F.I.T. - CAULIFLOWER SALAD

f.i.t. = Food In Tummy!

My trainer gave me a challenge to come up with 1 new healthy lunch that can be saved and finished for another day. (apparently my soups and shakes on the go didn't qualify as a filling lunch). After filtering through many recipes, I finally found one that I new I would love! As always, I had to change a few things to make it my own but overall, this is definitely something that will be sticking around in my fridge!

Cauliflower Salad

1 1/2 cup cauliflower, cooked and chopped

1/4 cup celery, chopped

2 hard boiled egg, whites only, chopped

1 tbsp light mayo

1 tsp mustard

1/8 tsp onion powder

pinch of pepper and salt

dash of paprika on the top

Steam cauliflower and rinse in cold water to cool when finished. Pat with a paper towel until dry. Chop the cauliflower into small bites. Mix into a bowl with celery and eggs. Add the mayo, mustard, salt, onion powder, and pepper. Mix well. Sprinkle with paprika. Chill for 1 hour before eating.

NOT JUST A CLICHE!

A moment on the lips equals a lifetime on the hips!

This is what my Trainers tell me before they criticize my food logs and before they kick my butt for 2 hours 3 days a week. They tell me that any binge eating of sweets, sugars, salts, and junk foods will promote weight gain in the years to come. Who wants that? It just puts more emphasis on the fact that I need to be more aware and cautious of what I put on my lips for fear of it ending up on my hips. 

I have to be honest with you, my lapse in concentration on my body the last year has really taken its toll on me. The arrow on the scale has slowly but steadily kept moving to the right, my clothes have been feeling more snug, and people say I look "good" instead of "fabulously thin and fit" or any other description that doesn't mean that my face has rounded out a little more since the last time they saw me. This battle I have been on, for the last ever it seems, is finally coming to an end! I have climbed on the horse and have got back on the track. The 3 things that my Trainers are having me do to help spark change in my body is:

1-Reduce food intake to 1150 calories per day

2-Increase physical activity to 60 minutes 5 days a week  

3-Eat 6 meals a day and keep the foods fresh

So far, this plan has worked. I have lost 5 pounds, 1 inch off my waist and lowered my body fat percentage by almost 2% in 1 week. I am thrilled that I can see results and it makes me push myself that much harder. My goal is to get down to a more comfortable weight by the end of October when I have my IVF procedures. Wish me luck and remember:

7 days without exercise makes one weak!

WALK ON FOR J.D.R.F.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation held a 'walk to cure' diabetes last Saturday and Sweets and I participated along with other family members.
 My brother Matthew has had type 1 diabetes for over 15 years and he recently was asked by J.D.R.F. to sit on their board, which is a great honor. The walk was about 3 miles and was held at Wheeler Farm. Lunch and drinks were provided afterwards along with many kid friendly activities such as face paintings, bouncy houses, ice creams stands and an animal petting station.

When Matthew was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes he was 17 years old and recovering from a very serious car accident that left him in the hospital for days with numerous broken bones and surgeries. Because we have no history of diabetes in our family, it was a shock to us to learn about this diagnoses during his recovery period. The doctors told us that the cause was severe trauma and shock to his body. He went through so much with his accident that his pancreas just stopped working. It was a scary time for all of us, but he held his head high and never let it stop him.     

Matthew is an incredible person whom I love dearly and think the world of. We are very close siblings and I was honored when he asked me to be the Captain of our team for the walk. We had friends, family and co-workers that donated, supported and walked with us. It was a great event and such a good cause to raise money for the Research of hoping one day to cure diabetes!

WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?

Quite literally! 

Where does time go?

Time is not infinite!

Case in point of me not blogging for the past while. There is just no time. It seemingly has flown out the window and got lost. 

Not really, but I don't seem to have enough of it. 

Every night Sweets checks the clock and sighs. He complains that there is never enough time in the day to get things done. I couldn't agree more with him.

Until I find 'time' and lasso it under control to download all the gazillions of photos I have and share with you some of my 4th of July extravaganzas, here are some fun facts about where time does in fact go.

