One Sunday about a year ago, I was watching CBS This Morning and they had an inspirational story about a man named Chris Rosati. Chris was diagnosed with a disease that I personally think is one of the worst there is--ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease.  It is a terrible sentence, but what I found fascinating about Rosati is that he is honestly one of the happiest human beings you will ever meet.  He truly believes that it is his mission to bring joy to peoples' lives.
           The funny thing about Chris is that his story came to life when he posted on Facebook that it was on his bucket list to hijack a Krispy Kreme truck and pass out free doughnuts to people to make them happy.  And to Krispy Kreme's credit, instead of discouraging him, they have supplied him with a truck filled with doughnuts to pass out to others.  For the complete video click here: The Great Krispy Kreme Donut Heist
           A few weeks ago they had a follow-up on Chris's story, and the amazing thing is that as he moves closer to death, he really does appear happier.  He takes joy in the small things in life that many of us may take for granted.  He shares about how the sound of his daughter's footsteps bring him happiness where others might not even notice those steps at all. This most recent segment about Chris shows that he is now gathering video footage of other ALS patients to document how in the face of this debilitating disease, these patients are remarkably happy despite the diagnosis.  In fact, these people feel that they are happier than most because their limited time on Earth reminds them to appreciate even the small things around them. This clip is very inspiring and worth taking the time to watch: On the Road: The silver linings playbook of an ALS patient
           I was really touched by Chris's ability to focus on the positive despite his diagnosis, but what inspired me to write the blog this week--what inspired me to action--was when Chris shared his motto, "If you don't impact someone...then this is all a waste!"  It inspired me to try to make a difference, and it does not involve doughnuts. In my life I am very passionate about my family and friends, about the importance of education and its power to affect children in a positive way, and about running, biking, and swimming.  I wanted to find some way to combine these three passions, and I am hoping that my family and friends will support me in this endeavor.  
           A little over two years ago, one of my very good friends lost her son unexpectedly.  He was an amazing person who brought great joy to so many.  He had the ability to make anyone he was around feel special; he loved music, gardening, and was an amazing cook; he had an immense passion for his family and friends and would do anything for them.  A scholarship was created in his name to support students going off to college, and it is in this way I am hoping to make a difference.  For the rest of the year I am hoping that my family and friends will donate to this scholarship fund in the following ways:

1. I will be posting the number of miles I run/bike/swim, the racing events I plan to take part in, and I would love it if you would sponsor my craziness.  In this way I can combine my three passions to make a difference.
2. You could donate to the scholarship fund no matter the amount of excercising I participate in--that would be wonderful as well.

           It would mean so much to me if you would support me in raising money for the Rory Gollogly Scholarship fund.  It was such a loss, and I would like to see something good come from this.  I know that he would be proud to know that we are raising money to support students like him on their road to their future selves.  100% of the money donated would go to students, and all donations are tax deductible.  Any money donated before April 15th will go to this year's students.  After that date, the benefit of these scholarships would go to students who graduate in 2015.  If you would like to take part in my mission, please follow the steps below:

1. Go to the website murrieta.dollarsforscholars.org
2. Click on the gray "Donate Now" tab at the top, left of the page
3. Click the red donate now button
4. Fill in all your information, but make sure to "Specify a Scholarship Fund" by typing in the Rory Gollogly Scholarship Fund
5. I will keep this information on the side column on my blog under "Miles for Rory" and keep a running total of my running, biking, and swimming from this week until the end of the year to remind you to support my mission

