Sometimes you just need to bake a cake...

[Running Mommy]

So most of you know of my Iron journey.. Well the last few weeks training has really ramped up. Last week I fought off a cold but still managed my key long weekend workout. This week I'm off and running- literally-, and riding, and swimming..
Well today I got into the pool and could barely do an hour. I managed my 82 laps and said "that's it". I was just physically exhausted. I think maybe a bit mentally fatigued as well.
So I've been craving a homemade chocolate cake ever since saturday. It's been like that Arbys commerical where it's hanging over my head. So I just gave in and am baking a cake! And DANG if it doesn't smell fabulous!! Of course I need to be LOSING weight- not gaining! But man am I going to have a wonderful dessert tonight! Of course thats after my 4 mile run! :p

[Melody]

Mmmmm cake.

Ok, I'm getting hungry again. :eek: heh :)

Mel

[Deanna]

I think it's best to give in to a craving now and then. Especially for a good homemade chocolate cake. I find that if I really crave something and then try to eat something "healthier" to derail the craving, I end up eating a bunch of "something elses" until I've taken in more calories than if I'd just had a little of what I wanted in first place!

[Lise]

I think it's best to give in to a craving now and then. Especially for a good homemade chocolate cake. I find that if I really crave something and then try to eat something "healthier" to derail the craving, I end up eating a bunch of "something elses" until I've taken in more calories than if I'd just had a little of what I wanted in first place!
Me too! I've had a bar of Lindt Bittersweet Chocolate in my car this week. I eat one square, two if I want. It's 85% cocoa, and satisfies the chocolate itch without making me want more and more, like M&Ms do.

RM, you remain my hero. I read Triathlete mag today while waiting for my car to get fixed. Then I went to the Y and got back in the pool for the 1st time since my last tri, in August. Swam for 10 min, got out and ran 3.5 mi on the treadmill. Bit by bit. I've got an 8K Shamrock Shuffle coming up beginning of April, and the 5K Run To Remember for the Policemen's Memorial Fdn at the end of April, then my 1st tri of the season, a sprint, on 5/21.

Enjoy the heck out of that cake. Your training will go better because you'll be happy! :D Lise

[Veronica]

I like to eat cake - but I never make any. Wanna come visit? :D

V.

[CorsairMac]

I always thought of cake as a vehicle for the frosting. I was so excited when I realized I could just buy the frosting in a can and skip the whole cake thing! Ahhh the joys of being grown up!

[texas_emily]

I always thought of cake as a vehicle for the frosting...

LOL. My sentiments exactly. Too bad the canned stuff is never as good as homemade!

[Veronica]

You know I just assumed RM was putting homemade frosting on it. If she's not I'll have to withdraw my invitation for a visit. :p

V.

[snowtulip]

After all that hard work and being sick, a little cake ain't going to hurt!:p I'm a firm believer in listening to your body and the little voice in your head (ok, within reason). Mmmm, I think I hear that little voice in my head telling me to join you. German chocolate cake sounds really good or a pudding cake, oh the choices!;)

[Running Mommy]

Ohh and it was SOO good!! I wish I could send you all a slice! Which of course would be a GOOD thing because then I wouldn't have this thing staring at me waiting to attach itself to my thighs and butt!! :D

[jobob]

A wise woman once told me if you're going to indulge, you should allow yourself to enjoy it to the fullest.

You really should take V. up on that offer. Even if she doesn't bake cakes, she makes amazing chocolate chip cookies.

I'm having flashbacks to the Sex & the City episode where Miranda baked the chocolate cake and gobbled it up in one sitting (er, standing), even after fishing part of it out of the garbage pail :p

[caligurl]

this forum is obsessed with food! :mad: :D :eek:

[SadieKate]

Why do you think I recently changed my signature line? The last couple of weeks I've had all kinds of cravings. I've just given in and am trying not to go over board horribly. The long days will be here soon.

[caligurl]

well... i can relate.. i did NOT want to ride yesterday after work (my new "resolution" is to NOT ride 6 days a week this year!) however after some thinking... i decided my fat arse needs me to ride! :eek: so off i went.. and i'll do the same today and tomorrow (doesn't help that we'll be in the 80's this afternoon!)

i've gained a good 5 pounds and feel like the biggest lard arse on earth :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: of course.. it's NOT the trips to in n out... tommy... uhm.. and definitely NOT coldstone! no.. they don't add weight! not at all! :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Running Mommy]

Oh my Tommy burger??!!! Now THAT is a gastrointestinal nightmare!! :eek:
But MAN do they taste good going down!! :p My 8yr old son is literally scared of them! He took one look at my husbands burger one day and went "what is Thhhaaaattt???!!" with this horrified look on his face! ha ha ha

I just got back from a HORRIBLE dentist appt. - root Canal! So no eating for me for awhile. My jaw seized up so they couldn't even finish! I have to go back in a week! oh the HORROR!! :confused:

[caligurl]

i have got to upload the pics i have of an EXTRA EXTRA chili on achili burger and EXTRA EXTRA chili on the chili cheese fries! i took it one time last summer for a guy on another forum that moved to texas from corona.. so no tommy's fro him :( but never got around to uploading them so i could share!

now talk about scaring someone! lol!

geez.. now i'm dying for tommy's!

toooooooooooooooo funny about your son! sorry about your jaw :( :eek:

[bikerchick68]

yikes... sorry to hear about your tooth :( ... but here's my address... send me the cake... ;) :D

[Lise]

I just got back from a HORRIBLE dentist appt. - root Canal! So no eating for me for awhile. My jaw seized up so they couldn't even finish! I have to go back in a week! oh the HORROR!! :confused:
Whoa! Can you keep training? I guess I don't see why not, although *I* could turn it into a reason to stop! :rolleyes: Glad you got in the cake before the mouth went haywire.

