Three Confession Thursday

It's been raining for almost 24 hours straight and although I woke up feeling much better after leaving work yesterday sick, I kind of wished I could have curled up on the couch all day today. Tomorrow a friend and I are hosting a Fall Feast for 6 of our friends so we grocery shopped and prepped some food. In light of spending lots of time cooking and cleaning this evening I thought I would share 3 confessions with you all.

1. It's no secret how much I truly love summer and the warmth and sunshine it brings. Imagine my surprise then when I found myself eager to done tights and [rain]boots this evening. I guess there is a perk to Fall afterall...

2. I think about Texas often. I love my Longhorns more than any professional sports team. Barbecue doesn't taste as good outside of Texas as it does anywhere in the state. It's home. And yet, when people find out I'm from Texas and inevitably say "buy you don't talk like you're from Texas" I simply reply "thank you." I get some delight in surprising East Coasters and challenging their assumption of Southern accents.

3. I'm struggling to balance my newly uber-busy schedule with life and find myself caught in many Catch 22s right now. School vs. future plans. Hot vs. cold. Exercise and health vs. perception, effort, and will. It seems like just as I started figuring stuff out I've gone and confused myself all over again. I guess that Quarter-Life crisis wasn't a one-time thing at 24...


I also wanted to thank those of you who commented on my post from Tuesday about being grateful. The past week especially has taught me that a serious of small, positive choices can really change how a day turns out. I am keeping with that habit and looking for a little bit of good in every day. So, with that...


What do you want to confess?  What are you grateful for?

It's Been a Long Time Coming

When I laid on my couch, unable to walk because of a sesamoid stress fracture in my left foot, I started losing hope that I may never get better and not be able to run. A few months later I got the ok to start back on the elliptical and in a few weeks, try running.

3 weeks after my doctor's ok was last night. I had meetings all day which prevented me from walking home for lunch, getting in some additional mileage and exercise. I couldn't sit still all day. I fidgeted and twitched all morning long. I shook my legs throughout a 2 hour meeting, annoying the person sitting next to me. I made up my mind that when I got home I was going for a walk.

I put on my running shorts, grabbed my charged iPod sitting on a shelf, and laced up my sneakers tight enough to hold my feet in position. I qued up my favorite cardio music and walked out the door. I had decided that I was strong enough to venture out on a route that I haven't visited since my injury.

Running this path was like rejoining a community. I must have seen hundreds of bikers, joggers, runners, and walkers. All of them reminded me that DC has an active community of which I love being a part of. That trait is one of the things that drew me to Washington, DC is the first place. I was back. I have walked this path and run this path and today no one could tell I was recovering from an injury. I was just another exerciser.

I had avoided this path when I started doing my recovery walks because in my mind that route was something of strength and what my athletic self used to do. I quickly pushed aside those thought and set out on my way. I told myself I should try to run. "Slow and steady wins the race" played throughout my head to remind me to take it really slow. I felt like I had a second brain in my left foot, ready to alert me at a moments notice if anything felt wrong. That brain never shouted at me!!

I ran twice in the first part of that path and felt like shouting from the rooftops. My body felt strong. My legs, albeit a little different looking than in February, carried me confidently on my way. My lungs were up for the challenge and damn it, I was flying (running?) high.

I continued walking with a few spurts of running here and there. My path led me down to the National Mall via the back of the Lincoln Memorial. I couldn't help but think about how often I'd been down there before but that it'd been a long long time. I decided to walk to the front of Lincoln and subconsciously my arm reached for the pause button. I took a couple of minutes to marvel at the beauty of the mall -  the Washington Monument with the Capital behind it. Lincoln with the sun setting behind him. The green trees lining a place that offered hope and inspired many. And then I walked to the dirt path along the reflecting pool and ran some more. Sans music - I wanted to hear crunch of my feet on the soft(er) dirt path, my breath, the birds, and savor it all.

Savor it I did. When I reached the World War II Memorial I really felt like I had found a piece of myself. Screw yoga, I was in a zen state of mind and nothing was going to change that.

