Stay Cool!

Sound like half the entries in your yearbook?  Well, it's also my quest with this 5K training!

Yesterday I was able to run slowly for a good enough length of time on the treadmill.  Today I could only run slowly for a shorter time, but I don't think it was because I was particularly tired... I think it was because I was too hot!

I don't want sweat and heat to hold me back from progress.  So, I ask of you, what strategies do you employ to keep cool while working out (in addition to rescuing poor, defenseless shopping carts)?

You Won't Believe This!!!

Okay, maybe you will.  And I guess this might be more exciting if I could actually start running once in a while.  But who knows . . . maybe someday!!!

So my news is this:  Despite my decrepit physical state, I ACTUALLY DIDN'T WANT TO STOP WALKING FAST TODAY on the treadmill!!!  I got myself up to 3 incline and 3 mph which is my PRE-heart trouble normal, pushing myself exercise pace.  I was able to reach that a couple of days ago for only the last few minutes, but today I got there about ten minutes sooner!!!  And then it started FEELING GREAT!!!  But alas, my visiting teachers were coming and I had to stop after 30 minutes.  MAYBE TOMORROW it will happen again!!!

THANK YOU BINGHAM 5K!!!

Just thought I'd mention I've lost SIX pounds!  I think it's actually because I started eating eggs and salsa for breakfast instead of cereal.

Schedule

Just saw this: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/5k-run/SM00061/

Is this the schedule Kathryn has talked about?  Could be helpful! :)

Imaginary Barriers

Angie's post made me want to share something I've noticed sometimes during cardio workouts.  I am realizing that sometimes I restrict the intensity of my workout to my overly mild, cautious comfort zone.  I think to myself, "If I try to go faster or harder, maybe I won't be able to keep it up.  I'd better just stay in the range that I know I can maintain."

Well, what would be so wrong if I couldn't keep it up?  What if I did try faster or harder - even just for minutes or seconds - and went back down when I needed to?  Why does that seem scary?  Exercising inside, I probably really won't fall off the treadmill.  Exercising outside, other people don't care how stupid I might look.  (And if they do, that's their problem!)

Yesterday, I tried to just experiment with this and really enjoyed it.  I pushed myself the tiniest bit more, and it was exhilarating.

Feeling Great

I just want to say I think my muscles are happier than they used to be.  I feel a bit more energy and my heart loves this diet and exercise plan.  Plus, my stomach doesn't stick out as much as it used to and my jeans fit better!

Good Form

Mr. Smee: Oh, dear, dear, dear, Captain Hook. Shooting a man in the middle of his cadenza? That ain't good form, you know.
Captain Hook: "Good form," Mr. Smee?
[suddenly yelling]
Captain Hook: Blast good form!
[waves his hook in front of Smee]
Captain Hook: Did Pan show good form when he did *this* to me?
Mr. Smee: Why, Captain, cutting your hand off was only a childish prank, you might say.
Captain Hook: Aye, but throwing it to that crocodile! That cursed beast liked the taste of me so well he's followed me ever since, licking his chops for the rest of me.
Mr. Smee: And he would've had you by now, Captain, if he hadn't swallowed that alarm clock. But now, when he's about, he'd warn you, as you might say, with his tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock.


Ah, good form...  Apparently, that is what I need to work on as I try to learn to run.  I've always thought it was rather pathetic that my jog is only just barely faster than my walk.  Turns out I could be quite a lot faster, without wearing myself out, if I only improved my form. 

Todd's been telling me for years I need to concentrate on keeping my head level and pushing forward with my legs as I run.  I finally realized what he meant when I saw my reflection while jogging a few months ago.  I kick my feet out to the side with each step.  My head bobs up and down and my legs go side to side and THAT is why I barely get anywhere.  I'm practically running in place! 

So my focus until it becomes habit is to actually push forward a little bit with my thighs and make an effort to put a little distance between each stride.  I've been so afraid of tiring myself out that I've handicapped myself with my "take it easy" form.    I am sure I will find much more satisfaction in running when I have good form. 

