One Week Check Point

As I stated previously in my Goals - Short Term/Long Term post, I'm going to maintain accountability by posting my goals and then following up on my progress on the ol' blog.

1 week = 8 lbs lost; work-out 6 days a week for a minimum of 30 minutes/day; track all calories, water, sleep, and exercise


Let's evaluate the week, shall we?

Diet
By "diet", I mean counting my calories.  For the most part, I'm still following South Beach principles as far as food choices go, but I'm upping the ante by paying attention to specifically how much I'm putting in my body.  The biggest struggle I encountered was recognizing I needed to establish a "NET" calorie goal because the more I work out, the more I'm going to need to fuel.  I set a 1200 NET calories per day target and with the exception of eating too few calories the first two days, I did well.  I also became VERY lax over the weekend which is something I don't want to make a habit.

Exercise
I set a target of working out 6 days of the week for a minimum of 30 minutes per day.  That didn't quite happen, BUT considering I went from VERY minimal exercise to a 4-day workout, I feel pretty good about the week.  I spent 2 days walking (with incorporating a bit of running at the end of each walk) and I spent 2 days riding my exercise bike.  I managed to burn a total of 1366 calories with an average of over 40 minutes per workout.

Hydration
This is an on-going struggle.  I hit over 100 oz of water each day, BUT my target is 144 oz, so I have a lot to work out in this category.

Sleep
My goal is to hit 7 hours of sleep per night.  Out of 7 days, I hit this goal 5 nights.  Still a work in progress, but I'm getting there.

Weight loss goal = 8 pounds
Actual weight loss = 7 pounds


Thoughts:  I am pleased with the results, but I do see where improvement can be made.  As I mentioned above, I became a bit too lax over the weekend.  Even though I went to restaurants with a plan, it was easy to stick to the ordering plan, but difficult to pass up table freebies - bread, etc.

Next check point (1 month) will be on September 26th!


Off to a great start!

(Chocolate) PB2 Review

Have you heard of PB2?  I hadn't until recently and when I did, well you bet your bottom dollar I had to get me some.

We all know how amazing peanut butter tastes (or any nut butter, for that matter).  We love it, but we don't love the calories and fat that comes with it.

I typically eat Simply Jif.  It has 190 calories and 16 grams of fat per every 2 TBSPs.  Yikes!

Now let's look at PB2:

Yes, that's only 45 calories and 1 gram of fat per 2 TBSPs.  Wowsers!!!  Now a warning, though...it only has about 1/2 of the protein.  My Simply Jif has 8 grams and as you can see PB2 has only 4 grams.

How do they make this happen?

Bell Plantation removes 85% of the fat calories by a special process without the use of chemicals.  There are also no preservatives/additives in this baby!  PB2 comes in a jar and is powdered in appearance.  You mix 2 TBSPs of the powder with 1 TBSP of water and VOILA!  Instant PB!

I tried the chocolate PB2 on a Sara Lee 90 calorie English muffin and combined it with Sugar Free Polaner Blackberry Preserves (yes, raspberry or strawberry would have been better, but I didn't either of these with me).

I purchased my PB2 via Amazon.com because I only wanted to try it - as opposed to committing to a 4-jar pack on the Bell Plantation website without knowing whether or not I would like it.  The price does come out to be cheaper per jar (even with shipping charges) if you want to buy it in bulk through Bell Plantation.  It comes in chocolate and regular.

I thought it tasted delicious and I, for one, am thankful to have a less caloric PB on hand since I'm counting my calories and every one is precious to me.

Has anyone else tried this?  Thoughts?

It's all starting to come together!

I know I've had the RunGirl 13.1 half mary on my sidebar for quite some time now, but I officially registered for it this morning.

I remember being super excited last year when I found out about this race.  It would have been my 3rd half and it was especially exciting because it was a female-only run AND in December.  This practicially guaranteed decent (read:  coolish) weather.

I was so bummed when my pelvic stress fracture kept me from racing.  I vowed to register for the race again this year...AND...to actually participate in it.

I let life conquer me for a bit...hence the weight gain and the lack of training as evident in my Hottest Half race, BUT it's not going to conquer me any longer.

As discussed in my GOALS - SHORT TERM/LONG TERM post, I'm back on the wagon and feeling fierce!

