Crazy Weekend & Food Poisoning

Ugh.

Food poisoning. Need I say more? I went wine tasting and such with my mother on Saturday. We had some fabulous wine and it was beautiful. And then she wanted to go this little earthy-crunchy, wierdass tea place. Pretty much I don't think they believe in washing anything...especially their hands. I had a tomato basil mozzarella sandwich and some soup and a delicious chai iced tea... twenty minutes into eating, I was in the bathroom.

Here's me, happy as a clam with my iced tea. Even the meal looked good...

But it wasn't. It made me SICK. And my mom got sick too. It was BAD. I felt like crap all weekend. UGH.

Even so, I needed to get things done. I made some healthy pasta bake from my own recipe!

Chicken Sausage Pasta Bake

Submitted by: KATEBRN

No preboiling noodles! No preboiling noodles!

Minutes to Prepare: 10

Minutes to Cook: 40

Number of Servings: 9

Ingredients

1 lb Dreamfields rotini or penne or other high fiber pasta
28 oz can Tuttorosso crushed tomatoes w/ Basil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 package chicken sausage (I used target brand spinach and garlic!)
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 cup Grated parmesean, divided
 

Directions

1) Preheat oven to 425. Place 1 lb dry pasta in a 9 x 13 pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

2) Pour Tuttorosso over pasta then fill can 3/4 full with water and also pour over.

3) Add garlic, 1/4 cup grated parm and any other spices to the 9 x 13 pan and stir in the pan.

4) Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30-35 minutes.

5) Take off foil, put on 1 cup of the mozzarella and the remaining 1/4 parmesan over the top. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until cheese is bubbly.

6) Enjoy! (This reheats REALLY well!)

Serving Size: Makes 9 Servings
 

Also for those of you who requested it, pictures of my yummy sausage stuffed zucchini boats!

 

 

 

I feel better now...definitely dehydrated. I've been sucking down the water like crazy. I need to relax!! Have a good Monday ya'll!

Two posts in one day!? Lucky you! Revisiting 30 before 30

When I first started this journey, I wrote a 30 before 30 list on July 30, 2011. A list of things I want to accomplish before I turn 30! I decided today as I was waiting for my mom to get ready for the day...I swear she takes hours to get ready...to evaluate where I am!

1) Be able to go shopping and fit into “normal sized” clothes. - Getting there! Wearing a size Medium in Old Navy Tank tops. Still wearing about a size 18/20 up to 22 depending on the store.

2) Hike up Talcott Mountain in CT - Need to do this! This is my summer!

3) Get my APRN (nurse practitioner certification) - Not yet ready to start this.

4) Completely redo my 70s bathroom - I am actively saving for this! Got an estimate and I'm looking at about 5-8,000 to gut and redo the bathroom! However I have a heat pump from the 70s and if that goes first, it's getting fixed first.

5) Get a tattoo -Not yet! I'm waiting for goal weight.

6) Learn to Grill

7) Visit Canada! Road trip anyone?

8) Participate in a triathalon - IN TRAINING!

9) Buy a car with 4WD – being a homecare nurse out in blizzards without 4wd stinks!

10) Be able to do real pushups!

11) Learn to dance –without causing major injuries to everyone in my general area

12) Master the Spanish Language

13) Go to Mexico and Spain!

14) Go on a goodwill trip with Doctors without Borders or another similar agency!

15) Be part of a live studio audience –at the Talk? The View? Jerry Springer? Looks fun!

16) Get married and have kid(s)

17) Start acting again! Audition for plays! - Would love to do this. Maybe this year?

18) Buy stock in Frank’s Hotsauce – I eat enough of it to drive shares up I’m sure.

19) TMI - get a bikini wax? I’m scared.

20) Skydive! - EEP!?

21) Visit Hawaii

22) When I reach my goal weight, have a sexy photo shoot. Lingerie anyone?

23) Go on a whale watch

24) Run…not a 25k or a 5k…just be able to run. The rest will fall into place

25) Pay off all my student loans

26) Get myself something designer! Jeans, dress, something flashy when I reach goal

27) See the Aurora Borealis

28) Karaoke in public…never done it before. Hopefully I can muster my strength! Tequila anyone?

29) Make a difference in one person’s life. - Maybe I have?

30) Become a success story!

