Juice Fast: Day 2

OK, here's the post I want to write about yesterday:

I drank juice.

I didn't eat any food.

I was hungry.

I was grumpy.

The end.

But, since I choose to blog about my experiences, I guess I owe all of you a little more.  Except that I wasn't a very good blogger yesterday.  I failed to capture even one picture of all of the beautiful juices and smoothies I made.  Seriously.  Not even one!  I don't even have a good excuse.  Honestly, I just didn't do it.  Each time I made my juice or smoothie, I was in a rush because I, once again, have taken on too much.  So, I told myself each time that I would take a picture the next time...do you see where this is going.  And then, suddenly, it was 10pm and I was about to go to sleep.  And that's when I panicked about the fact that I didn't have any pictures for my post.  So, I did what any reasonable person would do.  I began putting together the juicer that I had cleaned just a couple of hours before and I started to load fruit and veggies on the counter.  Until Paul, in a state of confusion, asked me what I was doing.  When I told him I was recreating my juices from the day so I could take pictures of them for the blog, he gently reminded me that I was on my way to bed because I had to get up at 4am to go running with my running partner...you know, to train for that little marathon I have in a few weeks.

So, I dropped the ball on taking pictures.  But, I didn't drop the ball on the challenge.  I stayed committed all day.  I made wonderful juice concoctions full of beets, carrots, apples, celery, romaine lettuce, oranges, peppers, and many other fun fruits and vegetables (but not all at the same time).  I drank smoothies to fill me up and I felt good.  Except when I was hungry...which was actually a lot of the day. 

Here's the thing.  I really like this challenge, but Day 2 was definitely tough.  Don't get me wrong, I actually felt pretty good.  I felt less bloated and somehow "cleaner and clearer." But, I was also irritable and hungry and headachy.  So, I'm calling Day 2 a reasonable success.

I'm still glad I signed up for this challenge.  I like these things because they make me more mindful of what I'm putting into my body and how foods make me feel.  I'm such a mindless eater most of the time that I end up eating handfuls of random things throughout the day that I don't even know I'm eating.  I can't tell you how many random handfuls of cheddar bunnies and chocolate chips end up in my mouth on any given day.  So, this challenge is good because I actually have to pay attention to what I'm putting in my body.  I'm being more mindful.

But, I'm not going to lie.  I'm really looking forward to my bowl of yogurt and granola on Thursday morning...and my glass of wine Thursday night.  Wait a minute!  Isn't wine just grape juice...?

The Year of the Marathon

Yes, I am still writing.  I'm easing in slowly as I figure out where I'm going with this blog.  I do know that the name and domain is going to change, but I'm not sure when.  I'm taking things one step at a time.  In fact, that's how I'm living the rest of my life right now.  I'm in the process of researching and planning for some (hopefully) big changes that will allow me to actually do what I want to do.  But, it's going to be a long process (1 - 2 years), so I'm learning to take things one step at a time.  It requires a lot of legwork and planning, so I'm focusing on that right now.  For me, 2013 is definitely the year of refocusing, planning and moving forward.  I feel so excited and nervous about the direction I'm going.  It's exactly what I need to be doing.

On the health and fitness front, 2013 is shaping up to be a pretty big year as well.  It's the year I'm finally going to complete a full marathon! This one, in fact:

The Vermont City Marathon was featured in the January 2013 Runner's World marathon guide as being a great fast, family friendly race.  I had already registered for the marathon when the article came out, but I was excited to see that I made the right choice.  Burlington, VT is about 50 minutes away, so it's an easy race for me to get to.  

I'm already registered and the training plan is attached to my refrigerator.  I'm already a few weeks in and I'm already experiencing all of the emotions that come along with training for something new and exciting and BIG!  I'm fluctuating between complete fear and total confidence.  I'm constantly questioning how I'm going to run for 26.2 miles while simultaneously envisioning myself crossing the finish line.  But, most of all, I just keep reminding myself that each distance has seemed daunting when I first set out to conquer it.  After all, I think I was most nervous about my first 5K.

Wow...look how far I've come.

The other day, one of my facebook friends posted the following inspirational picture and I immediately shared it with others.  This is exactly how I am feeling right now.  I know it's time for me to conquer the marathon, even if many of my waking moments are spent doubting my ability to actually do so.

