Tis the Season...

It is the start of the sparkling lights, family memories and... lots of goodies and treats around. Yes, I am talking about the holidays. I remember being so freaked out and nervous last year, going though the holidays for the first time after making my healthy changes. Yikes! However, I survived, just like I will this time around. I am more confident going in because I have been through it once and I am more sure of the habits I have created. I love this time of year and I am glad I have gotten over the serious nerves. I will still have issues and have to over think everything, but I will make it.

Last week was Thanksgiving and I spent it with friends here in La Crosse. I started the day attending a Turkey Trot... A 5 mile Turkey Trot... yeah I know!!! It was tough, oh man was it tough. I had fallen the week before and banged up my knee.** To those who know me... you shouldn't be surprised I fell. To those who don't know me... everyone should be surprised how long I have been running without having a fall. ** Any who... My knee was still bruised and I pushed myself earlier in the week. I thought I was good to go. My knee pained me a little, so I did a lot more on and off running than usual.

 My friend that was with me was planning to run with me the whole way. However, I felt horrible I kept starting and stopping and ended up telling her to go ahead. I was super upset when I had to stop and walk the first time. Reason for that: There was no mile markers! I had thought I hadn't even gone a mile yet! Turns out it was way past a mile, which made me feel better. A lot of this running is a mental game. Knowing you made it to mile 2 and only have 3 to go is better than not knowing how much farther it will be. I pushed and finished in 1 hour and 2 minutes! I was super pumped to finish and see my friends at the finish line. I love that we are getting out there and doing races together.

I went home after the race to prepare my dessert for Thanksgiving. I made a "healthier" cheesecake made out of Greek yogurt and splenda and then a pumpkin fluff pie with sugar free pudding and pumpkin. I spent a wonderful vegetarian Thanksgiving with good friends and their little ones. It was one of the best days.

So now we are here... this week is when my gym at work closes for construction and my gym at home is still under construction... what is a girl to do? Well, I started the work out Insanity. Yeah, again, I know right?! Holy crap I am only day 2 in and I hurt. It is crazy, but I feel so good when I am done. I need to take more breaks, but I am sweating and kicking butt til the end. It is a new challenge and I look forward to sticking with it!

Recipes:

Chocolate Chip Candy Cane Cheesecake

1/8th of cake: 187 calories, 3g fat, 378mg sodium, 29g carbs, <0.5g fiber, 24.5g sugars, 11.5g protein --PointsPlus® value 5*

Sure, candy canes are typically associated with December holidays... But this criminally delicious cheesecake is worth making TODAY!

Ingredients:
16 oz. fat-free cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated white sugar, or HG Alternative
1 tsp. vanilla extract
6 oz. (about 2/3 cup) fat-free vanilla Greek yogurt, room temperature
1/2 cup liquid egg whites (about 4 egg whites), room temperature
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 standard-sized candy canes or 8 mini candy canes, crushed
1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Optional topping: Fat Free Reddi-wip

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch springform cake pan with nonstick spray.

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth with an electric mixer set to medium speed, 1 - 2 minutes.

Continue to beat while gradually adding yogurt, egg whites, and flour. Beat until thoroughly mixed, about 2 minutes.

Stir in half of the candy canes. Evenly pour mixture into the cake pan.

Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake until firm, 40 - 45 minutes.

Sprinkle with remaining crushed candy canes. Let cool completely. Refrigerate until chilled.

Release springform, slice, and serve!

Pumpkin Pudding

2 small boxes of instant vanilla pudding (can use sugar-free/fat-free if you like)

1 15 oz can pumpkin

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

2 C skim milk

8 oz (small container) light or fat-free cool whip

Combine all ingredients together, I use a hand mixer for everything except the cool whip – I fold that in. Chill for at least 15 min.

You could put this in a graham cracker crust if you would like

 

My mind is ramblin...

