Everyone, thank you for the good wishes on my recovery.  I am feeling actually pretty good and the foot is not hurting too bad.  It helps that I have been very diligent about not being on my foot, I'm getting some rest and I have good meds.  But I tell you what, sitting around the house make me crave junk food like you have no idea.  However I've been really good about sticking to healthier food, especially my favorite breakfast (which I also eat for snack).  It is perfectly simple, delicious and requires almost no preparation which is especially important to me right now.  I am also of the belief that weekends are for simplicity, and it does not get more simple than this:

 

I always keep tubs of plain yogurt in my refrigerator because it is such a versatile ingredient to have handy.  I am not big on fruit yogurts but when I have a taste for fruity I love combining plain yogurt with pomegranate seeds.  But the magic touch is Stonewall Kitchen's Cinnamon Apple Syrup.  All it takes is 1 tbsp. and you have a beautiful layer of sweetness.  Give it a try!  It's delicious and a great way to control a sweet tooth.

My phone rang Tuesday morning at 7:45 AM and it was my podiatrist to ask me if instead of waiting until October 10th to get my surgery done, I wanted to move it up to Thursday (yesterday) because he had an opening on his schedule.  My answer? Heck yeah!  The sooner I am done with this neuroma, the better and the sooner I can begin to recover and get back to running... hopefully pain free.   I have a love/hate relationship with running,  But the minute I cannot do it, I remember why I love doing it.  It is very much like like this picture! Ha!

So on Tuesday I had my pre-op and it is always fun explaining to the anesthesiologist that general anesthesia makes me sick.  Actually my previous surgery, the anesthesia made me so sick that the need to throw up is what woke me up from my anesthesia.  It was gross and painful too considering it was thyroid surgery and I had stitches from one side of my throat to the other.   But I did not let that make me nervous.  Instead I channeled that by doing the one thing that always calms me down: I went for what will be my last run for weeks, maybe months.  And the crazy thing is that it felt great. 

 

So, now that the surgery is over, here is hoping for a safe and quick recovery.  I am determined to be positive even though I'll be going crazy for 14 days of convalescent leave.  At least I can now spend quality time studying without having to worry about work.  So I'll be positive and instead I'll say "Yeepee! Let's get better!". 

 

But before I go I need to thank someone who actually gave me some great advise when my first podiatrist told me that basically running was over for me.  You all know Jill from Fitness Friday (if you don't check out her blog Fitness, Health and Happiness).  When I first talked about my diagnosis and was in freak out mode because my podiatrist basically said: "you should not be running" and "you are not built for that, she was so kind to share her experience with Morton's Neuroma and recommended I get a second opinion because she has been through the same ordeal and she is still like a running machine.  When it was time for surgery, she left me a message telling me how that was the best thing she ever did.  So I got a second opinion and indeed he was very confident that after recovery, he does not see why I should not try again to run a marathon (he is a runner too).  But he was very stern about making sure that I recover completely and give my foot time to heal before I think about something like.  His words were "you know how we runners can be" and smiled.  So thank you Jill!  I love that through blogging you can connect with people  that have been through the same as you have.  So make experiences and advise.

 

 Have an awesome weekend! 

I renamed this blog a few weeks ago because right now the focus for me is living a good life.  Not just being fit and in shape, but also ensuring that all aspects of my life contribute to a life that is thriving and makes me happy.  And one thing makes me very happy in my life: my dogs.  And I am mentioning this because this story caught my attention and broke my heart, as a human being but especially as a dog owner.  

NO. 1: I'M HAVING FOOT SURGERY

Well, its happening: foot surgery.  If you remember THIS POST, I mentioned that I was diagnosed with Morton's Neuroma back in May.  My podiatrist tried nerve blocker injections which were so much fun...mmm...NOT!  Read all about that awesome experience HERE!  It will make you pray you never have to get them.

