Saturday, February 28, 2009

Running Clubs

I ran this morning with a running club from Wellesley. My friend from HS runs with them so I decided to join her. It was honestly amazing. Running with people makes the run so much better. We did 7.5 miles as a group and Nancy and I added on another 3 so we did about 10ish. It was so nice to be outside and get the run over with so early. We met at 7:15AM!!! They also run at 5:45AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays and I think I might join them. Nancy was trying to convince me to run a marathon. I'm leaning towards the idea. I ran 10+ today and felt great so what another 16 miles (haha totally kidding). But, I really think it might be nice to accomplish a marathon. I'm going to think about it.


Date2 /28/2009
RouteNatick-Wellesley
Distance10.50 mi
Time1:35:00
Pace0:09:02/mile



Yesterday was a crazy busy day at work. I woke up late again, and didn't work out yestrday. I actually didn't even eat lunch until 3pm! I had a small sub from Al's Sandwich Shop- Turkey, Cheese, Mustard, Lettace, Tomato and Pickles. It hit the spot- yum! I took the train home and met Dave and Courtney at La Cantina. It was delicious!! We spilt Calamari, Salad and Bread then I ordered Spinach Lasagna and a side of Butternut Squash. I know, random huh? But for some reason, I was craving squash!!! Dave had the Lobster Ravoli and it had Lobster chunks both in the ravoili and in the sauce. Amazing!

I got home and fell right asleep in preparation for waking up at 6AM for the run today! After the run, I went to the grocery store and bought tons of healthy options for the week. I'm excited to have a stocked fridge again. I just had the leftovers for lunch and I'm about to start cleaning the house. Dave and I are going to dinner at an amazing seafood restuarant with his parents tonight and then to a friends house. I'm excited! Tomorrow, my brother and I are going to the USA Track and Field Nationals at Reggie Lewis Center. I honestly can't wait. Here's what the groceries looked like.



Thursday, February 26, 2009

Sleepy Days

Ever have one of those days where you just feel off? I had a doctor's appointment this morning at 8:30 in Natick which meant I could a) sleep in or b) go to Natick gym before heading over the doctor. I set the alarm for b. But didn't wake up until 7:15! Oops. I decided to wear my running clothes and run after the doctors and technically take an early lunch. I got to the gym by 9:45 and ran 2 miles. I just wasn't feeling it. From the moment I woke up, I just felt out of it. My stomach hurt the whole time and I just wasn't in the mood. Instead of beating myself up about it too much, I just got off the treadmill and got ready for work. I stopped at Cosi and picked up a Signature Light Salad with Feta instead of Blue Cheese (gross!) I got into work, and immediately got a new project and have been working on it all afternoon and haven't had much time for breaks. I just finished the rest of my salad since I ate the first half at 11:15AM!

I had a busy night last night in preparation for David to come home! I made Chicken Piccata and Steamed Peas as well as Granola Bars for Dessert and morning snacks. I also took out the trash, organized the recyling, did the laundry and still got into bed by 9:30. Talked to Dave briefly at 935pm and then he told me he would call back by 10. I was half asleep when he did. Its amazing how quickly the tired feeling "just hits." Maybe its my bed and the fact that the Bob-A-Pedic (I hate Bob's but this bed is the best bed in the world!!!) I swear its the reason I have absolutely no problem sleeping EVER! Here is my recipe for Chicken Piccata:

I used three Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast and cut them in half to make them thinner. I then drenched them in flour in put them in the pan with some "I Can't Believe its not butter" and Lemon Juice and some Chicken Broth. I cooked the chicken in batches until it was all cooked through. Oh and obviously I seasoned it with lots of Salt & Pepper. I also steamed some peas. Here's what the dish looks like:




Then, I decided to make Energy/Granola Mix/Bars. Here's the recipe from All Whites:


Chewy Fruit & Flax Granola Bars
Loaded with nutrition from whole grains, flax, and dried fruit, the good-for-you granola bars in this recipe bake up to a chewy perfection in your oven.
Preparation: 10 minutes
Baking: 16 minutes
Time-To-Table: 26 minutes
Serves: 36
Ingredients:
  • 4 cups old fashioned oatmeal
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup chopped dates
  • 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/4 cup whole flax seeds*
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup AllWhites®, 100% liquid egg whites**



