When Your Body Says Rest - REST!

I have been feeling like crud all week. Extremely tired, lack of motivation, slightly depressed, zero appetite...just really annoyingly mopey!  For comparison purposes, I felt like the energizer bunny whose batteries just got ripped out of its back!  As I am sure you can relate, not feeling like yourself is awful - especially when you can't pinpoint what's wrong. As of yesterday, I was just blaming my hormones...mostly because my mind was so full of negativity - "I can't" - "I don't want to" - "Ugh...must I?"... so last night I had to literally force myself to lace up those shoes and hit the payment. I was on a mission to send my hormones packing!

The run was torture. My legs felt like they were filled with cement. I kept having to give myself pep talks because all I really wanted to do was lie down. Yep right then and there - just fall flat on my face and rest.  The only thing that was keeping me going was the fact that I realized my thoughts weren't exactly logical so putting one foot in front of the other was the quickest way to get home. 

God knew I needed help.  As I rounded the corner of mile 3, I met another runner.  Just what I needed to pick up the pace.  We ended up pacing side by side thus striking up a conversation - long story short - I do think (crossing my fingers) I found myself a future running partner. Long time in the making! Meeting a local runner was just what I needed to give me that boost to make it home.

I got home feeling surprisingly renewed. Sadly, this feeling lasted a whole 30 minutes.  The cruddy "down in the dumps" feeling crept right back in leaving me to think it was more than hormones...my body was fighting something.  I was scheduled to meet with my personal trainer the next morning at 6am so I shot her a text to let her know what was going on.  She didn't take much details to know just what to say.  She came back and said, "Just rest.  Listen to your body and rest."

So, I did just that. I went to bed early and woke up a few hours later to a freezing cold sweat.  Fever, check. Yep, my body was fighting alright. So, with my restless night behind me, I forced myself to ignore the massive to-do list to take the day to sleep. And, boy did I sleep.  Around 3pm I came to life and felt like me again.  So THANKFUL!  I even got in an amazing strength training session and knocked out my to-do list -  Double bonus!

Moral of this story - when your body says rest - you gotta listen.  I didn't want to either but it was just what my body needed to fight off whatever was trying to get the best of me.  Give your body the tools to fight - H2O and loads of REST!

Keep it Clean & Enjoy the Ride,
MSF

Quick & Easy Pizza

Okay friends, the following pizza recipe is not perfectly clean but it's surely forgivable! 

Typically, I would make my own crust and use organic low-fat cottage cheese for a topping (making it perfectly clean) but ended up going this route due to being in a time crunch and lack of ingredients.

I would say pizza is probably my ultimate comfort food. While I resist the temptation, I could easily eat it every day - my way that is :)  Since I started making my own pizza - it's nearly impossible to go back to delivery...the healthier version is just too easy to not to do on your own! 

100% Whole Wheat Crust  topped with a little olive oil
and Muir Glen Organic Pizza Sauce

Next topping includes grilled chicken breasts cut into strips

And of course add tons of veggies!  Red onion, mushrooms, yellow/orange/red peppers....drizzled with a little soy oil.

I love my pizza LOADED with veggies!

Add quality olives...mmm my favorite!

Wouldn't be complete without tons of fresh spinach...

Here I would normally do a organic low fat cottage cheese but was fresh out - so instead added just a little organic mozzarella cheese; enough to make Mr. feel
like he's eating a pizza

Baked for 10-12 minutes - mmm perfection :)

WahLa!  The ideal combination - hits the spot every time!

Keep it Clean & Enjoy the Ride,

Mrs. Skinny Fat

Freezing Fresh Peaches - No Sugar Needed

I revel in a lot of things; one of them being peaches!  But not just any peach...those ones from the supermarket are often hard and flavorless.  A real peach, is ultra juicy with a to-die-for flavor.  My favorite type of peach is the Canadian Harmony - my mom and grandma have always touted the Red Haven; those are good too - but I don't know there's just something about the Harmony that is screaming delicious! The Harmony - like the Red Haven - is a freestone peach - in other words, it comes off the pit hassle free.  

