Eat: Watch: Run

1. I bought a pedometer.

They say (who are they?) that you’re supposed to take 10,000 steps a day. I didn’t think that sounded like a big deal at first, but hot damn, that is a lot of steps. I average about 2,500 steps a day just walking around work and the house (no exercise). I’ve been wearing this thing for a week and I’ve gotten over 10k once – the day I ran five freakin’ miles. Even the days I ran three miles, I didn’t get 10k. WTF? Ten thousand steps is approximately six miles. Who walks that much on a normal basis? I really need to get out of my desk job.

Usually I don’t put the pedometer on until I leave the house in the morning to allow for a margin of error, but that’s not more than a few hundred steps that I’m not counting. So now, I feel like a lazy piece of poo because of a $20 piece of plastic. Now I’m obsessed with taking more steps. Instead of standing in front of the microwave while I heat up my lunch, I walk in circles around the kitchen at work like an idiot. Or I’ll walk to the bathroom even though I don’t have to go. You will not win, pedometer!

Now, I just need to figure out a way to wear it so I don’t look like a 1990′s drug dealer.

2. It’s time to make a goal.

I’m going to Texas for three weeks, which means three weeks without Crossfit. *sniff* I’ll still do Crossfit-type workouts in the hotel room but I’m limited to what exercises I can do. Plus, my motivation to work out in a small room is non-existent when I can can lay on the bed and practice eating cookies instead.

So I thought I would make a running goal. I’m going to run at least one mile every day. Or I should say, most days because every day sounds hard. I guess running that much is a goal in itself, but I also want to see how fast I can get that one mile. I’ll start with a baseline (which will probably be around a 9 minute mile) and see what I can work up to. It would be cool if I could do a full mile somewhere in the seven minute range but that sounds fast and hard. And that’s what she said.

3. Reason #1 I will never be able to eat oats in a jar.

4. If you like me on Facebook or follow me on the Twitter, you may have seen me gush about this already but I just have to say it here too: the Color Me Rad race is awesome. All their race photos sell for $4.00 or less. I wish more races would take note.

Of course, I had to support them with those prices.

5. Get these. Eat them. Immediately.

6. I plastered this one all over FB and Twitter too, but I just can’t help but share the adorable again.

I’m gonna miss that girl.

Have a good weekend and I’ll talk to you again from Texas.

Besides the leisurely color run on Saturday, I haven’t been doing much running at all, nor have I felt like it. I think about running a lot, but when it comes to actually putting one foot in front of the other, that’s not happening. Total burnout going on over here.

I would say I average three sweet, non-consecutive miles a week. Some of those my Crossfit trainer makes me do, so don’t think they are even voluntary miles, and that’s only when I can’t talk him into letting me do the stair stepper or jump rope instead. So it makes total sense that I would sign up for the Fredericksburg Wildflower 10k.

When I heard the first 200 registrants were getting a free jar of jelly, I just couldn’t pass up the chance that I’d be one of those lucky 200.

I have big plans for me and that jar of jelly. Big plans.

The race is in two weeks so I thought I should probably run more than 2 consecutive miles at some point between now and then. That happened last night. It went pretty well, but man I felt like I was at the gym forever.

It also makes sense that I really want to run the Deckers Creek Trail Half Marathon with Melissa on June 1 too, right? I don’t want to do any of the training to prepare for it, but I’d really like to run that race. I like anything described as “downhill.” Then again, I also like anything described as “covered in frosting.” So until I can find a race that’s covered in frosting, I’ll settle for downhill.

In my head, I want to run so much but my heart hasn’t been in it. So I guess what I’m saying is, my goal for the 10k is to not do this.

Is it cool to talk about last weekend even though it’s Wednesday? I’m gonna go with yes. Yes it is. So, I was super productive last weekend! Not only did I finish my taxes and drop off a bunch of stuff to Goodwill, I got a little shopping done for my upcoming business trip. I’m determined not to be unprepared. I always bring things I think I need but don’t (fluffy bunny slippers) and then end up leaving things that I don’t think I need but do (nail clippers). So I’m taking steps to not be a terrible traveler.

1.  First up, two new pairs of shoes from Target.

I don’t love either of those but I do love them more than walking around a military base all day in heels, which is all I have as far as work shoes. I’m thinking those should match any outfit I can come up with so hopefully I’ll only need to bring those, a pair of flip flops, and my sneakers. Also, let’s note that those are my first ever pair of ballet flats which I’ve avoided like the plague until now because 1) I don’t find them to be particularly cute or stylish like everyone else on the planet and 2) hubs hates ballet flats on women. (Aww, I’m such a husband pleaser.)

2. I bought a real book.

I was pretty sure once I met my Nook, I would never buy another book again. That is, until my last business trip when I was stuck in a room that didn’t allow electronics while everyone else went on half hour smoke breaks.

Michelle recommended Matched and whatever she recommends, I read. The girl’s got a 99% success rate with me. Matched is a trilogy, so I’m sure I’ll get sucked into it on my trip. As you can see, Pants already likes it as well.

3. A travel laundry bag.

I’m already excited that I won’t be putting my laundry into five Wal-Mart bags just to get it to the laundry room. Plus, I inevitably see a co-worker in the hotel hallway and have to talk to them while my faded, holey, 10-year-old underwear is hanging out of the bag. As I type this, I realize I could just bring a reusable grocery bag. Dammit.

5. Ok, this isn’t for travel. This is my outfit for Color Me Rad this weekend.

It’s not anything special and the tank top is a little sheer for my taste but I needed something white and this was what I could find on the cheap. It was only $8.00, so I’m surprised it’s not already falling apart. I’ll probably throw it away after the race anyway, unless it turns into some super sweet tie-dye tank.

