Fueling Strong

Run Local

2013-01-28T13:06:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I'm sorry about my lack of posts this past week. I am in the midst of moving to a self-hosted domain, so I've been spending a lot of time doing that. Stay tuned because in the next couple of weeks I will have a new blog design (fingers crossed).

Also, I wanted to share Claim Your Journey's new campaign with all of you! As many of you know, I am now an ambassador for Claim Your Journey, and I will be helping spread the word about running local! There are so many reasons why I run local. One major one is because I have the most amazing running trail literally across the street from my house.

The trail runs right along Lake Michigan with views of both the lake, park, and city. I run the same route all of the time, but some how it never gets old because I have such beautiful scenery to look at. It's also a great spot to people watch.

Another added benefit of the trail....most local races are held there. Sometimes I can go out for my Saturday morning run and find myself in the middle of a race. At first it used to take me by shock and I would exit right away, but now I run along with them until it's time for me to turn around or I get too close to the finish line.

Check out our video on why some of us choose to Run Local.

Your turn!! Tell me why you run local in the comments section below.

HEALTHY Carrot Cake Protein Pancakes

2013-01-22T13:48:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been 3 days since the Butler game and my voice still isn't back! It hasn't caused too many problems other than when I tried to tell my hair stylist how I wanted my hair cut. Thankfully I had a picture to show because if not who knows what kind of hack job I would have walked out of there with. The annoying part is even though she knew I had no voice she still persisted to ask me 100 questions. Typical.

On Sunday night, Kyle and I were both feeling breakfast for dinner, so I tried out a recipe I've been waiting a while to make - Carrot Cake Protein Pancakes. I know, they sound sinful and unhealthy, but guess what... they are 100% healthy, gluten free, and packed with protein. It doesn't get much better than that. The best part is, you can have three pancakes for about 230 calories and 18 total grams of protein. You won't find that in your average pancake.

Another great thing about making this pancake is your throw everything into the blender, so it's pretty quick and easy. I think Kyle and I will finish the left overs tonight after our spinning date night!

Carrot Cake Protein Pancakes

Inspired by Dashing Dish

Makes 2 Servings

Ingredients

1/4 C Vanilla Protein Powder

1 C Old Fashioned Oats

2 Eggs

1/2 tsp Baking Powder

2 Carrots, Peeled and finely chopped

1/4 C Skim Milk

1/2 C Plain or Vanilla Greek Yogurt

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

Pinch of Ginger and Nutmeg

Pinch of Salt

1 T White Sugar

1 Carrot, Peeled and grated

Instructions

1. Add all of the ingredients EXCEPT the grated carrots into a blender.

2. Blend until smooth.

3. Fold in the grated carrots.

4. Heat a griddle and spray with non-stick cooking spray.

5. Using a 1/4 measuring cup, scoop batter onto the griddle and cook for 3-4 minutes per side.

A Weekend to Remember

2013-01-20T16:43:00.000-08:00

What a weekend it has been, and the best part is I still have one more day since our offices are closed tomorrow! On Friday night, Kyle and I went out with our friends AJ and Lindsay for some sushi. I had some of the best sushi, and we even ventured to eat the edible orchids on the plate. It tasted like a flower. Nothing special, but hey it's worth trying once.

Kyle was the first to try the Orchid.

On Saturday, I woke up and kicked my butt with an interval and strength training workout. Usually I will do my run all at once then strength train, but I was up for a little change up.

Needless to say, it was a butt kicker because I was constantly challenging the muscles and took no breaks. After the workout we drove to Indianapolis to watch my Butler Bulldogs take on Gonzaga with some of my best friends from college! For those of you who missed the game, go to ESPN now and watch the last 5 seconds. What a game! I have no voice today, but it was totally worth it!

Well, it has been quite the weekend. Now I need to go study and make dinner! Have a great night everyone!

The Chicken Wings' Healthy Sister

2013-01-16T17:34:00.000-08:00

Kyle and I had another eventful spinning date last night. We both weren't feeling the hottest before going, but thankfully we made it through with sweat filled shirts to prove it. You should have seen the faces of the people in the elevator when they saw how gross we are. Sorry neighbors, next time we will walk the 29 flights of stairs to spare you the sight.

I love spinning date nights, but I hate the 8 hour turn around before my next work out. Just let me tell you, my run this morning was slower than I would have liked, but at least I got my miles in. Some days that is all that matters.

On a different note, I received my study materials last night for my health coaching license. Woo! The main book is 700 or so pages, so it may take me a while to get through it, but I'm ready for the challenge.

Thanks for all of the great responses on my cauliflower pizza recipe. After enjoying that meal, I decided to venture a little more with the vegetable. One of Kyle's favorite indulgences are chicken wings, but he doesn't eat them often since they are not the healthiest (sorry if learning this just ruined your night). Well, I saw a recipe for buffalo cauliflower, and decided to see if a chicken wing fanactic would like them.

I am not a fan of anything spicy, so I didn't even try them, but Kyle loves them! Yes, you heard that... he loves buffalo cauliflower almost as much as its sinful sister the fried chicken wings. The recipe is very easy and the best part is they fill you up! They don't provide a lot of protein, but that flaw can be overlooked for this healthy snack.