Peaches are very easy to freeze thus making it a no-brainer to capture the sweetness of a Michigan peach to enjoy throughout the winter months!  I have always thought that you have to include sugar to successfully freeze peaches; I'm excited to have discovered another way!  The secret is citric acid; yep the same good stuff that comes from a lemon.  Only, you can think of it as in a more concentrated way.  I picked up a bottle of 100% pure citric acid from the Health Food store for under $5.00 - it's a natural preservative.  So not only are you not adding sugar, but instead adding an ingredient that brings its own health benefits. 

Follow these easy steps below and enjoy the sweetness of a peach - without the sweetness of sugar - throughout the winter months!

Choose firm, ripe peaches that haven't begun to spoil or turn brown.

Make a small slit in the bottom of each peach.

To peel the peaches more easily, put a few peaches in boiling water for about 30 seconds, then remove them with a slotted spoon to a bowl with iced water.

And then dip them into a bowl of ice water.

The skins should slip right off.

All pealed and ready for slicing! 

As you can see, comes off from the pit super easy - making the entire process take no time at all!

So yummy!!  I couldn't help eating slices along the way! 

Sprinkle peaches with citric acid enough to lightly coat. When you stir
the peaches up with the citric acid they should look shinier, sort of glossy. This will keep
the peaches from browning.  Peaches frozen by this method will last up to 6 months in the freezer.  My peaches were extremely juicy so no extra water or juice was needed...

Four cups of peaches will fit into a 1-qt freezer container. One medium peach is
approximately 1 cup.  I filled my Ziploc baggies about half-full as I will use these a lot throughout the week as an oatmeal topping or in my smoothies.  

And, I even have leftovers...hmmm looks like I'll need to come up with a clean recipe for these boys! 

Keep it Clean & Enjoy the Ride,

MSF

Love for Night Running

There's something about running in the dark - especially at night - that to me is just simply the ultimate runners' high. It's just me and the stars - the ideal opportunity to release all that built up tension and reflect just how far I've come and where I'm going. 

"It was being a runner that mattered, not how fast or how far I could run. The joy of running was the act of running and in the journey, not in the destination." - John Bingham

Tonight was one of those nights where I ventured out in the darkness on a four mile route.  I've ran this route enough times that I am familiar with all of its shortfalls (major potholes, narrow shoulders, etc).  What's interesting, running at night is essentially the only time that I don't need music - I can't explain it - I'm just completely "ok" with the silence.  I also always tend to run faster...and it just seems easier.  Does anyone else feel this way?

As much as I love it, I am well aware that it's not the safest way to go, in fact, it can be rather risky if you don't attempt to play by the rules.  However, with the hours of daylight getting slimmer and slimmer, it's sometimes a must.  I can't help if it is also one of my top guilty pleasures. 

I play it safe by sporting this vest. Great investment.  The flash on my phone gives you an idea of what drivers see when passing by. 

Miles & I - You can see I'm glowing just like his eyes! 

Back Shot

$19.95 - Asics Vest - 360 degree reflectivity - lightweight and high quality. 

If have never tried night running - I highly recommend it!  Just play it safe, buy a vest - know your route...you know just follow the rules!

Keep it Clean & Enjoy the Ride,
Mrs. Skinny Fat

Ask for What You Want

I will admit, when it comes to dining out, I am That Girl.  So much so, that now before I even order I warn the waiter/waitress in my ever so charming way by saying, "I'm so sorry, I'm one of those girls"... Confidence in numbers, right?

Am I really sorry? No.  But, quite frankly, I grew tired of being met with the roll of eyes time and time again so I just figured if I start out being really sweet and sincere, that it'll get me that much closer to getting what I want. And - when it comes down to it, I am SO appreciative when I actually DO get to eat something while dining out that I can feel GOOD about. 

