New Running Shoes

I got a new pair of running shoes last week. We were able to go by Run Tex while out in Texas.

They did a whole analysis test on me. They measured my feet……had me walk & run……to analyze my gait, foot pattern……and a lot of other things that I’ve never heard before. Then they had me run in every shoe. They had half of the store dedicated to track space. All that is free……they want you to have the best shoe for you. It was really cool. My feet are an entire size & a half different. Who knew?! That’s why I wear shoes from a size 8-91/2!! LOL……I don’t think I’ve had my feet measured since I was a kid.

1st Veggie Christmas

I must admit, I was weary of what I would be dining on for Christmas. Thankfully, it was pretty easy. I just avoided the main meaty dishes & made a separate pan of stuffing for me.

Although, I did make a ham for our family gathering. It looked divine!!

Recipe: Vegetarian Refried Beans

Anne, Thanks for this recipe!! I will try this ASAP!!
Elizabeth, thanks for sharing that El Paso© makes a vegetarian alternative!!

Ask & you shall receive!!!

Ingredients

1 (32-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cups water
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
I small onion, diced
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 tablespoon cumin

Directions

Puree 1 cans of black beans in 1 cups water in food processor. Sauté the onions in oil over medium heat, with the salt and cumin until golden, about 10 minutes. Add the beans and continue cooking over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the liquid evaporates and the beans form a creamy mass that pulls away from the bottom and sides of the pan, about 15 minutes.

Foggy Bottoms

It has been raining forever!!! Ok, not forever… but it feels like it. I can’t remember the last day without rain, sleet, or fog.Yesterday, the rain let up for a few minutes for Debi & I to run. We were none-too-happy about the fog, cold, wind and the “mountain-ness hill” that was on our route.

Here’s our “pre-run sour-puss” faces. As negative as we were, the photo still turned out terribly cute!!

Feliz Navidad

Today, we had our office Christmas meal. We did a Mexican theme…….because most of us get plenty of the traditional holiday fare with our families. I brought a 7 layered dip. I got tons of compliments. Unfortunately, I used traditional refried beans. So, I was not able to taste the masterful creation.

I must admit. It was hard to give up refried beans (ie. they contain lard). I don’t know how to make vegetarian refried beans. So, if you have successfully mastered that……then, let me know!!!

In full hunger mode, I grabbed what I thought was a cheese enchilada…..only to discover it contained chicken. Thankfully, my husband was around to feed it to (with no complaints). I did have a whole wheat tortilla with lettuce, tomato, and queso. It was delicious.

Running with My Hubby

David & I ran together today. We did a faster pace than normal. It was pretty easy.....until we ran up a steep hill the last few minutes. I've really enjoyed being able to share time together running.

After the run, we stopped by Cafe 212. They have a delightful veggie sandwich, called the "Pleasantville Veggie Grill." It's a panini on sourdough with mushrooms, roasted peppers, sprouts, grilled onions, and oozing mozzarella. The fresh fruit cup with my meal topped it off perfectly. It was a nice reward after running 2.5 miles.

Runner's Toe

Only about 10 girlfriends read this blog. So, I'm sure ya'll won't mind me grossing you out a bit.













I officially have Runner's Toe.

Somehow, after taking a few years off of running. I forgot about how ugly toes become when you run. I have a deep rooted shoe fetish. I love my peep-toe shoes.....Gratefully, it's winter & I don't plan on wearing those anytime soon. I realize that I will probably lose my toe nail eventually. However, I will wear it as a badge of honor!! Every hardcore runner has had one, usually multiple. If I continue this running gig, pedicures will be in my future.

Good news.....not only did I run my quota today. I think I actually liked it. I might change my mind next week (when I have to add a minute to each run for the next 5 weeks). I'll be running with David tomorrow. He actually ran backwards last weekend when we ran (SHOW-OFF)!! Then, he looped me. After a few laps, he finally fell into pace with me. It's nice to share time together like this. We have NEVER worked out together. Maybe we'll be that old couple doing races together. I mentioned to him a Valentine's 5k couples race. I'm hoping to do a 5k in January (at my current speed). After that, I'll have a month to bump up my speed for racing with David.

Office Thanksgiving

Today, my office is having a Thanksgiving lunch. I normally try to contribute a healthy addition to the menu. However, I’m usually left with a ton of salad or fruit…..which is impossible for me to consume alone before it expires.
So, this time…….I opted to just not contribute & brownbag it. I thought a heartier meal would be appropriate.

