Category Archives: Snacks
Off the Clock
This week’s long run is officially completed!
I’d penciled five miles in on Monday’s schedule, but impromptu dinner plans prompted me to postpone them until Tuesday.
I started working on psyching myself up around lunchtime:
{Romaine, cucumber, carrot, chickpea and gorgonzola salad, side of honey mustard.}
I don’t even have a Pinterest and still managed to spend a half hour browsing running photos for inspirational mantras.
A little later in the day, I put some carbs in the tank with the best flavor of Clif bar known to man:
White chocolate macadamia nut for the win.
To make the run more interesting, I plotted a path through a gorgeous part of town I was introduced to last weekend.
I was taken to the Orlando Science Center last Sunday, and on the walk over, I fell in love with the scenic roads around the museum-heavy strip of north Orlando.
Running past the museums yesterday was almost as fun as wandering through them last weekend!
The only downside to the run was the pretty heavy peppering of stoplights. Yesterday’s route was dotted with at least five major lights {and plenty of other short stops}. The lights are usually a welcome relief, but I’m never quite sure how to handle them when tracking my time.
{Without accounting for forced stops at the traffic lights, the 5 miles took me 52:38}.
Because I have to stop at red lights whether I want to or not {runners may be a crazy breed, but not quite crazy enough to dart into oncoming Orlando traffic}, I’ve been pausing the Soleus while I catch my breath and wait for the walk signal to flicker on.
I have no problem leaving the clock ticking when I take walking breaks on my own volition, but waiting for the longer lights to turn green can chew two or three full minutes off the clock. I don’t want those wasted minutes to skew my final stats.
Unfortunately, race clocks don’t stop ticking, and I also don’t want to chart my training using unrealistic patterns. A break is a break, and if my body is used to them, it’ll be hard to perform at the same pace without them come race day.
Decisions, decisions!
Even though I spent the last mile of my run mulling over my clock-stopping strategy, the debate was quickly forgotten once dinner was underway.
Long run, hungry girl!
My bowl was packed with quinoa, vegan spinach artichoke dip and tomatoes – I’m not sure I stopped to chew, but I am sure that you won’t want to miss the recipe for the dip coming your way tomorrow. See you then!
If you run outdoors with a tracking watch, how do you handle forced breaks for traffic? Do you take a breather off the clock or let the minutes count against your final time?
Sorry for Walking Into You, Mr. Celebrity
Salads have been popping up around here a lot more frequently, haven’t they?
Not that more greens are ever a bad thing!
My coworker suggested an Eden Fresh lunch run, and y’all know there’s only one answer to that…
On our way out of the building, I may or may not have walked directly into a dude – a tall, tan, sunglass-sporting dude with a blonde chick in tow. I apologized and kept on walking, but my coworker just stood there, stuttering and blinking hilariously fast.
When he collected himself, he informed me that I’d just walked into Johnny Damon, a pretty big MLB player.
According to my coworker, he’s kind of a big ish in baseball.
My response: “Well that’s nice. Can we go get our food now?”
Just goes to show how little I know about baseball. One thing I do know, though, is my food!
These Oskri bars are the bomb!
I picked up a few on clearance at TJMaxx {not sketchy at all, y’all} and at the cashew and cranberry bar before this afternoon’s workout. I really like that the protein is a rice protein and the entire bar is soy-free {instead of the usual “soy protein isolate” you get in protein bars}.
Looks to me like it did the trick – I was full and focused through my entire run, and ultimately shaved 16 seconds off my last two-mile time.
Take that, Johnny Damon 
Ever had a run-in with a celebrity? Do you think you could play it cool or would you be flipping out all over the place?
A Performance Boost for Warm Weather Workouts
Is anyone else excited that it’s starting to stay lighter later? I love that there was enough daylight to hit the pavement and clear my head after a mentally challenging day at the office.
A quick mile and a half was all I needed to wind down after spending the day writing about the ghosts of biology classes past.
