Favorite Running Weather

  

Yesterday afternoon/evening, I had such a nice outdoor run.  It was warmer than it has been, probably about 68, but with that nice fall crispness in the air.  I wore shorts and a longsleeved shirt.  It’s probably my favorite running apparel in my favorite running weather.  I was aiming for 4 miles (still haven’t purchased a new Nike+…note to self…do that this weekend!), but wound up stopping at 3.6, not because I was tired, but because I was home.

Distance:  3.6 miles
Time:  33:40
Avg. Pace:  9:21/mile

AM Snack:  CLIF Chocolate Chip Zbar

Lunch:

  Amy’s black bean and vegetable burrito.  This was SO delicious.  I didn’t even want to eat that naner so I could savor the burrito flavor in my mouth.  I’m getting more of these ASAP!  I also made a blunder and ate that naner after lunch when I had brought it for PM snack.  It was meant to be eaten slathered with PB.  I was supposed to eat strawberries with lunch.  Oh well.  I ate some berries anyway.

PM Snack:

I had this lowfat French vanilla yogurt in my fridge, so I swirled in some PB and crumbled some pretzels on top for a tasty snack.

Dinner:

I made shrimp picatta over orzo and roasted broccoli and cauliflower.  My mother-in-law made this while we were visiting last month and I loved it, so she photocopied the recipe.  I think it’s from Family Circle.  I made a few healthy substitutions like Earth Balance for butter and cut the olive oil from two tablespoons to one.  I actually did the same with the Earth Balance.  It was delicious!  I have to say that roasting cruciferous veggies might be my new favorite thing.  Jillian Michaels would be proud.

After dinner I had a Heiny Light while watching the Yankees game and listening to Hubbers scream/clap with his loud manly clap/jump around a little bit.  He is a Yankee fan.  Could you tell?  I am NOT a Yankee fan.  I am a MET FAN.  But my team doesn’t make it to the playoffs, so I may as well root for NY!

 

Wednesday:

Breakfast:

Pumpkin Pie oats:

• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/2 cup each water and almond milk
• mashed banana
• pumpkin pie spice
• spoonful of pumpkin butter
• topped with PB&Co Cinnamon Raisin Swirl PB

I tried to get all Jenny-like with my PB drizzle, but I couldn’t be patient.

Have a Happy Humpday!

Back in the Groove

It’s been a minute, but I’m getting back into my groove!  I was going to play catch up, but I think I’ll just take it from today.  

Today was an off day from running, so I did Jillian’s No More Trouble Zones video from start to finish.  I love this workout!  My legs felt like jello afterward and I worked up quite a sweat!

Breakfast:

 

Cinnamon Raisin Oats

In the mix:

• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1/2 cup water
• cinnamon
• vanilla
• raisins
• cinnamon raisin swirl PB
• dollop of plain Chobani

Delightful.

Snack/Lunch:

Chocolate chip Z bar

Pomegranate Chobani, pumpkin flax granola, PB-filled pretzels and an apple

*There was a pm snack in here somewhere.

Dinner

Chicken parmigana and arugula and tomato salad

Carvel PUMPKIN SPICE ice cream!  I’m not even a fan of ice cream.  Hubbers could live on the stuff.  He asked if I wanted to accompany him and I realized that this jammie would be in stock.  It was fantastic!

Back in August, I won a KOR One Hydration Vessel from Joanna’s blog.  I was super excited when I heard the UPS truck pull up today while I was doing my Jillian workout.  Hubbers brought in the package and opened it and flashed this bright new baby:

I love the quote inside!

 

I cannot wait to use this water bottle!  Thanks again, Joanna for a great giveaway!

Love My Green!

Today was a very GREEN day.  I started the day with a green monster and broke into my Amazing Grass samples and tried a Green SuperFood Chocolate Energy Bar:

As you’ll see below, I had half for an a.m. snack and half for a p.m. snack.  This bar was awesome!  It was chewy, but hearty with a chocolatey coating that was very satisfying.  Only half of this baby kept me satiated until lunch time.  I LOVE that it’s all-natural source of energy as opposed to some other bars out there on the market.  Two-thumbs up for this one, Amazing Grass!

Hubs also wanted to get in on the taste-testing.  He asked if he could sample a bar and share his thoughts.  He tried the chocolate peanut butter protein bar. 

{picture courtesy of Amazing Grass}

He’s a lot more skeptical of products like this, so I was interested in his feedback.  When I called him on my way home from work, he was glad to tell me that he loved the bar.  He thought it tasted great! 

Now if you’re like me and hear great reviews about healthy products and you want some Amazing Grass right now (if you haven’t tried it already), today is your lucky day!  Amazing Grass is offering Fit Healthy Fun readers a 15% discount on their products.  Just type in HEALTHY09 at checkout to receive your 15% discount!  I can’t wait to share more reviews with you.  Also, keep your eyes peeled, because you just might be able to win some grass of your very own!

Today was an off/cross-training day from my running schedule.  Feeling inspired by watching the Biggest Loser last night (how good was it??), I popped in No More Trouble Zones and did the first 5 circuits. 

