My views on running and why I might be crazy

So I told you a couple weeks ago that the Nashville Half Marathon was going on and not only was Amy from May All Beings Be Well coming in town to run in it, but quite a few people from Scott's office were running as well. 

My husband has gotten the training bug a couple times after talking to his friends about races and mostly he talks about how fun it would be to do a triathlon or an Iron Man...together...as in WITH ME.  This isn't entirely off the wall, considering we love to train together and normally, I laugh him off, but as he received text updates from his office mates as to their race times and recovery methods, he looked at me and said, "We should totally run in the half marathon next year."

Let me pause here a moment and tell you that I really enjoy running.  I enjoy it as an activity and as a weight loss method.  That's it.  I've never competed or run in any kind of race post elementary school field days.  

I prefer to run sprint intervals because it takes WAY less time than distance and, when I go for distance, I like to run through neighborhoods so I can look at people's houses and flowerbeds and dream about what I might do one day.   I don't like timing myself and I enjoy the freedom of being able to putz and walk when I want and go at my own pace. In fact, when my friend Kathy was training for the NYC Marathon, the idea of running 20+ miles in a day perplexed my (then) mid-20's mind.  And really today, it just seems near impossible.  

So I looked at my dear husband, sitting beside me on the couch after a long day of child raising and said, "Sure, honey."

"No, I'm serious," he said.  "We should do it next year.  We could do it together, wouldn't that be fun?"

I patted him on the leg to let him know that I thought he was very sweet and said again,  nodding, "Sure, honey."  

And then it happened.  He raised up his hand for a high five.

*groan*

This was as good as a signed agreement, my blood on paper, my first born...the dreaded high five.

That's when my arguments started.

"Well, who is going to watch our little children?"  I retorted.

"I am sure that SOMEONE will watch the girls," he answered.

"How will we train for this?  We don't have time to run 13 miles!"  I whined.

"We can take turns and do our long runs on the weekends.  [The new neighborhood] has great trails and paths that we can use," Mr. Wonderful retorted.

"Ok, but you can't blow me away.  You have to run with me," I pleaded.

"Nope,"  he said flatly.  (Geez, you beat a guy in ONE race...)

After several silent minutes went by and his hand was still raised, I gave in and high-fived him.

So people, we are going to run in the Nashville Half Marathon next year...  yay

This will begin a whole new series of training with children and my husband and I will be excited to try and accomplish something new.  So my griping is about 95% tongue-in-cheek.  

Now seriously, any takers on watching these kids?? :)

Non-Pina Colada Pancakes

So have you missed me or what??

I warned you that I was going to be MIA for a while.  First, we had Mother's Day and mine was wonderful.  We had a great day and I even got to chill out on the couch with my girls.

Drinking our "milk shakes" and watching college softball.  Life is good!

But other than that, I have been packing and cleaning and rounding up little children and working out and trying to sit in the sun for 15 minutes a day to get my Vitamin D and gathering documents for the mortgage people and trying to plan moving and decorating a new house and...

shew...

I just have not had time to sit down and write.

Plus, my head is full and fuzzy with all this nonsense, so you may not get a worthy post from me for a while.  But I just have to tell you about what I've discovered...

Coconut Oil.  

I've been reading a little bit about the health benefits of coconut oil and decided to purchase some when it went on sale through Amazon...because I'm addicted to Amazon...but I was more than a little nervous to try it.  I don't use oil a ton in cooking - more in baking - and I've always used Canola Oil, just because that's what my mom always used.  And I didn't want everything to taste like coconut...

Because, even though my husband will eat almost anything I put in front of him, he hates coconut.  I mean, he gives the crinkle-nose and the bleh sound effect when it comes to coconut.  One time, when we were dating, he ate a carton of cottage cheese that had gone bad.  After he had consumed it, he checked the date, shrugged at me, and said, "I'm not really sure that was good anymore.  I'll guess I'll live."  Yes, that man hates coconut.

Well and I can't say that I'm crazy about it.  Coconut cream pies, yes.  Pina coladas, no...just tastes like you're drinking sun tan lotion to me.  Any whoooo...

