Dare You To...

Wait For Your Entree

2012-02-24T17:53:00.003-05:00

Have you ever gone to a restaurant, ordered too many appetizers, and had THIS happen to your meal?

Doggie Bags!

Sure, it's nice to have something to take home and look forward to tomorrow, but do you really want to get so full from appetizers that you can't even stomach your main course??

Don't get me wrong; I love appetizers. In fact, the appetizer section is almost always my favorite part of a menu! I find the most appealing options there, and often do choose to get one or two appetizers instead of a main. It also works out well because the portion sizes are more realistic than some of the entrees are. So if that's your choice, like mine, then go for it! Enjoy those appetizers, those "small plates", but treat them as your meal, rather than course #1 in a gluttonous feast.

When out for a large family celebration last month, my relatives ordered a dozen appetizers for the table, which ended up each being family-style a very large plate, not typical appetizer-size. Most filled up, a few withheld from tasting to save their appetites, and me? I tasted a few small bites before deciding that I liked these appetizers a lot more than I would the entree I'd ordered. We're talking eggplant rollatini, balsamic calamari, and buffalo-mozzarella with roasted peppers, tomato, and basil. MM! I enjoyed these flavors so much, that I let myself dig in, vowing not to force myself to finish my entree. It worked: I was happy with my meal, and only had a bite or two of my main--fish and vegetables (below). Then, of course, I still had some room for dessert. I walked away feeling quite full, but more satisfied than stuffed. My appetizers did the trick.

Leftover entree, perfect for next-day's lunch or dinner!

If you're ordering on your own, I am not saying you shouldn't get an appetizer, soup, or salad for yourself; I'd probably encourage the opposite. But, when you go out with a group, it can be tempting to join in on the shared appetizer selections. If you want to, that's fine, but keep in mind how much they'll fill you up before your personal order arrives. If you start feeling overstuffed from the apps, maybe tell the waiter to just wrap your entree to go, so you don't feel compelled to eat that, too. If you would rather hold out for your main course, then consciously do so; don't give in to peer pressure to join in the pre-entree tasting. If the appetizers strike your fancy, feel free to make that your main.

My point--my dare--is to recognize the difference. Assess your personal hunger levels, your personal taste preferences, and your personal desire to have a bite of it all, or hold out and save your appetite for your main course. Try it this weekend, and you might be the happiest person at the table when you dig in to your entree, and everyone else is already loosening their belts.

Has this happened to you? How do you deal with food being passed back and forth before the real mean's even begun? Do you prefer the appetizer or entree section of a menu?

...What's your favorite popular appetizer? :)

Make Overnight Oats

2012-02-20T05:26:00.003-05:00

These are a few of my favorite things...

Chobani, walnuts, granola, raisins...

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Alright, I'm now finally a huge fan of oatmeal and granola, so it's about time I come around and try these "overnight oats" everyone raves about. No time to pour my mix-ins into my yogurt before heading out the door? This seems to be the prescription for when I know I'll have a very rushed morning.

The deal is, as I understand it, that you simply take your plain yogurt, some uncooked rolled oats, and whatever mix-ins you want (chopped nuts, dried fruit, etc.), and leave it in the fridge overnight, and, like magic, it will be breakfast in the morning. Well, seems pretty obvious, no?

Well, I gave it a try. This is the result.

Overnight Oats
- 1/2 cup yogurt
- 1/2 cup oats/nut mix
- 1/4 cup dried fruit (above, raisins. Also try bits of prunes, or apricots, etc)

Other tips:
- mix in 1/4 cup "milk" or water to thin it out. (I used Almond Breeze almond milk, see below.)
- add a bit (a tsp-Tbsp?) of sweetener (honey, agave) to taste

That's just what I happened to do on this one morning, but REALLY: these ratios are TOTALLY up to you! Depends how yogurt-y vs crunchy you want your oats!

Then, in the morning, you can either dig in cold, or zap it in the microwave for a quick, warm breakfast.

Dare you.

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Do you like these ingredients mish-moshed together? If you already love overnight oats, did I do this right? (Is there a even way to do it wrong?) Do you have tips, ideas, anything else we should know?

Rest and Recover

2012-02-17T22:27:00.003-05:00

This past week has been rough. I have been quite sickly, somewhere between a really awful cold and migraine-city. I've been buried in tissues and beneath my blanket. Not fun.

In the eloquent words of Queen Adele, "I've got a bit of snot."

source

Now, in general, I don't like to admit defeat to illness. I also like to abide by the "if you're only sick from your neck up, it's okay to work out" rule. When I wasn't feeling so hot earlier in the week, I really didn't want to give up my exercise. The previous week was so busy that I didn't do the classes or runs I wanted. This week, then, was supposed to be full of nice, long runs to make up for it. Instead, I ran one mile. Am I thrilled about that? No. But do I think I did the right thing? Yes.

I do prioritize fitness in my life, and that's something that I'm proud of. I treat my workouts with the same commitment as any other appointment or meeting in my calendar. However, just as I might sometimes have to postpone a date with a friend stay in bed and recover from illness, the same goes for workouts.

PLUS, the gym is no place for sick people. (1) It's infested with germs you do NOT want to be exposed to when your immune system is already compromised, and (2) you shouldn't be bringing your germs in to infect OTHER people!

Anyway, just sharing my disappointment (but acceptance!) of my less-than-stellar fitness these few weeks so that you all know that it's okay, AND it will get better. You'll get back on that road, into that gym, to that studio.

For me? I felt better this morning, so I went to my first Spinning class in two weeks. Within a minute of pedaling my feet, I started to feel like myself again, so ENERGIZED! It felt good to move, to sweat, to exhaust myself intentionally. Although it was frustrating, I'm glad I took a few days off to let my body recover a bit, because it felt that much better to jump back into fitness.

So when you're down and out, just focus on how great it'll feel when you're finally ready to get back IN.

What rules do you follow for working out while under the weather? How do you slide back into fitness after days, weeks, or months without?

WIAW: Love Your Veggies!

2012-02-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

It's time for another What I Ate Wednesday, with a special twist that I just couldn't pass up...

To VEG-ify our WIAW posts, Jenn encouraged us to not only eat our vegetables, but also to share all kinds of fun tidbits about our veggie preferences and habits. This was exciting for me; I've never been shy about my love for vegetables. In fact, my very first food post was a dare to "Eat Your Vegetables!" Check that out to see how I roast all kinds of vegetables to keep on hand for the week. Do all the cooking at once, and then they're so easy to toss in salads, omelets, wraps, sandwiches, or just on a plate with a protein. Go for it!

Today, I'm going to share with you What I Ate Last Wednesday. Hope that's okay.

In the morning before hitting the gym, I had a hefty bowl of Greek yogurt with blueberries, walnuts, and banana.

Where's my yogurt?

Oh, THERE it is! :)

OK, so I started by vegi-ful WIAW with fruit. Forgive me. But I love starting my day off with fruit, it tastes SO good in yogurt, and it was easy on the tummy before my Super Wednesday Workout! Sadly, the workout was less "super" than usual. Due to a busy day, I couldn't stay for Pilates, so I lifted some weights before going into Spinning. It did the job.

Back home for lunch, I made a nice, hearty, veggie-packed omelet. (Who says you can't have breakfast for lunch?) Such an easy way to up your vegetable-intake for the day. As always, some pre-made roasted vegetables were ready-to-go in the fridge, so I pulled asparagus and broccoli from there. Also took some "Baby Bella" mushrooms to sautee first, and set aside with the rest. Then, some eggs and a beautiful omelet flip later....

I needed some more color, so I threw on salsa! Tomatoes/peppers = bonus veggie points.

OK. All set for my busybusy day. Off I went.

In the afternoon, on the go, I pulled a snack out of my bag: Apple & Cheese. Easypeasy.

A just-missed train (wahhh) delayed my arrival home, so I bought another snack to tide me over til later.

I forgot that I like celery! I should stick them on my grocery list more regularly. (Don't feel bad for the carrots; I already knew I liked carrots.)

At last, DINNER! Leftovers from the previous night: Quinoa with Butternut Squash, Broccoli, and Mushrooms. In my opinion, anything with butternut squash is a winning recipe, but this really was a delicious combo. I can't wait to make it again! I also sprinkled some fresh balsamic vinegar on it (my favorite way to dress vegetables), and there's the dinner I'd been looking forward to all day. Still delicious!

Click to see how I made this

Some snacks were out at home, so after doing some work, I also noshed on Stacy's Multigrain Pita Chips with Tribe hummus. As much as I love veggies, I also love hummus!

So there you have it! That's what I ate Wednesday. What are YOU eating today?

Love Running

2012-02-13T20:41:00.002-05:00

Ten things I LOVE about running?

Ha. My response to this a year ago would have been, “Absolutely nothing.”

There's a Valentine's Day challenge out there, extended by RunChat, to spread your love for running. So, obviously, I accept. I dared myself to run, but have I come to love it? In some ways, my answer is still, "No, not really," but in other ways, I have certainly come to love the activity that I once loathed. The hardest part is still getting out the door, but once I'm on the move, gliding along, lost in my music, wiping away my sweat... I could call myself happy. I could say I enjoy it. Could I call it love? I'm getting there. Even if I don't love running entirely, there are certainly aspects of it that I do love.

10 things that make running bearable...

Just kidding! Totally joking. For real:

10 things I love about running:

1. You can do it anywhere: Your neighborhood, a track, a treadmill. You can take it on vacation with you. Geography will never limit your freedom to run.

2. Along with that: You don’t need any fancy tools, bells, or whistles. Sure, I’d soon learn that this isn't entirely true. There are all kinds of useful accessories out there to aid runners in their training, but at its core, running only requires your feet and an open road.

3. You compete against yourself. Top your own personal bests. Impress yourself.

4. Music. Tune out. Be motivated. Dance in your head. Dance for real.

5. The health benefits. Pretty self-explanatory. Click here to see why.

6. The “I Ran a Race Today” mentality. After my first 5k, I was walking on air the rest of the day. "I did it!" And thennn, it didn't matter what I did or didn't do the rest of the day, because "I ran a race today," and that was enough.

7. The variety: steady pace, negative splits, high-intensity intervals, lower-intensity intervals :)

8. The community. Runners like other runners. They like to spread the love. Newbies are more than welcome. In my experience, runners are always incredibly encouraging and supportive of new runners. Someone who ran five marathons will still congratulate a first-time 5k-er. There is so much to learn from beginners and professionals alike.