           Have you ever had one of those experiences where you finally figure something out, only after you have had that aha moment you realize that what you discovered you have really known all along?  I had one of those moments this week where it comes to my daily exercise and calorie intake totals.
           As I have shared in my previous blogs, a couple of my friends and I are doing a challenge.  We are all competitive people, and we have realized that to keep ourselves accountable to exercising and eating healthy it helps to compete against each other.  So until the month of June we have to log daily into the MyFitnessPal app, eat within the calorie limits on six of the seven days, exercise a minimum of 5 days a week, and in the end we get to add the overall percentage of weight we lose to our final totals.  We have been doing this for over a month now, and I have noticed a trend.  The first couple weeks, Sean and I ate all our meals at home, and right away I moved out of the 170 pound range and into the mid-160's.  The last few weeks Sean and I have been super busy, and we have been eating 1-2 meals each day outside of the house, and my weight hasn't budged at all.
           This is despite the fact that I have been tracking all my food and exercise, and I have been staying under the total amount of calories I am allowed.  So the big discovery I made this week is that if I want to have complete control over what goes into my mouth, if I want to finally get back in the 150's, I really need to limit my eating out to no more than one time per week. This is not new to me, but it finally hit home this time.  
           Let me give you an example.  On Friday, Sean and I went out on a dinner date to a restaurant in Temecula called The Bushfire Grill.  It has lots of organic, locally grown, mostly gluten-free salads, grilled meats, curries, sides, etc.  I had a nice lamb curry over brown rice with an arugula beet salad.  I could figure out how to track the brown rice, but the curry and the salad were tricky.  I had to pick something close in MyFitnessPal, and hope that it was close enough.  The next night I decided to make my own version of the salad I had eaten the night before, and I was better able to control what went into it.  The salad at Bushfire had arugula, beets, oranges, garbanzo beans, goat cheese, quinoa, and some mystery dressing.  It was hard to accurately track this item.  Below find my recipe:
1 1/2 bags Trader Joes Arugula (but any kind will do)
2 cups chopped beets (I boiled and pickled them myself)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Homemade Vinegarette (mix up in a separate bowl before adding to salad):
     3 Tbs. olive oil
     2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
     1 Tbs. soy sauce
     1 tsp. honey
     1 tsp. fresh minced garlic
     1 tsp. black pepper
           Making this salad myself, I was better able to decipher what I was actually eating and track it.  In addition, if I want less or more of something, I can easily modify, which can be difficult at a restaurant.  Also, while most restaurants have recipe or ingredient guidelines they follow, you cannot be certain that they are following those directions consistently.  A little extra oil or fatty sauce can add up over time.  Now I am not going to be too strict or crazy right now, because I am actually satisfied with my current weight.  I would like to be a little lighter, but I feel very comfortable right here for a bit.  
           The reason I share this little discovery is because I know I have readers that may have a little more to lose than me.  In this case, it is important that you keep your motivation up.  I know nothing can be more frustrating than to eat healthy and exercise consistently and not see the scale or the fit of your clothes budge at all.  If this is happening to you, try to make your breakfast at home, preplan and make your lunch and snacks to take to work, and then allow enough time to prepare your dinner so you don't get so hungry you decide just to eat out.  You could also make and freeze your weekly dinners on the weekend before, or try a healthy crock pot recipe that will have your food ready for you when you walk back through the door at night.  Try to do this for a few weeks and see if you see a difference.  I really think that if you do this, and track what you eat very honestly so you stay within your calorie limits, you will be happy with the results.

Additional resources for this week:
Portlandia 911 episode--really funny skit on beets
           
17 Foods Dietitians Won't Touch--article from Livestrong website

12 Running Mistakes You Could be Making--for my running friends, again from Livestrong

           Last week I shared that on Sunday, March 8th I would be running a very special race with my friend Kay.  In 2013 I was forced to run the San Diego Half Marathon alone due to the fact that Kay was too weak from her battle with rectal cancer to run an entire race.  When I signed up for this year's half marathon, they had a section on the registration application where the organizers ask people to share any stories of why they might have chosen to run this race.  I wrote about Kay and her journey back to health.  I thought nothing of this until I received an email from the race organizers stating that they had read my story and they asked me for Kay's last name.  I must admit that I was a little worried that maybe, because I had run with Kay's bib the previous year, we might be in a little trouble, but I had to trust that they would understand why I broke the rules a little and raced without my own race number.

           On race day, Lesly and I drove down to SD to meet Kay and get our race bag with our official bib numbers.  Kay had been staying in San Diego for the weekend and offered to pick everything up for us from the expo, so we didn't have to make the extra trip.  As we sat in the parking lot of the Convention Center waiting for the race to start, I looked through my bag at all my goodies.  To my surprise my bag contained a special gift from the race organizers addressed to me and Kay.  It was in a little cellophane bag and contained a personalized note and matching race bracelets.  This amazing gesture was so touching and meant so much to the two of us. It was a great way to start this special race day.
           When the gun for our racing group finally went off at a little past 7:45 am, I was very careful not to lose Kay in the shuffle of bodies dashing under the starting line banner.  I was determined that I would not lose her this year no matter what.  I don't want to make any excuses, but this was a tough race for me overall.  I was able to stay with Kay, barely, because it was just one of those days for me.  I had not hydrated enough the night before and was already feeling thirsty before the race even began--never a good sign.  I rarely eat solids before a race and that morning I downed a whole wheat English muffin, almond butter, and half a banana, which had me making trips to the port-o-potty and left me with stomach issues throughout the race.  In addition, I got my first race blister ever, had a nagging side stitch starting at mile 3, felt a minor muscle pull in my right thigh, got a rock in my shoe, took my nutrition too late in the race and I hit a wall just as I came upon the big hill, and my iPhone died at mile 10 leaving me without any tunes for the most difficult stretch of the race.  Not to mention it was HOT, and I wilt in temperatures above 70.  Many of these things were in my control to avoid, and while I am so thankful for this day with Kay, I think I was also a tiny bit disappointed that I would not have my dream race--finishing with Kay AND a race time of under 2 hours.

