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YO-RUN-GA and One Chore a Day

November 1, 2012 By Laura

Who’s sick of my repetitive posting?

 

I know I am!

Today we have my friend Kat back (see her intro post here) to talk about how she fits it all in.  As I said before, she may be the only person I know who’s even busier than I am.  Today she has so great tips on how she does it all, and encouragement for those of us who struggle to stretch (I have TERRIBLE discipline here!).

Meanwhile, I’ll be eating asparagus and packing for this weekend’s competition!  And packing my post-competition treat of choice:

$15 nut butter.  I think I earned this one.

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I’ve been so excited to post again! Ever since my first post, I’ve been brainstorming, writing down ideas, taking pictures of my food and random self portraits, like me in a mirror at the Stonewall Bar Association Awards dinner on Thursday night (who am I?).

I have a TON to share with you guys, but I will have to pace and limit myself.  Really, I should write a novel, but who has the time!?

 

If I learned anything from my 30-day-challenge, I learned it was super hard to fit in as much running as I like while doing at least one yoga class a day.  Solution?  Yo-RUN-ga.

Yes, running incorporated with yoga.  I had to run commute the 5-ish miles to and from yoga, or show up to yoga about 30-45-minutes early, throw my mat down, and go for a short run.  I also made a couple of run dates immediately after yoga to make sure I fit them in.  I had to cut back to running about 40 miles per week during the challenge, but I would be insane without running.  As most of you know (and some have pointed out), you make time for what’s important.

Like I tell my sister when I give her a pep talk, you don’t have to run/walk/workout/lift for an hour to get a workout.  You can spend 15 or 30 minutes, and you’re still beating someone who is sitting on the couch!

 

 

A friend of my from my Ultra-running group, GUTS, had a status update one day that said “Yo-RUN-Ga”… I didn’t get it.

My thoughts exactly:  “I would never do yoga. I don’t like it, I don’t have the patience for it.”  (Editor’s note: That is my sentiment toward yoga!)  And look at me now!

 

My attempt at a self portrait after running to yoga last week.

 

What changed?  That friend who started to yo-run-ga got me to come to her yoga studio, Atlanta Hot Yoga (yes, all the classes are hot, even the flow classes—I don’t like classes that aren’t hot).  I started on a 20-day Groupon, and I was HOOKED!  I realized that yoga is really great for ANY athlete. I was stretching for the first time (a lot of runners are notorious for lack of stretching), I was sweating my ASS off (a clean sweat), it caused an increase in my metabolism, an upping my immune system, and I was “coming down” for a minute.  Honestly, it’s an escape, where I just think about my breath, and not my go-go-go lifestyle.

I also set an intention as part of my practice, which helps me to work on things I typically wouldn’t just work on—patience, seeing beauty in myself and others, accepting imperfections, getting out of my comfort zone, “just being here”—sitting with a feeling that might be uncomfortable and accepting it, and being grounded and strong.

 

 

Besides, run-commuting to yoga, work, and various other places, one of the other major time-savers that I practice is one-chore-a-day.  I don’t know when or how it started but it works!

I almost never have to clean my whole apartment.  (Editor’s note: Good… can you come clean mine?)  Sometimes my one chore is as small as picking up my bedroom, emptying the dishwasher (my least favorite chore ever), a load of laundry, a quick sweep of the floor.  If you make a decision to do ONE chore a day, whenever you do a bigger clean, it is much more manageable and takes far less time.  Cleaning the bathtub is a prime example of something that if you put off too long will take twice the amount of time.  (Soap scum gets stickier over time, doesn’t it!?!)  I get to mine at least once every week and a half, and it takes me about 5 minutes to thoroughly clean.

This really helped me last weekend when I had to go to three yoga classes, shop for a bridesmaid dress for my cousin’s wedding, attend a wedding in Tennessee (my beautiful friend Kelly is a WIFE!!), and still get all my school work and other work in!  Yay for a clean kitchen and freshly mopped floors! Although, what I really need to do is give my cats a bath!  Seriously, they’ve been giving me the, “Mom, we need some more attention, please,” faces all too frequently lately!