9. The challenge! Here at Dare You To, challenges are repeatedly extended and accepted. The great thing about running is that the dare is never complete. There's always a new dare, a new challenge, a new goal to strive for. Set a goal to beat a previous 5k time, or to run continuously for one mile longer. Beat the clock, beat the distance, beat your previous self. Always moving forward!

10. The moment you forget you’re running. :)

Happy Valentine's Day, runners and non-runners everywhere.

Make Fluffy Quinoa

2012-02-12T21:42:00.005-05:00

Yumyum. I'm now a quinoa pro. Doesn't it seem like just yesterday that this grain was a new food? So tasty, so easy, and so good for you! A complete protein masquerading as a grain! Sneaky. Learn a little about quinoa's nutritional profile here. Well, even though I'd mastered a basic quinoa, there's always room for improvement...

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Last week, I tried a new cooking technique, and it was a huge success. I have to direct you to Peas & Crayons for Jenn's instructions for making FLUFFY quinoa. I know that she and I and this recipe were all meant to be, bonded together by our love for fluffy unicorns.

The trick is rinsing the quinoa first, and then cooking it dry for a minute before adding water.

Brilliance. The quinoa was so fluffy, not bitter, just like Jenn promised. Wheeee win!!

But first, I sauteed mushrooms, pre-roasted butternut squash, and brussels sprouts. #veggies

When the quinoa is ready and fluffed, in go the veggies! Anndddd STIR.

I scooped some into a bowl for myself, tucking the rest away for later. Although it tasted delicious all on its own, I added about a Tbsp of my go-to, balsamic vinegar, to the bowl for a nice flavor boost. Mm.

So there you have it! Fluffy quinoa, paired with always-tasty vegetables, and you've got yourself a nice, simple, nutritious meal, that also happens to be delicious. Don't take my word for it; make it at home! Dare you.

It's so fluffy, I'm gonna dieeeeee

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Banana? Bapple?

Make Your Own Guacamole

2012-02-07T22:18:00.010-05:00

[ Avocado + Chobani = Guac Heaven. ]

Ah, Superbowl Sunday. It was a really nice day out, spent the afternoon seeing friends and wandering Chelsea Market, just being happy :) Then, it was time to head over to my friend's apartment for a food-filled Superbowl party!

Never to show up empty handed, I decided this was a great opportunity to make guacamole.

I played this one by ear, half-following a recipe discovered at Chelsea Market, and half making it up on my own. That's always the fun part.

Removed the avocado flesh from its shell, scooping it into a bowl. Added lemon juice, onion, garlic powder, salt, and red pepper flakes, for some kick.

Used a fork to mash it all together a bit, letting the avocado remain in chunks, because I love when you can really taste the avocado in the dip.

Once I had a nice, thick mash to work with, I added 4 ounces of Chobani Plain 0% Greek yogurt, to help smooth it out and lighten it up.

do mix completely, more than this half-mixed shot!

At last, add tomato, mixing a little bit in, and using the rest to garnish the top.

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DIG IN.

front and center

Read more for the recipe and gameday pics!

the secret ingredient

What are the health benefits of this tasty dish? With the avocados and tomatoes, you're getting a hefty dose of vitamin B6, folate, potassium, niacin, and oleic acid. These vitamins and minerals help kidney function, provide electrolytes, may help lower cholesterol, regulate blood pressure, and even help guard against circulatory diseases.

PLUS - Greek yogurt? Hello, protein boost! Plus, live & active cultures, so good for your gut!

Even though it was game day and nutrition wasn't at the top of everyone's mind, it's nice to know that some sport-worthy nosh can also be body-worthy.

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Guacamole
Makes about 2 cups

Ingredients

3 avocados
1 lime
1 small red onion or 1/2 medium
Dash of kosher salt
Dash of pepper
Pinch of red pepper, to taste
1 clove garlic, minced
4 oz Chobani Plain 0% Greek yogurt
2 roma tomatos, diced

Directions

Cut avocadoes in half, remove pits, and use spoon to scoop flesh into a bowl.
Add juice of lime, minced onion, salt, pepper, red pepper, and garlic. Toss and mash slightly using a fork, spreading the flavors but leaving some chunks intact.
Stir in yogurt to desired creaminess.
Toss in half the diced tomato and mix. Then sprinkle remaining tomato pieces on top of dish. Finito.

Be sure to pair it with a healthy dipper, like sliced bell peppers, baby carrots, or light, baked chip.

Be Skeptical, and Be Careful

2012-02-06T01:02:00.001-05:00

Did you hear the latest? Yoga can seriously injure you! It's not as good for you as everyone says!! Beware!!!!

Many of you may have come across the early January NYT article, "How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body." Basically, it tells stories of ruptured disks, popped ribs, everything from milk injuries to permanent disabilities, all caused by practicing yoga. It interviews yogis and other specialists who claim that certain poses could cause any number of debilitating conditions. It claims that yoga should not be practiced in the masses, especially among us Westerners who aren't accustomed to cross-legged seating positions that are the norm in India. The article basically scares people away from trying or continuing to practice yoga.

source

My initial reaction, quoted directly from the email response to the person who sent me the article:

Pshh. The same could be true of ANY form of exercise.

If you're not in a condition to run, or you lift weights the wrong way or choose too heavy weights,

you could easily injure yourself.

And my thoughts remain the same. Any exercise video will tell you before beginning, "Consult your doctor before beginning any exercise routine," or something to that effect. At the gym or studio where you take fitness classes (like yoga), you likely have to sign some form of disclaimer, deeming yourself fit to engage in the exercise. There are measures in place to remind you that not everyone is capable of doing everything, and it's your responsibility to discuss with your doctor/trainer/physical therapist what you're safely able to do.

Even after heeding (or, too likely, ignoring) that precaution, you probably have a decent sense of your abilities and your limits. If you've never done strength training before, you wouldn't go over to the bench, throw on fifty pounds each side, and see if you can lift it... would you? The same goes for any type of exercise. First, consult your doctor. Next, know your own body. And finally, ask your instructor.

In yoga, if you're new (or anything other than a yogi living in the mountains) and there is a pose you're not yet comfortable doing, sit back in "child's pose." Stand in "tree." Stick with the least advanced version of the move being performed. Master "pigeon" before moving on to "king pigeon." Slowly work your way up to inversions, like a shoulder stand, before attempting to turn your body upside down.

The article mentions instructors who make their class as hard as possible and leaves it to the students to modify accordingly. That's ridiculous. If s/he is going to be that demanding, the instructor should always make that very clear at the beginning of class, and offer some poses for newbies to defer to; otherwise, of course people will try to follow your lead, and potentially hurt themselves. If you're ever in a class and have questions, don't quite understand how to do the pose, or want some basic poses to start with, ask your instructor. That's what they're there for. You are the student, you are the one paying, and you are the one seeking help from THEM. It's their job to provide that for you. There are modifications and different levels of each pose for a reason. Use them.

There has been a lot of backlash since this article from the yoga community, and for good reason. Whitney at LiveRunLoveYoga gave a nice response, including video rebuttals from other yogis. Check that out here. Like any extremist article, this one just didn't give a full picture, and the reaction has attacked it accordingly. The title alone seems uncalled for, in my opinion.

But that's just me. The point is: think for yourself. Do your own research. Don't read and trust one source when learning about exercise. Talk to professionals, talk to your doctor, and learn everything you can.

Be skeptical when receiving information.

And be careful when practicing yoga, just as you should with all fitness activities.

Answer 11 Questions

2012-02-03T00:07:00.004-05:00

... or in my case, 23! (Well, that's ironic, considering that is my age, as of this very day! A convenient time to have an about-me post.)

Confused? Me too. Here's what's happening: I've been TAGGED!! "I'm it!"

There's a form of a chain-game going on in the blogosphere, and I've now been tagged not once, but twice! First MF Dre tweeted at me, "You've been tagged!" and so I checked out her blog to see just what was going on.

It's a GAME, and the rules are as follows:

You must post the rules. (Check!)
You must post 12 random facts about yourself.
Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.
Create 11 new questions for the people YOU tag to answer.
Tag 11 people and let them know that they're it!

Well, sure, this sounds fun! However, I'm awful at coming up with "fun facts" about myself, so I put off responding a few days until I had time to sit down and do so. But then, after seeing her this weekend, Keelie tagged me in her own post about the game! AH! OK, pressure's on. Now I've definitely got to play, and soon, so I'm no longer doubly "it."

11 Facts About Me

1. I'm a linguistics nerd. This is a side of me that hasn't aired much in my blog, but I'm very into languages, words, and the psychology underlying it.

2. On that note, I am fluent in American Sign Language. ASL and Deaf Studies is my other passion, the one with which I intend to make my living. (The health and fitness thing is all personal, for me and for you!)

Hanging out at the University for the Deaf

3. I can recite the alphabet backwards, effortlessly. I trained myself in the second grade and have maintained the ability ever since. Guess my 7-year-old self knew what was important in life.

4. I am a compulsive list-maker. I love making to-do lists, schedules, you name it. Writing ideas/goals/tasks down on paper and then (even better!) crossing them off.

5. Last Halloween, I dressed up as Curious George.

6. I am pretty darn good at writing poems, even on the spot.

7. Whenever I see penguins, I feel the need to imitate and join in their waddle dances.

Which one am I? Can you find me?

8. As my boyfriend tells me, I read too much. Yes, I read books for pleasure, but he's talking about the reading I do online, in magazines, in books, or listening to podcosts, where I learn the dirty, frightening details of life in our modern world and the negative ways it can affect us. Then, I try to make smart changes to avoid said scary bad-for-you things. This is when he shakes his head and says, "You read too much."

9. "Friends" is my all-time favorite TV show. Give me a line and I'll complete the joke.

Friends fans get it

10. I am extremely superstitious. Knock on wood, wear a red ribbon, sleep with my pajamas inside out and backwards, make a wish at 11:11.

11. I am a child at heart.

Blending right in at the Harrods toy department

READ MORE to see the the Q&As!

