Healthy Holiday Baking

I have never been much of a chef. I don't really enjoy cooking. It is just not my thing. Several different times of the year, I will make a certain food or snack. Around Halloween, I will make a Popcorn Party Mix. I will make a pecan or pumpkin pie around Thanksgiving. During Christmas Break, Whitney and I always make Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Bread. Sometimes, we will bake an extra loaf or two for a neighbor or a teacher.

For the past year, I have been looking a food differently. As I was buying the ingredients for the chocolate chip banana nut bread, I decided to make a healthier version of my recipe. No white flour, less sugar, and dark chocolate chips.

This is the original recipe. I have no idea where it came from originally. It is hand written in my cookbook. But if I had to guess, I would say it came from a magazine article.

2 cups All Purpose Flour                                                             Calories 260
1 cup Sugar                                                                                  Total Fat 12.61 g
1 tsp Baking Powder                                                                          Sat Fat 3.74 g
1/2 tsp Baking Soda                                                                            Tans Fat 1.05g
1 tsp Salt                                                                                      Cholesterol 29.26 mg 
1 cup Mashed Ripe Bananas - 3 small bananas                           Sodium 178.34 mg
1/2 cup Crisco                                                                              Total Carbs 33.28
2 eggs                                                                                                   Dietary Fibers 1.22
1 cup Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips                                                     Sugars 19.17
1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts                                                             Protein 3.9 g

This will make 2 loaves, about 16 1-inch slices.


My New Improved Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Bread

2 cups Whole Wheat Flour                                                           Calories 205
1/2 cup Sugar                                                                                Total Fat 12.13 g
1 tsp Baking Powder                                                                           Sat Fat 7.38 g
1/2 tsp Baking Soda                                                                            Trans Fat 0
1 tsp Salt                                                                                        Cholesterol 26.44 mg 
1-1/2 cups Mashed Ripe Bananas - 3 large bananas                     Sodium 84.1 mg
1/2 cup Coconut Oil                                                                      Total Carbs 23.38  
2 eggs                                                                                                   Dietary Fiber 2.87 g
1/2 cup Dark Chocolate Chips                                                             Sugars 10g
1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts                                                             Protein 4 g

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms only of two loaf pans. In large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except chocolate chips and walnuts; blend well on medium speed. Stir in chocolate chips and Walnuts. Pour into prepared pans. Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans. Cool completely on wire rack.

My pictures are out of order, technical glitch! Oh well

Walnuts & Dark Chocolate Chips

Whole Wheat Flour & Less Sugar

WW Flour, Full Sugar & Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips (Left) WW Flour, Less Sugar, & Dark Chocolate Chips (Right)

Before Baking

Before Adding Dark Chocolate Chips & Walnuts

Whole Wheat Flour & Coconut Oil

I was very pleased with the outcome! You can taste a difference. The original version is way sweeter.  I made 2 regular loaves, 2 low sugar loaves, and 2 loaves of banana nut bread only. I used whole wheat flour and coconut oil in all 6 loaves. Whitney could taste a difference in the low sugar loaves but had no idea of the substitutions in the other loaves.

Listen to ME, Life...I guarantee that even though Jeff's throat gets scratchy, red, and a little swollen; he will eat several pieces of banana nut bread. Pin It

Half Marathon Training

Why do I let so much time pass between blog posts? I have no idea! It takes 21 days to develop a habit; and one of these days, I am going to make blog posting a habit.

So, I have fallen off of the fitness wagon. I haven't been running as much any. I have been eating sugar, sugar, and sugar. I gained about 4-5 pounds. I needed a swift kick in the butt. I needed a goal!

I read a lot. I came across an article on the Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa, Oklahoma several months ago, maybe September. It was a 5k, a half marathon, and  a full marathon. I really liked the finisher medals for the half marathon. I liked the theme. It was also within a reasonable distance of my house. Plus, I have family in Oklahoma that I could visit. It was in November 18, 2012. At the time that I read the article, I had not even completed a 5k. And at this point, it was only a little dream in the very back of my mind. Way Way Way Back!

