Running with Heart

I once read a quote (I think it was a meme on Pinterest or some such) that said,

 "when your legs quit, run with your heart".

It really hit me that there is such truth in that. I can't tell you how many runs happen where I am positive my legs will absolutely not carry me another mile, and then somehow, they do.  The only explanation for it really is that at some point my heart just carries me.  Look, I never in a million years thought I'd easily run a mile, so when I get out there and hit a bunch of miles? Every single time, it's emotional and fills my heart.

For the first probably year that I took up running, I ran alone.  I was very intimidated by running with other people.  What if I'm the slowest? What if I have to stop?  What if they all realize I'm an impostor and not actually a runner?  It's just all too much to worry about.  At some point, I started running with people.  And what I have realized is this: runners are the most kind, caring, and encouraging group of people.  They run with their heart. They WANT other people to enjoy the run.  They don't mind slowing down sometimes.  And let me tell you also, a mile goes by a whole hell of a lot faster, with company.  Even if it's actually slower.

So anyway, today was a big day for me.  8 months ago I joined a facebook group of the local Moms Run This Town group.  I joined it, and then I never went on a single run with them.  Way too much uncomfortable social anxiety there.  Today, I joined them. And do you know what? Holy crap, they were the nicest group of ladies! I had to get 11 miles done today (I do loosely following a training schedule) and it was amazing to do 11 miles with company.  The first 6 miles, I was towards the front of the group, the last 5 miles, I was at the very back of the group.  And hey guess what? It didn't matter! These ladies were kind and gracious and they didn't care if I ran an 11:15 minute mile or a 13 minute mile.  So phew, that hurdle has been crossed and now I know I should have gone sooner!

And about those 11 miles.  I am so proud of myself.  Do you know what? It is ok, even great, to be proud of yourself! When you accomplish something, take pride in it.  I was proud because I have had a rough week.  I had 2 days of really bad migraines, and then I have been struggling with weakness all over.  Just as I had decided maybe I was dying (and google did in fact concur with that), I thought hey maybe it's actually my diet.  I have been hella strict on my current 24 day challenge (oh hi, I lost 9 pounds in 10 days!).  Maybe not eating quite enough, I don't know how to explain it.  Anyway, on Thursday I ran 2.5 miles, and it was supposed to be 3, but my legs were dead.  I could barely lift them.  I was definitely missing something.  So knowing I had an 11 miler this weekend, yesterday I drank some extra electrolytes (I like Advocare rehydrate and also Nuun tablets), and I ate 3 bananas. And magically, my legs worked today! 

 And when my legs quit on me at mile 10?
Well then I just used my heart.  💓

That's me still smiling after 11 miles.  😉

More meal prep!

If I'm being completely honest I really kind of hate meal planning.  I can never decide what I want to make.  Will my family eat it? Is that enough planned for a week? What will I have for lunches? What do you mean I can't just hit up a drive thru every night? 

Planning is KEY to weight loss for me though. Without a plan, and groceries to back that plan, I slide into my old habits way too easy.  I start fooling myself into thinking I am eating healthy when I'm having salad doused in fatty dressing or when I'm only having snacks all day.  

As much as I hate the planning, I actually love cooking. I am currently dabbling in trying to prep stuff on Sundays for the majority of the week.  I don't do ALL my cooking on that one day (and I'm only 2 weeks into this again anyway), but I do some.  

Here's this week-

So first I made this super easy and yummy soup in the Instant Pot-
Butternut Squash Curry Soup.

I made the soup to eat for my lunches mostly, though I had a bowl for breakfast this morning because nothing else sounded good and I was getting hangry. 

The other container has 2 pounds of lean ground turkey taco meat.  We will use some for Taco Tuesday dinner and then I will freeze some for next week as well. (Taco Tuesday is tacos for the kids typically, and either a salad or a bowl of veggies with taco meat on them, for me).

I was definitely wanting this Hummus Crusted Chicken for the week, but I also live with a very picky family and knew I would be the only one eating chicken with poisonous (apparently) hummus on top, so I seasoned a few chicken breasts and baked it all up at the same time.  

That was the extent of what I did on Sunday.  

On Monday I made this One Pan Parmesan Pork Chops and Veggies

My plan was to cut the parmesan cheese down, but in the end I forgot completely to add it so I just sprinkled a little on top.  This was easy and I loved it, just need to work on the cooking time a bit.  The chops were cooked perfectly, but the veggies were not.

Portioning leftovers immediately into meal sizes are the perfect way to be prepared.  

I have one more recipe on the agenda for the week, but I feel like my fridge is currently packed with enough food, so I may end up saving that one for the weekend.

Healthy eating is really so much easier when you take the time to PREPARE.  

Meal Prep Sunday!