Coconut oil is solid and liquefies at 76 degrees.  Yes, it is currently that hot in my house because I'm too cheap to turn the air conditioning below 78.  Is my family lucky or what?!

After having this stuff for a couple months (yes, I was that nervous!), I thought I'd give it a go with the girls and pancakes.  (Nothing like testing new stuff out on your kids.)  And I'm happy to say that it passed with flying colors!  I even made waffles with it last weekend, when Scott was home to try it, and he couldn't tell a difference!  (Not that I told him...well, until now...love you honey!)

I will let you know as I use it in other things.  I'm not baking a ton of sweets right now, as I'm trying like mad to fit into a too-small pair of khaki shorts at the moment.  But as soon as I can button those puppies, I'm going to try this in some cupcakes.

Here was the recipe for pancakes - this is not mine, however.  My grandma sent it to me and I'm sure she got it off the side of a Bisquick box.  I love it though.

2 1/3 C Pancake mix (I use homemade Bisquick)

2 eggs, beaten

1 C milk

2 tbsp sugar

1/4 C oil (I used coconut oil)

This and that

I feel like today is going to be full of packing and cleaning and packing...oh my!  News on the house hunt is that we submitted an offer that was accepted and now we're going through all the pre-closing requirements.  So hopefully, we will be all moved and settled by mid-June!  The best news is that it is 10 miles from Scott's work.  10 miles!!  Right now, he travels between 45 minutes - 1 hour one way (with traffic) so this will indeed be a blessing. 

Therefore, if you don't hear from me, you know where I am.  Packing - which requires it's own amount of lifting and sweating and stress!  

Well, and this weekend, we have Elizabeth's little gymnastics "fun meet."  A two-year-old recital...I'm going to have to break out the nice camcorder for this one.  

I have to share just a couple things with you though...  

Amy, from May All Beings Be Well, is running in the Music City half marathon this weekend, which was her goal at the beginning of this running journey.  Good luck, Amy!

Once a Month Mom posted this recipe for Apple Chicken Nuggets and I have to admit, I am intrigued.  Chicken nuggets are one of the few things Elizabeth will eat...from McDonalds or Chick Fil-A, of course.  So I'm going to see if I can fool her with these...

Scott's cousin Amy posted this article on her Facebook wall on The New Food Fight.  Nothing like an article on food to scare the tar out of you.  Did I mention the new house already had raised gardening beds??

I follow another blog that has been featuring ideas to save money on whole foods, but I can't find it now.  I'll share her next post on the Facebook page.  Speaking of which, if you want to "friend" the blog page on FB, sometimes I throw deals on there that I see that have to do with eating well or fitness (since that combines my obsessions with health and coupons) that are too time specific to put on here.  Well, plus it gives me a little boost when I see new people join...ha!

Ok, gotta run.  Elizabeth has found her whistle and Rachel is taking a nap.  Have a great weekend!

Why Strength Training is Crucial for Women - Part 1

I've been chewing on this for a while and making little notes in my workout journal and I think I'm finally ready to tackle my next series head-on:  Why Strength Training is Crucial for Women.  Now, this is going to be in several parts because I don't want to get long-winded on one post and because Elizabeth has suddenly decided that she is just fine and dandy with an hour nap (even if Mommy is not!).  So I need to write quickly.

Plus, I would love to get your feedback.

So let me begin by saying that the first reason why strength training is crucial for women is because it keeps you strong.

I know...profound, isn't it?

But we have to be strong.  Look at all of your relationships and tasks in your life and count real quick the number of balls you have juggling in the air right now.  How many people are counting on you to carry your weight?  Your significant other?  Your kids?  Your job?  Your church?  Your pets?  Balls!  There they go...  All are relying on you to be at the top of your health, strength, and overall game.

I've let you in on my little addiction to magazines - and after reading the trillionth article on the importance of cardio, I thought I might give this side of the coin it's fair shake.  So humor me, ok?  This is for the average woman - not just those that aim to compete in fitness contests. 

To go back to Scott's theory of why man was created, woman was not created to rest on her laurels either.  We were designed to be out in the fields, growing and harvesting crops.  Constructing domains.  Tending livestock.  Raising kiddos.  Day in and day out.  Now one could only assume that this would take an admirable amount of strength - the same amount that you have been provided with today.

