The First 43: My Life Now

Summer Fruit Salad! This is seriously one of my favourite foods of summer and probably the one thing I always forget to make. So, I made one while we were at the cottage a few weeks back. So good. Reminded me of my childhood. My nana and my mom used to make fruit salad all the time when we were at the cottage when I was growing up. Healthy, refreshing and delicious. In my fruit salad I put: 1 Peach, chopped 2 Bananas, chopped 1 Apple, chopped 15 cherries, pitted and halved. 1.5 cups of Orange Juice (with pulp) Calorie Count : 89 calories per cup (Makes about 6- 8 cups of fruit salad depending on the size of your fruit. Mine made just about 8 cups) 

I thought it was time for  a mid summer update! I've noticed that over the last year, I've had a pesky two pounds that come on and come off. I never let it get to me but more recently, they seem to just be sticking.  I take responsibility. About a year ago, I stopped using My Fitness Pal religiously. I would check in on the calorie count of food when we were out for dinner at restaurants or things like that. So, I'm back on MFP. Faithfully. Two weeks going strong. It doesn't seem like a lot but, after being off of it for so long, it's really a challenge mentally to get back at it. I forgot just how hard it was being so committed to it. I can't believe that I did MFP for over 365 days straight.  It seems like an impossible task now that I'm back on it but, logically, I know it can be done and I can stick to it. Food aside, the main reason I am back on MFP is to force myself to get more exercise. My eating habits changed dramatically during the year I dropp...

Delicious Strawberry Banana Fudgsicles! I tried my hand at popsicles and fudgsicles last summer and it did not go well. I decided to give it another shot this year and I'm glad I did, much more successful! I did adjust the recipe a fair amount for the vegan one this is based on (original recipe linked below) You will need a blender or a food processor and a popsicle mold. (I got mine at IKEA, really inexpensive, I think they even sell them at the dollar store now. You can also get more expensive ones at Walmart, Target and Home Outfitters.) Ingredients:  1 regular sized banana 1 cup 1% milk 3 TBSP Cocoa Powder 1/2 cup sliced strawberries Directions: Get your blender or food processor. Put in a banana, milk and cocoa powder and blend until smooth/liquid.  Fill 6 popsicle molds half way.  Add equal amounts of strawberries to each one. Fill the molds to the top with remaining liquid. Put in the freezer to freeze overnight. That's it, you've got a...

Another year, another Color Me Rad run! We had so much fun this year and the big difference from last year - it wasn't raining! The sun was shining, there was a nice breeze, and we got nice and covered in powder during our 5k and afterward doing the "colour bomb." Nice to get out and have fun with friends while getting some exercise at the same time. If you haven't done the colour run, it is as fun as it looks! Here are some photos of team Rainbow Brights! RAD FACES Before the run  After the run! After the colour bomb!  Some fun photos! 

After I finished my 10k I decided to give my body a bit of a break from the intense training. Let my knees have a little rest and relaxation. I've been going to the gym and I've been watching what I eat but....it's not good enough and I've definitely not been as committed as I could be and should be.  I keep saying "well the great news is, my summer clothes fit!" Which is true and frankly, they fit comfortably so, I managed to maintain year over year. I really need to get back into tracking calories with my fitness pal and making sure I get exercise 3-4 days a week again. I'd really appreciate mother nature helping me out and not have the rain start right when I get home from work most days (it's getting on my nerves.) I want to keep my running up but, running in the rain isn't something that I enjoy and I have had just about enough of the treadmill at the gym (I do hit the treadmill if there have been too many rainy days.)  Jeff and I did get ou...

The 10k goal is complete. This time last week I was preparing myself mentally, more than physically, for the run. I went through different stages of emotions and physical pain during the run and I thought I'd share, since so many people asked me how it was, what the easiest parts were and what were the hardest parts. So, here I go. I've broken it down by kilometers because it's the way I remember it. Before the race : It was a cold morning, I decided on sport capris and a tshirt knowing how overheated I tend to get on runs. We met up with the rest of the people running for BTRC (picture below) and headed over to the corral. We had to wait 20 minutes before we started but, I kind of got used to the cold at that point.  Start to 1km: I was still cold, my body hadn't really warmed up yet. I felt like I was the slowest person out there, people just blowing by me. I knew the pace I had to keep to complete the race and monitor my heart rate so, I just kept at...

Well, this is it. Months of training will all come down to just about an hour on Sunday. I did my final training run this evening. I keep watching the weather and hoping that it isn't going to pour. The hourly keeps changing so, I don't think there is a way to really know.  Oh well, at worst we will get a little bit wet and at best it will be warm and sunny! This has been quite the challenging road. I can't say that running 10k is going to be something I do regularly but, I can say I am proud of my body for being able to accomplish things I never thought possible.  As Jeff pointed out, when I finished my first 5k and he said "Now, you can train for a 10!" I literally laughed at him and said "You're crazy!"... looks like I am the crazy one who's actually going to do this.  Most importantly, I want to say a big thank you to those who have donated to the run.  The proceeds are going to deserving dogs who need a little bit of TL...