I can already see the fruits of my labor.  I have decided to ease back into running by incorporating small (increasing) runs at the end of my walks.  I tested this out on Monday night...walked 2 miles and then ran 0.23.  My average pace was 16:27.  This was not great, BUT I was out there doing it and that is what matters.  Tuesday was a cross-training day, so I hit up my stationary bike for 50 minutes.  Wednesday was another walk/run.  I managed 3 miles in total and I ran the last 0.4 mile.  I lowered my average pace to 15:43.  What does that tell me?  With dedication and determination...I'm gonna hit my goals!

I would love to run my last three half marathons for the year, but realistically I'm just not going to be able to accomplish that.  What I can do, however, is establish goals for each one based on my current (at the time of the race) fitness level.

For now, I will focus on See Jane Run (another all female half).  This half is in Austin on October 9th.  I have no way of knowing what to expect temperature wise (please God let it be cooler outside).  The elevation chart hasn't been posted yet either, so I don't know what to expect regarding hills.  We all know Austin has them.  =/  So, I'm just going to focus on hitting all my training walks/runs and lowering my average pace to allow me to finish my race with a 15:45 pace.  This means 3:26:19 will be my goal. 

On a side note...I just booked my hotel for See Jane Run using Hotwire.com.  My dad swears by this website as he uses it for all of his business travel (and even some personal trips).  I went "pot luck" instead of choosing the specific hotel and I got the La Quinta Inn hotel downtown for $78.00 per night (which includes breakfast each morning).  I looked up the published price per night and it's $99.00.  Yay for saving $42.00 in total!  =)

Ahhhh....it's all starting to come together and that makes me happy!

Tagged: 7 Links

I was recently tagged in Rachael's (from Happy Healthy Runner) 7 Links post.   Because I'm a special kind of girl (read:  Aggie), it took me a few minutes to figure out how to play.  Yeah, it's like that.

It looks like I'm supposed to pick out a specific blog to go with each "category"...and yes, there are 7 of them.

Most Beautiful
I don't think I have a blog that screams...or even whispers..."beautiful".  Is that sad?  I guess (since I'm required to pick one) the closest thing would be High tAcKy Texas Tea.  Just kidding...it's not beautiful at all, but it was special and fun, so I thought I'd share.

Most Popular
Oddly enough, my most popular post is part of my 30-Day Challenge (which...yeah...I never finished).  Day 18 - Believe it or not.  A lot of peeps have done varying searches on phrases including the word "believe" which apparently graced them with my blog.  Lucky ducky them.

Most Controversial
For the most part, I prefer to keep my posts on the down-low.  I'm not out there to gain viewership by posting controversial matter...I'm just writing about me.  My life is way too boring to cause controversy.  The best I can come up with is this post:  Day 04 - Religion.  See...I was following a Challenge, so it really wasn't original thought provoking material on my behalf.


Most Helpful
Just cause I was curious on how to fix the issue I have been having with cramping in my calves, I did a bit of research and it actually had some significant viewership.  Potassium, Magnesium, Sodium OH MY!

Surprise Successes
I guess everyone likes to read about my lame love life (or lack there of).  These posts were apparently quite amusing to the masses (or...the few peeps who actually read my blog):
adventures?  in speed dating
Oh eHarmony

Not Enough Attention
I sometimes have Kimisms happen and the result is amusing to me.  I guess that's all that should matter, but....well sometimes it's nice for my Kimisms to be appreciated.  Um...sorry Rue

There you have it.  Tagged and Answered.  I hate to cop out by not specifically tagging fellow bloggie buddies, BUT...well....if you wanna play please do so!  =)

GOALS - SHORT TERM/LONG TERM

A wise person I know suggested that I not overwhelm myself with how "lost" I've become in my weight loss journey.  She thought it best to break my ultimate GOAL into smaller, more attainable check points.

With that in mind, I've come up with my 1 week, 1 month, 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, and 12 month check points.  Seems a lot less daunting that way.

I figured to keep myself accountable, I would go ahead and publish these check points to my blog and then follow up on my progress when appropriate.


