Sweet Success: These yummy bars take the cake and keep you slim.

Carrot-Cake Bars:
Recipe from Eat Right - Lighten Up, Fitness Magazine (June 2011)
I used a different pan than suggested because I didn't have a 15x10inch baking pan. I used a 9x13inch to make my Carrot-Cake Bars and they turned out just as delicious! It only took approximately 20 minutes total to bake mine, inserted a toothpick and it came out smoothly. However, as delicious as these bars are, they are by far the most frustrating thing I have baked so far -- I hated shredding the carrots -- my grater might not be as sharp, would be easier if I had a food processor. Some of the carrots, I grated, until I lost patience, I then finely chopped the rest. 


Makes: 36 Bars
Prep time: 20 Minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes

Non stick cooking spray
2 Cups all-purpose flour
1 Cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup slightly beaten egg whites (7-8 eggs)
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup cooking oil
3 cups finely shredded carrot
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
8 oz reduced-fat cream cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350. Coat a 15-by-10inch baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda.
3. In a medium bowl, stir together egg whites, applesauce and oil. Stir into flour mixture. Stir in shredded carrot.
4. Spread batter in the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
5. In a medium bowl, beat together sifted powdered sugar and cream cheese until smooth.
6. Spread frosting over the carrot cake; slice into 36 bars.

Nutrition facts per bar: 125 calories, 2 g protein, 21 g carbohydrate, 4 g fat (1 g saturated), 0 g fiber

Saucy Secret: Applesauce is used in place of half the oil to slash fat. 

Grate idea: Three cups of shredded carrots supply fiber and beta-carotene.

Fat Fake-out: Omitting butter from the cream-cheese frosting reduced calories and fat. 

Raise the Bar: Spice up these treats by adding a flavorful ingredient or two

Sprinkle half a cup of chocolate chips on the frosted bars.

Stir half a cup of chopped walnuts into the icing.

Mix a cup of diced pineapple into the batter. 

.:hiding in my shell:.

Have you have ever seen a turtle draw back into his shell, hiding from whatever is out there? I feel like I have drawn back into mine in the past week or so. I have been at a stand still with the blog, trying to figure out what to write in regards to running.

All the effort and progress we made in the first month I feel like I have lost in the past week and a half, nearly two weeks now. Two Wednesdays ago I was sick with a horrible headache and a nauseated stomach, so we didn't run. We also decided that it might be a good time to take a small break because Nick had been enduring shin splints that he couldn't shake - making runs painful and hard to bear. That break turned into a lull and any gain in strength and feeling physically fit, I have lost. I know it's there, I know I can gain it back faster because we have been training for a month, but I am having a challenging time getting back into the routine of it. We ran this past Wednesday, planned on running Friday, but chose not to due to the fact that I didn't get home from work until 11:45pm and had to be back at work at 7:00am. Saturday, Nick worked a double and so I decided to go for a run by myself. I made it through 25 minutes of 30 minutes of our training. The whole workout that day was yet again, a mind game for me; conclusion drawn from that night - I'm not meant to run by myself, or I seriously need to figure out how to run by myself and not psych myself out. Nick believes I need to try running with music and see if that will help me -- just need to look into an armband for my ipod. Today we are scheduled for another run, just waiting for Nick to wake up and we'll head out.

As far as feeling physically more fit, aka feeling more self conscious this week, I have eaten like crap and feel like I am physically back at where I was before we started running. I noticed that since we haven't been keeping up with our program everyday, I have eaten like crap. Making poor choices in what I snack on and how often I have snacked. I ended up going back to the store on Saturday and stocked up on fruit again, hoping to make better choices. Just stuck in a rut and I need to jump out of it.