I ran my 1st and 2nd 5k. I felt really good. The half marathon idea was slowly coming to the front of my mind. The Route 66 was a year away. I found the Big D Texas Marathon, Half, and 5K. It was April 14, 2013. It was in Dallas. It was the weekend after the county stock show. I knew that nothing should interfere with the race. I printed off a registration form and hung it on my dry erase board. It just hung there.

It was still hanging there through Thanksgiving and the sugar, and the laziness, and the 4-5 pounds of what I am pretty sure is fat. I knew that I have worked too hard to lose 50 pounds, which I had let slip to 45 pounds. I knew that I still have at least 30 pounds that I want to lose. Last Wednesday, I weighed and did not like the number at all. It had increased. I mulled over that number all day Wednesday. Thursday, I kicked myself and signed up for The Big D Half Marathon!

I have been reading a book by Hal Higdon and someone told me about Jeff Galloway's book HALF-Marathon You Can Do It. They have both been very helpful. I also downloaded Jeff Galloway's 13.1 app for my iPhone. He uses the run/walk method. I am using the Finish training plan. Time does not matter on this first half marathon. As I type that sentence, I know that in my head I can say time does not matter, but it does to me. BUT, finishing matters more on my first half marathon.

Yesterday, was my first running day since November 17th. It was so so so so so COLD! I don't even remember if the run was hard. I was NUMB! I think the temp was around 18 degrees with a wind chill of around 11 degrees. Today was better, no wind.

Listen to ME, Life...I am running a half marathon!!! Pin It

Passionate About Zeal

Passionate adj. having or showing strong feelings. I hope I can convey with my words what I feel.

I recently discovered a wellness product called Zeal. It is amazing. I wake up in the morning (without my alarm clock) feeling awake, healthy, happy, energized. I lay down at night feeling fulfilled, satisfied, at peace. I don't want to take a nap at 11am or noon or 1pm. I breeze through the day with a smile.

Zeal is not voodoo hocus pocus. It is an all-in-one nutritional formula. The benefits are wonderful. Mental clarity, focus, energy, natural appetite suppression plus a full day's supply of vitamins and minerals. With NO artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives. That means no splenda, equal, or sweet n low. Zeal is sweetened with Stevia.

I researched several key points while learning about Zeal that helped in my decision to use the product.

1. I did not want a product that had lots of sugar or artificial sweeteners.
2. I did not want to take a product that had to be supplemented with lots of other vitamins.
3. I DID NOT want to take 14 pills 3 times a day.
4. I wanted a protein powder that did not claim to have 12 gazillion grams of protein.
5. It must taste great!
6. It had a money back guarantee.

Zeal has met and exceeded my expectations. Instant gratification! My husband and kids are using Zeal.

 Do I believe that Zeal is going to turn me into an 120 pound super woman who is invincible overnight? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Do I believe in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise that Zeal will help me become the best me I can be? WITHOUT A DOUBT 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know how it feels to be overweight and moving in auto pilot. You do whatever you can to get through the day. I also know how it feels to lose weight and stress. I want to share this wonderful product with everyone. I want them to feel happy and have energy.

Visit my website for more info on Zeal or call me direct 903-249-0530 or email andmahan@gmail.com

www.andreamahan.zealforlife.com


Listen to ME, Life...Zeal is a tool that I will use to become a healthier person, which will make me a better wife and mother. And I want the whole world to know that I LOVE ZEAL!!! And as of this past week, I have lost 50 pounds.
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How Running Has Changed Me

October 6, 2012 was the 1st Blake's Bash 5K. It was also my 1st 5K. It was cold, mid-50's. I wanted to chicken out all week but I didn't. Cade ran the race also. He finished in about 31:31. He does not have an official time. He timer chip did not go off. The person in front of him and the person behind him had a time, so we guessed his time. My time was 47:24! It was the fastest 5k I have ran. I was excited that I finished. I was excited that my time was a Personal Record. I am most excited about how running has changed me!

                                                             My Race Bib & Koozi

I experienced an amazing feeling during the race. About mile 2 of the race, Brianna and Page came back and finished the race with me. They offered words of encouragement to me for the last mile. They are both freshman in high school. Bri was the Overall Female Winner and Page was the winner in her age group. It was so great to hear "I am so proud of you." from Bri.

