tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5737756817078362402024-02-18T20:40:48.173-05:00Fitness DweebFrom overweight geek to healthy chic!Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-75445093644004155722012-06-13T11:15:00.000-04:002013-05-23T11:11:20.398-04:00I Completed My 3rd Half Marathon!!As you may have read I've been training for my 3rd half marathon. My goal this time was not only to finish but to finish faster and stronger. My past two half's weren't the best, and based on my training runs I knew I could have done better both times so it only left me disappointed to cross the finish line with a slow time. Especially my <a href="http://fitnessdweeb.blogspot.com/2011/10/tale-of-lazy-mouse-and-industrious.html" target="_blank">2nd one</a> because I trained really hard to get faster only to end up with a random foot injury.<br />
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Most importantly I was running this race for a cause. If you look over on the side bar you'll see my fundraising banner for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I met my fundraising goal plus a little extra which is AWESOME!! This was definitely not something I could have done on my own. I have to give huge thanks to my many friends and family that donated to my page or came out to one of my fund raisers, and to the team... the <a href="http://www.teamintraining.org/" target="_blank">Team in Training</a> program truly is a team effort, it takes a team to spread the word on why we run, train together, push each other through the runs and share tips on how to fund raise. It was a great experience for me and I'm so glad that I was part of the LLS Team!<br />
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So back to the race...I know it's been a while since I blogged so I have a few things to catch up on.<br />
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Training runs. Finding time for my training runs was a lot harder than I thought it would be this go round. I normally run on Saturday mornings, but this spring I had to take a molecular and cellular biology course on Saturdays...so that really threw a monkey wrench in the operations. This class was TOUGH, it took up my entire Saturday and then some, I had to start using my vacation time to study for exams since I no longer had the weekends to study, they were spend sitting in a lecture for 3.5 hours and then a lab for another 3.5 hours. It was like a second job. I will never take a Saturday class again if there is any way I can avoid it.<br />
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So I was left to fit my training runs in at random times. I also had to switch up my runs to more flat runs because I was told that this course was mostly flat, so I thought training on flat runs I could definitely boost my speed. Fortunately my spring break fell around the time I had to start doing my really long runs so I was able to fit my first ten mile run in and not after an exhausting day of class (If you're wondering why I wouldn't run on Sunday... I had soccer games... soccer es muy importante you don't mess with game day!).<br />
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Anyway, even though I had perfect timing (scheduling wise) for my long runs, after my first ten mile run I was not feeling so great. In fact I had to stop a few times and try to and stretch out my hip... I had been having random pain in my right hip, but I thought it was a fluke. After a few more training runs with the hip pain I decided it wasn't a fluke and went straight to the Doc. She told me I was developing piriformis syndrome--sounds scarier than it actually is but it wasn't something that would just go away with out treating. So after a steriod injection, trigger point release (which is very VERY painful) and a running evaluation by a physical therapist, it turns out that I am simply mechanically deformed :).<br />
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My right tibia developed with a slight curve to it so that causes me to over pronate on my right foot to correct the problem, which in turn caused my right knee to turn in towards my left knee while I ran and voila piriformis problem. So to fix the issue all I needed were inserts for my shoes...<br />
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This brand to be exact: <a href="http://www.superfeet.com/" target="_blank">Superfeet</a>! Superfeet are super awesome and they completely fixed the piriformis issue...but the only problem was that the rest of me needed to readjust to changing my running gait. When you get inserts or custom orthotics youi're supposed to drop your running mileage and build yourself back up. Especially with custom orthotics you have to restart at zero. My physical therapist told me to go with the super feet because I wouldn't have to start completely over. But it was still a set back with less than a month to race day (and I still hadn't done a 12 mile run because of the hip pain) I needed to start my mileage back at 4 miles.<br />
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So I did 4 mile, 6 mile, and 8 mile runs leading up to the race and just had to hope for the best on race day. So now it was time to travel with the Team for the big event!<br />
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<b style="color: #3d85c6;">Off to Sunny San Diego!! </b></div>
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Except it wasn't... wha whah!</div>
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Apparently early June is San Diego is what they call the June Gloom, so the weather was mostly over cast and slightly chilly...but hey no humidity, that still beats the east coast ANY day by my book.<br />
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But the sun did come out eventually and I spent a wonderful afternoon exploring the San Diego Zoo... I highly recommend the visit... go on be a kid again it's great! :)<br />
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I saw almost the entire zoo (it's huge it can take you a full day to go through the whole thing), and I saw a ton of animals, here's just a few...<br />
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Lazy pandas that sat and ate...and ate.... and ate...</div>
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a wise orangutan using a tool to retrieve food from an opening in the rock</div>
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a wild looking Jaguar right up against the edge of it's enclosure as I walked by</div>
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ELEFANTES!!!!!!</div>
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(this was one of the younger ones)</div>
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nursing Jaguar cub!</div>
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and a wild gorilla escaped!!</div>
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This is from the Team in Training inspiration dinner. It really got us pumped for race day. I felt like it was the closest I would ever get to an Olympics opening ceremony, but that didn't matter this was my Olympics :)</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz0ieQM5eTDrgGlxd4BOcukWik6DKguf6cMLMcT8pIp9UIBq3l1wprM8g0Z1qVT35CRcWdL6AHQJ67xNojkQw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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As we entered the San Diego convention center tons of volunteers cheered the runners on from teams all around the country as we went into the hall for dinner. It was such an exciting moment!!</div>
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At the inspiration dinner they had us write down our dream finish time (if all conditions were perfect and you ran your best) and our realistic finish time. I put down 2h15m on both times. I was determined to make the time that eluded me during my second half. </div>
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So all we had to do was eat up then search for a convenience store to get Gatorade and oatmeal for breakfast and get to bed for a good nights sleep for race day... which started with us waking up at 3am to get on buses by 4am to get to the start line. When you hear the expression Ass Crack of Dawn...this is the ass crack of dawn. The only benefit is that I was there way early to drop my gear check bag off, snack, and use the port-a-pots as they were just opened (read: clean and unused) and there was no line.</div>
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So all we had to do was wait for our start. I was in Corral 21 so there were 20 waves of people ahead of me waiting to start the race. Finally we were off, I clicked my start button on my watch timer and set off running at a good pace. I had gatorade in my camel back, and a gu pack in my butt pocket. </div>
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By the 5k mark, I was on pace for 10 minute miles, 10k mark, still on pace. We couldn't have asked for better June Gloom running conditions, over cast, mid 60's and not an ounce of humidity. I took a gu pack around mile 8 (Let me tell you I have never used Gu before on a race day... they make a BIG difference, I am converted!), then again around mile 11. I had 2.1 miles left to go at that point. When I passed the 12 mile sign I looked at my watch time and I was at 2:04:.. and some odd seconds. HOLY CRAP! My mind was racing, I could do this, I could pack this race in in another 10 and meet my goal time!! There was no way I was going to slow down for that last mile. I set off running as fast as I could while still trying to pace myself because after all, I still had a full mile to go to the finish line.</div>
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When I saw it on the horizon it still looked so far away, but finally it was there, right ahead of me... I took off sprinting (or at least in my mind I looked epic, I probably looked like a loping horse)</div>
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So there I am, eyes on the prize, that 2:15 finish time that I wanted so badly last fall was in my sights. When I finally crossed the line I hit the stop button on my watch and there it was...2:15:30!!!!! Proof that I had met my goal. I couldn't believe it, I had done it. I had packed it in in 10.5 minute miles. I couldn't stop smiling. I even shelled out the $20 to have my official finish time (02:15:23) engraved on my medal.<br />
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Here's my full results:<br />
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Age: 30 (oh yea that happened this year...so there's that) | Gender: F</div>
<ul class="detail-performance-stats">
<li><b>Overall: </b>
7286 out of 17603 </li>
<li><b>Division:</b>
764 out of 2157</li>
<li><b> Gender:</b>
3551 out of 11221</li>
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<li class="cg-runnergrid-header">5 Km 30:56</li>
<li class="cg-runnergrid-header">10 Km 1:03:57</li>
<li class="cg-runnergrid-header">10 Mi 1:43:52</li>
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<li class="cg-runnergrid-header">Pace 10:20</li>
<li class="cg-runnergrid-header">Chip Time 02:15:23</li>
<li>Clock Time 02:44:19</li>
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<b> Money Raised for the Luekemia and Lymphoma Society: $3,157.00</b></div>
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Goals can be accomplished but they won't get accomplished sitting around doing nothing. Get out there and put in the work, and never ever stop believing in yourself!</div>
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p.s. I also got an A in my bio class (only 4 of us accomplished that out of the entire class *brushes shoulder off*)</div>
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<br />Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-46580812102259752952012-04-02T21:26:00.005-04:002012-08-10T11:24:13.395-04:00Shoe ReviewTrying to find the right running shoe is just like goldy locks and the three bears.... you have to find one that's juuuust right. I was WELL over due for a new pair of shoes. My current pair was so worn out I could take the toe and bend it back to the laces... (Note: that is NOT good...and probably the cause of some recent hip pain--only time and a Dr.'s visit will tell) So last week I was on a mission to find a new pair of running shoes.<br />
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well...kinda like that, but for shoes. </div>
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Here's my rules for buying running shoes.<br />
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<u><b>1. Go to a running specialty store. </b></u> Usually everyone who works there are serious runners. They love this sport and they know their gear. Running specialty stores usually will watch you walk (to see if your pronate etc) and run in a your shoes to determine the level of support you may need. The <a href="http://charmcityrun.com/" target="_blank">store I go to</a> even had a camera set up to watch your feet on a tread mill, which you can watch on a tv in front of you while you're running or they can then play back in slow motion to really show you your stride.<br />
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<b>2. Go later in the day so your feet have had time to expand. </b><br />
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<b>3. Listen to the sales clerk when he tells you to go up a half or possibly whole size. </b>Your feet may expand even more during a run, you want the room. <b> </b><br />
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<b>4. Don't shop for name brand, color or style. Go for fit and feel. </b> But...but... I only every wear (insert brand here). Get over being stuck on a big name brand. You and your new shoes are going to travel a lot of miles together they need to support your feet properly, not look pretty or be the hottest shoe on the market. <br />
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For the past few years I've been happily running in brooks, glycerin's to be exact. But I always make a point to try on a few different brands to see if maybe this time something else will work for me.<br />
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First up was the <a href="http://www.asicsamerica.com/footwear/running-shoes/gel-nimbus-13-t192n-womens/" target="_blank">asics GEL-Nimbus 13</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.asicsamerica.com/getmedia/3b1a8984-313c-4516-bd60-1ff84eaec7be/t192n_9001/?maxsidesize=550" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www.asicsamerica.com/getmedia/3b1a8984-313c-4516-bd60-1ff84eaec7be/t192n_9001/?maxsidesize=550" width="320" /></a></div>
I don't know what it is about asics. Some runners swear by them, but for me they just don't work. I feel like they have too much cushion and my feet sink right into them instead of being supported. Once again I had to give asics a pass.<br />
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Next up, <a href="http://www.mizunousa.com/running/products/mizuno-womens-wave-rider-15-limited-edition" target="_blank">Mizuno Wave Rider 15</a><br />
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These shoes had nice support. But the sale clerk warned me that Mizuno's were cut narrow, so they hugged the center of my foot, more like squeezed the center of my foot...uncomfortably. If you have a narrow foot or you like the feeling of your foot being hugged then these are the shoes for you. They didn't work for me though because of that, I could see them becoming painful to run in. <br />
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On to... <a href="http://www.newtonrunning.com/shoes/women-shoes/women-guidance-trainer/neutral-trainer" target="_blank">Newtons Lady Issac</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1_WFRrO68LjgpIo3ZvHCAczhJIVJ6DghcVbGBhARiFjAPLCqW5VJcqiSGK5STKwx7hSCLoZDc_-yHlLykGKS7OdNbVR7mVSB2-R5aSKhyurYInqV2xjFZ5LmBT4N4uV-ytN1m4DUHRRE/s1600/LadyIsaac-NEUTRAL-G5FC85-500x245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1_WFRrO68LjgpIo3ZvHCAczhJIVJ6DghcVbGBhARiFjAPLCqW5VJcqiSGK5STKwx7hSCLoZDc_-yHlLykGKS7OdNbVR7mVSB2-R5aSKhyurYInqV2xjFZ5LmBT4N4uV-ytN1m4DUHRRE/s320/LadyIsaac-NEUTRAL-G5FC85-500x245.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Newtons have a whole different philosophy on running shoes than your average brand. Their idea is at the core of the minimalist running movement. Newtons place more support on the forefoot of the shoot, where one should naturally strike the ground first if you were running barefoot. Most of us, and yes myself included heel strike, meaning the heal hits the ground first then follows through to the toe.<br />
This video can show you the difference between a heel strike and a fore strike:<br />
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Newton's shoes are designed to get you running lighter on your feet by providing that extra cushion on the fore strike area which will promote using a fore strike and not a heel strike. Current research is still being done on this and whether or not it's really beneficial to the joints, but the general thought is that a fore strike creates less impact on knees and hips. Newtons were also given a big write up in <a href="http://www.backbonemedia.net/uploads/clients/press/articles/RunnersWorld_NewtonArticleReduced.pdf" target="_blank">last months issue of runner's world magazine</a>. I highly recommend reading if your interested in this style of running. I am really intrigued by the idea but I'm also mid-way through half marathon training again. I just don't know if it's a good time for me to attempt to completely over haul how I run when I'm trying to increase my mileage weekly. Usually if you go from a regular running shoe to "minimal" shoes you have to start your mileage back at walking around the block essentially and build yourself up. It's the wrong time for me to go in that direction so I'm putting these on the back burner for now, but I have a feeling I might be investigating them again further soon. <br />
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<b>So what did I end up with?</b></div>
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Good ol' <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1114695284">Brooks Glycerin 9's</a><b><a href="http://www.brooksrunning.com/Brooks-Glycerin-9-Womens-Running-Shoe/1200911B476.080,default,pd.html?start=8&cgid=womens-runningshoes-neutral" target="_blank"> </a></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8G2lBNep4OPI2WqvR8zyqqKe0A2NN_MjHZObS7dLu8KPfpMzwc03qmf5MSi1pQKlMJp9eodCbSHplg3ZT-5P-IipVTSokoZgqziy15uSnN7ogPyfd37zmDLAE-n6Jw6SBaFPcaSKfi8r/s1600/brooksglycerin9" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8G2lBNep4OPI2WqvR8zyqqKe0A2NN_MjHZObS7dLu8KPfpMzwc03qmf5MSi1pQKlMJp9eodCbSHplg3ZT-5P-IipVTSokoZgqziy15uSnN7ogPyfd37zmDLAE-n6Jw6SBaFPcaSKfi8r/s320/brooksglycerin9" width="239" /></a></div>
If it ain't baroque don't fix it! (Or so they say.) This model of brooks have gotten me through two half marathons and countless other lower milage races. I've trained a couch to 5k group in them, ran 10k's, 5 milers and my weekly 6-7 mile runs. They work for me. The cushion is just firm enough, very roomy in the toes. I ran an 8 mile hill run this weekend, my hip bothered me after but it was gone in a day and I was able to get out and run around the soccer field the following evening. I am still going to an orthopedic doctor just to make sure there isn't something serious underlying, but after one long training run in these my recovery time for my legs was just a day.<br />
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So yes, I highly recommend brooks, but ONLY if they're the shoe for you. Who knows asics, mizuno or the newtons could be the right fit. We all have different feet.<br />
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<b>Also... some other running gear I can't live with out: </b><br />
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<li><a href="http://www.cepsocks.com/cep-all-sports-compression-sleeves.html" target="_blank">CEP Compression sleeves.</a> I swear by these, any calf cramps that start to pop up during my runs, these puppies keep them at bay. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.feeturesbrand.com/" target="_blank">Feetures running socks</a>. Arch hugging LOVE is what I call them. I'm all for a good arch hugging sock</li>
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And that's about it... I could go on about shirts, shorts and hydration system, but the most important tools for a runner are good fitting shoes and a good pair of wicking socks (stay away from cotton, cotton = damp from sweat = blisters! Trust me on this)<br />
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</b></div>Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-42673714131738692352012-03-08T12:04:00.006-05:002012-03-08T12:13:04.966-05:00Soccer Sundays...Strike Back!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCQ9vRLAyvrFTfMQUviFJnhcTb86D-fHpI-i4Sb50PWVwjBuzw5uhKXEbUUjdsxvA3LJ2OjD1Jcut5d74bHefFceczRFb6fIYBKtAgU0BtKTjuq7VHYWN5Th-48d6rej8AvqrsMJ1Tx5X/s1600/brandi-19993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCQ9vRLAyvrFTfMQUviFJnhcTb86D-fHpI-i4Sb50PWVwjBuzw5uhKXEbUUjdsxvA3LJ2OjD1Jcut5d74bHefFceczRFb6fIYBKtAgU0BtKTjuq7VHYWN5Th-48d6rej8AvqrsMJ1Tx5X/s320/brandi-19993.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yeaaaaaah baby yea!! Soccer season is back! And it couldn't have come soon enough. I'm so bored/stressed/consumed with studying that being able to get away from the books just to run around on a turf field for an hour is like a vacation for me!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I actually had to scale back on soccer this spring (believe me I'm not happy about this), I couldn't play with my women's league because their games were scheduled during the hours I'm sitting in bio lab, so I'm only playing with my co-ed league this season.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We had our first game this past Sunday, and for some reason winter decided to pay us a visit. I know it's only early march and it should still be cold out, but it was a low of 26 that night and right now, 3 days later, it's 70 degrees out *scratches head*. We've had a really mild winter here and the weather keeps flip flopping lately. So I had all my cold weather gear on, hat, gloves, smart wool socks, running tights and a few layers of long sleeves. (I found these super awesome light <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/833257/marmot-stride-t-shirt-womens-2011-closeout" target="_blank">Marmot shirts</a> at REI on clearance, they're wicking and great for a base layer, so worth the $12 I paid for them :)).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We ended up tying 1-1, the other team scored a nice shot that hit the side post and bounced in in the last minute of the game. I'll give them credit where credit is due, it was a close match. We played really well I think considering it was our first game and most of us hadn't played together before. More importantly I had an awesome time, made some good passes and didn't make a fool of myself. I left the field kind of with an "I really needed that" feeling. I really missed playing. Taking all winter off was not fun.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course several days later I'm still feeling the effects of the game...not in a good way though lol. My hamstrings were killing me for two days after the game. I had an epsom salt soak Tuesday after bootcamp, but I think acupuncture really help clear that up. Of course now my right hip is not feeling so hot, it started bothering me during today's leg work out. I made sure to do an extra long stretch. I go through this every start of the season after taking some time off. No matter how much I condition and sprint, it's so not the same as actually being out on the field during a game!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So the moral of this post is stretch stretch stretch! Soak and rest...and also make sure you keep doing things you love as your work outs, it makes it so much more fun. :)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Ok, so theres been a lot of soccer news goin' on so here's my mini soccer news section: </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/story/_/id/7657739/lionel-messi-first-player-score-5-goals-champion-league-game" target="_blank">The Lionel Messi Show stomped all over Bayer Leverkusen.</a> Messi scored 5 Goals during a Champions league match, the first player to ever score that many goals in a champions league game! No one is better than him right now, no one is even close!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soundersfcblog/2017692446_alex_morgans_first_hat-trick_l.html" target="_blank">US Women's National team place 3rd in the Algrave Cup against Sweden.</a> Alex Morgan scores a hat trick. This girl is on FIRE as well. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Ok, to me this is the most important news of all...</div><br />
