T-Day!

Ok... Here is the most dreaded holiday to anyone trying to lose weight.  This holiday is about overindulgence, fatty foods, and lots of wine.  For some reason people think that if they make healthy dishes, no one will like them.  False!!!!  Just because something is healthy doesn't mean that it tastes bad.  I think that people cook in lard and butter because they do not know how to season their food.  

I already shared my veggie casserole recipe, but here are the recipes for some of my desserts.

Mini Pumpkin Pies

Mmmmmm Pumpkin

No Sugar Added Apple Pie

Apple Pie

Ab Workout

Today's Ab Workout at the Gym.  

I ran last night, so today will be 25 minutes of elliptical and 10 minutes of stretching and abs.

I read this article on Self.  The descriptions of the moves are very confusing.  The video is definitely needed.

6 Ab Moves
Video on Ab Workout

I need to detox

With all of my hard work I have definitely fell off the wagon this weekend. I feel like crap too!

Today is the day I need to hydrate and start eating all of my fruits and veggies.

I have a brunch I am going to in an hour. I am cutting up an apple and bringing it with me. This will help me not eat sweets or bad things.

Why are the holidays so hard!


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Charity Miles

There is this amazing app that will donate $.25 per mile you run. I strongly urge everyone to download CharityMiles and start moving!


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Training

Yesterday's Wednesday Workouts with Courtney.

TRX Rows
TRX Triceps
TRX Push Ups
Burpees
Squat Jumps
Push Ups
Crunches holding weights
Plank
Stairs with Presses
Sumo Squats with Kettle Bell
And Repeat!

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Potlucks

I am all about sharing and giving during the holidays, but I have beef with potlucks.  First, shouldn't there be a theme?  I just don't think that enchiladas and mashed potatoes should be on the same plate.  Maybe I am the type that likes to eat food separately.  I think that is just gross.  Second, can we please make it mandatory for ingredients to be listed by each dish?  I don't want to run out to the gas station to get Benadryl because someone poisoned me with pickle relish.  My throat is a little swollen, and I am having a hard time swallowing.  I do think it is a nice gesture, but good gosh.  People are also overly nice during these things....  "Oh my your potatoes were amazing."  They were ok, but they would have been amazing if I just made them for myself.  Stop lying to me.  All in all, I don't think I am ever going to participate in a potluck with people I cannot be honest with.  I just want to tell them.. "Ya know that needed more seasoning" or "That tastes like a bowl of sh*t."  All of the flavors on one plate are just too much. This has to be a chef's nightmare.

Crafty for a Kinky Cause

Pure Romance Party tonight.




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Thanksgiving Guilt

Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, I would like to share some guilt free holiday tips.  This website has great tricks if you are cooking or if you are just eating.  My favorite is to only eat food that is a holiday favorite.  Skip the food that you have all year round.  Also, EAT BREAKFAST!!!  That I am definitely going to have to do.

Thinner Thanksgiving

Random

So my friend and I are comparing which is better - Glam Bag or Birchbox.

This month I got of course perfume samples from Birchbox, but I also got a full sized mascara. The other stuff; lip balm, hair powder, and serum, I probably will never use.




From Glam Bag, I got a full sized lip gloss, a full sizes eye liner, a full sized nail polish, a full sized eye shadow, and a full sized eyebrow gel. I already know which subscription I will be keeping. The one with the full sized samples!



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Veggie Casserole

This is my favorite casserole for the holidays.  To make a healthier version - cut down on the Miracle Whip and use "Free," use 2% Cheddar Cheese (only 4 oz), use healthier crackers, and spray butter instead of regular butter.

1 Can Green Beans

3 Cans Mixed Veggies

1 Can Carrots

1 Can Sliced Water Chestnuts

1 Can Corn

1/4 Stalk of Celery (Chopped)

1/2 White Onion (Chopped)

1/2 Cup of Miracle Whip

Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder

8 oz Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 Sleeve Ritz Crackers (Crushed)

1 Stick of Butter (Cut into Tbsp)

Drain all the veggies and mix in a strainer.  Then pour into a 13 x 8 casserole dish.  Mix the veggies with the Miracle Whip.  Salt and Pepper to taste.  Add 1 tsp of Garlic Powder.  Mix 1/2 of the cheese in the veggies.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  Pull dish out of the oven and top the veggies with the remaining cheddar cheese.  Put the crushed crackers on top.  Place the butter evenly on top of the crackers.  Bake for another 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Day 63...