MF Dre's Questions

In what moment of your day do you feel most free? After my morning workout. I feel awake and energized, strong and in-control, and have my whole day still ahead of me.
Brag for a moment about one of the accomplishments you're most proud of. I suppose I'm proud of my recent commitment to running. As a former anti-runner who could barely run a mile, it feels amazing to complete 3 miles or more at a time. I've proven to myself that I can change and become stronger.
You're having a dinner party. How many people are you inviting, and what would you make? Hm... I would probably invite 10-12 people and I would make a giant vegetable buffet! :D All different vegetables with unique seasonings and marinades. MMMM veggies :) And dessert would either be blondies or frozen yogurt. (OR BOTH! Why not.)
Do you prefer to work out in the morning? At night? Not at all? Definitely the morning, first thing if possible, before my mind catches up to what I'm doing. It wakes me up, gives me energy for the day, and sets me on the path to make healthy choices all day long. Plus, then the workout is behind me, and there is not chance of skipping out on it later!
Which reality TV show has succeeded in sucking you in season after season? None? It's not that I don't watch reality TV... I don't know. I do watch clips from singing competitions year after year, although I no longer sit down week after week, season after season, to watch any one show. (I now prefer The Sing-Off over The X-Factor over American Idol.)
What is the most random thing you put Peanut Butter on? Oh no... this is where I finally make the confession that makes me lose ALL my followers... I don't put peanut butter on anything. I do not like peanut butter. (GASP!) No, wait, please let me explain... I still make it for others! I'll happily bake with peanut butter for those I love! I promise I'm not a martian! (And if I did like it, I have a feeling I'd like it on banana.)
Would you prefer to live a long life or a broad life? Broad, I suppose, although... Maybe "long." I definitely want to live a long life so I can watch and know my children, grandchildren, and, G-d-willing, great-grandchildren.
Prius. Love 'em or hate 'em (regardless of the fact that anyone who drives one is a horrible driver)? ...I honestly have no opinion here. Sorry!
What song are you embarrassed to say you love? Hmm.. showtunes? I'm not embarrassed about it at all, though. I love broadway and musicals.
Valentine's Day? Love it or hate it? And what should I do for the Mr? Love it. It's a nice opportunity for couples to celebrate together and share with each other why they love the other. A chance to do something fun together. It can be as big or as little a "deal" as they wish! I like experience 'gifts', where you get to do things together, or a token of appreciation. For guys, I say go with some sort of experience, like a couples massage or a concert.
What is your best advice for me in my first full marathon this year? Just have fun, and take in every moment and commit to memory every emotion as you cross that finish line. Whatever your time, be happy, proud, and grateful for your outstanding accomplishment.

Keelie's Questions

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Oh goshh I looooove to travel. (See my first attempt at travel-blogging here.) If I were forced to settle down in one place, it might be the city of Paris. It might be the beaches of Greece. It might be a village in Italy. Or, really, I kind of like the US. Is that weird?
What do you want to be when you grow up? A healthy and happy mother. (And an ASL Teacher...)
What's your least favorite food/beverage? I loathe soda. Anything with carbonation. Yuck.
If you could only do one physical activity for the rest of your life, what would it be? In general, or for exercise purposes?
If you were reincarnated as a dinosaur, what kind would you be? A stegosaurus. (I don't know why.)
What is your favorite dish/meal to make? I like mish-moshes. I like throwing together whatever ingredients or pre-prepped food I've got in my fridge and pantry and making the most of it.
Name your favorite childhood memory involving food! My grandfather telling me that if I kept eating so many pickles, I'd turn into one!
Who inspires you? (To do well for myself:) My parents. I like to make them proud. (To do well for others:) I know a young woman who really, truly puts others first. She asks how you are, and wants to hear the answer. She is the most generous, selfless, yet modest person I know, and she inspires me to be a good, caring, compassionate friend.
Who is your favorite artist (musician, painter, actor, poet, sculptor... any medium)? I don't like choosing favorites, but I'll tell you that my sister and I share a love for Renoir's Girls at the Piano, find it here.
If you had $10,000,000 to give to charity, which charity(ies) would you give it to? I'd probably start with Make-A-Wish, and then do more research.
What is your idea of a perfect day? One with no obligations, only the freedom to choose and have fun.
What's your favorite inspirational quote? Most recently, it's: One day you won't be able to run*. Today is not that day. (*Insert your own passion, hobby, aspiration)

PHEW now that that's over...

BUT WAIT! Because I was so slow at getting this post out (I wanted to save it for my birthday! 23 questions on my 23rd? Come on! ) , I was tagged, again. Thank you Toni at Running, Loving, Living! (Gosh, I feel tripley honored!) Fortunately, Toni's questions for me are pretty short and sweet, so here we go:

Toni's Questions

What is your biggest dream? To have a healthy, happy family
Where would you love to live? South Carolina. I don't even know what makes me say that; I've never been.
Hot or cold? Vacation? Hot. My home/bedroom? Cold.
What is your biggest fear? Spiders.
What is your favorite TV show? Friends!
Dog or cat? Dog, all the way.
What is your favorite food? Chocolate. Vegetables! Sushi. My mom's baked ziti.
What is your favorite exercise? Body combat
Sun or snow? Sun
What is your dream vacation? Italy's Cinque Terre, or I'd go back to Greece in a second, to another island. Something with a beach, but also hikes and interesting sites.
Would you ever consider plastic surgery? I don't like to say "never," but pretty close.

Okay, now that it's actually over, you're probably sick of hearing about me. Your turn!

My questions for YOU:

What made you laugh this week?
If you were a dog, what breed would you be?
What book--any type--do you recommend most right now?
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Team Gale or Team Peeta? (If you don't know now, you'll know by March.)
What's your go-to recipe?
What's your favorite color highlighter to use?
Are you superstitious?
What sparked your commitment to healthy living (food &/or fitness)?
What was your favorite childhood stuffed animal / blanket named?
What's your favorite color to wear?

I tag...

Krysten at The Misadventures of a Darwinian Fail
Callie at The Wannabe Athlete
Liz at I <3 Vegetables
Jenn at Peas & Crayons
Paulette at Just Keep Running
Stephanie at Run For Fun
Morgan at Life After Bagels
Brianna at See Bri Run
Katelyn at Chef Katelyn
Christine at Oatmeal in my Bowl
Shannon at Confessions of a Fat Momma
Amanda at Diary of a Semi-Health Nut

12 for good measure. Just in case! (Honestly, folks, NO PRESSURE!!!!!!!
Seriously. I'm not usually into chain-things, except when I got 'tagged' three times, I had to accept the challenge.)
Plus, it gives you a chance to learn a little more about me, food and fitness aside :)
Hope you enjoyed.

TAG! You're it!

Make plans, but allow for changes

2012-02-01T01:49:00.005-05:00

This title of this was taken from a Dove chocolate wrapper opened years ago that I liked, saved, and is now on my inspirational bulletin board.

"My moment, my dove"

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I have more of these Dove wrappers than I care to admit.

Ten days ago, I made a plan to make up for a slow week and to complete the 50 miles I needed to run in January to stay on pace to reach 600 miles in 2012. How'd it go? To be honest, I feel like I butchered the plan. Not because I was lazy! or sick! or tired! or busy! Sure, I was very busy, and very tired, but the reason my plan got a but... reorganized... was simply because life happens and plans change.

When a car mix-up made me late to the gym, I did weights on my own instead of in my group class. When a work opportunity presented itself on Thursday and I had to make myself available all day, Thursday became my rest day, and I mentally relocated those five miles planned for Thursday to Saturday. When a blogger meet-up gave me the opportunity to try a Kettlebell Kickboxing class, you bet I took it!

What you plan may not end up being what actually happens.

Things came up, my plans changed, BUT I GOT MY MILES IN.

Even when I was lacking sleep and my legs were sore from a new workout, I made sure to hit the pavement. Keep running, gotta reach 50! I refuse to fall behind on my resolution so early in the year!

Yep! Today I went out into 60-degree January weather (WHATT?) and started melting immediately. I did NOT need to be wearing my long sleeve shirt. Or my crop pants. Or any clothing at all, for that matter.

Mission Accomplished
9:13 - 9:51 - 10:28 - 12:51 (hills!)

Completely red in the face.
"Just Did It" is the quote I wanted you to see here.
(These mirror shots are harder than they look...)

Grabbed this before I even hit the shower.
Replenish me! Cool me down!

And I did an extra mile today just to go out with a bang.
--> 51 miles.
Take THAT, January ;-)

Now that I've seen how busy life can get, I will do my best to keep up with my running and not fall behind again! You can check my training progress at DailyMile to make sure I'm on pace.

And now, on to 50 miles in February, with two fewer days! Grr. Better get crackin'! Too bad I will do next to no running this weekend. Looks like 2/6 - 2/12 will have to be another catch-up week...

I dare you to stay true to your goals,

even when life throws you curveballs!

As Tim Gunn always says...

"Make it work!"

Bake Blondies Better!

2012-01-31T01:27:00.021-05:00

Wow this is long overdue. All fall, I've been baking up my signature blondies, although, for the first time in years, I've been switching up the flavors. Keeping things interesting. Healthifying it up!

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In December, my friend Jeff came over to help me prepare not one, not two, but FOUR batches of blondies--each a different flavor. They're all the same basic recipe, with variations on flavor and dietary-swaps. I began baking the plain chocolate-chip blondies before he arrived, to get things moving.

It all starts with some melted white chocolate and butter*...

Mix into another bowl containing mixed sweeteners, vanilla, baking powder, and eggs (or sub--see below!)

Anddd flour, etc, combine...

Add your semisweet chocolate chips! Save a few to top it off with later, and a few to nosh on yourself. (Perks of being the baker.)

Et voila - blondies, 45 minutes later.

Jeff arrived with the rest of the white chocolate needed and made me a VERY happy girl.

Read more to see what else we made with it...

Jeff quickly went to work, helping prepare batches 2 and 3, which we'll combine in one larger pan.

What a pro.

These, we poured into one large pan before adding the mix-ins, because there'd be two different ones! One side, blueberries,

and the other side, peanut butter chips!

(Heff is Jeff's alter-ego. And we had way too much fun slipping the berries and chips into this batter.)

Once THAT was in the oven, we started on the last batter, which was my baby of the bunch. It was the first time I would be making PUMPKIN blondies, and also the first time I'd make this recipe vegan. Want to see how that went?

The recipe was the same, but instead of eggs, I used this:

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What is that, you ask? Why, it's flaxseed and water!
Did you know that if you stir 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 Tbsp water and let it rest for a few minutes, you can use them in your recipes to equal ONE EGG?? Amazing!

Don't worry, I had my doubts, too. But it worked!