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/defender-arne-friedrich-veteran-of-2-world-cups-with-germany-signs-with-chicago-fire-of-mls/2012/03/07/gIQAdfTPxR_story.html" target="_blank">Arne Freidrich signs to Chicago Fire!!!</a> No I'm not a Chicago Fire fan...but this latest signing is testing my allegiances. Who is Arne Freidrich you ask? If you follow the German National Team you know... if you've followed any of my past soccer posts you might know as well. He's a defender, which I dig because that's my position usually, but I've had this liiiiittle crush on him for oh... since the 2006 world cup, and he's now playing on American soil!! Guess who's going to the next DC United v. Chicago Fire match... this chick. (See MLS...take a lesson from <a href="http://www.kickette.com/" target="_blank">kickette</a>, this is how you sell tickets!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLP5BBFR5JHi_zjoaV49erOgA697Ikzmo5ZrHPw6Fu5ifLM0fvXNNac_byy36z7dGrtxxlwwpteJ6WRJJGS7W1ijKr0Uv6LzgEbfNBkSo2Zs3FV3CNV6k2J_QZyk-VBEgCGvRsbtssfNA/s1600/600full-arne-friedrich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLP5BBFR5JHi_zjoaV49erOgA697Ikzmo5ZrHPw6Fu5ifLM0fvXNNac_byy36z7dGrtxxlwwpteJ6WRJJGS7W1ijKr0Uv6LzgEbfNBkSo2Zs3FV3CNV6k2J_QZyk-VBEgCGvRsbtssfNA/s320/600full-arne-friedrich.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> Seriously... look at the man... </i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9svz8W9JY3MHcrvFoD8MUS1gKhIJPvzg0bg0YtCGj23gMTzwcPi5zPb31yZBvxA3iTWqGiLMxbDmj4rydbJH75xUXxtRSEoKAYL_SlkLaDFYgxuydLFRFj1G7Uc8LP_1eXxzkOt9QdDfg/s1600/Arne-Friedrich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9svz8W9JY3MHcrvFoD8MUS1gKhIJPvzg0bg0YtCGj23gMTzwcPi5zPb31yZBvxA3iTWqGiLMxbDmj4rydbJH75xUXxtRSEoKAYL_SlkLaDFYgxuydLFRFj1G7Uc8LP_1eXxzkOt9QdDfg/s320/Arne-Friedrich.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>how can you not?!...just. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>No words right now.</i><br />
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Crushes aside this is good news for MLS. The league needs more signings like this. We need to attract more talent over here to make the games more exciting. He was a big name on the German National Team (82 caps and a goal scored during the world cup--if you're thinking so what one goal? Just remember he's a defender, we defenders rarely get the opportunity to score.) he played in 2 euro cups and 2 world cups, it's an impressive international career. My only wish is that he signed with DC. I'm sad that I never hear of DC getting any big international signings. Is the club broke? Their stadium situation is a mess, there's even been rumors of moving the team (which I'm ok with because the rumor was a move up to Baltimore and that's my home town)....but what's going on DC?<br />
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And now for some funny shit... Shit Soccer Girls Say from <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/SoccerGrlProbs" target="_blank">@soccergrlprobs</a><br />
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Yeah, I would so be the chick crying over a broken head band I can NOT work out with out my headbands! and the "T-shirt tiiime" was definitely me too, until I decided to clean out the drawers and donate to good will, now I only have a few colors that I really like (Black x2, red, purple, white, grey, navy...oh I guess I really didn't clean them out)Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-28582403064409794392012-02-23T13:56:00.008-05:002012-08-09T14:31:44.579-04:00A Chemist Walks into a Bar...<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>I crack myself up!</i></div>
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Number of days that I've been sugar free: 50 </div>
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Mini update: So far so good as far as sticking to <a href="http://fitnessdweeb.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012-will-be-year.html">my resolution</a>. I haven't had a drop of wine...not a drop. I haven't had a single cookie, chocolate, slice of cake...nothing sweet. I was planning on making it to the end of February but since there's this thing that we Catholics call "Lent" happening right now, maybe I'll use that as an excuse and participate for once to keep this going. (My grandmother would be proud at least).<br />
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If you're wondering if I miss any of the foods I've given up my answer is NOPE! First of all, the great thing about going cold turkey on the sweets is the less you eat them the less you crave them. So no, I don't miss them. I'll designate my birthday as a day of celebration and have sweets and alcohol then. It's a ways off though. But more importantly, I don't have time to suffer a hang over considering I have class all day Saturday, and Sunday's are dedicated long run days (for now because guess what starts next weekend.... SOCCER!!! Oh soccer, I've missed you so much. I knew I couldn't stay away all winter. I started going to a weekly conditioning/skills camp to get ready for the season. Always need to work on my touch with the ball and I definitely need to improve my sprints.)<br />
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Anyway, having no time seems to be a running theme with me lately, hence the lack of updates. But all the free time I did have between semesters I now spend studying Molecular and Cellular Biology, which is another pre-requisite for the Dietetics degree I am working towards.<br />
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I've learned some neat stuff in class so far. For example... you know when you feel that lactic acid burn when you work out but it goes away pretty quickly. Well that's your bodies bicarbonate buffer system restoring your blood to it's normal pH levels (7.35-7.45--slightly acidic but that's the normal range). Pretty neat how the body works to return to it's normal functioning levels very quickly isn't it? That is called homeostasis. All living organisms practice homeostasis.<br />
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Also, I've learned about the molecular structure of Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins and Nucleic Acid. Proteins are really complicated and there's a lot more I will learn about them in the future. Carbohydrates, naturally I was interested in learning about since they get a lot of bad rep. They're a good source of quick energy which we already knew, but what are they made of? These unanswered questions I've had are why I want to be a dietitian, I really want to know how all this works, how it breaks down in the body.<br />
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So back to Carbs, essentially they're made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms (ratio 1:2:1). Carbo-Hydrate... Carbon and water, get it? Deoxyribose a component of DNA is actually a carbohydrate! Who knew. Anyway, carbohydrates or saccharides are found as either monosaccharides, disaccharides, or polysaccharides. A common example of a disaccharide is table sugar. Sugar is made up of one monomer of glucose and a monomer of fructose (which is the sugar found in fruit). Polysaccharides (ie your starches, rice wheat, root vegetables etc) are just made up of many glucose monomers so when you break them down it's simply breaking down into those smaller glucose monomers and as I stated above glucose is a sugar, which is why we need to portion our carbs (fruit and dairy included-lactose is a natural sugar found in milk) no matter how healthy we think it is!<br />
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Lipids (fats, waxes, steroids) are even better than carbohydrates for long term energy storage. So get the idea that fat is evil out of your head. Not all fats are created equal. Lipids are essential to life. They are the barriers of cells, they insulate and cushion organs, they provide energy, testosterone and estrogen are lipids! Cholesterol is a lipid and actually occurs naturally in the body (I will learn more about the healthy levels the HDL and the bad levels the LDL at some point). Saturated and unsaturated fat are pretty neat chains called triglycerides. Triglycerides are made up of a glycerol group and three fatty acid tails. (again Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen are the key atoms). What makes a fat saturated or unsaturated is the bonding between the carbon atoms. If there is a double bond in the chain then it creates a kink in the tail. Saturated fatty acids do not have this kink which allows for more hydrogen bonds<i> (side note: If you've ever looked at a nutrition label and seen the term "hydrogenated oil" or "hydrogenated fat" this literally means they are treated with hydrogen, complete hydrogenation turns an unsaturated fat into a saturated fat which can turn a vegetable oil in to a solid or semi-solid (think of margarine) but the biggest reason this is done is because it is less expensive to use a vegetable oil in commercial cooking than a animal fats. Partial Hydrogenation (trans fats) are known to cause coronary heart disease-- So the lesson here is read your food labels and avoid these types of fats!!) </i> Back to saturated fatty acids: This (lack of double bond) also means they are more linear and easier to stack up. This is why they are solid in room temperature. The kink in unsaturated fatty acids will not allow them to settle so commonly they are found as oils.<br />
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<i>I got to make a saturated fatty acid chain during lab... </i></div>
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<i>it's kinda like playing with legos :)</i></div>
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So there you have it... my basic knowledge of biology and chemistry... just remember this: I am a former fine art photography major. I went to art school, if you've seen art school confidential then that was my experience in college. So slowly but surely I am grasping this subject material. This, this is a difficult subject for me, and why I have no life right now, but it will be worth it. If I've learned anything these past few years it's that I am certainly not a slacker and if I work hard and apply myself I will achieve success. Last semester I tackled college algebra after 11 years away from the subject, I got an A and a perfect score on my final (yes I'm bragging because, I really EARNED that). And I will continue to work hard to earn that next A. Plus I'm really looking forward to sharing more of my nutritional knowledge with you in the future :)<br />
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<br /></div>Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-2922237538235814832012-01-02T11:17:00.003-05:002012-02-23T14:57:14.576-05:002012 Will be THE Year!!Holy crap! It's 2012! How did that happen so quickly?? I hope this is going to be a big year for me. I made it through my first class last semester so I feel confident going forward. (coming up next semester is biology) Anyway, I actually really like math now! It's a lot of fun. I got an A in the class and a perfect 150 out of 150 on my final exam haha. (Yes, I studied a LOT). Functions, log function, ln functions, the quadratic formula, <i>i, e</i>, radical equations, and graph transformations were my BEST friends. The funny thing about me is I couldn't do basic math with out a calculator (don't ask me to add with out one because I will use my fingers!), but when I look at an equation (and if you study them enough) you start to see patterns of how to "attack" and solve. You learn the rules, where to move the numbers to make everything work...and it all just sort of clicks into place. At least it did for me. I miss math, I kinda want to have a puzzler book of math problems, like some people have sudoku books, I want a book of algebra problems. Call me crazy but I really liked that class. <br />
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The biggest lesson I've learned though is that attitude makes a BIG difference. Ten years ago you couldn't pay me to take a college level math class. Now I want a puzzler book of problems to do in my spare time! And this relates to all aspects of life, a positive attitude will take you places...like losing weight or crossing the finish line of a race...or getting an A in a subject you hadn't studied in over ten years. Being negative never got me anywhere in the past. So my motto for 2012 is keep my chin up, and keep a smile on my face and good things will come!<br />
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So with all that being said I will do one of my "Current Status" posts since I haven't done one of those in a while. <br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Current Mood: </span>Optimistic<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Current Weight: </span> Not really worried about it. I'm on a mini vacation visiting my friend Ashley, the shoewhore. When I get back THEN it will be time to buckle down. In the mean time I'm still exercising and eating healthy most of the time. Spent 2 hours at the gym yesterday, plan on going climbing today, and trying out boxing for the first time.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Currently Thinking about:</span>The fact that I'm turning 30 this year, and the fact that this year will be THE year I finally get myself on a maintenance diet. Once I get home it's really time to push myself, I am giving up sugar for two months (that includes all sweets, refined carbs, dairy and yes alcohol....so long delicious wine.) I am also thinking of really challenging myself in the exercise department as well by trying two a days for a week off and on. ALSO a little spark has entered my head...I was thinking about maybe trying to run my first full marathon. I'm still trying to wrap my head around how to go about the whole training thing. I've successfully completed two half-marathons, although not at fast as I would have liked to...so maybe I should shoot for a full? I'll have to ask my knees first and get back to you on that one haha.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Currently NOT Thinking about:</span>The fact that I'm turning 30 this year. I used to have such a negative attitude toward turning 30 because when I was in my mid-20s I had always hoped that by the time I turn 30 I'd have a real career not just a "job", I'd have my own house and I'd be in a good relationship. And although I have neither of those... yet being the key word, I am still remaining positive because going into my 30th year I am healthier, happier and I am more motivated and determined to make things happen than I was when I was younger. The rest will come with time and effort.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Currently looking online at:</span> uefa.com. Yup the soccer addiction is still alive and well. This year is the euro cup! My German boys will be on television again... winning I hope ;). I wonder if Spain still has what it takes to stay the top team?! Will the germans (2nd euro 2008, 3rd worldcup 2010, and 2006) rise to the top again!?? Or will there be a new star on the euro stage?? I am eagerly waiting for this to start. I need a fix of good international soccer!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4I__nGoQqSEIpVJEJLeTHdpt8DayAJR8AKAgCzqJCoHsLOAa-FnkyhQsf2mg4uJiMARz6QLdKi6k1nYN8Q3m6udKKOnzdBrcsHa4XDbzdQ-I2X5oDLxWPmnQ-kl8VBoUyTqfePjFlPb2R/s1600/mueller-holland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4I__nGoQqSEIpVJEJLeTHdpt8DayAJR8AKAgCzqJCoHsLOAa-FnkyhQsf2mg4uJiMARz6QLdKi6k1nYN8Q3m6udKKOnzdBrcsHa4XDbzdQ-I2X5oDLxWPmnQ-kl8VBoUyTqfePjFlPb2R/s320/mueller-holland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> They beat the Dutch (who were #2 in the 2010 world cup) just recently...</div><div style="text-align: center;">really looking forward to this tournament.</div><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Currently looking forward to: </span>Besides above...Losing the last of the fat on my body and going on a maintenance diet. It will happen this year. I'm going to make it happen!<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Currently listening to:</span> M83's latest album. Haven't listened to these guys in ages. Midnight City is a pretty good track.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Currently Realized: </span>Holy Crap it's 2012!!! And it's going to be my year!<br />
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So that's what's going on with me... please share any goals you want to reach in 2012 below!!Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-24143469735189793572011-10-20T11:03:00.001-04:002011-10-20T20:50:28.901-04:00The Tale of the Lazy Mouse and the Industrious Mouse<div style="text-align: justify;">I ran my second half marathon last weekend. My sister ran her first. If you've seen the Ricky Gervais skit about the Lazy Mouse and the Industrious Mouse this post will make a lot more sense. This video cracks us up! My sister often refers to me as the Industrious Mouse...and she is the Lazy Mouse. But really she isn't, my sis was always the natural athlete in the family...when she was on varsity basketball as a sophomore I was sitting keeping score on the sidelines. What ever athletic ability I have now I've really had to work for it and the Lazy Mouse well...watch the video and then I'll tell you our story:</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">This is the tale of Laura, the Industrious Mouse, and Jenny, the Lazy Mouse...who set off on an adventure to run a half marathon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Industrious Mouse trained for over three months every Saturday morning. Industrious Mouse ran hills, did cross training work outs, and speed work outs. Industrious Mouse also monitored her diet, tracked all her training times and knew she was going to finish the race better than she did last year. Industrious Mouse kept reminding Lazy Mouse to sign up for the race before it sold out. Industrious Mouse signed up plenty early to take advantage of the lower entry cost and secure her spot in the race. Industrious Mouse also told Lazy Mouse months before the race that she needed to train or she would never survive the race.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lazy Mouse missed the sign up dead line and had to go on the wait list.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lazy Mouse did not train for the race.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Industrious Mouse was sad that Lazy Mouse wouldn't run the race with her, but low and behold a spot opened up three weeks before race day and Lazy Mouse was able to run the race!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lazy Mouse still did not train for the race.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Race Day finally arrived. Industrious Mouse was pumped! She trained, she properly carbed up, she ate a protein/high carb energy bar before the start to give her that extra boost. On the other hand, Lazy Mouse was feeling a little nervous.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So the race started and Industrious Mouse was in the lead...at one point Lazy Mouse caught up with her but Industrious Mouse said "NO WAY You're not going to beat me". She soared ahead and did not see Lazy Mouse for the rest of the race.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, Industrious Mouse ignored a foot injury that started out of no where around mile 2. She continued to run hoping the pain would go away but it escalated instead, by mile ten the Industrious Mouse had to stop and walk because her foot was throbbing. But the finish line was near so she forced herself to run again. By the last half mile she was sprinting to the end and finished the race in 2:22:11. Lazy Mouse was no where in sight.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The only problem was once the race ended Industrious Mouse couldn't walk on her foot that was bothering her during the race. She went to the medic tent to get tylenol, but then pain shot up her calf muscle. The medic staff made I.M. get in a wheel chair and took her to the main medic tent and had her lay down on a hospital cot. Industrious Mouse started hyperventilating because of the pain.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then strolls in Lazy Mouse...cool as a cucumber with a medal around her neck. Lazy Mouse...WHO DIDN'T TRAIN....only finished five minutes behind the Industrious Mouse (2:27:30). Lazy Mouse then called out to the nurse... "She's faking it!!"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Industrious Mouse was not happy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Once she was able to breath normal again, the nurse gave Industrious Mouse a little kit kat bar for doing so well. (which I was going to save for later), but Lazy Mouse snatched the kit kat bar from Industrious Mouse and took half of it! Oh the humanity!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So what's the lesson in the tale of the Lazy Mouse vs. The Industrious Mouse? Clearly those who slack off still win...and get kit kat bars out of the ordeal as well! Damn her!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Haha seriously...what type of person steals an invalids kit kat bar!! It's just not right...not right I tells ya! Lazy Mouse Jenny is also an ICU nurse so she has a certain level of immunity and intolerance towards suffering...ie. She's a suck it up type of person...and sometimes I'm a bit of a drama queen (as if quirks of this blog weren't any indication). Anyway, I was just upset after running this race because I was so prepared ,so excited to run the race and really REALLY looking forward to crossing that finish line with a sense of accomplishment. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last year when I ran my first half I made the mistake of throwing my interval training plan out the window and attempting to run the race straight though. I burned myself out by mile 7. This year I restarted my training plan with the goal of running straight though. I started at 5 miles and worked myself up to running 12 miles with out taking any breaks. I was consistently running 10.5 minute miles through out all my training and I was running the toughest hills in my area as well. I had no pains other than the usual aches I've been getting from running long distances (calf cramps and hip aches), but never had a problem with my foot. I was ready for this race! So to end up getting injured randomly during my run and being in so much pain after I crossed the finish line was a real let down. It makes me question if my body is physically cut out for this type of exercise. Maybe I'm just not cut out to be a distance runner...but at the same time I really REALLY find a lot of enjoyment out of running and it's amazing stress relief so the only thing to do is to carry on. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the upside my time was 15 minutes faster than last year and my mile time was 10.8 minute miles (so almost 11 minute miles). If I wasn't injured and could keep up my pace and if I didn't have to stop those two minutes I KNOW I could have run a faster race. Maybe I'll have to try again next year. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I haven't actually worked out since the race, and it's been a really strange feeling not getting up in the morning, but I know I needed a few days to put my foot up and let it heal. I was going to attempt to work out this morning but I haven't gotten my sleep cycles back to normal yet so I'm going to see how I feel this afternoon. Keeping my fingers crossed!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkS8s4HFEzdUAFwNPow4PgO24Evlp1zKBc2sxEK8mjdSeH0A-NVze4aMglKwretMgVa-k8BbQt0OV_2GZlnBoOBNYY2LfR56WM8_eLAi2OXyEuOXem8H15qKZsFvt_jAXUzORMePuRfZQx/s1600/laura5_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkS8s4HFEzdUAFwNPow4PgO24Evlp1zKBc2sxEK8mjdSeH0A-NVze4aMglKwretMgVa-k8BbQt0OV_2GZlnBoOBNYY2LfR56WM8_eLAi2OXyEuOXem8H15qKZsFvt_jAXUzORMePuRfZQx/s320/laura5_sm.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Eye of the tiger baby! running through the pain!</div></div>Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-2058258298279968172011-10-13T12:23:00.002-04:002011-10-13T12:33:46.098-04:00Running for a Cause<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lls.org/assets/images/logo_lls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.lls.org/assets/images/logo_lls.png" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Several of the girls I play soccer with (myself included) are running in the Baltimore Running Festival for a little girl named Emma Grace that is fighting Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Emma has been fighting leukemia since before she was even able to talk.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can read about Emma's Story on her <a href="http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/emmagracemiller">Caring Bridge</a> website and make donations on this page as well. Donations will really help the family with the expense of Emma's treatments. Or you can also donate money to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to help continue research for blood cancers. Emma has a light the night team page that you can donate to <a href="http://pages.lightthenight.org/md/WestMD11/JMiller">HERE</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Please please if you can spare a few dollars, please donate to this cause! Last year I raised $225.00 for LLS lets try to make that number bigger on behalf of Emma!</div><br />
