Steamed Broccoli

Brr, It's COLD Out There

2011-01-13T21:19:00.000-05:00

Something about getting all bundled up for a run makes me extremely happy. The more layers, the better. I don't really enjoy being hot, or sweating, or overheating, and so winter running is actually more my style. Except today, it was COLD. I ran at 6:30pm and before I left, the news said it was 24* with a wind chill of 0. ZERO. That means - cold. People looked at me like I was crazy and I passed just a few other runners. At least I'm not the only crazy one.

It was a quick 3 miles - it felt slow, though. I think I was stopped at every crosswalk, waiting for the little red hand to turn into a little white person. Adds a lot of time to my run. Also, my Garmin kept pausing, going in and out of satellite service, so I'm not sure it was entirely accurate. I did 3 miles in about 38 minutes. Like I said, slow. I'm blaming the crosswalks, wind, and cold. Yup.

So, when I got home I was pretty hungry. Vowing to eat what's in my fridge (and not ordering from Charlie Mom's - the quickest Chinese delivery there is) I put together a quick "casserole" while I stretched.

In the mix:
1/2 c. cooked Quinoa (seriously obsessed)
Lots of chopped spinach (about 1c.)
5 Sundried Tomatoes, chopped
Chicken Sausage (have no idea how much I added in - but you know, enough, not a lot)
Sprinkling of Parmmmmmesean cheese (mmmm)

Mix it all together and put it in a casserole dish...and sprinkle with some mozz(arella).

And bake at 400* for about 20 minutes, until cheese is browned.

Aaaaand.....MANGIA!
(Perhaps with a glass of wine that your roommate just happened to bring home for Thursday Wine Night.)

And now I'm off to watch some Thursday night TV - Grey's and Private Practice! (With some push-ups and abs in between on the commercials. Because that's how I do.)

2011 NYC Half Marathon - American Cancer Society

2011-01-11T11:03:00.000-05:00

On March 20, 2010, I completed my first half marathon. I trained throughout the winter, through the cold and snow and ice. This year, I plan to do the same thing all over again.

I've talked a lot about wanting to run a second half marathon and I'm finally feeling healthy enough to do so. This time; however, I am doing things a little differently. For one, I didn't want to run this race, one I have already participated in, without purpose. For that reason, I have teamed up with a great group of people to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Every Saturday, the group meets for the long training runs. It's nice to have people to run with! Definitely a huge change for me considering I usually prefer to run solo.

So many people are affected by this terrible disease. I always wonder what I can do to help someone who is diagnosed with cancer. My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago; she is now well and in remission. My former employer has been battling cancer for well over a year now, and I can see how it affects their family, their business, and their everyday lives. Neither of them deserved this - no one does. So maybe, with the help of me and the efforts of my teammates, we can help to make the lives of those diagnosed and their family members just a little bit easier.

My fundraising page can be found here. All the support, any amount, helps - it helps the American Cancer Society, those battling this awful disease, and their families. Your support will also help me run farther and harder - one mile at a time.

A Year in Review

2011-01-06T12:50:00.000-05:00

Last year, I declared my "resolutions" on this here blog. So, here's a little year in review.

1. Be healthy. Yes, I still have 20-30lbs I would like to lose. But right now, it's not just about losing weight. I need to retrain myself to look at food in a different way. In a healthy way. It's not about GOOD or BAD food. It's about food I need to fuel my body and food I want, food I can indulge in, just because I can. And it's about balance- balancing work, workouts, and healthy meals. Drinking less and in moderation.

Truth be told, I gained weight. But oddly enough, I'm ok with with it. I'm not beating myself up, I know I need to lose it, and I will. There's a plan in motion. I still concentrate on good for me foods - whole, healthy foods - and will continue to do so. And with my recent gluten free diet, there are many changes in the new year to be made.

2. Pay down debt.

Um, yeah. About that...

3. Write more. Clearly, I've been a slacker.

I definitely did not write quite as much as I had planned, but maybe this is the year I'll make a change?

4. Figure out what I want to go back to school for, apply, and do it.

This HUGE life decision didn't happen - but it will.

I will find out on Tuesday if I have been chosen in the lottery to run in the NYC Half Marathon on March 21st. If I am chosen, training begins on Tuesday with this plan, starting at week 2. The most I've run for a race is 4 miles, so it is going to be challenging. But it will help me get into a healthy mindset and give a goal to work towards. If I don't get chosen, I will probably still work the training plan.

I ran the NYC Half on March 20, 2010. It was an amazing experience and I'm doing it all again in 2011!

Oh, and 5. Fall in love. Or at least date. Or go on a date. (baby steps.)

Well, I let myself care. I let myself like. I went on dates. Fall in love? Not so much. Love? Yes. Let myself get heartbroken, just to remind myself what it felt like (because you know, it's been a few years)? Check. Onwards and upwards.

Something Crazy

2010-12-21T09:27:00.000-05:00

Last night I did something crazy.

I registered with The American Cancer Society to raise money and run in the NYC Half Marathon.

This is a plan that has been in the works for a few weeks and I decided I wanted to raise money for a good cause whether or not I got in with the NYRR lottery. Needless to say, I, with so many other angry New Yorker's, did not get into the lottery. So, last night, with a little encouragement from a friend, I signed up. More details to follow with a training plans, fundraising information, and a plan for the next 10 months. (Yes, 10 months.)

3 Miles

2010-10-14T13:12:00.003-04:00

Last night, I ran 3 miles last night. And it felt AMAZING.