*Other change: Instead of butter, we used Earth Balance (vegan) to mix into the white chocolate.
*Third change: You can find vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips in many food stores, including Trader Joe's.

But wait, that's not all! Into this melted chocolate-"butter" mixture, I threw in a heaping portion of PUMPKIN!!! (I get really excited about all things pumpkin-related.)

Then, combine and stir all ingredients like before...

Except now, it's this gorgeous pumpkin color.
At last, mix in those dark chocolate chips...

Pour into pan, and, if you have a birthday to celebrate, design their name or number!

Into the oven it goes... hope this works! Remove and test with toothpick... is it done?

Yessss.

Try to resist your temptation to dig in right away.

As soon as these were all out of the oven and cooling, I heard a frightening noise at the kitchen window...

A squirrel was trying to get in!!!!! Jeff said he must've wanted the blondies.

We brought these sweet treats to my friend Cait's house, where she hosted us for a fun pre-Christmas dinner!

After her amaaazing meal, dessert was finally served and the fun continued.

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Here, Scott gives these blondies a thumbs-up!

(It's really two-thumbs up, but Eric's silly hand is pointing at the blondies, blocking the second thumb-up.)

Your turn! Make whatever variety you'd like best, and enjoy!!

Blondies made Better
Makes 16 blondies. This recipe was adapted from a blondie recipe originally in The Family Circle's Eat What You Love and Lose (2004).

Ingredients:

6 oz premium white baking chocolate
5 Tbsp Earth Balance (a butter substitute)
2 large eggs (vegan: swap for 2 Tbsp flaxseed and 6 Tbsp water! I swear this works!)
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup honey or agave
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/3 cup whole wheat flour (yes. go whole wheat all the way - dare you!)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Mix-ins! 1 cup fresh blueberries, 1-2 cups semisweet chocolate chips, 1 cup raspberries, 1-2 cups peanut butter chips...
For PUMPKIN blondies, 2 cups of canned pumpkin!

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a greased 8x8-inch square baking pan (any shape will do), using foil or cooking spray.
Melt together white chocolate and "butter" in microwave. Stir until smooth and let cool before incorporating into recipe. (If adding pumpkin, this is where it goes.)
In a separate bowl, combine sugar, vanilla, and "eggs"; beat until thick. Then, add chocolate mixture and continue beating until combined.
In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt before stirring into the chocolate mixture. Mix well, and then add whatever mix-ins you choose (chocolate chips, berries, etc.). This is also where you add pumpkin if you go that route!
Pour into pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle the top with your toppings again. Put into oven and bake for about 45 minutes, until lightly browned on top, but still soft. Test for moisture with a toothpick. Let cool completely in pan before cutting. (It's best to cut them after chilling in the refrigerator.)
Serve at room temperature.
Watch your friends' faces melt.

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NYC Blogger Playdate + Kettlebells !!

2012-01-29T23:30:00.000-05:00

I am sore today. Ask me why. (Why are you sore, Meredith?) Because I had a kick-butt workout yesterday at Anderson's Martial Arts Academy!

Let me back up, though, because this was part of something majorly momentous: my first blogger meet-up, a group fitness class and lunch, organized by Keelie at Sweat=Success, who brought a dozen NYC health & fitness gals together on a Saturday afternoon.

Keelie's recap

It started at Anderson's Martial Arts, where stellar instructor Dasha and her team generously treated us to an hour-long runthrough of their signature Kettlebell Kickboxing class. What are kettlebells, you ask? They're those funny-looking weights in the photo above, and they come in all shapes and sizes!

Kettlebells

The Academy provides a nice description of their unique workout:

Kettlebell Kickboxing is a one-of-a-kind FEMALE only method

developed by fitness & martial art expert Dasha Libin, MS, NASM-PES, NASE.

Kettlebell Kickboxing redefines the body by combining the sleek and deadly motions of Muay Thai

with the power and strength of Russian Kettlebell training,

creating a NON-impact 60 minute total body scorching class.

Burn 1,000 calories - getting Long & Lean at the same time.

Sound intense? It was.

Not only were we swinging around weights...

... but we also were punching, kicking, and doing things that made burpees look easy!

Every minute brought on a new interval, a new move, a new muscle being worked. Some of the motions were easy enough for me, since I have enough experience in group fitness classes (including kickboxing) to catch on quickly. Other moves, though... I felt. I felt deep down. I think it was the leg moves that got me the most. Sometimes it was tricky figuring out how to best comfortably grasp the Kettlebell, itself. These are things that, of course, would become more natural the more practice and experience I get with the Kettlebells. The instructors were so great, though, about coming around and checking our posture, our swing, our motions, and demonstrating the correct way to perform each move. They wanted us to keep moving, but to get it right, too. And of course, seeing their impressively toned physiques, I listened.

I was sweating, I was breathing, I was working. It was a lot of fun learning new moves, being made a beginner again, being in a room with a dozen other girls who, like me, enjoy this process of getting and staying fit, of testing our limits, of making ourselves better. Girls who want to be there!

That's me. Courtesy of Keelie.

We tested our stamina, our strength, our balance, and more. When the class was over, we applauded Dasha and her assistants. They earned it. Not only did they carefully show us each move and help us adjust our own forms, but they also spent a lot of time explaining the reasoning behind the moves, the philosophy behind the class, the reason we were doing what we were doing. It's nice to know why I'm twisting this way, why I'm out of breath, why I'm currently in a state of happy pain. Dasha even went to great lengths explaining the principles behind stretching: how, for how long, and why. It was more than a workout; it was a lesson that I will take with me and continue to use not only in my kettlebell workouts, but in all my training.

That's Dasha. Isn't she inspiring?

They gave us passes to come and try their martial arts classes, which I will definitely be checking out! Although I had a blast with kettlebells and look forward to trying it again in the future, I also can't wait to see what else they've got to offer. They've got a new DVD coming out soon, so keep an eye out for that! I know I will...

Thank you, Anderson Martial Arts!

After working up a sweat and an appetite, a bunch of us set out to Chinatown for a late lunch. It ended up being an adventure to get to our chosen restaurant, because of the Chinese New Year celebrations in the streets!

We squeezed our way through the crowds, admiring the festivities and parades passing by.

The colors and sounds were almost overwhelming. Confetti in the popping in the air with a bang, then settling on the ground.

Finally, we made it to our destination: Buddha Bodai, Vegetarian Cuisine

We sat at a nice round table near the front, admiring the chandeliers and lazy susans in the room. ;)

We drank our tea while dissecting the menu, carefully making our choices from their endless selection. After much consideration and back-and-forth, I settled on the steamed dumplings (vegetable, of course) and a sesame-roll and seaweed salad. It sounded intriguing and the sesame was appealing to my tastebuds at the moment. I wanted to try something different, so I went for it. It was all marvelous.

The food was delish, so satisfying after our intense afternoon workout. Still, the company was even better! It was such a pleasure to meet and get to know these ladies behind the blogs, peers who share my interests and passion for spreading knowledge. We talked, we laughed, we joked, we told stories. Coming from all different backgrounds, there was always a new perspective on something. It was so much fun, and I can't wait to see these gals again!

Keelie, Toni, Ashley, Aubrie, Colleen, Me, and Erika

Many thanks to Keelie for organizing this fun afternoon! Again, you can check out her blog and recap here.

Until the next NYC Blogger Playdate...

Virtual 3.5-mile Race Recap

2012-01-24T16:57:00.001-05:00

In honor of her 34th birthday and her 1st "blogiversary", Toni at Running, Loving, Living is hosting a virtual race!

Obviously, I signed up right away. Why not? Just another great excuse to push myself to run at my best.

Today was when I planned to do it. It worked in well to my running schedule for the week. The only glitch was that I'd meant to do the run in the morning, but I awoke, got dressed to run, applied EverStride, and affixed my heart rate monitor, only to discover that my Garmin battery was drained. Oops! So I plugged it in and postponed my run until noontime, and spent my morning fueling up and doing some reading for classes.

Finally, up and out! This was the perfect day for a "winter" run, and it was actually beneficial that I waited until later in the day, because it was quite warm out! Sun shining, crisp air, and a dry path; what could be better?

I was planning to run as long as I could for the first 3.5 miles to time myself for the virtual race, and then do the last 1.5 as best I could, with intervals or something to keep it interesting. The first half mile was a challenge, but then I found my groove and just kept going. The only thing really interfering with my stride was the intense winds coming at me. Pushing through that resistance was not easy, but the first twenty minutes, not so bad. I actually ran the first two miles at a 9:10 and 9:23 pace, respectively. Not bad!! After 2 miles, short of breath, I slowed down for a minute before trying to pick back up. But then...

OWWWWW.

My knee. What is going on? Why does it feel like someone is slicing off my left knee every time my foot hits the ground? Aren't I too much of a beginner to already be having these types of injuries?

So, I powerwalked. Easy on the impact. Every so often I tried to jog, essentially limping, and then returning to a walk. Sigh... this is not how this run was supposed to go!

But then, I saw that, 36 minutes in, I was almost done! Is that possible? I was walking! Guess my running speeds made up for it? So for just one minute, I forced myself to pick up speed, run through the pain, trying to finish the 3.5 miles within 37 minutes, a very good time for me. Run, run, push, push... until I hear that beautiful beeping music from my Garmin.

Wow. I finished the race in 36:59:99. Just in time!

To recap: the first two were not bad, smooth strides, steady pace, just barely below my comfort level.

The third mile and a half were a struggle against my knee, mostly powerwalking, but slipping some 10-second jogs in here and there. You can see, below, my pace drops off dramatically at the 2-mile-marker, but I still tried my best!

So, success! I was very happy with my time of 37 minutes. My goal had been to finish between 35 and 40 minutes, 35 being the best I could possibly do, and 40 being not my greatest effort. The truth is, an average 10:34 pace, if kept at a steady jog for 35 minutes, would have elated me. I was only disappointed by my knee troubles interrupting my flow. Still, in the end, I'm very happy with how it turned out, especially considering the pain and walking in the middle.

After the semi-successful run

Now, for the first time, I am icing my knee like a "real" runner! Look at me! Not that I am by any means happy about this. It's fine for tomorrow--Spinning and Pilates won't impact my knee. But will I be able to run again by Thursday? On the treadmill will probably be worse; should I switch to elliptical? That wouldn't count in my training for the week, wouldn't contribute to the 20 miles I need to log! What to do?!

For now, I simply ice, and rest, and share my race recap with all of you :)

Hope you enjoyed!

