Check In 7/29

Holding steady at 118. I'm still maintaining. Yay me!

Countdown: 2 Weeks
Your Training Schedule for This Week:

Monday- Rest
Tuesday- 4 miles, Easy walking
Wednesday- 45 minutes, Moderate cross-training
Thursday- 5 miles, Moderate walking
Friday- 45 minutes, Easy cross-training
Saturday- 10 miles, Easy walking
Sunday- 8 miles, Easy walking

We're heading to Ohio on Friday for the NTA, so no recipe this Sunday.

Potato Green Bean Salad

7 large new potatoes, peeled
1 lb string beans, ends trimmed
1 small can sliced black olives, drained
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 scallions, chopped
salt and pepper

Cook potatoes in salted water, boil string beans in other pan and run under cold water when they are done. When potatoes are done, drain and slice in large chunks.

In a large bowl, combine vinegar, oil, salt and pepper, add potatoes, green beans scallions and olives. Mix well and serve room temp.

Check In 7/22

Stayed the same this week. I'm sure it was all the walking, cause I didn't eat well over the weekend.

I'm happy and proud to say I earned my 18/15 sticker last weekend. Yay me! *hop* I walked 15 miles on Saturday by myself and then on Sunday I did a training walk with Vanessa, Heidi and Matt... 18 miles around Muskegon shoreline. I did pull a muscle in my left ankle, I tried really hard to keep up with Heidi the power walker... but by mile 13 I was done. I couldn't keep up with her anymore. Luckily for me (not so lucky for her) Vanessa had a blister from the day before, so she hobbled along with me way behind. LOL

Countdown: 3 Weeks
Your Training Schedule for This Week:

Monday- Rest
Tuesday- 6 miles, Easy walking
Wednesday- 45 minutes, Moderate cross-training
Thursday- 6 miles, Moderate walking
Friday- 45 minutes, Easy cross-training
Saturday- 18 miles, Easy walking
Sunday- 8 miles, Easy walking

Cowboy Beans

Made these as a side to our burgers for dinner.

1 pound dried pinto beans, soaked overnight
1 small yellow onion, diced
1 pound lean ground beef or turkey (optional)
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1-2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 (10-ounce) can Rotel
1-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
7 cups water

Pour beans into a 6 quart slow cooker. Brown hamburger and onion on the stove, and drain fat. While the meat is cooking, add the rest of the ingredients into your slow cooker. Start with 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and apple cider vinegar. Add the meat, and top with 7 cups of fresh water. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or on high for about 6.

They were ok, I'm not a big baked beans person.

Check In 7/15

Up one to 118, not bad for having Chicago pizza and hotdogs over the weekend.

I know I haven't posted any recipes lately, my summer weekends have been sooooo busy! Right now I don't have any plans (other than some long training walks, more on those later). I think I'll be doing cowboy beans in the crockpot to go with grilled hamburgers, so there should be a recipe this Sunday!

Countdown: 4 Weeks
Your Training Schedule for This Week:

Monday- Rest
Tuesday- 5 miles, Easy walking
Wednesday- 45 minutes, Moderate cross-training
Thursday- 6 miles, Moderate walking
Friday- 45 minutes, Easy cross-training
Saturday- 10 miles, Easy walking
Sunday- 8 miles, Easy walking

Ok Saturday and Sunday last week were supposed to be my really long walks, 18/15 (I even get a sticker for completing those!). Those didn't happen since I was in Chicago with family. Vanessa from CoconutStrutters is having those training walks this weekend though (she's walking MI which is the week after Chicago, so her training schedule is one week off of mine). I'm hoping to join them for atleast one of the days. I also hope to do a really long walk in the Keens, to see if they will work. They were awesome wandering around Chicago for three days, but we didn't do major walk sessions. LOL Well 6 miles isn't tooo major, Mom.

Check-In 7/8

Back down to 117, TOM bloat is gone and I did rein in my mindless snacking this past week. Now I have to get back in my exercise routine, AGAIN! Gah!

Countdown: 5 Weeks
Your Training Schedule for This Week:

Monday- Rest
Tuesday- 5 miles, Easy walking Nice 5 mile walk last night after dinner.
Wednesday- 45 minutes, Moderate cross-training
Thursday- 6 miles, Moderate walking
Friday- 45 minutes , Easy cross-training
Saturday- 18 miles, Easy walking
Sunday- 15 miles, Easy walking

Most of my walking this week will happen in Chicago!!! Going there tomorrow through Saturday. *hop*

Check In 7/1

Up one to 119, time to pull in the reins a little.

Countdown: 6 Weeks
Your Training Schedule for This Week:
Monday- Rest
Tuesday- 5 miles, Easy walking
Wednesday -45 minutes, Moderate cross-training
Thursday- 6 miles, Moderate walking
Friday- 45 minutes , Easy cross-training
Saturday- 10 miles, Easy walking
Sunday- 6 miles, Easy walking

With traveling today and Saturday this schedule will be mixed around a little. But I will walk!