Bon appetit!

Food Prep.

What is it and why?

For me its 2 hours, give or take, once a week where I make my food for the week. Breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. 

Why?

Because it's cheaper and healthier. Before you say "But healthy food is expensive!", let me say I average $3 per HEALTHY meal. That's the actual meal (a carb, a protein, and vegetables) and a piece of fruit. That's also 300-500 calories.

But fast food? Even if you get 3 items from the dollar menu good luck getting a lower calorie count than 1,000. And something that's actually food.

And fast?

My 2 hours a week means 2-3 mins a meal. Just as good, or better, than a drive thru.

And now for some how. That rhymed. ;)

1. Containers 

Buy some. But a lot of them. All sizes. Think about how many you need: a week's worth of breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. That's roughly 42 containers for me, give or take. Sometimes I use one big container for a meal then dish it out day of if there's no space in the fridge. 

2. Frozen vegetables

Yes, fresh is best. But ain't no body got time fo chopping a week's worth of vegetables. Bagged frozen is a BIIIIG time saver. Bonus: cut a slit in the top of the bag and any bag of frozen vegetables becomes a "steam in bag" pack. You're welcome.

3. Freeze often

No, I don't mean stock up on frozen pizza bites and ice cream. But do stock up on sale items and save them in the freezer for later. Make chili, waffles, soups, what have you and defrost when needed. Freeze peeled bananas for "ice cream" and frappes, too.

4. Crockpot

Sauces, chicken, sweet potatoes. There's a lot you can cook with little effort.

5. Instant brown rice.

Cooking non-instant rice can take forever and can test your patience (underdone, too wet, burnt). Instant brown rice takes 7 mins in the microwave and you're done. 

6. Write it down

I'm a visual person. I need a list I can see or I will forget that I bought avocados to use with lunch then they will go bad... Wasted food is a no-no. Write down what you're going to eat this week. Put it on your fridge or save it as a note on the smart phone you currently have in your hand. This way you will be fully prepared for food prep and not have to use pre-packaged food.

7. But what store boughts are worth it? 

If you can pronounce the ingredients and the ingredient list isn't a novel, you're allowed to buy it. If you suck at tortilla making like me, you're allowed to buy whole grain tortillas. If you suck at making bread like me, you're allowed to buy whole grain bread. I suck at making salsa too... Just make sure the product has real ingredients. 

8. Bulk. 

Bulk is your friend. Why? Because it's cheaper. My pantry looks like an episode of hoarders sometimes. Yikes.

9. The most important tip I'm going to give you today? LEARN TO COOK. Learn a new cooking skill at least every other week. People don't cook anymore (that's not a judgmental statement if you can't cook). Somewhere we decided that frozen microwave meals and fast food were ok. They're not. But, cooking doesn't have to be TV show worthy. We have YouTube and Google at our disposal. Look up how to brown meat, cook noodles, scramble eggs, roast a chicken. You'll thank me for the sense of accomplishment when you're done. 

One of the many good things about food prep is if you have a meal ready to go, there's no need for junk food. But, don't forget to live. Eat a burger. Have some pizza with friends. It's your birthday? Have a piece of cake. Just make sure that 80-90% of your food is healthy and, if possible, all made by you. 

Bon appetit! 

Second chances.

"I didn't know!!!" 

"What's your story? Or do you not want to talk about it?" 

"Why are you such a fitness freak?" 

Since my 2 year survivor anniversary is coming up (March 27th) I'm writing a refresher story. Because there are people who do not know I am a cancer survivor. There are people who know, but do not know the story. There are people who know, but think I don't want to talk about it (If I post survivor stuffs on Facebook/Instagram for the world to see, you can ask me about it ;-) ). 

Ready? Here we go: I graduated high school in 2007. I ran maybe 2 miles 2-3 times a week and that was all I did working out wise back then. In 2008 my dad starting running more and eating right to lose weight. During that time tried to up my running game and I worked up to running 5 miles 2-3 times a week. We also picked up cycling and would ride 15ish miles on occasion. 

I started YWAM (missionary school) right after high school then started Bible college for 4 years after that. Until 2011, I was here, there, and everywhere for missions and didn't always have the opportunity to run. So my fitness level went up and down. 

Then in June that year I left for a 5 month trip to Honduras and Colombia. I ended up getting sick right before I left. And I stayed sick with different lung infections the whole time. There were times I couldn't get out of bed I was so worn out. There were many days I had to rely on meds and an inhaler to have the lung capacity to just walk around. The only "tests" I had when I went to clinics down there were x-rays and them listening to my lungs because I refused blood work since I don't do well with needles. So they didn't see the cancer and thought it was just an infection. With the medicine they gave me I would be better for a few days but since the cancer wasn't treated I would go back to not being able to get out of bed. 

I came home from that trip a month early in November, completely worn out and desperately wanting to not be sick anymore. I went to the doctor here in the states not expecting anything but more medicine that wouldn't help. I was wrong. 

"Your blood work is a mess and there are masses in between your lungs. We think it's Lymphoma." 

To which I thought, "What's Lymphoma?" And, "Is that bad?" 

Since I had been sick for months and didn't know what I had just been told at first, the fact that I had just been diagnosed with cancer sunk in slowly. By early December I was formally diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which is a type of blood cancer, and had enlarged lymph nodes in my neck and chest. 

