Weekend Workouts (and a delicious breakfast!)

This is going to be quick because I have a few errands to run before the USA v Canada gold medal men's hockey game this afternoon. (GO USA!!)

While I'm still not feeling 100%, I had two pretty great workouts this weekend. They were very similar to each other, 65 minutes on the elliptical (really pumping up the intensity) followed by 20 minutes on the bike. I kept thinking of all the runners running Gasparilla today, hoping it was going well and they were having fun! After cardio yesterday I did an ab workout with crunches on a stability ball, and single and double leg extensions, then 3x10 each of bicep and hammer curls, 3x12 seated row, and 3x10 front arm extensions then quite a bit of stretching. Today featured 3x10 side bends, each side using a 20lb weight, 3x15 each side twists using a cable machine and 25lbs of weight, traditional and side planks, 3x10 hip extensions and again, lots of stretching. I felt good after both workouts and no sinus headaches!

After the gym this morning I was craving eggs for breakfast and decided to make an egg sandwich! I started by heating up some onion and thin slices of yellow squash and zucchini before adding in 3 egg whites and half a yolk with a little warm water (I find it makes the eggs fluffier) and some pepper. It turned out so well! I cooked it like an omelete then put it on an Arnold's Sandwich Thin with mild salsa. A banana and some kiwi on the side, plus a cup of Carribou Coffee, finished off the meal perfectly! Great protein, veggies, whole grains and fruit to feed my soul and muscles after a long workout!

How has your weekend been? Any great workouts or races?!?!

I'm off. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and have fun cheering on TEAM USA!!

Snowy Excursion

My 11am appointment was not postponed due to the snow, so I made my way to the subway and to midtown. Thank goodness I won these awesome Sorrel boots from Daily Candy at the end of last year! I've only worn them a few times, but they worked so well today!

Since I've shared pictures with you from the other snow storms we've had this winter, I thought I'd share some more! As of this morning, the city had received about 50 inches of snow for the season when 18 inches is the average for the whole season! I'm ready for spring!

(I picked up a few pears from this die hard fruit vendor!)

(our doormen keep the sidewalk so clear, one place where I don't have to worry about ice!)

When I got home I made a great lunch (cherry chutney and laughing cow cheese sandwich, a Florida tangerine, an apple from the Union Sq farmers market and carrots), jumped on the computer and turned on the USA Hockey game!!

Stay warm and be safe on the roads if you're dealing with snow! And be sure to watch out for snow falling from buildings! I saw a guy get hammered with a big pile of snow earlier!

Running While Sick

We've all been there. Start feeling a dry, scratchy throat, an aching headache, congestion. Grrr. A cold is coming on. Sicknesses get in the way of even the best runners. Some studies have shown that highly active runners are more prone to get sick because of a decreased immune system - less sleep, more stress put on the body, etc. So, while you want to get in all your training runs and finish the races you've signed up for, sometimes illnesses can get in the way. This happened to me last year when I was supposed to run the 18-mile Marathon Tune-Up. It was raining, chilly, and I had a head cold. Not a good combination when my ultimate goal was running the marathon a few weeks later.

I may have mentioned earlier this week that I wasn't feeling too well. I started to feel a cold coming on Monday afternoon after my Mom had left for the airport. I was congested, had a headache, sneezing, feeling generally exhausted. No, not a pretty sight. Thank goodness I don't have a picture to share with you! I've been battling it all week but I think it is starting to fade away!

The question is: do you workout when you're sick or not?

This can be a very personal question. Usually when Woody gets sick, he puts on sweats, a knit hat and hits the cardio machine and then the steamroom to 'sweat it out' before loading up on about 4 oranges and other citrus fruits throughout the day. Usually, this works for him. I don't really have a routine like this, but I follow a rule of thumb I've read several places: if it's in your lungs, don't workout. Obviously, if you're not able to breathe well, it's not the best idea to do cardio and stress your lungs and heart more than they already are.

This week, I've continued to workout but I've slept in each morning about an hour and then cut my cardio by about 10 minutes but increased the intensity a little and I've cut out a few strength exercises that increase pressure in my sinuses. It seems to be working since I'm feeling better. Unfortunately, today we didn't get to the gym because of the snow storm that we're in the midst of. We knew it would be too slippery getting there this morning so I hope to workout in our fitness room later this afternoon instead.

How do you deal with working out when you're feeling under the weather? My one suggestion (aside from definitely sitting it out if it's hard to breathe) is to listen to your body and do what it says! If you're exhausted and feel miserable, working out or going to that race, is not going to help you. Chances are you'll feel worse afterwards and then just wish you had slept instead!

Back to the Marathon Tune-Up - as much as I wanted to hit that mileage and get that long run in, I had to skip it and eat the registration fee. I won't deny that I was pretty sad that morning when I knew thousands of people were running the race, but I knew if I wanted to run the marathon I had to give up that one race.

Check out these amazing oranges and grapefruits Woody's Mom sent us from Florida! YUM! These will definitely help me get rid of this cold!

Check out our view this morning! (yes, that's snow covering the windows!)

Good luck to all the runner's who have races this weekend, including The Redhead, B.o.B. and Jamoosh, who are all running the Gasparilla Marathon on Sunday!! You are going to rock it and have fun doing it!!

If you're running a race this weekend, leave a comment and we'll all send good wishes your way!

Where is the Sun?

It is snowing again. I don't think we've had this many snow storms in one winter since I moved here almost six years ago! I don't really mind snow, but the fact that this storm has also included rain and sleet and is being called a 'snow hurricane' by meteorologists, plus the fact that the MORE/Fitness Half Marathon is two months from today and I need to get some outdoor running in, makes me ready for this winter to be over!

