I’m Not a Hypochondriac

Happy Wednesday! I am so thankful I made the last minute decision to take today off work. I wasn’t able to sleep in but I’m still enjoying a day to myself filled with checklist items I’ve been thinking about all week.

  • Diagnostic appointment at Finish Line PT
  • Packing for our trip to Savannah
  • Five washers full of laundry
  • Manicure and pedicure
  • Placing our first Fresh Direct order
  • Some blog work
  • Mailing a few packages

Like I said, it won’t necessarily be the most relaxing day but it is a perfect way to kick off the vacation. My mom raised me to be the type person who never wants to leave a dirty house, laundry pile, or empty refrigerator. The last thing I want to do on Sunday when we land in NYC is worry about cleaning and going to the grocery store!

This morning’s breakfast was a well rounded spread including my favorite Fall treat, pumpkin butter!

010 008 I enjoyed a sliced banana, three egg whites, and a Thomas cinnamon raisin flat bread with a side of green tea.

004My trip to Finish Line PT was exactly what I expected based on Theodora and Bo’s rave reviews. Michelle spent an hour assessing me, talking to me about my pain and tightness, and then performing A.R.T on me and leading me through a series of stretches. The good news is that I am not a hypochondriac!

Based on her assessment, there are two main areas we will focus on during the next few months.

  1. My right itBand is extremely tight and has been causing the knee and hamstring pain that I’ve felt during my post marathon workouts. Unlike most people, my itBand is actually tighter the higher you go versus only around the area where it wraps around my knee.
  2. My hips are extremely tight which is affecting everything from the way I run, walk, stand, sit, and even sleep. Due to my years of dance, I am extremely flexible which means my back and leg muscles have been compensating for my hips which causes me to arch my back at almost all times. This is the reason that I have deep lower back pain after long runs and walks and I sleep with my legs sprawled due to the lack of range of motion I have in my hip flexors.

I have asked Michelle to summarize my diagnosis more specifically in an email so I can share them with you and ensure I use the correct language. I feel much better knowing that my tightness and awkward sleep position wasn’t just a phantom problem! image

In addition, she spent a few minutes showing me the most appropriate foam rolling techniques for my issue areas. If you’ve never considered upgrading your foam roller to a  rumble roller or trigger point roller I highly recommend it! I immediately felt a difference when using their orange trigger point foam roller and felt far more muscle release than when I use Equinox’s black foam roller or our wimpy white foam roller at home.

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday whether you’re enjoying a day off or still busy at the office. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends and travel safely!

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Salad and Potato Chips

 

Last night I was that girl. The girl who orders a salad, with dressing on the side, and then chows down on potato chips. You know what? I loved every minute of it and wouldn’t change a thing!

When Tina announced that she was coming to NYC, I knew that called for a celebratory dinner and some much needed girl time over delicious food and some quality beer. I really wish we’d captured a picture last night because we had such a great time together!

After Frank and Melissa introduced us to The Smith last year during a double date, Bo and I have since become huge fans of The Smith’s original East Village location due to the fact that they are on Seamless Web. Every so often we’re in the mood for delicious takeout that is a step above sushi or Chinese. Everytime we order from The Smith we’re impressed more than the last!

Therefore, I was excited to share The Smith with Dori, Theodora, Tina, and my friend Jessie last night and knew it’d be the perfect spot for us to celebrate!

Below picture via Tina.

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The Smith is best known for their upscale and perfectly executed comfort food. The house specialties include hand cut potato chips, macaroni and cheese, and tomato soup. Both the Midtown and East Village location are quite large, leaving plenty of room for large groups and a hopping bar.

Choosing drinks was the easiest task as we each knew exactly what we were craving whether it was wine, beer, or a cocktail. I started with a perfectly refreshing Duvel which paired perfectly with our next course.

004 As I mentioned before, The Smith, is known for their hand cut chips. Who can resist potato chips topped with blue cheese, melted and served on top? Dori and Theodora ordered these for the table and it was an amazing choice.

001 (640x478) By the time we were done with this bowl there was nothing left except some melted blue cheese which had dripped to the bowl’s bottom.

While most of the table was dreaming of The Smith’s famous chunky tomato soup, I knew exactly what I wanted: salad. I’ve ordered one of The Smith’s huge salads at least 90% of the time and have never been disappointed. Their salads are always huge portions, piled high with delicious and fresh toppings that leave me satiated and stuffed.

Tonight I chose the chicken salad which is a bit simpler than some of their others but equally as delicious. This huge bowl included fresh arugula, sliced Granny Smith apples, walnuts, Brie, grilled onions, and rotisserie chicken.

002 (640x478) In case you’re wondering what the tomato soup looks like, below is a picture of Tina’s chunky goodness.

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I’m not going to lie, it looked pretty amazing. I think I’ll have to order this next time!

If you live in New York City and are looking for a casual dinner, lunch, or brunch spot with friends The Smith is a reliable and reasonably priced choice! If you’re looking for more information, I highly recommend checking out Dan’s review here!

Question: Have you ever been that person who orders Diet Coca Cola and fries or a salad and potato chips?

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