Happy Life List of the Century

August 31, 2008 · Posted in Training Thoughts, fad diets · Comment

This week I achieved my short term goal of “attending spinning class three times a week”. I am now focusing on maintaining that for a period of time greater than one week – and getting closer to my long term goal of completing a century bike ride.

I’m not an avid cyclist per se but I am confident I could ride 20 or 30 miles, or even 40 on a good day and a flat road. The 100, however, represents a real challenge and is something of a rite of passage for me. It is attainable, and I believe would allow me to upgrade my biking classification from “leisurely fun” to “hard core”. And of course, I love crossing things off lists.

I started doing some research today in terms of training schedules, equipment, food, safety, et cetera. As well as information on riding tips and the like, I came across a guide for creating a happy-life list that I thought was worth sharing.

The jist of the article (found in Self, September 2008 issue, Stephanie Dolgoff) can be summed up by an opening statement from Kate Ebner, CEO of the Nebo Company,

“If you can release yourself from a sense of duty to your list, it can take the pressure off. The trick is to see your list as a chance to examine what truly matters to you, without self–criticism or self imposed deadlines. Think of it as a way of taking a small stand for what you truly want.”

And, some tips:

1. Know the purpose of your list.

2. Consider what already makes you happy.

3. Be sure your goals are things you’re pursuing for yourself.

4. Concentrate on doing, hot having.

5. Include enjoyable goals on your list when possible.

6. Phrase your list in a way that elates and excites you.

7. Break down your goals.

8. Reread your list and notice how it makes you feel.

9. Be prepared to ball up your list and flush it.

I am still working on my complete “happy life list”. In fact, it seems it will always be a work in progress. For now, I am focusing on training for the century ride. I’ve had many lists before – most if not all of them included “loose X amount of weight”, and other body image/weight loss related goals.

This time, I am going after an actual achievement that I will enjoy. I hope by training and completing the ride I’ll see some side benefits – like loosing weight, feeling stronger, having great calves – but this time around I am determined to rid my goal list of self-criticism and take a stand for what I truly want.

In the course of my research I identified a few upcoming rides I am interested in tackling for fun and for training purposes.

The first is the “Flat as a Floodplain Bicycle Ride” on Sunday, September 21. It starts off at Orchard Farm High School in St. Charles, MO. More complete info available at www.trailnet.org. Anybody interested, come and join me!

Tags: fitness goals, weight loss

Pandora’s Roasted Garlic & Onion (Leek) Soup

August 30, 2008 · Posted in Food, Uncategorized · 1 Comment

It’s the Saturday morning on the “last weekend of summer”. I woke up late and starting milling about. Then I realized there was a milk emergency at the house so I high tailed it over to the corner Hucks (gas station for those of you living West of the Mississippi). Of course I cannot make a shopping trip and only purchase one item, so I also picked up some doughnuts for my sweetheart, two boxes of cereal, some orange sherbet, and the pick of picks – overly ripe bananas.

The first time I ever made banana bread was in college – my best friend’s mother had a delicious secret recipe* that was shared. Yummy, easy, and in line with my personal mantra of “waste not, want not” (old bananas – icky).

I came home and started searching through my old cookbook for the 3×5 card I knew was stuck somewhere in the side pocket. In addition to banana bread, I discovered a Pandora’s box of delicious foods I used to love to make and eat – in the “college years”.

The find of finds was my all time, favorite soup recipe.

My girlfriend and I (same friend of banana bread recipe fame) recreated the recipe from memory many falls ago but have been searching at least five years for the actual, original ingredient list and details. What a coup! I have the hand printed copy on a sheet of paper pulled from a spiral notebook. Ah, college.

So, even though we still have a Sunday and Monday left to wear white pants/shoes, and linen…. I am already looking forward to chilly nights and homemade soup. In fact, I may even make this delicious treat and eat it in a white linen summer dress to officially say goodbye to hot and hello to fall.

Without further ado, here it is…

The recipe I tried in college that I still love today:

Roasted Garlic & Onion Soup

From Betty Crocker’s Italian Cooking, page 70

2 medium bulbs roasted garlic

1 TBS olive oil

½ cup chopped prosciutto or fully cooked smoked ham (approximately 4 oz)

¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves

2 medium onions, coarsely chopped (approximately 1 ½ cups)

1 large baking potato peeled & shredded (use a large cheese grater to shred)

2 cans chicken broth (approximately 3 ½ cups)

¼ teaspoon white pepper

¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Make roasted garlic
1. Peel away outermost layers of bulbs, drizzle with oil, salt and pepper, wrap in foil, bake in oven for 30 to 40 minutes – you will smell it when its ready
2. Remove from oven – be EXTREMLY careful as it will be piping hot
3. When garlic is fully cooked, the gloves should pop quite easily out of their pods. Mash, and they are ready for soup

Heat oil. Cook ham, parsley, basil, and onions in oil for approximately 5 minutes
Stir in potato and broth. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 10 minutes.
Stir in roasted garlic paste, white pepper, and cheese. Simmer uncovered approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.