 

 

I am already looking forward to my next post! You have no idea the amazingness of the 15-page single-spaced Word document with ideas that has accumulated on my computer!  All fun stuff! I hope you want to tune-in again!

In the coming two weeks, I will be dog-sitting for a friend, taking the MPRE, going to Arizona to bridesmaid for my cousin’s wedding, writing a 14 page paper and a 35 page paper, and still going to class and working. AYE!!!!! But I seriously love the way I feel when I get it all done!  Yay for sleep!  (Editor’s note: And having a celebration dinner with me!!!)

***

Kat’s Questions:

What keeps you sane when you are busy? Running? Comfort Food?

What is your least favorite chore?

Have you ever tried something you didn’t think you would like and end up loving it!?

Are you totally excited to hear about Laura’s competition next week!?!??!

 

Filed Under: Fitness, Guest Post, Running Tagged With: figure competition, Kat, Nuttzo, peanut butter, running, workout, Yo-Run-Ga, yoga

5 To Go + Healthy BBQ Sauce

October 29, 2012 By Laura

This week is a lesson in endurance.

“Prolonged endurance tames the bold.” – Lord Byron

When I was playing roller derby, we used to have Monday night endurance practices.  After 2 hours of balls-to-the-wall skating until you wanted to puke, Coach Jim would line up up for 30 more laps.  He’d always announced the little “surprise” at the end of practice by saying “30 to go!”

I always started out going as fast as possible to get it over with, but by the last 5 my legs were shaking and the only reason I was still moving was so I could go home.

Today I only have “5 to go.”  My first figure competition is Saturday.  I’m tired.  Each day I’m pushing myself as hard as possible with every workout, running sprints, doing 30 mins of posing practice, and keeping up with my 100 pull ups.  That familiar “if I can just push through this last bit, I can rest” feeling has returned.

Not to mention the diet changes… more on that Wednesday!


With those diet changes, I can’t even eat this BBQ sauce.  I’m glad I did it when I did!

For those who aren’t 5 days out from a competition, this is a great open for a clean BBQ sauce.  It has no sugar or sodium added… and it’s actually good.

Healthy BBQ Sauce - sugar and salt free!

There are two schools of thought on BBQ Sauce – one likes a more ketchup-like sauce, and the other is a vinegar-based sauce.  I don’t feel the need to choose!  My sauce is tomato-based and laced with that satisfying vinegar tang.

Healthy BBQ Sauce - sugar and salt free!

Thick and satisfying, this is the perfect topping for just about any protein.  You could even toss some red pepper and broccoli slaw in it for a quick BBQ veggie roast.  That was a really a really tasty combo.

In this photo shoot, I sliced tempeh into thin strips and coated one side with the sauce.  I baked it at 375 for 10 mins, then flipped and coated the other side and baked for another 8 mins.  Easy!

Healthy BBQ Sauce - sugar and salt free!

Served here with side of roasted winter squash, asparagus, zucchini, carrots, red onion and sage.  My leftover sauce is n the freeze for safe-keeping for when I can have this again!

Recipe after workout recap…


Workout Recap

There’s nothing more disappointing than seeing a light at the end of the tunnel and having it suddenly shut off.  Friday I got my final workout plan from my trainer.  I thought Sunday was going to be a rest day… it wasn’t.  Turns out you don’t workout 2 days before a show, so there will be no rest until Thursday.  Lovely.

We took measurements at Saturday’s workout.  I haven’t gained much in terms of inches – my waist and chest are actually smaller – but my body fat is certainly lower!  I’d like to find one of those Bod Pods to get an accurate measurement at the end of the week.  I’d also like to have to time to actually go do it.

