Why We Eat

I can remember growing up that my father used to always say, "I eat to live...you all live to eat." Now while he did enjoy food, and had a crazy obsession with trying to find the hottest pepper our there and then see if he could find someone to eat it, he literally ate to live.  With Crohn's Disease, food for him is often times the enemy and a meal for him has not existed for many, many years.  Each time there was something in our family, there was food.  I can remember when my grandmothers (yes both of them in the same week) passed away there was a whole tray of sandwiches that we devoured not realizing we were hungry!  Food was comfort at times.  As I got older, food for me was just the opposite.  As life got crazy, my food intake dwindled.  Instead of stress eating I avoided it as a way to control something.

As the years have gone by my relationship to food and my emotions have gone in many different directions, leading me to the last few weeks.  I always in a way prided myself as a person who did not stress eat, but the other day as I snuck another bite of the chocolate treat on our kitchen counter I realized that I was no longer that person.  Stress was taking up space in our house and I was eating...a lot.

I'm disappointed in myself for letting my stress take over my ability to make a good decision...for undoing some of the progress I had been working so hard on.  I am working on taking a step away from the sweets and thinking about why I am actually eating...am I hungry?  Am I stressed/sad/worried?  There are so many reasons people eat...to celebrate, to mourn, to hide, to treat....but I want to be eating for one reason...to nourish!  I'm getting back to my HBBC2013 clean eats and listening to Amanda's daily emails! 

Why do you eat?

As if she knew I was needing a reset, Laura from Mommy Run Fast posted about her 21-Day Post Holiday Detox Challenge that she is hosting in January.  This is perfect timing for me since it will carry me from HBBC trough January...and apparently I can't be trusted alone these days!!

This challenge is for anyone who needs either a happier gut or like me needs that guidance and boost to a better overall feeling!  Laura is offering 3 different levels of the challenge from a solo venture, to group coaching with Facebook support, to group coaching with private sessions with Laura herself!  The challenge is running from January 6th through January 25th and you can sign up here!  Laura is also running an Early Bird Special if you register before December 15th for $10 off your registration by using the code "earlybird"! (who doesn't love saving money!) 

Sooooo...Who's detoxing with me?

WIAW...#HBBC2013 Week 1 Eats

This week is the first week of the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge with Amanda at Run to the Finish. 

One part of the challenge is to get in 7 servings of fruits and veggies each day.  In order to do this I try to incorporate veggies into each meal of the day....

Breakfast is a big ole green smoothie!  This week's smoothie was a banana, carrots, pumpkin, spinach, almond butter, chai tea, protein powder, and a splash of pumpkin pie spice.  Yum!!!

Lunch was 2 cups of roasted veggies with grilled chicken (not shown).  On Sunday I cut up a bunch of veggies and roast them with balsamic vinegar and a little bit of olive oil.  Then I portion it out for the week!  This week's roast was zuchinni, summer squash, portabella mushrooms, onion, and kabocha squash.  I also have an apple for dessert!

Dinner is usually veggies and some kind of meat.  Yesterday was turkey meatballs with spaghetti squash.  I made brown rice pasta for the hubby! 

I've been planning meals veggies first usually with what is on sale at the grocery store.  It's a challenge at times but I do feel much better as the day goes by!

How do you incorporate more veggies into your meals?  Any fun/unexpected ways?

Monday Motivation

Yesterday started the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge...and boy am I ready!  This time of year with good (but not quite so good for your body) food all around I'm looking forward to focusing on eating clean and getting in my veggies and water!  As with every year, this challenge helps me focus on getting in my veggies and honestly it helps me pick better choices all around!  I know that no matter how hard I work at the gym and out on the road, I can't erase bad food choices.  They will either show up on my mom belly or in my lagging energy levels.  So....The menu is set, the food is prepped, and I'm ready to rock the first week!!

Are you part of the HBBC?  How do you keep yourself on track during the holidays?

TTT...Challenge Time!!

Let me first say it was very hard to drag my butt out of bed this morning.  However...at least I have a smile on my face because of this shiny thing!

