It's Been A Day

I know, I'm off today. Usually I post MUCH earlier, but it's been a busy day!

Last night my heel was bothering me quite a bit so I decided that rather than walking to our gym and being inticed by the elliptical (which bothers it a little bit), I'd hit up the 'fitness room' in our building for a spin on the bike. Unlike the three relatively new treadmills and the one elliptical, the two bikes in the room look like they're circa 1995! I'm not going to record my distance today like I usually do because I'm 99.9% sure the distance was not correct. My legs were pretty limber this morning, but I don't know how I could have 'biked' just over 20 miles in an hour. Is that possible? Our 'fitness room' has three tiny TV's to keep people entertained while working out. Of the three, one doesn't work (the closest to the bikes) and while the other two have remote controls, they only control the channels. Turning on/off and the volume control must be done at the TV. This doesn't work out too well when you start your cardio workout as the lone person in the room and during the course of the hour two people come in and get on treadmills. As we all know, treadmills are not quiet. Needless to say, I could just barely make out Willie Geist's 'News You Can't Use." I did have the latest issue of Women's Health to finish reading though. Which reminds me, I saw the new issue of Runner's World on sale at a news stand this afternoon but it wasn't in my mailbox! What's up with that Runner's World? I need my fix?! It's odd. I can only read when I'm on a bike. I get bored on the bike. Nevertheless, I actually didn't have any pain when I finished my 60 minutes, so I ended my workout with a few minutes of stretching before heading back upstairs.

I quickly put together a light breakfast of toasted whole grain bread, peanut butter and a banana. No time for tea this morning. I had to get out of the apartment quick. Bad news though. I've run out of PB&Co peanut butter! I prefer buying my jars at the restuarant - I feel that way they get all the profits and no one is skimming off the top. Unfortunately I haven't been there for a while so my cupboard is empty! I did pick up a jar from Trader Joe's during my weekly visit on Monday. It's cheap ($2.99) and a pretty good flavor, but very runny, even when I keep it in the fridge. Definitely no PB&Co, but I suppose it will tide me over. I have to get to the restaurant soon!

This morning I attended a Step Up Women's Network Power Breakfast. About 20 members were fortunate enough to get two hours with Linda Descano, the President & COO of Women & Co. a division of Citi, as well as the CAO of Citi. I love the Power Breakfast series because not only do I get to meet other motivated, intelligent and active women, but we get an inside look at what makes strong, successful women tick. What inspires them and how they got where they are. 

One topic she touched on was mentoring: she has had several mentors throughout her career and has been a mentor herself. Her advice was to find someone who is an expert in something you want to know about and ask them for a bit of their time to pick their brain. Or, find someone who has a similar background as you. I think this tip can also be used when it comes to running, fitness and nutrition. What's wrong with having a running mentor? Someone who can teach you and push you to maximize your potential? I think this happens often without people even realizing that it's a form of mentorship. It can be friends introducing other friends to running or cooking. I feel this is happening a lot in the blog community as people take time to reach out, comment on posts and make a real connection. It was a great event and I learned quite a bit. Linda is an inspiration. I am so lucky to have the opportunity to attend events like this and I do not take them for granted!

This afternoon I was down at Chelsea Market. You know, where the Food Network studios are! It's a great place filled with all sorts of restaurants, bakeries, and markets. I picked up some great stuff while I was there:

I've been reading a lot of recipes using cumin seeds lately and I'm curious. I picked these up to try out. Not a bad price! I also picked up some produce, including tomatoes that weren't outrageously expensive from the freeze in Florida this winter!

I also picked up a treat for Woody and I to enjoy!

You know how much I love chocolate and I've been really good about limiting it this year. Well, I really love Jacques Torres and I really love chocolate covered matzos! The chocolate covered matzos from Whole Foods used to be great, but I was massively disappointed with it when we picked up a small package over the weekend. I had a few bites and left the rest for Woody to finish. For some reason it was more sugary and caramel than chocolate and matzo. Not good. Anyway, I also picked up these cute chocolate bunnies for Woody for an Easter treat. They're hidden now - he has to wait till Easter! (don't worry - I'm not spoiling the surprise - he doesn't read this often!)

With all my treats in hand, I made my way back home and now I'm icing my heel, writing this post and about to do some stretching.

One more thing - Molly, at I'm a Sleeper Baker, profiled me on her blog yesterday! I was so flattered when she asked to profile me! I, along with over 300 others, love her blog, so this is definitely an honor! You can check out the post here, and I also encourage you to read more of her posts, if you haven't been there before!

Okay, I'll be back in the morning! Have a great evening!

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Workout Stats -
60min bike (mileage unknown)
stretching

Oh, It's Just A Little Rain.