So, today’s Amy’s © meal includes:
Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, and green beans………Yumm!!

For everyone that thinks being a vegetarian = missing out. You are sooooo wrong. I have not wanted for anything. Plus, I never get that ……..”Oh man, I ate too much…..I feel gross” feeling.

Somehow, I still need to get my running in.

Today’s running agenda:
Run 6min/1min recovery x4,
Run 2 min

Another feat, completed!!

We just finished our run!! We ran 24 minutes today (Run 4min/recover 1 min....6x).
I'm really excited about how fast we're going through the steps.
I want to say a special thanks to Debi for being an AWESOME running partner. I couldn't have done it on my own!!

A Winner - Enchilada Pie

Since I began running, I've wanted a little heavier meals. So,I tried a new microwave meal out from Cedarlane©. (I'm thankful to Cedarlane© & Amy's© for making delicious veggie meals-on-the-go).

I know this looks gross, but it is one of the best meals I've had in a long time. I might even try to duplicate this on my own. Plus, it's easy for me to heat-up & eat at the office.

Cedarlane© Three Layer Enchilada Pie-****

Woo-hoo!!!

I had 2 things against me today.
1. My running partner was not here.
2. It was raining.

I went home at lunch to walk my dog, Jack. He was cooped up all day b/c of the rain. After struggling to not fall (again b/c of the rain )while walking him, I decided the treadmill would have to suffice for my run.

So, I laced up & hit my rolling stride. I set my incline to 1.5 to give it more than a flat run. I remembered that I needed to run 3 minutes, walk 1 minute. However, I couldn't remember how many repetitions. So, I just ran 10 repetitions like Monday. However, when I got back to the office. I discovered that I did a tad more than necessary. I was only supposed to run 7x.

I ran 30 minutes today!!!I didn't need more than a minute for recovery each time.
The last run, I even pushed the incline up to 4, and increased my speed by a 1mph just to push everything I had left in me out.

I will admit, the treadmill is much easier than street running. My pace was even, my eyes were focused on a distant tree outside the bedroom window. The treadmill kept up with the time...so, I wasn't glancing down at a watch. That was WAY too easy!!

I can't believe I just rocked that out!!

After the run

Here we (Debbie & I) are.....glad to make it through one of our runs last week.

Lacing Up

So, I started yet another avenue on a healthier lifestyle.

During my lunch break, I began an 8 week program to running for 30 minutes. I’ve never been a big runner. The last few years of college, I ran simply because I didn’t have the time to walk. The longest race I ever did was a 5k. I was not built a runner. I do not look like a runner. Point of fact, I hate to run……yep, I can admit it.

Unfortunately, a bad accident right out of school & a surgery last year made a heavy exercise routine impossible. Now that I have recouped from those ailments & have a healthy diet established; I’m on to the next step. We don’t have the disposable income to pay for a gym membership. So, running is the most logical option for me.

I’m not sure I can work myself up to running this quickly, but I’m going to try my very best to stick with this. I have a running partner in place. I dug my running shoes out of the closet. I even replaced the battery in my mp3 player.

It’s time to lace up!!

Pay more for no meat?!

We dined at Cowbells in Starkville last night for dinner. It was the first time that I paid more for a restaurant to leave meat off my entree....a whopping $2 more.

I will note that almost every menu item had a vegetarian substitute/or an option to leave off the meaty ingredients.
So, 2 points for that...

..... but a minus 5 points for making me pay more for my veggie meal.

Shopping

Whole Foods© is my newest obsession. (I hit up Tuscaloosa & Memphis when I can). In Tupelo, I'm restricted to our large chain grocery stores, Walmart©, and a small health food store(sans fresh produce).

Anyone want to start one with me?!

A Lite Brunch

IHOP© now has a nice vegetarian friendly breakfast (only for lacto-ovo's...not vegans). It includes two harvest grain pancakes with blueberries, served with sliced bananas & a side of eggs. I didn't even miss the syrup. I give it a two-thumbs up!!

For me, the best part of being a vegetarian is the health factor. Most of the fatty/"bad-for-you" items on the menu are easily tossed aside.

Vegan Spaghetti

I've been trying to pre-make dinners for David to take with him for part of the week.

