Tag Archives: workout

Gaga, Green Beans, Grapple, Giveaway*

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*If you could care less what I ate or how pt is going, skip to the bottom for a giveaway!

If you do care, I had my last pt session today!  I have a (long) set of exercises that I should plan on doing indefinitely.  Post-foot surgery in January if I’m having pain when I start running again then I’ll go back for another appointment.  For now, I plan on doing my exercises and enjoying the few weeks in December I have to run.

I warm up on the treadmill for 20minutes during pt so the gym was a logical next stop.  I had a quick snack at home to refuel first.  A tiny sliver of Kerrygold Aged Cheddar with Irish Whiskey.

And something I’ve been eyeing for months and months that finally went on sale – GRAPPLES!

The grape-apple hybrid caught my eye back in Brooklyn and I was so excited to finally try it.  The apples have a slight maroon tinge and smell a lot like grape soda.  The small is more noticable than the taste though, just a slight afterflavor of tang.  Still good though.

Fueled, I hit up the treadmill for a run.  My plan was to do 2minute run/1minute walk intervals.  That was what I did most of the time, but a few times I just couldn’t bear to stop running!  I did a few extended walks too so hopefully it all evened out.  In the end my stats were – 38minutes / 3.2miles / 395calories.  My music made the work out –35minute Playlist

  1. Into the Ocean; Blue October
  2. Every Ship Must Sail Away, Blue Merle
  3. Hot Blooded, Foreigner
  4. No Long Talking, Lady Saw
  5. Fearless, Cyndi Lauper
  6. I Know You Want Me, Pitbull
  7. Paparazzi, Lady Gaga
  8. Bad Romance, Lady Gaga
  9. Platypus (I Hate You), Green Day

It  was the perfect mix.  The husband (ahem) got me obsessed with Lady Gaga recently.  I hate her old stuff, but the two songs on the playlist are pretty damn catchy and you have to like her music videos – I love the styling and contrasts.

After a quick shower it was time for lunch.

Amy’s Fire Roasted Southwestern Vegetable Soup,

and green bean fries.

The “fries” were spritzed with evoo, sprinkled with salt and paprika, and baked at 450* for 20minutes.  They were delicious, but maybe could have used ten more mintues.

Yes, I ate the entire bag.  Yes, I know that is disgusting.  Yes, it was delicious.  The soup was tasty too.

I loved the flavor, but I left most of the broth.  It was a yummy lunch.

Now I’m off to study.  For the rest of the day.  Ugh.

*Now we are talking about the free stuff –

You can have a yummy lunch with Amy’s too!  1 Grand Prize winner will receive a variety pack of three soups.  Three runners up will receive free product coupons for any Amy’s product.

To enter –

  1. For one entry – leave a comment on this post.
  2. For a second chance – go to Amy’s website and sign up for the Amy’s newsletter.  Leave a comment telling me you’ve done so.
  3. For a third/fourth chance – link back to this contest from your blog and/or on Twitter.  Leave a comment(s) telling me you’ve done so.

The contest ends Friday at noon, Good Luck!

Jam Flavored Stuffing

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The title is what I imagined when I put these two phrases together:  1.”Running around like a chicken with its head cut off;” 2.”Jam-packed.”  I guess you could pack the chicken with the jam?  Consequently, those phrases also both describe my day today.  It’s been go-go-go!

First, I went to my pt appointment.  Good news, I can run again!!!!  Only a few days a week and I have to start slow, but it’s great news.  I ran a mile during my appointment and it felt glorious!

I had some time between that appointment and my doctor’s appointment so I ended up killing an hour in McDonalds.  I bought some apple dippers to tide me over.

Yums.  And I loved most of the nutrition information on this packaged for kids item.

The only downpoint in my opinion is the zero grams of fiber – the apples had fiber to begin with if they’d just leave the darn skins on!  I guess I shouldn’t have nutrition outrage when I’m guzzling a diet coke at 9am.

I also started a new book – Under the Table, by Katherine Darling.

