I'm going coco-NUTS around here!:)

Ever had a week where the thought of cooking is so overwhelming that you just don't eat? Well that is definitely me this week. In the past, I would've just gone out to eat but since Food, Inc and Dave Ramsey have both entered my life, that is no longer an option. So, without further ado, here is the week in review.

The fruit "basket"

organic kiwi

organic pears

organic bananas

organic mango

organic oranges (some special kind, not sure of name)

I started off the week with big plans to use these peppers to add color to my plates. As you will see below, things didnt go as planned

My little helper wants to say hello!

"Pepper wrap"

brown rice and tapioca flour wrap

yellow, red and orange peppers

organic muenster cheese

organic dried cranberries

organic spinach leaves

extra virgin olive oil

                                                                

We tried out these yummy, vegan treats from Costco

Here's all the different flavors. They were a hit!

"Chickpea salad"

Organic spinach leaves

chickpeas with seasonings, onions, marinade

Chase wanted me to "jazz" it up a little

So I broke out the coconut yogurt...this stuff is AMAZING! I am hooked! (made from coconuts not dairy)

But I quickly, got boring again

"Chickpea wrap"

organic brown rice and tapioca flour wrap

chickpeas (got these from Costco already made up-so soo good)

organic spinach leaves

my typical afternoon snack

veggie root chips

eggplant hummus

This is the second best thing next to water, nutrition wise. Great way to hydrate and recover from working out. Full of good stuff for you. See the benefits of coconut water here: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/735177/seven_benefits_of_coconut_water.html?cat=5

"Revolutionary Pizza"

organic brown rice and tapioca flour crust

organic marinara

organic spinach leaves

red, yellow, and orange peppers (i was still motivated here:)

organic tomato

organic purple onion

organic barrel aged feta

"Tilapia on the go"

tilapia without additives of any kind

Organic spinach leaves

organic strawberries

"Crushed chia seed salad"

Organic  kale

organic tomato

organic cucumber

Organic barrel aged feta

Crushed chia seeds

extra virgin olive oil

sea salt

                                                               

"Leftover Smoothie"

2 cups organic spinach

1 organic mango

2 organic kiwis

2 organic pears

12 organic strawberries (frozen)

organic vanilla hemp milk

crushed chia seeds

Final training run tonight vs first night of training

tonight 73, sunny and windy

first night: 36, windy, and pouring rain

Chase was so bored with my menu, he fell asleep!

In conclusion, you can see I didnt have much diversity this week and boy can I feel it. I am more tired and having stomach issues. As I mentioned, I just wasnt motivated to cook this week. As a result of that coupled with a busy schedule, I missed lunch one day and dinner two days. And guess what? I GAINED three pounds....doesnt pay to not eat people! 

The half marathon is only a week away and I am starting to be very nervous! Tonight is our last training run! Also not pictured are the weekly brown rice spaghetti with organic, free range, grass fed beef and our Sunday burgers also made with organic free range, grass fed beef. I topped mine with purple onion and feta this week. I've also been a good girl and not had any sweets since Sunday!

(also for snacks had pictured oranges as well as almond butter by the spoonful topped off with raw cacao nibs)

Training Update

Its been a while since I've done one of these. I'll have to link  up to my first one so you guys can see. The half marathon is in two weeks from tomorrow! So crazy! My training group only has one more week of running  then its our celebration pasta dinner! It has flown by and I really just cant believe it. As far as training goes, I've really been just getting in 2-3 runs a week the last few weeks. One long. one "short" Last night, I did eight miles at our training group. It was scheduled for Saturday but its supposed to rain all weekend.

The runs are getting much easier and way more enjoyable. I really love the long runs. They still intimidate me but once I get going, confidence sets in. My breathing has improved dramatically! Now, I just need to strengthen my legs.  I do hope to get one short, four or five mile run in on Saturday.

 As far as cross training goes, I never got around to it. I really hope to do it once the half is over. I know it will make a world of difference in my running by strengthening my core and my legs. I cant wait to work on my arms so that they actually take shape..and not just for vein reasons. I just really want to be as strong as I should be.

As I mentioned in another post, I want to train for the Full in November. Still waiting on the green light from my family. I know it will be a HUGE time commitment. They have handled this last six months so well. I love my boys!

                 This was my first training pic I took in November after about five weeks  of running.
What do you guys think? I think I look toner overall, but thats about it. The legs definitely look toner. Of course my arms are the same and the belly is smaller I guess. I think I was about 8 pds heavier here? Of course, I have also gained a lot of muscle so the weight loss may actually be more. To read older training updates or to see my running journey, start in October 09 and go from there.

A week in Review...

We kicked the week off right with a beautiful race on Sunday! The rest of the week only got better from there. It's been busy but having nice weather just helps everyone be more cheerful!  Enjoy the pics

Bringin sexy back! We plan to start composting...hopefully sooner rather than later and I am really hoping for a small herb, fruit and veggie garden. You can see my bestie's here. http://www.mckinneyclan3.blogspot.com/ My mom came up last year to do one but we ended up doing plants and making an outdoor sanctuary

Our first shrub that we planted ourselves instead of having landscaped

Brian brought this home yesterday. Chase is in love

I had to get in on the fun!

Score!