That's the beauty of this sport.  There are tangible results that go beyond body size or weight loss.  There's the excitement of running a new distance for the first time.  There's the feeling of fulfilment you get after completing an event that you were terrified of completing (Ragnar, anyone?).  There's the constant knowledge that if you just keep running, you'll reach a distance that at one point seemed impossible.

So, this is it.  The year that I conquer the marathon.  I'm sure I'll be talking about it a lot in this space.  I hope you don't get sick of me :)

Just not feeling it...

It's been a while, hasn't it.  When I decided to start a blog last summer, I knew that it would be a big commitment.  I read a lot of blogs, and I know how annoying it can be to keep checking someone's blog only to find a post from two weeks ago.  Of course, there are always things that will cause a blogger to have to take a little hiatus, and that's completely understandable.  But, for the most part, blogging should be pretty regular.

I haven't written in almost two weeks, and I have no real reason.  Maybe it's because the semester just started at the school where I work and I spent the last two weeks cramming as much summer fun into my few remaining days as I could.  Maybe it's because after a FULL day or working and parenting, I just don't have it in me at 10pm to write something.  Or, maybe it's because I just haven't had much to say (who am I kidding...I always have something to say).  Regardless, my blogging has been pretty lackluster as of late.  Luckily, I don't really have many readers at this point (hmmm...maybe there's a correlation here), so I might actually be the only person who notices.  But, I made a commitment to blogging, and I have to get back on track.

So, rather than harp on what I haven't done, I'm going to ficus on what I can do.  I can start blogging regularly again.  I'm never going to be a once-a-day blogger.  It's too much with a full-time job and a family that needs and deserves my attention.  But, I am going to shoot for 3 times a week.  I think that's reasonable.  Sure, I could do a bunch or quick posts with three lines about what I ate or did, but that's not how I like to write. I started blogging because I love to write, so I would rather do three longer, thoughtful posts.  I can also change the design and layout of my blog to make it more appealing.  It's time to change the look around here.  And, finally, I can actually take the leap and move this blog to the new domain and make the official name change that I have been planning for quite some time. 

Let's see what happens!

Time Flies!

Wow! I can't believe it has been an entire week since I last posted.  I don't know what happened...I guess I was just too busy living life.  I'm wrapping up a huge project at work, which I have to have finalized and submitted by this Friday or I can't go with my family to Maine, so that has taken up a lot of my time.  Plus, fun family stuff...and insanity.  Seriously, this six day program is tough!  It requires a major commitment, and I'm loving it.  I'm REALLY seeing and feeling results!  I'll give my Week 3 update tomorrow, so that's all I'll say for today.

We had a nice week, which we capped off with Father's Day today.  I'm so lucky to have the partner that I have.  He's an incredible man and an amazing father and I couldn't imagine my life without him.  I know I'm sounding pretty sappy here, which typically isn't my style, but I think sometimes these things need to be said.  My kids are REALLY lucky to have the father that they have, and I don't ever take that for granted.  Here's a perfect example.  Today was Father's Day (as if you didn't already know that), and I told Paul to choose something fun to do.  I told him we would do anything he wanted.  So, for the entire week he didn't say anything about what he wanted to do, even though I kept bugging him.  Finally, yesterday afternoon he told me that we all had to be in the car at 7:30 this morning so that we could go do something for Father's Day.  But, he wouldn't tell us where we were going.  We ended up in the car at 7:45 this morning, and Paul proceeded to drive about 15 minutes south to a U Pick Strawberry Farm.  We spent about an hour and a half picking 16 quarts of strawberries.  Sounds like a great way to spend the morning, right?  I think so.  But, you know what, it's not Paul's favorite thing to do.  The kids and I get excited for strawberry picking every year, but Paul doesn't care either way about it.  He comes with us most years because he enjoys family time, but it's not his ideal activity.  So, why did he choose to do it today?  Because I mentioned yesterday that I was afraid the kids were going to miss strawberry picking this year because we are leaving for Maine next weekend and won't be back for a week.  So, rather than choose an activity that he really enjoys, he took us strawberry picking so that the kids would get to go.  I'm telling you, it's the small things that matter the most.

National Running Day

Wow, I can't believe I didn't know today was National Running Day! Luckily, I ran 4 miles this morning with some of my co-workers.  Since I just found out, I'm not going to try to write a whole blog post about my running experience.  Instead, I'm going to repost one of the first posts I ever wrote.  I figure it's OK since I had (still have) very few readers back then.  So, here it is...