Some of you are sitting there nodding your head because you are That Girl too. On the other hand, some of you are wondering what the heck I am talking about...well, this one's for you then!

Eating out is part of almost every gal's life and living a clean diet shouldn't prohibit you from enjoying the experience. I used to get a touch of anxiety when I first embraced this lifestyle. It happened every time Mr. would ask me to go out to dinner because I knew that there would only be a select few menu items for me to choose from - if any.  Ugh another salad...no thanks!

That was until a very wise person whom I have the pleasure to know showed me that I have the right to order essentially whatever menu item however I please.  Even if I don't see what I am looking/hungry for, there's no harm in asking if it's available! At first, my other half would get slightly embarrassed of me being That Girl...but he soon learned that most people ended up looking at my plate - typically filled with color - in a bit of envy...including him!

Tonight, a group of us girls gathered to celebrate my best friend's upcoming wedding.  It was a mild bachelorette party if you will.  We were at a restaurant known for its quality in food and for the most part - the menu was made up of pretty clean concoctions.  I read through the choices and settled on selection that only called for some minor changes.

From the menu...
Whitefish
Lake Superior whitefish baked on parchment with roasted fingerling potatoes, asparagus and herb butter, topped with roasted tomato sauce.

My order...
I attempted to order this without the herb butter or roasted tomato sauce - I just wanted it plain with a little olive oil and the veggies plain - no seasoning.  I was told a no can do because the fish was already set to go in the parchment paper...well, then...next choice.

These are two menu items...
Vegan Cabbage Roll
Steamed swiss chard cabbage stuffed with wild rice, tomato, spinach, and preserved lemon on a bed of barley risotto with a caramelized onion broth and garlic roasted wild mushrooms. 

Seared Scallops
Served with a light garlic broth, barley "risotto", roasted wild mushrooms; garnished with a micro green salad. 

My order...
I asked if I could get the vegan cabbage roll as clean as possible; meaning no butter, cream, excess oils, no caramelized onion broth (just vegetable broth would do)...etc.  So, we modified including removing risotto and any extra over the top seasonings.  And then I mentioned that while the dish was great mix of complex carbs that it lacked protein...so I asked if I could get just two seared scallops - just lightly seared with touch of oil - no seasonings.  Yes, I said all of that. -- hey, now - I'm still perfecting my concision - I am a woman with words after all!) :)

He was an awesome waiter and basically responded with,  "Absolutely, clean - got it - will do." Love it when that happens! 

Made to order...essentially perfect...definitely a combination to feel good about!  

My best friend and I!  She gets a kick out of this blogging thing that I do so naturally had to include her in this pic -red eyes and all! :)

So, have no fear in being That Girl. You are paying for the meal, and I have come to find, like tonight, most places have no issue accommodating special requests.  There's no reason that dining out needs to keep you up all night with guilt!  Throw those shoulders back (my ultimate confidence move), smile, and ask for what you want!  Your body will thank you for it - not to mention you will rest easy knowing you completed another day filled with smart choices!

Keep it Clean & Enjoy the Ride,
Mrs. Skinny Fat

Freezing Whole Tomatoes

I absolutely love this time of year. I honestly do not think I would ever tire of stuffing my face with all of the glorious seasonal bounty!  I am, however, getting a little anxious knowing that it's all too close to coming to an end.  The thought of going back to the grocery store for all my produce is extremely unappealing!

Thankfully, it's easy to preserve some of my favorites; blueberries, peaches, green beans and tonight, I have tackled tomatoes.  Freezing tomatoes whole is the quickest method for processing them – period!  Who doesn't love a fresh Michigan grown tomato?  It's the ideal touch to a cold winter night - make your own pasta sauce, add it to a pot of chili, or soup...yum!

I picked up a 1/2 Bushel of Fresh Michigan Grown Tomatoes for $14.99.

