tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86523694073578906742024-03-18T22:47:59.590-05:00The PaleothleteA Chronicle of a Paleo UltrarunnerLeslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-3948099985148766792015-12-02T14:44:00.004-06:002015-12-02T14:44:29.559-06:00Homemade Baby Food<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">As a new mom, I was so excited for my daughter to start experimenting with food. As I was brimming with excitement, my daughter wanted nothing to do with food. She was content with her milk and that's all she wanted. Eventually, she started to get the hang of this whole baby food thing and slowly got won over by the tastes, textures and smells. We happily went to the store to pick out new flavors to try. When we got to the cash register, all the excitement disappeared as we realized how expensive organic baby food can be. I decided to start making her food at home and it is so easy, inexpensive and actually pretty fun to do. You will know exactly what is in your baby's food and can control the ingredients and additives.</span></div>
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One of my girl's favorite foods is kale. I will go through what you will need, how to prepare the food and how to store it. </div>
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<b>Ingredients:</b></div>
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<ol>
<li>1 bag of organic Kale. I get mine from Trader Joe's</li>
<li>Large Pot</li>
<li>Water</li>
<li>Ice Cube tray with a lid on it (I got mine from Target)</li>
<li>Hand Blender or Food Processor</li>
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<b>What To Do:</b></div>
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<ol>
<li>Fill your pot about half way with water and bring it to a bowl.</li>
<li>When it is boiling, open the bag and put your kale into the boiling water</li>
<li>Cook the kale for 2 -3 minutes or just until it start to wilt a little</li>
<li>Take the pot of kale off the heat and use a slotted spoon to put the cooked kale into a large cup/bowl and let it cool for a bit. Save the water in the pot, you will need it for the next step!</li>
<li>Use the hand blender or food processor to blend the kale into a paste. Use some of the water that you cooked the kale in to help thin out the mixture to the consistency you want. For babes just starting out on baby food, thin the mixture out to a soup consistency. For babes that have been on baby food for awhile, use less water and make into a paste.</li>
<li>Place the blended kale into the ice cube tray and freeze</li>
<li>When the cubes are frozen, place into a ziplock bag and label it</li>
<li>The cubes are good for several months after being frozen</li>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsCMNhBrgK52jdED4L7ZLQLeOhBcOQr8_m_B5tEKnaxYDSfN4Gcx3a9NZflpSCv8FnMa8Z3SwTmV85j7ak6kAASAkZEVekZZy6-P0t9IalLGAbt9Po_SM6-YaZvWhYuCwGRgMW-AQyl4/s1600/Kale+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsCMNhBrgK52jdED4L7ZLQLeOhBcOQr8_m_B5tEKnaxYDSfN4Gcx3a9NZflpSCv8FnMa8Z3SwTmV85j7ak6kAASAkZEVekZZy6-P0t9IalLGAbt9Po_SM6-YaZvWhYuCwGRgMW-AQyl4/s320/Kale+1.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kale cooking in the pot of water</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINu4ZIJ8i1LRjNxOovU7sRT-GgQfum4h6FHpjlAjYVC5HDyPIeyZMlVKtGRbEAkoAjzWBYHnymr8eyNNcxKVbkSrKloiird5_n3enkB_UWJdQs-s44v34f_LfcyF2rIAomAjPn1vV-C8/s1600/Kale2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINu4ZIJ8i1LRjNxOovU7sRT-GgQfum4h6FHpjlAjYVC5HDyPIeyZMlVKtGRbEAkoAjzWBYHnymr8eyNNcxKVbkSrKloiird5_n3enkB_UWJdQs-s44v34f_LfcyF2rIAomAjPn1vV-C8/s320/Kale2.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blending the kale mixture<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVFZ3mS4Od77QwfTHixYm4hvpM5Ze0g7sfwMSwC0o5qF_rBjm_-tu2fG4itiWChwUFxBRaaMQ90LvLQkExc093xAW2513_Nx07dZw_XmEZ6ok86_fa2oec1vbvfZLw8YJASC9-DBpb5s/s1600/Kale+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVFZ3mS4Od77QwfTHixYm4hvpM5Ze0g7sfwMSwC0o5qF_rBjm_-tu2fG4itiWChwUFxBRaaMQ90LvLQkExc093xAW2513_Nx07dZw_XmEZ6ok86_fa2oec1vbvfZLw8YJASC9-DBpb5s/s320/Kale+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Place mixture in ice cub trays<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53b1dO9nNQ4afv47ixJWCQY0xUulY-PLCaULMLmwc5ttxD952Bv088N5L42kwD8hKUEEfYF3PCbJfUlIk7PI7bAJ6Tm4ZDJ57t0sb6IkORDsFRKSEetsgSTbCDnZBQJEp1evnfOOq8Lo/s1600/kale+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53b1dO9nNQ4afv47ixJWCQY0xUulY-PLCaULMLmwc5ttxD952Bv088N5L42kwD8hKUEEfYF3PCbJfUlIk7PI7bAJ6Tm4ZDJ57t0sb6IkORDsFRKSEetsgSTbCDnZBQJEp1evnfOOq8Lo/s320/kale+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Put lid on ice cube tray and place in freezer<br /></td></tr>
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I get all my organic produce from Trader Joe's. It is easy and inexpensive. For other veggies, I use a double bowler to steam the veggies. To thin out the veggie puree, I use the water that I steamed the veggies in. The only veggie that you don't want to use the water for would be carrots. I researched this and there is a chance of nitrate poisoning with using the carrot water. So, for carrots, I just use purified water to thin out the mixture. </div>
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You can also use the ice cube trays for fruits. If you are making fruits, just blend up the fruits and thin the mixture with purified water. Then, pour directly into the ice cube trays. I do this with bananas and apples. </div>
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Making your own baby food is very easy and can be done very quickly. It is so much fun to experiment and seeing your baby's reaction to all the new tastes. Each ice cube is about 1 ounce of food. If you would buy a baby food pouch in the store, that would be 4 ounces. I use 4 cubes at each feeding and warm it in the microwave. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykWny15iuxliMq4FpKvyK-KVvNKDsMOGJrRrXE2EMNs-we-4SngYsJf9TIOEowm2wwYpa74wmWhXknh_qxBuZ-B9L6E3YR3oJnTK3zDqcSx0B09oN2H7gmre7BPtOn6FSNzgR9b1hWHU/s1600/Emma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykWny15iuxliMq4FpKvyK-KVvNKDsMOGJrRrXE2EMNs-we-4SngYsJf9TIOEowm2wwYpa74wmWhXknh_qxBuZ-B9L6E3YR3oJnTK3zDqcSx0B09oN2H7gmre7BPtOn6FSNzgR9b1hWHU/s320/Emma.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She loves her kale. . and so does her bib</td></tr>
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If you have any questions, feel free visit my <a href="http://www.activecarechirodoc.com/">website</a></div>
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<br />Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-50933761730786950442015-10-30T19:24:00.003-05:002015-10-30T19:24:31.414-05:00Webster Technique During Pregnancy<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
In recent years, an increasing
number of women are seeking chiropractic care during their pregnancy. Women are beginning to understand the benefits
that regular chiropractic care can offer them during their pregnancy and into
the birthing process. The woman’s body
is going through extreme change and the hormonal and structural changes can
cause misalignment of the woman’s spine and pelvis. This misalignment commonly presents as low
back pain, sciatic pain, upper back pain or a host of other presentations. Not
only does this pelvic misalignment commonly cause pain, it can also cause a
condition on the baby called intrauterine constraint. Intrauterine constraint occurs when the uterus
is not in its optimal symmetric position in the woman’s pelvis. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixw0ZJSZhB4jKdECr4mHSBR5i3FcXhcKUmMiTlUji_SCG8YdFp312J069PExMxozjemh9ZVoLPXGRltX086M4A5vM808hOkkmo1GYB7V29dm7caSn8-aFk9mLP1VeyIs2ejGuAcnTPfnw/s1600/webster-technique-in-denver-co.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixw0ZJSZhB4jKdECr4mHSBR5i3FcXhcKUmMiTlUji_SCG8YdFp312J069PExMxozjemh9ZVoLPXGRltX086M4A5vM808hOkkmo1GYB7V29dm7caSn8-aFk9mLP1VeyIs2ejGuAcnTPfnw/s320/webster-technique-in-denver-co.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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To better understand how the
woman’s pelvic misalignment can affect the baby’s position, we first must look
at the anatomy of the woman’s pelvis. There are key ligaments that connect the
uterus to the sacrum (the triangular bone of the pelvis). These ligaments actually have muscle fibers in
them, so as the woman’s uterus expands, these ligaments are able to stretch to
help support the growing uterus. If the mother’s pelvis is misaligned, this
will cause unequal strain to be placed on these uterine ligaments. This unequal strain on the uterine ligaments
can cause the uterus and the baby to be in a suboptimal position for growth or for
the birth process. When the ligaments are not symmetrical, it is very common
for the woman to feel a pulling sensation on one side of her belly. If the pelvis is aligned properly, the ligaments
and corresponding pelvic muscles hold the uterus in a symmetrical position and
allow the baby to develop in an environment that’s optimal for fetal movements
and for the best possible position for birth. An effective and safe way that a
chiropractor can determine if the pelvis is aligned properly is with the
Webster technique. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2taurKF24J16AXlQsRWBy8RBbObRlDUGXzDDGcosIKbF1tABMCz-oFv86fnM8KybWdPH5oavtHijXzKFid9kgiqVhEtHcEeFaiptrD9gH6rQ2qaqIugxd0g5YNZCoVWrqJaLia-SZPo/s1600/round-lig-uterosacral-diagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2taurKF24J16AXlQsRWBy8RBbObRlDUGXzDDGcosIKbF1tABMCz-oFv86fnM8KybWdPH5oavtHijXzKFid9kgiqVhEtHcEeFaiptrD9gH6rQ2qaqIugxd0g5YNZCoVWrqJaLia-SZPo/s1600/round-lig-uterosacral-diagram.jpg" /></a></div>
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The Webster technique is a gentle
and specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment that can facilitate the
alignment of the woman’s pelvis. The
Webster technique was developed by Dr. Larry Webster, founder of the
International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, as a safe and effective way
to restore optimal pelvic alignment. This
technique was designed for women during pregnancy, but it is a very effective
way to determine pelvic misalignment in non-pregnant women. The Webster technique incorporates gentle
chiropractic adjustments, stretching of specific pelvic muscles, and gentle
massage of specific ligaments. At our
clinic, we have a special pillow that the mom can lay on for comfort and
support during her visit. We will also
show her simple exercises that can be done at home for pain relief and to keep
the pelvis in alignment in between visits. “In regards to pregnant mothers, Dr. Webster
reported that when a mother sought care and her baby was in a breech position,
the restoration of pelvic neuro-biomechanics with this adjustment was
frequently facilitated optimal fetal positioning. There are cases published in the chiropractic
literature that support this theory. More
research is needed and is currently underway by the ICPA”- Jeanne Ohm, DC. During
the visit, it is very typical for the woman to feel a sense of relaxation as
the muscles and ligaments of the pelvis relax and the pelvis is aligned
symmetrically. </div>
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It is well documented in obstetric
literature that correct positioning of the baby in-utero will decrease undue
stress to the baby and the baby’s developing spine and nervous system. It is also well documented, in obstetric
literature, that optimal pelvic neuro-biomechanics of the mother’s pelvis is
important in preventing dystocia or difficult birth. Both of these factors can be addressed with
the Webster technique. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqYr8xtN9BI2VQ2QtDxFlOK9LnKa5eBSzyfGrfT8rlxwdSXBJWCTSH-oNgnBeZ-7MYG4lZSFXMCqqOULC-vF2Eb7RxwBLNNJ421nYsZ_GOnboHTJBfcn-3XVa9e_TdTlj90lEvVYb89E/s1600/webster-638x345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqYr8xtN9BI2VQ2QtDxFlOK9LnKa5eBSzyfGrfT8rlxwdSXBJWCTSH-oNgnBeZ-7MYG4lZSFXMCqqOULC-vF2Eb7RxwBLNNJ421nYsZ_GOnboHTJBfcn-3XVa9e_TdTlj90lEvVYb89E/s320/webster-638x345.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">It is advised that expectant
mothers regularly see a chiropractor, trained in the Webster technique,
throughout her pregnancy to evaluate pelvic alignment because of her changing
hormone levels, weight gain and shifts in her center of gravity. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">It is also important that she visit her
chiropractor after the delivery to correct any pelvic misalignments after she
gives birth. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The sudden change in her
weight and center of gravity can cause pelvic misalignments and can contribute
to low back pain after delivery. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">We
will also show her simple exercises to perform to begin rehabilitation of the
pelvic floor muscles and abdominal muscles that were over stretched during her pregnancy.</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Dr. Leslie Jacobi is the Owner and Chiropractic
Physician at Active Care Chiropractic & Rehabilitation in Brandon, FL. She
is a Webster Technique certified physician and has been certified through the
International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. She has had post-graduate
training in caring for women during their pregnancy, newborn care and pediatric
care. For more information you can visit her website at <a href="http://www.activecarechirodoc.com/">www.activecarechirodoc.com</a> or
email at activecaredoc@gmail.com</div>
Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-91445048518782372632014-08-10T20:00:00.002-05:002014-08-10T20:00:20.872-05:00Having To Take A Few Steps Back<div style="text-align: justify;">
For the past 5+ years, I have defined myself as an ultrarunner. I would spend countless hours searching online for future races, discussing with fellow ultrarunners about race courses, figuring out what nutrition my body needs during long runs. . . and the list goes on and on. I loved reading fellow runners reviews and race reports of certain races that I would sign up for. My 2013 was filled to the brim with races. I loved seeing all my fellow trail running friends and being surrounded by beautiful terrains. I look back on that year fondly. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6WC7A8F2V0iBiIFytEAptm9VJZ9Mhyphenhyphene816KACtBk3hEINphEtTiKjwiiP0wkIxUgZPZlmvTKZM2HtLDaAVRcRz_mrejuthyphenhyphenAB2jTOfAXeT_xi0ITCSIvUZM-leqQqGNgKm9oYKTFo3w/s1600/Glacial+Trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6WC7A8F2V0iBiIFytEAptm9VJZ9Mhyphenhyphene816KACtBk3hEINphEtTiKjwiiP0wkIxUgZPZlmvTKZM2HtLDaAVRcRz_mrejuthyphenhyphenAB2jTOfAXeT_xi0ITCSIvUZM-leqQqGNgKm9oYKTFo3w/s1600/Glacial+Trail.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Glacial Trail 50M with my buddies Ben and Sarah Willis</span></td></tr>
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This year, I only ran one race. My race of the year was my dog's 5K race. It was, by far, a favorite race for me. I got to run with my running training partner and I was about 6 weeks pregnant. He killed it and finished in about 22 minutes. This finishing time also included a poop break along the course. . . . .my dog's poop break. :) If this was another year of ultra running, I'm sure I would be deep into some sort of ridiculous training plan and would have accumulated several finishers medals by now. But, this year I am embarking on a life changing ultramarathon that will never have a real finish line. My current training schedule consists of eating well balanced meals, getting in my cardio, strengthening my core and pelvic floor muscles and finishing up chiropractic school. Man, this years training schedule looks way different than my normal plan. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgZE-L8fzc-4nC65Z67scclackKAaz4F5nptu1A7hpp7oDrmMnF3jyAQ6YzgJGO-Kk70ynpOfQ0i9f7CWd_kKuyX0tSUOpt-n6zcfcamYmbVDQAvNtQkCdkanfgEv3l0Eycn1VeqsOOs/s1600/Glacial+Trail+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgZE-L8fzc-4nC65Z67scclackKAaz4F5nptu1A7hpp7oDrmMnF3jyAQ6YzgJGO-Kk70ynpOfQ0i9f7CWd_kKuyX0tSUOpt-n6zcfcamYmbVDQAvNtQkCdkanfgEv3l0Eycn1VeqsOOs/s1600/Glacial+Trail+2.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glacial Trail 50M 2013</td></tr>