To counteract the snow and gloom, I am so excited to say that Katie, over at Health for the Whole Self, passed on to me my first 'bloggy award' - the Sunshine Award! According to Katie, “The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blog world.” I am extremely honored that Katie not only reads my blog, but that she is inspired by it! I'm so glad that I found Katie's blog a few weeks ago. She is intelligent, funny, caring and I feel our ideas and views are very similar. Her blog is a 'must read' on my list!

I have to say, that I've been inspired by so many other bloggers and non-blogging runners and health enthusiasts over the past few years and have learned so much from so many people. As much as I appreciate being recognized, I feel that because so many others inspire me, I can't begin to name you all.

Instead, I'm going to name one blogger, who is first and foremost a friend. She has been through more in the past few years than anyone should have to deal with in an entire lifetime. Her humor, sincerity, willingness to share her raw emotions and her beautiful writing inspire me to keep moving every day. Heather, at The Spohrs are Multiplying, has touched so many lives and I can confidently say that she has inspired thousands more than just me.

In other news, I'm very excited about something new I'm getting involved with! Well, the organization isn't new, but it's new for me. Last night I met with a woman from Girls on The Run to talk about how I can get involved. We had a great chat, discussing the organization, running, and an assortment of other things. I'm very excited about working with the organization, volunteering with the Communications committee, meeting likeminded women in NYC,  and helping to expose young girls (ages 8-12) to running and self-esteem boosting opportunities! I'm sure I'll talk much more about this in the months to come!

Before I go for today, I can't ignore another win by the USA Men's Hockey team at the winter olympics!! Ryan Miller (an MSU alumni!) saved 19 goals in yesterday's game after stopping 42 on Sunday! He's on a roll and is still going strong! The women's team is playing against Canada in the gold medal game today and the men's team plays again tomorrow. GO USA!!

What has been your favorite part of the Olympics so far?

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week

We are now half way through National Eating Disorder Awareness Week and I figure it's about time I say something about it.

Let me begin by reminding you all that I am not a dietitian, nutritionist or specialist in this area, but I did want to dedicate a post to this campaign because it is incredibly important and deserves a bit of attention. Unfortunately, I haven't heard much about this week in the media and that bothers me a bit. Some people may not even realize that it's going on.

Here are a few facts I found on the National Eating Disorders Association website.

1. In the US, as many as 10million women and 1 million men are suffering from anorexia or bullemia and possibly another 15 million suffering from a binge eating disorder.
2. Eating disorders are not a lifestyle choice, but a condition brought on by a combination of behavioral, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, biological and social factors.
3. 80% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat.
4. Eating disorders effect people in all socioeconomic levels

The good news is that these disorders, along with disordered eating (which is also very prevalent and shouldn't be ignored), can be treated and reversed. Also, through awareness, education, and support, we can help prevent these disorders from taking over the lives of our friends and family members.

Because I am not a specialist in this area, I feel the best thing I can do is direct you all to resources where you can learn more about eating disorders, treatment options, and tips on recognizing the signs that someone may have an eating disorder.

Here are a few websites I encourage you to check out today:
National Eating Disorders Assocation: This site has a lot of great, detailed information as well as additional links and resources.
Myths about Eating Disorders: Read this to learn the real truths about eating disorders.
Academy for Eating Disorders: An international professional organization that also has in depth information for the public.
Operation Beautiful: An amazing website started by Caitlin (at the Healthy Tipping Point) that encourages people to end 'fat talk' and understand that there is more to a person than what is on the outside.
Health for the Whole Self: This is a great post by Katie, about the National Eating Disorders Awareness Week that you should check out. 

If you, or someone you know, is suffering from an unhealthy relationship with food, please, don't sit by and let it get worse. Take action and change a life. We only have one life on this earth and it might as well be lived as healthfully and happily as possible!

Sneakers

I'm back! I know you missed me during my little 'break' but no worries, I'm here.

I had a great time with my Mom. We literally walked all over the city - from the UES down through mid-town and to the East Village. Then around Brooklyn, the LES, SoHo, Greenwich Village, and around Union Square. We definitely covered a lot of ground! Unfortunately, I started feeling a bit under the weather yesterday afternoon and I'm still not feeling so great. I hope my Mom doesn't get sick!

So, I got a new pair of running shoes over the weekend. I've been wearing the ones I had for the marathon and it's about time that I got a new pair for the half-marathon coming up. The standard train of thought is that shoes should be replaced every 300-500 miles. Yeah, that's a wide range of miles, but it depends on your intensity and how you run (and wear out the shoes). It's definitely time for me to get a new pair.

When I started running I found that Nike shoes just weren't for me. No matter how many styles I try, they always rubbed my feet in the wrong places and caused blisters. Obviously that wasn't going to work. I found that the Asics 21 series fit me the best and followed them through a few variations. Last year, just before the marathon I switched to Kayano-15's and found that they fit really well and didn't require any breaking in time. Now that I'm wearing orthodics, my podiatrist said I didn't need shoes with that much support, so he suggested either the cumulus or nimbus models. Well, I stopped by my local Super Runner's Shop on Sunday. Unfortunately they only carry the Gel-Nimbus 11 since they have 'other models similar to the Cumulus' so I wasn't able to try both on to compare. I ended up taking the Gel-Nimbus with me but I'm going to hunt down the others to try and see what I think.

While there are some runners who prefer to run without any shoes at all, most of us just aren't ready (or willing) for that and shoes are extremely important to us. Do you have a favorite brand and/or model that you swear by? How long do you usually keep shoes around? Do you rotate between pairs while you're training? Tell us about your shoe adventures!

The Old

The New

A Beautiful Morning

Before we head out for the Brooklyn Flea and whatever else awaits us, here are a few pictures from the Run for Haiti this morning.

Over 10,000 people registered for the race and so far, over $400,000 have been raised by this race (in central park and virtual).

Congratulations to all the runners!

Then, on my way over to the Boathouse to grab a coffee

I snapped this picture

Have a great day!

