Wednesday Smorgasbord

I must be lucky...I have just received my second giveaway prize in the mail, and another on the way (Krema PB!)! Today I received the Pure Organics prize from this sweetie of a blogger (her blog is HILARIOUS if you're looking for some new blog material!). For my morning snack I had the Apple Cinnamon mini Pure Organics bar and let me just say....yummmm!

Ingredients: organic dates, organic apples, organic agave nectar, organic walnuts, organic cashews, organic almonds, organic rice protein concentrate, organic minerals, organic cinnamon.

To Allison and Andrea: 

I JUST went to the post office...your Newman's Own Oraganic products are on their way! 

Sally from NOO and I have been in communication and I pleased to hear that both Akins and Whole Foods stores near me carry NOO products. I just hope they carry the hermits...!! NOO is such a wonderful company, I feel so blessed to have come across such wonderful people and products!

Last night, husband and I split dinner duty as I had boot camp. As to not be eating dinner at 10pm, husband was in charge of making wild rice. He did pretty good...maybe a bit more stirring action was needed, but hey...I'm not complaining!

Look at that wild rice...goooooigeous!! It was so nutty and rich in flavor.

 

I had a virgin cocktail last night...Baja Bob's (sugar-free) Pina Colada! What can I say, I was craving it!

 

My contribution to dinner was Biggest Loser "Fried" Chicken....always a good choice!

And on my wild rice...nutritional yeast! It was really good!

 

And a fresh field greens salad : )

Some of my "regulars" brought me a little gift yesterday (I know, not supposed to accept gifts from patients...but it was FOOD!) -- POPS CHIPS! Besides Terra veggies chips, I'm very "take'em or leave'em" when it comes to crunchy, salty snacks. Pops Chips, however, are pretty much amazing! They're a cross-over between a rice cake and a potato chip -- 100 calories per serving! And supposedly my local Target carries them, so keep your eye out! Sorry I don't have a picture, husband was on a rampage last night cleaning away.

Same goes for my LARABAR wrapper (doesn't husband know by now that I'm not throwing out my trash because I'm lazy but rather, because I'm a blogger! Doh, hubby!). I tried the Peanut Butter Cookie Larabar and it was pretty incredible. The apple pie was good, but the peanut butter cookie was phenom.

And as a marathon runner, I have to address Biggest Loser last night. Lame.

60 days to train for a marathon? Who in their right mind finds that feasible? Safe? Fun? Not me. Not a doctor. Not a personal trainer. These people are still obese and NO body is made to run 26.2 miles. Each of my marathons have required 4 1/2 MONTHS of training and I barely survived the second race. I dunno, just really not "smart" on The Biggest Loser's part.

And to quote one of my patient's on Danny's 59-pound weight loss in 60 days: "That aint safe." I have such a love/hate relationship with that show, but no doubt will I be tuned in to the finale next week.
Will youu?

Does anyone have any favorite healthy holiday cookie recipes? 

My taste testing at work next week is holiday cookies and I actually don't have any tried and true cookie recipes! Anyone???

My neighborhood was decked out to the extreme in lights yesterday (Dec. 1st...makes sense). So I ask...

What are you ask for from Santa this Christmas?

Husband and I purchased a treadmill as our gift to one another (I mean from Santa...). So excited!

Happy Hump Day!

P.S. THANK YOU to all who read my blog. 

Things have really picked up here as of lately, and I couldn't be happier about it! Whether you read on a daily basis or an infrequent basis, I appreciate your support. I love writing and I appreciate all you readers! Any questions can always be passed along to Mrs.RD44@gmail.com !

And for those whom I follow...there are a lot of you! I try my darndest to keep up with all the hard work and creativity you put into your blogs! I am always amazed by the wealth of knowledge and enjoyment the blog world brings! Cheers!

The Guinness Challenge

You may have noticed...I have moved! I

am no longer "Produce Princess"....but rather, I am now "PreventionRD". I wanted to switch my domain name (I'm not too tech savvy...is that correct blog terminology?) to something that was related to my blog site name. Does that even make sense? Anyways, I have moved to here. I hope you all find me...or I find you, or else...I will miss you!