I think strength training gets a bad rep from women because they don't want to look like men.  I, too, was in that same boat at one point.  I was a cardio junkie and did very little strength training...  Until I had kids.  And then I had zero time for my cardio junkie-ness.

I couldn't go on the forever runs like I used to - that my body required to stay at it's current shape - or so I thought.  Now, I had lifted since college, but was totally under the impression that because I wanted to be little, therefore I should lift little weight.  So I ventured for the 5's, 7.5's, 10's...and my weight plateaued. 

A funny thing happened to me in the past six months and I can't remember exactly what spurred it on, but I  got my gumption back and started lifting heavier.  If an exercise called for 12 repetitions, I chose a weight that I could barely get 11...or maybe get started on number 12.  Now, I'm not genetically strong, so I'm talking about 20-25 lb weights here, but still, I was working.  This is when I started seeing results.  Not bulk, but cut.  My arms began to get the definition I wanted.  My rear-end lost a significant amount of giggle.  And I was LOSING mass, not gaining it.  It was so funny how I had lifted light all my life in search of "tone" and here it was with the heavier weights.

As I was getting physically stronger, I felt myself getting mentally stronger.  I began to like who I saw in the mirror again.  I shopped for clothes with more confidence than before. 

Please understand, I still do my cardio, but I don't live by cardio alone anymore.  If I have 30 minutes, then I'm going to lift and work fast to keep my heart rate up (since cardio deals with your heart, that counts!). 

I find myself healthier, with more energy, and in better spirits than before.  Now, this being said, I eat fairly clean (good proteins, fruit and vegetables...chocolate...) and get a good amount of water and sleep.  But I lift three to five days a week and have never felt stronger.

Next:  Why strength training is crucial for your innards...

Easter Bunnies

Because my mom bought these bunny ears from the dollar section at Target, I'm dedicating this post to her.  Of course, the girls wouldn't touch these until AFTER Easter, but I thought these were cute shots, none-the-less.  Of course, if they look FILTHY, it's because they are.  We just got in from playing outside, eating Popsicles and Elizabeth bathed in painted with finger paints at the Y today.

Seriously, what are these things and what am I supposed to do with them?

Wazzzupppppp???

Wazzzuuuuuppppp????  (I couldn't get these two shots the same again if I tried!)

No, you look funnier...No YOU look funnier...

Little bunny kisses

All done, Mama

Seriously, no more cuteness...

You are a weird, weird little girl...

Easter Surprises

Don't you just love getting surprise packages in the mail?  My friend Erin has two little boys and we've gotten to be close blog / Facebook / email friends and she totally surprised us with a little Easter package containing the cutest little lambs you've ever seen.  She even stitched their names on them!  Of course, they love them and I just think they are precious.  Thank you, Erin, for such a thoughtful gift.  I'm so glad that I am surrounded by such loving and crafty people!

ERS:  What is it, Mama?  Me:  It's a lamb, honey.  ERS:  It's a yam...

Here, Rachel, you hug you yam yike dis. 

*Cue Rachel trying to hug the lamb*

See Rachel?  You hug it!  See??

Here, yet me have yours...

Hey mom...can I see that camera?

Hodge-podge

I know I'm probably breaking some child labor laws with the following pictures...but they pull this vacuum cleaner out every morning and Rachel fusses until she gets a turn.

 

Our little neighbor, Natalia, has been coming over to play quite a bit and it is WONDERFUL.  The girls are occupied and I can get things done and still listen to them.  She has taught them a lot about playing in their kitchen and then setting the table.  Sometimes I give them crackers to eat with their meals.  Of course, Rachel wants to feel big too but is often left out.  Poor little sister!

What?  I don't get a chair?

Seriously guys...are we going to eat or what?

If I don't get those peas in two seconds, I'm screaming for mom.

Finally, this was our big date night with Daddy to the burrito place.  They serve chips and it's relatively uncrowded, so that's just our place.  Elizabeth cracks me up with this purse...all it has in it is an old cell phone and she has to bring it every time we leave the house.