Breakfast:

Green monster:

In the mix:

• organic baby spinach
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 T organic peanut butter
• 1 T ground flax
• 1 T Amazing Meal

Snack/Lunch:

    I had half of a Chocolate Superfood bar

My mini-ninis (that’s my new name for them) that I made last night.  Ciabatta, fresh mozzarella, roma tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper

Grapes from my classroom fridge stash

Snack/Dinner:

Snack was the other half of my bar.

Dinner was sushi

Salad and miso soup

vegetarian gyoza (x4)

shrimp tempura roll…delicious!

 

Also, “Healthy” related, I went for my annual body check today at the dermatologist.  Do you get an annual check?  If not, you should.  I schedule mine for September since summer is over and I’m not in the sun anymore.  I got a clean bill of health :)  I’m diligent about doing this, so is Hubs.  He’s had several basal cell carcinomas removed, so we’re super careful!

My derm also recommended a new face wash. 

 

For 40 beans per bottle, this stuff better get my already good skin looking like a work of art by Michelangelo or something!  I’ll keep you posted!

Cramping My Style

This post is going to be quite the mother-load. First off, I have to say that I totally identified with Hangry Heather’s post the other day. It’s always hard getting back into the swing of things for a new school year. Throw in hosting a party over the weekend and a long run and football on Sunday and I was toast Monday. So let’s catch up.

Since we chatted last, I had a long run Sunday, biked on Monday and a three-miler today.

Sunday:

Distance: 7.01 miles
Time: 1:31:42
Avg. Pace: 10:30/mile
(I’m too lazy to fetch my HR monitor and get you those stats…be honest, you don’t care)

Monday: 45 minute bike ride with Hubbers

Tuesday:

Distance: 2.86 miles
Time: 25:06
Avg. Pace: 8:44/mile

(My Nike+ was acting up again…I paced a 9:22 on it for some reason. So mad I didn’t get credit to make this month’s speed goal!)

I also had some MAJOR cramping in my stomach during this run. It was really painful and caused me to walk a few times. It was not a fun run.

Since my groin has been bothering me lately, I decided to ice, ice baby after my run:

Then Hubbers was a doll and stretched it out for me. I sat in that exact position and he sat next to me and just pulled my leg to make an L with the other leg. It felt reeeeeally good!

SUNDAY:

Breakfast:

Kashi H2H, Nature’s Path pumpkin flax granola, almond milk, strawberries

Lunch:

Leftover pasta salad from Saturday’s block party

Dinner:

was at our neighbor’s house for the Giants/Redskins game. Hubbers and I are Giants fans, they’re Redskins fans. We watch the games they play each other together and take turns hosting. I was so glad it wasn’t my turn. I was beat from Saturday and the 7 mile run!

MONDAY:

Breakfast:

Pumpkin oats…see what’s in the mix here.

Lunch/Snack:

A.M. snack was a mini CLIF bar.

Veggie/hummus wrap on lavash bread with spinach, tomato and carrots

and a kiwi

Dinner: was out – I was craving a burger and forgot to photograph. Sometimes a girl just needs a burger. It was awesome.

TUESDAY:

Breakfast:

Creamy Oatbran

In the mix:

• 1/3 cup oatbran
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1/2 cup water
• cinnamon
• vanilla
• 1 mashed banana

Topped with plain Chobani and strawberries…delightful!

My throat was feeling a little sore, so I slammed back some “EmergenC” on the way out the door.

Lunch/Snack:

Snack was a mini CLIF…I know, shocking.

Amy’s Light in Sodium Minestrone and a mini ciabatta roll with some…

grapes!

Snack: One of my former students came by with a birthday treat of a Carvel flying saucer. I don’t know what possessed me to do it, but I ate it. It was delish.

Dinner:

Wild Sockeye Salmon broiled with salt, pepper, fresh garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, red pepper flakes and oregano and spinach salad with carrots and tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette. This piece of salmon was HUGE. I couldn’t finish it, but it was really good.

Then I put together some mini caprese paninis for tomorrow’s lunch. While the press was heating, I finished my bottle of Sauv. B. I’m still savoring this glass.

I know I said I’d take pics on Saturday, but honestly I was running around so much I completely forgot! Here are the appetizers and dessert. I showed you the pasta salad earlier. I also made teriyaki chicken, BBQ shrimp and chicken sausage – all which Hubbers grilled to perfection and served a green salad.

Beer bread with spinach dip (I got a million compliments on the dip…thanks, Joe ;) Trader Joe that is!)

Potato chips and fake pirate’s booty from TJ’s

Chips and salsa

Veggies and dip

Pina Colada cupcakes

The party was a success. I had one too many vodka and pink sparkling lemonades for the day. Running on Sunday was painful. Everyone had a great time, though!

In other news, I’m super excited that Antonio won HGTV’s Design Star!

I’m a big fan!

Also, as we speak, my DVR is recording…

I’m beyond excited! I LOOOOOOOOOOVE me some BL. Can’t wait to see what’s in store this season!

AND, if you thought all that was good…look what was on my doorstep when I arrived home…

The AMAZING folks at Amazing Grass sent me some products to test out and review for the blog. I’m super excited and can’t wait to start taste-testing! Thanks again, Teri! I smell an “amazing” giveaway in your future, readers! Time to come out of the woodwork and make yourselves known!

Have a great night!