Red Sox are World Champs and Fenway was ELECTRIC last night!!!  Love it!!! Ok as you were!

It's that time of year again...time to try to work off the calories we are eating...or for me try to hit my end of the year goal!!  To help me do that I am sharing with you some challenges that I have signed up for that you may want to join in too!

HBBC...Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge hosted by the amazing Amanda is a staple in Fancy Nancy land every year!

I love her points system and the challenge to be as active as I can be!  She also gives points for eating healthy and being good to yourself!  This year I signed up for the complete plan but she has three levels of participation.  It's an awesome challenge and there are TONS of prizes to win!!  It starts November 17th so get over and sign up!!  Let her know Fancy Nancy sent you!!!

Pile on the Miles....Since 2010 I've been joining in on the fun with Monica over at Run Eat Repeat for her Pile on the Miles challenge.

It totally helps me out with my HBBC points and gets me to my year-end mileage goal ahead of schedule!!  This year I'm setting my goal mileage at 125 which would be the highest month of the year....why not go big to end the year?!  You can sign up for free and start piling on your miles!

13 in 2013...I'm pretty certain that I have hit my 13 races in 2013 however I am adding two to the mix this month.  Next week I will be running in and out of cranberry bogs and through the famous Edaville Railroad (ok so maybe just famous around here) for the Edaville Rail Run 5 miler.

Then I'm burning off some turkey before it makes its way to my belly by pushing the ladies and running with my mother-in-law on Thanksgiving in the local We Gather Together 5k.  Last time I ran this I scored a pr of 22:38!  Don't think I'll hit that one this time around but it is always a good race!

The 13 in 2013 is wrapping up but keep your eyes peeled for something special for 2014!!

How are you finishing your year?  Are you in these challenges?  Any other challenges you're doing?

Fitness Friday....Best Body Bootcamp Week 2

Well week 2 is just about coming to a close and Ms. Tina Reale has yet to not hand me my @ss with these workouts!  This week was similar to last but just bumped up a notch with intensity.  I've made some changes with my half marathon training and eating so that I am not so exhausted ALL. THE. TIME!  I was starting to feel like I was not only mentally worn but with all this flu going around, I was making myself a prime target for the flu's next victim!  It's one thing to work hard...it's another to be stupid and be laid up in bed for a week!  Here are some reflections from this past week:

• No idea if there has been any pounds lost because my scale is being cranky and not working.  Could be that it Em thinks it's a trampoline or that the batteries are on the way out...it's really a toss-up.  I will work on that one though!
• I am feeling stronger and getting closer (very important descriptor there....closer) to feeling like my old self.  I'm aiming high though...not just to feel like my old self but an even BETTER version!
• I am still on the hunt for higher weights...I went to Target and they stopped at 12lbs.  This weekend I'll probably head over to Sports Authority for some. 
• Some of the days' workouts are just cardio and so I am counting that as a run for my training as well.  Last week I was running twice a day...and apparently begging for an injury!  This has helped a lot physically and mentally!
• I've hit my goals too of tracking my meals and drinking at least 100oz of water a day...Like I said yesterday, I am testing the Paleo Kool-Aid and I'm really liking it thus far.  I will be honest here and say though that I had cake on my birthday (I know...calories don't count on your birthday).  I am planning after this weekend to really take a chunk of time to test it out.  I'll keep you posted!

On tap for today is our last weight workout tonight(woke up to a blanket of white but no school delay so I had to get out the door much earlier).  Tomorrow is my long run (10 miler) and the longest run I've had since I was about 25 weeks pregnant so I am taking it slow.

What's on your fitness tap for this weekend?

Monday Motivation

I woke up this morning determined...determined to start and end my day right...determined to fit in the workouts planned...determined to get my head on straight and lose this weight!  I've taken an idea from Dani at Weight Off My Shoulders and have written the pounds I want to lose this week on my hand.

That is there to remind me each time I reach for food..."Is this going to get you where you want to be?"

Did you wake up determined to take this week (which is often crazy and busy) by storm?