Success At Last

Okay this is harder than I thought it would be but not because I'm craving sugar or anything. It is just really hard to avoid it! I think today was a success but it also meant eating dinner after 10pm because I had to make my own tomato puree. Luckily I checked this out in advance when I was ordering my groceries earlier this week so I knew what was in store for me tonight. I had been putting this dinner off all week since I knew it would be time consuming but ultimately it was pretty tasty and now I have some leftover tomato puree for next time!

Day 4
Breakfast:
Oatmeal, half banana, homemade almond butter

Snack:
Key Lime Coconut Energy Bite

Lunch:
Cauliflower Rice Stirfry

Snack:
Key Lime Coconut Energy Bites
Baby Carrots
Almonds

Dinner:
Layered Ratatouille (with homemade tomato puree and homemade polenta - subbed Earth Balance for butter)

Exercise:
Crossfit

A girl cannot catch a break

Well this is proving to be much harder than expected! Today I decided to check the label on the balsamic vinegar I used for last night's dinner and guess what? It contains caramel, also known as sugar! I didn't let that stop me from eating the leftovers for lunch but boy, so far I'm 0 for 3 on achieving a diet (or as my BFF suggested calling it, "livet") free of added sugar. Good thing I'm only trying my best for my own health and not allergic or diabetic or anything. It's definitely going to be an educational experience discovering what seemingly innocent products contain added sugar. Ideally I would avoid processed food altogether but I already spend a decent amount of time researching recipes, purchasing groceries, and making meals. At this point I don't want to give up extracurriculars to devote more time to my "livet." And really, I don't consider balsamic vinegar on par with cookies or potato chips or other processed foods. Maybe I can find one that doesn't contain caramel, I'm not sure if that is a key ingredient or not.

Day 3
Breakfast:
oatmeal, homemade almond butter, half banana

Snack:
Baby carrots

Lunch:
Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Kale

Snack:

Key Lime Coconut Bite
Apple

Dinner:
Cauliflower Rice Stirfry

Exercise:

Bible study (exercising the brain!)

Bad News

I am sorry to tell you that I already cheated! It was totally by accident but completely my fault. See I typically purchase almond butter that contains only almonds however apparently I didn't read the label on my most recent purchase of MaraNatha almond butter and I noticed this morning that it contains added sugar!! I found this out after adding it to my oatmeal and my morning routine is way too tight to allow for finding a new breakfast so I ate it anyways. When I got home tonight I ground my own almond butter. It's super easy but not really any cheaper than buying it which is why I don't do it more often.

Day 2

Breakfast:

Oatmeal, almond butter, half banana

Snack:

Key Lime Coconut Energy Bite

Baby carrots

Lunch:

Spinach salad w/ olive oil and vinegar

Snack:
Key Lime Coconut Energy Bite
Apple
Almonds

Dinner:
Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Kale

Exercise:
Crossfit

Food for Thought

Well, it's been more than a year since my last blog post so I figured it was time to dust this thing off and give it another go. When the stars align and there is a perfect storm of the most impossibly favorable circumstances I can write a novel and not even realize it. The rest of the time I really hate writing. So if you are reading this, please don't expect much. I basically want to just keep track of recipes since I get asked from time to time.

Right now, today, May 12, 2014, I am starting a new challenge. There has been a lot of hype lately (or maybe I've just noticed it more) about how terrible sugar is. I am a terrible sugar addict and will forego dinner to save room for dessert if I know dessert is an option! However the facts are undeniable and that, coupled with my impending trip to Maui in exactly three months, has given me the final push to cut added sugar out of my diet. Okay wait, that sounds way too absolute. I am going to try my best to limit added sugar with the goal of having no added sugar in my diet. Better? Ya I think so.

Basically with all things diet related what I've found works best for me are two things:
1. No absolute black and white rules.
2. There must be a reason that does not involve appearance behind the diet change.

I also hate the word "diet" since it's usually used in the context of "I'm going on a diet" which is typically something temporary. When I use the word "diet" you can assume I mean it in the context of "my diet consists of mostly plant based food."

If you know me you know that the last statement is true. I do not eat meat (including fish, chicken, and any other animal) and I do my best to avoid dairy and eggs. That said even the not eating meat is not 100% (remember rule #1?) because even candy like Starburst contain gelatin which seems harmless enough until you read what it is. Yet I have still eaten a Starburst or two (or a package) since changing my diet to exclude meat. You'll notice I don't use the term "vegan" because I definitely can't claim that. When I eat out I assume at the very least my food is probably cooked in butter and sometimes eating out is a necessity, whether it is to celebrate a friend's birthday or just because I'm too lazy to cook.

Well would you look at that? I wrote way more than I was expecting! Well basically my point is I am going to try to document my journey with regard to added sugar. I am only referring to added sugar, I am not one to villainize sugar from fruit. I'm merely talking about processed sugar in all forms that I'm aware of like tapioca syrup, brown rice syrup, and of course high fructose corn syrup.

