Cheers to a Savory School Year!

What a summer! Being busy and MIA from the kitchen made me a bit rusty and grumpy, as cooking is one of my favorite stress relievers! Thank goodness for $1 veggie taco Tuesday nights at Sabor, and gluten free veggie pizzas from Pizza Peel.  Y'all rocked my world this summer. Fist pound!

Now that the school year is coming at me, full speed, all up in my face, whether I like it or not, I have to make sure there is something delicious in the fridge at all times.  This keeps me from a)bringing junk to school b)eating Cape Cod chips for an after school snack c)eating Cape Cod chips for dinner d)feeling crappy. (I feel like my next blog post should probably be a CHIPERVENTION, no seriously, I need one!)  I've decided I'm going to make a catering size, XL, feed the masses kind of batch of some of my favorite go-to salads.  I hope these recipes are helpful to all my busy bees out there! And if you have a delicious go-to, feel free to send my way! (as long as it is gluten, meat, and dairy free!)

There are several factors that play into a quick go-to salad:

1) Less than an hour prep
2) Whole food ingredients
3) Tasty regardless of cold or hot (for when I am avoiding negative whiny people congregating near the microwave in the workroom, during my 20 minutes lunch break).
4) Do not have to have exact measurements and ingredients (cuz that is doing the most!)


The following scrumptious salads meet the above criteria, and  have kept me satisfied and happy for a weeks time!

Bumpin' Bean Salad 

Ingredients: 

1 can black beans
1 can chickpeas
1 can white beans
3 celery sticks
1 small red onion
2 cucumbers

bunch of parsley
apple cider vinegar
red wine vinegar
olive oil
salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Drain and rinse all beans
2. Chop celery, red onion, and cucumbers into small cubes (could be very abstract cubes)
3. Chop parsley
4. Mix all together
5. Add equal parts apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, and a tbsp of olive oil (or just add until you like the taste)
6. Add salt and pepper to taste
7. Enjoy!! (Put into individual tupperware if you have time) 


 In a Hurry Curry Quinoa Salad 

You can use any grain for this.  I chose to use Nature's Earthly Choice Three Continent Blend: Red and Gold Quinoa, Amaranth,brown Rice, and Wild Rice, cuz it was bangin. 

Ingredients:

Grain of your choice

4 sweet potatoes diced

1 can garbanzo beans

1 bunch of cilantro

1 small yellow onion

box of veggie broth

coconut oil

minced garlic 

curry powder 

cumin 

dry mustard powder 

cayenne pepper

Directions: 

1) Set your oven to 400 degrees.

2) Put diced sweet potatoes and chickpeas (rinsed and drained) in a big bowl.

3) Season the potatoes and chickpeas with a tablespoon of coconut oil, curry powder, cumin, mustard powder, and cayenne (season to taste-start out light- easy on the cayenne - runny noses and watery eyes are not the best workplace face). Mix well.

4) Spread your potato and chickpea mixture on a cookie sheet.  Place in the oven (for about 30-40 minutes- until it is crispy on the outside and soft in the middle.) 

5) On the oven top, on medium high heat - add 1 tbsp coconut oil, 2 tbsp of minced garlic, 2 tbsp of curry powder, tbsp of cumin, tbsp of mustard powder,  tsp of cayenne, and chopped onion to a saucepan.  Let sit for 2 minutes.

6) Add in dry grain to saucepan and toast for 2 minutes.  (Just move it around the pan and make sure it is all well coated.) 

7) Add in vegetable broth (follow the instructions on your grains and substitute the amount of water needed with the broth).  Follow the grain directions.

8) Chop the cilantro 

9) Mix all ingredients together

10) NOSH!

Check back soon for Chelsie's CHIPERVENTION! dun-dun-dun!

Stress gonna make me lose my mind...

DMX knows what I'm talkin bout!

                                           

I haven't posted in a while, and I want to blame others, and work, and the car flood we had a few weeks ago, and the universe, but it is solely my fault... Here's why:

1. I can be TOO flexible. I allow the requests of others to dictate my schedule a lot of the time. Many of my daily decisions are made trying to accommodate others, or trying not to disappoint people.

2. I can't say no to people at work...I will never allow the words LAZY, SELFISH or LAX to be touchin my rep.  So I end up taking on a bunch of extra work.

