Starvin’ Marvin

I am starving upon waking up in the morning!   Well, in the afternoon, too, but let’s just stick with the morning for now ;P 

I had planned on running at the gym, so I didn’t want too much in my stomach.  I decided these were perfect to tide me over…

They were just enough to quiet my stomach and give me a pop of energy for my 3 mile run. 

I felt much stronger during my run today.  Less winded, less time-checking and less leg weakness.  I like that feeling!  Don’t know if it’s the increased run time and mileage or just a good day.  I may have a better idea after my outdoor runs this weekend – Sat. is 2 miles and Sun. is 3 miles.

I wanted to take a minute to thank you for your comments on my last post regarding the pre-5K training schedule.  I am always open your suggestions and recommendations.  Manderz and Amanda gave me some great food for thought – thanks, guys!  And as strongly that I feel about trying to improve my running skills, I also don’t want to injure myself.  So far, my hip has been cooperating, but I know that with overuse, the bursitis could majorly act up.  So, I’ll promise to respect my body and listen to how it is responding to the schedule.  I think what may work best is to follow the schedule for one week on/one week off.  By off, I mean my regular exercise –elliptical, weights, The Arc Trainer and save the running for the “on” weeks.    What do my running peeps think?

After my run, I was starving again.  I brought another dashboard breakfast that I grabbed from the freezer – mini Veggie Quiches…

I dug these out from the depths of the freezer and I wasn’t sure they would be good, but they were A-OK :)

But, not very long lasting.  I was starving about an hour later!  I tried to take my mind off it by doing some house chores, however, that didn’t work very long.  I decided to just listen to my body and EAT!!!  I made a wrap with turkey, bacon, baby spinach and salsa.  Along with it, went some cantaloupe, pineapple and POPchips…

Plus more POPchips.  Cuz, once you POP, you can’t stop! Hey, how’s that for a slogan?!  You heard it here first, POPchips peeps!

Later in the afternoon, the munchies came to visit.  I started off with some #@!$%^&* Cheez-its, then stopped the insanity with a healthier choice…

I was trying to eat a little lighter (don’t laugh) so I could indulge in pizza at dinner!  Pizza is so easy now that I use Biz ‘s no rise pizza dough.   I made a regular boring –old- sauce –and- cheese only pizza for the husband and daughters and  White Pizza with Zucchini and Broccoli for me.  So easy with having leftover zucchini and broccoli waiting in the fridge!

White Pizza with Zucchini and Broccoli

• 1 recipe No Rise Pizza Dough
• 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• leftover roasted zucchini
• leftover steamed broccoli
• 1 heaping cup part-skim mozzarella

Way delicious…

I couldn’t wait to dig in…

I think I could eat this everyday…

I did finish the night with a piece of dark chocolate that I didn’t take a picture of  because I sprinted up the steps and locked myself in my room so I wouldn’t eat any more!

Okay, I won’t torture you anymore with my punchy writing today …

ONE GOOD THING:  Locks on my bedroom door.  Better than what I used to use across the kitchen opening…

Have a great day, everybody!!

Tonight's The Night!!

It's the Biggest Loser Finale tonight!!! Is anyone else as crazy-excited as I am? I'm even posting earlier than usual because I don't want to miss a minute of it! I can't wait to see everyone and how they look. I've got my tissues ready because I know I'll be blubbering through the whole thing! Okay, let's get this show on the road...

It was another glorious morning for a run, so I laced up and hit the pavement. I ran for 40 minutes at a pretty slow pace today; I felt weak for some reason, but I perservered! When I came in, I had an easy breakfast of Veggie Quiche Cups and a Weight Watchers Vanilla Yogurt for 3 POINTS...



Anyone remember those Veggie Quiche Cups from the South Beach Diet?? It's a great Weight Watchers-friendly recipe, too! You can click HERE for the recipe.

After breakfast, I tooled around in the kitchen. I came up with a new hummus recipe, Spinach Artichoke Hummus. It is really good! For this, you'll need...

• 1 (15 oz.) can garbanzo beans(also known as chick peas), drained and rinsed
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 cup fresh baby spinach
• 1/2 c. artichoke hearts (canned in water)
• 3 tbsp. lemon juice
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• few dashes of cayenne pepper
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Place all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.
2. Chill for 1 hour before serving.
3. Makes 6 (1/4 c.) servings at 2 POINTS per serving.

I couldn't wait to eat this for lunch. I decided to make a sandwich using the Spinach Artichoke Hummus, 1 slice of Weight Watchers Pepperjack Cheese, a few baby spinach leaves and 2 slices of TJ's Organic Spelt Bread. Amazing! I had the usual side of carrots and soy crisps for a great 7 POINT lunch...

I ran some errands and came home to afternoon munchies! Argh! I started with a fine snack of a Cinnamon Raisin Gnu Bar which I was sure I wasn't going to like, but I loved it! I would definitely buy this 2 POINT bar again...

AND THEN...... I snacked on those stinkin chocolate covered almonds again. And some pretzels sticks. And a handful of chips. BOO! See? See how I sabotage myself when I am close to goal? It's ridiculous. Total mental patient behavior. I think it's because I am a runner now. Yep, that's it. Running makes you hungry, which in turn makes you eat lots of crap, which in turn keeps you from goal. Therefore, running = unattainable goal. Which is why you are running. To chase after goal. See how I got to that? No, I was not a pych major in college.

Sorry, I digress... Back to my healthy dinner! I made Mozzarella and Red Pepper Stuffed Turkey Burgers served on Arnold Sandwich Thins. Ellie Kreiger made these on the Food Network the other day and I thought they looked good! To go with them, I made a Barbecue Baked Bean Salad. I found the recipe HERE. It was a huge hit with the husband! The burgers, not so much. Only because they are "turkey" which to him means "healthy" which, in turn , means "sucky".

I cut up a juicy, sweet watermelon to round out this 8 POINT barbeque...

Don't these look good???

Since, I'm posting earlier than usual, I didn't have any dessert yet. I'm thinking I should forget about it altogether considering my afternoon mouth activity. I hope the Biggest Loser will motivate me and occupy me so that I don't sneak back to the kitchen...

Enjoy your night!