January in Illinois

Well its yet another Thursday! So I went to the Dr. and he told me no running, elliptical, or Jacobs ladder for 1 - 2 weeks... So this week I watched even closer what I ate and only worked out with weight lifting... I was expecting maybe a small increase in weight... I feel different when I do not run now. Its not a bad different just a seance of I didn't do enough or sweat enough. My left leg has gotten alot better and is no longer swollen but I still ice it 2 times a day and stay off it as much as I can. Race day is only little more than 2 months away!

So i get on the scale today and I actually lost... 1.2 lbs down from last week. Its not my normal 2-3 but hey its a loss with 0 cardio, other than walking our dog... But hey that's good, I will take it! Now that the holidays are over I can get back on the weight loss track. Having that food around was just too tempting and tho I did not gain during the holidays I did not lose either. So lets get this going and make it last. The gym actually has not been that much busier than before the whole new year. But I guess going at 5 am will do that. I have went to the gym a few times after work and it is a little busier than before but thats what those new year resolution people do...

Its looking like when I get to start running again, I will have to take them inside to the treadmill. It is January and if you know Illinois weather that means snow. It has been in the 40s here lately and sometimes into the 50s. I dread running inside. It gets so boring, running watching a tv or staring at a blank wall is not too much fun. Then the gym thinks that running inside when they have the heat up to 80 is good for you. Do they not read that running in colder weather builds your lungs better for running.. Geish get with it hahaha. I enjoy running outside because I can go at my own pace. In the gym on a treadmill you set the speed and it never changes, unless you set up intervals but do not want to take that much time on a treadmill. What I like about outside is that the scenery changes, terrain changes and best of all I get to run by Teds Garage (restaurant), Pizza Hut, Mexican, and McDonalds...  Why do I like running past these places? Well since I gave up french fries for the new years and do not eat the greasy pizza and teds right now I love the SMELL... Yes yes I am one of those people that can get over the craving by just smelling it. Weird I know, but meh it satisfies my craving for that food. Breath deep during those sections of my run! I am going to try to start running again on monday... Lets hope for the best and that my leg will cooperate...

15-Minute Skillet Cassoulet


9 Pts Per Serving
Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients

	2 spray(s) cooking spray, or enough to coat skillet
	1 medium uncooked onion(s), chopped
	1 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced
	8 oz low-fat sausage(s), smoked variety, sliced 1/4-inch thick
	1/4 tsp dried thyme
	3/4 cup(s) canned chicken broth
	30 oz canned great northern beans, rinsed and drained
	1 1/2 Tbsp canned tomato paste
	1/2 cup(s) dried plain bread crumbs

Instructions

• Preheat broiler.
  
• Coat a nonstick ovenproof skillet with cooking spray and heat. Add onion, garlic and kielbasa and sauté until onion is tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add thyme, broth, beans and tomato paste; simmer 10 minutes.
  
• Sprinkle bread crumbs over beans. Place skillet under broiler until bread crumbs are browned, about 30 seconds. Yields about 1 3/4 cups per serving.