Instructions:
    1. Heat oven to 325°F. Grease or spray 15x10x1-inch or 16x12x1-inch baking pan. In large bowl, stir together oatmeal, whole wheat flour, cranberries, dates, brown sugar, almonds, flax seeds, baking soda and salt. Stir in honey, canola oil and AllWhites® until dry mixture is completely moist and coated. 2. Firmly press mixture into prepared baking pan using a rubber spatula or palm of your hand. (Mixture will be sticky; use a light dusting of flour on your hand if needed). Bake 14 to 16 minutes or until bars are a light golden brown. Cool completely. 3. Cut into 36 (6 crosswise x 6 lengthwise). For on-the-go bars, wrap individual bar tightly with plastic wrap. Store bars in an airtight container. *Tip: Whole flax seeds can be purchased in the baking aisle or organic/health section of your grocery store. For added health benefits, the flax seeds can be ground. **Tip: If desired substitute 1/4 cup Better'n Eggs
Nutrition Facts:
Serving Size:
1 bar (1/36th) of recipe

Calories:
125
% Daily
Value*

Total Fat
4 (g)
6%



Sat Fat
1 (g)
2%



Trans Fat
0 (g)


Cholesterol
0 (mg)


Sodium
73 (mg)
3%

Total
Carbohydrate
22 (g)
7%



Dietary Fiber
2 (g)
9%



Sugar
12 (g)


Protein
2 (g)
5%

Calcium
17 (mg)
2%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Dietary Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1 carbohydrate, 1 fat


Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Sore Running

So, yet again I set my alarm for 5am and couldn't get myself up for the gym. Its becoming such a struggle- either its easy or its impossible and there's no in between. But, that doesn't stop me from packing a bag the night before and setting my alarm anyway. Hey, at least I try! I'm a little sore from the race on Sunday and the Boot Camp class I did yesterday. But, I'm gearing up for my run right now during my lunch break. I run better in the middle of the day anyway. I'm hoping to do 6 in 50ish minutes. Hopefully, I will feel good. I brought my new Nike spandex so that will motivate me. I wonder if I'm the only one who has better workouts when I like my workout outfit- is that normal? Probably not. I haven't eaten much today and I'm getting hungry. So far, I've had a quarter cup of coffee mixed with Soy Vanilla Chai.



So good and highly recommend it. I then had Oatmeal- my dreaded morning breakfast. I would much rather have a bagel but that's how I put on the pounds to begin with! I used to be a full-on "bagel biter"- I would eat them all the time. But now, I've been eating oatmeal and Fiber One bars for a mid-morning snack. I really need to incorporate more fruit into my diet. Thats my on-going struggle! Okay, off for my run! I'll let you know how it goes on the treadmill!

Just got back. It went pretty well. I ran 6 miles in 51:45. I started at 6.8 mph and went all the way up to 9.0 for the final 1/4 mile. Felt good, but not great. Watched a little Sportcenter, SportsDesk, E! News and the regular News. Watched a Tyra but her show was about obesity and it made me nauseous while running.


Date2 /25/2009
RouteTreadmill
Distance6.00 mi
Time51:45
Pace08:37/mile



After the gym, I ate my lunch and I was starving. I cooked grilled Chicken last night and diced it up and put it on my salad with Fat Free Feta Cheese and Rasberry Dressing. I also had a Joseph's Pita. I highly recommend this brand, tons of fiber and taste so good!!


That's it for now. Sometime this afternoon, I will eat my fruit cup.


And on my way home, I'll snack on trail mix. Because as Dave and my mom say, between the hours of 6:15pm and 7pm, I am evil because I'm so hungry. My mom recommended keeping food in my purse. Its definitely helped!







Dave is out of town on business until tomorrow so I'm cooking for myself tonight. I'm going to make a lot of chicken so I dont have to cook tomorrow night. This is a method I learned from one of my favorite Celebrity Chefs on the Food Network- Robin Miller. She always recommends cooking a lot of protein at a time so you can use it for another meal later in the week. I'm going to use one of these recipes I read about in my latest Women's Health magazine:


http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/low-fat-recipes

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Eat, Sleep, Run


Lately, I've found that there are two things I really, truly enjoy in life: Running and Cooking. Okay three, obviously the other is Sleeping!!! But running and cooking keep me sane, challenge me personally and make me a better person. I'm first going to talk about my love of running. It started back in the winter of '96 when I joined the Natick High Indoor Track Team. I had no idea the profound impact running would have on my life- but it would forever change it. Running and competitive track taught me so much about life- and I am truly grateful for my high school and college track and running experiences....