So, today was the Guinness Challenge and we had a blast! Just for you, blog world, I was a picture-takin' fool....

 

Let's start this blog post recap from the beginning. Irish bar hosting the run = bag pipers! 

I LOVE bag pipes!

  

 Here's the group ready to run...Bailey, too. I'm the SHORT blonde (I'm 5'3...these folks are just giants!)

  

 Here's the start of the race. We started in the back 'cause we were a lil late getting our bibs and chips...

  

 And here I start my runtography. A view of our Tulsa skyline and a fairly good shot of some elevated course ahead (uggggggggh)

  

 Beer stop #1

THIS was SUPPOSED to be at 1.5 miles. Thanks to my Garmin 305, however, I knew it was at 2.2 miles. Thank you, Garmin.

  

 This is a timed event, people. Lady like manners not required.

  

 Still beer stop #1 here...Matt and I were fairly hardcore about our carb stops, but not hardcore enough to omit time for photographic memories!!

  

 Here I am showing off my Guinness...and my Garmin 305, most importantly.

  

 Hello, HILL. Bahhhhhhhh!!!!

  

 On the down-hill...but a longggg ways to go to beer stop #2.

P.S. HATE races where people ahead of you are passing on the opposite side of the road!!

 

Dun dun! Beer stop #2! Workin' hard or hardly working, folks?

  

 Ok, they worked hard enough....but not at the right times. Warm Guinness = drinking bread.

  

 Beer stop #2 photo opp of Matt and I (lookin' a lil rough here, not gunna lie!)

  

Translation for those of you who don't know sign language...2 down, 1 to go

  

 ...Back over that blasted hill

  

 FINISH LINE IN SIGHT!!!!!

  

....but not before our last beer at mile 4. Mid-gulp, sorry about that face. This is a timed event, remember?

  

 Husband, me, and Matt. Drinking our congratulatory brews from the race sponsors (like we needed them)

...I did give away my second one, however!!

 

 The Guinness Challenge Finishers!!!

It probably goes without saying, but I have a headache and a warm bath calling my name. Ciao for now, bloggies!

Nerd Gear!!

Be jealous! Yesterday I received my impulse online purchase from Wednesday (time off work = online shopping danger!)...a Garmin 305!

What is a Garmin 305, Nicole?

I'm so glad you asked! 

(Is it bad I not only talk in 3rd person, but to myself...in writing...online?)

A Garmin 305 is not only a heart rate monitor but a GPS forerunner! This gadget knows where I am, what I'm doing, and how far and fast I'm doing it. As I was driving to boot camp last night, my Garmin 305 was telling me I was driving at a 1:44 min/mile pace! 

Ahhh, neat-o!!

THEN I got to boot camp and we were told we were running a timed mile. Hello, high school gym class all over again, right?

So, I line up with my class and start running. I was leading the pack until the instructor ran up beside me and was like, "Great job, Nicole! You're at 11 minutes, girl!" ::blink:: 11 minutes? My fitness is DECLINING since starting boot camp? ::head scratch::

I glance down at my Garmin which has clocked my workout at 1.3 miles. Duhhh. 

1) Why didn't I think to look sooner? 2) 1 mile runs should be one mile...not 1.3 miles.

I finished with a time around 11:45, I'm not really sure. After my health scare, I was fiddling with my Garmin and not running up to speed.

After our "mile" run, we did a push-up test. UGGGGGGGH. Add push-ups to the I'd-rather-be-rubbing-Tabasco-in-an-open-wound-list...right up there by planks. I knew my chest and shoulders would feel like they went through the grinder today. And, I was correct.

After my workout my Garmin 305 told me this: 

- my workout was 55 minutes and 36 second

- my fastest running pace was 8:15 mph (it calculates your pace AS you're running...should be helpful in the Guinness Challenge tomorrow, right!?)

