgur, quinoa, and brown rice, along with vegetables like sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots to name a few.

Welcome to the Journey!

"The joy is in the journey." Those will be words to remember along the way when things get difficult. The idea here though is that little changes now can lead to big improvements in your health and fitness soon!

Our journey begins today, and tomorrow, and every tomorrow after that.  Lifestyle changes take time to establish, and that is why we start over every day. 

Jacob and I are glad you are joining us on our journey to optimal health. That looks different for each of us, but some things are consistent and bring about great results, and these are the things we will be sharing over the next thirteen weeks.

We will be blogging about our exercise activities and healthy meals as we go along. Each week we will send out a newsletter with meal ideas and exercise suggestions, and updates from the group.  We are here to support positive change, and the more we involve each other in the process, the easier it will be to continue to make important improvements in our health and overall wellness.

Keep the destination in mind (that goal of ideal weight, increased energy, etc), but focus on the effects the little changes you make now have during the week, and as you continue to implement them during our time together.