If you take 2 minutes in the morning and 2 minutes in the evening to brush your teeth, in a week that is 28 minutes. In a year it adds up to over 24 hours. That is an entire DAY devoted to brushing your teeth! 1 out of 365 days is lost to brushing your teeth! 

Imagine brushing your teeth nonstop for over 24 hours...could you do it?

Here are some other examples about where time goes...

30 minute TV show once per week = 26 hours (1+ days)

60 minute TV show once per week = 52 hours (2+ days)

10 minute shower everyday = 60 hours (2 1/2 + days)

Ask yourself: "Could I sit down and watch 26 hours straight of TV?" My answer is yes, if there were reruns of Keeping up with The Kardashians and The Real Housewives of ... (any of them will do. I love them all)! Just joking! My honest answer is NO! I couldn't do it!

It is just crazy how fast time flies and how we decide to use the time we have! 

 I am convinced that if we just prioritize better, stop procrastinating, and cut back on wasting time, then we will have more minutes in a day that add up to more days in a year to get the things done! 

For instance, if I read less this week, cleaned less this week, worked less this week, attended to my pups less this week, cooked less this week, exercised less this week, drove less this week, beautified myself less this week, and slept less this week, I could have blogged about the holiday to all of you!

PEACE OUT PLAYA!

When it is coming on, it is unmistakable and sadly, unavoidable! 

Yeppers! 

The dreaded sinus allergy cold.

You look pale as a ghost.

Your eyes sink further into your skull.

Your nose is sore to the touch from all the blowing. 

Constant sneezing.

Congested sinuses that amount up to a gazillion on the pressure scale.

Coughing.

Sleepless nights even with medicine. 

A pounding headache.

Body aches.

I have all of, but not limited to, these symptoms and it totally sucks!

I am heading home early today and not returning to work tomorrow in hopes of ridding myself from this nasty virus!

Peace out Playa 

WHAT COLOR IS YOUR FOOD?

Ever since I was a little girl, my mother taught me to eat by color. She taught me that certain colors would benefit my body in different ways and that I needed to make sure that I had a "colorful" plate of food so that I would grow up to be healthy and strong. For example, carrots will help my eyes to see clearly, strawberries will help my hair grow red (which it clearly did :)) and lettuce would help my bum tissues so I wouldn't have poochin problems. The lengths that parents will go to make thier kids eat healthy and the suckers that children are...too funny!

 All of the meals that my mom made for us were indeed just that. Very Colorful! I always hated eating the food because I didn't want to disturb the beautiful rainbow of food, but then I would catch a sniff of the most delish meal and chow down. My mother is by far the best cook that I know...and that's the truth. I believe part of cooking a great meal is the passion behind the cook, and my mother has it! 

As I have been learning the art and passion of cooking over the past few years, I have tried to implement this same knowledge. I try to make all my meals colorful from the appetizer to the dessert. Secretly if I can't find foods that are a yummy complimentary color I will just add coordinating spices instead. No one ever knows this or pays attention but mentally I feel the meal is complete. 

I have officially decided, with a smidgen of fine-tuning, this years Easter Feast. It should be (I hope) a very colorful dinner for all to enjoy!    

DITCH THE WORKOUT!!

As many of you already know, I am a lover of ZUMBA! I have been apart of this dance craze for  2 1/2 years and I am in total love with it still. In the meantime of not having a gym membership for the last  year with our moving of houses, I was taking classes here and there at different facilities but I have now recently joined at TAC and have resumed by ZUMBA workouts! While there is so much to explain about ZUMBA, (the latin style dance moves of reggaeton, salsa, merengue and hip-hop, the targeted body sculpting moves using the toning sticks, the thumping international beats of loud music to get your heart beat up and blast the calories away, the friendly workout for all types and shapes, the invigorating party-like atmosphere of dancing), I will just give you a quick summary of what I think its all about...

* shaking the 'junk in your trunk' in front of a mirror and other peeps for 1 hour

* twisting and contorting your body in 'sexy' ways that are foreign to you

* hooting and hollering, or 'panting', like a chimp to try and keep the energy up

* 'easy to follow' moves of Latin Americans with rhythm that us white folks attempt here in America

* a form of 'dance' that one does believing they are actually good dancers when in fact they are horrible

* an excuse to get 'down and dirty' in spandex

I will forever be a fan of ZUMBA and I encourage those who haven't tried it yet to do so. It is so much fun and you don't even need to know how to dance. You just need to know how to let loose and have fun! Give it a try - 

WOWZA!

