Archive | December, 2010

“Don’t be sad it’s over…be glad it happened.”

By on December 31, 2010 in bucket salad, chickpeas, college, Garmin, goals, graduation, half-marathon, living abroad, New Years, perspective, reflection, running, Strasbourg, Syracuse

First long run/ last run of 2010 is in the books. During my run, I thought about how lucky I am to be able to put one foot in front of the other day after day. I also thought about how much I wanted to stop, vomit, or walk, but that is not very positive of me, now is it?

(Snack plate: 1 slice cinnamon raisin bread, 1 banana, an apple, and 1 tbsp Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter.)

I completed 5.47 miles in 56:56 and I felt so proud when I was finished. Once upon a time, that distance was easy. Today was not that day, but I finished anyways. I forgot what that feeling of accomplishment felt like in the down time between completing the last half marathon and training for the next one. I’m not where I want to be in terms of speed, but that will come in due time. For now my stats are good enough. But rest assured, I will not let my endurance fade away once I build it back up. Mark my words, because my heart and lungs felt every bit of today’s run.

(Boomer contemplating life with his legs crossed. He is a very special dog…oh and he sits in the crate because he likes it, not because we make him. Like I said, special…)

Onto a completely different topic…2010 has been one hell of a year. I’ll spare you an epic saga about resolutions and goals, mainly because I think I am already on a great path and I wouldn’t change too much about my life. The only thing I hope to accomplish in the new year is establishing myself in DC. But that will happen because the plan is very much in motion.

(Lunch: Bucket salad with spinach, 1/2 cup roasted chickpeas, 1/2 cup barley, 1 tbsp feta cheese, mustard, and balsamic vinaigrette.)

Right, back to 2010.

Well I finished college in 2010, so there’s that bachelors degree I have now. This whole thing hasn’t really hit me yet, but I am sure once the bills start stacking up and I begin working as a personal trainer I will realize that this isn’t all a dream and that college is, in fact, o.v.e.r.

(Snack plate numero dos: 2 clementines, a banana, and a tbsp of Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter.)

I also ran a half-marathon (which may trump finishing college because I got a medal). The entire experience was something that fundamentally changed me as a person. Running has given me a sense of purpose and clarity when life is nothing short of overwhelming and confusing. Racing was never even on my radar before my friend Bridget (who is running the Disney Marathon next weekend!) challenged me to a race. Little did I know that it would spark a fire under my ass when I needed it most.

This was by far one of the craziest years of my life between my stints in D.C. working and taking classes, Strasbourg with the most adorable host mom ever, and a triumphant return to my now alma mater Syracuse University. I’m sure 2011 will be nothing like 2010 as I transition from student to full time grown-up (that is a technical term). But honestly, I don’t want the new year to be like the last. My life is nothing short of a crazy adventure, and although I sometimes lose perspective, I know that things happen for a reason and that I am exactly where I need to be right now.

With that it’s time to toast to one crazy year. May the next one bring just as many great memories!

Until next time,

~Jenn

Questions: Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Do you stick to them?

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Catch up…not to be confused with ketchup

By on December 30, 2010 in baking, chickpeas, cookies, high protein snack, pumpkin oats, rest day, running, weight, workout

After two days of very serious posts I want to write about happier, less stressful, areas of my life. Namely cooking and training. It feels so good to be back in control of both aspects of my life.

(Lots of oatmeal breakfasts: 1/3 cup oatmeal, 1 tbsp almond butter, 1/3 cup pumpkin).

My training schedule calls for a rest day today and after the ass whooping I took yesterday from my favorite instructor in cardiosculpt, I was all too happy to comply.

I am experiencing a bit of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) but this comes as no surprise. I haven’t squatted that low or that many repetitions in forever. But I couldn’t let all the MILFy housewives at the gym out squat me! So I pushed a little harder and left a sweaty mess while they just glistened. I’m a bit worried about my ‘long run’ tomorrow, for fear of my legs not being completely recovered. There will be a lot of stretching, foam rolling, and compression sock wearing going on around here tonight to prepare for 5 miles in the morning.

Starting a training plan over again is weird. I’ve bumped myself up to Hal Higdon’s intermediate plan, but the first couple of weeks still feel like a drop down in intensity compared to where I was just a short few months ago. I am going to follow this plan as closely as possible since the beginner plan took me from a 5k runner to half-marathoner in only 13 weeks.

(source)

I’m switching Week 1′s long run to tomorrow because I am antsy to get it under my belt and no one likes running hung over. Just saying.