What’s the one thing you never leave home without when you travel?

So remember that funk I’m in? And remember that metabolic testing I had done? Well, the funk started shortly after the testing. My big plan (according to the test) was to up my calories to 1700 a day and not include exercise in that total. Basically, eating 200-300 more calories a day.

With the exception of one day I went over by 100 calories, I stuck to it pretty well for the first nine days and ended up gaining 2.5 pounds. Honestly I was kinda OK with the weight gain, which is totally not like me. It was kind of liberating.

I got to eat more and it was fun not micromanaging everything that went into my mouth. I was sick for most of those 9 days, so I didn’t exercise much. Even so, 1700 calories is supposed to be in my weight maintenance range, so I knew at the end of the first week that I needed to drop to 1600 calories a day. (Remember, my goal is to eat as much as possible without adding body fat.)

The 1600 calorie thing lasted a big one day and then everything when to shit. I lost motivation to do anything but drink beer and eat donuts and basically said “fuck it” for two weeks. I still went to Crossfit three days a week, but I’ve been acting like Grumpy McMopeypants there and putting in little effort.

This past weekend was no exception. I drove down to Bradenton to see Lindsey and Evan again. When you get two girls together that like to eat, things occur.

Evan is hiding his shame. Oh and that pizza came after all the garlic knots. There were no leftovers. I’m fairly certain if Lindsey and I lived near each other, we would be gigantic.

But gigantic and lovely!

So then I thought, Sunday is as good a day as any to get back on track. I ate a healthy breakfast and decided to work out. Only, that didn’t happen.

Well, I worked out if you include lifting a burger, fries, and martinis to your mouth as exercise. Which I do.

So, Monday became my official day to get myself out of the funk. Because seriously, even though I feel like crap eating and drinking all the things, it was becoming way too fun. So, besides going back to eating lower (not no) carb, I’m giving up my secret lovahs – peanut butter and Greek Yogurt Pancakes.

I don’t even want to go into how much peanut butter I eat. But it’s safe to say it’s not normal. I also eat Greek Yogurt Pancakes probably five times a week. They aren’t bad for you, but they make me crave sweets like whoa. Carbs in the morning is bad news for me.

Breakfast is going from this:

To this:

And lunch is going from this:

To this:

(The red stuff is Sriracha – I put it on everything. #love)

I’m only on Day 3 and I’m testing out the 1600 calorie a day thing – not really long enough to say I’m back on track but it’s a start. The lower carb is most definitely making me crave less sweets (I’ve only had one Hershey mini and 2 gummy bears in three days which is crazypants for me.) I also feel fuller between lunch and 3:00pm, also known as the time I shove spoonfuls of peanut butter into my mouth.

Anyway, that’s why I haven’t written about my progress after the metabolic test – because I’ve been a bad girl. I’ll try not to screw this up again now that Peep and Cadbury egg season are over.

1. I have an exciting little houseguest staying with me tomorrow night. That means, tonight is gonna be busy. Our guest bedroom has so much crap on the floor that I can’t get the Murphy bed down. So there will be cleaning to do. I also have a DIY bathroom project that I started last weekend that is taking a little longer than I’d like (I’ll tell ya about that one later). Plus, I just realized that I don’t have any blankets except the one on my bed. So I’m gonna need one of those unless I want to start getting creative with ideas on keeping Lindsey warm at night.

I know. That picture is amazing. You don’t have to say it.

2. I watched This is 40.

I can’t tell you how many blogs I’ve read that either said the movie was just OK or terrible. I need to stop listening to people because I loved it. It was hilarious and I just love, love Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann together. They can do no wrong.

3. I tried this over the weekend.

I hate pre-mixed drinks. They’re too syrupy and sweet and give the glory that is alcohol a bad name. But this was actually pretty good. It’s recommended to drink it on the rocks so don’t drink it out of the can like an animal – that drinks out of cans. Also not recommended – checking the calorie content online after you’ve had a bunch. Bud “Light” Lime my ass.

4. I feel like prescription bottles should be more descriptive.

Maybe adding “or else you will die” to the end of that might help. I mean, obviously I need to know WHY I can’t lie down for 10 minutes. And really, what does 10 minutes do? It’s not really in your system yet. And if you take it with plenty of water like it says, I’m assuming you won’t cough it up. It’s like the bottle is daring me to try it.

5. My love for Greek Yogurt Pancakes is still going strong. I’d have to say…too strong. I’m think I’m going to have to quit them.

I ran out of flour the other weekend and got a little frantic. I mean, not frantic enough to put on clothes and go to the store. But fairly frantic in that I would try anything to replicate them. I ended up making them with almond flour and then with coconut flour (both a bitch to flip). They tasted ok but it was just a mess to deal with. Then I tried whole wheat flour (don’t do that, it’s nasty) but it just didn’t taste the same without my white, bleached, healthy-living-blog hatin’ flour.

Unfortunately, they make me want carbs and sweets all.day.long. So now I need to train myself to eat egg whites again. Life is hard.

6. I saw this apple at the store today.

Honestly. I almost needed two hands to grab that thing. (TWSS)

7. It’s unseasonable cool today. We are actually having record lows. WTF? I think it was 54°F when I left for lunch. I am totally loving it. So of course that means I get to break out the tights and boots one last for the first time.

Sassy, right?

8. I can’t leave you guys without including my bunny boo. While I was getting her food the other morning, she ran into my bedroom (which is not bunny-proof). Usually she’s too much of a wuss to walk on the laminate to get there so I don’t worry about it, but I knew something was up when she was being too quiet. It was great for me because I love picking her up. Bad for her because she hates it.

That is not a happy bunny. And yes, I wear a robe sometimes.