Running. Running. and more Running. 26.2 miles

19 months ago.....running wasn't even a thought.
18 months ago.....running was a struggle.
12 months ago......I was three weeks away from my first half marathon and a nervous wreck.
6 months ago.... I was just getting back into running from taking the winter off (bad idea!!)



About seventeen+ weeks ago, running a marathon was a distant (VERY distant) thought..... I had been running with three women from my town, two of which had decided to train for a marathon in November. (One of them was my high school band director and is training for her 13th marathon.... the other has been running for 15 years but just decided to do her first full.) When they asked if I was going to train for it too, my initial thought was to chuckle and make a million excuses why I couldn't or shouldn't do it...

I don't have the time.
I don't have the money.
I have bad feet.
I don't think my fallen arch could do that many miles.
I don't know if I can commit to that.
I don't know if I'm made to do that many miles...

blah.blah.blah.  
(Can you hear the fear in all of those thoughts?)


They kept asking and suggesting it and then about sixteen weeks ago, something clicked.... I was on Pinterest (what else do I do?!?!) and started pinning 26.2 and marathon inspiration.... and then it was like WHY THE HECK WOULD I NOT DO THIS?!??!!? I was going to be training for a half in September and that fit perfectly with the full training....... Why wouldn't I keep going?? I don't have kiddos at home yet to focus on and I have the group to train with. I would be stupid to not at least TRY! (Remember my post a year ago about why running a half marathon was such a big deal... well, nothing big has happened year in 2013, so a full marathon fit right into my plans.... 26 miles before age 26 became my mantra.)

So.... the training began...
We are running four days a week and have hit mileage as high as 35 miles in a week. Some days have been great and I felt that I could have gone longer and others were awful. Heat, food, hydration, stress--- they all affect your run, and can sometimes ruin it.....but I have survived and kept going. I wasn't about to give up!

Now we are LESS THAN three weeks from Marathon Day and in taper. I did 20 miles on Friday with the other newbie in the group and we survived. Twenty miles in heat, with hills and little motivation due to exhaustion (mentally and physically)......and we still completed and survived! What wasn't even a possibility five months ago is a reality now...

Here are some of my favorite marathon pins from that night....














Now it's time to rest, hydrate, eat right and get my head back in the game. I'm so ready for this to be over but I know it's going to be an amazing experience to remember for a lifetime. I'm just ready to sleep in on Saturdays, not plan my week around my runs and to see my husband a little more often in the evenings :)


You never know what idea tomorrow will bring and how your mind will change. If you would have told me a year ago that I would be in marathon taper now, I would have laughed in your face..... 

A goal without a plan is just a wish....
Until Next Time...
 Krista

Eating Clean(ish) in 2013

Oh my goodness... I'm on Insanity Round II.... and I cannot begin to tell you how much more stamina I have this time around, and I place it partially on how much better I am eating!

Our 'Eating Clean(ish) in 2013' is going well...(I came up with that name yesterday....what do ya think? Corny?? Perfect!)    but let's be honest. I'm not a completely Clean Eater... and I probably never will be... I love mexican food, ice cream and chocolate just like everyone else and I'm not ready to give it up......... but I can live with that fun stuff in my diet, if it's in moderation and added to clean-ish meals....

Here's what I've learned in the few weeks that I've doing this....

1) Be honest with yourself. Don't buy crap food you're not willing to try or eat. Don't even pin, print or flag the recipe if you question your ability and desire to eat it. Don't waste the time and money.

2. Look at the ingredients. Here are some helpful hints.....
---If the 'ingredients list' consists of more than 5 ingredients and you cannot pronounce (or buy) the ingredients....don't get it!
---If it came from a plant.... eat it. If it's made IN a plant (factory) don't get it...
---If it has a commercial, don't get it.
---Think about if you would fill your belly with the item you're contemplating (that package of cookies, maybe??) If you wouldn't want to eat that and only that for a day, put it back.
---If your food can go bad, it's good for you. If doesn't go bad, it's bad for you.

3. Meal Plan. Just going to the store and buying fruits, vegetables and grains will cost you a lot of money and it stinks to just pitch them when they're rotten. Think about your schedule for the week, plan out your meals and buy the foods only for those meals and snacks.

4. Eat more than 3 times a day. Clean(ish) meals don't fill you up quite like Midwest meals (complete with gravy, cheese, sauce, etc) do and you're going to feel hungry more often.... Eating clean websites suggest eating 6 times a day to help with calorie intake and metabolism, but heck... I just eat more often because I'm hungrier eating these kinds of meals. Keep snacks with you! Onto number 5....