Thanks for reading!Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-64679698429871390842011-09-23T14:46:00.001-04:002011-09-23T15:07:30.929-04:00Things That Piss Me Off...I know I haven't written in a while, and I'm not trying to be a downer on this blog, but sometime I have to rant!! Just to preface, I'm just dandy lately and I will write more on that in another post...but there's been some stuff that I keep reading about weight and body image on the internet that infuriates me so MUCH I had to blog about it.<br />
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I have a bit of a celebrity gossip addiction. I read a few celebrity gossip blogs and one of my favorites is <a href="http://www.celebitchy.com/">Cele|bitchy</a>. So in the past week alone there's been a lot of stuff that I've read of celebrities talking about their bodies and it pissed me off enough that I wanted to write this post. I know I know, I shouldn't care about what these people are saying because "celebrity" is a strange bizarre world completely disconnected from the rest of the world, BUT they are putting it out there to the public and what they say is downright harmful...and misleading to many many women who struggle with their weight and their body image!<br />
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WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO KID??<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.celebitchy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/fp_7880604_alley_kirstie_ini_03_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.celebitchy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/fp_7880604_alley_kirstie_ini_03_05.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />
Kristie Alley... I have nothing against her, and I'm very happy for the weight loss she did achieve on dancing with the stars...but what the HELL are these claims that she's making that <a href="http://www.celebitchy.com/181681/kirstie_alleys_delusional_numbers_game_shes_now_130_pounds/">she's a size 4 now</a>?!? If that's what a size 4 looks like at 5'8", then based on my real size in her world I'm a size 20 at 5'9" (I'm a size 10-12 depending on the cut of the pants). She claims that she went from a size 8, and after losing 100lbs, she went to a size 4. WHAT? When I lost 100lbs I went from a size 22 to a size 10-12. Who is she trying to fool besides herself?<br />
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Here's my advice to her/her publicist, STOP WITH THE DELUSIONS!! Be proud of the weight, you DID lose it's a great thing, you're 60 years old and your skin looks damn good... but please...please stop being dishonest about how much weight you actually did lose and your "size 4" pant size. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say she's a 12 and she's carrying her weight around her middle and her hips just like I do, hence the the smaller upper body.<br />
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Moving on... <br />
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SHE WANTS TO EAT MY BRAAAAIINNNS....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.celebitchy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/wenn5349818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.celebitchy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/wenn5349818.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>I had never heard of this woman before, but she's the heiress of the Guinness fortune and she's some sort of "fashionista" Looking at her here I'd say she's pushing 75+....she's only 43. That's scary. What's more frightening is the things that <a href="http://www.celebitchy.com/181842/heiress_daphne_guinness_lives_on_ensure_red_bull_ill_eat_when_im_dead/">come out of her mouth</a>...<br />
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<blockquote>In a recent interview with New Yorker Magazine style icon and international heiress Daphne Guinness, whose couture is currently on display at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, has revealed her stay skinny mantra – and it is sure to shock eating disorder groups.<br />
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;">“I’ll eat when I’m dead!”</span> the startling thin and pale-faced fashionista exclaimed when offered lunch during her photo shoot with the magazine. </blockquote><blockquote>According to the publication, the 43-year-old Brit, who is the daughter of brewing heir Jonathan Guinness and the ex-wife of Spyros Niarchos, <span style="background-color: #ffd966;">keeps her stick-thin figure through a diet of Red Bull and Ensure shakes. </span></blockquote><blockquote>She defended her diet by simply stating, <span style="background-color: #ffd966;">“If I eat, I can’t work.” </span></blockquote><blockquote>A few years ago, Kate Moss created controversy when she coined the phrase <span style="background-color: #ffd966;">“nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.”</span></blockquote>Jesus... I'm not even going to pretend to understand whats going on inside the head of someone with an eating disorder, but I do understand what it feels like to have no control over what you eat and to want to have that control. I was having a discussion the other day with a co-worker about the very FINE line that dieters sometimes straddle between eating healthy, eating the right amount of food vs. not eating enough because you keep cutting back little by little. I can see how women fall down that rabbit hole. After struggling with my weight my entire life I understand the mentality of someone who thinks I can't I can't I can't when it comes to certain types of food. I have that struggle myself daily sometimes, and sometimes I even feel a resentment towards junk food laying around the office and towards people who eat what ever they want all the time. Because I can't eat what I want all the time and that's just part of my life and my metabolism. I know by now how my body treats excess sugar and junk, it turns it straight to fat that takes a heck of a lot longer to burn off than to gain. I need to reach that point in my life where I stop thinking how unfair it is to have to be diligent about the way I eat. My struggle may be for a while finding my happy place with food. My goal is to get to a place where I'm ok being around bad food and snacking every once in a while with out feeling guilt! Anyway, that being said although I do have my hangups with food, I'm in no way heading towards having an eating disorder like surviving off of ensure and redbull. I feel bad for people who deny themselves the food that is good for them, I understand giving up snacks and junk food, but all solids?? It's sad and these people need help. It really is sad that she thinks that she has to live her life this way, and that some women think that this is how you might have to eat to get "skinny". <br />
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JUDGEY GOOP...<br />
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Goopy tries to be this I'm every woman type on her website...you know by blogging about stuff most women can't really afford and sharing her experiences that most women will never experience (again the celebrity disconnect)...<a href="http://www.celebitchy.com/182036/gwyneth_paltrow_was_forced_to_sit_in_an_emmy_seat_soaked_with_peasant_sweat/">like presenting at the emmy's</a> and walking the red carpet...or winning an Oscar and hanging out with Beyonce and Jay-z...or having a guest appearance on a hit TV show and singing at the grammys...why does she try so hard? She already had most people's admiration with her acting and beautiful looks and figure... now she's everywhere and it's annoying. But she really did prove she's just like every woman out there...no not by blogging about how she's better than you, but because she's insecure about her appearance just like 99.9% of us. Oh, Goopy, here I was thinking you were so far above... well, everything for that matter.. Here's what <a href="http://goop.com/newsletter/144/en/">Goop</a> had to say:<br />
<blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">I live for Tina Fey and I love Kenneth from 30 Rock! Wait ... why does my arm look like that and since when do I have 9 chins?</div></blockquote>Ok. So I'm looking the picture over closely.... Dear god in heaven....does this mean Goopy is human and has flesh that moves and flattens in certain angles like the rest of us? She's not a robot slowly taking over the our movie theaters, tv's, kitchens and mark my words radio and broadway will be next! NO ONE is safe from the Goop... But she is right about one thing... Tina Fey. Now she's someone to admire all around.<br />
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On to the next thing that pisses me off... <br />
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ONCE AGAIN I HAVE BEEF WITH THE BIGGEST LOSER...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmH41G-7Lgg6UWegD83N_Sg718UfSEcjo7GLWzOkxRajE-EnnN-dBZix_FhLeqjBSSSGUEPo-YwsdLrEKeOBSroi_PiBX966inoi2yBIbeTSm55cCs7RKzCCFvZN3SvS9BSG9mgsAETqP/s400/the-biggest-loser-thumb-287x286-9111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmH41G-7Lgg6UWegD83N_Sg718UfSEcjo7GLWzOkxRajE-EnnN-dBZix_FhLeqjBSSSGUEPo-YwsdLrEKeOBSroi_PiBX966inoi2yBIbeTSm55cCs7RKzCCFvZN3SvS9BSG9mgsAETqP/s200/the-biggest-loser-thumb-287x286-9111.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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I get asked pretty often if I watch the biggest loser, I don't, but I previously I wrote my <a href="http://fitnessdweeb.blogspot.com/2009/12/biggest-loser-not-typical-weight-loss.html">mixed feelings on the show</a> after seeing one episode. Well one of my co-workers mentioned they were having a new season so I thought maybe I'd give it a chance and check it out again now that I'm moving to the "other side" (ie losing the last few and maintaining) of this weigh loss journey. I watched the first episode of the new season Battle of the Ages... and once again. I have issues with this show. <br />
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<ol><li>They take people completely away from their home life which could be the root of 90% of their problems with poor diet and lack of exercise.</li>
<li> They exercise exercise exercise all day long. realistically how many of us can dedicate more than an hour at the gym?</li>
<li>They never show the participants refueling with protein or banana's or some kind of healthy snack even though they spend hours working out and burning hundreds of calories.</li>
<li>In fact...they didn't show them eating AT ALL in the first episode. </li>
<li>People loose ridiculous amounts of weight in a short period of time so it leads me to wonder what their diet is and how is that diet maintainable for the long term.</li>
<li>If someone loses the least amount of weight they aren't rewarded for the hard work it took to even lose the amount they were able to lose, they are instead punished and possibly booted off the show. </li>
</ol>I will give the biggest loser credit for showing that it DOES take hard work and dedication to lose weight, but so far it's a lot of smoke and mirrors and it completely glosses over the fact that realistically 2lbs of weight loss a week is healthy. I'm going to stick around and try to give the show a chance to redeem itself, but for now my opinion remains firm that just like Kristie Alley, the Biggest Loser is spewing out a lot of myths and misinformation about weight loss.<br />
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I don't think people realize how damaging the media is to someone struggling to lose weight. Magazines are airbrushed, XXS is the new Small, celebrities are botoxed, nipped and tucked on camera projecting a image of what an "ideal figure" or an "ideal face" should look like. Everywhere you turn there's a new fad diet a new fad work out...there's SO much misinformation out there its hard to process fact from fiction. Fact: Eat vegetables, eat whole grains, eat lean proteins, eat occasionally some nuts...eat the diet that the human body was meant to live off of before cheetos and twinkies and coca-cola and McDonald's was invented. Fact: watch your portions. Fact: Exercise at least three times a week, even a long walk is enough if you're watching your diet. That's that trick to being healthy and the pounds will come off in the process. BTW... you know what tastes better than skinny feels. Chocolate. Just saying. It won't kill you every once in a while. <br />
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Just so this entry doesn't end on a completely negative note, I'm going to write about a few people I admire for their recent comments on tv about their weight and body image. <br />
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<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; color: #999999; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center; width: 420px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153) ! important; color: rgb(87, 153, 219) ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none ! important;">breaking news</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153) ! important; color: rgb(87, 153, 219) ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none ! important;">world news</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(153, 153, 153) ! important; color: rgb(87, 153, 219) ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none ! important;">news about the economy</a></div><br />
I loved this woman's story. Her sense of humor is awesome and she really does prove that confidence makes you a beautiful person no matter what your size. I just want to give her a fist bump and say I wish I had as much balls as she does!!<br />
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Also, I want to give much love to Hope Solo. Hope Solo and Abby Wambach were on Letterman after the world cup final this summer and Hope was talking about her shoulder injury around the 5:30 min mark in the video:<br />
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She mentioned her weight on the air and then she said "Yes, as a woman I just gave all of you guys my weight!" I was stoked when she said that on national television and then pretty much said yea I weigh 150 what of it!? And she said "I'm proud of it" !! I LOVED HEARING THAT. I dare anyone to say she looks bad. She just proves that weight is just a number on the scale, it is not a reflection of our physical appearance. Plus, she's my height!! 150lbs is totally an obtainable and realistic weight for me but I also have to remember she's a professional athlete and I'm just a pretend one on the weekends ;).Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-36586563026664203792011-08-29T17:06:00.003-04:002011-08-30T09:58:49.425-04:00Treadmill "Backpacking"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://epic-treadmills.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Treadmill-Desk-300x271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://epic-treadmills.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Treadmill-Desk-300x271.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is actually what the Fitness Dweeb command center looks like...</div><br />
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I just wanted to share this little exercise I do with you all. The nutritionist I've been seeing for the past two months told me about it. He's an old school body builder and knows how to shred the fat. I've not seen much of a drop in scale weight since I started following his meal plans, BUT that doesn't mean I haven't dropped any body fat. According to his caliper measurements I've dropped a ton of fat and built up a ton of muscle at the same time. When I went to him two weeks ago I was only seeing a 1lb drop on the scale, well it turned out that I lost 10.5lbs of body fat, but gained 9.5lb of muscles, so there would be my one pound scale difference. See, it's not always about the scale.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, he introduced me to a new exercise that is guaranteed to make you sweat your butt off and shred body fat. It's not a cardiovascular exercise. The point of this exercise is not to get your heart rate up, but to make you work your muscles hard over a long period of time at a slower pace and lower impact. This is an exercise that should put you in "fat burning zone". I've been curious what exactly "fat burning zone" meant so I had to search it: </div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote><b>The fat-burning zone</b>. Yes, it exists, but it has been misinterpreted. The fat-burning zone is a concept that the body burns a <i>greater amount</i> of fat at lower-intensity aerobic exercise than it does at higher intensities. Actually, the body burns a greater <i>percentage</i> of fat at lower intensities than at higher intensities. At lower intensities the body may burn 50 percent of the calories from fat, while at higher intensities it may only burn 35 percent. But at higher intensities you burn way more total calories—and more fat calories overall—than you do at lower intensities.(from <a href="http://www.active.com/triathlon/Articles/The-Myth-of-the-Fat-burning-Zone.htm">active.com</a>) (Further reading: another article on Fat Burning Zone in <a href="http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/on-fitness/2009/03/03/the-fat-burning-zone-a-fitness-myth-debunked">USNews</a>)</blockquote></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">So basically it's a long slow burn, and you're targeting the fat calories more effectively than doing high intensity training (which is basically anything like kick boxing, bootcamp work outs, sprint intervals etc.), but you also have to do these exercises for a longer period of time...so seems to me it's a toss up as to what type of exercise is absolutely 100% efficient. I do this exercise in ADDITION to my bootcamp work outs, running, and soccer, so while I may shred fat with this activity the other exercises I do help me tone muscle. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I like this treadmill work out because it really is a great sweat...I'm sweating out the toxins as they say :) and it's an exercise anyone can try. You don't need to be fast or strong or coordinated, you just need to be willing to put in the effort and the time!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Anyway, here's the exercise:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>TREADMILL "BACKPACKING"</b></div><br />
All you need is a backpack, access to a treadmill and some free weights. <br />
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Try this out with out the backpack first...<br />
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<ul><li>Set the treadmill at the highest incline which is 15.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Don't let your speed go over 2.5, try to stay between 2.3-2.5</li>
</ul><ul><li>If walking uphill at 2.5 is too easy, add weights to a backpack and walk on the treadmill with the backpack. Try starting out at 10lbs, increase to 15 or 20lbs if necessary (I use 15lbs).</li>
</ul><ul><li>Walk "uphill" for a minimum of 45 minutes, 3x a week.</li>
</ul><ul><li>DO NOT HOLD ON TO THE TREADMILL, that is cheating and you are not using your muscles to get yourself up that "hill".</li>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Your heart rate should not spike or get high for a long period of time as if you were running or sprinting, but you WILL sweat so so much! This activity is supposed to feel like walking up a mountain. I promise you that's what it will feel like. You will be tired and worn out. Make sure you have a water bottle with you to stay hydrated....also it can get kinda boring on a treadmill for 45minutes so have some good music handy or grab the one in front of the tv and catch up on the news.<br />
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Also, make sure you have a good backpack. I actually didn't own one since I'd been out of school for so long, but I went out and bought a bag that I think will be pretty versatile for me. I can use it for school, hiking, travel and these exercises :) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kelty.com/images/Product/large/429_1_jade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.kelty.com/images/Product/large/429_1_jade.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I bought this <a href="http://www.kelty.com/p-429-womens-redwing-40.aspx?category=backpacks">Kelty</a> bag...because it was extremely comfortable, it has a waist belt to keep the weight off my shoulders (if you have a bad shoulder like me this is a BIG plus...probably a MUST have for your next backpack purchase), and the shoulder straps are contoured and very comfortable. The back of the pack has an aluminum "spine" for even more stability.<br />