Yesterday, Today and this Weekend

This is going to be a quick one since I don’t have a lot of time today to write.



I have to be downtown by 10:30am for an appointment and it could take up to an hour to get there. I had a great workout at the gym this morning and a filling breakfast that should get me through what could be a two hour long appointment. I have no idea what I’m in for, so it will be an adventure!


I hardly woke up long enough to say goodbye to Woody when he left for the airport to catch a plane to Florida very early this morning. He’s going down to visit his Mom and Grandparents. Taking his golf clubs and looking forward to enjoying temperatures at least 20* warmer than here! Instead of spending the weekend on my own, my Mom is going to arrive, while I’m out, and we’re going to enjoy a ‘girls weekend!’ We haven’t done this for quite a while and I’m looking forward to it. I have a few ideas of things to do, but we’ll probably play most of the weekend by ear. Since we’ll be out and about most of the weekend, I may not post again until Monday afternoon. Just a heads up!


Last night I got to do something pretty cool for SELF Magazine. Unfortunately, I can’t really say anything about it yet, so check back in June when the July issue hits newsstands. All I can say for now is that I got to try out a few things, met some cool women and learned a thing or two! I’ve been reading SELF Magazine for almost 10 years now and love it, so this was pretty cool for me.


Before my trip to Times Square (one of my least favorite places in the city) I had a check up with my endocrinologist. He’s one doctor that I don’t mind seeing since he’s always been very helpful and understanding and all of the nurses there are fantastic. I hadn’t been in for a few months so I knew they were going to take blood – seven vials to be exact. Good thing my blood was moving quickly! I can tell you one thing, I am definitely no longer afraid of needles!

I don’t expect I’ll get to the gym every day this weekend, but hopefully I’ll make up for it with many miles of walking through the city! The weather is going to be nice this weekend so I will take a few pictures to share with you.


Well, that's it for now! What do you have planned for the weekend? I hope it's great! Good luck to all of you running the Race for Haiti and all the other races this weekend! You all rock!

The Truth About Eggs

We've all heard the tag line since we were babies - "The Incredible, Edible Egg" - and then have watched and wondered as eggs have gone back and forth between the 'top healthy foods' list and the "keep away" list. Every once in a while, eggs seem to get a bad wrap.

For the time being, eggs are in fact good for you! This is a relief for me, because I love eggs. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Any time. Pancakes and egg whites after a run or race never fail me! And actually, I had an egg sandwich for lunch yesterday and it reminded me of a recent experience when I over heard a woman say that she heard brown eggs are from chickens who are under distress. I knew that wasn't right, but couldn't say for sure exactly what the difference is between brown and white eggs. Here's the lowdown:

The color of the egg is determined by the breed of hen and the pigment comes from a substance called protoporphyin as the shell forms. White eggs typically come from chickens with white feathers and brown eggs from those with red feathers. Hens laying brown eggs are typically larger and require more food, so this is why brown eggs are often more expensive than white ones.  

Nutritionally, there really is no difference between the two but some people believe the taste of brown eggs is a bit stronger. That may depend upon the farm and how the hens are raised, however. Whether brown or white, I like to go for cage-free and antibiotic free eggs myself.

Quick nutrition stats:
One large egg has approximately 70 calories with 5 grams of fat, and 2.5 grams of saturated fat
Contains essential nutrients and vitamins including: protein, choline, folate, iron, selenium, Vitamin B12, and zinc
In the yolk: choline, folate, lutien, vitamin D, and zeaxanthin (contributes towards eye health)
High in saturated fat and cholesterol
Eggs high in omega-3s are from chickens fed flax seeds in with their regular feed

I find that most people have very strong opinions about eggs. What are your feelings towards? Love 'em or hate 'em? If you're an egg lover, what is your favorite way to eat them?

A Different Role For Runners

By the time you get to the start of a race, you've trained countless hours, registered, paid your fee, picked up your race number and chip, gotten a cup of water, used the port-a-pottie, and filed into a marked off starting corral, checked your watch, anxiously chatted up your neighbors, retied your shoes, stretched, listened to the 'official race instructions,' heard the National Anthem, and then heard the starting gun shot and made your way through the gate checking the official time as you started your watch. As you weave your way through the crowd you 'stay in the lane,' check your time on the official clock at each mile marker, head to the side and grab a cup of water, weave your way past a few more runners, pick up a few more cups of water, speed past the line of runners waiting at the port-a-potties along the route (silently smiling inside that you're not one of them), and kick your way across the finish line with every last bit of energy you have. Your shaky legs carry you through the crowd of sweaty boddies over to a chip clipper you cuts your chip off your shoe and throws it in a bucket as you thank them. Then after locating the fuel tables, volunteers hand you cups of water and apple and a bagel. Maybe your stomach can handle it, maybe the food is saved for later when you're famished. You find an open space to stretch your legs so they don't freeze up, then pick up your bag from the baggage area, showing your bag number and bib number match. Then, it's off to find your family and friends and grab brunch. You've run your race, given it your all, and now you're going to celebrate!

Sound familiar? It takes a lot of work, not just on our parts as runners, but also on the part of race directors, race staff, volunteers, and sponsors. My parents raised me to say 'please' and 'thank you,' so I tend to say thank you to as many volunteers as I can because they are taking time out of their day so that I can run. I've been known to thank the course marshalls as I'm running through a busy part of Central Park. They don't have to do it. They're volunteering.

