Let the training begin!

If you have been following this blog from the start you will know that one of my goals this year is to run (not walk) in a 5K. I haven't run since I was in junior high. Since I am now 38 that is a really really long time ago. I asked several friends if they knew of any to try. My friend Steve told me about one that is in April called the Cherry Creek Sneak. Steve is actually the one that inspired me to run in a race in the first place. Last year he started training and since then he has lost a lot of weight and run in many races. On Friday I signed up for this. It is April 29th in Denver. Steve and his wife Mary are going to do the race. My sister has signed up and I hope my friend Pam will join as well. I'm going to try to get others to join too. The more the merrier!

To start training for this I downloaded a couch to 5K training program for my iphone. On Saturday I did my first training. I am very proud to say that I jogged! The program is great. It starts out with several minutes of walking to warm up them switches from jogging to walking slowing building up to just running. It has a time clock on it and will prompt when to walk and when to jog. You can also program songs to play. I really enjoyed it. I jogged for the whole time I was supposed to and didn't stop even though my lungs were burning!

I haven't found a treadmill yet but now that the weather is getting nicer I think I will be able to train outside. I am still on the lookout for a treadmill but I am not going to let that stop me from training. I also bought some new running shoes and workout gear. I'm ready to go!

Week 8

1.     Shop once this week to keep my pantry stocked with healthy foods

2.     Stay between 3 and 6 on the hunger continuum and register my hunger and satiety level in my journal

3.     Maintain my food journal

4.     Drink 8 glasses of water a day

5.     ride my bike for 20 minutes at least 5 days a week and increase the resistance and note my rides in my journal.

6.     Squeeze some exercise into my daily routine.

7.     clean 1 drawer/cabinet/closet a week

8.     create and maintain an efficient laundry system.

9.     Eat 3 meals and 1 or 2 small snacks each day

10. Add stretching to my workout routine

11. Take a multivitamin each day – I am actually taking a multivitamin, a fish oil pill and a Llysine pill. (this is for cold sores so that I hopefully won’t get them too often)

12. be aware of my posture. Walk tall and with confidence!

13. Limit alcohol to one night a week and limit number of drinks to 2. Unless it is a margarita from Chavolos then the limit is 1.

14.  When going out to eat or at friends, chose food that is not fried and don’t graze around the food table. 

15.  Replace bad fats with good fats.

16. Add one fun element this week. (going dancing, playing basketball, etc.) This can take the place of one of my bike rides.

17.  discover the benefits of yoga

18.  clear the clutter from a mail pile, front door, etc and maintain a system to keep it clear

19.  Add core exercises and crunches to my workout routine at least 3 times a week.

20.  Start reading the ingredient list on the back of food labels. Watch out for additives and sodium especially.

New steps for week 8 –

21. Eat slower, savoring the food and truly enjoying the meal.

22. start a gratitude journal or explore journaling in general.

23. limit processed food and go for whole grains and whole foods.

  

Does the number on the scale matter?

I'm really starting to get discouraged with my weight loss or as it happens, the lack of weight loss. I have been losing and gaining the same pound for the last 3 weeks. I'm not sure what is going on. I think what I need to do is focus a little more on my eating plan. I thought that I have been eating well and have been watching my portions. I do have at least one meal a week that is not too good but I would think that wouldn't affect my weight like this. Maybe it is. When I make something at home I always swap out the full fat/high calorie items for lower fat/calorie items and I have been doing some sort of exercise every day. I'm not sure what it is but I will fix it! I will check out some websites for some foods that boost weight loss or some new menu ideas.  I have read numerous articles about not fixating on the number but how I feel and how my clothes feel. I do feel great and my clothes are fitting better. It is just really hard when that number is not moving. It is something I can see that the work I am doing is making progress. I also think I need a little more patience. I keep saying this but it's true- it didn't get put on in a hurry and it won't come off in a hurry. Does anyone have any ideas for me???

Pizza Lasagna

I had some pizza toppings left over and decided to make something a little different. I thought about making lasagna cups but decided in the end to make a flat lasagna. I didn’t have any ricotta cheese so I decided to experiment using some greek yogurt that I had. Any toppings would be great in this. Below is what I had on hand.

Pizza Lasagna

8 whole wheat lasagna noodles

½ cup greek yogurt

2 cups low fat mozzarella cheese + ¼ cup additional for top of lasagna

¼ cup parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

1 small jar pizza sauce

1 shallot- sliced thin

1 can mushrooms (can use fresh but canned was all I had)

Turkey pepperoni

Sundried tomatoes- cut into bite sized bits

Preheat oven to 375

Cook the noodles until they are al dente. Strain and let cool. In a small bowl mix the yogurt, Italian seasonings, mozzarella and parmesan cheese. The consistency will be sort of a paste texture. In a small deep dish baker (mine was about 8") or small pan spread a thin layer of sauce in the bottom then add a single layer of lasagna noodles. I cut the noodles in half to fit better in my baker. Add some more sauce, a third of the cheese mixture and a third of the toppings. The cheese might be a little hard to spread with a spoon. I just used my hands to break little pieces and sprinkle over the sauce. Continue the noodle, cheese, sauce and toppings in three layers. Once all the layers are done sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup cheese on top and put in oven. Cook until cheese is melted and lasagna is cooked through. I cooked it for about 30 minutes.

I was able to get 6 servings out of this. They are small servings but they will freeze well and I plan on eating them with a fresh salad or veggies for lunches.

This is the first layer

All the layers just going into the oven

The finished product

one serving (this is a teacup plate just to get an idea of size. They are small portions) - I cut each serving out and put in a  plastic container and froze them. This way I have dinner or lunch when I don't have time to cook