On the food front things have been going very well. Christmas Day was an exception with the whole ‘I can totally eat a 1/2 pan of stuffing and not pay for it’ mentality. I climbed right back on the wagon the next day, so that is what really matters. I’m down about 5lbs since the end of the semester, which is very exciting. It’s nice to actually see results again.

I’ve spent a lot of time in the kitchen as I find it very therapeutic. Mostly I keep my meals pretty simple, but I am becoming quite the almond butter bite baking master. As a matter of fact, I sent out a fresh batch to my best friend Jen today!

I also tried out something I’ve never done before…making my own chickpeas. Did you know that chickpeas don’t magically appear in a liquid bath in cans in the grocery store? They actually have to be soaked overnight to absorb water in order to look like they do in the can. It is much cheaper to buy beans in bulk and soak them yourself. I paid around $1.10 for 2 and 1/4 cups of dry beans.

After soaking overnight they absorbed a bunch of water. I rinsed, drained, and boiled the beans for about and hour and a half until they were just as squishy and delicious as the canned version! Since I was on a roll (making Smutha Mutha and I a stash of sweet potato ‘fries’) I decided to roast up some of my chickpeas for high protein snacking.

(Doing what I do best…destroying the kitchen).

I divided my pan in 4ths and used cinnamon, garlic, salt, and an all spice blend to season my beans. After about 20 minutes at 400 degrees they were perfectly crunchy!

I also cooked up a batch of plain barely to add to salads and whatnot, but that is not nearly as exciting as chickpeas. I have issues.

I had a fun morning in the kitchen, but I definitely feel off not starting my day with an ass kicking workout. Good thing it is first on the agenda for tomorrow morning.

Until next time,

~Jenn

Question: What is your favorite simple recipe?

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The Ties that Bind… (Part 2)

By on December 29, 2010 in Arkansas, Broccoli, bucket salad, D.C., decisions, eggs, Oats in a Jar, perspective, studying, tofu

In Part 1 I explained all about my plans to become a personal trainer. I was so motivated by my own post (pats self on the back) that I started studying shortly there after. It is slow going through all of science stuff, but I am sure it will pick up once I get to the nutrition part. I kind of have a knack for that sort of thing…

So Part 2 of this saga involves where exactly I would like to carry out this journey. The decision is not nearly as simple as I had hoped.

(Breakfast: Coffee in the coolest mug ever {Contigo brand if you are wondering…it doesn’t spill and stays hot for hours!}, OIAJ)

When I arrived in Washington, D.C. in January of last year I immediately fell in love with the city. It had all the hustle and bustle of a big city with none of the skyscrapers and sidewalks overtaking the greenery. It appeared to be a place of health concerned citizens, as far as I am concerned. I had some of the best times of my life that semester and I vowed to return upon graduation.

That day came all to quickly. As I packed up my dorm room for the final time I relished in the thought of moving to the District and starting my life. But I never found that dream job that demanded I move there. I thank my lucky stars each day for my cousin Kristin and her generosity. She gave me a reason to move and told me that I could do anything I really wanted and I had a room to crash until I could get on my feet. So the plan remained.

(AM Snack: Grapes, 2 clementines, and an unpictured hard-boiled egg).

I found myself tossing and turning in bed a few nights ago stricken with the fear of the unknown, of what comes next. The notion of getting a personal training certification put my mind at ease and felt like the right choice. It was as if direction fell into my lap. But that choice puts everything else in flux. So here is the real dilemma…

I’m no longer sure moving to DC right away makes a whole lot of sense. Sure it is what I want, but we don’t live in an ideal world and you can’t always get what you want.

(Lunch: 1/2 tub of spinach {really.}, balsamic vinaigrette, sesame seeds, leftover tofu, and leftover roasted potato ‘fries.)

I have the option to stay in Arkansas under my parents roof for the time being and get a part-time job while studying to pass the personal training examination. This is convenient because I already have somewhat of a life established here. I will need to help out with the bills (which is beyond reasonable), but life will definitely come easier here. The downside of this option is that I will not really feel like I am getting my life started. For so long I dreamed of nothing but my city life post-college, that staying put in Arkansas feels like failure. It will still be only temporary as I plan to move to DC in May NO.MATTER.WHAT to live with an old roommate, but I am not a patient girl and I want to get my life started now.

(Study break snack: Brown pear with 1, okay 2 tbsp Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter.)

At this point I am not sure how long it will take me to study for this test. I imagine no more than 3 months which means I could wait until March (right around the time of the half) to move. But I doubt staying in Arkansas for 3 months will make finding a part-time job any easier. Regardless, you will see me at the National Half Marathon. Come hell or high water.

