Smoothies!

Maybe it's the warmer weather, but I have been totally obsessed with smoothies recently. I've been eating a smoothie for breakfast every day for over a year, but now they've been working their way into snacks and even the occasional dinner. I use the No Meat Athlete smoothie formula as follows.

1 soft fruit (banana or avocado)
2 small handfuls (~1 cup) frozen or fresh fruit
protein powder
binder
+/- oil
1-1.5 cups liquid
+/- sweetner
Greens
"Superfood" add ins

My example-
Banana
1 cup frozen berries
1 scoop Raw Protein-Vanilla
2 tbsp ground flax
1 tbsp chia seeds
Kale or spinach
1 cup coconut water

This is my go to smoothie. It comes to about 400 calories, 7 grams of fat, and 20 grams of protein. If I need more fat, I add in a tablespoon of coconut oil. Occasionally I'll use chocolate almond milk and add in some peanut butter. Nom. 

What are your favorite smoothie recipes?

Body Positivity

I have a belly, butt, and thighs that jiggle when I run. My hair is curly, but not always evenly so. My boobs are too small for my frame. My nose is quite large. I'm not thin by any stretch of the imagination. 

But I don't really care anymore. I build muscle easily on my thighs and butt. When my hair curls, it looks awesome, otherwise I wear it straight. I have a nose ring that accentuates my perfect large nose. And my boobs, well, short of surgery, I can't do anything about it.

I used to focus on on all of the things I "couldn't" wear or do because of my size or body type. Over the past four years, I've slowly gotten to the point that I really don't care. I want to wear things that look good on me, but I'm a bit more adventurous. I only wear make up and jewelry on special occasions. 

I used to think in order to be happy, I would have to be thin. No negotiations. Just thin. In 2008, I ate 1200 calories a day of chicken breast and vegetables, and worked out 3-5 times a week, some with a trainer. I got down to my lowest adult weight, but I was still not thin. I was doing everything "right" and I still wasn't thin. I was so frustrated and unhappy with everything and very easily fell back into old patterns.

By 2010, I was back up to my highest weight ever, eating Taco Bell at least three times a week and tired all of the time from working two jobs. I was so depressed and not taking care of myself at all. I was smoking a half a pack of cigarettes per day and hardly walked more than to and from my car. 

Today, I eat a mostly plant based diet with lots of delicious and healthy foods. I do a mix of running, cross training, lifting, yoga, and group fitness classes 3-5 times a week. I'm currently logging my calories and macros to make sure that I eat enough. 

My body can do some pretty amazing things. I can pull up 125 lbs of my body weight. I can use the squat machine with 150 lbs for 3 sets of 12 reps. I can run/walk 6 miles (and more if I trained). I can hold yoga poses I never thought I would try. I love dance fitness. 

But I'm still not thin. And I'm okay with that.

I do have goals. It would be nice to lose 50 lbs, but I still wouldn't be thin. So I focus on fitness goals. I want to run at 35 minute 5k. I want to gain more flexibility. I want to start heavy lifting. If the weight comes off, fantastic. If not, I'm healthier than before. 

Lucky's Market!

Today I got a special treat. I got to go grocery shopping at Lucky's Market with my friend Sunshine. Lucky's is kind of like Whole Foods, but most of their stuff is less expensive. I looked at their flyer this morning, and it was though they had seen my grocery list! 

I'm kind of a grocery shopping nerd. I could spend all day going through the aisles and gazing longingly at all of the expensive vegan food. I was super excited today because Lucky's had pretty much all of the produce that I needed on sale. And it was organic. Among my finds today were avocados, oranges, tomatillos, mushrooms, and potatoes. I also found a delicious looking herb and garlic spread from Earth Balance and vegan horseradish sauce. I have no idea what I will eat it with, but I will find something! Another awesome find was a sweet bottle of pinot noir for $5.99! 

My meals this week include chili cheese fries with this as inspiration, mashed potato enchiladas, collard greens with sweet potatoes and quinoa, and a tempeh hash. 

