"It's not starting over...

It's starting stronger."  Yeah, that's what I kept telling myself as I went through my pre-run ritual.  Sunscreen, hair clip, tight capris, tight race shirt, socks, shoes, heart rate strap and watch.  I didn't want to get too excited, I didn't know what I'd do if my third try failed.  I'd die, that's what would happen.  Maybe not that dramatic, but I'd be angry and bitchy for weeks.

Anyway, here it is.  It's only a mile but it was a beautiful hot one!  All I kept thinking was how much I had missed it.  Not even the heat could make me stop.

Pure happiness.

My mother tagged along with the kids in the stroller.  They walked around the park while I prayed in my head for my knee to stay quiet.  So far so good!  I warmed up with almost 3/4 of a mile and ran at an easy pace.  We then walked back and I came home to stretch.  A real stretch, 30-60 seconds per move on each leg.  I think it's a good step forward!

I don't know if we're ready (the knee and I) to start an actual training program again.  The race in December is not an issue, it won't be the last race and I know I won't come in first place anyway so there's no worries.  I'm just happy I can wake up early for a reason again!!!!  I could not be happier.

Strength training moves for my knee tomorrow.  Maybe I'll run again in two days.  I don't want to anger the knee.  And maybe I shouldn't celebrate until tomorrow if there's no knee pain during the night or later on... I pray there won't be.

Duckies!

I made it to BodyPump, I wanted to celebrate that seeing that today wasn't such a great day.  Long story short, anxiety is and will never be my friend.  It's ok, I can deal with it as long as I take long walks (or RUNS) and do some type of other activity.  Anxiety attacks aren't great and I feel for e/one else who deals with them.  There, anxiety can go suck it.

I walked with my mom and my Little Bear passed out.  She had been feeling sick (still!) or something or another.  She was not a pleasant child to be around today!  Goodness, I hope she feels better.  She barely ate until my mother came and made me look like I never feed her.  Always.

Pictures from today's walk:

Staring at the clouds instead of looking at Garmin to not look crazy.

There's a lake facing our complex so there's always hungry ducks around.  For a while, there were a bunch of duckies quacking and begging for food, then they disappeared.  At the same time.  My mom and I thought someone had eaten them.  Who knows, there's crazy people everywhere.  Anyway, we found them today!

I guess they're smart and stay around where the food's at for free.

My mom counted 14 duckies and one faithful duck mom.  She was watching us and threatening to attack.  My mother and I are afraid of bigger-than-cats birds.  A goose attacked and chased my mother once, I just hate their little icky feet.  And eyes.  Their eyes can see through your soul.

No kidding.

We finished and came home to give the kids a bath and feed them dinner.  I felt like a mother duck.  Both fell asleep without a peep (lol) and I am now getting ready to go to sleep while batting Olivia the Kitten away from the laptop screen.  She doesn't get it.

Wore knee band.  No pain!

I have a date with the elliptical on Sunday, I am very excited to try out some real cardio again!

Another mile and no pain.

Had to deposit some money at the credit union before business hours so I woke up at the ungodly hour of 7:00 a.m.  Yes, there was no BodyPump for me at 5:00 a.m., and no, I don't regret it.  I am just not a morning person and will never be.  I got back home and instead of making all the noise I could while trying to be quiet, I left for a quick walk.

Enjoyed some sun while my phone died.

There were a lot of pictures to be taken, but my phone died and the camera was dead (and at home).  I never promised great pictures.  I had the knee band on and regretted not buying the one with a little more fabric, sweat on the pressure tube made it move around a little too much for my comfort.  I'm not totally ok with having some plastic tube press on a tendon.  It creeps me out.

Food was all over the place again, having no cardio doesn't motivate me to eat all the healthy stuff in the pantry and fridge.  We are also out of almond butter (main source of sweetness in diet) so when people bring over more enchiladas, I have one.

I had three cups of coffee today, one isn't pictured because it's just hard to stay awake when you stop sleeping regular hours.  I took a nap right after I finished my second cup.  It was a very nice and quiet nap.  Olivia, our kitten, woke me up with a nose kiss.

It seems I won't be going to bed early, the Gummy Bear is awake and playing with Olivia.  They're having a lot of fun but I need some rest or I may just snap and run away.  I'm trying overnight oats with chia seeds in the jar for breakfast tomorrow.  We shall see how much they're enjoyed, the husband will be the second judge.  I'm thinking about breakfast because it's 12:17 a.m. and it just seems we are not sleeping at all.

I'm meeting my mom at the gym tomorrow for BodyPump at a normal time, 11:00 a.m. is regular-people-time.  I miss running and running is the only reason why anyone should be awake before the sun.

