Look out world, Lauren's running!!!

So I had to add an addendum on to my last post:

While I may not be seeing results on my scale or my pant size, I was able to run without wanting to die!

This is a MAJOR breakthrough for me! Usually, I am cramping, my legs feel like bricks or I can only run for about 30 seconds before hitting the brick wall. Well, last night on the way home I thought I would give it a try. So I did. And I did. And I kept going! I ran a whole 1/2 mile home (after a 2 mile Stephen-walk) without saying, "If you run to the white mailbox 10 feet away, you can have a snickers bar when you get home!" My previous runs were simply funny looking brisk walks or an easy jog. We're talking Pheobe-like all out running here! This may seem mundane to you athletes, but running without feeling like my legs are tied to a ball and chain is amazing. My tolerance and performance is WAY up. So forget you scale and size 10. I can RUN! My body is starting to benefit from all this exercise and I could not be prouder!

Perhaps I will try for the Winter Series 5K's. Hahaha. Let's not get ahead of ourselves..... ;)

The Heat is ON!

Lauren vs. heat = FAIL!!!!!

With the hot/humid weather come all the mysterious symptoms that plague my life. Loss of vision, extreme fatigue, nausea, vertigo, pins and needles, unbalance, you name it... And living with Stephen is no help as he always recommends "Annie Air conditioning" aka- jump in the pool- instead of the lavish, ungreen lifestyle of turning my house into a meat locker. But with all the oil in the Gulf, I feel the need to combat it with as much Earth loving as I can safely handle.

(ps- It needs to be noted that Stephen recommends Annie Air while on the phone from his temperature controlled luxury office on the Upper East Side.... )

This may sound like excuses, but let me tell you something: because of you guys, I hit ALL of my exercise goals last week!!!!!! I decided to use a pilates exercise video and plop myself in front of one of those 70's box fans that is basically the equivalent of a jet engine to keep myself cool enough during the workout. 3 sessions of 45 minutes aerobic workout equaling 3 miles with an additional 15 minutes of pilates at the end. And boy do I hurt good!!!! My waistline, butt, and thighs are burning and not from the heat! Normally, I would spend the week melting on a couch, barely able to see or move (which I did do at times) but instead I managed to take the high points in my week and really capitalize on them to keep my goals alive!!!

Thanks guys, for all your encouragement! It really reverberates within me that I can do this. I truly couldn't be doing this without your support! Or my box fan! ;)

Memorial Day Madness!

Ah, the season of BBQ's and ice cream is upon us....
I find that summertime eating is unusually hard to stay healthy. Of all the seasons, Christmas included, I have the hardest time during the summer. So many hamburgers, steaks, ice creams, daiquiris, BIRTHDAYS!!!! I don't want to be one of those extremists who bring their own food to the party or bore myself to death with "just plain chicken please". UGH.

Anyone have any tips on how to stay strong amidst the never ending party that is summer?

That being said, I wish to virtually pat myself on the back for succeeding this weekend in working out 3 out of the 4 days. 4 out of 4 if you include dancing my butt off at a wedding! It is amazing that you can find time in a very busy schedule to fit in some fitness. 1 hour aerobics Friday, dancing Saturday (probably fueled and then countered by 2 Gin and Tonics, but whatever~) got up early Sunday to do a 2 mile walk and then 40 minute aerobics with 15 min. additional pilates on Monday. Of all the things I thought I could do better, exercising was not it. Have to work harder on the food part this month. Just not ready for the grilled tofu and kale chips yet.... oof.

You mean I have to do this all the time?!

So week four is closing in fast. And the excitement of catharsis is quickly dying off. Yeah ok, I am so proud of myself for eating better, being more active. But week 4 is the reality that I have to keep doing it.


Week 1: Wow! I am going to change my life. Energy pumping! Sneakers new. Bike shined. Workout basket in room stocked with cute yoga pants, IPOD with get your ass moving songs, and waterbottles.

Week 2: Holy Crap! I did what I said I would! I am amazing! Let's keep going and add fun things like a funny workout video and new recipe to try. This is fun! I am really doing this!

Week 3: Ok, I did all this last week. My house is beginning to get messy now that my free time is devoted to exercising or eating right. Must hit targets. Just hit targets. Life can't keep me down. I can do this!!!!!

Week 4: Ok, these videos are not funny anymore. They are just stupid. I am not Jane Fonda and neither should you be. It's 2010 for crying out loud!!!! Running with IPOD: I heard this song already, skip! heard it... skip! Heard it! skip! Augh! Need new songs. I don't want to ride my bike. I just did that last week. I can't eat another freaking salad! When am I finished with this lifestyle change?????

I suppose that at some point it just becomes second nature to eat healthy and get out 3 or 4 times a week. Right now, it is a choice. And one that is hard to make when life gets in the way. This is usually the point where I would be calling it a day. Congratulating myself for a job well done. "Well, you worked out for a whole month! You are amazing!" But I am not doing what I set out to do, or promised you all I would. So, because of my blog- I will keep going! And get a new route, new playlist and some new videos. Because Ms. Fonda with all due respect, I am not sweating to the oldies anymore!!!

