A Simple Lunch, Chinese Herbs, and Pictures of the Pups

on November 11, 2008
in All Posts

Good morning! I’m chugging along at work, but I’m REALLY looking forward to my run tonight!

 

Around 9:30, I had my mid-morning snack.  The camera ate the picture, but it was a Chocolate Chip Z-Bar. :)  After I ate my snack, I drove my dad to the airport (have a good flight, dad! Love you!).

 

Lunch was simple and yummy.  I’m making an effort to "bulk up" my meals with more fiber-rich, low-calorie veggies and fruits so I feel satisfied even though my in-between-meal snacks aren’t as large as they normally large (in case you missed it, I don’t fit into my wedding dress right now). 

 

I paired an open-faced sammie with carrots and Brussel sprouts, and I ended up feeling STUFFED!

 

My sammie included 5 slices of chicken deli meat and about 2 oz. of melty cheddar cheese on a slice of WW toast.

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The cheese is really a key addition to this lunch because that little bit of fat will keep me feeling satisfied so much longer!

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And for "bulk," a bunch of roasted Brussel Sprouts and 2 carrots.

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Chinese Herbs

 

As you know, Future Husband is studying to be a Doctor of Oriental Medicine.  He knows I’ve been super stressed out lately, so he gave me some new Chinese herbs to try:

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It’s called "Relaxx Extract" and contains a mixture of 8 herbs.  The Chinese view natural herbs as a great healing tool, and the study of herbs is one of the most complex aspects of Eastern medicine.  Maybe Future Husband can provide a comment on what exactly this is and why it works (if he sees this!)?  If not, I’ll write more tonight or tomorrow.  I feel relaxed already. 🙂

 

Puppies Galore!

 

Several of you asked to see pictures of Margaret Thatcher and James Bond this morning.  Here are a few pictures of my little models:

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Woof!  What kind of pets do you have (or had)?

 

**EDITED TO ADD:  Here’s my awesome finish line photograph from Sunday’s 10k.  Can you tell I was relieved to be done?! (Note: clock time is not chip time!)

{ 41 comments }

 

  • VeggieGirl November 11, 2008, 10:09 am

    Mmm, brussels sprouts & carrots!! VeggieGirl-approved 😉

    Interesting Chinese Herbs information!!

    Cute dogs!!! 😀

    **Here was MY beloved pet:

    http://veggiegirlvegan.blogspot.com/2008/06/beloved-miracle-gone-too-soon.html

  • girlrunningaround November 11, 2008, 10:15 am

    Cute puppies! We have 3 kitties, and they’re a handful!

  • *Andrea* November 11, 2008, 10:15 am

    a little cheese goes a long way 😉 your dogs are so cute. their names make them even cuter!! love it!

    i had a bunch of fish when i was little and gerbils as well as 2 box turtles! i always wanted a dog though… maybe when i graduate college and get my own place i will get my own puppy 😀 a girl can dream!!

  • Katie November 11, 2008, 10:28 am

    Awwww! My favorite is Margaret Thatcher (I think) in the witch’s hat with hair!!!

    I have two cats now, Betty Ford (Bedford) and Blue, and a black miniature poodle in New York named Charley. I miss him!

  • Bridget November 11, 2008, 10:29 am

    Thanks for the cute puppy pics!! I have a chocolate lab 🙂

    I love the finish line photo!

  • Halie November 11, 2008, 10:30 am

    I am determined to try Brussels Sprouts but I keep forgetting to get them when I go to the store! But they look very tasty!

    I love your dogs! I have a 3 year old orange pomeranian, named Ally, and she is very cute and for being a small 4 pounder she’s has a very dominating attitude. She’s got a lot of quirks which I won’t try to explain because for a lot of you it would be T.M.I.!

    I also have an orange cat named Kat, we rescued her about 6 months ago. She’s very pretty and very low maintenance and that makes me love her!

  • Amanda November 11, 2008, 10:36 am

    I have had all kinds of pets: dogs, cats, birds, fish, horses, goats, lambs, chickens, rabbits, ducks…

    But currently, I have a horse and a HUGE black German Shepherd. We also have a cat, 2 other dogs, and a bird. But, my German Shepherd is my baby 🙂

  • Mariel November 11, 2008, 10:39 am

    That is a great picture of you finishing the race! You inspired me to get brussel sprouts and I’m having them tonight with bbq tofu! 🙂

  • Oh She Glows November 11, 2008, 10:41 am

    That’s a wicked photo of you crossing the finish line!! 😀 I also love the doggie pics 🙂

    For those of you who have visited my blog, you probably have seen my crazy Bengal cat, Sketchie. One of his videos has almost 70 thousand hits on Youtube! LOL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0IdJpCe1Nk

    Have a great day!