So after three rounds of injections and no relief in sight unless I stopped running and stayed away from flat shoes, the podiatrist recommended a nerve decompression surgery which is less invasive and it has an 80% success rate (I'll take that).  The other options were more nerve blocking injections, a more invasive surgery that snips the tendon (but eventually develops scar tissue thus defeating the purpose) and the last option was injections of dessicated alcohol...which again, sounds not painful at all.  Ya!  I hate surgery but I cannot tell you how happy I am that relief is in sight.  This is about the one thing that is keeping me from running.  I did want to thank him for not doing this earlier in May, in time for me to recover and run the Twin Cities Marathon on 6 OCT as was the plan (BEING SO SARCASTIC).  I actually got the official confirmation and participant guide a few days ago and felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. :(  I tried my best to train hard but was not successful due to this blasted foot.  And at the risk of sounding crass I want to yell to the Mornton's neuroma  at the top of my lung "Oh, it's on biatch!  You are going down!".  Hopefully, you are feeling less aggressive than me :D

I love my job in the Army and love being a Soldier.  Today I received a message from my career manager that my promotion board for Lieutenant Colonel is in January.  Yes, Lieutenant Colonel.  When did that happen?  I remember being a young lieutenant raising hell in Germany :-)  But I am so excited yet nervous because the Army is cutting back and promotions are harder.  Still I won't let that damper my enthusiasm.
 Nothing inspires (nor distracts me more than a dramatic sunset, and this one did the trick a few evenings ago after a stormy day.  I like to believe this is God telling us He loves us!

Oh, there is nothing like going to the gym and getting your sweat on.  I do not perspire at the gym-- I full on sweat those pounds away and that is just the way I like it.  But that constant sweat at the gym can cause havoc on your skin... and I'm not talking just your face.  Today I want to share with you my secrets for keeping my skin from breakouts due to exercising and sweating.  

Wash That Face.  Expediency is the key here.  The faster you can remove the dirt, sweat and oils from your skin, the better.  Look I understand that between the gym and home (unless you shower at the gym, which I personally hate so I made the extra trip home), oils and dirt can clog your pores which equals breakouts.  So, these Burt's Bees Facial Cleanser Wipes (No.1) are always present in my gym bag (and I have one pouch in my Jeep too).  I use the sensitive skin ever since I had a demodex allergy back in April and it is soothing and smell so nice. Because no rinsing is required, they make the perfect on the go skin cleanser not only for your face.  I especially love them when I am working back and my skin touches the machine pads.  And believe me, they clean really good. 

Once I get home I still need the feeling of water on my face so I wash my face with Philosophy's Purity face wash (No. 3).  A delicate face wash especially good after exercising outdoors when the skin needs a bit more pampering.

Mosturize!  I like to follow this with my favorite mosturizers: Hope in a Jar (No. 2) for the face and Hope in a Tube (No. 4) for eyes/lips both from Philosophy.  Ok, this is not an ad for the Philosophy brand but it is the one I have found works best for me.  I first tried Philosophy after my last deployment in 2009.  After being in the 130F degrees desert my skin was... well, I don't even know what it was.  Words like sand paper, harsh, super dry come to mind.  My mom, the uber QVC fan, told me about this line and after a few weeks I saw significant improvement.  But what I like the most is that they are not harsh; actually they are quite gentle on the skin.   And of all their products "Hope in a Jar" is my favorite.  This mosturizer is amazing, and if you need a bit more than Hope, they have a stronger version called "When Hope is Not Enough" (Ha!  I love the name of their products!).  I put some of this mosturizer on my face and it is instant radiance.

Take a Shower ASAP.   My new favorite bath and body line is Victoria's Secret Perfect Body (No. 6). The products smell SO good...like you are at a spa.  Love the coconut oil shower emulsion (which is not greasy), the almond oil lotion and the sea salt scrub which leaves me feeling like I've been to the spa after a workout.

Time to Change Your Sponge!  Yes, many of you like the loofa but that loofe may contain tons of bacteria from sitting in your shower, really undoing all the cleaning you've been doing on your skin.  I personally like the fluffy sponge thingies that I can thrown in the washer (No. 7).  And for heaven's sake, let whatever you use aerate to dry and prevent mold.  

