MoFo 27 Training Tuesday Parfait Love

MoFo count down. Anybody still here? It's my last Training Tuesday of Mofo. I got so tired of hearing myself bitch and moan about my low running mileage week after week that I pounded the pavement this week. Yay! Psycho boy must have even felt bad for me because he went out and found a new running trail for me and clocked the mileage even. How sweet is that?! I ran 5 miles today and 5 miles the other day, and also put in a 4 mile run on the new trail. I've increased my sit ups, and did strength and cardio training too. I'm back in the saddle again. Progress not perfection is always a good thing to remember.
Running was a necessity after whipping up and devouring this dessert doozy.

I tell you that dessert is a many splendid layered thing. After today's run I hope I have the stamina to write out the recipe. The pudding contains chia seed and flax seed and is perfect for after a workout. Hey speaking of workouts, I know I promised you an exercise video. Remember I promised to show you how to run the lines. I finally came through. ;) Most public tennis courts are empty mid day or late morning and this is a great exercise to do on a tennis court to get you moving. I recently heard an interview with the singer Pink, and when she was asked about how she lost her pregnancy weight she said that running short sprints was what cracked the metabolic code. And if you didn't already know it, yes Pink is a vegan too!

I hope I can sleep after those magic chia seeds. Zzzz. I now owe you one Psycho Boy soup recipe and one Magic Chia Parfait recipe. Tomorrow, I promise. Thanks for um swinging by.

MoFo 21 Training Tuesdays From Soup To...

I am thinking of ditching a couple of my MoFo themes this week. Yesterday was Monday and German fest day at Veganville. I adamantly refused to dress up in my Fraulein costume and wound up writing about Halloween candy. Halloween is not that big of a deal in Germany. I think it is almost as popular as the Bavarian Kwanzaa. Maybe I'm just better at going for a theme within a theme.

Today's theme within a theme is a loose rendition of Training Tuesday. I want to work in the hearty barley soup that I didn't get to share yesterday. There will never be a barley soup jelly bean. Anyway my running mileage once again sucked this week, in fact I am armed with so many blame excuses for why I did NOT run that I am calling this week's entry...

~From Soup to Nots~

Crazy Boy made this soup.
I did not.

Crazy Boy made up the recipe.
I did not.
Truth...kind Psycho Boy made this while I was working out. Really.

Yes I lifted weights and did cardio ...Run?
I did not.

CB set up this shot and took this picture.
I did not, not, not!

CB is asleep and has the recipe in his head.
I do not.

This soup is good after a run. I will run and get you the recipe soon.

P.S. Thank you for the delicious soup and surprise pics, CB!

Is your partner helping you out during MoFo? How?

MoFo 15 Training Tuesday Pizza?

Welcome to Mofo's Training Tuesdays, the blog where I cop to how I exercised and attempt to bring some accountability to this forum.

This past week I added a 4 mile run to the week before a paltry and embarrassing 4 mile run. I tagged on 3 miles of walking each time, but big deal. I did strength training, a load of sit ups and some aerobic activity. I am really not beating myself up here, I'm all for applauding life's little victories. Cutting myself some slack. It's when the slack becomes slackerish and the big things that get in the way of discipline get smaller and smaller, til any justification will do and workout diaries morph into this...

Monday walked around Costco and bought a super size bag of dehydrated apples.
Tuesday didn't do shit and ordered Zachary's deep dish pizza with extra Daiya. Watched the debates.
Wednesday watched all the analysts talk about the debates while finishing off gaseous dehydrated apples and cold pizza.
Thursday tummy hurt, drank ginger tea and worked up a sweat while lying in bed with two
heating pads.

 

 

I listened to the political analysts tonight and since this is a food blog, I'd like to convey to you what they said in respect to food. One analyst said that prior to Obama's first term he had promised to have root beer in all the nation's drinking fountains. Another analyst in respect to Obama's performance said, that today Obama must have eaten his Wheaties and milk, had his coffee and drank his honey boo boo juice.

If that analyst is right about Obama's breakfast of champions Obama clearly is not xgfx, vegan or even lactose intolerant. I can understand the President's coffee choices and even root beer decision. I can only guess as to what honey boo boo juice is.