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I love seeing my friend's Facebook posts about all their wonderful racing accomplishments or viewing pictures of beautiful trails that they just ran. I'm, no doubt, envious of those adventures. I wish I was out there having adventures of my own this summer. As I begin to feel the jealousy rise, I remember what a beautiful adventure I am on. Every day brings a new sensation or a continued excitement for my growing family's future. There is no ultra finish that could even compare to this growing excitement or sense of awe that I am currently feeling. I have tossed around the idea of running a race this year. Maybe a half marathon would be a fun thing to do while pregnant, but my running is not at a level that I would feel comfortable running a half marathon while pregnant. I think it's so cool when pregnant women run races, but it's a very personal decision and I'm a little nervous about possibly injuring myself or my little one. So, I will continue to run as long as my body allows me and will continue to be amazed at my wonderful running friends and their accomplishments. </div>
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. . . . . . . but I AM planning my 2015 race schedule. . . . . :) I guess I will always be an ultrarunner at heart. </div>
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Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-68196091597870962732014-07-20T16:54:00.000-05:002014-07-20T16:54:15.230-05:00A Paleo-ish Like Pregnancy<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've been pretty quiet for the past couple of months. I apologize for my lack of posting, but we have some very exciting news to share. I am currently 14.5 weeks pregnant!! My hubby and I are so excited and look forward to having a little one running around the house in January! This is our first child, so our families are so excited and have been so supportive. We couldn't be more blessed or thankful for wonderful friends and family. </div>
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I wanted to share with all of you the many road blocks I have encountered eating Paleo while struggling through my first trimester of pregnancy. I will openly say that I have drank chocolate milk, had Goldfish crackers, consumed ice cream and even. . . dare I say. . . . ate gluten. I know, a true sin in the world of Paleo. I thought the earth would break open and a force would cast me into the deep hell of gluten, sugar and dairy. What actually happened was way less severe. A minor tummy ache and a sugar rush, but I managed to cope with these side effects. These side effects were way better than not eating anything at all. A funny thing happens in pregnancy, all those wonderfully delicious and healthy foods that you just couldn't imagine living without pre-pregnancy, become disgusting to the very sensitive nose of a pregnant chick. My morning omelet left me dry heaving in the kitchen and those yummy vinegar cucumbers I love so much made my stomach turnover. It was INCREDIBLY frustrating. Not only was I nauseous from the smells of typical Paleo food, I was exhausted. Instead of not eating anything, I would snack on very bland food for the energy that I so desperately needed. I made sure to eat fruit and try to put veggies on my plate for dinner and lunch. I ate bland oatmeal for breakfast with lots of berries. I also whipped up some green shakes to sneak in more veggies with some fruit. I bought some almond milk to increase my calcium intake as well. This combination of foods seemed to do the trick. </div>
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Now that I am out of my first trimester, I am slowly adding in more meats and veggies. Protein is very important in the second trimester, as the baby is developing. I was worried about not eating enough protein. This weekend, the hubby and I went out to breakfast and I ordered some scrambled eggs. The smell and the taste of those eggs were wonderful! I was so excited that my body was able to handle those little golden nuggets of nutrition. I will be making my very delicious egg muffin recipe tonight, so I can enjoy my morning eggs. (here is the link to that recipe <a href="http://thepaleothlete.blogspot.com/2013/09/breakfast-egg-muffins.html">http://thepaleothlete.blogspot.com/2013/09/breakfast-egg-muffins.html</a> ) I couldn't be more excited! </div>
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My first trimester also left me unable to run. Due to a minor complication (I won't bore you with the details) my doctor did not want me running. This was a huge blow to me. Running is such an integral part of who I am. I couldn't imagine not running or, more importantly, being told I CAN'T run. My doc did give me the clearance to keep doing my weekly yoga sessions and I could use the elliptical. I guess being on a machine was better than not getting in any cardio at all. I suffered through those elliptical workouts, but I just made sure to envision myself running with my dog, Obi Wan, in the near future. Luckily, I now have the clearance to go out and run. I didn't ask the doctor how far I could run, since I didn't want to be limited. :) But, my pregnancy body is way different than my non-pregnancy body. I slogged through 4 miles and it took every bit of strength to keep moving. I was tired, out of breath and slow. I made sure to stay within a very leisurely exertion zone, since you don't want your body temperature to rise too drastically. When I got home, I felt INCREDIBLE! I was so happy to be able to run after 7 weeks. Even though I'm slower and more out of breath than I ever have been, I am back to running. It makes me feel good that I am doing something healthy for not only me, but also my baby. </div>
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If you are currently pregnant and Paleo food is not agreeing with your body, don't sweat it! The most important thing, is that you are getting the appropriate amount of NUTRITION for you and your baby. The nausea and morning sickness will eventually subside and you will be back to eating eggs before you know it! :) </div>
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Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-54044982626883239662014-04-17T09:14:00.005-05:002014-04-17T09:18:24.545-05:00Ouch. . . My aching feet!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have seen this topic come up a lot on some of my running group discussion boards.. . .the dreaded Plantar Fasciitis or Plantar Fasciosis. I have heard a lot of great advice on this topic and have also heard A LOT of bizarre things that may provide temporary relief, but will not get down to the root cause of the issue. Let's talk a little bit about the anatomy. . I know, I know. . .but to really understand what the deal with this plantar fasciitis we do need a basic understanding of what's actually going on in the foot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the Reader's Digest version of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a very thick and durable connective tissue that lives on the bottom of your foot. It connects to your heel (calcaneaus) and extends out to the base of your toes. This tissue is very important and does A LOT of work for us when we are moving. The purpose of this very tough tissue is to support your foot when you are toeing off (ie: when you are pushing your foot off the ground) and then will provide cushioning when you strike your foot on the ground. So, it's in a constant state of shortening (to provide support when your foot is off the ground) and needing to lengthen to its original length (to provide cushioning when your foot hits the ground). A visual representation may help you see what is going on. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Mid Stance (middle pic) </b>= Cushioning your foot, so it will stretch out. <b>Propuslive(last pic)</b> = Needs to shorten to provide support</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As you can see, the fascia works pretty hard for your feet and we don't really even pay attention to it. . . .well, until it starts to hurt. We can't blame the fascia when things start hurting down there. The fascia is always trying to do its job of providing support and providing cushioning. When things are going wrong higher up in the kinetic chain (core, hip,ankle) the foot tries to compensate and that compensation may lead to the plantar fascia taking the job of some other tissues. There are a lot of reasons that you have plantar fasciitis, here are just a few reasons: reduced foot strength of the intrinsic or deep muscles of the foot, high arches, excessive subtalar pronation, misalignment of the lower extremity, sudden weight gain, decreased dorsiflexion of the ankle, decreased mobility in your hips, shoulder issues, etc</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Plantar fasciitis is typically an overuse injury. I have seen a plantar fasciitis that got symptomatic from walking up a lot of flights of stairs one day. But, it is commonly a running related injury. The most common presentation is when you wake up, the first step out of bed is EXCRUCIATING. As you walk around, the pain will generally be reduced throughout the day. This makes sense when we think about what the fascia is doing. When you are sleeping, your feet are usually pointed and this will make the fascia be in a shortened state. When you take a step out of bed, you are drastically and immediately forcing that tight tissue to lengthen. This is where you get the mind numbing pain right as you are getting out of bed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What can you do for this condition? If you ask 10 people what you should do, you will get 145 different answers. :) The BEST thing that you can do, is to go to a Chiropractor or health care provider that understands the mechanism of your injury. Don't wait on getting treated. Chronic plantar fasciitis can cause a bone spur to form at your heel. The heel spur is formed because the plantar fascia is so tight that it is constantly "tugging" on your heel bone. This "tugging" causes the body to lay down more bone there to provide more stability. We want to avoid getting this heel spur, so see someone as soon as you notice pain. There SHOULD be a TON of soft tissue done to the bottom of your foot and to the calf muscles on the same foot. It will be extremely painful, but the fascia is scarred and adhered to itself. That tissue needs to be worked on to loosen it up and reduce all the scar tissue that has formed. They should also figure out WHY you have this injury. There are a ton of reasons, so the doctor should take you through some movement analysis tests to figure out if the issues with your foot are due to your hips or some other area. If you are just treating the foot, you aren't going to figure out the real reason for your injury and there will be a big possibility of recurrence of your injury. If there is a lack of dorsiflexion in the ankle, the doctor will be able to mobilize that joint and then will give you exercises at home to help increase that range of motion. The picture shows a great way to get mobility into the ankle. The guy is creating dorsiflexion into his left ankle. You want to gradually move your knee in front of your foot to force your ankle into dorsiflexion. You should be doing this several times throughout the day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There are other therapies that have been suggested for this condition as well. Straps that you wear at night, cortisone injections into the fascia, pain pills, rest for 6 - 12 months, KT/Rock Tape the foot, Icing and the dreaded BOOT. All these things may provide temporary relief, but again are NOT addressing the root cause of the problem. None of these modalities break up that scar tissue in the fascia or create mobility into the ankle/hip. . . well, they are just fancy bandaids that are given to people when the doctor doesn't truly understand WHY the person has plantar fasciitis. If you are given any of these modalities and then sent home. . . GO TO A DIFFERENT CLINIC. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Plantar fasciitis is a very painful condition, but if you go to a knowledgable doctor you should start feeling results in as little as 2-3 visits. You will need to gradually increase your running mileage after you are pain free, but this condition shouldn't be something that you have to rest for a year or more. This condition is very specific to each person, and your faulty movement patterns will guide your treatment. </span></div>
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<br />Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-68337988999739013362014-04-13T11:00:00.002-05:002014-04-13T11:00:20.658-05:00Getting My Groove Back. . . . <div style="text-align: justify;">
Throughout the country, this winter was ROUGH. The trails were covered with snow, the sidewalks were frozen over and the deep freeze made us all worry we were going to lose an appendage. Sure, there were days of sunshine and mild temps but those days were few. Like most of us, I too became a victim to the dreaded winter. I lacked motivation to go out and do serious training this winter. I had a goal race in April, but due to schedule conflicts I can no longer do that race. I was left feeling lost. Last year, I did an ultramarathon practically every month. So, not having a race lined up has thrown me for a loop. It's weird not having that pressure to go out and get those miles because your race is only a few months/weeks/days away. I never follow a training schedule, I just like to run long on the weekends and do shorter miles during the week. In addition to my lack of scheduled training, my diet took a plunge. I am still eating 80% paleo, but have had way too many homebrew beers and the occasional pizza. I know it's not a lot, but I can definitely tell that my body is not in tip top shape. My energy is low and my runs just feel sluggish. </div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">This past week, I decided to get my sh*t together. I started a new round of Whole30. Eating Whole30 makes me feel energized and amazing! I didn't have to really take too many things out of my diet, but I definitely needed to eat way more veggies and fat than I was eating during the winter. Also cutting down on drinking homebrewed beers is a must. . . (as I write this my hubby is making 20 gallons of more beer. I will just have to have a little more self control). My hubby and I did Whole30 last summer and we both were in better shape than when we first met. After just 1 week, I can already see a huge difference. </span><br />
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I've also decided that I won't be doing an ultramarathon this summer, but will plan on one in the fall. I may do a half marathon or marathon this summer, but I haven't decided on that yet. I am planning on running Long Haul 100 mile in January 2015 (278 days away. . . but who's counting).</div>
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My plan this year is to be CONSISTENT. I feel like in years past, my running has always had a goal of "training for that next race, so I better clock as many miles as I possibly can". Since I started running, I never have been very consistent with just short miles to build consistency. I have been having a nagging back issue that is primarily due to my anterior core being turned off and my posterior core hanging on for dear life. This week was also the start of rehabbing my core every night and my back is thanking me for it. This is the first time in a long time that my back hasn't been hurting as much. I am also incorporating kettle bell work as well. As most runners can attest, weight training is usually very low on our totem pole. Incorporating weights into a running program is key to staying injury free and activating those muscles that become chronically inhibited due to repetitive running. These chronically weak muscles force other muscles to do their work and that's when injuries set in. . . . enter my nagging back issue. </div>
