A Case of the Runs

Review: Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred

2012-01-26T13:45:00.000-08:00

I've seen a lot of online reviews for this DVD, particularly on Amazon and blogs everywhere who swore by the "Shredding." Last Christmas (yes, that long ago!), I received this DVD from my younger sister because it was on my wish-list.

However, being the gym rat that I had been, I didn't get much of a chance to do this video until mid-2011. I did this once or twice using my laptop instead of a TV, tucked away in my cramped bedroom.

But as I've mentioned, I've pretty much converted to working out at home and running outside. I'm pretty lucky that this has worked out so far, and I've actually seen positive changes in my physique.

I was mostly doing Jillian Michaels' No More Trouble Zones once in a blue moon. The 45-min workout is pretty strenuous and made me feel pretty good afterward, but I never stuck with it. Now, I do one of Jillian's videos once a week, on a day that I don't run.

This 30 Day Shred video is comprised of three 20-minute workouts that get progressively more difficult. Conventionally, you're supposed to do each level for 10 days, thus working up to 30 days. I obviously did not adhere (lest I'd be shredded???). I've only done Level 1 once, since I want to maximally challenge myself. Don't get me wrong, Level 1 will make you feel like you've worked out, but I'm a masochist and usually do Level 2 and Level 3 together, to create an approximately 45-minute workout (with the warm-up).

In all the levels, you do three minutes of strength training, two minutes of cardio, and one minute of ab work, three times. If you do the math, that's 18 minutes. In Level 1, your strength training is pretty static, while in Levels 2 and 3, you'll have to hold a squat or otherwise combine strength with cardio or something that makes just lifting a 3-lb dumbell way more tough. Prepare to do a lot of plank-based moves and even things like jumping lunges and squats (!!) in Level 3. Those jumping moves make me a little sad because they remind me of the FitMoves classes I used to take at my old company's gym, a class in which "The Ukrainian" and I got to know each other before we started dating.

I've also just done one Level and supplemented with other exercises. This would probably be the best strategy for most people. I aim to work out for at least 45 minutes a day, so 20 minutes, no matter how intense, is not quite enough to fill my obsessive mental quota.

As for results, I am pretty much always sore the next day after doing these, so I know I got in a good workout. These DVDs are interesting enough for me to stick with them, which I feel is key to the effectiveness of any fitness DVD.

Vegetarian Vietnamese Spring Rolls (and Fish Sauce) - Giveaway

2012-01-24T06:16:00.000-08:00

To clarify, the giveaway is NOT for spring rolls or fish sauce. Read on for more details. Sorry if you are already disappointed!! =P

Lunar New Year/Tet is among us (started yesterday and basically lasts 7 or 13 days, however much you want to party in your neck of the woods ;P), so I thought I'd celebrate the Year of the Dragon by doing a little giveaway and sharing a recipe for vegetarian spring rolls, Vietnamese style.

The idea spawned from these Nasoya egg roll wraps that I was given the opportunity to try. I liked that they contained no MSG. Although I'm not sensitive to that stuff (I pretty much ate it by the barrel-ful as a kid and still came out OK, ha ha), a lot of people are.

You will need:

- 9 egg roll wrappers (may vary based on how much filling you place in each)

- 4 or so Chinese mushrooms**, diced into small pieces

- 1/2 c. grated carrot

- 1/2 c. grated onion, or just chop it finely

- 1 egg

- 1 c. bean thread (clear) vermacelli noodles, cooked (a small handful if you're measuring by diameter of the bunch of noodles -- I know, I'm SO precise...)

- 1/2 tsp sesame oil

- 1/2 tsp salt

- 1/2 tsp black pepper

**Woodear mushrooms are typically used for these, but I made a substitution because I didn't want to go beyond my pantry.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

1) Soak mushrooms for at least 4 hours before chopping. Use hot water and leave them out in a bowl. Then, chop into small pieces.

2) Prep carrot and onion. Don't be like me and try to grate baby carrots... not easy or fun at all.

3) You can cook bean thread noodles (which I had lying around from THIS time) by either soaking them for an hour in hot water or just putting them in boiling water for a few minutes, until they limp up and are soft (take a bite to check). You don't want to overdo it, or they will get mushy.

4) Mix veggies, mushroom, noodles, and egg. Then add the salt, pepper, and sesame oil.

5) Time to wrap (not rap)! Take the egg roll and put it into a diamond shape (in other words, don't square it off in front of you). Add filling and fold wrapper over the filling, tucking the part just below the corner under the filling (wish I had gotten a better picture of that!). Then, fold the sides over like an envelope, roll, and dip your fingers into some warm water to seal the top corner. Got that? Here's a link to a video to help.

6) I got 9 rolls out of my filling, but your mileage (hah!) may vary. Put on a sprayed baking pan. Spray the top of the rolls as well, or brush with olive oil. I forgot to do something with the top, so I had to improvise (see below). Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Not as pretty as my mom's, but we all start somewhere, right?

I made some fish sauce for dipping, but this is entirely optional and may not be suitable for all palates or the smell of your kitchen.

- 1/4 c. sugar
- 1/4 c. vinegar
- 1/4 c. boiling water (I used a kettle... the water just needs to be hot enough to melt sugar)
- 1/4 c. fish sauce
- 2 gloves garlic, chopped into small pieces
- lemon juice to taste (ghetto substitution of bottled lime juice was used here, not recommended but better than nothing)
- crushed red chili (didn't have but would be good)

So since my baking failed due to me forgetting to put oil on top, I (or "The Ukrainian") had to pan-fry them until crisp and brown. Still better than using a deep-fryer or oil-filled wok, though I think it'd be an easier option. I'm just too scared to play with hot oil like that.

I was surprised at how authentic these tasted, in spite of the substitutions. Not bad for a n00b attempt. "The Ukrainian" kept burning his tongue because he couldn't wait to eat them. The fish sauce did help cool them a bit...

Giveaway time! (U.S. residents only)

Nasoya is offering 5 coupons for FREE Nasoya products of your choice (they make tofu and other soy foods that, in moderation, are part of a protein-packed veggie diet). And a T-shirt!

One entry for each. Please leave a comment for each item... I will be using those to randomly choose a winner on 1/31/12 at noon.

1) Take the Nasoya Tofu-U pledge (you'll get access to tofu recipes and recommendations).

2) Follow this blog.

3) Follow me on Twitter (@nobel4lit).

