If You're NUTTY... READ This.

Peanut Butter LOVERS listen up! Yes, I'm talking to all of you NUTTY lovers out there. Have you ever read the Sunday paper? If you don't, you really should because besides the fact that you should know what is going on around the world, you will find something that you will take with you. Whether it be an ad, your horoscope, the comic strip or one of those crazy police logs, everyone has a different flavor.

Okay, back to why I called for all the Peanut Butter lovers. Last Sunday, I stumbled upon a recipe in the 'Sunday Dessert' section. I know, that you know, that I am pretty particular on the things that I eat, but this recipe caught my attention because; A: It has peanut butter in it. B: It's Vegan. & C: It's made with natural & homemade ingredients. 

I'm pretty sure you've had a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup at least once in your lifetime, and if you haven't, you should go out and buy one right now. It's the really soft middle part of the cup that gets you every time, RIGHT? Well, I have something better and healthier.

*Ahem* Say hello to... Homemade Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups!

What's inside this healthy dose of sweet nostalgia? 

1/2 cup Earth Balance buttery spread

3/4 cup Organic Crunchy Peanut Butter (preferably unsweetened & unsalted, can also try almond butter/cashew butter)

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 10 squares)

1/4 cup maple sugar or other granulated sweetener 

1 cup grain-sweetened, nondairy chocolate or carob chips

1/4 cup almond milk

1/4 cup chopped peanuts, pecans or almonds 

How to make this ridiculously delicious nutty treat:

1. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

2. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium. Stir in peanut butter, graham cracker crumbs, & maple sugar; mix well. Remove from heat. Divide mixture evenly among muffin cups, about 2 Tbsp per cup. (I used an ice cream scooper to measure.) 

3. Combine chocolate and milk in another saucepan. Stir over medium until chocolate has melted. Spoon evenly over peanut butter mixture. Top with chopped nuts. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.  

MAKES: 12 

As you can see, I had to taste test this mouth-watering piece of heaven along with my whole family. They loved it!

And... Albeit you're wondering... what's the damage? PER CUP:  300 Calories, 24g Carbs, 5g Protein, 21g fat, 0mg Cholesterol, 120mg Sodium, 1g Fiber.

I would suggest sharing, because SHARING is CARING and you'll EAT less.

Enjoy this on your cheat day if you have one.

Are Your Eyes BIGGER Than Your Stomach!?

Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. It's true. You go out to dinner and read through the whole menu and what do you want to order? EVERYTHING! From salty to sweet, savory to hearty and of course spicy. Everything sounds delicious, your eyes are about to explode after taking all the descriptive words in. (Got Glasses?) Your mouth is watering and your stomach is growling. (Wipe the drool from your mouth, please.) So what do you do? You consult with your girlfriend or significant other that you both order something different (of course, it's what YOU want, or you make the 'other' person agree to order what they 'think' they are choosing....) and in the end, you both can share and have the BEST of BOTH taste bud WORLDS. 

Trust, I've done it. Multiple times. Even with dessert. That's the best. Only because there is ALWAYS more than one dessert that I want on the menu. By now, I'm full... up to my EYES. And of course, I'm mad at myself because I can barely move. Then, there are the Holidays. Man, those Holidays get me every time, and Easter is just around the corner! There is a plethora of dishes displayed on the dining table ready to be devoured. The cookies. Desserts. Cakes. Pies. Various kinds of rolls. So many options. You're famished. At least that is what your eyes are telling you because everything looks so mouth-watering. Before you know it, you're on your third plate. That's how good my mother's cooking is. 

So, now that we've come to the conclusion that YES, your EYES are BIGGER than your stomach... well, at least I am admitting mine are, can you fix it? Probably not. Can you change it? Who knows? The only solution I have is to keep doing what I've been doing for the past week. Write down everything I've been putting into my mouth and it seems to be working. Some days I'm more hungry than others. Some days I am not liking what I write down, but I have to do it to keep myself accountable. Sometimes, I won't even be hungry, but yet I still have the desire to open the pantry and fridge to look and ponder. Because why? Heck, I don't know. I guess I think that there may be something good hiding in the fridge somewhere or something healthy will be stashed in the pantry by the chips. Of course, there is nothing there! I must be crazy. 