This has been a personal journey for me. I started this journey so I could become a healthier person, wife, and mother. This journey would affect only Jeff, Whitney, Cade, and I. All 3 of them have been great! Cade has ran with me. Whitney has ridden her bike  and walked with me. Jeff has told me how great I look and how proud he is of me. I EXPECTED that from them. They are my family and that is what families do. Your family is your biggest cheerleader.

What I did not EXPECT was how my journey to become healthier would affect others. I never expected Bri and Page to run with me. I never expected for Greg (Bri's dad) to ride by on his bike during the race and say "Keep running steady". It is a great feeling!

I will usually allow my c25k app or nike running app to post on facebook. It is kinda like a diary or journal. I don't write a journal but I have always been really big on writing in my calendar/date book. Dr appts, sporting events, special occasions, etc. That is how I looked at the posts on facebook, a log of events. I never EXPECTED  to receive such  motivation from something as simple as someone liking or commenting on my running post.

Random and unexpected gestures can touch your life in ways that are unimaginable. I do lots of things automatically just because they are the right things to do. If I see a donation jar at a gas station and I have extra money, I drop it in the jar. If one of Cade's football teammates walks by after a game, I say "Good job, boys!" I have never really thought about how these actions will affect others until I have been on the receiving end of these actions. If Jeff and Cade had never been in their accidents, would I still drop a dollar in a donation jar? Absolutely! Would it feel the same? Absolutely Not! Would I tell the football boys "Good Job" after a game, if Bri had not told me "Good Job"? Absolutely! Would it feel the same? Absolutely Not!

Thank you Jeff for telling me that your are proud that I haven't had a coke since January 1, 2012. You know that it has been one of the hardest habits to break. Thank you for coming to the race. Thank you for your love.

Thank you Cade for setting an example of what true strength really means. Thank you for running with me.

Thank you Whitney for showing me how to sacrifice unselfishly. Thank you for always being honest when I ask how I look.

Thank you Bri & Page for coming back and running with me.

Thank you Greg & Stacy for teaching Bri how to treat others with kindness and generosity.

Thank you Brent for telling me I could not chicken out of running the 5k.

Thank you Logan for asking me to run with you in the upcoming weeks.

Thank you Allison for telling me in the grocery store that I was doing a great job running.

Thank you Sarah for your texts.

Thank you Fillip for telling me "You lost weight"

Thank you Kim for telling me that 47:24 is a great time.

Thank you Gayle for liking my running updates on Facebook.

Thank you Tricia for always being there with your camera.

Thank you HG Varsity Cheerleaders for clapping as I ran by.

Thank you Donna for commenting on my blog.

Thank you Jennifer for your messages and sharing your story

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me, loud or silent!

I have used the phrase "It is better to give than receive" hundreds of times. Sometimes it has been jokingly and sometime very serious. I do believe that it is better to give than to receive. But for me, I never really knew the true meaning of giving until I was on the receiving end.


Listen to ME, Life...Thank You!






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FOUND!!!

I have been MIA for far too long. I have written hundreds of post in my head. Unfortunately the recorder in my head is broken and wont rewind my thoughts. That would be totally awesome and completely scary if we could really recall verbatim our thoughts to print out!

I am still running. Yay! This Saturday is my 1st 5k. I am nervous, excited, and sick at my stomach. The weather is cooling off. That is very good! The race is local. I will know a lot of the runners personally and from the SuperMAHAN 5K.

Jeff and I took a vacation at the end of August for our 15th wedding anniversary. We went to Colorado Springs. It was wonderful. We ate a wonderful restaurants, our favorite was The Famous Steakhouse. Yum Yum Yum! Pikes Peak was awesome and amazing. I felt a little woozy that high but Jeff was really woozy. I think it had to do with his asthma. Seven Falls was fabulous. I loved the waterfalls. Garden of the Gods was nice. The hot air balloon festival was so fun.Royal Gorge was nice. We flew in Thursday evening and left Monday morning. We were gone by 6:30 every morning and did not get back to the hotel til 9 or 10 at night. We really enjoyed ourselves and plan to take the kids next summer.