 

3. I can't shut my brain off, and therefore cannot relax or sleep.  And therefore, the few times I have managed to get in bed before 10, have resulted in me having a mini panic attack at the next day's, month's, year's tasks. I replay conversations in my head-conversations that could have been better, or longer, or shorter, more firm, or in more detail.  I think about the dinner I made and how it's just not exactly how I wanted it.  I think about my parents and family and how I need to spend more time with them. How I need to be nicer to my husband.  How I miss my out of town friends. How I need to spend more time with my in town friends.  How the summer is coming and I need to find some sort of income. And did I pay the power bill? How I might have to cancel date night to write the IEP I haven't had time to get to.  I need to volunteer more. Jasper is usually pressed up against my stomach in an attempt to spoon, and his fat ass reminds me that I need to walk him more frequently.  You get the point... I freak out.  

So what's a girl to do? 

Well as usual, my body knows when enough is enough, my brain not so much.  So instead of powering through this week, after a month long nightmare of work and personal chaos...Chelsie go boom! I wake up with an insane, like lock me in a dark room with sunglasses and a caffeine IV, kind of headache. I am not prone to headaches or migraines either.  My first thought: why do I feel like this when I have been eating so much better and exercising regularly.  I'm taking care of myself, right? Wrong! Stress has been known to be my worst enemy.  

In college,  I began this mysterious act of passing out while working my 50 hour work weeks, yeah like fainting goat pass out.

 Like embarrassing drop and stops in the middle of the restaurant I worked at, falling head first into glass doors while on a job interview, on the bathroom floor during a power outage, landing on the flashlight I was grasping and forever reshaping my nose, but yadda  yadda.  So the verdict, from the neurologists and cardiologists, after numerous tests and evaluations: "Based on your locale and situation, you are passing out from stress." Say what!? My response: That can't happen..you can't pass out from stress, it's not REAL, or tangible, or something I can just get rid of.  Why don't you pay my college tuition and rent then I'll work less and be less stressed. A-Holes! ..yeah I got real stressed at the diagnosis. 

But what I've learned from my experience is that stress is real and can have real negative effects physically and mentally, you can't just ignore it and treat it like a non-entity.  So how does the girl nicknamed 'Stress monster'  by her husband, REDUCE stress? (Because the thought of never being stressed is unrealistic in my opinion.)

                                   

So I made the Stress Monster's STRESS BUSTING List for the week:

1. Run and workout at least 4 times a week. No beating myself up if I miss a workout either!!

2. Try and limit the amount of work I do at home. Like 2 hours at home a week tops. I'm gonna work my tail off at the office and then I'm going to leave it there!

3. Continue to eat healthy, and stay prepared.

4. Schedule some fun things in my near future!

5. Go to bed at 10! Sleep deprivation is not a good look on me. 

6. Say no! If I am not capable of taking on a task, and doing it well, Imma say no! And my hope is that people at work won't hold it against me. Or they will just SECRETLY hate me...

This be my 'NO' face!

                                                    

7. Take 30 min each day to sit and reador just be alone or quiet. 

8. Remind myself of the good things family, friends, husband, dog, students!

Things I'm gonna give a shot:

9. Yoga- I don't know why it is so hard for me to go. I can't sit still, I'm not limber enough, I don't feel like I'm releasing energy, I'm the only person in the class that laughs when people fart. Then I laugh even harder when people don't react. But maybe I need to be out of my comfort zone, doing something I just simply suck at. 

10. Turn off my self critic. Maybe just turn it down to medium. I'm going to need to shut the inner-me up, because she's getting on my nerves. While I think it's important for self-improvement to be self aware and know our own flaws, too much self criticism is debilitating. 

AND I'm going to get in that kitchen and try some new recipes, listen to my Rich Roll podcasts, and then blog about them this week -because that makes me happy, and stress can suck it! 

After three months of working on the body, I think it's time to start taking care of the mind. 

It's just a meatless maniac Monday...

CAUTION!! Delicious recipes below!  I have had quite a few food flops in the past month,  but these are some of the highlights from the past few weeks.

Breakfast for the hubs:

My husband often says, "I don't have time to eat breakfast." And I reply, "That's dumb, wake up earlier jacka**."  Recently he has been working around the clock and training for his ultra, so in lieu of calling him names, I decided to whip him up a solution.  These oatmeal bars solved our little hungry-boy problem (and they will work for anyone on the go- that isn't concerned with gluten). 

