Getting back into the swing of things is a little harder to do after a long vacation weekend than I originally anticipated, I’ve come to find. After all that fabulous Chicago food and pasta, I was looking forward to eating some simple and healthy roast chicken and veggies, but I find myself having to combat those ugly bad carb cravings mid-day that I had control over beforehand (you know… chips, soda, sweets). It amazes me that 5 days of debauchery can completely undermine months of good behavior! And then when I give into those cravings, they’re not even satisfying, so go figure.
Okay, well, it doesn’t help when you come home from holiday and actually are in the mood to try to cook or to try to bake! I say “try” because I am not a baker and I am not a chef and I can’t stand to be in the kitchen for any length of time doing anything remotely “kitchen-ish.” However, when James and I got back from Chicago, that Friday we had a celebratory happy hour in which I decided to bake these wicked Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings. Talk about a sugar overload, holy cow. But oh, they were good.
Not to mention the 18th was our son’s 11th birthday, so on Saturday night, I decided to make this:
This is so out of character for me. I’m not exactly sure that I’ve made one single cake in the 11 years AJ has been on this earth, but something possessed me to attempt this that night (Jamesy is the one who made sure there were plenty of sprinkles on it, not me; he did a great job). I think the baking inspiration has come from some of my blogging friends who have actually made me want to step outside my comfort zone. The cake may not be professional grade, but I sure had fun doing it.
However, all calorie-laden creativity aside, I do have my next training plan for Maui in place and have already started it:
I don’t start the killer hill training until next week, but I’m happy to say I’ve nailed my runs so far. In the middle of the one chart, you’ll see a big 3.1 highlighted… that’s a Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot we’ve signed up for (James will do the 10K). As well, we’re doing another Turkey Trot race the Saturday before that (after which the next day it looks like I have a 13-miler scheduled in there… oh dear). Anyway, I already have an 8-miler coming up this weekend, so… here we go again, off and running.
And now it’s time for me to put all the sugar and processed foods to rest and make up our quickie oatmeal breakfasts for the next week:
I start with 1 cup quick cooking oats, then add flax seed, dehydrated fruit (blueberries, craisins, bananas), nuts, cinnamon, salt, brown sugar, store in mason jars, add boiling water (I add a tablespoon of peanut butter for protein when I add my water)… this is a rib-sticking breakfast that won’t allow any type of craving to rear its ugly head and you’ll even question whether or not you’ll want to eat lunch! But don’t eat it then go running!! All your energy is being used for digestion for a couple of hours, so you’ll never get through a run without GI issues if you eat this beforehand.
Lastly, I leave you with this thought:
Running is not about being better than someone else, it’s about being better than you used to be.
Cheers!
Never A Dull Bling 
Great post! Way to go for baking things, it’s fun to try new things sometimes. I leave Lucas to do the cooking for the most part; he’s super amazing at it and I just burn stuff. Haha. Good job getting back into running and the oatmeal! I might have to give that a try. 🙂 I look forward to hearing about the hill! You’ll do amazingly. 🙂
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Hehe, thank you Lydia!! It was really fun to step out a bit, and I am like you! The joke around my house is, “What is that smell? Oh yeah, mom is cooking!” Hahaha! And thanks for the hill support! By the time Maui comes, I will own that bitch! >:-)
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Yess that’s the spirit! 😀 Haha that sounds just like me, I swear sometimes the cats go and hide when I cook. 😉 I’m glad you enjoyed it and are ready to dominate!!
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Why is it so much easier to fall off the wagon than it is to get back on again? Who can we talk to about that? It’s nice to know there are people out there struggling like me but getting back on track and succeeding. Very encouraging! We’ll muddle through this together. Great job on the cake and I’ll bet it went down just fine. My mom always said it doesn’t matter how it looks because you’re just going to poop it out anyway. Guess that gives you some insight into her cooking skills. 🙂
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Hahahaha! Ohmigosh, that’s hilarious!! And yes, it’s an absolute pain to get back on the wagon, I agree! The running I’ve managed… the food… eh, not so much, hehe. We can do this!! Perserverence!!!
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Everything looks delicious, and it’s hard to get back on track, but looks like you are! Happy belated birthday to your son 🙂
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Thank you Dorothea!! I’ll let him know you send birthday greetings, and yeah, we’re definitely getting there! 😀
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You did a fabulous job with your baking and stuff, though it was kinda weird to see you in the kitchen that long 🙂 It’s all good though and you’re out of the gate with that new plan and nailing it…those spreadsheets sure look nice don’t they 😉
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Hehehe! Don’t get used to me being in the kitchen, 🙂 . And yes, the spreadsheets are gorgeous!! I’d be lost without them!! 😀
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wow cute cake! Sounds like you had an amazing time! I love that breakfast oatmeal and I need to try it!
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Oh Lynn, I’m so sorry… this comment of yours ended up in my spam somehow so I’m just barely seeing it now! Two other of your comments did as well and I don’t know why!! But thank you so much for the compliment! It means a lot to me coming as you are just amazing in the kitchen!!
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Oh thank you:) it was a wonderful cake I remember
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You are too kind!! 😀
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🙂
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Good work! I have lots of easy diet recipes on my blog, vegan and vegetarian. I also have a free book with smoothie recipes which are great for weight loss! Jess x http://feedyourprettysoul.com/?page_id=1231
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Thanks Jess! I’ll check it out!
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OK…let me first say this….I absolutely LOVE your banner. Every single time I came to your site I am greeted with such a bold and powerful self-affirmation…my soul screams YES..everytime I land on your page. Just had to say that…now I need to go read the post 😀
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Thank you Tasha! Once upon a time (long story short), I inadvertently learned that someone didn’t believe I could do something, didn’t believe in me, but I proved them wrong. Sweet sweet justice for me; hence, it will forever be my motto as I never doubt myself or what I am capable of. I may not do some things as well as every other person, but don’t ever tell me I can’t do it. 😀
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I love that!!!! I was just telling someone on a recent post of mine ” let your haters be your motivators” and that’s exactly what you did!!! That’s freaking awesome if I must say so myself!!!! Continue to show them not to underestimate you!!!! 😉
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Yep!! That’s right!! 🙂
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Might have to google that apple recipe! I’ve also been baking. I also never bake! Also been making birthday cakes. Luckily son just wanted it decorated with “lots of sweets”. I can do that! I just can’t do all the really fancy stuff my friends do. Liking the spreadsheets! Am heading for a 10miler in December now and looking for ideas….
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Yes, do Google it! It’s fabulous and so easy!! But be prepared for sugar overload!!! How funny that you’ve been baking too!! It must be something about running and accomplishing goals, haha! Do you mean you’re looking for ideas for a training plan? If you are, hit James up!! He lives for creating spreadsheets!! Hehe!! Although you do great regardless!! Such an awesome time on that 10K!!!!
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ah. really?? might have to ask him. I seriously live for spreadsheets in general (am a geek). And I need to start following a plan now…. I was going to look through my old running books/ diaries tonight and see what i could find, and put something together. I’ll see how far I get. And yes- am going to look that recipe up. We just collected some windfalls on our walk home 🙂
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Oh yes! Put those apples to good use!! And yes, James lives for creating spreadsheets and plans, and he’s good at creating ones specific to your needs, soooo… 🙂
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