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I asked my resident backpacking/hiking/all things outdoors expert (my cousin's hubby...we'll call him Bearded Vegan) if this was a good bag and he said that Kelty bags were good middle of the road packs, and he also recommended that I use sand bags instead of free weights because they won't wear out the fabric as easily and it will extend the life of the bag...Really good advice!! Plus I have a lifetime warranty which I didn't know because clearly I don't read tags. So thanks Bearded Vegan! I'm happy with my purchase :).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ok, so now that we've gotten the technical part of this post out of the way...I just wanted to share an email from my cousin (she's the one who married Bearded Vegan ...we don't hold that against her), anyway, I told her I hadn't given up on the blog...and this is her response... she knows me TOO well: </div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Imagine how excited you would get if the characters from true blood made a guest appearance on Game of Thrones and played a soccer match with their characters. That is how excited I am that you are blogging again."</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">!!!!!!!!</div><br />
Like I said she knows me TOO WELL. AND did you actually picture what that soccer match would be like between these characters?? If you're anything like me of course you did! But what advantage would Game of Thrones characters have over the super naturals of True Blood. If true blood had a mixed bag of players, no more than two vamps on the field at one time, none could be keeper.. .and also no shape-shifting allowed on the field..hrm, well I'm thinking the only way Game of Thrones characters could have an advantage is if they wore silver pinnies to stop the vamps.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Welcome to my brain!<br />
It's a strange place to be.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, this post needs more soccer so I'm stealing this video off of <a href="http://www.kickette.com/good-weekbad-week-extra-curricular-activities/">Kickette</a> because it's awesome... and this is how the game of golf should be played... Here's Diego Forlan, Uruguayan national player, kicking ass on the links.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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p.s. Even if I played this way I'd still be shooting like 5 or 6 over par every hole. MULLIGAN!<br />
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p.s.s. Half marathon training is chugging right along. I'm improving my time a lot this year. I finished 8 miles in 1hr23mins on Saturday before that "little storm" called Irene hit our area.Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-64043965621948670612011-08-11T13:29:00.003-04:002011-08-11T13:33:33.586-04:00Well it's Official...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh164szOKPYvlkysAVy0TBgdKM8aj_Sd85LJYQWQeY2PPTAEY48uK0AFkALkoFckjXyHnQ152HnLrEi9tCUAMBzmqEqF1Xe287Iu48EZYvtekl9cuAFaHT4E0Tf_JdAoyDbdw0Jzb5LU2LS/s1600/rodney-back-to-school1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh164szOKPYvlkysAVy0TBgdKM8aj_Sd85LJYQWQeY2PPTAEY48uK0AFkALkoFckjXyHnQ152HnLrEi9tCUAMBzmqEqF1Xe287Iu48EZYvtekl9cuAFaHT4E0Tf_JdAoyDbdw0Jzb5LU2LS/s320/rodney-back-to-school1.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you haven't seen this movie...we can no longer be friends. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So this morning I decided to bite the bullet and register for the college algebra class I've been <strike>dreading</strike> preparing for by going to a tutor to refill my brain with all the math I've forgotten over the past ten years... I think it was a coping mechanism. Math was not my favorite subject, I did well enough in it, but just because I tolerated it didn't mean I liked it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No seriously though, I am kind of having fun with math... so let's make this post all about math! Math has a lot to do with nutrition. I use it every day to measure portions and calculate calories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So lets say we have a turkey sandwhich that is 3" wide and 4" tall, if we cut it on a diagonal what is the hypotenuse of our sandwhich.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well... assuming our bread forms a perfect right triangle.. which maybe it does that is yet to be known... we can use the Pythagorean theorem!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yePo7K_XpWADH8naFvwNfIMGS4KUOVa6k3N91mbVwLfP4BsV7S_guulLYwLycj91TA9n2rlC9u6DmSHKvCD_u99CrBxyw9ZG3PGb5HK0EEaZjVw2YwsNrVRuyBPYGi5HhlgJgb8jQhQv/s1600/Pythagoras_7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yePo7K_XpWADH8naFvwNfIMGS4KUOVa6k3N91mbVwLfP4BsV7S_guulLYwLycj91TA9n2rlC9u6DmSHKvCD_u99CrBxyw9ZG3PGb5HK0EEaZjVw2YwsNrVRuyBPYGi5HhlgJgb8jQhQv/s200/Pythagoras_7.jpeg" width="166" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Pythagoras was a pretty smart dude, he figured out in a right-angled triangle the area of the square on the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the areas of the squares of the other two sides...huh... ?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Basically...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">^^ This is our half of a turkey sandwich^^</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So... if we have 3^2 + 4^2 = c^2</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">so, 9 + 16 = 25</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
take the square root of 25 you get 5, so c=5</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So the theorem works: 3^2 +4^2 = 5^2</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And that means our bread was baked in a tin that made it a perfect 90 degree angle!<br />
(because of course all bread is baked like that in real life :))</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Honestly, the Pythagorean theorem probably has nothing to do with my day to day applications of weighing and measuring my food, but it's fun! And it makes me feel smart.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">But... lets say you're on a diet and one of your meals requires exactly 25.88g of protein. The suggested serving is 100g of a can of tuna.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So based off of my meal plan 100g of canned tuna = 25.88g of protein. But you go in the cabinet and you're out of tuna... so what else can you replace your 25.88g of lean protein with??</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">How about chicken breast?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Hrm, according to calorie king 100g of chicken breast is 31g of protein. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But you should only have 25.88g of protein in this meal.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">How much chicken can you have?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Guess what, I have no freakin clue! This is why I'm going to a tutor. I'm not math saavy enough, but if you play around on calorie king long enough and plug in the numbers you can have 83g of chicken breast. There's got to be a way to figure this out other than clicking till you get the right number!!?!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">... wait a light bulb went off... </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">last night I was retaught to cross multiply when trying to find the length of a sides of similar triangles...and I was taught to set up my formula to solve for the angle not given... that the similar side of each triangle determines your numerator and denominator (ie side a of triangle 1 is similar to side g of triangle 2 so a/g etc. side b of triangle 1 is similar to side x of triangle 2 so b/x... I was given the values of a, b, & g so I had to solve for x )... anyway, before I go off on too much of a tangent...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I JUST PROVED USING ALGEBRA HOW TO GET TO THE ANSWER!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">(I just did a happy dance and I'm not even kidding!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIchX6WZ4evQ4BI9amzpYpHrN5mmK2xeBEMPY049f9aeKCy-J2hShNtRBd_WTdnprt7pBfOvXhD5ds8DmwSDzldVOQNulJ6tdpU8tejREaayoVbib7kyUGyPOdQeAX_TKlPHH8oKUvj3oc/s1600/photo%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIchX6WZ4evQ4BI9amzpYpHrN5mmK2xeBEMPY049f9aeKCy-J2hShNtRBd_WTdnprt7pBfOvXhD5ds8DmwSDzldVOQNulJ6tdpU8tejREaayoVbib7kyUGyPOdQeAX_TKlPHH8oKUvj3oc/s320/photo%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> We know based off a 100g portion of chicken we get 31g of protein so 31g/100g</div><div style="text-align: center;">we have to have 25.88g of protein but what is our portion??... that is "X"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">31g/100g = 25.88g / x </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Protein servings / portion size</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cross multiply you get 31x = 2588<br />
Divide each side by 31...</div><div style="text-align: center;">31 is eliminated from one side of the equation leaving x by itself</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">x= 83.48g of chicken!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can't believe I just figured that out... that means I'm actually retaining this knowledge.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Algebra CAN be applied to weighing and portioning out your food.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Alright I'm done geeking out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">School officially starts August 29th, this is the first step towards becoming a registered dietitian. I'm only taking one class because it's all I can afford to do right now and it's all I have time for as well. If i can survive this then maybe I can survive biology, and microbiology... and then organic chemistry...ugh what am I getting myself into. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-89987324666220043552011-07-22T10:56:00.003-04:002011-07-22T11:02:58.684-04:00Did I Find the Holy Grail of Chocolate Bars??Well I thought I did...but alas it wasn't...maybe...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYVcQaonLX7D5EG4JQcNcHCms6KP4NrcDQ9B2DQeGuYZ72xqLd9mKgiX_htByQlHozbU6WoEKZRpgbqa37BaDQ3aATnAW4PwQVfXaj-YjkF4HQZnQsWRlKgZ233UK0LovyBKsaDgakx79/s1600/p2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYVcQaonLX7D5EG4JQcNcHCms6KP4NrcDQ9B2DQeGuYZ72xqLd9mKgiX_htByQlHozbU6WoEKZRpgbqa37BaDQ3aATnAW4PwQVfXaj-YjkF4HQZnQsWRlKgZ233UK0LovyBKsaDgakx79/s1600/p2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I was in Trader Joe's yesterday picking up a few items. I only had chicken, egg whites and vegetables in my shopping cart, all and all a successful trip, but then I got to the register. The registers at Traders Joe's are always filled with sweets. I really feel like Trader Joe's should be considered a high end snack store not a health foods store...I don't mean that in a bad way it's just that they have a lot of snack foods there and let's face it... they're delicious. Anyway, I know a little dark chocolate every once in a while isn't a bad thing so I decided what the hell, why not grab a little treat for myself? I was drawn to this <a href="http://www.simplylitefoods.com/products.asp">Simply Lite</a> dark chocolate bar because the label claimed it to be sugar free, low calorie and low carb.<br />
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Sugar free and the words chocolate usually don't go hand in hand, unless it's bakers chocolate, so I was a little leery of that claim. The bar uses Malitol as a sweetener. I had never heard of that sweetener before, but I assumed it was similar to xylitol which is a natural sweetener not artificial like aspartame or sucralose.<br />
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Their label also claimed it was "Fine Chocolate for the Health and Calorie Conscious". Hey that's me! The nutrition label seemed to verify that it was indeed low sugar and low calorie, their packaging claimed the sweetener they used was low on the glycemic index so that it was a diabetic friendly product as well. So I bought the bar, and I ate a square...and OMG it was delicious! It totally satisfied my chocolate craving. I ended up eating two more squares because it was so good, then I put the bar away.<br />
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I looked all over the label wondering how in the world this could taste so good and be considered a diet friendly product. I wasn't finding the answers on the label so I started digging around on the internet.<br />
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The ingredients of the bar are as follows: <i>Maltitol, Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Butter, Inulin (natural vegetable fiber), Soy Lecithin, Natural Vanilla, Cinnamon.</i><br />
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There are three ingredients on that list that are a little bit of a red flag for me, so I wanted to learn more about them. <br />
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<b style="color: red;">1. Maltitol:</b> is it good for me? It is a better alternative to sugar? <br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote><b>Maltitol</b> is a sugar alcohol (a polyol) used as a sugar substitute. It has 75-90% of the sweetness of sucrose (table sugar) and nearly identical properties, except for browning. It is used to replace table sugar because it has fewer calories, does not promote tooth decay, and has a somewhat lesser effect on blood glucose.</blockquote></div><br />
ok, so far so good...slightly better for me than sugar, but let's not be fooled it's still sugar and my body will process it as such. Let's read on...<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">Maltitol is a disaccharide produced by Corn Products Specialty Ingredients (formerly SPI Polyols), Cargill, Roquette, and Mitsubishi Shoji Foodtech, among other companies. Maltitol is made by hydrogenation of maltose obtained from starch. Its high sweetness allows it to be used without being mixed with other sweeteners, and exhibits negligible cooling effect (positive heat of solution) in comparison with other sugar alcohols, and is very similar to the subtle cooling effect of sucrose.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"></sup> It is used especially in production of sweets: sugarless hard candies, chewing gum, chocolates, baked goods, and ice cream. The pharmaceutical industry uses maltitol as an excipient, where it is used as a low-calorie sweetening agent. Its similarity to sucrose allows it to be used in syrups with the advantage that crystallization (which may cause bottle caps to stick) is less likely. Maltitol may also be used as a plasticizer in gelatin capsules, as an emollient, and as a humectant.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"></sup></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not unlike other sugar alcohols (with the exception of erythritol), maltitol (when consumed in large quantities or at a particularly high concentration) can have a laxative effect. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltitol">wikipedia</a>)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltitol#cite_note-2"></a></sup></div></blockquote> Ok, so maybe not?? To be fair the packaging on the chocolate bar does warn you that excess consumption can have a laxative effect. Seems to me that it's doubtful that one bar can cause that though.<br />
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<b style="color: red;">2. Inulin??</b> What the heck is Inulin??<br />
<blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Inulins</b> are a group of naturally occurring polysaccharides produced by many types of plants.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"></sup> They belong to a class of fibers known as fructans. Inulin is used by some plants as a means of storing energy and is typically found in roots or rhizomes. Most plants that synthesize and store inulin do not store other materials such as starch.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Inulin is increasingly used in processed foods because it has unusually adaptable characteristics. Its flavour ranges from bland to subtly sweet (approx. 10% sweetness of sugar/sucrose).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"></sup>It can be used to replace sugar, fat, and flour. This is particularly advantageous because inulin contains a quarter to a third of the food energy of sugar or other carbohydrates and a ninth to a sixth of the food energy of fat. While inulin is a versatile ingredient, it also has health benefits. Inulin increases calcium absorption<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"></sup> and possibly magnesium absorption,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"></sup> while promoting the growth of intestinal bacteria. In terms of nutrition, it is considered a form of soluble fiber and is sometimes categorized as a prebiotic. Due to the body's limited ability to process polysaccharides, inulin has minimal increasing impact on blood sugar, and—unlike fructose—is not insulemic and does not raise triglycerides,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Niness_4-0"></sup> making it considered suitable for diabetics and potentially helpful in managing blood sugar-related illnesses. The consumption of large quantities (in particular, by sensitive or unaccustomed individuals) can lead to gas and bloating, and products that contain inulin will sometimes include a warning to add it gradually to one's diet. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inulin">wikipedia</a>)</div></blockquote><br />
Ok, so from what I'm reading one of the products in this bar is going to cause me to poop a lot, another is going to make me gassy and bloated. <br />
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<b style="color: red;">3. Soy Lecithin. </b>I see this added to a TON of products. But what exactly is it? As a general rule I keep my soy consumption to a minimum because it's not the best source of protein out there and because of research indicating that it can cause hormonal imbalances in women...but what is Lecithin?<br />
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<blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Lecithin</b> is a generic term to designate any group of yellow-brownish fatty substances occurring in animal and plant tissues, and in egg yolk, composed of phosphoric acid, choline, fatty acids, glycerol, glycolipids, triglycerides, and phospholipids. </div></blockquote><br />
Ok, so it's a fat derived from the soy bean. Why does my chocolate bar need that?<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">The non-toxicity of lecithin leads to its use with food, as an additive or in food preparation. It is used commercially in foods requiring a natural emulsifier or lubricant. In the food industry it has multiple uses: In confectionery it reduces viscosity, replaces more expensive ingredients, controls sugar crystallization and the flow properties of chocolate, helps in the homogeneous mixing of ingredients, improves shelf life for some products, and can be used as a coating. In emulsions and fat spreads it stabilizes emulsions, reduces spattering during frying, improves texture of spreads and flavour release. In doughs and bakery it reduces fat and egg requirements, helps even distribution of ingredients in dough, stabilizes fermentation, increases volume, protects yeast cells in dough when frozen, and acts as a releasing agent to prevent sticking and simplify cleaning. It improves wetting properties of hydrophilic powders (e.g., low-fat proteins) and lipophilic powders (e.g., cocoa powder), controls dust, and helps complete dispersion in water.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-applications_1-1"></sup> It can be used as a component of cooking sprays to prevent sticking and as a releasing agent.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For example, lecithin is the emulsifier that keeps cocoa and cocoa butter in a candy bar from separating. In margarines, especially those containing high levels of fat (>75%), lecithin is added as an 'anti-spattering' agent for shallow frying.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for human consumption with the status "Generally Recognized As Safe." Lecithin is admitted by the EU as a food additive, designated by E number E322. There are studies that show soy-derived lecithin has significant effects on lowering cholesterol and triglycerides, while increasing HDL ("good cholesterol") levels in the blood.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"> </sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lecithin#cite_note-3"></a></sup>However, studies on soy lecithin have been inconsistent and contradictory since the 1920s.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"></sup></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"></sup></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">New study suggests gut bacteria metabolites of choline promote atherosclerosis in mice through TMAO production and "augmented macrophage cholesterol accumulation and foam cell formation". (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lecithin">wikipedia</a>)</div></blockquote><br />
So really it's just an additive to make sure my chocolate bar maintains its shape. But other than that I'm doubtful that it has any health benefits. <br />
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I learned that I obviously did not find the holy grail of chocolate bars, but overall was my chocolate bar really that good for me? Well I guess it's a toss up. If I were a diabetic and really needed to watch my sugar levels then maybe it would be a good alternative. But for my purposes the use of inulin and matitol don't seem to have any added health benefits, and after reading about them I feel it would probably be safer to me to eat the real thing (sugar) instead of a "Lite" version with all these additives. <br />
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The most important thing to remember when picking out a treat to satisfy your cravings is that these are <i>treats</i>. Treats are special gifts for our enjoyment and gratification. If we treated our selves all the time they wouldn't be treats, so use the sweets sparingly.Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-63424624664924352422011-07-20T14:10:00.001-04:002011-07-20T14:21:15.509-04:00Hi, It's been a few months....I know, I dropped off the face of the earth again. I had to do some thinking about whether or not to continue this blog. Long story short...I've decided to carry on, but the theme will no longer be the same. I'll keep all the old content. It's still going to be about fitness, exercising and nutrition but I'm not going to go off on starry eyed rants about twilight and Robert Pattinson because well... confession: I'm over it.<br />
