Winners Never Quit and Quitters Never . . .

That's me on the far left in the pink baseball hat. That's the Jones 10 miler and this is my race report which could also be called "More Lessons Learned": Bottom line - I ditched at mile 7 due to increasing pain from a pulled muscle. I knew if I finished the last 3 miles (up hill) it would mean some serious recovery time on the other side. Not a wager I was willing to take.

An update on my pulled groin - I have run twice since the race, very slowly and for only about 20 minutes each - the groin pull appears to not be getting better. Today it finally occured to my thick head to break out a fresh pair of running shoes. That has solved problems for me in the past - here's hoping. Okay on with the report . . .

I was going to write a little something just prior to that race proclaiming my reasons for doing it despite a nagging, sore muscle. People for whom I have great respect weighed in on the subject and suggested I not do it. So why, why did I do it? Here are a few reasons I had in mind (not necessarily in order of my ability to justify them):

1. I am stubborn
2. I really wasn't feeling any pain (while standing still or swimming or even jogging on the treadmill).

3. I wanted the damn T-shirt

4. I paid for it!

5. I tapered and ate a lot - so I HAD to run.

6. I wasn't going to "win" anyway.

7. Starting is more important than finishing

8. I could stop at any point

9. I said I would

10. Last but not least I trained for it!

As I continue on my journey of spending vast amounts of time, energy and money on technical clothing and the pursuit of making my body do things it clearly has no predisposition towards doing, I am stunned constantly by how little I know and how much there is to learn about this unusual culture. I did not finish the 10-miler this year but I learned some important things about myself and "racing" in general. I find some of these things somewhat simple and yet fascinating and so perhaps you will too.

Lesson #1: I should not have run the full course, plus a mile for good luck 2 weeks prior to the race. It was on mile 6 of that run that the muscle pull flared. Plus it caused me to be mentally "done" with the course prior to race day.

Lesson #2: If one starts a difficult task with the expectation of not finishing it, it is very likely that it will not get finished.

Lesson #3: When you are physically and mentally defeated (before even beginning) it makes getting passed by these two guys really difficult. I certainly would never want to come off as tarnishing the successes of another. And I have the utmost respect for anyone who is out there. But I am just sayin', just.sayin'! These two gentlemen appeared to be "slightly" older than me and made the run look so effortless that I would nearly describe it as speed walking. From the starting gun I was never able to catch the guy in the yellow shirt - he just got smaller and smaller in the distance and I played peek-a-boo with the guy in the hot pants for 6 miles before I gained a good lead on him going up a hill only to see him come barrelling down the other side past me (no coincidence that my quitting point was soon after). Point being that it simply underscores my biomechanical issues with running - there must be an easier way!

Lesson #4: Not sure there was anything I could have done about this but my race number was **2**. Yes as in number TWO. I found this to be completely intimidating, ironic and embarrassing (especially on the weekend of the Olympics). I had to tell a couple of people that we were clearly expected to come in in reverse order and so there should be one person behind me. Nice attitude, huh? Self fulfulling prophecy or cruel little joke?

Lesson #5: I will never, ever and I mean NEVER wear a T-Shirt from a race that I did not finish - not to mention that the race is sponsored my my corporate rival (Jones) and it is an absolutely hideous color.

Lesson #6: I learned that one should not abandon a race plan. Okay, little dorky confession here - I run with liquid nutrition (ie. fuel belt), i-pod, cell phone, identification, a couple of bucks for coffee, even a little toilet paper has come in handy more than once. I mean I might as well carry a damn pocket book. But the thing is, when I am out there, I am out there a loooooong time (cause I'm slow!). I am not getting it done in an hour under any circumstances. So I gotta have supplies. That's how I train and how I should race. But on this particular day I ditched the goods at the last minute because none of the "real athletes" were carrying anything. This was a bad, bad idea. For one simple reason. No, I didn't get dehydrated - there were water stations on the course and I actually didn't need my toilet paper. The problem is - I can't run and drink from a cup at the same time. I always drink from a bottle with a little nozzle. Cup = not my friend. I got to the first water station right at the base of the big hill, grabbed me a big cup of water, slugged it down my throat and started gagging, choaking and spitting it out my nose. Then I started wheezing - very attractive! The adorable little high school cross country kids that were volunteering at the water station seemed quite concerned and asked if I needed help. I said no, and then held my breath to stop the wheezing until I got far enough up the hill that they couldn't see me. Then 3 miles later at the next water station I repeated the entire scene. Again, any wonder my quitting point was not far from this spot?

