It’s not easy to keep trying to make good choices every day. My old habits always seem to be waiting at the wings ready to jump to the forefront the second I am not paying attention. Yesterday when my alarm went off at 6:15? I wanted to get back in my comfy bed. Like a lot. But before I could even step one foot closer to the bed, I put my glasses on (I am blind as a bat!) and got my ass out of the bedroom.
Shizz. It was cold. Like the first bitter cold of the season. Bright skies, sun shining, but it was 17 degrees when I left for the gym. I leave my house at 6:40 in the morning and am usually at the gym by 7:10 and starting my workout by 7:15. This gives me 60-70 minutes to work out before I have to shower, change into work clothes and get to my desk at 8:45.
Whatever it was, traffic was so slow – I ended up not starting my workout until nearly 7:30! I decided that I would try to do as much as I could in that time frame. You all know I am low maintenance! I ended up doing the arm strength training routine in 30 minutes – but I wasn’t able to do the two ab workouts. I then jogged on the treadmill for 30 minutes for the cardio – doing 2.5 miles in 30 minutes.
Before the workout I had a high fiber English muffin with a teaspoon of all fruit jelly. For my true breakfast I made another pumpkin parfait, although I think I have perfected it.
Peanut Pumpkin Banana Breakfast Parfait
- 1 serving: 373 calories, 25 fat, 65 carbs, 14.9 fiber, 34 protein
- 344% of daily Vitamin A, 28% of daily calcium and 39% of daily iron
Ingredients:
- 1 Chobani banana yogurt
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 teaspoon peanut butter
- 1/2 cup quinoa granola (or granola of your choice)
Mix the pumpkin and peanut butter together. Layer the banana yogurt and pumpkin with the granola in between, finishing up with granola.
This was SO good. I got a bite of granola in every spoon and I loved the hint of peanut with the pumpkin. This was filling too!
I called Tony when I was going back to the gym at lunch. I forgot my bathing suit in the dryer, so that was out. I told Tony that my run before work felt really good. He wondered if it was a good idea to run twice in one day, and I thought, if something starts to hurt, I’ll just walk.
I’ve learned that I have to start out slow and up the pace as I go as I get more comfortable. Every couple minutes I would up the pace and it felt okay! It was after I passed the 2.5 mile mark and I saw the time that I thought “I could fucking PR today!” That was really the furthest thing from my mind.
It was CLOSE. I’ve always had a goal of doing a sub 30 minute 5k. Like forever. The closest I got was in June at 33:11. I ended up having to sprint the final .2 tenths of a mile at a 6:37 mph pace! Good thing I was a sprinter in high school!
BAM!
I was so fricken happy not to see a 30 in that time – I would have been pissed if I missed a sub 30 by 30 seconds! I cooled down and ended up with 3.25 miles.
Lunch was more broccoli potato soup with some sourdough bread on the side with light balance butter, and half an apple. Hit the spot on a chilly day.
I never did go grocery shopping this week, but I was confident I could find stuff to make that we had on hand. I ended up making Tony fish stick tacos, and I had ground beef tacos with 2 ounces of the leftover sloppy joes – I just added hot sauce and a bit of taco seasoning to it.
Two corn tortillas, red cabbage, black beans, corn, beef and tomatillo salsa with some blue corn chips on the side. I could have this every day and be happy as a camper.
So if you haven’t figured it out by now, I am an Instagram whore. I love seeing what people are up to during the day, and finding new people too. I don’t even remember who’s Instagram I was reading, but someone left a funny comment, and I decided to check her out. Um, this is a hash tag that I didn’t know about.
#anorexia
I did a quick search of that hash tag, only to discover there were 1,279,000 POSTS with that hash tag. I saw girls with supper skinny legs, color bones so exposed it looked as if you could reach in and pull it out with your hand, sayings like “if you skip dinner, you’ll be thinner!”
I am dumbfounded. While I do have to say some of the girls I came across who had hash tags of anorexia also had hash tags that said #roadtorecovery, #edsoldiers, #foodisnotthenemy, #notgivingup. I was so happy to see that!
But then there were DOZENS that had hash tags of this after #anorexia – #alone, #depressed, #empty, #fake, #suicide, #ugly and #unloved.
It broke my heart. I thought to myself “maybe I should make it my mission to find these girls and tell them they are beautiful!”
