It Moves Fast

After my morning workout, I usually head to Starbucks for an iced coffee (aka my "reward" for a good sweat session). I'm always a little discouraged when I first see the size of the line (I counted 16 people in front of me this morning!), but I know it moves fast! The Starbucks employees are super efficient and get us in and out in no time! I tried to get a shot of this morning's line-- the cash register is on the left side of the photo and the line wraps around the front of the store. People love their Starbucks!


From start to finish, I waited about 10 minutes for my iced coffee with soy milk. Not a bad wait time considering the length of the line!


Breakfast

So, one packet of instant oatmeal doesn't fill me up, but 2 packets is usually too much. At the grocery store this weekend, I came across Nature's Path Instant Hot Oatmeal, which may have solved my problem. A typical package of instant oatmeal is 40 g, but the Nature's Path is 50 g (210 calories, 4g fat, 4g fiber), which might be just enough to satisfy, but not stuff me. So far the larger packet is holding me over quite well. My only gripe about this kind of oatmeal is the amount of sugar (11 g). It is still less than the Kashi instant oatmeal I was eating, but maybe I'll opt for plain oatmeal next time.


Breakfast: Instant oatmeal with 2 tbsp of peanut butter and a nectarine.


Mock-late?

I was watching the news this morning while elliptical-ing away at the gym, and a story came on about how Herhsey's has replaced the cocoa butter in some of their chocolate products with vegetable oil, and because of FDA regulations, they can no longer be legally labeled "milk chocolate."

Some of the Hershey's packages, while basically looking the same, have changed their labels to say "Chocolate Candy," instead of "Milk Chocolate" to comply with this regulation. I would have never noticed if I hadn't seen this news segment.

From the Candy Blog:

"The new version is called Chocolate Candy which is code for chocolate-flavored confection, or candy that contains chocolate but can’t be called chocolate because it has other stuff in it that’s not permitted by the FDA definitions (like more oil than actual chocolate).

The ingredients: Sugar, vegetable oil (palm, shea, sunflower and/or safflower oil), chocolate, nonfat milk, whey, cocoa butter, milk fat, gum arabic, soy lecithin, artificial colors (red 40, yellow 5, blue 2, blue 1, yellow 6), corn syrup, resinous glaze, salt, carnauba wax, pgpr and vanillin.

The old ingredients were:

Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, nonfat milk, milk fat, lactose, soy lecithin, PGPR & artificial flavors), sugar, red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6, blue 1 & carnauba wax."

The switch to vegetable oil is rooted in Hershey's desire to cut costs. The CandyBlog discusses this in more detail: Rising Cost of Candy - A Brief Study of Hershey's Prices.

I don't eat Hershey's chocolate all that much, but I'm still surprised and even feeling a little cheated by this change. What do you think about it?

Wrong Side

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. When my alarm went off at 5:35 am, I felt complete drained... every ounce of energy was zapped. I instantly decided: "Hell, no!" to the gym. I laid in bed for another 5 minutes before I forced my butt out of bed. I immediately chugged a glass of ice cold water to help me wake up. After about 10 minutes of aimless wandering around our apartment, I finally settled down to study. (I mixed things up again today: study - first; shower, get ready, eat - second.) I was able to fit in about an hour of study time, which included making flashcards and reading about fitness assessments (very cool).

Breakfast this morning was a fantastic (!!!) bowl of oatmeal-oat bran with chopped dates, almonds, and vanilla hemp milk, which made my oat mixture sweet, fluffy, and creamy. I'm starting to believe that hemp milk makes just about everything better!


My mood is slowly improving now that I am sipping delicious coffee (with vanilla soy milk and agave nectar) at work. I'm about 3 sips away from finishing my mug; a second cup is most definitely in my near future.

** Forgot to add: While studying I also munched on a handful of Puffins.

Birthday Girl

Happy 27th Birthday, Sister!!! I hope you have a wonderful day! Can't wait to celebrate with you tomorrow! :)

In case you're wondering, I actually call my sister, "Sister," and not by her first name. We've had weird nicknames for each other for as long as I can remember. She calls me "Peter" (long story). It's funny because a lot of my sister's friends now call me "Peter" and some of my friends call her "Sister." Sister and Peter are almost like our real names now! :)

Siblings on my 28th birthday...