The Year I Became a Runner

(originally posted on July 4, 2011)

This morning, I had an incredible run.  It was hard and hot and left my entire body feeling tingly and refreshed.  For those of you who are runners, you know the kind of run I'm talking about.  For those of you who are non-runners, I can only say that the kind of run I had today is the reason why runners run.  We don't experience these runs everyday.  In fact, some days our runs just feel awful.  But, every once in a while, the stars align and we have a run that is so awesome that it makes us want to keep lacing up our shoes and hitting the road. 

The morning was warm and sunny, but not yet oppressively hot.  I set out on my own with my music and my garmin and let my feet guide me.  I only had about an hour, and I was able to hit 6.3 miles by the time I was done.  I came home tired, yet invigorated, and dripping with sweat.  The run was perfect.  It was the kind of run that makes you smile the entire time because you know how well it is going and you can tell that you're going to feel great when it is over. 

Toward the end of my run, I passed the twelve mile marker from my first half marathon and a smile crept across my face.  I remembered that day in April and how I felt when I hit mile 12.  I was so ready to be done, but I also knew that I was going to finish strong.  After months of training, I had made it almost all the way through 13.1 miles.  For me, this was one of the greatest accomplishments of my life.  I know there will be other half marathons (I'm signed up for one in October), but none will ever feel like my first.  Passing that mile marker made me think about my first half marathon, but it also made me think about the past year of my life - the year I became a runner. 

(At the finish line of my first half marathon)

Last July, in an effort to get in shape and lose the baby weight that I was still carrying around one year after my son, Bennett, was born, I began to exercise.  In the beginning, I went to the YMCA and used the elliptical machine.  However, a few weeks into my exercise routine, I wanted to do something different.  One morning, I put on my sneakers, grabbed my MP3 player and set out to run around my neighborhood.  I had always wanted to be a runner and had tried to start running many times over the past decade.  Unfortunately, the frustration of not being able to run long distances right away always caused me to stop before I developed any endurance. 

For some reason, this morning in the end of July was different.  I struggled the entire run (1.6 miles), but I somehow found the determination to keep going.  I mean, I did have moments where I thought I might actually die, but I found a way to keep moving my feet.  I might have been barely shuffling at some points, but I kept running.  Through it all, I had a constant dialogue going in my head.  I reminded myself that I gave birth to two children without any pain medication, and I didn't have the option of stopping during that process (even though I wanted to at points).  I told myself that running isn't supposed to be easy, or everyone would do it.  I contemplated giving up, but something kept me going.  I knew if I could make it around my neighborhood without stopping, I would continue on as a runner.  Something just clicked that day, and I have been running ever since. 

In those first few weeks, I struggled each time I ran and thought of just giving up many times, but I kept going.  I laced up my sneakers, grabbed my music, and went running.  I was able to add more distance to my runs, and it was an amazing feeling to see the mileage increase.  It was tangible results.  Instead of measuring my progress by pounds lost or dress sizes dropped, I was measuring my progress by how far and how often I was running.  Then, one day it happened.  In conversation with someone else, I called myself a runner, and I haven't been the same since. 

Today, I ran 6.3 miles and it was an incredible run.  But, it's not the farthest I have run and it wasn't even the most incredible run I have ever had.  Over the past year, I have gone from running 1.6 miles to running 13.1 miles.  I have run 5K races and a half marathon.  I have run in intense humidity, rain, snow, sleet and 5 degree weather.  I have run on indoor tracks and treadmills, and I have run on the open road.  I have had runs that made me feel incredible and I have had runs that made me feel miserable.  Through it all, my love for running has grown

(Finishing my first 5K)

I love running because it allows me to see life, and myself, differently.  I am more capable of getting through challenges because of the mental endurance that I have built through running.  I am more physically fit and able to play with my children because of the physical endurance that I have developed.  But, more than any of that, I am more aware of who I am because of running.  It gives me time to think and reflect on my life.  When I come home from a run, I am more grounded and patient, which makes my entire family happy.  Sometimes, I question why I keep running during a particularly bad run or when I am in a running rut.  However, runs like the one I had today always remind me why I do.  Every time I lace up my shoes, I have the possibility of having the perfect run.  That's what runners strive for, whether we run 5K's or ultramarathons.