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Yesterday was the first time that it was in the 70's here in Chicago. I busted out my running skirt and got some glorious miles in solo. I usually take my dog with me, but I really just needed some quiet time on the trails. Today, I took my dog Obi Wan with me and he appreciated it. With the birds chirping and the sun shining, it feels amazing to have a refocused desire for running and a plan for the future. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSPnTdpzND0z7fHVK0xKWNzErB2NMXauZ3IzWvua4Dt0ESqG1mpuyKkEDZXm47XcPRWBQQGhXc0ZDSo7NpF3fU5xNCQgU1cnm9WV4sLsE081Js7U0DDnnRLYD4Iz7aC7JQLFRfZ3mpe8/s1600/Obi+path.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSPnTdpzND0z7fHVK0xKWNzErB2NMXauZ3IzWvua4Dt0ESqG1mpuyKkEDZXm47XcPRWBQQGhXc0ZDSo7NpF3fU5xNCQgU1cnm9WV4sLsE081Js7U0DDnnRLYD4Iz7aC7JQLFRfZ3mpe8/s1600/Obi+path.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The BEST running partner a girl could ask for, Obi Wan </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Don't worry if this winter took your running mojo from you too. It happens. The best thing you can do is to lace up those shoes and go out for a run or even a walk. Refocusing on your goals and the real reason you began running in the first place is how you get that mojo back. Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-87372004126100150242014-04-06T11:17:00.001-05:002014-04-06T13:42:13.791-05:00The Quack Report: What Chiropractors Really Do<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am currently in Chiropractic school at National University of Health Sciences. When I tell people I am studying to be a Chiropractor, I will usually get only two types of reactions</div>
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1) "Wow! That's so cool. I LOVE my Chiropractor"</div>
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OR</div>
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2) "Really??? I went to one of those before and they said I needed to see them every week forever. Those guys are con artists"</div>
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Well, I am about ready to clear the air regarding Chiropractors and what we REALLY do. But first, let's talk about what we DON'T do......</div>
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<b><u>What Chiropractors ARE NOT</u></b></div>
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1) We CAN'T cure cancer (of ANY kind), blindness, Type 1 Diabetes, Hypertension, AIDS, Liver disease, Genetic abnormalities or any major ailment. If you go to a chiropractor that says they can cure a disease with an adjustment. . . . RUN AWAY!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4fzq18ONiXGVARbnALXIccMzNmfyVqvUVrSzH1kIduza7yKeCVeMa6vycZTIh5lzkS-Xuw2zxolPU5-SK3faxgJhmVepI6FN2j-XA3iwa53L3Oid1HAfORbmucjIFDpmnlUN933Yek0/s1600/WPA_quack_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4fzq18ONiXGVARbnALXIccMzNmfyVqvUVrSzH1kIduza7yKeCVeMa6vycZTIh5lzkS-Xuw2zxolPU5-SK3faxgJhmVepI6FN2j-XA3iwa53L3Oid1HAfORbmucjIFDpmnlUN933Yek0/s1600/WPA_quack_poster.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></div>
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2) We DON'T get the same amount of schooling in Social Work or Counseling. If you are seeing a Chiropractor for a psychological disorder be prepared to know that that type of work is NOT in our scope of practice and you should really be seeing someone who has the schooling and knowledge to back that up. At my school, we take ONE class on psychological disorders.. . . go see an expert!</div>
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3) You SHOULDN'T be seeing a Chiropractor more than you see your family. If the doc tells you that you need to see them every day for the rest of your life. . . .RUN AWAY!! The doc should be getting you feeling better after a few treatments and then you should only need to see them if something comes up. If you aren't feeling better after a few weeks, the doc needs to reevaluate you and adjust their treatment. You don't see your OB/GYN every day to "check out how things are looking down there" and you shouldn't have to see a Chiropractor every day either. </div>
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4) Chiropractors AREN'T only back doctors. We do WAY more than that. . . . I will discuss that later</div>
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<b><u>What GOOD Chiropractors REALLY do.......</u></b></div>
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1) We are THE musculo-skeletal experts. This means we are trained in how muscles and joints are supposed to work. We EVALUATE, TEST and TREAT the muscles and joints to figure out what imbalances exist and how to correct those imbalances. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRa5_LFdJqKOHZCv4ZgFRLnl3FJmpEXsofo1sB_2WIwTtw_mxzddP55xjsX60OC7WFNtJjl9lY034o-ND5EqjRiJkJQEZr_05C8GV8Td_eY5DKojis-kIYC-jHv5whxz3iaLhz03BOvI/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRa5_LFdJqKOHZCv4ZgFRLnl3FJmpEXsofo1sB_2WIwTtw_mxzddP55xjsX60OC7WFNtJjl9lY034o-ND5EqjRiJkJQEZr_05C8GV8Td_eY5DKojis-kIYC-jHv5whxz3iaLhz03BOvI/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
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2) We do WAY MORE than "crack" your spine. If you are going to a doc that ONLY adjusts you a few times and sends you on your way. . . rethink your choice. Your Chiropractor should evaluate you each time you come in and if they are doing the same adjustments every time without an explanation. . . . you may be taken for a ride. We adjust a joint if it doesn't move correctly and in it's full range of motion. Your doc should be putting you through an evaluation to see if that joint needs to be adjusted. </div>
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3) We do REHABILITATION. I don't know where the lines were blurred and the general public thinks only PTs do rehabilitation. Since we are muscle and joint experts, we understand if you have an injury what is wrong with your biomechanics and how to correct it through corrective exercises and then into strengthening exercises. If you have ever had an ankle sprain and was NOT given proper rehab, you are more likely to re-injure that same ankle. Your chiropractor should be able to get you out of pain and then to rehab that area so your ankle is strong and you won't re-injure it in the future.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRRGWzFcl_9K-qIWdOeETryGx8soKqE1sSMkh5TwVDV7Zjlvf6PBgs3jhLxlay26QcW7LF54J6MR3K0NE1sslTjEc0UQrgU9KB0Lf31WIe0zLCew7Ci2FhgDlUtqQVuS5zqVtt6pN7Nk/s1600/WCC_Rehab1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRRGWzFcl_9K-qIWdOeETryGx8soKqE1sSMkh5TwVDV7Zjlvf6PBgs3jhLxlay26QcW7LF54J6MR3K0NE1sslTjEc0UQrgU9KB0Lf31WIe0zLCew7Ci2FhgDlUtqQVuS5zqVtt6pN7Nk/s1600/WCC_Rehab1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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4) We do SOFT TISSUE work. In our evaluation, we need to find out if it is a muscle problem that is causing you pain or causing your biomechanics to be off. Some muscles may be too "overactive" or "not working at all". The muscles need to be corrected in order for a joint to move properly. There are various ways to do soft tissue work through manual muscle testing, instrument assisted soft tissue work, Pin and Stretch techniques, manual massage, etc. Your doc should be evaluating your muscles to make sure they are not the problem. </div>
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5) We have intense training in school. Our program is 3 years long and each trimester we take between 24 - 31 credit hours. We learn everything from: Anatomy, Dissected Cadavers, Micobiology, Muscle Physiology, Neuroanatomy, Neurophysiology, Pathologies, Chest, Abdominal, Extremity and Tumor Radiology, Nutrition, Rehabilitation, First Aid, Botanicals, Psychopathology, Adjusting, etc. Our first year in Chiropractic school is the SAME as in medical school. </div>
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6) We SPECIALIZE. Our profession has various Diplomate programs. These programs are classes we take in addition to our current curriculum. There are a number of different Diplomate programs that include, but not limited to: Neurology, Radiology, Orthopedics, Internal Medicine, Rehabilitation and Sports Science. When you are done with these classes, you present 1 case study and then must endure an oral exam from the Board Members of each designated Diplomate program that usually lasts for several hours. If you pass, you are board certified in your field. I am currently taking the Rehabilitation Diplomate Program. If you are currently seeing a Chiropractor, ask them if they have their diplomate. </div>
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7) We understand LAB REPORTS. We can draw your blood, in certain states, or refer you to a lab. We even understand what those lab values and results mean! There is an Internal Medicine Diplomate. Those Chiropractors know their stuff when it comes to body systems and will be happy to evaluate your lab results and treat you. </div>
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8) We ACTUALLY LIKE our profession. Chiropractors are passionate individuals. We endured the 3 years of chronic stress and schooling, because we have a passion for health. We want to get you feeling better and to properly rehab you, so your body stays injury free. We do like to see you, but we would prefer that you were out enjoying your life pain free. If you are seeing a chiropractor that sets you up on a 500 chiropractic visit plan. . . RUN AWAY!!!! You are getting scammed and those are the docs that give Chiropractic a bad name</div>
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So, there you have it! If you are currently seeing a chiropractor and they fit ANY of the red flags, please reevaluate your choices. As with ANY profession, there will always be people looking to take advantage of the general public. Hopefully with the knowledge I have provided, you will be able to make a well educated decision on your current and future Chiropractor. </div>
Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-5776770257972551042014-02-24T20:25:00.000-06:002014-02-24T20:25:07.991-06:00Finding Your Balance<div style="text-align: justify;">
In these hectic times, everyone is trying to find a balance between work, life, exercise, friends, family and the lists goes on. What about trying to find balance WITHIN our own bodies? We don't really ever think about that. Balance training is just as important as logging miles or lifting weights, but we just have put that missing link on the back burner. We forget how important balance training is until we are injured or we may notice our balance sucks when we finally make it to a yoga class and can't do Tree Pose without toppling over. I would like to discuss balance training and who will benefit and how to actually implement it into your workout. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQho4QTsJ1zn9Y2ZOhW8HePO8EIWJH6YWEEgf6QmFoYJYTg7giYI9hwMTujiUlOMu8S68XjewSY_-kpwnyJBgkH5F4kRk2KoAiMgDGQz7a5Xqaq7zYbTiyj1Rve4OZdj7aWpR15DDBelA/s1600/download+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQho4QTsJ1zn9Y2ZOhW8HePO8EIWJH6YWEEgf6QmFoYJYTg7giYI9hwMTujiUlOMu8S68XjewSY_-kpwnyJBgkH5F4kRk2KoAiMgDGQz7a5Xqaq7zYbTiyj1Rve4OZdj7aWpR15DDBelA/s1600/download+(1).jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Balance is important for the elderly</span></div>
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A person's ability to stay balanced is based on the person's center of gravity (COG). Your COG can easily be altered by a multitude of factors, including: pregnancy, pain that causes the person to have an altered posture, surgeries, neurological pathology and the general aging process. Balance training can be implemented into every treatment or workout program, no matter how old the person is. An elderly person to a high school track star can both benefit from balance training. Just like with any program, you need to develop a balance program that will gradually progress from a simple balance exercise that will increase difficulty as the weeks progress. Don't make the surface so unstable that you could injure yourself or somebody else.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwG3bwldEyn-5F1xnUiCpXykPgz6cSSXr4GqBDPR84aNATl1zre41spzGnJbUE11nAFrnlslM8JxGqqCqbP55SIkRjIJjA3B-pnoWh_jLvGujuEI0hb2aYTnfkAU0JN1YUawW6_vvM_Vw/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwG3bwldEyn-5F1xnUiCpXykPgz6cSSXr4GqBDPR84aNATl1zre41spzGnJbUE11nAFrnlslM8JxGqqCqbP55SIkRjIJjA3B-pnoWh_jLvGujuEI0hb2aYTnfkAU0JN1YUawW6_vvM_Vw/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Don't do this! You could harm yourself and you just look ridiculous</span></div>
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Additionally, the underlying reason for balance impairments must be addressed to develop a program that will be efficient and create the best results for the patient. For instance, if you are unable to do a single leg stance because your body sways to one side. The sway may be caused by a weak gluteus medius. You will need to strengthen the gluteus medius, perhaps with side bridges, in conjunction with other balance exercises. Finding a chiropractor or health practitioner that understands the importance of balance training is key. Let's take a look at a very simplified balance exercise progression. </div>
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<b>Single Leg Balance Routine</b></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Single Leg Balance on each leg for 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times on each leg</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Balance on Bosu ball for 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Single Leg Balance on Foam mat on each leg for 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times on each leg</li>
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Note: Progress to the next step after 2 weeks. Do these exercises barefoot or in minimal type shoes</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfVu9Xz8aNqslWBwarKlnZMoVM6zz2VtuIqFTYzmNknuZXBHpiOBLLm_-YvpQu_Hjl50XkVOR_jKY_zWhq4vNgwBzlNbIzqUHfOFNE_xKnkRkk43m5imqxOocUFuFToJaAZwl_FQ7qVA/s1600/BalanceExer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfVu9Xz8aNqslWBwarKlnZMoVM6zz2VtuIqFTYzmNknuZXBHpiOBLLm_-YvpQu_Hjl50XkVOR_jKY_zWhq4vNgwBzlNbIzqUHfOFNE_xKnkRkk43m5imqxOocUFuFToJaAZwl_FQ7qVA/s1600/BalanceExer2.jpg" height="153" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Courtesy: ACEFITNESS</span></div>
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As you can see, the basic premise behind balance training is to gradually increase the amount of instability that the person must try to balance. You want to allow the person to master the balance exercise before progressing to a more challenging exercise. These exercises can be incorporated into your exercise routine either after your cardio or strength workout or during rest periods in your strength program.</div>
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This was just a short introduction to balance training and we will continue discussing balance training in the future. </div>
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Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-4649477129475443152013-09-28T09:25:00.000-05:002013-09-28T09:25:29.047-05:00Pumpkin Spice "Lara" BarsDelicious Lara Bars are a convenient snack that you can take with you on the run. The only problem with them is the price and that some of the flavors are chock full of added sugars. My friend Emily, created this super easy and delicious Pumpkin Spice recipe that she was kind enough to let me share with all of you. Plus, this flavor is perfect for the fall.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<b>Pumpkin Spice Bars</b><br />
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<li>Ingredients</li>
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<li> Bag of dried apricots </li>
<li> Half bag of dried apples</li>
<li> 1/4C of chopped cashews</li>
<li> 2 tablespoons of vanilla</li>
<li> Pumpkin spice to taste</li>
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<li>Directions</li>
