PSA

Wear sunscreen.

Every day -- slather it on if you're going to be in the sun for a long time.

(Maybe wear a hat, too.)

Don't go to the tanning booth -- I have done it in the past, and I will never do it again.

On Friday, I went to the dermatologist to have them look at this weird bump on my arm. The bump was absolutely nothing, but she took notice of a microscopic (literally: had to use a magnifying glass to see it), spot on my chin and biopsied it. I walked away with a whisker-like stitch in my chin (seriously? 2010 and we can't have clear stitches?), which one of my best friends who happens to be a doctor kindly removed for me last night after dinner.

Got the call today: it is a basal cell carcinoma, which I'm told isn't a big deal, but I do have to have a surgeon remove the whole thing (why didn't you just remove the whole thing on Friday?!), and look at it under a scope to make sure it is nothing more serious. Half-day procedure.

More stitches. On my face.

Not happy.

I'm pretty religious about wearing sunscreen (my daily moisturizer is SPF 15, and I always slather it on if I'm going to be in the sun for prolonged periods of time), but despite that fact, the doc tells me that this is most likely due to sun exposure. Sure makes me think twice about those long days of laying by the pool in Mexico, SPF 70 and all.

Wear sunscreen. Every day.

Don't go to the tanning booth.

EVERY DAY.

That sun up there is strong - and evidently, angry.

Off and pouting,
~JessiferSeabs

Anybody else?

Jescipes! Icebox Gazpacho: A Hot Weather Treat

Since it is, oh, about 95 degrees and 10000% humidity in Minneapolis right now, I thought the timing was right to share my favorite hot weather recipe: Icebox Gazpacho!

For those who aren't familiar, gazpacho is a cold soup. I know that isn't everybody's cup of iced tea, but for those who adore the cool, refreshing flavor of tomatos without any spice, this is the way to go.

Icebox Gazpacho:

2 large tomatoes, quartered and seeded (as best as you can)

2 large red bell peppers, quartered and seeded

1 bunch of cilantro

1 cucumber, sliced lengthwise and seeded, quartered

1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and quartered

A few drops of Tabasco sauce

Salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste (some like balsamic vinagrette; some like red wine vingagrette; some like garlic...)

Start with the tomatoes -- drop in the food processor and "pulse" until the tomatos are coarse. Add the ingredients one at a time and pulse until you get to the consistency you like. I like it coarse and chunky.

CHILL immediately.

I like to serve with vegetables, pita bread, hummus, but it is also great with a sandwich, tortilla chips, a dollop of sour cream, diced avocado... it is totally up to you! What I love about this recipe is that it is so refreshing on a hot night -- and also filling, and packs in lots of vitamins and a few vegetable servings!

Also, I would be remiss if I didn't point out these new and fabulous bovine developments in the healthy food world:

Laughing Cow has announced three new fabulous flavors, coming in June: Light Blue Cheese, Queso Fresco & Chipotle, and Sun Dried Tomato and Basil. Each stack up at about 35 calories each, or 1 WW point. I can't wait to try these on crackers, pretzels, vegetables, toast, and melted over various products. Yay Laughing Cow!

And for dessert, we have Skinny Cow - they've recently released some ice cream cups, and I had the good fortune to find them on sale this week for a buck a piece. Dulce De Leche, Cookies n' Cream, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Double Fudge Brownie are each about 150 calories (2 WW points after you factor in the nice 4 gram fiber blast), and the fourth, Caramel Cone, which I haven't tried is 3 points.

These are a pretty great value, calorically, given that most cups this size can pack upwards of 4-5 points. Good stuff!

Exercise for the past few days has taken a backseat due to being busy, tired, and today's weather. My goal is to get out the door for a workout tomorrow, and by Wednesday the weather should return to normal blissful Minneapolis springtime temps.

Off and running,

~Jessica

A Running Commentary

Whenever I convince myself that I'm not really much of a runner, that foot pain and weight and schedules will prevent me from ever competing in an endurance event again, I have a run like this mornings that actually leaves me feeling like another marathon (SOMEDAY, MAYBE) is actually a possibilty.

Or could be, anyway, if I wanted it to be.

Okay, it's PERFECT in minneapolis right now, people. I mean, normally we get like 7.4 days like this per year, and with the exception of one rainy week, we've been living in blissville for about 2 months. I feel incredibly grateful for this weather, and for the presence of mind to take advantage of it.

Last night, I was all set to have a night of TV and sofa, but caught the smell of lilacs wafting through my open windows, and suddenly, sloth felt like a COLLASAL waste of time - and I was up and walking. Just a quick 40 minute walk along the parkway, but enough to get the post-dinner metabolism fired up. As an added bonus, I ran into a good friend on the parkway, and we shared a great catch-up session, packed into about 15 minutes. The sights and smells and sounds of spring were in full force last night: lilacs, lily of the valley, fresh cut grass, grills, bonfires, coffee and pastries from the nearby cafe, dogs, ducks bathing in the rapids, kids, bikers, runners, frisbees... the list goes on.