Cade had day surgery on his neck. It was called a Z plasty. Surgery went great and recovery was fabulous. He has an appointment in a couple of weeks and if things go well he will not have another appointment for 6 months. He is playing football. Yay! He plays just about every down. They have a small team, usually on 2 extra players on the side lines. He also had his 2nd set of braces put on in September. He should be able to take them off in 2 years. He had shown T-Bone in 3 shows in the past 6 weeks. They are both great.

Whitney is always Whitney. No complaints from her. She is loving middle school. She is playing the flute in the band. It amazes me that in such a short time, she has went from making noise to making music. She  is really enjoying band. Her commercial heifer, Flo, has been puttering along. Then BAM, Flo started eating like a cow on death row...hahaha. The county show and sale is in a week. They are both ready. Whitney has decided that she wants to show pigs now. She decided a long time ago but I just relented. She is getting 2 in 4-6 weeks. She is already in love with the pigs. She pig sat for some neighbors and was in hog heaven.

I will try my hardest to post more often.

Listen to Me, Life...Sometimes I am busy! Pin It

My Why

The other day someone asked me if I was still running and I said "Yes, 3 times a week." The next question was "What made you decide to start running?" My answer, "I felt like a hypocrite, being a race director of a 5K and not being a runner."

How did I become a 5K race director? Because I am the moma of a very special and brave son.

On April 30, 2011, at approximately 6pm Cade was at his Papa's house. Papa lives behind our house. They were cleaning up the yard and burning thistles/weeds in the burn barrel. Jeff was spring cleaning around the yard and I was mowing. Cade reached over to throw some weeds in the barrel and the fire flashed or the wind caught the flames and caught Cade on fire. Papa started putting Cade out and getting him to stop drop and roll. Whitney ran to get us. Jeff made it there first and immediately called 911 requesting a CareFlight. Jeff spent 5 days in the Parkland Burn Unit April 21, 2010 after an accident at his welding shop. CareFlight, ambulance, and Volunteer Fire Departments were immediately dispatched. Paramedics estimated 40% of Cade's body had 3rd degree burns, including his face, back, both arms, and chest. CareFlight landed right in the pasture and the pilot/flight nurses went directly to the ambulance to check on Cade. Jeff was in the ambulance with Cade. After several minutes, they came out of the ambulance to say that the weather was  going to prevent them from taking off with a patient. It was decided that it would be best to take Cade to the local hospital to be stabilized then transported by ambulance. They had put a tube down his throat by this time and Cade was out of the excruciating pain. He was transported to Parkland Burn Unit in Dallas Texas. They estimated that Cade was burned over 35% of his body. He spent the entire month of May in the hospital. He was in the Burn ICU for 15 days, 5 days on the vent. He had 5 surgeries and skin graphs. Cade and I stayed at the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas for an additional week and a half for daily therapy. Cade had a weekly therapy appointment in Dallas for the next two months. Cade wore special garments and a facial mask until December 2011. He also developed a blood clot in his left thigh during his hospital stay. He was on the blood thinner Coumadin until the end of March 2012. No sports of any kind were allowed while on Coumadin.

Cade is the same sweet, active, joking, rotten, wonderful son that he was before his accident. He was able to run track and play baseball. The entire summer has been spent at Strength & Conditioning Camp and football camp. Football practice starts August 27th and the 1st game is scheduled for the 2nd week in September. He may have 1 more surgery to release a scar band that has formed down his neck.

The 1st event that Cade was able to attend after being released from the hospital was the SuperMAHAN 5K & KID FUN RUN. The 5K was started by Cade's science teacher, Mrs Jynna Duarte, to raise money to help with Cade's medical expenses, garments, mask, and travel expenses. Plans were made to continue the SuperMAHAN 5K as a scholarship program for a Honey Grove
Senior Athlete and a donation to a burn related organization. Mrs Duarte was not able to be the race director this year. I found out in April, 2012 I would have to become the race director. The 1st SuperMAHAN 5K was the only 5k that I had attended. What did I know about running a 5K race?