Ingredients: 

1 cup applesauce
1/2 cup honey
2 eggs
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup chia seeds
OPTIONAL: throw in chopped almonds or nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruit, etc.

** or sub applesauce for smashed banana mmmmm

Preheat oven to 350

1) Mix applesauce and honey
2) Add eggs, baking soda, salt, and vanilla...mix everything well
3)Add oats and flour and mix well
4) Spread mixture in a 9x13 pan
5) Bake for 20-25 minutes
6) Remove from oven, let cool, individually wrap or sandwich bag them
 

Right out of the oven.  Just ignore that taste test corner! 

Super Bowl Chili 

This packs a little spice punch but is delicious! The longer it simmers the better it tastes, so start this early.  It is a lot of chopping but totally worth it!

Ingredients: 

1 can black beans
1 can chickpeas
1 can kidney beans
2 peeled and chopped sweet potatoes 
1 chopped yellow pepper
1 chopped orange pepper
1/4 white onion chopped
1/4 red onion chopped
2 cups chopped mushrooms
2 garlic cloves chopped
2 jalapenos chopped and seeded
3-4 cups of vegetable broth
1 cup chopped cilantro
2 tbs chili powder
1 tbs cumin
1 tbs garlic powder
1 tbs red pepper flakes
1 tsp (or 2) of cayenne pepper
1 tbs pepper
1 tbs olive oil

(You may have to taste test the spices but start with this)

1. In a large pot mix the oil, onions and garlic for 3 minutes. 
2. Once onions become translucent start placing all other ingredients in the pot.  Mix well.
3. Pour 2 cups of vegetable broth in at first. 
4. Cook on medium heat for 20 minutes stirring well. 
5. Place a lid on the pot and simmer.
6. Let simmer until the sweet potatoes are tender, Or let sit for 4-5 hours.
7. Add more vegetable broth if you like a more soupy chili. 

Beans beans good for your heart the more you eat the more you're smart!!

Lentil Burger Heaven! 

I love a good burger, and these are the perfect meatless solution.  My friend, Laura, sent me this recipe from Martha Stewart Lentil Burgers , and I made a few tweaks to make them gluten free and as dairy free as possible. 

Burger Patties: 

1 cup green lentils
1/2 small red onion
2 eggs
1 cup corn flake crumbs
1/2 cup parsley
2 tbsp olive oil
1 bunch of chard leaves
1 tbsp minced garlic
 salt and pepper

Burger Sauce:

1/2 block of firm tofu
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 cup parsley
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp curry powder
2 tsp cayenne pepper (less if spice isn't your thing)

Sauce Steps: Place all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Easy peezy. Add a squeeze of lemon if you have it. 

1) Put lentils and 3.5 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat, season with salt, and simmer until lentils are tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and let cool.
2) Combine lentils, salt, diced red onion, eggs, breadcrumbs OR corn flakes, and parsley in a medium bowl.  Either place ingredients in a food processor or mash with a potato masher for a thicker burger.   Or just use your hands to mash and smoosh.
3) Form about 6  round patties.
4) Put oil in a frying pan, place lentil patties in pan 3-4 minutes on each side. 
5) Wrap burger in a chard leaf and cover in sauce. 
6) Devour!                

Delicious burger wrapped in chard leaf with sauce!MMM!

Green sauce! Dairy free!

Lentil Burger patties! Won't be yellow if you use breadcrumbs.

                                                    

Happy Eating! 

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.”
-Albert Einstein, physicist

Einstein say what?!? 

No meat and No gluten: The good, the eh, and the ugly

I have four weeks of eating meatless and gluten free under my (slightly looser) belt.  The change has been much more difficult than I thought.  On the whole, I feel great, BUT there are some things people fail to mention to you when starting a plant based diet.  Therefore, this post is dedicated to sharing the good, the eh, and the ugly.  There is more good than eh or ugly, but it is my goal to inform others of the whole story.   I could prance and cartwheel around, telling you how great I feel and how wonderful this 'effortless' diet change is, and how you should hop on the health train and do it too because it is soooo EASY, but that is called bullshit.  And this is a bullshit free zone.  So here is the truth.

