Friday Quote Day

“A real decision is measured
by the fact that you've taken a new action.
If there's no action,
you haven't truly decided.”

“In essence, if we want to direct our lives,

we must take control of our consistent actions.

It's not what we do once in a while

that shapes our lives,

but what we do consistently.”

~ Anthony Robbins

Self-help books? Been there, done that. But I'll take a good quote from a self-help author any day, if it meets my needs. These two seem to do just that.

Right now, and for the foreseeable future, I need to stick to my weight-training plan, continue doing some kind of aerobic activity and, as always, watch what I eat. And not just what I eat, but how much of it.

The astute among you will notice I said "some kind" of aerobic activity. Hey, I'm a runner. What other kind of aerobicizing would I do? Well, for at least the next couple of weeks it's going to be rowing nowhere.

If I ever needed proof that even a few extra pounds is a few too many, I now have it. My feet are a mess; it's painful to walk, let alone run, although I tried to yesterday. I have multiple blisters, painful calluses and just general discomfort whenever I stand or walk. Rowing, while exerting a little pressure on the balls of my feet, is at least a sit-down exercise and I'm just going to have to suck it up and do it if I want to maintain any cardiovascular health while I heal.

This didn't happen after Country Music. I may have been heavier than I'd hoped to be, but all in all I did better then – in less expensive shoes and with no experience – than I did last Sunday at City of Oaks.

You see, once you start running in races, even when you know you're not going to win, it's about more than just crossing the finishing line. You want to do better than you did the last time. I've managed to do worse. I could make excuses for the Army Ten-Miler because it was just so brutally hot. But conditions in Raleigh could not have been more perfect.

So. No excuses! The decision has been made and the action has been taken. I've done my dumbbell/bench routine twice now, and will do it again Sunday. Three times a week, about 25 minutes per session, plus an almost-daily rowing session of at least 45 minutes. Saturday will be a total rest day.

Laura, I do the weights and then run right afterward. Splitting up a session usually means I don't do whatever the second thing is. I'm not sure what I'll do about weight-training and rowing. Rowing is such a full-body workout I might be too tired to lift right away. And my arms and back are tired after lifting, but I need those for rowing. I think this is just going to be one of those suck it up and do it things. And I forgot you were doing Indy. Isn't PQ doing that, as well?

Mary listed a few of her favorite artists-to-run-to yesterday, and Grumpy Chair is an Eminem fan. And also John Denver. What a combo.

I confess to listening to Eminem, as well. Before I started running, I found "Shake That" to be a pretty good marching beat for walking. But you don't want the explicit version if your children will be tuning in.

The hummus recipe is more of a throw-stuff-together affair than a real recipe. Grumpy Chair mentioned some time ago that she preferred cooked dried garbanzo beans to the canned variety, so I tried that and must agree. There's quite a difference. When I'm making hummus, I overcook them so they're very mushy. [If I want some for salads, soups or stews, I like them a little firmer.]

Hummus-like Dip
Four [or more] cloves fresh garlic, peeled
16-oz. bag of garbanzo beans, cooked until very soft
1/2 cup plain yogurt or light mayonnaise
2 tblsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. hot sauce
2 tblsp. olive oil

In a food processer with chopping blade, process garlic cloves. Add garbanzo beans and process until thoroughly smashed. [No alcohol was involved in this recipe. Heh.] Add yogurt, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce, and mix well. Drizzle in the olive oil.

This makes a lot of dip, maybe four cups? We like it with fresh vegetables or with pita triangles. Nutritional information? Your guess is as good as mine. Since everything in it is pretty healthy, I don't worry about it too much.

Finished the stockings. I need to get a pre-felting photo before I throw them in the washer. I didn't have time to look for sweater patterns yesterday but I did find one fingerless glove without a mate. So I started that. Don't want anyone to be lonely this winter. Heh.