Plan April 25- May 1

I haven't been posting my food plans (OR MUCH OF ANYTHING) lately. In part because I've been writing other things. Mostly, though, because I've been traveling and working and working and working and working. Sigh. This semester is kind of kicking my butt right now...

But... I have a great plan for the future (to be shared, you guessed it, in the future). For now, I am focusing on my first goal of March Madness (remember that?) To drink 100 oz of water a day, and continuing to train for the Wildwood Half Marathon.

I was really good about yoga-ing last week. I love yoga, and find that if I can dedicate even just ten minutes a day to it, I feel better. Unfortunately, if I don't get it done in the morning, I am not very good about yogaing in the afternoon. This week I am also challenging myself to rediscover the love that is every day yoga practice.

Monday
Yoga & walk
Breakfast: Orange muffin
Lunch: Weekend leftovers
Dinner: Banana Berry Chai Smoothie

Tuesday Yoga & run (4+)
Breakfast:
Lunch: tofu sandwich
Dinner: Pizza poppers

Wednesday
Yoga & walk
Breakfast:
Lunch: pizza poppers
Dinner: Banana Berry Chai Smoothie

Thursday
Yoga & run (4+)
Breakfast:
Lunch:Mediterranean hummus pasta
Dinner: tofu sandwich

Friday
Yoga
Breakfast: fruit & vega shake
Lunch: TBD HERO FLIGHT
Dinner:TBD HERO FLIGHT

Saturday
Yoga
Breakfast: fruit & vega shake
Lunch: TBD HERO FLIGHT
Dinner: Buffalo Ranch chickpea burgers

Sunday
Yoga & run (10)
Breakfast: peanut butter french toast
Lunch: Buffalo Ranch chickpea burgers
Dinner: "Tuna" melts

Books read 2016

2016: my reading goal each year is 100 books. 100 is nice, it is comfortable. A few years ago I read 120+, and that might have been too many. But reading is something I love to do, I never feel I have to work for it.
Anyway, this year I thought I'd track HOW I was reading. I'm determined to use the library more.
RR like last year, means that this is a book I have read before, and have re-read. It seems silly that there are so many great books out there, and I read something over, but some books deserve to be re-read. Others were intially read so long ago that re-reading give me new insights!
A means I listened to the audio book.
L means I've checked the book out of the library.

This year, at the end of each month, I'm going to add to my list a brief recap of the month, including book highlights, and share what books I'm currently reading. Some people read one book at a time, I have at least one book per device/style, sometimes I  have a book I'm reading in each room of the house!

January: several Neil Gaiman re-reads, more audio books than normal, a few yoga practitioner books, and two by Joe Hill.
#10 , Yoga, your home practice companion from the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center was a really great resource, and I wouldn't mind adding that to my permanent collection one day. I brought Mia aboard the Amanda Palmer love wagon this month with her fantastic book, The Art of Asking  (#9).

January
1. The ultimate beginners guide to crossfit and yoga- Joe V. Run 1/2/16
2. A clash of Kings (GoT2)- George R. R. Martin 1/4/16
3. The Chimes- Charles Dickens 1/5/16 A
4. Odd & the frost giants- Neil Gaiman 1/8/16 RR A
5. Stardust- Neil Gaiman 1/9/16 RR
6. Heart shaped box- Joe Hill 1/10/16
7. Journey to the center of the earth- Jules Verne 1/15/16 A
8. Between the world and me- Ta-Nehisi Coates 1/20/16
9. The Art of Asking- Amanda Palmer 1/21/16 RR A
10. Yoga, your home practice companion- Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center 1/22/16 L
11. 30 Essential Yoga Poses- Judith Lasater 1/22/16 L
12. 20th Century Ghosts- Joe Hill 1/25/16 L
13. Trigger warning- Neil Gaiman 1/30/16 RR A
14. Fortunately, the milk- Neil Gaiman 1/31/16 RR
15. The Strange Library- Haruki Murakami 1/31/16 L

YTD:15

February: 1Q84 was long, and interestingly challenging to read. I really enjoyed it, but thought the end dragged 100 pages too long.  This month I tackled two particularly lengthy novels, 1Q84 and Reamde (still working on the latter).
Interestingly enough, the books I read/am reading this month seem to fit a sci-fi/video game/Asian influence I've been drawn to lately: The Diamond Age/  Ready Player One/ Armada/ The Man in High Castle/ 1Q84/ Reamde....

