As soon as I start to feel the weather change I become obsessed with all things soup, stew, curry or chili. I love a pipping hot bowl with a side of warmed bread. I mean really what could be more warming and comforting? While the PNW can’t hold a candle to Vermont/New England in the Fall it still does a pretty good job of charming me. If you can’t tell Fall is my favorite season-side note do you say Fall or Autumn?
Lately I have been whipping up a number of tasty bowls of goodness. My most recent creation was my Kabocha Red Lentil Curry. Seriously this recipe is so good and incredibly easy. It’s filling and nourishing and paired with some warmed naan bread it is a perfect meal.
Besides drowning ourselves in warm bowls of soup (and the like) we have also been enjoying a number of Fall activities including evening walks down leaf covered path ways, a trip to the pumpkin patch and of course pumpkin decorating (I made a pretty awesome gold glittered pumpkin).
How have you been enjoying the season? This coming weekend we have our annual pumpkin beer tasting and I can’t wait!
Let’s start this off by saying I did not follow my workout plan schedule at all this week. I did get out for a few good walks with the new BOB Revolution Flex Dualie but otherwise I didn’t go to yoga or do any strength training or running. Let’s call this week a wash and focus on the next.
So now that we have talked about what I didn’t do this week let’s talk about what I plan on doing over the next 30ish weeks. Yes I plan on taking 30 weeks to train for my quarter marathon because when you have only gone on five runs in the past 12 months getting back to running takes time and for me it takes a good amount of time.
I plan on following a hybrid version of Jeff Galloway’s 5k and 10k plans starting with a few extra slow start weeks. Over the next three weeks I’m starting out slow with the goal to get in three 15-20 minute runs in each week. After that I will follow the Galloway 5k plan and then continue into the 10k plan based on where the 5k plan ends.
Along with training for my race I am making the commitment to myself and my yoga practice. I have a 10-class punch pas with only 1 punch out it so at least for the next 9ish weeks I will be going to at least one class per week. In addition to training and yoga I need to get back to a regular strength training routine so that is on the agenda as well.
Okay so here is the last part of this post…
DietBet Before Photos
Now I debated telling you my starting weight and maybe I will but honestly I am embarrassed. I know that I need to be kind to myself and remember that over the last three years I have been pregnant twice and am now nursing so this will all take time. Nevertheless the number is not my favorite. That being said I will tell you my 4% that I need to lose to win is about 9lbs so from that if you really want to figure out the math you can figure out my starting weight.
As I shared on Wednesday my goal and purpose for hosting and participating in this DietBet is to get myself back on track. It’s to work with others to accomplish our health and fitness goals and if I happen to lose the 9lbs I need to be able to win then great. I am not going to be cutting tons of calories or working out for 4 hours a day (not like I have time). Also first and foremost comes making sure that I keep my milk supply up because feeding Alder is my priority.
So here I go. The journey officially starts on Monday and will last for 28 days. At the end of it I will share with you just how much I did lose and my final photos. Along the way I’ll check in with how things are going and other related things.
*These are not my official photos that I submit to DietBet. Tomorrow I will take new photos one of me on the scale airport security style and one of the number on the scale with my weigh in word. You can learn more about that here.
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by foodie.com. All opinions are my own.
It’s Autumn a time for pumpkin patches, chai lattes and most of all apple picking! Use up your apple stash with these 12 tasty recipes. We haven’t made it out to the apple orchard this year but we have been stocking up on apples and can’t wait to make this Apple Walnut Cake and One Bowl Carrot Apple Muffins. I am thinking I might also try this Apple Tahini Toast because it is a combination I wouldn’t haven’t made on my own but it sounds so interesting; if you try this recipe before I do let me know what you think!
I blogged a few weeks ago about my Body After Baby plans and well I guess now is a better time than ever to jumpstart this process.
I was approached a few months ago about hosting a DietBet game and at the time I wasn’t taking on a new projects but after lots of consideration I have decided to host my own DietBet starting October 27th!
I’m at that place where I know all of the things I need to do to help lose the weight but more than that get myself back to that healthy state that I once was in but I could use a little support. I know the health changes I need to make (ie. improve eating, get my body moving more, drink more water, take more time for myself, ect.) and I know that when I have the support of others I am more likely to achieve my goals.
That all being said I have been a health coach for four (almost five) years now and I have been working to support a number of individuals to achieve a variety of health and fitness goals and after taking a little bit of time off from actively working I’m ready to get back at it. So my first goal is to help guide my DietBet team through this journey by providing health coaching support through healthy living tips, recipes, e-mail support and weekly check-ins and hopefully you’ll find support from each other as well.
DietBetting is about believing in yourself and investing in your health. It’s not about crash diets or other unhealthy modes of weight loss (I would like to make it clear I do not support or endorse unhealthy modes of weight loss.) It’s about saying that YOU ARE WORTH IT! You are worth the small $25 and you are worth the time. Who’s ready to join me and the others who have already signed up? Still unsure? Keep reading.
Sign up today and receive my Eating for Energy E-Book.
