Crockpot uses, NOT for food

So there are many things that you can do with a Slow Cooker, which have nothing to do with cooking, such as:
Make Soap
Dye Yarn
Make Candles
William Sonoma Style Air Freshener
Keep Heating Pads Warm
Make Play-Doh
Chemical-Free Paint Removal Technique
and
Use as a Foot Bath






Today, I will tell you how awesome using your Slow Cooker for a foot soak can be on this chilly Winter day. It is the kind of day when you really don't want to leave the house, nor should you due to the quality of the roads.


First, I got the slow cooker (and my heated blanket) heating up to warm in front of the TV, because it was going to be that kind of day. I prepped the water with the following concoction:


Honey and Lemon Foot Bath
1/2 cup honey
1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
1 lemon, sliced
Add Marbles for massage effect










After prepping it up, I slip in to the bath room, use my heel file and give both feet (dry at the time) a good scrub with that thing. Then I give then a bit of a massage with this stuff:
DIY Brown Sugar Foot Scrub
1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Baking Soda
1 Tablespoon Olive oil
After scrubbing out the kinks, I rinse my feet, pat them dry, slip on my slippers, and (remembering a towel for when I am done with foot soak) I pad my way to the sofa and begin the great relaxmentafication.


You are welcome internet for this wonderful idea.


Please note, I never put any sort of ingredient or chemical in my slow cooker that I wouldn't use in cooking. I will wait until I get a secondary crock pot to try to make candles, dye yarn, etc. A foot scrub though, is food safe and only needs a thorough cleaning to be ready for cooking again.

Trying hard to be the best me possible!

As most of y'all might have gathered if you follow me on other social media platforms, I have been working hard to get into shape. Not only cardio, but to I have a desire to have "cut" arms. A gal in the show I am doing (Footloose) has the craziest biceps and I kinda want to be like her. She does insanity and I doesn't think I am quite there yet. Any who, I started this crusade on July 27th, the white shirt is from July 31st, blue is August 7th, multi colored is from August 14th, and the teal is today.

Green is First Day, White is the end of the First week.

A slight improvement on the left arms (the lower pictures) and definite tightening in the triceps on both arms.

First Day and second week

The left arm (lower pictures) there is an even more definition and the tricep is looking so much better. The right arm (above) has some lighting issues, but it is looking much tighter as well.

First day and third week

I feel like my shoulders are looking way stronger is this pictures, though the bicep and tricep don't look al that different but I think that is due to the lighting.

Fourth week: A month in

There is still a nice amount of difference in between these two pictures, though I have to admit, I didn't do much work on my arms this past week as I have a 5k tonight. Instead, I have been working on my running so I am not miserable while running around Forest Park. Neverthe less, I am impressed with the change and it make me want to try even harder this next month to get my arms "super swol". 

Running...

I decided that this year, my goal would be to attempt to run/walk more miles than I did the year prior in each month.

January 2014 - 0 miles tracked (decided to start on Jan 28th)  < January 2015 - a total of +19.43 miles

February 2014- a total of 9 miles < February 2015 - a total of 25.28 miles = +16.28 miles
March 2014- a total of 2 miles < March 2015 - a total of 25.3 miles = +23.3 miles
April 2014 - a total of 6 miles < April 2015- a total of 30.2 miles =  +24.2 miles

This is obviously an improvement from a year ago as I had JUST decided to start walking and running with regularity that year.

The next few months will be tricky as I will need to be really good about getting out everyday with how much mileage I made last year. Hopefully, I will be able to do a run of some kind with my step sister and niece. Here is to a great start of a new year.