5. Make your own pre-packaged snacks. Buy containers of fruit, veggies, grains, etc and baggy (that is SO a verb!) them into snack size servings. Keep them together in a "snack spot." You're much more likely to choose a healthy snack if it's as convenient as a candy bar or bag of cookies. I do this every time that I come home from the store when my adrenaline is still pumping and the high hasn't worn down from the awesome food that I bought.

6. Do all your work in one night. Same as the snacks--- clean, chop and package food for the week in one evening. If you make smoothies, prepackage the fruit and freeze so it's quick and easy to grab. If you do crock-pot meals, baggy all the ingredients and freeze until you're ready to throw it in the crock-pot. I find it helpful just to clean and vegetables so that they are easy to grab for a snack or side dish.

7. Shop the perimeter of the store. Unless you're buying household items, seasonings or grains, stay to the perimeter of your grocery section. You'll find most of what you need out there... and won't be tempted to buy junk.  This is a huge one for me.... temptation makes it's hard!

8. There are a lot of people that eat 'clean(ish).' I'm not the only one. I was afraid I would seem weird for wanting to cut out parts of my diet but leave others (like eating out) but there are a lot of people in this world doing the same thing... Pinterest is full of "Eating Clean(ish)" boards that include ideas for incorporating grains, fruits and vegetables in with other foods. I can still use some 'store-bought' ingredients to make a healthier dish. I don't have to be a Martha Stewart or Paula Deen in the kitchen and know how to make every ingredient from scratch. It's doesn't all have to organic, natural and whole. I CAN clean up some areas and live with moderation of other things that I enjoy. I don't have to be a "hippie" to do this. I can make trade-offs and still be eating better. I love salads, but I love french or ranch dressings.....I've tried other dressings and they just don't satisfy me, but I've decided that it is better to indulge in the creamy dressing if it means eating more vegetables.

9. It's not as hard or gross as you may think. When I first started, I felt as though it would be a punishment for me... but it's really not been. My husband was very concerned about what this would change for him... and after a very healthy (and clean) meal, I asked what he thought. He said, "That was....whatever you call it...clean? That was really good!" Even men like it! :) When I started, I often ordered salads as sides, chicken for the main course and a fruit cup for dessert....but I'm learning to make better choices within what I already knew as 'healthy.' Chicken covered in cheese and bacon... yeah, not the best choice. Never ordering vegetables....bad. Processed foods... superbad. It's all about making yourself aware of what you're eating... what's in it, how it's made, and what it does for your body. 

10. There are so many resources for Eating Clean and Eating Clean(ish). Pinterest of course is my favorite because they are all in one spot.


If you're considering eating clean, I highly recommend it. It's really not that hard and it's definitely not a punishment. Feel free to follow me on my Pinterest board for Eating Clean(ish) or comment any questions you might have. I'm new to this, too.. so we can learn together! : )

Whirlwind

What a crazy month we've had around here. As you know, I got my wisdom teeth out a month ago.... It was a slow road back to feeling like myself again. After a week of chunky cheeks, a bruised face, sore jaw and pain recovery, I was ready to go back to work. I subbed a half day for the teacher that I would taking over for in May for her maternity leave. Well, the leave came a little earlier than expected. I got a call that weekend telling me that the teacher was on bed rest for a few days until her next appointment due to early contactions.  I subbed a few days for her and then got the notice that she is on bed rest until further notice. This is my sixth leave and have always observed a day or two to get the routine established for me and to answer all kinds of questions....but not this time.  I've spent a lot of evenings in the classroom, asked a lot of questions and sent a lot of emails to the teacher. It's been overwhelming to say the least, but I'm loving it! I'm so ready to get my own classroom. The teacher has been so helpful... she's sent a lot of emails and materials into me to help through all of this. I cannot imagine what she's going through....

To add to the chaos, during the same time of getting settled into the room, I chaperoned a school trip for my old high school's student council and I helped host a bridal shower for a dear friend that is getting married June 1 but lives 9 hours away.... so of course we had to fit in a lot of girl time while she was here....so we had pizza and girl talk Saturday night, shower on Sunday and shopping all day Monday.... It was great to laugh so much after the heartache I'm still feeling....   I don't think a shopping day has ever been funnier.... We laughed like teenagers! I cannot even begin to think of all the funny stuff that day that had us rolling.... one-way streets, showing up at the wrong place, water spilled in the lap to look like a potty accident, food on a tiny plate... oh it was a funny day! We also got to see her in her full wedding day look--minus hair, jewelry, nails, etc.... but we saw the dress, veil and shoes... She looks beautiful!

The world's tiniest four door car had a rather large trunk... She got a TON of stuff knocked off her shopping list!

Here are some pictures from the shower. She wanted simple, but elegant. I think we delivered.

the cupcakes had already been attacked, so the display isn't complete in this picture



My hair fell very flat by the time the shower was over....