Lesson #7 - This is the important one: Is it better to try and fail than to not try at all? If it were better to not try I can assure you that I would never run, bike or swim at all. "Winning" isn't really in the cards for me. There would have to be a whole other category set up. So really, for me it's all about the trying. So I don't regret getting up that day and getting out there and giving it a shot. What I do regret is not giving it my "best shot". So I guess what I learned is, it's totally okay to get out there and have it just not be your day and get smoked by a guy in fancy pants. But next time I decide to abandon my training, risk injury and not be able to bring my best - I'm gonna stay in bed.

PS> If anyone wants an ugly T-shirt, just let me know!

Runner vs. Type 1: 10 Day Countdown

There are 10 days until the DH Jones 10-Miler Road Race. This local winter race is notorious for it's tough course with large hills and many dirt roads. And notorious for poor weather conditions in late February. I think there has been sleet the last several years. Should be fun!

Here are some numbers that I have been thinking about. In the next 10 days I will run about 30 miles (including race day). My feet will strike the pavement approximately 13,200 times. Other than a little cross training thrown in there that's all I gotta do. 13,200 steps.

In contrast here's what Camryn's numbers look like for the next 10 days:

She will stick a needle in her finger to test her blood sugar approximately 100 times.

She will count carbs in her food and dose herself with insulin either by catheter or syringe 60 times.

She will have the catheter that connects her insulin pump to her body pulled out and re-inserted in a new location 4 times.

She will be disturbed in the night to have her blood sugar checked 20 times.

She will drink countless juice boxes to raise low blood sugar and dose with insulin to lower the rogue high blood sugar all while trying to focus on her school day, activities and homework.

A lot of people shake their heads and think running 10 miles is tough. . . It's not!

As always, we're collecting donations to JDRF for this event on our Ride Pledge Page. Please consider the following types of donations:

The pumper level = a mere $4

The Runner's level = $10

The Sleeper level = $20

The Carb Counter level = $60

The "Prick" level (as in finger prick!) = $100

The blood sugar roller coaster level - you pick the number!

Or the devoted Mom level = $13,200

Here's that link again: DONATE HERE

Oh, I CAN'T do THAT!

Today I had a good workout on the bike for 35 minutes and then a 5 mile run - giving it everything I had - no weekend "jog" on this one. It seemed like a really good time to meditate on the phrase "I can't do that". I've heard it a few times over the past couple of weeks. I heard it at work about facing career challenges, I heard it from friends who want to get in better shape, I heard it from parents in regards to taking care of chronically ill kids. As I started to tune in to this phrase throughout different aspects of my life I have reinvested myself in our family rule - two things a member of my family is absolutely not allowed to say to another member of my family 1) Shut up and 2) I can't do that. Oh and also, use of the "B" word - learned that one the hard way while working on a roofing project with my loved one. I am afraid of heights to begin with but being dangled by my ankles over the edge of a two-story roof has cured me of EVER uttering that word again, biiiig mistake. But back to the topic... (sort of).

Our son is named after a family hero named Michael Stratton, known as Strats or more recently in our home as "Big Strats". I never actually met Big Strats, he was connected to the other side of the family. He was hired by my father-in-law, back in the 70's as an outward bound instructor at the private school he was the head master of at the time. He became a really important part of the school and the family. He said "Never say you can't". Big Strats died in his 30's of brain cancer. His name lives on in our son and we couldn't let someone with his name go around saying "I can't". So we adopted the rule as well.

Now I totally accept that I am presenting this hypothesis as someone who is truly blessed in life. I have a loving and supportive family, a warm home, plenty to eat (maybe too much!). I have decent health and health care. So when I talk about facing challenges, I freely admit that I know NOTHING!! And I'd really like to keep it that way.

My assertion is, that when we say "I can't do that" what we are really saying is "I really don't want to do that" or maybe "I don't know how to do that" or my personal favorite "it's gonna take me a really long time to do that!". When my kids say they can't do something I like to ask them 1) do you want to do it? 2) do you think it is a good idea to do it? 3) what do you think it would take to do it? 4) do you understand how long this is going to take (as in do you understand the process?).

There are a whole lot of amazing people in the world doing things one would think are impossible. These people are inspirational. I was going to pull up a handful with some links here but I realized that the one I would start with is really all I need. Especially if you are not an "athlete" you need to check this out. I say that because most people who are involved in triathlon and endurance sports are familiar with this story. But this is not just inspiration for athletes. It's for anyone who thinks they can't do something, anything. So please take a look and then remember YOU CAN!