Meal Replacements

Since a lot of us are often on-the-go and like to try new products, I thought I'd share an article I read this morning from Women's Health magazine. They reviewed a bunch of different meal replacement options (bars and drinks/smoothies), some of which, I have never tried.

Health Healthy Meal Replacements


Question of the Day

When you're in a bad mood, what is your "go to" pick me up?

Kitchen Experiment #515

I really have no clue where I come up with these kitchen experiment ideas. I was craving oatmeal this morning for breakfast, but I didn't want the same old bowl. Instead, I decided to "bread" my sliced nectarine with oatmeal batter. (I know, random.) I used Kath's recipe for an oatmeal pancake with my addition of 1 tbsp of vanilla hemp milk to make the mixture more "battery." I then coated my nectarine slices with the oatmeal pancake batter and cooked them in a skillet. The experiment came out pretty well, but I think next time, I will double the batter recipe. The nectarine slices would have benefited from more oatmeal pancake goodness. This recipe would probably work well with other slice-able fruits-- apples, peaches, etc.


Oatmeal Pankcake Batter

• 1/3 cup oats
• 1 egg white (or 3 tbsp of liquid egg whites)
  
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp vanilla hemp (or soy) milk
  
• Cinnamon to taste

Directions:

• Heat skillet and add non-stick cooking spray (or butter, oil, etc.)
• Slice fruit into 1/4 inch pieces
  
• Spread oatmeal pancake batter on one side of fruit and place in skillet, oatmeal side down. Then, spread oatmeal pancake batter on the top side of the fruit while in skillet. (*Add more oatmeal batter if desired, covering the entire piece of fruit.)
  
• Top fruit pancakes with maple syrup, almond butter, jam, etc. (optional)
  

* Double recipe for more batter.

Nectarine slices, coated in oatmeal pancake batter, cooking in skillet...


I also had a few dates and an iced coffee with vanilla soy milk for breakfast.


Eat Breakfast Like a King, Lunch Like a Prince, and Dinner Like a Pauper

I receive comments from readers pretty regularly about the smallish size of my dinners-- I tend to taper my food intake as the day progresses. I figured I should explain this eating habit.

Like the old proverb says, "Eat Breakfast Like a King, Lunch Like a Prince, and Dinner Like a Pauper," I try to eat my larger meals early in the day (i.e. eat breakfast like a king) and my smaller meals in the evening (i.e. dinner like a pauper). This eating pattern makes a lot of sense to me for a number of reasons. The biggest reason is that I often exercise first thing in the morning, so I like to refuel with a big breakfast (600-700 calories) packed with healthy carbs and protein. Following a morning workout, I used to eat a much smaller breakfast, but by lunch, I would be starving. Over time, my body has gotten used to eating most of its calories in the early hours of the day. My lunch is usually a tiny bit smaller than breakfast (500-600 calories) with a good-sized snack in the afternoon (200-300 calories) and, of course, occasional treats (100-300 calories). Eating the majority of my calories in the first part of the day keeps my energy up and my metabolism buzzing along. Dinner is often my smallest meal of the day (400-500 calories), which is usually made up of protein, complex carbs, and lots of veggies. Especially when I am just lounging around the house at night, I don't need lots of calories for energy. I'm also an earlier riser, so it makes sense for me to front-load my caloric-intake because I hit the sack before 10:00 pm and don't need a ton of calories in the later part of the day. Finally, breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so why not start the day off right with a hearty meal of my favorite foods.

Question of the Day

How do you push/challenge yourself when exercising (mind games, the clock, personal trainer, exercise buddy, etc.)?

That Sandwich Looks Awesome

My study session went much better this morning. I woke up 15 minutes earlier, showered and got ready lightening fast, ate breakfast while checking my email, and had a whole hour and a half to study for the NASM. I got through about 2/3 of a chapter (reading and taking notes). I'm actually starting to feel a little better about the exam. The first 3 chapters blast science right at you, which is especially overwhelming if you haven't taken any sort of science course since freshman year of college. However, once I made it to chapters 4 and 5, I can see how the later chapters simply build off what you learned in the first few chapters. It all ties together quite nicely. Let's just hope this pleothra of information sticks in my brain!

