Love at first Bite: Baking from "Run Fast. Eat Slow."

Alright now, don't get too excited. I'm not sharing any recipes from the New York Times best selling book, you'll have to buy it yourself. Or borrow it from a friend or the library.

When a Oiselle teammate gifted me Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kkopecky's cookbook, Run Fast. Eat Slow., in our holiday gift exchange, I was thrilled. I'd been hearing rave reviews from many runners over the past several months and two of our teammates brought baked goods from the book to our team holiday party that were both delicious. After one bite of the sweet potato breakfast cookie, I knew it would be one of the first recipes I'd make.

While I won't be able to try all the recipes, there are a good number that are vegan or can be altered slightly to be so. I do love that the book focuses on whole foods that naturally provide the nutrients we need as runners and athletes through tasty dishes. It proves once again that healthy food and delicious food are not mutually exclusive!

Before they get into the recipes, there's a section that provides information on foods we should all have in our pantries and eat often - with explanations of why the food is good for us and tips on how to select and/or store it, which is really important. Another section called "Runner's Remedies" is devoted to looking at different issues runners face and how food can help us deal with them. As someone who believes strongly in the idea that "we are what we eat" I believe that how we eat has a direct impact on how we feel and that many ailments can be addressed - at least in part - by focusing on our diet.

Okay, back to the sweet potato breakfast cookies...

I've been known to eat cold sweet potatoes with nut butter on early morning flights, so the idea of sweet potato in a cookie recipe sounds genius to me. They're packed with vitamins and fiber and, in my opinion, are simply delicious. Here they naturally add a sweetness to the cookies.

The recipe is pretty easy but you do have to plan ahead since baking the sweet potato and giving it some time to cool is important. It always take me longer the first time or two that I make a recipe because I read the instructions and measurements about a million times to make sure I don't mess anything up (I've done it before). Thankfully it still didn't take too long because I'd not a big fan of overly complicated recipes that take a long time to prep.

Mine turned out a bit different from the ones I tasted at our holiday party, but both versions were delicious. The recipe calls for 11 ingredients, most of which are probably in your pantry and there are no refined sugars. With the benefits of sweet potato and ginger, these are delicious and healthy.

While not highlighted in the name, these cookies are vegan. A major benefit of vegan cookies is that it's perfectly fine to eat the raw cookie dough left on the spoon!

I hope you give the book a try - if you haven't already. If for no other reason than it's always good to switch things up and try new recipes once in a while.

If you have the Run Fast. Eat Slow. cookbook, what's your favorite recipe? * Do you prefer to bake or cook?

HOLIDAY WELLNESS GUIDE: Roasted Winter Veggies

The holidays are a fantastic, yet stressful time of year. Every November to-do lists start to grow faster than items are checked off; there are parties to attend, gifts to buy, cards to write, trips to take, the temperature drop and snow starts to fall. And that’s on top of every day life! It’s hard to keep up. This year my goal is to help you through the next 6 weeks so you can enjoy the season and start the new year feeling ready to take on anything!

As part of The Early Morning Run Holiday Guide, you’ll find healthy recipes, workout tips, DIY projects and more. All to help your holiday season shine!

First up is this Roasted Winter Veggie dish. The best thing about about this dish is that it’s great for many occasions – you can make as much or as little as you need and it’s great as a side dish or main. The recipe below worked well as dinner for the two of us on a cold winter night. It can be made the night before and packed into a work bag for lunch, or make a big batch and take to a friend’s holiday potluck dinner. Full of vitamins, minerals, protein and healthy vibes, this simple recipe will quickly become a favorite!

The sweet potato provides some, well, sweetness, while the cannellini beans add a little bit of bulk without being bulky. My husband, who is not a fan of Brussels sprouts or cauliflower was a fan of this dish – he went back for seconds!

How are you feeling about the holidays? * What are you looking forward to this season?

A Fish Taco Kind of Day

After spending nearly all of March traveling then having my sister and little nephew visit for a weekend, I’ve been happy to have the chance to do a little cooking. Unfortunately my week nights have been pretty busy, but that leaves the weekend to get in the kitchen and do more than just “put together dinner.”

With the days warming up a bit, I had a hankering for fish tacos so yesterday we picked up the ingredients at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. On the list:

• 2 Tilapia filets
• Cabbage slaw
• A lime
• Whole wheat tortillas
• Guacamole hummus (a TJ product)

From the pantry:

• Olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar
• Chipotle

The fish was really easy – just cooked in a pan on the stovetop with a bit of olive oil and fresh lime juice.

I mixed two teaspoons of olive oil with one teaspoon of balsamic vinegar and a pinch of chipotle then poured over 1.75 cups of cabbage slaw and mixed together.