4) Tweet or blog this giveaway (if you Tweet, please include @nobel4lit at the end so I can find it).

5) Tell me about your favorite Asian food.

Year of the Dragon

2012-01-23T06:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Year of the Dragon!

I took the above photo at the Tournament of Roses Parade that happened on January 2. It was quite an experience to be seeing the bands, floats, and horses go by you in person!

The Year of the Dragon is supposedly a good year to start businesses, have children, and get married.

Carlsbad Half-Marathon 2012

2012-01-22T13:14:00.000-08:00

EVENT: Carlsbad Half-Marathon
DATE: Sunday, January 22, 2012
LOCATION: Carlsbad, CA
RACE BEGAN: 7:30 am
FINISH TIME: 01:56:53

I signed up for this race last April (click here for my commentary on that), vowing that I would train hard over the holidays to bolster my performance.

Err, fat chance.

I feel like the crappiest, laziest, runner on the planet. As I mentioned in my race report two weeks ago, the longest run I've attempted since November is 6 miles, and things haven't changed since then. Weekly mileage looks more like 15, consisting of 3- and 4-milers, and that's at the top of the range. I'm a little ashamed to admit it, but I'm honest, so there.

As we were sitting in the mall parking lot on race morning, I was filled with a sense of dread. Dread because I had been run down on sleep for a few days, dread because I still have fresh memories of struggling through the 50 mph winds at Camarillo two weeks ago, and dread because I didn't feel like running at all. But I chewed on my Honey Stinger chews (just like two weeks ago... I really will review these soon!) and hoped for the best.

Thank goodness there were ample port-a-potties at the start, since I had to use them, and it seemed like regardless of the huge quantity, there were enough people to use and wait in line for them. A couple things about this race that I should mention that are not related to the run itself is its good organization (more on this later) and the sheer number of really, really fit people in the field.

I started in Wave 2, and I felt like I didn't belong there. No, I didn't lie about my projected finish time, but it seemed like those around me was gunning for around 1:45.

Mile 1 - 8:32
Mile 2 - 8:12

I had my Garmin covered during the first few miles, so although I was holding back and allowing all the fit people in my wave pass me, these went quickly. There were a few climbs throughout these first miles. I guess since I last ran this race in 2008, I didn't remember these climbs (sorry for the mis-info, Cindy!).

Mile 3 - 8:38
Mile 4 - 8:43
Mile 5 - 8:52

In these miles, there was a long incline, which started more steep and then became less steep but still up and up. My stomach was bloating up (TMI and too much Souplantaion the night before), but I held it together.

Mile 6 - 8:45
Mile 7 - 9:06

After a particularly annoying hill, I needed some energy drink and walked through the water station at the top to make sure I got enough, since I seemed to be missing it at the other stations.

Mile 8 - 8:42
Mile 9 - 9:01

Around this point, my right calf was tightening. I never used to have this happen before during half-marathons, but in the past few (even when I was more trained), it has plagued me, as if my weird cramping condition that killed my last marathon was saying, "You can't avoid me just because you're doing a half!"

So, I held back my pace a bit, though the small hills continued. I was breathing deeply to get oxygen to my legs and tried to shift my efforts to my upper body.

Mile 10 - 9:07
Mile 11 - 9:24

It seems like the hills didn't stop, and there weren't too many huge downhills to compensate. I heard someone say, "I think this is the last hill" three times. Hah! I knew I was on pace to finish sub-2 but not fast enough to hit my PR Although I had not quite been giving 100% due to feeling "over" the whole racing thing, I pushed at the end because I just wanted it to be over, even though my untrained legs were tired.

Mile 12 - 9:13
Mile 13 - 8:57
.22 Mile - 7:52

I sprinted at the last turn to make it in before 1:57 and felt like puking. =P

I was really happy that the finish chute was mostly clear this time, as in 2008, this area had been a nightmare. Glad to see that they worked it out.

Note that I have not done a sub-2 half since 2010, probably because I only ran trail half-marathons in 2011, but still. Also notable is the fact that the last time I did this race, my finish time was 2:12. Not bad, since not training and walking through water stations certainly don't lead to a PR, but this lack of discipline seems to be working. Unfortunately. Please don't follow suit. It just seems to be working for me because I am less likely to get burnt out or injured????????? Also, I still think that The Bar Method DVDs I've been doing have been helping somehow.

Bottom line, I am satisfied with my mediocrity. Okay, I don't really mean that, but even when I was training, I wasn't exactly running times like these; this is one of my top finish times (3rd or 4th best of my 21 half-marathons). Although there could be better times for me, I'm not sure how to get there without the burnout or injury. So as much as I can do OK doing what I'm doing, I'll accept that perhaps I'm just a weird case and benefit from "less is more."

I have another half in two weeks (yes, again). I didn't plan it this way, but hopefully I can clear my mind and be more enthusiastic about it.

Race pictures (from Brightroom):

ThinkThin Bars

2012-01-19T06:42:00.000-08:00

I finally tried these ThinkThin bars after scoffing at them whenever I saw them in the supermarkets. (Plus, they went on sale.)

With a gimmicky name that uses the word "thin," I was skeptical. Also, since the bar wasn't vegan, I was doubly dubious.

On the upside, this bar contains 20 grams of protein and no sugar, so it's actually not a bad meal-on-the-go (part of that meal, anyway, if your appetite is like mine).

The downside is that I didn't like the taste of this bar. Eating it reminded me why I stopped eating whey protein (which contains little lactose and is generally OK for my intolerant self). It is not nearly as delicious as Clif Builder bars, so I think it's unlikely that I will bother with them again.

Bottom line, if you are not vegan and don't mind the whey taste, I'd say it's not a bad energy bar.

Harmony Valley Vegetarian Hamburger Mix

2012-01-18T10:57:00.000-08:00

I noticed this bag of Vegetarian Hamburger mix in an aisle at Whole Foods one day and thought that it seemed like a cool concept. I'm always totally jealous when I see convenience foods like this that are not meat- or dairy-free. While it's not the healthiest thing, I want to have those sort of options, too!

Some time later, I was contacted to try this mix, which makes about six "burgers," or equates to about a pound of "beef."

First, you combine the contents of the bag with water and let it sit for a bit.

I followed a recipe that they sent me for Southwestern burgers, so the following ingredients were added...

The patties. I have to confess here that "The Ukrainian" did most of the work at this point.

Pan-fry...