This past year, I became a runner.  I plan to be one for as long as my legs will keep going.

I'm Back!

Wow!  It' been almost a week since I posted last, and that wasn't even a real post.  But, I did have a guest post on Happy Healthy Mama's Blog, so I guess that counts as something, right?

It has been quite the week around here.  It's the end of the semester at the community college where I work, which means things have been quite hectic.  I'm a 12-month employee, which means I work through the summer, but it still gets crazy for me in May.  So, I haven't had the chance to blog much.  Now that the semester is officially over, I'll be posting more regularly.  I have a lot of fun things planned for the summer, so I should have a lot to write about.

Even though this week was hectic, I still managed to have some fun.

Mother's Day was wonderful.

For many women, Mother's Day is a day to relax and be pampered.  But, for me, it's a day to spend as much time as possible with Amelia and Ben (and Paul).  This Mother's Day, Paul asked me what I wanted to do, and my answer was pretty simple.  I wanted to spend the day as a family, doing fun stuff and enjoying each other's company.  So, that's what we did.


The day isn't about gifts for me, because these two are really the best gift I could ever receive.

But, look what Paul got me!

I don't have to post bad iPhone pictures anymore!



In addition to celebrating Mother's Day this week, we also spent time doing other fun things.  We went hiking (twice).

We went out for ice cream.

We played in the backyard.

We caught a frog.

We went to Amelia's school art show.

We spent a lot of time giggling and playing and having fun.

Even in the chaos of the week, we found time to enjoy each other and be silly.  Ultimately, that's what's really important.

Lacking Motivation

I have been trying to post this week, but I just can't seem to find the time or motivation.  It's finals week at the college and even though I am a "12-month" employee, I still have a lot to do before the semester ends.  So, I have been a bit overwhelmed.  But, I have a lot of fun stuff to post, including a Mother's Day recap. So, stay tuned.  I'll be back soon!

In the meantime...here's a sneak peek...from my new camera!

April Foodie Pen Pal Reveal

Wow!  I can't believe April is almost over.  Time is whizzing by!  The end of the month means Foodie Pen Pal Reveal time, and I'm so excited to show you what Katie at Oh Shine On sent me!  If you want to see what I sent Erin at Girl Gone Veggie, just head over to her blog to read her recap.

Katie sent the best package full of wonderful treats and some of her own recipes.  To say that she went above and beyond is an understatement.  Her package was so thoughtfully put together that I felt like I was receiving a care package from an old friend, especially since she sent me numerous variations of my favorite food:  Chocolate!

When Katie's package arrived, I could barely wait to open it.  Like last month, I ignored everyone in my house and immediately started opening the box to see what goodies were inside.

The first thing I opened were the original recipes.  I already knew that Katie was quite the cook because I checked out her blog when I found out she was sending me treats.  So, I was so excited when I discovered some beautifully handwritten recipes in my box...they're all Katie's original recipes.  I already have plans to make the bars this weekend!

Once I stopped drooling over Katie's recipes, I opened the rest of the package.  Katie sent me her favorite granola, which quickly became my favorite granola too!

And, she sent me this incredible chocolate bar.  I already ate the whole thing.

But wait, that's not the only chocolate she sent me.  She also sent these yummy chocolate covered almonds.  I have been snacking on them at work each day, and I definitely have to practice restraint with them so I don't eat the whole bag at once.

As if that wasn't generous enough, Katie also sent me a box of her favorite cookies.  I hid these from Paul and the kids so that they wouldn't eat all of them.  I think I ate two of them before they found them and ate the rest of the box.

I can't thank Katie enough for this wonderful box of goodies.  This program is so much fun.  I love getting to put together boxes of goodies for bloggers and getting packages from others.  It's so much fun to get packages, plus I get to "meet" new bloggers!

If you aren't already part of the Foodie Pen Pal Program, I encourage you to join!  Lindsey does a great job of pairing everyone up each month and organizing the whole program.  Here's what she has to say about it:

-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.

-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penal!

-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!

-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)

-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month.

If you’re interested in participating for May, please CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions.

You must submit your information by May 4th as pairings will be emailed on May 5th!

If you want to see what all of the other participants sent and received, head over to this spot and check it out.  Over 600 people participated this month.  That's a lot of food love!