This week's menu: Vegan Spaghetti
Barilla© - Whole Grain Rotini
Classico© - Tomato & Basil Sauce
Gimme Lean© - Hamburger Style
Fresh onion, garlic, basil
(We normally put mushrooms, olives, bell peppers, jalapenos...and anything else fresh from the garden. However, we didn't have much in the fridge..b/c I have been out of town).
I also sent him away this morning with some Naan, that I picked up this weekend at Whole Foods.

I normally send him with meatier concoctions. However, he's found all the foods (and meat substitutes) to his liking.

So, here's to us both living long & healthy lives!

Wanna know about Vegan MoFo. Find out more here!

Dining as a Houseguest..... is delightful

This past weekend,I had a lovely visit to an old schoolmate of mine, Anne. Aware of my new diet restrictions, she fabulously entertained me with a variety of veggie fare.
Thursday night, she made a fabulous bean soup....that I must twist her arm to get the recipe.
Friday, we perused "Whole Foods" and dined on a wonderful selection of cheeses and homemade veggie calzones. Her husband is the resident breadmaker, he lavished me with his newest homemade bread and whipped up the calzone dough without any effort. I might also add, that she grows many of her own spices and vegetables. (This is a girl after my own heart!!)
Saturday, she took me to a wonderful little bistro, Zoe's, that served a delightful feta cheese pita.

I only mentioned the food, but the fellowship was just as wonderful. Thanks Anne!!

Vegetarian = Sacrilegious?!

Where I come from being a vegetarian is sacrilegious. I descend from a long line of hunters, cow & pig farmers, and the notion that if it has furr...it is edible. My grandfather grew up in the Great Depression, and he was adamant that we learn how to "survive.. if it came down to it." (I'll leave those stories for another post).

I spent the entire weekend with my grandparents. David was out of town at a conference. I knew that broaching the subject would be difficult. You see, food is the center of conversation and interaction down there. When I arrived, they had picked up a bucket of chicken for dinner. Thankfully, I grabbed a baked potato and ate behind a stack of papers on the table. Yep, I was "chicken".....and I didn't say a word about this new change.

So, for now......I'm still "in the closet" about being vegetarian to my grandparents.

Cheap Date- A quirp on veggie wraps

I have long since been a fan of the veggie wrap at "Sweet Peppers Deli". It was the goal meal, during my cleanse, that I mentally kept returning to.
Peppers has a fairly new deal where every time you get an entrée: You receive a free chips n’ rotel (after filling out an on-line survey,of course). So, David & I have exploited this marketing strategy.
I’ll order a veggie wrap & he claims the free chips n’ rotel……and we can eat for a total of $4.

Last Sunday, our supperclub met for "lunch" (ironic, I know) at McAlister’s Deli. I asked for the veggie sandwich in a wrap. While edible, it’s lacking. The tortilla wrap was dry and cardboard-like. However, the veggies were fresh & crisp. Thanks for trying McAlisters, but I think I’ll stick with Peppers.

Veggie Wrap-UP
1. Peppers- Veggie Wrap -****
2. McAllisters - Veggie Sandwich in a Wrap- ***
3. Southern Ice Cafe - Veggie Wrap- **1/2

Cheaper than McDonalds

I've found that I spend more money at the grocery store, but far less when going out to eat. It's always an easy choice to go with a side salad, foregoing all that fried chicken and loads of cheese that usually accompany large salads. I can go to a nice restaurant and spend around $4.00. [It helps that I've been off of caffeine and sodas for 5-6 weeks now]. At the end of the meal, I'm completely satisfied....and not left feeling bloated and gross.

My favorite side salads thus far:
$3.99 Fairpark Grill's wedge salad
This salad always has a fresh slices of lettuce. The size of this salad rivals anything else on the menu. The fresh blue cheese dressing and crumbles give it a tangy twist on a traditional salad.

$4.29 Outback's wedge salad
This veggie delight has a touch a sweet vingrette drizzled over the very aged blue cheese. The combination left me intrigued....and in need of a breathmint.

Least favorite:
$3.00± Chili's side house salad
Buyers Beware: I could barely find any lettuce under the croutons and cheese. So, if you're looking for a healthy choice.... BYOS (bring your own salad)!!

Starting this New Venture

I've officially been a vegetarian for 3 weeks now. The two previous weeks, I spent on a cleanse. After which, I decided....I never again wanted meat in my stomach that would stay there decaying for years on end.

Enough, grossness.....I've made the jump to the big V. Now what? I intend on journaling my experiences with food, pressures of our carnivoric society, and cravings.

Wish me luck!!