I started 6 months of chemo treatments the very end of December. I had 4 chemo drugs plus a plethora of other medicines to go along with them. I did my treatments in one day, for 4-5 hours, every 2 weeks. I would feel like crap day of, start to feel better over the next 3 days, then be good enough to go back to work til the next treatment day. Though my energy level was still not normal for a 22 year old, chemo was managable. I even ended up keeping almost all of my hair. I was, however, eyebrow-less. I got pretty good at penciling them on. 

In March, half way through chemo, scans showed that the cancer was no longer there. Which meant I was technically a survivor, but I had to finish out my treatments to make sure any microscopic cancer cells that wouldn't have showed up were gone and to decrease my chances of the cancer coming back. I finished my chemo treatments in June of 2012. There were many tears of joy as they unhooked my IV for the last time! Then the nurses sang, "Hit the road Jack, and don't you come back" as I left. 

Last day.

With my eating habits that were not what they should have been, plus not being as active, plus medicine that made me gain weight, I had put on 20 pounds more than pre-chemo weight. And my fitness level was pretty much non-existent, I could only run a half mile. Plus life in general was put on hold. Scratch that, life came to a screeching halt. So the task of starting life over again as a survivor was challenging. 

Even though I was cancer free, I was not healthy. And so began my journey to health. I started eating right, running and cycling again, and joined a gym so I could start swimming. I did my first sprint distance triathlon three months after I was done with treatments. That race was the first time I had run 3 miles without stopping since before getting sick. I remember thinking, "Don't stop. Don't stop." the whole time. For those of you who think running comes naturally for me, that was a hard run. Took me 34 mins and I didn't think I'd ever come close to breaking a 30 min 5k again. To show you the progress I've made since then: I can currently run a 23:09 5k. 

First triathlon.

Then I decided I wanted to do something big to celebrate being cancer free for a year. I decided to run my first marathon, 26.2 miles. At the time I was struggling to get to where I could run more than 5 miles. The most I had run before that was a half marathon, 13.1 miles, in 2009. My first long run during that training period was 8 miles, on a treadmill since it was raining. I thought that run would never end. But marathon day came, I ran the marathon in just under 5 hours, and said I would probably never run another marathon as long as I lived (I'm about to run my second. Ha.)

First marathon.

I have continued to try and reach new fitness goals since then to "stick it to the man". I've run from my house to the hospital where I did chemo and back a few times. That's about 18-20 miles depending on which route I take. I have, and will continue to, train for races that are bigger/longer than a marathon like the half ironman I'm training for in June, which will mark 2 years off chemo. And I've recently become a certified trainer through NASM, in the hopes that I can help others with their health. 

I have an online training system set up and I've given out my resume at a few places. So now, I wait for clients.

And wait the 6 days til my 2nd marathon. THREE days til my 2 year anniversary. I used to count down days til I left for a  mission trip. Now I count down til race days for a chance to flex my survivor muscles and have people ask me why I run. "Missions" will never be the same for me. Just like health, missions is a lifestyle.

Long story short: God's grace is enough.

Sunriiiiiise, sunset. And a secret identity.

Close your eyes. Envision a sunset. 

What words come to your mind? 

Beauty?

Colors? 

Serenity? 

Awe? 

DISTRUCTION?!? 

BITTER ENDING?!?

DOOM?!?!?!? !!!!!!!! ? 

Sorry to ruin the moment there. 

Why do we see only the beauty in the end of a day? Because we know a bright new tomorrow is coming. We know, because God created it that way. 

I've been saving this analogy for a while. I think I've saved it for a good post:  

Younger Elizabeth was überly quiet, painfully shy, and lacked confidence like no body's bidness (Yes, I said bidness). Although I still struggle with that, my confidence level is way up compared to back then. Some from the various mission trips I went on, a lot from having/surviving cancer, a whole lot from having to rebuild my health. Exercise builds confidence. It's a proven fact. 

I started as confidence lacking, over weight, can't run a half mile Elizabeth. Fast foward to healthy about to run her 2nd marathon (26.2 miles) doesn't care who she's annoying on Facebook with her running posts Elizabeth. 

I started as the new girl in the gym who didn't know what the heck she was doing, didn't make eye contact with anyone, and just tried to finish her workout without drawing attention to herself. 

Then I found the Fitfam on Twitter. Anonymous accounts where you could post your accomplishments and struggles and nobody cared because they were going through it too. A place for encouragement. A place to say what was on your mind about your health journey just so someone could see it and not judge you.

Here's where the secret identity comes in, and where you might think I'm crazy if you don't think so already: I made an anon account for myself. Didn't put my name on it. My profile picture was my bicep when I first started. All anyone knew about me was I was a cancer survivor and a runner. The only ones that I told in person I had it were my sisters and my dad because it felt weird to not tell anyone.

A year and a half later I have 2,226 unpaid (just so you know I'm not making it up) followers who listen to my rambling about running, eating, and progress reports. I couldn't decide if I should post my back progress picture to my personal Instagram and finally shatter the "anon" mindset, then I decided to go for it. The fact that nobody seemed to think anything bad about me posting it to Facebook and Insta, paired with being a personal trainer I felt it's unprofessional to have a secret identity. And I want to use the account as my official trainer twitter. I've eased into posting about fitness on Facebook and Intsa 24/7 almost. It probably gets annoying to you all, but now, more confident Elizabeth doesn't care (as much) and will post what she wants about fitness (within reason) and share with the world. 