Personal Post: Week 5 Weigh In for 32 ere 32

**This is a personal post for me. Please disregard if you are looking for super awesome food and recipe options**

Week 1
March 10 - 145.7 pounds
March 11 - 145.7 pounds
March 12 - 144.6 pounds < .9 pound down>

March 13 - 144.6 pounds <same>

March 14 - 143.7 pounds < .9 pound down>  Milestone 1 Reached!!
March 15 - 143.7 pounds

March 16 - 143.5 pounds < .2 pound down>

Week 2

March 17 - 142.4 pounds < .9 pound down> (St Patrick's)
< I did break diet today with "Festive" Beverages...less the a great choice, but necessary to not feel like a completely ass as we were out at our favorite Irish restaurant in Burbank. >

March 18 - 142.4 pounds
March 19 - 142.2 pounds <.9 pounds up>

March 20 - 141.5 pounds <.7 pounds down> - Milestone 2 Reached!!

March 21 - 140.9 pounds <.6 pounds down> (Star Wars Party) 

March 22 - 140.9 pounds (8 Course Meal to Gosford Park Night)

March 23 - 141.1 pounds <.2 pounds up>

Week 3

March 24 -  140.4 pounds <.7 pounds down> 

March 25 -  140.4 pounds

March 26 -  140.4 pounds

March 27 -  140.2 pounds <.2 pounds down>

March 28 -  140.2 pounds (Camping) 

March 29 -  140.2 pounds (Camping)

March 30 -  143.3 pounds <3.1 pounds up>

Week 4

March 31 - 141.8 pounds <. 1.5 pounds down>
April 1 -  141.5 pounds <.3 pounds down>

April 2 -  140.2 pounds <1.3 pounds down>

April 3 -  139.7 pounds (Wondercon) <.5 pounds down, 6 pounds total> Milestone 3 Reached!!

April 4 - 139.3 pounds< .4 pounds down>

April 5 - 140.7 pounds (Easter) <1.4 pounds up>
April 6 - 140.7 pounds

Week 5
April 7 - 140.7 pounds
April 8 - 140.7 pounds
April 9 - 140.0 pounds
April 10 - 140.0 pounds (Birthday)
April 11 - 139.9 pounds (Good Bye Open House)
April 12 - 140.8 pounds (Luncheon and Game of Thrones Party)
April 13 - 140.5 pounds (Birthday Disneyland Visit)

Week 6
April 14 - 140.5 pounds
April 15 - 139.8 pounds

I got below 140 before I moved! That was definitely one of my goals. Granted, I will probably gain back like 5 pounds while I am traveling cross country, but at least I have proof that I can do it!

Mine says Perfect!

Personal Post: Week 4 Weigh In for 31 by 31

**This is a personal post for me. Please disregard if you are looking for super awesome food and recipe options**

Week 1
March 10 - 145.7 pounds
March 11 - 145.7 pounds
March 12 - 144.6 pounds < .9 pound down>

March 13 - 144.6 pounds <same>

March 14 - 143.7 pounds < .9 pound down>  Milestone 1 Reached!!
March 15 - 143.7 pounds

March 16 - 143.5 pounds < .2 pound down>

Week 2

March 17 - 142.4 pounds < .9 pound down> (St Patrick's)
< I did break diet today with "Festive" Beverages...less the a great choice, but necessary to not feel like a completely ass as we were out at our favorite Irish restaurant in Burbank. >

March 18 - 142.4 pounds
March 19 - 142.2 pounds <.9 pounds up>

March 20 - 141.5 pounds <.7 pounds down> - Milestone 2 Reached!!

March 21 - 140.9 pounds <.6 pounds down> (Star Wars Party) 

March 22 - 140.9 pounds (8 Course Meal to Gosford Park Night)

March 23 - 141.1 pounds <.2 pounds up>

Week 3

March 24 -  140.4 pounds <.7 pounds down> 

March 25 -  140.4 pounds

March 26 -  140.4 pounds

March 27 -  140.2 pounds <.2 pounds down>

March 28 -  140.2 pounds (Camping) 

March 29 -  140.2 pounds (Camping)

March 30 -  143.3 pounds <3.1 pounds up>

Week 4

March 31 - 141.8 pounds <. 1.5 pounds down>
April 1 -  141.5 pounds <.3 pounds down>

April 2 -  140.2 pounds <1.3 pounds down>

April 3 -  139.7 pounds (Wondercon) <.5 pounds down, 6 pounds total> Milestone 3 Reached!!