                                          Cade starting the 1st SuperMAHAN 5K & exhausted after the race! 
                                                   
 I could research hundreds of 5ks but I felt like I needed a little firsthand knowledge of running. June 11, 2012, I started the Couch to 5K program. I have really, really, really enjoyed running. I had already started making lifestyle changes at the beginning of the year. No cokes at all, portion control, and not as many sweets. Now I am exercising 5-6 times a week, running MWF. I have lost about 36 pounds and over 18 total body inches (6 hips, 4 1/4 waist, 2 chest, 2 R thigh, 1 3/4 L thigh, 1 1/4 R arm, 1 3/4 L arm).

This was suppose to be week 8 of C25K. Instead of running my program, I decided to go out on a limb and run a complete 5k, no walking. It took me 63 minutes and was exhausting! I did not throw up but I felt like I could.  I still need more practice. My knee is a little sore today. I am walking for the rest of the week for 20 minutes, jogging 10 minutes, then walking another 20 minutes. I am starting week 8 next Monday. My 1st race will be September 23, 2012 at the Plano Balloon festival. My goal is to finish without stopping in 53 minutes.

My children and husband have inspired me in so many ways. I want to be healthy for my family. I don't want to put my children and husband through the pain of loosing me at 53 to a heart attack. Cade would have loved to run, jump, and play but could not for several months. In fact, several times he did things he was not allowed to do. I have no excuse!!!

The 2nd Annual SuperMAHAN 5K & KID FUN RUN was held July7, 2012 and raised over $2300. Although, I was a very fresh runner, I was a runner. Next year, I will be a 5k racer.

                                                    Cade & his friend Brianna after they finished the race

Listen to ME, Life...Thank you for a loving husband, healthy son and wonderfully understanding daughter!

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Home Cookin'

I have come to the dreaded realization that in order to eat more healthy, I will have to cook more. Ugh!!! Really? I have never been a cook, I have never wanted to be a cook. That may be part of the reason that I have extra padding. Although, it has been a "couple" of years since I was in school, I don't remember learning about nutrition in any high school or college class. I know the food groups and that you have to eat more fruits, veggies, and lean meats than sweets. That is about it. I have been reading and researching a lot. These are some of the things I have found out so far.

1. You need a degree in math to solve how many calories, fat, etc are in a recipe.
2. Most foods have WAY more calories, fat, etc. in them than you think
3. Some calories are simply empty calories.
4. 1 can of coke has like 20 packets of sugar and I am glad I stopped drinking cokes in January.
5. Divide your weight by 2, that is how many ounces of water you should drink per day.
6. When you drink that much water per day,  you pee all night.
7. Don't buy junk food and you won't have junk food to eat at home.
8. Cade loves raspberries, and I have only eaten 1 raspberry in the last month.
9. Fruit is good but has lots of natural sugar.
10. Frozen is sometimes as good as fresh.
11. Lots of people think cattle producers/ranchers are inhumane to their animals. Our herd, though small, is babied. Our show calves have 4 - 6 fans plus water misters in their barn.
12. Everyone should thank a farmer  EVERY DAY!
13. Coconut milk has more calcium that cow's milk.
14. Whitney had a great 1st garden with cantaloupe that is AH-MAZING!!!
15. Spaghetti and Meatballs from the Olive Garden has like 1110 calories and 50 plus grams of fat and I will still order it and love it and not feel guilty!

Lots of different blogs about weight loss, have before and after pictures of their weight loss. They also have their before weight and after weight. These are usually the blogs that I like the most. I have been debating whether I should do this. This is my compromise. I will post a picture but I will not post a weight number. Hopefully, lots of people I don't know will read my blog and  a total stranger knowing your weight is a lot different than friends and family having access to that number.

Before May 27, 2011                                                                                        After July 27, 2012

Listen to ME, Life...Buy a calculator to keep in the kitchen. Pin It

MIA

I knew that it had been a few days since I last posted something but 2 weeks...eek! Where did the time go? Once again, even though I have not been blogging, I have kept up my C25K program. Lots of things have been going on. Strength & Conditioning camp and football camp, dr appointments, school clothes shopping, weaning & selling calves, halter breaking show calves, birthday parties, just regular everyday life.