When she picked aqua and sage two years ago, I never dreamt that they would "the colors" for summer 2013! They're everywhere! All of the bits and pieces that everyone had to contribute

came together nicely I think. 

 The games were kinda my area, and it was hard to find games that we hadn't played at the other 4 showers we've had in the last few years, and she only wanted a couple, so we had to make them good!

We did a pop quiz, because after all, a bridal shower for a teacher isn't complete without one. The bride hid in the hallway just after the introduction and guests were asked about her appearance... We even threw in some tricks, like--- "What color are her earrings?"..... She doesn't have pierced ears! haha

The other main game we played was "Name the Powder." We had 10 baggies filled with white powders from my kitchen and guests had to name what they were without smelling or tasting... only feeling through the bag. I had your typical salt, flour, powdered sugar, cornstarch, etc....but also put in vanilla instant pudding mix, coffee creamer and pancake mix.... and SOMEHOW a woman got all 10 correct...and I didn't even give them choices of what the ten items were?!?! The game took a long time, but it was interesting.

It was so nice to have her home, but she's back in Kansas now and we won't see her until the end of May when the whirlwind of wedding week begins! I'm looking forward to it....

One day, there were five or six cardinals all in the same tree at my mom's house. My grandma used to always love seeing the birds outside the window... and we've all been seeing cardinals since she left us, so I like to think that it's just her reminding us that she's watching over us...

They had all flown to parts of the yard by the time I got my camera out,

and I know it's really hard to see... : /

We got to see the baby girl again! We had another shower on Sunday--- this time it was of the baby kind. I had three showers on three consecutive Sundays to attend or host, and then this Sunday is Easter. Whooo!

Someone had been taking a clay class.....

Two mommas in the family....


And... now onto the goal of 2013.... Eating "clean-ish" and staying fit!
We really are eating much better around here. I'm learning to hide eat vegetables....and cook more better.
Our favorite thing right now is seasoned chicken... I bought Mrs. Dash in a few flavors as well as some other seasonings... We'll just throw it in the oven or on the George Foreman and call it good.
Asparagus is something that I'm trying to learn to like...but it just takes like darn grass. I've seasoned it, put parm cheese on it and dipped it in ranch, but it's just difficult for me... Maybe it will grow on me??

Yes, we've been eating in the floor lately. NCAA games are on so we sit in front of the TV...haha Classy, I know..

I love breakfast foods. We had peanut butter sandwiches, yogurt and bananas one day. Cam went all Elvis on me and made the sandwich with the bananas on it, but that's just not a taste I like...

my picture won't rotate :(

 

Here's my latest grocery trip.... two bags of frozen chicken, mixed vegetables, romain lettuce, triscuits, cottage cheese, string cheese, nuts, bananas, cauliflower, natural peanut butter, protein bars, yogurt, strawberries... and my NEW FAVORITE: Kashi Cinnamon Harvest... O M G... it's to die for! It's similar to a mini wheat but packed with cinnamon flavor. It has a higher calorie count per cup than some cereal, but it's made with organic ingredients and I can READ all of them... not a bunch of processed crap or preservatives!

EATING "CLEAN" IN 2013

We still eat some junk here and there, and we enjoy eating out on occassion,
but I figure it's a trade off for all the good stuff we are eating!



And here's the big news... I've started INSANITY round 2. Today is day 4 and I'm pumped. I'm doing it with a friend and loving it--it makes us more accountable and it's so much easier with a friend. I feel like the time passes quicker when I talk and complain with someone else! I'm feeling the burn (forgot how bad that part is)...but I cannot believe how much higher my stamina is for round 2 than it was for round 1...big difference in my level of fitness this year. That excites me.

I'm hoping the weather turns nice here soon. I'm ready for good running weather. My gums and mouth were so messed up from my wisdom teeth that I didn't go out for a while and now the cold has just scared me off! haha... yes, I'm a fairweather runner... But--- let me explain. Our health insurance is terrible and my job doesn't allow for days off, thus meaning that if I get sick, I lose pay (and that can mean thousands of dollars during a maternity leave--- teacher pay kicks in after 15 consecutive days, but it starts over if you miss a day), plus we'd have a large doctor bill... so I have to be careful about getting sick/injured right now.  Makes sense to me and my checkbook... but sucks to not want to run in every weather condition.

So... That's been my month of March. I feel as though I blinked and it was gone... showers, school, grocery shopping, meal planning, working out and lots of rest after my surgery... and now the month is over....but onto April... my birthday and warmer weather (hopefully!)

I hope March was full of fun for you...

Oh, and Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!

You can bet that we'll be watching the game tonight!

Until next time...

Krista

Hold onto your hat!!!

Are you ready for this?!??!

My tree and decorations are put away!!

I spent parts of Friday, Saturday and Sunday taking things down and put away.