I have to persevere!!

Personal Post: Week 3 Weigh In for 31 by 31

**This is a personal post for me. Please disregard if you are looking for super awesome food and recipe options**

Working hard on being the best version of me. Down by a total of pounds in 17 days.

Week 1
March 10 - 145.7 pounds
March 11 - 145.7 pounds
March 12 - 144.6 pounds < .9 pound down>

March 13 - 144.6 pounds <same>

March 14 - 143.7 pounds < .9 pound down>  Milestone 1 Reached!!
March 15 - 143.7 pounds

March 16 - 143.5 pounds < .2 pound down>

Week 2

March 17 - 142.4 pounds < .9 pound down> (St Patrick's)
< I did break diet today with "Festive" Beverages...less the a great choice, but necessary to not feel like a completely ass as we were out at our favorite Irish restaurant in Burbank. >

March 18 - 142.4 pounds
March 19 - 142.2 pounds <.9 pounds up>

March 20 - 141.5 pounds <.7 pounds down> - Milestone 2 Reached!!

March 21 - 140.9 pounds <.6 pounds down> (Star Wars Party) 

March 22 - 140.9 pounds (8 Course Meal to Gosford Park Night)

March 23 - 141.1 pounds <.2 pounds up>

Week 3

March 24 -  140.4 pounds <.7 pounds down, 5.3 pounds total> 

March 25 -  140.4 pounds 

March 26 -  140.4 pounds 5.3 pounds at total of  in 17 days

Personal Post: Week 2 Weigh In for 31 by 31

**This is a personal post for me. Please disregard if you are looking for super awesome food and recipe options**

One of my goals for 31 by 31 was to lose weight. To get to a "pre baby weight" so that when I did get preggers that I would feel comfortable at my +20 pounds of baby weight.

I started at last April at 143.7 pounds and my goal was to get to (or under) 130 pounds....

Well, over the last 11 months, I managed to get down to 135 pounds in June of last year. I was eating well enough then plus I was training for my 10k. Then I stopped worried about nutrition, the holidays hit, and I feel out of the running gig.

So on March 10th, when I weighed myself to see that I was 145.7, I was very excited. I decided that for the rest of lent (and until I move) that I would be doing South Beach Phase 1. That will be 5 weeks of solid, hard work. No Alcohol, No Bread, No Pasta, No Sugar, No Flour, No Fruit, No Carbs...

I have broken up the 15-16 pounds I would like to lose into Milestones in order to celebrate the small victories. Each Milestone is 2 pounds lost. As there are 8 Milestones, I should clarify that NO I don't think that I should/could/would be able to hit all of these Milestones (lose 16 pounds) in the next 5 weeks. That would be SUPER unhealthy. I feel like a reasonable goal is to hit Milestone 4 (8 pounds) and an ultimate goal over the next 5 weeks is to hit Milestone 5 (10 pounds).

They are as follows:
144 - Milestone 1 - 1.7 pounds lost
142 - Milestone 2 - 3.7 pounds lost
140 - Milestone 3 - 5.7 pounds lost
138 - Milestone 4 - 7.7 pounds lost
136 - Milestone 5 - 9.7 pounds lost
134 - Milestone 6 - 11.7 pounds lost
132 - Milestone 7 - 13.7 pounds lost
130 - Milestone 8 - 15.7 pounds lost

As mentioned above, I started this on March 10th so 

here is my up-to-date-ness of Week 1 and part of Week 2::

Week 1
March 10 - 145.7 pounds
March 11 - 145.7 pounds
March 12 - 144.6 pounds < .9 pound down>

March 13 - 144.6 pounds <same>

March 14 - 143.7 pounds < .9 pound down>  Milestone 1 Reached!!
March 15 - 143.7 pounds

March 16 - 143.5 pounds < .2 pound down>

Week 2

March 17 - 142.4 pounds < .9 pound down> (St Patrick's)
< I did break diet today with "Festive" Beverages...less the a great choice, but necessary to not feel like a completely ass as we were out at our favorite Irish restaurant in Burbank. >

March 18 - 141.3 pounds < .9 pound down> - Milestone 2 Reached!!

