This morning, I ran a 6k road race with my Dad. I PR'd hardcore and won $50! Truthfully, it was a small local race with only 99 people and was a quick, mostly flat course. But still, $50 is $50 and a PR is a PR! I finished 26 out of 99 and was the third female to finish. I finished in 27:12 and had a 7:19 pace. I'm really happy about it and I'm hoping to do just as well in my 5k race next weekend :o)
Since my Dad registered the both of us for the race, I was registered as Bub, my nickname from my family. This means my check was written out to Bub, so it should be fun trying to cash that! My Dad said he learned his lesson though, and he won't be registering me as Bub again...just in case ;)
May 14, 2011
April 28, 2011
New Foods and Recipes!
Over the past few weeks I have been trying some new foods and new recipes. New foods for this week include banana and coconut flavored flax oil, brown basmati rice, and purple asparagus!
Banana and Coconut Flax Oil
This flax oil is SO good. I have tried the standard flax oil in the past, but I didn't really like how it tasted in my oatmeal and in my smoothies. A few weeks ago, I found this flax oil on sale at Whole Foods for $5.99 each (now it's back up to $9.99--still worth it though). I grabbed these two flavors and opened the coconut right away. I LOVE the coconut flavor. It tastes so good in quinoa porridge, smoothies, oatmeal, anything really! I recently opened the banana flavor and I really like this one too. Coconut is my favorite, but the banana will definitely hold me over until it's time to buy another bottle!
Brown Basmati Rice
Make this rice! Not only is the flavor great, but the nutty smell it gives off when cooking is worth it alone! Basmati is gluten free, contains fiber, b-vitamins and tastes great either sweet or savory. It's in my Sweet Potato Mash-Up recipe below :)
Purple Asparagus
I found these gems at Whole Foods. They were the only purple bunch left among the green guys, so I grabbed them! I have heard of green and white asparagus, but never purple. Purple asparagus has a higher sugar content than green so it tastes a little bit sweeter. When cooked, it loses it's purple color and turns green. I cooked these up with just some salt and pepper in a pan and added them to my Summer Time Salad below!
Here are my two new recipes for this week! They are both vegetarian, but you could easily add chicken or turkey to either one for some extra protein!
Sweet Potato Mash-Up
4 medium sized sweet potatoes
1 vidalia onion
1 cup Brown Basmati Rice
1 15 oz can of tomatoes
1 15 oz can of black beans
Salt, Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes (to taste)
1. Poke holes in your potatoes and roast them in the oven at 350 for 45-60 minutes or until soft
2. Cook rice according to directions on the label
3. Chop the onion into small pieces and add to a large skillet over medium-high heat
4. When potatoes are done, peel off the skin and discard, then add the insides to the skillet
5. Rinse black beans and add them to the skillet along with the tomatoes and rice
6. Add some salt, pepper, or whatever seasonings you'd like...
I guess this isn't really a recipe, you don't really need a recipe for a salad, but here it is anyway! This salad is SO good. I love it and plan on living off of it for a while!
Summer Time Salad
Grab a huge handful of fresh kale
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
1 cup baby carrots
1/2 cup purple asparagus (or green or white!)
1/2 cup of almonds or walnuts (I used both!)
1/4 cup goat cheese
1 T toasted sesame oil
Banana and Coconut Flax Oil
This flax oil is SO good. I have tried the standard flax oil in the past, but I didn't really like how it tasted in my oatmeal and in my smoothies. A few weeks ago, I found this flax oil on sale at Whole Foods for $5.99 each (now it's back up to $9.99--still worth it though). I grabbed these two flavors and opened the coconut right away. I LOVE the coconut flavor. It tastes so good in quinoa porridge, smoothies, oatmeal, anything really! I recently opened the banana flavor and I really like this one too. Coconut is my favorite, but the banana will definitely hold me over until it's time to buy another bottle!
Brown Basmati Rice
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| Source |
Make this rice! Not only is the flavor great, but the nutty smell it gives off when cooking is worth it alone! Basmati is gluten free, contains fiber, b-vitamins and tastes great either sweet or savory. It's in my Sweet Potato Mash-Up recipe below :)
Purple Asparagus
Here are my two new recipes for this week! They are both vegetarian, but you could easily add chicken or turkey to either one for some extra protein!
