December 16, 2014

Real foods, foot injury, and Portland

Yesterday morning, Noah woke up with a fever. The flu has been going around here, so I really hoped it wasn't that! His only other symptom was a headache, so I just had him get some rest, and I kept him home from school.

In the mid-morning, we ended up watching a documentary called Hungry for Change (on Netflix). I'd seen it in 2012, and loved it; in fact, I even wrote in my blog that I wanted to buy it so I could watch it whenever I felt I needed a boost in motivation to eat healthy. It was fun watching it with Noah, because it opened up conversation about healthy eating. And the things I've been telling him are apparently more believable when someone on TV says them ;)

Watching the documentary made me want to read through my old "Real Foods Challenge" posts--where I'd challenged myself to eat only "real foods" for 30 days. I only made it through 20 days before I decided it was just too difficult (I was gaining weight like crazy, because I was eating too much of the real food), but there were some foods and recipes that I really enjoyed. One was homemade whole wheat tortillas.

When I first made them, I was SO blown away at how good they were. I swore I'd never buy tortillas again. Then, somewhere along the way, I forgot about them, and just bought tortillas. Yesterday afternoon, after reading through those posts, I decided to make some again. We used the tortillas to make tacos last night, and then this morning, I had scrambled egg whites and cheese wrapped inside one.


The tortillas themselves are 4 PointsPlus each, which is the same as the soft taco-size white tortillas that I buy at the store, but they taste a million times better! Here is the recipe I used.

Last night, I taught the kids (and Jerry) how to play Hearts. I've always thought of it as an adult card game, but the kids caught on surprisingly quickly. I'm sad that the kids are growing up so fast, but I do like the fact that the days of Candy Land and HiHo! Cherry-O are over ;)

I emailed Golden Harper (founder of Altra running shoes) yesterday about my foot issue. My gut feeling was telling me that my foot injury was NOT caused from the shoes, but I just wanted to see what his thoughts were. He has a degree in Exercise Science, and studied running technique and running injuries; I met him at the RW Half, and really trusted his opinion. He's very passionate about fixing the problem with running injuries. I've been conversing with him via email for a guest post/interview for my blog, and I thought I would pick his brain (I hate that phrase, by the way!) about my foot.

He wrote me back last night, and everything he said was exactly what I was thinking, and what my gut feeling was telling me. When I had done my 12-miler a week ago Sunday, I ran a different route that had recently been repaved; and the side of the road was slanted more than usual. I think that, along with the fact that I jumped from 8 miles to 12 in a week, is what caused the injury. Golden also suggested that I take some time off--he said he takes a month off each year, and that many of the Kenyans take up to three months off every year!

He said it would be helpful to rotate my shoes as well, in order to strengthen my feet and even out any muscle imbalances (which are the cause of most injuries, along with upping mileage/intensity too quickly). He agreed that since I was running injury-free with the shoes for two months, he highly doubts it was the shoe switch that caused the problem. I'll probably post his interview later this week, because it really is very interesting!

I decided to go back to my Weight Watchers meetings. I'm not a "free" Lifetime member right now, but I think that paying the weekly fee and weighing in once a week will help keep me accountable. I've been doing well this month, and I really want to keep it going and get to my goal by the time I go to Portland in March. I'm nervous to go to my meeting tomorrow, because I know the scale will show a gain (I think the last time I went was in early 2014?), but I love my leader, and she's not at all judgmental. I'm looking forward to going back, and seeing some of the people I'd gotten to know at my meetings.

I leave for Portland 12 weeks from Friday. To keep myself focused on my goal, I even bought a Trail Blazers hoodie.


Interestingly, the day I arrive in Portland, the Blazers are going to be playing the Detroit Pistons in Portland. If I was a sports fan, I would like to go! But we're going to go to the Shamrock Run expo instead, which is definitely more my style ;) By the way, I know several of you mentioned meeting up... the expo on Friday night would be a great time/place to meet if anyone is still interested! My flight arrives at 5:00 pm, and then we're going to head to the expo right away--so maybe 6:00 or 6:15.

This post is all over the place, but here is one more random picture that I just had to share. Chandler cracks me up!


I guess that's one way to fit on the new cat tree ;)

14 comments:

  1. i have Altra's too. i hadn't been reading your blog lately didn't know you had them. Boy i wish i could just email the founder of the shoe brand for my questions!! LOL must be nice. :) i hope he does write a post! May try the recipe for the tortillas thanks although i don't follow weight watchers.

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    1. I LOVE my Altras!! I am excited to share Golden's interview. I haven't felt this excited about a running product since my Garmin--and that's saying a lot ;)

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  2. I would LOVE LOV E LLOVE to see you, and I am planning on running one of the Shamrock races, but I am hoping it might be possible for a meet up on Saturday after the race! (fingers crossed!) I live down in Eugene right now, which is two hours away. My friend who I race with will have work until at least 5 or 6pm on Friday and I will have class. We both hope we don't miss you!!!

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    1. The race is actually on Sunday. I'll have to find out from Thomas exactly what our plans are while I'm there. But I hope to see you!

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    2. Ha! I forgot it was on Sunday, I swear I knew that! So my new story is... We hope we can see you SUNDAY after the race. :)

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  3. I always love how your cats are named after Friend's characters. I remember how Matthew Perry's weight went up and down especially during the later years. I think your Chandler is like the fat version who was trying to get off drugs, so he began eating more to compensate, judging from how he spills out of the cube on the cat tree! CUTE!!

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    1. Except Chandler has NO desire to lay off the food ;)

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  4. I am not, in general, a "cat person" (dogs--Labradors in particular--all the way), but I love animals "in general" and create an opinion about cats on a case by case basis. In this "case," I think I would really like Chandler--he is adorable!

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    1. I never used to think of cats as having such unique personalities, but they really do! Chandlers is definitely a lazy one ;)

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  5. They look to be loving that cat tree!

    My feet have been bothering me a bit. I keep hoping it will just "go away".

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    1. I'm hoping mine just goes away, too! Actually right now, it feels totally fine. But it felt totally fine going into the half-marathon on Sunday, too. I think a couple of weeks off is going to do me some good!

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  6. I'm so glad you're still planning to come to Portland, and I hope your foot is 100% healed by then!!! The Blazer's hoodie is ADORABLE. :) I don't care where or when you decide to have a meet up, I'll be there! Keep us posted!

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    1. I already have my plane ticket and a place to stay, so there is no way I WON'T be going ;) I'm ridiculously excited, if you can't tell!

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