On that note, since graduating college and no longer having a coach, I've started pushing myself by doing road races. Only problem is that I hate running by myself. So when it's too cold to run outside, I've been running on the treadmill and I think I may be the only person in the world who actually really enjoys the treadmill. (Well, most of the time) Obviously, there is something to be said about running outside and enjoying the fresh air, but sometimes its nice to get in the distance you need to do while watching your favorite TV show or reading a gossip magazine. (Oh yes, I've learned the art of reading while running- even at 8:30min/mile pace!)

On Sunday, I ran the Hyannis Marathon relay with three other teammates. It was a really great race. Cold and icky but really beautiful. I listened to music for only the second time during a race- it got me motivated but I never really knew if I was on pace or off pace until like the 6th mile. I ended up running about 8:20 min/miles which I was pretty happy with. It just makes me love running even more when you finish a race and makes me excited about the next one. Today, I looked into joining a Running Club. It seems I lack the speed I need to run faster races and that's mainly because I don't do any speed training. (Unless you count, sprinting the last quarter mile of every run?) I think having teammates and someone pushing me could be just what I need. Here's a picture before the race of our Relay Team!



My other favorite thing is cooking. This past weekend, I cooked like the Italian girl I have now become- making Spicy Spaghetti and Home-made meatballs- Dave's favorite meal. Now Italian food is VERY far from my favorite thing to cook but before long runs, you can't beat it. Here's my recipe:

Fake Homemade Tomato Sauce:
Bottle of Spicy Red Pepper Classico Tomato Sauce- with more time, I make my own, but Classico is great!
Can of Diced Tomatoes with Jalepenos
Oregano
Italian Seasoning

Meatballs:
1 LB- 93% Lean Ground Turkey
2 Tablespoons of Minced Garlic
1/2 Small Onion- Diced
1 Cup of Diced Parsely
2 Egg Whites
1 Cup of Bread Crumbs
1/4 Cup of Grated Parm Cheese
1 Grated Carrot
Half Handful of Italian Seasoning
Half of a half Handful of Garlic Salt

Roll the Meatballs with your hands and form 10 balls. Put them on a baking sheet and Broil them on high for 15 to 20 min. Cook the Spaghetti while you bake the meatballs. Simmer the Sauce at the same time. After 20 min in the over, place the balls in your sauce and let cook together for another ten. Then plate and enjoy!

Speaking of Comfort Food, on Friday night, I made Macaroni N Cheese- a little healthier version.

First, I boiled water and put the corkscrew pasta in with some salt. Then in sauce pan, I combined "I Can't Believe it's not Butter" with Flour. Then I added 1% Milk (About a cup and a half), Chicken Broth, a Touch of Cream, a Dash of Hot Sauce- secret ingredient, Mustard Powder and a Tablespoon of Dijon Mustard with about a Cup of Soy Mozzarella Cheese and 1/4 Cup of Parmesan Cheese. Make Figure Eights with a Wooden Spoon until all the Cheese is melted and you have a nice cheese sauce. I also put in the rest of my baby spinach leaves and cut little pieces of Chicken and the rest of my turkey sausage I had cooked the night before. When the pasta finishes, combine it with the cheese sauce and i
f the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little bit of your pasta cooking water. Absolutely delicious and so much healthier!

For Valentine's Day- Dave said he would cook me dinner (which didn't end up happening). We were supposed to get Steamed Lobster but unfortunately, we had a lazy day and didn't get to the grocery store until 5PM. And guess what? No Lobsters left. I improvised at the store. I decided to get Jumbo Shrimps and Seafood Stuffing as well as Fillet Mignon. For the First Course, I made Crab Bisque and it was my favorite dish of the entire meal (recipe to follow!). I also sauteed Asparagus and made Mashed Potatoes.

