Book Review: Born To Run

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book really changed my idea on how I want to run. The beginning was a little bit slow but as it went on the weaving through stories, I fell in love. I loved reading the history of a tribe that I had never heard of, must have been the history buff in me.The information just seemed to make sense and I kept thinking wow, these people are amazing. I will never be any of these amazing ultra runners but for the first time ever my mind thought,I want to run an ultra! (it was just a thought, nothing more than that!!)

Only a few books really make me want to change the way I am and this was one of them! I even bought a pair of these (don't judge, read this book and you might want them too :)!)

p.s. they are so freaking comfortable!

Have you read this book yet? What did you think?

WIAW and Some Fun Blogging Events...

I am trying very hard to get back in food gear and thanks to Peas and Crayons WIAW and the HBBC, I am slowly making my way back! I am doing pretty good! Today I got back in gear with making some healthy snack foods to have ready so I grab them! Its nice to be back in a nice routine and be eating healthy home foods! Here is what I ate Monday, it was an in-between kind of day because I hadn't been to the store yet!



 Breakfast: I had ezekial toast with peanut butter, bananas and chia seeds

Lunch: While I normally wouldn't consider leftover general tso's chicken healthy, I needed to finish it up and I decided I would pair it with loads of veggies. The picture doesn't show the amount of broccoli I had because I couldn't help but keep eating it before I took a picture!

Snacks: I didnt take any pictures but for snacks I had some Nut Thins. I was out and about and it was the healthiest thing I had around but not my ideal choice.

Dinner: I had some soup my dad made before leaving for my evening run with friends. After dinner we went to a bar where everyone meets when they finish their run and I got a salad. It wasn't good but it was refreshing after a bad run.

Its almost December 2nd, don't forget to sign up for my virtual 5k honoring my daughter Ashlyn Rose, if you havent already!

I signed up for Courtney's fun Secret Santa Sock Swap! You have until midnight on December 2nd to sign up and join in on the fun! All you have to do is buy some fun cheapie holiday socks and fill them up with some fun stuff for a blogger!
I also signed up for Jill's Holiday Blogger Gift Exchange! You have until December 5th to sign up for her fun exchange!

Updated Information on Hope Endure 5k

I created a page on the blog that will feature all the information for the Hope Endure 5k coming up at the end of the week!!  On that page, I listed all of our participants and the blogs they blog too! I wanted to make sure you all got a shout out and I will leave that up every year!

We have 30 participants so far and I cant wait to see if we can get more over the week! Thanks so much for helping making a hard day so much better knowing you all are out running with me across the world!!

If you would like more information on Ashlyn, you can read about them here:

Ashlyn Rose

Part One of Her Birth Story

Her Nursery

2nd Birthday

Remembrance Tattoo

Her Memorial

(I will have Part Two up sometime this week)

Thanksgiving Day Run Recap

This year, Brian and I decided it would be a lot of fun to run one of the many turkey runs in the city. Since I help with a local running club, we decided to do the race they sponsor and I volunteered to help set everything up. It was a lot of fun and the day turned out to be perfect!

Before the Thanksgiving day run I hadn't run a official 5k since the hot as heck one in July. I ran that race in 34 minutes and vowed from that moment on I wanted to get an under 30 minute 5k. As I trained more and more for the half in October I realized my pace was increasing and I needed to sign up for a 5k.

I signed up thinking this run was pretty flat, apparently flat is totally different when you are driving a car than when you are running! It had a pretty nice increase the second half of the race so I didn't really prepare well and kind of jumped the gun on my pace from the start.

In the end I am totally happy with my time and cant believe how much time I shredded off from my last run. I also managed to work my way up in the standing and barely made it into the top third of my age group. According to the race stats, I finished in 27:56 and was 33/112. I manged to drop 6 minutes off my PR best and I have a feeling I could have done a bit better if my managed my time a bit better in the beginning.

All in all this run was so much fun and I enjoyed every minute of it! Races are starting to slow down a bit here in Kansas City so I might just be doing some fun runs with the running group!

Do you have any races you are excited for in December?

Weekly Review

Oh my gosh, I totally feel into my old ways this holiday season! I turned into a glutton and I blame my pure love for Thanksgiving day food and my zero ability to say no to it! We had a very busy week and I didn't have a minute, but when Saturday rolled around I was so exhausted I didn't want to go to the store. The girls where up throughout the night on Friday, so by the time Saturday rolled around, I was tired. Yes, I know they are excuses but I am very thankful for that lazy day...I needed it. I am not sorry for my week and totally enjoyed it! I will get back in gear this week and all will be good.