There will be pic ad nausea post-comp, but for now a little sneak peak…

Workout Recap (10/20 – 10/28):

  • Monday – Rest
  • Tuesday – Legs, 2 mile walk 100 pull ups
  • Wednesday – Back/Tris, Calf raises, 1 mile incline walk, 100 pull ups 
  • Thursday – Shoulders/Glutes, 1 mile incline walk, 100 pull ups
  • Friday – Chest/Bis, 100 pull ups, Calf raises, 2 mile incline walk
  • Saturday – Legs (with trainer), 100 pull ups, 2 mile sprints/incline walk
  • Sunday – Shoulders, 100 pull ups, Calf raises, 1.5 mile sprints/incline walk

Healthy BBQ Sauce - sugar and salt free!

Healthy BBQ Sauce

  • 15 oz can tomato sauce (no salt added)
  • 1/3 C apple cider vinegar
  • 2 T ancho chili powder
  • 1 T smoked paprika
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • Liquid smoke, to taste

Place tomato sauce in a small pot over medium heat. Add vinegar and spices, stirring and tasting as you go. Add the liquid smoke to taste. Start with 5-6 drops and add from there – a little goes a long way! Allow to simmer 5-6 mins more to allow flavors to combine. Taste and adjust flavors again before serving.

Note: You might add a bit of Stevia or other sweetener here if you like a sweeter BBQ sauce. I prefer the vinegar-based.

***

It sounds like I’m complaining… but I’m just tired.  I’m really excited/nervous/ready to get ‘er done!!!

Do you prefer vinegar or ketchup-like BBQ?

What inspires you to push through?  Any good quotes or songs to share?

Filed Under: Fitness, Recap, Recipes, Roller Derby, Running, Weights Tagged With: dinner, figure competition, gluten-free, lunch, protein, tempeh, vegan, vegetarian, workout

Guest Blogging 101

October 18, 2012 By Laura

My cooler is packed, I’m ready to go…

 

 

Yes, this is a Rachel Ray bag.

I wouldn’t have done it… but it was the perfect size and isn’t too loud to bring into a business meeting.  #sorryimalittlesorry

Packing for this trip was a lesson in being prepared.  It didn’t take as long as you would think; doing a massive weekly food prep is the biggest time-saver I know.  It certainly saved me here – this is a pic of the 8 meals I’ll have to eat while on the road.  Normally I wouldn’t quite go to this extreme, but with just over 2 weeks until my first figure competition, I’m not taking any risks!

 

Shirt from Rawxies. 

 

I’ll be sharing some tips and tricks when I get back, but today we have a guest blogger!  My friend Kat will be doing a bi-weekly guest spot from now on.  I told her to write about whatever she wanted… so we’ll all be surprised together!  🙂

Seriously, I trust this girl.  She’s a HUGE inspiration when it comes to determination, athletics, and taking time to enjoy life despite being just a busy (maybe ever busier) than I am.  I’ll quite rambling and let her introduce herself.

Heeeeeeere’s Kat!

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I’ve never written a blog before, but I think I’m going to become a regular @ Laura’s Sprint to the Table. I don’t Twitter or Instagram, and I’m not great on Facebook, but I LOVE blogs.  When presented with an opportunity to do a bi-weekly guest blog for Laura, I couldn’t pass it up!

This is who I am:

 

My name is Kat, and I would say that I’m random and silly, overly outgoing, and I’m pretty extreme!

I live life to the fullest and I’m not sure I was ever taught how to do something in moderation (editor’s note: go big or go home!).  I’m a 3rd year law student (read—so busy I don’t know what to do with myself) with two part-time jobs.  I’m also an ultra runner, and triathlete (I say that, but I’ve only ever done two triathlons, both Half Ironman distance – note, extreme).  I’ve never run a marathon, but I decided to run a 50 mile Ultra in September.  I’m also in the middle of a 30 day yoga challenge—one class a day for 30 days.

That doesn’t sound extreme to you?  Then just try it!