March 19 - 142.2 pounds <.9 pounds up>

March 20 - 141.5 pounds <.7 pounds down>

A total of 4.2 pounds down and 2 Milestones Reached in the 11 days.

A year ago I made a choice

A year ago today, I made a choice. I made the choice to start running/and walking regularly.

While I have not been doing so since December with any dedication, I will say that I consider myself a runner more than I have ever done before.

My year of running and walking in review:

January 28th - I signed up for Disney 10k

February - a total of 9 miles

March - a total of 2 miles

April - a total of 6 miles

May - a total of 30 miles

June - a total of 15 miles

July - a total of  24 miles (I got new Running Shoes at the end of the month, which helped a ton)

August - a total of 30 miles including the 6.2 miles of run/walking for the 10k

September - a total of 42 miles

October - a total of 48 miles

November - a total of 63.48 miles including the 3.2 miles of run/walking for the 5k

December - a total of  26.07 miles

January - a total of 19.43 miles

The Race Pace Numbers

I completed the 10k in 01:42:32 (aka 102 minutes).
That means my Race Pace was 16:30 minutes per mile.

That is 6.2 miles.

That is one way to run my first race.

Boom.

I completed the 5k in 44:16 minutes.

That means my Race Pace was 14:17 minutes per mile

That was on 3.2 miles, but I was not feeling great that day.

Way to up my race pace. 

Now to get to under 14 minutes per mile.

In Summation 

While the Month of December (Ty cold weather and Christmas) and January (thanks P90 for taking all my energy) have not been the best for track records, I would like to think that I didn't a pretty decent job. I went from someone who feared and scorned the idea of running or even jogging, to someone who likes it enough to set goals and pay money to do it. With the impending move and the last 2 months of P90, I know that February/March/April will not be great either, but I challenge myself to make them better than last year's stats!

Here's to another year of adventures thanks to my own two feet.

What is this "Slow Carb Diet" you speak of...?

I haven't been in the mood for cooking this week.
Probably because of the Tim Ferris 4 Hour Body Slow Carb Diet I am living by for now.
It is a pretty blah when it comes to what I can eat or not.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Here is an outline:

Slow-Carb Diet – what to eat – 6 days a week + breakfast on “cheat day”

Eat the same few meals over and over again. Pick three or four meals and repeat them. Water, unsweetened tea / coffee with no more than two tablespoons of cream is acceptable.

Proteins – as much as you like – egg whites with 1-2 whole eggs for flavor (or whole organic eggs), chicken breast or thigh, beef (preferably grass fed), fish, pork. Eat at least 20 grams of protein per meal.

Legumes – as much as you like – lentils, black beans, pinto beans, red beans, soy beans

Vegetables – as much as you like -  spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, other cruciferous vegetables, sauerkraut, kimchee, asparagus, peas, green beans. There’s no need to limit yourself to these vegetables, although the more variety you attempt the more likely you are to quit as this makes the diet more complicated.

Tomatoes and avocados are allowed. Eggplant is also mentioned as ok. There’s no discussion of other fruits used as vegetables, e.g. bell peppers and olives, but presumably they’re acceptable as well.

Up to 2 glasses of red wine a day are allowed.

Butter is fine. Cottage cheese is also acceptable. (Yes, this appears to contradict the “no dairy” rule below).

Oils aren’t discussed in detail, although “good fats” are mentioned. Olive oil, grapeseed oil and macadamia oil, as well as nuts as a source of fat, are preferred.