Make up for it!

2012-01-22T18:17:00.008-05:00

Is it okay to take a week easy when you're not feeling so well? Of course! Is it alright to do an indoor workout instead of your planned outdoor run, because it dropped below freezing and snow covered the streets? In my book, that's a smart move. However, do NOT use these as excuses to fall behind in your training plan or to drift further from your goals.

Last week, these two things happened at the same time. Since the Boston 5k a few weeks ago, I've lost my mojo. The combination of the weather and my awful head cold kept me from performing at my best, and kept me in the gym all week rather than outside running, and, even then, I didn't give my best. And now, even today when I'm feeling better, I couldn't seem to get myself to the gym to log miles. Another unplanned rest day. Sigh.

This all meant I fell way below my weekly quota in working toward my 600 Miles in 2012 Challenge. I logged 3 miles of treadmill running on Monday, but then the remaining miles I covered all took place walking outside, not actually running. I did a lot of walking around the city this week, which was actually quite exhausting, because I was short of breath to begin with from feeling ill. So, I definitely didn't come near meeting my goal of 11 or 12 miles for the week, even though I may have had good reason.

SO. Now what? Get right back on it! I'm planning out my workouts for the week, and I am daring myself to make them happen, no matter what! Treadmill or road, I've got to get my running motivation back! I'd like to make up for the lost time to keep pace with the online challenge, which is 50 miles per month. So far for January, I've logged 30. Not too shabby! But that leaves 20 miles for the remaining nine days. This wouldn't be so daunting if running were my only workout. However, I have all kinds of other fun exercise classes that use up energy and time that would otherwise be spent on running. Can I still fit 20 miles in to the next nine days' plan?

Let's see...

Monday: Double down to make up for lost time!

(AM) Weight training and "Body Combat" - Last day with one of my fave gym instructors before he leaves us! Can't skip this for a run.
(PM) Run 3 miles on the treadmill before yoga

Tuesday: Afternoon run

Run 5 miles - ideally outdoors.

Wednesday: The usual Wednesday morning. My favorites. Can't give em up. And classes in evening prevent an evening run. Oh well!

Spin Class, followed by Pilates. This combination makes me so happy!

Thursday: Running morning, big time.

Run 5 miles on the treadmill.

Friday: Another day off from running, for another great morning combo...

Spin Class, followed by Yoga

Saturday: REST DAY. I originally put 3 miles here, but decided to give my body one day off in this mad catch-up plan. Snuck those miles in the following three days...
Sunday:

Run 5 miles

Monday: ??

Strength training? Or another substitute... find out who and what are replacing my favorite Weights and Boxing classes :(

Tuesday: End January with 51 miles run!

Run 3 miles, before Pilates.

Well. THAT's ambitious. Do you think I can do it? Dare me to? Is it insane? I'm feeling MUCH better, over my cold from last week. I didn't schedule running for more than 2 days in a row. Switching up the workouts will help. I know my body can handle the above schedule. The real challenge will be dragging myself out in the cold or to the treadmill at the gym to actually start running.

I'm a perfect example of the following:

Source: fitsugar.com via Meredith on Pinterest

... especially in the middle of winter!!!

So there's my plan--nine days of running and other fitness. Typing it up and publishing it here to share with all of YOU is what, I hope, will motivate me to follow through. Plus, I'd really, really like to stay on pace for the 600 mile challenge! How cool would that be? I can't start falling behind already; it's only January!

I'll report back in 10 days. Wish me luck!!

Now that you know my plan, what's yours??

Do you let weather interfere with your runs? A bad cold get in the way of a workout?

What do you do when you miss workouts?

Use your sportswatch for ALL workouts!

2012-01-20T00:04:00.000-05:00

So you remember, last month, I got my very first sportswatch: A Garmin 405CX. I tested it, it worked out well. Some of you may have seen the recent New York Times article about the inaccuracies of GPS watches. For me, this isn't such a huge deal. As of now, the maximum distance I cover in one run is 6 miles, and usually it's closer to 3, so any error might not affect such a distance. Further, I don't need it to be exact-exact. In races, I'll trust the course planners' judgment, knowing that my own GPS may not be perfect. It'll be good enough for logging my miles in 2012 for my resolution!

It was a great help in my training, helping me pace myself. That's how I stayed strong during January's 5k Resolution Run. You can see below, it wasn't perfectly steady (or maybe we can blame THAT on error?) but I continuously hovered around my goal pace: 10 min / mile.

HOWEVER, I've found tons of uses for my sportswatch besides the GPS distance-tracker for outdoor runs. Since getting it, I've used my Garmin's heart rate monitor for...

Spinning Class. I wore the heart rate monitor and watch to track my heart rate and calories burned. It was exciting to watch my heart rate skyrocket during a sprint and slow back down during rests, and then rise again during difficult hills. After, I was able to load the data onto my computer and see a chart of my heart rate rising and falling throughout the 45 minute class. It told me I burned 429 calories. GREAT!!! (And, I bet I could've pushed harder than I did that day--now I've got a burn # to beat!) I've never actually had a way to track how much I burn during my various workouts, and now I do!

Sprint intervals. On the treadmill, I turned off the GPS feature but turned on an "interval" workout, setting it to beep and tell me when to run and when to walk, according to my own settings. This particular time, I made it say "run for 1 minute" and I'd go up to 8 or 8.5 mph, and then "walk for 2 minutes" at 3 mph. How many reps? 10. Total workout, 30 minutes. Perfect. This worked out so well, and I could do that for ANY cardio workout: intervals on the bik, elliptical, treadmill, or even running outside! And, of course, I got to watch my heartrate go up and down, and get a calories burned total (308!) at the end.

In addition to doing timed-intervals, I could also set it to do distance intervals (outside) or to set intervals based on my own target and recovery heartrates. Will try those!

Kickboxing. I have a favorite cardio kickboxing class that I am completely obsessed with ("Body Combat"), and always was curious about how many calories it actually burned. I never knew whether to call it "kickboxing" or "aerobics" when checking online resources, but now I have a more accurate measure. 60 minutes, including warm-up and cool-down: 473.

(I even tested it in Pilates, to learn that I burned 160 calories and kept my heart rate around 100.)

SO. Yes, the GPS is a marvelous thing and frees me up to run wherever I please, without worrying about finding the route on a map. But it also serves a great function during my other regular workouts, and I'm STILL LEARNING what else it can do for me. Will keep you posted!

What do you use your sportswatch for?

Make an Omelette

2012-01-13T10:14:00.004-05:00

This weekend, get some vegetables into your brunch by making a vegetable omelet! This is for newbies: Omelet-Making 101.

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Although I make omelets all the time, I'm always surprised when someone I know says they don't know how; they just scramble. So this time, I dare you to make an omelet, and not only that, but to fill it with VEGETABLES instead of meat, cheese, etc. This is one great way to get those recommended daily servings in, and early on!

Quick question: do you prefer "omelette" or the Americanized version "omelet"? Tough call, here. I used to do the double-T French style, but recently I find myself spelling it omelet. Guess it depends on how fancy I'm feeling?

You can choose whatever produce you like. Here, I chose baby spinach, button mushrooms, and plum tomatoes, but your options are endless: shredded carrots, avocado, broccoli, portobello mushrooms, onions, bell peppers...

Then, slice them and dice them. Sometimes I keep them pretty large (below), but other times you may want to cut up very small pieces. That would allow more room for MORE vegetables!

If you want your vegetables cooked, now's your chance. Sautee them over the stove and set aside. (Or, do what I did here, and enjoy them fresh and let them cook slightly with the eggs.)

Mix your eggs. Whether you choose whole eggs, egg whites, or an egg-substitute, mix them up in a cup or small bowl and add seasonings: ground pepper, parsley, oregano, basil, whatever strikes your fancy.

My pick: 1 whole egg + 2 egg whites

Oil-spray your pan over medium heat, and add egg mixture.

Let it settle for a minute or two, occasionally lifting up a side and tilting, to allow the uncooked egg to reach the hot pan.

When it's about 80% cooked, add your vegetables!

My eyes were bigger than my omelet. Just stuff em all in there!

Sometimes when my veggies overpower my eggs, I scramble it up instead. But have no fear, you can still squeeze it together. When it's mostly cooked, flip one side over!

Et voila! A quick & easy vegetable-packed breakfast.

What do you like to put in your omelets?

Whether your like your eggs plain or prefer other mix-ins, another great and tasty way to sneak veggies into your omelet is to add salsa!

Try it, I dare you.

Looks like I threw extra spinach on top.
A nutritious way to start the day

Don't Stop: 5k resolution race

2012-01-09T22:04:00.009-05:00

What a weekend! Where do I begin? Well, I guess I'll start at the very beginning ("a very good place to start..."), and in the middle, you'll get to read about my second 5k race!

From the start:
On Friday I traveled to Boston to visit my cousins Stephanie & Aaron. Steph and I did some running-related errands (scoping out Garmins, buying running socks, trying on masks) before settling at home, where Aaron had prepared a deliiiicious eggplant parmesan dinner.

devoured

For dessert, Stephanie whipped out her ice-cream machine (ooh, ahh) and we tossed in Greek yogurt, sugar, and... was it vanilla? to make homemade FROYO!!

Wowww. It churned and churned for 20 minutes before it magically emerged as frozen yogurt, tasting just like the best froyo in Philadelphia. I like it because it really tastes like actual yogurt (because it is), but sweeter (sugar. duhh). Delish! We added all kinds of toppings, of course, although it was definitely tasty enough to eat plain. Between the eggplant, challah, frozen yogurt, and chocolate, I was definitely more than full. But that's okay, because I was fueling up for...

The 5k Resolution Run to Kick Cancer !

A month and a half after my first 5k race, I was ready for another. In November, my goal had been simply to finish, and ideally in under thirty minutes. I crossed that finish line in 28:09. However, I did not run the entire race. I ran about half of it too quickly before allowing myself a walking recovery for 30 seconds, another run, another brief walk, and so on. Since then, I've worked on learning to pace myself. I bought a Garmin sports watch to help track my distance, time, and heart rate. It lets me know when I'm going too fast, too slow, or just right. For me, a 10-minute mile is just about right. I'm able to keep it up without becoming too winded. With the help of pacing information, I worked on consistency in my running: trained myself to slow down when necessary, no need to sprint, slow and steady wins the race... I've since run the 3 miles continuously on the treadmill (once), but not yet outside, where my record was still 2 miles. Time to take it to the road.

