Breakfast for dinner and my first day of "non-religious" lent

Hey guys!  I had a great day today.  Today is my first official day of "non-religious lent" as I call it, and it has been a success!  I know, I know...it's only day one, but I am still optimistic.  As part of my internal cleansing I have started using the dry sauna at the gym after my workouts as a way to sweat out my toxins and clear out my skin and it feels great...why haven't I used this before!?  Well, today after class I went to the gym and did my workout and then sat in the sauna for 15 minutes.  I felt so good and clean afterwards, I think I will do it every day after I work out.  I never knew how good I could feel after just sitting and sweating and stretching, it was great! 

I injured  my knee yesterday when I was doing squats and was not able to run today.  I swear I am falling apart!  Two weeks ago, I re-sprained my right ankle, hurt my left foot (all on the same run) and then yesterday I hurt my left knee!  What the hell!?  Oh well, I am going to take about a week off from running and just cross train until my knee feels better...as hard as it is to not run I need to listen to my body.

Today after my workout I went to this awesome little cafe with a friend of mine from my biology class and we sat and studied for about three and a half hours.  I got a lot accomplished!  I got some of my homework done and got a good start on my research project!  Woohoo!

When I came home I was itching to do something other than sit on my butt so I made an awesome dinner for Tim and myself.  I made him blueberry pancakes with apple smoked bacon and hashbrowns.  I made myself two little mini-blueberry pancakes and a boca burger patty, which tasted like cardboard but I needed to protein so I just ate it anyways.  Oh, and I had a glass of wine with dinner, and a cup of Cascade Fresh lemon yogurt for desert. This is the finished product minus about 3 pieces of bacon that Tim couldn't wait to eat. There's Tim..."Can you please take the picture so I can eat my tasty dinner!?" hehe There's my dinner...it doesn't look as good as Tim's did, but it was still tasty and I enjoyed it. :) There's Spike wondering where his dinner is. I swear he thinks he is a dog because he will sit at our feet at the dinner table or in the living room if we are eating in front of the tv, and beg for a bite of whatever we are eating. He will try everything too. One time I gave him spicy salsa that was almost too hot for me, and he loved it...boy did that one backfire. Here's Princess Molly sitting at the dinner table waiting for her dinner. Tim got up for a few minute to go get something and she was right up in his chair waiting to be served. Our cats have the best personalities. Hope you enjoyed the pictures of my tasty dinner! There will be more to come next week. I work a crazy schedule this weekend so I don't know if I will have time to blog with all of the homework I will be catching up on. Catch up with you all soon! D

Giving up something for Lent

In my search for answers, self improvement, growth, and cleansing...I have decided to give up something for lent. Now, I am loosely starting this today, and am going to be preparing myself (since I only decided to do this on a whim this morning) all day today for my next 40 days. This will be no easy task, giving up something completely for an extended period of time never is, but I am up for the challenge! I need this, and can do this!
I have been doing some research this morning to find out exactly what lent is and if you can do it if you are not catholic. I am spiritual, but not religious. I read that lent simply means "the spring season", and since I am trying to do some spring cleaning of my own (mentally and spiritually), I think that this is going to be a fun challenge! I found this when I was researching lent this morning and it really motivated me "Lent is a time for soul-searching, facing great challenges and overcoming mistakes." I am really in need of some soul-searching, so what a great way to get focused!
I also thought this was interesting (not news to any of you, but since I didn't really know what lent was, I found this helpful) "Give up something you love for the 40-day period, symbolizing the Lenten season's return to simplicity and purity. It doesn't matter what you give up - cigarettes, chocolate, television, surfing the Internet - as long as the meaning of its absence holds significant value to you."
So, what am I going to be giving up....I'm sure you are just dying to know! I'm going to give up sugary junk foods, basically anything that contains refined sugars, like cookies, candy, cake, etc. I have been trying to find a way to motivate myself to really stay away from this crap for a while as a way to cleanse my body...and here is my motivation!! I think this is great too because now I will have to find more creative ways to make healthy yet satisfying snacks when I am feeling that urge to have something sweet.
I just have a little bit of trail mix in my car that has white chocolate chips in it that I will finish today because I don't want to waste food, and then it's on! So, who's with me on giving up something for lent!?
Email me on my facebook , or post a comment and let me know. It would be fun to have other people to do this with and check in with..kind of like a support system. Of course, you don't have to give up the same thing that I am, but it's more about the self control facing the challenge.
I will keep you all posted and let you know how I am doing! Oh man, I spent too much time doing this and now I am going to be late for school! Bye guys!

