Running Crazy!

 

Speeding Up

I know its only Tuesday, but I am having a great week. I have already run 12 miles! My running buddy and I were feeling like we had hit a plateau, so we added a little extra distance on to our morning route. It's just the little kick we needed to get going again. We have also been trying to increase our pace, and sometimes mix it up with a bit of alternating between walking briefly and then running fast. We talk a lot while we run, but sometimes running gets a little boring if we just keep the same pace all the time. I swear since we have increased our pace our runs seem to go by faster, even though we have added distance. And, my legs feel it so much more. I am sore and fatigued, but in a good way. If there is such a thing.

Minding My House

I have also been improving on the household front. I have spending less "unfocused" time online. Instead of aimlessly surfing the web or checking for Facebook updates and tweets like an addict jonesing for crack, or just sitting while watching TV, I have been multi-tasking and getting more done. Last week I managed to dust my bedroom, clean 2 bathrooms, and vacuum 3 rooms and do an insane amount of laundry. Not only did I just wash and dry the clothes, but I folded them and put them away. One night I even did arm weights while I watched TV. By no means did I achieve all that really needs to be done in my house on a weekly basis, but I have already accepted the fact that I can't do it all when I am working full time. Anything that gets done is a bonus!

Family Time

During the week this still suffers and I don't know if there really is a solution. I don't know what I'm going to do when my kids are in school and have homework, and how we're going to get it done. By the time I get home from work it seems like all I have time to do are the necessities: feed, bathe, and bed. Buddha has been sleeping in a bed now for 1 whole week! Only at night time, as he still has been napping in his crib. This is because during the week I am not here and I think it might be a little too much for my MIL and Mom who split the week watching my kids to try to sleep train him in a big boy bed. He has figured out that he can get off the bed and walk out of the room. And he tries it, repeatedly. He still desperately needs his nap during the day and I am afraid that initially when we take his crib away completely that he may end up skipping naps because his caregivers can't keep him in bed. I guess we'll get there in due time.

Food, Bite By Bite

I want to start documenting what I eat on my blog, but am afraid it will become a chore. So I may do it from time to time, and will continue to share great recipes as I try them out. I have been doing well with eating so far this week (I know, its only Tuesday!) and have discovered my love for quinoa. I stumbled upon this website for  quinoa recipes. If you sign up for the newsletter, will you receive a free download of a cook book! I can't wait to try many of them, they look fabulous and quinoa is good stuff. It's a complete protein (which is rare for a plant food). You can eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

I have been eating egg whites and wheat toast for breakfast and find that it keeps me satisfied until my mid- morning snack, which has been half a grapefruit the past 2 days. I continue to bring my lunch to work to prevent me from making bad choices. Monday, for lunch I had tuna mixed with Dijon mustard, and lettuce on an Orowheat Sandwhich Thin. I love those things. I used to think I needed to mix my tuna with a bit of mayo, but Trader Joe's makes this great Dijon which is full of flavor and has a little kick to it. I can easily do without the mayonaise! I also had a small cup of Campbell's V-8 Vegetable Soup. When I was craving something sweet later I had a banana. Today I brought a piece of chicken I baked the night before, and some quinoa I had made over the weekend, which was mixed with sauteed onions, diced tomatoes, garlic, and some organic jarred marinara. I had more vegetable soup on hand but wasn't hungry enough to eat it.

Tomorrow I will be roasting a spaghetti squash, which will yield enough for me to eat the next few days for lunch or dinner. I have learned to appreciate meatless meals...not just on Monday, any day of the week. YUM!

Hope your week is off to a good start my friends!