Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Double Duty


Hello there!  Sorry I wasn't around yesterday.  It was a busy night and when it was all said and done, all I really wanted to do was sleep, so to bed I went. 

With that said, you are going to get a double duty post….

Monday: 

Let's see, it began with a 6 mile run followed by a pear/yogurt bowl. 

1/4 Cup Kashi Go Lean, 1/4 Cup Kashi Cinnamon Harvest Wheat, 1 small pear (nuked), 2 TBL applesauce, 2 TBL vanilla oikos, almond butter, blackberries and homemade cherry almond granola 

Summer Candy

With a side of blog reading…..


The rest of the afternoon was busy.  I got to meet my brother in law for lunch which was a nice treat.  I don't get to see him often and he has been helping me with a program that I am developing for work.  He is actually an expert in the material I am researching so it's been very nice to have his help on it. 

Later on, it was time to get ready for girls night! 

Toly is out of town at a work conference all week, so rather than pout that I'm not with him, I saw it as an opportunity for a much needed chic night with my bf Jen. 


Of course there was wine…..

Loved this Zin!  My friend from work recommended it and it was fantastic. 

Since I didn't have much time, I took the Sandra Lee route and went with a frozen Kashi pizza with a little doctoring. 

I usually don't buy frozen pizza, but I believe with a few added touches, you can really turn them into a gourmet experience. 

Kashi Roasted Veggie Pizza with a ton more roasted veggies, goat cheese, olives and sun dried tomatoes



Strawberry Salad with Avocado, Almonds and Feta


My plate x 2 

The next 3 hours were spent divulging in some serious girl chat.  Over a bottle of wine and good food, it was quite perfect. 

Tuesday: 

Another 6 miles.  I had one of those "good running" days so I went with it until I ran out of time. I think I actually finished around 6.25 before the clock stopped me.  

Breakfast was magnificent today. 


1/4 Cup Flax Flakes, 1/4 Cup Kashi Go Lean(soaked in a little Almond Milk), Strawberry Oikos, 1/2 Banana, Strawberries, Dark Chocolate Almond Butter drizzle, Dark Chocolate granola sprinkle 



And a juicy and very messy grapefruit. 

I worked straight through the morning and right up to lunch. 

I've been very excited about this lunch ever since I picked up the key ingredients at the store this weekend. 



This was smoked salmon on a whole wheat bagel thin with homemade veggie cream creese (from Wegmans), sprouts, maple dijon mustard and capers. 

I am falling in love with smoke salmon.  And the veggie cream cheese was perfect with the fish! 



Veggies and fruit for side dishes.  

When I got home from work, I took advantage of having the TV use and did a 25 min Jillian Michaels workout.  I forgot how much I've missed Jillian.  I'm still on a Shred hiatus after doing them for so long, but her other workouts are a nice change.  I'm really looking forward to trying her new Yoga workout. 

After a walk with Sammy, I got started on dinner. 

I've been counting down the days when I would make these again….

Parsnip Encrusted Nut Butter Fries!!! 



I don't really know how to convince you any more, these are UNBELIEVABLE!!!!  Possibly my new favorite food. 

All you do is cut a parsnip or butternut squash or sweet potato into fry like shapes and coat them in the nut butter mixture.  Mine was 1 tsp of coconut oil, 1 TBL Almond Butter, 1 TBL Honey PB. 

Baked at 400* for about 40 min. 

I also baked a few sweet potato slices.  (which use to be my favorite, but next to the fries, they just don't compare) 

The sweet potato rounds were a topping for my salad which had beets, pear, feta, pecans cucumber, and radish. 

Cranberry Dijon Mustard for dipping.  I didn't want this one to end.  So incredible! 

My dinner date, Mac Daddy. 

So incredible! Wait I already said that. :) 

Weighted Discussion:

Disclaimer- 
Before I start with this, I just want to say that this is a subject that I try to avoid discussing on the blog because I don't ever want to seem that my purpose or intentions of writing revolve around it.  But I have been feeling very strongly about this lately and I really feel encouraged to share…..

For the past few months, as many of you know, I have been enduring some health issues.  The most recent and most serious was my latest diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis, an IBD (inflammatory bowl disease) that put me in the hospital.  Today, I am doing 1000x better and feel like I am nearly 100% recovered; however, the road to recovery was full of changes for my body.  These changes included the use of several medications, drugs and steroids (most of which I am off now).  During my recovery, I noticed that I did gain about 5 solid pounds.  Now I am not sure if this has to do with the prednisone, the other medications, a few dietary changes, decrease in cardio…etc. but whatever. I actually haven't weighed myself in a long time because I didn't want to think about it or have any added stress during a time when I just needed to focus on getting better.  Considering I have been in the "underweight" class for years and I was pretty malnourished and even lost a few pounds due to the liquid diet and hospital experience, gaining weight is actually an accomplishment for me. 

What I want to really share with you all is not that I gained 5 pounds but how I feel as a result.  Right now, I feel better than ever!!!  I feel strong and healthy and my body is back into the shape that it was before all of this happened.  I am running 25-30 miles a week, eating all of the right things, strength training 3 -4 days a week, and getting full nights of sleep. I also feel that I look great!!  My abs are the most defined they have ever been, I feel fuller, toner and stronger. And guess what, my clothes still fit the same way! Okay so here is my point with this all….