I know that I cannot make Life listen to ME. Obstacles are going to be thrown at me all the time. Life would be boring if I knew everyday what was going to happen. But I could use some smaller obstacles. Last Thursday, was Cade's burn clinic appointment at Parkland. Cade, Whitney, and I were going to make a day of it, and go school clothes shopping after his appointment. We left around 9am, stopped for breakfast, and leisurely drove to Parkland. We LOVE having to park and ride the purple Dart Bus from the parking garage, not! They smell and they are bumpy, and yucky, and just gross. We check in around 12:30 for our 1:00 appointment. The waiting are was very quiet, just a few people waiting, and no clowns. Cade hates the clowns that come over from Children's. We always see different  medical students, interns, residents. They are all very nice. Some have a great bedside manner and some you can tell are not comfortable just talking with the patient, medicine wise they are fine. The rehab med student needed some bedside manners. He was a book doctor not a people doctor. The burn med student was fabulous, friendly, talkative, and asked the right medical questions. They both looked at the scar band that is on Cade's neck. I asked about the surgery to release the scar band to both med students/interns. Then Dr Arnanoff, comes in to talk with us. He was the doctor that saw us that 1st night in the burn unit. I am sure that he is an extremely qualified doctor but I don't like him. It is hard for me to look at him in the face because all I hear and see in my head is that 1st night and him saying "This is a very serious burn and there is a chance that you son might die." My reaction was one of shock and I remember saying "I don't know what to say." Anyway, he says that the graphs look great, I bet Dr Sterling did these. Then he says that Dr Sterling left Parkland and went to Santa Fe. I was heart broken. We loved Dr Sterling. He was wonderful, talented, caring, compassionate, I cannot even begin to describe how Jeff and I feel about Dr Sterling. Then Dr Arnaoff says that yes he can do surgery on the scar band. It will be a z plasty, no graphs, and he should be able to play football in September. Minimal healing but it will be under general anesthesia and it always a risk whenever you are put to sleep. He says that he can book it in about 2 weeks. I was getting excited. Cade said "No I don't want to have the surgery." Talk about hurling the biggest wrench he could find into the works.

Cade has gotten use to the fact that he cannot turn his head and neck to the left fully. He compensates for that on the ball field by turning his whole body. He does not realize that he is turning his body. I understand that nothing will make Cade just like Cade was before the accident. I also know that his dream of playing football at OU is not out of reach. Being able to turn his head a few more inches, is still a few more inches. I also understand that he does not want to be in the hospital or have any more surgeries. A neighbor and friend who was also burned told Cade that this procedure is a piece of cake compared to what he has been through so far.  The football coach told Cade to get it done now. He said "Just think of how many more years of sports you have ahead of you. Do it now."

Anyway, the doctor said that ultimately it is your Mom's decision but I want you to be on board with that decision. So come back in 2 weeks and we will discuss it more. Our next appointment is August 2, at 1:15pm.

Listen to ME, Life, Cade, Doctors...the surgery will be scheduled!!!

            

                                        Cade at the All Star Game June 2012 Pin It

Did I really just do that?

Yes, I just did that. I cannot believe it, but I did. I hocked a loogie on the side of the road! It was completely gross but when you are running for 20 straight minutes, those type of things happen. You read that right, and I typed that right. I RAN FOR 20 STRAIGHT MINUTES!!!!!!!!! And yes, I really did hock a loogie. Don't tell Cade.

I have accomplished many things in my life, and I will accomplish many more. Finishing this run, was so empowering. I am so proud of myself and I cannot imagine ever forgetting this feeling. The conditions were not perfect. It was hot, cloudy, a little foggy, and humid with no breeze. I walked to the mailbox but came back home to change shorts. FYI, all Nike Tempo running shorts do not fit the same. The 1st pair I had on will have to become at home, in my bedroom shorts. Anyway, I was dripping with sweat and my running music messed up. None of this mattered, I felt great and the run was great!