After heating up the tortillas a little, we topped them with a bit of fish (broken up into pieces), some slaw, and some guacamole hummus. Easy, delicious, and healthy – what more can you ask for? Oh right, sweet potatoes. I made sweet potato chips to have on the side!

This morning we worked off our dinner with a great run through lower Manhattan and across the Brooklyn Bridge and back before heading to the gym for some strength work and stretching. Great way to start a Sunday!

I love having fish tacos during the warmer months, what are some of your favorite warm-weather meals?

How do you like to start your Sunday’s off?

Simple Sunday Dinner

Sunday night and the last thing I want to do is spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking. I may be trying to lose weight (and making progress) but that doesn’t mean I can’t have a burger every once in a while – especially if it’s homemade!

Tonight’s Simple Sunday Dinner was a turkey burger (99% lean ground turkey) seasoned with pepper, turmeric and a dash of sea salt. Cook on medium heat in a skillet with the cover on to keep the lean meat moist. Woody found thin, whole grain ciabatta rolls and we added a little New Zealand lite cheddar cheese and Cherry Republic cherry mustard. On the side: green beans and spinach.

Simple but flavorful, healthy and satisfying!

Now I’m prepping my lunch and snack for work tomorrow.

What’s your favorite Simple Sunday Dinner? How was your weekend? What did you do to stay active?

Standing at the Start Line of 2013

While I haven’t been running lately, I made a decision the other day that the best way to start 2013 would be to start it with a run. So, this morning I bundled up and headed out for a chilly run.

Even though it was after 9am by the time I got out, there was hardly anyone on the streets. Definitely a holiday morning! I took a random route running through Battery Park City, Tribeca and the Financial District. It was a good run, for being the first time I’ve put on my running shoes in over a month. Great to get out there in the cool air to start the New Year!

Before I headed out I caught up on Twitter and read the great news that Oiselle announced the signing of Lauren Fleshman as a sponsored athlete and business partner! It’s a great partnership that will be really exciting to watch develop. You can read about it all HERE.

Speaking of Oiselle, not only did I wear my favorite Happy Hoodie (above) on my first run of the year this morning, but also my very favorite running top – the Rundelicious top! Super cute, comfortable, warm and the perfect length. Plus, it has a zip pocket on the back!

At the start of a new year, as we’re all well aware, it’s a tradition to make resolutions and set goals for the coming year. More often than not it seems resolutions are forgotten or brushed aside within a few weeks, probably because it’s easy to let life get in the way. Funny how that works, isn’t it? We try to make our life better by making resolutions yet the every day makes it difficult to follow through.

I’ve decided not to make resolutions because of this. But, also because I think life can pass by in a flash and it’s when I make plans that I’m more likely to accomplish things, I did come up with a few goals for 2013. One thing I’ve learned is that it’s important to quantify goals, hopefully I’ve set them up so that they’re attainable.

Running

As I ran 6 races in 2012, I hope to run at least 6 in 2013. Three which I have my sights set on are the Riverside Park Hot Chocolate, the NYRR AHA Wall Street Run and the NYRR Mini 10K – one of my favorite races. We’ll see what else comes up during the year. My hope is that I’ll set a few PR’s this year but I also need to do my best to get through another year without a stress fracture! Keeping up with strength training should help!

Fitness Classes

Now that I’ve made it a year without a new stress fracture, I’m ready to try new things. Trying new classes and experiences is key for staying excited and interested! Keeps things fresh! This year I’m up for trying new things like SurfSet, a proper spinning class (I’ve only taken one class if you can believe it!) and possibly even CrossFit! We’ll see what else!

Cooking

I’ve been slacking lately in the kitchen. I do enjoy cooking and trying new healthy recipes, but I haven’t been doing much of that the last few months for various reasons. I’m hoping that’ll change in 2013 and I’d like to try 4 new recipes each month, whether it be a healthy coffeecake like the one below that I made while my parents were in town, or a stew or new salad. I think both Woody and I are getting a bit bored with the rotating menu that we’ve been eating lately!

Connect

Something else I haven’t been very good at lately is staying in touch with friends and family. Life is too short and unpredictable so another goal is to reach out to friends or family at least four times a month. Whether it be by email, phone, letter or in person.

Explore

I do love to explore this city and the world – it’s the best way to learn about history, others and myself. I want to continue to travel starting with Savannah later this month, a trip to Minneapolis for my nephew’s 5th birthday and Denver in March, perhaps a weekend trip to Philly later in the Spring and who knows where else.

2013 is going to be a big year for us, so while I’m slightly nervous about all that it holds, I’m also excited to see how it all turns out!

• How did you start the new year?
• Do you make resolutions or goals?
• What are some of your goals for the year?