Grab a handful of tissues and click here: Team Hoyt

Thanks for Supporting JDRF!

Here I sit waiting for the temps to hit double digits so that I can get out for a "long" run.

It is long overdue that I give a public shout out of thanks from our whole family to those that supported JDRF through our efforts last year. We attended the 2009 Awards Ceremony last month at the Basket Ball Hall of Fame in Springfield. Camryn's Team was once again honored with the Platinum level award. Our family team raised over $11,000 for JDRF. This amount far exceeded our expectations for a year in which so many people are having trouble making ends meet. But as Camryn said in her letter - type 1 diabetes can't wait until times are better, we need a cure now! So many friends, family members and kind strangers heeded her call and gave so generously. Even more touching than all of the money raised however, were the many, many letters that Camryn received from people, many of whom we don't know who were touched by her story and the work that she has done. Last year was an amazing experience in Camryn's journey through the world as a kid with type 1 diabetes. From meeting the President to lobbying Congress for health care reform she learned about health, government, economics, etc. That's some big life stuff for a little 9 year old. Experiences that have changed her life, for sure.

Camryn's personal fight against type 1 diabetes has been taken all the way to the top - we've had the privilege of meeting some of the top research scientists in the world and hearing what they are working on to cure this insidious disease. Camryn is committed to being a part of the solution and continuing to do her part to help find a cure and help others. This year she has expressed interest in reaching out to kids who are newly diagnosed, and their families and helping them understand how to incorporate diabetes into their lives. She wants them to know it's going to be okay. We're looking into ways to work with our local health care professionals to find a way to get in touch with these kids. We also all continue to be concerned for those who do not have the resources to battle this extremely costly disease. Of course we continue to follow the debate on health care reform. We continue to use our affiliation with JDRF to garner support for new legislation, but in the meantime, there are kids with this pre-existing condition who can not get the health care that they vitally need.

And on the home front, as Camryn approaches her "tweeny" years we are working tirelessly on the lessons we all need to learn: what it means to take care of your body, making wise nutritional choices, being physically fit and active. And while these are all things that are on most people's new years resolution list and they may or may not get accomplished, they are day by day, hour by hour goals for a kid with type 1 diabetes. A poor food choice made at the breakfast table will surely result in a punishing afternoon. Balancing ones nutritional needs with physical activity is not just a "great goal", it is mandatory in order for these kids to make it through the day.

For these reasons, endurance sports remains a great metaphor for type 1 diabetes. On a long bike ride I can surely get in touch with what it means to have to take in proper nutrition in order to stay in an upright position. Exercise physiology and nutrition is a big subject - not entirely easy to understand, and much of it is what type 1 diabetics need to intrinsically know just to get through every day. So we continue on in our journey to both live with type 1 diabetes and fight for a cure. To that end here are some of the events that we will participate in this year:

The Ride to Cure Diabetes - the Vermont ride will take place in July this year, starting out of Burlington, VT. The Ride site opens tomorrow and promising the usual, amazing destinations of places like Death Valley, CA and White Fish, MT. Both are rides we hope to attend in the future. But for now we will be concentrating on our more local ride. If you are interested in participating in a fully supported Century Ride - you won't find a better ride out there. These rides are beyond amazing - if you are interested in learning more, visit http://www.ride.jdrf.org/.

The Cohasset Triathlon - This National Qualifying event is one of the largest volunteer driven fund raising events for JDRF. In the last 3 years this race has contributed portions of its proceeds to JDRF in an amount exceeding $450,000. For more info about this race visit http://www.cohassettri.com/. The race takes place on June 27. I will be proudly racing with Team Lyons. Click these links from more info about Team Lyons and also Tri Team For Diabetes. You can donate, participate and/or volunteer - but at the very least, check out the links, you'll be amazed and inspired by these people, I am!!

The Hartford Marathon - For the past several years JDRF has been an official charity of the ING Hartford Marathon. I hope to be participating in some way in 2010. I'd love to be running, whether it be the full, half or even the 5k. But I will settle for volunteering on behalf of JDRF depending on how my body has held up through the summer - this event is in October.

