It's been a long time. Since my last post, the running has eased (unfortunately...I'm constantly battling the clock), the gluten free diet has continued, and I got pregnant! I'm almost 12 weeks along now and am really excited for number 3!
As far as cravings go, I've been craving everything that I can't have, pizza steak subs, barbeque chicken pizza, chicken parm subs, and the like. Everytime I drive past an Italian pizza and sub place, my heart skips a beat. Alas, it is not meant to be...my intestines won't allow it, and ultimately, that's fine by me.
I've had a lot of time over the last year and a half to reevaluate my diet and while it's still not perfect, I have made changes, above and beyond being gluten free. I still have a long way to go, but never in my life have I realized just how important it is to eat good, wholesome foods. Most of my changes have been directed toward my children, I'm still a work in progress.
One of my long term goals is to start buying exclusively grass fed beef and chicken. I am fortunate to live close to drop off points for the Polyface Farm, featured on Food Inc. and in the book The Omnivore's Dilemma. Hopefully soon we will be able to start buying their meat. In the meantime, I buy 95% of my meat from a local meat market that uses local beef.
I go out of my way to cut out high fructose corn syrup. I give the boys organic ketchup (Heinz is not GF), buy non-HFCS whole wheat bread, buy organic jelly when I can find it (I tried natural peanut butter but that was an epic FAIL), I give them only organic milk or water to drink, and very rarely juice. I try to keep their snacks on the healthy spectrum, Annie's bunny grahams/crackers and macaroni and cheese are constantly stocked in my house. Do you know how hard it is to find products that do not have HFCS?
Today I read an article that made me so grateful that I have already made those changes for my children. Here's the link: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100319/Study-reveals-higher-than-normal-blood-levels-of-fructose-in-pancreatic-cancer-patients.aspx This is so important to me because my dear grandfather passed away last year from pancreatic cancer. It was beyond horrific to watch him waste away to skin and bones after being so robust his entire life.
Every day I am so grateful that I learned of my celiac disease, not just for my health, but the health of my family. Had I not gone gluten free, I probably would not scrutinize labels, and I probably would not have made the changes I've made so far. I recently read The Unhealthy Truth by Robyn O'Brien, she says that the box of macaroni and cheese we ate as children is not the same macaroni and cheese that our children eat today. The additives! The GMOs! The rBGH! Frightening is an understatement...I think of that quote every day.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Monday, May 4, 2009
Size Four
I had an exciting shopping experience last week. I needed an outfit for my brother in law's rehersal dinner and true to form, I went shopping about 6 hours before it started.
I found an adorable black and white matte jersey shirt that had yellow and lime green flowers throughout it. I wanted to wear it with black capri pants, but I couldn't find any in "my size."
I'm still not sure what my size is. Six? Eight? Actually looking for those numbers is weird. In my mind I am still a size 12.
I decided to focus my attention on white pants because I thought that the shirt would look nice with those as well. I found a pair that I loved, but they didn't have a size six, so, I half heartedly pulled a four off the rack, fully expecting that they wouldn't fit.
Thanks to the miracles of modern medicine and Spanx, they fit! Holy cow, I got into size four pants. I bought size four pants. I wore size four pants. I rocked the size four pants. I held my breath and was careful not to make any sudden moves in size four pants.
The dress I wore to the wedding the next day was a six petite, for those keeping score.
I love my re-emerging body!
I found an adorable black and white matte jersey shirt that had yellow and lime green flowers throughout it. I wanted to wear it with black capri pants, but I couldn't find any in "my size."
I'm still not sure what my size is. Six? Eight? Actually looking for those numbers is weird. In my mind I am still a size 12.
I decided to focus my attention on white pants because I thought that the shirt would look nice with those as well. I found a pair that I loved, but they didn't have a size six, so, I half heartedly pulled a four off the rack, fully expecting that they wouldn't fit.
Thanks to the miracles of modern medicine and Spanx, they fit! Holy cow, I got into size four pants. I bought size four pants. I wore size four pants. I rocked the size four pants. I held my breath and was careful not to make any sudden moves in size four pants.
The dress I wore to the wedding the next day was a six petite, for those keeping score.
I love my re-emerging body!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Brrr...
Today was my first time running since I got sick. It was good to get out there. I looked forward to it this morning when I packed up my bag with my shoes, my jogbra, my long spandex pants, my UA turtleneck and a tee shirt to wear over the turtleneck because it's so tight.
It rained. ALL DAY. And it was cold. REALLY COLD. I watched the rain from my window. I didn't want to go. But I did. Then I didn't. But then I did again. I figured that since it had been two weeks or so since I went, I was slipping further and further into that sweet wonderland of not exercising ever. And that's not good. So, I put on my big girl panties and resolved to go.
I was so glad I packed my long spandex pants.
Finally, 5:30 came, and I got my bag out and started to change into my running clothes. My long spandex pants? Yeah, not. I mistakenly packed my capri length pants.
Crap. It's raining harder. Gulp. I pulled my clothes on anyway. Oh look! I have mittens! I drove over to the track. Hmm...where is everyone? I sit. I wait. I watch the rain. I think about leaving. Then I see the orange Honda Element pull up. I can't leave now.