Somewhere along the line, I carved out a quick break for brain food:
Tempeh deli salad, romaine and an orange.
As well as happiness-and-sanity food:
The caramel kisses are addictive, but the real mood-booster was the fresh air at the end of the day:
Thanks to the longer, lighters days, I’m also reminded that spring and summer are right around the corner – and along with them, sweatier outdoor runs!
Gearing up to get the most out of your warm-weather workouts? Cool your neck, according to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Hot environmental conditions can slow down an endurance athlete by about 10 percent of their time. Bad news for us Florida runners! When athletes’ necks were cooled with a cooling collar, however, they actually increased their performance by up to six percent.
The Roehampton University study also found that athletes exercised longer before voluntarily terminating their workouts when their necks were cooled. Better time and more stamina? I’m game!
Do you notice a difference in your athletic performance when you work out in the heat {or in the cold?} Do you have a specific climate that your body naturally prefers?
Sometimes the Hardest Thing and the Right Thing are the Same
Who else was super excited for the Fray’s new album to drop yesterday?
Scars and Stories was the first thing I wanted to check out on Spotify yesterday, and it fit perfectly with the overcast, foggy day we were having in Orlando. Is it just me, or does their music seem to be a rainy day soundtrack? Overall, I didn’t like the album as much as I liked their previous CD, but The Fighter is a good song to check out if you’re a Fray fan.
Come gym time, I was definitely pulling on The Fray lyrics to get my butt moving. A nap sounded so much more appealing than exercise, but I knew a workout was the right choice.
Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same…
A quick snack while I procrastinated:
Followed by a half hour on the elliptical and a mini triceps circuit, three times through:
| Triceps dips | 15 |
| Triangle pushups (on knees) | 12 |
| Wide-grip bench press | 15 |
Even though it was a short, not-too-intense workout, it got my blood pumping, my energy levels back up and my appetite re-charged. Snacks were necessary as I decided on dinner!
A giant egg, provolone and tempeh bacon scramble sounded perfect. I’m definitely a salty sweater, and my body tends to crave salt, salt and more salt after a workout.
I’m tellin ya, the TB is where it’s at! Breakfast may not be too much different from last night’s dinner…
Are you looking forward to any new music? Any new musical discoveries? I’m so excited for new albums by Cavo and Shinedown to drop in the next few months.
My Inner Megatron
When the footballs come out, so does my inner competitor!
More on that in a minute. First, the fuel behind this football champ*:
*By champ, I mean ‘”someone who didn’t drop the ball or trip over her own two feet”.” That’s a REAL champion right there.
I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted for breakfast, so I piled everything that sounded good onto a ciabatta slab from Whole Foods.
Spinach + sundried tomatoes + Tofutti cream cheese totally hit the spot!
I helped myself to a few bites of the vegetables and ranch that magically appeared in the office kitchen:
Kudos to anyone who consistently snacks on raw vegetables. I enjoyed the single broccoli floret, but the other veggies just weren’t my cup of tea. At least I took advantage of the veggie action – the rest of my lunch was primarily protein:
It’s really a shame that Amy’s Indian Dal soup was rated the worst legume-based soup in America for it’s nutritional stats. Despite the high fat content, I loved the 18 grams of protein and the super-flavorful spices. As far as I’m concerned, it’s still a respectable choice.
A bit more protein before a mile’s worth of interval sprints and a few basic bicep-sculpting moves:
Then straight to the local high school track for football tryouts!
With a inter-office football game planned for Wednesday afternoon, we hit the field for a bit of practice – and some friendly competition for starting slots on the roster. My inner Megatron came out and I actually surprised myself with my receiving skills. I may not be the most coordinated person, but with a little athleticism and a BIG competitive nature, I managed to hold my own 
SUPAH psyched for tomorrow. The opposing team better watch their backs!