My training to participate in these events is well underway. My "tentative" schedule for the year includes many "training" events and at least one large personal goal. I offer it here as a means of commitment:

February - Jones Group 10-Mile road race (running that is)

May - Sudbury Spring Sprint Triathlon

June - Cohasset Sprint Triathlon

July - JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes

August - Half-Ironman 70.3 (event TBD)

October - Hartford Marathon (distance TBD)

So there we have it. Some goals for the kid, some goals for me and many thanks to you! The temp on my computer now reads 13 F, so time to hit the road. Happy trails to all.

2010: Ten Things I Won't Write About

I have lost track of this bloggy little thing. Partly for lack of time and partly for lack of knowing what is worth writing down. So for 2010 I guess I will offer up 10 topics that are plausible blog entries but I will do you the favor of not elaborating on them!

1. I got exactly what I wanted for the holidays: 15 lb weights and all the mint chocolate Gu I can eat!

2. I've mastered making gluten free bagels and am working on teaching my son to make them for me. The best of both worlds.

3. I've been working very hard on my run technique and am hoping to start building some mileage now for a 10-miler in Feb.

4. I bought a pair of jeans that I don't really need but bought them because they are size 6 and they fit! This is only newsworthy because just 3 years ago I bought size 20 jeans at that same store and sadly, they fit.

5. My kids have completed their first decade, I just can't fathom this, I really can't!

6. I am trying not to worry about losing weight - but I need to lose 5 lbs. to fit into the new wetsuit that I ordered.

7. I ordered the aforementioned wetsuit for use in the Cohasset Triathlon which I was able to successfully register for. I've made peace with swimming, but I admit that the thought of an ocean swim terrifies me. Maybe I have not totally made peace with swimming?

8. I have not been able to really set any firm "goals" for 2010 as my recovery from surgery over the summer has been longer than expected (not necessarily harder, just longer). But I'd like to be able to complete either an half-Ironman or a full marathon during this year. I won't be greedy and ask my body for both, but it would be nice?

9. I've got really good recipes for gluten free: coffee cake and sugar cookies. But these can probably wait until at least Valentine's Day. Oh and that Muddy Buddy recipe on the back of the Chex box should be illegal.

10. And last but not least, I will do you all the favor of not writing about my pulled groin muscle. Although I will tell you that I pulled it (rather painfully) while skipping in the snow in my driveway. I need not say more.

Wishing all a very happy New Year!

Diet & Exercise: There's Gotta Be More to the Story!

My little weight loss experiment:

I have read and re-read everything I can get my hands on regarding the subject of "calories in vs. calories burnt". Here is what I understand. When one burns 3500 calories more than one eats, one loses one pound. Simple, right?

With the absence of any weight loss despite eating about 1,300 calories a day and exercising 6 days a week I'm wondering what part of this story is missing? So I decided to do a little experiment. I visited The Daily Plate. For those of you not familiar, it is a rather nice, free website that serves as a food/exercise journal, calorie counter data base. I put in my stats and the lovely Plate told me that in order to lose 1 lb. per week I should consume 1,600 calories per day. So I say BINGO! Eureka: I'm not eating "Enough". That's gotta be it, right? Nothing else makes sense - read more articles and we hear about metabolic shut down when the body thinks it is starving, blah, blah, blah. That's it, right? I must be starving. I will be the first "chunky" girl on earth to starve to death and still be technically over weight! The daily plate is really useful because it tracks both calories in and calories out (exercise). So once I put my daily exercise in, usually averaging 400-700 calories, we're up to about 2,000 calories a day and still losing a pound a week.

So, here is the experiment: eat all of the calories I am supposed to (1,600 + exercise calories burnt) in a day, keep a food and exercise journal. Fill the calories with "good" food, in other words I can't just grab a giant bowl of ice cream to make up for the remaining 500 calories at the end of the day. I learned that complex carbs will pack the greatest calorie punch. First lesson - it's not easy to get 2,000 calories chewed and swallowed in one day without junk food. I actually fell a couple of hundred calories short most days and that is with eating 6 times a day. Second lesson, it is hard to pack a complex calorie punch without eating wheat/gluten. Okay, so I "suffered" through my little experiment for two weeks. Eating like a panda bear, munch, munch, munch. I felt good; good energy, well nourished for my workouts, slept well. During this time I did not miss any planned workouts. Ready for the big revelation? The outcome of my ground breaking medical experiment? I gained two pounds!

So clearly all of these articles and professionals that are so eager to tell us that this is quite simple - calories in vs. calories burnt are leaving out something critical. I think this little missing tidbit is the holy grail! I think it is this one missing piece of information that is fueling the billion dollar diet and fitness industry. I think it just boils down to the world being filled with endomorphs and ectomorphs. One can not change genetic predisposition.