Tips: The longer you simmer the better. I also prefer to substitute leeks for the onions. It gives it a bit of a different taste. Sometimes I like half and half. They are a bit milder than the onions but still add a good spiciness to the soup. The leeks also seem to hold up better if you plan on refrigerating and eating leftovers.

I also enjoy using the smoked ham in the colder months – again, it’s a bit heartier than the prosciutto and works best if you plan on eating leftovers.

I am a garlic freak so I use more than the 2 bulbs – just a matter of preference.

According to Weight Watchers recipie builder (man, I love e tools) the soup is only 2 points per serving. That means its delicious and healthy!

Enjoy!

*You will find the secret banana bread recipie under Laura’s page/Food

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you need a buddy!

August 29, 2008 · Posted in Training Thoughts, weight loss · 1 Comment

I will fully admit that running in the morning is not exactly going to plan. There are many days I wake up and think “I can’t do this” for whatever reason. A good percentage of those days I let myself believe I can’t and go back to bed. On the days I do manage to get up and get going it usually is someone else that pushes me out the door. Sometimes its Brian grumbling at me to turn the alarm off (which as a motivator I have been keeping in the kitchen) other times its Gus’ face in the bedroom window and a low “wake up” bark.

Imagine my surprise today when the bedroom alarm went off at 5:30 and Brian popped out of bed. “Alright, let’s go!” he said brightly. I rolled out of bed, laced up and we hit the pavement, together. It’s been a long time since I have run with someone. In fact it may have been my senior year of high school running with the tennis team. It was nice to have someone encouraging me to push myself and check my form.

It reminded me of the days Maren and I would spend at the gym, working our abs more by laughing than by actually staying on the balance ball. Or playing tennis with buddies, workout videos with roommates, and yoga with siblings. Working out with a friend creates a whole new element in your fitness routine. It helps you take your mind off the pain and have a little fun. So find a friend, share a laugh, and shed some pounds.

Tags: Running, weight loss

Ode to Fad Diets

August 29, 2008 · Posted in Training Thoughts, fad diets · Comment

I miss the days of fad diets, of loosing 4 pounds in one day, of eating nothing but cabbage soup, or bacon and cheese. I miss knowing that while it can’t possibly last, it will be fast and relatively painless. I miss dropping a size in a week and feeling …. Not quite healthy, but good…. Thin even.

I have been religiously working out for six weeks now. Every morning (and every night for that matter) I get on the scale. The numbers are not budging! I am starting to seriously mourn the days of Atkins and injections (don’t ask) and quick weight loss, and fad diets.

My one consolation to all this eating healthy, working out, half a pound a week weight loss is that…. My jeans actually fit better. But I want to SCREAM! Because they are still the same size jeans.

I keep telling myself if I just stick with it, surely the numbers will change. I know I feel healthier. Not anybody could make it through that hour long spinning class at 5:45am. Surely that is a sign of good health? I barely made it through PowerPump last night… but I did. And that has to be a good sign too, right? My fitness watch is telling me I’m in my target heart rate zone more consistently, and I recover back to normal rate more quickly. I have more energy and I even… like working out.

But I want to be THIN!

I will focus on convincing myself that healthy is good. Whole grains are not the enemy! There are other vegetables besides just cabbage! I can eat well and keep up the exercise… and I WILL loose weight.

If I’m honest, I just love, love, love fad diets and skinny really is my ultimate goal…but HEALTHY is not such a bad runner up.

Goodbye, fad diets. Goodbye, fast weight loss. Hello new lifestyle. Hello healthy.

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post vacation assesment

August 27, 2008 · Posted in Training Thoughts · 1 Comment

so wednesday is weigh-in official style. no standing on one foot, hopping up and down or otherwise tricking the scale. i’m up close to 4lbs. vacation is bad for the diet. sure, i walked on the beach and did the steps at least twice a day, but always with a drink in hand and after a huge meal. back to the grind. long days fixing the hair problems of the world and eating reasonably. not to mention the recomittment to gym membership. this week is going to suck. necessary evil. i will rid myself of the vacation flab by next week. i will force myself to hide the fat jeans. i will only wear the small work pants until they are loose again. i will conquer the pie and pork steaks of last week.

plan of attack-

tread-climber 3x this week for 45 minutes

two bike rides of at least 45 minutes

time at the pool to remind myself fat in a swimsuit is bad, plus laps for good measure

minimal drinking this weekend

stay on the points

drink water like a maniac

this will surely work. it’s worked before. now for the hard part, follow through. only the scale will tell next wednesday. i can lie to myself, but not to the official scale. it knows.