tri update: regrets part 1

I have to get some regrets off my chest, apologize, and move on right now.  I've got to do this so I can let go, get up again, and scurry on my merry way. 

First of all, I regret that my last blog post was 2 months ago.  I've not felt like talking much about training, I just felt like doing it and feeling it.  I've not felt like talking much about Weight Watchers, I've been falling off and fall back onto plan for a while and subsequently I weight exactly the same as I did 8 weeks ago.  I'm still down a total of 25 pounds, but that's not saying much.  I've not felt like talking much about my personal life, but I think it's time to open up a bit about it.  Apology made, now let's talk. 

Triathalong training has flown by.  Literally.  It just went WHOOSHHHHHH!  Then, it was gone. 

I can start by saying my brick experiences have been such a hard thing for me to accomplish, and they are far more rewarding than I could have ever imagined.  If you don't know, a brick workout is any workout where you combine two or more disciplines, such as a bike ride and a run or a swim and a bike ride. I did about 8 bricks over the course of 8 weeks, even doing two in one weekend!  Of those 8 brick workouts, 3 of them were done with my amazing friend, Amanda. 

Let me pause here and say I have amazing friends and family, Amanda being one of them.  Each of my friends and family has supported me through all of this, asking me how I was doing or simply taking a moment to say (or send me a text message) how proud of me they are.  Words and tears simply cannot explain how amazing this makes me feel, and I have to pause and say thank you to all of you. 

So back to bricks, we rode several times between 10 and 12 miles and then followed up with runs that were usually between 2 and 3 miles.  I.  Was.  Exhausted.  Thank the good Lord above that Amanda is a pretty awesome runner and an even better teacher and running coach.  She taught me to relax my shoulders, find good music, set attainable goals, and stop balling up my fists.  Those teeny tiny lessons have expanded running from something that I loathed into something that I tolerated, and more recently even something that I enjoyed completing. 

There, I said it.  I enjoy finishing a run.  I don't consider myself a runner in any sense of the word, but finishing up 2.5 miles during a sunrise with P!NK blasting in my ear buds has become a bit cathartic for me, and it's helped ease my anxiety a whole helluva lot lately. 

That being said, I regret not doing more brick workouts. 

I also have one more moment I regret.  About 8 weeks ago, I went down to ride with Amanda near Tom's Farm in Corona.  It was my first time riding there, and she warned me about a couple of hills.  I think I let myself get caught up in the warning and on the second to the last hill, I gave up, hopped off my bike and walked it.  Two words come to my mind as I type this: chicken and sh*t.  I regret hopping off my bike.  To this day I'm mad about it, but luckily I was mad enough that two weeks later I sent her a text message that said "I want a re-match with that hill." 

Needless to say, I did not walk my bike up the hill.  I huffed and I puffed and I blew that hill down, well, not really but you get the picture.  I wasn't speedy, I wasn't graceful, and I certainly wasn't lady like about it.  I said bad words, and even Amanda said I could call her names if I wanted to, as long as I was up at the top of the hill when I did it.  That is a moment I do not regret.  I'm grateful for that ride, and the 2.5 mile run that we did afterwards.  In that moment, I felt like I might actually be ready to do a triathalon. 

Before I sign off after this rambling story, I need to tell you that if you're reading this, you need to go read my friend Mae's blog.  She's getting an awesome opportunity to head to NYC and do a photo shoot at Weight Watchers because she is the epitome of a "Success Story" and they finally realized how amazing she is. 

Seriously, go read it.  Fall in love with Mae.  Wish you could snuggle with her awesome Boxer, Bowie.  Then thank me later. 

april foodie pen pals

Last month, I was browsing several food and fitness blogs when I stumbled onto the foodie pen pals page from  Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean.  It looked like so much fun that I decided to throw my name into the hat and give it a try!  In only my first month, I am so glad that I chose to do this.  

My first foodie pen pal sender is Bridget from Santa Monica, California.  I found it sort of funny that I was paired with a local girl for my first exchange, but I was lucky enough to get a Wisconsin friend for my first foodie pen pal recipient.  

