Sweet rewards

You can beat me with a stick forever and I won’t respond. However, you dangle that carrot and I’m there. Well, I’m learning that concept is holding true while I get myself running. I have to reward myself with little gifts as I reach certain milestones. Unfortunately, not all have been true gifts...remember the cupcake?

I’m going to come clean with you. I still hate running. I don’t understand those people that rave about the infamous runners’ high; I’m beginning to think that’s a croak that people tell themselves while they run about like fools. Running has truly become a chore for me. It’s no different than doing the laundry or cleaning the bathroom. So with that rewards are vital, if I’m to run a 5k in September.

On the bright side, I have been pretty tough on myself if I don’t meet the goal, then no reward. Well, this has left me a little discouraged. I like gadgets and I want the best ones to aid me in whatever the task at hand is. I really want a running skirt, but since I also want instant gratification I’m heading to Best Buy after work to get a Nike iPod + sports kit.

According to the iPod website,

“…As you run or walk, the sensor sends information to your device, tracking your time, distance, pace, and calories burned. If you choose, real-time, spoken feedback can even alert you to milestones throughout your workout...”

Let’s hope this is really the case. I don’t have the special shoes. Well, I do, but I don’t run in them. I have a pair of Asics because they provide me with better support. Don’t despair I learned of this excellent accessory you can order that will allow you to use this kit with any pair of running shoes. However, the reviews remind you to be careful that you don’t get it wet. Although, don’t you come into the same risk if you’re a heavy sweater? Just saying…I’ll provide you a review within the next couple of weeks.

Food diary aborted

I’ve abandoned the food diary as of now. Overall, I’m doing too bad with the diet portion of the healthy living. I knew before hand that my biggest problem is with my beverage selection and the snacking after dinner. As a result, I’ve tried to eliminate soda from my diet. But I find that every now and then I really need an icy cold, Coke to quench that thirst and satisfy the craving for bubbles. If not, I binge on all kinds of other stuff looking to satisfy the need. In regards to the snacking after dinner, I’m working on my will power. But for those nights when I give in to the need to snack, I’m stocking the cupboards with better options than Doritos and M&Ms.

I admit to getting caught up in the cupcake craze that has swept the country. Saturday evening found K and I in Dupont for sushi at Raku and then over to Tangy Sweet for desert. The Dupont location of Tangy Sweet has started selling Red Velvet Cupcakery cupcakes and I couldn’t resist. Rather than devouring it that night, I save the sweet treat as a way to reward myself for running on Sunday.

I managed to avoid the desire to consume the cupcake for breakfast and finish my run. As I made my way home, I imagined each bite of my red velvet cupcake melting in my mouth. Unable to wait until after the shower, I ripped open the bag and took a big bite only to be disappointed. What filled my mouth was not the moist delectable cupcake with a hint of chocolate that I had dreamt of. Instead it was a dry, bland cake product with a crunchy, sugary frosting. I put it down for a few minutes to drink water thinking that my taste buds were out of whack due to the run, which proved futile. The Southern Belle was a total bust.

Still looking for a moist cake, I opted to bake my own sans the frosting. This chocolate cake recipe is incredibly easy and has great flavor. I’m not a fan of frosting, so I’ve never made it with the complete ganache and praline topping. To add a little something extra, I added a dash of cinnamon to the flour mixture, which leaves a little hint of spice. I’m sure it’s not the healthiest, but it is an amazingly moist cake the makes the perfect partner for a tall glass of milk. And was a 1,000 times better than my overpriced cupcake.

Rather than bake an entire cake (which K and I don't need sitting around the house) whenever I'm craving cake, where do you recommend getting a cupcake from in the city?

Food diary - Vol. 3

Tuesday continued

Snack
Chocolate chip granola bar
Glass of unsweetened peach ice tea

Dinner
Santa Fe chicken wrap & waffle fries from Ragtime
Coke with lemon

Wednesday

Breakfast
Cherry Danish
Small coffee with cream & sugar

Lunch
½ chicken salad sandwich on whole wheat topped with spinach, tomato and red oninon
Handful of potato chips
Can of Coke

Snack
2 slices of cantaloupe & fresh pineapple
1 slice of a baguette with fresh mozzarella

Dinner
Smothered pork chops with mashed potatoes & green beans
2 graham crackers
Glass of unsweetened peach ice te

Thursday

Breakfast
Jelly filled doughnut
Mug of hot earl grey tea

Lunch
½ turkey and provolone sandwich topped with lettuce & tomato
Bag of BBQ potato chips
2 Oatmeal raisin cookies
Can of Coke

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Ok, so it’s quite apparent that I’ve let my eating habits slide. Work this week (week long conference that has me at the office some mornings around 7:00 am and not home until around 7:00 pm) has proven quite challenging to maintain any kind of a regular exercise schedule or healthy eating habit.

The weekend brings about a fresh start. K and I don’t have anything on the agenda, so I plan to make a trip to Eastern Market for fresh produce and to spend time in the kitchen baking healthy muffins filled with bran and dried fruit. I also want to run both Saturday and Sunday morning. I’m hoping that the healthy weekend will spill over to the start of the work week.

All of this makes me wonder how everyone else deals with life getting in the way of a healthy lifestyle. How do you maintain balance?

Gonna get shredded

In addition to running so I don’t die when I run that 5k in September, K and I have been doing Jillian’s 30 Day Shred exercise DVD. I’ll confess I’m not a fan of the exercise DVD. I don’t want to see a bunch of girls in spandex and the instructor cheering, “You can do it!” with really bad 80s music in the background. Before making the purchase, I searched for reviews and general information. People love this DVD and swear it brought about results.