I think the hardest part of facing these past two weeks is the fact that in running I had received so much encouragement by those who I was also encouraging, and I feel  like the last two weeks have been a let down. I haven't wanted to write about my struggle because I want to believe that I haven't struggled and that I am getting through it; I wanted to believe that I am not sinking back to square one. The more I think about it though, the more I realize I am human and I will have moments -- as  I have written before in this blog. I am not, by any means, perfect, and there are days where I am fighting. But as I had written in an earlier post, I think we need to feel these challenges and have these moments where we realize our weaknesses and our strengths. These challenges will teach me what I am capable of and where I need to improve. The temptations shine through it and I only learn what to watch for next time I might go through a trial such as this. So through this, I just hope that I bring some encouragement through my trial. I feel like I have had many, but I haven't lost it all. I'll regain my motivation and endurance.

Growing peppers and flowering beans.

Our pepper plants are beaming with little peppers and our beans are flowering! 

Not the greatest picture but there is a tiny jalapeno growing! There is actually two, but only have one picture. 

The Green Bean Flowers

And of course we have to show off our garden gnome - courteous of Nick's coworkers!

(Nick believes that our little garden friend is bringing us luck)

.::.Love. True Love.::.

I love this photo! It's a big news hit right now, captured in the middle of Vancouver riots after Stanley Cup defeat. 

Make love not war. 

Sort of reminds me of this photo...

Kissing the War Goodbye

not really a crafty person...

...but I thought this was a neat idea. This idea might save some money, I'm not really sure and haven't worked it out in my head. I do know that I only do about 2 loads of laundry a week and I don't think that I would really save money using this method. However, if we had kids and were doing multiple loads a week, maybe it would be more cost efficient. Other than that, these DIY dryer sheets could be a baby step into greener living. If anyone gives it a try, let me know how they turn out and if you notice a difference when using them. 

The first method to making them, I found in (excuse the language) "The Big Ass Book of Crafts", written by Mark Montano. 

What you need:

-1 Yard of Cotton Fabric

-Pinking Shears

-Empty Spray Bottle

-1 Bottle of Fabric Softener (If you use a concentrated softener, mix one part softener and one part water)

-Optional: Sewing Machine with zigzag stitch capability - sew a stitch around the edges to prevent fraying.

What to do:

-Cut your fabric into 8x8in squares using your shears

-Sew the edges if you choose

-Fill your spray bottle with the fabric softener 

-When your ready to do a load of laundry, spray a square 6 to 8 times and throw in the dryer with clothes. 

-Wash your squares every once in a while to remove build up - squares should last for years (according to Mark Montano)

I have searched for other methods in making them, here are the sites:

-Using recycled fabric and a repurposed baby wipes container

-Similar but letting them dry out before using them. P.s. I love the laundry room photo!

"Running is as much for the tortoise as for the hare."

     "When I started running in the 1970s, we didn't run for fitness," says nine-time NYC Marathon winner Grete Waitz. "Nobody jogged. The health aspect of running didn't even exist in those days."
     Now running is as much for the tortoise as for the hare. No matter your size, shape, age, or ability, you'll find a place in the sport, and you might find someone like Waitz standing at the roadside cheering for you. She started a women's race in Norway that attracts more than 25,000 runners annually. "I wanted to encourage all women by downplaying the competition and by letting them know that it's not embarrassing to go slow," says Waitz."
     Running is both convenient and efficient, providing one of the best workout bangs for the buck. Half an hour spent running will burn more calories and provide a better cardiovascular workout than 30 minutes spent doing almost anything else. It strengthens muscles and bones and builds endurance. For women seeking fitness benefits in a limited amount of time, running can't beat.