I DID IT!!!!!

I did it!

I finished the C25K program! Nine weeks of running and exercising and I FEEL AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! Holy crap...I have fulfilled a LIFETIME goal of mine which is to run. I never though I could do it. I never thought I would be "thin" enough to run. But during this process I've learned, you don't have to be thin to run. You have to be FIT! And during my journey to run 5K, I have increased my fitness level exponentially! WOO!

I was so proud of myself for completing this program, I can't even tell you. I was celebrating in the car with my mom and we got a nice cup of coffee to go along with it! They we had a healthy homemade breakfast of egg whites, a little bit of sausage and onion. Yum!!! I am SO proud. Look at my smiley face post-breakfast/post-shower!!!

Woot! Happy Face!

Today I'm spending time with my family. We have big plans to go to two vineyards and sample some wine, take a nice long walk, get some lunch at a local tea room. It's going to be amazing! I can't wait!!!! YAY!

I'm going to start consistently running 5K twice a week now until my big race. Then it's on to 5 to 10K...I CAN DO THIS! Maybe someday 21 or 40K are in my future... who'da thunk it. Me? A marathoner? Ohhh baby...that's scary! But who knows? It could happen!

W9D2 and My Near Death Experience

Hello,

Today I went out for my run and I thought, you know what? I'm going to change things up today! La la la, little blonde girl goes running and decides, HEY! THERE'S A BUSY STREET! LET'S GO RUN ON IT! I thought there was a sidewalk. Turns out, there was. But this is the busiest street in my town and directly off the highway. AND the sidewalk is on the OTHER side of the street. There are no crosswalks or anything so I just started running. AS FAST AS I COULD to try and get back to my street. Holy crap. I was SPRINTING straight uphill as huge tractor trailers and SUVs and cars and motorcycles went by. Holy Crap.

I was sooo proud when I got home. Then I realized my GPS crapped out a couple times so it looked like I ran LESS than usual. Which didn't make me happy. A few times the GPS has me standing still and believe me, I was not standing still! I felt like I was in the damn Olympics when I was running up this GIANT hill as cars are coming at me and I'm running on people's grass.

So after nearly dying, I called my mom and talked to her about it. And relaxed while drinking a huge glass of water. Then I hopped in the shower and afterwards made myself an awesome healthy breakfast! I did 1/2 cup egg beaters (which is equal to 2 eggs), 1oz of cheddar cheese and a mini bagel. And more water! It was awesome!!!! SO YUMMY!

It's Tax Free week in CT so I did a lot of shopping. I got some clothing for running and especially now that it's getting cooler (which I LOVE!). I also bought the Hunger Games DVD, I have a $3 off coupon on Kcup packs so I bought those (they were also on sale), and LOTS of healthy food! Tonight I am planning on making some stuffed zucchini boats for dinner with some fresh zucchini and squash I got at the farm on Sunday! I am working on making healthy dinners!

Last night I had a GREAT dinner and I used up a ton of stuff in my fridge and pantry. Soft tacos, yay!

Plans for the day include writing a letter to a friend who just started bootcamp, dishes, laundry, and relaxing! YAY! Also I weighed in this morning...not really happy with the number, 266.9. It could be worse. But I'm working on making it a whole lot better!

Hope everyone has a fantastic Wednesday!

W9D1... Struggling with motivation...

Hi everyone!

It's been over a week since I've written...and honestly, things in the weight loss department are not good. Maybe its because the period-monster has had me in her clutches all week but I've been constantly eating poorly and feeling like doing nothing. This Wednesday (the day I usually run) there was a huuuge thunderstorm. And thunder/lightning is the only weather I will not run in. It's just not safe! I do not have a treadmill or anything (when my work office moves to the new building which is SUPPOSED to happen this month, there is a gym but...not yet) so running was impossible. The weather in CT has been all around nasty lately...humid, hot, stormy.

Much to my delight this morning, it was a delicious 54 degrees and COOL! WOOO! What a GORGEOUS morning!! Even though I was up late last night hosting a Hunger Games/Taco Party (healthy tacos made w/ turkey, whole grain shells/wraps, light sour cream, and plenty of veggies! Score on that one!)  I got my butt up and went at 7am! It was sooo nice to run in good weather. I actually kind of enjoyed it... But seriously, it was a great run. My overall pace was 15:35 min/mile which is a pretty good pace! I had some parts where I ran faster and other times slower. If I could keep this pace and push it at bit, I could finish my October 5K in 45 minues which...would be amazing to me!!!