Anyway I am excited for running again, because I think I am going to start training again! I am signing up for a full marathon in April and want to build back up my long runs. I really miss having a schedule with running and cant seem to get myself outside enough if I have no reason to do it!

Here was my week of working out:

Monday: 5 mile run (5 points for HBBC)
Tuesday: High Intensity Interval Training for 20 minutes (2 points for HBBC)
Wednesday: off
Thursday: 3.1 mile run (3 points for HBBC)
Friday,Saturday, Sunday- NOTHING!

(HBBC total: 9 sad points! oh well its new week!)

Goals for next week:

Monday: BodyPump/5 mile run
Tuesday: Gym workout-Arms
Wednesday- 4 mile run
Thursday: rest
Friday: Bodypump
Saturday: 5 mile run/Yoga
Sunday:  Boxing Class

Yes this weeks plans are much different than last weeks, but I think it will be good to get back in a routine.

Can you believe we are almost into December? Are you gearing up for any runs this Spring that you need to start training for?

(I am linking this up over at Fitness, Health and Happiness!)

a little break

I have been taking a bit of a break to spend time with my family and of course it has turned into our house being crazy busy! We did get the some Christmas decorating done in one room...too bad I have several more to go (yep I am that crazy girl!).

I promise I will be back Sunday with my normal posts!!

my thanksgiving day morning....

Yes, I literally was a Turkey for a little bit this morning! I had a great 5k run and very long morning working the packet pickup but it was one my favorite Thanksgiving days yet!! 

Hope you all had a great day! I am going to bed and hopefully sleeping past 8 in the morning!

Happy Thanksgiving

I adore Thanksgiving, so I wanted to pop on and say Happy Thanksgiving!!! I am so thankful for the awesome community this blog has given me!

what i need to be eating!

Family is in town, we have load of things on our calendar and food has not been cooked in this house for days since we have already been to 3 Thanksgiving dinner celebrations! We are on overload and honestly I haven't passed on a pumpkin pie yet, or a helping of my stuffing. So my WIAW will be what I am going to eat the day after thanksgiving!

You might be out shopping but I will be inside detoxing for a week before the whole holiday party/events start to pile up (I saw this and so far I think I have maybe two things...I am really not that cool!).

The main thing I will be doing is ridding my body of the pumpkin pie sugar induced coma with natural fruit sugars instead! When I am down and out I will be kicking up my green smoothies to load me up on some greens and proteins!

Lunch will probably be my latest craving, my black bean soup!! So..So..good!

I think for dinner I will probably throw in one of my favorite vegan dishes! I think I will need it after a meat induced holiday vaca!

Ahh just thinking about what I need to eat is making me ready to eat loads of veggies that are untouched by sauces and gravies! I do plan on enjoying my turkey day though!

busy holiday (pin)spiration for you!

With a crazy holiday week coming upon us and really a crazy holiday month, I thought I would share some lovely pinterest finds to motivate you to get out and go!

(via pinterest)

(via pinterest)

(so true! via pinterest)

Yep, my busy excuse probably cant hold up because I just cleared out my google reader when I should have been baking lots of pies and doing laundry. I apparently have lazy priorities! I think my busy is very relative!

Are you ready to kick this weeks booty?

A Weekly Review

I am starting to feel the craziness of the season, how about you?

This week started off bad when I planned to head out to the gym and realized my husband took my keys to work. It ended up getting better but I am starting to see that its getting a little bit harder to work in my workout with my crazy schedule! I need to plan out when I am going to things before the week starts so I can make sure to get out and go!

• Monday: Run 5.5 miles 
• Tuesday: off
• Wednesday:off
• Thursday: 1 mile run and 1 hour of Leg Workout
• Friday: Bodypump
• Saturday: 5 mile run

I would have loved to get in another bodypump, run and yoga class but it didnt happen. Oh well, lets hope this week I will do great even with Thanksgiving week!

Goal For the Week:

• Monday: 5 mile run 
• Tuesday: Bodypump (I am going to try a 5:45am class..eek!)
• Wednesday: gym-arms
• Thursday: 5k Thanksgiving Day Run
• Friday: Bodypump
• Saturday: 6 mile run
• Sunday: Yoga

Are you doing a Thanksgiving day run this year? This will be our first but I am really looking forward to it!