Sweet Potato Mash-Up
4 medium sized sweet potatoes
1 vidalia onion
1 cup Brown Basmati Rice
1 15 oz can of tomatoes
1 15 oz can of black beans
Salt, Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes (to taste)
1. Poke holes in your potatoes and roast them in the oven at 350 for 45-60 minutes or until soft
2. Cook rice according to directions on the label
3. Chop the onion into small pieces and add to a large skillet over medium-high heat
4. When potatoes are done, peel off the skin and discard, then add the insides to the skillet
5. Rinse black beans and add them to the skillet along with the tomatoes and rice
6. Add some salt, pepper, or whatever seasonings you'd like...
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| Not the best picture, but you get the idea! |
Summer Time Salad
Grab a huge handful of fresh kale
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
1 cup baby carrots
1/2 cup purple asparagus (or green or white!)
1/2 cup of almonds or walnuts (I used both!)
1/4 cup goat cheese
1 T toasted sesame oil
This is easy! Throw is all into a bowl and eat!
Enjoy!
April 20, 2011
Wednesday Is My Favorite Day!
I love Wednesdays!
My day starts off with an hour-long yoga class. The instructor is great and she's so small which reminds me of my sister ;o) In class last week I mentioned last week that I teach spinning classes, so today she designed the class around hip openers and leg stretches. It was fantastic! The class is small enough and no one responds when she asks for requests, so I give my requests and she delivers!
Next, I shower up and eat breakfast, then I'm off to work! I train one cilent then take a 45-minute spinning class. I love taking classes where I work because the owner teaches and he's tough! There were two times where I thought my butt was going to fall off because it was burning so bad, but it was short lived pain. The best kind of pain of course! After spin I go back to train a few more clients and I'm done for the day!
After doing some blog reading and school work I go off to teach my weekly Boot Camp class. This is the highlight of my day...maybe of my week? Is that sad? This class is so much fun and everyone has so much energy every week! I've been teaching it for almost 3 years so I have a pretty good following and I get some new people each week, too. I love it :)
Now I'm home watching Modern Family (best show ever) and eating my yummy dinner...Sauteed Tahini Kale. Here's the recipe:
Sauteed Tahini Kale
1T sesame oil
1t chopped garlic
1/2 bunch of kale
1/2 cup brown rice
1T tahini
2t lemon Juice
Salt & Pepper to taste
Heat the sesame oil in a skillet over medium heat and add the garlic. Tear the kale into bite-sized pieces and add it to the skillet. Sautee the kale for a few minutes until it starts to reduce down a little and turns bright green (just make sure it doesn't burn)! Add the tahini , lemon juice and brown rice and mix it around until everything is coated. Then, add salt and pepper, give it one more stir and it's done!
This is super easy and it tastes really good! I might make it again tomorrow and just add some chicken for more protein, but it's great as a vegetarian dish, too!
I just saw that Cougar Town is on again starting tonight! See...Wednesday's really are the best!!!
April 19, 2011
A Fun Weekend and New Foods!
The Weekend
My weekend started on Friday at 1:00! My mom and I went shopping, as we do every Friday. I got some cute tops at Macys and TJ Maxx, but ended up returning everything to TJ's since I didn't try it on in the store :( After shopping, I was wiped our from such a busy week at work, so I went to bed really early and woke up early on Saturday for a 90-minute hot yoga class. It was a really really good class. I'm loving the new studio! We held poses for a long time and the teacher was really thorough in his explanations which always helps!
After yoga, I cleaned then got ready for a day with my sister! She had been in Aruba the previous week so we were in need of some time together! We started with a run/walk around my town then got ready for a night out!
We went out to dinner at Yella Grille, a cute little Mediterranean restaurant in downtown Andover. I got a gift certificate for Christmas and was itching to use it. This place was UNBELIEVABLE. I really can not say enough about it!
We started with Feta & Herb Spring Rolls which were delish, and a bottle of wine :) YUM! For dinner, I got a the Braised Eggplant & Zucchini Ratatouille--so so so good! I was a little scared because it sounded a little too simple, but it was so good that I couldn't stop eating it. Even when I was totally full, I still fit more in! But, my sisters dinner stole the show! She ordered the Mediterranean Chicken. It was cinnamon chicken with almonds and greek yogurt. Oh. My. Gosh. It was SO FREAKIN GOOD! We both said repeatedly how much we loved our meals, and when the owner came to our table we were sure to tell her! We finished off with a Strawberry and Nutella Crepe. Seriously, this place is worth driving to if you don't live close to Andover. It would be ideal for a date night, or even just a little lunch date. Then, we migrated next door to Braisserie 28 (a wine bar) and polished off a carafe of Sangria, which seemed like a good idea until the last glass. It made for a rough Sunday morning, but was completely worth it!
