Terror on the Trail

I mentioned in yesterday's post, that Trainer C has been keeping my husband and I busy.   So busy in fact, that I've been cardio-ing it up everyday.  I decided to change up the scenery a bit over the weekend and thought that walking a trail through a local park would not only be exercise, but ever so peaceful.  Here's what happened instead.  I learned why I, Lisa Mowry, have no business walking alone on a trail in a park.

Issue Number 1: I have seen FAR too many episodes of Dateline, 48 Hours Mystery, what have you.  I have seen the horrors (via my TV) of what can happen to a woman on a quiet walk through a park.  Therefore, this walk was off to a bad start from the beginning.  I was way, way too jumpy. 

Let's have a scenario, yes?  Picture it.  Sweet little ol' me, just trying to rock out to a little Flo Rida, when I notice 5 teenage boys closing in on me on the trail.  Ten minutes pass...and they are getting closer.  What's that?  Ten more minutes go by, and two more teenage boys appear.  Seriously, where are they coming from?  So now it's me and 7 teenage boys on the trail through what now seemed like creepy woods and not a peaceful trail.  As they close in on me, I turn down my music so I can hear their plot.  Then...they pass me by.  Apparently, they were a cross country team or something.  They clearly had no interest in running in the 90 degree heat, so apparently scaring me was a ton more fun.  Ok, in their defense, I really don't think they know how my crazy brain was working.  I'm pretty sure that they were oblivious to me altogether.

Issue Number 2:
Dear People with Killer Dogs,

I understand that you love them dearly, and that you whole heartedly believe that they couldn't hurt a fly.  However, they are in fact considered to be killer dogs for a reason.  In conclusion, if your dog is on the killer dog list, please keep a tight rein on the leash.  Other people, namely me, don't love to be pushed up against the side of a bridge by your deadly pet.  While I am a huge dog lover, I am also a lover of life.

Sincerely, Annoyed Lady Pushed Up Against Side of Bridge By Killer Dog.

Issue Number 3:  I love nature, really, I do.  Not in a "I want to go camping" kind of way, but more in a "I'd love to read a book on the beach" sort of thing.  So walking the trail had all the appeal in the world to me.  What I didn't plan for was a snake encounter.  Sure, said snake might have been overlooked by many to be a worm, but since I was in hyper-defensive mode, I was on guard for any and all attacks.  Even though my snake was just a little guy, I figured he must have a momma.  Since I was in a particularly overgrown area, I was extra spooked.  Ever since my neighbor told me that snakes can climb trees, I've been a tree spy.  So the remainder of my walk was spent looking for other snakes by both scanning ground and sky.

So what do you think, was I relaxed and in a peaceful state of mind at the end of this hour walk?  Not really, and for that reason, I'm sticking to sidewalks and indoor machines.  That is unless I have a walking buddy with me, and then all is well.  I don't think Dateline or 48 Hours Mystery has yet to report on "Trouble on the Trail" when there were two people there.

With all of that being said, clearly you can see that I'm taking what Trainer C is saying to heart.  I am trying my best to follow his plan...at least for this week.  So in sticking with this "no grain" theory, I made chili for dinner last night.  Oh what a chili it was!

Last night, I made Rachael Ray's Chipotle Turkey Chili with Apples and Cheddar (p.105 October edition of the magazine).  Before you count this one out because you think apples and chili sounds weird.  I hear you, I understand that theory, but really...it's not.

My friend M and her son came over for dinner last night.  She was a bit unsure of the apples in the chili bit, just as I was a tad unsure of the toasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas).  We decided to make the recipe as written without changing anything.  We were both quite pleasantly surprised.  WE LOVED IT!  It really is a surprisingly delicious chili!  With 99% lean turkey meat, not only was it so tasty, but not even a tiny bit guilt inducing.  M and I give this 2 thumbs up each, and maybe even a big ol' high five.  Really guys, it's great stuff!  If you make this one, please come back and share!

FYI-To control the heat on this chili to your liking, remove the seeds from the chipotle peppers, and add in as much or as little of the chipotle/adobo mixture as needed to meet your desired heat level.

Link to Rachael Ray's Chipotle Turkey Chili with Apples and Cheddar Recipe