A Ramblin' Rose event is a women only sprint triathlon. There are several Ramblin' Roses each year throughout North Carolina. I'll be training for and participating in the one held at the Finley YMCA in North Raleigh on May 19, 2013.
A friend had told me about the Ramblin' Rose and sprint tris in general, I'd never heard of one until last year. Until them, whenever I heard triathlon, I pictured muscle bound jocks swimming the ocean in Hawaii in pursuit of an ironman win. My friend and those associated with the race insist that it's doable, that people are supportive, and that some of the swimmers are at a level where you may see people walking in the pool. So I figure I can handle this - 225 meter swim, 9 mile bike ride, and 2 mile swim.
Did I mention that I'm not a good swimmer and just learned how to go under without holding my nose two years ago?
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Surprisingly low carb soup and snack
My endocrinologist diagnosed me with polycystic ovarian syndrome and started me on glucophage. I find that the meds have helped tremendously with carb cravings and my appetite in general. Still, I like my carbs. Since the doctor suggested I drop my carb habit, I've been working on finding recipes that fit my health needs while satisfying me.
I found that I really missed crackers and couldn't find a good low carb cracker on the store shelves. I came across a low carb cheese cracker recipe that tastes very much like your regular carby cheese cracker and is very easy to make. The recipe is very simple - cut up a slice of Kraft deluxe American slices into 16 squares, put the squares in a big circle on a piece of parchment paper and microwave until they are a bit brown. The slices should form a circle, don't put any in the middle of your circle. Peel off paper, let them cool a minute or two, and enjoy carb free crackers.
I made this recipe for delicious cauliflower soup tonight, to bring for lunches next week. It really does taste like potato soup. Nice creamy texture. I've made it three times, twice with great success, once I used too much broth and it was runny. I ended up having success with a whole chopped head of cauliflower and two cups of broth. Err on the side of less liquid, you can always add more in when you purée it.
I found that I really missed crackers and couldn't find a good low carb cracker on the store shelves. I came across a low carb cheese cracker recipe that tastes very much like your regular carby cheese cracker and is very easy to make. The recipe is very simple - cut up a slice of Kraft deluxe American slices into 16 squares, put the squares in a big circle on a piece of parchment paper and microwave until they are a bit brown. The slices should form a circle, don't put any in the middle of your circle. Peel off paper, let them cool a minute or two, and enjoy carb free crackers.
I made this recipe for delicious cauliflower soup tonight, to bring for lunches next week. It really does taste like potato soup. Nice creamy texture. I've made it three times, twice with great success, once I used too much broth and it was runny. I ended up having success with a whole chopped head of cauliflower and two cups of broth. Err on the side of less liquid, you can always add more in when you purée it.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Starting over...
Well, its been awhile. I'm going to make an effort to get this thing actually rolling.
I went to the kickoff for Tri It For Life's first Raleigh chapter at the Endurance Magazine expo on the Duke campus on February 2, 2013. I've joined the program and plan to complete the Ramblin' Rose triathlon at the Finley YMCA this May.
Since June, I've completed a group Couch to 5k tile program called Fittastic, started working out woth a personal trianer, participated in the Monster Dash 5k, and dropped about 30 pounds. I've slacked off since Halloween, motivation is hard.
I'm looking forward to Tri It For Life being a kick in the ass to get the running started again.
I went to the kickoff for Tri It For Life's first Raleigh chapter at the Endurance Magazine expo on the Duke campus on February 2, 2013. I've joined the program and plan to complete the Ramblin' Rose triathlon at the Finley YMCA this May.
Since June, I've completed a group Couch to 5k tile program called Fittastic, started working out woth a personal trianer, participated in the Monster Dash 5k, and dropped about 30 pounds. I've slacked off since Halloween, motivation is hard.
I'm looking forward to Tri It For Life being a kick in the ass to get the running started again.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Weekend trip...
As will happen, exercise plans got a bit sidelined by a weekend trip. I met with the trainer (post forthcoming on that) and she asked what I was planning over the weekend as far as aerobic exercise. I said I wasn't quite sure, that we were taking a trip to Williamsburg and it would depend on what the hotel offered in the gym. She reminded me that walking counted as aerobic activity. We did quite a bit of walking around Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg on the trip, and when you consider that the weekend was hotter than the underside of Satan's balls, I figure we did burn a few calories despite eating at a variety of lovely establishments in Williamsburg.