Because I've been awful at writing, here is why 3 miles is a big deal:

Back in August I declared that I missed my double digit runs and I would begin training for the Staten Island Half Marathon. Knowing this would be a great feat- having come out of the boot for my foot injury just a few weeks prior and not having done any long runs in months- I started to train. About one week into training, something was majorly wrong. The bottom of my heel hurt- it was painful to walk or put any sort of pressure on it, let alone run. The outside of my calf- the peroneal tendon- burned when I ran for only five minutes. It felt like someone was pulling the tendon, stretching it, in opposite directions. My foot and calf were inflamed and I could not take it anymore. I decided enough was enough and made an appointment with an orthopedic doctor.

She told me no running for 4 weeks, no training for any half marathon, and put me in 6 weeks of physical therapy. At least there was an answer and a solution.

Diagnosis: plantar fasciitis and peroneal tendonitis.

Following doctor's orders, I did not run for a full 4 weeks. I mostly stuck to spin classes, the bike, and elliptical. Slowly, I have been increasing my runs, about two times a week, at 2 miles each. My first run was 1 mile. I tried not to think about how just months ago, I was running 12 miles and finished a half marathon and did 6 mile "fun runs". Needless to say, I was frustrated.

Until last night. I felt stronger, healthier, and ready to really run.

I am now about 8 weeks into physical therapy (really, 6 due to vacations and changed appointments) and my original diagnosis, I feel 90% better. The injuries are not 100% healed- I know plantar fasciitis will take a while to completely go away (I ice my foot after every run, receive laser treatments, and wear shoes with cushioning) and the much of the tendonitis is mechanical (I have never walked properly and have had to retrain myself to walk and run).

3 miles is a big deal right now. Especially because I do want to start training for another race soon, want to run shorter distance races in the very near future, and still have my eye on running a marathon within the next year.
(I love running the reservoir at night. This is where I first started running and it's a great reminder of how far I have come, even with set backs. It is also a constant reminder of why I love this city.)

Double Digit Runs

2010-08-03T11:57:00.003-04:00

I miss double digit runs.

I miss running.

Ever since my foot injury, I've been scared to run. I did an outdoor run last Monday, just around the Central Park reservoir and home. It was probably a total of two miles. My heel hurt. I iced it, stuck to the elliptical and bike the next day, and tried a run again on Saturday. It was a short run- up to the park, a portion of the reservoir, to 90th and Madison (where I needed to pick up new bra's from Intimacy) and then I walked home. Short runs.

I miss running through the park- the 6 mile loop, then the 4 mile, then home. I always felt so accomplished, so proud of myself, so AMAZED that my body could do that. I loved the feeling of increasing a mile every week. When I started half marathon training in January, I'd never run more than 4 or 5 miles. Then 6 came and I knew I could do 7 and then 8 and then I ran 12. The rush of emotion when I finished 12 miles was unexpected. I sat on a park bench and cried.

I miss how my body feels when I am running consistently. Fit. Tight. Small. It didn't matter that I didn't lose weight- I felt and was visibly smaller. I lost inches.

And now that I haven't been running, I feel the opposite. Soft. Out of shape. Not myself.

I need to start again. But I'm scared. I am scared to re-injure my foot. And this morning I thought to myself how unfair it was that I finally got into good shape and then I got hurt. Like the Fitness Gods were telling me this sport isn't for me. It is. It has to be.

I want to start training for the Staten Island Half Marathon. It is on October 10th, a little less than 10 weeks away. Technically, I would need to start TODAY.

And I think that is exactly what I will do.

Hot Yoga; FAIL

2010-08-02T10:33:00.002-04:00

Friday night, Jess and I went to our first hot yoga class with Yoga to the People. Well, my first hot yoga class. Jess had been before while living in Pittsburgh and assured me it would be fine and just like our Wednesday evening class, only hotter. I was hoping for magical yoga- the kind I experience on Wednesday evening's in the park- a spiritual and mental release while pushing myself physically.

We entered the studio and upon arriving they had us fill out a name tag that was to be placed near our mats in the room. They explained that first time guests pay after class and we would be offered 20% off a package of classes, should we decide to purchase a membership. We went into the very small locker room to drop our bags off in a locker and then entered the room. We were a bit early but I thought it would be good to sit in there, get used to the heat, and prepare myself for the next 90 minutes.

Before I explain about the class, let me say that based on our schedule and the times classes were offered, we opted for "hot traditional yoga" as opposed to "hot power vinyasa yoga". I am accustomed to vinyasa yoga and wasn't sure what to expect from traditional yoga. But really, how much different could it be?

At the start of class, the instructor (can't remember her name) pulled all new-comers to the front of the studio to go through some breathing techniques. Ok, fine. They were strange but I went with it. Then we went back to our mats, she turned ON the lights, and we got to work. We started with the breathing exercises, then went into a few standing poses- none of the names were familiar to me but the poses were similar to vinyasa. There was little movement, it was all choppy and we would do three sets of each pose on our left and right side. Very early on during the class I felt like I was going to pass out. Beads of sweat started dripping off my body about five minutes into class and continued to pour out of my pores for the remainder of class.

Let me also say that, prior to class beginning, we were instructed to NOT leave class. If we could not do a pose or felt sick, we were to sit or lie down on our mats for as long as we needed to. I am pretty sure I spent the majority of class in one of these positions. I tried every pose but very often just had to stand there, trying not to pass out.

Halfway through the class, after we finished our standing poses (which, really, were not difficult to do at all. I did not feel like I was pushing myself except for the fact that I was sweating more than I did when I ran the half mary.) we had a two minute savasana (corpse pose) which I welcomed greatly. Jess looked over at me and mouthed "This is the worst! Do you think it's over?" To which I responded "There is no possible way that was 90 minutes."

The second half of class consisted of sitting poses, laying on our stomach, contorting my body in weird ways. I hated every minute of it. Not to mention, the instructors voice was harsh and loud and she talked the entire way through class (and the lights stayed on!) and her voice/talking actually made me MORE anxious about being in the room. I felt claustrophobic and annoyed for the full 90 minutes.