- I burned 229 calories (based off my gender, age, and weight)

Side note: I know the Garmin 305 is pretty nerdy looking, but I think I like it... :)

Knowing I had Boot Camp last night, I planned a favorite crock pot dinner last night. Before I left for work in the morning, I threw into a crock pot:

1 cup 99% fat-free chicken broth (low-sodium)

1 cup salsa

1 can corn, drained and rinsed

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 packet of taco seasoning

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (raw or frozen)

Cook on low 6-8 hours.

Before serving add:

1 cup sour cream (I used 50/50 fat-free and light)

1 cup 2% shredded cheese (I used Colby...cheddar is good, too!)

Voila...Hearty Mexican Chicken Soup

Husband gave the dish a thumbs up!

Any fun weekend plans, folks?

We're going to a friend's birthday tonight, watching the Illini game tomorrow morning and running the Guinness run in the afternoon, and on Sunday I have back-to-back hockey games. It'll be a busy (but fun and active!) weekend for us! TGIF...have a good one!

The DL on Boot Camp

So, boot camp. You guys want to know more, huh? : )

Day 1: Repeat, Repeat, Repeat.

If the workout had a "theme" it would've been shoulders and buttocks. We used hand weights (I brought 8lb-ers and 5lb-ers. Let's just say the 8's stayed at home today...) and did LOADS of over-head presses. We did tricep curls, lunges, and squats. I gotta say, I love squats...and talk about a mega calorie burner! 

The class is run as a circuit and our routine last night was repeated 3x with running in between sets.

Day 2: The (BLASTED) Plank.

I. Hate. Planks. I. Hate. Planks. I. Hate. Planks.

I am decently strong and planks get me EVERY time. Holding a forward or side plank for 60 seconds BLOWS. Not only the strength portion of the exercise, but also the balance. I have nothing positive to say in regard to those boogers. 

Tonight we also did biceps and abs. Lots. If you're familiar with pilates and "V" sit-ups, you're familiar with killer ab workouts. We did those. Lots of those. 

We worked the biceps with the handled elastic bands and did high reps of bicep curls, holding the band beneath our feet in a standing position.

The bosu ball also made an appearance tonight. However, for once, I owned the bosu ball...it did NOT own me. Squats on bosu...handled.

Now would be a good time to let you all know that I've entered into a race this weekend. And in true Tulsa fashion, it involves beer. The "Guinness Challenge" is a 4-mile run and challengers must finish a Guinness at the 1.5-mile marker, 3-mile marker, and finish line (prior to crossing). While I love Guinness, I do feel this running + drinking WILL present as a challenge. 

We shall see...stay tuned. Pictures necessary, I know.

CHEESE Giveaway announcement! Go here! What a neat giveaway!!

My puppy has a cold and feels deprived...gotta go! 

Anyone else off for Veteran's Day tomorrow? THIS makes me a VERY happy girl!

No gym, no workout? Psh!

It was an absolutely gorgeous day in Oklahoma yesterday – 72 and sunny! I was looking for something new to do for exercise to get a break from running…so, I headed to the local high school football stadium. Let’s just say, I kicked my own butt!

I started my workout with stadium stairs…running…up and down, up and down. And let’s just say high school football in the south is a big thing, so this is no small stadium stair feat. I next moved on to suicides. While I’ve done suicides on hockey rinks, the football field is a whole new beast (I later calculated that the football suicide is 0.625 miles!). After my suicide, I moved on to crunches and a pyramid of push-ups (10..rest..9..rest…8…rest…you get it). Water break and repeat.

Today, my calves feel like bricks. Luckily, my home nor work place require me to go down stairs…but I’m sure that would be far from pleasant as walking is painful enough. Let’s just say that 1) working out sans a gym is completely possible, 2) workouts outside a gym can be more difficult than workouts inside the gym, and 3) when you can FEEL lactic acid building in your muscles as you perform your workout, chances are you’re gunna be sore and you’re getting one CHALLENGING workout.

This morning I copied the breakfast of Meredith, writer of Pursuing Balance, and added fresh MANGO (mmm!) to my steel cut oats! I used a packet of PureVia and a sprinkle of cinnamon. 