The Good 

1) Lose weight, without starving

I did not change my diet to lose weight.  I did it to become a healthy bad ass.  The weight loss is happily welcomed, but it was not my intention to do so.  My intention was to be healthy and permanently change my lifestyle.  So changing to a healthier lifestyle = losing weight, without worrying about counting calories or sticking to a strict regiment, or having an 'end date' in mind.  I have chosen not to give myself the 'cheat day', as I have in the past.  The cheat day was the day I allowed myself to binge on all of the forbidden foods that I had denied myself throughout the week.  I don't want to damage my body anymore than I have in the past, and in this journey to health I chose not to be a slave to food or a cheat day.   If I decided to have a cookie in the middle of the week, or a cheese plate while sitting at the wine shop with my friends, that is a treat and I will chose then whether it is worth it to me.  This might sounds really hard, but that brings me to the next good element of this diet....

2) Kiss those cravings goodbye! 

I cannot tell you how awesome it has been to lose the cravings and urges for sugar and junk food.  I use to get out of work on a Friday night and say, "I have to have nachos!" And in some way I really needed to have nachos, stat, right then, or someone was getting hurt.  If I didn't get them I would think about them until I finally got them.  I felt this way about things like donuts on Sundays, sweets after dinner, salty potato chips everyday after work.  I was addicted to food, and a sucker to those cravings.

Right now I crave nothing, and to be honest I rarely feel ravenous, unless I have had a long workout.   I don't want to eat unless I am hungry, I even have to force myself to eat at times.  These eating habits are beyond strange for the daughter whose mother calls her 'Rolly' ( the fat puppy from 101 Dalmatians) every time I say "I'm hungry," and for the girl whose known, in her circle of friends and co-workers, as the best advice giver on good eateries in Charlotte.  Nom Nom.

If you think this sounds crazy, watch Hungry for Change on Netflix http://www.hungryforchange.tv/
The documentary talks a lot about food additives, and the way the food industry addicts consumers to their products.

Other reading material:
Huffington Post Article on Sugar Addiction
NY Times Blog on Cravings
Nation of Change: Processed Foods and Addiction

*This lack of craving and hunger started about week 3, so it does take time to feel this way, but stick with it! 

Bye bye sugar shackles!

3) You save money! 

I thought it was going to be expensive to start eating more produce.  Fortunately, my grocery bills have been lower than usual.  No meat in the basket really makes a difference.  The only expense, that is like a start up cost, are nuts and seeds.  They are expensive, but they last a while, so you really aren't having to purchase them weekly.  I think the key to keeping it cheap is planning. PLAN PLAN PLAN.  I have to write down all of our meals for the week and make an ingredient list every Sunday, before entering the store.  I buy only what is on the list.

4) You get to try new things.

I enjoy trying new vegetables and recipes every week.  It gives me something to look forward to at the end of the day.  I pour a glass of wine or sparkling water with lemon, turn on a Rich Roll or No Meat Athlete podcast, and go!

My best find, so far, has been the elusive and tasty Golden Beet (I can only find it at Whole Foods).

 Thanks to a few snow days recently I was able to have a Veg Fest! (In the past, snow days meant pizza and cookies and chips! What is happening to me!?!)  I tried out a few new things...

Roasted Golden Beets, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Kale and Avocado Salad! Recipes below.

5) More energy...finally
Don't expect to feel super energetic the first week (I explain in more detail below).  But I started to feel that extra energy at the beginning of week 4.  How much energy? Lemme tell ya. During the snow days I went crazy and decided to run on the treadmill (which I hate).  I felt like some energy needed to be released or I was going to bounce off the walls.  I can never run more than 30 minutes at a time on the treadmill.  I get bored and 30 minutes is just enough time to get my energy out. But this time I started running, and 100 minutes later I removed my towel (that hides all of those taunting numbers) off of the dashboard and it revealed this:

OMG! I did what!?!?

Nuff said...

The eh

1) Prep, Cook, Dishes, Repeat

I am a neat freak.  I cannot stand to have anything in the sink or anything on the counters.  So one of the things that I call 'eh' about this diet is the amount of preparation and dishes that come with changing to this type of lifestyle.  It is not a bad thing, but it is just a little more work.  I have to come to terms with the fact that there's always going to be dishes, and sometimes things won't look as neat as I would like.  Some ways I have been trying to battle this stress: 1) Prep all lunches and breakfasts on Sunday's, do all dishes for that directly after. 2) Clean up after I cook a meal during the week, before I am allowed to eat. 3) Chill out 4) Make large portions of a meal, so there are a few 'leftover' days 5)Delegate to husband.
 

OMG I might die!