I may not post every day but I will try to at least keep track of recipes I find, especially really good ones! Oh and one more thing, I don't keep track of portions so I'm not going to bother listing how much of something I ate. This isn't really meant to be followed but more to offer ideas and hopefully get some suggestions for recipes to try.

Day 1

Breakfast:

Oatmeal, almond butter, half banana

Snack:

Baby carrots

Almonds

Lunch:

Yams cooked in olive oil, salt and pepper, ground sage

This was totally impromptu, I realized I didn't have anything planned for lunch but I had a chopped up yam sitting in the fridge. At first I was like "you can't eat just a yam for lunch, that's not a meal" but then I was like "hey, who says??" So I rolled the chopped pieces of yam in olive oil and the spices above and baked on a cookie sheet for about 20 minutes. It was totally filling!

Snack:
Key Lime Coconut Energy Bite

Apple

Dinner:
Green Powerhouse Pesto Plate

Exercise:
Crossfit, Yoga

The week before LA Marathon

Monday I started the day feeling kinda ill. I was worried it would develop into something worse and the timing was awful, but by lunchtime I was feeling much better. By the end of the day I felt 100%, just in time for Bar Method!

Tuesday I went down to Village Runner to get a form analysis done by a Newton rep. She gave me some tips on my form and let me try out a pair (third time now) for Village Runner's weekly fun run. I met some nice people but ultimately ran with Ed who has run 30 marathons and planned to run his 20th LA Marathon on Sunday. He told me about the four Rs: Relax, Rhythm, React, Resolve. I listened as he shared his wisdom and before I knew it we had run 5.5 miles at a sub-9:00 pace! I definitely felt like the Newtons helped me fly up the incline from the beach path to the street and finally felt ready to take the plunge and buy a $175 pair. Especially since the rep assured me that they last longer than regular shoes and don't wear down the same so can be worn for walking and running. I figured I'd keep an eye out for them at the marathon expo to see if they offer any deals.

Wednesday I joined iRunMB for their weekly fun run which was sponsored by New Balance. I didn't win a pair of shoes but I did win a towel and I got to see Monica who is one of their awesome reps who conducted a gait analysis at Fleet Feet Encino a while back and introduced me to some running concepts like posture, cadence, lean and and midfoot strike.

Thursday I took a rest day but Friday I got one last workout in at Bar Method and tried to take it easy so I wouldn't be sore on Sunday. That night I got to bed around 9:30 because I was so tired and figured I wouldn't get a full night's sleep the next day.

Saturday Andreia, Kasia, Lauren, and Mayra came over and we went to the expo for the LA Marathon. We got there just as they were running out of supplies so Mayra and Andreia didn't get any goodies in their goodie bags and a few minutes later they even ran out of bags and people were asking us where we got ours! There was also an issue with information on the bibs being printed incorrectly and we all had a good laugh with Kasia who was one of the victims.

After picking up our bibs and race shirts, we headed to the Asics shop to look for LA Marathon themed gear. I got a shirt that says "Los Angeles is for runners" and a running tank. Then we walked around the expo a bit and I stopped at the Newton booth to buy the shoes I tried on Tuesday. They were 15% off and I even got free socks!

After the expo we got lunch then went shopping for dinner. Kasia had to leave but the other girls were spending the night so we rented a couple movies and made an early dinner of pad thai, Blue Dog's Happy Cow salad, and a steak and potatoes dish (I didn't partake in that one). We watched The Perks of Being a Wallflower as we ate and then prepped our gear for the next day. Our goal was to be in bed by 9pm but it was about 10 by the time my head hit the pillow.

This week was amazing for donations! I got 16 donations from friends, family, and even Mike's coworkers (who I may have bribed with baked treats). It was a great last push and got me all the way to $2,960 as I went to bed Saturday night. Up next... LA MARATHON RECAP!!!

One last long run before LA Marathon!

Monday I went to Bar Method in the morning and was rewarded with a Hurley Nfinitank for participating in one of their contests! Later in the day I met up with Sarah to run/hike in Palos Verdes.

Tuesday I ended up working late so I took a rest day. Wednesday I went to Bar Method and halfway through class I started wondering if I accidentally signed up for Level 2 because the pace was really fast with less set up than usual! Turns out it was a regular class but the instructor even commented at the end that it was nearly a level 2 class! After class I met up with Mike at iRun MB for their weekly fun run. We did the 5k course and I tested out Newtons but neither of us won a pair in the raffle. Maybe I'll buy some after the marathon! They also had snacks and recovery drinks like water, Nuun, and beer!

Thursday I hit Bar Method for a third time this week! We had to do fold over with a mini mat which is like this:

But you take a small mat, fold it in half, and hold it in place behind your knee. Now this is already extremely difficult but now try it with pants that are a little slick! Sufficiently annoyed? Ya, me too. I kinda wish they did like Crossfit and posted the workout of the day so I would know if grippy pants were needed. It was still a good class though and I couldn't tell if I was still sore from Wednesday's class or Wednesday's run. Either way, it made class that much more challenging.