Overall, though, I haven't been eating well. I found myself getting into a habit of eating well all day, drinking my water...then bingeing at night. I am not even bingeing on unhealthy things! I find myself finishing off 2 bell peppers with half a container of hummus, or eating an extra serving of Quinoa Basil Cakes that I made from a pinterest recipe. WTF. And a couple times I went out to eat with friends...it just isn't working out for me. I can feel my clothes are getting snug again and I DO NOT LIKE IT!

I am back on the wagon...I just need to find my center and my motivation again. I CAN DO THIS. I WILL DO THIS. I just need to convince myself of that...I need to take it one day at a time!

Happy Sunday ya'll and enjoy my sweaty mug post-run!

W8D3 Weekend Warrior

What a freaking crazy week!!! I have been running nonstop it seems. On Tuesday evening I took my mom out for her birthday. I took her to the casino for an overnight fun girls only vacation! We had a great time! I won $45.37...but then I spent it on our dinner, so actually it worked out well. I didn't end up spending any money at the casino! WOO! I booked our hotel room with credit card reward points too so that wasn't any money out of pocket for me. I'm frugal if nothing else!!!

So after our awesome night, we drove home Wednesday and I've been doing some megacleaning. Everything needs to be in tip-top shape. But on that day, we got up late and I ended up not running. I was exhausted...which made it even harder to get up today and go! I REALLY struggled with this run. It's SUPER hot and humid...it was horrible. I had to struggle for every breath!

But I had an awesome pace of 15:14/mile and ran 1.84 miles straight! 2.35 miles incuding the warmup/cooldown. So that's not too shabby. When I was running I felt like death though! Especially because I was at the track and it was boring. I have found that I like running on the road because there's fun and interesting stuff to see. It's notjust running in circles... bleh. And I found today that running on the track you encounter more people...special, rude people. Like the woman who was talking on her bluetooth while walking? I thought she was talking to me as I ran by (she was talking about the weather) and I was said "Woof yeah it's hot!". Well she looked at me like I kicked her in the ass instead of adding to a conversation I thought we were having...

Then I felt like I was being judged by her so I hurried my pace. But of course, running in a circle I came across her again but ignored her. Oh well! It takes all types. And hey, she could be sitting on her ass talking on the phone. At least she was out walking while doing it, right?

Anyway, it was my father's birthday on Monday and my brother's birthday on Friday (yes there are a ton of summer birthdays!) so we went out to dinner last night. Eating this week...not that good. And I can definitely feel it. I'm bloated and feel like crap. Which could also have to do in part to Aunt Flow's impending visit!! But still, I need to get back on track. I have healthy food, I just need to make good choices!

So...I talked about some big news my last post. And I'm still working through it...deciding what I should do about everything! And p.s. I'm not pregnant, so don't worry about that! ;) I'm leaving you today with one of my ABSOLUTE favorite things in the world. And it has gotten me through so many things...because it makes me laugh hysterically every time I see it.

HOLY COW C25K W8D2

HOLY COW IS RIGHT.

Seriously, today was probably the worst run of my life. I was at a bonfire last night and I stayed up late. Then when I finally got home and undressed and into bed, it was nearly midnight. The next thing I knew, my alarm was going off and I was exhausted. I hit snooze...I NEVER hit snooze. I've never done it before in my life. But then I was like, I don't want to hear my alarm again...so I got up. It was a struggle getting my butt moving. And I kept second guessing myself. I was like "Hey you could always run tomorrow". Or "hey your 5K isn't until October, you don't have to do this today". But I told my brain to SHUT UP!

However...I did have to stop during my warm up.

Because I saw two random ass cows hanging out in the woods on my street. I do not live in a rural neighborhood. I live in a very active community because there are over 100 condos AND a hotel on my street. It's quiet but it's not rural, if that makes sense. I'm so sorry for the picture quality. There were so many brushes and weeds and it was hard to get a picture of them through the trees. You can't even see the second cow here. He was laying down.