It wasn't emotionally easy and I cried several times.... especially when it came time to put away the carousel that I have of hers.... but I made it. It's all done. Life in our house is returning to normal, so it seems.

I still have classroom junk (lower left of the picture) in my living room that I've not gotten to yet,

but I'll get to it... eventually.

In other news... We spent time with grandma's side family over the weekend. We had lunch and then visited for a few hours. It's always nice to be with family. There's three kiddos all about four months apart in that side and they're growing up so fast! One of cousin's little girls really took a liking to me (that's a phrase Grandma would use!) and I loved every minute of it. I took her on walks through the restaurant to play and it just made me that much more excited for the niece coming this summer!

During the afternoon.... someone noticed this outside the window..

It stayed for a long time.

Many of us have been seeing Cardinals since Grandma passed away...

so I think she just wanted to visit that day, too. 

As for me and the new eating plans... things are going well! I've been eating salads, greek yogurt, whole wheat bagel thins, grilled chicken and mixed vegetables. Last night we had grilled chicken on the George Foreman with Mrs. Dash on it, mixed veggies with dip, and baked potato slices.It was pretty good.

I've decided that I'm eating "clean-ish." I still like ranch dressing and BBQ sauce, cheese and salt, lunch meat and some junk every once in a while... but I'm adding so much more to my diet to make it more balanced....and I'm following my rule of moderation better. I've made it almost two weeks with a treat tea (still occassionally with meals). 

I just keep remembering: You cannot out-exercise a bad diet!

I cleaned out the cabinets...

and really realized how much junk we have around here. Luckily, some of it was expired, some I gave to Cam to eat without me (lunch and what-not) and others I made plans to eat soon to get out of cabinets, but with other choices added with it. I cannot afford to clean out all the junk and start over, but I can make healthier choices with what I have---by mixing in veggies or changes the plans for how to use it.

I spent last night on Pinterest finding more "eating clean-ish" recipes and meal ideas.... 

In the near future, I want to try:

Quinoa Crusted Chicken

Chicken Veggie Wraps

Turkey and Spinach Meatballs

Chicken and brocolli alfredo

Homemade Hamburger Helper

Cheesey Quinoa

Cheesey Cauliflower

Buffalo Cauliflower

Grilled Asparagus

Veggie Pasta Salad with Mozzarela

Mashed Cauliflower

Cauliflower breadsticks and pizza crust

Zucchini Pumpkin Bread

Fruit Salad

Banana Slices with Cinnamon and Honey

Banana Oat Muffins

Veggie Muffins

Oatmeal Pumpkin Muffins

Protein Shakes

Confession---- I have no idea where to find Quinoa or what it tastes like, but I'm willing to take a chance..

Here's one frustration that I've found with all of this----  you can find coupons galore for all the JUNK in the world.... but where's a coupon for bananas, oatmeal or spinach!?!? No where. exactly. I've found a few for soy milks or greek yogurts, but neither have been on what I use.... and that's only two things that I've started using. More coupons on good food would be nice!

*****Unfortunately, Pinterest changed its format and the embedded pins will no longer appear*****

Here's some pins I found while doing my searching and pinning... Isn't Pinterest just the best?!?

Source: prettyfitbody.tumblr.com via Krista on Pinterest

Source: muffintop-less.tumblr.com via Krista on Pinterest

Source: livinfitlife.tumblr.com via Krista on Pinterest

Source: instagr.am via Krista on Pinterest

And this is one of my favorite sites so far:

The Gracious Pantry

Ok... Any of you clean eaters??? What tips do you have for a newbie??

Any healthy recipes anyone wants to share for this poor girl that's learning to cook??

Have a great Monday! I'm heading out for a run and then Zumba later!

Until Next Time!
Krista

Breaking News...

Hey Hey Hey! It's February 21 and I have some huge news.....Are you ready for this????

My Christmas decorations are finally being taken down!!! (Did you think that I was going to tell you we were having a baby??? haha...fooled ya! No baby here! I need a job first!)  I was off work today and after a rather lazy morning filled with Pinterest and blogs... I attacked my house and the mess of what was still left of Christmas... It's no where close to being done, but it's getting there. The tree is still standing, covered in lights, and there's miscellaneous junk all over the floor that will need to find a home again.... but it's getting closer to being done! It's not my normal packing style, but I'm so over it this year that I don't care. I usually inventory all of my boxes---sorted by color and labeled with the list of contents.... This year, it's just getting stuffed in boxes, mixed with other colors and it's all lucky to be in a container. I'm so over it. I'm ready to start living in the present.