Saturday morning, I was nervous for the race, because my runs during the previous two weeks had been slightly disappointing. The cold made running very difficult for me, not yet used to it. However, we awoke on Saturday to a beautiful, unnaturally warm January day. Leaving my earwarmers and gloves at home, I set out with Stephanie, Aaron, and 900 others to kick cancer.

Started in the crowd by the 10:00+ pace marker, although everyone seemed to give the signs little regard. After the horn, off we go! Last time, I'd started up front, so slowly inching forward after the clock started was new to me, and quite irritating. Let's go, already! Finally, we were off. Ran the first mile or so with Aaron and his cousin Brenna at about a 9:50 pace before we amicably parted ways. My goal was to run as long as I could, to not wear myself out too quickly. I needed all the energy I could muster, especially when a few hills presented themselves. It wasn't always clear to my eyes, but my legs told the truth. I just focused on my pace, my music, and my breathing. Also tried to remind myself to appreciate the scene: runners on all sides, quaint Lexington buildings all around me, and the sun bearing down. I actually got hot. In January. In New England. (Yes, it's nice... yes, "I'll take it," but doesn't that terrify anyone else??)

Each time I consulted my Garmin, I was pleased to see that I was keeping a steady speed, hovering just below a 10:00 pace for each mile. I did my best to keep it up, taking my time but staying at a run. When my watch said I'd traveled 2.2 miles, I was elated--this is the longest I've run outside without walking! OK--don't celebrate yet, Meredith, you've got 0.9 miles to go. Hmm can I rest for just 5 seconds? NO! Gahh OK.

I told myself to keep my eyes ahead; no more checking my wrist. My distance, pace, time... no longer important. Just follow the road, finish this last mile because you can, don't slow down until you cross that finish line!

Shockingly, I listened to myself. Kept going until I saw crowds... that must be it. Some already-finished runners were coming back this way to finish out the race with friends and family. I must be near the end... where iiiisss it.... don't slow down... The 3-mile marker... There's Steph (already finished, of course) waving, cheering me on!! YESS I am doing this....

BOOM. Done. I did it. Crossed that finish line before letting myself slow down to a walk. Quickly scanned the crowds for the nearest source of water. Volunteers were handing out Hint water, VitaCoco, and regular bottled water. Yes, please! I switched off my Garmin, hydrated, and went to stand by Steph as we awaited the others' arrivals.

I was beaming, so happy. I didn't stop! I accomplished my goal:

I ran the whole 5k (YES!) ... in ... 30:03 !

That is a time I can be happy with! Sure, it's 2 minutes behind my first race, but this time I did it right. I didn't hurry through the first mile, didn't tire too quickly. I paced myself, took my time, stayed in the zone, resisted the urge to walk. Ran the whole race.

Still not stopping...

Elated. Mission Accomplished. =)

Speedy Stephanie PRed 8 minutes ahead of me, and Aaron clocked in just 3 min behind me. All in good time, all satisfying our own goals. We all walked away winners.

We three winners went home to shower and eat before heading back out for my tour through Boston. Why not spend this lovely afternoon out in the city? We walked up and down Newbury street, celebrating our morning with some (more) tasty frozen yogurt.

Newbury Street, Boston

Sweet Reward

Then I got a drive-through tour of the different areas of Boston, with Aaron providing history lessons and tidbits about his and Stephanie's time here in law school. Beautiful city!

For dinner, we cooked up some homemade pizza...

And Aaron taught me how to make Challah!

Thennn we had chocolate-chip cookies for dessert and watched TV! But that's okay, because we ran a race today.

As if all that weren't enough, the next day had even more festivities...

Sunday started with challah french toast, with a special guest appearance by my friend Rachel!

Homemade challah, doused and baked in eggs and vanilla? That was one tasty breakfast. Plus, Rachel and I got to catch up after a few months apart. :) Then we hurried off to...

Wellness Day!

Stephanie planned this incredible expo, bringing together a mix of wellness professionals, including a whole foods chef, yoga instructors, personal trainers, massage therapists, an acupuncturist, and more, PLUS samples from Fruit+, Pretzel Crisps, Stonyfield Yogurt, and Popchips!

Preparing raffle prizes

All the vendors were great and full of information to share. I learned a lot and also got to relax with a balance test, a massage, a paraffin wax hand treatment, a blood pressure measurement, and on and on. There was so much to do and learn!

By the time it was all over and cleaned up, we enjoyed dinner out before crashing at home. Pajama time! It was only 7:30 but felt like midnight. We relaxed for a bit before calling it a night.

What a weekend!! I returned home with so much to share! Pride in my race accomplishment, new recipes from Aaron, and tons of running tips and fuel from Stephanie.

Now, after all that running around (no pun in tended), I need a vacation from my vacation! Now that I've accomplished my goal of running the entire 5k, my goal is to become comfortable with it. To repeat this weekend's performance again and again. So while I take a day to recover, I dare YOU: don't stop. Run toward your goal! Each day, you'll get a little bit closer, until victory!

How was your weekend? Did you get in a workout, a walk, a run? Reach any goals? How are your 2012 or January resolutions going?

Cook With a New Food: KALE

2012-01-06T10:01:00.001-05:00

Next up in the "Cook With a New Food" series: Kale!

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I don’t know about you, but this “kale” character was totally off my radar until, oh, about a year ago? It started popping up in health articles all over the place with other dark leafy greens, topping every “superfood” list due to its powerful effects in weight loss, reducing risk of disease, antioxidant power, brain health, flat abs, and even healthy hair. Decently low in calorie (34 for one cup, raw, chopped) and a provider of fiber, iron, and calcium, this vegetable is one to start eating today. Consuming such nutrient-dense vegetables like Kale makes getting all your nutrients easy. This fall, I added it to my grocery cart on a regular basis.

To try this new leafy green, I started out easy.

Step 1: Wash and pat dry.

Check!

My go-to for any vegetable, as you know, is roasting. So I thought that making kale chips would be simple enough. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper to taste, and spread them out on a baking sheet, like so:

BAKE! Cook for about 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

The shrivel down a lot, like their leafy-green relatives. They came out crunchy and too bitter for my taste. That's probably because I was VERY stingy with the oil, and may have let them bake a little too long.

I'll try this one again in the near future. They're not so bad, really. I need to play with flavoring.

BUT, you can have kale so many ways! Next, try a salad! Almost too easy. Replace your usual lettuce with shredded kale.

Add what you like! Here, I tossed in what I happened to have on hand, which was...

Butternut squash, cubed and cooked

I threw some chopped walnuts in the oven with the butternut squash for the last 5 minutes, just to toast a bit.

Mixed it all together, and added some craisins for sweetness. Tossed with oil and vinegar, about a tablespoon or two each. Et voila!

Pin It

How ELSE can you incorporate kale into your diet?

One painless way I found to reap the benefits of this nutritious superstar without the bitterness or roughness of the leaves is to blend it right into my smoothies!

Let your blender shred the greens, and you won't even taste the health food in your morning smoothie.

Just be sure to check your teeth after, for those little green bits and pieces!!

A fourth way to start using kale is to mix it into pasta dishes. I did this, but didn't photograph. Sorry. Basically, I sauteed shredded kale with the other vegetables I was putting into my pasta, and it was delicious! Still slightly bitter, though. To avoid the bitter trap, try not to overcook it -- just long enough to soften it up.

If you like to cook with spinach, this will be an easy transition; it was for me. Above are four very simple ways to start eating kale, and here are three more:

- Lasagna

- Kale Pesto

- And more recipes ideas

Do you cook with kale? Have a recipe to share?

If you're a novice, what are you waiting for?

Add "kale" to your shopping list,

and start eating this nutrient king.

I dare you.

WIAW: Warming Up

2012-01-04T00:01:00.001-05:00

Catching up to the trends of the blogosphere, Dare You To is finally joining in on the fun! I've seen the posts on nearly every foodie/fitness blog I follow, I investigated and read the rules, and now I'm ready to tell YOU what I ate Wed(t)uesday!

Actually, I'm partaking in a very special WIAW: #50 !

So here's how yesterday began: Still on vaca, I got to sleep in a bit and had breakfast around 10. I was freezing, even after my morning tea, so I warmed up some cinnamon-apple oatmeal with sliced banana and chopped prunes.

Followed shortly by a snack of almonds. (Truth: After this handful, I went back for more, with raisins.)

Again, due to the continued ice-cold weather, I opted for midday soup. Trader Joe's Butternut Squash. I tossed a palmful of chopped walnuts in; don't know what inspired that, but it worked.

In the afternoon, I finally worked up the nerve to begin the run I'd meant to complete before lunch. Check out my new kicks!

At last, dinner. While it was cooking, I had a clementine.

I took what I had in the fridge and threw it together: Almond-crusted salmon, with baby spinach and cucumbers to go with it. Roasted it all for about 15 min.

While I ate, I threw in another filet with cucumber slices and orange peppers to keep in the fridge for tomorrow.

And that was my day! What did YOU eat this Wednesday?

Set Non-Traditional Resolutions

2012-01-02T14:21:00.006-05:00

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Happy New Year, friends!
It's a new day, week, month, year! How will you make 2012 a good year for you?

I'll start by congratulating the winners of the EverStride Skincare sweepstakes: Electra won the foot cream, and Suz gets the anti-chafing sport stick. Congratulations!

Now, let's get down to new-year business. Writing goals and setting "SMART" goals, we've covered in previous posts. But what about "resolutions"? Do you set them? Keep them? Give them up? It's true that January 1 is an arbitrary date to start a new habit or change your lifestyle, but if it gives a sense of a clean slate, by all means, let's take advantage and make some plans for the new year.

I think that having "goals" instead of "resolutions" is a good idea, because goals are something you work toward and don't have to give up on if you fall behind schedule. Resolutions may feel too "all or nothing," which is one reason many people simply give up. So go ahead and think about what you'd like to accomplish in the coming month or coming year, and create a plan to make it happen. (Write it down, set a timeline, prepare the tools you'll need, etc.) Do your best, work toward your goal, and eventually, you will succeed.

