The photos from the Spartan Race were posted online yesterday. I will admit when I first saw them all I saw was how fat I was, how big my belly was, how if I were even ten pounds lighter it would have made the whole race a lot easier. But then I told myself to shut the fuck up. I DID A SPARTAN RACE. I wasn’t sitting on the sidelines, and out of the 23 obstacles I had to get through, I only couldn’t do three of them. Only three.
When I see that picture I see. . . determination. Perseverance. Diligence. And I could not be prouder of myself. I am not sure I would have put myself out there if Tony were still here. I would have worried about leaving him for a weekend, but I know if he were still here he’d be so proud of me. More importantly though is my daughter is proud of me, and if I have taught her nothing less is that in life shitty things happen. And while it’s tough, you just have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move on as best you can. This picture is at the very end of the race – an hour and 54 minutes after I started, 3.5 miles and 23 obstacles later. . . and I am still running to the finish line!
So here is a picture of my “team.” Shawnta was standing in front of me when I tapped her on the shoulder and I told her my goal was to keep up with her. She said “you are doing this by yourself? Hey guys, Biz is going to be in our group!” The group constituted a group of co-workers who worked in Milwaukee. Steve, the guy kneeling down in front of me lives in a town a couple towns over from me and commutes to Milwaukee every day. He and I were at about the same pace, and the group would wait for either one of us to catch up before moving on. It was a group effort, and I am so thankful for them pushing me forward.
That’s why I am so excited about all the participants in the 101 Days of Summer Challenge! I will be communicated with you guys through e-mail and hope to have that group email set up by the end of today so we can cheer each other on. It’s not too late to join – just pick some goals for yourself that you want to accomplish, and the group will help cheer you on to make sure you get there.
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I’ve talked a lot how I bake up several Idaho potatoes over the weekend because they come in so handy later in the week. I can make quick twice baked potatoes, cut them up and pan fry them with fresh rosemary or I can make breakfast baked potatoes! These are so good and filling – I cut one half of the baked potato (4 ounces) scooped out the potato leaving the shell, and scrambled those potatoes with deli ham, egg whites, baby spinach and then stuffed that mixture back into the baked potato. I put that in my lunch container, and when I got to work, I microwaved it for 1 minute, then topped it with Cabot cheese (Vermont cheddar -love!) and put it in the broiler of my office toaster oven. That potato half is only 383 calories and 32 grams of protein.
My bronchitis is still clinging on, and it’s driving me nuts because I feel fine, just have this nagging cough. The last two days I’ve barely made it 5,000 steps, which is why I have to be extra careful this week of the licks and bites that I don’t even know I am doing half the time. So far so good!
I had frozen homemade naan in the freezer and grilled up some Greek chicken and made a Greek chicken panini with carrots, cucumber, tzatziki sauce and garlic hummus. I made a small plate for my boss and she said “that’s better than at any Greek restaurant!” I had marinated the chicken in olive oil and LOTS of Greek seasoning from the Spice House and it marinated for two days so it was super flavorful.
My store had both bone-in chicken breasts and drumsticks on sale this weekend so I picked up a package of both. Jacob loves eating grilled meat as leftovers. Before work yesterday I marinated the chicken in a bit of olive oil, salt, pepper and this “chick magnet” Southwest spicy from Denny Mike’s – I got a selection of seasonings from Cabot cheese with the last box of cheese loot they sent me – it was very flavorful spicy.
And I made another batch of my zucchini tots since Hannah wasn’t home the last time I made them. This time I added 1/2 a baked potato and shredded that into the mix for a zucchini potato tot – she gave them two big thumbs up! I had a dozen people ask me how I got them in that shape – did I have a tater tot press? Nope – I will do a quick video the next time I make them to show you how – I know people will be having a boat load of zucchini soon! Blog reader Jennifer O. successfully baked these at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, flipped them, and baked an additional 10 minutes and they turned out great. Thanks for letting me know that!
Alright, off to make some ham and egg baked cups for breakfast – while I miss not being able to walk outside because of my cough, I do enjoy all the time I have to do things in the kitchen before work – it’s my happy place!
Make it a great day!
Hi- can I still join the challenge? It sounds like a great idea!
Nope, not too late! I was out having dinner and thrifting with my daughter tonight – so fun. I’ll send you an email – find me on Facebook: Beth Hills Velatini and I’ll invite you to the FB Group I started today – woop! Welcome!
You are a complete bad ass, Biz!!
Also, is it too late to join the challenge?
You are so cute Brooke – thanks for the cheers! I’ll invite you to the group on FB! Hugs!
Great photo’s Biz! So proud of you.
I asked my husband if we could make an annual trip to join you in your race. He got this look on his face (probably similar to Tony’s what smells like a** face.) and said ” why on earth would I want to intentionally cause myself that much pain and discomfort?” You were so awesome at how you did. I would have probably been crawling to the finish line if I even made it that far.
I love the pictures Biz. I am so very proud of you starting, preparing and completing your race. Very proud!!! You are really an amazing woman. And you have time to bake, cook and take such good care of yourself. I think it’s awesome.
Have a great rest of the week. Blessings!!!
Julie, this comment makes me smile from ear to ear – thank you!
I really think you have karma! It may not always seem to be the best but goodness surrounds you. To have discovered that team was karma. Just like luck never comes unless you work at it-you my friend have figured it out. You did it. With courage and grace and strength and determination. You are a winner. And dammit. I’m going to sign up. Not sure how good I’ll be at this, but I promise I’ll try to focus and succeed! I don’t want to let you down!