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Today’s workout -

• Run

The Sunday Before Christmas

While many people are on the road or in the air on their way to visit family, Woody and I have been hanging out here in the city. Yesterday was actually pretty much like every other Saturday – a lot of chores, including a trip to Target, which was not the best place to be on the Saturday before Christmas.

Today we got up and headed to the gym. It was about 26’ and windy. Probably one of the coldest mornings so far this year. I love weekend workouts because they are often about twice as long as my weekday workouts. Spent 75 minutes on the elliptical – yes, I know that’s kind of a long time but when you’re watching episodes of Friends it goes by quickly. Plus, I’m trying to sweat out the cold that I caught the other day. The place is usually pretty quiet on Sunday but it was very quiet today! I didn’t mind much only sharing the gym with a few others. I rounded out my workout with some weight lifting (which I’ve been trying to do more of lately – my upper body strength is nil) and stretching. It was a good workout – glad I got another one in. We’ve definitely been enjoying some holiday treats.

On my way home from the gym I saw this guy playing Christmas music – with a jazz influence – on Wall Street. A long time ago I played saxophone too (not tenor though) and I just love the sound. He was so amazing when I got back to our apartment I grabbed a few bucks and went back out to thank him for adding some joy to our neighborhood. Who knew the acoustics there were just perfect? I wonder if he was a professional jazz musician at one time? Or maybe he still is!

After breakfast we headed to the New Amsterdam Market because, well, it’s Sunday and that’s what we do. Plus, it was the last market of the season – it won’t be open again till sometime in the Spring.

We picked up a few things – including some ice cream from The Bent Spoon. I so want to tell you about the flavor of ice cream we got because it’s amazing and so unique, but Woody wants my parents (who are coming to visit on the 26th) to try it before we tell them what it is. Just trust me when I say that I have never tried a flavor of theirs that I wasn’t absolutely blown away by.

As much as Woody and I L.O.V.E. ice cream, it is an indulgence for us and we try only to have quality ice cream – made in small batches by local makers mostly.

Even as cold as it was today a good number of vendors, and shoppers, made it to the market today. We also picked up some hand pies from Pie Corps for dinner and one gingerbread chocolate swirl cookie from Casue to split for dessert (I told you we’ve been indulging – this way we don’t indulge too much).

 

We also finally decorated our Christmas tree – which we got last Sunday. Yes, we’ve been a bit busy and lazy. So glad to have the lights on tonight though. Woody decided to put lights on the floor lamp as well.

Okay, my dinner is ready. Have a great evening and Happy Holidays!

• When you’re doing cardio at the gym, do you watch TV or listen to music?
  • As much as I love music I usually watch TV – the morning is when I catch up on the news. I’ve also been reading articles on the NY Times app recently trying to learn about current events I don’t know much about
• What’s your favorite holiday treat?
  • I love holiday cookies
• Are you planning to workout on Christmas or New Years day?
  • Truthfully, likely not on Christmas day, although we may go for a walk. I probably will workout on New Years Day though.

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Today’s workout -

• 75 min elliptical
• 3x18 lat pulldown
• 3x12 weighted side bends
• 3x10 hammer curls
• 3x10 squats
• 3x10 leg press
• ab exercises
• 1x50 sec plank
• stretching

Blueberry Fig Smoothie

While I was sweating it out at the gym this morning I started thinking about breakfast. Yes, this happens often. My mind is often occupied by thoughts of meals to come.

While Woody is off becoming a Tough Mudder, I decided to try something different. A blueberry fig smoothie. I bought some figs at Trader Joe’s last week and while we’ve been snacking on them through the week, I thought this might be an interesting combination.

The ingredients:

• 1/3c 0% Greek yogurt
• 1/2c skim milk
• 1/2 tsp chia seeds
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1/2c frozen blueberries
• 3-4 figs – cut into small pieces

How to make it:

• Just throw everything into the blender and BLEND BABY BLEND!

So, because of the nature of the figs, there can be a texture to the smoothie. If you like a super smooth smoothie, this may not be for you, but I think you should try it anyway, cause it was YUM! Just keep the blender whirling a little longer.

I do think the flavors went well together. I also throw some banana in a smoothie because it’s good nutrition and a base flavor that really doesn’t affect the overall flavor much. The fig and blueberry were great together and neither one overpowered the other. Definitely making this one again!

• Is your weekend off to a good start?
• Have you done a Tough Mudder or other muddy race? Would you do it again?

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Today’s workout -

• 45min elliptical
• 10min rowing machine
• 3x10 tricep kickback
• 3x10 upright row
• 3x10 seated row
• 3x10 fly
• 3x10 squats
• 2x45 sec plank on exercise ball
• 15min elliptical
• ab exercises
• lots of stretching

Just Another Adventure

I realized something really important on Sunday as we hiked up Bradbury Mountain in Maine. I realized just how lucky I am.