 

 

I’m also a huge foodie! I love to eat out (a lot of times out of necessity), and cook at home (a real treat because of my busy schedule).  I also have a real talent for making the most randomly delicious meals and snacks, without spending more than 5-10 minutes in the kitchen.

Since this is an intro, I thought I would give you a brief overview of why I think I’m a great guest blogger for Laura’s Sprint to the Table! (Yes, I’m also modest…) <– editor’s note: add that to the list of things we have in common.

 

Ways we are alike:
  • Focus on fitness – for me it’s part of my daily life in some form or another
  • Love for all things foodie – we are both completely obsessed with greens and protein
  • Love for life
  • Very, very busy all the time!

 

Ways we are different:
  • I run long distances—extremely long
  • My main diet restriction is that I’m gluten-free (and NOT because it’s a trend—I need to be for my health!) 
  • I do yoga
  • I don’t lift any more (not since wrestling in college, really)

 

 

My goal is to show you how you can seemingly pack more hours in to a day by being hyper-efficient, get everything you want to get done, DONE, have a ton of fun, feel like wonder woman, and still sleep 8 hours almost every single night.  Yes, it’s possible!

I will probably bore you with my own “strange but goods,” my crazy training schedule, my amazing eat-out adventures, and random crap in between as I see necessary!

Oh, and I would love feedback as I get the ball rolling… since I’m such a newbie at this!

***

I need to make one of those popular “That moment” graphics saying “That  moment when you pull out a can of tuna during a meeting.”

Kat’s Questions:

Do you ever feel like you can’t fit it all into one week?!

When did you  last say “I’m too busy,” or “I don’t have time to run/workout/etc.”?

 

Filed Under: Fitness, Guest Post, Running, Travel Tagged With: figure competition, Kat, protein, running, workout, yoga

Fig and Edamame Salad with Sriracha-Lime Vinaigrette

September 17, 2012 By Laura

I have a few confessions:

  • I abuse the 5 second rule… yet I’m not a religious floor-cleaner.
  • I ate a giant piece of flour-less chocolate cake this weekend.  It was sprinkled with flaky sea salt and drizzled with olive oil.  And it was worth every sugar-y calorie.
  • Sometimes rather than washing the sheets I just wash the pillowcases.
  • It’s not unusual for me to “fluff” the laundry no less than 3 times.
  • My least favorite part of blogging is taking and editing pictures.  Can’t I just Instagram everything?!
  • I spaced out and missed last week’s Meatless Mondays from A-Z challenge.  Sorry Heather.

Last week’s theme was edamame, which I LOVE.  I did link up a tasty old recipe – Edamame Jicima Salad – I still felt like I owed Heather a little something extra this week… so I went for the 1-2 punch with the ingredient themes.

You might remember when I did this with the Overachieving Cauliflower Crust Pizza.  I used all 3 of the first ingredients – artichokes, beets, and capers.

For my recipe this week, I made a gain salad of Kamut berries (see this post for more info on Kamut), edamame and figs.  Never one to eat a mild dish, I spiced this up with my favorite flavors: cilantro and sriracha.

I know there are a few of you who aren’t fans of cilantro.  Basil or parsley would also work well here!

The figs may sound a little odd to add to this combo (another Strange But Good candidate?), but their sweetness worked well to tame the sriracha heat.  The slight sweetness of the edamame also had a cooling effect.  I am a texture feign, so I especially adored the chewy Kamut berries with the crisp edamame and soft figs.

I wanted to keep it vegan for Heather, but another great add here would be some Greek yogurt.  Kamut berries are high in protein.  The yogurt would give you even more protein, and also add a luscious creaminess.

Aren’t figs gorgeous?

[Tweet “Figs and Sriracha come together for a sweet heat in this whole grain salad!”]


Workout Recap

It has been quite the workout week!  Monday’s leg day with my trainer left me damn near paralyzed.  My second-day-soreness on Wednesday left me gripping the handicap rail in the bathroom.

