After a full 9 1/2 hours at school yesterday I believe I know why long runs are meant to be run on the weekend.  I walked to school yesterday (big gasp from any Texans who read my blog) because I knew my legs were going to be unbearably stiff if all I did was sit.  My legs had loosened up a bit by the time I got to school and without even thinking I took my usual route into the staircase.  Bad decision! After about 1 and 1/2 steps I immediately regretted my thoughtless decision.

I made it to the third floor and decided the stairs had won today and I would use the elevators for the second time in my law school career.

Last night I arrived home famished with about 10 minutes before game time.  I stood and inhaled about 1 serving of pita chips.  I must stop mindlessly snacking, especially on seriously salty stuff . I then used the crumbs–my favorite chips are the broken ones; my hubby eats the whole ones and I search around for broken pieces–and made a taco salad with 1/2 cup black beans, 1 Tbsp hummus, 2 Tbsp fresh salsa, and ranch dressing.

The hubby and I then watched the nail-biter Purdue vs. Penn State game.  Five seconds left in the game and JJ hits a jumper!!!!

Okay, enough of my love for Purdue.

Just kidding, not enough.

GameDay this Saturday is at Purdue!!!!!

Now I am really done talking about Purdue.

This morning I had a huge bowl of apple-cinnamon oats.  The picture does not do these baby justice.

Apple Cinnamon Oats

1 small to med apple

1/2 cup oats

1 Tbsp Flax meal

sweetner of choice

cinnamon

optional protein powder

Dice your apple, sprinkle with cinnamon, and microwave for 1-2 minutes until desired done-ness reached.  Add oats, cinnamon, flax, and sweetner to bowl.  Fill with water or milk until oats are covered in liquid.  Microwave additional 2- minutes until bubbly.  Sprinkle with cinnamon.  Optional to stir in protein powder.

As I sit here blog, eat, and do computer work (my usual morning routine) Trooper is also doing his usual routine…going back to bed!

Wanted to give a BIG THANKS to those who left me encouraging comments about my big run. It may sound silly but when I am really struggling in a long run or having a rough day I think about those comments and it always gives me the kick I need!

Mock Apple Crisp

1 medium apple

cinnamon

Splenda

handful of Honey Bunches of Oats cereal

1/4th cup Light Vanilla ice cream

Optional: honey

Heat small sauce pan on medium-high heat.  Dice apple and add into hot pan with desired amount of cinnamon, 1 Tbsp water, 2-3 Tbsp Splenda.  Cover pan, reduce heat to medium, and stir occasionally.  Once apples have softened and syrup has formed, remove from heat.  Pour apples into a nice bowl, sprinkle cereal on top, drop small scoop of ice cream (or greek yogurt) into center, drizzle remaining syrup in the pan on top.

Enjoy!  This is delicious!

As I write this post I am snacking on a plate of apple slices.  Honestly I think I could eat apple for every meal.  Apple is definitely my favorite snack.  I slice it all up then sprinkle cinnamon on it…delicious!

Anyway, this morning I hopped up and hit gym!  Since I have been training for races since about October, it has been a really long time since I have gone to the gym without  a mission.

I hit the elliptical and brought this with me.  I love this girl!  So excited to see her on the cover of Shape!

After the elliptical…return of the GM.  I didn’t take a picture because I was literally running out the door.

It is now about 11 and I am skipping the rest of my classes for the day to go watch Purdue’s open practice at Reliant with the hubby!  I am super excited!  Feels so home-y to be watching my Boilers right down the street again!  Posting and food might go undone today depending on how things go!

Wednesday recap:

I promise to get back on regularly posting in the evenings, I am playing catch up with school work this week!

For lunch I had…apple slices.  Like I said, I could eat this every meal!  I also had a toasted sammie with Laughing Cow (Swiss) and jam.  Such a fun combo.

Jam that I am lovin’ right now is Polaner Sugar free with fiber.  It doesn’t have that fake sugar taste, and who doesn’t need a little extra fiber in their diet?  Flavor of the month:  strawberry.

Dinner was boring.  Using up things that need used.

This meal.

With some diced tomatoes and pineapple added.  TV dinners never have enough to them for me.  Even visually I just need more food.  I always add my own fruits/veggies to them to pump up the portion.    The meal was okay.  I didn’t photograph.

