:: MOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!! ::

I just got an e-mail from Kim at the Miller Ranch out in Oakdale about a rare opportunity - she has a 1/4 steer that she was going to keep for herself but decided to offer to me so I could have a sample of something much smaller and manageable. The steer is a very lean one so lots of lean meat. I'm so psyched that I have actually succeeded in bridging the gap direct to my farmer for healthy, lean, grass-fed black angus beef. :) Steak time.... yum......

For those that responded, thank you SO MUCH for taking part in the first ever Mikee & Jo Cow Share!!!
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:: Day 62- 3/6/09 - Summary ::

Activities:
6am Bootcamp - 1 hr, 604 cal, HRa 144, HRm 179
5pm Kabata Workout , 20 mins, 219 cal, HRa HRa 157 HRm 171 (the one i missed yesterday!)
1. 8 rounds Tabata high knees
2. Immediately into a 60 second front plank
3. Immediately to 8 rounds Tabata jumping jacks
4. Immediately into a 60 second left side plank
5. 8 rounds shadow box
6. Immediately into a 60 second right side plank
7. 8 rounds Tabata burpees

10am: breakfast blend


Rest of day: 1 apple

Main meal @ home. This was literally dinner ready in 30 mins. I sliced the chicken breast in half so that it would cook faster and this salad is one of my most fave ever!!!!
1/2 Spiced Chicken Breast served atop Avocado Papaya Salad
Served with a side of eftover apricot armenian soup

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:: the struggle is the same ::

//rant begin

Question: You are having a party and your close friend, Bob, who is a recovering alcoholic is coming to your party. Would you have booze at your party? I would think that out of sensitivity to your friend, you would lean towards not having any booze.

My friend, Derek, is giving up coffee for lent this year. Out of sensitivity towards him, we decided not to serve coffee at an upcoming church retreat because why tempt a fellow brother-in-christ?

And then there's me... a recovering fataholic. I still struggle from serious relapses when it comes to gluttony (like the one a week ago). No special treatment for me though because apparently - i need to exercise my OWN self control and not eat that darn brownie. But all other recovering "X-ics" get special treatment (where X = some other more popular vices).

Well guess what, guys, the struggle is all the same. We're all trying to stay away from things that we need to stay away from for various reasons. For me and Bob, it's pure addiction tendencies. Him for vodka and me for chocolate. ANY addiction is bad. In Derek's case, it's for spiritual reasons and tempting him is not going to do him any good as he focuses on commemorating Jesus.

My good friend Dylan reminded me of this other scenario... Have you ever been to those church-wide potlucks or parties? People bring truckloads of super unhealthy things like cakes, pies and cookies as they show off their great-grandmother's secret recipes. Look around the room - plenty of obese people. But you don't see anyone bringing booze because "it could cause a brother to stumble". Hey listen, gluttony is the one and the same. Funny how nobody wants a hand in tempting the alcoholic while others have no problems in aiding obesity - the fastest growing cause of death and disease in America. Churches are known for hospitality, love, acceptance (Oh we love all you fat peeps!! come to Jesus!!) but yet we think we show love by bringing all sorts of fatty desserts and food when we are ultimately abetting gluttony. Gluttony is probably the most socially acceptable form of sin in the church today. Is that not hypocrisy? We sensitize ourselves to the vices we think are the worst and ignore the one that could ultimately could kill us? Anyways, what I wanted to say is that I'm no different from the recovering alcoholic. Some sensitivity would be nice.

//rant end

On a side note- I am going to a church retreat this weekend and it will be like the white witch waving turkish delight at Edmund (me). Please keep me in your thoughts as I fight through the weekend. Times like these, sheer determination, just ain't enough. (So help me, God)
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:: Day 61- 3/5/09 - Summary ::

I officially signed up for a lottery spot in the Nike Women's Full Marathon yesterday. If I get in, it's meant to be. If not, no biggy. I figured it would be nice to check something off my list while I haven't yet turned 30! (Ok, I just really want that tiffany's necklace medal!)

Activities:
4pm Kabata Workout

Morning blend: The usual...

Random snacks: Carrots, cauliflower, apple, almonds, apricots. Btw I recently read that Mark Bittman also eats like me! He calls it "vegan before dinner" which is pretty much the same as warrior diet principles.


Pot Luck @ Bruce's
I'll bring more wild salmon, salad and spring tabbouleh.