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For those of you who have given up on resolutions entirely--and I know you're out there--try this out: instead of setting a monumental resolution, pick something easy. Make your resolution something that you know you CAN do, just to prove to yourself that change IS possible. For example, In September, I took advantage of the Jewish New Year to set a resolution to make my bed every morning. I used to make my bed, but fell out of the habit when I knew very few people were seeing my bedroom and I could always make it pretty when necessary. I wanted to get back in the habit of having a made bed to get into every night, to never be embarrassed when a surprise guest sees my unmade bed. So, I "resolved" to make my bed, however casually, every morning. No, I don't take 10 full minutes to tuck in every corner, to pile on fancy pillows, to smooth out every crease, but I do make the effort to, after brushing my teeth, come back and pull up the sheets, smooth it out, and straighten the pillows. Really, no so difficult. It was a habit I was unquestionably capable of taking on, and it's been nice crawling into a made bed every evening. It wasn't a huge feat and took almost no effort to make this resolution a reality, and it showed me that I'm able to change my habits and incorporate new rituals into my routine, when I set my mind to do so.

SO: If you're sick and tired of "failing" at your resolutions, take this opportunity to pick something simple and doable you'd like to start (or stop) doing. Prove that you CAN. Want to try meditation or yoga daily? You don't have to commit an hour--just schedule 5 minutes either in the morning or at bedtime to start the habit. Want to remember to floss daily? Keep your floss in sight, beside the sink, and maybe stick a small calendar beside it so you can check it off each day. Want to save money for a large purchase? Commit to putting away just a small amount each week (how much would depend on your own finances), and watch the money add up over time. Want to start exercising? You don't have to commit to an hour at the gym daily; you can just start with 10 minutes of walking a day, or vow to hold a 30-second plank or perform 10 pushups each morning. Want to read more books? Commit to reading for just 10 minutes before bed each night. (Chances are, you'll read much longer.) Want to eat more fruit? Start with just one apple a day.

FitFluential

Choose something you WANT to do; not something you feel like you should do. Make a little change, tweak your routine, commit just one, five, or ten minutes to some activity or behavior you wish you would do, and make it your resolution. Soon, it'll become habit, and you'll have kept your New Year's resolution when 2013 rolls around.

What small (but significant) changes can you make in your life?

Beyond setting do-able resolutions, there are plenty of
OTHER alternatives to setting traditional resolutions:

Set weekly goals or rules to live by. The goal-journal Fitbook lets you make a 12-week goal, but encourages you to set goals each week in the realms of weight, fitness, nutrition, or anything else you may want to accomplish in the week. Short-term successes add up to long-term victory!
Set monthly resolutions, like Shannon. She set four year-round resolutions for 2012, but also chose one mission for each month of the year, such as learning to draw, stop saying "like," volunteering, and cleaning out and organizing her home. Having a different focus for each month will keep your resolutions fresh and exciting.
Choose three words to act as your pillars for the year, to guide your choices. This gives you perspective and priorities, but doesn't dictate exactly what you should or shouldn't be doing. Every winter, Chris Brogan challenges people to forego resolutions for 3 simple words to define their goals and experiences for the coming year. Identify a passion you'd like to nurture in 2012, what you'd like to be different, who you'd like to be, and summarize it in three words to encompass your ambitions and guide your decisions.
Do you have other ideas to supplement a year-long resolution?

For any of these that you may choose, setting goals by the week, month, or year, be sure to write it down and have a method for keeping track of progress. Share your hopes and your successes. Celebrate short-term achievements on your path to long-term happiness.

FitBook

Some healthy ideas to work toward in this new year: eat 6-8 servings of fruits & vegetables daily, get at least 7 hours of sleep nightly, stay hydrated with at least 8 glasses of water a day, eat sitting down at a table, stretch few a few minutes each morning or each night, meditate, spend less time online, spend more time reaching out to friends and family... the possibilities are endless. Here are 26.2 ways to get fit and healthy in 2012, via FitFluential. Also check out FitSugar's tips for sticking with your exercise plan.

Personally, I'll be doing some mix of all the above. I really like the idea of monthly resolutions, so I'll be doing some of that. I'll post about these throughout the year, because resolutions shouldn't be shared only on January 1 !!

I'll continue making my bed each morning, and stretching each night before bed.
In December, I started striving for my recommended 6-8 daily servings of fruit & vegetables, and was successful in all but two days of the month. I'll continue that into the new year, along with getting seven to nine hours of sleep each night and drinking enough water (never a problem for me).
I aim to run at least 3 times each week to improve my endurance and to meet my goal of running 600 miles by the year's end.
I'll also be adding into the mix some dietary changes: reduce added sugar intake, reduce dairy consumption, and eat meals sitting at a table.
I also plan to do some major life/home cleanout action: cleaning, minimizing, organizing, and finally make the scrapbooks I've been putting off.

Now you know! Don't worry, I've got journals for tracking these habits! And you should, too! I'll let you know how it all goes.

Join me in Tara Burner's Just Do It January challenge. I did her "Fit for 2012" challenge in December, so I'm geared up for this month, which is much more demanding but, you know I can't turn down a challenge. Plus, her own spreadsheet makes tracking each day very simple. I dare you to sign up, too! Specifically, I stroooongly dare you to get your daily servings of produce. Check out Cooking Light's 12 Ways to Eat More Vegetables and Fruit for ways to sneak more nutrients into every meal.

What are your resolutions for 2012? What would you like to accomplish, what habits will you adopt, what habits will you give up? Be sure to share your ambitions; it'll keep you accountable!

Now that you've got all those options to choose from, I dare you to set some healthy goals, resolutions, plans for the new month or year. Good luck, and happy new year.

Set SMART Goals

2011-12-28T21:56:00.010-05:00

Quick note: LAST DAYS TO ENTER THE SKINCARE GIVEAWAY! Click here.

We've talked about writing goals before, but with the New Year upon us, let's talk about how to best go about setting these goals.

In order to make your dreams a reality, your goals should be...

S.M.A.R.T. Goals are...

Specific. Figure out exactly what you want to accomplish and a path for getting there. Think about who is involved, when you can work towards it, where you might go for support, and why you want to achieve this goal.

Avoid vague ideas like "get in shape," "eat better," "get more sleep," or "save more money." Instead, be specific. If you'd like to get in shape, commit to hitting the gym 3 times a week. If you'd like to eat more healthfully, vow to eat at least 6 servings of fruits and vegetables each day, and have a journal to record it or check off each serving.

Measurable. Your goal should be measurable so you can track your progress, see how far you have left to go, and be 100% sure when you've achieved it. Your goal should answer quantitative questions, such as "how much," "how many," or "how often." This way, you'll know when you've done it!

Again, want to get in shape? Count your hours at the gym.
If you're committing to running like I am, you can log your miles, aiming for a certain amount each week or month. To do this, I joined Dailymile. A journal or word doc will do, too.

Attainable. Are there steps to take that will lead toward this goal? Is it something you can change, with the right motivation and tools? Do you have that motivation and those tools? If you need support from certain others in your life, are they willing to provide it? Do you have the proper attitude toward your goal to make it happen?
Realistic. Simply stated, is your goal realistic? This isn't about setting your sights too high or too low. Don't use this as an excuse to set some easy resolutions. Just take the time to reflect on if this is actually something you are physically capable of doing, if you set your mind to it, in the designated time frame.
Timed. How long will you give yourself to reach your goal? It's important to select a time frame, or else you can always put your goal off until "later" or "someday." Be sure that your time frame is also realistic. "I will lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks" is not realistic. Going to the gym on a daily basis might be realistic for some, but unrealistic for others, depending on the individual's schedule.

If you have a fitness-related goal like me--such as running--take the steps to commit yourself to a deadline by signing up for a race, or a long-term challenge, like I did. This can work for non-fitness resolutions, too. Maybe you want to clean out your home by the year's end, so schedule a garage sale for a certain month, tell family and friends to donate their own items, and commit to having everything ready to go by that date.

For Example...
To keep with the obvious theme of my own goals so far: RUNNING. I'll use myself as an example here. General goal: "Become a runner." Specifically: Get comfortable running 3 miles continuously, in under 10 minutes each. Run a few times each week. Measure it using my Garmin GPS sportswatch , and track total miles on DailyMile, aiming for 600 miles in 2012. Attainable? Yes, that's under 2 miles per day, or a couple 5ks each week. I just bought new shoes to keep me injury-free. I have friends and family supportive of my running goals. Realistic? Sure. I can already run a mile and a half comfortably, and have run 3 miles in under 30 minutes a few times now, with effort. I don't run these distances regularly now, but I could make the time and switch up my workout routine to make it happen. Timely? Yes. Although running is a long-term goal, to keep up for years to come (I hope!), I want to log those 600 miles by the year's end. I can also aim to achieve 50 miles each month. Numbers make it easy.

By using the "SMART" framework, I know that my goal is challenging, yet realistic, and easily measurable so I'll know if I'm falling short or succeeding.

A clever re-working of the above tips is found in 9 Tips for Sabotaging your New Year's Fitness and Weight-Loss Goals.

Want to commit to a new habit to be performed daily? Read lessons and ideas for a "streak" resolution: "Working out every day", or whatever else!

Whatever your resolution or goal may be, here are 14 quick tips to get "insanely" motivated.

For a well-organized journal for tracking both fitness and eating habits, get a Fitbook. It helps you record cardio, weight training, hydration, food consumption, nutrient intake, and also provides GREAT pages each week for goal-setting and planning.

SO! Think about your goals, what you'd like to achieve in the new year. What do you wish to accomplish in the coming weeks, months, or year? Are your goals SMART? What tweaks can you make to make them SMART? Think about it, write it down, and share. I dare you.

Go for it: Virtual 10k

2011-12-25T14:00:00.002-05:00

Stephanie, Robin, and Ashley organized a Home for the Holidays Virtual 10k. I absolutely love the idea of people all over the country--or the world--doing the same run in the same weekend for the same reason. I also love that this is purely for fun, and race times would not determine winners.

So I signed up! Then, this morning, I did not want to get started. Just because I ran one little 5k does not mean I can suddenly take on 10 out of nowhere! I haven't trained for it. 3 miles is still just about my limit. Then again... I've never tried for more. I'm still convinced that somewhere around 3 miles, I'll get ready to slow to a walk, breathing heavily and heart racing. However, that will not prevent me from picking up to a jog again after I've regained some energy, right? I don't need to make each lap under a 10-minute-mile. I think that in this "Just for Fun" 10k, finishing is optional. BUT I WILL FINISH! I will never sell myself short again--I can do it. At the very least, I know I'm capable of running 3 and walking the next 3. But we'll see what I'm able to handle. Still, upon registering for this virtual event, I dared myself to do it: 10k. And so, you know, I can't turn down such a dare.

