I got a new piercing!

The silver ball is the new piercing in my right ear.

Not even sure what this piercing is called but I've been admiring other people's piercings for awhile so I figured I'd get one before the summer was over.

In case you're curious here's a run-down of my current piercings:

3 in my left ear

4 in my right ear

1 belly-button piercing

1 nose piercing

In the past I had:

1 eyebrow piercing

1 tongue piercing

2 nipple piercings

The past piercings I took out because I outgrew them. No other reason than that. Anyway, not a workout or food related post but still thought I'd share!

Things I'm Loving: January 2013 Edition

It has been a MINUTE since the last time I've done a favorites post. Mainly because it's been a minute since I've tried something new and splurged.

However, I finally broke open my vegan cookbooks and I have been cooking up a storm. Instead of posting them all at once I will post a new one every week starting next week. So stay tuned for that!

I had people from my job come over for lunch and the next day everyone was begging me for the recipes! So you know they're good! Maybe I'll start with a dessert...

But first, here's my humble list of yummy food items I've been loving this month:

These are the BEST potato chips I've tasted in my entire life (and I'm not exaggerating!). A little mom and pop style shop makes these fresh right in front of you. As in you walk into the store and you can see them cutting and frying up the potato chips. They are so flavorful. I can't eat normal, packaged chips ever again.

 

These cookies are easily the best store-bought vegan cookies ever. I mean way better than those vegan cats cookies we used to buy at Trader Jo's when we were in the States. These things are dangerous because there aren't many and the hubby and I can definitely gobble up the entire box in one sitting.

 The last item was a nice cold weather treat. You can only drink tea so much before you start craving something more decadent. I love my green teas, my roobois, white and black teas... but no winter is complete without hot chocolate. Even better is that this hot chocolate is organic and fair-trade so there is no way I feel guilty about drinking it!

I'm also loving my crockpot or slow cooker. I remember awhile back it was on my wish list and I finally got one! 

That's the end of my humble list but do stay tuned for some seriously delicious vegan recipes starting next week!

Marathon #2: Ciudad Real -- Final Thoughts

Tomorrow is marathon day. 

It's funny because I don't really feel like I'm running a marathon tomorrow. As I type this post I'm in my pijamas and about to eat lunch. There are no nerves and I'm not over-thinking everything. I'm pretty much going with the flow. 

It's not as if there are guidelines as to how one is supposed to feel the day before running a marathon. However, my mindset and my emotions are completely different from my first marathon in Seville. It kind of worries me, though, that I'm not all nervous.

It will take us about 3 hours to drive to Ciudad Real from Córdoba. So we are leaving at 430am and should get there at 730am. At 8am I will get my race bib. This is the first time I've run a race without getting my bib beforehand.

Here's what I plan to wear for the event.

All tried and true race gear. I'm also bringing clothes to wear after the race as well.  As for food I plan to bring:

• Almond butter sandwiches
• Dates
• Clementines
• Tons of water and sports drinks
• Bananas

There is usually food provided after the race but I find it's hard to find something I can eat being vegan. It's just easier to bring my own food.

The weather will be sunny and around 37 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celcius) while I'm waiting for the race to start. It will warm up to around 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celcius) once the race begins at 930am.

This is it. By this time tommorrow I will have just finished my race...if all goes well! (I'm counting on it!) Wish me luck!

I will definitely post my marathon recap as soon as possible so check back on Sunday or Monday for details!

Introducing My First Guest Post Ever! : Meet Shannon

I feel honored to introduce my first guest post ever! 

My blog is relatively new, almost 6 months old, so I didn't even dream of anyone taking much interest in it...not yet anyway. But I was contacted by a fellow blogger earlier this week who wanted to guest post.

As you all know my blog talks about my running, my training for a marathon next year, my hair, my life, and my food. Basically, my overall experiences with trying to stay healthy and injury free. 

So I feel Shannon's experience stays true to that. Plus, she is hilarious! I hope you all enjoy her post! Don't forget to comment and visit her blog!

Oh, and if any of you lovely people want to guest post in the future, don't be shy. Just shoot me an email at: nonataylor@gmail.com. I would love to hear any and all ideas!

Things I'm Loving (September Edition)

So I've decided to introduce a new idea to the blog: monthly loves. 

I plan to add all types of new things I've tried and like for the given month.

No, I didn't invent the idea. I know. But I figured it would be a nice change from marathon training updates, hair updates, and fitness stuff. 

Plus, it helps me stick to my budget. There's always tons of non-necessity things that I want to buy every time I go to the supermarket. Limiting myself to a few new things a month will keep me in check....hopefully.

September's edition starts with FOOD!

When I was in Spain I had been CRAVING this like crazy! I wanted some cashew butter as well but haven't found it yet. I need to locate a Whole Foods near where I live because Trader Joe's (at least the one near me) only has almond butter and peanut butter (yucky!). 

 

These have to be the sweetest and softest raisins I have ever eaten in my life. I think it's because it doesn't have vegetable oil added to it. If you notice, most raisins have it because it makes them shiny and so they don't stick together in the package. These don't!

I love shredded wheat! This stuff is great and I've tried the other two flavors in my grocery store (cinnamon and vanilla). As you all know Kashi is great when it comes to all-natural ingredients. This cereal has only whole wheat and cane sugar in it. This is my power breakfast when I add some fruit and nuts.

These are SO delicious! They are easy, portable, sweet potato patties! It hits the spot when I want something sweet and still want to be healthy. There's only 8g of sugar per patty. I usually eat about two.

This is some dense bread. I only need to eat one piece to get full. Each slice is only 100 calories (not that I count calories) and is nice and thick. When I have lunch I like to have salty and sweet. So I cut a slice in half. The first half I spread with almond butter, sprinkle with some raisins and a drizzle of honey. The second half I eat with some cheese, and non fat turkey slices. Or, like today, with one of my veggie hotdogs (see below).

