Running Plan

Thanks to everyone for the comments and suggestions about my running - I REALLY appreciate it!! I read each over at least 2 times, and have taken this away from what I read:

- The pain on my side is a side stitch, and it could be from not drinking enough water (I don't), or eating too soon before I run (I do). Plan: Drink more water throughout the day, and wait at least 1 hour after eating before running.

- Running in the morning would be better, because I am on my feet all day at work. Plan: This is not going to happen until the summer, because on a work day I just can't get out of bed any earlier than I already do :-)

- Run with music. Plan: I usually run with my hubby and therefore have not been running with music, but I think I need to absolutely try running with tunes. I will do this on my next run.

- Slow down. Plan: I am going to try to slow down on my next run.

- Try other cardio to build endurance. Plan: Anyone want to go dancing? ;-)

- Do something you love. Plan: I am going to do the 5K on May 30th, and then reassess if running is for me. If not, I will choose another form of cardio to not lose the progress I have made.

Last night I tried a green smoothie that a friend from work recommended! (She has been drinking Green Monsters lately too - a convert!!!!!)


(1 1/2 cups almond breeze, 1 banana, 1 avocado, 1 T almond butter).

This was really good! The texture was like silk. It was VERY filling so I only had half.

Breakfast this morning was coconut crusted French toast with a glass of OJ:





Lunch was leftover Mexican bake again, with 1/2 cup yogurt, 2 T granola, and 1 orange (repetitive, so no pic).

After work I snacked on some edamame and a piece of cheese:





Dinner was whole wheat spaghetti (3/4 cup) with chicken meatballs in tomato sauce:



What is your favourite food?

Mine would probably be pasta!!!!

Running - Blech.

I didn't have a very good run tonight. I hated every second of it.

When is it supposed to get fun? Or at least, when is it supposed to suck less?

I am in my 5th week of the c25k program and I DON'T LIKE it yet. I don't enjoy the jogging/ running parts at all. I cannot wait for the walking intervals. I get a sharp pain in my side. I get über thirsty. I want to quit the second I start running.

This was the plan for today:

- 5 minute warm up walk
- 5 minute run
- 3 minute walk
- 5 minute run
- 3 minute walk
- 5 minute run (I only did about 2.5 minutes here because I was SICK of it).

Doesn't sound too tough does it? Well for me it is BRUTAL. My legs don't hurt at all, but I get a pain and I get thirsty and I am out of breath and I just don't enjoy myself.

I hate that I feel this way. I want so bad to enjoy running. When people talk about how they are going for a run, or doing a marathon, I always wish it was me saying that.

What might I be doing wrong? Any ideas about the sharp pain on my left side?

I don't want to quit. I want to do the 5k at the end of May. Help!!

Today was a really CRAP running day :-(

But breakfast was good!

I had a bowl of mocha oatmeal (made with 1/2 cup coffee, 1/2 cup chocolate milk, 1/2 cup quick oats, 1 tsp coconut, and some blackberries):





Lunch was more of the Mexican bake from The BIG Cook, along with an orange, and some cheese and crackers:



Dinner was quick and easy canned mushroom soup with grilled cheese:





We have been so busy running back and forth to Saskatoon to see my Mom, that I haven't had time to plan any interesting meals.

I snacked on some sesame snaps today, as well as 1/2 cup of coconut bliss coconut milk ice cream. I am going to grab a little snack this evening and join my hubby on the couch to watch Glee!!!!

How long should "a person" (me) keep running if they are not enjoying it? Is there a magic distance at which it starts to become fun, or are some people just not meant to be runners?

Snowy Days and Mondays ...

Monday morning ... and as I left for work this morning it was snowing! On the weekend people were tanning, and today it was snowing!! Ahhh, the joys of living in Saskatchewan!

Breakfast this chilly morning was a chocolate amazing grass smoothie (2 packs chocolate Amazing Grass, 1 banana, 1 cup almond breeze, 1 T almond butter):



Lunch was a Mexican casserole (from The BIG Cook), 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt with granola and chia seeds, and an orange:





We had another meal from The BIG Cook for dinner - Terriyaki chicken. I had two pieces of chicken and some brown rice with hot sauce:



Dessert was an apple with dark chocolate PB and an orange freezie:





I am going to bed to read some magazines - I subscribe to SO many and then never get around to reading them.

Do you subscribe to any magazines? Which ones? Are their any you want to get a subscription to?

I subscribe to Women's Health, Shape, Fitness, Fine Cooking, Real Simple, Bon Appetit ... etc. etc. - Most were gifts.