Do you consider yourself to be athletic? Have you ever competed in any team sports? I was a cheerleader in high school {NOT a sport – sorry!} and I also played basketball. Apparently, I was ultra-competitive back then too; I remember fouling out nearly every game!
The Ground Didn’t Catch Me
I have got some seriously shaky legs this morning – I swung out of bed and either yesterday’s circuit workout kicked my booty, or the ground didn’t catch me like it was supposed to.
Since leg exercises and I go together like Limburger and Ghirardelli and I pretty much never do them, I’ve got my money on the former.
The culprit (x3 – I was shooting for x4, but time was dwindling and my legs were begging for mercy, so I cut things short!)
| 1/4 mile run | 7.5 mph (8 m/m pace), 5 percent incline |
| 50 jumping jacks | |
| Chair pose | 30 second hold |
| Exercise ball squats | 10 reps |
| Plies | 10 reps |
| Calf raises | 15 reps |
| Plyometric jumps | 10 reps |
That’s three strength sessions in the last three days – what’s gotten into me?
Quick little snack to tide me over between the gym and catching the Sugar Bowl with a group of friends:
We all take turns cooking, and they are always so thoughtful to provide something meatless for me! Since I don’t want to put a huge burden on them to come up with a veggie protein source, I usually have a small high-protein snack before I go – something to give me the nutrients I need but not so big that I can’t enjoy the main dish.
After my wobble-legged moment this morning, I managed to support myself long enough to stand up and make a green smoothie:
Breakfast, round two coming up courtesy of Starbucks!
What’s the last workout that really got your muscles shaking?
Groupon Girl Strikes Again
Groupon has led me to try so many amazing places that I’d probably never try on my own. Last night’s Groupon-induced trip to Artichoke Red, an entirely vegan market in Orlando, was no exception.
Every time I’ve driven past the small building, I’ve dismissed it, but with a $7 for $10 voucher I decided to venture over to see what kind of goodies were in stock.
Artichoke was TINY, but there was a fun selection of health food goodies, including some things I can’t find anywhere else in Orlando. Even though I’m not 100% vegan, it’s awesome for people who are dedicated to veganism (or have dairy and egg allergies!) and want to shop quickly without having to check the ingredient lists for hidden animal products or derivatives.
Since I’ve been dying to try the cheese sub “Teese,” I pounced on both flavors with my Groupon voucher. I rounded out the order with my all-time favorite Primal jerky.
Post-shopping dinnah:
Homemade summer rolls!
Trying my hand at sushi gave me the confidence to try out another one of my restaurant faves: Thai summer rolls. Rice paper is surprisingly easy to work with (and apparently extra tasty in “deeping” sauce).
Someone needs a better translator 
For my deeping sauce, I picked up a jarred (and fish paste-free) peanut sauce, which was the perfect topper for the cabbage and carrot rolls.
So. Freaking. Good.
Followed much later by a batch of oven-made French Fries (I blame a weekend with the Coach and his impeccable tater baking skills):
I also took last night as the opportunity to try an AWESOME fry recipe from my Secret Recipe Club blog – My Hobbie Lobby. I followed her garlicky baked potato wedges recipe (with thinner-cut fries since I love them small) and was crazy about the seasonings. I hardly even touched my ketchup.
Claire has a super inviting recipe index, and I really want to try out her recipes for vegetable fritters and her Palak Paneer – she actually lives in India, so if I trust anyone’s recipe for those dishes, it’ll be her. The fries were perfect for my craving, so I can’t wait to discover how delish her other goodies are.
What’s one food your significant other (or best friend, sibling, roommate or parent!) makes so well that you can’t help but crave?
{So Glad That} Some Things Never Change
Why is it that my college town is the smallest, sketchiest place I’ve ever lived…but the place I always look forward the most to visiting?
All week, I had been looking forward to Saturday night. One of my friends was celebrating her birthday at some of our favorite haunts in Lakeland, and I was counting down the hours till I got to head over.