Just a walk.

What a long day, wasn't it? I woke up later than usual (catching up on sleep) and got cleaning. Well, I fed the bears and then cleaned and cleaned. Sad thing is, the apartment now looks as messy as when I started! Those kids, always finding something to flip over.

Anyway, food and exercise. I took a walk with my mom at 8:00 p.m. because it was finally cool enough to walk outside.  It was short but made a huge difference in my mood.  I'm planning to take another walk with the kids as soon as we get up.  It'll be not so hot, I hope.

First walk since Sunday?  Glad to get out!

There was a freak storm (rained twice, wind was crazy) early in the day and then it went back to oven-hot. I took a picture because I'm trying to add some adventure into my life:

From inside my apartment.  I'm adventurous, not crazy.

Food was alright, getting tired of the same thing but I'm not going grocery shopping tomorrow. I have a date with my weight lifting instructor for BodyPump at 11 a.m. I haven't been there since... last Wednesday? I'm not sure, being inside so much is driving me insane.

Breakfast: coffee, egg sandwich w/avocado and a small apple.

While looking at houses to lease, half an almond butter sandwich.

Chicken strip salad with peanuts, avocado, grapes and queso fresco.
Some baby carrots for crunch.  I'm loving avocado right now.
That's the Gummy Bear jumping in the picture.

Coffee and oatmeal cookies before the hubby goes off to make money.

Leftovers, pasta with veggies and toast.
Greek yogurt, just because.

Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, almonds and Cheerios.

I need a bigger second meal.  I was still hungry.
Almond butter, best-jelly-in-the-world on toast.

After the walk.  Chicken sandwich, Greek yogurt,
pecans, lettuce, avocado, salsa... and cold water.

I'm sleepy and I should take it as a hint that I need to go rest.  It stinks to have to go to sleep right after the silence takes over the apartment.  Both kids had a hard time going to sleep tonight, one's teething and the other one's too happy to go nite-nite.  That's my conclusion, anyway.

Tavos and some healthy Ducks

My mother came over and we walked the kids.  I also took the loaf of bread that came out too "not right" and fed it to the ducks.  The bread was fine, but I was testing out the Smart Butter and I didn't like the taste of it.  Them ducks got some healthy bread, though.  We walked for 30 minutes and came back to bathe the monsters.  Very tiring work!

Earlier today, we went grocery shopping and I finally bought TVP and nutritional yeast, which I've learned is also called "nooch."  Cool name.  We ate Subway (again!) so we weren't starving, but my daughter doesn't eat anything lately and I had to try once again to cook something she'd eat.  It worked, hallelujah.

Tavos (TVP taco filling)
Serves 7 (84g, around 3/4 cup)

Ingredients
Filling
55 g green bell pepper
74g chopped onion
78 g carrots

1 cup TVP
1 can of chopped, fire roasted tomatoes (I used 1/4 c of the drained tomatoes and the juice--8 oz)
60 g of diced canned potatoes

Taco seasoning (I only used around half of it this time)
1/4 t red pepper flakes
1/4 t cilantro (I ran out, I usually use more)
1 t garlic powder
1 t ground cumen
1/2 t paprika
1 big pinch of salt
Lots of black pepper

Check It
You'll need a medium-sized pan, once heated, add onion and spray with Pam.  After a minute or so, add the carrots and repeat with the green bell peppers.  You'll want the mix to look like this before adding the tomato:

I don't like my carrot getting too sweet.

Add the drained tomato and mix around.  If you used the fire roasted type, it'll start getting hot in your kitchen.

After mixed through, add the 8 oz of the tomato juice and once it starts boiling, remove the pan from the heat and add the spices.  Then add the TVP granules once the spices and veggies have mixed together.

Continue mixing the TVP until there's no more liquid sloshing around.  Cover the pan and let it hang out for around 5-10 minutes.

If you're like me and just stumble around in the kitchen, you forgot to add the diced potatoes.  Well, the kitchen is forgiving, add them while the TVP is rehydrating itself.  I did, it came out just fine.

Here are the steps for adding the TVP, I was scared of trying it out b/c I thought it'd be hard to cook.  Not at all.

Looks like cereal!

Before it's been thoroughly mixed.

Seasoned and topped with forgotten potatoes.

Artfully decorated.

I like!

From MyFitnessPal!

I really liked it, we'll see tomorrow.  My husband usually buys Taco Bell on the way home and I hope I can replace that.  The filling isn't as salty, but he can add some if he likes.  I'll be cooking this more often, it's supposed to freeze well, too.  Double awesome!