My quest for new and delicious teas!

Well, today has been a rather productive and happy day for me. School, and other things have been kicking my ass lately and I finally have some time to catch up on my blog. I didn't make my egg white omelet today, so no pics...sorry. Like I said, I have been rather busy.
School today was good and for the first time in a while, I had energy when I woke up and was actually able to focus during class. I found this amazing tea the other day (okay, it was never really lost, I had just never heard of it)! My friend makes it and had recommended that I try some and if I liked it, she was going to bottle some up for me. It's called Synergy Kombucha, and is sold in bottles, not tea bags. Synergy is the brand and kombucha is the type of tea, which she makes, and it is so good! I found it at Marlene's (for those of you who don't live over here, Marlene's is a natural food store). This stuff is kind of expensive, so I might see if my friend can show me how to make it, it's so good for you and is so damn tasty! Here is a pic of the two flavors that I have tried so far, Trilogy and Cosmic Cranberry....so yummy!

I was also looking for some new tea to add to my collection since I have been on a tea kick lately. I did a toxin report for my biology class on formaldehyde, and am also working on a research project on sucralose and aspartame. After the extremely disturbing things that I have learned thus far about man-made artificlial sweeteners, I have completely sworn off diet soda and anything labeled "sugar free". I work so hard on a daily basis to make sure that I am putting clean whole foods into my body as well as exercising and staying fit....and then I go and drink a diet soda or use Sweet n' Low and cover all of that hard work up with man made chemicals that won't ever break down in my body and are basically poisoning me. What I have learned has been a total eye opener! So, instead of that afternoon or evening soda, I have been drinking tea. And, why not? I have a nice tea collection, and it's much healthier than diet soda....not to mention it tastes better and is really soothing on these cold days. There is nothing better than coming home from a cold run, taking a shower, and then sitting down in my jammies with my homework and a nice cup of hot tea! I recently went through and did an inventory on my teas just to see what I have, here's a pic of my little collection.



And, these are the teas that I picked up from a tea house in Beijing when I was in China. It was so awesome! This place was like the Costco of loose and bagged teas. They had everything from the least expensive tea to the tea that cost thousands of yuan an ounce. When we went there, they took us into a little room in the back of the tea house and we got to sample as many teas as we wanted to. We just kept picking them out and the manager kept bringing them for us to try. I tell ya, we were a wired bunch when we left there. I ended up getting loose organic green tea, loose organic Pu'er tea (which is a black tea), and this tea called Flower tea that starts out as flowers and blooms when hot water is added. It was one of the more expensive teas but I couldn't resist, it tasted heavenly and looked beautiful in the big glass kettle.



This is what the flower tea looks like..



Okay, I digress....back to my mission for new tea. When I was at Marlene's on my tea mission, I knew I wanted to pick up some Yogi tea since I love that brand, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to get. Caffinated, decaf, detox, green...etc. There is just so much to choose from. I decided to get a new one that they have out called Ginko IQ.