"Hummus salad"

Organic spinach leaves

1 organic murcott

organic strawberries

organic cucumber

organic fresh chives

organic purple onion

barrel aged feta

green peppers on the side with eggplant hummus on top

                                               

"Runner's smoothie"

organic kale

organic strawberries

organic blueberries

1organic banana

1organic murcott

1 organic kiwi

gogi berries

chia seeds

organic vanilla hemp milk

raw cacao nibs

"Pear salad"

organic spinach leaves

organic strawberries

1 organic pear

1 organic kiwi

organic dried cranberries

organic fresh chives

topped with olive oil and hemp seeds

"Veggie wrap"

Organic brown rice and tapioca tortilla

organic tomato

organic cucumber

organic green peppers

organic purple onion

eggplant hummus

"Kale salad"

organic kale

sauteed with organic tomato and onion

barrel aged feta

"Smoked salmon salad"

wild alaskan salmon

organic sauteed kale

organic tomato

organic purple onion

organic cucmber

barrel aged feta

topped with olive oil

"Quinoa on the go"

organic quiona

organic green pepper

organic apple

organic fresh chives

organic dried cranberries

"Parsnip paradise"

organic carrots

organic parsnips

brown sugar

"Leftover salad" (this is what's left over on Thursdays that gets thrown in)

organic spinach leaves

organic tomato

organic cucumber

organic fresh chives

organic purple onion

1 organic pear

organic strawberries

barrel aged feta

topped with olive oil and hemp seeds

That's all folks! 

Sidenote: As you will see with my food pics, I eat a lot of salad. Food not pictured was our organic, grass fed burgers we grill out every Sunday, our weekly tilapia and organic green beans and my creme filled doughnut from Dunkin Doughnuts!:) Oh and lots of expresso of course! Please send your food ideas my way! I plan on using as many colors as possible in my food next week. Cooking really is an artistic outlet for me.

Bricks to Bricks 10 miler!

Yesterday's preps started with lunch

organic kale with smoked salmon, cucumber, tomato, purple onion and feta

and some good ol green goodness

Dinnertime called for carbin' up. Quinoa noodle spaghetti, organic grass fed beef and pasta sauce

organic apple

organic spinach leaves, organic dried cranberries, and white cheddar (from cows not treated with RbGH)

breakfast was overnight oats

pm ingredients are:

oats

chia seeds

mashed banana

hemp milk

and vanilla

am ingredients

almond butter

honey

they were so sweet and hard to eat b/c of that but they were also very tasty! Also had a murcott not pictured some coffee, and 20 oz of water.

Here we go!

taking off

bib number

not a cute shirt, but had to get it!

crossing the finish line

family photo op!

Jenny and I after the race! 10:50 pace!

The race was great....I didnt sleep very well but this morning my nerves were better. I was a little tense but now that I'm a pro at races (NOT) it wasnt too bad. The scenic route we took through downtown Indy was gorgeous! I ran with Jenny, who typically does 9:00 min miles but has been injured so she is running with a turtle like me....(hey, the turtle wins in the end, right?) Around mile 2.5, we had a girl run up and start chatting wiht us. That was a great distraction and she stayed with us until mile 8. She had to slow it down to a walk. We did see her at the finish...it was kinda sad to say goodbye...we bonded, ya know?? After today, I am more excited for the Mini marathon than I am nervous. The countdown has begun!!

On another note, as long as my family consents, I have decided to do the full marathon in Indy in November. I love running and really enjoy long runs...they kick my butt, but I keep comin' back for more. I have already browsed their webpage, and am pretty sure it will be a birthday gift to myself:) Again, I am so thankful to my boys who are so supportive of me. They not only come to my races (which means the world to me) but they sacrifice time with me so that I can train. Thank you for letting me pursue my dreams! I love you guys!

Training Update

Me after my 8 mile run, legs still pasty but def beefin up a little:)

Tomorrow's lunch made tonight (I work in the office tomorrow) Sauteed organic kale salad with 1 organic tomato, organic chopped carrot, diced onion (may add feta in morning)

Organic quinoa with one organic apple and diced onion

So, things are going well with training. I ran the most this week with 30 miles in 6 days! Wowza!! I decided to enjoy the beautiful weather today and was able to get a 8 mile run around town. It is really crazy seeing how far 8 miles is when you are familiar with the area. When I run with my running group, I dont know the neighborhoods, etc. It seemed like I went ALL over today. But, in the end it was good. I averaged 11 min miles

I am still eating "clean" and honestly crave this type of food. Some people think its odd but I honestly dont crave foods from the SAD (standard american diet) I have tried to practice intuitive eating and listening to what my body is asking for. Fortunately, it "asks" me for organic whole foods. I dont know if this is something I trained my body to do or just something biological. There is a debate about that but I would think its probably a balance.

On another note, my goal for this week is to really add cross training back in to my routine (how many weeks have I said this?) I really havent cross trained AT ALL and it is pretty crucial to running. I need to work on my core and overall muscle groups. I would like to be strong in every area of my body, not just my legs.

Well, my body is calling for an organic kale, carrot and apple juice. I tried to argue b/c I am too tired to make it and clean up after, but it refuses to listen. So, I must go...

How is your training coming along? If you arent training, what steps are you taking for an overall healthier you? 

Make sure to check back next Sunday for my race update. 10 miles!!