If you're not aware, the East Coast is getting hit by another nasty rain storm. Just as parts of New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut were starting to dry out and hopefully begin to recovery from the devastation caused by the last major rain storm and flooding a few weeks ago, here we go again! We may end up with the third wettest March on record when this is all over. It rained all day yesterday and is pouring this morning - at least here on the UES. Woody and I tune into the local news each morning as we're getting ready for the gym to check the weather. Obviously we knew it was raining, but the radar didn't look too bad, so we got ready and headed out. Wow. One problem with living in a high rise apartment building is that you can never really tell what the weather is going to be like when you get outside. It was POURING! Oh, well. It stinks, but it wasn't going to keep us from the gym.

As we dodged puddles and streams of water gushing down the streets, I mentioned to Woody "at least the gym might not be too crowded." Haha! Wrong again! It was packed! There were a bunch of dripping wet coats and umbrella's at the coat rack on the cardio floor. I'm not sure if we were all crazy, or just dedicated to fitness! It was great to see so many people plod through the bad weather to get there. That got me thinking though, what motivates people to face wicked weather to workout? Whether to go to the gym or to run in the rain?

My first 18 miler last summer was scheduled for the morning of the day we left for our week in Montreal. I had to get it in, but the weather forecast called for rain. It rained the entire 18 miles, but the last two were brutal. Hard, cold, rain. My feet were sloshing in my shoes as I finished in the park. It was part torture, part comical. I made it through and was stronger for it. Those last two miles may have been my fastest! On that day, I was motivated by the fact that it was going to be my longest run to date, a new hurdle to leap, and because I was going on vacation and I couldn't do it the next day. Usually when it's raining, I just want to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea and a good book or movie. Except when it's time for the gym.

What motivates you to go out in the rain for a workout?

What it looks like outside our door!

A wind gust claimed the life of Woody's umbrella this morning. It won't see another rainstorm.

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Workout Stats -
6.5mi elliptical
5mi bike
100 crunches
3x10 bicep extension
3x10 side arm lifts
3x10 front arm raise
5x10 hip raise
planks
stretching...lots of stretching

Creamy Deliciousness

A common item in the refrigerators of runners, bikers, fitness and health enthusiasts is yogurt.

This creamy deliciousness has been around for a long time as records of variations of yogurt have been found as far back as 10,000B.C. in the Middle East. While there are countless varieties of yogurt, it is thought to have been a staple of traditional diets for thousands of years in parts of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Jump forward a few years and in 1905, a medical student studying the local variation in Bulgaria was able to isolate the lactic acid bacteria. This lead to a scientist by the name of Illya Illyich Mechnikov hypothesizing that these bacteria in the yogurt was responsible for the long lifespans of Bulgarians who counted yogurt as a staple in their diets. Mechnikov set out to popularize the health benefits of yogurt throughout the continent. Yogurt was introduced in the US by immigrants in the 1920's and the first yogurt plant opened in 1925 in Europe. The Dannon company patented a yogurt with fruit jam in Prague in 1933 and introduced it into the US market in 1947. It was in the 1950's and 60's that yogurt began to gain popularity in the US as a health food.

Bet you never knew all that about the yogurt you eat from a plastic carton each day, did you?

Today, there are rows and rows filled with yogurt in every grocery store across the country. No longer is yogurt simply fermented milk - a mixture of milk and cultures. There are endless flavors, fruit on the bottom, cream on top, flavors with mix-ins, fat free, low fat, full fat, oh yeah, and plain.

I hated yogurt for the longest time. My sister liked it, but I just could not eat it. Something about the flavor and texture, I guess. But, as I moved out on my own and started paying attention to my diet more, I learned that yogurt was really good for a healthy diet and can help you lose weight since some varieties are so low in fat. So, I tried a few flavors of Dannon Light & Fit and soon began adding it to my shopping bag on a regular basis. But then I realized that there is quite a bit of extra sugar in most flavored yogurts and a lot of weird ingredients that aren't used in traditional yogurt. Slowly, I started working plain fat free and low fat yogurts into the mix and now I eat it exclusively (both 'regular' yogurt and Greek yogurt).

Food companies spend a lot of money advertising new lines of yogurt hoping to capitalize on the fact that yogurt is good for us.

• Contains good, active bacteria that benefits the digestive tract.
• Good source of calcium, protein, Vitamins B-6 and B-12, potassium, magnesium, and riboflavin.

The problem is, a lot of yogurts contain things like corn starch, aspartame, fructose, gelatin, food coloring, high fructose corn syrup, sodium phosphate, modified food starch, and countless other additional ingredients. These additional ingredients can add calories, sugar, sodium, carbohydrates and fats and they diminish the health benefits of yogurt. Plain low fat or fat free yogurts ('regular' and Greek) are the best way to go. Even the fruit on the bottom varieties have added sugar and calories. The varieties with candy pieces should be located in the dessert section with the pudding, not in the yogurt section. Choosing a flavored or other specialty flavor with all the additives is the equivalent of having a salad and loading it up with bacon and high fat dressing!

