Kathy Week 61: Naughty Girl

It's been a tough week. I only got out once to exercise because we've had record lows and snow, I've been feeling under the weather, and my plate just got too full. Oh, and did I mention that every time I go to the store lately those cute little Girl Scouts accost me with their cookies? Sigh.

Anyway, the one time I did get out to exercise was great. Mark and I spent President's Day with family, and the grandkids went with me for my run!

We went for a 2-mile jog at the local high school track. Seth and Katie (she's not pictured) rode their bikes, and little Becca even got in the action with her stroller on part of a lap.

Then, later in the week, we had a snow day back at home (we are major snow wimps in the Portland area) and since then we've had record cold weather, and I just can't seem to make myself get outside and exercise.

I'm just being such a whiner, I know, but I am so ready for warmer weather and good times outdoors.

Remember my little hyacinth I bought a couple of weeks ago? Well it bloomed this week, and guess what--the hyacinth aroma made Mark's allergies act up, which aggravated his sinus infection. I had to agree with him--that really was one pungent little plant. I relegated it to the back porch, but even then its fragrance was pretty aggravating, so now it's banished outdoors, where it's suffering in the 20 degree weather. Poor little flowers!

Anyway, between the lack of exercise, the car trip, and the Girl Scout cookies (all right, I confess to a couple of milkshakes, too) I am back up to 135 pounds today. Not the end of the world--a gain of 1 pound--but surely the wrong direction to be headed.

This week I'm going to concentrate on feeling better and getting out for some exercise...if I don't feel up to a run, then at least I need to get outdoors and walk.

O Remember, Remember

Kathy Week 60: Orange-Sesame Chicken

Just hangin' out here at the ole weight-loss plateau:
Still jogging 2 miles, 3x/week
Still 134 pounds...
(But that's good! Last week I had a one-day spike to 136, so at least I didn't stay at that weight!)

I tried a delicious recipe this week from Prevention magazine's "Active Calorie" recipe file:

Speaking of recipes...don't forget The Skinny Recipe Index on the left side of the blog. 
I check it often when I'm trying to figure out what to fix for dinner.

Orange-Sesame Chicken

Work time: 30 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:
2/3 c short-grain brown rice
3/4 c orange juice
1/4 c cider vinegar
2 Tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp sesame oil (I substituted canola oil)
1 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp minced fresh ginger
1 tsp red-pepper flakes
4 ribs celery, thinly sliced
4 carrots, thinly sliced
2 c frozen peas, thawed (I substituted frozen/thawed green beans)
2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds (I substituted sliced almonds and pumpkin seeds)

Directions:
1. Prepare rice per package directions.
2. Combine orange juice, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and cornstarch in small bowl while rice cooks and whisk until smooth.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken, garlic, ginger, and red-pepper flakes. Cook until chicken begins to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to plate.
4. Add celery, carrots, and remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Cook until celery begins to soften, 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Return chicken to pan and add peas. Reduce heat to low and add juice mixture. Cook 2 to 3 minutes longer, scraping up any browned bits on bottom of pan. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve immediately with the rice.

Nutrition Info:
(per serving) 532 cal, 45 g pro, 53 g carb, 8 g fiber, 14.5 g fat, 2 g sat fat, 625 mg sodium

Note:
This recipe has a nice "zing" -- not too hot, but if you're serving it to a family with young children, you might want to cut back on the ginger and red-pepper flakes.

Katie: Week 60

One, two, skip a few...

Current weight (Week 60): 136 pounds
Last week's weight (Week 57): 138 pounds
Total weight loss: 34 pounds

Sorry I've been a little MIA lately.  I don't even really have a great reason for it.  Anyway, I'm just going to keep this short and say this:

Hooray for Spring weather on its way!

The past couple of days have been beautiful weather here lately and it is so encouraging to be able to go on walks and spend time outside, even just playing on the playground.  And this means we can finally start running again!

Kathy Week 59: Uh oh...

Gahhh. Got on the scale this morning: 136.
Too much stress-related eating this week, not enough logging food choices on myfitnesspal.com

I want spring!
I want sunshine and warm afternoons!

Today at the grocery store I bought these hyacinth bulbs. I know they'll probably only bloom this one time since they were forced, but I couldn't help myself. Do you know this poem? I've loved it for years:

If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,

And from thy slender store two loaves alone to thee are left,

Sell one, and with the dole

Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.