Another thing I've been doing that has been helpful is planning my meals for the following day. For example, tonight I made a dish for lunch and will probably eat it for dinner too. 

I call it the, "Turk-Kale-Flower Dish" 

Ingredients: 
12 oz pkg. Tenderloin Turkey
1/2 Cauliflower 
Kale
Olive Oil
1/2 Onion 
Pepper
Garlic  

Directions:
Sautee' onions, olive oil & garlic for 5-7 minutes
Add in cut up tenderloin turkey
Grind in fresh ground pepper for taste, Mrs. Dash (no salt) works well also
Cook turkey until done
Drain juice from turkey, keep a little in the pan for the veggies
Add in cut up cauliflower & kale
Put lid on pan and let it steam on low-med temp until veggies are cooked

Dinner & Lunch is Served! Enjoy!

Side Note: Have you ever tried Raw Cauliflower with Almond Butter?  I did, and it tastes delicious. Don't be scared, give it a try. (Cashew Butter is just as good.)

You Are What You Eat... So Eat What You Are.

Ok, let's face it. I'm no Dietitian. I'm no Nutritionist. But truth be told, I stand ground by the saying, "You ARE what you EAT." 


I love food. Who doesn't? Like every woman, I crave chocolate, cake, cookies and fried foods. I grew up eating rice with every meal, eating Filipino food (Yes to Lumpia!), drinking kiwi strawberry soda's (you know the one from Albertsons from way back in the day?) laying by the pool and eating a whole bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos. (Damn, I miss those days.) I used to kill a whole bag of those mini Twix candy bars (two for me, none for you!), laying in bed, reading a magazine and it didn't do anything to me. If I did that now, I wouldn't be able to fit in my pants the following week. That's what happens when you get older... or eh... past the age of 25. 


Do I eat that junk food now? Not much. I do indulge every now and then. My weakness is: COOKIES. My mother's cookies over anything. It doesn't even matter what kind she makes, they are that GOOD. So, to keep myself in check and stay on track, I started a 'Food Journal' on my iPhone. I log the time I ate, what I ate and the portion size, including any activity that I do. I know that this can seem tedious to most of you, but it helps keep me accountable and could help you be accountable of what you are putting into your mouth. I SAY, give it a TRY! You'll be amazed of what you are putting into your BODY! 


Who wants to look at your food log and and see, "I ate 5 cookies today." (Which, I have done before.) Yes, it's good, but if I want that SIX PACK status, cookies aren't going to cut it. 


And... Go ahead, call me a Rabbit. Yes, I eat plain lettuce. I'm not a huge fan of dressings. 


On Today's Lunch Menu: 
Homemade Taco Salad with Organic black beans, onions, ground beef and red peppers. Seasoned with Cayenne Pepper. 
Slathered over PLAIN Romaine Lettuce and fresh green beans. 


If only I could eat some tortilla chips. :p 

Finally... Back In The Game! What Happened!?

Where have I been? What the hell happened!? Ok. I'll admit it. I have been slacking. Slacking for not blogging. Slacking for not keeping you updated. But hey, I'm back! And that is all that matters. So here is why I went M.I.A. 


First, I decided to drop out of the Seattle Marathon because my body was just not ready to face that kind of challenge again. When I started training, my body was not feeling right and was reacting in ways that I did not like. I was continuously dealing with side pains and I just didn't feel the passion for wanting to complete another 26.2 miles again. I wouldn't define myself as a quitter nor one to make excuses, but I knew that if my heart wasn't in it, then my mind and body weren't going to be in it either. So, I gave my spot to one of my friends. 


At the end of October, I decided to take on the responsibility of working a part-time job as a hostess at the Matador in West Seattle. Why a second job? Number one: More Money. Number two: More Money. Number three: You know the answer. My goal was to save money, pay off debts and go to Italy. Well, I accomplished earning more money and paying off debts. As for going to Italy, that didn't happen. So as for the money I've saved up? It's going towards my own place I plan to buy or possibly going back to school? I'm still weighing out my options.