I ran my first race in 2006 but didn't really get into it until the next year and didn't volunteer for one until 2008, when NYRR changed the marathon qualifying requirements to include one volunteer credit in addition to finishing 9 races. I have to admit, I'm so glad they did this because if they hadn't, I don't know if I would have volunteered. I've only volunteered for two races (I run as many as I can!) and the one last year was particularly cold and dreary, but I'm glad I've done it. When I decided not to try for the NYC Half Marathon this year I did decide to volunteer for it. Yesterday I delighted to see that there were positions available to work at the expo! Yes, it's a cushy indoor job, but it's still volunteering when I'll be able to help runners and their families and see the excitement the day before the big race! I ran the NYC Half in 2008. That morning, instead of waking up to my alarm clock, I woke up to thunder and lightening. Immediately I was concerned for Gracela, who I knew was on her way at that dark hour to the race course to help set up the fluid station where she was going to be working for the next 4 or so hours. Countless volunteers wake up before the sun is out and work through rain, heat, sleet, snow, any and every weather condition so that we can run and strive for a PR.

As runners, I think it's important for us to give back and help other runners when we can. Yeah, we pay race fees, sometimes very high ones, but a lot of work goes into the events and they can't happen without volunteers. So, today I'm urging you to find a race near you, take a day off from running, and volunteer your time and support. Cheer on the runners who are pushing their way through a tough hill, hand them water when they put out their hand, and congratulate them on a great accomlishment and all the hard work they've done to get there. I've really enjoyed my experiences and can't wait to do it again! We're all lucky to be part of a great running community and part of being in a community is supporting it, not just benefiting from it.

If you're in NYC, head over to the NYRR site and check out the volunteer opportunities. They're still looking for volunteers for Run for Haiti this Saturday. (Inside tip: I've heard Paula Radcliffe, Ryan Hall, Grete Waitz, Deena Kastor, Meb Keflezighi and other pros are running!) I would be there in a flash, but my Mom is coming into town for the weekend. Perhaps we'll stop by and see the excitement! If you're not in New York, check with local running stores and races you've done in the past to see how to get involved. Take a little time to give back!

It takes a lot of work and a lot of people to keep all these runners moving!

Today's questions: Have you volunteered for a race? Any good/funny stories? What did you like best about volunteering?


Before I sign off today, I have to say THANK YOU! I logged on this morning to see that I now have 53 followers! I really can hardly believe it and am so thankful for all of you who read my blog regularly, who are reading it for the first time today, and who comment on the various topics I ramble on about each day! I really had no idea what to expect back in August when I started this journey, but I am constantly surprised and amazed by all I learn from the blogging community and the friendships I have started. This little blog was started so I could share my experiences and the little bits of knowledge I pick up while trying to live a healthier and full life. Not surprisingly, I have learned and continue to learn from all of you, and I appreciate that more than you know! I hope you continue to enjoy this blog, learn a thing or two along the way and keep commenting!

The Seed that Does A Body Good

First, I want to thank everyone for the advice and support you have showed in response to my post yesterday. While I am still getting to the gym almost every day for strength training and an hour or so on the elliptical, it's the running that I need to get back to. I know that I love running, I just have to get motivated. I hear the sun and 'warm' weather is headed our way at the end of the week, so I will get myself outside for a run. I think I'll follow Jocelyn's lead and display my marathon medal where I'll see it each morning. Perhaps that will help too!

Now, on to today's post.

When I write about the oats, granola, yogurt and other foods I eat, I often mention using flax seeds. A few people have asked about these little health heros that go back as far as 3000 B.C., and many others use them but don't really know why, so today I'm going to change that.

What are flax seeds?
There are three main active 'ingredients' in the seeds - (1) Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Alpha-Linolenic acid is found in flax seeds. 1tb of flax seeds provides 1.8 grams of Omega-3's. (2) Lignans. Chemical compounds that are estrogen-like chemicals found in plants with antioxidant qualities. They are 75-8000 times more effective in flax seeds than in other plants. (3) Fiber. Both soluble and insoluble.

Why should we eat flax seeds?
While none of these are 100%, there are several reasons to include flax seeds in your diet on a regular basis. Flax seeds may reduce the risk of some cancers, such as breast, prostate, and colon cancers, as well as cardiovascular and lung disease.
The Omega-3 fatty acids help to control cholesterol levels, prevent the hardening of arteries, maintain natural heart beats, and may help to reduce blood sugar levels. Lignans are thought to help protect against cancers by blocking enzymes that metabolize hormones and they can also interfere with the growth and spreading of tumors cells. Both lignans and the ALA Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflamatory properties. And we all know fiber helps to protect against heart disease, constipation, diabetes and diverticular disease.

Should anyone not eat flax seeds?
Until more confirmed results on studies are available, many researchers and health professionals suggest that pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding should not add flax seeds to their diets.

How to buy flax seeds.
You may see flax oil available at your local health food store or pharmacy in the supplement aisle. Skip it. In most cases, ground flax seeds are more effective. With that said, flax seeds are available ground and whole. You can buy either but because our digestive systems are unable to digest full flax seeds, grind whole seeds before eating them. An electric coffee grinder works well. Also, they are sold as ground, milled and meal. All three labels are for the same consistency. Do go for either brown or golden. The only difference between the two is the color. When you purchase processed foods that advertise 'flax seeds,' check the ingredient list to make sure they are ground rather than whole. Products such as breads, crackers, cereal, pasta, and more can contain flax seeds, just make sure it is the kind you can digest! Always store flax seeds in a dark, cool place, but once you've opened your package of ground flax seeds, it is best to store them in the freezer to keep them fresh as long as possible. They can be found in health food stores and perhaps some larger grocery stores as well.

What are the best ways to enjoy flax seeds and reap all the benefits?
Ground flax seeds can be added to all sorts of foods - yogurt, granola, oats, smoothies, chili, soup meatloaf, meatballs, caseroles, and much more. They can also be used when baking cookies, muffins, waffles, pancakes and more. The flavor is not overwhelming, so you can add this healthy ingredient into almost anything! Technically, heating fatty acids can alter the structure and effectiveness of them, but at standard cooking temperatures and times, this shouldn't be an issue. Flax seeds are fairly high in calories and fat and many health professionals say studies show the most effectiveness when participants have 1-2tbs per day, but even a bit added into your meals each day is helpful!