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<li>Place all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until it form a sticky paste</li>
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<li>Emily doesn't have a blender, so she just chopped everything very fine </li>
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<li>Either roll the mixture into balls or spread on a cookie sheet and cut into bars </li>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1h9yw85wNwsjMSDgLkBqphZhKYjTjJGIOidJXukdtOL7RLVEISJ38_mzuGcQJUUDrJgM2eihN6ZNB6-7Obzp5dQ4zwb6ukfBffkildWtCfI38JeZ_dL0qERTrKfD2TIScbqeYgCoLjdU/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1h9yw85wNwsjMSDgLkBqphZhKYjTjJGIOidJXukdtOL7RLVEISJ38_mzuGcQJUUDrJgM2eihN6ZNB6-7Obzp5dQ4zwb6ukfBffkildWtCfI38JeZ_dL0qERTrKfD2TIScbqeYgCoLjdU/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished product! </td></tr>
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Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-21590456054408349292013-09-02T18:16:00.001-05:002013-09-02T18:16:44.734-05:00Baby Food Ain't Just For the Babies!To GU or not to GU. . . that is the question. Well, pre-Paleo I used GU gel exclusively during my long runs (15+ miles) or when I felt like my activity level was high and I needed a little "pick me up". Trying to find an alternative to GU gel was difficult. I have a very sensitive stomach to sugars, so finding a low sugar sport gel was tricky. I have used the Hammer Nutrition gels with great success and they are very gentle on my stomach due to its low sugar levels. I continue to use those during races, just because they work well for me and are the closest "Paleo" gel that my stomach can tolerate. During races, I need variety or I would get very sick of gels and wouldn't be able to eat them later in a 50 or 100 mile race. I needed to find paleo friendly fuel that will get me through an ultra and didn't have a ton of added sugars.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8aPpPpl7PM-JKlUgZ5ID1KhuemsaOOlCkVkpDuLk9cJ37UJtc_xo27QNZsKL6hwpTFOc-HR4vY7dFZQOEx1UddtRKKTZhToflFlO5cm_pk-Ma3YnBJur7Xlcm2UFAwkr7zgkukEfiI8/s1600/hph_300x300_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8aPpPpl7PM-JKlUgZ5ID1KhuemsaOOlCkVkpDuLk9cJ37UJtc_xo27QNZsKL6hwpTFOc-HR4vY7dFZQOEx1UddtRKKTZhToflFlO5cm_pk-Ma3YnBJur7Xlcm2UFAwkr7zgkukEfiI8/s320/hph_300x300_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My usual flavor of gel that I use</td></tr>
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Enter. . . . BABY FOOD!<br />
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I know it sounds weird and trust me, you will get some looks from fellow runners. I brought some to a group run a few weeks back and had to explain that I wasn't nuts or that I tripped on the trail and bumped my head. Yes this is baby food AND yes I am using it for fuel. I was trying to find a way to replenish my carbohydrates without eating the regular ultra food of potato chips, potatoes, candy or fruit. (Although, I do eat oranges during my runs as well)<br />
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The sweet potato baby food I use is organic and I carefully check the ingredient list to make sure there are only sweet potatoes in it without any added sugars. Another option is to use apple sauce, but the amount of sugars in it really does a number on my GI system.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78RGeha4_dsm9des3juek081iqDdT-YK5_Lh2Mdvu2ITJFY-mt6wO_SnwYqWUZ0DhSmNag0QB9OLmPZ1bnYL78oOrIwR7aqa70FbVkX-DWv6lOjkz87pUEUvJnNDK7mGM4roo7QllDvo/s1600/1_SwePotato_PouchFrontweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78RGeha4_dsm9des3juek081iqDdT-YK5_Lh2Mdvu2ITJFY-mt6wO_SnwYqWUZ0DhSmNag0QB9OLmPZ1bnYL78oOrIwR7aqa70FbVkX-DWv6lOjkz87pUEUvJnNDK7mGM4roo7QllDvo/s320/1_SwePotato_PouchFrontweb.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the brand baby food I use. Comes in a convenient pouch to fit in my hydration pack</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very comparable to the gel levels of carbs AND has vitamins too!</td></tr>
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I usually supplement my nutrition with baby food on runs over 20+ miles or on really technical trails when I am expending a lot of energy. It's not very scientific, I just determine if I need it based on my energy levels. I can even just use the baby food to completely replace my gels, but I do like to have the option of the gel to add some variety. If you want to take it to the next level, you can make your own gel baby food by added some coconut milk or coconut oil. This will give you the healthy fats that your body is used to burning for fuel as a Paleothlete. I haven't experimented with this yet, but plan on seeing if that will be beneficial during my fall races.<br />
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When you are on your next long run, put some baby food in your packs. It's a great alternative to gels or typical ultra aid station foods.<br />
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Enjoy! <br />
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<br />Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-23098041030484591342013-09-01T11:09:00.002-05:002013-09-01T11:09:41.835-05:00Breakfast Egg MuffinsConvenience is really the name of the game when it comes to eating. Our lives are busy and not many of us have time to cook breakfast every morning. This is where the Breakfast Egg Muffins come in handy. We cook a batch of these every Sunday and store them in the fridge. In the morning, just grab two of these tasty muffins and heat them in the microwave or oven. Viola! Breakfast is served!<br />
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You can easily eat these in the car or on the train if you are really running behind. These make 12 jumbo muffins (I use the jumbo muffin trays that have 6 muffins in each tray and just use 2 trays for our batches). I eat two of these in the morning, which comes out to a total of 3 eggs. As a Paleothlete, it is important to make sure we are getting our fair share of protein in the morning.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumbo Muffin Tin</td></tr>
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The recipe also calls for greens. I just use whatever is fresh in our garden and really just estimate the amount. If you are not a big fan of kale, spinach or Swiss chard you can add less than the recommended amount. But, you will need to get your veggies in with a side dish then. The recipe also calls for pork sausage patties. You can omit this ingredient if you don't like pork sausage. It is also very important that you find a sausage that does not have any added sugars, soy, gluten, dairy, nitrate or nitrites. Our local grocery store makes their own sausage and we asked the butcher the ingredients in the pork patties. We have also used ground pork instead of the pork patties if you can't find a compliant pork patty. <br />
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<b>Breakfast Egg Muffins</b> <br />
(makes 12 jumbo muffins)<br />
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<b>Muffin Ingredients</b><br />
<ul>
<li>18 large eggs</li>
<li>1 tomato</li>
<li>1 small onion</li>
<li>1.5 - 2 cups greens (Kale or Spinach or Collard Greens or Swiss Chard: Use what you like)</li>
<li>Salt and Pepper to taste</li>
<li>Smoked paprika to taste</li>
<li>8/10 lb of natural pork sausage (approximately 6 patties) OR ground pork</li>
</ul>
<b>Muffin Directions </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Preheat oven to 350 degrees</li>
<li>In a pan, cook the sausage patties and break it up into small pieces. Cook until crispy and brown</li>
<li>Use the pork fat from the pan and coat the jumbo muffin tins. This will help the muffins come out of the tins easier when they are done cooking</li>
<li>Cut up the tomato and onion into cubes. Cut or tear the greens into bite sized pieces </li>
<li>In a bowl, crack the eggs and mix them. </li>
<li>Combine the tomato, onion and greens into the eggs</li>
<li>Add salt, pepper and smoked paprika directly to the egg mixture.</li>
<li>Measure out a spoonful sized amount of the cooked pork and place into the bottom of each muffin tin. Evenly divide up the pork for the 12 muffins.</li>
<li>Measure 1/3 cup of the egg mixture and put it on top of the pork in each tin. If you have any of the egg mixture left over, just evenly divide up the remaining among the 12 muffins. </li>
<li>Put the egg muffins into the oven and cook for approximately 40 minutes. </li>
<li>When done, put a toothpick into the muffin to make sure they are cooked through</li>
<li>Take the muffins out of the oven and allow to cool</li>
<li>Place the muffins into a container and either enjoy them now or refrigerate them for later use</li>
</ul>
That's it! They are super easy to make and you can personalize them with your favorite veggies. The first time you make them you will want to check on them closely so you don't overcook them. We all have different ovens and 40 minutes is the perfect amount of time for ours, but you may have a hotter or cooler oven. So, just watch them the first time you do make the muffins. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tasty egg muffins with a side of sweet potato</td></tr>
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</b>Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-57443736370299973682013-08-31T12:18:00.001-05:002013-08-31T12:19:30.033-05:00Paleo Pancakes. . . a Saturday Morning Splurge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There is nothing better than sleeping in on a rainy Saturday morning. Oh wait. . . it would be so much better to have pancakes for your rainy Saturday morning snooze fest. Even a Paleothlete can partake in this most delicious tradition, it just takes a little bit of creativity. These were great after my long run Friday night and helped recharge my system. <br />
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If you are in the mood for some paleofied pancakes look no further than this very delicious recipe. I was insanely skeptical at how these would turn out, but they were delicious! I decided to double the batch and it fed both my husband and myself very comfortably. <br />
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<u><b>Tropical Paleo Pancakes</b></u><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Pancake Batter </b></li>
<ul>
<li>2 bananas</li>
<li>3 eggs</li>
<li>1 tsp vanilla extract (NOTE: we had homemade vanilla extract, but you could use vanilla bean too)</li>
<li>1/4 tsp baking soda</li>
<li>3 tsp finely shredded coconut OR coconut flour</li>
<li>splash of cinnamon</li>
<li>pinch of salt</li>
</ul>
<li><b>Tropical Fruit Dressing</b></li>
<ul>
<li>Frozen OR fresh mango</li>
<li>Frozen OR fresh pineapple</li>
<li>1 tsp vanilla extract</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Directions</b></li>
<ul>
<li>Use a hand mixer to mix all the batter ingredients in a bowl. Put some coconut oil in the pan and use 1/4 measuring cup to make the pancakes. The smaller the pancakes, the easier they will be to flip</li>
<li>In a saucepan heat up the frozen mango and pineapple. I just used about a cup of each fruit. Add the vanilla extract. When hot, use the hand mixer to chop up all the fruit into a smooth consistency.</li>
<li>When pancakes are cooked through, drizzle with the tropical fruit dressing</li>
<li>ENJOY!!!!</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the ingredients are reading for mixing</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pancakes are getting cooked!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVpqR5brnorWnxooSh4EAEp5ptfMHQoKADcgDmtmhs147DvOgfBG3z-0wCR3J4SiPLjSvkNflKH7z8t4LPpv1pJOm9P_sBACMHgvJRJ4enyzycESfKUxuUz0vOH3N60yMvsbiJTR_AYU/s1600/20130831_094943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVpqR5brnorWnxooSh4EAEp5ptfMHQoKADcgDmtmhs147DvOgfBG3z-0wCR3J4SiPLjSvkNflKH7z8t4LPpv1pJOm9P_sBACMHgvJRJ4enyzycESfKUxuUz0vOH3N60yMvsbiJTR_AYU/s320/20130831_094943.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tropical fruit dressing on top of the pancakes. A couple got a little overdone. Oops!</td></tr>
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<br />Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-65918050056992360522013-08-29T21:48:00.000-05:002013-08-29T21:48:12.506-05:00A Whole New Perspective With The WHOLE30I am currently half way through with Chiropractic school. In class, we learn a lot about nutrition and how that nutrition has an overall effect on our bodies. I won't bore you with the scientific mumbo jumbo, but the overall key point is that our S.A.D. (Standard American Diet) way of eating is full of inflammatory chemicals and mediators. The foods that we choose to put into our bodies can cause negative reactions to occur and can increase inflammation. Some diseases with known ties to diet are: Crohn's, Celiac Disease, Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Anxiety, Depression, MS, etc. The list goes on and on. . . .<br />
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My husband and I decided to do a little experiment and eliminate common inflammatory foods from our diets. This would include: gluten, dairy, legumes, alcohol and sugar. We don't eat a lot of gluten or legumes, but I am a native Wisconsonite and a LOVE cheese and I am a sugar addict. Those two categories were really going to be the biggest challenge for me. My husband brews beer, so that category would be the most difficult for him. We would be eating 3 meals a day. Each meal would contain protein that was the size of your palm, healthy fats and veggies. If you were hungry between meals, this means you need to eat more during your meals. We would be using coconut oil, avocados, olives and coconut as our fats. They recommend grass fed meats, but if you are on a budget you can buy regular store bought meats. If you are cooking with non grass fed animal products, you will want to trim most of the fat off the meats. The fat is where the animal stores most of the toxins that it is fed or injected with. <br />
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There is a wonderful program called, The Whole30. A friend of mine, Kelly, did this program and it really helped her change her way of eating and relationship with food. I decided that this would be the program that we would also follow. I went on their website and quickly bought their book and a cookbook that they recommended. They do not term this program a "diet". A diet is usually thought to be for weight loss and only for a short period of time. The Whole30 is an entire overhaul on your bodies relationship with food.You will gain a better understanding of the way that certain foods affect your body.<br />
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I have a definite emotional tie with food. Usually after long runs, I will "treat" myself to nutrient-lacking-fast-digesting food. These foods leave me hungry afterwards because my body metabolizes them so quickly. I feel like this emotional tie with food happens to a lot of people. Food makes us feel good. When we are having a bad day, we choose to eat food that will make us "feel" better. We know that when we put that cheeseburger in our mouth, we have created an emotion with that food and it makes us forget about our worries and be happy. The Whole30 teaches your body to stop having that emotional tie with food. Instead of eating a cookie to make our workday better, we teach our body to only eat food when our body tells us to eat food. We start listening to our bodies natural hunger signals versus overriding that system with our emotional connections with food. That is a VERY brief summary of the emotional connection with food that this way of eating will help eliminate. I highly recommend reading "It Starts With Food" to really grasp all the science behind the system. <br />