The sun set on quiet, shy, sick Elizabeth. It was a chaotic sunset. But ended up being a beautiful sunrise on a more confident, healthy, and ready to tackle whatever God has for her next Elizabeth. 

A friend of mine asked a very simple yet genius question: What do you wear to workout? 

This question deserves a whole blog.

My favorite places to get decently priced (and sometimes awesomely clearanced) workout attire: Target, Old Navy, Academy Sports, Marshall's. 

If you don't want to spend a whole lot on shoes Kohl's and Academy have a good selection. If you can spend a few more dollars I'd highly suggest going to Runner's Market, Fleet Feet or the New Balance Store to get fitted for shoes at least once. Shoe fit is everything and can prevent injury. Make sure they are comfortable to walk around in, wide enough, and there's ample room for your toes. DO NOT cram your feet into a pair of shoes just because they're cute or on sale.

Here's a link to an article about shoe fit: Runner's World Shoe Fit 

You know how Edna Mode (Mode meaning fashion in French, those clever Disney peeps) says no capes? Well, NO COTTON! This includes underwear and socks (Ladies, get a well fitting sports bra, you'll thank me). 

You might be able to get away with cotton socks. But, after cotton gets wet and sweaty it's heavy and can cause blisters. Which is no fun 6 miles into a 20 mile run, let me tell ya. Workout clothes are generally made of what's called technical fabric. It's light and drys fast so it's perfect to work out in. Also, don't put technical fabrics in the dryer, they'll last longer. 

Back to skin blistering for a sec. I don't like my legs rubbing together. Solution? Yoga capris or men's compression shorts under my running shorts. 

Why men's? Women's tend to be shorter and ride up. If they don't stay on my thighs that kinda defeats the purpose. 

Now, body glide. Not an article of clothing but it needs to be talked about. Probably not needed for workouts under an hour either. But go beyond that and sometimes no amount of well fitting technical fabric is going to prevent your sweaty clothes from rubbing against your sweaty skin and causing blisters. You don't have to buy the expensive, real deal "Body Glide". Vaseline will work. Usually you'll need it under your arms and between your thighs. Even if you have long pants/shorts on. 

And, also not an article of clothing, but arm bands for your phone. You can get cheap yet good ones at dealextreme (dx.com). 

I think that covers it. Have a good workout. ;)

You are what you eat.

Elizabeth, what do you eat?

Elizabeth, how much do you eat?

Elizabeth, what do you eat before a run?

Elizabeth, how do you have time to eat right?

These are questions I get a lot, so I figured I'd post it all in one blog. 

What do I eat, and why did I choose to eat what I do? I eat to live. I eat to be healthy. I eat to perform. Our bodies are not made to digest processed food. I eat ice cream and hamburgers on occasion, sure. But for the most part I eat real, healthy food. I don't exclude any food groups either. I believe that unless you have a real medical reason to not eat something, eat it. I eat complex carbs, healthy fats, and lean protein every meal. 

But carbs are bad!!! NO. Empty calorie carbs are bad. So I make sure to eat good carbs: whole grains, rice, sweet potatoes, fruit. Carbohydrates are what our bodies mostly use for energy.

But fat is bad!!! NO. Trans-fats are bad. Fat helps our bodies absorb vitamins and also supplies energy.

Why lean protein? Because the less animal fat the better. Protein builds body tissue (muscle) and helps us feel full. 

I get asked a lot if I do juice diets. I do not. I use juice as sports drinks, nothing more. Juices are rapidly digested and for me, personally, that doesn't work. I need that food (energy) to hang around while I'm running 10, 15, 20+ miles. So I eat whole food. I also do not believe in juice cleansing diets. God created our bodies to detox themselves. So as along as you're eating real, whole foods and not crap, you're good. 

How much do I eat? Depends on the goal for the day, i.e. what workout(s) am I doing. The number of calories varies for each person, and for me, depends on the day. There are a certain number of calories you need just to survive, not including exercise, manual labor, etc. If you don't want to figure those numbers yourself you can "cheat" and use a calorie counter app. 

What do you eat before a run? Or any workout? I've already touched on this a bit. So in continuation: I eat slow digesting carbs like oatmeal or bananas. Cinnamon helps carbs digest slower, too. Also, fats are used for energy. Cinnamon, banana nut oatmeal? Perfect! Happens to be my pre run/race meal of choice. If the workout, whether it be cycling, weights, swimming, will be under an hour in duration I might opt for a fruit and nut (carb and fat) bar. After a workout, our bodies need carbs and protein to rebuild and recover. I usually have a snack before a workout, then have breakfast or dinner after so there are enough nutrients to rebuild.

How do you have time to eat right? Ever heard, "If you keep good food in your fridge you will eat good food"?

If you don't buy it, you're not going to eat it. If you have it, you're not going to have to get fast food. Saturday and Wednesday are my food prep days. I break it up so that the food doesn't have to sit for almost a week. 3-4 breakfasts, 6 lunches (Dad and I), 3-4 dinners, pre-workout snacks, all in 2 hours give or take. Depends on what I'm making, sometimes I'm done in under an hour.

Like this time I made a loaf of pumpkin bread which will be part of breakfast for the whole week which will save me time next food prep.

And there you have it.

Any other questions? Seriously, ask away.

16 days til Christmas!

What do I want from the big fat man in the red suit? 

Chocolate.