Here's the finished product (doused in BBQ sauce) with a salad. "The Ukrainian," a "meat guy," said he liked the texture of this faux burger, as it was a little chewy and meaty. I found it to be a touch salty, but that could be due to the canned ingredients added from above.

Quite honestly, I've made veggie burgers before and find that an easy process in itself. However, even shortcuts sometimes require shortcuts, so if you're in this category, this stuff would work well, probably in a vegetarian chili recipe.

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FTC Disclaimer: I was provided a sample of this product to try but was not compensated to provide any particular opinion.

Review: Bob Harper's Ultimate Cardio Body

2012-01-16T07:36:00.000-08:00

It's supposed to be a government holiday today, but I am no government worker, so it's another day of workout videos (and maybe running after work) for me.

Now, some people might look down on workout videos that aren't Insanity or P90X(2!), or assume that people who do workout videos aren't still "runners." So far, I don't feel that either of those reactions are always true.

I've barely stepped foot in a gym for two months, yet I feel trimmer and just as fit with my running as I did when I was running more miles per week. My weight has been coming down, and I get to work out from the comfort of my own home -- which gives me little excuse not to do it.

I'm not sure what it is -- new challenges? not phoning it in on a boring cardio machine? but I now have to restrain myself from buying too many of these DVDs too soon. One of my more recent purchases is this Bob Harper Ultimate Cardio Body one.

This video is different from Jillian's videos. In this one, he uses normal people as his "back-up exercisers." In fact, this one guy in the back keeps getting called out for giving up, which is kind of funny and makes me feel better about myself. ;)

What I liked about this video is that the workout is 60 minutes, which is about 15 minutes longer than most of the other DVDs I do. This can also be a con. Usually, I don't have that long to work out before work, unless I wake up earlier (not willing at this time!). However, it does wipe me out to work out that long, and that is satisfying.

I also liked that there was a progress bar at the bottom of the screen, kind of like P-90X. And I don't think you really need any equipment to do it. Bob is not too annoying, though it was hard for me to warm up to him. Though to be fair, it generally takes me a while to "like" any workout video instructor... like once I can zone out when I know the moves!!

The bad part is that there is a lot of repetitive stuff... lunges, some pylo, etc., that my knees don't tolerate well. If you can get beyond that, this workout did have me cursing toward the end (in a good way, I guess). I feel I have pretty strong legs from running and squats/lunges that I do, but pylo is something I (and my legs) really, really, really don't like.

People on Amazon were positive about this video, but I'm pretty sure I won't be using this more than once in a while. I guess I'm just too chicken.

A Post about Sauerkraut

2012-01-12T05:45:00.000-08:00

A while back, I was watching a Rachel Ray cooking show with my older sister and newborn niece, and when she made a reuben sandwich with sauerkraut, I nearly died.

The next day, I wanted sauerkraut so badly that I hit up a local hot dog place that served veggie hot dogs with sauerkraut on top. More than the rest of the hot dog, I enjoyed the pickle-y goodness and had to replicate it at home.

Cue Tofurkey. I have previously eaten these fake sausages before and knew they'd be good in a dish with my beloved sauerkraut. "The Ukrainian" pan-fried them with onions and enoki mushrooms (weird, but good!) and doused them in Lee Roy's BBQ sauce that we got from Foodbuzz Festival.

"The Ukrainian" put his in a roll.

As a side note, I also made a side of stir-fried broccoli. I don't know how I could have only taken one, blurry picture, but here it is.

Micro-Cakes

2012-01-11T05:49:00.000-08:00

Here is a post that has been sitting in my Drafts folder for a while. I wanted to wait until the whole "peanut flour" craze died down a bit.

I got onto this bandwagon after I randomly spotted it at Trader Joe's and was hoping to use it as a vegan protein powder. Made out of unsalted, ground-up peanuts only, it is high in protein and healthy fats. When I realized the whole protein shake thing wasn't happening, I started putting it in my oatmeal instead of peanut butter. This saved me from destroying jars of peanut butter in a short time yet still have the peanutty tastes in my oats.

Then, the peanut flour could no longer be found. I had to order three bags online. While I haven't used it for baking yet, I did use it for microwave "cakes."

Okay, so these don't taste like cake, but it does turn oats and a few other things into something bread-like. My normal concoction was:

1/3 c. oats (instant or old-fashioned work fine)

1/4 c. egg whites (leftover from THIS incident)

1/4 c. peanut flour

1/2 Tbsp flax seeds (I know ground flax is better, but this is what I have at the moment)

1/2 tsp cinnamon, or pumpkin pie spice

pinch of salt

1/2 tsp carob powder (if desired)

1/2 scoop of Amazing Meal (if desired... just trying to use it up)

1/4 c. non-dairy milk

Combine the dry ingredients with the milk. The oats should be wet but not runny. The runnier the "batter" gets, the more fluffy and moist the end-product will be. Adjust to your tastes.

Microwave on high for about 2 minutes.

Here's the end result. I am bad and sometimes eat this with a bit of butter, cream cheese, or peanut butter.

I even made a variation with pumpkin If you add pumpkin, decrease the egg white and milk a little bit.

So, if you're tiring of oatmeal and want another way to get those cholesterol-wipers into your system, this could be a viable option...

Fondue Will Do

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

...but Sartre is smarter??? (reference joke here)

First of all, a huge thank you to those who provided such thoughtful comments on my last post about wedding woes. All of your stories were so fun to read. We think we've made a decision, but that can wait for another time. ;)

Anyway.

A few weeks ago, my friends came over to help use christen the lonely fondue kit (and three-tier tray).

Tier 1: carrots/celery
Tier 2: (banh mi) baguette bread
Tier 3: mini pretzels and more bread... plus some salami hidden in the back

Some Private Selection BBQ chicken thin crust pizza served as an appetizer while the fondue was being prepared. These pizzas are kind of small, although it's not a "single-serve" pizza. One of my guests pretty much annihilated the pizza within a few minutes.

So I used a generic fondue recipe that contained garlic, gruyere and swiss cheeses, cornstarch, and cooking wine. Since I was being cheap, I used a gruyere+cheddar blend, which worked well, except I think it made the whole thing a touch on the salty side. Why don't I ever learn when not to skimp??

Other items on the table included this caramel goat cheese from the farmer's market in San Francisco:

And this white balsalmic jelly from the House of Balsamic. If you love balsamic in your sandwiches but not the feel of soggy bread, this is the perfect solution. My friends enjoyed sampling it on baguettes.

