February 16, 2012

Real Foods Challenge: Day 16

Tomorrow is the day that I would have been leaving for Florida to go on a 7-day cruise with my mom, my sister, and my sister's best friend. It was about a year ago that my sister asked me if I'd like to go on the cruise with them, and after thinking it over, you know what I said? "No, I think if I am going to spend the money to go somewhere, I'd like to go do a really cool race--maybe a marathon in Napa Valley or something like that."

BWAHAHAHA! I turned down a 10-day trip with my mom, my sister, and Audrey because I would rather RUN? What the hell happened to me when I lost the weight?! ;)

I'm still happy with my decision not to go. I've got an awesome Ragnar Relay planned, as well as a three-day trip to Cleveland for a marathon. That sounds like much more fun to me. Strange, right?


So this morning I went to the rec center to ride a stationary bike (to hopefully work on my cadence). I went to the cardio room, and there were a lot of women in there chatting really loudly (which is fine with me! I was just surprised to see anyone in there). There were three bikes in front of the room, but they were all recumbent (which isn't ideal for what I was using it for). But I made do with what they had, and I got on one of the recumbent bikes.

After spending a good two minutes fiddling with it to get it turned on, I finally got going. And I was SO BORED I wanted to shoot myself after two or three minutes. But I was too embarrassed to get off that soon, so I decided to stick it out for 10 minutes. They had two TV's on, but one was PBS (a children's program), and the other was ESPN (kill me now). After 10 minutes, I got out of there and went upstairs to the indoor track to run.

I didn't have my foot pod with me, because I wasn't planning on running, but I just used my Garmin as a stop watch and pressed the lap button every time I went around the track. I noticed I was running right behind my friend Alicia for a few laps, and keeping pace with her. So I caught up to her and ran with her the rest of the 3 miles. Well, it actually ended up being 3.5 miles, because I forgot to push the lap button 6 times, haha.

Running with Alicia made the time go by fast and it was actually pretty fun. She's faster than me, so I was running at more of a tempo pace than an easy pace, but it felt good. I ended up with a 9:13/mi average pace, with splits of 9:07, 9:14, 9:18, and 9:10.
Running on the indoor track is almost like getting a new toy. The novelty of it makes me excited to run! I'm sure it'll wear off in no time, though ;)


When I got home, I made this recipe for "real food" banana bread. It is sweetened with honey, and it turned out SO good!! I was very impressed.

I'm glad I came across her site. The only reason I clicked on it was because it's called "Cookie + Kate"... that totally caught my attention! ;)

I bought something at Kroger today that had me very excited to try--
It actually didn't disappoint me, either. I added a few drops of Stevia extract and about a teaspoon of heavy cream. It was pretty chocolatey and definitely a good novelty tea! I went to Kroger specifically for this item, because my friend Andrea sent me a text yesterday with a picture of it. We like to show each other our good finds :)

When Noah and Eli got home from school, I ALMOST caved and quit this challenge. It was really tempting. Eli just celebrated his 100th day of school in kindergarten, and the kids all had a project where they had to bring in a plastic bottle filled with 100 "things". They could be cotton balls, tooth picks, dry pasta, Legos, whatever. When I asked Eli what he wanted, he said "Reese Cups". So we filled a bottle with 100 miniature Reese Cups and sent it to school.

I was hoping he wouldn't bring it home, but he came home with it today. The boys wanted to eat them all, of course, but I told them they could have three per day. But I just kept thinking how badly I wanted to open one after the other and eat them ALL. I love me some Reese Cups!

I went so far as to ask Eli if me and Daddy could each have one, and he said sure. Then he took two out of the bottle, and gave one to Jerry and before he could hand me the other, Noah grabbed it from him and ate it. I took that as a sign that I would totally regret eating one, so I didn't. I know that one of those would have let to the whole box of chocolates on my dresser, too ;)

24 comments:

  1. That banana bread looks delectable! I have half a loaf frozen in my freezer.....mmmm....

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  2. WOW! Way to go on having so much self control! You are totally rocking this challenge! Keep up the good work!

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  3. I'm pretty sure that you've mentioned before that didnt like spinning class at all but if you ask me, it's a terrific workout, will help with your cadence and you wont be bored! One of the best things about spinning is you control your intensity! I also hated spinning the first time I tried and now I am a certified instructor and cannot get enough! I became so addicted to Spinning/Cycling that I rode my bike across Iowa twice (RAGBRAI).

    As always, I LOVE your blog and you definitely keep me inspired! I just wish I could like running even a little bit!

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    1. I'm TERRIFIED of spinning--I tried it once and it was soooo hard. I know that it would be great cross-training, but I just wouldn't enjoy it in the least ;) I think I feel about running like you do about biking, and vice versa!

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  4. Reese's cups are my downfall. I love them!

    Banana bread is really easy and a nice sweet treat without being over the top with sweetness.

    When I used to run a lot, I never actually loved it. I loved how I felt after, but never during. For me, biking is something that I love to actually do!

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  5. Hang in there Katie, you're doing so well. I caved tonite. I just came home and ate everything in sight--and lots of it. I'm thinking of making myself puke. How sad is that? I won't do it, but it's tempting if I didn't hate to puke so much. What is wrong with me?
    Will it ever get any easier? I don't need an answer, I know the answer.

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  6. Isn't it the best when you almost blow it, and then don't!

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  8. Love banana bread, but my favorite part is the super moist middle almost under cooked. Katie your really doing great, I would have already fell under temptation. When I read the post I got excited because your coming to Cleveland(I live in a Cleveland suburb). Are you doing a marathon? I know this may sound silly but if you can and are not dieting. You have got to check out Melt, its home of gourmet grilled chesse. Ammaazzinngg. Love your blog, keep up the great work!!