Breakfast

I made the most wonderful breakfast panini this morning-- even Mal commented on its awesomeness! :) Inside 2 pieces of whole wheat bread:

• 1 tbsp of low-fat ricotta mixed with 1 tsp of cinnimon
• 1 sliced banana
• 1.5 tbsp of almond butter (sadly, not Barney Butter)
  
• 5 chopped dates
• 2 tsp sliced almonds
  

Grilled perfection...


While I studied, I sipped on an iced iced with vanilla hemp milk.


Question of the Day

How do you manage your time (planner, blackberry, online tool, etc.)? What is your best time management tip/trick?

Me: I am a paper planner girl-- have been since the 6th grade with my assignment book. I'd like to transition to an online planner, but I just can't seem to do it. I often think of things that I need to do mid-commute when I don't have access to a computer. Writing something down in my paper planner then typing it into an online tool is double the work. Maybe an iphone would help? :)

My best trick: Do the little tasks first! I feel much more accomplished crossing things off my list (even if they are small) and it builds momentum to tackle the bigger projects.

And The Winners Are...

Good morning, blog world! So, my studying went okay this morning. I woke up at 6:00, showered, got dressed, made and ate breakfast. By then, however, it was almost 7:00, which only left about 45 minutes for me to study. I guess it's better than nothing, but I didn't feel like I accomplished much. I'm going to get up a little earlier tomorrow morning (and get ready faster!), so hopefully that will give me more time to hit the books. I'm still struggling to get back into student mode!

Breakfast this morning was a big bowl of oatmeal mixed with oat bran, mushy banana slices, ground flaxseed meal, and walnuts. It was super filing! I barely finished the last few bites, but it was delicious!


Once I arrived in the office, I made myself a mug of coffee with vanilla soy milk and agave nectar. (I already drank a few sips before snapping this photo.)



Barney Butter Giveaway

What a hard decision!!! You guys submitted so many amazing poems-- 47 entries in all! There was quite a lot of competition! To keep the judging as fair as possible, Mal and I divided the selection responsibilities between the two of us. I read through all of the poems and picked my top 10. I then passed the final decision onto Mr. Mal. From those 10 entries, he narrow it down to 5 winners, which are posted below!

Barney Butter Giveaway Winners!!!

All Contest Entries

WINNERS please email me your mailing address and your prize selection. You can either chose to receive a jar of Barney Butter (chunky or smooth style) or three individual packet strips of Barney Butter (which are the smooth style). Both are great options!

THANKS to everyone who entered the Barney Butter Giveaway! It was so fun! I hope you guys enjoyed the experience as much I did! Hopefully, there will be more contests down the road! :)


Question of the Day

I read this post on the Weighting Game the other day about food blogs and orthorexia. It's definitely a topic that I have thought about since I started to participate in the food blog world myself. In my opinion, some food bloggers probably do have some sort of eating disorder, but I think that the majority of food bloggers have a healthy relationship with food and want to help others by showing this balance in their lives. Of course, I'm sure that I haven't considered all sides of this issue, and I would love to hear what you guys have to say. It's an interesting topic, and if you would like to weigh-in on it, please do so!

Sad Day in Barney Butter Land

I used up the last bit of my final jar of Barney Butter on my lunch this afternoon. How depressing-- my stash went so quickly! I need to get my hands on a new jar ASAP! 

I just finished eating lunch about 15 minutes ago. I was trucking through my studying all morning, so I didn't stop for a break until my stomach started to growl around 1:45 pm. Today's lunch was 2 toasted Van's waffles with Barney Butter and banana slices as well as a Cocoa Brownie for a little treat.

Breakfast

We invited Josh and Danielle over for breakfast this morning. Mr. Mal cooked us all bagel sandwiches with egg, bacon, and Muenster cheese. They were wonderful-- warm, cheesy, and greasy. After all of the drinking that I did last night, I appreciated the greasiness! :)

I also drank an iced coffee with vanilla hemp milk while getting some work done. 