Canned foods are fine.

Drink plenty of water.

Use cinnamon to reduce the glycemic index of a meal by up to 29%.

Timing: Make sure you have your first meal within an hour of waking (preferably within ½ hour), and have meals approximately 4 hours apart.

Slow-Carb Diet – foods to avoid – 6 days a week + breakfast on “cheat day”

Avoid “white” carbohydrates. No bread, rice (including brown), whole grains, cereal including steel-cut oats, potatoes, pasta, tortillas, and fried food with breading. Cauliflower is ok.

Don’t drink calories. Do not drink milk (including soy milk), normal soft drinks, or fruit juice.  Limit soft drinks to no more than 16 ounces per day, as the aspartame can stimulate weight gain. No beer or white wine (another part of the book says any dry wine is acceptable except Riesling, White Zinfandel, and Champagne). There’s nothing saying you shouldn’t drink spirits, but it’s implied that you shouldn’t.

Don’t eat fruit or fructose.

No dairy because of its high insulinemic response on the insulinemic index (II or InIn) scale. Milk is better avoided, although a cup a day may be ok if you’re not intolerant (this contradicts the suggestion not to have any milk). Up to 2 tablespoons of cream in your coffee is ok.

Avoid refined soy products, if possible, including soy milk.

Don’t deep fry foods – stir fry is okay.

Be careful with “domino foods” – nuts, chickpeas (garbanzo beans), hummus, peanuts, macadamias. They are very easy to overeat and prone to portion abuse. A few almonds (5-10) are fine.

Limit consumption of artificial and natural sugar substitutes, even agave nectar – they can stall weight loss.

Suggests avoiding curries, which can cause intestinal upset without rice.

Slow-Carb Diet – what to eat – 1 “cheat day” a week

Take one day off a week, preferably Saturday as you’re not working and can recover the next day. The first meal of the day is not a binge meal. After that you eat until you’re a little sick, no restrictions. Start the diet at least 5 days before your designated sick day. The “cheat days” have guidelines to ensure that as much of the food ingested either goes into muscle tissue or out of the body unabsorbed.

Drink plenty of water.

Consume a small quantity of fructose (fruit sugar) in grapefruit juice before the second meal, to encourage defecation.

Consume citric juices.

Increase the speed of gastric emptying (passage of food through your stomach) to limit absorption; he suggests caffeine and yerba mate tea

Note that most men can get away with one cheat meal (as opposed to a cheat day) a week; some women can’t.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So, at this point, I am uninterested in much when it comes cooking as I don't feel like I can eat what I want. This feeling will pass soon enough, but, for now, bear with me.

There is a face beneath this mask, but it isn't me

So my upper lip has gotten strangely dark.

Anyone else had this problem?

I have no clue why and I also know that it isn't SO noticeable to others, but to be me it seems like someone coated my upper lip with tan in a can. It isn't the hair, even when I remove or lighten the hair, it is still there. Not sure what caused it, maybe sun and over exposure to chemicals and waxing or something.....I really have no clue.  So I have decided to try some ideas out.

Here is what I found:

1)      I found the suggestion to try exfoliation with a sugar scrub of 1/2 cup of sugar, juice of a lemon, and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.

2)      Then I found a homemade facial mask made from flour, turmeric, lemon juice and honey. Mix an equal amount of each of these ingredients (eg 1 teaspoon) together in a small bowl until it forms a smooth paste. Apply the paste to the dark skin on your upper lip and leave it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the paste is dry. Rinse the paste away with some warm water, then pat the skin dry. Use this mask 2 to 3 times per week until the skin becomes lighter. Or just Mix a little honey and lime juice (you could also use lemon) and apply it to your upper lip. The citric acid in the lime juice bleaches the skin, while the honey softens and moisturizes.