We also dipped bread in orange balsamic... also from the House of Balsamic. I can't wait to try it in a salad! The flavor was lightly cirtus-y and not too sour like some balsamics can be.

After the "main course" (which was mostly bread, as you can tell by the pictures), we moved on to the dessert phase.

Most chocolate fondue recipes require milk, butter, or heavy cream, but we forewent all of that and just dumped 50% dark chocolate chips and 50% milk chocolate chips into the boiler and went for it.

I cleaned and refilled the trays.

Tier 1: apples and strawberries
Tier 2: shortbread cookies (homemade--see below), bacon (!)
Tier 3: more strawberries, cubed pumpkin bread and pannetone

The strawberries, were the most classic and best-tasting.

I got a bit crafty and baked some shortbread cookies. I combined the dough (pretty much just sugar,butter, flour, and vanilla extract) the night before and rolled it into a log, which I cut the next day and baked for 15 minutes (probably too long in retrospect).

I topped some with lavender sugar from Ticings, which had blown me away at Foodbuzz Festival. Unforunately, the flavor didn't come through once baked, so I really should have just used it for the strawberries. I topped the other cookies with some green+white sprinkles, also from Ticings, but they seemed to change color in the oven.

My friends liked the cookies and told me that when topped with chocolate, it tasted like one of those expensive cookies at natural grocers. I took it as a compliment!

We enjoyed all of this with beer and wine. This wine glass is special because I earned it from a race, and I gave it to "The Ukrainian" the day he asked me to be his girlfriend.

This was actually not a very expensive or labor-intensive way to treat my friends to a nice dinner. They left half-dazed and in a nice food coma, so I think I did my job correctly.

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FTC Disclaimer: I was sent samples from the House of Balsamic and Ticings to try but was not otherwise compensated to provide any particular opinion. I was also sent a sample of Private Selection products from BzzAgent to provide a review but not compensated.

Camarillo Half-Marathon 2012

2012-01-08T12:37:00.000-08:00

EVENT: Camarillo Half-Marathon
DATE: Sunday, January 8, 2012
LOCATION: Camarillo, CA
RACE BEGAN: 07:30 am
FINISH TIME: 02:02:XX??? (official says 2:03:26, but I don't believe that since the gun=chip time, technicalities, hah)

This was a free race, so although I was massively undertrained for it and not motivated to race at all (in spite of my best intentions), I couldn't pass up doing my 20th half-marathon kind of within the first week of the new year. If you're wondering why I haven't mentioned this race before, it's because I had my doubts about how I'd do.

The last time I did this race was in 2010. I was supposed to do the 2011 version last October, but it had been postponed until now. When I did the race the first time, it got knocked for some pretty serious logistical issues (though I had no terrible issues in my experience) -- thus, the free entry.

"The Ukrainian" and I woke up a 4:30 am (something I haven't done in seemingly a long time!) and made the hour drive to Camarillo. When we got there, we got in line to pick up our race packets. Gotta love race day pickup, but not waiting in line in cold wind and dark. They were a bit delayed in starting the pick-up, but luckily it wasn't a very long one.

We chilled in the car for about an hour before the race. I snacked on some energy chews (to be reviewed soon) and heard the wind howling around. Ugh. It gave me flashbacks of the windstorm that happened on December 1st that practically blew my neighboorhood into a tree-laden warzone. I've been traumatized by wind ever since.

Promptly at 7:30 am, the race started. The start/finish chute was actually a lot better this year, with actual barricades around the area. I decided to try to take it easy because of my lack of real running since my marathon of doom in November (my longest "run" since was about 6 miles).

Splits:
Mile 1 - 8:39
Mile 2 - 8:38
So I was feeling pretty good in these first miles. They were flat, and I was holding back by choosing to follow a person in a flamingo shirt who seemed to be running a conservative pace.

Mile 3 - 9:01
Mile 4 - 9:19
We made a turn around here, and this is where the race went south. For this stretch, we were facing some significant direct headwind the entire time. This made it really hard to hold on to my pace when wind was burning my face and such. Running in direct headwind feels either like 1) running up a hill, or 2) running with someone pushing you back

Mile 5 - 8:57
Mile 6 - 8:51
We made another turn here, and I was thrilled that the wind now kind of just hit us on the side. I powered through the only two climbs of the race and thought I was out of the woods/winds.

Mile 7 - 9:09
Mile 8 - 9:14
Mile 9 - 9:55
These miles were pretty horrible, as we made another turn back toward the direct headwind. I was fighting the wind through all of these miles, but eventually, it got exhausting. It was a constant blowing that was made worse by the fact that trucks were driving on the other side of the road, going the opposite way. Each time they did, I almost fell from the impact of the wind + truck wind. I gave up and starting taking some walking breaks to regain my strength. People around me were also dropping like flies -- men, women, the athletic-looking, etc.

Mile 10 - 9:54
More wind... my nose/eyes were dripping like crazy. Where is the water station?! (A note to Danica: This was the only stretch I felt there should have been another one. They actually were stocked with water and Gatorade at the other ones, thank goodness. And I did see a portable medical station at the start/finish.)

Mile 11 - 9:13
Mile 12 - 9:25
We returned to near our starting point by this point, and now the wind was either striking me on the side, or in some rare moments, from behind! I saw "The Ukrainian" on the other side of the road, and we high-fived each other. Little did I know...

Mile 13 - 11:05
There was one last turnaround, back into the direct headwind. I guess I couldn't tell when I saw "The Ukrainian" that he was fighting the wind, but as soon as I grabbed a water cup and turned, I was nearly knocked over by wind again. Agh! Except this time, it was even stronger... I had to pump my legs completely in order to move forward.

I saw "The Ukrainian" right near the last turn, where he said, "Turn up ahead, no more wind after this." Thank goodness! His encouragement gave me the strength to pass another person as I rounded out the finish.

Mile 13.24 - 2:25 (forgot to punch my Garmin until I found "The Ukrainian" at the finish, so not sure of the true time)

Finishing was nice, because since the runners were so spaced apart, people personally cheered me on at the end. I was very happy to be done... we got in the car ASAP to get out of the wind.

Now, back last March, I did the LA Marathon, in which very heavy rain and gusts made it miserable. This was a dry version of that, but the wind blew the entire time... not just gusts, and Camarillo doesn't have many trees of buildings (it's mostly farmland) to cut the wind. I was worried some of the metal big street signs were gonna fall on my head because I heard them creaking. Besides LA Marathon 2011, these were some of the worst conditions in which I have ever run.