Now, I will admit that I don't handle heat very well, which is why I was nervous going into class. BUT, I thought, if hot yoga is magical and spiritual like other classes I have been to, I will endure the heat and the sweat for the experience and to rid my body of toxins. I truly do think that, should the class have been filled with vinyasa's and downward dogs and chaturanga dandasana's, I would have been able to handle it and would have enjoyed the class.

After a quick shower, which I sweated my way through, Jess losing her $50 blush down the drain in the bathroom (don't ask, it was traumatic), and being asked to pay $8 (when the website boasts that it is a donation based studio), we left. We were both so annoyed with the class- this was NOT what Jess had done in Pittsburgh- that we felt the only way to make it up to ourselves was to go to dinner.

We headed down to the West Village and went to Risotteria on Bleecker Street. Jess and Brian had been there before as they offer a gluten free menu and a $15 bottle of wine special. The wine was a Pinot Noir, which was delicious. I ordered the mozarella, portabello mushroom and truffle oil pizza (you know my love for truffle) and Jess ordered the gluten free mozzarella pizza. Mine was really tasty and there was just enough truffle oil to make me happy.

Despite our not so good experience with hot yoga, the night ended on a good note with good food and wine. Can't go wrong with that.

I think, for now, I'll stick with magic yoga on Wednesday nights and maybe find another studio to visit for hot vinyasa yoga. I can't wait for Wednesday.

Magic Yoga

2010-07-29T09:43:00.003-04:00

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I've been in a funk and just can't seem to shake it. We'll chalk it all up to (another) quarter life crisis but there are bigger things I'm working on. Factor in the fact that I am still feeling a bit of pain when I run and since running is my escape and my stress reliever, it is truly upsetting to me.

Two weeks ago, I told Jess about a free yoga class hosted by Laughing Lotus, a yoga studio here in New York. Once a week, on Wednesday evenings, they host a free outdoor yoga class. KMDF and I went a few years ago and I was happy to see they still do this. Since Jess and I are both dealing with (stupid) boy issues, I thought it would be a good idea for us to go, stretch, and get back into yoga.

Last week was the first class we could attend. Luckily, the rain held off and we had a beautiful breezy evening. It was truly magical. I forgot how therapeutic yoga is. It is not the same as doing it my living room off Exercise TV. The instructor was amazing and after three OM's and a prayer song I immediately felt my stresses release. Jess and I emerged from class with smiles on our faces, feeling like weight had been lifted off our shoulders. My yoga high lasted for a few days and I couldn't wait to go back.

Last night was the same. I was having a bad day and the only thing getting me through was knowing that yoga was at the end of my day. I knew it would make me feel better and I couldn't wait to let everything out through breathing and vinyasa's. What I like most about these classes is that every week is a different instructor so each class is completely different.

There is something about being an "urban yogi" that makes me happy. Taking time out of our busy weeks to convene in a small park between the West Side Highway and 10th Avenue as the sun sets over the Hudson, hearing the sounds of the city- sirens, cars, people walking by, shouting- but being in our own places, physically and mentally, that almost makes it more relaxing, connecting with the city I love.

I slept better last night than I have in weeks. I felt and still feel relaxed and happy. Maybe this is even better than my weekly therapy session-good for the mind and body.

Tomorrow Jess and I are attending a hot yoga class-my first-with Yoga to the People. It's 90 minutes of traditional hot yoga and I'm a little nervous, coupled with being extremely exciting to try something new.

I think I may have a new obsession.

Saturday Morning Crunch

2010-07-17T09:54:00.004-04:00

Determined to have a productive yet relaxing day, I have already done a quick clean of the apartment, showered, dressed (no makeup or hair done quite yet), and eating breakfast. I think I have a new favorite breakfast, perfect for a summer morning.

I got in a trip to Trader Joe's last night and stocked up on so much goodness.

Here we have:
1/2 c. Trader Joe's Greek Yogurt- vanilla
1/2 c. Vanilla Almond granola
Strawberries and frozen blueberries (I'm out of fresh!)
Sprinkling of raw oats

I love this granola. And mixed with the vanilla yogurt was a good amount of sweetness and crunch. And yes, I am drinking my iced coffee out of a beer glass. I'm classy like that.

Plans for today are to hit up my local farmers market for some goodies, get to Central Park to work on my tan and read, and head out to Queens for movie night with Jess. I'm keeping myself busy to keep my mind off other stuff and I think the plan will (hopefully) work. Too much down time is never a good thing.

Jess and I were going to go out to a tequila bar tonight but to save ourselves cash and the calories, we're staying in. I'm perfectly ok with that- I've been seeing too much booze lately and need a break.

Cupcakes and Wine

2010-07-17T09:46:00.003-04:00

Sometimes, when you're feeling a little down and aren't really sure what will bring you back up, a girl just needs some cupcakes and wine.

Because I've been having a not so great week, I've let myself indulge more than usual. B decided late Thursday night that we needed cupcakes and "juice" (our term for wine). I forgot to take a picture BEFORE cutting it in half and taking a bite (it's a huge cupcake) so this is what you've got. The cupcakes are from Crumbs which I'll admit are not my favorite. However, this one, "Cosmo" was delicious. I'm still unsure of the flavoring but it was a little fruity (strawberry?) and the icing was perfect. I only ate about 3/4 of this because it was ginormous and became much too sweet for me. The wine though, I had plenty of.

Sometimes, to mend a broken heart or to fix a bad day (or week) cupcakes and wine will do just the trick.

Down

2010-07-14T09:55:00.003-04:00

Have you ever had dreams that seem SO REAL and when you wake up it completely affects your mood? That's what happened to me this morning. It was a dream of up's and down's about my real life tumultuous relationship and I woke up incredibly sad and confused. It also left me with a wicked headache. I woke up at 5:45am, washed my face, put in my contacts, and decided I needed to lay down. I did not get up by 6am, instead I slept until 7:30am, missing my morning workout. I blame the headache. I feel bad missing the gym in the morning because I know someone is there expecting me, but I sent a text, letting him know I wouldn't make it. Still, I feel guilty.