Holy COW. Behind that cow is a large fence and then behind that fence is I-91... so I was not expecting to see any cows. They also were not fenced in and they didn't seem to have any tags. I wonder if they were part of a rogue gang of street cows...

Anyway... back to my run. I struggled HARD through this run today. I also changed my course a little bit. Which actually made me run up an even BIGGER hill at the end. Straight uphill there and it was BRUTAL. By the end of my run I was so out of breath I felt like I was going to puke...so I pulled the pace back a bit. My overall pace was 16:15/min per mile.And I ran  1.73 miles without stopping...2.21 miles today w/ warmup and cooldown. That is not too shabby! And it would have been more but at the end of my run I literally stopped to smell some flowers. Which smelled nasty...and now I'm sneezing. Hmph.

After my run I decided to reward myself with a cup of iced coffee. I have been making it at home so I was like, you go girl! Saving money, living healthier...but after my run I got into the car and blasted the AC (SO NICE) and went to my little Dukin Donuts. THEY WERE CLOSED. The sign was stripped off...I am not sure if they went out of bussiness or are getting an overhaul. But then I was like BUT I WANT COFFEE! And I was already out! So I ended up driving to the next closest one (which isn't close at all, damnit) and at least my coffee is good...and they were friendly. But I defeinitely didn't want to go that far out of my way. Bleh.

Tonight I'm going to see Twelfth Night with some friends of mine from college! It is going to be so fun. They do this outdoor Shakespearean theatre at our alma mater and it's always amazing. Now I just have to pray it doesn't rain (if it does they just do the performance inside). More exciting news to come bloggy peeps...I may have some life changing news soon ;) I'll keep you posted.

Enjoy a picture of my sweaty ass self! Happy Saturday!

Weigh in Wednesday + C25K W8D1

WEEK EIGHT! OF A NINE WEEK PROGRAM!? I am actually going to accomplish one of my lifelong goals, WOO! I have always wanted to run...but for one reason or anothing, I told myself I couldn't. There was NO way a fatty like me could ever run. People would stare or make fun of me or I'd fail! So I talked myself out of it...but not anymore! Today I ran for 28 minutes STRAIGHT! YES! STRAIGHT! No stopping, no falling down dead, I even waved to some people that I've seen out and about exercising in the morning! There's this older couple I always see out and a man with two TINY dogs (he makes me laugh because the guy must be 6 foot 4 at least and he has these teeny tiny little dogs, one is a dauchshaund and the other I think is a bichon mix).

In any event, I got up at 6:45 and headed out. It was already at 91% humidity but the temperature was low. And as I was running up that huuge hill at the end of my run, suddenly there was the most gorgeous breeze! When i run I don't listen to music, as I've said before, because I can't hear the traffic and I get irrationally afraid of murderers, rapists and abductors. It happens...it happens in quiet neighborhoods early in the morning with hundreds of people in their houses. So I don't take any chances! I also give a wide berth to parked cars... I'm not paranoid I swear.

It was not my best run today, my knee was hurting I think because its going to storm. But I kept a very even pace, 16:09/mile which is not too shabby! I also noticed that today during my run my pace was a lot more even, whereas my last run I had some really fast times and then really slow (I run the same course each time so I can monitor these things, plus I love the big hills). I ran a total of 1.73 miles and my total distance with my warm up/cool down was 2.28 miles. WOW! That is SO CLOSE to 3.1! I am doing awesome!

Happy picture before I take a much needed shower!

I also weighed in today... 266.7, same as Saturday. However yesterday I had a little slip. I was working and as some of you know I travel for work. I was STARVING and had a break (which is rare) so I tried to go to Subway. They were CLOSED! What the hell! It said they were open but the doors were locked and nobody was around...so I made a bad choice and I went to Taco Bell. Sigh. It's been so long since I went there and I just felt like some cheap food. And that sort of spiraled the rest of my day. I didn't do that bad. I made a DELICIOUS recipe from Gina's Skinny Taste...and oh god it was yummy. And it kept SO WELL in the fridge. Check it out here! I followed the recipe exactly too! I used Al Fresco Italian chicken sausages because I had a package in my freezer FOREVER. And today when I went to target I got their brand and I'm hoping it's just as good because I'm making this dish again this week! It is a SUPER healthy, easy, packed with veg and yumminess dish!

I hope everyone has an amazing Wednesday! Enjoy!