Back to the books! (I'm so not used to being a student again. My brain doesn't work like it used to!) 

First Day

Gotta make this quick! I've gotta boogie on outta here ASAP!

I was reading Sammie's blog the other day, and her post reminded me that I hadn't had Peanut Butter Puffins in ages! It also reminded me how in love I am with Puffins. At the grocery story yesterday, I had planned to buy a box of PB Puffins, but the store was all out! (How tragic!) Instead, I settled on the Honey Rice flavor. 

For breakfast this morning, I wanted a meal with staying power since I won't get to eat again for 6+ hours. I decided on a container of vanilla Chobani with honey Puffins and a sliced nectarine. 

Cocoa Brownies

Shape's Cocoa Brownies came out great! I can see this recipe becoming a favorite! 

Instead of chocolate chips, I used a mixed bag of peanut butter and chocolate chips... and I added in a little more than the recipe called for! :) 

Sorry that I don't have the recipe to post-- I searched it on the Shape website, but I couldn't find it. The recipe is in the current issue of Shape (September 2008), if you want to seek it out. 

I'm off! Wish me luck!

P.S. I'm taking an iced coffee with vanilla hemp milk to go! 

Doubling Up

I went right for it this morning: 2 packets of Kashi instant oatmeal. No playing around for me. I did what I needed to do, and now I am full! Mixed into my instant oatmeal was a sliced banana and 2 tbsp of peanut butter. Best breakfast ever.


In the office, I also made myself a mug of Sumatra coffee with soy milk and agave nectar, which might be the most perfect coffee combo ever! :)


Healthy Happy Hour

With the weekend just hours away, I thought I would include some fun (and informative) happy hour information and ideas.

How to Have a Healthy Happy Hour

15 Wines Under $15

Women's Health's White Wine Sangria (antioxidant-rich!)

Cooking Light Recipes

Health Conscious Cocktails

Of course, we all want to be social and enjoy ourselves at happy hour, but we also don't want to pack on the pounds. Here are a few of my suggestions for a healthy (and low-cal) happy hour:

• Just say no to high-calorie fruit drinks. Most fruity drinks are loaded with calories and sugar-- some have as many as 300 calories per drink! If you have 2-3 drinks over the course of the evening, that's close to 900 calories! (Yikes!) Better options are flavored vodka with soda water or regular vodka with soda water and a splash of fruit juice (approximately 70-80 calories per drink) .
  
  
• In the mood for beer, go light. Most light beers come in around 100-120 calories per bottle, but still have quite a lot of flavor and taste delicious. I've drank so much light beer over the years, I usually prefer it to the "heavy" option. Also, if you order a bottle of beer instead of a draft, you automatically have portion control (just 12 oz).
  
  
• Steer clear of frozen beverages. Similarly to fruity drinks, frozen drink mixes are packed with calories and sugar. If you really want a margarita or pina colada, ask the bartender to make you the "real deal." You'll save quite a few calories, and the original cocktail, in my opinion, tastes a lot better!
  
  
• Alternate water with alcoholic beverages. Water (or soda water) slows your pace when it comes to consuming alcohol. It also hydrates you, making the following morning much more enjoyable. Bonus: If you alternate booze with soda and lime (aka a "mocktail), it almost feels like you are enjoying a cocktail (for zero calories).
  
  
• You can't go wrong with white wine. My "go to" drink is always white wine. It's delicious, flavorful, and relatively low in calories (about 120 calories per 5 oz glass). I always feel much more sophisticated when I am holding a wine glass, and tend to savor each sip instead of chugging it down like I might with a beer or cocktail. You can also "lighten-up" white wine with soda water (aka wine spritzer), which cuts calories and/or makes your glass of wine last longer.
  
  
• Beware of free bar snacks. There is a bar in our hometown that serves free popcorn (you know, the super buttery kind). I'm not much of a popcorn fan, but after a few cocktails, my new favorite food becomes popcorn. My best advice for situations like this is just don't start! Once I have a taste of popcorn, I just can't stop myself, and end up snacking the entire night. Another tip: Remember where people's hands have been. If I am thinking about digging into a bowl of popcorn, peanuts, pretzels, etc., I think: unwashed hands from the bathroom. Ewwwww! That thought alone stops my desire to snack!
  