All of this was $107.02. Awesome. Also, if you haven't tried the Boom Chicka Pop popcorn, do it now. You will thank me later.

Brutal Workout Musings

I haven't been great about working out recently. I've only been working out 2-3 times a week instead of my usual 3-5. This has led me to feel dumpy and depressed, and not eat as well as I usually do. Which makes me feel dumpy. Vicious cycle. 

So I decided to go to boot camp on Friday. Body Rebellion Boot Camp is awesome. It kicked my ass this week. We did push ups, lunges, tricep dips, and lots of other things that I don't know the names of. At one point, I was sure I would die. I looked at the girl next to me and noticed she was crying. I felt like crying. When we finally got to stretching it out, I felt wobbly and sore. But I felt fantastic. The depression I was feeling melted away. 

I did Zumba on Saturday and was lucky enough to be joined by my sister Angela and friend Sarah. It's much more fun to do group classes with friends. Zumba is so much fun and I highly recommend it if you haven't tried it. The same facility that does the boot camp also has several Zumba classes per week. I definitely felt even better after Zumba. I even felt good enough to go to a wine tasting yesterday! It was so fun!

This morning, I woke up feeling so sore and like I'm getting a cold. The original plan was going to the gym for a light run/walk. I was not feeling that this morning with my runny nose! I decided to do yoga. We recently cleaned up our partially finished basement, so it's a perfect meditation space. I can lock out Nathan and our pets and just be with myself. I did about 45 minutes of yoga, and now I feel awesome. It's so much easier now that I just listen to what my body wants.

What's in my cart?

I'm really trying to fit this blogging thing in... I love to talk about food and groceries, so I'm planning to talk about what's in my cart each week. 

I feel like you guys can't see my fruits and veggies because of all the boxed stuff on top. Oh well.

This week, my meals include buffalo chick pea tacos, pad thai with tofu and veggies, burrito bowls, hummus sandwiches, "cheesy" fries with salads, and veggie pizza. I also got some mangoes, blood oranges, and clementines. I'm cheating with the veggie pizza and bought packaged crust. I tend to cheat on work nights since I work 10 hour days and still try to get work outs in. I also purchased a bottle of pink moscato for me and beer for Nathan. On the veggie side, I got onions, kale, and spinach. Nathan is also finally on board with organic milk, so that's in there as well... Total was around $120, with the grocery part being $106. Eating healthy does not have to be super expensive!

Best Christmas Ever

My cat Padme has chronic gastrointestinal disease. We have been dealing with this for three years, so when she didn't eat on Saturday night, I didn't think much of it. I took her to work yesterday, where I found out she may have badness related to chronic inflammation. I thought we may have to do surgery to figure out what was wrong. I begrudgingly hospitalized her overnight on fluids and medications to help her... and she started eating last night. She's home today, but we are not totally out of the woods.

 Yesterday I was pretty upset. Padme is 15, and I don't know that surgery would be best for her. I was not ready to euthanize her. I had a sobbing meltdown to my mom. I can't imagine Padme not being here. She sleeps on my pillow. She eats guacamole. She studied with me when I was in college. She got me out of bed when I was depressed. I can't imagine my life without her. I know I will have to eventually live without her. I just want her to tell me she's ready, and I know she isn't yet. I'm glad she's giving me more time to get used to the idea. Bringing Padme home today was probably the best gift I have ever gotten. Padme and I wish you a very merry Christmas.

Work Out Rest Days

So I haven't felt like working out. For three days. So I haven't. I feel like its important to take off days for injury abd mental health. Days off don't mean sitting on the couch and doing nothing (to me, for mental health). Since I didn't go to the gym, I cleaned the kitchen, played with the dogs in the snow, and moved some furniture. No need to get on the treadmill after that. Well, I could, but I won't. My goal now is to just keep moving.

Oven Roasted Potato Tacos

I tried something new tonight... I made up my own recipe with no inspiration from another. I was craving potatoes and something spicy and slightly greasy. I also have kale in my fridge that I wanted to use. So I came up with Oven Roasted Potato Tacos!