While there are definitely things I wish I didn’t have to deal with, I really am pretty fortunate. And one example is all the traveling I’ve been able to do. There are many people who travel a lot more than we do, but I do count myself as being pretty lucky for having the opportunity to visit as many places as I have and also that it’s just as important to Woody as it is to me.

Just thinking back over the past year+, we’ve been to Raleigh, Seattle, Denver, Charleston, the Finger Lakes, Northern Michigan (okay, so that’s almost like going home), Denver (again) and Maine. Plus I’ve gone to Minneapolis and Vancouver for work. I mean, that’s not bad. We haven’t always traveled so much, but it’s something that’s important to us and we decided to make it a priority. If you don’t make plans, life can pass you by before you pack a bag. Now, we’re trying to decide where to go next.

The thing is, I feel that traveling is an important part of life. We get to experience new things, taste new foods, see new sights, and run in new places. I guess it was our trip to Raleigh when we started incorporating active events into our trips. Like running, hiking, kayaking. It’s a great way to get to know a place.

This last weekend in Maine was no different for us. Well, we spent much more time shopping at outlet stores (can’t pass up a pair of boots that are 70% off), noshing on chowdah and checking out lighthouses, but we did visit two State Parks as well for some hiking. Aside from thinking about how lucky I am, I was also thinking that I bet my Dad is amazed that I actually seek out State Parks to visit on vacation now!

A few pictures from our latest adventure. If you ever have the chance to visit Maine, I recommend whole heartedly that you do!

If you’re looking for fresh air and to get in touch with nature, head to Wolfe’s Neck State Park and Bradbury Mountain State Park

If Lighthouses are your thing, head to South Portland and Cape Elizabeth

Finding great local food is always an important part of a trip. Our recommendations: El Rayo (Mexican with great atmosphere), Flatbread (delicious pizzas), Standard Baking Co (amazing pastries), and Hot Suppa (awesome brunch), The Lobster Shack (exactly what you imagine when you think of a seaside lobster shack); If you’re looking for a place with an awe inspiring craft beer selection with a  knowledgeable staff and cool vibe, head to Novare Res Bier Café

Thanks to Erin for all the perfect recommendations! And for welcoming us to Maine!

And now it’s time for another weekend! Just have to get this pesky workday out of the way. After I visit the chiropractor.

• Do you love to travel or rather stick to home?
  • I think you know where I stand on this!
• I got a mani/pedi yesterday and totally smudged my right thumb before I left the salon. Does this happen to you too?
  • I’m not patient enough for manicures
• Do you watch Parenthood?
  • This season I cannot get through an episode without tearing up. I only watch it when Woody isn’t home.
• What are your plans for the weekend?
  • Running a few miles with Grace to keep her company on her 20-miler and cleaning out my closet!!

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Today’s workout -

• 45min elliptical
• 3x10 side twists
• 2x1min rope pull
• 3x10 seated row
• ab exercises
• stretching

My Visit to Chobani SoHo

If you’ve read much of this blog you probably know I’m a big fan of Greek yogurt. When I was young I detested yogurt. I didn’t want anything to do with it. Thankfully though, I’ve grown out of that and started eating yogurt several years ago, and once I started caring more about to what I ate and started reading blogs, I tried Greek yogurt. The first brand I tried I did not like at all, but my first taste of a Chobani was a life changing moment.

It’s no surprise then, that when I heard about Chobani SoHo I knew I had to go check it out. My friend April, another runner and yogurt fan, was game so we went on Sunday. Right away we were struck by the small size of the space, and also by how packed it was. There’s not much space to move around, but it is really well designed, very sleek, and the flow is pretty good so it’s not too bad.

Not long after we entered a guy came up to us and offered us menus. We got his advice on the mixes – sweet vs savory – and then ordered and paid right there with him. Back behind a window people were busy putting together the orders. There are only two small benches and one little bar at the window. Thankfully we were able to grab the bar while we waited for our order.

I chose the pistachio & chocolate (big surprise, right?) which also has fresh mint, honey and mandarin oranges. April had the toasted coconut & pineapple which comes with hazelnuts and light agave nectar. Each concoction has a plain 2% base although it is possible to customize – we both chose plain 0% and April asked for for hers without the agave nectar. We both loved our choices.

One thing I must mention is that you should not expect to come here and have a meal. I often have Chobani with fruit and granola for breakfast, well the portion sizes at the café are not big enough for that but they are perfect for a nice healthy snack to keep you going while shopping in area. A much better option that a dirty dog or a stale pretzel from a street vendor! And at $3.75, the price is good too!

I do love this unique concept and think Chobani was the right brand to give it a try because they seem more authentic and connects better with fans than some other yogurt brands. I’m definitely planning to go back again, and from a text message I got from April last night I think it’s a good bet she’ll be back too! Next time you’re in SoHo, make you’re way over to Prince and West Broadway!

