Still here......

I've been slacking on posts, but I am still doing my same ol' thing.  I ran my last long run last week; a 20 miler then a 12-both with a good pace (8.45 and 8.30 respectively).  My marathon is in like 2 days and I have been feeling the surge of adrenaline all week!!  I can't wait!  I have super high hopes.

My weight is around 120ish right now.  I had a pretty bomb of an eating week.  When sugar creeps back into my life again it sometimes likes to control me!!  Anyway, check back for my marathon results.  I am hoping to break the 4 hour mark.

Week 127 Weight:  118.2

Workout:
Monday-19 mile run (8.50 pace)
Tuesday-full body circuit
Wednesday-5 mile run (treadmill, 42 minutes)
Thursday-7 mile run (8.24 pace)
Friday-Yoga
Saturday-1 round of Spartacus II, 1 round of Spartacus 2012, 4 mile run-32 minutes

2 Recipes I Love.....

High-Protein Roasted Red Pepper Dip:
*2 roasted red peppers (I broil them in the oven about 4 minutes each side)
*1/2 cup cottage cheese
*2 garlic cloves, minced (or garlic powder to taste)
*tons of fresh basil
*sriracha sauce (optional)
Blend all above ingredients in a food processor until smooth.  Refrigerate a bit to thicken.  This is awesome as a dip for veggies, crackers, pita chips or a spread on burgers, or wraps.  Yummy!!

Chocolate Protein Pancakes:
*4 egg whites
*1/4 cup oats
*1 TBS unsweetened cocoa
*1 TBS almond milk
Blend until smooth and cook like regular pancakes. Then combine:
*1 TBS peanut butter
*2 TBS greek yogurt
*honey or stevia
Spoon over pancake and roll it up into a yummy dessert-type breakfast:)

Week 125-126
Last Week's Weight: 120.4
This Week's Weight: 118

Last Week's Workout:
Monday-18 mile run (8.50 pace)
Tuesday-3 rounds of Spartacus
Wednesday-5 mile run
Weekend-23 miles total at the Teton Relay

This Week's Workout:
Monday-recovery
Tuesday-1 round each of Spartacus I, II, and 2012
Wednesday-10 mile run (8:45 pace)
Thursday-5 mile run (8:15 pace-treadmill)
Friday-Yoga
Saturday-8 mile run (8:22 pace)

Mama's Got Back.....

Take a look at your mother's rear (or imagine it in your head).  You have a whopping 70% chance of having that same butt unless you do something about it.  If she's got a good one, yipee for you!  If not, you better get to squatting, lunging and eating right.  And of course you know, the eating right one is the most important.  Another good motivator, open up a magazine and sit on it.  It's about 18 inches wide and your booty spread should not be much more. 

Week 124 Weight: 120.8
Clean eating except for dang Sunday grrrr......

Workouts:
Monday: 16 mile run (9.05 pace)
Tuesday: 3 rounds of Spartacus
Wednesday: 6 mile trail run
Thursday: 2 rounds of Spartacus 2012; 1 round of Spartacus II
Friday: Yoga + 4 mile run (8.24 pace)
Saturday: 7 mile run (8.30 pace)

Go sit on a magazine!!

On the Grid Again....

I can't believe I didn't post all of July!  I had a 2 week Pacific Northwest trip and fell out of the posting habit......but I was still pretty on my toes with my fitness and nutrition.
Camping along the Oregon coast was a blast!  I had plenty of beautiful runs on the beach, stairs, hiking, hiking while carrying kids, and a few beach workouts.  Then off to Seattle to visit my friend Crin where I indulged in a few too many doughnuts-totally worth it though! I averaged about 16-18 miles those weeks and have been back at it now.

Weight before I left: 120.2
Weight when I got home: 120!!! (I feel very proud of maintaining without much deprivation...ie: roasted marshmallows every night, candy and some awesome fish & chips and clam chowder:))
Weight Last Week: 119.4
Weight This Week: 120.2

Now stay tuned for more as I train for my second marathon September 22nd........

STOP EATING JUNK!!