Do you have any favorite recipes or uses for flax seeds? If you haven't used them before, has this inspired you to give them a try?

from our kitchen

these cookies include flax seeds

and so does this granola

Runner Seeking Motivation

I've been struggling a little this morning deciding what to write about and then I decided to write about. Woody and I went to Equinox this morning for our last workout of our 3-day trial. Turns out I got an email though saying we could go again tomorrow. Need to decide if we will or not since they open half hour later than our normal gym. Anyway, after our workout we jumped on the crowded subway (Saturday schedule for the holiday), picked up apples at the farmers market and then battled our way through Trader Joe's to stock up on nourishment for the week. We finally made it home and I was famished so I had to make my breakfast (at 11am) asap.  Through all this, I still couldn't decide what to write about, but then it hit me, I should write about motivation.

I've had a bit of trouble getting motivated to run lately. It seems crazy since I have a half marathon coming up at the end of April, but it's true. I've read several blog posts lately about a lack of motivation, so perhaps it is a winter thing, but for as many posts about diminished motivation that are out there, I read even more posts about strong training runs, successful race recaps and lofty running goals. 

I think part of my problem is that for two months after the marathon I wasn't even allowed to run. My feet were completely messed up and I could hardly take a step walking without being in pain, let alone run a mile. Admittedly, that has screwed with my confidence level. While I've been consistent on the elliptical since the marathon, I've been slow to get back on the treadmill. My pace has definitely slowed and this annoys me. With the pain I was in leading up to the race and a developing stress fracture, I ran the marathon much slower than I had hoped. Without running for a few months, my pace has remained slow. I know I need to push myself to get that pace closer to where it once was, but I'm nervous about pushing it too hard and injuring myself again. I've been wearing orthotics for a few months but the one in my left shoe still isn't right and that makes running even more difficult.

Gaining back confidence after an injury can be a difficult thing, and maybe a long process. Also, getting back the motivation to run seems to be a bit difficult too. The cover story for the latest issue of Runner's World is about Kara Goucher. She's an incredible runner and this story really delves into her psyche and the struggles she has gone through during her career. While we run for two different reasons, and I never expect to win a race, I felt a bit of encouragement to hear what she has gone through with injuries and has still come back to be a winner. Maybe my life as a runner isn't over! I'm still young. Some people don't even start running until later in life. I can't let a few little injuries get me down too far. I have to fight back.

Hopefully as warmer weather approaches (it has to sometime, right?) that will help my motivation to run as well. I mean, really, who enjoys running on a treadmill when there are so many places to explore outside? I hope to get outside for a run (well, a jog, might be more accurate) later this week and see how it goes. I really am looking forward to running with my friends and enjoying the excitement of race day, but getting there is a bit more difficult than I had anticipated. I just hope I can make it through the 13 miles. (Doesn't that sound crazy when I ran 26 only a few months ago?!

So, I'm asking today for suggestions or personal experiences from all of you. What motivates you? How do you get back into the game after an injury, or series of injuries, have set you back? How do you kick yourself in the butt and get going?

A First Date

I've been a member of New York Sports Club for a little over 5 years. The club is okay, quite expensive compared to non-NYC clubs but not bad for clubs in the city, but my main reason for joining NYSC was convenience. When I joined, the club was two blocks away from my apartment, a necessity when I was just starting to get myself up before work to workout. Now, it's still only 5 blocks away, so still very close. Woody joined as soon as he moved out here and we've been going together ever since. Our main gripes about the club is the lack of cleanliness, a fairly high number of machines out of order on a regular basis, unkept weight areas, and over crowding. It is convenient, there are many locations around the city, and a fairly large number of classes to take, if we're interested. Our gym was recently renovated, so it is better than it was, I admit.

So, last year a new apartment building went up on 2nd Ave right between our place and the gym. The building houses a new Equinox gym. If you're not familiar with Equinox, it's supposed to be one of the best sports clubs. At least around here. We know the prices are high so we couldn't afford to switch gyms. Fast forward a bit and we got a letter in our mailbox for a free 3-day trial. We've seen these before but decided to take advantage of it over this long 3-day weekend (well, for Woody anyway) so we could really use it and not be rushed to get to work or anywhere else.

Here's what I think after our first workout at Equinox:
Very, very clean. Well built, designed and maintained. Great music choices. Lots of stairs in this location, but it's the same at NYSC. Really nice, large locker rooms with computerized locks on the lockers so you don't have to bring your own. Nice, new and frequently updated cardio equipment. Clean equipment. I don't like how the machines don't have their own TV's and there are several flat screen TVs instead for many of them. I like having control over what I watch or listen to. Lots of room between machines - cardio and weights. Woody didn't like the flow between weight machines, he thought they were in an odd and unnatural order. The weights were very tidy - definitely didn't have to go searching for anything. Stretching area was clean and large. There were a good number of people working out but it didn't seem overly crowded and there were always a few cardio machines empty. Over 100 fitness classes per week at this location (nice) with a spinning studio with new equipment even though they've been open less than a year. Nice big windows upstairs that look out over the street so it's very light and airy. The underground floors would feel more confined but probably not as busy. The personal trainers seemed very well informed, professional and effective.

Overall, I really enjoyed the workout and am looking forward to going back tomorrow and Monday. I hope to take a class and hopefully my workout will be a bit more efficient since I'll know the layout a bit better. A first date with a gym is always interesting - have to get a feel for the place! 

Unfortunately, even with the current special on the initiation fee, the monthly fee is still a bit too pricey for us, but maybe we'll be able to switch over one day. In general, I have some environmental issues with gyms in general, but I also find them to be a necessity for me and many other people to stay (or become) fit, so I can't judge them too harshly. I wish there was a way to have an environmentally friendly gym. Hmmm. Business idea!