  
• More tips for social events and eating out.
  

Question of the Day

What is your new favorite (or all-time favorite) piece of exercise equipment?

Me: My new favorite is the foam roller. (I'm in love!) My all-time favorite is the Bosu-- the exercise possibilities are endless!

As Promised

Good morning!!! Ready for the rest of my announcement? I apologize for the cliff hanger, but I really had a lot more to say, and I figured the recap after my first day would be much more interesting. I'll make my breakfast post quick...

Breakfast was cinnamon apple oats with sliced almonds, ground flaxseed meal, and brown sugar.

Measurements:

1 medium/large apple (chopped)
1/2 cup dry oats
1 tbsp sliced almonds
1 tbsp ground flaxseed meal
1 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup water (milk would have been better-- could have been creamier!)


Iced coffee and an Adora to go...

Quick FYI: I don't always post when I eat an Adora disk, but I have one every other day or so.


(added suspense...)


Jimmy Fund Walk

The big walk is a week from this Saturday! I'm walking 26.2 miles, which, if you're curious, takes about 8-9 hours. If you're feeling generous, please consider donating to my team.


Barney Butter Giveaway

I've received many GREAT entries so far! It's going to be a tough decision for Mal and me to pick the winners!

Jen at Office Supple Art: The Blog sent me a fun Barney Butter entry-- just wanted to share! :)


Announcement: Part II

Ok, so here it is...

After a lot of thinking, soul searching, and considering a ton of valuable advice from a number of key players, I've decided to switch careers and become a personal trainer! (Quite a few of you guessed it yesterday!) Honestly, I am surprised that I didn't think of making this career change sooner!

Eventually, I'd like personal training to become my full-time career, which, with no experience or alternative source of income, means I need to fast track it! I have laid out a plan for myself to make this career change as seamless as possible-- there are many steps involved! Just last week (step #1), I was hired as a Fitness Specialist at the greatest healthclub in Boston, and my first shift was last night.

From what I understand, a Fitness Specialist works as part of the Healthworks fitness team and assists members in achieving their fitness goals by providing complimentary strength and cardio orientations, which includes explaining training guidelines, proper use of the machines, and how to log workouts. My new position also requires some "grunt work," like cleaning the machines and organizing equipment, but it's all part of the job! You can't just start at the top, right?

In addition to my role as a Fitness Specialist, I will be studying my butt off in preparation for the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certification test to become a personal trainer. (I'm cramming 4 months of study into 3 months!) Once (and if!) I receive my NASM certification, I hope to start training my first clients in January 2009. (I will continue to work at my full-time job until I am able to build a client base.) I have no idea how I will juggle a full-time job, part-time job at Healthworks (12-15 hours/week), and a blog, but I'm going to take it one day at a time... and try to not panic! I just need to keep reminding myself that all of my hard work will be worth it in the end!

So, guys, get ready to hear about my journey to become a personal trainer! Let's hope the road isn't too bumpy!

Question of the Day

Have you made a career change and/or seriously considered a career change? Details, please! :)




9/11. Never forget.

Oatmeal X 2

Good morning! My yoga class (vinyasa) this morning was fantastic! I'm relatively new to yoga, so usually in class, I'm worried about doing the poses correctly and not looking like a complete doofus. Today was the first time that I felt comfortable with my abilities and knowledge of the poses. I actually got a very good workout, and felt totally renewed when I finished. (My hamstrings and hips also felt amazing-- much looser!) It was awesome. I am starting to finally understand why people love yoga so much. I just needed to give it a chance! :)

Breakfast in the office was leftover pineapple and cantaloupe from our office party yesterday. Both fruits were still fresh and juicy!


I also had some Kashi instant oatmeal with 2 spoonfuls of peanut butter and a mug of coffee with soy milk and agave nectar. Also pictured: a dollar that I found on the floor of the cafe. Finders keepers! Maybe today is my lucky day?