On Sunday we celebrated Easter since my sister is working on the real Easter. We got our Easter baskets, had a delicious dinner, and, of course, ended up at Target. I have a serious shopping addiction. It's hereditary, passed down to me and my sister from my mom :)
New Foods
#1: Kamut.
I purchased Kamut this weekend at Whole Foods because I'm really trying to expand my food choices. Oatmeal is great, quinoa is delicious, but there are SO MANY other grains out there. I was initially drawn to the Kamut because of the protein content (8g per 1/2 cup). Once I cooked it, I found that it was really similar to the flavor of oatmeal, it was just a little more chewy. It's yummy!#2: Kumquats.
These little guys are good! I didnt' know anything about them, but Whole Foods had a little description about how to eat them. They're like little oranges, but you eat the skin, which is really sweet. The inside flesh is pretty sour so you don't have to eat it, but I did. I ate a handful and I like them a lot. They were a little pricey at $4 per container, but what do I care? I spend like I'm rich, so $4 is nothing to me! (LIE! That's a lot of dough for a container of fruit!!!)#3: Almond, Peanut & Cashew Butter.
I haven't trusted my willpower against nut butters for a while. In fact, I haven't bought a jar since January when I started eating PB2. For a while I was eating a jar each week and I started feeling gross after eating that much, so I stopped. But! when I saw this for $4.99 at Target, I couldn't pass it up! It's really good and I've been enjoying it on my morning Kamut.
I think that's it for now! I'm off to eat my favorite tofu and watch Biggest Loser :)
April 16, 2011
Spring Cleanse: Day #5
I cheated again!
Yesterday, breakfast was a mango smoothie, I had an apple for a snack, some Whole Foods hot bar for lunch, and headed off to the mall with my mom (typical Friday activity).
While we were shopping, I started to get hungry again. We stopped by the food court and got some food at Au Bon Pain. They didn't really have anything that looked too satisfying, but I went with a the Mediterranean Wrap. It was just a greek salad on lavash with a sun dried tomato relish. So there was one of my cheats. Not huge, but I'm not sure what was in the relish and I know the lavash wasn't allowed! When I got home I had a greek yogurt (cheat #2) and some carrots with hummus.
In the end, I think this cleanse was a really good thing for me to do. It helped me see just how foods effect my body. Dairy makes me a little phlegmy, processed pasta and cheese give me a little stomach ache, I ate a LOT more veggies than I have been in the past, and I've reintroduced spinach smoothies into my diet! I really do notice a change in how I feel after I eat processed foods now. I thought it might all be in my head because it doesn't seem like just a few days of eating only whole foods would have that impact on me, but it absolutely did.
From here, I'm definitely going to add chicken, eggs and red meat back into my diet, but I'm going to make a huge effort to keep up with the vegetables and whole foods. I don't like how I feel after eating the processed foods, so why eat them? I know it's really not avoidable and I will eat processed foods at some points, but I just won't eat them quite as much. I'm also thinking about cutting dairy out of my diet and see how that works for a while. I've done it before, and since I only eat greek yogurt and cheese, that shouldn't be too difficult.
So, that's it! Cleanse over :o)
Yesterday, breakfast was a mango smoothie, I had an apple for a snack, some Whole Foods hot bar for lunch, and headed off to the mall with my mom (typical Friday activity).
While we were shopping, I started to get hungry again. We stopped by the food court and got some food at Au Bon Pain. They didn't really have anything that looked too satisfying, but I went with a the Mediterranean Wrap. It was just a greek salad on lavash with a sun dried tomato relish. So there was one of my cheats. Not huge, but I'm not sure what was in the relish and I know the lavash wasn't allowed! When I got home I had a greek yogurt (cheat #2) and some carrots with hummus.
In the end, I think this cleanse was a really good thing for me to do. It helped me see just how foods effect my body. Dairy makes me a little phlegmy, processed pasta and cheese give me a little stomach ache, I ate a LOT more veggies than I have been in the past, and I've reintroduced spinach smoothies into my diet! I really do notice a change in how I feel after I eat processed foods now. I thought it might all be in my head because it doesn't seem like just a few days of eating only whole foods would have that impact on me, but it absolutely did.