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    1. Melt was on Man vs. Food!! But that sandwich he ate...heart-stopping for sure!

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  9. Sorry I just answered my own question. You are coming to Cleveland for a marathon(actually you did, I just rushed through the post). I swear you will be my inspiration and one day I will do a marathon! As soon as I can get to the gym and feel comfortable moving(in a some what fast motion,lol). Ohhhlalala white chocolate tea, Im allergic to cocoa ill have to check that out. Im always looking for yummmay white chocolate things.

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  10. Being faced with a Reese's... I don't know that I could have been that strong. Glad your kids are there for you ;-)
    I too have a hard time with biking. I signed up for a 50-miler in Sept. Not sure if I am going to make it. Biking is hard for me. I would rather run.

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  11. Congratulations on the determination! Only 13 days left- YOU CAN DO IT!

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  12. I am so glad that you posted about that tea because I saw it at Kroger the other day and had it in my hand debating if it would be any good! In the end I decided against it but now that I know it's good I'm going to go back and buy some! Also that banana bread looks amazing! I can't wait to try the recipe! I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend!

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  13. The only way I can tolerate an exercise bike of any kind is with a book if I'm on a recumbent bike or my uber up beat and fast paced workout play list on my iPod if I'm on more of a spin class type bike. Otherwise, forget it.

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  14. Hey Katie,

    I really like your real food challenge. It got me thinking - a lot. I always believed that I ate a lot of 'real' food and when you first mentioned that you were having a tough time, I first thought "Oh, I wouldn't if I were doing it", but then I realised how much non-real food I also eat at times. (And how cranky I'd be if deprived of Haribo Mixes and Liquorice!!) I also figured how much planning it takes if you have to make virtually everything yourself and can't opt for a quick take-away solution or for a snack of bought biscuits. So congrats for sticking to the challenge - particularly with three other people in the household for whom you have to plan, too!!

    I remembered the following recipe for Lebkuchen, which my brother brought home from Norway. I doubt it's really Norwegian and it's not German either, but it's terribly good and all ingredients are perfectly replacable with real ones:

    500g (1 pound) of flour (could be whole-grain as well, or (yummiest) a combination of flour and ground nuts)
    500g (1 pound) sugar (the original recipe calls for just sugar, but I used a mix of demerara and honey)
    3 Tablespoons of cocoa powder
    3 Tablespoons of Spices (mix whatever you have: cinnamon, anis-seed, cloves, lemon curds, maybe even a bit of nutmeg - if you have none of these, just go for cinnamon)
    baking powder (if that isn't real use cream of tartar) - use the amount quoted on the packet for 500g/1 pound/3 cups of flour
    500 ml (1 pint) of milk
    4 Tablespoons of Oil

    Put baking parchment on a tray and spread the dough evenly on top.

    Bake in a NON-preheated (!) oven at 180°C (356°F) for 30-40 Minutes

    Cut into squares when cold.

    Hope you like it!

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  15. Tammy/texzanFebruary 17, 2012

    Katie ,, thanks for the Link to Cookies + Kate... found some great recipes . I will be trying the Banana Bread this weekend . Your doing awesome on your challenge,, great will power that you have
    Tammy

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  16. I just read this recipe for homemade peanut butter and thought of you right away. Maybe you make it already? I wasn't sure. It is just peanuts(or any nut), honey, oil, and a little salt.

    http://www.simplyscratch.com/2012/02/homemade-peanut-butter.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+simplyscratch%2FwPkJ+%28*simply+scratch*%29

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  17. omg. thankyou so much for posting that recipe! I am making it TODAY! <3

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  18. The bread looks fantastic! I'm trying to do more real food all the time, still not all the way there but getting much better!

    That's the problem with candy, especially Reeses, once you have one, it's just too hard to stop at 3 or 15.

    My husband just brought home some chocolates from Costco and I thought about having one but I saw that 3 were 190 calories and i know how easy it is to eat 9 of those in one sitting and just blow the whole day. So I chose none. Let's hope I stick to that! Good for you for resisting!

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  19. Hi Katie,
    I have just stalked your blog for about 2 weeks, and it's inspired me to begin again. This time I'm going through SparkPeople, didn't know it existed before, I'm under Quasior there.
    Anyway, your story is an inspiration to me, I need to lose about the same amount as you lost, and it's helpful to know what to look forward to/what I will probably face once the weight is off.
    I just wanted to ask WTF is Reece Cups? I live in Australia and have no idea, are they little chocolates? There is lots I don't know like what is Ezekial bread - sounds yummy but I have to eat Gluten Free.
    I might ask from time to time what something is, b/c it probably isn't a local thing, and possibly some other things. I've even been checking out garmin's at my local sport's shop. I like not having to think hard while excercing - I seem to lose half my IQ. Thanks again for being loud and proud, it helps people like me!
    Quasior

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  20. Hey, Katie. If you have a smart phone, or an iPod or iPad you can watch videos on it while you are on the bike or dreadmill. I *love* the elliptical, but the TV at the gym is horribly boring. I made a playlist on Youtube called "cardio" and I watch my favorite 80s videos (I'm older than you...LOL!) while I exercise. It makes it much more fun!

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  21. So glad you enjoyed my banana bread recipe! It is one of my all-time favorites. I named my blog after my dog, Cookie, but I love cookies, too!

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  22. I have a really good clean eating banana bread recipe that uses blended dates to sweeten
    it! it's called sugar free banana bread by a blogger called chocolate covered katie. I like to add dark chocolate =)

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