Today's Songs to run to!

Of course, how could I go for two whole days without a run or posting my songs to run to? I'm still in a chill kind of run mood but I'm also throwing in some pop and a couple of soundtrack. I'm working the one minute intervals, they just make the time fly. Its true, try it!

Today's list, not in any particular order:

1. If I had you by Adam Lambert (confessional listing here.)

2. Violin by Amos Lee (today's free iTune download)

3. 1,000 faces by Randy Montana (see, I like it free.)

4. Ultra Curve by Cosmic Gate

5. Hold it Against me by Britney Spears (another confessional, ear candy at least isn't fattening.)

6. Marilyn by Larsen B

7. 1973 by James Blunt (I like it, so what if I played it on Monday too.)

8. The Game has Changed by Daft Punk from the Tron soundtrack.

9. End of Line by Daft Punk from the Tron soundtrack.

The podcasts:

1. IronBrandon Show 129

2. Running Stupid

3. B-Had Running

4. Fdip262

5. RVR- Epi80

I don't really listen to everything, it depends on my mood.

Sunny Days!!!

Keeping the clouds away" Sing it with me now!!! OK, enough of the gradeschool flash backs. It is a super sunny day and I plan to run it away later today. Hey, I rhymed! Sometimes its more than ok to go back and work those early lessons again and to relearn and rediscover things you already know you know but somehow get forgotten in the everyday roar of life. I'm working on the C25k program again. But, hey, you know what? I'm faster now and every time I do those early week intervals I am even stronger because I will push myself to do a hill for just one minute that I can't wrap my brain around doing the whole thing and then I discover I can jog most of it and I might just push myself to run around the next ten steps to finish it. See, it was a mind boggle the whole time.

Diet History

I have tried lots of different kinds of diets over the years. It started when I was 11 years old and told how fat I was by all the kids at school. They were so mean. I did the low fat diet and went vegetarian at that time. Then, when I was 19 I went vegan for about two years. I had not wanted to eat meat really. Then when I was 21 years old something in my head snapped. I had a craving for beef. I had the first 6 oz. at a steak house and I annihilated it in about 5 minutes. I have been a meat eater ever since. I eat chicken, beef, fish, and pork. I prefer the meats from Raley's, they have the most consistent and best flavored meats. I prefer Foster Farms unsalted chicken, anything else tends to plump me. That said, I do also eat a wide variety of vegetables, fruits and gluten free grains (in moderation.) I prefer to get my carbs from whole fruits and a little bit of grain. Lately I haven't wanted to eat as much meat. I'm leaning more towards a high healthy fat diet with lots of vegetables rather than a high protein diet. In a way I guess its actually a very clean diet. I do tend to eat more carbs than I should so I watch that closely, using portion control on the carbs.

So, here I am considering reducing my meat intake. Not so much for health but rather to keep my focus on healthy fats as my calorie sources. I'm not a body builder, I'm not focused on rebuilding muscle. I don't need the same level of protein that some people need. So what are your thoughts, if any, on a fairly low carb, high healthy fat, vegetable focused diet?

Music to run to

Its a new day and that means a new list. I am really enjoying James Blunt's new album "All the Lost Souls." Chill tracks always seem to cool me down even if I'm in my last mile of the day.

1. 1973 by James Blunt

2. Same Mistake by James Blunt

3. I can't hear the music by James Blunt

4. Next in line by Meese (is that plural for mouse or moose?)

5. Beautiful is gone by The Ruse

6. Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve (it was just 69 c, can't lose there.)

9. Bang Bang Bang by The Virgin Marys

10. Touch by Natasha Bedingfield

Today's Music to run to!

A la the Two Gomers, here is today's music to run to list. I really like the freebies from iTunes.

Btw, I am terribly sorry that Steve Jobs is not feeling well, I will be keeping him in my thoughts, I hope that he feels better soon. In the meantime, here is my list:

(Track then artist)

Norway by Beach House

The High Road by Broken Bells

Around my Head by Cage the Elephant

Viva la Vida by Coldplay

Sing me to Sleep by Fran Healy

I am not a Robot by Marina and the Diamonds

Break Me Out by The Rescues

Something Good Can work out by Two Door Cinema

Marilyn by Larsen B

Tron Legacy soundtrack

and for the cool down: Titaptawa by Gandalf

My podcasts:

The Fitness Boost with Scott Smith

Two Gomers

Fdip261: Running Terroir: by Steve Runner

This Running Life with Gordon

IronBrandon Show: 127 by Brandon Wood

Hey, I love the podcasts. I had been an avid listener of Nigel and I'm sorry that he is no longer casting due to a very busy lifestyle. I will miss reports about Foxy.

A week in review

Over the past week I have had three commercial meals, none of which were planned. The best thing to do in those situations is to look at the menu 'calorie count' and choose wisely. I did excellently well on 3/3 meals, I did ok on one dessert. On Wednesday we ate at Coco's which is a chain restaurant that specializes in baked goods and pies in addition to standard American fare. Having read the menu and discovered that their 'no sugar added apple pie' carries a hefty 500 plus calories, I passed on that in favor of the tortilla soup before dinner instead of a dessert after my meal. I am careful the rest of the time to eat clean home made food and to skip a couple of dinners so that I can use those calories at an unexpected meal or on a treat that I make at home. At Denny's I selected a salad and soup at one meal. At the other meal I selected the bbq chicken, substituting the green beans for the mashed potatoes. That is always a good idea. Potatoes aren't necessarily bad for you but the green beans have a lot of nutrition and will keep your hair from falling out. I personally would rather keep the hair on my head where it belongs, under my hat. I did splurge on a single scoop of vanilla ice cream last night. I skipped the dinner bread with both meals. Thats a savings of 300 calories and about 30-60 carbs that I just didn't need.

One of the things you can do to keep everything moving along is to get enough physical activity. This means different things to different people so you really have to adjust to meet your own needs. In my case that means cardio most days of the week and plenty of yoga to cover my strength and flexibility training.

I don't really know how I did. I will know on Tuesday when I have my next weigh in. I'm taking two low calorie days in a row to prepare for that. I will also keep my physical activity high. Today will be some yoga, tomorrow will be a jog and then a stretching session.

Every week is about planning, ducking and weaving when life comes at you and keeping your wits about you when unwanted calories and carbs present themselves, smelling good but promising of a terrible fat hang over the next morning or frankly even in the next minute.

Destiny

Have you ever asked yourself a question knowing the answer? For me, life is an answer that I already know. I know that I must fight this body and I must discount the urges my mind is sent to eat things that would only result in feeling worse over time. I know that I must work hard to make a living. I also know that there are things that I enjoy such as running, yoga, and even those really intense Cathe Friedrich videos. I do enjoy some of the healthy food I eat including a good salad, fruit and roast chicken with homemade cranberry sauce. I even enjoy my GF steel cut oatmeal. I don't really like the 'weight loss' feeling and the tiredness that comes with it. I don't really like being where I am but I do know that the alternatives are much worse so I am grateful for what I have. At least I have the knowledge and the answers to my questions. Now, all I have to do is choose which path I'm going to take, the one towards slenderness or the one away from it. Which path are you choosing?