How to Freeze Tomatoes Whole, Unpeeled

• Wash tomatoes.
• Remove stem scars - the "core" (see video and photos below) and any other bruises/defects.
• Place tomatoes in a single layer on baking sheets so that they don’t touch.
• Let tomatoes freeze until solid, about 2 hours
• Remove tomatoes from freezer. Work quickly to transfer to containers and seal.
• Label tomatoes with name and date. Return them to the freezer until ready for use - Simple!

All washed and ready to have stem scars removed.

Example of what I mean by stem scar...

And here it is with the stem scar removed and ready to go! 

Check out video below for further details...

Ready for freezing...

Pre-frozen tomatoes placed in zip lock baggy all ready for me come winter!

To use frozen whole tomatoes, remove them from the freezer. Select a few at a time to use or thaw the entire container/zip lock baggy.

To peel frozen tomatoes, remove them from packaging containers. Run them under lukewarm water for several seconds. Skin will peel off easily.  However, I prefer to leave the skins on (more nutrient dense) unless making pasta sauce. 

Be sure to let tomatoes defrost completely in a bowl or by setting the container in the sink before using in your sauce, soup, etc.

It's really that simple...Enjoy!

Keep it Clean & Enjoy the Ride,
Mrs. Skinny Fat

Country Smoke House

On our travels back from the weekend wedding festivities,  Mr. & I were both were feeling rather lethargic.  We had a three hour drive ahead of us and all I wanted to do was click my heels and be home!  About 20 minutes into our route along M-53 just north of downtown Almont, Michigan, we simultaneously noticed a gigantic steer statue standing near the road.  Neither of us said a word, we both just knew that this was a stop for us!  

Turns out the place is called Country Smoke House - and we quickly learned it was well-worth the visit.  Getting out of the car, I instantly felt better.  I was so overly stimulated - not knowing where to look or what to touch first.  I literally wandered the market a good 15 times before settling on what I was bringing back with me.  Thankfully, I always travel with a cooler and they just happened to sell ice - nice! 

Finding high quality meat - as I always say, "Raised with Love",  in my area is no easy task. Having relationships with farmers you trust is key, but you are on their schedule - with limited choices.  I, unfortunately, do not have a "Whole Foods" in my backyard.  And, unless Mr. hunts/fishes it, finding fresh wild game is nearly impossible.  This place had you covered...a variety of meats including a whole slew of wild game!  From fresh wild caught fish to pheasant, to venison, and SO much more - they had all my desires covered.

Not everything in the store was "clean" by any means BUT a big part of eating clean includes eating a lean protein at every meal.  I'm ULTRA picky about meat and refuse to support farmers who treat their animals like lab rats! Not only does the mistreatment of animals break my heart, but I also have no desire to consume the added antibiotics and/or hormones. Unless I know the details - where it came from, the overall day to day treatment, how it was killed, cleaned, packaged...I won't eat it.  Needless to say, I was so excited to be able to bring home new protein choices to add to the menu - ones I can feel good about consuming! 

If you are ever in the area, I highly suggest you stop in and load up on goodies to stock the freezer. Everyone is super friendly, helpful, and will answer any question - trust me I asked enough to know!

Don't forget the cooler! 

I, of course, ran right for the produce! :)

It's a bit fuzzy, but this is shot from when you walk in the door.  I was so overly stimulated...wasn't sure where to start!

Huge variety of "Raised with Love" meats & wild game - wish I would of had a bigger cooler on me!

Mr. placing a order from their roadside outdoor BBQ hut.

It's surely hard to miss the place!

Mr. surprised me by picking up this "Wild Game Simple" cookbook.  While the recipes aren't all necessarily clean - with just a few tweaks I know I can make them "my" way easily!

Mmm Smoked Wild Caught Whitefish! And, no I'm not really going to eat it like this :)

Showing the inside of the smoked whitefish...

Keep it Clean & Enjoy the Ride,

Mrs. Skinny Fat