With all this running and walking, I have been trying different styles with my hair. My hair is a little past shoulder length, thick, and wavy. Today, I did an upside down french braid. I started at the crown of my head, with my head upside down and simply started french braiding. I braided all the way to the end of my hair and fastened the braid. I then twisted the end of the braid and tucked it back under the braid.

                                                     Hair stayed in place and was cool!

Listen to ME, Life...I ran for 20 straight minutes!

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Numbers...

I like numbers. I like being able to compare this year's numbers with last year's numbers.  I like dates. I like looking back in my planner and remembering that last year, Cade had a dentist appointment. Or that we went to the movies. Numbers and dates make me feel in control, in the little things.

I have a date coming up and a number in my life that scares me. September 23, 2012 is my 1st 5k and I am scared. I am scared of failing. My number is 20. Run 20 minutes without stopping, tomorrow. I have butterflies. Can I do either of these? Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes, I can! Yes, I will!

                                                         
                                                     My super fast shirt with wings!!!

Listen to ME, Life...I am scared of failing, but I am NOT scared of trying!     Pin It

SuperMAHAN 5K

Whew...what a whirlwind the last 5 days have been? Last Thursday, was my day off of running. I should have went walking but I didn't. I had a migraine that killed me. Usually, I can sleep a migraine off but not this one. I slept a lot of the day and stayed in a dark room. I had planned to go swimming to get a little exercise but I still had a headache that evening.Then I had to pick up the 5k shirts. I went to sleep fairly early and woke up Friday morning refreshed.

Friday morning, I was ready to go. I had to finish all the last minute details. I finished my C25K week 4 day 3. It was wonderful. I was a little worried that I would have trouble since I had such a rough Thursday. The kids and I went to Paris to take care of some details. We delivered some shirts in Honey Grove. I made up goodie bags. It was so fun. I was stressed beyond belief. I wanted everything to go perfect and I was out of my element. I stayed up late trying to think of anything I would need the next day.

THE BIG DAY...I was frazzled. I felt lost. Remember this was only the 3rd 5K I had ever attended, much less been in charge of directing. Plus this was an event that was very personal and close to my heart. Things went very, very well. There were a few things that I will do differently next year. I heard lots of good things from runners, walkers, and spectators. Cade finished 3rd in his age division. Whitney was such a big help with the preparations. She ran the Fun Run. One of the biggest compliments, came from Brianna. Such a sweet girl! I am already thinking and planning for next year.

Right before the start!

Sunday was a lazy day at home. Lazy in Jeff's terms means you get up at 7am instead of 5am. Jeff and the kids worked on the poolhouse while I went to the grocery store. Yuck!!! I bought some salmon to cook on the grill. We have tried to cook salmon before but it did not turn out well out all. I wrapped it in foil sprinkled with lemon, olive oil, salt, and pepper. It was delicious. We also had chicken and steak kabobs. The purple onions were fabulous. It was a lazy day with grilling, yard work, and swimming. My favorite kind of day!!!

Week 5!!! I am so excited. Run 5, walk 3, run 5, walk 3, run 5 plus the warm up and cool down. I am still in awe that it has been having this type of effect on me! Now, I am on to my next challenge...nutrition. I am an emotional eater, plus I don't think I have one of those fast metabolisms. My metabolism is like Driving Miss Daisy, slow, slow, slow! I wish  that I knew more about nutrition.What should I eat? What should I avoid? Like everything else, I will find what works for me by reading, experimenting, and trial and error. Willpower is going to be my new best friend. Healthy choices. I made healthy choices at the grocery store strawberries, bananas, raspberries, blueberries, salmon, and chicken. I even made a healthy choice by going to the fridge to eat some raspberries...Cade made that healthy choice too. They were gone.

Listen to ME, Life....Buy extra raspberries!!!

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Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July!

I know, I know it has been several days since my last post. It has been a very busy week. I found out a very dear friend's mother was diagnosed with cancer. She is such a sweet lady and my whole family loves her. Her grandson and Cade have been great friends since kindergarten. Please keep her in your prayers!