BUT… it’s paying off.  This exciting news this week came on Saturday (leg day #2).  I got the green light from my trainer.  I AM competing in November!!!!!!

No, I won’t be to the point we want yet.  I’ll probably be the leanest person there (read: too lean), but I’m going to work even harder to grow between now and then (and maybe have another piece of chocolate cake).  BAM.

Workout Recap (9/10 – 9/16):

  • Monday – Legs (w/ trainer), 2 mile walk
  • Tuesday – Rest, 2 mile walk
  • Wednesday – Back/Triceps, Calf raises, 3 mile walk
  • Thursday – Shoulders/Butt, 2 mile walk
  • Friday – Chest/Biceps, Calf raises
  • Saturday – Legs (w/ trainer), 2 mile walk, 50 push-ups
  • Sunday – Rest-ish… 2.8 mile sprints

Fig and Edamame Kamut Berries with Sriracha-Lime Vinaigrette

by Laura Hall

Prep Time: 10 mins

Keywords: entree salad low-sugar nut-free soy-free vegan vegetarian fig kamut lime cilantro Asian

Ingredients (2 servings, easily doubled)

  • 1 T cilantro, finely chopped
  • Juice of 1/2 large lime
  • 1/2 tsp avocado oil
  • 1/2 tsp chili garlic sriracha
  • 1/4 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 C cooked Kamut berries (or other whole grain)
  • 1/4 C edamame
  • 3 fresh mission figs, chopped

Instructions

In a small bowl, whisk together cilantro, lime juice, oil, sriracha, and cumin to make the vinaigrette.

Place berries in medium bowl and toss with vinaigrette.

Stir in edamame and figs.

Powered by Recipage

***

Time for important decisions… like what color should my suit be.  Blue?  Green?  Aqua?

What is your confession today?

Is your next-day or second-day soreness worse?

Filed Under: Fitness, Products, Recap, Recipes, Running, Weights Tagged With: Asian, dinner, figs, figure competition, lunch, MMAZ, protein, vegan, vegetarian, workout

Lemon-Thyme Zucchini Salmon Cakes

September 4, 2012 By Laura

Important tip: read labels.

 

I’m new to this seafood thing.  It still makes me a little squeamish to touch it.

When I finally located low-sodium canned salmon I was so excited that I neglected to check the label to ensure it was de-boned with the skin removed.  It most certainly was not.

 

 

WHY would anyone want canned salmon with the skin and bones?!  They DO NOT.  I’ll gladly pay an extra dollar or two for that task to be done.

Stubbornness trumped squeamishness, and I dug through the damn can of salmon removing all the icky bits.

 

 

It paid off.  These cakes were the best seafood creation I’ve made yet!

I first worried I was adding too much lemon, but discovered that it only makes salmon more delicious.  The fresh thyme goes well with lemon, and adds a light slightly sweet accent.

 

 

These cakes are kept moist by the grated zucchini.  I loved its creamy and faintly nutty flavor made the salmon that much richer.

A bit of coriander goes well here, as it also has a bit of a nutty, citrus-y flavor that is well-balanced with the lemon and thyme.

 

 

I paired my cakes with a simple salad of raw asparagus, roasted beets, and chopped broccoli.  A quick toss is rice vinegar and pepper kept it light and refreshing.  Asparagus is surprisingly high in protein; that and the fiber from the broccoli make this a pleasantly filling salad.

The earthy beets against the crunch of the sweet, raw greens is fantastic.  Not to mention the colors – I’ve said it before, but colorful food just tastes better.  I made it several times this past week!

Recipes at bottom of post.