1 week = 8 lbs lost; work-out 6 days a week for a minimum of 30 minutes/day; track all calories, water, sleep, and exercise

my fitness pal

1 month = 20 lbs lost, run/walk 4 days/week for a minimum of 45 minute; cross train 2 days/week for a minimum of 45 minutes; be able to run 2 miles non-stop (@ 14 min/mile pace); track all calories, water, sleep, and exercise; reevaluate daily calorie target




Daily Mile



3 months = 40 lbs lost, run/walk 4 days/week for a minimum of 60 minutes; cross train 2 days/week for a minimum of 60 minutes; be able to run 6 miles non-stop (@ 13:30 min/mile pace); track all calories, water, sleep, and exercise; reevaluate daily calorie target

sleep bot

6 months = 70 lbs lost; run 4 days/week for a minimum of 60 minutes;, cross train 2 days/week for a minimum of 60 minutes; be able to run 10 miles non-stop (@ 13 min/mile pace); track all calories, water, sleep, and exercise; reevaluate daily calorie target

24 Hour Fitness

9 months = 100 lbs lost (GOAL); run 4 days/week for a minimum of 60 minutes; cross train 2 days/week for a minimum of 60 minutes; be able to run a half marathon non-stop (@ 12:30 min/mile pace); track all calories, water, sleep, and exercise; reevaluate daily calorie target

The Woodlands Marathon (half for me)

12 months = maintain weight loss; begin full marathon training; run 4 days/week for a minimum of 60 minutes; cross train 2 days/week for a minimum of 60 minutes; track all calories, water, sleep, and exercise; reevaluate daily calorie target


Since I offiically got back on my wagon (for real this time) on Monday, 8/29, I will check back in on my first check point on Monday, 9/6. 

Vacation Planning

Have I ever mentioned how much I love vacations?  Oh I do, it's quite true!  It can even be said that I live for them.  To me, vacations are the reward for...life.

I know I've spoken of my love for Playa del Carmen, but alas...Mexico can't be in the cards for me.  You see, I have to plan my vacation with the thought process that I will be "all by myself" (sing it Celine).  I don't know for a fact that I will have anyone to go with me and so I have to choose a vacation spot that would be safe for me to travel to alone. 

One of the huge appeals of Playa for me...or any beach, for that matter...is that it's AWAY and it's peaceful.  I can choose to do everything or nothing.  This got me wondering what it is that I could do here in the states that would give me that same sense of utopia.  Then it dawned on me.  I can choose a hot springs resort and spa escape. 

I then began my research.  My requirements were - hot natural springs, adventurous activities nearby, and of course...a spa.

No matter how many different search options I Googled, I kept coming back to this place - Bonneville Hot Springs Resort & Spa in N. Bonneville, WA.  The only downside I can think of is that the high temp will be around 56 and the low 31 (ye gads!) while I'm there (early May 2012).  Oh...and brother-in-law Jay wanted to point it out to me that I might not be safe in the Pacific Northwest because there are a lot of serial killers from around those parts.  WHAT?!  Well you know that lead me to serial killer research!  I'm morbid like that.

source here

Within 30 minutes of the resort, I will have the opportunity to do a zipline course, white water rapids, hike waterfalls, see Mount St. Helens, and tour wineries (with wine tastings).

The resort also has a lovely restaurant with wonderful meal offerings, but if I wanted to eat off-campus, so to speak, Portland Oregon is only 35 minutes away with some great offerings like Veritable Quandary and Salvador Molly's.

The spa menu is superb.  I've already picked out several services I want such as:

Ultimate Relaxation Bath, Wrap & Massage


Our Chamomile bath and wrap or our Lavender bath and wrap followed by a relaxing 80-minute massage is perfect for those days when you just want to relax. This ultimate treatment also includes a foot massage followed by a warm towel foot wrap and a warm towel face wrap.


140 minutes

Just for Women Bath, Wrap & Facial


Enjoy a bath in YonKa Phyto Bain bath oil followed by a warm wrap and an

80 minute European Facial.

140 minutes

Rock N’ Rain Signature Massage


Try our Bonneville Hot Springs Spa Signature Massage. Six therapeutic essential oils are delivered down the spine in the Raindrop Technique, and then massaged in with warm basalt rocks followed by a full body massage.

80 minutes

Having something relatively planned for the future gives me the motivation to commit (fully) to getting to my goals.  Now, unfortunatley I have a bit more ground to cover than initially because I went wayward, but the point is I'm back on track.