Peanut Butter. Covered in chocolate...

More chocolate.

But I'm a practical person. So what do I really want?

Grace. More than I have already been shown.

Love. More than has already been given to me.

An abundant life. Actually, that I wouldn't forget I have an abundant life.

I realized just the other day that I was envious of other's lives. I had a case of Madam Blueberry. I wasn't content with what I had. It took one moment of complaining to God about it then He promptly slapped me in the face, "You have a good life, Elizabeth. I just made yours to look different". My life is good. It's just a different good. How selfish of me to forget what God has given me. To forget how awesome this life I have is even though it does look like I want it to sometimes.

I mean, Hello! Look at all the cool things I've gotten to do! I have to, have to, have to focus on the good and not the bad. Even though it all plays it's part in life. 

That being said, I'm ready for this new year. I remember saying at the start of 2013 that I was going to make this year MY year. I think I've done it. First marathon, 50 mile bike ride, first mission trip since having cancer, first overall female survivor in the Buddy's Race Against Cancer, began studying to be a personal trainer, and the latest development of becoming a member of a running team in Knoxville. All because of grace. 

Can't wait to see what 2014 holds.

I hope it holds a 22 minute, and eventually faster, 5k. A job at the gym that I interviewed at, I really liked it there. And Olympic & Half Iron man triathlons. Those are the "big ticket" items. Along with again, learning to love the life I have been given.

Will run for food.

Will run for food! Namely protein, like BBQ for Buddy's 5k!

Which I have to say: NAILED IT. I was first overall female survivor (23:09). That is also my fastest 5k to date. I'm hoping by next 5k I'll hit my goal of 22 something for two reasons: 1) progress is cool and 2) come January 1st, though I will still be 24 til July, I'll be in the 25-29 age category. And there are some pretty fast mid to late 20 females. Am I really mid 20s? Didn't I just graduate highschool?

No. And I must say: after graduating college I didn't ever want to go to school again. But here I am more than a week into personal training school. And Dad and I have job interviews Tuesday to work basically as payed interns. Ah! This change is becoming more real.

I've questioned this change a lot lately. Mainly because I have known for a good two years now that missions will never be the same for me. I thought that a survivor testimony would be the only change in how I did missions. Years before that I had someone prophetically tell me I had a gift of healing. It never made since to me even through there has always been opportunities to pray for the sick while I've been on trips. Then I thought my greater understanding of God as a healer would play a part in that. But it still didn't seem right. I kept thinking of how your God given gifts and talents are a major part of how you do missions. Then it hit me. I know what it's like to be sick. I know how to rebuild your health and your body. Around 70% of people live with chronic diseases that are preventable with diet and exercise. I know how to help people reverse their health situation! That is where the gift of healing comes in. It comes in a very tangible way. So here I am. Back in school with a new missions statement. Never think you have your life and God's plans figured out peeps.

So where do you start in taking control of your health? I posted on our TRI level fitness Facebook page the other day that 70% of your immune system is in your digestive system. You either feed yourself healthy, or you feed yourself sick. Your body will only function well if you fuel it well. Whether you are looking for better athletic performance or wanting to lose weight, correct nutrition is key. Ever heard, "Eat for the body you want"? I'm going to add "Eat for the health you want", too.

Things you should never eat:

Foods with long, unpronounceable ingredient lists.

Why? Simply, it's not real food.

High fructose corn syrup.

High fructose corn syrup, and any other unnatural sweeteners, are chemically altered and cannot be processed by your body. It also leads to diabetes, weight gain, and many other chronic diseases.

Trans Fats.

Trans fats have no nutritional significance, raise your bad cholesterol and lower your good.

Things you should always eat:

Fruits and Vegetables.

Why? They are full of vitamins, nutrients, fibre and are low calorie, so eat up.

Lean proteins (Meat, eggs, low fat diary, beans).

Protein, like fiber, helps keep you full and helps build muscle. You want to eat lean proteins to keep your bad fat intake down.

Good fats (Olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, nuts).

There are bad fats and good fats. The correct portion of good fats will raise your good cholesterol and help you lose fat. (Yes! Healthy fat makes you LOSE fat!).

Whole grains & other carbohydrates (Whole grain pasta, bread, oats, fruit, beans and most vegetables).

Like fats there are good and bad carbs. Bad carbs are things like white bread and pasta that are made with enriched (nutrition-less) flour. Good carbs will keep your blood sugar level and give you sustainable energy. Carbs will also contribute to your fiber intake.

Health eating means finding a balance of proteins, carbs & fats.

Low calorie DOES NOT mean healthy for you. There is a major difference in a 100 calorie cookie pack and 100 calories worth of fruit. You should monitor nutrient intake as well as calories whether you are losing or maintaining weight. If you need help to track the calories you eat and the calories you burn there are many phone apps that make this easy. Like the free versions of "My Fitness Pal" and "My Plate". Or you can go the old pen and paper route.

Here is a guideline for what a plate/meal should look like: 

As for potatoes, I'm going to say a serving of sweet or red potatoes would be good for you. All things in moderation. Like these broccoli and salmon stuffed sweet potatoes that I just pulled out of the oven. I made some BBQ sauce to go with them, too. That will be in the next blog post. ;)

And let's talk about sugar for a second. Sugar has no nutritional value what so ever. Which is why you should never eat processed sugars. Get some organic sugar. Even then, it still has no nutritional value but at least its natural. Honey is also a good natural sweetener. And if you work towards not eating added sugar you'll find that your taste buds will adjust and you just might like eating less sugar. And to be honest, I struggle with this change. But coffee with just almond milk is growing on me.

