Back Home Day 1

Today is the first day I was really able to start my new practices.  Breakfast was difficult because my groceries hadn't been delivered yet, but once they did arrive, the healthy food gates were opened!  My first task was to make lunch for myself and Joe.  I made chicken salad with a tablespoon of low fat mayo and a tablespoon of plain greek yogurt, canned free range chicken, and purple grapes.  I put that onto a slice of wonderfully thick local 10 grain bread, avocado, and tomato slices.  (Joe asked for two slices of bread to make it an actual sandwich.  I ate it open faced.)  Then we also had a mixed spring green and spinach salad with Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette.  I think I probably stared at Joe too intently while he took his few bites, but he smiled and said it was delicious.  Success!  Oh, and I really liked it too.  :0)

About an hour after lunch, my Amazon and Zappos orders arrived!  I got my FT4 Polar monitor, my fitball and pump, my Pilates moves book, and my new workout shoes.  Add these to the Easter Basket that Joe gave me yesterday that had 5 pound weights and a mat (along with a DVD, apples, oranges, and bubbles!) and I am all set to go!

Since I didn't get a project from my freelance job today and Joe had the day off from work, we decided to go for hike.  Joe has been talking about a trail at Red Rocks for years, but I have always been too scared to go because I knew it was hilly and a higher altitude.  But today I was ready for it.  I put together a snack for us, Green Mountain Truffles.  I mixed natural peanut butter with powdered milk, brown rice crispies, and dark chocolate chips and brought two apples for us to eat with the truffle mix.  I then put on my new kicks and polar monitor and drove up into the foothills.

First of all, it was beautiful out at Red Rocks.  Joe knew exactly which parking lot to be in for the trail and so we got out of the car and I lead us in some pre-hike stretches.  When ready, I told my polar monitor to start and the hike began with some walking up hill.  And just like that, I was in my Target Heart Rate! Below are some pictures from the hike.

I know...I look cool.

Joe!

A deer!

When the hike ended, I needed sometime to cool down and bring my heart rate back down, so we did some slow walking around the parking lot and then we did our stretches again.  My heart rate monitor said that we moved for 55 minutes and I was in THR for 42 minutes.  Perfect!  I am supposed to stay within 45 minutes at THR because after 45 minutes my body (and everyone's) stops burning fat and starts burning muscle. (Think about a marathon runner's body.)  But to be honest, the BEST part of the hike was that Joe could tell a difference in my endurance.  He said that he thought I would have needed to stop a lot sooner than I did.  And when I stopped, it was because my heart rate monitor was telling me that I was going above my THR, so I needed to slow down to get it back within my range.  It felt so awesome to get that praise from Joe and to enjoy this hike with him.  I can't wait to explore so many more locations!  (Oh, and we both enjoyed our GM Truffles in the car after the hike.  Yummy.)

We are now back home and I am about to make some chili and gluten free corn muffins and salad for dinner.  Also, right now Joe and I are watching the "Hungry for Change" documentary because I am excited for him to learn more about what I learned at GM.  I should mention that this morning I also watched a documentary on You Tube called, "Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives".  My dad recommended it for me and it too was eye opening.  It discusses GMOs (Genetically Mutated Organisms) and how GMOs became legal in US foods in 1996.  Since 1996, there has been a surprising rise in infertility, diabetes, autism, inflammatory diseases, allergies, etc.  It really strengthened my desire to eat organic foods now.  For more information on how to stay away from GMOs, check out this link: http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Genetically-Modified-Foods 

Okay, time to make dinner!