Give this a try for your football parties this weekend!

Buffalo Cauliflower
Inspired by Edible Mosaic

Ingredients

1 Head of Cauliflower
1 C Milk
3/4 C Flour (I used whole wheat)
1 tsp Garlic Powder
Salt and Pepper
1/2 T Butter
1/2 C Hot Sauce (I used Frank's)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees and line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the milk, flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Cut the cauliflower into bite size pieces.
4. Dip each cauliflower piece into the flour mixture, and place on the baking sheet.
5. Spray the cauliflower with cooking spray to make them crispy. Then bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
6. While the veggies are baking, melt the butter in a small sauce pan. Once melted, add the hot sauce and mix together.
7. Once the cauliflower have cooked, toss them in the buffalo sauce and serve warm.

A Weekend of Firsts!

2013-01-14T12:01:00.002-08:00

Well, this weekend was a weekend of firsts. On Friday night, Kyle and I stayed in and I made my first cauliflower crust pizza. Before you start asking how I could "ruin" an American favorite, I will tell you that it tasted just like pizza!! It wasn't quite as crispy as I had hoped, but the flavor were all there. Even my pizza loving husband thought it was great!

Another first... I managed to go into Sports Authority without buying anything! Huge win for me. I also managed to go to the beautiful Nike store downtown and walked out with NOTHING. Let me tell you, it took everything out of my to not pick up a new pair of running spandex, but I resisted the urge. I hope my bank account is happy because it sure made me sad.

I will be buying these ASAP

I'm sure you're wondering why I would do such a thing, I'm asking myself that too. Basically I did it because I just made a hefty payment to get my health coach certification. That is a priority for now, but thankfully I work right down the street from the Nike store so I will be venturing out within the next month to get those adorable running spandex!

Anyway, back to this pizza. You have to give it a try! It is a great low carb version and if you put the right toppings on and limit the cheese it's pretty healthy. I would not recommend eating the entire pizza in one setting because there is a bit of cheese in the crust, but eat a couple pieces and a large salad and you are set for veggies.

Cauliflower Crust Pizza
Inspired by The Lighter Side

Ingredients

Crust:
1 Head or 2 Cups of Cauliflower Riced (processed in the food processor until it looks like rice)
2 C Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese
2 Eggs, beaten
1 Clove Garlic, minced
2 tsp Dried Oregeno

Toppings:
Pizza Sauce of Choice
Roasted Eggplant
Sauteed Onions and Peppers
Mozzarella Cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees
2. In a large bowl, combine all of your crust ingredients. Mix well until they are all combined.
3. Form two 9' pizza crusts on a sprayed baking sheet. Press down until they are about 1 inch in thickness.
4. Bake for 12-15 Minutes
5. Top with your desired toppings and bake for another 10 minutes. **

**If you really load on the ingredients, it will be hard to pick up your pizza without having the crust break. If you prefer a lot of toppings, just eat it with a fork, and you will be just fine.

Mountain Sick

2013-01-10T13:35:00.001-08:00

For some reason I am mountain sick today. I love looking out my window and seeing the city and Lake Michigan, but some days I crave the mountains. For those of you who don't know, I lived in Colorado for 6 months in 2010 while interning for USA Triathlon. It was a dream.

I decided to go through some of my old Colorado pictures today. Bad idea! It made me miss it even more. I figured I'd share my flashback with you too!

Snowshoeing in Estes Park. Little did I know, my husband would propose to me here 3 months later:)

The incline. It's 1 mile of stairs straight up the side of a mountain. I am in love with it!

After completing the incline.

Hiking with Liz. She's training for the next summer Oympics.

Well, I'm done taking a journey down memory lane. I miss the serenity, the beauty, and most of all the killer workouts I had in those mountains. God has blessed me.

Add Some Fitness to you Relationship

2013-01-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

Tuesday nights have now become date nights for Kyle and me. These are not your typical romantic date nights, though. Instead of going out for dinner, we go to spinning class together! How's that for romance? It's especially attractive when we both walk out of there a hot mess sweating from head to toe. Ha. I love it!

I've always been a huge spinning fan, but our gym doesn't have many classes in the morning when I like to work out. A couple weeks ago Kyle agreed to try it out, and he became hooked. Now, it's become a weekly routine. We also decided to still get up early that day and work out, do yoga, or spend thirty minutes together enjoying coffee/tea.

After class I didn't feel like cooking, so we ate some leftover Green Chile Zucchini Egg Bake that I made on Saturday. We also shared a green smoothie to top the night off. It was a perfect night:)

I know you are curious about the egg bake we had, so don't worry I'm going to give you the recipe! It's delicious! I got the recipe from Carrie and Brandon over at Our Life In Food. I love it because it incorporates cottage cheese to increase the protein, and the green chiles add a very unique flavor.

Give it a try and let me know what you think. Also I highly suggest adding a little bit of fitness to your relationship! I always say couples that workout together stay together. It's always great to have someone push you a little harder and to hold you accountable. I feel like I get some of my best workouts with Kyle because I am so competitive that I try to beat him at everything.