Anyway, after working two jobs for 5 months, I had finally reached my breaking point. I broke down one night after work driving home. I burnt myself out completely physically, mentally and emotionally. I wanted to concentrate on just ONE job and most importantly ME. So I put in my two weeks and now I am focusing on ME, my GOALS and my CAREER. 


I can't seem to remember the last time I sat down to really focus on what I need to do for ME because I was always so busy working or worrying about how everyone else is doing or how I can help everyone, instead of myself. Have you ever taken the time to do that? 


So... for the REST of 2011...

1. Achieve a SIX PACK by July 2011. (My goal is to get this before then.)
2. Put $200 from every paycheck & Freelance Earnings into SAVINGS. 
3. Train like a WARRIOR for the WARRIOR DASH - July 16th, 2011. (The day before my 27th Birthday!)


I will commit to writing in here more often and following up on my goals. I only want to focus on a few for now and I will add more as I accomplish these ones first. 


Until the next update... 


Thanks for being patient and following along. 

The Trail To The LOST Land

The only word that is sticking out to you is probably the word "LOST." If you are a big fan of the ABC hit TV Series, you might be interested in encountering this challenge of a lifetime.

Let me explain this "Trail to the LOST land," as I signed up to take part of the 2009 XTERRA Trail Running World Championship on Oahu, Hawaii. For those who don't know what this big event is all about; it is an off-road, half marathon distance "Xduro." The event also hosts two shorter distance trail runs a 5km and 10km, free kids races, an adventure walk for charity and of course... the STUNNING SCENERY. 

I remember sitting at work checking my email and read that XTERRA was looking for volunteers for this run, so I clicked and kept reading. Turned out there was still time to register, so I signed up for the 10km Trail Run at the spectacular Kualoa Ranch on December 6, 2009. You could probably call me crazy, in the fact that my marathon was only a week after the Trail run, but I couldn't resist because it looked like FUN!

Who wouldn't want to run on the northeastern side of Oahu with the 4-thousand acre working cattle ranch that reaches from the steep mountain cliffs to the sparkling sea? Or the fact that the terrain varies from dense rainforest to broad open valleys? Did I mention the epic nature of Kualoa Ranch that has inspired Hollywood films such as "Jurassic Park," "Pearl Harbor," "Tears of the Sun," "50 First Dates" and of course the television hit show, "LOST."

So I marked a: "Hell Yes!" passed on the info to my friends Sheri and Nate and made plans to run the race together. I was ready for the adventurous off-road trail run and to get dirty! Mind you I have never done a trail run in my life--EVER, and running up hills was not something I had been training for... so I was in for a big surprise.

It was Sunday, December 6th and Sheri and I made our way to Kualoa Ranch. It was a beautiful morning and it wasn't too hot... YET. After we picked up our packet with our shirt, bib and timing chip we decided to stretch out and pin our bib numbers on. Nate finally made his way towards us and we were all pumped to get our run on.

The 21km runners lined up first at 9 A.M. and us 10km runners were up next. I was feeling kind of nervous as they explained the course to all of us--running the same route to equal 6.2 miles. All I could think was, "I have to run uphill two times!?" 

It was finally our time to lineup.  The sun was beaming and I could feel the heat soak into my brown skin. The sound of the gun fired off and the thousands of feet pounded into the red dirt. We navigated through the length of the valley and then I saw the hill!  Sheri and I couldn't believe it and after trying to run up it using a lot of energy, I decided to preserve my energy and walk up the hill at a fast pace. 


Yes! It worked! But my calves, thighs and ass were burning. I was sweating like crazy and I hadn't even reached mile 2 yet. I blame the hill! All I know is that I had to go up the hill again and I was dreading it. The course was rocky and the incline of the trail would go flat then up, then down and then up again. Talk about a workout! Then there was this big hill going down. Running downhill isn't really good for you, especially when the grass was slippery so you were constantly holding back so you wouldn't fall on your face or ass!  

A part of me wished it was raining. I wanted to get muddy and dirty. I wanted the real trail run adventurous experience. I wanted to slip and slide down the muddy slopes in the valley, and feel like I was in an Indiana Jones movie. So much for fantasizing! I was so HOT!


