Free Weekend

14-mile run + 3 hours of intense hiking yesterday = one tired Michelle today!

My butt was parked on the couch all morning catching up on The Bachelorette and reading blogs because I am sore and tuckered out!

Craig and I are enjoying a weekend of freedom—just the two of us hanging out with “nothing” (there’s always something) to do. We have had something going on every weekend since the end of MAY, so this weekend of freedom was much-needed.

I’ll just leave with with a couple photos from our hike yesterday to Little O’Malley.

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Gluten-free Diet Help

During these last 5 weeks of traveling, camping, time with family, and just pure craziness, I’ve done my best to keep up with my workouts and healthy eating regime, but I do feel like I’ve been slacking a little.


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I have been good about sticking to my running schedule, but lifting weights and yoga has fallen to the wayside.

My appetite has been all over the place and half the time I can’t tell if I’m hungry or not, so I’m ready to get back to my normal routine.


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I woke up at 5 a.m. this morning starving! I tried to fall back to sleep, but my eyes were no longer heavy and my stomach was grumbling, so I got up and made myself some breakfast.

Normally I do not like to eat anything before running, but the past two days I’ve gone out running on a very empty stomach and the rest of the day my appetite seemed to be really off, so I tried eating something this morning before I went running. (I think it helped!)

bagel + The Laughing Cow Cheese (love this combination!)

(I ended up having the other half of bagel after taking this picture.)

banana + Trader Joe’s Almond Butter with Roasted Flaxseed


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After letting my food digest for 2.5 hours, I was out the door for a run and to do some weight lifting.

I ran 2.5 miles to the gym –> lifted weights at the gym for 20 minutes (I would have done more, but I was short on time.) –> ran 2.5 miles back home.


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I don’t really like breaking up my run, but doing it this way worked the best for my schedule today, so I went with it.

As soon as I got home, I stripped off my running clothes, put some dry clothes on, and was out the door again in 10 minutes for a bike ride.


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I was meeting my mother-in-law at 9 a.m. for a bike ride.


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We tootled around on the bike trails for 75 minutes.

But then we needed a pit-stop at Starbucks. ;)

chai latte + nuts and dried fruit mix I brought from home

Any time I leave the house and know I am going to be gone for more than 2 hours, I always make sure to bring a snack. I’m glad I had this along because after 5 hours, I was starving!

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I challenged my multi-tasking skills and took pictures with my dSLR camera while riding!

I would not recommend attempting this at home! ;)

Attempt #1

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Take #2—much better!


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When I got home, I quickly did some stretching, took a shower, and packed lunches because I was meeting Craig at his work for a lunch date! :)

Nothing too exciting: sandwich + chips + carrot sticks + apple

The most important thing I learned today: hummus does not taste good on a meat sandwich! Bleh!


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We enjoyed a nice walk afterwards in the beautiful sunshine!

I spent a good portion of the afternoon stocking up on groceries. We were scraping bottom!

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Gluten-free Diet Help

A good friend of mine just found out she allergic to gluten and has several other food intolerances as well: peanuts, milk-based products, beef, and possibly others (?), so I’m hoping you can give her some advice/encouragement in the comments below.

I did direct her to a couple blogs with gluten-free recipes and bloggers who are gluten-intolerant, but if you have any other blogs or advice, please leave a comment below. Thanks!

In Turmoil

I really don’t feel like I have much to post about today. . . .

Yes, I did go running (that’s nothing new), and yes, I did eat (nothing exciting though). But frankly it has been a low-key day—still catching up on things.


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I did run 6 miles (51 minutes) this morning.

Craig went into work late this morning since he worked late last night, so he joined me (on his bike) on my run. I love having him next to me while I’m running. We have some of our best conversations during these times. :)

We spent a lot of time talking about whether or not I should go back to teaching.

I know, I know. . . .it stressed me out so much this past year, and I wanted to quit many times, but there are a lot of perks that are hard to pass up.

Benefits to teaching:

Pay

It is hard to pass up good money! I would never be able to find another job that paid as much—not even close for that matter!

Time off

How can I pass up the summers off, extended time off around the holidays, and random breaks here and there.

The fact I don’t have to sit at a desk all day.

I am a busy-body and hate sitting down all day!

Teaching works well with my lifestyle.

I am able to run in the mornings before work, keep up with my blog, make dinner, and I have free time during the weekends to do things I enjoy.

Yet at the same time, I DO NOT want to be so stressed out that I live for the end of the school year, my relationship with my husband suffers, my health is compromised, and I am constantly stressed out/depressed and exhausted!!

I just don’t know what else to do! I’ve looked for other jobs, applied for other jobs, but nothing seems to be working out in my favor.