It was VERY good! Though, I have to say, I’m not convinced that steel cut oats increase satiety. While I did have an early breakfast (6am), I was hungry by 10:30am…at which time I had…

…a Pumpkin Muffin I made last night with Southaven Farms’ Ginger Spice mix. They are sooo good, and SUPER easy! Don’t they look delicious?!

And I had my little helper for dish duty...

And on a random note, the Natural Twist Zevia is officially my favorite flavor. It has a bit of a citrus bitterness to it that I just love. Mmm!

P.S. Vita Top Promo! Get 6 FREE Deep Chocolate Vita Tops with the purchase of a 24-pack of Vitas. Enter coupon code EFBYY7Q9 at checkout to take advantage! Yumm! I LOVE Vita Tops!

Ewwww!

Confession: I HATE the Smart Balance peanut butter with omega-3's. It totally tastes like fish (not in the good way, 'cause I love me some fish!) and over-powers the flavor of peanuts! Any other hydrogenated oil-free peanut butter suggestions?

I commented on a fellow RD's blog this morning about "hitting the wall" in endurance sports. And in October when I'm not training for a marathon (my last one was 2005, sadly)...I get sentimental. Running a marathon was, without a doubt, an experience I would recommend to anyone and everyone. I know that sounds crazy, but the people who train for, compete in, and complete marathons include average Joe's from around the world, set out to accomplish one courageous feat. Today being Sunday and one week away from the Chicago Marathon, I am missing the training, the regimented workouts, and the feeling of being on a mission. While completing a marathon (at least the 2nd time) was by far the most difficult physical endeavor I've endured, it was also doubly as rewarding. My marathon medals hang in my office, proudly on display.

While running double-digit mileage on a daily basis is no longer my forte, I still enjoy running very much so. My sport of choice, however, has switched to ice-hockey over the past 6 months, and I continue to supplement my ice workouts with running and other popular aerobic activities.

I posted in response to a blogger's question regarding "hitting the wall" this morning. For those endurance athletes or marathon supporters out there, it may be of interest.

Also, I got an email today from my prior Dietetic Internship Director regarding a new USDA site that calculates Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) including macro and micro-nutrients based off age, height, weight, sex, and activity level. It's very neat - great, credible, and free resource for nutrition professionals!

Another (good) find this week was Lipton and Ocean Spray on-the-go mixes -- White Tea and Cran-Pomegranate. Though they are made with aspartame, they are a great caffeine-free option for those who have trouble getting down their water...or just want a tasty, guiltless beverage! I like them much better than the Crystal Light mixes, but that's just personal preference!

As for my diabetic diet reports, I am going to start reporting the previous day's intake in my posts. My days change too much to predict what will happen. So, here's yesterday:

Breakfast (10am):

1 1/2 c. Cheerios (2 carbs)

1 packet Truvia (0 carbs)

1 c. skim milk (1 carb)

cappuccino with 2 Tbsp sugar-free International Delight (0 carbs)

     Total: 3 carbs

Snack (1:30pm):

Full Bar (2 carbs)

Lunch - (5pm - husband insisted on using a gift certificate before it expired at a local bar...):

1 single-decker turkey and Swiss club on wheat (2 carbs)

lettuce, tomato, and light mayonnaise (0 carbs)

20 french fries (2 carbs)

     Total: 4 carbs 

Evening:

2 light beers (1 carb)

2 garlic knots (1 carb)

     Total: 2 carbs

Snack:

2% mozzarella stick (0 carbs)

5 Triscuits (1 carb)

     Total: 1 carb 

Exercise:

20-minute run (cut short because I couldn't miss Illini football kick off!)

So while I only got in 2 meals yesterday, I did have 3 snacks (one simply because I was drinking while watching college football). All-in-all, yesterday was a much easier day than anticipated. Weekend football with friends typically involves a lot of muchies laying around which are always hard to resist!

Looking forward to curling up with a movie and husband this afternoon, making an early squash and fettuccini dinner, and then off to my hockey game! Tomorrow, I'm looking forward to my first day wearing SCRUBS! I am beyond excited -- I think I'm going with the coral-colored pair!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!