Before starting the race I thought we could finish the 6.2 miles in less than an hour. WRONG! The hills ruined my time completely. Sheri and I ran as fast as we could on the flat parts of the trail to make up for the time lost from the hills, but it didn't help much. 


Once we were close to the finish line I was ready to hop in the shower. I felt good, I wasn't too tired and Sheri is a great competitor. She kept me going! 
 

<-- As you can see I was so happy to reach the finish line! 

My results: I finished in 1 hour, 13 minutes, and 7 seconds. Break that down--that's 11:47 miles.  Not good at all! But heck! It was my first TRAIL RUN EVER!

I finished 217 out of 316 people in the 10km and 20th out of 32 in the Women's Division ages 25-29.  

All in all it was a amazing beautiful run, great experience with wonderful company! 

I'd do it again! 

Marathon Numero 2?

Yes, you read the headline right. I recently registered for the 2010 Seattle Marathon. My second marathon!Why you ask? Why would I put myself through all that torture and pain of running 26.2 miles again? Well... I want to do better than my 5 hours -- 6 minutes and 17 seconds at the 2009 Honolulu Marathon. What is my goal? Well... Right now... it's between 4 hours and 20 minutes and 4 hours and 30 minutes and I'm taking you on the journey with me!

I will blog about everything from what I'm eating, to my training, how I am feeling -- to my challenges and my official goal time. But first... let's go back to the day of the 2009 Honolulu Marathon... my VERY first Marathon.

**********************************************

I remember that day like it was yesterday. I woke up at 3 A.M. on December 13, 2009. I didn't sleep well because I was so anxious and so nervous! I ate a banana and a piece of wheat toast with peanut butter and honey. (I love me some peanut butter!) I drank a little water. I didn't want to overeat or drink too much and cramp up. Plus, I wanted enough time for my food to settle and go to the bathroom before leaving the house. This may sound gross, but it is a MUST. I coated Vaseline all over my feet and in between my toes before putting on my dry fit Nike socks. FYI: It helps prevent blisters! And uncomfortable rubbing. Trust me it works! I also put Vaseline on my inner thighs so I wouldn't chafe. I learned later that I should have put it under my arms by my armpits and on the lower part of my back.

It was a little after 4 A.M. so I woke up my cousin who was going to drop off her friend Chelsea and I at the starting line. Chelsea flew up from California to run the race with me. It was a special day for her. First, it was her 26th birthday and her mother also ran the Honolulu Marathon on her 26th birthday. I was so happy to run with someone in the marathon, but I was also nervous because Chelsea and I had never trained together so I had no idea if she ran the same pace as me.

I had my ipod nano ready to go-fully charged and set on shuffle. I don't like to know what song is coming up next because my brain likes to keep guessing and it keeps my mind off of what my body is doing... RUNNING 26.2 MILES! That could be an explanation to why I love surprises and love to be kept on my toes.

We picked up Chelsea at her hotel in Waikiki and headed to the starting line on Queen street off of Ala Moana Boulevard. We had our bibs pinned on and our timing chips secured on our shoe laces. Thousands of people were walking along the streets to the start line and roads were closed everywhere. Chelsea and I ended up getting dropped off at least a mile from the starting line and we were running late. It was 4:45 A.M.! The race started at 5, so we ran/jogged to the starting line and got there just minutes before the gun went off. I was nervous that we weren't going to make it. After we climbed over the fence and crowded in with the twenty-something-thousand other runners, I heard the loud BOOM and the fireworks lit up the skies of Oahu. Everyone was cheering and we started running.

A rush of adrenaline shot through my body and I started to think, "I can't believe I am doing this right now." People were passing us, but I didn't care because I knew we'd pass them later. We were preserving our energy. The first mile started on Ala Moana Boulevard. It was a weird feeling running in the dark and the fireworks continued powering off for at least another 10 minutes.

When we reached the second mile of the course through downtown along Honolulu Harbor and the historic Aloha tower we took a turn right into Chinatown proceeding through Downtown Honolulu and South King Street. There were people cheering us along the sidewalk but they seemed half asleep. A water station was coming up on mile three but I don't remember if I took a drink because they all seemed to mesh together in my memory.