Start to make small changes here and there in your new healthy diet and you'll find that it gets easier to make better choices after a while. Start telling yourself that your and your family's health is worth the effort!

Then make time for 30-60 minutes of exercise a day and you've got it made. Get out and walk, run, bike, whatever you like. Find something that you love to do so that you'll stick with it. Exercise shouldn't have to be boring! And again, there are phone apps to help you get moving. Like Sworkit App. It has strength, core, and aerobic exercise routines you can do anywhere.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to sort out my training plan starting December 1st for marathon season. ;-)

Elizabeth Jambor, CPT... almost.

It's November already? Goodness. That means its that time of year again...

"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: Candy, candy canes, candy corn, & syrup."

Don't forget turkey, biscuits, and pies. Oh my. Don't forget to exercise that will power either. January, a.k.a. resolution time, is coming, too! ;) Its not too early to start those resolutions and lifestyle changes now. Get the ball rolling and you'll be ahead come January.

Resolution time or not, there's never a bad time to think about your health. I heard a quote the other day, "Want a slow, painless death? Focus on your health." Or to put it less morbidly, "Want to live life to the fullest? Focus on your health." Whether you want to run a 5k in 20 minutes or want to slow down the aging process, the key is to take care of yourself.

I was asked to make a plug for Mesothelioma awareness. Figured I'd make a general health and prevention plug while I was at it: Why do I push health? Because prevention is better than a cure. Whether its type 2 diabetes or, heaven forbid, cancer. Most things can be prevented by eating right, staying active, monitoring exposure to health hazards, and early detection. No, you should not live in fear of ever being sick. But you should actively work on keeping your body in the best shape possible as a steward of the body God has given you. This is also why I have officially signed up to be a certified personal trainer! Woo! I plan to take the test in February of next year. Until then it's study time.

I'm also responsible for the plateau I've hit with swimming. I've swam the same pace for months. Time to step it up for the month of November while my running mileage will be down til Marathon training. Not 100% positive which half and/or full I'll do. But I've got some time.

And Ragnar! Ran from Chattanooga to Nashville relay style with my team of 6. Had a blast.I thought that the 36 hours we were about to run would seem like an eternity but it went by pretty quick. Ran a total of 34 miles (196 total for the team) in 6 legs. All my two a day training paid off as none of the runs did me in. I didn't have to take walk breaks. And even though my hamstring was shot by the end my legs were only a tad tight for 2 days. I think the hardest part was the cold. I would much rather run in the heat myself. It was more of a mental battle for me as well. Had to focus on the miles behind me, not the ones ahead. That helped a lot.

Next race is Buddy's 5k. Which I hope to PR(Personal Record) in like nobody's business. Then that might be my last race til February.We'll see.

And there are new recipes on my Cookoo account! Look me up on cookoo.co. My username is ElizabethAnn.

Run from it or learn from it. I can do both, right?

Flashback to 2009. First trip to Colombia, South America. I ran maybe 3 times a week (no swimming, very little cycling) while I was stateside. 30 min 5ks. 150 lbs. Craziness.

Fast forward to 2013. I run 3-5 times a week. Plus swimming, cycling, and weight training each twice a week. 24:09 5k time. 135lbs? (I haven't gotten on the scale in a while).

Interesting to look back and see how much life has changed in only four years. And I had typed out a long story about how I thought I had life figured out, got sick, saw how wrong I was, blah, blah, blah. Then blogger freaked out on me and deleted the whole thing. I don't even remember what all I wrote. Ha. So we'll skip ahead to the good part.

YOU SHOULD NEVER THINK YOU HAVE LIFE FIGURED OUT. I've learned God doesn't like to keep us in our comfort zones for long. After all, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger right? I knew change was coming when I was in Colombia last in 2011. Didn't think it would be cancer. Didn't think it would be a rethinking of the missions calling. Didn't think I'd ever be fitness crazed. Didn't think that after working with Dad for 6 years in the family business he started 20 some years ago that we would think about completely changing our careers.

My dad started his weight loss journey in 2008 and has kept off 70 Lbs by running and eating right. If you've kept up with me on Facebook you know I've been working on losing the weight I gained during treatment, staying healthy, and have become a triathlete. We have talked for months about becoming personal trainers and we have started to take steps to make it happen. We're figuring out all the ends and outs of the business and are working on getting certified. Hopefully we'll have that up and running soon (Get it? Running?). We're going to test this out for a year and cut the carpentry business back to just playgrounds while we get the new business rolling. Should be interesting. *Fingers crossed*

On top of all the planning we've been doing for this new business venture we've been gearing up for RAGNAR TENESSEE!!! I've just gotta run 34ish miles next weekend (In 6 short runs instead of 3 long ones now). No biggie. I've also got to finish my race schedule for next year in the midst of all this other planning so I'm ready. I know I want to do Knoxville Half Marathon (March), Storm the Fort Olympic Triathlon (August), and Atomic Man Half Ironman (Sept) for sure. Then there are some little races that I could do if I wanted. Look at me, 10ks and sprint tris are now little races.Speaking of little races. I can taste a 22 min 5k for Buddy's Race Against Cancer this year.