Here's a close up of this delish bread. I'm a bit nervous about the salt content so I'll probably try something else when it runs out.

This was my try veggie meat experiement. I've tried sausages before (don't remember the brand) and they were delicious. These smell horrible. Like chemicals. However, I got past the scent and tried them and they aren't bad. I'd buy them again. They are really chewy but taste faintly like smoked meat. These are small so if you want to make it a meal you'd have to eat two and a side dish!

I had to get my tea fix! I LOVE tea! I don't discriminate: I love white, black and green tea. I prefer loose tea but these tea bags aren't bad. It tastes fresh and like authentic green tea. I've been drinking it three times a day since I got it!

That's it. I've also been enjoying some old favorites like cottage cheese (non fat of course!), apple cider (I love the fall!) and greek yogurt (also non fat). I also found a wonderful farmer's market not too far from where I live. It sells wonderful, fresh fruit and veggies as well as nuts and plants. The next time I go I give a tour for the blog. But I'm loving it! I wonder what's in store for next month...

Oops! Almost forgot! Pecans we got from the friendly, local, farmer's market! They are nice and freshly picked tasting. Gotta love the farmer's market.
 

Set in my ways

Typically this is something said about old people (whoever in your life you think is really old):

They are so set in their ways! They won't try new things or compromise or admit they're wrong...

I do like to try new things and I'm really not stubborn but... 

I have a teensy, weensy, problem with compromise.

As many of you know, my husband and I are in the process of leaving the country (check out Unforeseen Circumstances for more details).

So we've been at my in laws' house since the beginning of August and leave on the 31st. Being here has made me more aware of how uncompromising I am with certain things.


Food

I am not on a diet or anything of the sort. However, I like to eat healthy, well and when I want. In Spain there is this (silly) custom where everyone eats at 2pm. My mother-in-law even stretches it until 3pm!

Ok fine. But after a long run, even when I eat a balanced breakfast, I'm starving well before 2pm! When I do eat, I don't want to eat white bread (another custom), meat or fried foods.

I don't want to eat the same thing day after day, week after week. I want to have my whole grains, fruits, vegetables plus some kind of protein like beans or fish.

What I eat is NOT weird! No, I don't want seconds and no, I don't want dessert!

Is that so much to ask?

Schedules

Spaniards are night owls. I, also, like to have a good time and stay up late and go to a bar or two.
 

But not on days that I have a run the next morning. 

I run on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. So that means that Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings are off limits!

I will have to eat before 11pm (no carbs, thanks) and no, I can't go to the aunt's country house.

I wake up at the crack of dawn to run and don't sleep siesta so I can go to bed on time. It's natural and normal that I will be tired around 12am.

I'm not being the weird American.

 
Working out

I sweat a lot. More so when it's hot and when I'm exercising. I need to wash my workout gear immediately after working out. If not, they will smell and get those little moldy black spots on them. I can't wait until next week or the next day or whenever the wash day is. I need to do it NOW!

I don't go to a gym to do my weight training because I have all the gear I need at home. Now all of this gear is at the in laws' house. It may seem weird for me to be squating and lunging and flexing at 7am in the morning but I have to do it.

Stop looking at me like I'm a weirdo!

Now, don't get me wrong: I appreciate my mother-in-law letting us stay with her until we move. I really, really do. I just get frustrated sometimes because I'm so set in my ways, I guess.

• I don't like to have to explain myself to anyone. 

• I want to eat what I want and when I want. 

• I want to do my exercises without getting a million stares and wash my clothes when I want.

In general: I WANT MY OWN SPACE BACK!!

Is that wrong?

Fitness Tip: Obsessing about food

Taken from googleimages

 Clearly, this is not a how-to post. When I started losing weight the only thing I didn't do was count calories or go on fad diets. However, I did obsess about food.

We shouldn't be glutons when it comes to eating. But I think counting calories is tiresome and unhelpful. I think it can be useful for people with thyroid problems, diabetes and serious medical problems where diet regulation has to be strict. For the rest of us it's really just about making smarter choices.

I have a sweet tooth. I like to eat sweets. I do endulge myself sometimes. Other times, I make smarter choices. Maybe I'll have 

• Some sauted apples
• Baked peaches 
• Fresh fruit and yogurt. 

I like fried foods. Sometimes I do endulge myself. Other times

• I'll roast some potatoes (or sweet potatoes) with rosemary, garlic and olive oil. 
• Maybe I'll bake some fish with toasted sesame seeds for that crunch you'd get with fried food.

The options are endless. I do try to get my daily requirements of fruits and vegetables any way that I can. I make smarter choices where I can. 

• I drink skim milk
• Eat non fat yogurt
• Drink water or iced green/white/black tea instead of soft drinks
• Eat salads with my meals
• Eat whole grains
• Nuts
• Dark chocolate

Counting calories makes me obsess about food. I don't do it. 

Instead,  

• I eat on smaller plates
• I'll drink two cups of water before eating my main meal
• I'll accompany my meal with broth-based soup and/or a salad.
• I think of ways to make sure I am truly hungry before I endulge. 
• I also eat more often (every 3-4 hours) so that when I am hungry, I'm not starving and eat more than I need to.

Incorporating exercise into my lifestyle has also helped. I am careful not to use it as an excuse to binge. But if I do feel like eating some ice cream I don't obsess because I know I'll burn off those calories.

In short, we are always thinking about food. It is everywhere we look. We have to deal with it. However, I try to curb my obessesion by making smart choices where I can. When I do slip up, I get right back on track the following day.

Yes, we need food to live. We can enjoy it but we don't have to obsess about it.