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Workout Recap

Plantar fasciitis is a weird thing.  It hurt all week, and I decided to resume regular leg-day workouts as long as it didn’t make it worse.  Lo and behold, after 2 hard leg days it finally QUIT hurting.  Sunday was supposed to be a rest day, but I was so exited to be pain-free that I ran some sprints (my only trainer-approved cardio, as sprinting is good for the glutes).  “Sprint” is used loosely… I was so sore from leg day that they were more like sprints in slow motion. 🙂

I also found the secret to watching football without cable TV.  Rather than going to the bar like I would have in the past, I went to the gym and took a leisurely walk on the treadmill while I happily watched GA Tech play on ESPN… happily until the very end when we lost the game.  *sigh*

Even more exciting was a new bicep curl PR.  After a couple of years trying to get over the 15 lb hump, I was finally able to curl 20s!!!  I was grinning like the Cheshire Cat, looking around to see if anyone noticed how much of a beast I was.  LOL!  Of course, so one was tracking my curl weight, but whatever.  This is me trying to play it cool in the locker room:

 

Workout Recap (8/27 – 9/3):

  • Monday – Chest/Biceps, Calf raises, 2 mile walk
  • Tuesday – Legs (w/ trainer), 1 mile walk
  • Wednesday – Back/Triceps, Calf raises
  • Thursday – Shoulders/Butt, 2 mile walk
  • Friday – Chest/Bis, 2 mile walk, Calf raises
  • Saturday – Legs (w/ trainer)
  • Sunday – Rest, Sprints
  • Monday – Back/Bis, Calf raises, 5.5 mile football walk

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Beet, Asparagus, and Broccoli Salad

  • 1 small beet, roasted
  • 1/2 C asparagus, chopped
  • 1/2 C broccoli, chopped
  • 1 T red onion, diced
  • 1 T rice vinegar
  • Freshly ground pepper, to taste
Place all ingredients in a small bowl and toss to combine.
Serves 1 (easily doubled).

_______________________________________________________________________________________

 

Lemon-Thyme Zucchini Salmon Cakes

  • 1 7oz canned salmon (no salt added), deboned with skin removed
  • 1/2 C grated zucchini, pressed to remove water
  • 3 T egg whites
  • 2 T red onion, chopped
  • 2 T fresh thyme
  • 1 T fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp ground coriander
  • S&P, to taste

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and lightly grease muffin tin.

Place drained salmon in medium bowl and break into small piece with fork (or fingers).  Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine.

Spoon into muffin tin, lightly packing down to remove air spaces.  Bake for 20 – 25 mins, or until golden brown on top.  Remove from oven and let cool for a minute. Gently loosen with a knife and lift from the muffin tin.

Makes 4 cakes.

Approximate Nutritionals (per cake): 82 calories, 3.2g fat, 56mg sodium, 0.9g carbohydrates, 0.2g fiber, 0.6g sugar, 10.2g protein

***

These cakes are great to make ahead for an portable, protein-filled lunch!

How was your long weekend?  Any new dishes (or pumpkin beers) to report?

Does touching seafood/meat make you at all squeamish?

 

Filed Under: Fitness, Recap, Recipes, Running, Weights Tagged With: dinner, lunch, pescatarian, plantar fasciitis, protein, salad, salmon, seafood

Habit Formed

June 4, 2012 By Laura

Hiking is habit-forming.

Ever since the awesome hike in Boulder at the Blend Retreat, I cannot get enough!

This weekend I took off for North GA to a place called Tallulah Gorge with Heather, Kirk, Lindsay, and Nancy.

The gorge is a 2 mile long, 1000 ft deep canyon about 90 miles north of Atlanta.   They even have a suspension bridge and  a sliding rock!

Photo Credit: Heather/Kirk

After the crazy hike to the bottom (think lots of sliding down rocks on my butt), we were wishing we’d thought to bring swimsuits so we could use the rock waterslide!

Next time it’s on.

See the bottom right pic in the collage above?  That’s a snake skin.  Snakes are the only downside to hiking…

One 4 mile round trip and about a million stairs later, we were STARVING.  Like good bloggers, we already had a lunch spot picked out.  By we I mean Heather.  Anytime she picks a place you know it’s going to be good.  Grapes & Beans (not to be confused with frank and beans) in Clayton, GA was no exception.