After showering, I decided to brave the scale. I was going to do so until Friday but I needed to. The good news is I've lost 3lbs. DOWN! Sadly, the scale reflects my mood and I'm just not feeling it today. I should be thrilled I've lost a few pounds but my mind is elsewhere right now.

It is also a rainy day and that certainly doesn't help anything. It's totally one of those days where I would like to skip work and head straight to the bar. And yes, it is only 10am. Again, Jess and I will miss the NY Philharmonic Orchestra and outdoor yoga because of rain and wet grass. There's always next week for yoga, at least.

For breakfast today I had my usual: light english muffin with peanut butter and banana. This is getting so boring and I really need to start mixing things up! I'm planning a big trip to Trader Joe's Saturday morning so hopefully I can find some new goodies.

I am promising myself to do some Yoga on the Exercise On Demand channel tonight. It's better than nothing and I've really been craving yoga lately.

Back to work, kids. Must be productive!

Always Hungry

2010-07-13T21:49:00.003-04:00

What a weird, busy day. I overslept by about 30 minutes but still made it in time for my 7am workout. I told my Gym Buddy I was serious this time and I meant it. I rushed out the door, somehow grabbed everything I needed, and booked it to the subway (after stopping for an iced venti coffee from Starbucks...with skim milk and 2 Splenda's).

We did a pretty tough workout. I spent time on the elliptical while he jumped rope- I decided after my foot/heel started hurting yesterday that I still should not be doing high impact activity, which is incredibly frustrating but it needs more time to heal. Then we worked shoulders, back and abs. I'm definitely feeling sore in my obliques. It's a GOOD feeling!

Work was really busy today, I have a lot going on right now. I didn't get to take any pictures of what I hate but here's a recap. And let me tell you, it was NOT enough food. I was starving ALL day, no matter what I ate.

Breakfast
Light English Muffin with Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter, 1/2 Banana
1c. Blueberries

Lunch
1/2c. Quinoa with spinach, basil and Barillo Tomato & Garlic sauce, chicken, steamed broccoli

Snacks
Baby carrots wtih 2tbps Hummus
Grapes

For dinner, my friend Jess came over. We were supposed to knit but ended up talking about things we're both going through right now which was almost more therapeutic than knitting. We were about to order out, looking through menus but decided after we just got through talking about how we need to stop spending money, I would just throw together a salad creation.

Dinner
BIG salad- mixed greens/spinach, sliced almonds, cucumbers, tomato, quinoa (apparently my new thing), chicken, red onion, orange peppers, olive oil and vinegar dressing

I did, however, get to take a picture of my dessert. Like I said, I've been hungry all day and nothing will satisfy my hunger. This finally took the edge off.

I'm back to LOVING milk, so I poured myself a small glass, heated up a Deep Chocolate VitaTop and topped it with a little peanut butter. I love melty peanut butter!

Perfect way to end the night!

And now I'm off to watch The Hills series finale (so sad) and get myself ready for tomorrow.

Bento is Back!

2010-07-12T10:05:00.007-04:00

Today started with a trip to see my old friend- the GYM. I took a week off last week for no reason other than I was being lazy and was a little under the weather. It felt great to get back into this morning and my Gym Buddy was happy (and surprised) to see me there. We started off with a 10 minute warm-up on the elliptical. Next, we did something I haven't done in years- jump rope! I'm a little nervous because I'm still not supposed to be doing any high impact activity (like running or jumping) for another week due to my foot injury so we'll see how it feels in a few hours. We added in jumping jacks and then headed to the weights where we did arms and abs. It felt good to sweat!

Once I got into the office, I ate a light english muffin with peanut butter and banana. Sorry, no picture :(

Last Christmas, my brother-in-law bought me a bento box. I don't think I've ever introduced Bento on the blog so today it will make it's debut. I have a rule about my bento box: healthy snacks only! Today was no exception and I can't wait to eat my snacks.

Today's bento includes: baby carrots, broccoli, 3 pieces of turkey, 3 tbsp homemade hummus.
I love how the bento box stacks together and looks like a neat little present (with deliciousness inside!) when it's all put together.

My actual lunch is a yummy salad with spinach and mixed greens, portobello mushrooms, tomato, cucumber, orange pepper, craisns and sliced almonds. For a dressing I made a simple vinagraitte with 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, salt, pepper and basil.

And I can't forget a serving of fruit- blueberries and grapes that I'll snack on throughout the day.

I'm so excited to start this week of "detox" and clean eating. I feel better already knowing I got my workout in and have healthy food and snacks to get me through the day.

Now, off to work- lots to get done!

The Scale MUST Be Broken

2010-07-11T14:36:00.000-04:00

I try not to judge my achievements by a number. I do not want to be a hostage to the scale and although I weigh myself to "check in" I like to try, or at least think, that I can ignore the number and stay focused on how my body is feeling. Do my clothes fit? Do I feel in shape and like I'm making progress in my workouts? If yes, then I usually don't panic.

However....

Lately the answer to those questions have been NO. My clothes are feeling a little snug and I am not happy with my workouts. I was feeling a little under the weather emotionally all last week and the last thing I wanted to do was wake up at 5am to go to the gym. So I didn't. I skipped the gym all week. I lounged, I let myself eat what I wanted, I made brownies. In my heart, I KNEW a workout would improve my mood and getting to the gym would be a step in the direction to feeling better mentally and physically. I just couldn't do it.

So when I got on the scale on Friday morning, I guess I wasn't shocked to see a 2lbs weight gain. But it's a number I swore I would never, ever see again. After seeing that number, I jumped off the scale and declared it was broken. Must be. Because that's just not possible! But I feel it. I know the scale isn't lying.