It's supposed to help with cerebral functioning by refreshing brain cells with an abundance of blood and oxygen (and let's be honest here, I could really use some brain refreshing these days). Since I have a ridiculously hard time remembering things and focusing when I am in class lately I thought...what the hell, I'll try it. Well, I don't know if it's all in my head, or if this tea actually helps with brain function, but I have been brewing it up and taking it to school with me in the morning, and drinking it in the afternoons while doing my homework and I have been more alert than I was before. It has been easier for me to pay attention and keep focused in class, which is a great thing. Not that I'm not interested in my classes, but I just have such a hard time "waking up" and being alert in the mornings lately and it makes it hard for me to remember lectures. So, I'm going to keep drinking it and see if anything improves.
I do know that since I have stopped drinking diet soda and using artificial sweeteners, that I have been feeling better. I have been sleeping a little better and have had more energy. I know that these dangerous man made chemicals will never leave my body, but I am going to do what I can to keep them out of there from here on out. Plus, now that I am not drinking that crap anymore....it just gives me more opportunities to drink new and delicious tea! If you guys have any suggestions on any new teas that I should try, please leave a comment and let me know!
Oh, and before I head out and off to bed...Yogi is sending out free samples of some of their new teas. Mine are on the way and should be here in about 4 weeks! Just go to http://www.yogitea.com/Pages/FreeSamples.html.
Later!

Just checking in...

Hey guys.  To the few of you that read my blog, sorry that I have been absent.  I have been going through a lot of stuff lately, not to mention working wierd hours and having a lot homework, so I just haven't had time to dedicate to my blog.  I probably should make time, as it always makes me feel better.  I plan on updating tonight though.  I made an awesome eggwhite omlet for myself nad cheeseburgers with home made fries for Tim last night for dinner, and I was thinking that I should have taken pics so that I could share our dinners with you.  So, I will probably be making it again tonight and I will take pics and give you all an update on what's been going on with me.  

I will check back soon!  Off to school I go...

It was snowing yesterday, but I did it! (2/11/09)

Well, my goal was to beat the snow yesterday and get my run done before hand.  I was watching the news and it was snowing up north and hadn't come our way yet.....until I got out of my car and started running.  So, I got out for my run with an intention of doing about 6 miles and I ended up doing 8, which is my current long run distance.  It was snowing the whole time, which is a first for me.  I don't know if I enjoy running in the snow, it was cold and wet and a little uncomfortable.  I kind of attribute my being uncomfortable to trying to get back into my running routine, and I think that an 8 mile run in any weather would have been hard for me yesterday.  I am glad that I did it, but let me just say that I have discovered that I am NOT one of those runners that likes to run in any weather.  I don't care what anyone says, that does not make me less of a runner, it just makes me a cold weather wimp.  Hi, I'm Dayna, and I don't like running in the rain or snow.  There, I said it.  I did it yesterday, and will probably do it again...but like I said yesterday morning, WHERE ARE YOU SUMMER!?  Anyways, I am glad that I did my long run this week and got it out of the way.  I will be taking the day off from running today and just head to the gym to lift.  My knees and hips are a little sore and I rolled my ankle yesterday so I am going to go to the chiropractor and have him give me a little adjustment.  I haven't lifted in a while and am really looking forward to it, I just want to feel strong again. 

Well, I am off to school.  I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day!  I am in good spirits this morning and the sun is shining, which tells me that today will be a great day!!  

I think I have finally repaid my sleep debt (2/10/09)

Good Morning!! Well, I think I have finally shaken this nasty cold and am back to my old self...more or less. There is no school today and I had intended to sleep in, but I woke up refreshed and ready to go at 6:30! It usually happens like that, which is fine actually. I like to get up early and get things done, as long as I have had a good nights sleep I don't mind. I needed to get a jump start on homework anyways.  