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Our journey began July 1st. The first week was a killer! I woke up to a terrible tension headache on Day 2 that didn't stop until Day 7. Like I said, I consumed A LOT of sugar throughout the day. I would always have a diet soda at lunch and usually a candy bar during the afternoon as my "pick me up". Not having these foods in my system showed me their true effects on my overall health. It was amazing to me. I feel like I eat fairly healthy, but dealing with what sugars were doing to my body really was eye opening to me. After the first week, the rest of the month was really smooth. I fell asleep and woke up feeling so rested. I had constant energy throughout the day, versus having sugar highs and lows which left me tired at the end of the day. I had ZERO cravings for junk food. I ate 3 meals during the day and didn't even have the urge to mindlessly snack on garbage food. The best part was that my husband and I made our new way of eating a real priority. We would spend Sundays in the kitchen prepping and cooking all of our food for the week. It was really nice getting to spend this time with him and know that we were doing something really good for our health and our marriage.<br />
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At the end of the 30 days, we were so excited. We really changed our relationship with food and didn't even want to revert to our old ways of eating. All the food we made was so delicious and we didn't feel bloated after eating our meals. We have made a decision to continue to eat this way for the rest of our lives.<br />
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This was just a very quick summary of my journey with Paleo. I just wanted to demonstrate that no matter how "healthy" you think you are eating, there is always room for improvement. You never know how you can truly feel until you give it a go. <br />
<br />Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-82822467151460344932013-05-04T11:44:00.000-05:002013-05-04T11:44:46.200-05:00The Paleozoic Trail Runs. . . Trials on the TrailsThe Paleozoic Trail Runs 50K/ 25K was held on March 16th, 2013 at the local Chicago land trail system at Palos Park. If you have never been to Palos and live in the Chicago land area..... what are you waiting for?!?! It's one of the only single track trail systems that has a great mix of hills and semi-technical trails. It's the local hangout for the mountain biking crew and runners alike. I was super excited about this race for several reasons:<br />
1) This was the first time an ultramarathon has ever been held in the park.<br />
2) It was the weekend before the Chicago Lakefront 50K, so it was a good test to see how I could handle two races during consecutive weeks<br />
3) I got to run it with my running buddy, Tiffany. (This was my favorite reason for running it)<br />
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The race took place over the St. Patrick's day weekend, so I made sure that we had some festive attire on. Luckily, Tiffany got us St. Patty's day socks. I wanted to make us look like leprechauns, but got some resistance from my buddy and decided socks would have to do. :) Just as an aside, we got a TON of compliments on our festive attire and I snuck in several "I told you so" to Tiffany.<br />
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I got to the park about 45 minutes before the race began. I went to the Start/Finish area to pick up my bib number, timing chip and goodie bag. While I was there, I got to see my friend Ian and Deanna. I thought Deanna was going to be running the 25K, but she told me the news that she broke her arm (again) and wouldn't be able to race. I was pretty bummed that she wasn't able to run and talked with her about the injury and how long she would be out of commission. She was going to spend her day helping us runners out at the New Leaf aid station. New Leaf Ultra Runners is our local ultrarunning group in Chicago and they were manning one of the aid stations. I got in touch with Tiffany and she came with her friend Caroline. This was the first time I met Caroline and she was running the 25K that day. It was her FIRST trail race, so I was so excited for her. We were all chatting with new and old friends when all of a sudden, the race director told the 50K runners to "START!" It was a little unsettling, since we weren't warned about the start of the race, but we just shrugged our shoulders and started to run. This race was a training run for me, so I just wanted to take it easy and have a great day in the woods with friends.<br />
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The course doesn't actually utilize the single track trail system, but follows the crushed limestone trails. I think this was due to the fact that the trails were pretty sloppy with all the snow, ice and MUD. Oh, I must have forgotten to mention the mud. There was so much mud on the course that it made the race pretty challenging. It was a great workout for the legs though. :) We spent the first part of the course chatting about upcoming races and life in general. I saw some friends along the way to say hi to. The weather was cool, but very comfortable. There wasn't a strong wind and it was mostly overcast. We got to talking to another runner that was actually from the Wisconsin area and she also had done the Windbreaker Indoor Marathon at the Pettit. It was fun talking to a fellow Wisconsinite. Then, all of a sudden we came to a road crossing. I knew for certain we were not on the course. The race director had told us that at every road crossing there would be police officers to direct us. We were stuck. We had no map of the course and we didn't know if we should backtrack or keep moving forward. Luckily, a man in a pick up truck came down the road and told us that we needed to follow the road because we had made a wrong turn. About 20 of us runners were running along this road and finally see the trail that we were supposed to be on. Oh well, a minor set back. No one really was too upset about the lack of course markings and I just kept saying "Well, at least we got our moneys worth". :) That's the beauty about ultrarunners, we are usually a very laid back bunch and don't get too upset about many things.<br />
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We were back on the course and almost back to the start/finish area. The course was two loops going east and then a smaller loop going west. We got back to the start/finish, got some fig newtons and sports drink and then we were back on our second loop. They also had these delicious gummy hearts that made me the happiest ever. I LOVE candy and I LOVE candy during races. It's a small treat to look forward to when you are out battling the mud and slop. I could start feeling my legs were getting tired, but I think it had more to do with the mud and my wet feet. My feet were sliding around and causing some small blisters to start forming. I usually never take my shoes off during races to treat my blisters. I usually just stomp my foot to pop them, because when I take off my shoes my feet love to swell up and then I have a hard time squeezing them back into my shoes.<br />
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We go to the New Leaf aid station and I got to see some friends and took pictures and got some more of those gummy hearts. . OF COURSE! By this point we were running with another friend, Nikki, from the running group. I hadn't seen her in awhile, so it was so nice to catch up with her. She was running strong and wanted to keep a good pace, so we said our goodbyes and she took off ahead of us. We were about a half mile to the start/finish area when I spotted something blue on the trail. I screamed, as I often do when I see weird wildlife while running. We stopped and saw that it looked like a salamander. Tiffany wanted to move it off the trail so that it wouldn't get accidently trampled over. I tried to pick it up, but it secreted a very strange white substance. Eventually, Tiffany rescued it and took it off the trail. We were laughing the rest of the race about the fact we spotted a salamander in the dead of winter. That was our good deed for the day and makes for a great story.<br />
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The start/finish area was in our sights. We made a quick refuel and were off on the small loop going west. This would be our last loop and was about 5 miles. This section was pretty tough with the sloppy mud and the hills. My feet were pretty mangled up from being wet and rubbing around inside my shoe. We continued our banter, got complimented on our St. Patty's Day socks and then did an Irish Jig. :) At this point, we were beyond slap happy.<br />
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With only a few miles left in the loop we saw a few women a head of us and got a little competitive. We kicked up the pace to move ahead of them and didn't slow down until we saw the FINISH area. We cruised into the finish. Ian handed us our medals and we also got a beer cozy. At the finish area I met another runner from our group, Tony. It was nice to finally meet him. I was pretty cold, stinky and my feet were killing me. Tiffany and I took a finish photo with our well deserved medals and then I hit the road.<br />
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With the course marking mishap, we don't actually have final finishing times. We ran a mile or so further than we were supposed to and many other runners either ran the correct distance, more or less. The race directors weren't able to determine who ran what distance. I felt pretty bad for the race directors, but this was an inaugural event and I really hope they will put this race on again in 2014. The volunteers were amazing and the aid stations were packed full of goodies. Sometimes, there are mishaps in races but other than running a little farther than I signed up for, I was really happy with how the race was directed and supported. It was a great run with friends out on the trails, which are two of my favorite things. Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-25410206662448197792013-05-03T17:40:00.000-05:002013-05-04T11:45:51.557-05:00Breaking The IceThe Ice Breaker Indoor Marathon and Half Marathon took place on a cold and windy day in January. The event is a weekend affair. On Friday night, they feature a 5K run, on Saturday they have the half marathon and Sunday morning is the marathon. If you sign up and complete both the Half Marathon on Saturday AND the Marathon on Sunday, you have completed the Gold Medal Challenge. This is what I had signed up for. I figured this would be great training to do back to back long runs. The race directors outlaw any personal music devices. When you register, you list two songs that you would like to hear and the MC will broadcast the music on the speakers. I must add, this race takes place at the Petitt International Ice Skating Rink. You are on a track that goes around an Olympic Speed Skating Track and there are two ice skating rinks inside the speed skating track. Needless to say, there is A LOT of skaters to watch and the building is temperature controlled so that means no brutal wind or chill during a January run. . BONUS!<br />
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Bill and I made our way up to Milwaukee on Friday night. I had my usual pre race jitters, but nothing too major. I knew I could run the distance, but I never actually ran a race on an indoor track and was worried that I would want to gouge my eyeballs due to sheer boredom. I think that was what I was most worried about. We got to my parents house and visited for a little bit before I decided to go up to bed and get some sleep. I had a half marathon to run in the morning at 7AM.
My alarm went off around 5:30AM. I was nice and rested for the race. My Dad was going to drive down with Bill and watch me during this first race. I love when my parents are able to come to my races. It's so nice to be able to have their familiar faces at a race, it always picks my spirits up. My Dad got us some pre race coffee, I got my bibs for the half marathon and the marathon the next day and then we went down to the track to figure out where I needed to put my drop bags and fuel. The really cool thing about this race is that there is only 1 aid station. You write your bib number on your bottle and your GUs. As you come around the track, you tell the volunteers your number and that you need your water bottle or GU and on your next lap they have it waiting for you and hand it off. You never have to stop at the aid station and wait. It was the coolest thing and the volunteers took such good care of the runners. After I got my water bottle marked and my GUs lined up, the runners went to the starting line.
The temperature in the building was perfect. I was very comfortable in my running skirt and I knew my long sleeve shirt was going to have to come off sooner or later, but I wanted to stay warm as long as possible.<br />
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The gun went off and we were off! I just wanted to run a nice and easy pace and didn't go out to set any land speed records. I just wanted to get used to the track and see how I did with 48 laps around the track. They have a large monitor that counts down your laps. In the early stages, I made sure NOT TO LOOK AT THE MONITOR! If you don't look at your lap count, it actually surprises you when you do finally look and see how far you actually went. I was running very nice and comfortably and loved seeing and hearing (they had a cowbell) my Dad and Bill as I came around on each lap. I took a GU at the half way point. The volunteers at the aid station were dancing and keeping us runners entertained. As part of the Gold Medal Challenge, we wear gold bibs so you knew who you were going to see tomorrow at the marathon. It was nice that the race directors gave us special bibs. The announcer will tell you on the loudspeaker when you are on your last lap and I couldn't wait to hear that "Leslie Jacobi is on her last lap". YIPPEE!!! I did a full out sprint and came in at 1:59. As I got off the track, the volunteers hung a bronze medal around my neck for completing the race. I was ready to rest and run a marathon the next day!<br />
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That night I went to sleep early. I was not as nervous about the marathon, since I knew what to expect with the track. The miles really went by quickly and I just hoped the same thing happened at the marathon. Bill and my Dad dropped me off at the race. This time, they hung around for a couple laps but decided to go visit some local places in Milwaukee and then they were planning on picking up my Mom so she could see me finish the marathon. I was planning on finishing the marathon in 4 hours and 15 minutes. I really wanted a 4 hour marathon, but as soon as I started to run I realized that unless I powered through I didn't think my legs would take me to a sub 4 hour finish. That's alright, I didn't do any speed work prior to the marathon so wasn't expecting a record setting time. I just really wanted to finish the miles in one piece. When my family left I was alone for the next 3 hours. The hours went by pretty quickly. I made sure not to look at the number of laps that I had left. I didn't want to focus on how many laps I had left, since that may have made me nuts. I was so excited when the played the "Imperial March". I'm a HUGE Star Wars nerd, so I fully appreciated the other "nerd" that requested that song. I got excited to hear my song that I requested "MGMT: Electric Feel". That song reminds me of our wedding reception and dancing with friends. I thought about that day and how thankful I am for being able to run, having a supportive husband and a loving family. I had a total of 2 GUs during the race, water and the volunteers would fill my bottle with powerade when I requested it. At about the 3:45 mark, I saw my Mom come through the doors. It was so wonderful to see her. I had been running so long without seeing my family and my spirits were instantly lifted. I started to cry tears of happiness when I saw her. I was ready to finish this thing out. I asked Bill how many laps I had left and he held up all ten fingers. Yes! I was almost to the single digits. I powered through the last ten and realized that my hopes of a 4 hour finish were not going to happen. But, a 4:20 finish could be possible. I pushed my very tired legs and heard the familiar "Leslie Jacobi is on her last lap". YES!!!!! I sprinted that last lap to a 4:19 finish. As I got off the track, the volunteers made sure I was alright. Then, they hung a silver medal around my neck AND a gold medal for completing the Gold Medal Challenge. <br />