Thank you so much Abbe – I appreciate the cheers!
When I see those pictures – I see Game Face On. This was not something you half-assed through – you did it full on. Bravo.
Aw, thanks Lori – I so appreciate it!
Thanks for the inspiration Biz! I am lugging around so much weight and I deal with chronic arthritis but I swear I am going to get moving, thanks to you!
Thanks for your support too Jan!
I would love to join this challange with you. My goals are to work on healthy eating. By this I mean for the duration of the challenge, less processed foods, limit sugar intake and dt Mt Dew. I am good for a week or two then give up when I don’t see any weight loss. I have started doing some strength training dvd’s and will continue with those along with adding in some cardio!!! Here we go!!!!
Woop! Welcome Sheila – here we go is right! Want to know something? I’ve only had Mt. Dew once in my whole life – I was a Dr. Pepper girl growing up 😀
I am beyond impressed you did that race. Seriously girl. Wow.
Also, I think zucchini tots are what’s been missing in my life.
Thanks Courtney! I think your kids would love them – and I think I liked them even better with a bit of shredded baked potato – yum!
I would LOVE! to join the challenge also. My challenge is two fold: to spend more time outside but also to FINALLY complete the Kayla Itsines BBG guide – (its 5 workouts a week and I ALWAYS fall off track, I can’t seem to make it past week 4 and think I need to really commit!)
Awesome Ashley! I’ll be sending out a group email by the end of today – woop! I am going to have to look up the Kayla Itsines guide – never heard of it before!
You should definitely be proud for finishing that race – awesome!
I had the stupid bronchitis thing for weeks in April. I hated having to cut back on my walking because I kept coughing like crazy.
Yep, hopefully it will go away soon – it’s been like 50 degrees in the morning before work – perfect walking weather!
Oh wow! Look at those photos!!! CONGRATS! <3
I love, love, love that you signed up for that Spartan Race and finished!!! Totally impressed. 🙂 I really want to try those baked potatoes for breakfast one day…have just trained myself that the white carbs are evil. I’m guessing you don’t think so? lol. They look delish!
Ha, you know I don’t think so Tammy! 😀
Take care of yourself. Bronchitis is no joke, and it can linger forever. I had it for over a month once.
Yikes! Hopefully mine won’t last that long . . .
I have this silicon baking mat that I got at Bed, Bath and Beyond for 10.00( using a 5.00 coupon). I use it when I reheated previously fried foods or for making fish sticks for Julie. It makes everything so crisp, not sure how it works, but its rad. J picked me up another brand on clearance at Big Lots for 6.00. I’m going to try the tots with that mat when my zucchini comes in. You’re amazing with that race. You did such an awesome job.
I’ll have to look for that Randi – I am always getting texts for 20% off at BBB!
Don’t ever doubt yourself. You did awesome in the Spartan race…just attempting it is fantastic…and you finished and at a great time. Give yourself one giant pat on the back girl!
I love your idea of the challenge, but I’m having trouble labeling/quantifying my goals. I need to get on that!
Yes, you should be very proud of yourself for doing a Spartan race!!
And I just wanted to say Thank You for all the inspiration & motivation you give us with your blog. I am so looking forward to the Summer Challenge!! 😀
You are fierce. So much respect for the way you live your life and motivate others.
Was feeling despair again at the big amount of zucchini in my refrig and I shamefully have thrown out more of the stuff than I like to admit. I see it in the produce section, it looks so good, I buy it and once home……..after days of watching it stare at me with an evil look, it starts to get moldy and so I close my eyes and toss it. So tonight my new batch of zucchini will be happy that I am going to make them into those zucchini tots! And hopefully Hubby will be too….though he will eat anything I cook and swear it is good! He just hates to cook! 🙂 Thanks!
Biz, I am soooo proud of you! You killed it! You’re way more inspirational to me than these personal trainers and such out there doing stuff like the Spartan Race, you make me feel like maybe I could one!
I would love to join the challenge if it isn’t too late! My goals are actually complete the C25K program and track all of my food.
Race pictures are notoriously bad, so I’m especially happy for you that you feel pride about the race when you see them! Good job, good job. 🙂
I would like to join the challenge. My summer challenge is Budget related. We are putting an addition on our house, and my husband is a teacher, his gets a lump sum payment for the summer months and we are putting it all in our house. So we have to live off of one income, if we can make the lifestyle change we plan to continue so we can save for our future.
This will mean a lot more planning meal wise, less going out and planning creative meals out of what we already have stocked in our freezer and what is on sale at the store.
Yeah! Thanks for joining Molly – I’ll get an email out to the group by the end of today. I never grocery shop without looking at my sale flyer – if chicken isn’t on sale, I am just not eating chicken that week 😀
I would like to join but I am NOT on Facebook will that be a problem? I would like to average 15k steps a day and stop the mindless snacking after work. You are such an inspiration! : )
Not a problem Laura – I am going to do both emails AND Facebook and you can choose which method works for you – hope to have a group email out by the end of today – thanks for your cheers on Fitbit!
You rock! What an accomplishment! Hope you feel better soon!! I need to try those tots
You have every reason to feel proud of yourself and not just because of the Spartan Race. You are motivating me to get my steps in every day. I feel so much better in body and spirit when I MOVE!!! Sometimes I just need to get out of my own way, you know what I mean?