I’m loving it!  Darling is a good writer and culinary school is my ultimate dream.  I had to wait for more than an hour at the doctor’s office and normally I’d have been seething but today I was just glad to have an excuse to read!

I also got some news from this doctor.  2 out of 4 plantars warts are gone (for good hopefully!).  The other two I’m going to continue with the home-acid for, and I now have a prescription for an oral medicine that boosts your immune system – part of the reason I’m having such a problem is because mine isn’t responding properly.  I’ll take the medicine over break and I’m scheduled to have the wart cut out on January 4th.  This will most likely keep me immobile for a week or so, and could possibly keep me from running for up to a month.  It’s pretty devastating that training (which has barely begun) might break 2 months before my half, but it’s better than running the half with my foot hurting.

After that appointment I went to two separate pharmacies and then drove home for the quickest stop in ever.  I didn’t even take a shower, just washed my face!  However, I got two blocks from my house before I realized the reason I was in the car wasn’t in the car with me!  I left the giant bag of stuff that needed to be dropped off at Goodwill at home!

FYI – we designate a spot in our hall closet for things that can be donated.  Old clothes, free products, gifts that aren’t our style, etc.  Once we’ve got a sufficient pile we drop it off at Goodwill rather than throwing those things in the trash.  It’s better for the enviroment and our society.

When I went home to pick up the bag I realized I was clearly a bit distracted by hunger so I grabbed the can of soursop juice I bought the other day.

YUM!  Handsdown, sour sop is one of my very favorite things.  It is one of my favorite childhood taste memories and I was so excited to see some form of it sold here in Buffalo.

[I told you I didn’t shower!]

After Goodwill I went to Target for some Christmas-ing, and then finally the grocery store.  On my way out I hit up the salad bar.

I filled the small top halfs with yummy things – pesto pasta and mac and cheese.

And the larger bottom half with healthy things – baked tofu and brussels sprouts.

I didn’t say healthy isn’t yummy though, the brussels and tofu ended up being my favorite part!  The tofu was unbelievably chewy, I’m dying to know how they cooked it that way!

I gave myself some time at home to relax while I ate (and typed this post and watched some tv), but now it’s time to get back to jamming the headless chicken – lordy that sounded dirty!

Hopeful list of to-do’s from tonight

  1. put away laundry
  2. clean up the kitchen
  3. Chemistry reading
  4. e-mail regarding class scheduling trauma
  5. dinner?
  6. pt exercises
  7. go back to pharmacy
  8. shower – this one isn’t optional!

How do you say you’re busy?????  I usually go with busy beaver, but I’m also partial to “busy, busy, busy, busy*.”  *Said in the magician voice from Frosty  the Snowman.

*****Update – I managed not to do a single to-do.  I did, however, finish my entire 400+ page book!  And yesterday?  I watched Rose Red; a 4.5hour Steven King mini-series 😉

Reindeer Run 5k

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Forgive me physical therapy gods for I have sinned – I ran a 5k when I was told to speed walk.  But I didn’t run the whole time!  I’ll go back to the beginning….

This was the morning of the Reindeer Run 5k.  We signed up a  month ago, before my tendonitis diagnosis, so that I could have some race experience before my Half in March.  After my pt told me not to run we decided we would walk the course, so I could have the general experience and since we had already paid for our entries.  Adam was even super-husband and agreed to walk with me.  There was a little snow, but not much, so the setting was perfect.

The race was slightly themed, I saw several elves and one group went as Santa and all his reindeer.  We don’t have a lot of cold weather running gear, but I borrowed an old sweatshirt of Adam’s and did my best.

We picked up our chips a little late and ended up running to the start line from the pick up point.  And I just could not stop.  I love running so much.  I’m not very good and I’m not very fast, but it seriously fills me with joy.

We ended up doing some jog/walk intervals, and I always started walking whenever my leg hurt.  In the end we ran about half of each mile.  I don’t feel like I pushed too hard or set my recovery back too far and we had such a good time!  Here’s an action shot the husband snapped –

Our final time was 33:25.  I know most running bloggers are speed demons, and I’d love to keep up, but for jog/walking it and coming off a 1month hiatus that is pretty damn good!  And I’m feeling much more comfortable with the idea of my half now.