Now I just have to find the vanilla chocolate chunk chobani I heard about from Megan…

• Are you a Greek yogurt fan? What’s your favorite flavor?

Plain for me. I like changing the flavors with the fruit I add.

• What’s the most unique use you’ve found for Greek yogurt?

I haven’t yet tried any recipes with Greek yogurt, so I’d love your advice!

• It’s Wednesday – are you a fan of hump day?

I’m struggling this morning so I need some coffee!

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Today’s workout -

• 40min run
• 3x10 tricep pushdown
• 3x10 hammer curl
• 3x10 weighted side bends
• 1x40sec plank
• 100 ab exercises
• stretching

Picnic Perfect

If you’ve read any of my cooking posts before, you probably know already that I am not the world’s best recipe writer. I try, but most of the time I’m adding and testing as I go and if it turns out really well, I’m not patient enough to try the recipe a few times before I share it with you!

So, below is my recipe for a picnic perfect potato salad! I made this for our Memorial Day picnic and thought this is the perfect time to share it since people are getting ready for 4th of July picnics and BBQ’s.

What makes this perfect? It doesn’t include any mayo so you don’t have to worry about it being cooled, and it’s actually pretty healthy. As far as potato salad goes!

I made this just for the two of us, so I hate to say it, but you’ll have to figure out on your own how much of each ingredient you’ll need. It’s a really easy recipe though that doesn’t require many ingredients, so it shouldn’t be too bad. I did a lot of taste testing!

What you’ll need:

• Small potatoes – red, white & purple
• chopped onion
• corn (I used frozen)
• olive oil
• balsamic vinegar
• thyme
• pepper

Steps:

1. Boil potatoes until tender
2. If using frozen corn, cook in microwave. This is a small part of the salad, so you don’t need much unless you really love corn!
3. Chop onion into small pieces
4. In a small bowl, combine olive oil and balsamic vinegar with a ratio of 1 to .75 – this is just a light dressing and it spreads and combines into the other ingredients really well, so you don’t need much.
5. When potatoes are cooked, cut in half and quarters as necessary
6. Place in bowl and mix with corn and onion
7. Add dressing mixture in small amounts and mix into potato, onion, corn mixture thoroughly so you don’t add too much too quickly, you don’t want it oily!
8. Add pepper and thyme to taste
9. Chill in fridge for several hours or overnight

As with a lot of things, we thought this tasted great after chilling overnight. It’s a great make ahead dish so you’re not too busy the day of your picnic or BBQ. Both Woody and I were happy with how this turned out – light, simple and the three types of potato adds a lot of flavor. Now that I’m writing this, I think I’m going to make it again this Wednesday! It was good. If you try it, let me know what you think!

• What’s your favorite picnic/BBQ menu item?
• Which do you like better – potato salad or coleslaw
• Are you the person your friends and family can always count on to contribute something ‘healthy’ to the picnic?

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Today’s workout -

• 45min bike
• 3x10 lateral arm raise
• 3x12 hammer curl
• ab exercises
• 12 push-ups (don’t laugh, I’m weak but working on it!)
• 1x50sec plank
• stretching

It Happens in the Kitchen

Usually, anyway. Unfortunately there hasn’t been much cooking going on in our kitchen lately as I’ve been working more late nights than not the last couple of months. I’ve been looking forward to this long weekend so I could finally do a little cooking again and try something new! I find that when we get busy, we tend to get in a major rut when it comes to meals and eat the same easy things over and over. It’s getting really old.

First up…a little healthy snack with a kick

I got this idea perusing through Pinterest one day. I love chick peas (super healthy source of protein and fiber that’s easy to add to salads or quinoa bowls) and thought this was an awesome idea. Turns out, it’s really incredibly easy too! Thanks to Jess from Cheese Please (isn’t that a great blog name?) for posting this on her blog!

I simplified it a bit, but it still turned out great!

Roasted chick peas! I drained and rinsed 1 can garbanzo beans, patted them dry then in a bowl mixed with 1tbs olive oil and about 1 tsp ground chipotle, then baked on a lined baking sheet at 400’ for about 30 minutes.

I’m not big into spicy, but Woody is, so I added enough chipotle to give them a kick but not so much that I couldn’t enjoy them too! Next time I’m trying the sweet version Jess featured in her post!