My fact checkers just informed me that it is not called honey boo boo juice, but honey go go juice. Honey go go boo boo drinky-poo is a blend of Mountain Dew and Red Bull. I'll stop there.

Today's reluctant tip: We are all accountable. No matter how hard it gets, stick to healthy electrolytes, green filled smoothies, and water. Say No to Honey Boo Boo.

P.S. I will do better even though I didn't do that bad.  :)

MoFo 9 Training Tuesdays Mr. and Mrs. Smoothee

 

Oh no not another frigging MoFo smoothie post! Wait! Before you go, it's not just any smoothie. Because, well, because I made it!
Oh well... they still left.
Besides I haven't made any smoothies so far during MoFo and it's Training Tuesday. Nutrient packed smoothies are good for training, but you knew that.

I've been working out this week, but differently than I have been in previous weeks. My running mileage has suffered at the hands of MoFo. I miss running, and so does Psycho Boy. He likes running after me. Sometimes he likes running after me with a sharp object. So lots of time my training regimen is for mere survival. Please don't try the running with sharp objects at home.

Right here, right now me and Psycho Boy pledge to be recommitted. I mean to recommit to our running agenda.

Last week, I ran 4 miles and tacked on 3 miles walking, and walked another day.
I did strength training and core ball with sit ups and a little cardio on 3 days. I actually played tennis with my friend Liz one day. We drilled and did court sprints - something called running the lines, and had a really good workout and a lot of fun. Running the lines is a great exercise for anybody, not just tennis players and I intend to video how to do it and share it with you next Training Tuesday. Still I really miss the running. Here is my workout plan for MoFo month. I have to stay realisitic or at least make an attempt to be realistic. Reality can be a stretch for me.

Run 16-20 miles a week with a three mile walk tacked on each run.
Core ball and strength training 3-4 days a week.
Tennis 1 day with hitting drills, ( and running drills).
100 sit ups daily
75 jumping jacks daily

Two Different Smoothies for Two Different People Because One is a Big Baby.
Made in the same blender

Strawberry Smoothie

16 ounces of frozen strawberries
1 large ripe banana
1C soy yogurt
16 oz cold almond milk
2 T ground flaxseed
2 T agave and 1 packet stevia (my "go to" sweeteners)
Blend until thick and creamy, pour 1/2 into one glass.

Green Smoothie

Add a handful of spinach to liquid remaining in blender.
Pour into the glass that is not the big baby glass.

How is your exercise program going this week?  Have you made any changes during MoFo?

Raw Balls, and Core Balls, and Ball Balls

My strength training has improved, and I have increased sit ups and jumping jacks, and stretching. I was a little concerned about doing jumping jacks when I first began this training plan. I was afraid it would jar my back, so naturally I took it easy, so when I started I just waved my arms back and forth. Nobody waved back. I have now incorporated the jump part and yesterday I reached 75  jumping jacks during interval training with weights and core ball. I think nobody waves back because I workout alone. I really should use the mirror. I am up to 100 sit ups too. Now I can eat sitting up too.

I am back to running five miles pretty regularly. I tag on the additional three mile walk and the most I did last week was five miles with a three and half mile walk. I know I have improved my speed, not from timing my run but by picking up my speed on the straight away at the track. I feel pretty good about that.



Workouts help alleviate depression. As much as I try to visualize positive outcomes and improved body image, I still get funky thoughts. Yesterday while using the core ball, I pictured Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther movie, "A Shot in the Dark". You know the one   where Inspector Clouseau investigates a nudist colony.

Sure, Peter Sellers was in great shape from swimming, and I have the same glasses,  but why would I visualize Inspector Clouseau during a core ball workout? I have no idea.

My friend Darcy is doing the Insanity workout. She usually whips up a kale smoothie with some Vega Powder in it after her insane workout. Darcy gave me some powder to try out, I mean um Vega Plain Protein to try out and I also bought a small pack of the chai flavored Vega to sample. I found that I had less cramping and felt stronger after a workout and I really like it in a vanilla strawberry smoothie. Vega is kind of costly and for the first time in a  long while I am busted so it's not in my spending plan, unless Vega comes in Ramen flavor.