Running errands and fevers

So I want to know, does running around town doing errands count? If so, then I survived my FIRST marathon this week! It's been a real crazy one. Softball games, girl scout meetings, concerts, track meets, a rehearsal dinner and TWO weddings in just 5 days. The fact that I haven't had a moment to sit and post is a real testament to the amount of running being done!

This week was a true test to the "real life" dilemma of fitting in a healthy lifestyle. I managed to squeeze in an 8 mile bike ride and a 2 mile run. ***I will explain better later on the lack of exercise in a moment.** My healthy eating habits stayed strong--- even with the weddings! Gorgeous cocktail hours and open bars did not deter me from my goals. Fresh seafood bars called my name instead as well as the gorgeous vegetables and relish tray! ;) We didn't even fall victim to the fast food frenzy this week that usually incurs with all the running around. We still managed to eat at home and healthy each night. (Webster's would define healthy as meaning not driving through somewhere to pick up dinner in this situation)

So here is the *asterisk* part of the post: I so wonderfully picked up a virus that settled around my chest and made my heart feel like beating irregularly. Try exercising when you already feel like you are having a heart attack. So Lauren had to go to her handy dandy doctor who ran a stress test that showed irregular beats and I had to wear a holter monitor overnight. I was TOLD to take it easy for the next three or four days until the virus passes. TOLD, by a DOCTOR. Soooooo, I easily obliged and spent the next three days running fevers and racing my heartbeat instead. It was fun.

It is still lingering, so I will reverse my exercise plan for the week and do the easy walk first, then the aerobic video, THEN the long bike ride later in the week. Just in time to visit with the Blue Angels!!!

The BEST news of this all is that I am starting to see results! The scale is at a -4 and my clothes are not loving me and hugging me as nicely as they used to. In this situation, I won't take it personally. :)

Beautiful weather, BAH!

Call me Ebeneezer. It is absolutely gorgeous outside today. The sun is shining, spring is popping and I should be out there on my bike, for a run or with the wind beneath my wings full of energy. Instead, I am inside grumpier than all 7 dwarfs because of this "beautiful" weather.

See, it goes like this. Wind and rain bring blooming spring and TONS of allergens. This means that ALL night Stephen is sniffling, snorting and making the most ridiculous sounds you have EVER imagined and I have had no sleep. Trying to be an exercise-a-holic on NO sleep does not work. To boot, Hailey has decided to find a lump on her jawline-- which is more than likely a result of these darned allergens--- but makes me worry nonetheless. She even managed an insomnia night where she decided to keep telling us all night long that she "is still not sleeping". STRESSFUL week!

Does stamping around the house, picking up erroneous items and throwing them around your house in pure rage and anger count as 30 minutes of exercise? I can assure you that I did it with gusto! ;)

This week I did manage a 3 mile bike ride ( a little lame, I know.), 2 mile walk, a 1 hour aerobic work out, a 3 mile RUN (yes, run!) and of course, the house-capades.

Actually, not bad now that I look back at it. But I am still in a bad mood. Perhaps a nice glass of red wine tonight will do the trick. And a separate bed for Stephen, of course! ;)

Martha makes mistakes too?!

There is hope for all of us. I tried a really great, healthy, GF recipe yesterday-- courtesy of one of the bestest cousins I have-- and while in the process realized that Martha make a mistake and skipped a step in the recipe. (or if she didn't the recipe is a complete fail) It was a Rice Chex lemon crusted filet of cod. I used tilapia, but it turned out scrumptious nonetheless.

Courtesy of Martha Stewart Living pg. 170
Crisp Baked Lemon Cod

2 c. crushed Rice Chex
1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
1/4c. chopped flat leaf parsley
2 tsp. finely grated lemon peel (about 2 lemons)
1/4 tsp. coarse salt
4 cod fillets
3 oz. baby spinach

1. Preheat oven to 400*. Combine rice, oil, parsley, zest and salt.
2. Set wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Press fish in crumb mixture, turning to coat. **** Note: Martha, we really could use an egg wash here, as the crumbs do not adhere very well. But I do not question the master*** Transfer to wire rack. Bake until golden brown and cooked through, about 14-16 min. Divide fish and spinach among 4 plates.


Now, I sauteed some asparagus and the spinach roughly in some EVOO and put a lemon wedge on the side for an extra boost, but OMG was this good!

Here are the nutritional values: Be amazed!
271 calories, 2 g sat fat, 13g unsat fat, 43 mg of cholesterol, 15g carbs, 420mg. sodium, 19g protein, 2g fiber

Thanks cous for the recipe! It will easily become one of my new favs. AND it was made even better knowing that even Martha (or perhaps her editor) makes mistakes too!