**Taken from page 262-263 of Runner's World: Complete Book of Beginning Running by Amby Burfoot

We are rolling into week 4 of our training program. This week, being week 4, it is supposed to look like this:

Monday: Run 8 min; Walk 1 min; Repeat 3X; Run 3min

Tuesday: Walk easy 30 min

Wednesday: Run 9 min; Walk 1 min; Repeat 3X

Thursday: Walk easy 30 min

Friday: Run 10 min; Walk 1 min; Repeat 2X; Run 8 min

Saturday: Run 11 min; Walk 1 min; Repeat 2X; Run 6 min

Sunday: Rest

But instead, it has looked like this so far: 

Monday: Run 3 min;  Walk 1 min; Repeat 5X

Tuesday: Walk easy 30 min

Wednesday: Run  3 min; Walk 1 min; Repeat 5X

And we actually started doing this last week Wednesday, so we have changed our training program for about a week now. Three minutes does not seem like that long of a time interval to run, but we are doing it for a few different reasons. We feel like our endurance level hasn't been built up to where it needs to be and we have also been experiencing different physical struggles. Nick has been dealing with shin splints and there was a point (as posted before hand) where I was physically and mentally exhausted. So we backed down a little bit to listen to our bodies. Sometimes thinking about this, I feel a bit wimpy or weak, but then I remember what a coworker said to me, "When I see people out running or exercising, I don't judge them, because at least they are doing something." And I agree! At least we are moving and working on it. I love our program and the book, but we have also kept in mind our personal challenges and how we feel. We have talked about whether we have pushed ourselves too fast, maybe we should have stuck with the 24 week training program where week 4 looks like this: 

Monday: Run 2min; Walk 2 min; Repeat 7X; Run 2 min

Tuesday: Walk easy 30 min

Wednesday: Run 2 min; Walk 2 min; Repeat 7X; Run 2 min

Thursday: Walk easy 30 min

Friday: Run 2 min; Walk 2 min; Repeat 7X; Run 2 min

Saturday: Run 2 min; Walk 2 min; Repeat 7X; Run 2 min

Sunday: Rest

But I am not sure if we would feel as challenged in this program. There are a few things that we question when it comes to our bodies and how we feel emotionally, mentally, and physically. All I know is that we started training 4 weeks ago and other than some bumps, we are doing it and we are learning to take care of ourselves. Running gives flexibility and allows you to be challenge yourself when needed. It doesn't matter how you run (to some extent), what you look like, or  when you do it, you are doing it! Nick and I have had a quote over the past 4 weeks, "It doesn't matter if we finish pretty, as long as we finish." Let me tell you, I am definitely not fast and I most definitely turn red as tomato and sweat!! But I am going to finish! 

 

Apple Sandwiches.

I came across this sweet healthy snack from another blog, Cook Happy, and I thought it looked delicious! Haven't tried it yet, but I thought I'd share!

Apple Sandwiches

I borrowed the recipe from Whole Foods Market

2 small apples, cored and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch thick rounds 
1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional) 
3 tablespoons peanut or almond butter 
2 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips 
3 tablespoons granola

If you won’t be eating these tasty treats right away, start by brushing the apples slices with lemon juice to keep them from turning brown. 

Spread one side of half of the apple slices with peanut or almond butter then sprinkle with chocolate chips and granola. Top with remaining apple slices, pressing down gently to make the sandwiches. Transfer to napkins or plates and serve.

Growing garden.

Our garden is growing!! I keep hoping to wake up and see little green beans sprouting, but I know our little plants have some more growing to do. For now here is some progress photos, geeky maybe, but I love it!

Our Romaine Lettuce

Our poor jalapeno plant that was attacked by the ferocious Mogli

Green bean plants!! I am most excited about these! 

One of our pepper plants -- we have red, orange, and yellow peppers! Yahoo for fajitas and stir fry!! You can see the little pepper flower underneath the leaves. 

Nick spent some time staking our plants, they're growing tall and when peppers start to grow, the stalks won't be strong enough to support the peppers on their own. 

More Romaine! 

Our iceberg lettuce starting to curl -- not too sure if it has enough room yet, might need to move it to a bigger pot? Any thoughts? 

Feel challenged.