I also made some raw Vega Power Balls which are great for breakfast or even Halloween.

 

Vega Power Balls

3 T coconut creme whipped first

1.5 T coconut oil softened

1 C raw walnuts

1/4 C your favorite flavor Vega Protein or vegan protein powder

1.5 C dates

3/4 C unsweetened shredded coconut

 

Whip very, very cold coconut creme (milk) into a whipped creme. Add the creme, dates, coconut oil and Vega to food processor.

Process until mixture is well combined and creme and oil are fully blended.

Add in the coconut and blend until consistency is doughy and can form into balls.

Blend in the walnuts. 

Using a small scoop, scoop the dough and roll into balls. You can refrigerate, freeze or chow down on these room temperature.

 

 

And speaking of room temperature, it's getting chilly out here. Oh come on just share these balls with your favorite nudist or athlete.

 

 

Tip for today:

I am a pretty slow runner. Lots of times I find that other runners pass me on the track. Normally I could let this upset me, but lately I have realized a lot of the people who pass me stop running after a mile or two and I run more for endurance.

Tip: Don't compare your insides to someone else's outsides. We each have our own path.

What's your commitment for today?

 

Training Tuesday Clean Eating and Dental Floss

Today is day one of Training Tuesdays. I told you all about it last week. I get that a lot of people are afraid of commitment. Rather than participate, even two of my friends have skipped town. Skipping is probably the only exercise one of them will do.

Last week I even gave you a really nice peanut butter popcorn recipe to celebrate your new training goal. My friend, Andrea from Andrea's Easy Vegan Cooking Blog is the only reader who made a commitment. She committed to use her Whirly Pop more.

Remember I gave you a list of my assets/accomplishments along with a list of possible training obstacles? Remember when I included on my asset list that I haven't done any mind altering drugs in about 30 years. Well that is not particularly true. Sure I feel really good from all the endorphins I receive from working out and sure I feel really great on a plant strong diet. I forgot to mention that I take SSRIs. I used to need my SSRI and my SSDI, but since I take my SSRI regularly I don't need my SSDI. This almost makes me happy. Truth be told an SSRI is really more biochemical and would not be in the same category as mind altering hallucinogens from days of yore.

My friend John from Detour Cafe in Berkeley surprised me with this humdinger of a green drink. Thank you John. Green drinks are perfect before or after a work out, and I am quite fond of them, since they remind me of radium. They are also packed with nutrients.

John mixed a handful of spinach, a handful of kale, some apple juice and peach juice, blueberries, and banana. It was delicious and powerful.

Aerial View...

Strap me in this green stuff is potent!

Back to training. After some set backs with swollen knees in August, I am back to running 5 miles and tagging on a 3 mile walk. I did this run/walk three times last week, along with a 4 mile run and 3 mile walk. I did core ball exercises and light free weights on days where kitchen hours were too long, and my tootsies refused to cooperate. 

I am still eating a lot of kale and this brings the inflammation down. 
If you are having a hard time getting a jump start on any exercise program, or just want to up the ante here is my training tip for today.
Before you shower or brush your teeth, choose three exercises to do. 
For example, choose 15-25 jumping jacks, 15-25 sit ups, and 15-25  leg lifts. Now do these before each shower, or tooth brushing session. Go ahead. Before you know it, you will see some results, unless of course you never shower or brush your teeth, in that case you will not see any results whatsoever. Although you might look a little gummy. 

Today's motto, 
Good hygiene is as important as clean eating.

Now get moving and flossing.

Hugs,
GiGi

Training Tuesdays is Coming and PB Popcorn is Here

Starting Tuesday, September 12th, 2012, Veganville will be doing it up just for you, yep you reader extraordinaire. Yesiree, Veganville has a new Tuesday feature. Before I launch into to that announcement, I've um got a question for ya. I just want to know why, I mean really, why are you sitting there vegging out, reading a food blog when you know you should be working out? How' bout some lunges while reading? Wait...on second thought before you start plieing or planking, my lawyer tells me that I need to write a disclaimer or something. Okay.