This is pretty much the word of choice when it comes to this breakfast that I have been making lately. Sweets has been requesting this everyday for the past 2 weeks! Usually I get sick of foods fast, but not this one. I just LOVE it and it is super HEALTHY! Plus, it has been keeping us FULL all morning! 

win. win. win.

 

Recipe is as follows but not limited to:

2-3 organic eggs scrambled with chopped spinach over medium heat with a drizzle of EVOO

line inside 1/2 whole wheat pita pocket with 2 tbs basil or pesto spread (or both)

stuff the eggs inside and enjoy a side cup of fruit 

SURVIVAL MODE...

Sweets and I have been sick with the "cold" for the past week. We keep thinking it will go away, but it slowly gets worse! Thankfully mine is not too bad this year, but my poor sweets has been through the ringer with the loss of voice for 2 days. Hopefully we will be back on our feet by this weekend!

We have been living on throat lasengaes, head cold pills (day and night), and tissues. After work we put on the sweats, grab the blankets and lounge out. I am not complaining about this, for I just love cuddling up with sweets and Tahoe by the fire watching TV.

Last night, I thought I would try the ol' remedy of Chicken noodle soup! I couldn't just open a can, so I made my own. Although I can't say for sure that I feel better today, I can however breathe out of my nose so that's an improvement. This is a simple and yet very satisfying soup for those that want the recipe:

(actually there is no recipe, i just put it together, but here is what I did and it was scrumptious) 

boil 4 chicken breasts in water until done. then cube
boil 2 quarts chicken broth with 2 celery stalks sliced, 8 carrots sliced, 1 onion diced, ( or as many veggies as you want) until tender.
add 1 or 2 (depending on your preference of thickness, i used 2) cans cream of chicken soup
cook noodles separately ( i used wide egg noodles) as package describes 
add chicken, frozen peas and corn into veggie broth and simmer 3 minutes
add noodles, salt, pepper, basil, and lemon juice (i always put lemon juice in my soup but you don't have to) for 2 minutes
Enjoy!

BYE-BYE HOLIDAY FOOD...HELLO PAVEMENT!

ITS OFFICIAL!!!

BECKY-SDAY-JULES

JANUARY 22, 2011

13.1 MILES

WHY WOMEN ACCUMULATE WEIGHT...

With time, women gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren’t heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.

Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think,

“Good grief, look how smart I am!”

HILLS...THE UPHILL BATTLE

I think that most people are aware that here in Utah, we are not hurting for hills to run up or down. This can be a benefit to you, or your worst nightmare...which in my case is HELL! Not only do I dislike hills for obvious reason of having to lug up all my extra lbs against forces of nature and gravity, but it is SO uncomfortable for me. With my A.S., I have nerve spasms in both legs through my sciatic which pulls my hamstrings. It is the most uncomfortable pain ever. I only notice the sharp sensations after running or biking hills where my hamstrings are actively engaged. For this reason, I have been training on flat ground with slight steady upgrades (because again, this is Utah and nothing is flat here). But on figuring out ways to improve my running and help me get ready for a 1/2 marathon in 3 months, the only words I keep coming across are HILLS! Apparently hills play a vital role in training, especially if you don’t spend much time in the gym pumping iron! Well, I don't have a gym pass and I like to think that I am busier than that to sit in a sweaty, stinky, germ-infested weight room with burly testosterone men for 1 hour! ( i am not referring to a gym with fun classes of spinning, pilates, yoga or zumba! I love gyms for that reasons) Unfortunately, this predicament leaves me no choice...I'll take it to the hills!

In my attempt to do so, I am going to go ever so slowly and ease into short hill sprints and long gradual hill runs. Cross your fingers that I am able to do this and that it doesn't kill me! If anyone has "hill training logs" or ideas to help, please let me know!!!

(ps-i'll start tomorrow)

GOOD, BETTER, BEST

First off, let me just say that I LOVE my husband! Ok, with that being said, I will continue on...