Instead of going for convenience, if you're eating yogurt as a healthy food, add your own fresh fruits like sliced banana, grapes, kiwi... the options are endless. I eat yogurt almost every day (including today!) as part of a healthy well-rounded diet. By adding fresh fruit, flax, chia seeds and homemade granola I have a great, filling breakfast!

Yogurt is a great part of a healthy diet, and if you're still partial to the flavored varities, go ahead and enjoy, but maybe swap it out a few days a week for plain. Your body will thank you!!

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Workout Stats -
7mi elliptical
3x10 bicep curls
3x10 lat pull down
3x10 seated row
lots of stretching

Farmers Market Bliss

The Union Square Farmers Market is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. I go every Monday morning after the gym to pick up our apples for the week and a few veggies before heading to Trader Joes to stock up on a few other staples (first thing in the am is the only time when the line doesn't snake around the entire store!). Admittedly though, Monday is probably the slowest day of all for the market - the fewest vendors - and I'm sure its even quieter during the winter months. A few more vendors have started to appear, but by far, Saturday is the biggest day for the market.

The air was crisp (35* F yesterday) but the sun was shining so Woody and I took a trip down to the market to see what we could come home with. There were a ton of flower vendors, several stands selling fish, meats or cheeses, apples, root vegetables, baked goods. And of course, the market was buzzing with locals and tourists alike. I absolutely love the market and I encourage anyone who lives here or is visiting, to make sure the Union Square farmers market is on the 'must go' list.

We saw apples as big as my head (okay, this does seem a bit odd, but only these crispin apples were so large)

We stopped for a quick picture

Here's our loot: bag of mixed potatoes, one regular potato, turnips, leeks, onions and apples. I forgot to pull out the free range turkey breast Woody got from a NY state farmer. We had a little at dinner last night - delicious! Turnips and leeks are the two ingredients we haven't used before and are looking forward to trying. I think I may roast the turnips with the potatoes, carrots and onions for a nice side dish. We'd love any suggestions you might have for either the turnips or leeks!

Have you tried a new veggie, grain or fruit lately? Have you added it to your regular rotation?

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Workout Stats -
None.
I have kept my word and didn't go to the gym yesterday or today. My foot is feeling a bit better but definitely not 100% yet. The first step or two are still a bit painful. It comes and goes, so I need to be careful today and take care of it. I'm not used to waking up on the weekend and not going to the gym or going out for a run, so it's been a bit weird for me. My day seems a bit off without that energetic start, but I am getting a few more minutes of sleep!

GO STATE!!

A Lazy Saturday

I made a tough, but necessary decision yesterday. It takes a lot for me to stay home from the gym, especially on a Saturday, but that's exactly what I'm doing this weekend. I need to get rid of the pain in my heel as quickly as possible, so I've decided the best thing for me to do is to stay off it as much as possible, and definitely not put the extra pressure on it at the gym. I definitely feel incredibly lazy, but it's better to take two days off now than to exacerbate the problem. I want to run!! So, while Woody went off to the gym this morning, I'm hanging out hear, drinking green tea, blogging, and icing and massaging my heel! We are going to brave the cold weather today though and go to the Farmer's Market at Union Square! I can't spend all day in this place!

So, did you all see Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution last night? I know you stayed home from the bar, or Sweet 16 watch party, or movies, to watch this new show!! Right?! Well, when I wasn't watching basketball, I did catch the show. The first of the two hours was a replay of what the 'sneak preview' from Sunday. The second hour was just as good and just as disturbing. He took the family he worked with during the first episode to the hospital to get check-ups only to find that their 6th grade son is morbidly obese. He tried to shock parents and students by physically showing them all the nasty food the children eat at school in a week and the fat they eat in a year (I think he got this tactic from Gillian McKeith and her show You Are What You Eat). The thing that made me the most sad, I think, is when he went into the classroom and learned that the children couldn't name vegetables by sight. They couldn't recognize the tomatoes that make ketchup or the potatoes that fries come from. The teacher did work with the students to teach them, but isn't that one of the basic things parents should be teaching their kids? Overall, it was another eye opening episode and I'm a bit disappointed there are only going to be 6 in all. Perhaps ABC was hedging their bets and didn't want to stick their neck out too far if this turned too controversial.

And speaking of food....
I had two great meals yesterday. Nothing extraordinary, but definitely satisfying. I've had a can of tuna I wanted to make a sandwich with but we don't buy mayo anymore and I didn't have another idea of how to make tuna salad...until I read that you can mix the tuna with hummus! I had never thought about that. Am I alone here? Turns out, it works deliciously!

As I continue to expand the types of grains we use, I cooked barley for the first time the other night. Last night I used some of the leftovers (grains can be used for several days after cooking, so it's fine to cook a big pot and use them in multiple ways for different meals) last night and combined with fresh and frozen veggies (fresh: red & yellow peppers, frozen: broccoli and french peas) and also threw in a vegan burger and topped it off with a little soy sauce. It was nutritious and filling. Loved it! My big bowl of barley & goodness!