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However, some things never change...I'm still a dork I just won't be focused on forcing myself to make this blog about one particular subject, because to be honest it made it really hard to write a post and tie it in to something I wasn't particularly interested in any more.<br />
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Anyway, I have other nerdy obsessions... first up... have you been watching the new season of true blood?? I haven't caught up to the most recent episode yet, but I'm really liking season 4 a lot more than 3.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1USeU9rbmIRmqYmw_oGcKQ2uvgnl3uX-mb7BuzmOceNkVo_QZ9k7oUh0mw-MP7Kmly_asISBVCLNDrSZDZaLFXKF6F5y3K6gIR-6m2Q2ummczWRS-5RPyHq20ymjlFCtdv9OLaQ9JAwyy/s1600/Season-4-Eric-Promo-true-blood-19908962-624-352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1USeU9rbmIRmqYmw_oGcKQ2uvgnl3uX-mb7BuzmOceNkVo_QZ9k7oUh0mw-MP7Kmly_asISBVCLNDrSZDZaLFXKF6F5y3K6gIR-6m2Q2ummczWRS-5RPyHq20ymjlFCtdv9OLaQ9JAwyy/s320/Season-4-Eric-Promo-true-blood-19908962-624-352.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I don't know whats going on with Eric right now, but I love how he acts like a little kid. <br />
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Also... HAVE YOU SEEN GAME OF THRONES!???!?!?! Yes, I'm yelling that. Have you seen it??! OMG! I'm a total fan girl! Say hello to my new eye candy...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3c43p8zU33ayppqS48yp0qP_MvPcdyTNxty5ojZXl4CmfR53-FyTBbSVM9pPuQnxROqLfTlbX-y_HmenFe9E8oLb9I3nudY5R27OUuX99c-WdM2U-HDVAAJ_4fLVDeBvaqKm1_Dl7ABt/s1600/jon-snow-1280.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631484625269511378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3c43p8zU33ayppqS48yp0qP_MvPcdyTNxty5ojZXl4CmfR53-FyTBbSVM9pPuQnxROqLfTlbX-y_HmenFe9E8oLb9I3nudY5R27OUuX99c-WdM2U-HDVAAJ_4fLVDeBvaqKm1_Dl7ABt/s320/jon-snow-1280.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 180px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Jon Snow!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPenb76clcgjwCo1Xa5B1IEWCqkqh4hVnqydwxIXLZS48O1TbWiqcqfQNd8RSB5kyfQe-M7D0OjV0k3Z60exIcvvTD70OhUP0iSBgd8qTZ6kUhIzl4kvTTY6L84FAkvrOE4fLwJoe6xqg/s1600/robb-stark-1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPenb76clcgjwCo1Xa5B1IEWCqkqh4hVnqydwxIXLZS48O1TbWiqcqfQNd8RSB5kyfQe-M7D0OjV0k3Z60exIcvvTD70OhUP0iSBgd8qTZ6kUhIzl4kvTTY6L84FAkvrOE4fLwJoe6xqg/s320/robb-stark-1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Robb Stark!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>And I can't even talk about poor <strike>Boromir </strike>I mean Ned...I just can't talk about it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdsLIHgV6j_Cvvc0WFHO98CdhWtNcLI6S0aDKnGrms8LOAcpR3tPwCOOOhyphenhyphenS2hDsBe7WaTNxjZzDWQVIshMa78Ne4sYtrZKYJcKU-ff6LN7vmd9yJS7a6PtapB1VJvmD8n2bOOifmV5Rp/s1600/promo-ned-with-ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdsLIHgV6j_Cvvc0WFHO98CdhWtNcLI6S0aDKnGrms8LOAcpR3tPwCOOOhyphenhyphenS2hDsBe7WaTNxjZzDWQVIshMa78Ne4sYtrZKYJcKU-ff6LN7vmd9yJS7a6PtapB1VJvmD8n2bOOifmV5Rp/s320/promo-ned-with-ice.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(photos from <a href="http://winter-is-coming.net/media/images/publicity-photos/">winter-is-coming.net</a>)</span><br />
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It's going to take me some time. Maybe by the end of season 2 I might be ready, but season 2 is so far off at this point!!! Seriously, you will watch this show and at the end of every episode shake your fist in the air and say 'damn you Game of Thrones!!' because it's just that addicting.<br />
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So I'm sure you're probably thinking well... with all this TV watching you've been doing I hope you haven't fallen off the badwagon. Not to worry my friends. HBO GO makes it very convenient for me to watch tv when I actually have the time to watch. Take note cable companies...this needs to be your option now: Online only content available on demand. Aside from the fact that I don't own a TV... I can't follow a schedule, I've never been able to glue myself to the tv at a set time, but now I don't have to. I can stay up til 2am on a Saturday night watching episode after episode of Game of Thrones on my lap top (I mean that's what normal people do on their Saturday nights, right?)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDqO3cfqqB8kEUWTcs7aHn9N3yaU953HA-hc_hq0h7LhvHkNiMIZY0zHu7Cd2x5-e4zF1Ba5wS3eoOjeI9F9rucnwVe3cHv583OO0R1GWXCqAHB4pfuMsZAXydFrAdMRuCBw12J6Eondb/s1600/NerdAlert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDqO3cfqqB8kEUWTcs7aHn9N3yaU953HA-hc_hq0h7LhvHkNiMIZY0zHu7Cd2x5-e4zF1Ba5wS3eoOjeI9F9rucnwVe3cHv583OO0R1GWXCqAHB4pfuMsZAXydFrAdMRuCBw12J6Eondb/s320/NerdAlert.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">What ever don't judge me!!!</div><br />
I think I might be moving on to Boardwalk Empire next. <br />
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Anyway, aside from my latest fantasy TV obsessions here's whats been going on the past few months...<br />
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Remember how I said I wanted to reach that 100lb weight loss goal last fall but then I blew it?? Well I did that back in April, then I went on vacation to Charleston, SC and ran a 10k. The Cooper River Bridge Run is so much fun :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPHmwkhnF5bqxqQbLYuZnY76XemjrMcP2xo84VbqSg293CBEQzxR6vtEHf8aEcSk2YAtZYPkEOqrYLd8hzxf7yu6JB5Km2MZbuwL5mG0pLj8QhNS-pt_909iAAcSxnWEx_X472xoCq5cY/s1600/198535_10150142564793317_525668316_6615854_5778791_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPHmwkhnF5bqxqQbLYuZnY76XemjrMcP2xo84VbqSg293CBEQzxR6vtEHf8aEcSk2YAtZYPkEOqrYLd8hzxf7yu6JB5Km2MZbuwL5mG0pLj8QhNS-pt_909iAAcSxnWEx_X472xoCq5cY/s320/198535_10150142564793317_525668316_6615854_5778791_n.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />
Oh and then later that month I ran a 3 mile obstacle/mud race...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoqX1hMhPN6eO7bXpduDbJ_mtbjRQNJzJkTMb9ioZg1jcWKOOwVNCEzBEBeGqwN0cXZ4QmYVi5rrUhHYwyV-lBv5QlBi62ckWLZI3XCny1Dh9r7dyhOzBVCfP7BmhPbXN2s9M9Gb5yJ9m/s1600/216196_1825472591303_1074911128_1978775_4663366_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoqX1hMhPN6eO7bXpduDbJ_mtbjRQNJzJkTMb9ioZg1jcWKOOwVNCEzBEBeGqwN0cXZ4QmYVi5rrUhHYwyV-lBv5QlBi62ckWLZI3XCny1Dh9r7dyhOzBVCfP7BmhPbXN2s9M9Gb5yJ9m/s320/216196_1825472591303_1074911128_1978775_4663366_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">MUUUUUDDD!!!</div><br />
It was a blast!! And such a tough leg work out! Running in sinking, sticky mud and muddy water for three miles (plus obstacles) is not easy!<br />
<br />
Then in May, I decided to lead a Couch to 5k Group. After almost two full months of training runs the group completely their First 5k!! I was a very proud running momma.<br />
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In June, we started a 6 week weight loss challenge at my bootcamp. I had my ups and downs but in the end I lost 5 more lbs. So my total loss is now at 106lbs and I'm still working at it. Also in June, I got my braces off...so I no longer resemble a teenager...but I still haven't been asked to prom!<br />
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So now we're into July. I'm still working on my weight loss, but I've also decided to try and go back to school in the fall. I wavered for a long time, mostly because I wasn't sure if I personally had what it takes to be a good example of weight loss to others, but I want to become a Registered Dietitian. I'm starting out small taking baby steps towards the degree since I've been out of school for so long and math and science were never my strong suits. I have to take a college algebra class towards the degree, so I'm also studying review chapters a couple nights a week and going to a tutor to reteach myself a subject I hadn't studied in 11+ years. Yikes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://rlv.zcache.com/foil_keeps_algebra_fresh_x_y_mug-p16834127014781137421aby_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/foil_keeps_algebra_fresh_x_y_mug-p16834127014781137421aby_400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Actually, I think this mug is kind of awesome!</div><br />
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And, last but not least... I haven't left my true love out of my life either. Did you watch the women's world cup?! Please tell me you did?? Please tell me you supported these amazing athletes!? Watching women's soccer reminds me of why I love the game so much. The skill, the athleticism, and the sportsmanship that the men sometimes forget to display are just...I have no words. It's an inspiration to so many. In 1999 it was a huge inspiration to me. The performance by our US women this year just confirms everything there is to love about this sport. They are my idols.<br />
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<object height="390" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/V4IGXqoV4uw?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V4IGXqoV4uw?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
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I can't really talk about the results in the final...it's too upsetting, it's still too soon for me. Maybe one day. I will say congratulations to Japan though. And if I've taken anything from the game or the sport in general it's this. Dreams can be made or crushed on that field, but at long as you're in the game you have the opportunity to make them. Case in point, I played two games back to back yesterday. We're having perhaps the biggest heat wave of the summer right now with heat indexes over 100 degrees plus humidity of 52%. It's brutal, it's the worst weather to play in. To make matters worse we played a man down and had no subs, we were down on the score board, but at half time we said you know, what do we have to lose, lets play the best damn game we can. And we did. We lost but we walked away proud of our passing and our team work and all the effort we put in to the games. It's a great feeling.Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-84254534991984386082011-02-09T10:15:00.004-05:002012-08-09T14:26:47.750-04:00A 5 minute Lunch Idea and Under 500 Calorie Dinner!So I was a slacker last night. I didn't prepare a lunch a head of time, so I knew I needed to come up with something quick and healthy. I went grocery shopping this weekend so buying a $7-10 salad for lunch is not an option since I've got a ton of food at home. So this morning after I got home from my work out I give myself about 30 minutes to prepare and eat breakfast before I need to hit the shower and get ready for my work day...so that only gave me about 5 minutes to throw something together for lunch out of what I had lying around.<br />
<br />
So grabbing things hastily here's what I came up with: Cod fillet with spinach and squash.<br />
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Here's what you need:<br />
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*Frozen single wrapped fillet of cod (4-5oz)<br />
*Lemon<br />
*Your favorite spice or a seafood spice<br />
*Olive oil<br />
*Ziploc medium sized steamer bag for the microwave (hopefully you have access at your job!)<br />
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*Frozen veges (cook in a separate container unless you want your veges to taste like fish)<br />
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So all I had to do was throw the filled of cod in the steamer bag, cut a lemon in half add one slice to the bag and squeeze in some of the juice, drizzle a little bit of olive oil, throw in some seasoning and shake...viola you've got a marinade going til lunch hour.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1yuyRrxfcBkCviqWLAiGP5pvjnhGZ0pu-x7zplnCYQhV1jAfpji9JXs3QKWXwyH2L2FUgYEwC2JwQ8V4t7RYd89_pIBY1Z0DFcXoW0a3hyphenhyphennedESaUNviLtofC851PtxqcP0xfyjsZ6rh/s1600/IMG00127-20110209-0658.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571718550024584178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1yuyRrxfcBkCviqWLAiGP5pvjnhGZ0pu-x7zplnCYQhV1jAfpji9JXs3QKWXwyH2L2FUgYEwC2JwQ8V4t7RYd89_pIBY1Z0DFcXoW0a3hyphenhyphennedESaUNviLtofC851PtxqcP0xfyjsZ6rh/s320/IMG00127-20110209-0658.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Then I grabbed some frozen vegetables I had lying around and placed them in a separate container.<br />
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For a healthy carb to go with my lunch I already had some of my winter squash quinoa salad left over so I have a well rounded meal of a protein/vege/healthy carb. If you don't have a left over lying around a slice of wheat bread or maybe even consider a half of a sweet potato (easy to cook in the microwave as well).<br />
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Nutrition information for this lunch:<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">*40z Cod Fillet: 119 Calories</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">*Yellow Squash and Zucchini: 2 cup serving = 25 calories</span>. I didn't have that much left in my freezer so my serving is probably only 1 cup...but seriously you can fill your plate up with these veges so you don't go hungry and not do damage to your diet.<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">*Spinach:1 cup = 7 calories!!</span><br />
*<span style="font-weight: bold;">Quinoa Salad: </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">one serving = 293 calories</span> (following the recipe I have)<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Totals: 444 Calories</span> (and it's going to be one filling nutritious meal!)<br />
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If you decide to try this meal with a sweet potato on the side, a 4oz. portion is only 103 calories...so that's an even healthier option. All nutrition information for this meal is from <a href="http://www.calorieking.com/">calorieking.com</a>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">On to dinner!</span></div>
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So I have left over butternut squash from the other day that needs to get eaten up! And when I was looking for soup recipes for the last post I found this delish sounding recipe for a hearty dinner<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Roast Chicken with Potatoes and Butternut Squash</span><br />
from <a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001949705">cookinglight.com</a></div>
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<br />
<blockquote>
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: about 3 ounces chicken and about 3/4 cup vegetables) <span style="font-style: italic;">TSP Note:</span> Obviously if you have a big family to feed prepare a larger bird and more veges so there's more to go around...but 3oz is a proper portion size for a serving of chicken.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2wq8vOonw4wzFRpQnwIBIKVqgrwMlFz3zVRUxt7n5fmYYTzs30It9Zpu1RL_CnVN_d524B8k_mc527wY_6Ve2ZyKseIXFd9WnExylgKCO5BBPkBJ05exq1yd2BP-Hc3JDeMa2MYlSD1b/s1600/1001p180-roast-chicken-l.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571735509964622930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2wq8vOonw4wzFRpQnwIBIKVqgrwMlFz3zVRUxt7n5fmYYTzs30It9Zpu1RL_CnVN_d524B8k_mc527wY_6Ve2ZyKseIXFd9WnExylgKCO5BBPkBJ05exq1yd2BP-Hc3JDeMa2MYlSD1b/s320/1001p180-roast-chicken-l.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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2 tablespoons minced garlic, divided<br />
1 teaspoon salt, divided<br />
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided<br />
1/2 teaspoon dried rubbed sage<br />
1 (3 1/2-pound) roasting chicken<br />
Cooking spray<br />
12 ounces red potatoes, cut into wedges<br />
1 1/2 cups cubed peeled butternut squash (about 8 ounces)<br />
2 tablespoons butter, melted<br />
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1. Preheat oven to 400.<br />
<br />
2. Combine 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and sage in a small bowl. Remove and discard giblets and neck from chicken. Starting at neck cavity, loosen skin from breast and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under chicken. Rub garlic mixture under loosened skin. Place chicken, breast side up, on rack of a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Place rack in broiler pan.<br />
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3. Combine potatoes, squash, butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Arrange vegetable mixture around chicken. Bake at 400 for 1 hour or until a thermometer inserted into meaty part of thigh registers 165. Let stand 10 minutes. Discard skin.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Nutrition Information: </span><br />
CALORIES 399 ; FAT 12.1g (sat 5g,mono 3.2g,poly 1.7g); CHOLESTEROL 147mg; CALCIUM 77mg; CARBOHYDRATE 25.9g; SODIUM 791mg; PROTEIN 43.8g; FIBER 3.4g; IRON 3.5mg</blockquote>
So I must make this tonight or tomorrow. Tonight might need to whip up something quick again though. I have a dentist appointment...I'm getting my last set of wires for my braces which means I'm reaching the home stretch...which means I'm one step closer to not resembling a teenager and being carded all the time.Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-19988973721592300302011-02-07T09:55:00.006-05:002011-02-07T12:29:45.083-05:00Healthy Soup Recipes!<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CLPs2rgmkqE?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CLPs2rgmkqE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Ok so I totally meant to post my attempt at cooking last night to share a healthy recipe... I made a winter squash and quinoa salad. (read: side dish) to go with my turkey and well...in the end it didn't taste as good as it sounded on paper. It took me forever to make it too. Trust me, peeling and cutting up a butternut squash is a work out! The quinoa needed to soak, veges to be chopped and baked for 55 minutes in the oven.<br /><br />I took pictures of the entire cooking process and I was so excited to share in the end but after the first taste I was like...meh. So I'm not going to share. I found some recipes that sound tastier that I'm going to attempt...and I think the best use for a butternut squash is in soup. I made butternut squash soup for the family as our Christmas day lunch and it was delish. But I found a recipe online that is healthier than the one I followed.<br /><br />So with out further ado...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">It's Healthy Soup Recipe time! </span><br /></div><br />In case you haven't noticed it's cold out and most of the country is covered in snow or ice. Even better with soups there always seems to be left overs so there always plenty to share with a group or you'll end up saving money by eating left overs and not buying lunch out during the work week. I was kind of afraid of cooking soup the first time I tried it because I had this idea in my head that it would take for EVER...but really some of them can be put together pretty quickly and the time you put into it is worth it in the end because, trust me these will taste much better and be lower in sodium than the canned crap at the grocery store. I also love that you can get a little creative with soup by adding/substituting different ingredients for ones you might like better or play around with the spices to get it to taste juuuuust right for your palette. It can be a lot of fun and I feel like I (a person who is mostly allergic to the kitchen) can actually sort of cook!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Enchilada Chicken soup</span><br /></div><br />Each serving (1 cup [8oz]) - 105 calories, 1.75 g fat, 641 sodium, 12.5 carbs, 2 g fiber, 4 sugars, 11 g protein.<br /><br />*3 cups fat-free chicken broth (go for the low-sodium broth)<br />*1 1/4 cups finely chopped celery<br />*1/2 cup diced onion<br />*3 cups green enchilada sauce (2 cans)<br />*1 15-0z can pure pumpkin<br />*10 oz cooked boneless skinless chicken breast, chopped or shredded<br />optional - dash of hot sauce<br /><br />Directions - In a large pot, bring broth to a boil, add celery and onion and simmer for about 5 minutes, until slightly tender. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for another 10 minutes. Optional: Serve with fat-free cheese or crushed baked tortilla chips on top.<br /><br />So this is just the basics for this recipe, I think this one should call for more veges ie. fresh peppers would definitely taste awesome. Also, make this soup vegetarian by using vege based broth and substitute the chicken for beans. Maybe try black beans or pinto. (this will change some of the nutritional information but probably not by much)<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Minestrone Soup</span><br /></div><br />1 cup 105 calories, 0.5 g fat, 512 g sodium, 19.5 g carbs, 4.5 g fiber, 4 g sugar, 5 g protein.<br /><br /><br />*Two 14-0z can of fat-free chicken or veg. broth<br />*Two 14.5 cans diced tomatoes, drained<br />*One 15 oz can cannellini beans drained and rinsed<br />*One 10 oz package frozen spinach<br />*1 packed mixed frozen vegetables<br />*1 cup uncooked whole-wheat-blend rotini or penne pasta (substitute with different grain for those who are gluten free)<br />*1 TBs dried minced onion<br />*2 tsp chopped garlic<br />*1 tsp Italian seasoning<br />*1 bay leaf<br />*Salt & pepper to taste<br /><br /><br />Combine all ingredients in a large pot, add 1 cup water to all, stir and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes. Don’t forget to pair this with a good lean protein for a complete meal.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Butternut Squash Soup!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">mm mm good!<br /></div><br />Spicy fresh ginger complements the sweet roasted winter squash and shallots in this easy recipe. Serve with a grilled cheese or turkey sandwich for a simple dinner.<br /><br />Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 2/3 cup soup and 1 teaspoon chives)<br />Ingredients<br />Nutritional Information: Calories: 112 (20% from fat)Fat: 2.5g (sat 0.4g,mono 1.7g,poly 0.3g) Protein:3.3g Carbohydrate:22.4g Fiber:3.6g Cholesterol:0.0mg Iron:1.6mg Sodium:266mg Calcium: 84mg<br /><br /><br /><br />* 4 cups (1-inch) cubed peeled butternut squash (about 1 1/2 pounds)<br />* 1 tablespoon olive oil<br />* 1/4 teaspoon salt<br />* 4 large shallots, peeled and halved<br />* 1 (1/2-inch) piece peeled fresh ginger, thinly sliced (when I made this I just used ground ginger that you can get in any spice aisle)<br />* 2 1/2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth (or vege broth)<br />* 2 tablespoons (1-inch) slices fresh chives<br />* Cracked black pepper (optional)<br /><br />Preparation<br /><br />1. Preheat oven to 375°.<br /><br />2. Combine first 5 ingredients in a roasting pan or jelly-roll pan; toss well. Bake at 375° for 50 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Cool 10 minutes.<br /><br />3. Place half of squash mixture and half of broth in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth. Pour into a large saucepan. Repeat procedure with remaining squash mixture and broth. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Top with chives and pepper, if desired.<br /><br />Ok, now this recipe is off of <a href="http://www.cookinglight.com/food/top-rated-recipes/healthy-butternut-squash-recipes-00400000055219/page5.html">cookinglight.com</a>. When I made the soup I just combined the squash, onion, broth, ginger, pepper and a few sprigs of fresh thyme in a dutch over (ie. Large pot) and simmered until the squash was soft (you should be able to pierce it with a fork easily like when you boil potatoes). There's really no need to bake this in the oven you can cook it all on the stove top. Make sure that the soup is well blended it should be creamy.<br /><br />If you really want to add a dallop of flavor to this creamy dish ad a drop of creme fraiche (2tbsp =110 cal. so cut that in half and only use a *tiny* drop a little bit packs a lot of flavor) and I top mine with more ground ginger. Either way it's a delicious satisfying soup on a cold day.<br /><br /><br />Hmmm... Delicious and satisfying... Kinda like looking at RPattz...<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNK6OXIRMcWUf8UPKdpc6kZB9v3WbbUynxeweN4qtEJPz12nhbc3URrWBU9dIyDf5SRY_ppM-CeEhWWKQ_f84IEsRVgZT5v1kBokt6fQmgBieg_sZdRrUGBXGvsZ_Nv_I-rpfUFcS7KEPH/s1600/Pattinson.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNK6OXIRMcWUf8UPKdpc6kZB9v3WbbUynxeweN4qtEJPz12nhbc3URrWBU9dIyDf5SRY_ppM-CeEhWWKQ_f84IEsRVgZT5v1kBokt6fQmgBieg_sZdRrUGBXGvsZ_Nv_I-rpfUFcS7KEPH/s400/Pattinson.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570972380047008418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">but he's even better... he's calorie free :)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-84954666112253279562011-02-03T22:06:00.013-05:002012-08-09T14:24:42.895-04:00Sometimes Things Are Too Tough to Blog About...If you follow this blog you may have noticed that I took a bit of a hiatus...I actually took the blog down for a while with every intention of deleting it, but I sat on that idea for a couple months first. My last post was made on Oct. 16th. The day I ran my first half marathon. Two days later on Oct. 18th my grandfather passed away.<br />
