“If you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? ---- Carpe -- hear it? – Carpe, Carpe Diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.” ― N.H. Kleinbaum, Dead Poets Society

Man, I have to watch Dead Poet's Society again!
Such a good story.

Oh Captain, my Captain!

Well, today was semi-stressful. The husband and I went to the DMV to get all the new documents we need for living in our lovely new state. In total it took 3 hours and considering the average wait time is 4 hours, I'd say we got lucky! The worst part was waiting to get our licences, which took about 2.5 hours of the 3 hours we were there. Then they transferred us over to get the rest of the paperwork done and it only took 30 minutes between the two of us from there on. Overall, not a bad experience and it went rather smooth.

And our new licence plates are cute. ^_^

After spending our morning at the DMV and being terribly hungry we tried one of the 10 food trucks that line our road. My husband got a beef burrito and I got pork and cheese pupusas. It was AMAZING! My husband's burrito was the size of what you would get at Chipolte or Qudoba but mostly made of huge chunks of steak. Good, slow cooked steak. I've never had a pupusa before and I am now a huge fan. The pupusas (3 for $5) came with some pickled onions, carrots, and jalapenos and some curtido (cabbage salad). The flavors just blended together so well and was just delicious! For a total of $12 we had a great tasting, filling lunch. Nom nom nom.

I forgot to take a picture but this is what they look like!
Courtesy of  nahrendt.wordpress.com

I love my new neighborhood.

So I didn't get to my run until 3pm. The gym was all but deserted except for myself and a guy I call "marathon runner" because he's pretty tall, has lots of lean muscles but not ripped and he hauls arse on the elliptical! So myself and marathon runner got our sweat on. Today I pushed myself just a few minutes longer and now I am back on track! I'm officially on Week 8 of C25K. Week 9 is the end so I'm almost done. Then I have a 10K training plan in tow and some hill work to start. The run today was really really hard. I wanted nothing more than to throw in the towel at minute 15 but I kept pushing. Today I really needed my ipod and was glad the music was there to get me through the run. My leg was bothering me most of the time, every muscle fought against me, and I swear I could feel every extra pound that is on my body as I plodded on. Some days, like Tuesday, I feel powerful and light as a feather. Other days, like today, I'm happy just to get it over with. I know my sluggishness today was caused by the pupusas, but there are going to be days when I can't eat exactly how I want before a run and I need to learn how to run through feeling like a lard.

I want this shirt!
Courtesy of urbanfitstudio.blogspot.com

Fun times.

This weekend I'm going to visit my family-in-law. They always have such delicious foods around, but I swear I'll try and be good! I am taking my running gear. I planned to start running outside this Saturday and I want to stick to the plan. My husband's neighborhood is rather nice and should offer an array of small hills and flat roads to give me an idea of how prepared I'll be for the race in April. From here on out I really need to stick to outside running. I'm still trying to find a good area around my neighborhood to run that I won't get hit my a car. It is nice to live on a main road, but it is a VERY busy main road with busy connecting roads.

We shall see what happens!

Oh before I forget... good news! My Polar HRM came in today! So now I can run anywhere, anytime and know my pace! Can't wait to try it out on Saturday!

Awesome sauce!

Well February was a good month. Farewell February and bring on some warm March weather!

connect.everythingzoomer.com

Minus the wind...

Mileage: 3.06

“You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming.” ― Pablo Neruda

TODAY WAS FANTASTIC!

I'm back to normal, feeling good, and back on track with training. I'm using the rest of the week to finish up week 7 of C25K that I missed out on last week and then I'm right back on track. I had to push back training outside until next weekend since we're going to visit family, but I'm going to try and sneak my running shoes in the suitcase and get outside if the weather cooperates!

I'm just so happy to be back to normal.

Now for some food stuffs! I made what is possibly my favorite chili ever! Today for lunch I baked some homemade tortilla chips to go along with it. Simply amazing! Interested? Get the recipe here.

Mmm, tasty food!

I don't believe in eating boring bland food while losing weight, and I would NEVER stick to it for life. I'm not dropping the weight for a month or two, I'm going to stay down for good. There's no good reason to be super restrictive unless it is medically necessary. Long live tasty food!

Mileage: 2.87

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” ― Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own

I'm baaaack!

Where have I been? Well, my body decided it would be a good time to get sick Thursday of last week. I didn't agree with it, but it convinced me that it would be a good idea. My body betrayed me.

Anyway, time to share some yummy recipes I have found! I love food. I love to cook and bake. It's about time I dedicate a post to food. Nom nomz!

First is Bolognese sauce. It was a fairly easy recipe but it has to simmer for 1.5-2 hours so make sure to start it ahead of time!

^Sauteed veggies and center cut bacon. Mmm bacon. ^

^ Look at that delicious sauce. Almost done!^

^And it's all done! I should have wiped the dish but I was just too hungry!^

Another great recipe is Skinny Chicken Pesto Bake from skinnytaste.com! It is a bit time consuming since you make your own pesto, but I made mine well ahead of time and it still tasted great!

It was super delicious!