From here, I'm definitely going to add chicken, eggs and red meat back into my diet, but I'm going to make a huge effort to keep up with the vegetables and whole foods. I don't like how I feel after eating the processed foods, so why eat them? I know it's really not avoidable and I will eat processed foods at some points, but I just won't eat them quite as much. I'm also thinking about cutting dairy out of my diet and see how that works for a while. I've done it before, and since I only eat greek yogurt and cheese, that shouldn't be too difficult.
So, that's it! Cleanse over :o)
April 15, 2011
Spring Cleanse: Day #4
I blewwwwww it!
On Thursday, I had some no-nos as far as my cleanse is concerned. I had greek yogurt, steak, gnocchi, cheese and wine. Not my fault! I had plans with a friend from high school and we went out to dinner, so I knew this was bound to happen. I don't really care all that much, but I did notice some differences in how I feel.
(Watch out for a little grossness) After I ate the greek yogurt, I got really phlegmy. I have read before that dairy products can make that happen, and I think it's true for me. I'm going to try to limit dairy from now on. I know there are lots of other kinds of yogurt, like soy and goat, so I'm going to give those a try.
After dinner last night, I felt bloated and had a minor stomach ache, nothing major, but definitely noticeable. I haven't eaten any red meat in a long time, I haven't had plain gnocchi in REALLY long time, and the cheese I think just send me overboard. Even this morning I don't feel that great. Still bloated and I still feel full from last night even thought my friend and I split everything in half, I feel like I ate a huge meal.
Aside from the food, seeing old friends is always fun and that's what it's really about, right?! So despite how I feel this morning, I would say it was well worth it. For the rest of the day, I'm back on the fruit and veggie kick and giving my stomach a break from all other stuff!
On Thursday, I had some no-nos as far as my cleanse is concerned. I had greek yogurt, steak, gnocchi, cheese and wine. Not my fault! I had plans with a friend from high school and we went out to dinner, so I knew this was bound to happen. I don't really care all that much, but I did notice some differences in how I feel.
(Watch out for a little grossness) After I ate the greek yogurt, I got really phlegmy. I have read before that dairy products can make that happen, and I think it's true for me. I'm going to try to limit dairy from now on. I know there are lots of other kinds of yogurt, like soy and goat, so I'm going to give those a try.
After dinner last night, I felt bloated and had a minor stomach ache, nothing major, but definitely noticeable. I haven't eaten any red meat in a long time, I haven't had plain gnocchi in REALLY long time, and the cheese I think just send me overboard. Even this morning I don't feel that great. Still bloated and I still feel full from last night even thought my friend and I split everything in half, I feel like I ate a huge meal.
Aside from the food, seeing old friends is always fun and that's what it's really about, right?! So despite how I feel this morning, I would say it was well worth it. For the rest of the day, I'm back on the fruit and veggie kick and giving my stomach a break from all other stuff!
April 13, 2011
Spring Cleanse: Day #3
Today called for more carbs! It started with a sunrise yoga class, work, then a 45-minute spin class. I haven't modified my workout schedule at all during the past 3 days, which Deborah suggested that we do, so I've been eating quinoa for an energy boost!
Here was my meal plan for today:
Breakfast: Coffee, Papaya with 1/2 of an avocado
Snack: Apple
Lunch: Quinoa Salad; Smoothie w/ mango, spinach and a banana (water for a base) and half a scoop of protein powder, Yogi tea
Snack: 2 clementines
Dinner: small yam, green beans, chicken breast
Dinner is where I fell. I really felt like I needed some good protein. I've worked out 3 times today (yoga, spinning, boot camp) and while that's pretty usual, I did miss my protein. When thinking about this cleanse, I would think that it's a better idea to eat organic chicken than eat processed protein powder.
I'm still going to continue with the cleanse as much as I can for the next couple days, but if I slip up it's no big deal. If my body wants some chicken, it's getting some chicken!
Here was my meal plan for today:
Breakfast: Coffee, Papaya with 1/2 of an avocado
Snack: Apple
Lunch: Quinoa Salad; Smoothie w/ mango, spinach and a banana (water for a base) and half a scoop of protein powder, Yogi tea
Snack: 2 clementines
Dinner: small yam, green beans, chicken breast
Dinner is where I fell. I really felt like I needed some good protein. I've worked out 3 times today (yoga, spinning, boot camp) and while that's pretty usual, I did miss my protein. When thinking about this cleanse, I would think that it's a better idea to eat organic chicken than eat processed protein powder.
I'm still going to continue with the cleanse as much as I can for the next couple days, but if I slip up it's no big deal. If my body wants some chicken, it's getting some chicken!
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