 2)Be conscious of B-12

I hate the idea of taking a vitamin every day.  I wish I could get everything I need from my food.  Unfortunately, from what I have read, B-12 is only available in animal products and fortified foods (I have only stopped eating meat, but have significantly cut down on eggs and cheese as well).  I felt really sluggish the first few weeks, and after reading a few articles, decided to try the B-12.  The effect was almost immediate (maybe in my head, but worth it). 

Inexpensive gluten free version from Whole Foods.

The Ugly 

1) P-U

If you choose this lifestyle, be prepared to be a gas monster for a little while.  I have discussed how much bathroom humor entertains me in my last post.  But this is no laughing matter.  I am serious, it is not funny.  The increase in my (and my husband's) fiber intake, from more raw veggies, lentils, and legumes has created a very gassy household.  From what I have read, this is temporary, and calls for staying much more hydrated.  So drinking lots of water is a must!

I think Jasper is taking it the hardest.

 

Curried Lentils, amazing! Make sure you rinse lentils well, consume with lots of water.  Recipe Below!

2) Calorie Deficiency 
 I felt weak and a little sick the first few weeks of eating no meat and gluten, and eating tons of vegetables.  I was sad because I wanted to feel amazing immediately.  The problem was I was not getting enough calories at all.  I was eating the same amount of food, but the calorie level was way lower than my usual daily intake ( I added up my calories one day and I was only eating 500..woops).  I had to add in some snacks like peanut butter toast and hummus and veggies, add rice to some dinners, and put almond butter into my smoothies to bring those calories up to a normal level.  It was an easy fix and definitely made a difference in my energy.  I definitely have to stay mindful of the amount I am eating going into this lifestyle, especially for workouts.  

I think I might be dying...oh wait... I have to eat MORE? No problem! 

There it is! The good, the eh, and the ugly! My biggest piece of advice:  Don't give up!  Be Patient!
I have spent years harming my body, it will take time and effort to heal it.  

“We strive toward a goal, and whether we achieve it or not is important, but it's not what's most important. What matters is how we move toward that goal.” -Scott Jurek 

Here are the recipes from the pictures above:

Roasted Golden Beet:  

What you need: 

Golden Beet
2 tbsp of Olive oil
salt and pepper

Instructions:

1) Preheat oven to 375.
2) Peel the beets (like a potato)
3) Slice into 1/2 in. thick circles
4) Put all ingredients into a ziplock bag and Shake!
5) Empty ingredients into a pan
6) Cook for 30 min

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

What you need: 
15 brussel sprouts
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper
1 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions:
1)Preheat oven to 375
2) Clean brussel sprouts and cut in half
3) Place all ingredients in a ziplock bag and Shake!
4) Empty ingredients into a pan
5) Cook for 30 min or until outer part of sprout is crispy


Kale and Avocado Salad (as seen on the Engine 2 Rescue)

What you need: 
4 cups of kale greens (I like to buy the precut and cleaned kind in the produce section)
1 avocado
1 lemon
sea salt

Instructions:
1) Mash the avcado in a bowl with the kale greens (coat the kale greens well, use your hands!)
2) Cut the lemon in half and squeeze one half onto the kale avocado mixture.   Stir.
3) Add salt to taste. 
* you may want to add some balsamic or the other half of the lemon, depending on how moist you like your greens.

Green Lentil Curry 

I found the recipe here: 

Green Lentil Curry

I changed it in two ways and it was still very good.

1) Add 1/2 cup more of coconut milk, and 1/2 cup mor vegetable stock
2) I left out the white mustard seeds, to save on cost

Have a great week! Check back soon for a healthy party food extravaganza!!

I've finally got 'the runs'!

I've got the runs and I've got them bad! And no, I don't want to sprint to a toilet.  I mean I have running fever, which I call the runs, because I am 28 and still think bathroom humor is hilarious.  I love to run, but this was not always the case. I always ran, but rarely loved it, and sometimes liked it.  I loved to lose and maintain weight, I enjoyed the stress relief of a good run, I liked socializing with my friends when on runs, but I rarely enjoyed the run itself, as much as I enjoyed the benefits.