I realize I can not keep writing about the things I will do but instead I need to do them. I keep blaming the fact that I can not run for another week on my lack of cardio workouts but there are many other things I can and should be doing. I know all of this.

This week will be dedicated to eating clean, healthy foods, getting back to the gym (focusing on cardio), and detoxing. No booze. I *think* I can handle one week of no alcohol. It's difficult when your social life revolves around happy hours and bars. But enough of the excuses.

Six Week Check-In

2010-07-01T09:07:00.002-04:00

It's been about 6 weeks since I started concentrating on weight training. Thanks to my wonderful "trainer" I've seen some progress. I wish I had taken measurements prior to starting but I did not. I notice definition in my arms and he noted today that my back/hip area looks smaller. My goal is to gain definition, not mass, and lose weight. While I'm on my way to all these things, sadly, the weight loss just isn't happening. In fact, I've gained about 5lbs. He says it could be because I've gained muscle but I'm not so sure. I feel like my clothes are tighter and although I feel "fit" I don't feel thin.

After talking about this some time, I decided on two things. One, I need to be eating better. I am not eating poorly by any means but there are many things I can cut out (dark chocolate my co-worker brings me, alcohol, snacky foods, sugar) and things I need to increase namely cardio. Cardio was never an issue for me since I was training for the half marathon and other races but now that I can't run, I need to focus on the things I can do: elliptical and bike.

Josh will be gone for the month of July so my workouts are up to me. I'm going to concentrate more on cardio and core/abs, but still do strenth training. I am going to try out some classes if my schedule allows and will certainly try yoga classes. I will come up with a gym schedule shortly. If I write it down and put it out there, I'll be more accountable. I'm sad Josh won't be around, it's nice having a gym buddy to motivate me.

I will take measurements and weigh myself this weekend so I have something to compare to at the end of July. New month, new goals.

No More Boot

2010-06-29T13:27:00.003-04:00

After hobbling around in the boot for a week (ok, fine, a full 5 days), I decided it was safe to remove the boot. I wore it to bars, the park, work, on the subway. Though it got me some attention at the bar (maybe more on this later *wink, wink*) it was hot and uncomfortable and I was feeling a lot better. As long as I wore my Privo's and not silly shoes and continue to take my anti-inflammatory pills, I figured I'd be fine. And I was.

So today I made it back to the gym. Last night I did 27 minutes of Yoga On Demand (thank you, Exercise TV) and was loving the stretching and breathing. I'm determined to practice some Yoga as much as possible- 27 minutes is nothing!

This morning I met my Gym Buddy at 7am. We started on the bike as a warm up and then worked chest, abs, and back. I've never really worked my chest/back before (with supervision/guidance) and it was hard! I was also tired, a little cranky and a little emotional. We joked that I'd be wearing a backless dress in a few months. Who knows! Maybe I will! ;) After the workout, I my mood had improved and it felt good to get some anger out on the weights.

After a week of not working out (and drinking my weight- and then some- in alcohol) it's time to get back on the wagon. I'm just concentrating on eating clean, good, healthy foods. I'm feeling less and less comfortable with the few pounds I've put on and need a little reality check. I think the motto of the week is More Cardio, Less Crap. Though I'm limited to low impact activity (no running) I have a lot to work with- bike, elliptical...errr, maybe not A LOT but at least I can do those two things. And yoga. I am planning on checking out Laughing Lotus' free yoga in the park tomorrow after work. KMDF and I tried it out a few years ago and I loved it. Some personal things have been going on and I need to put the focus back to me, not on others. Yoga helps me relax and breathe and I can't wait to practice more of it.

Booted

2010-06-21T09:03:00.004-04:00

Last Saturday I woke up bright and early to head out for a 6 mile run. I was feeling good, well rested, and ready to tackle the 6. I walked up to Central Park (I love the walks to the park; it serves as a great warm up to get my legs loose and ready to run).

The bottom of my right foot/heel had been bothering me for a few days but I chalked it up to wearing stupid (but cute) non-supportive flats or flip flops. I always strike my heel pretty hard when I walk normally. They felt good in my supportive cushion-y running shoes, so I wasn't worried.

I ran a very slow, very steady 5 miles. There were a lot of walk breaks and slow jogging but I was ok with that. It was hot, I was sweaty, and I was in no rush. By the time I stopped running and began my walk home, my heel was killing me. I limped most of the way home and just wanted to put it up and ice it. I did just that. But then, feeling restless and wanting to enjoy the gorgeous day, I set out (in flip-flops) to do some shopping and get ready for a friend to come over for knitting and wine night. I iced my foot throughout the night. And then...

I woke up at 3:30am in excruciating pain. My foot was swollen and throbbing, sharp pains shooting up and down my foot. I immediately grabbed an ice pack, tied it around the bottom of my foot with a towel and propped it up on pillows. I slept on and off for two hours then transferred myself to the couch. I tried watching Harry Potter but was in and out of sleep for another two hours. I was debating on going to the the emergency room but took an anti-inflammatory pill (from last year's foot injury) and breathed through the pain (after a hysterical crying phone call to my parents). Phone calls were made to the emergency line of my podiatrist, who told me to come in first thing the next morning.

By about 1pm, the pain had gone away but my foot was still swollen. I went to the doctor the next morning and swelling had gone down. After applying some pressure and telling her what had happened she uttered the words I was hoping I wouldn't have to hear: "I'm going to put you in a boot and no running for 2-3 weeks. After that, you can gradually re-introduce running but nothing extreme, start with walking, and nothing intense...like training for a half marathon. You need to heal."

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. First of all, a boot? Second, no running? No Bronx Half. No upcoming races I have planned. No running? For a month at least?

So, on went the boot for one week and out went my spirits. I was booted.

