I got that runner's high

Day 24!
I can't believe September is almost over and there are just 6 more days left in this month's challenge. Time flies when you're feeling healthy.

Speaking of feeling healthy, I saw this post on Facebook this morning and it reminded me that this journey to healthy is not about weight loss or fitting into a size 2. It's about being the happiest and healthiest person I can be. 

Today is my "off" day from Unite Fitness. I usually decide in the morning what my workout will be. Sometimes I don't work out at all. Other days I will walk outside or on the treadmill reading a magazine (yes, I am one of those people). In the past few weeks, I've had the urge to go running. I may have mentioned this before, but I don't consider myself a runner...at least I didn't before today's run. 

Let me explain. 

Right after I read this post on Facebook, I saw another post from a friend at 6:15 am. She was FINISHED her early morning run (3.2 mi in 36 minutes)! Wow, this mother and wife made the time to get up and out. What's my excuse?

As I got ready to go running in the park this morning, I was overcome with gratitude that I had legs that moved and feet that carried me. I had running shoes to put on and cute workout gear to wear. I thanked God for the air that filled my lungs with each breath. This mindset made a HUGE difference in my attitude this morning.

Not only did I actually get up and out to go exercise, I ran. 
And I ran. 
And I kept running. For 3.89 miles. 

I usually tend to walk more than I run, but today, I was working off of some other energy. Even when I stopped to walk (out of habit), I realized that my body wanted to continue to run.

So I ran. I kept running until I completed the loop at Cooper River Park in 45 minutes. 

When I got back to my car, I was like wow, I feel good!  Is this the runner's high that has been so elusive? If so, I liked it, and I want it again.

I imagine if I invoke a spirit of gratitude before any workout, I can expect the same high. I'm going to test my theory out tomorrow. 

#runhappy

When I returned to my abode, I prepared the following smoothie:

2 c dandelion greens

1/2 organic bosc pear

1/2 frozen banana

1 tbsp walnuts

1 serving Amazing Grass Organic Wheat 

1 tbsp chia seeds

1 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Cheers!

FUN FOR THE DAY

I ran and I liked it!

Blueberry Jam! Uh huh.

Day 14 of 30!

Today is Saturday and I had a taste for a non-liquid breakfast. However, that doesn't mean I'm not drinking my nutrient blast of green goodness. I ate a breakfast sandwich - gluten free bread made with brown rice flour, 1 pasteurized egg scrambled, 2 slices of nitrate free peppered bacon AND a slice of provolone to top it off. Delicious! 

After I consumed my yummy breakfast sandwich, I turned on the TV and a Nutribullet commercial was on. So today's drink was inspired by David Wolfe.

1 c organic baby spinach

1 c organic kale

1/2 organic cucumber

1/2 frozen banana

Blueberry jam (see recipe below)

A few raw pecans

1 serving Amazing Grass Organic Wheat Grass
1 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk

BLUEBERRY JAM

A friend sent me this recipe and she uses it to make blueberry pancakes. It's Saturday, and I was planning on making blueberry pancakes this morning so I prepared the jam first. Then I realized that I tossed my old griddle and never replaced it. I had the jam sitting in a bowl looking yummy so I decided to dump it into my smoothie. That was a good decision!

1 c blueberries 

2 tbsp chia seeds

pinch of stevia to taste

Mash the blueberries or blend them in a food processor. Pour into a glass bowl. Add the chia seeds and stevia (or your preferred sweetener). Mix and let it set a few hours to gel. 

Cheers!

ENERGY BOOST THIS AFTERNOON
I'm continuing this post from this morning. It's 3:56 PM and I just came back from running. This may not be exciting for the average person, but I am not a runner, I don't workout on the weekends AND I'm usually chillin' around this time in the afternoon.

Not today!

This is the second weekend where I took advantage of the energy boosting benefits of my green smoothies. I decided around 2 pm, I was going to go for a run! Ha! I have to laugh at myself because that sounds so healthy...so fit...so not like me!

I tried running last year using a couch to 5K app and even though I completed the 6 weeks, I never liked running. I just didn't like it. I could do it, but I never got that runner's high AND I didn't lose any weight doing it (which was my primary motivation). Go figure. 

Knowing what I know now, I probably didn't lose any weight because I was so focused on losing the weight and hating running that my body was experiencing a low grade level of stress...all the time. Stress will make your body hold on to weight for dear life. 

Now do you see why I'm laughing at myself because I can hardly believe I decided to get up and go running, just for the heck of it. Well I ran and it felt good. I went to the local track and did 3.1 miles using Lolo BeatBurn Treadmill/Outdoor trainer app and tracking my distance with Map My Run.

I feel GOOD (in my James Brown voice)!

Off to the shower!