And the BIG news:
The Spartans beat Northern Iowa last night and is playing Tenessee in the Elite 8 tomorrow! This is the seventh time Tom Izzo will be taking the Spartans to the Elite 8 and it will be the first time in school history for Tenessee. I am not one to take things for granted, especially when it comes to Michigan State athletic teams (we are also know for spectacular losses), but I have faith in the team and can't wait to see this game tomorrow! After the game last night, Izzo put it simply to ESPN "I love March!" We love you Tom Izzo!

(source)

Have a great Saturday!!

Workplace Perks

Believe it or not, some companies have recognized the link between employee health and productivity.  These companies have taken steps to help their employees pursue healthy lives by focusing on preventative healthcare and providing easy access to health and fitness opportunities.

Just this week, Intel announced the opening of their new gym facility for employees at their company headquarters. This new state of the art gym expands upon the company's focus on employee health that already features an onsite medical care facility and is meant to be an example for other corporate wellness centers. With Intel technology and Core Performance equipment at the heart of the facility, users are able to get personalized training plans, evaluate their progress and even personalize the entertainment - such as ondemand videos, music and more - that they workout to.

Intel's new employee gym

Other companies offer similar opportunities for their employees, although probably not quite so high tech. Software developer SAS provides their workers with a myriad of benefits meant to increase productivity and allow for their 35 hour work week. Their headquarters boasts an onsite medical facility with doctors of all types, a daycare at reduced costs and a large cafeteria so employees don't have to spend time driving to and from work to attend to these responsibilities. Additionally, they have a large fitness facility including a gym, swimming pool and full size basketbal court. Fitness and swimming classes are offered to employees.

REI, the outdoor sporting goods company has a dog park where employees can bring their dogs while they work and go play with them throughout the day. Mid-day group bike rides are frequent - work-talk is prohibited. Of course, there is a strong emphasis on fitness and outdoor activity, employees at all levels are encouraged to be active. Paychex, a payroll processor, hands out bonuses from $100-$300 each year for participating in healthy activities such as attending fitness classes, running races, biking to work and more. Rodale (home to our beloved Runner's World and Men's and Women's Health) provides workers with multple benefits meant to inspire a healthy work-life balance including onsite fitness facilities, health screenings, healthy foods, and all employees are encouraged to take advantage of the Rodale Institute farm in Pennsylvania.

There are many other companies out there who are realizing that the health of their employees has a direct effect on the productivity and success of their company. Jim Goodnight, the CEO of SAS, conveyed in a video on Fortune.com that the company recognizes that happy, healthy employees guarantee happy customers and thus, a happy company (because profits will be good). By paying attention to the health and wellbeing of employees, companies will boost productivity.

Do you work at a company that encourages you to pursue healthy habits in some way? Do people take advantage of it? If your company doesn't provide any health programs, what is one thing you wish they would do?

Don't forget, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution starts tonight (Sunday was a 'preview') on ABC at 8pm eastern. And Michigan State takes on Northern Iowa at 9:45pm! GO SPARTANS!

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Workout Stats -
6.5mi elliptical
4mi bike
3x10 tricep kickback
3x10 front arm raise
stretching
1.5mi walk

A Full Plate

If you're looking for my running related post for today, don't worry, just scroll through this one. I posted it earlier this morning!

Food is a wonderful thing. Many of us put a lot of thought into the food we eat - what it is, where it comes from, how to prepare it, when and where to eat it, who to enjoy it with. Food is a huge part of our culture - the good and the not-so-good. I love food, and like to talk about it often. Admittedly, I probably spend too much time thinking about food.

For a few years now I've really been paying attention to what I eat, but even more so recently as I've attempted to spend more time in the kitchen experimenting with different grains, vegetables, fruits and combinations. Thank goodness Woody knew before he married me that I was not a gourmet chef, because I hardly spend any time in the kitchen. It is a bit difficult to cook grand meals in our tiny NYC kitchen but I've been doing more of it since the new year and it's been quite fun. Right now I'm trying to decide what to make for dinner tonight. Probably something fairly simple but healthful and definitely tasty.

Anyway, I wanted to share a few of my recent meals with you. You'll notice pretty quickly that I enjoy sandwiches! It never ceases to amaze me when I meet someone who does not like sandwiches, at all. It's like someone telling me they hate chocolate! What?!