Small town cafes can be surprisingly good!  They had a gorgeous patio where we ate while listening to jazz music.  As an appetizer we shared a delicious curry hummus (hummus + curry = win).  For my entree I had a portobello pita sandwich with mixed greens, tomatoes, carrots, and herb-garlic tofu dressing.

Yes, the dressing was as good as it sounds.


Wednesday I leave for Argentina.  Exercise there will consist of mostly sight-seeing/walking/jogging.  I love my weight though, so these next few days I’m going to squeeze in some good strength training workouts.

This past week I had a decent week of workouts on top of the hike, so I treated myself to a rest day Saturday.  I’m beginning to appreciate their value, and so is my body.

Workout Recap (5/28- 6/3):

  • Monday – 4 mile run/walk, Back, 100 push-ups
  • Tuesday – Personal trainer (full body), 5 mile run/walk with Carol
  • Wednesday – Bis/Back with plyo, 3 mile walk, 100 push-ups
  • Thursday – Shoulders with plyo, 3 mile run/walk 100 push-ups
  • Friday – 3 mile run, Ab Ripper X, 100 push-ups
  • Saturday – REST
  • Sunday –  4 mile hike, 100 push-ups

***

Having worked 60+ hours in the past week, I’m so ready for vaca that it almost hurts.

Are you afraid of snakes?

Do you take rest days regularly?  Have you found them beneficial?  I need encouragement.

Filed Under: Core, Fitness, Recap, Restaurants, Running, Travel, Weights Tagged With: Blend Retreat, FitMixer, hiking, lunch, P90X, restaurants, running, Tallulah Gorge, vegan, workout

Memorable Memorial Day Weekend

May 28, 2012 By Laura

Does blogging count as working over a holiday weekend?

I couldn’t wait to share a few highlights!  In case it does count as working, I’ll play it safe and keep this one short.  Literally.

1. Just when you thought it couldn’t get shorter…

I got my hair cut again.

I HAD to do it to prepare for Argentina. 🙂

Karen  @ Lava Hair Studio rocks my world.  She’s my longest relationship – we’ve been together nearly 5 years.

2. My sister isn’t the only artist in the family.

Sort of.

Heather invited me to one of those drink-and-paint places.  I was skeptical (I’m NOT artistic), but it was SO much fun!  If you have one in your area, I’d recommend trying it out for a fun girls night.

Thank you so much for a great evening Just for Giggles!

3. There was a first:

I ordered a seafood entrée for the first time in a restaurant.

One of my best friends and I met for dinner at a local spot called Haven.  It was a great meal!  We split some apps and a seafood entrée: a white grouper with zucchini, pole beans, cranberry beans, and a carrot-fennel salad.

4. Quality pool time.

Complete with a Todd-jito: strawberries, mint, vodka, limoncello, and a bit of powdered sugar and ice.  Tasty.

Check out the bottom pic.  Doesn’t the water fountain thing make it look like the guy is peeing?!  Yes, I’m that mature.

5. Best.  Yogurt.  Ever.

The Yogurt Tap in Decatur, GA is the BEST fro-yo.

I’d tap that.

It’s local, made fresh in the store from in-season fruits, and they are now offering a dairy-free almond butter flavor.  If you’re in ATL and haven’t tried it… you don’t know what you’re missing.


A holiday weekend and an ACL tear doesn’t mean I’m taking a holiday from working out!

Yesterday began with a soon-to-be disclosed workout designed especially for this blog by Lindsay.  It’s going up as a guest post during my travels next week.

Post-Linsday butt kicking

Workout Recap (5/14 – 5/27):

  • Monday – Quick Cardio Circuit, Back/Biceps w/ plyo, 100 push-ups
  • Tuesday – P90X Plyo
  • Wednesday – 5-4-3-2-1 workout (2x), Wednesday workout, 100 push-ups
  • Thursday – 100 push-ups, REST
  • Friday – Shoulders w/ plyo, 100 push-ups
  • Saturday – Tris/Chest w/ plyo, 2 mi jog
  • Sunday –  Lindsay’s workout, Ab Ripper X, 2.75 mi run/walk, 100 push-ups

***

I’m going to state the obvious: I vote every weekend be 3 days long.