When It's Mental

2010-06-17T10:41:00.005-04:00

This morning I woke up for a 3.5 mile run. I didn't really have a route in mind, just thought I'd run south along the East River for 1.5 miles, turn around and run along the Charles Shurz Park and back home. I slept a little later than planned (6am instead of 5:30am) but was out the door by 6:25am, after sipping a small iced coffee (I made it last night!). Since my calves have been bothering me (again) I put on my ZensahRunning Leg Sleeves, hoping they'd help.

I need to remember a few things:
1) I need at least 40 minutes to fully wake up before going for a run. 25 minutes is not enough and I still feel sleepy.
2) I HATE running on the East River path. It's a cobblestone like pathway and it's really uneven. This is where I injured my foot last summer and it makes me nervous and I change my gait which affects my feet and calves. Bad.
3) It is summer. The sun is hot. I need a hat or visor.
4) Water.

Needless to say, because I "forgot" all of the above, it was a poor run. The pathway stretches along the river for a mile (from where I started on East 81st Street) before it goes up a ramp and continues on. I knew my legs were failing me so I turned around at that point (and I was SO happy to find a water fountain here). There was a lot of walking and in the end, I only completed 2.66 miles.

I hate admitting that I didn't make it to 3.5 because I feel like I failed. However, I'm trying to change my outlook on things and am trying to think of the positives: I got up and ran this morning (when normally I hit the snooze), I ran 2.66 miles instead of NOTHING, and even though I know I have a lot to work on right now, I also know I can DO IT. I know I will not have perfect runs every time I go out there and sometimes it's completely mental. Once my calves started aching (my leg sleeves failed me today) I immediately started thinking negatively and basically told myself this wasn't going to be a good run. So it wasn't. What would have happened if I told myself it was going to be a great run? Would I have kept running?

In the end, I got a (shorter) run in, I sweat (a lot) and learned that when it gets mental I need to reinforce positive thinking. I will also be investing in a hat/visor and most likely a Camelbak Hydration pack. Training in 13 degree weather is MUCH different than 80-90 degree weather.

Great tips for running in the heat!!!

Tired Tuesday

2010-06-15T21:40:00.000-04:00

Today was tiring. It's my own fault, really. The past two nights I've been out late, it's involved alcoholic beverages (wasn't I supposed to be cutting back?), and lots of walking (exercise!). This morning's alarm went off at 5am and I immediately pressed snooze and slept until 7am. Oops. Here's the good thing about morning workouts: if you miss one, you can always make it up in the afternoon, pending you have time. Lucky for me, I knew I could make it to the gym between work and my dinner plans.

I'm not going to lie- getting motivated to start this round of training for the Bronx Half Mary is incredibly challenging. I visited my sister in Massachusetts this past weekend and set out for a 6 mile run on Saturday. It ended only being 4 miles due to rain and my being out of shape. I am also trying to do this race injury free so am being super cautious of any pains or uncomfortableness I feel.

Today's run was set for 3 miles. Once I got on the treadmill I knew it was going to be tough. My calf muscles started to tighten up and ache again, just as they (almost) always do. I stretched, got off the 'mill, and got on the elliptical for 15 minutes. My calves felt loose and so I jumped back on the treadmill for another mile. You win some, you lose some. I have a gym date tomorrow morning to work work arms, so plan on doing a mile or so on the treadmill before weights. I'm also thinking I need to stretch and loosen up on the elliptical before running the treadmill. I am also beginning to think the treadmill isn't good for me and I need to stick to outdoor runs. I like them better, anyway. This means no more snooze button! It's time for me to get serious and focus if I'm running this race in 8 weeks. YIKES!

Todays Eats:

Breakfast:
Green Monster
2 handfuls baby spinach
1 banana
1/4 cup blueberries
1/4 cup oats
1 cup Almond Milk

(LOVE starting my day off with a GM and am going to try to do so every day this week. YUM!)

Morning Snack:
Chobani Pineapple

Lunch:
Mixed greens with: tomato, baby portobello mushrooms, broccoli, 1/4 c. chickpeas, Trader Joe's Apple Chicken Sausage, roasted red peppers, 2 tbsp Trader Joe's Goddess dressing

1 Trader Joe's whole wheat British muffin with 1 laughing cow cheese wedge

Snacks:
Snap peas and baby carrots

Dinner:
SUSHI! (I love my sushi dinner dates with Rachel. We always try a new sushi restaurant and choose by whether or not they have sweet potato rolls. DELISH!)
So, I had 3 rolls: vegetable, shrimp and cucumber, sweet potato. Nom nom nom.

Out of Bed

2010-06-09T11:37:00.003-04:00

This morning my alarm went off at 5am, like it does every day. I finally got out of bed at 5:45am (I know now the latest I can sleep until IF I've packed my lunch and laid out my clothes the night before; if not, it's a 5:15am wake up) and started my day. I need to start ironing my clothes the night before but for some reason I feel like I can only do it in the morning. I guess I'm scared they'll wrinkle overnight?

In an attempt to start saving money, I really have to stop lay off the morning Starbucks and extra treats (not to mention, it helps tremendously with weight loss!). I have coffee, fat free half and half, Splenda AND a coffeemaker at home. There's no reason for the extra time and money wasted buying a $3.21 iced venti. This morning I brewed my coffee while I washed up and then stuck it in the freezer for 20 minutes while I ironed and got dressed so it could cool. It kind of worked but the warm coffee melted my ice and it was too watered down.