I made some “fake garlic bread” with a toasted sandwich thin, smear of Smart Balance, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning.  Surprisingly good.

My hubby got these in the mail for his birthday from my mom.  This is Sublett’s BBQ sauce.  It comes from a little place up in Monticello, IN.  Best BBQ on the planet hands down.  I honestly could have drank some from the bottle, but instead am day dreaming about BBQ tofu!

After dinner my insane sweet tooth was calling.  I decided to do a second try on Janetha’s protein cakes.

Success!  Major key was using a bigger cooking bowl/cup.  I will list my recipe below, make sure the check out the recipe on Meals and Moves linked above!

Protein Cake

3 Tbsp egg substitue

1 Tbsp applesauce (whatever the hubby had in fridge)

1 scoop protein (chocolate)

1 tsp baking powder

Microwave about 2 mins.  My microwave is crappy, so it might be less in others.  I then cut mine in half and added sugar free jam and smear of PB.  Delicious!  This made a huge cake!   I honestly might downsize recipe next time to fit in my smaller cups.

Okay, BOILER TIME!!!!!!

On Day 2 post race the legs are feeling much better.  They are still a tad bit achy (like tired achy) and my left IT band  needs some serious stretching.  I think another day or two and I will be ready to get some cardio back into my life!  One slight problem is that a toe on my left foot is pretty swollen and really, really sore!  My hubby looked up stuff online (professional) and said it looks like I have a severely bruised toe.  Bruised toe?  What?  Oh well.  Better than broken.

This morning was a cereal morning.  I am cleaning out the pantry.  1 cup Honey Nut Cheerios, half a banana, 1 diced strawberry, sprinkled on some protein powder, and Silk.  My stomach was growling by 9 in my first class.  Perfect.  I also got called on for recitation.  Even better.  Nothing like being drilled with questions in front of everyone while your stomach is growling.

I think cereal makes a better snack than meal for me.  Unless it has a lot of fiber (like Fiber One original) I am always hungry within an hour or two.

Anyway, lunch:

All packed up.  Baked sweet potato, half an apple, and mini Larabar.  This Larabar was peanut butter cookie–yummy!

During my break, I decided to take a walk in the sun rather than get coffee.  Did the trick.  Back to work!

The hubby is now officially an old man.  He turned 25 today!  Ahhhh!  Personally, I plan to turn 24 for the next 5 years or so.

Since I am in class until after 7 on Tuesdays I made the hubby birthday dinner last night.  It was a fun dinner!

Dinner (really breakfast) started with this pink pancake mix that I won from Erica at Fashion Meets Food

Man, these are some fluffy pancakes!  Just how we like em!

I also made him a mushroom and sausage egg scramble.  He loved the pancakes so much he went back for seconds.  After stuffing his belly with pancakes the hubby enjoyed one of his birthday cupcakes from this weekend.  The hubby then spent the evening relaxing and hanging out with Trooper.

Being the wonderful wife I am I also prepped some beef strogonoff and left it in the fridge so he can heat it up tonight after work.  The hubby’s bday celebrations will continue this weekend because we have tickets to see Purdue play here in Houston in the Sweet Sixteen!  I don’t think Jordan could have asked for a better birthday present!  We have already got our game clothes laid out and ready!

P.S. The hubby and I made the local paper back home (Purdue country).  Click here to check it out.

Okay, now on to my eats.  I have made a conscious effort to watch what I eat.  I tend to keep up my race mentality and continue to carb load after my racing events (not so great on the waistline) although I am in complete rest mode.  I think I have done really well of adjusting back to normal chowing.

Monday’s breakfast was a GM with the last of my spinach.  Sad.

We haven’t grocery shopped in about a week and half, so for lunch  it was time to dig into the pantry.  I found Cream of Wheat Healthy Grains sample that I had gotten awhile back.  It was instant, so I decided a 3 minute lunch sounded good to me!

As a kid, I always had Cream of Wheat when I stayed over with my grandparents.  My grandma made plain ol’ cream of wheat with a little honey.  So simple, so good.  Today, I tend to stick to whole grains and feel the need to add endless toppings.  The Cream of Wheat Healthy grains definitely had a “heartier” taste then regular and I also thought it had a tad thicker texture.  I added banana, AB, and jelly to my bowl.  For instant hot cereal it was pretty darn good.  I would definitely eat it again in a pinch for time.