  • amanda November 11, 2008, 10:46 am

    I have 3 dogs back home (they live with my parents) and I’m dying to get one of my own – my next apartment HAS to be one that allows pets 🙂

    Your race picture is so awesome – you look like the image of pure happiness! I think you must order it!!

  • Runeatrepeat November 11, 2008, 10:48 am

    I have 2 beastie dogs. They are both mixed, one is mostly lab though. I also have a cat that I found at the bank.

  • Jamie and Craig November 11, 2008, 10:51 am

    Oh my gosh… your puppies are SO CUTE! And keep us posted on that Relaxx Extract.I could use some of that right about now =)

  • Mrs. LC November 11, 2008, 11:10 am

    What an AWESOME finish line picture!

  • whatiateyesterday November 11, 2008, 11:11 am

    Cute pups!

    We have three kitties and they are all so different from one another but we love them all so much.

  • Erica November 11, 2008, 11:13 am

    I <3 your pups they are so freaking cute! Must be fun to hang out with them 🙂 I have an english bulldog (duh) named Frank who is the second love of my life! Growing up I also had a chocolate lab named Mackenzie, a spaniel named Megan and a hamster named Sherwood

  • ashley (sweet and natural) November 11, 2008, 11:18 am

    I grew up with Dakota the chocolate lab and Jake the Persian cat. They’re both turning 13 in the next month and still think they’re 2. I really want to get my own cat, but my roommate’s allergice! Boo!

    Awesome pic, btw.

  • Sharney November 11, 2008, 11:23 am

    That is such an AWESOME picture of you finishing your 10k! So very, very inspiring! (I love your running attire, btw)I also love all the pics of the puppies- so cute, as always!

    Your sammie looks so tasty- do you use reduced fat cheese?

    Have an awesome day today, Caitlin!
    Have a great run- I am also doing a 5 miler later on!

  • sarah November 11, 2008, 11:43 am

    wow-amazing race picture! and cute puppies of course : )

  • RhodeyGirl/Sabrina November 11, 2008, 11:47 am

    you have me freaking about my wedding dress too caitlin!! i have been too lax with my eating and exercising lately- thanks for inspiring me to get back on the wagon completely rather than hanging off!

  • Caitlin (see bride run) November 11, 2008, 11:48 am

    sharon – naw, im not a fan of half-fat cheese. i love my fatty cheese. 🙂 enjoy your run!

    rhodey girl – did you already buy your dress? my advice is to NOT buy a small size. LOL.

  • HangryPants November 11, 2008, 11:51 am

    Amazing picture! You and your pups are so cute!

  • jenngirl November 11, 2008, 12:00 pm

    Totally agree about the cheese, I’d much rather add fat to my meals than be snacky all day!

    Adorable pups!!

    I’ve had my cat since my 6th birthday (I’m 20), she is all-black and named Kiki, I need to post more frequent pics of her!

  • Maddy November 11, 2008, 12:07 pm

    Your finish line picture is amazing! It toally makes me want to be a runner (which I’m not) lol

  • magpie November 11, 2008, 12:11 pm

    That sounds very helpful (the herbs).

    I have a fat cat named Couscous, and I grew up with various dogs (2 mutts, a lab, and a pitbull) – not all at once!

  • greendogwine November 11, 2008, 12:36 pm

    aww i love the pupster pictures! 🙂 very nice!

    where do you buy that “relaxx” stuff – will it be available through the new site? just curious?

  • Caitlin (see bride run) November 11, 2008, 12:37 pm

    GDW – well, we buy our herbs through future husband’s school’s clinic, but yes, similar products will be able on the website. stay tuned!

  • Laura November 11, 2008, 12:39 pm

    I love that picture!

    I have a dog, Rocky, and a cat, Layli, right now. I’ve had several cats, 2 other dogs, and 2 rabbits in the past. Oh yeah, and some fish when I was little. I can’t imagine a life without pets.

  • teacherwoman November 11, 2008, 12:44 pm

    Love the pics of the puppies! I want one of my own so bad, but I am just not ready in my life!

    I grew up with a Shi Tzu (Desi), and then our family got another one (Kirby) when I was in college. My ex boyfriend and I had a Great Dane (Duke) too and he was wonderful…. an oversized protective cuddle bug!