Afterwards we hit up the post race party.  They had hot dogs and pizza and cake.  Here’s Adam’s plate –

That just did not appeal to me.  My post-run breakfast was a little more my style –

But I’m not an angel, I did snag a beer!

All in all in my first race was a great experience.  I’m proud of my self for running, and I’m proud of my self for not running the whole time.  Everyone was super friendly and happy and the setting was perfect.  I had so much fun!

There was even more excitement on the drive home.  As we drove home from the Reindeer run 5k we saw a deer!

It was in a partially fenced in park.  Adam pulled over and I got out to take some pictures.  It go so close to me!

I’m not gonna lie, I was basically swooning, so fun!

Now I’ve got to hustle again so I can shower before Adam’s parents get here.  They are coming up to do a mass birthday/Christmas/anniversary celebration since we can’t connect with them later in December.  I can’t wait!

Have you run any races?  Which was the most fun and why?

I Don’t Need to Leave the House

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My big plan for the day (other than pretending like there’s not an impending quiz) was to go to a Pilates class at my gym.  I showed up at noon and…..nothing.  I was so frustrated I just went home – I couldn’t have done much anyways, I was wearing my ‘yoga bra.’

I might have sat on the couch and stewed for a while.  I might have felt the need to eat a few marshmallows dipped in peanut butter.

But then I got down to business.  Using Netflix’s Watch Instantly program I made use of a ’10minute Solutions Pilates’ DVD.  I did legs, abs, and whole body stretch for a nice 30minute routine.  Loved it!  I think I might start devoting 10minutes a day to this video – I could feel the burn, it was easy and quick, and I can squeeze it in.

Don’t ask me whether or not I’ve done any work since then!!!

Do you prefer to work out at home or at the gym?  Do you ever use exercise DVDs?

Born Again (Exercise) Virgin

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First off, who thinks it’s a good thing I’m not single???

Although I guess it’s not a good thing for Adam!  The sweatshirt is actually pretty cute.

The problem is more the sneakers and dirty yoga pants (yes, these are the pants I rocked all day yesterday).

Before class this evening I had the pre-gym snack of champions –

I what I really like is the juxtaposition of my diet soda and candy bar next to the headline for an article about healthy diets.  🙂

My friend ended up not being able to go to the gym after class.  I can’t even tell you how proud of myself I am that I went anyway.  After a month off I am more than ready to get moving again!

I set the elliptical to level 7/random and did an easy pace for 30minutes.  I’m not gonna lie, it was hard!  I am out of shape.  And it’s not even like my fitness level went back to square one, it’s like being reborn a fat person.  In NYC I stood from 7-5 and walked constantly so it wasn’t that big of a deal that I didn’t get any formal exercise.  Here I sit on the couch most of the day, and for the last month with my injury I’ve been trying not to move at all.  Fortunately, I am super excited to get back on track.

After my cardio I did some arm/ab strengthening and lots of stretching, including my pt.  ‘Twas good.

I still have to shower and I have pt at 8am tomorrow so I’ve got to rush off.  Sweet dreams!

Have you ever had a fitness rebirth?  What’d you do to get back into fighting shape?

Bowled Over

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Hello, hello!  I’m up pretty late for a sick kid so I’ll try to keep this quick.  The movies didn’t really work out – we went to the mall and missed not one, but two! showings.  We ended up being at the mall for two fruitless hours, we walked around a bit and had a long chat on a bench.

I was actually glad we missed the second show because on the ride home I got a killer migraine that would have hit mid-movie.  After some Excedrin and a quick nap I was ready to make a fancy shmancy dinner.  I love brie, and was so excited to see some in my Foodbuzz swag.  And actually the inspiring recipe can from a magazine I read on my California trip!