           The most important part of that scenario came true...Kay and I finished that race together, and that really was much more important than any silly finish time.  Plus, as Kay crossed that finish line they announced her name as a special "Overcomer" Runner, and she was met at the end by a volunteer who handed her a bag full of goodies honoring her hard work and dedication to training her way back to running long distances.  I am so thankful to the race organizers for making Kay feel so special and for making this day one that neither of us will ever forget.
           I think that what I hope you take away from this experience is that when obstacles come your way, even ones that seem insurmountable, NEVER give up!  When Kay was first diagnosed with cancer, it was hard to envision what her road back to health would look like and how long that journey would take her.  She pushed through the bad days and celebrated every little victory. Her positive attitude and her determination carried us both across that finish line on Sunday.  I am hoping her attitude and determination will inspire you to push yourself beyond what you ever thought you were capable of.

           Tomorrow is going to be a very emotional day for me.  Two years ago Kay and I ran the Inaugural San Diego Half Marathon together.  We ran almost the entire race together until I lost her in the crowd at mile 10, and then I had a hard time finding her again after the race.  One year later, Kay was too ill from her chemo and radiation to run such a long race, so I took on the task of running for her. It was one of the strongest races I had run to that point, but at mile 10, the same place I had lost track of Kay the year before, I completely broke down emotionally.  I burst into tears at the injustice of my strong, healthy friend being taken down by such a terrible illness (see March 16, 3013's blog "Finding Meaning in the Face of Great Challange).
           Fast forward another year and all Kay's tests are coming back clean, and she is a stronger and faster runner than before.  This week I thought I would share all that I have learned from Kay over the last year watching her fight the fight for her life.
           First, I learned that when things get tough, you need to stay strong and push on.  No matter how sick Kay got, she did not let it interrupt her life.  She rarely missed a Tuesday/Thursday morning run, and she even helped me train for Ironman throughout her treatments.  Kay is one tough cookie.  On my bike leg of Ironman, the last thirty miles were grueling.  I had to push through the pain, through the pull to give up, and through the burn in my legs and back.  Kay taught me that the victory is worth the pain.
           She also taught me to stay positive even when life is trying to pull you down.  She found things to make her happy, was constantly making us laugh, and all this when she was so sick some days she could hardly crawl out of bed.  I don't think I have ever met anybody who takes such joy in everyday things like Kay does.  So when she would have bad weeks, she would just find something positive to focus on to take her mind off of the negative. This focus on the good helped me mentally push through Ironman.  When parts of my body wanted to give out on me, I just reminded myself of how lucky I was to be racing in such a beautiful environment with my family and friends waiting for me at the finish line.
           Finally, Kay is one of the kindest and most generous people you will ever meet.  She is the kind of person that when you meet her, you feel like you have known her for a lifetime.  I feel like I am a good friend, but her kindness makes me strive to be a more thoughtful person.  When I caught a nasty virus, she brought a crock pot of soup to my front door to help me feel better. I am lucky to have such an amazing friend, and I hope that she knows how much we all appreciate her friendship.
           So when I stand at the starting line tomorrow with Kay at my side, I will thank God for healing her and allowing her to race with me this year.  I am so lucky to have a person like Kay in my life.  She is such a great model for being strong, for focusing on the positive, and for being a kind and thoughtful friend.  I hope you all have at least one Kay in your life to remind you of how precious life is.

           No need to panic, but do you realize that summer is right around the corner?  In about three months we will be facing swimsuit season again, but we still have time to get ourselves ready.  I find it very hard at this time of year to motivate myself to exercise and make healthy food choices.  A little fluff is to be expected in the winter, but just remember how hard it is to take all that off if you aren't at least a little careful.            
           This morning before I left the house to swim, I watched a little of The Today Show.  I was impressed by a segment that they called, "30 Days to a Better You: Are you up for Jenna's challenge?"  I found it a very reasonable challenge to tackle, and it suggests baby steps to move in the right direction.  Here is a link to the video segment: 30 Days to a Better You
           Today's Jenna Wolfe is heading up this challenge and what intrigued me is how her philosophy is very similar to mine.  She shared that, "Getting healthy starts with small changes at home," and I am big on starting small so it is not so overwhelming.  Joy Bauer, one of my favorite nutritionists, collaborated on piece suggesting making small changes in your kitchen like I have written about in the past.  Cut out sodas and substitute higher fat milks with 1% or my go-to substitute, Almond Milk (30 calories for an entire cup). Bauer also suggested taking full fat cheeses and substituting low-fat versions.  I am going to be honest here...I have determined I love cheese too much to have a faker version of it.  I just have very controlled portions of cheese and it does not affect me in the least. She also suggested that if you eat bread to choose ones that have whole wheat as the first ingredient.