Nick and I went for another run tonight, I felt strong and healthy tonight but Nick was struggling. It's kind of funny how it has worked out, last week I was in the middle of a break down and this week he is definitely feeling the challenge. As we were running tonight I was thinking about challenge and what it might mean to me or others. I think we need to feel challenged and we are meant to have it in our life. We aren't meant to be stagnant and to live a life that isn't moving. When we were running tonight we ran by a small drainage pond that was full of muck and slime, water that had no filtration and it wasn't flowing anywhere. Last week I was at my wits end. I was emotional and was being pushed beyond what I felt I could handle, but I made it and this week I feel stronger than ever. If I would have given up last week I don't know if I would have realized what I am capable of. There have been times in my life where I was like the drainage pond, where things in life were pouring into mine, whatever it may be and I have had no way to rid myself of it. There has been times where I was stagnant, not moving and not challenging myself. These were the times where I was at my worst and not moving at the pace I could be. These times aren't over, there will be times in my life again where I might be stressed or overwhelmed with whatever may come my way, but I can't let it stop me. I need to keep pushing and live my life. I can't stop and allow myself to become stuck in the mire. God has given me a life to live and breathe. It is a gift to be here and to have the body I have. To have the ability to run is an amazing thing. To think that God created every little intricate muscle and fiber that allows me to run and have that freedom to make that choice! Why not move? No matter how you do it or how I do it, move! Feel challenged and know that you are capable of becoming the best you are created to be. Believe and have patience for when you are going through trials -- this is a life lesson to myself as well.

"Sometimes you wear stretchy pants..."

Earlier on I wrote about Nick's birthday dinner but was unable to post pictures ... I have a picture now!! :) The dinner was amazing (according to him), I'm not a seafood fan -- although I did enjoy Mahi Mahi on our honeymoon. So here I have posted a picture of his glorious lobster dinner from his birthday dinner at The B.O.B - Gilly's -- it was a free Lobster dinner that would typically cost $33. We suggest to anyone who is a seafood fan to take advantage of this!!

The amazing lobster -- I personally felt bad for the poor little fella. 

My dinner was amazing as well! I ordered filet mignon - it was served on a bed of fern fronds, they weren't that great. 

After dinner we went to a White Caps game, they didn't win but, Nick caught a game ball! 

My handsome man! :) 

LASTLY -- my running picture! I think I had wrote in an earlier post about our running gear -- it has truly helped me feel even more like a runner! And I feel better about myself exercising in it. I would suggest to all who want to exercise or run and feel good about it, to invest in some great exercise clothes. I think it helps you prepare yourself and be more motivated. I mean, who really feels cute in a baggy old cotton tshirt and stretchy pants??? --  Nacho Libre - Stretchy Pants  

P.s. Don't mind the crazy animals -- it was a hot night. 

Just keep running, just keep running...

I haven't felt very motivated to write since my last post. A couple of reasons, mostly all due to frustration. My string of bad runs began last Friday night when we went out for a run, after I came home from work at 11:00pm. From Friday on, I had three miserable runs. Friday night I was just mad and frustrated with how tired I was, I was crabby and was taking it out on Nick -- at one point he said to me, "If you are just going to be mad at me, then we don't have to talk right now", I caught myself and told him that I wasn't mad at him, just myself. We ran Saturday evening and it was incredibly hot outside, the run started off with Nick having some issues with a shin splint and so we took a 10 minute break to hydrate and gather ourselves before we headed back out. I felt like I had gotten caught in a mental trap and wasn't able to get out of it; I was angry at myself for feeling so tired and for allowing myself to be in the shape I am in. I was battling my breathing and my mind, I went into panic mode and in the second to last run interval I broke down and started to cry. I felt like a wimp and was in a "woe is me" mindset. Nick helped me finish off that run stronger and I shook it off, hoping that after a day of rest I could pull myself together. We went to Kalamazoo on Sunday/Monday to visit with Nick's side of the family and I thought that maybe with a change of scenery, we would have a good run. We went running in beautiful Celery Flats, great trails and nature all around -- started running and along came the frustrations and mind trap -- I was stuck in a rut and mad about it. I had another moment in the run and broke down, but finished the run. I had know idea what was wrong with me at that point and was frustrated because no matter how supportive Nick was, I felt like I was bringing him down. But he kept telling me that we were in it together no matter what. That equaled to 3 sucky runs in a row. We spent Monday helping Nick's mom move and decided on Tuesday to give ourselves a rest/break from the day before. Wednesday brought another run, I wasn't thrilled to run, but knew that we needed to keep going in order to not break our routine. It was 90 degrees yesterday (Wednesday); we had known this before hand, so we researched some local trails and decided to run at Ken-O-Sha Park off of 32nd and Kalamazoo in Grand Rapids -- I believe the trail is just over a mile and it was shaded for a majority of the run, so it was much cooler! We tied up our running shoes, hydrated, and headed out  -- and guess what? WE HAD A GREAT RUN! I broke the mental trap yesterday. There were some moments where I would start to focus on my breathing too much and I would ask Nick to start talking about something and it helped! As long as I wasn't over thinking, I was able to plug through it. Running on an asphalt path helped relieve some pressure off our bodies, cement is tougher to run on. We ran for a brief moment on a dirt trail and I loved the feeling of it, it was a lot softer and easier, maybe we will look into some more trails in the near future. We know that in this journey we will face hurdles and more mental blocks but, through the last three miserable runs, came a small victory and it is encouraging to know that there is a light at the end of it all -- just as there is in life.