As our feet pounded through Kapiolani Boulevard and urban Honolulu reaching the fourth mile, I started to get hot and a little sweaty but I STILL had so much energy. I kept track of the time by my watch and the clocks they had at each mile marker. Chelsea and I were doing 11 minute miles. "Not bad," I said to myself. We can finish this marathon in five hours! The course returned to Ala Moana Boulevard, this time passing Ala Moana reaching mile five through the concrete jungle of Waikiki high-rise hotels and condominiums, by the Hilton Hawaiian Village and the U.S. Army's Fort DeRussy.

Running from Downtown Honolulu to Waikiki in the dark and no tourists crowding the sidewalks was crazy. It was a dead town with runners filling the streets. At mile six, we took a left onto Monsarrat Avenue, around the Honolulu Zoo and past the Waikiki Shell. We then turned right onto Paki Avenue which threads around Kapiolani Park getting closer to Diamond Head. I was dreading this uphill road, but I knew that once I got over it, it was the only hill in this marathon and I would only have to do it on the way back to the finish line.

The route circled the crater to the left on Diamond Head Road, then turned right onto Kilauea Avenue in the tenth mile, passing through residential and commercial areas of Kahala then merged into Kalanianaole Highway.

Are we at mile 10? I swear thousands of people passed me up that hill on Diamond Head. "16 miles to go." I said to myself. This was nothing as I had ran up to 20 miles in training two weeks before. But in the back of mind, I thought to myself, "I should not have done that Xterra run last week," because my calves were a little sore.

We ran along the coastal route for four miles through the bedroom communities of Waialae Iki, Aina Haina, and Niu Valley. Are we to Hawaii Kai yet? At this point, I was drinking Gatorade at the water stations and Chelsea even poured water over my head. My ipod went DEAD as we approached mile 16! What the hell was I going to do?

Once we reached the sixteenth mile, we turned left onto Hawaii Kai Drive. The course looped around an inland waterway and we could see Koko Head crater looming just miles away. I remember driving out here and now I'm running out here? The course then turned right back onto Kalanianiole Highway at Maunalua Bay Beach Park.

Now, it was time to run back. We were reaching mile 22. Are we almost there? I was ready to call it quits, but I couldn't give up. Not in front of these thousands of people, not after I had already ran 20-plus miles! Hell no! Every muscle was aching in my body. I felt like my hip flexors were detaching from my muscle fibers (if that is even possible!) It was an undescribable feeling of pain and I couldn't stop running because if I did, my whole body would tense up and it was too painful to start moving all over again. So I kept telling myself to keep running. My body eventually went numb and it was my brain that was working overtime. (It's really all MENTAL)

We were at mile 24! Oh my god! 2.2 miles left. I just had to make it back up Diamond Head. The sun was beaming with heat, but I knew I had these last couple miles in my pocket! Let me tell you that the last few miles is ALL mental. Your body goes numb, people are standing on the sidelines trying to hand you beers to congratulate you, but your goal is to finish! You want to get this race DONE and OVER with!

It was getting close to 10:00 A.M. and I wanted to finish in 5 hours, so I told Chelsea we had to step it up and run a little faster. I forgot to mention those gel packs that definitely came in handy during the run. They gave us that extra instant energy needed to get through those last few miles.

As we approached the last mile of the course curving around Diamond Head toward the finish line to Kapiolani Park, my heart was pounding out of my chest, my hair was soak and wet, and my body was completely numb. Chelsea and I sprinted to that finish line and made it in 5 hours! I felt like collapsing at the finish line! I was so happy to be done. My body then began to freeze and lock up. It didn't want to move, so I went to the showers (yes, showers) and stood in the cold water. I grabbed some water even though I didn't feel thirsty and headed to the First Aid station to grab ice for my aching knee and hips. I tried to sit down but it was too painful and I was afraid I wouldn't get up. I literally walked like an 80 year-old woman!

Chelsea and I looked for our friends through the thousands of people and after a long search we finally found them all waiting for lei's to congratulate us!

This marathon was definitely an experience I will never forget that has empowered me to be able to endure and conquer ANYTHING!

Thanks to EVERYONE for all the LOVE and SUPPORT! :)