First thing I did was get a large Soup Pot out on Med Heat. I Chopped an Onion, Three Carrots, Three Celery Stalks and threw it in the pot with a tablespoon of olive oil. Next, I got out the Grill Pan and got it nice and hot for my Shrimp and Steak. (If you don't have a grill pan, you should invest in one- they are amazing for the winter time when you can't grill outside!) After ten minutes, I added a quart of Seafood Stock to the Vegetables. Back on the grill, I added the Steak and Shrimp. I let the shrimps cook for about three minutes on each side and then I took them off the grill and put it on a baking sheet. I cooked the Steak for five minutes on each side then also put the steaks on the baking sheet to finish cooking in the oven. I covered the Baking Sheet with Tin Foil to remain hot and turned the oven on to 375 degrees. Then, I put the Asparagus in a pan with Olive Oil and Lemon Juice and let it saute. I also got some water boiled for the potatoes and then threw the peeled Red Potatoes in the pot. In the soup pot, I added the two tablespoons of Seafood Stuffing, a Cup of Light Cream, about two rustic potatoes (skin removed) and lots of salt and pepper. I let that hang out for ten minutes and then I used my Immersion Blender (another amazing kitchen tool!) and blended the soup together. I added a pound of Lump Crab Meat and I let the soup simmer. Then, I took out the rest of the Seafood Stuffing and Stuffed the Jumbo Shrimp. I squeezed fresh lemon juice over the shrimp and baked it with the Fillet for another ten minutes. In that ten minutes, I took the Asparagus off the heat and plated it and I drained the potatoes and put them back in the pot, added a little light cream, fat free mozzarella cheese, chives, S & P and mashed the potatoes until they were smooth. This is my favorite thing to do, I don't really even like mashed potatoes, but I do love mashing them! Then I took the Shrimp and Steak out of the oven and off we went into the Dining Room for our romantic dinner! See below!






Sunday, February 1, 2009

About Me

Random Facts about me, Lizzy!
• I work as an editor at an Advertising Agency. Which means I edit commercials. And client videos. And agency videos. It's fun!
• I work in Boston and live in the suburbs in my dream house (a colonial on a cul-de-sac).
• I married my favorite sugar plum and best friend on July 26, 2008 on a gorgeous summer day. It rained all week leading up to my wedding but the sun came out on my special day!
• Every time I saw 11 11 or I had an eyelash, I'd make the same wish for the entire year of my engagement:
please don't rain on my wedding day. It WORKED!
• I call three people everyday: Dave, my brother and Courtney. In that order.
• These three are also my best friends. I've known Courtney since we were 6 and I wouldn't be who I am without her in my life.
• My favorite things about my David are that he can handle me when I act a little loco, he eats whatever I make him, and he shares my passion for working out and work in general. I also love that he has this uncanny ability to make me laugh by just making fun of me when I'm mad. Once I see how I'm acting through someone else's eyes, I can't help but laugh and change my mood.
• My brother puts me in my place when I'm acting out of line, makes fun of me like no one else, but also encourages me to be the best version of myself I can be.
Other random facts:
• I hate heels and try to avoid wearing them at all costs. If I do have to wear them, I only put them on right before I have to.
• I hate drying my hair. I will do it on occasion but it just takes sooo long. I use the same hairdryer I've had since 5th grade- Conair one with the brush built in.
• All of my high school friends still use this dryer. It's pretty hysterical.
• On that note, I loved high school and I still keep in touch with many of my closest friends. I love when we all get together.
• I used to be a die-hard sports fan who knew everything about everything. I still know some random facts but I can barely keep my eyes open for an entire Red Sox or Celtics game anymore. I guess thats what happens when you get old. I still do watch at least a piece of Sportscenter everyday though.
• Cooking is my stress reliever. I love researching new recipes then trying them out with my own little twist each night for dinner. But I don't like help. I get home from work at 7pm and try to have dinner on the table by 7:30-7:45. I encourage Dave to relax while I cook because I like to surprise him with whats for dinner so he can ask, "what's in this..." "this is so good.." without already knowing. Don't worry though, he is the official "Dishwasher."
• I love working out and running. I ran track until my Junior Year of college. I specialized in the 4X400 and 4X800 relays. I loved being part of a team. In high school, my relay team went to Nationals.
My best events were the 200, 400, 600 and eventually the 800. I think the 600 will always be my favorite race. My senior year of High School, my team won States. This is amazing because my Freshman year of high school, our team was 1-7. (Glory days... I know)
(Photo credit here goes to my High School coach Mr. Driscoll who left a huge impact on my life).
• I've run several 5Ks, one 10K, one 15K and two half marathons. In 2010, I will train and COMPLETE at least one marathon. I've come a LONG way from a sprinter/middle distance runner.

That's it for now, but I'm sure I will add on to this list!