How is it possible to eat nutritionally sound in a fast-paced, sugar and junk-food filled world?  I walk the aisles of the grocery store, picking up my heathy ingredients for home and I spot rainbow sherbert oreo's (amongst other things I love or really want to try).  So I pick up a package, ok 2:/  And that's what I had for dinner Monday night......I fell off the wagon. I fell off the wagon big time.  I ate bad for 3 days straight!  Sometimes I just want to drive that wagon off a cliff!!!  So here are some ideas I have for leading a healthy, nutritious lifestyle:

1.  Focus on things you should eat to fuel and nourish your body instead of the foods that you tell yourself you can't have.
2.  DON'T BUY JUNK!!!!  Especially foods you know you can't control the portions.  Furthermore, don't buy it for your kids-they don't need to eat that garbage either! 
3.  One or two times a week, cut up tons of veggies, roast em and keep them in the fridge along with grilled chicken, hard-boiled eggs, healthy dips and chopped salads.
4.  Go to bed hungry.  It's hard at first, try maybe only 1-2 nights a week and work up to more.  You will be lighter in the morning and want to make healthier choices.
5.  Indulge once a week.  This is so important!!  If you can look forward to one of your favorite meals or desserts once a week, it will keep you motivated to eat healthfully and not waste your calories on things that you don't love or crave! 

Week 118-119
WEIGHT: 122
WORKOUT:
Monday- 7 mile run outside (8.24 pace)
Tuesday-rest
Wednesday-Kenpo Karate
Thursday-3 circuits of Spartacus 2012
Friday-5 mile run (8.15 pace); Yoga
Saturday-1 circuit of Spartacus with 18 pound weight vest (thanks for keeping me on my toes Brady!!); 1 circuit of Spartacus II with weight vest; 1 circuit of The Champion workout sans vest; 1 mile run with vest; 2 mile run without. (I was there an hour and a half-not typical for me at all but I was feeling like a bad ***!)

Eat Right For Your Blood Type.......

If you know me, you know that I don't believe in diets.  I believe in eating right and exercising (as difficult as it may be) as a lifestyle; something you can maintain.  I have researched the blood-type diet only because I found it interesting and pretty nutritionally sound.  Below is a tiny summary of what the diet entails.

The majority of the population has Blood Type O. ("The Hunter") Here the prescribed diet is low-carbohydrate, high in proteins (such as meat and fish), and low in dairy products. Foods to avoid are avocados, brazil nuts, and oranges. Type O should also engage in lots of exercise.

Blood Type A ("The Agrarian or Cultivator") should avoid red meat, eat plenty of fish and vegetables, with a low dairy intake. Light exercise only.
Blood Type B ("The Nomad") should avoid chicken and bacon, eat plenty of meat and dairy, some fish, and plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Blood Type AB ("The Enigma") combines the A and B diets.

So with my little knowledge of this diet, I gave it a try.  My blood type is A, "The Cultivator."  I am supposed to eat a pretty vegetarian, low dairy diet with plenty of plant-based foods.  That was pretty easy for me as I eat a huge assortment of veggies and fruits everyday. (Sometimes I wished I lived on a farm!)  I enjoy fish and don't eat a ton of dairy.  The whole "light exercise only" was obviously not feasible for me.  I love to exercise and consider it part of my life and livelihood.   So after about 3 weeks of this, I concluded that I hate this diet!  Although I wanted to believe that there was a customizable diet out there for everyone, and I wanted to believe that this diet was scientifically sound, it was neither.  After more and more digging and reading, I found very little evidence/studies to prove this diet would be effective for the majority of people. 
What I urge you to do is be aware of how different foods affect your body.  I do admit that lots of meat just doesn't seem to sit well with me and I do so much better with loads of vegetables everyday.  My body is super sensitive to sodium and sugar but healthy higher-carb foods and healthy fats do great things for my body.  I think it's all about getting to know what works best for you individually and BEING CONSISTENT! 

WEEK 117 Weight: 119.8
WORKOUT:
Monday: 9 mile run outside (8.24 pace)
Tuesday: 3 rounds of Spartacus II
Wednesday: 7 mile run outside (8.16 pace-to the cows)
Thursday: Core Synergistics
Friday: Yoga
Saturday: 3 rounds of Spartacus, 1 mile run at 7.5 (tired today....)