What about you?  Any favorite skin care tips or products?

I originally posted this on my other blog a few months back but it is the perfect recipe for transition month that September is.  With the coming of fall, the light of the sun has started changing; it is softer and luminous.  As the temperatures cool down from the scorching days of summer we are all consumed with an urgency to open doors letting the breeze waft inside.  We make more plans fall and the approaching holiday season.  We get comfy in our chairs with our favorite books or go for a run on a crisp early morning.  They all encompass the great autumn imagery that we have come to love.   There are high expectations when the fall season rolls around because it is unlike any of the other seasons.  There is something magical about it.

I could give you the recipe, but instead I’ve linked to Sara’s website, because it deserves to be browsed if you’ve never been to it.  The recipes are vegetarian but are so brilliant that even carnivores like me will be amazed that vegetarian can be so delicious. 

Now, let's talk about how I incorporate this in my diet.  As the post title mentions, this is what I call a "cheat day yummy" meaning it would be something I would eat on the day when my diet is more relaxed.  Which is normally Friday.  Believe it or not, it is easier for me to eat healthy on weekends than during the weekdays.  So what does my weekly menu looks like right now?  In a day this is what I consume:

Meal 1: 
1 cup of coffee
1/2 cup oats with cinnamon or apple pie spices
1 whole eggs + 3 egg whites (scrambled...I don't get tired of them because I love eggs.  You can add 1 tbsp salsa to make it different)
1 banana

or 

12 oz. Green smoothie

Meal 2: 
3/4 cup yogurt (non-fat) with 1/2 cup berries

Meal 3:
1 chicken breast (grilled)
1 cup brown rice (or quinoa)
1 serving of veggies (love frozen mixed veggies)

Post/Pre Workout:
Protein shake ( this I divide into 1 scoop each pre and post workout, depending on when I go to the gym).

Meal 4:
Grilled Steak salad.  Right now this is my go to salad.  Since I started lifting heavier, my body is just asking me for steak.  And I am loving it!


Meal 4:
low-fat cottage cheese with raspberries + 1tsp acacia honey

This is around 1855 calories a day and the best thing is that is keeps me full.  This past two weeks meal planning was key and I am super excited for the week ahead with lots of workouts and more delicious meals!

Farmgirl Bloghop, Heart + Home, Melt In Your Mouth Monday, Make It Yourself Monday, Monday Homestead Barn,  The Home Acres Hop and Rurality Blog Hop. What's for Dinner?

Every so often I come across some great links on other blogs or via Twitter and Facebook, and I decided to start sharing them with you in case you have not come across them!  They are worth the read! Here are these weeks best links:

The Pig of The Fish World by GiGi Eats.  In a world that is constantly urging us to eat clean and healthy, I was nauseously surprised at how unclean this popular fish is, especially because many nutritionist tell us is good for us!  Say what?!?!

Oiselle debuts at NOLCHA Fashion Week.  The popular fitness brand {which I love} debuted their Spring 2014 collection on the RUNway.  If you are not familiar with Nolcha Fashion Week, it is a fashion show that runs parallel to NY Fashion Week. Nolcha is all about giving up-and-coming designers a stage to show off their collections and I was thrilled to see fitness wear.  ** Of note, check out those abs on runner Lauren Fleshman who had a baby only a few months ago!  By the way, if you have not read her blog post about her going into labor-- YOU HAVE TO!  Its hilarious but very endearing!

Why Being a "Weight Loss Blogger" Sucks {Sometimes} by Skinny Meg. Meg is one of those bloggers who keeps it real about her weight loss and in this honest post, she talks about how other readers judge her and make snarky remarks when she is being honest about her exercises or what she is.  Basically she is being judged for being...well, a human.  Come on ladies!  Why do we do this to ourselves.  Let's empower and uplift each other because the alternative is just a damn shame!

.  What happens when a mom shares her art sketch pad with her daughter?  You will be amazed at their joint creation.  I love this post so much!