Well, K and I aren’t exactly couch potatoes. We have slipped a little, but compared to the average American we consider ourselves in pretty decent shape. We were just looking for something to give us a jumpstart with results so we wouldn’t lose hope. I went in thinking after a few days I’d be ready to advance to the second level. I’m embarrassed to admit Jillian kicks my ass.

The program consists of three levels and requires hand-weights and a matt if on a hard surface. K and I made the trip to a Sports Authority for the hand-weights because we or let me rephrase that I wanted “real” weights. Not those girly pastel ones you see at Target. $50 later we have a pair of 5 and 10 pound dumbbells. Headed home, I was ready to get to work.

After the first go at, in which K had to forgo the weights on the last to parts of level one (for a peak at the first part, you can click here*), we felt pain as if we had just lifted heavy for an hour. This workout is only 20 minutes. Yes, you read right.

We’ve now made it our thing. We run on our own and then commence the shred before dinner. Sometimes, I just want to throw my hand-weights at K for goofing around and making me laugh. Despite that, I love him for pushing me to continue and for the fist bump at the end. (And no, we don’t do this because of the Obamas.)

I’ll keep you posted throughout the thirty days with little updates and reviews. I hope this leaves me shredded and not just sore. More importantly, I hope I’m able to advance to the next level before the 30 days is up.

*Youtube has disabled the link for embedding the video.

Food diary - Vol. 2

Monday continued

Snack
Small oatmeal raisin cookie
Fruit skewer (piece of cantaloupe and honey dew melon, a strawberry & a red grape)
Glass of water with lemon wedge

Dinner
Tortilla chips w/guacamole (Probably more than I should have, but it was so good.)
1 chicken fajita (½ chicken skinless chicken breast with sautéed onions & green bell pepper topped with low-fat sour cream, salsa & reduced fat cheddar in a whole wheat tortilla)
Glass of water with lemon wedge

Tuesday

Breakfast
80 calorie cup of blueberry Dannon Light & Fit yogurt topped with a ¼ cup of Grapenuts
½ a banana
Glass of passion fruit unsweetened ice tea

Snack
2 slices of strawberry almond bread
10 oz bottle of water

Lunch
An Elvis sandwich (whole wheat bread, covered with 2 tablespoons crunchy peanut butter, the other half of the banana from breakfast and a drizzle of honey)
6 oz bag of Lays potato chips
1 large red delicious apple

Food diary - Vol. 1

So I promised to keep you updated as to what went into my mouth starting Friday. I know you’re just dying to learn what I eat. Well, rather than keep you waiting any longer here’s my diary for the weekend, starting with Saturday. I completely forgot to write down Friday and cannot remember for the life of me what I managed to consume. I don’t doubt it was unhealthy.

Saturday
Breakfast
2 eggs over-easy
2 slices of whole wheat toast with butter
8 oz glass of calcium fortified orange juice

Lunch
Cheeseburger & potato chips at Hops Brewery (Bad for me, I know, but it was quite good)
Unsweetened ice tea with lemon

Snack
60 calorie cup of Dannon cherry light and fit yogurt with a tablespoon of Grapenuts ( I love the crunch)

Dinner
Tortilla chips with guacamole & salsa
1 chicken & vegetable skewer
Spinach salad including tomato, yellow bell pepper & avocado dressed with lemon juice & olive oil
Approximately a bottle of white wine (We had dinner with friends, where Miss Iowa and I consumed two bottles of wine. K and Mr. Iowa enjoyed some bourbon instead.)
Strawberry cheesecake trifle (There’s no way that was a healthy option. But damn, it was good!)

Sunday

Breakfast
About a cup of chopped watermelon
2 eggs over-easy
1 slice whole wheat toast with butter
8 oz glass of calcium fortified orange juice

Lunch
Not sure that I had lunch. I snacked on a handful Rosemary & Olive Oil Triscuits and more chopped watermelon. There was also a chocolate chip granola bar and a 20 oz bottle of A&W root beer.

Dinner
Broiled citrus sea bass & mixed vegetables (Thanks to K for cooking me dinner)
Glass of water

Snack
Handful of Triscuits
Couple of handfuls of microwave popcorn
A few nachos (Tostitos covered with shredded cheese that are microwaved)

Monday (As of 12:41 pm ET)

Breakfast
6 oz glass orange juice
½ glazed Krispy Crème doughnut
Cup of hot earl grey tea

Lunch
½ chicken salad sandwich on whole wheat topped with spinach, tomato and red oninon
Handful of potato chips
Can of Coke

Put down the pizza & cookies

Despite the view from my hotel room, I’m happy to return home from my trip to Salt Lake City. The city and people were nice enough, but after checking out the temple I wasn’t quite sure what to do with myself. The conference hotel was not conveniently situated near much of anything and the office will not allow us to rent cars as part of a business expense. With that, I was somewhat limited in what I could see. In hindsight, I wish I had spent the money to rent a car for the day to explore Park City. Anyways, I’m home and there’s nothing better than sleeping in your own bed next to the man you love.

Rummaging through the fridge this morning in search of something to pack for lunch today, I realized the options were slim. I have decided to look at this as a great opportunity to restock with healthy options. Lately, K and I have not been making the healthiest decisions when it comes to what we eat. To help place that in perspective, I’m going to keep a food journal over the next two weeks starting tomorrow.

A food journal is an excellent way to keep track of what you’re eating. You just have to be 100 percent honest with yourself and write down everything you put into your mouth including chewing gum, etc. I doubt you want to see what I eat, but it will keep me honest and I expect you to keep me in line.