February
1. How to market and promote your bok on a $0 budget- Kristin Lajunesse 2/1/16
2. The man in high castle- Philip K. Dick 2/4/16 A
3. Oryx and Crake- Margaret Atwood 2/5/16 RR A
4. The year of the Flood- Margaret Atwood 2/13/16 RR A
5. 1Q84- Haruki Murakami- 2/19/16 L
6. Armada- Ernest Cline- 2/21/16 L
7. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz- L. Frank Baum 2/26/16 RR A
8. Becomming a Supple Leopard- Dr. Kelly Starrett 2/27/16 L

YTD: 23

Ooops. I forgot to log things in March. I DID read.  I added a few that I know I read- but there should be others on this list.  Sigh.

March
1. Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the Universe- Benjamin Alire Sáenz 3/1/16 L
2. Furiously Happy - Jenny Lawson 3/3/16 L
3. Maddadam- Margaret Atwood 3/10/16 A RR

4. Fortunately the milk - Neil Gaiman 3/15/16 RR

5. The Miseducation of Cameron Post Emily Daneforth 3/?/16 L

6. The Curious Nature Guide- Clare Walker Leslie 3/?/16 L

7. Reamde- Neal Stephenson 3/?/16 A

YTD: 30

Ah, April, another slow reading month.... I can't wait for summer semester when I have TIME to read more!

April

1. The Diamond Age- Neal Stephenson 4/5/16 A RR

2. The first 15 lives of Harry August-Clair North 4/10/16 A RR

3. The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy-Douglas Adams 4/13/16 A RR

4. Neverwhere- Neil Gaiman 4/15/16 RR

5. The Martian- Andy Weir 4/21/16 RR

6. Let's pretend this never happened- Jenny Lawson 4/22/16 L

7. Buddhism: A beginner's guide- M. E. Dahkid 4/25/16 A

8. A short history of nearly everything- Bill Bryson 4/30/16 RR 

YTD: 38

May

1. Are you my Mother?- PD Eastman 5/1/16 RR
2. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki-  Haruki Murakami 5/5/16 L
3. Cosmos- Carl Sagan 5/8/16
4. Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World-  Haruki Murakami 5/15/16 A
5. Lexicon- Max Barry 5/18/16

6. The Secret History of They Might be Giants- Michael Goleman 5/20/16

7. The World According to Garp- John Irving 5/31/16 RR

YTD: 45

June

1. What if- Randall Munroe 6/5/16 A
2. Watership Down- Richard Adams 6/10/16 RR
3. Origins: 14 billion years of evolution- Neil DeGrasse Tyson 6/15/16 A
4. Everlost- Neil Schusterman 6/17/16
5. The girl with all the gifts- M.R. Carey 6/18/16
6. Who we be- Jeff Chang 6/20/16
7. The Fireman- Joe Hill 6/27/16
YTD:52

July

July was a good reading month. I read 13 full books, and played with several others. When I say I play with books, I may mean I started them, re-read a portion of a previously read book, or previewed soon to be read books. I read two books this month in graphic novel form that I've read in traditional novel form before, and was pleased with the graphic take.

1. How to talk to girls at parties- Neil Gaiman 7/6/16 G RR

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone - J K Rowling 7/10/16 A RR

3. The Wrinkle in Time- Madeline L'Engle 7/10/16 G RR

4. The view from the cheap seats- Neil Gaiman 7/12/16

5. The illustrated Stephen Hawking- JP McEvoy & Oscar Zarate 7/12/16

6. An Ocean of Despair- Thor Harris 7/17/16

7. The wee free men- Terry Pratchett 7/19/16 A L

8. 14- Peter Clines 7/23/16 A

9. The Shining- Stephen King 7/23/16 RR

10. Everwild- Neil Schusterman 7/23/16

11. A hat full of sky- Terry Pratchett 7/24/16 L

12. Two brothers- Fabio Moon & Gabriel Ba 7/26/16 G L

13. Neuromancer- William Gibson 7/31/16 A RR

YTD: 65
August
1. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child- JK Rowling 8/3
2. The Fold- Peter Clines 8/6/16 A
3. Everfound- Neil Schusterman 8/10
4. Beyond Civilization-  Daniel Quinn 8/13 RR

5. Mistbourne- Brandon Sanderson 8/22/16 A
6. Robert Frost collected works 8/20/16 RR
7. Locke & Key 1- Joe Hill 8/24/16 G
8. Locke & Key 2- Joe Hill 8/28/16 G
9. The Inexplicable Universe-  Neil Degrasse Tyson 8/27/16 A
10. Locke & Key 3- Joe Hill 8/29/16 G
11. Coraline- Neil Bauman 8/29/16 A RR
12. Collins learn Spanish- Paul Noble 8/30/26 A
13. Locke & Key 4- Joe Hill 8/31/16 G
Books read YTD: 78
September
1. Locke &Key-  Joe Hill 9/1/16 G
2. Locke & Key - Joe Hill 9/4/16 G
3. George Carlin reads to you 9/8/16 A