I should note that the medal is exactly the same as last year. In fact, neither have a date printed on them. But again, this was free, and at least my tech tee fits. =) Overall, I'm okay with the fact that I ran a 2:02-ish race with my lack of training (maybe in part due to my Bar Method workouts??). Without the strong wind cutting me down for 70% of the race, I'm pretty sure I would have had a good chance to PR. <-- I wouldn't say this unless I really thought it was true. ;)

Well, I have another chance in two weeks. The next race won't be as flat, but I really hope it's not nearly as windy. I hate wind. This race blew.

Opinions Wanted: Wedding Regret Roulette

2012-01-05T05:45:00.000-08:00

I will try to keep my impending-marriage-related posts to a minimum, but before too much time passes, I wanted to take an informal poll of sorts.

I consider myself a fairly no-frills and even a bit non-feminine person. I was never the little or teenage girl who dreamed about her wedding day. Even though I am comfortable with computers and computer languages, I have yet to own a Kindle or tablet and touched an iPad for the first time at the store just a few days ago. I never really wore makeup until I started working in a professional setting, and for many years, my legs were blindingly white because I never wore dresses, skirts, or even shorts. Over the years, I've gotten a bit "better," but most of that came from boredom/ennui. In fact, I'm pretty darn surprised this is now even a concern to me at all.

People keep asking me a zillion questions... as expected. And given that we definitely want to tie le knot by the end of the year (!), I feel that I need to make some decisions soon. As of now, we're shooting for November. The specific "date" kind of depends on whether or not I want to actually have a wedding.

Some of my reasons for not necessarily being on board with a wedding include:

- fear of family awkwardness, feeling that I'm forcing people to attend, inter-racial/-religious strangeness

- fear of $$$ and desire to have a nice honeymoon (<-- I've never been out of the country)

- fear of people looking at me (bridal attention) because I grew up with the notion that I am fugly (any way to say that without sounding sad? because I'm completely open and careless about that)

- my general inattention to detail

- my general dislike for being the center of attention (see above)

Some have told me, "I'm going to fly down to see you sign papers at the city hall?" One (male friend) even said, "If only I could get away with that...." Others have told me that I should do what I want and not worry about anyone else since we would be footing the bill. And yet others have said that I can do what I want, but will I regret it??? Unfortunately, I don't have any foresight as to whether or not I'd regret just doing the city hall thing with anyone who feels like attending. So I wouldn't get nice sheets from Bed Bath and Beyond or any of that stuff, but that's what saved $ could buy.

I feel like such a darn hypocrite, because a couple of times, I've had people tell me they were "just" doing a civil ceremony, and I probably sounded disappointed. Even if they were planning on "doing something later," it just wasn't the same... which is why I think it's now or never.

He has told me that he doesn't care if we have a wedding or not, no matter how much I try to get "the truth" from him. As a first-born (non-spiritual/"bad" Jewish) son, I'm surprised his family has not provided input, though we will be "testing the waters" with them soon. Emphasis on "soon," because I know these things can take a long time to plan.

If we do go through with an actual wedding, it will be quite small. I know this because let's just say that a guest list has already been written. I have a friend who can take some decent photos. And I'd want my best friends to carry our chuppah. Other than that, I don't know. (I should note that we've agreed that engagement/whtie wedding dress photography is more of a priority, which we plan to splurge on a bit.)

Soo.... ladies (and gentlemen)... does anyone have any opinions, stories, or other votes on this?

I'll update again once when the whatever the event that makes me being "Mrs. Ukrainian" (hah!) official has progressed.

The Bar Method Body: Designer Sculpting & Fat Free

2012-01-04T05:17:00.000-08:00

Hope your new year is still starting off well. A lot of people are probably still in the "let's get in shape" mode, though I have sort of been in it for a while, due to my "equilibrium" goal.

In December, I was struggling to keep working out regularly, which for me, is about 5 days a week (sometimes 6). I no longer have easy access to gyms, and my work one is pretty small and stuffy. There was one week earlier in the month where I pretty much did not work out for nearly a week. Even though I was active and on my feet a lot, I felt bad about my deviation but at the same time, I knew it would ultimately be good for me.

Waking up early to go running just has NOT been appealing. Now that I sleep in my very, very comfortable Sleep Number bed, I have less achiness and more reasons to stay in bed. However, I started waking myself up earlier to at least do SOME sort of morning workout. Cue the workout DVDs. Sometimes, it would be Jillian Michael's (No More Trouble Zones), and sometimes, it would be these The Bar Method Body DVDs that I purchased a while back but have not gotten to use due to me being a gym rat.

I attended a bunch of The Bar Method classes a while back and really liked them. They claim to lean out and strengthen your leg muscles if you go regularly, which I didn't. I only went due to an online coupon and would not be able to afford taking classes continuously. Instead, I sprung $24 for both of these DVDs, which received favorable reviews on Amazon.

Burr Leonard, who is in her early 60's (late 50's in the videos... ) is the instructor for both the Designer Sculpting and Fat-Free DVDs (which both run about 45-50 min). You can tell that she is definitely fit and toned, as are all her "sidekicks." Having been in those classes before, I knew this was the norm.

To do these videos, you will need a soft surface like carpet or a mat (I use both just because my mat is always laying out), a dining room chair, some 1-4 lb weights (for the Designer Sculpting one only), and a strap. I use a really old bathroom robe strap for this purpose, though I'm pretty sure even a long towel could work.

Admittedly, neither video made me feel as wobbly as I do after an actual Bar Method class. In the actual class, my legs shake like crazy, but I only get brief moments of that with the DVD. Since Burr does a pretty good job at reminding you about form, I think the classes are just harder in general and utilize more "thigh work" because the studios actually have the ballet barres.

I've been doing these videos a couple of times a week. I usually try to sneak in a few miles in the evening (and I REALLY DO mean a few, like 3 or maybe 4) because I don't sweat much with this. In contrast, when I do Jillian's videos (I'll review 30 Day Shred at some point), that'd be my only workout a day. Even so, after even just one workout, I noticed a difference -- though I think this varies.

I give these videos my full recommendation. Supposedly, these types of barre exercises are good for runners, and I can use all the help I can get! I learned at my personal training trial that although I ran a lot, my legs were weak in some important areas.