And can we be real for a sec? I'm tapering (lowering my mileage before a race). And no, just because I run all the time DOES NOT mean I can eat whatever I want whenever I want. All things in moderation. But one would hope that your appetite would lower with lower mileage. WRONG. I've got a serious case of the runchies all the time. I need to remember: Keep it healthy! There will be much experimentation with vegetable chips in the near future.

But God...

I've realized that in writing a blog where you talk about your life you sound a little full of yourself. I hope you all realize I use my life as a testimony. And I'll be honest, complements are nice, but that's not my goal. My goal is to show the grace of God in my life. Which brings me to my first topic: But God...

That should not be read as a complaint. "But God... why?" It should be read after a problem and before a story of grace. I was planning on writing about this anyway. But then the teaching at church was very similar and got my gears turning. Take Joseph's story in the Bible. He was thrown into a pit by his brothers who then sold him into slavery. Then we fast forward a bit, BUT GOD made him second in command of Egypt because Joseph kept trusting in God's plan.

Another honesty moment: It is hard to keep sight of God's plan when life isn't going your way. But if you can keep focus, God will do His part. Elizabeth was diagnosed with cancer. BUT GOD made her stronger and healthier as a cancer survivor. Why do I make health my focus? Because it's my "But God".

My "But God" has gone from cancer survivor; to needing to get back into shape after treatments; to wanting to be a swimming, biking, and running machine. I ran 30 miles this past weekend in case you missed that on Facebook and Instagram. ;) Anyway, I remember thinking during treatments, "After this I need to focus on my health. But I don't want to turn into one of those health freak survivor's who are all 'FOOD IS FUEL!'" Whoops. Ha! But I want to make something clear: I believe food is the slowest form of poison or the best medicine. BUT I do not live in fear of being sick again. If you are going to eat anyway, why not use it as fuel and not sabotage? Eat for health, eat for performance. Although I do enjoy milkshakes from Cookout and New York style pizza every once in a while. Moderation is key.

Tapers are key, too. And thank God for them. I've built up to my 30 miles and it's time to bring it down. I may throw in added long runs between now and Ragnar. But nothing more than 18. I've also reworked my training schedule for after Ragnar. There's always a rest day, but this new plan has two mornings and two evenings off. My body says, "Yesssss", my addicted mind says, "You're gonna skip FOUR TRAINING OPORTUNITIES?!?". Yeah, we'll see how that goes. Ha.

And switching back to "food is fuel" for a sec, look at this beautiful loaf of sweet potato sandwich bread I made! I used to be terrible at making breads. And considering I winged this recipe I'm quite pleased.

1 cup Sweet potato puree
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar (or honey)
1 banana
1 cup applesauce
4 eggs

Mix wet ingredients together, that includes sugar and the banana. Mix dry ingredients. Then combine the two. Pour into a greased loaf pan. Sprinkle some oats on top if you'd like. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes. Ta-Da!

Change.

"...last published on Dec 31, 2012" Oh my.

Ahora esta un boton para la traduccion en el lado de la pagina -->
He vuelto perezosa, yo se... jaja ;)

Guess I had better do a recap of this ENTIRE year...

Ran my first marathon in April to celebrate being cancer free for a year.
Did a half century ride in June to celebrate being done with chemo for a year. Thanks again to everyone who supported me on that ride! Went on my first since cancer to, and my first ever trip to, Nicaragua the end of June. Felt like I needed to switch churches yet again which was a decision months in the making. And now here we are in SEPTEMBER. Crazy stuff. And I'm about to do my third sprint distance triathlon which will mark a year of triathlons for me!

Also, figured it was time for a name change as life is COMPLETELY different. (What's with the caps today Elizabeth?) His redeeming BLOOD, my SWEAT while running, and one of my favorite things: FOOD!

We'll start with blood: So I'm a cancer survivor, right? The fact that God is a healer should be constantly in my mind, right? So why did it take til last Sunday's life group to think about praying for the ridiculous eczema on my face? No clue. My face would get so red and dry it would look like I had black eyes at times. I was about to get extreme with getting rid of it and on top of the cream I put on it, I was going to stop eating yogurt. NOOOOO! Long story short, got prayer Sunday, skin has cleared up. Not 100%, but it is better. I just might overdose on yogurt to test it out. Kidding, but seriously. Now, there is a fine line between asking God for his will and treating him like a vending machine: "God, I'm hungry. Make a sandwich appear." But prayer works peeps.

No body ever drowned in sweat! Which is good news for me with the amount I sweat. Ew. I've started running everyday on top of regular tri training in preparation for: RAGNAR TENNESSEE 2013!!! Oct 25-26. One van, 6 runners, Chattanooga to Nashville (196.3 miles). I have three different runs for a total of 34ish miles. I'm pretty pumped.

I usually post about food and different recipes on my Instagram. But which foods to highlight on the blog... Hmm.. Bananas and corn!

Bananas. Sprinkle some cinnamon on it, add some peanut butter and BAM! "Fast Food" snack. I peel and freeze a lot of bananas so I can blend it with coffee or green tea to make a pre workout frappe! Because I'm big on "food is fuel" and don't use a pre workout powder. Also, you can make ice cream with frozen bananas. And another good reason to always have bananas: if you're ever out of eggs when baking something most times you can sub a banana.