After eating my first bowl of oatmeal, I was still hungry... like really hungry. I waited a good 15 minutes and sipped my coffee, thinking that maybe the feeling would go away. It never did, so I made myself another packet of Kashi instant oatmeal with a spoonful of peanut butter. My 2nd bowl definitely did the trick-- I'm stuffed now!


Question of the Day

When your hunger is insatiable (aka "bottomless pit"), how do you keep yourself on track?

Fast and Furious

I woke up feeling well-rested and ready to roll! I slept in a little this morning (6:00 am), so I only had about 40-45 minutes to exercise, but I was in the mood for a sweaty workout. I decided on a fast and furious 30 minute treadmill run. I warmed-up for 5 minutes with a slow jog, then got right into it with varying speeds and intervals, and then cooled down with a slow walk and some stretching. I was a sweaty mess by the end!

Before my workout, I drank a big glass of water and snacked on an Oatmeal Raisin Bar.


Breakfast this morning was egg whites on whole wheat toast with buffalo sauce and a sliced banana with a scoop of Barney Butter on the side-- a very filling meal!


As always, iced coffee to go... I forgot to take a photo at home/on my commute, so I snapped one when I got to work.


More on Sugar

I left all of the handouts from the workshop at home, so I'll post some of the tips for reducing sugar intake/cravings/dependence later tonight for you guys. From what I remember, other sweetener alternatives are:

• Agave nectar
• Stevia (powder and liquid form)
  
• Organic maple syrup
• Honey
• Blackstrap molasses
  

I apologize for the confusion about Sugar in the Raw. I emailed the health counselor for clarification, so I'll let you all know as soon as I hear back from her. Maybe I misunderstood her? Sorry, guys!


Question of the Day

Despite being "unhealthy" for you, what food(s) do you have trouble giving up?

Me: D&D iced coffee with milk and sugar-- it's so delicious! I don't think I will ever give it up! Also, peanut butter and chocolate chips. I try not to look at the ingredient list on the bag too often. (Denial!) I eat them almost every day, so I kind of hope that I will get sick of them soon! :)


Barney Butter Contest

I've received some very witty and hilarious poem entries already! Keep them coming! :)

Monday, Monday

Where did the weekend go!? I can't believe that I am already back at my desk at work! Blah. Let's hope this week flies by! (I have a feeling it will!)

I bounded out of bed this morning-- I was jazzed for a good workout! At the gym, I took a 30-minute Bosu Express class, followed by a 30-minute strength training class, and then I used a foam roller on my tight hamstrings, and stretched for another 10-15 minutes. The combo of foam rolling and stretching made my hamstrings feel a million times better! They were so incredibly tight!

More info about foam rollers:

The What and How of Form Body Rollers

Foam Roller Exercises for Easing Tight Muscles

Video from Diet.com

Foam Rolling for Runners


Breakfast this morning was the usual: Kashi instant oatmeal with banana slices and peanut butter. (Sorry my breakfasts have been so boring lately!) I also grabbed a sweetened iced coffee with soy milk from Starbucks. Breakfast with my Sigg full of H2O...


Question of the Day

What book/article has changed your outlook on healthy living?

Me: I have read lots of books that have changed my outlook for the better! My top choices are Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food and Barbar Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. They both opened my eyes to the importance of eating whole, natural, and local foods as much as possible. I'm currently reading Marion Nestle's What to Eat, which will probably be added to this list as well. It's been great so far!

------------------

And the much-requested Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe:

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 oz ranch dressing
• 6-10 oz Purdue Short Cuts chicken (chopped into small pieces)
• 6-8 oz Frank's Red Hot

Combine ingredients in large bowl, transfer to baking dish, and cook on 350*F for 25-30 minutes.

------------------

Buffalo Chicken Dip - Lower Fat Option
From Crissy, a reader

• 1 1/3 less fat brick of cream cheese
• 8 oz reduced fat cheddar
• 8 oz Maries low fat blue cheese (that good dressing that is usually found in the produce area of your grocery store)
• 1 10 oz. can chicken (found by the tuna, I usually buy Valley something...)
• 1/2-3/4 of the bottle of Frank's Red Hot BUFFALO SAUCE (not the normal hot sauce)
  

Toss all ingredients in a bowl and microwave for 3 minutes, stir, then microwave for another 3 minutes. I usually serve them with Baked Tostitos Scoops. Still not the healthiest recipe, but I feel less guilty.