So I wait until 5:59:59 and we get out of our cars. My running group normally has 40 or so people. There were 3 of us. In fairness, the Main Street Mile was tonight and a lot of the group was running that, but a lot of us weren't.
I am glad I went because I desperately needed to run. But here it is 5 hours later and I am still fuh-reezing.
There should be a law against running in the cold.
It rained. ALL DAY. And it was cold. REALLY COLD. I watched the rain from my window. I didn't want to go. But I did. Then I didn't. But then I did again. I figured that since it had been two weeks or so since I went, I was slipping further and further into that sweet wonderland of not exercising ever. And that's not good. So, I put on my big girl panties and resolved to go.
I was so glad I packed my long spandex pants.
Finally, 5:30 came, and I got my bag out and started to change into my running clothes. My long spandex pants? Yeah, not. I mistakenly packed my capri length pants.
Crap. It's raining harder. Gulp. I pulled my clothes on anyway. Oh look! I have mittens! I drove over to the track. Hmm...where is everyone? I sit. I wait. I watch the rain. I think about leaving. Then I see the orange Honda Element pull up. I can't leave now.
So I wait until 5:59:59 and we get out of our cars. My running group normally has 40 or so people. There were 3 of us. In fairness, the Main Street Mile was tonight and a lot of the group was running that, but a lot of us weren't.
I am glad I went because I desperately needed to run. But here it is 5 hours later and I am still fuh-reezing.
There should be a law against running in the cold.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Interesting observation
I haven't been running since Sunday. I got whatever cold virus my son had, and I've been pretty miserable since Wednesday. I had laryngitis yesterday, which made me nervous because I had court today, but my voice came back enough that it was ok. So, I'll probably be back to running next week, once it gets out of my system.
I always hated my upper arms because I had keratosis pilaris, which is the chicken bump like nastiness. It never bothered me, except that I knew those bumps were there and I'd pick pick pick.
Now that the weather is warming, I've worn short sleeves a few times. My hands naturally gravitated toward the back of my upper arms. I was shocked at what I felt. I felt nothing. I felt smooth, albeit dry, skin.
Last summer, I spent over $60 on a moisturizer from Sephora that was supposed to help with KP, and it didn't do anything for me. I am completely convinced that it resolved because I am no longer eating gluten. I had those bumps on my arms for as long as I could remember, and for them to be gone, now, it cannot be a coincidence.
This is just one more amazing and wonderful side effect to being gluten free. Since going gluten free, I've lost 25 lbs that I couldn't lose no matter what I tried, I am no longer gassy, I'm rarely if ever bloated anymore, I'm regular, I rarely get canker sores (although if I accidentally ingest gluten, this is how I know), I am no longer ravenously hungry all the time, and the list continues.
Every day I am amazed how being gluten free has positively changed my life!
I always hated my upper arms because I had keratosis pilaris, which is the chicken bump like nastiness. It never bothered me, except that I knew those bumps were there and I'd pick pick pick.
Now that the weather is warming, I've worn short sleeves a few times. My hands naturally gravitated toward the back of my upper arms. I was shocked at what I felt. I felt nothing. I felt smooth, albeit dry, skin.
Last summer, I spent over $60 on a moisturizer from Sephora that was supposed to help with KP, and it didn't do anything for me. I am completely convinced that it resolved because I am no longer eating gluten. I had those bumps on my arms for as long as I could remember, and for them to be gone, now, it cannot be a coincidence.
This is just one more amazing and wonderful side effect to being gluten free. Since going gluten free, I've lost 25 lbs that I couldn't lose no matter what I tried, I am no longer gassy, I'm rarely if ever bloated anymore, I'm regular, I rarely get canker sores (although if I accidentally ingest gluten, this is how I know), I am no longer ravenously hungry all the time, and the list continues.
Every day I am amazed how being gluten free has positively changed my life!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Plugging along
This morning I ran most of the outing! I was very pleased with myself. I would have been able to run all of it, but I was having shoe issues and it was causing my foot to hurt, so I had to stop and fix it a couple of times. I walked a little towards the end because it was bothering me so much.
But!
When I ran, I was running at at least a 10:30 min/mile pace! It felt so good. The other night we had another quality workout, this time our fartleks were 10X1:00, and our coach wanted us running slightly faster than our 5K pace. Well, I figured I would just go faster than what felt right, and I was hitting the 28:00 5K cone consistently throughout the exercise. I can't wait to run my first 5K of the year, I am so anxious to see where I'll be.
On the gluten free front, my dad's birthday is coming up next week and we are thinking about celebrating tomorrow. I might try my hand at baking a cake. I found a great gluten free recipe using Jules' Nearly Normal Cooking Flour, which I have, so I might bake! I'll upload pictures if it turns out as good as I hope!
I feel like I am in a side dish rut when it comes to meals. I usually wind up making mashed potatoes and a veggie, which is fine, but I could use some variety. I love rice, but I am not imaginative when it comes to cooking it. I had a dream the other night that there was a gluten free Pasta Roni...that used to be my favorite side dish...that would be a dream come true!