Also made a pot of armenian apricot soup (picture later)...
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:: eagle eye ::

This is why I browser-window-shop quite often. You never know when you'll see a deal you can't pass up on. And that is why they call me eagle eye. This one fresh in from Anthropologie. But you know what's the best part? Ordering size S. :)

Other notable mentions:
- Dreamy Azimuth Bralette - $9.95
- Flowery Parrish Surplice Top - $19.95
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tabata workouts?

Son of a Grok posted his tabata workout today. I've never actually tried tabata intervals so it will be a rude shock to the body. Will try it tmrw.

Looks like tabata principles is very close to kettlebells' max vo2 snatch workout. Bound to get the heart rate up!

What I also like about the tabata workout is that it's like a prison workout. You don't need any fancy schmancy gear. All you need is willpower!
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:: Day 60- 3/4/09 - Summary ::

I had my health accountability group, manna, meeting last night. We set our goals and went through our weekly food journal. I really liked the honesty and openess, especially when I was able to talk about the relapse.

Friends, it's a brand new day. I kid you not.

Activities:
6am Bootcamp, 56 mins, 545 cal, HRa 156 HRm 183
12pm: 4.0 mile interval run treadmill, 45 mins, 549 cal, HRa 167 HRm 180

8am: Regular breakfast blend shared with Dorothy
2 kale, 1/3 banana, 1 apple, 1 carrot

Random snacks for the day: carrots, apple, cauliflower, 8 almonds


Main meal @ home
I got sidetracked at Whole Foods when i found WILD sockeye salmon on sale for $8.99/lb. Regular price $14.99. It was soooo delicious. :)
Other notable on sale items: organic sesame oil (3.77), organic apricots (3.99/lb)
I re-dressed my beans dish with some fresh organic greens and turned it into a salad. Served with fresh wild salmon and a side of lentil soup. It was almost perfect.

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:: Day 59- 3/3/09 - Summary ::

I had a relapse today. It wasn't even the usual PMS chocolate craving... crap was everywhere, and I couldn't stop. There must've been 20 peanut M&Ms in the lab I worked out of today. When I went to the cafe, instead of picking up the yogurt I said I would, I somehow gravitated towards a slice of cheese pizza (I never eat pizza!). When I got home, there was a bar of expired swiss chocolate waiting on the dinner table which I proceeded to have 3 pieces of.

I really do think that it's good to enjoy chocolate once in awhile, without any guilt. But today, I just lost it. Lost all self-control whatsoever. I'm utterly disugsted with myself and I've decided cut off the hand that is sinning. Look into my trash can, you'll see it. :P


On a positive note, my friend Chris and I have decided to register for the Nike Women's Full marathon together. If we get in, we'll run it. Registration begins tmrw 9am PST, Ladies! Let's hope I can actually maintain the 14:30 pace so that I can finish within the allocated 6.5 hrs.

Breakfast: 2 fried eggs

Daily snacks: 1 carrot, 1 apple, M&Ms, slice of cheese pizza

Main meal @ home with Manna Peepz
Barley and Bean Salad

Lively Lentil Soup

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:: Neighborhood DInner Coop ::

Can't afford to cook every night? Start your own neighborhood dinner coop! It's like eating at a restaurant every night! :) But from what I've read, it's not without its challenges... that's why having this book to guide you is useful. When I have kids one day, this might just need to happen!!!

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:: Day 58- 3/2/09 - Summary ::

Activities: 6am Bootcamp, 555 cal, HRa 156, HRm 176
I had fun at bootcamp today - kinda nice having friends like Dorothy and Marcela show up. This is me and Dorothy enjoying a morning blend together (or as she calls it, liquid breakfast!)...


530pm: Walk to Rivermark for Dinner (1.3 miles)
Breakfast blend: Apple, carrot, blueberries, 1/3 banana, celery, kale, flaxseed


Random snacks: mini apple, carrots, 7 almonds, 1 dried apricot..argh i was sitting next to a jar of M&Ms all day and couldn't resist!!!


Main meal @ Red Robins for A&B's birthday
Salmon fillet wrapped with lettuce and side of salad. I did of course help devour the bottomless fries that everyone else got. Doh!

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:: Day 57- 3/1/09 - Summary ::

Activities: Nada. Recovering from the hike...Today was a very hungry day. I kept eating!!!

Breakfast: Usual blend, a few spoonfuls of left overs

@ church: 1/2 coconut macaroon

12pm: few spoonfuls of leftover chicken rice

Main meal @ home.
We had a blackout so we had to cook/eat with headlamps on! Very fun!

Seared Ahi Tuna, served on a bed of greens with spring ragout and mini scallion pancakes

Expired Chocolate Fest....
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