Chocolate Rx

Hello friends!  Sorry for the 'tude yesterday.  It just, for lack of a better word, sucked big time.  It hit from all sides-work, family, hubster, the general population.....ugh.  Which perpetuated to me, and resulted in kicking the $hit out of my tae bo video (excellent cross training, I don't care if it's considered a shot outta the '80s), some wonderful must see TV crap (I'm gonna split you like a log!).  And, of course, chocolate.  Good for my tush?  No.  Good for my soul?  Sometimes.  Taste good?  Um, yes.  How bout a compromise?

Chocolate RX Brownies

I sorta feel like a turd for even writing directions.  But maybe some of you live under rock and haven't heard of this method. :-P).  Super simple.....One box devil's food cake mix.  One 15 ounce can pumpkin.  Vanilla (optional).  Mix mix mix.  Pour in your (sprayed) Christmas mini cake pans to atone for being a Grinch yesterday.   Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until set.  Cool 10 minutes, then shake em out.  Makes 1 dozen generous holiday brownies at 3 WW points of 150 calories each.

Today is a much better day than yesterday.  In part because I am an optimist and the grouches aren't out.  But mostly because....I have leftover brownies.  Priorities, people.

Bah.

Humbug.

The bad thing about not working on Monday?

Tuesday is Monday.

And everyone is in a sunshiny mood.

Insert Sarcasm.

Well, eff it.

I'll be a in a bad mood too.

So there. Take that.  It's time for kickboxing (venting the stress), Ole Soup (warm comfort food), my homemade Christmas quilt, and a silly kids book.  In that order.

Be back tomorrow with sunshine, friends.  Even if it snows. 

Anyone else having a grinchy day?

Oh Christmas Tree...

On my run this afternoon, I thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas lights.  As it rained.  In my t-shirt.  On December 5th.  Christmas spirit is in the heart, right?  You betcha :-)  4 miles in full Christmas glory, then a nice mile cooldown on our treadmill.  (Collectively, the hubster and I have run/walked a full marathon on that thing in 4 days.  A bit ridiculous, no?  I love it :-)
With all that Christmas spirit and energy from running, the hubster and I decided to tackle our tree.  It's been sitting for over a week in the family room, naked...and it needed some love!  This has to be one of my favorite christmas traditions (yeah, ok, I'll probably say that about everything-I LOVE this season!  The hubster and I pick out our favorite ornaments from our 3 sterlite tubs and go to town making our tree beautiful, sipping hot cocoa and playing carols in the background.

 The hubster, sorting through the bounty....

 Ironman!  Gotta represent on the tree...

 Look at that...several years of accumulation :-)

Michael Vick...not so much....(wow, momma needs a brush!)

1st ornaments....Ironman and the 'roo kitty!

 Joe Montana and our Tri ornament....for Grandma TFB and good race karma 2012 :-)

All decorated!  Now its time to wrap presents.....crap.  

I mean, time to go shopping for said presents..... :-D

Ole!

The hubster and I decided to be social yesterday...(yup, hold your gasp), so we had a nice double date with my cousin and her new husband.  They brought wine and bread, and I was in charge of dinner.  What does one cook on a cold December day that doesn't smack of Christmas?  Mexican!  Yup.  But since I wasn't in the mood for tacos and winter decided to make an appearance, the hubster and I decided to go with a good ole stand by....soup.  No recipes jumped out at me, so I got creative in the kitch and ended up with Chicken Taco soup....definitely NOT Christmas :-)

Ole! Soup
14 oz cooked chicken breast
2 cups tomatoes
1 green pepper
Two small onions
One Carrot
2 cups corn
1 package taco seasoning
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup celery
garlic, black pepper

Chop up the veggies to bite sized pieces.  Pour 8 cups water into a stockpot, add veggies.  Simmer for 30 minutes.  Add in tomatoes, corn, salsa, and all seasonings.  Simmer on low for 2 hours.  Ad in chopped chicken and simmer for an additional hour.  Optional add ins: noodles (I cook these separately and add in at the end.)  Top with cheese if desired.  Serves 6 generously.

Twas delicious, served with Jalapeno cheddar bread, cab sauv, and a salad bar with plenty of topping options :-) Enjoy.
Then marvel at the wonders that you find on the Internet.

Exactly.  Thanks for a wonderful evening, Tom and Karen!