6 years and counting

Hope Endure 5k

A few weeks ago I told you a story about losing our daughter and the subsequent journey I have been on since her passing. Running has very much become a part of my life and something I love to do. I have become involved in my community in so many way that incorporate running and health that it is who I have become. I love it and I credit Ashlyn for changing me.

On December 2, 2008 she passed away and December 6th we had a memorial for her. For everyone else that was the end, but for our family, we live with it every single day and we grow. So in honor of Ashlyn, this year I want to celebrate her with a virtual 5k! Its not about winning or prizes, its for anyone who has to endure life after something they think they cant.  Its about just enduring life each day when we are down. Its a celebration of change and a celebration of never-ending love.

I hope you will all join me and here is the information on how to do that!

• Leave a comment with your name, email address and blog if you have one, if you are participating! I am going to make a list on the blog of everyone who does!
• Get out run a 5k (outside, on a treadmil, race or not)between December 2-December 6th
• Blog about or put this badge up, on your blog

<a href=”http://www.asocalledrunner.com/p/hope-endure-5k.html” style=”border: none;”><img alt=”A So Called Runner” src=”http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g480/cookingupafamily/hopeendures5k.jpg” style=”width: 129px; height: 129px;”/></a>

Print out this bib with your favorite number on it!

(print here)
You can also print this bib to wear or take a picture with after your run!
When you complete the race, I will add  a link up on the blog, so you can link up your thoughts and recap of your run! I will have a special little gift for 2 randomly picked people! I hope that you can run this virtual 5k with me!

be strong

 

(via pinterest)

I have been thinking about how for so many years I was content with being overweight. I didn't think I needed to lose weight even though my BMI was getting higher and higher.  We often tell people to love the body they have and I agree with that to a certain extent. I ignored the voice in my head saying hey this isn't right, you need to stop this spiral towards obesity for a long time because I thought my weight was okay. 

We so quickly have two extremes that we all know is not right, someone who is extremely skinny and someone who is extremely obese. Its okay to tell them that they are wrong and need help but the in between doesnt seem to matter. Sadly that in between line is getting blurred. I blurred that line and thought that even though I was overweight, I wasn't and couldn't have medical issues. As we move toward the obese BMI range we are treading in waters that has only shown to be causing an issue with the health of people today. 

I 100% think that the number one important thing is to love yourself but I also think we have to love our bodies at the same time. I think though that once we are truly happy and do truly love the skin we are in we naturally want to become healthier on the outside.  The problem is that even when we are healthy we can have a voice in our head that is causing problems. I never believed I could run a mile anymore let alone run. My head always wanted to mess with me because I just wasn't content. I finally had to tell myself to be strong and stand up for me. I learned to stand up for my health and I learned to stand up for the beauty on the inside and outside. Its a hard process and one I will always be working on but at the moment, I love myself more than I have in a long time and I am strong. 

When did you decide to be strong for you, be an advocate for you and not what everyone else wanted?

party dress

(via nordstrom)

This weekend we are celebrating our sixth wedding anniversary! While it might not be some monumental number I am ready to have a night out on the town with my hubs.

Having the girls and lack of fancy party invites, I have decided it is the perfect time to put on a party dress and just enjoy being glammed up for the night. Will we look odd?? Who cares, I am doing it anyway!!

Now I just need to figure out what and where we would go being all glammed up!!

food for a busy girl

Sometime my food choices are not very calculated and sometimes they are planned to a T. This week I am going with no planning at all. I even went to the store without a grocery list of any sort. It was kind of nice, I was able to look at everything in the store and buy what looked good. I decided this week was perfect for the craziness!

My six year anniversary is this weekend and we have family coming in town next week. We have several plans throughout the week making our schedule super loaded. So I went for quick and easy foods but am hoping to keep them a little veggie loaded. Today wasn't horrible but it wasn't my best food day. It was just easy and well I kind of needed it that way.

 

Breakfast was a mojo bar, bananas and grapes. In between I munched on another mojo bar, this just didn't fill me up at all. I ended up having some BBQ popchips also because I just couldn't get full. I think my body just needs its oatmeal in the morning to run properly :)!

Lunch was almond butter and apples, more grapes and roasted garlic hummus and snow peas. This was a nice little mix! One note: I do not like garlic hummus on apples. I dipped my apple into hummus instead of the almond butter and realized the two don't go together!

Roasted Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Croutons. While I love the idea of the croutons, it still got soggy fast so next time the grilled cheese will be on the side. I planned on making cashew cheese but I got lazy and used a slice of smoked Gouda instead.