Green Chile Zucchini Egg Bake
Inspired by Our Life in Food

Ingredients

10 Large Eggs
1 1/2 C Zucchini, grated and squeezed dry with a paper towel
1 4oz Can Green Chiles
1 C Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 C Low Fat Cottage Cheese
Salt and Pepper to Taste

Instructions

1. Set your oven to 400 degrees.
2. Whisk 10 eggs in a large bowl until well mixed.
3. Add in the remaining ingredients and stir until all combined.
4. Spray a 9x13 pan, and pour the eggs into the pan.
5. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the middle is set.

Big Announcements!

2013-01-07T14:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday! I had one of the most relaxing weekends in a long time. Unfortunately it was so relaxing because I was taking care of my sick husband, but it gave me plenty of time to catch up on some reading and to take down my Christmas decorations.

I hope your week is off to a good start. Like the rest of the world, I usually hate Mondays, but today I jumped out of bed with no second thoughts. I think it's because I knew that I got to wear my new Lululemon shirt to the gym (confessions of a gym rat). That Lulu shirt also motivated me to run an extra timed mile at the end of workout just for fun. Who knew a new workout shirt could do so much?

I have some pretty exciting news for you guys!! Drum roll please....

1. I am now the Chicago ambassador for Claim Your Journey. CYJ is an amazing running initiative that started in Louisiana. The whole goal of the organization is to get people of all shapes, sizes, and athletic abilities to run! I know that running can be intimidating, but my goal is to help get you over your fears and to continue to grow the Chicago running community.

CYJ is doing an Instagram contest right now. Head over to their website to see how you can win a pair of Brooks Running shoes and other great prizes!

2. Another big announcement! I just ordered all of my study materials through ACE to become a certified health coach. I have been praying a lot about whether or not I should take this path, and I feel as though God finally opened the door today. At this point in time my future with it is unclear, but I am excited to study and learn (I'm a huge nerd like that).

Leave it to my sister to ask if I was pregnant via Twitter. Gosh she makes me laugh.

Well, I'd say this Monday is off to a good start. An Irish win would be icing on the cake! Cheers to a healthy week!

A Week in Wine Country

2013-01-03T13:47:00.000-08:00

Well, as I said in my last post, I am back from vacation. My mom and step dad rented a house in Napa, California as a Christmas gift to my sisters and our significant others, so we spent the week exploring Napa and Sonoma while enjoying a lot of fine wine!

The amazing house! The pictures don't even do it justice.

Wine country is such a beautiful place. The mountains and vineyards literally left me speechless at times. You know what else left me speechless? Running... It was so hard to run near our house because it was literally all straight up the side of a mountain. Rough, but a fun challenge!

Because the run kicked my butt, Kyle and I opted to do a little improvised backyard workout one day. We did a lot of dips, push ups, quick feet drills, squats, lunges, jumping jacks, and chair lifts. Yes, chair lifts. My wonderful husband invented these after deciding that we needed to work the shoulders. Basically, its like doing a plate raise, but with a chair. I was actually sore from doing them.

Mad props to the hubs for utilizing the patio furniture.

Here are some other highlights from our trip:

Jeff surprised us with a limo for the day! Abbey and Tyler were excited!

My mom and I enjoying wine and cheese at Rams Gate Winery

Abbey was tired of wine, so Frias gave her beer in a wine glass.

Private wine tasting with Rick from Amphora. We got to taste straight from that barrel.

One of the stores I went to gave me this piece of chocolate because I didn't need a bag. Every place should do this!

The hubs and I at Chateau Montelena

Hiking at the Red Wood Forest. We thought it was just going to be a little trail walk, but it was literally straight up a mountain. So pretty!! Excuse my non hiking clothes, we went wine tasting after. Andy, did you know these Brooks handle the mountains like a gem?

The Red Wood Forest. The trees were seriously 300 feet tall! I stood in awe of God's creation!

Kyle and I at Coppola.

We spent one day exploring San Fran. Of course we had to take the cable car!

Rick from Amphora filling me up from the barrel. I may of had too much at this point.

I took so many pictures, but I think you can get an idea of what our trip consisted of. Wine, food, mountains, and vineyards. It was a little piece of Heaven. I actually just saw that the Sweat Pink Sonoma group is planning a day in the vineyards soon. For those of you who get to join, have fun! It is seriously a little piece of paradise!

Cheers to a New Year!

2013-01-02T08:18:00.000-08:00

I'm back!! Sorry for my silence the past couple of weeks. I was in Napa, California enjoying wine country with my family. I cannot even begin to explain how much I love that place! I will give a full recap in a future blog post, but first things first, Happy New Year!

I hope 2013 is treating you well so far. It greeted me with a little stomach bug/food poisoning (not sure which one it is) . That made the plane ride home from Cali a little rough. Yep, even got to use the barf bag on the plan....embarrassing... I'm still recovering today, but hopefully I'll feel better soon.

What are you 2013 goals? I've done some thinking, and here are my goals for the upcoming year:

Fitness Goals

Run at least two 10 miler races (Lakefront 10 and Soldier Field 10)
Run at least two half marathons
Beat my half marathon PR
Run the Chicago Marathon
Work on listening to my body more

Personal Goals

Spend more time in the Word everyday with Kyle
Strive to find the bright side in every situation
Pick up my phone more to call my friends rather than just rely on text messaging them all the time
Start to volunteer more
Indulge in She Reads Truth devotionals everyday

I'm sure I'll be adding to that list as the year goes on, but for now I think I am off to a good start. Remember, keeping your New Years goals is all about baby steps. You can't expect to become the healthiest person alive in a week. It takes time, but in that time you will progress along the way. Cheers to a new year!

