Ahnu Hiking Boots + WIAW

November 26, 2014 By Laura

The only reason I like winter is the fact that I get to wear boots.

And snow, but we don’t get much of that in Georgia.

But, it does get cold! When I wanted to get outdoors during our first cold snap, I was really happy to have my Sugar Bowl boots from Ahnu! Unbelievably, my feet stayed toasty – that never happens. In fact, I have Raynaud’s Disease; usually my toes and fingers are so cold they turn white and go numb! While my fingers did turn white, my feet were actually warm!

I was also pleased with the look. Black and blue are my favorite colors. The laces in the front are stylin’, but not at the expense of function. These boots have side zips so you don’t need to spend 20 minutes tugging them on and readjusting them. I’ll be taking these to Lake Tahoe in a few weeks!

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Flowers, Strawberries, and Pumpkin + WIAW

November 19, 2014 By Laura

I got nothin’.

Actually, I feel like I have everything.

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All About That WIAW

November 12, 2014 By Laura

Who loves leg day?

Not. Me.

Leg day is my least favorite. It’s why I always do it with my trainer. He pushes me harder than I would push myself, and it’s like a mini-therapy session. My least favorite thing in the WORLD are Hack Squats. I’s rather do 25 reps of something (I also hate volume) than do Hacks.

You may have seen the pic below on Instagram or Facebook. I call it “The Hack Squat: A Hate Story.” In my face you can see my progression from determination to “I might puke” to… the “poop” face.

Because misery loves company, I brought along my baby sister, Madison. If you have siblings, you know that everything is a competition. I won. Not only did she admit that I’m stronger, but we also compared butts.

31 year old vs. 23 year old butt. Just sayin’…

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Cryofreeze: My Real-Life Frozen + WIAW

November 5, 2014 By Laura

Who’s singing the Frozen song?

I refuse to see that movie.

you’d think I’d rather see a movie than actually be frozen. But no. I got frozen. My friend, Tori, heard me complaining about all my injuries (shit falls apart when you get older, y’all!), and offered to hook me up with a trial for Icebox Cryotherapy. Basically, they freeze you with gasified liquid nitrogen. It looked like I was standing in a cylinder of dry ice – but it’s not as dangerous.

In Tori’s words: “You know how when you bang your thumb, blood rushes to it and it gets really hot because your body is trying to fix it? Basically same body response when you do cryo. Your body thinks you’re freezing to death, so it sends signals all over and sees what’s ‘broken’ or hurt and focuses on it.” Sounds great, right?! It really is great for recovery; in fact, many professional athletes have been using if for years!

Recovery aside, Cryotherapy has multiple other benefits:

Increased circulation
Reduction in pain & inflammation
Assists in a quicker surgical recovery
Aids in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis and osteoarthritis
Boost immune system
Decreased fatigue
Tighter skin (cellulite, say what?!)
Increased libido (woot!)
Weight loss assistance

So was it that bad? It was 3 minutes at negative 130 degrees Celsius (-266 Fahrenheit). It wasn’t a cake walk… but honestly, I didn’t ever think I’d never make it out alive. I had gloves and booties on (I have Raynaud’s, which the owner made sure she looked out for). The parts that hurt the worst were my legs (which are sore and injured) and my nipples (apparently common), but I recovered right after. Your core temp doesn’t actually change, so you don’t freeze to death.

After wards, my body felt SO relaxed, I slept like a little baby that night, and hit a couple PRs in the gym the next day. I’d like to do it a few more times for my injuries, but it definitely helped with the general soreness and recovery! If you’re in Atlanta or have a facility in your city, I definitely recommend it!

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Halloween Wednesday

October 29, 2014 By Laura

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.

It’s the only holiday not masquerading as a religious or national holiday.

There’s something in the air this time of year. It’s exciting – they weather is nice, people are energetic (it’s a massive relief from the Southern summer heat and humidity)… and who doesn’t like to pretend to be someone else?