Next up… super hearty and pretty healthy dinner

I don’t often eat red meat, but Saturday evening we were watching a lifestyle show and the host was checking out late night spots in a couple major cities across the country. One restaurant was known for their sliders and they looked so good, I started craving them. This is what happened…

Okay, so not the most beautiful shot of food ever, but it was pretty delicious and definitely filling. The burgers are 85% lean and local; grass-fed; 5 out of 5 on Whole Foods animal welfare scale. I chopped up a garlic clove and mixed it in with two of the four sliders then covered the other two in cherry BBQ sauce. For veggies I sliced a zucchini and two carrots, steamed them, then drizzled balsamic vinaigrette just before serving. The sweet potato chips. Well, just sliced thin and baked for what seemed to be forever. Dinner turned out really well and I was pretty proud of myself for actually cooking the entire meal and not warming anything up in the microwave!

As long as it doesn’t rain, which it’s been doing a lot of lately, we’re planning to do a little picnic this afternoon which means I’m going to do a little more cooking! I’ll share with you sometime soon!

In other news…

We also ordered a new bed yesterday! This is life changing as we’ve had the same bed for well over 7 years and it’s totally dead. I have high hopes that my hips and back won’t be so stiff after a few nights with the new bed.

Also, we’re heading up to Central Park for a run and breakfast. Hope you’re all having a great Memorial Day Weekend!

• How spicy do you like your food?
• What’s been the highlight of your Memorial Day Weekend so far?

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Today’s workout -

On the way there! Run in Central Park!

Five for Friday

It’s Friday! Woot! Who else is super excited for the weekend?

1. Saturday afternoon Woody and I are going to the Local Food & Travel Show at One Hanson Place in Brooklyn (the Brooklyn Flea has moved outdoors for the season). Word has it the event will feature green getaways and day trips from Manhattan, local food and wine sampling, travel workshops and food demos. Plus, a ton of raffle prizes! Sounds like a good way to spend the afternoon. If you’re interested, check out the website HERE.
2. I have a new favorite thing. I hate taking medications so I try to take as few medicines and supplements as possible, but a while ago I was introduced to a really interesting product: B-Chillin. I know the name is slightly suspect, but stay with me here. This is meant to be used when you’re feeling really stressed out and overwhelmed. The all natural formula combines L-Theanine, Holy Basil, GABA and other nutrients to reduce the effects of stress on the body and mind. I was drawn to this product specifically because of the claim to reduce cortisol levels as I’ve had high cortisol for years due to Cushing’s Disease. Since I wasn’t sure how it would affect me, I first just took it at night before bed hoping it would help me calm my mind enough to fall asleep. Well, turns out it’s awesome. After taking B-Chillin, I can sleep soundly through the night and wake up ready to go at 5am! I’ve also been taking it at work lately because it’s been really crazy and stressful (PR was recently named one of the most stressful professions) and it has helped me keep focused. Anyway, it’s my new favorite thing and I recommend you check it out. Woody has been taking Rest-Fully and OmegaMends and likes them too. (Full disclosure: my uncle works at the Amrion Nutraceuticals, the company that makes these products He has no idea I’m writing this.)
3. Since I went to the nutritionist a few weeks ago I’ve been sticking with pretty much the same lunch every single day. A quinoa bowl of well, quinoa, veggies, beans, hummus and a hard boiled egg. I like it because it’s pretty easy to put together the night before and couldn’t be any easier to prepare at work. But, it’s getting a bit boring. Do you take your lunch to work? What are your favorites? 
4. The water will be shut off next Tuesday in the building my office is located in. No water, all day. How weird is that, right? Well, this means we’re all working from home for the day. While I usually don’t like working from home because we don’t have a good home office space being that we only have two rooms to our entire apartment, I am looking forward to Tuesday because I’ve been spending way too many hours at the office lately (like 12 hours yesterday). No commute makes it a perfect day for an extra long workout!
5. We bought our plane tickets to Traverse City for our summer vacation! Woody and I are both beyond excited for this trip as we haven’t been to the cottage since 2010 and a week on a lake in the middle of nowhere is exactly what we need this year! He’s already starting to plan where he’s going to golf, we set a goal two years ago to hike the entire Dune Climb out to Lake Michigan and back, and we’re planning a few day trips. But we’re also planning to spend at least a couple days without leaving the cottage, because we need some relaxing time! Whenever we see one of the Pure Michigan commercials on TV, we get a little more excited knowing we’ll be there in a few months! The cottage is our “perfect spot”

 Good luck to everyone racing this weekend and on Monday! Have fun out there!!

• What’s on tap for your weekend?
• Are you running Boston? Or another race this weekend?
• If you take your lunch to work what’s your go-to meal?
• Do you like to work from home or do you get distracted easily like me?
• Are you already planning your summer vacation?

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Today’s workout -

• None. Rest day.

Getting Ready for the Week

I was very much enjoying the few days off that I had and am not quite ready to go back to work. Sleeping in till 7:15 every morning, workouts that can go beyond a measly 50 minutes each morning, plenty time to read books and blogs, movie watching, TV watching, cooking, exploring… just being. It’s nice not to have to rush everywhere all the time. To create a list of things to do, but not be tied down by a schedule. Ywp. I am already used to this routine!