Recipe: 
5-7 small red skinned potatoes cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1-2 tsp olive oil
salt and seasonings of choice

Bake potatoes at 400 for 25 minutes.

I sauteed a jalapeno and a small red onion in about a teaspoon of olive oil. I then added pinto beans and a few sprinkles of tabasco sauce. After about two minutes, I added the kale and cooked until it was soft. Top with avocado and hot sauce on a tortilla of choice. Boom. Easy dinner. 

During the process, I had to have Nathan run out for tortillas, and I spilled about a quarter of the can of pinto beans down the sink. Because I am clumsy. Still delicious and totally worth the little screw ups. 

I'm Back!

After my long hiatus, I'm back. My New Year's resolution is to blog three times a week, so I figured I could start now. I'm going to try and post my weekly grocery shopping experience, as well as my menu, so that's where I'll start.

 On the menu this week: burrito bowls, spinach and artichoke pasta, sweet potato burgers with roasted potatoes, pesto pizza, and black bean and avocado enchiladas.

 Highlights of my purchase: 1 sweet potato, a bunch of kale, jalapenos, 2 bags of avocados, 2 jars of peanut butter, apples, tangerines, and cherry tomatoes. I also splurged on a dark mint chocolate bar, organic lemonade, and chocolate covered frozen bananas. Also purchased some ham, cheese, and organic milk for hubby. All of this and more was $81.

Since I last blogged, I have adopted a plant based diet. I am avoiding dairy and eggs, as well as meat. I've been doing this for about a month, and I feel awesome. I know that this diet isn't for everyone, but it works for me. If you're interested in a plant based diet, I recommend the documentary Forks Over Knives. I've heard arguments that a vegan diet is expensive and hard, but I've been spending less and the meals seem easier.

 

Cap City

I ran my first race (other than a 5k) this weekend! I ran a quarter marathon (6.55 miles). My goal was 1:30, and I made it in 1:33. At first I was disappointed in this, but my first mile was the best time I had ever done (11:11). I think I started out too strong and puttered out. But I did it! And I'm so excited that I did it that I will be signing up for a half marathon in October. Training starts at the end of June! I'm super excited! 

One year!

Today marks one year without smoking, and I couldn't be more proud. I decided to quit smoking in March of 2012, after Nathan and I went hiking in Hocking Hills and I was wheezing on the way back up the hill. I was WHEEZING! I was 24 years old and wheezing at the end of a four mile hike. This was not acceptable. I picked a date to quit (April 19), and I stuck with it for once. This did not go smoothly though. I remember crying and yelling at Nathan that night that he was pressuring me to quit smoking when I wasn't ready. 

But I was ready. I was tired of not being able to breathe when I was working out or getting winded while wrestling with a dog at work. The first 10 days were the hardest. I cleaned out my car to get rid of the smell. I took a different route home from work to try to break my habit. I didn't drink at all for almost 6 weeks, and I didn't drink beer for three months. I knew that if I had a Blue Moon or Woodchuck, I would need that cigarette. And it got easier.  The Quit Now! app really helped. I still keep it on the homepage of my phone, and it reminds me how much money I've saved, how many cigarettes I haven't smoked, and how many days I've gained back of my life. I don't want to ever hit that "reset" button that takes me back to zero. 

I was so lucky to have a great support system during this time. Nathan put up with my tantrums (they were plentiful), my family gave me space, and my co-workers tolerated my rollercoaster of emotions. I couldn't have done it without help!

Columbus, Ohio

I love living in Columbus. The cost of living is reasonable, Nathan and I both like our jobs, it's pretty pet friendly, and there's lots to do. I've liked Columbus even more now that I am more active.

There are so many parks and trails and downtown is pedestrian friendly. The park I frequent the most is Three Creeks in Groveport. They have an awesome dog park and lots of trails. This is where I do at least half of my running. The other half is by Pickerington Ponds. 

Other things I love about Columbus: There's always something to do. We have Jeni's. And Columbus is pretty vegetarian friendly. 

So why am I inside doing nothing? I ran six miles this morning.