I’ve only known two women who have had anorexia. One is Sophia, who used to blog at Burp and Slurp. I am happy to say she is well on the road to recovery and she looks so healthy now!
I had the pleasure of finally meeting her this summer for a blogger meet up with Christina and my twin sister.
And then there is Melissa. I’ve been following Mel at least since 2009, maybe even 2008?? I love this picture of her and her boyfriend Whit. She looks so happy!
I am also happy to say that Mel is on the other side of recovery as well, after a 10 year battle. You can read about her story here. I am so happy that she finally sees the beautiful strong woman I always thought and told her she was all these years.
But how do you help save millions of women out there that are struggling with eating disorders? What can you say to help them? It’s just so sad.
Stats for the Day:
- 1609 calories, 241 carbs, 75 protein, 44 fiber and 76 fat
- B+ grade on caloriecount
- 30 minutes arms for strength
- 30 minute jog for 2.5 miles
- 29:57 PR 5k – total of 35 minutes with cool down
- average blood sugar 151
Today for strength is just shoulders, no cardio, so I’ll be able to do that at lunch. I am off to do my 30 minute stretch before work – I am a bit sore today! Make it a great day!
PR PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep being you and being an inspiration. You’re helping people every day with your healthy choices!
Woohoooooooooooooo a new PR! Congrats sweety, so proud of you.
Yesterday a new TV started here in Holland, I didn’t watch it but read about it. It’s a program that helps girls that have anoraxia. We have this athlete that has won the feminin tour but also had anorexia. She’s helping these girls to deal with their illness. I think it’s a good thing that there’s attention for this.
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Great job on that 5K (and as your 2nd run of the day?!) – awesome!! I have a couple of friends who have struggled with anorexia – thankfully they are doing much better now.
Yup – double workout baby! Glad your friends are on the road to recovery!
One thing not to say…”she looks so healthy now” to someone who’s suffered/suffering that basically equates to she’s gained weight. While this is good in all reality it’s hard for the sufferer to hear.
Thank you for leaving this comment – it makes perfect sense. Sending you some virtual hugs!!
CONGRATS!!!! Yes, it is so sad. It’s really a mental health issue that needs to be studied and addressed more, and well, society just plays into the distorted sense of reality with they way it devalues fat (people) and puts skinny on a pedestal. Very disturbing.
Thanks Renee, and yup, you summed it up – disturbing. 🙁
HELL YES! GOOD JOB! Yeah.. there are some scary hashtags out there. it’s definitely sad to see what’s promoted via hashtags. technology in general makes this world a lot scarier. i will just stick to #crazydoglady and #anotherpictureofmyworkout
Yep, I will stick with the friendly hash tags too – #pugsofinstagram (my step-son and his wife have pugs) and #bostonterrier – (my daughters dog!).
Yay! Awesome run Biz!!
I suppose the internet and social media are double edged swords where eating disorders are concerned. On the one hand there is much more information about recovery and more support available online. On the other hand there is constant barrage of media and images still carrying the message the thinner the better. I wish I could say I had a better body image of myself, but sadly despite the progress I’ve made I still struggle with it. However, I am able to cope with it in a much healthier manner. I can’t imagine being a teenage girl today. It’s got to be frightening at times. Those hashtags are heartbreaking particularly #suicide. Thanks for bringing awareness to this Biz.
Thanks Aimee. And I have to agree that as much “good” stuff is out there to help these girls recovery, there is an equal amount, if not more that tells you that thinner is where its at. I think you’ve come a long way though Aimee with your body issue image – you should be proud of yourself and what a great runner you’ve become and what a great role model you are to your son!
I’m not curious about the # too, guess if I remember I’ll check it out later. Also I wonder if you could mix in maple syrup or molasses instead of PB w the pumpkin how that would taste. Unless of course it messes with the insulin too much.
I am sure maple syrup and molasses would be amazeballs – but that’s pretty much ALL carbs (sugar) so that would push it too far – as it is my pumpkin parfait is a carb bomb at 72 grams – nearly half my daily intake (and I’ve been over lately!). That’s why I sometimes mix in SF pancake syrup – Smuckers is my favorite brand, and Tony can’t even tell it’s sugar free, so that’s saying a lot!
way to go on that PR! Breaking 30 on a 5K is on my fitness bucket list for SURE!! I feel like i’ve been working towards that goal for SO LONG (with many failed attempts- including a 30:29 5K a couple of years ago – that one REALLY hurt.) and know I will feel AMAZING when I finally cross the 3.1 mark and see 29 (or maybe even one day 28!?!?) something!!