Now, my favorite lunch food. My take on a frittata. I take some of my roasted veggies that I make ahead of time and throw them in a frying pan to heat them up (medium heat) with some cooking spray or olive oil. In this picture I also added 3 slices of center cut bacon. Then pour in 1 scrambled egg (or 1 scrambled egg + 1 egg white, or 2 egg white, or 2 scrambled eggs) and pop on a lid. Once it is almost set on top after a few mintues, I added 1/4 cups of 2% milk cheddar cheese (or cheese of choice) and pop the lid back on top until the cheese melts. Finally, slide onto a plate! Salsa or ketchup goes well as a dipping sauce if you like. Depending on what I add in (veggies, meats, etc) it is usually around 300 calories.

^ Ignore our 1970s plates, lol. This is tasty tasty stuff.^

Tonight I'm making beef and bean chile verde. It is going to be a tasty week!

Stay hungry my friends, stay hungry.

Mmm fish fingers and custard.

Sunday mileage: 1.6 (recovery run)

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." -Theodore Roosevelt

Today is not a good day.

I woke up about 5 am with a super sore throat and felt achy. I slept like a log until 9 am and got up to start my day with my usual awesome Irish oatmeal with flaxseed, blueberries and brown sugar. Seriously, it is the tastiest breakfast ever.

^Eat blueberries. They love you!^

I fed myself a Zicam and decided that I was feeling decent enough to go for my run. The first 15 wasn't too bad. I hit minute 20 and thought I was going to die. My body was screaming for me to stop. I was so tired and I kept feeling a tickle in my throat. But being the stubborn girl I am, I decided to keep pushing. Minute 25 I had to take out the incline and reduce my speed and this seemed to do the trick until I hit 30 minutes and the 5 minute cool down.

I don't understand how I did the same thing on Monday and it felt like nothing. Off day and/or I really am coming down with something. Of course I panicked myself into a mini panic attack, but after the walk back to my apartment and a protein shake I was back to normal.

Ugh frustration!

In other news, I'm hoping to keep this sickness that wants to infest my body at bay since we're going to Medieval Times dinner and show on Friday!! Super excited! I know it isn't going to be hard core jousting like in the (very) old days, but one can hope that a rider will be flung off his horse. I like violent sports. I found that one out in high school when I dated a hockey player (not professional, but he dabbled in a small league). Gosh do I love to see buff guys on ice skates take each other out! And it's sexier when there is blood on the ice. I think I was the wife of a Spartan in my previous life. That would explain a lot...

^ There's something about a man in uniform....^

Is it March 30th yet? Seriously I want some new Doctor Who in my life! I saw a post on Pinterest the other day that a "true Whovian" loves the Doctor and not an actor. I would have to agree. While David Tennant makes my heart go pitter patter and his Doctor was amazing, I love the Doctor no matter who is playing him. I started watching Doctor Who when Matt Smith was new to the role. The story line of the Doctor and Amy Pond just matched perfectly what was going on in my own life. It reached the eleven-year-old girl inside of me and was an hour of my day that I didn't have to worry about work, relationships, money issues, and could just escape on an adventure. I did enjoy Eccleston's Doctor, although I think I would have liked another season to really get hooked on him. And then Tennant's Doctor came into my life. But Matt Smith's Doctor is my first and I'll never forget that story. While I'm looking forward to see if he will regenerate or not by the end of the year, I will probably cry and miss him as much as the other Doctors. But there will be someone new and interesting and the story will (hopefully) keep going and going and going.

 No, no, don't you allons-y on me! Such a good regeneration.

Please let it never end!

My hubby was very excited yesterday since Lego Harry Potter came in the mail. I was skeptical at first, but it is really a fun and relaxing kid game! Also, Harry Potter was one of my first addictions at the age of 10. Then came Harvest Moon, Pokemon, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Inuyasha, insert many more anime titles here, and then eventually Doctor Who. I have an addictive personality. I'm learning to manage it in all ways from food to television and gaming. Moderation!

Happy Hump Day!

Mileage: 2.6

"I'm through accepting limits 'cause someone says they're so. Some things I cannot change but till I try, I'll never know!" - Defying Gravity, Wicked

Gosh today was a great run!

The run was semi effortless, minor pains, and enjoyable. I didn't want to stop, but I didn't want to overdo it and regret it.

These are the days I love.

^ Love this! Except I'm going to keep going even when I don't jiggle anymore (that will be awhile though). ^

It's official, my Dad is signed up for the race with me in April. I got to chat with him for about an hour this morning, which was nice. He seems to think we're going to finish in 30 minute. Uh huh. He said he's going to act as a "rabbit" to motivate me to run faster. Well I have 2 months left so maybe I can shave my mile down to 10 minutes, but I sincerely doubt it. An 11 minute mile would be realistic, but who knows? My body surprises me every time I run with something new, whether it is hunger pains 20 minutes in or a smooth enjoyable run with no major issues.

