RFP Strikes Again

RFP.

Random Foot Pain.

It's probably not so random. If I'd just get over myself and go to either a) a doctor, or b) a decent shoe store, I'm sure someone could tell me what's bothering my feet. My guess is it has something to do with my high arches, and unwillingness to spend more than $40 on shoes. But, if it comes down to a choice between never running again, or shilling out the cash for decent shoes, I may have to swallow my pride and go to a decent shoe store.

Hubba Hubba thinks I need to go to a podiatrist, and get "special shoes."

Just calling them "special shoes" is enough to keep me from thinking that's a good idea.

I'm pretty bummed about this, since this RFP, whatever it is, once kept me from running for about a year and a half. It wasn't until a month and a half ago that I found I could actually run again. (And please, check out the link to learn what I mean when I say "run." It's probably not as cool as you think.)




Dutifully I got up at 6 am to go for my run. As soon as I started down the stairs, I knew RFP had struck again. The old familiar ache was there with every step down I took. It's nowhere near as bad as it was before I gave up running last time, but it was enough to make me decide to give these a break for the rest of the week:

Instead, I'll do some strength training, and see how my tender tootsies feel after a bit of a break. If any of you are avid runners out there, like Sara, feel free to chime in with any thoughts you have. My RFP and I would appreciate the free advice.

Oh, and one more thing:

Sorry to keep you all in suspense. I promise I'm not trying to drive you crazy. I just figured it would be nice to have some company on the crazy train.

I'll share all the top secret details as soon as they're declassified. Til then, enjoy the ride, and please keep your hands and arms inside the crazy train at all times.

Thank you.

Pride Goeth...

There I was--getting my run in first thing this morning, knowing the rest of the day would be too busy. And hot.

You can picture me, can't you? Flying down the road, graceful as a gazelle, ponytail swinging behind me.

Oh wait, that was the other girl out for her morning run. I was the one huffing and puffing in my over sized t-shirt (actually Hubba Hubba's t-shirt), lumbering down the road.

I was just at the point in my still very short (I'm still a little paranoid about my feet) run where I was feeling pretty good about myself. I had a pretty good pace going, (for me) and I felt ok.

And just as I was trying to figure out what had lodged itself in my nostrils that was preventing me from breathing through my nose (you can use your imagination to fill in the sound effects) I heard the sound of footsteps coming up behind me. Fast.

I looked, and then I saw her. Seventeen, maybe eighteen years old, in a cute tank top, running like the wind. Definitely not making snorting sounds through her nose, or labouring in any way. She quickly passed me, and I spent the rest of my run home watching her get farther and farther away.

After I got over myself, I realised that it didn't really matter. I was still out there, trying my best. I thought of what I think whenever I see someone trying something that I'm already good at. I never think to myself, "Gee, I do that so much better." Generally, I'm just excited to see someone trying.

And if the other girl out there running this morning thought about me at all, her thoughts were likely similar.

I hope.

Hello, Old Friends...

Once upon a time, I used to run. And please understand that when I say "run" I mean "jog". It's just that running sounds so much more athletic to me than jogging. Especially the kind of jogging I do. It's more like bouncy walking.

Anyway.

At some point, after Wiggle Man was born, I did something awful to my feet. Perhaps all those workout tapes I did barefoot had something to do with it. Whatever the cause, I found myself unable to run without severe pain in my feet, shooting all the way up my shins and calves.

And I missed running. Ten Minute Trainer--you are my friend, but you're no substitute for getting out of the house and just running.

I tried new shoes. I tried inserts in the new shoes. I tried the inserts in the old shoes. And then I gave up.

But in the past few weeks, I've noticed that when playing softball, my feet didn't hurt when I ran. Hmm. So, I worked up the courage, and very, very slowly started jogging down the street.

Nothing.

No pain. No agony. Just...running.

So, hello old friends. I've missed you.

My First Recipe Post

I don't think I've ever posted recipes before, but with some of the new things I'm trying, I thought--why not share?