Staying in Arkansas realistically is not defeat.But I am not sure it makes sense. I am deeply conflicted and I just don’t know what to do. I love hanging out with my parental units (which is rare for people my age). They are genuinely cool people who I do not mind sharing a roof with. Smutha Mutha and I are really good at motivating each other when it comes to diet and fitness, so I know I am in great hands in terms of my health. I imagine DC would be a bit lonely in the beginning. I know no one apart from my cousin and it will take some time to meet new people and feel settled. If I wait until May I will have a built in buddy via my roommate.

(Dinner: 1/2 cup quinoa, roasted vegetables, roasted acorn squash, nutritional yeast, and ketchup.)

As you can see this internal battle can go on and on without a definite conclusion. I am so torn. I am hoping that one morning I will wake up and just know the right thing to do, but until then I will keep word vomiting all over this blog.

Maybe one day soon I’ll actually get to share about the training program I have been doing or the success I have had over the last two weeks with my weight loss. Yes, one of these days those posts will come. But in the meantime, there seems to be a more pressing issue called life.

Until next time,

~Jenn

Question: What would you do in my situation?

P.S. I’ll write about something happy and fluffy tomorrow, I promise :)

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Let’s talk life (Part 1)

By on December 28, 2010 in blogger mention, career advice, college, decisions, eggs, oatmeal, Personal Training Certification, studying, workout

I’ve never been one to keep things to myself. I’m very much an open book because when something happens (good, bad, or otherwise) I like to share with those around me.

I suppose it makes a lot of sense that I write a blog to talk about myself then, huh? :) No shame, no shame.

(Breakfast o’ Champs: Pumpkin oat and coffee with almond milk drunk through a straw to keep my pearly white gleaming)

Anyways, for a couple of days now my mind has be going at full speed. I have consulted family, close friends, my favorite instructor at the gym (hi Betsy!), a blogger, and even alluded to what has been going on in a previous post. But like I said, I suck at keeping my mouth shut, so I’m going to share this whole deal in two parts.

(Lunch: 1/2 cup egg whites, spinach, red onion, red potato “fries”, and nutritional yeast. Unpictured copious amounts of ketchup).

As you may know, I graduated college in the beginning of December with no job, no prospects, and an utter lack of direction in my life. At 22 the only thing I am sure of is that I am meant to pursue something in the health field. My blog assures me of that daily. Each time someone tells me they made a healthy choice because they read one of my posts, or asks me questions because I see the healthy lifestyle I try to lead, I am more assured that health and nutrition is what I am meant to pursue. So I did some soul searching and came up with a semi-plan. Stick with me here…

(My cleaned out study spot with an old school picture of my sister and I in Disney. You’re welcome Rach.)

I am going to pursue a personal training certification through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). This means getting back to the books (just when I thought I had escaped them) and really focusing on all things anatomy and nutrition. I anticipate the test that I must take at the end of my study period to be hard…as in really difficult, because I have no background in science (I was an international relations major in college). With a bit of due-diligence succeeding is possible. Well that and the fact that failure is not really an option.

This choice feels right. After making countless pro/con lists regarding this decision, the positives vastly outweigh the negatives. It may not be what my parents envisioned for me as a college graduate, but it is what will make me happiest. (Sorry Smutha Mutha and Chef Bob). It is by no means the end all be all of my career. But with no clear direction apart from a general field of interest, personal training is the right choice for now. I am really looking forward to getting started!

Some of my favorite reasons (aka the pros) for wanting to be certified:

  • I will have an opportunity to positively impact people’s lives
  • It is a great way to meet new people
  • I will be paid to hang out in a gym (something I do for free right now)
  • I will be able to teach classes
  • I’m not stuck behind a desk staring at a computer screen
  • Ahem, my uniform is workout clothes (all the more reason to buy more Wunder Unders!

So there it is. The choice is made. The books are purchased rented (you really are the best Betsy!) My CPR/AED certification course is next Thursday. All that’s left now is to turn this dream into a reality by hitting the books.

(I need all the study motivation I can get!)

Seems like I’ve got it all figured out right? Not so much. Stay tuned for part two where the decisions get a little more hazy.

Until next time,

~Jenn

Questions: Did anyone see this coming? :) Have you ever taken a leap of faith? If so, how did it work out??

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Dinner: The grand tofu experiment

By on December 27, 2010 in quinoa, recipe-ish, tofu

I was really craving tofu today but had no idea how I wanted to cook it. My computer was upstairs, so there was no feasible way to look up a recipe. The 12 stairs were just to much.