I think I am going to have to stop actually counting the days.  It is harder to keep track of the days than to blog!  

Well, yesterday I went to a hot power yoga class.  Holy hardness!  It was great but very challenging for me.  I am signed up for the Thursday class too.
Today I am going to run 4 miles.  Tomorrow I have Courtney!  She is going to kick my ass.  

Well, I made some vegan chili recently.  Here is my recipe.

Bean Chili

Days 55 thru 59

Wow a lot has happened this week.  I will recap because I totally slacked a blogging this week.


Day 55 (11/5/12) - I felt great after the run on Sunday.  I found out that my best friend Audrey had a baby boy (after 14 hours of labor) Monday night.  He is adorable and perfect!!!

Day 56 (11/6/12) - I had a busy day planned, so I went to the gym during the day.  I burned 340 calories on the elliptical during lunch.  I drove to the hospital after work to meet the new little man. I went to Vino Van Gogh and painted which is very relaxing!

Day 57 (11/7/12) - Rough rough day.  Lots of doctor appointments.  And my poor cat is sick.  I don't just have one cat, but I have 3!  First our cat Wolfie got sick - sneezing.  She is resilient  so she got better quick.  Then Pockets started sneezing, but she is still running around like normal.  Then there is Flick.  Poor poor Flick.  Mike took him to the ER that night.  He was on oxygen and now antibiotics.  He is looking a little better, but still not 100%.  We have a doctor appointment on Saturday.  

Day 58 (11/8/12) - Not too much of anything but worrying about Flick.

ToDay 59 (11/9/12) - I want to get home and be with Flick, so I am going to the gym during lunch.  My goal is to burn over 300 on a spinning bike today.  I am ready, set, go!  Also I have been weighing myself this week, and I am down to 177.  That is not a lot, but it is something and staying off!

Day 54 - Hot Chocolate Race

I love running, but the hot chocolate race was definitely not one of those races I loved.  It was disorganized.  We waited for over and hour to start.  People were not considerate (walking in the middle...).  The course was a very overused course in Chicago.  They did have enough water.  When we finished, there were no spectators, no water, no bananas...  We had to walk yet another mile to get our cheap plastic cup with an unripe banana, barely any chocolate, and a mini rice crispy treat.  I paid almost $70 for a really crappy race.  Thankfully, I ran with great company and we had fun doing it (even stopping to take some pics).  

Day 53 Pre Race

So the Hot Chocolate race packet pick up was such a disaster yesterday. We waited forever!

Today was definitely better. I ran/walked 3 miles today. I ate well and drank tons of water.

Tomorrow up at 5:00am and prepping for the 15k.


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Day 52 11/2/12

My department today is actually eating lunch together.  I like Fridays at the gym for lunch, but I guess I could be social today.  We are ordering a large pizza with a whole wheat crust, spinach, and tomato.  I looked up the calorie content as best as I could online.  It comes out to approximately 1800 Calories for the whole pizza.  I divided that by the 5 of us, and we will each have 360 calories.  Not too bad!!!  Thank gold for the wheat crust!

Day 51 - November 1st

In the month of November, I am really going to start working on my tempo runs.  Tempo runs are just fast runs that help you build endurance.  The article below has 4 great tempo runs.  My favorite tempo run is running as fast as I can for about 1/4 of a mile.  I try to get my heart rate up in the 170s for that.  Then run slow for 2 1/2 minutes reducing your heart rate to 120 bpm. I try to just keep repeating the cycle until I get to about 3 or more miles.  Tips that help me are to find a section or path that you know is 1/4 mile.   For example in Chicago, most major streets are 1/4 of a mile away from each other.  I could run from Division Street to North Ave at a very fast pace.  Once I get to North Ave. I will jog passed it for 1 minute and 15 seconds and then turn around to get back to North Ave.  Once I get back to North Ave, I run as fast as I can to Division St. and repeat!  People think I am crazy when they keep seeing me run back and forth, but who cares!

Tempo Runs!