Feel Good Friday

I love how great I feel after a tough, sweaty workout! It starts my day off right every time! (I just need to remind myself of this every morning at 5:15 am!) Oh yea, and the Starbucks afterwards is a feel-good treat too! :)

Today's workout was 30 minutes on the elliptical while catching up with the news, then a 30-minute Bosu class, followed by a 30-minute strength training class. (FYI: Bosu stands for BOth Sides Up. I didn't know that until recently.) I really pushed myself in the strength training class-- I felt a nice burn on a few of the exercises!

After the gym: Starbucks iced coffee with soy milk...


We had zero fruit in our apartment this morning (not even a single banana!), so I decided to splurge and purchase some fresh fruit from the School's cafe. My picks: strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, and grapes.


Once I finished eating my fruit, I made myself a packet of Kashi instant oatmeal with a scoop of peanut butter.


Question of the Day

When it comes to health, nutrition, and fitness, what's a bad habit that you would like to break?

Me: This is an easy one for me: I don't stretch! I know, so bad for me! However, in the last few months, I've been MUCH better about taking the time to stretch, especially before a workout. After a workout though, I still hit the showers without stretching sometimes! Bad, bad, bad. (Mental note: Stretch after every single workout!!!!!)

2 Scoops

Good morning! So glad that my headache is long gone. Last night was no fun!

This morning's breakfast was a big bowl of oat bran with banana, raisins, and Barney Butter. I started with one scoop of Barney Butter on top of my oat bran, but mid-bowl, I went back for a second scoop. My tastebuds love the BB-oat-banana-raisin combo!


Measurements:

1/3 cup oat bran (dry)
2/3 cup water
2 tbsp raisins
1 medium banana
2 tbsp Barney Butter


Leaving my apartment this morning, I noticed my neighbors are already celebrating the fall season. It put a smile on my face seeing an autumn wreath on their door. I love the fall and everything that goes along with it, especially pumpkin-flavored foods! :)


I also embraced the fall season this morning and used my Halloween travel mug, which I filled with iced coffee and vanilla hemp milk.


I thought this article was great-- just had to share their tips for eating well (and shedding pounds). They make a lot of sense to me.

Fight Flab with Ayurveda
From Health, September 2008

Ayurvedic medicine originated in India more than 5,000 years ago—and even then healthy eating was important. John Douillard, PhD, host of the new DVD, Ayurveda for Weight Loss ($20), offers these three tips for shedding pounds Ayurveda-style.

1. Honor mealtime
Turn off the TV and step away from your desk when it’s time to eat. By focusing on your food, you’ll be less likely to overeat.

2. Eat seasonally
Seasonal foods eaten at the right temperature (warm when it’s cold, cold when it’s warm) may boost your metabolism. For example: Eat berries in the spring, chilled watermelon in the heat of the summer, warm steamed veggies in the fall, and chili or stew on those cold winter days.

3. Rethink dinner
Make it a small, supplemental meal, like soup or salad, and eat it before 6 p.m. This approach extends your body’s fasting time before breakfast and helps you burn more fat.

Question of the Day

What are your favorite things about fall?

Me: All things pumpkin, cider donuts, football games, beautiful foliage, sweaters, hiking, apple picking, cool evening runs

Smooth Start

Don't ya hate it when your fresh produce goes bad on you? I just bought a container of strawberries on Monday, and they are already getting rotten spots on them. I guess that's what happens when you travel 3,000 miles from California. (I need do a better job shopping local-- for many reasons.) I'm pretty sure those are my last strawberries until next spring/summer. How sad. 

Anyway, my rotting strawberries were demanding to be made into a smoothie. My smoothie measurements:

• 1/2 cup diced strawberries
• 1/2 medium banana
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 5 ice cubes 

With my smoothie, I ate a toasted English muffin with Barney Butter (the smooth variety) and banana slices.

Today's breakfast: Strawberry-banana smoothie, English muffin with BB, and iced coffee with vanilla hemp milk and a little Sugar in the Raw.

