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!

Back to School!

That’s right, boys and girls…it’s time!  Today was my first official day back.  We had no students today, just meetings, unpacking new materials and setting up classrooms for tomorrow.

Today was also my first day of pre-work running.  My legs were a little confused, but it wound up turning out ok!

I began a new training program for a 10K (I’m most likely doing the Nike Human Race on 10/24 in NYC).  The program is through Runner’s World’s Smart Coach.  Today was a two-miler.  Perfect for breaking into a pre-work running routine.

Distance:  2.01 miles
Time:  18:09
Avg. Pace:  9:00/mile
Max HR:  182 bpm
Avg HR:  171 bpm
Calories:  211 (25% fat)

Not too shabby.  While on the topic of running, I have to tell you all about the coolest thing I learned about today at my professional development session.  Tara Costa from The Biggest Loser is an alumni of the school district where I work.  She has set up a foundation for education and fitness and their first event is a 5K on October 3!  I am totally doing it!  I have my friend’s bridal shower that day, but I surely can squeeze both into one day.  It’s such a great cause and I was always a fan of Tara’s.  Several of my coworkers are doing it also.  It’s going to be fun!

  

and

Breakfast:

I was wanting something simple and also was out of many groceries, so I had some Kashi H2H, almond milk and sliced banana after my run with a tall glass of water.

Snack/Lunch:

Snack was a CLIF mini chocolate chip bar and lunch was pizza with the ladies.  I had a thin crust slice with chopped eggplant on top.

After work, I went to TJ’s for a shop.  Look what wound up in my cart and became my afternoon snack: 

 

It’s ba-ack!  So good! 

After unpacking groceries, I poured myself a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.  Cheers to me for first day of school!

 

Speaking of cheers…my hubby cheered me with these:

He always gets me roses on my first day and last day.  Isn’t he the sweetest!  They were beautiful and so fragrant!

Not a bad combo at the end of a long day, huh?

I also got these pumpkin goodies from TJ’s, which are making me giddy with anticipation.

Joe also helped with dinner:

Yup, lobster ravs and vodka sauce.  Easy peasy lemon squeezie!

Served with some fresh parmesan cheese and baby arugula salad with tomatoes and red onion and a splash of balsamic vinaigrette.  Perfection.  Oh and maybe a second glass of wine…with seltzer in it.  Can’t go too crazy now!

Dessert:

Mango tangerine sorbet.  Delish!

So tomorrow is my real first day.  I’ve already made my lunch and planned my outfit.  I’m like a seven year old.  I can’t wait to meet my students and get this party started!

It’s early to bed tonight for another early morning!  Night!