moving on.

Hello all! I've moved!

Follow me at: http://hipandhealthy.wordpress.com/

loves,
Courtney.

suckk.

Yesterday marked 100 days till the half marathon. I also had the worst.run.ever.

fivnivhfnuidfshdfneikd!!!!

Seriously? An easy, quick run gave me that much trouble?? I am beyoooond irritated, disappointed, and scared. I'm not a beginner here, I shouldn't be running like one.

After I barely finished, I got out of the gym as soon as possible. The urge to start sobbing uncontrollably was much too strong. I immediately starting thinking about the factors that caused such a horrible result.

Not only am I training for two races, I am trying to work on my speed. Loosing a little weight and speed intervals will help me with that. I increased my pace on Tuesday and felt great. I also increased the pace yesterday - WRONG. Too soon, must get adjusted to the pace I set Tuesday before moving on.

I also felt crampy (or crappy) and tight. Didn't let my dinner digest enough before starting up, another no no. A giant mug of green tea prior to running fast probably was also not the best idea.

I did everything wrong and got appropriately punished. drat!

Live and Learn.
I'll be back at it Saturday.

january recap.

Why hello there, February! For those of you that taken my challenge remember that today starts "No Fast Food February"! It's only 28 days, you can manage.

For my last treat of fast-ish food, I gave myself Chipotle on Sunday. Always order online so you can make them write funny things on your burrito/bowl:

My self-proclaimed nickname hasn't taken off as quickly as I would like, but we're getting there.

Since it is a new month, I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite things from January.

• I see these all over blog world and finally got my hands on a box:

For 100 Calories and 9g of fiber, VitaTops are the perfect snack. I found this flavor at Target. Top of the Muffin, to youuuuu!

(side note: There are two Seinfeld references in this post already. No day should go without a dose of Seinfeld)

• I picked up my first issue of Cleveland Magazine last month (sorry for the tiny picture, all I could find):

It's seriously one of the best magazines I've read.
Does anyone else think Hot in Cleveland is wayyy overrated? I've only seen one episode and was not impressed. Betty White can step away from the spotlight anytime now...

• I also fell in love with Whole Foods leafy greens. A frozen mix of collard greens, kale, and mustard greens:

This stuff is the perfect add-in for all meals. Just thaw how ever much you need, squeeze water out and throw it in. A little extra vitamins and fiber never hurt.


As for my resolutions/goals I set for January, I did really well. I successfully accomplished my two big goals! I did not eat meat or drink any pop for the entire month. I'm definitely going to continue with not drinking pop, but I have been craving a little meat lately. Think this is just my body wanting more protein - nothing wrong with that. As a runner, I need more protein in my diet anyway. How did you do?




I think Spring will be early this year, you?

(next year, I'm TOTALLY going to Punxsutawney for Groundhog Day)

challenge.

I've been reading nutrition labels like crazy lately. In order for specific foods to be consumed the ingredient list shouldn't be a mile long and I must be able to pronounce most of the words. With this whole Taco Bell "meat filling" lawsuit, I've been really thinking about the ingredients fast food restaurants use. Of course I know they aren't great, but what exactly goes into some of our favorite quick choices? I did a little research.


McDonald's Big Mac - Much more than the Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun...

bleached wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, enzymes, water,high fructose corn syrup, sugar, soybean oil and/or partially hydrogenated soybean oil, 

salt, 

calcium sulfate, 

calcium carbonate,

 wheat gluten, 

ammonium sulfate, 

ammonium chloride, 

sodium stearoyl lactylate, 

datem, a

scorbic acid, 

azodicarbonamide, 

mono- and diglycerides, 

ethoxylated monoglycerides, 

monocalcium phosphate, 

enzymes, 

guar gum, 

calcium peroxide, 

soy flour, 

calcium propionate, 

sodium propionate, 

soy lecithin, 

sesame seed, 

Soybean oil, 

diced pickles, 

high fructose corn syrup, 

sugar, 

vinegar, 

corn syrup, 

salt, 

calcium chloride, x

anthan gum, 

potassium sorbate,

 spice extractives, 

polysorbate 80, 

distilled vinegar, 

water, 

egg yolks, 

high fructose corn syrup, 

onion powder, 

mustard seed,

 salt,

 spices, 

propylene glycol alginate,  s

odium benzoate, 

mustard bran, 

sugar, 

garlic powder, 

MSG, 

caramel color, 

extractives of paprika, 

soy lecithin, 

turmeric (color), 

calcium disodium EDTA

Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice - 

soy oil, cilantro. white basmati rice, water, salt, lime

Subway 9-Grain Bread - less than 2% whole grains??

Enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, barley malt, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, yeast, high fructose corn syrup, whole wheat flour, wheat gluten, contains 2% or less of the following: oat fiber, soybean oil, salt, wheat bran, rolled wheat, rye nuggets, dough conditioners (DATEM, sodium stearoyl lactylate), yeast nutrients (calcium sulfate, ammonium sulfate), degermed yellow corn meal, rolled oats, rye flakes, caramel color, triticale flakes, parboiled brown rice, refinery syrup, honey, barley flakes, flaxseed, millet, sorghum flour

Wendy's Crispy Chicken Nuggets - 

Chicken Breast, Water, Modified Corn Starch, Sodium Phosphates, Salt, Whey Protein Concentrate. Battered and Breaded with: Wheat Flour, Water, Bleached Wheat Flour, Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Spices, Leavening (sodium bicarbonate, sodium aluminum phosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate), Dextrose, Yellow Corn Flour, Yeast, Garlic Powder, Citric Acid, Spice Extractives, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Xanthan Gum. Cooked in Vegetable Oil (soybean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural flavor [vegetable], citric acid [preservative], dimethylpolysiloxane [anti-foaming agent])

Although Wendy's nuggets have a lot of ingredients (all in the breading), at least they are made with actual chicken - unlike McDonald's:

chicken yogurt anyone?

After reading about a group on Facebook for a "No Fast Food February," I'm extending the challenge to you. Although I rarely eat fast food anymore, I'm actively taking the month of February off. Everyone's definition of fast food is different. For me, the following will not be allowed:

• all drive-through restaurants
• Subway
• favorite burrito making hot spots
• pizza delivery places
• strip mall Chinese eateries

Since February IS the shortest month of the year, I believe everyone will find success. 

you've been challenged.

(p.s. - pardon the awkward spacing and font craziness going on. I'm working on moving over to Word Press. hold your horses!)

the secret life of a twentysomething.

I've decided that Jason Priestley is the King of Teenville. I am involved in not one, but TWO (!!) teen dramas he is a part of. The ever awesome 90210 has been a project of mine over the past year.

I think I'm on season six of this masterpiece. What will they get into next??

and recently (I say embarrassingly) I've been enjoying watching The Secret Life of an American Teenager. Yeeeeeah.

There was a stop and rewind moment when Jason Priestley's name appeared at the bottom of the screen. He directed or produced some episodes. This teenage 40-year-old can do no wrong (except for his tragic hairstyle wave).

Mrs. Brandon Walsh....

someone save me. sigh.

blank stare.

I really wanted to blog this week but have had nothing exciting to write about. So pardon this post for being spastic.


Last night I made Whole Foods Layered Vegetable Enchiladas. Since my pictures are on my camera which is buried deep in a laundry basket full of sweaters...you get their photo:

Super excited about lunch today : )


With plans to make my way into the big girl healthy living blogger world, I bought an item today that will help me a lot. I am now the proud owner of a BRAND NEW Mac mini. ta daaaa!

It was such a good deal, I had to. I can finally get rid of the Gateway monster that sounds like death when it starts up. Yay!


As for exercise, I've taken this whole week off running. Next week starts training for my races coming up in the spring and figured I'd give myself a full week of rest. Plus my right leg has been bothering me a bit, so rest is exactly what I needed.


Cardio and weight machines have become my best friends lately. I'm convinced that mixing running with cardio and strength is the perfect race training method. Speaking of which, I must sit down and set my training schedule A-sap.


Weeeelp, that's all I gots for now.


toodle-loo.

a chili run.

First off,
everyone wish my beautiful mother a Happy Birthday! She rules.


With the help of my new favorite book,

i am determined to become a better runner. This means bundling up and facing the snow covered streets:

I registered for another race this week. The runcbus ten miler on April 10th in Gahanna, Ohio. I signed up to get a free $90 New Balance wind breaker help with half marathon training.


Oh, and I got new shoes! Nike+ Free Run:

These are brilliant running shoes. Very light with minimal support. They force you to strike on the balls of your feet instead of the heal. I actually have to train myself to run in them to prevent injury, but it'll be so worth it.


I may also be joining a training team, there is an informational meeting next week. I'll keep ya'll posted.


moving on...


I've been seeing this recipe for Whole Foods Lentil Chili all over the place. My mom wanted chili for her birthday, so chili she gets.


Ingredients
8 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided 
1 medium yellow onion, chopped 
1 large red bell pepper, chopped (I used green)
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped 
4 teaspoons salt-free chili powder 
1 (16-ounce) package brown lentils (about 2 1/4 cups lentils) 
2 (15-ounce) cans no-salt-added diced tomatoes 
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (I left out)


(I added carrots and black beans - because I love them)

Bring 3/4 cup broth to a simmer in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, (carrot) and garlic and cook about 8 minutes or until onion is translucent and pepper is tender. Stir in chili powder and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add lentils, tomatoes and remaining 7 1/4 cups broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, partially covered, 30 minutes or until lentils are almost tender. Uncover (add 2 cans of black beans - rinsed) and cook 10 minutes longer. Stir in cilantro and serve.

I made this last night for dinner tonight, next day chili is always best. 


Thanks to Whole Foods for another awesome recipe!