Training group run #2 and protein bars 05-27-13

Good evening!!
Hope everyone has had a wonderful Memorial Day.

Saturday was my second run with the running group.  It went well, we did 5 hilly miles.  It was a giant reminder that I must get over my love of running while watching TV, reading and with a controlled climate.  I can easily run for 2 hours on the treadmill but outside I struggle with hills and hate the wind!  I am really enjoying this running group.  It is such a better experience than the first one.  I'm sure it has a little to do with my fabulously fit friend who is also running with me.

 

So tomorrow I have grand plans to go for a run before work.  I've said this many, many times but the snooze button is so easy to hit and my bed is so warn and comfy!  Maybe telling who ever is reading this, all 3 of you, will help me actually do it.

After the fun filled five hilly miles I joined my fit buddy for an hour session with her trainer.  We did legs.  I found out recently that the awesome trainer is moving.  Boo for me but of course great for him.  I thought about finding another trainer although I may find that more difficult that I thought.  The session was good.  I definitely felt a little soreness in my legs the next day.  It was way too far for me to travel for an hour workout, especially if its 2-3 times a week.  I don't know if that workout was quite my "style" but I am considering it, since he was willing to meet me at a gym closer to me.  It may be easier to stay with the awesome trainer and do online training or something, I mean he is awesome!  

So during my grocery shopping this weekend I struggled with my addiction to fruit!  I have been eating way too much fruit, at breakfast, lunch and for snacks!  Its so tasty and good for you but probably not in mass quantities like I have been consuming.  I kept having to put stuff back.  While looking for snack recipes I found a recipe I printed long ago and it gave me an idea for a protein bar.  This bar ended up about 195 calories, 11.5g fat, 12.5g carbs and a whopping 11g protein.  These are of course estimates and it varies if you use different brands.  They are delicious and a great snack, maybe with some veggies.

Chocolate Chunk Protein Bars

1 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup ground flax meal
1/4 cup almond meal
1/2 cup unsweetened almond butter
1 cup unsweetened milk, I used almond but any would work
1/2 tsp stevia extract
1/2 tsp butter extract, I love this and will be baking with this more!!
1/4 tsp sea salt
5 scoops Garden of Life Raw Chocolate Protein
1/3 cup chopped pecans
Dark Chocolate chunks, I used 1 serving, 12 squares, of the dark chocolate pictured
1/3-1/4 cup would work

Place oats in food processor, or blender and pulse so the oats are ground, set aside.  Mix, in food processor or blender, all liquid ingredients.  Add remaining dry ingredients to liquid and pulse until mixed.  Press down into a pan.  Refrigerate until firm and cut into 12 pieces.

They are not very sweet, more sweetener could be used but I am trying to cut my consumption of sugar and sugar substitutes so I limited what I added.  If you want these sweeter I would add 1 tsp more of stevia extract.  Either way enjoy!!

Chicken enchiladas and first training group run 5-22-13

Good Evening!!

I hope everyone is having a great week.

I had my first run with the Rio Rancho USA Fit running group.  I heard it was a great group to run with through a friend and so far I agree.  Minus being allergic to the grass we stretched in after, hives and horrible allergies all weekend long!  Everyone was friendly and there were no crazy rules to follow.  They even encouraged us to listen to music if that's what we like to do.  Safety was a topic and it was recommended to only use one ear bud to hear traffic and other runners.  We were supposed to do 4 miles but I had my sisters graduation to get to so I only did 2 miles with the half marathon group and my speedy friend.  There were lots of hills but it was over all a good run even though it was a bit faster than I planned on.  This weekend we are doing 5 miles.  I'm pretty excited.  I've had less soreness in my hip, which has been problematic in the past.  Still having soreness in my heels, but its less than I was having with my last pair of shoes.  So far the new Nike's are working great!!

On to the good stuff......FOOD!

I love chicken enchiladas but they are not the healthiest thing and can be expensive if purchased.  So I made my own take out.

It was surprisingly easy to make.

 2 chicken breasts, sprinkled with Mrs Dash chili lime seasoning and sea salt then grilled till done.

 1/2 onion chopped, 2-3 garlic and 1/2 cup chopped tomato sprayed with extra virgin olive oil then sprinkled with sea salt.

 Roasted 350F until tender, about 25 minutes.  Toss veggies into blender with 2-3 tbsp chili powder, depending on how hot you like it.  Thin with chicken broth.  

 Spray the bottom of a saute pan with more extra virgin olive oil.  Add chili mixture and simmer 20 minutes.  

 Add 1 tbsp Italian seasoning.

 Shred cheese and chicken.  Warm tortillas, so they will roll better.  I did it in the microwave but it can be done on the stove, in the oven or in a pan.  Fill with chicken, cheese and red chili then roll.

 I did 2 tortillas and smothered with more chili and cheese.  Add a little bit of refried beans and bake 15-20 minutes at 350F.

YUMMY!!!  Top with lettuce, tomato, onion and enjoy.

Run for the Zoo...should've been 5-5-13

Grrr!  I wrote this a while ago and scheduled it to post in the morning but forgot to hit post so It has been sitting here waiting to be posted.

Hello Friends!!
Hope everyone has had a great weekend.  I did run for the zoo yesterday.  It went well, mostly.  It was windy and cold.  So cold I left my hoody on the entire run.  I usually totally over heat with a hoody and end up taking it off a mile or two in, but not this time all the wind kept me nice and cool.

I also tried NUUN's active hydration.  I LOVE THEM!!!  I will keep using them, they are tasty and worked well. No cramping like the last half.  I ran a little slower than I usually do because I was so worried about cramping, it was so painful and I hopefully never have to do that again!  I stopped and used the port-a-potty twice and even stretched while in the line waiting for ever.

The course was not my favorite.  It was pretty but whew was it smelly!!!  I'm not someone who has a sensitive stomach but running past something that smelled like the inside of a port-a-potty (not once but twice!!!) and by the tortilla factory that must have been burning tortillas (again not once but twice) I thought I was going to revisit my usual race morning breakfast of oatmeal.

This was my 5th half in about 8months!!! I set a goal last year to do 6 in a year and I'm almost there woohoo!!!

After my run I met my family and did the 5k with mom and the midgets.  No they are not really midgets,  just my 2 nieces and nephew.  16.2 miles that day!  I of course ran the last 3.1 really slow.  Its hard to run fast with a 4 year old, even though she runs past people and shouts "I'm faster than you" or "I'm passing you".  Most people laugh and compliment her awesome tutu.  My nephew ran the whole thing and was totally bummed that we did the un-timed run because he finished long before us.

So pretty good start to my own official marathon training!!