Merry Christmas Eve

2012-12-24T06:20:00.002-08:00

Merry Christmas Eve! Kyle and I celebrated our Christmas together on Friday before heading back to the South Bend area for our family get togethers. He really surprised me this year and gave me a running Garmin, Lulu yoga strap (I've been procrastinating getting one for 2 years), Davids Tea infuser with tea, Brooks running ear warmer, and an Anthropolgie gift card. I am one happy runner!

The best gift is coming on Wednesday when we head to Napa for one week!! My mom and step dad decided they would take us all on a trip for our Christmas gift. I cannot wait! They go there a lot, and I have heard nothing but great things about it. They rented this beautiful house to stay in, so we are all really excited! I plan on taking a lot of pictures for you guys, but will most likely not be blogging until after I get back. Sorry! I promise to come back with some great posts to get you motivated for 2013.

In the mean time, enjoy your time with your family. Also, remember what this holiday is all about, the birth of our Savior. Before I head to the gym, I will leave you with some pictures from the past couple of days. Merry Christmas!

Kyle and my sister helped my adorable nephew cut out cookies with floured noses.

Korbin cutting out cookies.

My pup Ace just hanging by the tree.

Kyle, Abbey, and I had drinks with our favorite Anderson brothers! (our old volleyball coaches)

Holiday Drinks

2012-12-19T10:42:00.000-08:00

It's starting to get cold in the Windy City. I know I shouldn't complain since we are just now getting our first snow (it usually comes in November), but I am not mentally prepared for cold weather. Oh, well here goes nothing!

Thankfully, I have plenty of Choice Organic Teas to keep me warm. Remember last week when I told you that Choice Organic Teas sent me 96 tea bags?! Yeah, that will last me a while. On Sunday, I decided to transform the black tea into a Pumpkin Chai Latte. It was delicious! You can omit the pumpkin and make it a regular chai tea if you are "pumpkined" out for the year, and you can also change up the the skim milk with any milk alternative.

Another thing that I've become obsessed with these past couple days is Earth Balance Soy Nog. I am not a huge fan of eggnog, but this one has blown me away. Kyle loves the holiday drink, so I figured this would be a better alternative to the original fat filled version. This one only has 80 calories per serving and 1.5 grams of fat!

I was a little nervous to see if he would like it because he's not a huge soy milk fan, but he loves it! It's also on sale for $2 at Whole Food this week, so looks like we will be taking another trip back. I'm thinking about transforming it into a holiday protein shake. Carrots N Cake recently made one with Fitmixer and the Soy Nog, so maybe that's in the near future?

Have a great fit day, and stay warm!

Pumpkin Chai Tea Latte
Serves 1
Ingredients

1 C Skim Milk
1/2 T Maple Syrup
2 T Pumpkin Puree
Pinch of Cinnamon
Pinch of Cloves
Pinch of Ginger
1 Black Tea Bag

Instructions

1. Bring the milk, syrup, and spices to a slight simmer in a medium sized pan.
2. Stir occasionally until the milky becomes frothy.
3. Remove from heat and steep the tea bag for 3-4 minutes.
4. Remove the tea bag and serve immediately.

May Your Miles Be Merry

2012-12-18T07:50:00.000-08:00

There is only one week until Christmas, but the celebrations have already started in our house. We had our 2nd annual friend's Christmas with Amy and Jeff on Sunday and played games, watched football, ate chicken chili, and exchanged gag gifts.

I forgot to take a picture of everyone's gifts, but I did get a picture of the ornament Amy got me. It says "May all your Miles be Merry." I may keep it out all winter to remind me to get out there and run despite the cold. In all reality it should say: "Kelsey, get your butt outside in the fifteen degree weather and RUN."

I also received cookies and an ornament from Sarah over at the thefitcookie.com. Sarah is a fellow Girls Gone Sporty Ambassador, and we were lucky enough to get paired up for the cookie/ornament exchange. Sarah, your gift is on it's way. Enjoy!

Is anyone still with me on the push up challenge? I can defiantly feel myself getting stronger from doing 50 fifty push ups a day. Here is a new push up variation for you to try.

1. Start by doing a normal push up.

2. Once you are done with your first push up, open up into a full side plank. Be sure to really keep your core activated. This will help to keep your hip high and tone your obliques. Hold the side plank for about 3 seconds than go back into your next push up.

3. Alternate sides for a total of 20 reps.

Aim for 50 push ups a day! You've got this, we only have 2 more weeks of push ups! Embrace the burn.

Our Lord Will Provide

2012-12-17T07:12:00.001-08:00

I'm sorry that I have been MIA for a few days. In the midst of the tragedy in Connecticut, I kind of found myself at a loss for words and with no motivation to write. Every time I turn on the TV I continue to be shocked with the news and the evil in the world, but I also find myself amazed at the strength of the people involved.