Now two extra tasks have been added to my nightly routine:
Make coffee, put in fridge
Iron clothes

Josh and I worked our legs today- it was a GOOD workout. We started with leg presses, then did the "ABC's". This was my first time doing them and Josh let me do them without a medicine ball. Basically, they are squats but what you do is put your arms in front of you (either clasping your hands together or holding a medicine ball) and "write" the letters of the alphabet. The trick is to make the letters BIG so that, let's say, the bottom of your A starts at your toes, then you stand up, moving your arms diagonally to the top of the A, then down to the other side (squatting), back up to the middle to make the cross. Does that make any sense? The toughest ones are M and W (3 squats). My thighs feel it. We did lunges, abs, hamstring curls, and a few other exercies (I'm drawing a blank right now).

I went easy on the weights because tomorrow starts Bronx Half Mary training and I didn't want tired or sore legs.

Today's Eats

Breakfast:
Light Engligh Muffin with hardboiled egg and 1 slice American Cheese (singles)
Banana

Morning snack:
Chobani Pinapple Greek Yogurt with 1/4 c Fiber One (original)

Lunch:
Salad- spinach, mixed greens, grilled zuccini and portabello mushrooms, whole wheat pasta with pesto, sliced almonds, reduced fat feta cheese, tomato, cucs, red onion
(Sidenote: that looks like a big salad, but it's actually not. I'll take a picture later to prove it!)
Handful of Stacy's Pita chips (yum)

Afternoon snack:
Fruit- strawberries and blueberries

Dinner:
Probably left over Pad Thai from my dinner last night. I think it has ONE shrimp left in it. And I asked for it to be made with extra veggies, which is a great tip! Pad Thai definitely lacks in veggies and it's a special treat for me when I do get Thai.

A Second Chance: Bronx Half Marathon

2010-06-08T16:12:00.004-04:00

I need to write a full recap of my NYC Half Marathon. Let's just say, it didn't go quite as planned. Even though it was almost 3 months ago, it's fresh in my mind. The short version: I developed the worst blisters I have ever had around mile 5 on the arches of BOTH my feet, which dropped my pace to about 11 minute miles. I normally run 9:30-10 min miles for my long runs and, just two weeks before, completed 12 miles in 2:05 and so had a goal of running the race in 2:15 (NOT 2:26).

It wasn't fun. Yes, I was incredibly proud of myself for finishing, for not giving up, for training for 12 long weeks. For running 13.1 miles for Christ's sake! It wasn't my accomplishments I was mad about; it was that I feel like I was jipped by the blisters and I am mad at THEM. The blisters. They ruined my time!

So, I need a second chance. And a third. And I guess there's no better time than the present. Or so that's what they say. Having a goal is what keeps me motivated and will keep me focused. It can't hurt, right?

My plan is this:
Bronx Half Marathon on August 15th
Staten Island Half Marathon on October 10th

I'm going to do things a little differently this time around. For one, I'm only giving myself 10(ish) weeks for training. This is fine, I'm sure, except I have not been running seriously for the past month (or three). Yes, running, but not long runs. But I know I can do it since I've done it before. To change things up, I will follow this plan (starting on week 3). It's a little different as it's the Advanced Beginner's plan as opposed to Beginner's, which I did the first time around.

What else will I do differently? I'm going to keep up with my weight training which I really is important and will make a huge difference in my performance. My arms are feeling stronger and dare I say I'm starting to see more definition in my guns. I will also run on Sunday's, which I normally skipped, and stick to cross training on Wednesday which I also skipped. Oh hey, guess I didn't follow the plan SO well last time around. But it still worked. I won't be hard on myself- I know that I can DO IT. I am also going to eat better (just because I run 5, 6, 7 miles does not mean that I can binge and splurge on cake/chips/alcohol/crap) and just take better care of myself in general. I did not lose much weight last time and this time I actually need to.

So this is my second chance to get things right. And I'll be investing in new socks and new summer running gear. Woot!

Ever feel like you really needed a second (or third or fourth) chance to get something right?

An Accidental Vegetarian

2010-06-04T14:21:00.006-04:00

I didn't intend to stop eating meat. Seriously. It wasn't about the killing of animals or how animals are raised and treated. It simply started by being served a very, very, VERY rare piece of steak one fateful Mother's Day about 13 years ago. I took one look at the piece of bloody meat, ran to the bathroom, got sick, and refused to eat meat after that. Not eating red meat turned into not eating pork, either. I don't like the texture. I missed bacon and my Dad's homecooked meatballs at first. I continued to eat chicken and turkey and recently took a liking to fish.

About three weeks ago I decided to stop eating meat completely. Minus one incident where a restaurant forgot to omit the bacon from my breakfast burrito (I took one bite and threw a fit) and the turkey bacon I ate in Pittsburgh when in Pittsburgh (but too hungover to actually keep down. What? I can't hold my liquor anymore). Since then, I've been living off of a lot of salads, tofu, shrimp, vegetables, fruit...basic vegetarian items. But I'm getting bored. I would like to experiment with tempeh but have no idea how to cook it. I JUST learned about pressing tofu (thanks to Carrots N Cake's post about tofu) and tried the towel method. I used paper towels instead of a cloth towel which probably wasn't the best idea, but I guess it worked. I'm staying away from overly processed foods and need to find a good veggie burger recipe (any ideas?).

I don't know how long this will last for but I have to say, it's forcing me to eat healthier and really think about what I'm putting in my body. So many vegetarians skip the meat and go for the junk foods/sweets/etc. but I'm paying much closer attention to the vegetables, protein, and goodness that every food has to offer.

My new found vegetarianism will be tested on Friday when I go for wings with KMDF and her husband in Amherst, MA. I just can't pass up wings and beer. After all, it was my post-half mary meal!

Pittsburgh, 5 years later

2010-06-03T19:46:00.006-04:00

Over Memorial Day weekend I made a trip to Pittsburgh to visit my Gay Chris. I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005 (yes, exactly five years ago) and met Chris the summer I graduated while we both worked at the Gap. We had an immediate attraction, one that only a gay and a girl could really have. This isn't about Chris though; I'll save that for another time.

