Commerical Break

We pause our regularly scheduled program for a commercial break....

(No, you can't fast forward)

I have recently seen the Ziplock Zip 'N Steam bags advertised on TV as well as seen them featured on the Biggest Loser, so while I was at Costco last week, I picked up a package of 40 (for around 5 bucks). BTW, you can find information and recipes at
http://www.ziploc.com/?p=b13

I *LOVE* these things.

About 3 years ago I gave up prepackaged meals, so this is a great time saver since I pack my lunch 90% of the time.

So here are my success stories:

Last Saturday we were going to a party, and Tim wanted to eat first, and all I had was a couple of salmon filets thawed. So I threw them in the Zip 'N Steam bag with some teriaki sauce, and 3 minutes later he was eating dinner.

Last Night I had to pack food for 2 days because I'm staying the night at my sisters house tonight, so one day I made a salad, and the second day I through a frozen salmon filet in the bag with some spices, and just cooked and ate it for lunch. I also made a warm cabbage salad (featured on their site), that I threw in the bag and cooked just now.

I have also made Chicken in these.

I just got them last Friday, and I already love them. The meats do not turn out rubbery at all.

Anyway, I recommend trying them. They are a great way to cook a fast and healthy meal!

One of those mornings

So remember when I told you that I have a general rule that even if I don't feel like working out I mostly force myself to at least do 10/15 mins, and if it ain't happening after that, then I stop?

Well today was one of those mornings.

Tim had the same feeling. We were dragging big time and we did make it to the pool.

But we lasted for 10 minutes and threw in the towel. We did sit in the hot tub for 20 minutes, so I was technically in the gym for 30, but I don't think it really counts. ;)

Anyway, I'm skiing this afternoon, so I'll get a workout in anyway, but it just wasn't gonna happen this morning...

X-Country Skiing

My sister Teresa and her husband, Bob, have been avid cross country skiers for years. I've skied with them on an off, but never on a real regular basis. For the last probably 20 years they have gone on this annual trip to Canada in March for a 15 mile ski trip. It's up north of Sault Ste. Marie, and you take a train out into the wilderness and ski back to a lodge. Many of those 20 years I have watched their kids (when they were younger, of course), and there haven't really been a lot of years of was in shape enough to go.

Anyway this year she's been wanting me to go, but I don't have skis, so I've been kinda looking a little on Craig's List and Ebay to see if I could get something cheap. The trip this year is March 9th http://www.stokelycreek.com/view.php?pid=14&action=se&id=8


So I'll try to keep this short, because it's kinda a long story, but she found some extra skis so now I have skis, but I only have 2 weeks to prepare. She's a little nervous that I only have two weeks, but we think especially with this little snow storm today that I may still have time. From an endurance standpoint, not too worried, but it's been probably at least 7 years since I skied and I'm a little nervous about going up and down the hills.

On Saturday, I went over to her house. They live on 15 acres and have build a 1/2 mile trail that goes around their house that they use for running and skiing. I skied about 4 miles and it was so fun. I just put on my ipod and went, and it was a gorgeous day, so I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I was going to go out on Sunday, but wasn't feeling that good and I was a tad sore from the day before, so I rested. Today I may go out and I want to go tomorrow. My goal is to get enough skiing in this next two weeks so I can be ready to go. I am a little nervous about it, but it seems like an adventure!

I'll also be keeping an eye on the weather to see if it's going to be decent up there. Hopefully it will be and all will work out.

Even if I don't go, I'm getting another way to exercise (awesome work out, btw) and burn up those last few weeks before lovely spring arrives!

Company

I had just a nice morning I had to tell you about it.

I got up at 7 and called the gym to see if any spots opened up for the 8:30 spinning class, because as of yesterday, there was only 1 spot, which I took, but Tim said he would go. Good news: There was!

So Tim went to his first spinning class with me this morning, (this was my second one of the week, so I was happy about that too!)

After the 1 hour spin class we went to breakfast at Bob Evans. I had a pretty healthy egg-white omelet, so I felt good about that.

It was fun to have company at spin, especially my wonderful hubby. :)

Workout Variety

This week has been interesting for work outs:

1. I am trying to increase my swimming time. I'm trying to swim a mile each time instead of the 1/2 mile I was swimming. But I'm slow so right now only half is just me and half with fins. The fins make it a little easier, but it's still pretty darn hard. But I've been doing this for about 4 weeks now, so it's going well.

2. One day I gave up a workout to help Tim shovel 8 inches of snow. Well actually I surprised him by getting 1/2 done before he woke up so he didn't have to rush before he left. He was so happy and I got a decent 1 hour workout. Something different to mix it up.

3. I already told you about my foo fighters run, well the next day Tim and I ran together. We walked 2 laps, ran a mile, walked 2 laps ran a mile and then walked 2 laps. (Probably about 2.5 miles total, but 2 running, .5 walking). He clocked our run times and our first mile was 10:20 and the second one was 10:02 baby. So happy about that.

4. Today I ran at the track with the track team!! Well they were there so i didn't really have a choice, but it is somewhat motivating. I actually didn't have my best run because I had to make a pit stop in the middle (I hate when the urge comes on!) and that 3rd mile I walked a little, but I did do some sprinting. The coach told me he was impressed with me, and I said "yeah right!" and he said "No, really, you did a great job!" So maybe he was sincere, but maybe he was flirting. either way, I'll take it!

5. Also today, we went to planet rock for some indoor climbing. I went until my arms would work no more. It was a total blast. I have a feeling I'll be sore tomorrow.

So much for blah winter workouts!

Thank god for the Foo Fighters

This year I've been working on a running mix. So far I have 79 songs in it. I started this, because I kept hearing a couple of songs on the radio that were perfect for my running pace and I thought: let's find more!

There are about 3 songs on my list by the Foo Fighters that are a perfect driving pace for my run. I went online and found an online metronome, figured out what the speed was, then clocked other songs to find similar ones.

It has been AWESOME. Here is an example why.

I struggle big time with running indoors because it's boring, so today, I'm at 2.5 miles and I start to walk and think "Well I was sick last week, and I ran 2 miles each time this week so 2.5 is better, right?" Even though I know I can go further.

THEN all of a sudden, "The Pretender" comes on (off the new Foo Fighters album) and I ended up squeaking out that last 1/2 mile because of it!

So thank God for good driving fast songs by the Foo Fighters (and many other artists.) Without them, I would be walking (or quitting)