Plan March 24-30

Thursday
Run 4
Abs
Yoga
Breakfast: Blueberry Corncakes
Lunch: Oh My Greens Ramen Leftovers
Dinner: Ranch Style Tacos

Friday
Run 8
Abs
Yoga
Breakfast: Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal
Lunch: Ranch Style Tacos Leftovers
Dinner:
Good Greens & Gravy

Saturday
Run Virtual 5k
Abs
Breakfast: Soy Free Frittata Cakes
Lunch: TBD
Dinner: Vegan Cheese Fondue

Sunday
Breakfast: Grapes & Yogurt Salad
Lunch & Dinner: Leftovers

Monday
Walk
Abs
Breakfast: Strawberry Polenta Shortcake
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Caribbean Chili

Tuesday
Run 4
Abs
Yoga
Breakfast: Blueberry Corn Cakes
Lunch: Caribbean Chili Leftovers
Dinner: French Carrots and Polenta

Wednesday
Walk
Abs
Breakfast: Tofu Scramble
Lunch: French Carrots and Polenta Leftovers
Dinner: Pizza Joeys

Plan 3/18-23

Friday
Abs workout
Breakfast: matcha chia pudding
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: Bang Bang Chickpea Wraps

Saturday
Abs workout
Race for equal justice 5k
Breakfast: PB & banana Onos
Lunch: Busboys & Poets
Dinner: Aloo Matar

Sunday
Breakfast: sweet potato pudding
Lunch: kale & tofu wrap
Dinner: Blossom Veg

Monday
Abs workout
Breakfast: Cinnamon Snail
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: La Tolteca

Tuesday
Abs workout
Run 4
Breakfast: strawberry polenta shortcake
Lunch: Quick bean burgers
Dinner: Tostadas BBQ

Wednesday
Abs workout
Walk
Breakfast: Irish Soda bread mug cake
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: Oh my Greens Ramen

Plan 3/10- 16

It's my second week of my March Madness challenge, and this week, I've added to my goal. I'm continuing my week 1 goal of drinking at least 100oz of water every day.  I've been pretty successful with that! This week, I added logging all of my food in my fitbit tracker.  Now, I'm not so much using the fitbit tracker to tell me how much to eat. Because there are days when I run a lot, so it says I can eat a lot. But then on my rest day, it says I can't eat very much.  I'm using the tracker as a tool for accountability. I'm specifically looking to make sure I'm not snacking mid-afternoon (which I REALLY like to do). Snacking is especially challenging for me on my longer teaching days. Having a snack isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it is counter productive to my fitness goals to do it all the time.

This upcoming weekend is my next big race- I'll be running the Rock and Roll Half Marathon again this year.  It's gotten so that I really am running the same races every year. But I really like these races, and the timing works well with my training, so I'll keep at it for a bit. This past week, I've been tapering. Breaking in new shoes. Testing out my race day gear. You know, that kind of fun stuff.  I had to buy new running shoes because I have put the miles on the old ones. I go through 3-4 pairs of running shoes a year.  I also had to buy new running pants because my old pants were falling down. Yeah, I know, there are worse problems to have. But seriously, running pants industry. Just put drawstrings in EVERYTHING already, okay? Thanks.

Next week will also see some visits from Mia and my Mom! Whoot!

Thursday
Run 3-4
Breakfast: Blueberry pancakes
Lunch: leftover baked Caprese pasta
Dinner: A tribute to The Wild Carrot's Original Powerhouse sandwich

Friday
Slow run 3-4
Breakfast: Sweet Potato Pudding
Lunch: Samosa with Cari
Dinner: Cheater Pad Thai

Saturday
Rock & Roll Half Marathon
Breakfast: Race day breakfast- 2 bananas, dates, vega bar
Lunch: OUT
Dinner: leftovers or fend for yo'self

Sunday
Breakfast: Tofu Scramble
Lunch: baked tofu & kale wrap
Dinner: Hot Tamale Burgers

Monday
Walk
Breakfast: Irish Soda Bread in a Mug
Lunch: leftover Hot Tamale Burgers
Dinner: Philly Cheeseseitan sandwiches

Tuesday
Run 2-3
Breakfast: Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
Lunch: leftover sandwiches
Dinner: Asian tofu salad sandwiches

Wednesday
Walk
Breakfast: Strawberry shortcake polenta
Lunch: leftover Asian tofu salad sandwiches
Dinner: Irish Nachos

Plan March 4-10

I'm coming into my final training days for the RnRHM. I'll be tapering down my runs.