3)      Baking soda face scrub & lightener:  2 tablespoons of baking soda into a small container or bowl; then, add water a little at a time until desired consistency (kinda thick paste).  It doesn’t take too much water. It is recommended to steam your face beforehand to get the best results.  

As I think the cause of the darkening might have to do with a reaction to chemicals/harshness of the sun, so I figures I should start with the least aggressive tactic. Plus my lips blister easily thanks to Simplex 1 (Kids: listen to your parents and don't drink after others, even your parents). So I decided I would start with exfoliate. Let's see how it works. 

Until the next embarrassing body related thing...

**Today's title comes for V for Vendetta by Steve Moore: There is a face beneath this mask, but it isn't me. I'm no more that face than I am the muscles beneath it, or the bones beneath that.** 

A year from now...

As I sit down to write, I realize I don't have much to say.

Not to day, at least.

After a lovely weekend, birthday party, and a trip to Disney with my Husband, there is no one subject that is interesting to me for today. I will say that the things that have been taking up the most of my time and thought is living a good and healthy life.

I have been going to spin class twice a week and run/walking twice a week as well. I am eating 1200 calories everyday (plus what I burn off from working out) and upping my protein and fiber intake by double. Besides the 3 pounds I worked off during my last low carb diet bout, I have lost an additional 2 pounds. It has been a long and hard trial, but I am hoping that this progress is more than just "water weight".

Care of Google Search

I try my best to do the things that are not easy, but it is hard to do so some mornings. I have to try my best to remember for what I am working hard. Husband and I have talked about trying for children in a year or so and, with my family history, being in the best possible shape is necessary. 

Care of Google Search

Besides setting a good example for my someday maybe children, the ability to bear them into the world in the best possible vessel is firstly on my mind. Husband is good and he asks and encourages me constantly and he works hard at staying fit himself, though not in the same way. He doesn't carry extra weight around, being 6 foot 2 inches, like my small 4 foot 10 inches frame does. I can be honest with him about why I don't want to work out and he is honest with me about not wanting me to give up. Not because he wants a skinny wife, but because he know that it will make me happier in the long run as well as the best sort of person.

Care of Google Search

So honesty with myself and with Husband is proving to be the best way to keep me exercising. It gets me out of the house in the morning to run or go to spin class. It makes me be honest with myself about my successes and less than awesome days. Most importantly, he gains more and more of my trust and respect by not bending to my bad moods and discouragement about weight and health. 

...

...

...

He is totally winning.

Until the next pensive moment....


**Today's title is pictured in the blog post: A year from now you will wish you had started today - Karen Lamb**

An April Fool's 8 Week Check In

So today is April Fool's Day. I never was big on this "holiday". Mainly because it is a balancing act. If it is funny to the prankster, will it be funny to the prankee? More often than not it is an excuse to be mean. Though I HAVE thought about painting my Husband's bar of soap with clear nail polish, I took into account that he has been working 10-14 hour days for the last 3 weeks. Extra frustration is not the way to show my love for him.

So instead I figured I would use this day for a check in.

Running: Not at the best but I am consistently running under 15 minutes per mile so my focus on distance is even more important. I need to get out and just try to run at my current speed for 6 miles. In turn, it is time to work on my eating habits in relationship to my running (and now spin). I don't want to peeter out to early or anything like that. So research time! HUZZAH!

Weight: I have gained any pounds I have lost back. This morning I was extremely bummed out about this. Like negative Nellie thoughts seeping into my brain thoughts.Which doesn't help anyone, especially me. I haven't been focused on what I have been putting into my body so that is definitely a deciding factor in my body's current state. So I am going to start counting calories again. Nothing Nazi ish like in college when I got sick, but some sort of structure to my intake.

Money: Last month was great/rough. Husband and I drove about twice as much as we normally do since we were traveling to see Bro Bro and his family. Plus, our entertainment budget went through the roof thanks to that as well as our grocery budget as I was buying stuff to make cookies etc for my family.