Source

I continue to pray for the families and friends of everyone involved. I pray that God will calm their minds, surround them with His loving embrace, and continue to give them strength during these difficult times. This world has a lot of evil in it, but everyday is also filled with hope and I trust that our Lord will continue to provide and care for us during these difficult moments.

I have decided to join hundreds of other bloggers in a day of silence on my blog. I will be back tomorrow with some great posts to get your week started on the right foot, but for today, I will spend my time with my loved ones and our Lord in prayer.

Welcoming Year 24

2012-12-12T14:09:00.001-08:00

Well, yesterday I celebrated my 24th birthday. Bet that makes you feel young mom and dad. I started it out on the right foot with a 7 mile run followed by protein oats and chocolate milk. I honestly wanted the chocolate milk to aid in my recovery, but part of me also wanted it to keep my inner kid alive.

Mom sent me another Edible Arrangement. I am obsessed with these!

Kyle defiantly spoiled me with: a Kindle, lululemon No Limits tank, Brooks Utopia Thermal Running Jacket, flowers, and tickets to Second City Comedy. All in all, it was a wonderful birthday! Thanks to everyone who called, texted, tweeted, Facebooked, sent cards, etc. You all made me feel very special! I am so excited to try out my new workout gear, and I already downloaded Drop Dead Healthy onto my Kindle. Needless to say, I am one happy girl.

New running jacket - It's a vino color and so warm for winter running!

Oh, I also forgot to mention that Choice Organic Teas sent me 6 boxes of tea to try the day before my birthday! I now have 96 bags of tea aka I feel like I should open an Argo Tea out of my condo. Maybe I should throw a tea party and let my English side out. My grandma would be so proud! Stay tuned for a review once I get the chance to try them all.

Have a great night everyone, and make sure you get your 50 push ups in! My friend Andy texted me yesterday mentioning how hard the Spider man push ups are, but he loves them too!! Try them out, and remember there is nothing wrong with being strong!

Spider Man Push Ups

2012-12-10T12:17:00.000-08:00

It's week 2 of "Pushing Through December." Have you guys been staying on top of your push ups? I'll admit, most days I dread doing them, but that's all part of the challenge. This week, I have a new push-up for you to try. Let's aim for 50 push ups a day this week, and try to mix it up with regular and Spider Man push ups (explained below).

I first saw Spider Man push ups while working out at the Olympic Training Center. The USA Wrestling team would do them every day, and I figured I never had the strength to do them. Well, I proved myself wrong, and actually started to love the push ups because they incorporate your entire core, especially your obliques aka love handles. Be sure to keep your abs sucked in tight to your navel while doing this exercise to resist using your back too much.

1. Start in your standard push up position with your core engaged.

2. While lowering into push up position lift and bend your right knee towards your right elbow. You may not get your leg very far, but any little motion helps. Push up back in to your starting position and repeat this on the left side. Continue to repeat until you've reached a total of 10-14 push ups.

Give these challenging but rewarding push ups a try this week, and aim for the goal number of 50 push ups a day. Don't try to be spider man and get all 50 done in one time. Break it up into segments. This will make you dread them less! Cheers to a new week of fueling strong!

It's the Holiday Season

2012-12-07T09:30:00.002-08:00

Happy Friday! I love Fridays, but today is even better since Kyle and I took a vacation day. We don't have anything in particular planned other than a good workout!

Last night we had our company holiday party. We started the party off with a gift exchange and company awards. I got the Jog and Blog award since I am the only person in the office who wakes up at the crack of dawn to run before work. I will proudly be displaying that trophy in my office!

Jamie and I created this masterpiece. That's our SVP and boss.

After the awards and a quick game of Battle of the Sexes we went to The Publican. For those of you who live in Chicago, I highly recommend it! We ate in their private area in the grocery store, but they also have a really neat restaurant. I wish I took pictures of the food we had, but I was too busy eating it. I had the Sea Bass with leeks in a vinaigrette and sage roasted acorn squash. It was amazing, other than the large fish bone that I nearly pierced my tongue with on accident.

This is the grocery section of The Publican.

Well, I am off to do an interval workout. I'm planning on running a 30 minute fartlek with 2 minutes on and 1 minute easy. Then followed by 2 miles at race pace. Here goes nothing!

Cha-Cha-Cha Chia!

2012-12-05T11:56:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, I found my newest obsession... chia seed pudding! It has the same texture as tapioca pudding, but it's healthy! It's main ingredient, is chia. Yep, the little seeds that turn into those quirky Chia Pets. Looks like our society is over the terracotta planters and now into the health benefits of the little seeds.

Chia has more omega-3 acids than salmon and one serving satisfies 18% of your daily calcium needs. Easy enough, right? You can mix them into yogurt, smoothies, oatmeal, cereal, etc. A lot of vegans even add them with water to replace eggs in baking dishes. I've yet to try that, but I may experiment soon.

Anyway, over the weekend I made Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding. I was a little questionable at first because the presentation didn't look the most greatest, but trust me, after one bite you will be hooked. It is perfect for a guilt free snack and/or dessert!

[Warning: if you are a texture person and don't like the texture of tapioca, you most likely will not enjoy this pudding.]