Small aside, it’s Boomer’s (yes, the family dog) 4th birthday. So while I photographed dinner I also threw the ball for him. Hence why that tennis ball is creeping in the background of the shot. Okay, back to the food.

So like I was saying. No recipe+ a kitchen full of Chef Bob’s spices= experiment!

For my rub, I used 2 tbsp light olive oil and a little bit of this with a smidge of that. I remember blindly throwing in Mrs. Dash seasoning, minced onion, basil, chili powder, salt and pepper, and Cavander’s Greek Seasoning.You know how it goes. But the real piece de resistance was the addition of sesame seeds. They add great flavor.

I pan seared the tofu in 1/2 tbsp oil until it was golden brown and crispy. Then I laid the slices on a paper towel so that the excess oil could soak into the towel.

After it cooled, I hesitently tasted my creation…and it was good! Whew!!

As you can see I also whipped up a batch of quinoa that I accidentally overcooked a bit. It is still very much edible, but the addition of nutritional yeast, frozen vegetables, and salt makes it taste more like baby food (according to Smutha Mutha) than traditional quinoa, but I’ll eat just about anything (ahem, meat) so I think it’s great!

You win some and you lose some and since last week’s baking fail I was owed one. Dinner success!

Until next time,

~Jenn

Question: What is your favorite way to cook tofu?

Comments { 4 }

The day after.

By on December 26, 2010 in airports, bucket salad, Chef Bob, Christmas, detox, Disney magic, eggs, family dinner, overeating, pumpkin oats, veggies, what are sisters for, workout

I had a very serious throwdown with Chef Bob’s stuffing yesterday. This stuff is to die for…which if you ask my tummy right now, it might say I almost did.

This was my plate for Christmas Dinner. This is not a joke. Except for the portion size. That is a huge joke. I went back at least two more times.

Chef Bob also perfectly caramelized marshmallows on top of mashed sweet potatoes. This dish is usually reserved for Smutha Mutha, but as her favorite daughter (sorry sis) I managed to snag a bite.

To top off my already full stomach, I went in for the kill with a slice of Chef Bob’s chocolate pie. The man is a culinary genius I tell you. Can you guess what happened next?? That’s right, I went into a full on food coma for approx. 1 hour. Then, I had more pie…and stuffing. And then I felt ill. I finally felt decent enough to try and sleep around 2AM…which was great until Rachael woke me up at 5AM saying “sissy time to go shopping!”

Eff.

I really don’t remember much except for me fighting to stay awake in Kohls while Rachael did this…

…for an hour.

After I dragged her from aisles of similar looking black cardigans  (of which she is convinced she needs ALL of them), there was a stop at a gas station for coffee. In my hazy blur I recall spilling coffee all over the counter and the nice attendant telling me not to worry about it. No, I was worried and I immediately started cleaning it up. So much so that he picked up on my fret and gave us free coffee! Good karma breeds good karma, I am sure of it.

Since we were caffeinated and running ahead of schedule, we stopped in at Target to use our giftcards from our brother. I lost Rach in the clothes section (go figure), but I managed to get an ipod charger and music player for my car. All before 7:30 AM. Imagine that.

From there, I dropped my sister at the airport. We said our goodbyes (I hate that part) and I returned to my bed, where I remained until 2PM.

Upon waking and realizing half the day was blown, I let out some curse words and then got myself together to go to the gym. (Is it still breakfast if it is eaten at 2:30 PM?)

I completed a ridiculously long workout that was challenging and detoxifying. It felt awful great. I did 2 sets of total body circuits with laps around the track in between sets. In total I ran approx. 2.30 miles. I finished up with 20 minutes on the arc trainer.

Smutha Mutha is also detoxing today (the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree), so I walked in to find her roasting veggies for us for dinner (or my lunch? ugh I give up). I dumped my portion of grilled broccoli and cauliflower on a big bed of spinach with an egg, 1/4 cup black beans, 1 tbsp hummus, balsamic vinaigrette, and salt and pepper. I also consumed unpictured roasted sweet potatoes with ketchup.

This odd day ended on a high note. I met up with 2 high school friends to watch the new Disney movie Tangled. Oy vey did I feel the Disney magic. It was so great! As were my movie snacks.

(2 clementines and grapes.)

What can I say I am in full on detox mode.

Back to bed I go! I need a full nights rest because training starts tomorrow!! Yay! Here we go again!

Until next time,

~Jenn

Question: Are you detoxing today?

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