After the gym I came home to coffee and this filling and nutritious meal -
banana, peanut butter and kiwi oats!

Tomorrow we're going out for brunch to celebrate Valentine's Day! After we hit the gym, of course!

Are you a member of a gym? What do you like most and least about it? How are you celebrating Valentine's Day?

Happy Saturday!

Let The Games Begin

USA! USA! USA!

That's right. The Olympics start tonight! Aren't you excited?!

I feel like there isn't as much hype around the Olympics as there was when I was a kid, but maybe that's just because I've grown older and have come to terms with the fact that my Olympic dreams were just that, dreams. Nevertheless, I have unbounded respect for all the Olympic athletes representing their country. They must have incredible dedication, drive, and commitment to make it to this world stage, whether they are medal contenders or not. 

In honor of the opening ceremonies that will take place tonight, I decided to give you a little rundown on TEAM USA to bring you up to speed if you haven't been paying too much attention.

Top Contenders:
Skiing - Lindsey Vonn (if she's able to compete with her shin injury, she's a top contender for 2 Golds & possibly another medal in the 6 races she'll be competing in), Bode Miller and Ted Legity are the top contenders for the men's team.
Speed Skating - Apolo Ohno and Shani Davis for the men's team and Katharine Reutter for the women's.
Snow Boarding - Shaun White and Seth Wescott for the guy's and a strong team for the women including Hannah teter, Kelly Clark, Gretchen Bleiler, and Lindsey Jacobellis.
Skating - Evan Lysacek (the current world champion), and ice dancing pairs Meryl Davis & Charlie White, and Tanitha Belbin & Benjamin Agosto.
And of course, both the men's and women's hockey teams are in line to play for the gold!

15 sports will be featured throughout the 15 days of competition, some more familiar than others: hockey, alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, cross-country skiing, nordic combined, ski jump, snowboarding, speed skating, short track speed skating, figure skating, luge (single & dbl teams, feet first), skeleton (1 person, face first), bobsled (2 & 4 person teams), curling (team sport played on ice with 42lb stones and brooms), and biathlon (a combo of x-country skiing and rifle shooting at targets).

I'd say freestyle skiing, the ski jump, snowboarding and all the track sports can completely freak me out. The thought of speeding down a steep man-made slope only to fly in the air with basically no control and having to land on my feet which are strapped to skiis that are longer than I am talll, or speeding down a skinny track at ungodly high speeds absolutely terrifies me. But, I am looking forward to catching a few of the competitions and cheering on the American athletes from the warmth of my couch.

Speaking of warmth, have you heard it's going to be 49* in Vancounver today? That's warmer than it will be here and South Carolina is getting snow today! Apparently it is the warmest location ever for a winter Olympics. I suppose all that matters though is that there is snow on the slopes!

Are you going to watch the opening ceremony (7:30pm est) tonight? What competitions are you looking forward to? Did you ever dream of being an Olympic athlete (winter or summer)?

For more info on the Olympics and to keep up with the medal count, check out this site or this one, or this one.

Michelle Obama and the "Let's Move" Campaign

Back on January 30th, I wrote a little post about the then upcoming announcement of the initiative to be led by the First Lady to combat obesity. If you didn't see it then, here's a link to check it out. Well, on Tuesday Mrs. Obama officially kicked off the "Let's Move" campaign!

This initiative is coming at a difficult time in our history when people are struggling to stretch every dime as far as possible, but it is imperative to tackle this now before it gets even worse. Just yesterday a study was released in the New England Journal of Medicine that followed 5,000 people from childhood into adulthood. The study found that those who were obese as children doubled their risk of dying before the age of 55 than those who were of normal weight. Scary.

President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum Tuesday morning establishing a task force on childhood obesity that is chaired by The Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and includes the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and Education along with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady, Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and others who are deemed necessary by the Chair. As you can see, a many departments will be included in this task force. They will oversee the program, ensuring that local and state governments as well as public and nonprofit organizations, schools, and communities play an active role. Other administrations, as far back as Eisenhower, have tried to turn this problem around but failed, so the First Lady and this task force have a big hill to climb before they can declare that childhood obesity is no longer an epidemic (which they plan to do within one generation).

These four objectives were laid out in the memorandum:

1. ensure access to health, affordable food
2. increase physical activities in schools and communities
3. provide healthier food in schools
4. provide parents with information and tools to make good choices for themselves and their children

While I love the fact that so much attention and action is being paid to this problem, I have one gripe. That is the fact that this is focusing on children rather than the entire community. Not only are our children obese or overweight, but the CDC has found that 68% of adults in the US are overweight, half of them obese. That's a problem too. My hope is that some of the efforts taken in association with this initiative will spill over and help everyone in the community. It is definitely important to address obesity in children so they may learn how to make healthy decisions at an earlier age (rather than falling into unhealthy patterns) but we also need to help those who are facing weight related medical problems later in life as well. Even adults with hypertension can turn things around if they lose weight, increase activity levels and eat well. It's not a lost cause for overweight adults and we can't forget that. Hopefully communities and organizations who get involved will recognize this and include everyone! If you ask me, I think a healthier community is also a happier, safer and more productive community!

Now, if any of you reading this are associated with the Let's Move campaign, please know that I would LOVE to be a part of it! I have great hopes and confidence that this will make a difference. I'm available to start work tomorrow, so just reach out! I'm ready!

I'll probably be writing about this frequently as the months go by and things start happening. It will be interesting to see how industry and government really work together to make changes.

Alex Wong/Getty Images

An Unconvential Mid-Day Walk & Lunch

Let me start by saying this happened a few hours ago. I did not just finish my lunch at 4:15pm. Although, a few years ago that wouldn't necessarily have been the case.