Corn. When organic, corn is an excellent whole grain to add to your diet. Yep, corn is a grain. NOT a vegetable like some people think. Did you know you can make microwave popcorn without buying prepackaged kernels? I bought some kernels at Earthfare the other day because I wanted to try it for myself. You take a 1/4 cup kernels, whatever seasonings you want, put it in a paper bag folded over once and stapled (The staple isn't big enough to spark), then set it up (not on its side) and microwave for 2 1/2-3 mins. Some recipes say to add a teaspoon of olive oil, but I think that just makes a mess and it will pop without the oil.

And maybe I won't wait so long to post a blog next time ;)

New Year, New Me, New Blog

The last day of 2012 upon us! And while the latter half of this year was better than the beginning of the year for me, I'm very much ready to put this year behind me. As well as I can that is. As with anything that happens in life you move on, but never forget. You are forever changed. Let it make you better, not bitter, right?

El último día de 2012 esta aqui! Y mientras que la segunda mitad de este año ha sido mejor que el principio del año para mí, estoy muy dispuesto a poner este año detrás de mí. Además de lo que pueda decir. Como con todo lo que sucede en la vida que seguir adelante, pero nunca olvidar. Se le cambió para siempre. Deja que te haga mejor, no amargo, ¿no?

(I'm stealing our church leader's sermon from Sunday) Take Jacob: he wrestled with God until God blessed him, and was Jacob was  left with a limp and a new name (Genesis 32). Why did God give him a limp, and then a blessing and a different name? So that Jacob's walk, his life, would be noticeably DIFFERENT and so that people would see that he fought hard and was forever a changed and blessed man.

(Estoy robando el sermón del líder de la iglesia de domingo) Mira a Jacob: luchó con Dios hasta que Dios lo bendijo, y fue Jacob se quedó con una cojera y un nuevo nombre (Génesis 32). ¿Por qué le dio Dios una cojera, y luego una bendición y un nombre diferente? Así que el camina de Jacob, su vida, sería notablemente DIFERENTE y para que la gente vea que luchó duro y era siempre un hombre cambiado y lo bendijo.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger (even if you limp, you are stronger).
Lo que no te mata te hace más fuerte (incluso si usted tiene una cojera, que son más fuertes).

Part of that "stronger" is still being in the fight and being able to continue on strong and joyful. Take Mr. Johnston, a friend of my dad and I. He is a believer and one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. Always has a smile on his face and always as a story to tell. My dad and I recently did a deck for our friend. One day on the job Mr. Johnston and I were talking about cancer, and how we were both survivors. And I remember him telling me, "What I had wasn't as bad as what you had." WHAT I HAD WASN'T AS BAD...

Parte de ese "más fuerte" aún se está en la lucha y ser capaz de continuar fuerte y alegre. Mire Sr. Johnston, un amigo de mi papá y yo es cristiano y uno de los tipos más agradables que he conocido. Siempre tiene una sonrisa en su cara y siempre como una historia que contar. Mi papá y yo recientemente hizo una cubierta para nuestro amigo. Un día en el trabajo del Sr. Johnston y yo estábamos hablando sobre el cáncer, y cómo ambos éramos sobrevivientes. Y recuerdo que me dijo: "Lo que tenia no era tan malo como lo que tenías." LO QUE TENIA NO ERA TAN MALO...

Skip to the last day of the job: He asked me when I went to the doctor next. And I said that I went the next day. He happened to have an appointment that day, too. Then he told my dad and I what kind of procedure he has done. I don't remember how often he goes for this, it might be twice a year. But, he had skin cancer. And his skin continues to make cancerous skin cells. So every couple of months he goes to get acid treatments on his skin and then he can't be exposed to any kind of light for a few days so the acid has time to kill the cancer cells. In short, he gets burned alive every so often and then hangs out in his dark basement for a few days.

Ir al último día del trabajo: Él me preguntó cuando me fui a la próxima consulta médica. Y yo le dije que me iba al día siguiente. Él pasó a tener una cita ese mismo día, también. Luego le dijo a mi papá y yo qué tipo de procedimiento se ha hecho. No recuerdo cuántas veces ocurre esto, puede ser que sea dos veces al año. Sin embargo, él tenía cáncer de piel. Y su piel sigue haciendo las células cancerosas de la piel. Así que cada pocos meses va a recibir tratamientos de ácido en la piel y entonces no puede estar expuesto a cualquier tipo de luz durante unos días para que el ácido tiene tiempo para matar las células cancerosas. En resumen, se quema vivo cada cierto tiempo y luego se cuelga en su sótano oscuro durante unos días.

And you would never know he goes through this by the smile that is always on his face and the joy that extrudes from him. You can't help but listen to him tell this story and think, "How does he still have that smile on his face?" He was laughing as he told us about this procedure, by the way. Not as bad as what I had or not, I would definitely call that a limp. 

Y que nunca se sabe que va a través de este por la sonrisa que siempre está en la cara y la alegría que extruye de él. No puedo dejar de escucharlo contar esta historia y pensamos: "¿Cómo es que todavía tiene esa sonrisa en la cara?" Se reía como nos dijo acerca de este procedimiento, por cierto. No es tan malo como lo que había o no, sin duda me llames así una cojera.

Why did God give Jacob a limp? So that Jacob's walk, his life, would be noticeably DIFFERENT and so that people would see that he fought hard and was forever a changed and blessed man. 

¿Por qué le dio Dios a Jacob una cojera? Así que el camina de Jacob, su vida, sería notablemente DIFERENTE y para que la gente vea que luchó duro y era siempre un hombre cambiado y lo bendijo.