           Yesterday, Sean cleaned out the refrigerator and got rid of our more unhealthy food choices.  I then went to the store to fill it back up with fresh fruits and veggies, more almond milk, and Yoplait Light yogurts that satisfy my sweet tooth. I also purchased my favorite Kashi cereals that provide me with a quick and healthy breakfast choice.  A cup of Kashi Toasted Berry Crunch cereal, a cup of Almond Milk Unsweetened Vanilla, and a half of a banana provided me with a tasty, fairly healthy, 300 calorie breakfast treat.
           I try to add vegetables to every meal, so as part of the produce I purchased, I bought salsa fixings and one of my favorite vegetables--rapini (sometimes labeled as broccoli rabe).  I make fresh salsa about twice a month because I find it makes a great low-calorie seasoning on just about everything including eggs.  Today for lunch I put it on some grilled tilapia we had left over from dinner, and sometimes I use the salsa as a dressing on my salads.  Here is the recipe for Maria T's Salsa:
Ingredients:
Tomatoes (I buy whatever is on sale)
Garlic Bulb
Dried Chile de Arbol peppers (find bagged in the Hispanic Food section)
Fresh Cilantro
Fresh Scallions
1) Boil tomatoes, garlic bulb, and chiles (amount of chiles depends on your tolerance for heat) until the tomato skins begin to peel off.  Pull tomatoes out to cool, but continue to boil the chiles and garlic until they are soft.
2) Place cooled and peeled tomatoes, chiles, and the peeled garlic cloves into a blender and grind up until most of the chile seeds are crushed.  Add some of the chile water to the blender if you want your salsa thinner.  Make sure whatever you put in the blender is cooled or it will explode out of the blender.  I learned this one from experience.
3) Finely chop up some cilantro and scallions and add to the blended salsa.  Add salt to taste.  You can even add some fresh chopped tomatoes to make a salsa fresca consistency.
           The rapini I love so much is like an Italian broccoli, but it has a bitter taste.  I steam it and add a little garlic, olive oil, and red pepper flakes.  It is good as a vegetable side dish at dinner, but I also use it as part of a veggie sandwich. Put a little light mayo on some whole wheat bread, add one slice of a softer cheese like munster, some roasted red pepper, and the rapini.  The flavors are delicious!
           So, as shared above, one small change you can make is adding more vegetables and lower calorie choices to your meals, but Jenna had two changes she asked her audience to implement right away.  First, she suggested implementing a food diary.  Now, anyone who has been reading my blog for a while knows that I do not like tracking my food.  However, if I am not keeping a food diary I tend not to be careful with my eating.  There is something about seeing it in print that really holds me accountable.  Two weeks ago I got back on MyFitnessPal, and it has helped me get read of some of the fluff I have gained over the winter.  I feel better, have more energy, and the funny thing is that I actually enjoy eating this way.  This love of healthy foods is what frustrates about my junk food eating binges.
           Jenna's second suggestion was to find someone to do the challenge with you.  I know that works, because I have been doing a challenge with a couple of friends for the last two weeks.  Knowing that they can see if I track, if I stay within my calorie limits, and they also see my weekly workouts makes me more careful. There were a couple days this week that I wanted to roll over and sleep instead of working out, but knowing they could see see my unplanned rest day made me think twice.  I also use Facebook as an unofficial way to be accountable.  When I post my workouts on my Facebook wall, I can not only track my exercise, but occasionally inspire someone else to get out there and move their bodies.  In addition, I write this blog every week so my triumphs and challenges are more transparent.
           Now is the time to start making small adjustments to begin to build up to some larger changes.  All it takes is tweaking a few things and you will begin to see results.  Try adding more veggies to your diet and/or find lower calorie substitutes for some of your daily ingredients.  I did not like Almond Milk at first, but now I can't drink milk because I have lost the taste for it.  Start tracking everything you put into your mouth so you can see patterns in your eating that might need changing.  And finally, find at least one other person that you can be accountable to.  There is no time like today to get started, so what are you waiting for?