Question of the Day

If you had $5 to spend on someone else, how would you spend it?

Back to School

Mr. Mal is back to school today! I couldn't tell if he was excited or dreading the first day back. I can't believe the summer flew by so quickly. I feel like it was just June!

Workout

I worked out at home today... well, in our building gym. I'm glad that I can still get a good workout there, especially when I am crunched for time and can't easily go downtown to HW.

This morning, I did a modified version of my trainer's strength workout (2 sets, no leg exercises) and 30 minutes on the elliptical. My legs were a little sore from yesterday's run, so I decided to give them a rest. I was actually surprised at the soreness-- I guess I need to get back into running again. I've been slacking! Maybe I should sign up for a fall race?

Breakfast

I had trouble deciding what to eat for breakfast this morning. (My cravings have been weird lately!) I was in the mood for sweet (surprise!) and chewy, so I automatically thought 'raisins.' (FYI-- This is basically how I build my meals. I think of 1-2 foods that I want to eat, and then create a meal by adding other ingredients from different food groups.)

Breakfast = raisins + honey + Barney Butter + banana slices + whole wheat toast

I cut my sandwich into 4 smaller pieces-- much more fun and easier to eat. I also drank some iced coffee with vanilla hemp milk while eating breakfast and hanging out with Mal before work. (I'm not going to lie, I like that we are back into a routine again!)

Question of the Day

What health/fitness websites do you visit most often and/or find most useful?

My few of my favs:

Food Network

Start Cooking

Women's Health Magazine

Map My Run

Yay, short week ahead!!!!!

Breakfast Paninis

Something strange happened this morning... I didn't wake up starving! I'd say 90% of my mornings immediately begin with the thought of food, and breakfast happens shortly after. Today, however, my mind and body were not at all interested in eating. I made myself an iced coffee with hemp milk around 8:30, but it was 10:00 before I started to get a little hungry. So weird. 

Last night's spicy dinner carried over into a breakfast craving. I was also in the mood for eggs, so Breakfast Paninis is was! I scrambled 3 eggs (2 for Mal, 1 for me), and then added them to a whole wheat wrap along with shredded cheddar cheese, salsa, black beans, and jalapenos. 

Before the panini maker:

After: 

Just before eating:

My breakfast panini was sooooooo filling! I ate the whole thing, but I don't think I should have. I'm almost too full now. Ugh, hate that. Well, at least, I won't need lunch anytime soon! 

Monday's Agenda:

• Grocery shopping
• Clean apartment
• Long run
• Thank you notes
• Find wing recipe (if you have a good one, please send it my way!)
• Dinner with Blain and Jaime

Just the Right Amount

Good morning! I woke up with just the right amount of soreness from yesterday's training session. I loved that my trainer challenged me the entire session, but I had such a wonderful time talking with her, I didn't feel like I was working that hard. It was a nice surprise waking up to the "what-a-great-workout" soreness. My trainer knew exactly what she was doing! :)

Breakfast this morning was another wrap panini made on our panini maker. Inside today was Barney Butter, half of a crumbled granola plank, ground flaxseed meal, and a few raisins. Again, I cut it into "handy" triangles.  

I also drank some homemade iced coffee with vanilla hemp milk and a little sugar. 

Busy Saturday Ahead

My sister and I are going to a wedding exhibit ("Wedded Bliss, The Marriage of Art and Ceremony") at the Peabody Essex Museum later this morning. I received the tickets as a wedding gift from my aunt and cousin (Hi, Andrea!), and what better person to take with me than my recently-engaged sister. We both love art (and weddings!), so I think we're going to enjoy it a lot! We're planning lunch in Salem after the museum. (Salem is super cute in the fall!) Unfortunately, I don't know the area at all, but I'm sure we'll find something-- perhaps a cafe or sandwich shop. 

After lunch, I am heading to Healthworks for a quick workout-- showering and getting ready there. I'm going to try to stop by a friend's BBQ near our apartment, then Mal and I are headed to the North End to have pizza and beer with our friends at their apartment. We volunteered to pick up pizza-- any recommendations for North End? Is Pizzeria Regina our best bet?

I'm off! It's go, go, go today!