I've been hearing a lot about Amazing Grass for a while and I wanted to give it a try. Not wanting to commit to a full jar, I picked up a single serving packet from Whole Foods last week and paired it with an apple for a mid-afternoon snack. Amazing Grass - Green Superfood provides "one serving gives you the antioxidant equivalent of 7 servings of fruits and vegetables and helps you hit your daily quota." Some people have said that they have felt so much stronger and healthier since they started drinking it every day. I'm all for that! Personally, I'm not sure if I felt any better, but I suppose I'd need to try it a few days in a row to know for sure. I also think I should have used my mixer to blend the powder with the water because there was quite a bit left on the bottom of the glass even though I stirred it quite a bit. Is this normal? The taste wasn't bad at all, but a bit grainy. I'm open to trying it a few more times, although it is expensive!

One of my favorite snacks as of late has been a simple fruit and veggie plate. I usually have this on the weekends when I tend to only eat two full meals (brunch after the morning workout and an early-ish dinner). Since I'm not usually hungry enough for a full meal, I want to make sure I get in some important nutrients and hit my fruit and veggie numbers! This is an easy and delicious mix - apple, carrots, zucchini with hummus and a little avocado.

Sunday afternoon I wasn't feeling to well. I was very emotional - the smallest things were bothering me more than normal - and I just didn't have much energy. Since the start of the year I have really cut down on meat to the point where I only have some every few weeks. And I have only had red meat once this year. Thinking I was in need of an iron infusion, I decided chicken would be on my menu for dinner. Woody was making some for his meal anyway, so he cooked up a chicken breast (homone/antibiotic free and grass fed) for me with jerk seasoning, I shreded half of it and put it on a sandwich thin with avocado and lettuce, then had a side of quinoa, black beans with onion and peppers, and a pear. I have to tell you, it's exactly what I needed. I was feeling so much better even before I finished eating! As I continue to reduce the amount of meat in my diet I do need to make sure I get sufficient amounts of iron. Doesn't this look great?

Yesterday I finished off some eggplant burgers I purchased at a health food store a few weeks ago. I admit that I purchased these too quickly without checking the ingredients. There are too many ingredients in these burgers, some of which I'm not too sure about, and I won't be buying them again. The taste was okay, but I think there are better options out there. I ate them because I didn't want to waste the money and I figured that a few burgers wouldn't do too much harm compared to the years of chips and chicken nuggets I ate as a child!

I'm trying to eat more veggies, so I had quite a few yesterday with my lunch. Frozen veggies are just as healthy, if not healthier, than fresh vegetables, so don't be afraid to get them at your grocery store. They're flash frozen when they are at their peak so they retain all the vital nutrients. I think they're a great way to easily add veggies into any meal, either as a side dish alone or add to omeletes, stews, chili, pasta sauce and so much more. This time I added a bit of chipotle seasoning and fresh ground pepper to add a little extra flavor.

I added a laughing cow cheese wedge and hummus onto the sandwich thin and had this enjoyable, mostly healthful lunch.

This morning I added a little somethin-somethin' to my yogurt mess! I had a big bowl of Chobani fat free plain Greek yogurt, banana, kiwi, blackberries, mango, homemade granola, flax seeds, cinnamon and a tsp of chia seeds! The quick down low on Chia seeds: they have more omega-3's than flax seeds and are strong than flax seeds in that they do not need to be ground and last longer (do not need to be refrigerated). Chia seeds are also a good source of fiber, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, niacin, and zinc. They added a little crunchiness to the yogurt mess but I wasn't really able to distinguish the taste, which means they can be added to many other recipes!

I do want to make sure you know that I don't eat perfectly healthy every meal. I do love sweets (but have been cutting back a lot) and indulgent foods, like cheese! A few weeks ago I was craving a grilled cheese sandwich. Not wanting to waste an indulgent meal on just a regular cheese and bread, I went out and got some good ingredients and put a bit of thought into it. The picture isn't great (our lighting is bad at night) but hopefully you can see it well enough! After the first bite, Woody declared that the sandwich was "very tasty" so I knew it worked out! Pumpernicle bread with gouda and roasted red peppers, sauteed kale and garlic and a pear on the side. It was decadent and fantastic. I will definitely use this combination again! (In case you're wondering, I did use Pam on the bread rather than butter, but I sauteed the kale and garlic in olive oil). This meal paired well with a nice glass of Malbec.

Then, just this afternoon I met up with a few local runners/bloggers/twitter friends to celebrate Pigtailsflying's Birthday with Pinkberry!

A healthy diet includes fun foods that feed the soul, too. Just in moderation!

The Cautionary Tale of A Chronically Injured Runner

One of the things runners fear the most is being injured. Not only is an injury physically painful, but it can mean being sidelined for weeks or even months - missing training runs, speed workouts, and long anticipated races. An injury can make a runner feel cut off from a life they love, a part of their soul. A runner who can't run feels let down, like a part of themself is missing, like they're letting themself down, and possibly others as well. It can be a bit embarassing, even knowing that the majority of runners deal with an injury at one point or another.

