Foodie, I'm Not

Planned Workout: Aqua Jog
Actual Workout: Aqua Jog, arm circuit, abs

I am not a foodie.  By any means.  Don't get me wrong, I can cook and sometimes I enjoy it.  The enjoying it part seems to be less since Little Miss came along.  Though I do encourage her to help me in the kitchen and she seems to enjoy it.  But my menus are a little, well, bland.

Take last night,for instance.  We had chicken tacos.  Nothing special.  Today's lunch: leftovers.

This is today's lunch: Fruit Salad, Southwest Salad kit, chicken taco

In fact, the most exotic thing I ever cook is curried pork.  I know there are several reasons my menu stays they same: time, money, a 3 year old's palate.  But, I would like to broaden my horizons a little.  Make something new to our family.  This is what I came up with:

Moroccan Vegetable Stew with Couscous

Moroccan vegetable stew blends turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, allspice and garlic with chickpeas, lentils, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and raisins for an aromatic vegetarian meal that's rich in protein and fiber. The legumes in this dish provide iron, while the vegetables offer vitamins A and C. Whole-grain couscous, a Middle Eastern dish, complements this hearty stew and adds extra fiber to your meal.

I got this at  livestrong.com.

Granted, this will have to wait at least a week until I get to the grocery store again.  And I will have to modify hubby's some (he doesn't like tomatoes), but I think I will try it.  I will let you know how it turns out.

HOT HOT NOT

Planned Workout: 2mile run/walk
Actual Workout: 20 minute run/walk

I did do some running today... about 8 minutes of it.  Then my lungs began to burn and I decided walking would be the way to go today.  I am feeling better though.

Now what I would really like to discuss.  Something I saw on The Today Show this morning:  NYFFs (New York Fire Fighters).  There were about half a dozen or so on the show promoting their calender.  And the were Smokin' (please forgive the pun.)  They all looked like newbies though (5 or 6 years on or less,)
When most women think of firefighters this is what they think of:


source

However, as a wife of a volunteer firefighter for several years( according to the NFPA, 70% of firefighters are volunteer, fyi), I can assure you that most firefighters look like this:


Source

That's right. Awesome huh?  Full time EMS is about the same (with more females). 

I remember being told once how lucky I must be to get to "hang out" at the fire station.  LOL... the pic directly above comes to mind.

Now girls, don't get me wrong, there are some "Hotties" out there.  But don't think that great bodies = coolness either.  Sometimes the greatest looking ones are the dorkiest ones.

On the flip side, generally firefighters are the sweetest guys I have met (to females, guests, and children anyway.)  And if you go to their station on a slow day, they will gladly entertain you until it is chow time or they get a call.

Weigh In Wednesday

Planned Workout: Aqua Jog
Actual Workout: Nothing

Sickness has fallen upon us.  Well, me mostly.  Little Miss is sick, again, but it is her typical cold and up all night coughing type sickness.  Mine started out flu-like for about 24ish hours, then turned into a more cold-like direction.  I camped on the couch all day yesterday.  Today I didn't do too much, until I had to go to work anyway.  Getting up and moving around made me feel a little better.  But I am still really congested and coughing.

I wanted to run this week.  To run and push myself to run farther.  I have been reading up on other runner's blogs and trying to do some research on running.  In the past,  I have attempted weight loss and healthier lifestyle and quit after six months or so every time.  This time feels different, then I hit little speed bumps like getting sick.  So am I going to get all "ho hum, woa is me" and give up again? Nope... gonna try something different:

Formulate a Plan.

I plan on getting at least a walk in tomorrow.  If I feel like it, a run.  I plan on going to Aqua Jog on Friday.  And I plan on making up a run this weekend.  Next week, I plan on being back in the swing of things.

OK...so time of truth...weigh in for this week..ugh:

193.8

Yeah, so I gained a little.  I am hoping this is just a reaction to being sick.  I hope.   

March of Dimes....A Recap

March of Dimes 5K 2012

It was cold. 45 degrees.  For the last mile, it sprinkled.  Cold and damp. Our team was a decent size.  Mostly family, some friends.  Avery's physical therapist and her family even walked.  We started out together, but ended up spread way out by the end.

