week 8: Session 1, FAIL!! & Birthday Loot

on the treadmill
5 minute warm up
Run for 5minutes and walk for 1minutes (repeat 4 times/24minutes, it was supposed to be 10times)
Walked briskly for 21minutes
5 minute cool down
5km in 50minutes
I ran yesterday and I didn't do such a great job stretching after the run. This morning my right calf just didn't feel right and my legs felt really tired. I knew stepping on the treadmill that it wasn't going to be easy, so no surprise it didn't go as planed. I managed to get 4 repeats in and then decided to walk the rest.
I guess somedays are good and some are bad, today should have been a rest day, my body was just not up to it. No biggie, there is always another day. Tomorrow I have my Cardio and Conditioning class, so I will run again on Tuesday.


I finally picked up my Birthday present on Saturday! Hubby was so jealous... 

Thank you to my sister Katia and her Boyfriend Greg and my mother in-law who all chipped in so I could get mylself this little watch

As you can see I bought a Garmin Forerunner 305 at Costco for $169.00 which is an amazing price considering some places are selling it for $279.00!! 

I still reading the Instruction booklet that came with it and I haven't charged it yet. But I'm so looking forward to using it.


My Friend Dean gave me the gift of Music, Thank you and I love the Card!! 

I get really board listening to the same playlist over and over while I run, so this certainly is the perfect gift!!


Mom and Dad got me a Lululemon gift card which I quickly put to good use. 
I picked up a pair of Run: Empower Crop II 

why they made this:
A powerful crop built to empower female athletes!
Made of 4-way stretch power luxtreme for 'no bounce' muscle support and quick drying wicking capabilities
Anti-stink mesh behind the knees for extra ventilation
Mid-rise waistband with drawstring and elastic for comfortable support
Articulated seaming for a lean athletic look
Internal pocket to store your belongings
Flatlocked seams to reduce abrasion


I will post a review of them once I start running outside with them, but I really like how they feel. I think they will be prefect.


I also picked up a Brisk Run Headband

why they made this:
Keep warm during your cool morning runs!
Made with luon, our signature fabric - brushed for warmth!
Also perfect under your bike or snowboard helmets.
Earflaps to keep you extra warm and covered


Can't wait to put all this great gear to good use!! 
Thank you for all the birthday wishes, 37 will be a great year!!

Sunday Sweets

I grew up with a Grandma that loves to bake and passed her love of baking to me. She says "Liebe geht durch den Magen" which translated means "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach", Grandma speaks German.
Funny because my husband always claims that he fell in love with me the first time he tried my cheesecake, so Grandma was not far off.
Hubby has a huge sweet tooth and I like to bake, which is great BUT it sucks for the waistline.  My solution was to stop baking, that way we would not be surrounded with temptation all the time. Well that sounded great, but hubby would just head to the closes bakery and pick up something to satisfy his carving... and we all know bakery stuff is not exactly healthy, plus always loaded with sugar.


So now I'm back to baking on Sundays, trying to find healthy alternatives that are delicious and low in calories.

A Few years back my sister gave me a copy of "Eat, Shrink and Be Merry" and I actually had never made anything out of it until today. I decided to give "You're Pudding Me On" a try, a warm banana bread pudding with Chocolate Chips... sounds great, hubby loves bread pudding.

You're Pudding Me On
Recipe adapted from Eat, Shrink and be Merry
12 slices multigrain bread (about 1 lb / 454 g) 
2 cups 2% milk 
2 cups mashed ripe Organic bananas 

1 cup Organic Greek Style vanilla yogurt

4 organic eggs

3/4 cup packed brown sugar 

1 teaspoon vanilla 

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Break bread into 1-inch pieces and place in a 9 x 13-inch glass baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Dish should be full.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together milk, bananas, yogurt, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Pour mixture over bread. Using your hands (yeah, it’s a little messy), mix bread cubes with milk mixture so that all pieces are coated. Let stand for 15 minutes while you preheat oven to 350F.

3. Just before popping dish into oven, mix in most of the chocolate chips , saving a little to sprinkle on top. 

4. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, until pudding is puffed up and golden brown and center is set. Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Makes 12 servings.

YUM YUM this was so good it absolutely hit the spot, BUT we all agreed that 3/4 cups of chocolate chips was a bit much. I think next time I would only sprinkle them on top.

What's your favourite healthy dessert? 

week 7: Session 3 & Coconut Water

on the treadmill
5 minute warm up
Run for 4minutes and walk for 2minutes (repeat 9 times/54minutes)
5 minute cool down
6.35km in 64minutes
Running is going well, which is a surprise to me. Who would have guessed that I would be able to run for 4 minutes without stopping!! NOT me that's for sure. Last year I would walk for 45minutes and be exhausted, today I put in 64 minutes run/walk and truly enjoyed the work-out.


After my run I had a nice cold Green Smoothie 

1 cup of Coconut Water 
a splash of Almond Breeze 
a splash of OJ
1 Frozen Organic Banana
1 T of Chia Seeds
1 T of Flax seeds 
3 cups of Kale 


This Green Smoothie was very refreshing and just the prefect thing to have after running. 
Today while at the Health Food Store I picked up Vita Coco, I was curious to try it and thought it would be a great addition to my Green Smoothie.  I was thinking it should taste like Pina Colada but no it was a fresh water taste, with just a hint of sweetness.


Did you know that Coconut water contains the five essential electrolytes your body needs to keep nerves firing, muscles moving and to help manage stress. Coconut water twice the potassium of a banana, 15 times more then most sports drinks, no added sugars, no fat, no cholesterol and no preservatives. Coconut water is naturally sweet, only 60 calories for about 12 ounces and hydrating. 
Here are some Health benefits;

• is excellent for replacing lost electrolytes from exercise or illness
• is an all-natural sports/energy drink
• may help promote smoother, more hydrated skin
• is non-allergenic
• is rich in potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure and heart function
• enhances immune function
• contains potent antioxidant

I liked adding the coconut water to my smoothie and can see all the benefits of doing so, but at $1.89 each it can turn into quite an expensive habit.


Have you tried Coconut Water?  What expensive health habit have you added to your routine that you are not willing to go without?