I have experience with all of these emotions. If you've been following my blog for a while, you know that I suffered from stressed joints in both of my feet while I was training for the marathon last fall and I crossed the finish line with a stress fracture in my right foot. These problems kept me from running for about 3 months, with my right foot in a walking cast for a little over a month and then my left foot for another month after that. It's been a struggle that has really frustrated me. I used to run with no problems. Maybe a heavy feeling in my tired legs, but that was it. I love to run but when it causes me pain and I can hardly walk, I get quite frustrated. How can this thing that makes me so happy and is supposed to keep me healthy make me hurt so much?

I knew I could recover strongly from my foot problems if I did it smartly, so I recruited some great girlfriends to run the MORE/Fitness Half Marathon with me at the end of April. That was a legitimate goal. I want to run it with my friends and enjoy the experience together, so I wasn't setting a time goal. Just for fun. I finally started running again, had a few great weeks, and then it struck again! Pain in my foot! This time though, it's in my right heel. Some steps are excruciating. What is up with this? Since it started last week I've been icing quite a bit, using the foot massage ball that Woody gave me at Christmas and trying to stay off it as much as possible. I stopped in at the Super Runner's Shop near my building yesterday and spoke with a guy who seemed pretty knowledgable. I thought it was Plantar Faciitis, but he didn't think it was that when I explained the symptoms. Instead he thinks it's a heel spur. I'm not sure which one is worse, but instead of the $45 sock to sleep in that supposedly helps aleviate pain from PF, he suggested a pair of $8 heel cushions to use in my shoes.

I'll tell you one thing, I am determined to get rid of this! I'm registered for the Scotland Run 10K next weekend and I want to run it! I went to the gym this morning and had to stay on the elliptical and bike. The elliptical actually hurt a bit, which was really annoying since I could do that easily with the stress fracture. These guys will be my best friends for the next few days, or however long it takes:

I can't really say why I've been having so many problems, but I have a feeling it has something to do with the fact that I have Osteopenia (bone mineral density lower than normal but not at the point of Osteoporosis). I take daily calcium and Vitamin D supplements. We can't be certain, but it is most likely linked to Cushing Disease and not because I was deficient in calcium growing up. I definitely drank milk and consumed other sources of calcium. But, I must say, that I strongly encourage everyone, especially women (who are more prone to stress fractures and other running injuries) to make sure that you are getting enough calcium in your diet. This includes dairy products like yogurt, cheese, and milk, but also salmon, sardines, kale, collard greens, spinach, broccoli, almonds, black beans, and tofu.

In addition to making sure I get the calcium I need to strengthen my bones (like the DD skim latte and Chobani yogurt I'm enjoying now!), I am also going to concentrate more on stretching and strengthening my leg muscles in order to try and stave off further injuries.

I am so done with injuries and ready to get back to doing what I love: running!

Have you had to deal with a running injury? If you have, have you done anything differently in your training since then to prevent another one?

Check back later today. I'm going to do a post on food.
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Workout Stats-
6mi elliptical
5.5mi bike
125 crunches
3x10 side arm raise

It's Okay To Skip The Gym?!

Woody and I are an old married couple - we usually turn in pretty early each night in order to get up at 5am for the gym. Last night I stayed up a bit later since I had been out in the evening and didn't get to eat dinner until 9pm (I know, not healthy but it's definitely not a habit) and I needed to decompress a bit before I went to sleep. So, I caught the local NBC 11pm news which I don't typically do and they did a segment that bothered me just a little bit.

The lead in headline for the segment was "It's Okay To Skip The Gym" and "Looking for an excuse not to work out? We have it for you." That was what the newcasters were actually saying! I couldn't believe it and had to watch the segment.

Turns out they were really talking about studies that show (and I don't really think you need studies for this) women over the age of 40 are unable to lose weight with exercise alone. If they expanded the studies to younger women and men, I have a feeling they'd come to similar conclusions.

The segment included short interview clips with medical professionals as well as Sherry Glover (some of you NYers may know as one of the NYRR running class coaches) during a running class in Central Park Tuesday night. She was quoted saying that the majority of class participants are women and many of them are looking to use running as a way to lose weight. She also supported the claim that running, and fitness in general, must be accompanied by healthy eating in order to lose weight.

The segment bothered me a bit because the lead in was saying "hey, here's an excuse you can use not to workout. Since you have to exercise and eat well to lose weight, if you're not going to do both, why spend the hours at the gym?" Personally I think that's a pretty lazy way to look at things and only supports those who are looking for an easy out when all they may need is a little boost. Hey, I was one of those people just a few years ago.

I think everyone knows that they can't really lose weight without getting a bit of exercise and watching what they eat. But I also think that sometimes people believe they have to jump in and make huge changes immediately in order to do so or it won't work. It is possible to start with small changes that are easy to incorporate into every day. Yes, it's true, you don't have to go to a gym to do it. Just take a walk during the day, park as far away as possible at the grocery store and walk a bit further, take the stairs instead of the elevator, start to take a jog one or two days a week and make small food changes along with it. Make a few more each week and the weight will start to come off. 