And I'm covered in cats.

The Crunchy Car

So yesterday we decided to look around at cars. I've always wanted a hatchback and since our cars are both not doing so hot, we had started looking online at cost and specifics of cars that we may want. I liked the Ford Focus, but since I drive 55+ miles per day, I really needed something that was going to save on gas if we were going to have another car payment....

So we bought a Prius.

Isn't it cute!?!?! 

We were so proud of ourselves because we got a good deal, and stuck with our guns about the monthly payment amount. We have now dubbed the Prius "The Crunchy Car." 

Happy Easter, everyone!

Multiple Musings

So I have a confession... I haven't weighed myself in almost a month. I hadn't lost more than a few ounces since December and I was starting to get frustrated. No matter how hard I was working out or how well I was eating, the scale didn't move. It was so frustrating because I feel better than I ever have. My body can do pretty much whatever I ask of it. So I put away the scale. 

This week also marks six months since I've worn Spanx. I used to wear them everyday, for over two years. Even in the summer. I was embarrassed about how I looked without them. In September, I decided that I felt better without them. And I feel like I even look better too.

I am making vegan chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting and spring time quinoa salad for Easter dinner. Nom.

Self Injury Awareness Day

I have struggled with depression and self injury my entire life. It started as a young teenager, when I realized that cutting myself made me feel less anxious about pretty much everything. When I was finally diagnosed with depression at the age of 15, medication helped with the extreme emotions, but it made me feel completely apathetic to everything. The cutting got worse on medications. I had an abusive boyfriend who put me down and made me feel like garbage. When he dumped me, I cut up my entire arm. After that day, December 4, 2003, I decided I would stop. The first three months of not cutting were really hard, but I didn't slip. 

I have never gotten over the struggle with cutting. When I'm going through stressful or depressed times, I have to keep myself in check. I can't be alone around razors or pocket knives. It's actually harder for me to not cut than it is to not smoke.

I have self-inflicted scars all over my body to remind me that my past is real. Self injury is real, and well-adjusted people struggle with it. Please visit TWLOHA for more information.

Evolving Workouts

When I first started working out last year, I started with the elliptical I have in the basement. We bought this off of Craigslist for $100, it's a really cheap elliptical. I would do this for 20ish minutes several times weekly while watching a TV show. This helped me maintain my weight while I quit smoking. Then we had a gym open up about 10 minutes away with fees of $10 per month. I was not able to pass this up. I've been going to Planet Fitness since it opened in July 2012. At first, I started with walking on the treadmill and continuing with the elliptical. I also started training for my first 5k. I started weight lifting, and I really enjoy it. That's also where I've noticed the most difference in my body. A few weeks ago, I bought a Groupon for fitness classes. I've never been comfortable in classes, I feel like a group is not the way to go for me. I tried yoga and loved it, but definitely not the classes. I have been doing some of the stretches I learned at home. My sister got me to try Zumba, which I really thought I would hate. I absolutely love it. It's fun, and you don't even realize you've been working out for an hour. I've grown to love my workout time, and it is ever evolving. I'm hoping to try a boot camp next!

Vegan Baking

I've been dabbling in vegan baking. Last week I made a vegan cinnamon cake and Guinness brownies. They were both sooo good, so I got a little adventurous today and made chocolate avocado cupcakes with vegan buttercream (1 cup of vegan margarine, 3 cups powdered sugar, 2 to 3 tablespoons of almond milk, and 1 tablespoon of vanilla). They were the most delicious thing I have ever baked. Ever. We are not vegan, but do want to watch our cholesterol and fat intake. Nathan's dad died when he was young due to a heart attack, and I have heart disease in my family. I also want to reach my ideal weight by the end of the year, so we are introducing more vegan meals and keeping up the exercise. Stay healthy, friends.

Gun control, stress eating, and other rants.