Invisible Banana Bread

Inspired by Doug, we wanted to include a picture with this banana bread recipe post, but... not a crumb remains of last night's delectable FHE treat!  We enjoyed it with Scott and Caprice, and - with Mom as my witness - an audible, "yum," escaped our brother's mouth.

Here it is, without a lick of refined sugar, white flour, or even oil.

1/2 cup very ripe banana

2 eggs

1/4 cup milk

1 tablespoon vinegar

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

3 more very ripe bananas

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups white whole wheat (we ground our own, but you can also buy this at grocery stores.)

Moosh the first 1/2 cup banana thoroughly in mixer, and beat in the eggs.  Combine milk and vinegar.  Add.  Mix in other bananas and dry ingredients.  Add nuts.  Spray pan(s) with cooking spray, fill, and bake at 350 degrees.  Muffins would take about 25-30 minutes.  Mini loaves might take about 45 minutes.      Larger loaves might take up to an hour, possibly??

We tweaked this from an Oquirrh 4th Ward cookbook from the Cloward family.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner, baby!

Sup dudes! This isn't a recipe but an approach. Since Emily is off making amazing smoothies with Mom in Utah, I'm digging deep in my memory to figure out what I should eat :). Then I remembered!...

Six years ago I went to a little food seminar at BYU. Basically, the whole thing was about getting more vegetables by cutting up enough salad basics for a week. Every day you condiment in different stuff to make different types of salad.

So I tried it out and made a monster salad!

This puppy's like 30 pounds! I got excited and just went ahead and made the same type of salad for every day---I call it the "Southwest Amazingness": romane, cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini, peanuts, salsa, green peppers, black beans, and miracle whip. Probably could have left out a few things but boy is it delicious!

It's so good my last 6 meals have been straight up salad every time: breakfast, lunch and dinner, baby!

Smoothie

So, Mom and I have been eating luscious smoothies with a surprising ingredient...tofu.  Just trust us on this.  It's REALLY good.

I've made this before in Chicago, but it's still relatively new to us.  Does this still count for the post??

Blend together frozen fruit and a little bit of silken tofu (the kind with a texture more like yogurt.)  For example, we tried one banana, half a cup of peaches, three fourths of a cup of berries, and about half a cup of tofu.

You can mess around with it however you like, but I would recommend keeping the banana as an ingredient for its flavor and texture.

Creamy.  Sweet.  Delicious.

Hello!!!  My exercise experience last night was more like a torture endurance.  But I ENDURED!!!  I only walked.

BUT, I did make a yummy granola recipe for Doug before he left.  Here's the recipe:

3 cups instant oatmeal
1/4 cup wheat germ (optional)
1/2 coconut
1/2 sunflower seeds (optional)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup water
scant 1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup raisins

In a large bowl, mix first six ingredients.  In a small pan, heat the honey and water.  When the honey is melted, add the oil.  Pour honey mixture evenly over the dry ingredients.  Mix it together until all ingredients are moist.  Spread evenly onto a large cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes.  Stir and bake another 5 minutes.  Your oven might be hotter, so keep an eye on it.  You might not need to cook it that long.  Just cook it until the top is golden brown and it feels dried out.  After it's finished baking, add the raisins.  XOX

Guys!  I think this is such a fun family goal!  I love that we are all united on this.  Today I tried the training, but I'll know better next time how it should really be.  I stretched before (oops!) but had a fun chat with Dad over his breakfast.  Then I listened to Pandora's La Vie en Rose station while briskly walking throughout Smithfield, with a small jog to Italian opera (short-lived.)

Here's to our future!!! :)

Refined Grains....I'm a bit unclear

Maybe its just me, I'm a still a bit unclear on what refined grains are. Did that bowl of cherrios I had for bfast this morning blow the "no refined grains" points? If so, thats ok, I just need to get some clarification on what refined grains actually are. Thanks!