Three Things Thursday

 1. The Sand Hollow Marathon. All of the reports/feedback I have read have been outstanding, and I wanted to give them another shout out! Jason Smith, the race director, put on an amazing inaugural race that went off without a hitch! I wish I could have been there! Damn Stupid knee! All day long last Saturday I was thinking about it and so disappointed that I was not out there running in the rain...you know, I run my best races in the rain! Well done Jason and the Sand Hollow Marathon crew! I WILL see you next year!  I snagged this pic of the medal from Fast Cory. You can read his race report here. I want that "bling!" (:

 

2. Since I am on the subject of marathons...The St George Marathon lottery opens on April 1, 2011. That is TOMORROW! Can you hear the excitement in my words? Race day is October 1, 2011...you will not be disappointed with this race!

3. I have an awesome giveaway coming up...stay tuned!

Wordless Wednesday

What the.... ? There are no words for this....

Three Things Thursday..The Irish Version

 

1. "Bricks and mortar make a house, but the laughter of children makes a home" I love St. Patrick's Day! Lenny the Leprechaun came to our house again this year! He moved some furniture..the chair from the family room ended up on the kitchen table..pictures were turned upside down..green milk...and of course some gold chocolate coins and a few prizes were left for the kids. My 4 year old was all over it...she has been talking about "Leprechaun day" for weeks! I think my 9 year old may have "figured" it out...sad...

2. "May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, And may trouble avoid you wherever you go!" I went off all painkillers (ibuprofen/Tylenol) this week...not a great thing when you have degenerative joint disease, aka osteoarthritis! But my body needs a break, I need to detox! The last few days I have been feeling a little sorry for myself, which is never productive...I realize that I have a lot to be grateful for! But whenever I see someone running I think, "Do they REALLY know how good they have it?!" To be able to run pain free...I was telling my woes to my husband yesterday and he put it into perspective for me...There are people who can't even walk and I am complaining that I can't run the way I want to...yep, that is perspective for you! "Life is like a cup of tea, it's all in how you make it!"~ so I will be happy (and grateful) for what I have to work with, because it could be A LOT worse!

3. "May the luck of the Irish lead to happiest heights, And the highway you travel be lined with green lights. Wherever you go and whatever you do, May the luck of the Irish be there with you!"

Happy St. Patrick's day!

"I was gluten stuck...

"...Now I'm gluten free!" said my four year old the other day.

We have been talking a lot about a gluten free diet in our home lately... the benefits, things that are/are not gluten free, weight loss, the list goes on. I thought it profound when my girlie said, "I was gluten stuck, now I'm gluten free!"

When we lived in Hawaii I did an experiment. I went gluten free for a week to see if there was a difference in how I felt. Surprisingly, there is something to it! I had more energy, I didn't feel like I had a "brick" in my belly, and heck, I lost 8 pounds! But after that week of feeling great, I ate a yummy turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread...This is where the real test took place. It was almost immediate, that heavy feeling was back and I just felt blah and icky! That was all I needed...I was convinced!

As with most good things that take effort, this gluten free way of life has gone by the way side. When we moved back to the mainland a year and a half ago and we were staying with family...who are NOT gluten free, by any means, I just got out of the habit...In the back of my mind I knew what I needed to do but it was just easier not to. I have just been being lazy! It's not easy being gluten free, especially when I was the only one wanting to do it.

Gluten is found in everything...from cosmetics~ lip stick, lip balm, chap stick and shampoo/conditioner to over-the-counter medications and vitamins. It is even in crayons, markers and paints! Gluten is used as a thickening agent and stabilizer in many foods. Being gluten free takes effort and planning. Since I am not a celiac, I don't think that I will ever be 100% gluten free.. I don't want to buy special shampoo and I'm not changing my lipstick, but I think there is benefit in being gluten free with what I put into my body.

This past week my husband has been eating gluten free and it has inspired me to do it too! I am definitely back on the wagon! I have even lost a few pounds. I just feel better on a gluten free diet! And isn't that what it is all about...feeling good and finding what works best for you?

Are you gluten free?

Wordless Wednesday