Dining wise, we behaved ourselves fairly well on Thursday night, splitting some nigiri and three rolls at Soya Sushi. I can eat massive amounts of sushi. Massive. So I counted this one as a win. I wasn't quite full when we left, but I'm get my body to be ok with that.
Friday morning, I had the breakfast provided by the hotel. They have a variety of things, from fresh waffles to muffins to bagels to "omelets" to cereal. I'm trying to cut down on the more nutritionally devoid carbs, so I skipped the waffles (which were probably the best tasting thing there) and went for an omelet, a piece of sausage, and some oatmeal with nuts, fruit, and cinnamon mixed in (they offer mix ins for the plain oatmeal). I wanted some protein to keep me full (there weren't any lean protein options at the hotel) along with some fiber and carbs.
We headed out to Jamestown to see the ship replicas and tour the museum. Pretty cool set up. The ships and the Native American village were particularly interesting. We spent the morning there and headed out to Colonial Williamsburg for a late lunch and sightseeing.
We stopped at the Dog Street Pub in Williamsburg for lunch. My husband had a ham and cheese sandwich with fries and root beer, I had a little platter that consisted of ham, cheese, a deviled egg, apple slices, some chutney, a few little pieces of toast and some other odds and ends. It was filling, lower in carbs than a sandwich, and gave me a little taste of a variety of things, which I love. The bartender recommended a place called The Blue Talon Bistro for dinner. We wandered over to make a reservation, and on the way back, stopped to get ice cream at Baskin Robbins. We then hit Colonial Williamsburg and enjoyed seeing the various buildings. Dinner at The Blue Talon was awesome. Service was really quick, the food came out fast, and was cooked as requested. My husband had the pot roast (served in a little pot at the table) and I went for the skirt steak. The skirt steak was served with greens and fries. The fries were awesome (in no small part due to the truffle oil they were tossed with) but we'd ordered an appetizer that included potatoes along with a side of mac and cheese, so I didn't make much of a dent in them.
We headed back to the hotel, where a day of extreme heat, walking, and full bellies put us to bed pretty early. I slept so soundly that I didn't hear the storms that came through the area, knocking out power.
Saturday, we got up early to head to the Mariner's Museum in Newport News. The Mariner's Museum was going to be a highlight of the trip for my husband, unfortunately, the power outage had struck them as well. We arrived to find a sign on the door saying the power was out and the museum was closed. We hung out in the area, hoping that since it appeared the surrounding businesses and hospital had power, that they'd get it back soon, too. No such luck. We hung out at a smoothie place, reading and playing online, until lunch time. Ate lunch at Moe's and when the power was still out, we headed back to the hotel and spend the afternoon swimming and cooling off in the pool. You used to be able to order a kid's meal at Moe's but apparently they've cracked down on that (there's a sign up about it). So, I went with one taco. Playing in the pool let me get some activity in, I tried to keep moving for the most part.
I knew that dinner Saturday night would be a calorie explosion. We had reservation at A Chef's Kitchen, a place that seemed to be part Food Network experience, part meal. It was awesome, the reviews are all true. If you're in Williamsburg, it's a must stop if you like food, but you'll probably need to make reservations at least a month out or hope for a cancellation so you can get in off the wait list.
So, all in all, it was a good weekend and while there was some activity (lots of walking and some swimming), I'm sure that all the wonderful food we ate is going to set me back just a tad on the weight loss. It's back on the saddle again on Monday!
Dining wise, we behaved ourselves fairly well on Thursday night, splitting some nigiri and three rolls at Soya Sushi. I can eat massive amounts of sushi. Massive. So I counted this one as a win. I wasn't quite full when we left, but I'm get my body to be ok with that.
Friday morning, I had the breakfast provided by the hotel. They have a variety of things, from fresh waffles to muffins to bagels to "omelets" to cereal. I'm trying to cut down on the more nutritionally devoid carbs, so I skipped the waffles (which were probably the best tasting thing there) and went for an omelet, a piece of sausage, and some oatmeal with nuts, fruit, and cinnamon mixed in (they offer mix ins for the plain oatmeal). I wanted some protein to keep me full (there weren't any lean protein options at the hotel) along with some fiber and carbs.