We loosely followed this recipe from Real Simple, Pasta with Brie, Mushroom and Arugula.  Our changes –

  • we used ziti instead of penne
  • we used white mushrooms instead of button mushrooms
  • we used a cooking onion rather than a red onion
  • we subbed 1T butter substitute (Promise) for the evoo

It was pretty tasty!  But I guess it’s a good thing I’m sick or I’m not sure one meal for the whole day would have covered it 🙂

After dinner we headed out to meet some friends at a local bowling alley.  We called and found out games are $3 after 9 so it seemed like a good idea, even though I’m not a very good bowler.  We played (and drank) with three other couples and it was a lot of fun!

I managed to finagle it with the snack bar and the bartender to get a chocolate milkshake with a double shot of Jack Daniels.

Perfection.

And later on I had a diet coke with amaretto.

None of my games were great, but the second was the worst (I was playing under Benji’s name) –

Embarrassing!  I had a great time though, I definitely want to go back.

Now the goal is sleep before 1am.  My workload tomorrow is pretty light, I only have class one day before Thanksgiving some I’m hoping to get lots of pre-work done next week.  Sweet dreams folks!

Do you like ‘couples sports’ like bowling and mini golf?

How Long Can I Call It Jet-Lag?

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Either I’m still a bit jet-lagged or I just generally suck at life, because not a whole lot of school work happened at the library today!  In fact, more like none at all!  I did have a very lovely g-chat session with my friend Katie, and managed to go to the gym with Adam and Danielle.

Before gyming it I ate a Pear Ginsing Prana Bar.

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I was worried I wouldn’t like these as much as Boomi Bars but apparently that’s not a problem.

My legs have been hurting, and frankly I’m out of shape, so I was kind to myself on the treadmill and took lots of walking breaks.  43minutes / 3.5miles.  Afterwards I did stretching and legs/arms strength-work.  All total – 1hour8minutes / 550 calories.

Chocolate post-gym seemed like a totally reasonable way to refuel.

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These fleur de sel caramels beyond rocked my socks. Adam and I both did a combination oooh/gasp.  This is the perfect savory sweet combo.

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I need a shower, and I still have a bit of unpacking to do, and Adam and I are planning on picking some things up at Target.  It looks like I’m planning a big bowl of popcorn for dinner so unless a storm of motivation hits I’ll see you for dinner 🙂

ANOTHER Drogging Post!?

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Yes, yes, I am drunk again (i.e. yet another lame post).  We’ve been so busy and carrying so much stuff, and tasting so many things that my pictures are pretty weak.  It’s funny that my worst blog posts are coming from a blogging event!  Also, disclaimer – I do not have a ton of time, I apoligize profusely for not linking in this post!

I dragged myself out of bed at 6:30 this morning and met up with a group of runners to hit the piers.

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I actually jogged the mile over from my hotel first to met them at theirs.  Everyone is so friendly and nice and I was beyond happy to be able to keep up…..until I couldn’t!  I ran 1.87miles with the group before I thought I’d die and I stopped to walk.  Brittany was super sweet and walked with me (I guesstimate about 2+miles?) around the piers.  We stopped by the sea lions which was pretty thrilling.

I ended up running back to my hotel too (more than a mile because I got a little lost) so I actually got in a pretty good work out!

After a quick shower Camile and I headed back to the ferry building for the first event.  There was a farmer’s market on and it was so gorgeous.

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I had a few small samples,

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and I had to buy a diet coke ($1.25) because I was super thirsty.

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Then we went to an olive oil tasting class, which was super informative.

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And then a large group of us headed to the “tasting pavillion” which was almost like a food expo.  We got to watch Brandi cook her winning recipe.

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So.Many.Samples!!!  I had lots of good eats.  Again, about 95% is shown.

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The Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer people rocked my socks, I totally got my own can!

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Camile and I left early and I spread my swag out on the bed and did my evil genius laugh.

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All my swag in total –

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We walked to FedEx and my swag package weighed 16lbs!  Now we have showers, and then a walk back to the other hotel before we are bussed to a fancy dinner.  I can’t wait!