How are you guys doing on the Push Through December Challenge? It's day 4 of doing 40 push-ups a day, and I'm loving it! Kyle even decided to join me, so we hold each other accountable. If you haven't started yet, it's not too late! Strive to do 40 push-ups today and every day for the rest of December.You can simply do them between commercials tonight! Get after it!

Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding
Serves 1
Ingredients

1/2 C Vanilla Soy Milk
1/4 tsp Vanilla
2 T Chia Seeds
1/2 T Honey
Dash of Cinnamon

Instructions

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a ball jar or sealed container. Shake well to mix.
2. Chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours, overnight is best.

Push Through December

2012-12-03T11:34:00.001-08:00

The New Year will be here soon, and that means most will start to make their infamous New Years Resolutions. I always hate the New Year time because the gym gets really busy. Don't get me wrong, I love that people are getting back into the routine of working out, but I also really enjoy having the gym to myself at 5AM.

Anyway, why wait until the New Year to take control of your health? Now is a better time than ever to kick it in gear and finish out 2012 on a positive note. In honor of pushing through to the New Year, join me for a push-up challenge! Every week between now and January 1st, I will post different push-up variations for you to explore along with a goal number for each day.

You can do the push-ups all at one time or a couple a hour. It doesn't matter how you get to your number, but what does matter is getting there and making sure you have good form! Trust me, we will all feel the burn and want to quit, but DON'T! Embrace being uncomfortable and remember that you'll be building muscle! More muscle, means more calories burned... which means you'll burn off the holiday food faster!

For this week, we will start with normal push-ups. For those of you who have trouble with doing full push-ups, check out my previous post on perfecting the push-up. It's a hybrid between a full push-up and a "girl" or assisted push-up. The goal is 40 push-ups a day!

Let me know how you are doing in the comments below or on Twitter. Be sure to check back next week for a push-up variation and new challenge number.

Cheers to pushing through to the New Year Fueling Strong style!

Running Inspiration

2012-11-29T10:11:00.001-08:00

Lately, I've been on a big running kick. Usually, I like to mix up my cardio with cycling too, but these past two weeks all I want to do is run. Even when my body hurts! Do you ever have those days when your body feels tired, but your mind just craves a run? How do you get yourself out there despite feeling pain for the first thirty minutes?

Sure, it's all about a mind set, but I also think many of you can attest to having a running mentor that inspires you to get out there. For me, it's my dear friend Andy. I met Andy 4 or so years ago at Butler. Little did I know, he would soon inspire me to trade in my volleyball spandex for running spandex.

Andy was an honorary bridesmaid in our wedding aka an usher.

Andy is an avid runner and running shoe specialist. This kid watched me run one time, and started picking out shoes for me. For the past 4 or so years I've let him pick my shoes, and I must say he is a genius because my foot problems have disappeared. He now works as a Brooks Guru, and I often brag that I have my own Brooks Guru shoe specialist (every runners dream!)

So jealous that he gets to drive this around.

Speaking of Brooks, on Monday I got a lovely package with the Brooks Pure Cadence. I've been dying to try them out, and once I get them broken in you can expect a full review. For those of you who don't know about Brook's Pure Project line, they are minimalist shoes. Their new versions will be coming out next week, so check them out. Not only are they great running shoes, but the different colors are sure to make you stand out on the trail.

Anyway, Andy is defiantly my running inspiration, and not because he used to run in shorts in the middle of winter. More so because of his knowledge, and ability to help me get out of a running rut. On the days when I don't feel like running, I'll shoot him a text about something running or something shoe related and I instantly feel like running. Don't worry Andy, that's not the only reason why I text you.

Who is your running inspiration? If you don't have one yet, keep searching. You will find that one person that motivates you to hit the trail even when your mind is telling you "heck no!" Cheers to running happy!

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Month of Gratitude:
Today I am grateful for all of the lifelong friends I made in college. We all live in different areas, but manage to stay close despite the distance.

Thanksgiving Recap

2012-11-26T12:57:00.001-08:00

Happy Monday! It's back to reality after a nice long weekend. Sorry that this post is delayed, but it's better late than never! I'm happy to report that my first Thanksgiving was a success! We had a group of 9 that joined us in Chicago, and I was finally able to use all of my serving dishes! On the menu:

Appetizers:

Apple Brie Crostini
Stuffed Red Potato Bites (stuffed with light artichoke dip)
Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Pita Chips

Dinner

Turkey (I ordered it from Honey Baked Ham because I didn't want my oven to be taken up for 8 hours)
Cornbread and Turkey Sausage Stuffing
Mom's Mashed Potato Casserole
Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Parsnips
Field Green Salad with pomegranate seeds and feta
Homemade Orange Cranberry Sauce

Dessert

Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie

Dad carved the bird.

Everything turned out as planned, and I even shocked my guests by showing them that traditional Thanksgiving dishes can be made healthy! After dinner, we went to Second City for a holiday comedy show. For those of you in the area, I highly recommend seeing the Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue. You will literally cry from laughing so much!

Only half of our dinner

All in all, I love hosting! I've already been volunteered to host Thanksgiving every year, but we'll see what next year brings!