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!

Christmas Day.

Woke up at 9, wasted a little time hoping it'd get warmer out, ate my banana, drank my tea, etc... 10:30 am. Alright, if I don't do this now, it'll get too late. I've got family to see later. And we all know this 10k will take me over an hour. SO, I'd better get moving.

These are from my old soccer/softball days.

It's cold out, so I layered up and headed to a nice flat running track.

Setting my Garmin... do you see my error?

My plan was to run 3 miles and then walk the remaining 3, or maybe walk 4 and 5, and run 6. My plans changed.

Here I go...

Mile 1: Ran in 9:24. Ran the whole thing, struggling to breathe through my stuffed up nose in the cold winter air. Tried to keep close to a girl ahead of me who was running with an adorable dog, so I could watch and be entertained by the dog. (Although, I'm pretty sure that the dog, instead, started watching ME.)
Mile 2: Ran in 10:38. I ran the first half pretty quickly but then just had to stop. Checked my Garmin and saw my heart rate was at 193 bpm. Wow, I've never seen it that high. I'll slow down to a walk for a bit before picking the pace up again to finish the 2 miles in 20 minutes.
Mile 3: Walked in 14:10. This one I mostly walked, letting my heart rate come down a little. Finished half the race--5k--in 35 minutes.
Mile 4: Ran in 9:52. This time, I didn't let myself stop. Kept up my pace, trying to keep it under 10 min, and let my heart rate climb to 197 by the end.
Mile 5: Alternated in 11:34. I was planning to walk this whole mile before trying to run the last, but I quickly got bored and switched to intervals instead. I'd run when the music inspired me -- running the choruses, walking the verses, that kind of thing. Did what I could.
Mile 6: Alternated in 11:17. I continued my walk/run alternations, and thennnn
The home stretch -- finished it out running.

Final time: 6.2 miles, 1h 8m 50s, an 11:06 pace. (The Garmin is short because I took the photo before realizing that I'd set my Garmin for 6.02 instead of 6.2! Whoops! So quickly finished the last .18.) I did it. Finished another (virtual) race, the longest distance I've completed to date.

I warmed up. Tossed the gloves.

What'd I learn? I haven't been training like I should. I should've been able to finish those first 3 miles (and perhaps I would have if I hadn't known I'd have another 3 after it), but I've not been running outside as it's gotten colder. And... now that I have my NEXT 5k SCHEDULED in only 2 weeks from now, I'd better get moving this week to be ready!! Once I master the 5k again on my own, I may start using a training program I found online for making the leap from 5k to 10k. Gotta keep going!

Hope you're having a happy, healthy holiday, as well, and don't forget to fit activity around your holiday feasts! Also, don't forget to enter the EverStride giveaway to win athletic holiday gifts just for you!

Happy Holidays, to all!

And to all, a good night.

EverStride Skincare: Product Review & Giveaway!

2011-12-23T08:18:00.006-05:00

When I do aerobic exercise, sometimes my shirt really irritates my skin. In a cardio class and while lifting weights, I feel the seams in my underarm. When I run outside in a long-sleeve shirt, I usually don't feel anything while on the go, but the minute I slow down to a walk, I feel the irritation. For the most part, I accepted this, figuring maybe I just need to invest in better-quality workout clothing. Whether or not that's true (I invest in pants, less so in shirts), I finally have a solution to my problem.

EverStride's Anti-Chafing Sport Stick

As a new runner, I didn't know that these existed, but WOW does it make a difference! Just one use of this Anti-Chafe Stick made a believer out of me. When I glided it onto my skin, it felt nice and smooth, and oh-so-thin. Then, as soon as I was out the door, I forgot I had it on! It's not sticky or smelly or opaque in any way. Left zero residue. I did my workout, got nice and sweaty, boxed and kicked and ran, and came home, all with my skin feeling fabulous and chafe-free. Only then when I touched my arms did I realize just how smooth they felt, and how they were NOT red and irritated. It seems my problem is solved!

Pro Therapy Foot Treatment

EverStride also has a foot cream for preventing blisters and restoring dry, cracked skin. I've been using this on my feet, and it feels just as nice as any moisturizer I've used in the past. I've noticed my persistent blister has become somewhat less persistent since I started using the Foot Treatment, so there's another win! I look forward to continue using this to counter the effects of the abuse I give my feet with my recent running goals.

And now, for you...

EverStride Giveaway!!!
In the holiday spirit of gift giving, here is your chance to win one of these great skincare products from EverStride.

How? To enter, leave a comment below sharing how you could benefit from one of these products, and which one you'd like to enter for. (Yes, you may enter for both! Just say so.)

Bonus entry: Follow me on Twitter and Tweet about the giveaway! (And let me know you did in your comment, with your Twitter handle.) Write your own or copy this: I just entered an EverStride sports skincare giveaway from @DareYouToBlog. Enter at http://dareyouto.blogspot.com/2011/12/everstride-skincare-product-review.html
Bonus entry: Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect. See the box to join near the top of the right sidebar in this window. If you already do or just signed up, tell me so in your comment.
Bonus entry: "Like" the Dare You To Facebook page! You can click the button in the sidebar to the right, above, or go to https://www.facebook.com/DareYouTo. In your comment, let me know you did this.
(One comment is fine for all the bonuses, or you may leave separate. I'll figure it out!)

NOTE: Please sign in with a registered email or contact information so that I can contact you if you win!!! You may leave your email address, Twitter handle, blog address, or any other means. You may also email me this information privately (dareyoutoblog (at) gmail (dot) com) or direct message it to me via twitter, but be sure to tell me what entry's name to associate it with!

Sports Stick and Foot Treatment were provided by EverStride. EverStride did not influence my reviews; the opinions above are my own. Contest will close on December 31. Entries after December 31 will not be accepted, and winners will be notified shortly thereafter. Winners will be asked to provide shipping information. This sweepstakes is open to US residents only, 18 years or older. Winners will be selected at random. Good luck!

Spread the joy!

2011-12-22T08:27:00.002-05:00

Happy Holidays, everyone!

One of the perks of living in this wonderful blogosphere:
Blogger Secret Santa!
Yes. It is exactly what it sounds like. Organized by Peanut Butter Jenny, we bloggers were each assigned another, to whom we would send a little holiday gift. FUN!

After shipping off a box to my own gift-ee, I'd almost forgotten about the whole project.... Until...

PACKAGE!

Inside was an adorable card

and fun, colorful workout headbands !! Just like I wanted!

Thank you, (Secret) Santa! My secret santa was actually Meg, so thank YOU, Meg! I'm so excited to wear these in my fitness classes. They'll be perfect for keeping my hair out of my face during Pilates and spin. Running, too!

AND an added surprise: she threw in Christmas-colored M&Ms--dark chocolate (how'd she know?) !! What a nice treat.

Oops, I indulged before remembering to photograph. Now you all know the chocolate fiend I truly am.

Loving my new headbands!

Gifts don't have to be big or fancy to make someone smile. Small tokens of appreciation, photographed memories, or words of kindness can all equally brighten someone's day. So go ahead and spread the joy this holiday season. Share little gifts, baked goods, jokes, or kind words with friends, family, and strangers, too. I dare you.

Happy Holidays!!
Stay tuned for an athletic gift giveaway for YOU.

Celebrate: Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

2011-12-20T13:00:00.009-05:00

Sometimes it's your boyfriend's birthday...

... and sometimes this means you have to bake.

dry ingredients

Today is my boyfriend's birthday, and so although I have much grander confectionary plans in mind for the celebration with friends, I could never show up on his birthday empty-handed, could I? Enter: cupcakes.

wet ingredients

(Don't worry, I got him a real gift. But I hope he likes these, too!)

The star has arrived

He likes pumpkin, and he likes cream cheese, and he isn't a huge "cake" person, so I found a recipe for pumpkin cupcakes with a cream cheese frosting. Perfect!

Ready, set... combine!

They're not super sweet but are oh-so-tasty, so I think he'll enjoy the flavors.

Mix.

And I think you will, too.

Pour.

While those are baking, you have just enough time to make the cream-cheese frosting!

That's optional. They're also delicious as muffins (without the frosting), or could go with vanilla or chocolate frosting if cream cheese flavor isn't your thing.

Almost ready?

Don't bite yet--too hot! Let them cool for a bit.

Looks like they could've been filled with more batter. Next time: Go big or go home.

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Frost and sprinkle, if you please.

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Perfect density.

Packed and ready to go! Will put candles in tonight. =)

Read more for the recipe. PLUS the Hanukkah surprise ...

Pumpkin Cupcakes
Based on a recipe on Epicurious. I doubled it (reflected below, with my other health- and flavor-related changes), and it made 12 medium-sized cupcakes.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking poweder
1/2 tsp baking soda
As much cinnamon as your heart desires. The recipe calls for 1/2, but my heart desires a lot of cinnamon and less ginger/nutmeg, so I just loaded on the cinnamon. With a splash of pumpkin pie spice.
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup granulated sugar
A few squeezes of honey
2 Tbsp "butter" of choice, softened. I used Olivio spread
2 egg whites
1 cup canned pumpkin puree. (This is way more than the recipe called for, but can you really call them "Pumpkin Cupcakes" if you only use 1/4 cup??)
2 Tbsp "milk" of choice, fat free
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare nonstick muffin cups or baking tray.
Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, (ginger, nutmeg,) and salt until combined.
In another bowl, mash sugar, honey, and "butter" until combined. Stir in egg whites first, then pumpkin, "milk," and vanilla, until mixed well.
Add dry ingredients; stir until combined.
Pour batter into muffin cups -- I poured until 3/4 full, but probably would have been better if they just about reached the tops. Bake until cupcakes spring back when touched, about 15 minutes.
Let cool before eating or frosting.

Cream-cheese frosting:

(makes enough to cover 12 medium-sized cupcakes)

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp lowfat cream cheese, at room temperature
4 tsp trans-fat-free margarine (or sub)
4 Tbsp confectioners' sugar
4 Tbsp nonfat plain yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

In a bowl, beat cream cheese, margarine, and sugar until smooth.
Add yogurt and vanilla; stir until combined.

I added a tiny drop of pumpkin in, here. Unite the flavors!

When cupcakes cool, frost!

Enjoy.

UPDATE: Sometimes your boyfriend's birthday falls on the first night of Hanukkah, and so you have to improvise.

Happy Hanukkah!