Anyway, since I postponed a coffee date with a new friend till next week that was supposed to happen this afternoon at Ost Cafe (thanks Julie!) and Woody and I planned ahead to take today off from the gym, I've been in the apartment ALL day long. Our little NY apartment can become quite claustrophobic after a few hours, especially when there isn't even much sunlight coming in the windows!

So, I decided to get out of the apartment today I'd just head down and walk on the treadmill for a bit. Since it was an 'off' day from the gym I didn't want to do a full workout. That would defeat the whole purpose. My unconventional mid-day walk consisted of walking down the 17 flights to the 'fitness room' in our building. A lot of people must have been 'working from home' today because I have never seen the room so full. Two of the three treadmills were already in use along with one bike and another woman came in and got on the elliptical just after I claimed the last treadmill! CRAZY! Anyway, I walked for 30 minutes and finished reading this month's Runner's World cover story on Kara Goucher (very interesting, by the way). Not the best way to get some exercise, but it's better than nothing, right?

Afterwards, I made my way back upstairs and put my lunch together. Along with my apple and veggies (yes, of the frozen variety), I had an arnold's sandwich thin with a vegan burger, laughing cow cheese wedge (yum) and I added something a bit different to the combo - dried cherries. I like cherry burgers, so why not? My little addition was a success! Will definitely do this again.

Good to mix things up a little bit now and then!

Hope you're all having a great day!

The Snow Is Here!

The snow storm missed us last weekend, but this new one arrived overnight. City school officials announced mid-day yesterday that schools would be closed today so all the kids were rejoycing. I'm going to try and take a walk to the park later today, but for now, I'll leave you with these pics from our living room window. The snow has made it impossible to see quite a few buildings. I wish we had a sled, or that I could borrow my Dad's snowshoes!

If you're getting snow too, be careful out there, but try to take a few minutes and enjoy it, too!

I'm Really Not ALWAYS The Healthiest Eater

At my old job, I was often asked if I ever ate anything 'bad' for me. This question usually popped up while I was making my lunch in the kitchen - either a salad or veggie burger with a side of veggies and an apple. I always found this question odd because everyone there knew of my intense addiction to chocolate. While there are arguments to be made about dark chocolate's health properties, I usually pass far beyond the nutritional threshold when I eat it.

You often see posts on this blog with nutritious meals and recipes, or about the nutritional value of specific foods, and while I have been concentrating more intensely on my diet these past few weeks and while I was training for the marathon, I can confidently say that I am not the healthiest eater at every meal of every day. I do try to fit in as many fruits and veggies into each meal as I can and I like to omit butter and salt as often as possible, but I love the taste of food too much to give up all of the foods I have grown to love over the years.

Sour and gummy candies have never really apealed to me, but put a brownie or ice cream in front of me and it takes all the strength I have to resist the temptation. In the past two weeks I have only had a tiny bit of chocolate once, which was last night, and I was trying not to be rude! And while I do plan to indulge in chocolate on Sunday, I am hoping that this little embargo will help curb my addiction. I think it's absolutely fine to enjoy foods we love, as long as it is in moderation. Unfortunately, around the holidays my affection for chocolate & sweets hit an unhealthy level and that's why I decided to go on this vacation from chocolate and baked goods.

Also, up until three weeks ago I was a fairly regular meat eater. I definitely have not eaten meat every day for several years, but after I finished my leftovers from a fantastic meal with Gracela and Special K (flashback here) I decided to take a break from meat. Many reasons for this, including health and all I've been learning by reading Michael Pollan books. On Sunday however, I cooked a meal with lean, grass-fed ground beef - our family's version of a Finnish Pasty. We had leftovers last night for dinner and I asked Woody to take the last slice to work for lunch today. While I love them and think they are delicious, probably mostly because of the sentimental value the dish holds, I am ready to go back to my non-meat eating ways for a bit longer.

While meat doesn't always have to be unhealthy I have found that I feel better without it. The same goes for the chocolate and baked goods. I will probably always think that one of the best meals is a really good burger with fries and a chocolate milkshake (again, childhood memories probably play a large role in this) and I know that I will indulge in all the foods I love many more times in my life, I'd rather live a healthy life and I don't feel the need to have them all the time.

The moral to this story is that while my posts about food and nutrition will overwhelmingly be about healthy foods and recipes, I do believe that it's okay to enjoy all the foods that I love as long as I eat them responsibly and I enjoy them with friends and loved ones rather than by myself or on the go. Food is just as much about companionship and culture as it is about nutrition and health.

So, what are your favorite indulgent foods?

Fueling Up

As my friends and I are training for the MORE/Fitness Half Marathon at the end of April, and I know of many others who read this blog regularly are training for a race, I thought it would be prudent to discuss something we all spend a lot of time thinking about - FUEL.

For purposes of this post, I'm just speaking about fueling the day of a long run or race, since a whole other discussion could revolve around eating the day before!

Pre-Run: If you're going out for a long run, you want to eat something about 30 minutes beforehand. Ideally, you want a good mix of carbs and protein to give you sustained energy. Good options include oatmeal, banana, toast, peanut butter, granola, yogurt, crackers, half a bagel, and some people like the convenience of energy bars like Cliff. If you're like me and run early in the morning, this may be difficult, so I tend to eat something a little smaller, which works for me - an Akmak cracker with a little bit of PB. Some people also like to get in a caffeine jolt with coffee or soda, but I stay away from those myself.

