Cinnamon Bun Fruit Topped French Toast

 Posted by at 4:33 am  SGIKS, THS Recipes
Aug 312010
 

Recently, my friend Sandy gave me a cinnamon bun.  

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I thought about sitting in front of the television, watching Freaks & Geeks on DVD, and devouring my gifted treat in one sitting. After further inspection, I realized that this cinnamon bun was not a one sitting type of treat. [it. was. huge.]

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Instead, I turned this decadent sweet treat into an opportunity to make one healthy decision.  I transformed this massive cinnamon bun into three plates of breakfast, adding some nutrients with the addition of a peach and a handful of cherries.

104_4705I thinly sliced the cinnamon bun, cherries, and peach. 

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I whisked an egg with a splash of almond milk and a sprinkle of  pumpkin pie spice.

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Then I dipped the pieces of cinnamon bun in the egg mixture, and cooked them through, french toast style, in a nonstick skillet on medium heat. [the cinnamon bun was so large that it produced two skillets full of slices!)

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While the cinnamon bun toast cooks, I heated the fruit in a sauce pan, on low heat, adding a drizzle of agave nectar while warming.

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Flip the toast. Stir the fruit. Wait a few more minutes before plating and delighting in this deliciousness.

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I could have consumed the cinnamon bun in one sitting when I wasn’t hungry; but I’m trying to listen more closely to my hunger cues.
I could have thrown the cinnamon bun in the trash, covering it with dish soap; but I’m trying to remember that no food is bad food, and that I shouldn’t treat it as so.
Instead, I turned the cinnamon bun into breakfast on a Sunday morning, with leftovers for Monday morning, and Tuesday morning, too.

 

I call this healthy decision a success. Cinnamon Bun Fruit Topped French Toast for the win! 

Best Run Never

 Posted by at 4:14 am  fitness
Aug 302010
 

After about 3 days of not running in a row, something silly happens to me.

I start to feel pressure.  Not from anyone else, but just from myself.  Perhaps it is part of the comparison war, or perhaps it’s just another way my American brain has tried to excuse laziness.

Day one is a rest day, and enjoyed at that.  Day two is extended recovery.  But once I’ve laid myself to sleep with the third run-free day in a row, a switch takes place in my brain.

I feel like “getting back to running” is going to be such a chore.  After three days?  So then I put it off, again and I see the number four.  Increased excuses abound as four turns to five, then six, and then seven.

“SEVEN DAYS!?  How did it get to be a FULL WEEK since I last ran?  That seems impossible!” I tell myself.

And then I am busy. (excuse.)

And then I am sick. (excuse.)

And then I need a nap. (excuse.)

And then my running shoes won’t fit in my carry on luggage. (excuse)

And I pull a traveling all-nighter so I don’t have energy to run. (excuse)

And then I am watching LOST, eating a cookie, updating spreadsheets, riding my bike instead, attending a meet up would rather not have to do my hair all over again.  (excusesXonebillion.)

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After being inspired by the many runners in Chicago, I didn’t move forward as planned.  I continued on with bike rides and walks every day, but I was letting my fear of “getting back to running” keep me from following through with my desire to hit the pavement strong. 

But after 16 days being run-free, this changed. I had had enough.  I decided that I couldn’t put it off any longer, and this past Wednesday, I ran home from work. Since then, I’ve gone on three other runs.  After each run, I feel strong, accomplished, and motivated to keep running. 

I’ve yet to feel the discouragement that used to appear after runs didn’t go as smoothly, as quickly, or as strong as I anticipated them going.  Instead, I feel thankful after each mile.  I feel empowered during each after run stretch.  I feel eager for my next run and am very excited to tackle my next race, on September 11. 

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I’ve thought about this during my last two runs, and I must say that I think I owe a nod of gratitude to that 16-day break from running.  I feel refreshed and renewed, as if I’ve moved into a new season as a runner.  Although a week ago, the time off from running was a discouragement to me, causing me to make excuses and cower away from my own abilities, I truly think it has restored me.   Those sixteen days off have made me a stronger runner. Those sixteen days were the best run never.

Oh, Crazy Woman.

 Posted by at 12:05 am  i believe
Aug 292010
 

Dear Heather,

Have you lost your mind?
You just signed on to work 32 hours a week, at your part time/second job, for the next three weeks.
What the hell are you thinking?
[this is called panic]

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On top of your 45 hours a week at your other job.  On top of the outings and trips you have planned.  On top of weekly conference calls, and book discussions, and breakfast meetings.  On top of your other responsibilities, and other super-fun-sibilities.  On top of the Badger Football Schedule.

 

Oh, but I know that you can do it, you crazy lady, you.
You could use the extra money, and the extra structure.  After all, you strive under a hectic schedule and you haven’t had a hectic schedule for over a year. 

Since the summer of 2009, you’ve allowed your weekly schedule to be filled with free time; time saved for what you wanted to do.  Time in which you could choose to be productive or lazy.  Time to learn presidential fun facts, watch entire seasons of television on DVD, read billions of blog posts, and drink 729 lattes.  And occasionally, and only occasionally, clean your apartment.

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But you’ve missed the lists.  The color coded spreadsheets of responsibilities which may or may not match the color coded calendar of scheduled responsibilities.  The timelines of how to go about your week and accomplish everything you need to do, and a few items of things you want to do, as well. 

You’ve allowed your having extra time to work for your laziness, and against your motivation.  Why run in the morning when  you can run after work?  Why run after work, when you can run after dinner?  Why run after dinner when you are in the middle of a great episode of Lost?  And then your curiosity insists that you have to watch the next episode. And the next. And then fall asleep during the next. It’s okay you can run in the morning.  And the cycle starts again.

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When you are at your busiest, you force yourself to follow through with what you deem important.  You won’t skip morning runs or evening strength training when there is no other time to do it.  You won’t tell yourself you’ll prepare your lunches for the week in a few hours, because there is no “in a few hours” to do so. Scheduling your priorities in your date book becomes your survival, even as your priorities include work, run, plan, meet, talk, play, rest-and-just-be.

 

These next three weeks might not be easy.  Working 77+ hours a week is hard work; but hard work is good for you.  You can do anything for 3 weeks.  You can work two jobs each day of the week and still find time for a job.  You can run from one place to the next and not rely on junk food.  You can take advantage of your love of a control schedule, and pencil in sharpie in a few hours of alone time to do whatever your heart desires.  You can continue to make one healthy decision, followed by another healthy decision.  Just one at a time.

And you will be a better person for it.  A more devoted person.  A more focused person. A more accomplished person.  A more balanced person.  I know you can do it.  I know you will do it.  Let’s do it!

 

xoxo

-Heather

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