I came home just before dark, with a very happy heart.

This morning, popped out of bed and decided to attempt a run -- since my visit with the podiatrist, I've been taking this anti-inflamatory and experiencing almost NO foot pain. But I missed one day of meds last week, and last night went to bed feeling a bit achey. So I did not set out with high expectations this morning -- and true to form, found the lack of expectations to be so freeing that I outperformed any that I could have possible had.

Walked 10
Ran 40 (!!!without stopping!!!)
Walked 10

About 462 calories burned - I enjoyed the "hellos" and "good mornings" of fellow early exercisers, and was home, showered, fed, and on the road in plenty of time for work. My favorite sight of this morning? On the paved parkway, running over a childlike chalk scrawl that read "Babbling Brook Dog Spa" with an arrow pointing to the rapids in Minnehaha Creek.

Ahhh, it's the little things.

A few days ago, I found out I'd been offered a freelance writing job with Run.com. Running and writing, I've commented before several times, are very symbiotic in my life. I plan the best posts, columns, words when I'm out on the pavement.

I'll post more info as I have it, but for now... I'll take that as a sign to keep on running.

Off and running,
~Jessica

I Am A Runner (Redux)

After 9 days of regular stretching combined with the anti-inflamatory my doctor prescribed me, I attempted a run yesterday. I'm not sure if it is the drugs or the superpowers of my magic bracelet, but I ran for 35 minutes without stopping. And more importantly, without PAIN.

When the alarm went off at 6 AM, the LAST thing I wanted to do was get out of bed. Our gorgeous spring has given way to rain, drizzle, fog, overcast skies, and cool temps -- basically, May traded identities with April this year -- not exactly the stuff of energetic mornings! But I was determined to run. I put on warmer clothes than usual, fired up my favorite iPod mix, and just as I was leaving my bedroom, I spied my blue rubber bracelet on my dresser.

"I Am A Runner."

If you don't frequent The Runners Lounge, I encourage you to do so - it is a great internet "living room" for those of us who want to sit around and gab about running. They have recently resurrected their fabulous blog, and it is fitting that I'm writing this today, because I hope they'll ALSO resurrect their weekly tradition of "Take it and Run Thursdays," a time when the running / blogging community all writes on the same topic and shares links. It's a community that I found when I was training for the marathon. The founders of the blog graciously sent us all these rubber bracelets as promotional pieces... and for me, that silly bracelet is the pièce de résistance to my running ensemble. Just like superheroes have their bullet-deflecting wrist-cuffs, I have my magic bracelet -- when I wear it, I feel strong and invincible.

It is with that mindset that I walked out my back door and hit the pavement yesterday. I started out walking briskly, to get the HR up, and to make absolutely sure that my foot wasn't in pain -- 55 minutes later, I was walking back through that same door, breathless, sweaty, and wanting to cry from happiness. Finally -- I was BACK.

The most frustrating part of this past year has been the Catch22 that comes with this sort of lifestyle change / injury: I gained some weight back due to the lack of exercise. Part of the lack of exercise was due to the new role of "cubicle monkey," but part of it was due to the pain in my foot. I'm not sure which caused which (did I gain weight because of the foot pain, or did I have foot pain because of the weight gain?) but I got stuck in this circular battle between the two negatively-symbiotic issues, where the very things I needed to do in order to LOSE the weight, I couldn't do, as a result of having gained it in the first place.

Whew. Does that make sense?

Anyway - the point is: I'm back in business.

This morning, I awoke to the familiar soreness of running: tight abs and tight hips... I decided the best way to loosen up would be a leisurely morning swim. Just under a mile in 46 minutes.

Not bad at all.

My feet don't hurt, my head is one straight, and I Am A Runner.

Off and running,

~Jessica

Best Wheel Forward

I had my podiatrist appointment on Tuesday and the good news is that I do NOT have plantar fasciitis... at least, much of it -- I have a little bit of inflamation in my PF, but mostly the issues are in what is known as the "tarsal tunnel" of my foot: kinda around my ankle bone, on the inside. It is similar to the carpal tunnel in your wrist -- my case is not severe, and is probably due to a combination of gaining weight and drastically changing my footware habits over the past year. Lovely.

BUT! It is good news, because it isn't severe... the Very Handsome And Charming And Married doctor prescribed a 60 day course of an anti-inflamatory, stretching, and a few other suggestions to help me loosen up (ie, warm up your foot with a heating pad for a few minutes before you run, etc).

I don't have to stop running, and I don't have to stop wearing heels -- in fact, he said that the most recent pair that I've been wearing (Aeresoles sandals with only about a 2 inch heel), HELP this particular injury. Not as good as running shoes of course, but far better than flats due to the lack of arch support.