I really must take advice from my post's title and not accept "limits" and keep on trying. You never know what can happen until you open up your mind to other possibilities. I never thought I would lose weight or run again. I thought I would just be fat and unmotivated the rest of my life. Those are some things I thought I couldn't change, but I tried and I am changing. I'm done giving up on myself. I'm finished quitting. I will see this through. That 15K is waiting for me in November. I can suck it up and kick arse or I can give up and watch my Dad do it for the 20th time. No no, this time I will be crossing that finish line freezing my arse off come snow, rain, or anything else in between.

I can and I will. Watch me.

So while I wait for Doctor Who to return, I've been searching for a show to get into. Last night I finally found a new show to get hooked on. The Newsroom. I only watched one episode, but I really enjoyed the message the show sends. It's about restoring news as it should be: less sensationalism and more facts. I'm excited to see how the first season plays out and the second season starts sometime this year. I'm still a communications nerd inside.

Oh man, I love this so much. ^ This makes me excited for the rest of the episodes, which will be playing tonight when the hubby is home. He's hooked too. I love shows that make me think. I'm not going to put my stamp of recommendation on this series until I get through the first season. I do recommend the first episode.

Good stuff!

"And nobody in all of Oz,
No wizard that there is or was, 
Is ever gonna bring me down!"

Mileage: 3.10

"You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement." - Steve Prefontaine

I feel great.

The best part of my run today was when I was stretching. It was during this time I realized how much I have accomplished. I can run a 12 minute mile comfortably for a little over 2.5 miles.

And I ENJOY it!

Now every run is not fantastic. Thursday's run was the worst I've had yet. I felt sluggish and unmotivated. Today was the opposite story. I felt comfortable, motivated, and just plain good. And the gym was rather busy and I had a lady on the right side of me doing hill work and sprinting. At first I felt a bit intimidated by her; she was much more fit and could run faster. After 5 minutes or so I found that even though she ran a bit faster than me, we could sync up pace wise when she was going slower and that was great. I miss running with someone. Based on today's experience, I can not wait for the 5K!

I still have a lot of work to do.

Right now I'm running 2.5 miles (give or take) regularly. I still have 2 more weeks on this program to get to 3 miles. I'm a little nervous, but I know I'll get to 3 by March. I'm hoping to have long runs of 4-6 miles come April.

Fingers crossed!

Tonight we are going to a gastro pub! I'm very excited and already have my meal picked out. I'm finally getting my burger! Mushroom and swiss wagyu beef burger. And I'm allow to spend the extra $2 and get the truffle cheese. Oh. My. Goodness. This is going to be good. I'm only eating half because I want to save the other half of heavenly beef for Sunday lunch. Sure, this is going to be a hit to the food plan, but I've planned accordingly all week.

And you got to have some fun sometimes. Key word is sometimes.

Sunday is going to be a lovely rest day and Game of Thrones marathon. The new episodes are coming so we have to watch all of the old ones again of course! March is a great month for TV...new Doctor Who, new Game of Thrones, and new The Legend of Korra. Yes, I still watch nick shows. Avatar: The Last Airbender was better, but Legend of Korra holds its own and doesn't destroy its predecessor's story. If I decide to have children, they will watch both. Yes, there are people who think I should "grow up" and stop watching "kiddie shows" but, what's the point of being a grown up if you can't act a little childish sometimes?

Thank you Mr. Baker.

Allons-y!

Mileage: 2.6
Weekly Mileage for 2/10/13-2/16/13: 13.2

"She said that you were a Mr. Hottie...ness. And that she would like to go out with you for...texting and scones." -The Doctor

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Best valentine card ever right up there.

Any who (ha ha who, Doctor Who...I have issues...), today was a lovely sunny day that woke me up bright and early with the sun shining in my face. I love that it is sunny every day or every other day, but the blinds in our place don't block light very well. And I hate curtains.

At least it is sunny!

Today's run was interesting. I started off strong but lost steam about 20 minutes in. By the time I was warming down, my stomach was demanding food. I've never had hunger pains during exercise. As soon as I got my post workout snack in everything was fine. I ate the same for breakfast as I normally do. Something new I guess?

Everything is changing.

I have a defined waist and an hourglass figure again. My arms aren't as doughy and shapeless. Sadly, I lost a cup size so bra shopping is in my future. I have calf muscles! It's crazy. I'm ALWAYS hungry.

Interesting stuff.

So I have another A-mazing recipe to share with you. Skinnytaste.com is my new favorite recipe site! I made  Chicken Rollatini with Spinach Alla Parmigiana, which is a fancy way of saying chicken parmesan stuffed with spinach and cheese. This recipe came out amazingly well! The only thing I changed was putting onion and garlic powder in the filling. I'm glad I did because it added so much flavor!  Also, I had to cook it for 30 minutes instead of 25 because my chicken was a little thicker. The chicken came out juicy and tender. I don't know what more you could ask for. Here it is: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/04/chicken-rollatini-with-spinach-alla.html

For dessert I picked up some caramel peanut chocolate gelato and we're having Young's Double Chocolate Stout with 2 oz of Framboise raspberry for a tasty alcoholic treat! We got the idea from The Perfect Pour (an amazing wine, beer and liquor store).

What a lovely end to a good and sunny Valentine's Day.

Mileage: 2.5