We are also 3 days away from the SuperMAHAN 5K & Kid Fun Run in Honey Grove. I am so nervous and excited! This will be the 2nd SuperMAHAN 5K. A very special teacher, Jynna Duarte, came up with the idea last year to help with Cade's medical expenses. It was so heartwarming to see the school and community come together to support Cade and our family. This event is also very close to my heart because it was the 1st event that Cade "participated" in after the leaving the hospital and Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. He rode in the golf cart with Mrs. Duarte, then ran across the finish line with Brianna Cravens, super sweet girl! We are continuing the 5k as a scholarship program for a Honey Grove Senior Athlete and to help others who have been severely burned. I will let everyone know how the event goes next week.

I am very proud to say that even though I did not make time for my blog in the last week, I did continue my Couch to 5k program. I love, love, love the program. I wake up on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday excited and energized. On Tuesday and Thursday, I will walk or swim. I may need to repeat this next sentence. "I look forward to my running days! I really do look forward to my running days!" Did I really just day that? Yes, I did. I have found myself running extra laps at the track. Is this really me?

This is week 4 out of 9. I have been trying to concentrate on little things every day. Last week, I was focused on my breathing. This week, I have been working on my posture. When Cade was in occupational therapy, our wonderful therapist Marie, was constantly working on his posture. He would keep his right shoulder up by his ear. I cannot count the times that I said "Keep your shoulder down.". I make an effort to keep my shoulders relaxed when I run and keep my head up. I breathe in deeply through my nose and blow out through my mouth without raising my shoulders. Technically, I may be doing everything wrong for a runner. Yes, I said runner because I am a runner. These little things keep me focused. I am not constantly thinking how may minutes til this is done. I like that feeling. I like running an extra lap.

Listen to ME, Life.......I like running! Pin It

Lapped...Twice!

I was lapped twice by a man that is mid to late 60's. No sweat off of my nose! Whitney, however, was not happy. She kept telling me to walk faster and hurry up he is going to lap us and he is old. I walked my 2.5 miles and was happy and sweaty. One day I hope to be lapping people, I dont care how old they are.

Listen to ME, Life...Endurance is more important to me than speed...for now! Pin It

Are you kidding me?

I  titled this blog listen to me because I seem to say that on a weekly, if not daily, basis. "Listen to me, take out the trash, put your clothes in the laundry room, and sweep the hall." And of course, what I mean is take out the trash and put a new bag in the trash can, take your clothes to the laundry room and put them into the baskets. They know what I mean. But they are just kids and sometimes I let them slide BUT sometimes I don't. Like yesterday, I bought milk and told Whitney to take the milk into the house. She promptly took it into the house and set it on the kitchen cabinet, because we always keep milk on the cabinet. We like it hot. When I asked her about it, she said that she thought I was going to put it up. I told her she should always put up milk, and let it slide.

Let it slide...that is what I have been doing. I have not been listening to myself. Or rather I have been listening to myself give excuses. "It's too hot to walk, I'll walk in the morning. It's too early, I'll walk this evening." Yesterday as I was walking then running, it felt great. Really great! I could feel my body saying "Hey this isn't so bad. Maybe you can finish a whole lap around the track without stopping." Three and a half weeks ago, I would have said that I don't run unless someone is hurt, and I could not have run around the track. But I listened to my body, held my head high, and ran!

I am proud of my 1 lap. I am proud I listened to myself. I am proud I didn't give any excuses. I am proud that Whitney was watching me.

Listen to ME, Life...Have a great workout today and buy more milk, cause it's almost gone! Pin It

First Post

Tomorrow, I start Week 3 Day 1 of the Couch to 5K program. The 1st two weeks were not at bad as I expected. The actual running/jogging portion feels really good but I am more than ready when the prompt says "Walk". I am sure that every day will get easier. I am staying motivated by the fact that I signed up for a 5K on September 23, 2012.

I stopped drinking Cokes on January 1, 2012. If you know me, that is a miracle! I also started taking Plexxus Slim in March and have lost about 30 pounds. I feel so much better, especially when I put on clothes that I have not been able to wear for 3 or 4 years.

Now my big issue, my eating habits. I don't think I have ever really eaten healthy. I like sweets!!!

Listen to ME, Life...Have a great work out tomorrow and eat some veggies! Pin It