Bridget and her friend Kadi run a blog called Running Crumbs which is all about running, healthy food, yoga and training.  Just a quick stop at their blog and you'll see that these two ladies are really fun!  The first thing that caught my eye was their outfit choice for the Tinkerbell half marathon at Disneyland, and let me tell you it was a fabulous choice.  

Bridget and I emailed back and forth a bit before it was time to mail off the packages, and she was an absolute joy.  I thought it would be harder for her to shop for me because I told her that I was a Weight Watcher, but in all honesty I realize now that she had no problems.  In fact, her package was Perfect with a capital P!  

She sent the package on a Friday, and it was in my mailbox the very next day.  I couldn't have been more impressed with the post office.  Here's my first peek:

Right off the bat I can see two of my favorite things on the right hand side of the photo: a dark chocolate bar and reduced fat brownie mix from Trader Joe's.  For those of you that don't live near a Trader Joe's, find someone that does and beg them to start sending you treats!  I happen to work next door to Trader Joe's headquarters and I run into several of the employees at the gym and local food spots around town.  They are always polite and friendly, and my experience in the stores and with the products is fantastic.  

Here's a close up of the smaller items, in the front row are single servings of peanut butter, cashew butter, and honey almond butter as well as two fruit and veggie strips that are loaded with fiber.  

I have a confession: I've never tried anything but peanut butter and even though I've seen those fiberful strips at Trader Joe's, I've never tried them either!  

Next up I spied Pumpkin Flax Granola (I love granola!) and in the rear was a bag of treats for my little girl, Maddie.  

I have to stop here and point out that Bridget was so kind to have included my dog in this package and it really goes to show you that there are still genuinely interested people in this world.  This little treat made my day (and Maddie's day, too!).  

Front and center here is something that I've never even heard of before: Seasoned and Roasted Seaweed.  

I love trying new things, so I can't wait to dig in to this stuff!  

And I know I already mentioned the chocolate and brownie mix, but also included was a box of Italian style Quinoa.  

Okay, another confession: I stare at quinoa in the grocery store all the time, but I'm too chicken to buy it!  I am so glad Bridget included a box in my package so that I have no excuse any more.  I am going to try quinoa!  

Funny story about the brownie mix: I was at Trader Joe's just last week buying supplies and treats for my Wisconsin foodie pen pal.  I have a couple of "must have" items every time I stop in to Trader Joe's and I have them pictured below.  

The white bag on the right are sun dried tomatoes (not packed in oil), cookie butter, Better than Peanut Butter, ginger thins, and (drum roll please) reduced fat brownie mix!  Not in this picture is my favorite yogurt in the world: Trader Joe's fat free Greek style vanilla yogurt.  Of course it isn't in the picture, it is in the fridge!  

And for those of you Weight Watchers out there, I did the first thing you should always do when you bring home new groceries: I got out my calculator and my permanent marker and I wrote all the points values on the packages.  In case you were wondering, here is the break down:

Pumpkin Flax Granola

3/4 cup = 7 Points Plus

1/4 cup = 2 Points Plus

Roasted Seaweed

entire package = 1 Point Plus

Fiberful bar

1 bar = 1 Point Plus

Peanut Butter

entire package = 6 Points Plus

Cashew Butter and Honey Almond Butter

entire package = 5 Points Plus

Swiss 72% Dark Chocolate

4 squares = 6 Points Plus

2 squares = 3 Points Plus

Italian style Quinoa

1/4 pacakge = 7 Points Plus

But I saved the best for last.  You see, I make the Trader Joe's Brownies enough to know a couple of tricks.  First of all, you only need a small container of yogurt in order to make these bad boys.  I happen to prefer the nonfat Greek style vanilla yogurt from Trader Joe's because it boosts the protein without losing any flavor or moisture in the brownie.  Next up, I don't make them in a bar pan or Pyrex, I make them in a mini muffin tin.  One box of mix plus 2/3 cup of nonfat vanilla yogurt is enough for 24 mini muffin sized brownies.  That is plenty for me!  

Once you've got them baked and cooled, store them in an airtight container for about a week or freeze them  for up to about six months.  One brownie bite is 2 Points Plus, but you can eat two brownie bites for 3 Points Plus.  They are a great treat!  

So there you have it folks, my first experience as a foodie pen pal.  I can't wait to do it again!