We headed out to Jamestown to see the ship replicas and tour the museum. Pretty cool set up. The ships and the Native American village were particularly interesting. We spent the morning there and headed out to Colonial Williamsburg for a late lunch and sightseeing.
We stopped at the Dog Street Pub in Williamsburg for lunch. My husband had a ham and cheese sandwich with fries and root beer, I had a little platter that consisted of ham, cheese, a deviled egg, apple slices, some chutney, a few little pieces of toast and some other odds and ends. It was filling, lower in carbs than a sandwich, and gave me a little taste of a variety of things, which I love. The bartender recommended a place called The Blue Talon Bistro for dinner. We wandered over to make a reservation, and on the way back, stopped to get ice cream at Baskin Robbins. We then hit Colonial Williamsburg and enjoyed seeing the various buildings. Dinner at The Blue Talon was awesome. Service was really quick, the food came out fast, and was cooked as requested. My husband had the pot roast (served in a little pot at the table) and I went for the skirt steak. The skirt steak was served with greens and fries. The fries were awesome (in no small part due to the truffle oil they were tossed with) but we'd ordered an appetizer that included potatoes along with a side of mac and cheese, so I didn't make much of a dent in them.
We headed back to the hotel, where a day of extreme heat, walking, and full bellies put us to bed pretty early. I slept so soundly that I didn't hear the storms that came through the area, knocking out power.
Saturday, we got up early to head to the Mariner's Museum in Newport News. The Mariner's Museum was going to be a highlight of the trip for my husband, unfortunately, the power outage had struck them as well. We arrived to find a sign on the door saying the power was out and the museum was closed. We hung out in the area, hoping that since it appeared the surrounding businesses and hospital had power, that they'd get it back soon, too. No such luck. We hung out at a smoothie place, reading and playing online, until lunch time. Ate lunch at Moe's and when the power was still out, we headed back to the hotel and spend the afternoon swimming and cooling off in the pool. You used to be able to order a kid's meal at Moe's but apparently they've cracked down on that (there's a sign up about it). So, I went with one taco. Playing in the pool let me get some activity in, I tried to keep moving for the most part.
I knew that dinner Saturday night would be a calorie explosion. We had reservation at A Chef's Kitchen, a place that seemed to be part Food Network experience, part meal. It was awesome, the reviews are all true. If you're in Williamsburg, it's a must stop if you like food, but you'll probably need to make reservations at least a month out or hope for a cancellation so you can get in off the wait list.
So, all in all, it was a good weekend and while there was some activity (lots of walking and some swimming), I'm sure that all the wonderful food we ate is going to set me back just a tad on the weight loss. It's back on the saddle again on Monday!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Down another two pounds...
I don't quite understand my body. Woke up and had lost another two pounds. Not that I'm complaining, but sometimes the weight loss/gain seems a bit random.
My legs were still sore when I got up, so I decided to skip the treadmill this morning. I've read that it's important to rest periodically while working up to an exercise plan, so I figured a day off was in order. I won't be able to work out tomorrow morning because I have a breakfast I need to go to, but I'm planning to use the treadmill after dinner.
I ate breakfast a bit late today because the rest of my meals will be off schedule due to a class I'm taking today. I had peanut butter on Pepperidge Farm thin bread plus a banana and a piece of string cheese for brunch. I had a snack around 12 that consisted of another piece of string cheese and some mixed nuts. I wasn't hungry when it was time for a lunch break so I haven't had anything since then. My brother is in town, so we're grilling steaks, asparagus, and potatoes for dinner. I'm trying to limit but not eliminate carbs (hence the thin bread that still gives me the taste of nutritionally devoid white bread). If the endocrinologist tells me to go extremely low carb, I'll do it, but I tend to get headaches and feel like crap if I don't get any carbs, and let's not even think about the fiber issues.
I've submitted my info to the Y to get a personal trainer. Hopefully I'll get someone right off that's a good fit.
My legs were still sore when I got up, so I decided to skip the treadmill this morning. I've read that it's important to rest periodically while working up to an exercise plan, so I figured a day off was in order. I won't be able to work out tomorrow morning because I have a breakfast I need to go to, but I'm planning to use the treadmill after dinner.