Friday I went to Bar Method for a fourth day this week! That's a new record for me! I also tried L today  which I haven't tried in about a year and last time I definitely wasn't ready. L is an option you take in Round Back where you hover your non-working leg (like Burr below) thereby making the exercise much harder.

It was sooooo hard but it felt great to at least get a few reps in before having to bend my leg again like the girl in the white tank above. I started thinking about how all the aches and pains I used to get during class have actually gone away. I have read many stories about people turning to Bar Method because they have back pain or knee pain and this alleviates it, but I never experienced any of that for myself until now. I think it's because prior to these last couple months I was only going once per week. Now that I'm going three times per week regularly I've definitely seen an improvement.

Saturday I met up with Barbara for 6 miles along San Vicente Blvd., which also happens to be the last few miles of the marathon course! It was pretty surreal to run along the greenbelt knowing that only a week later I'd be running the same route but in the street. After we finished up I ran another 2.5 miles before heading to the pier for yoga with Sandy and Wie. The forecast was pretty chilly but the weather turned out to be perfect!

In the evening I met up with my Ragnar team which is my next running endeavor after the marathon. We went over the basics for those who will be doing it for the first time but also just got to spend some quality time hanging out.

I got a few more donations this week and am up to $2,360. Still far off from my goal but I'm hoping a few more will come in the days before the marathon. If you are reading this and haven't had a chance to donate yet, please click HERE and give what you can. The Center for Assault Treatment Services does amazing work for victims of abuse and assault and they are less than $2,400 from the team goal of $50,000!  

TWO WEEKS?!?!?

Monday I went to Bar Method and then met Sarah after for a run. Since I was having some pain on top of my left foot I thought it would be a good idea to run in the sand so I wouldn't have to wear shoes. We started out running in the sand but it was really cold and difficult so we sprinted in the sand to the next opening in the wall, then walked on The Strand to the next opening, and continued switching off. We covered about 2 miles before ultimately deciding that we'd had enough.

Tuesday I started doing a little research about the pain in my foot. I found out that walking (and I presume running) barefoot and/or without arch support is the worst thing you can do for it! Apparently my brilliant sand running idea wasn't so brilliant after all. Even though I got home early enough to do Bar Method and run, I ended up doing neither. My foot was still hurting and I had no idea if activity would make it worse so I decided rest couldn't hurt.

Wednesday my foot hurt too much to wear heels so I headed to see my old friends at Woodland Hills Physical Therapy where Rod was nice enough to squeeze me in and work on my foot. He said it was okay to run on which made me feel way better and he also said he thinks I can run the marathon in 4 hours 30 minutes! I don't know about all that but it definitely gave me confidence. Even though I got the go ahead to run I took one more rest day.

Thursday I worked from home which gave me the chance to go for a lunchtime run with Sarah. It was quite warm out which felt good at first but also made me glad we were only running 3 miles. That evening I went to Bar Method.

Friday I was able to make it back from work just in time to hit the last Bar Method class of the day. I was pretty happy that despite being somewhat injured I still managed to hit Bar Method three times this week and run twice before my long run.

Saturday I met up with Sandy and Barbara to run 9 miles before meeting up for Roga (run + yoga). When we pulled into the parking lot we saw our first indication that the marathon is imminent, special marathon parking rates! We headed down the pier to the boardwalk and caught some great views of the sun coming up. In addition to running along the boardwalk we incorporated some tough inclines and ran through some beautiful neighborhoods before meeting up with Wie back at the pier to do a 5k. We had originally planned to run a bit more but wanted to guarantee we'd be back in time for yoga. Thankfully we had gorgeous weather and practicing yoga on the Santa Monica Pier was just incredible!

After Roga and some well earned brunch, I headed over to the expo for the St. Patrick's Day 5k to volunteer. I thought it sounded like a good way to engage in my community even though I didn't plan to run the race, however I quickly found out that typically only high school track students trying to fulfill their volunteer hours do this sort of thing. It made me feel good that most people assumed I was a high school student too! But then it made me feel old to hear them talk to each other. It was still fun though and I got to check out the special edition LA Marathon Asics that I'm really tempted to buy even though they are not the right type of shoe for me.

Sunday marked exactly two weeks til the marathon and while I feel confident in my training, I'm not satisfied with my fundraising. Last year I raised $3,000 and while I am nowhere near my goal this year of $4,000, I really want to at least beat my total from last year. I am so grateful to all my friends and family who have donated and not only supported me with their acknowledgment, but supported an amazing cause with their dollars. The Center for Assault Treatment Services does incredible work to help victims of sexual abuse and assault and as much as I wish they didn't need to exist, as long as there is a need I want to see them keep their doors open. Please click Donate Now at the top right of this page to make a donation.