And on that note I have read a few disturbing articles recently regarding running. This one appeared last week in The New York Times. Basically declaring that "slow" runners or joggers have no place participating in athletic events, namely marathons. It goes on to say that these people are not "runners" to further fuel the ire or the "slow running" scene I noticed a link to Pearl Izummi's ad on one of my favorite blogs. OOoooooo-eeeee were there some heated comments. So it seems to me that there are a couple of camps here. Fast runners who feel that anyone slower than them are not "real" runners and "slowER" runners feeling like they have every right to be called a "runner". Wow, sounds like a topic fit for the school guidance counselor at my kids' elementary school. I also read an article about how real runners should not wear ipods, they are unsafe and unproductive. The true athlete would become more inspired by their own breathing and listening attentively to their foot strikes.

Enter experiment number two. I decided to take my run today without my ipod (or dogs). I would listen attentively to my footstrikes, breathing and I would ponder the subject of what it means to be a "runner" and more importantly "am I a runner"?

Here are the results: 45 min. run, average heart rate 150, listening to my breathing: thiii-iiii-sssssss--hurr--rrrrr--tsssss, listening to my foot strikes: thump, thump, thud, thump. But here is what I conjured up from my pondering: One of the women that was quoted in the NY Times article, Adrienne Wald, a cross country coach said: "It's a joke to run a marathon walking every other mile or by finishing in six, seven or eight hours". The most absurd part of that comment is that Ms. Wald is a coach. She inspires young people to achieve? Hmmm.

So, back to me . . . am I a runner? Am I a jogger? Holy crap, am I just walking? Then I pause (in my mind, not my jogging, walking, sorta wanting to run, but not really feet) and I ponder this for a moment: Last spring when I ran my first half marathon, I was working hard. I trained hard. I was serious about building my endurance. I tried to build speed, but just could not find any. Then as I was giving it my best shot in Central Park, I came upon (as in caught up to) the Pace Leader. He's the guy who's job it is to "run" at prescribed pace. He was designated by a special

shirt and carried balloons with the pace (per mile) time he was leading on his balloons. Well, this pace leader who I was working so hard to catch up to was speed walking. I pulled up along side him, huffing and puffing and I grunted - Oh, my God!! Are you walking? He said, "yes, but I am walking really fast". So I said, "could I do that"? And he suggested I give it a try. So I changed my gait slightly, stretched out my stride, lost the bounce in my step and attempted to do that shake your booty thing that speed walkers do. Lo and behold, I was going the same speed as when I was "running". That was disheartening! I quickly abandoned that idea and picked up my former stride - my goal was to "run" a half marathon, and so I did!

Here is my bottom line, I do believe that the difference between running, jogging and walking is a bio mechanical one. I believe that the definition is in the stride. I have an odd obsession with looking at photographs of the feet of people who are running. Runners feet both leave the ground at the same time, they actually take flight. I also am a firm believer (and I practice) heart rate zone training. I think it is a rather shallow observation of a runner to refer to another as a "plodder" without more insight into the slower runner's level of exertion.

Am I a runner? No, sadly I do not think that I am. I am certainly not taking flight. I would like to become a runner - I am not sure of any other way other than to keep on "plodding" along, working on strength, flexibility and endurance. Seek the counsel of experts, practice, practice, practice. One thing is for sure, I will certainly not take the expert advice of Coach Wald, and just stay home!

Oh and one last thing - next time I will bring back the ipod - waaay to much brain work without it.

The Gig is Up: GF Food Review

I used to say that all I needed in the life was the three B's. That would be BEER, BREAD and BEANS (as in coffee!). Throw in a Swiss Army knife, a bandanna and some duct tape and I could be happy and self sufficient. Boy have those days changed. My need for comfort items has changed wildly and my B's have been seriously disrupted. Thankfully no one has messed with my coffee but those of us on a gluten free diet know that good gluten free beer and bread can be very hard to come by. This has not necessarily been a bad thing for me as I do credit my lack of beer and bread with a considerable (and much needed weight loss). It has been pretty easy to fore go the gluten free options. But what's happening now? Is my weight loss scheme in danger? A few weeks ago I went into a nice local coffee house and am usually able to just saunter right on by the case of baked goods - nothing for me there, no interest to me, not even tempted. But I stopped dead in my tracks as I came face to face with a giant muffin, oddly named - the fitness muffin, that was labeled gluten free! I had to force myself to look away and keep walking. Several weeks later I am still thinking about that muffin. What will become of me if I am once again faced with choices?!