Also – I LOVE MEL!! She is such a great girl and I am so thankful that what she has overcome and learned in her journey has helped others with similiar ED struggles.
I am not sure I’d be able to do it outside though Heather – I get so caught up at the start of a race that I quickly fade out. You’ll get there!! Yep, Mel is a TRUE inspiration. I puffy heart her. 😀
Good post. It seems that everyone knows someone that has dealt with anorexia. It is an awful disease that affects everyone in the family.
The media doesn’t help matters much either!
I wish I had an answer to your question. It’s hit my family very hard. I still don’t know what to do or say.
Me either. I wish we both had answers!
Congrats on the PR! Just amazing!
I happened to stumble on that hashtag a few months ago and was shocked at what I found. So many people with anorexia were suicidal and cutting and it was just so heartbreaking to see. I wondered to myself which was worse, anorexia or severe obesity. Both are prisons.
What is your IG account?
Thanks! It is heartbreaking, and yes, I saw the cutting too on the #anorexia. So sad.
I am biz319 on instagram!
I am impressed. With 17 degree weather I would find it hard to crawl out of the covers. Who am I kidding…I can’t even bring myself out of the covers in our nice warm weather. I am going to have to make some changes in my routine somehwere. I only get 5-6 hours of sleep each night so I can’t take anytime from that area so I will have to dig deeper.
Only 5-6 hours?? Wow, I wouldn’t be able to function on that little sleep. Most nights I get 7.5 and on the weekends its usually 9-10. I wish I could give my gift of sleep to people who need it!
a TEASPOON? Really? Seems it is not worth dirtying the teaspoon, that’s great control right there! SO sad about the anorexia. I can honestly say I have no understanding of what lies beneath the issues of a person with anorexia. I only know it is hard to oversome so congrats to your fellow bloggers who did. I hope you continue to resist the urge to get back in bed or hit snooze. You’re doing great!
Thanks Jody! And yes, peanut butter is like crack to me – if I don’t measure it out, 1 teaspoon of me eyeballing it turns into 3 tablespoons!
Another recipe I’ve got to try. Way to PR on your 5K. You’re motivating me to start running again. A friend of my daughter suffered with anorexia, and is on the road back now. It’s a scary thing.
It is very scary. Wow, first Insanity and now running – I am so proud of you Wendy!! 😀
Congrats!!!!!! Whoop whoop! That parfait…it has my heart! Love Melissa!
Thanks Erica!!
Great job on the PR Biz!! You totally rocked that! I bet all those Insanity workouts are helping and building up your endurance for those runs! WOOT WOOT!!!!
And thank you for the shout out! You’ve been a rock of mine all the years you’ve been reading and reassuring me I could get through this! I wish I had an answer, of how we could help all those girls, and really, I don’t even know. But you helped at least two. Two of us are recovered today because of the wonderful comments and love you’ve given us 🙂
You make me so proud Mel!! Hugs!!!!
All women ARE beautiful! It is the media who paints these images in our heads and makes us feel less than we are. Here is one such project that is trying to spread the word that every woman is beautiful just as she is. http://eleanorproject.org/
Thanks for sharing that Suzi – it also reminds me if this clip about how much photoshop plays a role in how real people appear!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B4IfeGBHag
Congratulations on your PR! I am soooooooo excited and happy for you. I can only imagine what that feels like. You ROCK!
Thanks Carrie! I am not sure I’d be able to do that in a race though – I always start too fast in a race!
I used to, too… and the I’d get to the end and run out of gas!
Take it from a swimmer – do NOT put your bathing suit in the dryer. The heat from the dryer will damage the fabric, and the suit won’t last as long. I either wash them by hand or wash on delicate with Woolite – and hang to dry.
Doh! No wonder my suits don’t last!! Thanks Kris!
Great job on your pr! You rocked it!
Thanks B! And yes, I know my twin sisters name doesn’t start with a B, but we both call each other B. Yep, we are weird. 😀