Speaking of which, this week, I've felt the most like myself than I have in the last 6 weeks. I dream of grandma frequently, have short outbursts of crying many times a week, and miss her every day....but I'm starting to feel human again. I'm not having to fix the tense of my sentences about her as much any more... The past tense comes out more fluently now....  And I finally bought and put up a 2013 calendar. It's not much easier on my heart yet, but my head is accepting it better. When we are together as a family, there's just a piece missing. A huge piece. Our rock.....but now she's our angel. :)




In other news, I've been trying to clean up our diet, after reading and studying about eating clean, I've decided that going completely clean is not going to be realistic to our lifestyles right now. I don't know how to cook, we aren't completely fond of many vegetables, we don't get to eat dinner together much because of Cam's work schedule, and we enjoy some take out occassionally.... BUT....eating better is definitely going to happen! I studied some more before my first "eating clean" grocery shopping trip and had some what of a game plan. I want to make subtle changes to our diet, a little at a time, so that we adjust to it gradual instead of doing it for a week, hating it and giving up on it.... I plan to try a few different things a week, to be budget friendly.

I bought skinless/boness chicken (this is the kind of chicken we already bought, I just got more of it), multigrain tortilla chips, lettuce, mixed raw veggies, soft wraps, turkey, Mrs. Dash original, Cajun chicken, bananas, Greek yogurt, and spray olive oil.   Nothing boxed, nothing too processed (I know, lunch meat isn't that good for you...) and nothing that's made in the microwave. I also bought Vanilla Silk (SO much better than Original---not sure why it's not in the picture??) and a jar of salsa....(the bag ripped as I was getting it out of the car and the jar broke....but it has been replaced!)

That night, I had a chicken, bacon, ranch wrap with cheese and lettuce (see, small changes... I still want bacon, lettuce and ranch, so I did it in small quantities) with raw veggies for my dinner. It's confirmed that I hate brocolli as much as I thought I did.... It tastes like I'm eating a leaf, even with ranch to dip it in. Not sure I'll learn to love that one....

Today, I had a salad with cajun chicken mixed into it and greek yogurt. I had Oikos Traditional Strawberry.....and it's actually very good. I'm picky about yogurt and usually only eat the custard style, but this is the consistency of pudding with just tiny chunks of fruit, so I can handle it.

A few changes that I'm looking at making are: mixing veggies into dishes like mac & cheese, pasta, meatloaf, Hamburger Helper (call us crazy, but we could live on that stuff!), making some smoothies with veggies mixed in, eating some stir fry meals, making our own hamburger helper instead of store bought, utilizing our George Foreman grill to grill some foods like asparagus and chicken, and trying foods like mashed cauliflower or cauliflower crust pizza... Like I said, I'm looking for little changes to make the transition.

Here's another big one--- I haven't made a special trip to McD's for a tea since last Tuesday! I've had tea with meals, but not just to treat myself... and ya know what....I'm surviving!  I'm investing the money that I'm saving from not getting a tea every day into going to Zumba once a week!

I hope your week is going well and you're not getting the ice like we are here in the midwest!
Until Next Time...
Krista

Eating Clean...

It's no lie that eating right is the hardest part for me to live a better life. I love breaking a sweat, I love running long distances and I love feeling more muscle on my body.....but I also love chocolate, and sugar, and everything sweet and yummy....and cheap. We live on a very minimalistic income... we're basically a one-income household trying to get by month to month with huge bills that we weren't expecting (oil leaks in my car, leaky roof, water lines bust in our yard...the list could go on and on... we can never get ahead... also treading water) ANYWAY.... The point is, we have to watch what money we spend....and sometimes, getting a $3 dinner from McDonalds' dollar menu sounds better because it's cheaper than buying the ingredients to make a dinner....  I know fast food isn't healthy, and we don't eat it all the time, but we are so guilty of not eating right pretty often.....

but then I read this today...

And it hit me like a ton of bricks.... 

I eat the cheapest crap on the menu....always, just because I feel as though we cannot afford the higher priced items....

 

So I've been researching how to eat clean and I found these ten things:

1. Cut back on alcohol.

Easy. I don't drink.

2. Cut back on sugar.

On average, Americans consume 475 extra calories every day from the added sugars we eat. One of the biggest contibuters: processed foods. We should skip the sweet stuff and head straight to the fruit. 

3. Cut down on salt.

One idea to cut back: Try eating out less and cooking more at home using fresh ingredients instead. And try boosting flavor with herbs and spices rather than salt.

I add salt to potatoes and not much else. I like salt, but I don't have to white cap my food, so that's good. I'd like to learn more about spices to help the flavor of food that I cook.

4.  Cut down on saturated fats.
Saturated fat—the kind of fat that’s found in whole milk, cheese, butter and meat—raises your “bad” LDL cholesterol, which can damage arteries. One idea to cut back: Avoid animal fats and swap them for healthier unsaturated fats from plant foods like nuts, avocados and olive oil.
I love cheese and milk... This is going to be hard to change...but I'm willing to try. I found out recently that I could possibly have a milk allergy that causes a skin rash on my arms... so I should try to cut it out more anyway.