<br />
On Oct 15th my Dad had said to me that I needed to visit, that my Poppop had taken a turn for the worst and he might not be with us much longer. I had known he was sick earlier in the week but I didn't think it was that bad. He had been to the hospital a time or two in the previous years but, like he always was, my Poppop seemed to come out strong and chug along stoically as always with a Manhattan in one hand and occasionally a cigar in the other. I left work early to visit him that Friday and my Dad was right. I wasn't prepared to see my lovable Poppop struggling for breath, unable to open his eyes, eat food or even sit up. He still held our hands though and he still wanted my Mommom, his wife of 63 years, by his side. He knew when she wasn't there and that made him restless.<br />
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When I ran the marathon and the pain in my legs was at its worst I thought of my Poppop. He made me keep going. My Aunt had told me that he was a fighter. He always had been. Poppop fought in every major campaign in Europe during World War II: D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge and Rhineland. He never spoke much about the war but the few stories we did hear made me realize how lucky he was to be alive, how lucky my entire family was to even be here to share these stories. So when I was running I thought of Poppop and how he would never quit so I should never quit either.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUU-0-HRnJNcqZYdv4c71d4MVvcSwrTA0gkGYfy99WiVVn9db47DhYea0AkH7NO9S_0MDwzuxzucU0jZ1pj99IDsyOqHxKQB-r_1oVkqi6C_UfeiftmRWiPcNKbKnLLIJgU8kMXhnF-TMf/s1600/pop_1944beforebeingdeployedtoeurope.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569670828638751010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUU-0-HRnJNcqZYdv4c71d4MVvcSwrTA0gkGYfy99WiVVn9db47DhYea0AkH7NO9S_0MDwzuxzucU0jZ1pj99IDsyOqHxKQB-r_1oVkqi6C_UfeiftmRWiPcNKbKnLLIJgU8kMXhnF-TMf/s400/pop_1944beforebeingdeployedtoeurope.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 234px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Quite a handsome young man in his uniform too wouldn't you agree :)<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Two days later my Poppop passed away. I had never lost anyone close to me before. It was a blessing he no longer suffered but it was also the most heart breaking time for me and my entire family.<br />
<br />
Right before I ran I was pushing to reach a weight loss goal. I was only 2-3 lbs away from 100lbs of total loss. After my Poppop passed I took a week off from working out to be with my family. I was surrounded by desserts and hearty meals for an entire week. And I ate blindly with out even thinking. I seemed to have no control over the desserts. I just wanted sweets.<br />
<br />
When I returned to bootcamp the following week I got on the scale and I had gained 10lbs. TEN POUNDS!!! I was crushed. On top of everything that had happened this was just one more stress ball to add to it. I freaked out. I had never gained so much weight so quickly. I felt like a failure. I felt like I failed everyone including my readers of this blog and worse I felt like because I let this happen during my Poppop's passing that his death was some how an excuse to let myself go a little and that made me feel terrible.<br />
<br />
I hid the blog from public view. I contemplated deleting it because I was a failure. I was not someone setting a good example for a healthy life style. How could I write about getting up and exercising and eating properly when I failed so miserably at it. I just wasn't in a good place and I needed time to think and get myself back on track. Because I told myself remember Poppop wouldn't give up!<br />
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I've been working out just as hard as always since I took that week off, I still went to bootcamp I still went on runs even in the freezing cold too, I still played soccer I managed to lose a little through the holidays which I'm happy about, but I just couldn't bring myself to come back to the blog and share it. Because after all I still screwed up so bad. My friends told me I was being too hard on myself when I stressed about my weight gain and I realize now I probably was. Hindsight is always 20/20 they say. I set a new goal to push through those final pounds to reach 100lbs of loss, and I've been working toward it. I have a deadline and I'll see where I stand tomorrow when I hop on the scale again at boot camp.<br />
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I also learned a valuable lesson about how I deal with grief through all this. I've never mourned the loss of anyone close to me before. I've been very lucky in that aspect, I know. But now I know my way of handling grief is to turn to food. Now I know to be aware of it in the future.<br />
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It took me a long long time to come to the blog and write about why I basically dropped off the face of the earth, about why I gave up and hid the blog. For the longest time I didn't know what to say, but it was a post on Twitarded from Dangrdafne that made me say I have to keep writing. I have to keep promoting healthy living on this silly little blog of mine because it was my mission when I started and I'm not a quitter. It's not in my blood to quit. Thanks Poppop :).<br />
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</div>Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-29204949133979094722010-10-16T18:54:00.006-04:002012-08-09T14:22:36.759-04:002:37:55!<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/btPJPFnesV4?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/btPJPFnesV4?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br />
<br />
I want to give props to the dude dancing on his car in a tiger suit blasting this song for us runners to laugh at! You rock tiger suit man!<br />
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Anyway, that was my time...I guess that's a time to be proud of :) I wanted to finish in 2:30 but at least I finished between 2:30 and 2:40 ;) Note to self for the future...don't train a certain way and then throw that all out the window and try to push yourself through the race...I guess that's why my pace was off...oh well it's over and my legs are VERY VERY thankful for that! I'm also very thankful that I was able to raise a little money for cancer research. Thank you to everyone who donated!!<br />
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My mom snapped a pic of me somewhere after mile twelve thanks for cheering me on Momma! It gave me an extra little boost when my legs really needed it! Believe me when the finish line was actually in view it was a dead sprint for me to the end!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEomMvhCOSOVjnpFkhin6lYOumJUYw8dHjrzfiuPSO1cgKhsgYGJUP3B5bRM3ABka671gHxp_tSrS7QRH3NcwWtWIhkKgIH_GYyTkof-RMFTdqAsTaylUO_krECzYcPegcO5Z9rta5w5-G/s1600/halfmarathon_sm.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eye of the TIGER!!!!</div>
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Thank you all who have been so supportive of me during my training. I'm so glad I finished!<br />
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And now it's time for me to crash!<br />
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</div>Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-42759151683555990402010-10-05T12:22:00.004-04:002012-08-09T14:22:16.909-04:00Where Has the Time Gone?!See that little counter widget on the side of my page?? It says only 10 DAYS TIL RACE DAY!?!... I'm not freaking out nope, not gonna freak out....even though I'm quietly screaming on the inside...I'm not gonna freak out. I'm ok... I'm cool. I swear.<br />
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Why am I kinda sorta not really freaking out? Because even though I haven't been blogging I've still been working hard at my fitness levels to make sure I own this race!...If owning that means I finish in 2hrs and 30 minutes (which is almost a 12 minute mile and compared to some that makes me a slow poke) WHAT the freak EVER!! I'm going to OWN it!<br />
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My furthest training run has been 12 miles, which I completed last weekend in about 2hr and 15mins (oh and yes it was ALL hills baby), this weekend I ran 9 miles and then took a much needed yoga class to work on some of my muscle tightness. I went to bootcamp 4 times last week and played soccer last week and this week as well. I kinda haven't been doing my shorter runs but I know between the bootcamp and soccer and the training runs that I have the endurance to finish.<br />
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Plus I know the 2nd half of the course, I ran it last year in the team relays. Everyone keeps trying to scare me and say the first half is hilly as shit, but guess what, all i've been doing for the past month on my training runs is hills. I'll get past them. The second half is pretty much flat ground. Guess who loves running on flat ground? This chick. So yeah, I'd say I'm pretty well prepared for the race at this point :)<br />
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This weekend I will be running a <a href="http://www.charmcityrun.com/page.cfm?pageid=33&eid=943">charity 5k for children with learning disabilities</a>, and then I have to tack a few more miles on top of that and it will be my final training run!<br />
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I am also still trying to raise money for the <a href="http://pages.lightthenight.org/md/Baltimor10/LauraA">Leukemia and Lymphoma society</a> for their Light the Night Events so PLEASE if you can, donate to my page so I reach my goal of raising $655 ($50 per mile I run in the half marathon). I am $430.00 away from reaching my goal. So if you're reading please donate if you can... if you can't please help me spread the word!!<br />
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<a href="http://pages.lightthenight.org/md/Baltimor10/LauraA"></a><a href="http://etools.lightthenight.org/mission360assets/default/fundraising/docs/LTN_300x250.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://etools.lightthenight.org/mission360assets/default/fundraising/docs/LTN_300x250.jpg" style="display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
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Also in the middle of all this I've decided I really needed to push to lose those extra pounds to reach 100lbs of total loss. I'm anywhere from 3-5lbs away depending on when I weigh myself (I know I'm only supposed to do it first thing in the morning I will from here on out). It's been rough trying to kick start my metabolism again. For two weeks I eliminated (almost completely there were some weddings thrown in there that I enjoyed myself and the open bar at a little too much) but anyway, for two weeks in early September I completely cut out sugar (including fruit), salt, saturated fats, refined carbohydrates and dairy from my diet. I was on 1100 calories / 6 meals a day. Yes, I finally went to a nutritionist (after 2.5 years of doing it myself) to seek this advice.<br />
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I know what you're thinking 1100 calories a day that's impossible to live off of that... it's not trust me, if you limit your diet to only the good foods, whole grains, lean proteins, and lots of veges you'd be amazed at the amount of food you can eat. I felt like I was force feeding myself at the end of the day...I just couldn't eat that much food.<br />
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I've practically perfected every type of egg white and vege omelet I could think of.<br />
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Try this out for a relatively quick, filling and delish breakfast:</div>
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(my portions are 4 egg whites and about 150g or more of the veges this number could be more or less for you)<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">egg whites</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />mushrooms</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />red and yellow peppers</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Mrs. Dash (salt free) grilling spice</span><br />
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saute the veges with a spritz or two of olive oil and the Mrs. Dash seasoning, then add to the eggs.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">PLAIN instant oatmeal.</span> (my portion recommendation is 2pks)<br />
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The oat meal can be cooked with water, or try Original Almond Breeze milk if you want some added creaminess and a little sugar 7g in a cup, or go with the Unsweetened version for NO added sugar, just a creamy texture for your oatmeal. Add a ton of cinnamon and enjoy!<br />
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I promise you will be FULL and you will be full for a LONG time!<br />
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After two weeks i lost 4lbs of body fat and increased my lean muscle mass. Two lbs a week of loss is healthy. Since then I've lost 6 total. I took a week off from being so strict but now I'm back on.<br />
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Here's an idea for a lunch you can cook completely in the microwave! Perfect for gals on the go, slackers like myself that hate taking the time to pack a lunch, or those of us stuck in the office.<br />
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This product has been a life saver for my diet:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRsVt-3JiMfQCbxQrDeWmF8fwj0oEV3mQWQ8_YYCaB5OUNsq-ac4BDHNuhxoJLQgLgqcfnxIJgIH2Gdi0sFR9XbpRDGOPvbrx__AZLfnsxoANmIOyDSJ_Kdfl7DWy0S8ZbnPdNTo09j5i/s1600/ZipnSteam_Medium.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524608353355127234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRsVt-3JiMfQCbxQrDeWmF8fwj0oEV3mQWQ8_YYCaB5OUNsq-ac4BDHNuhxoJLQgLgqcfnxIJgIH2Gdi0sFR9XbpRDGOPvbrx__AZLfnsxoANmIOyDSJ_Kdfl7DWy0S8ZbnPdNTo09j5i/s400/ZipnSteam_Medium.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 198px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 306px;" /></a><br />
No, I don't own stock in their company, and I'm not being paid to promote this product. They cook food quickly and the food is healthy!!<br />
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So here's my idea for a lunch:</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Buy individually wrapped frozen tilapia (white fish) fillets.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Add two slices of lemon and squeeze a little bit of juice to the bag</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Add salt free seasoning to taste, my recommendation: Mrs. Dash</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Frozen broccoli</span> (can be steamed in the bag, but you might want to use a separate one than the one you cook fish in to avoid a fishy taste)<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">1/2 sweet potato</span> (also can be cooked in a microwave, pierce with a fork several times - I haven't tried cooking these in the bag) sweet potatoes are naturally sweet <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_potato#Nutrition_and_health_benefits">but also rich</a> with complex carbs, dietary fiber, and Vitamins A, C and B6, add cinnamon for more delicious flavor...<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamon#Uses">cinnamon is also very high</a> in antioxidants!<br />
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You will have a complete meal with lean protein, veges and a carbohydrate in less than 10 minutes.... I'm all about quick and easy. (Ash if you're reading this DON'T even go there! Hooka! ;))<br />
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So yea that about sums up my life since my last post... I'm still here, I'm still running, still going to bootcamp, still playing soccer and still focused on my diet. <br />
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Once race day gets here though I will be SO happy to have my Saturday mornings back...AND once I lose that 100lbs I think I'll crack open an expensive bottle of wine and go to the Indian buffet... maybe not in that order but I can't WAIT! Then I need to refocus and lose another 5lbs because I know I'll gain it back through the holidays because I will enjoy a few cookies and slices of pumpkin pie, then I need to lose that after the holidays. It's a life time commitment, but SO worth it especially when you see that little dress in a shop window and you go to try it on and it looks FAB-U-LOUS on you... or when you reach a new running goal/weight loss goal and you have that extreme sense of accomplishment. It's worth it just to try for that feeling alone!<br />
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Ok, enough philosophizing from me...off to cook up my lunch! (Chicken, broccoli, carrots and a small portion of whole grain pasta! lean protein, veges and a whole grain!)<br />
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</div>Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-15799926118267581342010-09-13T13:50:00.005-04:002012-08-09T14:21:16.052-04:00More Running Adventures: Staying Hydrated and Sports Drinks MythsHello friends, sorry it's been so long since I've updated... I'm still scratching my head pondering where all my free time has gone since I came back from vacation...Aside from the running, bootcamp, soccer, miscellaneous real life things....<br />
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It's all kinda a blur of pretty really. But it started with seeing those pics and ended in a downward shame spiral of fan fiction...this is why I will never <a href="http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-is-why-ill-never-be-adult.html">be an adult</a>...I discovered that there are blogs that are only dedicated to reviewing and recommending new stories...this is HIGHLY dangerous. HIGHLY. Because I can all of a sudden have 5 or 6 stories lined up to read...bad news bears for the amount of time I spare for blogging.<br />
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But anyway, I'm still here... I'm still running, I'm still watching what I eat (when I don't have a wedding to attend that has an open bar with top shelf liquor...but then again my philosophy has never been to count alcohol yea yea... I know about the sugar, I know about the crashes, but I also know bad music at weddings are much more tolerable and easier to dance too with a few gin and tonics and long island ice teas in my system....I'm sure there have been studies done to prove this.)<br />
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That being said... my current diet (when not tossing back beve's at a family wedding) is consisting of no sugar, no salt no dairy for two weeks to get my metabolism running again. I'm eating lots of lean proteins, vegetables and very filling whole grains...but enough about that ON to the runs!<br />
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Since I've been back from vacation I've had three training runs:<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">First run was 10 miles of flat running. </span> I have never run this far before. I was concerned about a few things during this run. Obviously staying hydrated is my biggest concern. I had previously purchased a little hand-held bottle when I was training for the 7 mile relay last summer/fall...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg999ITVD6Y4khBfgfzruoeNEJFFTZ2tXjPLa7M9kPy9Elcoa0jv41jkD10JJ9iMQ4XlfcxU5Wf00ZsU8IbNLKNFJLX5rDPvj80q3rvcwJMOq0AALuf31k04iwTn3nxEo29fFsfMk95dZRf/s1600/nathan10_quickdrawelite.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516443545230002626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg999ITVD6Y4khBfgfzruoeNEJFFTZ2tXjPLa7M9kPy9Elcoa0jv41jkD10JJ9iMQ4XlfcxU5Wf00ZsU8IbNLKNFJLX5rDPvj80q3rvcwJMOq0AALuf31k04iwTn3nxEo29fFsfMk95dZRf/s320/nathan10_quickdrawelite.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 282px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>This is the <a href="http://www.nathansports.com/our-products/hydrationnutrition/handhelds/quickdraw-elite">Nathan Quickdraw Elite</a>. Nathan makes a whole line of different hydration products for runners. This particular bottle I recommend this for short runs or for walkers. For a longer run it's not going to hold enough water, and to me it was really annoying holding on to it for a run, I kept switching hands so again...not for the longer runs.<br />
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Obviously I needed something that was going to hold more water. Since I've been having problems with my hip I pretty much knew I shouldn't have gotten a belt system, but I decided to try one out anyway. I didn't want to fiddle with little bottles of water so I looked at camelbaks line up of products...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVvUbLO7P-lEzEzHgdZWgEoJkoLhWweNDYCTK4RhwyoFpGTzH4H3mUQRip1vJ4tr1JetmKOzlzWrO7KvSOF86bmIvpLpZc7OUry_ss3bK5vifs-hs7WMb4o7ogmlXNto5zM93Lz1vfftJ/s1600/rec-packs-montara-black-charcoal-s10-large-300.ashx.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516444931864412514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVvUbLO7P-lEzEzHgdZWgEoJkoLhWweNDYCTK4RhwyoFpGTzH4H3mUQRip1vJ4tr1JetmKOzlzWrO7KvSOF86bmIvpLpZc7OUry_ss3bK5vifs-hs7WMb4o7ogmlXNto5zM93Lz1vfftJ/s320/rec-packs-montara-black-charcoal-s10-large-300.ashx.jpeg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 254px;" /></a>This is the <a href="http://www.camelbak.com/sports-recreation/spring-summer-hydration-packs/2010-montara.aspx">Camelbak montara</a>. Camelbak specializes in hands-free hydration. Very convenient to just grab the hose and take a sip instead of trying to unhook and reattached a water bottle. This particular product though, I only recommend for dudes... because men, unlike us ladies and myself in particular, don't have hips or a shelf-ass. No matter how much I tried to tighten the straps once this was filled with water the water pouch kept smacking against my lower back. If I tightened the straps too much they dug into my hip bones. Unfortunately this had to go back.<br />