Breathe.

I have found after a week and a half of our training that environment plays a key role in running -- expanding a little more, it's the scenery and places we run, the weather, along with the air we breathe while we are running. Last night we ran for 3 minutes, walked for 1 minute, and repeated 7 times; completing the night with a 2 minute run and a cool down walk. Last night was tough but it was easier than Monday. Monday was hot and humid, last night we had a cool breeze and the air wasn't thick. However, last night, we faced a different issue. We ran along 44th street, which we have done the last 2 runs, and noticed that the car exhaust was causing our nasal passages and throats to hurt as we were taking in air while running. We noticed it more last night than we had the two prior runs. Running along 44th has been nice because it was a change in scenery from our runs last week around the block. We are eager to explore more potential routes but living in Grand Rapids and doing one or two of our runs at night, if not all of them, we have to consider safe zones and where we should/n't run.

I also had another issue last night that I faced on Monday as well. At one point in the run I had issues with breathing. My breathing almost felt panicky and was hard to gain control of. It seems silly to me to ask because breathing seems like it should be the easier part of this training program -- any one who runs or exercises, do you have any suggestions in keeping a steady breath and how to breathe while running? It has happened both times towards the end of our run, and after walking for a minute I can gain some control again but it's still difficult. Does it better with time and continuous training?

On another not, we celebrated Nick's birthday yesterday! He turned 24! We woke up and I made him a birthday breakfast of french toast and bacon. We spent the day relaxing and opening gifts. For dinner, we went down town to the B.O.B. where we ate in a restaurant called Gilly's -- they give free Maine Lobster dinners to birthday customers! How awesome! Nick was totally geeked, the lobster kind of gave me the heebie jeebies but if you were a seafood fan, how could you not be excited about it? We took pictures but for some reason my computer is being stubborn and I am having a hard time uploading them. We went to our first White Caps game of the season as well, we sat in the lawn seats, surrounded by kids chasing each other around and middle school girls flirting with middle school boys; we had some laughs and enjoyed the evening together! Nick even caught a game ball and we stayed for the fireworks after the game!  It was a great day spent and we finished the evening by going for our run.

Lastly, we have been married for 2 months today! I can't believe how quickly time is passing! I feel like our wedding was yesterday. Sometimes I wonder if brides suffer from postpartum wedding depression, our wedding day could not have been any more perfect, and I wouldn't want to do it any differently. But sometimes I wish we could do it all over again! To have all our family and friends under one roof, celebrating together! That's what renewal of vows is for? Maybe next year? :) Just kidding. I love married life and am so grateful for our big day on April 2, 2011. Marriage seems so natural to us, we are making the most of it! We know that we may face our mountains, but we our prepared for all that is to come our way.