My New York Fashions!! PICS!!

reakfast this morning was a slice of toast with baked eggs (2 eggs, 1 T cheddar, broccoli, mushrooms, bacon bits):





The hubby and I were running errands this afternoon so I ate a Lara Bar for lunch. I also had 2 samples at Costco :-)



We had dinner at the hubby's parents house. I had 1/4 cup potato salad, and 1/3 cup pasta salad, along with most of a homemade hamburger (sorry, no pic).

On the way home we picked up the movie "Precious" to watch tonight. And look what I found ...



Now, I am not one to typically buy chocolate bars ... but I just could not resist these 2 new flavours!!! I have broken off a few squares of each to have with the movie tonight, and I will save the rest for another day.



People have been asking me what I bought in NY ... and of course the answer is CLOTHES!!!!! (And PB :-)) I bought a couple pairs of jeans, a couple bags, some jewelry, some shirts, and quite a few dresses. As I was unpacking my purchases today (finally - don't judge), I tried on each dress to show the hubby and I also took a picture for you to see!!

My NEW YORK Fashions


(I LOVE the full length zipper)


(This is a Jessica Simpson dress - so comfy!)




(Partaaaaaaaay!!)


(LOVE this one!!!)

My two faves are the first and the last one - I LOVE zippers.

Which dress do you like best?

What item of clothing or accessory do you shop for the most?

I used to be a bag person (hehe - bag lady). Now I am a bag, shoe, dress, and jean person. I rarely buy clothes in my own city though, I do most of my shopping when we are in bigger cities. It is a good thing we don't live in NY - my bank account would be depressed if we did!

riday

Breakfast was a berry smoothie (1 1/2 cups almond breeze, 1/3 cup mixed berries, 1 pack berry flavoured amazing grass, 1 T almond butter):



Lunch was some mac and cheese, 2 mini oranges, and yogurt with granola:



At work I nibbled on some treats on the staff room table (pineapple, granola, a piece of chocolate crepe). After work I had 1 beer, and nibbled some more on a few dry ribs, 1 bacon wrapped scallop and a deep fried pickle! The pickle was surprisingly good!

The hubby and I were both so tired after work on Friday that we collapsed on the couch to watch shows we had PVRd, and then we ordered in Thai food.

I had 1 fresh roll:



A small bowl of won ton soup:



And a very small serving of curried chicken on rice:

aturday

We woke up early Saturday morning, had breakfast and headed on the road to Saskatoon again.

Breakfast was a bowl of oatmeal (toppings included: 1 t white chocolate dreams BP, 1 t coconut, blackberries):





We were in Saskatoon for the day visiting my mom in the hospital. She is in very good spirits, making jokes, and being silly. She will probably be in the hospital for at least a couple more weeks as they assess her and figure out how much care she needs and where she will be living depending on the amount of care needed.

We ate lunch in the hospital at Tim Horton's (I am NOT a fan of Timmy's but that was our only close option). I had French onion soup and most of an egg salad sandwich:





We stopped for dinner before we came home. We went to a Mexican restaurant called Avocado with the hubby's cousin and his wife who were also in Saskatoon. We shared some nachos to start:



I had a veggie wrap with some sweet potato fries:



I have so much to do today including: unpacking all my purchases from NY (yep, haven't done that yet), straighten up around the house, run, go to the health expo in my city, go to the in-laws for dinner, go to the bank ...

How do you like to spend a Sunday?

Saskatoon Again

arth Day

The hubby and I have made many changes over our nearly 6 years of marriage to help better the environment. Some of these changes include:

- Using all energy efficient appliances and light bulbs
- Using reusable grocery bags
- Recycling plastic, paper, and cans
- Using metal refillable water bottles instead of buying bottled water
- Choosing to eat more vegetarian meals
- Eating organic whenever possible
- Using solar powered light in our yard and outside of our home

What changes have you made in the past few years to help the environment?

The hubby and I didn't go to work today. We had to go back to Saskatoon to visit my Mom in the hospital :-( We have no idea when she will be getting out, or where she will be going when she gets out - she is not well enough to be on her own in her apartment.

I had oatmeal before we left on the road today:





I had some of this coffee on the drive (we bought it in NY):



Lunch was quick sushi to-go that the hubby and I shared:





And 1/2 a small blizzard! It has been a while!



We got home around 9 pm this evening and made a late dinner of pancakes and eggs. The pancake mix we also bought in NY from Williams Sonoma:





I have been experiencing severe vertigo all day, and after 4 hours in the car today and a long day at the hospital, I am completely exhausted.

Off to catch some much needed Zs.

What are your plans for the weekend?