Finished!

Well today was the big day... our half- marathon in Nashville, TN. I must begin by saying this race is SO fun and the crowds (even despite the rainy weather) are remarkable! Geoff and I entered the race with the mindset that this was to be a fun race and our goal was to enjoy it. Well we did certainly enjoy it, despite the random cramp and dehydration along the way, and in doing so, we set a personal record! We ran the 13.1 miles in 1:51:22, and beat last year's time by 1.5 minutes. We were thrilled and so thankful for the opportunity to run!

We learned a lot along the way about racing and about ourselves. Despite the rainfall this morning, we realized the importance of staying loose and staying calm... a little rain won't hurt anybody! Plus, I also learned that you never know how much is left in your 'tank' unless you push it until it's empty. Then... you know.

So with thanks in my heart and swollen feet in my shoes, I encourage you to push beyond what you think is possible and dream a big dream.

An infant reminder!

One of my friends had a little boy about 8 weeks ago. He is adorable and just beautiful! As we were talking about motherhood and breastfeeding, I reflected upon the infant's inherent knowledge of when to eat and when to stop. How does he know when to cry so he can eat, and when to pull away to signify that he is done? It's just apart of his little body and soul. We were all created with these triggers and signals, but too many of us have lost touch with them.

What if we tap back into our actual hunger and fullness, instead of being a member of the 'Clean Plate club' or emotionally eating.

A few tips on how to tap into your stomach and its level of satiety.

1. Focus on foods with more protein, fiber, and water; such as lean turkey, whole grain brown rice and richly colored vegetables.

2. Drink a tall glass of water throughout your meal.

3. Use a smaller plate and divide it into 3 sections, one section for meat or protein, one for vegetables or fruits, and one for whole grains.

4. Be fully present at your meal, avoid eating while watching TV, driving, or working on the computer.

5. Stop to really take notice of the food's textures, flavors, and smells. Enjoy every bite!

Grate away!

In a recent online article from Shape magazine, I found this very clever tip!

Most of us only reach for our kitchen graters to shave Parmesan or to zest a lemon, but utilizing the tool every day may help you shed a few pounds. "When ingredients are grated, it seems like you're getting a bigger portion, so you're satisfied with less," says Christine Gerbstadt, M.D., a registered dietitian and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. In fact, a study published in the journal Appetite found that people believe they're being served nearly 50 percent more of a food when it's shredded. The next time you're adding high-calorie fare-like cheese or chocolate-to a dish, grate it instead of slicing or dicing it. Not only will the smaller pieces save you calories (a cup of grated cheddar, for example, contains 77 fewer calories than a cup of diced), they'll also spread more evenly throughout the meal, infusing every bite with flavor. Our favorite serving suggestions: Grate cheese over steamed vegetables and chocolate over strawberries or bananas.