As a note, I don't think you need to get BOTH DVDs... and if I had to choose one, I like the Designer Sculpting a bit more, though they are similar. There are a few more The Bar Method DVDs that I'd like to try (and review!), once I legitimize the cost by first making sure I stick to the videos. In reality, though, at $17 (max) per DVD, I don't think I need to worry too much.

Trader Joe's Quick-Cook Steel-Cut Oats

2012-01-03T06:32:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, all!

I am fully aware that everyone is sick of the "healthy new year" stuff, and although I will be featuring some "healthy" foods and fitness-related stuff over the next few weeks, I thought I'd start off with a less positive experience I've had.

So I've been eating oatmeal pretty regularly now (thank goodness, as it is cheap, filling, and keeps me away from other junk) when I go to work. Old fashioned (rolled) oats are my weapon of choice, cooked on the stovetop or microwave, but a long while back, I purchased these "quick cook" steel cut oats from Trader Joe's. While steel-cut oats normally cook for a long time (more than 15 muinutes is long to me), these cut the time and can even be cooked in the microwave.

I cooked them up in a pot with pumpkin... combining my love for steel-cut oats and pumpkin. The great thing was that they were done in eight minutes, give or take. However, these were kind of a flop. This was NOT satisfying the way I'd expect after eating steel-cut oats, and I wasn't really a fan of the texture. There was hardly any chew at all.

This is just another reason why you shouldn't always try to take shortcuts in life. Or just use old fashioned oats.

"Ukrainian" Upgrade

2012-01-01T11:36:00.000-08:00

"The Ukrainian" and I went snowboarding a couple of weeks ago at a relatively un-snowy Mammoth Mountain. He is an experienced boarder, but it had been a while since I actually went along to the slopes. I usually just stay in whatever hotel or lodge we happen to be near and "work on my dissertation."

But now that the dissertation is out of the picture, I had no excuses. Four hours of lessons later, I kind of got the hang of it, but I spent the majority of the stay in bed from post-boarding soreness and the cold in general.

When we headed back, we made a little pit stop at a place called Convict Lake. "The Ukrainian" must have weakened his knee or something, because he got down on one of them at the spot below...

...and all of a sudden, he became something that rhymes with Beyoncé. Me too. (He doesn't like her at all, but I do... and this is my post.)

It was perfect, and while my spidey senses knew it was coming, nothing can ever prepare a person for something like that.

We followed this up with another Denny's meal. By the way, these red velvet pancake puppies were seriously delicious.

The Close of a Dark Year

2011-12-31T06:38:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure why I've taken to doing these "New Year" posts (see 2010, 2009). Perhaps it's something about that last digit in the year changing that forces me to think about what the coming months will bring. In reality, I just start feeding off of this "starting over" mentality that seems to take over after that last Christmas gift has been unwrapped.

Back in June, I did a mid-year progress report of my "resolutions." If you keep any to-do list, you can probably sympathize with the satisfaction of crossing off items, and these resolutions are very similar. Here is my brief update on all:

PR - The only PR I might be able to BS is for trail half-marathons... 2:05, anyone? Eff, anyone who reads my blog regularly knows that I am disappointed as heck about my lackluster year, which was probably caused by not running enough races (<-- which was caused by repaying upwards of $15k of student loans)
Finish dissertation - completed before last update
Start budgeting - I started doing this in September, and while I still "eyeball" a lot of what I spend, I have made a lot of progress. So, I DID "start" budgeting... to be continued better next year, hopefully.
Pay down debt - I will be doing this before March, and since I already have the money set aside, I will consider this basically done.
Employment - As of this writing, it's close but I can't declare victory yet. And I have a feeling I won't be getting off that easy.
Retirement (saving for) - No progress since the last update... probably not until #5 is completed. I guess I'll be working unti I'm 80.

As this post's title suggests, I am pretty much *done* with 2011. I always thought that odd-numbered years were better for me, but this one was really dumpy. I spent one chunk of it stressed and working off of two laptops simultaneously while hopping in my desk chair ASAP after long runs. Another part of it, I was at a low I haven't seen myself in for many years, a time period that made me question everyone and everything. It hasn't been until these past couple of months that I have felt like a functional human being, in spite of my athletic shortcomings.

(Some highlights that came toward the end of the year that should be noted: the birth of my niece, some aspects of finishing school, moving, and stuff that I will elaborate upon soon.)

I want 2012 to be the antithesis of this year. I will embrace all the changes that have come along, both in routines and in the way I see myself and other people. The biggest lesson I have learned from 2011 is to live in the present, and that means assumptions don't work since they are based on the past.

So in terms of "resolutions," I have added a few new ones:

Retirement - save for (recycled)
PR (recycled... you'll be mine!!)
Publish (or attempt to publish) something (academic) -- in progress but needs to be completed
Reach "equilibrium"
Read more, including on spirituality
Get a physical - It has been a few years
Make progress on my guitar-playing

Cappuccino Larabar

2011-12-27T15:30:00.000-08:00

So I received a little package just before Christmas.

Let's just say I've already indulged in this Cappuccino Larabar (for other Larabar reviews, click HERE), coming to a store near you in 2012.

This bar contains coffee-flavored chocolate bits among the nuts and dates and would be perfect with tea. Or coffee, I guess, but that would be a bit much for people like me who can only tolerate so much coffee.

Thanks, Larabar!

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FTC Disclaimer: I was sent a sample of this product to review and was not compensated to provide any particular opinion.

Leading Lady Sports Bra (Giveaway)

2011-12-26T17:02:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: 12/26/11 -- Winner is #4, Krissy! Please e-mail me for your voucher!

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I'll preface this by apologizing to the dudes... this giveaway is aimed toward women. Of course, if there is a woman in your life that could benefit from this giveaway, you can enter on her behalf if you wish... just make sure if you win, she winds up with it in the end!

Leading Lady specializes in full-figure and nursing bras. I don't fit in either of these categories (not sure how that makes me feel.......). However, I will say that if I ever need to nurse a kid, having a sports bra that can open up like so would be VERY awesome.

A bit about the company:

"Leading Lady is a premiere intimate apparel company dedicated to creating comfortably functional, remarkably affordable, stylish and easy-to-wear bras, camis and sleepwear. A family owned and operated business, Leading Lady has been expertly tailoring nursing and full figure bras for top brands and retailers across North America for more than 70 years. For the first time, Leading Lady’s comprehensive line of nursing and full figure intimates – including sexy stretch lace wire-free and underwire bras, supportive and seamless sport and yoga bras, and cozy sleep and leisure bras – can be purchased directly on LeadingLady.com.