I completed my walk / run with a few more bouts of running and made my way home. I listened to my head when it told me I should save some gas for the next time, that I shouldn't overdo it now. This was just my first time back and I didn't need to set myself back. And I stretched to make sure I ended the 4.5 mile run the way I should.

A sense of a runner's high has returned to me and I have a feeling I'll be on Cloud 9 for a few days. I felt like I left some frustration and angst regarding my injury on the pavement and it feels so good.

There were a lot more revelations I had on this run. It was my own little therapy session and a great one at that. 

I reconnected with a part of me I was beginning to think had left. I am a different person though. I ran. And I realized:

I am resilient in the face of challenges. I have succeeded in the past and I will succeed again in the future. I don't doubt my own ability. I am stronger than I was in February and in so many ways. I love living an active life. I am appreciative of what my body can do, think, and say. And I appreciate all of the support and encouragement from family, friends, and blends as I continue to recover from my injury. Here's to more pain-free recovery runs!

The Root of it All

It seems like just yesterday I wrote about my August goals and now it's almost September. Is 2010 flying by quickly for anyone else?! I've found myself extremely torn between summer and fall. I absolutely don't want summer to end at all and am savoring the sunshine but it's hard to notice that I'm craving more roasted veggies, apples, and sweet potatoes.

As I've been increasing my outside [walking] time, I've gotten some extra time for thinking, which has led me to uncover the root behind my habits of nighttime snacking. An odd place to make a discovery but I'll go with it.

My medical history has been no secret on this blog. I was diagnosed with my allergies around the age of 6 but continued to struggle to get healthy for many years later. When I was in the 4th grade I started a new school which helped with many things but also meant I had to make new friends and explain why I ate differently and was absent so much for doctors tests, visits, and more. At one point in that year, my doctor ordered me to do a 2 week liquid diet to try to uncover other food allergies and stomach issues that I might have had that were perpetuating my symptoms.

You might be thinking "smoothies galore" or "master cleanse?" but it was actually much worse. A pallet of "juice boxes" arrived of this drink called Neocate.  I think we went with the tropical flavor but they were so bad it wouldn't have mattered much. I was supposed to have ~ 3 (maybe more?) cartons a day as meal replacements. I think the first day I maybe stomached one of those, mixed with Kool Aid, and lots of water. Let's just say that no one in my family likes to remember that stretch of time where I was truly hangry. That drink was beyond foul. It also was the only 2 week stretch of my life where the allergen levels in my blood were relatively non-existent and where a "normal kid's" were. Go figure. I also had 3 of the 7 conditions the drink "tests" for prior to starting this experiment.

I remember that at night when no one was around, I would sneak food. I remember only going for safe foods. I was so hungry I had to just eat something. I felt better almost instantly, eating real food. I'd love to say that was the only time I ate something I shouldn't have growing up, but it wasn't. Before I had true Celiac Disease, and as a kid, carefully avoiding gluten or other allergens didn't matter to me as much as it does now.

I grew out of that phase and don't purposefully cheat now because I know the repercussions of my actions. But as a hungry 4th grader, that habit first popped up, literally for nourishment. Now, I think my night time grazing is something I do mindlessly, to procrastinate going to sleep or occupy my time, or to look for comfort.

It was a goal of mine to uncover why I've been snacking a lot at night and I figured it might be helpful to share more of my story. I've been turning off the tv much earlier, getting to bed at more of a reasonable hour, but still managing my cereal. I guess it's good the month isn't over yet so that I can still work on this goal!!

Have you ever had to do a horrible medical test? 

On to lighter, more fun things - the food!  Breakfast this morning was a new overnight hot cereal concoction. I mixed in a tiny Asian pear plus a few blueberries. This morning I topped it with a few more berries, crushed almond pieces, and 1/2T peanut butter. Plus an egg white.

My big event is on Thursday which means that today was once again very busy. It's scary how productive I am when I have a lot more things going on!  Lunch was a salad almost identical to yesterday's, minus the beans, plus the last of my Hot Pot soup from Thursday.

I took a snack break late in the afternoon - another juicy peach. It was delicious but didn't hold me over for very long.