What is your go to quick and easy meal?

Run Free!

Tonight the weather in Kansas City was my kind of weather! I started my run at 6pm which meant it was very dark, but even with the sun down and a cool breeze it was perfect running weather. One mile into the run we started to strip off our jackets and enjoy the cool breeze on our arms. As we hit the two mile mark, on an out and back run, my running buddies decided we want to push towards six miles! I wasn't sure if my knee was ready to handle it but we pushed on. I am so glad we did and if i didn't have a meeting I might have tried to run more!

With the breeze hitting my face and nothing on my mind I ran, for pure fun! It was refreshing and my body felt new! As we rounded into our last mile I felt so good I ignored thing and almost got hit by a car! Tonight was a fun run and I think it might go down as one of my favorite runs yet!

Can you think of a favorite run?

something is calling me

As I read and research I think I might slowly move over to a more minimal shoe. At the moment I wear Mizuno WaveRunners and I have a pair of Nike Free 2+, I like them enough but I really think I want to move. I know its a hot button topic with people but when it comes down to the research I have been reading, minimal seems more natural and makes more sense. Maybe I will put a pair of these beauties or some new balance minimus on my Christmas list! I know the change will be very slow and take time to process through but I am totally intrigued! Good thing I have some time to keep researching. As I learn more and more I will be writing information on it but at the moment, the thought is in mind, that is for sure!

Weekly Review

(So I tried to do the 11/11/11 picture at 11:11 and it was on a brief break in body pump class, so pretty awful but that is what I was doing!)

I was able to get back into working out this week but I will admit my knee still hates me! I am working with my chiropractor on it and hopefully will be painless in the future. I have been reading a lot on the topic of injury  lately and  my mind is blown.  So many people have so many different ways to treat and prevent injury. It is not a black and white area that is for sure!  In a way I am glad I have an injury that was brought on by probably bad form, its helping work on areas I need to improve and I am learning so much from research.

• Saturday: 5.5 mile run
• Sunday: 1 mile run (knee injury day)
• Monday: Rest Day 
• Tuesday: Rest Day 
• Wednesday: 3 mile run
• Thursday: 1.5 mile run, leg/glutes weight workout
• Friday: BodyPump Class
• Saturday: 4 mile run/ 75 minute Yoga Class

Goals for Next Week:

• 3 days of weight training (bodypump included)
• 2 yoga classes 
• Get my races for 2012 lined up
• Get 10 miles of running in

What are your goals this week?

how to run!

I help with a class of new beginners and I get questions all the time about how they should run. This is a great little graphic for the basics! I am still learning so I tell them the basics that work for me and I make sure to read up on as much information as I can. Thank goodness I am not the leader of the group because I am still just a newbie but it helps people just starting to know that they don't have to be seasoned to be a runner. Everyone thinks I have been running for years and than I tell them its only been about a year and they jump for joy knowing that the goal will happen quicker than they think!

What would you say to a new runner about the most surprising thing you have learned as a runner?

Ultimate Running Goal?!?

I have been working on my knee just like the doctor told me to and I attempted my first run the other day. It wasn't easy and I was really thinking about where I was striking the ground but it felt good. I felt alive again and loved the cool weather. I wish I had started running years ago but I am happy I get to experience it now. I am very excited to see where running takes me in the future! What is your ultimate running goal?

black bean soup...the best ever!!

Okay I thought I would point you all over to the black bean soup recipe that I think is amazing!! It is super easy to make and even if you don't like black beans...you might like this!

Check the recipe out over here...trust me its worth it!!

WIAW

Its been one of those weeks that I will be so happy when Friday rolls around. I am doing very good on making sure I eat a well balanced meal though I did slip up a little bit with my latest love affair.

Breakfast was so yummy. Two pieces of toast with almond butter, banana slices and chia seeds.

My obsession throughout the day, my love affair and I know processed and not the best...but oh so yummy. I might have eaten the whole box. Maybe!

 

Lunch was this amazing black bean soup that I made in my tiny crock pot! So good and I will have recipe up very soon! (edit you can check it out over here!!)

 

For dinner I was out late but managed to get home and make my own dinner full of vegetables! I was stuffed halfway through and just want to go to bed afterwards! Omelet with mushrooms, spinach, onions, bell peppers, jalapenos, cashew cheese and hot sauce.







What was your favorite meal of the week??