Although I made the hubby a wonderful Bday dinner, I just wasn’t feeling pancakes (nor were there any left once he was done) so I made soup and a sandwich.

I had a 1 cup serving of Lentil soup.  Yummy.  So filling for soup.

My sandwich was toasted ww bread with hummus, tomato, avocado, and a few apple slices.

Unpictured today were snacks of popcorn, handfuls of Honey Nut Cheerios, and dessert of 2/3 frozen banana sandwich.

Be back later today to give a post-race leg update, and foods for Tuesday!

I enjoyed a wonderful 6 mile run in the beautiful, sunny weather.  I wore a thin-strapped tank top in hopes of fixing the farmer’s tan I got from sitting at the bar yesterday!

I also managed to down 2 cups of hot chocolate today.  I really wish I hadn’t broken my coffee pot.

There were also many good eats today:

I prepped some frozen banana sandwiches today.  Looks like I have dessert for the weekend!

Lunch was based with some overnight oats with greek yogurt mixed in.

On top was cinnamon apples, bananas, cheerios, and honey.

On the side a piece of ww toast with jam (and two pieces of banana-random).  I snacked on apple slices, grapes, and a mini-protein shake.

Dinner was a HUGE salad topped with mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, carrots, and a Boca burger.

I ate the last piece of my Central Market mult-grain bread.  I toasted it, topped with Laughing Cow, tomato, and crumble of Boca.  I also ate a few random tortilla chips.

Dessert was consumed.  I honestly wasn’t hungry, but I emotionally wanted dessert.  When I emotionally want sweets I try to make it nutritionally beneficial.  Dessert was “baked” cinnamon apples, spoonful of greek yogurt, half a crumbled granola bar.  I also ate a small piece of caramel.

Tomorrow is a full-on rest day.  I plan on sitting by the pool most of the day.  I will also being shopping for the hubby’s birthday.  He is turning the big 2-5 in a few days!

Could there be a more perfect Saturday, or start to my Spring Break?  I doubt it!

Pre run fuel for him and her.  AB, cinnamon, and honey.  He had PB with a little bread.

With a double half marathon next weekend, this was going to be a slow run!  I just wanted to get in the full 2 hours on the ol’ leg.  It was really a nice change of pace (literally) to run without worrying about my split times.  The hubby and I ran an easy 10 minute mile and got to talk the whole time.  It was just an absolute wonderful way to start our weekend!

Then we had to clean.

When the hubby turned on the water to clean the tub, Trooper headed over and got in bath position.  Haha, we figured now was our chance!  Little guy got an unexpected bath before his grandma gets here!

Getting so fresh and so clean, clean for all the ladies.

All clean and ready to party.  Excuse my shirtless hubby, he didn’t want to get cleaner on his shirt.

Lunch time, I was starving!  We each had unpictured protein shakes right after our run but were definitely in need of some substance!

Lunch was amazingly simple.  And amazingly enjoyed by the pool.  I had the rest of my turkey sandwich, rest of my butternut squash, and an apple.

This is how all lunches should be eaten.  My mom texted me to let me know her flight was delayed half an hour, so the hubby and I took advantage and laid in the sun for 30 mins.  Love me some Vit D!

We are now watching the Big Ten Tournament, taking Trooper on sunny walks, and then picking up mom.  We are going straight to dinner so this will be the one and only Saturday post

Hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday!  Does anyone else think food tastes better eaten outside under the sun?

You know I do!

I promise there is a waffle under all those blueberries!

First thing, I got to sleep in a little bit this morning because I have nothing to do before my class.  Second, my allergies are killing me!   I find this ironic because I grew up in the middle of a corn field and never had allergies until I moved to Houston.  Thirdly, I had an awesome breakfast.

1 Central Market Organic Whole wheat flax waffle

lots of blueberries heated up until syrupy

AB

honey

1/2 baked cinnamon apple

I piled some of these on after the first picture and then consumed the rest straight from the bowl.

It is also the most beautiful morning out!  On Fridays the traffic mess is delayed a bit, so Trooper and I enjoyed a nice stroll.  The little guy was all frisky in the Spring air.  Needless to say there is no “unmarked” bushes left in Midtown.