Pearl Izumi Apologizes for Ad with Dead Dog.  So Peal Izumi's new ad has drawn outraged via social media forcing the company to cancel the ad and write an .  Check it out.  What do you think?

Pin It Party Link-Up.  Looking for awesome fitness and nutrition posts?  Then join Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean for her new weekly link-up.  The link-up is a round up of 5 blog posts you’ve written that you would like to see on Pinterest.  Go HERE for more details.

. Two sisters battling Hashimoto Hypothyroidism making a difference by bringing together fellow sufferers to show they're not alone. Web Series/Fitness Tips.

 .  Oh my gosh, I am totally obsessed with the reality show Breaking Pointe, which follows the lives of Utah's Ballet West.  This season they are performing Cinderella and it is amazing!

For My Hypothyroid Readers. 

And there you have it folks!  I hope you get a chance to check some of these links this weekends!  Bt before I go, let me share sometime a member of the running club posted.  I hope the language does not offend you but it is too funny because that is how hot it's been here!


I am from Puerto Rico and THIS is too hot for me!  It is just brutal.  I cringe to think of my water bill when I receive it because of watering the grass.  Yikes!  See you next week!

Today is 9/11 and as always, it is a very emotional day for me.  To this day I remember everything about that day: where I was, what I was wearing, all the mixed emotions.  It is really hard for me to post on 9/11 about that day because that moment in time had repercussions that affected my life years later.  That day I lost a mentor at the Pentagon, I came to realize what being in the military really was, and had to come face-to-face with the fact that as someone who came into the Army during peace-time-- now I was getting ready to experience what being a Soldier in wartime was.  Many deployments later I can say that I am blessed to have never been injured in a deployment yet I have friends, my boyfriend and my brother -- all in the military who have encountered some sort of danger or injury because of these wars...which were triggered by the events on 9/11.  

This year, I had the opportunity of remembering this day in a different way.  As you may know I moved from Fort Bragg, NC to Fort Leavenworth, KS (not the jail!).  It has been a different experience because I do not have my family nor friends here.  Last month I attended a cooking class and met a few Army wives, some which are former Army Soldiers, and they invited me to their running group.  They have been so awesome!  Through them I found out about an event on post, Moving 9/11 Tribute, and decided to join them.  This tribute consisted of military members and their families continuously running--relay style-- on 9/11 from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.  How awesome is that?  And did I mentioned that today was around 98F? 


I got to participate in the last hour and it was such an amazing experience!  Yes, it was hot.  Yes, it was hilly.  And yes, it was emotional  But you know what?


No. 5  I am so thankful that I survived 3 deployments!  Yes, I am glad I am alive! 


If you couldn't tell, I am the super tall one! :D  We ran the last leg of the day and it was amazing, because we did just as the sun was going down.

So on a day when tragedy occurred I chose to think mostly of joy and be thankful.  I can let this day bring me down, but instead I offer a prayer and run for them: the countless people who never got to say goodbye to their loved, the ones that never saw it coming, the heroes who would not surrender to the terrorist and by their actions saved many others, and those who have died as a consequence of the wars.  May they rest in peace and look over us!


  

Hello ladies!  Well I am midway on my training week and my nutrition and weight training are excellent.  I am actually pretty excited because, well I'm feeling excited about working out again! You have no idea {well you probably do} how great it is to go to the gym and exercise because you enjoy it, so instead of being a drag it is like a reward for surviving the day and kind of sticking it to that voice that tells you "you can't do it".