I feel like I've been dieting since Wiggle Man was born, with little success. I really didn't have so much of a problem with weight gain while pregnant--it was weaning him onto a bottle that killed me. Or rather, my waistline.

I tried going back to jogging, but something has gone terribly wrong with my foot, and I can hardly get down the road without extreme pain. I tried limiting what I ate. I tried SlimFast. I've tried various workout programs. Everything has worked a little--nothing significant, though.

So, I've decided to change my thinking a little bit. Instead of focusing on shrinking my waistline, I'm going to spend my time thinking about keeping me and my family healthy. If I get smaller as a result--fabulous. If not, well, that's ok, too.

So, besides making sure that Wiggle Man (and Mommy) spend lots of time playing outside, I've started introducing some healthier recipes to our menu.

Steel Cut Oats

I've been turned on to these thanks to MckMama, who often shares her healthy recipes. I like the texture of these better than regular oatmeal. I love these with some light granola on top (I like Bear Naked Fit ) with some honey drizzled on top.

Veggie Couscous

While this is a form of pasta, it's super yummy and filling, and a great way to sneak in some veggies. I cook the couscous according to the package directions. (Chicken broth makes a great substitute for water.) While the couscous is cooking, I saute up some veggies in olive oil. You could use whatever you have on hand--I like broccoli and sweet red peppers. Stir it all together, and you've got a great side dish, or (in my case) a big bowl of dinner.

Turkey Burgers

You might be thinking you don't like turkey burgers. Use regular ground turkey. There is no point using 99% lean ground turkey if it's going to make a burger so dry that you'll never eat another turkey burger. I like to add rosemary (chopped, so your husband doesn't ask what "those twig thingies" are) shredded apples, onion flakes (I hate chopping onions--they're evil) and salt and pepper.

Hubba Hubba tells me they don't grill as well as regular burgers. You can try drizzling them in olive oil, or doing these in a pan on the stove.

Put those babies on a whole wheat roll with some pickles, and you're good to go.

I'm also trying to use honey more often as a sweetener (it's sweeter than sugar, so you can use less). I stir flax seed into our yogurt and applesauce, and try to snack more on nuts. These are my baby steps to keeping my family healthier. There's a lot more I'd like to do, but I'm starting with small changes.

Baby steps. Turkey burgers today, whole organic foods tomorrow. Or next year.

My Not So New Red Shirt

I don't know about you, but when I'm trying to lose weight, I normally have a goal shirt, or goal pants. I have a love/hate (mainly hate) relationship with the scale--it never seems to reflect the work I put in. So, I gage my success by my clothes, and the occasional session with the measuring tape.

Several months ago I was shopping with my girlfriends and found a cute red shirt, on sale for something like $4. Well, come on people--$4? Of COURSE I bought it, regardless of the fact that it was a little...snug.

Every few weeks I'd try on this red shirt to see if it was less frightening to wear. Today, I needed something to wear with a skirt to teach, and on a whim tried on the red shirt. And finally, after months of trying it on and rejecting it in utter disgust, I left it on. That's right--my not so new red shirt, my goal shirt, is now WEARABLE!

Is a toast, I lift a peanut butter cup to you, friends. May all your goal shirts be loose.

Turbo Jam

Ahhh...I feel good. I just finished my Turbo Jam workout. I have to say, I LOVE IT! I just did a new workout (my set came with 6 workouts...I've been hanging out on the first five for a long time) and it was INTENSE. Now I have that happy, post-workout feeling.

I'd love to be able to tell you how much weight I've lost, but I'm too chicken to weigh myself. The last time I did, I apparently weighed more than when I was 9 months pregnant. This, I'll admit, is a mystery, since I'm fitting into all my pre-preggo clothes. I've decided my scale is broken, but I'm still too afraid to weigh myself on another scale! Oh, the trials and tribulations of the new mommy.

Right now I'm blogging to avoid doing the number of things I should do before the baby wakes up. Blogging as procrastination. You know you love it.