5. Cut down on refrined grains.
Refined grains—white flour, white rice—are stripped of beneficial fiber, vitamins and minerals. So while they add calories, they’re not really providing much in the way of nutrients. And since they’re low in fiber, they’re less satisfying than whole grains. One idea to cut back: Check the ingredient list and make sure the word “whole” describes the grains in the product—if it just says “wheat flour,” for example, that’s not whole-wheat, so make another choice.
We do it 'whole grain pasta' at our house, so that's one healthy switch we've made! We also eat "whole wheat bread."


6. Cut out processed foods.
We shouldn't be eating anything with loads of ingredients. One idea to cut back: Go through your cabinets and see which of your foods come in boxes and think of alternatives. Two ideas to get started: Swap crackers or chips for crunchy veggies, and if you rely on prepared meals like mac and cheese or canned soup, find an easy recipe to make your favorites from scratch.
This is where I get into the most trouble. I don't know how to cook... at all.... so box meals like hamburget helped, mac and cheese or soups are sometimes my life saver. I know that they are full of sodiums, MSGs and other bad chemicals, so I have to learn to cook. I do own cook books and of course, I have a ton of Pinterest recipes... I just need to learn what I'm doing to make them taste good!

7. Eat for Fruits and Vegetables
One idea to get more: When figuring out what to make for dinner, make vegetables the main event—start with the vegetables you have on hand or what looks good to you at the market. From there, figure out what else (protein, starch) would go well with it.
I need to learn to like the taste of vegetables... My momma says that I didn't even like them as a baby, but I need to make myself eat more of them. I eat them raw, but do not like the taste of them warmed/cooked. I've never experimented with many vegetables, but need to take a chance!

8. Drink more water.
I order water often at meals and haven't had soda/pop/soda pop since January 2005. Tea is my weakness, but I've cut back on that as well!

9. Drink Green Tea.
Suggestion: Swap one of your cups of coffee for green tea.
I don't know about this one. I don't like warm beverages all that much and green tea has never been something that I enjoyed drinking......


10. Eat more whole grains.
One idea to get more: Try eating one new-to-you grain, such as quinoa or wild rice, each week.
I need to buy and try more grains. Rice is not something I eat--- it's a texture thing, but I could find others that I like.

Source: Eating Well


Okay.. those these ten tips are super helpful, but still not easy for a one income household.... Then I found THIS.... Doesn't that go right along with that thing way up there.... (eating stuff that only cost a dollar.) There are 'good for you' foods that are cheap. No, it's not a whole meal, but they can be added to a meal or eaten as a snack instead of "three chocolate chip cookies" that I'm guilty of getting after a bad day of work. And.. another thing--- if we don't spend our money on junk like candy, pre-packaged snacks, quick processed foods, etc.... then we have more money for the pricier fruits and vegetables... and workout classes! (I've cut out my $1 sweet teas every day to pay for my Zumba class every week.... I think it's a pretty good swap.)

I guess like all things in life, I've created a habit of eating junk... I have to override that habit and make new ones! I have to fight against the habits (yet again) of the midwest... We are so used to greasy food, vegetables covered in oils and junk, and chocolately desserts.... But I cannot do it any longer...

 

Source: Uploaded by user via Erica on Pinterest

 

How many of you eat clean? What are your favorite dishes or snacks?? Any tips for the newbie??
HELP! I'm new to this!

Ok... do you feel like this post went in about 1000 directions? Me too. I'm sorry!
Thanks for making it to the end!
Be sure to comment with your suggestions!
Until Next Time...
Krista



Hidy Ho!

Hello all! It's 11:45 and I'm still in my sweats, hair in a bun, cup of milk beside me.... so that must mean one thing---- I'm off work... The twelve week maternity leave has come to an end... I said good-bye to my kinders yesterday with a little party. I brought in cookies, popcorn and kool-aid jammers (totally healthy, I know!) and they watched a little movie.... I only shed a few tears, but I'm going to miss them (and the school staff) so much!

The staff had flowers delivered to me:

Aren't they beautiful!!??!?! I love pink!   The staff really did a great job of making me feel welcome and appreciated. I was told many times that I did a great job and will be missed.... That made me feel good. : )  Transitioning from school to school, class to class is tough, so being acknowledged for a job well done is nice. The staff also made me a banner and hung it in the lounge for our pitch-in food day, too. It was sweet!



Let's see.... what else is going on??? Oh, that's right.... I'M GETTING A NIECE!   I love my little Karty Man so much....but he doesn't let me put bows and frills on him ;) well, not anymore... haha.... So, a girl is going to be so different!!  The tutus, the bows, the flowers, the lace, the frill, the poof! Let the crafting begin!!!! My momma and I have already planned a shopping trip to get started!!  Baby Girl should be here shortly after the Fourth of July!