A few months ago, I was the most sick I have ever been.  Life was miserable and I felt and looked awful.  So even though I was 5 lbs lighter, there was absolutely nothing desirable about it.  Now, I am healthier, happier, and heavier and I couldn't be more content.  It's so hard to  be able to accept and understand that line between health and weight, but if there is one thing I have learned through this all, it's that you can not take your health for granted.  Don't ever feel defined by a number or ever let that measure your confidence in yourself.  You can do all the right things and in the end, your body will always put you at the place where you are supposed to be at.  Trust that.  I know that to be at the place in my health that I am at now, I have to accept a different number on the scale and you know what….I'm just fine with that! :)  




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21 comments:

  1. BEAUTIFUL words, attitude, and determination - here's to better health, always.

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  2. Girl! You just rock :) You truly are looking amazing lately- just glowing. So glad you are feeling better. I hope you never have to deal with anything like that again. Ok...I need to try these nut butter fries. Everyone is raving! Glad you had fun with your BF last night too. great salad

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  3. what a terrific post! i love what you have to say. and man, sign me up for some of those fries!!!

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  4. Awwww, Lauren!
    I´m so happy for you!
    :D
    You´re lovely. Delicious eats and pics, as always!
    Wish you a wonderful week, love!
    Brazilian xoxo´s,
    Gabriela

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  5. I just love what you wrote here! You are so right that health is about SO much more than the number on the scale. I'm so glad to hear that you're feeling great and confident! That's what it's all about. :)

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  6. I love your attitude. I know that it's not easy, but you seem so upbeat and positive about your issues. Love you!

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  7. great post. i'm glad you are feeling healthy. all the food looks fantastic!

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  8. Wow, you are such an inspiration! Your words resonated with me and seeing how beautiul, healthy and happy you look only intensifies their impact. Congratulations on regaining your health, looking amazing and having your priorities in order. I've never seen you look more beautiful than in these last few posts!

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  9. Missed you yesterday, but WOW! Seriously great-looking eats:)

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  10. hey, pretty lady! never be sorry for not bloggin :)

    SO GLAD you are feeling 100%! you hadnt talked about your health much lately so i was hoping you were better!! and girl.. your talk about the 5 lbs made my day. THANK YOU for this insight, you never cease to inspire me!! i just love you!

    other fun stuff: lol @ "the sandra lee route"~ gotta love semi-homemade! although you are a lot cooler and classier than sandra.. ha! i debated some smoked salmon at costco on sunday and didn't end up buying it. between your post and gina (fitnessista's) i wish i'd bought some! oh and i HAVE to hop on the nut butter fries wagon soon.

    MWAH~!

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  11. Such a great post! Love it! Hubby is gone all week too in Memmphis, I have Taco Tuesday with the girls!!!

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  12. I'm so glad you are feeling so much better and are so happy with your body's changes! Thank you for sharing your successes! Now please share your parsnip fries...I haven't tried them yet. ;)

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  13. Amazing attitude about the weight gain. The funny thing about five pounds is that it's barely noticeable to anyone else, but you can FEEL so much different from it. I've gained five pounds in the past few months as well, and I have way better muscle definition and more energy as well! Congrats on feeling 100% and HEALTHY again, love!! xoxo

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  14. SO glad to hear that you're feeling great and healthy and happy! Seriously - it's so refreshing to read this and know that you are just thriving right now after everything you've been through lately!

    Girl nights are always needed :) And that breakfast? I need it. I've got to find this dark chocolate almond butter :)

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  15. Thank you for being so open and honest. That was a very poignant post and I really appreciated it. Even though I know in my head that weight is just a number, and I tell people that all the time who complain about their weight, it's hard to seperate my image of myself from it. I'm also the heaviest I've been in a while right now, but I look better than ever. I just need to remind myself of that.

    So, congratulations on your health and outlook! You're awesome, girly!

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  16. your honesty is refreshing and wonderful. :) much loooove to you pretty lady!

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  17. thank you so much for posting about gaining weight! it breaks my heart so many girls think the answer to all their problems is getting as skinny as possible. skinny doesn't always mean healthy!

    you go, girl! and congrats on being healthier!
    -rebekah

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  18. Thank you for such an honest post. I'm so happy for you that you are in a happier/healthier place.

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  19. Wow, great post!! I actually can relate to your gastro issues- I have Crohn's disease, which is similar to IBD..and I also have to be on medication for the rest of my life because of it. Thankfully I do not have to be on steroids- only when I was initially diagnosed 7 years ago. I hope everything is under control now for you! I know it is really hard to make sure you get all of the right nutritional foods as well..because of how your body sometimes digests them.
    I'm so glad that you are happy with your body & feel healthy..because that is what it is all about :)

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  20. AMEN SISTER. I could not have said it better myself.

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  21. Lauren I love that you posted this! I think a lot of people get hung up on numbers and that would include myself. It is so important to step away and realize that our bodies, when fueled and treated properly, know best.

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