How has your long weekend been?  Did you workout?

Do you still laugh at juvenile things?  I don’t think I’m growing out of it.

Filed Under: Core, Fitness, Recap, Restaurants, Running, Weights, Wine Tagged With: ACL, dinner, Haven, injury, painting, running, seafood, workout, yogurt, Yogurt Tap

ACL Tear + WIAW

May 23, 2012 By Laura

It doesn’t happen often, but yesterday I almost cried.

It took me 2 months to get into the ortho Dr., but I finally made it.  After an hour-long wait (grrrr…), I was called back to the exam room.  The Doc was great (he’s a talker, which explains the wait).  He does a lot of work on the Atlanta Braves, among other sports teams.  Unfortunately that resume didn’t lessen my injury.

The Dr. actually said I was pushing my body to the extreme… and that made me feel proud.  Isn’t there a quote about taking up too much room if you’re not living on the edge? 😉

It turn out that the pain is my left knee is due to a torn ACL.  I always thought that when you tear an ACL you couldn’t even walk!  Apparently there are varying degrees of tears.

Next step is to go for an MRI to confirm the extent of the damage – he’s betting I have some lateral meniscus repair work that needs to be done too.  I can’t even get in for that consult until late June (hazards of choosing a popular Dr.), which puts me having surgery around August.  4-6 months after that I’ll be back in fighting shape.  That’s 2013.  Ugh.

Nonetheless, I’m pretty depressed.  I was hoping it was just a strained something.  At least I have What I Ate Wednesday to make me smile. (Jenn, can I get  a hug??) 

Check out my eats below; then click here to hope on over to our host – Jenn @ Peas and Crayons – to see what everyone else ate Wednesday (or – more than likely – Tuesday).


Breakfast:

I was told that plyo probably isn’t be best thing for me to be doing with a torn ACL (that explains all the knee pain after…).  Good thing I got in one last P90X Plyometrics workout pre-doctor visit this morning!

I re-fueled with a Laura-style Frapp: loaded with protein and spinach!  Yes, it looks weird.  But it was good.

Green Protein Frapp

  • 1 C chilled coffee
  • One scoop vanilla protein powder
  • Giant handful spinach
  • 1.2 large banana
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp guar gum (to thicken)
  • Ice

Lunch:

Salad.  In a box.  It seems simple, but eating right out of the container make me happy.  If only I could get a salad into an almost-empty PB jar.

In my box:

  • Mixed greens
  • Asparagus
  • Cauliflower
  • Cucumber
  • Tempeh croutons (lemon-pepper tempeh, sautéed in a pan and cooled)
  • Hummus dressing (1 T spinach hummus + 2 tsp apple cider vinegar)

Dinner:

I’ve been eating almost totally vegan since the Food & Wine Festival gut-buster.  The availability of local farm-fresh eggs at this weekend’s farmer’s market in the park was too much to pass up.

Dinner was an egg scramble with hatch chili salsa, sautéed kale, Daiya pepper jack cheese, red pepper flakes served over a sprouted grain tortilla.

Snacks:

There were many, but I was too depressed and too busy at work to take pics: lots of cashews, kombucha, dried sea weed, Think Thin bar… and some other depression-snacks stuff I can’t remember.

***

Have you ever had knee surgery?

If you are vegan/vegetarian, what food do you “miss” the most?  If you’re NOT , which food most keeps you from trying (if any)?

Filed Under: Fitness, Recipes, Running, Smoothies Tagged With: ACL, breakfast, dinner, Food & Wine Festival, injury, lunch, running, smoothies, vegan, vegetarian, WIAW, workout

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