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the words from Dallin H. Oaks in the 2007 Liahona article entitled "Good, Better, Best". I have also had the words "Good = Mediocre" in my head. I am not sure why this is but it must mean that I need to work on and fix a few things in my life.

I was tossing and turning in bed last night thinking about how I am not any "better", or at least the "best" at the things that I have been doing or training for. I know that I am not going to win any medals with my athletic races, school projects, interior design work, spiritual growth or office work, but I can at least push myself harder to be a "better" or "best" person in those fields.

I had set my alarm to go off at 6:03 am for my early morning run. As I rolled out of bed, I gave my sleeping sweets a smile and whispered "thank you" to him. Running down the dark streets of our neighborhood with Tahoe, I kept thinking that my pace is just "Mediocre". Tahoe was pulling on the leash to go faster and instead of resisting and telling him to heal, I let the leash drag on the ground speeding up my pace to catch him. He of course ran faster, and faster, thinking this was a fun game! By the time I caught him, exhausted and out of breath, I picked up the leash and walked. I made it about 10 steps before the word "Good" popped in my head. I dropped the leash and started picking up my pace again. I was not about to let my hard efforts of waking up at the butt-crack of dawn get thrown away all for a "good" run. I returned home 1 hour later sweaty, tired, thirsty, and yet satisfied that I pushed myself to be a "better" or "best" runner.

Weston doesn't know it, but he is the one that pushes me to be a "better" or "best" version of myself. He pushes me to run faster and become healthier, to set higher goals and aspirations, and to get "A's" on my projects in school. Sometimes I fail, and sometimes I give up, putting in only a "good" effort. But knowing that I have Weston right by my side, whipsering in my ear to be "better than mediocre" gives me that extra push to be the "best". I can't always be the leader, although I try, and I am so thankful that I have my best friend to pull, push, carry, inspire, teach, etc. me when I need that extra help. Whether or not he realizes it, he is my motivation!

So "Thank You" sweets...

HERE I COME...

The Dirty Dash-

In Midway-

Tomorrow Morning-

I think I am going to be sick...

YOU KNOW YOU ARE ... WHEN YOU ... !

Think about this question and answer it honestly. Today my answer is...

you know you are FAT when you RIP your fat jeans!

This summer I had the unfortunate pleasure of lugging around from top to bottom (literally) mass amounts of LB's! Why this is I have no idea. Apparently they thought it would be a fun trick on me if we all hung out together everyday, all day, throughout shorts and swimsuit weather. Did I mention the LB's were uninvited? Yeppers!

I thought that I had been working out pretty consistently the past few weeks. I have had PT twice a week and on the other days I have either been running, doing the elliptical or dancing. I also have spent lots of time calculating my daily eating habits and limiting my caloric intake to 1053. However, as I awoke from my delicious sleep to step on the scale, my heart sank! I hadn't lost ANY pounds! Not ONE single pound!

Perla, my dear friend and PT, advised me that I would gain a little LB's at first before I would lose some. How this happens I have no idea. As I depressingly went to get dressed, slipping my legs into my fat jeans, I heard a rip! UHGGG! I fell to the floor in tears looking at the huge hole in the pants that my booty had made.

In my weak state laying on the floor, I rolled over to my knees and said a little prayer for comfort, understanding, help, advice, and offered words of gratitude for my trials and the lessons that make me a stronger and better person. I was determined that this was not the end of the road for me. The battle was not yet lost! I vowed that I would put in double the effort until my body could train no more, and then triple the effort and train even harder!

I will show my skinny jeans that I am worthy of them and that I deserve to wear them! My new goal is November 21st!

Dilemma...

"I eat because i am unhappy.

I am unhappy because I eat.

Its a vicious cycle."

For the last few months I have felt a little like Fat Bastard in Austin Powers. I am sure all of you know the part in the movie when he says this, and maybe some of you may have felt like this too in your life. For some reason, nothing is going right with my weight and body. I have been in training for 2 months now and I would have thought that I would have lost some lbs., but NO! I have even cut back on my dessert intake (a lot actually) and still NOTHING! I have limited my "nectar of the gods" to maybe 2 a week, and, NADA! It is frustrating!