Today was laundry day and I got started as soon as I walked in the door. After putting clothes in the wash I had an "appetizer" of cauliflower soup topped with a light sprinkle of parmesan and hot sauce.

A couple of hours later, once laundry was folded and put away, I sat down to my real dinner. I had a serving of baked beans, roasted veggies, and a slice of Udi's whole grain toast with parmesan and basil. Yum!

There were a few more things to do after dinner and I enjoyed a dessert of 1/4c Greek yogurt (popped into the freezer for ~25 minutes = delicious!!) with a few blueberries and crushed Puffins.

Time to wrap up and unplug for the night!

Confessions from GFG

Hi Guys,

How's it going? I guess I'm in somewhat of a letter-writing mood hence the slightly awkward greeting :) I guess Tuesdays aren't so bad when you get to see old friends, have new furniture delivered, and make progress on your to-do list, right?

I went a little MIA the past couple of days and to be honest, I just kind of needed to unplug. Not to mention that yesterday I was home sick and while I could have entertained myself online I decided to give myself a sick day from the computer too. It was glorious :)

Here's a few other confessions for you:

I still enjoy breakfast, even if it's the same thing over and over. I guess I only notice because I post it on here for you all (hot BRM cereal mix with buckwheat, 1/4c almond milk, 1/2c water, 1/2T chia, splash of vanilla, cinnamon with blueberries and topped with 1/2T peanut butter)

A lot of my friends and family don't know about the blog. Hence, I don't take pictures at some meals, like lunch today when I caught up with 2 participants from a trip that I led to Israel 2 years ago. Marshall (in the red) biked from San Fransisco to DC (~50-85 mi a day) to raise money for people with disabilities.

(I had a garden salad with grilled chicken)

I also don't photograph and post everything I eat. For example, this afternoon's nibbles on some leftovers in the office.

Homesickness and stress rarely find their way onto the blog. I like to keep a positive outlook on life and don't like griping for all the world to see.

I'm really really bad at actually studying for the GMAT. I look at the book. That counts, right?

As much as I love local and in-season foods, I sometimes just want to eat some of my favorite fruits and veggies. The downside - I'm painfully aware of how pears don't taste as good in the summer as they do in the fall and winter and chili won't make me feel my best when I head back out into a hot, humid summer night.

I'm really only excited about taking classes because of the prospect of meeting some new people. I was always the nerdy kid that did puzzles and math for fun and loved reading. I loved school but was happy to graduate college and move on. We'll see how this little adventure goes.

Fruit and nut butter is such a satisfying snack. Peach and baby plum with almond butter: case and point.

I hate wasting food and concocted this lovely little dish for dinner. I have yet to make a significant dent in my CSA box from last week and decided to use some veggies for a fresh dinner - stuffed peppers!

I sauteed a clove of garlic, diced onion, 4 diced tomatoes, 1/4c brown rice, and 1/4c black beans with oregano and basil. It simmered for a bit to make a saucy mixture while the oven preheated.

I chopped the tops off of a bell pepper and sweet Italian pepper. Using a spoon, I stuffed the peppers with the mixture and then baked in the oven, covered, for about 20 minutes. I uncovered the peppers, added some parmesan cheese, and let it cook for another 3 minutes or so until the cheese was melted. Voila!

Right after this picture I cut up the pepper and added hot sauce and a drop of Italian salad dressing. Both complemented the light, summery flavors of the pepper!

I snacked on a toaster waffle and another baby plum while doing some computer work.

Confession - my apartment and computer and black holes. I can't ever seem to leave once I come home to them. Even to the gym. I feel like that needs to change.

Alright, it's time to power down, change my sheets, and go to bed. This gluten free girl is tired and has big plans for tomorrow.