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The race was organized FLAWLESSLY! They had a huge spread of food at the post race gathering and the volunteers spoiled us with answering our every demand. It was also so nice to see the fasties sprint around that track in record time. Also, running in a climate controlled environment in the dead of winter was also a plus. A few weeks later, I recieved a 2nd place age group award for my marathon finish. It was a pin that I have place next to my bronze, silver and gold medals.<br />
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I would highly recommend this race to anyone. You will not die of boredom and the miles really do go by very quickly. I can't wait until next year!!Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-52909894416252232782011-04-15T11:49:00.006-05:002011-04-19T16:55:28.247-05:00All That It's Crocked Up To BeThe many joys of a crock pot. This may sound a bit melodramatic, but I am in love with our crock pot. We got it as a wedding present and, when we put it on our registry, I had no idea how much joy and pleasure we would get from it.<br /><br />When I was little, I remember my mom making dinner in the crock pot. Everything always turned out moist and delicious. I remember the house being filled with the aroma of roasting meat. It also brings back images of warm chili during the cold days of winter. There is just so much nostalgia that is created by a simple kitchen gadget. <br /><br />Bill and I really enjoy a healthy Sunday night dinner and the crock pot has allowed me to make a great dinner, without sacrificing my Sunday preparing it. I have made pot roasts, chickens, pork tenderloins and meatloaf. My favorite is the meatloaf recipe. It uses ground turkey and shiitake mushrooms, instead of red meat. I love it so much I decided to post it and hopefully, you too, can enjoy this delicious dinner with your family. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kDTE84FFynaJVvXmFcJ712B_s-wXKWCpi14_CWWKg6_Xq_VWk8l668fFE7K8JIkunzTS8yN1r0F5zhsvXBQzyDFYaEsONwtKhvE7zaJRcNlYW3EHyJ0EcwODQ-4OpCgowA2WmXj4FaE/s1600/meat-loaf-ck-549823-l.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kDTE84FFynaJVvXmFcJ712B_s-wXKWCpi14_CWWKg6_Xq_VWk8l668fFE7K8JIkunzTS8yN1r0F5zhsvXBQzyDFYaEsONwtKhvE7zaJRcNlYW3EHyJ0EcwODQ-4OpCgowA2WmXj4FaE/s320/meat-loaf-ck-549823-l.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597406042128124882" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Ingredients</strong> <br />2(1-ounce) slices whole wheat bread<br />1.5 pound ground turkey<br />1 1/2 cups sliced shiitake mushrooms<br />1/2 cup grated fresh onion<br />1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning<br />3/4 teaspoon salt<br />2 large eggs, lightly beaten<br />1 garlic clove, minced<br />2 tablespoons ketchup<br />1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard<br />1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper<br /><br /><strong>Preparation</strong><br /><br />Place bread in a food processor, and pulse 10 times or until crumbs measure 1 1/3 cups. Combine the crumbs and next 6 ingredients (turkey through garlic) in a large bowl, and shape meat mixture into a 9 x 6-inch loaf. Place loaf in an electric slow cooker.<br /><br />Combine ketchup, mustard, and pepper in a small bowl, stirring with a fork. Spread ketchup mixture evenly over top of loaf. Cover with lid; cook on LOW for 5 hours.<br /><br />Nutritional Information<br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Amount per serving<br />Calories: 265 <br />Calories from fat: 43% <br />Fat: 12.7g <br />Saturated fat: 4.2g <br />Monounsaturated fat: 5.1g <br />Polyunsaturated fat: 1.7g <br />Protein: 25.2g <br />Carbohydrate: 12.7g <br />Fiber: 1.9g <br />Cholesterol: 152mg <br />Iron: 3mg <br />Sodium: 545mg <br />Calcium: 41mg <br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Trust me, if you decide to make this for dinner you will not be disappointed. It also makes delicious leftovers as well. Also, enjoy this meal with a beverage. I would imagine an India Pale Ale or Brown Ale would compliment this meal.Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-83753317801024804422011-04-10T06:04:00.005-05:002011-04-10T06:29:37.818-05:00Lake Bluff BreweryThe joys of a new brewery in the Chicagoland area. Bill and I were eagerly anticipating venturing up to Lake Bluff, Illinois to taste some new brews from the Lake Bluff Brewery. Our plans were ruined last week, due to the Metra train having some technical issues. This Friday, would be the day. The best part was that we would be meeting my very best friend up there for dinner. Bonus!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIC6LkNyYv08hRFFDtGFSpxQGCkaG8XSSKvTLvm31bK427K0rlrcZtYzeFjLQepJZ6rjf9uqoMU_WtomLlVCyX1QtPa4pEevg1lEhmFKGfG2CbtTD3V-u33AAgAV6iRGt1J4p7d7M5lE/s1600/lbbrew1%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIC6LkNyYv08hRFFDtGFSpxQGCkaG8XSSKvTLvm31bK427K0rlrcZtYzeFjLQepJZ6rjf9uqoMU_WtomLlVCyX1QtPa4pEevg1lEhmFKGfG2CbtTD3V-u33AAgAV6iRGt1J4p7d7M5lE/s320/lbbrew1%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593914829852956018" /></a><br /><br />I have been following the brewery on Facebook. I would highly recommend looking for updates on their Facebook page, since the web page doesn't seem to get updated as frequently. The brews that they had on draft were:<br /><br />- Inspiration Pale Ale<br />- Tis the Saison Belgian<br />- Belgian Monkey<br />- Black Squirrel Bourbon Stout<br />- Guest Brewery- Bell's Oberon and Bell's Amber Ale<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYs9tBz6-_FL80nLRqbLF3SmCUgj-5TktgSWZZdJ1mlWuSmxttccN7dIdks6oekSKWp4TXPUCiwK6BKTQhYqQxKyhav1FNdzmfSbmjJYK-P-GGnqJSEc7dIuHYaMDHWVmxCdHJD3YefE/s1600/brewery-opens-thumb-105x105-610421.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 105px; height: 105px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYs9tBz6-_FL80nLRqbLF3SmCUgj-5TktgSWZZdJ1mlWuSmxttccN7dIdks6oekSKWp4TXPUCiwK6BKTQhYqQxKyhav1FNdzmfSbmjJYK-P-GGnqJSEc7dIuHYaMDHWVmxCdHJD3YefE/s320/brewery-opens-thumb-105x105-610421.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593915262699305906" /></a><br /><br />I started with the Belgian Monkey and was very pleased. It was an average belgian beer, with a nice fruitiness and still packed a punch. It wasn't "out of this world", but it was very enjoyable. I then tried the "Tis the Saison Belgian". This was definitely not a typical Saison, but it was still good. I would categorize this as more of a belgian beer, not a Saison. I prefered the "Belgian Monkey" over this one. Bill tried the "Black Squirrel Bourbon Stout". It was very difficult to pick up any bourbon characteristics, but it was a solid stout. If the name didn't say Bourbon, I wouldn't have even known there was any kind of bourbon flavor. He also tried the Inspiration Pale Ale, which was also a pretty average Pale Ale. <br /><br />The menu is limited, since it's more of a Tap Room then a full out restaurant. We started with the hummus plate, which was pretty good. I had a turkey panini and Bill tried the pulled pork. The food was average. The space was very nice. It was crowded when we got there around 7PM, but seemed to thin out as the work crowd went home. <br /><br />We met two of my favorite people there, Tanya and Jon Citron. Tanya tried the Saison and enjoyed it. She is not much of a beer drinker, so I was surprised that she liked it. Jon enjoyed one of the Bell Amber Ale. This place definitely has an extensive wine list as well, so there is something for everyone. <br /><br />Lake Bluff Brewery just opened, so it will be very interesting to see how they develop and grow as a brewery. As long as they continue to put out well flavored beers and keep it interesting, I know they will have a successful run in that space. They are conveniently located at the Lake Bluff Metra station on the Union Pacific North Line. <br /><br />I would recommend venturing up to Lake Bluff to try them out. Just keep in mind that they are young, so their beers aren't as well developed as a more mature brewery. Don't expect to be blown away, just expect to enjoy your visit.Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-45141665882219406742011-04-04T09:25:00.005-05:002011-04-07T12:46:52.806-05:00An Evening of P'sAh how I love Friday nights. It's the end of a work week and the beginning of the weekend. Our Friday night plan was to head up to a brand new brewery in Lake Bluff, IL. It's about a 40 minute Metra Train ride from our place in Evanston. I was excited! Our plan was thwarted by a faulty Metra train. We waited for the train for quite some time, but the rumblings in our belly told us that we needed to get food and we were going to stay local. We decided to hit up this really cool gourmet pizza/beer place called "Union". Bill and I hardly go to this restaurant, because it usually caters to the "Martini" Crowd. We were both pleasantly surprised to see some decent beers. <br /><br />They had <strong>Pepe Nero</strong> by Goose Island on tap. This is a new beer for GI, so I was excited to try it. It is a Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale that is brewed with peppercorns. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXY3oEOQnkh98Hiv4y8W_ORfAyMBObipqE0rxhtuN7yR08hdAbrDZ6hnMRUy03AhGRQrxT-74ZEmBdIUX4_C3D0RoCtTu4HE_V8AylB9e_Ui9WTcKpfGiGmUmd7yRI0_Diudu6aI0B28/s1600/lPepeNeroBottle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXY3oEOQnkh98Hiv4y8W_ORfAyMBObipqE0rxhtuN7yR08hdAbrDZ6hnMRUy03AhGRQrxT-74ZEmBdIUX4_C3D0RoCtTu4HE_V8AylB9e_Ui9WTcKpfGiGmUmd7yRI0_Diudu6aI0B28/s320/lPepeNeroBottle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592896026660696274" /></a><br /><br />It has this beautiful dark color with a very nice roasty sweetness. It doesn't have a lot of body to it. I could definitely see myself eating a juicy steak with this beer. It was good, but not amazing. If you see on draft, I would give it a try. <br /><br />The second beverage I had was Bavik Petrus Aged Pale. I am a big fan of sour beers and this one was a slam dunk. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzkdj6wS5v87oPmq8H-iIvYUsXdXW0mP1FqdN0XQEOH0XUQvqxXPZmnyn4fNP8we8rqAQIPNwQ3Rl8YHLvYHw4jocoVIEWgggSuVTf8rPDMOZ-ihLMqNCc1eL3tjTJ1q2sdhv3AIk2IU/s1600/lPetrusAgedPaleBottle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzkdj6wS5v87oPmq8H-iIvYUsXdXW0mP1FqdN0XQEOH0XUQvqxXPZmnyn4fNP8we8rqAQIPNwQ3Rl8YHLvYHw4jocoVIEWgggSuVTf8rPDMOZ-ihLMqNCc1eL3tjTJ1q2sdhv3AIk2IU/s320/lPetrusAgedPaleBottle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592897828669063106" /></a><br /><br />As you can see by it's color, this beer is light and almost champagne-like. It is aged in wood for 24 - 30 months, so it has a delicious hint of oak. It has a delicate mouth feel and a slightly sour ending. If you are not used to sour beers, you need to take a few drinks of these types of beers just to get your taste buds accustomed to the sour taste. There are also hints of fruit as well. This was a really great beer and is definitely one of my favorite sour beers. <br /><br />The last "P" of the evening, was some awesome pizza. We got a pesto, goat cheese and sun dried tomato pizza. It didn't compliment our beers, too much, but everything was delicious. <br /><br />If you see Pepe Nero or Petrus at your local establishment, give 'em a try. You will not be disappointed. <br /><br />Lake Bluff Brewery is this weekend, let's hope the Metra trains cooperate.Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-40042351114048832132011-03-30T12:34:00.006-05:002011-03-31T13:06:03.819-05:00Who's Goosing Goose Island?In my neck of the woods, Monday mornings are pretty uneventful. I am usually wishing for the weekend to be longer and excited about the week ahead. This past Monday (March 28, 2011) was an atypical Monday. I got into work and read the headlines <strong>"Goose Island Brewery Sold to Anheuser-Busch"</strong> Say what?!?! Our very own Chicago institution sold? And sold to a company that mass produces watery garbage. I was angry, disappointed and mostly hurt by these events. <br /><br />Goose Island Clybourne holds a very special place in my heart. This was the site of a very special first date with someone who would eventually become my husband, Bill. I made sure to order something without any sauce (I'm a huge slob when it comes to eating) and during our conversation knew that this guy was going to be my life partner. Whenever Bill and I frequent Goose Island, I always remember that very first date and how lucky we both are to find each other. Plus, we both enjoy good quality craft beer! We enjoyed coming here, since we were supporting a local business that wasn't yet tainted by a large corporation. Needless to say, reading that headline really struck a chord.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Z2r5nkDW0xsUBKv9YwSFSZiRo92-8uww1nFnPxde4i4Kk-mf_c-08nDNBvAUwGSuu1OWwx7hHYtrdTCrLu7nazpA7hAXCY5YiMqI-MTGf-0dWN3r734CL_XWcWAUucyJANXCKrbGS9E/s1600/Goose+Island.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Z2r5nkDW0xsUBKv9YwSFSZiRo92-8uww1nFnPxde4i4Kk-mf_c-08nDNBvAUwGSuu1OWwx7hHYtrdTCrLu7nazpA7hAXCY5YiMqI-MTGf-0dWN3r734CL_XWcWAUucyJANXCKrbGS9E/s320/Goose+Island.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589949190638429458" /></a><br /><br />The Internet was buzzing with posts regarding how Goose Island was selling out and others felt that this was a good thing and would eventually increase distribution and production of Goose Island beer. The transactions details is that Anheuser-Busch bought Goose Island for $38.8 million. This includes a $1.3 million expansion of Goose Island's brewing facility and eventual capacity. Goose Island is no stranger to Anheusuer-Busch, as they have used them since 2006 to help distribute across the U.S. Some Chicago bars are now boycotting Goose Island and are not going to be ordering or serving Goose's products in their bar. <br /><br />So, what does this all mean? Well, it means that Craft Beer is definitely going through a change. I have yet to determine if that's a good thing, but I certainly hope that this will not mean the "Corporation" of Craft Beer and I also hope quality does not suffer. It would be a shame if Goose Island's beers turned into a glorified Bud Light. I personally, am nervous that the quality of the beers will decline. I also feel that craft beer should stay away from the huge corporations. The best part of traveling or being a beer nerd is getting your hands on a beverage that no one else can get in your area. You surprise your friends with this most coveted brew and it's exciting. You can do beer swaps with fellow nerds across the US. We are going to lose that with the current happenings at Goose Island. I think that takes away from the nostalgia of craft beer. <br /><br />Only time will tell if Goose Island really got goosed by a Bud Light.Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-9132569550238009372011-03-27T16:53:00.006-05:002011-03-29T21:13:18.831-05:00The Half Marathon PlungeToday was my first race since Rocky Raccoon 100 mile. It was the Chi Town Half Marathon and 5K put on by AllCommunityEvents.com. The proceeds went to the Special Olympics, so I felt good that it was a low key event (ie: No huge corporations getting the benefit) and it also helped a really great organization. Two of my friends were also running the race, Charles and Laura. Charles was running the Half Marathon and Laura was running the 5K. Charles is training for his first Iron Man in New Zealand next year, so this was his first foot race in quite awhile. Laura is a crazy fast runner. But, this race would be a PR no matter what she ran since this was her first race as a pregnant chick. And Bill came as our support crew. <br /><br />At 6:45 AM, we all piled into Laura's amazing old school Lexus (dubbed the Ghetto Sled) and we headed down to Lincoln Park Zoo. A picture of the "Sled". It's pretty amazing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsnTX447o7X9nAi67oPcp9jpJhyphenhyphenoGCwECQTmkv0DzrEUUGIhafW_moU9IPFS8wEHk-bszqZCOhcmtLahAqwtB-L-mZx0fA3v0sRiKQ-BeTIVerTg-ux0o3uDNaIMIxiVhvC3IdIRh8kk/s1600/Ghetto+Sled.