This wasn't my first time back. I've visited a handful of times in the past 5 years. For some reason, this time was different. I needed to get away from the city and from my life for a few days and this trip came at the most perfect timing. (Need to get out of a funk? Take a trip to see a best friend and take some time for yourself!)

I woke up Friday morning, laced up my running shoes, put on my Garmin and headed out for a run. This was the first real run I've been on since the NYRR Mother's Day Race in early May. I decided to head toward Oakland, where the Pitt campus is. As I ran, I remembered that I'd always take the bus to Shadyside (where Chris lives and where the Gap that I worked with is located) and was interested to see how far the distance actually was. I ran past the street where I was called Fat in a drive by. I ran by buildings I had classes in. And I started to think how far I've actually come in 5 years. Though I had already seen it from a distance, I rounded a corner and there was the Cathedral of Learning. This is where I had most of my classes, where I sat on the lawn to study or hang out, where I'd meet friends, where I ate Chic-Fil-A (which helped in my college weight gain). Turns out it's exactly 1.5 miles from Chris's apartment to Bigelow Boulevard. I sat on the benches in front of the Cathedral, sweat pouring off me, and reminisced. Mostly about how far I've come health wise- how I've lost 30lbs (now about 25), how I've made healthy changes, how even though I crave and want the Chic-Fil-A I won't really eat it. I thought about how I felt when I was called Fat and how even though I have a long way to go, I've already come so far weight wise. I thought about all the friends I made in college and how much fun I had. I truly wish I kept in touch with more of them. There may have been a tear or two shed through the sweat dripping down my face while I sat there thinking.

I ran back to Shadyside feeling like a different person. I felt stronger, more confident, more independent and like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. It was nice to look back on the 5 years, knowing the path I've chosen is the right one, reminding myself that everything happens for a reason, and that sometimes looking to the past instead of the future is helpful. Living in the present, however, is most important.

You Spin Me Right Round

2010-06-02T09:51:00.003-04:00

This mornings workout was tough. Yesterday, Josh mentioned he'd never done a spin class before and wanted to. After looking at the schedule, we saw there was one at 7am this morning. Since today would have been a "legs" day, we decided to meet and spin instead. My Lord! I haven't gone to a spin class in quite a while- maybe 4 or 5 months. I was dripping sweat 10 minutes into class. It felt SO good. I can't wait to try another class. I hope Josh liked it- it's nice having a workout buddy! It's really keeping me motivated and is holding me accountable.

Last night I did some major grocery shopping. There was NO food in my apartment. Well, nothing to make an actual healthy meal out of. I planned on cooking up some quinoa, steaming and/or roasting veggies, and creating a few meals for the week. But when I got home and started to boil a pot of water, I realized our stove wasn't working. I'm thinking the ignitor is broken and have to call maintenance today and have them fix it. It forced me to be creative so I defrosted some Trader Joe's frozen shrimpies and pulled out my George Foreman grill. I grilled up some asparagus which I coated in EVOO and garlic, shrimpies with garlic, salt and red pepper flakes, and made a "panini" with a whole wheat pita, spinach, mozarella and tomato. Yum!

After my workout this morning I am absolutely starving. I've already eaten breakfast- light english muffin with peanut butter and jam AND my banana. I'm hydrating and just waiting a little while to have my Chobani Pineapple yogurt with Fiber One cereal.

I love how different all spin instructors are. At my old gym, NYSC, there was one instructor whose class we nicknamed Spindance because he loved to dance and sing to the music (mostly 80s tunes). Today's instructor played mostly Lady Gaga but she was tough. I can already feel the soreness setting in on my legs. Definitely going to need to take a few stretch breaks throughout the day.

Oh, and happy National Running Day!

Even though I got my workout in this morning, I'm thinking a little run might be in order after work to celebrate!

AM Workouts

2010-06-01T16:06:00.001-04:00

For the past two (this is my third) weeks, I have been making morning trips to the gym instead of after work. My co-worker Josh has been generous enough to show me the weights at the gym because I've been extremely terrified and embarrassed of working out with all the meat heads (yes, they're all gay, but they're also all HUGE).

Morning sessions work for me now. The first week was awful having to plan my meals, gym outfit, work outfit, and anything else I'd need for the day the night before. I have to lay everything out the night before and pray that I wake up with my alarm. I've only missed 2 morning sessions due to wanting to sleep just a little later. The second time Josh made me pay for it by making me do some extra push ups at the end of our workout- just when I thought I was done! Morning sessions also leave me feeling more energized for the rest of the day and I don't feel the need to take a nap around 1:30pm. Good thing because my office does not allow nap time.

He has shown me a lot of good things. I can feel my arms getting more tone (at least that's what I'm telling myself) and my legs feel stronger. My only complaint is that I'm not getting enough cardio. We mostly concentrate on weights when we work out together and it's up to me to get in 30-45 minutes of cardio (my preferred amount of time). On our "off" days, that's easy to do. This morning I decided to get to the gym 20 minutes earlier to sweat it out on the elliptical. That works, since we do 5 minutes of cardio in between sets. It equaled out to about 30-35 minutes of cardio. But I'm craving more.

Since today is June 1, it's time for my monthly goals. I'm thinking of making June a two-a-day month, meaning a morning session for weights and an afternoon session for cardio on days I can fit it in. It's just a thought right now but I am at an unhappy weight and really need to push myself since another goal is to drop 6-10lbs this month. I normally don't like to make goals like this (I like to think the number doesn't matter) but I'm so far from my "happy" weight that I need to put some pressure on myself. My clothes are feeling tight and I just feel bloated (the heat and humidity doesn't help either).

I'm hoping to see some serious results by the beginning of July. I'm told weight training takes about 6 weeks to see a difference in my body. But I also know that focusing on cardio and eating healthy and clean foods will help speed that process up.