  • Rose November 11, 2008, 12:52 pm

    That’s an awesome photo of you crossing the finish line! You look so happy.

    Love the pictures of the pets.

  • losangelesdaze November 11, 2008, 1:35 pm

    I’ve been following your blog for a while now and I must say, I love the food pictures!

    Does the Chinese herbal medicine work? My grandma is Chinese, and she used to concoct some strange things for when my mom and her siblings were still kids. I would definitely stick to the herbal stuff if I were you, don’t experiment with anything else.

    As for pets…currently I don’t have any (they are at home with my parents). Three labs (Indy, Scotty and Julius), and I used to have a horse (Captain).

  • Elsa November 11, 2008, 1:44 pm

    Awesome finishing picture!!

    We have a dog named Willis Bojangles who is part Rat Terrier and part Beagle (he kind of looks like your Maggie but not as long of course). Then we also have two cats, LucyLu (named after the actress) and Sofie. All three are my precious babies!

  • Ellen November 11, 2008, 2:46 pm

    mmm i love melty cheese too! i probably eat way more of it that would be considered healthy… i blame the cold weather! haha i just bought some Tillamook Reserve Extra Sharp Cheddar that was on sale at safeway, and omg it’s fabulous.

    i have had so many animals over the years, it’s kind of insane. my parents still have my Sheltie who is now 13 years old and still my baby. i love all animals, but parrots really have my heart. they are so intelligent and captivating.
    i had to give up mine when i moved across the country for school and i still miss them 🙁

  • angelcubbie November 11, 2008, 3:08 pm

    Hey Caitlin!

    Love the pic! My finish line pic from the Rock N Roll Marathon sadly has me looking away from the camera, I look like I’m crying, but I was..from joy : )

    So I was curious, are you counting calories again to lose the weight?

  • Caitlin (see bride run) November 11, 2008, 3:13 pm

    losangelesdaze- in our experience and through future hus’ clinical experience, YES! chinese herbs definitely work.

    angel – i reallllly don’t want to get back into the habit of calorie counting again, but i’m still “ballparking.” i’m just aiming to hit under my net needs without feeling like im going to chew my arm off. mostly, im just going to just clean up my diet, minimize alcohol and desert, and cut some unnecessary portions of bread, rice, and pasta. and i’m cutting out the large quanities of granola. 🙂 this is exactly why i don’t want to live like this all the time — it’s not very fun and its not worth it in the long-term.

  • Caitlin (see bride run) November 11, 2008, 3:14 pm

    angel – i might not have answered your question, now that i read it again. yes, i’m going to drop about 4 – 5 lbs so i can fit back into my wonderfully TIGHT size 2 wedding dress. dropping the weight will get me back to wear i was when i bought it, and i’d rather lose the weight then pay to get it altered. but once the wedding is over, i’m definitely going to go back to 119.

  • just me November 11, 2008, 3:15 pm

    i love the finish line picture!!! i def didn’t look as great in mine at the end of the rock n’ roll marathon! jealous!

    and wonderful puppies…wish i had mine back.

  • strongandhealthy November 11, 2008, 5:24 pm

    Love those dog pics!

  • Katy November 11, 2008, 7:21 pm

    Is James a feist? He looks a lot like my grandparents dog (his name is LAD [Stands for LA Dodgers]: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31841464&l=c732a&id=12700764 <–ignore the fact that my face is blinded by glare.

    But we have two. Obviously, Toby Rex [T-Rex… he's vicious.. haha] our Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: http://katyandclay.blogspot.com/2008/11/happy-holidays.html

    And then we have Lily Marie the jack russell that is currently at home in SC because she barks too much: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=35117230&l=93ed2&id=12700764 (that has Toby when he was smaller, too.)

  • Jordan November 11, 2008, 7:23 pm

    I love James’ new middle name =]

  • Caitlin (see bride run) November 12, 2008, 5:11 am

    katy – oh your grandparents dog is so cute! i think james is a mix of a german shepherd and a dachshund. he looks like your grandparents’ dog but then i look at other feists online and he doesnt really match the breed overall. how cute, though!

  • Tim Rosanelli November 12, 2008, 12:59 pm

    Man! You're dogs are cute. I have to start posting more pictures of my own dogs.

    Okay, here's our pet line up.
    German Sheppard – Sachi
    Weimaraner – Izzy
    Black Pug – Shelby
    Fawn Pug – Ace
    2 bearded dragon – Romeo & Kiki
    Rabbit –
    Cockatiel – Moe

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