Weekly Review

via pinterest

Last week I managed to get about 7 miles in total for the week and missed the gym due to everyone including me being sick. It wasn't a good week and I am not sure how this week is going to stack up until I meet with my doctor tomorrow. I am off to bed to read a book and ice my knee. I know its my IT band and I know its a little more severe than just a few days off but hopefully we can figure out a good in between. I know I will be hitting up some Yoga classes to help me get to stretching again.

How was your workout last week?

How I made stupid running decisions!

Today was suppose to be a good day. I woke up to help with packet pickup and than planned on running an 8k. My husband was running the 5k and they both had different start times. It was perfect for us to finally get to run together and the girls to see us both run. I was pretty darn excited.

You have to go back to a few weeks ago to understand how my day ended up not being as exciting as I hoped it would be. I helped start up a new running group and I was trying to encourage a new runner. She was talking about how her knees hurt and I mentioned how I had issues with my knees in the beginning but it went away with new shoes and working on my form. For the whole time I trained for my half marathon, my body felt great. The very next day after I spoke with this girl, my knee started hurting again.

I ran a few times after that first painful run and didn't have much of an issue. Our house than got hit with craziness! I had an insane schedule, a major sinus infection and than kids who had the same mess last week so I had a 7 day break from running. I made it to the Group Run on Saturday and ran 5 miles on a pretty hilly course. Instead of stretching, I went into the coffee shop to talk with the other runners. The rest of the day my knee was hurting and would occasionally lock up on me. Instead of being a smart runner, I had a crazy day working at the runs packet pickup. As soon as I got home, I got our family ready to go to dinner at a friends house. No stopping, still no stretching and no rest. We got home around 8:30, I got prepared for our early start in the morning and went straight to bed, my knee was throbbing a bit but I thought sleep would help it out and I was taking medicine to fix the sinus infection, so I kind of ignored the knee.

My morning went on as normal but I noticed my knee was having issues. I told myself I would just run the 5k if my knee wasn't going to like me. I stretched a bit and made sure to drink up loads of water. I gathered my group of runners I was helping run their first 5k and went to the starting line. The gun went off and we made it past the start line, I waved to my girls right after that looked so happy to see mommy running. I was so happy to wave to them and get the race going. Sadly my knee did not feel the same. I tried to ignore the pain for the first quarter mile, but it was getting a little unbearable. I talked with my running buddy and he told me to stop but I just couldn't do it. (another stupid decision). I was falling behind and had to stop twice to stretch my knee a bit hoping it would loosen up. At half a mile, my knee disagreed and I dropped on it. I couldn't go any further the pain was just too much. A few people who were behind me stopped to help me and wanted to get someone to assist me but I told them I could walk. They were so nice and I appreciated them helping me out. I turned around and made my way back to the start/finish line since it was a closed course on a cliff. I called my husband to be expecting me and I wanted to start crying. I didn't want to quit, I wanted to see my babies cheering at the finish line and I wanted to help my friends through their first run. I was defeated and felt like I had failed.

I walked back to the breakfast with my husband feeling defeated and unsure of what to do about my leg. Thank goodness a friend who was a chiropractor was at the event and was able to look at my leg. He was pretty shocked at how stiff my IT band was and said I need to come in for further look.

For now I am sitting at my house R.I.C.E'ing and stretching to temporarily fix the pain. I need to look into what I could be doing wrong on my end for the injury (not stretching, to much of a workout after a break, shoe issues, heel striking) to help prevent it for happening again. My one hope is that when I see the doctor again that I didn't damage myself to put me out long because of how stupid I was being. In the future I want to make sure I listen to and treat my symptoms so that I don't cause long term issues.

A lot of running injuries are preventable and I am certain mine was, have you done stupid things to impede your running?

Runners Ramblings

Ahh Saturday! Today is one busy day for me and I am glad I am able to sit down for a minute and write a post so I stick to my NaBloPoMo! I mean its just day five I cant fail now right?!?!

I love graphs like these and when I saw it the other day on Healthy Tipping Point, I knew I had to share it. Did I mention I think I am going to do a full...or maybe more half marathons, or maybe both! Heck I am up in the air but charts like these make me want to go running!

Is it getting cold in your area, it goes back and forth here and I keep messing up on a little too many clothes and today I wore too much for my run! I always go with the rule of pretend its 20 degrees warmer but that still isn't working for me. Oh well, one of these days the weather will get consistent and I will get in a groove. I need to follow some of Live Run Yogas advice for winter running!

