I am a Runner.

On my long run last weekend, a friend and I were chatting about how no matter how hard we work out or how many miles we run, we will never look like a runner. What we meant by that was to look like, well...this:

I mean, isn't that what a runner looks like?! Or is that just what society wants us to believe? I have a lot of running friends and readers so I asked for photos. In the photos, there are women ranging from Couch to 5K'ers to marathoners and even a few triathletes. Check them out:




I think this quote by John "The Penguin" Bingham sums it up best:

If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.

Tuesday's Tip

Eat more often.

Eat? More? Often? Yup, you read that right! I know it sounds silly and counterproductive as eating less typically equals weighing less. But, instead of the typical 3 square meals a day that you may remember from childhood, the new recommendation is 5-6 meals a day. Think of your body as a vehicle with a small tank. I think of my Ford Aspire from years ago but since you are probably much trendier than I am, you can be a Smartcar:

You need fuel to run your engine and since it's small, the tank needs to be replenished often. So, basically, eating smaller portions more often will keep your tank full of fuel all day long.

Eating every 2-3 hours will re-program your body into a more efficient machine.  It will speed up your metabolism and help you burn fat. When you eat often, your (very smart) body says “Hey, I’m going to be getting more in a couple hours so I’ll burn this as energy.” Going long periods of time without eating makes your body store fat, and your energy levels drop resulting in sugar cravings which in many cases result in an all out food fest.

If you feel like you a stuck right now, give eating more often a try and let me know how it works out for you. Thanks for reading.

A recipe I MUST share....

Italian Vegetable Bake
This vegetable baked dish dish is low-sodium and cholesterol-free vegetable and is prepared without any added fat.

• 1 can (28 oz.) whole tomatoes
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1/2 lb. fresh green beans, sliced
• 1/2 lb. fresh okra, cut into 1/2" pieces or 3/4 cup (1/2 10 oz. pkg) frozen okra
• 3/4 cup finely chopped green pepper
• 2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil, or 1 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
• 1-1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano leaves, or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
• 3 medium (7" long) zucchini, cut into 1" cubes
• 1 medium eggplant, pared and, cut into 1" cubes
• 2 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese

1. Drain and coarsely chop tomatoes. Save liquid. Mix together tomatoes and reserved liquid, onion, green beans, okra, green pepper, lemon juice, and herbs. Cover and bake at 325 degrees F for 15 minutes.

2. Mix in zucchini and eggplant and continue baking, covered, 60-70 more minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir occasionally.

3. Sprinkle top with parmesan cheese just before serving.

Yield: 18 servings--Serving Size: 1/2 cup

Tuesday's Tip

Recovering from a "bad" weekend.

Do you ever have trouble getting back on track after a weekend of gluttony not so healthy eating and laziness lack of activity? Yeah, me too. But honestly, the answer to how to restart your healthy food and exercise routine is simple.

JUST. DO. IT.

Jump right back into your routine as though nothing happened. Don't fret about the past. You can't change it. What you CAN change is what you are doing RIGHT NOW. Sitting at computer? Get out and walk. No, seriously, do it! I know y'all enjoyed the Independence Day weekend... ;)