Eat, Run, Eat, Repeat!

Hello, there!

Blogging bug bit me again.

I am in final stages of my half marathon training and my weekly mileage is about 25-26 miles. My body feels like a fine fat burning/running machine. Food choices are healthy, but I do treat myself mostly under the agenda of carboloading :)

Mornings prior to my 3-5 mile runs are all about banana/nut butter sandwiches. Post run fuel is almond milk/spinach/banana/blueberry smoothies, lunch is always a veggie soup and some sort of sandwich or wrap, no meat, just beans, veggies, veg mayo, avocado. Dinner is salad, pasta, quinoa, bread, more bread, and some more bread!!!!

This should not fool you into stuffing your face silly. You have to always be aware of calories in and out, don't obsess, but be mindful of what you are putting in your body. No amount of running or any exercise for that matter is a free ticket to health - diet plays a major role in what your cholesterol levels are and your blood pressure number is. Healthy diet and regular exercise work wonders together, but if you are to choose one or the other the result will not be the same.

Another benefit of exercise is HUNGER! I haven't lost my mind saying that feeling hungry is good for you, but definitely it helps you understand the difference between real hunger (when you have calorie deficit you need to compensate for) and cravings that you take for a hunger (when you must have those crackers from the vending machine after lunch). I do enjoy the feeling when I am about to complete my long run and my body starts sending me signals - ahem, lady, how about feeding me, put some nutrients in me, so I can build protein you need or create more blood cells, or what ever you need me to do so you can function?!

After my run, without rushing around or any added stress, I lovingly prepare a smoothie or a small sandwich, or have a warm bowl of soup, and enjoy it knowing that I treat my body right!

Love,


Liza

6 Months Into It!

Hi all,

Yesterday was a very important day. It has been 6 months since I started running and totally overhauled my lifestyle. On April 3, 2011 I completed my first Couch to 5K training session and let me tell you, it wasn't easy. I remember very clearly how I took my mom with me so if I fall over dead she will call 911! It was that bad. Short 60 second runs and 90 second walks were alternating, and even though it sounds effortless to run for 60 seconds non stop... well it wasn't.

After that first day there were many more, 9 weeks of slow painful progression to 30 minute non stop run and that seemed like an elusive prize I will never be able to earn. The good news - I was completely taken by the program, may be to the point of being a little bit obsessed: I would try to go for a run when there was a tornado warning and get extremely upset with my family who held me down and would hide my running shoes.

Finally I graduated and ran my first 5K race in Lavaca, AR and that was the happiest moment of all! I was proud and honored, yet felt like an imposter a little bit, to run with others from start to finish and get recognized as a runner for the first time in my life. Since then I have been training for my first half marathon in San Antonio, which will take place on November 13, 2011.

My friend Marina and I had a great lunch outside on the patio. Thai style quinoa, baked tofu, fresh veggies, Prosecco! Simple and elegant. Cheers to a new me!!

Marina is not only my work out partner, mostly virtual since we don't go to the gym together, but keep close eye on each other's routines, but also a very good friend of mine and has a blog of her own cowboycountryvegetarian.blogspot.com. Cheers to you, Marina, cheers to us!!!

Till later,

Love,

Liza

Meet my family!

Learning to post pictures!!! My family is my everything. Husband Slava is a computer engineer by training, but unemployed at this point of his life. Even though it sounds horrible he uses this time to increase his English speaking abilities and think about possible career change. Believe it or not he moved here from Russia only 2 years ago even though we have been married for 17 years and I've lived in the US for 12. At some point I will tell ya'll my very sad story with happy ending about how long it took to move my family here. My husband is good looking, quiet most of the time and understands me like no one else! I love him very much.

My daughter Anastasiya is a junior in local high school. She is smart, beautiful, caring person, really normal teenager as I always say. Committed to her education, her family and her little boyfriend, of course :) She likes to rock new outfits, dress like chic european person and be different. She also likes math, running and yoga. Very versatile human being and I love her more than anybody, however, she prefers to think I love our cat Grisha more. Some days I argue about it, some days I don't!

Meet Grisha. Isn't he cute? British Shorthair, 1 year old, awesome companion and the love of my life. I still can't believe I paid the kind of money I paid for him, but he is SO WORTH IT!!! The cat is gorgeous, he doesn't meow or make any kind of annoying sounds, he was potty trained since birth I think and he is very loyal to the humans in the family. You will see many more pictures of him in he future.

My mom Nadiia. She moved from Ukraine a year ago and currently she lives with us. My American friends usually pause and say: You still live with your mom?! Yes, I do and it has been great.
Mom is a physician by training, currently retired and it is her time to enjoy life! Healthy freak - wakes up before anybody else, walks outside for an hour every day, eats healthy and cooks Ukrainian dishes for us. This picture was taken in some Irish Pub in Florida, she knows how to have FUN!

Now off to eat sushi!

Day 1

Great news - I am off for a week! My pager is silent, my lab coat is in the wash and my plans for the evening may even include some wine. But let's talk about important stuff.

 I just created my own personal blog!!! Reading other blogs I used to think it is so easy to write something fun yet profound on a daily basis and become a celebrity. I am really struggling at this point to write anything that makes sense.

Ok, it will get better, I promise. In my blog I will talk about running, healthy eating, vegetarianism, yoga, my job, my life and most importantly my cat! All these things I am passionate about and I would like to share my passion with you. It won't be "here is what I ate today" kind of blog. And it won't be about giving medical advice as I am not a registered dietitian or personal trainer, I am just a family medicine trained doctor who has her own struggles and everyday challenges. At some point I will figure out how to post pictures and cool links, but for now it is about baby steps.

Let's try posting this, shall we?