Here's to a new year filled with unexplainable joy.
Saludos a un nuevo año lleno de alegría inexplicable.

I've hit the 9 month remission mark!

I am a nine month lymphoma survivor as of this month!

Soy un superviviente del linfoma de nueve meses este mes!

My health is a complete 180 from this time last year. I had no strength, and looked pretty rough after being sick for six months straight. I remember going to watch the "Buddy's Race Against Cancer" last year and thinking, "I'll be able to be able to breathe next year and I'M GOING TO RUN THIS RACE!!!"

Mi salud es un giro de 180 grados a partir de esta fecha el año pasado. No tenía fuerza, y parecía terrible después de estar enfermo durante seis meses consecutivos. Recuerdo que fui a ver "Buddy's carrera contra el cáncer" el año pasado y pensando: "Voy a ser capaz de respirar el año que viene y ME VOY A CORRER ESTA CARRERA!!!"

A WEEK AND A HALF LATER, on Black Friday, I was told I probably had cancer. Now I've been in remission since March and I just ran the Buddy's race, as a survivor ;) All the survivor's got a medal and were asked what they celebrate as a survivor in one word, (there is no one word that could describe all that I celebrate, but) my word was "triumph".

UNA SEMANA Y MEDIA DESPUES, el día después de Acción de Gracias, se me dijo que probablemente tenía cáncer. Ahora he estado en remisión desde marzo y me corrió la carrera de Buddy's, como un sobreviviente ;) Todos los sobrevivientes recibió una medalla y se les pidió que se celebra como un sobreviviente en una palabra, (no hay una palabra que pueda describir todo lo que yo celebro, pero) mi palabra era "triunfo".

              Pre-race Survivor's Walk (Didn't realize I was supposed to wear my red shirt til I was there)
   El desfile de los sobrevivientes (No me di cuenta que tenía que llevar mi camisa roja hasta yo estaba allí)

Starting (I'm in the pink)

Empezar (Estoy en el rosado)

My roommate Veronica and I. She plays with Knoxville Pipe and Drum. They played for the Survivor's Walk, hence the Kilt.

Mi compañera y yo, Veronica. Ella juega con Knoxville Pipe and Drum. Jugaron por el desfile de los supervivientes, por lo que la falda escocesa.

This past year was hard. But by the grace of God I made it! And this next year will be spent working on getting my 5k time down to 24 minutes. And maybe I will be able to place as 3rd or 2nd over all female survivor in the Buddy's race next year!

El año pasado fue duro. Pero por la gracia de Dios, lo hice! Y este próximo año se pasó trabajando en conseguir mi tiempo a completar un 5k en 24 minutos. Y tal vez voy a ser capaz de completarlo como tercera o segunda de las sobrevivientes femeninas en la carrera de Buddy's en el año que viene!

Me and my scars at the finish.

Yo y mis heridas en la meta.

Si te da miedo, podria ser una buena cosa para probar. 

I have been a runner and a cyclist for years. I have only been a swimmer for a few months now. And as you might have seen on Facebook, I just did my first Triathlon! After being done with chemo for only 3 1/2 months. God's grace and the human body are amazing. 

He sido una corredora y una ciclista por años. Solo he sido una nadadora por unos meses. Y como ud podria haber visto en el facebook, acabo de hacer mi primer triathlon. Despues de haber sido hecho con quimioterapia por 3.5 meses. La gracia de Dios y el cuerpo humano son asombrosos.

The triathlon started out with a 300 meter swim, outside on a chilly morning. Then a 12 mile bike ride, while still wet and with the cold wind hitting me. And finished with a 3.2 mile run, which I did without stopping. And by the way, I have not run more than a mile without stopping in some time due to traveling so much and being sick. And I finished it all in 1:15:44. Adrenaline is another amazing thing. 

El triathlon comenzo con 300 metros de natacion, afuera en una mañana fresca. Despues, 19.3 kilometros en bicicleta, mientras estar mojada todavia y con el viento golpeandome. Y terminado con una cerrera de 5 kilometros, lo que hizo sin parar. De paso, no he corrido mas de un mile (1.6 km) en algun tiempo debido de viajando mucho y estar enferma. Y termine con todo en 1:15:44. Adernalina es una orta cosa que es asombrosa. 

I remember at youth camp one year Adam Lutts told me that God was going to unfold my life like a map. That there was a plan, but I did not know what was coming. Did I ever think I would travel the world? No. Did I ever think I would be a cancer survivor one day. No. Did I ever think I would be a triathlete? No. But I am liking the plan. Even if in the moment it is scary, painful or is wearing me out. 

Recuerdo que en el campamento de la juventud un año Adam Lutts me dijo que Dios iba a desarrollarse mi vida como un mapa. Que había un plan, pero no sabía lo que venía. ¿Alguna vez creo que sería viajar por el mundo? No. ¿Alguna vez creo que sería un sobreviviente de cáncer de un día. No. ¿Alguna vez creo que sería un triatleta? No. Pero me gusta el plan. Incluso si en el momento en que da miedo, dolor o me hace consada.

So here I am again. Not knowing the plan. But ready. Ready for what? Adventure. 

Entonces, aqui estoy otra vez. Sin saber del plan. Pero listo. Listo para que? Aventura.

La aventura esta ahi fuera.