Before giving my review of a couple of products that I have recently sampled I should add the note that I am picky about my baked goods and my beer. I have spent countless hours baking all types of wonderful (gluteny) breads. I loved baking bread and not only lost out on one of my favorite foods but one of my favorite hobbies. I also loved brewing beer. I never made anything quite as great as could be purchased but it was a lot of fun! So, these acceptable alternatives are just that - acceptable alternatives. I am not sure anything but a cure to Celiac Disease will come close to satisfying the real critic. But I offer these to hold us over in the meantime.

Beer:

I was very happy when gluten free beer started coming to the market a couple of years ago but after trying a few, including Redbridge and Dragon's Gold I actually found that I'd rather save the calories and my money. But now the gig is up - I recently tried Green's Beer. This is an import from Belgium. Clearly they know how to brew beer!! It is offered in a medium amber, a triple blonde and a dark stout. The dark stout being my favorite, I'm a Guinness fan and this was by far no Guinness, but it was an acceptable and palatable alternative. Very rich, a little on the sweet side. The amber was also very good. A little less sweet and more suitable with a meal. I did not care for the blonde, but that would not be my first choice in any beer so I may not be the best critic on that. I found it far too sweet and not "crisp" enough. But other reviews for the blonde are raving and I would give them more credit as again, it is just not my preference in beer. I purchased all three at Whole Foods. They were a bit pricey (as are all things gluten free) but come in 16 oz. bottles - great to share a bottle and not have to commit to a full six pack of crummy beer. Also, nice not to pay $12 (going price in some places for Dragon's Gold) for a six pack of less than mediocre beer. I believe the Green's was about $5.25 for a bottle. Again, expensive but oh soooooo good!

BREAD:

I have spent a lot of time trying to master a gluten free bread recipe. I think I came up with something reasonably respectable. It included every imaginable flour - brown rice, white rice, potato, tapioca, corn starch, almond meal and flax meal. A lot of work - okay return. I tried packaging it into smaller "mixes" so that it would be less time consuming. But ultimately my whole family decided that this bread was not really worth the trouble. After having given up on bread entirely for about a year - I gave in and tried Pamela's Amazing Bread Mix after reading several encouraging reviews. It is excellent! Most excellent is the fact that all you need to do is add oil, eggs and water, stir and bake. Could not be any easier. I also add 1/4 flax meal. Again, I find this product to also be a little on the sweet side. It may be the fact that I do not eat a lot of sugar and so I am a bit more sensitive to the sweet side of things. But this bread has sort of a molasses type sweetness to it. Not at all offensive - although fairly high on the carb count for diabetics. This bread is very moist in contrast to most dry, crumbly GF bread products. It also holds up pretty well unlike the many that go stale within hours of baking. Freezes well too. I use it to make sandwich/burger rolls that are so convincingly "normal" that my kid's friends at school were nervous that I had given them the wrong lunch. The kids came home squealing with delight that their sandwiches looked like everyone else's - that's important when you are 9!

And ONE MORE:

I take baking seriously! I am still prone to watching the Ace of Cakes while I am on the treadmill. I never, ever understood the purpose of "Brownie Mix". I mean, you melt the chocolate and butter, throw in a few eggs, scoop in the flour and sugar and you've got brownies. The same can hold true for GF brownies - and it is very VERY possible to make a delicious gluten free brownie from scratch. But again it involves many different types of "alternative" flours that need to be mixed in the right proportions. If you do not stock all these flours or are not into food science and measurement, this may be a task you just don't take on regularly. So to that end the other night, while making dinner I threw a batch of Betty Crocker's (NEW!) Gluten Free Brownie Mix together and into the oven to bake. Very, very decent brownies, piping hot from the oven and done with by the time I was clearing the dinner plates off the table. I have nothing negative to say about this mix - and huge kudos to General Mills for taking this huge leap in the right direction! I am not sure I can bring myself to try the GF chocolate chip cookie mix but again am so glad that General Mills is getting some skin in the game on this! The new Betty Crocker Mixes (chocolate cake, vanilla cake, brownie and chocolate chip cookie) can be a bit elusive to find. I was unable to find them in my area. But can be ordered somewhat reasonably on Amazon.

Now I better get my training into high gear as I can see this gluten free diet is not longer going to be an easy recipe for weight loss - think I'll grab a beer tonight!

Cheers!