Wheeeee!

Yesterday I didn't work out -- I was still pretty exhausted from the combination of a really long and stressful workday + staying up too late on Sunday night. By the time I got home from work, the sky was dark and rumbly, and the threat of rain sealed the deal: it was going to be a rest day. So I ate my dinner, watched my TV, packed my gym bag and went to bed... and then got up at 6:00 AM.

Before going to bed, I'd decided that I'd evaluate the weather before deciding what my workout was going to be -- if it was rainy and windy out, I'd hit the gym; full sun? I'd go for a bike ride. I woke up to a perfect morning: blue skies, bright sun, and a crisp temperature, perfect for biking. So I donned my helmet, loaded up my iPod, and away I went.

To Nokomis. Around Nokomis. Home

It is a route that used to take me close to 90 minutes to run, and I accomplished it in a mere 45, having burned about 350 calories.

The best part? No pain!

I brought my gym bag with me to work anyway, optimistically thinking that perhaps I'd hit the gym for yoga afterwards... but there isn't a good time that works with my schedule, so I'm heading home to dinner and TV and another early bedtime. Tomorrow I have a fairly significant presentation to give, so I won't be hitting the gym before work (I need to look very put together, so I need to get ready at home), but I'm planning on a post-work swim, and then a Friday morning workout.

Again, either from home or at the gym, weather pending.

Off and running
~Jessica

Jescipes - That's A Wrap!

I took down my April fitness ticker and updated it for May, but had you checked in here a few days ago, you'd have seen my grand total for the month: 1020. Awesome. I rule. I have the same goal for May, and it is off to a good start. Although my weekend was largely slothful (the boyfriend and I literally watched movies from noon to midnight on Saturday), I spent all day on Sunday in the yard: mowing, edging, weeding, seeding, sodding, watering, and paving. While it wasn't "intentional exercise," it was certainly a workout - I am more sore today than I have been in weeks, despite the biking, swimming, running, and walking.

In reality, I worked in the back yard for nearly 4 hours, but I'm only crediting myself with 90 minutes of exercise. I just don't usually count anything other than true workouts -- its too easy, otherwise, to rack up the numbers quickly after a few mega-shopping trips at our lovely mega-mall. ;-)

But -- this post wasn't actually meant to be about exercise. I'm making a return to "Jescipes" for my maiden post of May and sharing with you last night's dinner (which is about to turn into today's lunch): Asian Lettuce Wraps

If you've never eaten at PF Changs, I highly recommend that you go there immediately and try these. In my opinion, they are the best thing on the menu. The warm and spicy filling is such a great constrast to the cool crisp lettuce wrapper - and it is light and filling (and low in carbs, for those watching it).

You'll need:

The wrap:
A head of lettuce (I just used iceberg, and chopped it in half and cut the bottom off. You can also use Bibb or Boston, or cabbage). Pick about 6 nice cup-shaped leaves, rinse, pat dry, and set aside.

Protein filling (I used boneless pork chops, sliced really thin - you can also use ground turkey, tofu, ground beef, chicken breasts, or even steak, I'd imagine)
Vegetable filling (I used about 1/4 a bag of broccoli slaw, half a leftover onion, some shetaki mushrooms, half a can of water chestnuts (diced up), and half a can of bamboo shoots (also chopped). The theme here was "use up leftovers," in case you can't tell.

Sauce:
1/4 cup of hoisin sauce
1 TBSP soy sauce
1 TBSP rice vinegar
2 TBSP minced pickled ginger (chopped)
2 TBSP olive or vegetable oil (divided)
1 TBSP asian hot sauce (Sirichi -- optional)
2 tsp sesame oil
2 fresh garlic cloves, minced (or pressed)

1. For starters, heat up the EVOO in a saute pan and cook your protein filling - I used some pork, and then chopped it up into little pieces and set aside.

2. Mix the rest of your vegetables and sautee in a bit more EVOO. They should be cooked through.

3. Mix your sauce up separately, then add the protein, sauce, and continue cooking until everything is really well blended.

4. You'll want to eat this while it is still hot - wrap the filling in the lettuce leaves, burrito style, and enjoy! I paired this with some frozen egg rolls. Delicious...

5. And the best part - it makes for an easily reheatable lunch the next day. Which I'll be enjoying in approximately 57 minutes.

But who's counting?

Oh yeah -- YOU are:

Nutrition information (APPROXIMATION -- for the whole recipe, not per serving!)

CALORIES
945

CARBS
67

FIBER
18

FAT
51

PROTEIN
62

(That's 22 points for the whole thing, if you are on WW - assume about 3 servings or about 7.5 points each. You could eliminate some calories / fat / points by reducing the amount of EVOO that you cook the vegetables in, possibly subbing a bit of vegetable or chicken broth. Hmph. Actually, wish I'd thought of that sooner!)

Off and running,
~Jessica