ADORABLE!!!

Karter is growing up so quickly... He asked to talk to me on the phone the other night and almost an hour later, we were still going! :) He's amazing and super excited about being a big brother.... Since Cam and I still aren't in the financial situation for a family of our own right now, we have to enjoy the nephew and NIECE. Cam refers to Karter spending the night at our house as us "renting" him.

On Friday, the family met up at a chinese place for dinner before Cam and I headed to the IU game.

Saturday, Cam and I met up with some friends in Kentucky (wish we lived closer! It's a long drive down there....) and spent the day shopping---- and eating! We went to a chicken place, BBQ place and Orange Leaf for ice cream! Our bellies were stuffed! I got fitted for new running shoes (Mizunos), went to two malls, spent about 2 hours in Forever 21 (only bought 3 shirts to run in though-- that store is overwhelminng every time I go in!), had to stop at Best Buy of course, and did some daydreaming of the day when we can afford to decorate our home...

Fleet Feet is an AWESOME place!
Check it out!

Our family got together on Sunday for dinner. During my whole childhood, we met every Sunday evening at grandma and grandpa's house for dinner. We'd eat, visit, the kids would play and we'd say our goodbyes until next week. Our lives are so busy that we cannot do it every week anymore, but we are trying to get together at least once a month for now. It's tough that grandma isn't there, but she's the reason we are getting together :) Family is important. We are so excited to watch these babies grow up!

This week has been crazy busy with trying to wrap up the maternity leave, getting my car in the shop for an oil leak and trying to fit in time for fitness in my life! It's all about making the time. Last night, some girl friends and I Zumbaed! (that is totally the past tense of that word, right??!?) It was a rough reminder that we have to switch up what we were doing to keep all muscle groups engaged and confused. My buns and love handles are burning today! I may be able to run long distances, but an hour of Zumba kicked my booty! I loved it though. As a dancer through childhood, it was nice to get to "bust a move" again! I even stopped by the old dance studio next door for a 10 second visit with my old dance instructor :) Loved it!    Our friend is getting married on June 1 and are trying to look our best for the bridesmaid dresses... Bridesmaid BootCamp is in full swing! We meet several nights a week to TurboJam or walk and now we are mixing in some Zumba!

Speaking of bridesmaid dresses..... How amazing would this be to run in so that I don't get tan lines!!

Source: ahalife.com via Krista on Pinterest

 

How do you all keep from the massive racerback lines for the summer?? Ever spray tanned them away?!?! I'm going to need something. By the first week of June last year, I had the worst tan lines of my life. I have to figure something out so that I don't look like I'm wearing a white tank under my bridesmaid dress!

 

How have you spent your week?? Work? Family? Friends? Exercising??    Remember to do something good for yourself this week. Make the time. If there's time to Facebook, Tweet or Instagram, there's time to workout :)


I'm off to clean my house (I guess it's about time....)
Happy Valentine's Day!
Krista



Don't get discouraged...

Right about now, those New Years Resolutions Goals are starting to get a little tough, aren't they? Whether you're giving up smoking, starting to exercise, eating better, etc.... The fun of it has worn off and you're discouraged.....wanting to give up....

Just remember...

Source: google.com via Krista on Pinterest

Source: backonpointe.tumblr.com via Jenna on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Krista on Pinterest

Okay... enough of the motivational speaker stuff.... Just don't give up! You can do this!

Krista

Running after a cold/flu

Since I've been so sick, I was wondering how I know when I'm ready to get out and run again.... after some googling (I love that we use that word as a verb), I found this interesting tip:


"So, next time you have a cold and wonder whether you should head out for your run, just remember the "neck check" developed by AR&FA Editorial Board Member Randy Eichner, M.D. If your cold symptoms are from the neck up, go for it. If your symptoms extend below the neck and include chest discomfort or deep cough, general aches and pains, and fever, hit the bed instead of the road. Rest, don't run."
Source

I think it was very helpful! All in all, it comes down to how we feel of course, but it's nice to have a rule of thumb, in my opinion!

I hope this helps you as much as it helped me.... I'm not ready for a run quite yet. My cough is all in my chest. :(

Until Next Time...
Krista

Thoughts... Arrogance?

I pinned this the other day...

I pinned it with the tagline "Guilty.. I've talked about my half a lot" or something like that...