In the mean time, here is my recipe for the fruit salsa that I made for an appetizer. You can serve it with cinnamon pita chips, graham crackers, or just eat it by the spoonful! Enjoy!

Fruit Salsa

Ingredients

1 Pint of Strawberries
1 Large Honey Crisp Apple
2 Kiwi, Peeled
1 T All Natural Raspberry Preserves

Instructions

1. Dice the berries, apple, and kiwi
2. Mix together in a medium sized bowl
3. Add 1 T of raspberry preserves and mix well
4. Chill for 20 minutes and serve with cinnamon pita chips or graham crackers

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Month of Gratitude:
Today I am grateful for our Chicago "family." We moved to this city with no friends, and happened to stumble across a group of people through rugby, and have not separated yet! They are a crazy bunch, but I wouldn't trade them for anything!

Thanksgiving Hangover Cure

2012-11-23T10:36:00.001-08:00

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I had an amazing time with some of my family, and happy to say that everyone enjoyed my first Thanksgiving dinner! I'll give a brief recap on it in a later post with the recipes, but first and foremost, does anyone else have a Thanksgiving hangover? I'm not talking about your usual hangover, but instead one induced from eating too much.

Well, I plan on getting rid of it ASAP. A lot of people stay in the holiday mode until the New Year and end up gaining 5 or more pounds and never get rid of the "hangover." That is not in my plans!

I find the best way to get back on track is to start with a healthy breakfast. Give my Peanut Butter Baked Oatmeal a try. It's a wonderful mix of peanut butter, whole grains, and protein. You can add several mix-ins to this, but for this one I stuck with flax and raisins, and topped it with a banana and pomegranate seeds.

Give it a try to get rid of the Thanksgiving hangover. Now it's time for me to get a good workout in. Nothing gets ride of the Thanksgiving guilt like a good sweat out. Enjoy, and cheers to a Holiday season of taking control of your health.

Peanut Butter Baked Oatmeal
Serves 4

Ingredients

2 1/2 C Old Fashioned Oats
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 C Brown Sugar
2 Eggs, Beat
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 C Peanut Butter (Chunky or Smooth)
1/4 C Raisins (Optional)
2 T Flax Seed (Optional)
2 T Unsweetened Apple Sauce
1 1/2 C Skim Milk (or milk of choice)
1 tsp Vanilla

Instructions

1. Pre-heat the oven to 375 Degrees.
2. Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl.
3. Pour into an 8 inch square casserole dish.
4. Bake for 35 minutes. The oatmeal should be golden brown and firm in the middle.
5. Top with fresh fruit, and enjoy!

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Month of Gratitude:
Today I am thankful that God gave each of my sisters a different talent. We may be complete opposites at times, but we complement each other well.

Sweating Pink

2012-11-19T09:04:00.002-08:00

Happy Monday! You know what makes this Monday better than all of the other Mondays? It's a 3 day work week, now that is music to my ears!

I hope you all had a great weekend. This weekend, I upgraded my shoe collection with a pair of neon pink soccer cleats. Let me rewind really fast, I used to play soccer and loved it! Then, I was introduced to volleyball and had to decide between the two since they are in the same season. Obviously, volleyball trumped and took me on an amazing ride. That being said, last year I agreed to join some of our friends in what I thought was going to be a recreational soccer league. Yes, it was rec, but these people took it seriously! I personally just enjoyed running up and down the field. I vowed after last season to never play again, but of course the competitive side of me chose to play again this year.

Yes, I know the socks make this outfit even better. You should see Kyle's, they are Superman socks and literally have a cape flying off the back.

That being said, I decided to stop ruining my running shoes and bought some sweet cleats. On top of that, I'm also getting a little more serious about playing and actually getting better. Dad, I actually headed a ball this weekend just like the old days. I knew that'd make him happy. Anyway, the new pink cleats make me feel like Usain Bolt, so watch out others in the soccer league!

Anything is better in pink!

Speaking of pink.... I got asked to be a Sweat Pink Ambassador last week!! For those of you wondering what this means, I am now an ambassador for a healthy living community that believes:

"Kicking ass is best done in pretty shoes. We've learned that real women sweat and sweat hard! We know that assertiveness, strength, and ambition are the ultimate feminine qualities. We are convinced that sometimes it takes hours to get ready, but we're no strangers to rolling out of bed and going. We're convinced that we run fast in pink shoelaces. We believe in pushing ourselves, and we believe in giving ourselves a break too. We're all about the rush of endorphins and the thrill of the challenge. We're all for looking great and feeling even better. We're committed to finding our best fit, and making it stick."

I am so excited to be an ambassador for them and to continue to help others live a healthy lifestyle! Have a great week everyone and remember to stay committed to your fitness through the holiday season!

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Month of Gratitude:

I am grateful that I have grandparents who enjoy living a healthy lifestyle in their late 70's and that they have taught me that living a healthy lifestyle isn't just about eating healthy and being active. It's also about having time alone with God everyday.

I love how they will kayak for 3+ hours at a time like it's their job! It's not every day you have your grandpa begging you to go out with him to kayak in 6 foot waves for fun! God has surely blessed me, and I love learning from them as much as they love learning from me.