I snagged a snack to curb my hunger on the road (and finally joined the honeycrisp lovers club):
The next eight hours were a page straight out of 2008!
It was super strange to see the apartment where I lived right after graduating – the neighborhood was just the same as I remembered!
It was oddly comforting to see how some things were exactly the same, even though almost everybody I went to school with has moved away and gone on to bigger and better things. Life has changed so quickly in the last several years!
Then again…some things will never change – like my morning sweet tooth!
I’ll never outgrow cereal for breakfast 
And just like that, it’s time to head in to office to do the whole “career” thang. Have a great one!
Tell me – are you weirdly nostalgic like I am?
Fueling for a {Shopping} Marathon
You guys blow me away. Seriously – all of your encouragement {and wise advice!} about entering the 5k has got me PUMPED for the race!
Although I was thinking about going for a run last night, I ended up taking a 10 mile round trip bike ride to run some errands. Little did I know it would turn into a shopping marathon!
First stop: Target. I ran in to pick up a prescription, and ended up passing right by* the food section.
*By “right by”, I mean “detoured around the entire store, through the Missoni clearance, into the dressing room and back out again, through the shoes and then into the food section”.
When I saw the section with squeezable baby food, the gears started turning.
No sweeteners, no preservatives, portable no-utensils-necessary pouch of just fruit and veggies? I’m willing to overlook the fact that I’m a touch outside of their six-month-old demographic…
Can I just tell you how awesome these are? Don’t think of it as baby food – think of it as portable applesauce with an undetectable dose of green!
Stop 2: AAA.
Suffice it to say I won’t be at work on Friday 
After the hilly ride, I came back home exhausted and ravenous. I needed a large and in charge dinner – stat!
Pizza always does the trick (especially when the ratio of dough to toppings is easily 4:1!)
My favorite Publix dough was the base for spinach, artichoke hearts, mushrooms and Garlic Gold.
I was literally taking my last bite when a Facebook notification popped up that a one-hour-only sale was taking place at the Lululemon Outlet in Orlando. Since I really had nothing better to do (cough cleaning cough), I tossed on my flip flops and checked it out. Somehow, one stop at Lulu turned into two hours wandering the various stores…
Between the biking and the shop-a-thon, I was in desperate need of some refuel when I landed at home.
I polished off a bowl of butternut squash + marinara approximately five point eight seconds before faceplanting into my bed. Sometimes shopping is all the cardio a girl needs
Question of the Morning:
Would you ever try the baby food puree as a way to sneak in some extra fruits and veggies?
What’s your favorite non-gym cardio?
It’s All in the Details
My brain is jam-packed with useless details. I couldn’t tell you anything I learned in freshman science or what my mother’s telephone number is, but I do remember useless bits of information such as:
- I wore a green sweetheart-necked sundress to my 16th birthday dinner, where I ordered minestrone soup at Olive Garden.
- My first cell phone was a massive 17-pound Motorola with a sparkly blue cover and silver buttons.
- The couch in my childhood home was an outrageously ugly red and cranberry plaid print.
- I was wearing a green UnderArmour tank the very first time I ever ran for a full mile.
This flood of useless memories all started last night, when I painted my nails with a sparkly hot pink polish that I vividly remember wearing on my first date with the Coach, just over a year and a month ago. (For the record, I also remember that I was wearing J.Crew from head to toe and jammed out to Ke$ha while I drove to meet him at Chilis)
I never said I was a hand model.
Sometimes, it’s the little details that make all the difference…
Like adding a splash of vanilla almond milk to iced coffee:
Like adding a pinch of cinnamon to a batch of orange scones:
Like blueberries baked into your waffles (Van’s knows what’s up)
And yes, three waffles with chia seeds and jam constitutes a meal. I’m – ahem – carboloading for a workplace bowling tournament tonight. Hopefully I can kick butt break 100 again!
Question of the Morning:
Do you have a brain for details? What are some of the most random details that you remember about your life?