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So I ultimately ended up with this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eNN2Bdg-KL_mlB0p-o5xhNRJ42VtUFwNHVHfVmTGwWRVCE2MyAB0ss2l6UOw48jPM41I2V7bsSjt4xPRra9U3T3_Xsd9oJDplZSjeDdR5qUe1DJIaHfaTek4ysvcJpH04eeEey-84FhV/s1600/rec-packs-charm-racing-red-marshmallow-s10-large-72.ashx.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516446114663303682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eNN2Bdg-KL_mlB0p-o5xhNRJ42VtUFwNHVHfVmTGwWRVCE2MyAB0ss2l6UOw48jPM41I2V7bsSjt4xPRra9U3T3_Xsd9oJDplZSjeDdR5qUe1DJIaHfaTek4ysvcJpH04eeEey-84FhV/s320/rec-packs-charm-racing-red-marshmallow-s10-large-72.ashx.jpeg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 254px;" /></a><br />
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The <a href="http://www.camelbak.com/sports-recreation/spring-summer-hydration-packs/2010-charm.aspx">Camelbak Charm</a>. Isn't is so freakin cute? I didn't want an excessively large pack. This is slim and sleek and doesn't bounce all over the place if you wear it tight enough. Back packs are great because the weight is evenly distributed. The colors are bright which I like for when I'm running on roads. Have to make sure the cars see me! Safty first friends! It holds just enough water for a longer run (1.5liters), the only draw back is that I think I probably should have gone up one more size so that I can carry just a little bit more water especially if it's a hot day. Fortunately, we're heading into the fall so I might not need to think about that until next summer.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sports Drink Myth Buster!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">My other concern was my energy levels.</span> If I'm running 10 miles do I need sports drinks or an energy gel or shot blocks or whatever other latest greatest performance product there is on the market? My research and after speaking with a nutritionist has <span style="font-weight: bold;">all signs pointing to NO! </span><br />
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After a certain point in activity the body burns off more than just sweat...but for 90% of us hitting the gym for a 30 minute treadmill exercise or even up to an hour of exercise doesn't justify the need for sports drinks. They add extra calories and sugar that just aren't necessary...if you're eating healthy meals your body should pull enough energy from the calories and nutrients you consume during a regular meal to sustain you through your gym routine. However, if you're doing a strenuous work out (ie. more than an hour of strenuous activity - more than 10miles of running) then the body starts to deplete in electrolytes sodium and potassium.<br />
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So my advice ladies is to leave the Gatoraid, poweraid, sobelife water, vitamin water or whatever other sugar/chemical filled GARBAGE at home and just take a big bottle of water with you to the gym. If you do an exercise that only burns 150-200 calories and you add that back in a sports drink you're really not going to burn those excess calories. At one point in my life I did actually think that grabbing a sports drink was a healthy alternative to soda. Now that I know better I've only ever worked out with water in my sports bottle since I started my weight loss.<br />
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If you need to replenish your body with potassium try a natural alternative such as <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=&q=coconut+water&sourceid=navclient-ff&rlz=1B3GGLL_enUS381US381&ie=UTF-8&aq=2&oq=">coconut water</a>. I'm not going to recommend a brand, I only included a link to a google search so you can do a little reading...but coconut water is all natural and loaded with potassium. Banana's are another good source of potassium.<br />
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If you would like, please read this article in the <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/fitness/sns-health-fitness-sports-drinks-activity,1,1114607.story">Baltimore Sun</a>, this is the first article I stumbled across while reading the morning paper that made me want to delve a little more into the topic of sports drinks. (It's also interesting to note that <a href="http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,2007106,00.html">Vitamin Water is being sued</a> for misleading that their product actually healthy for you. Guess what it's sugar content makes it more like a soda than a "health" drink...and yup yup back in the day I did also think this product was a healthy alternative to soda.)<br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">Again dear readers... Just Drink Water!!!</span></div>
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Ok, back to the 10 mile run!!!</div>
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I was so so happy to reach the five mile marker and turn around. I finished in 1hr. 58mins. I wish I could have gone a little faster for but some strange reason my left hip did not like me on this run...or the two runs previous. I've worked past most of the pain with a few chiropractor visits, but It's still a little tight especially when I'm playing soccer...lots of stretching on the sidelines for me.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">2nd run we scaled back and did 7 miles of hills!</span> Hills. ugh...but surprisingly this wasn't so bad! I finished in 1hr 18mins. And even more surprisingly my hip did not bother me. It was a good run on a beautiful morning!! Ahhh... I love fall weather starting to set in!<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">My 3rd run was this past Saturday.</span> It was supposed to be 11 miles of hills... I crapped out after 9. Adding those two extra miles of hills in the middle of my run really did me in. I turned off my regular route onto a side street that was ridiculously steep for almost an entire mile straight!!!! Once again, I got a side stitch going down hill but once I hit flat ground I focused on deep breathing and taking my mind of the pain and was able to push past it. My time wasn't so great for the 9 miles, but I know I was also pacing myself more in anticipation of those really steep hills.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">P.S. So far I've raised $175 towards my $655 goal for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society!!</span> Thank you very much for your donations!!! </div>
</div>Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-58093631713149002042010-09-01T10:46:00.014-04:002010-09-01T21:42:09.339-04:00Help Me Raise Money to Fight Blood Cancers!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Help me raise money for the </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls">Leukemia & Lymphoma Society</a><br /></div><br /><br /><blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. LLS's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since the first funding in 1954, LLS has awarded more than $680 million in research funding.<br /></div></blockquote><br />Since I'm already signed up to run a race that isn't part of <a href="http://www.teamintraining.org/">Team in Training</a>, I decided to try and raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through their <a href="http://www.lightthenight.org/">Light the Night</a> event! Please donate any amount you can spare to this VERY important cause!!<br /><br />I want to try and raise $50 for every mile that I run. That's $655 and if a few more than 30 people donate about $20 each then I will reach my goal!<br /><br /><a href="http://pages.lightthenight.org/md/Baltimor10/LauraA"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://apps.lls.org/Apps360//swfobject.js"></script><br /><script type="text/javascript"> windowOnLoad = window.onload; window.onload = function(){ if(windowOnLoad){windowOnLoad()} swfobject.embedSWF("http://apps.lls.org/Apps360//genericWidget.swf", "etoolsFundraiserWidget", "184", "250", "9.0.0", "http://apps.lls.org/Apps360//expressInstall.swf", { programGroupName:"ltn", constituentID:"1608410515", eventID:"5333" } , {bgcolor:"#ffffff"},{});}</script><br /><div id="etoolsFundraiserWidget">< alt="View Donation Page" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><center><a href="http://pages.lightthenight.org/md/Baltimor10/LauraA"><img src="http://etools.lightthenight.org/mission360assets/default/fundraising/docs/LTN_Web_2C_lores.jpg" /></a></center><br /><br />If Flash image does not work please click the image to Donate! Or click <a href="http://pages.lightthenight.org/md/Baltimor10/LauraA">HERE</a>!<br /><br /><br />p.s. Training runs are still going awesome! Last week I did 10 miles in 1hr 57mins. This week we run 7 miles of hills!! I'm well on my way to being prepared to run the half marathon!Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-58762517960722616672010-08-07T08:55:00.008-04:002012-08-09T14:19:24.320-04:00Half Marathon Training: Run 4ish? ...FML Hills.I'm not quite sure what number I'm on for my training runs. Officially with the group I think this is week 4, but I've done a few short runs in between on my own. I missed last Saturday's run because I was out of town, so I missed our 7 mile run, but not to worry I'll be running 8 miles next week...oh the joy! Mind you it will be flat again, however this week was our first week of hill running and I knew it was going to kick my ass and it sure as hell did.<br />
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But even though I missed the 7 mile run last week, I did get to see this instead:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIAjBmbwfsEwT1aGnz2RDbp7HrQ4ShYXOshFaEQFSx09k_fpvFyOnwa09r63UJOiaCc-tsGsMunMQNZIA5qYcfheg0WHIiFjrwUMLnZPqkXHItbdvXvVcYIsKanpv7X4zrTVg-ANtELeR/s1600/shenandoah2-sm.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502663763367356658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIAjBmbwfsEwT1aGnz2RDbp7HrQ4ShYXOshFaEQFSx09k_fpvFyOnwa09r63UJOiaCc-tsGsMunMQNZIA5qYcfheg0WHIiFjrwUMLnZPqkXHItbdvXvVcYIsKanpv7X4zrTVg-ANtELeR/s400/shenandoah2-sm.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /></a>Shenandoah National Park</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaXardIVxXte1RRbwl4C3-LIAty4eejVGZzDS6vU5HoBYPNA7eW3GrDRPoxAv6SzL9QaR8pCySKQEkBePcpQNvDCIgT73CzO5HvOT0Qfdiu4qRGJ-MoltnWTqRzNI43x4t0FF-wIBrhgC/s1600/shenandoah3-sm.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502663935833241410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaXardIVxXte1RRbwl4C3-LIAty4eejVGZzDS6vU5HoBYPNA7eW3GrDRPoxAv6SzL9QaR8pCySKQEkBePcpQNvDCIgT73CzO5HvOT0Qfdiu4qRGJ-MoltnWTqRzNI43x4t0FF-wIBrhgC/s400/shenandoah3-sm.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 258px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>and then I went hiking and came across this on the trail... a field of ferns</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4emZvXtdZMC8WiKOUTA1_b0oBQQF6BGTPnpGC1c65tMk8dAquMzANM4rELTpAxCz0k_Q0hw1vsXMiUHLRIYEeE5arioLCxyGiQDKmfkAPp9bfTK9uv3Sf6teGEDuZF39YPDEBCSn9Ehxr/s1600/shenandoah-sm.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502664145022430146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4emZvXtdZMC8WiKOUTA1_b0oBQQF6BGTPnpGC1c65tMk8dAquMzANM4rELTpAxCz0k_Q0hw1vsXMiUHLRIYEeE5arioLCxyGiQDKmfkAPp9bfTK9uv3Sf6teGEDuZF39YPDEBCSn9Ehxr/s400/shenandoah-sm.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>and when we reached the top of the trail there were lots of neat looking rocks to climb around and a pretty stunning view.<br />
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But anyway, on to this weeks run...<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">The run:</span> A shaded country road that lots of runners and bikers flock to. It winds along our water reservoir and there are a lot of hills...big ones. It's closed to cars after 10 am on the weekends so even before that traffic is pretty light. We got out there at 7 am.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Distance:</span> according to this handy little website called <a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/">mapmyrun.com</a> the run was 5.12 miles minimum elevation was 164ft and max elevation of 423ft and an ascent of 354ft decent of -358ft... guess what I really don't know what all that means for my run....except that it was hard.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">My time:</span> 63 minutes... pathetic. Almost ten minutes longer than it takes me to run the same distance on flat ground.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Problemas?:</span> Yeah, I bit the dust on the way back running down hill...well not really but I got side stiches running DOWN hill... that's supposed to be the easy part the breeze to the end, and I got side stiches! ugh!<br />
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Anyway after the run I stretched a bit, drank lots o water and made breakfast. I think I have perfected the sunny side up egg... I've been eating a lot of eggs recently since I've been buying the free range ones from the farmers market they just taste better... I have also perfected the transfer of said eggs from the frying pan to my plate with out breaking the yolks... Don't mock me I am normally allergic to the kitchen and all things involving cooking so this takes concentration ;) ...Ta-Da!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1V44l0WAv98s4lAbQO-PLpVl-6UgCb0H_SBVklfM4thwVgtypIYuxK41T8I-tVJVq19xy7m97Gwo3OfGbTG_MO0YJBv6MDoZrkOd3RWoNtT8sUn1yT_ag2zAc36UINUHvMXjSJAHfLlLA/s1600/IMG00319-20100807-0847.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502667826927950658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1V44l0WAv98s4lAbQO-PLpVl-6UgCb0H_SBVklfM4thwVgtypIYuxK41T8I-tVJVq19xy7m97Gwo3OfGbTG_MO0YJBv6MDoZrkOd3RWoNtT8sUn1yT_ag2zAc36UINUHvMXjSJAHfLlLA/s400/IMG00319-20100807-0847.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Sorry if I have offended my vegan and vegetarian readers... I know there are at least 3-4 of you..but yea I gotta get that protein in there!<br />
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</div>Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-70420723374194321152010-07-17T18:59:00.008-04:002012-08-09T14:18:37.978-04:00Half Marathon Training: Run 1I have officially signed up for the Baltimore Half so that means on Oct. 16th my ass is running that 13.1 miles because I'm not wasting that entry fee!<br />
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This morning I set out for Day 1 of my half marathon training with my boot camp groups starting at 8am. Which means my alarm was going off at 6:50 in the morning on a Saturday. FTW.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHlhge8KqcZ1yuNkFul_py9DeY8iU922cRJyZgaMY-rfqw8qkVHfcRYH883AieJV64jNDW5GIPuSGHELrZHWORd53V0DjC2Iu9686ObuMe1PsrJxB4PjpA2qK27N5L1hXoYJS-fxGjaZk/s1600/evillalarmclock.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495019649651809474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHlhge8KqcZ1yuNkFul_py9DeY8iU922cRJyZgaMY-rfqw8qkVHfcRYH883AieJV64jNDW5GIPuSGHELrZHWORd53V0DjC2Iu9686ObuMe1PsrJxB4PjpA2qK27N5L1hXoYJS-fxGjaZk/s400/evillalarmclock.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 227px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 292px;" /></a><br />
We're starting out an hour earlier next week because of the heat so I better get used to it. I was armed with some new running shoes, arch hugging socks and some new shorts I couldn't resist buying....they were on sale and super light weight! (I'm not one of those runners that needs the newest gear even though I sound like it lol, my shoes were a year old and worn to crap, and it's hot as balls out hence needing light weight shorts...good shoes = good support and less chance of injury my friends :))<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5z41ChBm3jdUb5mcN8a-bCNouEPMgD3YzTTPkBISeGOdXpExo0g0rvg030R6jUmHoopTqZpZhndRhWaFMfa3TcUxAVmwHwrbq9N5KMGfyf2mkrBok4w0M_dyPJi9vnIDcZxymGEHyBev/s1600/IMG00287-20100717-0009.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495020093813700674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5z41ChBm3jdUb5mcN8a-bCNouEPMgD3YzTTPkBISeGOdXpExo0g0rvg030R6jUmHoopTqZpZhndRhWaFMfa3TcUxAVmwHwrbq9N5KMGfyf2mkrBok4w0M_dyPJi9vnIDcZxymGEHyBev/s400/IMG00287-20100717-0009.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 289px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 387px;" /></a><br />
I can't speak highly enough of my Brooks <a href="http://www.brooksrunning.com/product/1200681B/123211/Glycerin%208">running shoes</a>... they're like love for my foot. My last three pairs of shoes have been Brooks. No matter what other brands I try on these always work out best for me.<br />
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So anyway...<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">The run:</span> completely flat trail and it was shaded...soooo nice. The second I stepped off the trail into the sunny parking lot to stretch after the run... buckets of sweat, it was sweltering!<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Distance:</span> 5 miles, run/walk 4 mins/1min. I think we will be run/walking for the actual race because honesty I would probably keep the same time if I ran straight through.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">My time:</span> about 56 minutes which is an 11 minute mile. I kept pace with our leader and one other guy so I felt I did pretty well for our first run. Basically I was the first chick, but I backed off at one point because I heard one of the guys talking about how his kid vomited all over his back. Seriously why do all parents do this... making us non-parents suffer through their stories of their children's bodily fluids. I felt like I was going to puke on the side of the trail. fml. Shoot me if I ever become that kind of mom.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Problemas?:</span> Nope, felt great. Really glad I went out this morning. A little sore in the right hip still from when I pulled it several weeks ago playing soccer but LOOOOOOOTS of stretching afterward.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Motivational Songs:</span> I was kickin' it old school listening to an old mix on my ipod that had some of my favorite songs from highschool and college on it. This mornings songs on the way to the trail were:<br />
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Rebel Rebel - David Bowie<br />
Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve (there are rules for listening to this song in my car...I must have control of the volume at certain moments for maximum crescendo factor ;))<br />
Lucky Man - The Verve<br />
Words - Doves<br />
High and Dry - Radiohead<br />
Someone Great - LCD Soundsystem. (2006...just after college)<br />
1976 - Smashing Pumpkins (can't ever get over this song... ever.)<br />
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Good songs for a nice Saturday morning. Nothing fast paced or dancy for me this am. It was too early for that, and since I <a href="http://twilighter4fitness.blogspot.com/2009/12/death-of-ipod.html">killed my shuffle</a> I don't run with music...just the sounds of pounding feet.<br />
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p.s. Also... follow this blog! <a href="http://halfasstohalfmarathon.blogspot.com/">http://halfasstohalfmarathon.blogspot.com</a> fellow fans Fat Girl Slimmed and Muffintopped (LOVE those names) are also training for a half marathon!</div>
</div>Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-52062494436452418462010-07-13T09:38:00.011-04:002012-08-09T14:14:21.204-04:00Current Status: *Le Sigh* The World Cup comes to an end!I promise this is the last post where I mention the world cup...for 4 years...if I'm still blogging in 4 years lol :) My friend Ashley aka Shoewhore told me that her friend Em reads my blog and likes it (sweet! Thanks Em!), but she doesn't understand a damn thing about soccer... it's ok. I understand. The off sides rule is confusing, and the fact that the reffing in this world cup has been a little...well a lot ridiculous, I can understand why you can't get behind the game. It's cool, maybe we're not all meant to understand. But check out this awesome quote that my cousin's fiance sent me from his friend... maybe now you'll get it:<br />
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<blockquote>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">"Twilight's like soccer, they run around for 2 hours, nobody scores, and its billion fans insist you just don't understand"</span></div>
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LOL!<br />
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See you don't have to understand completely, just appreciate <strike>the fine muscled specimens</strike>...um I mean the athleticism of the game... ;).<br />
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on to the post!...<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Current Mood:</span> Sorta sad that there's no more good soccer on regular tv (I'm one of those freaks that doesn't have cable!) for the foreseeable future...come on 2014!!<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Current Weight:</span> 183 (26lbs of loss since I started the blog - 92lbs of total loss!) I lost 3 pounds last week! :) It amazing what happens when I get strict with my diet..and by strict I don't mean starvation or giving up foods I enjoy, I mean a balance of proteins, fibers and starches and portion control. I've set a new goal to lose 20lbs once I get there I'll re-asses and see how much more I need to lose/tone from that point.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Currently Thinking about:</span> My love/hate relationship with Spain! I hate them because they defeated Germany, I hate them because they played a boring 115 minutes of soccer against the brutal Dutch..who knew they had it in them ey??<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytWlYXXTwypN9nuI6TRChRlTq8ZzRgd-5sAKGgf3Y6WmfUDMD-fLKUZXYZbncoiyK9E6s5MoqiDWYlz7EejzyNS7rfYEDKeVjreOhjGrlpRXBDi_Pp91xA-0NNjyAbcZMZJdRmSMmR62_/s1600/article-1293916-0A67BDE7000005DC-888_634x706.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493403921068648674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytWlYXXTwypN9nuI6TRChRlTq8ZzRgd-5sAKGgf3Y6WmfUDMD-fLKUZXYZbncoiyK9E6s5MoqiDWYlz7EejzyNS7rfYEDKeVjreOhjGrlpRXBDi_Pp91xA-0NNjyAbcZMZJdRmSMmR62_/s400/article-1293916-0A67BDE7000005DC-888_634x706.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 359px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sing it! Everyone was Kung Fu fighting!! Those Kicks were fast as lightening! </span></div>