Agenda for the day looks something like this:

• strength workout
• class
• CLEAN
• Clean some more (this place is filthy!)
• Lunch
• Run
• Clean
• Grocery shop
• Relax

Tomorrow afternoon the madre arrives, so it will be a busy weekend!  Also, shout out to Cathy who is visiting Htown as we speak!  (Welcome to Texas, you will be called a Yankee)

The blogging may be lacking this weekend, but I will be keeping up on Twitter on the good ol’ blackberry.  If you haven’t already you can follow me by clicking the Follow Me icon to the left!

Happy Friday!  Is is starting to feel like Spring in your neighborhood?

We are finally!  I have even seen sun 2 days in a row now!  This girl would love to lay out at the pool and fix this ghostliness!  The madre said Indiana had good weather yesterday, so I hope my northern bloggers are warming up!

Good morning bloggers.  This morning, my walk to school was BEAUTIFUL!  Perfect temp, lower humidity, the air just had that crisp Spring morning feel.  If I closed my eyes and pretended there wasn’t traffic, homeless people, and pollution it was just like being back home.  Haha, sort of.

This morning was a GNC shake to go.  I also had some apple slices first thing because I woke up starving!  I was up early this morning to finish homework, I slept like crap-more on that in a minute.  I also woke up and did some sun salutations and stretching- my body was stressed and wound up tight.  I felt about 10 x better after my stretching.  My dog also loves when I get on the floor and do stretching, he stretches with me (no joke, he is a Yoga king!) and gives me lots of kisses!

Lunch and dinner were both packed to go because I had to move my 60 min tempo run until this evening after all my classes, aka 730ish.

Lunch was a whole lotta butter nut squash topped with even more cinnamon!  On the side some apple slices and a Cherry pie mini Lara bar.

Dinner was a AB and jelly sammie with a whole apple sliced up and 100 calorie pack of cookies.  I am really trying to stay away from pre-packed food like those, but I felt I needed some processed crap food today!

Anyway, I am having to run tonight because the hubby decided to go meet up with people after work and came home from work 3 hours late even though I told him I needed to go run.  This is a problem because we only have one car, so I can’t get to the park and run (literally no public transport in Houston- they don’t believe in that here).  Needless to say I was an unhappy camper, and we ended up fighting all night.  And I am not a person you want to fight with because a) I am in law school-it is my job to fight and win, b) I am the most stubborn person ever, and c) I will find a way to get my way.

Anyway, not to be a debby downer, but I had a very stressful night and woke up exhausted and still angry.  (Grr I hate waking up in a bad mood).  Enter the stretching.  Ahhh…felt so much better.

Now, school for 12 hours, had to cancel the wine tasting I was going to attend because today is no longer a rest day, and fit in an hour long run tonight after class.  This girl is going to pass out the minute I get home!

P.S. My mom arrives Saturday…all things will be better!

Are you a fair fighter?  How do you handle stress/fights with significant other, best friend, etc?

I know I am not a fair fighter, this little lady has a temper!  I usually say (or scream) my points and then just want to be left alone.  Surprisingly it works well, because my hubby is not confrontational so I think most of the time he just sits there and lets me fight.

I have about 200 pages worth of reading and cases to brief until I am on Spring Break!  I think I can do it!  (I also have to clean up the disaster zone that is our apartment before my mom arrives…that is questionable).

I have just been ravenously hungry all day!  Today is also a double workout day (by chance), so I used the excuse to fuel up!

Lunch started with this hefty Boca Burger.  Anyone else enjoy toppings as much as whatever is under them?  This baby is topped with sliced mushrooms, onions, pickles, and spicy mustard!  Almost too big to bite, almost.

On the side carrots (x2) and ranch dip.  I later snacked on apple slices, bag of popcorn, hot chocolate, and few chocolate covered pretzels!

I attempted to do my homework for about 30 minutes…fail.  Maintenance showed up to replace stuff, so I used the excuse to hide in the kitchen and roast a butternut squash.

I napped.

I made dinner.

Over-afternoon oats, prepped during my kitchen hideout.  I added in cold microwaved cinnamon-apples, and half container of greek yogurt.  Sandwich thin with AB on the side.  Who else loves breakfast for dinner?

I will do some work, then 60 min tempo run, then crash.

2 days.  I can make it!

Anyone have a spectacular Hump day?