DISCLAIMER
We here at Veganville are not doctors of anything, and take no responsibility for gout, kidney stones, or sloth. Please see your doctor before starting any regimen, or joining a regime.


So starting next Tuesday we will be launching Training Tuesdays. Oh we'll still be an irreverent vegan food blog alright, but let's say you want to go raw, get off sugar, run a 10k, drop a few pounds, commit to a new exercise program or even just eat meatless two nights a week, Training Tuesdays will be the place to commit and follow up. We'll share exercises and healthy foods, coaching affirmations, and guest bloggers. You can check in with your progress or gripes in the comment section every Tuesday. We're with you. So say sianara to the naysayers, and hello to the yaysayers. After all, we could all  use a little support.

So why here, why now, and who gave you the right, GiGi? 

Back in June, my friend Noreen climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. Although I was thrilled for her feat, not so much her feet, I was a little ticked off at myself. After I read about Noreen's climb I took off on my leisurely 6 mile walk. My inner dialogue went something like this, "lalala, it's so nice out, then you are a deadbeat, why can't you climb mountains GiGi? or cross Alaska on a dog sled, GiGi? You are a has been athlete, GiGi! Boy it's nice out. Lalala" .When I got to the track portion of my walk I noticed all these old people running, and running and running. When I say old I mean old, because I am old.

So you know what I did? By God I ran with the other old people. I ran and I ran and I ran, um a half mile. On the walk home my inner dialogue changed, and I was filled with questions.Why aren't I doing more strenuous exercise, why did I stop running? I realized  I was afraid of further injury and I had let old injuries define me. Then, miraculously instead of calling myself an ex-athlete, I affirmed that I was still in pretty good shape, and have always done some form of exercise, I affirmed that I knew how to train, and racked up more things I had going for me.

My asset list:
1. Strict Vegan (9 years). Veg before that for several decades
2. Know how to train, and rest
3. In decent shape
4. Ex-competitive athlete (three sports) and pro (one sport)
5. Ex-athletic coach 12 years
6. I eat clean- no processed sugar- in a year, I consume mostly whole grains or gluten free flour
vegetables and fruits.
7. System detoxed. Have had no mind altering substances or fire water for close to 30 years

Then I listedPossible Obstacles:
1. Two herniated discs L-4 L-5
2. Two bum knees
3. Many ten hour days in the kitchen
4. Sore feet
5. Exhaustion
6. Lots of old injuries- including lost total use of both arms and and had PT for two years and operation.

Listing the obstacles, gave me awareness, alleviated fear, and helped me to stay in solution.

The thing is, I garnered esteem from completing a half mile. I knew I would continue running and make goals for myself, because if nothing else, I am not a quitter. By the end of June I was running 2.5 miles and tagging on 3 mile walk, in July 4 miles + 3 mile walk and by mid August 5.5 miles with an additional 3 mile walk tagged on.

I was careful and could not run everyday. Some days I had to ice my knees and use Castor oil packs. (Will explain next Tuesday). Other days I had to ice my back and eat lots of anti- inflammatory kale. In late August both my knees swelled up. I refused to get discouraged, and concentrated on meditative healing. I cut down on my mileage and am now back up to a 4 mile run with 3 mile walk. I have added more stretching and core ball exercises. I don't self flagellate if I miss a few days. Missed days are rarely if ever due to sloth, beating myself up is not healthy.

Let's all celebrate Training Tuesdays with PB Popcorn.

Ingredients

1 C unpopped popcorn or 16 cups popped popcorn (we use a whirly popper)
1 C agave
2 Packets Stevia
1 C natural peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
Pop corn and remove any unpopped kernels. Place in a large paper bag. Meanwhile in a heavy saucepan, combine agave and Stevia. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Bring mixture to boiling, continue boiling for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Cool for a minute. Add peanut mixture to popcorn bag and shake until coated. Pour into bowl.

So who's in? Let's support each other with positive change.

Let me know what's on your asset list. What do you want to achieve?
I am so excited to hear about your goals.
Today's motto:

Congratulate don't flagellate.

Hugs,
GiGi