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But I love them because most of their line up is made of FC Barcelona players or soon to be Barca players...and I like Barcelona...you might as well say that Barca won the world cup.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Currently NOT Thinking about:</span> How I still hate Spain because Germany in my opinion was the more creative team, better at passing, and they scored way more goals through out the tournament...but that yellow card against Mueller, I really think that made a difference in their semi final game against Spain. Mueller ultimately won the golden boot (on more assists) yet he had to sit out that game, Germany could have used him. Spain controlled the ball, they controlled the game, and even though the German defense held them at bay for most of the game it only took one corner to make a difference and I counted at least 7 Spanish men on defense at one point. UGH! I'm not bitter...nope not me... not at all. ;)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZmRJ8zsklHhKfzEDHXPMV5IQOx_doMoQcdvPDZ5GJmZez2J7m3DXj9oVeqsI55KXcfiQFn11F36JG3bazD8MYERUkEzFOauHYxQHOfraq-8aBA0_NlQzkpbX1yse16ThlAiwFntMqUYO/s1600/article-0-0A3AA13D000005DC-679_468x379.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493405441230084050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZmRJ8zsklHhKfzEDHXPMV5IQOx_doMoQcdvPDZ5GJmZez2J7m3DXj9oVeqsI55KXcfiQFn11F36JG3bazD8MYERUkEzFOauHYxQHOfraq-8aBA0_NlQzkpbX1yse16ThlAiwFntMqUYO/s400/article-0-0A3AA13D000005DC-679_468x379.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 324px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Keep your eyes on the one on the left... #13 Thomas Mueller, winner of the Golden boot at only 20 years old... the one on the right though, back off ladies I claimed him in 2006 ;) lol It's a long term celeb-crush...christ, I'm turning into a <a href="http://www.kickette.com/">kickette</a>! anyway, #3 Arne Friedrich, German defender who also scored a goal against Argentina! :)</div>
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Also...just for the memories... I wanted to post this video:<br />
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<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jbn3rOPmR9w&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jbn3rOPmR9w&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object><br />
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So long world cup... see you in 4 years!<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Currently looking forward to:</span> Starting half marathon training on Saturday!! Oh did I tell you I've decided to run the Baltimore half...? I haven't signed up yet, guess I should jump on that.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">De jong Kung Fu fighting is from the <a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/07/11/article-1293916-0A67BDE7000005DC-888_634x706.jpg">dailymail</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;">pic of the German boys from the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2010/article-1293993/WORLD-CUP-2010-Germany-star-Thomas-Muller-admits-believe-Golden-Boot-success-South-Africa.html">dailymail</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-87974777311418476352010-07-07T21:41:00.012-04:002012-08-09T14:09:45.682-04:00How Important is Exercise??<br />
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So I've been reading a lot of articles lately about the importance (or lack there of) of exercise. It seems that some studies say exercise is very important, others say diet is more important. I think what all researchers agree though is that exercise is necessary but how much and how often is the question.<br />
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Remember it used to be suggested 30 minutes a day three times a week that was enough? Well clearly that did not help stop obesity rates from soaring. Now the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html">CDC</a> is suggesting the following for adults:<br />
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<b>Adults need at least:</b><br />
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<tr> <td><img alt="walking" height="40" hspace="5" src="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/images/icon_small_walking.gif" vspace="5" width="40" /></td> <td>2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) of <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html#Aerobic">moderate-intensity aerobic activity</a> (i.e., brisk walking) every week <b>and</b></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><img alt="weight training" height="40" hspace="5" src="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/images/icon_small_weights.gif" vspace="5" width="40" /></td> <td><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html#Musclestrengthening">muscle-strengthening activities</a> on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms). </td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center">
<img alt="OR" height="35" src="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/images/OR_bar.gif" width="370" /></div>
<table class="noborder"> <tbody>
<tr> <td><img alt="jogging" height="40" hspace="5" src="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/images/icon_small_running.gif" vspace="5" width="40" /></td> <td>1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) of <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html#Aerobic">vigorous-intensity aerobic activity</a> (i.e., jogging or running) every week <b>and</b></td> </tr>
<tr> <td><img alt="weight training" height="40" hspace="5" src="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/images/icon_small_weights.gif" vspace="5" width="40" /></td> <td><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html#Musclestrengthening">muscle-strengthening activities</a> on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms). </td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center">
<img alt="OR" height="35" src="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/images/OR_bar.gif" width="370" /></div>
<table class="noborder"><tbody>
<tr> <td width="90"><img alt="walking" height="40" src="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/images/icon_small_walking.gif" vspace="5" width="40" /> <img alt="jogging" height="40" src="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/images/icon_small_running.gif" vspace="5" width="40" /></td> <td>An equivalent mix of moderate- and vigorous-intensity <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html#Aerobic">aerobic activity</a> <b>and</b> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="center"><img alt="weight training" height="40" src="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/images/icon_small_weights.gif" vspace="5" width="40" /></td> <td><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html#Musclestrengthening">muscle-strengthening activities</a> on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms). </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</blockquote>
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<br />
<br />
For "greater" health benefits they suggest 500 minutes a week of exercise! So that number has increased greatly over the years...but lets face it America has a lot of excess calories to burn!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The how and why of weight loss is pretty simple burn more calories than you take in and you're going to lose. So exercise works hand in hand with diet:<br />
<blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The mathematics of weight loss is, in fact, quite simple, involving only subtraction. “Take in fewer calories than you burn, put yourself in negative energy balance, lose weight,” says Braun, who has been studying exercise and weight loss for years. (Source: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/magazine/18exercise-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1">New York Times</a>)</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But the same article says that women's bodies are prone to want to maintain fat stores! Because of... you guessed it, reproduction. Ugh it's always an uphill battle for us isn't it ladies...Essentially, when we exercise we want to eat more! And I know this is true I was just complaining about my appetite when i'm at my most active. In spring and fall when I'm working out 6 days a week playing lots of soccer I'm always hungry!! This must be why:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote>
A study that Braun oversaw and that was published last year by The American Journal of Physiology had a slightly different outcome. In it, 18 overweight men and women walked on treadmills in multiple sessions while either eating enough that day to replace the calories burned during exercise or not. Afterward, the men displayed little or no changes in their energy-regulating hormones or their appetites, much as in the other study. But the women uniformly had increased blood concentrations of acylated ghrelin and decreased concentrations of insulin after the sessions in which they had eaten less than they had burned. Their bodies were directing them to replace the lost calories. In physiological terms, the results “are consistent with the paradigm that mechanisms to maintain body fat are more effective in women,” Braun and his colleagues wrote. In practical terms, the results are scientific proof that life is unfair. Female bodies, inspired almost certainly “by a biological need to maintain energy stores for reproduction,” Braun says, fight hard to hold on to every ounce of fat. Exercise for many women (and for some men) increases the desire to eat. </blockquote>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
But this doesn't mean you should throw your hands up in the air and say it's impossible for you to lose weight because your body wants you to be curvy with a little too much junk in the trunk. Just because things are the way they are doesn't mean it's the way they have to be! It will take work but Exercise is STILL incredibly beneficial...it's proven that exercise helps keep the pounds off!<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
In one representative experiment from last year, 97 healthy, slightly overweight women were put on an 800-calorie <a class="meta-classifier" href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/specialtopic/food-guide-pyramid/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="In-depth reference and news articles about Diet and Nutrition.">diet</a> until they lost an average of about 27 pounds each. Some of the women were then assigned to a walking program, some were put on a weight-training regimen and others were assigned no exercise; all returned to their old eating habits. Those who stuck with either of the exercise programs regained less weight than those who didn’t exercise and, even more striking, did not regain weight around their middles. The women who didn’t exercise regained their weight and preferentially packed on these new pounds around their abdomens. It’s well known that abdominal fat is particularly unhealthful, contributing significantly to metabolic disruptions and heart disease.<br />
<br />
Scientists are “not really sure yet” just how and why exercise is so important in maintaining weight loss in people, Braun says.</blockquote>
<br />
I hope you're not scratching your head saying well great I have to lose the pounds first before I start working out to maintain the loss.... Not true! You should start a routine as soon as possible... this Harvard study shows that at a molecular level people who exercise show more metabolic evidence that their bodies are burning fat... so essentially if you think dieting alone will help you lose weight think again!<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
These findings suggest that exercise has both “acute and cumulative” effects on your body’s ability to use and burn fat, says Gregory Lewis, a cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and an author of the study. After only 10 minutes of exercise, even the least fit showed evidence that their bodies were burning fat; the more fit, the more metabolic evidence of fat burning.<br />
The researchers then took a number of the metabolites that had been elevated by exercise and infused them into mouse muscle cells in a laboratory dish. Almost immediately, the metabolites, in combination (but not individually) ignited a reaction that resulted in increased expression of a gene involved in cholesterol and blood-sugar regulation. In other words, the metabolites weren’t just marking activity that was happening elsewhere in the body; they also may have been sparking some of that activity directly. (Source: <a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/16/phys-ed-a-workout-for-your-bloodstream/">New York Times</a>)</blockquote>
If for no other reason exercise because it makes you feel better!! I guarantee you this is true!! I always feel better about myself after I exercise. If there is a time where I'm feeling down, where I'm doubting myself and starting to feel fat and lazy exercise yanks me right out of that mind set. I always say I NEVER regret exercising...EVER! How many of us can say the same about eating a few cookies??<br />
<br />
How Exercise Combats Anxiety and Depression from the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression-and-exercise/MH00043">MayoClinic</a>:<br />
<blockquote>
Exercise probably helps ease depression in a number of ways, which may include: <br />
<ul>
<li><b>Releasing feel-good brain chemicals</b> that may ease depression (neurotransmitters and endorphins)</li>
<li><b>Reducing immune system chemicals</b> that can worsen depression</li>
<li><b>Increasing body temperature,</b> which may have calming effects</li>
</ul>
Exercise has many psychological and emotional benefits too. It can help you: <br />
<ul>
<li><b>Gain confidence.</b> Meeting exercise goals or challenges, even small ones, can boost your self-confidence. Getting in shape can also make you feel better about your appearance.</li>
<li><b>Take your mind off worries.</b> Exercise is a distraction that can get you away from the cycle of negative thoughts that feed anxiety and depression.</li>
<li><b>Get more social interaction.</b> Exercise may give you the chance to meet or socialize with others. Just exchanging a friendly smile or greeting as you walk around your neighborhood can help your mood.</li>
<li><b>Cope in a healthy way.</b> Doing something positive to manage anxiety or depression is a healthy coping strategy. Trying to feel better by drinking alcohol, dwelling on how badly you feel, or hoping anxiety or depression will go away on their own can lead to worsening symptoms.</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Want to read more?? Check out these articles:</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/16/phys-ed-a-workout-for-your-bloodstream/"><br />A Work Out for Your Blood Stream</a> - New York Times<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/magazine/18exercise-t.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1">Weighing the Evidence on Exercise</a> - New York Times<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression-and-exercise/MH00043">Depression and Anxiety: Exercise Eases Symptoms</a> - Mayo Clinic Online<br />
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p.s. The world cup is now winding down. I was pouting and throwing a fit like a two year old when my German Boys lost today...they worked so hard and played so well for so long!! But such is the luck of the game it only take one goal to make a difference...and seven Spanish players playing defense. *grumbles* Now I'm going to go pout again. I'm muttering this under my breath right now:<br />
<br />
Stupid Spanish team,Stupid La Liga players...even though I love you FCBarcelona and Charles Puyol I'm a fan of the German team and they deserved to win they proved to have better defense with less men playing back but that fucking undeserved yellow card on Muller made a big difference and I want to see Klose beat the record for most career goals in the world cup...Stupid Spanish!<br />
<br />
*end grumble*<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br /></div>Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-90832220977081078062010-06-26T11:25:00.002-04:002012-08-09T14:05:24.977-04:00¡¡¡¡Gooooooooooooolllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!Just watch this...listen to the announcers voice! You don't need to understand the language but you'll understand the emotion...<br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/__vpoPMOKfg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/__vpoPMOKfg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br />
<br />
I watched that video, and this one with the <a href="http://deadspin.com/5572603/now-heres-andres-cantor-calling-landon-donovans-gooooooooool">actual video</a> like ten times (couldn't find a good quality of the video with this dubbed on youtube)... Every time I watch it I get chills. It's still unreal to me! When it happened, JE ran out of her office wondering if they could take it away from us... my live stream was a little behind hers so when it caught up and I got to see the goal happen and I jumped up and said there's NO WAY they can take that one away from us!!! I swear this team gives me little heart attacks every time I watch them play!<br />
<br />
I'm wishing my fighting boys in blue good luck today! I'll be watching from a local bar... finally not stuck depending on univision's live stream in the office! I have my little USA flags ready!<br />
<br />
Even RPattz is fired up by the U-S and A!<br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qDYVKoceggk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qDYVKoceggk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br />
<br /><br />
Germany face Rob's Three Lions tomorrow at 10am est on ESPN...but sorry Robert, as much as I love your pretty face, I'm supporting Die Mannschaft!!Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573775681707836240.post-3810851972174814262010-06-21T10:03:00.008-04:002012-08-09T14:05:05.353-04:00Current Status: My Big Speech is Tonight!here is yet another segment on this blog where I rant/ramble...especially about the world cup :):<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Current Mood:</span> Excited, but nervous!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Current Weight:</span> 186... 23lbs of loss since I started the blog!!! (89lbs of total loss!!! BMI is down again as well!) I didn't meet my goal so I'm giving up sweets for 30 days. UPDATE: I had my measurements taken last night, even though the scale didn't go down much I lost 1/2" in my arms, 1" in my chest, 2 3/4" in my waist, 2" in my hips, 1" in my thigh so i'm still probably building lots of muscle!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Currently Thinking about:</span> My speech tonight, and how I'm kinda sorta, but not really prepared. I have a power point and an outline but I haven't really practiced the talking part, and my braces make me have a tendency to slur a little when I talk so I hope I don't sound like an ass!!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Currently NOT Thinking about:</span> My speech tonight because then I'll get all worked up and even more nervous then I am!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Currently looking online at:</span> FIFA.com! World cup baby! Have you been following?? It's been really unpredictable! I mean, my German boys lost Serbia!!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJf72OTLEyg33K-CP38iU8p3CONFcPkULpdQ-apO98NFFDQAaidItcqXfDzhMT4rrhhwcDd1MDFO1Bx9I3UL6AMvmGlkQJZA6NtVZfes6DuSjF4jxt_KOBOxkhPqKEamLWxR_87a9I4qR5/s1600/mim_friedrich_kopf__213990b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485231298386203218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJf72OTLEyg33K-CP38iU8p3CONFcPkULpdQ-apO98NFFDQAaidItcqXfDzhMT4rrhhwcDd1MDFO1Bx9I3UL6AMvmGlkQJZA6NtVZfes6DuSjF4jxt_KOBOxkhPqKEamLWxR_87a9I4qR5/s400/mim_friedrich_kopf__213990b.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's ok Arne, I still think you have mad Defensive skills...<br />
(He may or may not have something to do with my love of the Germans...<br />
but I swear it's only like less than 10%...90% is their playing style, and the other little bit is how awesome it is to say <i>Schweinsteiger</i>'s name with an obnoxious German accent lol)</div>
<br />
Any-who... back to the news... Spain lost to the Swiss...Argentina giving solid performances, but not much out of my favorite Messi yet... Portugal destroyed North Korea 7-0, Brazil tops Ivory Coast 3-1, France loses to Mexico 0-2, England ties with Algeria leaving them tied for points with us, but behind in actual goals scored! Honestly I was expecting better performances out of them... and Italy proves to be, meh.<br />
<br />
The most insane of the groups has been our group...Group C. It's wide open for anyone to advance. And my USA Men have rallied big time and played probably the most exciting game of the tournament so far against Slovenia. We fell behind in the first half but Donovan fired back in the 2nd half keeping hope alive.... <a href="http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/highlights/video/video=1249730/index.html">You can watch the highlights here</a>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPf-WJKAYOk710kT7ILEPngycDEQgq-zMIUKNjXY1ypGTJe5fqBL9V5fXRj-J_yKc9UBCNlaggnoH7egzeEgquWiMKpw-usHeyiD4F0cKHZpc_aTztlLKyz6TtzueMOXhhQ1FHJAIxtmb/s1600/article-1287710-0A19582E000005DC-64_468x420.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485239233319476770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPf-WJKAYOk710kT7ILEPngycDEQgq-zMIUKNjXY1ypGTJe5fqBL9V5fXRj-J_yKc9UBCNlaggnoH7egzeEgquWiMKpw-usHeyiD4F0cKHZpc_aTztlLKyz6TtzueMOXhhQ1FHJAIxtmb/s400/article-1287710-0A19582E000005DC-64_468x420.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 359px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Michael Bradley's 82nd-minute equaliser!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Note: These highlights don't show the goal Edu scored in the 86th minute giving us a 3-2 lead but then taken away by and extremely controversial call by the ref. They claim a US player committed a foul...however, I don't think anyone knows what the foul was, or exactly which player committed it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bmABBvkOhyphenhyphenucLx7_0iPlVCLRgjzBI1l69Qn7q-9Z8DO1dg86hPxqIvB_83WwPkuarJLBEbIkXF6DjDm-7vD1Gd6yxl0sKfKl6qWtTAhM_eaYF8nE99PChNb2zitCxqZ2RjLqV3426wfa/s1600/article-1287710-0A1A29ED000005DC-991_468x311.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485244369071613314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bmABBvkOhyphenhyphenucLx7_0iPlVCLRgjzBI1l69Qn7q-9Z8DO1dg86hPxqIvB_83WwPkuarJLBEbIkXF6DjDm-7vD1Gd6yxl0sKfKl6qWtTAhM_eaYF8nE99PChNb2zitCxqZ2RjLqV3426wfa/s400/article-1287710-0A1A29ED000005DC-991_468x311.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>(read the article in the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2010/article-1287710/WORLD-CUP-2010-Slovenia-2-USA-2-Landon-Donovan-Michael-Bradley-make-point-America-fight-back.html?ito=feeds-newsxml">daily mail</a>)</div>
<br />
Two words FIFA: Instant Replay. At the very least challenges should be allowed on some goals. I know you don't like stopping the clock...so review the challenges at the half or at the end of the game. You can't rely on the refs eyes alone sometimes when the game moves so fast. Look what happened to Ireland v. France. With some handy magic from Henry, France is allowed in the world cup, but putting up a piss poor performance so far. I'm sure the Irish would have fought harder. Poor judgment cost us 2 points. We absolutely have to beat Algeria to advance now.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Currently looking forward to:</span> More world cup games!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Currently listening to:</span> US Soccer press conference<br />
<br />
<script src="http://player.ooyala.com/player.js?deepLinkEmbedCode=94MWxoMTrDbO7RteDasOG311qUghvc7x&autoplay=0&embedCode=AyM2xoMTqX994IhhPXgP6t1pA2lBYGtc"></script><br />
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</div>Team Six Packhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08378545885127403088noreply@blogger.com3