I have to clarify. I do not eat because I am unhappy with my life. In fact, I couldn't be happier. I married my best friend, my motivator, my example, my competitor, my partner in crime and my perfect match in February! I (we) have have the most beautiful, intelligent, quirky, athletic, incredible and funny Golden Retriever whom I love and adore! I have been blessed with an amazing family who are my best friends, and an even better family-in-law than I could have ever wished or asked for! I have loving friends, good health and the gospel!

So what's the problem? Where is the unhappiness coming from?

YES! It actually stems from eating. Apparently it is true that you get curvy when you get married. Who knew? We have continued the same routine from our dating life to our married life so it really doesn't make sense. I am unhappy because of my weight gain...which is unexplainable, and because my efforts aren't showing a turning point...thus making me eat more to drown out my sorrows! HA- vicious cycle in the flesh!

If anyone has a kick off diet plan that would help me get going, please pass it along!

GOAL: to lose 10 realistic pounds by September 11

GOAL: fit into my clothes from last summer without ripping the seams

GOAL: love my body no matter what

i TRI -ed and succeeded in echo!

I did it!

I finished the Echo sprint Triathlon on Saturday!

I didn't have too many issues, but I definitely can improve for next month's BAM tri!

Thanks Brooke for the fun event and Thanks sweets for the support!

Chef Jules

I love to cook.

That means I bake, cook, fry, mix, beat, marinate, froth, stir, boil, grill and everything else that goes along with food. My favorite part about the whole cooking thing...is the eating!

I love food.

Here are delish patty's that I made for dinner last night. It was easy, fun and healthy! I recommend you try these if you are looking for a good meal.

Feta Sun-Dried Tomato Turkey Burger Sliders

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 lb ground turkey

1/2 Cup crumbled feta cheese

1/4 Cup sun-dried tomatoes, jarred in olive oil

1/2 Cup fresh baby spinach leaves, chopped

Pinch of Kosher salt, fresh cracked pepper and Lawry’s Garlic Salt with Parsley

Sun-Dried Tomato Mayonnaise

1 Cup mayonnaise

2 Tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, packed in olive oil, drained

Baby hamburger buns or dinner rolls, split and warmed

2 Cups fresh baby spinach leaves

1. Heat oil into a large skillet over medium heat. Place turkey, feta, sun dried tomato, spinach and seasonings into a mixing bowl. Mix until just combined. Form 1/2 Cup little patty’s and place onto a cookie sheet. Once all are formed, place batches in hot skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through.

2. Place mayonnaise and tomatoes into a bowl; mix to combine. Spread over insides of warm rolls. Layer bottom roll with spinach and the burger. Close with top roll and eat

RAGNAR checklist

TRAINING - i knew i forgot something check

RUNNING SHOES - absolutely check

SKORT, PANTS and SOCKS - check

DEODORANT - double check check

SHORT and LONG SHIRT - check

SPORTS BRA - mega yes check

HOODIE, PILLOW and BLANKET - a comfy check

SWIMSUIT and TOWEL - ahhh check

MUSIC, SHADES and HAT - oh ya baby check

FOOD AND WATER - yummy check

FUNCTIONAL LEGS - holy crap NO check

SILVERWARE, PLATES and NAPKINS - check

DECORATIONS FOR THE CAR - heck yes check

THE BODY ACHES - a stupid YES check

INFLUENZA - the worst YES check ever

RAGNAR RELAY - not a chance check

Yes, its true! I have the bug that is going around. I got it yesterday and throughout the day it kept getting worse and worse. I feel awful. Almost like I would have felt if I had ran the Ragnar, plus getting hit by truck, getting ran over by grandpa driver, and put into a blender! Because of this, I am not running in the Ragnar today. SO SAD! Good luck team and Happy Birthday Verdoo. Thanks sweets for being the best hubbs!!!

He's ALIVE

Weston went in for his first surgery (not including wisdom teeth) today for a nasal septal repair. All in all, things went well and he is recovering great!

The pre-op in which he had to spray his nose with something that didn't do anything or work at all.

I hung out here while he was in surgery.

In the recovery room sleeping!

In the midst of his waking up and wanting water, he mustered the breath to say

"I am a freak of nature"

before he passed out again!

Get better soon

Love you