(((RM))) L.

[Running Mommy]

Yeah I did manage 20 miles on the trainer... sigh.. And it was 82 today! I could have ridden in my sleeveless jersey! But by the time I slept off the novocaine my son was home from school. The hubby is working in Vegas so I'm playing the role of single mom. maybe tomorrow after my 15 mile run I'll be able to take her out for awhile.
I think I actually had a reaction to the novocaine. I notcied after he gave me the shots (3 of them) that I was trembling. Then when it didn't seem to take he gave me some high powered juice and all the sudden my jaw wouldn't open. It's never fun when you see the look of panic on the dentists face as he says "OH MY, what is happening? Oh goodness it looks like the disc in your jaw has slipped. Oh my this is not good. ummm... hmmm.." as he's trying to massage it back into place and shaking my chin. OY!:eek:
He then had to do a "quick" fix just so that he could close it up without me being in pain. I guess he did get a good portion of it done, but I have to go back. He wanted me to see the TMJ specialist before he went any further... sigh.. It's always SOMETHING with me! Of course when he took all the stuff off and let me relax my jaw it seemed to have fixed itself?! Go figure??!! But he didn't want to take any chances. I think it was all the happy juice he pumped into me. My body does not like me injesting drugs. I'm allergic to almost every antibiotic out there, and sensitive to codiene. I'm a freak!! ha ha
But anyhoo... I'm still in the game. It takes more than a slack jaw to sideline me!! :D
But thanks for the thoughts!

[Lise]

I know they add adrenaline to the novocaine to "potentiate" it, or make it more effective. The last time I had a root canal (I've had three :( ), I was more nervous than usual for a variety of reasons. I started to shake, hyperventilate, and cry after they gave me the numbing shots. It was so embarrassing. That's when I learned about the addition of epinephrine, or adrenaline, to the novocaine. I later told my regular dentist about it, and he informed me that he always does the same when he works on my teeth. I guess I was just pumping enough adrenaline myself, already, that the extra shot put me over the top.

He had to give you three shots to get you numb? It may be that you got more adrenaline than you could comfortably handle.

On a happy note...I was just reading the Triathlete mag "Road to Kona" edition, and the page about IMAZ leapt out at me! How cool that you'll be doing that. How many years ago did you decide you were going to do an IM?

[Running Mommy]

yeah I guess it's standard practice for him to give three shots. He's an Endodontist so I figured he knew what he was doing?? He actually gave me the extra strength stuff when I didn't get completely numb after the first 3. thats when the jaw went haywire. Next time I'll just deal w/ it. I've never had that happen before, and let me tell you... I know my way around a dentist office! I've had more than a few root canals. My teeth are HORRIBLE!

I'll have to get that issue of Triathlete. I need to subscribe I guess.

It's getting close. I'll let you know when they post our numbers. I don't know if you know about it, but you can track me on Ironmanlive.com the day of the race. They also have streaming video of the finish line, so you may even see me finish... If I get that far! That is one sure way to catch the Ironman bug. Sit and watch people coming over the finish line and hearing " You are an IRONMAN".... I'm just hoping that I make it through the swim, because I know if I do and I can make the bike cut off- which I'm reasonablly sure I will- then I to will hear "Denise Amos YOU are an IRONMAN" and ohh how sweet those words will be.
I watched my friend finish Kona and I was BAWLING!! I was jumping up and down screaming at my computer. It was just like being there. VERY COOL!
I've actually had an Iron dream for a few years now. I was registered for last years race but I canceled. I had just moved to Phoenix the summer before and had a coaching break up. I also did the NYC marathon for the 4th time the November before and I was burned out. I just couldn't train for it. Last years race was really tough as it turned out. AZ had a very rainy winter, and race day had 30 mph winds on the bike course. I was a voly at a run aid station and it was horrible. In hind sight I know i would have NEVER made it off the bike that day. This year we've had no rain, and so far (fingers crossed) the winds have been kind. Of course you never know WHAT will happen race day, but I'm praying... and praying, and praying... I actually have a few prayers. They go something like this:
1. God give me the strength and speed to make it through the swim within 2 hours- or at least by the 2:20 cut off
2. God keep the wind at my back- or at least my side- but not my head. Though I know reality is the Beeline hwy is ALWAYS windy.
3. NO FLATS!! And if I have to get a flat, please put the bike support van near me cause I'm real slooww at changing a flat.
4. Get me off my bike and on the run by the 5:30pm cut off
5. God give my legs the juice to keep turning over on the run- and the mind to tell the legs that they have juice left.
If god answers these prayers I'm GOLDEN!!! :)
So the day of the race maybe I'll ask all my collective TE family to say a couple for me! It couldn't hurt??!!

[Lise]

I am psyched for you now, and it's 2 months away!

When I watched Kona last fall, I laughed and cried and cried and cried. I was sitting for my 2 yr old niece, who narrated the whole thing: "They running. They singing (music). Now they running agin. Now you crying. Why you crying Ahnt Eesa?" Me: "Because I'm happy, Maya. Sometimes grownups cry when they're happy." Maya: "They running again. Now you happy. They singing. You crying. You happy?" Me: "Yes, Maya, I'm happy." She got pretty worried about how much I cried! :o

I love getting Triathlete in the mail. If you go to buy the latest issue, and the "Road To Kona" isn't part of it (I got two mags together this month), PM me, and I'll mail it to you.

"Denise Amos, you are an IRONMAN!" Yes, you will hear that! I'll be watching, if I can. Keep us posted! :D L.

PS: I guess my goal is to hear: "Lise H****r, you are a HALF-IRONMAN!" ummm, maybe they don't say that. heehee.