Ladies and gentleman, I can safely say I have reached the point in my life where I love the run!  My relationship with running has evolved to a place where I never thought it would arrive.  The evolution of my relationship with running looks something like this:

Age 5-13: BOYS DROOL.. AND DAD IS SCARY

My hips and big booty sprouted outward around age 13.  I was FAST (and lanky) before they came! I was always the fastest girl,sometimes student, in the mile run at school.   I was always trying to compete with the boys.  I was always on co-ed teams and leagues (dad thought it would make me tougher), which forced me to try and be just as fast as the males on my team.  There was also a checklist on my refrigerator during the summers, on which, by dad's decree, I had to check off a chore, an academic activity, and an exercise every day (crazy old man!).  I chose running a lot and ran to 'get it over with', after all there were no boys to beat.

Eat my dust! Hope you trip over your Y chromosome suckers!

Age 13-18 SKINNY, SPORTY, SANITY

Once those hips and big ol' backside started growing, I slowed down quite a bit.  I only ran to
 A. Keep myself at 115 lbs
 B. Not embarrass myself at basketball practice
 C. Get out of the house, and away from my parents, because I was grounded A LOT.

 I hated the run, but we were friends with benefits. 



Peace out mom and dad! I am running laps and nibblin saltines!

Age 18-22 PEANUT BUTTER FATTY TIME BY THE ONE AND DONE WONDER

 During college I only let running in here and there.   I also gained about 30 lbs over the first three years.  I had the attitude "I don't wanna, and I do what I want!" I was also working 50 hours a week, attending school full time, and visiting my boyfriend/ now husband at a school, located an hour away, on the weekends.  I had no time, and no desire to run.  Once a month I would go out and try and run like I did in high school- like 5 miles full speed- D-U-M-B- and then I would hurt, or get sick the next day, or hate it, or not fit into any workout clothes.  So the run was just a pain in my ass, and I wasn't having it.

SPRINKLESSSSS! GET IT!!

(I did lose all my college weight before entering grad school thanks to ULTIMATE SPEED WALKING, coached by my best friend Megan).

2007, Coach Megan is a beast!

Age 22-25  F THE LIBRARY, HEY GRL HEY

Enter grad school.  All you do is sit and read, and go to the library, and type papers, and sit and discuss things.  ALL DAY LONG.  And then you go the neighborhood bar, after a 15 hour day, and talk and sit some more, while consuming lots of beverages.  I got real antsy, real quick, and decided I needed a healthy goal, where I could still socialize.   So I signed up for my first half marathon with my friend Kristin.  We trained every morning, I hated the run.  The run made me tired and took me out of my comfort zone.  I enjoyed working toward a goal together (and I especially liked our Saturday-after- long run- celebrations with guacamole, wine, and dance parties) and the run became my way to socialize and work toward something other than academic goals.  I loved the after- run moments and camaraderie, but I still did not enjoy the run. 

Charleston 2009, Save the Light Half Marathon , Windiest run of my life, Husbands had 40s waiting at the finish line for us!

Age 25-27 Stresserella

Running while teaching has been my stress relief.  I started running again in the second semester of my teaching career.  I did it strictly for stress relief and maintaining my health.  My best runs were always fueled by my wost days.  I was running to survive long days, piles of work, crazy children, exhausting coworkers , and trying to remember that I was still a human being. It also helped with setting health goals, hanging with friends, and getting out of town.  So I was thankful for the way running made me feel, once I was done.

Running, so I don't go bananas!! Diva's half marathon in DC with Kristin and Laura (all employed by the school system!)

PRESENT- I GOT THE RUNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I felt the runs coming on summer of 2013.  I changed my stance on running around this time.  I was going to run at my pace, and I was going to stop when I wanted and run when I wanted.  I wasn't going to worry about times and distances, how many calories I burned, training plans, or who was with me.  I started making it about my needs.  And the wonderful thing is: I started to crave the run.  My husband made me start running trails around this time, and I was terrified (I am spazoid and I've taken one too many spills in my time) but after the first few trials of navigating tree roots and uneven terrain, I loved it.  I stopped thinking about what I was going to do after, what I needed to get done, who had pissed me off, and just became present in the run.  I take in the scenery, think without constant interruption, and enjoy the moment.  I love the run.
        

Whitewater Center 15k, Despite my pained look, I am actually quite happy =)

                                       
EPILOGUE 
And thank goodness I do. My husband, that rotten scoundrel, has signed me up for the Long Cane ultra marathon in May.  I am terrified and don't know what to expect, or what I am capable of, but at least I've got the runs on my side.

First training run with my favorite shoes, in Colonel Beatty Park!