I've been doing this March Madness challenge with the Happy Herbivore meal mentor community. In this challenge, we each selected 6 habits we wanted to make or break during the month. Then we started with one habit the first week. The second week we will double and add a second habit, the third week again we will double and work towards 4 of the habits, and the last week we will work on all 6. My first habit/goal for this first week is to drink 100 ounces of water every day. Now, I drink a lot of water as it is, and when I'm not thinking about it, I generally drink about 60 oz per day. 100 though, which I've been successful at all week thus far, is something that I can feel a difference with. Sure, I have to get up and pee in the middle of the night. But my skin feels better, and I generally am feeling good.

Thursday:
Run 4
Breakfast: garbanzo patty breakfast sandwich
Lunch: leftover sweet & sour spaghetti squash
Dinner: Sweet Potato Chilaquiles

Friday:
Run 6
Breakfast: brownie batter ono
Lunch: leftover sweet potato chilaquiles
Dinner: Green Goddess Pizza

Saturday:
Breakfast: blueberry pancakes
Lunch: leftover green goddess pizza
Dinner: Jerk Polenta

Sunday:
Breakfast: blueberry pancakes
Lunch: leftover jerk polenta
Dinner: Baked Caprese Pasta

Monday:
Walk
Breakfast: peanut butter and jelly ono
Lunch: leftover baked caprese pasta
Dinner: Spinach Artichoke Rice Casserole

Tuesday:
Run 4
Breakfast: breakfast potatos rancheros
Lunch: leftover spinach artichoke rice casserole
Dinner: Baked Caprese Pasta

Wednesday:
Walk
Breakfast: sweet potato pudding
Lunch: leftover Baked Caprese Pasta
Dinner: Indian Hakka Noodles

Plan Feb 25- March 2

I've been a bit sluggish lately, which is not something I can afford to be, with the Rock n Roll half just 2 weeks away.
So, as of today, I'm stepping up my game.
As part of Lindsay Nixon's Happy Herbivore Meal Mentors, I'm going to focus on 6 habits to incorporate this month, starting with 1, and doubling my efforts each week.
My 6 habits I'm working towards are:
1. Drinking 100 oz of water every day. This is not only great for hydration, but also incredible for my head. I need to do it.
2. Logging my foods. I have the fitbit app, its a great tool. When I log my foods I'm less likely to grab a snack, or drink another glass of wine. It keeps me accountable.
3. Sticking with my meal plans at least 5x per week. And my meal plans are set at roughly 1200 calories a day.
4. Doing 200 crunches at least 5x per week. I have the makings of great abs. They just need daily attention.
5. Doing 3 cross-training workouts every week. I've been using this program called Cody, with workouts ranging from yoga to strength, pilates, etc. Sometimes, though, I get so that I have on my running blinders. I forget to do much else. And even though I've been able to devote a little time every day to my yoga practice,  I should work on my whole body.
6. Having fruits and veggies for snacks. Let's face it, my Mondays and Wednesdys class schedule is a little busy. There are days I don't have time to eat lunch, so I have a snack. Which is fine, until I realize that snack isn't that healthy. Vegans make some pretty awesome junk food. So, to accomplish this goal, not only am I going to plan for fruits and veggies as potential snacks, when I get home from the grocery, I'm going to immediately chop these up so that they're ready to eat?

All of this will be in addition to things I'm already doing (half-marathon training, headstand practice, etc).

Here's my meal plan this week:

Thursday:
Run 4
15 minutes kettlebell
Breakfast: banana pb wrap
Lunch: leftover chinese
Dinner: green curry chowder

Friday:
Run 10+
Breakfast: smoothie
Lunch: leftover green curry chowder
Dinner: chickpea ceasar tacos

Saturday:
Run/walk 3
Breakfast: smoothie
Lunch: out
Dinner: California "drive through" fries

Sunday:
Breakfast: baked oatmeal
Lunch: leftover chickpea ceasar tacos
Dinner: very verde burritos

Monday:
Walk 4
Cody workout
Breakfast: ONO
Lunch: very verde burritos
Dinner: bbq sweet potato sliders

Tuesday:
Run 4
15 minutes kettlebell
Breakfast: garbanzo patty sandwich
Lunch: bbq sweet potato sliders
Dinner: pizza pasta

Wednesday:
Walk 4
Cody workout
Breakfast: ONO
Lunch: leftover pizza pasta
Dinner: sweet & sour spaghetti squash