My first running injury... No one should be surprised that I would trip and fall on one of my runs. What I am sure many are surprised about is that it took so long! Yes, I indeed fell on my run last week. I tripped over the uneven sidewalk and landed on my hands and knees. A few abrasions and bruises, nothing broken or sprained. I then got up and... ran another 1/2 mile or so. I know right?! I felt like I could do it, until it really started hurting. All in all I was lucky it wasn't worse.

Unfortunatly I was supposed to run a 5k on that Saturday. I was thinking I could up until the night before. I actually held some hope the day of, that I actually went and ran around my apartment building. But, to my disappointment, I decided to sit this one out. I still went to the race and felt left out, but was proud of my friends that ran the race.

So! I am back at it. I was on the elliptical tonight for 43 minutes and went 4 miles. My knee hurts a tish, but I need to get ready for Thursday. On Thursday I will be running in a 5 mile Turkey Trot! I had my heart set on this race so I am glad I rested on Saturday.

Now lets talk about feelings... I was so disappointed I wasn't going to be able to run. Those are some thoughts I NEVER thought I would have. I actually got teary eyed on Friday night and my poor friend had to talk me through it. (She went through the "omg I eat french fries" moment, so she is technically a pro now.) I am always afraid of disappointing. However, no one would expect me to run when I was hurt... so who was I trying to not disappoint?? It is that guilty feeling that comes about once in awhile. Feeling guilty over nothing... *sigh*

As much as those feelings can eat me up inside, they keep me accountable. One reason I know I won't go back to my old ways, is a fear of disappointing. Not the best motive, but hey I will take what I can get. I also know I will never go back to my old ways bc I never want to feel that bad again.

However, I do need to learn to cut myself some slack. Between apologizing for falling and ruining our run...(Yeah, I know! I did that multiple times) or apologize for having to walk for a few seconds, I need to realize it is perfectly OKAY to not be perfect at every second of the day. I am going to fall short and I can't act as if it is the end of the world. I KNOW I will brush myself off and get going again... so why do I put myself through those guilty feelings?

So I will end this with some of my favorite words... Ya gotta keep your head  up...

Progress shoot w/ Sam

 

 

 

Hey! These are some of my favorite pics from the progress shoot w/ my fantastic photographer friend Sam. She is amazing! I love these photos and can't wait for the next one.

 

 

Check out her blog and see for yourself how talented this lady is.

http://samanthamaide.com/

Having Coffee...

I love the fact that there is a coffee shop right across the street from where I get my oil changed. I am happy I don't have to sit on the metal folding chair in the corner and that I can try this delish blueberry coffee! It also gives me time to write a new post on here... all in all it is a huge positive!

The last post was about the next 5k that I was attending. What a day that was! I finished the race in 36:23 and I didn't have to walk at all. I pushed and only had myself to motivate me. A friend (who ran the race as well) met me at the 3rd mile marker with his buddy and cheered me on. I was so happy to see them! I knew I could finish w/o having to walk. I made it to the first mile marker and prayed for the second. Once I did see the second, I knew... KNEW I was going to run the whole thing. It wasn't easy, but I did it and am very excited for my next milestone.

My lesson I had to learn from the last post: I am still going to be hard on myself when I don't keep pushing... but that keeps me pushing. I don't think that makes sense. If I do fail at reaching a goal, it just pushes me to make it next time. I am pretty sure my friend will yell at me if I keep apologizing every time I have to walk! (right Jamie?)

On to "weight" news: I am now...*drum roll* 196 lbs.! That makes it a total of 117 lbs. lost. I still am in a little shock and have not quite come to terms with being under 200 lbs. It is a strange feeling. Hold it! Strange but good. I am very happy about this, don't get me wrong. When you look and feel one way for so many years, it is hard when you change so much into a person you have never been before.

Forward I go with my journey. The holidays will be here soon and anxiety over food will happen. I feel a lot more in control than I was last year. This is my second pass thru the holidays with my new lifestyle... I got this.

Remember to keep your head up!