But, that doesn’t change the fact that I do have to go back to work today. Because I want to start the year off on a healthy note, and let’s be truthful here, because our credit card balances are a bit inflated right now, I wanted to be prepared for the week and have ingredients ready to be able to pack healthy lunches. Being that I don’t eat gluten, packing lunches takes a bit of thought. I can’t put a sandwich or wrap together, cut up some carrots, grab an apple and be done with it. I mean, I can if I use GF bread, but it tends to have a lot of calories and not much substance, so I eat GF bread sparingly.

To get ready this week I cut up a bunch of root veggies on Monday and roasted them in the oven. In the mix: 2 carrots, 1 parsnip, 2 small-ish turnips, and 1 small sweet potato. I cut them up, tossed them in a 9x9 baking dish sprayed with canola oil, added some ground pepper, a little herbs de provance and a few dashes of turmeric. I pre-heated the oven to 375’. After baking for 20 minutes, I stirred the mixture then roasted another 25 minutes!

Before:

After:

I put a large spoonful of this in a microwavable bowl with 1/3cup of quinoa or rice and a quarter cup of beans. I’ll take along about a tbs of sunflower or pumpkin seeds and maybe a little cheese or hummus and that’s my lunch! Along with an apple, this is definitely filling and keeps me going through the afternoon.

Yesterday, I also hard boiled a few eggs so I can take one to work each day as a protein packed snack!

Have you ever tried hummus with eggs? It’s delicious. Try it if you haven’t yet!

• Do you pack or buy your lunch?
• What’s your favorite go-to lunch?

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Today’s workout -

None. We needed to ease back in to the early mornings!

Larabar Strikes Again

Really, how do they keep coming up with great recipes? It seems like they just keep pumping out new flavors.

Last week, on a particularly crazy and stressful day, I received a fantastic surprise package in the mail! A little box filled with delicious goodness.

Larabar had sent me a few bars of their new flavor – Chocolate Chip Cherry Torte. I love chocolate and I love cherries, so I was immediately curious and had high hopes for this new flavor. The cherry pie flavor is one of my favorite, but it’s quite tart and sometimes it’s a little too tart so I was a little worried it would be the same with this one.

I was wrong, it was delicious! The chocolate and cherry flavors are really well balanced, making it a nice indulgent treat with all the simple goodness that we’re used to from Larabar.

I have not tried all of the Larabar flavors, mostly because some of them just have too many calories for me – boarding on meal replacement – so I stick to those that are around 190 or 200 calories. Sometimes I’ll splurge on a day I’ve done a particularly long run or hard workout and have a peanut butter chocolate chip bar that has 220 cals. The Chocolate Chip Cherry Torte comes in a little high in fat at 12 grams and sugar with 23grams, but on the relatively low side of the calories scale at 190.

The ingredients are simple – dates, almonds, cashews, unsweetened cherries, chocolate chips (Fair Trade certified), and a little sea salt. See, it is possible to have great tasting packaged food without all the extra, unnecessary ingredients that are impossible to even pronounce. Now, only if they’d use Michigan cherries!

With all this in mind, I’m pretty sure I’ll be having this one again in the near future.

Thanks for the deliciousness, Larabar! I’m hooked!

• Do you have a favorite Larabar flavor?
• What’s your go-to snack?

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Today’s workout -

• 40min stationary bike
• 2x20 seated row
• 2x18 lat pull down
• 2x20 upright row
• 2x16 back extension
• stretching
• ab exercises

Incredibly Cheap and Easy Comfort Dinner

Again, it’s been a while since I talked food. This summer has thrown me deep into a salad rut but I’m hopeful that the turn of seasons will help me snap out of it and get me back to cooking.

Tuesday night we definitely needed something other than salads. The entire day was cold and dreary; perfect for a warm, comforting dinner. Since I first tried the heat-and-eat polenta from Trader Joe’s last year I’ve made it once every month or so, with various toppings and methods of cooking. Tuesday night was another try, one Woody ended up really liking! The best part about it, I think it’s the easiest preparation I’ve tried and super cheap!

So here it is, super easy, super cheap:

Ingredients -

• 1 package TJ’s polenta
• 1 1/4cup TJ’s Fire Roasted Tomato Salsa (it’s really chunky and has a little kick)
• 1/4cup small broccoli florets
• 5 thin slices, sharp cheddar cheese

Preparation -

• Pre-heat oven to 350’
• Spray pie plate with non-stick cooking spray
• Slice polenta into 8 even slices, place in pie plate
• Spread broccoli over polenta slices evenly
• Cover with salsa
• Place in oven, bake for 20 minutes
• Remove from oven, cover with cheese slices overlapping slices of polenta
• Put back in oven, bake for another 10 minutes
• Remove and serve

Now, Polenta is pretty high in sodium, so to try and balance that out I always look for tomatoes with no salt added. And while this isn’t necessarily the healthiest meal, it isn’t too bad either, especially when compared with other comfort dinners! And you can’t beat the price, this came in well under $10 for the entire dish. And of course, you can start with a little side salad! Woody really liked this dinner, so I’m bound to try it again and make a few tweaks along the way.