Leading Lady is proud to celebrate “Leading Ladies” everywhere through its products, programs and philanthropic activities. Leading Lady is dedicated to arming new moms with the support – physically, intellectually and emotionally – they need to nurture their babies through breastfeeding and committed to supporting a variety of organizations and issues relevant to women across the country. Follow Leading Lady on Facebook and Twitter."

Giveaway (ends 12/23/11 at noon, PST)

- Please leave a separate entry for each method of entering.

1) Visit the Leading Lady website (click for direct link to full-figure and nursing bras) and comment on which one you would order if you won!

2) Follow Leading Lady on Facebook and leave a comment.

3) Follow Leading Lady on Twitter and leave a comment.

4) Tweet or link this giveaway and leave a comment with your Twitter handle or blog link.

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Giveaway Terms and Conditions:

Good for one free product.
Free shipping on total order.
Free shipping does not apply to shipments in Hawaii or Alaska.
May not be combined with any other coupon code offers.
Any site discounts will come off their order automatically.
One time use only coupon.

Vegan Gingerbread Scones

2011-12-21T06:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Hanukkah!

With Christmas coming soon (don't forget to enter the Leading Lady giveaway, for a gift for yourself!), I had to get this post up as soon as I could so that maybe someone could enjoy this holiday goodness before "the season" ends.

I found THIS recipe on Happy Herbivore and decided to make it for Sunday brunch. The recipe came together very quickly (I mixed the dry ingredients the night before!)... the meal was ready in 20 minutes!

Fresh out of the oven.

Enjoyed with a Numi tea sample that I received at Foodbuzz Festival (it was a soothing, somewhat sweet, and light tea).

"The Ukrainian" likes eating fresh tomatoes with salt and pepper at breakfast, and I have caught on to this. It adds some freshness to otherwise heavy breakfast foods!

I used some Earth Balance spread on the warm scones. I didn't buy, or force "The Ukrainian" to buy, it... he says he naturally likes the way it tastes. Yay!

I screwed up a bit on this recipe, as I had taken a screen-cap of it on my tiny phone... so my bad eyes misread things. I ended up putting 1 instead of 4 tbsp of maple syrup, and I also somehow neglected half a teaspoon of nutmeg. *sad face* It still came out tasting good, though I'm sure those things would have made it even better.

Since I don't have much longer to legitimately (haha!) enjoy "holiday" scones, I will probably revert back to more "everyday" scones, like THIS one I made previously. Overall, they are quick and somewhat healthy additions to a nice breakfast at home.

"Dummy" or "Idiot"?

2011-12-20T06:31:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago, I mentioned that I got a guitar.

Now, I am not that busy of a person. Yes, I work full-time, some side stuff (this blog, mentoring, continuing academic obligations), etc. etc... but I really could be spending more time with María (said guitar's name).

At least she didn't cost what this Spanish guitar did...

As seen at Guitar Center, Hollywood, CA

So far, I've actually learned a few songs -- a lot of chord progressions, which basically means that you strum chords rather than play the individual notes of the melody. I've also dappled into the true Spanish guitar form, but this is not really why I got a guitar. I want to play Green Day, Adele, and even acoustic versions of Red Hot Chili Peppers, haha. YouTube has been one of my primary teachers, along with books:

A while back, I received a copy of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Guitar to compare against the Guitar for Dummies that I already had at home. I took to the challenge and worked through both books with about the same thoroughness (as in, I pick up what I desire without drudging through too many things I don't care for or find "too hard"...I'm bad).

I am not sure if I can say which is a clear-cut winner. Each has its advantages -- I feel like the Dummies book as more thorough and methodic, whereas the Idiots book was cleaner (in print and layout) and more inviting overall.

After I play my guitar more, I wonder what the next "Dummy vs. Idiot" comparison I should make... I know they both make running books, but after six years of running, I'm not really sure either would be very helpful to me.....

What has been your experience with any of these types of "how-to" books?

Zensah Compression Socks

2011-12-19T05:45:00.000-08:00

Hey, folks!

My work location has shut down for the holidays (didn't think I'd get to take part in this, but I can... yay!), so I am planning on spending the time wisely by:

- going snowboarding
- getting a smog check, going to the dentist, and other nagging errands
- helping to babysit my niece
- baking with my little sister
- running???

Speaking of running, I have been a bit out of it since the marathon, in spite of my intentions to train for the next one and a half-marathon that I may or may not do on January 8 (it was free, thus my flippant-ness).

How "out of it" have I been? Well, on the week of December 5, I ran 15 miles... total. And I felt hugely accomplished for doing so. I'm probably going to pay for it during my half-marathon, but it might be enough to snap me into sanity... The same thing happened in 2009 prior to my PR marathon, so maybe the same thing will happen? But perhaps I'm getting too old to pull that off again.

Anyway, I should really get into running long distances again, so I can continue to wear these around. I have a pair of CEP Compression sleeves but wanted another, cheaper pair to wear for recovery. When I saw a 50% Schwaggle.com coupon for Zensah compression socks, I bit!

These are different from CEP socks in that they are not as tight around the calf. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing... only time will tell. Because of this, I didn't feel like I have monster calves because I didn't have to order the next size up.

The sock portion (which my sleeves don't have) are comfortable and thick. I don't do well with thick socks when I run (toenail issues and blisters tend to become more likely), so for now, I am still using these socks for recovery. The socks are fitted for the left and right feet, so the socks are labeled "L" and "R" for reference.

Finally, I just think this particular pattern (diamonds) is pretty darn cute.

I'm not entirely sure these are all that helpful... it makes the initial part of recovery a little more comfortable, but when it comes to a longer-term effect, I haven't felt any. So far, I've felt the same the next day as I would have without wearing compression socks for recovery. But sometimes, there's just something nice about bundling yourself up after a run.

Equilibrium Update #2

2011-12-14T06:25:00.000-08:00

This is my second update to the post in which I mentioned I was going to try to lose some weight to spare my joints and such as I ease back into running post-marathon.