I got back into my grind yesterday and went for a run after school. It was a short 4 miles, but I ran it pretty fast, and it felt good. I have lost some of my endurance, but not my speed, which always seems to be the case.  I know that it's going to take a few weeks to get back into shape, or at least feel like I am, but I know that yesterday's run was a good start. Man, it is always so hard for me to get back on track when I have to take time off from running, or if my mileage has been low. I have a love/hate relationship with running. Sometimes it's so hard, and I just want to say "F-it!" and quit (which is usually in the first three miles while I am warming up), and then I hit that zone and feel like I could run forever. Well, I didn't have that feeling at all yesterday, and when I am trying to get my "running feet" back, it usually takes a few runs to get to that point. And, since this is my first winter running outdoors, it has been especially hard for me. Not that I don't get out there and run in 30* weather (which is warm for some of the people I have spoken to), but damn, it's really hard to get motivated to go outside when all I want to do is curl up by the heater. I guess that's what separates me (and all of the other runners out there) from people who just work out. I run because I love it, and love what it does for me, and how it helps me heal.  So, even if it's colder than frozen snot out there, I will still go and run.  I have a gym membership, and could just go in and use the tread mill, which I do when it's raining, but since i have started running outside, being on the TM is like pulling teeth for me.  Soooo boreing!  Now I just have to get my lazy azz out there and get back on track, because I know that once I get my flow back, I will be in love with running again.
Well, it's supposed to snow here today...which I am totally over, but I am going to go out and run anyways. It has snowed here a lot this winter, and it would be cool, if it actually snowed enough to stick and make a difference...not just make the roads slushy and ugly.  I hope to get in 6 miles, or maybe more today, so we'll see.  I am still trying to figure out which route I am going to run.  
Just to show you an example of how damn cold it's been (especially in our house), check out the cat's bundling up on Tim's lap. That doesn't happen very often, so I had to take a picture.  

Alright, I'd better get geared up and head out for my run before the snow hits.  I'm watching the weather report right now and it looks cold.  WHERE ARE YOU SUMMER!?  I would even settle with Spring....uggg.  Okay, I'm off.  I will report back later with my mileage.  I am also making yummy tofu stirfry for dinner tonight with harvest grains, so I will try and post some pics of my nummy dinner.

Have a great day all.

I've been neglecting my blogging responsibilities

I intended on blogging every day or every other day, but the past few weeks have been a little intense and I have been trying to work through some things. I didn't want to come on here and completely unleash what has been going on in my head and my life because, well...some things are too personal for the internet. Anyways, things are looking up. Plus, I caught a nasty virus that has been going around and have been really sick since last Sunday, and haven't had the energy to come on here and post. I usually get these little annoying colds that slow me down a little, but don't stop me in my tracks like this one. I am still able to work out (light intensity) and go to work and school, etc. But, this cold hit me like a ton of bricks on Sunday morning, and is only getting worse. So, there goes my whole quest to "get back on track". I haven't worked out in 7 days and feel really nasty and squishy. I don't even feel like a runner anymore and am afraid for my first run back, because I know it's going to kick my ass. So here I am last week, training my clients and kicking their butts, while I know that I haven't even been able to make an attempt to work out. I look in the mirror and see every imperfection, every jiggle, every squishy spot. My muscle mass is going down, my body fat is going up and really, what kind of example am I setting? I know I am probably being too hard on myself, but I think back to the kind of shape I was in when I was training at 24 Hour Fitness, and I am not there anymore. It's sad when life gets too busy and stressful and it takes away from the thing that you love most, (Besides my husband and family of course), running and working out. I am always fighting an internal battle with myself regarding my fitness and health and overall appearance. I had an interesting conversation about this with my friend Casey at work last night. I won't elaborate, but it kind of opened my eyes to a few things. I want to be in the kind of shape that I was in before and I find myself increasingly more tired every day, and find it harder to do all of things I used to do. I don't attribute it to age, I think it's stress, it's beating me down and tearing me apart. I need to find my happy place. But, I digress...I am getting off topic.
So, I woke up this morning sick as hell. I worked till 12:30 last night and was surprised that I made it through. I work 330-12a today too and am really wondering if I can make it through the whole shift. I just got up to wash the dishes and had to take a break because I was exhausted and felt like I was going to pass out. Arggggg.
My plan is to hopefully shake this crap off and get back to working out and running next week. I really want to start racing again and get my running legs back. I love running and I can't loose touch with it.
Okay, time to do some homework...and there is a nummy grapefruit in the kitchen that is calling my name. I am craving the vitamin C like there is no tomorrow.
Thanks for reading my rambling babble.