Groupon: Best thing I could have ever done. 24 classes at the BAC and I have been introduced to SPIN. Life literally changed. I have never sweated as much as in that class and so I know my heart rate is up and I think I love it. Now if I can start going 3 times a week, think about that would do for my heart and stamina?

So there is the check in. Open and honest. I have remember to not be depressed about my set backs, but the trudge on with fervent and sustainable desire to change my body and my mind for the long term.

6 Week Check In

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Here I am, 6 weeks in. I have not be diligent on my diet, especially since the family was in town. While I did make the correct choices with getting the whole grain pasta and the lettuce wrapped burger, I can't remotely claim to have stuck to my diet thanks to the sheer number of cookies that were made and (yes) consumed.

Anyway, I am still down 2.5 pounds. Yay for not gaining back all 3 pounds. Yet still my dresses don't fit quite right, nor do the majority of my pants and none of my shorts. I need to keep up my leg and hip exercises and do them more than once a week. Plus, listen to the advice I have been given about Core exercises and stop just waffling about it.

Running....While I think about it regularly, has not been done regularly. I remind myself that just because I am not running, doesn't mean I am not running a 10 k in a few months. So I really am just hurting myself by not getting out and trying.

My last run (a short but needed one that I did this morning) I averaged 13:55 minute per mile but it was only .8 mile. I have decided to start making a point to run greater distance, not faster. My longest run/walk session to date is 3 miles and now I am trying to go out for 2 miles each time versus 1 - 1.5 miles.

My Barre fitness class and yoga classes finished up 2 weeks ago. I did stretch a couple times since though my only cardio has included chasing one 3 year old niece around the park. Not really upping my average heart rate or toning my core.

Husband is starting work on a movie today and it will last the next 4 weeks. To say the least, there is no reason to not start using my Groupon to the BAC and running to and from there. Especially since there are classes at 6 am Monday - Friday which would not interrupt any social engagements.

In the words of the Eleventh Doctor:

Geronimo...

One Month Check In (and what the HECK is Eating Clean)

::UPDATE TIME::

 4 weeks into my training "Couch to 5K" and my 4th week of South Beach Diet.

My average pace is a 14:30 minute mile. Improved by 30 seconds from 2 weeks ago!

I am down 3 pounds with my South Beach Diet. I feel like I am not loosing weight or inches. I figure I just need to keep at it. Eat healthy and keep running with a bit of cross training every week. My weight went to 1.5 pounds ABOVE my starting weight last week and now I am back down here. I got a little stressed out and confused. I must have had a lot of salt or something.

::AND NOW back to your regularly scheduled blog post about food::

In the last year or so, I have been under then impression that I eat and cook decently "clean". Not a lot of processed foods, not a bunch of freezer meals. Mostly fresh, wholesome produce with mixture of quality meats, poultry, and pasta. Recently though, my friend was put on a diet that is processed food free and my world was shaken when I realized I was using a lot of processed foods that I didn't put in the processed food category in my brain.

So what is "eating clean"? Here is what I have learned:

Fresh fruit, vegetables, lean meat, nuts, eggs, dairy, and whole grains are all a go on a clean diet.

Avoiding chemical based-preservatives, food coloring, trans fats, and artificial sweeteners.

If there is a Label on it, look at an ingredient list, and consider each ingredient individually. Is it something you would buy separately to cook with in your own kitchen?

Refined grains such as white bread, white rice, and white pasta are considered "dirty" foods. Their eat-clean equivalents are 100% whole grain bread, brown rice, and 100% whole grain pasta.

No refined sugars.

Use fresh herbs!

No processed cheese, grain, or well, anything.

No trans or saturated fats, but monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats as well as omega-3 fatty acids are ok.