Health Freak Christmas Guide 2

2012-11-14T16:43:00.001-08:00

In my last post, I started my Health Freak Christmas Guide. It's a little cheat sheet for all of you who have fitness guru's to shop for. I've added a few more items for you to check out. Enjoy!

Health Freak Christmas Guide Volume 2

6. Garmin Forerunner 210 GPS Monitor
I've always admired Garmin's watches, but haven't gotten the nerve to spend $250+ on one yet. Yet is the key word there. I'm sure I will get one in the next year, if not this Christmas, because it will take my running to the next level. Personally, I know I'll get ultra competitive with the watch and try to up my pace more than I can with my normal sports watch. There are so many options, so before purchasing one, I suggest checking out DC Rainmaker. He does a full analysis of each watch from the packaging down to the little hidden features.

7. Therawheel
My friend's brother invented this gem. "Therawheel is the ONLY therapy product that rolls, glides, and compresses ANY soft tissue in ANY direction." Imagine a foam roller, but 100 times better. Their website is great because it offers videos and tips on how to use the Therawheel to aid in recovery and pain relief. This product is a must for your nagging pains and soreness after workouts!

8. Running Medal Display
For those of you who have a lot of medals, this is a great way to display them! You can hang it in your office, home gym, or heck be proud and hang it in the living room! Where ever you decide to put it, you can be sure that it will serve as a constant motivation to get back out there and keep racing!

9.Marathon Jewelry
You can't wear your medal around your neck everyday, but you can boast this beautiful piece of jewelry. I plan on buying this just to keep me motivated for my first marathon. Have pride in your successes!

10. Cyclists Ornament
Don't forget about the cyclists and triathletes out there. This pewter ornament would be great to top a gift with or for a stocking. The best part is, at $11.50 it won't break the bank!

I hope you all enjoy these gift ideas. Let me know what is on your list in the comments below! I'm always looking for things to add to my wish list!

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Month of Gratitude:
This morning while eating breakfast I realized how grateful I am that I have choices in regards to what I eat. I can eat oatmeal, eggs, etc...many people are given one choice, eat what's in front of them or starve to death. Thank you Lord for providing for me.

Health Freak Christmas Guide

2012-11-12T14:50:00.001-08:00

I'm not one to start my Christmas shopping early because I have a really hard time holding on to the gifts before Christmas. Just ask my mom, I'm pretty sure every year she gets her gifts a week early just because I cannot contain my excitement. I almost did the same thing with my 2 year old nephew this weekend. I took him to the Disney store and had to really hold myself back from buying him every little thing he asked for. Luckily I showed a little self control.

He tried to fit every stuffed animal in his arms.

With Christmas right around the corner I'm sure some of you are wondering what you should get that friend of yours that is a health freak, gym rat, and yoga pants collector (hmm...that sounds like me). Well, you could walk around your local running store or Sports Authority all day trying to find the perfect gift, or you could just make life simple and pick from my list below.

I have a couple of the items below, but there also a lot of the items that I want to buy (hint: Kyle).Please note that I not paid by any of these brands to promote their items. This wish list was generated by me as a girl who loves workout products!

A Fitness Guru's Wish List
1. Athleta Odyssey Chatarunga Yoga Knickers
Kyle bought me these a couple months ago, and I am obsessed! I wear them for yoga, pilates, running, cleaning, grocery shopping, and pretty much every other activity that permits yoga pants. They are true to size, and relatively affordable for yoga pants. I own them in charcoal but I'm always open to other colors! A girl can never have too many pairs of yoga pants!

2. Women's Nightlife Essential Run Jacket II
For those of you who live in the Midwest, I'm sure you find yourself running in more darkness than day light. That is why this jacket is a perfect holiday purchase! If you buy the yellow one, you are bound to stick out in any crowd while running, so it's perfect for running safety! I personally, want the pink one, but that's just because it matches my running shoes! I have not tried this jacket yet, but from the reviews it seems to be breathable and "doesn't stick to sweaty arms." That's a big seller for me because I have one jacket that I love to wear running, but post runs I have to peel that sucker off.

3. Road ID
Another runner safety product. I bought one of these after hearing that my heart was enlarged and because you can never be too cautious as a runner. I have the Wrist ID Elite, and I love it. It fits similar to a watch, and you size it yourself.

4. Lululemon No Limits Tank
Now, this is one of the top things on my wish list. I love Lululemon's workout tops and I've seen a lot of women at the gym with this one. A lot of workout tops claim to have built in bras, but they don't offer a lot of support. This one appears to offer the same support as an actual sports bra, and I must admit it looks super cute! There's nothing better than looking good at the gym because it really boosts your confidence and improves your workout.

5. Yoga Towel
Somehow I have managed to do yoga for the past 5 years without one of these amazing towels. I always say that I need to pick one up, but somehow I manage to never do it. These towels are great for enhancing your yoga practice and ensuring you don't slip when doing arm balances and headstands. Check it out, and while you're buying it send one my way too!

I will share 5 more ideas with you in another post this week. Stay tuned!

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Month of Gratitude:
Today I am thankful to live in such a beautiful place. I am daily amazed at how much God has blessed me by letting me in live in the city of Chicago. I am so thankful that He has allowed me wake up every morning and look out my window at the lake and city. God is so good to me.