Moslih Eddin Saadi
Gulistan (Garden of Roses)

Ok, so I'm certainly not bereft of my mortal goods, but I decided it was ok to spend $2.99 on some hyacinths to feed my soul. I'm excited for them to bloom sometime this week! I love the idea that we need beauty in our lives as well as the "necessities."

This week I'm trying out a couple of recipes from the "Active Calorie Diet" recipes at prevention.com. You can find a bunch of them here. I don't buy their claim that I don't need to count calories...I know how I tend to "fudge" (no pun intended) when I'm not tracking myself...but I am intrigued by the idea of eating higher quality foods for the calories that I'm "spending."

I also found out yesterday that I won't be able to go on the 5K run I signed up for in April. Boo hoo. We'll be out of town that weekend, it turns out. So I'm going back to the Runner's World racefinder to check out other races in my area. I'm still running 2 miles 3x per week, and my knees are holding up ok so far! Yay!

In the middle of a crazy-busy week, I had this happy news, and I posted photos here.

Happy Valentines Day this week, dear Skinnies! Spring is coming...I just know it is...

Continue in Patience

Kathy 58: River Run

If you missed Alex's post about her darling new baby, be sure to check it out here! Congratulations, Alex!

I went to mapmyrun.com this morning, to check the distance of one of my favorite walking paths.

It is exactly 1 mile from the trailhead to the other end of the path, at a pedestrian bridge over the Clackamas River. When I mentioned this to Mark, he said, "Oh, that doesn't seem so far," and he agreed to go with me on my morning run today.

This week I ran 2 miles on the track on Monday and Wednesday after work. This morning I was ready for a little scenic variety!

 Here I am at one mile, just after I turned around at the other end of the bridge. 

It's overcast this morning, but we only had a few drips, not real rain.

 Heading up a slight incline. Just at the top of the hill, we saw one of our teacher friends from the high school. She gave me an "atta girl" as I chugged up the hill - it's so fun to have encouragement!

We stopped a few more times to catch our breath than I do when I'm out by myself, but I still had a great workout. It's so much better with a buddy! I was thrilled that Mark was finally over his cold and sinus infection, and that he felt like he could go out with me for a run.

Weight statistics this week: b-o-r-i-n-g...
Still 134...

I want to start adding some weight-lifting into my non-running days. I plan to do some squats and lunges to strengthen my leg muscles. I've been having a wee bit of knee discomfort at the 2-mile level, so I may drop back a bit on the distance for now, or break it up with some walking stretches.

Any other suggestions?

Have a great week Skinnies!

I lost 20 pounds this week!

Yes, it is true...I finally had my precious baby boy and came home from the hospital about 20 pounds lighter. And while I won't brag about him (sorry, he really is just perfect!) I will share a few details of his birth. No, not the gross kind- you can keep reading :)

I had to be induced because our little Leo wasn't coming on his own and was getting pretty big. I am about 5'3 and semi-petite framed and wanted to have a vaginal birth and they were estimating his weight at about 9 lbs...he ended up being 9 lb 1 oz, 22 in long. Anywho, they started an IV and broke my water in the early morning; I labored all day and pushed for a little over an hour before he arrived, shortly before 9pm.

My doctor was concerned because he was a big baby that I wouldn't be able to push him out, however when all was said and done she commended my athleticism (knowing I am a runner and dancer) and said that it was probably the reason that I was able to do it. I have recovered really quickly too- sure I am tired, but who with a one-week-old isn't? My body has done really well and I was up and moving around almost immediately. I contribute this too to the fact that I was good and healthy and active before and during my pregnancy. So all in all I guess I just wanted to let all you Skinnies out there know that it is worth it- the exercise, the sweat, the healthy eating...it is worth it! Because when your body has to go through something traumatic, such as birth, it does so much better if you are in good shape!

Now I am counting down the days until my doctor gives me the go-ahead to start exercising again (not to mention until it gets warm enough to take my boy out!) I truly miss it and have never been more grateful for a healthy body than now. Sometimes our motivation comes out of wanting to look a certain way, which I understand and fall victim to as well, but try really hard this week to focus on making yourself feel good and healthy...no matter what size you are or what you look like!