Keep Dreaming

11 miles on our new toy so far....not bad for 36 hours of having it up :-P  I've been able to facebook (like a retarded cow), read blogs, and watch a movie all while walking....sweet.  And I'm not the most coordinated person, either!

So, on to today's post....yesterday, I talked about having the why, and the what of my December goals.  Now, let's talk about the HOW.  Being healthy doesn't come naturally to me (believe it.)  I have to work at it.  If I could feel great eating snickers bars all day long, I would  (well, okay, that would get boring...but you catch my drift.)  Moving comes easier to me than healthy eats.  So, like many experts suggest, I keep a journal to keep track of my intake and movement when I feel the scale slide and my jeans get snug.  I don't necessarily keep a calorie count, but if I have to write it down, that second brownie looks a little less tempting.  However, I don't believe in the power of a stark composition book.  In order to keep my eye on the prize, I combine journaling with dream boarding. 

What's a dream board?  Well, I'm not silly enough to pretend I invented one...but there are many variations.  The basic idea is to combine motivating words and pictures to have a visual of what you want in life.  Mine have always been pretty specific in terms of weight loss, Ironman, life goals (marriage, kids, house, etc.) depending on what I see in my life in the next year or two.  That way I can base my choices off of what I want in my "best life" rather than what is gratifying in the next 15 minutes :-).
The concept is simple.  Grab a bunch of magazines and cut out pictures that look interesting.  Get a blank notebook, scissors, and stick glue and create your own modge podge.  No right way, wrong way, whatever inspires you is awesome.  (Even if it's sideways).  I like a mix of words and pictures to keep me going....To see the toned Mirinda Carfrae...a trail runner...a jogging stroller...fruit....and inspiring words and phrases so that everytime I log a bite of workout, I can remember why I am doing what I am doing....striving to be my best!

What inspires you to be healthy?  Have you ever used pictures to set a goal?  A dream board?

Monthly Miles and goals

Yay, it's December!  I'm a day late.  So what.  I was so stupid excited yesterday with my new Christmas gift that I forgot about my new plan....monthly goals (ok, fine, I am way behind on the times.  I can handle that.)
It's officially Christmas month!  Yay!  Time to play!  Time to gather with family and friends!  Time to eat!  Time to ....wait.  We need to think about this.
I told you the Glasers had some ideas up their sleeve regarding moving more and eating a bit better through the month of December, right?  Well, we've kept it pretty vague, but since the hubster has lost 10 pounds and I've found them....I figure he's on a roll and I need to get my butt in gear so I don't have a perma roll!!  Capiece?  Ok, good-let's rock it!
Lest I forget, I am still working on that push up challenge.  I've slacked off for the last few days, but I am holding strong at 27.  50 seems more reasonable to ring in the new year, but I'm optimistic.  Dream big or go home, right?  (more on that one later).
Here comes the plan for December:

Source

* 100 miles on the 'mill.  It's a new toy.  It's in front of a 55" flat screen TV in the boy room (yeah, that's another toy....boys.)  I'm optimistic.  Look for weekly updates on our progress!
* 7 servings of fruits/veggies a day.  This is inspired by Run to the Finish....I'm part of the Holiday Bootie Buster challenge for December and I can rock out activity points like no one's business, but I've been friends with (unhealthy) carbs way too much lately.  Goodbye goldfish crackers, hello sweet taters!  7 a day = 49 a week.  Weekly updates abound.
* Enjoy December 9 (hubster's work party) December 24, December 25 and December 31.  The rest of December = healthy.
*Kitchen curfew is back in effect!  I'm closing it at 9:30.  All food is on lock down after that.  (Yup night eating kills me).

I know this will help me in the long run....so we're gonna go for it.  Check back on Friday's for my weekly "How'd we Do".  (Yup, I'm takin the hubster with me on this one.  Marital benefits and all that, ya know).

Now I have my WHAT (being a bit healthier in December)

And my WHY ( I really like my skinny jeans, and I want to feel healthy)

So.....I need my HOW.

Well, that's tomorrow.  I have something up my sleeve of course :-)

Tonight, though, I have a (virtual) date with this guy.

And this guy.

You know you're jealous.

100 miles....time to get crackin!

ITS HERE!!!!!

Christmas!....well, the treadmill (present) part, anyways.

In our basement!

Get excited.

Wait, it doesn't work yet?

Once we figure out how it goes together, of course :-)

2 hours later....All done!

Now what?  

Glaser goal=100 miles (between the both of us) in December.  

Think we can do it?  Ready, set, GO!!!