After 2 weeks (I've been doing weigh-ins on Mondays):

	Change (me)	Change (Ukr)
Overall Weight	-2 lb	-2 lb
Waist	no change	--
Bicep	-.5"	n/a
Hip	no change	n/a
Thigh	-1.25"	n/a

After 4 weeks (all changes are compared to baseline, NOT the previous week... figure there are gonna be ups and downs, so this is the best way to capture just the overall picture).

	Change (me)	Change (Ukr)
Overall Weight	-3 lb	-4 lb
Waist	no change	-2"
Bicep	-.5"	n/a
Hip	no change	n/a
Thigh	no change	n/a

I decided not to post Week 3's update, since I wasn't able to get the tape measure numbers. However, that week, I was down -4 lb from the start and seemed to have gained one back in Week 4 (though I was wearing more clothing than usual and the timing of the weigh-in was off... but I am still going to report it). The fluctuations in the tape measurements are so lame that I don't really think that matters anymore... it could just be my "human error." I'll keep trying, though!

Overall, I'm still going in the right direction, 30% there! However:

I'm pretty sure some of this loss is muscle mass... I haven't been working out as much as normal (BUT I was active/busy moving crud around but not at the gym), but I have stepped it up this past week (ran 15 miles over 4 days) and will continue to try to get used to some sort of routine.
Not to mention... my eating has kind of been all over the place -- I haven't been tracking calories and have subsisted on cheap/free food (calorie bombs) more often than I should. Darn holidays!

Anyway, next week's weigh-in will be kind of telling, since by then, I hope to be up to working out 5 days a week, which is my normal frequency. Whether my intensity or eating will improve is another story.

"The Ukrainian" has started using MyFitnessPal (the site I started to use and then quit due to laziness) as an app on his phone. I'm jealous my phone isn't "smart" enough to do the same thing, but I'm proud of him for keeping on top of things this way. He hasn't worked out since... our visit to the personal trainer... which is a long time for him! He says that once he's back to working out again (hopefully soon!), he will increase his intake.

Kashi Tuscan Veggie Bake

2011-12-13T05:05:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that I've eaten way more frozen entrees than one really should. Something about vegan boxed meals intrigues me, just like energy/meal replacement bars. Perhaps it's that I am skeptical that these could come close to the typical non-vegan versions... or perhaps I just like the chase.

This Tuscan Veggie Bake from Kashi was a surprise purchase (on sale). I know that not all of Kashi's stuff is vegan, but for all intensive purposes, this one seemed to be. The dish is similar to lasagna, except there is no cheesy aspect to worry about (I put "worry" because it's so easy to mess up cheese substitutes!).

I thought that this was not bad, but as a lasagna lover, I was really missing some substance in the middle besides vegetables and lentils(?). I also thought it was a tad salty, but I think that's a complaint I have about any frozen food with a tomato sauce base.

However, it did fill my stomach without hurting it... and that, my friends, is a success.

Pumpkin Bread

2011-12-08T06:02:00.000-08:00

Are you tired of seeing pumpkin yet? This will probably be the first and only time a pumpkin recipe appears on this blog this season. However, THIS recipe is one of the best ones.

The key ingredient is: water. I also halved the sugar and subbed half of the oil with unsweetened applesauce.

The loaf served as breakfast for my sister when she was a new mom. I also brought it to a potluck recently because it whips up quickly and contains readily-available ingredients. I'm sure it'd make a great festive snack, if you can practice portion control. It's not too sweet and quite moist.

And yes, pie plates make perfectly good bakeware. =)

THIS recipe

My First Personal Training Experience (Encino PTI)

2011-12-07T09:50:00.000-08:00

I have been working out regularly for about eight years now, but personal training is unventured territory for me. The last thing I needed during my "me time" is something constantly staring at/correcting me. So although I had access to free training in the past, I never bit.

My best friends recently got trainers and are seeing pretty good weight-loss results. Given that I gave jumped on the weight-loss wagon, I thought it'd be a good time to at least see where I stand in terms of my body composition.

I look tired here, blah. To be fair, I drove an hour to get there,
and I had just gotten off from work.

Joe from Encino Personal Training Institute offered "The Ukrainian" and me a free trial session. This place is located off the 101-N on Hayvenhurst (for those who aren't in CA, there are other franchises -- but this I'm sure they are all different).

The club includes a variety of equipment. This is their cardio area, which members are encouraged to walk in and use at any time. (Bonus points for having a TV!)

Beyond cardio, the second element of their "success-stories" is nutrition counseling. Clients receive access to calorie/macronutrient trackers and learn about proper portion sizes. You'd better believe that I was obsessed with the fake food, and even moreso fascinated by the one- and five-pound replicas of fat and muscle. I was blown away by how much a pound of fat really is!

Finally, Encino PTI emphasizes strength training to build lean muscle mass. Each total-body session is 30 minutes of about 10-12 exercises done very slowly, which definitely felt effective. You don't need to waste a lot of time working out if you do it right, which the trainers here help you do.

I usually rush through my strength training and definitely learned a lot about what I SHOULD be doing. For one thing, I definitely need to work on my leg strength more!

Both of our sessions ended with two minutes of boxing. This was the most fun part. Joe (picutured below) was so encouraging throughout and did NOT make me feel like I was doing everything incorrectly (even if I was, he was gentle about it). I rarely have someone actively trying to push/motivate me during workouts, and I must say that I can see why so many people have had success with personal training.

The part I was looking forward to most was the initial body analysis. Clients use these once a month to track their body composition changes. They use a Tanita scale here, which sends a current through your body and calculates everything from there.

Here is the analysis that prints out from the scale. According to this, I am properly hydrated, in the middle of the "healthy" BMI (body mass index) range, and have a low body-fat percentage. I was skeptical about the accuracy of the body-fat measurement and what it means for my weight-loss goals, but I'd rather not fuss over some percentage points. Bottom line is that while I am not sure my goals are attainable, I can stick to my basal metabolic rate guidelines and continue to see where that leads me.

"The Ukrainian" also found the session useful (which is saying a lot because he *thinks* he knows how to keep himself fit... love ya, honey!), and I hope that it helps him with his weight-loss goals as well.

Unfortunately, he is moving out of the area soon and can't join right now, but for anyone who does live there, feel free to try it out on your own. Rates start at $199, and they do (holiday gift alert!!!) have gift cards available.

Encino Personal Training Institute
16350 Ventura BoulevardSuite C (in the Avalon Bay Encino shopping center)
Encino, CA 91436
(818) 783-4792
encino@personaltraininginstitute.com
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