When it comes to weight loss and we get down to last 10 pounds are so we might be hitting the so called "wall" in weight loss. I know I sure did and when I realized I was overworking my body and not eating enough for the work, I finally broke through. Get Fit Naturally has a great post on some advice for breaking through the weight loss wall. 


I am a firm believer in HIIT (high intensity interval training) but always doing a 30 minute exercise from Jillian or my own creation at the gym. Christy over at My Dirt Anthem has some information about the Tabata method and I am totally interested. Have you done any of these 4 minute workouts, they look tough but right up my alley!



Share with me some of your favorite post of the week or something you think we all need to know!!

November Goals and October Recap

(source: 12 beginnings)

Every time I write one of these post I get shocked at how quickly I am writing the recap! I mean seriously time really does fly by and its hard to slow it down but my goodness I am trying.

October was my big month and also my lazy month! The first of the month was full of things and the second half I took a rest and decided to just go with the flow of things! I am glad its November because its time to get my butt back in gear and get to planning!

October Goals Recap

-Run a half- DONE!!! I ran my first half marathon! It was something I never would have imagined before and I am proud of myself for kicking butt! 
-Setup a weight workout for muscle toning after the half- I have really picked up on my weight training and incorporated Body Pump classes in between weight training. I have a friend who is a trainer that said they would help me setup a schedule so I hope to do that this month! 
-Figure out the right protein supplements for weight training- I didn't do this at all but I still want to look into it. 
-Yoga class at studio, once a week- Ugh I don't think I went to Yoga one single time in the studio this month, I might have but at the moment I don't think I did. I need to go back because I love it more than any other exercise. 


November Goals
-Setup A Race Schedule for next 6 months
-Get back to Yoga and go at least 4 times
-Keep up with weight training schedule 
-Run 3 times a week


What are your goals for November? Any big races coming up?

halloween candy

We went trick or treating with both of the girls this year and it was fun. Eisley had a great time going to the door and staring at people. (she is a pretty mute child at home but even more so around people she has never seen before!) Avery did pretty good but needed the Thank You prompt several times. That got a bit annoying and is probably what made us only go on two small streets. Oh my goodness where they super cute though!

I decided to leave our candy on the steps for kids to just take so I could walk around with the family and when we got home it was all gone. Either we had tons of kids come in 40 minutes or some teenagers found the bowl!

We ended up with a healthy stash of candy that I  Brian forgot to take to work on Tuesday. I have major issues with self control so I tend not to buy anything that I know I shouldn't eat. Sadly on holidays I give in and overindulge and this year it was no exception. Those darn Kit Kats where calling my name, and I had to try a Reese's Peanut Butter cup and really a mini snickers....

And than I got sick, with a fever and all and I couldn't go to the gym and infect the world so I stayed at home trying to get better and decided the candy had to go. So Wednesday morning I bagged it up and gave it to the hubby to take to work. Good riddance and now I am embarking on a sugar detox because my body needs it! Because in a few weeks I will be indulging in my need for pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce!

Do you have the self control to not overload on candy? If so does that mean I have self control like a toddler...I really think so?

eating...

I am excited for the challenge ahead of me to write everyday this month!! I hope you will join me this month in getting to know a little more about me and sharing a little more with me about you!

Egg Skillet with mushrooms, onions, tomatoes and spinach

Since its Wednesday and my normal time to blog about what I eat each week, I thought it would be a good idea to talk a little about food. Compared to the most American diets, I think I eat more on the healthy side. I don't buy  very much processed food at all, I rarely cook with sugar or white flour and drink water 99% of the time. We do eat meat but maybe one or twice a week at home and are try our hardest to do organic and local. 

(Brown Rice, Corn, Tomatoes, Avocados and Salsa)

In all reality though we have bad weeks, I buy a bag of PopChips or Joe Joe's. I had candy too many times this weekend and we do eat out far too many times when I get busy. I feel guilty all the time but in the end I make mistakes, learn and I am aware of what I should and shouldn't eat. 

 

(Roast Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts and Cranberry Sauce)

 I want to feed my family foods that will nourish them and keep them healthy as long as it can but I also let me have the "bad stuff" every now and again. The only thing I will ever tell anyone who asks me about food is to really get out and research. I will help point them in every direction but me talking about it probably wont change someones habit. I really think once you dive into research, its a bit easier to start eating the way that is best for your body.

And to keep it real, if my metabolism wasn't as slow as a slug, I would probably eat things I shouldn't a little bit more often, even thought I know I should not!