After this heavy researching (aka Pinterest searching), I can safely say that…No, we do not eat clean. We aren't walking masses of chemicals or anything, but there are definitely some simple swaps I could be making that would be more the better. Husband and I had discussed early last week that we wanted to focus on eating organically/cage free/fresh exclusively at home. Not only for our own health, but for health of our someday maybe children and family. So I think it is time to start putting this into action, slowly but surely. when I run out of something, replace it with the clean/organic option. It shouldn't be too hard that way. The big problem will be when I need to run in "Really Quick" for something. 

That will be the stumbling block.

We add sugar to this structure, which strengthens it. But things can, and do, go wrong

I made Meringues finally! As a child, this was my favorite type of cookie to get at the grocery store when we went with Mom. As a good friend of mine is Gluten Free, I figured I should make something that she could enjoy since at the Super Bowl Party, there was a whole lotta nothing that she could enjoy.
Thanks to Pinterest and the gimmesomeoven blog I found this recipe and only slightly altered it to my tastes: http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/chocolate-chip-meringue-cookies/

Chocolate Peanut Butter Meringues
Ingredients
4 egg whites - room temperature
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips (crushed with tenderizing mallet)
1/2 cup peanut butter chips (crushed with tenderizing mallet)
Method
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Line baking sheet with parchment paper (I used foil, which worked but the paper would have been MUCH better)
Beat egg whites, salt, cream of tartar, and vanilla on medium/high speed until soft beaks form.
Slowly add sugar and beat until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes.
Gently fold in chips by hand until combined.
Drop batter by heaping tablespoon-fulls onto cookie sheet.
Bake at 300 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes until cookies are cooked and slightly golden.
Turn the oven off, and let cookies cool in the oven for another 20 - 30 minutes.
Remove and serve or store in airtight container.

They didn't turn out pretty, but they turned out pretty yummy!

Considering the low calorie count, my health conscious friends like them, my sweet tooth friends liked them, and most importantly, Husband and I liked them. Now I just need to learn about the world of Piping.

Until the next meal...

**Today's title comes from Alton Brown, one of my favorites on the Food Network: A meringue is nothing but a foam. And what is a foam after all, but a bit collection of bubbles? And what's a bubble? It's basically a very flimsy little latticework of proteins draped in water. We add sugar to this structure, which strengthens it. But things can, and do, go wrong.**

As long as you are uncomfortable...

I did something crazy.

Something I have never done before. 

I spent money to run in a race. Not only have I never done a race where you need to spend money to register, but I have never even run any sort of race. I have walked the odd 5k's in my time and I am solid at walking long distances. But this is different...

I am competing (with myself more than anyone else) in the Disney 10k in August 2014. 

I need to get my mile (6 of them) to 13-16 minutes. That won't be horrific, but I want to get into solid shape while doing this bad boy as well. So I'm shooting for finishing it in an hour and half or better. I know that isn't amazing, but it is a HECK of a lot better then where I am at this time.

Here we go....

**Today's title is from Ashton Kutcher: I'm continually trying to make choices that put me against my own comfort zone. As long as you're uncomfortable, it means you are growing.**

By that logic....

We have had waaaaay too many left overs so I decided to take the night off from cooking.

Instead, a quick update on my South Beach Diet Phase 1, Week 1.

I had a few slips ups this first week, but nothing that made me break my focus.

One day, I was having a tummy ache so I ate some crackers which is obviously not approved on a low carb diet.

Also, I have been breaking the rules and have been having a glass of wine at night if I want one (which has been most nights). Even with these "modifications", I am down pounds! Huzzah! 5 pounds till my next goal and 9 Until my wedding weight and 14 until my ultimate goal.

I read something this week that went like this:
If you tripped and fell on your way to work, would you turn around, go home, and never return? Of course not! By that logic, one bad day or binge shouldn't ruin your fitness goals, either!


**As you can see, this is where today's title comes from. There is no listed author that I can find.**


This is really sound logic. Obviously, if you KEEP tripping, then maybe something needs to change, but, for the most part, Just because you "failed" today, doesn't mean you failed for the who quest.

Determination and forgiveness are looking like they are becoming my best friends.