While you may not technically need a gym (as the title of the segment suggested) to get exercise, the fact that weight loss and general good health requires us to get exercise and watch what we eat shouldn't be an excuse for anyone to do nothing. Eating well and being fit is a good feeling! I have definitely found that I feel at my best when I'm doing both and not indulging in too many treats (um, holiday time!) but still working out.

I planned ahead yesterday since I knew I'd be home late, so I boiled a few eggs to make a healthy and quick dinner. I wasn't too hungry, so I put together this simple dinner that was delicious and hit the spot.

Eating well doesn't have to require a lot of work. I had carrots, hummus, two egg whites and one full egg, and a pear. It was a perfectly healthy and quick meal for me last night and a found a great new flavor combo - hummus and egg!

What is your 'go to' healthy and quick meal when you have a busy day but still want to eat well?

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Workout Stats -
3/23 (Catching up since I was MIA yesterday, unless you follow me on Twitter. And if you don't, why not?!)
7mi elliptical
6mi stationary bike
3x10 (ea side) weighted side bends
3x10 tricep extensions
3x12 tricep dips
stretching
1.5mi walk (afternoon)

3/24 - rest day from gym, will get a walk in later this afternoon and enjoy a day without rain!

Nutrition From The Ground Up

March is Nutrition Month, and even with the month almost over, there is still time to talk about it. The theme for this year is "Nutrition From The Ground Up" which I think is the perfect sentiment. Nutrition has been one of the top talkers lately. Not only in the blogosphere but also in the news, television shows, and among friends. The attention put on our rising obesity rates have also broughtto light the fact that some people are still in need of help when it comes to understanding good nutrition. Part of the problem is all of the confusing and overwhelming information that bombardes us on a daily basis. It seems like each new month brings along a new 'superfood' or nutritent that is the key to health. A key vitamin or supplement drink. Maybe the new fad is to follow a low fat diet or to stop eating carbs. It's confusing een for those of us who pay close attention.

Part of the reason why I've really taken to the ideas of Michael Pollan is because of all this confusion that abounds about nutrition. I mean, really, how can we go wrong eating whole natural foods that people have been eating for centuries? Yes, today it's better to eat organic foods in some cases, but even then, if it comes out of the ground, it's most likely going to be much healthier than anything that started its life in a manufacturing plant.

In honor of nutrition month, I think we should all strive to adopt one new healthy eating habit. This doesn't mean completely revamping how you eat, but at least one small nutritious change. Perhaps it means going to a local farmers market to purchase produce each week instead of the grocery store, eating fewer processed surgary snacks, having fish for dinner one night a week, or having green tea instead of sugary drinks. Just one nutrious change may cause a domino effect as the health benefits are realized. Yes, it's important to get all the necessary vitamins and minerals, but by focusing on eating a variety of well balanced meals, those will come naturally. The way I see it, there isn't so much of a need to get hung up on one certain thing, unless that thing is fresh food!

As a side note, did you catch the first episode of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC last night? I'm really looking forward to this series and I can't imagine how hard it must have been for him to tackle such a big project. As the first episode explored, the majority of the people in the town were against him coming in, with camera crew in tow, to change the way they eat. Through government studies, Huntington, WV was found to be the unhealthiest city in the country. To Jamie's defense, he has done a great deal in Great Britain to revolutionize the school food program there and has changed lives of many kids putting them on a path to better health and jobs in the food industry. When they showed the kids eating pizza and drinking chocolate milk for breakfast, my heart sunk. Woody and I were terrified to then see that chicken nuggets were on their plates at lunch. Seriously, there is something wrong there. And that school district is not alone, they were technically following the rules and regulations set by the FDA. I have a feeling that this will be a very interesting series but I do hope that it's regular time slot is not Sunday night at 10pm, because I have a feeling that isn't the highest watched time slot and people really need to see this.

For more information on Nutrition Month, check out http://www.eatright.org/

Did you see Food Revolution last night? What was your reaction?

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Workout Stats:
7.05mi elliptical
100 crunches
2x10 dbl leg & arm extensions
planks - trad & side
3x10 bicep curls
3x10 lat pull downs
stretching

Hello Spring!

I know, yesterday was the first day of Spring but today is the first full day! And it's another absolutely beautiful day in NYC! I am definitely sorry for all those in Colorado and other places that are being hit with snow and rain storms today. I hope they end quickly and Spring arrives.

Today is also my nephews 2nd Birthday! He's such a smart cutie and I wish we could be in Minneapolis to help him celebrate with his parents (my sis and BIL) and my parents. I'm sure he's having a blast and that they're all running around to keep up with him. It's only a short matter of time until he's on the ice playing hockey!

Happy Birthday Cutie!!