This was our team name. My shirt said Auntie Em on the sleeve.

 

 This is Mr. Avery.  He was born at 23 weeks.  He will be 1 in May.  He is the reason my sister started a team and the cutest little nephew ever!

     Little Miss and her cousin painted rocks before the walk.

Little Miss walked with grandpa until mile 2.  Then I sent her walking to other direction with her aunt and uncle.  She was getting tired.  She walked about 2.75 miles.

 

After the walk, they had hot dogs, chips, bananas, and water.  We also got little goodie bags.  They had Michigan magnets and notebooks in them (did I mention we were at an OSU campus?), trail mix, and some stuff for kids. I enjoyed having coffee to warm up to.  I am not big on hot dogs, but mine was pretty good.

 

Even though it was cold and rainy and I walked at a very slow pace for me (nope, didn't keep time either), it was a good time.  I already asked my sister if she was going to do this next year.  She said yes and she was going to start fund raising sooner.

 Our team raised $952 this year.  Not bad for a first time team that started late.

Days Go By

Planned Workout: Aqua Jog
Actual Workout: Aqua Jog

Today was, well a buzz.  Meaning that I really didn't much sitting down until work.  Even then I was pretty busy.  Aqua Jog was more of a workout today.  I upped my weights. That helped. And the instructor made it a little harder.

I have March of Dimes tomorrow.  I promise to do a recap.  And I am going Dent and Ding shopping with my mom and sister. Yay! 

I feel like time is going so quickly.  We only have 225 days until our cruise (my initial motivation for getting healthier).  Little Miss only has 5 weeks of school left.  This year marks my 3rd annul 29th birthday.  There are so many things I wanted to do this year.  There are things I haven't even begun.  Time is not on my side at the moment.  Anyone else feel that way?

Weigh in Wednesday

Planned Workout: Aqua Jog
Actual Workout: Aqua Jog

Today was the first day I took Aqua Jog.  I had forgotten that it was a Monday, Wednesday, Friday class until about 9am on Monday.  It started at 930.  For anyone who knows me (or Little Miss), you know it is impossible to get us out the door and there in a half an hour.  We got there at 940.  I walked on the treadmill instead. 

Anyway, I went today.


Ok, it was only a little like that.  I am the youngest in the class.  The next youngest women have kids a few years younger than me.  But we used real weights.

It was more like this:


And this:



My biggest obstacle?


We had to swim on our backs with flippers on.  I can survive in water, but I am not a strong swimmer.  My form was horrible.  I am thinking about dragging hubby to the pool during open lap time and practicing my lap swimming.  If I can find the time (?!)

Overall, it can be a good cross training for me.  But I will have to keep running.  And do boot camp.

And now what you all have been waiting for (and I have been dreading):

193.4

That's right.  I have gained weight.  Laziness will do that to a person.  I am hoping to rebound quick in the next couple of weeks.  I have a lot going on. Fitness wise, that is :)

Bad to the Bone...or Muscle

Planned Workout: Bootcamp
Actual Workout: Nothing

I have been bad to myself this week.. Eating a lot of Easter junk food, not exercising regularly, and ignoring an injury.  That's right, total mal-functional week.

I felt a twinge and some pain in the muscle above and on the side of my knee on Wednesday.  "Hmmm" I thought, and though the pain was fast enough and hurt enough to make me stop when it happened, I started walking again, then running.  I ignored the pain. For the rest of the day.

Thursday, I only noticed it when I was walking, so I didn't walk much.  I didn't workout, either.
Friday, I started to run, but it hurt so I walked.  Walking made it hurt less.  Today my daughter and I lounged in bed until 11am.  Lazy, I know.  But breakfast in bed and cartoons were fun.  And my knee doesn't hurt at all today.

I have got to get ride of the candy junk in my house.  Little Miss is really great at sharing.  Too great.  And chocolate is my vice.  I haven't weighed my self since weigh in Wednesday, and quite frankly I'm afraid to.