This book is filled with tips on how to increase your energy while making improvements to you diet and lifestyle. Learn what foods help to increase energy and what foods decrease energy. Also included is a delicious energizing menu to help you get started. So are you ready to join me now? No? Well consider this then creating an account is free and they can join a game and check it out for 7 days and still get a full refund if they decide it’s not for you.
I hope that you join me and we can spend the next 28 days working together to accomplish our weight loss and health goals. Don’t worry this game will end in plenty of time for you to weigh in before heading out to Thanksgiving dinner (and you won’t have to worry about it during the Holiday).
Have you ever participated in a DietBet? Why did you or why have you decided to participate in the RWT DietBet game?
September 2014 (I’ll post my before photos this Fitness Friday)
So why did I decide to host and participate in a DietBet?Well it’s no secret that I’d like to lose a few pounds (or 60+ in the next 24 or so months). While I’m not sure that I will lose 4% of my body weight (that’s around 9lbs) I do think that it’s a good way to jump start my postpartum weight loss. My goal with this game is to create a community of players who can support each other with the main goal to be to create healthy eating and workout habits.
While winning the game would be great I think that is really just a bonus. I want to focus on eating well, working out and taking care of ourselves with the support of each other. Sometimes we just need to connect with others to help us jump start or maintain our healthy habits. So rather than thinking about this as a weight loss game I would like you to think about it as an opportunity to connect with others and find support to help lose weight. I would like to be clear that I do not support or endorse unhealthy measures to lose weight (ie. crash diets, diet pills, eating disorders) this game is about making healthy lifestyle changes to help you reach your weight loss goals.
Disclaimer: I received a credit to participate in this game. Neil is also participating and he paid for his own admission into the game.
I did it. I registered for my first postpartum race and I am so excited.
Back last late April I participated in a Fitfluential twitter chat with Hood to Coast Race Series and I won a free race entry to the 2014 Hippie Chick Quarter and Half Marathon. Since at the time I was about 7 months pregnant I wasn’t up for running or walking that far so I asked if I could defer my race entry to 2015 and they kindly agreed. Since then I have been waiting for the 2015 race registration to open and it finally did last week. As soon as I received the e-mail I signed myself up for the quarter run and Edith up for the kids fun run.
Now you might be wondering why not the half and I really debated doing the half but as some of you might remember I participated in the 2013 Hippie Chick Quarter and I went right from basically not running to four runs per week training from late January through May and I just burnt myself out. I didn’t want to do that again so I am starting earlier and getting myself back into it. I really didn’t want to over commit and besides I have been roped into (just kidding I want to) registering for the Portland Half Marathon next Fall.
Also fun side note unless I find a 5k I want to do before the Hippie Chick it will also be my first postpartum race with Alder just like it was with Edith!
I’m really looking forward to the race and am curious to see how things are run this time around. The race has since changed organizers since I did it last and I know that Hood To Coast Race Series puts on some great races so it should be a fun time. I know Edith is thrilled to run the kids race too.
So I must ask –> Would you like to read weekly or bi-weekly training updates? Do you have any questions?
What was your first race or first postpartum race? How did you prepare?
Edith was begging for a snack this morning so I listed off her options – applesauce, banana, crackers- I got a no after every option. Since we are lacking in the grocery department right now I tried to rack my brain as to what other options we might have in the house. I thought about baking muffins and then I remembered we had a few bunches of kale in the crisper. I proposed the idea of making kale chips to her and she jumped up and ran to her Learning Tower ready to make kale chips (I took that as a big ol’ yes!)
I usually go for a cheezy kale chip or just plain olive oil with a dash of salt but today I decided to make salt & vinegar.
Also make sure you have a cute helper and taster on hand. You can see more photos of E helping make these kale chips over on Naturally Family.
What are you favorite kind(s) of kale chips? I love cheezy kale chips made in the dehydrator but when I’m in a pinch I like to do olive oil, tamari, nutritional yeast and a dash of pepper (same directions as above) and toss them in the oven for quick crisping.
I am working on a number of new recipes right now (yay!) but until then I wanted to re-share a few of my favorite Fall recipes.
Chickpea Tomato Minestrone: This actually isn’t one of my recipes but rather a recipe that I had pinned and tried. It is super hearty and warming.
Vegan Pumpkin Pie:First off Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to my friends (and husband). This recipe while perfect for the upcoming American Thanksgiving holiday it is really great anytime. Seriously rich and delicious.
Creamy Curry Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese (vegan):I crave this all year long and make it (or variations) at least once or twice per month. I haven’t made it myself this month but I think it’s long over due and with squash in season it’s the perfect time.
French Lentil Dahl:I am a huge lover of lentils and this rich and hearty soup is perfect for the cooling weather. I like to pair it with a nice green salad with French Vinaigrette and a slice or two of baguette.
Chickpea Potato Tagine:This warm and heart tagine is sweet, a little spicy and earthy. So delicious.
What are you favorite cool weather recipes? Have you tried any of the recipes above? Any cool weather recipe requests?