My awesome training team: Nate (husband), G, and Sarah (aka Health Fairies Inc.).

Scott's got the runs too:

“The longer and farther I ran, the more I realized that what I was often chasing was a state of mind--a place where worries that seemed monumental melted away, where the beauty and timelessness of the universe, of the present moment, came into sharp focus.”-Scott Jurek 


Check back soon for some delicious recipes in the upcoming week!

Meat and Bread are Dead!

New Rule: All good blog posts will be written with a generously poured glass of wine.  I tried to do so without one on a cold Wednesday night after work and it was a fail.  I also have Bo Burnham playing in the background...HILARIOUS! So I think funny things need to be in the background as well...that is in order for me to 'perform' properly.  Actually I just spent the last 15 minutes watching it and not typing...HA! anyways...

So, as I said in my previous post: 2014 is my bitch.  This week I decided I was going to start experimenting with healthy eating habits, that will make me feel fabulous!   After listening to avid ultra runner and vegan, Scott Jurek's audiobook Eat and Run and another ultrarunner and vegan, Rich Roll's podcasts recently, while unable to go completely vegan, I  decided to 86 meat for six weeks.    My reasoning is simple: I just want to see how I feel.  The book and podcast emphasize the health benefits of a plant based diet.  I have also watched Forks Over Knives and Vegucated  (both available on Netflix and both recommended by my friend G and his little fiance too, recently titled the 'health fairies', who won't stop recommending healthy shit to my husband and I! They literally made my husband an ultra marathon runner in the course of four months...you need them in your life! ) So revealed in case studies within these documentaries, books, and podcasts is the fact that a plant based diet can reverse and prevent heart disease, cancer, lethargy, inflammation, insert other health ailments here ____.  They also reveal that a plant based diet can improve your athletic skills, clear your mind, and free you of the medicine cabinet (and morning eye boogers!! no joke!) .  I can't just ignore these facts, now that I have the knowledge. In addition to this change, I chose to 86 gluten for these same six weeks, because in the past it has made me feel great.

So in light of this knowledge, I chose to get rid of meat.  If I feel wonderful, cheese and eggs could see a 6 week hiatus from life, but one step at a time.  I choose not to give myself titles, such as vegetarian or gluten free sex kitten, because I am just experimenting right now.  Until I find what works for me, labels are for the birds.

So as this week is ending it is safe to say I feel really good.  Not magical,  I am not bench pressing children during class, but I feel good.  Good enough to continue.  So here is how this week went down:

Saturday and Sunday I said farewell to meat and bread:

I made my husband take me to the Wine Shop in Foxcroft, for my favorite, and the BEST, burger in Charlotte (oh so tasty...)on our Saturday night date. Here is my final meaty encounter before the drop. Nom nom!

 

And on Sunday, I did this....

Walmart had them just sitting there on a shelf, and I said YES! My gluten farewell was spent with the Red Lobster cheddar biscuits, the restaurant's finest dish, fo sho!  Nathan was ecstatic when I served them for breakfast. 

Now comes Monday... this week worked because everything I ate was bangin! 

Green smoothie for breakfast...delicious!  (8 oz almond milk, banana, handful kale, handful spinach, 1/2 green apple, 1/2 lemon, 2 tbsp chia seed...blender...drank!) 

  

And then pre- made lunches of peppers, cucumbers, and carrots with hummus or dressing, pack of mixed nuts, and a string cheese.   I was full after every meal and enjoyed it.  Despite sitting next to my 90lb friend/coworker who was eating a BBQ sandwich every day this week, I was still satisfied (and still only maniacally imagined her choking on her sandwich once).

And meatless, gluten free dinners are super easy when I have my guardian chef dog watching me!!

"You go girl!" -Jasper the dog

On the menu this week: Red lentil and Sweet Potato Curry, Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili, and Stir fry(not pictured due to it's butter face).  Recipes can be found below because they are DDDDDD-licious! And I could feed hungry husband and myself for three meals, all week. SCORE!

And finally how does one snack with such grueling stipulations?  Scrumptiously, of course! New favorites include: Sliced cucumbers with a dollop of hummus and a sprinkle of curry powder, cayenne pepper, and a splash of salt and pepper AND Greens and an Egg Slam (awesome seussy name I know) sautéed kale with a hint of olive oil and sea salt, with a sunny side egg on top! Oh and sometimes, frequently,  Cape Cod Chips are in my life.