On the Road: If you're plan calls for a shorter run (60 minutes or less) then you probably only need water along your route to keep you going. Be sure to pick a route with drinking fountains, or plant water bottles along the way or take a fuel pack with you. If you're running 75 minutes or longer, you're going to need something more substantial with easily accessible carbs to supply a quick source of energy to your brain and muscles. There is a plethora of manufactured products available like Gu and other gels, shot blocks, Luna Moons, gummy bears and other candies, and energy bars. Some people prefer to eat more natural foods like nuts, pretzels, homemade granola bars (in bite size chunks), dried fruit, and fig newtons. I used to swear by Gu and then shot blocks, but then started to rethink what I was actually digesting, so I started adding almonds into my mix. But, during the marathon, what got me through a rough patch was the pretzels that some volunteers were handing out. I believe they were KEY to me getting across the finish line. On the liquid side of things, many people rely solely on water, but gatorade and Nuun can be very helpful, especially on hot days when you need some extra sodium in your system.

Post-Run: This is a very important part of the run and will determine how well your muscles recover. You generally have a 30-60 minute window when it's essential to get a good mix of carbs and protein back into your system to restore your glycogen levels. This can be anything from a turkey or tuna sandwich to pancakes and a banana, cottage cheese, to eggs. My post long run meal during training featured a PB&J sandwich on a bagel and a banana. I love bagels but eat them very rarely, so during my run, thinking about the great meal I was going to have, along with a glass of Ronnybrook Farms chocolate milk (proven to have the ideal mix of proteins & carbs) to get me through the last few tough miles! Coconut water and cherry juice are also great post-run beverages.

Since everyone is different, you definitely need to try a few things out to see what works best for you. Remember, you should also eat something before going to the gym to workout. It'll help you burn calories and keep you energized. Plus, you won't have to worry about any embarassing stomach growling noises!

What are your favorite foods/beverages to get you through a long run, race or tough workout?

Everybody Loves The Sunshine

I love the song "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" and can't seem to get it out of my head this morning. We woke up to bright sunshine coming in the apartment and were almost blinded when we walked out of our building to the gym. It hasn't been this sunny for weeks! Unfortunately, it's also absolutely frigid out, so it's one of those days when the sunshine plays a trick on you because you think it might actually be warm out. Oh well, the sunshine is still gorgeous and has put me in a great mood.

So, last night I decided to 'bake' a frozen pizza I picked up at Trader Joe's last week. I do love pizza but it's hard in this city to find tasty, healthy fresh pizza that's not super expensive. If you're not familiar, most pizza places sell by the slice, but the slices are about as big as a small pie! Anyway, I got a whole wheat veggie pizza, light on the cheese with a good amount of protein and not too bad in fat and calories. I boosted the nutritional value by adding some frozen broccoli & peppers, and sliced fresh zucchini and yellow squash before popping it in the oven. What came out was a very tasty dinner.

Woody added a few ingredients to his slices - hot pepper flakes and a few slices of jalapeno pepper (he likes his food much spicier than I do).

This was a healthier way to enjoy a guilty pleasure. I do want to try making my own pizza sometime soon. Apparently Trader Joe's has very good whole wheat dough and I found a good recipe I might try too.

I had a great workout this morning. 45 minutes on the treadmill followed by 30 minutes on the bike and a pretty intense core workout and finished off with a few minutes of jumping rope. Something happened while I was on the mat doing my core workout that hasn't happened to me before and caught me a bit off guard, to tell you the truth. There was a woman next to me on the mat, probably in her 50's or so, doing crunches and other ab exercises and I noticed she kept looking over at me. It made me a bit self conscious until she complimented me on my routine and said she was watching to get ideas! Okay, so I have been working on my core more lately, but by no means do I have a flat stomach (yet), so this seemed a bit misdirected since there are quite a few women at our gym with to-die-for abs, but I couldn't help smiling and thanking her for the compliment. Definitely added another notch in the 'quality workout' scale for the day!

By the time I got home, I had definitely worked up an appetite and wanted a little switch from my usual oatmeal or yogurt & granola routine. So, I had a White Chocolate Wonderful & banana sandwich on an Arnold's sandwich thin with half a grapefruit (sent with love from my MIL in FLA) and a cup of hot Carribou Morning Brew Coffee (a Christmas gift from my sis & her husband). This breakfast definitely hit the spot!

Question(s) for the day: what are your Super Bowl plans? Do you watch for the game or the commercials? Do you have a favorite team? Are you planning any healthy snacks to munch on or taking a break for the night?
My Answers: Staying in and enjoying it with Woody. I watch for the commercials, he watches for both. (have you seen the previews of Betty White's spot? Can't wait for that one!) He has a tiny bit of money riding on the Colts but we'd both be happy to see the Saints win. I'm planning a not so healthy dinner for tonight (also my first meat dish in 3 weeks) but also have light popcorn on hand to make for snacking. Woody has his favorite baked tortilla chips and salsa ready to go.

Central Park Winter Jam 2010

After the gym and a warm breakfast, Woody and I bundled up and headed out to Central Park. We hardly got a dusting of snow from the massive storm hitting the mid-atlantic coast, so it's a good thing the parks department trucked in some snow for Winter Jam 2010! I bet the organizers were psyched about the impending snow fall and saddened this morning to see there was nothing. At least it is cold enough that the snow they did bring in didn't melt!

A lot of people were there - kids bundled head to toe in snow gear carrying sleds, parents wrangling in their energetic kids, teens with their coats unzipped trying to look cool, 20-something guys with their snowboards and gear, and childless couples, like us, just there to check out all the excitement. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of us before my camera battery died. We looked cute in our hats, winter coats, and mittens (well, me with the mittens) and cold red noses!

this was a cute little kid - probably 10 years old or so (the top pic)

some companies were handing out samples, including the NY State Apple Assoc. - we didn't wait in the long line, even though a hot cup of cider would have been very good. The state tourist agency, some ski resorts, and a couple farmers' market vendors were there too.

learning to snowboard

trying out cross country skiing (see the green grass behind them!?)

It was a pretty cool free event with a little bit for everyone. I just wish it didn't have to be so cold for winter sports! ;)

Did you get hit by the storm, or a storm this weekend? What's your favorite outdoor winter activity?