100

So, in all the excitement of my half marathon PR and new adventure, I missed the fact that my last post was my 100th post!  How did that happen?  It seems like I just started this little blog.  But, I actually started it last June, so I have been writing here for almost a year.

It's funny...I wanted to start a blog for so long, but I was so apprehensive.  I worried about sounding and looking stupid.  I worried about people reading my blog and people not reading my blog.  I worried that I wouldn't have anything to say.  I guess you can say I'm a worrier.

I spent months thinking of blog names and potential posts, and I even created a few blog templates through blogger and wordpress so that I wouldn't lose the rights to the names if I ever started blogging.

I wrote my introductory post about two months before I actually started blogging. But, even with all of the preparation, I just never hit publish.  It wasn't until I decided to participate in Emilie's Clean Food Challenge for the first time that I finally decided to take the leap and start blogging.  After all, it only seemed natural.  I love blogs and read them every day.  So, why wouldn't I have a blog of my own.

In the beginning, it felt a little awkward.  I'm an "academic," which means I'm trained in the art of research writing.  So, I really had to adjust my writing style to fit more with blogging.  It has been a fun process.  I finally feel like I'm finding my groove.  I'm constantly blogging in my head and I'm starting to gain some readers.  Not a lot, but a few.  I'm commenting on other blogs and participating in fun challenges and blog events.  And, I'm making some new blog friends in the process.

So, what's in store for the next 100 posts?  Well, the first and most exciting thing is that this blog is getting a new name.  When I started the blog, I chose "My Own Trail" because I really liked the way it sounded.  Unfortunately, I never checked to see if it was an available .com domain.  So, a few weeks ago, when I decided that it was time to take my blog to the next level, I naively went to Go Daddy to purchase the domain, only to find out that it wasn't available.  So, I did what any calm, rational blogger would do.  I stomped around and pouted and told my husband that I didn't want any other domain name.  I only wanted "My Own Trail."  Luckily, after my very zen husband calmed me down and reminded me that lots of bloggers change their blog names at some point, I relaxed and began looking for new domain names.  I finally found one that I LOVE and actually think is better than my current blog name.  So, I immediately purchased it and I'm starting to work on transitioning my blog to the new domain.  I'm not sure when I will make the official switch, but it will be sometime in the next few weeks (maybe after I submit the final draft of my Master's thesis).

So, what is my new name going to be? 

Fit Like a Mother

I really like the name and think it does a good job encompassing me and what this blog is about.  So, I'm really excited.

Anyway, that's the next big thing for this blog.  I'm hoping the next 100 posts are just as exciting as the first 100.  Even though it took me so long, I'm really glad I finally hit publish last June!

March Foodie Penpal Reveal

Last fall, Lindsey of The Lean Green Bean started the Foodie Pen Pal Program, and it has taken off.  After a couple of months reading other blogger's posts about the food exchange, I finally signed up for March.  I can't believe it took me this long to join.  It was so much fun!  I'm already looking forward to doing it again next month.

As someone who loves sending and receiving packages and eating fun snacks, this is the perfect program for me.  I had so much fun shopping for my pen pal, but I won't tell you about what I got for her.  If you want to read about the treats I sent to Jen at Juanita's Cocina pop over to her blog to read her post.

Today's post is all about the goodies I received from Brooke at The Well-Nourished Traveler.

When I came home from work on March 15th, my package was sitting on my dining room table and I was soooooooo excited.  I really love getting packages, especially when they are full of treats.

So, I let the kids watch a show and I tore open the box. 

What awaited me inside was so wonderful and perfect that I couldn't stop smiling.

Brooke did an amazing job picking out fun, local treats.  She told me in her handwritten note that she purchased all of the goodies at a shop called Smucker Farms, which sells products made in Lancaster, PA.

The first item I opened was this bag of dried apples, which made me laugh out loud.  Not because dried apples are particularly funny, but because I had just come from our local co-op where I purchased a bunch of dried fruit...except for dried apples (which I really wanted)...because they were out of them.  I knew upon opening those apples that this box of goodies was going to be wonderful.

The next item I opened was this pretzel mix, which I was so excited to try.  I love baking and I love soft pretzels.

In fact, I was so excited about the mix that I made the pretzels the next day.  They were YUMMY!

The third item I opened was this bag of popcorn, which I opened and ate right after I took pictures of it.  Hey, it was 4:30 pm and I had the afternoon munchies.