• What’s your favorite go-to easy to prepare comfort dinner?

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Today’s workout -

• ab exercises
• 4mile run
• stretching

My Strange Love of Grocery Stores

It seems I have a weird love affair with grocery stores. Not all grocery stores; some are pretty lame, unorganized, and dirty. Those I stay away from. I mean, the nice ones with beautiful selections of fruits and veggies, meats, fish, cheeses, breads, gluten-free foods. I don’t know when this started, but at times it can be problematic because I can spend a long time exploring a store and Woody has to practically drag me out. I’ve become accustomed to small-ish NYC grocery stores, so whenever we’re in the suburbs we’re actually a bit overwhelmed by them. I mean, do we really need 30 flavors of hamburger helper (1 flavor for that matter) or 20 kinds of frozen pizzas? Never the less, I love exploring grocery stores, finding new grains or vegetables, putting together recipes in my head. I was reminded of this last night as I went down the escalator into the Whole Foods in Columbus Circle and felt a little giddy. The only problem is, I hate lugging all the groceries home but it does mean I have to limit the purchases, which I’m sure Woody appreciates.

This morning I had 5 miles on tap and I rocked them! I mean, it was a fantastic start to a new month (still can’t believe it’s already September)! I had decided to take it slow and that seemed to work out for the best. My legs didn’t feel quite as heavy as they did the other day and I was able to really focus on my breath and form. The fact that it’s still pitch dark out when I start my run is not very cool, but I’ve adjusted my route a little so I stay in more populated, lit areas when it’s still dark and it’s gorgeous to watch the sun rise. Thankfully it starts to get light out not too long into the run, but I’m sad to see the summer sun leave us. After the run this morning I feel more confident about the 7 miles I have on my schedule for Sunday.

• Am I the only one who loves exploring grocery stores?
• Do you have a favorite section?
• What are you looking forward to in September?

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Yesterday’s workout -

• 45min elliptical
• ab exercises
• 2x20 hammer curl
• 2x15 lateral arm raise
• 2x15 squats
• 2x20 weighted side bends

Today’s workout -

• 5mile run
• stretching
• ab exercises

It's a Hot Summer

It was 78 degrees and 77% humidity when we woke up at 5am this morning! Given this fact and knowing the air conditioning at the gym doesn't come on until 7:30am, I followed my plan to go for a run! It was hot and I was slow, but I'm glad I did it. I took along my exercise band and did some monster walks, squats and kickbacks out by the river before heading to the gym in our building for a little strength training. I've started my half marathon training plan (a few weeks ahead of schedule) so I only ran 3 miles this morning, which was just about right in this heat. I really hope people don't try to run later today when it's 98 degrees. The city is like an oven this week! Be careful out there!!

The East River at 5:30am

Speaking of heat...it was pretty hot in Raleigh when we were there last month! Before we head to Seattle on Friday, I wanted to share with you some pictures from our trip (in addition to the ones from our running adventures). We had such a great time, I couldn't let any more time pass without sharing them. 

We explored Duke University

The Sarah P Duke Gardens were gorgeous

Smaller than we had expected

Checked out the American Tobacco Historic District in Durham

Turns out the Burt's Bees headquarters are here!

Took in a Durham Bulls baseball game

Yes, as in the iconic baseball flick, Bull Durham 

When the home team scores a home run, the bull's eyes light up,
smoke comes from his nose and his tail goes up & down!

Joined locals on the lawn to watch a viewing of Troubadour a documentary about Carole King, James Taylor and the legendary LA club.

picture courtesy of Woody

Explored the incredible State Farmers Market

We couldn't resist buying some of the juiciest peaches we've every had!

Cooled down with concretes from Goodberry's

A little melty for both of us, but I loved the flavor! Next time I'd get a sundae instead.

And enjoyed some good (but expensive) gluten free pizza from the Mellow Mushroom

My first taste of gluten free pizza

I wish I had taken more pictures, but we were paying more attention to what was happening in the moment rather than worrying about getting it on film memory card.

• Do you prefer active, relaxing or combo vacations?
• When traveling, do you try to seek out local food favorites or stick to what you know?

Don't forget to enter the Oiselle Giveaway!! Ends tomorrow night!
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Today's workout -

3mile run
monster walks
2x15 squats
4x10 kick backs
2x17 lateral arm raise
2x20 weighted side bends
stretching