But!
When I ran, I was running at at least a 10:30 min/mile pace! It felt so good. The other night we had another quality workout, this time our fartleks were 10X1:00, and our coach wanted us running slightly faster than our 5K pace. Well, I figured I would just go faster than what felt right, and I was hitting the 28:00 5K cone consistently throughout the exercise. I can't wait to run my first 5K of the year, I am so anxious to see where I'll be.
On the gluten free front, my dad's birthday is coming up next week and we are thinking about celebrating tomorrow. I might try my hand at baking a cake. I found a great gluten free recipe using Jules' Nearly Normal Cooking Flour, which I have, so I might bake! I'll upload pictures if it turns out as good as I hope!
I feel like I am in a side dish rut when it comes to meals. I usually wind up making mashed potatoes and a veggie, which is fine, but I could use some variety. I love rice, but I am not imaginative when it comes to cooking it. I had a dream the other night that there was a gluten free Pasta Roni...that used to be my favorite side dish...that would be a dream come true!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Wow...I wasn't expecting THAT...
So, I'm not back to running full time yet. I am definitely running in spurts. I think this is going to be a great running season.
We ran fartleks on Thursday night. I did 6X2:00. To say I surprised myself was an understatement. Dave (my running coach) set up cones along the track that represented 5K pace. The last cone represented a 34:00 5K. Last year I ran just under a 39:00 5K. I was consistently running between the 32:00 and 34:00, even after the sixth time. I was exhausted, but very encouraged. I have been amazed at how much faster I am.
Yesterday morning, I ran 4 minutes with a two minute break for about 40 minutes. I did really well with that. Today I went to a track and ran 200m fast and then walked 200m. Again, I surprised myself because according to my iPod, I was running between a 9:30-10:00 minute mile. My average pace today was 12:45 min/mile! That was my average pace last summer, and I was running!
Being gluten free has improved my health in more ways than I could have imagined. Looking back at last summer, I was so unhealthy. I was eating gluten, my asthma was poorly controlled, and my body hurt. I still have a long way to go to get the distance of last summer back, but I can't wait!
We ran fartleks on Thursday night. I did 6X2:00. To say I surprised myself was an understatement. Dave (my running coach) set up cones along the track that represented 5K pace. The last cone represented a 34:00 5K. Last year I ran just under a 39:00 5K. I was consistently running between the 32:00 and 34:00, even after the sixth time. I was exhausted, but very encouraged. I have been amazed at how much faster I am.
Yesterday morning, I ran 4 minutes with a two minute break for about 40 minutes. I did really well with that. Today I went to a track and ran 200m fast and then walked 200m. Again, I surprised myself because according to my iPod, I was running between a 9:30-10:00 minute mile. My average pace today was 12:45 min/mile! That was my average pace last summer, and I was running!
Being gluten free has improved my health in more ways than I could have imagined. Looking back at last summer, I was so unhealthy. I was eating gluten, my asthma was poorly controlled, and my body hurt. I still have a long way to go to get the distance of last summer back, but I can't wait!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Ouch
So, I learned what happens when you stop running in November and start back up in March. Your legs HURT. A lot.
Today was day two of the Spring Program...and we already missed it. Hubby and I went to an open house for a school we're interested in for our kids, and we didn't make it home in time to make it to running group. Mom was at the house with the napping kids, so once I got home, I changed and we went to a local park instead and walked briskly for 35 minutes. I am going to incorporate some running in this week. But not tomorrow...Mondays are a rest day.
Here's the plan for the rest of the week:
Tuesday: 25 minutes easy
Wednesday: 30 minutes easy
Thursday: FARTLEK time! 5X2:00s (if I haven't started running by then, I will that night)
Friday: REST! woo
Saturday: 30 minutes easy
One of my frustrations toward the end of last year was that my new orthotics gave me horrible blisters in my arches. The otrhotics felt great for my knees and back, but not so much for that tender skin. Last week when I was at Charm City Run with my mom, I asked for some suggestions on how to manage that problem. The lady suggested I use some Body Glide. Holy cow! What a difference!
Today was day two of the Spring Program...and we already missed it. Hubby and I went to an open house for a school we're interested in for our kids, and we didn't make it home in time to make it to running group. Mom was at the house with the napping kids, so once I got home, I changed and we went to a local park instead and walked briskly for 35 minutes. I am going to incorporate some running in this week. But not tomorrow...Mondays are a rest day.
Here's the plan for the rest of the week:
Tuesday: 25 minutes easy
Wednesday: 30 minutes easy
Thursday: FARTLEK time! 5X2:00s (if I haven't started running by then, I will that night)
Friday: REST! woo
Saturday: 30 minutes easy
One of my frustrations toward the end of last year was that my new orthotics gave me horrible blisters in my arches. The otrhotics felt great for my knees and back, but not so much for that tender skin. Last week when I was at Charm City Run with my mom, I asked for some suggestions on how to manage that problem. The lady suggested I use some Body Glide. Holy cow! What a difference!
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