When it comes to the workout I am following, I need to explain that I have a four-day body split for my workout, with Fridays being the day when I workout glutes for a second time.  Yes, the bum, the butt, the glutes.  Whatever you call it, I workout that area twice a week because 1) I'm Puerto Rican and that area can get out of control pretty fast and 2) when I start losing weight, the first to go is my glutes.  Seriously, they disappear which is not a good thing because, come on ladies, y'all know we like a nice toned booty.  So I have been doing this awesome workout by my inspiration fitness model Amanda Latona.  She rocks and believe it or not in the figure competition world she is know for... you guess it!  Her booty!  So, what is Amanda's workout?  Check it out!

photos courtesy of bodybuilding.com

So you are probably wondering what the heck is going on?  Am I not in Asphalt & Trails?  Well, yes you are in what USED to be a blog titled with that name {kind of like the artist formerly known as Prince}.  You see while that was a kick butt name, it really does not reflect who I am right now when it comes to my fitness.  Let's be honest, that name was for the chick who ran long distances but that is not who I am right now.  Yes, I still run but now fitness is more about achieving a balance in my life, and like my tag line says: finding my pace and thriving.  Because in the end that is what we want.  To thrive as athletes and as humans.  And I am right there with you.  I want to thrive because when I do, I am happy and when I am happy I have a good life.  So, make sure you change the name in your bookmarks (if you follow me) because I am not sure if it changes automatically.  :)

So, here is to life, finding the right balance and pace...and thriving. 

The first weekend of September is here and wow!  What a scorcher.  Here is good ol' Leavenworth, Kansas this weekend has been brutal, today being the hottest it has been in a while at 102F.  That is just not right {says the girl who was born and raised in Puerto Rico}.  But seriously, the week before was stunning with temps in the low 70s.  Now that is my kind of weather, not this..  oh yes, I did notice my passenger seat belt light came on this week. 

Going back to cleaning the diet is very important in this process and this weekend I cleaned up my refrigerator of stuff that has been sitting there {yeah, there were a few science experiments} but part of my lack of motivation manifested itself as not being hungry which was soooo counterproductive.  But the refrigerator got clean and I stocked up in produce because guess what piece of appliance I have that  am using for the first time in 2 years?  A juicer!  Yes, I used it for the first time to get beets juice, which I used in the most delicious smoothie, The Purple Haze.   

This smoothie is delicious and totally curbed my sugar cravings: beets juice + 1 cup of water + 1 cup blueberries + 1 banana + 1 cup papaya + ice.  This was so delicious and perfect for the hot weather.  The best part?  It makes two servings so I got to sip on it through the day.  The other recipe I made was from this month's Muscle & Fitness Hers Magazine and it is for Coconut-Lime Chicken Bites & Zucchini Fries (all is baked though) and oh my goodness!  So good.  Now if I can only come up with a clean version of the Chick Fil-A Polynesian sauce I would be set!

This recipe was super delicious and all clean.  By the way, the zucchini fries are not burned, that is just the combo of spices that go into them, which makes them so tasty.  Here is the recipe:

Coconut Lime Chicken Bites (Muscle & Fitness Hers)

2 large egg whites
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
6 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
2 4oz chicken breasts 

Cut chicken up in to 1 inch pieces.  Preheat oven to 375.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and coat with non-stick spray.  In a small bowl mix the egg whites with the lime juice.  Put the coconut in another small bowl.  Dredge the chicken in the egg mixture then coat in coconut and place pieces on the baking sheet.  Bake for 25-30 minutes turning often.

Baked Zucchini Fries (Muscle & Fitness Hers)

1 medium zucchini
garlic powder
cayenne pepper
black pepper

Preheat oven to 375.  Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Slice the ends off the zucchini then cut longways into small strips (like shoestring french fries).  Sprinkle the zucchini fries with the garlic powder, cayenne and black peppers and bake for 25-30 minutes turning frequently. 

Again, both recipes make for a super tasty lunch or dinner.  And actually they make for a clean appetizer for your next football game gathering.  So, as you can see, a very productive week and weekend.  Here is to next week and getting one step closer to my goal!

I am joining Recipe Link-Up,  MIMM, Miscellany Mondays and Weekend Shenanigans

Well my friends, after months and months of being in a funk and feeling blah, this Labor Day weekend I started feeling a little bit like my old self and my body just finally said enough. Saturday morning I woke up with a need to run.  That is the best way to describe it.  And because of the 4 day weekend everyone seemed to be gone which made for a very quiet and relaxing run, with this gorgeous view of the rising sun.