Speaking of track...I decided this is going to be key in transforming me into the girl I want to be.  Starting today, I am tracking EVERYTHING.  I have Daily Mile to track my exercise.  I have Myfitnesspal.com to track my calories and water consumption.  I have Sleep Bot (an app on my phone) to track my sleep.

If only I could mentally get beyond this ridiculous weather.  I'm sure you are sick and tired of hearing me (and every other Texan) complain about the heat this summer, but I can honestly say that in all my 24 years of living here, this is by far the hottest summer.  Yesterday around 3:30pm, I took this picture (and no, my car had not been sitting in direct sunlight...this was after I had been driving for over 20 minutes).

So, what kind of vacation are you planning OR do you prefer?

Oh my...Tomato Pie!

I couldn't wait to get home last night...to make Tomato Pie...again.

No, I'm not a gluttonous monster.  Well...maybe I am, but THIS particular situation deems the title unnecessary.

You see, I received my daily recipes from Allrecipes.com the other day and what to my wandering eyes should appear, but a recipe for Tomato Pie.  I wondered what in the world it is, so then I clicked on the happy link and found out.  It's made of all things wonderful - tomatoes, green onion, fresh basil, bacon, and cheese.  Truth be told, I wasn't too keen on the bacon part, but brother-in-law Jay told me I had to follow the recipe (I have a problem following directions, you see), so I did with the slight modification of using lean turkey bacon instead of the real deal.

I heated a pot of water to help strip my tomatoes of their skin.  I preheated the oven for my pie crust.  I got my skillet all hot and bothered ready for the bacon...and then I placed 6 strips of bacon in said skillet because I don't like to fry up too much at a time.  I went out to my car to get something I forgot and when I returned, I found my once-upon-a-time sweet Delilah guiltily licking her chops over a tasty meal of 3/4 of a pound of RAW turkey bacon.  That can't be good.  I was soooo mad as my Tomato Pie would now be slightly naked with only 1/2 of the bacon I intended for it to have.  =/  Needless to say, Delilah went outside until the storm came to get us.

don't trust this innocent face

I then proceeded to chop up my basil and slice my green onions.  The crust went into the oven for a few minutes to avoid sogginess as I crumbled my bacon.

I then began to layer sliced tomatoes, basil, green onion, bacon, seasonings (garlic powder, crushed red pepper, and oregano).  I did a second layer and then a third.  Next, I topped my pie with a mixture of 1.5 cups of 2% shredded cheese mixed with 3 TBSP of light mayo.

In the oven it went - loosely covered with tin foil - for 45 minutes.  After 45, I took off the tin foil for another 15.  I ain't gonna lie, my house smelled heavenly.

I took my masterpiece out of the oven and pushed it far back on my island to cool.  Now, I had no intentions of eating it for dinner that night.  It was meant for dinner for the next several nights.

A little while later, I went to the bathroom just to come out and discover Delilah (remember her?) had tipped the pie off the counter and it was now laying face down on my kitchen floor.  I could have killed her.  BUT, I didn't.  Instead...she was banished outside and my Tomato Pie went in the trash.  sigh.

I do not give up easily, however.  The next day I went back to the grocery store and bought more turkey bacon, cheese, and basil to do it all over again.  Oye.

It was worth making twice...it's that good. 

Recipe:
4 large tomatoes - peeled and sliced
1 pie crust
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
3 green onions sliced thinly
12 strips of cooked bacon - crumbled
3 TBSP light mayo
1/5 cups of 2% shredded cheddar

Directions:
Preheat over to 375 degrees.  Boil a pot of water.  Fry bacon.  Chop basil.  Slice onion.  Put two tomatoes at a time in the boiling water.  Stick pie crust in oven for a few minutes and then remove.  Let tomatoes sit for a minute or two in the water, then carefully remove them and put them under cold water to remove the skin.  Repeat for next two tomatoes.  Slice tomatoes.  Layer tomatoes, green onion, basil, bacon, and seasonings.  Top with cheese/mayo mixture.  Loosely cover pie with tin foil and bake for 45 minutes.  Remove tin foil and bake for another 15.  Let sit for 5 minutes or so before slicing pie.

If you make 6 servings out of your pie, it's around 313 calories per slice.

***Note:  next time I make it, I would probably choose to chop the tomato***

Lesson learned:  NEVER ever trust Delilah around food