And I couldn't help but wonder... (I love that line from Carrie Bradshaw)... Why are athletes/runners seen as arrogant when telling about their achievements?? People tell when they're pregnant or when their child has a milestone, graduates tell when they have finished college and approached the job market, we all share new jobs or promotions, couples announce engagements... HECK! Fishers tell when they've caught the big one!...And these achievements are embraced with love and encouragement... excitement and questions.....so why on earth do runners seem arrogant for sharing an achievement like running 13 or 26 miles?!? We train for it. It's a part of our lives for a great amount of time....and it's a huge milestone, so why are we not allowed to talk about it just as other people talk about things going on in their lives?? I don't understand this stigma we get. Running is a part of life, just as is someone's job, parenthood or education.

Hey guess what.... I'm Krista and I ran a half-marathon. There. Ha.

Thoughts from a runner...

Training for a half-marathon allows lots of thinking time... Many people see it as a mental therapy session since long train days can offer two plus consecutive hours of nothing but thinking... (It's free therapy!) In one run, my brain will bounce through so many ideas and subjects... but I solve the world's problems, mostly! haha


These are some things that I've noticed as a runner....

-- Active people are much more friendly.
-- I am more aware of my surroundings when I'm running--- the landscaping, the trees, the architecture, the people.
-- I fear dogs just as much as I thought I did. Being chased by them makes me feel like a scared kid!
-- I appreciate well kept sidewalks, yards and trees more than I ever imagined.
-- I'm grateful for people who allow me to cross the street in front of them at stop signs and such.
-- My body is stronger than my mind ever thought it was.


Until Next Time..
Krista

13.1 miles of thoughts...

For 13.1 miles, I thought...For me, that was 2 hours and 19 minutes of thoughts... That's a lot of thoughts....Mostly, I thought about what a first time runner should know before a race like this... things I read and asked before I started, and things I learned along the way.   Am I a professional?? Not in any way. These are only my thoughts and opinions.


To start....
Train, Train, Train. Do not go into a race such as half marathon lightly. It's a huge stress on your body.

Get the right gear. Runners spend money on good clothes and shoes for a reason!

Stay healthy. Eat and drink properly, take your medications/vitamins and listen to your body. An illness or injury can be a huge set back.




Pre-Race...
Practice what you are going to use, do, wear, eat, run on, etc... You shouldn't do anything new on race day.

Rest for the days leading up to the race.

Cardo Load and get lots of fluids the day before. (Your urine should not be yellow, but clearish.)

Organize--- make lists of what you want to remember to take for the race and lay things out the night before. You want to make sure that you have everything.



The Race...
Stretch before going into the corrals and lining up. You will more than likely pack in like sardines and not have any room to do so then.

Stay warm with extra layers that you can strip off, but put your bib on a layer that you know you will keep on. Once you're packed like sardines, you will stay warm!

When you strip down before the race starts, get your clothes/trash bags off of the street. People slower than you behind you (like me!) shouldn't have to leap over your trash bag that is blowing across the street. It's dangerous.

At drink stations, grab a cup and keep going. If you want to stop to drink, move out of the way. When you're done get your cup in the trash can or close to it. One extra second to aim a little better won't kill you. Save the volunteers extra time. Also, don't just throw your cup down anywhere you please. Again, those people behind you don't want to dodge cups in the street and definitely don't want water/Gatorade splashed on them. (yes, it happened to me!)  AND--- don't expect a volunteer to try and pour a cup of water in your little hydro bottle as you run by. It's rude and unreasonable--- and people behind you have to dodge you.

Make mental notes of all of the clever shirts and signs you see along the way. There will be some cute ones.

Bring your own calories. In the race I did, the table of gummies was empty by the time I got there, but luckily I had my own sport beans.

If you can, check your messages. I got so many encouraging text messages throughout the race. I loved reading them.

Take some pictures... Yes, it got me some funny looks, but I am so glad that I snapped a few quick pics with my phone!

Your brain may try to give out before your body does. Push through. You trained for this... you can do it!

Be appreciative of the volunteers and spectators. They are there to support you. Smile, nod, and thank them!

If you are running through a town or city, there will more than likely be some rough roads. We ran through an area in the midst of being paved, so there were uneven patches. We also ran over some sandy patches (slick!) and over many many many broken roads and pot holes. You have to be watching. A girl near me fell in a pot hole!

Don't worry about getting lost. Police have roads blocked and there will be signs, markings and volunteers to get you where you need to go! (More than likely--- motorists and pedistrians will be grouchy by blocked streets and sidewalks! Ignore them!)

Volunteers on bikes and golf carts will be coming through the area to check if anyone needs medical staff. Don't worry about being stranded with an injury.

Look around.... 13.1 miles is a long time to view the scenery. Take it all in.



Post Race...
Pose for pictures. You'll want them later.

Rest. Rest. Rest.

Ice Up.

Eat quickly after the race. Your body needs fuel.

Get a recovery drink--- they usually provide chocolate milk!

Rest some more.




Again... I am not a professional. These are my opinions and thoughts.


Happy Training!!

Krista