Brooke also sent me this Italian seasoning which I have used in a few different dishes.  It's great!

And, she sent me this cookie that I haven't tried.

I have it in my desk at work for an afternoon when I want something sweet.  It says on the package to sit it on top of a hot beverage prior to eating it, so I'll have to have it with my afternoon coffee some day.  Although, I have to admit that I have been tempted to just eat it straight out of the package a few times.

I had so much fun opening the package that Brooke sent, and even more fun eating the snacks.  Foodie Pen Pals is so awesome and I am definitely going to do it again next month (and the month after...).

Some of you may not have heard about the program, so here's a little information about it from Lindsey:

-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.

-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penal!

-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!

-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)

-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month.

-Foodie Penpals is open to US & Canadian residents.  Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We've determined things might get too slow and backed up if we're trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. So, I'm going to keep two separate lists and match US w/ US and Canada w/ Canada!

If you’re interested in participating for April, please CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions.

You must submit your information by April 4th as pairings will be emailed on April 5th!

If you want to see what all of the other participants sent and received, head over to this spot and check it out.  Over 300 people participated this month.  That's a lot of food love!


If you are interested in joining, you should.  It's so much fun!

Thanks again Brooke for all the wonderful treats! I can't wait to see what shows up next month.

It's all new to me...

When it comes to food trends and new products, I tend to be behind everyone else in blogland.  Case in point, it took me ages to jump on the overnight oats in a jar bandwagon.  So, it's not surprising that I discovered a few new things this week that seem to already be old news to most bloggers.  But, that's not going to stop me from singing their praises on my little blog.

First, let me introduce to my new favorite yogurt

This stuff is sooooooooooooo good.  I'm usually a plain yogurt girl.  I typically buy plain greek yogurt and eat it with a little homemade raspberry jam or some fresh berries.  But, I decided to buy this new Chobani flavor on a whim, and I'm so glad I did.  I won't buy it all the time because I still like to buy the big containers of plain yogurt each week, but I will treat myself occasionally.




My next discovery was this great combo

That's laughing cow cheese, but it's not just any laughing cow cheese.  It's blue cheese!  I had no idea this stuff existed.  Granted, Laughing Cow cheese isn't a pure, whole food, but I still like it once in a while as a fun spread on crackers.  It's not something I eat on a regular basis, but I'm so excited to have this new flavor.  I LOVE blue cheese.

The little crackers next to the tiny wedge of Laughing Cow aren't mini wheats, even though that's what they look like.  Those are mini triscuits, and they're just about the size of mini wheats.

I love these!.  They're great for snacking on during the day.  I like triscuits, but I don't always want to eat huge crackers.  These are a great way to get the taste of triscuits without the size.  I will definitely be buying these again.


And here is my final discovery

I love Popchips, but I have never had the sour cream and onion Popchips before.  These are yummy!  I'm still waiting for the other new flavors to make an appearance in my grocery store, but until then I am happy to have a new flavor to add to the mix.

So, this is probably old news to most of you, but it's exciting to me!  I love new food discoveries, especially snacks!

CFC: Day 4

Well, another day done!  Today went just as well as the other days.  I'm so surprised about how well I'm responding to the challenge this time.  It's as if my body has been waiting for me to clean it out a little.  I feel great!  However, I did have an issue this morning.  Remember how I posted that my dinner last night was just a big garden salad and that I didn't feel like I had enough protein?  Well, I woke up this morning and a while after I was awake, I started to get that shaky, low blood sugar feeling.  I felt dizzy a couple of times and my body felt tingly all over (the only way I can describe it) and I could tell my blood sugar was low.  I was also ravenously hungry.  My overnight oats were sitting in the fridge and I didn't have time to eat them, so I just munched on some homemade granola (totally clean) and a spoonful of almond butter.  I felt off until I got to work and had the chance to eat my big container of oats.  I looked over my food list from yesterday, and I realize that my caloric intake was pretty low and I definitely didn't have enough substance.  The Clean Food Challenge isn't supposed to be a weight-loss diet.  It's meant to eliminate unhealthy foods from your system and replace them with healthy, whole foods.  Since I ran yesterday, I burned a lot of calories and I didn't take enough in.  I really felt it this morning.  I made sure to eat a lot of protein today and I feel fine tonight.