The “yard art” along the Beltline is even dressed up for Halloween!

The family dog, Honey, is also festive. My little sister brought her by my office for a visit yesterday. My socks matched her candy corn handkerchief.

Can you believe she’s 13?! Cutest Corgi-Golden “puppy” ever.

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Big Gay Ice Cream WIAW

October 22, 2014 By Laura

There’s not much better than ice cream on a sunny, fall afternoon.

Or after a brutal workout.

It’s been a week of treat ‘yo self. But how often does the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck head down South from NYC? I enjoyed a cone on Monday and a cup on Tuesday.

Monday night I stopped to pick up a Salty Pimp after a ~~bitch of a~~ challenging workout with my trainer. He only looks sweet and innocent.

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Cauliflower & Eggplant Noodle Pumpkin Lasagna (Recipe)

October 10, 2014 By Laura

You can do anything with cauliflower.

Really… I bet you could even make ice cream. Maybe… that might be weird.

I’ve made cauliflower pizza, pancakes, waffles, sriracha muffins… the sky is the limit. Why not sheets of noodles? It sounds strange, but it works!

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Spooky Matcha Green Sludge + WIAW

October 8, 2014 By Laura

Eat your greens!

I can still hear my mother ~~yelling~~ saying this to me at the dinner table.

Growing up, I was the pickiest kid on the planet. If it was green, the only way I’d eat it is if it was raw and covered in so much ranch dressing (specifically, Marie’s ranch) there was no possibility of tasting it.

Fast forward 20 years and I’m voluntarily starting my day with this sludge:

Matcha Green Sludge

1 tsp matcha
1 T gelatin
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2-3 T water
5-6 drops liquid stevia

Mix together in a small bowl and a allow to sit 1-2 mins to allow the mix to gel.

It’s a very “green” tasting mix, which is why I add a little stevia… even my altered taste buds need some help. Here’s the “why” behind the ingredients:

Matcha

One cup of matcha green tea has as many antioxidants as 10 cups of regular tea. As if that’s not enough reason to start supplementing with it, it also enhances metabolism, reduces stress, lowers cholesterol, and combats aging and cancer.

One of my favorite benefits is the caffeine. It’s perfect first thing in the morning. It doesn’t cause the shakes though! The relaxing properties of L-theanine in matcha promote concentration, memory, and mood.

Gelatin

This isn’t your cafeteria nastiness. Gelatin is actually flavorless, making it easy to add to just about anything. I began taking it for digestion at the suggestion of Lindsay (see her post here). It 100% works for that! I’m more “regular” than I’ve ever been. It can help to heal the lining of your stomach and digestive tract, and is a detoxifier.

For someone who is active, gelatin is especially beneficial because it contains half of the 18 essential amino acids, which help build muscle. With 6 grams of protein per tablespoon, it’s a great way to add more protein to your diet. It is not a complete protein, but it helps the body fully utilize the complete proteins you eat. It also supports skin, hair and nail growth, and is good for bone strength and joint recovery. Rumor has it that it can help tighten loose skin and improve cellulite.

Cinnamon

Aside from making everything taste better, cinnamon is good for your health! It stabilizes blood sugar levels, making it popular for those with Type 2 Diabetes. Cinnamon might also reduce the effects of high-fat meals by reducing response of triglycerides (a type of fat) in the blood but as much as 30%.*

It can also lower your bad cholesterol (LDL), reduce inflammation, and can decrease cancer risk (especially leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells, which my dad had). It can control yeast with it’s antifungal properties. Allegedly, candida cannot live in a cinnamon environment. When added to food, cinnamon acts as a preservative, slowing bacterial growth and food spoilage. Even smelling cinnamon can have positive effects on cognitive function, memory, and headaches!

*This is not a license to raid the nearest Cinnabon… it has been found to be toxic in large doses. And I don’t think even OD-ing on it will fight that sugar rush. 😉

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