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsnTX447o7X9nAi67oPcp9jpJhyphenhyphenoGCwECQTmkv0DzrEUUGIhafW_moU9IPFS8wEHk-bszqZCOhcmtLahAqwtB-L-mZx0fA3v0sRiKQ-BeTIVerTg-ux0o3uDNaIMIxiVhvC3IdIRh8kk/s320/Ghetto+Sled.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588883703360317282" /></a><br /><br />It was balmy outside (30ish degrees) and the wind was definitely making my feet and hands go numb. I was excited to see how my recovery was going and testing my legs. I was aiming for a 1:45:00 finish and I felt like it was a very realistic goal. This race had pace groups, so I stood between the 1:55:00 and the 1:45:00 pace group. I put on my headphones and we were off!<br /><br />My legs and feet were hitting the crushed lime stones pretty hard at the start. I think it was a mixture of my feet and shoes being cold and the path being cold. It felt great to stretch my legs and my pace was a 7:30 min/mile. I was getting into a rhythm and felt pretty darn good. The course goes north on the lakefront path up to Wilson and then loops back south. It was a great course, since the loops allowed the runners to see each other, which I love. <br /><br />At the first aid station, I got a cup of water and kept running through. My legs felt really great and I was excited. I decided to pull back on my pace and stuck to a 8:15 min/mile pace. After 4 miles I really felt warmed up and decided to take off my gloves. I was pushing through the wind and stayed on the non-asphalt section of the Lakefront path. We are very lucky to live in Chicago and have the beautiful Lakefront Path. There were bikers, dog owner, runners and walkers all enjoying the path and cheering the racers on. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_ZqmZOHPR_-VNvrzTNvBuNYZszn2Bl04fqFpnYiE7x2TTFBHIJI92dSEA1pFaGlugr0SJR1WwCmyTqDNkv8phOEviUQlZ8QTWub7o50i0Tmj2u-2_ZbSVB8PsBxYbo9EtSZ5AxiE5Dc/s1600/Lakefront+Path.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_ZqmZOHPR_-VNvrzTNvBuNYZszn2Bl04fqFpnYiE7x2TTFBHIJI92dSEA1pFaGlugr0SJR1WwCmyTqDNkv8phOEviUQlZ8QTWub7o50i0Tmj2u-2_ZbSVB8PsBxYbo9EtSZ5AxiE5Dc/s320/Lakefront+Path.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588891065130313730" /></a><br /><br />I used to run this path all the time a few summers ago and have decided that I will be making more frequent runs along the path this coming year. It's such a great resource that we have and it's so beautiful. After my daydreaming, we were coming up to North Avenue beach and the wind was making its presence known. My face started feeling very hot and I realized I forgot to put moisturizer on it. As I am writing this, my face has that familiar burn of windburn. Lovely! The Lake Michigan waves were magnificent as they crashed on the shore. We made a turn to go on the other side of Lake Shore Drive where we went through a nice little park to turn back around where we came from. This was a nice little section, since we got a break from the wind. <br /><br />Coming back north on the Lakefront path, I saw Charles and he looked like he was having a great time. He had a nice big smile on his face and was running strong. I got a little "pick me up" when I saw him and saw that big smile. I mean, that's what running is all about. Just enjoying yourself. I looked down at my watch and realized that a 1:45:00 was not going to happen today. My left leg started acting up and I was having a sharp pain going from the top of my hip all the way down my calf. Darn! I had about 4 miles to go. I wanted a sub 2 hour finish and that was still very possible. When there was only 5K left, we were circling back to the finish. I saw Laura (her race was already done with), Bill and our good friend Jeff cheering for me. Jeff lives in the neighborhood and it was great to see him out there. I looked down at my watch and saw I was at 1:50:00 and pushed towards the finish. I crossed the finish in 1:53:00. It was a little bit of a disappointing finish, since I had a goal and really wanted that 1:45:00, but was still happy with my finish and happy to have a post-Rocky race in the bag. They gave everyone a medal for finishing, I grabbed a banana and a cookie. (The cookies were awesome and should be at all post-race events). Bill tapped me on the shoulder and we headed over to Laura and Jeff. Laura finished 3rd in her age category! Her baby got his/her first age group award and I have a hunch him/her will have a gift for running. We waited at the finish for Charles to come through. We spotted him and cheered him to a great finish. <br /><br />We headed to Fountainhead for a post-race brunch and I got a very well deserved burger with sweet potato chips. Yum! <br /><br />All in all, it was a great morning. I got to test out my recovery and realized that I might have to schedule a leg massage and be more diligent with using my foam roller to roll out my legs. I got to hang out with some awesome friends and even got a medal. I highly recommend this race for a new or experienced runner. It had a great vibe, a scenic course and it's for a great cause. Next up, a marathon in Indiana next Sunday. I will not have a time goal in mind, but will see how my legs feel this week and just enjoy the run. That's what it's all about! :)Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-14446964812482294972011-03-21T09:29:00.005-05:002011-03-21T10:38:50.127-05:00Week 5 - Welcome to the Gun ShowI am in school for massage therapy, and throughout my studies have come to realize that many over-use injuries are the result of synergist (helper) muscles doing the job of primary muscles. <br /><br />For example, if you have a week transverse abdominous (your inner "belt" of abdominal muscles for posture) then other muscles have to compensate, such as your lower back muscles. <br /><br />Being a runner, I usually despise any non-running activity. It never gives me that same feeling I get after a run. I decided to try P90X. It is a DVD workout program, that stresses "muscle confusion". A kinesiology law states that your muscle will adapt to the force placed upon it. If all you are doing is running, your body becomes adapted to that activity. This can cause non-running muscles to become weak and other muscles to become over active. In other words, it's not good to just do one activity since overuse injuries are so prevalent. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2ubYrer7gR88xD0nG9kSJCCTiYnIYoCiWeLcL5wvI8iPPPS6dd-YnISo3iMRHM7GKLaYWleRuFQnzwKf6u-5R1pux8GNENk0kFwlPKkmPpXGXSGkkX7yiYAN080_0wr00BAbJTXw_5g/s1600/untitled.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2ubYrer7gR88xD0nG9kSJCCTiYnIYoCiWeLcL5wvI8iPPPS6dd-YnISo3iMRHM7GKLaYWleRuFQnzwKf6u-5R1pux8GNENk0kFwlPKkmPpXGXSGkkX7yiYAN080_0wr00BAbJTXw_5g/s320/untitled.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586557052234175218" /></a><br /><br />I started the program 5 weeks ago and I love it. It means I wake up earlier than I used to, but it's a lot of fun and I really feel like I'm getting stronger all over. This week is the beginning of Phase 2, which means things are going to be getting harder. (There are 3 Phases, but you continue to cycle through them so you are always on the Program) I never do push ups, but this program stresses push ups and I'm actually starting to enjoy them. This morning, the workout was biceps, chest and triceps. The Phase 2 workouts are definitely more challenging and I may have to get another pair of dumbbells soon. Right now, my biceps are pretty sore. It feels great!<br /><br />We will see where this takes me, but I'm hoping that this will pay off and increase my running performance and limit the amount of injuries this year. If you want, I would pre-order your tickets to the Gun Show. :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-azHCm-XBP7PakGMK4MNIQzkRZEPokx5uWNkwKMCu7nMZr79cbHuvwTGAtWQiLIL6xXnkkogxrmANHzxT8tVcwFGvHRlYMPUqSuYLaQ3mRkMYPrBNS-s_9VcIDpzfRdaX0S6aKImaGFo/s1600/Gun+Show.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 188px; height: 138px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-azHCm-XBP7PakGMK4MNIQzkRZEPokx5uWNkwKMCu7nMZr79cbHuvwTGAtWQiLIL6xXnkkogxrmANHzxT8tVcwFGvHRlYMPUqSuYLaQ3mRkMYPrBNS-s_9VcIDpzfRdaX0S6aKImaGFo/s320/Gun+Show.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586557346854437874" /></a>Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-43364488963189636032011-02-24T15:44:00.007-06:002011-03-21T10:39:52.226-05:00Rocky Raccoon 100 milerI believe I am way overdue for my Rocky Raccoon 100 mile race report, so here it is!<br /><br />We were planning on heading out of Chicago Wednesday evening and arrive in Houston. Thursday - Friday were suppose to be spent sight seeing around Houston and making our way for packet pick-up and pre-race dinner on Friday evening. Then, the race on Saturday - Sunday. Head back to Chicago on Monday night. The plan looked good on paper. . . . then there was <strong>BLIZZARD 2011!!</strong><br /><br />The blizzard hit Chicago with a vengence on Tuesday evening through Wednesday night. Scratch going to work Wednesday. Scratch heading out of Chicago Wednesday night. We luckily rescheduled our flight for Thursday AM departure. This meant waking up at 3AM, getting everything put into the car, shoveling off the car, and then driving (very slowly due to the road conditions) to Midway. We parked in the Midway Garage, which had snow drifts inside the garage. Grabbed a bagel and egg in the airport terminal and got on the plane to Houston, Texas! Wow, this was really going to happen. <br /><br />When we arrived in Houston, we checked into our hotel and took a well deserved nap. My left knee was acting weird and hurting. I put it in a knee brace. I wasn't sure if it was my nerves or if I was dealing with something serious. My left knee would continue to be on my mind until the race. Bill was familiar with the Houston area, due to his business travels, and we hit this really great restaurant "Flying Saucer". Great beer selection and awesome food. We even got an order of their pretzels. Yowza! It was the best pretzel I have ever eaten, seriously! Headed back to the hotel and got a good nice rest. <br /><br />Friday morning there was an ice storm in Houston. We watched out our hotel window to roads that were covered in ice and most of the highways were closed due to numerous accidents and icey conditions. I was beginning to feel as if this was some huge sign from a Higher Power. I mean, a blizzard and now an ice storm! I was starting to wonder about this whole adventure. As soon as the sun came out, the ice started to melt and we got on our way to Huntsville, Texas to pick up my packet for the race and to enjoy a pre-race dinner. <br /><br />We got into Huntsville and I started to get excited. I took in the scenary and visualized running through the woods. We went to the location at the area college campus for the race packet pick-up. The Race Director also hosts a pre-race pasta dinner and goes over the trail and the race. The big excitement was that Anton Krupika and Scott Jurek were going to be running. I was pretty excited to see them. I mean, what other sport can you compete along side elites? I think this is what I love about this sport. We met our friend and fellow Chicago Ultrarunner, Deanna. This would be her first 100 mile and I was so excited and thankful that she was there. It really helped quiet my nerves knowing that she was going to be there during the race. <br /><br />The dinner was actually pretty good. I wasn't hoping for much, but the pasta and the deserts were awesome. We chatted with Deanna and her friend that came into town to help crew for her. Bill and I realized we had some unfinished business to attend to and needed to head to Walmart to get me a watch. I forgot my watch in Chicago, and needed a way to know when to take my supplements/Advil/nutrition. We went to Walmart and saw Anton and Scott. I was a total geek about seeing them. Poor Bill.<br /><br />After the store, we headed back to the hotel to get things packed up and for me to get some rest. While I methodically went over my drop bag, nutrition, gear, supplies and shoes Bill headed to the local beer store to pick up some brews that we can't get in Chicago. My knee was still making me nervous, so I used KinesioTape and taped up my IT bands and did a complete taping of my left and right knee (for good measure). (As a side note, Kinesiotape is amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone that has a sport or activity that they due a lot of repetitive motions. On the KT website, they have amazing videos to show you how to apply and use the tape.) Finally, I got to bed.<br /><br />The alarm sounded in the morning, and I was ready to go. I was so excited. I wasn't nervous, I was just going to go for a run. This was my mentality since we left Chicago. This is the same message Bill always tells me when he has a run. He's never nervous, because he always tells himself that "This is just another run". We got to the start area and we found Deanna. It was great to see her and I was so happy that she was there. As we waited for the start time, Bill and I were in the starting tent. I looked at him and just started to cry. I just told him "I'm scared". I was scared, because of my previous attempt at a 100 mile race and dropping out of that race. Being the amazing guy he is, he just grabbed me and gave me a big ole hug. I needed that. After the emotions, it was time to start running. <br /><br />Deanna and I started the race together and continued for the overwhelming majority of the race. The wooden bridges were super icey in the morning, with a fresh layer of ice. Around mile 7ish we heard a woman screaming. As we approached, she was laying on the ground right by one of the icey bridges. There were a ton of runners helping her out. She couldn't move her foot and we later found out that she broke her ankle. I felt so bad for her, but knew that there were people helping her and this was a reminder to take it slow on those bridges. I cam here for a buckle and not a broken bone. After the first 2 hours, I took a Gu every hour and salt tab. We were cruising. The weather was perfect 30s - 50s. I was used to running in this weather and it felt great. Deanna was a ball of energy. She was chatting with everyone we met and I was so proud to be running with such an amazing woman. She really kept the pace up. My goal was to cover as many miles as possible during daylight, since I heard the nights were cold and very dark here. I knew when the darkness came, my speed would drop. So, the more miles done during daylight the better. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9et02Eqw8bsJDJq8lS0Btj5CVN3dQnVdfu9uZBEdrar2O9YIRalfec7cElQXCh-AuzH4ndwJ9KYsNMWiMIBY6dIFA3oZwXQG6c5ExdeJ4ETqsDwlvRaaWwzp4fK5_yEVqcVSuRKvfHGU/s1600/179850_10150094229654435_660309434_5844549_6438074_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9et02Eqw8bsJDJq8lS0Btj5CVN3dQnVdfu9uZBEdrar2O9YIRalfec7cElQXCh-AuzH4ndwJ9KYsNMWiMIBY6dIFA3oZwXQG6c5ExdeJ4ETqsDwlvRaaWwzp4fK5_yEVqcVSuRKvfHGU/s320/179850_10150094229654435_660309434_5844549_6438074_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585174966357430738" /></a><br /><br />We finished the first 20 miles in a little over 4 hours and continued this speed for the first 3 loops. I felt pretty good. I could start feeling the miles in my body around 50 miles. I made sure to keep calories in my body and pain under control. Deanna had 2 pacers that were going to run with her during the 4th and 5th loop. Somewhere in the 3rd loop, Deanna was flying and I decided that I needed to back off a little. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUqncjJbL8USiqDoy1ykgTjLYD_Uabj5bPATNv2659zQECiA7vv-CGYLD2X9KqD5gSok_bea1B2hWZxJlIJ0MEChXOQmIGii3qci5eUB029Yj_XEFD7R879jeDO7cD1fcpZHcK4SJ0U0/s1600/180107_10150094229864435_660309434_5844552_4571883_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUqncjJbL8USiqDoy1ykgTjLYD_Uabj5bPATNv2659zQECiA7vv-CGYLD2X9KqD5gSok_bea1B2hWZxJlIJ0MEChXOQmIGii3qci5eUB029Yj_XEFD7R879jeDO7cD1fcpZHcK4SJ0U0/s320/180107_10150094229864435_660309434_5844552_4571883_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585175192595214050" /></a><br /><br />I needed to run my race and I was getting nervous about the pace. So, she went ahead of me and I was alone with my thoughts and the beautiful trail. Bill was amazing and restocked my supply of Gu's, salt tabs, Advil and Perpetum. He mentioned that I was drinking enough perpetum and that I needed to increase that. I headed out for the 4th loop. More than halfway through the loop is this section of road that is super boring and you can see down the road and it never seems to end. I was running up a hill and heard Deanna's voice. She was with her pacer. She mentioned how great I was running and I knew I had to keep running as long as I could. When I start to walk, my body seems to shut down. But, as long as i'm running my muscles continue the movement. I wanted to stop and walk with them, but I knew I had a goal and needed to continue my run. <br /><br />I got into the start/finish to head out for my 5th and final loop. This loop sucked! I was walking more than I wanted and my body was yelling at me. I did a lot of talking to myself. On one of the CHUG runs, I was running with my friend Paige and she told me something I will never forget. That her fiancee Geoff always tells her to stay in the moment. I kept remembering that during this loop and kept telling myself to not think about the miles I had to do, but stay in this moment. It really helped me out and kept me in the appropriate mind frame. Most of the people I met along the way had a pacer and were walking. I felt a little lonely, but I kept myself company. :) Halfway through the loop, there is a mat that beeps and reads the timing sensor attached to your ankle. I was running with another runner and we heard that beep and knew we were halfway through the loop. As I crossed that mat I screamed out loud. This was going to happen! I kept up my run. As I came up to the next Aid Station the volunteers were amazing and made sure I was stocked up before I left. I had less than 10 miles to go! I started to tear up. Keep in mind, these last 10 miles there was a lot of crying on. It was crying from pain, but more all the emotions. <br /><br />At the next station, I saw Bill. I didn't need anything and just wanted to get out of that station as fast as I could. I think I had about 4 more miles to run. It was light outside and my mind started playing tricks with me. Along the trail, I kept seeing a figure in the trees and he kept messing around with the glowsticks that were hanging in the trees. It was weird and I started getting scared. I decided to turn on my IPod and stare at the ground. My head was messing with me and I just needed to focus. <br /><br />At about 2 miles to go, I passed a runner. He said "You look great" and I told him "You are one amazing liar". I didn't feel great, but it was a nice laugh. As I turned the corner, I saw the finish line. The finish is a long stretch of flat grass, so you can see all the way to the finish. I lost it and teared up. I wanted to get all the crying out, before I saw Bill. I'm a tough cookie and don't like to cry in front of people. <br /><br />As I crossed the finish (26:02:00), I clapped my hands and then just stopped running. For the past 26 hours, I was running and my body was not used to being still. Bill gave me a hug and the Race Director handed me the coveted Rocky Raccoon Buckle. It was beautiful and I couldn't believe I was holding it. I did it! I was an official 100 mile runner. It felt great.<br /><br />My body started to decompose the moment I crossed the finish line. My legs wouldn't move and I just wanted to get to the bathroom and some clean clothes. I tried changing out of my clothes, but I didn't want to miss Deanna finish. I knew she wasn't far behind me and I really wanted to see her cross the line. We headed back to the finish, just in time. Deanna ran in and she looked amazing! Her running gait looked fresh and you wouldn't even know she was running for 26 hours. She was so happy and I was so excited for her. She made calls to her friends to tell them the good news. I started feeling sick and knew I needed to get back to the hotel and lay down. We said our goodbyes to Deanna and we were heading back to the hotel. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3AV1lqI7d_H8qzSSIpOxr-kYhBm6T73vleL0Y0wZZmpJBBDZTu_xhEJ7VzOgxFaJMnfY6M_A7oIza9vAUw6cb_Si1Nfuj_d4x8NYvrmcOaeQcBbF67L99ZVVKjWIUtrgQJypED-vObk/s1600/180737_10150094231264435_660309434_5844571_5000359_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3AV1lqI7d_H8qzSSIpOxr-kYhBm6T73vleL0Y0wZZmpJBBDZTu_xhEJ7VzOgxFaJMnfY6M_A7oIza9vAUw6cb_Si1Nfuj_d4x8NYvrmcOaeQcBbF67L99ZVVKjWIUtrgQJypED-vObk/s320/180737_10150094231264435_660309434_5844571_5000359_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585175340238389586" /></a><br /><br />I hobbled into the lobby and the look that I got from the front desk worker was priceless. Bill explained that I just ran 100 miles. When we got into the room, Bill headed out to get some food. I hopped in the shower. We think the heat was on too high in shower, because I started getting sick and very dizzy. I laid down on the bed and luckily Bill was back from the store shortly. I got into some comfy clothes and it felt so good to be in comfy clothes and getting ready for a nap. I was able to take very short naps, but my body would wake me up with pain. <br /><br />The Superbowl was that day. So, Bill picked up a sandwich shaped like a football and chips/guacamola and salsa (my favorite)!! We watched my hometeam, The Packers, win the Superbowl. My dad called and said it was the best day, his daughter ran 100 miles and the Packers won the Superbowl. It was the best day! <br /><br />With the Kinesiotape, I had no knee/IT band issues at all. I will continue using that tape for events and during training. I will be going back to Rocky in 2012. I want to get the Sub-24 hours buckle. Until 2012 Mr. Rocky. :)Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-87836796985541453512011-01-11T16:27:00.003-06:002011-01-11T16:54:55.635-06:00Run Because You CanNo matter how grumpy or stressful I feel during a work day, there is always something that I look forward to... my lunch time run. At 11:30 AM I make sure to empty my protein powder into my water bottle and guzzle it down before 11:50 AM. At noon, it's go time. Luckily my gym is 2 blocks from where I work, so I head over there with my shorts, tank top, shoes and my Ipod. I quickly go to the locker room and change and then head to the treadmills. As a gather my hair into a pony tail, I am filled with excitement and all my worries are forgotten. <br /><br />This particular day I started out feeling sluggish and it continued throughout my workout. Some days I will start slow and then get into my normal gait, but it was not happening today. It was frustrating, since all morning I was thinking about how great a run would feel and here I was just plain miserable. I switched my music to hip-hop. . . not working.. . . then electronic music. . .no way. . then rock music. . .seriously not even rock is going to inspire me? I stared at the tv's to watch some CNN, but they were talking about bullets made with sound waves. Normally, this would be so interesting to me, but I wasn't enjoying my workout and sound bullets were getting on my nerves. <br /><br />Then, the treadmill next to me became occupied. It was a gentleman, late 60's and wearing cotton shorts and a t-shirt. He keyed in all his stats, time, incline and speed. He began to jog at a fairly slow pace and it looked painful. He had a gait which compensated for some sort of leg handicap. He used the momentum of his arms to help keep him in a jog. I quickly glanced at him in the mirror and his left leg was badly handicapped, but he jogged. I wondered if he was an athlete when he was younger or if he had a life filled with injuries and jogged, like I did, to relieve stress. I looked down at my legs and heard a big voice in my head say, "Les, stop your complaining and do this. This guy is jogging and handicapped and here you are healthy and able to run. . . so run!" I got over my complaining and powered through that workout, making sure to increase the incline as well. :) <br /><br />It got me thinking about how I take for granted my ability to run. I don't always realize that there are people out there who are unable to run and how luckily I am that I have found this sport and love it. How would I handle a situation where I was unable to run? I have had injuries which have left me out of service for a day or week, but I have never had to go months or even years without running. I'm not sure how I would handle this situation, but I know that after seeing that man jogging on the treadmill I have a new perspective on my running......treasure this gift that we have been given.Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-24344157426176872482011-01-06T15:26:00.003-06:002011-01-06T17:01:14.519-06:00A Running AdventureThis page has been pretty lonely for the past few months. I am a huge beer enthusiast, but am also a huge running enthusiast as well. Right now I am in the midst of training and have been a little less inclined to explore the vast arena of craft beers. Don't get me wrong, I have had some delicious brews over the holidays but have focused my efforts on running. So, I have decided to take this blog in a new direction and write both about my love of beer and my love for running. <br /><br />For the past few months, I have been in training mode for the Rocky Raccoon 100 mile race. It is in Texas the first weekend of February. My first attempt at the 100 mile distance was in June 2010 at the Kettle Moraine 100 mile. I made it about 88 miles and DNF'd (Did Not Finish). It was the hardest and darkest time for my running. I was mentally bruised by that DNF and was scared to run another race. I would go out for a 10 mile run and my mind would constantly tell me that I wouldn't finish that 10 mile training run. It was so hard to continue running, but I knew that I would get over the head games and get back to the sport that I loved so much. I fortunately have an extremely supportive group of friends (the CHUGs) and they constantly encourage me to keep running. It took me until October to run the Glacial 50 miler in WI. I made sure I ran slow and steady, since the only goal was to just finish. I finished that race and it got my head back in the game.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOe6reV2j9s0Y_-2XPuso_ivQlvK3TY5Bxyhq6_GXBUyO9Z8MRK6ST7PFxecZgj4tgpNklcTzhZwUKvHSb2ME99eRDmJAOd5zOzmuOtd-J0M0r49xefRwzl7aIR9vO5H9Z5wViPIqh60/s1600/rocky-racoon-buckle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOe6reV2j9s0Y_-2XPuso_ivQlvK3TY5Bxyhq6_GXBUyO9Z8MRK6ST7PFxecZgj4tgpNklcTzhZwUKvHSb2ME99eRDmJAOd5zOzmuOtd-J0M0r49xefRwzl7aIR9vO5H9Z5wViPIqh60/s320/rocky-racoon-buckle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559210512572372194" /></a><br /><br />I decided to give the 100 mile distance a fair fight and give it another shot, now that those mental demons were gone. My training has been very different to my training for the Kettle Moraine 100 mile. I run multiple times per day and I run my miles fast and run 50-60 miles per week. I have incorporated strength and massage in my routine. With the weather conditions, I do most of my running indoors. I feel that running a couple hours on a treadmill is a bigger mental excercise and it's really helped me become more mentally focused and strong. Also, when I think about the race I just get excited. I'm not concerned about not finishing, but I just visualize starting those last 20 miles and enjoying them. I've never been this excited about a race and I've never wanted to finish a race more than this one. <br /><br />I have already scheduled my 2011 races and I currently have 3 100 mile races lined up and a 24 hour race as well. The 24 hour race will be held on the track at my high school I'm going back to Kettle Moraine in June and fully expect to kick its butt. I mean, it's only right for me to get a little pay back! I hope you enjoy my running journey and I will keep you all abreast on the latest craft beer as well. <br /><br />-The Running Beer GirlLeslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8652369407357890674.post-78289418487749520952010-10-15T15:25:00.006-05:002010-10-15T16:04:43.212-05:00Not a Mooweizen, but a HEFEWEIZENI thoroughly apologize for the title to this post, but I just had to do it. It's like one of those really bad pirate jokes, that just makes you giggle like a school girl. <br /><br /><strong>On to the beer!</strong><br /><br />Our second beer review will be a Bavarian Hefeweizen. But I first wanted to introduce the style. We briefly touched on this style in "Where's the Wheat", but it deserves a bit more attention and appreciation. As you can guess, the Bavarian Hefeweizen is from the southern region in Germany. The Hefeweizen is brewed with wheat malt and barley malt. Due to the wheat malt, the beer has a nice frothy head and a delicious silky mouthfeel. It is also unfiltered, so all the yeast and proteins are included for your enjoyment. So what makes the Bavarian Hefeweizen so magical?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxzrZ561S6IQyC-y_9hVQ5elDOA8kJ8UIgeEjxqLAG5qeYFQm3kJGCGmAlTDo_FltzpeJU08y2eRKIq49eXLeNcpNVAlrhseJbxSMBUya_5Pfc8scICdJty38v-50B4uLxUkR8vPCYQ4/s1600/weihenstephaner-hefe-weissbier.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxzrZ561S6IQyC-y_9hVQ5elDOA8kJ8UIgeEjxqLAG5qeYFQm3kJGCGmAlTDo_FltzpeJU08y2eRKIq49eXLeNcpNVAlrhseJbxSMBUya_5Pfc8scICdJty38v-50B4uLxUkR8vPCYQ4/s320/weihenstephaner-hefe-weissbier.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528377805245734674" /></a><br /><br /><strong>The magic behind a Bavarian Hefeweizen is, none other than, its yeast.</strong><br /><br />Here's the low down on types of yeast. . . .<br /><br />There are two different types of yeast:<br /><strong>1/ Top Fermenting Yeast<br />2/ Bottom Fermenting Yeast</strong><br /><br /><strong>-Top fermenting yeast </strong>is the type that is used predominately in craft beers. It ferments at a warmer temperature and usually gives the beer a sweet/fruity taste. This is the type used in the Bavarian.<br /><br /><strong>-Bottom fermenting yeast</strong> is the type that is used primarily in cold brewed lagers (ie: Coors)<br /><br />The common yeast strain used in the traditional Bavarian Hefeweizen is a top fermenting strain that is called <em>Torulaspora delbrueckii</em>. This yeast strain imparts a banana and clove taste to the beer. This type of beer can be very difficult to brew, since temperature can increase/decrease any of the flavors and will throw off the overall ideal mixture of banana and clove.<br /><br />There is one thing I will never put in my Bavarian Hefeweizen and this is. . . . a <strong>LEMON</strong>. I feel like it is my duty to spread the word that a slice of lemon does not need to hang out on the side of your glass. A delicious Bavarian Hefeweizen tastes fruity, citrus flavor and spicy and does not need to be enhanced by a shriveled hunk of 3-day old lemon. At least try the beer before adding the lemon to capture the flavors that the brewer worked hard to impart into the beer. If you are a lemon-a-holic, try that first non-lemon sip. I promise you, you will not be disappointed. <br /><br />There is a trusty Bavarian Hefeweizen that is usually at most mainstream bars,Hacker-Pschorr Weisse (pronounced "Hacker Shore"). There are definitely better representations of this style, but if you want to try it, you will probably find this brand when you are out at a bar. If you don't see this on the menu, ask your neighborhood bartendar to recommend a Bavarian Hefeweizen. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBc2yFUhnD-QT_JOK15shy5mgq0YzGk0-Rnosiuc1obMgUL9s0_ds7-Z1JfpAi3TZb2SEnkNH3qm33UKUQ7LQPMI_BylsjAGC39V-1nSnnOII6a4AHNyB7f9ji9aL21UCqMoYiT-GE6U/s1600/Haacker+Schorr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBc2yFUhnD-QT_JOK15shy5mgq0YzGk0-Rnosiuc1obMgUL9s0_ds7-Z1JfpAi3TZb2SEnkNH3qm33UKUQ7LQPMI_BylsjAGC39V-1nSnnOII6a4AHNyB7f9ji9aL21UCqMoYiT-GE6U/s320/Haacker+Schorr.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528380203352744834" /></a><br /><br />Stay tuned for the next beer review, chosen by you!Leslie Jacobihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04592181746344935171noreply@blogger.com0