Other than early morning low blood sugar, I felt great today.  I have definitely reached the point in the challenge where I am physically noticing the difference.  I'm less bloated and sluggish and I'm not craving sugar anymore.  I was in my co-workers office today while she was eating skittles (a guilty pleasure of mine) and I didn't even feel the urge to eat any.  I wore my smallest pair of pants today.  While they always fit me, they have been snug around the waist lately.  I know it's because I have been bloated.  Today, they didn't cut into my gut at all.  It's not weight loss.  It's just the loss of unhealthy bloat.  That's why I love this challenge.  My system really feels clean after I do it.

Here is what I ate today:

Breakfast:  Hmmm...I wonder what it could be.  Oh yeah, overnight oats.  Like yesterday, I topped them with blueberries

Lunch:  A huge container of cut up veggies and hummus.  This is one of my favorite lunches even when I'm not doing the challenge

Dinner:  I made Mama Pea's Black Bean Burgers, which are yummy!  I ate my black bean burger topped with chopped jalapeños and salsa, alongside a salad of romaine, orange pepper, and avocado and a side of sweet potato and regular potato fries.

This dinner was excellent!  I have another burger to eat with a salad for lunch tomorrow.

Tomorrow afternoon I head to Boston for my girl's weekend.  I plan to stick to the challenge the whole time I'm there, and I'm actually really excited about it.  It will be a great way to show how easy it is to eat healthy even when you're on the road.  I won't have wireless internet in my hotel room, so I'll have to blog from somewhere like Barnes & Noble or Starbucks.  I'll have to figure out what to do once I get there.

I'm Ready to Get Clean!

OK, so tomorrow is the day I start the Clean Food Challenge.  This will be my third time doing it, but only my second time doing it as part of an organized group.  The first time I participated was in June, which is also when I started this blog.  I love this challenge, and I might have nagged Emilie a little bit to organize another one.  After weeks (OK, really months) of not eating as healthy as I should - I guess this is where I should admit that my attempt to go sugar-free was a complete flop - I am in desperate need of a clean food challenge.  I feel bloated, sluggish and just generally yucky.  My pants are snug, my skin is a mess, and I am on edge most of the time.  Sure, some of it is because of work stress and general life stuff, but a lot of it is because I have been overdoing it with handfuls of chocolate chips at night (what, you don't eat handfuls of chocolate chips at night as a snack?) and the random snacking on chips and cheese sticks and my kids cheddar bunnies.  As someone who prides myself on my healthy diet, this isn't really a great way to function. Honestly, how can I be a healthy living blogger if I'm not practicing what I preach.  Just to clarify, I totally believe in living a healthy, balanced life which includes the occasional indulgences.  I'm not an extremist when it comes to what I eat.  I have no problem eating the occasional bag of Doritos or Taco Bell bean and cheese burrito.  After all, I subscribe to the 80/20 rule.  Unfortunately, in the past few months, this has been more like the 50/50 rule, which I'm not comfortable with.

So, in an attempt to get myself back on track, I'm committing to the Clean Food Challenge for one week.  What does this mean?  It means that I can't consume dairy, sugar, gluten, processed foods or alcohol.  I will only eat clean foods (i.e. whole foods), and I will drink 120 ounces of water each day.  Some people cut out coffee, but that's not an option for me.  I fear for my husband and children if I don't have coffee in my system.  After all, cutting out wine is hard enough.

This challenge is going to be especially challenging because I am going to Boston with my friend next weekend (Friday - Sunday).  It's going to be just the two of us, which means two days of me time.  No kids, no work, no responsibilities.  I love Boston and all it has to offer (especially the food), and I really think it's going to be fun to experience it while I'm participating in the clean food challenge.  I will have to try to find healthy food places to visit that will allow me to stick to the challenge while still enjoying yummy food.  We're planning to visit Whole Foods and Trader Joe's (sadly, my town doesn't have either) while we're there, so I'm sure I'll be fine.

So, tomorrow will be day one of the challenge.  I will blog about my experience each day with recaps of what I'm eating and how I feel.  I'm excited for tomorrow, but today I enjoyed these.  

Don't let the fruit deceive you.  There was a lot of chocolate frozen yogurt underneath it.

I know I can have them again in a week, but it was still a nice way to end my phase of gluttony and get ready to clean up my act.