I don't always do a bunch of meal prep on Sundays, but I am trying to make more of an effort lately.  My sweet husband is kicking off a 6 month weight loss challenge at work tomorrow, and he is kicking off his own by doing an Advocare 24 day challenge..

He has done a challenge before and had great success with it (lost 10 lbs!), but as is life, we moved, he started a new job, and just life with 3 kids stressors, means his eating habits have gone right down the drain again.  With the crap he has been putting in his body, I absolutely know he is going to feel amazing after a few weeks of just putting good nutrition in his body.  

Today I decided I would prep his snacks for the week to take to work.  I don't usually do that for him, goodness, snacking the kids is a full time job. However, I DO know the challenge a lot better than him, and I am already a week into my own current challenge, so I figured I would do this for him. He was amazed when he saw how easy I made it for him.

So the first one, I measured out the almonds in one set of bags, and then I measured out strawberries and grapes in the second set of bags.

Then I put all those bags in one giant bag, and instructed him to take one fruit, and one almond.  

These bags have an apple and 1 Tablespoon of natural peanut butter as another snack.

Carrots in one set of bags (need to buy cucumbers for him next week, I forgot he will also eat those!)

There are hardboiled eggs in the other bags and there is tuna mixed with salsa in the 2 containers.

Instructions to take one tuna OR egg bag, and a bag of carrots.

And that's it.  He will be at work for 2 snacks, so he just needs to pick 2 of these snack ideas per day.

Breakfast for him is super easy and the same thing he always does--a meal replacement shake.  We love these even when not on a challenge, and since he has breakfast while driving from the gym into work in the morning, it is certainly the easiest way to go.

When we ordered his challenge, Advocare had their big New Year All In promotion going on, so we each got 3 of these nifty containers.  Made lunch packing super easy!  Day 1 he is having broccoli with sweet potato and chicken. This plan is easy anyway, but with someone else doing all your meal prep, it's a cake walk.  Except, without the cake. 😂

So that's it for prepping his stuff to get ready for the challenge.

I will share the meal prep I did in another post!

Run on.

I am proud to say that in 2016, I ran 5 half-marathons! I never imagined myself running one, never mind more than one.  To think back to 2014 when I struggled so hard to run to the end of my street.  I remember starting couch to 5K for the billionth time, and when I got to the part where I had to run for 5 minutes, I couldn't do it.  I just could not.  After I registered for my first half (it was the Disney princess in 2015), I just kept running.  Having a goal on the horizon definitely helps keep me focused.  I am still not a fast runner, but I have come to so much more acceptance of that fact than ever before.  When I come home from a 10 mile run, no matter how long the damn miles took me, I just feel so accomplished and empowered. I can honestly say I love running now.  I don't by any means love every run, and to be honest, running is still hard. It is something I want to keep doing though, so for now, I will.  

Since my blogging fell to the wayside, and I didn't recap each race, here are some photos of the races I did last year.  

Started the year with the Houston half-marathon in January.  It it a great race that I can't wait to do again.  Super flat and amazing crowd support.  I think I may have still been blogging a bit when I did this one.

My sentiments, exactly:

A medal and a beer.....ahhhhh

A few weeks later, I ran the Katy half-marathon.  It was a redemption race (so to speak) for my amazing running friend, and I loved running this with a friend!  

Next up was the Disney Princess! This year I did the Glass Slipper challenge, which means I ran the 10K on Saturday and then the 1/2 marathon on Sunday.  The best part of running, and I mean BEST, is running friends and destination races creating the most fabulous girls weekends.  We had a complete blast, and so so so so so many laughs. Loved every minute of it. We won't discuss how this half was my absolute worst--I cried twice right in the middle of it.  Ha!

The awesome shoe tag my bff gave me this weekend:

Post-race hangry faces:

Something about disney races makes me want to wear silly outfits: 

Hands down the most fabulous, focused, fun group of ladies! 

A hug from my boy on the course! 

Another girls weekend opportunity? OK, yes please!

I traveled to Cincinnati, OH to run the Flying Pig half-marathon with some more amazing girl friends.  The dreaded Flying Pig is nothing but hills and bridges, but thanks to a very patient running friend/coach, I made it to the finish line faster than I thought I would.   

My last half-marathon of the year!  Our fabulous friends from Texas flew in and we all had a blast of a running weekend.  My 8 year old ran his first 5 K (he hated it) with me, and then C and I ran the half the next day.  The little kids even ran the little kid dashes.  It was a cold weekend, but it felt good to get back out there after many hot months off!

Oh those hills.  I hate them all. 

Can't wait to run some races in 2017!  I have less of them planned, but I have my eye on finishing a FULL MARATHON in December.  

And I am terrified.  😉