So I'm feeling some stress tonight. First off, I have seen several posts on Facebook and elsewhere talking about how Sandy Hook was a hoax or conspiracy by the Obama administration to get people riled up about gun control... Are you fucking kidding me? Seriously? Lots of people died, most of them small children and you are going off on crazy rants? I guess there is a 30 minute video to go along with this, but I have a life and no time to watch a 30 minute gun crazy circle jerk. No one is coming to take away all of the guns.  We just want the rules that we have to be enforced and some new ones to be made to make these massacres less frequent. Someone posted a comment to the video in question saying that if Vicki Soto would have had a gun, the whole thing could have been stopped. This makes me rage on a whole new level. My little sister is a first year teacher, and the picture that really made Sandy Hook hit home to me was the picture of Vicki's sister waiting to hear of her fate. I feel like Vicki could have been my sister, as I know Angela would do the same thing in that situation. And the thought of her carrying a gun to school makes me so angry. A hand gun would have done nothing. The guy was wearing a bullet proof vest and had an automatic weapon. He would have gotten off 10 shots before she drew the gun anyway. Enough about guns...

I have been under some stress for the past few days, and I find it fascinating how my reaction to stress has changed. I used to curl up into a ball, smoke 10 cigarettes, and eat $20 worth of Taco Bell by myself. Now, I did just send Nathan for some volcano nachos, but I also went for a run tonight. I crave exercise now instead of cigarettes or tons of food. I'm still letting myself eat what I want, just lesser quantities. My goal is to maintain my weight and keep working out while I'm so stressed.

Am I a Crunchy Geek, Too?

So I married a geek. Like one that loves Star Trek, Doctor Who, and is a programmer/IT guy. I've always loved Star Wars and horror, but for many years, avoided anything that would make me seem like a dork. Finally when I hit my early 20's (after being married for several years!), I started to give new sci-fi a chance. I started with Firefly and really enjoyed it. 

Nathan finally had me watch Battlestar Galactica. I highly recommend this series for any sci-fi fan, especially those into apocalyptic fiction. I became obsessed with the characters. I even got people at work into the show. After I watched the entire series in an embarassingly short period of time, Nathan got me to watch Doctor Who. I've managed to avoid some of the Star Trek movies and have only watched a handful of Star Trek episodes. 

I prefer post apocalyptic sci-fi to the hopeful universe Star Trek embodies. Probably because I'm more of a horror fan anyway. I love zombies. I love fast (Danny Boyle) zombies. I love 28 Days Later. I do appreciate the shamblers, but they don't terrify the way the sprinters do. I think part of the reason I started running was so I would be in shape for the zombie apocalypse, but as of my Zombie Buffet 5k in October, I failed miserably. I was "dead" by the quarter mile mark. (Note to file: I don't really believe the zombie apocalypse is coming)

I know being a geek isn't about the shows we watch. I also love science. I'm a vet tech because I love medicine. I love cooking because I love chemistry. 

I spent many years denying myself of things that I would enjoy because I thought I would be labeled in a certain way. How silly is that? I guess I will spend my time being a crunchy geek then.

Noms

One of my favorite parts of the week is meal planning. I lay in bed with my dogs and turn on one of my shows (usually Grey's Anatomy!), and start my weekly recipe search. As I mentioned in my previous post, I am mostly vegetarian. I do it for health reasons and the ethical and environmental implications are a bonus. My body simply feels better when I don't eat meat. 

My weekly staple is nachos. On Monday nights, Nathan and I take our break from the gym and have a date night to start the week. I make my nachos with black and pinto beans, cantina chips, whatever cheese I have on hand, red onions, jalapenos, and guacamole. We always look forward to nacho nights!

I like to try at least two new recipes per week and the rest are old recipes. I also make at least 3 meals during a marathon cooking session on Sundays to avoid eating out during the week. It saves so many calories and so much cash! 

My goal for 2013 is to eat more real foods. I would like to hit my "goal weight" by the end of the year, so maintaining my fitness and diet will be important. Anyone have any good vegetarian recipes?

Note: My sister, Angela, told me that I should explain what "crunchy" means. I use crunchy as granola aka "hippie." I don't consider myself a hippie, but crunchy has been used to describe me by several people, and I kind of like it! 

Have a happy Friday!