I ate breakfast a bit late today because the rest of my meals will be off schedule due to a class I'm taking today. I had peanut butter on Pepperidge Farm thin bread plus a banana and a piece of string cheese for brunch. I had a snack around 12 that consisted of another piece of string cheese and some mixed nuts. I wasn't hungry when it was time for a lunch break so I haven't had anything since then. My brother is in town, so we're grilling steaks, asparagus, and potatoes for dinner. I'm trying to limit but not eliminate carbs (hence the thin bread that still gives me the taste of nutritionally devoid white bread). If the endocrinologist tells me to go extremely low carb, I'll do it, but I tend to get headaches and feel like crap if I don't get any carbs, and let's not even think about the fiber issues.
I've submitted my info to the Y to get a personal trainer. Hopefully I'll get someone right off that's a good fit.
Monday, June 18, 2012
A little exercise and not too bad on the diet...
I'd set the alarm for 4:57 this morning. That would let me hit the snooze twice, get up at 5:15, and head out the door at 5:30 to make a 6 am yoga class near my office.
Yeah, didn't happen.
Well, the alarm happened. I got up. And then I said eff that and laid back down until 7. Got up, had a quick run on the treadmill and showered for work.
I ate breakfast downstairs instead of planning to pick something up at work. I'd baked eggs the night before in muffin cups to have along with some oat bran and bacon. The eggs were good, and I only ended up eating one. The oat bran was awful. My husband told me there's a reason that animals are fed oats.
Lunch consisted of a trip to Neomond. Had the veggie lasagna along with sides of chicken salad and fattoush. I skipped the pita bread.
We ate the last of the Indian leftovers for dinner. Damned good stuff.
The scale was kind to me this morning, showed a two pound loss.
Yeah, didn't happen.
Well, the alarm happened. I got up. And then I said eff that and laid back down until 7. Got up, had a quick run on the treadmill and showered for work.
I ate breakfast downstairs instead of planning to pick something up at work. I'd baked eggs the night before in muffin cups to have along with some oat bran and bacon. The eggs were good, and I only ended up eating one. The oat bran was awful. My husband told me there's a reason that animals are fed oats.
Lunch consisted of a trip to Neomond. Had the veggie lasagna along with sides of chicken salad and fattoush. I skipped the pita bread.
We ate the last of the Indian leftovers for dinner. Damned good stuff.
The scale was kind to me this morning, showed a two pound loss.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Testing the waters...
I thought I'd give blogging a try for accountability and tracking purposes. I figure if I'm making a commitment to post my intake and exercise each day, maybe I'll be a wee bit more careful.
I've got a good bit of weight to drop and here are the current plans:
1. Getting a trainer. Working out on my own isn't cutting it. I apparently need someone like Jillian Michaels to tell me to move my fat ass.
2. Going to more fitness classes. Planning to do an early yoga class tomorrow at the Y. We'll see how that goes.
3. Working on increasing activity at home. We bought Schwinns from Target a few weeks ago. They were our tax refund splurge. Not the best gears for shifting, but it'll suit our purposes just fine.
4. Seeing an endocrinologist. My internist recommended the trainer but when she found out I have some symptoms of wacky hormones, she also suggested an endocrinology consult. For anyone familiar with the Great GI Debacle of 2011, I'm sure you know how much another round of specialty testing thrills me.
5. Possibly seeing a dietician. I feel like I have a generally good understanding of nutrition, but I figure that a consult can't hurt and s/he can let me know what might work best for me. I will likely hold off on this one until I see the endocrinologist, in case they have someone they prefer to use.
Today so far:
Food intake: leftover Indian for lunch. Yum. I laid off the rice and skipped the bread.
For a snack in the afternoon, I had some mixed nuts, a piece of cheese, and a beef stick.
Dinner will probably be a sandwich on thin bread (it didn't have many more carbs than the supposedly low carb wraps and seemed like it would be more satisfying) and some soup.
Activity: 5 miles on the bike, using Map My Run to track progress. There are a couple big (to me) hills on our loop, and I hit the inhaler before hitting the big one on the second loop. That helped quite a bit.
Weight... A lot.
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