Yesterday I volunteered at the NYC Half Marathon Expo and was stationed at the number distribution table for 4hrs. It was a roller coaster of intensity, I got to help out a lot of people with a wide range of experience. From first-timers to local elites. Rocco Dispirito's bib was in my bin, but alas, he never showed up. I suppose he's off somewhere fantastic cooking and eating delicious foods! His loss! I met some cool women who were volunteering for their credit towards marathon qualification for next year. One of whom ran the Disney Marathon in January and is running San Diego later this year. If I was a runner, I'd be a bit disappointed in the Expo, especially compared to the NYC Marathon. It was extremely small with only a handful of vendors and booths, plus, the location is far out of the way for most people, but as far as I could tell, the process was very smooth and we did our best to figure out any issues as quickly as possible. I hope it was a good start to the weekend for all the runners!

This morning I headed to the park to check out the race for a little bit.

men's leaders

Deena Kastor leading

In the end, Peter Kamais from Kenya finished first in 59:52 and Mara Yamauchi from Great Britain won the women's title in 1:09:17 (both unofficial times). Turns out Haile Gebrselassie dropped out of the race after mile 9 due to an asthma attack. I personally can not even begin to imagine running that quickly! It was completely intimidating and awe inspiring as they blew past me knowing that they had only run 7 miles and the amount of energy they were exerting was incredible! I am so impressed by these runners!

After checking out the race I headed for the gym since the park was a bit insane. Truthfully, my foot was bothering me a bit so I thought it would be best to fit in an elliptical workout today. Had a great workout and the gym wasn't to crowded, which is always nice!

Then, I came home and made this delicious breakfast. Changed up my usual yogurt breakfast a little and added a toaster waffle to the mix. Yum!

I have entered into a new love affair with Chobani greek yogurt. It's simply amazing. I usually stick to the non-fat plain, but today I spiced it up a bit with non-fat vanilla. I love the thickness of it as well as the high amount of protein and low sodium. Yum!!

I have a bit of Spring cleaning to tackle today and a STATE basketball game to watch this afternoon. With Kansas out of the picture now, looks like a major roadblock has been cleared but the team has to get through today first! One game at a time. Oh March Madness!!

Have a great day! Can't wait to read all the race re-caps tomorrow!

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Workout Stats:

7.15mi elliptical

2.5mi stationary bike

3x12 side bends

3x10 upright row

trad planks and side planks

75 bicycle crunches

stretching

Good News for CP Runners!!

Some of the water fountains have been turned on!! Not all of them are working yet, some of which I think would be the first to go on, but perhaps its another way the city is trying to save costs, who knows. It is progress though. I would much rather run without having to lug water along with me, and I think others agree.

For the first few miles of my run this morning (in absolutely perfect running weather!) I didn't even pay attention to them as I went by since they usually aren't on this early in the year, so I only know of three that are, but here is where you can find them:

1. Just north of the reservoir along West Drive between W93rd and 94th on the path going towards the tennis courts (I saw a group of women gathered around it)
2. Also along West Drive near the Swedish Cottage just north of The Lake
3. The south end of the Observatory Water next to the concession stand that is sometimes open and sometimes not, directly across from the Alice in Wonderland statue.

If you know of any others, let me know! The fountains by the 72nd and 5 entrance and the Boathouse are not on yet, even though I'd think those would be some of the first. Oh well. At least a few are working!

I want to congratulate the awesome runners who finished the National Half Marathon this morning in DC - PRs set by Sarah and by Matt!!!! Congratulations!!

After the NYC Marathon, tomorrow is the second biggest running race in NYC each year. With 1.5 laps through Central Park then down 7th Ave to Times Square, 42nd St to the West Side Highway and down to Battery Park City, it's an exciting and fun trip through the city! I ran it two years ago and loved it! Partially because it had the largest crowd I had experienced yet and I hadn't run a race through Times Square before, it's definitely unique! I want to wish tons of luck to everyone running half marathons tomorrow! There are a ton of them here in NYC including TK, Megan, Chris, and many others I know I'm missing (please leave a note)! Also, there's a large group of runners out in Washington running the Mercer Island Half Marathong including Melanie who's going for a PR even after a week of being under the weather. Good luck everyone and have fun!!

I'm off to volunteer for the NYC Half Marathon Expo. If you're going to be there this afternoon, look for me!

Have a great weekend! I hope the weather where ever you are is as nice as it is here!

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Workout Stats:
6.5mi run
3x12 tricep dips
stretching

Take A Walk With Me

I had to be up and out early this morning for a NY Cares orientation meeting, so in place of a 'regular' post I'm posting a collection of photos I've taken while out walking through this city and enjoying the beautiful weather over the past two days. A few of these images are of people going about their daily routine and I see some of these scenes everyday, but there's always something new to discover. And well, let's face it, I'm in love with NYC architecture, so I'm always attracted to gorgeous buildings. I hope one or two of these scenes make you smile like they have done for me!

(Starbucks commercial shoot)

Open your door and take a walk. You never know what you might find.