24 Things I've Learned as a 24 Year Old

1. The wind may get taken out of your sails but have faith, it'll come back at just the right time.
2. Friends and family are more important than any laptop, piece of jewelry, etc.
3. Eat real food - it'll do you wonders.
4. Own who you are.
5. It's ok if that changes over time too :)
6. Don't be afraid to try new things. After all, if I had succumb to my fears, this blog wouldn't exist!
7. TAKE ADVENTURES!
8. Travel! You can have just as much fun in the next town or city as you can across the country or ocean.
9. The power of a compliment lasts beyond anything I've come across this year. In fact, when I replay one I received last summer, I smile just the same as I did when I was first lucky enough to receive it.
10. Find a mentor. Or a few. The things you will learn will make you a better person, whether or not you realize it in the moment.
11. Be proud of where you come from. It might even be ok if you slowly start turning into your parents. For me, I wouldn't be as organized, dedicated, or willing to take a stand for something if it wasn't for my parents. Plus, there's no denying we're related when you see us :)
12. You're never to old to play like a kid!
13. Don't let yourself get too depressed about something. It may suck for the time being but eventually, you'll tire of feeling that way and look for the good in things.
14. Look for the good in things! There may be an unexpected silver lining just waiting for you.
15. It's ok to look out for yourself. If you don't, who will?
16. It never hurts to ask.
17. Quarter-life crises don't have to come at 25. If fact, if it happens at 24, you may be setting yourself up for an even better 25!
18. Yes, you might be old enough to have a child. That fact does not preclude you from acting like one every now and then :)
19. Own what you know. Don't be afraid to be confident in your abilities, even if you don't have a degree in it (unless you're a doctor or something...)
20. Learning what you don't like is just as important as learning what you do like. If everything is always roses, you won't know how to cope with adversity.
21. Don't burn bridges. People from your past will still be willing to help you out. I'm serious.
22. Do something that makes you slightly uncomfortable. It'll expand your horizons.
23. Kill 'em with kindness. Whether it gets you on a plane to escape a blizzard or brightens someone's day, being mean is far less effective.
24. Love who you are and even if you don't love everything love what you can. Constant scrutiny just isn't worth it!

Here's to an even better 25!

All Growed Up

I'm here in Chicago spending the morning in meetings before leading an afternoon of training sessions and kicking off my sorority's national convention!  I'm so excited to be spending the big day with so many friends and family that I've known for so long. I can honestly say that I've gained amazing, life-long friends through the sorority.

I had the idea to share pictures with you all from various birthdays throughout my life. The benefit of a summer birthday was getting to have pool parties and other fun things. I hope you enjoy them!!


On the left is Lauren, my close friend since before we were born. I'm clearly upset about something at our 1st birthday party...

2 years old and celebrating at Chuck E. Cheese

 

My grandmother made this cake from scratch for my 3rd birthday

 

4 years old

 

Best birthday party ever for 5 - a carnival in our backyard with games, spin art, and more!

 

Turning 6 and a little gymnast

 

Celebrating 8 while on a family cruise in the Caribbean

 

Sometime as a teenager, 15 perhaps? Definitely had my awkward stage...

 

I can't wait to see what the next 25 years will bring!

Honest Scrap Award

My new blogger friend Liz passed on this award to me and I am supposed to share with y'all ten honest things about myself.

1. Despite my lack of a Southern accent and living in DC, there are still many things I love about my home state of Texas. It just took me not living there to realize it.
2. I am a hopeless romantic.
3. I'm pretty sure I have undiagnosed OCD. I am the ultimate Type-A personality.
4. This blog isn't called Gluten Free Grazer just for fun. If I didn't keep food journal of what I eat, I could easily eat my way through the day.
5. I hate running with other people because I never feel as good at it as they are. Before my injury, I would still need to take walk breaks. I'm horribly competitive and that makes me feel like less of an athlete.
6. In an ideal world, I would walk away from everything and get on a plane tomorrow to travel the world. Despite being fortunate to have traveled often in my life, I have a strong case of Wanderlust. 
7. This preppy sorority girl LOVES musical theater and Disney movies.
8. I never outgrew my love of all sports after playing them with my brother and his friends growing up.
9. Turning 25 scares the crap out of me.
10. I want to be a stay at home mom when the time comes yet secretly fear being bored and not feeling challenged or intellectually stimulated.

I'm passing this award on to...

Cara of Cashews and Hummus and Rella of the Penny Pinching Epicure.