 

 So there it is.  My first week of making 2014 my bitch and I feel good, and am quite impressed with my lack of desire to eat meat and gluten.  Of course I would like to inspire more to look into this way of eating..so I have included some links to inspire, and the recipes to the dinners above. Try one of these and you won't be disappointed!

Now for week two.... 


 Links: 
http://www.forksoverknives.com/
http://www.getvegucated.com/
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rich-roll-podcast/id582272991?mt=2
http://scottjurek.com/eatandrun/

Recipes:

Sweet potato and Red Lentil Curry 

Ingredients

2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup vegetable broth

1 bay leaf

1 Tbsp curry powder
1 chopped large onion
4 minced garlic
2 Tbsp minced fresh ginger
2 diced sweet potatoes
1 1/2 cups rinsed red lentils

1/2 can of coconut milk
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook oil, curry powder and bay leaf for 1 to 2 minutes. Add onion with salt, until tender.  Add garlic and ginger and sweet potatoes.  Continue cooking.
   
2. Add lentils and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
   
   Serve with naan, in corn tortillas, or over rice 
   

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons olive oil
2 cups of veg broth
2 sweet potatoes cubed
1 chopped onion
4 tsp of minced garlic
2 tbsp chili powder
4 teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 15-ounce cans black beans
1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 lime squeezed of  juice
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Heat oil in a large pot on medium heat. Add sweet potato, onion, and garlic, and cook, stirring often, until the onion is beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Add chili powder, cumin, and salt and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Add vegetable broth  and bring to a simmer. Cover and reduce heat until the sweet potatoes are cooked.

Add  beans, tomatoes and lime juice and put heat on high for 5 minutes, then return to a simmer, stirring often.  Cook an additional 10 minutes, then remove from heat and stir in cilantro.

Cheers to a tasty week! 

2014, You're my Bitch!

2014 is going to be the year I stick to my goals.  I said that last year but I really mean it this time...No really, I'm serious.  Why is this year different? I am going to be 30 in 1 year and 3 months...So my goal is to feel like a healthy successful BADASS by April 4, 2015.  Notice how I said 'feel', so the only person I really care about recognizing my bad- assery is ME, but I am sure others will notice and be like "OMG you are a healthy successful 30 year old badass, how do you do it?" and I guess it will feel good and I will be happy to share.  What is the definition of badass? In my opinion, it is someone who tries new things, chases and accomplishes their goals, learns from mistakes, and is healthy and happy.  This year I will call myself Chelsie the Conqueror! Cheesy, I know, but it sounds tough and I wanna be tough. 

So here I go .... Goal 1 (carried over from last year): Start blog. Why? Because I've always wanted to.  That's it. Because I want to.  I have taken recipes, humor, training tips, strategies, and ideas from other's blogs, so I think I would just really like to be part of the blogging community, to give a little bit back.  So what will my focus be? That brings me to Goal 2, 3, and 4. Share teaching strategies and stories, try new recipes and eat new things, and finally become a better runner.  I am a teacher and I would love to share my trials and errors with readers (the millions of you reading this at this very second...jk hey mom!), I would also like to share the utter ridiculousness that is my job some days.  Most days I thank goodness I have thick hair or I would be bald just like my husband! With that being said, I am constantly looking for a beneficial diet that will give me the most energy and make me feel the best, mentally and physically.  And by diet I don't mean one of those fad, all bacon or liquid only, ridiculous diets, I mean starting a maintainable way of life.  Finally, I am a recreational runner ( I trip and fall a lot, so perhaps I will throw some useful first aid tidbits into this thing as well), and I want to discuss my trips and victories and thoughts on running.  Because sometimes I have cool thoughts on races, courses, groups, etc. and I really like to share cool thoughts as much as I like to hear them.  

So there it is!  See you soon!  I can't promise what my blog will hold this week, but check back soon for something awesome! 

I leave you with my favorite quote from the book Born to Run by Chris McDougall (READ THIS, even if you don't run!) 

 "Maybe the ancient Hindus were better crystal- ball -gazers than Hollywood when they predicted the world would end not with a bang but with a big old yawn.  Shiva the Destroyer would snuff us out by doing...nothing.  Lazing out.  Withdrawing his hot-blooded force from our bodies letting us become slugs."

Don't tell me that doesn't make you just want to do things! Have a great week!